West Seattle, Washington
25 Saturday
(MAJOR ALERT: Northbound I-5 closed in heart of downtown – see below)
(Four WS-relevant views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page. P.S. Sorry about the broken cameras – out of our control)
7:38 AM: There’s a crash on northbound 99 right where it meets the West Seattle Bridge, and that’s slowing traffic in all directions 99-bound, according to SDOT:
UPDATE: A Collision on SR 99 NB at the W Sea Br has 1 lane open to traffic, delay on W Sea Br EB SR 509 NB & SR 99 NB pic.twitter.com/3JZApcjh0d
— seattledot (@seattledot) May 5, 2015
Updates as we get them. Meantime, speaking of 99:
HIGHWAY 99 CLOSURES NORTH OF DOWNTOWN THIS WEEKEND: If you use Highway 99 from the Battery Street Tunnel northward to Valley Street, either direction, please note planned closures this weekend. They’re in phases, with reopenings for sports-related traffic.
7:56 AM UPDATE: Now the blockage on northbound 99 is down to one lane.
8 AM UPDATE: If you are thinking of taking 4th Avenue South as an alternative – note that there is a crash just south of Costco – a car hit a bus – and they’ve just upped the response to rescue so they can cut someone out.
8:10 AM UPDATE: The 4th Ave. S. crash is blocking both northbound lanes, per scanner, but police are diverting NB traffic into a SB lane to get people by.
8:16 AM: Back to the NB 99 crash, “all lanes are open” per SPD announcement monitored via scanner.
8:20 AM: New problem, 4-vehicle crash on northbound I-5 at the Convention Center, with at least one reported to be on fire, per scanner. That could soon affect the WS Bridge traffic headed for NB 5.
8:25 AM: WSDOT now says all northbound lanes of 5 are CLOSED because of the crash/fire. Several people are hurt, at least one seriously. So stay away from NB 5 TFN!
The backup on NB 5 at Olive is about 7 miles. Again, avoid I-5, all lanes blocked with serious collision. pic.twitter.com/4PSusrrEF3
— WSDOT Traffic (@wsdot_traffic) May 5, 2015
9:23 AM: All but one lane of northbound I-5 is open now.
Again this year, dozens of local nonprofits are participating in today’s GiveBIG one-day donate-a-thon coordinated by the Seattle Foundation. The money you give TODAY ONLY to any or all of the participating nonprofits goes beyond face value – it boosts their eligibility for a “stretch pool” of partial matching funds, to be distributed proportionately depending on how much each participating organization raises during GiveBIG, by 11:59 pm tonight.
MEGA-IMPORTANT: You **must** donate through the special pages all participants have on the GiveBIG website, NOT via the organizations’ own websites. So here’s our list of those special pages for participating West Seattle, White Center, and South Park-based or -founded/-connected nonprofits. The special links take you to pages on the Seattle Foundation website with background information, as well as the donation links to use for this one-day event. Please also note that some organizations require an extra step – the “go here” link takes you to their “fiscal sponsor” or parent organization and then you MUST write the local org’s name in the “comments” area. (P.S. Please let us know if we missed a WS, WC, or SP-based organization – post a comment or e-mail us ASAP at editor@westseattleblog.com so we can check it out – thanks!)
ART FOR ANIMALS’ SAKE – go here
ARTS CORPS – go here
ARTSWEST – go here
CITIZENS FOR OFF-LEASH AREAS – go here
DELRIDGE NEIGHBORHOODS DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION – go here
DENNY-SEALTH PERFORMING ARTS – go here
DISABILITY RIGHTS WASHINGTON – go here
DUWAMISH RIVER CLEANUP COALITION/TECHNICAL ADVISORY GROUP– go here
DUWAMISH ROWING CLUB – go here
DUWAMISH TRIBAL SERVICES – go here
EARTH MINISTRY – go here
EMPOWER MENTORING PROGRAM – go here
ENVIRONMENTAL COALITION OF SOUTH SEATTLE – go here
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE CENTER – go here
EXPLORER WEST MIDDLE SCHOOL – go here
FAUNTLEROY CHILDREN’S CENTER – go here
FEEST – go here
FREE2LUV – go here
FRIENDS OF SEALTH – IB SCHOLARSHIP FUND– go here
FURRY FACES FOUNDATION – go here
HIGHLINE SCHOOLS FOUNDATION FOR EXCELLENCE – go here
HOLY ROSARY PARISH SCHOOL – go here
INVEST IN YOUTH – go here
K-5 STEM PTA – go here
KILLER WHALE TALES – go here
KING COUNTY LIBRARY SYSTEM FOUNDATION – go here
KOL HANESHAMAH – go here
LEGAL COUNSEL FOR YOUTH AND CHILDREN – go here
MARRA FARM COALITION – go here
MULTI-COMMUNITIES (M.I.C.) – go here
NATURE CONSORTIUM – go here
NAVOS – go here
NEIGHBORHOOD FARMERS MARKETS – go here
NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSE – go here
NONFICTION MEDIA– go here
NORTHWEST CENTER – go here
OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE SCHOOL – go here
PLUMBERS WITHOUT BORDERS – go here
PONGO PUBLISHING – go here
PROVIDENCE MOUNT ST. VINCENT FOUNDATION – go here
PUGET SOUNDKEEPER ALLIANCE – go here
REEL GRRLS – go here
ROOTS OF EMPATHY USA – go here
SAFE FUTURES YOUTH CENTER – go here
SCHOOL OF ACROBATICS AND NEW CIRCUS ARTS – go here
SEAL SITTERS – go here and in the comments area, write that you’re donating for Seal Sitters
SEA MAR COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTERS – go here
SEATTLE CHINESE GARDEN SOCIETY – go here
SEATTLE GLEE CLUBS – go here
SEATTLE PARKS FOUNDATION – go here
SEATTLE POLICE FOUNDATION – go here
SEATTLE PUBLIC LIBRARY FOUNDATION – go here
SEATTLE SINGLE PARENT ADVOCACY COUNSELING ENRICHMENT – go here
SEATTLE YOUTH SYMPHONY ORCHESTRAS – go here
SENIOR CENTER OF WEST SEATTLE – go here and write “Senior Center of West Seattle” in the “comments” area
SOUTH PARK AREA REDEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE – go here
SOUTH PARK INFORMATION AND RESOURCE CENTER – go here
SOUTH PARK NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION – go here
SOUTH PARK SENIOR CITIZENS – go here
SOUTH SEATTLE COLLEGE FOUNDATION – go here
SOUTHWEST SEATTLE HISTORICAL SOCIETY – go here
SOUTHWEST YOUTH AND FAMILY SERVICES – go here
SPORTS IN SCHOOLS – go here
TECHNOLOGY ACCESS FOUNDATION – go here
TECHNOLOGY SERVICES CORPS – go here
THE CABIRI – go here
THE ILLUMINATIO PROJECT – go here and specify in the comments area that it’s for The Illuminatio Project
THE MISSION TO SEAFARERS – go here
THE SALVATION ARMY – KING COUNTY – go here
THE SERVICE BOARD – go here
THE VILLAGE OF HOPE – go here
THE WHALE TRAIL – go here
THEATER SIMPLE – go here
TOTEM STAR – go here
TRANSITIONAL RESOURCES – go here (TR’s board is matching the first $2,500 donated)
TWELFTH NIGHT PRODUCTIONS – go here
VIVACE CHAMBER PLAYERS – go here
WEST SEATTLE BE PREPARED – go here and write the organization’s name in “comments”
WEST SEATTLE BLOCK WATCH CAPTAINS NETWORK – go here and write the organization’s name in “comments”
WEST SEATTLE FOOD BANK – go here
WEST SEATTLE HELPLINE – go here
WEST SEATTLE JUNCTION ASSOCIATION – go here
WESTSIDE BABY – go here
WESTSIDE SCHOOL – go here
WESTSIDE UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST CONGREGATION – go here
WHITE CENTER COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION – go here
WHITE CENTER FOOD BANK – go here – and again this year, WCFB has an added event on GiveBIG day, Dine Out For Hunger:
Dine out on May 5, 2015, and these restaurants will donate a portion of their proceeds to the White Center Food Bank!
Company Bar
Full Tilt Ice Cream (White Center location)
Mac’s Triangle Pub
Meander’s
Proletariat Pizza
Zippy’s Giant Burgers (White Center AND Georgetown locations)These wonderful restaurants will donate to us through giveBIG, so their donations will be stretched and matched, too!
WHIT PRESS – go here
YES FOUNDATION OF WHITE CENTER – go here
WEST SEATTLE/FAUNTLEROY YMCA – go to the YMCA of Greater Seattle donation page and write in the comments that it’s for the West Seattle YMCA
YOUTH FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE – go here
YOUTH MEDIA INSTITUTE – go here
YOUTH VIOLENCE PREVENTION NETWORK – go here
YWCA OF SEATTLE-KING COUNTY – go here
In four weeks, one of these young women will be crowned as this year’s West Seattle Hi-Yu Senior Court queen. Tonight, Holy Names Academy senior Kelly Crum (left) and Chief Sealth International High School senior Aislyn Crane (right) read their essays to a panel of judges during the monthly Hi-Yu meeting. The topic: “What are my dreams for my future?” The series of judged events will culminate in the coronation during this year’s Hi-Yu Tea and Silent Auction, 2 pm Sunday, May 31st, at The Hall at Fauntleroy – details (including ticket info) here.
So far, the forecast looks great for the 11th annual West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day, now just five days away – 9 am-3 pm this Saturday, May 9th. The online map of the 340+ registered sales went live on Saturday 
(the screen-grab at right is what it would look like if you zoomed way out) – if you haven’t already seen it, go here, or click the “Garage Sale Day Map” tab above the sidebar on any WSB page. The printable map/sale list (PDF version) is almost ready – we’re still triple-checking those 340+ listings! If you are a seller, your number is the same, of course, on both versions of the map, so let all your friends, co-workers, relatives, etc., know they can find you at #xx. If you haven’t printed a poster already, here’s one (PDF, 8 1/2 x 11) – put it on the board at work, school, wherever, and add a note with your sale number! (Even if you’re NOT a seller, consider sharing a poster – we’ve put up dozens around West Seattle already but we also promote the sale off-peninsula so if you work downtown, Eastside, wherever, you’ve got the opportunity to put up a poster someplace we won’t be able to!)
Some 2015 WSCGSD trivia, from the listings:
*74 listings feature “kid” stuff
*29 listings are for “moving sales”
*13 sales promise treasure(s)
*11 sales will have coffee (including the two multi-seller sites, which ARE coffee shops!)
*8 sales plan to serve lemonade
*6 sales are for “downsizing”
*5 sales list knick-knacks
*2 sales mention ephemera
*2 sales offer tchotchkes
Even if you’re not really looking for anything in particular, what we hear each and every year is that this is a prime chance to get out and mingle with your neighbors – somebody nearby is probably having a sale. Maybe more than one “somebody.”
Tomorrow – more highlights, including, by request, a list of the fundraiser sales!
One week from the start of the official filing week for the District 1 (West Seattle and South Park) City Council race, another candidate has appeared on the city’s list of who’s running – Jody Rushmer. No contact info listed yet, and we haven’t found a website or Facebook page, but for everyone who’s keeping track, Rushmer becomes current candidate #9. Next candidates’ forum is two weeks from tonight, as noted here over the weekend.
That’s the flyer for a benefit tomorrow to help the three families whose homes burned last Thursday – Peel and Press, The Bridge, and Beveridge Place Pub have announced that they will donate part of Tuesday’s proceeds to help them with short-term expenses. The fire Thursday afternoon (WSB coverage here) tore through three houses on 46th SW in the Pelly Place area, which is between Morgan Junction and Lincoln Park. No human injuries, but at least one pet was lost. Seattle Fire investigators determined Friday that it was sparked by an improperly installed heater, estimating $2.7 million damage to all three homes and their contents. Crowdfunding accounts also have been set up for the families – here, and here, and here.
ADDED: Feedback Lounge is reported to be in as well.
11:46 AM: Just in from the city Department of Planning and Development, that’s the document we’ve been waiting to see, ever since hearing that Mayor Murray told a breakfast meeting this morning that the city would tell the Port of Seattle that new permits would be needed for Shell’s Arctic-drilling vessels to dock at West Seattle’s Terminal 5. We’re reading the document now but note one item of interest early on:
(Monday afternoon image courtesy Port Angeles Chamber of Commerce webcam)
The city says the port indicates only the drilling platform Polar Pioneer would be mooring here, with “two tugboats,” not the drillship Noble Discoverer as well, as had been previously believed.
The interpretation released today is the result of the city investigation announced almost two months ago. (Updated) The mayor has now released this statement:
To prevent the full force of climate change, it’s time to turn the page on things like coal trains, oil trains and oil drilling rigs. It’s time to focus on the economy of the future: electric cars and transit, green homes and environmentally progressive businesses. I expect the port to obtain all required city permits before any moorage or work begins at T5 on off-shore oil drilling equipment. While requiring a new permit may not stop the port’s plans, it does give the port an opportunity to pause and rethink this issue. I urge the port to consider, is this really the right use of Terminal 5, even for the short term? Does this use reflect the businesses of the future we want in Seattle? This is an opportunity for the port and all of us to make a bold statement about how oil companies contribute to climate change, oil spills and other environmental disasters – and reject this short-term lease.
The port has not yet commented; when we contacted spokesperson Peter McGraw earlier this morning, he replied, “We have not received the interpretation yet. When we do, we will review it and provide a response.”
Meantime, EarthJustice, leading a lawsuit that challenged the Port granting a lease to Foss Maritime for hosting Shell vessels, sent this statement:
Today, Mayor Ed Murray announced that the Seattle Department of Planning and Development’s investigation showed the Port of Seattle cannot use Terminal 5 as a homeport for Shell’s Arctic drilling fleet under its current permit. The Port is in violation of its twenty-year-old shoreline permit issued by the City.
On March 2 in King County Superior Court, Earthjustice filed a lawsuit on behalf of Puget Soundkeeper Alliance, The Sierra Club, Washington Environmental Council, and Seattle Audubon Society. That legal challenge details the Port’s circumvention of public process and violation of the State Environmental Policy Act. The City’s decision today is consistent with our argument that Shell’s use of Terminal 5 is a change from the Terminal’s historical use as a cargo terminal and requires environmental review and the issuance of new permits.
“We applaud the Mayor’s office and the City of Seattle for prioritizing this investigation and reaching a conclusion consistent with the law and the public’s interest in full participation,” said Earthjustice Managing Attorney Patti Goldman. “We urge the Port of Seattle’s commissioners to take the Mayor’s invitation to use this opportunity to reevaluate the Port’s priorities and to reject Shell’s use of Seattle’s waters as a homeport for its harmful Arctic drilling operations.”
As we’ve been reporting, Shell’s already had one vessel at Terminal 5, the icecutter Aiviq, which is there right now, (updated) as is another support ship, the Harvey Supporter. The Polar Pioneer has been in Port Angeles for two weeks (with this PA Chamber of Commerce webcam focused on it), being prepared for a tow here. We’ll be adding more as we read the DPD document and as other reaction comes in.
ADDED 1:13 PM: Foss says it’s carrying on, considering this “a dispute between the city and the port”:
Foss Maritime has a lease with the Port of Seattle to operate a portion of Terminal 5. During the negotiation of that lease, Foss had extensive discussions of its planned activities there, including the moorage of the Polar Pioneer and other vessels.
Port management agreed that those activities were allowed under Terminal 5’s existing permit, which was issued by the city in the 1990s, so Foss entered into the lease in good faith.
On Monday morning, Mayor Ed Murray suggested that the activity is not consistent with the permit. This is a dispute between the city and the port. Foss intends to continue work at Terminal 5 under our lease with the Port regardless of the mayor’s comments.
The Mayor’s action also raises grave concerns about his stated commitment to Seattle’s thriving maritime community. By giving a small but vocal group the ability to jeopardize the commercial relationships between our local maritime businesses and the Port of Seattle, the Mayor is casting serious doubt on the future of the city’s working waterfront.
ADDED 4:58 PM: The mayor has published something of a rebuttal to that last paragraph.
(SEE JUNE STORY FOR UPDATE – CAR SHOW **IS** ON FOR 2015)
(WSB photo from 2014 West Seattle Car Show)
No West Seattle Car Show this year, according to Swedish Automotive and West Seattle Autoworks (both WSB sponsors), who joined forces last year to make sure the show would go on despite the death of its founder. They have just sent this statement and asked us to share it with you:
Due to all the changes in The Junction, including scheduling and space restrictions, The Junction is no longer an option for a car show, and there is no other reasonable alternative at this time. We regret to inform the community that we are unable to put on a car show in 2015. We appreciate the community support we had last year in our first presentation of the show in honor of Michael Hoffman and all of the volunteers, sponsors, participants, and spectators that made it a great success – and the biggest in the show’s history.
The show had been an annual late-summer Junction tradition since its start in 2008, founded and organized by local entrepreneur Michael Hoffman until his sudden death at age 47 in March of last year.
Thanks to Elaina Alonzo for that photo of bubble-blowing on Alki during Sunday’s sunset (first published on the WSB Facebook page). Looks like it’ll be another beautiful night at the beach (and elsewhere) – but in the meantime, here are highlights for today/tonight:
HIGHLAND PARK PTA: As previewed here last night, Highland Park Elementary‘s PTA is having its final meeting of the school year, starting with a 5:30 pm potluck before the 6 pm meeting. (1012 SW Trenton)
SCHOOL BOARD DIRECTOR’S COMMUNITY MEETING: West Seattle/South Park’s rep on the Seattle Public Schools board, Marty McLaren, hosts one of her periodic community-conversation meetings, 6-7:45 pm at (UPDATED LOCATION) Southwest Branch Library. (35th SW/SW Henderson)
WEST SEATTLE AMATEUR RADIO CLUB: Every Monday night at 6:30 pm, weekly on-air “meeting”:
The West Seattle Amateur Radio Club (WSARC) weekly net @ W7AW Repeater, 441.800, input +5, tone 141.3. Echolink and IRLP are also available -see westseattlearc.org for more info. The repeater is located at High Point.
HI-YU MEETING: During tonight’s 7 pm West Seattle Hi-Yu meeting at Admiral Congregational Church, the candidates for Senior Court Queen will present judged essay readings, as part of the process leading up to the coronation later this month. More meeting details here. (California/Hill)
YOU’LL FIND MORE TO DO … if you check out the full list of events for today/tonight (and beyond).
(Four WS-relevant views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
7:34 AM: So far, so good for this morning’s commute. One reminder for today:
DOWNTOWN BUS STOP CHANGES: Two bus stops on 3rd will be closed for more than two months starting today, and one is now closed permanently – read about them here.
8:09 AM: From the scanner, police are being dispatched to check out a report of a stalled vehicle on the eastbound bridge. Not sure yet exactly where – the main camera for the eastbound bridge isn’t working.
8:24 AM: Center lane @ the crest, says commenter WSBorn&Bred.
8:29 AM: And now SFD is being dispatched to a reported 2-car crash at Delridge/Brandon with one possible injury.
8:40 AM: Commenter “Fun” says no sign of stall now.
8:47 PM: SFD has closed out of the Delridge/Brandon incident, per the 911 log; no further details.
ORIGINAL REPORT, 11:02 PM SUNDAY: Most of the time when we mention a city councilmember’s visit to West Seattle, it’s in connection with a meeting or a walking tour, staples of an elected official’s life. But Councilmember Mike O’Brien came here this morning for something entirely different:
He was among those who participated this morning in the latest round of “kayaktivist” training in advance of the on-water demonstrations planned when Shell‘s Arctic-offshore-drilling rigs get to Terminal 5. The activist coalition that’s organizing them has been leading kayak training with Alki Kayak Tours at Seacrest, roughly twice a week for the past few weeks. Our partners at The Seattle Times covered this morning’s session too, and photographer Ken Lambert went out on the water for this photo he tweeted:
Kayakers prep for oil-drilling protests in W.Seattle http://t.co/c5K6Am2Xwd (photo @SeaTimesFotoKen) @westseattleblog pic.twitter.com/lZpVO3Rz8S
— Ken Lambert (@SeaTimesFotoKen) May 4, 2015
The Times’ story with Ken’s photos is here. O’Brien chairs the council’s Planning, Land Use, and Sustainability Committee, which on Tuesday will consider a resolution that voices opposition to Arctic offshore drilling and urges the Port of Seattle to reconsider the lease with Foss that is bringing the Shell rigs here. The first to arrive in Washington waters, the drilling platform Polar Pioneer, is still in Port Angeles; a Chamber of Commerce webcam there still has it in sight; live image here, and here’s a screengrab from earlier today (used with the PA C of C’s permission):
No date set for its expected tow to Terminal 5; the other drill rig Shell has said it hopes to use in the Arctic Ocean this summer, the drillship Noble Discoverer, left its latest stop, off Honolulu, more than a week ago and is not back in MarineTraffic.com range yet. The only Shell ship to visit Terminal 5 so far, the icecutter Aiviq, is back there now after some time in Port Angeles. As announced in mid-April, the anti-drilling coalition has set May 16-18 for a “festival of resistance” starting with a kayak flotilla.
ADDED 8:42 AM MONDAY: Regional news orgs are reporting that Mayor Murray announced at a breakfast event today that the city has determined new/renewed permit(s) will be needed before Shell’s rigs can come here. We’re working to find out more and will have a separate story soon.
Just about six weeks left in the Seattle Public Schools year, and that means some PTAs/PTSAs are meeting soon for the last time until fall. Holly Briscoe tells us that the Highland Park Elementary PTA has its last meeting of the year tomorrow night – Monday (May 4th) – starting with a potluck dinner 5:30-6 pm, then continuing with business including electing next year’s board. All welcome. HPES is at 1012 SW Trenton.
(WSB photo)
The rooftop of the Stevens Crest Apartments on the southeast corner of 61st/Stevens in Alki is the latest battleground for concerns over the installation of cell-phone antennas in local neighborhoods. City approval for 12 new antennas on that rooftop has been appealed, with the city Hearing Examiner scheduled to consider the case in July, and before that, opponents who have formed a group called “Stop Alki Cell Towers” have announced a community rally at the beach for next Thursday (May 7th).
We mentioned the opposition to the proposed antennas back in March, when it was one of the issues that community members brought to Mayor Murray during his coffee-conversation stop after a Junction/Triangle walking tour; we also noted that an online petition had been launched. Here’s the “appeal statement” that has been filed with the city; nearby residents say they are worried about health risks, proximity to Alki Elementary (3 blocks east – here’s a map), noise, and visual effects. To the latter point, the following document from the online project file shows simulations of what Verizon and its project team say the antennas would look like if/when installed:
The installation also requires an equipment room – “supporting BTS (Base Transmission System) radio equipment” – in the building basement, according to other documents in the online file, apparently on the parking level, which is beneath three levels of apartments in the building.
Meantime, here’s what “Stop Alki Cell Towers” spokesperson Barb Morgen says about the plan for Thursday’s protest:
The group will be hosting an information rally and demonstration on the beach near the Bathhouse at Alki Beach Park on Thursday, May 7 at 7 pm,
immediately following the PTA meeting at Alki Elementary School. Parents, kids, neighbors and all who use Alki Beach Park are welcome to join us. We will be making S’Mores for the kids, sharing information on the proposed towers, and how everyone can help with the group’s appeal to Seattle DPD to stop the towers from being built. The rally and demonstration will end with replicas of the 12 cell towers being burned in protest, in a fire pit at Alki Beach.
The construction-permit application for the antennas has not received final approval; the review is on hold until there’s a decision on the aforementioned appeal.
EDITOR’S NOTE, ADDED WEDNESDAY: Alki Elementary’s PTA tells us they do NOT have a meeting this Thursday – their next meeting is a week later, on May 14th, and is entirely unrelated to this topic – so we have struck that part of the group’s announcement, above.
3 notes from the northwest side of 35th/Roxbury:
PEOPLE’S CHOICE UPDATE: More than two months ago, we told you about DPD documents indicating the People’s Choice Marketplace medical-marijuana access point, currently in the 9400 block of Delridge, was planning to open at 9451 35th SW. They didn’t answer our inquiries about it, but now a big banner’s up. By the way, for those who asked about the legalities of medical-marijuana storefronts (this is right across the street from Northwest Patient Resource Center on the northeast corner of 35th and Roxbury) near schools – with the charter school planned at the southwest corner – we talked to the City Attorney’s Office a while back and they basically told us that due to the mostly unregulated nature of dispensaries, this isn’t necessarily a conflict. But that was before a new law passed the State Legislature this year, so it’s all yet to be worked out, apparently.
CANNA HEALTH GONE: Immediately north of this spot, the medical-marijuana-authorization provider Canna Health is gone. But that freestanding building isn’t empty …
NEPENTHE MASSAGE’S NEW LOCATION: Nepenthe Massage, which used to be between The Junction and Morgan Junction, is now open in the former CH spot (9447 35th SW), according to a sign out front as well as its website.
FIRST REPORT, 2:40 PM: As of just before 2:30, the low bridge is out of commission because of a “technical malfunction,” per SDOT. Updates as we get them.
2:59 PM: SDOT says a crew is on the way.
3:50 PM: Just walked out onto the bridge. SDOT truck visible beneath it but crew not in sight.
Bridge is stuck “closed”; no perceptible gap in the deck. Some bicyclists are choosing to squeeze through gap in gates and cross anyway; alternatives are Water Taxi, C Line, or 1st Ave S Bridge.
4:21 PM: SDOT says the low bridge is now working again, after about an hour and a half.
More of your neighbors reaching out across the globe to help survivors of the 7.8-magnitude Nepal quake that killed more than 7,000 people. Just got word of this:
7-11 at Admiral Junction started a Nepal Earthquake Relief Fund to be assured that timely help is reached to Earthquake victims in remote villages far away from Kathmandu City. We are requesting our community to donate as little or much they are able to. This store has already collected over $800 from its customers in the last few days and hopes to raise more to buy basic food and tents to victims in the rural areas where time is running out and no aid has yet reached. The money raised is wired daily to the volunteers in Kathmandu who will deliver directly to the victims in need at the earliest possible time. If you want to know more about this, please feel free to contact Kap at 7-11 at the Admiral Junction, West Seattle. Thank you in advance for your kindness.
The store is at 4312 SW Admiral Way.
Two weeks until a big day at Alki Beach, May 17th:
(Photo from WSB archives)
WEST SEATTLE 5K WALK/RUN: Are you signed up yet? Easiest way to do it is online, rather than standing in line the day it happens (and the fee is lower, too). This is the 7th year for the biggest 5K at the beach every year, raising money for West Seattle High School students via the WSHS PTSA. As usual, the WS5K will start at 61st/Alki around 9 am, first heading eastbound on a round-trip route to and from Anchor (Luna) Park, finishing at the same spot where it started. WSB is again among the sponsors and we look forward to seeing you there. Here’s where to sign up online.
REMINDER, NO ‘SUMMER STREETS’ – BUT ‘ALKI DAZE’ IS ON: The road will close to motorized vehicles during the 5K as always, but then it’ll reopen rather than staying partly closed for the rest of the day, because, as first reported here a month ago, after seven years, SDOT is NOT presenting a “Summer Streets” (originally “Car-Free Day”) event. But, as we told you on April 15th, a group of Alki residents decided to step up to organize a celebration:
The events, which organizers say will be held without closing the street, are listed on the poster, including gatherings on Saturday night as well as live music, a bike parade (1 pm) and bicycle “drag race” (3 pm) on Sunday afternoon (again, this is also May 17th). You’ll also find a Facebook event invite here, to keep up with updates.
Photo by Bill Bacon)
Happy Sunday! From the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
PROFESSOR @ PEACE LUTHERAN: Starting at 9:15 am, a guest presenter today at Peace Lutheran Church in Gatewood:
Professor Patrick Henry, Emeritus Professor of Philosophy and Literature at Whitman College, will be a guest presenter at Peace Lutheran Church (39th and SW Thistle). Dr. Henry will give a special presentation on the community of Le Chambon-sur-Lignon, France, who, along with neighboring villages, offered safe haven to Jewish refugees during WW2, saving thousands of lives.
The schedule for his presentations – all of which are open to the community – is in our calendar listing. (39th/Thistle)
NORTH DELRIDGE TREE WALK: 10 am, meet Tree Ambassador Patrick at Greg Davis Park to tour neighborhood green spaces and learn some Cottage Grove history. Free, all welcome. (26th/Brandon)
WEST SEATTLE FARMERS’ MARKET: 10 am-2 pm, with plants, new produce, more. (44th/Alaska)
(added) BASEBALL GEAR DONATION DRIVE: A local father and son are collecting bats and gloves in good condition to take to Nicaragua this summer, 11 am-3:30 pm at Hiawatha Playfield. (2700 California SW)
FREE CUPCAKE & CENTURYLINK 1-GIG INFO: 11 am-3 pm at Cupcake Royale in The Junction, CenturyLink has a drop-in info session about its 1 Gig service, with a free cupcake for everyone who stops by, while they last.
(WSB photo, added after event began)
Note: CL is sponsoring WSB to promote this event. (California/Alaska)
FRED LAUGHS: This time around, the Kol HaNeshamah “FRED Talks” series presents “fun, frolicking, female-focused comedy,” with Connie Burke and Jake Fawcett. 3 pm – more info in our listing. (6115 SW Hinds)
LIVE MUSIC AT C & P: Max García Conover & The Ghost of Paul Revere perform at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor), 3-5 pm. (5612 California SW)
WEST MY FRIEND: 7:30 pm at historic Kenyon Hall, playing “everything from indie-roots to chamber-folk.” More info in our listing. (7904 35th SW)
YOU’LL FIND EVEN MORE … on our calendar.
One note tonight, from a Gatewood resident who’s wondering if the same hit-run driver had any other victims:
Unfortunately, our neighbor’s car got hit quite badly about 7:40 pm this evening by someone driving out of control down Rose near 39th. It was a gray SUV. We have of course called the police and our neighbor found the car at 44th and Portland without the driver. The reason I am writing is we heard a loud boom about 5 minutes prior to the hit and run. Please share with the police if your car was stolen or if your car was also hit in the Gatewood area.
In exactly one week, sellers and shoppers will be recovering from the biggest West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day yet – 9 am-3 pm Saturday, May 9th, at 340+ locations all over WS. Here’s what’s new:
THE MAP: If you haven’t already seen it, the online version has been linked from the WSB navigation-tab bar for a few hours now – or just go here. The page includes tips for using and searching the map. If you have any questions, garagesale@westseattleblog.com is the official mailbox of WSCGSD. The printable version is still in the works – but it’s all the same information you’ll find on the now-available online map (click any sale marker to open its info-bubble including the sale description; you can use the search feature to look for keywords in those descriptions).
INFO FOR SELLERS: The e-mail version goes out in the next hour; postal-mail packets are in USPS’s hands. Speaking of whom …
STAMP OUT HUNGER: The USPS letter carriers’ annual door-to-door, mailbox-to-mailbox food drive is also on the second Saturday in May every year, so we always suggest that you put out your bag of nonperishable food for pickup before you head out to sell or shop – thousands of hungry neighbors are counting on you.
PUT UP A POSTER: We’re continuing to canvass WS with 8 1/2 x 11 posters for bulletin boards and shop windows; if you have someplace to put one up – favorite coffee shop, school, etc. – here’s the printable PDF we linked from the WSCGSD website earlier in the week.
UNUSUAL ITEMS: If you browse the sales, here’s some of the more unusual items you’ll find listed:
*Homemade dog jackets
*Stained glass
*Sports-car ephemera
*Movie props
*Antique typewriter
*Tiffany ceiling fan
*Mountaineering equipment
*Never-worn wedding dress
More spotlights during this week’s countdown!
8:29 PM: There’s no power-outage-style map available, so we have no way of knowing how much of West Seattle is or isn’t affected, but Comcast is reported to have acknowledged nationwide trouble tonight with at least part of its video service. 
(Added: Our partners at the Times have a report on this too.) Haven’t seen anything about an ETA for a fix, but Comcast has said the big pay-per-view fight would not be affected. Added at right: Image from the comcast.net page for our account
9:59 PM: Some commenters say their service is back. (The fight’s over, too.)
Earlier this week, we mentioned the May 27 candidates’ forum in South Park for those running for the new District 1 City Council seat serving SP and West Seattle. We’ve since learned of another forum happening before that one. The Westside Interfaith Network and League of Women Voters of Seattle-King County invite you to the forum they’re presenting at 6:30 pm Monday, May 18th – a little over two weeks away – at Fauntleroy UCC Church (9140 California SW). It’ll be a moderated forum “with the opportunity for questions from the audience,” according to WIN, which is a coalition of local churches.
SIDE NOTE: WSB coverage links from the three forums held so far, all in West Seattle (all of which we recorded on video):
–April 8th, presented by the 34th District Democrats @ The Hall at Fauntleroy
–March 14th, presented by VIEWS @ Senior Center of West Seattle
–February 5th, presented by WSB @ Highland Park Improvement Club
(Photos courtesy Straight Blast Gym)
Still looking for summer camp, and/or a new place for your kid(s) to spend time before/after school? New offerings at Straight Blast Gym (WSB sponsor), co-proprietor Sonia Sillan tells us:
Straight Blast Gym offers kids’ martial arts focusing on life skills and youth development. We have recently expanded our schedule, upgraded our Before and After School Program, AND have added a brand-new Summer Camp for 2015. We are invested in the success of your child in the gym and on the mats, but also in life as well.
SBG is currently offering free consultations, which include a free private lesson for your kid(s), and a discount for enrolling in the summer camp or before/after-school program by the end of this month. You can call or e-mail with questions – 206.420.1834 or welcome@sbgseattle.com
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