West Seattle, Washington
25 Thursday
(Bald eagles on a Beach Drive rooftop – photo by Brian Baum)
Happy Friday! From the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
WORDS, WRITERS, WEST SEATTLE: 5-7 pm at Barnes & Noble/Westwood Village, the monthly Southwest Seattle Historical Society-presented literary event features author Theresa McCormick and her book “A Far Cry from Here: Growing Up and Out of Fundamentalism” – here’s a preview:
Words, Writers & West Seattle presents … from Avenue Collection on Vimeo.
No admission charge. (2800 SW Barton)
CORNER BAR: 6 pm, it’s Highland Park Improvement Club‘s popular monthly neighborhood drop-in party, featuring the Yada Yada Blues Band live at 9. More here. (12th/Holden)
HIGH-SCHOOL BASKETBALL: Final Friday night of the regular season, with a full slate of home games – girls’ and boys’ varsity, for both West Seattle High School (3000 California SW) and Chief Sealth International High School (2600 SW Thistle). WSHS hosts Franklin; CSIHS hosts Eastside Catholic. At both gyms, it’s girls’ varsity at 6:30, boys’ varsity at 8.
‘4000 MILES’: 7:30 pm, the Pulitzer-nominated dramatic comedy directed by Mathew Wright is onstage at ArtsWest (WSB sponsor) – tickets available here. (4711 California SW)
MEMPHIS RADIO KINGS: Live at Feedback Lounge (WSB sponsor), 9:30 pm, no cover. (6451 California SW)
AGAIN TODAY/TONIGHT, THERE’S MORE … so we invite you to browse the full calendar, for today/tonight and beyond.
What happens at your local community center(s) – a long list of activities, classes, and events, featured in the seasonal brochure – isn’t just the work of the city staffers who work there. A community-based advisory council is hard at work behind the scenes, too. The Alki Community Center Advisory Council is inviting new members, and center coordinator Marc Hoffman asked us to share the invitation for you to “support the community center staff’s efforts to meet our recreational needs – use your talents to better our community!” The council usually meets at the center on second Wednesdays. If you’re interested, contact Marc at 206-684-7430 or marc.hoffman@seattle.gov, and/or council president Roberta Fowler, r2fowler@yahoo.com.
(WS high/low bridges and Highway 99 views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
Another rainy commute. No specific incidents or alerts in or from West Seattle so far, though.
NORTH DELRIDGE PROJECT: On Thursday, we found out more from SDOT about the upcoming work at Delridge/Andover and northward, including the plan to start week after next.
8:22 AM: A little trouble on northbound 99 in the Battery Street Tunnel:
Officers blocking right lane of SR 99 NB in Battery St Tunnel for disabled vehicle. Tow truck is on the way. pic.twitter.com/EfoY8RpjZ9
— Seattle Police Dept. (@SeattlePD) February 6, 2015
8:53 AM: The BSTunnel situation is reported to be cleared, but there’s a new problem on northbound 99 – a crash, with injuries, reported near the stadium zone. That’s all we’ve heard (via scanner) so far.
By Alice Enevoldsen
Special to West Seattle Blog
The night you need to be outside this month is February 20th, so call up Cliff Mass and ask him to arrange for clear weather that evening. Just after sunset we have a conjunction between the Moon, Mars, and Venus that isn’t to be missed, it’ll be stunning.
The next night, February 21st, Venus and Mars will be even closer in the sky. You’ll be able to easily see the pair in binoculars; use that moment to notice the difference in color between the two.
Hey, What’s That?
Unless it was the aforementioned Venus conjunction or Venus itself, which sets in the west shortly after sunset, then you’re definitely seeing Jupiter every night this month.
9:31 PM: Just wrapped up at Highland Park Improvement Club, the first forum of a campaign season which will result in West Seattle/South Park electing its first District 1 City Councilmember. Participating were the four candidates who have officially declared so far – from left to right in our photo below, Phillip Tavel, George Capestany, Amanda Kay Helmick, and Chas Redmond.
(WSB photos by Torin Record-Sand)
If you couldn’t be there, you’ll be able to watch it all on video, thanks to Edgar Riebe from West Seattle-based Captive Eye Media, and we’ll publish that in another report when it’s ready.
Thanks to HPIC for allowing us to have the event there, and thanks to the 80 or so people who came from all over the city (including some of the at-large candidates that West Seattleites also will vote on – we noted Councilmember Sally Clark, Bill Bradburd, Alex Tsimerman – sorry if we missed someone). The candidates answered about 20 questions, two-thirds asked by us (many suggested by readers) and one-third in the audience-asked final half-hour, wide variety of topics. Next forum we know of is planned for Saturday morning, March 14, presented by VIEWS – we’ll publish more about it when their official announcement is out.
ADDED 10:56 PM: Thanks to Michael Oxman for a snippet of video – this was a question asked by Hildegard Nichols from the local Green group, asking the candidates about their grass-roots cred.
11:46 AM FRIDAY: First version of the video is up. (Added: Also published to YouTube:)
We still intend to post a separate story later (report #2) with embedded video as well as more text highlights as well and a few additional photos. It should be noted that the filing deadline is still a ways off – May 15th – while the primary election is August 4th.
The first Design Review date is set for the CVS drugstore project at 4722 Fauntleroy Way SW. We broke the news of the proposal a year and a half ago; after the initial “site plan” filing, it sat dormant for a while. Then back in December, we talked to a CVS rep who said the project was proceeding but not expected to open this year. Now, it’s on the way to Design Review – tentatively set for a March 19th meeting – and the packet just turned up online. Above is the site layout described as the one preferred by the project team (while not labeled as such, the top square labeled “parking” is the Les Schwab lot, not part of the CVS plan). The project now has two numbers and addresses in the city system, one for the building and west parking at 4722 Fauntleroy Way, one for additional parking off the alley, at 4721 38th SW. Here’s the packet currently in the city system (keep in mind, it might be revised before the meeting next month):
The packet put together by architects Schemata Workshop describes the proposal as “a single-story CVS retail building with a pharmacy and a loading mezzanine. The project will include parking and a drive-through for the pharmacy. Loading will be accommodated in the alley.” That’s the alley east of the 4700 block of Fauntleroy, where the drugstore is planned to replace the building that currently houses West Seattle Produce and the consignment store Suite Arrangements. While the site is primarily zoned for development up to 85 feet high, the packet notes that there is a covenant for no building higher than 30 feet. It also notes that the land is being leased, not bought. The Design Review schedule says this project will take up both potential meeting slots on March 19th, starting at 6:30 pm.
SIDE NOTE: If you missed the earlier coverage, the West Seattle plan is part of CVS’s expansion into this state; it has stores open now in Burien and Renton, and others planned in Seattle including Wallingford and lower Queen Anne – some of those designs are shown in the packet you can browse above.
If you follow WSB on Twitter and/or Facebook, you might already have seen that photo; we posted it while in transit this morning, after stopping on Harbor Avenue for this rescue in process, which only lasted a moment. We were en route to a potential breaking story and couldn’t stop to find out what happened – nor did we see what preceded this, just that it looked like a young seagull, hurt or at least stunned, and that the person in the green jacket knelt to pick it up, and carried it off to the water side of Harbor, by Seacrest Park’s east end. If you are the person in the photo and/or know what happened, consider a comment, or e-mailing us – editor@westseattleblog.com – thank you.
P.S. If you aren’t sure what to do if you encounter injured wildlife – in response to this photo, Lesley tweeted this link to info from PAWS.
A reader question last week resulted in this short story about work starting soon on pedestrian and drainage improvements along the north end of Delridge Way. SDOT promised more information – and now we have it:
Beginning Monday, February 16, SDOT will begin construction to build curb ramps at the intersection of Delridge Way SW and SW Andover Street, widen the sidewalk along the east side of Delridge Way SW and install storm drainage improvements. This project will help improve safety and access for all roadway users in the neighborhood.
Crews have set up construction barriers near the work area to facilitate the installation of new Seattle City Light poles. Leading up to construction, you will see increased pre-construction activities, construction equipment and crews, and placement of temporary “No Parking” signs.
Below is information regarding the construction schedule and impacts that will take place in the project area. Please note that this schedule is dependent on weather and may change.
2/16 – 3/6 Construction will start at the intersection of SW Andover Street and Delridge Way SW as crews remove existing asphalt and install new storm drainage and curb ramps. You can expect curb lane restrictions, parking restrictions, transit stop relocations, pedestrian and bicycle detours around the work area.
3/9 – 3/27 Work begins north of SW Andover Street to extend the sidewalk, rebuild the 23rd Avenue SW/Delridge Way SW intersection, and install storm drainage. You can expect temporary driveway and parking restrictions, lane restrictions, and pedestrian detours around the work area. Access to the West Seattle Bridge Trail will occasionally be restricted; bicyclists and pedestrians may detour around construction activity via 23rd Avenue SW or use an alternate route. At times, 23rd Avenue SW at Delridge Way SW will be closed to through traffic. Local access will be maintained. We will provide additional advance notification before driveway access is restricted.
More information on the project background, funding and schedule can be found at the project webpage at seattle.gov/transportation/DelridgeImprovements.htm. Construction information will be posted here as it becomes available.
As for construction itself, during this work you can expect:
· Temporary driveway closures of up to 7 days; advance notice will be provided
· Closure of 23rd Avenue SW at Delridge Way SW
· Parking and lane restrictions near the work area
· Construction during normal work hours, between 7 AM and 6 PM, with possible weekend work
· Noise, dust and vibration associated with concrete removal and paving
· Impacts to bus stops
· Restricted access to the West Seattle Bridge Trail (see note above)
· Pedestrian and bicycle detoursWe expect construction will be complete in April 2015, depending on weather.
(Tree silhouetted against the fog, photographed by Long Bach Nguyen near High Point Library last weekend)
Two months in the making – with the candidate lineup changing up to the last minute – tonight’s the night for the first District 1 City Council forum. That starts our look ahead to tonight, from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar!
DISTRICT 1: FIRST LOOK: 6:30 pm doors, 7-8:30 pm forum at Highland Park Improvement Club – WSB is presenting the first candidates’ forum of the history-making first-ever District 1 City Council race. Voters approved a monumental change, 7 district-elected councilmembers and 2 at-large as of this year, instead of all 9 at-large, and now we see how that changes city leadership. As of right now, four candidates are vying for the West Seattle/South Park spot – in order of declaration, Chas Redmond, Amanda Kay Helmick, George Capestany, Phillip Tavel – and this is your first chance to see and hear them on a shared stage. (12th/Holden, with overflow parking suggested at Riverview Playfield a block north)
DESIGN REVIEW X 2: Two developments are on the Southwest Design Review Board agenda tonight: 6:30 pm, the fourth review for 4505 42nd SW; 8 pm, the second review – six years after the first one – for 4106 Delridge Way SW. Both are mixed-use projects; click either aforementioned address for a direct link to the “packet” showing you project graphics and information. Both reviews are upstairs at the Senior Center of West Seattle. (Oregon/California)
‘4,000 MILES’ AT ARTSWEST: 7:30 pm curtain for this Pulitzer-nominated dramatic comedy at ArtsWest Playhouse & Gallery (WSB sponsor), whose artistic director Mathew Wright is directing. (4711 California SW)
COUNTRY AT THE BENBOW: 9 pm, the Benbow Room bill includes Darci Carlson and Burley Mountain. (4210 SW Admiral Way)
THE REST OF THE CALENDAR … for today, tonight, and beyond is here.
(January 2015 photo by James Bratsanos – cargo ships anchored off Manchester, a holding zone for Tacoma)
Depending on how you interpret what the two sides in the Seattle-and-beyond West Coast dock talks are saying right now, a deal – or a port shutdown – could be close. It’s been more than half a year since the International Longshore and Warehouse Union‘s contract with the terminal operators, under the umbrella of the Pacific Maritime Association, expired. The PMA says it made an offer Wednesday that it calls “all-in” – detailed here. The ILWU describes the two sides as “extremely close” and says it’s “dropped” some issues in hopes of a resolution. But the organizations’ respective statements indicate continuing disagreement over what’s led to loaded freighters waiting at anchor and trucks backing up from the docks – the PMA continues to allege “ILWU slowdowns” while the union alleges the problem is an “employer-caused congestion crisis.” In a video linked from the PMA website, its president James McKenna claimed West Coast ports are as little as a week from “collapse” and says the offer is “as far as we can go at this time.” ILWU president Robert McEllrath, meantime, says, ““Closing the ports at this point would be reckless and irresponsible.”
Spotlight topics at this week’s Westwood-Roxhill-Arbor Heights Community Council meeting included how the area’s “urban village” has fared in city spending, plus, potential White Center/North Highline annexation.
(WS high/low bridges and Highway 99 views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
The big commute news so far this morning is the rain, which means slow going – be safe.
METRO SURVEY: Among the transportation stories reported in the past day – Metro’s on the road to a long-range plan, and as part of it, invites you to take an online survey. The link’s in our story.
9:42 PM: Another West Seattleite has announced he’s joining the District 1 City Council race. Phillip Tavel sent his official announcement tonight, describing himself as an “attorney and entrepreneur.” Tavel says he is ready to “make tough decisions for our community and our city” on “existing projects,” singling out the Highway 99 tunnel: “Stopping the existing tunnel project is the most responsible decision we can make. The remaining project money should be used to increase transit and implement a lower-cost alternative that actually delivers on the promise to reduce traffic.” He lists a professional background including teaching high-school physics, co-founding an entertainment company, and working as a trial lawyer, now in private practice, as well as serving as a court-appointed advocate for children. He also leads the long-running Wednesday trivia night at Talarico’s in The Junction. This is not his first run for office; Tavel ran for District Court Judge last year.
We are waiting to hear whether he’ll accept our invitation to join previously announced candidates Chas Redmond, Amanda Kay Helmick, and George Capestany in the District 1: First Look candidates’ forum, presented by WSB, tomorrow (Thursday) night at Highland Park Improvement Club, doors open at 6:30, forum at 7.
12:01 AM UPDATE: Tavel has confirmed he’ll participate.
Something to say about tech at school? Here’s your chance:
Seattle Public Schools wants to give everyone an opportunity to provide feedback and input into the district’s Technology Vision process. To accomplish this we are scheduling five “Town Hall” meetings around the District. One in each of the five major regions …
WEST SEATTLE REGION: Monday, March 2, at West Seattle High School cafeteria
Doors will open at 5:30 p.m. so that attendees can browse sample results from the Tech Summit. The structured meeting will begin at 6 p.m. Interested individuals who are unable to attend any of the Town Hall meetings are encouraged to submit their vision, ideas, and comments to techvision@seattleschools.org
What will regional transit be like in 25 years? That’s the question the county says is at the heart of the long-awaited long-range-planning process for Metro Transit, just announced: “We’ll Get You There: Our Vision for the Future of Public Transportation.”
(WSB photo: Route 21 northbound on 35th at Morgan)
According to the official announcement, this will all unfold over the next year and a half. Metro promises multiple ways for you to get directly involved, starting with:
First: Take this online survey.
Second: Apply by February 18th to join the community-advisory group “that will collaborate regularly with Metro to ensure that the final plan represents a diversity of needs and perspectives.” The first of its every-two-months meetings is set for March 12th.
Ultimately, this will result in a draft long-range plan for public review early next year, and a final version for the County Council to consider in fall 2016.
(Sustainability-award-winning Highland Park Improvement Club, location for Thursday night’s forum)
Before the day’s done, here’s one more invitation to e-mail us any question(s) you’d like to hear the District 1 (West Seattle/South Park) City Council candidates answer during the “First Look” forum we’re presenting tomorrow night – editor@westseattleblog.com. The format includes time for questions to be asked by attendees from the floor, too, but the time will go fast. Here again is the list of declared candidates:
George Capestany
Chas Redmond
Amanda Kay Helmick
We’re exactly six months from the deadline for casting your first vote (August 4th primary), so come see and hear from the contenders Thursday night at Highland Park Improvement Club (12th/Holden), doors open at 6:30, forum at 7.
(WSSC photo: GU-10 at Walt Hundley Playfield on opening day of 2014 spring season)
Another local youth-sports league has just opened up signups for its next season: West Seattle Soccer Club. WSSC’s Tim McMonigle tells WSB that spring soccer registration will continue all month long – but if you’re not signed up by month’s end, it’ll be “space-available basis” only, so the sooner you sign up, the better. Find info/links here.
(January 17th WSB photo by Patrick Sand)
Two and a half weeks ago, hundreds rallied at Alki Beach to support freedom for the last surviving captive Puget Sound orca, best known as “Lolita.” The rally was partly in anticipation of a federal decision on whether to include Lolita in the endangered-species listing that already covers her wild family members. Today, this federal news release announces, the decision is in:
NOAA Fisheries will issue a final rule to include Lolita, a captive killer whale at the Miami Seaquarium, in the endangered species listing for Southern Resident Killer Whales that spend much of the year in the inland waters of Washington and British Columbia.
While Lolita will now share the endangered listing status of the population she came from, the decision does not impact her residence at the Miami Seaquarium.
(2013 photo courtesy Denny IMS: Septimus collaborating with Marcus Pimpleton & Denny musicians)
Best way to go through football withdrawal this weekend: Stay busy. Our calendar has many possibilities, including this fab FREE concert on Saturday night: The 5th annual Soul Jambalaya music extravaganza, featuring, again this year, not only student jazz musicians from Denny International Middle School and Chief Sealth International High School directed by Marcus Pimpleton, but also guests including Total Experience Gospel Choir, Septimus, and Westside Blues. It’s an exceptional night of music in multiple genres including jazz, gospel, funk, and blues, 7 pm Saturday in the Sealth Auditorium (2600 SW Thistle); donations accepted to support student music programs.
10:57 AM: The power outage affecting more than 60 homes on western Charlestown Hill is in its 10th hour and the estimated time of restoration has been pushed back again until after 1 pm. We’re waiting to hear back from Seattle City Light on details regarding the “equipment failure” listed on the outage map as its cause, and we’ll add an update here when that information is available.
1:33 PM: Still out, according to SCL map, which now describes restoration as “pending.” SCL spokesperson Scott Thomsen tells WSB, “The crew working on this outage is still trying to determine what piece of equipment failed. This can be a challenge with underground facilities where you can’t just look at the cable and see whether it is intact or damaged. They work through a progression to identify the section of line where the problem exists, including checks on transformers and connections. In some cases, it can require digging up the last section of cable to find the damaged spot and make the repair.”
3:37 PM: Just checked the outage map, and this is no longer listed – if you don’t have your power back, though, be sure City Light knows!
4:46 PM: Update from SCL’s Thomsen – an underground-cable failure caused this outage, as was also the case in an early-morning outage in southwest West Seattle about two weeks ago.
(Working waterfront of the Duwamish River, photographed by Don Brubeck, shared via Flickr)
Midweek highlights from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
ARBOR HEIGHTS KINDERGARTEN TOURS: 9 am-10 am – if you’re not signed up for today, check our listing to see other upcoming dates, and how to RSVP. Remember AHES continues at Boren for one more year, so that’s where the tours are. (5950 Delridge Way SW)
SPANISH STORY TIME @ MY THREE LITTLE BIRDS: 11:15 am on Wednesdays, My Three Little Birds in Morgan Junction offers Spanish story time. (6959 California SW)
HOME OFFICE/CO-WORKING MEETUP: Noon at West Seattle Office Junction – get out of the house and into a meetup to network, share ideas, take a break from the usual surroundings. Details in our calendar listing. (6040 California SW)
SOUTHWEST DISTRICT COUNCIL: 6:30 pm at the Senior Center of West Seattle, all welcome. Agenda items include City Councilmember Tom Rasmussen and further discussion of the Fauntleroy Boulevard project, including whether its utilities should be undergrounded (here’s our coverage of the most-recent discussion). Other topics will include the Port of Seattle’s upcoming “West Seattle working waterfront” community boat tour. (Oregon/California)
JIM PAGE AT C & P: Singer-songwriter Jim Page performs 7-9 pm at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor) – find out more about his music here. (5612 California SW)
NEIGHBORHOOD GREEN MEETINGS: What can you do about climate change? For starters – 7-9 pm, join this twice-monthly gathering at Admiral Bird. (California/Admiral)
4000 MILES, WEEK 3: It’s the third week of performances for this Pulitzer-nominated dramatic comedy at ArtsWest (WSB sponsor). Curtain time 7:30 pm; get tickets online. (4711 California SW)
WHAT ELSE IS UP? Please browse our calendar for more of what’s going on today/tonight, and beyond.
(WS high/low bridges and Highway 99 views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
6:58 AM: Good morning!
As we start today’s commute watch, there’s word of trouble in the bus lane on northbound 99, just tweeted by Kevin:
FYI @wsdot @kcmetrobus @westseattleblog refuse truck stalled in right bus lane on NB 99 into downtown #Seattle pic.twitter.com/4H0WIa1sax
— Kevin Freitas (@kevinfreitas) February 4, 2015
7:06 AM: The truck has moved on, according to SDOT, and the lane is open again.
7:35 AM: A note from Lisa calls our attention to a power outage on western Charlestown Hill. Does not appear to be in an area with any traffic lights, according to the City Light outage map (which blames “equipment failure” and projects the power will be back soon), but you might encounter repair crews in that area.
8:30 AM: From Helga in comments: “E Marginal backup from Atlantic to Spokane for the 3rd day in a row.”
8:38 AM: Traffic reporter Tracy Taylor @ KING 5 found a camera for it:
to join in with the @westseattleblog looks like its another tough day with port traffic.. pic.twitter.com/pzdiMcKajz
— King5TracyT (@King5TracyT) February 4, 2015
(From left, Pete Spalding of the SW Precinct Advisory Council; Chief Kathleen O’Toole; Capt. Steve Wilske; Deb Greer of the WS Block Watch Captains’ Network)
7:44 PM: Seattle Police Chief Kathleen O’Toole‘s first “community conversation” in West Seattle was cut short after a woman concerned about police-brutality shouted down the chief and others before the meeting was an hour old.
Those who had come to hear Chief O’Toole talk about West Seattle community crime issues tried in turn to get the protester to stop so they could ask their questions, but after a few minutes of semi-chaos, host Pete Spalding announced the meeting was over. Some community members moved ahead to the front of the room to try to get the chief to answer their questions in a one-on-one type of situation, which continued for at least 15 minutes after the meeting’s official end, and is continuing even as we publish the first version of this.
We’ll add video of the truncated meeting a bit later. (9:54 PM: Here’s the link; 10:12 PM, it’s embedded below – note that our camera was fixed/pointed to the front of the room, so the shouting is off-camera:)
Below, our notes as it unfolded.
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