West Seattle, Washington
28 Thursday
With ballots going out in mid-October, the “November 4” election is closer than it seems. Just announced by Rev. Erik Kindem from Peace Lutheran Church in Gatewood, a forum this Sunday on two of the statewide initiatives you’ll be voting on:
Peace Lutheran Church is hosting a forum on two firearms-related initiatives that will be on the ballot in November: I-594 (text here) and I-591 (text here).
. I-594 would expand current criminal background-check requirements to include all gun sales and transfers in Washington State with specific exceptions.
. I-591 would limit the circumstances in which firearms can be confiscated and would limit the ability of government agencies to require background checks.
Stacy Anderson from FAN (Faith Action Network) will be leading the forum, which will begin at 12 noon. Peace Lutheran is located at the corner of SW Thistle and 39th Avenue SW in West Seattle. Members of the public are invited to attend.
That's the motorcycle that was involved. @SeattlePD directing traffic by Lincoln Park south lot. pic.twitter.com/W7WFWUqxIx
— West Seattle Blog (@westseattleblog) September 26, 2014
(WSB photo tweet, substituted for traffic cam that originally was atop this report)
4:05 PM: Traffic alert for Fauntleroy Way alongside Lincoln Park, north of the ferry terminal – emergency crews are at the scene of what’s reported to be a motorcycle-car collision. Emergency radio communication describes the rider (added: a 52-year-old man) as having been thrown off his motorcycle after hitting the car, but not having lost consciousness. A Seattle Fire medic unit is arriving to take the rider to a hospital. This is in the southbound lanes, heading toward the dock, so if you have to head in that direction, we’d suggest waiting a while.
4:18 PM: Police have just allowed some northbound traffic through, but southbound (toward the ferry terminal) is still described as snarled, and people are reported to be using side streets, trying to get to the ferry dock any way they can.
4:24 PM: Coordination efforts are continuing, to try to move some traffic through the area. The victim, meantime, is en route to Harborview.
4:46 PM: An officer is directing traffic by the south parking lot to help keep things moving.
(WSB photo: Ex-encampment site being cleared after its closure one year ago)
The West Seattle site known best as the multiple-times-former site of the “Nickelsville” homeless encampment will NOT be the new home of Food Lifeline after all.
It’s been almost two years since the nonprofit confirmed it was looking at the site, which includes both city- and state-owned land. FL described the location as its preferred site as recently as one year ago, when the encampment moved off the site under orders of the city.
But today, a spokesperson for Food Lifeline sent word that FL has instead chosen a site in Riverton, just south of South Park, and is breaking ground there. Asked why FL decided against the ex-encampment site at West Marginal Way SW and Highland Park Way SW, Joleen Zanuzoski told WSB, “When Food Lifeline was going through the second phase of the environmental review at the West Marginal/ Highland Park location, there were a lot of unknowns associated with the land that would lead to additional investment for the build. Food Lifeline made the decision to look elsewhere so they could spend their donors money in the most efficient way possible and to find land that wouldn’t have so many questionable elements attached to it that might be cause for more money being spent for land development.”
FL says it’s instead constructing two buildings on nine acres at 9600 8th Avenue S. (map), with “200,000 square feet of warehouse and cold storage, administrative offices, conference rooms and a demonstration kitchen space. Food Lifeline will occupy one of the warehouses.” It’s raising money to buy the property, for which it’s made a lease-to-own deal for starters.
Meantime, we have a message out to the city, inquiring about the future of the ex-encampment site in West Seattle, now that the Food Lifeline proposal is no longer in play. (Previously, you might recall, the same site was under consideration for a new jail that ultimately the city agreed didn’t need to be built.)
Four reports in West Seattle Crime Watch today, all car-involved crimes, one way or another:
CAR STOLEN FROM GARAGE: Just in from Julie in Gatewood:
I wanted to report a dark-blue 2007 Audi A4 with tinted windows, stolen in the middle of the last night between 11:30 pm to 8:00 am. License plate AFL5094. The rims are scratched up from curbs, but other than that in really good shape. They broke into our garage & took the car. They also broke into our SUV on the street & stole all my kids’ movies.
Julie adds that the car theft followed the prowl – which yielded a garage-door opener for the thief/thieves to use. If you see her Audi, meantime, as the @getyourcarback tweet says, call 911.
Next – a car being sought in a hit-and-run:
KNOW WHOSE CAR THAT IS? Cathleen says they’re looking for a hit-run driver:
The driver, a white male in his late 20’s/early 30’s with dark hair and close-shaven beard, hit our daughter and her two passengers (Wednesday) morning in our car at approximately 7:42 a.m on their way to school at the top of SW City View Street as she was approaching Admiral Way. He verbally assaulted her, refused to exchange information and after adjusting the front bumper/hood of his car, drove away.
Two of our home security cameras captured both the accident, a Van Pool car passing the accident and the man pulling away a minute and a half later as he passed our driveway, unfortunately we cannot make out the plate and are hoping someone will recognize the vehicle, which has stickers in the rear window.
If you have a tip, please contact police directly and refer to incident 14-319713.
Ahead, followups on two alleged-DUI cases from this past week:
You can help the West Seattle Food Bank reach its half-ton goal at the “Mayor’s Day of Concern for the Hungry” annual food drive tomorrow. WSFB’s Judi Yazzolino explains how:
The WSFB has two programs that we are in need of food for – low-sodium items for our Home Delivery Program where we deliver approximately 170 bags of groceries weekly to homebound elderly and disabled people, and healthy single-serving items for our Backpack Program, where we work with 6 local schools by providing more than 100 “backpacks” of food to ensure that children in need have nutritious meals for the weekend. We will have wishlists at the food drive this Saturday to help you shop, or you can go to our website at westseattlefoodbank.org.
WSFB will be happy to see you and your donation(s) tomorrow, 11 am-5 pm, at Metropolitan Market (WSB sponsor), 42nd/Admiral.
As our short Instagram clip shows, the last building semi-standing at the old Arbor Heights Elementary School is getting the wrecking-ball-style treatment right now. It’s been exactly four weeks after the heavy-duty equipment first dug into the buildings there, almost ceremonially, on the Friday afternoon before Labor Day. Now the campus is piled high with rubble:
Once the site clearing is done, the project is expected to stop down from November to February. For a look at the new school that will then be built, check our coverage of the community briefing/Q-A meeting in June.
ADDED: Thanks to Mike R. for the view looking eastward over the full site:
We’ll check this weekend on the other old West Seattle school being demolished to make room for a replacement, Genesee Hill.
(Thanks to Jana for sharing a photo of the “scarecrow garden” in Admiral – click image for larger view)
The weekend is in view! Drier weather, too. Highlights from our updated-multiple-times-daily calendar:
PULCHRITUDINOUS RHODODENDRONS: That’s the theme of the afternoon presentation (1 pm) during the West Seattle Garden Club meeting that begins at 10 am at Daystar Retirement Village (WSB sponsor) – full agenda in our calendar listing. (2615 SW Barton)
BOWLING BENEFIT: 4-6 pm, Hope Lutheran School‘s Family Bowl-a-Rama takes over West Seattle Bowl in a fundraiser for middle-school enrichment. Details in our calendar listing – you can sign up in advance or just show up. (39th/Oregon)
‘FRESH PANTRY’: That’s the title of Amy Pennington‘s new recipes-and-more book, which she’s signing 4-6 pm at Metropolitan Market (WSB sponsor) in Admiral.
WEST SEATTLE HIGH SCHOOL HOMECOMING: As previewed here earlier this week, the night starts with the 7 pm game at Southwest Athletic Complex vs. Rainier Beach, including a band performance at halftime. After the game, the West Seattle Booster Club invites adult supporters to a “5th Quarter Rally” at Pecado Bueno in The Junction. (Game’s at 2601 SW Thistle)
‘LAS VEGAS’ RAINBOW BINGO: 7 pm at the Senior Center of West Seattle, it’s this month’s edition of Rainbow Bingo, with a “Las Vegas” theme. Doors open at 6 pm. Call ASAP to see if reservations are still available. (Oregon/California)
WATCH, THEN TALK: After tonight’s 7:30 pm performance of “The Mountaintop” at ArtsWest (WSB sponsor), stay for a special event – a conversation about the production, with key players. (4711 California SW)
NIGHTLIFE X 8: That’s how many listings you’ll find on our calendar for tonight – live music from Alki to Admiral to Morgan Junction, and more.
(WS bridge and Highway 99 views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
The morning traffic watch is on.
In the looking-ahead department, here’s the SDOT roundup of this weekend’s big, potentially traffic-affecting events. On Highway 99, more overnight closures are scheduled for the week ahead, weather permitting.
(#22 wide receiver Brandon Lulow, #3 quarterback Isaiah Dowding-Albrecht)
Photos and story by Patrick Sand
West Seattle Blog co-publisher
The first home game of the year is in the books for Seattle Lutheran High School‘s football team.
The Saints had trouble stopping Tulalip Heritage at West Seattle Stadium on Thursday night; the Hawks scored seemingly every time they touched the ball, winning 58-0.
In the second half, quarterback Isaiah Dowding-Albrecht put together a solid passing game, but it wasn’t enough to overcome Tulalip’s speed and ability to find the open field.
It was the first time they had played in West Seattle Stadium as an eight-man team. First-year athletic director Dave Sleighter told WSB in an interview earlier this week that the shift from the traditional 11-man to eight-man came after the WIAA re-evaluated the school divisions, which led to Lutheran moving from the 2B Division to 1B Division. Sleighter said the change wasn’t all that welcome among the players when it was announced, but he said they took to the new format after they practiced a few times. Sleighter said it’s a faster and more offense-oriented kind of play, and that’s why the team has really embraced the new format.
As AD, Sleighter is successor to Bob Dowding, who remains at SLHS as an assistant for football. Sleighter also is serving as theology instructor. He was baseball coach when he arrived last year; he came here from Crean Lutheran HS in Irvine, California, after getting a call from Dowding. But he isn’t new to Seattle – he is originally from here, and had been looking for a way to return, so when Dowding’s call came somewhat out of the blue, he was glad that way had found him.
Next home game for SLHS football is homecoming, October 18th, vs. Rainier Christian.
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
In the city’s stack of neighborhood plans, Highland Park and Westwood share one. Last night, the community councils for the neighborhoods shared a meeting.
More than 40 people in attendance as Highland Park Action Committee‘s regular monthly meeting was joined by Westwood-Roxhill-Arbor Heights Community Council, with the focus on crime fighting and prevention.
One of West Seattle’s most historic porches was the scene of a party earlier tonight, as the the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce‘s monthly After Hours gathering came to the Southwest Seattle Historical Society’s Log House Museum. SWSHS executive director Clay Eals recounted some of the organization’s big events, including one that dwarfed tonight’s gathering:
The photo he’s holding is from the June 6th dedication of the renovated totem pole that stood at the Admiral Way Viewpoint for years. SWSHS’s next big event is the Champagne Gala Brunch in November (with sponsors inclding WSB); you can reserve your ticket(s) now. As for the Chamber, its next lunch meeting, October 9th, features Port Commissioner Stephanie Bowman. It’ll be an outdoor event in the Port-owned Jack Block Park (rain or shine!).
Just found out from “Diver Laura” James that Puget SoundKeeper and Ocean Conservancy are partners in another big local beach cleanup – this one, sponsored by Cox Enterprises, is tomorrow (Friday, September 26th) at Lincoln Park, 9 am-1 pm. They’re not soliciting more volunteers but Laura says if you want to help, they have room and won’t turn you away (tell the signup table you’re part of Diver Laura’s “team”). They’ll be on the beach north and south of Colman Pool, with registration at the nearest picnic shelter on the south stretch, starting at 8:45 am.
Another quick look ahead to Saturday – this time to make sure you know about a community bicycle ride along the Longfellow Creek Trail, to be guided in Spanish and English by Denny International Middle School teachers Andrew Chase and Ben Evans. Its goal is “to connect students and their families to local ecology” – but everyone, whether connected to a local school or not, is welcome to be part of it. Above, the invitation in English; for the Spanish version, click here. Meet at 9 am Saturday (September 27th) at the baseball fields by Roxhill Elementary (30th/Roxbury).
2:40 PM: In case you’ve noticed another significant Seattle Fire response, on the northbound side of 35th at Raymond – fire crews are here because there’s a smell of smoke inside the High Point Medical Clinic, but they haven’t found the source yet.
2:46 PM: Nothing found, and units are leaving.
2:09 PM: A car fire has SFD and SPD at Avalon/Genesee right now, and we’ve heard that buses are being diverted. (added) Just passed 35th/Avalon – north/eastbound traffic is blocked there.
2:18 PM: Westbound traffic is blocked just past Genesee. 1964 VW Bug had an engine fire. No injuries. Road shouldn’t be closed too much longer.
Five notes from the local world o’consumables:
COFFEE FOR CHARITY: New program at Hotwire Online Coffeehouse (WSB’s flagship sponsor – seven years now! – and Hotwire just marked its 12th anniversary): Each month, Hotwire is working with a charity to “create a special drink to help raise money for their charity. For every drink sold, $2 of the sales goes to their cause. This year we did a drink special with the folks from Seal Sitters and the people from the Log House Museum. I really enjoyed working with the non-profits, so I thought, let’s do it every month!” explains Hotwire proprietor Lora Swift (right). Right now, they’re helping Tilted Thunder raise money for its banked-track practice location. Two of Tilted Thunder’s leaders are West Seattleites, Lora notes. “The criteria is the non-profit must be a 501c3 and have a very strong tie to West Seattle.” Want to get in on Hotwire’s coffee-for-charity? Go here.
WESTSIDE PUBLIC HOUSE: According to both a tipster and a liquor-license application, that’s the new name in the works for the former Terrible Beauty pub/restaurant that closed abruptly in June at California/Edmunds in The Junction. The bare-bones Facebook page for the new operation calls it a “sports bar,” as did our tipster. No timeframe yet.
MOONDROP COFFEE AND TEA: That’s the new operation taking over the former Alki Juice and Java space across from Seacrest Pier, which had been for sale for a while. Sign says it’s expected to open in October.
FALAFEL SALAM TRUCK: This food truck is returning to West Seattle, one night a week for starters, 4-9 pm Wednesdays beginning next week (October 1st), according to chef/owner Shimi Kahn. New location: 7-11 at California/Charlestown.
HARRY’S CHICKEN JOINT: Reminder, it’s reopening tonight after a two-day break, 4-8 pm. Harry’s (a WSB sponsor) is at 6032 California SW.
(UPDATE: We’re told ANYONE is welcome to come to these clinics – adults must have either proof of insurance or else $28 payment, but no student will be turned away for lack of insurance, says Sealth nurse Alison Enochs)
ORIGINAL REPORT: Just out of the WSB inbox:
Seattle Public Schools is partnering with the Seattle Visiting Nurse Association to provide flu shot clinics for all students, staff, and their families at no charge, with proof of current medical insurance.
According to the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), the single best protection from influenza is to receive a flu shot each year. The CDC recommends everyone 6 months old and over be vaccinated against the flu.
West Seattle clinic locations and dates:
* Chief Sealth High School: Wednesday, October 8, 4-7:30 pm
* West Seattle High School: Monday, October 20, 2:30-7 pmClinics will be open to all Seattle Public Schools children (4 years of age and older) and their families. Please note that students under the age of 18 will need a Patient Consent Form signed by a parent or guardian. Patient Consent Forms are available at the clinics, or click here to download.
All participants will be asked to provide their health insurance information (card) to receive an immunization. SVNA will electronically bill the insurance plan for your flu shot. They bill all insurance plans including Apple Health (Washington State Medicaid) plans. Flu shots are considered preventive care and are not subject to deductibles or co-pays. This means no out-of-pocket expense for participants.
This is happening districtwide – here’s the full list.
After two meetings, the West Seattle Land Use Committee is still taking shape – talking about how best to organize, and how best to review neighborhood issues. It’s not truly a formal “committee” so far, no officers, no formal action/agenda items. Nonetheless, those interested in being part of it did meet last night at the Senior Center of West Seattle, and we were there for the toplines:
In case you didn’t see it on WSB social-media channels last night (or if you did – an encore!), we wanted to share that here too – a photo texted to us, dubbed “Cloudzilla.” The clouds and accompanying rain have certainly been a factor again this morning, with road trouble. But as we move on with the day/night, here’s some of what’s ahead:
TODDLER STORY TIME: Don’t let the rainy-day blues get you and the little one(s) in your care – check out Toddler Story Time at High Point Branch Library, 11:30 am. (35th/Raymond)
CHAMBER AFTER-HOURS AT LOG HOUSE MUSEUM: 5:30-7:30 pm, the Southwest Seattle Historical Society hosts tonight’s West Seattle Chamber of Commerce After-Hours event at its Log House Museum. Our calendar listing has details on how to RSVP. (61st/Stevens)
(Wednesday sunset photo by JayDee)
TRANSITIONAL RESOURCES CELEBRATION: 6 pm at Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish Life Center, it’s a fun(draiser) for the West Seattle-based nonprofit that helps people living with mental-health challenges. Details in our calendar listing; if you don’t have your ticket yet, check to see if there’s still room. (35th/Myrtle)
LAST CHANCE* TO KAYAK THE DUWAMISH … with the Duwamish River Cleanup Coalition (*for this year’s Community Kayak Tour series). 6 pm, Duwamish Waterway Park in South Park. Reserve your spot through West Seattle’s own Alki Kayak Tours. Details here. (7900 10th Ave. S.)
WEST SEATTLE HIGH SCHOOL PTSA: Whatever your level of involvement with the school, be there! Here’s the announcement:
West Seattle High School’s first PTSA meeting for 2014 school year will be held at 7 pm in the WSHS School Library. We will have a student representative from Link Crew sharing about the program and how it helps transition new students to West Seattle HS. Meet our new assistant principal Garth Reeves, and hear from Principal Ruth Medsker regarding how the new school year is going, and what is in store for our school during the year. Trevor Leopold, the Athletic Director, will also attend to share how the fall sports programs are going. We hope to see all of you there.
Keep up with all the WSHS PTSA activities here. (3000 California SW)
NIGHTLIFE TONIGHT: Theater, music, karaoke – see our calendar for the listings.
If you were part of this year’s West Seattle Garden Tour – gardener, attendee, organizer, sponsor, etc. – you had a hand in the donation celebrated last night at The Kenney (WSB sponsor). Every year, local nonprofits are chosen to share the tour’s proceeds, and the 2014 beneficiaries gathered with tour reps last night. Alan Vinson, sponsorship chair for next year’s tour, :
Representatives from ArtsWest, Barton Street Community Garden, Highline Botanical Garden Foundation, Plant Amnesty Forestry Symposium, Seattle Children’s Play Garden, West Seattle Bee Garden, West Seattle High School “Steps at Stevens,” and the West Seattle Tool Library received their checks, which collectively accounted for the large check being held by beneficiaries and Garden Tour Committee members.
They’re already planning next year’s tour, so it’s a great time to get involved! WSGT contact info is on the right side of their home page.
(WS bridge and Highway 99 views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
Another rainy morning, and slow going so far. A crash on the ramp from the eastbound bridge to southbound I-5 is reported to be contributing to slowdowns, partly blocking the ramp, though there’s no medic response, so apparently no injuries.
ROAD WORK: Today was announced as the day SDOT would close the inside lane on the eastbound Spokane Street Viaduct after the morning commute for repairs – but work is often postponed when it rains, so we’ll be checking on its status.
7:53 AM: Texter reports a crash at 28th and 106th, possibly involving a school bus. We’re sending a crew to check it out. Meantime, the earlier crash on the ramp to southbound I-5 has cleared out of the travel lanes.
8:14 AM: The collision involves a car and Highline Public Schools bus and is in the middle of the intersection.
No injuries on the bus, we’re told; another bus has arrived for the kids to transfer onto. The driver of the car is being checked out. The scene should clear soon, as tow crews are arriving.
8:32 AM: If you’re just leaving, be forewarned – “bridge bad again,” reports commenter Jovan.
9:06 AM: A crash is reported on Highland Park Way hill. Haven’t yet heard which direction. (added) Just after typing that, we received a text saying two cars are in the ditch and the road is reduced to one lane going downhill. SFD is sending a second engine. Thanks as always for traffic tips – but of course, please only text/call us – 206-293-6302 – when it’s safe to do so (if you’re a passenger, OR once you’ve arrived at your destination).
(Photo added – thanks to Meg; note the vehicle off the road at left)
9:15 AM: Per scanner, Highland Park Way hill is closed in the uphill direction for now. We’d advise avoiding the hill entirely until there’s word the crash is clear.
9:49 AM: As Kam notes in comments, the hill is closed both ways now – they had let a few buses through, but then shut it down entirely – and scanner discussions indicate there’s a significant oil slick, so cleanup is likely to take a while.
11:26 AM: Per scanner, Highland Park Way hill has reopened, after cleanup, towing, etc.
An acre and a third of land in eastern West Seattle is proposed to be split into nine single-family-house lots, according to documents accompanying a land-use application filed with the city this week. Its official address is 4849 21st SW (map), but you can barely glimpse the site from 21st – as shown in our photo, it looks like greenbelt behind a fence, but the site stretches westward to 23rd SW. Two lots would front on 21st, three on 23rd, and the other four inbetween; documents in the online file say a private drive would be built for access to the latter seven. An arborist’s report says the site has 99 “significant” trees, 20 of them “exceptional,” but assesses 35 of the trees as unhealthy and in need of removal. If the subdivision is approved, the lots would be mostly 5,000-7,000 square feet, in keeping with the site’s single-family 5,000 zoning, but one of the lots on 21st would be double-sized, at 10,000 square feet. A two-week comment period will open as soon as the proposal officially appears on the city’s Land Use Information Bulletin.
Another TV/film crew is in West Seattle – if you’ve noticed the truck and portable restroom along Beach Drive, not far north of Lowman Beach Park, it’s for the Animal Planet show “Treehouse Masters.” We confirmed that with a crew member on scene, after a tip from Dr. Bryan Wiebe (of longtime WSB sponsor Fauntleroy Chiropractic). Turns out Athena and Laura were also discussing it on the WSB Facebook page. The crew member couldn’t go into detail, much less show us the “set,” but it seems they’re likely to be there a few days longer. The show’s built around East King County-based treehouse designer Pete Nelson, featured recently by The Seattle Times (WSB partner). His show is in its second season; we’ll keep watch for the West Seattle edition!
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