West Seattle, Washington
15 Thursday
(Photo courtesy Cindi Barker: Some of the plants that await you!)
Four West Seattle sites are part of the citywide Green Seattle Day workparty-a-thon tomorrow – but just one comes with the added notation “Needs some love” on the signup list: Orchard Street Ravine in the Gatewood/Morgan area. Organizers say it’s “a big effort (that) can use lots of willing hands”:
We are finishing some clearing and have 150 plants that need to get into the ground. After planting we will be laying burlap and bark down in preparation for the winter. So there are tasks of all kinds, please come for some or all of the time, tools will be provided, just bring your own gloves.
They’ll be working 9 am-1 pm, but even if you can only be there for part of that time, that would still be a BIG help. Directions are on this page, which is where you also can RSVP right now, to let organizers know help is on the way!
2:13 PM: Police are checking out a report of a man seen in the Roxhill Park vicinity “with a handgun,” and that has led to Denny, Chief Sealth, and Roxhill “sheltering in place.” No injuries, no gunfire reported, but it’s a precaution.
2:24 PM UPDATE: Seattle Public Schools has just tweeted that the “shelter in place” has been lifted, and schools are dismissing at normal times.
Every year, the West Seattle Helpline is a lifeline for people in need of short-term emergency help, and the community’s generosity is what enables that to happen. One week from tonight, you’re invited to help the Helpline and have a good time at its annual dinner/auction, 6:30-9 pm Friday, November 14th, at the Duwamish Longhouse in West Seattle (4705 W. Marginal Way SW). Getting your tickets is quick and easy – go here.
Latest reader report of a car stolen in West Seattle: Red ’99 Civic with an Air Force bumper sticker, license A0E7374, stolen “sometime last night outside our home on 34th Ave SW & Morgan (behind Walgreens).” Call 911 if you see it.
(Fall colors along Harbor Ave, by Don Brubeck, via the WSB Flickr group)
From the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
BAZAAR AT THE MOUNT: 10 am-4 pm at Providence Mount St. Vincent, with a special raffle, as noted in our calendar listing. (4831 35th SW)
WHITE CENTER LIBRARY GUILD BAZAAR: 11 am-4 pm today (and tomorrow) at White Center Library, its Guild is hosting the annual holiday bazaar and book sale. Shop for a good cause! (11220 16th SW)
FINAL SALMON WATCH: No new fish since last week, so if that trend continues, the volunteer Fauntleroy Creek salmon-watchers will officially wrap up their work for the season after today.
METROPOLITAN MARKET JOB FAIR: 2-7 pm at Metropolitan Market-Admiral (WSB sponsor), hiring for MM jobs around the region. More info in this WSB Jobs-section post. (41st/42nd/Admiral)
WORDS, WRITERS, & WEST SEATTLE: This one will shake you up! Sandi Doughton, author of “Full Rip 9.0,” explains why:
As explained on the Southwest Seattle Historical Society website, she’ll read from her book (and as you heard her say in the video clip, that’s not all) 5-7 pm at Barnes & Noble/Westwood Village. (2600 SW Barton)
CHIEF SEALTH INT’L HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL: 7 pm game vs. White River, at Southwest Athletic Complex. (2601 SW Thistle)
AUTHOR APPEARANCE: West Seattle author Sarah Alisabeth Fox reads from “Downwind: A People’s History of the Nuclear West,” 7 pm tonight at Elliott Bay Books. (1521 10th Ave.)
‘ROSENCRANTZ AND GUILDENSTERN ARE DEAD’: Night 2 for the West Seattle High School Drama Club production of Tom Stoppard‘s spinoff from Shakespeare‘s “Hamlet.” 7:30 pm, WSHS Theater. (3000 California SW)
‘DOGFIGHT’ 7:30 pm curtain time for tonight’s performance at ArtsWest in The Junction. (4711 California SW)
SLAGS AT THE POGGIE: Poggie Tavern doesn’t have a calendar online but every so often we hear from one of the acts, and tonight, it’s The Slags, 9 pm. (4717 California SW)
12TH STORE! West Seattle Thriftway (WSB sponsor) says it’ll have a “huge announcement” today involving a Seahawk. Keep an eye on its Facebook page.
Quick note for whale fans: We’ve received a couple reports that the humpback seen in the area recently is in the Lincoln Park vicinity right now.
(WS high/low bridges and Highway 99 views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
The cameras are back! SDOT fixed the ones whose problems made it tough to monitor yesterday’s multi-problem morning commute. We’ve also added the 11th/Spokane view, since at least as of first thing this am, it’s still pointing to the low bridge. Now, on with notes and previews, while we can:
BATTERY STREET TUNNEL CLOSURE: One more reminder – the BSTunnel will close overnight tomorrow night for fire-system testing – original announcement here.
CITYWIDE WEEKEND TRAFFIC ALERT: From Oprah (tonight/tomorrow) to the Seahawks (Sunday) – useful info here.
REROUTE RAPIDRIDE IN THE JUNCTION? Here’s our report on the first official open-to-the-public presentation, during Wednesday night’s Southwest District Council meeting.
10:18 AM: This morning’s rollover scene is cleared and Admiral Way has just reopened between 59th and 61st.
(First two WSB photos by Tracy Record)
4:40 AM: At least two people are hurt – one seriously – after a crash at 60th/Admiral. One texter says Admiral’s blocked off. We’re en route to find out more.
5:08 AM: This is a one-car rollover. 19-year-old woman driving, very seriously hurt. Passenger hurt too. TCIS is coming, police told us at the scene, so Admiral will be closed here a while; on the east side, it is blocked at 59th. Lots of debris in the road, as shown in our short Instagram clip panning the scene (and photo below). Police are investigating whether alcohol was a factor.
The car ended up on its side in the planting strip on the south side of Admiral (top photo).
5:58 AM: Metro just texted its reroutes caused by the Admiral Way closure: “Routes 50 and 56 are currently routed off Admiral … Use stops east of 59th SW or west of 61st SW.” (added) The 775 Water Taxi shuttle reroute: “Use stops on SW Admiral Way east of 59th or on Alki SW east of 61st.”
7:48 AM: Still closed. We’ll update here and the daily traffic watch as soon as it reopens.
(WSB photo by Patrick Sand)
8:53 AM: Just back from checking the scene. A tow truck driver had arrived and was doing some cleanup; SPD has been calling for SDOT to do more.
10:10 AM: According to our crew back at the scene, Admiral is reopening, after further cleanup by SDOT and SFD.
10:21 AM: And Metro has just sent a text alert that its routes in that area are back to normal.
They’re the biggest grants the city offers to neighborhood groups – and big proposed changes in the process and eligibility are leading to big pushback from neighborhood advocates, as evidenced again when the Southwest District Council met on Wednesday night. That tops our second report from the meeting (first one is here), which concluded with the election of new co-chairs for next year:
Thanks to Denny International Middle School principal Jeff Clark for sharing photos and info from Wednesday night’s “Community Success Dinner”:
(Wednesday) night, the community of Denny International Middle School came together for a special night of food and fun! Hundreds of Denny families and staff enjoyed a Thanksgiving meal together, games, and opportunities to get family portraits and winter clothing.
A huge thank you to Roxana Amaral, Amber Brown, our whole Communities in Schools and City Year teams, many Denny staff, volunteers, and all of the scholars and families who came to make this event such a success! A special note of congratulations goes to Denny Scholar, Bertha Chavez, for her vision and organization of the games! We are very proud of our scholars for what they do every day and for how they helped! As a whole community, we would also like to thank the Safeway on Roxbury for their generous partnership with this event.
Go Dolphins!
More big events are ahead at Denny, including a clothing-donation drive and information night about Internet safety for kids – all the details are on the school’s home page.
Two West Seattle Crime Watch notes tonight:
ANOTHER GOLD MAXIMA STOLEN: From Chris:
Our Gold 1996 Nissan Maxima was stolen 2 days ago from the 35th and Roxbury area. The sunroof started to leak so there is blue painter’s tape around the whole edge of the sunroof.
I had a similar car stolen twice and got it back so we have hope.
Last weekend, Matt‘s car, same year/make/model/color, was stolen; a WSB reader found it. Hope someone finds Chris’s car; call 911 if you see it.
CAR VANDALISM: A West Seattle Community Orchestras musician who was at Chief Sealth International High School for weekly rehearsal this past Tuesday says her car’s window was smashed while they were parked there, but “Nothing was taken, not even a bike helmet and a couple of other random things in the back seat. And we don’t ever leave anything valuable in the car anyway.”
Last night’s Southwest District Council meeting was all about change, both proposed and unavoidable. This first report focuses on one of the items in the former category: Attendees got a chance to comment on the proposed change in RapidRide C Line routing through the heart of The Junction (first reported here in August):
Two weeks from tomorrow night, it’s the West Seattle High School PTSA‘s big annual auction fundraiser to help the school and its students. Earlybird-discount ticket sales have been extended until tomorrow, so you have one more day to get your ticket at the lowest price, $40. Just go here – and then be at Brockey Center on the South Seattle College (WSB sponsor) campus, 6 pm Friday, November 21st. (If you already have your ticket, check out that same link to preview some of the auction items!)
12:51 PM: That’s the first big problem reported so far during our wind-advisory afternoon – a big evergreen down in Seaview, across 49th SW at Graham (map). Seattle City Light reports one customer there has lost power. Thanks to the person who texted the photo/report – 206-293-6302 is our 24/7 text/voice line, and editor@westseattleblog.com works too. The wind advisory, warning of gusts up to 50 mph, is in effect until 6 pm. More storm updates to come.
1:12 PM: The SCL map now shows four homes without power by the downed tree. Meantime, on the water:
The photo above was shared by Dan Ciske, who caught a flock of birds passing a sailboat that he says had its sails torn away in the wind.
Back to the tree:
2:39 PM: SCL and SDOT crews are at the scene of the downed tree, which blocked 49th completely, on the south side of Graham. They expected repairs/clearing would take a few hours.
3:10 PM: Just added photos from the tree cleanup.
(Added: Photo by Deb Barker)
Meantime, we’ve also been over to Constellation Park south of Alki Point, where the waves are hitting the seawall:
High tide is still about 20 minutes away.
4:09 PM: The stormy weather – which has been coming and going these past few hours – has spooked a few dogs, apparently; we’ve just published listings for three separate found dogs on the WSB Lost/Found Pets page.
4:25 PM: The Fauntleroy/Vashon/Southworth ferry run has been about 20 minutes behind because of the weather, says WSF, and now they say the runs between south Vashon and Tacoma are canceled TFN because there’s no power at south Vashon (Tahlequah), which will mean heavier traffic through north Vashon.
7:27 PM: Within an hour of that last update, the Tahlequah-Point Defiance run was back in business. Meantime, a couple photos from the WSB inbox:
That’s from Laura Goodrich, who went down to Constellation Park to wave-watch – check the driftwood! Next, from MM, who caught the colorful sunset:
If you ever need the sunset/sunrise times (moon, tide, etc. too), check the WSB West Seattle Weather page.
Just opened in West Seattle – Camp Crockett! As a new, local WSB sponsor, they get this chance to let you know what they’re all about:
Make your puppy’s day! Give your special pup the experience of a lifetime by joining our pack at Camp Crockett. Crockett, our 2-year-old Bluetick Coonhound, would like to introduce himself to the West Seattle community and personally extend a welcoming paw to all pups, big and small. Our new and exciting dog day camp, boarding, and grooming company just opened our doors for the first time November 4th, 2014. Family owned and operated, we would like to bring the delight of “going to camp” to you and your furry family member with our ‘camp themed’ dog day camp.
With more than 30 years of experience in the dog-day-care field, our team is very passionate about giving your pup a very fun and loving environment while you are away. Our 6,000-square-foot camp yard provides plenty of room to help even the highest spirited of pups to unwind and meet new friends. Some of our campers are older or more sophisticated and prefer the comforts of our indoor space with lots of cubby holes and plush beds. Camp Crockett also provides an ‘at home’ feel for our overnight campers. Instead of spending the evening in a kennel, your pup will enjoy snuggling on the couch with our team leaders who live on site.
For those campers who are having a bad hair day or just love getting dirty, don’t worry, we will take care of you too. Camp Crockett is privileged to have the best groomer in Seattle on our team! Our groomer takes the time to get to know your pup, gives your pup time to get to know her, and then works with your pup at a comfortable pace to be able to give you the result you desire.
Camp Crockett is open 7 am–7 pm, Monday-Friday, with all services available on the weekend by appointment. Send your furry family member to camp with us and make your puppy’s day! First day with us is FREE!!!!! Located at 5611 Delridge Way SW; call 206-790-1674; e-mail campcrockett@gmail.com.
We thank Camp Crockett for sponsoring independent, community-collaborative, 24/7 neighborhood news via WSB. Find our current sponsor team listed in directory format here, and find info on joining the team by going here.
Hope the wind doesn’t whisk this bird away! It’s a reminder from the folks at West Seattle’s HomeStreet Bank (a just-returned WSB sponsor) that they’re hosting a turkey drive for the West Seattle Food Bank in just two days. On Saturday (November 8th), 11 am-2 pm, bring a 10-to-12-pound frozen turkey to donate, or $15 cash for WSFB to make its own purchase(s). HomeStreet is at 41st/Alaska.
(Thanks to John for sharing the photo from Fauntleroy – sun, rainbow, whitecaps!)
After a difficult commute – and with a wind advisory now in effect – a relatively quick look at to highlights for the rest of your Thursday:
CANDY BUYBACK: A Place for Kids Too children’s dentistry (WSB sponsor) in The Admiral District is having its first post-Halloween “candy buyback” until 3 pm. Donated candy goes to U.S. troops; the “buyback” incentive is a raffle ticket for each pound of candy, with a gift-card prize for raffle winner(s). More details in our calendar listing. (2617 California SW)
CITY COUNCIL DISCUSSES BUDGET POSSIBILITIES: They continue today. Live on Seattle Channel right now, they’re discussing possible items for the Office of Housing, including exploring a bond issue for a “large” project to build publicly owned affordable housing. This afternoon at 2 pm, they’re looking at items for SDOT, including the possibility of “transportation impact fees” for development. SPD is on the schedule today too, with items including the “gunshot locator system” discussed (but ultimately not funded) in past years.
THRIFTWAY’S HOLIDAY TASTE! 4-7 pm, West Seattle Thriftway (WSB sponsor) rolls out the tempting tastes of food/beverages you might want to serve your family/friends/etc. this holiday season. Just three weeks till Thanksgiving! (California/Fauntleroy)
WEST SEATTLE TIMEBANK ORIENTATION: 6:30 pm at Southwest Branch Library – get and give the gift of time; find out how to be part of the Timebank. (35th/Henderson)
FAUNTLEROY TRAFFIC/TRANSPORTATION: Special meeting organized by the Fauntleroy Community Association, 7 pm at The Hall at Fauntleroy, as previewed here. (9131 California SW)
‘ROSENCRANTZ AND GUILDENSTERN ARE DEAD’: West Seattle High School Drama Department presents Tom Stoppard‘s Shakespeare spinoff, and tonight is opening night, 7:30 pm at the WSHS Theater. Details, including ticket info, in our calendar listing. (3000 California SW)
LOTS MORE … on the calendar.
Serving? Have served? You’re invited! From Kyle Geraghty:
American Legion Post 160 of West Seattle and American Legion Auxiliary Unit 160 would like to invite all active duty, reservists, members of the national guard, veterans and their families to our annual Veterans Day Italian Dinner. It will be held on Sunday November 9th from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM. This is American Legion Post 160’s thank you to all veterans in our community who have served our country. The menu includes: pasta, homemade sauce, garlic bread, salad, dessert, coffee and tea. The cost is absolutely free.
Here’s the official flyer with more information.
(WS bridge and Highway 99 views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
Good morning! No road trouble to report so far. Transportation-news notes:
FAUNTLEROY TRAFFIC MEETING TONIGHT: 7 pm at The Hall at Fauntleroy (9131 California SW), city leaders will meet with community members about traffic/transportation challenges, as first announced last month. All welcome.
TRANSIT VOTE UPDATE: After two more vote counts, Transportation Benefit District Prop. 1 is at 60 percent “yes.” Here’s our report on the Wednesday morning media briefing about what was called the “framework” of a city-county agreement on where the money will go for starters.
7:15 AM: Scratch the “no trouble.” Just got a text “wreck on the bridge.” It’s just before 99, blocking an eastbound lane. It was not listed on the 911 log, which at least means “no injuries.”
7:32 AM: The regular bridge camera has been down for two days, so we can’t see the crash zone, but commenters say it doesn’t look likely to clear soon. Meantime, the weather alert for today upgraded overnight to a “wind advisory,” noon-6 pm.
7:40 AM: The rain is intensifying. And there’s a new crash reported on the eastbound bridge at 99, possibly 4 vehicles, per scanner.
7:45 AM: From SDOT via Twitter:
The Collision EB on the W Seattle Br is now blocking the 3 left lanes. Expect long delays and USE ALTERNATE ROUTES. pic.twitter.com/yxsqTqyaO4
— seattledot (@seattledot) November 6, 2014
Metro has even sent an advisory warning of delays.
7:59 AM: The backup is apparently leading people to drive in the bus lane at 35th/Alaska – heard via scanner, a call for any available enforcement help, so buses can get through.
8:20 AM: The low bridge is open for marine traffic and SDOT says it’ll be a “long” opening. (See the comment section for some background.)
8:36 AM: A stall parallel with Nucor on the bridge, Brian reports; “Wsea” in comments says the Water Taxi is packed and also running slower because of mechanical trouble.
8:45 AM: Lisa via Twitter confirms what sounded on the scanner like a second stall, in the Delridge onramp vicinity. On the “good news” side, we’re seeing some blue sky to the west, so the weather may be calming (until the afternoon “wind advisory”).
9:18 AM: Tow truck has arrived for at least one stalled vehicle, per scanner. Traffic will be temporarily stopped in all lanes so it can get the job done.
9:44 AM: Lost count of the stalls but one has just been picked up by AAA (WSB sponsor), per what we heard on the scanner, while another one is still blocking a lane. Meantime, we just discovered the 11th/Spokane camera is currently turned toward the “low bridge”:
(That is subject to change at any time – SDOT controls it.)
9:54 AM: Speaking of SDOT, they have captured a view of the latest stall:
I spoke too soon: a 3rd Stall on the W Seattle Bridge EB – this time in the left lane after Delridge. pic.twitter.com/Rs492bRUFx
— seattledot (@seattledot) November 6, 2014
9:58 AM: Live camera (see top of the story) suggests the stall has now cleared.
(2012 photo by Rick Rasmussen)
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
Ten years after they were formally listed as endangered, what do we really know about Puget Sound’s endangered orcas, formally known as the Southern Resident Killer Whales?
Next Tuesday (November 11th), you’ll hear answers from Northwest Fisheries Science Center researcher Dawn Soren, during The Whale Trail‘s next Orca Talk in West Seattle.
One of the focal points of her research is how boat traffic affects the whales. And that was at the heart of The Whale Trail’s first Orca Talk of the season, last Thursday at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor).
During that event, Bruce Stedman of Orca Relief talked about his organization’s proposal of a zone in the San Juans where boats would have to keep a greater distance from whales than they do now. He said it’s not the only action that’s needed to help them – but it’s the one that could make a difference the quickest. Pointedly, he noted that the recovery plan originally envisioned up to 115 Southern Resident Killer Whales by 2015, but that is at this point beyond impossible … that’s three dozen more than the current population, which has had only one birth in the past two years, the calf that is now missing and presumed dead.
(WSB photo from Thanksgiving 2013)
Only three weeks from Thanksgiving, and holiday-related event announcements are coming in, including this one, announced by Tuxedos and Tennis Shoes, which caters this gift to the community every year:
16th annual Free Community Thanksgiving Meal
at The Hall at Fauntleroy
9131 California Ave SW
Thursday, November 27 from 12 Noon to 3 PM
All are welcome
Questions – 206-932-1059We are again accepting donation of desserts and also warm blankets, throws, hats, scarves, and gloves – new or very gently used (clean) please.
T&T always stresses, this isn’t just for people in need – anyone and everyone is welcome to come enjoy the holiday meal together.
P.S.: If your business, organization, school, etc., has one or more winter-holiday-season events planned, open to the community, and you HAVEN’T already sent us the announcement – please do, as soon as you can! Don’t worry about including posters, flyers, logos, “press releases”; just a few simple lines of information, and a website link IF you have one, will do. We’re adding them to the calendar as they arrive – editor@westseattleblog.com – thanks!
Given what happened last time it got windy – we’re sharing this heads-up for possibly blustery conditions tomorrow. (Charge everything!) The National Weather Service has posted a “special weather statement” (caps are theirs):
Blustery winds are likely on Thursday … A vigorous cold front will sweep through Western Washington on Thursday. It will likely be windy in many areas. This weather system might be strong enough for wind advisories in some areas. A High Wind Watch is in effect for the coast, where strong and damaging winds are possible. This weather system will develop overnight, so stay tuned to updated forecasts.
Next update is expected around 9 pm; we’ll update if and when the alert changes.
(WSB photos by Torin Record-Sand)
West Seattle Metro riders will get more buses with the money from Transportation Benefit District Prop 1, which got 59 percent of the first round of the November 4th vote. That’s according to the “framework of an agreement on transit funding and service delivery between Seattle and King County,” as distributed at today’s post-election briefing downtown, with city and county leaders including Mayor Ed Murray, County Executive Dow Constantine, and City Councilmember Tom Rasmussen, plus local transit advocates. We recorded it all on video (added, 3:05 pm):
Here are the West Seattle highlights, as promised in a 2-page doc distributed today (see it here):
*A list of “neighborhoods that will get more buses” includes Admiral, Alaska Junction, Alki, Arbor Heights, Delridge, Fauntleroy, Gatewood, Morgan Junction, Pigeon Point, Roxhill, Westwood Village
*”More buses on … chronically overcrowded routes” including RapidRide C Line, starting next June
*”Revised schedules on … chronically unreliable” routes including RapidRide C Line, 21X, 21, 37, 55, 56, also to start next June
*”Better frequency with more trips per hour on at least 28 high-demand routes” including RapidRide C Line and 125; this is to be “phased in between June and September 2015”
Also promised: An “expanded network of frequent transit,” defined as every 15 minutes or better.
So how will you be sure you’re getting something for your money? Another handout sheet (see it here) promises:
The agreement will:
-Require robust ridership and performance data reporting by Metro
-Allow for regular financial reviews and independent third-party audits of Metro finances and performance data
-Reduce city responsibility for county administrative overhead
-Credit Seattle for higher farebox revenue roduced on city trolleybus routes
-Pay only the annual share of new buses required for increased service
-Protect against supplanting
Constantine reiterated at today’s event that the extra funding is only a “bridge” until the Legislature fixes transportation funding someday.
Transit advocates who were there included West Seattleite Marci Carpenter:
(By the way, we learned today that Carpenter is now the president of the National Federation of the Blind-Washington – congratulations!)
P.S. In case you forgot the details of Proposition 1, here’s the heart of it, from the ballot:
To fund transit service in Seattle, the Seattle Transportation Benefit District seeks voter approval to impose an annual vehicle-license fee up to an additional $60 per vehicle, with a $20 rebate for low-income individuals, and an additional sales-and-use tax of no more than 0.1%. Each would expire no later than December 31, 2020. Combined, they would raise approximately $45,000,000 annually.
After administrative costs, including the rebate program, revenue will be used to fund: (1) Metro Transit service hours on routes with more than 80% of their stops within Seattle, with funding first being used to preserve existing routes and prevent Metro’s proposed service cuts and restructures scheduled to start in February 2015; (2) up to $3,000,000 annually, to support regional transit service on bus routes that enter or terminate service within the City of Seattle; and (3) up to $2,000,000 annually, to improve and to support access to transit service for low-income transit riders.
Any remaining revenues may be used to address overcrowding, reliability, and service frequency within the City of Seattle. Revenues will not supplant other funding for any routes partially or completely operating within Seattle that Metro would otherwise provide in accordance with the adopted Metro Transit Service Guidelines. More about this proposal can be found at: http://www.seattle.gov/stbd/documents/resolution_12_s.pdf
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