West Seattle, Washington
13 Saturday
Not much today for a full-length daily preview so we’re pointing you to the WSB West Seattle Events Calendar. Quick highlights: Holy Family‘s street fair continues till 4 pm – pony rides, food, more – and various local venues invite you to come watch the Seahawks-Cardinals game, including The Bridge (sound up for at least 2 screens, plus a projector) and Bamboo (with a New England-style clam bake on the patio). After the game, West Seattle’s most famous breast-cancer-fighting 3-Day team, Team Tracy, is throwing a T-Shirt Release Party at Angelina’s in the Admiral District, 5 pm. (This year’s Seattle 3-day is next weekend.)
A big police and fire “heavy rescue” response at 29th and Othello (map). Our crew at the scene says two vehicles collided near the intersection; one is on its side. Firefighters tell us one person is going to the hospital. That person is reported to be from the larger vehicle, and the injuries do not appear to be major.
By Keri DeTore
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
Because working on a master’s degree in post-Katrina New Orleans and being pregnant with a third child while raising twins wasn’t quite enough to keep Gretchen Williamson-Evans occupied, she decided to move to the Northwest and start a business … selling fully cooked, frozen organic grains.
They’re now arriving in local stores, packaged as Gretchen’s Grains.
The idea of having those staples available for easy use started in the Evans’ kitchen in New Orleans, while Gretchen was working on her Master’s and husband Bill Evans was operating his flight-training school.
Gretchen wanted the ease of eating the grain-and-vegetable salads featured in the healthier delis, but didn’t want to pay the deli prices, so she made grains in advance and froze them. Friends and family began requesting packages of the cooked quinoa, brown rice and wheat berries for themselves, and the couple recognized a niche market.
They did some research and realized “the whole-grain market was exploding,” says Gretchen. “We decided to throw our whole weight into it.”
The decision was the easy part.
Before more clouds move in for a projected two-day stay, they helped create another beautiful sunset tonight. Bill Wolford shared the photo above; the next one is from John Kieltyka:
ADDED 8:53 PM: From Rebecca Emmert, via Twitter:
Today by the way, was the 48th day without measurable rain at Sea-Tac, according to the National Weather Service, which says the record is 51 days.
Seattle Lutheran High School‘s varsity football team had to travel about five hours for today’s game vs. Lake Roosevelt. We just got word they are coming home with a win, 19-6.
We’re now less than two months away from the November election – less than a month and a half from the arrival of ballots and the start of voting. One of the marquee local races is for King County Sheriff. Steve Strachan, appointed to the job after Sue Rahr left earlier this year, is on the ballot along with John Urquhart, who as a KCSO sergeant was the department’s longtime media spokesperson till leaving a year ago. Both candidates will be featured during an event in White Center next Thursday – the quarterly public-safety forum presented by the North Highline Unincorporated Area Council. Everyone’s invited, wherever you live, and we haven’t heard yet about any West Seattle forum planned with this nonpartisan race, so we’re mentioning this one here – 7 pm Thursday (September 13th), North Highline Fire District headquarters, 1243 SW 112th.
(Photo courtesy Tyler – added 12:50 pm)
12:31 PM: At least one person is reported hurt in a crash that the 911 log says is on the westbound bridge – described on the scanner as involving a vehicle on the median. If you happen to see this while getting ready to head back this way from points east, you’ll want to use another route – low bridge, 1st Avenue South Bridge – for now. (The only city bridge camera that’s working shows a backup on the eastbound side – adding the image here – so avoid the bridge entirely for a while.)
12:44 PM UPDATE: Commenters say the crashed vehicle is a red pickup. From one: “Truck involved in accident is hanging by 2 tires off the westbound median sideways.”
12:50 PM UPDATE: Added a photo (thanks, Tyler!). Per scanner, police are reopening the westbound side of the bridge.
4:19 PM UPDATE: The scene is long clear but we’ve received a few more photos. The one above is from David.
Another stolen vehicle to watch for: From Brady via Twitter, “My black ’99 Subaru Outback Sport was stolen last night outside of the Link Apts (38th & Alaska)! WA license 045VTO.” As Seattle Police note in their @getyourcarback tweets – if you see a known stolen car, call 911.
(SEVEN otters frolicking in a yard south of the Fauntleroy ferry dock! Thanks to Dan and Philip for the photo)
Welcome to the weekend! From the WSB West Seattle Events Calendar:
GARAGE SALES! The West Seattle Eagles are having a big one at their HQ in The Junction, 9 am-3 pm (map in the listing); also, we notice a sizable list of sales for this weekend that have been posted directly (free!) in the Freebies/Deals/Sales section of the WSB Forums.
ADMIRAL ADOPT-A-STREET CLEANUP: Meet at Metropolitan Market (WSB sponsor) at 9 am and join the Admiral Neighborhood Association for its quarterly cleanup. Tools and bags provided – as are free treats!
ALSO IN THE ADMIRAL DISTRICT: Pets looking for new homes will be at Umpqua Bank (next to Admiral Safeway) with Saving Great Animals, 10 am-1:30 pm.
HOLY FAMILY STREET FAIR: Bigger than ever this year, says Holy Family School principal Frank Cantwell. Food and fun, 10 am-4 pm (tomorrow too), 20th/Roxbury, details here.
GRANDPARENTS’ DAY CELEBRATION: At Life Care Center of West Seattle (WSB sponsor) – everybody’s invited, 11 am-2:30 pm, with festivities including free barbecue and live music.
LOG HOUSE MUSEUM: Open noon-4 pm (61st/Stevens); go see the new exhibit from the first phase of “Telling Our Westside Stories,” which includes audio!
‘MAD SCIENCE INSTITUTE’ BOOK SIGNING: Author Sechin Tower will be at Atomic Boys in the Admiral District, 1-4 pm.
SKIHAWKS BENEFIT: They help get developmentally challenged people involved with winter sports, and you can help them in that work by attending tonight’s benefit at Our Lady of Guadalupe, 6:30 pm.
LIVE MUSIC: Gary Kanter at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor), 6-8 pm … Three bands at Skylark, starting at 8 pm … Blake Noble Band at Feedback Lounge (WSB sponsor), 9 pm … You saw their “West Seattle Hey” video here this week, now see/hear Not Dead Yet at Poggie Tavern in The Junction, 9 pm.
… and, as always, more on the calendar!
The Chief Sealth International High School Seahawks were on the road Friday night, but had a strong cheering section on hand for the game against Cleveland at Memorial Stadium downtown. Above, with the Sealth Cheerleaders, are Sealth’s first-ever Link Crew participants (explained in our story from two weeks ago) – the mentors in the red shirts accompanied some of their freshmen charges to the game, which saw Sealth beat Cleveland, 32-14. Ahead, highlights and toplines:
Friday night’s West Seattle High School football game was actually the second half of a doubleheader of sorts. First half was presided over by the WSHS Cheerleaders – their back-to-school barbecue, held at Southwest Athletic Complex right before the game. That, we’re told, was awesome; the game itself, not as much for WSHS, which lost to visiting Seattle Prep, 32-12. More photos and the key points, ahead:
We’re working on separate stories, both with photos, for each of these games, but in case you hadn’t heard the scores yet: At Memorial Stadium downtown tonight, Chief Sealth over Cleveland, 32-14; at Southwest Athletic Complex, West Seattle lost to Seattle Prep, 32-12.
So Admiral-based Engine 29 pulls into the Lafayette Elementary schoolyard this afternoon:
No fire, but there was a sense of urgency. The entire school was out on the playground, watching the engine come to a stop:
Then a woman in a firefighter’s hat bounded out of the engine.
We knew the secret – it was actually Lafayette’s new principal Shauna Heath, who used the first assembly of the school year for a “dramatic entrance” to announce the year’s theme: “Lafayette is on fire!” (As in, burning for learning, etc.) She and some of her staff were also wearing T-shirts with another slogan – “Only the best is good enough.”
Hot day – apropos to the theme – so the kids (and staff!) weren’t kept out too long; they got a pep talk and then it was back to class.
Thanks to JayDee for the sunset view from Upper Alki tonight! The forecast suggests one more summery day is in the works – likely getting into the 80s again – before clouds move in for Sunday. Outdoor events for tomorrow on the WSB West Seattle Events Calendar include the Street Fair at Holy Family School (20th/Roxbury), 10 am-4 pm tomorrow – with an outdoor movie Saturday night! – and the Grandparents’ Day celebration at Life Care Center of West Seattle (WSB sponsor), with a free community barbecue, 11 am-2:30 pm. And while you’re in Admiral, check out Sechin Tower‘s book signing event for “Mad Science Institute” at Atomic Boys, 1-4 pm. See more on the calendar – for tomorrow, Sunday, and weeks/months into the future.
The past two nights, the Federal Aviation Administration has held open houses as part of the environmental-assessment process of the flight-path/-procedure changes known as Greener Skies. Though the plan affects West Seattle, with more jets turning over Elliott Bay instead of farther north, neither of the meetings was in West Seattle – so we went to the one last night in Ballard, to at least get it on video (above) for anyone interested in commenting; the public-comment period runs for another week. The FAA contends that the changes will not mean a significant increase in noise – which is considered part of the environmental effects they’re assessing – for West Seattle. Take a look at this map to see the turn pattern over the bay, north of Alki and Admiral:
Some testing already has been under way, as The Seattle Times (WSB partner) reported in June. Alki Community Council president Tony Fragada has been following this and was at the open house last night:
You might recall from our coverage of Mayor McGinn‘s recent Town Hall meeting here that Fragada brought up the issue during Q/A. The mayor promised to look into it. We asked his spokesperson Aaron Pickus today what has transpired since then. His reply via e-mail:
The mayor directed his Office of Intergovernmental Affairs to connect with appropriate public offices, agencies and stakeholders to gather more information on this issue to determine the city’s options for addressing the Greener Skies proposal.
If you’re interested in commenting – September 14th is the FAA’s deadline. Contact information is here.
Another change in the Admiral District restaurant scene, in addition to the upcoming Copper Coin (here’s our 8/16 report on that): Brickyard BBQ at 2308 California SW has a new owner and will soon have a new name. José Prieto, who with his family owns Guadalajara Mexican Restaurant in Fauntleroy, took over Brickyard on September 1st. He says it too will soon be called Guadalajara Mexican Restaurant (after the city in Mexico that he’s from). He told WSB’s Katie Meyer that he thinks the place has potential, so he wants to clean it up and fix it up to have more of a “family atmosphere,” though he’s keeping its bar. A Mexican menu will be added next month, but barbecue, he says, will also stay on the menu at least through the winter. Hours: 11:30 am-10 pm Mondays-Thursdays, 11:30 am-midnight Fridays-Saturdays, noon-10:30 pm Sundays, with lunch specials daily and happy hour 3-6 pm weekdays. (We’ll be updating the WSB West Seattle Restaurant Guide with the new info. Thanks to Frank for the tip on the Brickyard change!)
For years, after the West Seattle Junction Association trick-or-treating event, some would ask if it would be possible to close the streets to enhance safety and fun. Now – that’s finally going to happen. WSJA has just officially announced the new Harvest Festival, 10 am-2 pm October 28th. And trick-or-treating is just part of it. Here’s the official announcement:
The Junction Association is excited to introduce a new event – The Junction’s Harvest Festival. We are expanding the popular Trick-or-Treat in The Junction into something new for our neighborhood. The Harvest Festival will be an opportunity for West Seattle families to continue the Trick-or-Treat tradition while adding elements that appeal to a broader audience. Most importantly, WE’RE CLOSING THE STREETS!
A core element of the Harvest Festival will be celebrating the year-round West Seattle Farmers Market. In partnership with the Neighborhood Farmers Market Alliance, over 40 local farmers will set up on California Ave to share their goods at the peak of harvest. Farmers will bring fresh seasonal produce including a surprising variety of apples, fruits, melons, and a collage of vegetables. The Farmers Market’s colors, smells, and vibrancy will be the heart of the Harvest Festival and will be open between 10am and 2pm.
Additionally, there will be a kids’ costume parade followed by Trick-or-Treating between Noon and 2pm. Details will follow as they develop. In an effort to bring more healthy options to Halloween events, The Junction is inviting schools, clubs, non-profits, churches, and even businesses to set up a Harvest Activity tent (art activities or a game). It’s free to set up an activity but it will be free for festivalgoers. Please email Susan Melrose, susan@wsjunction.org, if you’d like to provide a Harvest Activity to be approved by the committee.
The West Seattle neighborhood has enjoyed our Trick-or-Treat in The Junction for years. With more new families and interest in this event, it became necessary to close the streets and do something different. Please help spread the word that the event is moving from Saturday to Sunday. California Ave SW will be closed between Edmunds and Oregon, and Alaska St. will be closed between 44th and 42nd.
The Junction Association looks forward to creating a fun event for West Seattle.
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
New information today about the big project in the works for 4755 Fauntleroy Way SW, first reported here in July.
The first Southwest Design Review Board meeting about the plan is now set: 6:30 pm Thursday, September 27th, at the Senior Center of West Seattle.
The project site has grown, too. In addition to the former Huling Chevrolet site fronting on Fauntleroy and the current Howden-Kennedy Funeral Home site and used-car-lot site fronting on SW Alaska, the Shell station adjacent to those properties is now part of the plan – that’s a change from our last conversation with John Wunder, who represents the Huling-owned properties and is speaking for the project team. We talked with him again today after the Design Review date was made public.
We also have learned that this will be the biggest project in the new wave of West Seattle development – more than 350 apartments are envisioned on the five residential floors that will be designed over 55,000 to 60,000 feet of retail. No retailers are signed yet, according to Wunder.
And we also know now who’s developing the project: It’s a partnership between two multi-state firms, Weingarten, known as a retail-center developer, and Lennar, known as a homebuilding company. The property planned for the project is all under contract, according to Wunder.
Right now they are in the “conceptual design” phase; no renderings to show yet, though there will be soon, with the first Design Review meeting three and a half weeks away.
On behalf of the major property sellers in the deal, the Huling family, Wunder says of the developers, “They are very, very pleased that they are under contract with Weingarten and Lennar – they’re great to work with, and we think, at the end of the day, the project they put on the site will be a great asset to the community.”
The project team has been talking with community leaders and hopes to hear from the community at the September 27th meeting. (The city webpage for this project, by the way, is here.)
Even if the Design Review process moves at the fastest-possible clip, though, don’t expect to see construction at this site starting any time soon. They’re envisioning that construction would start toward the end of 2013, and would last about 2 years.
ADDED MONDAY 9/10: Another detail has emerged regarding the retail space in the project. Developers say they are in “advanced” negotiations with a grocer for much of the space.
Thanks to “Luckymom30” for breaking this story via the WSB Forums: SDOT expects to start work later this month on a project along 35th SW in north Arbor Heights. As part of it, southbound 35th at Roxbury will be changed to a left-turn-only lane and shared through/right-turn lane; the second part involves sidewalks:
From 97th to 100th, sidewalks are planned along the west side of 35th. The city webpage for the project says the work should start the week of September 24th.
We’ve received calls about helicopters over White Center, south of downtown WC. King County Sheriff’s Office deputies are investigating a body that Sgt. Cindi West has tweeted was found in the Mallard Lake area, near the Coronado Springs Apartments at 14th and 107th. We’ve gone to the scene and will have continuing coverage on partner site White Center Now.
(Photos by Nick Adams for WSB)
As the next phase of the Alaskan Way Viaduct Replacement Program intensifies – digging the launch pit for the tunnel-boring machine – dozens of curious people joined a walking tour through part of the work zone last night, and contributing photojournalist Nick Adams was there for WSB. Above, deputy program administrator Matt Preedy (a West Seattleite) was among the project leaders pointing out sights like this –
Our photo tour continues ahead:Read More
Community groups, whether new or established, know how tough it is to find someplace affordable and available to have a meeting, particularly at night. New solution: The city and school district say they’re opening up public-school libraries citywide, for a low price per meeting. Read on!Read More
The latest West Seattle Crime Watch reader reports: 2 more bike thefts. From Eric, who also sent the photo:
Last Thursday my gold Kona Kikapu was stolen out of my garage. I filed a police report and I’m keeping an eye out. The ironic part is my friend’s son had his bike stolen on Thursday, also a few blocks away by the Admiral fire (station) out of his garage, and my neighbor found it in our alley. My bike must have been a little nicer. The bike has small dent in the top frame tube between the seat post and the neck. Any info would be appreciated.
And from Leah:
Hi, just thought I’d let you know that our electric Hebb bike was stolen from the alley near 36th SW and Willow near Myrtle Reservoir park. The bike is silver with Hebb lettering in black on the frame. There is a black Burley bike rack over the back wheel that accommodates a Burley tag along. I can supply the VIN number if it turns up anywhere.
P.S. With a caveat that the city police-report map is not necessarily comprehensive, it still can at least offer a sense of trends – here’s what it shows for bike thefts reported and mapped in the past 3 weeks on the peninsula:
| Comments Off on West Seattle Sunday: Check out the calendar!