West Seattle, Washington
23 Tuesday
Though the snow has stopped, the temperature is dropping, and the concern now turns to icy roads. Fewer will be on those roads tomorrow than most Mondays, since it is the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day holiday, with schools out and governments closed, but many will still be out there headed to work. SDOT promises it will have full crews working on major roadways overnight; we photographed the snowplow above in The Junction just before dusk. If you plan to use transit, note that Metro is on snow routes again tomorrow, and also a reduced-weekday schedule for the holiday. We haven’t heard of business closures yet – we had some today in our afternoon coverage – but if you do, please let us know (editor@westseattleblog.com, or the comments section here) so we can help get the word out.
Meantime, we’re still going through more photos received this afternoon. Yes, there are people sleeping outside in the snow; WSB Forums members who visited the “Nickelsville” encampment in Highland Park this afternoon took photos:
That’s from Munchkin22. The current camp population includes children and teens, we are told, who worked on this snowman:
You can join the discussion about donating warm clothing and blankets, if interested in helping – here’s the Forums topic. The Union Gospel Mission also is collecting blankets to help homeless people; last night they were scheduled to be out in the White Center area, looking for people sleeping outdoors.
Also from Highland Park, the future Westcrest Park expansion atop the now-covered West Seattle Reservoir has been inaugurated as a sledding spot. Deanie Schwarz caught it on video:
Deanie reports; “Paul Chu of Highland Park walked with daughter Sofia (3 years old) and neighborhood friends’ son Diego (9 years old) to the park. Chu told us it was a great safe place for young and older kids. He also said the sledding spot was free and that’s always better than a snow day up at Snoqualmie which can run well over $50 for permits and cards. ”
ADDED 11:30 PM: We’ve gone back through the mailboxes and there are still so many photos and videos to share. Adding a few after the jump, as one more look back at a snowy Sunday (with more to come, forecasters all seem to agree):
Story and photos by Keri DeTore
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
The afternoon sun broke through the clouds just in time for Saturday’s dedication of the Fallen Soldiers Memorial at West Seattle’s Vietnamese Cultural Center, honoring both Vietnamese and American soldiers lost while fighting for that nation’s freedom.
Around 70 people, bundled up against the cold, showed up for the ceremony, which was presented in both Vietnamese and English. The dedication was held Saturday to commemorate the invasion of Vietnam’s Paracel Islands by the Chinese in January of 1974.
Veteran Vietnamese military leaders involved in the action were present, including Naval Lt. Commander Sai Nguyen (far right in photo), who gave a speech honoring those lost.
The ceremony included traditional drumming, a processional carrying names and photos of fallen soldiers, national-anthem salutes, offerings of burning incense, and speeches.
(Photos courtesy Laura James)
Every weekend, volunteers work on projects big and small to improve the world. Local divers are working to improve the world you can’t see unless you’re literally immersed in it. Laura James, who has shared many in-the-Sound sights here on WSB, has launched “One Battery at a Time,” and tells the story on her website of the first effort, yesterday, to bring up abandoned batteries that wound up in the water.
As a side note – they found a surprise in the process, as told humorously on this site (if you aren’t familiar with gunnels, Laura offered this example). More “One Battery at a Time” dives are in the works.
The family of Cheryl Colehour, whose cancer fight ended last November with her untimely death at age 45, wanted to remind the community that her memorial is now less than a week away. Cheryl’s husband Tom Humphreys shared the flyer they have produced, which also invites those who knew and loved Cheryl to share memories online here, for a memory book that is in the works. Her memorial is next Saturday, January 21, 1 pm, at Westside Unitarian Universalist Congregation, 7141 California SW, with a reception afterward.
(KEY LINKS: Metro buses on snow routes; Sound Transit too … Traffic cams here … Many steep hills now closed … Winter Weather Advisory in effect, roads might ice tonight …)
12:20 PM: It’s gotten much snowier in the past hour; if you watch the WSB Twitter feed, you’ve seen our photos – we’ll add some here momentarily and those you have been sending. We were headed to the Farmers’ Market when things got serious – check what we found there:
(added) Also – Dave Montoure of West 5, selling corn chowder! Hot soup for an ice-cold day:
(added) Christopher Boffoli shot this panorama shortly after the snow started – you can click and pan around in the scene:
As of right now, there’s a line south of The Junction: North of the line, snow on the ground, on the road, falling. Here in the south, we have pinpoint “corn snow” right now and it’s only JUST begun to stick on the road – we passed the highest point in Seattle about five minutes ago and at that time, nothing even on the grass, but a mile south, the first stuck bus we’d seen today. Metro has just announced it’s on snow routes (find them here). Plows are out too – in the background of this cameraphone shot, we saw one heading back onto the high bridge from 35th/Avalon:
More to come – let us know what’s happening where you are.
12:43 PM: The photo over this line is an overview from near the Luna Park business district, courtesy of Charles. Thanks to everyone who’s sending photos! We’ve found in past storms (if you weren’t with WSB then) they provide a vital view of what’s happening all around the peninsula.
1:15 PM: Just back from a trip through Arbor Heights. Side streets covered but passable if you drive slow. 35th SW is OK, same advice, but certainly snowy/slushy (photo above is looking north toward Roxbury from 35th after 1 pm). We’re hearing that most steep hills, particularly in north WS where it’s been snowing heavier longer, are impassable – Admiral has spinouts and a stuck bus. A caller (thanks – 206-293-6302) says the bridge is having trouble too. See the latest views on our Traffic cams page. Back to the neighborhoods: From Tony in High Point –
Also just got word from Neil that SW Genesee is closed between Avalon and Delridge – very steep hill so no surprise. Pic:
Thanks for the road updates – the official sources don’t have this level of detail so your reports are key. Meantime, the West Seattle YMCA has just tweeted:
Change in plans. All basketball games 2 pm on are cancelled, pix, too. Fauntleroy Y will close @ 2 pm, West Seattle Y will close @ 5 pm.
1:50 PM: Got a report that 35th is closed at Alaska. That’s where we saw the stuck bus at noontime, photo atop this report. Meantime, some north areas (Admiral/Alki) tallying snow around 3 inches already. Thanks to Robert for this beach shot from around 1 pm:
And there’s sledding too! We’ve heard of several spots. From our WSBeat correspondent Megan Sheppard, here’s Belvidere Viewpoint Park:
It is suddenly down to a light flurry here in Upper Fauntleroy (now 1:58).
3:01 PM: 36th and 37th around Providence Mount St. Vincent were reported in bad shape – thanks to Karen and Deb from West Seattle Be Prepared for conveying that. We just came back from one more run through Arbor Heights – 35th OK, has been either sanded or well=traveled, and side streets still pretty snowy. Also took Barton down to Fauntleroy – bare and wet, same for Fauntleroy Way along Lincoln Park, though we saw some snowperson-building activity on the park grass. Here’s one on Alki – photo by Ian Coldwell, snowman by Andy Burgess, both Alki residents:
From North Admiral, Erik Walum shares the scene at Hamilton Viewpoint:
Also in Admiral, Ted measured – four-inch accumulation:
Back to Lincoln Park – tranquil scene from Trileigh Tucker:
And Alki Lighthouse is lovely in the snow – thanks to Russ Walker for this photo from his Flickr gallery:
So is DK’s backyard in Highland Park:
We’ll be going out after 4 to check out the road conditions before sunset. The Weather Service has renewed its advisory and that includes concern about roads icing over.
4:07 PM: Skylark Café and JaK’s Grill have both mentioned on Facebook that they’ll be closed tonight due to complications of the weather. By 6 pm, we’ll switch over to an ongoing evening weather update, though we’re also hoping to get some coverage of other weekend news in before then. Meantime, more photos! First, Ginny Woo says this is son Gus (10 months)’s first snow – he was out as she and his big sis Ava, 7, built a “snowlady”:
The Pals family sent their snow-giant photo – with, from left, Mommy, Ira, and Jurgen:
We even got a snowman photo from The Admiral District’s Brent Amaker:
And over at Madison Middle School, Steve shows us, they’ve been sledding:
Tomorrow was already an off-day for students, remember, since it’s the official King Day holiday. For now – more snow falling … A big line of dark clouds just advanced from the west (not long after a sunbreak in the same spot – wild weather!).
6:12 PM: Took that trip around the peninsula, traveling California and 35th among other roads. Didn’t encounter any closures – but snow was falling again. Admiral is still way snowier than Morgan Junction and many points south. Meantime, Metro says it’ll be on snow routing again tomorrow, and also reminds you that its Monday schedule is “reduced weekday” for the MLK Day holiday. We will start ongoing evening coverage in a while – after a few other things that have been in queue.
(LOOKING FOR SNOW COVERAGE? UPDATES ARE HERE)
New details today about the Delridge Alliance, the advisory group that DESC committed to help convene as its Delridge Supportive Housing project plan continues. Until now, the newest major development is what we reported two weeks ago – that the plan is down to 66 units from the previous 75 because of a city decision (explained here); DESC’s Bill Hobson subsequently confirmed to WSB that the project is moving ahead:
Yes, we are proceeding. Clearly, the 75-unit plan presented at (Design Review) will now have to be modified somewhat but our architects assure me that modification will not be substantial and it will be under the WSHFC per-unit cost ceiling. And, the modification will respect the recommendations they received at EDG.
Now, the advisory-group details: This morning, North Delridge Neighborhood Council website features a detailed update this morning from Vonetta Mangaoang, who’s part of the advisory group, with details on who’s on it so far, the positions still open, what it’s about, and what happens next. Read it here. (No date set yet for the project’s second Design Review meeting, by the way.)
(LOOKING FOR SNOW COVERAGE? UPDATES ARE HERE)
Just a few notes from the WSB West Seattle Events calendar, as we settle into a day that seems destined to be punctuated by snow showers/flurries (morning coverage here):
WEST SEATTLE FARMERS’ MARKET: Yes, market managers have confirmed they’re open. 10 am-2 pm at 44th/Alaska. The illness-delayed debut of Honest Biscuits is promised (see this tweet), too. (Added: West 5 is there selling soup – check the pic in this tweet!)
BENEFIT ADOPT-A-THON CONTINUES: At Kitty Harbor (3422 Harbor SW), it’s the second day of a special offseason cat adopt-a-thon – also a benefit for fire victim Teri Ensley and Furry Faces Foundation, noon-6 pm. “Moto,” above, is one of the two-dozen-plus cats who were still awaiting a home by late Saturday afternoon, after more than 30 others were adopted! Here’s our Saturday night story.
BOOK SIGNING: Metropolitan Market says LaDonna Rose Gundersen, who fishes in Alaska as well as writes, will be at the Admiral store today from 12-2 pm to sign her new cookbook “Salmon, Desserts, & Friends.”
(AFTERNON SNOW COVERAGE UPDATES ARE HERE)
(Photo by Machel Spence. Yours welcome – editor@westseattleblog.com)
7:16 AM: Had almost written it off, but here it is in Upper Fauntleroy. You?
8:31 AM: After a pause – it’s flurrying again. Even up here around 350 feet, it’s just on the rooftops and cartops – so far. The National Weather Service issued a “Winter Weather Advisory” a short time ago, in effect till 10 pm (see it here), which says eventual accumulations up to 3 inches are possible. You can watch for other signs of impending snow via the Snow Watch maps.
10:24 AM: Off-on flurries/showers continue. Photo above is from one that was fast and furious – for about two minutes.
10:34 AM: Just in from SDOT, this overview:
Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) Street Maintenance crews spent the night applying deicer and anti-icer to major arterials, elevated roadways and bridges, and known trouble spots along the snow route network. Despite an early morning snowfall, thus far, the roads south of the ship canal are bare and wet and are also in relatively good shape in the northwest sector of the city. Nevertheless, crews are patrollng those areas applying anti-icer where necessary. The morning snowfall primarily accumulated on streets, and especially hills, in the northeast section of the city – east of Aurora. SDOT trucks are applying anti-icer, deicer, and also plowing the snow where needed. SDOT’s Street Maintenance crews will be working throughout the day to ensure safe driving conditions on the city’s key roadways, particularly on routes used by buses and emergency response vehicles. Motorists are advised to use added caution and be watchful for black ice.
11:35 AM: Serious snow in The Junction. Road is coated.
(Photo added 12:42 am, sent by neighbor ‘Bunnyfer’)
11:54 PM: Fire reported on 35th SW near Roxbury. More to come.
(Photo by Tony Bradley)
12:10 AM: The fire is reported to be under control.
12:36 AM: Christopher Boffoli‘s on the scene for WSB. (His photos are above and below this paragraph.) He says the house is single-family but is believed to be vacant (as mentioned in comments, below). Note that 35th is closed at Roxbury, if you have to drive at this hour. No word of any injuries.
12:41 AM: Christopher has spoken with Seattle Fire spokesperson Kyle Moore. He reports that Moore confirms the house was vacant, and Christopher adds this from Kyle’s briefing: “No occupants. No firefighter injuries. Engine 37 arrived to a fully involved fire in the basement area. Ladder 11 followed and ran water from an 8 inch main on 35th. They have the fire pretty much tapped now. But because the fire burned out and weakened the floor, it is too dangerous for them to go inside at this point. Kyle says they’ll probably sit on it all night just to be sure.”
1:41 AM: Added video from Christopher. Your editor here just went over to check the scene – 35th closed on the south side of Roxbury but you can turn onto Roxbury, either way. We’re adding more photos, too. The main that Kyle mentioned to Christopher – important note because of the water challenges brought to light by the August 27th fire a mile or so south – is about a block from the house that burned.
(Photo by Tony Bradley)
Here’s where the line ran from:
(Photo by Torin Record-Sand)
(The maps shown when the City Council was briefed on the August fire last month show this area is not slated for water-main upgrades since it’s close enough to one with sufficient “fire flow.” When we checked back, firefighters were still up on the roof with chainsaws, ventilating the house, and it’s still smoldering. No word on the cause, but that usually takes some hours to determine.
2:49 AM: Commenters had pointed out early on that the home was for sale. Most recently, one noted that a sale was listed as “pending.” We looked up the current ownership; the house is federally owned, following foreclosure. Meantime, we uploaded a short clip received from Benjamin, in the early moments of the fire:
ADDED SUNDAY NIGHT: Investigators still haven’t figured out how the fire started, according to this update on the SFD website.
11:42 PM: Thanks for the e-mails/texts. We’re checking. (LATER: Sorry, the fire sidetracked the investigation into what this was about. We still have inquiries out, though, and whenever we get an answer, we’ll post it here.)
SUNDAY MORNING: Southwest Precinct Lt. Alan Williams told us they did NOT have Guardian One (the area’s only law-enforcement chopper, owned/operated by King County Sheriff’s Office, but assists other agencies) out on anything. Was it a KCSO case? No word yet.
It’s been quieter on the burglary front lately; we should hear the newest stats at the West Seattle Crime Prevention Council meeting on Tuesday. Meantime, an alert from a break-in victim near 29th and Raymond in High Point, who sent a note this afternoon:Read More
At Kitty Harbor late this afternoon, the first day of a special cat adopt-a-thon wrapped up, with distinguished visitors – with KH founder Delyn Kosbab (left) and Furry Faces Foundation’s Teri Ensley (right), that’s one of them, King County Executive Dow Constantine, holding Patches the cat. Patches, an 11-year-old tortoiseshell, is one of two-dozen-plus cats who will be awaiting you at Kitty Harbor tomorrow. (By 4 pm today, more than 30 already had found new homes!) The adopt-a-thon is also a benefit on behalf of Teri, whose home caught fire this past Monday (WSB coverage here). All but one of her personal and rescue cats is OK, but she is mourning Pouncer, who didn’t make it; otherwise, Teri told us, she’s doing better, and very thankful to everyone who has reached out to help. (Even the clothes she’s wearing are thanks to folks who are helping.) Constantine is a longtime animal advocate – not to mention companion of two rescue cats – and was there not just to show support for Teri, but also for King County Regional Animal Services, which helped with the event:
As terrific as Kitty Harbor is (helping 575 cats find homes this past season!), he noted, it would be great if there was less need for volunteers and private nonprofits to shelter and help so many homeless cats – and there’s an easy way to help that become reality:
(Side note – Constantine and partner Shirley Carlson stopped at Kitty Harbor while heading back from an event at the University of Washington at which local Japanese-American World War II heroes were honored, including two from West Seattle; more on that later.)
The Kitty Harbor adopt-a-thon – which is happening outside the timeframe of the facility’s normal adoption season – continues noon-6 pm tomorrow at 3422 Harbor Avenue SW. Meantime, the latest on assistance for Teri, her cats, and Furry Faces is here (including a “mini-pub crawl” in Morgan Junction Thursday night).
One week from today, family and friends will gather to remember lifelong West Seattleite Jack Hanning. His family shares this remembrance:
Jack Hanning
“Maui Jack”
3/24/25-1/7/12
Jack was born in Seattle to Jack and Irene Hanning. He was a lifelong resident of West Seattle and graduated in ‘43 from West Seattle High School.
Jack joined the Sea Scouts and sailed on the Yankee Clipper; later in life, he served on the Sea Scout Foundation.
He volunteered for the U.S. Navy Submarine Service during WWII and served on the Pogy SS266 from ’43-‘46. In ‘47, Jack married Bettie McCoy, and they celebrated their 64th anniversary last June 14th. He graduated from the U of W in ’53, then worked for Benton Realty before opening Hanning Realty in ’56. Later he added Olympic Escrow. After 50 years in the business, he closed his office in ‘06.
We first heard about this at midmorning, when Richard sent a note about a King County Sheriff’s Deputy and “crime tape” at a home across from Lowman Beach. We suspected it had something to do with the county taking over that property and others, for the future Murray Pump Station Combined Sewer Overflow project, which will replace the residences across from Lowman Beach with a million-gallon underground storage tank and its support faciliities. When we got there for a photo early this afternoon, that looked so obviously to be the case, we didn’t even seek out the deputy who was parked there, figuring we’d go look up property records.
Then while back at HQ we got a note from Robin, who said she had seen a Craigslist ad about a garage sale at the address today, got there at 10 am – and instead of a sale, she found a (different – in a KCSO car, while this afternoon, it was Burien PD) deputy, the house cordoned off with crime tape, and NO TRESPASSING signs put up:
She says the deputy who was there at the time explained that the renters already had moved out and the sale listing was “fake,” one of those “everything including the fixtures are for sale” listings. We looked around online and saw some corroboration of this on CL:
Further searches showed some hint of the original post, but it’s already been removed, even from caching. Online county records confirm this site is now owned by the county; the sale closed December 30th, but the purchase price is not listed. We’re seeking further info from the Sheriff’s Office (such as, was anyone arrested?) and will also be researching the ownership status of the other properties on the block – the county’s timetable calls for demolition as soon as this spring, though construction isn’t expected to start till next year. More info on today’s incident, as we get it.
Police are investigating vandalism on the east lawn of Hiawatha Community Center. An officer arrived while we were there looking at the damage a neighbor had called to tell us about. One or more vehicles drove over the east lawn – in repeated circles/criss-crosses, tearing up the grass in the area used for so many community events:
The neighbor who called us said it happened overnight – he believes he heard the noise of whatever vehicle(s) did this, but didn’t realize at the time what it was. The tire tracks are on the north side of the east lawn too:
We did not see any equipment or building damage, though, and it wasn’t clear what direction the driver(s) came from – there is a driveway but the locked bollards were up. The site is owned by Seattle Parks, and we won’t be able to check with them till Tuesday because of the holiday.
10:36 AM: The Puget Sound Clean Air Agency has just canceled the burn ban that’s been in effect the past few days – no surprise given the rain and wind, of course, but just in case you’ve been longing to get the fireplace/woodstove going, there’s your green light. Meantime, the forecast continues to include a possibility that the rain showers will turn to snow showers – possibly this afternoon; so far, no word of morning snow sightings.
11:35 AM: The snow has hit the north end, according to multiple reports – Fremont, Woodland Park Zoo among the areas mentioning it. Headed this way? We’re on watch. The National Weather Service has issued a “short-term forecast” focused on north King/south Snohomish counties.
In an hour, West Seattle’s new school-board rep Marty McLaren holds her third and final community-conversation meeting before the board votes Wednesday on what to do to try to relieve school overcrowding next year – a process the district is calling “short-term capacity management.” As first reported here January 4th, McLaren had said that she planned to offer an amendment to delay the proposal to reopen the former Boren Junior High School as temporary home of a STEM – science, tech, engineering, math – focused “option” elementary. We’d been asking about the status of the amendment in recent days, and minutes ago, she sent this announcement she has decided not to pursue it:
Thank you to all the West Seattle (and other) people who have joined the dialogue about short term solutions for overcrowding in our elementary schools.
Decision to move forward with the STEM option proposal
Friday I made the decision not to go forward with my amendment to the current proposal: Thus, the Seattle School Board will vote next Wednesday, January 18th, on whether to open an elementary STEM option program at the Boren site, and in addition to add portables as needed in the Denny and Madison service areas for the 2012-13 school year.Because many of you felt that there had not been adequate community discussion about the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) program recommendation, I had prepared an amendment which would have delayed placing a STEM program at Boren for a year, until 2013-14. I invited interested people to comment on this blog about their vision for West Seattle schools and the STEM option, and also invited people to attend one of three meetings (the final meeting of this series takes place this morning at 11 AM at the Delridge Library). However, after listening carefully, discussing the various angles, and looking at all the factors, when the Friday deadline came to post the amendment, I chose not to do it.
Deciding factors — concerns about going forward
As you know, this was a complex and difficult decision. Many West Seattle people have correctly pointed out that placing a STEM program at Boren does not begin to adequately address overcrowding in our elementary schools. It’s clear that we need a comprehensive mid- and long-range master plan for providing more neighborhood schools, and many people believe strongly that it’s premature to commit to a STEM option program before a feeder pattern for the program is determined and before the master plan is in place. However, there is simply not enough time to formulate such a plan before open enrollment begins on February 27th.
(WSHS mascot and band, drumming up school spirit)
Story and video by Randall G. Hauk
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
Troy Lingle’s 21 points were enough to make him the high scorer for the West Seattle High School boys basketball team Friday night, but even with 15 of those points coming in the second half, the effort was not enough to avoid a third-straight loss for the Wildcats, who fell at home to the Nathan Hale HS Raiders.
Hale also won the girls’ varsity match preceding the boys’ varsity game.
(Added 10:17 am – an intrepid dozen-plus turned out in chilly rain/wind for Admiral cleanup!)
While we wait and watch the weather – here’s the latest “special weather statement” – there’s plenty else to do. From the WSB West Seattle Events calendar:
ADMIRAL CLEANUP: Admiral Neighborhood Association‘s quarterly Adopt-A-Street cleanup, meet outside Metropolitan Market (WSB sponsor) at 9 am – free breakfast and lunch.
COVE SCHOOL OPEN HOUSE: The Cove School, with a toddler program and preschool program, hosts its final open house of the season at its location in Fauntlee Hills, 9-10:30 am. Call to RSVP ASAP, 206-923-COVE.
FIND OUT ABOUT BECOMING A VOLUNTEER NATURALIST: Open house for those interested in information about being a volunteer naturalist. Camp Long, 10 am-1 pm, 5200 35th SW. From the announcement: “Do you love sharing nature with others? Are you interested in learning more about the flora and fauna of the Seattle’s many parks? Then you might be the perfect candidate for the Seattle Volunteer Naturalist program. … Training for Volunteer Naturalists begins in March of 2012. The deadline for applications is February 10.”
TALK WITH YOUR REP ON THE SEATTLE SCHOOL BOARD: With the board’s decision about “short-term capacity management” – reopen Boren as a new “option” elementary? add more portables to several local elementaries? or? – today is your final pre-vote chance to talk with School Board rep Marty McLaren, 11 am-1 pm at Delridge Library (Brandon/Delridge).
AVALON CENTER OPEN HOUSE: Avalon Center (WSB sponsor) is having an open house 11 am-3 pm today, 6959 California SW. From the announcement: “Everyone is invited to stop by to meet the staff. There will be a light brunch buffet and great conversations.”
CAT ADOPT-A-THON BENEFITING TERI ENSLEY & FURRY FACES: As announced earlier this week, at Kitty Harbor (3422 Harbor Ave. SW) noon-6 pm today, a cat adopt-a-thon will benefit fire victim Teri Ensley and her animal-advocacy organization Furry Faces Foundation.
BRIGHT BEGINNINGS OPEN HOUSE: Open House at Bright Beginnings Preschool Program, Hiawatha Community Center (2700 California SW), 1-3 pm. Bright Beginnings is operated by the Associated Recreational Council in partnership with the Parks Department. From the announcement: “We provide rich environments with different learning areas, consistent schedules and routines, large and small group times and outdoor play.”
SOLDIERS’ MEMORIAL DEDICATION: Fallen Soldiers Memorial dedication at Vietnamese Cultural Center (on SW Orchard north of Home Depot, west of Delridge), 1 pm, public invited, especially Vietnam War veterans and their families. Read about it in our recent preview.
FEELING CRAFTY? Monthly Crafting party group in Delridge with its first meet-up today, 1-6 pm. From the announcement: “The cost is $10/person and it includes: snacks, appetizers, door prizes, make n takes, and more. Space is limited so interested folks should inquire/rsvp to me at phillippiagoldsmith@live.com – Participants can come work on their sewing, scrapbooking, card making, knitting projects with other people. Youth are welcome!”
AT THE LONGHOUSE: “Remembering Medicine Songs of Chief Seattle’s Time” with Johnny Moses, 6 pm at Duwamish Longhouse (details on this Facebook event page).
Note: After publishing the roundup, we learned this event has been postponed – watch for news of a new date! ‘WINEMAKER’S DINNER’ TO BENEFIT WHITE CENTER FOOD BANK: Endolyne Joe’s and Sozo Wines are hosting it tonight at 7 pm, $60 per person, five-course meal with wine. Check to see if reservations remain – 206–937-5637.
RAT CITY BRASS @ KENYON HALL: At Kenyon Hall (7904 35th SW): 7:30 pm tonight, it’s Rat City Brass, described in the announcement as “a dynamic eight-piece band that specializes in the music of Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass.” Reserved table seats are $14. Row seating is $12 general and $10 seniors. With a reservation, row seating is only $10 general and $8 seniors. Elementary, middle, and high school students are $5. Pre-schoolers are free. To make a reservation, please e-mail kenyonhall@earthlink.net.
AT THE CLUBS/LOUNGES/COFFEEHOUSES: Cool Cats at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor), 6-8 pm … The Buckets at Feedback Lounge (WSB sponsor), 9 pm … Estafets, Bone Cave Ballet, Debutante Year at Skylark Café and Club, 9 pm … Candylandia dance party at Benbow Room of the Heartland Café, 9 pm-2 am … DJ/karaoke with Tony B at Rocksport, 10 pm …
(Photos by Christopher Boffoli for WSB, unless otherwise credited)
Good news if you are among the nighttime drivers dealing with west-end bridge closures for the Fauntleroy Expressway quake-resistance project (well, technically, seismic retrofitting): The work is ahead of schedule, according to superintendent Jeff Bailey with general contractor C.A. Carey.
We (WSB editor Tracy Record and contributing photojournalist Christopher Boffoli) met Bailey and his crew last night while visiting the work site under the bridge with Bob Derry of Stepherson & Associates, which is doing communications consulting on the project; we’ve brought you their updates in multiple community-council reports over the past four months.
If you’re just tuning in – the Fauntleroy Expressway is the almost-half-century-old, half-mile-long western end of the high bridge. It’s undergoing work with this goal, from the project page: “Once completed, the seismic retrofitting improvements will decrease the probability that the Fauntleroy Expressway will collapse after a large magnitude earthquake.”
Seeing the current work up close, it’s not as dramatic as the images evoked when we heard the crew would spend months lifting the bridge deck, one section at a time, to replace rubber seismic cushions. The “lifting” does not involve some kind of big hoist, no cranes, nothing overhead, in fact – it actually involves crews going up in cherry-pickers to place a 600-pound jack under each (up to) 100-ton girder:
Here’s a closer look at one of the jacks:
Once the jacks are in place, the crew uses them to lift the bridge deck one inch (any more, Bailey explains, and the rules change), taking out the old cushion, then testing the space with this T-shaped tool dangling short chains:
(Cameraphone photo by Tracy Record)
The sound of the chain links against the concrete helps crews confirm if the concrete is in good shape.
(Photo courtesy Bob Derry)
And when they put in a new cushion, it has “glue” on one side. You can see all the phases in this video Christopher put together – including the traffic passing by on both sides of the work zone:
Fauntleroy Expressway Work from christopher boffoli on Vimeo.
The project also has involved jacketing bridge support columns with steel. Next week, Bailey explained, they’ll put grout in, between the steel and the concrete, though he says the void isn’t that wide – one inch all around.
Watching all the work from beneath, we wondered aloud what’s visible atop the bridge while the deck is being raised from below. So Bailey took us up to look. Turns out you would barely notice the bump if you drove over it:
Our trip topside was more notable just for the chance to stand on the bridge without traffic.
(That’s Bailey at left, Derry at right.) But back underneath, the crew – about 20 people on an average night, according to Bailey – was moving forward, removing and replacing the cushions, one by one, moving from girder to girder, section to section.
So far, he added, they haven’t heard many complaints about effects of the project and its closures. We mentioned receiving a few notes earlier this week about the under-bridge park/ride spaces being blocked off earlier this week; he said the crews had moved fast enough in the previous few nights for much of the space to open back up again.
What’s next? Overnight closures are expected on weeknights the next two weeks; there’s no firm plan yet for weekend closures, which were mentioned as a possibility during community-meeting briefings next fall. The $3 million project, funded by the Bridging the Gap levy, is expected to be complete before summer.
Four days before a member of the Seattle Police Aggressive Driver Response Team makes a guest appearance at the West Seattle Crime Prevention Council‘s next meeting, ADRT was back in action in West Seattle today, including 35th SW, Admiral Way, and local school zones. See the SPD Blotter roundup here; come to the Southwest Precinct (Webster/Delridge) at 7 pm Tuesday to hear how they work (and ask questions!).
We have groused lately that the word “amazing” is overused. However – it truly applies to what graced the sky around 5 tonight, as do glorious, spectacular, breathtaking, (your favorite superlative here). Thanks to everyone sharing photos. (Ever heard the explanation for sunset colors?) Top, Brad Huskinson shot that from the Me-Kwa-Mooks area. Next, JayDee‘s view, looking over Alki Point:
Two more ahead:Read More
With school now out for the three-day Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Day holiday weekend, many students will be coming home with stories about special assemblies in honor of Dr. King and what he stood for. Madison Middle School shares this photo of principal Henterson Carlisle (left) and house administrator Elizabeth Shields (right) with Madison’s special assembly speaker, Rev. Dr. Samuel McKinney, longtime Seattle civil-rights leader and friend of Dr. King. As noted in Rev. Dr. McKinney’s biography on HistoryLink, his many accomplishments include his longtime leadership of Seattle’s Mount Zion Baptist Church, as pastor from 1958-1998 (he is still listed there as its Pastor Emeritus). He invited Dr. King to Seattle for his only visit here, in November 1961 (HistoryLink tells that story too).
ADDED 7:42 PM: CC shared a photo too – her 8th-grade daughter Chanel with the Rev. Dr. McKinney and Madison’s Dr. Virgie Harris, the friend who invited him to speak at the school:
Big event at Madison next week, by the way – Literacy Night on Thursday (details here).
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