West Seattle, Washington
26 Friday
Two local storefronts have new tenants:
FIRST DAY FOR FLOURISH BEAUTY: The former Young At Art storefront at Fauntleroy/Raymond is now home to the salon/spa Flourish Beauty. Proprietor Tiann Stubberfield e-mailed to say this was their first day in business. Tiann describes herself as “a born and raised West Seattle gal!” You might know her most recently for running Coco Bar at Ola Salon; she adds, “All of the gals working here are also West Seattleites who have been practicing for anywhere from 3-15 years.” They’ll be celebrating their opening with an open house Sunday, October 19th, noon-4 pm.
LIKA LOVE GOES BRICKS AND MORTAR: The mobile boutique you’ve seen around West Seattle for some time now is acquiring a fixed location. Malika Siddiq‘s Lika Love is moving into the former Clementine’s storefront at 4447 California SW in The Junction, with a grand opening planned 4-8 pm on October 9th.
(SCROLL DOWN for newest information plus added photos)
(Outage’s cause – truck vs. wires; photo from Jennifer)
FIRST REPORT, 4:20 PM: Jim says power’s out at 37th and 98th. 911 log says “wires down” at 39th/104th. The Seattle City Light outage map is, well, out. If you’ve lost power too, let us know, so we can get an idea of the extent. Also some out in Gatewood – we’ve heard from 41st/Holly.
4:28 PM: As you can see from comments, several southwest-end neighborhoods are out. We’re en route to check out the “wires down” location, and attempting to get information from SCL, since as noted above, the “outage map” itself is out of commission.
4:34 PM: Amanda, in comments, says it appears the “wires down” call at 39th/104th is a trash truck vs. pole crash. We’re adding a photo from Wendy (above).
4:42 PM: Also, if you’re seeing/hearing a helicopter, it’s just TV. Traffic note: Lights out because of this include 35th/Roxbury, per our crew:
(WSB photo: No power at 35th/Roxbury light)
No official City Light word yet and no news on how long it’ll take to fix this.
4:46 PM: Update – City Light says 4,300 homes and businesses are without power. 90 percent of customers will be back on within an hour – some others might take up to seven hours.
6:01 PM: Thanks to everyone reporting their power is back! Anyone NOT back?
7:23 PM: Some in Arbor Heights are still out, per comments, and now the SCL outage map is back, and that’s where it shows about 300 customers still out:
8:24 PM: More power restored! Thank you for the updates. SCL map now shows only a handful left without electricity. If that includes you, please call and make sure they know you are still out.
ADDED 9:36 PM: Jeff B shared photos with a closer look at what happened:
Engine 37 answered the “wires down” call shortly after it happened:
Local libraries host storytimes every week – but every so often, there’s an extra-special edition featuring Seattle Fire Department reps, always firefighters, sometimes others, all the way up to Fire Chief Gregory Dean. Another round of Firefighter Storytimes – fun events to teach little ones about fire safety – has just been announced, and it includes a West Seattle visit: High Point Branch Library, 11:30 am, October 23rd.
Fire in fremont pic.twitter.com/2Gi4rQ9Du2
— toddbishop (@toddbishop) September 30, 2014
(Photo tweeted by Todd Bishop of GeekWire)
We’re getting some questions because the black column of smoke is visible from here, looking north/northeast. The SFD 911 log lists the address as 434 N. 35th (map) in Fremont. Two-alarm fire, according to SFD. For more information and photos, we refer you to our friends at KING5.com.
(OCT. 3 UPDATE: Four competitors have signed up – Feedback Lounge, Elliott Bay, Husky Deli, The Swinery – room for five more; see below!)
(Photo courtesy West Seattle Junction Association)
More West Seattle Junction Harvest Festival news: The chili cookoff is coming back. And businesses interested in being part of it this year need to speak up fast!
The Junction Association is sponsoring a fundraiser for the West Seattle Food Bank at our 3rd Annual Harvest Festival on Sunday, October 26th. Our neighborhood restaurants will bring their best pot of chili and compete for bragging rights of Best Chili at Harvest Festival – 2014. It’s free for restaurants to enter. The West Seattle public will vote by buying a flight of chili and choosing their favorite! 100% of the donations collected will go to the West Seattle Food Bank to help our community. Last year we raised $1400 for the food bank in just two hours!
Some logistics and rules to enter. Participants must:
* Be a West Seattle business.
* Bring 2.5 gallons of hot chili made in commercial kitchen. We’ll have chafing dishes but bring it hot!!
* Provide a chili server who has a current Food Handlers Card. Restaurant owner, lead chef, or manager preferred.
* Be ready to serve at 11 am! With 2.5 gallons of chili, we’ll be able to serve over 100 flights and the competition will be done by 1 pm.
* Note that we’re increasing requested amount from last year’s 2 gallons. The Food Bank is planning to hustle this thing to raise more money!
* We have room for only 9 competitors. First come, first serve, don’t delay.
We’ll provide everything else. To register, please e-mail susan@wsjunction.org with your business name, contact person, and agreement that rules will be followed. Deadline Friday, October 17th.
(WSB photo from 2013 Admiral District trick-or-treating)
The Junction already has announced its Harvest Festival, which includes the annual business-district trick-or-treating (and other components – watch for more news shortly). This morning, we are sharing The Admiral District’s trick-or-treat event announcement, just so you can mark your calendars: Participating businesses there will have the candy out 3-6 pm on Halloween (October 31st), which is a Friday this year.
Thanks to Brigitte for pointing out that September 6th photo shared by NASA as “Picture of the Day” today – a September 6th view of West Seattle from space! (Click the photo for larger, zoomable view that also includes more of the Seattle area.) Back here on earth, here are a few calendar highlights for today:
QUILT SHOW AND LUNCH: Senior Center of West Seattle invites you to lunch at 11:45 am, quilt show at 12:30 pm, details in our calendar listing.
DROP-IN CHESS: For kids and teens. 4 pm at High Point Branch Library. (35th/Raymond)
MEDITATION: The new West Seattle Shambhala Meditation group meets at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center, 6:20 pm, details here.
NIGHTLIFE: Seven listings on the calendar for tonight – bingo, karaoke, live music, trivia.
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
A long-running water-pollution investigation involving the Lafarge plant in West Seattle has ended with a settlement and fine. As first reported Sunday by seattlepi.com, the company was fined $300,000, confirmed operations manager Jonathan Hall in an interview with WSB.
(WS bridge and Highway 99 views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
Nothing unusual on routes through/from West Seattle right now.
ROAD WORK: If weather permits, the state plans to close northbound 99 tonight between the West Seattle Bridge and the stadium zone, 10 pm-5 am.
TRANSPORTATION NEWS: County Council members announced in dueling news releases Monday that they have taken action described as “sending back to committee” or “canceling” the February 2015 Metro bus cuts (which were to include killing Route 22), pending the outcome of the county budget process. Seattle Times (WSB partner) transportation reporter Mike Lindblom sorts it out, including possible implications for the transit-funding ballot measure you’ll be considering in a few weeks.
7:02 AM: Via Twitter, @cdawg2610 reports a possible stalled car on the eastbound bridge by the 99 overpass.
7:47 AM: The stalled vehicle is still there – in the left lane, per SDOT. You can also see it (as of this writing) on the WSDOT Spokane St. camera. The “low bridge” has just opened for marine traffic, so that’s not a good option right at the moment. The 1st Avenue S. bridge is showing its share of brake lights.
8:12 AM: SDOT just tweeted that the stalled vehicle has been cleared, but as always, “residual backups” remain.
8:42 AM: We’re headed downtown for a story this morning, so we’re trying the “back route.” After 25 minutes from Upper Fauntleroy, headed to the 1st Avenue S. Bridge via Highland Park and then 4th Avenue S., we are almost to 4th/Spokane.
One more chapter closed today in the case of former King County sheriff’s deputy and West Seattle resident Darrion Holiwell. First, he was charged last June with drug sales, theft, domestic violence, and promoting prostitution. Then he pleaded guilty and was sentenced on August 4th to one year and one day behind bars. At the time, Holiwell – who ran a gun-related business on the side – said he was broke. But as our partners at The Seattle Times reported on August 25th, prosecutors found out otherwise, learning Holiwell was about to get a $181,000 retirement cashout, and filed to have his sentence thrown out on grounds of fraud. The motion was granted, and we just found court records showing Holiwell was re-sentenced today. Judge Bruce Heller gave him a five-month-longer prison sentence – 17 months in all, still short of the 20-month maximum. He also was ordered to pay $45,000 in restitution; no amount had been set when he was originally sentenced in early August. And his previous $1,000 fine for promoting prostitution was tripled to $3,000.
CenturyLink‘s plan to offer 1-gigabit Internet service in neighborhoods including West Seattle got a boost from the City Council today. Councilmembers voted to change the rules for the cabinets that are required to extend fiber service. Full details are in this city news release. A PR firm for CLink pinged us afterward, saying that the company’s local leadership is working with “aerial fiber” to extend service this year and next. We asked if they had any West Seattle specifics yet – where, when, etc. – short answer, no.
FIRST REPORT, 7:18 PM: We’re at High Point Community Center along with a crowd we’d estimate to number at least 200, at what was supposed to be an informational/Q-A meeting about the Seattle Housing Authority‘s controversial “Stepping Forward” rent-increase proposal.
Andrew Lofton, exec dir. of @Seattle_Housing pic.twitter.com/GjMymMcKRP
— West Seattle Blog (@westseattleblog) September 30, 2014
SHA executive director Andrew Lofton barely got through the pre-planned slide deck, with chants and shouts between almost every line.
After a few attempts at Q/A – really, just Q, because SHA said it would not answer any of the questions – one man shouted that those in attendance were being insulted and should walk out.
Many did, and went into the gym, where they and protesters rallied, with City Councilmember Kshama Sawant on hand.
(Added 9:26 pm – here’s our video of what Sawant told them, amplified via “human mike”:)
Others, meantime, stayed behind, and some spoke about the “stepped” rent increase proposal, which could take a subsidized household now paying $50 in rent, up to $1,000 in the fifth year. Even those who said they supported the concept of encouraging self-sufficiency said unemployment is high and there’s no guarantee anyone can get work, no matter how hard they try.
This man says unemployment is high and he is worried about people find self-sufficiency pic.twitter.com/Ik9Ncq1Tar
— West Seattle Blog (@westseattleblog) September 30, 2014
There were declarations that while SHA is calling for tenant accountability, no one is calling for developer accountability to provide more low-income housing.
The meeting is now in an “open house” phase at which those with questions are seeking answers in one-on-one conversations.
9:26 PM: Above, we’ve added our video of what Councilmember Sawant said after “the other meeting” convened in the Community Center’s gym – we had one crew in each room.
Our full video of the meeting in the original room, including all of the protests and the presentation they punctuated, will be added after we get it uploaded later tonight. (Added: Here it is:)
Meantime, Sawant told those gathered in the gym that the SHA meeting was “a joke” and called for “a big action in City Hall” on October 15th.
Opponents of “Stepping Forward” have a petition, and details of their position and objections, online here.
Meantime, the “next steps” slide in the official presentation said a possible “workforce pilot” would begin late this year, and that the proposal would be revised, more public comment taken, a recommendation made to SHA’s Board of Commissioners, then a phase-in with about 4 years from Board approval to full implementation, “rent changes no earlier than 2016.”
“We don’t want it revised!” someone yelled. “We want it gone!”
Last call to be part of the West Seattle Junction Harvest Festival by offering an activity for kids! From the WS Junction Association‘s Susan Melrose:
West Seattle Harvest Festival is less than 4 weeks away. The Farmers Market will take to the street, with the costume parade leaving Junction Plaza Park at 11:30, and trick-or-treating starting at noon.
Free activities provided by West Seattle businesses and non-profits bring fun and excitement to kids – and offer a Halloween activity that doesn’t necessarily involve sugar. If you’d like to bring a Harvest Activity, please submit an application. It’s FREE, but you must bring something that kids will love.
Deadline is Wednesday – you’ll find the application link here. And you don’t have to just think “Halloween” or “pumpkins” – for example, as we mentioned over the weekend, the “activity” at the booth we’re sponsoring will be plankton viewing with “Diver Laura” James and her iPhone microscopes.
Two development notes this afternoon:
REVISED PROPOSAL FOR HIGH-PROFILE HIGH POINT CORNER: The placement of that sign might make you think the big stretch of vacant land at 35th/Graham is the future site of more Polygon-built single-family homes. Not according to the newest proposal, with a “preliminary assessment report” added to city files just a week ago. It is now described as:
Develop the Block 9 High Point site, including utilities and infrastructure, 52 townhomes and a 4 story mixed use building containing approximately 80 apartment units, 8,500 square feet of office space, and 1,500 square feet of retail space located on the ground floor.
The mixed-use building is similar to something a Seattle Housing Authority spokesperson mentioned last October, when we reported on the previous plan. At the time, a mix of houses and townhouses was in the works, with an expectation of a “commercial building” at the corner, SHA said. In this plan, that is now a mixed-use building running along the entire 35th SW frontage of the land, according to a preliminary “site plan” filed this month, with the townhouses to the east. The new plan is in the name of High Point III, LLC, which traces to Polygon Northwest‘s Bellevue address. We’ll be following up on next steps for this plan.
2 WEEKS TO COMMENT ON 4849 21ST SW SUBDIVISION: Last week, we reported on an application to split one big lot at 4849 21st SW (map) into nine parcels for single-family houses. Today, the official notice is in the city’s Monday/Thursday Land Use Information Bulletin, which means you have two weeks to comment. Here’s how.
(West Seattle Big Band – WSB photo from July 2014 Hi-Yu Concert in the Park)
Next weekend is closer than you think. So we want to make sure this is on your radar. From Jim Edwards with the West Seattle Big Band:
The West Seattle Big Band has been supporting music programs in the West Seattle public schools for 18 years now. We are not a non-profit organization. We are a working band. We do not seek grants or donations with which to operate. We go out and perform at weddings, dances and concerts throughout the Seattle area.
Our (the band members) income is where our donations to these school band programs come from. Our income is what makes it possible for us to do our collaboration concerts with West Seattle, Madison, and Sealth/Denny programs. In addition to these concerts, in the past two years, our band has donated a combined $5000 to these three programs. A large majority of the money we donate to our West Seattle school music programs comes from outside our West Seattle Community, simply because we perform throughout the region.
But this week we are asking for your support. Last year we had a first-time event that was unrelated to our work with school music programs. Our piano player Brooke Yool was diagnosed with MS. She asked us to help her support the MS Society, and we put together our first MS Dance. The event was a tremendous success.
So we thought we would try it again. We have expanded it to include a small live auction, and several silent auction items. But for it to be a success once again, we have to rely on you, our West Seattle Community. We are asking you to help us in the fight against MS. The band will cover all expenses related to the production of the event. So 100% of the proceeds of this event will go to the Multiple Sclerosis Society.
Please join us Saturday, October 4th, from 7:00 to 10:00 PM, at the West Seattle Senior Center. The suggested donation is $15. Hors d’oeuvres and soft drinks included. You can RSVP at event@dancems.org
The West Seattle Senior Center is located at 4217 SW Oregon St.
(WSB file photo – camera near Roxhill Elementary)
The new speed-enforcement cameras on SW Roxbury – in the Roxhill Elementary and Holy Family school zones – will start issuing “real” tickets this Thursday, October 2nd, as planned. We just checked with Seattle Police to verify that, and they confirm that the “warning period,” which started on September 3rd, ends Wednesday. If you received a “warning” ticket this month, we’d be interested to hear from you (please comment or e-mail us); we asked for information on how many “warnings” have been issued and are told we’ll have to request that via the public-disclosure process, so it might take a while. According to an SPD-provided info-sheet, West Seattle’s first speed-cam zone, Fauntleroy Way near Gatewood Elementary, was responsible for 5,500 $189 citations last school year. The city expects to add more cameras next year, but hasn’t announced the locations yet.
(Photo by Mark Wangerin: Double-crested cormorant snacking on a saddleback gunnel)
From the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
COUNCIL TO HEAR ABOUT ‘CONSERVATION DISTRICTS’: As previewed here last night, it’s the second item on this morning’s City Council agenda, expected around 10 am; live on Seattle Channel if you’re not at City Hall.
‘BEING HUMAN’ OPENING RECEPTION: Meet guest curator Kathy Liao (of Seattle University) at today’s noon-2 pm opening reception for the new “Being Human” exhibit at South Seattle College (WSB sponsor) Art Gallery. (6000 16th SW)
HOUSING AUTHORITY RENT-PROPOSAL MEETING: The citywide controversy over the Seattle Housing Authority‘s “Stepping Forward” rent-increase proposal comes to High Point tonight, 6 pm, High Point Community Center. (6920 34th SW)
BENEFIT FOR ‘COLTON’S ARMY’: Live comedy and music at the Skylark tonight, 6:45 pm (doors open at 6), benefiting a fund set up for 14-year-old cancer patient Colton Matter and leukemia research. Tickets/details here. (3803 Delridge Way SW)
DUWAMISH OIL SPILL PLAN: Not in West Seattle, but it’s about the river that runs past us: A state Department of Ecology public workshop to talk about developing a geographic spill-response plan for the Duwamish and Green Rivers. 7-8 pm at Green River Community College‘s Glacier Room. (12401 SE 320th, Auburn)
SPEAKING OF THE DUWAMISH RIVER … today’s the deadline to get your initial idea (doesn’t have to be a fully developed proposal at this stage) in for Duwamish Revealed – here’s our original story explaining it. (10:48 am update: Thanks to commenter AIDM that this project has updated its website to extend the deadline to October 15th!)
(WS bridge and Highway 99 views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
Welcome to a brand-new week. The traffic watch is on. And so is the look ahead:
OVERNIGHT HIGHWAY 99 CLOSURE: If it’s not canceled for weather or another reason, work is scheduled overnight tonight on southbound 99, closing that side of the highway between our bridge and the stadium zone, 10 pm-5 am.
METRO REMINDER: The September service change took effect on Saturday. No West Seattle routes were among the cuts/reductions, but if you transfer to/from other routes, you might want to doublecheck the list.
TRANSPORTATION NEWS: The West Seattle Transportation Coalition is starting its second year with a list of 5 priorities it believes the city could and should address ASAP … ICYMI over the weekend – dog rescued on the bridge!
7:52 AM: Thanks to everyone in comments (also Lise and Maggie via Twitter) for word of the broken-down RapidRide bus on the eastbound bridge. Maggie also points out that WS buses have extra passengers this morning because the Vashon Water Taxi is out of service (mechanical trouble with Melissa Ann).
8:00 AM: SDOT says the stalled bus is cleared now (but as always, residual backups will take a while to clear).
The West Seattle Transportation Coalition is about to start its second year. After one year of meetings, conversations, discussions, and outreach, WSTC has announced a list of “the five most pressing transportation issues for the West Seattle peninsula, which are within the power of the City of Seattle to directly address and resolve,” and sent a letter about them to city leaders.
First, the WSTC list:
(WSB file screengrab of SDOT camera looking toward bridge’s offramp to 99)
Expand vehicle capacity from the West Seattle Bridge to SR-99.
(Photo by Long B. Nguyen)
Develop a “West Seattle Peninsula” emergency relief plan.
(WSB file photo of the sign that marked the former 4th Ave. onramp spot until 2008.)
Increase access to the westbound Spokane St. Viaduct from SODO.
(City file photo of Lander tracks)
Complete the Lander Street Overpass.
(December 2013: De-icer-slick, closed-to-traffic bridge; WSB photo by Christopher Boffoli)
Immediate mitigation of traffic events to West Seattle peninsula chokepoints.
WSTC says it has sent a letter outlining “… these issues, possible resolutions, and (calls) for action …” to Seattle Mayor Ed Murray, City Council President Tim Burgess, and City Council Transportation Committee Chair Tom Rasmussen. It asks for a response with the “plan of action” by January 9, 2015. You can read the letter on the WSTC website, or below:
Agree? Disagree? Get involved! The WSTC meets on second Tuesdays and invites all to its next meeting, October 14th, 6:30 pm, at Neighborhood House’s High Point Center.
SIDE NOTE: This will also be a busy season on some of the problems for which WSTC and local neighborhood councils already have pushed for action – next launch is the 35th Avenue SW Road Safety Corridor project, with a community meeting October 22nd.
ADDED TUESDAY: Thanks to Clay Eals at the Southwest Seattle Historical Society for sharing a new scan:
With relatively rapid redevelopment in parts of some Seattle neighborhoods – West Seattle, Ballard, Capitol Hill come to mind – concern percolates about losing “character.” In some cases, neighborhoods have special districts as “overlays” meant as an attempt to preserve some of that character – Pioneer Square, notably, and Capitol Hill’s Pike-Pine area, for example. But what about other neighborhoods, like West Seattle, where the Southwest District Council has been trying for two years to get a historic-resources survey going for part of our area, as a first step?
“Neighborhood Conservation Districts” might be a tool for our area and others, suggests Councilmember Tom Rasmussen, who is sponsoring a briefing on the concept tomorrow, during the first part of the City Council’s two-part Monday meeting. Here’s the slide deck they’ll be going through:
The presentation during tomorrow’s 9:30 am Council meeting (agenda here) will not include a vote – it’s just a briefing, and there’s no specific council bill attached to it. But Councilmember Rasmussen tells us, “If my colleagues agree, I will continue to work for legislation to establish a process for neighborhoods to nominate themselves to become Conservation Districts.” Tomorrow’s briefing should start around 10 am and will be live online and on cable via Seattle Channel.
Thank you, as always, to “Diver Laura” James for sharing another view of what you won’t see unless you’re a diver too. From her dive last night off Seacrest, an unedited stretch of octopus-watching:
Along with the link, Laura wrote: “We spent almost 10 minutes with this amazing beautiful creature before we had to leave because of depth, time and air constraints (though I would have happily spent all night). It turns out my buddy swam right over the well-camouflaged octopus and was checking out the den of another octopus looking to see if there were any eggs (none to be found so far). You can see me signal him by bobbing my lights. The octopus gets curious and decides it wants to come check me out (I’m actually swimming backwards in some of the video) until my dive buddy comes over and then it decides to do something even more entertaining. Upon noticing my dive buddy, it ceases advancing on me and for lack of a better descriptive, turns around and starts sneaking up on my buddy. You can actually see it hunkering down and hiding behind the log, then it squeezes under the log and boo! Octopus! It does not appear upset in any of the interactions, more curious and checking things out. It does get upset later on when it tries to invade the den of a second octopus and gets into a bit of a wrestling match.” P.S. Interesting Giant Pacific Octopus info and trivia here.
P.S. On a much-smaller scale – remember Laura’s iPhone-microscope plankton-watching? She has agreed to join us in the WSB booth at the West Seattle Junction Harvest Festival four weeks from today, so you can bring your kid(s) by to have a look at the tiny creatures that fill our seas. The Harvest Festival is set for 10 am-2 pm Sunday, October 26th.
ADDED 3:42 PM: Laura just sent an edited video with a “potpourri of critters” from the dive, so we’re adding it:
Potpourri of Critters from Laura James on Vimeo.
One month until Halloween – and if you have kids, you know you can’t put off costumes until the last minute, whether you’re making them or buying them. There is another option – swapping costumes – and you’ll have a chance this Wednesday (October 1st) at My Three Little Birds in south Morgan Junction. Proprietor Jennifer Young says you can bring in a no-longer-needed (doesn’t fit, etc.) kids’ costume 1-5 pm that day and trade it for another one. Her shop is at 6959 California SW. (Anyone else doing costume swaps this year? Let us know!)
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