West Seattle, Washington
10 Tuesday
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
We’re continuing to track the transition at 2629 SW Andover from the suddenly shut-down West Seattle (Athletic) Club to the new West Seattle Health Club.
The former, owned by Sam Adams since early last year, announced a two-day closure last week but did not reopen on Saturday as promised; later Saturday, a representative of property owner John Pietromonaco announced that they’ve taken over and will open the facility as a new club.
First, the newest update, received this morning from that representative, Dan Lehr, who is managing the transition to WS Health Club and says it is “moving faster than expected.” He describes the points below (unedited, as we received them) as “updates from my staff”:
12:50 PM: The westbound lanes of the Fauntleroy end of the bridge are blocked by the crash in the photo (thanks to Phillip for sending it) – a vehicle pickup truck gone sideways. More to come.
1:03 PM: We’re looking at the scene from the pedestrian overpass nearby. Westbound blocked, one lane open eastbound. Ambulance at the scene; Seattle Fire has cleared.
1:23 PM: Traffic is being routed around the scene on the right, as shown on the nearby SDOT camera. A commenter says the people in the pickup were OK; we’re checking with SFD regarding whether anyone was taken to the hospital.
1:33 PM: Pickup’s being towed. (And a few minutes later, via scanner: “Bridge open both ways.”)
5:39 PM: According to Seattle Fire spokesperson Kyle Moore, both people in the pickup – both in their 20s – were taken to hospitals with minor injuries.
(WSB photo from Monday morning as SDOT arrived to block off the sinkhole site)
Following up on the sinkhole first reported here Monday morning, on 45th SW between Alaska and Edmunds west of The Junction: Seattle Public Utilities confirms a broken sewer line is to blame, and says repair work is under way, likely to continue a few days. Here’s the notice they’re distributing in the neighborhood today:
Neighbors pointed out that the area had been patched before, but suddenly yesterday morning, it turned into what the city calls a “void.”
(Added: City of Seattle photo by Jason Huff, republished with permission)
Thanks to Lola for pointing out the announcement on the city Arts and Culture Department‘s website – the kinetic artwork “Flyers” is now in place at the Westcrest Park expansion in Highland Park. More than four years have passed since artist David Boyer announced the concept (here’s our coverage from June 2010).
2:16 PM NOTE: The city seems to be having a bit of website trouble; the story’s 404ing but here’s the cached version.
WEDNESDAY NOTE: The original link is working again.
(Alki’s Lady Liberty, by Loren Beringer via Flickr, in honor of today’s 128th “birthday” of the original statue)
Four major highlights from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar, including our spotlight event:
WEST SEATTLE EDUCATION FAIR: Reviewing your school options for next year? 10+ local schools covering preK through 8th grade will have reps in one place tonight for the second annual WS Education Fair.
We’re sponsoring it; Seattle Lutheran High School is hosting it. 6:30-8 pm, SLHS Gym. (4100 SW Genesee)
Also on the highlight list for today/tonight:
35TH SW MEETING, EARLY EDITION: 3:30-5 pm, second kickoff meeting (mostly the same as the first, per SDOT) for the 35th SW Safety Project. Here’s our coverage of last Wednesday’s evening meeting. Upstairs at Southwest Branch Library. (35th/Henderson)
FESTIVAL OF THE LAST-MINUTE PUMPKIN CARVING: 5-8 pm, need some jack-o-lantern assistance? Come to Equilibrium Fitness (WSB sponsor) for the “Festival of the Last-Minute Pumpkin Carving” – explained here! (3270 California SW)
BLOCK WATCH CAPTAINS’ NETWORK: 6:30 pm at Southwest Precinct, featuring a demonstration of the new engravers the precinct has obtained to help you mark your valuables in case of theft. (Webster/Delridge)
WESTWOOD-HIGHLAND PARK NEIGHBORHOOD PLANNING: 7 pm at Big Al’s in White Center, as previewed here last night – all welcome to help start the conversation on potentially updating the 1999 plan, which is linked in the aforementioned preview. (9832 14th SW)
NIGHTLIFE … includes the blues, bingo, trivia, karaoke, singer/songwriter performances; see the venues and times by going directly to our calendar!
Just over a month ago, we mentioned the task force that Seattle Public Schools is forming to figure out whether and how to change bell times. West Seattle’s School Board rep Marty McLaren now sends word that they’re specifically looking for someone from this area.
Here is a stimulating, highly important service opportunity for a West Seattleite! Seattle Schools needs a West Seattle Representative on the Bell Time Analysis Task Force.
As you may have heard, the Board has asked district staff to conduct an analysis of changing school start times in Seattle Public Schools, making elementary schools start earlier, and middle and high schools later. Most middle and high schools start at 7:50 AM, and there is overwhelming evidence that when middle and high school students start school at 8:30 AM or later they are healthier, more successful in school, happier and emotionally more stable. On the other hand, elementary students generally are wakeful and energetic in the earlier hours of the day.
To make such a change would involve coming to an understanding with many different groups – first of all, parents, and in addition, the Parks Department regarding use of athletic fields, after-school activities providers, child care providers, and so on.
The district is convening a task force to study the benefits and challenges of this change, and we need representation from the Southwest region. Our region has unique characteristics and it’s important that a person with some knowledge about West Seattle and its schools has a voice on the Task Force. Meetings will be from 4:30 to 6:30 PM on a weekday, generally once per month, with two meetings planned before winter break.
I hope you’ll consider volunteering to join in this vital work. For information, email arrivaltimes@seattleschools.org, call or email Joan Dingfield, jodingfield@seattleschools.org, or visit the website.
(WSB photo from Friday’s game: #35 Binh Nguyen, #72 Richard Kawano, #57 Dustin McLean)
High-school football is now in the post-season, and West Seattle High School‘s athletic director Trevor Leopold tells WSB this morning that the Wildcats now have two more games set, following last Friday’s 52-12 victory over Franklin at Memorial Stadium (photo above). First, WSHS will visit Rainier Beach this Thursday (October 30th) at 7 pm. Then, they’ll be home on Saturday, November 8th, hosting Highline HS at 6 pm.
(WS bridge and Highway 99 views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
Heading for the peak commute time, no trouble outbound from here so far, aside from the rain.
2ND ‘KICKOFF MEETING’ FOR 35TH SW SAFETY PROJECT: If you’re available at 3:30 pm today, SDOT’s second “kickoff meeting” for the 35th SW Safety Project starts then, upstairs at Southwest Library (35th/Henderson). Here’s our report from the first meeting last Wednesday night.
7:43 AM: From WSDOT: “On I-5 southbound just south of West Seattle Bridge, there is a collision blocking the 2 left lanes.”
8:38 AM: From Nancy via Twitter:
A mess getting out of WS via Andover/Delridge. Warn drivers to be careful when making illegal maneuvers. @westseattlenews @SDOTbridges
— Nancy F. (@nfolsom) October 28, 2014
8:48 AM: Thanks to the texter who mentioned a crash that’s not on the 911 log (which just means, no injuries), Delridge/Oregon. We’re off to see if that’s still a factor.
9:23 AM: That’s clear. But while trying to get there, we found eastbound Spokane at a standstill under the bridge.
9:53 AM: Likely standing-water problems, we’re told by people who commuted earlier, including:
@westseattleblog FYI: The onramp from Delridge to W. Sea. Bridge has a LARGE lake-like puddle. I would say @ least 2' in depth. Use caution.
— C. $0.05 (@ECS_Stiggy) October 28, 2014
Following up on last month’s joint meeting of Highland Park Action Committee and Westwood-Roxhill-Arbor Heights Community Council, WWRHAH chair Amanda Kay Helmick invites you to a Tuesday meeting:
The Westwood / Highland Park Neighborhood Planning Committee is holding its first informal meeting tomorrow night at Big Al’s. 7:00 pm. We are starting the discussion on what a Westwood / Highland Park update would look like and what people see as the future of our area. The meeting is open to anyone who might be interested.
Big Al’s is in White Center, 9832 14th Ave. SW. Here’s the area covered by the 1999 WW-HP plan; see the full plan here.
(WSB photo: At left, a sheriff’s car that was on ‘containment’ earlier, on 106th at 26th)
FIRST REPORT, 7 PM: If you’re in Shorewood/east Arbor Heights, you might be noticing a major law enforcement presence: Sheriff’s deputies are getting help from SPD in their search for a suspect in a reported shooting near 10300 block 28th SW (map). No word on shooting circumstances/victim yet.
7:11 PM UPDATE: KCSO says the male victim is expected to survive. A K-9 team is helping search for the person who shot him.
7:38 PM UPDATE: KCSO says the K-9 track wasn’t able to find a suspect. They’re still sorting out the motive, possibly robbery.
9:40 PM UPDATE: We just checked in with KCSO spokesperson Sgt. DB Gates. She won’t have more information until morning but did say that as far as she knows, the shooting, while it happened near Grace Church (as discussed in comments), had no connection to the church.
TUESDAY MORNING, 10 AM: From Sgt. Gates:
There were four males in a parked car smoking marijuana when the suspect approached the car, opened one of the doors, displayed a handgun, and demanded their belongings.
For whatever reason, just a few seconds after the initial demand the victims felt the suspect was spooked by something outside the car. He then fired one shot into the car which hit a 17 year old seated in the driver’s seat. The suspect fled immediately on foot.
One of the males in the car also fled on foot, presumably because he had the marijuana. The other two (ages 19 and 20) remained with their friend and cooperated with responding deputies.
A K9 unit from Renton PD responded and a track was done but it was unsuccessful. Renton PD’s dog assisted as calling for an on duty dog is often quicker than calling out one of our K9 units from home. We also were assisted by Seattle Police.
The unknown suspect is described as a black/white mixed race male in his late 20s, approximately 5′ 10″ and medium build. He had short dreadlocks and tattoos on his neck and hands, last seen wearing a gray hoodie, red T-shirt and jeans. The victim vehicle was impounded for processing by detectives.
WSDOT is doing “emergency expansion joint repairs” on southbound I-5 at the West Seattle Bridge right now. According to a late-in-the-day alert, the center lane should already be closed, and then starting at 7 pm, crews will close three southbound lanes for about two hours, with the warning: “Drivers heading south on I-5 should expect significant delays or take alternate routes such as SR 99 or Airport Way.” (Thanks to Jann for the tip.)
(WSB photo: David and Vanessa at Moondrop Coffee and Tea)
One month ago, we mentioned that long-for-sale Alki Juice and Java at 1619 Harbor Ave. SW across from Seacrest had a new owner and a new name – Moondrop Coffee and Tea. After several weeks of closure for renovations and setup, Moondrop is now officially open. Proprietor David Livingood tells WSB they’ll be open 7 am-6 pm weekdays, 9 am-6 pm weekends for starters, during the fall/winter, likely opening earlier and closing later during the warm months. Before stopping by for a photo this morning, we had exchanged e-mail with him, and here’s how he explained Moondrop’s mission:
We offer an assortment of beverages (espresso, tea, milk tea, juices/smoothies) as well as breakfast, lunch, and snack/dessert items. Some of our food items include waffles (plain w/honey butter, salted caramel, chocolate banana), bagels, sandwiches (avocado tuna, chicken pesto, salami cream cheese, hummus lettuce tomato, PB&H), homemade banana/zucchini bread, vegan cheesecake, and parfaits (all-fruits, salted caramel, chocolate decadence).
Our roaster is a company called Grounds for Change. They are a certified organic coffee roaster specializing in 100% fair trade coffee that is also grown in shaded conditions.
They’re serving tea from The Art of Tea. Livingood is a 2013 UW graduate who explains, “I have lived in both the U.S. and Japan and have helped run/manage coffee shops, bars, and restaurants during my time(s) in Japan. I’ve also founded a couple of tech startups as a mobile applications developer which was primarily during the boom of the iPhone & iPad (2009-2013).” Moondrop’s website is in the works; for starters, they’re on Facebook.
Three West Seattle Crime Watch reports today:
SUNRISE HEIGHTS ROBBERY: Just published on SPD Blotter – three men, one with a gun, broke into a home in the 7500 block of 32nd SW during the windstorm early Sunday “looking for drugs and robb(ing) a 35-year-old woman, threatening to kill her if she did not cooperate.” The SPDB report continues:
The woman told police someone banged on the back door of her home, in the 7500 block of 32nd Avenue Southwest, shortly after midnight. When she walked back to investigate, a man broke the glass and reached in to unlock the door. The victim headed toward the front door, but one of the suspects barged in, pointed a handgun and ordered her to stop. A second man, armed with a knife from the kitchen, pushed her to the floor and held the blade near her throat. The robbers told her not to look at their faces, and asked where her safe was. The victim told them it had been stolen several weeks ago. One man held her down at gunpoint while the others ransacked her house. The woman offered them her purse containing $100. The men took the purse and then saw several police cars arriving in front of the house. They fled through the back door.
The victim ran out the front door to alert officers. She was not injured. A neighbor had called the police a few minutes earlier because the men had apparently walked through the yard of a neighboring home. Detectives believe the suspects were looking for illegal drugs. A K-9 team was brought in to help search for the suspects, but no one was found. If you have any information about this incident, please contact robbery detectives at (206) 684-5535.
Also in Crime Watch:
STOLEN FOX: Pink Gorilla Games in Morgan Junction (6053 California SW) says somebody has made off with the store’s distinctive “Fox McCloud” statue, shown above. They reported the theft on Sunday. Please contact the store and SPD if you’ve seen it.
FENCE FIGHT: Police were called to the 4200 block of SW Donovan in Upper Fauntleroy last Friday to investigate a reported assault, as neighbors’ fight over a fence escalated. The report says one neighbor installed the fence for property separation and privacy more than eight years ago. The other neighbor, “thinking the fence is shared property,” according to the report, recently put up decorations. The fence owner said the decorations were damaging the fence. Three weeks of arguing over the fence ensued, according to the report. The neighbor who installed the fence finally put up “No Trespassing” signs facing the yard of the other neighbor, who subsequently “got a pair of wire cutters and attempted to cut the signs down,” at which time, police say, the sign-installing neighbor ran outside, yelled “Get off my fence,” and struck the other neighbor in the hand, repeatedly, with a Home Depot bucket. The victim declined medical attention. Police advised them to consult a surveyor if they’re not clear about the property line, and advised the fence owner to call police if they suspect trespassing, not to take matters into their own hands.
(Photo by Lise Thivierge, from Seacrest)
Before we get too much further into Monday, three highlights from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar (and two great photos from this morning’s sunrise):
FISHING IN CUBA: 6 pm at Emerald Water Anglers in The Junction, free talk about fishing in, and traveling to, Cuba, presented by Cuban Fishing Centers. (42nd/Oregon)
TEAM IN TRAINING INFO NIGHT: 6:30 pm, find out about joining the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society‘s Team in Training for upcoming fundraising runs in the region. West Seattle Runner (WSB sponsor) is hosting the info night, with refreshments and in-store discounts. (California/Charlestown)
DISCUSSING THE DEATH PENALTY: 6:30 pm, Our Lady of Guadalupe, you’re invited to a community discussion – details in our calendar listing. (34th/Myrtle)
(Photo by Colby, from Whale Tail Park)
MORE … for tonight, on the calendar! And our West Seattle Halloween Guide still has lots of listings for the nights ahead.
A sinkhole is blocking the northbound side of 45th SW between Alaska and Edmunds (map) west of The Junction. After two reader tips (thank you!) we arrived just as an SDOT worker was putting out cones and tape to block off the sinkhole. One neighbor says it happened, at a previously patched spot in the road, around 8 am. No repair ETA yet; the worker told us that, as you might have guessed, many crews are out dealing with downed trees right now. Though there’s enough room for a car to squeeze by in the southbound lane, that’s still very close to the sinkhole’s edge and we’d advise avoiding the road unless you live on that block and have to get to/from home.
ADDED MONDAY NIGHT: We went back to check on the sinkhole just as it was getting dark. A Seattle Public Utilities crew was there to do some investigating:
We’ll check in with SPU and SDOT tomorrow.
(WSB photo from last Thursday afternoon)
The community-built play area at Roxhill Park is closed for a fifth day, according to Seattle Parks, because removing its distinctive turret isn’t going to be as easy as hoped. That’s according to Parks spokesperson Joelle Hammerstad, who says an onsite meeting is planned with its artist tomorrow, to strategize. As first reported here last Thursday, the metal turret was noticed early this month as leaning significantly; after checking that out, a Parks structural engineer voiced concern that the turret’s tiles might be too heavy for the play structure to bear. They subsequently closed and fenced off the play area as a precaution. They had hoped removing the turret to take it away for reinforcement might be an easy job, but now have found its not. Other parts of the play area are closed; the fencing is just around the “castle” at the heart of the play structure put up in a community collaboration a year and a half ago.
On the second morning after Saturday night’s windstorm, some scattered outages persist. Seattle City Light‘s map shows 379 homes/businesses still without electricity around its service area. And while other types of utilities don’t have comparable maps that we know of, we know of at least one other outage – because we’re part of it; CenturyLink isn’t working yet in our area (a few blocks east of south Lincoln Park) and told us (inquiring as customers) that “repairs are under way.” Anyone else?
(WS bridge and Highway 99 views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
Good morning and welcome to the new week! Be mindful of possible lingering effects from Saturday night’s storm – not all fallen trees/branches might be cleaned up yet, etc. Meantime, three reminders as we begin:
WEST SEATTLE WATER-TAXI SCHEDULE CHANGE: Today’s the first day of the reduced fall/winter schedule, Mondays-Fridays, morning and afternoon/evening commutes. See it here.
CRANE ASSEMBLY AT MURRAY CSO PROJECT: As announced last week, crane assembly will block part of Beach Drive at the Murray Combined Sewer Overflow Control Project across from Lowman Beach today, 11 am-5 pm.
DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME ENDS SATURDAY NIGHT (EARLY SUNDAY): Last week for Daylight Saving Time; at 2 am November 2nd, we “fall back” one hour.
(PREVIOUS REPORTS: #1, as-it-happened coverage; #2, Chili Challenge succe$$)
Just call that West Seattle Junction Harvest Festival-goer “Fire.” As for the next scene – how about “dog meets pumpkin”:
Take a minute and see 13 more views from the festival!
(WSB photos by Torin Record-Sand)
As neighbors drummed and sang tonight in the annual gathering to welcome Fauntleroy Creek‘s coho spawners, steward Judy Pickens (above) had an update: Five seen so far. Definitely within earshot of tonight’s welcoming party!
Last year, the coho were a no-show, but the year before, it was a record run. Some of tonight’s participants at the Fauntleroy Creek overlook across from the ferry dock made decorations in honor of the salmon’s return.
Jamie Shilling led the songs and chants once again:
This time of year is one of two key peak periods of attention for Fauntleroy Creek; the other is springtime, when hundreds of schoolchildren visit to release classroom-raised salmon fry. Meantime, with Judy’s help, we’ll continue updating this year’s coho watch; you are welcome to watch down by the creek (off SW Director just east of the overlook) when volunteer watchers are on duty in the days ahead.
P.S. Clean water is vital to the salmon’s health. Reducing runoff – which ends up in creeks and Puget Sound – is a big step you can take. It’s not too difficult; try these seven simple steps featured at tox-ick.org.
P.P.S. See this year’s first two arriving spawners here.
Two more reports to share, following up on our “as-it-happened” report from today’s West Seattle Junction Harvest Festival. First: The WS Food Bank’s words of thanks for the Chili Challenge results:
The West Seattle Food Bank would like to thank the WS Junction Assoc., the nine participating neighborhood restaurants and all the tasters at the annual WS Harvest Festival. Congratulations to Deano Lucas at Deano’s for being the 2014 Chili Master winner. We raised $1580 and then Deano matched it with a $1600 check! WOW! A huge thank you to Deano and everyone! It was so much fun and some fabulous chili!
Corianton Hale shared this photo of the nine contenders:
Those who donated $10 for a flight of tastes got to vote. WSFB says Elliott Bay Brewery and Shadowland tied for second, followed by Terra Cole Butchery. Also particpating (which meant making and donating a BIG batch of chili): Easy Street Café, Husky Deli, Quadrato, The Swinery, West 5. Still to come: A photo gallery with more of today’s sights.
5:09 PM: Are you still without power? Seattle City Light says in an update for media around its service area that it’s “restored power to all but 803 customers who lost power during (the) windstorm. The customers who remain without power are likely connected to smaller side lines. These lines involve fewer buildings and are often the hardest to repair. We estimate that crews will restore these connections late tonight or early into Monday morning. If your home is not connected, please call 206-684-3000 so that we can restore power.” At the peak of the outages, more than 52,000 homes/businesses in City Light’s service area were reported without electricity; an exact West Seattle count was pretty much impossible because of how the SCL map displays outages, but, starting with the 120-home outage along Beach Drive reported before 8 pm, we calculated more than 10,000 in WS were among those who lost electricity at one point or another.
7:50 PM: Commenters checking in from Gatewood say they’ve been without power going on 24 hours now. The official map shows multiple spots still out around West Seattle as part of the 600 homes/businesses still out service-area-wide. Most outages are blamed on trees hitting wires.
10:43 PM: Updates from comments – Seola is back, Glenridge/Gatewood still out. It’s not on the map, either. A new outage is – not in our area, and not related to the storm, SCL says – more than 3,000 customers in Tukwila/Boulevard Park.
11:50 PM: Thanks for the continued updates in comments. Glenridge/Gatewood is back on, but now there’s a new outage reported, west of Westwood Village. Not on the map so no idea of the extent, but if you’re affected, be sure to call City Light- outage hotline 206-684-7400 – even if you think someone else has reported it.
(LOOKING FOR POWER OUTAGE/STORM CLEANUP UPDATES? HERE’S OUR COVERAGE)
(Mini-pumpkin toss at the Potter Construction [WSB sponsor] booth)
10:28 AM: We’re in The Junction, where the Harvest Festival is on! Bundle up if you’re coming down – it’s chilly. But everyone’s in good spirits. Activity booths and Farmers’ Market vendors are lining the streets (California between Oregon and Edmunds, Alaska between 42nd and 44th).
Info:
*11 am, chili competition flights on sale, while they last
*11:30 am, costume parade
*noon-2 pm, business trick-or-treating
*Until the streets reopen: Bus reroutes
Festival’s on until 2 pm, and it goes fast, so come on over!
11:23 AM UPDATE: We’ve seen some showers, but hey, it’s fall. Diver Laura is here with us now and brought plankton, iPhone microscope, and even an ROV.
Come see plankton with @diverlaura at our Harvest Fest booth! pic.twitter.com/tiGdtavAdv
— West Seattle Blog (@westseattleblog) October 26, 2014
Come see, and pick up a free WSB ice scraper.
Free ice scrapers at our Harvest Fest booth on Alaska east of Calif pic.twitter.com/WQyv8rlYzP
— West Seattle Blog (@westseattleblog) October 26, 2014
Look for the banner in our booth on Alaska just east of California.
Meantime, the chili competition is on across California from us by KeyBank, until 1 pm (or while the chili – $10, nine tastes, benefiting the West Seattle Food Bank – lasts).
And the costume parade is about to start – with the West Seattle High School Marching Band leading the way.
11:46 AM: The parade’s just wrapping up. Here’s the start:
Just a few of the adorably costumed kids:
Trick-or-treating is up next, starting at Junction businesses at noon. That, plus the activities and Farmers’ Market continue until 2.
12:52 PM UPDATE: One more hour of festival fun! We’re continuing to admire creative costumes:
And we’ve seen two candidates – WSB policy is to photograph candidates who visit the booth when we’re at festivals, and first one to stop by today is newly declared City Council District 1 candidate Amanda Kay Helmick:
She’s gathering signatures to get on the ballot for next year’s first-ever by-district council elections. Also visiting – judge candidate Phillip Tavel, and family:
He’s a West Seattleite who’s on the November 4th ballot for King County District Court.
1:28 PM UPDATE: Chili competition vote results are in – Deano’s wins! (And the WS Food Bank wins, from the proceeds of the chili donated by nine businesses, and paid by voters/partakers.) Instagram video of the big announcement:
Meantime, half an hour to enjoy activities and to stop by here for a look at what Diver Laura’s iPhone microscope is showing, and for kids to trick or treat. We’ll wind up adding many more photos after we get back – more than we can process in the field before it’s time to wrap up. It’s been great to see so many people out despite the chilly, breezy weather (and despite the fact the Seahawks game).
1:54 PM: The rain’s returning and we’re packing up. Thanks to everybody who came to the festival!
P.S. Adding this for future reference – roads reopened just after quarter past 4.
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