West Seattle, Washington
03 Wednesday
It’s on! Until 1 pm, the Seattle Youth Symphony Orchestra-presented Super String Saturday celebration of music and mentoring (with WSB as a media sponsor) is happening at Chief Sealth International High School (2600 SW Thistle). It began with the SYSO’s mini-concert (and they were wonderful – hear a snippet in our Instagram video cliplet), directed by SYSO music director Stephen Rogers Radcliffe, following welcoming remarks by Denny International Middle School principal Jeff Clark, King County Councilmember Joe McDermott, and Seattle City Councilmember Tom Rasmussen.
Right now, those SYSO musicians are performing onstage side-by-side with elementary students, and then those students (and participating middle schoolers) head off into instrument-technique clinics in individual classrooms. But that’s prime time to visit even if you don’t have a student in those programs; here’s the schedule for the rest of the event:
11:50 am-12:20 pm: Information session for parents in the CSIHS auditorium – “learn how to best support your young musician”
12:25-12:45 pm: Chamber Ensemble demonstration in the auditorium
12:50-1 pm: Middle-school students onstage with SYSO musicians
The event is free; bring a few $ for refreshments on sale in the Sealth commons – which you’ll walk through on your way from the front door to the auditorium – benefiting student music programs. The SYSO is involved in local schools year-round through the Southwest Strings Project, involving Arbor Heights, Concord International, Highland Park, Roxhill, Sanislo, and West Seattle elementaries as well as Denny.
4:54 PM: More photos, as promised! First one is by our photographer, and the following three are courtesy of the SYSO.
After today’s event, Denny principal Clark told the SYSO:
On behalf of the entire Denny International Middle School community, I would like to extend a huge thank you to the Seattle Youth Symphony Orchestras for their amazing partnership! Our orchestra program has grown dramatically in recent years–the small group lessons and professional coaches provided through the Southwest Strings Project continue to be outstanding. Thank you to all of the families who joined us for Super String Saturday today and to the Seattle Youth Symphony Orchestras for making it happen!
Busy Saturday, off to a foggy start, and we’re again including a traffic reminder:
Same as last Saturday, WSDOT is closing multiple lanes (the number might fluctuate) on northbound I-5, not too far past the entrance from the West Seattle Bridge – note the red X’s in the “live” image above. Until the work is done – 10 am Sunday – 99 is recommended as your northbound alternative! Or – don’t leave the peninsula at all, since all this and more is happening:
WOODPECKER WALK IN LINCOLN PARK: 9 am, meet in the north parking lot, details here. Free!
SUPER STRING SATURDAY: Be there! 10 am-1 pm at Chief Sealth International High School, the Seattle Youth Symphony Orchestra-presented celebration of music and mentorship – and more – see our preview here. Free; the whole family’s welcome. (2600 SW Thistle)
BREAD BAKING: 10 am class at Delridge Community Center. (Too-short notice? Browse our calendar in advance for highlights – or the community centers’ brochure listing what’s going on this quarter.)
DUWAMISH LONGHOUSE’S FIFTH ANNIVERSARY: Big day as the Duwamish Tribe celebrates the fifth anniversary of its West Seattle longhouse. Open house 10 am-5 pm, reception noon-1 pm, storyteller Roger Fernandes‘s concert 2-3 pm, full details in our calendar listing. (4705 W. Marginal Way)
PUGET RIDGE WINTER CLEANUP: Neighbors are invited to join forces and get some cleanup work done on Puget Ridge, 10 am-noon today. Location/map in our calendar listing.
GAY FOR GOOD FOOD DRIVE @ 2 STORES: The food drive planned by Gay for Good to benefit the West Seattle Food Bank has expanded to two stores – PCC Natural Markets (WSB sponsor) at California/Stevens, and QFC in The Junction (42nd/Alaska). 10 am-2 pm, donate nonperishable food.
PRE-CONSTRUCTION MEETING FOR ROADSIDE RAINGARDENS: 10-11:30 am at Neighborhood House’s High Point Center, it’s your second of two chances to talk with King County Wastewater Treatment reps about the roadside raingardens (aka bioswales) about to be built in sections of Sunrise Heights and Westwood to reduce combined-sewer overflows. Details in our preview. (6400 Sylvan Way SW)
STORY TIME BENEFITING WESTSIDE BABY: 10 am at Umpqua Bank in The Admiral District, Sue Winter is reading and selling Usborne Books to benefit WestSide Baby, along with collecting diaper donations. Details here. (2620 California SW)
2 PRESCHOOL OPEN HOUSES: Cometa Playschool invites you to its West Seattle open house 11 am-1 pm – details in our calendar listing. (3212 California SW)
Also, the Bright Beginnings preschool program at Hiawatha Community Center welcomes you to its open house today, 1-3 pm:
We strive to offer a program that helps children learn and grow, by focusing on the child’s social, emotional, physical and cognitive skills. We provide a safe, happy healthy, learning environment for preschool children. Bright Beginnings Preschool is very hands on; activities include: Art, Blocks, Dramatic Play, Library, Cooking, Science, Music and Movement and Outdoor/Gym Play.
(2700 California SW)
VIETNAMESE STORYTIME: Every Saturday morning at 11:30 am at Delridge Branch Library – details in our calendar listing. (5423 Delridge Way SW)
WEST SEATTLE MONTESSORI OPEN HOUSE: 1-3 pm. visit West Seattle Montessori (WSB sponsor) to find out about its preschool-middle school programs. (11215 15th SW)
WHAT WOULD YOU WANT SEATTLE PARKS TO ASK VOTERS FOR? 1 pm at High Point Community Center, your chance to speak up as Seattle Parks gets ready for a potential ballot measure to help with future financing. Details in our preview. (6920 34th SW)
SEE WHAT YOU CAN DO ABOUT HUMAN TRAFFICKING – IN YOUR OWN NEIGHBORHOOD: As previewed here Friday, the West Seattle Democratic Women will spend this year getting the word out that human trafficking isn’t something happening somewhere else to somebody else – you might even have seen it and not recognized it, so awareness is vital. Today is their kickoff event, 1-3:30 pm at Southwest Branch Library, all welcome to drop in for eye-opening information. (35th/Henderson)
GIFTS FROM THE EARTH: The annual South Seattle Community College (WSB sponsor) gala is sold out, but just in case you wonder what’s up on campus tonight – or in case you have tickets and needed a reminder! – silent auction, celebrity chefs, inspiring stories, more, 5 pm @ Brockey Center. (6000 16th SW)
CHILI COOK-OFF: Love chili? Go see what Fauntleroy competitors have cooked up – and vote for your favorites – for only $6; details in our calendar listing. Fauntleroy Church, 6 pm. (9140 California SW)
DOORS TRIBUTE: Alive She Cried @ Feedback Lounge (WSB sponsor), 9 pm. (6451 California SW)
And as always … MORE EVENTS on the calendar than we could mention here, so go there!
We’ve received two updates to share on competitive swimmers in our area:
DOLPHINS IN STATEWIDE Y COMPETITION TODAY: Good luck to the Dolphins from the West Seattle Y (WSB sponsor) in state Y competition today – see the 42 team members listed here. The meet is at King County Aquatics Center in Federal Way, starting at 9 am for 12-and-over swimmers who have made qualifying state times; at noon, swimmers working toward qualifying times for Regionals (in Boise next month) swim; and at 3 pm, we’re told, it’s the final session “for the top eight swimmers in all eligible events of the morning prelim sessions, after which there will be an awards ceremony for the winners of the finals events.” Public welcome, no admission charge. The KCAC is at 650 SW Campus Drive (map).
SEALTH MEET RESULTS & STATE QUALIFIER: For Chief Sealth International High School‘s swim team, Trisha Montemayor sends results of Friday’s meet against Franklin – the Seahawk girls won, the boys lost (team scores here, individual results here), but along the way, Trisha says, Carlos Montemayor qualified for state in the 100 breaststroke; he already had qualified for the 100 butterfly and 100 backstroke. She also notes that Sealth will host West Seattle High School next Friday (3:30 pm January 31) in its final Southwest Pool home meet of the year – Senior Night for five graduating swimmers.
From Friday night’s high-school basketball slate, in the regular season’s waning weeks:
(Sealth head coach Katie Jo Maris; WSB photos by Patrick Sand)
RAINIER BEACH AT CHIEF SEALTH: Lopsided games for both varsity teams – the Seahawk girls beat the Vikings 66-24, led by #4 Labrea Denson with 15 points:
Full scoring list here.
(Sealth #22 Sydney Thomas, #33 Brandy Hoskins)
In the boys-varsity game, final score was Rainier Beach 103, Chief Sealth 52. #1 Khaleef Griffin (photo below, with #24 Jamari Smith) led the Seahawks’ scoring with 21 points:
The Viking boys ran up the score in no small part thanks to a large number of three-pointers. Scoring list is here.
WEST SEATTLE AT INGRAHAM: Victories here for both WSHS varsity teams – a 63-22 win for the girls, with Sarah Cooper and Gabby Sarver the leading scorers with 16 points each, and DeAndre Love leading the boys with 27 points in the Wildcats’ 81-37 win.
NEXT UP: WSHS hosts Sealth – boys Tuesday, girls Wednesday, tipoff times here.
Four school-music notes to share:
SUPER STRING SATURDAY IS HOURS AWAY: 10 am-1 pm Saturday at Chief Sealth International High School, it’s Super String Saturday with the Seattle Youth Symphony Orchestra – start by enjoying their performance, then marvel at musical mentoring with local student musicians getting special coaching and joining the SYSO musicians onstage, and along the way, get a chance to expose younger children to string instruments, while meeting music educators and performers. More info in our preview. It’s all free – just show up! (2600 SW Thistle)
DENNY & SEALTH MUSICIANS SHINE: Just last night, the Sealth auditorium filled with the sound of student musicians’ hard work:
The photo was shared by Denny International Middle School principal Jeff Clark, who along with Sealth principal Aida Fraser-Hammer wrote:
We are so proud of our scholars at Denny and Sealth and the fantastic music they have performed over four concerts in the last month. Our combined holiday concert, our jazz bands, our four orchestras and our four bands have all been outstanding! (Thursday night), 251 scholars performed in our final concert, our Winter Symphonic Band Concert. Congratulations to all of our musicians! Mr. Pimpleton and Mr. White have done an amazing job! Thank you to all who support the thriving music programs at Denny and Sealth — Go, Dolphins and Seahawks!
SOUL JAMBALAYA: An event supporting the programs at Sealth and Denny has just been announced:
“Soul Jambalaya” is a fabulous concert celebrating Black History Month and the rich heritage of gospel, blues, jazz, and funk music. Student and professional musicians will gather together at Chief Sealth International High School Auditorium on Saturday, February 8, 2014 @ 7:00 pm to perform arrangements from all of these musical genres. Featured artists include the Total Experience Gospel Choir, Westside Blues, Figgins and Halbert Jazz and our very own Denny International Middle School Jazz.
Admission is free – donations will be accepted to benefit the schools’ music scholarship programs.
Also just announced:
WEST SEATTLE BIG BAND TO BOOST MADISON BENEFIT: A night of dancing and music for all:
Swing into Spring to the sounds of the amazing WEST SEATTLE BIG BAND! Free swing-dance lessons start at 6 pm. Peruse the food stands, bake sale, and raffle options while the Madison Middle School music students wow you with their musical talent. Then kick up your heels with the West Seattle Big Band!! Great fun for the whole family!
Friday, February 7th, 2014, from 6:00-9:00 pm in Madison Middle School Commons. Admission $10 per person at the door; students and children under 18 free! All proceeds benefit Madison Music Boosters.
Madison is at 45th/Spokane.
In West Seattle Crime Watch tonight, a burglary attempt that did a lot of damage, plus a stolen car, and an update on an arrest reported here last night.
BIG DAMAGE BY WOULD-BE BURGLARS: From a Highland Park resident who wants to be anonymous:
I left to go grocery shopping at around 11:05-11:00am (Thursday) and got a call from my alarm company at 11:27 am that my house alarm was going off. In the short time that I was gone, the thieves had removed the window screens from ALL of my back windows to try to open them. When that failed, they broke the back window of my garage and used my lawn furniture to crawl into the garage. Once in my garage, they used my tools to break off and destroy the door knob and lock assembly of the door leading into the house and attempted to smash through the deadbolt which thankfully held long enough for the alarm system to trigger and the resulting siren scared them away. Although nothing (so far that I can tell) was taken. I am left with large costly repairs to 2 doors / 2 locks / 1 window. The neighbors (across the street from me) reported seeing two Hispanic men in their late teens/early 20’s casing their own house around this same time. They must have seen me leave the house in order to have done so much damage is so short of a time. Please remind your readers that these thieves and others are skilled and work quickly and have been prolific in our part of Seattle. Please be very aware of your surrounding area and suspicious people and cars that look out of place. It is worthwhile to do a security review of your house to make it as difficult for the thieves to break in. I will be strengthening my home security after this incident even more.
STOLEN ACCORD: Reported in a comment on another story:
Had my Honda four-door stolen from the back alley off 44th and Spokane. Heard something about 2 AM last night, did not get up, had a bad cold, so I went back to sleep. Whole backseat full of plumbing tools in buckets and power tools to do side job. All my essays and observation journals for school due next week. Kinda devastating. … ’93 gray gold four-door Honda Accord LX, small dimpled dent left front fender, small dimpled dent left rear trunk. See it, please call Seattle Police; report has been filed.
RYAN COX UPDATE: Last night, we reported that repeat offender Ryan Cox was arrested on a warrant, two days after he was the subject of a discussion at the West Seattle Crime Prevention Council. Online records show the warrant had been issued days before the meeting, second one related to his probation following a guilty plea for an assault case in December. Tonight, Cox is out of jail after a hearing this morning; he was released on personal recognizance, according to the Municipal Court docket. We won’t be able to find out more about the status of his case until Monday, when the deputy city attorney handling the case is back in the office.
WEST SEATTLE BLOCKWATCH CAPTAINS’ NETWORK: Their first meeting of 2014 is next Tuesday (January 28th), 6:30 pm, Southwest Precinct (Delridge/Webster). You don’t have to be a Block Watch Captain – or even in a Block Watch – to attend.
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
Routine checks of court files have turned up two new legal actions involving the West Seattle Athletic Club (which took over the former Allstar Fitness location in North Delridge last year) – one in which it’s the defendant, another in which it’s the plaintiff.
First: The club’s landlord H-P Properties has filed an “unlawful detainer” complaint, and what court documents describe as an “eviction hearing” is set for February 11th.
As explained here, this means basically refusal of an order to vacate. According to the court documents, the landlord is owed $386,000 in “back rent and other charges,” including this month; the documents include the lease, which says that after two rent-less months last spring, owner Sam Adams is supposed to be paying $100,000 rent per month right now. The complaint, filed a week and a half ago, includes a copy of a three-day “pay or vacate” notice that was originally dated December 20th.
The complaint is not only against Adams, his company Hollystone Holdings, and the West Seattle Athletic Club, but also names a company called Barratt Leasing. That company, in turn, is being sued by Adams, according to a separate action filed this month, which names Adams as a plaintiff as well as six athletic clubs, including the one in West Seattle. They are suing Barratt Leasing and Allstate Financial Group for breach of contract, accounting, and rescission.
The court documents say Allstate Financial “offers billing services to owners of athletic clubs” and that it was under contract with these clubs, but alleges that Allstate:
“… has failed to make timely and accurate periodic payments to Plaintiffs. On numerous occasions the periodic payments from Allstate Financial to Plaintiffs were late, less than called for under the terms of the agreements between the parties, not wire transferred, made on out-of-state checks that would not clear for several days, or drawn on accounts with insufficient funds. Many Allstate Financial checks to Plaintiffs would be cancelled by Allstate Financial after being deposited by Plaintiffs, which in turn would cause Plaintiffs’ checks to landlords, vendors, and employees to bounce. As a direct and proximate cause of Allstate Financial’s failure to make timely and accurate periodic payments, Plaintiffs were unable to pay required lease, payroll, insurance and utility expenses.
Other allegations made by Adams and his clubs are that Allstate “convinced (them) to enter into subleases for the inclusion of wellness clinics in four clubs” but has not been paying rent for those spaces and currently owes more than $120,000.
As for Barratt, which “is affiliated with and operates in connection with” Allstate, here’s another excerpt from the documents in the lawsuit filed by Adams’ company:
(8/14 note: To check whether a business is still a current WSB sponsor, please go here)
Interested in music lessons – ukulele, guitar, bass? Music teacher Masa Kobayashi and his Alki Ukulele studio have just joined the WSB sponsor team. 
Here’s what he would like you to know:
He has 20 years’ experience playing and 10 years of experience teaching. Masa says, “My students are getting constant improvement with me – most of them actually have become active gigging musicians.” He’s proud that his students have been inspired by the fact he too is an active musician with gigs – something they thought wasn’t possible for them to become, before they started taking lessons.
As explained on his website at AlkiUkulele.com, Masa has experience with many musical styles from punk, rock, metal, funk and jazz, to Balkan and African music. For guitar and ukulele, he teaches rhythm and soloing, finger-picking, two-handed tapping, chord soloing, and more. For bass, lessons include various finger-picking styles, soloing and old school/Victor Wooten-style slapping, two-handed tapping, and chord soloing.
The Alki Ukulele studio really is near the beach, and the best way to contact Masa to inquire about lessons is by e-mail – alkiukulele@gmail.com.
We thank Alki Ukulele for sponsoring independent, community-collaborative neighborhood news via WSB; see our current sponsor team listed in directory format here, and find info on joining the team by going here.
(Photo tweeted by Richard Sherman – new fan-gear shirt he’s selling)
If you think you’ve heard every viewpoint imaginable about the famous Richard Sherman TV moment right after the Seahawks‘ NFC championship win last Sunday – here’s one more: Schmitz Park Elementary fifth-grade teacher Chris McCall e-mailed us and a couple of citywide news organizations, explaining, “I asked my students to sound off on their blogs about Sherman’s tirade. Their comments are unedited, but interesting. So, I thought I might try to get a few published by sending them to you.” We’ve already had more than a few (presumed) grownups speak out about this, so why not hear from younger fans? Read on for the (unedited, as sent) fifth-graders’ thoughts:
Seattle’s new mayor has promised a “neighborhood summit” within his first 100 days in office. No date is set yet, not even a format, but the person who’s organizing it came to the Highland Park Action Committee‘s January meeting to talk about possibilities. That leads off our report from the meeting Wednesday night:
Tomorrow, you can help the West Seattle Democratic Women launch a campaign that’s not about politics – it’s about lives:
Throughout 2014 and beyond, the West Seattle Democratic Women will be sponsoring Human Trafficking Awareness meetings hosted by various local organizations and groups throughout Greater West Seattle. At these meetings, attendees will learn how to recognize the problem and what to do when they see it!
On Saturday, January 25th, 2014, at the Southwest Branch of the Seattle Public Library, 9010 35th Av SW, from 1:00 pm – 3:30 pm. WSDW will be having its “KICKOFF” meeting with presentations from
*Robert Beiser, Ex. Director, Seattle Against Slavery,
*Brian Taylor, King County Sheriff’s Department Detective & “Dignity Award” winner for his work helping vulnerable and exploited kids,
*Senator Jeanne Kohl-Welles, noted State Legislator on the subject, along with the viewing of “Chosen”, a film on how easy it is to have children drawn into these circumstances.There will be light refreshments. Buses #21 & C Line support the Library’s address. Everyone is welcome! No reservations are needed!
Crows just never seem to care how much size advantage eagles and other raptors have over them – they try to convince them to get lost, just the same. Brian Baum photographed this scene on a Beach Drive rooftop earlier this month. Keep an eye on our calendar for bird walks ahead (including one tomorrow) – but right now, we’re highlighting other potential pursuits for today/tonight:
WEST SEATTLE GARDEN CLUB: Be there for all or part of the 10 am-2 pm meeting – which includes storytelling, brown-bag lunch time (dessert provided), and this time around, a program celebrating Eleanor Roosevelt – all detailed here. Daystar Retirement Village. (2615 SW Barton)
HIGH-SCHOOL SPORTS: Swim meet at 3:30 pm at Southwest Pool, West Seattle High School hosting Bainbridge. (2801 SW Thistle) … In basketball, tonight’s home games are at Chief Sealth International High School, vs. visiting Rainier Beach. Girls JV 3:15 pm, boys JV 4:45, girls varsity 6:15, boys varsity 8 pm. (2600 SW Thistle)
PARENTS’ NIGHT OUT: Check with Alki Community Center ASAP to see if there’s any room left for tonight, 6-9 pm – and if not, sign up in advance for next month’s edition. Details in our calendar listing. (5817 SW Stevens)
ALSO AT ALKI COMMUNITY CENTER – SKATING! Friday night roller skating at Alki CC, 6:45-8:45 pm. (5817 SW Stevens)
PERRY MAYBROWN AT C & P: Solo singer-songwriter Perry Maybrown serenades you at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor), 7-9 pm. (5612 California SW)
‘THE LITTLE DOG LAUGHED’: First weekend for the new production at ArtsWest in The Junction, curtain time 7:30 pm. (4711 California SW)
CASTAWAYS CD RELEASE SHOW: “Seattle’s loudest ukulele band,” The Castaways, is out with its first full-length record, and playing the Feedback Lounge (WSB sponsor) tonight to celebrate. No, it’s not tropical-style ukulele music – it’s rock ‘n’ roll. More in our calendar listing.
We start again this morning with two views of the bridge.
For more cameras, including Viaduct views, see the WSB Traffic page. We have road-work alerts, too – 42nd SW in The Junction will be closed for utility work south of SW Alaska starting around 7 am; this weekend, there are lane closures on northbound I-5 again starting 9:30 pm tonight, as detailed here.
Melinda Nguyen and Scott Dang are in their fourth year of operating popular Vietnamese restaurant Pho Aroma in North Delridge, and are getting ready for a Lunar New Year celebration. We stopped by the restaurant today after getting word that they’re inviting the community to be there at 2 pm Saturday, February 1st, for traditional festivities including West Seattle-based lion-dance team, Âu Lạc Vovinam. Pho Aroma is at Delridge/Findlay (map).
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
This month’s West Seattle Crime Prevention Council meeting began with the formal introduction of the Southwest Precinct‘s new leadership, and quickly moved on to a series of hot topics – including one citizen concern that already has led to action.
And until the citizen concerns were all spoken, the new precinct commander remained at the meeting with a larger accompanying contingent than is usually seen at the meetings – members of the Anti-Crime Team (ACT).
(Photo by WSB’s Patrick Sand)
“I’m Captain Davis, current Southwest Precinct commander.” Pierre Davis (at right in photo above) introduced himself for the first time since the two promotions reported here last week – his elevation from lieutenant, and previous commander Joe Kessler‘s promotion to assistant chief. He also introduced Lt. Ron Smith as the new operations lieutenant (second-in-command), and explained the black-uniformed ACT members filling the northwest corner of the room: “These are our bird-dogs, these are the individuals who go out and make things happen, they are our strike team, if you will.”
No current crime spikes, he said, and one particular category is half its usual rate – while burglaries run “10-12 a week” this time of year, “right now they’re at five or six.” He attributed that to the arrest of multiple suspects, which he described as “a crew that was just devastating our area.”
Then he asked for neighborhood concerns. First question was about last month’s High Point murder – we’ve already reported the reply, and questions about other unsolved murders, here.
Next, the community concern that seems to already have led to action: Ryan Cox is back in jail, for the third time in two months.
One week from tomorrow, the confessed drunk driver who hit and seriously hurt two people in South Delridge last year will be sentenced. We first reported one month ago on the plea bargain for 26-year-old 
Kalameu Paulo, who was arrested trying to flee the scene of the crash last June. One of her victims, 29-year-old Logan Wicker, who was headed home from work that night when Paulo’s van (left) T-boned his car, has shared information on how to get a message to the judge who will sentence Paulo on January 31st, and says they need to be in by the end of this week:
If you’d like to make your thoughts known to the Judge on the sentencing in this case, please send an e-mail to the King County (senior deputy) Prosecuting Attorney, Amy Freedheim. She will forward all of your comments to the Judge for consideration as she determines the punishment for this woman’s crimes. Amy.Freedheim@kingcounty.gov – In subject line put: Paulo, Kalameu – 1/31 sentencing
Paulo’s blood-alcohol level was twice the legal-drunkenness threshold, according to court documents, which also say prosecutors are recommending a 14-month sentence as part of the plea bargain, in which she pleaded guilty to two counts of vehicular assault, while a hit-and-run charge was dropped.
3:01 PM: 42nd SW will be closed for the next three days (Thursday-Friday-Saturday) in the 4700 block between Alaska and Edmunds in The Junction. Just received that word from the general contractor for the 42nd/Alaska/California project, Andersen Construction. They say the work requiring the closure will be done by Seattle Public Utilities, 7 am-6 pm; we’re checking on whether it’ll be a round-the-clock closure and how it will affect Jefferson Square access off 42nd, and will add the answers when we get them.
4:41 PM: Update – Jefferson Square will still be accessible from 42nd; this closure, like a previous one there, will be on the north side of the block.
Reading assignments are routine at school – but students don’t often get to meet the author in person. That’s what happened this morning in Paula Tortorice‘s Language Arts class at West Seattle High School, as West Seattle author Stephanie Guerra visited. Her recently released book “Billy the Kid Is Not Crazy” – set in West Seattle – was used for a class reading assignment, and she was invited to come talk with the students. They asked questions including what it takes to create characters and plot, and presented her with posters they had drawn, depicting a scene in the book. Guerra also made a hometown appearance back in October as leadoff author in the Words, Writers, West Seattle series.
(December photo by LB Bruce, shared via the WSB Flickr group)
Though Highway 99 is having trouble underground, projects on and above the surface are making progress. After Wednesday’s announcement that the Atlantic St. Overpass is about to open, we asked WSDOT on the progress of the Timber Bridge/Spokane Street Overcrossing replacement south of the West Seattle Bridge. When work began last February, WSDOT projected it would last until June of this year; now, spokesperson Broch Bender told WSB today, they “hope to open the new bridge by mid-March.” Before then, an overnight closure is planned February 8-9, both directions of 99 at that spot, hours not yet finalized, to connect the two sides of the new bridge, before the final phase of work.
(Horned grebes, photographed by Trileigh Tucker)
From the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar, here’s some of what’s up today/tonight:
WEST SEATTLE DEMOCRATIC WOMEN: Midday meeting today – starting with a discussion of “political correctness” at 10:30 am, registration at 11:30, lunch at 11:45, presentations on the West Seattle Timebank, the Delridge Grocery Co-op, and the upcoming legislative session. More details in our calendar listing. P.S. Whether you go to this meeting or not, WSDW invites you to its kickoff Saturday of a human-trafficking-awareness campaign. (4470 35th SW)
QUESTIONS ABOUT POTENTIAL METRO CUTS? Since nothing is settled yet either in Olympia or regarding a King County ballot measure, Metro is proceeding with plans for possible cuts to kick in as soon as June, and has another community outreach event today, 11 am-2 pm at Greenbridge. Spanish, Somali interpretation available. (9720 8th SW)
DOCUMENT-DROPOFF NIGHT FOR WEST SEATTLE LITTLE LEAGUE: 6-8 pm tonight in the library at Alki Elementary: “For everyone who has registered for West Seattle Little League, this is your opportunity to turn in your registration documentation. There is also still time to register for the 2014 season.” If you can’t make it tonight, you can send it in via postal mail – full details at westseattlelittleleague.com. (3010 59th SW)
PRE-CONSTRUCTION MEETING FOR BARTON GREEN-STORMWATER-INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECT: Residents of Sunrise Heights and Westwood are the focus – though anyone interested is welcome – at tonight’s pre-construction meeting for the Barton Basin Combined Sewer Overflow project, installing roadside raingardens, aka Green Stormwater Infrastructure, to reduce the amount of stormwater going into the system that feeds the Barton Pump Station in Fauntleroy. 6:30 pm, Westside School (WSB sponsor), and there’s a Saturday meeting too if you can’t make this one. (7740 34th SW)
HOLY ROSARY SCHOOL INFORMATION NIGHT: Holy Rosary School, which just joined the WSB sponsor team, invites parents thinking about HRS to come to an Information Night (no students, but they are welcome at Sunday’s 10:30 am-1 pm Open House) tonight, 7-8:30 pm. (42nd/Genesee)
‘LITTLE DOG LAUGHED’ @ ARTSWEST: Second night for “The Little Dog Laughed,” the new production at ArtsWest in The Junction. Showtime 7:30 pm. (4711 California SW)
THERE’S MORE! Go review the calendar … click the right side of any line to expand the listing.
6:12 AM: There’s the west-pointed view of the bridge .. here’s the east-pointed view:
And the northbound Alaskan Way Viaduct:
More cameras, and other info, on the WSB Traffic page. As always, we’ll update here if anything significant happens with potential effects on local commuters.
HIGHWAY 99 OVERPASS OPENS MONDAY: In case you missed this announcement Wednesday – the Atlantic Street overpass over Highway 99 in the stadium zone will open Monday.
6:21 AM: As noted in our coverage of this morning’s Fauntleroy garage fire, Metro is not routing RapidRide C Line buses on Wildwood between 45th SW and 47th SW for now. We’re trying to verify the reroute, since the message mentions Gatewood stops that are nowhere near the usual C Line route.
6:39 AM: Metro has a web update with more details explaining that reroute, which means RapidRide is not running on Fauntleroy Way right now, and skipping the ferry dock.
6:55 AM: Per radio communications, the roads there will reopen shortly, so the bus rerouting might not last too much longer.
7:06 AM: Metro just texted, RapidRide is back to regular routing.
7:16 AM: Trouble on northbound I-5 just north of the ramp from the West Seattle Bridge – a crash has one lane blocked.
7:31 AM: And now there is tragedy on the westbound bridge, per scanner. Someone called police to report seeing a person get out of a car and jump off the bridge. The victim is reported to have been found below; the car has been found on the bridge. (Note: Any time we mention suicide, we mention this: Crisis Clinic‘s 24-hour line, 206-461-3222.)
7:56 AM: Our crew confirms that the emergency response under the bridge because of this is off the roadways and has not affected the lower bridge; it is open as usual.
Police were also on the high bridge, with the abandoned vehicle, which will be impounded for investigation.
POSTSCRIPT: Checking WSB archives, we note two bridge suicides last year, a 27-year-old man in January and a 54-year-old woman in May.
(SCROLL DOWN for midmorning video update from SFD)
(Video shared with WSB by neighbors)
5:07 AM: Seattle Fire units are responding to the 9400 block of 45th SW (map) right now to check out a house-fire report. More to come.
5:15 AM: Crews on scene describe the fire as in a garage, according to emergency-radio communications. People in the area tell us flames are visible from a distance. Our crew is arriving.
5:27 AM: Crews report the fire is under control and that they have moved to a defensive firefighting mode.
5:33 AM: Just added video shared by neighbors, showing the fire at its height. Our crew at the scene has talked with the residents, who say they got out OK after somebody knocked on the door to wake them up and tell them about the fire in their garage, which is behind their house.
No injuries are reported.
5:55 AM: While the flames are out, the garage is still smoldering, and it’s too soon for fire crews to know what started the fire, and what damage was done to the vehicles in the garage. We’re told it’s part of an older structure that was on the site – the house in front is newer.
Traffic note: Metro says the fire response is rerouting RapidRide buses off SW Wildwood. Here are reroute details.
6:54 AM: Streets are reopening, so the buses should return to regular routing soon (confirmed by Metro, 7:06 am).
9:33 AM: We went back to the scene, where SFD spokesperson Kyle Moore told us the cause for now remains “undetermined.”
Moore told us more not only about the fire damage, but about why this location and situation posed some unique challenges to firefighters:
Wednesday night home games for two local girls-varsity basketball teams:
CHIEF SEALTH VS. FRANKLIN: The Seahawks defeated visiting Franklin, 53-43. Above, Lani Taylor led Sealth scoring with 14; the rest of the stats are here.
WEST SEATTLE HS VS. CLEVELAND: The Wildcats lost at home to another division-leading team, Cleveland, 61-36.
Two WSHS players tied for top scorer, both with 11 points each, Lexi Iaone and Lydia Giomi. The rest of the stats are here.
NEXT GAMES: Sealth hosts Rainier Beach Friday night; girls-varsity tipoff is at 6:15 pm. WSHS will be on the road that night at Ingraham, same start time.
FOOTNOTE: This is truly a footnote – related to the pink shoes WSHS head coach Sonya Elliott was wearing:
As explained in the WSHS online newsletter Westside Weekly, this week the school was participating in Coaches Against Cancer, collecting donations for the American Cancer Society in the stands during basketball games.
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