West Seattle, Washington
09 Tuesday
The twice-postponed concrete pour at the Murray Combined Sewer Overflow Control Project will start tomorrow (Thursday), according to an announcement this evening from the King County Wastewater Treatment District. This one will bring up to 10 trucks per hour into the Lowman Beach area, starting at 7 am, according to KCWTD’s Doug Marsano. They might work into the evening, past the general 6 pm end time, if necessary. Marsano’s alert says, “The site will be very busy while the pour occurs, so please avoid the east of the 7000 block of Beach Drive SW to the extent possible.” If you have questions or concerns, with this or any other part of the million-gallon-storage-tank project, the hotline is 206-205-9186.
7:28 PM: Police and fire are responding to an “assault with weapons” call at 35th and Morgan. More to come.
7:33 PM: One person is reported in custody in connection with the incident. Most of the SFD units have been canceled.
7:36 PM: A 17-year-old girl is reported (via medical communications on the radio) to have been stabbed. She’s being taken to Harborview.
8:37 PM: Via SPD Blotter – the suspect arrested at the scene outside the 35th/Morgan convenience store is a 54-year-old woman. The circumstances of the stabbing are described as “a fight.” The victim’s injuries are described as non-life-threatening.
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
The city has changed its mind about where to move Fire Station 29 while the Admiral District station is undergoing renovations this year.
Instead of moving it to the same Harbor Avenue spot that housed Station 36 during its recent overhaul, they plan to put the temporary station on a vacant triangle of city-owned land just south of Admiral Congregational Church.
Since getting a tip about this possibility, we’ve been working to confirm it with the city, and that confirmation finally came today. From Cyndi Wilder:
During the construction period for the seismic upgrade at Fire Station 29, the interim station will be located on a City-owned parcel at 44th Avenue SW and SW Hill Street. While we are still going through the process to finalize this location, we are far enough along to be able to confirm and announce the site.
Before we could proceed with this location for the interim site, we needed confirmation from Seattle Public Utilities that its water testing equipment currently on-site could be relocated in the required timeframe. We now have that confirmation.
This afternoon, staff from the Seattle Fire Department and the Finance and Administrative Services Capital Development and Construction Management Division will be conducting door-to-door community outreach, as we do for other projects, informing neighbors of the interim site plans and the timeline for the seismic project.
The site was chosen because of its proximity to Fire Station 29, and keeping the engine and crew in the service area will allow fire crews to maintain their current emergency response times. We expect activity at the interim site as early as this month, with the temporary station active as early as February, and lasting for approximately 12 months.
Here’s the letter that is being distributed to neighbors:
This triangle of land is technically SDOT right-of-way, which came to light most prominently back in 2008 during the controversy over potential changes to nearby California Place Park, the grassy site by the California SW bus stop east of the church. At the time, it was suggested that Seattle Parks might take over management of this triangle.
The $1.8 million contract for the Station 29 renovation was recently awarded to Par-Tech Construction. It’s one of two West Seattle fire stations that will be in temporary locations soon. The other is Station 32, whose Triangle building will be demolished and replaced with a brand-new station; its interim site is future parkland on 40th SW, south of SW Alaska. Station 11 in Highland Park also is being upgraded, but its crew is staying on-site during the work.
(Photo courtesy Center for Whale Research: Mom J16 and newborn J50)
One week after announcing the birth of baby orca J50, the Center for Whale Research says J50 is female – especially good news provided she beats the odds and survives, since that pod in particular has been short on breeding-age females. In a release on its website, the center also says it hasn’t quite sorted out the questions about which orca is J50’s mom – you’ve probably heard that while she was originally believed to be the calf of 43-year-old J16, experts have reasons to suspect that J16 might actually be J50’s grandmother. Whoever her mom is, ~2-week-old J50 was seen with her family, doing well, today in the northern Strait of Georgia in British Columbia
Two new maps of note from SPD’s latest SeaStat stats/trends briefing, just made public:
That’s the citywide map of auto thefts in the past four weeks. Precinct-by-precinct breakouts weren’t released (we’re trying to take a WS count from the online police-report map), but citywide, the number totals 291 – that’s almost 10 per day – and it’s the one crime category that was at its highest level of the month, citywide, in late December/early January. SPD also released a map of auto theft “hot spots” but no place in West Seattle was on that map.
Another citywide map made public – shots-fired incidents in the past four weeks:
We haven’t matched all of the West Seattle locations to specific incidents – but one would definitely be this New Year’s Eve incident that left two bullet holes in a Morgan Junction business window. No other Southwest Precinct info of note in the slide deck made public by Seattle Police; the SeaStat briefings for department leadership are generally held every other Wednesday – past decks are here.
Before local students show up at Fauntleroy Creek in the spring to set salmon fry free, they spend months tending to and studying in-school aquariums – and today’s the day it all begins anew. Volunteers Judy Pickens and Phil Sweetland have spent the day ferrying more than a thousand salmon eggs from a regional hatchery to 10 schools in West Seattle and South Park. We caught them at the first one they visited, Our Lady of Guadalupe:
As they made each delivery, disinfecting the eggs in an iodine bath before they could be placed in their hatching tanks, they talked with students, who were fascinated to see what would eventually hatch into coho:
From OLG, they went to nearby West Seattle Elementary, where their visit was shorter, since they volunteer at WSES regularly. But this school has something extra-special – a tank and ornate base, courtesy of Phil:
We had to photograph it before the students crowded around, so you could see the art.
Judy and Phil live on Fauntleroy Creek, and have a deep devotion to this program – almost four years ago, we reported on their resolve to keep it going despite state budget cuts. As explained at the time, it’s not that this is making a big dent in the salmon population, but it is helping keep fish and creeks top of mind every year for a new group of students who will grow into the adults on whose actions the fish’s fate will rise and fall. Meantime, these eggs will hatch soon, and the fish will grow for a few months in the tanks in school hallways and classrooms, before creek releases in spring.
Another stolen car to watch out for: Taken last night from Beth‘s driveway near Lincoln Park, a dark blue 2004 VW Passat with a Sun Valley sticker on the back. WA plates, AKD2678. As @getyourcarback advises, call 911 if you see it.
UPDATE, EARLY FRIDAY: Found in Beverly Park! (See comments.)
Heads up for another road-work project next week. Just announced:
Starting as early as Monday, January 12, crews will replace four concrete panels in the southbound curb lane of Fauntleroy Way SW in front of the Barton Pump Station construction site. This work will occur daily from 8 am to 3:30 pm until Friday, January 16. This work is weather-dependent and may be postponed in inclement weather.
All lanes on Fauntleroy Way SW will remain open. Flaggers and a police officer will shift traffic to the east around concrete work during the day. Crews will use steel sheets to cover concrete work at night.
Traffic headed for the Fauntleroy ferry dock next door will be assisted with flaggers and a police officer, the county says. (Though these are city streets, it’s a county project because they run the pump station that’s been undergoing upgrades/expansion.)
(Car full of donations, unloaded upon delivery to Helpline)
Throughout the just-wrapped-up holiday season, countless West Seattle businesses, schools, organizations, and individuals gave generously to local nonprofits, in so many ways. Today, before the holidays are too far back in the rear-view mirror, we have a wrap-up of one drive that lasted beyond Christmas, all the way through New Year’s Eve, headquartered at the office of State Farm agent Dave Newman (WSB sponsor), who writes:
The annual coat and cold weather clothing collection for the West Seattle Helpline was a great success!
Special thanks to local businesses such as Berkshire Hathaway, Mirsepasy Law Office, Chelan Café, Alki Key and Lock, Wiseman’s Appliance, Admiral Starbucks, Swedish Automotive, Foreign Car Workshop, Auto Buff, and Les Schwab. With their help, and the help of other local supporters, we collected seven large barrels of cold-weather clothing for our less-fortunate friends and neighbors. A heartfelt thanks to fellow citizens who made it possible by their generosity and giving nature.
Let’s all hope for a pleasant 2015.
So what happens to all that clothing?
That photo is courtesy of WS Helpline, whose Anna Fern notes that the WSH clothing bank Clothesline “is open three days this week with 25 families scheduled to come to ‘shop’ for free clothing and coats! Over the last two months (November and December) we have given away over 162 coats! Clients have been very grateful! One commented, ‘What a great gift – the gift of warmth and comfort’.”
P.S. You can help Helpline any time of year, with clothing or money.
(Tuesday sunset photo by Long Bach Nguyen)
Here in the middle of the day, the fog just looks gray – but toward sunset last night, it brought beauty, and we have two more views to share, along with the Wednesday calendar highlights:
IF YOU SEE AN AIRCRAFT CARRIER … it’s the USS Nimitz, whose impending move from Everett to Bremerton – possibly as soon as today – was noted here on Tuesday.
GET OUT OF THE HOME OFFICE! First co-working/home-office meetup of the year at West Seattle Office Junction (WSB sponsor), noon. Bring your lunch, meet others who work in unconventional settings, share ideas and support! (6040 California SW)
SOMALI STORYTIME: 5 pm at High Point Branch Library, all welcome! (35th/Raymond)
(Tuesday sunset photo by David Hutchinson)
NEIGHBORHOOD GREEN MEETING: 6:30 pm at Admiral Bird, first and third Wednesdays of the month, you’re invited to “Neighborhood Green Meetings” co-hosted by Sustainable West Seattle and Green Party of Seattle. Major topic: Climate change and what can be done about it. (2600 California SW)
SOUTHWEST DISTRICT COUNCIL: 6:30 pm at the Senior Center of West Seattle, featuring a visit from Department of Neighborhoods director Bernie Matsuno. All welcome; if you’re interested in background, here’s our report on December’s SWDC meeting. (Oregon/California)
MUSIC AT C & P: Cozy coffeehouse concerts continue in this still-new year at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor), with singer/songwriter Jim Page scheduled tonight, 7-9 pm. (5612 California SW)
HIGH-SCHOOL BASKETBALL: Tonight’s home games feature the girls-varsity teams: 7:30 pm, the West Seattle High School girls take on Holy Names (3000 California SW); also at 7:30 pm, the Chief Sealth International High School girls get a visit from Garfield. (2600 SW Thistle)
MORE NIGHTLIFE: Open microphone, trivia, karaoke, and yet more live music – see the times, venues, etc., by going directly to our calendar!
The photo is courtesy of Pigeon Point’s Pete Spalding, who explains:
One of the issues the Pigeon Point Neighborhood Council has been looking for ways to address has been the ongoing issue of folks letting their dogs run loose at the fields at Pathfinder School. One of the ideas discussed at our last meeting was putting up a sign. Here is the sign.
West Seattle’s official off-leash area is at Westcrest Park (map and info here).
(WS high/low bridges and Highway 99 views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
Still foggy in spots, so take care out there. No problems otherwise on the routes through/from West Seattle, so far this morning.
TRANSPORTATION NEWS: Two stories of note, in case you haven’t seen them yet – 2 new crosswalks planned for Delridge; changes on the downtown waterfront starting next week, including access to the Water Taxi dock at Pier 50.
9:01 AM: From the scanner, traffic hazard in the right lane on the Alaskan Way Viaduct – a couch cushion.
9:24 AM: And another problem on northbound 99 – a crash blocking the right lane near the stadiums. Here’s a cam showing the backup (looking south toward the northbound traffic, but south of the crash):
No indication of injuries in this incident – Seattle Fire was not dispatched.
9:56 AM: Backup should be clearing by now – the vehicle(s) involved have been moved off to the shoulder.
Getting back to the regular season after their holiday tournament win, the West Seattle High School boys-varsity basketball team beat visiting O’Dea on Tuesday night, 54-51. Wildcats’ #1 Nate Pryor had a big night, 24 points.
(Added 8:51 am, additional recap info from WSHS):
It was the first time WSHS beat O’Dea in boys’ basketball since 2008. (Pryor also) grabbed 10 rebounds in the winning effort. He was helped by junior Melvin Arrington (#2, photo above), who scored 5 points in the fourth quarter and sophomore Akili Kasim, who provided key rebounds down the stretch. The Wildcats improve to 6-4 on the season and 4-2 in league play.
(WSHS #24 Carter Golgart)
(back to original 1:03 am report) The WSHS boys play next at Eastside Catholic on Friday night; the girls varsity team is home tomorrow night, 7:30 pm, hosting Holy Names.
School’s back in session and high-school basketball is back in all-out mode:
That reader-contributed video clip shows a big basket by Chief Sealth International High School‘s #22, senior Hafid Yassin, in the Seahawks’ home loss to visiting Garfield tonight, 96-55.
The Bulldogs got out ahead early, 30-14 by the end of the first quarter, and Sealth was unable to catch up.
(Sealth’s #1 Khaleef Griffin and #12 LJ Burns)
The Garfield girls will be at Sealth tomorrow (Wednesday) night, with the varsity game at 7:30 pm. The Sealth boys’ next game is on the road at Seattle Prep, 8 pm Friday.
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