West Seattle, Washington
09 Tuesday
(WSB photo, taken Saturday)
We noticed those sandbags at Alki Bathhouse over the weekend, apparently awaiting the next round of “king tides,” the very-high high tides that happen a few times in winter. They’re coming up later this week; according to our favorite tide chart (aside from the short-range one on the WSB Weather page, that is), they are:
* 12.8 feet, 5:54 am Wednesday, January 21
* 13.0 feet, 6:31 am Thursday, January 22
* 13.2 feet, 7:10 am Friday, January 23
* 13.2 feet, 7:50 am Saturday, January 24
* 13.0 feet, 8:32 am Sunday, January 25
The Alki/Beach Drive/Harbor Avenue shores are classic places to go see the high water in West Seattle; you can also see the tides’ effects on the Duwamish River by joining either or both of two events, Friday and Saturday mornings – details are on our partner site The South Park News. Right now, the forecast is rainy, but not windy, so you’re not likely to see anything too dramatic, certainly not like last November!
New details about Saturday morning’s Morgan Junction street robbery/carjacking attempt are in the official police report we have just obtained, as well as the reason for the subsequent search in Gatewood. Until now, as weekend WSB readers are aware, most of what we knew came via comments (here and here) plus a bit of information we procured by finding an SPD sergeant at an unrelated scene post-search. So far, no word of any arrests, but we hope to hear more directly from Southwest Precinct police during tonight’s West Seattle Crime Prevention Council meeting. Ahead, we’ve transcribed the report’s narrative, since this is a high-interest incident, the third street robbery in three days in West Seattle at the time (no reports of any since Saturday):
PCC Natural Markets (WSB sponsor) has just announced a new CEO – and she is a West Seattle resident. Cate Hardy joins PCC this week from Starbucks, where she has worked for 9 years, most recently as vice president of operations, according to the PCC announcement, which says she “brings more than 15 years of retail experience in general management, retail operations, supply chain, growth and store development, and strategy” to her new job. The Seattle-based food-store company had been led since last May by Randy Lee, its chief financial officer, serving as interim CEO. The full announcement, with more on Hardy’s background, is on PCC’s website, here. PCC has 10 markets around the metro area, including one at 2749 California SW here in West Seattle. (Photo courtesy PCC Natural Markets)
(Photo by Jim Clark, taken Monday at Lincoln Park)
Some of what’s up today/tonight, from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
FIVE STEPS TO YOUR RIGHT LIVELIHOOD: 2:30-4 pm, free workshop at High Point Branch Library – details in our calendar listing. (35th/Raymond)
STUDENT AID: West Seattle High School seniors and parents/guardians are invited to an event to help them finish the FAFSA (the standard application for financial aid for college), 6:30-8:30 pm, drop in – open labs with volunteers ready to help. (3000 California SW)
MASTER MIXOLOGY: 6:30 pm, cocktail class tonight at Salty’s on Alki (WSB sponsor) – but call ASAP to see if there’s room. Details in our calendar listing. (1936 Harbor SW)
WEST SEATTLE CRIME PREVENTION COUNCIL: 7 pm, Southwest Precinct meeting room right by the entrance from the parking lot. Questions/concerns to bring up to West Seattle police leadership? This is the time and place. Tonight’s meeting has no other guests – you, SPD, WSCPC – and you’ll hear about the latest crime trends as well as plenty of time for Q/A. (Webster/Delridge)
LIVE MUSIC TONIGHT: Blues to Do at Feedback Lounge (WSB sponsor), 8 pm … Weekly singer/songwriter showcase at Shadowland, 9 pm … More nightlife on our calendar!
(WSB photo from August 2014 – Chief O’Toole with Karen Berge & Deb Greer of the WS Block Watch Captains Network)
Shortly after Seattle Police Chief Kathleen O’Toole started her job last summer, she visited last summer’s Delridge Day/Picnic at the Precinct festival. She has not, however, been to a formal community meeting here – but that’s about to change. Just announced:
The Southwest Precinct Advisory Council (SWPAC) and the West Seattle Block Watch Captains are pleased to announce a community conversation with Seattle’s Chief of Police Kathleen O’Toole.
The West Seattle community is invited to come to the Southwest Police Precinct on Tuesday, February 3rd from 6:30 to 8:30 pm to participate in this community conversation.
There will not be a formal program as this is an opportunity for the citizens of West Seattle to come out and meet Seattle’s new police chief.
If you would like more information or have any questions, you can contact Pete Spalding at SWPAC@comcast.net.
The precinct is at 2300 SW Webster, on the NW corner of Webster/Delridge.
(WS high/low bridges and Highway 99 views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
6:07 AM: Back to school, back to work, back to regular transit schedules, and probably back to “regular” traffic as Tuesday gets going. One alert for today: As announced last week, city crews plan to clean the Admiral Way medians between Olga and 39th SW today and tomorrow, 8 am-3 pm, closing the inside lanes both ways. Also worth noting: The same city/port measures that helped avert a third day of truck backups last Friday are supposed to be continuing today. But if you see any sign of a backup, please let us know.
8:24 AM: Backups on 4th because of a crash at Main should be improving as the scene is clearing.
This Wednesday (January 21st), you’re invited to the next edition of the WordsWest Literary Series at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor), and with two days to go, there’s been a last-minute change in readers – Jennie Shortridge (above right) will now join Frances McCue (above left). Here’s the updated announcement from the WordsWest curators:
From fad diets to online dating to world peace — this is the exhaustingly inexhaustible material of New Year’s Resolutions. Join us for the perspectives of two amazing local authors as they take a new look at the old tradition of making and breaking our resolve. For the January 21, 2015, edition of WordsWest Literary Series, best-selling novelist Jennie Shortridge and award-winning poet Frances McCue will read their work which invites all of us to explore our ideas, hopes and intentions for the coming year.
This month WordsWest is thankful for support from Poets & Writers.
Frances McCue is a poet, essayist, reviewer and arts instigator. From 1996-2006, she was the founding director of Richard Hugo House in Seattle. Her poetry collection The Bled won the 2011 Washington State Book Award. McCue’s other work includes the essay collection The Car That Brought You Here Still Runs (runner-up for the Washington State Book Award), poetry collection The Stenographer’s Breakfast, and prose in Mary Randlett Portraits.
Jennie Shortridge is the author of five bestselling novels, including Love Water Memory and When She Flew. Her books have been selected as American Booksellers Association’s Indie Next picks, Target Bookmarked picks, and Library Journal’s Editors’ Picks. Three have been optioned for film. An avid volunteer, Jennie is the co-founder of Seattle7Writers, a nonprofit collective of Northwest authors who raise money and awareness for literature and literacy.
Every third Wednesday, 7 pm, at C & P Coffee Company, WordsWest hosts literary events that range from readings by published local and national authors, to craft discussions and guided writing explorations for every experience level. Folks from local, independent businesses share a favorite poem as part of the Favorite Poem Project. On January 21st, Twilight Gallery and Boutique will join us.
WordsWest is curated by West Seattle writers Katy E. Ellis, Susan Rich, and Harold Taw. Join us on Facebook at facebook.com/WordsWestLiterary. For more information, please contact wordswestliterary@gmail.com or visit WordsWestLiterary.com.
C & P is at 5612 California SW.
(WSCO photo: Wind Symphony in concert, December 2014)
The West Seattle Community Orchestras‘ new Wind Symphony, just launched last fall, is open to new members – and if you’re interested, you can check it out as soon as tomorrow night’s rehearsal, says orchestra manager Mariane Hermanson:
Following the great concert which concluded the fall season, the Wind Symphony of the West Seattle Community Orchestras is jumping into spring season rehearsals.
This group of musicians, including students and adults, is combining talents to perform two concerts this spring, the first at Providence Mount St. Vincent on March 20, 7:00 PM, to which the public is invited!
Anton Coleman, director of the group, has selected a program of wind band classics for the upcoming concert, including Alfred Reed’s “A Festive Overture,” Samuel Barber’s “Commando March,” and a band transcription of the finale from Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 5.
More musicians are welcome to join in the fun and camaraderie of playing in a large ensemble. Woodwind, brass, and percussion players with high school level or above skills may join in; students participate without charge. Rehearsals are at Chief Sealth International High School, Tuesday evenings, 7:00-8:30. More information at WSCOrchestras.org.
CSIHS is at 2600 SW Thistle.
(Photo courtesy West Seattle Soccer Club)
Congratulations to Bill Fry, vice president of administration for West Seattle Soccer Club, honored as national Administrator of the Year award by U.S. Youth Soccer. WSSC’s Tim McMonigle explains, “Over the past year, he had moved up by winning at the club, association, district, state, region, and now the national level. This is a huge honor, and continues our recent successes at the national level with others from our club that have represented our club and association very well.” As the announcement notes, while Fry was WSSC president, the number of registered players nearly doubled.
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
Should the Fauntleroy Boulevard project include undergrounding utilities – considering that could cost an extra $6 million or so? That’s the question Councilmember Tom Rasmussen raised at this month’s Junction Neighborhood Organization meeting.
The undergrounding cost was first mentioned publicly a week earlier, at the Southwest District Council meeting (WSB coverage here), with SWDC’s immediate past co-chair Sharonn Meeks reporting on a conversation with Rasmussen. This is the first time he had subsequently discussed it publicly with a West Seattle group. Taking utilities underground, he noted, “can be … transformational,” but the project has to be designed that way, and it’s now at a crossroads, with about two-thirds of the design completed: Should it be designed with underground utilities or not? The councilmember says he’s looking for community feedback. A few points to consider:
3:37 PM: If you are heading toward downtown any time in the next half-hour or so, either northbound or southbound, note that Highway 99 and I-5 are both being affected by protests right now. We’re still trying to get a clear picture of what’s going on by monitoring scanner and Twitter, but we do know for sure that Highway 99 northbound is closed at the Battery Street Tunnel, with traffic being diverted off at Western. More to come.
3:44 PM: Seattle Times (WSB partner) photojournalist Lindsey Wasson is among the journalists on scene:
Three #BlackLivesMatter protesters still lying down on #nb99, #seattle police sawing apart reinforced tubes linking them together
— Lindsey Wasson (@lindseywasson) January 19, 2015
KING 5 reports protesters on Mercer near I-5. Via scanner, police are concerned about protesters getting onto Aurora. Journalists who are tweeting in the area confirm there are two separate groups.
4 PM: This is truly a fast-changing situation, but again, right now, avoiding downtown, especially the South Lake Union vicinity, is fairly solid advice. And 99.
pics from #skyking have the protest on both directions of HWY 99 – all lanes in both directions are blocked
— King5TracyT (@King5TracyT) January 19, 2015
.@SeattlePD arresting protesters on SR 99. NB lanes blocked. SB lanes are moving at the moment. pic.twitter.com/EFDmX52DSM
— KING 5 News (@KING5Seattle) January 20, 2015
4:21 PM: Police are hoping to be able to reopen 99 soon but the situation remains in flux, especially in the South Lake Union area.
4:23 PM: Per scanner, 99 has just been reopened. The I-5 ramps that were affected by the protest are open again too. But some protesters are still in action on surface streets, police are saying, on Fairview and on Dexter.
(WSB photo from 2014 WSGS season)
Play ball! Registration is open for the 2015 spring season of West Seattle Girls Softball. From the official announcement sent to us:
WSGS is a local nonprofit organization and is fueled by its dedicated volunteers. WSGS goals are to ensure that its players have the best possible experience playing fast-pitch softball. We hope to build both team sportsmanship and individual sportsmanship, all while having fun. We teach the basics and build skills as players continue with the program. WSGS looks forward to giving all girls ages 6-15 who are interested in learning the game a chance to build self-esteem and learn about sportsmanship. We try to place players onto teams that will be most beneficial to their needs. No previous experience necessary. Registration is open through February. Please go to westseattlegirlssoftball.com for more information.
The WSGS season starts with practices in March and runs through June.
(First two photos by WSB’s Patrick Sand)
Nature Consortium‘s new executive director Merica Whitehall (above right) been on the job just a few weeks, and today she’s out with a legion of volunteers, including Deputy Mayor Kate Joncas (above left), for NC’s MLK Day of Service event in the West Duwamish Greenbelt east of Riverview Playfield. Mayor Ed Murray was on the way after a big MLK Day event at Garfield High School. Here’s another VIP we caught on her way up from the work site:
If you don’t know her already, that’s newly crowned Miss Seattle Taryn Smith, a West Seattle High School senior. The West Duwamish Greenbelt, Seattle’s largest contiguous forest, is the focus of Nature Consortium’s restoration work, planting trees and removing tree-killing invasives so that the forest can survive and thrive into the future. We expect to add a few more photos later.
1:56 PM: From the NC Instagram feed – first, a short video clip including something they’re famous for, providing music while volunteers work:
If you didn’t get to sign up for today’s event – Nature Consortium has many others, at least once a week – check naturec.org for opportunities.
You’ve seen Mark Wangerin‘s wildlife photos here on WSB (here, here, here, here, more). Maybe you were lucky enough to be able to buy one of the education-fundraising 2015 West Seattle Wildlife Calendars featuring some of them. Today, Laura Robb from Mark House Publishing shares the final results of the calendar fundraiser:
Congratulations to these West Seattle students who sold Mark House-published calendars to raise money for environmental education! Above, photographer Mark Wangerin (left) presents proceeds from the sale of the 2015 West Seattle Wildlife Calendar to Chief Sealth International High School students and teacher Noah Zeichner (right), who will use the donation of more than $1,200 for the 2015 Washington State Global Issues Network (WAGIN) Conference. You can support the event here: firstgiving.com/fundraiser/WAGIN/2015
That link also has more information about the conference, the first-ever WAGIN, to be held at Sealth in March.
(WSB photo taken this morning: Youngstown Cultural Arts Center mural, painted and dedicated last summer)
Make a difference in your own quiet way, this MLK Day. City park facilities and libraries are closed, but we do have suggestions/possibilities for today/tonight:
GROWING GARDENERS’ WORKSHOP: West Seattle Nursery offers a free activity for students on no-school days – today, planting! 1-2 pm, must be accompanied by an adult, but most importantly, call to see if there’s room. Details on the WSN calendar. (California/Brandon)
DONATE TO WEST SEATTLE FOOD BANK VIA SBG: Less than 2 weeks to go in the Straight Blast Gym (WSB sponsor) donation drive for the West Seattle Food Bank, and dropping off donations today is a simple way to honor the holiday with a bit of community service. We wrote about it last week, here. (5050 Delridge Way SW)
VISIT THE DUWAMISH LONGHOUSE CULTURAL CENTER: Ever been to the Duwamish Longhouse, which opened six years ago this month? Maybe today is the day. Free admission (goodwill donations accepted), free parking. Open Mondays-Saturdays, 10 am-5 pm. (4705 W. Marginal Way SW) (Our apologies: Commenters report it’s closed)
LEARN, VOLUNTEER, JOIN WITH SUSTAINABLE WEST SEATTLE: 6:30 pm at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor), as previewed here last night, you can get involved with your community and the planet’s future by checking out Sustainable West Seattle‘s annual meeting. They’ll provide dessert and inspiration. (5612 California SW)
(WS high/low bridges and Highway 99 views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
7:23 AM: No traffic trouble spots so far on this holiday Monday. A few reminders – Metro is on the “reduced weekday” schedule; King County Water Taxis are not running (West Seattle or Vashon); schools are closed. If you are driving downtown or to another neighborhood with on-street city pay stations today, you don’t have to pay for parking. Two of West Seattle’s transit services are on regular schedules today: Sound Transit Route 560 and Washington State Ferries (all routes).
8:03 AM: From SDOT’s Traffic Management Center via Twitter:
Traffic is now light to moderate on major routes pic.twitter.com/plzjsd2uYQ
— seattledot (@seattledot) January 19, 2015
Super Bowl countdown is on! But first, tonight: Some of the photos (etc.) we’ve received since The Big Win. First, intrepid fans waded into Puget Sound to celebrate:
Thanks to Mark for that photo. Next one’s from Amy:
Amy says, “Finnegan from Gatewood Hill brought good luck to the Hawks in the 4th quarter!!” Meantime, two West Seattleites snapped themselves during a historic moment at the CLink:
Gary Potter (left) e-mailed the photo, captioning it, “Josh Sutton snaps a selfie after the final TD in OT!!!!”
Also notable today, the weather. Trileigh Tucker caught video of the brief ice-pellet shower:
Trileigh captioned it “Hailquake“; we’ve also heard it dubbed the “Hail Mary” moment! It followed – after a bit of a time gap – one burst of thunder that coincided with the Seahawks’ big comeback. Earlier, John Bartell caught this sunbreak with a rainbow (promise of victory?):
Last but not at all least – this isn’t in West Seattle but does have a local link. Jim Winder, mastermind of the West Seattle Lights/Helmstetler Family Christmas Spectacular, has a light show in Maple Valley and says it’s 100 percent Seahawks-themed, continuing nightly through the Super Bowl. He shared this clip of “Hawktown Funk”:
Want to go check out the Maple Valley lights? Address and map are here.
So now we have two weeks of pre-Super Bowl excitement to come – if you have a Seahawk-spirit photo or tip, please let us know so we can share along the way.
(Photo courtesy Kyle Moore)
8:09 PM: Seattle Fire crews are checking out a possible fire in apartments in the 9400 block of 27th SW, on the north side of SW Roxbury. So far they’re not finding any sign of fire but possibly some smoke smell in one of the hallways.
8:39 PM UPDATE: We went over to check; that’s all it’s amounted to, so far – smoke, but no fire. Someone activated the fire alarm, firefighters tell us, but then apparently left the building and couldn’t be found for further inquiry. Police have the outer westbound lane on Roxbury blocked right before 27th while SFD is still on scene.
9:03 PM UPDATE: Update from SFD spokesperson Kyle Moore – smoldering food in a kitchen turned out to be the source of the smoke. Everyone’s been allowed back in, and SFD has cleared the scene, closing the call.
Wondering about community work you can do tomorrow on Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day? Might be as simple as coming to a meeting: Sustainable West Seattle has chosen Monday night for its annual membership meeting, themed “Learn, Volunteer, Join.” The invitation is for anyone and everyone, member or not, per the official announcement:
On the National Day of Service, start the New Year off by donating some time to Sustainable West Seattle (SWS), the organization spearheading West Seattle’s effort to provide alternatives to globalization and planet exploitation. SWS is looking for new members and board members for 2015’s “projects of hope.”
Here is your chance to influence the shape of your sustainable community and local projects. The evening will include:
*Review of Projects & Events in 2014
*Look Forward & Idea Sharing for Focus of 2015
*Prospective Board Candidates — Attendees for consideration by Incoming 2015 Board will share their ideas for, and what they can contribute to SWS
*SWS Members at large and interested participants (not SWS members) share ideas for local West Seattle efforts and to help SWS as an organizationDessert will be provided by the current 2014 SWS Board. Hope you can join in the local effort with Sustainable West Seattle.
It’s happening at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor), 5612 California SW (if you’re taking the bus, the California/Findlay RapidRide station is steps away), 6:30 pm. P.S. New benefit for SWS membership – discounts at several local businesses!
In case you were wondering, as were a few people who have contacted us to ask about it: A bicycle/car collision at Delridge Way/17th SW this past hour sent the rider to the hospital. Her injuries were not major, so she was being transported by private ambulance. Police told us at the scene that they expected to clear the intersection before long.
On another mostly gray, rainy day, following a stormy night, here’s a view that’s bright in two ways: Colorful undersea creatures recorded by “Diver Laura” James in the area known as the “junkyard” – and as you’ll see if you watch it, she found some sea stars:
We saw numerous young sunflower stars in the shallows, far more than I was expecting. There was a healthy medium-sized one in the 40’ depth range as well, so this is a change for the positive. Sunflower stars have been all but extirpated at many of our regular dive sites. It is still winter underwater, so we will have to wait until fall to see the real impact (how many babies show up and how many survive) The majority of the sea stars that were lost in the wasting disease are the types that spawn in the spring to mid summer. The babies will then be in the larval stage and float around in the current before they land and start growing. Baby sunflower stars start with 5 arms and then start growing pairs of additional arms, which is why you see uneven arms in the videos. That isn’t because they’ve lost limbs, it means they are growing :)
Many of the stars in the video other than the young sunflower stars and the mottled stars (there were a few) were species that were not as impacted by the wasting disease, such as Leather stars, so it isn’t a surprise to find them there. We did not see any sand stars, pink spiny stars, pisaster (ochre stars) or morning sun stars, but I’m crossing my fingers come spring/summer.
(NOON NOTE: Just “unpinned” the all-night/all-morning storm coverage, which is now below this)
But the 12th Flag at Delridge/Andover waves on! pic.twitter.com/JZlyDgzNDt
— West Seattle Blog (@westseattleblog) January 18, 2015
In addition to our ongoing storm coverage, here’s what’s happening today – before, during, and after The Game:
HARRY’S CHICKEN JOINT OPENS EARLY: Get chicken for The Game at Harry’s Chicken Joint (WSB sponsor), open 9 am-11:30 am. By game time, Harry’s will be closed, with everyone either watching the game at home or at the Clink. (6032 California SW)
FARMERS’ MARKET OPENS EARLY: West Seattle Farmers’ Market management says many vendors will open early, 9:30 am. (44th/Alaska)
WEST SEATTLE ULTIMATE FAMILY FRISBEE STARTS EARLY: 10 am today, instead of the usual 11. And they’re planning on two fields, one for youth players. Walt Hundley Playfield. (34th/Myrtle)
(Added: On a table at HPIC during tailgate party)
TAILGATING AT HIGHLAND PARK IMPROVEMENT CLUB: Doors open at 11:30 am. HPIC says everyone’s welcome, all ages, and no matter who you’re rooting for. More info here. (12th/Holden)
WHERE ELSE TO WATCH THE GAME: In case you lost power and don’t get it back in time so are looking for somewhere to watch, other venues include what one reader once described as “just about anywhere with a TV” but in particular:
*Feedback Lounge (WSB sponsor), 6451 California SW
*The Bridge, California/Graham
*The Westy, 7908 35th SW
*Beveridge Place Pub, 6413 California SW
*West Side Public House, California/Edmunds
*Angelina’s, 2311 California SW (all ages)
*Talarico’s Pizza, 4718 California SW (all ages)
Some of the above are via recommendations we requested on Twitter while writing this. Anywhere else to recommend? Please comment, or e-mail us, so we can add. Thanks!
NAVY AIRCRAFT TO BUZZ THE CLINK: Depending on the weather, pre-game flyovers are planned. We don’t know the route but if you see/hear them over West Seattle, now you know it’s game-related. *NOON NOTE: Just heard it over our HQ!*
Also on the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar for today:
GREYHOUND MEET-AND-GREET: 11 am-1 pm, come meet greyhounds at Mud Bay in The Admiral District. (2611 California SW)
KITTY HARBOR ADOPTION EVENT, DAY 2: Again today, noon-5 pm, Kitty Harbor reopens with more than 30 cats/kittens still in need of forever homes. (3422 Harbor SW)
AFTERNOON MUSIC: 1-3 pm, bluegrass and old-time music at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor), with Jamtime. (5612 California SW)
SOME EVENING OFFERINGS TOO … see the calendar!
(SCROLL DOWN FOR NEWEST INFO! And in case you need these, City Light outage hotline 206-684-3000 **** Click for mobile version of SCL outage map)
(Updated City Light map screengrab, as of 2:10 am)
1:40 AM: After midnight, the wind kicked up, as the National Weather Service had warned it was likely to do. There’s word of a tree down at a house in the 1300 block of Alki SW and possibly a slide too. (Added: Photo from Suzanne, showing one of the firefighters who were working on the downed trees in that area:)
And power’s starting to go out around the city – including the first West Seattle power outage report, in the Fauntleroy/Lincoln Park area. We’re watching the map. (added) Just got texts from Arbor Heights and north White Center about power woes there too. Let us know in comments or via text (206-293-6302) what’s up where you are.
1:45 AM: The southwest-end outages are now on the City Light map. We’ll add a screengrab – or, wait, maybe not yet; just got a text from Admiral.
1:56 AM: The Admiral outage is on the map as a small pocket, 9 customers; from Gatewood through Fauntleroy and into Arbor Heights/Arroyos, more than 4,700 customers (homes/businesses) are out.
2:07 AM: Map has now added a pocket of 100+ customers out in The Junction, and the Admiral pocket has grown to about that same number. We’ll change the screengrab. Note we have added the City Light outage hotline AND link to mobile version of the outage map, atop this story.
2:26 AM: The National Weather Service upgraded the alert to a “high wind warning” (see it here) as of about 20 minutes ago, in effect through 8 am. Our area’s holding at about 5,000 customers without power, just under half the SCL total. The “estimated time” for restoration is 8 am but keep in mind, that’s always just a guesstimate, could be earlier or later.
3:17 AM: SCL now blames a tree, somewhere, for the biggest West Seattle outage, the 4,700-customer outage in Morgan/Gatewood/Fauntleroy/Arbor Heights/beyond. The wind’s been much calmer the past hour or so, at least from our listening spot.
3:37 AM: About a quarter of those in the biggest outage zone apparently have their power back – the count has dropped from 4,700 to 3,600. By the way, no reports of any injuries so far into all this.
5:57 AM: Checking on SCL’s progress – the big West Seattle outage (now attributed to equipment failure) has halved again, now fewer than 2,000 (looks like the latest chunk of restored customers happened around 5 am). The Admiral and Junction pockets (~100 each, now blamed on trees) are still out. If you are out and don’t see your area included on the map, be sure to notify SCL at 206-684-3000 to make sure they know.
7:24 AM: Looks like no additional West Seattle restoration in the past hour and a half – still just over 2,000 customers out, and the estimate is now “pending.” Via Twitter, SCL says the main problem with which they’re dealing now, here and elsewhere in the city, is downed lines, including one near 44th/Roxbury.
8:32 AM: In terms of businesses affected, looking at the current outage map, it doesn’t look like many are still out BUT the Endolyne/Fauntleroy mini-business district appears to be in the outage zone. We are off to check and will add whatever we find. Meantime, Ocean View has lost power again, according to a text. And we’re sticking this story to the top of the site, but if you scroll BENEATH it, you’ll see our list of “what’s up today” including game-related changes and places to watch – or, click here.
8:37 AM: In all, 5,000 **more** homes/businesses just lost power, so we have 7,000 total in West Seattle. ***UPDATE*** Within minutes, that area (southeast West Seattle, White Center) got it back, though the SCL map doesn’t reflect yet.
9:17 AM: Now out and about. Went to Fauntleroy/Endolyne first, spotted City Light crews:
Here's @seacitylight in Fauntleroy pic.twitter.com/LGg72u4iCI
— West Seattle Blog (@westseattleblog) January 18, 2015
Power in that area JUST came back on but Endolyne Joe’s (WSB sponsor) tells us they won’t be ready for customers until about 11. Next door, The Original Bakery is closed because of the outage – they can’t simply reopen now because as the sign says, they lost their early-morning baking time:
9:49 AM: Spotted City Light at the Junction outage scene too, on SW Oregon:
this @seacitylight truck is in the Junction outage pocket pic.twitter.com/xCJWuLyBwS
— West Seattle Blog (@westseattleblog) January 18, 2015
According to commenters, both the Junction and Admiral outage pockets (less than 200 customers each) were caused by trees taking out wires/lines in alleys. (Added below: Photo from Gina, showing the Admiral scene. Thanks also to Sarah for sending one.)
10:42 AM: The entire southwest area is now back on, according to the map, texters, and commenters. Now it’s down to the 300 or so residences in the Junction and Admiral pockets, neither of which appears to be affecting businesses.
12:04 PM: Game time, and the number of West Seattle customers still out after 11+ hours is down to 114, per City Light.
3:36 PM: Just a handful still out, per SCL. The weather is continuing to calm, according to the forecast, but there was a bit of thunder about half an hour ago. (No, it was NOT from the stadium, but might as well have been, given what was happening in the game right about then!)
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