West Seattle, Washington
25 Thursday
(Photo by John Bartell: One more view of the yacht race we featured on Saturday)
Happy Monday! A few notes for today and beyond:
RESTAURANT OPENING: Blue Moon Burgers on Alki plans to open its doors at 1 pm today, as reported here Sunday. (2504 59th SW)
HIGH-SCHOOL SPORTS: Two varsity home games this afternoon, both with Chief Sealth International High School teams, both at 4 pm, both at Southwest Athletic Complex. The softball team is hosting Bainbridge; the baseball team is hosting Ballard. (2801 SW Thistle)
FAMILY STORY TIME: Songs, rhymes, AND stories, for the whole family. 6:30 pm at High Point Branch Library, free. (35th/Raymond)
THEY ASK, YOU ANSWER Monday night is trivia/pub quiz night: Our calendar includes trivia at Christo’s on Alki (7:15 pm, 2508 Alki SW), trivia at OutWest Bar (7:30 pm, California/Brandon), Quiz Night at Skylark (7:30 pm, 3803 Delridge Way SW), and pub quiz at Shadowland (8 pm, California/Oregon).
FROM HOLY WEEK SERVICES TO EGG HUNTS … Easter/Passover/spring-celebration information from here through Sunday has a WSB page of its own. Please let us know if you have anything to add – editor@westseattleblog.com – thank you!
We promised to let you know when we heard about memorial plans for Don Smathers, whose death at age 65 was reported here one week ago. We now know the gathering will be at 5 pm this Wednesday (April 1st) at Junction Plaza Park.
(Four WS-relevant views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
The weekend Highway 99 closures are over and it’s on with a new week. First, in case you missed it over the weekend:
(WSB photo)
That’s the new Water Taxi, M/V Sally Fox, christened during an afternoon public celebration this past Saturday. It happened on Vashon Island, which Sally Fox will serve, but we covered it because it’s twin to M/V Doc Maynard, which will take over the West Seattle route this fall. P.S. This is the last week of the weekday-only schedule for the WS Water Taxi; the 7-day spring/summer schedule starts next Monday, April 6th.
ROAD WORK THIS WEEK: The second half of a 2-day resurfacing project on California Avenue SW in Fauntleroy was rescheduled to this Wednesday, April 1st.
BERTHA’S BIG LIFT: As first shown in this report last Friday, the big red-frame crane is in place over the Highway 99 tunnel-machine access pit alongside The Viaduct, and WSDOT says its contractor is likely to bring up the last, biggest piece of it for repairs sometime this week. It’ll be a painstaking process – possibly up to 16 hours long.
Now, on with the commute watch. If you see a problem and can text/call safely/legally, our always-on hotline is 206-293-6302.
2:37 AM: If you’re hearing the sirens – Seattle Fire is en route to a possible house fire near 26th/Roxbury. Updates as we get them.
2:41 AM: First units on scene aren’t seeing anything. They’re detecting a “light odor of smoke,” though. The dispatcher had told them the house is believed to be unoccupied and had recently been sold.
2:45 AM: “Paint can burning in the kitchen” is what they’ve found, and they’ve handled it. Most of the units are being dismissed.
3:27 AM: Remaining units are leaving, and the call will be closed.
(WSB photo from Saturday’s mayoral visit)
As reported here in-depth on Saturday, Mayor Ed Murray spent about 2 1/2 hours in West Seattle that day, including a walking tour of The Junction and Triangle, and a “coffee chat” with about 20 in attendance. After all that, we had the opportunity to ask the mayor a few questions one-on-one. Ahead, our questions – inspired by recent reader comments and community-meeting discussions – and his replies:
According to a WSDOT e-mail alert sent to media a few minutes ago, the work on Highway 99 north of the Battery Street Tunnel also has ended early, and 99 is now fully open. (South of the tunnel, the Alaskan Way Viaduct has been open since Saturday night; its inspection took only one day instead of two, so it did not re-close on Sunday.)
They’re headed out – maybe to return. Thanks to Judy Pickens for a Fauntleroy Creek salmon update:
The first two coho smolts have been documented leaving Fauntleroy Creek. Volunteer Steev Ward found the first in a soft trap in the lower creek, closely followed by volunteer Dennis Hinton with the second, on Friday (March 27) – the first day of annual trapping. The Fauntleroy Watershed Council has been conducting volunteer monitoring to see how many leave the creek for saltwater since 2003 and this year’s research will continue through May.
Fall is when volunteers watch for returning coho spawners; 19 were documented last year.
Along with being among the first to hear that Capt. Pierre Davis is returning to West Seattle as Southwest Precinct commander, the West Seattle Block Watch Captains Network got a briefing this week on the precinct’s new bike patrol.
The guest was Sgt. Jim Britt (right), who is the sergeant for Frank sector (eastern West Seattle and South Park) and explained he is now the “bike sergeant” too – in addition to his ongoing duties, he is in charge of making sure the officers who are part of the patrol get equipment, training, etc. Because the bicycle patrol isn’t technically a separate unit, the officers will all still answer to their respective sectors’ sergeants.
The precinct will have at least two bicycle officers out each and every day on “second watch,” which is 11 am to 8 pm. Precinct Operations Lt. Ron Smith further clarified that means they have two officers with the flexibility to be deployed on bicycles – they have to have cars, too, as they can’t be taken entirely out of the loop for 911 responses.
Six officers in all will have bikes; Officer Scott Luckie and Andy Bass have had bikes for a while now, and, Sgt. Britt said, they also have been trained to become bicycle mechanics.
Thanks to Julie Nugent-Carney for the photo and report:
On Saturday, March 21st, Troop 282 recognized Jacob Carney, John Roach, and Spencer Gjording for achieving the Boy Scouts of America’s highest award during their Eagle Court of Honor ceremony at Camp Long. Guest Speaker Joe McDermott, King County Councilmember, acknowledged their achievement and recalled his own experiences as a Boy Scout. Dow Constantine, King County Executive (and Eagle Scout), sent a congratulatory video message to the boys that was shown at the ceremony.
In addition to meeting all the requirements to achieve the Eagle Rank, the three young men led local community projects including revitalizing the community garden at Longfellow Creek near Sealth High School, restoring 150 feet of trail at Camp Schoenwald in Burien, and constructing raised garden beds for the Seattle Nativity School which was founded to help low-income, at-risk children prepare for college.
Julie shared this report on Jacob’s project (Longfellow Creek) last May.
From the Fauntleroy Community Association:
Do you live between the Arroyos and Morgan Street? Travel through or do business in Fauntleroy? The Fauntleroy Community Association (FCA) wants to hear from you!
The FCA has prepared a new community survey seeking input to identify and rank local issues. The anonymous survey can be accessed through www.fauntleroy.net and then clicking on “FCA Survey.” The survey takes about 5 minutes, and will provide guidance to the FCA Board on where to focus their efforts during the next two years.
The results from the 2013 survey led to the FCA organizing community meetings with city officials to address crime and traffic issues. Dialogues between residents and officials were constructive and resulted in agreed-upon action plans.
Take the survey and help to shape the future of your community!
(Photo courtesy Betty Bennett)
Meet Max Debiec. He’s 12 years old, a sixth-grader at Holy Rosary – and he just pitched a perfect game!
Max’s achievement happened on the opening day of West Seattle Little League‘s 2015 season – yesterday at Bar-S Fields on Alki Point – as Max’s team, the Coyotes, beat the Orioles, 6-0.
We talked today with the Coyotes’ manager, who also happens to be Max’s dad, Stan Debiec.
It was a six-inning game, Stan explained, with Max throwing 79 pitches and striking out 15 batters. As per the definition of “perfect game,” nobody got on base; three balls made it (briefly) into play – a dribbler back to Max, a grounder to second, and a shallow fly ball caught around second base. Around the fourth inning, Stan said, he started to think Max was onto something.
Unlike the big leagues, he said, the completion of Max’s perfect game didn’t lead to a big show on the field – Stan is teaching the players how to win and lose with dignity. But everyone is certainly proud of him – we’ve received more than a few notes today making sure we’d heard about it so we could share the news with the wider West Seattle communty.
If you want to cheer on Max and his teammates – and the rest of the West Seattle Little League – games are scheduled on Tuesdays and Saturdays, and listed on the WSLL website.
(WSB photos)
After a friends-and-family event last night, Blue Moon Burgers on Alki is ready to officially open for business at 1 pm tomorrow (Monday, March 30th). Regular hours will be 11 am until 9 or 10 (they’ll be experimenting until summer arrives, when they’ll plan to be open until 11 pm).
(Kilie at the grill)
The menu includes build-your-own burger options, sandwiches (BLT, grilled cheese, more), vegan options, chicken tenders, salads, sides, and other food options, plus 12 beers on tap, and milkshakes too. Alki Blue Moon general manager JR Gifford – who grew up in WS – told us two of the three fryers are gluten-free. Another feature: You’ll be able to text an order, then drive or ride up into one of two pick-up spots out front, and run in to get it. The site has about a dozen spots in all for customers (fitting, given that in its former life, it was an auto-repair shop; we first reported the burger-switchover plan almost a year ago). It’s at 2504 Alki Ave. SW.
Get your inner mermaid out into the open and join this new West Seattle event – Leslie Rosen just sent word, with plenty of time for you to plan:
Calling all mermaids for the first West Seattle Mermaid Parade! Come join us (in costumes!) on Sat May 30, 2015. Meet at the Alki Bathhouse at 11 am for a water-themed veil dance by the Sirens of Serpentine to live harp music by Monica Schley. After, we will walk the Alki Beach Trail. Mermaids are not afraid of water, so this parade happens rain or shine. – Free, all ages and open to everyone.
The mermaid parade is the proud recipient of an art grant from Ignition Northwest (501c) for NEW interactive, community-driven, collaborative works that are accessible to the public and participatory in scope. Fueling community through participatory arts, events and education.
Thanks to Caryn Johnson for the report and photos from Saturday’s High School Baseball Classic game at Safeco Field, with West Seattle HS coming home with a win:
The High School Baseball Classic has been running for 9 years and West Seattle High School has been fortunate enough to have participated in every one.
Sponsored by the Seattle Mariners and Safeco Field, this event gives local high schools the opportunity to please on the “Big Stage.” For most of these boys, it is a once-in-a-lifetime experience to sit in the dugout, practice and play where of some of their idols do. They are treated like a major league team, with their names being called by the announcer, plays being replayed on the “JumboTron” in center field and even the field crew coming out to drag the field during the 4th inning to make sure they played on the best conditions possible. All in all, the experience is one I know the boys from both teams with forever treasure.
Yesterday, West Seattle High School hosted Sedro Woolley High School. It was a brisk sunny afternoon and a wonderful day for baseball.
Sophomore Carson Wright (above) started on the mound for West Seattle and got things underway. He pitched three great innings of baseball, only giving up one run.
(Above, Jack Page sliding into 3rd; below, Morgan McCullough at bat)
West Seattle came out strong and scored 4 runs in the bottom of the 1st. Coach Velko Vitalich made many substitutions during the game, allowing several of the boys a chance to play.
(Jamie Maples scoring the 6th run of the game in the bottom of the 6th)
In the end West Seattle won, 6-1. The next game is Monday against Nathan Hale at Meadowbrook at 3:30 pm.
(Bald eagles photographed near a nest in Lincoln Park by Mark Ahlness, shared via WSB Flickr group)
Notes for the second Sunday of spring, mostly from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
VIADUCT *NOT* CLOSED TODAY: As noted last night, WSDOT finished its inspection work and is NOT closing Highway 99 between the West Seattle Bridge and the Battery Street Tunnel. *BUT* 99 does remain closed until Monday morning (we’ll update if that changes) north of downtown. (9:27 am note – the flashing-lights VIADUCT CLOSED signs apparently still haven’t been turned off, but really, it IS open between here and Western Ave.)
WEST SEATTLE FARMERS’ MARKET: 10 am-2 pm in The Junction, with something new every week, particularly this time of year. (44th/Alaska)
PALM SUNDAY: Find the Holy Week schedules for many local churches linked from our Easter & More page. (It’s not too late to add services/events to the page – please e-mail us at editor@westseattleblog.com)
RAINWISE 101: 3 pm today at Southwest Branch Library, it’s your next chance to find out more about the city/county program offering rebates for raingardens and cisterns in certain areas of West Seattle, to get rainwater out of the sewer system and out of Puget Sound. (35th/Henderson)
ALL-AGES OPEN MICROPHONE: 3 pm signups, 4 pm music – Skylark‘s monthly open-microphone event open to musicians (and audience) of all ages – details here. (3803 Delridge Way SW)
7:53 PM: WSDOT says the Alaskan Way Viaduct not only has reopened for tonight, it will NOT have to close again tomorrow – the inspection work is all done. But that *only* affects the stretch between the West Seattle Bridge and the south end of the Battery Street Tunnel; north of the tunnel, it remains closed until Monday morning, so if you head northbound on 99, you’ll have to exit by Western. Read the full announcement here.
9:55 PM: As of a short time ago, the “Viaduct Closed” lights are still flashing on signs approaching the bridge – but the road really is open.
7:52 PM: Youngstown Cultural Arts Center is celebrating its ninth birthday tonight with the “Thrive 9” party, on until 9 pm. We visited in the early going, and watched a Seattle Balloon Arts creation in progress. Next door, Eli Rosenblatt was singing:
(ADDED: Video, with audience participation:)
Other scheduled performers: Eduardo Mendonca and the Dogg Pound dance crew (born from the Vicious Puppies, featured here on Delridge Day 2009).
ADDED SUNDAY MORNING: Thanks to Megan Snow from Flourish Dance Project for a quick clip from the Dogg Pound Crew’s performance:
Youngstown’s calendar is full of regular classes, youth programs, and special events; but it’s worth just stopping by during the day for a look – you’ll find the hallway full of art displays as well as interpretive information and photos explaining the history of the building (the original Frank B. Cooper School) and the surrounding area.
The first of two new King County Water Taxis was christened on Vashon Island today. Above, breaking mesh-covered champagne bottles onto the M/V Sally Fox, that’s County Executive Dow Constantine, Ms. Fox’s daughter Kelly Fox Violet, and County Councilmember Joe McDermott. Big turnout at the passenger-ferry dock on north Vashon:
Here’s a better look at the boat, whose twin, M/V Doc Maynard, is coming to West Seattle this fall.
Executive Constantine talked about the growth in Water Taxi ridership – 445,000 trips last year, taking cars off the roads:
He also mentioned seeing people at the ceremony whose involvement with the county’s foot-ferry efforts goes way back. We noticed one of them – his predecessor, former County Executive Ron Sims:
During Sims’s tenure, the county took over Vashon foot-ferry service, which was formerly run by the state. Meantime, 80 percent of the $11 million cost of the two new boats – both built at All American Marine in Bellingham – was covered by federal grant money. Another financial point, brought up by County Councilmember Joe McDermott – savings realized by merging the King County Ferry District into the county Department of Transportation:
He talked about the Vashon boat’s namesake, Sally Fox, who died in 2007; her widower, retired Judge Michael Fox, also spoke at the event. Here’s the plaque that will honor her onboard:
One more look at the boat!
With room for 250 passengers and 26 bicycles, the Sally Fox officially goes into service next month. Go here to read the official county news release about the boat and today’s event.
P.S. It’s not affected by this, but in case you wondered – the West Seattle Water Taxi’s seven-days-a-week spring/summer schedule starts on April 6th, one week from Monday.
Two cars to show you in West Seattle Crime Watch. First:
SEEN IN HIGHLAND PARK: Laura sent us that photo, and before we got the chance to publish it, Gretchen sent a note about the same car, a Nissan Sentra GXE, abandoned at 18th and Cloverdale (map), described as “entire engine block … missing and had four spare tires. No license plates.” And a gutted interior. It’s been reported to SPD.
HIT-AND-RUN MYSTERY: This happened to Brian‘s car early today:
He writes:
I live at 48th SW and Oregon [map]. Last night right before 2:30 am, a red SUV with a black roof and chrome extended grill smashed into my car. I heard the collision and saw the SUV take off heading west on Oregon from my bedroom window but didn’t get the plate.
Any idea whose SUV that was? A report’s been filed with police – case #100658.
3:45 PM: Thanks to the texter who just alerted us to this (206-293-6302 any time), noting that it’s compounded by the fact 99 is closed: A three-car collision is blocking two lanes on the eastbound bridge, described by SDOT as “west of 4th Avenue S.”
4:02 PM UPDATE: Adding the WSDOT camera that’s currently pointed westward, looking at the collision scene. Here’s the view looking eastward over the upper and lower bridges – the latter seems a better option right now.
4:44 PM: SDOT says the crash has cleared. The backup will take a while longer.
(Photo by DLBJ)
Thanks to everyone who’s shared photos of the yachts seen today off West Seattle’s west-facing shores … it’s the Corinthian Yacht Club of Seattle‘s Three Tree Point race.
(Photo by WSB’s Patrick Sand)
ADDED SATURDAY EVENING: More photos.
(Photo by Gary Jones)
Couple more to come. Results from today’s race are linked from this page on the club’s website.
(WSB photo: David Groves of Seattle Logo Pro presents the mayor with a hometown T-shirt)
2:23 PM: Within the past half-hour, Mayor Ed Murray wrapped up more than two and a half hours in West Seattle – including second-watch roll call at the Southwest Precinct, a walking tour of The Junction and Triangle, and an open-to-all coffee chat that drew more than 20 people. Talking with WSB for a few minutes after all that (we were along for the walking tour and coffee chat), the mayor said he was inspired by the “positive, can-do attitude” of the people he talked with – the “most upbeat … neighborhood” he’d visited. We’ll be adding more photos and the full story over the next few hours.
MIDNIGHT: Took longer than we had hoped. Here’s how it unfolded:
(Photo courtesy Mayor Murray’s office)
The mayor’s visit to the precinct wasn’t pre-announced to the media, unlike the walking tour, so we don’t know what was said – we heard about it from an officer we were talking to about something else, somewhere else, then asked mayoral communications director Viet Shelton if a photo were available. The walking tour started from Elliott Bay Brewing, where Murray checked out EB’s new reusable takeout containers:
Meeting up with the mayor there were four community advocates – René Commons of the Junction Neighborhood Organization (JuNO), Susan Melrose of the West Seattle Junction Association, Josh Sutton of the West Seattle YMCA (WSB sponsor), and Vlad Oustimovitch.
/CONTINUES/
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The Whale Trail‘s first Orca Talk of 2015 drew a good-sized crowd to C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor) on Thursday night – but in case you couldn’t be there to hear Brad Hanson from the NOAA Fisheries Science Center talk about the Southern Resident Killer Whales and his recent research trip – which included the discovery of the newest SRKW orca calf – we recorded it on video. Two parts – above (with TWT’s Donna Sandstrom introducing Hanson) and below.
Watch TWT’s website for word of the next event!
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