West Seattle, Washington
14 Sunday
Pica Border Grill on the north edge of The Junction has been closed for a few days, and tonight, after a tip from customer Franklin, we caught up with owner Miguel Govela, who says Pica is closed permanently after he lost what he says was originally a 6-year lease. He posted this sign in the window:
We reported last year on two houses torn down behind the restaurant at 4151 California SW, with a townhouse and live-work unit replacing them, but the one-story restaurant building was listed as staying. We just re-checked the city’s permit files and still don’t see anything proposed for it yet, and the county assessor’s files do not show a recent ownership change – last one on record was in fall 2013. That was more than a year after Govela bought the restaurant that had been Jonny Bostons; we subsequently reported on his transformation of the space into Pica, with a menu from both sides of the US-Mexico border.
(January 29th photo of Delridge/Holden stairway, after student was robbed)
Back in February, Southwest Precinct Community Police Team Officer Erin Nicholson told the Highland Park Action Committee that the city might bring in goats to clear vegetation along local stairways and make them safer, in the wake of crimes targeting students using them. Now, we have confirmation: SDOT is bringing goats to clear the slopes alongside the SW Holden stairway between Delridge and 20th. Here’s the flyer the city has distributed to nearby residents:
This will be the first time SDOT has used goats in West Seattle, according to SDOT’s David Allen, who says they are from Rent-A-Ruminant.
P.S. While it’s a first for SDOT, it’s certainly not a first for WS; last decade, it was almost common – oldest goat photos in WSB archives are from 2007: Marine View Drive, Admiral, Gatewood …
The King County Department of Transportation is circulating the reminder tonight: Monday is the first day of the West Seattle Water Taxi‘s extended spring/summer schedule – not only 7 days a week, but also middays on weekdays, not just the am/pm commute runs covered in the winter schedule. Just in time, since Monday is opening day for the Mariners, with a 1:10 pm game. You can see the new schedule here.
SW Barton is blocked between 25th and 26th on the southeast side of Westwood Village after a car and Metro bus collided. Our crew says the car’s driver is going to the hospital; no injuries on the bus, which had no passengers as it was en route back to the terminal. A tow truck is expected in half an hour or so to clear the scene.
ADDED: Thanks to Heath for this photo:
ORIGINAL REPORT, 4:18 PM: In the most recent “Skies Over West Seattle“ written by Alice Enevoldsen for WSB, she called tomorrow morning’s lunar eclipse the most exciting upcoming event. The excitement’s been dampened a bit by the weather – but we have some blue sky right now, so we have hope for tonight/early tomorrow, and we’re publishing a reminder. It peaks with totality at 5 am; here’s the rest of the timeline. (Photo by David Hutchinson – 2011 lunar eclipse, seen from Alki)
SATURDAY UPDATE, 4:42 AM: We’ve been working all night and caught a few glimpses – around the half-eclipsed and 3/4-eclipsed marks – just looked again, seems the clouds are winning as totality approaches in about 15 minutes.
ADDED: Thanks to Jack Miller for this photo of the “blood moon” phase:
And “Diver Laura” James shared a time lapse:
Opponents of the plan for Shell’s Arctic fleet to use part of the Port of Seattle’s Terminal 5 plan two events in West Seattle this weekend:
SUNDAY ‘ENCOURAGEMENT’ MARCH UPDATE: That’s the map for Sunday’s rally/march from The Junction to Terminal 5, dubbed by organizers as a Port Encouragement Rally – encouraging the Port of Seattle to cancel the T-5 lease for Shell vessels/equipment intended for Arctic drilling. We published the original announcement back on Monday. It starts at Walk-All-Ways (California/Alaska) at 1 pm Sunday; the march will be “using sidewalks and obeying pedestrian traffic laws,” says the update from Stu Hennessey, which also notes:
This March is sponsored by the Green Party of Seattle and is supported by Greenpeace, 350.org, Backbone, West Seattle Meaningful Movies and the citizens of West Seattle. Speakers from the Green Party, Sustainable West Seattle and 350.org will address the crowd as they gather at the entrance of West Seattle’s Terminal 5.
Also noted in the update – Sunday’s march will be discussed at the West Seattle Meaningful Movies gathering this Saturday night, 6:30 pm at Neighborhood House’s High Point Center.
KAYAK ‘FLOTILLA’ – SATURDAY TRAINING: Opponents of the lease warned at the last Port Commission meeting March 24th (WSB coverage here) that the presence of Shell vessels/rigs here would result in a “long, hot summer” of demonstrations. In addition to Sunday’s rally/march, plans for a “flotilla” are taking shape, and the coalition organizing it is planning training sessions at Alki Kayak Tours in West Seattle. The first one is scheduled for 10 am-12:30 pm tomorrow.
WHEN DOES THE ‘FLEET” ARRIVE? No timeline has been announced for expected arrivals – the chair of Foss‘s parent company Saltchuk, Mark Tabbutt, told the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce yesterday morning (WSB coverage here) that the platform Polar Pioneer is indeed headed this way. (Here are its specs, including a 17-story-high derrick; not as high as the SBX radar platform that was here four years ago. It was built by Hitachi Zosen, also known in these parts for building the Highway 99 tunneling machine “Bertha.”) It’s on board a “deck cargo” ship called Blue Marlin, which is still out of MarineTraffic.com-tracking range but filed a plan with estimated arrival in the Port Angeles vicinity around April 12th. Greenpeace is following the Polar Pioneer/Blue Marlin across the Pacific with its boat Esperanza.
Northward bound, @Shell’s vessel just changed course https://t.co/lk8jjcWi7O #thecrossing #savethearctic pic.twitter.com/DzHQhyjjF9
— Greenpeace Esperanza (@gp_espy) March 31, 2015
That same Greenpeace boat was here in 2012 while part of Shell’s fleet was at Vigor.
Thanks to the reader who called this to our attention. Seattle Public Schools is setting up a “pathway” through local schools for students identified as “highly capable,” the first of its two tiers of advanced-learning programs, the one that was formerly known as APP, and it’s looking for interested people to be part of a focus group. As explained in this letter, the pathway would start with Fairmount Park Elementary, which offers “highly capable” placement now, and would continue with Madison Middle School and West Seattle High School:
The Office of Advanced Learning is collaborating with school and community members to develop a Highly Capable Cohort pathway for students in West Seattle. That is, when the pathway is established, students identified as Highly Capable could eventually be served from kindergarten through 12th grade in HC classrooms at schools located in West Seattle.
We are forming a Focus Group to provide an opportunity for school leaders and community members to collaborate on implementing new HC services at Madison Middle School and West Seattle High School. If you are interested in joining the Focus Group, application forms will be made available by mid-April on the Advanced Learning website www.seattleschools.org/advlearning.
The pathway will take time to develop and will not be fully in place by next school year, but we want to help families understand their options for this fall:
Highlights for the rest of today and tonight include a West Seattle couple known for walking and writing:
CATHY & JAKE JARAMILLO @ WORDS, WRITERS, WEST SEATTLE: The authors of “Seattle Stairway Walks” are in that clip, inviting you to tonight’s edition of WWWS, 5-7 pm at Barnes & Noble/Westwood Village, presented by the Southwest Seattle Historical Society. More info here. (2800 SW Barton)
SPEAKING OF THE HISTORICAL SOCIETY: Out of school early today? Take a trip to the Log House Museum, which is open noon-4 pm as usual. (61st/Stevens)
FRIDAY AFTERNOON AT THE MOVIES: 1 pm at the Senior Center of West Seattle, today’s movie is “Fargo.” (Oregon/California)
HIGH-SCHOOL SPORTS: Chief Sealth International High School varsity teams have home games at Southwest Athletic Complex (2801 SW Thistle) – baseball vs. Nathan Hale and softball vs. Rainier Beach, both at 4 pm. West Seattle High School‘s varsity baseball team has two on-peninsula games as well – 3:30 pm baseball at Hiawatha (2700 California SW) vs. Ballard, 3:30 pm softball at SWAC, also vs. Ballard.
GAME NIGHT AT CORNER BAR: It’s Game Night at this month’s edition of Corner Bar at Highland Park Improvement Club, 6 pm, full details here. (12th/Holden)
BIN 41 TURNS 5: 6-7:30 pm, the weekly wine tasting at Bin 41 celebrates the Junction wine shop’s fifth anniversary. Local winemaker Darby English is in the spotlight. (4707 California SW)
‘PAJAMA GAME’ AT WSHS: 7:30 pm curtain for the West Seattle High School Drama Club production at the WSHS Theater. (3000 California SW)
PASSOVER & GOOD FRIDAY: For Good Friday services, check local churches’ schedules, linked from our WSB Easter & More page. Meantime, Passover begins at sundown tonight. (You can always find sunset/sunrise times on the WSB West Seattle Weather page.) No public events that we know of.
From the WSB Easter & More page – one more reminder of what’s ahead this weekend:
(WSB photo: 2013 Thriftway egg hunt)
SATURDAY: Egg-hunt action starts at 9 am inside West Seattle Thriftway (WSB sponsor), continuing at 10 am at four city-run community centers; that’s just the start – see the page for the complete list.
SUNDAY: Several local churches promise egg hunts post-Easter service, including WSB sponsors Tibbetts United Methodist Church and All Souls. In the afternoon, Admiral UCC is having an Easter festival for families.
(More than 20 churches’ Easter/Holy Week schedules are linked, plus the Easter sunrise services at Forest Lawn [WSB sponsor] and on Alki Beach; last call to add anything we’re missing – editor@westseattleblog.com – thank you!)
(Four WS-relevant views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
Not only is it a quiet commute in our area, it’s uneventful regionally, so far, per WSDOT’s traffic-watchers.
EARLY DISMISSAL: Watch for extra walking, bicycling, and school buses at midday today – local parochial schools are out at noon and off next week for Easter Break. (Seattle Public Schools‘ spring break is one week later.)
8 AM – REMINDER FOR NEXT WEEK: As reported in our 47th/Admiral project update Wednesday night, SW Waite on the north side of that intersection will be closed to through traffic next Monday-Friday. Here’s the newest reminder from SDOT.
7:05 AM: Police and fire are headed for the 8100 block of 9th SW. The call is “assault with weapons”; the initial reports are that someone has a gunshot wound, possibly self-inflicted. We’re headed over to find out.
7:08 AM: Per scanner, most of the SFD units are being canceled, but they’re calling for a chaplain.
7:32 AM: Police cars were visible at the scene, but the officers were in the house and unavailable to talk to. A reminder in the meantime … the local 24-hour hotline from the Crisis Clinic: 206-461-3222.
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