West Seattle, Washington
29 Friday
(Four WS-relevant views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
6:21 AM: Good morning! Quiet in the early going as we start the week leading up to the three-day 4th of July holiday weekend. We’ll take a closer look at holiday changes as the week proceeds, but, for example, if you’re working Friday (July 3rd), keep in mind that Metro will be on a Sunday schedule that day.
8:41 AM: It’s been a very quiet commute, at least in our area. Our occasional reminder: If you see something along the way that might affect how people are getting around, please let us know, when you can do so safely/legally (if you’re commuting solo, a text or call when you get to your destination, for example) – 206-293-6302 is our around-the-clock hotline – we monitor a variety of sources and yet sometimes an incident of significance doesn’t show up in those channels, and one call/tip makes a difference. Thank you!
2:44 PM: Thanks to Sam for sharing info about this in comments, saying it’s affecting the bottom of Admiral too:
Substance spill in center lane of EB West Seattle Bridge from Avalon to mid-span. Crews are en route. Use caution. pic.twitter.com/uzmSSKowVA
— seattledot (@seattledot) June 29, 2015
We’ll be heading over to check, and will also watch for updates from SDOT.
3:51 PM: Our crew checked and didn’t spot any sign of trouble, at least at the Admiral/Avalon surface under the bridge. No update from SDOT re: bridge surface itself.
Three months ago, we published a link to the West Seattle Transportation Coalition‘s survey about parking – whether you use it, where you use it, do you park on the street even if you have offstreet parking available where you live, and a variety of other questions. WSTC has finally crunched the numbers and published the results, from more than 900 responses. See them here. Among many points of interest, the WSTC reports, “7% of renters [said they] have no cars, compared to 2.6% of home owners,” and a nearly identical percentage of respondents in both categories said they kept their primary vehicle in offstreet parking – 76 percent owners, 74 percent renters. 76 percent of the respondents, meantime, said they live within 10 minutes of a bus stop, though various other responses suggest that proximity alone isn’t enough to make them full-time bus riders.
By Megan Sheppard
On the WSBeat, for West Seattle Blog
This edition of our periodic feature The WSBeat contains summaries written from reports on cases handled recently by Southwest Precinct officers – generally cases that (usually) have not already appeared here in breaking-news coverage or West Seattle Crime Watch reports, but that might at least answer the question “what WERE all those police doing on my block?” Or on the bridge, or the beach, or …
*Thursday afternoon, a man in a silver Audi drove erratically on Delridge — so oddly that a female driver pulled over to let him pass. Instead, he pulled up behind her, got out of his car with a black handgun, pointed it at her and said, “I’ll blow your head off!” She hit the gas and he kept following, pulling alongside her in the 5400 block of Delridge, yelling and waving the gun. (At times during this incident, the man was described as wearing a skull mask.) When he saw her talking into a phone he suddenly broke off his chase, driving off southbound on Delridge. The license plate allowed officers to identify the driver, whose non-masked description matches the vehicle’s owner–a twenty-year-old Westwood-area resident. He is at large.
*Also on Thursday, a tow truck (with a company logo) showed up in the 5100 block of 47th early Thursday, and one of two men inside jumped out and started a car on the street…not with a key, but with a screwdriver. A citizen saw this and confronted the pair, who claimed to have permission to take the vehicle, which belonged to an elderly gentleman in the neighborhood. Suspicious, she called 911. Officers first called the towing company, and the person who answered the phone denied that the vehicle was on their lot. Officers found differently when they arrived at the business and saw the car in question on a flatbed truck. The two men at the scene told some convoluted stories “that made no sense,” according to the officer’s report. Upon running their names, officers found that one had a felony escape warrant from the Department of Corrections. (He was also carrying a gram of heroin.) This man, a North Admiral resident, was booked for the warrant, and for investigation of vehicle theft and drug possession. The other man, who claimed he had been duped into towing the car by the arrestee, was released at the scene.
Four more summaries ahead: Read More
Less than two weeks now until the biggest event of the year in West Seattle – Summer Fest, happening in The Junction Friday-Sunday, July 10-12. If you’re not already part of it as a vendor or volunteer, here’s a chance to help make it happen: Tamsen Spengler from West Seattle Timebank says not only can her group use some of your time, the sustainability expo GreenLife – where WST and other organizations will be headquartered – has volunteer openings too. Go here to find out how to pitch in.
(WSB photos)
3-5 pm today, as noted in our West Seattle Sunday preview, the doors swing open at a West Seattle home with history – the North Admiral house built by J.E. “Daddy” Standley, founder of Ye Olde Curiosity Shop on the downtown waterfront. It’s this year’s “If These Walls Could Talk” tour presented by and benefiting the Southwest Seattle Historical Society. We took a quick peek inside during the noontime VIP presentation – getting a sense of the home’s “then and now”:
The “then and now” aspects are also underscored by this group – 90-year-old Joe James, grandson of “Daddy” Standley, and Katy Walum, whose family has owned the house for a decade – kids Olivia and Henry are growing up there:
As befitting a mellow Sunday afternoon, we found music, courtesy of The Ukes:
No advance reservations/tickets required – just get over to 1750 Palm SW between 3 and 5 pm; tour admission is $10 SWSHS members, $15 nonmembers. And if you’re not sure why the house was such a traffic-stopper in its day – read about it here!
With the Pride Parade happening downtown today, it’s a good time for a reminder that the heart of West Seattle parade season is almost here – the two biggest parades of the year are happening on two of the next three Saturdays:
*4TH OF JULY KIDS’ PARADE: Bring the kids, bring the parents, bring the grandparents, bring the pet(s) … and BRING DIAPERS for WestSide Baby! This Independence Day tradition starts at 10 am next Saturday on the 4th – just show up at 44th/Sunset (map) in North Admiral to be part of the 21st annual parade, which winds along a few neighborhood streets before heading eastbound across California and ending at Hamilton Viewpoint Park, for festivities including sack racing – a great way to start the holiday. Show up as red-white-and-blue as you can!
The Kids’ Parade is coordinated again this year by Jackie Clough from Alki Party Treasures (WSB sponsor). Bring a few bucks to buy treats from the Admiral Neighborhood Association at the park.
*WEST SEATTLE GRAND PARADE: Saturday, July 18th, starting around 11 am at California/Lander and continuing south to California/Edmunds – find a spot anywhere along the way (although do note there’s a lot of construction south of Admiral, so a few blocks are out of commission for parade-watching). Besides the annual favorites from motorcycle drill teams to marching bands to the Hi-Yu float, you never know who you’ll see:
The Rotary Club of West Seattle presents the parade, along with the 11 am “Kiddie Parade” that precedes it in The Junction (show up at Genesee/California to be part of that!).
This Tuesday in West Seattle, you’re invited to an open house about the Duwamish River watershed – the next step in an umbrella strategy announced by the county and city last year. Here’s the invitation:
People with an interest in enhancing and revitalizing the Green/Duwamish Watershed are invited to share their ideas at a series of upcoming open houses hosted by King County, City of Seattle and the University of Washington’s Green Futures Lab.
King County, the City of Seattle and the University of Washington’s Green Futures Lab seek input on a strategy to create a healthy, prosperous future in the Green/Duwamish Watershed.
Public participation is vital. It will lead to greater understanding of current projects, priorities and plans in the watershed. Input will also help foster development of a framework to support better outcomes for local cities, forests, farms, rivers, diverse communities, and Washington State’s industrial core. The focus of the strategy is protecting, preserving and enhancing the watershed’s air, land and water.
Each meeting will focus on a specific section of the watershed. Meetings take place from 5 to 7 p.m. (The first one is the only one in West Seattle, as follows:)
Tuesday, June 30
Duwamish River and Nearshore Communities
Camp Long (West Seattle)
Environmental Learning Center – Main Hall
5200 35th Ave SWShort presentations at 5:30 and 6:30 p.m. will ensure everyone gets an overview of this exciting opportunity. Participants will be able to visit several information stations, and meet one-on-one with strategy representatives to ask questions and share feedback:
· What priorities are not currently represented in our maps and fact sheets?
· What are aspirations for the Green/Duwamish Watershed communities?
· What are the threats to healthy air, water, land and people in the Watershed?
· Where and what are the opportunities for the Green/Duwamish Watershed Strategy to create a robust, connected open space system?
For more backstory, check out this page on the county website.
(Alki Point Lighthouse, by Long Bach Nguyen)
The beautiful lighthouse is just one place you can go today for summer Sunday fun. From the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
FARMERS’ MARKET IN THE STREET, WITH COOKING DEMO: 10 am-2 pm, it’s the third week of the West Seattle Farmers’ Market‘s new location in the street, and to celebrate, local author Amy Pennington is preparing recipes from her new cookbook “Fresh Pantry,” 11 am-12:30 pm. (California SW between Oregon and Alaska)
STAYING COOL – WADING POOL & SPRAYPARK: Second day of the season for the Lincoln Park wading pool (8011 Fauntleroy Way SW), 11 am-8 pm, and you can visit the Highland Park spraypark (1100 SW Cloverdale) those same hours.
FAREWELL PARTY: As reported here last month, Holy Rosary Church is saying farewell to longtime pastor Father John Madigan. The party starts today after 10:30 am Mass. (42nd/Genesee)
DUWAMISH NATIVE FOODS, NOW AND THEN: Noon-4 pm at the Duwamish Tribe Longhouse, free, including shared meal at 3 pm – learn about edible beach plants. Details here. (4705 W. Marginal Way SW)
ALKI POINT LIGHTHOUSE TOURS: 1-4 pm, free tours with U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary volunteers. (3201 Alki SW)
‘IF THESE WALLS COULD TALK’ HOME TOUR WITH SWSHS: Tour the 109-year-old home of Joseph Standley, founder of Ye Olde Curiosity Shop, 3-5 pm, with the Southwest Seattle Historical Society – $10 members, $15 nonmembers at the door. Park on the street or one block away at Admiral Congregational Church. More info on the SWSHS website. (1750 Palm SW)
LIVE MUSIC AT C & P: Roma Ransom performs at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor), 3-5 pm. (5612 California SW)
IVORY & GOLD AT KENYON HALL: 7:30 pm, this acclaimed musical duo is back. So are artisanal root-beer floats and ice-cold lemonade, if you’re worried about the heat in historic Kenyon Hall. (7904 35th SW)
Carolyn shared that photo via the WSB Facebook page and wondered what was happening; we just went over to find out. A dozen or so people are camped out on the sidewalk east of Seacrest for the second-to-last in a series of “educational sleepouts” organized by the homelessness advocacy/shelter-operating organization SHARE/WHEEL. According to the flyer they gave us, the location for this one was chosen because they think that some of the money the county is spending on the Water Taxi – which was finishing its late-night runs when we stopped by – should go to SHARE instead, to help pay for shelter operations, which they say were affected by a county budget cut. The group has had “sleepout” protests before, including one we covered in 2009 outside then-Mayor Greg Nickels’ house in North Admiral. Its final sleepout in this series is Monday night in Georgetown; details are on the SHARE/WHEEL website. They told us they’ll be on the sidewalk by Seacrest until about 9 am tomorrow.
(WSB photos by Patrick Sand unless otherwise credited)
So how do pirates wind up with the key to the city? Particularly pirates who storm ashore with a roar – and a trident?
(Photo by David Hutchinson)
All in a day’s work – make that, a day’s plunder – as the Seafair Pirates sailed through an armada of onlookers on the water and on the shore at Alki Beach this afternoon, amid a haze of cannon smoke:
Once a few shots were fired at sea, not much resistance – in fact, it was Mayor Ed Murray (former Alki resident) himself who handed over the key:
We did glimpse a dagger here and there:
More in evidence: Stickers:
Perhaps that helped draw in the youngest pirate recruits:
Others were in danger of being spirited away when the Pirates made their landlubbing escape via Moby Duck:
But we have it on good authority that the West Seattle Hi-Yu royalty and Miss Seafair are safe:
Same goes for this year’s Miss Seafair contenders, last seen taking refuge in the Alki Bathhouse:
That’s Lorelei McFadden, last year’s West Seattle Hi-Yu Senior Queen, second from right in the back row. We’ll find out on Seafair Torchlight Parade night in four weeks who wins. Meantime, today, it seemed as if everyone won:
If you don’t recognize that scalawag – it’s Oliver Little, event manager extraordinaire, who not only wrangled this 66th annual Seafair Pirates Landing, but also will be making things happen as tens of thousands storm The Junction for West Seattle Summer Fest July 10-11-12. As for the Pirates:
Last seen off to scowl and saunter elsewhere – but they’ll return to West Seattle for the Grand Parade three weeks from today, 11 am Saturday, July 18th – more on that as we get closer.
That quick video is a pitch from Cal Prinster, who you’ve probably seen here before – dating back to 2011, when he and dad Gordon Prinster finished a 1,732-mile West Coast bicycle ride, raising money for the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation along the way. The year after that, they rode cross-country. And today, we learned they’re about to head out on a ride to Austin, Texas, as Cal explains in the clip – he’s now a sophomore at West Seattle High School, where his dad is the school psychologist. Gordon’s wife Bernadette Brown says, “While it’s shorter than their ride to NYC, it’s going to be a challenging one with two mountain ranges and ridiculous heat.” If you’re inspired to donate to PBTF, you can do that online, here – as they say on that page, “Now, we know we’ve hit you up a few times over the years, so you might have a touch of ‘solicitation fatigue,’ but we also know there’s no better cause to support. No, nobody in our family is sick. But there are plenty of kids who do need our help. Every day, 13 more kids in the US will be diagnosed with a brain tumor. By supporting the PBTF, we can help give these kids hope for a brighter future!”
(SWSHS photo: Matt Schilling, son of Alki Homestead owner Dennis Schilling, finishing the sign)
Walking toward Alki Beach along 61st SW this afternoon, past the early-stage-renovation-under-way Alki Homestead/Fir Lodge, we noticed that sign, and maybe you did too. Clay Eals of the Southwest Seattle Historical Society shared the photo and this explanation/announcement:
Now that restoration work has begun on the city-landmark Fir Lodge/Alki Homestead, a procedure has been established for parking during construction work that will transpire over the next year or two.
The Southwest Seattle Historical Society holds an easement for use of the Homestead parking lot. Thus, visitors to the organization’s “Birthplace of Seattle” Log House Museum can park free in the Homestead lot during the museum’s open hours of noon to 4 p.m. Thursday through Sunday. Access is via the alley behind the Homestead lot.
Immediately upon parking in the lot during the open hours, a museum visitor must obtain a parking pass at the museum and return to his or her car and place the pass on the dashboard.
Staff and volunteers of the organization also can park in the Homestead lot during open hours and at other times by displaying a permanent parking pass.
The lot also is available to the general public seeking to park for non-museum purposes. Those seeking parking in the Alki area can park in the Homestead lot for a fee of $10/day.
The funds, which will go to Homestead owner Dennis Schilling, are collected in a locked honor box at the parking lot. Signs posted at the lot explain the procedure and fee.
Spaces will be designated for museum parking (and moved, as needed, to accommodate construction vehicles) so that no matter how many spaces are filled by those who pay for parking, there will be spaces available for museum parking during open hours.
The Homestead parking lot sits one-half block north of the museum. Access to the lot is via the alley behind 61st Avenue SW, between Alki Avenue SW and SW Stevens Street. (The alley entrance from Alki Avenue is between Starbucks and Top Pot Doughnuts.)
More Homestead restoration info, including the new parking policy, is on the SWSHS website.
1:32 PM: In case you’re not already at the beach but were wondering – no, the Seafair Pirates have *not* yet landed. Today’s schedule suggested we’ll see them around 2:15 pm; already a big crowd, and of course, the Pirates’ landlubbing getaway vessel vehicle, the Moby Duck, currently in use (top photo) as a photo-op backdrop.
More vendors than we recall seeing in previous years, plus live music, bouncy toys for kids (ticket purchase required), lots to see and do, both west and east of the Alki Bathhouse (at 60th/Alki – and we can attest to parking being maxed out for at least half a mile in all directions).
1:49 PM: We’re told the Pirates are about 10 minutes out; meantime at the stage, emcees are rounding up kids for a “pirate contest.” Next update, when they arrive.
Here they be! pic.twitter.com/u1USC5LMFa
— West Seattle Blog (@westseattleblog) June 27, 2015
2:05 PM: The Pirates landed about 10 minutes ago, if you’re keeping score. After multiple rounds of cannon fire, Global Diving and Salvage’s Prudhoe Bay brought them to the beach, and suddenly they were mobbed.
ADDED 3:46 PM: Adding a few more photos before we move on to other news, and then we’ll have a big treasure chest of pix in Report #2 later. Above and below, photos by Gary Jones, including the mayor giving the Pirates the key to the city (or did they seize it?):
Gary also noted a pirate-pet-quality bird in attendance:
More later!
(1st four photos by WSB’s Patrick Sand)
It’s opening day for the newest shop in The Junction, Thunder Road Guitars (WSB sponsor) at 4736 California SW. And proprietor Frank Gross tells us he’s “ecstatic.”
As first reported here in May, Thunder Road is making the move from a storefront about a mile north, where it was “busting at the seams” after two and a half successful years – the business started online in 2011. Biggest thing about the new shop is, in fact, its bigness – tripling the square footage, 2,500 feet now, up from 800 sf before. That means more instruments – about 200 on hand at any time – but also more services and partnerships. Another West Seattleite, Chad Beeler of The Bass Shop and Bass EFX, is now partnering with Thunder Road:
Also new: TRG will be offering lessons starting next month (there’s studio space in the back) – watch for more on that soon. In the meantime, even if you’re not a musician, it’s fun to browse the selection of fine vintage and used guitars – acoustic as well as electric – and other instruments and equipment, including amps.
Thunder Road has new hours as it launches the new storefront – there today 10-6, which is the Tuesday-Saturday schedule; on Sundays, when you might want to stop in as a side trip while at the West Seattle Farmers’ Market in the next block to the north, they’re open 11 am-4 pm. And you can’t miss the sign:
(Thanks to Michael for this photo!)
Besides visiting in person, check in online – on the Web. TRG is also fun to follow on Instagram, for the regular “Today’s Catch” feature.
(Cabbage butterfly, photographed by Danny McMillin, shared via the WSB Flickr group)
First full weekend of summer begins – highlighted today by the Seafair Pirates – and hot weather – keep cool, stay hydrated, and have fun!
TAI CHI ON THE BEACH: 9 am free class, all levels welcome, including beginners – details in our calendar listing.
SEAFAIR PIRATES LANDING: All-day festival on Alki Beach near the Bathhouse, 10 am-6 pm, but event management tells us the Seafair Pirates themselves will land on West Seattle’s shore later than usual, around 2:15 pm. First band at 11 am – see the schedule here; activities also include bouncy toys for kids, vendors, more. (60th/Alki)
NO POLE VAULTING, THOUGH: Here’s why you WON’T see the longrunning semi-companion event at Alki today.
THUNDER ROAD GUITARS OPENS ITS NEW JUNCTION LOCATION: Less than two months after announcing its move to a new Junction location, it’s opening day for Thunder Road Guitars (WSB sponsor) – you can come see for yourself 10 am-6 pm. (4736 California SW)
BENEFIT CAR WASH: The West Seattle High School volleyball team is washing cars by donation today, 10 am-3 pm – details in our calendar listing – at Les Schwab. (Alaska/Fauntleroy)
WADING POOL SEASON STARTS: 11 am-8 pm, first day for the Lincoln Park wading pool, first one to open in West Seattle; it’ll be open those same hours every day (unless temps are below 70 degrees) for the rest of the summer. (8011 Fauntleroy Way SW)
OTHER PLACES TO GET INTO THE WATER, OUTDOORS: 11 am-8 pm, Highland Park Spraypark is open (1100 SW Cloverdale); noon-7 pm, Colman Pool is open for swim sessions on the shore at Lincoln Park.
FIELD DAY: 11 am today through 11 am Sunday, amateur-radio operators are set up on the south side of the South Seattle College (WSB sponsor) campus, and you’re invited to visit, watch, and learn, as previewed here. (6000 16th SW)
KIDS’ STORY TIME AT CHACO CANYON: Author Alexis St. John will read to kids 11:30 am-noon at Chaco Canyon Organic Café. Free! (38th/Alaska)
CATS AWAITING FOREVER HOMES: Weekend adoption event at Kitty Harbor, noon-5 pm. (3422 Harbor SW)
LOG HOUSE MUSEUM: Noon-4 pm, regular hours at the home of West Seattle’s history – side trip while you’re at Alki for the Pirates, perhaps? (61st/Stevens)
ALKI POINT LIGHTHOUSE TOURS: Another Alki side trip – 1 pm-4 pm, join U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary volunteers at the historic lighthouse on Alki Point. Free! (3201 Alki SW)
MODE MUSIC STUDIOS SUMMER-CAMP RECITAL: 5-7 pm at The Skylark, you’ll hear musicians from Mode Music Studios (WSB sponsor) next door – free all-ages show! (3803 Delridge Way SW)
NIGHTLIFE LISTINGS … see them on the calendar page.
Two updates tonight on the future of the Port of Seattle’s Terminal 5 in northeastern West Seattle:
(December 2014 photo by Long Bach Nguyen)
GETTING RID OF THE CRANES: After the port closed the terminal, separate from interim leasing including the Foss/Shell use, it announced plans to sell the six cranes on the site, saying they had been appraised as worth $3.75 million. Ten months later, no buyer(s) have surfaced, so the port wants to pay someone an estimated $4.6 million to take away the six T-5 cranes and one at Terminal 46 on the downtown waterfront. From a briefing paper accompanying last Tuesday’s Port Commission meeting agenda:
Cranes No. 61, 62, 63, 64, 66, and 68 are located at Terminal 5. They were purchased from PACECO Corporation and are classified as post-panamax cranes having a gauge of 100 feet and a lifting capacity of 50 long tons. Crane 54 is located on Terminal 46 and is an IHI crane classified as a panamax having a capacity of 40 long tons and a gauge of 50 feet.
Port staff advertised the cranes in trade journals, contacted used equipment dealers, and reached out to other ports, but received limited interest and no offers. Unfortunately, there are a number of used cranes similar to the PACECOs on the market with very few buyers. There is no market for the IHI crane and it has been inactive since 2008. The result is the Port will have to issue a major public-works contract to have the cranes removed from the terminals.
And that has to be done fast, the port says, because some demolition work is planned at T-5 “in early 2016.” Port spokesperson Peter McGraw tells WSB a final decision is expected at the July 14th commission meeting; this week, along with this briefing, he says commissioners ratified a cost increase in a separate contract to remove three cranes at Terminal 18, which will now cost $1.8 million.
COMMENT TIME FOR MODERNIZATION PLAN: Another public-comment period is now open for the modernization work itself, according to this notice published in the city’s most-recent Land Use Information Bulletin, which summarizes the project as:
Shoreline Substantial Development Application to allow improvements to existing container cargo facility (Terminal 5). Project includes removal and replacement of portions of pier structure, including crane rails, decking and piling, dredging of approximately 29,800 cu. yds. of sediment, and under pier shoreline stabilization. Project also includes installation of an electrical substation and utility upgrades.
You can use this form to send a comment to the city Department of Planning and Development; the deadline is July 24th. You can find what’s been filed with the city by going here and putting 3019071 in the “project number” search box on the left side.
6:39 PM: As the temperature headed up into the upper 80s today … the Lincoln Park wading pool remained empty. But today is the last day you’ll find it that way – tomorrow is opening day! It’s in the upper north-central park and scheduled to be open 11 am-8 pm daily starting Saturday, unless the weather’s below 70 degrees. Also from the citywide wading-pool/spraypark schedule, the Delridge wading pool (Delridge/Genesee) is the next to open (Monday, 4-day-a-week schedule); Wednesday is the first day for E.C. Hughes (2805 SW Holden) and Hiawatha (Walnut/Lander). Of course, you can already take the kids to Highland Park Spraypark (1100 SW Cloverdale) every day, 11 am-8 pm – it’s been open for five weeks!
9:42 PM: National Weather Service says today’s high was 89, not a record, but:
However, it is noteworthy to mention that today was the 9th of 80+ degrees this month in Seattle. That is good for 2nd place on the list of occurrences of 80+ degrees in June. It’s all but a foregone conclusion that we will see day 10 tomorrow which would tie the all-time record of 80+ degree days in June. On Sunday, we’re likely to reach new territory with day 11…something that has never happened in 70 years of records at Sea-Tac airport.
From the agenda for next Monday’s City Council meeting, that’s a revised summary of what the proposed $930 million Move Seattle transportation levy would go toward – mostly in generalities, though the Fauntleroy Boulevard project is mentioned by name. The full council votes Monday on whether to send it to the November ballot, after its committee approval this week (including rejection of a suggestion to mix up the funding – which will remain 100 percent property tax). Meantime, the West Seattle Transportation Coalition is wondering what YOU think of the levy, and launched a two-question survey today to find out. Go here to take it.
Thanks to Dave Brewer for the photo – the lights have arrived at the 47th/Admiral/Waite project; in the update we published on Monday, SDOT had said they were expecting delivery by the end of the week. Don’t expect to see them in operation immediately, though – testing/configuration is expected to take a while.
Two days ago, we reported on a petition drive in which community advocates in two areas of urban unincorporated King County, including North Highline (White Center and vicinity), asked for an emergency ban on fireworks. County leaders said they don’t have the authority to do anything immediate, but the state does; we finally got a chance today to inquire with the State Fire Marshal’s Office. Deputy Fire Marshal Lysandra Davis replied, saying that only the governor has that authority, but that calling for one isn’t warranted right now. Here’s the entire reply:
Our office has received numerous inquiries on this matter, and we value and appreciate each and every one.
Because Washington is a Home Rule State, legislative authority to limit or prohibit the sale, purchase, possession, and/or use of consumer fireworks is only granted to city, municipal, and county governments. However, any ordinance adopted by a county or city has an effective date no sooner than one year after its adoption, per RCW 70.77.250 (4). Because State Fireworks Law does not provide the SFMO or any other local jurisdiction/agency the authority to temporarily ban
fireworks, even on an emergency basis, it is unlawful to do so.The only person with the authority to issue a temporary ban on fireworks sales/usage is Governor Jay Inslee. This would be done through a State of Emergency Proclamation which normally prohibits activities that the Governor reasonably believes should be prohibited to help preserve and maintain life, health, property or public peace. In the past, when emergency proclamations have been issued during heavy wildland fires (usually occurring mid-July to August), fireworks usage and sales were already prohibited by State Fireworks Law.
The current burn ban that is in effect only applies to state forests, state parks and forestlands under Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) fire protection, including Department of Fish and Wildlife lands; it does not include cities, municipalities and/or counties. This ban prohibits outdoor burning and fireworks and incendiary devices (which are never legal on DNR-protected forestlands).
While these drought conditions we are facing may be unprecedented, there is not a current statewide fire emergency that would warrant the Governor to declare a State ban on fireworks.
What I can assure you of is that the State Fire Marshal’s Office is committed to promoting fire safety and injury prevention year round with our Celebrate Safely and Legally campaign — emphasizing “personal responsibility,” especially during these extremely dry weather conditions.
Fireworks are illegal in Seattle, but will be on sale, legally, in unincorporated King County starting this Sunday, where the law allows their use 9 am-midnight on July 4th.
New local crime-trend info today from the latest semi-weekly SeaStat briefing at HQ – all in this slide deck just published via the SPD website. SeaStat does not spotlight all precincts at every briefing, but this time our area was featured on three slides:
MAJOR CRIME CATEGORIES: First slide from the Southwest Precinct (West Seattle and South Park) showed the year-to-date changes in all major-crime categories. (The screengrab is too small/blurry to read in our format, so we’re summarizing, but again, you can see it firsthand here.) First, the increases:
*Aggravated assault, non-domestic-violence: Up 21 percent, 51 incidents YTD compared to 42 a year earlier
*Burglary, non-residential: Up 15 percent, 70 incidents YTD compared to 61 a year earlier
*Robbery: Up 12 percent, 64 incidents YTD compared to 57 a year earlier
*Motor-vehicle theft: Up 7 percent, 245 incidents YTD compared to 230 a year earlier
*Residential burglary: Up 5 percent, 228 incidents YTD compared to 217 a year earlier
*Car prowls: Up 4 percent, 438 incidents YTD compared to 420 a year earlier
*Larceny/theft: Up 4 percent, 479 incidents YTD compared to 459 a year earlier
One other category with an increase is homicide – 1 this year, 0 last year. (This year’s case was in South Park; West Seattle’s last homicide was in December 2013.)
Next, the decreases:
*Aggravated assault, domestic violence: Down 34 percent, 33 incidents YTD, 50 a year earlier
*Rape: Down 13 percent, 7 incidents YTD, 8 a year earlier
POSSIBLE HIGHLAND PARK BURGLARY PATTERN: This also was featured in the SeaStat deck – 8 break-ins between mid-May and mid-June:
You can take a closer look at those incidents via the SPD Police Report map – use the controls at left to choose the same time period, starting May 19th, and to select only burglaries; then click on any location to get the vicinity and date/time, plus report narrative if available.
NORTH ADMIRAL CAR PROWLS, PRE-ARREST: This slide illustrated a point police often make – repeat offenders are often responsible for a sizable number of incidents. This series preceded the June 12th arrest covered here and here – the case of the construction workers who tackled a juvenile car-prowl suspect (with one getting bitten for his trouble):
Since the suspect is a juvenile, information on his current status is not easy to come by, but we’re doing our best to find out.
CRIME-PREVENTION ADVICE: Also today – helpful information from SW/South Precincts Crime Prevention Coordinator Mark Solomon – the topics are window safety and graffiti vandalism:
Just in from Seattle Parks (we’ve truncated the location list to show West Seattle fields only – see the full list here):
Seattle Parks and Recreation will turn on field lighting on ballfields throughout the city on the evenings of Friday, July 3, and Saturday, July 4, to protect the surfaces. The ballfield lights will be turned on at 8:45 p.m. and will be turned off at either 10 p.m. or 11 p.m., depending on the field.
The lights will be turned on to discourage the use of fireworks. Fireworks are illegal in the city of Seattle and will destroy the artificial turf on the fields or surrounding facilities. The approximate replacement cost for the synthetic surface based on per average full-size field (110,000 square feet) is $1.2 million. All the fields have been renovated in the past several years and benefit field users including players of soccer, football, baseball, Ultimate Frisbee and lacrosse.
The fields will be monitored by security from 9 p.m. to 4 a.m.
Lights at the following fields will be turned off at 11 p.m.:
· Delridge Playfield, 4458 Delridge Way SW
· Hiawatha Playfield, 2700 California Ave. SW
· Walt Hundley Playfield, 6920 34th Avenue SW
One day ahead of their official landing (WSB preview here with Saturday’s updated event schedule), some Seafair Pirates were spotted doing a little advance work on Alki Beach this morning – thanks to Don Brubeck for capturing the photo while riding by at 7:40 am. But before we get to tomorrow and the landing – here are highlights for the rest of today/tonight, from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
FREE SOUP-AND-SANDWICH LUNCH: Monthly event at Seaview United Methodist Church, 11:30 am-1:30 pm, all welcome. (4620 SW Graham)
GIVE THE GIFT OF LIFE: With the 4th of July approaching, the local blood bank needs donations more than ever, and the Bloodmobile‘s visit to Admiral Safeway 1-7 pm today (closed for a break 3-4 pm) is a chance to help without leaving the peninsula. (2622 California SW)
WEST SIDE MUSIC ACADEMY SUMMER CAMP RECITAL: 5-7 pm, free and all ages; come hear young musicians from the West Side Music Academy (WSB sponsor) summer camp at The Skylark. (3803 Delridge Way SW)
WINE BY THE GLASS AT BIN 41: The Junction wine shop Bin 41 is officially launching “by the glass” wine service with a 5-8 pm kickoff fundraiser tonight, benefiting Forgotten Dogs Rescue, not only to support its rescue work but also in honor of a senior rescue dog that Bin 41’s proprietors recently cared for until a serious illness cut her life short. Tonight through Sunday, Bin 41 will donate $2 from every 5-ounce glass pour and 10 percent from retail bottle purchases. They also note that the shop is now separated into “by the glass” and “retail” areas; the former, which is for 21+ customers only, is the one closest to the sidewalk, while the all-ages entry is further down the hall. (4707 California SW)
RAINBOW BINGO: Doors open at 6 at the Senior Center of West Seattle. Tonight’s theme, “Viva Las Vegas” – details in our calendar listing – check ASAP to see if reservations are still available! (Oregon/California)
CYGNE AT C & P: 7-9 pm, live music with Cygne at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor) – cygnemusic.com for more info. (5612 California SW)
MOVIES IN THE PARK: West Seattle Church of the Nazarene‘s outdoor movies start tonight with “Big Hero 6” at dusk (9 pm-ish). More info in our listing. “The park” is just south of the church. (42nd/Juneau)
MORE, AS USUAL … on the calendar.
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