West Seattle, Washington
12 Monday
10:11 PM: If you’re heading back this way, southbound, sometime soon – you’ll want to avoid I-5. A crash on southbound I-5 by the West Seattle Bridge is blocking all lanes, with rescuers working to get people out of vehicles and at least five people hurt. We can’t quite tell if it’s affecting the exit from the eastbound bridge but it is definitely backing up southbound I-5 from some point north of the bridge. More to come.
10:31 PM: The image above is from earlier, when the WSDOT camera was showing the scene more closely. You can check the “live” camera here.
10:46 PM: Still blocking SB I-5 – SFD says one person has serious injuries and four have minor injuries – and the traffic snarl is compounded now that the Mariners’ game is over. And just in from the State Patrol:
Troopers continue to investigate a 7 vehicle, injury collision SB I-5/Spokane St. All lanes remain closed. Unknown ETA for opening.
— Trooper Chris Webb (@wspd2pio) October 3, 2015
11:03 PM: SFD has cleared the scene and WSDOT says some traffic is now getting through:
Update: Two lanes of traffic are now open SB I-5 at the W. Sea Bridge following earlier multi-vehicle collision.
— WSDOT Traffic (@wsdot_traffic) October 3, 2015
12:32 AM: WSP and WSDOT report the freeway’s clear again. No life-threatening injuries, per WSP.
(WSB photo, August 2014)
That volunteer work party more than a year ago was one of many events along Pathfinder K-8‘s path to its new playground … which is now about to officially open. The Pathfinder PTSA has announced a community celebration for next Thursday afternoon:
Please join us in celebrating our community’s accomplishment and to show appreciation to those who helped make this project possible. Event includes accolades, ice cream and of course, kids demonstrating how to enjoy the new playground!
Thursday, October 8 – 3:30-4:30 pm
Questions to: pathfinderplayground2014@gmail.com
The school is at 1901 SW Genesee. Much of the journey to making this a reality – volunteer work, construction, fundraising, sneak previews – is chronicled on the project website.
Fridays just lend themselves to roundups. Notes from and about local businesses:
(Photo courtesy Parliament Tavern)
PARLIAMENT TAVERN OFFICIALLY OPEN: After a few weeks in “soft open” mode, the new establishment at 4210 SW Admiral Way is now officially open, proprietor Tom Langen tells WSB. 21+, full bar with 17 beers on draft that “will lean heavily on the great stuff brewed locally,” plus “a smallish menu featuring fancy grilled cheese sandwiches that will hopefully knock socks off!” Live music “from time to time” (first show October 10th), DJs some nights (tonight: “WS legend Kingblind”), and Tuesday quiz nights starting October 13th. By the way, if you didn’t know (we must confess we didn’t), the name has nothing to do with government … but rather, their mascots (above). Tom explains, “A group of owls is called a parliament, like a gaggle of geese, murder of crows, etc.. The idea for this spot is a neighborhood evening hangout, for night owls if you will. The one great thing about this old, old space is the high ceilings and the dark-stained fir panels on the upper half of the walls that give it a woodsy feel. Tried to bring that out with paint and light, and threw in a bunch of owls hanging around to give it a ‘thing’. They are most certainly fascinating creatures, beautiful, mysterious, and everyone has a reaction to them in some way. Almost always positive!” Hours: 4 pm to 2a m weekdays, 12 pm to 2 am weekends.
ADMIRAL BIRD’S NEW MENU: Steps from the Parliament, Admiral Bird at California & Admiral has just launched a new menu “focusing on waffles,” per the announcement: “We have three varieties: Belgian, gluten-free Sweet Potato, and a vegan GF Cornbread batter. We are now a Waffle Bar, keeping all of our popular breakfast sandwiches and taking our weekend waffles to a daily availability.” See the menu for more details.
ENDOLYNE JOE’S NEW MENU: Last weekend for the Cuban “festival menu” at Endolyne Joe’s, which will debut the “Little Italy/Providence, RI” menu on Wednesday. These special menus are in addition to their year-round specialties. (9261 45th SW; WSB sponsor)
CURVES CLOSED: Noticed while driving by that the Curves West Seattle storefront at 3280 California SW is closed. We’d heard from its owner some weeks back that it was for sale. No signage indicating what’s next.
MONEYTREE CLOSING: The short-term-loan business’s branch at 4000 SW Alaska in The Junction is closing. We found out through this this commercial real-estate listing, saying Moneytree was closing the location “due to regulatory changes.” Checking the company website, the West Seattle location’s page says it’s “moving” on October 10th – to Burien. “Only 20 minutes away!” says the flyer.
The first Sunday of October usually brings “Blessing of the Animals” events in honor of St. Francis of Assisi‘s feast day. We’ve received word of two:
ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH: Local Franciscans are usually part of this one:
The church shares the photo and reminder (if you haven’t already seen it in our calendar):
All Things Bright and Beautiful
All are invited to bring your pet or pets for St. John the Baptist Episcopal Church’s annual community-wide St. Francis’ Day Blessing of the Animals, this Sunday, October 4, at 1:00 p.m. on the West Seattle High School parking lot.
That’s at 3000 California SW (just north of the church).
PROVIDENCE MOUNT ST. VINCENT: At the same time – 1 pm Sunday – The Mount and its Spiritual Care Department is sponsoring a blessing in honor of St. Francis, at Pigott Chapel, on the building’s third floor. “All pets are welcome. People may bring photos of their pets, too.” The Mount is at 4831 35th SW.
Thanks for the photos from Pigeon Point! First, more roadside safety work:
AT 21ST/GENESEE: Paula Bamburg sends the views of SDOT crews working on curb ramps at this intersection where community members “painted” a mural at the intersection earlier this year (WSB coverage here). She adds, “I’ve enjoyed watching the workers/artists doing their thing in the concrete medium. Fun to watch their teamwork, communication, timing and craft.”
The ramps and sidewalks are part of the Delridge-Highland Park Neighborhood Greenway, by the way. Not too far to the northwest:
NEW SIGN ON ANDOVER: Pigeon Point has another new signpost and shingle on the SW Andover hill. Thanks to Pete Spalding for sharing the photo:
P.S. This one got us to thinking about neighborhoods with their own signage, whether handmade or a little more official. The Alki rocks came to mind, as did signage for Fairmount Springs, Westwood, The Junction, Highland Park, Puget Ridge, The Arroyos … what/where are we missing?
From 11 am to 1 pm tomorrow, many eyes will be on Delridge Way SW as the first Find It, Fix It Community Walk in West Seattle travels along about a mile of the busy arterial. It’s happening one year into the mayor’s program, which describes each walk as “a gathering of community members, City officials, and the Mayor to help identify issues that affect the safety and aesthetics of a neighborhood.” In addition to the mayor and community advocates, Councilmembers Tom Rasmussen and Tim Burgess are also expected, according to a council tweet. A group of residents has spent many weeks planning for this, and some events are already scheduled – we mentioned the Nature Consortium-led beautification project (volunteers appreciated!) – and the Delridge P-Patch has announced that it will host a Cider Social 1-4 pm, starting right after the walk, which ends at the garden. You don’t have to register to be part of any or all of this – either be part of it from the start (11 am, Louisa Boren STEM K-8, 5950 Delridge Way SW) or join along the way (should be hard to miss). See you there!
It’s #9 on the new West Seattle Bridge-Duwamish Waterway Corridor “action report,” but the 5-way intersection at West Marginal/Chelan/Delridge/etc. has been in line for improvements since long before the report came out. One of the people who’s been closely involved, West Seattle Bike Connections president Don Brubeck, shares the photo and an update on what’s happening at the intersection today:
Work is beginning on Chelan 5-way intersection short-term improvements. SDOT electricians were out this morning, working on installing rapid-flashing beacon lights at the blind corner at the bridge pier where the Delridge Way right turn lane to Spokane St Bridge crosses the West Seattle Bridge Trail. They will install sensors for bikes and pedestrians to trigger the beacon. Other safety improvements include pavement markings to increase bicycle predictability, and bicycle ramps to minimize conflicts at this complex intersection.
Rapid-flashing beacon lights are a relatively new arrival in West Seattle – they’ve gone up this year at California/Dakota, Holden/11th, and in the school zone in the 5900 block of Delridge Way. As for the 5-way intersection plan, you can find out more at the WSBC website, and remember, a discussion of the entire corridor’s future – all modes and a multitude of issues – hosted by City Councilmember Tom Rasmussen, is planned for October 19th, 6:30 pm, at the Sisson Building in The Junction (California SW & SW Oregon).
10:37 AM: That photo is from last Sunday night at an apartment building in the 6500 block of California SW in Morgan Junction. We went there twice that evening to ask about a police presence that lasted for several hours, and were told both times that it involved the death of a child but that it was not being investigated as a homicide. That has since changed. As first reported this morning by our regional partners at The Seattle Times, a 20-year-old woman is in jail, arrested on Thursday for investigation of homicide. The Times quotes the suspect’s boyfriend as saying he is the father of the 17-month-old boy who died. Seattle Police media relations Officer Lauren Lovanhill tells WSB that she has no further comment so far, but that they are gathering information. We’ll also find out more after the suspect appears before a judge at the downtown jail later today. So far, online records don’t show any felony criminal history for her. If this continues to be treated as a homicide case, it would be the first one in West Seattle since the still-unsolved shooting death of Stephen Jeffries Jr. on New Year’s Eve 2013.
10:53 AM: A short item has just been published on SPD Blotter, saying the toddler’s father called 911 on Sunday after finding his son “unresponsive in his crib” and that medics were unable to revive the child.
3:51 PM: The suspect waived her court appearance, according to the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, so the hearing was held without her. According to court documents made public in connection with the hearing, the suspect is not the victim’s biological mother; she and her 2-year-old son (by another man) had been living with the victim and his father at the apartment for the past half-year or so. The court documents say the victim was at Children’s Hospital for something unrelated one week earlier when a CPS referral was made because of “bruises and scratches,” but the father reportedly attributed it to “normal toddler activity,” the police report says, and the child was sent home with him. Last Sunday afternoon, he told police that he had left his son with his girlfriend while he went to the store. When he got back, he found his son dead in his crib and called 911. The Medical Examiner determined two days later that “abdominal trauma” was what had killed the toddler. Under questioning by detectives, court documents say, she admitted kicking him in the abdomen twice after getting mad at him and her son for fighting over a toy. The first kick, she told police, knocked him down, and she kicked him again; a short time later, she discovered he wasn’t breathing. The probable-cause documents also say a couple who stayed with the suspect and her boyfriend earlier in the month reported seeing the woman display unusual anger toward her boyfriend’s son whenever the toddler cried. Today’s hearing resulted in an order to set her bail at $1 million; prosecutors have until early next week to file charges.
(Photo taken in Westwood area this week by Michael Zaton)
Weekend’s almost here! First, a lot happening this Friday – from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
FREEBIES AT EX-WESTSIDE CAMPUS: 10 am-3 pm at the former Westside School (WSB sponsor) campus at EC Hughes in Sunrise Heights, it’s a giveaway of school furnishings they haven’t been able to donate already, as previewed here. First-come, first-served. (7740 34th SW)
DROP OFF YOUR ART FOR SOUTHWEST LIBRARY SHOW: The annual Southwest Library Community Art Showcase is about to begin, and today is the second of three days you can drop off your work (and/or upload your song/s!) to be part of it. The library’s open 10 am-8 pm. Details in our preview. (35th SW & SW Henderson)
WORDS, WRITERS, WEST SEATTLE: 5-7 pm, the Southwest Seattle Historical Society-presented literary series starts its third year, tonight featuring Stephanie Guerra:
Words, Writers & West Seattle presents … from Avenue Collection on Vimeo.
Meet and hear from her at Westwood Village Barnes & Noble. (2800 SW Barton)
CORNER BAR AT HPIC: Starting at 6 pm, the monthly night o’fun at Highland Park Improvement Club – DJ Evan at 6, Dub Lounge International with live reggae at 7:30. (12th SW & SW Holden)
FREE FAMILY NIGHT AT THE Y: 6-8:25 pm at the West Seattle YMCA (WSB sponsor) in The Triangle, EVERYONE is welcome:
Invite your friends and neighbors for a free evening of family fun! Play on the mats, swing on the rings, climb and slide on the inflatable obstacle course, run on the track and go swimming. Get your family moving together! FREE AND OPEN TO THE COMMUNITY. Non-members, please bring a donation for the West Seattle Food Bank.
6:00 – 8:00 pm – gym & running track
7:35 – 8:25 pm – open swim in the pool
(36th SW & SW Snoqualmie)
ART & MUSIC TRIVIA: 6:30-8 pm, it’s “Drink ‘n’ Think” art and music trivia at Admiral Bird. (California SW & SW Admiral Way)
FIVE BUCK BAND: 7-9 pm at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor), pop ‘n’ rock, ’60s-’70s plus some of what’s new. (5612 California SW)
HIGH-SCHOOL FOOTBALL: Two games on the peninsula – West Seattle High School is home at Southwest Athletic Complex (2801 SW Thistle) tonight vs. Roosevelt, 7 pm, which is also when Eastside Catholic visits Seattle Prep at West Seattle Stadium.
BLUES & BOOGIE-WOOGIE: That’s what you’ll find at Kenyon Hall tonight, 7:30 pm, with Orville Johnson and Casey MacGill. (7904 35th SW)
HERE’S WHAT ELSE IS UP: See it all on our complete calendar.
(Four WS-relevant views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
Good morning. So far, no incidents in the area. Two notes:
BRIDGE REPAIR WORK POSTPONED: The road-repair work that was to close one lane each way toward the Fauntleroy end of the West Seattle Bridge from tonight through Sunday has been postponed, Seattle Public Utilities says. No new date yet.
MONDAY ADVANCE ALERT: The city sends early word that – if you weren’t already well aware – the Seahawks are on Monday Night Football this coming week, so the stadium zone will be very busy Monday evening. 5:30 pm game.
…AND BEFORE THEN: The city’s official weekend preview reminds us that the Mariners are closing the season out at home, 7:10 pm tonight, 6:10 pm Saturday, and 12:10 pm Sunday, while the Sounders host L.A. at 6:40 pm Sunday.
| 3 COMMENTS