West Seattle, Washington
15 Sunday
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
Elected to represent District 1, charged with making decisions affecting the entire city – how will newly seated City Councilmember Lisa Herbold balance those roles?
Her Q&A appearance at tonight’s Southwest District Council meeting offered an early glimpse into how she hopes to do it.
If you don’t have time to watch our video, read on!
While Herbold is one of four first-term councilmembers – three representing districts, one elected at-large – she is the only one who was already at City Hall, having spent more than a decade and a half working for Councilmember Nick Licata, who chose not to run again. “In some ways, it’s the same job, in others, different,” she mused tonight.
“So you started (off) knowing where your parking space was,” one attendee suggested.
“I don’t have a parking space,” Herbold laughed.
She later joked that a benefit of district representation is that she can get anywhere within a few minutes – to a meeting like this one, for example, at the Sisson Building in The Junction – “then go home and get into my jammies.” (She lives in Highland Park, a central location for a district that includes South Park as well as West Seattle.)
In a far more serious vein, Herbold had a lot to say about the committees she’s on – including acknowledging reading a WSB comment or two from people puzzled by the catch-all committee names, such as the one she’s chairing, the Civil Rights, Utilities, Economic Development, and Arts Committee:
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(WSB photos)
This morning at Westside School (WSB sponsor) in Arbor Heights, dozens of students gathered for a special delivery: Hundreds of coho-salmon eggs brought by Judy Pickens as part of this year’s deliveries for “Salmon in the Schools.” A dozen local schools, public and private, are participating this year, Judy says; the eggs she and husband Phil Sweetland picked up at a hatchery are timed to hatch within the next two weeks or so. At Westside, second-grade teacher Margie Carpenter put the eggs in their aquarium after a 10-minute iodine bath to be sure they hadn’t brought along any organisms that might hurt the fish when they hatch:
Students at the participating schools will tend to the resulting fry for the next few months, and then go to Fauntleroy Creek in May to release them. Judy says, “During that time, they will learn about fish biology, habitat, culture, and economic importance in this region, cultivating writing, math, chemistry, and other monitoring skills.” Around King County, 160 schools are expected to participate in Salmon in the Schools this year. Salmon watch at Fauntleroy Creek continues year-round, meantime, culminating each year in the watch for returning coho – none last fall, as happens some years.
A reader e-mailed tonight to share this safety alert for bicycle commuters:
This morning at 9:00 a.m., there was black ice on the bike path just north of the Spokane St. Bridge on Harbor Island. It was 40 degrees, but this area is probably in shade all day this time of year. A group of cyclists spread bark to improve traction. We could see skid marks where it appeared other cyclists had spilled.
Consider walking your bike through this section. It is only 50 feet or so.
Earlier, we had received one report that a bicycle rider was injured just before 9 am at a location logged by Seattle Fire as 1002 SW Spokane. We didn’t get word until long after the call closed, and could only confirm with SFD that one person suffered “minor injuries.”
5:54 PM: Texter says a crew is working on the inside outside westbound lane on Admiral Way at 39th SW, and that’s causing a backup down the hill past Admiral Way Viewpoint. We’re checking to see what it’s about.
@westseattleblog #admiraldistrict pic.twitter.com/emTBrMZmu9
— brentamaker (@brentamaker) January 7, 2016
6:35 PM: Thanks to Brent for the video. It’s a Seattle Public Utilities water crew; we’re now inquiring with SPU to confirm whether it’s a break, who’s affected, and how long they’re likely to be working.
6:53 PM UPDATE: SPU spokesperson Andy Ryan tells us a two-inch water line broke/is leaking, and the crew should be done by 8 pm.
7:44 PM UPDATE: That timeline might slide, as a particular type of truck was still being awaited as of a short time ago. Ryan says no one should be without water but the flow is “throttled back” so some might have reduced water pressure.
12:16 AM: Commenters say the crew’s still at work and now hoping to fix it by morning.
(September photo of M/V Doc Maynard, by Mike)
Three and a half months after its ceremonial dedication, the M/V Doc Maynard will finally take over the King County Water Taxi’s West Seattle-to-Downtown Seattle run tomorrow. Just in from the King County Department of Transportation:
Pier modifications to Seacrest Dock and crew training have been completed clearing the way for the MV Doc Maynard to begin morning service on the West Seattle route tomorrow (Thursday) morning. The MV Doc Maynard will serve as the primary vessel on the West Seattle route with the Spirit of Kingston backing her up as necessary.
The vessel, built by All American Marine in Bellingham, carries 278 passengers, 131 more than the Spirit of Kingston. The added capacity will offer more room as the West Seattle route continues to grow. In 2015, the West Seattle route served over 313,000 passengers, an increase of nearly 11 percent from 2014.
Like the M/V Sally Fox that operates the Vashon run, the Doc Maynard has indoor and outdoor seating, ADA accessible bathrooms and wheelchair tie-downs, space for 26 bicycles and video screens that will display safety, schedule and trip information. But because the new vessel will be spending most of its time in the calmer waters of Elliott Bay, passengers will have access to an outdoor forward bow that will offer a better view of the sights.
The Doc Maynard was welcomed to the fleet with a dedication celebration in mid-September (WSB coverage here). The pier-modification work was done last month. The WS Water Taxi is on a Monday-Friday, commute-times-only schedule until early April, which means its debut run from West Seattle should be a 6:15 am Seacrest departure Thursday morning.
Thanks to West Seattle High School boys-basketball head coach Keffrey Fazio for sharing the clip from last night’s game, in which his #9-ranked team beat #4-ranked O’Dea 60-59, on the road, at the buzzer, on a shot by junior standout Nate Pryor. The coach adds, “Pryor also had 5 rebounds and 7 assists. Seniors Chaaka Trahan and Carter Golgart provided key plays down the stretch. Junior Akili Kasim had 8 rebounds and 4 steals. Junior Yusuf Mohamed had 9 points and 6 rebounds.” The Wildcats are now 6-0 in the Metro League, 9-1 overall, and will be back at home at 6:30 pm Saturday vs. Stadium HS.
P.S. The also-league-leading undefeated WSHS girls play at Holy Names tonight and are home against Eastside Catholic at 8 pm Friday.
(Added: Thanks to Angelina for the photo taken right after it happened)
12:11 PM: Thanks for the tips reporting a vehicle crash at the North Delridge Subway (Delridge/Andover). The 911 log shows a heavy-rescue call that canceled quickly. We’re en route for a look.
(WSB photo)
12:26 PM: Police at the scene say no one was hurt. Store management says the shop IS open – this damaged one of their two doors, but the other one – on the north end of the facade – is usable, and they will be finishing cleanup shortly. Police say the crash was caused by the driver hitting the gas pedal instead of the brake.
Two views from early today, as we start our daily preview – above, Lynn Hall shows us the pink sunrise light on the Olympics; below, the crescent moon, from Chris Frankovich:
Now, from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
STORY TIMES: We list the local library story times on our calendar as often as possible, so if you’re interested, browse the calendar from time to time to look ahead. Today’s lineup includes Baby Story Time at 11:30 am and Somali Story Time at 5 pm, both at High Point Library. (35th SW & SW Raymond)
HOME OFFICE/COWORKING MEETUP: Noon today, get your new year in gear by networking – free weekly meetup at noon at West Seattle Office Junction (WSB sponsor). (6040 California SW)
Tonight:
(WSB photo from Monday’s City Council meeting)
COUNCILMEMBER LISA HERBOLD @ SOUTHWEST DISTRICT COUNCIL: Two days after her first meeting as our area’s City Councilmember, Lisa Herbold will be “in the district” for what’s billed as a “casual conversation” during tonight’s Southwest District Council meeting. All are welcome at SWDC, whose participants are representatives from community councils and other organizations in western West Seattle. 6:30 pm at the Sisson Building/Senior Center in The Junction. (SW Oregon & California SW)
JIM PAGE AT C & P: Singer-songwriter Jim Page is at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor) tonight, 7-9 pm. (5612 California SW)
And, one more time:
HELICOPTER REMINDER: As noted here on Tuesday, Seattle Fire says a Black Hawk helicopter from the National Guard is expected to land at the Joint Training Facility in southeast West Seattle sometime today. (9401 Myers Way S.)
A unique, and much-needed, donation drive is under way this month at VAIN (WSB sponsor) in The Junction.
They’re one of six dropoff locations in the city collecting “pads, tampons, wet wipes, and underwear of various sizes and styles” for All Cycles, which provides menstrual products for homeless and income-insecure people in need. Chelsea from VAIN explains that it’s a “grassroots effort” started in the community; you can drop off unopened boxes/packages of the requested items at their West Seattle boutique/salon, 4513 California SW. The drive continues through February 20th.
(Six WS-relevant views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
6:39 AM: Good morning! No incidents so far today in or from West Seattle and vicinity. If you listen to/watch regional traffic reports, you’ll hear about some areas outside Seattle with icy roads, but no trouble here – the morning temperature is warmer than it’s been in a while, in the 40s.
8:57 AM: Earlier this week, we mentioned Washington State Ferries‘ announcement that work was about to start to replace two pilings at the Fauntleroy dock. Paul Brannan sent this photo of a crane barge that’s arrived at the dock:
Our West Seattle Traffic page includes the webcam that should show whether/how this is affecting traffic on the dock as the day goes by.
9:13 AM: Crash reported on the Alaskan Way Viaduct at Western (just before the Battery St. Tunnel).
10:08 AM: Our note above about icelessness on local roads turns out to have been wrong. Melissa sends word that in Highland Park, 7th/8th/Trenton has black ice that led her and others to spin out. Be careful!
3:07 PM: Friday, if you’re in the Capitol Hill vicinity at noontime, note that former President Bill Clinton will be visiting to campaign for wife Hillary Clinton. Not sure yet how this might affect traffic but thought you’d want to know.
1:23 AM: We’ve heard from several people about possible gunshots in North Delridge a short time ago. We haven’t (yet) heard any confirmation of gunfire – police need to find casings and/or property damage for that – and definitely no victim(s) reported anywhere. Though a few people mentioned hearing a helicopter, the area’s one law-enforcement helicopter, Guardian One, is nowhere nearby, according to the last transmission we heard. We’re still checking – please let us know if/where you see police activity.
1:35 AM: One person who heard it says the 911 dispatcher confirmed police are looking into this. We’re off to see if we can find where they’re focusing.
ADDED 9:39 AM: While the full incident report isn’t available yet, we were able to get a few details from SPD media-relations Officer Lauren Lovanhill: She says “multiple bullet holes were found in a residence in the 5600 block of Delridge (Way SW),” and 32 casings were found in the front yard and driveway. Four people were seen running from the area and getting into a car. And she confirms that, as we believed to be the case at the time, no one was hit.
ADDED 8:27 PM: As noted in comments, the precinct’s second-in-command, Operations Lt. Ron Smith, was at tonight’s Southwest District Council meeting. This didn’t happen in that district and so wasn’t on the agenda but we talked to him briefly as soon as we saw him pre-meeting – he said so far there’s no indication any of the recent incidents are connected, and that this is being investigated by the department’s Real-Time Crime Unit and “intel” unit. The written report still wasn’t available by day’s end so we’ll renew our request for it tomorrow. The meeting’s guest speaker was newly inaugurated Councilmember Lisa Herbold; she was asked one question about public-safety issues in general, and said one that’s on her radar for starters is 911 response times, and she is working to get documentation on that from SPD.
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