West Seattle, Washington
14 Thursday
Today we’re welcoming West Seattle winery Viscon Cellars as a new WSB sponsor. Our new local sponsors get the chance to tell you about themselves:
We are West Seattle’s winery. All of our wine is made here in West Seattle; it has been our home for over 20 years.
Our vision and mission is to make premium wine, sourcing grapes from some of Washington’s best vineyards and share with our West Seattle neighbors and friends. When presented with the opportunity to open our tasting room in Woodinville or West Seattle, hands down we chose our own neighborhood and do not regret it for one second.
Our wines are easily approachable and not intimidating. They are great simply by the glass and compliment foods nicely.
There are a lot of wine lovers in West Seattle. Our central location for our neighbors has created a great opportunity for them to try new wines they cannot get elsewhere also while supporting their neighborhood small business. Our customers love that when they come in they get to speak directly with the winemaker and hear about the personal stories of each wine. We even have customers who volunteer their time to help with crush and bottling.
We are fortunate to have a very loyal customer and fan base. So much so that we sold out of our inaugural release of wines before our second planned release of wines was ready to debut. This resulted in us closing temporarily until the new wines were released. They have supported us and introduced their friends to our winery, and their friends have introduced their friends …. so we are truly fortunate to expand our circle of customers through the mutual love of Washington Wine and West Seattle loyalties. It’s fun to hear their reaction when they discover us! Our winery tasting room (at 5910 California Ave SW) has quickly become a neighborhood gathering place. The vibe is friendly and welcoming. We have seen longtime neighbors finally meeting each other face-to-face at our tasting room and discovering their common connections over our wines.
Many folks bring in food from local restaurants or from home and enjoy dinner, conversations and a bottle of our wine on Friday evenings and Saturday late afternoons. We even have an example of a young couple who had just moved to Seattle; we introduced them to another couple having a glass of wine at the tasting room. They became fast friends and even spent Thanksgiving together. We love the sense of community that happens at our shop.
ABOUT VISCON CELLARS: Ben Viscon is the Winemaker and Owner for Viscon Cellars. He has been making wine for over 12 years in Washington State. He first explored the art of winemaking as a curious hobbyist, then honed his knowledge and education of winemaking by attending University of California, Davis, College of Viticulture and Enology. We are part of Seattle Urban Wineries, a group of 25 wine producers that make and sell wine in their respective neighborhoods throughout the City of Seattle. Our Winery Tasting Room is located at 5910 California Ave. SW, Suite B, in the heart of West Seattle and is open on Fridays from 5-9 pm and Saturdays from 2-7 pm, or by appointment outside of those hours. Our space is also available for private events.
We thank Viscon Cellars for sponsoring independent, community-collaborative neighborhood news via WSB; find our current sponsor team listed in directory format here, and find info on joining the team by going here.
(Photo by Long Bach Nguyen, looking south over the peninsula from north of The Junction)
The weekend’s in view and here are the Friday highlights from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
HIGH-SCHOOL BASKETBALL: Seattle Lutheran is the only local high school with home games tonight: Quilcene is visiting. 6 pm girls, 7:30 pm boys. (4100 SW Genesee)
AMAZING RACE: “Race” around the West Seattle YMCA (WSB sponsor) with your family, complete challenges, and get your “passport” stamped. Free fun, 6:30 pm. (4515 36th SW)
LIVE ’60s-’70s ROCK … with the Five Buck Band at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor), 7-9 pm. (5612 California SW)
CLASSICAL CONCERT: 7:30 pm, The Girsky Quartet performs works by Beethoven and Schubert at Kenyon Hall. (7904 35th SW)
ROCK ‘N’ SOUL: DJ & Mrs. Plantkiller, 8 pm at Parliament Tavern. (4210 SW Admiral Way)
BOWIE, WHO, ZEPPELIN TRIBUTE BANDS … at The Skylark, 9 pm. Details in our listing. (3803 Delridge Way SW)
And a reminder …
PORT TEST PLANNED TODAY: Somewhere around “midday” (last week it was early afternoon) the Port of Seattle plans the second of nine potentially noisy tests related to its planning for modernization at West Seattle’s Terminal 5. Here’s the alert we published earlier this week.
(WSB photo from 2013 Hiawatha pancake breakfast)
Pancake breakfasts are a time-honored and tasty way to raise some money – and this Sunday is one of the biggest ones of the year, Hiawatha Community Center‘s annual pancake breakfast. 8 am-noon on Sunday (January 31st) you’re invited into the gym at 2700 California SW for all-you-can-eat pancakes with butter and syrup; sausage, fruit, and bagels available too. $6 for people 13 and up; $5 for ages 3 to 12; free for ages 2 and under. Proceeds benefit the scholarship fund to ensure that more people can enjoy programs at Hiawatha.
(Click any view for a close-up)
6:43 AM: Good morning. No incidents in/from West Seattle so far, but some notes/alerts to share:
WATER TAXI: Doc Maynard has returned to the West Seattle run this morning, now that Sally Fox is fixed and back for Vashon.
EXTRA HIGHWAY 99 LANE CLOSURES THIS WEEKEND: From WSDOT:
Contractor crews working for the Washington State Department of Transportation continue building sign foundations along a one-mile stretch of SR 99/Aurora Avenue North, intermittently closing two lanes in each direction. This Friday night through Saturday morning, two lanes will be closed between Highland Drive, just north of Mercer Street and the Aurora Bridge. The closure starts at 8 p.m. Friday, Jan. 29 and will end by 11 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 30.
A reminder to drivers that one median lane will remain closed around the clock until this first phase of work is complete.
8:12 AM: Trouble on northbound I-5 – crash blocking a lane near the James/Madison exits.
8:25 AM: SDOT reports a crash at 35th/Avalon. The SFD response is already closed, so no serious injuries.
8:30 AM: … and now a new dispatch to the same incident. If you’re on the bus or at the stop and can see it, let us know – 206-293-6302 text or voice – scanner info can be cursory.
8:52 AM: Thanks to the texters who’ve sent details on 35th/Avalon – it’s blocking the middle lane northbound but vehicles including buses are able to get around.
Tonight brought the first of two big film-related events for Emerald Water Anglers (WSB sponsor) in The Junction:
The shop often hosts events and tonight it was the EWA Film Festival, set to continue until about 10 pm. From left below, filmmakers Leah and Russ Ricketts, Daniel Silverberg, Flyfish Journal editor Steve Duda, a West Seattleite, and EWA proprietor Dave McCoy:
This was the lead-in for an even bigger event next week, when EWA brings the Fly Fishing Film Tour to the historic Admiral Theater, 7-10 pm Wednesday (February 3rd). Tickets are $15 and you can buy yours at the shop. Here’s the tour trailer; read more about the tour here.
Avery sent this warning for neighbors who park on Delridge Way SW, particularly in the 5400 block:
Just wanted to get the word out that my car was broken into last night or this morning (1/27-1/28) from where it was parked in front of the Delridge Branch Library. It seemed like they tried to steal the whole car, since the ignition was broken into, but they were unable to.
My checkbook was stolen along with some change, and my car was left disabled. It could have been a lot worse, but residents along that block should take extra care with their cars parked on the street.
Avery had to arrange to have it towed for repair.
P.S. Crime stats for the year are in the newest SeaStat briefing from which Seattle Police has released some numbers. Citywide, car prowls were down last year – 13,695 in 2015, compared to 15,351 the year before. (Precinct breakouts were not included.)
Two weeks after WSDOT told its Highway 99 tunnel contractor to stop digging, it’s still not ready to give the green light for digging to resume, according to this update late today:
Last week, Seattle Tunnel Partners submitted their analysis of recent incidents on the SR 99 Tunnel Project. WSDOT and their tunnel experts determined STP’s analysis did not sufficiently address the cause of these incidents or specify how they would prevent them from occurring in the future.
(WSDOT graphic from January 13th)
WSDOT has notified the contractor that in order to lift the suspension for cause, STP must confirm that:· The tunneling machine is operating as intended and meets the design-build contract’s technical requirements.
· All necessary training for staff on the tunneling machine is complete.
· The tunneling work plan is updated to address the issues that led to the sinkhole.
· Processes are in place to ensure STP’s tunneling work plan is followed.
· STP updates its quality program to ensure key quality program managers are involved in all tunneling activities.
It is STP’s responsibility to determine how to address these issues and ensure they are in compliance with the technical requirements of the contract. This section of the tunnel drive was designed to be a test section for operation of the tunneling machine. With approximately 250 feet of tunneling prior to reaching the next planned maintenance stop, demonstration of these steps is critical.
No indication of exactly how this is affecting the schedule aside from obviously pushing it back at least two weeks – including the expected Viaduct closure when the tunnel machine goes beneath it, previously expected to happen in March.
(WSB photos)
The West Seattle Chamber of Commerce celebrated new board members at its annual meeting in The Junction today. In our photo above, from left, are Mary Becker from Nucor, acupuncturist Nancy Ishii from White Crane Wellness, CEO Lynn Dennis, Pete Spalding from Verity CU, and Elaine Chan from FIOH Investments. The lunch meeting at the Alki Masonic Center included small-group discussions:
While membership grew 15 percent last year – adding 44 new members – outreach and growth are always a concern, so attendees discussed strategies for finding out which categories of businesses aren’t currently represented in the group, and figuring out how to introduce Chamber members to new people moving into West Seattle. Speaking of new, just-elected District 1 City Councilmember Lisa Herbold was there:
She’s the guest speaker at the next meeting, February 11th, two weeks from today. And she might get an earful of a key issue for the government-affairs liaison side of the Chamber – “parking, parking, parking,” along with other transportation issues. General issues that came up also included ongoing development and existing businesses dealing with rent increases that threaten to price them out.
The Chamber’s president for 2016 is Elizabeth Pluhta from South Seattle College (WSB sponsor). Find out more about the Chamber at wschamber.com.
4:09 PM: Just in case you’re about to head back this way – an afternoon traffic alert on a major arterial: A crash reported at 9th and Roxbury. No Seattle Fire dispatch so far, so injuries, if any, apparently are not major. We’re on our way for a look.
4:15 PM: Our crew reports that the vehicles are on 8th, not 9th, on the north side of the intersection, and off to the side. A tow truck’s there already. So, no notable traffic effects.
Jim Unland‘s online petition for repaving a half-mile of Beach Drive south of 61st SW (reported here Sunday) brought out word that part of the road IS on the city’s list for repaving this year – between SW Orleans and SW Andover (map), ending just north of where we took the top photo. After hearing about it from Jim, we confirmed it with SDOT late Wednesday, while also asking which if any other sections of West Seattle roadway are on this year’s paving list. Spokesperson Norm Mah replied with these:
*SW 106th between 35th and Marine View Drive (eastbound)
*2100 block SW Roxbury – “spot panel replacement”
*26th SW between Roxbury and Cambridge – “spot panel replacement”
Also this year, SW Spokane is due for repaving just east of West Seattle, from East Marginal Way to the “low bridge.”
Looking further into the distance, sections of Avalon, 35th, and Roxbury are planned for repaving over the next eight years, as shown on this map:
Back to Beach Drive – we didn’t get a timetable in our reply, but Jim said SDOT’s acting program manager Sue Byers told him, sometime this summer.
It’s a crown jewel of West Seattle – and it’s yours: The city’s largest contiguous stretch of forest, known as the West Duwamish Greenbelt. Some trails provide access now, and more might be in its future. Your chance to help shape that future starts this Saturday morning. In case you haven’t already seen this in our calendar, here’s the invitation, from Paul West:
On Saturday, January 30, neighbors, trail users and other stakeholders are invited to a two-hour workshop at South Seattle College to discuss what the future trail system in the West Duwamish Greenbelt might look like.
The West Duwamish Greenbelt extends from the West Seattle Bridge south to Westcrest Park. … Currently a network of informal and improved trails provide some access. Participants will discuss potential connections to destinations such as South Seattle College, the Duwamish Longhouse, Pathfinder School, Riverview Playfield, and others.
The workshop will be held at the Chan Center at South Seattle College. It is at the north end of campus next to the arboretum. The workshop runs from 9:30 am to 11:30 am, with doors opening at 9:15 am. All are welcome.
SSC is on Puget Ridge, at 6000 16th SW. Find out more about the greenbelt and the trails here.
(Northern Flicker, photographed by Mark Wangerin)
Much to consider for the rest of your West Seattle Thursday, from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
COASTLINE TURNS 1: 11 am-9 pm today, Junction burger joint Coastline celebrates its first anniversary with a variety of giveaways and promotions throughout the day. (4444 California SW)
WEST SEATTLE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE: 11:30 am, the annual meeting of the West Seattle Chamber starts at the Alki Masonic Center in The Junction. (4736 40th SW)
FILM FESTIVAL AT EMERALD WATER ANGLERS: 6-10 pm, a fishing-film extravaganza at Emerald Water Anglers (WSB sponsor) in The Junction, including “film fest with works from a variety of filmmakers including Waist Deep Media, Caldwell Rohrbach, Zangs Films, Sundance Award winner Greg Hamilton and more.” Call ASAP to see if there’s still room. (42nd SW & SW Oregon)
WANT LIGHT RAIL FOR WEST SEATTLE? Then be at the West Seattle Transportation Coalition‘s “call to action” meeting at 6:30 pm, The Kenney (WSB sponsor) – details here. (7125 Fauntleroy Way SW)
SEATTLE LUTHERAN OPEN HOUSE: Prospective students are invited to visit and learn about Seattle Lutheran High School, 7-8:30 pm – details here. (4100 SW Genesee)
HOLY ROSARY INFORMATION NIGHT: Prospective parents are invited to the Holy Rosary School Hall at 7 pm – more info in our calendar listing. (42nd SW/SW Genesee)
ARTS AND POP CULTURE TRIVIA: Geeks Who Drink host Trivia Night at Treehouse Lounge in The Admiral District, 8 pm – details here. (2206 California SW)
PUNDAMONIUM! 8:30 pm at The Skylark, it’s a pun slam! If you want to compete, signups start at 7:30 pm. (3803 Delridge Way SW)
EVEN MORE … on our complete calendar!
(WSB photo)
9:26 AM: Thanks to the texter who let us know about a police search with K-9 in the Belvidere area this morning. We’ve tracked down the details of what happened: Two people were reported to have broken into a house under renovation in the 2400 block of Prescott (map) this morning and stolen some items including tools; the contractor reported it, and it was a fresh-enough report that police were able to get a track. Officers at the scene tell us they arrested one suspect a few blocks away, while another one remains at large. The investigation is still active and we hope to have a few more details later.
5:48 PM UPDATE: We checked with the SPD media-relations office before day’s end. The full written report on this case isn’t in yet, so the only new detail available is that some “items” apparently were recovered at the location where the suspect was found. We’ll check again tomorrow to see if the report’s in.
(Click any view for a close-up)
6:21 AM: We start off with continued heavy rain and a commute more fit for a boat than anything else. Speaking of boats, the Spirit of Kingston continues filling in on the West Seattle Water Taxi run while Doc Maynard is on the Vashon run; King County DOT isn’t sure yet how long Sally Fox will be in for repairs.
7:23 AM: Thanks to the texter who reports a Metro bus is stuck at 39th SW and SW 106th in Arbor Heights: “Trying ot turn the corner, traffic can’t get through.”
8:39 AM – REMINDER FOR TONIGHT: If you’re interested in seeing light rail to West Seattle, don’t miss tonight’s West Seattle Transportation Committee meeting – their “call to action” before Sound Transit decides what it will include in this year’s ballot measure. The meeting is at 6:30 pm at a new location for the group – The Kenney (WSB sponsor), 7125 Fauntleroy Way SW. Full details here.
9:59 AM: The Issaquah will be taken off the Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth ferry run for repairs in a few hours, and here are the effects WSF sees so far:
The Issaquah will be temporarily pulled out of service at 12:00 noon today for necessary repairs. The following departures will be cancelled: 12:00 pm Vashon, 12:20 pm Southworth, 12:40 pm Vashon, 1:20pm Fauntleroy, and 1:50 pm Vashon. All other sailings will depart as regularly scheduled until Issaquah returns to service.
10:04 AM: If you’re heading this way via southbound Highway 99, beware of a crash on the Viaduct:
A collision is blocking the SB left lane on the SR 99 Viaduct before S Atlantic St. Use caution. pic.twitter.com/e80GaaloZv
— seattledot (@seattledot) January 28, 2016
10:07 AM: Good news – SDOT says it’s cleared.
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
It was an emotional meeting, but not an angry one, when the Highland Park Action Committee convened a community conversation tonight about the city’s plan for a “safe lot” to host people living in their vehicles.
There were a few shouts, a few tears, and more than a few rounds of applause.
Even some laughter, when Deputy Mayor Hyeok Kim thanked the crowd for being “so much nicer than the Ballard neighborhood” – not long after she had choked up while revealing that she had experienced homelessness as a child.
Ballard is the other neighborhood where the city plans to open a “safe lot” within a month. And tonight, Highland Park – already weary from the years of an encampment next to the future lot – learned more about the plan.
Like the answer to the big question: How many vehicles?
About 15, said Sola Plumacher from the city Human Services Department v, each expected to have 1 to 3 people, so a maximum of about 45 living in the “safe lot” – less than half the 100 or so who lived in the unauthorized encampment that was on the adjacent site for years.
Where will they come from?
(WSB photo of newly added canvas-covered fencing at the future lot, Wednesday afternoon)
A big question, as the “safe lots” were first portrayed as a reaction to north-end neighborhood’s discomfiture with unauthorized RV camping – prompting people to ask if this lot would just be where some of the north-end parkers moved.
According to Plumacher, police and service providers will be making referrals from West Seattle and SODO.
Now – how the meeting unfolded. (We recorded it all on video, [update] added above.)
(WSB photos by Patrick Sand – click any image for larger view)
9:56 PM: Two girls-varsity basketball teams with perfect records faced off tonight; only one could remain that way – and in the end, that team was West Seattle High School, with a home-court triumph over Bishop Blanchet, 44-30.
ADDED EARLY THURSDAY: More from the game, ahead:
(WSB photos)
It’s been a busy night in West Seattle – starting with the Southwest Pool Fitness Room celebration. City Councilmember Lisa Herbold was there before heading over to the Highland Park Action Committee meeting (coverage coming up), as was Christopher Williams, deputy superintendent of Seattle Parks, which runs SW Pool. She said it’s great to have a way for people to get more exercise; he talked about neighborhood pride – he grew up nearby and attended across-the-street Chief Sealth. The room is open during regular hours at the pool (2801 SW Thistle), which you can find on the schedule – it’s in a space by the shallow end of the pool, unused after gym renovations:
A little more background about the 10-years-in-the-making fitness room is here.
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
Crime trends come and go but one thing is constant – the need for more police. Attendees and SPD leadership both pointed that out at last night’s West Seattle Block Watch Captains Network meeting, and the topic re-emerged at a City Council committee meeting this morning.
One area in which the Southwest Precinct is having some staffing success right now – replenishing the Community Police Team. Two officers were promoted/moved from the SWP and now, Officers John O’Neil and Clayton Powell have joined. During part of last night’s meeting, they were showing Cub Scout Troop 282 around the precinct, including the new mobile precinct:
Precinct commander Capt. Pierre Davis said he’s hoping to bring in a fifth CPT officer, to join Powell, O’Neil, and Officers Jon Flores and Kevin McDaniel. The CPT deals with a variety of issues and generally work outside what’s dispatched via 911. Overall, the captain wished aloud for at least another 15 officers. That was part of his section of the meeting:
One day after a worker was killed while working in a trench alongside an Admiral home, the King County Medical Examiner’s office has identified him: 36-year-old Harold Felton. And in response to community members who have asked what they can do to help Mr. Felton’s family, his brother-in-law has announced a GoFundMe page on behalf of wife Jenna and baby daughter Grace. Find it here.
The page says, in part:
With his loss my sister will have to support her daughter and try to do what she can in the face of this unbearable loss. Funeral expenses are always high and she and Harold are modest people, but he was the only source of income for their family. Any expenses over that which covers the funeral will be devoted to helping take care of Jenna and Grace during this trying time.
Mr. Felton was working on what city documents describe as side-sewer repair alongside a house near 36th SW and SW Hanford when dirt suddenly fell into the trench yesterday morning. A huge response of firefighters and rescue equipment converged but was unable to dig their way to Mr. Felton in time.
State Labor and Industries is investigating; we just checked again with spokesperson Elaine Fischer, and she says it will be at least a month before they have anything to say. As we reported yesterday, and as Fischer reiterated today, the company working at the site, Arbor Heights-based Alki Construction, has no record of safety problems. This was the first trench-work death in our state in more than seven years.
(Added: WSB photo)
2:30 PM: Seattle Fire has sent a big response for a possible house fire near Charlestown/38th SW. Updates to come.
2:33 PM: SFD crews report it’s a “small contents fire” inside the house. They’re handling the aftermath, including ventilation. No injuries reported.
2:40 PM: Our crew is on scene – near the Charlestown water tower – and reports that what caught fire was a piece of foam rubber in the garage. The damage is limited to that foam rubber. The response is winding down.
ORIGINAL WEDNESDAY REPORT: Just in from the Port of Seattle:
Rapid load testing of piles as part of the design and permitting process for the Terminal 5 Improvements Project is expected to occur around mid-day on Friday, Jan. 29. The test will sound like a half-second cannon shot. The sound can be as loud as 145 decibels. A total of nine rapid load tests will occur between January and the end of March, with no more than one test occurring per day. The first test occurred on Friday, Jan. 22. The test results may help reduce the number of piles required and the depth of pile installation, which in-turn would reduce noise associated with pile-driving during construction. All tests will take place Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. in compliance with the City of Seattle Noise Ordinance. Federal, state and city agencies have issued permits for the test pile program.
Anyone hear the test last Friday?
FRIDAY AFTERNOON UPDATE: The port says this will be closer to 3 pm.
Two West Seattle Crime Watch notes this afternoon:
‘CITY LIGHT’ SCAM CALL HITS ANOTHER LOCAL BUSINESS: Amber at Freshy’s wanted to get the word out after hearing from the scam callers who claim they’re from City Light and you (usually a business) have to pay a bill immediately or lose your power:
They said my funds weren’t appropriated correctly and a technician was coming out in 30 min to shut off my business power. I had to call someone else and they said it would happen if I didn’t pay and then a technician called and said he would be there ASAP and was going to turn it off. Then they said it wouldn’t be able to come back on till Monday. I had to call someone else who said I had to pay the balance (which they knew the amount) and that they would reimburse later. I said that it was paid and that it has cleared my bank and he said that it was just “misappropriated.” I was so freaked I almost paid… Then I called the police and they said this was an ongoing scam. I called the guy back and said that I reported his number and the technician’s number and he said “chill bitch, chill”…then hung up. Maybe put the word out to businesses so they don’t have a near heart attack like me!
Our previous reports on recipients of these scam calls include this one from a year ago and several others. The city’s put out warnings including this one.
34TH SW CAR BREAK-IN: Matt‘s Jeep was broken into late Monday or early Tuesday in the 5900 block of 34th SW [map]. “I had a duffle with cold weather gear, a jack, and a bag of accessories for the winch that were taken out of the back. It was parked directly in front of the house. The 5900 block of 34th has had a high incidence of minor property crime, car prowls, utility theft, and police call outs over the last 18 months.”
P.S. Our report on last night’s West Seattle Block Watch Captains Network meeting is in the works. Big topic: Police staffing.
Story and photo by Randall Hauk
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
After nearly eighteen years in the same hands, Admiral District restaurant Circa is in the process of being sold.
But the new ownership includes a familiar face.
Gretchen Williamson-Evans and husband Bill Evans are the first new owners of the neighborhood fixture at since Chris Wissmar opened it. Though the new ownership team assumed operational control of the restaurant.at the beginning of December, the wait for liquor-license approval delayed finalization of the sale until this week.
In addition to having worked at Circa as a server, Williamson-Evans is also the “Gretchen” behind Gretchen’s Grains, a local packaged-food company profiled here on WSB in 2012; Bill serves as Chief Executive Officer. With products now distributed in more than 250 stores across five states, Gretchen’s Grains has reached a point where the only way to grow the business further would be to invest in significant changes in the operational structure, something Williamson-Evans says she and her husband had decided against doing themselves, opting instead to make the business available for sale.
She and husband had started looking into “career jobs,” in preparation for their post-Gretchen’s Grains lives, when a casual comment made by her former employer presented a different opportunity:
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