West Seattle, Washington
29 Friday
We would usually suggest something like this be posted as a “rave” in the WSB Forum‘s Rants and Raves section, but it’s nice to end the weekend here on the main page with a story of kindness, so here’s the one we received via e-mail tonight from a reader who didn’t want to be identified. Yes, it happened just over the WS line, but close enough to qualify:
I was at the South Transfer Station this afternoon and I saw an employee who went above and beyond and deserves to be recognized. I pulled in and saw another patron hung over the side of one of the metal bins. I thought it was a bit strange, but when I climbed up the small ladder, I noticed an employee digging around in the bottom.
I continued about my business and a while later I heard the guy who was hung over the edge give a huge sigh of relief. The employee (I think I heard say his name was “Alfonso”) dug in the bottom of that stinky dumpster for the guy’s wedding ring and found it! When he climbed out, I told him I thought that what he did was awesome, and he humbly replied, “I was at the end of my shift anyways, so I said a little prayer for him and hoped for the best.”
Just back from checking out a tip (thank you!) about a major police response at 11th SW and SW Barton, where officers tell us they are investigating another case of gunfire. A bullet fired from somewhere outside a house (not the one in the photo) went through a wall, reportedly into a bedroom. No one was hit or hurt. That’s all they could tell us so far; we’ll look for the report tomorrow to see what else they find out.
Love nature? You can do more than admire it … you can help others learn about and enjoy it. From Seattle Parks:
Live the dream – become a nature guide! Do you love sharing nature with others? Are you interested in learning more about the flora and fauna of Seattle’s many public green spaces and parks? You are the perfect candidate for the Seattle Urban Nature Guide program. SUN Guides participate in 30 hours of training and commit to providing 8 programs a year at Environmental Learning Centers and parklands near schools throughout Seattle.
Seattle Urban Nature Guides provide hands-on learning opportunities for school groups, nature programs for families and adults and Discovery Stations for all throughout the city. Volunteers’ backgrounds are as varied as the students they teach – the common thread is their desire to share nature with the greater Seattle community.
The goal of the Seattle Urban Nature Guide Program is to enhance, promote, and foster appreciation of nature by connecting citizens and students with their Seattle Parklands, by providing educational opportunities for all.
Training begins March 29. Deadline for applications is March 8. For additional information, please contact Penny Rose at penny.rose@seattle.gov or 206-386–4250, or apply online.
We’re told much of the training is at West Seattle’s own Environmental Learning Center – Camp Long.
Thanks to Jim Bodoia for the underwater photo and video we’re sharing as a Sunday afternoon “extra.”
He explains, “I was lucky enough to run into a couple of Pacific Wolf Eels off Alki, not too far from our Liberty Statue … We call them ‘eels’ but they’re actually very long fish (Anarrhichthys ocellatus). I’m fairly certain that the tan one [seen in the video] is a young female. At first she just poked her head out and then she joined me for a swim. The blue one [top photo] is a bit older and didn’t want to come out and play.” Learn more about wolf eels via the Seattle Aquarium website.
Three West Seattle Crime Watch reader reports to share:
MAILBOX PROWLER: Carolyn says the video above is from 8:48 last night, at 8th SW and Elmgrove, with a would-be mail thief driving up, checking out the boxes, and moving on.
EARLY-MORNING DOORKNOCKER: From D:
This morning at 6 am we were awakened by knocking on our front door. My husband answered and a woman asked if he had jumper cables. She didn’t appear to have a vehicle, so he declined. She asked again, and wanted him to follow her outside, as if trying to lure him away from our house. Later, I was reading the WSB and saw the video John posted about a grocery thief stealing right off his porch. I showed it to my husband and he identified the woman as the same one who came knocking. We are in Highland Park at 18th/Trenton. Our home was burglarized one month ago, during the day while I was picking my daughter up from preschool. Also, in the last 10 days our car has been broken into twice and our tire slashed. Now thieves are knocking on our door before dawn?
BICYCLE FOUND: From Aaron Goss of Aaron’s Bicycle Repair, the photo and report:
One of our customers sent us this picture of bike found in the Gatewood neighborhood. He found it abandoned in his yard.
It is a bike we serviced because it has our service sticker on it. But we cannot find a matching record in our database. The customer that found the bike is out of town, but if anyone is missing the bike, I will put them in touch with the finder.
FYI, We offer a service at our shop now where, for $5 we take a picture of your bike and record the serial number on our server. We have recovered several bikes because of it! About 50% of our customers take us up on it. Those that decline, just mentioning it reminds them to do it themselves. Without a matching serial number, we cannot legally hold a suspicious bike.
Seattle Police urge everyone to keep a record of the serial numbers for valuables – or, when you can, inscribe them with identifying information; if your valuables are stolen, they have to have some way to be able to match them back to you.
One more “happening today” – third day of this year’s Girl Scout Cookie sales. This might be the only “cookie booth” of this type in our area:
The photo is from Lisa, who explains:
West Seattle Hi-Yu Junior Court Princess Stephanie and her Girl Scout Troop 42553 will be having a Girl Scout Cookie Drive-Thru at the Les Schwab Tire Center (3801 SW Alaska) from 11 am-3 pm. You don’t even have to get out of your car! We accept all major credit cards, cash, and checks!
Looking for someplace closer? The locations closest to zip code 98106 are here; 98116, here; 98126, here; 98136, here; 98146, here. This year’s seven cookie varieties are shown here. Sales continue through March 20th (two weeks from today).
Good morning! First, traffic reminders if you’re heading east/north: The Alaskan Way Viaduct’s open, inspection done; but between the Battery Street Tunnel and just south of the Woodland Park Zoo, 99 is closed until noon for the Hot Chocolate Run. Also: The stadium zone will be busy this afternoon, with the Sounders’ match at 4 pm. Now, as to what’s up in West Seattle:
WEST SEATTLE ULTIMATE FAMILY FRISBEE: 10 am at Walt Hundley Playfield in High Point, all welcome. (6920 34th SW)
WEST SEATTLE FARMERS’ MARKET: 10 am-2 pm in the street, in The Junction. Here’s the list of “what’s fresh” highlights. (California SW between Oregon and Alaska)
‘WE LOVE THE JUNCTION’: If you want to show support for the newly announced campaign to designate two historic Junction buildings as landmarks (see WSB coverage of Saturday’s announcement here), look for volunteers at the Farmers’ Market today. One the market opens, or if we get the info sooner, we’ll update with exactly where to find them. *UPDATE: They’re roaming the market.* (California SW between Oregon and Alaska)
MEET THE LGBT COMMISSIONERS: 2-3:30 pm at Southwest Library, members of the city’s LGBT Commission will be there “for the first in a series of library events providing an opportunity for you to get to know the Commission and the work that they do. The Commissioners will provide a panel presentation and then open the floor up to Q-and-A.” More in our listing. (35th SW/SW Henderson)
ZUMBATHON FOR THE Y: 2:30-4:30 pm, all welcome, no RSVP required, for a Zumbathon to raise $ for the West Seattle and Fauntleroy YMCA (WSB sponsor) annual campaign. More here. UPDATE: This is at the Fauntleroy Y. (9140 California SW)
SEATTLE PRIDE BASKETBALL TRYOUTS: This AAU program continues tryouts for the new season – today/tonight, it’s high-school-age players, girls 4-6 pm, boys 6-8 pm. Details on the Seattle Pride website. Tryouts are at the Seattle Lutheran High School gym. (4100 SW Genesee)
‘EARLY DAYS’ FAMILY NIGHT FUNDRAISER: 5:30-8 pm at Chaco Canyon Organic Café in The Triangle, “Come have some food, fun and pampering. There will be balloon animals, face painting, games, and crafts for kids. Adults can enjoy massages and facials,” plus a silent auction until 7, supporting West Seattle’s postpartum-support group Early Days. More here, including ticket info. (3770 SW Alaska)
COLE PORTER LOVE SONG BOOK: Five musicians perform the music of one legend, 7:30 pm at Kenyon Hall – ticket info’s in our listing. (7904 35th SW)
EVEN MORE … on our complete calendar!
Just to clarify where things stand on Highway 99 this morning:
As announced Saturday evening, the Alaskan Way Viaduct inspection is over. So Highway 99 from here to the north end of downtown is open.
But as previously scheduled (and mentioned in our advance alerts), the Hot Chocolate Run has closed Highway 99 both ways until noon today from the Battery Street Tunnel northward. As WSDOT explains, “The closure starts at the south end of the Battery Street Tunnel and ends just south of the Woodland Park Zoo.” So if you’re heading north on 99, until that closure ends, you’ll have to exit at Western.
Received this week from a reader in Fauntleroy:
We shine a green light on our porch for a loved one that is serving overseas.
We miss him very much. This is the longest war that our country has ever bee in. I hope that our neighbors are aware of why we have this special color on our front porch, not for marijuana awareness, and not left over from Christmas, it is for the son of West Seattle that is overseas. I see some other green lights in the community and reassure my wife that we are not the only ones. This green Led bulb is more noticiable than the Olde Yellow Ribbon. Thought that you should know… Sleepless in West Seattle.
Thanks to Steve White, president of the West Seattle High School Music Boosters, for photos from last night’s Big Band Dinner Dance at WSHS. He reports, “The event was a great success, and we had to bring out extra tables in order to accommodate everyone!”
They even had a group from nearby Brookdale-Admiral Heights. Performing for eventgoers, the WSHS Jazz Ensemble (below) and West Seattle Big Band.
Steve adds, “Special thanks to Laura Martin for her tireless efforts in planning the event,” a fundraiser for WSHS’s growing music program, led by Ethan Thomas.
Featured in that photo is a group that traveled here from southern Japan and ia in the middle of an 11-day visit to Chief Sealth International High School. Our report from CSIHS, which also provided the photo, explains:
Through March 11, 15 students and one teacher from Ritsumeikan Moriyama High School in Shiga prefecture, Japan are visiting Chief Sealth International High School. Each student is staying with a Sealth family and shadowing a Sealth student. During their stay, the visiting students are also preparing presentations to give to local offices of corporations such as Weyerhaeuser, DoubleTree Inn, and Yamato Logistics. If you’d like to know more, please contact Sealth’s Japanese teacher Joshua Hansell – jjhansell (at) seattleschools (dot) org.
According to the English-language pages of their website, the visitors’ school offers “international education,” as does Sealth.
The Seattle Lutheran High School boys’ basketball season has ended, with a sixth-place finish at the 1B state tournament in Spokane. This morning, the Saints lost to Garfield-Palouse, 59-54. It was the end of an incredible season, as you can see by the full list of game results here. SLHS plays in the Sea-Tac League, which honored head coach Brett Kapels as Coach of the Year, with Xavier Turner and Josh Meyer making the all-league first team.
The Alaskan Way Viaduct is open again and will be open for the rest of the weekend, WSDOT just announced – the twice-yearly inspection ended early. (But remember that tomorrow morning, it’ll be closed 6 am-noon for a stretch north of the Battery Street Tunnel because of the Hot Chocolate Run.)
Spring is so close, and that means sale season.
HAPPENING UNTIL 7 PM – SECOND GEAR SPORTS’ EVENT FOR YOUTH BASEBALL PLAYERS: Until 7 tonight, the first-ever cleat swap/gear sale at Second Gear Sports (WSB sponsor) continues. We just stopped to see how things were going at the shop in Morgan Junction (6529 California SW) and it’s already been a fun first hour, proprietor Mark Bremen told us. Backstory’s in our original preview – free cleats during the event, while they last, and gently used gear on sale at great prices.
Earlier today:
COOP PRESCHOOLS’ SALE SUCCESS: Another edition of the annual kid-stuff consignment sale raising money for West Seattle Cooperative Preschools is in the books:
We found a good crowd of shoppers when we visited about midway through the four-hour sale at the VFW Hall in The Triangle.
Coming up:
WSPC’S BIG SALE: Next Friday and Saturday are the dates for West Side Presbyterian Church‘s megasale, 9 am-5 pm Friday and 9 am-2 pm Saturday at 3601 California SW, according to this post in the WSB Forum.
COUNTDOWN TO WEST SEATTLE COMMUNITY GARAGE SALE DAY: And the big annual sale day coordinated by us here at WSB is getting closer … May 14th, ten weeks from today. As always, we will open registration in early April, so keep watch here and at westseattlegaragesale.com if you’re interested in selling and our shopping on the one day of the year when people all over the peninsula have sales of all sizes.
UPDATE: Collision on West Seattle Bridge now blocking the 2 EB left lanes. Expect delays. pic.twitter.com/vxP0isdYpK
— seattledot (@seattledot) March 5, 2016
2:12 PM: If you were planning on heading east – wait a while if you possibly can. The crash shown in the SDOT image above is blocking lanes and backing up traffic, which means extra trouble since the Alaskan Way Viaduct remains closed for its twice-yearly inspection.
2:58 PM: We’re seeing a tow truck in the live image – shouldn’t be too much longer.
3:12 PM: And … it’s clear.
(Mouse over the window to reveal video “play” button; click for :15 panorama including the 2 potential landmark buildings)
11:00 AM: When we covered the West Seattle Junction Historical Survey announcement back on Wednesday, the SW Seattle Historical Society promised to announce the “next step” today. And indeed, that’s what’s happening right now at the corner of California and Alaska in The Junction – SWSHS is announcing that it will nominate two buildings at this corner for city-landmark status – the Hamm Building (home to businesses including Easy Street Records):
And the Campbell Building (home to businesses including Cupcake Royale):
Toplines are on the SWSHS website.
11:51 AM: The announcement event is over – we’ll add video and photos after our return to headquarters. (Added – here’s the video):
The campaign to get these buildings nominated and protected as city landmarks is under the title We Love The Junction – three co-chairs, Peder Nelson, Brad Chrisman, and Crystal Dean, were introduced. SWSHS is applying for a $12,000+ grant to cover the cost of preparing the comprehensive nomination documents, but executive director Clay Eals warned that’s not a sure bet, so they’re launching other fundraisers, including the sale of We Love The Junction buttons, which just went on display at Husky Deli:
(Husky Deli proprietor Jack Miller and WLTJ campaign co-chair Crystal Dean)
Here’s a closer look at the button:
You’ll find We Love The Junction on a new website, where you (added) will eventually be able to find out where and how sign a statement of support for the landmark nominations (no digital version yet); you’re also invited to a town-hall-style meeting at 6 pm Wednesday, March 16th, at the West Seattle (Admiral) Library (2306 42nd SW).
(SWSHS executive director Clay Eals with an old business sign for the builder of the prospective landmarks)
ADDED SATURDAY NIGHT: A few more notes from the announcement:
-While there’s no digital petition you can sign right now, there is something you can do until you happen onto one of SWSHS’s signature-collecting events (the first one is set for tomorrow at the West Seattle Farmers’ Market) – get on the mailing list by sending a note to contact@welovethejunction.org
-Along with Husky Deli, two other locations are selling the “We Love The Junction” buttons ($1 each, for either size) right now – Hotwire Online Coffeehouse (4410 California SW; WSB sponsor) and the Log House Museum (61st/Stevens, open noon-4 pm Thursdays-Sundays)
-These would be the fourth and fifth buildings for which SWSHS helped secure landmark status, if it happens – the other three, as Eals discussed at today’s event, are the Admiral Theater, Alki Homestead/Fir Lodge, and the organization’s own Log House Museum (formerly the Fir Lodge’s carriage house). As noted in comment discussion following our coverage of Wednesday’s historical-survey unveiling, The Junction has no landmarks now – the closest is the old substation at Dakota Place Park, a short distance north. (Here’s a city list of all Seattle landmarks.)
-They don’t expect to hear back about the requested grant until May. That and other work in the landmark-nomination process mean, Eals said, that the campaign will likely stretch at least into the fall.
–
(WSB photos)
From campfire-building, to hatchet-throwing …
… to rocket-launching, rock climbing and more, the Outdoor Adventure Day activities are on at Camp Long Environmental Learning Center (a sprawling city park at 5200 35th SW)!
(added) Thanks to F. Smith for this photo from the archery area:
(back to original report) Free and fun, until 3 pm. Full details in our preview – note that you can park at West Seattle Stadium (a few blocks north off 35th) and take a free shuttle to CL (which is celebrating its 75th anniversary, and you can expect more special events ahead, CL’s Sheila Brown told us during our visit this morning).
First, we start with today’s big traffic alert – the Alaskan Way Viaduct inspection closure:
ALASKAN WAY VIADUCT CLOSED: This is the spring edition of WSDOT‘s twice-yearly Viaduct inspection. It’s scheduled for 6 am-6 pm today, and tomorrow if the work’s not all done today (as the West Seattle Transportation Coalition was told). We expect an evening update on the plan for tomorrow. If you’re taking Metro, find the reroutes here.
But you don’t really have to leave the “island” anyway. Look at everything that’s happening today/tonight:
ADMIRAL ADOPT-A-STREET: As previewed here on Friday, the Admiral Neighborhood Association would love your help this morning, cleaning up. Treats and coffee pre-cleanup, free sack lunch afterward, provided by Metropolitan Market (WSB sponsor), which is where you’ll meet, 8:45-9, to get going. Tools and supplies provided. All ages welcome. (42nd/41st/Admiral)
KID-STUFF SALE: The big kid-stuff consignment sale to benefit West Seattle Cooperative Preschools is 9 am-1 pm today at the VFW Hall in The Triangle. More than 7,000 items, according to pre-event updates. (3601 SW Alaska)
DUWAMISH ROWING CLUB PRACTICES: First Masters’ practice of the season, 9-noon; first Youth practice of the season, noon-2 pm. The Duwamish Rowing Club’s boathouse is near Duwamish Waterway Park in South Park – details in our listing. (10th Ave. S./S. Elmgrove)
FREE OUTDOOR ADVENTURES AT CAMP LONG: 10 am-3 pm, youth 10-20 are invited to enjoy a long list of free outdoor activities, organized by the Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, and Seattle Parks, in honor of the 75th anniversary of Camp Long – which is where you’ll find it all happening. Here’s our Friday preview, including parking info. (5200 35th SW)
DUWAMISH FOREST RESTORATION DAY: 10 am-3 pm at the Duwamish Tribe Longhouse – see the schedule here. (4705 W. Marginal Way SW)
OPEN HOUSE: Cometa Playschool invites you to an open house at the Spanish-language-immersion preschool’s Admiral location. (4402 SW Walker)
WINE TASTING: 2-7 pm, you’re invited to the tasting room of West Seattle winery Viscon Cellars (WSB sponsor), to enjoy premium wine and good company. (5910 California SW)
CLEAT & GEAR SWAP: 4-7 pm, Second Gear Sports (WSB sponsor) is co-hosting this first-ever swap/sale event with West Seattle Baseball, looking ahead to baseball season: “Join us to trade in outgrown cleats for newer ones! Get the first shot at this season’s best used and new baseball gear at a special price. This event is open to all families with baseball players.” (6529 California SW)
JUNIOR ROLLER DERBY: It’s bout night for Southside Revolution Junior Roller Derby, headquartered at (and bouting tonight at) Southgate Roller Rink. 5:15 pm doors – details in our listing. (9646 17th SW)
SILENT FILM SHORTS WITH LIVE MUSIC: 6 pm at Admiral Bird – check the film list here! (California SW/SW Admiral)
WEST SEATTLE MEANINGFUL MOVIES: Tonight’s presentation is “Education, Inc.” – start the night with socializing at 6:30 pm, then the movie at 7 pm; details here. At Neighborhood House’s High Point Center. (6400 Sylvan Way)
PEEK-A-BOO BENEFIT: The Ruby Room, which provides dresses for women who need them, is the beneficiary of Ola‘s annual “rocktail party,” with music, fashion trends (by Carmilia’s), more. 7-10 pm; details in our calendar listing. (2942 SW Avalon Way)
FOLK MUSIC … with Lukas Papenfusscline, performing live at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor), 7-9 pm. (5612 California SW)
FIND EVEN MORE TO DO … on our complete calendar!
12:45 AM: Once again, police are investigating reports of possible gunfire on Puget Ridge. We’re hearing about it via text and scanner. No injuries reported but possible damage.
2:46 AM: We haven’t been able to reach police to find out if any evidence of gunfire was found, nor has anything we’ve monitored indicated one way or another. One call has been classified as a “disturbance.”
It’s been exactly 24 hours now since the Highland Park crash that ruptured a gas line and forced more than 150 people to evacuate early Friday.
(Texted photo)
We’ve been following up on three aspects of the incident and here’s what we have found out so far:
THE GAS LINE: Late Friday morning, Puget Sound Energy crews were back at the scene, and you could clearly see the piping in the area where the car had flipped, not only sending gas flowing into the air but also triggering a high-pitched noise until the gas was turned off.
We asked PSE spokesperson Ray Lane for a little more about what was hit: “The car hit what’s called a ‘district regulator’ – it’s an important piece of equipment which helps set the pressure for natural gas moving through the system and into neighborhoods and customers’ homes. That explains the sound you heard at the scene. We were notified of a problem at 12:19 a, with repairs made at 1:45 a. I believe the crews were checking on the equipment again in the daylight hours. Customer service was not impacted.”
THE INTERSECTION: SW Holden/Highland Park Way is notorious for crashes and traffic backups. The community and city have partnered on exploring possible solutions, such as a roundabout, or traffic signal. And that’s still where things stand, a year-plus later, SDOT‘s Jim Curtin told us when we asked for an update on Friday: “We’re working with nearby residents to develop a Neighborhood Street Fund proposal for this location but we do not have any official projects planned at this time.”
THE DRIVER: We weren’t able to learn anything more Friday about the driver who was taken to the hospital after flipping his car, but we know SPD classified the case as a DUI investigation.
Two reader reports in West Seattle Crime Watch. First, from Alex:
Just wanted to let the blog know that there was an attempted home burglary at 48th and Graham this afternoon around 12:30. The suspects were 3 Caucasian men who were scared away before the police showed up. … They were seen on my parents’ deck by our neighbors, trying to open windows and our deck door.
And Melissa reports a “suspicious trespasser”:
We wanted to give a heads up to anyone in the area of Spokane/Manning/Admiral of a man in his late 20s/early 30s with chin-length hair, a beanie, jeans, and a dark hoodie, carrying a plastic bag, who at 5 am this morning trespassed onto our property and attempted to look in our garage and in our windows and then came to our front door but was deterred by our motion detector light. Not sure if he was looking to enter or for something easy to steal. We reported the incident to the police along with a photo of the man but wanted the neighborhood to be on the lookout as well.
Once you’ve called police, share the alert here … editor@westseattleblog.com, or 206-293-6302 (text or voice) if it’s urgent.
It’s a WSB tradition – a page listing Easter (etc.) events including egg hunts, church services, brunches … we include them in our year-round West Seattle Event Calendar, too, but for convenient reference, we create a separate page. So if your business, organization, church, etc., has plans this year but hasn’t sent us the info yet, please do, as soon as you can! No need for flyers/posters or anything else special – just plain text in the body of your e-mail, sent to editor@westseattleblog.com – thank you!
From Troop 45172, our photo features Elizabeth, Addison, and Melissa, at the Girl Scouts‘ cookie “booth” outside West Seattle Thriftway (WSB sponsor) in Morgan Junction late today. Theirs is one of many troops selling cookies around West Seattle (not to mention the rest of the region) starting tonight and continuing for two-plus weeks, through Sunday, March 20th. Here are the seven varieties on sale this year, $4 per box; here’s the lookup tool to find where and when local Scouts are selling cookies (or use the individual zip-code links in our preview from earlier this week). Sales tonight go until 8 pm.
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