On the Fauntleroy shore, big questions about the future of a little white house
(WSB photo, from April)
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
On the city’s Shoreline Street Ends map, it’s “SW Barton Street.”
To the community that has cared for it since 1999, it’s Cove Park, a small strip of public beach on Fauntleroy Cove, immediately north of the state-ferry dock.
For three years earlier this decade, it was off-limits, until the Barton Pump Station Upgrade Project was complete – a project that turned Cove Park into a staging area.
Preparing for the project, King County – which runs the pump station – bought the 68-year-old beachfront bungalow next to Cove Park and its 14,000-square-foot (counting tidelands) lot for $950,000 in 2008.
Community members say they were told the little white house would be somebody’s home again, once the project was over. Now, a different possibility has the little white house at the core of a tug of war, one that could be heard in the impassioned voices of those who spoke at a recent community meeting.
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NEW INFO: Saturday helicopter drill @ Terminal 5
(WSB photo from November 2015, helicopters at Terminal 5 during drill)
Just got more information about tomorrow’s drill at Terminal 5, which noted here last night after we found out about it from a Port rep. The lead agency is Seattle Fire, which just sent this:
Imagine a 9.0 earthquake so devastating that it impacts the entire Northwest Region. That is the basis for the Cascadia Rising earthquake exercise being held this week in multiple states. When a disaster of this magnitude strikes, a regional air response is necessary to face the challenges of saving lives over a large geographical area.
The Northwest Regional Aviation team will come together at the Port of Seattle Terminal 5 for a daylong series of helicopter drills that will utilize lifesaving skills necessary to meet the challenges of a regional disaster. In coordination with the Washington State Department of Emergency Management, a unified response with aviation resources from 10 different city, county and state jurisdictions including 6 aircraft will demonstrate the technical aspects of search and rescue, moving resources and transporting injured patients.
Observe landing and take-off procedures as multiple helicopters hoist and transport equipment and personnel in and out of the heliport base at Terminal 5. The community is invited to watch the helicopter rescue activities from the view platform located at Jack Block Park.
Agencies participating in the training:
Airlift Northwest
Bainbridge Island Fire Department
King County Sheriff’s Office
Port of Seattle
Seattle Fire Department
Seattle Police Department
Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office
Tacoma Fire Department
Washington National Guard
The drill is scheduled to start around 10 am and continue until about 2, according to SFD’s media advisory.
Also happening tomorrow in West Seattle as part of Cascadia Rising – two Emergency Communication Hubs events – details are in our preview.
COUNTDOWN: Morgan Junction Community Festival 2016, one week from tomorrow!
One week from tomorrow, it’s the next big neighborhood celebration of summer, the Morgan Junction Community Festival, presented by the Morgan Community Association, in and around Morgan Junction Park, 10 am-5 pm Saturday, June 18th.
One fun feature you’ll find again – the “Bark of Morgan” dog parade and canine contests. First, at 1:30 pm, parade your pooch around the festival grounds (on leash – and costumes are encouraged); then, at 1:45 pm, compete in one of the seven contest categories, with judging by audience applause:
* Highest Jump
*Smallest Dog
*Best Urban Village Dog
*Best Trick
*Best Costume
*Longest Tail
*Best Owner/Dog Lookalike
Other festival fun includes kids’ activities starting at 10:30, Bubbleman‘s performance starting at 11:30, live music, food trucks, local authors, vendor booths, more; the park is on California north of Fauntleroy.
Take the time to wander the surrounding Morgan Junction business district, too – lots of great local businesses are co-sponsoring the festival, as are we. See you there!
TRAFFIC ALERT: Later start for West Seattle Bridge closures next Tuesday, Thursday nights
(WSB photo from last month)
Going into the fifth week of overnight closures for the west end of the West Seattle Bridge so earthquake-safety cushions can be re-replaced, we have word of two changes next week: SDOT says the Tuesday and Thursday night closures (June 14 and 16) will start later, because of “the large crowds expected to attend Copa America Centenario soccer games at CenturyLink Field on those evenings.” Tuesday night’s closure will run 11 pm-5 am, and on Thursday, it’ll be 10:30 pm-5 am. The project to re-replace 674 “bearing pads” is expected to require up to 50 overnight closures, usually Sunday-Thursday nights, so the bridge deck can be jacked up for that work; so far, by our county, it’s 17 closures in. (Don’t worry, we’ll remind you about all this next week in our morning traffic coverage, as usual.)
West Seattle Crime Watch: Teenager arrested for stolen gun
Just in from Seattle Police, via SPD Blotter:
Police arrested a 16-year-old Friday in West Seattle after he reportedly showed off a stolen handgun to his friends before trying to ditch it near a school.
Just before 9:30 AM, police received a report that the suspect was showing off a handgun to a group of teenagers in the 8600 block of 24th Avenue SW and SW Cloverdale. According to a 911 caller, the suspect had flashed a handgun in his waistband, pulled out the clip and then pulled the trigger of the empty weapon.
Police notified nearby Denny Middle School and Chief Sealth High School about the incident and began searching for the 16-year-old. Within nine minutes of the initial call, officers found the gun stashed in some bushes in the 8400 block of 26th Avenue SW and discovered it has been reported stolen in Snohomish County. Police found and arrested the 16-year-old minutes later and booked him into the King County Youth Service Center for unlawful possession of a firearm.
Chief Sealth International High School gets visit from Seattle Mariners’ Nelson Cruz
(Photo by CSIHS athletic director Ernest Policarpio)
A Seattle Mariners star dropped by Chief Sealth International High School, reports assistant principal Michael Reisinger:
Nelson Cruz stopped by Chief Sealth International High School on Thursday to speak with students about the importance of their education. A small group of students were able to meet with Cruz for about an hour and ask questions about his early days through his professional career. Cruz stressed to them the value of completing high school and working hard to achieve their goals. He also paused to take selfies and sign autographs for several students. The Chief Sealth family of staff and students thank Cruz for his visit, wish him well in the ongoing season, and welcome him back anytime.
Cruz, who joined the Mariners last year, is the son of educators.
West Seattle Friday: Summer Kickoff; Community Baby Shower; more…
(Fishing osprey, photographed by Gary Jones)
From the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar for today/tonight:
DISTRICT OFFICE HOURS FOR COUNCILMEMBER HERBOLD: Noon-7 pm – drop in and visit your city councilmember at South Park Community Center. (8319 8th Ave. S.)
SUPER SMASH BROTHERS BRAWL TOURNAMENT: For teens, planned by teens, 3:30-5:30 pm at Southwest Library. (35th/Henderson)
SUMMER KICKOFF: Youth arts showcase at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center, as part of the Delridge Cultural Events Series, 5-8 pm, presented by Totem Star. (4408 Delridge Way SW)
KAYAKER/AUTHOR: Susan Conrad speaks at Mountain to Sound Outfitters tonight, 5-7 pm, about her 1,200-mile paddling adventure from Anacortes to Juneau. (3602 SW Alaska)
COMMUNITY BABY SHOWER: 6 pm at Alki Masonic Center – take a little time and go help a youth group collect donations for the tiniest, most vulnerable members of our community, as explained in our preview. (40th/Edmunds)
LIVE MUSIC AT C & P: Singer-songwriter TX Trumbo performs tonight at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor), 7-9 pm. (5612 California SW)
ALKI CO-OP PRESCHOOL BENEFIT SHOW: 8 pm at The Skylark, $10 cover, music starts at 9 (all ages until then), benefiting the Alki Cooperative Preschool – explained in our calendar listing. (3803 Delridge SW)
LOOK INTO THE FUTURE — the weekend, and beyond, plus the rest of what’s happening today/tonight, all on our complete calendar.
NEW SURVEY: Which business(es) do you, or would you, miss?
Found out about this via City Councilmember Lisa Herbold‘s newest online update: You’re invited to respond to the Seattle Legacy Business Survey. On her official page, she explains it, in part:
… In my first week as a Councilmember, a District 1 resident brought me the idea of a Seattle Legacy Business Program, modeled after a successful San Francisco effort. Since I chair the committee with oversight of economic development issues, I was inspired by the effort. The purpose of the San Francisco Legacy Business Registry is to:
“recognize that longstanding, community-serving businesses can be valuable cultural assets to the City. In addition, the City intends that the Registry be a tool for providing educational and promotional assistance to Legacy Businesses to encourage their continued viability and success.”
So, in order to see if there’s Seattle community concern that our own valued businesses are in peril, I am working with the Washington Trust for Historic Preservation, Historic Seattle, and 4 Culture to survey community members to identify our most important business establishments; identify elements that contribute to the culture, character, and history of Seattle; and establish tools to protect them. …
The survey is simple – just five questions. Find it here. (And if you have extra time afterward, consider commenting here to let everyone know which businesses you miss/would miss!)
P.S. Councilmember Herbold’s next district-office-hours session is noon-7 pm today, this time at the South Park Community Center (8319 8th Avenue S.).
VIDEO: Congratulations, Seattle Lutheran High School Class of 2016!
On a breezy night in The Junction, the Seattle Lutheran High School Class of 2016 filed into the Menashe Family Gym for their graduation ceremony last night. This year’s senior class numbers 35; speakers at the ceremony included senior class president Alex Melchior and valedictorian Abbi Sanders, co-salutatorians JT Gallant and Aaron Peña, while ASB president Macey Crooks gave the closing prayer.
(This photo and next by Torin Record-Sand for WSB)
That cap seemed to be a nod to the class scripture, as featured in the program: II Timothy 4:7, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” Other cap decorations we spotted outside:
The SLHS graduation was the first of our area’s three major commencement ceremonies this month – Chief Sealth International High School and West Seattle High School have their graduations back-to-back on June 21st at Southwest Athletic Complex, 5 and 8 pm respectively.
TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Friday watch; bridge, I-5 trouble
(SDOT MAP with travel times/video links; is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE)
(Click any view for a close-up; more cameras on the WSB Traffic page)
6:58 AM: Good morning – if you’re heading toward West Seattle, we have a bridge problem right now, a crash on the westbound bridge, near the 1st Avenue South on/offramp.
7:13 AM: Now, the first outbound problem of the day – WSDOT reports an expansion-joint problem on northbound 5 near Seneca, and that means a lane is closed as crews head to check it out.
7:23 AM: That situation has the right lane of northbound I-5 closed and backups are building already. Meantime, the westbound bridge crash isn’t clear yet.
7:26 AM: As discussed in comments, the problem on the westbound bridge is affecting the 1st Avenue South on/offramp and that’s led to a chain reaction affecting the 1st Avenue offramp on the eastbound side. Police have been dispatched to try to break it up.
7:37 AM: According to the scanner, the westbound bridge crash has cleared and police have 1st Avenue S. going again. However, the expansion-joint problem on northbound I-5 is not likely to be a quick fix, so you might consider an alternative, or delay.
8:08 AM: Even the alternatives have challenges – Jennifer tweeted that the low bridge is backed up, with a “long line of trucks.”
10:43 AM: The northbound I-5 lane closure is finally over, according to WSDOT via Twitter, though traffic is still ugly out there, per commenters.
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