day : 10/07/2017 14 results

Karen and Jennifer wanted you to know about a scare they had today with their dog Grover:

We just had quite an experience I want to share so others are aware of this potential issue. I was walking our dog Grover this morning and he found something small and ate it. Pretty common for dogs to find random things on a walk. Grover has found cheese, hamburger, etc. This time, it looked like a small piece of paper and I could not get him to spit it out. We continued our walk.

We got home and he seemed fine. After about 30-45 mins, I ran an errand to pick up groceries at Amazon Fresh. When I returned home, there was vomit on the ground and Grover was very unresponsive. His pupils were dilated, he could hardly sit up and was scared of any movement near his face or head. We had just been to the vet last week and knew that all was ok with him. After a few minutes of this behavior and him actually falling over on the couch, I called Lien Animal Clinic and they took him immediately.

Apparently, he ingested cannabis. They stated there has been an increase in this happening. We now assume what he ate was the end of a joint. He has been admitted for the day and is getting fluids to make sure he does not dehydrate and to work the cannabis through him. It was terrifying to see this happen. Please be aware that legal weed leads to more chances of critters finding it. The act of tossing a spent joint on the ground can have impact. Just wanted to share this so others know this can happen.

Big thanks to Dr. Jody Zawacki and the team at Lien for being the best!

Looking around before publishing this, we saw many references suggesting cannabis is not automatically toxic to dogs; much has been written about therapeutic use, which would involve controlled circumstances and doses. So the main point of this is, think of Grover and other pets before you toss anything unconsumed – which of course goes for other intoxicants and medicines too.

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Restoration work to start at West Seattle illegal-tree-cutting sites; 2 morning open houses next week

July 10, 2017 9:41 pm

| 9 COMMENTS

| Environment | West Seattle news

The city is about to start restoration work on the East Admiral sites where trees were illegally cut, three months after announcing a settlement in part of the case. Today’s announcement also includes word of two open houses next week, both early in the morning:

In 2016 more than 150 trees were cut from the Duwamish Head Greenbelt, which is owned by Seattle Parks and Recreation (SPR) and Seattle Department of Transportation. The City of Seattle filed two lawsuits regarding the cutting. In April 2017, the City settled one of the two lawsuits. The funds from this settlement enable Seattle Parks and Recreation to begin removing and replacing damaged and destroyed trees. The settlement funds will also enable Seattle Parks and Recreation to carry out standard urban forest restoration work to protect hillsides and wetlands. SPR will remove nonnative invasives, implement erosion control measures, plant native vegetation, and monitor the site to ensure that new plantings become successfully established.

Large equipment will be moved into the north Duwamish Head Greenbelt and truck traffic will increase. SPR and the contractor will make every effort to minimize impact to the community. The project remediation and erosion control work will occur from July to December 2017 with planting occurring from November 2017 to March 2018. Additional restoration work and monitoring will last through 2022.

SPR is hosting two Informational Open Houses from 7:30 to 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday, July 18 and Wednesday, July 19, 2017. Please join us at 3201 35th Ave. SW at the dead end of 35th Ave. SW north of SW Hinds St.

All vehicles, or any other personal property items parked or stored on the public property in the north portion of the Duwamish Head Greenbelt must be removed by Sunday, July 16, 2017. The City may impound any vehicle or remove personal property remaining on the property after July 16, 2017. If you have questions please contact Michael Foster, Senior Real Property Agent, Seattle Parks and Recreation at michael.foster@seattle.gov or 206-684-0767.

For more information about the mitigation and restoration work please visit www.greenseattle.org or contact Jon Jainga, Interim Natural Resource Manager at jon.joinga@seattle.gov or 206-684-4113.

King County Superior Court online files show the case that was not settled is still proceeding through the system, with a trial date recently pushed back to May 2018.

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WEST SEATTLE SUMMER FEST 2017 COUNTDOWN: More updates!

July 10, 2017 8:58 pm

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| West Seattle festivals | West Seattle news

We’re continuing the countdown to West Seattle Summer Fest 2017 with some updates:

FIRST, THE BASICS – WHEN & WHERE: In The Junction, on California between Genesee and Edmunds, and Alaska between 42nd and 44th. Also, Kid Zone along 44th north of Alaska.

Summer Fest Eve/West Seattle Art Walk: 6 pm (also when the streets close) to ? on Thursday night.
Summer Fest Day 1, Friday: 10 am-6 pm; music/beer garden until late
Summer Fest Day 2, Saturday: 10 am-6 pm; music/beer garden until late
Summer Fest Day 3, Sunday: 11 am-5 pm everything
Farmers’ Market: Festival weekend only, it’s in the parking lot behind KeyBank, 10 am-2 pm

SUMMER FEST EVE ENTERTAINMENT/ART UPDATES: Bubbleman‘s location is set, 7-8 pm Thursday at Walk All Ways (California/Alaska) … West 5 will host Big Band Blue outdoors, 7-9 pm (see our calendar listing) … Easy Street presents Shabazz Palaces, in-store at 7 pm …

YOU OF COURSE HAVE SEEN THIS … the lineup for the festival itself, Friday-Sunday.

AND BY THE STAGE … new this year, a band-merch tent.

AT THE BEER GARDEN BY THE STAGE … larger this year, thanks to the West Seattle Eagles; you can play giant Jenga and Cornhole, also new.

GO BEHIND THE SCENES – VOLUNTEER AT SUMMER FEST: Not too late to sign up to give some time and get a unique view of the festival – go here.

MORE PREVIEWS … tomorrow!

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SEATTLE MAYORAL ELECTION 2017: 3 West Seattle events this week

July 10, 2017 7:18 pm

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| West Seattle news | West Seattle politics

By week’s end, your primary-election ballot should arrive – King County Elections plans to mail ballots on Wednesday. Three election-related events are coming up this week in West Seattle:

MAYORAL CANDIDATES AT ADMIRAL NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION: Tuesday night at 7 pm, ANA’s meeting will include three of the 21 mayoral hopefuls, as just announced by president Larry Wymer:

Gary Brose
Casey Carlisle
Harley Lever

All are welcome at the meeting, at The Sanctuary at Admiral (42nd SW/SW Lander).

TUESDAY UPDATE: Greg Hamilton and Larry Oberto also have RSVP’d, so now that’s five.

34TH DISTRICT DEMOCRATS’ MAYORAL ENDORSEMENT: Last month, our area’s biggest political organization had a mayoral forum with nine candidates (here’s our coverage, with video). But the 34th Dems did not take an official endorsement vote. We’re told they’re planning on one at this month’s meeting, 7 pm Wednesday at The Hall at Fauntleroy (9131 California SW).

MAYORAL FORUM AT SUMMER FEST GREENLIFE: And another reminder, Sustainable West Seattle is hosting a forum with mayoral candidates (we don’t have the final list yet) at 2 pm Saturday, during the SWS-presented GreenLife section of West Seattle Summer Fest. Got a question you’d like to see us (we’re moderating) ask? Post it here. All welcome at Junction Plaza Park (42nd/Alaska).

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UTILITY/TRAFFIC ALERT: Power-line work on West Seattle Bridge Friday night, possibly Saturday night

July 10, 2017 5:59 pm

| 4 COMMENTS

| Utilities | West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

If you’ll be out late Friday night/early Saturday morning, and possibly Saturday into Sunday, you’ll want to avoid the east half of the West Seattle Bridge (aka the Spokane Street Viaduct). Here’s the alert:

Seattle City Light crews plan to improve electrical system reliability by pulling new wire over the top of the Spokane Street Viaduct near 2nd Avenue South.

To work safely, traffic will be reduced to one lane and the speed limit dropped to 25 mph in both the east and west bound directions of the Spokane Street Viaduct between 1st Avenue South and 6th Avenue South. See the work zone map below. Work will occur on Friday, July 14, and, if necessary, Saturday, July 15.

Drivers should expect slowdowns during this time.

Lane reduction details:

The nights of Friday, July 14 and Saturday, July 15 (if needed)

· Traffic will be reduced to one lane and speed limits dropped to 25 mph in both directions from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m.

· Washington State Patrol and extra City Light equipment will be positioned in the work zone to promote safety.

· Access to 1st Avenue South and 4th Avenue South ramps will be maintained.

Once energized, the newly installed electrical wire will improve system reliability and add capacity to the South of Downtown (SODO) area.

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From White Center Now: Popeyes opens Wednesday

July 10, 2017 3:59 pm

| 11 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle restaurants | White Center

More than a year after we first reported via partner site White Center Now that Popeyes and Starbucks were taking over the old WC Chevron site, the first of the two is opening – Wednesday, says Popeyes. More on WCN.

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FOLLOWUP: How naked man’s hammer rampage on Avalon ended without serious injury

July 10, 2017 2:54 pm

| 47 COMMENTS

| Crime | Safety | West Seattle news | West Seattle police

(Reader photo, early Saturday afternoon – cropped just above where suspect was lying on ground, in custody)

As promised, we followed up today on Saturday’s bizarre and frightening Avalon Way incident involving a naked man running in the roadway, bolting into a business, and smashing windows on an occupied Metro bus before police got him under control.

(Photo from KD – bus windows smashed during rampage)

We had few details that day – most of the story was told by commenters – but we obtained the police report narrative today and have transcribed much of it. It begins:

At 11:52 (am) … numerous callers reported a naked male in the vicinity of SW Avalon Way/SW Andover Street acting erratically and armed with a hammer. Dispatch advised the following: “On Avalon, just north of intersection, naked male hitting vehicles and lying in the middle of the road. The subject was described as a white male, late twenties to forties, 5’8” to 6’, thin, bald, facial hair, and completely naked.

Three officers were sent, two who are described as having had Crisis Intervention Training, one described as from the SW Precinct Bicycle Squad. They were in the small bus that transports the bicycle squad, “which lacks emergency equipment or in-car video,” the report notes, continuing:

Prior to officers arriving, dispatch updated that the subject was unintelligibly yelling, striking vehicles with a hammer, appeared high, jumped onto a pickup truck, stopping traffic, lying in the street, dancing, broke a bus window, went into a pet-care business, and covered in blood, chasing people with a hammer.

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About the police response on 34th SW

July 10, 2017 1:18 pm

| 2 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle police

(WSB photo: SPD car that was blocking 34th at Thistle)

Several people have asked about the police response near 34th SW and SW Elmgrove. Officers have safely resolved a situation involving a possibly armed person who was reported to be threatening self-harm. The person will be evaluated by medics, and the streets will be reopening, according to radio exchanges; we have just confirmed with SPD that no one was injured.

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WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Stolen laptop; threatening vandalism

July 10, 2017 12:15 pm

| 1 COMMENT

| Crime | Delridge | West Seattle news

Two reader reports in West Seattle Crime Watch so far today:

STOLEN LAPTOP: Lisa reports a car break-in, sometime between Saturday night and this morning on Delridge near Home Depot; a black bag containing her boyfriend’s work laptop was taken. Useless to the thief or thieves, she says: “You aren’t able to do much because it is secured and needs a government ID to turn on.” It’s a black Dell laptop, Latitude e7450, serial starts with G7S, also “identifying number (ending with 3837) barcode on bottom.” If you have any info, the police incident # is 2017-250195.

THREATENING GRAFFITI VANDALISM: A reader reports spotting “DIE” in orange spray paint on the side of a house near Fairmount Park. He spoke to a neighbor who planned to notify the residents; the police Twitter log indicates a report has been filed.

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Memorial gathering next month for Derek Grasso, 1961-2017

July 10, 2017 11:06 am

| 2 COMMENTS

| Obituaries | West Seattle news

Family and friends will gather August 19th to remember Derek Grasso. Here’s the remembrance his wife Michele is sharing with the community:

Derek Grasso was a blinding light filled with unconditional compassion and knowledge. He touched many throughout Seattle and beyond in his time on this earth. He never judged, he lived without guilt, and accepted anyone in their truth. He helped many strangers with advice and acceptance. He was the person that counseled the homeless instead of turning his head. He was the stranger you met on the bus that very well may have changed your life.

Derek passed away suddenly this February from a major heart attack; he was surrounded by love while the medics tried to save him, but tragically he passed away en route to Harborview Medical Center.

Derek moved from Boston to Seattle in 1997 with his best friend Jenna. Derek and Jenna came to a new state and new beginning together like explorers. His wild and adventurous spirit was always something that could leave you in the wind if you weren’t brave enough to face the unknown. He often rode the city’s transit system, wandered and explored the city; he made many friends and acquaintances helping all of them along the way.

Derek met his wife, Michele Grasso, at West Seattle Thriftway shortly after he moved to Seattle. Though his past was much like an unbelievable story, the meeting of his future wife was much like a fairy tale filled with romance and uncertainty, eventually leading to a union of hearts and souls the world could envy.

Derek is survived by his most beloved, an elusive ghost of a lover and eventually, the greatest love of all, Michele Grasso. His most important compatriot of experience and friendship, Jenna Oliver. A wild and knowing spirit that always challenged, Louise Rutherford, a sweet little cat named Kali who was his everyday buddy, and the hundreds of souls encountered that were changed for the better simply because they met him and were able to hear his words.

A memorial gathering is scheduled for August 19th at Lincoln Park in West Seattle. Please contact Michele Grasso (kitapunk [at] hotmail.com) for additional information, including exact location and time.

(WSB publishes West Seattle obituaries by request, free of charge. Please e-mail the text, and a photo if available, to editor@westseattleblog.com)

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WEST SEATTLE WHALE-WATCHING: Orcas headed this way

July 10, 2017 10:48 am

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| Seen at sea | West Seattle news | Wildlife

From Alisa with Orca Network, word of orcas headed this way: “At 10:40 am there are approximately five Bigg’s/Transient orcas now grouped, in Bainbridge Island/Seattle ferry lanes, east side of the channel heading southbound slowly, sometimes stalling, skirting mid-Elliott Bay.” And she stresses that they are “going on long down times” – but still, if you have the chance to grab your binoculars and go look, you might see whales. Let us know if you do!

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West Seattle Monday: Music Under the Stars, week 2; lots @ the libraries; more…

July 10, 2017 10:12 am

| 1 COMMENT

| West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Osprey at Alki Point – photographed by Jim Borrow)

Options aplenty for today/tonight, and many are at your local Seattle Public Library branches! Highlights from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:

X-STREAM MAGIC: 11 am at West Seattle (Admiral) Library, free, geared toward kids 5-12 – more info in our calendar listing. (2306 42nd SW)

WADING POOLS AND SPRAYPARK: Here’s what’s open today and when – Lincoln Park wading pool and Highland Park spraypark, 11 am-8 pm; Delridge wading pool, noon-6:30 pm. (Go here to find addresses)

LUNCH AT THE LIBRARIES: Just a reminder of our ongoing summer listings, anyone 18 and under can get lunch for free at the High Point (35th SW/SW Raymond) or Delridge (5423 Delridge Way SW) libraries, 12:30-1:30 pm.

BUSINESS WORKSHOP: 6-8 pm at Delridge Library, learn how to grow your small business. Free, but registration is recommended – more info in our calendar listing. (5423 Delridge Way SW)

EVENING BOOK GROUP @ SOUTHWEST LIBRARY: 6:45 pm – this month’s title is “Mountains Beyond Mountains” by Tracy Kidder. All welcome. (35th SW/SW Henderson)

EVENING BOOK GROUP @ WS LIBRARY: 6:45 pm – this month’s title is “On Such a Full Sea” by Chang-Rae Lee.

MUSIC UNDER THE STARS, WEEK 2: It’s the second of four Monday nights for this free series presented by the Seattle Chamber Music Society at Delridge Community Center park – 7:30 pm, a group will perform live; 8 pm, you’re invited to stay and listen to audio of KING-FM’s live broadcast of SCMS’s festival concert at Benaroya Hall. Bring your own chair/blanket. Here’s our coverage of last week’s event. (Delridge Way SW/SW Genesee)

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Another major city project in West Seattle: New details of SPU’s $54 million South Operations Center planned @ former bus yard

July 10, 2017 9:04 am

| Comments Off on Another major city project in West Seattle: New details of SPU’s $54 million South Operations Center planned @ former bus yard

| Utilities | West Seattle news

(South Operations Center rendering, from city website)

ORIGINAL REPORT, 9:04 AM: Back in September 2015, we reported that Seattle Public Utilities wanted to turn the bus yard at 4500 West Marginal Way SW [map] into its future Drainage and Wastewater South Operations Center. At the time, the city was looking at leasing the land. We hadn’t heard anything more about the project since then, but a notice in today’s Land Use Information Bulletin shows the project has been proceeding. The notice includes this description of the project planned for the six-acre site:

The DWW South Operations Center Project would replace or upgrade the main building’s roof and exterior walls and mechanical systems, including heating and cooling, plumbing, and electrical systems. Exterior space improvements are expected to include installation of new buried utilities, repairs to existing stormwater piping and sanitary sewer facilities on and off-site, retrofitting paved areas with stormwater bioretention areas, adding a 40-foot-tall radio tower adjacent to the main building for dispatch and emergency services, installing solar energy and rainwater harvest systems, constructing several lightly loaded structures that would be used primarily for storage and parking, and removing and replacing existing paved surfaces in areas to facilitate site and utility improvements. New structures would likely be supported with new shallow foundations. Additional site improvements would include enhancing safety at an existing railroad and bike path crossing at the site entrance, planting additional trees, and adding up to four electric vehicle charging stations. The completed DWW South Operations Center would operate seven days every week, would be completely fenced, and would be accessible only to those individuals having required authorization.

An online timeline says construction is expected in 2019. The notice published today advises that there’s been a Determination of Non-Significance for the project, meaning SPU believes an environmental-impact statement is not needed. The notice includes two deadlines for the public – comments on the DNS are due by July 24th, and if anyone wants to appeal it, that has to be filed by July 31st.

The notice points to a website for the project but it has few details, so we’re asking SPU for more, including the site’s purchase price and the project’s estimated cost, as well as the “environmental checklist” to which the notice refers, which isn’t on that site yet, though the notice says it should be. Meantime, you can see a bit more about the design on three pages of the SHKS Architects website.

6:24 PM: Since our morning report, the checklist link has been added to the project website – scroll down this page. Also, SPU says the property was purchased for $11,550,000, and that’s included in the project’s estimated cost of $54.2 million.

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TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Monday updates; this week’s alerts

July 10, 2017 6:07 am

| 4 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

(HERE’S THE SDOT MAP with travel times/video links; is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE)

6:07 AM: Good morning! First, please note that SDOT’s cameras for the “high bridge” are not working this morning, so that’s why you don’t see them above. Second: No incidents right now in/from West Seattle. Third, alerts:

FERRY ALERT: The Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth run is still down to two boats, since the Issaquah was taken out of service Sunday afternoon because of mechanical trouble.

ROXBURY SIDEWALK WORK: The two-month project to build sidewalks and replace road panels along the south (eastbound) side of SW Roxbury between 28th and 30th is scheduled to start today, according to the most-recent announcement from King County Roads. We’ll be checking the area for signs of staging.

WEST SEATTLE SUMMER FEST: From Thursday night through Sunday night, California SW in The Junction, between Edmunds and Genesee, will be off-limits to motorized vehicle traffic, as will SW Alaska between 42nd and 44th, all for West Seattle Summer Fest – road closures start at 6 pm Thursday for setup and continue until late Sunday night for breakdown. Lots of fun stuff during those nights and days, too, and we’ll be publishing more previews later today and right up until it all begins. This of course means bus reroutes too – Metro hasn’t published them yet but they’ll be part of our coverage too (and if you find yourself in The Junction during the festival, looking for where to catch a bus, come see us in the Info Booth at California/Alaska because we’ll have the list).

9:29 AM: As pointed out in comments, Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth is back to all three boats.

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