READER REPORT: ‘Ghost bike’ for Marvin Miller, after 12 years
The photos are from Al, who explains: “Attached to the railing where the two bike paths merge under the south end of the 1st Ave Bridge is a new ‘Ghost Bike.’ It definitely wasn’t there Friday evening and I truly believe it wasn’t there this morning around 6 am, but it is there now. Dedicated to ‘Marvin Miller died doing what he loved…March 17, 2006…’.” This is attached, a picture of Mr. Miller and the text of his obituary:
We found one online report about the deadly crash, from seattlepi.com. If you haven’t heard about “ghost bikes” before, they’re explained here.
UPDATE: Electrical-wire problem briefly brings Seattle Fire ‘full response’ to apartments in 4000 block California SW
(WSB photo by Patrick Sand)
7:03 PM: Seattle Fire is sending a full response to a “fire in a building” call at an apartment complex in the 4000 block of California SW.
7:09 PM: This is on California between Andover and Dakota. You’ll want to avoid the area for a while.
7:12 PM: According to radio communication, they haven’t found any sign of fire – some “sparking” – and they’re reducing the size of the response.
7:16 PM: Firefighters report finding an “arcing wire” that’s the source of the problem, and have declared it a “tapped fire.”
(This WSB photo and next, by Christopher Boffoli)
7:19 PM: Added photos sent by our crew; we’ve confirmed all of the above at the scene.
Firefighters also say there’s no damage of note, no injuries, and they’ll be wrapping up.
WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: About the police response at Westwood Village
5:03 PM: Thanks for the tips about a police response on the east side of Westwood Village. It was wrapping up when we got there but the sergeant on scene was able to tell us that it wasn’t an incident response – they were there to arrest someone on a warrant. We don’t yet know who or what kind of warrant, but we’ll be watching the jail roster.
P.S. Crime concern/question? Tomorrow night is the monthly West Seattle Crime Prevention Council meeting at the Southwest Precinct (2300 SW Webster), 7 pm. The briefing/Q&A with local police precedes the featured guest – this month, find out about regional drug trends from Steve Freng of the Northwest High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area.
ADDED TUESDAY: According to online records, the person arrested is a 19-year-old man wanted in connection with an assault case. He got out of jail less than three weeks ago after two and a half months behind bars.
FOLLOWUP: Early response to Fauntleroy Creek Stewardship Fund ‘encouraging’
Our area’s precious green spaces can’t be taken for granted. In realization of that, the Fauntleroy Watershed Stewardship Fund was announced earlier this month, and we have an update from creek steward Judy Pickens:
The fund to enable ongoing stewardship of Fauntleroy Creek and Fauntleroy Park now has $3,600 toward its initial goal of $30,000.
The Fauntleroy Watershed Council announced the fund on March 1 in the wake of ever-decreasing grant funding for restoring and maintaining Seattle’s natural areas. EarthCorps, an international conservation training program, is accepting tax-deductible donations on behalf of the council and its trainees will do the lion’s share of the work that’s funded.
“This early response is greatly encouraging,” said Peggy Cummings, a member of the council’s executive committee. “Our main concern is being able to maintain restoration already done at public expense so those investments aren’t lost.”
Ensuring that the creek is safe for students is a particular focus for donations. Volunteers will be hosting 19 salmon releases starting April 27, which will bring an estimated 750 students to the watershed.
Find out more about the fund at the council’s table at Tuesday night’s Fauntleroy Food Fest, 6 pm in the Hall at Fauntleroy, or at www.fauntleroywatershed.org.
The FFF is the Fauntleroy Community Association‘s annual membership meeting – community members are invited to enjoy tastings from local restaurants, to find out more about what’s going on in the community – with a multitude of groups (like the Watershed Council) and agencies participating – and to renew FCA membership. (The Hall is at 9131 California SW.)
Southwest Athletic Complex track and field renovations to start in May, with 2-phase schedule
A document in the agenda packet for this Wednesday’s Seattle Public Schools board meeting shows the timeline for upcoming work at Southwest Athletic Complex, the stadium and sports fields just south of Chief Sealth International High School. The levy-funded $1.5 million project “will include replacement of the existing synthetic turf at football, softball, and baseball fields using cork infill, refurbishing the existing rubberized running track, and associated work,” according to the document. A timeline is set for two phases of work – the first, starting on the track in mid-May, to be complete before graduation ceremonies at the stadium in late June, and then right after those events, field improvements will start, to be done before football practice begins August 15th. The agenda item seeks to award the contract to King County Directors’ Association, described as “a purchasing cooperative owned by Washington State Public School Districts.”
Another year for Camp Second Chance? Meeting tomorrow, and how to comment if you can’t be there
(Camp Second Chance entrance, photographed December 2017 by WSB’s Leda Costa)
Early reminder that tomorrow (Tuesday, March 20th) brings the city meeting about whether sanctioned encampment Camp Second Chance will be able to stay on the city-owned Myers Way Parcels for another year. The city’s initial policies about sanctioned encampments stipulates that they can stay at any one site for up to two years. C2C actually has been at this site for more than a year and a half, as it originally moved onto the city-owned land without authorization in July 2016; the city later decided to open and fund sanctioned encampments, and retroactively designated C2C as one of them. Nonetheless, the city is considering renewing the permit through early next year, and a meeting for comments is part of the process: 6:30 pm Tuesday at the Joint Training Facility (9401 Myers Way S.). If you can’t be there but have comments about the proposed renewal, e-mail them to homelessness@seattle.gov (with Myers Way in the subject line) or call 206-727-8496 by April 5th. C2C is currently home to about 50 people, according to what was reported at the most recent meeting of its Community Advisory Committee.
DEVELOPMENT: Junction, Avalon, Pigeon Point notes
Tower cranes handle many tasks – including getting portapotties to where they’re needed at construction sites. Thanks to Cathy Ingraham for catching and sharing that photo last week from the ongoing Harbor Avenue SW project we’ll forever know as the “former Alki Tavern” (now gone 5 years) site. Meantime, a few development notes from city files:
JUNCTION PROJECT UPDATE: It’s been three weeks since we first reported on the early-stage plan for a 7-story mixed-use building at 4747 California SW. One additional detail has turned up on a document that’s appeared in city files since then – the application for a “pre-submittal conference” lists an early projection of 84 residential units and 50 offstreet parking spaces.
DESIGN PROPOSAL FOR 3078 SW AVALON: Six months ago, we reported on the new 8-townhouse plan for this site, which once was proposed for an eight-story, 108-unit apartment building, and was at the heart of a neighborhood challenge. The current project is going through Streamlined Design Review (no meeting but open to public comment), and the design proposal is now online – see it here.
8823 9TH SW: Six townhouses are proposed to replace the 50-year-old duplex on this Highland Park site.
3850 22ND SW: Two 3-unit rowhouse buildings are proposed to replace the 88-year-old house on this Pigeon Point site.
ALSO ON THAT BLOCK: Two doors down from the aforementioned project, at 3842 22nd SW, there’s an application to tear down this 102-year-old house “for future construction.” (A separate site plan on file says it’s a 3-unit rowhouse building.) And inbetween, 3846 22nd SW is the address listed for a future new single-family house between the rowhouses.
What’s ahead on your West Seattle Monday
(Sunday morning view of The Brothers, photographed from Alki Beach by David Hutchinson)
Last day of winter, but spring seems to have arrived early, as evidenced by the two beautiful photos gracing today’s list. Highlights from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
SOUTHWEST SEATTLE YOUTH ALLIANCE: This group working on “community and school strategies to reduce and prevent underage drug and alcohol use” meets at noon at Neighborhood House High Point. (6400 Sylvan Way SW)
SOUTHWEST POOL IS OPEN AGAIN: We confirmed that the city-run indoor pool reopened Sunday, one day later than planned after almost three weeks of maintenance work. Today’s swim sessions per the schedule include adult/senior, noon-1:30 pm; lap swims, 3-4 pm and 5:30-6:30 pm; public swim, 7:30-8:30 pm. (2801 SW Thistle)
FREE TAX HELP: Drop in, no reservation required, but it’s first-come, first-served, 2-7 pm today at Delridge Library – details here. (5423 Delridge Way SW)
LIGHT SEARCH AND RESCUE: Want to be REALLY prepared in case of catastrophe? This class offered by the city at the Joint Training Facility in southeast West Seattle might be for you. 6-8 pm. Check to see if there’s room – free but registration required. (9401 Myers Way S.)
FAMILY STORY TIME: 6:30 pm at High Point Library, for kids of all ages! (35th SW/SW Raymond)
(Sunday moonset, photographed by Chris Frankovich)
LAST SUNSET OF WINTER: 7:20 pm, according to the daily list on the WSB West Seattle Weather page; moonset, 9:58 pm. And remember that tomorrow (Tuesday) night brings Alice’s spring-equinox sunset watch!
COUNTDOWN: 5 days to Egg Hunt #1, and what else is on our newly launched list
Our Easter, Passover, and More seasonal list went live over the weekend, and as always, we will be continuing to update it daily through the end of spring-holiday season in early April. The event list starts with an “early” egg hunt and spring celebration next Saturday (March 24th) at Forest Lawn (6701 30th SW; WSB sponsor). The list also includes church services for Holy Week (starting with Palm Sunday on March 25th), and we’ve heard from six churches already. As with our year-round calendar, it’s free to have your event(s)/service(s)/brunch/etc. on the list – just e-mail the info ASAP to editor@westseattleblog.com – no need for a fancy “press release” or flyer, just tell us the basic what/when/where/etc. – thank you!
TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Monday watch
(SDOT MAP with travel times/video links; is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE)
6:59 AM: Good morning. No incidents reported right now in/from West Seattle; no transit alerts so far.
VIADUCT CLOSURE THIS WEEKEND: We’ll remind you every day this week – the Alaskan Way Viaduct is scheduled to close 6 am-6 pm Saturday (March 24th) for its spring inspection, and again on Sunday if the work isn’t completed Saturday.
WATER TAXI NOTE: As mentioned Friday, the Water Taxi backup boat Spirit of Kingston is scheduled to fill in for the Kitsap Transit foot ferry starting today, but King County says that if there’s a problem during that time with either of its boats, SoK will fill in.
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