UPDATE: SFD checking out possible fire at Delridge/23rd SW
10:45 PM: A Seattle Fire “full response” is arriving at Delridge Way SW/23rd SW after a report of a possible house fire. More to come.
10:51 PM: We aren’t on scene yet to see for sure but what’s being described on the scanner sounds like the long-long-long-vacant house at 3804 23rd SW. SFD reports no smoke/flames but “signs of charring.”
10:55 PM: Some units are being dismissed while SFD is continuing to investigate.
11:10 PM: The call closed and all responders departed before our crew arrived. (added) A nearby resident said via Twitter that SFD pulled out a smoldering item that looked like a trash can.
WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Stolen black Sierra pickup truck
A stolen pickup truck to watch for, as reported by Steve:
My black GMC Sierra Truck was stolen around March 19-22. Was parked in secure parking garage, new building on California Ave, west side of street… The apartment building garage is on alley side between Charleston and Andover St. License #C98796G.
If you see it, call 911.
34th District State Senator Sharon Nelson says she won’t run for re-election
For the first time in eight years, there’ll be an open seat in our area’s 34th Legislative District – State Sen. Sharon Nelson announced today that she will not run for re-election. The Maury Island resident has served in the Legislature for 10 years, first in the House, where she won Legislator of the Year after just one year. In fall of 2010, she moved up to the Senate, where she became Majority Leader earlier this year. In a note to colleagues in Olympia today, she said, in part:
… Five years ago, when I became leader, my goals were to build a strong caucus and to retake the majority and to show what that majority meant to the State of Washington. Because of each of you, my goals have been achieved. … it is time for me to return next year to being a wife, mother, grandmother and daughter (yes, my mother is 89 and still a big part of our family). Simply said, I am not running for re-election to the Senate and looking forward to time with my family while all of you are in session next year!
Sen. Nelson’s focuses have included environmental and consumer protection. So who will run to succeed her? No word yet. The official filing week starts May 14th.
ADDED WEDNESDAY: The first person we asked about potential candidacy was 34th District Rep. Joe Fitzgibbon, who worked for Sen. Nelson before his election. His reply: “I have not yet decided if I will run for Sen. Nelson’s seat. I am taking input from friends regarding in which chamber they think I can be most effective for our district and our priorities. I will be making a decision soon.”
LIGHT RAIL: Sound Transit sets the date for West Seattle’s first ‘neighborhood forum’
(Sound Transit Link file photo, Capitol Hill)
In our ongoing coverage of the planning for West Seattle (and Ballard) light rail, we’ve mentioned that Sound Transit promised its first series of “neighborhood forums” would start in late April, with one in West Seattle. Details have just gone public: 10 am-12:30 pm Saturday, May 5th, at the Masonic Hall in The Junction (4736 40th SW, same site as the February open house). Here’s how it will work, Sound Transit says:
· Sign in and check out project maps and background info (10 minutes)
· Watch a brief presentation that covers the project overview and new concepts from early scoping (20 minutes)
· Break out into small groups to discuss neighborhood-specific topics and share your insights (2 hours)
If you’re not already on the ST e-mail list, here’s the full update sent this afternoon, including plans for the non-West Seattle neighborhood forums.
Our most-recent coverage of light-rail planning, from the Stakeholder Advisory Group‘s March 14th meeting, is here.
WestSide Baby’s CommuniTea: Closer to home this year!
The biggest tea party of the season needs a big venue, as well as hundreds of big-hearted community members to fill it, and this year, that party – WestSide Baby‘s CommuniTea – will be closer to home than ever! It’s moved to the downtown Seattle Sheraton (1400 6th Ave.), which is less than half as far from the heart of West Seattle as its previous home at the Hilton near Sea-Tac. The CommuniTea is now less than a month away, 2-4 pm Sunday, April 22nd, and there’s still time to RSVP for your ticket(s). Your contribution helps more kids than ever, since WestSide Baby, headquartered in White Center, has grown in recent years to help children around the county, by filling needs from diapers to car seats. Going to the CommuniTea is a way to help make all that happen – while also enjoying beverages, bites, and good company.
FOLLOWUP: School-zone beacons, curb-ramp upgrades on SW Admiral Way
We checked in with SDOT today to see when the promised school-zone beacons would be installed on SW Admiral Way near Alki Elementary. Spokesperson Dawn Schellenberg replied, “The flashing beacon equipment has arrived. Installation to complete the work will happen in the next few weeks.” And she added this update on the 49th SW/SW Admiral Way intersection:
In addition to the other improvements planned at this intersection, our pedestrian program decided to upgrade the curb ramps on the side where the crosswalk is being moved and the flashing beacons are being installed. We’re completing the curb ramp design based on this updated improvement. The addition, however, will delay the installation somewhat. We still expect to have everything complete in 2018.
After her reply, we went by 49th/Admiral for a photo and discovered an SDOT crew had just arrived on scene:
The school-zone beacons were not part of the original SW Admiral Way Safety Project plan, but resulted from a discussion with Alki Elementary parents.
WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Stolen green Accord wagon
The latest reader report on a stolen vehicle to watch for – from Diana:
My 1993 Green Honda Accord Wagon was stolen yesterday, Monday, March 26th, in West Seattle. It was parked on 39th SW, the backside of Trader Joe’s and West Seattle Bowl. Somewhere between 2 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. License plate ATS6628.
If you see it, call 911.
P.S. Year to date, vehicle theft is up 3 percent citywide, according to last week’s SeaStat briefing.
West Seattle Tuesday: Town Hall with Rep. Jayapal; court system explained @ WSBWCN; more…
(Brant, photographed by Katy Coffey. Enjoy the view before they go!)
Blustery Tuesday so far, but that’s no reason to stay home … check out our highlights from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
DINE OUT FOR MADISON MUSICIANS: 4-10 pm at Mioposto in Admiral, part of the proceeds will benefit the Madison Middle School band program. (2139 California SW)
MUSIC WITH A VIEW: 5-8 pm at Salty’s on Alki (WSB sponsor), Justin Kausal-Hayes plays “acoustic hits of the last 4 decades.” No cover. (1936 Harbor SW)
REP. JAYAPAL’S WEST SEATTLE TOWN HALL: 6-7 pm at The Hall at Fauntleroy, as previewed here, our area’s U.S. House Rep. Pramila Jayapal plans a town-hall meeting to find out what’s on your mind. (9131 California SW)
WEST SEATTLE BLOCK WATCH CAPTAINS’ NETWORK: 6:30 pm at the Southwest Precinct, get an update from police and hear City Attorney’s Office precinct liaison Joe Everett explain “the structure of the criminal court system” as well as what he does. Here’s the full preview on the WSBWCN website. All welcome, whether you’re involved with a Block Watch or not! (2300 SW Webster)
MEDITATION & DISCUSSION: 7-8:30 pm at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center – details in our calendar listing. (4408 Delridge Way SW)
HOLY WEEK SERVICES LIST: See it here – now with 11 churches’ schedules, plus the Easter Sunday sunrise services, and other seasonal events like Saturday’s egg hunts. (Something to add? Send it as soon as you can! editor@westseattleblog.com – thank you!)
VIDEO: 2 Highway 99 tunnel updates, as it gets closer to completion
WSDOT has just gone public with two new videos of/about the Highway 99 tunnel, as its completion and opening approach. The video above is described as work as the double-deck highway inside it was finished. Below, a narrated clip explains the next phase of work:
Now crews are installing and testing the tunnel’s operational and safety systems. It’s a big job. Inside the tunnel there are:
*More than 300 cameras to monitor traffic and security at all times as part of an incident-detection system.
*Automatic ventilation systems designed to keep air quality and visibility high.
*Automated sprinkler systems designed to put out a fire quickly at its source.
Together, these systems will make the SR 99 tunnel one of the “smartest” tunnels ever built. This video explains how the critical air quality and fire safety systems work together:
Read more here.
As we’ve been reporting, and as WSDOT reiterates today, the tunnel *might* open as soon as this fall. When it’s pronounced ready to go, the Alaskan Way Viaduct will be shut down and two to three weeks of work to finish connections to the tunnel will commence. (We reported more about that – and the status of tunnel-toll-decisionmaking – recently here.)
TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Tuesday watch
(SDOT MAP with travel times/video links; is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE)
6:52 AM: Good morning. One transit alert so far this morning – an after-the-fact alert – Metro announced at 6:25 am that the 6:02 am Route 55 bus “did not operate.”
As for traffic incidents, none yet in or from West Seattle.
7:38 AM: Stalled vehicle in outside lane on EB bridge at exit to I-5.
7:55 AM: SDOT says that has cleared.
8:45 AM: Crash reported at Delridge/Orchard. (Added) Metro says this is delaying buses.
See who’s in the running for Seattle school superintendent, and how you can grade them
The Seattle School Board has announced its three finalists for superintendent, and wants you to be part of the process of figuring out who gets the job.
From left, in district-provided photos, are former Montana state Superintendent of Public Instruction (now a consultant) Denise Juneau, Harrison School District 2 Superintendent Dr. Andre D. Spencer of Colorado, and Ann Arbor (Michigan) Superintendent Dr. Jeanice Kerr Swift. Short bios for all three are here.
On April 4th, the school board expects to vote to start negotiating with its preferred candidate. But before they decide who that will be, here’s how they invite you to weigh in:
*This Thursday (March 29th), 5-8:15 pm, the three finalists will “present and answer questions … sequentially,” as explained here, in a public forum at district HQ (3rd/Lander in SODO). If you can’t be there in person, you can watch on cable channel 26 or via a district-website livestream.
*You’re then asked to use these short survey forms to send in your evaluations of the three:
–This one for Denise Juneau
–This one for Dr. Andre D. Spencer
–This one for Dr. Jeanice Kerr Swift
Here’s more background on the search for a successor to Dr. Larry Nyland, who has been superintendent since 2014, when José Banda left after 2 years.
CONGRATULATIONS! Hiawatha girls win city basketball championship
The report and photos are from coach Rob Wright:
Wanted to pass along the news about our basketball team’s championship (Sunday)! Our girls won the Seattle city championship in the 13-year-old SELECT division out of Hiawatha Community Center. We had an undefeated season, capped off with a 30-15 victory in the championship game versus Magnuson Community Center. The girls did an incredible job all season!
From left to right / bottom to top:
Ciera Jorge, Lauren Wright, Wynn Larsen, Emily Larsen, Katie Williamson, Olivia George, Jadyn Watts, Kaydinse Peirsol, Sophia Hyde, MiQueen Gaines, Coach Rob Wright, Coach Jeff Larsen
FOLLOWUP: See which West Seattle schools are now described as ‘priorities’ in BEX V levy planning
Which West Seattle public schools will be included in the district’s BEX V levy, which goes to voters next February as the six-year BEX IV expires? As mentioned here last night, the School Board has a work session coming up Wednesday, in advance of April public meetings – and there’s information of interest in the Wednesday agenda information that has just gone public. The 92-page document full of stats and maps includes two key pages with updates on which schools are under consideration and why:
Priority schools with regards to capacity (needing more room) are on page 48. The list includes four elementaries in our area – Alki, Lafayette, Roxhill, and West Seattle – as well as Madison Middle School:
Priority schools with regards to facilities condition (in bad shape) are on page 54. That list also includes Alki, Lafayette, and Roxhill, as well as the old Schmitz Park, plus Boren STEM K-8.
Roxhill, as we’ve been reporting, is being moved this fall to E.C. Hughes Elementary, which is being remodeled. Alki and Lafayette have long been mentioned as strong candidates for rebuilds. BEX (Building Excellence) levy projects aren’t always rebuilds, though – they also have included, over the years, additions and extensive remodels. You’re welcome to sit in on the board work session Wednesday, 4:30-7:30 pm at district HQ in SODO (3rd/Lander). Then, as also mentioned last night, the West Seattle feedback meeting is set for 6:30 pm Tuesday, April 3rd, at Madison (3429 45th SW). Here’s the full levy timetable, also from the newly released Wednesday board agenda:
• April 2018: Community Meetings Discuss Capacity & Assessment Criteria/Board Guiding Principles
• May 2018: Community Input/Feedback Summary to Board/Planning Team
• June 2018: Home Language Focus Groups Meetings
• June 2018: Community Input/Feedback Summary to Board/Planning Team
• Sept. 2018: Community Meetings to Present Recommended Levies Scope
• Oct. 2018: Community Input/Feedback Summary to Board/Planning Team
• Oct./Nov. 2018: Levies 2019 Public Hearing between Board Intro and Action
• Oct./Nov. 2018: News release on School Board Action
• Dec. 2018: “A Report to the Community” Brochure Distributed to Community
• Jan. 2019: “Levies Information 2019” Brochure Distributed/Posted
• Feb. 2019: News Release on Election Outcome
Election Day will be February 12, 2019.
Use E.C. Hughes Playground? Here’s what you need to know about upcoming renovations
(WSB photo, taken this morning)
Thanks to Kenneth for the tip that the sign’s up at EC Hughes Playground (2805 SW Holden), where play-area renovations are starting soon. We first reported last fall that Seattle Parks decided the play equipment needed to be replaced, after inspections done following the discovery of wood damage in a similar structure at Lincoln Park South Play Area.
The sign does not mean work at EC Hughes is starting soon, though. We checked in with Parks’ project point person Libby Hughes, who tells WSB that two public-outreach meetings are planned, in April and June (dates/times/locations soon), and construction is expected to start this fall, “after school starts.” The goal of the project, she says, is “to renovate the play equipment with structures that meet current safety standards and are accessible to children of all abilities, ages 2-5 and 5-12 years, and to make some ADA improvements for access to the play area.” The EC Hughes wading pool is not involved in the project. Hughes adds that she’s also working on yet another play-area renovation in West Seattle, “similar scope and timeline” – Puget Ridge Playground (6029 21st SW). More details on that one soon.
FOLLOWUP: Surprise gifts for West Seattle girl who lost cherished keepsake to car prowler
The photo above is from an unexpected followup to a recent West Seattle Crime Watch reader report. At right is Yzzy, whose mom Alex reported a smash-and-grab during their regular Saturday morning Morgan Junction coffee run – taken from the wheel well was a special World War II aviation-themed bag that Yzzy cherished. At left in the photo is Deb, who had read the report and subsequently e-mailed to say:
I work at Vulcan (Paul Allen’s company) and we have a WWII museum, Flying Heritage and Combat Armor Museum in Everett. I reached out to our team there and they have come through with a gift bag for Alex’s daughter (see photo). We hope this gift bag, including 4 passes to the museum, will brighten her day and reaffirm there are good folks out here in the world!
So we connected them, and requested a followup report, which Alex sent after their Saturday morning meetup. If you recognize Yzzy, her mom explains why:
Yzzy was so happy with all the gifts from the Vulcan folks. Deb was wonderful – one of those people that really listen & talk with & connect with younger folks. It just filled my heart up to watch them chat. I made a connection with a West Side neighbor as well – something that is hard for me, as I’m not much of a people person.
Deb even recognized Yz from the Blog posts of bake sales for disaster relief over the years – and offered to help bake for the next fundraiser.
We talked about Yzzy’s love of WWII planes, her great-grandfather being part of the 82nd airborne & the Market Garden operation. (Ever see “A Bridge Too Far”?)
Deb told us about all the things Vulcan does and the WWII ship recently discovered by their endeavors (of course – Yzzy knew the name & that it had been part of the Midway operation).
We’re planning a family trip up to the Everett Flying Heritage Museum in a month or two & promised to take pics & let Deb know about that adventure.
The negative of the smash & grab turned around into such a positive! An affirmation of our wonderful West Seattle community. Thank you Deb. Thank you Vulcan. Thank you West Seattle Blog.
And a few words from Yzzy herself:
When I got my bag stolen, I was kind of in shock. Since I had never had that sort of thing happen to me before, I didn’t know how to react. When my mom told me about Deb & Vulcan, I couldn’t be happier!
Knowing that someone, and their co-workers, went out of their way to do this for me, makes me want to do this sort of thing when I grow up.
(As her mom mentioned – and as we have covered over the years – Yzzy’s giving nature already is in evidence.)
YOU CAN HELP! Drop off donations for Highline Premier Football Club’s soccer-goal food drive Wednesday
Hunger is no match for generosity. Local youth-soccer organization Highline Premier Football Club is hoping you can help reach a goal, by filling a goal:
On Wednesday, March 28th from 4:30 pm to 9:00 pm, help HPFC fill an entire soccer goal with non-perishable food items. Players and families throughout the evening will accept your donations outside Walt Hundley Playfield, located at 3200 SW Myrtle Street, and just blocks from the West Seattle Food Bank. Simply drive up, give, and go.
Tryouts begin April 24th for players born 2009-2010 and run through the beginning of May for older age groups. For the complete tryout schedule and to register, visit highlinepremier.com/tryouts.
HPFC is the official Premier Development program of Highline Soccer Association (HSA) and the place for players looking for a year-round soccer experience. HPFC welcomes athletes looking to elevate their soccer experience, in an environment focused on individual development, advanced technical training, fluid team play, and engagement in community.
HSA represents more than 4,000 youth soccer players from the communities of Des Moines/Midway, Sea-Tac, West Highline, and West Seattle. The Association is made up of two Recreational Soccer Clubs, West Seattle Soccer Club and Highline Soccer Club; a Select Soccer Program, HSA Select; and the Premier Development program, Highline Premier Football Club.
TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Rainy Monday watch; ferry alert
(SDOT MAP with travel times/video links; is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE)
6:55 AM: Good morning and welcome to a rainy Monday morning. No incidents reported in or from West Seattle so far. But there’s a ferry alert – the Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth route is down to 2 boats:
The #3 vessel Issaquah is out of service with a steering issue until further notice. The following sailings are canceled: 6:40 am from Vashon, 7:05 am from Fauntleroy, 7:30 am from Vashon to Southworth, 7:55 am from Southworth, 8:15 am from Vashon, and the 8:45 am from Fauntleroy. Two-boat service on the regular schedule is in effect until further notice.
West Seattle Transportation Coalition hears what’s next for the bike-share program, Fauntleroy Boulevard $, more
(Two LimeBikes, photographed at Seacrest this week)
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
You’ve seen them. Maybe you’ve even taken rides on them. Seattle’s bike-share bicycles were one big topic at this month’s West Seattle Transportation Coalition meeting, which also included discussions of the money that’s not being spent (yet) on the on-hold Fauntleroy Boulevard project, and light-rail planning.
First, the bike-share briefing, with SDOT’s program manager Joel Miller, who started with some backstory, going back to the scrapped docked-bike program Pronto: “One of the big lessons learned from Pronto is that you don’t launch a bike-share system in Seattle in October.” So the new dockless bike-share program launched in July and is still in a pilot period, with three companies: LimeBike (green), Spin (orange), and oFo (yellow). You can take the bicycles door to door, or, for example, “door to transit.”
They started with 500 bikes and now have about 10,000 bikes on the street, according to Miller.
Read More
VIDEO: Highland Park neighbors celebrate Martha Mallett’s milestone birthday
(WSB photos)
Big birthday party this afternoon at Highland Park Improvement Club for a longtime community mainstay – Martha Mallett celebrated her 90th birthday! After a few warm words for partygoers, led them in a cheer of sorts:
She’s been involved since the 1950s with the historic community center, which is getting close to its centennial.
Highland Park-residing City Councilmember Lisa Herbold was among those at HPIC to honor Martha.
The councilmember read a special city proclamation declaring today “Martha Mallett Day” and detailing Martha’s many accomplishments:
As the proclamation noted, Martha’s decades of involvement with HPIC date back into the 1950s! Memorabilia including photos were on display at the party:
She was also serenaded with “What a Wonderful World.”
P.S. Due in no small part to Martha’s efforts, collaborating with neighbors, HPIC remains a thriving community organization/center to this day, with a variety of weekly and monthly events you can browse here.
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