West Seattle, Washington
13 Tuesday
Two similar views of tonight’s smoke-reddened sunset (along with Siberia and B.C., Northern California is a factor too, says Cliff Mass) – one with something extra. Above, David Hutchinson‘s view from Alki as the sun started to slip behind the Olympics … below, Robin Sinner‘s view, with a seabird that’s been audible inland too:
The silhouetted bird is a Caspian Tern, and their call – which some have described as “prehistoric” (see and hear them here) – has been heard more inland than we recall from previous years. We asked one of our expert local bird/wildlife watchers, Kersti Muul, about it recently and she said the terns heard away from the water are likely carrying food to a nesting colony that’s in the east Duwamish area.
Spotted in the commercial real-estate listings:
(King County Assessor website photo)
SUPER 24 JUST LISTED: The Super 24 store site in Delridge’s “Brandon Node” business district has just been listed, asking price just under $2 million. The site at 5455 Delridge Way SW is described as a “great redevelopment opportunity of mixed use or multi-family with short term leased back.” It’s a quarter-acre site currently zoned for four-story development, and if HALA Mandatory Housing Affordability is approved, the 40′ zoning would go up to 55′.
(King County Assessor website photo)
JUNCTION 7-11: The store at 4812 Erskine Way SW is a smaller site – 7,100 square feet – with a slightly smaller price, $1.8 million, but zoned for taller development – 65 feet, and here too (as with all commercial/multi-family property), more if HALA MHA is finalized – 75′ is proposed. The listing says in part, “First time available to the market. This is a high exposure property located in the heart of the West Seattle Junction. There is approximately four and one-half years left on the 7-11 lease” while noting that 7-11 parent company The Southland Corporation has the right of first refusal.
The photo and report are from team manager Jenny Ancich:
The West Seattle HSA Select Girls’ U12 team won the Outpatient Physical Therapy Summer Challenge tournament held in Maple Valley July 27 -29. They were undefeated, winning their 3 regulation matches, then winning their semi-final, making it to the final match. It was a penalty-kick shootout, with HSA coming out on top! Many thanks to the girls for toughing it out in the heat, and to head coach Kevin Broveleit and assistant coach Brett Ho!
Looking for a new career direction – or know someone who is? South Seattle College (WSB sponsor) on Puget Ridge is about to launch a new degree program. Here’s the announcement:
South Seattle College is offering an Associate of Applied Science degree in Network Security Administration starting this fall quarter, with classes beginning Sept. 24. The two-year program, designed for working adults, prepares students for immediate employment in information security, with the option to transfer to a bachelor’s degree program for further study.
Network security professionals play a key role in the development of network security systems and protocols to protect vulnerable digital infrastructure. SSC’s Network Security Administration program provides the technical skills and practical knowledge needed for students who plan to enter the information security field.
Program highlights:
· Designed in collaboration with cybersecurity experts from Microsoft and Amazon
· Classes are held in the evenings, on weekends and online to accommodate working adults
· Fast track to completion: prior industry certifications can count towards degree completion
The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a 56 percent increase in IT security job opportunities in the computer systems design and related services industry by 2026. With a degree in Network Security Administration, students have the opportunity to enter a variety of career fields including network administration, computer network defense and technical support.
Future student information:
Registration is now open for Fall Quarter. To learn more about the Network Security Administration program, sign up for an information session, and apply (go here).
The next Professional & Technical Career Training Information Session will be held on Aug. 8 from 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. Sessions are held in the Library (LIB), Room 217 (campus map). To sign up (go here).
Seattle Public Utilities has cleaned up the debris left behind after an RV crashed into the greenbelt east of West Seattle Health Club‘s parking lot early Saturday. As we reported from the scene, a man and woman were taken to the hospital and a dog went to a clinic. We doh’t know the status of any of those three, but we do know what happened at the scene. We went back at midday today to see if the debris had been cleaned up, and while we were there, two people from SPU arrived.
In our photo is environmental compliance inspector Angelique Hockett, who said they had just found out about the situation; they hadn’t received notification from SPD or SFD but the co-worker with her had happened onto our report. She also said they found no sign of Longfellow Creek pollution or fuel leakage; that had been a concern of responders at the time of the crash, as it happened on the slope over the creek, which then goes into an underground culvert and on to the Duwamish River. She and her co-worker had planned to move the debris up away from the creek, and that an SPU crew that deals with illegal dumping would then come to pick up the items. We went back for a look about an hour ago and the scene was indeed clear; Hockett confirmed by phone that the cleanup was complete. We still have a few big-picture questions for SPU but our usual contacts are out of the office until later this week.
(WSB photo, Saturday)
4:02 PM: The man found shot to death in the 8400 block of 1st Avenue S. in southeast West Seattle on Saturday afternoon was identified today as 30-year-old Micaiah Kotthoff. The King County Medical Examiner says he died from a gunshot wound to the head. Police tell WSB that no one’s been arrested and there’s nothing new to say regarding the investigation; on Saturday, they said that a witness described the vehicle that took off, possibly after dumping the victim, only as “gray.” They also have no new information regarding whether the killing is linked to the non-fatal shooting whose victim turned up outside Arrowhead Gardens later in the day. If you have any information, the SPD tipline is 206-233-5000.
ADDED 4:31 PM: The most recent public record, from May, shows the victim with a Highland Park address.
The photo is from Casey at Mobi Repair, which has moved to a new location as of today: “We have been subletting in West Seattle Computer for 4 years now and have outgrown that. We love West Seattle with our whole hearts and love being the go-to for cellphone repair needs.” Mobi is now at 3215 California SW, several blocks south of the previous location.
12:58 PM: Thanks to @macjustice for that tweeted photo of the Blue Angels flying past West Seattle shortly before their arrival at Boeing Field this morning. We watched from the west-side viewing area along the runway just south of the tower; they touched down at 11:20 am, having stopped at Glacier Park Airport in Kalispell, Montana on the way here from last weekend’s airshow appearance in Fargo, North Dakota. As usual, they are based at the Museum of Flight (9404 E. Marginal Way S.) during their visit, and that’s where you can watch their pre-flight preps as well as the takeoffs. They have VIP flights and other duties until Thursday, when they go up for two practice sessions, and then full shows Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. As mentioned in our morning traffic report, the I-90 floating bridge will close while they’re up Thursday-Sunday – here are those details.
PARADE OF SHIPS: While Blue Angels-watching from West Seattle is unpredictable, another Seafair/military event is not – tomorrow’s Parade of Ships. While technically it’s billed as something to watch from the downtown waterfront, the ships participating in Seafair Fleet Week tours will sail past West Seattle’s north-facing shores around noon-ish Tuesday. Seafair has yet to answer our inquiry about which U.S. Navy ships are participating, but its website mentions one U.S. Coast Guard cutter and two Canadian Coast Guard vessels. (That same link also has tour times and locations for
1:34 PM: We just talked with US Navy regional public affairs in hopes they could tell us which of their ships will be sailing by tomorrow. They explained that this year for the first time, due to security concerns, they’re not announcing the ships until they’re “a little closer” – possibly not until tomorrow morning.
ADDED 12:22 AM TUESDAY: Now that it’s Tuesday, Seafair is releasing the list of ships participating in today’s seagoing parade, followed by five days of tours:
-U.S. Navy: Guided-missile destroyer USS Momsen (DDG-92) and amphibious transport dock USS Somerset (LPD-25), which was in the parade in 2016
-U.S. Coast Guard: USCGC Mellon
-Royal Canadian Navy: HMCS Yellowknife & HMCS Whitehorse
From Fauntleroy Church:
On Sunday, July 29th, an elderly women in our congregation wandered away after worship and found herself lost in Fauntleroy Park. After searching every nook and cranny of the church building and grounds, we turned to the Seattle Police for assistance in finding her. Just as the police arrived, she returned on the arm of Phil, the kind neighbor who found her alone in the park while hiking with his dog, Chester. She had gotten confused while looking for her ride. We are tremendously grateful for Phil and Chester. Thank you for bringing her back safe and sound.
(Sailboat off Seola, photographed by Chris Frankovich)
Happy Monday! Quick look at what’s ahead:
WADING POOLS AND SPRAYPARK: The Highland Park Spraypark (11 am-8 pm; 1100 SW Cloverdale) is scheduled to be open daily all season regardless of the weather, so we only mention it on extra-hot days. Today’s scheduled-to-be-open wading pools are Lincoln Park (11 am-8 pm; 8011 Fauntleroy Way SW) and Delridge (12 noon-6:30 pm; Delridge Way/Genesee).
BLUE ANGELS ARRIVE AT BOEING FIELD: The Museum of Flight, where the Blue Angels are based while here for Seafair, says they are due in around 11 am. They’re coming from an air show in North Dakota and have reportedly stopped over in Montana while headed here this morning. (Update: They landed at 11:22 am.)
LEARN ABOUT THE COAST SALISH PEOPLE: 1:30 pm at Delridge Library, for ages 7 and up: “Explore Coast Salish design, culture and art with teaching artist Ty Juvinel.” (5423 Delridge Way SW)
FAMILY STORY TIME: 6:30 pm at High Point Library – where there’s great air conditioning! (3411 SW Raymond)
LOTS MORE … on our complete calendar!
The EPA sent word this morning (with this flyer) that cleanup starts next month at the Harbor Island Superfund site, and it’s planning a drop-in info event tomorrow at Seacrest, 4-6 pm, for anyone with questions. Here’s the announcement:
Lockheed West Seattle is one of the remaining areas to be cleaned up at the Harbor Island Superfund site.
The Lockheed Martin Corporation, as the Potentially Responsible Party for the cleanup, will remove contamination from a 40-acre area in the northwest corner of the mouth of the West Waterway and north of the Port of Seattle’s Terminal 5. An estimated total of 167,000 cubic yards of contaminated material will be removed over the course of the cleanup, reducing site risks to human health and the environment. Of that total, more than 151,000 cubic yards of sediment will be dredged from the sub-tidal area and an additional 15,800 cubic yards will be excavated or dredged from the shoreline and intertidal area.
For the cleanup, Lockheed Martin will:
-Remove pilings and debris.
-Dredge and dispose of sediments, pilings and debris at a permitted off-site landfill.
-Add a thin layer of clean sand across the entire site to enhance natural recovery and cover dredged areas.
-Continue the Washington State Department of Health fish advisory so people are aware of risks from eating contaminated seafood. The fish consumption advisory, warning individuals not to consume contaminated resident seafood caught in the waterway, is in place. However, salmon are safe to eat since they only pass through Elliott Bay and do not live year-round in the bay.The cleanup work begins mid-August of 2018 and will be done in the spring of 2019.
(SDOT MAP with travel times/video links; is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE)
7:10 AM: Good morning! Thanks for the tips that northbound 99 is more backed up than usual because of a stalled vehicle.
This week’s alerts, so far:
ADMIRAL WAY BRIDGE TESTING: Starting today – as announced last week – SDOT will be testing the Admiral Way Bridge, and that means various closures, mostly lane closures.
SOUND TRANSIT DRILLING: This continues on Pigeon Point, as Sound Transit samples soil as part of the evaluation for potential West Seattle light-rail routes. Today and tomorrow, the crew is scheduled to move to 22nd SW/SW Genesee.
I-90 BRIDGE: The Blue Angels are on the way and that means closures of the I-90 floating bridge – here’s the schedule as announced by WSDOT and Seafair:
Thursday, Aug. 2: 9:45 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. and 1 to 2:45 p.m. (practice)
Friday, Aug. 3: 12:55 to 2:45 p.m. (Seafair Air Show)
Saturday, Aug. 4: 12:55 to 2:45 p.m. (Seafair Air Show)
Sunday, Aug. 5: 12:55 to 2:45 p.m. (Seafair Air Show)
Also:
STADIUM ZONE: The Mariners are back home for a 7:10 pm game vs. the Astros.
7:30 AM: Texter says the 99 situation has cleared; as always, though, be mindful of the residual backup (not to mention the perpetual one).
10:15 AM: A crash on the westbound bridge at the Admiral exit this past hour has just cleared, per SDOT.
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