West Seattle, Washington
25 Thursday
Next month is a big one in the journey to a “preferred alternative” for Sound Transit‘s West Seattle and Ballard light-rail extensions. But you have opportunities to catch up this month, too.
First: ST reps will be in West Seattle twice next week.
‘DRINK AND LINK’: Ounces (3809 Delridge Way SW) is hosting a briefing (Link is the official name of ST’s light-rail service) at 7 pm next Wednesday, August 8th. All welcome.
DELRIDGE DAY: ST will have a booth at the Delridge Day festival, 11 am-3 pm Saturday, August 11th, at Delridge Community Center park (Delridge Way SW/SW Genesee).
WATCH JuNO BRIEFING: Before then, you can catch up by watching the briefing Sound Transit’s Andrea Barnett and Stephen Mak presented to the Junction Neighborhood Organization‘s quarterly meeting:
We recorded the briefing during JuNO’s meeting one week ago.
WHAT’S NEXT: At its next meeting September 5th, the Stakeholder Advisory Group is scheduled to get evaluation information – such as technical points, cost, visualizations, etc. – on the proposed alignments, which include five options in the West Seattle area. That information is supposed to be available for community members at the next Neighborhood Forum in West Seattle (9 am September 8th, Seattle Lutheran High School gym, 4100 SW Genesee). Then the SAG makes its next round of recommendations September 26th regarding which alignment(s) should advance to the final level of review before the “preferred alignment” is chosen for environmental study.
Reader report, from Ile:
I got out to my car this morning parked at 42nd and Hudson and not only had it been rifled through but they attempted to steal it with a filed-down key. They took the typical stuff like charger cords, a little black bag with some CDs (I hope they like jazz), my Leatherman, my registration and a bunch of stupid stuff from the glove compartment, etc. If you see any of this dumped, please let me know. He or she did take my commemorative Lakewood PD pin I was given some time back which really stings. Oddly enough I did see a white guy in his 20s with a blue backpack, sunglasses, with curly bushy hair under a ball cap walking through the alley looking around suspiciously about two hours after I parked. Please be on the lookout for strange activity.
SPD incident # is 2018-285485.
(July 29th photo by Barry J. White)
After we reported on the West Seattle Little League 12-year-old All-Stars’ state championship and impending trip to the regionals, WSB readers asked if they needed community contributions. As it turns out, yes! From WSLL’s Kathy Powers:
West Seattle Little League will be 1 of 6 teams competing in the Northwest Regional Tournament in San Bernardino, CA for a berth to the Little League World Series in Williamsport, PA later in August. The first game will be against Idaho, on Sunday, Aug 5th. It can be viewed online via ESPN+. The full schedule can be found here.
To help support the team’s journey, a GoFundMe page has been set up to help offset the cost of travel for the team and families. If you are interested in supporting them, you can do so here.
Great job boys and Go Westside!!
(WSB photo: The view from Don Armeni Boat Ramp this drizzly morning)
First, another traffic alert:
I-90 CLOSURES FOR BLUE ANGELS PRACTICE: This tends to clog up NB I-5 too and we didn’t get to mention it again this morning because of the tanker incident, so a reminder – the I-90 floating bridge is closing twice today for the Blue Angels‘ practice: now through about 12:15 pm and 1 pm-2:30 pm. (The next three days are single-closure days.)
Now, highlights of what’s happening – and not happening:
WADING POOLS: The Seattle Parks hotline says they are NOT opening today because of the cloudy, cooler weather.
ART STUDIO: 1-3 pm at Delridge Library, for ages 2-10. (5423 Delridge Way SW)
GIZMOS AND GADGETS: 2-3:30 pm, kids/youth are invited to drop by Southwest Library to explore and have fun while learning! (9010 35th SW)
4508 CALIFORNIA SW’S FIRST DESIGN REVIEW: 6:30 pm at the Senior Center/Sisson Building, the Southwest Design Review Board gets its first look at the proposed 7-story mixed-use project for 4508 California SW, including ~70 apartments and 19 offstreet-parking spaces replacing a single-story commercial building that currently has three storefronts, Our most-recent preview includes the “design packet.” The meeting will have a public-comment period. (4217 SW Oregon)
SUMMER CONCERTS AT HIAWATHA: Great thing about Hiawatha Community Center is that there’s an indoor backup for the outdoor concerts if necessary, so you will see Micaiah Sawyer perform, one way or another, at 6:30 pm tonight, as part of the Admiral Neighborhood Association-presented Summer Concerts at Hiawatha. Free. Bring your own chair/blanket. (Walnut south of Lander)
WEST SEATTLE SOUL: 9 pm at Parliament Tavern. No cover. 21+. (4210 SW Admiral Way)
SEE MORE! on our complete calendar.
(WSB photo added 11:22 pm)
10:48 PM: Big Seattle Fire hazmat response at Chelan/Spokane, just west of the low bridge, for what SFD says is an overturned tanker truck leaking gasoline. Traffic is being diverted at the north end of Delridge. The Delridge exit from the bridge is being blocked off, per scanner. More to come.
10:54 PM: Per scanner, SFD believes the tanker is leaking from multiple spots. They’re trying to get into position to get foam on the leaking fuel. Stay well clear of the area.
Traffic cameras show the west end of the bridge is blocked. Per SFD, the tanker driver got out OK.
11:22 PM: They’re evacuating the Chelan Café/bar (Ebb Tide Room). Also, per scanner (we’ve just arrived at the scene so will have some firsthand info soon), they’re setting up a “unified command” including SDOT as well as SFD and SPD. SFD adds via Twitter that Seattle Public Utilities and the Coast Guard have been notified, and that it will take several hours to offload the tanker.
(Photo by Brandon Smith)
11:54 PM: More SFD resources have arrived, and there are also radio communications about SFD and USCG boats checking the Duwamish for any sign of fuel from this. We’re now on the west side of the crash area; SFD was sending a public-information officer to gather info for us (and any other media on scene).
12:05 AM: Another tanker has arrived so this one’s fuel can be offloaded.
12:31 AM: Here’s SFD foaming the scene early on – thanks to Doug for tweeting the video:
Fire response seems to have it under control @SeattleFire @westseattleblog pic.twitter.com/ItRw5BmwBw
— Doug Mackar (@DMackar) August 2, 2018
12:53 AM: SFD spokesperson Hilton Almond has briefed us at nearby Fire Station 36. He says the tanker is still leaking – they believe the double-trailer truck was carrying about 5,000 gallons.
A fireboat is on the Duwamish looking for signs of spillage. SPU has public-information officer Eric Autry at the scene too and says they’ll have a boat out in the morning. We recorded the briefing on video and will add that when it’s uploaded. (Update: Added)
The timeline for offloading the fuel is still described as “several hours” so hard to say how this will affect the morning commute but we would speculate it’s likely to – the low bridge is currently blocked off both ways as is much of Spokane under the bridge and the north end of Delridge Way.
Almond explained that firefighters have to keep re-applying the foam to suppress vapor from the leaking fuel.
1:23 AM: We’re back at HQ for a while and have heard via scanner that the Coast Guard has vessels out at the mouth of the Duwamish restricting maritime traffic while this remains unsettled.
2:32 AM: SDOT camera shows the offloading hasn’t started yet. Radio communication indicates they’re starting soon and expect it to take at least a few hours.
4:58 AM: Still emptying the truck.
5:20 AM: Since the main bike accesses to the low bridge are blocked, a shuttle is planned, though no details yet. (update) Metro says the bike shuttle is running from the northbound SW Avalon Way stop just north of SW Charlestown – Luna Park area.
6 AM: The Delridge ramp to the eastbound high bridge IS open – we just went over to verify. (Added below: 6:09 am screengrab of SDOT cam at scene)
6:37 AM: But bike riders attempting to get to the low bridge from the north end of Delridge will be turned away – we are in the area and just saw it happen to 2 more. At the crash scene, the tanker that was offloading fuel has just left (it passed us southbound on Delridge). Next: Uprighting and towing the crashed truck, and cleanup. … Also note that West Marginal is blocked north of SW Marginal Place until this is cleared.
7:30 AM: The tipped section of the tanker is still being uprighted. (Added above, a few minutes later – SDOT cam now shows two tow rigs involved)
8:05 AM: The tanker is now upright, after 9+ hours.
Next – towing and cleanup.
8:23 AM: Police have reopened the Delridge offramp from the high bridge.
9:36 AM: Not fully reopened yet otherwise but Metro says “most” buses have returned to their regular routes. The bike shuttle is still running.
10:21 AM: After almost 12 hours, police have just announced via radio communication that everything is reopening.
2:25 PM: We’re working on a separate followup about environmental ramifications and cleanup – will link here when that’s up. Meantime we asked police about the investigation. Too soon to say if any citations will ensue as this is being handled by the Traffic Collision Investigation Squad; SPD says the early indication is that the trailer may have gone sideways because of a “sharp right turn.”
Thanks to West Seattle High School track and field head coach Will Harrison for the report:
Wanted to pass along some special summer accomplishments from some of our Wildcat Track athletes who continued their spring season into a special summer season:
JUNE
At the U20 USA Track and Field Junior Championships held in Bloomington, IN, June 15-17, state champions Cass Elliott and Chloe Cunliffe competed well. This meet is considered to be the most prestigious youth/junior meet in the country, in which many of the top competitors have just finished their freshman year in college, and in which the top 2 athletes in each event qualified to represent the US at the World Junior Championships in Tampere, Finland. Elliott, now graduated and UW-bound, wound up 4th in the 400-meter hurdles in a personal best 51.72, and was the top high school finisher. Senior-to-be Cunliffe, representing NW Pole Vault and Seattle Speed TC, wound up 6th in the pole vault with a vault of 13 feet, 3.5 inches, the second high-school finisher.
JULY
(Chloe Cunliffe setting the 17-18 Junior Olympic National Meet Record in North Carolina. Photo courtesy of Tim Reilly)
At the USATF “Junior Olympic” regional in Bend, OR July 5th through 18th, Cunliffe cleared 14 feet even to equal the #1 jump for any high-school athlete in the nation in 2018. This mark also broke her own Washington state record. She would go on to capture the Junior Olympic National title in Greensboro, NC on July 27th for ages 17-18, in a meet record 13-11.
Also at the regional meet, senior-to be Rylee Farrison, representing Seattle Speed, ran a big personal best in the 400 meters, 50.12 seconds, to advance to the national finals. Now-graduated Joe Kirk-Woodbury (High Voltage TC), who placed 3rd at State this spring in the discus, qualified to the national finals in 3 events- shot put (45’10”), discus (143’8″), and hammer throw (157’2.5″). Elliott competed in the Junior Olympic National Meet and wound up 2nd in the 400-meter hurdles for the 3rd straight year, running in 52.13 seconds. All 3 athletes competed in the 17-18 age bracket.
(Photographed Tuesday)
Several people have asked about the green streaks/patches visible in Puget Sound this week. We’ve reported before on the red patches – and the short answer is that the green stuff is a lot like the red stuff: Algae blooms. Not the same exact type – the red algae (noctiluca) seems to be unique in that coloration – but as the state Ecology Department notes, algae blooms come in many colors. What they have in common: They’re a sign something is awry – the water is too full of “nutrients,” a catch-all term for many things – including, according to Ecology:
Human sources of nutrients include (among others):
Treated sewage
Over-application of fertilizers that get into stormwater runoff
onsite sewage systems (OSS)
Poorly managed land use practices
Natural sources, too, “but analyses indicate that human nutrient sources are making things worse,” says the state. Good for algae – bad for animals and plants that need oxygen-rich water. The state does an aerial survey that leads to a report titled Eyes on Puget Sound – the mid-July edition is here.
Another stolen vehicle reported today via e-mail:
White Toyota ’95 Pickup
Montana plates with a bear on it BGU-219
Also: Stickers on the truck include Pacific Crest Trail and Pacific Northwest Trail logos
Stolen today at 12 noon, 23rd SW/Willow, close to Home Depot
Call 911 if you see it!
(WSB file photo of M/V Doc Maynard on an evening stop at Seacrest)
Some commenters expressed disappointment after we reported that the West Seattle Water Taxi wouldn’t offer extended service next Wednesday, August 8th, the first of two sold-out Pearl Jam concerts at Safeco Field. This afternoon, we’ve just received word from Water Taxi spokesperson Brent Champaco that there’s been a change of heart:
King County Water Taxi will offer extended evening sailings on the West Seattle route during the Pearl Jam concerts on Wednesday, Aug. 8 and Friday, Aug. 10 in Seattle.
We typically offer extended evening service for evening Mariners, Seahawks and Sounders FC home games during our summer schedule. However, given the number of West Seattle riders who are expected to attend the Pearl Jam concert, our standing principles to alleviate traffic congestion to support mobility for our residents warrants providing this additional service offering. King County Water Taxi will depart downtown Seattle at 8:30 p.m., 9:30 p.m. and 10:45 p.m.
And as we reported yesterday, he adds:
We would like to remind music fans that we are also working with Sub Pop Records to help fans get to and from their 30th anniversary celebration Saturday, Aug. 11 on Alki. In addition to the MV Doc Maynard running its regular Saturday service, we plan on running an extra boat (the MV Sally Fox) on the West Seattle route from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. and again from 7:30 p.m.-11:30 p.m. These times are when we expect most people to be traveling to, and returning from, the event.
(Slide from presentation to committee)
The vote was 4-0 minutes ago as the City Council’s Civic Development, Public Assets, and Native Communities Committee gave their approval to buying a 5,600-square-foot parcel for expansion of the Orchard Street Ravine. We previewed the proposal in this story; if the full Council gives final approval next Monday, the site at 7137 38th SW (shown on this map)will be bought with $235,000 in Park District levy money. The presentation at today’s meeting was relatively short; earlier, as expected, several neighbors and community advocates spoke in favor of the purchase. (4:59 PM UPDATE: Here’s the Seattle Channel video – this is the last item, 46 minutes in.) The councilmembers present and voting yes today were committee chair Debora Juarez, Lorena González, Sally Bagshaw, and Lisa Herbold, who said as the meeting wrapped up that she’d heard another OSR neighbor is interested in donating/selling land, and Seattle Parks reps confirmed they’re looking into that.
Less than a week until Night Out – next Tuesday is the night when neighborhoods around the nation have block/building/etc. parties to celebrate community and safety. We checked in with Southwest Precinct crime-prevention coordinator Jennifer Danner, who says 266 Night Out events are registered so far in our area (still the second-highest total in the city, though SW is the smallest precinct). If you want to close a (non-arterial) street and/or request a Night Out visit by public-safety personnel, register your event ASAP (you have until Monday afternoon, but why procrastinate?) – just go here. If you’re already registered, that page is also where you can download invitations, street-closure signs, and other Night Out collateral.
In West Seattle Crime Watch so far today:
STOLEN MAROON ACCORD: Terra hopes you will be on the lookout for her car:
My car was stolen from the open garage/carport in front of our house – (3000 block of) Garlough Ave SW – sometime between 7:00 pm last night (7/31) and 10:00 am this morning (8/1). Maroon 1994 Honda Accord, licence plate AOE 4344, with a KEXP sticker on the rear bumper. Have filed a report with the police. I had hoped keeping it off the street with club on it would protect it, and it worked for a number of years, but I guess my luck finally ran out :(
And while we’re on the topic of auto theft:
PLEA BARGAIN FOR NICHOLAS WATSON: In a routine check of the online files in cases we’re tracking, we discovered that the most-recent cases against 36-year-old repeat offender Nicholas D. Watson have been resolved with a plea bargain. Documents indicate Watson pleaded guilty in two stolen-car cases; the case that resulted after he broke into a house in Upper Morgan was dropped. His sentence, in addition to credit for time he has already spent in jail (roughly 2 1/2 months cumulative in 7 bookings in the past year): Three to six months residential DOSA (Drug Offender Sentencing Alternative), for which he was ordered to report to a treatment facility outside the metro area.
(Empty moon-snail shell during recent low tide, photographed by Trileigh Tucker)
Welcome to August!
WADING POOLS: We just checked the hotline and the city says they’ll be open: Wednesday in West Seattle means Lincoln Park until 8 pm (8011 Fauntleroy Way SW), Hiawatha 12 pm-6:30 pm (Walnut/Lander), EC Hughes 12 pm-7 pm (2805 SW Holden).
EFFECTIVE ACTIVISM: Find out about it at the Hot Topics for Seniors event today at noon at Southwest Library. (9010 35th SW)
GIZMOS AND GADGETS: Free drop-in program at Delridge Library, 1-3 pm, no registration required. (5423 Delridge Way SW)
WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON AT THE MOVIES: At the Senior Center of West Seattle, 1 pm today, the featured movie is “Station West” (1948), $1 members/$2 nonmembers. (4217 SW Oregon)
HIGH POINT MARKET GARDEN FARMSTAND: This summer’s fourth weekly farmstand for organic produce grown right where it’s sold, 4 pm-7 pm. (32nd SW & SW Juneau)
JIM PAGE: Singer-songwriter performs tonight at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor), 7-9 pm. (5612 California SW)
‘GET FIT, WEST SEATTLE’ INFO NIGHT: 7 pm at West Seattle Runner (WSB sponsor) to find out about the next “Get Fit, West Seattle,” which starts next Saturday – a program to get you running toward a half-marathon this fall. Free! RSVP info is in our calendar listing. (2743 California SW)
OPEN MICROPHONE: The signups start at 7:30 pm at The Skylark. All ages until 10 pm. (3803 Delridge Way SW)
THE FULL LIST … is via our complete calendar!
Tomorrow (Thursday) night, Summer Concerts at Hiawatha brings you the sound of a rising star – Micaiah Sawyer. Here’s how the Olympia-based singer/songwriter and her band won this year’s Sound Off competition at the Museum of Pop Culture:
She describes her music as “a catchy blend of folk, blues and rock.” Side note: This will be her last show with the full Sound Off-winning lineup “before violinist Caddie Derby moves on to attend university!” The show starts at 6:30 pm on the east lawn at Hiawatha Community Center (along Walnut south of Lander) and is free, brought to you by the Admiral Neighborhood Association, with co-sponsors including WSB. Bring your own chair/blanket, bring your family, friends, neighbors, co-workers … see you there!
(SDOT MAP with travel times/video links; is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE)
7:06 AM: Good morning! No incidents reported in/from West Seattle so far.
Reminders:
ADMIRAL WAY BRIDGE TESTING: Again today – closures on the Admiral Way Bridge for SDOT testing.
I-90 BRIDGE: With the Blue Angels flying, closures of the I-90 floating bridge are set for Thursday-Sunday.
STADIUM ZONE: The Mariners have a day game today vs. the Astros, 1:10 pm.
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