West Seattle, Washington
21 Thursday
(Added: WSB photos)
10:13 PM: Police are investigating an incident in which a motorcycle rider was hurt on the Admiral Way hill north of the West Seattle Bridge [map]. Admiral is blocked both ways at the scene. Updates to come.
10:23 PM: Admiral will likely be closed a while, as police tell us the Traffic Collision Investigation Squad is being called out. Earlier radio communication suggested this may have involved another vehicle but police have no description to share so far. The injured rider is male and being taken to the hospital.
11:11 PM: SFD spokesperson Kristin Tinsley tells WSB the rider is a 44-year-old man, transported in critical condition.
12:48 AM: Police just announced via radio communication that Admiral Way has reopened. We will follow up later this morning to see what more we can find out about the circumstances.
12:20 PM: The rider remains in critical condition, in intensive care, at Harborview Medical Center.
(February photo)
When last we heard from the Chief Sealth International High School Mock Trial team’s adviser Rebecca Neil, the team was in the midst of district competition. Now, she sends word they’re on to state competition starting Friday:
The Sealth Mock Trial team is headed to State this weekend!
We’ll be competing in at least four rounds of competition, one on Friday evening (3/22) and three on Saturday (3/23). The championship round and presentation of trophies will take place on Sunday (3/24). We would love for friends, family, and other community members to come show their support for this incredible group of young people!
All trials will take place at the Thurston County Courthouse, 2000 Lakeridge Dr SW #3, Olympia.
The students are working hard to prepare during these last few days and are excited for the chance to show our stuff against two former national championship teams.
Here’s a little more info from the YMCA, the umbrella organization for the Mock Trial program:
The event is a program of YMCA Youth & Government. It is a unique blend of law, debate and drama in which students learn about topical issues and court procedures while sharpening their critical thinking and public speaking skills.
Round 1 of trials will begin at 6:30 Friday evening. Competition will begin again at 8:30 Saturday morning and continue into the evening. The championship trial will occur at 11:30 Sunday morning, directly following the Awards Breakfast at the Hotel RL.
This is the second consecutive year the Sealth team has gone to state competition.
The sign’s been up for a few weeks, and now we finally have caught up with the folks working to open the Pacific Room at 2806 Alki SW, where Hawks Nest West closed earlier this year. Kurt Niemeyer tells us they’re planning to be a live music venue – 3 or 4 acts a week – as well as restaurant/bar (serving “bistro-type food”), open to all ages. They are remodeling the space right now and hope to be open in May.
(WSB photos)
6:47 PM: Until 8 pm, The Hall at Fauntleroy (9131 California SW) is abuzz with the Fauntleroy Community Association‘s annual membership meeting and Food Fest. In addition to tastes from local food/drink purveyors, you’ll find info tables from community and government organizations – just stop in! Updates to come.
ADDED EARLY WEDNESDAY: A few more scenes from the event:
ORIGINAL TUESDAY REPORT: It’s been a topic in our daily transit/traffic discussions and now it’s becoming a reality. When Metro‘s next “service change” kicks in this Saturday (March 23rd), a bus stop will be added in Pioneer Square, at 1st and King. The news hit our inbox simultaneously from Metro spokesperson Torie Rynning and City Councilmember Lisa Herbold‘s legislative assistant Newell Aldrich; Herbold had written earlier this month about asking Metro for a 1st Avenue stop for the buses from West Seattle that formerly used the Alaskan Way Viaduct. SDOT and Metro had to ensure the pavement in the area was strong enough for buses. Rynning sent the photo of the sign installed today for the northbound stop; the southbound sign will follow.
ADDED WEDNESDAY: For those who asked – the routes that will use the new stops, Rynning says: “All SR99 routes (12 in total) will use the new stops: 21X, 37, 55, 56, 57, 113, 120, 121, 122, 123, 125, C Line.”
4:41 PM: Two road-blocking incidents reported in West Seattle right now: A vehicle fire at 40th/Morgan and a bus problem at Delridge/Henderson. On our way to check out both.
4:59 PM: The vehicle fire involved this Waste Management truck:
No injuries. SFD is wrapping up. Road is just now reopening and Route 128 buses are getting through again too.
5:21 PM: Delridge/Henderson cleared before we arrived.
(WSB photos)
Earlier this month, we reported on vandalism damage to the West Seattle Junction mural known as “The Old Mud Hole.” We promised a followup on plans for repairing it – and we have that information as well as an update on the big-picture mural-restoration plan. Above is muralist Bob Henry, photographed during a recent visit to the damaged mural with West Seattle Junction Association executive director Lora Radford and says the tagging can be painted out for $300. Full restoration of the “Mud Hole” mural would be more than $10,000. Henry has already restored two of the West Seattle murals. Next month, he’ll start work on the “West Seattle Ferries” mural behind KeyBank/Pharmaca, a $19,000 project. Also high on the list for the restoration project is the “Duwamish Bridge” mural, which was fading even before it was vandalized (and then mysteriously repaired):
That one is so big, it’s a $40,000 project. Grant money’s being sought to cover part of the cost but a community challenge is under way too – you can contribute via this crowdfunding page.
(Photo from 2018 cleanup)
If you use Fairmount Ravine (map), you get a special invitation to help with the 27th annual cleanup. Here’s the announcement:
The Fairmount Ravine Preservation Group will sponsor the 27th Annual Spring Cleanup and Reforestation of Fairmount Ravine, Saturday, April 6th at 8:30 am. Meet at top of ravine (Forest St. and Fairmount Ave.) by 8:15.
As in past years, this year’s cleanup will focus on removing garbage from homeless encampment under the bridge, removing ivy from trees in the ravine, and cleaning sidewalks on the Admiral Bridge. Wear boots and gloves. Bring a pruning saw and/or large loppers if interested in removing ivy from trees in the ravine. Bring a flat shovel and push broom if desire to clean the bridge sidewalks. Refreshments will be provided. We extend a special invitation to those who use the ravine to access the waterfront. All we ask is that you donate a couple of hours of your time to keep this greenbelt clean, healthy and natural.
More info – call Matt at 206 747-4167 or email at mattalgieri@yahoo.com.
The report we published last year includes links to reports on previous cleanups going back more than a decade.
11:36 AM: We went to the Denny International Middle School/Chief Sealth International High School campus after parents told us their children had texted to say they were sheltering in place. Police are reported to be looking for a student who is believed to have brought a weapon – believed to be a BB gun – to school.
11:52 AM: Police tell us they’ve located the student and the weapon, and the shelter-in-place should be lifted soon if it hasn’t been already.
2:27 PM: Denny principal Jeff Clark has just sent us the letter that he sent to families:
Dear Denny International Middle School families:
We have had a strong and focused second semester and continue to work to ensure that we have a positive school culture and a welcoming environment for everyone at all times.
We want to share information relating to incident at Denny today. Although no one was hurt, the situation raises concerns. Today, one of our scholars told a staff member that he had brought an airsoft pellet gun (plastic pellets) to school. School staff determined that a second scholar also had brought an airsoft pellet gun to school. The school coordinated with the Seattle Public Schools Safety and Security Team and the Seattle Police Department to locate both scholars and both pellet guns. Due to the fact that one of the scholars had left campus, we went into a Shelter-in-Place while we searched for the second scholar. Once he was located, both scholars were taken into custody by the Seattle Police Department. SPD is continuing the investigation and the involved parents have been contacted. Additionally, the scholars are being disciplined consistent with district procedures.
As you are aware, adolescents have complex social dynamics. Ensuring that they know appropriate behavioral expectations and always feel safe is our goal. We occasionally hear from them that they feel unsafe in the community and therefore carry weapons for protection. Our staff continues to discuss personal safety with them as well as district rules and state laws.
Most importantly, we wanted to let families know about these conversations and ask them to help all of our scholars understand the importance of keeping schools absolutely free of any type of weapon, as well as the importance of sharing critical safety information immediately with adults at school. We are providing a link to some additional information that might be helpful during these discussions. http://www.seattle.gov/police/community-policing/youth-safety-tips
Please be assured that the safety and security of our scholars is a top priority at Denny International School. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.
(Olympic Mountains silhouetted in Monday’s sunset, photographed by David Hutchinson)
Last full day of winter! Here’s what’s on the schedule for the hours ahead:
LUNCH AND LEARN WITH WESTSIDE NEIGHBORS NETWORK: If you’ve wondered where you’ll live as you age and how you’ll pay for it, this event with WNN is for you. 11:45 lunch, 1 pm learn, at the Senior Center of West Seattle. (4217 SW Oregon)
FAUNTLEROY FOOD FEST: 6-8 pm at The Hall at Fauntleroy, the annual membership meeting of the Fauntleroy Community Association always has its bonus feature – samples from local food/drink purveyors. Plus community info tables. Official business – such as re-electing FCA officers – is set for 7 pm, but you can drop in any time. (9131 California SW)
GARDEN TOOL MAINTENANCE: Learn about it tonight at the West Seattle Tool Library, 6-8 pm. Practice on the tools in the WSTL’s collection. The Tool Library is on the northeast side of Youngstown Cultural Arts Center. (4408 Delridge Way SW)
WEST SEATTLE CRIME PREVENTION COUNCIL: Crime concerns? Bring them to the Southwest Precinct for tonight’s monthly WSCPC meeting. Special guest is from the SPD 911 center, to answer your questions about how the system works. (2300 SW Webster)
UNPLUGGED – A MUSICAL GATHERING: Get acoustic at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor), 7-9 pm, no cover, all ages. (5612 California SW)
PARLIAMENTALITY PRESENTS: Get funky at Parliament Tavern starting at 8 pm. No cover. 21+. (4210 SW Admiral Way)
MUCH, MUCH MORE … see the full lineup via our complete calendar!
(See legend on PDF version of map here)
If you have a question about SDOT‘s ongoing West Seattle Neighborhood Greenway work, the department has just announced it’ll be tabling at this Saturday’s High Point Play Area dedication:
Please join us at the High Point Play Area, 6920 34th Ave SW, for its Opening Celebration on Saturday, March 23, from 2 to 4 PM. We’ve partnered with Seattle Parks and Recreation to include in our plans a bike path connecting the play area and Walt Hundley Playfield with our future greenway. The event will feature a bike and helmet decorating station and an artwork booth where you can help us design a public art installation.
Phase 1 Update:
We’ve made some great progress on the Phase 1 route of the greenway and expect to complete it as soon as summer.
Here’s what we’ve accomplished so far:
*Speed humps along 30th Ave SW, 34th Ave SW, and SW Kenyon St
*New pedestrian refuge island at the intersection of SW Trenton St and 30th Ave SW designed to increase safety and to encourage more people to walk and bikeStill to come:
*Crossing improvements
*Route signagePlease visit our website for an in-depth project update.
One major upcoming feature is a signal at 35th/Graham.
(SDOT MAP with travel times/ Is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE/ West Seattle-relevant traffic cams HERE)
6:57 AM: Good morning! No incidents or transit alerts so far.
FERRIES: The Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth route is still down to 2 boats.
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