West Seattle, Washington
25 Thursday
The photos are from West Seattle High School world-languages teacher Joy Patman, who explains:
Spanish 4 students have been working on a poetry unit. This week and next they are focusing on the poetic contributions of el gran poeta Chileno, Pablo Neruda, by watching the movie “The Postman” and also looking at several questions included in his book, The Book of Questions. (Thursday) we took the poet’s questions to the streets surrounding wshs to share with the greater community.
Side note: “The Book of Questions,” published after Neruda’s death, is the all-time best-selling title for Port Townsend-based Copper Canyon Press.
A memorial service is planned June 7th for Earl M. Anderson, known as “Matt.” Here’s the remembrance his family is sharing with the community:
Earl Mathias “Matt” (Mathers) Anderson was born on March 13, 1940 to Chester and Clara (Barstad) Anderson in Glasgow, Montana.
Over time he attended First Lutheran Church of Glasgow, First Lutheran Church of West Seattle, Silverdale Lutheran Church and Trinity Lutheran Church in Lynnwood. He graduated from West Seattle High School in 1958 and shortly thereafter met and married Judith “Judy” Arlene Fulcher, earned a BS in Mechanical Engineering, University of Washington, and spent the bulk of his career at Boeing working on a variety of aircraft
Matt lost his beloved wife Judy to cancer in 1983, leaving Boeing shortly thereafter for computer programming contract jobs in Massachusetts, Alabama, and Texas. A career highlight was working for NASA on the Challenger Space Shuttle program.
Matt relocated to Hood Canal, where he built a home before eventually settling on Dyes Inlet. Matt passionately loved water sports, games, skiing, classical music, and was known for his quirky sense of humor, intellectual curiosity, deep love of faith and family and applying a critical lens to the status quo.
Matt passed away peacefully on April 30th, 2019. He is survived by beloved longtime girlfriend Cheryl Atwood of Edmonds; son Philip (Shelly) Anderson of Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, daughters Terese (Wayne) Machmiller of West Seattle and Janine (Peter) Douglass of Renton; six grandchildren and one great-grandchild; and Cheryl’s beautiful family. Remembrances may be made to Bridge Ministries in Bellevue, Kaiser Palliative Care, or Seattle Cancer Care Alliance.
Memorial Service: Friday, June 7, 3:00 pm, at First Lutheran Church of West Seattle, 4105 California Avenue SW.
(WSB publishes West Seattle obituaries by request, free of charge. Please e-mail the text, and a photo if available, to editor@westseattleblog.com)
(WSB photos)
6:54 PM: Here’s what brought all those police to the vacant-and-slated-for-redevelopment apartment site in the 2200 block of SW Barton, just southeast of Westwood Village. Police tell us at the scene that a stolen car was ditched outside the building and suspects were seen going into the building, so, with a bullhorn and K-9 team, they’ve been trying to get the suspects to come out.
7:04 PM: Our crew has since left but we’re hearing by radio that police have gone in and aren’t finding anyone, so far.
Three West Seattle biznotes:
SPRUCE MODERN APOTHECARY: The photo is from the folks who just opened this new business at 4156 California SW, offering “mindfully curated green beauty, wellness and lifestyle goods, as well as a holistic skincare studio. …. We want to welcome our community to come check us out!! We fill a need in West Seattle and the city for sustainable home goods, plant based wellness, and lots of nontoxic skincare and general self-care items for everyone.” They’ll be open Memorial Day, though usually they’re closed on Mondays. Hours 10-6 Tuesdays-Saturdays (“occasionally 7 in summer”), 10-5 Sundays.
LOCUST CIDER: That’s who’s taking the ex-Alki Urban Market space at 2820 Alki SW, according to a liquor-license filing that appeared online today. Locust Cider is based in Woodinville and has a taproom in Ballard. Reached via e-mail, their executive team promises more info next week, so stand by for a followup.
TALARICO’S ADDS LUNCH: Talarico’s Pizza in The Junction (4718 California SW) wants you to know it’s just expanded its hours, now open 11 am-2 am Tuesdays-Sundays (3 pm-2 am Mondays)
Gone now but we’re mentioning it because the other one might show up later: That was just the obligatory pre-holiday-weekend TV-news chopper ferry-traffic flyover.
P.S. Two-hour wait at Fauntleroy right now, per WSF.
(WSB photo from 2018)
Next Friday’s the big day! For the 16th year, Lou Cutler will spend a day running laps around the field at Pathfinder K-8 on Pigeon Point to raise money for, and awareness of, Make-A-Wish. Even though he retired as Pathfinder’s PE teacher four years ago, Lou continues returning to the school in advance of his birthday and running one lap for each year he’s been on the planet; this year, that means 68! Students, staff, parents, and community members are welcome to join him – even just for one lap. Or, just show up on the sidelines (1901 SW Genesee) to cheer; he’ll get going just after 9 am next Friday (May 31st). And if you can, donate/pledge on behalf of Lou, who has been a longtime Make-A-Wish volunteer, actually helping “wishes” come true for ailing kids as well as raising money for the organization. Here’s his page on the Make-A-Wish website.
Just in from SDOT, the weekly Avalon/35th project update, including this map:
The best news is actually at the end of the update SDOT sent, regarding progress, so we’re featuring it first:
We are almost finished with our first large zone. We are working as efficiently as possible and are wrapping up work in Zone B (SW Yancy to SW Genesee streets) faster than anticipated. We intend to begin work throughout Zone A (SW Spokane to SW Andover streets) as early as June 3.
Some work has already begun there, as you probably know. That starts off the full update:
Crews began work on curb ramps and base repairs on the west side of SW Avalon Way from SW Manning St to SW Charlestown St (Zone A) on Monday, May 20. During construction, we will maintain access to SW Orleans St. SW Manning St will be closed through the next few weeks. Local access will be maintained to the alley. Businesses are open. Follow signs for Avalon Business District parking off SW Avalon Way.
That’s at the north end of Avalon, under the bridge, while the east side of Avalon is temporarily off-limits. Earlier this week, Luna Park Café proprietor John Bennett sent photos of those signs, including a bit of humor:
Now back to the SDOT update:
The west side of SW Genesee St at SW Avalon Way is closed through Wednesday, May 29. This will allow crews to conduct utility work and pavement reconstruction. Similar to the previous closure on the east side of the intersection, crews will need to work across multiple lanes of traffic in the intersection for a few weeks. We will continue to maintain one lane in each direction on SW Avalon Way.
Crews began trenching and laying the new water main on the east side of 35th Ave SW from SW Avalon Way to SW Alaska St (Zone E). We will maintain one lane of traffic in each direction on 35th Ave SW between Fauntleroy Way SW and SW Alaska St through approximately November 2019.
Crews anticipate paving the west side of SW Avalon Way between SW Yancy St and SW Genesee St (Zone B) on Tuesday, May 28 and Wednesday, May 29. Advance notice will be provided for driveway impacts.
If you’re a new arrival or just tuning in, this is all part of one big project that will result in full repaving of Avalon, plus rebuilding/repaving/water-main replacement on 3 blocks of 35th south of Avalon, and repaving of one block of SW Alaska west of 35th.
(Thursday sunset, photographed by David Hutchinson)
The holiday weekend begins! From the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar – which you can check out 24/7 – highlights for the rest of your Friday!
SNACK, CHAT, SOLVE: Fun for ages 11-14 at Southwest Library, 3:15 pm. (9010 35th SW)
GARY BENSON: Solo performer @ C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor), 7 pm. No cover. All ages. (5612 California SW)
‘DETENTION LOTTERY’: 7 pm at Fauntleroy Church: “This immersive drama takes you inside a courtroom for a look at what detainees face in the U.S. immigration-enforcement system.”
(In the photo by Jesús Hidalgo, an “ICE agent” escorts a “detainee” away during an experiential performance of “The Detention Lottery” at Saint Mark’s Cathedral in June 2018.) Free admission. (9140 California SW)
GARAGE ROCK PSYCH & POP GET-TOGETHER: That’s what’s promised with The Knights of Trash, The Decibels, The Cheap Cassettes at Parliament Tavern, 9 pm. $7 cover. 21+. (4210 SW Admiral Way)
4 BANDS: 9 pm at The Skylark, Grim Statistic, Brad Yaeger, Beef Supreme, Spectres of Chaos. $8. 21+. (3803 Delridge Way SW)
MORE MUSIC: 9 pm Fridays starting tonight at Great American Diner and Bar in The Junction. (4752 California SW)
SEE THE FULL LIST … for today, tomorrow, and beyond via our complete calendar.
10:02 AM: Thanks for the photo and tips! That’s the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68), northbound in Puget Sound. It’s been at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard in Bremerton for maintenance for the past year-plus. It’s homeported at Naval Base Kitsap. (Added: The Kitsap Sun says it’s out for training.)
12:44 PM: Thanks to everyone who has since sent photos of the submarine that headed out shortly after the Nimitz; the photo above is by Jim Borrow. While we’ve had occasional submarine sightings over the years, they’ve been more frequent lately.
(SDOT MAP with travel times/ Is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE/ West Seattle-relevant traffic cams HERE)
6:58 AM: Good morning. Last day before Memorial Day weekend, and so far, no incidents or transit alerts in our area.
WEEKEND NOTE: Sunday morning, 7-9 am, the NB Highway 99 tunnel will be closed to motorized vehicles as it’s part of the route for the Emerald City Ride.
(Added Friday morning: Sound Transit’s meeting video)
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
After an intense year and a half of discussion – capped by a four-and-a-half-hour meeting – potential routing/station locations for Sound Transit‘s West Seattle-to-Ballard light rail are heading into the environmental-study process.
The Sound Transit Board finalized a list of “preferred alternatives” and other possibilities to study – after an extended debate that included two votes on whether to use the word “preferred” in describing the ones that would require third-party funding.
But first – from the motion that won final approval (PDF here) – the language that spells out what will be studied for the West Seattle end:
West Seattle (Avalon and Junction) Preferred Alternative
Elevated stations – Avalon station in vicinity of SW Genesee Street, SW Avalon Way and 35th Avenue SW. Turns southwest on Fauntleroy Way SW with both elevated Alaska Junction station options oriented north/south and staying east of the Alaska Junction on Fauntleroy and in the vicinity of 41st/42nd Avenue SW.
Preferred Alternative with Third Party Funding
Tunnel station – Avalon station in vicinity of SW Genesee Street, SW Avalon Way and 35th Avenue SW. Turns southwest with both tunnel Alaska Junction station options oriented north-south in the vicinity of 41st Avenue SW and 42nd Avenue SW. Based on current information, these alternatives would require additional third-party funding.
Additionally, the Board directs staff to evaluate potential cost savings opportunities and look for opportunities to minimize community impacts and create a high quality transfer environment for both the Avalon and Alaska Junction station locations.
West Seattle (Delridge) Preferred Alternative
N of Genesee station – Elevated guideway runs south adjacent to Delridge Way SW to an elevated Delridge station on a diagonal between Delridge Way SW and 26th Avenue SW north of SW Genesee Street. Continues west on an elevated guideway along SW Genesee Street.
Additionally, the Board directs staff to explore refining the Delridge station location, prioritizing a further south location and looking for opportunities to minimize potential residential impacts, create a high quality transfer environment, optimize transit-oriented development (TOD) potential and reduce costs.
Other DEIS alternatives
S of Andover station – Elevated guideway follows Delridge Way SW south to an elevated Delridge station south of SW Andover Street. Continues south along Delridge Way SW and then runs west along SW Genesee Street.
The Board directs staff to conduct an initial assessment of the following alternatives, which were suggested during the scoping period, to establish whether further detailed study in the Draft EIS is appropriate:
Yancy/Andover alignment – An alignment along the Yancy/Andover corridor with a Delridge Station serving Youngstown.
Pigeon Point Tunnel – A refinement of the Pigeon Ridge Tunnel alignment that was previously evaluated in Level 1 and Level 2 screening. This alignment would include a refined Duwamish crossing location that includes a tunnel through Pigeon Point with a further south Delridge station location. Based on current information, this alternative would require additional third-party funding.
The assessment and recommendation for further study shall be brought back to the Sound Transit Board for review and potential action.
Duwamish Crossing Preferred Alternative
South crossing – Elevated guideway crosses over the Spokane Street Viaduct, curves west and parallels the West Seattle Bridge on the south side. Crosses over the Duwamish Waterway on a high-level fixed bridge on the south side of the existing bridge, then rounds Pigeon Point and heads south along Delridge Way SW.
Other DEIS alternatives
North crossing – Elevated guideway curves west and parallels the existing West Seattle Bridge on the north side. Spans the Duwamish Waterway on a high-level, fixed bridge on the north side of the existing bridge, then crosses over the West Seattle bridge ramp, passes over the Nucor Steel property and runs south along Delridge Way SW.
The Board directs staff to conduct an initial assessment of the following alternative, which was suggested during the scoping period, to establish whether further detailed study in the Draft EIS is appropriate:
Pigeon Point Tunnel – A refinement of the Pigeon Ridge Tunnel alignment that was previously evaluated in Level 1 and Level 2 screening. This alignment would include a refined Duwamish crossing location that includes a tunnel through Pigeon Point with a further south Delridge station location. Based on current information, this alternative would require additional third-party funding.
The assessment and recommendation for further study shall be brought back to the Sound Transit Board for review and potential action.
Ahead, the rest of the story:
8:41 PM: Beautiful night at The Hall at Fauntleroy, inside and out, as the West Seattle Helpline hosted its annual Taste of West Seattle, raising money for emergency assistance that helps keep people from becoming homeless. Dozens of local food and beverage venues/providers were there with samples and sips – like Mission Cantina (WSB sponsor) with esquites con nopale:
Flying Apron‘s offerings included chocolate cupcakes with curry frosting:
The tasting tables were spread throughout the Hall and across its grounds, including both of its big rooms:
Serving up chicken paella, Colleen and Kim from Dream Dinners West Seattle (WSB sponsor):
Lots of beverages too – winemaker Ben Viscon of Viscon Cellars (WSB sponsor) was pouring:
Michelle, Brie, and Shauna from Pecos Pit BBQ (WSB sponsor) were dishing up all-beef spicy hot links and mac ‘n’ cheese:
We have a few more photos to add – plus, we’re awaiting the results of Taste-goers’ voting – more later!
ADDED LATE THURSDAY: Also at the Taste – Husky Deli‘s Jack Miller:
And from Salty’s (WSB sponsor), Victor was serving aleppo-pepper-crusted ahi:
New participants included Indulge Desserts, a relatively recent arrival at 35th/Henderson.
ADDED FRIDAY: Update from the Helpline:
The winners for best…
Taste – Tuxedos and Tennis Shoes
Veggie Taste – Mission Cantina
Pour – The Bridge
Mocktail – All In
Sweet – Bakery NouveauThough there are still some donations and matches coming in, so far we have raised over $57,000. This is enough to keep over 160 families safe and stable in their homes while they recover from unexpected hardship!!
Transient orcas are again passing West Seattle! Kersti Muul says they’re off south Blake Island, headed northbound. Let us know if you see them!
Lots of questions about when The Habit Burger Grill will finally open its West Seattle location at the ex-KFC (35th/Avalon). No exact date yet but we have reason to believe it will be open by June 2nd, because the West Seattle Food Bank made this announcement today:
Bring the family and join the West Seattle Food Bank on Sunday, June 2nd from 5 – 7pm, to welcome the new Habit Burger Grill to Avalon & 35th. Have a great chargrilled meal and 100% of the proceeds will go to providing the 11,500 individuals we serve with nutritious food and other much needed services.
That dovetails with what the franchisees told us a few months back when we checked in, that they would, just before their grand opening, “host a couple charity events by partnering up with local non-profit organizations in the Seattle/West Seattle area. We will be giving them 100% of the sales from those events.” We of course have an inquiry out to see if we can find out more about their timeline but in the meantime, plan to help out the Food Bank on June 2nd!
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
$7.3 million.
You could almost hear the proverbial jaws drop last night when SDOT announced that new estimated cost for a Highland Park Way/Holden roundabout. It’s more than triple the long-cited estimate.
SDOT’s James Le presented the update to the Highland Park Action Committee meeting. Past chair Michele Witzki, who has long worked on advocacy for the project, could barely contain her shock: “I am so frustrated right now. I am beyond frustrated. … It’s almost impossible to get money when you keep on moving the target. … You keep on putting more roadblocks in the way of making this happen.”
As the one-sheet distributed by Le (PDF here, embedded below) says, there’s an option – a $3 million signalization plan.
But that’s not funded either.
(WSB file photo)
Saturday is the first day of the season for Seattle Parks sprayparks, including Highland Park (1100 SW Cloverdale), the only one in West Seattle:
Seattle Parks and Recreation will operate 9 sprayparks across Seattle this summer. Sprayparks open daily starting Saturday, May 25 and will operate through Sept. 2 from 11 a.m. – 8 p.m., unless thunder and lightning are present.
Wading pools don’t open for another month – you can see the full citywide schedule, including opening dates, here.
(WSB photos)
Chellie LaFayette‘s 3rd, 4th, and 5th-grade PE students at Highland Park Elementary had an extra-special lesson this morning, with guests visiting from the reigning WNBA champs, the Seattle Storm, including center Mercedes Russell!
Russell and members of the coaching staff took the students through drills and were then scheduled for some Q&A.
The visit was part of a Storm partnership with Kaiser Permanente.
P.S. The team opens its season at 12:30 pm Saturday, hosting the Phoenix Mercury at Angel of the Winds Arena in Everett.
(Steller’s Jay, photographed by Mark Wangerin. You’ve probably heard its shack-shack-shack call)
The holiday weekend nears! But here’s what’s happening first:
LIBRARYLAB DROP-IN: 4-5:30 pm at Southwest Library. “Self-directed STEM challenges (in) an all-ages program that introduces science, technology, engineering, and math concepts through play, experimentation, and discovery.” (9010 35th SW)
TASTE OF WEST SEATTLE: Tonight’s the night! The West Seattle Helpline‘s annual food/drink fundraiser at The Hall at Fauntleroy is always a hot ticket. If you didn’t get yours in advance, some WILL be available at the door, the Helpline just confirmed. VIP entry 6 pm, general admission 6:30 pm. 21+. (9131 California SW)
COMMUNITY ART JOURNALING: 6 pm class at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor). Tickets still available when we checked. (5612 California SW)
WEST SEATTLE TRANSPORTATION COALITION: Tonight’s WSTC agenda includes a post-session update from local legislators Sen. Joe Nguyen and Rep. Eileen Cody, plus a briefing in the downtown waterfront as it takes shape post-Viaduct. All welcome. 6:30 pm at Neighborhood House High Point. (6400 Sylvan Way SW)
WEST SEATTLEITE ON JEOPARDY! As previewed here on Wednesday, you can see West Seattle resident Laura Schulman on “Jeopardy!” tonight. (corrected) 7:30 pm, channel 4.
LIVE IN-STORE: Justin Townes Earle has a new album about to be released, and he’s playing Easy Street Records solo at 7 pm, free, all-ages. (California/Alaska)
TUNES AT THE TAVERN: Into the Cold, Lower Heights at Parliament Tavern, 9 pm. $5 cover. 21+. (4210 SW Admiral Way)
MORE! It’s all listed on our full calendar.
Sanislo Elementary‘s annual auction is a little over a week away. Sanislo is a small school that is hoping for wide support to help its students. From PTA president Ebony Lee:
We are asking our local community, West Seattlelites, to PLEASE purchase tickets to our annual auction happening Saturday, June 1st. $40/pp for dinner (catered by Drunky Two Shoes BBQ White Center), dancing, live entertainment and an excuse to dress up ’80s is PRICELESS & a really cheap date night! ALCOHOL will be available for purchase so the event is 21 yo +. Please help us raise funds to update the school’s VERY OUTDATED library. Sanislo Elementary School is a very diverse “Small school with Big ideas” and Title I (about 60% of the student population is eligible for free/reduce lunch, 10% of whom experience homelessness). Sanislo is located within the Puget Ridge community near South Seattle College. Thank you for the support!
You can get your ticket(s) here.
(SDOT MAP with travel times/ Is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE/ West Seattle-relevant traffic cams HERE)
6:55 AM: Good morning. No incidents or alerts in our area so far. Foggy here in south West Seattle but as you can see on the cameras above, some areas have sun.
Earlier, we published a reminder that the Sound Transit Board meets tomorrow afternoon downtown to decide which West Seattle-to-Ballard light-rail routing/station-location proposals should go into environmental studies. As you might recall from our coverage of the board’s System Expansion Committee meeting two weeks ago, there was some disagreement about whether to designate “preferred alternatives” at all for parts of the line, including The Junction. Tonight, at least two proposals some board members are circulating would propose these “preferred alternative” (without and with extra $) for The Junction and vicinity:
West Seattle (Avalon / and Junction)
Preferred Alternative
Elevated stations – Avalon station in vicinity of SW Genesee Street, SW Avalon Way and 35th Avenue SW. Turns southwest on Fauntleroy Way SW with elevated Alaska Junction station options oriented north/south and staying east of the Alaska Junction on Fauntleroy and in the vicinity of 41st /42nd Avenue SW. (To be determined)Preferred Alternative with Third Party Funding
Tunnel station – Avalon station in vicinity of SW Genesee Street, SW Avalon Way and 35th Avenue SW. Turns southwest with tunnel Alaska Junction station options oriented north-south in the vicinity of 41st Avenue SW and 42nd Avenue SW. Based on current information, these alternatives would require additional third-party funding. (To be determined)
The proposals – all by board members from outside Seattle – include concern that waiting until after environmental studies to determine these (and some other) “preferred alternatives” could add a year and a half to the timeline. (They were forwarded to West Seattle community advocates by a representative from the office of Mayor Jenny Durkan, who is an ST board member.) Again, as detailed in our preview earlier, the meeting is 1:30-5 pm Thursday at the downtown board room (401 S. Jackson), with a public-comment period toward the start.
In case you missed the sunset … the photo above is from James Bratsanos; the one below, from Vivian M:
And Guardian One tagged us on Twitter, so we are including their view looking west from the Eastside:
Good evening Seattle… @westseattleblog @CityofSeattle pic.twitter.com/QPTfJEVDjg
— KCSOAirsupport (@KCSOAirsupport) May 23, 2019
It’s the West Seattle Junction eatery whose name you won’t see on a sign. Margie’s Café is upstairs at the Senior Center of West Seattle and recently got some renovations.
Even if you’ve never been there, you helped pay for it, thanks to the Veterans, Seniors, and Human Services Levy, approved by voters two years ago. It’s a countywide levy, and King County Executive Dow Constantine is visiting some of the 38 senior centers/organizations benefiting from it.
SCWS executive director Lyle Evans showed the West Seattle-residing executive around this morning. His center received a $84,000 grant from the levy, which was used not only for café improvements, but also for necessities including bookkeeping and a website upgrade.
The café improvements, by the way, included a new ice machine and larger sandwich-making counter. And the café is open to the public – find out more about it (including hours and menus) here.
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