West Seattle, Washington
09 Saturday
Earlier this month, we reported on a County Council committee considering the final routing/station siting for the RapidRide H Line, which is what Metro Route 120 will become in 2021. Paving and other changes are ahead for much of Delridge before the transition, so SDOT and Metro have two open houses ahead, including one in West Seattle – 5-7 pm Thursday, May 30th, at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center (the other is the night before in Burien). (They’ll also be taking feedback online starting May 29th.)
(WSB photo, March: Sean Lowry’s motorcycle post-crash)
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
“This man left my son for dead, face down on the road.”
Merle Zahniser‘s son is 44-year-old Sean Lowry, who was riding his motorcycle on Admiral Way two months ago when “this man” hit him and drove away.
Sean wasn’t expected to survive. He did. Merle has more to say about that. But the main reason she contacted WSB is this plea:
“We really need the witnesses who saw the driver to step up and work with the detective.”
The driver, she says, is not a mystery; the vehicle was found. The witnesses are not a mystery – at least, some of them.
What is a mystery is why they are not fully cooperating with police.
As she talked with us by phone this morning, she was in Sean’s room at a nursing/rehab facility, where she and his girlfriend have been with him almost around the clock.
“Sean is doing amazingly well, considering what he has been through.” He was in a coma for six days; she says doctors at Harborview Medical Center thought he had only a “one percent chance” of emerging from it. “Fortunately he has a strong desire to come back … he is improving every day.”
He cannot – yet – walk, but he just achieved a milestone, Merle says – he was able to transfer himself from bed to wheelchair. Also, “his cognition is better” – he is writing in a journal, including simple things to help that cognition – as simple as what happened, why he is in a rehab facility. They are hoping and praying that improvement continues, both mental and physical; next milestone would be the ability to bear weight on his left side, which in a few weeks would allow him to go back to Harborview for an intensive rehab program. “He’s had to relearn everything.”
And yet, that’s a miracle, his mom says. “His neurosurgeon is so happy his assessment was wrong” – that Sean survived.
But while his will can help him accomplish a lot, and while his loved ones can offer seemingly boundless support, there’s one thing they can’t do.
The witnesses need to work with police. Merle points to WSB commenters following our coverage of the crash, which included at least one person who said they had seen the hit-run driver.
“(People) were talking about the driver not doing the right thing. They’re doing the same by not stepping up.”
If witness(es) see this and want to talk to Merle, we can connect you. Or maybe you lost the detective’s contact information? (Det. Feuerstein, 206-684-8934; case #19-098823)
Meanwhile, Merle and Sean’s girlfriend Mel remain at Sean’s bedside. “I hope that he will come back,” fully, Merle says. And don’t even ask about the bills – since he is still in care, there’s no final tally yet; the GoFundMe remains open.
One more time, Merle repeats her plea, through tears: Witnesses, please “step up” and help police so the driver who left Sean for dead can be fully prosecuted.
(King County Assessor’s Office photo of 4401 42nd SW)
ORIGINAL REPORT, THURSDAY: An early-stage proposal is in city files for what would be the third apartment building on the west side of one block of 42nd SW in The Junction, between Genesee and Oregon. A site plan and pre-application documents are in the system for 4401 42nd SW, the West Seattle Christian Church-owned ex-school building that has in past years had a variety of community uses including artists’ studios and the West Seattle Helpline‘s clothing bank Clothesline.
Proposed for the site, which was upzoned to 55′ by HALA Mandatory Housing Affordability, is a five-story building with 72 microapartments (Small Efficiency Dwelling Units) and five live-works, plus underground and surface parking. The documents filed online say parking would total 36 car spaces and 80 bicycle spaces. The church-owned house to the south is not part of this project; we reported last December that townhouses and live-work units are planned there (4411 42nd SW).
ADDED FRIDAY: WSCC pastor Worth Wheeler has responded to our question about the Clothesline’s future: “We have been working closely with West Seattle Helpline for a few months now on providing a seamless transition for their Clothesline operation to another building on our campus. The church is looking forward to a continuing partnership with the Helpline that provides ample space for their needs and keeps their vital work right here in the Junction, close to the transportation hub that is indispensable for so many of their clients. West Seattle Helpline will likely make an announcement in the coming weeks and months about this transition.” Helpline executive director Erin Dury Moore confirmed that, adding, “We look forward to continuing our partnership with West Seattle Christian Church, and their dedication to our Clothesline.”
Just got the tip from Kersti Muul: A group of orcas identified as the T-65a transients (who, she notes, include a year-old calf) is headed southbound, seen off Yeomalt Point on Bainbridge Island [map]. Midchannel, so if you go out looking, bring binoculars. Let us know if you see them! We’ll keep updating this story, though we’re working on a lot today so it won’t be at the top of the stream for long.
L(Pelagic Cormorant, photographed by Mark Wangerin)
From the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
WEST SEATTLE WRITERS: Group meets weekly, 11 am-1 pm at Uptown Espresso in The Junction; =Paul says they welcome new members/drop-ins. (California/Edmunds/Erskine)
BRAIN INJURY SUPPORT GROUP: Monthly gathering, 1-2:30 pm at the café on the second floor of the Senior Center of West Seattle – details in our calendar listing. (4217 SW Oregon)
AN AFTERNOON OF DANCING: 2-5 pm Senior Prom and buffet at Brookdale West Seattle. If you haven’t already RSVP’d, call to see if there’s room – info’s in our calendar listing. (4611 35th SW)
THE WHALE TRAIL: The Legislature has adjourned – what action did they take to help orcas, and what happens next? That’s part of what you’ll find out at The Whale Trail‘s gathering tonight, 7 pm at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor). You’ll also hear from orca researcher Mark Sears, who gets to see the southern residents up close when they visit. Ticket info here. (5612 California SW)
ALKI COMMUNITY COUNCIL: 7 pm at Alki UCC. Missed one of the recent community-meeting Q&As with Port o Seattle/Northwest Seaport Alliance reps about the Terminal 5 project? Tonight at the ACC meeting, you get another chance. Also on the agenda: The future Alki Elementary rebuild adjacent to Alki Community Center. All welcome. (6115 SW Hinds)
THREE BANDS: Doors at 7, music at 8 at The Skylark – Wild Wild Mexico, Dusty, Fluung. $8 cover. 21+. (3803 Delridge Way SW)
BRASSY! Super Krewe performs at Parliament Tavern, 9 pm. $5 cover. 21+. (4210 SW Admiral Way)
EVEN MORE … on our complete calendar!
Burglary and auto theft reports in West Seattle Crime Watch:
BURGLARY: Adam sent that photo of his garage being burglarized Wednesday afternoon in the 8400 block of 22nd SW. No one was home at the time. Police were called. “Officers responded fairly quickly, but the men pictured were gone.” He is not sure yet what if anything they took.
AUTO THEFT: Posted this morning in the WSB Community Forums – a 2000 emerald green Honda Accord SE was stolen overnight Tuesday into Wednesday in Gatewood. Plate AQV4868. Call 911 if you see it.
(SDOT MAP with travel times/ Is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE/ West Seattle-relevant traffic cams HERE)
7:06 AM: Good morning. No West Seattle incidents or transit alerts reported so far.
STADIUM ZONE: The Mariners play at 7:10 pm tonight, vs. the Twins, so the West Seattle Water Taxi will run late.
WEEKEND ALERT: Alki Avenue will close for about three hours Sunday morning for the West Seattle 5K run/walk.
On Monday morning, Jim in Seaview “was walking to the bus … and found this random note on the sidewalk at the corner of 45th and Findlay. It put a smile on my face. I assume it was in reference to Saturday’s yard sale day that always is a great way to get neighbors together.” Whatever it was in reference to, we’ve been looking for a moment to share it. Thanks to Jim, and the mystery note-writer!
Saturday’s West Seattle Bee Festival offers much to look forward to, including the first-ever Urban Survival Skills Fair. Cindi Barker says it’ll be a fun way to find out about disaster preparedness. Here’s what else you’ll find at the USS Fair in a big tent in the north end of High Point Commons Park, by the Bee Garden (Lanham/Graham), during the 10 am-2 pm festival:
The Urban Survival Skills Fair offers an opportunity to gain a variety of preparedness-related skills and useful knowledge from experts. Topics may include:
Amateur Radio — Learn about one of the few communication tools that do not depend on the internet.
Develop a disaster communication plan — Communication is critical during a disaster. What should you consider when making your own plan?
Learn some useful camping hacks and share your best hacks with us!
Build an emergency toilet! We’ll have 50 free toilets to give away (first come, first serve). Learn what to do if the sewer lines have broken or if there is no water.
Prepared Communities — Learn more about the network of Seattle Emergency Communication Hubs and about the West Seattle Emergency Communication Hubs.
Prepared Families — Take some high impact, low-cost steps that can help your family and household make it through any situation.
Prepared Neighbors — Learn about the City of Seattle’s SNAP (Seattle Neighborhoods Actively Prepare) program.
Prepared Pets — What steps can you take to make sure that your pet stays safe in a disaster?
Prepared Schools — Do you understand the “reunification process” that schools may implement following a disaster?
Smartphone Emergency Apps — Take steps before a disaster to download useful tools…many will function even without a cellphone signal. Do you know of other apps?
Utilities — Do you know when or if you should shut off utilities such as gas, water and electricity, and how to do so safely?
Water — Do you know how to properly store and purify water? Following the earthquake in Christchurch, New Zealand, people were without running water for over a year.
This should provide a great opportunity for people who attended our “Is West Seattle Prepared?” events last fall to get more detailed information and hands on skills for preparedness. For those who were not able to attend, videos of those events were just completed and are available at the following links:
Introductory comments, October 7, 2018:
Glenn Farley, KING 5 NewsKeynote Speakers, Nov. 3, 2018:
Dave Nichols, WS Resident, Certified Professional Emergency Manager and ShelterBox Response Team Member
Sandi Doughton, and author of “Full Rip 9.0: The Next Big Earthquake in the Pacific Northwest”Keynote Speakers, Oct. 7, 2018:
Ken Neafcy, WS Resident and Certified Professional Emergency Manager
Harold Tobin, Director, Pacific Northwest Seismic Network. University of Washington Professor, Dept. of Earth and Space SciencesCity of Seattle and King County Public Health – Role of Government in Disasters, Nov. 3, 2018:
Seattle Fire Department – Lt. Andrews, Station 29
Seattle Police Department – Lt. James Britt, SW Precinct.
Seattle Office of Emergency Management – Melanie Cole, Outreach and Training Specialist
King County Public Health – Carina Elsenboss, Preparedness DirectorSkills Training, Nov 3, 2018
Scout Troop 282
What should be in your disaster kit
Water purification
Disaster SanitationMacGyver Tips – what you can do with a garbage bag.
Brian Nozynski
As for the rest of the Bee Festival – look for that preview Thursday!
(Photo courtesy WSHS Athletics)
Congratulations to Anissa Babitu for signing with Walla Walla University! On Tuesday, West Seattle High School hosted a signing ceremony on Tuesday for the senior who played basketball with the #3-in-state 2018 team and #6-in-state 2019 team.
(WSB photo from Wildcats’ final game at state, March 2nd)
Anissa plans to major in computer science. WSHS athletic director Corey Sorenson says she is the 12th student athlete from the WSHS Class of 2019 to commit to a college or university.
Both of today’s King County Elections updates are posted, with three days down, two to go in this year’s Filing Week. In the Seattle City Council District 1 (West Seattle/South Park) race, incumbent Lisa Herbold has filed, joining Brendan Kolding on the path to the August 6th primary-election ballot. Another local position, King County Council District 8 (which includes West Seattle and White Center), has an incumbent – Joe McDermott – and a challenger – Goodspaceguy. Same goes for Seattle School Board Position 6 (West Seattle/South Park), with incumbent Leslie Harris filing today, following challenger Molly Mitchell. See the full list of who’s filed for what so far by going here.
We’re midway through Bike Everywhere Month. Friday is Bike Everywhere Day (the former Bike to Work Day). Haven’t tried biking between here and downtown yet? West Seattleite Doug Ollerenshaw shared two sped-up clips of what it’s like to ride between here and the north side of downtown (to lower Queen Anne, from South Lake Union):
If you’re riding on Friday morning – whether for the first time or five-hundredth – and your ride will take you under the West Seattle Bridge, make time to stop by the West Seattle Bike Connections celebration station, 6 am-9 am – details here.
Today we’re welcoming a new WSB sponsor, the Highline Bears!
The Highline Bears summer collegiate baseball team brings more than just college baseball to the area. They turn an ordinary baseball game into non-stop fun, excitement, and entertainment.
The Highline Bears are home to college players from all over the state and country for the months of June, July and the first week in August, playing 24 home games at Mel Olson Stadium inside Steve Cox Memorial Park in White Center. The Highline Bears open their season on Saturday, June 1st at 7:10 pm.
The moment you step inside the stadium, the Bears plan non-stop fun. There’s non-stop music, between-inning games, competitions, trivia, giveaways, and their dancing mascot Buntly the Bear. Tickets are affordable, with the highest ticket price at $8 for adults, $5 for youth and seniors, and kids eight and under are always free. The concession stand is packed with 1/4-lb. all beef hot dogs, Seattle Dogs, German Sausages, loaded pulled-pork nachos, and even a pulled-pork sundae, to name a few items.
To find out more about the Highline Bears and get tickets to a game this summer, you can go to their website at HighlineBears.com.
We thank the Highline Bears for sponsoring independent, community-collaborative neighborhood news via WSB; find our current sponsor team listed in directory format here, and find info on joining the team by going here.
The Starbucks @ Admiral Safeway was a Southwest Precinct satellite for two hours this morning during the latest “Coffee with a Cop” event (as announced two weeks ago). In our photo above, from left, are Joe Everett, the City Attorney’s Office precinct liaison; Jennifer Danner, crime-prevention outreach; Sgt. Heidi Tuttle from community outreach; and Officer Ken Mazzuca, from the precinct Community Police Team. Couldn’t stop by but got a question for local police? Your next chance is 7 pm Tuesday (May 21st) at the precinct (2300 SW Webster), during the May meeting of the West Seattle Crime Prevention Council.
After all the rainbow photos – one glorious sunset photo remains from last night – thanks to Lynn Hall for sending it. And now we look ahead to six special events today/tonight:
PUGET SOUND LOCAL YARN SHOP TOUR: Seattle Yarn is part of this weeklong tour, starting today, with guest trunk shows! Open until 8 pm. (5633 California SW)
WEDNESDAY GROUP RUN, SPECIAL EDITION: 6:15 pm group run at West Seattle Runner (WSB sponsor) has two special features – a chance to register for the upcoming Loop the ‘Lupe (signing up tonight gets you an on-the-spot in-store discount on WSR purchases), and a post-run social. Details in our calendar listing. (2743 California SW)
INCLUSION MATTERS: Special event with Dr. Ilene Schwartz at Lafayette Elementary, 7-9 pm, all welcome:
Please join us as we welcome Dr. Ilene Schwartz to Lafayette Elementary to speak about why inclusion matters within schools and in our community. She will cover topics such as how to talk to your child about disability and the benefits of inclusion followed by Q&A. This event is geared toward families with children of all abilities. Dr. Schwartz is the director of the Haring Center for Inclusive Education on the UW campus, an interdisciplinary, research and training center focused on improving outcomes for children of all abilities.
Free but RSVP appreciated. (2645 California SW)
WORDSWEST LITERARY SERIES: As previewed here last night, Erica Bauermeister and Alan Chong Lau are the featured writers in the second-to-last-ever WordsWest Literary Series event (last in its longtime format), tonight at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor), 7-9 pm. No admission charge, all welcome. (5612 California SW)
D-1 + T-5: Two Seattle City Council District 1 (West Seattle and South Park) candidates, plus a Terminal 5 update from the Port of Seattle, are on the agenda for the Delridge Neighborhoods District Council meeting tonight at Neighborhood House High Point. All welcome. (6400 Sylvan Way SW)
500TH TRIVIA NIGHT: 8:30 pm at Talarico’s Pizzeria, you are invited to a special edition of weekly trivia hosted by Phil Tavel – his 500th Talarico’s trivia night. Details in our calendar listing. (4718 California SW)
SEE MORE … on our full calendar!
Thanks to Mark for tweeting that photo when SW Yancy closed on Tuesday between Avalon and 28th, immediately east of the Avalon repaving project (we mentioned it in our morning traffic watch). SDOT subsequently told us it wasn’t part of their work but rather a private project, utility work for residential construction on the block. One business is on that block – Stor-More self-storage and mailboxes, a longtime WSB sponsor; we’re a customer too so we called them to ask about access and what they’ve heard about duration. They say there is enough space that customers can now get by the signage at Yancy and Avalon. Meantime, they were told the work will continue through Thursday.
Another city-park playground renovation is in the works.
This time, it’s Fairmount Playground‘s south play area. Seattle Parks has opened a survey – take it here – and scheduled a community meeting, where you can “meet the design team and provide input on play equipment.” That’s set for 6:30 pm May 30th in the cafeteria at nearby Fairmount Park Elementary. Read more about the renovation here. (The Fairmount north play area was renovated less than a decade ago.)
(SDOT MAP with travel times/ Is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE/ West Seattle-relevant traffic cams HERE)
6:58 AM: Good morning! No incidents in, or traffic alerts for, our area so far. One note looking ahead:
WEST SEATTLE 5K ON SUNDAY: The annual run/walk will close Alki Avenue for a few hours Sunday morning. (Not too late to register!)
Early reminder for Wednesday night – it’s the second-to-last WordsWest Literary Series event, last one in the longrunning format – here’s the announcement in case you haven’t already seen it in the calendar:
In the penultimate event of WordsWest Literary Series’s five-year history, on May 15, 2019, novelist Erica Bauermeister and poet/visual artist Alan Chong Lau will muse upon “Awakening the Senses.” As an added bonus, independent bookstore Open Books will have copies of Erica’s latest novel, The Scent Keeper, available to purchase one week before its official release date!
Erica Bauermeister is the bestselling author of four novels. Her most recent is The Scent Keeper (St. Martin’s, May 2019), a moving and evocative coming-of-age novel about childhood stories, families lost and found, and how a fragrance conjures memories capable of shaping the course of our lives. Her other novels include The School of Essential Ingredients (Putnam, 2009), Joy for Beginners (Putnam, June 2011), and The Lost Art of Mixing (Putnam, 2013). She is also the co-author of two nonfiction books: 500 Great Books by Women: A Reader’s Guide and Let’s Hear It For the Girls: 375 Great Books for Readers 2-14.
Poet and visual artist Alan Chong Lau’s collections of poetry include Songs for Jadina (1980), which won the American Book Award from the Before Columbus Foundation; Blues and Greens: A Produce Worker’s Journal (2000); and no hurry (2007). With Lawson Fusao Inada and Garrett Hongo, he authored The Buddha Bandits Down Highway 99 (1978). His work has appeared in anthologies such as From Totems to Hip-Hop: A Multicultural Anthology of Poetry Across the Americas 1900–2002 (2002) and What Book!?: Buddha Poems from Beat to Hiphop (1998). Poems by Alan Chong Lau in collaboration with photos by John Levy will appear in the online literary magazine Otata starting in May, 2019. His book of poems, prose and artwork about Japan will be published by Entre Rios Books in 2020. Arts editor for the International Examiner, Lau coordinates the Asian review of books Pacific Reader, and ArtXchange Gallery represents his visual work.
The Favorite Poem Project invites a community member to share a favorite poem and information about his or her organization. On May 15th, we welcome the host for WordsWest throughout its history, C & P Coffee Company.
WordsWest is curated by West Seattle writers Katy E. Ellis, Susan Rich, and Harold Taw. Grant funding from Poets & Writers, Inc. allows WordsWest to pay featured writers for their time and talent.
This all gets going at 7 pm Wednesday (May 15th) at C & P Coffee Company (5612 California SW; WSB sponsor).
That view was texted from Alki – thanks to everyone who’s sent a pic.
Reader video following the rainbow’s arch pic.twitter.com/nCwNaKCIng
— West Seattle Blog (@westseattleblog) May 15, 2019
And from Chris White in the east Junction:
Plus: from “Charlotte and her mom,” @ Gatewood Elementary:
And David Hutchinson‘s view toward the downtown skyline, from Don Armeni Boat Ramp:
Might see more, with rain/showers in the forecast for the foreseeable future!
When Pacific University in Forest Grove, Oregon, celebrates nearly 900 degree recipients this Saturday, a West Seattleite will be front and center as undergraduate valedictorian. Charli Elliott is a West Seattle High School graduate and played on the WSHS basketball team that made a historic trip to state, coached by her mom Sonya Elliott. From the school’s online profile:
Elliott majored in creative writing and played on Pacific’s varsity women’s basketball team. As she graduates this month, she will have the beginnings of a novel, polished by workshops and mentoring, which she can use to apply to graduate schools or writing residencies.
But her immediate priority, she says, is to improve her fluency in Chinese, preferably by teaching English in Taiwan. She plans to sharpen her language skills while earning some money and traveling the region — all while continuing to write.
While overseas, she said, she plans “to use the beautiful setting of Taiwan as inspiration for further work.”
5:54 PM: Thanks for the tips. If you have to head this way but haven’t left yet, you might want to wait a bit – there’s a crash on the westbound West Seattle Bridge. (added) It’s under the 99 overpass.
6:31 PM: Emergency vehicles are still at the scene.
6:48 PM: SDOT reports the bridge is clear.
(Photo by Mark Sears – permit 21348)
What did the Legislature approve to protect Puget Sound orcas, and what happens next? You can find out at The Whale Trail‘s next gathering, which also will feature orca researcher Mark Sears. Here’s the announcement for the event Thursday night (May 16th):
“Celebrate Orca Legislation and Puget Sound Orca Update Featuring Mark Sears”
When: Thursday, May 16, 7:00 – 8:30
–Doors open at 6:30
Where: C & P Coffee Company, 5612 California Ave SW
Cost: $5 suggested donation; kids free
Advance tickets: brownpapertickets.comLast week Governor Jay Inslee signed five bills to protect southern resident orcas. The new laws will reduce vessel noise and disturbance, improve salmon habitat, reduce contaminants, provide protection from oil spills, and educate boaters. The Canadian Government also announced new measures to protect orcas including establishing feeding sanctuaries for the orcas and setting a distance setback of 400 yards for all vessels. A good week for the whales!
Join us to celebrate a new era in orca protection, and hear an update about orca activity in Puget Sound from whale researcher Mark Sears. Learn what’s next for orcas, the Task Force, and the Whale Trail, and how you can help!
Buy tickets now to reserve your seat.
Our report on last month’s Whale Trail gathering/presentation is here.
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