West Seattle, Washington

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year : 2019 3571 results

Thinking about commuting by bicycle? Second ‘Survive #Realign99 Ride’ on Sunday
January 11, 2019 11:10 am
|      7 COMMENTS
 |   Transportation | West Seattle news

If you missed last weekend’s first chance to test bicycling between here and downtown with West Seattle Bike Connections and Cascade Bicycle Club – they’re offering another chance this Sunday (January 13th). Meet at Junction Starbucks at California/Alaska by 9:15 am; the ride starts at 9:30. Free, but advance registration is requested – do that, and get more info, here.

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BE RESILIENT: Last-minute openings in life-saving class Saturday
January 11, 2019 8:50 am
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   Health | West Seattle news

8:50 AM: Received late last night from community-preparedness advocate Cindi Barker: Word that four spots are suddenly open in a special free “Stop the Bleed” class tomorrow (Saturday, January 12th), 10 am-noon, at Hope Lutheran in The Junction. Interested? Register here ASAP.

Stop the Bleed, a national program developed by trauma experts, is designed to teach people with little or no medical training simple techniques to stop life-threatening bleeding. A one-hour presentation is followed by hands-on practice packing wounds and applying tourniquets on dummies. The presentation includes a 10-minute video on surviving an active shooter situation. While active shooter situations are on everyone’s mind these days, you are more likely to use these life-saving skills because of accidents in your home, on a hiking/camping trip, or on the highway. We encourage anyone of high-school age and up to sign up. Some images on the slides and the video are graphic, so we ask that no younger children accompany you to the class.

The class site (Hope) is at 4456 42nd SW.

4:39 PM: Cindi says in comments that the spaces are now filled.

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TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Alaskan Way Viaduct’s final morning
January 11, 2019 7:15 am
|      13 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

(SDOT MAP with travel times/ Is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE/ West Seattle-relevant traffic cams HERE)

7:15 AM: Good morning. No incidents or transit alerts right now for our area. But the headline is – the Alaskan Way Viaduct closes permanently tonight, and Highway 99 between the West Seattle Bridge and the Battery Street Tunnel will be closed until the tunnel opens in about three weeks.

WHAT HAPPENS, WHEN: WSDOT says the Columbia Street ramp will be first to close tonight, around 9:45 pm. Also: Because a small section of the Viaduct has to be removed so the NB ramp into downtown at Dearborn can be built, Railroad Way South will be closed all weekend. (The rest of the demolition won’t begin until after the tunnel is open.) Here are the details.

7:38 AM: Still quiet. If you’re thinking of trying bicycling because of the closure – and/or because of the permanent changes ahead – another “Survive #Realign99” ride is planned (corrected) SUNDAY, JANUARY 13. Details here.

7:48 AM: Just sent by Metro via text and tweet:

7:52 AM: Live WSDOT traffic cam showing the spot on 99 where rampbuilding will ramp up once the highway’s closed tonight:

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WEST SEATTLE LIGHT RAIL: Timeline refresher, federal-shutdown effects, and more @ Stakeholder Advisory Group
January 10, 2019 9:51 pm
|      13 COMMENTS
 |   Transportation | West Seattle news

By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

Take your mind off Viaduct-less-ness for a moment by thinking ahead to West Seattle light rail.

Though its target start date of 2030 is 11 years away, we’re now just a few months away from determining which “preferred” route/station-location plan Sound Transit will study. And your next key input point could be only weeks away – if the federal shutdown doesn’t bring the process to a semi-halt.

The Stakeholder Advisory Group that’s playing a key role in the process met last night, first meeting of 2019, third-to-last scheduled meeting. The intent was to recap where things stand and offer a chance for group members to ask questions as they ponder what they will be recommending toward the end of the third and final evaluation level in a matter of weeks. Here’s the timeline:

That’s from the slide deck for the meeting.

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FOLLOWUP: One suspect in Roxbury Safeway incident has turned herself in
January 10, 2019 7:22 pm
|      12 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | West Seattle news

Just in from the King County Sheriff’s Office, word that one of the suspects in Monday’s Roxbury Safeway incident has turned herself in. Khalia Wimberly is being booked into jail, according to KCSO. She is one of two people sought after a deputy responding to a shoplifting report was hit by a car fleeing the scene. (That car, which investigators say Wimberly was driving, has already been found, too.) KCSO spokesperson Sgt. Ryan Abbott says that the deputy has a broken leg and is “resting at home comfortably.”

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UPDATE: ‘Scenes of violence’ response in Upper Fauntleroy, unfounded
January 10, 2019 5:13 pm
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   Fauntleroy | West Seattle news | West Seattle police

5:13 PM: SFD has a “scenes of violence” response headed to the 3600 block of SW Donovan in Upper Fauntleroy. More info to come.

5:21 PM: Per scanner, SFD reports “a non-injured patient who is refusing treatment” so their response is being downsized. No other information so far on circumstances.

5:25 PM: Our crew is told the original call was that someone had a weapon and might have been injured, but neither has turned out to be the case.

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‘It’s almost here!’ Here’s what happened at city-led Viadoom Eve briefing downtown
January 10, 2019 4:53 pm
|      22 COMMENTS
 |   Alaskan Way Viaduct | Highway 99 tunnel | Transportation | West Seattle news

(WSB photos/video by Patrick Sand)

By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

Forever.

As in “The Viaduct’s going to be closed forever.”

Multiple speakers, including Mayor Jenny Durkan, used the word at today’s last multi-agency briefing before the Alaskan Way Viaduct‘s permanent shutdown at 10 pm Friday (January 11th).

First – here’s the video, so you can watch and listen for yourself if you want to:

This briefing was held at SDOT headquarters in the city’s Municipal Tower downtown. Among the speakers were two new players in the city government’s transportation scene – Sam Zimbabwe, who hasn’t officially started work as SDOT director yet, and Michael Worden (with the mayor in top photo), the retired general hired to be the city’s mobility czar.

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FOLLOWUP: State says no, again, to Highland Park roundabout funding
January 10, 2019 2:34 pm
|      22 COMMENTS
 |   Highland Park | Transportation | West Seattle news

(From WSB files, rough concept of proposed Highland Park roundabout)

2:34 PM: Though the city had hopes that the state would say “yes” to funding the Highland Park Way/Holden roundabout proposal, the answer’s in, and it’s “no.” After we got a tip from neighborhood advocate Michele Witzki, SDOT’s Jim Curtin confirmed the rejection:

We did not receive funding for the roundabout at Highland Park Way and SW Holden St. We’re reaching out to the granting agency to learn why our project was selected for funding. As we currently understand the situation, the project did not meet collision thresholds that the granting agency was looking for and our local matching funds were insufficient relative to the project cost.

We have briefed Councilmember Herbold’s office on the news and we intend to discuss our options for this project soon. In the meantime, SDOT continues to advance design with existing funds (we have $500K for planning and design) and will continue to pursue funding to enhance this intersection.

We have a message out to the councilmember asking for comment. The roundabout also had previously drawn support for Mayor Jenny Durkan, who said during her Highland Park visit in September that a “Plan B” would be found if the state said no. And the topic came up in our recent conversation with State Reps. Joe Fitzgibbon and Eileen Cody – published here last night – that they might be able to pursue a funding request via legislative action, if the grant application was denied (which now it has been). The city had previously committed some funding, including design dollars discussed a year and a half ago. And SDOT heard about traffic-safety concerns again at a Highland Park meeting just a month ago. The roundabout idea goes back at least six years.

ADDED 5:48 PM: Comment from Councilmember Herbold, in response to our inquiry: “It’s definitely disappointing news. We’ve been told that a combination of a larger local match and reducing the size of the project will make the project more competitive. We’ve got $500,000 of the City of Seattle’s match so far. I’ll be looking at ways to increase what I’ve already got earmarked in the City CIP. I understand that the community may be pursuing a Your Voice Your Choice proposal as well.”

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West Seattle whale-watching: 2 groups of orcas in the area
January 10, 2019 1:30 pm
|      12 COMMENTS
 |   Seen at sea | West Seattle news | Wildlife

(Added: Photo by Gary Jones, from Alki Point)

1:30 PM: Thanks to Kersti Muul for the tip! Southern Resident Killer Whales – K-Pod, to be specific – are headed this way, northbound from Burien’s Three Tree Point. They passed here southbound earlier in the day and have now turned around. Please let us know if you see them!

2:01 PM: Another texter says they’re in view from south of Alki Point.

2:54 PM: Turns out there are TWO groups of orcas in the area – southbound transients, northbound residents. And a TV helicopter (according to FlightRadar 24‘s tracker, the one channels 4/5 share) is buzzing them right now off Fauntleroy.

3:16 PM: Thanks for the updates in comments! NB whales are off The Arroyos now.

4:17 PM: As dusk nears, they’re between Fauntleroy and Vashon, per comments as well as a call from Donna Sandstrom of The Whale Trail.

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WATER TAXI: Signs of impending increased service for Viaduct-to-Tunnel (and a bit beyond)
January 10, 2019 12:47 pm
|      32 COMMENTS
 |   King County Water Taxi | West Seattle news

Thanks for the tips. With West Seattle Water Taxi service about to increase because of the Viaduct-to-Tunnel transition time, signs of the impending changes – announced months ago – are starting to show up today. Above, two big canopies are covering areas of the pier at Seacrest.

Nearby, signs are up for the temporary parking restrictions along Harbor Avenue SW – no parking 2 am-5 am on the water side of the street, between Fairmount and the north/west entrance to Don Armeni Boat Ramp. Starting Monday, the West Seattle Water Taxi will be on a two-boat schedule for the rest of the winter season, and will add midday service – you can see the revised schedule here. Along with street parking, there will also be parking available at Pier 2 (enter across from the Harbor Avenue 7-11) with a free shuttle to the Water Taxi dock and other changes detailed here. Here’s more on what’ll be different. Meantime, we’ll have coverage later this afternoon of today’s big Viadoom-readiness briefing, held at SDOT HQ downtown.

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West Seattle Art Walk and more for the rest of your Thursday
January 10, 2019 10:39 am
|      1 COMMENT
 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

Topping our highlights list for the rest of your Thursday:

It’s the Viadoom Eve edition of West Seattle Art Walk tonight – that’s the new winter quarter map and list of venues. This roundup of highlights on the Art Walk website spotlights some of the artists. Remember that the West Seattle Art Walk, running 5 pm to “late,” isn’t just about art – some of the venues offer food and drink specials to entice you out, too.

Also ahead today/tonight:

WEST SEATTLE CHAMBER AFTER-HOURS: 5:30-7:30 pm at Verity Credit Union (WSB sponsor) in The Junction. Meet the Chamber’s new CEO Julia Jordan. Free to members, $10 otherwise. (4505 California SW)

WORDS, WRITERS, WEST SEATTLE: Claudia Castro Luna, West Seattle-residing state Poet Laureate, is this month’s featured author. 6 pm at Southwest Library. (9010 35th SW)

JUNCTION NEIGHBORHOOD ORGANIZATION: 7 pm at the West Seattle YMCA (WSB sponsor) – agenda info here. (3622 SW Snoqualmie)

OPEN MIC: 7 pm at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor), musicians and singers of all genres welcome. (5612 California SW)

LOTS MORE TODAY/TONIGHT – see our full calendar here!

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“Doing better things for the peninsula” drives first meeting of new District 1 Community Network
January 10, 2019 9:39 am
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle people

Meeting facilitator Tamsen Spengler (of MOCA and SWDC) answers a question as Mat McBride (North Delridge) and Eric Iwamato (Westwood, Roxhill, Arbor Heights) examine meeting materials. 

Photo and story by Jason Grotelueschen
Reporting for West Seattle Blog

The first meeting of the District 1 Community Network, the new West Seattle/South Park supergroup that we wrote about on WSB last month, convened on Wednesday night at South Park Community Center.

Leaders from neighborhoods up and down the West Seattle peninsula were present — in fact, the tagline “Doing better things for the peninsula” was mentioned repeatedly during the meeting, as a sort of shared vision for focusing on issues that matter most to the collection of neighborhoods in West Seattle.

The group had agreed to meet on a regular basis with a new rotating facilitator for each meeting. At the helm for Wednesday’s meeting was Tamsen Spengler of MOCA and the SW District Council.

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TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Viaduct’s last Thursday
January 10, 2019 6:58 am
|      12 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

(SDOT MAP with travel times/ Is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE/ West Seattle-relevant traffic cams HERE)

6:58 AM: Good morning. Second-to-last day for the Alaskan Way Viaduct, which closes forever at 10 pm tomorrow (Friday). Just checked around – no incidents currently reported in/from West Seattle.

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What your state representatives are saying as the Legislature gets ready for a new round
January 9, 2019 10:26 pm
|    Comments Off on What your state representatives are saying as the Legislature gets ready for a new round
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle politics

By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

Next week, as many West Seattleites grapple with downtown-bound Viadoom, at least three will be heading the other way:

The state Legislature convenes on Monday, so your 34th District state legislators (all of whom live in West Seattle) will be going south, to Olympia.

Before then – State Reps. Eileen Cody and Joe Fitzgibbon and Sen.-elect Joe Nguyen are offering you a briefing and Q&A this Saturday morning (10 am January 12th, Delridge Community Center, 4501 Delridge Way SW).

We checked in with Sen.-elect Nguyen for this December story – and then sat down to talk with Reps. Cody and Fitzgibbon recently to get their take on what’ll be big this year.

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VIDEO: Gina Topp elected new chair of 34th District Democrats
January 9, 2019 8:35 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle politics

8:35 PM: Our area’s largest political organization has a new chair: Gina Topp was elected tonight to lead the 34th District Democrats. She succeeds David Ginsberg, who decided after one 2-year term not to run again. Topp had previously served as treasurer. We’ll add more details from tonight’s meeting after our crew returns.

ADDED EARLY THURSDAY: First, the pitches made by Topp and the other two chair candidates, on video:

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West Seattle Crime Watch: 1 arrested after High Point gunfire
January 9, 2019 4:29 pm
|      14 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | High Point | West Seattle news | West Seattle police

FIRST REPORT, 4:29 PM: Not long after multiple people called 911 to report hearing gunfire in the High Point area, police got a report of a damaged vehicle near 31st and Bataan. They’re investigating, but there’s no report of any injuries so far. Updates to come.

4:36 PM: Photos added. And our crew says the helicopter in the area is just TV.

5:37 PM: Per scanner, police are looking for a suspect, and the search has blocked some parts of the area.

5:54 PM: Also per scanner, a suspect is in custody, after an arrest outside West Seattle.

11:52 PM: The jail register shows the suspect, a 37-year-old man, was booked for investigation of drive-by shooting, unlawful gun possession, and assault.

ADDED THURSDAY: The incident was written up today on SPD Blotter.

FRIDAY NOTE: The suspect remains in jail, bail set at $150,000. We’ll be checking later today on whether he is charged.

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VIADUCT’S LAST DAYS: Newest information as Friday’s forever closure approaches
January 9, 2019 3:33 pm
|      64 COMMENTS
 |   Alaskan Way Viaduct | Highway 99 tunnel | Transportation | West Seattle news

By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

X marks the spot.

The “X” marks a small section of the Alaskan Way Viaduct that will be demolished almost immediately after the entire structure is closed forever at 10 pm this Friday (January 11th).

WSDOT and other agencies gathered local news media near that spot at midmorning today for the latest briefing looking ahead to the weeks of 99-less-ness while work is done for the viaduct-to-tunnel transition. We recorded it all on video:

No huge headlines at the briefing, but its context was shaped by today’s tougher-than-usual morning commute out of West Seattle, one that hadn’t yet subsided when we headed out for the 10:30 am briefing. The main event factoring into the hours-long backup was a stuck truck blocking one lane of NB 99; that was enough fodder to imagine what things might be like once all of 99 is out of commission for 3 weeks starting Friday night.

SDOT‘s director of downtown mobility Heather Marx (a West Seattleite) urged commuters to be kind and patient with each other. Seattle Police Assistant Chief Steve Hirjak said police will be taking special measures to help tow trucks get though when needed, and that a new auxiliary tow yard has opened “closer to downtown” so that crews involved in clearing incidents won’t be out of service for as long as usual.

Those tow trucks might be busy with other things during #Realign99 – Marx said, “We will tow with alacrity” if people violate the temporary no-parking zones that are planned in various spots. Hirjak reiterated that police will be deployed to keep certain intersections moving, but their goal is more to move people along than to cite them, though ticketing is not “off the table.”

Seattle Fire Deputy Chief Ron Mondragon said SFD will keep close watch on response times, and if they have to take extra measures downtown such as using transit lanes, they will.

Among the many other things that will be watched and adjusted if necessary once the effects of the Highway 99 closure are fully up to (or more like down to) speed next week: Metro bus operations. Post-briefing, we asked Metro’s Bill Bryant the question we continue to hear – will the buses that formerly used The Viaduct be stopping anywhere south of downtown? He says the inbound buses will all stop at either Yesler or James for starters, but that will change if it turns out to be a logjam. (Here again are the Metro routes [PDF], both temporary for #Realign99, then interim, then permanent.)

As for the #Realign99 work itself, WSDOT’s Alaskan Way Viaduct Replacement Program deputy administrator Dave Sowers said what began when the 99 ramps in the stadium zones were closed is “progressing” well. WSDOT published this time-lapse video of the built-then-buried tunnel approach ramp being unearthed:

That part of the ramp was built in 2013 – the same year tunnel-digging began, after the tunneling machine arrived from Japan.

If all goes well, the tunnel could open as soon as the night of Sunday, February 3rd, WSDOT has said. Remember that if you’re not using the tunnel, 99 won’t be of use for another week or more after it opens, because work will continue to finish the new Dearborn ramp. If you missed it last week, here’s the WSDOT video explaining how getting into downtown via that ramp will work:

Here’s the full transition timeline. (And if you’re looking for information on the February 2-3 goodbye/hello celebration weekend, that’s at 99stepforward.com.)

WHAT’S NEXT: At least one more briefing before the Friday night closure.

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BIZNOTES: 2 more West Seattle closures
January 9, 2019 1:29 pm
|      17 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news | West Seattle restaurants

Thanks for the tips on these following our coverage of other recent closures:

IRASHAI RESTAURANT: Though the “open” sign remains illuminated and flashing, the Japanese restaurant in The Admiral District has closed, according to the note on its door, first noticed by Kim. The note says, “We hope to serve you soon with a new restaurant and a new menu.” (We did note recently that there was an application for a change in its liquor license.) Irashai opened a year and a half ago in a space that previously housed Mawadda Café.

CHECKMATE DRY CLEANERS: This first surfaced in comments on our coverage of the West Seattle Pizza Hut‘s impending closure – commenter GatewoodGuy noted that the cleaners next door had recently closed too. We went over to verify and found a note on its door citing “personal matters” and referring customers to Q Cleaners in The Junction. This is the second dry cleaners to close in West Seattle in six months, following the Alki Cleaners closure in July.

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Why police are at West Seattle High School
January 9, 2019 11:56 am
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle police | West Seattle schools

That’s part of the police presence at West Seattle High School following investigation of a threat that is not believed to be credible, according to a letter just sent to families by WSHS principal Brian Vance. Thanks to the parent who forwarded it to us – you can see it here (PDF). Vance writes that the threat was reported by a student who said it was a specific threat toward her, and adds, “Although the phone message does not appear to be a credible threat, we will continue to have extra SPD and District Security on campus.”

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5 for your West Seattle Wednesday
January 9, 2019 10:35 am
|    Comments Off on 5 for your West Seattle Wednesday
 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Varied Thrush, photographed by Robin Sinner, shared via the WSB Flickr group)

Five for tonight:

INFO SESSION: At South Seattle College (WSB sponsor), you’re invited to find out about the two-year (six quarter) Bachelor of Applied Science in Hospitality Management degree program at a 6-7 pm informational session tonight. Details in our calendar listing. (6000 16th SW)

LIGHT RAIL STAKEHOLDERS: Just a few months until the “preferred alternative” for routing and stations is set to be decided. The process of getting there resumes tonight, 5-8 pm, with the Stakeholder Advisory Group‘s meeting downtown. Open to the public, but no comment period.

34TH DISTRICT DEMOCRATS: Special start time as the area’s largest political organization chooses new leadership. 6:30 pm at The Hall at Fauntleroy. (9131 California SW)

DISTRICT 1 COMMUNITY NETWORK: The new West Seattle/South Park supergroup we wrote about here last month meets tonight for the first time, 7 pm at South Park Community Center. (8319 8th Ave. S.)

POEMS AND STORIES: Monthly event at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor), 7 pm – go here to find out who’s reading this time. (5612 California SW)

SEE TODAY’S FULL LINEUP … on our complete calendar.

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Shopping for a preschool? Here’s where you’ll want to be next Monday
January 9, 2019 9:58 am
|      1 COMMENT
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

If you have a little one who’ll be starting preschool next school year, it’s not too soon to start looking. This might help: The West Seattle Preschool Fair, next Monday (January 14th), 5:30-7:30 pm at St. John the Baptist Episcopal Church. The whole family’s welcome; no admission charge – but please preregister by going here. The fair is presented by the West Seattle Preschool Association.

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TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Viaduct’s last Wednesday watch
January 9, 2019 7:17 am
|      59 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

(SDOT MAP with travel times/ Is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE/ West Seattle-relevant traffic cams HERE)

7:17 AM: Good morning. Third-to-last day for the Alaskan Way Viaduct, which closes forever at 10 pm Friday. Texter reports a problem backing things up on NB 99 near the stuadiums.

STILL HAVE A VIADOOM/SEATTLE SQUEEZE QUESTION? We’re going to the next multi-agency media briefing this morning and taking along any lingering questions – comment, or contact us, if you have one.

7:52 AM: Don’t know if it’s new or the same blockage but official traffic reports now mention a stuck truck blocking right lane of NB 89 at Holgate.

Commenters say Admiral is way backed up.

8:01 AM: Reports of other approaches to the bridge backed up too.

8:15 AM: Low bridge backed up too. SDOT says an incident response team is with the truck on 99. Also – crash reported at 35th/Morgan.

8:47 AM: SDOT says the truck on 99 has been moved to the shoulder.

10:05 AM: We’re on the way to the Viadoom briefing and the high bridge is still backed up to Nucor. Also, two cars pulled over in the right eastbound lane across from Walking on Logs – couldn’t tell if it was a fender bender or one driver assisting another. No emergency vehicles on scene.

10:15 AM: Made it to the 1st Avenue S. offramp.

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HALA, Viadoom, and more @ Admiral Neighborhood Association
January 8, 2019 11:57 pm
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   Neighborhoods | West Seattle news

By Jason Grotelueschen
Reporting for West Seattle Blog

Neighbors gathered Tuesday night for a meeting of the Admiral Neighborhood Association, to discuss topics ranging from affordable housing to “Viadoom.”

The meeting, held at The Sanctuary at Admiral, was the first ANA meeting with David Hancock at the helm as the group’s president. The current slate of ANA officers includes:

  • President: David Hancock
  • Vice President: Larry Wymer
  • Secretary: Delores Kannas
  • Treasurer: Carrie MacCann
  • Membership: Susan Staples and Sofia Velling
  • Neighborhood Plan Stewardship: Matt Hutchins
  • Summer Concert Series: Stephanie Jordan

Board members provided some brief updates, including the news that the likely dates for this summer’s Thursday night Summer Concerts at Hiawatha series would be July 18 through August 22.

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