West Seattle, Washington
28 Sunday
From Jennifer:
Just wanted to reach out regarding a sign that was stolen off my parents’ house just this last week. Its a large, handmade Seattle Mariners S that my dad made over 25 years ago. Was hanging from front of house next to the front door and was swiped. Our family is heartbroken and we would love to see it returned with no consequence.
No photo but if you’ve seen a large Mariners “S” suddenly appear somewhere … could be it. This has been reported to police, (update) incident number 2019-907323.
The future proprietor of the corner commercial space at Upton Flats is finally commenting on his plan for the northeast corner of 35th and Graham. Khalid Agour, best known for Itto’s Tapas in The Junction (and Capitol Hill), told WSB today:
We finally got the keys to the new place this week. The plan is that we will be establishing a café serving local West-Seattle sourced espresso drinks along with breakfast and lunch sandwiches. Hoping to open sometime late August or September pending permits. We are really looking forward to serving our much loved West Seattle community!
No decision yet on a name. (Itto’s was named for the proprietor’s mom.) As previously reported, the Seattle Housing Authority plans to use the rest of the commercial space as offices.
(Photo courtesy Paul, taken aboard the Water Taxi during 2016 Viaduct closure)
Back in December, we reported on a King County Water Taxi survey “to address bicycle capacity issues,” with questions including whether a fee should be charged to bring a bike on board. The decision on that, so far, is “no,” but the county has announced new limits on bicycle capacity per sailing, as well as a limit on bicycle size. The new policies take effect a week from Monday (on June 24th) and are explained in this update on the Water Taxi website.
Though there’s an indefinite hold on the major repaving of SW Roxbury once envisioned for “as soon as” this year, some spot repairs are planned. SDOT has announced this work for the next two weekends:
Crews will be replacing several concrete panels in the westbound lane of SW Roxbury between 34th Ave SW & 35th Ave SW.
SCHEDULE
Crews will be working from 8 AM – 7 PM on the following days:
Saturday, June 15 and Sunday, June 16
Saturday, June 22 and Sunday June 23
CLOSURE | DETOUR
Eastbound and Westbound traffic will be restricted to a single lane in each direction 24 hours a day from 8 AM June 15th – 7 PM June 16th.
All westbound traffic will be detoured 24 hours a day from 8 AM June 22 – 7 PM June 23. The detour route will be north onto 34th ave SW and west onto SW Cambridge St.
Two teenagers are in custody and a third is being sought in connection with two March incidents after early-morning search-warrant operations today. First, here’s the announcement from SPD Blotter:
Detectives from Robbery, Gangs and Narcotics, with the assistance of SWAT and K-9, served three separate search warrants early Friday morning in connection with a March 2019 robbery and drive-by shooting in West Seattle. Police arrested two suspects and seized evidence linking the suspects to the robbery.
On March 10th, one of the suspects robbed another man at gunpoint during a drug deal in an alley in West Seattle, stealing his drugs, cell phone, and jacket. The suspect, and two accomplices, then assaulted the victim before fleeing the area.
A few days later a drive-by shooting occurred at the victim’s residence. The victim believed it was the same suspects from the robbery.
Robbery detectives began investigating the case and, this morning, served the search warrants in West Seattle and White Center. Two suspects, both 16, were taken into custody. Detectives are still searching for the third suspect. The suspects were later booked into the Youth Services Center. Detectives continue to investigate the case.
Following up with SPD, we confirmed that the robbery is the same one noted in the report on the March 14th gunfire in The Junction (WSB coverage here). We also looked back at the original incident report on the robbery, which mentioned a phone was taken but did not mention anything about drugs. Meantime, we’re following up with prosecutors to see if any charges are on file yet related to the search warrants.
11:27 AM: The “rescue extrication” response is headed for 39th SW/SW 106th [map], and the dispatch was for a reported “vehicle into a building.” Updates to come.
11:30 AM: First SFD crew on scene reports crash into tree. SFD says no extrication necessary, occupant got themselves out.
11:38 AM: Just added a photo. Our crew says this pickup is in the yard of a house closer to 37th SW than 39th and that the driver appears to be OK. SFD says there are “reports of a second patient near scene.” We’re checking on that.
11:50 AM: Our crew talked to a witness who also noted that a second vehicle was involved, and our crew has found that one:
The driver of this vehicle is OK but after evaluation, our crew says, it appears the pickup driver will be taken to a hospital. Avoid the area, by the way – police are NOT there yet to direct traffic so SFD is doing what it can.
12:38 PM: Firefighters had to shore up the deck area damaged According to a witness with whom we spoke, the pickup driver hit the other car while trying to get through a narrow section o street, then lost control.
A commenter says the pickup driver went through three yards before ending up on the deck.
(River Otter – the only kind you’ll find in Puget Sound – photographed by Steven Director)
Looking ahead to the rest of your Friday:
SMOOTHIE BAR/HEALTH TALK: 3 pm, The Kenney (WSB sponsor) invites you to visit:
Do you have a magnesium deficiency? Common symptoms of low magnesium levels include kidney and liver damage, migraines, restless leg syndrome, osteoporosis, insomnia/trouble sleeping, tooth cavities, and muscle weakness and cramps. Fitness Coordinator Bella Jovan will discuss the symptoms to be aware of, and explain how to get the accurate amount of magnesium needed for your body. You’ll also get to sample a magnesium–rich (and delicious!) Cacao Cherry smoothie.
(7125 Fauntleroy Way SW)
ART LOUNGE: Highland Park Improvement Club is open for you starting at 7 pm to bring your art project in and work on it in the company of other creative souls. Bar’s open too. 21+. (1116 SW Holden)
JAZZ CONCERT: 7 pm, student musicians perform at Chief Sealth International High School. (2600 SW Thistle)
SONGWRITERS’ SHOWCASE: 7 pm at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor), no cover, all ages. (5612 California SW)
JOHN STEPHAN BAND: 9 pm at Poggie Tavern – the blues and more. No cover. 21+. (4717 California SW)
‘EXPERIMENTAL NOISE FROM OUTER SPACE’ is what’s promised at Parliament Tavern tonight with Kitsune, Jim Davis, Moraine, 9 pm. $6 cover. 21+. (4210 SW Admiral Way)
Beyond Thursday’s notice about emergency water work, here are the weekly SDOT updates from the Avalon/35th project
Next week crews will continue to work in the following locations:
Zone A: Work continues on SW Avalon Way between SW Manning St and SW Charlestown St. At SW Charlestown St, we are conducting water utility work. As early as next week, we anticipate paving the east side of SW Avalon Way between SW Manning St and SW Charlestown St and beginning paving work on the west side of SW Avalon Way, south of SW Charlestown St to SW Andover St.
Zone E: We are continuing to work on the new water main on 35th Ave SW from SW Avalon Way to SW Alaska St and utility work at SW Snoqualmie St. As we work in Zone E through November 2019, we will maintain one lane of traffic in each direction on 35th Ave SW between Fauntleroy Way SW and SW Alaska St. …
Businesses are open! Please continue to visit businesses on 35th Ave SW and SW Avalon Way during construction. Follow signs for temporary parking for the Avalon Business District near the West Seattle Bridge. Pedestrian access will be maintained at all times – please follow signed pedestrian detours.
SDOT also included some community Q&A. Two points of note:
Will parking be restored in Zones B and C?
Parking on the west side of SW Avalon Way in Zone B (between SW Yancy St and SW Genesee St) is now available. Please note that the parking area is not a travel lane and people driving and biking should be mindful of the traffic control in place. Parking on the east side of Zone B and throughout Zone C is currently restricted but will be restored as construction progress allows.Are there pedestrian detours at SW Charlestown St?
Pedestrian detours are in place. In response to frequent mid-block crossings witnessed onsite, we are placing a flagger onsite north of SW Charlestown St to help pedestrians cross SW Avalon Way at a temporary crosswalk during work hours. After work hours, a protected pedestrian path will route pedestrians around construction on the west side of SW Avalon Way.
The Stars and Stripes are up along the heart of the West Seattle Junction today. It’s Flag Day, celebrating the 242nd birthday of the American flag. More history here.
(SDOT MAP with travel times/ Is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE/ West Seattle-relevant traffic cams HERE)
6:56 AM: Good morning. No alerts/incidents currently.
Two reminders:
NB 99 PRE-TUNNEL EXIT: Starting today, some Alaskan Way lane closures related to viaduct demolition could affect traffic for those exiting NB 99 just before the tunnel, WSDOT warns.
4TH AVENUE SW: Today’s the day for a one-day closure of 4th just south of Roxbury.
The printed program for Thursday night’s West Seattle High School Class of 2019 commencement ceremony had something we don’t recall seeing in a decade-plus of covering graduations: A list of the students’ senior-project topics. This was just the first of the four pages:
A different angle on the 220+ Westside grads’ worldliness was offered by ASB president Marlee Bennett, who tossed out graduation-speech buzzwords before these reminiscences:
The students’ choice for faculty speaker, teacher/volleyball coach Abby West, said she has a special bond with the Class of 2019, since she also started at WSHS four years ago. And she offered advice on how to treat others as well as themselves:
High school has enabled the new grads to gain a sense of who they are, observed Wilder Law, speaking on “Lessons of Life”:
One somber lesson the Class of 2019 learned all too soon was about mourning; a moment of silence was offered in memory of Jonathan Teso, who died in a crash last summer.
And then, inspiration from th final student speaker, valedictorian Emma Foulk, who cited superhero emulation in urging her classmates to live with courage:
WSHS’s second-year principal Brian Vance didn’t take the podium until the ceremony was more than half over. Before some staff recognition, he led a “Westside” cheer:
Student musicians were spotlighted too – Kelsey Lenzie singing the national anthem, and Westrum Lowe with a vocal/guitar solo. Finally, it was diploma time:
The tassel ceremony, led by Sam Niederberger, was followed by the unofficial cap toss, and the new grads were congratulated before walking off the field at Southwest Athletic Complex:
THURSDAY: The photo and report are from Joey:
My fiancée’s truck was stolen from Westwood Village while she was shopping inside at Rite Aid today at about 5 pm. We reported it to the police. We found the tailgate dumped onto the side of the road a couple blocks away. They most likely took the tailgate off because of all her bumper stickers.
The truck is a 1991 Nissan D21 regular cab. The color is black with a thin red decal strip on the side. Chrome bumpers. Again, it has no tailgate on it currently. Call 911 if seen.
ADDED SUNDAY: It was found in Lake City.
“Take a look at these beautiful blossoms.” In tonight’s commencement ceremony for Chief Sealth International High School, principal Aida Fraser-Hammer acknowledged the families and educators who nurtured the Class of 2019’s 230+ graduates to adulthood.
(Principal Aida Fraser-Hammer, right, with school board president Leslie Harris)
Their many accomplishments were celebrated, too – from academic to athletic and more. They’ve received a combined half-million-plus dollars in college scholarships and contributed tens of thousands of volunteer hours to the community. During their time at Sealth, the student-created Washington Global Issues Network conference was hosted there twice. CSIHS became the state’s only public school to go to the national Ethics Bowl championships. The Mock Trial team went to state twice. And the list went on. The Class of 2019 chose two speakers – one, their classmate, Clarissa Perez, profiled here earlier this year after word she had receive a prestigious scholarship. She spoke of triumphing over tragedy and exulted, “After all the darkness, this day is the light!”
She told her classmates that it’s imperative they take time to be kind to themselves, and to listen to others. And before their high-school days are too far in the rear-view mirror, “take time to appreciate what thse past four years have meant to you.”
(Speakers Clarissa Perez and Paul Fischburg)
The four years meant a lot to the chosen faculty speaker, Paul Fischburg. He said he had learned things from this class that he hadn’t realized in his career – that what they needed to be learning were things about themselves, not just the academic coursework.
He said it became clear that their big jobs during those years were to “develop your identity … break away from adults … find your creed …” and to learn cooperation. He had advice for the new grads, too – including to “dish it out,” as in, never holding back on expressing love and appreciation for those around you.
There was a heartbreaking reminder of that advice’s importance – because you never know how much time you have on this earth: A moment of silence for Christy Nguyen Phu, killed in 2015, who would have graduated tonight too.
And then, the words were over, and it was time for the ceremony – school board president (and Sealth alum mom) Leslie Harris accepted the class, and they accepted their diplomas, before exiting past the congratulatory line of faculty and staff, and on to waiting family and friends.
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
When the Terminal 5 modernization project starts construction next month, Pigeon Point is one of the neighborhoods that will have a front-row view.
So it was one of three major topics when the Pigeon Point Neighborhood Council met this week at Pathfinder K-8.
TERMINAL 5 BERTH MODERNIZATION PROJECT: Before a project recap from the Port of Seattle/Northwest Seaport Alliance, they reminded the PPNC of the pre-construction open house June 22nd at Jack Block Park, 9:30-11:30 am (first noted here a week ago).
Q&A was interspersed with briefing points.
First question was about shore power. No, ships will not be required to plug in. They hope they’ll choose to, “when they have the capability.” They now expect more than 50 percent of the arriving cargo vessels will be shore-power-capable, up from the original 30 percent projection. They are also looking at policies for making it available at other terminals.
What about light pollution? One row of T-5 lights has to be “adjusted significantly,” was the reply. They added that work already has been done to keep the lights aimed down.
Holy Rosary Church has two summertime projects they want you to know about – including one that has temporarily silenced the church’s bells. Here’s the notice they asked us to share with you:
(WSB photo from Monday)
Heads up if you’ll be traveling through the Avalon Way work zone tonight, and/or if you live in the area: Following up on Monday’s water break, blamed on crews hitting “an unmarked water-service,” they’ll be working tonight to make sure nothing else in the area is “unmarked.” SDOT’s announcement:
Emergency night work tonight:
In an effort to identify all existing water service lines in the vicinity of our utility work, crews will be completing excavation at the water main at SW Avalon Way tonight starting at 7 PM and will continue through the night. Excavation around the water main is needed to identify unmarked waterlines and prevent future water utility interruptions to our progress. Work must be performed at night to be least impactful to traffic. No water shut offs are expected. If you have problems with your water tonight, please contact Seattle Public Utilities at 206-386-1800.
Please expect:
*At 7 PM, SW Avalon Way will be restricted to a single lane of traffic at SW Charlestown St
*Flaggers will be in place tonight to help alternative traffic through the work zone
*Please expect delays if you are traveling along SW Avalon Way after 7 PM
*Work will be noisy and will take place for several hours
Though it’s graduation night tonight for our two standalone public high schools, Seattle Public Schools‘ last day of classes is still two weeks away. Not the case for independent/parochial schools:
Explorer West Middle School (WSB sponsor), West Seattle Montessori, Seattle Lutheran HS: Already out
Westside School (WSB sponsor), Holy Family, Hope Lutheran – Today’s the last day
Tilden School (WSB sponsor), Holy Rosary, Our Lady of Guadalupe – Tomorrow’s the last day
Seattle Police posted those photos along with this SPD Blotter report about a West Seattle incident:
Officers arrested a man and seized multiple firearms and bladed weapons after he threatened his roommate with a samurai sword.
Officers were called to the 5400 block of 18 Avenue SW. When the arrived they spoke with the 61 year-old victim who stated his 62-year-old roommate began swinging a sword at him over a rent dispute.
Police took the suspect into custody without incident. Officers then worked with a judge to obtain a warrant for the residence and recovered seven firearms, three swords, two fixed blade knives, and a bayonet.
Officers booked the suspect into King County Jail for investigation of Domestic Violence threats.
If you or someone you know is suffering from domestic violence and would like help, the city has many resources to assist you.
The report doesn’t mention when this happened but Tweets by Beat lists an incident in that area on Sunday.
With nine days to go until this year’s Morgan Junction Community Festival (10 am-4 pm Saturday, June 22nd), it’s time to rev up the previews. First, a longtime hallmark of the free festival – chances to get creative. Here are some of the highlights, as announced by organizers:
New! Art Zone specifically created for tweens, made possible by a SPARKS Department of Neighborhoods grant.
For the past 12 years, the Festival has offered arts and crafts activities geared to younger children with around 100 children participating each year. The festival committee explored expanding art activities to appeal to middle-school kids and applied for and received the grant, which will pay for the art materials and art zone setup.
K-8 art teacher Dani Myers from St. Francis of Assisi School in Burien has designed a program of six fun art projects and encourages all tweens and teens to participate. These projects are: paint pouring, a mesmerizing technique that creates designs as you pour specialized paint on a surface to create beautiful colors and designs; watercolor painting, discover basic techniques to paint small landscapes and skyscapes; printmaking, make multiple copies of an image you’ve created using a simple block printing process; use plaster gauze and paint to create a simple sculpture; and create a work of art you can play with too with fluffy colorful slime. And the best news is, no prior art experience is necessary, just get involved and have fun!
Also:
The arts and craft zone with projects for younger children starts at 10:00 and continues until 4:00.
The Spatter of Morgan starts at 1:15 and wraps up at 2:30 in the park expansion area. Festivalgoers can blast away with pressurized water toys filled with paint to create a colorful, chaotic “mural.”
The festival is held in and around Morgan Junction Park (6413 California SW). WSB is among the community co-sponsors. More previews to come – next up, why dogs are very welcome at this festival!
(Rufous Hummingbird with lupin flower, photographed by Trileigh Tucker)
Welcome to a cooler Thursday! Here are highlights from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
POSTCARDS TO VOTERS: You’re invited to join in this weekly gathering, part of a national movement, 10 am-noon at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor), explained here. (5612 California SW)
GRADUATIONS! Big night at Southwest Athletic Complex – two commencement ceremonies: Chief Sealth International High School at 5 pm, West Seattle High School at 8 pm. (2801 SW Thistle)
WEST SEATTLE ART WALK: 5 pm “until late,” venues around West Seattle welcome you with art displays and/or food and beverage specials for Art Walk-ers. The venue list/map is just the start:
Another venue: HomeStreet Bank (4022 SW Alaska; WSB sponsor) is open 5-7:15 pm for you to see the creations from the art contest for this year’s West Seattle Garden Tour (coming up June 23rd) as well as “some additional works.” Help HomeStreet support the Garden Tour, which itself supports other nonprofits … And it’s the last Art Walk at Wallflower Custom Framing (4735 42nd SW), which is closing soon. Featured tonight: A retrospective by Jessica Creager. Wallflower’s closing sale continues, too. … More Art Walk highlights in this roundup on the Art Walk website.
SECOND THURSDAY OUT! The Senior Center of West Seattle‘s LGBTQ+ social group gathers for a barbecue. 6 pm.
WANT TO STUDY AERONAUTICAL TECHNOLOGY? Informational event at South Seattle College (WSB sponsor), 6 pm – details here. (6000 16th SW)
WORDS, WRITERS, WEST SEATTLE: 6 pm at Southwest Library:
Chief Seattle wrote nothing down during his life, yet his words — both real and imagined — are known throughout the world. The result is a man made up of both historical and fictional aspects, from which conflicting messages can be gleaned.
David M. Buerge, a biographer and a historian to the Duwamish Tribe, Seattle’s mother’s people, spent more than 20 years exploring the man from a variety of sources to reveal a leader of epic character. He was a warrior, an orator, a benefactor, and a visionary who helped found the city that bears his name, Seattle, the largest city in the world named after a Native American.
Chief Seattle’s vision was ambitious: a prosperous, multiracial city. But toward the end of Seattle’s life, he saw that vision become a tragedy. In the current century, is Seattle the city edging any closer to the vision of Seattle the man? Buerge explores this complex figure to uncover how one man’s story still shapes the identity of the city.
Free. (9010 35th SW)
(Photo by Marc Milrod)
SOUL NIGHT: 9 pm at Parliament Tavern. No cover. 21+. (4210 SW Admiral Way)
(SDOT MAP with travel times/ Is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE/ West Seattle-relevant traffic cams HERE)
7:33 AM: Good morning. Cooler weather today. One alert, from WSDOT: “On the northbound SR 509 on-ramp from West Marginal Way there is a collision partially blocking the ramp.”
Some transit/traffic notes:
FERRY WORK: Late-night sailing cancellations continue on the Triangle Route, for work to try to quiet down loading/unloading noise.
NB 99 PRE-TUNNEL EXIT: Viaduct demolition is moving south and some Alaskan Way lane closures could affect traffic here starting tomorrow, WSDOT warns.
4TH AVENUE SW: Tomorrow, there’ll be a one-day closure south of Roxbury.
8:19 AM: Road work reported on the right lane of the eastbound West Seattle Bridge.
(WSB photos. Above, endorsement-ballot counters)
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
With eight weeks until the August 6th primary election -and five weeks until ballots go out – our area’s largest political organization made its endorsement decisions tonight.
The 34th District Democrats did so with a full house at The Hall at Fauntleroy. Just over 100 members were present and eligible to vote.
We start with the marquee race:
SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT 1: Incumbent Lisa Herbold and challengers Phil Tavel and Brendan Kolding were all nominated for endorsement in the West Seattle/South Park race. The endorsement went to Herbold with 76 votes; Tavel got 19, Kolding got 5. Here’s the announcement:
Here’s what happened before the voting:
9:15 PM: Thanks to Robert for the tip: 119 customers are out of electricity in Upper Alki. Robert says a “loud bang” preceded the outage. No cause listed yet. Checking the SCL outage map, we also note a 19-customer outage in The Junction blamed on “equipment failure.”
11:23 PM: Map indicates the Alki-area outage has been resolved.
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