West Seattle, Washington
04 Monday
From Sarah:
Please be on the lookout for 2 bicycles stolen from our home, sometime overnight before 7 am on September 1. They were not visible from the street. One is a small women’s Ghost mountain bike with a drop seat, the color is called “Jade Blue” but more of a green-turquoise. The other is an Easy Rider silver mountain bike. A police report has been filed. Stolen from 25th Ave SW between Brandon and Findlay.
If you find one or both, let us know, and we’ll connect you.
(Lelavision’s Interspecies Communication sculpture, hovering over the Created Commons stage)
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
“I’m not going to die like this.”
That is what Alexia Jones told herself, at the moments when she couldn’t see her way out of the depths to which drug addiction took her.
And indeed, she did not die. She has been in longterm recovery for 26 years, Jones said as the continuing Created Commons art/science celebration at Westcrest Park commemorated International Overdose Awareness Day.
Jones, the host of Tuesday night’s event, leads R2ISE, a Georgia-based organization that explores recovery through art.
She opened by proclaiming the night “a space and a place to remember,” a night about “those who didn’t make it” as well as “those who are out there trying to make it back home.” Here’s our full video of what happened onstage for more than an hour:
Here’s why this is a matter of life and death:
The alert is from Seattle Public Utilities: Starting next week (probably on Wednesday) and continuing for up to two weeks, a section of 44th SW will be closed north of SW College while crews fix a broken sewer mainline. The notice explains that the problem “was discovered by a private side-sewer contractor who notified the City of Seattle.” Crews will work Tuesdays through Fridays, 7:30 am-4 pm; sewer services is not expected to be disrupted during the work. Here’s the full notice.
Gatewood Elementary was vandalized overnight with what the principal described in email to families as “horrific racially-charged graffiti.” Principal Kyna Hogg wrote that, before students arrived for the day, “Our team took immediate action and covered the graffiti (until it can be permanently removed), we called 911, and informed the SPS Safety and Security team.”
(Added: WSB photo, part of the area where vandalism was covered up)
District spokesperson Tim Robinson tells WSB the work order for permanent removal is already in and work should happen soon. Gatewood has been hit with racist crime before; we reported earlier this year on the fourth theft of a Black Lives Matter banner from the school fence, The racists won’t win, Hogg assured families: “I believe it is important to continue to emphasize that Black Lives Matter at Gatewood Elementary School and throughout Seattle Public Schools.”
Three West Seattle Crime Watch reports:
STOLEN BICYCLE: Via email – the theft was discovered at 5:30 am today:
Stolen from Fauntleroy Way SW across from Fairmount Park Elementary. Please be on the lookout for a mountain bike “Ultra TreK,” mostly silver and blue with brand-new BMX tires and just metal handlebars. The seat is original and has a piece ripped out; it is yellow foam.
FOUND FIGURINES: Sent by Lisa:
I found this in front of my house and I’m assuming it’s been dumped? Looks brand new; happy to get it back to its owner. Call of Duty Ghosts toy figurines.
If it’s yours, contact us and we’ll connect you.
BURGLARY ARREST: Police report arresting a suspected burglar Wednesday after a break-in in the 1000 block of California Lane SW (west of Hamilton Viewpoint Park). They answered a 911 call around 5:30 pm about someone running through back yards; before they detained the suspect, a home had been broken into. The suspect was booked into jail for investigation of burglary as well as a warrant.
Several readers have asked about a U.S. Coast Guard helicopter and boat appearing to have been searching off West Seattle’s west-facing shore in the past few hours. We just checked with USCG Public Affairs. They explain they were called in because of an unoccupied “dinghy” – they found it and via a cell phone in it, traced its owner to Manchester (near the Southworth ferry dock). The owner said that the dinghy had gotten loose; it’s since been returned to its owner.
(WSB photo from August tour atop the West Seattle Bridge)
Last time the West Seattle Bridge Community Task Force met (WSB coverage here), and in other meetings, there’s been recurring discussion about ways SDOT could communicate what’s been going on in the past year and a half since the bridge closed. One suggestion was a video recap. SDOT produced one and has just made it public.
There’s no new information in the 5-minute video, but that wasn’t the point – SDOT says the video is meant to help people:
*Learn more about the West Seattle Bridge closure
*See how SDOT is responding in partnership with community members
*Learn what you can do to help reduce congestion and impacts on your neighbors
It’s viewable with subtitles in English, Spanish, Somali, Traditional Chinese, Korean, Khmer, Oromo, and Vietnamese. Speaking of which, SDOT’s announcement about the video also notes:
SDOT has also recently implemented a new phone system that offers in-language messaging options so you can speak to someone in Spanish, Mandarin Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese, Somali, Khmer, or Oromo – in addition to English – about the West Seattle Bridge? Call 206-400-7511 to use the new phone service, and someone who speaks your language will then call you back to talk about the bridge.
There was a big, though brief, emergency response around 8:30 am at 42nd/Oregon in The Junction. It was all over by the time we got there but we followed up with Seattle Fire and just received the information – so, for those who were wondering: SFD spokesperson Kristin Tingley says, “This was reported as an approximately 21-year-old female who fell from a balcony 10-feet. She was transported via AMR in stable condition to the hospital.” Witnesses say the ground-floor awning at the AJ Apartments broke her fall.
King County has just expanded its mask order – starting next Tuesday, face coverings will be required at large outdoor events too. From the announcement:
As new COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations surge, King County Health Officer Dr. Jeff Duchin has issued a Local Health Officer Order requiring masks at any outdoor event with 500 or more people in attendance. This requirement applies to all people, both vaccinated and unvaccinated, 5 years of age and older. The Order strongly recommends that masks be worn in all other outdoor settings where people cannot remain six feet apart from non-household members.
Read the full Local Health Officer Order here. This is in addition to the ongoing requirement for indoor masking (both countywide and state orders were issued on that).
(Photo by Theresa Arbow-O’Connor)
Here’s what’s up in the hours ahead, mostly from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
AQUATIC SCHEDULE: Just confirmed that wading pools and sprayparks will be open today, so that means Highland Park spraypark (1100 SW Cloverdale) is open 11 am to 8 pm and Lincoln Park wading pool (8011 Fauntleroy Way SW) is open noon-7 pm. Colman Pool, also at Lincoln Park, noon-7 pm.
PICKUP ULTIMATE FRISBEE: Join the Thursday night West Seattle Ultimate Frisbee pickup games, 6 pm, Fairmount Playfield (5400 Fauntleroy Way SW).
BOARD GAME NIGHT: Meeples Games invites you in to play, 6:30 pm-10 pm on Thursdays. (3727 California SW)
LUMENAWESOME: Last chance to see this walk-through art display/experience, 7-10 pm, as explained here and covered here. All welcome. Free. (3426 59th SW)
BINGO NIGHT: Play bingo at Admral Pub (2306 California SW), 7 pm.
LIVE MUSIC: First Thursday means Battlestar Kalakala at The Skylark (3803 Delridge Way SW), featuring members of West Seattle Soul, doors at 8, music at 9, $10 cover, 21+.
Got something for the calendar? westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
6:03 AM: Good morning! Our gentle warming trend might continue today.
BACK TO SCHOOL
The biggest back-to-school week continues. It’s the first day for Highline Public Schools immediately south of West Seattle; it’s the second day for Seattle Public Schools. Reminder that school buses, school-zone flashing beacons, and speed cameras are all in operation now.
ROAD WORK
Spokane Street Viaduct – The “deck scan” is scheduled to continue today, 8 am-5 pm, with lane reductions and rolling slowdowns.
26th SW & beyond – Northbound 26th SW closure continues between Roxbury and Barton.
Delridge project – Most of the current work involves curbs, sidewalks, and landscaping.
TRANSIT
Buses are on regular schedules – except for the rerouting in RapidRise H Line work zones. Lots of trip cancellations Wednesday, so watch @kcmetrobus for word of those.
For ferries and water taxis, regular schedule – but note that the West Seattle Water Taxi will be on a reduced schedule Monday. Watch @wsferries for updates.
BRIDGES AND DETOUR ROUTES
528th morning without the West Seattle Bridge. Here are views of other bridges and routes:
Low Bridge: Automated enforcement cameras remain in use; restrictions are in effect 5 am-9 pm daily – except weekends; the bridge is open to all until 8 am Saturday and Sunday mornings. (Access applications are available here for some categories of drivers.)
West Marginal Way at Highland Park Way:
Highland Park Way/Holden – No camera for a few weeks (explained here)
The 5-way intersection (Spokane/West Marginal/Delridge/Chelan):
The 1st Avenue South Bridge (map):
For the South Park Bridge (map), here’s the nearest camera:
Are draw/swing bridges opening for boats or barges? The @SDOTBridges Twitter feed will tell you. (1st Ave. South Bridge openings also are tweeted on @wsdot_traffic.)
See all local traffic cams here; locally relevant cameras are also on this WSB page.
Trouble on the streets/paths/bridges/water? Please let us know – text (but not if you’re driving!) 206-293-6302.
| 6 COMMENTS