West Seattle, Washington
14 Thursday
Less than a week after Southern Resident Killer Whales in J-Pod came far enough south to be seen from West Seattle, there’s word the pod has three pregnancies in progress. The state Department of Fish and Wildlife issued a news release today saying the evidence is in health-monitoring drone photography by SR3. As a result, WDFW has ordered boaters to stay at least half a nautical mile away from the three pregnant orcas and any group with which they’re believed to be traveling. The three are J36 (21 years old), J37 (20 years old), and J19 (42 years old). The SRKWs have a high rate of pregnancy loss, the emergency rule points out. So it’s hoped this order will help increase the odds of successful births.
While the days are getting shorter, at Alki, they’ve also just gotten longer. Tonight is the first night that Alki Beach Park‘s closing time is back to 11:30 pm, after two months of closing at 10 pm. The early closing time was ordered in early July – first as a holiday-weekend experiment, then as a two-month trial run – days after the shooting that killed 22-year-old Tilorae Shepherd. We confirmed with Seattle Parks this afternoon that there had been no last-minute decision to extend the early closing time. One note: Though the beach is open later now, the fire pits are supposed to be closed for the season as of tonight.
As promised, we asked Seattle City Light today for details on what caused Sunday’s outages affecting more than 3,200 homes and businesses in West Seattle, from North Delridge to Harbor Avenue. First, to recap, as reported here yesterday afternoon/evening – 107 customers went out at 11:30 am, another 3,100 at 2 pm. Most of the second group had power back about an hour later, while for the rest, it took later. Here’s how SCL spokesperson Julie Moore explains it:
We saw a few pole fires yesterday, including the two that caused the outages in West Seattle. After a dry period, when there is a mist as opposed to a sustained rain, it is not uncommon for insulators to track (leak electrical current), which can cause a fire. The first one was a pole at 2833 SW Yancy St. This was on a lateral line that only impacted those customers fed from that line. The second one was a pole at 3022 SW Bradford St. For this one, we needed to shut down the feeder that feeds the lateral, which is why it initially impacted a greater number of customers. We were able to restore the bulk of the customers (all but 455 of the 3,000+) pretty quickly through switching. The rest were restored once we completed repairs.
The two pole-fire locations are just a few blocks apart.
Monday is when Seattle Public Schools updates its new COVID-19 dashboard (although last week included additional midweek updates). The cumulative districtwide case total is now 117 – 32 of those in the Southwest Region (West Seattle/South Park) – and the district has added school-by-school numbers and a map:
In our area, Chief Sealth International High School and Lafayette Elementary report 6 each, Denny International Middle School and Highland Park Elementary report 4 each, Gatewood and Roxhill Elementaries report 3 each, Pathfinder K-8 reports 2, and there’s 1 each at West Seattle High School, Louisa Boren STEM K-8, and Genesee Hill and Sanislo Elementaries. (The numbers are not broken out between students and staff, just by school.) None are reported at Madison Middle School, Alki Elementary, Arbor Heights Elementary, Concord International (Elementary), Fairmount Park Elementary, or West Seattle Elementary. The 32 total cases in this area is 20 more than were listed when the dashboard launched a week ago.
The former Verizon store on the ground floor of the Senior Center of West Seattle building has a new tenant. The owner of the Capitol Hill skate shop 35th North is taking over the space. Tony Croghan tells WSB that this shop will have a different name, TBA, as he wants each of his shops to have its own identity. It’s smaller than the Capitol Hill space but will carry much of the same merchandise – skating equipment, apparel, shoes, etc. He also hopes to include an “art wall” and will participate in the monthly West Seattle Art Walk. Expanding here wasn’t a long-held goal, but when he heard about the space opening, Croghan said, it just made sense. He is a former West Seattle resident, now living in Burien, but often visits because his family still lives on the peninsula. He’s hoping to open the West Seattle shop by December. (P.S. For more on what 35th North is like, here’s a story from our friends at Capitol Hill Seattle Blog.)
Howard Martin will be remembered with a virtual memorial on September 22nd. Here’s the remembrance his family is sharing with his community:
Howard Martin, 77, died on August 10, 2021 with his wife and daughter by his side, after living with the aftereffects of a stroke, including dementia, for 8 years.
Born in New York City, Howard moved many times before settling in Seattle, where he lived for the past 36 years. He studied Political Science at UCLA and received a MSW from USC. His work spanned teaching, counseling, acting, cab-driving, nonprofit management, political organizing, and retail until his retirement in 2013.
Howard moved to West Seattle in 1992, and embraced this community — especially his neighborhood, Blockwatch32 in the Luna Park/Avalon area. He served on the Delridge Neighborhood Development Association Board, worked for Neighborhood House in White Center, met up regularly with dog-park friends at Westcrest, and was among the first hires at the Home Depot on Delridge, where he worked preceding his stroke and eventual retirement. He participated in Providence Mt. St. Vincent’s Eldercare Program and enjoyed the attention and excellent care he received.
He is preceded in death by his parents Ruth and Peter, daughter Naomi, and stepfather Earl (longtime West Seattleite Earl Robinson). He is survived by wife Marcia, daughter Kata, brother Michael, and many family members and friends.
He will be remembered for his perennial wit, humor, and warmth, and by his online alias, HowieInSeattle. A virtual memorial will be held on 9/22 @ 3 pm — email howmartin@msn.com for details.
Remembrances may be made to Delridge Neighborhood Development Association.
(WSB publishes West Seattle obituaries by request, free of charge. Please email the text, and a photo if available, to editor@westseattleblog.com)
(Added: Video by @houndoomer on Twitter. Language caution)
ORIGINAL REPORT, 5:44 AM: Another big fire callout in downtown White Center, and Seattle Fire units from West Seattle are being sent to help. 16th SW is being blocked south of Roxbury. We’re on our way to find out more.
(WSB/WCN photos/video)
5:58 AM: As our first photo shows, the logged address is correct – the old Locker Room Tavern at 9633 16th SW, damaged by fire back in April.
6:10 AM: No word yet if anyone was injured, or if the adjacent businesses are damaged.
(Video added)
This is the third major commercial-building fire in White Center in a little over two months, after the July 5th fire that gutted seven businesses a bit further north on 16th SW (ruled arson) and the fire at the old Atlas Electric building on September 1st (still under investigation).
6:18 AM: The fire’s not out yet – still visible flames and smoke inside the building.
6:34 AM: Public-information officers on scene say this is a 3-alarm fire – they’ve called in the extra help because of the proximity of other businesses. (video added, briefing by PIO Pat Pawlak:)
They’re working to try to keep it from spreading to the adjacent businesses (Bizzarro Italian Café to the south, Huong Xua Deli to the north). No injuries reported.
8:07 AM: After a break to return to HQ to upload video, our crew is back at the fire scene. Some of the responding units have been dismissed. We talked to a Bizzarro Italian Café rep, who says they’re closed Mondays anyway so they’ll be evaluating any effects. Same goes for Full Tilt Ice Cream two doors down – owner Justin Cline tells us there’s some water damage but they’re also usually closed Mondays, so they have time to deal with it. 16th, meantime, is likely to stay closed another two hours or so.
9:04 AM: Lot of cleanup to be done inside Huong Xua (above). Meantime, more than three hours after the fire started, firefighters are still on scene:
12:08 PM: 16th SW has reopened.
12:35 PM: We just checked back with Fire District spokesperson Shauna Sheppard: No cause determined yet.
1:31 PM: Another update from Sheppard: Early indications are that the fire was NOT deliberately set, but the investigation continues.
8:56 PM: We went by tonight; Bizzarro (whose website says they’ll be closed “a few weeks”) and Huong Xua are both boarded up, and the Locker Room is simply rubble. A commenter posted this link to a crowdfunding page for the Locker Room’s proprietors, saying they were about to start rebuilding from the April fire damage.
Here’s our weekly roundup of local pandemic updates, starting with the newest local numbers.
KING COUNTY CUMULATIVE NUMBERS AS OF FRIDAY:
*141,770 people have tested positive – 3,985 more than a week ago (5,088 in West Seattle, up 142)
*7,671 people have been hospitalized – 208 more than a week ago (233 from West Seattle, up 3)
*1,812 people have died – 36 more than a week ago (71 in West Seattle, up 2)
VACCINATION RATE:
78.5% of King County residents 12+ have completed their vaccine series (up .6% in the past week)
By West Seattle zip code:
98106 – 80.8%
98116 – 86.2%
98126 – 76%
98136 – 87.4%
98146 – 75.2%
(More COVID-related King County stats here)
PANDEMIC NEWS
Mask order goes statewide – As of tomorrow, the same outdoor-mask rule that’s in effect now in King County, mandatory at outdoor events with 500+ people, takes effect statewide.
Vaccine verification – King County’s working on a system.
Mandatory vaccination for more people – President Biden‘s newest orders require vaccination for federal employees and vaccination or regular testing for people whose private employers have 100+ employers.
COVID at Camp Second Chance – As reported here earlier today, the city-sanctioned tiny-house encampment in southeast West Seattle has had its first cases.
NEED TO GET TESTED IN WEST SEATTLE?
The UW Medicine testing service at the Nino Cantu Southwest Athletic Complex parking lot (2801 SW Thistle) continues to operate; you can make an appointment here, though readers report walk-ups have been accepted. Meantime, the Curative testing kiosk at Don Armeni Boat Ramp (1222 Harbor SW) is also still operating. In addition, both West Seattle Walgreens stores are offering drive-up testing (35th/Morgan and 16th/Roxbury) – more info here.
NOT VACCINATED YET?
Go here to see where you can change that.
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
A week and a half into the new school year, some Seattle Public Schools parents have been keeping their children home, feeling it’s not safe to return until kids under 12 can be vaccinated.
While usually it would take 20 consecutive absences before a student was kicked off the rolls, the district changed its policy last week to say that any student who hadn’t shown up by this past Friday would be unenrolled. The district attributed that to “guidance” from the State Superintendent of Public Instruction, which for its part says it has not issued any such order.
One West Seattle parent who wants to keep her child enrolled at their neighborhood elementary school – while staying home until vaccinated – has been organizing other like-minded parents.
Two reader reports in West Seattle Crime Watch tonight:
BUILDING BURGLARY: From Rachel on Harbor Avenue SW:
A very experienced and familiar with our building man broke into our building around 1 AM Friday morning 9/3 and then broke into our storage unit and stole my inflatable paddle board, gas fire pit and Kelty Cabin 6 Tent.
I have pictures of the items stolen attached and also some pictures from the security camera of the man. Biggest characteristic are his red shoes. This man is a pro as he was in and out within 15 min and could get into locked doors no problem and from the way he knew exactly where to go without wondering around we are thinking he has been here before, cased the place or is a worker in the area. This is the third burglary we have had within the month.
NORTH ADMIRAL CAR PROWLER: From Trudy:
My partner saw a suspicious person attempting to open multiple car doors at around 5 am this Sunday morning while taking our dog to the bathroom outside. The incident took place 44th Avenue SW and SW Atlantic St.
My partner yelled out to the individual, who then walked off quickly. A white male, around 5’11″, in a large hooded jacket. Upon turning the corner my partner could see there was a second male,. also of similar appearance. They both took off on foot quickly.
They likely may have broken into cars in that area.
We all think Admiral is a quiet and safe part of West Seattle and we often forget that isn’t the case if untoward people are around. If you could, please publish this incident to ensure people are aware, and to ensure they don’t leave valuables or their cars unlocked.
(WSB photo: Camp Second Chance’s front gate, July)
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
For the first time in the pandemic, Camp Second Chance – West Seattle’s only city-authorized tiny-house encampment – has reported COVID cases.
That was one of the updates the CSC Community Advisory Committee heard during its monthly meeting, held online this afternoon.
None of the three were seriously ill, said camp manager Scott Harris; two are a couple. and all three were quarantined at county facilities set aside for that purpose.
(Photo sent by Eileen)
Thanks for the tips. The Southwest Library is closed today. The note on the door attributes it to a “building emergency”; one reader just forwarded an email reply they received, explaining that the branch “did not open today due to staffing issues. They were having an issue with their phone system as well and were not able to update their hours on their phone either.” There’s now a note on the website but that wasn’t there when the reader checked hours before heading to the branch. The note also says that “Book Returns are open and holds will be extended.”
12:05 PM: Thanks to Patricia for the tip. That’s the Seattle City Light map for an outage affecting more than 100 customers east of the Luna Park area since about 11:30 am. SCL attributes it to “equipment failure.”
12:22 PM: The West Seattle Health Club is without power (we couldn’t reach them by phone so we just went over to check).
2:05 PM: We don’t know if this is related to the first outage but now 3,100 more customers north of the original outage zone have just lost power too.
The SFD log shows at least two business fire alarms have been triggered by the outage – not uncommon – so if you’re noticing emergency responses, that’s likely what it is.
2:15 PM: Commenters are noting that the new outage area includes Admiral Safeway and Metropolitan Market – a large stretch of the Admiral business district.
2:36 PM: The Admiral Theater is also among the businesses affected.
2:47 PM: The second outage too is attributed to “equipment failure.”
2:56 PM: Some customers now have their power back. The second outage zone is down to 455, and the original 107 are still out, per SCL. Meantime, there’s a crash at one of the intersections where the signals have been out – this was reported just after 2:30 at Admiral/41st, where eastbound lanes of Admiral are blocked:
3:13 PM: SCL says via Twitter that “The primary cause is under investigation.” If we don’t get specifics on the cause today, we will have a followup tomorrow, as always. The outage map shows the 455 still out after losing power at 2 pm are in an area immediately west of the still-out 107 whose power went out at 11:30 am:
5:10 PM: The original outage – 107 customers east of the Luna Park area – is over, after five-plus hours
7:25 PM: Though the Luna Park businesses were still dark when we drove by about 20 minutes ago, SCL says everyone’s back on now.
Another West Seattle Junction business has to replace a window because of a deliberate act of vandalism. The plywood is covering a window on the south side of Shadowland at California/Oregon. We photographed it this morning after a tip from Kerri, who says her son was there last night around 10:45 pm when a woman threw a brick through the window. Kerri quoted her son as telling her, “Bunch of us followed her for a second. Didn’t even run. Just shouted ‘call your insurance!’” We stopped in this morning to follow up; they’ve cleaned up and are open, no injuries reported.
As the new school year continues, a local college student is getting support again from the Seattle AAUW, which sent the announcement and photo:
Anna Nguyen, a West Seattle resident and 2019 South Seattle College graduate, has been awarded a scholarship of over $5,000 for a third year from the Seattle Branch of the American Association of University Women (AAUW).
Ms. Nguyen, a senior at UW-Seattle, is double-majoring in public health-global health and sociology.
AAUW’s mission is to advance gender equity and economic security for women and their families, through education, advocacy and research. Learn more about AAUW and our scholarships at www.aauw-seattle.org.
(Saturday’s sunrise, photographed by Stewart L.)
Sunday highlights, mostly from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
TRAFFIC ALERTS: Same reminders as Saturday – SDOT is scheduled to continue work at two spots on West Marginal Way until about 1 pm, more Highland Park Way intersection work as well as tree-trimming near Puget Way … Curb-ramp work continues at 44th/Edmunds in The Junction … Outside West Seattle, southbound I-5 through downtown will be routed through the collector-distributor lanes all weekend … If you see unannounced road work, please text or call 206-293-6302 whenever you get where you’re going, so we can add it to the list – thank you!
CHURCHES: Many continue streaming, in addition to in-person services. Here are the newest links for 20+ West Seattle churches’ services.
LOWMAN BEACH REMINDER: As announced last week, Lowman Beach Park will be partly closed starting tomorrow for shore restoration, including seawall and tennis court removal.
SEATTLE RUN SERIES: The first of three 5K/10K dates is today, 9:30 am, from Alki Beach – info is in our calendar listing.
WEST SEATTLE FARMERS’ MARKET: 10 am-2 pm on California between Oregon and Alaska. Scroll down the page at this link to find the vendor list and map for this week. (The market is a WSB sponsor.)
GO THROW! 10 am pickup Ultimate Frisbee, all welcome, at Walt Hundley Playfield (34th/Myrtle)
DELRIDGE GROCERY COOPERATIVE: The store at 5444 Delridge Way SW is open 11 am-3 pm today.
SUNDAY RUN CLUB: Noon at Ounces (3809 Delridge Way SW) – info in our calendar listing
YAPPY HOUR IB THE GARDEN: You and your pet are invited to join Furry Faces Foundation at West Seattle Nursery (5275 California SW) – our calendar listing explains the fun that’s in store.
CAMP SECOND CHANCE COMMUNITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE: All are welcome to the 2 pm online meeting, to get updates and ask questions about West Seattle’s only city-sanctioned tiny-house encampment. Attendance info is in our calendar listing.
SUNDAY NIGHT KARAOKE: 8 pm to 1 am at Admiral Pub (2306 California SW; WSB sponsor).
SUNDAY NIGHT JAZZ: Triangular Jazztet at The Alley (4509 California SW), 8 pm and 9 pm sets.
LAST NIGHT OF EARLY ALKI CLOSURE: When Seattle Parks announced back in July that Alki Beach Park would close at 10 pm nightly for the rest of the summer, they said tonight – September 12th – would be the final night.
Event listings welcome – westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
(WSB photo: Kitsap at Fauntleroy dock while investigation continued)
Thanks for the tips. A longer-than-usual wait for outgoing and incoming ferry passengers at Fauntleroy this hour wasn’t because of the sailing cancellations reported earlier – it was because of an investigation. We’ve just talked to spokespersons for both Washington State Ferries and Washington State Patrol, which has jurisdiction on ferries, since they are part of the state highway system. WSP says that on board M/V Kitsap, as it sailed to Fauntleroy, a man in his 50s “was asked to put on a mask (but) refused and became aggressive toward ferry personnel. The subject had been drinking as well. There was a concern based on the aggressive behavior that an assault could take place.” So the boat was held while WSP was called. Troopers determined no assault had taken place, and that the man was a passenger in a car, not a driver, so there was no DUI concern; eventually he was given a trespass writeup requiring him to stay off WSF property for 60 days. The Kitsap has since unloaded that sailing and loaded a new one that arrived at Vashon about 10 minutes ago.
A “brand-new magical place” is how Westside School (WSB sponsor) head of school Steve de Beer described the preschool expansion just opened south of the Arbor Heights campus. A ribbon-cutting ceremony this morning celebrated the completion of the two-classroom building, which, like the heart of the school’s main building, is a converted church sanctuary.
The connected classrooms welcomed a full complement of 28 students Friday. We took a sneak-peek tour two days earlier.
Everything is kid-size:
As we reported in April, as remodeling of the former New Apostolic Church got under way, the expansion is enabling Westside School to double the size of its preschool and pre-K programs. In all, the school now has nearly 400 students, preschool through 8th grade. The community of families present and past is so supportive, it yielded key participants in the project, including STS Construction Services (WSB sponsor), whose Craig Haveson was there this morning (below left, with Westside’s director of advancement Nicole Caden and de Beer):
The design firm, SKL Architects, also is from the school community (and designed the main campus, too). This morning’s ceremony was an opportunity for Westside to acknowledge and thank the project participants and donors, to talk about the school’s future, and also honor its almost-40-year history. A key figure for many of those years, who served in many roles at Westside, Claudia Ross-Weston, was at the ceremony:
Past board president Lisa Hadley cut the ribbon:
Then it was time for tours. The preschool-expansion building is opening almost exactly three years, de Beer said, after the former church approached the school to see if it might be interested in leasing the property.
Write essays, win prizes! West Seattle’s VFW Post 2713 invites students to enter – here’s the announcement:
The Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 2713 in West Seattle announces this year’s VFW essay contests:
Voice of Democracy: Students in grades 9-12 must write and record an essay on “America: Where do we go from here?” The state first-place winner receives a four-day trip to Washington, D.C., and the chance to be the first-place national winner receive a $30,000 college scholarship. Local Post 2713 awards: $350 – 1st place; $275 – 2nd place; $200 – 3rd place.
Patriot’s Pen is for grades 6-8. The national first-place winner wins $5,000 and an all-expense-paid trip to Washington, D.C. The essay theme is: “How Can I Be A Good American?” Local Post 2713 awards: $150 – 1st place; $100 – 2nd place; $75 – 3rd place. Bonus 1st place: 8th grade-$100; 7th grade $75; 6th grade-$50.
Both programs are approved by the National Association of Secondary School Principals.
Also: A VFW Washington State Department competition for students in Grades 3-5. The theme is: “Why do I stand for my Country’s flag?” Local Post 2713 awards: $100 – 1st place; $75 – 2nd place; $50 – 3rd place. Bonus 1st place: 5th grade-$75; 4th grade-$50; 3rd grade-$25.
This program is completely voluntary; a student (including home schooled) does not have to go through their school to participate.
Interested students and teachers should contact Bill Dwyer, wcajmg@gmail.com, telephone (206) 419-3998 after 5 pm, or Ben Skwiercz, bens@halcyon.com, telephone (425) 941-4651.
Local Post winners compete at the District level in December, and District winners advance to the state.
All entries must be in or postmarked to VFW Post 2713 by Oct. 31, 2021 at 3601 SW Alaska Street, Seattle, WA 98126.
Note that you can get entry forms and rules by following the links above, or find information/links for all three categories here.
Congratulations to last year’s VFW Post 2713 winners who hailed from Chief Sealth High School, Holy Rosary School, Madison Middle School, Kennedy Catholic High School, Our Lady of Guadalupe, and Summit Atlas.
Washington State Ferries says the #2 sailings on the Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth route are canceled “for the rest of the day” because of a crew shortage. So if you’re looking to sail on that route, check the schedule for a #1 or #3 sailing.
(WSB photos)
Author/illustrator Danitra Hunter‘s “Purrdie Burrdie” character is meant to inspire you to love and believe in yourself. The publication of her first book is a manifestation of what that belief can help you accomplish. She is at Paper Boat Booksellers (6040 California SW) all afternoon during the independent bookstore’s second-anniversary celebration – and tells us this is her first official event launching her book! She has coloring sheets for kids, too:
We first told you about Danitra and “Purrdie Burrdie” last year, when she was crowdfunding to get her book published. The campaign was a success – “I did it!” she enthused when we saw her today – and now her book’s available for purchase at Paper Boat, which is also a success, marking two years in business:
Co-proprietor Desirae Judy is there as are Paper Boat fans:
The shop is open today until 6 pm.
Those on duty at Seattle’s 33 fire stations took a moment at 8:46 am to pause and remember the 343 firefighters who lost their lives because of the 9/11 attacks. We were at Station 32 in The Junction for the brief remembrance.
The list of names was divided between the stations to be read aloud during the ceremony. Here are the names read at Station 32:
Benjamin Suarez
Daniel Suhr
Lt, Christopher Sullivan
Brian Edward Sweeney
Sean Tallon
Allan Tarasiewicz
Brian Tegtmeier
John Tiemey
John Tipping II
Hector Tirado
Richard Vanhine
City leaders are holding a remembrance ceremony right now (we’ll link the recording when it’s available).
Thanks to Allen for the photos. Along with flowers, someone has left a pictorial memorial at the Alki Statue of Liberty, which became a Seattle gathering place after the 9/11 attacks,
While hundreds gathered there for a 10th-anniversary vigil in 2011, nothing formal is planned today/tonight.
SIDE NOTE: On 9/11/2007, the refurbished statue was unveiled. The plaza surrounding it, with a new pedestal for the statue, was dedicated a year later.
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