West Seattle, Washington
03 Thursday
We reported earlier this month on the 1.25-million-gallon storage tank planned in southeast West Seattle to reduce combined-sewer overflows into the Duwamish River. At its monthly meeting this Wednesday, HPAC – the neighborhood coalition for Highland Park, Riverview, and South Delridge – gets a briefing. Here’s the meeting preview, which includes other topics:
We will be hearing from representative of the King County Wastewater Treatment Division to learn more about the upcoming West Duwamish CSO Control project set to begin soon. If you are unfamiliar with these projects, have a look at the construction at 4th South and South Michigan Street, where they are almost done with a huge holding facility. The SW Michigan site will be much smaller, but serve a similar purpose, capturing and holding excess rain runoff from Highland Park, preventing contamination of the Duwamish River during big storms.
If you attended last month’s meeting, SPD mentioned their annual report on crime trends. They will be at our meeting too for any questions or concerns, Westwood Village area ranked 4th in volume citywide in community-generated 911 calls.
Also up in the HPAC business category:
-Planning for Spring Cleanup events – sites you think need to be addressed, dates, etc.
-Helping with a Flip Your Trip outreach event? – mask mandates are lifting and traffic will be ramping up, can we help try and get more folks out of their Single Occupancy Vehicles?
-A look back at our area’s five years of hosting Camp Second Chance – what’s working? Any outstanding concerns? Do we have any guidance or response to State Sen. Joe Nguyen’s bill now in the State Senate regarding lifting SEPA requirements for new camps?
-Inviting any interested parties to help out on eBoard positions – we are an all volunteer advocacy group and rely on community energy!
HPAC will meet online at 7 pm Wednesday (February 23rd) – connection info is here.
One Crime Watch reader report so far today, from Laurie:
I just wanted to reach out so other people are aware in my area; sometime between 9 pm last night and 10 am this morning someone broke into our vehicle and stole my fiancé’s cleaning supplies. Luckily it was only that. I live near the PCC Market on California. They used something to get the door unlocked through the keyhole but didn’t damage it.
On this last winter holiday of the year, we’re looking ahead to spring. One local community group is hoping to line up some help with a spring celebration. Here’s the announcement/request:
The Fauntleroy Community Association would like to announce its annual Spring Community Egg Hunt. One person left a note last year saying, “My grandkids and neighborhood kids enjoyed finding all the Easter eggs that were hidden around the area. Hope you do it again next year.”
This is a ‘no-candy’ event using non-perishable eggs, with surprises hidden inside, around the greater Fauntleroy area. This will occur the week of April 11 through April 16. Closer to the event, we will announce the boundaries where the eggs may be found. (Any plastic eggs you can’t reuse may be dropped off in bins that will be located at the Fauntleroy Schoolhouse, 9131 California SW.)
REQUEST: We would love volunteers to help stuff and/or hide the eggs. We’ll be doing this in a fun atmosphere. If interested, call or email Candace Blue, 209-401-8406, leeblue2 (at) hotmail.com.
(Sunday photo by Robert Peckyno)
Here’s what you should know for the rest of this holiday Monday:
HOLIDAY CLOSURES: Seattle Public Library branches and Seattle Parks pools/community centers. … Presidents Day also is a US Postal Service holiday and a banking holiday.
FOOD FUNDRAISER: Chef Gino Williamson continues cooking at 5441 Delridge Way SW to raise money for his planned move into the Super 24 building nearby. He says he’ll be there all week 11 am-7 pm.
OPEN D&D: Play 6:30 pm-10 pm Mondays at Meeples Games (3727 California SW).
TRIVIA X 3: Here are tonight’s three options – 7 pm at Best of Hands (35th/Webster), 7 pm at The Good Society (California/Lander), 7:30 pm at The Skylark (3803 Delridge Way SW)
Something for our calendar? westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
Family and friends are remembering Jeffrey L. Parsons, and sharing this remembrance with his community:
Jeffrey Lloyd Parsons
May 3, 1947 to February 10, 2022Jeffrey “Jeff” Parsons was born on May 3rd, 1947, the youngest child of Lloyd and Dorothy Parsons. Jeff was born and raised in West Seattle and was the “favorite brother” of his two older sisters, Kay and Judy. He passed away at home on February 10th, 2022, surrounded by his family, after a brief illness.
Jeff attended EC Hughes Elementary, Denny Middle School, and Sealth High School, where he graduated with the class of 1965. He had many fun adventures with his childhood friends and fellow Boy Scouts and was an active member of Calvary Lutheran Church.
In 1967, Jeff joined the United States Navy Reserve and completed his training and service at the Naval Air Reserve Training Unit in Memphis, TN and the Naval Air Reserve Training Command in Los Alamitos, CA. Upon return to Seattle, he chose to follow in his father’s footsteps and completed an apprenticeship program for sheet-metal fabrication at Seattle Community College. Jeff pursued a lifelong career in commercial sheet-metal work at several Seattle area shops, with the majority of his career spent at Holaday-Parks, Inc., in Tukwila, where he was the Shop Superintendent and proud member of Local Union 66. He retired after 38 years in 2010.
In the late 1960s, Jeff met the love of his life, Sally Paton, and they were married in 1970. Jeff and Sally had over 50 years of adventure together as they raised two children, Maureen and Chris, and built a mountain cabin for their family in the remote community of Stehekin, WA. Jeff loved his outdoor adventures in Stehekin and his time spent with his many friends in the Stehekin community. He loved backpacking, camping, and fishing with his family and enjoyed road trips through the Northwest, Alaska, and Canada.
A gifted carpenter and metal worker, Jeff enjoyed many happy hours tinkering in his shop, and especially loved working on projects with his dad, son, and grandsons. A kind and generous friend and neighbor to many, he looked forward to his daily drives around West Seattle catching up with friends and family and delivering cookies to his grandkids. He loved watching his youngest grandson’s baseball, soccer, and basketball games, and he enjoyed listening to his oldest grandson’s violin and piano concerts. Jeff loved all things vintage; from collectible toys to historical photographs of Stehekin and Lake Chelan, Jeff spent hours curating his fascinating collection. His epic sense of humor was well known and he was appreciated by his family, friends and neighbors for his ability to fix anything.
Jeff’s love for his family was unconditional. Rain or shine, Jeff could be relied upon to help with whatever the situation happened to be, with a powerful mind and an indefatigable work ethic. He was able to provide his family with many decades of safety, opportunities, and beautiful memories. He never seemed to ask for anything in return but the company of his family, which was readily granted on account of his easy-going personality and aforementioned sense of humor. He will be greatly missed.
Jeff is survived by his wife of 51 years, Sally (Paton) Parsons; daughter Maureen Parsons and grandsons Aidan and Ian Busby; son Chris Parsons (Liz Browning); sister Judy Parsons; sister Kay McAvinew (Jerry) and their children Tony McAvinew and Tracy (Tim) Powell; sisters-in-law Sue Lesmeister (Bob) and Diane Peel (Omar); and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, Lloyd and Dorothy Parsons, and sister-in-law Laurie Williams.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the American Cancer Society.
Please share memories, condolences and pictures with Jeff’s family at bonneywatson.com/obituary/jeffrey-lloyd-parsons. A private family service will be held at Washington Memorial Park in SeaTac.
(WSB publishes West Seattle obituaries and memorial announcements by request, free of charge. Please email the text, and a photo if available, to editor@westseattleblog.com)
8:55 AM: The east end of the Roxbury corridor is closed, readers report – eastbound. (added) Aside from a commenter’s mention of an apparent fuel slick, we haven’t found any official information in the traffic-info channels we monitor.
9:27 AM: Our crew talked to deputies at the west end of the closure and they confirm that a fuel leak/spill of some kind is the problem and they’re blocking EB Roxbury until it’s cleaned up. No ETA.
9:33 AM: According to a radio exchange just now, SPD is being sent to the scene to take over from KCSO, and SDOT is sending a crew for the cleanup, which is at/near the Olson Place intersection.
9:55 AM: An SPD officer at the scene just told dispatch that SDOT says it’ll be at least an hour and “if they have to call a contractor it could be all day.”
1:45 PM: In addition to the earlier update in comments, Shirlee emailed to report it was still closed as of 1:20 pm.
3:45 PM: Still closed as of most-recent SDOT update. We’re headed that way soon to check.
4:25 PM: Finally reopened.
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6:03 AM: Good morning! It’s Presidents Day, so we’ve incorporated holiday-related transportation notes below. But first …
WEATHER
Breezy, showery, chilly today, high in the mid-to-upper 40s, low tonight possibly into the 20s.
ROAD WORK REMINDER
8th SW sewer repair – This week, crews are expected to start up to 3 weeks of work on 8th SW between Roxbury and Cambridge, which means parking restrictions and lane closures.
NO SCHOOL THIS WEEK
It’s midwinter break for Seattle Public Schools and those who follow its schedule.
BUSES, WATER TAXI, FERRIES, LIGHT RAIL TODAY
Metro is on its regular weekday schedule despite the holiday. Watch @kcmetrobus for word of reroutes/cancellations. Also remember the new bus stops at Alaskan Way/Jackson that opened on Saturday.
No Water Taxi service today.
Ferries: WSF continues the two-boat schedule for Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth. Check here for alerts/updates.
Light rail: Here’s the Sound Transit holiday schedule.
BRIDGES AND DETOUR ROUTES
699th morning without the West Seattle Bridge.
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.)
1st Avenue South Bridge:
South Park Bridge:
West Marginal Way at Highland Park Way:
Highland Park Way/Holden:
The 5-way intersection (Spokane/West Marginal/Delridge/Chelan):
Are movable bridges opening for vessels? Check the @SDOTBridges Twitter feed; 1st Ave. S. Bridge openings are also tweeted on @wsdot_traffic.
See all local traffic cams here; locally relevant cameras are also on this WSB page
Trouble on the roads/paths/water? Text or call us (when you can do so safely) – 206-293-6302.
Thanks to John for the tip. Emerald Water Anglers (4502 42nd SW; WSB sponsor) was hit by grab-and-run thieves this morning, and it’s at least the second theft of that kind in The Junction in recent days. Matt at EWA tells WSB that it happened around 11:40 am today; two thieves stole $2,700 worth of Patagonia outerwear. He says one “had been in previously and looked at prices of items closest to the door.” As for descriptive information, he says “both male, one about 5’10” and the other about 6′; (they) ran to a running red Dodge 2500 truck without plates left running on the corner outside the shop.” If you have any tips, the SPD case number is 22-043860. This happened three days after what a reader told us was also a grab-and-run theft at West Seattle Optix (4555 California SW) on Thursday; no other details but the case number for that one was 22-041148.
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
More than three years ago, Admiral Church told community members that “big changes” were in its future.
Planning for those changes was subsequently shelved. But now it’s actively happening again, as the church has flatly declared that a “looming financial crisis” makes the status quo unsustainable.
So, church leaders told a community meeting this afternoon, they’re pursuing three potential paths for the future of the church (4320 SW Hill) and its 27,000-square-feet site:
With the redevelopment project at 4508 California SW getting ready for construction, both restaurants on the site now have closing dates. We’ve already reported on the impending closure of Kamei Japanese Restaurant – which set March 15th as the date a few days ago – and now we’ve confirmed the plan for Lee’s Asian Restaurant next door. It, like Kamei, has been in The Junction for 20 years, and Lee’s tells us they’ll be closing at the end of March. (Thanks to Tom for the tip; we went by to confirm today.) The future mixed-use building also includes the vacant storefront that previously held Naked Crepe. The new development finished going through Design Review more than two years ago; it was described at the time as a project with 58 apartments, 12 lodging units, 17 underground parking spaces, and ground-floor retail space. City permit files indicate demolition and construction could start as soon as April. It’ll be the first major construction project on California in the heart of The Junction since Junction 47 and 4730 California were built 7+ years ago. (Image: Google Maps Street View)
As announced earlier this month, the city-supported COVID vaccination clinic in West Seattle – at Neighborhood House High Point – is closing after its next Friday/Saturday sessions. NH, a regional nonprofit, sent this announcement to thank the community:
Next Saturday, February 26, 2022 is the last day of the West Seattle Vaccination Clinic run by the city at Neighborhood House High Point.
Neighborhood House is honored to be have been able to partner with the city to provide this clinic space in our High Point building to connect community members to the COVID-19 vaccines and boosters.
Thank you to the West Seattle community – we were so proud to serve you! Since the clinic opened in late October 2021, the Seattle Fire Department along with inaugural health partners Pliable have administered tens of thousands of shots, to children as young as 5 and grandparents and great-grandparents of all ages.
The dates and hours of operation as well as appointments for the High Point clinic can be found at www.seattle.gov/covid-19/vaccinations.
For over 100 years, Neighborhood House has created opportunities for those facing cultural, language, and systemic barriers to live longer, happier, and healthier lives. Learn more about this work throughout King County and Seattle at nhwa.org.
The city-supported COVID testing site at Nino Cantu Southwest Athletic Complex will remain open.
The question of what to include on its new website led the Alki Community Council to a deeper discussion at its February meeting. We reported on the new website earlier in the week; among other features, it enables people to renew or initiate ACC membership, and ay the nominal annual dues. So why would people want to join – what’s in it for them? one attendee asked. There were no quick answers for that, aside from the fact that it’s a way to get involved in your community. The website, meantime, has infinite possibilities for being helpful, and many ideas were suggested – the volunteer who developed it, Debbie Girard, has already posted community event listings, for example, along with resource links, and is working on community spotlights. Should the website be more topical and newsy, with, for example, community safety/crime alerts? one person asked. That drew mixed reaction. The idea of promoting the Alki area drew more positive reaction. Whatever the direction, the point was made that it can’t all fall on the shoulders of one volunteer, so others will have to help. She’s working on a user manual to make that possible.
The ACC meeting (held in-person and online Thursday night) also got its usual SPD visit from the Southwest Precinct‘s night-shift Lt. David Terry. Attendees’ concerns were dominated by the perennial problems of reckless driving, even in the offseason, and Lt. Terry again explained that the department’s current staffing challenges rule out proactive patroling much of the time. They are “augmenting” – offering extra/overtime shifts to officers – just to be at minimum staffing many nights.
The Alki Community Council meets third Thursdays most months, 7 pm at Alki UCC (6115 SW Hinds) and online. Watch alkicommunitycouncil.org for updates.
Family and friends are remembering Lois Norman Batts. Here’s what they are sharing with her community:
Lois Norman Batts entered fully into the presence of the Lord on Saturday, January 8, 2022. She will be greatly missed until family and friends reunite with her, someday, in Heaven.
She was born to Day and Verna Wallen on February 23, 1930, in Sioux City, Iowa – the youngest of 6 children. Her family moved to the Key Peninsula of Washington State in the early 1940s. As a young woman, she worked as a switchboard operator, long distance operator, and attended some classes at the University of Washington. In the fall of 1956, she met the love of her life, William (Bill) Batts. They were soon engaged, and then married on February 22, 1957, just one day before her 27th birthday. She joked about how she aged a year overnight.
They bought a house and settled down in the Genesee Hill area of West Seattle and raised 3 children there – Ben, Bill, and Janis.
Lois was a stay-at-home mom for many years and involved in the children’s schools. She participated in many ministries and programs at West Side Presbyterian Church during her 62-year membership, including women’s circle groups, Wedded Ring group, Sunday School teaching, VBS teaching/assisting, serving as Deaconess, MOPPETS childcare volunteer, etc… She attended Bible Study Fellowship for many years and volunteered with Friend-to Friend, which is an organization that matches volunteers to elderly folks who need the company of a friend on a regular basis. Lois participated in the West Seattle Hi-Yu parade many summers carrying a banner for Friend-to-Friend which led the vans and buses from local senior-living facilities.
Lois was always putting others first. As a non-skier, she went along on all the family ski trips every other weekend in the winters to Crystal Mountain to provide mothering, warmth, meals, encouragement, and all that it takes to get a family of 5 packed up and provided for. She also supported Bill in his other hobbies of raising & showing dahlias and boating & fishing. During her mother’s last few years of life, Lois cared for her 24 hours/day at home.
When the children were older, Lois went back to work. She started out working in the kitchen at Modern Care Nursing Home and then began to work as an Activities Assistant. She moved on to work at The Kenney Home as an Activities Assistant. Even after she retired from there, she continued for many years, to lead a class for the residents on making Kenney Kards, which were sold to help raise money for The Kenney benevolence fund.
Lois enjoyed traveling with Bill: a road trip around the USA and to Canada, they took many cruises (the Caribbean, Australia, Hawaii, Alaska, Panama Canal), a trip to Europe (France, England, Italy), many October trips to Maui, timeshare weeks to Wapato Point in Chelan. She also enjoyed playing card games and Dominoes with family and friends, making ceramic decorations, watching Mariners games, and spending time with her grandchildren.
In 1997, they sold their house and then moved into The Kenney independent-living apartments. They used to be the young ones there and felt like they were royalty as they looked out from their 4th-floor apartment windows over the beautiful lawn and gardens. In early 2019, they moved into Assisted Living as Lois’s Alzheimer’s worsened; then in October 2019, Lois moved into The Kenney’s memory care, as Bill continued in Assisted Living. For the first time since 1957, they were living apart but able to visit with each other daily. This separation was compounded further in the Spring of 2020, when The Kenney cancelled any visitation to the residents in the building due to COVID, which included any visits between people in the different living areas there. For many months Bill and Lois could only “visit” through a window. Their story was featured in the Seattle Times November issue of The Pacific NW. Fortunately, restrictions were loosened some and they could see each other again in person.
Lois passed away just short of their 65th anniversary and her 92nd birthday. She is preceded in death by her parents and all of her siblings. She is survived by her husband Bill (Mr. Bill, as she would say), son Ben Batts, son Bill Batts (Jen), and daughter Janis Kelly (Tim), grandchildren Taylor Batts (Mikaela), Ruth Sonsteng (David), Julia Foote (Spencer), Kathryn Batts, William Batts, Stephen Kelly, and Victoria Kelly-Hodder (Ben) and six great-grandchildren.
Thank you to the wonderful caregivers at Synergy Home Care Seattle, The Kenney, AMR Paramedics, and Swedish Hospital Cherry Hill.
There will be a private family ceremony on March 3rd.
(WSB publishes West Seattle obituaries and memorial announcements by request, free of charge. Please email the text, and a photo if available, to editor@westseattleblog.com)
(Black-capped Chickadee, photographed by Sage K)
Sunday is here, and spring is exactly four weeks away. What to do while you wait? Here are today’s opportunities:
CHURCHES: Most West Seattle churches are continuing online services, with some gathering in-person too – here’s our weekly update on 20+ churches.
WEST SEATTLE FARMERS’ MARKET: 10 am-2 pm, find fresh food – produce, meat, fish, cheese, beverages, baked goods, and prepared food – at the weekly WSFM (WSB sponsor). (California SW between SW Oregon and SW Alaska)
COMMUNITY CLEANUP: 10 am-noon, join in an Admiral community cleanup – supplies provided, all ages welcome. Meet Erik at the Lafayette Elementary (California/Lander) entrance courtyard – more details in our calendar listing.
DONATION DRIVE: Alki UCC (6115 SW Hinds) is hoping you can drop off donations to help people stay warm and fed, 11 am-3 pm. Our preview has the list of what they’re welcoming.
ADMIRAL CHURCH COMMUNITY MEETING: 2 pm on the church lawn (4320 SW Hill), Admiral Church plans to talk with community members about “a financial crisis which will almost certainly mandate administrative and physical changes to our property as soon as 2023.”
BOOK CLUB: 3 pm, you’re invited to join the West Seattle Classic Novels (and Movies) Book Club at an outdoor table at C & P Coffee (5612 California SW). Organizer Julia says, “Discussion will cover the second half of Charles Dickens, Bleak House (beginning with chapter 29, ‘The Young Man,” to the end).”
‘MONSTERS OF THE AMERICAN CINEMA’: Today’s 3 pm matinee wraps up the play’s run at ArtsWest Playhouse and Gallery (4711 California SW; WSB sponsor). Read about it here; buy your tickets here.
NEED FOOD? White Center Community Dinner Church serves a free meal (take-away available) at 5 pm Sundays at the Salvation Army Center (9050 16th SW).
SUNDAY NIGHT KARAOKE: 8 pm to 1 am at Admiral Pub (2306 California SW).
SUNDAY NIGHT JAZZ: Triangular Jazztet at The Alley (4509 California SW), 8 pm and 9 pm sets.
Got an event to list in our calendar and previews? Email info to westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
In the wake of this week’s major announcements about end dates for mask requirements and vaccination verification, we checked countywide and West Seattle trends via the Public Health – Seattle/King County dashboard.
*42 percent fewer cases countywide in the past week than the week before
*Currently averaging 798 new daily cases countywide (down from 1,415 when we last checked a week and a half ago)
*5 percent fewer hospitalizations countywide in the past week than the week before
*Currently averaging 22 new hospitalizations daily (down from 29 a week and a half ago)
*13 percent fewer deaths countywide in the past two weeks than the two weeks before (the dashboard didn’t offer a one-week increment)
*Currently averaging 7 new deaths daily (down from 8 a week and a half ago)
For West Seattle, we have two-week comparisons:
*559 cases between 1/31 and 2/14, down from 1,618 between 1/16 and 1/30
*8 hospitalizations between 1/31 and 2/14, down from 15 between 1/16 and 1/30
*2 deaths between 1/31 and 2/14, down from 6 between 1/16 and 1/30
And checking vaccination rates for the first time in a while:
*79.5 percent of all King County residents have completed the series
*84.1 percent of all King County residents ages 5 and up have completed the series
*In West Seattle, here are the zip-code vaccination rates for ages 5 and up (note that 98106 and 98146 are not entirely within WS):
98106 – 86.2%
98116 – 91.6%
98126 – 82.2%
98136 – 92.6%
98146 – 80.7%
That’s the entrance courtyard at Lafayette Elementary (California/Lander), meeting place tomorrow morning (Sunday, February 20th) for a community cleanup. Organizer Erik Bell says it’ll be “family-friendly,” heading around the block, onto the playground, over to Hiawatha, and around Safeway, further if time/turnout allow. Logistics: “Vests, gloves , buckets, and pickup sticks will be provided and we’ll transfer all the trash into Seattle Public Utilities bags for pickup.” Erik notes that this is also a great opportunity if a teen in your household needs service hours. Official time is 10 am to noon, but if you can’t spare all two hours, no problem, show up for what you can – supplies will await you in the aforementioned courtyard if you can’t get there right at the start. Erik’s contact number is in our calendar listing.
(WSB photo)
Thanks to Meagan for sending the tip that the Benbow Room‘s sign is up at 4210 SW Admiral Way. It’s been seven months since we broke the news that West Seattle restaurant/bar entrepreneur Mark Fuller (Ma’ono, Supreme, New Luck Toy) was taking over the space and reviving its historic identity. Besides the sign, the liquor-license application also suggests the Benbow is approaching opening time; we have an inquiry out to find out its status (and also who created the sign!).
Updates on the West Seattle High School basketball teams’ games at district playoffs:
GIRLS: They lost their past two games – Lake Washington today, 69-41; top-ranked Garfield on Thursday, 76-50 – but still have at least one more game to go, at regionals. That matchup is TBA.
BOYS: After two losses – 65-54 vs. Seattle Prep last night, 68-56 vs. Lake Washington on Tuesday – they’re out.
No official advisory about it, but the forecast today says wind gusts could get up to 40 mph – and so it’s a good idea to keep everything charged. Even more interesting in the forecast, the possibility of snow showers Monday night, at least on the hilltops. February snow, of course, is not unusual – last year we had some in mid-February. And winter officially has four weeks remaining.
10:09 AM: Seattle Fire has a “full response” arriving in the 2200 block of SW Barton [map]. Updates to come.
(Added: WSB photos)
10:12 AM: Barton is closed between Delridge and 24th SW for this response. Firefighters are telling dispatch the fire is on the building’s third floor.
10:19 AM: SFD confirms it’s a “working fire” in an apartment building and their crews have water on it. The road closure is now extending west to 25th/Barton.
10:28 AM: One person is reported injured and will be taken to Harborview. Our crew has just arrived and says people have been evacuated from the building and a Metro bus is being used for them to shelter.
10:39 AM: They’re still working to extinguish the fire and to confirm that it hasn’t spread beyond the third floor. We also just heard a mention that a cat’s been rescued. Also, our crew reports some people are getting oxygen.
10:45 AM: Fire has been declared under control.
11:01 AM: No word yet on how this started, but SFD’s investigator is on scene. SFD says at least three people have been treated for injuries. This is a 40+-unit complex built in 1968, according to property records.
11:28 AM: At the scene, SFD spokesperson Kristin Tinsley told us five people were hurt – including a man who jumped from a balcony just as firefighters were arriving. He did not need to be taken to the hospital. Two of the four others did. SFD is not sure yet whether anyone will be displaced beyond the resident of the unit where the fire started.
11:53 AM: The Red Cross is assisting those who need it. Meantime, we’ll be checking back periodically on the street-closure situation but continue avoiding the area as a significant SFD presence is likely to continue a while – the incident log shows more than a dozen units still on scene for this call.
12:31 PM: SFD has told dispatch they’re working with property management to determine who can return to their apartments.
1:30 PM: Roads are reopening, police have told dispatch.
2:05 PM: Per Metro alert, area buses are back to their regular routes.
(Sea lion off Lincoln Park, photographed by Vince Marx)
Welcome to the weekend!
TRAFFIC ALERT: SDOT work announced for today:
At the Highland Park Way SW and West Marginal Way SW intersection, we’ll be working to replace the signal cabinet, which houses the signal control equipment at the intersection. During this work, we’ll need to turn off the signal for a period of time. We’ll have someone directing traffic at the intersection to make sure traffic is moving efficiently during this work. We’ll start as early as 5 am and expect to be done by 1 pm on Saturday.
(Check the camera for that intersection here.)
NEW BUS STOPS: Heading to or from the south end of downtown? Two new bus stops open today, near Alaskan Way/Jackson, as we reported Friday.
FREE WEEKLY WRITERS’ GROUP: New participants welcome. 10:30 am – go here to register and to get the meeting address. More details are in our calendar listing.
VACCINATION POP-UP AT THE Y: Noon-4 pm, get vaccinated or boosted at the West Seattle YMCA (3622 SW Snoqualmie; WSB sponsor)
WINE TIME: Viscon Cellars‘ (5910 California SW; WSB sponsor) tasting room is open 1-6 pm, for tasting or by-the-glass/by-the-bottle wine.
BASKETBALL PLAYOFFS: The West Seattle HS girls play their next district-playoffs game at 1:15 pm at Bellevue College (3000 Landerholm Cir SE, Bellevue), vs. Lake Washington.
OPEN MIC: Go perform at The Spot West Seattle (2920 SW Avalon Way), 6 pm!
LIVE MUSIC AT C & P COFFEE: 7 pm, Dan Lundin with Steve Heggem at C & P Coffee Company (5612 California SW; WSB sponsor). No cover.
LIVE MUSIC AT THE SKYLARK: Doors at 7 pm, Asterhouse, Apology Wars, Cashing In Karma will rock you. Tickets here. All ages. (3803 Delridge Way SW)
‘MONSTERS OF THE AMERICAN CINEMA’: The world-premiere play at ArtsWest Playhouse and Gallery (4711 California SW; WSB sponsor) is in its final weekend – next performance at 7:30 tonight. Read about it here; buy your tickets here.
WEST SEATTLE DRAG SHOW: With Dolly Madison, at Admiral Pub (2306 California SW), 9 pm.
Are we missing anything? Email westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
You’ve probably heard a lot about redistricting – drawing new boundaries for election districts – for the county, state, and federal governments. But you probably haven’t heard much about the fact the city has to do the same thing (we mentioned it back in October). Before the Seattle City Council‘s seven district seats are up for election again next year, new boundaries will be approved. An appointed commission (with two West Seattleites) is overseeing this process and has released four draft maps as potential starting points. Here’s how these drafts would reshape District 1, which currently encompasses West Seattle and South Park.
First, D-1 on draft map 1 (see this full citywide map here)
Next, D-1 on draft map 2 (see this full citywide map here):
Next, D-1 on draft map 3 (see this full citywide map here):
And finally, D-1 on draft map 4 (see this full citywide map here):
Follow the “full map” links to get a closer look; if you zoom in, you’ll see the current boundaries, for comparison. And keep in mind, these are proposed as starting points – this isn’t a contest between those four; the final map may be something completely different.
So what’s being taken into consideration here? you might wonder. The commission explains that it’s charged with following “City Charter-mandated criteria using geographic information system (GIS) expertise and the latest 2020 Census data to draw new boundaries and produce districts that are approximately equal in population. To the extent practical, the Commission must also consider additional factors, such as following existing district boundaries, recognizing waterways and geographic boundaries, and acknowledging Seattle’s communities and neighborhoods. The consideration of public input and a minimum of one public forum per Council District is required during this process.”
That input process just started this week, and will continue through the spring and summer. You have six ways to participate, all detailed on this webpage – you can attend a meeting at noon on upcoming Tuesdays, you can draw your own map, and you can watch for an upcoming survey, among other opportunities.
Two reports tonight:
EARLY-MORNING CARJACKING: From a Seattle Police preliminary summary: Around 6:40 am, near Delridge/Barton, a person “was driving and saw a male standing in the roadway. The victim stopped to see if the male needed assistance. The contact turned into a fight.” Police say the person who was standing in the road then pulled out a gun and robbed the victim. Another person described only as female then “jumped into the victim’s car and drove away,” while the robber jumped into his own car and followed her. Police spotted those two cars in the Roxbury Safeway parking lot; the robber’s car, a Mercedes, left, while the carjacking victim’s vehicle was left behind, unoccupied. Shortly afterward, another officer saw the Mercedes on 35th SW; he followed it a ways and saw a man and woman dropped off. They were taken into custody. Eventually the woman was arrested and booked into jail; the man was released, after it was determined that the person who dropped them off was the person they were looking for. He was still at large at last report and may be linked to other robberies.
CAR PROWLER: Reader report – “Last night around 11:30 pm we had a prowler trying car doors on 41st Ave SW, just south of Jefferson Square. He was walking a small white dog, I’m guessing taking the dog for walkies was to avoid suspicion. After the street prowl, it looked like he then walked down the SW Hudson steps and prowled the alley between 40th SW and 41st SW. Trying doors, etc. He was wearing what looked like an outdoor coat (sleeves may be a secondary color) and the dog was small, maybe a Pekingese or small Spaniel mix, mostly white fur with fluffy tail and what looked like brown areas on the face.”
(WSB photos)
With baseball season almost here, the Mariner Moose joined Metro reps this afternoon to show off a new set of stadium-convenient bus stops downtown, serving mostly West Seattle routes. They’re on Alaskan Way, with the northbound stop just north of Jackson, the southbound stop just south of it:
The new stops open tomorrow, though they won’t have their full RapidRide shelters and equipment for a few months, acording to Metro’s Elaine Porterfield. They’ll serve Routes 55, 56, 57, 113, 120, 121, 125, and the C Line.
Along with stadium proximity, the new stops are also closer to Link light rail, the Amtrak and Sounder station, and the Seattle Streetcar.
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