West Seattle, Washington
05 Monday
Thanks to Amy Pieper for sending the photo! As noted in our morning traffic (etc.) watch, what might be the biggest ship yet to call at West Seattle’s Terminal 5, a month after its opening, is there today. The MSC Margrit‘s capacity is 13,600 TEUs – more than double the capacity of the first ship to call at T-5 last month. Though it’s only about a decade old, the Northwest Seaport Alliance says MSC Margrit is not shore-power capable, so T-5 has yet to see a ship plug in.
Two West Seattle Crime Watch reports:
7-11 ROBBERY: For the third time in two weeks, a West Seattle 7-11 has been robbed. The latest was just after 5 am today, at the 7-11 in the 9000 block of Delridge Way SW. The preliminary police summary says the robber walked in, “waited for customers to leave … then approached the counter (and) acted like he was going to buy an item.” When the clerk opened the cash drawer, police say, the robber “pulled out a handgun and pointed it at the victim,” then grabbed the till and left. A K-9 search ensued but the robber wasn’t found. No description in the summary. The two other recent 7-11 robberies were January 28th at 35th/Avalon and January 30th at 35th/Barton.
BURGLARS STEAL CAR: A tracking system led to the recovery of a car stolen in the 8000 block of 18th SW. We heard radio traffic on some of this as it happened last night around 8 pm; the victim called 911 to say someone was in their garage trying to steal their car. The ensuing police summary says officers “learned the suspect entered through the front door of the residence, walked past the occupants inside, grabbed a set of car keys, went into the garage, and stole their vehicle.” It had a tracking system and police finally caught up with it in South Seattle, where two people got out and ran as officers approached. One was arrested and booked into King County Jail; the other wasn’t found.
(California Scrub-Jay photographed by Jerry Simmons)
From the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
GIRL SCOUT COOKIES: Online sales – for delivery from local Scouts – will start today.
WEST SEATTLE COOP PRESCHOOLS’ ONLINE OPEN HOUSE: 3-4 pm, find out about the West Seattle (South Seattle College) Cooperative Preschools! Our calendar listing has the registration link.
SONGWRITERS SHOWCASE: 7 pm at C & P Coffee Company (5612 California SW; WSB sponsor), this monthly showcase
‘MONSTERS OF THE AMERICAN CINEMA’: The world-premiere play at ArtsWest Playhouse and Gallery (4711 California SW; WSB sponsor) continues its third week at 7:30 tonight. Read more about it here; buy your tickets here.
Family and friends are remembering Lisa Craig Davidson, who lived in West Seattle for more than 25 years, and sharing this remembrance:
Lisa Craig Davidson
10/13/46 – 2/06/22Surrounded by family and friends in her beloved home in Ellensburg, Lisa Craig Davidson quietly passed away after succumbing to a brief battle with lung cancer on Sunday afternoon, February 6th, 2022.
Lisa was born in Glen Ridge, NJ in 1946. She grew up in Greenwich, CT and attended Greenwich High School. Lisa spent her early years summering with her family in Rockport, MA and Belgrade Lakes, ME.
Lisa moved to Manhattan, NY at the age of 18 to start a modeling career. While in NY, she also worked for Life Magazine as an administrative assistant. Lisa then moved to Darien, CT, where she attended Norwalk Community College.
Lisa married Enfield “Flicky” Ford on the Lake in Belgrade Lakes, ME on August 18th, 1973. Lisa and Flicky enjoyed a busy family and social life between trips to NY, Maine, and Connecticut. Lisa and Flicky were divorced on March 27th, 1984.
Lisa moved to Seattle in 1991, where she worked for many years at the Mills Meyers Swartling law firm and enjoyed her home and community in West Seattle. While there, she was a passionate advocate for the homeless and enjoyed entertaining and meeting new people while working with premier Seattle catering company Tuxedos & Tennis Shoes.
Lisa moved to Sheridan, WY in 2008 and married Steve Monninger on July 17th, 2008. In 2009, Lisa moved to Paris, France, where she immersed herself in French art, food, and culture and discovered a hidden and impressive talent with oil painting. After returning from France, Lisa and Steve moved to Vancouver, B.C. in 2015 and were later divorced on March 9th, 2016.
Lisa returned to Seattle in 2016 and eventually migrated to her beloved home “Wedding Tree Farm” in Ellensburg. Lisa was very active in the Ellensburg community and made many close friends. She spent much of her time in Ellensburg volunteering with Kittitas County Friends of Animals (KCFOA) and FISH Food Bank.
Lisa loved life and she loved people. She was energy unbridled and moved happily wherever life took her. Lisa loved to live and she will be greatly missed.
Lisa is survived by her sister Lucy Davidson, brother Bill Davidson, niece Sydney Yates, nephew Christian Skovgaard, niece Laura Spuck, and nephew Carey Head. A memorial will be held to honor Lisa’s vivacious spirit and adventurous life in mid-April in Ellensburg.
(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)
6:03 AM Good morning!
WEATHER
Some sunshine and a high potentially in the mid-50s – that’s the forecast for today through Sunday.
WEEKEND ALERT
From SDOT: “This Sunday, we will be doing some additional cleanup/landscape work on the sidewalk on E Marginal Way S between South Alaska and South Hudson. The work is anticipated to begin as early as 7 AM and will conclude by 4 PM. Traffic impacts include closure of the northbound curb lane of East Marginal Way S.”
TERMINAL 5
One of the “big ships” is due in this morning, MSC Margrit.
BUSES, WATER TAXI, FERRIES
Metro is on its regular weekday schedule. Watch @kcmetrobus for word of reroutes/cancellations.
West Seattle and Vashon Water Taxi routes are on regular schedules.
Ferries: WSF continues the two-boat schedule for Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth. Check here for alerts/updates.
BRIDGES AND DETOUR ROUTES
689th 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.)
The 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.
One day after a man was arrested in the West Duwamish Greenbelt after allegedly bolting from a stolen vehicle driven into the forest (WSB coverage here), his bail was set at $50,000. The King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office had asked for $75,000, but says District Court Judge Gregg Hirakawa went for a lower amount. We’ve been looking at the record of the suspect, 26-year-old Joseph Depaco, who we’re identifying as he is charged/convicted in other cases. He was just sentenced less than a week ago in a plea bargain involving gun possession, domestic violence, and burglary cases, all outside West Seattle. The sentence given to him on February 4th was credit for four months he’d spent in jail plus up to six months of residential drug treatment as a DOSA (Drug Offender Sentencing Alternative). Court documents from the plea bargain show Depaco’s conviction history – three 2017 felony convictions related to stolen cars, and three 2018 felony convictions including stolen property, a stolen vehicle, and drugs. The documents from last week’s sentencing do not indicate when he was supposed to report for the treatment. Tonight, he remains in jail while the KCPAO awaits additional police information so a charging decision can be made in the Highland Park case. Depaco’s last known address is listed on police reports as in South Park.
ORIGINAL THURSDAY NIGHT REPORT: The full report on tonight’s West Seattle Bridge Community Task Force meeting is yet to come – late tonight or tomorrow – but one note was worth breaking out, lest it get lost amid the bridge updates: Sara Zora from the Reconnect West Seattle program said the Fire Department has signed off on some speed bumps that were on hold because of emergency-response concerns. So they’ll go ahead with the installation at spots on 106th, 18th, 45th, Cloverdale, and Marine View Drive. Specific locations weren’t recapped; we’ll be following up on that tomorrow.
ADDED FRIDAY AFTERNOON: SDOT’s response to our followup inquiry:
Speed cushions are anticipated to be installed in March in the following five locations:
– (1) SW 106th St between 35th and 41st Ave SW
– (1) 18th Ave SW between SW Myrtle and Graham St
– (3) 45th Ave SW between SW Trenton St and SW Director St
– (1) SW Cloverdale St between 11th Ave SW and 12th Ave SW
– (2) Marine View Dr between 44th Ave SW and SW 106th St
This is eight speed cushions in total.
5:26 PM: The February West Seattle Art Walk has begun, all over the peninsula!
We start at Click! Design That Fits (4540 California SW; WSB sponsor), where artist Erik Railton is on hand until 7 pm. Click proprietor John Smersh says, “Acrylic on canvas paintings, prints, and tote bags! Yes, that West Seattle piece is a framed original; a print is available as well.” See the venue list/map and other notes in our daily preview. More to come!
5:45 PM: During tonight’s Art Walk, if you’re in The Junction, you’re invited to the Galentine’s party at Lika Love/In The Heart:
At center in our photo is Mallika Siddiq, proprietor of the boutique and speakeasy at 4547 California SW. Visit until 9 pm to shop, sip, snack, socialize!
6:07 PM: Another place to sip – the Viscon Cellars (5910 California SW; WSB sponsor) tasting room, open and spotlighting not only art and wine until 9 pm, but also for this Valentine season, Intrigue Chocolate Co.:
The tasting room is open for tasting, by the glass, or by the bottle, with artist Priyanka Parmanand‘s work for Art Walk, until 9 tonight.
7:27 PM: One more stop – the Muse Fest mini-concerts were part of tonight’s Art Walk too, and we stopped by Peel & Press in Morgan Junction as Reese T‘s set began:
More on Muse Fest here!
P.S. Art Walk continues at many venues – and one event hasn’t even started yet, the post-Art Walk Happy Hour with free drinks and snacks at West Seattle Grounds (2141 California SW), brought to you by the Admiral Neighborhood Association, 8-9 pm.
(Lincoln Park photo by Theresa Arbow-O’Connor)
Biznotes related to the big occasions that is just four days away – Valentine’s Day:
VALENTINE’S DAY AT WYATT’S JEWELERS: Extra shopping time if you’re thinking about jewelry for a Valentine’s gift – longtime WSB sponsor Wyatt’s Jewelers in Westwood Village (2600 SW Barton) will be open this Sunday (February 13th) and Monday (February 14th), days the store otherwise would be closed. 10 am-6 pm both days!
VALENTINE’S DAY AT ALAIR: Alair gift shop (3280 California SW) also is adding extra days/hours – noon-8 pm Friday (February 11th), 10 am-5 pm Saturday and Sunday, 10 am-3 pm Monday. Proprietor Shandon elaborates:
I know a huge number of West Seattle small businesses are closed on Mondays (as we usually are), and with Super Bowl being so late this year, we adjusted our hours a bit to give people chances to come in. We also have some cute bags and necklaces from West Seattle makers Nordy Made and Sea+Pine Designs that were custom made just for Alair!
CAKE POP-UP AT PAPER BOAT: If a sweet treat suits your Valentine plans, check out Sunday’s pop-up at Paper Boat Booksellers (6040 California SW):
Stop by and pick up a delicious treat for Valentine’s Day from local cake makers Emily & Drew Cain of Lovely & Dapper Desserts. They will be selling mini cakes with a festive Valentine twist, “My Passion For You” (chocolate and passion fruit) and “ Honey I Lavender You” (honey lavender) from 2-5 pm Sunday at the front of the shop. We can personally vouch for the deliciousness of these cakes and we are thrilled they will be joining us!
PET PHOTO BOOTH AT MUD BAY: On Saturday, Mud Bay in The Admiral District (2611 California SW) welcomes you and your dog, cat, or other small animal to a free Valentine-themed photo booth, noon-4 pm.
Anything Valentine-y at YOUR biz this weekend? Let us know so we can add – westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
Support your local musicians! Here’s one way to do it – Easy Street Records in The Junction is hosting the Rain City Relief record-release party Saturday night, with performers including Beverly Crusher (above). Here’s the announcement:
Easy Street Records is hosting a release party for Rain City Relief’s vinyl compilation record at their West Seattle store on Saturday, Feb 12, 2022 starting at 5.00 PM. This limited edition one-of-a-kind collector’s vinyl album features 10 of Seattle’s best and brightest rising artists including Chong the Nomad, The Black Tones and Shaina Shepherd. Ariana DeBoo, Beverly Crusher, and All Star Opera will perform during the party. Smokey Brights will be in attendance and other artists featured on the album may also be present. The event is free and open to the public with ID and proof of vaccination.
The album was recorded as part of Rain City Relief’s effort to raise $100,000 to provide direct financial support to Seattle artists who continue to be impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic. Rain City Relief is produced by The Reef and Seattle Would Tour Foundation with generous support from Pearl Jam’s Vitalogy Foundation, and iconic Seattle businesses including Caffe Vita, Rudy’s, The Edgewater Hotel, Li’l Woody’s, Arvin Goods, Ethan Stowell Restaurants, The Derschang Group, Alaska Air, Georgetown Brewery, PAX®, Weedmaps, House of Cultivar, Heylo, and Moxie’s Mints.
Seattle music lovers are invited to support local artists on Rain City Relief’s website. Supporters who contribute a minimum of $25, will receive a copy of the limited edition vinyl album. The vinyl record will also be available to contributors at Easy Street Records on February 12 and starting February 14, at Sonic Boom Records, Silver Platters locations, Light in the Attic Records, and Royal Records; as well as at select locations of The Edgewater, Rudy’s, Caffe Vita, and The Reef Cannabis’ Mercantile Shop.
Saturday Schedule:
5:00-5:15 PM: Performance by RCR artist All Star Opera
5:15 PM: Welcome and update on Rain City Relief’s fundraising efforts
5:35-5:50 PM: Performance by RCR artist Ariana DeBoo
6:00 PM: Rain City Relief will hand checks to artists
6:10-6:30 PM: Performance by RCR artist Beverly Crusher
From Chief Sealth International High School athletic director Ernest Policarpio:
Congrats to our swim coach Stephanie Hunt for being Metro League Swim Coach of the Year!!! Her dedication and hard work in our community has improved our swim program, increased numbers, and opened opportunities for our student athletes.
(Sealth’s Stephanie Hunt with Cleveland coach Stephanie Wang)
Also: Congrats to swimmers Sam Macray and Nathan Tran for winning the Metro Scholar award for Chief Sealth.
It’s the second Thursday – so that means a big night tonight!
WEST SEATTLE ART WALK, PRE-VALENTINE EDITION: Tonight, “5 pm until late,” it’s the pre-Valentine’s Day West Seattle Art Walk. Above is this month’s list of venues, both places you’ll find art and/or artist receptions and/or food and drink specials. With Valentine’s Day just four days away, you’ll also find romantic gift possibilities – for example, Viscon Cellars (5910 California SW; WSB sponsor) is offering chocolate and wine pairings (and art too, with Priyanka Parmanand there, 4-8 pm). See other artist/venue highlights on the WS Art Walk website.
MUSE FEST – THE POWER OF WOMEN’S VOICES: Tonight’s the night for this series of mini-concerts during the Art Walk! Most are 6 pm-7:45 pm, with one slated for 7 pm-8:30 pm. Musicians and venues/locations are all listed here. All free!
GALENTINE’S PARTY: While you’re in The Junction, visit Lika Love Boutique and In The Heart (4547 California SW) for this celebration – shopping, sipping, more, 6-9 pm.
AFTER-ART-WALK HAPPY HOUR: Meet Admiral neighbors at West Seattle Grounds (2141 California SW) for free drinks/snacks 8-9 pm and talk about what’s happening in the neighborhood!
Also happening in West Seattle today/tonight:
UNDERSTANDING MEDICARE: Patrice Lewis from We Speak Medicare (WSB sponsor) has a free presentation at the Senior Center of West Seattle (4217 SW Oregon) 1-2 pm – details in our calendar listing.
CAREER INFO FOR TEENS/YOUNG ADULTS: The spring Job Launch event is online, 3-4:30 pm, with info about cosmetology/barber careers this time, aimed at 16-to-24-year-olds. Our calendar listing has info on how to participate.
WEST SEATTLE BRIDGE BRIEFING: For the first time in two months, the West Seattle Bridge Community Task Force meets, online at 4 pm, open to public viewing (here’s the livestream link; here’s the agenda). One big topic will be yesterday’s news that the concrete-drivers strike might push back the projected “midyear” completion date for repairs.
DISCOVER SEATTLE COLLEGES: 5:30-6:30 pm tonight, online, learn about education and human-services studies at South Seattle College (WSB sponsor) and its sibling Seattle Colleges. Go here to get the link.
WORDS, WRITERS, SOUTHWEST STORIES: Carol-Ann Thornton returns to the speaker series, 6 pm online, with a presentation titled “Privilege and Entitlement Versus Healing and Restoration?: Exploring a Slice of West Seattle History and Beyond.” Our preview has info on how to watch/listen.
‘MONSTERS OF THE AMERICAN CINEMA’: The world-premiere play at ArtsWest Playhouse and Gallery (4711 California SW; WSB sponsor) starts its third week at 7:30 tonight. Read more about it here; buy your tickets here.
There’s more on our calendar!
Another youth-sports announcement this morning – spring-season signups are under way for the West Seattle Soccer Club, which also has opportunities for prospective coaches and board members. Here’s the announcement we received:
Registration for our 2022 spring season is during February (with late registration starting March 1). Teams are formed by school year registration so children can play with their classmates:
2022 HSA Champions League Spring Season
REGISTRATION IS OPEN NOWGo to westseattlesoccer.org or
clubs.bluesombrero.com/westseattlesoccerPlay begins Sunday, April 24 (for U8-U12) and Sunday, May 1 (for U6-U7)
FEE for U6 – U12 is $75Divisions by ACADEMIC YEAR (August 31st – July 31st)
NO PROMOTION FROM FALL (if your player was U9 in Fall, then U9 this Spring)
U13+ Divisions by BIRTH YEAR for play in Spring SSUL League. First games are April 23/24.
FEE for U13+ $110PLEASE HELP US FIELD MORE TEAMS BY VOLUNTEERING TO COACH
Would you consider serving on the WSSC Board? We have openings.
6:01 AM Good morning!
WEATHER
Clouds and a high around 50 are again in today’s forecast, with one addition: The afternoon could be a bit windy.
BUSES, WATER TAXI, FERRIES
Metro is on its regular weekday schedule. Watch @kcmetrobus for word of reroutes/cancellations.
West Seattle and Vashon Water Taxi routes are on regular schedules.
Ferries: WSF continues the two-boat schedule for Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth. Check here for alerts/updates.
BRIDGES AND DETOUR ROUTES
688th morning without the West Seattle Bridge. (Next public briefing, 4 pm today – watch here.)
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.)
The 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.
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
Part of the Sound Transit-convened West Seattle/Duwamish Community Advisory Group’s role is to help neighbors understand the light-rail project before it’s built – and while the 2032 opening date seems distant, construction could be only four years away.
Now that the Draft Environmental Impact Statement has been out for a week and a half, evaluating the routing and station possibilities, CAG members got a briefing and Q&A on Tuesday night.
Sound Transit’s Cathal Ridge reminded group members that while you’ll have to transfer at SODO in the first few years, by 2042 the system buildout will mean one ride all the way from Seattle to Everett.
Ridge also reminded the group that the Draft EIS includes preferred alternatives and other potential alternatives, to be winnowed by the ST Board in a few months. Ridge stressed. He recommended reading the document itself, not just summaries like this. (Later in the presentation, the list of topics it covers was shown – so if any interest you, that’s another reason to read it:)
Pandemic updates:
WHAT THE GOVERNOR ANNOUNCED, AND DIDN’T: As mentioned in our daily preview list, Gov. Jay Inslee had a media briefing/Q&A this afternoon (you can watch it here). He announced that three emergency measures would be allowed to expire next week:
*The Washington National Guard’s deployment to hospitals will end February 17th
*Hospitals will be allowed to resume non-urgent procedures February 18th
*The statewide outdoor-event mask mandate will end February 18th
As for indoor masking, the governor said he’ll have something to say about that next week. State school superintendent Chris Reykdal said today that he supports ending the statewide mask mandate for schools, leaving it up to local districts to set their own policies.
LOCAL NUMBERS: A few readers asked today about local updates. Since the winter wave has clearly peaked, we’re re-evaluating the best way to provide periodic updates. Here are current toplines, from the Public Health – Seattle/King County dashboard:
*44 percent fewer cases countywide in the past week than the week before
*Currently averaging 1,415 new daily cases countywide
*32 percent fewer hospitalizations countywide in the past week than the week before
*Currently averaging 29 new hospitalizations daily
*12 percent fewer deaths countywide in the past week than the week before
*Currently averaging 8 new deaths daily
For West Seattle, we have two-week comparisons:
*1,748 cases between 1/22 and 2/5, down from 2,470 between 1/7 and 1/21
*16 hospitalizations between 1/22 and 2/5, down from 24 between 1/7 and 1/21
*3 deaths in each of those two 2-week periods
Quick break for sunset beauty before we move on with the rest of the news – Thanks to everyone who sent photos! Tonight’s sunset moved through phases of orange and pink. The photo above is from Chris Goh; below, from Jan Pendergrass:
And below, from James Bratsanos:
Since it’s Wednesday, it’s not too soon to look ahead to the weekend, and that’s where we find hope (for everyone who enjoys sunshine) – Saturday and Sunday are currently forecast to be sunny with highs in the 50s.
4:31 PM: Thanks to everyone who asked about the helicopter search in Highland Park. Guardian One was assisting Seattle Police with a search. We don’t know yet what incident it’s linked to, but we do know they just took someone into custody in the greenbelt over Highland Park Way/Riverview Playfield. More details when we get them.
5:09 PM: No official info from police yet, and we couldn’t find officers on the ground, but scanner traffic and another reader tip indicates it was related to a stolen car.
6:05 PM: Guardian One confirms via Twitter that the search was for a driver who fled a stolen car.
7:54 PM: Even more details, and a photo, from SPD:
Just after 3:00 p.m., a parkgoer reported a man asleep in a red pickup truck parked on a foot path in the greenbelt area of Riverview Park. When responding officers contacted the man, he fled on foot into the woods. Police quickly discovered the truck had been registered stolen earlier this week in North Seattle, and spotted a rifle in the back seat.
With the help of King County Sheriff’s Office helicopter Guardian One, SPD officers on the ground found the suspect hiding in the greenbelt and arrested him.
Police transported the 26-year-old man to King County Jail to book him for possession of a stolen car and unlawful possession of a firearm. It appears part of the rifle was still being constructed. Nevertheless, the suspect is a convicted felon and prohibited from possessing firearms. However, during the booking process at KCJ, the suspect deliberately punched a concrete pillar, causing injuries which required treatment at Harborview Medical Center. Officers plan to book the man into jail when he is medically cleared at the hospital.
Thanks for the tip. The Domino’s Pizza in Morgan Junction was held up shortly after noon today. Police say the robber walked into the business, showed a gun, demanded all the cash in the tills, got money, told the employees to lie down, then walked out. Police didn’t find him. No description in the preliminary summary but from archived police-radio audio, we have one: white, male, 5’10”, medium build, black beanie, brown shoulder-length hair, dark blue shirt “with holes in it.” If you have any information, the police incident # is 22-034059.
1:15 PM: We’re in White Center at a media briefing led by officials including King County Executive Dow Constantine and Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell. One bombshell just dropped: If the concrete strike isn’t resolved by February 20th, the West Seattle Bridge repair-completion schedule is going to slide. SDOT says they’ve rearranged various aspects of the project as much as they can but the contractor needs to pour concrete for the blocks and other structures that will hold the post-tensioning steel – interior strengthening that is a key component of the repair project. More details to come, including other affected city and county projects – the briefing is happening at a stalled county RapidRide H Line-related site in WC.
2:41 PM: Back from the briefing, which was originally called to announce a county plan to seek an alternate concrete contract in case this doesn’t get resolved soon. That’s fully explained in this news release (we’ll be adding the announcement video as soon as it’s uploaded). Could that also help with the supply for city projects? “We invite (others) to piggyback on this,” replied Constantine. But in the meantime, here are more details on the bridge situation, per Heather Marx, SDOT’s program director, with whom we spoke at the briefing site.
She says the bridge work that’s in danger of getting delayed doesn’t even need that much concrete – 245 cubic yards (for reference, the average concrete truck carries about 9 yards). But it’s a specialized mix. And due to the nature of concrete – it has to be used within a relatively short time after it’s mixed – they can’t just go out of the region to get some. The bridge-repairs contractor is proceeding with carbon-fiber wrapping and epoxy injection, two other key aspects of the work, but as the mayor put it, February 20th is the “drop-dead” date by which they need access to concrete to stay on schedule. And even if the strike is resolved by then, Marx said, they have other logistics to deal with – typically the bigger jobs would be first in line, so they’re working to try to ensure that they will have access as soon as possible once this is resolved. Further down the road, concrete also will be required for some of the finishing tasks in the repairs as well, but right now the blocks/structures for the post-tensioning are what’s affecting the “critical path” schedule.
The West Seattle Bridge Community Task Force will be briefed further on this at its next scheduled meeting at 4 pm tomorrow (Thursday) – here’s where to watch.
And back to the county projects affected, we talked briefly with Metro’s deputy GM Michelle Allison, who says the strike absolutely could lead to a delay in the RapidRide H Line’s scheduled launch this September, as they are still working on areas from West Seattle to Burien. One other note – both the county and city leaders present stressed that they want to see the strike “equitably and fairly” resolved; they’re not trying to point fingers at one side or another.
3:26 PM: Adding our video from the briefing, which also included Sound Transit‘s CEO.
And here’s the city news release, which among other things lists other potentially affected projects.
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
The two dogs who share Rachael Morris‘s life, Duggie and Tilly, aren’t into dog parks.
However, Morris is working to get West Seattle a second one for the thousands of peninsula dogs who are.
Right now, the only official off-leash area in West Seattle is at Westcrest Park [map]. Dog owners have long complained that another one is needed, not just for space but for geography, since Westcrest is toward the southeast edge of West Seattle. Now, an organized effort is under way toward making it happen.
Morris leads what’s become the West Seattle Dog Park Coalition (WSDPC). She tells WSB the effort began last spring but really picked up steam when the citywide Citizens for Off-Leash Areas helped connect her with other West Seattleites pursuing the idea. So now they’re working with both COLA and Seattle Parks and Recreation. WSDPC has even come up with a list of five potential sites that it’s submitting to the city for review.
Without much official dog-park space, she says, people are using various spaces as unofficial dog parks, and that creates a “public-safety issue” for both dogs and people. So WSDPC is seeking to be part of the solution rather than perpetuating the problem. The lack of an off-leash area in north West Seattle was even officially recognized almost six years ago, in a city report on the state and future of dog parks citywide (here’s our 2016 report).
There’ll be a lot of hurdles to clear, Morris says – just to get sites reviewed could take a year, and Morris says they are well aware they’ll face opposition from people no matter which site (if any) is identified as feasible, so that’s why they’re going public now, to marshal support from dog owners who like the idea. WSDPC members extensively reviewed possible sites all around the peninsula and are submitting five for potential consideration: Areas at the West Seattle Golf Course (a corner currently primarily used for “seed deliveries,” Morris says), Hamilton Viewpoint, Lincoln Park, Duwamish Head (the inland open space), and Jack Block Park (which is owned by the Port of Seattle rather than the city). The latter site could even include some of the shoreline, which Morris says is appealing because the city only has two offleash beaches.
There’s a long list of criteria that ruled out the many other sites they reviewed. And Morris says the process from here is extensive – if the city does give them a green light to pursue a certain site, much public outreach and comment would follow. (The full city process is explained here.) She stresses that her group “wants to go through all the channels” to try to reach the goal, and they’re going public now at a very early stage. If you’re interested in getting involved, you can email westseattledpc@gmail.com. The group doesn’t have a website yet but is on major social-media channels.
(Sunset @ Lowman Beach last weekend, photographed by Jerry Simmons)
Here’s what’s up for the rest of today/tonight:
GOVERNOR’S BRIEFING: Will Gov. Jay Inslee join some of his colleagues in announcing the future of mask rules? He has a briefing/media Q&A event planned for 2 pm today. The livestream will be here.
FOOD FUNDRAISER: The West Seattle High School Junior Class ASB benefits from part of the proceeds at West Seattle Chipotle (4730 California SW), 5-9 pm – details in our calendar listing.
DISCOVER SEATTLE COLLEGES: 5:30-6:30 pm tonight, online, learn about culinary, wine, and hospitality studies at South Seattle College (WSB sponsor) and its sibling Seattle Colleges. Go here to get the link.
WOMEN, WINE, AND WILLS: Estate-planning discussion with attorney Jenny Ling at Pine Lake Cellars (5405 California SW), 6 pm – details and RSVP info are in our calendar listing.
GONDOLA PROPOSAL @ 34TH DISTRICT DEMOCRATS: Before tonight’s 7:15 pm online 34th District Democrats meeting, you’re invited to a 6:30 pm discussion of the gondola proposal. Our calendar listing has info on how to attend.
SKYLARK OPEN MIC: 7:30 pm signups @ West Seattle’s longest-running open mic – no cover to watch. (3803 Delridge Way SW)
(WSB photo from 2018)
The youth-lacrosse season starts next week, so the Southwest Lacrosse Club has sent one last call for signups:
Are you looking for a fun and fast-paced team sport for your K-8th grader? Registration is currently open for the 2022 Seattle Metro Youth Lacrosse season. The season begins February 16th and runs through May 21st. Check out our website or contact us with any questions at swlctitans@gmail.com.
Founded in 2008, the Southwest Lacrosse Club (SWLC) is dedicated to the promotion, organization, and development of K-8 youth lacrosse from West Seattle to Federal Way. Our mission is to teach lacrosse fundamentals and good sportsmanship while emphasizing the importance of discipline, teamwork, and physical fitness. Players of all skill levels can develop their game, and we will prepare each athlete for the next level of play. No prior lacrosse experience is required, loaner equipment will be available for use. We offer full and partial scholarships based on need.
More info on the league, and the registration link, can be found here.
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