West Seattle, Washington
20 Tuesday
Want to connect with neighbors, businesses, others in Admiral? The Admiral Neighborhood Association hopes to help, and is having general meetings every two months these days to talk about it. Here’s what happened when the ANA invited everyone interested to pull up a chair on Tuesday night:
ANA vice president Joanie Jacobs facilitated the meeting at Admiral Congregational Church. As she said in welcoming the dozen-plus attendees, “We’re all here because we care about the Admiral neighborhood.”
Here are highlights of what they talked about:
ADMIRAL JUNCTION FUNKTION: It’s been almost three weeks since this first-time street party. In open discussion, one attendee described it as a “good start,” suggesting that in the future maybe more prep time could be planned for businesses. The relatively last-minute organizing was because the grant that helped fund the party wasn’t received very far in advance, Jacobs noted. She lauded the businesses that sponsored entertainment. Bebop Waffle Shop owner Corina Luckenbach hailed the “great energy.” Jacobs said people who stopped at the ANA booth were happy to have something going in their neighborhood. Another resident was happy to see restaurants “packed.”
SOUTHWEST PRECINCT POLICE: Lt. Mike Watson, second-watch commander (day shift), was there. Nothing major going on, he said. What are the top reasons for calls in this area? he was asked. Car prowls, auto thefts – he had a citywide stat on the latter, 483 all of last year, 708 so far this year. What can people do? “Don’t leave any valuables in your car … get a steering-wheel lock … send police video of suspicious folks you see on your home security video.” Please report everything, he urged – “we’re a data-driven department.” One resident mentioned a chronic shoplifter he frequently encounters at a local store. “I’m sure he’s been arrested multiple times,” suggested the lieutenant. “He has,” said the attendee. “There are multiple components of the justice system,” noted the lieutenant. In ensuing back and forth, the resident mentioned a recent encounter with the chronic shoplifter but hadn’t called police. “Why not?” asked the lieutenant. “What’s the point? He’s gone.” The lieutenant was resolute in urging that reports be filed. Another resident mentioned speeding problems. “Have you asked SDOT for traffic-calming humps?” Yes, they’ve worked with the city – and they’re trying to get organized again. They’re also hoping to get a light in the area. After a discussion of traffic safety, Lt. Watson shared more crime stats, citywide – all major types, including property crime, are up double-digits. Asked about staffing, he noted the department was down “about 400 officers.” He didn’t have specifics about the SW Precinct. What about morale? “We’ve been beat up a lot … (but) we’re hanging in there.” What are the top types of incidents you’ve been called for that you shouldn’t be? The lieutenant declined to directly answer that one but had some advice: “Even the most mundane (incident) can turn violent … just call us.” One attendee talked about a person who seemed to be overdosing; SFD and SPD were called, and the person said they didn’t want help. In that case, Lt. Watson said, they have no choice but to back off. Somebody else talked about a person who was shot in the neighborhood in an abandoned car about which police had been notified. If someone is living in their car the lieutenant noted, they can’t do anything about it.
HIAWATHA INACCESSIBILITY: ANA couldn’t have summer concerts or even an outdoor movie at Hiawatha Community Center park this summer, having been told that there would be work under way … but there wasn’t. Parks declined to send a guest to this meeting but sent info via email. The official timeline: Two projects remain planned for Hiawatha, the community center stabilization project – “They’re still waiting on a FEMA grant” – hoping to have grant approval in late September, would then proceed with bidding, work to be done in winter. (Back in June, Parks told us they expected grant approval “shortly.”) Hiawatha Play Area Renovation/Relocation – got approval in late July, hoping bid this fall, construction in winter. Next year they’ll have a backup plan if the Hiawatha projects are further delayed – likely Hamilton Viewpoint.
ADMIRAL CHURCH’S FUTURE: Anita Shaffer from the church council said they’re continuing on conversation and have no new info to share – just that progress is being made. There was a survey Rev. Andrew Conley-Holcom summarized some of the original conversations dating back four years. The planning got shelved as COVID – and then came the focus on land trust; they’re talking with Homestead CLT about viability. “Our congregation is really committed to staying in this neighborhood” rather than selling for the “gobs of money” the site would likely bring, Rev. Conley-Holcom stressed. He recapped the type of affordable housing that’s largely not being built – 65 to 85 percent of AMI. Something that fits into the neighborhood, as the pastor said. The church has been here since 1899 – “we want to continue to be a part of this neighborhood, not apart from it.” They’ll have more community conversations when there’s something more to talk about.
UPCOMING EVENTS: Admiral District trick or treating is set for 3-6 pm October 31st this year … Next ANA meeting will be at 7 pm November 15th … A “.5K beer run,” sort of a pub crawl, is in the works for early next year.
ONLINE: Watch connecttoadmiral.org for updates.ndee volunteered to handle.
8:48 PM: After a string of “brush fires” in the Morgan Junction area, neighbors are circulating that video as evidence that someone set at least one of the fires – the one we covered along an alley off the 4300 block of SW Graham three nights ago. In the video, recorded by a camera over the back lot at The Bridge, you see someone lurking across the alley, and then around 1:45 in, you clearly see the vegetation lining the alley explode in flames. You can even hear it burning. We got there for the aftermath:
SFD logs show another fire on SW Graham within a block of that one a night earlier, on Saturday, and two fires since, one at California/Eddy on Monday, and another one on SW Graham last night. We have an inquiry out to SFD about whether these have been identified as a pattern of suspicious fires. In the meantime, neighbors want to be sure everyone is extra-watchful for suspicious activity. The resident whose hedge was torched in the video above has filed a followup report with police; we’ll add the number when we get it.
ADDED THURSDAY MORNING: A four-minute SFD call at 1:10 am is logged as a “dumpster fire.” A reader texted this morning to say “I think our apartment manager interrupted him last night around 1 am when he was trying to set fire to the Marnae (6533 California Ave). He was making a pile and she saw what she describes as flashes of light. We think he got scared when she started turning lights on and called SFD.”
Tbe report and photo are from Sara:
Our green and white Ford F-250 was stolen this morning at 4am from 36th ave sw and sw Dawson. License plate C84937U. Call Sara at 206-909-4595 if you see it. Thanks!
Seems like a fitting way to celebrate what’s supposed to be one last day of bridgelessness – travel around the peninsula to meet and buy from West Seattle artists! More than 90 are participating in the first-ever West Seattle Art Hop & Shop, which we’ve been telling you about for a while. Here’s the latest from organizers:
The West Seattle Art Hop & Shop is this Saturday, September 17th from 10 am to 5 pm! This new community-wide arts event features dozens and dozens of artists at more than stops all across West Seattle. On this self-guided, free tour, visitors will discover all kinds of local artists and makers as they hop and shop your way across the peninsula with the tour’s interactive map.
Tour organizers have featured each of this year’s registered artists over the past few weeks, introducing 74 artists and creatives on the tour’s Facebook and Instagram pages, and the tour has put together short videos featuring artists by neighborhood that will post leading up to the event. Artists include emerging and youth participants as well as well-established artists with impressive backgrounds.
“The response to this tour has been beyond enthusiastic,” said one of the volunteer organizers, Johanna Lindsay. “Artists are excited to share their work with the rest of the community, and we hope that people will take advantage of this opportunity to meet their neighbors and support our artist community.”
Many artists opened their doors – or driveways – and are hosting artists they have met through the tour’s artist and host matching aspect. Lorrie Brogan is one veteran artist who is opening her driveway to three artists, “I decided to host other artists as a way of meeting new people in the community and expanding my artist network. Besides, it’s always fun with more people.” High Point Commons Park and C & P Coffee are also hosting multiple artists, and a collective of artists from Pigeon Point have secured space at Pathfinder K-8 to show their work. Take the tour this weekend using the online interactive map to navigate as you go. For those who prefer a paper copy, here is our print-at-home map.
For more information and links to interactive and printable versions of our map, head over to https://wsartwalk.org/west-seattle-art-hop-shop. The West Seattle Art Hop & Shop is organized by an all-volunteer committee of artists and art lovers with generous support from West Seattle Art Walk and West Seattle Junction Association.
Installed this week at 18th/Myrtle [map], just east of Sanislo Elementary, that’s the newest city-funded Art Interruptions work to appear in West Seattle. Thanks to Katie Kauffman for letting us publish her photos – she was there when artist Toka Valu was working with a crew to get the work in place:
The inscription at the north end of the mural explains:
“Lukia e Tenifa”
One of the most cherished ngatu (traditional Tongan mulberry bark paper cloth) motifs from Tonga is the Amoamo Kofe, loosely meaning “caressing bamboo.” Visually, Amoamo Kofe is often depicted to look like 4-5 consecutively larger diamond cutouts stacked on top of one another. This motif can be found on the larger shark and along the water swirls while Octopus displays a series of repeating diamond shapes common throughout Pasifika to represent strength and wisdom in times of conflict. Shark and Octopus continue to honor their peace pact today following their colossal struggle many generations ago.
Planning on getting a flu shot? Weekend vaccination clinics are planned at three West Seattle schools in the next month-plus. Here’s the announcement:
Seattle Visiting Nurse Association will offer 28 weekend flu shot clinics at 14 school sites for staff, students, families, and the community from September 16-October 23, 2022 (including 3 sites in West Seattle, as shown below). Sign up for an appointment at: https://www.seattleschools.org/departments/health-services/flu-clinics
Madison Middle School – 3429 45th Ave SW
Sunday, September 18, 2022 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Saturday, October 8, 2022 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Sunday, October 23, 2022 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.Louisa Boren STEM K-8 – 5950 Delridge Way SW
Saturday, October 1, 2022 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Chief Sealth International High School – 2600 SW Thistle
Sunday, October 2, 2022 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Saturday, October 15, 2022 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.ALSO: Flu shots for Seattle Public Schools students (regardless of insurance) are available through School-Based Health Centers. We also have COVID-19 vaccine clinics for any person aged 3 and older. COVID vaccines are free, and insurance is not required. For more information and to pre-register, visit the COVID Vaccine Page – the southwest regional clinic is Sunday at Madison MS, 10 am-2 pm. The updated COVID booster will be available at all clinics.
(Thanks to those who forwarded the announcement to us!)
12:02 PM: That was the scene a short time ago at Alki Statue of Liberty Plaza, as people started gathering to participate in the first of four shoots as part of the community-planned video to commemorate the West Seattle Bridge reopening, as announced earlier this month. If you’d like to be in it, there are three more stops today with video director Ryan Cory – if you can get to any of them, the plan is:
12:45 pm Admiral Theater
1:45 pm Alaska Junction by Easy Street
2:45 pm at the bridge’s west entrance
The bridge remains on schedule to reopen this Sunday, September 18th. SDOT isn’t saying yet exactly what time.
P.S. These two had our favorite outfits seen at the Alki shoot:
1:15 PM: Just got word from Stephanie, one of the people coordinating this, that if you can make it to the 2:45 pm shoot on the bridge, meet at Pecos Pit (35th/Fauntleroy; WSB sponsor), “graciously feeding us with sliders and tastes of potato salad.”
5:02 PM: Thanks to Laina Vereschagin from the community coalition for these photos from the last shoot of the day, on the bridge’s west end – first the “cast” with director Ryan Cory:
Even the Chief Sealth International High School cheer squad turned out:
The full video might not be out till month’s end but snippets are expected to debut soon.
First, six years of RVs … then, eco-blocks … now, a protected bike lane. SDOT says the bike lane installed from SW Andover and 26th to Yancy/Avalon is complete, now that the post installation is complete.
The announcement to what had been dubbed the “SW Andover Collaboration Team,” which included the two major businesses along Andover, was forwarded by City Councilmember Lisa Herbold‘s staff. It’s only been a month since the full plan emerged, which in turn was less than two months after the long-running RV encampment was cleared.
(Osprey fishing in late August, photographed by Danny McMillin)
Here’s what’s happening, from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar, inbox, and previews:
SPRAYPARK OPEN: Wading pools have closed for the season but Highland Park Spraypark at 1100 SW Cloverdale will be open 11 am-8 pm, every day through Sunday
MOUNTAIN TO SOUND OUTFITTERS CLEARANCE SALE: As noted here, this shop (WSB sponsor) at 3602 SW Alaska is having a change-of-seasons clearance sale. Open 11 am-6 pm today.
JOURNALING FOR MINDFULNESS: Writing class at Senior Center of West Seattle (4217 SW Oregon), 11 am.
(added) CASTING CALL: The community coalition commemorating the bridge reopening is still interested in having people show up for video-shoot locations today, as explained here – the locations/times are:
11:45 am Alki Beach by the Statue of Liberty
12:45 pm Admiral Theater
1:45 pm Alaska Junction by Easy Street
2:45 pm at the bridge’s west entrance
FLUTES IN THE FOREST: Free outdoor concert in Schmitz Park(Admiral Way/Stevens), 5-6 pm.
SPORTS-MEDICINE TALK FOR RUNNERS: Learn about returning to running post-injury, at West Seattle Runner (2743 California SW; WSB sponsor) with Lake Washington Physical Therapy (WSB sponsor), 6 pm.
34TH DISTRICT DEMOCRATS: Our area’s largest political group meets in person at 6:30 pm at The Hall at Fauntleroy (9130 California SW); agenda highlights are in our calendar listing.
JAZZ AT OTTER ON THE ROCKS: Trio Jazz Night, 6:30 pm (4210 SW Admiral Way).
LIVE AT LOCOL: Locöl Barley & Vine (7902 35th SW) spotlights live music 6:30-8:30 pm Wednesdays, no cover, 21+, rotating artists.
MUSIC BINGO: Now weekly at The Good Society (California/Lander), 7 pm.
TRIVIA x 4: At 7 pm, you can play trivia at the West Seattle Brewing Mothership (4415 Fauntleroy Way SW); Larry’s Tavern (3405 California SW) hosts Wednesday-night trivia starting at 7:30 pm; trivia starts at 8 pm at Beveridge Place Pub (6413 California SW); at 8:30 pm, trivia is back at Talarico’s (4718 California SW) with Phil T.
SKYLARK OPEN MIC: 7:30 pm signups @ West Seattle’s longest-running open mic – no cover to watch. (3803 Delridge Way SW)
Have a calendar event to add? Please email westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
6:03 AM: Good morning. The final bridge-reopening countdown continues as we start Wednesday, September 14th.
WEATHER
Mostly sunny, high around 70 predicted .
BACK-TO-SCHOOL
*Seattle Public Schools starts the new year today, one week late, after educators voted to suspend their strike. Be mindful of school buses, as well as students walking, rolling, and riding. Reminder – five West Seattle schools have speed-enforcement cameras, as listed here.
FERRIES, BUSES, WATER TAXI
Ferries: WSF continues the 2-boat schedule for Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth. Check here for alerts/updates.
Metro buses are on their regular weekday schedules; watch @kcmetroalerts for trip cancellations/reroute alerts.
The West Seattle Water Taxi is on its regular schedule.
BRIDGES AND DETOUR ROUTES
906th morning without the West Seattle Bridge. 4 days until SDOT expects to reopen it – on this Sunday, September 18th. Watch WSB for reopening updates all week.
Low Bridge: Automated enforcement cameras remain in use until the high bridge reopens; restrictions are in effect 5 am-9 pm daily – except weekends; the bridge is open to all until 8 am Saturday and Sunday mornings.
1st Avenue South Bridge:
South Park Bridge:
The 5-way intersection (Spokane/West Marginal/Delridge/Chelan):
Are movable city bridges opening for vessels? Check the @SDOTBridges Twitter feed; 1st Ave. S. Bridge openings are tweeted by @wsdot_traffic.
All currently functional city traffic cams can be seen here, many with video options; West Seattle and vicinity-relevant cameras are also on this WSB page
Trouble on the roads/paths/water? Please text or call us (when you can do so safely) – 206-293-6302.
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