West Seattle, Washington
03 Sunday
The West Seattle Chamber of Commerce has announced the winners of this year’s Westside Awards, chosen from nominations sent by community members:
(WSCC photos from visits to notify recipients)
Westside Business of the Year: Circa
Westside Emerging Business of the Year: Highland Park Corner Store
Westside Not for Profit of the Year: Neighborhood House
Westsider of the Year: Keith Hughes
If you don’t know them already:
*Circa is a longtime Admiral District restaurant
*Highland Park Corner Store opened last year in a refurbished former mini-mart
*Neighborhood House is a regional nonprofit with a major services hub in High Point
*Keith Hughes is commander of American Legion Post 160 and hosts a severe-weather shelter there, among other community-leadership work
All will be honored at the West Seattle Chamber’s breakfast event at 7:30 am Tuesday, May 10th, at Brockey Center on the South Seattle College (WSB sponsor) campus. Tickets are available at the early-bird rate through next Friday (April 29th) – go here. Past winners (including WSB in 2010) are listed here.
5:06 PM: Suzanne reports her water “suddenly turned brown” just after 4 pm and wanted to be sure others in the area were aware. She called it in to Seattle Public Utilities‘ 24/7 line – 206-386-1800 – and they’re investigating, but anyone else experiencing this should call it in too.
5:33 PM: Suzanne got a reply from SPU – they’re attributing it to hydrant testing. That stirs up “sediment” in the lines (mostly rust).
(WSB file photo)
Next Tuesday morning, the City Council’s Public Safety and Human Services Committee is scheduled to get its quarterly update on Seattle Police staffing. The numbers in the presentation document that’s now available with the agenda online show that SPD now expects to hire fewer new officers this year than originally projected, 98 instead of 125. And a year-to-year comparison shows the staffing shortage is hitting our area the hardest. The precinct-by-precinct numbers show that the Southwest Precinct, which covers West Seattle and South Park, has lost the most sworn staff, in number as well as percentages. We compared the table in the 2021 first-quarter report with the table from the same period in 2022. Here’s 2021:
And here’s 2022:
Two precincts actually gained sworn staff – East and West – while North lost only 1. But South lost 6 and Southwest lost 7 – down to 58 sergeants and officers in our area, from 65 in the same period last year. Precinct supervisors have mentioned multiple times at community meetings we’ve covered that staffing is precariously low at times – at HPAC in January, for example, the group was told the precinct has been as low as 3 officers some nights, when the minimum per shift is supposed to be more than three times that. So why is the staffing pain so uneven? We’re asking.
Meantime, next Tuesday morning’s 9:30 am meeting of the committee, which West Seattle/South Park Councilmember Lisa Herbold chairs, includes a discussion of a proposal to bring back hiring incentives. The agenda includes information on how to watch, and comment at, the meeting.
Almost 200 sales are now registered for the return of West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day – Saturday, May 14th – just three weeks from tomorrow. Since we need to make the map/guide available one week before sale day, registration closes at 11:30 pm on Wednesday, April 27th. So if you’re having a sale but haven’t signed up yet, have your up-to-20-words listing ready, and go here! Official sale hours are 9 am-3 pm on May 14th; if you’re starting earlier and/or ending later hours and/or adding extra days, please include it in your listing. This will be the 16th WSCGSD – first one was in 2005; most-recent was 2019 – an excellent chance to meet more of your neighbors and do some person-to-person recycling.
12:12 PM: Thanks to Kersti Muul for the tip: Transient orcas are back in the area, visible now from Alki (looking north) as they head southbound.
12:24 PM: Kersti says they’re now in Elliott Bay – see her comment below.
1:54 PM: Still in the area, now back out in the main channel – see Kersti’s updates below.
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
West Seattle’s only parochial high school is closing after 44 years.
Seattle Lutheran High School, at 4100 SW Genesee on the north edge of The Junction, announced the closure to its community on Thursday, including an assembly for students.
“Lots of tears were shed,” says Hamilton Gardiner, an SLHS graduate who is president of its board of directors. We spoke with him this morning after receiving the school’s announcement, which says this wasn’t a decision made in haste:
The Board of Directors reached this decision at the end of a two-year effort with Hope Lutheran Church and School, focused on creating a viable pathway forward for the high school – a pathway leading to sustainable enrollment levels, appropriate compensation for faculty and staff, and the kind of educational experience that our students so much deserved. After considering all available information for the 2022 / 2023 academic year, including enrollment, financing, and recruitment and retention of key faculty and staff, we did not see a way forward that could safely and responsibly accomplish these objectives.
(Added) Current SLHS enrollment is 66, with 18 staff members.
Gardiner says a variety of factors contributed to the school’s situation – including the West Seattle Bridge closure, which made the school less of a draw for students from elsewhere in the city/elsewhere. A different challenge contributed as well – he says a change in the visa process for international students cost them some students starting in 2019. And of course the operational challenges of the COVID pandemic contributed as well.
One historical factor: The announcement notes that “Seattle Lutheran High School was chartered in 1976 by an association of over 30 Lutheran churches in greater Seattle and opened its doors on September 17, 1978.” Of those 30+ churches, Gardiner says, only five remain, including nearby Hope Lutheran, which has been managing SLHS since last year. That means not only far fewer “feeder” churches for the high school, but also far fewer churches donating to its operations.
SLHS won’t close until after the end of the school year, says the announcement:
Our immediate priority … is to our students and families – to finish off this year like any other, to graduate the 2022 senior class, and to assist the underclass students in transitioning to other schools. Some staff will remain employed over the next year to facilitate an orderly and thoughtful closure process.
As for what happens to the school’s 2/3-acre site, zoned for potential residential development, Gardiner says there are no plans for selling/redeveloping it. Its nonprofit ownership, the Lutheran High School Association, is tasked with utilizing the site “to further Christian education,” and he says the board will work over the next year to determine how that could be done post-SLHS. They also intend to continue to collaborate with Hope Lutheran.
SLHS isn’t just unique in being West Seattle’s only parochial high school. It’s offered innovative programs, too, such as J-Term, a period after the winter holidays in which students explore alternative learning opportunities, sometimes including travel (here’s WSB coverage from 2020).
But this year brings a lesson in loss. “This decision was incredibly, incredibly hard,” says Gardiner. Now families are looking for new schools for next year, and staff members are looking for new jobs. The last day of school at SLHS will be June 10th, with its final graduating class, the Class of 2022, closing a chapter of West Seattle education history as they accept their diplomas that night.
(Photo by Marc Milrod)
Accompanied by photos of Thursday’s rainbow show, here’s what’s ahead for the rest of your Friday:
LAST DAY FOR SURVEY: Today is the final day to answer Seattle City Light‘s survey about its plan for an electric-vehicle-charging lot in Morgan Junction (here’s our most-recent coverage).
‘COULD YOU HUG A CACTUS’: Online premiere party for Alki Elementary‘s musical, 6:30 pm. Our calendar listing has info on how to watch.
MUSIC AT C & P: The Whateverly Brothers perform at C & P Coffee Company (5612 California SW; WSB sponsor), 7-9 pm. No cover.
(Photo by Stewart L.)
SPORTS: The West Seattle HS baseball team (16-1) hosts Bishop Blanchet (12-4), 7 pm at Nino Cantu Southwest Athletic Complex (2801 SW Thistle).
MUSIC AT THE SKYLARK: The Jaydogs, The Drive Through, The Mortgage Lifters play Americana and swing pop, doors at 7 pm, music at 8 pm, 21+, $10 cover. (3803 Delridge Way SW)
‘THE 25TH ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE’: Opening night for Twelfth Night Production’s new musical, 7:30 pm at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center (4408 Delridge Way SW). Get tickets here.
Have something for our calendar/daily lists? Email westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
6:03 AM: Good morning. It’s Friday, April 22nd.
WEATHER
Today’s forecast: Partly sunny, high temperature possibly into the 60s.
PRESIDENTIAL VISIT
President Biden stayed overnight in downtown Seattle and is scheduled for events in Seward Park and Auburn before flying out of Sea-Tac at mid-afternoon, so traffic effects are expected again today.
ROAD WORK, TODAY AND THIS WEEKEND
Today – Fifth day of the two-week WSDOT closure of the West Seattle Bridge/Spokane Street ramp to northbound 99 for pavement repair.
This weekend – As noted here on Thursday, SDOT crews will be working on curb ramps at 16th/Barton, the new crosswalk at 45th/Admiral, and pavement markings at 16th/Findlay and on Marine View Drive and West Marginal Way.
BUSES, WATER TAXI, FERRIES TODAY
Metro is on its regular weekday schedule. Watch @kcmetrobus for word of reroutes/cancellations. Masks are no longer required, but are recommended – as explained here.
Same mask policy for the West Seattle Water Taxi, which is operated by Metro. Now on the summer schedule – adding later evening runs on Fridays and Saturdays.
Ferries: WSF is still using the two-boat schedule for Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth. Check here for alerts/updates. And note that WSF also has dropped its mask mandate, but also recommends you wear one.
BRIDGES AND DETOUR ROUTES
760th 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 by @wsdot_traffic.
All city traffic cams can be seen here; West Seattle and vicinity-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.
9:40 PM: A car and pickup truck have collided at 21st/Roxbury, and Seattle Fire has sent a “rescue extrication” response. Two people were reported trapped in the car; one has been extricated, and they’re working to get the other one out. Roxbury is blocked both ways.
9:54 PM: That’s the view from the 15th/Roxbury traffic camera. Three people are reported hurt, between the two vehicles. Firefighters have told dispatch this was a “high-speed head-on” crash.
10 PM: The second trapped person has been removed from the car, firefighters have told dispatch.
10:14 PM: The three injured people are all being taken to the hospital. SFD says they are in “stable condition” and says the truck driver is a 41-year-old woman, the car driver is a 43-year-old man, and the car passenger is a 45-year-old man. Added photo above, taken by a person who was on the scene helping even before emergency crews arrived.
2:30 AM: Police just reopened Roxbury – the scene has finally cleared.
ADDED 12:19 PM FRIDAY: From the SPD summary:
A Dodge Dakota pickup truck was travelling eastbound on SW Roxbury St nearing 21 Av SW. At the same time, a black VW Jetta was traveling westbound on SW Roxbury nearing 21 Av SW. According to a witness, the truck crossed the centerline and struck the sedan head on. The male driver and male passenger of the sedan suffered multiple broken bones and had to be extricated from the vehicle. The female driver of the errant truck suffered facial injuries.
All three were transported to Harborview Medical Center.
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
A big part of the role of West Seattle Bridge Community Task Force members is to serve as community liaisons to circulate information to and from fellow community members. When the CTF met online today, one member explained all she’s hearing from everyone with whom she talks is “When? When? When?” regarding a bridge-reopening date.
No date yet. But today’s meeting had a definite “light at the end of the tunnel” – well, bridge – mood.
BRIDGE UPDATES: SDOT’s Heather Marx recapped what’s happening now with repairs, including the first two deliveries of specialized structural concrete Saturday and Wednesday.
The nesting pair of peregrine falcons on the bridge have required coordination with the state and creation of a “falcon management plan,” just approved today, less than a week after the nesting birds were found.
Meeples Games was burglarized early today. The report and photos are from Dani at Meeples:
Early this morning we had a break in at Meeples Games. We are asking for help from the community to try to identify these two individuals or the vehicle they are driving.
-Break-in happened at 5:07 am on Thursday, April 21st
-They took about $2000 worth of Magic: the Gathering singles from our case
-They left around 5:11 am.
-They were carrying a large yellow crowbar which can be seen in a few of the pictures.
-Anyone with information should call us (206.535.7896)
The police incident number is 22-099401.
5:49 PM: Thanks to James Tilley for the top photo of Air Force One, visible from Alki as President Biden and entourage headed in for a Sea-Tac landing earlier this hour. Kay Kirkpatrick saw the 747 in the distance from Westcrest Park, too:
The Seattle Times reports the president’s motorcade left the airport about 20 minutes ago. His itinerary through tomorrow afternoon includes a fundraiser tonight and a visit to Auburn tomorrow.
P.S. Metro reroutes during the visit include the C Line.
6:26 PM: The presidential motorcade went directly to the fundraiser location, reported to be at a home on Lake Washington.
With weekend weather looking promising for road work (among other things), SDOT is out with its list of what’s planned. We always include this in the Friday morning traffic watch, but here’s even-earlier warning:
On Saturday and Sunday, we’ll be updating curb ramps on 16th Ave SW and SW Barton St in the Highland Park neighborhood. Parking will be limited in these areas during this work. People walking and biking in the area will be detoured to the other sides of the intersection for crossing.
Throughout the weekend, signs and marking crews will be working in several locations.
·Marking a crosswalk on 45th Ave SW and Admiral Way SW
·Pavement marking work and sign installations on 16th Ave SW in the vicinity of SW Findlay St
·Restoring the pavement markings on Marine View Drive SW between SW 104th St and SW 106th St
·Updating the remaining pavement markings and installing reflectors on West Marginal Way SW between 2nd Ave SW and Highland Park Way on Sunday. Time permitting, they will also install reflectors on the lane lines on Highland Park Way between SW Holden St and S Holden St.
·Installing crosswalks and legends on 1st Ave S and Olson Pl S on Sunday
(WSB reader photo sent in 2018 by Huck)
If you have a view of Elliott Bay, it’s about to get busier for the spring/summer: The Port of Seattle is expecting its first cruise-ship arrival of the season on Saturday (April 23rd) – the 4-year-old, 4,000-passenger-capacity Norwegian Bliss (above), docking at Bell Street Pier Cruise Terminal at Pier 66 downtown. The port’s announcement says 296 ship calls are expected this summer, with “an expected 1.2 million revenue passengers.” According to the full-season schedule, the first multi-arrival day will be a week from Saturday, with three ships due in on April 30th. The season will last exactly six months, with the last ship call scheduled for October 23rd.
P.S. If you’ve noticed a cruise ship here recently, that was Ovation of the Seas, same one that was hanging around last fall because its Australian season was canceled. It will start Alaska cruises from here next month.
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
As always, the Morgan Community Association packed a long list of topics into its quarterly meeting, facilitated online last night by MoCA president Deb Barker.
ELECTRIC-VEHICLE CHARGING LOT: We first reported on this a month ago. Seattle City Light wants to convert the 4,520-square-foot former substation at 4118 SW Morgan into an 8-space fast-charger lot for electric vehicles. Coby Zeifman from SCL came to the MoCA meeting to make the first public presentation about the proposal, joined by Theo Gideon, also of SCL.
The site operated as a substation 1945-2002. It’s scheduled for soil cleanup “later this year.” For everyone who has suggested using the site as housing instead, Gideon noted that it would have to be declared as “no longer serving SCL’s current and future needs.” But SCL does not consider that to be the case:
Two reports in West Seattle Crime Watch:
STOLEN PICKUP: WSB readers have been immensely helpful lately in finding stolen vehicles (like Zack’s van). Maybe you can help find Sean‘s pickup truck:
1992 Nissan pickup, stolen in the Admiral District (Wednesday) night, 4-19. I have owned it since 2000. Family history in every dent.
As shown, plates are B27758P. We’ll add the police-report # when we get it.
UPDATE: Found.
HIT-RUN: The photo’s from a reader who says this happened at Maris (4722 Fauntleroy Way SW) around 2:30 am:
No injuries, so no SFD dispatch; SPD confirms the driver fled after the crash, but the car was not stolen, and the incident remains under investigation.
(Trees along Harbor SW by Don Armeni Boat Ramp, photographed by Marc Milrod)
From the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar and inbox, reminders for the rest of today/tonight:
2 SCHOOL DINE-OUT FUNDRAISERS: Have pizza, help schools! Follow the links for details:
–Madison Middle School ASB benefit at MOD Pizza (4755 Fauntleroy Way SW), now through 10 pm tonight
–Highland Park Elementary PTA benefit at Proletariat Pizza (9622 16th SW), 4-9 pm
WEST SEATTLE BRIDGE COMMUNITY TASK FORCE: At this 4 pm online meeting, you’ll find out what’s up with bridge repairs, among other topics. Here’s the agenda; here’s the livestream link.
BOARD GAME NIGHT: Come try something new at Meeples Games (3727 California SW), 6:30-10 pm.
WEST SEATTLE SKYLINK INFO + MUSIC: At The Skylark (3803 Delridge Way SW) tonight, West Seattle SkyLink is having an informational session/Q&A tonight at 7 pm along with a music showcase hosted by The Brodcast. $10 cover. All ages until 10 pm.
ALKI COMMUNITY COUNCIL: 7 pm, open to everyone to attend in person (Alki UCC, 6115 SW Hinds) or online – agenda and attendance info are in our calendar listing.
Have an event to list on our calendar/in our daily lists? We’re adding more daily – email westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
Along with Little Free Libraries and Little Free Pantries, West Seattle has a Little Free Art Gallery, and it’s reopened for the season. Mindi Katzman first told us about it last year and just sent these photos and update:
After a brief winter closure, West Seattle’s Little Free Art Gallery has re-opened.
As a reminder to your readers, it is located in the Morgan Junction just a few blocks east of Thriftway on 38th Avenue SW, between Graham and Morgan.
Please c’mon by and grab a little piece. Or, leave a piece. Or just enjoy!!!!
Looking forward to brightening your point of view.
9:59 AM NOTES: Robert reports a stalled van blocking a lane at the bottom of the Admiral Way hill. Also just for the record, 26th SW west of Delridge Playfield had a tree blocking it in the 7 am hour but we just checked and it’s since been cleared.
Thanks to Christopher for that photo.
Earlier:
6:02 AM: Good morning. It’s Thursday, April 21st.
WEATHER
Today’s forecast includes showers and a high near 55.
PRESIDENTIAL VISIT
Be aware of potential traffic effects tonight and tomorrow, with President Biden visiting Seattle. Air Force One will be using Sea-Tac, according to The Seattle Times, though the Boeing Field website notes a Temporary Flight Restriction order.
ROAD WORK
Fourth day of the two-week WSDOT closure of the West Seattle Bridge/Spokane Street ramp to northbound 99 for pavement repair.
BUSES, WATER TAXI, FERRIES TODAY
Metro is on its regular weekday schedule. Watch @kcmetrobus for word of reroutes/cancellations. And a change in mask policy: You’re NOT required to wear a face covering on the bus, but it’s recommended – as explained here.
Same goes for the West Seattle Water Taxi, which is operated by Metro. (corrected) Midday service resumes today after 3 days without it. Summer schedule – adding later evening runs on Fridays and Saturdays – starts at the end of this week.
Ferries: WSF is still using the two-boat schedule for Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth. Check here for alerts/updates. And note that WSF also has dropped its mask mandate, while noting they’re still recommended.
BRIDGES AND DETOUR ROUTES
759th 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 by @wsdot_traffic.
All city traffic cams can be seen here; West Seattle and vicinity-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.
10:14 PM: SDOT reports northbound Harbor Avenue SW is closed in the 3200 block because of a crash. SFD initially dispatched it as a “rescue extrication” because a driver had reportedly hit a tree, but the first crew at the scene reported that the driver was out and “in stable condition,” so the response was downsized before most dispatch units had even arrived. Avoid the area for a while.
11:40 PM: SDOT says the scene is clear.
Another school-benefit auction is happening right now online. We just received this announcement tonight:
Join RIFC & SWEL for our virtual 9th annual silent auction!
The silent auction is the biggest fundraiser of the year between SWEL and our sister site RIFC. Help us reach our $30,000 goal!
Without families of these schools and community members like YOU, we would not be able to provide the amazing, high quality, dual language program in the heart of Delridge.
The auction is live and closes at 4 pm on April 27!
You must register online to bid: charityauction.bid/rifcswelsilentauction-Click the register tab on the top of website
-Fill out registration form
-Create an account with either a password or log in with an access code
-Enter your credit card info
-You’re good to go!Bid on sports merch, museum passes, self-care kits, and more! All proceeds go directly back to these non-profit preschools.
Make sure to check on your bids throughout the week to not get outbid!
Towering over those road-closed barricades at Fauntleroy Way and SW Fontanelle is the old chestnut tree we told you about a week ago. The tree is on private property, close to the corner where a curb ramp will be built, and the residents of the house on that property are worried that the construction will lead to the death/removal of the tree. They’ve been asking for an update from the city, and received this from SDOT‘s Ching Chan via an email thread on which we were cc’d:
… we will not move forward with construction work at the northeast corner of Fauntleroy Way SW and SW Fontanelle St until our Arborist has had a chance to inspect the tree root system.
The project team just confirmed that our Urban Forestry Arborist and our contractor will be onsite next Monday morning, 4/25 to remove the sidewalk to inspect the tree roots. Our Arborist will supervise the air spading work (break up and remove compacted soil around tree roots using compressed air) to ensure it is conducted properly and that the tree will not be harmed in the process. Our Arborist will conduct an inspection once the root system is exposed. The assessment will then be shared with our ADA Program Engineers to help them determine whether there are feasible alternative curb ramp designs at this corner that can minimize damage to the tree’s root system. This process may take up to several weeks.
We will notify property owner … and tenants at this property once we’ve come to a decision. We will notify adjacent households once construction is scheduled so they are aware and informed of our work scope and schedule.
The tree trunk is currently adorned with signs of support, and the residents are still gathering online petition signatures in support of preserving it.
3:14 PM: Thanks for the tips. Verizon phone customers are reporting trouble, not just here but in other states too, according to online reports. No official company statement so far. But some government agencies are starting to acknowledge it too.
3:36 PM: We inquired with Verizon media relations via email. The reply: “We are aware of an issue impacting voice calls for some Verizon customers. Our engineers are engaged and we are working quickly to identify and solve the issue.” (This is affecting our hotline too, by the way, so if you have a tip, text 206-293-6302, don’t try voice calling!)
5 PM: Sometime in the past 15 minutes or so (since previous attempts), our service was restored, both incoming and outgoing voice calls – at least as tested with the AT&T phone we also have in the house.
5:06 PM: We’ve also received an update from Verizon: “A fiber issue in the core of the network caused some of our customers to experience intermittent call failures today. The issue was identified and resolved by Verizon engineers and the majority of impacted customers should be seeing service as usual. If any customer is still experiencing lingering issues, please restart your device. We apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused.”
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