West Seattle, Washington
14 Tuesday
Sent by Patty:
My neighbor Harold’s 2007 silver Chevy Trailblazer Super Sport, license # DP 35451, was stolen sometime Monday morning, 4/18, from SW Dakota & 47th Ave SW. Another neighbor believes he saw it still on the street outside the house at 7:30 a.m.; Harold noticed it gone around noon. (He was home all morning.)
A handicapped parking placard was displayed at the time it was taken, but may have been removed. Any help locating the vehicle would be greatly appreciated. Police report #22-096889.
FRIDAY UPDATE: Patty says the Trailblazer was found in Burien, “being parted out.”
Today we welcome Keeping Up With The Roses as our newest sponsor! Here’s what owner Dominic Vigil would like you to know about what he offers:
Keeping Up With The Roses offers full-season rose care subscriptions that will ensure that you will have beautiful roses all season long. Each subscription includes pruning, fertilizing, deadheading, winterizing, and specialized care for each of your roses. I also offer a variety of other gardening services, such as bulb planting and installation of micro gardens.
I’ve lived in Seattle for more than 16 years. In that time, I’ve learned the rhythms of the seasons, from the surprise sunshine days of March to the last mild weeks of October until the winds come up. My connection to our climate means that I’m intimately aware of the right times to prune, to plant, and to pause. Seattle neighborhoods have their own microclimates and over the years I’ve learned how to work with them. I have over 36 beautiful rose bushes of my own that I love taking care of.
Clients seek me out either because they’ve purchased a house with neglected roses or because they want to add roses to their yard. I can see the “bones” of an old rose and with some time and care I can bring it back to full blooming beauty. For clients who are adding new roses, I like to spend time with them in their yard finding the right site for their rose that will be a good growing spot for the plant but also provide joy to the owner.
Each of my clients receives customized rose care for their specific roses, ensuring a full season of incredible blooms. My clients love that I keep their roses blooming and all season long. My “set it and forget it” full-season rose care subscription allows my clients to pay just once a year or monthly. This year I’ve added a summer sunflower package and my clients are really excited to expand their gardens.
Keeping Up With The Roses clients have a new appreciation for the roses in their yard and the roses they see when they’re out in the neighborhood. They’ve told me that they can enjoy the view guilt-free because I’ve taken an uncertain chore off their list! If you’ve got roses that need some sprucing up, I’d love to chat with you – info@keepingupwiththeroses.com or 206-351-8459.
We thank Keeping Up With The Roses for sponsoring independent, community-collaborative neighborhood news via WSB; find our current sponsor team listed in directory format here, and find info on joining the team by going here.
(Sunny bunny, photographed Tuesday by John Skerratt)
Reminders for the rest of today/tonight, mostly from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
ORDER DEADLINE FOR MOTHER’S DAY FUNDRAISER: Seattle Lutheran High School‘s HUGS chocolates-and-flowers fundraiser is taking orders through today.
LOW-LOW TIDE: Out to -2.4 feet at 2:22 pm. Tread lightly if you go exploring!
ALKI ELEMENTARY @ LANDMARKS BOARD: 3:30 pm meeting of the city Landmarks Board includes consideration of whether Alki Elementary should be a city landmark, a procedural step in the process of planning its rebuild, but public comments will be accepted.
MORGAN COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION: 7 pm online, MoCA’s quarterly meeting includes a presentation/discussion about the proposed electric-vehicle-charging lot in Morgan Junction. More agenda info, and how to watch/listen, in our calendar listing.
SKYLARK OPEN MIC: 7:30 pm signups @ West Seattle’s longest-running open mic – no cover to watch. (3803 Delridge Way SW)
TRIVIA: Larry’s Tavern (3405 California SW) hosts Wednesday-night trivia starting at 8 pm; at 8:30 pm, trivia is back at Talarico’s (4718 California SW) with Phil T.
Something for our calendar? Email info to westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
10:04 AM: Orcas are in the area again – Kersti Muul reports they’re “breaching off Constellation Park.” Updates to come.
(Added: Photo by David Hutchinson)
10:15 AM: Now reported to be “off the volleyball area” on Alki.
11:58 AM: These are still the transient orcas that have been in the area recently, Kersti notes in comments. That means, among other things, they primarily eat mammals – seals and sea lions, in partiicular – while the Southern Resident orcas prefer fish.
2:38 PM: Adding more photos:
(This photo and next by Mike Burns)
ADDED: And a photo from Danny McMillin:
170+ sales are now registered for West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day – Saturday, May 14th – and we’re announcing today that registration will end at 11:30 pm Wednesday, April 27th – one week from tonight. That’s when we start working on the map/guide so it’s ready one week before WSCGSD. If you’re ready to register – have your up-to-20-words listing ready, and find the signup form here! Sale hours are 9 am-3 pm on May 14th, with some sellers adding earlier and/or later hours, and a few even adding extra days – if you plan any of that, include it in your listing. Two more notes: Hotwire Coffee is offering spaces to sellers who don’t have anywhere to host their own sales; also, if you tried to sign up last night but couldn’t access PayPal, that service was having a systemwide issue for a while. If you had or have trouble with PayPal when registering, email us – westseattleblog@gmail.com – for a backup link.
6:03 AM: Good morning. It’s Wednesday, April 20th.
WEATHER
Mixed forecast – partly sunny morning, rain likely by afternoon, high in the 50s..
ROAD WORK
*Third day of the two-week WSDOT closure of the West Seattle Bridge/Spokane Street ramp to northbound 99 for pavement repair.
*SPU‘s pavement-restoration work on California SW in the SW Myrtle could start this week.
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. Also, no midday service again today, because of training. Check its status via Water Taxi Vessel Watch. 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
758th 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.
That’s the Seattle Channel video of this morning’s City Council Transportation and Public Utilities Committee meeting, almost two hours of which was spent on the West Seattle to Ballard light-rail plan, starting about 36 minutes in. The time was divided between two presentations – first, city staff explaining how they’re drafting official city comments on the Draft Environmental Impact Statement, so they can get those in before the April 28th deadline. Much of this presentation was given to the West Seattle/Duwamish segment’s Community Advisory Group last week (WSB coverage here). Here’s the slide deck that the city’s Calvin Chow, Marshall Foster, and Sara Maxana used today:
One major area of concern in what they’re drafting so far – they want ST to better address potential BIPOC displacement in Delridge, “more truth-checking with the community,” as Maxana described it. In council comments, West Seattle/South Park Councilmember Lisa Herbold underscored a point made that “scope reductions” – like dropping a station – should be discouraged unless there’s a very clear benefit in return.
That came up again in the second discussion, which also was partly a rerun from last week’s Community Advisory Group meeting – ST’s view of possible cost-saving measures, including possibly dropping the Avalon station. This presentation was given by ST’s Cathal Ridge. Here’s the slide deck he used:
In this discussion, Herbold reiterated that dropping Avalon would require a clear benefit such as more tunneling. She also stressed that no matter what, tunneling should be the preference for the West Seattle Junction end of the line, as elevated rail through “the heart of” The Junction would be undesirable. She voiced one other concern about dropping the Avalon station, wondering where its projected 1,200 riders would go, and wondering if that would make light rail less accessible for residents coming down 35th from areas such as High Point. Ridge said they projected that half the Avalon ridership would come to the station by bus, and they would likely ride to the Junction station instead.
WHAT’S NEXT: City staff will return to this committee May 17th; their comments on the DEIS, though, like everyone else’s, are due by April 28th and will be submitted by then. (Here’s how to comment.)
Two West Seattle Crime Watch reports:
SOUTH DELRIDGE ARREST: Police are still at this scene right now, at 16th/Henderson. We don’t have details of the initial call yet, but police were pursuing a possibly armed assault suspect on foot, and took him into custody after using a Taser. The suspect’s being taken to the hospital, we’ve been told at the scene. Officers are searching for a knife he might have dropped along the way. We’ll add any other details we get.
STOLEN-VAN SIGHTINGS: We published Zack‘s stolen-van report Sunday. It’s still in West Seattle, readers have reported, so Zack sent this followup:
My van is still missing, and has been seen multiple times in west Seattle. Thank you to everyone who has contacted me! The thief is driving very aggressively and erratically, and ripped the storage rack off the top at the junction QFC Monday evening. I have also learned that he is prowling houses, and using my van as the get-away vehicle. He has been spotted in the Admiral area several times, this morning was seen at Belvidere/Hanford at 11:00. Please call the police immediately if you see the van, this guy is up to no good!!
License plate: AFD9206
“Campmobile” sticker on the nose
“Treepeople” sticker in rear window
“West Seattle” sticker on rear hatch
My contact: 503-360-8813
WEDNESDAY UPDATE: Zack and van have finally been reunited – see comments.
All seven members of the Seattle Public Schools Board of Directors have been invited to an online meeting Saturday with members of West Seattle school communities – particularly families and staff. If you are involved with a local school, you’re invited too. Among the organizers is Manuela Slye, co-president of the citywide Seattle Council PTSA, who shared a letter to the School Board saying concerns they want to discuss include:
– Building level budgets and staffing cuts
– Prioritization of socio-emotional supports for students – counselors at all schools at the 1:250 minimum ratio
– Funding for SEL programs
– Disproportionate disciplinary rates in student of color populations
– Drug abuse on school campuses
– Narcan availability and proper training
– Free and appropriate education for students receiving special education services
– COVID-19 safety and student well-being during mask mandate transition
– Improved funding for Teach for America volunteers
– Resources for all SPS schools to have Equity Leadership Teams
– Robust support to ELL and Dual Immersion students
– Transportation eligibility for students in the Denny International dual language pathway to preserve the program
– Internship programs/job and career pathway opportunities for SPS students
– Teacher burnout/turnover
They’re also concerned about a report of possible bell-time changes next year. If you’re interested in attending the meeting at 3 pm Saturday (April 23rd), you can register here.
(Security-camera image from April 6th West Seattle robbery)
Eight days after the arrest of one suspect linked to robberies including the West Seattle Bellevue Rare Coins holdup and one during which a Tacoma cannabis-shop worker was killed, another has been arrested. Tacoma Police announced that 16-year-old Montrell D. Hatfield was arrested by Seattle Police in Kent – same location and agency that arrested 15-year-old Marshon D. Jones last week. After arresting Jones, SPD confirmed to WSB that he and Hatfield were suspects in the April 6th robbery here. So far, the two are charged in the March Tacoma robbery/murder and in a February robbery in Federal Way. Court documents indicate Hatfield is the suspect described in multiple cases as having a “distinctive limp” because of a prosthetic leg.
(Image from kingcounty.gov)
The RapidRide H Line launch is being pushed back again. Metro announced today that instead of launching this fall, the Route 120 conversion won’t happen until March 2023: “Unforeseen construction and materials delays from the regional concrete strike that began in early December 2021 have added several months to the original timeline of the RapidRide H Line project.” The announcement adds, “Under the revised implementation schedule, Metro plans to add more daily bus trips to coincide with the launch of the RapidRide service in March 2023, which will then improve frequent service to provide a bus trip in both directions every seven minutes during peak commute times.” Metro says that “approximately 40% of the overall construction work” has been completed so far. The (corrected) Delridge repaving project that SDOT handled was in support of the expected launch. This is the fourth time the launch has been pushed back – the conversion of Route 120 was originally projected for 2019, then that was pushed to 2020, then to 2021, and then a year and a half ago, changed to 2022.
This morning, the Northwest Seaport Alliance sent out notices saying Terminal 5 and other Seattle cargo docks would be closed for a day, effective immediately, because of a longshore workers’ “24-hour stop work.” We’ve had messages out since then to find out why; this is the NWSA response:
The Port of Seattle and The Northwest Seaport Alliance have been made aware of a member of International Longshore & Warehouse Union Local 19 passing away at the Pier 86 grain facility. As is tradition after a member dies while at work, facilities in Seattle only will be closed for the remainder of the day, with shifts starting again tomorrow morning. We offer our deepest condolences to ILWU and the worker’s family and friends during this difficult time.
The Seattle Fire 911 log shows a medical call to that facility just after 7 am today.
Two months until summer! Families that haven’t locked in summer-camp plans yet might be interested in the programs for which Seattle Parks just opened registration this afternoon. They’re offering summer camps at multiple West Seattle locations, including Delridge, High Point, and Alki Community Centers as well as Camp Long and Dakota Place Park. There are opportunities for kids with disabilities, too, as well as preschool-age camps. You can browse the citywide brochure here, and register online here.
Here’s what a lights-and-sirens police response last night at Westwood Village was about – we heard fragments about this incident =last night, and obtained the report narrative this morning: A teenager ran into the Target store around 9:30 pm and reported that someone tried to rob him. He told police three would-be robbers had followed him across the street from Roxhill Park, where he had gone to meet a friend from school, and that the robbery attempt happened in the lot near the store, with one person pointing a gun at him. He got away without injury and without anything being stolen; he told police he recognized the people who followed him, but wouldn’t give officers identifying details, according to the report, which says the three left the scene in a “Honda sedan.”
(Monday sunset photographed by Jan Pendergrass)
From the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
LIGHT RAIL: If you missed our preview, the City Council’s Transportation and Public Utilities Committee is getting two presentations regarding the West Seattle-Ballard light-rail extensions at its meeting under way right now – on the city’s draft comments, and on ST’s proposed cost-savings and “refinements.” You can watch here (they just began, as we publish this); the full video will be available later today.
JEWELRY SALE: The entire store at Wyatt’s Jewelers (WSB sponsor) is 30 percent off! Open today at Westwood Village (2600 SW Barton), until 6 pm.
LOW-LOW TIDE: At 1:35 pm, the tide is out to -2.3 feet – tread lightly!
CITY COUNCIL: Their weekly meeting is at 2 pm, online. The agenda explains how to comment; Seattle Channel is where to watch.
DEMONSTRATION FOR RACIAL JUSTICE: 4:30-6 pm at 16th/Holden, Scott leads this long-running weekly demonstration for racial justice. Signs available if you don’t have your own.
(added) SPORTS: The Chief Sealth IHS boys’ soccer team (5-1-2) plays a home game at 4:30 pm vs. Nathan Hale at Nino Cantu Southwest Athletic Complex (2801 SW Thistle). Also at NCSWAC, the West Seattle HS softball team (7-4) has a 4 pm home game vs. Rainier Beach.
FAMILY GAME NIGHT: Meeples Games (3727 California SW) welcomes families 6-8 pm to this weekly hosted game-playing night.
TRIVIA X 3: Three of the venues where you can play tonight – 7 pm at Ounces (3809 Delridge Way SW), 7 pm at Admiral Pub (2306 California SW), 7:30 and 8:30 pm at The Lodge (4209 SW Alaska).
BELLE OF THE BALLS BINGO: Play bingo with Cookie Couture at The Skylark (3803 Delridge Way SW), 8 pm. Free, all ages!
There’s more on our calendar – and if you have something to add for the future, email us the info at westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
Just four days until Lake Washington Physical Therapy West Seattle (WSB sponsor) presents a community-running workshop, first noted here a month ago, and a few spots remain:
On Saturday, April 23rd from 3-5 pm, we will be hosting a Running Workshop for beginning, intermediate, and competitive runners.
Chris Johnson, PT is a nationally recognized clinician, speaker, and educator. We are very fortunate to have him spend a few hours with us and the running community to share his expertise and answer questions.
The registration fee is only $10, which will be fully donated to our charity of the month, WestSide Baby. Register and pay here: lakewpt.securepayments.cardpointe.com/pay
During registration, be sure to include RUNWORKSHOP as the Invoice number. Attendees will need to bring their emailed registration receipt for entry. Questions? Email: frontofficewestseattle@lakewashingtonpt.com
LWPT co-proprietor Mark Bouma says that if weather permits, they’ll hold the class on the rooftop, which has a great view of Elliott Bay. (If not, there’s lots of room in their light-filled clinic.) LWPT’s West Seattle clinic is at 1309 Harbor Avenue SW.
6:02 AM: Good morning. It’s Tuesday, April 19th.
WEATHER
Mostly cloudy forecast, high near 55.
ROAD WORK
*Second day of the two-week WSDOT closure of the West Seattle Bridge/Spokane Street ramp to northbound 99 for pavement repair.
*SPU‘s pavement-restoration work on California SW in the SW Myrtle could start this week – it hadn’t by day’s end Monday, but the no-parking signs are out.
BUSES, WATER TAXI, FERRIES TODAY
Metro is on its regular weekday schedule. Watch @kcmetrobus for word of reroutes/cancellations. Note that you’re still required to wear a face covering on the bus despite Monday’s federal-court ruling – as explained here.
Same goes for the West Seattle Water Taxi, which is operated by Metro. Also, no midday service again today, because of training. Check its status via Water Taxi Vessel Watch. 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 *is* dropping its mask mandate, while noting they’re still recommended.
BRIDGES AND DETOUR ROUTES
757th 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.
One month after we first reported on Seattle City Light‘s plan to turn a former substation site into a lot for charging electric vehicles, you have a chance to find out more. The proposal for 4118 SW Morgan is on the agenda for Wednesday night’s quarterly meeting of the Morgan Community Association – two days before the city closes a survey on the proposal. For the rest of the 7 pm online meeting’s agenda, plus attendance info, see the listing on the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar.
The photo and report are from Sara in Sunrise Heights:
This Volvo has been sitting (in this spot) for over 2 weeks. It’s been reported to the city but I thought I would let folks know since, when my car was stolen in front of my house, it took the city over a month to let me know, when it was sitting only 10 blocks away!
We’ve omitted the exact location so as not to make it a theft target. You can contact us for more info if you or someone you know is teh owner.
(Madison MS PTSA photo from donut fundraiser in March)
School-fundraiser season continues. Today we got word that the Madison Middle School PTSA‘s annual auction has begun, with online 24/7 bidding all week culminating in a live virtual auction Saturday.
The Madison Middle School PTSA is a local nonprofit organization serving the needs of children in the Seattle School District and we hope you can join us for our “Virtual Vibes” online event where auction items will be available for bidding to support our school. The event proceeds will help provide funds for vital components of the school including new books for the school library, technology investment, textbooks, teacher grants, staff appreciation, instrumental music, school supplies, and much more.
Please visit the website to see all of the packages but you won’t want to miss:
#SeaUsRise Seattle Mariners Ultimate Ballpark Experience includes a once-in-a-lifetime experience for four fans to enjoy Commissioners Box Seats above the Mariners Dugout, a visit to your seats by the Mariner Moose, your names and message of choice on the Jumbo Tron, two autographed baseballs, signed by stars-on-the rise outfielders Jarred Kelenic and Julio Rodriguez. Added to this legendary Mariners experience are overnight accommodations in a suite and complimentary VIP parking at the Silver Cloud, just steps from T Mobile Park.
A weekend at Suncadia Resort in a 2+ bedrooms and 3 bathroom townhome just steps away from the pool and miles of trails for exploring. Soak in picturesque views of the small, tree-lined lake and walking trails that surround your home away from home – truly a slice of mountain paradise. Step inside this cozy townhome and you will find everything you need to enjoy your retreat
Professional portrait sitting with local photographer Dave Estep. Beautifully-lit, black-and-white, timeless portrait. Dave will retouch a main image of your choice. The package includes $200 credit for prints. Dave can come to you for the shoot or meet you at a mutually agreeable location in West Seattle.
Wine & whiskey tastings, gift cards to local restaurants, and much, much more. Check here for the full catalogue: https://madisonmiddleschool.schoolauction.net/auction2022/homepages/show
To learn more about the Madison PTSA mission, please visit: madisonptsa.com
Thank you for supporting our Madison Bulldog Community, we couldn’t do it without you!
The live online event is 6-7 pm Saturday (April 23rd).
A week and a half after Sound Transit released its feasibility report about whether gondola service could replace light rail for West Seattle, the organization proposing it has released its response. West Seattle SkyLink sent the eight-page response to us last night – read it here or below:
West Seattle SkyLink says the Sound Transit report was no substitute for a “technical engineering study by gondola experts.” They say, “The Feasibility Report was prepared in-house without any analysis by an engineering firm that has experience with gondola technology, design, or construction as is usually the case. There are several US firms qualified to undertake a feasibility study for an urban gondola feeder.” The response also says, “Another glaring deficiency in the Sound Transit Report is the lack of a review of current urban gondola projects … most of these urban gondola projects are being considered as feeders or connectors to a light rail or rapid bus system, just like an urban gondola would be for West Seattle.” The projects they cite range from Los Angeles Aerial Rapid Transit, for which a Draft Environmental Impact Report is due out this summer, to the “cable-car” aerial line that just went into operation a week ago in Haifa, Israel. Much closer to home, SkyLink also notes that Kirkland looked into using gondolas for a connection to a Sound Transit station (the city’s website says a feasibility study was done in 2018 but the gondola alternative was not included in recent environmental analysis).
Overall, the SkyLink response concludes, “The Sound Transit Report did its best to throw as much dirt as it could on urban gondolas as a feeder to its light rail system without noting the many other public transportation agencies, both domestic and foreign, that have found an urban gondola feeder is exactly the appropriate complement to their bus and light rail systems.” Their contention continues to be that a gondola line could be built more quickly and inexpensively, with much less residence and business displacement, but as for how much money and time it would take, that would be up to a “properly produced study” to determine.
Will such a study be commissioned? Sound Transit staff repeated last week, in a presentation to the 34th District Democrats, that it would be up to the board to order it. ST’s Carrie Avila-Mooney added during the 34th DDs’ meeting Q&A that the agency “has no voter-approved money” to study it. The board’s next meeting is Thursday, April 28th, and it will include a public-comment period; watch for the agenda here.
Thanks for the tips. Another semitruck has gotten stuck trying to navigate the winding road east of 21st/Delridge. We’re told police and a large tow truck are on scene.
6:04 PM: The road is clear.
If you’re noticing brown water in North Admiral, you’re not alone. One resident we’ve heard from has called the Seattle Public Utilities number for reporting problems 24/7 – 206-386=1800 – and was told others had reported it, and that the problem was apparently related to construction in the area. Water discoloration is most often the result of sediment stirring up in the line – primarily rust.
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