West Seattle, Washington
22 Friday
1:09 PM: Power’s out for what appears to be a wide stretch – signals out along California as we drove north.
1:20 PM UPDATE: 10,000 customers (mostly) from the Junction north. No word yet on the cause.
1:35 PM: This hit just as we were heading out on an interview – the signal lights started going out all along California, from The Junction northward. Have made our way back now. Remember that any non-functioning signalized intersection is a four-way stop. Also note that if you’re hearing sirens – when the power goes out, some automatic fire alarms are triggered, and some elevators get stuck, and Seattle Fire crews have to respond to all of that.
1:47 PM: Note that schools and businesses are part of this sizable outage zone. … As you can see on the SCL map, the outage zone stretches some blocks south of The Junction in spots.
2:05 PM: This happened amid strong north winds, though we don’t have official word of a cause. As a result of the wind, the West Seattle Water Taxi‘s pm sailings have just been canceled.
2:09 PM: As noted in comments, a tree limb falling in North Admiral appears to be the problem.
2:19 PM: SCL spokesperson Jenn Strang confirms that’s the cause and tells WSB, “Crews are starting to work on the problem and we’ll start restoring customers as soon as we can.”
(Reader photo, from comments)
2:29 PM: We just talked to SCL crew at the scene. They say the fallen tree limb has been removed and now they’re doing some final work before determining how soon it’ll be safe to “re-energize.”
2:39 PM: Commenters are reporting getting power back, and the map shows more than half the originally affected 10,000+ customers (homes/businesses/schools etc. each count as one customer) are back on after an hour and a half.
3:09 PM: Now down to 2,637 customers still out.
4:20 PM: No change.
4:34 PM: Going back through The Junction, it appears the businesses on the west side of California are still without power, while those on the east side have it.
5:33 PM: Heading back south – west side of Junction still out. That includes ballot drop box area – no streetlights or lot lights – lots of foot and vehicle traffic – be careful!
5:40 PM: Power just returned to the west side of The Junction. … Map shows 108 still out.
8:58 PM: More than three hours later, that pocket of 108, mostly wrapped around the southwest corner of Camp Long, is still out.
1:08 AM: Down to 58 now, and attributed to “equipment failure” for this pocket:
2:52 AM: The map now shows everyone restored since our last check.
(WSB photo: FTWS founder Bonnie Katz Sailors and new owner Bryan Habas)
Another successful West Seattle Junction business has just changed ownership.
But that’s the only thing changing about Fitness Together West Seattle (4546 California SW; WSB sponsor), say founder Bonnie Katz Sailors and new owner Bryan Habas.
Bonnie founded the personal-training fitness studio 16 years ago. “It’s been amazing, crazy, wonderful,” she told us during a chat in the studio. She even met her husband Duncan Sailors through FT – after hiring him as her second employee. And Fitness Together West Seattle not only survived the pandemic, but thrived – Bonnie says the past two years have been her best two years, “so we’re ending on a high note.”
Fitness Together started offering online training during the height of the pandemic, but even once in-person training resumed, one other crisis proved something of a boon: The West Seattle Bridge closure increased interest in fitness options close to home. And this family-owned business was ready to respond. Now, Bonnie’s ready for her next chapter, and that’s where Bryan comes in.
He is a U.S. Air Force veteran, still active in the Air National Guard, as well as an experienced management consultant with 15 years in the corporate world. But about a year and a half ago, he started looking for his own business to run. He found this one specializing in “something I love – fitness. … I fell in love with the idea of helping people.” After meeting Bonnie, he was impressed by Fitness Together West Seattle’s “great trainers, and great community.” Those trainers are all staying, Bonnie adds. The studio overall will continue “as similar as possible” to the way it’s been operating, Bryan says – “what Bonnie has built is so special.”
What’s next for her? She plans to concentrate full time on her art, examples of which are hanging in the studio – painting and photography.
And Bryan is now the leader of Fitness Together’s one-on-one training team. They’re always accepting new clients, and the studio is open six days a week (weekday evenings too). The model works, Bonnie says, because “everyone needs a coach!”
(WSB photo from 2019’s Thanksgiving dinner at The Hall at Fauntleroy)
We mentioned a week and a half ago that The Hall at Fauntleroy plans to resume its full free sit-down community Thanksgiving dinner, but details were pending. Today we have the full plan for this year’s return of the 20+-year tradition, from Reed Haggerty of The Hall’s parent DSquared Hospitality:
We are back for 2022 with a full FREE meal from 12 pm-3 pm at The Hall at Fauntleroy!
This event is meant for anyone who would like to attend, and everyone is welcome!
We are also asking for WARM clothes donations (NEW socks, NEW blankets, winter jackets, etc.) as well as dessert donations – mmmm pumpkin pie!
Our goal is to “Fill the van” (we would like to overflow one of our catering vans with warm clothes … It has been so cold already this year!)
In addition to donations, we are looking for volunteers to assist with setup, service, and cleanup on the day of. Please see the sign up link here.
If you know someone who would like to donate, they can bring clothing donations or dessert donations to our warehouse in SODO starting Monday 11/21-Wednesday 11/23. Our business hours are 9-5.
If the trek down to SODO is too much, we will be taking donations the day of Thanksgiving starting at 9 am at The Hall.
The Hall at Fauntleroy is at the south end of the historic Fauntleroy Schoolhouse, 9131 California SW.
We start the list for today/tonight with one last election reminder:
VOTE BY TONIGHT! This is Election Day, which means the voting ends and the vote-counting starts. As we’ve been reminding you, there are two ways to return your ballot: King County Elections drop box (West Seattle has three), by 8 pm tonight; USPS mail, ASAP so you can be sure it gets today’s postmarked. Only 42 percent of ballots from West Seattle/South Park had been received by last night. Our previews include an overview of what you’re deciding. First vote-count is due by 8:15 pm and we’ll show the results here.
(ADDED 9:40 AM: We’ve had reports the Junction and High Point ballot boxes needed emptying. KC Elections says their teams are “on the way” if not there already. If you happen onto a drop-box problem, report it ASAP to 206-296-VOTE.)
Here’s what else is up for today/tonight:
CITY BUDGET HEARING: As previewed last night, starting at 9:30 am online and in-person, city councilmembers have a public hearing about what should (and shouldn’t) be in the two-year budget plan they’ll be finalizing this month.
POSTCARDS TO VOTERS: A local way to take national action – participating in the 10:30 am drop-in weekly gathering at C & P Coffee (5612 California SW; WSB sponsor). Today, they’ll celebrate the work they did for the midterm election, and look ahead.
CHESS CLUB: Play chess at the Senior Center of West Seattle (4217 SW Oregon), 1:30 pm. Beginners welcome!
DEMONSTRATION FOR BLACK LIVES: Longstanding weekly 4:30-6 pm sign-waving demonstration continues at 16th/Holden. Signs available if you don’t have your own.
WESTSIDE SCHOOL INFORMATION NIGHT: 6 pm, prospective preschool-4th grade families are invited to come learn about Westside School (10404 34th SW; WSB sponsor). Our calendar listing includes the preregistration link.
CAMP SECOND CHANCE COMMUNITY ADVISORY COUNCIL: 6 pm, online meeting to hear updates, and ask questions, about the tiny-house encampment in southeast West Seattle. Connection/call-in information is in our calendar listing.
SCRABBLE NIGHT: 6-10 pm, you can play Scrabble at The Missing Piece (9456 35th SW).
BOOK SIGNING/TALK: Gerald Elias talks about and signs his new Western mystery “Roundtree Days,” 6:30-8 pm at Paper Boat Booksellers (6040 California SW).
STAR WARS MINIATURES NIGHT: Meeples Games (3727 California SW) hosts this weekly 7 pm event.
TRIVIA X 3: Three of the venues where you can play Tuesday nights – 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!
You can always see more, and preview future events, via our event calendar – if you have something to add, please email info to westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
For a second day, orcas are reported in central Puget Sound. Kersti Muul says they’re reported southbound. off West Point (north side of Elliott Bay).
6:00 AM: Good morning. It’s Tuesday, November 8th.
WEATHER
Mostly sunny and breezy – high around 40.
ROAD WORK
-West Seattle Bridge lane closures the next three nights. Tonight, “11 pm Tuesday – 5 am Wednesday, right-hand lane and off-ramp to Harbor Island closed for westbound travelers on the Spokane St Viaduct approaching the West Seattle bridge.”
-The east end of Sylvan Way just west of the Home Depot entrance remains closed for drainaage work.
TRANSIT STATUS
–Metro buses are on their regular schedules; watch @kcmetroalerts for trip cancellations/reroute alerts.
-The West Seattle Water Taxi is on its fall/winter schedule (still daily, all dayparts, but no late Friday/Saturday runs). No service this Friday for Veterans Day.
-Still a 2-boat schedule for WSF’s Triangle Route (check here for alerts/updates).
SPOTLIGHT CAMERAS
High Bridge – here’s the camera at the top.
High Bridge – the view from its southwest end (if SDOT points the 35th/Avalon/Fauntleroy camera that way).
Low Bridge: Or nearby, depending on where SDOT points the camera.
1st Ave. S. Bridge: The alternate route.
Highway 99: Here’s the northbound side at Lander.
All functional city traffic cams can be seen here, most with video options; West Seattle and vicinity-relevant cameras are also on this WSB page … Are movable city bridges opening for vessels? Check the @SDOTBridges Twitter feed.
If you see trouble on the roads/paths/water, please text or call us (when you can do so safely) – 206-293-6302.
Tomorrow morning is the last City Council public hearing on the city budget before councilmembers go into the final stretch of budget revisions for the next two years. As reported here last week, presentation of a “balancing plan” incorporating some of the council’s proposed changes was delayed a week after new revenue numbers came in lower than hoped. But tomorrow morning’s public hearing is still on, and now you can show support for, or opposition to, spending proposals before the “balancing plan” is finished. Here are West Seattle-specific amendments that have been proposed by City Councilmember Lisa Herbold:
FAUNTLEROY BOULEVARD: $15 million over the next two years to revive the Fauntleroy Way Boulevard Project (shelved until light rail’s likely route became clearer). Here’s how the amendment document describes it:
This Council Budget Action would add $7.5 million Transportation Fund in 2023 and $7.5 million Transportation Fund in 2024 (one-time) in the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) for the Fauntleroy Way SW Boulevard (MC-TR-C046) CIP project. This project was previously funded by the 2015 Move Seattle Levy. SDOT placed the project on hold in 2018 while the corridor was under consideration by Sound Transit for the West Seattle Link light rail extension. The Sound Transit Board has selected a tunnel to West Seattle [Junction] as the preferred alternative, which would no longer conflict with the Fauntleroy Way SW Boulevard project. The Fauntleroy Way SW Boulevard project completed final design in 2017 …
This project transforms Fauntleroy Way SW into a boulevard. The project elements include: a planted median, signature lighting fixtures, a protected bicycle facility, a pedestrian zone with sidewalks and planting areas including street trees, pedestrian lighting, potential stormwater infrastructure and art, as well as safety improvements for crossing movements for all modes. These safety improvements include bicycle and pedestrian crossings, signals, reconfigured intersections and bulbs, and pavement improvements
That’s part of a tall stack of transportation-related amendment proposals you can see here.
This one, we’ve mentioned before:
(WSB photo: Ladder 13 at a West Seattle fire response in July)
KEEPING LADDER 13 AND MEDIC 26: This would add about $6 million over the next two years to keep the Seattle Fire resources that were originally added to this area because of the bridge closure – Ladder 13 (now at Station 37 in Sunrise Heights) and Medic 26 (now at Station 26 in South Park). Previously our area had only one ladder truck and one medic unit, both based at Station 32 in The Junction. Here’s the explanation from the amendment document:
This Council Budget Action would add $439,000 GF in 2023 and $1.2 million GF in 2024 (one-time) to the Seattle Fire Department (SFD) to support the permanent operation of resources that were implemented temporarily during the closure of the West Seattle Bridge. These resources are a ladder truck at Fire Station 37 and a medic unit at Fire Station 26. To meet the temporary need, SFD kept in service vehicles that were past their replacement age, but the department would need to purchase new vehicles if the need for them were permanent. One-time funding would support (1) the maintenance\ costs of a ladder truck until its anticipated replacement in late 2025 and (2) the maintenance costs of a medic unit until its anticipated replacement in late 2024. One-time funding would also support the training of eight SFD firefighters as paramedics to staff the new medic unit.
In addition, this Council Budget Action would add $4.3 million GF in 2023 (ongoing) to support the staffing costs associated with both resources. The Council Budget Action would increase SFD’s minimum daily staffing level from 216 to 222, but no funding is added to train new SFD recruits because current SFD firefighters would staff the new ladder truck and medic shifts on an overtime basis. Ongoing funding is also added, beginning in late 2023, to support the pro-rated lease costs for the new medic unit. On an annual basis, these costs are $72,000 per year. There would be a 2025 one-time cost of $2 million, for a new ladder truck, associated with this Council Budget Action, and at the time of that vehicle’s delivery SFD would begin incurring a pro-rated annual lease cost of $164,000 per year. These costs would be included in the 2025 Proposed Budget.
The amendment document goes on to say that the two added units make a difference in response times:
SFD data suggest that removing the medic unit at Fire Station 26 would triple the department’s response time to Advanced Life Support calls in the area of the station, such that SFD response would be well outside the NFPA response standard. SFD data also suggest that removing the ladder truck at Fire Station 27 would double the department’s current response time to fire calls in the south part of West Seattle, although it would remain within the NFPA response standard.
You can read the full amendment in this document.
HOW TO SPEAK OUT AT TUESDAY HEARING, OR OTHERWISE: Since tomorrow’s hearing starts at 9:30 am, online registration begins at 7:30 am – it’s explained here. As the agenda explains, you can also speak in person at City Hall. The hearing will go until everyone signed up to speak has had their turn. Or if you’d rather just send email with your thoughts on these or other budget matters, council@seattle.gov is the address. There’ll be one more hearing just before the budget is finalized, but this one is at a pivotal moment.
Today’s high was 45, nine degrees below the normal high for this date, and the temperature’s heading lower. The newest forecast update says lows could be near freezing the next few nights, with daytime highs in the low 40s. In addition to the emergency shelter that’s now open at the West Seattle Veteran Center (3618 SW Alaska), there’s also a daytime warming center at the Salvation Army campus in South Delridge, 8 am-7 pm weekdays (9050 16th SW).
Two West Seattle Bridge notes:
WESTBOUND TROUBLE SPOT: After yet another crash Thursday night where the westbound West Seattle Bridge meets the ramp from southbound Highway 99, we inquired again with SDOT, which had told us after the first four crashes that it couldn’t figure out any particular problem there. In the meantime, we received this dash-cam video today from a reader who reported being involved in Thursday night collision – you’ll see it about :30 in:
Also, in a comment on last week’s crash report, a reader posted this link to a compilation of traffic-cam video from the prior recent incidents. Meantime, here’s the reply sent by SDOT today in response to our Friday inquiry:
We continue to monitor the area after each request. We have not found any construction related issues as we have not worked there since the opening of the bridge in September. Given the number of crashes to date, those vehicles could be leaving oil and other fluids on the roadway. We will take a closer look at this on nights this week as we will be doing work on the West Seattle Bridge. While we do that work we will take a closer look at the trouble spot again and will try to get a sweeper if available, to pass over the area.
(As we were writing this, an SPD dispatcher told officers they’d received a call about a new problem at that same spot, but we watched the live video camera as SDOT’s control center scanned the area looking for evidence of a crashed or stalled car, and none was found.)
OVERNIGHT WORK: Regarding the aforementioned work, here’s that SDOT announcement:
We will be conducting overnight closures of westbound lanes on the West Seattle Bridge Tuesday, November 8 through Thursday, November 10 to complete sign installation and adjustment work.
11:00 p.m. Tuesday – 5:00 a.m. Wednesday: Right hand lane and off-ramp to Harbor Island closed for westbound travelers on the Spokane St Viaduct approaching the West Seattle bridge.
11:00 p.m. Wednesday – 5:00 a.m. Thursday: All westbound travel lanes on the Spokane St Viaduct approaching the West Seattle bridge closed. Access to westbound lanes on the West Seattle Bridge from southbound SR-99 will be maintained during this period.
11:00 p.m. Thursday – 5:00 a.m. Friday: All westbound travel lanes on the Spokane St Viaduct approaching the West Seattle bridge closed. Access to westbound lanes on the West Seattle Bridge from southbound SR-99 will be maintained during this period.
A signed detour route, directing travelers across the Spokane St Swing Bridge (low bridge) will be in place during the closure. Once work is complete, all westbound travel lanes on the bridge will be restored.
Five notes in West Seattle Crime Watch:
GUNFIRE THIS MORNING: 911 got calls around 10:30 am of gunfire heard near 29th/Barton. The preliminary SPD report isn’t in yet but the communications team confirms evidence of gunfire was found – a damaged car window. If you have any information, the incident number is 2022-299590. (added) Seattle Public Schools confirms that the former Roxhill building, now home to several SPS programs, was in shelter-in-place for about 20 minutes because of this. ADDED TUESDAY: Here’s the SPD summary made available today:
Passenger in a gray sedan fired multiple gunshots at another vehicle near 29 AV SW/SW Barton Street. Officers responded and recovered several shotgun shells at the scene. Citizens were walking in the immediate area during the incident, however no one was shot or injured. (Victim) called and vehicle contained evidence consistent with being fired upon.
2 GUNFIRE INCIDENTS SATURDAY NIGHT: We reported briefly on the incident in High Point just before 10 pm Saturday. Here’s the SPD summary:
Officers responded to a report of shots heard near 29 Ave SW and SW Morgan St. Additional calls to 911 indicated that possible parties involved were running in multiple directions. A possible victim description was provided by callers and officers located him near the scene. The victim was uninjured and stated that he and 2 friends had just arrived at the location after visiting a cannabis dispensary in White Center. As they were about to park an unknown male emerged from an alley and began firing at them without provocation. The victim(s) immediately fled on foot. The single suspect fled the scene on foot and an area check did not locate him at this time. Evidence of a shooting was recovered from the scene. Guardian One was unavailable and a K9 Track was not feasible. … Two vehicles and 2 homes were struck by gunfire. Victims were notified of the damage.
Commenters mentioned an incident earlier in North Delridge. Here’s the summary for that incident, reported just before 8 pm:
Officers responded to 5000 block of 25 Ave SW to a report of shots heard along a nearby park. Officers located the scene and found evidence of a shooting in the middle of the road. Witnesses had limited information and no suspect physical description or vehicle description were provided. An area check found no injured persons and no property damage.
If you have any information, the incident numbers are 2022-298318 for the High Point case and 2022-297207 for the North Delridge case.
Also today, two reader reports about car prowls overnight:
FAUNTLEROY BREAK-IN: From Tom:
Someone overnight broke into my car and broke out a small window in the back. They got in, took all paperwork, and also broke the ignition.
No police report # yet.
GATEWOOD BREAK-IN: Laura reports a car break-in overnight, second one in a week on her block in Gatewood. The report number is 2022-923925.
Thanks to Lacey for the tip. More than three dozen customers are mapped as out of water at the moment, mostly along 18th SW just east of Holy Family Church/School. The outage is attributed to “emergency repairs.” Lacey says Seattle Public Utilities reported that crews are fixing a broken water main. Sometimes this kind of work can affect water service beyond the immediate outage zone, so if you’re anywhere near there and experiencing water problems, that could be the cause – but let 206-386-1800 know, just to be sure. (Update: SPU says this was fixed as of 3:10 pm.)
We were in The Junction on Sunday morning when those election workers visited the King County Elections drop box to pick up ballots. As of this morning, KCE has only received 37 percent of the ballots sent out countywide; in West Seattle/South Park, the percentage is a bit higher, 38.6%. There are three drop boxes in West Seattle where you can take your ballot until 8 pm tomorrow (Tuesday, November 8):
–Junction (the one shown above – south side of SW Alaska just east of 44th SW)
–High Point Library (northeast side of the library, 3411 SW Raymond)
–South Seattle College (in front of the admin building, 6000 16th SW)
There are also official drop boxes in White Center and South Park; here’s the full countywide list. You can also send your ballot via USPS mail – no stamp required – but it must be postmarked by tomorrow, so if you’re going to do that, do it today. USPS mailboxes are scattered around the area, but there are drive-up/ride-up boxes at both local post offices (4426 California SW in The Junction and 2721 SW Trenton on the north side of Westwood Village). Here’s our overview of what’s on your ballot.
(Sunrise glow on ferry in Elliott Bay, photographed today by Jan Pendergrass)
Here’s what’s happening for the rest of today/tonight, from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
FOOD DRIVE: One more week to donate holiday-dinner staples via the West Seattle Food Bank drive at Daystar Retirement Village (2615 SW Barton; WSB sponsor) – see the wish list in our calendar listing.
TOY DRIVE: As reported earlier this morning, it’s Day 1 for a seasonal toy drive at John L. Scott Westwood (WSB sponsor; office in the Westwood Village breezeway just east of ex-Bed Bath Beyond/Spirit Halloween), benefiting the Forgotten Children’s Fund – drop off unwrapped toy donations on weekdays 9 am-5 pm.
FREE COMMUNITY YOGA CLASSES: Tonight and every Monday in November, 5 pm and 6:15 pm at High Point Community Center (6920 34th SW) with Ms. Maria “for all ages, shapes, and sizes.” Bring your own mat or borrow one at HPCC.
MIDDLE SCHOOL INFORMATION NIGHT: Representatives of more than a dozen area middle schools – public, private, parochial, charter – are in one place to talk with you, tonight at 6 pm in the gym at Our Lady of Guadalupe (7000 35th SW). See the list in our preview from last night. It’s a free event, but preregistration is requested – go here.
CRAFTING AND CREATIVITY NIGHT: 6-10 pm at The Missing Piece (9456 35th SW), explained in our calendar listing.
MEDITATION: Free weekly Zen sitting/meditation event at the chapel at Fauntleroy UCC (9140 California SW), 7 pm-8:30 pm.
PLAY TRIVIA! Three scheduled options tonight for trivia players – 7 pm at Best of Hands (35th/Webster), 7 pm at The Good Society (California/Lander), 7:30 pm at The Skylark (3803 Delridge Way SW)
Have a West Seattle/White Center event to list on our calendar and in our daily preview lists? Please send info to westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
Holiday donation-drive season is beginning, and some have asked us about toy drives. We’ll have a list in our forthcoming West Seattle Holiday Guide, and we’re also publishing announcements as we receive them. This drive at John L. Scott Westwood (WSB sponsor) starts today:
John L. Scott Westwood and John L. Scott Ballard/The Madrona Group are taking toy donations/money donations from November 7th-December 15th. We are working with THE FORGOTTEN CHILDREN’S FUND, which works to give underprivileged children and their families a truly Merry Christmas. With the support of our Seattle community, we are able to purchase, wrap, and have Santa and his Elves deliver gifts every year.
The Forgotten Children’s Fund began when a boy named Craig wrote a letter to Santa Claus in December of 1976. That letter never got delivered to Santa’s North Pole, but it did reach a restaurant in Seattle called Francisco’s. The letter immediately captured the heart of Mr. Dick Francisco, and the Forgotten Children’s Fund was created to help others in similar situations. The FCF currently operates in King County, Lewis County, North Counties (including Skagit, Island, Snohomish and Whatcom Counties) and Chelan Counties of Washington State. Visit forgottenchildrensfund.org to donate, volunteer or just learn more about this organization
The kids are under 12 years old. The most-requested items are Legos, LOL dolls, Barbies, action figures, Sonic, Paw Patrol, Lincoln logs, Hot Wheels, unicorns, sport balls, arts & crafts, science projects, etc. We can always use gift cards for the older kids.
Please bring your unwrapped gifts to: John L. Scott Westwood at 2600 SW Barton Street, Suite A-6 (Westwood Village), Monday-Friday 9 AM to 4 PM. You can also use the QR code below to donate.
Checks can be made to THE FORGOTTEN CHILDREN’S FUND P.O. BOX 365 MOUNT VERNON, WA 98273 Questions? Contact Natalie Trius at 206-938-5572 or natalietrius@johnlscott.com
(Added: Photos by Robin Sinner)
8:05 AM: Southern Resident orcas are in the area, southbound toward Alki, reports Kersti Muul, who says they’re from L Pod.
8:45 AM: See comments for updates.
9:44 AM: Thanks to everyone for those updates! Kersti noted in her most-recent comments that (a) all three of the endangered Southern Residents’ pods were represented – J, K, and L – and that they’d turned around and headed back northbound.
6:24 AM: Crash on the eastbound bridge by 99 exit.
6:55 AM: Clear.
Earlier:
6:03 AM: Good morning. It’s Monday, November 7th.
WEATHER
More rain expected – high in the 40s.
ROAD WORK
The outside southbound lane of West Marginal Way north of the Duwamish Longhouse has reopened as planned. So only one ongoing closure remains – the east end of Sylvan Way just west of the Home Depot entrance.
TRANSIT STATUS
–Metro buses are on their regular schedules; watch @kcmetroalerts for trip cancellations/reroute alerts.
-The West Seattle Water Taxi is on its fall/winter schedule (still daily, all dayparts, but no late Friday/Saturday runs). No service this Friday for Veterans Day.
-Still a 2-boat schedule for WSF’s Triangle Route (check here for alerts/updates).
SPOTLIGHT CAMERAS
High Bridge – here’s the camera at the top.
High Bridge – the view from its southwest end (if SDOT points the 35th/Avalon/Fauntleroy camera that way).
Low Bridge: Or nearby, depending on where SDOT points the camera.
1st Ave. S. Bridge: The alternate route.
Highway 99: Here’s the northbound side at Lander.
All functional city traffic cams can be seen here, most with video options; West Seattle and vicinity-relevant cameras are also on this WSB page … Are movable city bridges opening for vessels? Check the @SDOTBridges Twitter feed.
If you see trouble on the roads/paths/water, please text or call us (when you can do so safely) – 206-293-6302.
Ten months after the Northwest Seaport Alliance – the cargo-focused partnership of the Seattle and Tacoma ports – opened the first modernized berth at Terminal 5 in West Seattle [map], work continues on the second. And the first is not yet fully operational – as we reported last Monday, the shore-power system hasn’t been used yet. That was one of the T-5 topics discussed at two meetings this past week – on Tuesday, the NWSA managing members (Seattle/Tacoma port commissioners), and on Wednesday, the District 1 Community Network (a coalition of advocates from organizations in West Seattle and South Park). Here are the highlights of what we saw and heard:
Terminal 5’s north berth had 52 vessel calls through August. More than 30 percent of those ships’ cargo was moved through the terminal on rail (one of the dock’s major attributes), 40 percent of the containers that move through the terminal are empties, being shipped back overseas. That still leaves a lot of cargo being handled with trucks, and a focus right now is to find close-by parking so the trucks don’t wind up overnighting in neighborhoods – they’re working to create about 100 spaces on Harbor Island, along 11th and 13th SW. They’re also working on creating parking at T-25 (map), which could hold more than 300 truck spots.
Back to rail – many residents near T-5 have eagerly awaited the Quiet Zone, crossing modifications that should result in less train-horn-blowing. Though it’s part of the T-5 project, SDOT is leading the construction, and expecting to put the project out to bid before year’s end. Here’s the overview of what it’ll involve:
Because of questions at a past briefing, the NWSA reps also brought this graphic showing the Quiet Zone in the context of the 5-way intersection by the major entrance to T-5:
But at both meetings, the shore-power issue sparked the most discussion. The attempt to connect a ship was apparently made on October 8th. The problem that got in the way was described as two computer systems talking to each other (or not, in this case). Wasn’t it tested earlier? staff was asked at the NWSA meeting. The reply was that training had been done, but “each ship is a little different” and they just didn’t know how it would play out until they actually tried to plug a ship into the system. So now they’re troubleshooting. An ILWU Local 19 rep at that meeting, there to comment on another agenda issue, pointed out that their workers had been connecting cruise ships at Pier 91 in Magnolia to shore power “for years.”
Full details of the NWSA briefing on T-5 are in this memo and this slide deck.
Tomorrow (Monday, November 7th), for the first time since 2019, area middle schools will have reps in one place at one time so prospective families can find out more about them. Here’s how organizers explain the Greater West Seattle Middle School Information Night:
We invite families to join us at Our Lady of Guadalupe (gym) at 6 pm for a short presentation from several school counselors and time to visit school representatives at their tables to ask questions and acquire information. This event is free and designed to represent public, private/parochial, independent, and charter-school options. Please help us plan accordingly by registering for this event here or scan the QR code on this flyer. Questions? Contact Sally Heit at Hope Lutheran School at sheit@hopeseattle.org or Ted Holmes at Westside School at tedh@westsideschool.org
Schools Attending:
Denny International Middle School
Explorer West Middle School
Harbor School (Vashon)
Holy Family Bilingual School
Holy Rosary School
Hope Lutheran School
McMurray Middle School (Vashon)
Our Lady of Guadalupe
St. Bernadette (Burien)
Summit Atlas
Westside School
OLG is at 35th/Myrtle.
MONDAY UPDATE: Two more schools have been added – Madison Middle School and Rainier Prep.
One more sports note: After the Metro League high-school volleyball tournament wrapped up Saturday with games at the Denny/Sealth campus, West Seattle High School had won enough of its matches to finish in eighth place and advance to the district playoffs. Those will happen at Lakeside School Thursday through Saturday (November 10-12); WSHS opens with a must-win match against Mercer Island at 5:30 pm Thursday. (Here’s how to get tickets.)
Three student athletes from West Seattle have a share of a state championship. Thanks to Nate Trius for the report:
(Seattle Prep photo: Middle three are from West Seattle: Miles Trius [994], Jack Henzke [968], Carter Joy [972])
Yesterday in Pasco, Seattle Preparatory School took 1st place in the Washington State XC country meet 3A division . Led by Coach Andrew Walker – former Prep XC runner and Gonzaga runner – who has been cultivating this driven team for the last 4 years. 3 of the 7 runners hail from our own WS community. Carter Joy (senior) and Jack Henzke (junior) attended Holy Rosary, while Miles Trius (senior) attended Our Lady of Guadalupe. All three competed in their earlier years against each other in the CYO athletic programs. When they met again at Seattle Prep, they ran as teammates. Seattle Prep has not brought this 1st-place state win in 22 years. Big day for these boys, their school, and broader Seattle community. This state has some of the top runners in the country and it is an honor to be the winners this year!
Nate included this link to an online video interview with the champs.
Today we have enough contributed bird photos for one of our periodic game-day galleries (Seahawks vs. Cardinals – it’s all about birds today). Above is Kersti Muul‘s photo of four Bushtits – tiny yet fierce-looking birds. Below, James Tilley caught Sanderlings in flight at Constellation Park:
Also from James, a Savannah Sparrow at Alki:
Vincent Marx photographed this White-crowned Sparrow along Harbor Avenue:
A Sharp-shinned Hawk caught Hans A.‘s eye in Delridge:
And John Skerratt noticed this Anna’s Hummingbird taking a break:
Though Halloween is over, we can’t resist another of Jerry Simmons‘s seasonal images – here, Steller’s Jay meets skeleton:
And he sent another one that is both a reminder and also an advance alert for next year:
If you haven’t yet taken down your Halloween decorations – particularly if they include fake webbing – the sooner the better. And you might consider not using that material next year. It’s a hazard to birds and other wildlife.
P.S. Before we go, thanks again to everyone who shares photos – westseattleblog@gmail.com (if it’s breaking news, you can text 206-293-6302).
The photo and report are from Mark in Alki:
My orange RAD Cargo E-Bike got stolen overnight November 6, 2022. The individual who stole my Ebike left a gray blanket there. They cut through my U-Bolt Cable Lock to steal my bike which was attached to our condo’s railing.
SPD Incident #22-298702.
MONDAY UPDATE: Just got a call. Police found it “by the RVs near Salty’s.”
Want your holiday decorations to do good as well as look good? This announcement offers a way to do that:
The Bridge School Holiday Wreath Fundraiser: Embrace Community and Shop Local!
Place orders by November 10th
Items will be available for pickup at The Bridge School on November 17th
The holidays will be here before you know it. Buy beautiful, long-lasting wreaths & holiday decor while supporting a local, independent elementary school and a local, family-owned farm this holiday season!
Check out our Wreath Catalog and order here: fundraiser.support/WreathSale
The Bridge School is a cooperative elementary school at 10300 28th SW.
P.S. Holiday fundraisers are one of the many things we feature in our forthcoming West Seattle Holiday Guide – now’s the time to send info – westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
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