West Seattle, Washington
24 Sunday
We are one week away from not only Valentine’s Day but Election Day – actually two elections, with separate ballots and voting methods. Next Tuesday night (February 14th) is your deadline to vote in both. So we’re reminding you/refreshing your memory:
SEATTLE I-135: This is the one issue on the traditional by-mail ballot you should have received already if you’re registered to vote – Seattle Initiative 135, which would create a new Public Development Authority to build so-called “social housing.” We took a look at I-135 a month ago here. This ballot has to either be in a King County Elections dropbox by 8 pm next Tuesday or be in the USPS mail early enough to guarantee it’s postmarked no later than February 14th. (As of tonight, only 12 percent of ballots had been returned.)
KING CONSERVATION DISTRICT SUPERVISOR: You’ll find the ballot for this vote online. You’re choosing one of three candidates to serve on the King Conservation District Board of Supervisors. Two of the three are West Seattleites – incumbent supervisor Chris Porter and Csenka Favorini-Csorba; also running is April Brown. The district explains itself as “a special purpose district committed to helping people engage in stewardship and conservation of natural resources” with an $8 million budget. Voting is conducted via online ballot access, with an option for requesting a physical ballot; find the voting link and candidate info here, and vote by 8 pm next Tuesday.
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
The earthquake that has killed thousands in Turkey and Syria is a massive disaster that reminds us all on a personal level that preparedness is vital. It can be life-saving both during and after a quake. Local preparedness advocates have long been working to find new ways to get more people to get ready.
Toward that goal, a recent family-education meeting at Gatewood Elementary School doubled as a sort of prototype for volunteer preparedness educators to use for future gatherings in other school/neighborhood settings.
Volunteers from the Seattle Emergency Communication Hubs set up tables to share “Urban Survival Skills” – how to prepare your family, your school, your home, your community, as well as “tech hacks” you can use.
If you aren’t familiar with the Emergency Communication Hubs, here’s an explanation. In short, they are spots where volunteer Hub Captains will set up communication-coordination spots if a disaster takes out normal channels of communication. One easy way to start your preparedness journey is to know your nearest hub location (here’s the West Seattle map) – and if there’s not one nearby, get involved and start one! At the recent Gatewood Elementary meeting, participants milled around the tables, learning about the Hubs and about specific points of preparation.
Ann Forrest from Seattle Emergency Communication Hubs helped coordinate the meeting.
She said that in a larger venue, they could have as many as 17 educational stations. As another volunteer, Deb Barker, showed us, some of the tips are simple, like making sure you always have shoes by your bed in case you’re sleeping when disaster strikes and you have to escape through broken glass and other debris. Also – ensure there’s no furniture (like unsecured bookshelves) that might fall on you. This simple list circulated at the meeting offered suggestions:
Partnership with institutional leaders, when applicable, is important in making a plan. Gatewood principal Kyna Hogg explained to the families at the meeting that they do several kinds of drills regularly, including an evacuation drill.
The families also heard from Forrest about Hub operations – including what they’re not meant for, as well as what they are. Example: Hubs won’t be places to get food/water, but they will be places to connect you with information about finding it if you need it. And a point of pride: West Seattle has more hubs than any other part of the city, as the movement got its start here.
So what’s next? A longtime West Seattle leader in the hub organization, Cindi Barker, stresses that this was a pilot, and intended to see whether people found it useful and interesting. So far, she told us, feedback indicated that it was, so they’re working toward another school meeting, possibly for West Seattle Elementary. From there, the concept could spread, If you have questions, here’s how to contact Seattle Emergency Hubs.
Two West Seattle Crime Watch reader reports:
STOLEN DIRT BIKE: Maranda is looking for that 1993 Kawasaki dirt bike – described as a KX125 engine and KX250 frame – after a sale turned into a theft last Saturday. The buyer paid with what Maranda says turned out to be nine counterfeit $100 bills. The transaction happened at Maranda’s apartment complex near Westwood Village, around noon on February 4th. The incident number is 23-033673.
CAR PROWL: From Lori:
Our car was parked in our carport near the intersection of 46th Ave. SW and Erskine Way SW, and some time overnight someone went through it. We must have forgotten to lock it, as there were no signs of forced entry. Luckily they didn’t take much – the only thing I can tell is missing is a blue plastic paperwork folio. They didn’t take things like a decent pair of sunglasses or a Garmin unit, so we assume they were looking for cash or phones. It’s a good reminder for others to do better than us and double-check that your car doors stay locked, to avoid crimes of opportunity.
(added) PACKAGE THEFT: This afternoon in Gatewood, a package theft was recorded on security video. The victim says this is the clearest view of the thief, and in the background, the getaway car:
The victim says this happened just before 4:30 pm today; the getaway car, in which a driver was waiting, looked like “a black Subaru with a rear bike rack.” A police report is being filed but we don’t have the number yet.
Exactly one week until Valentine’s Day. Three West Seattle notes:
JEWELRY: Thinking about diamonds for a gift? Lauren’s Jewelry (WSB sponsor) in Westwood Village is having a special shopping party this Friday (February 10th), 4-7 pm. The independently owned shop promises, “We will have diamonds of all prices and sizes, spin the wheel, party favors, bites, & beverages for all of our attendees. Each guest will get the chance to win up to 30% off!” This is an RSVP-required event – get on the list by emailing hello@laurensjewelrystore.com or calling 206-937-9200.
FLOWERS: On Valentine’s Day afternoon – 2 to 4 pm Tuesday, February 14th – HomeStreet Bank‘s West Seattle branch (4022 SW Alaska; WSB sponsor) invites you to stop in for sweet treats and, if you’re among the first 40 visitors, a long-stemmed rose. Also for visitors: “We will have a drawing for one of our favorite restaurants in the area.”
(Photo provided by Senior Center of West Seattle)
ELVIS! Also on Valentine’s Day, get your evening started early with Elvis tribute artist Bret Wiggins at the Senior Center of West Seattle (4217 SW Oregon), 4-5:30 pm, performing a show themed “Love Me Tender” – classic love songs along with Elvis’s biggest hits from the ’50s, ’60s, and ’70s. Tickets are $10 members, $15 non-members, refreshments included, and you can reserve yours right now by going here.
We’ve been talking in morning traffic coverage about truck backups outside local cargo terminals. This came up at today’s meeting of the managing members of the Northwest Seaport Alliance – Seattle and Tacoma port commissioners – and the ultimate reason for the backups are not because the terminals are too busy. Just the opposite. A dramatic drop in cargo volume has led the terminals’ operator SSA to cut operating hours, the NWSA says. Besides what we have already mentioned – the terminals opening an hour later, at 8 am rather than 7 am – the commissioners were told that the docks are no longer running through lunch hour, and they’ve also been closing on Fridays, so what’s been a 50-hour workweek is now down to 32. Truckers get paid by the trip so despite terminals opening later, they’re all rushing to get there first thing in the morning in hopes of squeezing in a second or third trip despite the shorter day.
So why is volume down? NWSA executives say a major reason is uncertainty related to contract talks continuing on the West Coast – shippers are going to the Gulf and East Coasts instead. (Added: Here’s a recent industry report on trends.) But, cautioned NWSA CEO John Wolfe, that’s not the only reason – the “softening market” because of reduced consumer demand is a big factor too. And, concern was voiced, once they’ve lost business to other coasts, they’ll have to fight to get it back. In the meantime, regarding the truck backups, NWSA executives say they have no way to force SSA to change its hours to address the truck-backup problem – “What cures this is more volume.” Meantime, the NWSA meeting continues with other topics, including a T-5 briefing, yet to come – you can watch here.
If you’re still mulling school choices for next year, two more preview/open-house events to know about for this week:
WEST SEATTLE ELEMENTARY: 7 pm tonight (Tuesday) at Neighborhood House High Point (6400 Sylvan Way SW), prospective West Seattle ES families are invited to learn about the new building opening this fall, academics, after-school activities, and after-school child-care options, Questions in advance? Email friendsofwse@gmail.com.
CHIEF SEALTH INTERNATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL: Future/prospective Seahawks are invited to an open house Thursday night (February 9th), 6-8 pm. Tour the school (2600 SW Thistle) and meet Chief Sealth IHS staff and students. Questions in advance? Ask assistant principal Hope Perry, ihperry@seattleschools.org.
<(WSB photo)
10:32 AM: Big backup on the eastbound high bridge right now because of a crash into the barrier just before the 99 overpass.
11:04 AM: We’re no longer in that area but the high bridge’s SDOT camera shows at least one lane is still backed up eastbound. We’ll be checking with SFD regarding injuries – the log indicates one engine remains on scene.
11:27 AM: SPD has just told dispatch that the scene is clear. The residual backup will likely take a while to clear.
(Steller’s Jay and paperbark maple, photographed by Jerry Simmons)
Here’s the list of options for the rest of your Tuesday, mostly from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
POSTCARDS TO VOTERS: Long-distance political-advocacy group meets at 10:30 am at C & P Coffee (5612 California SW; WSB sponsor).
TERMINAL 5 PROGRESS REPORT: During the 11:30 am meeting of the Northwest Seaport Alliance‘s managing members, this is a major agenda item. You can watch online or attend at SEA Airport – info’s in our calendar listing and preview.
CHESS CLUB: Tuesdays 1:30-3 pm at the Senior Center of West Seattle (4217 SW Oregon): “Are you looking for a new activity to keep your brain sharp and clear? The Senior Center Chess Club welcomes both novice and experienced players. Join us at 1:30 p.m. for lessons, short tutorials and chess for all levels of expertise. For more information, contact Conwell: conwell@conwelld.net.”
CITY COUNCIL: 2 pm this afternoon, it’s the full council’s weekly meeting, online or at City Hall (600 4th Ave.). See the agenda here; the meeting is also viewable via Seattle Channel.
FREE INDOOR PLAYSPACE: Toddler Gym weekday afternoons at the Salvation Army Center (9050 16th SW), ages 2-6, 3:30-5 pm.
DEMONSTRATION FOR BLACK LIVES: Longrunning weekly sign-waving demonstration at 16th/Holden. 5-6 pm. Signs available if you don’t have your own.
SCRABBLE NIGHT: 6-10 pm, you can play Scrabble at The Missing Piece (9456 35th SW).
SING! The Boeing Employees’ Choir (you do NOT have to be a Boeing employee) is having another open rehearsal at 6:30 pm, American Legion Post 160 (3618 SW Alaska) – if you’re interested in trying out, contact info is in our calendar listing.
TRIVIA X 3: Three places 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 Sporcle Pub Quiz 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 the future via our event calendar – if you have something to include on it, please email info to westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
Thanks to Alex Fernandez for the report on local champions:
On the heels of a long line of other Highline team success; the Highline Select Boys U19 ’04/05 came out victorious in the Washington Youth Soccer Founders Cup this weekend. After a long regular season, it is the pinnacle month-long tournament for Select teams in this area. They won their semi-final Friday night 3-1 and won the final on Sunday; after ending tied 2-2 in regulation, they secured the win, 4-2 in penalty kicks.
Photo:
Standing: Assistant Coach Scott Roberts, Nolan Whorton, Levi Kuhn, Yuto Shingai, Tyler Christman, Sam Holman, Dylan Roberts, Caleb Purgatorio, Zach Arthur, Emil Bernau, Matthew Rhinehart, Zach Hanczyc, Head Coach Andres Lara
Kneeling: Rex Reifel, Jackie Wittman, Ashton Sawade, Byron Barrera, Tavi Fernandez, Samson Abraham, Alex Frakes, Cameron Moore
Alex says almost everyone on the team, including both coaches, lives in West Seattle, adding that many are high-school seniors. Players interested in joining this team or any others in HSA can find out about tryouts here.
6:03 AM: Good morning! It’s Tuesday, February 7th.
WEATHER
Rainy and breezy, high around 50.
TODAY’S TRANSIT STATUS
–Metro is on its regular schedule, but still canceling some trips, so keep watching notification channels such as @kcmetroalerts for trip cancellations and route suspensions. Here’s the update on how bus repairs are going.
-Regular schedule for the West Seattle Water Taxi.
–Washington State Ferries‘ Triangle Route continues on a two-boat schedule – check here for alerts/updates.
TRUCK TRAFFIC
The backup of port-bound trucks continued Monday. This is happening after terminal operators changed terminal opening times from 7 am to 8 am, “largely due to decreased cargo volumes coming into the NWSA gateway,” per the Northwest Seaport Alliance (which has a “managing members’ meeting” today).
SPOTLIGHT CAMERAS
Delridge cameras: Besides the one below (Delridge/Oregon), cameras are also up at Delridge/Genesee, Delridge/Juneau, Delridge/Orchard, and Delridge/Henderson.
High Bridge – the camera at the top:
High Bridge – the view from its southwest end (when SDOT points the 35th/Avalon/Fauntleroy camera that way):
Low Bridge – looking east to west:
1st Ave. S. Bridge – the south route:
Highway 99: – the northbound side at Lander.
MORE TRAFFIC CAMS: See all working traffic cams citywide 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 a problem on the bridges/streets/paths/water, please text or call us (when you can do it safely, and after you’ve reported to authorities if needed) – 206-293-6302.
| 26 COMMENTS