West Seattle, Washington
27 Saturday
Thursday’s first Fauntleroy water break, on 46th SW south of Wildwood, caused the second, in the 9200 block of Fauntleroy Way SW, Seattle Public Utilities confirmed to WSB tonight. “Over-pressurization of the zone” broke the second line, according to the utility. But SPU still doesn’t know what caused the first break. The utility believes four homes had flooded basements as a result of the water flow – this is one of the photos Catherine sent us last night:
Breaks usually lead to discussion of aging infrastructure, so we also asked SPU how old the broken mains were. The one on 46th, 8 inches wide, dates back to 1950; the Fauntleroy line, 4 inches wide, has been in service since 1930. Both are now repaired.
We did too. As did police, and they’ve concluded the same thing we did – just fireworks. Don’t know exactly where but sounded rather close to the Gatewood/Upper Fauntleroy line.
8:52 PM: SFD and SPD are on the way to 35th/Barton, dispatched to a crash reported to involve a “rollover.” Updates to come.
(SDOT camera images)
8:55 PM: The car is flipped, as shown on the nearest traffic camera. The response is being downsized because no one is trapped. But police are looking for someone who is reported to have walked/run away from the crash – described as a “white male, red hoodie, backpack, cowboy hat, cowboy boots.”
9:04 PM: Police have checked and so far it does NOT appear this was a stolen car. NB 35th is blocked just south of Barton, meantime.
9:38 PM: The tow truck has arrived and just turned the car over onto its wheels, so the street should be clear before too long.
9:44 PM: Officers just told dispatch the scene is clear and the street is open all ways. Apparently no luck finding the driver.
At the left side of that traffic-camera image is a sight that made a lot of teriyaki fans sad today – major fire damage at I Luv Teriyaki at 4th/Michigan just east of the north end of the 1st Avenue South Bridge [map]. The fire was big but didn’t get as much citywide-media attention today as it might have if not for some other big incidents, so several people asked us about it. We just got info tonight from Seattle Fire. Nobody was hurt in the fire, reported just after 1:30 am. SFD says its investigators determined the fire “was accidental and started in the kitchen.”
Several people asked about those six military helicopters that flew over Alki/north West Seattle this morning. We made some inquiries and finally got some info tonight: The helicopters were from Charlie Company, 2-158 Assault Helicopter Battalion, 16th Combat Aviation Brigade, Joint Base Lewis-McChord. They flew from JBLM (south of Tacoma) to Boeing Field “for a unit event at the Boeing Museum … ‘readiness day,’ which is a day of the month where units do something outside of normal training to build cohesion or learn about something outside of their normal day to day duties.” They’re interested in photos – you can email 16CABPAO@gmail.com.
(WSB photo)
Among the first West Seattle Girl Scouts selling cookies in person this year is Annabelle from Troop 41886, who we found with mom Sarah outside West Seattle Thriftway (4201 SW Morgan; WSB sponsor) a little while ago. As mentioned here earlier this week, in-person cookie sales are happening today through Sunday, March 19th, at many locations – go here, enter your zip code, and the times/locations will pop up. (We’ll also be adding dates/times/places in our calendar listing for troops we hear from directly – westseattleblog@gmail.com) You also can order online through March 13th, with home delivery or USPS mail options.
One month ago, in the latest quarterly update on Terminal 5 in West Seattle, the Northwest Seaport Alliance reported that shore-power use at T-5 was imminent. But that month has passed, and it hasn’t happened. As noted here back in November, first the delay was attributed to labor negotiations; then it was blamed on a technical problem. Now, according to NWSA spokesperson Melanie Stambaugh, “We are one of many stakeholders involved with the shore power component of terminal operations. We believe that the infrastructure is ready to go at this point, but understand there are some internal administrative matters that still must be addressed on our tenant side. We are hopeful that we will see a ship plugged in before the end of the month, but currently issues remain outside of our control.” Shore power was a much-discussed, much-awaited feature of the half-billion-dollar T-5 overhaul; its use means that ships wouldn’t have to burn fuel to power their generators while in port.
Thanks to the texter who sent the photo of Alki Beach’s newest tree – another palm, at 59th/Alki. It’s been nine years since Seattle Parks‘ planting of palms on Alki drew a lot of attention; our subsequent followup included Parks’ explanation that they were planted in a spirit of “beach-y whimsy.” Parks also noted at the time that these aren’t tropical: “They are a temperate species called Windmill Palm trees, and come from a region of China that gets colder than Seattle.”
Four items in this West Seattle Crime Watch roundup:
GUNFIRE? A couple was out walking their dogs near Highland Park Elementary last night when they saw someone in a car firing a gun out the window – at who or what, they couldn’t tell. They tell us the car was a red Honda. No injuries were reported. It’s not known if this was related to a report of suspected gunfire heard on Puget Ridge around 5 pm. We checked with police this morning, and while officers were dispatched to check after both reports, they did not find “evidence of a shooting” (casings, property damage, and/or injured people) in either case.
BURGLARIES: The West Seattle Junction Association reports two more business burglaries and one burglary attempt this week in the area, just days after break-ins were among the topics at the West Seattle Chamber‘s public-safety panel discussion. We’re requesting reports.
Two court followups:
TEEN DRIVER IN DELRIDGE CRASH: Juvenile Court works differently from adult court; the 15-year-old arrested after a stolen-car crash in Delridge last week pleaded guilty Tuesday, one day after he was charged with attempting to elude and reckless endangerment. We’ve obtained the court documents since our first brief mention of the charges. They confirm police were pursuing the stolen Toyota Corolla – reported taken in a carjacking outside West Seattle the previous day – before it crashed down a rock wall alongside an apartment building. This photo is in the charging papers:
Investigators wrote that the defendant was trapped in the driver’s seat by the seatbelt; officers gave him scissors and he cut himself loose We are not publishing the defendant’s name, as he is charged as a juvenile. A judge ordered him to remain in detention at the Youth Services Center.
LA FITNESS SUSPECTS ARRAIGNED: The two 18-year-olds charged with harassment and machine-gun possession for last month’s LA Fitness incident have both pleaded not guilty. Javier Garcia remains out of jail on $5,000 bond; Peter M. Rodrigue remains in jail in lieu of $105,000 bail, most of that amount in connection with a previous robbery case.
And finally, theft-prevention advice for owners of cars that have been targeted lately:
HYUNDAI/KIA THEFT PREVENTION: Southwest Precinct Crime Prevention Coordinator Jennifer Danner just sent out a bulletin for owners of the cars that have become targets lately thanks to information about vulnerabilities, spread via social media. See it here.
(WSB photos/video unless otherwise credited)
That’s the city’s newest surveillance camera. It’s just been installed high on a pole overlooking this stretch of Detroit Avenue SW [map] in southeast West Seattle.
That area between industrial businesses and a greenbelt is so notorious for illegal dumping, Seattle Public Utilities says, they’ve recovered thousands of tires and even this boat:
(Seattle Public Utilities photo)
So they’re trying something new – a motion-activated camera that will play this warning message when set off and will then photograph potential illegal dumpers:
We talked at the site with SPU’s Clean City division director Lee Momon, about why this spot was chosen and what happens to people caught by the camera, among other things:
Illegal dumping totaled more than (corrected) 1.9 million pounds last year alone, SPU says, resulting in that $1.7 million cost that Momon mentioned. If someone is caught and identified via the camera (which cost $9,000), they’ll “reach out and inform them about the violation and find a resolution (that) could involve cleaning fees, violation fees, or community service.”
You can report illegal dumping on public property any time via Find It Fix It, via the form linked here (where you’ll also see a map of currently reported dumping sites), or by calling 206-684-7587.
(Bee with crocus in Thursday’s sunshine, photographed by Tom Trulin)
From the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar, here are highlights for this afternoon/evening:
GIRL SCOUT COOKIE BOOTHS: Today’s the first day of in-person cookie sales – see our preview for info received from four local troops that’ll be among the sellers, plus how to see who else will have cookie booths!
ONLINE AUCTION: Bidding ends at (corrected) 7 pm for the Fairmount Park Elementary PTA‘s fundraising auction.
SCRABBLE CLUB: Come play 12:30-1:30 pm at Margie’s Café in the Senior Center of West Seattle (4217 SW Oregon).
NORTHWEST WINE ACADEMY: Tasting room on the north end of the South Seattle College (6000 16th SW; WSB sponsor) campus is open 1-6 pm Fridays (and Saturdays).
THE GOOD SOCIETY TURNS 3: Party starts today, as previewed here. Open 3 pm-10 pm. (California/Lander)
FREE INDOOR PLAYSPACE: Toddler Gym weekday afternoons at the Salvation Army Center (9050 16th SW), ages 2-6, 3:30-5 pm.
AFTER-SCHOOL MAGIC LEAGUE: Weekly 4-6 pm event for 12+, $5 per player – learn about and play “Magic: the Gathering” at Meeples Games (3727 California SW)
CORNER BAR ON THE ROAD: Highland Park Improvement Club takes its first Friday gatherings on the road! Tonight, 6-10 pm, join them at the West Seattle Golf Course (4470 35th SW). Featuring music from Tio Nacho’s House, plus DJs!
BIG BAND DINNER DANCE: 6 pm at West Seattle High School (3000 California SW), benefit featuring student musicians and the West Seattle Big Band. Email to see if tickets are still available – address is in our calendar listing.
AT THE SKYLARK: 8 pm live music, with Candice Rose and friends. (3803 Delridge Way SW)
Something to add to our calendar? westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
Just received from the state Health Department:
Effective April 3, the Washington State Department of Health will end the Secretary of Health Mask Order, which currently requires universal masking in health care, long-term care, and adult correctional facilities for people age 5 and older.
In Washington, COVID-19, RSV, and influenza disease rates and hospitalizations have continued to decline since the end of last year. The end of Washington’s universal masking requirements aligns with similar announcement made today by the state of Oregon.
“Masks have been – and will continue to be – an important tool, along with vaccinations, to keep people healthy and safe,” said Umair A. Shah, MD, MPH, Secretary of Health. “We are thankful for our health and long-term care providers, staff members, patients, and all Washingtonians, for following the important public health measures put in place during the pandemic to protect one another.”
DOH infection prevention and control guidance continues to recommend masks for patients, healthcare providers, and visitors in healthcare settings. Licensed healthcare facilities are required to have infection prevention policies and programs consistent with CDC guidance.
Several worker protection requirements enforced by the state’s Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) remain in effect, including that employees and contractors may choose to use face masks or other personal protective equipment (PPE) on the job without employer retaliation. Additionally, under the state Health Emergency Labor Standards Act (HELSA) rules, several key worker protections remain in place until the federal pandemic response declaration ends May 11.
The current Secretary of Health Mask Order will remain in place until 11:59 pm on April 2. Local or tribal governments, facilities, and providers may choose to continue to require masks in these or other settings.
6:02 AM: Good morning! It’s Friday, March 3rd.
WEATHER
The forecast for today suggests rain/snow possible this morning, then rain at times this afternoon, high near 45.
TRANSIT TODAY
Water Taxi – Regular schedule.
Metro – Regular schedule, but still canceling some trips, so check notification channels such as @kcmetroalerts.
Washington State Ferries‘ Triangle Route continues on the 2-boat schedule; check here for alerts/updates and use Vessel Watch for boats’ locations.
SPOTLIGHT TRAFFIC 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 – another route across the river:
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 on this WSB page.
BRIDGE INFO: Are movable city bridges opening for vessels? Check the @SDOTBridges Twitter feed.
If you see a problem on the bridges/streets/paths/bay, please text or call us (when you can do it safely, and after you’ve reported to authorities if needed) – 206-293-6302.
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