West Seattle, Washington
25 Thursday
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
The biggest news at last night’s meeting of HPAC – the community coalition for Highland Park, Riverview, and South Delridge – was from another organization, HPIC.
While there’s been a fair amount of post-session grousing about what the State Legislature did and didn’t do this season, for the Highland Park Improvement Club, there’s pure delight in news that almost a million dollars in state grant money is on the way. HPIC is raising about $3 million to rebuild after its historic building at 12th/Holden was gutted by fire in 2021, and HPIC’s Rhonda Smith told HPAC last night that legislators gave final approval for a previously mentioned $400,000 grant plus another for $500,000.
We’re expecting to hear more from HPIC about this soon, but in the meantime, Smith exulted, “Not only can we break ground, but we can also do some construction,” even as they continue raising the rest of what’s needed. “When you keep pushing and pushing, your voice gets heard.”
The main guests at the HPAC meeting, held online, were there to talk about a different construction project – the West Duwamish Wet Weather Storage Facility, centered on a 1.25 million-gallon underground storage tank meant to keep combined wastewater and stormwater from polluting the Duwamish River during heavy rains. Demmelash Adera from the project team led the briefing. They’re well into design, he said, adding that they incorporated community concerns and suggestions voiced in a survey last year. Greenspace around the facility near the 1st Avenue South bridge, at 2nd/Michigan, is important, Adera said.
They plan a solar installation to supply some of the power to run the facility, he added. Much of the rest of the briefing focused on what they’re doing to be sure people in West Seattle and South Park neighborhoods know about the project. Visiting meetings like HPAC is just part of the plan – they’ll also be out at summer events like the Duwamish River Festival, and they’ll be sending mailers to 6,000 addresses. They’re also working with community connectors like a group of South Park women known as Mujeres Conectoras.
Next milestone for the project – they’ll announce two artists next month. Construction is still expected to start in 2025. And yes, the planning and design is taking climate change into consideration, KCWTD’s Maud de Bel assured the attendee who asked about it: “This size should be good enough for a long, long time.”
Another meeting guest was the Southwest Precinct‘s night-shift commander Lt. Nathan Shopay. Asked about last weekend’s home-invasion robbery near 14th/Henderson (WSB coverage here), Lt. Shopay said he didn’t have anything to divulge, but detectives have it “under full investigation” and are very interested in community tips and information. That goes for all crimes or suspected crimes, he said. They’re particularly interested right now in anything that can help stop the escalating trend of auto thefts; Lt. Shopay said they’re beginning to suspect it might be the work of an organized theft ring rather than a large number of one-offs.
He was followed by Michelle McClendon of LEAD, who said the work to clean up the situation at South Delridge’s Rozella Building was continuing to progress. She said its owner is looking at seeking historic-landmark status for the building. She added that outreach workers are continuing to meet with tent and RV campers along sections of SW Holden.
HPAC meets fourth Wednesdays of most months, 7 pm, online for now – watch hpacws.org for updates.
As part of National Poetry Month, today was Poem in Your Pocket Day – and West Seattle’s Tilden School (WSB sponsor) celebrated! Just in from Tilden’s Laura Wood:
Tilden celebrated a beloved tradition, Poem in Your Pocket Day, today. Adults and children in all grades celebrated, bringing poems to share with each other. Throughout the day, poems were pulled from pockets and shared in the hall, in classrooms, and on the playground.
We encourage everyone to join us in celebrating poetry. Stuff a poem in your pocket, and share it: today, or any day!
P.S. Another National Poetry Month celebration in West Seattle is happening at C & P Coffee (also a WSB sponsor) Saturday afternoon.
In West Seattle Crime Watch this afternoon:
EARLY MORNING THIEF: Kristina sent the security-camera image and report from a neighborhood east of Lincoln Park:
This person came onto our property at 4:06 am today and stole an OUTGOING package from our mailbox. They then used a flashlight to go through the back of our truck parked in our driveway. We have heard from several neighbors that their vehicles were broken into as well. We are on 46th Ave SW, between Austin and Kenyon Streets.
This was reported to police; the preliminary tracking number is T23008999.
PREVENTION ADVICE: Southwest Precinct Crime Prevention Coordinator Jennifer Danner has sent a newsletter with advice on deterring two types of crime that are particularly prevalent in our area right now – auto theft and commercial burglaries. Read it here.
The 17th almost-annual West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day is officially the biggest one ever – 375 sales registered as of moments ago. If you’re having a sale too but haven’t signed up yet, the clock is running out – registration closes at 11:30 pm tonight, after three and a half weeks. Then at 11:31 pm, we start work on organizing the map and list that will be available one week before the Saturday, May 13, sale day. If you’re NOT having a sale, set some time aside on May 13th to at least go say hi to your nearest neighbors who are – those are always our favorite WSCGSD vignettes – during the biggest person-to-person recycling day of the year. Here’s where to register!
Got documents to dispose of? Saturday’s your chance to get them shredded – it’s the day that John L. Scott Real Estate – Westwood (WSB sponsor) is offering free shredding in the northwest parking lot at Westwood Village. The event is set for 2 pm-5 pm Saturday (April 29th). If you can, bring nonperishable food (or a $ donation) for the White Center Food Bank.
46 students from Roxhill Elementary were the first to visit Fauntleroy Creek as this year’s Salmon In The Schools releases begin.
Volunteer creek stewards help school students and staff release the fry they’ve been raising at school, a process that starts with volunteers delivering eggs from hatcheries. Over the next five weeks, 17 releases are planned at Fauntleroy Creek, one of Seattle’s few remaining salmon-bearing creeks.
The annual salmon life cycle continues in the creek with coho spawners’ return in fall – last year volunteers counted 254, one of the highest totals since creek restoration a quarter-century ago.
That’s the sign at The Spot West Seattle in the Luna Park neighborhood. We went over after Public Health – Seattle & King County announced this morning that it had closed The Spot yesterday for “inadequate refrigeration capacity to safely store foods (and) repeat critical food safety violations including cold holding, cooling, and lack of thermometers to monitor food temperatures.” We also emailed proprietor Philip Sudore, who tells WSB, “Our refrigerator system went out and we are working as fast as we can to fix or replace the units. This will be a quick remedy. We look to be serving our community again no later than next week. We have always maintained an excellent rating with the health department. Quality, health standards and service is at the top of our list in terms of core values. We look forward to the upgrades and will be back soon better than ever.” (You can search the PHSKC database for this or any other King County establishment by going here.)
FRIDAY NIGHT UPDATE: Sudore tells WSB, “Our refrigerators are fixed and we have been re-inspected and cleared to open tomorrow for normal business hours.”
Thanks to Karen for the photo and report:
What a way to finish the regular season and celebrate Senior Night! 14 innings – an almost four-hour battle against Lakeside. Nine seniors plus student staff celebrated with family, friends, and team members.
Final score at Nino Cantu SW Athletic Complex last night was Sealth 7, Lakeside 6. The Seahawks finish the regular season 13-8 and are scheduled to open the playoffs at NCSWAC at 7 pm next Wednesday (May 3rd) vs. Ballard.
(This morning’s pre-6 am sunrise, photographed by Doug Eglington)
Here’s what’s happening in the hours ahead, mostly from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar (where you can look further into the future):
WEST SEATTLE UKULELE PLAYERS: All levels welcome to this weekly 1 pm gathering. Email westseattleukuleleplayers@gmail.com to see where they’re playing today.
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 Thursdays.
SPORTS: Track meet at Nino Cantu Southwest Athletic Complex (2801 SW Thistle) this afternoon; West Seattle HS boys’ soccer vs. Rainier Beach, 4 pm at Walt Hundley Playfield (34th/Myrtle).
FREE INDOOR PLAYSPACE: 2-6-year-olds welcome 3:30-5 pm at the Salvation Army Center (9050 16th SW).
THURSDAY FOOD-TRUCK POP-UP: 4-8 pm at Highland Park Corner Store (7789 Highland Park Way SW), the Thai-U-Up will be visiting.
SOUP-MAKING CLASS: 5 pm at Senior Center of West Seattle (4217 SW Oregon) – contact SCWS ASAP to see if there’s still room.
WESTIES RUN CLUB: Meet at The Good Society (California/Lander) at 6 pm for a 3-mile run – more in our calendar listing.
HIGHLAND PARK RUN CLUB: Meet up at Highland Park Corner Store at 6:30 pm Thursdays for a ~3-mile run.
COMEDY: West Seattle’s Cozy Comedy is now presenting shows at another venue, Princess & Bear in west South Park (309 S. Cloverdale). Tonight’s show stars headliner Susan Rice, 7 pm. Ticket info is in our calendar listing.
If you have something to add to our calendar, please email info to westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
Less than two months before graduation, the West Seattle High School Class of 2023 is looking for a little community help. Sophia from the ASB emailed us to explain, “As the class of 2023 is wrapping up our senior year, we’ve made a way for members of the community to help donate to and support the different activities and events we want to be able to put on for our classmates. These include prom, senior sunset, graduation, and several others!” Here’s the link to use if you’re interested in donating; on that page, the ASB adds, “Our class was unable to fundraise for all of our sophomore year and half of our junior year due to Covid restrictions, so we really appreciate the generous contributions of parents and community members towards making the end of our time together in high school as wonderful as it can possibly be!”
6:01 AM: Good morning! It’s Thursday, April 27th.
WEATHER & SUNRISE/SUNSET TIMES
The forecast for today: Clouds making way for sun, high in the low 60s. Sunrise was at 5:59 am – first pre-6 am sunrise of the season – and sunset will be at 8:16 pm.
BRIDGE WORK ALERT
SDOT says its crews are scheduled be on the westbound bridge 7 am-2 pm again today as they continue an on-site inspection. (On Wednesday, they were on the inside shoulder toward the crest.)
TRANSIT
Metro – Regular schedule, but trip cancellations are still happening, so watch for alerts (if you’re not signed up to get them, check channels like this).
Water Taxi – Now on the spring/summer schedule, which adds Friday/Saturday night runs.
Washington State Ferries‘ Triangle Route continues on the 2-boat schedule but with the chance of sailing cancellations, so check here for alerts/updates and see Vessel Watch for boats’ locations.
SPOTLIGHT TRAFFIC CAMERAS
Delridge cameras: Besides the one below (Delridge/Henderson), cameras are also up at Delridge/Genesee, Delridge/Juneau, Delridge/Orchard, and Delridge/Oregon.
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 – east-end vicinity:
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: Check the @SDOTBridges Twitter feed to see if the city’s movable bridges are opening for vessel traffic.
If you see trouble on the bridges/streets/paths/bay, please text or call us (when you can do it safely, and after you’ve reported to authorities). Thank you!
3:12 AM: Seattle Fire has a “full response” in the 9400 block of 24th SW. It’s described by arriving units as a “fully involved RV fire” in the “front yard” of a house. They’ve also mentioned danger from “exploding projectiles” from the RV.
3:15 AM: Firefighters told dispatch they’ve “knocked down” the RV fire. They were checking the house and garage to be sure it hadn’t spread. No sign that it had, so they’re downsizing the response.
11:26 AM: The photo above shows what’s left of the burned RV (which our photographer says looked more like a trailer than self-contained RV). We’re checking with SFD to see if a cause was determined.
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