West Seattle, Washington
18 Wednesday
11:13 AM: Thanks to the texter who reports a two-vehicle crash is blocking much of Delridge Way SW at Puget Boulevard (map). Emergency personnel are just arriving; we’re on the way to check it out.
11:33 AM: Traffic is getting through via one lane, alternating. One person has been taken to the hospital, we’re told at the scene, the driver of a Ford Ranger that collided with a Jeep Cherokee. We don’t know anything about their condition yet but will be checking with SFD.
7:56 PM UPDATE: SFD spokesperson Kyle Moore tells us, “Medics transported a 53-year-old male driver who was T-boned. He was unconscious but gained consciousness before we transported. At transport, he was alert, oriented, and breathing, and taken to Harborview in stable condition.”
Two weeks after DESC announced the name of its almost-complete 66-unit housing complex in North Delridge, its board has agreed to alter that name in response to community concerns. The North Delridge Neighborhood Council, which discussed the issue this past Monday, announced that to its mailing list today, and we confirmed it with DESC’s Nicole Macri:
I can confirm that today the DESC Board unanimously voted to change the building’s name from “Cottage Grove” to “Cottage Grove Commons.” They reconsidered the name, and adding a modifier to it, at the request of community members and neighborhood leaders, including the North Delridge Neighborhood Council and members of the Advisory Committee to the project. We appreciate the community’s input on this.
Cottage Grove is the historic name of the section of North Delridge that includes the site (5444 Delridge Way SW) where the building is expected to open in about a month. Its advisory committee meets again one week from tonight (November 20th).
Thanks to Lisa K for sharing that quick video clip of a coho salmon working on a leap in Longfellow Creek, one of six she saw today “working their way upstream, shortly before the fishbone bridge.” Conditions in the creek are a challenge to fish – particularly polluted stormwater runoff – but as we first showed you back on Tuesday night, spawners are there now and thrilling spectators. Lisa also notes some didn’t make it long enough to spawn, like this female that died before releasing her eggs (the ones in the photo, she explains, emerged with “gentle pressure” on the fish’s carcass):
Lisa adds a potential health warning: “May be worth mentioning, as there are lots of off-leash dog walkers on the creek – anadromous fish, like salmon, harbor pathogens that can make a dog very, very ill, so keep dogs away from the fish carcasses.” She points to this link for more info. To find out how to minimize your contribution to the runoff pollution, check out tox-ick.org.
P.S. Expert observers say (as a commenter pointed out following our Tuesday night item) these are hatchery-raised coho – a missing adipose fin is the telltale sign.
2:36 PM: Update from Lisa – she went back to the creek and discovered a Seattle Public Utilities crew “clearing up debris jams resulting from the storm with the specific purpose of aiding spawning salmon. Apparently if you see a jam, you can notify SPU and they’ll rectify the situation.”
ADDED 7:14 PM: From Jake Jaramillo of Seattle Stairway Walks, an under-the-bridge view of the spawners:
If you’re interested in a slice of life from the creek last year – we just happened to find this video during a search, narrated by a student who went out with experts studying the coho last year.
The election results aren’t going to change, so we’re moving on to a few other things – like this photo texted tonight by John M, two salmon he reports spotting in Longfellow Creek, near Dragonfly Pavilion. Longfellow is tougher on salmon than Fauntleroy Creek (which hasn’t seen spawners yet this fall), but there’s always hope – and it’s a reminder about doing what you can to minimize toxic runoff.
ADDED WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON: John has sent two video clips – we’ll work on embedding them later, but for now, here are links to these fairly short clips (which might help with the ID questions that have come up in comments) – here and here. (The end of the second clip shows one fish’s full colors.)
Back in July, West Seattleite Jake Vanderplas wrote a letter to Seattle Bike Blog reporting a driver deliberately hitting him as he bicycled on 26th SW in North Delridge – ironically, a street transforming into a greenway thanks to efforts led by Vanderplas. Today, we learned (hat tip SeattlePI.com and WSB readers who pointed us there) that a criminal charge has been filed against the driver – second-degree assault with a deadly weapon. We’ve subsequently obtained the court documents:
What started as a house-fire call this afternoon – but was quickly downgraded – seemed so small when we went by, we weren’t even going to mention it – until our followup question to
At 1:38 p.m. a 911 call came into a firefighter/dispatcher reporting a dryer fire at a home located in the 5900 block of 26th Avenue SW in West Seattle. When Engine Company 11 arrived they found the exterior-dryer-vent fire was extinguished thanks to the quick work of a teenage occupant of the house. The teen used a fire extinguisher to knock down the flames on the outer wall of the 2-story house before crews arrived.
While the exterior flames had been extinguished, the fire worked its way into the wall. Firefighters were able to cut holes into the wall and knock down all of the flames and hot spots. The damage estimate is several thousand dollars. There were no injuries.
Moore says the vent fire started with lint – which brings an important reminder to check the one at your home; here are safety tips from the National Fire Prevention Association.
As of this afternoon, SDOT has gone ahead with the one-day-delayed plan to switch the detour direction as repaving work continues in South Delridge:
Delridge Way SW Phase 5 Detour Reversed: Northbound now detoured
Northbound traffic on Delridge Way SW is now detoured at SW Roxbury Street. The change reverses the direction of the previous detour in phase five, between SW Roxbury and SW Henderson streets. The detour went into effect this afternoon and will remain until project completion, expected the end of this year. Southbound traffic along this stretch of Delridge Way SW will be maintained.
Northbound Delridge Way SW traffic at SW Roxbury Street is directed along one of two paths:
· West on SW Roxbury Street
· North on 26th Avenue SW
· East on SW Barton Street/ SW Barton Place onto Delridge Way SWOr
· North on 16th Avenue SW
· West on SW Henderson Street to Delridge Way SW
Yesterday, SDOT said it would reverse the current South Delridge repaving-project detour. Now – that plan is on hold, so the detour remains the same TFN:
The plan to reverse the Delridge Paving Project phase five detour is delayed. The Seattle Department of Transportation is working with the contractor to ensure safe implementation of the change. Until further notice, Delridge Way SW southbound traffic between SW Henderson to SW Roxbury streets will continue to be detoured at SW Henderson Street. Northbound traffic will continue to be maintained.
We apologize for any inconvenience this alteration in plans causes! Safety is SDOT’s primary goal and the reason behind the detour reversal delay. More information will be released as it is confirmed.
Just in from SDOT: As of Wednesday, they’re reversing the detour direction for the final phase of Delridge Way repaving – southbound traffic will keep flowing, northbound traffic will be detoured, instead of the other way, which is how it’s set up now. The city says this is necessary in order to:
· Simplify traffic control measures for ease of understanding for the traveling public
· Eliminate the buildup of excessive traffic at the intersection of Southwest Roxbury Street and 16th Avenue Southwest due to the detour
· Allow for a more natural traffic flow – southbound on Delridge Way in the original right lane
· Reduce the possibility of someone driving in the wrong direction.
The new detour will direct northbound Delridge Way Southwest traffic at Southwest Roxbury Street onto northbound 16th Avenue Southwest and then onto westbound Southwest Henderson Street to return to Delridge Way. This detour will remain in place until the project is complete at the end of the year.
To ensure the safety of drivers and pedestrians and to allow enough space for the crews to conduct this work, curb-side parking on Delridge Way will be inaccessible between Southwest Henderson and Southwest Roxbury streets until project completion.
If you’re interested in hearing more about this from SDOT, a rep will speak at the White Center Chamber of Commerce‘s monthly evening mixer tomorrow (Tuesday) at 6 pm at Bahn 88, 9418 Delridge Way SW.
7:32 PM: Seattle Fire says the big callout to the 9200 block of Delridge Way SW is for a basement fire, and that everyone is out OK. More to come.
7:51 PM: Our crew at the scene says firefighters report the smoke actually came from a piece of equipment that overheated in a big way – equipment used to put designs on T-shirts, we are told. Lots of smoke, no flames. No injuries.
(Photos by Holli Margell)
It’s a North Delridge fall tradition – cider-pressing! Blustery weather couldn’t stop this year’s edition, and so the West Seattle Tool Library-loaned cider press was set up under a canopy at the Delridge P-Patch, and friends and neighbors of all ages got busy collaborating, like Lily and Cooper above. Below, Harpo (with mom Amanda Leonard) will likely have to wait a year or two.
If you missed the cider event, another chance to meet North Delridge neighbors is coming up when the neighborhood council meets, 6:30 pm Monday, October 14th, at Delridge Library.
For the rest of the day and into tonight, Youngstown Cultural Arts Center (4408 Delridge Way SW) invites you to stop by and see what’s up – art, music, more. You might have driven by the historic brick ex-schoolhouse many times without ever stopping in, and this is your chance, since it’s been ramping up activities and community engagement under new management. The arts at Youngstown include performing arts as well as visual arts – above, aerialists with The Cabiri are getting ready for this year’s “Ghost Game” shows (starting October 25th); below, Mary Springer from Twelfth Night Productions:
It’s an open house at Youngstown until 6, then performances commence, all free and open to the public – whether you’ve been there before or not, even if you only have a little time to spare, stop in and see for yourself!
Police and fire crews have responded to what the Seattle Fire log categorizes at an assault-with-weapons call in the 8400 block of Delridge Way. Our crew at the scene is being told it’s a “medical call” – not a crime scene – at this point. One person is being taken to the hospital by private ambulance.
(Updated map sent by SDOT)
After eight months of work, the date is set for the final phase of the Delridge Way Repaving Project to begin: September 23rd. That’s when crews plan to start on the southernmost stretch. Here’s the announcement sent this morning by SDOT:
The Seattle Department of Transportation’s Delridge Way SW Paving Project enters its fifth and final phase on September 23, 2013. The project rebuilds much of the roadway from SW Henderson to SW Roxbury streets, installing new storm water detention pipes, upgrading curb ramps to ADA standards and adding bike facilities on the northern end. The project began January 10 and is expected to wrap up by the end of the year.
To ensure the safety of drivers and pedestrians and to allow enough space for the crews to complete the work on Phase 5, between SW Henderson and Roxbury streets, on-street parking will be inaccessible. Also, southbound traffic will be detoured at SW Henderson St to 16th Avenue SW.
Meet the young artists whose mini-murals now adorn a dozen traffic-signal boxes/cabinets along Delridge Way SW, from SW Andover to SW Henderson (map). We mentioned the project Thursday night; on Friday afternoon, their three weeks of work concluded with a wrap party. While the celebration was inside Youngstown Cultural Arts Center, where the project was based, everyone took a field trip outside to the site where we photographed them – a painted box across from the south side of Youngstown. Also on hand (at left in the top photo, as well as seen below), artist Andrew Morrison and teacher Tess Gamez, who worked with the youth:
Morrison talked about how the work – for which the young artists were paid, as part of the Seattle Office of Arts & Culture’s Work Readiness Art Program and the Seattle Youth Violence Prevention Initiative – taught life skills, such as showing up on time and taking responsibility to get a job done. Tess talked about how the kids got to be known in the neighborhood while working along the three-mile stretch, and how near the end someone even stopped by with snacks for the kids. Half the mini-murals follow progression of the salmon life cycle, while the rest feature other sea-life themes. Meantime, more mural work is ahead for next year:
Youngstown director David Bestock says larger murals will be painted next summer along that wall facing Delridge, as well as retaining walls in the center’s parking lot, and he’ll be pursuing funding for that work in the meantime. Since Youngstown – the historic Cooper School – is a city landmark, he had to go to the Landmarks Board this month to get approval for those future murals, and he says it was a unanimous “yes” vote. Along with the programs noted above, he points out that this all began in partnership with Southwest Youth and Family Services, Seattle Police, and Seattle Public Utilities.
P.S. Youngstown’s planning a big public open house three weeks from today, Saturday, September 21st, 1-9 pm (including performances during those final three hours) – and would love to show you what’s happening inside the historic school’s walls at 4408 Delridge Way SW.
The octopus at Delridge/Holden is just one of many mini-murals you might have noticed in recent weeks on 12 signal boxes in the area (between Andover and Henderson) – and they’re all thanks to the youth artists of WRAP, the Work Readiness Art Program, which wraps up tomorrow at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center. According to this update from the Delridge Neighborhoods Development Association website, the murals are all sea life-inspired. Tomorrow (Friday) afternoon, you can thank some of the artists – and lead artist Andrew Morrison, who’s been working with them – during a “culminating event” at 2 pm in the theater at Youngstown (4408 Delridge Way SW), featuring refreshments, a slideshow of the murals, and a visit to one nearby.
Seattle Fire spokesperson Kyle Moore has just verified that the overnight “hazmat” call in the 7700 block of Delridge Way was basically a false alarm, as we tweeted at the time. His update:
An envelope with reported white powder turned out not to contain anything hazardous or dangerous according to the Seattle Fire Department Hazardous Materials Team.
At 12:35 a.m., a 911 call came into dispatchers at the Fire Alarm Center reporting an envelope with white powder at an apartment complex located in the 7700 block of Delridge Way SW. The caller stated they opened the letter and felt symptoms.
Firefighters isolated the two patients and also the letter. Tests were conducted on the letter and came back negative for any known hazardous or dangerous substances.
Seattle Police Department officers were also on scene investigating.
The patients were evaluated but did not require any treatment. The letter was turned over to authorities.
Almost four and a half years after we reported on the origins of what was then the Delridge Produce Co-op, its evolution toward operation of a Delridge Grocery co-op store has less than one year to go. At the next public meeting tomorrow (Monday) night, they’ll be enlisting your help in simple ways to volunteer, as well as signing up more founding members:
… A co-op grocery can only happen if the community embraces it and joins together to make it happen. … Many of you have also began the process of contributing toward your share in the future grocery store. If you have not already done this, now is the time. We need 500 founding members to start to bring this grocery on the road to reality. We can do this by contributing and then sharing information so your neighbors and friends can consider becoming an owner of the co-op, too.
At last month’s public meeting, we created a plan and brainstormed how best to reach people. Please join us this Monday evening to sign up for an outreach packet so you can be better prepared to share membership and store info.
The meeting’s at 6:30 pm Monday, Delridge Branch Library (5423 Delridge Way SW). You can also sign up for a co-op membership online at delridgegrocery.coop.
All week, SW Orchard/Dumar has been closed between Delridge and (almost) 16th SW for work related to the Delridge Way Repaving Project. Now SDOT has announced closures on Orchard from Delridge west to Sylvan Way next month – it’ll be closed to eastbound traffic September 3-13, then to westbound traffic Sept. 16-27, and the yearlong project’s final phase will follow. The full SDOT announcement – with a map – is ahead:
In case you’re just catching up after vacation, or maybe you just forgot – the Dumar/Orchard road closure between SW Austin (just west of 16th) and Delridge Way starts at 7 am tomorrow morning and is scheduled to continue until Friday. The recommended detour route is in the city-provided map above. This stretch of road is getting utility upgrades as well as roadway restoration, as something of a side note to the yearlong Delridge Way Repaving Project.
(MORE PHOTOS added post-festival – scroll down!)
From Delridge Skatepark to Delridge Community Center, from Delridge Way to 26th SW, it’s on – Delridge Day 2013, presented by the North Delridge Neighborhood Council! New this year – the Green Zone:
More than 70 organizations and businesses have booths/tables at the festival, plus there are bouncy houses for kids, field games for all ages, ongoing skating competition, live music … see the schedule in our preview from earlier today, and c’mon down. More coverage to come; the festival continues until 4 pm.
12:42 PM: Sun’s out, festivalgoers are wandering! Or, in some cases, wading:
Speaking of water, next to our booth, the city’s Waterfront Seattle project has a booth, asking people their thoughts about the downtown waterfront’s post-Viaduct future. And over in the Green Zone, you can find out about RainWise, which could provide a rebate for green-stormwater treatment at your home – like a rainwater cistern – check ’em out.
Meantime, remember that this year’s Picnic at the Precinct is happening at Delridge Day – that means the SPD Mounted Patrol has officers and horses here:
The Bomb Squad’s shown off equipment, too. And police are offering free ice cream, same as they would when the event’s AT the precinct, which is a mile or so south of here. Speaking of frosty treats:
Those enterprising Girl Scouts (from Troop 40766) are selling snow cones at the festival. It’s an all-ages event – we’ve seen people from babies to seniors. And if you’re arriving by bicycle – check out DIY Bikes:
That’s Stu Hennessey, proprietor of Alki Bike and Board, who’s leading DIY Bikes and spearheading free minor repairs/maintenance – something DIY Bikes does in “work party” community mode at Youngstown (across the street from the festival site) every Sunday afternoon, but is doing here today for this weekend’s edition.
3:35 PM: We’ve been so busy talking to people, the time has flown – thanks to everyone who has stopped to chat, waved as they passed, etc. Less than half an hour left in what has turned out to be a sun-graced festival – more photos:
That’s the Twelfth Night Productions booth – they often perform at Youngstown across the street, but right now, their current production “Guys and Dolls” is in the West Seattle High School theater. Also here – Southwest Seattle Historical Society executive director Clay Eals:
His group is getting ready for the big event at Greg and Sharon Nickels’ home tomorrow (here’s our most recent preview). And The Whale Trail executive director Donna Sandstrom is here talking about orcas and more:
Back over at the “PIcnic at the Precinct” section of the festival – a mayoral visit:
Earlier, we photographed Community Police Team Jon Flores with a turn at the free-ice-cream stand:
More photos to be added – it’s been an afternoon of fun all through the park, as one big sprawling festival site, from the skatepark and the wading pool to the playground to the stage, the meadow where Bubbleman performed ….
(Photo by Holli Margell)
One person who just stopped by our booth remarked on what a great venue it is.
ADDED: More photos – this one’s by Holli Margell:
As noted in the comments – groms division 1st-place winner Finn Pope!
Back to the festival grounds – also among the 70+ organizations and businesses, Delridge Grocery, which is signing up co-op members as its 2014 opening gets closer:
Find out more about the project at delridgegrocery.coop.
The countdown is over and the festival is here: Delridge Day 2013, 11 am-4 pm today at Delridge Community Center/Park/Skatepark (Delridge/Genesee/26th). First, here’s another look at the schedule of events:
And here are key points of where you will find activities/participants, including the more than 70 organizations/businesses who’ll be boothing:
LIVE MUSIC: Just north of the Community Center building.
FAMILY GAMES: Just north of the music!
GREEN ZONE WITH RAINWISE: Genesee/26th, northwest corner of the festival area.
OTHER BOOTHS: Just south of there.
FOOD TRUCKS: In the turnaround outside the Community Center entryway.
SKATE COMPETITION: At the skatepark (Delridge/Genesee), northeast corner of the festival area.
PICNIC AT THE PRECINCT: Along 26th SW on the west side of the festival area.
See you there!
Continuing our countdown to Saturday’s seventh annual Delridge Day festival – today’s updates are all on wheels!
SKATE COMPETITION: Organizers have just announced the prizes:
The skate competition committee just added a great new feature to round out this already amazing event! Groms 12 and under open clinic/skate jam for new skateboarders from 10 am-11 am. This is sponsored by Skate Like a Girl! The best part is, the top skaters will be entered into the skate competition without a fee. Parents must be present for release-form signage.
*Prizes for the Pro/Am portion of the competition are: 1st place: $300, 2nd place: $150 and 3rd place: $50.
*Prizes for the Master’s competition for ages 40+: 1st place: Arbor Longboard, 2nd place: Tony Alva Signature complete skateboard and 3rd place: a padset.
*Prizes for Women’s 13+ competition are: 1st place: Arbor Zeppelin Longboard, 2nd place: Pruno complete skateboard and 3rd place: clothing from Casual Industrees.
*Prizes for Men’s 13+ are: 1st place: DB Duch DH Longboard, 2nd place: Pruno Complete skateboard and 3rd place: skate deck and Casual Industrees t-shirt.
*Prizes for Groms 12 and under are: 1st place: Creature complete skateboard, 2nd place: skate deck and Casual Industrees t-shirt and 3rd place: skate deck.
Not registered for the skate competition yet? Signups on site on Saturday will start at 9; competition starts at 10.
DIY BIKES: Ride your bike to Delridge Day! Alki Bike and Board‘s Stu Hennessey sends an update on DIY (Delridge Inspires Youth) Bikes, which usually has a bike-repair work party at Youngstown on Sundays, but this weekend will instead be at the DD festival on Saturday – you can bring your bicycle(s) for basic maintenance, cleaning, and lubing, Stu says.
Delridge Day is lasting longer this year – 11 am to 4 pm (but as noted above, skating begins at 10) – in and around the Delridge Community Center/Park/Skatepark, between 26th SW and Delridge Way, south of Genesee. See the schedule for entertainment and family games by going here; you’ll also find more than 70 community groups and businesses with booths and tables in the park (including WSB, since we’re a festival co-sponsor; see you there!).
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