West Seattle, Washington
22 Saturday
10:20 AM: Having water-pressure trouble – or no water – near Lincoln Park? The photo shows the scene of a water break at Lincoln Park Way and 47th SW. It’s from Kersti, one of several people who have contacted us to let us know about the problem. Seattle Public Utilities has been alerted. (Any time you have a water problem – low pressure, no pressure, discoloration, etc. – the hotline to call is 206-386-1800.)
10:40 AM: Just talked with SPU spokesperson Andy Ryan. He says the break is in an 8-inch cast-iron water main, and there’s no estimated time for repairs yet, but they’re working on it. It’s affecting about 32 “services” – a “service” can have multiple customers, and those affected by this include nearby retirement center The Kenney. Three hydrants are affected, too.
2:03 PM: We just stopped by the scene (photos added above and below). The crew tells us it could be another “two to three hours” because once they finish repairing the line, they’ll have to flush it.
3:34 PM: Commenter SA reports the water’s back on.
(Barrow’s Goldeneye, photographed by Mark Wangerin. PS – today’s the Christmas Bird Count)
Second-to-last day of 2017. From the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar and Holiday Guide, here are a few ways to spend it:
SOUND STEPS WALKING PROGRAM: Scheduled for a 10 am walk at Camp Long – our listing explains how to confirm with the organizer. (5200 35th SW)
SEE THE LIGHTS: The displays/shows in the Holiday Guide (where you’ll find times and addresses) are ending soon; West Seattle Lights‘ finale is the soonest, New Year’s Eve, while the Menashe Family Lights run through January 2nd.
TRIBUTE TO TRIO: One more 30th-anniversary tribute to the collaboration of Dolly Parton, Emmylou Harris, and Linda Ronstadt. 8 pm-11 pm at Parliament Tavern. No cover. 21+. (4210 SW Admiral Way)
WEST END GIRLS: A DRAG EXTRAVAGANZA – Doors 8 pm, show 9 pm at The Skylark. Lineup and ticket link are here. (3803 Delridge Way SW)
SING IT: Karaoke at Talarico’s in The Junction, 10 pm-1 am. 21+. (4718 California SW)
On the second day of 2018 City Council meetings, the Planning, Land Use, and Zoning Committee will take on the “neighborhood parking reform” proposal. We first wrote about it in mid-November, when the proposed changes to parking policy were released by the office of then-Mayor Tim Burgess. Wednesday’s 9:30 am committee meeting will bring the first official briefing for, and discussion by, councilmembers, according to the agenda circulated today, which includes this map:
The map (also viewable here, in PDF) shows areas of the city where the proposal would lead to reduction or elimination of parking requirements (see the legend at the bottom of the map, explaining the color coding). The proposal enables this by expanding the definition of “frequent transit service” to cover more areas. You can read a relatively short summary in this agenda attachment, or the long version in the “director’s report” here. Along with the change in parking requirements, it also lays out the rules for “flexible-use” and “shared” parking, intended to increase usage of what the city says is underutilized offstreet parking that already exists, or will be built, and it would require rental properties’ owners to “unbundle” parking so that renters who don’t want it aren’t required to pay for it. There are also some changes in requirements/allowances for car-sharing and bicycle parking, and also a provision to close a loophole that some said was leading to parking stalls that were too small to use – it would “require that non-required parking for residential and live-work uses meet the existing minimum size standards for parking spaces” (currently, the standards only apply to required parking). The full 138-page bill is here.
HOW TO COMMENT: This meeting isn’t scheduled to include a vote. But you can comment on this, or any other, proposed legislation by e-mailing and/or calling councilmembers – this page includes all that information, as well as details of which councilmembers are on which committees – our area’s Councilmember Lisa Herbold is a member of the PLUZ committee that will start this proposal’s review Wednesday.
FRIDAY NIGHT: Those Seattle Parks vehicles are the only hint you’ll see in the 1300 block of Alki Avenue SW that there’s a slide behind one of the residential buildings across the street. We got a tip tonight (thank you!) about the slide. The Parks crews explained that it’s on a city-owned slope, and they are trying to access it to assess what’s happened. (The tipster said it was affecting one building’s rear entry but we weren’t able to get a look.) Parks says it’s the same area as a past slide; our archives show one in the same block in November of last year.
SATURDAY AFTERNOON: By daylight, here’s how the slide aftermath looks from a nearby building’s driveway:
Family and friends are mourning a beloved member of the West Seattle community. We’ve learned that Dotty Hughes died on Tuesday.
Many knew her as the longtime manager of the Washington Federal branch north of The Junction. She had been with the company for more than 20 years; her staff at the branch told us she had been planning to retire soon.
Ms. Hughes was also long active in the community, including involvement with organizations including the Rotary Club of West Seattle and the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce. And a longtime friend who contacted us about Ms. Hughes’ passing remembers her as “one of the most thoughtful, kind, and loving souls I knew.”
We hope to have more information soon, including memorial details; we are told that arrangements are being handled through Dignity Memorial.
You’ll soon see that poster around West Seattle – it’s the official poster for the West Seattle Art Walk first-quarter dates (first Thursdays as usual – January 11, February 8, March 8), featuring art by George Perrou. Every quarter, there’s also a venue map/list, of retailers, galleries, restaurants, etc. that agree to be open late that night while hosting an artist and/or offering food/drink specials to make it a more-memorable night for folks out exploring West Seattle. Wherever you are on the peninsula, there’s still time to get on that list for the first-quarter Art Walk nights if you do it here no later than New Year’s Eve (Sunday)!
The photo and report are from West Seattle High School boys-basketball head coach Keffrey Fazio, whose team is celebrating a tournament championship:
The West Seattle HS boys basketball team won the 2017 Sterling Holiday Basketball Tournament yesterday with a 56-40 win over the Squalicum Storm. The tournament was a three-day event, and all games were played at Kennedy HS [Burien].
Tuesday, December 26th, in the first round of the tourney, the Wildcats beat Lindbergh (Renton) 76-24. Junior forward Abdullahi Mohamed powered the Cats with 16 points and 11 rebounds.
Wednesday, the second round game, the opponent was the Woodinville Falcons. WSHS came away with another win, 64-40. Senior guard Elijah Nnanabu and sophomore point guard Marcus Collins both scored double figures.
Thursday, the tournament final, as mentioned above, WSHS over Squalicum. Senior guard Simon Harris scored 13 points, and tournament MVP Elijah Nnanabu scored 15 points.
The Wildcats record now sits at 7-3 overall, and 3-2 in league play. Next game for WSHS is a home contest vs. Franklin (8-0) on Tuesday, January 2 at 7:30 pm.
Do those books look familiar? Lost? Stolen and dumped? Or? Joy sent the photo, noting, “These books were in Bay 2 shelter at Junction” when she was there late this morning. We just drove by a few minutes ago and they are still there, on the bench in the covered shelter on the south side of SW Alaska just west of California SW.
(WSB photo from Wednesday)
If you were traveling along the SW Genesee hill between Avalon and Delridge earlier this week, you might have noticed that startling sight – two flipped cars alongside a residential building on the north side of the street. Several who missed our original coverage have asked what happened. We published this story late Christmas Eve about the first crash there, after several hours of snow; about two hours later, the second crash happened, as reported by commenters – including the second car’s driver. No injuries, so no SFD callout for the second crash; the owner of that car told us today that their insurance company arranged for its removal last night. As of less than an hour ago, though, the first car is still there.
One month after the final election results certified West Seattleite Mitzi Johanknecht‘s election as the next King County Sheriff, she will take the oath of office next Tuesday. Today’s advisory from the Sheriff’s Office says the public is welcome to attend the ceremony, 11 am Tuesday (January 2nd) in room E-942 at the King County Courthouse downtown (516 3rd Avenue). As noted in the announcement:
Johanknecht is a 32-year veteran of the Sheriff’s Office. Throughout her career, she served in various leadership positions in every division throughout the Sheriff’s Office. Johanknecht rose to the rank of Major and was the first woman to command the department’s SWAT Team.
In the final vote count, Sheriff-elect Johanknecht defeated incumbent Sheriff John Urquhart with 56.8 percent (283,745 votes) to his 43.2 percent (216,214). Photo: May 2017, White Center Now coverage of North Highline Unincorporated Area Council
You might recall seeing that photo of a Canada goose and gosling here on WSB last April – one of many beautiful bird (and sometimes other wildlife) photos contributed by Mark Wangerin. In case you missed it, this photo drew a special honor from a showcase elsewhere – chosen as one of the 2017 top ten Seattle Times Reader Photos of the Year. Mark photographed the geese along Harbor Avenue SW. It was honored in the Northwest Flora and Fauna category. (Thanks to Gary Jones – who also contributes memorable images here – for pointing out Mark’s recognition.)
Looks like a windy night ahead, according to a National Weather Service alert issued this morning – a Wind Advisory for sustained wind up to 30 mph and gusts up to 45 mph, expected between 6 pm tonight and 4 am tomorrow. So make sure everything’s charged. And check around outside for anything in danger of getting blown around.
(SDOT MAP with travel times/video links; is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE)
7:39 AM: Good morning! It’s the final weekday morning of 2017. No incidents reported in/from West Seattle.
Looking ahead to the next weekday – New Year’s Day on Monday – Metro will be on a Sunday schedule; Sound Transit’s West Seattle-serving Route 560 will be out of service; so will the Water Taxi. Washington State Ferries’ Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth route will be on a regular weekday schedule.
But before we get there – remember that Metro buses will be FREE on New Year’s Eve (Sunday), as announced last week, from 4 am Sunday to 4 am Monday.
8:30 AM: Trouble downtown. A crash is blocking 2 lanes of NB I-5 at the Convention Center.
8:56 AM: Crash scene has cleared to the right and the lanes have reopened.
That’s the “preferred alternative” map for proposed zoning changes to implement HALA Mandatory Housing Affordability in the Morgan Junction urban village, as included in the MHA Final Environmental Impact Statement issued by the city last month. The Morgan Community Association is one of the neighborhood groups that’s filed an appeal of that document, as well as joining in a separate citywide-coalition appeal. Tonight MoCA’s president Deb Barker sent out this community update on where things stand:
Dear Morgan Junction Community:
It’s the Holiday season and we know that you have a lot going on so we’ll keep this end-of-the-year summary brief.
The Morgan Community Association (MoCA) has been deeply engaged in the City’s HALA/MHA program changes for over a year, starting with our November 2016 HALA/MHA Workshop for District 1. We want to brief you on the current HALA/MHA status and how Morgan Junction is affected. If you have any questions – please ask.
Morgan Junction Comprehensive Plan Amendment. At a special Comprehensive Plan meeting on November 14, 2017, MoCA meeting attendees learned about some potential options to achieve housing results that address neighborhood concerns, and that would meet the Morgan Junction Plan Housing Goal. Attendees voted on the different options and endorsed a general policy statement of encouraging affordable, entry-level, family-sized owner-occupied housing within the urban village. In early December, MoCA focused on this policy concept in our comments to the City on their draft Comp plan amendment language. We also repeated our request for formal neighborhood-planning engagement to modify any portions of our neighborhood plan. The City Council will vote on Comprehensive Plan amendments later in 2018.
We are now taking steps to turn the policy concept into a tangible program, so that our community wishes are incorporated along with the MHA proposals that will be discussed for final adoption in 2018. We met with Councilmember Lisa Herbold in late December and have a meeting request in to Mayor Durkan to discuss the Special Review District idea.
Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) Released. In mid-November, the City released its final EIS and proposed maps that up-zone all areas of the Morgan Junction Urban Village including eliminating all single-family zoning from the Urban Village. In the document, the City was dismissive of Morgan Junction’s concerns about flaws found in the original draft EIS.
Legal Appeal. In reviewing the City’s FEIS document, the MoCA Board came to the realization that the only recourse to have our specific Urban Village concerns addressed would be to file an appeal of the FEIS. Other neighborhoods were realizing that only legal action would force the City to provide a true neighborhood planning process to address the environmental impacts specific to neighborhoods as well as city-wide impacts. The November 27 FEIS appeal deadline was several months before scheduled Morgan Community Association member meetings, and the Board voted to file a placeholder appeal and bring the issue to the January 2018 Membership meeting. The Board also approved joining with a coalition of 26 neighborhood and other interested groups (the Seattle Coalition for Affordability, Livability and Equity) seeking to require the City to adequately analyze, disclose and address the full impacts of its proposed up-zones, as well as provide a true alternative. Appeal efforts involve member commitment and funding, and a member group can withdraw at any time. The Seattle Hearing Examiner will hear the appeal starting on April 23, 2018.
What’s Next. MoCA’s next quarterly meeting is next month. There will be discussion about the MHA/FEIS, the appeal, the Comp Plan Amendment language and progress on the Special Review District policy concept as well as actions related to the Morgan Junction Neighborhood Fund. Please join us on January 17, 2018 at 7:00 at The Kenney to discuss the next steps and to vote on key policy issues. We look forward to seeing you.
Deb Barker, President
Morgan Community Association
The full agenda for the January 17th MoCA meeting is in our calendar listing.
(WSB photo, Highland Park Not-So-Silent-Night Parade 2016)
You can make it a neighborhood New Year’s Eve again this year by celebrating with Highland Park Improvement Club – starting with the all-ages Not-So-Silent-Night Parade along nearby streets. As also featured in the WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide, here’s the full night’s lineup for Sunday at HPIC:
Join us in our annual celebration of the New Year. We’ll be hosting a Masquerade Party, so come donning your best masks, disguises, or alter egos.
Not So Silent Night Parade – Assemble at 6 pm. We will head out into the neighborhood when everyone is ready. Bring your noisemakers, lights, umbrellas – whatever is necessary!
DJ Dr. Lehl & DJ Evan will provide us the tunes that take us to the main event.
The HPIC Hot Dog Stand will be open in the Courtyard, courtesy of Nickie Jostol!
McTuff will provide us with the life-sustaining music that will power us to and through the New Year from 9ish until late (1-130?)
RL Carroll will be here again for all your keepsake photos!
All ages!
Beverages – Draft beer, wine, special cocktail and champagne! As always, we offer a wide assortment of non-alcoholic beverages as well. Please remember that no outside alcohol is allowed.
HPIC is on the northeast corner of 12th SW/SW Holden. (If you’ve never seen, or been part of, the parade, check out our coverage from last year.)
Got a New Year’s Eve/Day event in West Seattle that’s not already in our Holiday Guide? Please e-mail us the info ASAP so we can add it – editor@westseattleblog.com – thank you!
Get on the air in 2018! The announcement just out of the WSB inbox:
Is learning a new skill one of your New Year’s resolutions for 2018? If so, the West Seattle Amateur Radio Club has an old-but-new opportunity for you.
In late January, the Club will be offering classes so you can learn about amateur (ham) radio and take the test to get your FCC license, all in the same weekend.
And while ham radio has been around a long time, there are many new applications which are being adapted to take advantage of amateur band radio frequencies. Did you know that you can now send email over radio waves and create your own Wi-Fi using radio equipment?
“Our club likes to say ‘it’s not your grandfather’s ham radio any more’,” says Ron Zuber, president of the club. “We know that ham radio is the best and most fundamental way of communicating when all other methods are unavailable; we are also incorporating new technologies and equipment that go beyond simple voice communications.”
If you’re interested, details are in these flyers (PDF here, or embedded below):
(Dinah Brein, photographed by WSB’s Patrick Sand on opening night for Star Wars Episode VIII)
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
In the Admiral Theater‘s long and storied history, the curtain is about to fall on another episode.
This one has spanned almost a decade, including the latest incidence of West Seattle’s moviehouse being brought back from the brink. You might subtitle it “Return of the First-Runs,” though that’s just part of the story.
What’s happening is that next week will bring the departure of The Admiral’s longtime manager Dinah Brein. She says simply, “It’s time.” Her brother, Jeff Brein, is co-proprietor of Far Away Entertainment, an independent regional chain of community movie theaters including The Admiral, and Dinah’s been working for him since 2004, four years before she came to The Admiral, originally doing public-relations work for his PR firm on Bainbridge Island.
After Dinah and her husband Larry McClellan bought a house in West Seattle in 2006, that started to become a somewhat onerous commute. When her brother took over The Admiral, an opportunity arose for her to work much closer to home.
But at first, she wasn’t running the theater.
One of the newest New Year’s events added to the WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide is also an introduction to a new business. Nia teachers who were previously at the Center for Movement and Healing in Gatewood are opening a new space, Move2Center Studio, in The Triangle. And they’re offering a 10 am class next Monday (January 1st) to “dance in the New Year with plenty of positive energy”; drop-in fee is $10 (plus tax). The new space is on the lower level of the West Seattle Veterans’ Center/American Legion Post 160 building at 3618 SW Alaska – enter the studio from the 37th SW side. Co-proprietor Melanie McFarland says their full class schedule starts two days later, on January 3rd.
We’re now less than a week away from the first local community meeting of the new year, the Southwest District Council‘s meeting next Wednesday (January 3rd) at the Sisson Building/Senior Center in The Junction (4217 SW Oregon). Besides discussing 2017 accomplishments and 2018 goals, SWDC is scheduled to hear from and talk with District 1 City Councilmember Lisa Herbold. Got a question or comment for her? She’s expected at 7 pm, half an hour into the 6:30 pm meeting, at which everyone’s welcome.
(SDOT MAP with travel times/video links; is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE)
6:56 AM: Good morning. No incidents reported in/from West Seattle so far this Thursday morning.
One transit alert so far: Metro texted/tweeted that “The first Route 55 due to leave SW Atlantic St & 44 Av SW is operating more than 20 minutes late this morning.”
7:30 AM: Another after-the-fact Metro alert: The 6:33 am Route 116 headed downtown did not operate.
Thanks to Denny International Middle School principal Jeff Clark for the photos and report:
Denny Scholars Continue Learning over Winter Break!
Thanks to our terrific and dedicated staff, our scholars had the opportunity to continue to learn and have fun over Winter Break. Congratulations to all of our scholars who completed the four-day Winter Break Academy at Denny International Middle School!
After four days of learning, we celebrated with a trip to the roller rink.
A huge thank you to the staff who made it possible! Thank you, Mr. Rodriguez, Mr. Moor, Mr. Lai, Ms. Fondale, Ms. Ostroff, Mr. D. Evans, Mr. Fernandez, Ms. Jackson-Williams, Mr. King, Ms. Mosley-Freeman, Ms. Wilson, Mr. Higuchi, Ms. Farah, Mr. Hoskins, Mr. Baker, Mr. Jordan, and Mr. Webb! Go Dolphins!
We monitored two emergency calls in the past hour that were both downgraded relatively quickly but had initially sizable responses, so in case you wondered:
-SPD/SFD call to 42nd/Alaska (Junction Plaza Park/QFC side) just after 9 pm initially went out as “assault with weapons” and police were requesting a K-9, but then they discovered that the victim had been injured more than an hour earlier so any possible suspect was long gone. We don’t know the circumstances but the injury was not major enough for medic-unit transport; a private ambulance was called.
-SFD call to 25th/Barton (north of Westwood Village) at 8:45 pm turned out to be a fireplace problem rather than an actual fire.
Steve hopes you will keep an eye out for his motorcycle, stolen today:
2015 Honda Grom, black with an orange stunt setup
License plate: 5E7102
Police Report # 17-475056It was stolen between 9:30 am – 5:30 pm on 12/27/17 from my apartment’s garage in North Admiral, West Seattle. If you see it, please call 911.
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