West Seattle, Washington
30 Wednesday
(SDOT MAP with travel times/video links; is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE)
7:24 AM: No incidents in/from West Seattle so far this morning.
(WSB photos. Above, closeup look at the fuse that can blow to ‘isolate damage’)
Though the weather’s been relatively calm otherwise, Friday’s breeziness might have reminded you that windstorm season is getting closer. And with – sometimes without – wind, comes power trouble. That’s why Seattle City Light invited media crews to its SODO yard (the one next to the West Seattle Bridge on 4th Avenue South) today. The message was twofold: City Light is working to upgrade technology to shorten outages – and urges you to be ready for them. Here’s spokesperson Scott Thomsen:
The briefing included an explanation of what some describe as “transformer explosions” – they are actually fuses that blow protectively:
When a tree falls into power lines, or heavy ice and snow weigh down branches that then cross two or more power lines, it creates a short circuit. The resulting power surge that could damage equipment. Utilities have circuit breakers and fuses in place to protect equipment, such as the transformers that reduce the voltage of electricity from the distribution grid to the service level voltage for your home or business. Those breakers open and fuses blow to isolate damage and protect other equipment, which reduces the likelihood of prolonged power outages for entire neighborhoods.
Once power is out, crews have to both fix the problem and route power around it. New technology is being tested that will automatically handle the latter. In the meantime, SCL continues to take preventive measures such as tree-trimming and vegetation-clearing along 600 miles of power lines every year.
Though SCL is also starting to install automated meters that will give the system a better idea of who’s out and where, they still ask you to call when the power goes out – 206-684-3000 – keep that number in your phone. And check out these preparedness checklists – before the weather gets into the potential-outage zone.
Three reader reports in West Seattle Crime Watch, starting with the theft of a classic car:
STOLEN 1965 PLYMOUTH VALIANT: You would know it if you saw it. Devon sent that photo with this report:
One of our daily drivers was stolen from outside of our house within the last month and police have had no luck tracking it down. The thieves broke into our home, found the keys, and as well as taking other valuable things from inside, they took our car. It is a 1965 Plymouth Valiant 4 door that is a creamy white color and has areas on the doors where it is just primer (white). It was taken from 28th Ave SW between SW Holden & SW Webster. We made a police report as soon as it happened with the Southwest Precinct and the case number is 17-343770. It is a one-of-a-kind car in this area and we’re hoping someone has seen it or knows something! Thank you.
ANOTHER HOLE-IN-GAS-TANK CASE: Last Wednesday, we mentioned a report of multiple punctured gas tanks. Nick reports it happened to him today:
This morning around 9 am, my Toyota Tacoma truck had its gas tank drilled out and emptied of 17 gallons of gasoline while I volunteered at Fairmount Park Elementary. This was in front of 5437 Fauntleroy Ave SW, near SW Findlay St.
I plugged the hole with a bolt and made it to the Toyota dealer in SODO, where I was told this has been happening lately, especially to pickups. I filed a police report, but with no suspects or witnesses, I don’t see the vandals being caught…yet. Keep an eye out for people lurking around vehicles with a drill…
BROKEN CAR WINDOW: This too is not the first such report we’ve received lately. Kyle sent the photo and report from Arbor Heights:
This morning I came out to my car to find the rear windshield had been broken. We live on 100th and 39th.There are never any valuables kept in the car; as a result no items were taken. This appears to be just vandalism. We thought that we lived in a safe neighborhood and we have a street light right in front of our house, but now we are thinking we need to invest in a security camera.
He later sent an update, mentioning finding a one-inch marble inside the car, suspecting that is what was used to break the window.
P.S. Next West Seattle Crime Prevention Council meeting – when you can bring neighborhood concerns to, and hear about crime trends/crimefighting emphases from, local police – is a week from tomorrow, Tuesday, October 17th, 7 pm at the Southwest Precinct.
5:04 PM: A $6.8 million Port of Seattle project to remove 2,000 creosote pilings from the north end of Terminal 5 is about to start. Port commissioner John Creighton mentioned it in his “State of the Port” speech to the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce last month, and port spokesperson Peter McGraw tells WSB it’s about to begin:
he Port of Seattle will remove more than 2,000 creosote treated piles and 5,000 sq. ft. of overwater coverage from Elliott Bay, off the north end of Terminal 5, beginning this week.
The port has worked with the EPA, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, NOAA Fisheries, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Washington State departments of Ecology and Natural Resources and the Muckleshoot and Duwamish Tribes to plan and execute removal of the piles/overwater cover. The work is being done in advance of a Superfund cleanup project being undertaken by the Lockheed Martin Company in the same area.
Removal of the piles is required as part of a lease termination agreement with the Department of Natural Resources.
Through 2016 the port has removed 11,420 creosote treated piles and is on track to remove 80 percent of all creosote treated piles from port-owned facilities by 2026.
The Terminal 5 pile removal project is expected to be completed by the end of March, 2018.
There’s more backstory in this document from a Port Commission meeting back in June, and we have followup questions out about exactly how the pilings will be removed and disposed of.
ADDED TUESDAY MORNING: Port spokesperson McGraw has answered those questions with information from the contractor’s Demolition Work Plan – read on for the details: Read More
As announced last week, this Wednesday, October 11th, is a multiple-venue fundraiser for hurricane and earthquake victims, West Seattle Night Out for Disaster Relief, organized by three local service clubs – the West Seattle Rotary, Kiwanis, and Lions. Five restaurants are donating part of their proceeds, 5-9 pm, according to organizers:
Be’s Restaurant (4509 California SW; checking on hours, since it usually closes earlier)
Great American Diner and Bar (4752 California SW)
Kizuki Ramen and Izakaya (4203 SW Alaska)
Puerto Vallarta (4727 California SW)
Spiro’s Pizza and Pasta (3401 California SW)
At those venues, you also can drop off checks for direct donations to disaster relief – made out to the Rotary Service Foundation with the specific codes and designations mentioned on this page. We’ll have another update tomorrow.
12:55 PM: If you’re wondering about the police response in Admiral – they are dealing with a woman reported to be in crisis, reported to have a knife, according to scanner traffic. This is happening near 41st SW and SW College [map]. An “assault with weapons” SFD response also has been dispatched. More as we get it.
1:01 PM: Still per scanner, they are trying to talk the woman into dropping the knife. We don’t know if anyone has been injured.
1:08 PM: Please avoid the area; the police presence is continuing to grow.
1:20 PM: We’ve spoken to a witness who lives near the scene. We’ve also learned that another woman was injured and has been taken to the hospital – she’s who the SFD response was for – and the woman with whom police are dealing is a suspect. The witness tells us that he first saw two women, one of them clearly having been injured and yelling for help, the one that police are now trying to take into custody. SWAT officers have arrived.
(Photo added – officers taking suspect into custody)
1:25 PM: Our crew confirms what we just heard via scanner – the suspect is in custody.
1:35 PM: Lieutenant at the scene tells our crew that the victim has “cuts,” not life-threatening injuries. The suspect will be booked into jail; she is described as having surrendered voluntarily (no force used, though police had a Taser-equipped officer standing by as well as SWAT). 41st SW has just reopened.
2:48 PM: Christopher Boffoli, one of two photojournalists who were at the scene for WSB, recorded this video of the suspect’s surrender and arrest:
We will follow the case through the system.
3:54 PM: Here’s what has just been posted on SPD Blotter. The only detail in it that we didn’t have is the suspect’s age, 26.
Though November 7th is Election Day, ballots go out a lot sooner – October 18th, less than a week and a half away. If you’re not already registered to vote, today is the last day to do it the easiest way – online. If you’re into procrastinating, you can do it in person until October 30th, but why wait? Find more how-to info here.
P.S. Besides the mayor’s race, you’ll also be voting on:
-Two citywide City Council positions
-City Attorney
-Three School Board positions
-Three Port Commission positions
-County Executive
-County Sheriff
–County Proposition 1
-Two judges
–Three state “advisory measures,” including one about the education-funding tax increase
P.P.S. The only major West Seattle forum of the general-election campaign is one week from Thursday – 6:30 pm October 19th, presented by the WS Chamber of Commerce and WS Transportation Coalition, focused on business and transportation issues, at American Legion Post 160 (3618 SW Alaska), with candidates for mayor and City Council Positions 8 and 9 expected.
(Photo by Peter Commons)
From the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
MOBILE BLOOD DRIVE: If you can donate blood, you’ll find the mobile donation van at South Seattle College (WSB sponsor) today, by the Clock Tower, 10:30 am-4:30 pm, closed for a break 12:30 pm-1:30 pm. Walk-ups welcome. (6000 16th SW)
PHYSICAL THERAPY NIGHT: Monthly assessment event at West Seattle Runner (WSB sponsor), 5:30-7 pm – details in our calendar listing. (2743 California SW)
NEW ALL-GENDER SCOUTING GROUP: Tonight’s the first evening meeting for the new all-gender scouting group, part of the Baden-Powell Service Association, forming in West Seattle: “The group is divided into Chipmunks (age 2-4), Otters (age 5-7), Timberwolves (age 8-11), Pathfinders (age 12-17), and Rovers (ages 18+).” 6-7:15 pm at High Point Library. (35th SW/SW Raymond)
FREE FAMILY ZUMBA CLASS: 6 pm at Lil’ Bug Studio, a new series of family Zumba classes is starting, and the first one is free. (10007 13th SW)
EVENING BOOK GROUP: 6:45 pm at West Seattle (Admiral) Library. This month’s title is “My Brilliant Friend” by Elena Ferrante. All welcome! (2306 42nd SW)
MONDAY NIGHT MEDITATION: 7 pm at Sound Yoga (WSB sponsor): “Each week we will explore a different aspect of Buddhist psychology and the practical ways we can apply it within our modern, busy lives.” This week, the topic is “Consideration for Others.” (5639 California SW)
(SDOT MAP with travel times/video links; is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE)
6:59 AM: Good morning. No incidents reported in/from West Seattle so far this Monday. While it’s a federal holiday, it’s not observed locally, so transit and schools are on normal schedules.
8:39 AM: ‪A stalled/stuck semitruck is blocking Genesee’s eastbound lane 2 blocks west of Delridge. SPD is directing traffic‬.
(Photo by Jim Spraker)
Thanks for the Sunday sunset photos!
(Photo by Chris Frankovich)
The week will start with sunshine, the forecast says, before the clouds take over.
(Photo by Carol Ann Joyce)
If the forecast holds true, this might have been our last colorful sunset for a while.
(Photos courtesy Friends of Dragonfly Park)
Some of your neighbors spent part of the weekend giving TLC to some of the peninsula’s special spots – among them, Dragonfly Park in North Delridge, just upslope from Longfellow Creek. Above, the volunteers from Friends of Dragonfly Park who weeded and mulched on Saturday morning.
Laura Bruco from Friends of Dragonfly Park says they’ll “likely have another event within the next few weeks” since they didn’t have quite enough mulch and burlap to accomplish everything they had hoped to. They’re also expecting Seattle Parks to bring in equipment to do some work on the open areas soon too. After that, Laura says, “we’ll be focusing on fundraising and planning for new plantings next year.” You can find the group online here, and you can reach Laura at [email protected]. (And there’s more backstory in the garden-work-party announcement we published earlier this week.)
16 dogs and their people showed up for this afternoon’s Blessing of the Animals, presented in the West Seattle High School parking lot every fall by neighboring St. John the Baptist Episcopal Church. It’s always held on a Sunday near the feast day of St. Francis of Assisi, patron saint of animals, and the faith leaders offering blessings usually include a Brother from the Order of Saint Francis – this year, Br. Paul Dahlke:
Also blessing the animals in attendance, Rev. Kate Wesch, on her first Sunday as St. John’s new Rector:
Her daughter Avery was there too, with Riley, who she’s been dog-sitting:
This was the 10th year for the blessings at St. John’s, dating back to 2008.
Looks like NB 99 has reopened. Did we miss the announcement @wsdot_traffic @seattledot ? pic.twitter.com/0RBkS6hrtH
— West Seattle Blog (@westseattleblog) October 8, 2017
Crossing the eastbound West Seattle Bridge about 10 minutes ago, we noticed the ramp to NB 99 was open again, unannounced. And now WSDOT has confirmed the closure is over – Highway 99 is open again both ways.
4:27 PM: Thanks to the texter who just mentioned that some residents along Harbor and Alki Avenues in the Duwamish Head area have been without power since midday. The Seattle City Light map says 91 customers – no businesses in that area, so the number would all be residences – are out, and currently estimates restoration by early evening. “Equipment failure” is blamed.
6:19 PM: City Light map says everyone’s back on. (If you’re NOT – be sure to call SCL at 206-684-3000 to be sure they know!)
ADDED MONDAY MIDDAY: While at an unrelated City Light media event today, we asked spokesperson Scott Thomsen for further info about this outage’s cause. He tells us, “It was caused by a failed lightning arrester.” (Don’t know what that is? Here’s an explanation.)
Very early Friday morning, a motorcyclist was seriously hurt on the southeast edge of West Seattle. His family is looking for information on what happened. From Tonya:
My husband was involved in a probable hit-and-run accident on his motorcycle, sometime between 2-3 AM, Friday, October 6th, right where SW Roxbury turns into Olson Place [map]. He was found unconscious and injured after being thrown off his bike, and doesn’t remember the incident at all. If anyone was in the area or has heard anyone talking about seeing this, please contact the police!
Tonya says her husband was headed south/east, toward 509, and rides a copper Harley. His injuries include a fractured vertebra. If you have information for police, the incident number is 17-371222, according to Tweets by Beat.
(WSB photos)
8:58 AM: Don’t bother trying to go to the Chase drive-up ATM at Edmunds/44th in The Junction – our photo shows what you’ll find. A texter said the ATM was taken before 6 am and that a forklift was still at the scene then (we checked with TrueValue across the street and they told us it wasn’t theirs). We are working right now to find out more from police.
9:16 AM: We couldn’t find officers in the area, though two SPD vehicles were nearby, so we went to the Southwest Precinct to ask. The desk officer told us the theft happened around 3:30 am and confirmed a forklift was left at the scene and has since been impounded; no other details yet because everyone working the case is still out. This is the second such theft in The Junction in less than a year, after the US Bank ATM heist a block away last January, also early on a Sunday morning. (added) And it’s the third in West Seattle in a year and a half, after an ATM was stolen from South Seattle College (WSB sponsor) in May 2016 and turned up in an Arbor Heights yard.
ADDED MONDAY AFTERNOON: No new information available from police yet. But we asked a regional spokesperson for Chase whether/when the ATM would be replaced; she said plans are already in the works and that it would be “later this month.”
(Least sandpiper, photographed at Constellation Park last weekend by Mark Wangerin)
A semi-quiet Sunday, with these highlights from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
NEW RECTOR: Saint John the Baptist Episcopal Church‘s new spiritual leader has arrived and the community is invited to meet her:
The Reverend Kate E. Wesch joined the parish as Rector this week and will preside over Eucharist and deliver her first sermon in that capacity during services at 8 and 10:15 a.m.
All are welcome to the following events:
8:00 a.m. – Holy Eucharist
9:00 a.m. – Reception with pancake breakfast
10:00 a.m. – Sunday School for Elementary and Middle School
10:15 a.m. – Holy Eucharist with full choir
11:15 a.m. – Coffee and fellowship hourAdditionally, Rev. Wesch and Br. Paul Dahlke, OSF will preside over the annual Blessing of the Animals at 1:00 p.m. in honor of Saint Francis.
More on that later in this list. (3050 California SW)
FITNESS FOR VITALITY RUN SERIES: You can still sign up at the last minute for today’s runs along Alki – 2K, 5K, 10K all start at 9:30 am – full details here. (60th SW/Alki SW)
WEST SEATTLE FARMERS’ MARKET: 10 am-2 pm in the street in The Junction. (California between Oregon and Alaska)
LOG HOUSE MUSEUM: Could be a good day to check out the home of West Seattle’s history. Open noon-4 pm. (61st SW/SW Stevens)
BLESSING OF THE ANIMALS: 1 pm in the West Seattle High School parking lot, neighboring Saint John the Baptist Episcopal Church welcomes everyone to bring their animal companions to be blessed. (3000 California SW)
CLARA BAKER: Nationally touring singer-songwriter stops at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor) to perform, 3-5 pm. (5612 California SW)
LADIES’ MUSICAL CLUB: “LMC Opera presents the Italians: from Verdi to Verisimo” at West Seattle (Admiral) Library, 3 pm. Free. See the program in our calendar listing. (2306 42nd SW)
PREVIEW THE WEEK AHEAD … via our complete calendar!
7:43 AM: While half of the scheduled Highway 99 closure continues this morning – northbound, between the West Seattle Bridge and Battery Street Tunnel – there’s a problem south of the bridge you might need to know about: A crash that “knocked over a light post” is blocking 99 (East Marginal Way) both ways at Hudson [map], per WSDOT, which warns that repairs “will take a few hours.”
12:51 AM: Still blocked:
Reminder: E Marginal Way S at S Hudson St is closed to all traffic due to earlier collision. A pole is being replaced. Use alt routes. pic.twitter.com/xPrS2OYB1E
— seattledot (@seattledot) October 8, 2017
3:01 PM: Now open – repair work’s done, says SDOT. (But northbound 99 remains closed for the weekend-long tunnel-related work, so if you are headed northbound from there, you won’t get much further. Whenever that is over, we’ll have another separate update.)
(WSB photos and video by Patrick Sand)
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
~60 people sang, prayed, and pondered in a candlelight circle tonight outside Fauntleroy Church, during an emotional vigil that went beyond mourning the 59 lives lost in the Las Vegas massacre.
Leading them, above, were West Seattle’s three United Church of Christ pastors, from left, Rev. Diane Darling of Alki UCC, Rev. Leah Atkinson Bilinski of Fauntleroy UCC, and Rev. Andrew Conley-Holcom of Admiral UCC. Their voices rang clear in the night with grief and anger – and even a prayer of confession, that “I confess I believed things would get better on their own, and I confess that I was wrong.”
There were questions – including those raised in Bob Dylan‘s “Blowin’ in the Wind,” the first song led by Bronwyn Edwards and Leann Conley-Holcom, with readings between the verses:
As the names of those who died in the massacre were read – “so many lost” – there were a few words about each. Someone celebrating their 23rd wedding anniversary. Someone celebrating their 28th birthday. A father there with his four grown children. Off-duty law enforcers. The mother of a 6-week-old baby. A 67-year-old woman. And when Seattle resident Carrie Parsons‘ name was read, Rev. Atkinson Bilinski noted that Ms. Parsons was the “close friend of the granddaughter of a Fauntleroy Church parishioner.”
A chime sounded after each name and description … and the last name read was that of the killer, noting that he left behind his family, as well as a nation “confused and heartbroken.” And it was noted that the massacre took the spotlight from others around the world who are in pain and suffering, from hurricane and earthquake victims to those in our country experiencing racism and other social injustice daily. Gun-violence statistics were read, including the fact that “most gun deaths are suicides.”
Ultimately, however, the vigil’s message was that of hope, with the candles representing “the light of love” – hope that with action, with collaboration, change can be made. In that spirit, the final song was “Somewhere to Begin” by T.R. Ritchie:
As the vigil ended, participants were invited to continue lighting candles and to write notes of appreciation to local first responders.
We are told the notes will be taken to a local fire station on Sunday.
9:07 PM: That’s Lynn‘s car – and it’s been stolen in Arbor Heights. It’s a 1993 blue Honda del Sol with license ADX 9023. Call 911 if you see it – and refer to SPD incident number 17-373378.
UPDATED SUNDAY MORNING: Lynn updates via text that Seattle Police called to say they found her car in South Park, “stripped.”
(WSB photo from September 29th)
More than a week after the fire at the Green Acres apartment complex north of Morgan Junction, Jilyan at nearby C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor) has continued coordinating efforts to help those who were affected, and says one person still needs help in two ways – urgently:
Urgent help needed!!! Please bring packing supplies (boxes, tape, bubble wrap etc) to C & P Coffee between now and Sunday night.
Some of you may have seen the fundraising that’s been organized for Green Acres. Everyone seems to have the help they need with the exception of one resident. I have been meeting with her, and the apartment manager to try to figure out how best to help her.
Joanie is still living in her apartment, with no electricity, because she has nowhere to go (and is not able to tackle this task on her own). Seattle Housing Authority will pay her rent and utilities once she finds a place but offers no assistance with moving or the cost to move/store belongings (understandable).
On Monday, a group of amazing C&P community members will be moving her belongings out and setting up a storage unit for her. This is how the money raised from GoFundMe and cash donations will be used.
We need boxes, Rubbermaid tubs you’re willing to part with, anything to pack up an apartment. If you are available Monday to help us move stuff with a truck, please contact me as soon as possible. If you know of an apartment Joanie can rent (section 8), please contact me. [email protected]
West Seattle, you’re amazing! I know this community can help one of our own that is so unexpectedly displaced.
C & P is at 5612 California SW and is open until 9 tonight, and 7 am-7 pm on Sunday.
From WSDOT:
Inspectors for the Washington State Department of Transportation completed their work early and reopened southbound State Route 99/Alaskan Way Viaduct in Seattle for the remainder of the weekend.
Drivers, please note: Northbound SR 99 remains closed between South Spokane Street and the Battery Street Tunnel for work related to the future SR 99 tunnel.
Northbound SR 99 and the viaduct will reopen to traffic by 5 a.m. Monday, Oct. 9.
That video clip from California tells the story of the Threshold Choir, which is expanding into West Seattle. The announcement is from Susan Moskwa:
Are you a woman who loves to sing? Are you drawn to offering your voice as an instrument of kindness to those who are seriously ill or dying? Are you interested in joining a supportive community of women who gather regularly to rehearse and sing at the bedside?
If your answers are yes, yes, and yes, then you are invited to attend a Threshold Choir introductory meeting in West Seattle.
Threshold Choir is an international choir with chapters in over 150 communities throughout the United States and in seven other countries. Our mission is singing for individuals at the thresholds of their lives. Our Seattle chapter is called Seattle Threshold Singers.
This fall the Seattle Threshold Singers will begin rehearsing in West Seattle. We are holding two introductory meetings to provide information about our plans: Saturday, October 21st from 10:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m., and Wednesday, November 8th from 10:00 a.m. – noon.
We will meet and greet, sing songs, and answer questions about the international Threshold Choir organization as well as our local chapter.
This is an all-volunteer group. We honor all spiritual paths and have no religious affiliation. There are no auditions but we do ask that you can carry a tune and have time to attend two rehearsals a month.
Rehearsals will be the 1st and 3rd Wednesday of the month from 10 to noon in West Seattle. If you are interested but cannot make this particular rehearsal time, let us know. At this time, you can either come to rehearsals in Seattle’s north end or wait to see if evening rehearsals will be offered in the south end.
Find out more about the Threshold Choir on its website; if you are interested in joining and/or have questions, you can e-mail [email protected].
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