West Seattle, Washington
06 Saturday
(WSB photo from late this afternoon)
So far, it looks like the city does not plan any immediate action about the new, unauthorized RV camp in east West Seattle. We checked back there late today, one day after getting word it was setting up on vacant state-owned land toward the east end of the original 2008 “Nickelsville” encampment site, off 2nd SW between West Marginal Way SW and Highland Park Way SW. We were told five more RVs had arrived today, bringing the total there to about 15, and that some government entity had dropped off trash bags for them to use. Their status, they said, remains unclear.
This morning, we had updated our original story with information from Julie Moore, a spokesperson for the city’s homelessness-related efforts. She had told us the Navigation Team was out at the site assessing the situation. This afternoon, she reiterated that the city had not directed campers there, and that it’s a site WSDOT intends to use this summer as “the staging area for the critical I-5 resurfacing project.” She also reiterated that if any of these RVs’ owners were told to move, it was a parking-enforcement issue, not a camp sweep.
That said, Moore added:
While the site is not authorized for camping, nor is it an appropriate place to do so due to WSDOT’s use and activity there, the City prioritizes encampment removals based on several issues, including health and safety. The City has been focusing its efforts on mitigating the most hazardous encampments, particularly those:
Where individuals are sleeping outside in tents.
In locations that are physically unsafe for the individual or surrounding community (e.g., along busy roads, ledges, sidewalks).
That have become so large that trash, hazardous structures and negative behavior become too problematic.
Where there is a public health threat to the campers or surrounding community.
With those priorities in mind, the City is spending the next two weeks focusing on addressing the extensive illegal encampments along I-90/Rainier Avenue/Dearborn Street. More on those efforts, including the outreach efforts underway since May 1, can be found (here).
While a WSDOT rep was looped into our e-mail exchange with Moore, we have no direct comment from the state yet on whether they will allow the vehicle campers to stay on the site. We did ask a camper how they entered it; they said the chain-link fencing at the entrance was not locked, and had numerous openings. Both the state- and city-owned sections of the site were ringed with chain-link fencing after the last encampment there was evicted in 2013.
Eight days ago, we reported that demolition equipment finally arrived at 9029 16th SW, the scene of at least three fires in five years, including one this past February. After that, the city had finally ordered its owners to do something about it, eventually extending the deadline to April 21st; when the demolition equipment arrived on Thursday, May 4th, we actually had an inquiry out to the city about what would happen if nothing happened. SDCI told us they had been informed the fire-gutted house would be torn down the next day.
That was a week ago. We’ve gone by daily. No activity. A new complaint is still pending. So we will renew our inquiry with the city on Monday.
Meantime, we’ve noted in our previous followups on this property that the city is considering new rules regarding what owners of structures like this can be required to do. They’re going before the Planning, Land Use, and Zoning Committee at 9:30 am next Tuesday (May 16th). The slide deck for the hearing contains a lot of alarming stats – and photos of derelict properties that actually look better than 9029 16th SW.
(Seattle Channel video from this morning’s committee meeting; Vision Zero briefing is first item, after public comment)
Earlier this week, we reported that a document prepared for the City Council Sustainability and Transportation Committee meeting today included a bit of information we’d been seeking for a while – what’s up with 35th SW Phase 2.
We monitored the meeting via Seattle Channel to see what would be said. When SDOT’s Darby Watson presented the “Vision Zero” program update this morning, she had two notes of West Seattle interest: One was about 35th – she said the report on Phase 1 (a precursor for Phase 2) is expected next month. So if you’re watching for what’s next on 35th, sounds like we’ll find out in June.
The other was about Harbor Avenue SW – Watson mentioned its speed limit would be cut from 35 to 30 mph “soon.” It’s been more than two years since Harbor and four other West Seattle arterials were announced in the original Vision Zero plan as destined for lower speed limits. As reported in our February 2015 coverage, SDOT said it expected to make all of those cuts by the end of 2015. But the timeline has lagged; Fauntleroy Way was lowered in February 2016, and Delridge in December 2016.
P.S. The Sustainability and Transportation Committee meets again next Tuesday with an agenda including a report on the first full year of the Move Seattle levy and a briefing about bicycle theft.
Just announced by Seattle Public Schools: After the school year ends, Gatewood Elementary principal Constance Aleman will be moving across the peninsula to take the newly created position of assistant principal at West Seattle’s most populous elementary school, Genesee Hill. She has been principal at Gatewood for four years. Letters have gone out to both schools’ communities – here’s what Aleman said in her announcement:
It is with mixed emotions I am writing to inform you this will be my last year at Gatewood Elementary School.
After four amazing years and careful consideration, I have decided it is the right time for me to pursue a new leadership opportunity. I have accepted a role at Genesee Hill Elementary; I am excited to stay within the West Seattle community and to work more closely in the areas of Special Education, social-emotional learning, and family engagement. As difficult as this is for me, I feel confident I am leaving this school in great shape and ready to continue the amazing work of providing academic excellence for each student.
While seeking new opportunities brings some excitement, I want you to know this was not an easy decision for me. I’m indebted to so many incredible friends and colleagues who have made my experience here a lifelong memory. At Gatewood there are positive, innovative, and hardworking staff, and a supportive and positive group of families. I cherish the brilliant, caring, and committed students. It has been an honor serving all of you the past four years. As much as I will miss this community, I will cherish the memories and reflect fondly upon them as I move forward in both my professional and personal life.
As we wrap up the year, I am hopeful you continue on the path we have laid together. Together we have worked toward the mission of fostering a school climate of compassion, academic excellence, problem solving, creativity, and cultural awareness. It inspires me to see the school, families, and the community working together for the social, emotional, physical, and intellectual development of each student. This mission lives with you. Your relentless commitment, drive, and compassion for our students will ensure that our mission of excellence continues on!
I will finish out the school year at Gatewood and my first day with Genesee Hill will be July 1. The formal search process for hiring a new principal is underway as we look forward to the next school year. The process will include an opportunity for Gatewood staff and the community to provide input. Executive Director of Schools, Helen Joung, will communicate updates to the staff and community.
Thank you all for your kindness and support. I have appreciated it more than you can imagine. And thank you all for your continued commitment and dedication to our school, staff and students. It is because of you that I know Gatewood will continue to be the very best school ever!
With admiration,
Constance Aleman, Principal
Gatewood Elementary School
You can read the message sent by Genesee Hill principal Gerrit Kischner to his community here.
One by one, the newer Admiral commercial spaces are getting takers. Just found this one in the city permit files: Domino’s Pizza is pursuing a spot at Springline (3220 California SW) for its second West Seattle location. The site plan on file with the city shows the pizza storefront is proposed for the space south of the building’s north garage entrance.
(If you can’t spare 3 minutes, the stop-sign-running is particularly prolific in the final minute-plus)
That video was recorded in November at 17th SW and SW Trenton by area resident Darryll Wolf. He sent it to various city reps then – and sent it again yesterday, after a close call. This time, we were on the CC list. His e-mail:
Dear SDOT, SPD, and Councilmember Herbold,
(Thursday) morning, as I was running to catch the bus to work at 7:53 am, a driver accelerated into and through the intersection at SW Trenton Street and 17th Ave SW, refusing to stop at the stop sign while I was in the lane! She did this as I was in front of her car, forcing me to run backward to avoid being hit. I’ve reported rampant violations at this intersection before and was even hit by one car (hit and run) and nearly hit by several others in the past several months. I shared this 3-minute video in this same email thread in November showing fully 85% of drivers fail to stop or yield right of way at this clearly signed intersection.
The incident this morning felt like a deliberate attempt by the driver to threaten or injure me with her car. I am very worried about my own safety as well as the safety of my family and neighbors who live, work, and play along the 17th Ave SW greenway.
In 2016, the Seattle Greenways project team created this new sanctioned pedestrian and bicycle greenway on 17th Ave SW north of SW Henderson Street and then placed stop signs at each of the east-west intersections along the greenway where no stop signs had ever existed for likely near 100 years. But they and SDOT failed to do any awareness campaign or enforcement follow-up to ensure the safety of those who use the greenway. I am disappointed that after having reported the frequent violations and one known hit and run at 17th and Trenton in the past few months to SPD, CPT, and the Greenways project team, we have only seen about an hour of SPD enforcement at this intersection with no ticketing for violations, and the Greenways team and SDOT have been a complete no-show here.
I have been documenting the continued pattern of violations at the 17th and Trenton intersection since last November and will continue to report this problem to SPD. I have reported similar incidents of speeding and aggressive or threatening driving through school crossing zones, and the general failure to yield to pedestrians along 16th Ave SW, and along SW Trenton Street from Delridge to 16th Ave SW. But I have seen zero SPD presence in those areas during rush hour and have never seen a single person ticketed for this blatant and common recklessness.
As the increased densification under HALA upzoning increase car, bicycle, and pedestrian traffic in our area, it is my hope that SPD, SDOT, and the City will take this seriously and do real traffic calming, enforcement, and ticketing before we see people killed by reckless drivers. Throughout the area from 16th Ave SW to SW Delridge, between Holden and Roxbury, there are many children and public transit users who are vulnerable to death and disfigurement by reckless drivers every day. And these drivers must be shown that traffic laws are not optional and that drivers cannot threaten and maim pedstrians with their cars with impunity. We need your help to send this message!
I look forward to hearing from SPD, CPT, SDOT, and the City in the near term on how each of you plan to address this very real public safety issue in our area. I am happy to discuss this in person or over a phone call if it will result in quick action.
From the list to whom Wolff sent the video, the first response (at least, the first to the entire CC list including us) was from Councilmember Herbold:
I watched your video and I’m aghast that of a dozen cars going through that intersection over the 3 minutes you filmed, only two cars made a complete stop at the stop sign. By the way of this message, I’m asking that Chief Davis consider an enforcement at this intersection. Thank you for your advocacy on behalf of pedestrian safety.
As mentioned here Thursday morning, SPD’s Traffic Unit chief, Capt. Eric Sano, is the scheduled guest for the West Seattle Crime Prevention Council next Tuesday (7 pm May 16th), so if you have neighborhood concerns, it’s a good time to bring them up.
By this time tomorrow, it’ll be big-time shopping time at 300+ garage, yard, courtyard, parking lot, business, etc. sales all around the peninsula – Saturday is the 13th annual West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day (our 10th year coordinating it), showers or shine.
GOT THE MAP/LIST YET? You can download/print the PDF version of the list/map (17 pages) for a topline version of who’s selling what and where. And here’s the interactive online version. (Each individual listing you open by clicking a marker or list line is printable too.) Even if you want to keep your browsing low key, there’s probably somebody within walking distance – go say hi to your neighbors!
BLOCK SALES AND MULTI-SELLER SITES: While more than a few sites mention that multiple households have joined forces, here are the ones officially registered as block sales/multi-seller sites:
SALE #42, HOTWIRE ONLINE COFFEEHOUSE COURTYARD/PARKING LOT SALE: Every year you’ll find dozens of sellers in the Hotwire courtyard and the parking lot across the alley to the east, 4410 California SW.
SALE #137, C & P COFFEE COMPANY: This year C & P is hosting an arts/crafts fair with multiple vendors, 5612 California SW.
SALE #90, BLOCK SALE: 47th SW between Stevens and Lander
SALE #137, BLOCK SALE: 2620 Walnut Ave SW
SALE #182, BLOCK SALE: 7300 29th Ave SW
SALE #215, BLOCK SALE: 5648 38th Ave SW
SALE #55, BUSINESS SALE: Thunder Road Guitars (WSB sponsor), 4736 California SW
SALE #256, BUSINESS SALE: Endolyne Joe’s (WSB sponsor), 9261 45th Ave SW, donating half the proceeds to Youngstown Cultural Arts Center
We listed the benefit/nonprofit sales earlier this week – see them here. And we have the donation drives tied into this year’s WSCGSD listed here (just updated with another addition) – not just for sellers with leftovers, but also for shoppers who can buy stuff to donate!
Official sale time is 9 am-3 pm tomorrow (Saturday, May 13) – a few sales are opening earlier and/or staying open later, so read through the list to look for that. We’ll be out and about stopping at some sales for photos, but also will appreciate pics from sellers and buyers – e-mail garagesale@westseattleblog.com or tag us on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook … we are at /westseattleblog on them all. More updates ahead!
Seven highlights for your Friday, starting with music!]
WEST SEATTLE SYMPHONY: The video above from West Seattle Community Orchestras – parent organization of West Seattle Symphony – features Chris Blakely, winner of WSCO’s second-annual concerto competition, who will be featured during tonight’s 7:30 pm concert “Love Stories and Dances” at Chief Sealth International High School. The program includes Saint Saëns’ Morceau de concert for Horn and Orchestra, during which you’ll see Blakely, who has played with WSCO for more than two years. Tonight’s concert, led by conductor James Pham, is free – donations welcome, of course. (2600 SW Thistle)
Also in the hours ahead:
ALCHEMY OPENS: As previewed in our story earlier this morning, the new bar in The Junction opens at 3 pm. (4717 42nd SW)
ROSE TASTING: As in rosé wine; tasting at Sound & Fog in The Junction. Details in our calendar listing. (4735 40th SW)
GARY BENSON AT C & P: Gary Benson will be joined by Nelson Wright and Jenaige Lane at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor), 7-9 pm. (5612 California SW)
‘THE MAMA-LOGUES: A COMEDY ABOUT MOTHERHOOD’: 7 pm tonight (and tomorrow!) at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center, ages 13 and up – if you’ve seen it before, see it again, lots of new stuff! Benefits WestSide Baby and Open Arms Perinatal Services. Ticket info in our calendar listing. (4408 Delridge Way SW)
ROLLER DERBY: Rainier Roller Girls‘ fifth bout of the season starts at 8:30 pm at Southgate Roller Rink. (9646 17th SW)
3 BANDS AT PARLIAMENT TAVERN: 9 pm-midnight at Parliament Tavern, the lineup is Hostile Makeover, The Viking Surfers, The Paper Dolls. $5 cover. 21+. (4210 SW Admiral Way)
LOTS MORE ON OUR CALENDAR … see it here!
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
At 3 pm today, The Junction’s newest drinking/eating establishment, Alchemy, officially opens its doors.
It’s the first of two venues that the partnership F2T Hospitality is opening in Junction 47, as first reported here last July.
And that’s where we sat down earlier this week to talk with the trio behind it – bar director Tony Larson, executive chef Larkin Young, and marketing/operations director Matt Mead.
The photos in our story are from last night’s “soft open” – right up until then, Matt explained, they had a “whole squadron of people building furniture.” They had also “gone antique shopping” for some of the decor, from chandeliers to “a tea kettle from the 1800s.” Alchemy seats 45.
Tony is the West Seattleite in the group – more than a decade here, including a few years working at Matador just up the street. Read More
(SDOT MAP with travel times/video links; is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE)
Good morning! No incidents reported in/from West Seattle right now, but a texter says the East Marginal truck backup is spilling onto the bridge again today.
Advance alerts for the next few days:
CITYWIDE ALERTS: Here’s the city’s list of major events for the next four days. …
WEST SEATTLE COMMUNITY GARAGE SALE DAY TOMORROW: 9 am-3 pm Saturday, all over the peninsula; the maps and list are here.
FAUNTLEROY FERRY TOLLBOOTH TEST NEXT WEEK: Another reminder that Monday-Thursday next week, Washington State Ferries will test new tollbooth procedures at Fauntleroy to see if that relieves backups.
8:38 AM: If you are headed south, or up from the south, on 16th/Ambaum, a caller warns of a crash at 16th/112th on the south edge of White Center.
We’ve heard from multiple people in the past hour who reported suspected gunfire east of Fairmount Park, near 36th/37th/Brandon. 911 is reported to have received multiple calls, and police were sent to investigate; we haven’t heard yet if they found evidence of gunfire – casings and/or property damage – but so far, no victims are reported. One person tells us a neighbor reported seeing gunfire exchanged between people in two cars.
(WSB photo: West Seattle C of C CEO Lynn Dennis, left; SDOT’s Fauntleroy Boulevard project manager Norene Pen, right)
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
No new information emerged about the Fauntleroy Boulevard project at today’s West Seattle Chamber of Commerce lunch briefing, but Q&A did bring some concerns into sharper focus – particularly, whether Sound Transit light rail might go along this route and lead to the project zone being torn up a second time.
The city team acknowledged that’s possible – but not a reason to put this safety-and-beautification project on ice. We also checked with ST later in the day regarding the current level of collaboration. But first:
Today’s briefing in the lower-level community room at The Kenney began with an extensive recap of the project’s backstory and where it stands, including a reminder that it wasn’t city-originated, but rather community-originated, with discussions dating back to the turn of the millennium. (If you’re just tuning in, its route will be along Fauntleroy Way, from Alaska to 35th.)
The briefing slide deck was basically the same as what was presented to the Fauntleroy Way Business and Neighborhood Association at the West Seattle YMCA (WSB sponsor) on April 19th: Read More
Still some time to get over to Click! Design That Fits (WSB sponsor) in The Junction to meet West Seattle-residing, nationally acclaimed cookbook author and food educator Kim O’Donnel. Her newest book “PNW Veg” has just been published; she calls it her “edible love letter to the Pacific Northwest,” where she has lived for nine years. If you know that this is O’Donnel’s third book of vegetarian recipes – after “Meat Lover’s Meatless Celebrations” (2012) and “Meat Lover’s Meatless Cookbook” (2010) – you might guess she’s vegetarian. But you’d be wrong; she’s just living a “less meat” lifestyle. Until 9 pm, she’s at Click! (4540 California SW) signing books and offering tastes of highlights from “PNW Veg,” including desserts and potato/onion/stinging-nettle frittata as well as black bean and beet burgers.
FIRST REPORT, 5:53 PM THURSDAY: Just yards from where the city almost set up an “RV safe lot” last year before scrapping the idea, an unofficial RV camp is taking shape right now. We just visited the site on the east end of the land twice inhabited by the tent camp that called itself “Nickelsville,” after finding out about the RVs’ move via e-mail sent to us and other media outlets. That e-mail said that the RVs headed this way after “Seattle Police provided a 3-day notice to random RVs [in industrial areas of SODO] that their RVs and vehicles – and personal belongings inside them – would be towed and impounded today, 5/11/17.”
The site is state-owned; we counted about 10 RVs during our short visit to find out what was happening. A camper named Rebecca told us more are expected, and that police and state troopers were at the site earlier. The vehicles are parked just inside a gate off 2nd Avenue SW, between Highland Park Way SW and W. Marginal Way SW (south of the marker on this map).
The city’s proposed “safe lot” – a plan officially scrapped in March 2016 – would have been to the west along West Marginal, on a paved lot adjacent to the city-owned encampment site that was cleared three years ago. The announcement of the new unofficial camp notes, “The City of Seattle’s 2016 plan to assist homeless people living in RVs has largely been abandoned. This is an independent effort to find a safe site.” We won’t be able to find out anything from SPD or WSP until tomorrow.
ADDED 9:18 AM FRIDAY: We just heard back from Julie Moore, spokesperson for the city’s homelessness-related efforts. She tells WSB: “The City did not direct people to this site.” They first heard yesterday that “an unauthorized encampment had set up at that property.” She also says that regarding RV campers allegedly being chased there from SODO, “There was no encampment cleanup effort going on in SoDo this week. Any notices about RVs needing to move would have come from SPD parking enforcement.” Meantime, the Navigation Team is “visiting the site to assess the situation this morning.” It’s “not appropriate for camping,” she added, because “it will soon be used for staging for critical I-5 construction work this summer.”
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
After the flyers went up on Sunday, announcing a new restaurant/bar for what was briefly Shelby’s at California/Edmunds, we only came up with a bit to report – but promised a followup.
And now we have it, after sitting down Wednesday evening with the proprietors of the coming-soon Great American Diner and Bar.
Meet Singh Biryah and Glen Quadros, partners in the new operation.
They have decades of experience in the restaurant/hospitality business and say they’re up for the challenge of the corner some call cursed. “We know what’s been happening, we’re taking it up as a challenge,” Glen declared. Read More
From Corina at Admiral Bird:
On April 30th, we lost a member of our Admiral Family, James Murphy.
On Sunday, May 21st, at 4:00 pm, we are going to meet at the Admiral Bird on the corner of California and Admiral where we will have a slideshow, food, and drinks. Here is where people will be able to share their words and hearts.
At 5:00ish, we will begin the procession from Admiral Bird to Hamilton Viewpoint Park. This way we walk the streets he walked, past his home at “the James,” and end with a view of our beautiful city. There will be live marching music and everyone is encouraged to wear bright colors, dance, and fill the walk with love and revelry.
As the date gets closer, you can check for updates here.
(WSB photo – Olympia Coffee Roasting’s future West Seattle home at Rally)
By Randall Hauk
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
West Seattle coffee enthusiasts can look forward to this October, when award-winning Olympia Coffee Roasting Co. will open a café at 3840 California SW, in the Rally complex.
Oliver Stormshak tells WSB that he and business partner Sam Schroeder were excited to choose West Seattle for their fourth location, the company’s first outside of Olympia.
“Sam grew up a few blocks from the new location, and his parents still live there,” says Stormshak. “When we first started looking at possible locations in Seattle, West Seattle was high on our list. … We love it there. It feels like home to us.” Read More
We inquired with Seattle Police this morning about reports of possible gunfire in the Westwood area late last night – and this SPD Blotter report is the reply:
Officers arrested a 25-year-old man Wednesday after he fired a handgun in a West Seattle park.
Officer Stephanie Hemsley was patrolling near 29th Avenue SW and SW Barton Street at 11:30 pm when she heard gunshots near Roxhill Park. Officer Hemsley began searching the area and saw a man and woman running towards a parked gray Pontiac.
Officers stopped the vehicle and, saw a handgun sitting on the floor of the car under the driver’s seat, and found the man was carrying bullets in his pants pocket.
The man admitted to officers that he had fired multiple rounds inside the park.
Officers released the woman from the scene after determining that she had not discharged the firearm.
The man was booked into King County Jail for discharging a weapon within city limits and a concealed weapons violation.
We’re checking right now to find out more about the suspect. (Added 11:24 am) The suspect remains in jail but details on the citations aren’t available in the Municipal Court system yet, so we’ll have to check again later.
Another quick reminder that we are now two days away from West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day this Saturday (May 13th), with 300+ sales planned around the peninsula – the biggest day of the year for person-to-person recycling, and neighbor mingling, rain or shine. Browsed the map/list of sales yet? You’ll find the clickable online version, topped with links to the printable list/map – by going here.
Every year the big day is also a boon for local nonprofits who hold donation drives in connection with WSCGSD, from buyers who check the wish lists and pick up requested items, to sellers with leftovers. So far we have word of four specific drives hoping to synergize with WSCGSD – you’ll find them all linked here!
And please remember the Stamp Out Hunger postal-carriers food drive on Saturday, too – put out your bag of non-perishable food by your mailbox (or wherever else your mail is delivered) before you get started on WSCGSD! This too is always on the second Saturday in May, like WSCGSD, but they have a head start … this is the 25th year, while Garage Sale Day is on year 13.
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
This area’s largest political organization is now on record with more endorsements for the August primary. Last night’s meeting of the 34th District Democrats at The Hall at Fauntleroy included a sole endorsement for the much-contested Seattle City Council Position 8, in a process that wound up spanning two meetings.
SEATTLE COUNCIL POSITION 8 ENDORSEMENT: Chair David Ginsberg said it’s been determined since the April meeting (WSB coverage here) that the first Position 8 vote didn’t follow the organization’s rules – the slate of candidates included a non-Democrat).
Then last night, though he was nominated for endorsement, that same candidate, Jon Grant, was again ruled ineligible since he is running as an “independent Democratic Socialist.” That left three endorsees – Teresa Mosqueda, Hisam Goueli, and Sara Nelson. There also was a proposal for “no endorsement,” advocated by Chas Redmond.
Mosqueda won with 60 votes of the 94 credentialed 34th DD members on hand at that point. Read More
Your West Seattle Thursday highlights start with the May Art Walk – second month in its newly expanded format!
The Art Walk revs up earlier now – as early as 5 pm – and continues late. Plus, this is the second month that some food and drink spots are offering specials to help inspire you to get out and explore. Here’s the highlights list on the West Seattle Art Walk website – also featuring stops outside The Junction (including two WSB sponsors – Viscon Cellars, north of Morgan Junction at 5910 California SW – no tasting fee during Art Walk! – and the South Seattle College Art Gallery on the Puget Ridge campus, 6000 16th SW).
Also today/tonight, from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
COOKBOOK LAUNCH PARTY: It’s not just Art Walk night at Click! Design That Fits (WSB sponsor) in The Junction, it’s also launch-party night for acclaimed cookbook author (and West Seattle resident) Kim O’Donnel. Her new creation PNW Veg is just out – read about it here, and stop by Click! to meet her and get the book, 6:30-9 pm. (4540 California SW)
MORGAN JUNCTION SPRING FLING: 5:30-7:30 pm, stop by Lika Love (6031 California SW), West Seattle Cellars (6026 California SW), Third Stone Massage (6026 California SW), The Skin Butik (6057 California SW), Limber Yoga (6019 California SW), and The Bridge (6301 California SW) for “champagne, giveaways, specials” in celebration of the growing Morgan Junction business district.
SECOND THURSDAY OUT! 6 pm at Senior Center of West Seattle – details in our calendar listing. (4217 SW Oregon)
SOCCER PLAYOFFS: Not in WS but if you want to hit the road to cheer them on, the West Seattle High School boys play Garfield at Interbay, 6 pm tonight. Here’s the bracket. (3027 17th Ave. W.)
OPEN MICROPHONE AT C & P: 7-9 pm at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor), open-microphone event for musicians of all genres. (5612 California SW)
DEEP CUTS WITH DJ KINGBLIND: Starting at 8 pm at Maharajah Cuisine of India. (4542 California SW)
MANY MORE LISTINGS FOR TODAY/TONIGHT – see them all here.
Thanks to Eric Baer for pointing out that a recent series of earthquakes just across Puget Sound in the Bremerton area continued with another one at 12:35 am today, and some “felt it here” reports came in from West Seattle.
UPDATE: Mag:3.6 3.4 km ENE from Bremerton, WA Depth:26km 2017/05/11 07:35:UTC V3 https://t.co/AHTNBTpg6m pic.twitter.com/cvi9LCuybX
— PNSN (@PNSN1) May 11, 2017
It wasn’t a major quake – but magnitude 3.6 isn’t a microquake, either. If you felt it, geologists would like to hear from you – here’s the link. One day earlier, a magnitude-3.4 quake hit the same area at 1:14 am; you can see the recent series of quakes by zooming in on this map.
P.S. This is just another reminder that we’re in earthquake country, so we’re reminding you about Neighborhood Emergency Communication Hubs – volunteer-organized gathering spots that would be activated if a major quake or other emergency interfered with regular channels of communication. This map shows you the 13 hubs in our area – click the one nearest you to see where it is, and make sure your families and neighbors know about it.
The questions come up often in story comments here on WSB – why don’t you see Seattle Police Traffic Enforcement officers at certain trouble spots? Why do you see them at certain spots some consider to be “speed traps”? How can you get them assigned to enforcement where you believe they’re needed? Those are just a few. Next Tuesday (May 16th), you can bring those questions directly to the commander of the traffic unit, Capt. Eric Sano, who is the scheduled guest at the West Seattle Crime Prevention Council meeting. The monthly WSCPC meeting is also where you can bring local crime questions/concerns to Southwest Precinct leadership, and hear the latest on crime trends. The meeting’s at 7 pm Tuesday in the meeting room just off the precinct parking lot, 2300 SW Webster.
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