West Seattle, Washington
24 Friday
(SDOT MAP with travel times/video links; is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE)
6:55 AM: Friday’s here. No incidents in/from West Seattle so far this morning.
WEEKEND ALERT: Highway 520 across Lake Washington will be closed all weekend for work, so that’ll put extra pressure on I-90.
8:25 AM: Crash on NB 99 at Lander.
8:49 AM: Multiple reports that because of the crash – blocking two lanes – the C Line has been diverted to the SODO Busway.
8:52 AM: More than just the C Line, per Metro:
Transit Alert – Rts 21, 55, 56, 120, 121, 125 & the C Line are rerouted off Alaskan Wy Viaduct; Use stops on 1 Av or on 3 Av in Seattle.
— King County Metro (@kcmetrobus) March 31, 2017
9:08 AM: Right now the SDOT camera we use most mornings for Highway 99 at Lander, above, is showing the truck that’s at the heart of the two-lane blockage.
9:31 AM: All clear, says SDOT.
11:03 PM: On partner site White Center Now, we’re covering a shooting that happened in WC about half an hour ago. A man has serious but not life-threatening injuries. The shooter is said to have fled north toward Roxbury so Seattle Police are helping with a wide-ranging search in case he’s in West Seattle. Updates as we get them.
12:04 AM: No further information from KCSO, but we expect to get more details later this morning and will update here and on WCN.
Earlier this month, SDOT opened the floodgates and poured out updates and feedback-requests for 4 West Seattle projects. Tomorrow is the deadline for most of the associated surveys, so we’re providing the links one more time:
DELRIDGE RAPIDRIDE H LINE: The main question for you in an “online open house” (which we explored in this story) is, Option 1 or Option 2, when Metro Route 120 changes into the H Line in 2020? The survey is open through tomorrow – find it here.
FAUNTLEROY BOULEVARD: After briefings and walking tours, your last chance for feedback on the design, landscaping, and construction detours/duration for this project is at the bottom of the SDOT project page, and tomorrow is the deadline for this too.
Here’s our most-recent report, after going along on both walking tours; here’s our report on last month’s briefing at the West Seattle Transportation Coalition.
Two more projects, both the result of community proposals, don’t have input deadlines, but sooner is better than later:
HARBOR/SPOKANE/AVALON IMPROVEMENTS: This one has changed the official map since we first reported on the feedback phase – look at that link for the old one, which singled out possible parking removal and protected bike lane on the west side of the project, and now mentions (new map below, found on project page tonight) that Avalon is set for paving in two years and that community input might change the design:
The questions SDOT has for you, and the address to use to answer them, are on the project page.
CHIEF SEALTH WALKWAY IMPROVEMENTS: The questions about this project are also on its SDOT page. In this case, the map is the same one made public two weeks ago:
Here’s what we wrote about it then.
You can browse WSB archives of transportation-related stories, including the projects mentioned above, by going here.
The photo is from a trip to the State Capitol today by staffers and board members of West Seattle Helpline, as the State Senate unanimously passed a resolution, SR 8615, in honor of its work supporting local families by providing emergency services and preventing homelessness. At center of the photo is 34th District State Senator Sharon Nelson, who praised WS Helpline in a speech on the Senate floor, acknowledging its staff and several board members staff of the West Seattle Helpline (Chris Langeler, Theresa Sundin, Layla Al-Jamal Judkins, Joan O’Brien) and several members of the board (Nick Naubert, Tracey Byrne, Rev. Ron Marshall, Mike Entzminger). Senator Nelson’s office organized a clothing drive among legislators and staff members and had a carload of donated clothing for WS Helpline’s newly expanded Clothesline. Here’s our coverage of last weekend’s Clothesline open house – here’s one of the rooms that’s ready to go, a dignified and easy-to-use space for the people in need of the donated clothing:
You can still donate here to help the Helpline get every room in the new space in shape.
Tonight, salmon are in the spotlight at The Whale Trail‘s Orca Talk. Right now, we have two updates involving local salmon and the people who track them:
Spring is when coho smolts leave Fauntleroy Creek for their two years in saltwater and creek volunteers have documented the first to head for Puget Sound.
Soft trapping of smolts at upper- and lower-creek locations began in mid March and Dennis Hinton found a healthy 4-5 incher on March 20. He and Pete Draughon check both traps daily to count the fish before sending them on their way.
“The number of smolts to survive their year in Fauntleroy Creek tells us a lot about habitat conditions here – the health of the creek,” Dennis said. “Like the number of spawners in the fall, smolt numbers have varied widely over the 14 years we’ve been monitoring, from a high of 157 in 2012 to 19 last year.”
Most of the smolts are likely coho released as fry by students in the Salmon in the Schools program. Creek volunteers will be supporting 19 releases involving about 750 students starting in late April.
–Judy Pickens
Among the schools in that program is West Seattle Elementary, which got a visit earlier this month from biologist Steev Ward – who gave students a close-up look at what’s inside a fish:
Ward’s presentation took about an hour, explaining the fish’s internal systems, how they worked, what’s different from ours. The students asked about topics including the salmon’s digestive and nervous systems, and they learned that a salmon has a small bone in its head that helps it hear.
They asked Ward how many fish he had dissected; he said he’d lost count, maybe in the thousands. What would happen to what’s left of this one, they also asked. It was to be buried at his house, since the possibility of contamination meant the carcass couldn’t just be placed back in a stream.
(South Seattle College photo)
From South Seattle College (WSB sponsor): A gathering today at SSC looked ahead to the expansion of the 13th Year Promise Scholarship, which within a year will be available to both of our area’s public high schools:
Seattle Public Schools (SPS) senior leadership and administrators visited South Seattle College (SSC) on Thursday morning, March 30, to learn more about the 13th Year Promise Scholarship that currently provides one year of tuition-free college to graduating seniors from Chief Sealth International, Rainier Beach and Cleveland high schools. The program will expand to include West Seattle High School graduates starting with their 2018 class.
SSC President Gary Oertli and our SPS guests discussed the creation a college-going culture in southeast and southwest public schools, where elementary students have an understanding and expectation that college is a reality in their future, regardless of economic circumstances, because of the 13th Year program.
SPS attendees included Superintendent Larry Nyland, Associate Superintendent for Teaching and Learning Michael Tolley, School Board Director Leslie Harris, Executive Director for Southwest Region Helen Joung and Executive Director for Southeast Region Kelly Aramaki. Also in attendance were administrators from elementary, middle and high schools from the southeast and southwest regions.
The 13th Year Promise program is being expanded with the help of money allocated in the new city budget.
One week from tonight, the Southwest Design Review Board will get its first look at the newest proposed project at 3257 Harbor Avenue SW, now proposed for 30+ townhouse units – depending on which design alternative moves forward – a short distance north of the bridge. The “design packet” that the board will review, and take public comments about, is available for public preview – see it embedded above, or on the city website, here (57 MB PDF). This will be an Early Design Guidance review, so that means it’s focused primarily on the size, shape, and site placement of the project. The packet by Lemons Architecture PLLC shows three options for how the units would be arranged on the site (starting on page 21). The meeting is at 6:30 pm Thursday, April 6, at the Sisson Building/Senior Center (4217 SW Oregon).
BACKSTORY: A different proposal, centered on apartments, went through one Design Review meeting in 2014, but then was shelved, and we reported first word of the new townhouse plan last fall.
(SW Precinct Crime Prevention Coordinator Jennifer Burbridge, photographed by WSB’s Patrick Sand)
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
For the first time in six years, the Southwest Precinct has its own Crime Prevention Coordinator.
As first reported in our coverage of this week’s West Seattle Block Watch Captains Network meeting, Jennifer Burbridge is the new CPC. Mark Solomon has done double CPC duty for the Southwest and South Precincts since the retirement of Benjamin Kinlow in 2011; this year’s city budget included funding for each precinct to have a dedicated CPC (a civilian position with SPD).
You might know Burbridge already, as she explained in this message about what she’ll be doing:
As some of you may know, for the last two years I have worked out of the SW Precinct as the Seattle University Graduate Research Analyst, specifically tasked with the Micro-Community Policing Plan (MCPP) project.
In my new capacity, I will be working closely with the SW Precinct community, as well as the officers of the SW Precinct, in order to decrease crime by developing, implementing and coordinating a variety of police programs in the area of crime prevention.
I will organize special Seattle Police Department functions such as Night Out, Community Cleanups and help organize and participate in the annual Precinct Picnic. I will also be regularly attending Block Watch and community crime-prevention meetings. Over the next few months, I will be receiving a variety of helpful trainings and certifications.
Having a dedicated CPC for this community, Burbridge believes, will mean “more time, more involvement, and more outreach,” and “consistent, specialized crime prevention attention” for each community within the precinct’s jurisdiction: “Hopefully the work I will do for this community will be beneficial and well-received, but will also have a direct impact on reducing the crimes our community deals with.” She adds that she hopes to “make a difference when it comes to crime in this area. I hope that the work I do will have a lasting effect on the community, the precinct, and the community members here. I honestly believe crime prevention is not only extremely important, but I also think it can be immensely effective – and I am so looking forward to being part of the solution.”
We also asked Burbridge why she decided to go into public-safety work:
As cheesy as this may sound, I truly want to make a difference.
When I began my Master’s Degree program in Criminal Justice at Seattle University, I thought the way I was going to make a difference was through the corrections system, specifically in probation or parole.
However, through my Master’s program, I was selected for the amazing opportunity to be an intern for the Seattle Police Department at the SW Precinct. I can honestly say that this internship changed my life. I found a passion that I didn’t know that I had. I truly discovered how much I enjoy working with law enforcement and working towards a productive solution. In our society today, there are a great deal of negative views pushed toward the police, and I find it extremely beneficial to have working partnerships between the community and the police. I am very excited and feel very fortunate to play a small part in making these partnerships successful in the SW Precinct area.
And her last message for you as she gets started as CPC: “If you have questions about crime prevention or would like to speak with me about your crime concerns, please feel free to email me at: Jennifer.Burbridge@seattle.gov. I will get back to you just as soon as possible.”
(WSF photo, via Twitter)
We got a couple questions about a state ferry under tow off West Seattle right now. It’s the former M/V Evergreen State, built in 1954, sold earlier this year. Its new owners bought it for $300,000 and plan to use it in the Caribbean, according to this Washington State Ferries news release. But it’s not headed there yet – it’s headed to temporary moorage and is expected to be towed to Grenada later this year.
West Seattle/South Park residents proposed more than 200 ways to spend almost $300,000 in city grant money for park/street projects … and tonight is your last chance to help decide which ones will move on to a vote. From Jenny Frankl at the Department of Neighborhoods:
This will be the final meeting to decide what projects will move forward. Meeting kicks off @ 5:30 p.m. @ the Southwest Branch of the Seattle Public Library (9010 35th Ave SW).
*If you are just now plugging into this process, first and foremost, welcome! Secondly, just wanted to quickly catch you up – In the previous three meetings for District 1, each D1 project that has been submitted has been reviewed and scored twice (with the exception of those listed below). This meeting tomorrow will be to select from the projects that received the highest scores from those two reviews.
*For those of you who have attended one of these prior meetings, this meeting will be slightly different than the others so far, so I also wanted to give you a better idea of what to expect.
We will be reviewing three sets of projects, that you can find on the updated District 1 Project Map:
*The projects that were scored the highest in the previous District 1 project development meetings and indicated by green pinpoints
*The projects that were scored twice, but the two scores varied greatly are indicated by yellow pinpoints
*The projects that still need to receive their second review are indicated by red pinpoints
In tonight’s meeting, you all will review the orange & red projects first. Once we receive their additional scores, we will tally up their collective scores, and add the highest scored projects to the other list of projects that have scored highly in this process. You will all then review and prioritize the overall list of highly-scored projects.
The goal for the meeting is to select 10 of these projects that will first advance to SDOT/Parks for a thorough feasibility and cost assessment, and then on to the ballot in June!
Anyone is welcome to participate tonight, whether you’ve been to one of the previous review meetings or not.
As first reported here back in January, this is the city’s new process replacing what had long been vetting of proposals and projects through neighborhood-district councils, until the mayor’s decision last year to cut the city’s ties with, and nominal funding for, those groups. (The two in West Seattle, Southwest and Delridge, are continuing on as independent organizations meeting monthly.)
(Towboat Bering Titan with a barge on Elliott Bay, photographed from Upper Alki by Jim Borrow)
Morning through night, some options for your Thursday;
DEMENTIA-FRIENDLY STORY SHARE AND SKETCH: New weekly program at High Point Community Center, 10 am-noon: “A free storytelling and art-making experience for people living with memory loss, led by skilled facilitators. No experience necessary, all materials provided. Care partners welcome.” More info here. (6920 34th SW)
TINKERLAB DROP-IN CRAFTS: All ages welcome at this weekly drop-in STEM-based crafts event at High Point Library, 4-5:30 pm. More info here. (35th SW/SW Raymond)
SOUTH LANDER STREET BRIDGE PROJECT: 4-6:30 pm, new information promised at the open house for this SDOT project. At Metropolist in SODO. (2931 1st Ave. S.)
GETTING READY FOR HIGH SCHOOL: For Madison Middle School families, students included, 7 pm @ the school library – details in our calendar listing. (45th SW/SW Spokane)
TAP STATION TRIVIA NIGHT: Monthly trivia event, all ages, free to enter, 7 pm. (7900 35th SW)
LIVE MUSIC @ WHISKY WEST: Jim Marcotte at 7 pm, no cover, 21+. (6451 California SW)
ORCA TALK: Tonight’s edition of The Whale Trail‘s speaker series focuses on saving salmon, without which our Southern Resident Killer Whales will starve. 7 pm at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor). Ticket info and more details are in our calendar listing. (5612 California SW)
‘BONNIE & CLYDE’ AT WSHS: Opening night for the new West Seattle High School production, “a thrilling musical with a non-traditional score” – 7:30 pm, WSHS Theater. More info in our calendar listing. (3000 California SW)
THERE’S MORE! – on our complete calendar.
(SDOT MAP with travel times/video links; is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE)
6:58 AM: Good morning. Just got a text about a crash at 8th and Roxbury, so beware if you are headed that way. Looks from the accompanying photo as if it’s on the eastbound side of the street, right lane. Seattle Fire is just now being dispatched for minor injuries reported to 1 person.
Reminder that the cleanup along surface Spokane Street east of the low bridge is scheduled to continue today and that could mean detours, including the bike path in the area. Seattle City Light says the lighting there should be working by week’s end.
7:14 AM: SFD has already closed its part of the 8th/Roxbury call. One regional incident to mention – on the east side of Boeing Field, Airport Way is closed between Norfolk and Portland as SCL replaces a pole damaged in an early-morning crash.
From Tuesday night’s West Seattle Block Watch Captains Network meeting at the Southwest Precinct:
NEW CRIME-PREVENTION COORDINATOR: Last October, we noted that the new city budget called for each Seattle Police precinct to have its own Crime Prevention Coordinator – Mark Solomon, assigned to the Southwest and South Precincts, has been one of two doing double duty. And now, the plan has become reality – precinct commander Capt. Pierre Davis announced at the WSBWCN meeting that Jennifer Burbridge, who worked extensively with the precinct and community groups as a Seattle University graduate student, got the job. The centerpiece of her work during that longterm assignment was development of the Micro-Community Policing Plans. We’ll have a separate story Thursday morning with more about Burbridge and her new job.
Also at the meeting, local crime updates and a version of what you might call 911 101: Read More
Today’s afternoon/evening sunshine was a welcome reminder that this really is spring. Another seasonal reminder: The 13th annual West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day is getting closer. It’s on the second Saturday in May every year, since its launch in 2005 – three years before we took it over – and this year, that’s Saturday, May 13. Registration always begins in early April and we’ll be opening that exactly one week from now, on Wednesday, April 5th – so look for the link to go up here and at westseattlegaragesale.com when we’re ready. Signup time will last at least three weeks.
If you’re new: WSCGSD is one day of many sales all around the peninsula – many sales in many sizes, and many types of locations – garages, yards, courtyards, schools, businesses, neighbors joining forces for block sales … as long as it’s open at least 9 am-3 pm, the official WSCGSD hours; some choose to start early and/or end late, and you can include that in the listing for your sale in the WSCGSD map packet, which we make available a week in advance so shoppers can plan. So get ready for the year’s biggest day of person-to-person recycling and neighborhood mingling … the countdown continues.
(Cookie Couture onstage – photo by Kingmon Creative)
“If you follow drag queens at all, you know that basically all drag happens on Capitol Hill.” So says West Seattle resident and drag performer Cookie Couture, who is presenting a show – Friday night at The Skylark in North Delridge – aimed at changing that: “West End Girls: A Drag Extravaganza.” “The queens I’ve corralled for this event are some of the best in the city & represent how truly eclectic the drag scene (in Seattle) is.”
Hosted by Cookie, who is most often seen at Kremwerk as host and curator of “ArtHaus: Drag Battle Royale,” the announced performer lineup for Friday is:
Arson Nicki
Betty Wetter
Butylene O’Kipple
Chico Johnson & Miss Kitty Franzia
Fraya Love
Hellen Tragedy
Londyn Bradshaw
Old Witch
Friday night will start with the brand-new episode of “RuPaul’s Drag Race” onscreen at 8 pm; the show starts at 9:30 pm. Tickets are $8 in advance – available online here – or $10 at the door. The Skylark is at 3803 Delridge Way SW.
Three quick West Seattle restaurant notes tonight:
ARTHUR’S GRAND OPENING PUSHED BACK ONE DAY: Don’t show up at 2311 California SW tomorrow morning to be the first to dine at Arthur’s – co-proprietor Rebecca e-mailed today to say they’re opening Friday instead: “Arthur’s is pushing the official opening date back just one day to March 31st. We are excited to see everyone this Friday starting at 8 am!” (Here’s our most-recent report on the new restaurant, which we first mentioned back in November.)
B’S PO BOY TAKING LONGER: We first told you in January about the plan for Cajun cuisine in the ex-Fatburger spot at 2738 Alki SW, and as happens so often, the original timetable for B’s Po Boy was optimistic. We checked back with co-proprietor Deborah, who tells WSB, “We are experiencing construction delays. We are still moving forward, but it is looking more like a June opening.”
SOUTH DELRIDGE NOTE: An early-stage plan in city files suggests a restaurant is proposed for 9211 Delridge Way SW, which has had identities from Dollarwise to dispensary in recent years. No details yet.
(WSB photo from last Friday morning)
As reported here this morning, the promised cleanup is under way along Spokane Street, east of the low bridge, including the area where a bicyclist was attacked last week while riding home from West Seattle. She and others, including West Seattle Bike Connections, pointed out that lights were out on that stretch of the trail and had been out – and reported as out – for months; Seattle City Light said the cleanup, and the sweep of tents encroaching on the path, would facilitate repairs. Today we checked back with SCL spokesperson Scott Thomsen, who told us the lights should be working by week’s end:
We have had workers out there this week, making repairs to lights and wiring where they could work safely. We continue to coordinate our work with the City, which is cleaning up the site to allow our workers better access to the equipment they need to fix. We expect to complete repairs and have the lights back on before dark Friday night.
Meantime, the cleanup operation will continue tomorrow; we went back through the area about an hour ago and there’s clearly still work to do, with bags of trash remaining along the south side of westbound Spokane, just east of where a backhoe was clearing a large dumpsite under the elevated roadway during our visit this morning.
Today we’re welcoming our newest WSB sponsor, Westview Dental. Here’s what they would like you to know about what they do:
Spring is here! The grass is growing, the trees will leaf, the flowers will bloom, and the smiles will be out! Does your smile need to be checked out to make sure it is healthy and ready for summer?! Welcome to Westview Dental!
Dr. Garret Reed and his team are here to offer you a preventative approach to dentistry, while focusing on your individual needs in a welcoming environment. The Westview Dental Team stays on top of the latest dental techniques and procedures so you can have the best dentistry has to offer. The office provides a full range of cosmetic dentistry for those looking for small enhancements to life-changing smiles.
The team at Westview Dental will strive to make your experience more than just “a visit to the dentist.” They will focus on your comfort by adding enjoyment and laughter to your experience. Westview Dental focuses on family dentistry, welcoming anyone from 6 months of age to over 100. Whether you have no teeth or many, you’ll always find a dental home here. We are here waiting for your call and to welcome your smiling face!
Westview Dental is at 5429 California SW; call 206-935-8800.
We thank Westview Dental for sponsoring independent, community-collaborative neighborhood news via WSB; find our current sponsor team listed in directory format here, and find info on joining the team by going here.
12:27 PM: Thanks for the tips – first police were out, and now SDOT is at the scene of a worse-than-usual pothole, rut, whatever you want to call it, on 35th SW north of SW Webster [map].
We have been working on a deeper look at the state of 35th SW, not just from firsthand observation, as we travel along it multiple times daily, but because of many reader inquiries. So stand by for the newest information on that; in the meantime, when there is an emergency hazard like this, call 206-684-ROAD (or 911). Pothole reports otherwise can be made (if you don’t use the Find It, Fix It app) via this web form, and you can check here to see if the one you’re reporting is already on the map.
ADDED 2:23 PM: The SDOT map for major paving projects still has 35th SW listed as 2023, confirms City Councilmember Lisa Herbold‘s office. (See it here.) But they have been hearing a lot about 35th SW too, says legislative assistant Newell Aldrich, and stressing that “it’s a dangerous situation, that we’ve had communications from constituents saying their cars were damaged by large potholes, and ask(ing) SDOT to re-consider the planned 2023 paving schedule and attend to this as soon as possible.” Councilmember Herbold is working on a formal request to SDOT direct Scott Kubly, Aldrich says. Meantime, we also asked SDOT directly if there are any spot paving projects – a block here, a block there, as has been done around West Seattle in recent years – scheduled for 35th this year.
ADDED 7:25 PM: SDOT spokesperson Sue Romero reiterated that 35th SW is not in the schedule until 2023 (same link as the one Councilmember Herbold’s staff pointed to, in the paragraph above):
The southern portion of 35th Ave SW, from SW Roxbury St to SW Morgan St, is included in SDOT’s nine-year AAC paving plan. SDOT continues pothole repairs and spot paving work to keep 35th serviceable until funds allow the reconstruction work to move forward scheduled for 2023.
Here’s an overview of how much paved road the city has, and how it evaluates pavement condition. Followups to come!
STOLEN TRAILER: K just e-mailed to say this was taken last night from Othello/Fauntleroy:
As shown in the photo, the plate is 7052-VJ.
(Added 1:10 pm) STOLEN TRUCK: From Carol:
Our 2005 Ford F-250 was stolen around 4 or 5 am this morning. It is a white pickup , diesel, Super duty, crew cab with a black roll bed cover. License #B66224G. It was parked in front of our house just off of Admiral Way on 64th Ave SW.
CARPORT PROWLERS: From 48th/Hudson, David shares this video and report from Tuesday:
So it looks like they’re working in pairs, one guy checks one car and the other guy checks the next car. They obviously don’t care about flashing lights, security cameras or video surveillance warnings. As I suspected they appear to be hitting the same areas night after night and are working in teams. They have hoodies on and are carrying backpacks. They’re in and out in 5 seconds or less. They’re looking specifically for unlocked cars because you can see them check the doors, so make sure you lock your car every night. Online report made to police.
ANOTHER WARRANT FOR JESSICA DETRICK: A texter says today that neighbors in Highland Park believe they’ve seen Jessica Detrick around again. Court records, in fact, show she is again wanted on a warrant. Detrick is a convicted burglar known for taking along her dog. When last we checked on her a month ago, she was arrested on a warrant for not complying with conditions of the drug treatment included in her sentence last year. A subsequent hearing, prosecutors said, resulted in a condition that she would go back to inpatient treatment and would stay in jail until a bed was available at a treatment facility; apparently something went wrong along the way, because she’s listed on the jail register as “released” March 15th, and the warrant (dated March 17th) says she was due to enter inpatient treatment that day but did not. This is a $15,000-bail warrant, as was the last one.
(WSB photos)
That’s the scene along Spokane Street a short distance west of East Marginal Way, as the city-promised cleanup begins, five days after a bicyclist was attacked along the bike path in the area. While there to see what’s happening, we caught up again with Sgt. Eric Zerr from the SPD-led Navigation Team, which is on scene along with workers from departments including SDOT, Seattle Parks, and Human Services.
Sgt. Zerr told us that the cleanup is starting there and heading east under Spokane, all the way to Airport Way, over the next few days. The area where heavy equipment is digging right now had been used as a dumpsite – he believes the campers in the area were told at one time that if they took their trash there, it would be picked up, but that apparently didn’t happen or stopped happening.
The RV campers – whose site, unlike the tent sites along the bike path, is not slated for sweeping yet – have been told to get their trash out to curbside and it will be picked up as part of the operation. We also saw individual cleanup workers closer to the low bridge; they, according to Sgt. Zerr, are picking up individual pieces of litter such as needles/syringes. As for detours, the bike path was still open while we were there, but be aware of possible detours later – the tent-camp sweep did not appear to have begun. We’ll be checking back this afternoon. We’re also checking with City Light about the plan to repair the lighting in the area; Sgt. Zerr mentioned they were expected on scene too.
BACKSTORY: In case you’re just tuning in to this – which is happening just east of West Seattle – our previous coverage:
*Friday, March 24 – Bicyclist’s warning after attack on path; city’s response
*Monday, March 27 – Interview with Navigation Team leader as city gets ready for cleanup, sweep
*Tuesday, March 28 – Update on cleanup plan
(Brant flying past Lincoln Park’s Point Williams – photographed by Trileigh Tucker)
What you should know for your West Seattle Wednesday, from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar (where you’ll find even more):
SEATTLE PUBLIC LIBRARY CLOSURE: Today’s the day we warned you about:
All locations of The Seattle Public Library and the book drops at Central Library will be closed (today) for a staff in-service day. Regular operating hours will resume (tomorrow).
Need a library? The King County Library System’s White Center branch is close, 1409 SW 107th.
FREE TAX HELP: Tonight’s session of free drop-in help with your tax return is 5-8 pm at the West Seattle Food Bank – explained here. (35th SW/SW Morgan)
OPEN MICROPHONE: 7:30 pm signup, 8:30 pm performances at The Skylark. Free. 21+. (3803 Delridge Way SW)
TRIBUTE TO TRIO: 8 pm at Parliament Tavern: “A fabulous mix of Seattle-based performers pays tribute to TRIO, the original recording by Dolly Parton, Linda Ronstadt, and Emmylou Harris, in honor of its 30th anniversary.” No cover. 21+. (4210 SW Admiral Way)
(SDOT MAP with travel times/video links; is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE)
6:39 AM: Transit notes so far this morning:
-Route 37’s 6:15 am (from 35th/Alaska) run didn’t happen
-The Vashon Water Taxi is canceled this morning because of a “mechanical issue” (the regular backup boat, M/V Spirit of Kingston, is not available because it’s in the middle of a 5-week maintenance period)
No road incidents in our area so far.
6:56 AM: If you use the bicycle trail along surface Spokane Street east of the low bridge – and/or surface Spokane Street itself – reminder that today is the scheduled start of two days of trash cleanup in the area, as we’ve been reporting since Friday. Last word from the city is that the detours won’t start until after 9 am.
11:02 AM: We were there a little while ago and the main eastbound and westbound lanes, and bicycle path, had yet to be affected, though the cleanup has begun. We’ll check back later.
Also: King County has confirmed the Vashon Water Taxi will be back in service for its pm runs.
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