West Seattle, Washington
30 Thursday
8:03 PM: Thanks for the tips and photos – there’s a car fire on NB 99 in south of the stadium zone.
No details, including whether anyone has been hurt.
8:45 PM: The two fire engines originally dispatched to the scene are still there, per SFD’s incident log. SDOT, meantime, says two northbound lanes are now open at the scene.
9:09 PM: SDOT says all lanes are open again. We’re checking with SFD about cause and injuries; if we don’t hear back tonight, we’ll add the update whenever we do.
11:44 PM: SFD spokesperson Kristin Tinsley says the car was engulfed in flames when their engines arrived; the cause wasn’t immediately determined, but she does confirm that no injuries were reported.
6:14 PM: Thanks for the tips. Guardian One has been in the Westcrest Park area for a bit, but we don’t yet know what the search is for. Will update if/when we find out.
6:33 PM: Guardian One says via Twitter that they are helping police look for a missing child, described as wearing orange shorts, missing near 4th and Cambridge.
7:16 PM: SPD has yet to say anything about the search but someone just texted us to say it was her neighbor’s child and that he has been located.
Just out of the inbox, from Easy Street Records in The Junction:
We invite you to join us at Easy Street tonight at 7 pm for a humble celebration of the music and life of Chris Cornell, who tragically left us this week.
And since today marks the release of the 25th anniversary deluxe edition of the soundtrack to the movie that grunge built, Singles, we will be playing the soundtrack while showing the movie on the small screens and giving away some really cool prizes. We’ll also be spinning Soundgarden/Audioslave/Solo Chris/Singles tracks, serving up dollar Oly beers, and most importantly, remembering and honoring one of the greatest singers in the history of rock and roll.
We’ll miss you, Chris Cornell. Our deepest sympathies go out to his family, as well as all of his bandmates and friends.
4:32 PM: Thanks to the texter who reports a crash involving a motorcycle rider in Fauntleroy. Seattle Fire units are logged as responding to a crash in the 4300 block of Brace Point Drive. We’re told they’re in the westbound lane. A witness tells us the rider is sitting up, alert, and talking with medics. But avoid the area if you can.
4:37 PM: All SFD units have now cleared the scene.
(WSDOT photo)
It’s been a month and a half since the Highway 99 tunneling machine finished digging. Besides roadbuilding and other work underground, the task of breaking the machine into pieces continues. Here’s the latest from WSDOT.
In the disassembly pit near Seattle Center, work is continuing around the clock – cutting, lifting and removing heavy pieces of the SR 99 tunneling machine. As of yesterday, eight small spokes and the bulk of five larger spokes have been taken out of the disassembly pit. More than 50 percent of the iconic cutterhead has now been removed.
Crews are also working inside the tunnel to remove the tunneling machine and other pieces of the tunneling operation no longer needed now that the tunneling portion is complete. Seattle Tunnel Partners is removing conveyor system components which had been used to carry the dirt underneath Seattle out to waiting barges. Temporary utilities, hydraulic lines and hoses are also coming out. And STP has started disassembling the back end of the trailing cars that carried all the equipment for tunnel-building. In all, eight thousand tons of equipment will eventually be removed from Seattle’s new tunnel to clear the path for building the rest of the double-deck road inside.
See five more photos accompanying this update on the WSDOT website. The most-recent schedule projects that the tunnel should open to traffic in early 2019, with demolition of what remains of the Alaskan Way Viaduct to follow.
A couple times this week, we’ve heard from West Seattleites with discolored (“brown”) tap water. First Gatewood, today Arbor Heights (thanks for the report, and for the photo above). The potential causes are numerous; no water breaks in either case so far as we have heard, so we thought we would remind you of what to do if it happens to you – First thing, call Seattle Public Utilities at 206-386-1800. Usually it’ll turn out to be something simple like firefighters testing hydrants in your area. Here’s what you’ll usually be asked to do – but don’t wait to report it, even if you do suspect it’s something routine – SPU has told us over and over again that they want to know.
Highlights for the rest of your Friday:
DISTRICT TRACK AND FIELD MEET: Go cheer for local high-school standouts this afternoon/evening at Southwest Athletic Complex. (2801 SW Thistle)
WINE TASTING @ VISCON CELLARS: 5-9 pm, start your weekend with a stop at the Viscon Cellars (WSB sponsor) tasting room. (5910 California SW)
ALKI DAZE: First night of a weekend-long bicycle-centered celebration organized by Alki resident Guy Olson. Meet and greet at 6 pm at Alki Bike and Board in The Admiral District; ride to Alki at 7:30; bonfire follows. Full details here.
STATE SOCCER PLAYOFFS: West Seattle High School‘s boys-soccer team plays Gig Harbor 6 pm tonight at Memorial Stadium downtown, in the quarterfinals of the state tournament. (401 5th Ave. N.)
WEST SEATTLE COMMUNITY ORCHESTRAS: 6:30 pm, free concert featuring the WSCO Intermediate Orchestra and Wind Symphony at the Chief Sealth International High School auditorium – here’s a preview WSCO shared from rehearsal, with musicians led by conductor Mike Jauregui:
Program details in our calendar listing. (2600 SW Thistle)
SIGGIE THE VINTAGE MAN: “Solo acoustic performer in the Americana style who sings 85% covers and 15% originals,” C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor), 7-9 pm. (5612 California SW)
SWEET, SWEET MUSIC: 7:30 pm concert and dessert at Fauntleroy Church. (9140 California SW)
THERE’S MORE … just check out our complete-calendar page!
Thanks to Brian Presser from TouchTech Systems in The Junction for photos and first word that the West Seattle Junction Association‘s famed flower baskets are going up right now!
As we have been reporting, you’ll find something new by most baskets this year – a plaque for the local business/organization/individual that “adopted” the basket. (Including us!)
P.S. One good way to get a close-up look – go volunteer in The Junction tomorrow for Spring Clean! Not too late. Here’s how.
The spring postseason continues for high-school athletes, and the district track and field championships are set today and Saturday at Southwest Athletic Complex. Thanks to Kristin for sharing Chief Sealth International High School track coach Lorna Considine‘s announcement of the CSIHS participants:
Please congratulate the following students who have advanced to the District Track Meet this Friday and Saturday at SWAC: Mia Hyde, Eve Elmore, Imani Carey, Chloe Myers, Jessica Nelson, Quinn Wiley, Keyaira Corbray, Jasmine Smith, Elijah Jackson, Brandyn Gibson.
Also congratulations to:
2017 METRO CHAMPION QUINN WILEY in the 300 Meter Hurdles
2017 METRO CHAMPION ELIJAH JACKSON in the Long Jump and High Jump
SWAC is at 2801 SW Thistle, across the street from CSIHS.
(SDOT MAP with travel times/video links; is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE)
6:59 AM: Good morning and happy Friday! No incidents reported so far in/from West Seattle.
BIKE EVERYWHERE DAY: The former “Bike to Work Day” is now “Bike Everywhere Day” and you’ll find West Seattle Bike Connections and friends by the low bridge.
Thanks for the photo!
SUNDAY REMINDER: If you’re not running/walking in Sunday morning’s West Seattle 5K (co-sponsored by WSB) – don’t forget that Alki SW will be closed to traffic for a few hours along the route (which goes from 61st/Alki to Anchor Park and back) starting at 8 am. (Though online registration is over, you can still sign up Saturday at West Seattle Runner [2743 California SW, WSB sponsor] or Sunday before the race.)
It’s Bike Everywhere Day – and a busy route between West Seattle and downtown has some improvements in place, Scott Morgan tells us:
I wanted to send a big thank-you to Lisa Herbold, who has helped to improve East Marginal Way for all the West Seattle Bikers who use it. I brought up the issue of trucks parking in the bike lane last November which happens multiple times a week as they wait for the Port to open their gates in the mornings. She has persistently worked with Chris Eaves at SDOT to add delineator posts to this stretch. The desire is that these posts will be a small reminder that the bike lane are for bikes and not parking trucks.
I’ve included pictures from my commute (Wednesday – above) and one from last week (below).
It’s a route where many have long advocated for improvements, and more are on the way.
The first major festival of spring/summer is almost here! The West Seattle Bee Festival will turn High Point Commons Park and vicinity – including the West Seattle Bee Garden itself – into a hive of activity on Saturday starting at 10 am (after the 8:30 am Honey Run). In the top photo, that’s one of the organizers, Deborah Vandermar from the High Point Open Spaces Association, after she and co-organizer Karen Berge (who took the picture) put up the banner at Walking on Logs along the southwest end of the West Seattle Bridge.
A special aspect of the Bee Festival is that it’s educational as well as fun. Toward that end, don’t miss the hive demonstration at the Bee Garden on the north end of the park at noon. Yes, there are bees at the Bee Garden, and the woman whose dream it was, Lauren Englund, is their keeper. If the weather’s truly good on Saturday, she might even do a second demonstration, Karen tells us.
When you’re there, don’t miss what’s happening inside Neighborhood House High Point, on the south end of the park. Art and science activities for kids start with costume-making at 10 am for the parade at 11 am; artists Hosanna Tekle and Ellen Rivers will work with parade participants on costumes, and then host art activities in the afternoon. Also inside, Karen adds, “Non-kids can learn how to build a house for Mason Bees or bring favorite clothing items to Pop-Up Sewing and learn to repair them.” Deborah’s putting that together, Karen says, adding that Seattle Housing Authority‘s Asmeret Habte has been working on music, activities, and food – the latter is highlighted by a noon-1:30 pm international-finger-food buffet.
Environmental sustainability and organic gardening are big focuses too, and Karen has been organizing the Vendor Fair (11 am-2 pm) with participants from those areas, including the Puget Sound Beekeepers Association, Honeybee Conservancy, Tilth Alliance, Camp Long naturalists, Rent Mason Bees, P-Patch program, mobile farm stand ROAR, Nature Stewards/Weed Warriors, six businesses with bee-related products, and community-resource organizations including the West Seattle Timebank, West Seattle Food Bank, West Seattle Block Watch Captains Network, West Seattle Be Prepared, Nature Consortium, Neighborcare Health, SHA Family Self-Sufficiency Program … plus the Seattle Police Department (until ~12:30) and Seattle Fire Department (starting ~12:30) are planning to stop by.
The plant/seed/tool swap is on for 11 am-2 pm, too; if you have more flower/vegetable starts than you can use, bring them to the festival, along with extra seeds, garden tools, or related books. Here’s an overview of how the festival will be laid out:
Find even more festival information online, here!
The tally’s in, and the West Seattle Food Bank is expressing gratitude tonight for everyone involved with last Saturday’s Instruments of Change fundraiser. From WSFB’s Judi Yazzolino:
The Board of Directors and Staff of the West Seattle Food Bank would like to graciously thank our sponsors, donors, guests and our dedicated and hardworking volunteers for making our 10th Annual Instruments of Change Dinner/Auction such a huge success, raising over $148,500, which was $17,000 more than last year.
More than 250 guests joined us on Saturday evening, May 13th at The Seattle Design Center to not only raise money for the many programs and services provided to those in need as well as celebrating the 10th anniversary of the 35th & Morgan location.
This extremely fun event featured a hosted Happy Hour where guests enjoyed tossing a ring for a bottle of wine in the Wine Toss, tasting some fabulous liquor and cocktails by Peel & Press and bidding on unique Silent Auction items donated by West Seattle businesses.
After sitting down for dinner, provided by Tuxedos and Tennis Shoes Catering, guests participated in a very energetic Heads or Tails, a live auction where guests bid on having their table served wine by board president & owner of Viscon Cellars, Ben Viscon (left), a table of specialty drink made by The Bridge and dashed for some incredible desserts donated by the best in our community. After a film produced by Huskinson Productions and a heartwarming talk by client Robert Duris, guests generously raised their paddles for those in the West Seattle community in need of a little help.
Please congratulate Metropolitan Market and their customers for being the recipient of our 2nd Annual Instrument of Change Award. Two past managers, Darryl Pittman and Glen Hasstedt, and current manager Paul Marth (all 3 at right) were there to accept the award. We have such appreciation for the generosity that the Metropolitan Market customers give us every year during food drives and the annual Holiday Drive and certainly to Metropolitan Market for donating food to us for our clients every single day!
Thank You to Our Generous Sponsors!
We’d like to thank the sponsors who generously supported us this year: HomeStreet Bank, Nucor Steel, CHI Franciscan Health, Seattle & Oregon Wine Awards; CoHo Team of Windermere Agents; First Lutheran Church of West Seattle; Holy Rosary School; Viscon Cellars; Quail Park Memory Care Residence of West Seattle; David & Jarvis Weld; Avalon Glassworks; Ncompass Construction; Swedish Automotive; Verity Credit Union; West Seattle Blog; Financial Design. Thank you so much for your continued support. You are truly instruments of positive change!
Thank you so much, West Seattle! All proceeds from Instruments of Change will ensure the thousands of children, seniors and adults the West Seattle Food Bank serves have access to quality, healthy food and other needed services.
(Among the businesses/organizations mentioned above, Metropolitan Market, Peel & Press, HomeStreet Bank, CHI Franciscan Health, Quail Park Memory Care, Ncompass Construction, Viscon Cellars, and Swedish Automotive also are WSB sponsors.)
Can you help find a suspected killer? The King County Sheriff’s Office has just identified a suspect in the May 7th murder of James Little in White Center, and released his photo:
A Murder 1 warrant has been issued for Billy D. Williams, 30, of Oregon, for the May 7th murder of Seattle resident James Little, 30.
Little was attending a birthday party at a bar in the 9800 block of 16 Ave SW when a group of women got into a fight. The fight ended up outside and the women eventually separated.
Little approached a group of people across the street when Williams, who was in the group, pulled a gun and shot him in the head, killing him.
Detectives have not released a motive for the shooting but said Williams has ties to Albany, Oregon and Seattle. Williams is described as a black man, 30, 5’8”, medium build.
If you have information regarding the whereabouts of Williams you can call 911 or you may remain anonymous and be eligible for a reward of up to $1000 by calling Crime Stoppers at 800-222-TIPS (8477).
Thanks to Fauntleroy Creek steward Judy Pickens for the top photo and report (and headline!):
Today’s salmon release in Fauntleroy Park was the last for retiring fifth-grade teacher Tim Hannah. He’s spent most of his 28-year career at Alki Elementary and initiated the Salmon in the Schools rearing project there in 1992.
(Photo courtesy Karisa MacLachlan)
Alki’s release was No. 13 for Fauntleroy Watershed Council volunteers, with six more to go. By the end of the month, an estimated 750 students will have enriched the creek with about 2,200 coho fry.
After that, the next seasonal touchpoint for Fauntleroy Creek and its salmon happens this fall, when volunteers watch for spawners.
One week before the city’s Highland Park Find It, Fix It Walk – first announced, casually, more than three months ago – the starting point, starting time, and route map have just been made public. Click the image above for a full-size PDF of the plan. The walk will start at Highland Park Improvement Club (1116 SW Holden) at 6:30 pm, but you’re invited to HPIC as early as 5:30 pm for refreshments and mingling. The stops planned with community leaders are listed on the map and include some of Highland Park’s key unresolved issues, including traffic at Highland Park Way/Holden, this winter’s major mudslide down the HP Way hill, the unrepaired, arson-damaged restroom at Riverview Playfield, side-street speeding, and more. Meantime, from today’s route announcement, a few notes from the city Department of Neighborhoods:
Participants can use the Find It, Fix It mobile app on the walk. This smartphone app offers mobile users one more way to report selected issues to the City. Make sure to download the app before the walk.
In partnership with Cities of Service, the City will offer up to $3,000 in grants for community-led projects to each 2017 Find It, Fix It Walk neighborhood. The Highland Park Community Project Grant Application is available at seattle.gov/finditfixit until June 8. If you have an idea for a project in Highland Park please apply today!
West Seattle’s previous Find It, Fix It walks were in Roxhill/Westwood last July (WSB coverage here) and in North Delridge in October 2015 (WSB coverage here).
Back on Monday, we mentioned a collision on Delridge that sent a bicyclist to the hospital. Today, she e-mailed to ask if we would share this:
I wanted to say thank you to everyone who came to my assistance on Monday.
I am the bicyclist that got hit at Delridge and Willow. It was a very scary situation made much better by the bystanders and first responders that came to my aid. It was incredibly kind of the complete strangers who brought blankets and jackets out to keep the rain off me. And special thanks to one woman who came over to check on me and helped keep me calm. And of course, all the first responders were unbelievably professional and kind. Just wanted everyone to know how much it meant to me.
– Kristen
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
The city and county reps on hand at the third “community conversation” about Myers Way-related homelessness issues almost outnumbered the community members who showed up.
But a smaller turnout than the previous “conversation” did not result in fewer questions; this crowd had plenty. Read More
(Great Blue Heron, photographed by Mark Wangerin)
Here are highlights of what’s ahead today/tonight, from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
DANCE TIME WITH LAUREN PETRIE: 2-4 pm, go dance at the Senior Center of West Seattle in The Junction, with live music by Lauren Petrie! More info in our calendar listing. (4217 SW Oregon)
GLO DENTAL STUDIO GRAND-OPENING CELEBRATION: 4-6 pm, you’re invited to Glo Dental Studio (WSB sponsor) for the grand-opening celebration, starting with a ribbon-cutting, continuing with refreshments, and great specials – details in our calendar listing. (3295 SW Avalon Way)
WEST SEATTLE TIMEBANK: 6-8 pm gathering tonight at White Center Library, with guest speaker Rachel Glass from Hate-Free Delridge. Details in our calendar listing. (1407 SW 107th)
SOUTHWEST DESIGN REVIEW BOARD: One project on the agenda, 6:30 pm tonight at the Senior Center/Sisson Building – the Early Design Guidance review (size/shape/location) for 4417 42nd SW, “a 4-story apartment building containing 58 units and 4 live-work units,” with 29 underground parking spaces. The project is called Junction Landing; it’s one door north of, and proposed by the same local team behind, Junction Flats. See the design packet here; we first mentioned this project back in December. The meeting includes a public-comment period. (4217 SW Oregon)
ALKI COMMUNITY COUNCIL: 7 pm at Alki UCC, the ACC agenda includes a “focus group” conversation with the Southwest Precinct’s new grad-student research analyst to discuss crime/safety issues. (6115 SW Hinds)
LIVE MUSIC AT WHISKY WEST: 7-9 pm, David Johnson performs “melodic arrangements on guitar & piano.” No cover. 21+. (6451 California SW)
BELLYDANCING: The monthly Alauda showcase at The Skylark is tonight, starting at 7:30 pm. No cover. All ages. (3803 Delridge Way SW)
(WSB photos and video by Randall Hauk. Above, Kyle Seager donating books for the Sanislo library)
Exciting end to the school day for students (and staff!) at Sanislo Elementary on Wednesday. Sanislo was one of four schools in the region chosen by the Seattle Mariners for the 20th annual DREAM Team Assemblies. More photos and video ahead: Read More
(SDOT MAP with travel times/video links; is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE)
7:02 AM: Good morning! No incidents so far in/from West Seattle.
Looking ahead:
BIKE EVERYWHERE DAY TOMORROW: If you’ll be riding on what used to be Bike to Work Day,
stop at the west end of the low bridge for the special station with West Seattle Bike Connections and friends, 6-9 am – details in our calendar listing.
WEST SEATTLE 5K ON SUNDAY: A reminder that Alki Avenue will close to traffic for a few hours on Sunday morning (May 21st), starting at 8 am, for this year’s West Seattle 5K – the route is from 61st/Alki to Anchor Park, and the closure usually goes a bit beyond on both sides, Don Armeni to 63rd/Alki.
6:52 AM: Sad news overnight. Music star Chris Cornell has died in Detroit, just 52, after Soundgarden‘s sold-out concert there. His Seattle ties were strong, given his years with that band (and so much more). He lived in West Seattle long ago, as mentioned here in WSB’s early months, when he had a solo hit with the theme from the first James Bond movie starring Daniel Craig. Mr. Cornell also was a philanthropist, forming the Chris and Vicky Cornell Foundation with his wife, “to protect the most vulnerable children.” He is survived by three children of his own. His body was found in his hotel room; the cause of his death is under investigation. (2011 photo, via Wikimedia)
P.S. KEXP is paying tribute all day (90.3 FM/online).
12:02 PM: Authorities in Detroit say Mr. Cornell died by suicide.
There’s help for anyone thinking of self-harm … here in King County, the Crisis Clinic has a 24-hour hotline at 206-461-3222. And here’s what the American Federation for Suicide Prevention says.
11:23 PM: A view of tonight’s biggest tribute:
#SpaceNeedle went dark tonight in honor of #ChrisCornell #Seattle #RIPChrisCornell pic.twitter.com/1x7DNm1sQw
— Sigma Sreedharan (@sigmas) May 19, 2017
Last August, we brought you the story of Colton Fukano, who at age 4 – before starting kindergarten – had just won a state BMX championship. This week, we have an update on Colton’s bicycle-racing achievements, again from proud mom Shawnda Fukano:
Race season has started again for 5-year-old Colton Fukano, a kindergartener at Genesee Hill Elemenatary and member of team Sonic BMX. This past weekend he took 1st place at the Fraser Valley National Race in Chilliwack, British Columbia, where he raced against the top intermediate five-year-olds from Western Canada. We want to say thank you to Coach Jamie Stenson and Michael Benson, owner of Sprocketts Recycled Bicycles in Magnolia, for sponsoring the team. If any kids are interested in trying out BMX, check out the North SeaTac BMX track’s summer camps. West Seattle Cyclery in the Alaska Junction can help you get anything you might need to get started!
Colton’s been a BMX rider since he was 3; his backstory is in the August report.
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