West Seattle, Washington
01 Saturday
Something new for one of our area’s liveliest community facilities! The photos and report are from Dina Lydia Johnson:
The 98-year-old Highland Park Improvement Club, a neighborhood gathering place, finally has permanent signage! This is something we’ve been wanting and needing for many years.
The design was developed by committee: Kay Kirkpatrick (photo above), Dina Johnson (photo below), Julie Schickling, and Nicole Mazza over the past year or more.
The new signage graces the area of the facade where the “eyebrow” fell last year. Meantime, more scenes from the installation, featuring HPIC trustees Blair Johnson and Billy Markham:
Dina adds, “It’s done just in time to be wildly celebrated at the Club’s annual festive wine-tasting fundraiser Highland Park Uncorked, this Saturday, May 20th. Thanks to ALL!” Find out more about Uncorked (with sponsors including WSB) on the HPIC website.
With days to go until this year’s West Seattle 5K (9:20 am Sunday, May 21st, from 61st/Alki to Anchor Park and back), race organizers asked us to let you know about a first-of-its-kind offer::
An anonymous donor has generously offered to pay the entrance fee for a local family in need that wants to run the West Seattle 5K this weekend. If you know a family that would like to participate, but isn’t sure if it is within their means, please e-mail bsweagraff@saffronkey.com and we’ll sign that family up. The donor does not care how big the family is — they just want to support the community.
The WS5K (with sponsors including WSB) is a benefit for West Seattle High School via its PTSA.
As the Fauntleroy Boulevard project gets closer to final design, many who are closely watching the process have asked for details of the newest traffic studies done by/for SDOT – since the project was on hold for a few years, and conditions changed in the meantime, new studies were ordered. The full report has just been linked to the project website, and we’ve uploaded it to Scribd so you can also see it, embedded, above (direct link to city-hosted PDF is here).
In short – SDOT says that the study’s results do NOT change its plan to eliminate the right-turn “pockets” at Avalon and Oregon. Right turns WILL still be allowed – but turns will have to be made from the outside through lane.
Meantime, if you don’t have time to read through the study report (31 pages) right now, here’s how the contractor summarizes its findings on page 28:
The proposed project will construct landscaped center medians, realigned intersections, improved street lighting, protected bike facilities and improved pedestrian facilities with defined sidewalks and new crossings of Fauntleroy Way SW.
DKS has completed a project traffic analysis of the existing, the year of opening, and the future 2044 project condition. The following summarizes the main findings of analysis:
The protected bike lanes are proposed to be one‐way on both sides of the corridor and therefore should have minimal impact on the signal operations as a bike signal phase will not be required.
The year of opening conditions accounts for an 8% growth which includes planned development within the next two years in the area. Signal timing changes at intersections along Fauntleroy Way SW and 35th Avenue SW are required to accommodate this growth. The signal timing adjustments, in conjunction with turn restrictions, provide acceptable LOS D or better operations in the year of opening conditions. Certain intersections experience better operations in future conditions due to optimized signal timing. The proposed additional marked crosswalks across Fauntleroy Way SW at SW Avalon Way and at SW Oregon Street are not recommended as they would require an additional signal phase for an exclusive pedestrian crossing, reducing the efficiency of the intersection operations by introducing additional pedestrian and vehicle delay at the individual intersections and to the corridor.
The Fauntleroy Way SW Boulevard project is expected to allow for acceptable corridor operations through the year 2044. This is due in large part to PSRC’s new 2040 regional travel demand model which projects little vehicle traffic growth along Fauntleroy Way SW, but a 25‐33% growth in transit trips on the SW Alaska Street/35th Avenue SW transit corridor. Also, by 2040, both pedestrian and bicycle trips in this section of the City are expected to grow at approximately twice the rate of vehicle trips.
To ensure a conservative analysis, pedestrian volumes were assumed to double at the intersection of SW Alaska Street/Fauntleroy Way SW Boulevard, while bicycle volumes were assumed to double along the corridor for the year of 2017. Through 2044, pedestrian volumes were assumed to double at every intersection and bicycle volumes were assumed to triple along the corridor.
Meantime, SDOT continues taking comments through the end of this month on whether to break the median at 37th SW – scroll to the middle of the project page to see how to send your thoughts. The city expects to finalize the design this summer and start construction earlier this year.
Previous WSB coverage can be browsed here.
By Randall Hauk
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
Opioid addiction continues to be the root cause behind much of West Seattle’s property crime problems, Captain Pierre Davis explained at last night’s meeting of the West Seattle Crime Prevention Council.
Opening the meeting, the Southwest Precinct commander updated community leaders and interested residents on the West Seattle/South Park police force’s progress on a number of crime-related issues. Later in the meeting, SPD’s citywide Traffic Enforcement Section commander was the special guest.
First, trends and issues: Davis says car prowls are down 22 percent from last year over the first four months of 2017, but that there continues to be a lot of auto thefts occurring in West Seattle neighborhoods (neighborhood-crime statistics are available via the SPD Crime Dashboard). While police continue to track cases and make a significant number of arrests, Davis says that reacting to crimes after the fact will have minimal impact on the issue.
“As the chief says, we will never arrest our way out of problems like this,” said Davis.
The captain reiterated advice about assuring valuables are not left in vehicles to help prevent becoming a victim, especially with the warmer weather of summer months approaching, when Davis says activity tends to rise. Read More
(Thunderpussy’s 2016 KEXP performance)
Less than two months until the peninsula’s biggest party of the year – West Seattle Summer Fest, in the heart of The Junction, this year set for Friday-Sunday, July 14th-16th. And we’ve just received first word of this year’s music lineup – headlined on Night 1 by Thunderpussy (video above), on Night 2 by Brent Amaker and The Rodeo (video below), and wrapped up on Day 3 by The Dusty 45s.
(Brent Amaker and The Rodeo’s 2012 Seattle Channel/ArtZone performance)
Here’s the full lineup:
FRIDAY
3:30 – Po Boys
4:30 – Wiscon
5:30 – Dryland
6:30 – Hotels
7:30 – Sassy Black
8:30 – Purple Mane (Prince Tribute)
9:30 – DJ Kurt Bloch
10:00 – ThunderpussySATURDAY
1130 – School of Rock
12:30 – Wild Wild Mexico
1:30 – Lisa Prank
2:30 – Thee Sgt Major III
3:30 – The Gods Themselves
4:30 – Golden Gardens
5:30 – Genders
6:30 – Sisters
7:30 – CHARMS
8:30 – Porter Ray
9:30 – Vox Mod
10:00 – Brent Amaker & The RodeoSUNDAY
12:00 – South Sound Tug & Barge
1:00 – Mega Bog
2:00 – Swedish Finnish
3:00 – Carrie Akre & Danny Newcomb from Goodness
4:00 – Dusty 45’s
These are all the main-stage acts on the north end of the festival zone, between SW Oregon and SW Genesee. Summer Fest info continues to be rolled out on the official website – go here – so set your calendar for July 14-16! (WSB is a Summer Fest sponsor again this year.)
(Thanks to John Bartell for the Tuesday night sunshine photo from Brace Point)
We’ve arrived at midweek and the weekend’s in view. But first – six highlights for your Wednesday, from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
BABY STORY TIME: 11:30 am at High Point Library – bring the little one(s) up to 12 months old. (35th SW/W Raymond)
FREE SELF-DEFENSE WORKSHOP: 3:30-5:30 pm at West Seattle High School Library. While this is aimed at girls and women, all are welcome – details in our calendar listing. (3000 California SW)
ROXBURY PAVING OPEN HOUSE: As we’ve been reporting, SDOT might move up the SW Roxbury paving project to 2019, and tonight is your chance to find out more and get your questions answered by dropping in at an open house, 5:30-7 pm at Southwest Library. (35th SW/SW Henderson)
ULTIMATE FRISBEE PICKUP GAME: Join your neighbors for an informal pickup game at 6 pm Wednesdays, starting tonight at Fairmount Playfield. (Fauntleroy Way SW/SW Brandon)
WORDSWEST LITERARY SERIES: 7 pm at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor), this month’s WordsWest Literary Series event:
“Disruption and Repair” with Laura Da’ and Lena Khalaf Tuffaha
Both Laura Da’ and Lena Khalaf Tuffaha are incredible poets who bring unique perspectives from their extraordinary backgrounds.
We also host a community member to share his or her favorite poem as part of the Favorite Poem Project. This month: Pathfinder K-8 Teacher Kelly Riggle Hower.
Free; all welcome. (5612 California SW)
DELRIDGE NEIGHBORHOODS DISTRICT COUNCIL: 7 pm at Neighborhood House High Point. (6400 Sylvan Way SW)
THANKS TO EVERYONE WHO SENDS CALENDAR LISTINGS! editor@westseattleblog.com – plain text in the body of your e-mail, as far in advance as possible. Thank you!
(Thanks to Sara for the photo!)
The West Seattle High School boys-soccer team has advanced to the next round of the state playoffs with a 2-1 win last night over previously unbeaten Stadium HS – via a double-overtime goal. Later this week, the Wildcats play Gig Harbor; as of early this morning, the time/site were not yet listed on the bracket page.
(SDOT MAP with travel times/video links; is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE)
6:25 AM: Good morning! No incidents so far in/from West Seattle.
Looking ahead:
BIKE EVERYWHERE DAY ON FRIDAY: What used to be Bike to Work Day is Bike Everywhere Day, and once again, West Seattle Bike Connections and friends will have a special stop along the bike path 6-9 am, with bicyclists also invited to join a 7:30 am ride to the rally downtown – details in our calendar listing.
WEST SEATTLE 5K ON SUNDAY: Alki Avenue closes to traffic on Sunday morning (May 21st) at 8 am for the West Seattle 5K and should reopen sometime in the 11 am hour – 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.
6:45 AM: Waikikigirl e-mailed to ask you to watch out for wildlife crossing: “This morning at 5:30am walking eastbound on SW Roxbury (south side of road) and approximately 22nd Ave SW, there were a Mother duck and her 6 babies walking the fog line. PLEASE BE CAREFUL, motorists – KEEP AN EYE out for them!”
8:03 AM: SDOT reports a crash at Delridge/Oregon; SFD has been dispatched.
8:16 AM: SFD has closed that call.
Our hotline (206-293-6302) rang this afternoon – someone wondering who to call about a dead porpoise. In West Seattle, if it’s a stranded (dead or alive) marine mammal, you call Seal Sitters Marine Mammal Stranding Network, we replied – 206-905-SEAL. We just found out what happened later, with local wildlife advocate Kersti Muul sending photos and this report:
This evening there was a washed-up female harbor porpoise on the beach at low tide just South of the Lighthouse…. Initial rudimentary scans appear to reveal some issue with birthing perhaps. She was so beautiful, practically flawless and beautifully designed by nature…. I photographed her for evidence of transient orca interference but found none.
Seal Sitters was there with her and a group of us helped carry her to a private driveway where she was to be picked up for necropsy by Cascadia Research Collective.
As noted by NOAA last year, harbor porpoises had dwindled in Puget Sound until a big comeback in recent years
Turns out our area had more representation at last weekend’s regional underwater-robotics competition – the report and photos are from Denny International Middle School principal Jeff Clark :
Congratulations are in order for the Denny Underwater Robotics Program! We sent two teams to compete in the Pacific Northwest ROV competition in Federal Way on Saturday. Both teams worked extremely hard all year and our Scout Team placed 3rd overall! Way to go, Dolphins! Thank you to Mr. Nelson for coaching them!
As reported here last weekend, an independent team of West Seattle youth competed too, and is headed to internationals.
(2002 photo of Springer, by Mark Sears)
An amazing story that unfolded just west of here 15 years ago, with many West Seattleites involved, will be retold and celebrated starting this Saturday. Donna Sandstrom of WS-based The Whale Trail shares the explanation and invitation:
“Celebrate Springer!” marks the 15th anniversary of the dramatic rescue in the waters off of Vashon Island of the orphaned orca Springer (A-73) and the heroic efforts by Washington and British Columbia teams working together to return her safely to her home 300 miles north in Johnstone Strait at the north end of Vancouver Island.
Today, Springer is still healthy and in 2013 had her first calf, Spirit. They are most often seen on the north central British Columbia coast and occasionally return to Johnstone Strait in summer.
The 2002 Springer rescue team will reconvene at 1 PM on Saturday, May 20, at the Vashon Theater to tell “Springer’s Story,” first-hand accounts of how Springer was identified, rescued and rehabilitated.
“Celebrate Springer!” will also feature a dance performance by Le La La Dancers, who were present at Springer’s release, and followed at 5 PM by The Whale Trail sign dedication at the Point Robinson Lighthouse Park.
Sponsors for the Vashon Theater event are Jody Peetz and Pete Schroeder, Marine Mammal Veterinarian. Tickets are available in advance from Vashon Theater tickets (go here).
The Point Robinson location has been identified by The Whale Trail as one of the best places to watch whales from shore. The new sign was funded by the Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife and customized for the Point Robinson site with the assistance of Vashon resident Rebecca Benson, Point Robinson historian Bruce Haulman and Vashon Park staff Eric Wyatt.
“Life is filled with magical moments,” said Vashon Parks executive director Elaine Ott-Rocheford. “I count myself lucky to hold a front row seat to many spectacular sights from our own beloved park system. We are thrilled about the new Whale Trail sign being posted at Point Robinson Park, as it provides a ready education about the natural marine life wonders to be viewed from the park’s shoreline. The posting of the sign represents a perfect tribute to the story of Springer, the orphaned Orca, who was rescued off the north end of Vashon Island.”
The new Whale Trail sign is one of three funded by the state Fish and Wildlife Department. Others will be dedicated in the summer at Fay Bainbridge State Park and at Point Defiance.
“WDFW provides services that link our quality of life to healthy natural resources and ecosystems,” said Deputy Chief Mike Cenci with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Police. ”It’s a privilege to be a partner in this project where the public can view and appreciate the spectacle of these Northwest icons from shore. Watch for and wave at the Fish and Wildlife Police Boat that ensures protection of the whales.”
“Springer’s story is an unqualified success – the only project of its kind in history,” said Donna Sandstrom, director of The Whale Trail and organizer of the Vashon Island event. “We hope her story inspires people to join us in working on issues facing our endangered southern resident orcas today, with the same urgency, courage and resolve.”
“Celebrate Springer!” events will continue in June and July with programs at NOAA Fisheries, Whale Trail Orca Talk, Whale Trail sign dedications, and conclude with a three-day program at Telegraph Cove, British Columbia, where Springer was released in 2002 and rejoined her Northern Resident family.
The lineup is set for this year’s West Seattle Outdoor Movies, six free summer Saturday movies in the “festival street” on the south side of the West Seattle YMCA (WSB sponsor). Drum roll …
July 22 – “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story”
July 29 – “The LEGO Batman Movie”
August 5 – “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them”
August 12 – “Finding Dory”
August 19 – “Queen of Katwe”
August 26 – “Beauty and the Beast” (2017)
The movie series (with co-sponsors including WSB) will feature preshow kids’ games and activities coordinated by the Y. Food trucks, too, and concessions, plus nonprofit-fundraising rallies. And the last movie of summer will include the free community barbecue sponsored by West Seattle Christian Church. Movies start at dusk. See you in the street!
(WSB photo from Relay for Life West Seattle 2016)
Continuing to count down to summer events, we are now exactly one month away from this year’s Relay for Life West Seattle, raising money to fight cancer. This year, the overnight event will be at Hiawatha Playfield instead of West Seattle Stadium (which has a resurfacing project coming up), starting at 6 pm Friday, June 16th. Even if you’re not participating, you can stop by to cheer for the teams and/or donate – the Survivors’ Lap at 6:30 pm and the luminarias at 10 pm are two reasons to visit. Find out more here.
(WSB photos by Christopher Boffoli)
12:48 PM: Thanks for the tips. Police are investigating a possible holdup/attempt at Washington Federal north of the Junction. More to come.
1:04 PM: WSB’s Christopher Boffoli reports that a K-9 unit is at the scene, searching for a suspect described as a white man around 40 years old, about 5’7″, dark curly hair that might have been a wig, wearing a Gap hoodie, armed with a handgun. The bank is currently closed.
ADDED TUESDAY NIGHT: At tonight’s West Seattle Crime Prevention Council meeting (separate report to come), we followed up with police. No arrest, but “lots of nice footage” of the suspect, we’re told. None of it public so far.
11:54 AM: Seattle Fire has sent a “full response” to a possible house fire in the 9200 block of Delridge Way SW. More to come.
11:57 AM: The first arrivals in the area have downgraded the call, canceling most of the dispatched units. Scanner discussion indicates steam from shingles might have been mistaken for smoke.
(Western Tanager, photographed at T-107 Park on the Duwamish River by Mark Wangerin)
Before afternoon arrives – here are tonight’s highlights from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
FIND IT, FIX IT WALK PLANNING MEETING: As noted here last night, the next community planning meeting for Highland Park’s May 25th city-presented Find It, Fix It Walk is tonight at HP Elementary, 6:30 pm. (1012 SW Trenton)
SEATTLE READS ‘THE TURNER HOUSE’: High Point Library convenes a book group tonight at 6:30 to talk about this year’s “Seattle Reads” book, Angela Flournoy’s “The Turner House.” (35th SW/SW Raymond)
WEST SEATTLE CRIME PREVENTION COUNCIL: 7 pm at the Southwest Precinct, community crime concerns/trends plus scheduled special guest Capt. Eric Sano, commander of the SPD Traffic Unit. (2300 SW Webster)
‘THE LION KING’: 7 pm, Our Lady of Guadalupe (WSB sponsor) 8th graders perform their annual musical in the Walmesley Center. (35th SW/SW Myrtle)
‘UNPLUGGED, A MUSICAL GATHERING’: Acoustic musicians of all types are invited to C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor) for this monthly gathering, 7-9 pm. (5612 California SW)
SOUTH SOUND TUG AND BARGE: 8 pm, local band playing bluegrass, folk, and Irish music, live at Parliament Tavern. No cover. 21+. (4210 SW Admiral Way)
AND EVEN MORE … just check our complete calendar!
Filing week continues – and one West Seattleite has just announced that she’s NOT running for mayor. Persistent rumor had it that Councilmember Lorena González, a Junction resident, would jump in, after Mayor Murray bowed out, but she just sent this statement to media organizations including us:
After speaking with my family and much consideration, I have decided to not enter the Seattle Mayor’s race in 2017. While being the Mayor of Seattle would be an incredible honor, I remain focused on the work we have yet to accomplish on the Seattle City Council. Over the next four years, I am uniquely positioned to continue protecting our immigrant and refugee families and championing paid family and medical leave, police reform and housing affordability. I am humbled by the incredible outpouring of support and encouragement to consider this opportunity but I instead will redouble my efforts on the Seattle City Council as a citywide representative in Position 9.
The countywide list of “who’s filed so far” shows she’s officially filed for re-election to that role. No one else has filed for Position 9 yet, but the deadline’s not until Friday; six others have campaigns registered with the city.
Spring is really and truly finally arriving. and on Saturday, you can be out enjoying the weather and enjoying the satisfaction of doing a good deed. Start the day by being part of the team for Spring Clean in The Junction. You’ll get coffee, breakfast, and a limited-edition tote bag, as well as a fun time with West Seattle neighbors. Here’s all you have to do:
*Show up at Junction Plaza Park (42nd/Alaska) at 9 am Saturday (May 20th)
If you want to preview what needs to be done before you sign up – see the list here – you have many options! You don’t have to bring anything – it’s all provided.
(SDOT MAP with travel times/video links; is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE)
6:30 AM: Good morning! Off to a damp start. No incidents reported in or from West Seattle.
7:42 AM: SDOT says there’s a crash at 47th/Lander. No SFD dispatch so apparently no serious injuries.
8:08 AM: SFD has since been dospatched.
Highland Park’s Find It, Fix It Walk is now a week and a half away – the evening of Thursday, May 25th – but there’s a lot left to plan, and Tuesday’s your chance to help do that. Just be at Highland Park Elementary (1012 SW Trenton), 6:30 pm (May 16th). The walk’s start time and route still have to be set, and while there’s already a long list of potential topics, it’s not too late to add your idea, and help shape which stops/topics are chosen. The proposed starting spots for the FIFI Walk, for example, are either Riverview Playfield or Highland Park Improvement Club, and this post on the Highland Park Action Committee website lists the potential stops/topics discussed so far.
Almost directly across the street from where Mayor Murray announced last week that he would not run for re-election, a new candidate announced tonight that he’s in the race. Greg Hamilton is an entrepreneur and military veteran who served in the Special Forces (his biography is here) and says he wants to “save Seattle.” He is the first candidate to make his announcement in West Seattle – it happened at Pegasus Pizza, where we talked with him for a few minutes:
P.S. This is official “filing week” for mayor of Seattle and many other offices around King County, through Friday; you can check here to see who has filed so far; 14 mayoral candidates had registered campaigns with the city through today (not yet including Hamilton), and they are listed here.
An incident this morning led to the principals of Chief Sealth International High School and Denny International Middle School sending this letter to families a short time ago. It was sent to us too:
We want to share with you information regarding an incident that was reported today involving one of our scholars as she exited a Metro bus on her way to school. At approximately 8:50 AM, a 9th grade female scholar reported that she was followed off the bus by a man when she disembarked at the corner of Delridge and Thistle. She stated that the man grabbed her wrist and asked her if she wanted to go with him. She was able to free herself from his hold and then she ran to school. She reported the incident to Chief Sealth staff, who notified the police. The Seattle Police Department is investigating the incident.
The safety of our scholars is our top priority. We will continue to collaborate with the Seattle Police Department and Seattle Public Schools Safety and Security to help monitor the surrounding area before and after school.
You can help your children stay safe by talking to them about personal safety. Tips to discuss are:
• Walking in pairs or groups and being aware of their surroundings at all times.
• Leaving for school at times where there are high levels of pedestrian traffic.
• Immediately reporting anything suspicious to trusted adults (school staff and family members).
• Keep earbuds off and expensive phones out of sight.
Cathy Phillips from King County Public Health and Julianne Ruffner from the state Ecology Department (below) visited Alki Beach this morning, to sample the water while providing a quick media briefing on the BEACH program, which monitors the water at “high-use saltwater beaches” between Memorial Day and Labor Day. (Here’s the draft list for this year.)
Whether you’re going to Alki or one of the other beaches on the list, their message is to “surf the web before you surf the beach” – check online before you go into the water – look at this map to see if there’s an advisory where you’re going. The BEACH program samples water at its designated beaches every week; Phillips explained that the water is shipped to the lab the same day it’s gathered, and they find out within about 24 hours whether there’s a problem. Be careful after a storm, she warned, because rain can change the water quality even from whatever a previous day’s tests showed. You can help keep the water safe, the program advises – “pick up after your pets, have toddlers wear swim diapers, make sure young children get frequent bathroom breaks, and pick up your trash. Avoid feeding the wildlife.”
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