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SAVE THE DATE: Taste of West Seattle 2017 set for May 25th
February 18, 2017 1:21 pm
|    Comments Off on SAVE THE DATE: Taste of West Seattle 2017 set for May 25th
 |   Fun stuff to do | How to help | West Seattle news

hldownstairssized
(WSB photo from 2016 Taste of West Seattle)

Tickets are not on sale yet BUT the West Seattle Helpline has announced this year’s date for one of our area’s most-popular annual benefit events – the Taste of West Seattle food-and-beverage fest. Set your calendar for the evening of Thursday, May 25th. According to the Helpline announcement, tickets will go on sale March 1st. The Taste of West Seattle features more than 50 local food and beverage purveyors set up in and around The Hall at Fauntleroy – a great way to not only support the Helpline’s work but also to sample the offerings of places you haven’t tried yet. Watch the official website for more info.

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West Seattle development: 24 microstudios for 4807 41st SW
February 18, 2017 11:58 am
|      37 COMMENTS
 |   Development | West Seattle housing | West Seattle news

South-end redevelopment continues in The Junction. In the city’s online files, an early-stage plan has just been filed for 24 microstudios in a building that would replace a 70-year-old duplex (county assessor photo at right) at 4807 41st SW, next to townhouses that were built last decade at 41st/Edmunds. They are officially described as SEDUs (small efficiency dwelling units, the city’s name for what used to be more commonly known as microhousing), 320 square feet each. The plan doesn’t mention the height, but the site is zoned Lowrise 2, which maxes out at 35′. This project is expected to go through the city’s Streamlined Design Review process, which means no public meeting, but an opportunity for public comment.

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BIZNOTE: Dropoff time for 2nd annual cleat exchange @ Second Gear Sports
February 18, 2017 10:53 am
|    Comments Off on BIZNOTE: Dropoff time for 2nd annual cleat exchange @ Second Gear Sports
 |   West Seattle news | WS & Sports

IMG_2134
(WSB photo from 2016 cleat exchange @ Second Gear Sports)

Baseball season gets under way soon for hundreds of local players, and again this year, Second Gear Sports (WSB sponsor) is hosting a cleat exchange. This year, it’s in partnership with West Seattle Baseball, West Seattle Girls’ Softball, and West Seattle Little League. The dates are 4-7 pm Saturday, March 4th, and 9 am-noon Sunday, March 12th, but starting TODAY, you can drop off the cleats that will qualify your player(s) for the exchange. SGS explains how it works:

Before the Cleat Exchange:

-Bring your clean and gently used baseball cleats to Second Gear Sports anytime for drop-off between February 18th and February 28th.

-If you have other related gear you wish to consign, to expedite your dropoff, please put all items in a paper shopping bag clearly marked with your name and phone number.

-Additional baseball gear (bats, gloves, helmets, pants, etc.) will be inventoried, priced, and made available for sale at the event.

During the Exchange

-Free/exchange cleats will be located in a specially marked area, limit two pairs per family. Every attending family is entitled to free cleats from the swap table.

-All other baseball gear will be available for sale at a special one-day only discount. After the sale, regular prices will apply.

-Enjoy additional in-store discounts, complimentary snacks, and drinks.

-Bring in a food donation for West Seattle Food Bank.

Questions? Call Second Gear Sports – which is at 6529 California SW in Morgan Junction – at 206-935-3552 or e-mail info@secondgearsports.com

P.S. Today through February 28th, SGS has a sale on winter gear – 25 percent off.

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Ways to enjoy your West Seattle Saturday
February 18, 2017 9:13 am
|      1 COMMENT
 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous


(Friday’s sunrise colors on the Olympics, with a layer of foothill fog – photo by Jim Borrow)

From the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar, possibilities for the day/night ahead:

SOUTHWEST LITTLE LEAGUE REGISTRATION: Until 1 pm at the Salvation Army in South Delridge. For ages 4-16, living from SW Juneau southward. More in our calendar listing. (9050 16thSW)

SEEKING SEATTLE’S SURVIVING SALAMANDERS: 11 am at Camp Long with naturalist Stewart Wechsler. Pre-registration is requested so call/e-mail ASAP – all the info’s in our calendar listing. (5200 35th SW)

VIETNAMESE STORY TIME: 11:30 am at Delridge Library, story time in Vietnamese. (5423 Delridge Way SW)

LOG HOUSE MUSEUM: Take advantage of a relatively quiet weekend by visiting the home of West Seattle’s history, noon-4 pm. (61st SW & SW Stevens)

BLACK HISTORY MONTH COMMUNITY DINNER: As previewed here, the Chief Sealth International High School Black Student Union invites you to dinner at Southwest Teen Life Center. Free. 5-7 pm – doors open 4:45 pm. (2801 SW Thistle)

RAINBOW BINGO IN SOUTH PARK: 6 pm, this month’s theme, benefiting the South Park Senior Center, looks ahead to spring via Blooming Bingo. 5:30 pm doors, dinner at 6, bingo at 7, 21+. Buy tickets online here. At SP Neighborhood Center. (8201 10th Ave. S.)

ENTREMUNDOS QUARTET: 7:30 pm, “a mix of Brazilian roots flavored with world rhythms” at Kenyon Hall. (7904 35th SW)

THE SLAGS AT THE POGGIE: Local faves The Slags perform tonight with Grover, 8 pm at Poggie Tavern in The Junction. No cover. 21+. (4717 California SW)

WOODLAND WEST: 9 pm at Parliament Tavern in The Admiral District, “cosmic Americana.” $5 cover. 21+. (4210 SW Admiral Way)

HIGH-SCHOOL BASKETBALL PLAYOFFS: The West Seattle High School girls play Mercer Island for the SeaKing District title at 8:15 pm at Bellevue College. (3000 Landenholm Circle SE)

JONNY WOODS: Live music at Alki Beach Pub, 9:30 pm. No cover. (2722 Alki SW)

LOOK INTO THE FUTURE … for the rest of the weekend, next week, and beyond, via our complete-calendar page, where you’ll also find information on how to send info to add a listing!

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Members of West Seattle church, mosque meet for dinner
February 18, 2017 12:57 am
|      23 COMMENTS
 |   High Point | West Seattle news | West Seattle religion

Thanks to Brian Callanan for the photos from Our Lady of Guadalupe, which hosted visitors from the nearby High Point mosque for a potluck dinner on Friday night.

That’s Father Jack Walmesley and Imam Osman Yusuf. Hundreds of people came for fellowship.

The church and mosque are just blocks apart.

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BIZNOTE: Metropolitan Market remodel resuming; community conversation Thursday
February 17, 2017 8:28 pm
|      24 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news

Remodeling work is about to resume at Metropolitan Market (WSB sponsor) in Admiral. We reported on the work and some of the changes in September and in October. The work was paused for the holiday season, and now MM has sent an open letter to the community with word on what’s happening now and what’s coming up, including a chance to drop by next Thursday night (February 23rd) between 7 and 8:30 pm to talk with MM president/CEO Todd Korman and Admiral store director Paul Marth. You can see the letter here as a PDF, and embedded below:

The remodel also was a recent topic of discussion in the WSB Forums. Meantime, we’re adding the Thursday gathering to the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar.

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FOLLOWUP: Water monitoring south of Alki after pump-station overflow
February 17, 2017 7:20 pm
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   Environment | Utilities | West Seattle beaches | West Seattle news


(WSB photo)

That sign was up this afternoon near the 63rd Avenue Pump Station south of Alki Point, following the 330,000-gallon combined-sewer overflow reported late last night by King County Wastewater Treatment. The overflow happened during Thursday afternoon’s less-than-one-hour power outage in western West Seattle, before a portable generator could be brought to and fired up at the pump station.

We followed up today with county spokesperson Doug Williams. For one, as commenter Schwaggy asked, why isn’t there already a generator at the pump station? He says there soon will be:

We are wrapping up a construction project at the 63rd Avenue Pump Station that, when finished, will include a new emergency power generator at the facility. While that construction project is underway, we have an emergency generator loaded on a trailer and stationed at the Alki CSO facility. Yesterday when our workers got the 63rd Ave pump station overflow alarm they went to the Alki facility and picked up the emergency generator for the short drive over to the pump station (about ¼ mile, I believe). However, power was restored before the emergency power was brought online.

As for how long the signs will stay up, Williams didn’t have information on water-quality-test results yet when we checked in, but he said the signs will not be taken down until results are “below thresholds for human contact.”

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HIGHLAND PARK WAY UPDATE: Reopened!
February 17, 2017 2:52 pm
|      25 COMMENTS
 |   Highland Park | Transportation | West Seattle news

(TOPLINE: After a 2 1/2-day closure to clear slide debris, Highland Park Way is open again as of just after 5:30 tonight)

ORIGINAL REPORT, 2:52 PM: Our photo taken a short time ago shows some slide cleanup still under way on Highland Park Way, and now there’s word from SDOT spokesperson Sue Romero that it will NOT be open before the PM commute after all:

Highland Park Way SW remains closed due to slides and is expected to reopen this evening.

SDOT completed removal of the remaining debris earlier today. SCL is installing a new power pole. SDOT crews will then install ecology blocks to buttress the hillside.

This work is expected to last into the PM commute. Please continue to use detours.

The hill between Holden and West Marginal Way has been closed since the sliding happened around 5 am Wednesday (here’s our original report; here’s a Thursday report with a closer look at just how much slid).

5:39 PM: Kelly tells us it’s open. We are en route.

5:47 PM: Just drove the hill – yes, it’s open again, all lanes. And Metro says Route 131 is back to its regular route.

ADDED 6:48 PM: A couple of postscripts. First, we asked SDOT this afternoon if they had determined any cause other than the heavy rain – a commenter had noted earlier, for example, that WSDOT had blamed one of its recent freewayside slides on a drain problem. But SDOT spokesperson Romero checked and said, no other factors were involved here. Meantime, City Councilmember Lisa Herbold – who lives in Highland Park and was among those whose travel was affected by the closure – wrote about the slide in her latest e-mail-list update, which went out this afternoon. After an update on the cleanup, she added:

… I’ve asked SDOT what kind of assessment they’ll be doing about the long-term safety of this area from future slides, and what improvements we can expect after the cleanup.

I thank King County Metro for their quick rerouting of Route 131 to accommodate bus riders in the area (myself included). The incident highlights for me – once again – the need for an emphasis upon improvements on Highland Park Way. So many people (from all over West Seattle) use this corridor to get off the peninsula. What might have once been a little-known egress is not any longer.

The Highland Park Action Committee has long been an advocate for improvements to the Holden and Highland Park intersection to slow down and make traffic flow more efficient. The focus of those efforts has been on the design and development of an arterial roundabout. SDOT agrees that improvements to this corridor are warranted. It is not funded at this time. I have inquired with SDOT about the funding estimate for the design portion alone to see if I can help identify some funding to give the project some momentum.

Though the focus of the community has been on the roundabout, I am inquiring with SDOT whether they’ve considered lane separation as an improvement. Many people I know who are familiar with this road drive in the outermost lanes and avoid the opposite direction inner lanes because of the driving practices of people less familiar with the route, or practices of those who are familiar but speed hazardously nonetheless.

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GRATITUDE: West Seattle Food Bank says thanks to Origins, Gold Leaf
February 17, 2017 2:50 pm
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news


(WSB photo: Alondro from Origins, Judi from WS Food Bank, Nate from Gold Leaf, Andrew from Origins)

More community giving! $2,300 for the West Seattle Food Bank Backpack Program – which ensures that local students in need don’t go hungry when school’s not in session – from Origins Enterprises (whose recreational-cannabis shop is in The Junction at 4800 40th SW and is a WSB sponsor) and Gold Leaf Gardens, from a holiday-season drive in partnership with the community. You can help the Backpack Program too; here’s how.

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Remembering Anna Lallas Rakus, 1928-2017
February 17, 2017 2:01 pm
|    Comments Off on Remembering Anna Lallas Rakus, 1928-2017
 |   Obituaries | West Seattle news

Services are planned next week for Anna Lallas Rakus, 88. Here’s the remembrance her family is sharing with the community:

In life, as in her death, Anna Lallas Rakus, showed grace, dignity and fighting spirit, passing away peacefully in her West Seattle home on February 14, 2017.

Anna was born in Bellingham in 1928 to Greek immigrant parents, Tom and Estero Lallas. At the age of 10 while returning from a family trip to Greece, Anna and her 2 brothers John and George were orphaned when her parents were killed in an infamous train wreck. Anna and her brothers went to live with her mother’s brother, Gust Trames, and his wife Mary and their 3 children in Bellingham. By 16 she was working 3 jobs and helping to parent her brothers.

When Anna was 18, she was introduced to Gust Rakus, a fellow Greek from Everett. Swept off her feet, Anna and Gust were wed, moved to Seattle, and had 3 children. Their marriage was filled with everything Greek; loud, happy dinner parties with friends and family, the church, and her community. She was active with her husband in AHEPA/Daughters of Penelope, and served as Parish Council President of the Assumption Greek Church. She was a buyer for Doces Furniture and a top salesperson for Macy’s. Petite in stature, she had boundless energy and determination in every task she undertook, and could be a force to be reckoned with!

After 55 years of marriage, Gust passed away in 2004. Anna then filled her time attending to her gardens/orchids, volunteering for anything Greek that involved cooking, her family, and friends, and was always ready to go to lunch and shopping!

Anna is survived by her children, Diane, Tommy and Jamee (Dino). She will be remembered for her fierce perseverance in the face of adversity, her tenacious and feisty spirit, and warm hospitality. Although blurry in her last few years, she was up for any outing and was always ready to: “Let’s Go!” Our family thanks her many loving caregivers, and especially Chris Kelsey, with whom she formed a special bond.

Trisiagon Services will be held Tuesday, February 21st, at 7 pm, and funeral services Wednesday, February 22, at 11 am. Both will be held at the Greek Orthodox Church of the Assumption, 1803 13th Ave, Seattle.
Donations can be made in her name to the Gust Rakus Hellenic Studies Collection at the U of W.

(WSB publishes West Seattle obituaries by request, free of charge. Please e-mail the text, and a photo if available, to editor@westseattleblog.com)

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GRATITUDE: West Seattle Girl Scout’s library project draws big donation
February 17, 2017 12:52 pm
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle people

We’ve shared updates before from local Girl Scout Alina Guyon, who is working on a Gold Award project to build a library for refugees in Uganda. West Seattleites have donated more than 1,000 books, and now she’s sharing words of gratitude for another big donation:

Thank you Alki Lumber!

When you heard that I was building a library for refugees in Uganda, you generously offered to help. The library project not only involves sending books by container, but I’m also building an actual library. Alki Lumber donated all kinds of paint and materials to help complete the structure. Thank you for being such a generous business and key part of our West Seattle Community.

There are currently more refugees in the world than any time since World War II. While we can’t easily affect our nation’s immigration policies, this is a small way our community can make a difference to people forcibly displaced from their homes. I am so amazed by the outpouring of support from West Seattle.

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West Seattle development: Demolitions at 5908 Fauntleroy Way, 6921 California; Design Review dates for 2715 California, 3257 Harbor
February 17, 2017 11:58 am
|    Comments Off on West Seattle development: Demolitions at 5908 Fauntleroy Way, 6921 California; Design Review dates for 2715 California, 3257 Harbor
 |   Development | West Seattle news

More development news, starting with two teardowns:

DEMOLITION AT 5908 FAUNTLEROY WAY SW: The old commercial building on which you used to be able to read the “WASH/DRY” sign is now a pile of rubble.

As first reported here almost a year and a half ago, a six-unit rowhouse building with five offstreet-parking spaces is planned.

DEMOLITION AT 6921 CALIFORNIA SW: Eight months after the cancellation of plans to turn an old house in south Morgan Junction into a branch of Chungee’s Drink and Eat (the Capitol Hill restaurant/bar whose owners lived in the house at the time), the house is coming down right now. As reported here in October, a four-unit residential building is now planned, after the site was sold to a construction company.

Now, an Admiral-project update:

2715 CALIFORNIA SW: Four months after we had first word of an early-stage mixed-use proposal to replace the buildings at 2715 and 2719 California SW, we have a few more details: It’s proposed as 48 apartments and ground-floor commercial, with 46 off-street parking spaces. And it’s going before the Southwest Design Review Board at 6:30 pm March 16th (Sisson Building/Senior Center, 4217 SW Oregon). This is just a few buildings north of the PCC-site project, so that will be a busy block before long.

Speaking of Design Review Board meetings …

3257 HARBOR SW: The SWDRB also has this site on its schedule, for 6:30 pm April 6th. It’s the combined first review for 34 townhouses split between four project numbers. We noted back in November that this new proposal had been filed for the site of what had been a two-building, 80+-apartment proposal at 3257-3303 Harbor SW (which even went through its first SWDRB meeting three years ago).

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PCC-SITE PROJECT: PCC West Seattle sets closure date; project team gives Admiral Neighborhood Association ‘sneak peek’
February 17, 2017 9:04 am
|      10 COMMENTS
 |   Development | West Seattle news


(Design rendering shown to Admiral Neighborhood Association Thursday night)

By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

Two developments this morning related to the mixed-use project planned for the current site of PCC-Natural Markets-West Seattle (WSB sponsor) at 2749 California SW:

First, PCC announced this morning that it has set the closing date for the current store: May 31. PCC spokesperson Heather Snavely also tells WSB that “details around the logistics of the closure” are being worked out. And:

An important part of the next few months will be recognizing just how special the West Seattle community is to PCC. We want to celebrate our members, shoppers and the West Seattle community we’ve had the pleasure of serving for over 25 years – including providing a sneak peek into some of the features to come in the new store. Expect more details in the coming weeks.

PCC had said in December that it expected to stay open “through spring,” but no date was announced at that time. Meantime, the May 31st closure announcement came just hours after the team working on Madison Development Group‘s project for the store site gave a “sneak peek” to a special meeting of the Admiral Neighborhood Association, two weeks before they take it back to the Southwest Design Review Board: Read More

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FRIDAY TRAFFIC/TRANSIT: Highland Park Way closure continues; other updates
February 17, 2017 6:50 am
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

6:50 AM: Highland Park Way between Holden and West Marginal remains closed this morning, two days after a major slide; the city announced late yesterday that they expect to reopen it by today’s PM commute. Metro Route 131 remains rerouted.

(SDOT MAP with travel times/video links; is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE)

Otherwise, no incidents in/from West Seattle so far this morning.

One note: Seattle Public Schools‘ midwinter break is next week. And Monday is Presidents Day, with holiday-level transit planned, including no Water Taxi service.

7:17 AM: Just tweeted/texted by Metro:

7:55 AM: One SFD unit is responding to a crash reported at 29th and Trenton, a few blocks west of the north side of Westwood Village.

8:34 AM: Via Twitter, Jeremy reports a bus breakdown:

8:53 AM: Watch out for some possible congestion in the 5000 block of Delridge Way SW – several SFD units are en route to check out a possible wall fire at an address on the east/northbound side.

Meantime, we’ll update here, and in a separate story, whenever we get the official word that Highland Park Way hill is open – again, SDOT has said they expect it to be open by late afternoon, before the PM commute.

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BASKETBALL: West Seattle boys’ rematch with Nathan Hale
February 17, 2017 12:53 am
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | WS & Sports

While the West Seattle High School boys’ second game in eight days against Nathan Hale ended the way the first one did – with a loss – the Wildcats refused to be intimidated by the nation’s #1 team. They were behind by just 3 points at halftime (29-26) and after three quarters (44-41).

The WSHS defense limited Hale’s ability to run and gun. It was another physical game, with fouls and steals, but the Wildcats just couldn’t close the gap in the final moments, and Hale got the win, 62-52. WSHS #1 Nate Pryor led scoring with 31.

The Wildcats should find out sometime Sunday who and when they play next.

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POLLUTION ALERT: 330,000-gallon Alki overflow during power outage
February 16, 2017 10:59 pm
|      8 COMMENTS
 |   Environment | Utilities | West Seattle news

Just got word from the King County Wastewater Treatment District that this afternoon’s power outage caused a ~330,000-gallon overflow from the 63rd Avenue Pump Station in South Alki. The pump station usually sends stormwater and wastewater flows to the Alki Combined Sewer Overflow facility at Alki Point. That facility has an emergency generator on site, and the county says crews brought that generator to the pump station, but it wasn’t needed for long, since the outage lasted less than an hour.

… King County has reported the overflow to health and regulatory agencies. King County employees will post signs in the vicinity of the pump station at first light on Friday, Feb. 17, and employees with the County’s Environmental Lab conducted water quality monitoring.

The Alki facility itself had a quarter-million-gallon overflow just four weeks ago.

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SAFETY: 2 days of free car-seat checks next week at Swedish Automotive in West Seattle
February 16, 2017 9:30 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   Safety | West Seattle news

Next Monday and Tuesday, you have the chance to have your infant/child car seat checked, free, at Swedish Automotive (WSB sponsor). Both days, 10 am-2 pm, certified child-safety passenger technician Victor Gonzales will be checking seats to be sure they’re properly installed. Just stop by Swedish Automotive during those hours, those days (February 20-21), 7901 35th SW (corner of Kenyon). Questions? Call Swedish at 206-539-1984.

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WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Stabbing suspect charged; package thief in pickup; car prowler gets in
February 16, 2017 7:02 pm
|      19 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | West Seattle news

Three notes in West Seattle Crime Watch:

STABBING SUSPECT CHARGED: The woman accused of stabbing a 16-year-old girl in The Junction early Sunday is now charged with second-degree assault. 44-year-old Tillie J. Lee remains in the King County Jail, with bail still set at $220,000. The charging documents tell the same basic story as the probable-cause documents on which we reported – saying the suspect became enraged because the victim hugged Lee’s boyfriend. Lee allegedly stabbed the girl in the shoulder and then took off. Prosecutors say in the charges that Lee has been booked 64 times since 1996 and has had 88 warrants for her arrest. Two of the convictions are felonies, both from the early ’00s, for vehicular assault and second-degree theft.

PACKAGE THEFT IN ARBOR HEIGHTS: From Erik this evening:

My neighbor just had a couple packages taken from their front porch. They were taken from 99th & 35th around 5:15 in Arbor Heights. Police were called.

The vehicle is a mid-2000s red Toyota 4-door truck. No plate on front bumper & damage to front bumper as well. Blue tarp covering items in the bed of truck. Be on the lookout. 2 white males with beards, probably mid to late 30s.

CAR PROWL IN ADMIRAL: Rick reports this happened early Wednesday in the 4000 block of California SW:

There are 4 townhomes facing California, 3 facing the alley. In between the 4 in front and the 3 in back is a communal driveway. Our car is parked about 5 feet from our back door. All townhomes can easily see the driveway from their windows; there are bright motion-sensing lights. … I saw my driver-side door was open (I know I locked it night). Inside the car, the glovebox was open and had been rummaged through. Looks like they got away with an old GPS from the glovebox, and a phone charger that was plugged into the cigarette lighter. No damage as far as I can tell. Seemed similar to the North Admiral Car Prowl mentioned here so I thought I’d report it, as it looks like they may be making their way south down California.

REMINDER: The next West Seattle Crime Prevention Council meeting is next Tuesday (February 21st), 7 pm, at the Southwest Precinct (2300 SW Webster).

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HIGHLAND PARK WAY SLIDE: SDOT expects to reopen road by Friday pm commute
February 16, 2017 4:55 pm
|      24 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts


(WSB photo of cleanup work this morning, taken via long lens from top of hill)

Just in from SDOT: Highland Park Way is expected to reopen “by late afternoon Friday.”

Full update from Norm Mah of SDOT:

Highland Park Way SW will remain closed today and is expected to reopen by late afternoon Friday for the PM commute.

SDOT crews have removed 90% of the material that came down from the hillside on to the roadway, about 2400 tons.

Crews will remove the remaining material tomorrow and will place approximately 50 concrete Ecology blocks (6’ long x 2’ wide x 2’ high) along the western edge of Highland Park Way SW to buttress the hillside.

SDOT thanks the public for its patience while this work is being completed.

The slide happened just before 5 am on Wednesday; no one was hurt, but it caused a 2,008-customer power outage for a few hours.

Meantime, we have photos with a closeup look at the slide zone from pre-cleanup, courtesy of Joe Finelli, Jr.:

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UPDATE: West Seattle power outage – 4,800+ homes and businesses, back on within an hour
February 16, 2017 4:21 pm
|      56 COMMENTS
 |   Utilities | West Seattle news

4:21 PM: Thanks for all the texts – the Seattle City Light map confirms a big power outage in West Seattle, more than 4,800 homes/businesses. No word yet on the cause. More to come.

4:30 PM: Via Twitter, SCL says they “have reports of a downed pole,” though we haven’t heard where. Evan, via Twitter, reports having seen transformer trouble and sparks near High Point Pond Park. There was a short-lived SFD call near 29th/Findlay. Meantime, remember that non-working signals are all-way stops.

4:57 PM: New estimated restoration time – 5:50 pm. (Could be sooner, could be later.)

5:12 PM: Thanks for all the updates! Took the City Light map a few minutes to catch up but it confirms, outage is over.

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BASKETBALL: West Seattle High School girls will play for district title after beating Bellevue
February 16, 2017 4:19 pm
|      5 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools | WS & Sports

(UPDATED 9:07 PM with details, photos)

(Video: 4th-quarter basket by WSHS’s Jasmine Gayles)

FIRST REPORT, 4:19 PM: “Championship game, here we come!” yelled a West Seattle High School fan, as the Wildcat girls beat defending state 3A champs Bellevue HS 47-37 moments ago at Bellevue College. They play for the district championship at 8:15 pm Saturday, again at Bellevue College, vs. the winner of tonight’s game between Bishop Blanchet and Cleveland at Chief Sealth. Photos and details from today’s game, coming up.

ADDED 9:07 PM: Photos and game summary ahead: Read More

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DAY WITHOUT IMMIGRANTS: White Center, South Delridge closures
February 16, 2017 1:47 pm
|      33 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news | West Seattle people

Thanks to Jen Calleja for the tip – multiple White Center businesses are closed today for the Day Without Immigrants protest against the federal crackdown on immigrants. We stopped by some of the businesses she mentioned – above, the sign at Greenbridge Café; below, the signs at Salvadorean Bakery and Best Roasted Corn:

And Jen sent this collage of other businesses she found closed, including Deli Garcia in South Delridge:

We haven’t seen/heard of any other West Seattle closures – if you have, please let us know – editor@westseattleblog.com or 206-293-6302.

Meantime, there’s news about the court fight over the presidential order on immigration – according to a news release from state Attorney General Bob Ferguson, saying a federal appeals court was notified that “the President intends in the near future to rescind the Order and replace it with a new, substantially revised Executive Order” to eliminate constitutional concerns. Ferguson’s reaction: “Let’s be clear: Today’s court filing by the federal government recognizes the obvious — the President’s current Executive Order violates the Constitution.”

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West Seattle history: Transit token turns up
February 16, 2017 1:07 pm
|      10 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle history | West Seattle news

You never know what you’re going to find when you dig in!

The photos are from Anne Higuera at Ventana Construction (WSB sponsor), who says, “While finishing up the last piece of our large expansion project at West Seattle Nursery (replacing the sidewalk and removing paving from the planting strip in front of both businesses), one of our employees found (this) in the dirt. … The street there has a brick base, so there are many layers of history in that street. The back, with the trees, says “good for one fare” and the front says “Seattle Transit” and the name of the director — looks like Beckett — along the bottom.” The token is smaller and thinner than a penny, she noted:

(Here’s a look at a cleaned-up version of a similar token.) At first they thought it was a token from the trolley days. Online research revealed that Seattle Transit was what the bus system was once known as. Evro M. Becket – who died in 1960 – was on the Seattle Transportation Commission in the ’40s, so the token likely dates back about 70 years. You can find out more about the Seattle Transit System via its annual reports, some of which are available as PDFs through the Municipal Archives. (1940, for example, is hailed as “a year of almost complete changeover from rail to rubber” – as the streetcar system was dismantled. The report features many photos, of buses, streetcars, and examples of streets where the tracks were paved over. And it includes the dates when streetcar runs changed to buses – you’ll see some West Seattle runs listed on page 13. Relevant to the token discovery, page 21 mentions the average Seattle Transit fare was six cents in 1940. The last page, 34, shows the city’s route map.)

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