West Seattle, Washington
25 Monday
As we continue spotlighting New Year’s Eve options from the WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide: Say goodbye 2016, hello 2017, neighborhood style, as Highland Park Improvement Club welcomes you again this year for the Not-So-Silent Night Parade and Corner Bar.
Even if you plan to be somewhere else at midnight, join HPIC for the early going, especially the parade – bring noisemakers, drums, lights, and continue the tradition! Full details are on the HPIC website. (One change this year, by the way … the brief, fiery Sage Comet display that usually follows the parade is on hiatus.)
As Seattle City Light continues getting ready for “advanced metering” (explained here), it’s installing taller utility poles in some neighborhoods. The work plan for next month has just been announced, including three West Seattle areas:
From the City Light announcement we received:
Seattle City Light is continuing to support Advanced Metering services throughout the utility’s service territory by replacing existing utility poles with taller poles, which will host wireless utility data collection equipment. The new poles will be 70 feet tall, which is about 20 feet taller than the existing poles.
(Maps of the construction work areas)
From the fliers [that will be distributed to neighbors]:
· This project is part of the communications network to support Advanced Metering, which will automate meter reading and enable enhanced services.
· There are no maintenance power outages planned for this work. Some traffic and parking impacts are expected in the immediate work areas. Crews will be careful to maintain access to driveways.
· Daily work hours are from Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. In most instances, the work to transfer existing equipment and install the data collection equipment can be completed in one day.
If you have questions about the pole installation and/or “advanced metering,” City Light says you can contact JoAnna Perley, Advanced Metering Deployment Manager, 206-733-9648 or joanna.perley@seattle.gov.
(SDOT MAP with travel times/video links; is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE)
(Click any view for a close-up; more cameras on the WSB Traffic page)
5:45 AM: Launching traffic watch earlier than usual because of a crash on the bridge. Thanks for the tips! SDOT says all westbound lanes are blocked on the Fauntleroy end and one eastbound lane. No injuries, apparently, because SFD was not dispatched. If you are headed WSB, Donna says, you’ll be detoured off at Admiral.
5:53 AM: This photo tweeted by @metpatrick22 shows a bus hitting the jersey barrier, and a car facing the wrong way toward screen right:
@westseattleblog aforementioned ax WB bridge from PED bridge. WB fully blocked. pic.twitter.com/4klIvFjXoK
— Patrick kelly (@MetPatrick22) December 28, 2016
C Line and Route 21 are as a result of this routed off westbound Fauntleroy, Metro says.
6:02 AM: SDOT says one westbound lane has reopened. This camera view shows the bus being towed.
6:10 AM: All lanes have reopened, per SDOT. No other incidents working in or near West Seattle right now.
6:20 AM: We should mention again that the South Vashon ferry route (Tahlequah-Point Defiance) remains out of service, at least until Friday, so Fauntleroy terminal traffic will continue to be heavier.
9:04 AM: If you’ll be on southbound 99 on the north side of downtown today, be aware of this: “SDOT will close left lane of SB SR99 … today north of Battery St tunnel to Virginia St from 10 am-2 pm for rail work.”
9:56 PM: Thanks for the messages – stuck our head out the door and heard it too. Fireworks of some kind? We’re checking.
10 PM: At least one person who saw them from north West Seattle says they were visible in the north.
10:04 PM: Found it. The Harbour Public House on Bainbridge Island had a fireworks display to celebrate its 25th anniversary, according to the Bainbridge Fire Department:
Tonight, the Harbour Public House is celebrating their 25th anniversary and has been issued a permit for a public fireworks display. The display will begin around 9:45 pm and last 5-8 minutes. The display will be launched from a barge in Eagle Harbor, similar to the 4th of July show, but much smaller. A safety zone has been set up around the barge.
10:09 PM: Corrected the spelling – the restaurant spells its name Harbour Public House. (While it’s 25 years old, it’s in a building with a much-longer history.)
Thanks to Kathleen for the tip – a power outage at the bottom of the Highland Park Way hill is affecting the West Marginal Way/Highland Park Way intersection. She says City Light and Seattle Police are there. The SCL outage map shows only nine “customers” out, on the south side of the intersection, but in that area, one customer can represent a sizable business facility. The map attributes the outage to “equipment failure.”
Though the Southern Resident Killer Whales were declared an endangered species in 2005, they’re not recovering, the federal government acknowledges, saying that the population “remains small and vulnerable and has not had a net increase in abundance since the mid-1980s.” The three pods together now number just 79 after J34’s death last week in British Columbia. Tonight, West Seattle was one of three locations where people concerned about the iconic orcas held vigils. More than 25 people gathered by Alki Statue of Liberty Plaza, with flowers and candles in memory of and tribute to the resident orcas lost this year.
The vigil was organized “in solidarity with” one held by the Orca Network at the same time at the Langley Whale Center on Whidbey Island; another was planned in the San Juans.
Following up on one of the incidents we covered right before Christmas weekend:
Three suspects remain in jail in connection with what happened at the Junction 7-11 last Thursday night, and probable-cause documents say they are the ones who told police where they were.
The suspects are a 29-year-old Puget Ridge man, a 30-year-old Rainier Valley man, and a 33-year-old Delridge man.
Police first responded to a report of a fight at the store, and were told the people involved had left in a white car. The 53-year-old man on duty at the 7-11 told police he recognized them as previous shoplifters and told them to leave, but they didn’t. They picked up “several items,” he said, and walked toward the door, which he was blocking. They became argumentative, he said, then he and they went outside, where, he told police, they started hitting and kicking him, knocking him down, and leaving him with cuts and bruises on his face. He said they also stole his phone and about $100 cash he had in his pocket, and a witness told police they had hit his car as they left in theirs.
Meantime, the 30-year-old called 911 to report the incident, saying he was near the Bank of America at 41st and Alaska and wanted to talk to police. Officers found all three men there. The 30-year-old claimed the clerk had assaulted them, and that the phone theft was a mistake. The 33-year-old told police he had just gone into the store to use the ATM and that he had a job and didn’t need to steal.
All three were arrested, in part because of identification from a witness. They’re all being held for investigation of robbery and due back in court tomorrow afternoon, by which time we might find out about charges; the 33- and 30-year-old suspects’ bail is set at $10,000, while the 29-year-old is being held in lieu of $7,500 bail.
(SIDE NOTE: We have not yet been able to obtain the report on another incident at the same location, a man found outside the store early Sunday with gunshot wounds, but will continue trying tomorrow.)
Last week, we reported on SDOT’s online survey looking ahead to 2017 work on the much-used SW Thistle stairway east of Lincoln Park, and nine other stairways around the city. That led to a variety of questions, and today we have answers, thanks to a comment from, and followup e-mail exchanges with, project manager Greg Funk. First:
Funk sent those photos in response to our question about when it was built. While he hasn’t found the exact date, he says records show that it “was approved in May 1945” and that the photos show “the stairway was close to being done in February 1948.”
He also notes that the Thistle stairway includes historical materials: “The stairway is constructed of concrete slabs that used to be the base for the old streetcar, and the R/R tracks were cut up into sections for the rail posts and painted white. The slabs are stacked on top of each other with a brick spacer to give a roughly 6-7 inch rise.”
Since Funk’s comment mentions what sounds like extensive work – “The stairs will be updated so there will be more consistent run rise and upgraded rail on both sides” – we asked what will happen to those historical materials: “If we can, we will build over the existing stairway – it saves on disposal cost, and that’s the plan for this location. Old rail will be cut and scrapped.” (No lighting changes, he says, in case you were wondering.)
As for the project timeline and duration: “It will be closed for about 2-3 months; we have not set a date, but we want to try and be done before summer kicks in, as this is a heavily used stairway.” (Among those who use it – the project manager himself.)
P.S. He says that next year, they’ll get word out earlier about the stairway-work list for 2018 – you should see that list by next March. And if you haven’t responded to the stairway survey for 2017, it remains open through Friday.
The Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth route will remain the only way to get to and from Vashon Island until Friday, according to the newest update from Washington State Ferries on the aftermath of the Christmas Eve incident that took the other Vashon route out of service:
The Point Defiance/Tahlequah route remains out of service through the morning of Friday, December 30 due to ongoing dock repair at the Point Defiance terminal. The damage to the dock occurred when the captain of the M/V Chetzemoka suffered a major medical emergency as the vessel was preparing to depart the Point Defiance ferry dock. The captain collapsed and hit the control panel as he fell, causing the vessel to break away from the dock and damage the dock apron (the articulated ramp at the end of the dock). No passengers on the Chetzemoka were injured, and the captain of the Chetzemoka is expected to make a full recovery. However, the damage to the dock is significant, and as a result, the Point Defiance/Tahlequah route is expected to remain out of service until December 30 while crews work around the clock to repair the apron.
Still making your plans for New Year’s Eve on Saturday night? From the WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide, here’s a party with a purpose:
“Exceptional artists and hilarious comics” are promised at The Skylark‘s big New Year’s Eve event, presented by RocksAnn Promotions, raising money for local musician Rachelle DeBelle‘s medical bills as she fights cervical cancer. It’s all ages 3-10 pm, and then a 21+ dance party. $10 suggested donation. Skylark is at 3803 Delridge Way SW.
While the bigger development projects get more attention (like the new Triangle proposal we discovered last week), more of the day-in, day-out proposals in city files are like these two:
7716 DELRIDGE WAY SW: From today’s city-circulated Land Use Information Bulletin, the 65-year-old house below is proposed to be replaced with six homes – four single-family houses and a two-unit townhouse building.
(Photos via King County Assessor’s Office)
County records show the house’s 9,500-square-foot site is on the books as three lots, zoned Lowrise 1. The notice published today is formal announcement of your chance to comment on the application (here’s how) – deadline January 9th.
5015-5017 FAUNTLEROY WAY SW: These addresses are on one 8,200-square-foot lot zoned Lowrise 1, according to county records, currently housing a 67-year-old duplex to be replaced by seven 3-story homes:
The proposals for both sites are shown on the “site plan” in city files as a four-unit rowhouse building facing Fauntleroy, and three single-family houses behind it. The formal application is not on file yet – these are early-stage proposals.
If you’re off today, take some time to enjoy our area’s beauty – the snowcapped Olympics made an appearance this morning, and while it looks like clouds are creeping back over the peaks, at least we have James Bratsanos‘s photos capturing the view!
Meantime – highlights from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
LEGO SPACE WARS @ THE LIBRARY: 2-4 pm, as previewed here yesterday, kids are invited to Southwest Library to build spaceships (and more) with Legos! Free; no registration required. (35th SW/SW Henderson)
CANDLELIGHT VIGIL FOR THE ORCAS: 4:45 pm, meet at Alki Statue of Liberty Plaza to remember and honor the Southern Resident Killer Whales lost this year. (61st SW/Alki Avenue SW)
WEST SEATTLE TOOL LIBRARY: Get ready for a project you’re planning in the New Year! Visit the Tool Library tonight, 5-8 pm on the northeast side of Youngstown Cultural Arts Center. (4408 Delridge Way SW)
GET FIT, WEST SEATTLE! INFO NIGHT: 6:30 pm at West Seattle Runner (WSB sponsor), come find out about the couch-to-half-marathon training program for beginners, with its next session starting early in the New Year. (2743 California SW)
Nothing from the WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide for today/tonight, but it has a growing section of New Year’s Eve/Day events – if yours isn’t there, let us know ASAP via editor@westseattleblog.com so we can add it – thanks!
(SDOT MAP with travel times/video links; is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE)
(Click any view for a close-up; more cameras on the WSB Traffic page)
7:02 AM: Good morning. While transit schedules are back to normal today, Metro has sent word – after the fact – of one West Seattle trip that didn’t happen:
Transit Alert – Route 37 to downtown Seattle due to leave SW Alaska St & 35 Av SW at 6:46 AM did not operate this morning.
— King County Metro (@kcmetrobus) December 27, 2016
Washington State Ferries’ south Vashon run (Tahlequah-Point Defiance) is still out of service, so Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth will likely be seeing heavier usage again today.
On the roads – no problems reported so far this morning.
(J46 [Star] and J34 [Doublestuf], photographed near West Seattle in October 2016 by Kersti Muul)
With the Southern Resident Killer Whale population down to 79 after the death of J34 in B.C. waters last week, many who love our orcas continue to wonder what can they personally do – if anything – to try to help keep the endangered whales from dwindling to extinction. Donna Sandstrom, the West Seattleite who founded and leads The Whale Trail, shares these thoughts, republished with permission from TWT’s website:
Let the untimely death of this young whale inspire us to address the issues that are impacting these orcas: lack of salmon, toxin accumulations, and noise and stress from boats. It is not one of these things, but all.
A well-meaning and concerned public has been led to focus exclusively on bringing down the Snake River dams, as if that was the only or even the best thing we can do to help these whales.
Bringing down dams is a complex challenge that will take decades to accomplish. Meanwhile, these pods are disappearing before our eyes. There are plenty of things each and all of us can do *right now* to help.
Watch from Shore. Noise and stress from boats makes it harder for hungry whales to catch the fewer salmon that *are* there. The next time J, K, or L pods are near, find a Whale Trail site near you and watch them from shore. Know that by reducing sound in their environment, you are giving them a better chance to make it.
Support a Whale Protection Zone. Orca Relief and others have petitioned NOAA Fisheries to establish a protected zone for orcas on the west side of San Juan Island. Sign the petition now, and encourage NOAA to give the whales acoustic space in a critical part of their range.
Reduce Toxins. Living on the edge of the Sound, the choices we make in our daily lives have an impact on whether these whales will survive. Orcas are at the top of the ocean food chain. Toxins like PCBs, PBDEs and DDT bioaccumulate in orcas, stored in lipid cells like blubber and mother’s milk. When the orcas are stressed, the toxins may be released into their bloodstream, and make them more susceptible to diseases. Any actions we take to reduce toxins from entering Puget Sound is a win for the whales.
A few simple suggestions:
*Don’t use pesticides on your lawns. Plant a rain garden, or a native plant, to filter toxins and prevent them from entering the Sound as runoff.
*Walk or take the bus instead of driving once a week, and reduce the oil that runs off pavement into the Sound.
Learning from Success:
Next year we will celebrate the 15th anniversary of Springer the orphaned orca going home. In 2002, she was rescued, rehabilitated and reunited with her pod on the north end of Vancouver Island. Three years ago, she had her first calf. It’s the only successful orca reunion in history.
Why does this story matter, and what bearing does it have on the survival of the southern residents?
To get the whale home, we had to learn how to work together, as individuals, and across organizations, agencies and nations.
Above all, we put the whales’ best interest first.
What hope there is for the whales begins with being honest about the issues that are impacting them. That means, putting their best interest ahead of our own, whether commercial, financial, or simply a desire to get closer that puts them further at risk.
We must encourage and embolden our governments to move urgently to protect this population. We must also understand that NOAA and DFO can’t do this alone—as with Springer, we each have a role to play.
As the days lengthen, let’s match the sadness we feel about J-34’s death with a strengthened resolve to protect his family. Their fate is in our hands — that is our challenge, and our hope. Together, we’ll find light in the dark for the whales.
While early necropsy results showed that “blunt-force trauma” killed J34, researchers have not yet conclusively identified the source. This was the third J-pod orca death announced in less than two months.
Not that we’re urging you to rush your tree out the door. But if it overstays its welcome … that could be dangerous. Here are three ways to recycle it:
CURBSIDE: Again this year, Seattle Public Utilities gives you until January 31st to put it out at curbside or by multi-family buildings’ bins – here are the rules.
TRANSFER STATION: You also have until the end of January to take your tree and/or holiday greens to a city transfer station, fee-free (three trees maximum per vehicle). Nearest one to us is the South Transfer Station (130 S. Kenyon in west South Park).
RAINBOW GIRLS: 9 am-1 pm Saturday, January 7th, drop off your tree at Alki Masonic Center in The Junction. By donation; sponsored by West Seattle Assembly #18 Order of Rainbow for Girls. (4736 40th SW)
(Anyone else having a tree-recycling drive/event? Please let us know so we can add to the WSB Holiday Guide and Calendar!)
Traffic is likely to be heavier than usual again tomorrow on the Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth route of Washington State Ferries, which expects the Tahlequah (South Vashon)/Point Defiance (Tacoma) route to still be out of service tomorrow morning: “… due to ongoing dock repair at the Point Defiance terminal. … We apologize for the inconvenience and advise alternate routes, Southworth and Fauntleroy, for travel to and from Vashon Island.” The dock was damaged by a ferry after its captain suffered a health problem on Christmas Eve.
We start this West Seattle Crime Watch roundup with a search under way right now:
ATTEMPTED ROBBERY: Police are at and around Westwood Village right now looking for a would-be robber. The man – described (as heard via scanner) as black, late 30s, 6-1, dark clothing – told the victim he had a gun. But apparently he fled without stealing anything. We have a crew heading to the scene to find out more and will add it.
(3:36 pm update) The robbery attempt happened outside the WWV Bank of America (which like other banks is closed for the holiday).
Earlier this afternoon:
TIP-JAR THIEF: Around 2:30 pm, according to scanner traffic – somebody stole (or tried to steal) a tip jar at Burger Boss in South Delridge. The only descriptive info we caught was “female,” and that she was last seen heading southbound on Delridge.
The next four are reader reports:
STOLEN BICYCLE: From Mike:
This morning, 12/26/16, a locked bicycle was stolen from in front of the Westwood Village QFC between 10:35 and 10:55 AM.
It is a 56 cm off-white 2012 Jamis Bosanova road bike. It has a black leather Brooks saddle with a tool bag attached and a distinct wooden Portland Design Works cargo rack on the back. It also has front and rear fenders as well as disc brakes. Photos attached. If you see the bike or have any leads, please call Seattle Police and email me at mbutler@newbelgium.com. Thank you.
BACKPACKS FOUND: We received this text late last night:
2 backpacks found near Delridge Community Center, ditched in road after suspected car prowl. We want to reconnect them with their owners – the contents lead us to believe they are from Canada.
We asked the texter to e-mail us with more info; haven’t received anything yet, but if this sounds familiar, let us know (editor@westseattleblog.com), and we’ll do our best to connect you.
MAIL FOUND, #1: First we received this from Trileigh:
We found a pile of mail on Christmas Day along Murray Ave SW near Lowman Beach, mostly opened, including several Christmas cards sent to different neighborhood addresses. I’d guess that someone went through mailboxes along our street, hoping to find some cash Christmas gifts. We put the mail back in the addressees’ mailboxes where we could – if you live near there and find some opened mail in your mailbox, that might be from this pile.
Since it’s still the Christmas season, it might be a good idea for people to try to bring in mail from your box as soon as possible after it’s delivered, just in case.
MAIL FOUND: We also have received two reports today of what looks like discarded mail near the Fauntleroy fish-ladder viewpoint.
Thanks again to everyone sharing Crime Watch reports so your neighbors all around the peninsula know more about what’s happening – we hope crime will NOT happen to you, but if it does, once you’ve reported it to police (911 if it’s happening now or just happened), let us know … 206-293-6302 if breaking, editor@westseattleblog.com if not — thank you.
12:33 PM: Seattle Fire has sent a sizable response to a single-family house in the 1700 block of Alki Avenue [map].
12:38 PM: Arriving crews report “moderate smoke” coming from the house.
12:45 PM: As Sharon points out in comments, the SFD response has blocked Alki Avenue both ways, so steer clear of the area until further notice. Meantime, via scanner (our crew is still en route), crews are reporting that the fire has extended into the house’s attic, but they’ve “knocked down” that part of the fire from inside.
1:04 PM: Photo added (and we confirmed that the house number on the SFD log, 1728 Alki, is the house where the fire happened). People were home when this started, but everyone got out OK and no injuries are reported. SFD tells us that early information indicates this is woodstove-related. A sizable section of Alki SW remains blocked because at least one hydrant line is running more than a block.
1:16 PM: Above, that’s a photo of the aforementioned line to a hydrant (now being rolled up). SFD is still assessing the extent of the damage, as they’re checking the walls and attic.
2:18 PM: The online incident report indicates the last few crews on scene were finally dismissed about 10 minutes ago, so the road should be back open now. And thanks to Steve Quant for this photo of what firefighters were dealing with at the peak of the fire:
We’re not likely to get a final report on the cause/damage before tomorrow.
Though many government offices/facilities are closed today, Seattle Public Library branches are open! In West Seattle, the Southwest and WS (Admiral) branches are open now, closing at 8 pm; the Delridge branch is open 1-8 pm; the High Point branch remains closed for renovations (reopening January 9th).
No special events at the branches today, but tomorrow, if you have kid(s) home from school for winter break, check this out: Southwest Library (35th SW/SW Henderson) has an event that children’s librarian Dave Eicke wants to make sure you know about – Lego Space Wars, 2-4 pm Tuesday. As Eicke points out, “Play and use of Legos have been shown to show real benefits in STEM education. The planning and building helps with communicating ideas with physical objects.” Free, no registration required, just show up!
(2016 Alki Polar Bear Swim photo by Scott Nelson)
Just got confirmation that the West Seattle Polar Bear Swim is on again for Sunday (New Year’s Day 2017). From organizer Mark Ufkes:
January 1, 2017, at 9:50 am, polar-bear swimmers will line up along the beach across from Duke’s.
With a countdown, at 10 am sharp we will hold hands with our friends and run into Puget Sound.
Bring water shoes, a towel, a change of clothes and your hopes and dreams for 2017 with you. Also bring the lessons you learned in 2016. Running into the water with friends and family will help you leave behind the complexities of 2016 and start the new year clean and burden-free. We hit the water at 10 sharp.
Thinking about trying it for the first time? Here’s our coverage from last year, including video and links to previous years’ coverage.
(Click any view for a close-up; more cameras on the WSB Traffic page)
Since Christmas Day was on a Sunday, today is an official holiday. Here are the transit changes:
METRO: Sunday schedule.
WATER TAXI: The West Seattle and Vashon runs both are NOT in service.
SOUND TRANSIT: Route 560 (and light rail) are on run Sunday schedules.
STREET PARKING: For the neighborhoods with city-operated pay stations, this is a free-parking day.
Also, while Washington State Ferries‘ Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth run is on a normal schedule, usage is likely to be heavier than usual because the South Vashon run (Tahlequah-Point Defiance) remains out of service.
On this Christmas night, we stopped by West Seattle Lights (3908 SW Charlestown) with time to record just one song, whatever it turned out to be. It was the grand finale of the second set (see the schedule and song list here), “Wizards of Winter,” just before 6 pm. The show goes until midnight tonight. As you can tell from our video’s audio, the best way to listen while you watch is NOT necessarily just standing along the street; if you go via vehicle, listen on 101.9 FM.
West Seattle Lights is in its eighth season, so popular that a couple years ago, mastermind Jim Winder added a show in Maple Valley (where he lives – the show here is at the home of friends). It’s also become a fundraiser/foodraiser – bring a food donation for the West Seattle Food Bank, and/or donate online to the show’s chosen charities, WSFB and the Northwest Parkinson’s Foundation (donated money all goes to them – the show itself is put on as a labor of love).
For more info on holiday light shows in West Seattle, see our Holiday Guide.
A few minutes before 4 pm, we stopped by the Alki Masonic Center in The Junction to photograph the volunteers who had just spent four hours making West Seattle holiday history – serving a free sit-down dinner to anyone who needed one. The lodge and The Christmas People co-sponsored the first-ever event, feeding almost 100 people who showed up over the course of the afternoon. They also wanted to say thanks to community members who volunteered time to help prepare, and who donated dozens and dozens of homemade cookies! The Christmas People, led by Rev. Fred Hutchinson and Ruth Bishop, have been feeding others in need, but usually in smaller groups, he told us – this was the first time they decided to offer a big sit-down dinner, and they’ll do it again next year, getting the word out far and wide to fill the hall.
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