West Seattle, Washington
24 Friday
(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)
6:43 AM: Good morning. We start with a transit cancellation – Metro just announced Route 57 leaving The Junction at 7:06 am is off:
Transit Alert – Route 57 to downtown Seattle due to leave the Alaska Junction at 7:06 AM has been canceled this morning.
— King County Metro (@kcmetrobus) August 26, 2016
It’s one of three cancellations Metro has texted/tweeted this morning so far, first one in West Seattle.
6:51 AM: Reminders for today and the weekend:
Road-work projects continuing – Fauntleroy/Endolyne Triangle and lower Spokane Street east of the low bridge.
Weekend road closure in West Seattle – Alki/Harbor closes for the Alki Beach 5K, which starts at 9 am Sunday.
Weekend lane closures for Aurora Bridge inspections:
Saturday, Aug. 27 – Two northbound lanes across the Aurora Bridge will be closed from 6 to 11 a.m. One northbound lane will remain open to traffic. All southbound lanes will be open.
Sunday, Aug. 28 – Two southbound lanes across the Aurora Bridge will be closed from 6 to 11 a.m. One southbound lane will remain open to traffic. All northbound lanes will be open.
Also: Two weekend paving projects in Tacoma will reduce lanes – on I-5, and on the Tacoma Narrows Bridge – which could also have an effect on the Fauntleroy-Southworth ferry runs, WSDOT warns. Here’s the full alert.
6:57 AM: Another cancellation just texted/tweeted:
Transit Alert – Route 56 to downtown Seattle due to leave 61st Ave SW & Alki Ave SW at 7:23 AM has been canceled this morning.
— King County Metro (@kcmetrobus) August 26, 2016
Metro says it’s a hiring issue – as explained in our traffic/transit coverage yesterday.
7:10 AM: And now, a text/tweet announcement that the previously mentioned cancellation has been canceled – so the run is back ON:
Transit Alert Update – Route 56 to downtown Seattle due to leave Alki at 7:23 AM will operate as scheduled.
— King County Metro (@kcmetrobus) August 26, 2016
7:28 AM: Ten minutes warning for this one:
Transit Alert – Route 57 to downtown Seattle due to leave the Alaska Junction at 7:38 AM will not operate this morning.
— King County Metro (@kcmetrobus) August 26, 2016
8:59 AM: We’ve been covering the Triangle gas leak separately; the response should be winding down now.
Tonight in West Seattle Crime Watch, four reader reports – three car prowls, plus the case of the abandoned pants:
CAR PROWL #1: From RC:
I woke up this morning to see my car door open. When I went out and looked, it was obvious someone had gone through the glovebox and center console. A few dollars and a Leatherman multi-tool were the only items missing. Just sucks that someone went through our car. We live on 37th between Alaska and Edmunds. Thought we should share in case others had a similar experience last night.
CAR PROWL #2: From Meghan:
Just wanted to contact you guys to let you know our car was broken into (window shattered and appears that a crow bar was used to pry at the window) and they went through our glove compartment. Stole a phone charger and car adaptor. We believe it happened yesterday or early this morning on SW Edmunds/ California Ave.
CAR PROWL #3: From Judah:
This morning at 8am I discovered that my car had been broken into. The driver side door was wide open and the contents tossed about. The fusebox cover was also opened up so they may have been trying to steal it or disable the alarm. I filed an online report with SPD. The only thing of value taken was a small coin purse with less than $3 in it. I think that the incident must have taken place between midnight and 6 am, based on when we are active in the house. Our house is on 32nd Avenue SW, between Andover and Genesee. The car was parked in the driveway off the alley that runs between 32nd Avenue SW and Avalon Way.
CASE OF THE ABANDONED PANTS: FB sent the report and photo:
Found a pair of worn pants, guys flip flops, a spoon and the top of a medicine wrapper in my front yard this morning — doesn’t look like they fell out of a bag. On Alaska St between 45th and 46th.
Very creepy — so some guy (probably thin, judging by the size of the pants) was walking around with no pants and shoes in the neighborhood sometime this morning.
Thanks again to everyone sharing Crime Watch information – editor@westseattleblog.com if not urgent, 206-293-6302 if it is (after you’ve called 911, of course).
Thanks to JayDee (above) and James Bratsanos (below) for the views of tonight’s sunset with smoke from the wildfires on the Olympic Peninsula.
Here’s the (updated) latest fire information. As for the weather here in West Seattle – the National Weather Service‘s “heat advisory” remains in effect until 8 pm Friday; tomorrow’s high is expected to be in the low 90s again – today’s high of 91 degrees at Sea-Tac broke the record for this date, which was 87 degrees in 1982.
(Photos by Leda Costa for WSB, unless otherwise credited)
6:59 PM: “My Flea Has Dogs” was the opening song for kindie-rock superstar Caspar Babypants at tonight’s season finale of the Admiral Neighborhood Association-presented Summer Concerts at Hiawatha series, and lots of critter songs have followed – spiders, crabs, butterflies, bears …
Adoring fans are hopping and dancing all over the east lawn at Hiawatha, where it’s nice and shady, cooler than the 90-ish warmth out in the sunshine.
Before the show, Caspar B (who grownups also know as Chris Ballew of the Presidents of the United States of America) signed autographs and posed for a few pix;
(WSB photo by Patrick Sand)
If you’re here, you’ll have a chance to buy CD’s post-show, too (“Away We Go” is a brand-new album, and “Winter Party” is due out this November), as well as art from wife and creative partner Kate Endle:
Since this is the last Hiawatha show of the year, some shoutouts. First, Katy Walum, who was president of the ANA when Summer Concerts launched in the summer of 2009 and has continued to coordinate it each year since:
This year’s gold sponsor, Metropolitan Market (also a longtime WSB sponsor), has a tent here with free brownie bites:
We’ve been proud to be media sponsor every year since the start back in 2009. And the Associated Recreation Council of Hiawatha is a partner for the ANA in making this happen – they’re raising money with a concession stand over by the southeast corner of the center. The show’s on until 8 pm, so you have time to get here – more coverage to come!
8:03 PM: Last song just ended – though Mr. Babypants took a break for some of his riotous commentary, in this case telling the wee ones to understand that when they grow up and have homes and jobs of their own, they’re not going to be able to just take a nap in the afternoon any old time, so they should be sure to do that every day right now – “napping is a privilege, not a right” – and the parents all cheered.
If you missed tonight’s show or want to see/hear Caspar Babypants again – this Saturday morning at 10:30 am, he has a nonprofit-fundraiser show here in West Seattle, at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center – details here.
And Katy Walum has just told the crowd this is her last show after coordinating the concerts every season since the start – free shows that have drawn thousands, gathering on summer Thursday nights.
Want to get involved? The Admiral NA’s next meeting will be September 13th, 7 pm, at The Sanctuary at Admiral (42nd/Lander).
EARLY FRIDAY: Photos added, as promised, above and below, including Caspar B with fans post-show:
And a remembrance of the golden sunshine on the edge of the lawn as tonight’s show started:
Some concertgoers brought pets:
Most simply brought their energy, enthusiasm, and wonder:
Thanks to everyone who’s come to, performed at, helped out at, etc. the Hiawatha concerts these eight seasons!
(WSB photos)
Laurel Trujillo‘s dream is coming true. She and husband Andrew Trujillo are converting 3809 Delridge Way SW into a taproom / beer garden space to be called Ounces.
You might remember the successful crowdfunding campaign. Maybe you even participated. Since then, they’ve secured a location and are giving it a complete overhaul, inside and out:
It was previously the medical-marijuana dispensary Safe Access, and before that, a marble-and-tile business, with its history before that even including time as a service station.
The interior space is cozy, with an ordering bar and a seating bar – but the exterior space is sprawling; it includes some parking, and even more room for the actual beer garden, about 3,000 square feet, which will also have room for games such as Cornhole and Jenga.
Which beers will Ounces offer? They’ll be focusing on Washington state beer, wine, and cider, Laurel says, no lineup yet – though they promise 30+ taps – but they’re doing lots of research. Other beverages will include nitro cold-brew coffee and kombucha on tap. Possibly even juice boxes, since this is going to be an all-ages, families-welcome space.
They’ll also be serving some food – deli-type sandwiches, charcuterie plates, snacks. And, she says, they won’t mind if you bring your own, or pick some up at nearby venues like Skylark.
The hours aren’t set yet, but they’re expecting to be open five days a week, with their grand opening likely in the first week of October, as they’re estimating about five more weeks of work.
Two Lincoln Park notes today:
NORTH PLAY AREA UPDATE: We have an update today on construction of the North Play Area renovations. Seattle Parks spokesperson Dewey Potter tells WSB that the contractor is a week ahead of schedule and has finished demolition, poured the concrete curbs for the new play area, almost finished the grading work, and is rerouting an electrical line. By this weekend, she adds, “The new picnic seating area will be open and ready for use by this coming weekend.” Next week, you won’t see work at the site, because they’ll be waiting for the new play equipment, with delivery expected in early September. After receiving the aforementioned updates, we asked about one other part of the project:
That’s the framework for the new “cable ride” northwest of the play area. It is a kid-sized “zipline,” no trees involved. P.S. You can find more project info here, including notes from the planning meetings last fall and winter.
SATURDAY TREE WALK: In case you haven’t already seen the listing for this in the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar – the city’s reLeaf program is reminding you that this Saturday, you’re invited to go along for a free guided walk to learn about the park’s trees. Meet by 10 am at the information kiosk along the north parking lot (8011 Fauntleroy Way SW).
Summer’s not over and reunion season isn’t, either. Just out of the WSB inbox, from Alison:
West Seattle High School, Class of 1981, is having an informal reunion on Saturday, August 27th, starting at 7 pm.
We will be gathering at “The Point,” 435 SW 152nd St in Burien. Come share your memories and reconnect with old friends. See you there!
BRINGING BABY TO THE MOVIE! While it’s billed as being for “mommies,” the new Friday morning events at the historic Admiral Theater are really for anyone with a very young baby in tow. The Admiral recently launched 10 am Friday showings described as “first-run matinees for parents, nannies, grandparents and caregivers. The sound will be turned down and you’re welcome to bring a stroller, feed your baby, let your baby fuss, cry or coo, and no one will mind! Please note these movies are our regularly featured movies. Children age five and under are free. Adult tickets are matinee-priced.” The movies are first-run films already on the theater’s schedule, so this week’s movies – tomorrow (August 26th) at 10 am – are “Florence Foster Jenkins” and “War Dogs.”
KOSARA ON THE WAY TO ADMIRAL: Across the street from the theater, you might have noticed the liquor-license posting for Kosara at the former Zatz Bagels, which closed in June 2015 at 2348 California SW – we’ve received more than a few questions about it. We noticed it too and have been trying to get more information; the license application includes a familiar name, Plamen Stoyanov, already a West Seattle restaurateur (Amante, Huddle), but when reached for comment, he told WSB he’s not yet ready to go public with the plan. So all we know is that the license being sought is for a restaurant with beer and wine.
WHITE CRANE WELLNESS MERGES WITH WEST SEATTLE WELLNESS: In South Admiral, White Crane Wellness (3435 California SW) has been acquired by West Seattle Wellness, and remains open for what its new ownership describes as “alternative health care services such as, but not limited to, acupuncture, massage, energy work, physical therapy, counseling, organic skin care, and more.” You’re invited to an open house at White Crane on Saturday, October 1st, 1-4 pm.
(Dahlia photographed by Yel0Rose – from the West Seattle Blog Flickr group)
Highlights for the rest of your West Seattle Thursday, from our Event Calendar:
SWAP MEET: 3-5 pm at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center, Across The Bridge invites you to a swap meet. Kim Schwarzkopf explains:
Across the Bridge started as a youth mentoring program around the work opportunities in film, music and the creative industry. We were originally funded in 2014 by a Community Matching Grant through the Seattle Youth Violence Prevention Initiative. Unfortunately, that grant disappeared and we couldn’t find any funding for this year’s program. We have formed such a solid and dedicated crew that we decided to go forward anyway and self-funded a space at Youngstown and organized 6 field trips across the bridge to arts-based organizations throughout Seattle.
We are a 100% grassroots community-based organization. We are committed to racial equity and non-violence. We believe that peace is possible and we can help #IncreasethePeace in our selves, our families and our communities.
Our Swap Meet for Peace party is a way to bring community members together to have fun, connect, and share some time and stories. We believe that sharing stories is a good way to increase empathy and understanding for each other. Bring an item or two of good value that you are ready to pass on and hopefully find something that you are excited about!
Free to join! We’ll gratefully accept any donations that will go towards mentoring young people in SouthWest and SouthEast Seattle.
(4408 Delridge Way SW)
DELRIDGE GROCERY COOP FARMSTAND: 4-7 pm, fresh produce on sale! Support, and meet volunteers working on, the Delridge Grocery project. (Delridge Way/Puget Boulevard)
CASPAR BABYPANTS AT SUMMER CONCERTS @ HIAWATHA: 6:30 pm on the east lawn at Hiawatha Community Center, this is it! Caspar Babypants performs at the season finale of Summer Concerts at Hiawatha, presented by the Admiral Neighborhood Association, with community sponsors including WSB. Free – bring your own chair/blanket, bring your family, friends, neighbors, co-workers … and have a great time. (Walnut/Lander)
INTERNATIONAL POP OVERTHROW DAY: This is actually a multi-day live-music event at The Skylark, and this is Day 1. 7 pm start, tickets $10/door. Details here. (3803 Delridge Way SW)
MORE, MORE, MORE … on our complete calendar.
(West Seattle Elementary School – photo via seattleschools.org)
Just announced by the West Seattle YMCA (WSB sponsor):
The community is invited to attend the first annual Be There Rally at West Seattle Elementary on Wednesday, September 7, from 7:00 am to 8:00 am. The school, in partnership with the West Seattle & Fauntleroy YMCA, is rolling out the red carpet and asking community leaders, school supporters, family and friends to line up to cheer, clap and high-five students as they enter into the new school year.
The West Seattle Elementary Be There Rally draws inspiration from an event held in Hartford, Connecticut where over 100 Black men in suits got together to greet and encourage children on the first day of school. They did it because they wanted to show children of color positive images of Black people in their community instead of the negative and damaging images commonly portrayed in the media. That event sparked a couple of Seattle Public Schools to keep that momentum going. From the Seattle High Five held at Leschi Elementary last August, to the over 200 Black men at South Shore PK-8 in February, the goals at West Seattle Elementary are the same.
The Be There Rally will be following these blueprints but with a slight change. Research shows that children whose fathers take an active role in their educational lives earn better grades, score higher on tests, enjoy school more and are more likely to graduate from high school and attend college. Leaders are calling for 100 men to support those who may not have a male role model by volunteering at the Be There Rally.
After careful consideration and speaking with the members of the High Point community, leaders decided to adjust to fit the needs of the neighborhood by also calling for 100 women. It is imperative that girls also have the opportunity to see successful women who they can identify with.
In an effort to dispel myths, breakdown stereotypes and change the narrative that surrounds West Seattle Elementary, please come dressed for success. The purpose of the dress attire is to allow students to see mirror images of themselves and combat any internalized biases damaging to themselves. This event will also serve as the official kick-off for a new initiative that will be followed by a clothing drive. The “Classic Men & Ladies of West Seattle Elementary” is an empowerment program to instill hope, purpose, self-pride and a love for themselves and our community. West Seattle Elementary will be collecting youth dress shirts, ties, pants, skirts and blouses to be worn once a week for our meetings.
The West Seattle & Fauntleroy YMCA is sponsoring the rally in partnership with West Seattle Elementary. Although the event is aimed to represent the demographics of the school, all people regardless of ethnic identification are encouraged to come. West Seattle Elementary’s collaborative school motto for the 2016/2017 school year is “Whatever it takes for each and every kid!”
Your presence at the school on the first day will support efforts to build valuable partnerships with families and members of the community to support student learning and positive academic outcomes.
To confirm your attendance or for more information, please contact Jeremy Smith, Director of Leadership Development at (206) 331-1799 or via email at Jeremysmith@seattleymca.org.
Two West Seattle items of interest in today’s city-circulated Land Use Information Bulletin, both on projects we’ve been covering here for months:
(4801 Fauntleroy Way rendering by David Foster Architects)
4801 FAUNTLEROY WAY APPROVAL: Land Use Permit approval has been granted for this mixed-use building with 52 apartments, including finalization of the Design Review approval reported here last February. It will be built on the southwest corner of Fauntleroy/Edmunds (across from The Whittaker and kitty-corner from the proposal on the ex-pawn shop site). Here’s the full decision; if you are interested in appealing it, a two-week period is now open, and the bulletin notice includes a link explaining how to do that. (The site, it should be noted, remains listed for sale.)
2222 SW BARTON DESIGN REVIEW: We brought you first word back on August 3rd that this 80-unit apartment building near Westwood Village had a September 15th date set for its first Southwest Design Review Board meeting. And indeed, that is what is formally announced in today’s bulletin. The meeting three weeks from tonight is at 6:30 pm at the Senior Center/Sisson Building in The Junction; it is the Early Design Guidance phase, and its scope is explained in today’s notice.
(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)
6:41 AM: Just checked around, and it’s incident-free again in/from West Seattle, on this last Thursday in August.
ROAD-WORK REMINDERS: Fauntleroy/Endolyne Triangle, plus lower Spokane Street east of the low bridge.
STADIUM ZONE TONIGHT: Seahawks are home vs. Dallas, 7 pm.
WEEKEND AHEAD: Alki/Harbor road closure for Alki Beach 5K at 9 am Sunday; no road closures but the north end of South Seattle College (WSB sponsor) will be busy for the West Seattle Car Show 10 am-3 pm Saturday (20+ trophy categories, and same-day signups starting at 8).
7:47 AM – TRANSIT CANCELLATION: Just announced, after-the-fact, via Twitter and text:
Transit Alert – Route 37 to downtown Seattle due to leave 44 Av SW and SW Alaska St at 7:38 AM did not operate this morning.
— King County Metro (@kcmetrobus) August 25, 2016
7:58 AM: And that was followed by this:
Transit Alert Correction – The last route 37 operated as expected from the Alaska Junction at 7:16 AM.
— King County Metro (@kcmetrobus) August 25, 2016
We did, by the way, get Metro’s response to our inquiry about last week’s cancellations. From spokesperson Scott Gutierrez:
Every effort is made to avoid having to cancel service — up until the moment a bus is scheduled to start its trip. We regret when any service is canceled, and we appreciate our customers’ patience.
Metro continues to ramp up hiring and training of new bus drivers. Right now we have a new class of trainees starting every two weeks, and each class is at or close to capacity (24 trainees). Through the fall, we hope to see significant reductions in cancellations as we continue toward our hiring goals.
While we have added service and are hiring more drivers to fulfill that service, we’ve also seen higher-than-expected attrition this year due to retirements. A strong local economy has made hiring very competitive. And the training process for new drivers takes about 5 weeks. To help meet service needs, we actively deploy standby operators when available and assign drivers who have completed trips.
Metro also is investing a great deal of effort into training our drivers to ensure they provide the best possible service. Anyone interested in applying to become a Metro bus driver can find information on our website – Or email josh.isgur@kingcounty.gov.
8:02 AM: And still on that topic, this was texted/tweeted a moment ago:
Transit Alert – Route 57 to downtown Seattle due to leave the Alaska Junction at 7:38 AM did not operate this morning.
— King County Metro (@kcmetrobus) August 25, 2016
ADDED 9:13 AM: One more note – via e-mail, from WSDOT, in case you’re planning to drive 99 north of downtown this weekend:
Washington State Department of Transportation bridge maintenance crews will close two lanes of traffic to conduct a routine inspection of the (Aurora Bridge) on both Saturday and Sunday mornings.
Closure details
· Saturday, Aug. 27 – Two northbound lanes across the Aurora Bridge will be closed from 6 to 11 a.m. One northbound lane will remain open to traffic. All southbound lanes will be open.
· Sunday, Aug. 28 – Two southbound lanes across the Aurora Bridge will be closed from 6 to 11 a.m. One southbound lane will remain open to traffic. All northbound lanes will be open.
11 AM: Went down to check on the Fauntleroy/Endolyne work. The painted curb bulb – color chosen in community discussions – is now drying at Brace Point/Wildwood:
Work was expected to take about a week so should be done by early next week.
The car-prowl arrested at Lincoln Park after a helicopter-assisted police search on Tuesday just got out of jail tonight.
(Tuesday photo via Steve Shelton Images)
He’s at left in the photo above, 31-year-old Jared M. Barden. We are identifying him because he is already charged; while felony cases take a few days to get to that point, Barden was charged in this case with misdemeanors, and has already been arraigned in Seattle Municipal Court. Online files show he pleaded not guilty to vehicle prowling and property destruction. We don’t yet have the details of exactly what happened before he is reported to have bolted from the 7000 block of California Avenue SW yesterday to north Lincoln Park, but we know a Municipal Court judge allowed him to go free on personal recognizance, despite his record and the fact he has a new felony case pending in a different incident.
The King County Jail Register shows this is the third time Barden has been in jail in the past four weeks – one day each time. He was charged less than two weeks ago in connection with a case in Burien in which he is accused of breaking into a house and trying to steal a car. The charging documents in that case note that while prosecutors requested Barden’s bail be set at $25,000, the judge let him go free on his own recognizance. Those documents also listed his “last known address” as a house near Lincoln Park. It’s several blocks away from the scene of the crime involved in his most recent felony conviction, an August 2014 burglary in the 8600 block of 46th SW. In June of last year, he was sentenced to 22 months in prison, with credit for time served. Charging documents in that case said he had had 30 arrest warrants since 2003, and convictions on charges including robbery, stolen property, and drug crimes. At the time of the 2014 arrest, his last known address was in Bremerton.
Back to the case from yesterday – Barden is due back in Municipal Court on October 3rd.
(Smoke visible over the Olympics this afternoon – photo by Robyn Fritz)
7:46 PM: The weather these next few days isn’t going to make things any better for the fires on the Olympic Peninsula, and unless you love hot weather, it won’t be that pleasant down here either. The National Weather Service has a “heat advisory” in effect for noon Thursday through 8 pm Friday, and is expecting high temperatures the next two days might reach into the low 90s.
8:29 PM: Thanks to John Dexter for the photo from North Admiral, showing what the smoke plume looked like at sunset.
Two weeks until the first day of Seattle Public Schools classes. Tonight, a community request from Chief Sealth International High School:
Chief Sealth International High School has the opportunity to host a male guest teacher from China for the 2016-2017 academic year. The guest teacher will spend a full year working with students in Chinese classes. He will bring with him traditional, contemporary and innovative instructional strategies practiced in China as well as ideas to contribute to students and families. CSIHS is excited to welcome him to our school.
Host families will enjoy a unique cultural experience, fun and exciting for both kids and adults! Host families are only asked to provide room and board. Transportation costs, insurance and general expenses are paid for by SPS or the sister school in China. To allow our guest to have maximum exposure to life in America, host families can co-host with other families. Possible share times are:
· September- December
· January-March
· April-June
· Or all year!Thanks for considering this opportunity to host a guest teacher by offering him a place in your home; this can be a great experience for practicing the language and learning about another culture. This is an excellent opportunity for both the guest teachers and families.
Please contact us at 206-252-8550, with any questions about the program or about being a host family.
This is your early reminder: Start collecting your recyclables for the fall edition of the Fauntleroy Church Recycle Roundup. It’s a month away – 9 am-3 pm Sunday, September 25th. Courtesy of Judy Pickens, we have the latest list of which items they will and won’t be able to accept. If you haven’t participated before, it’s a free drive-up/ride-up/walk-up event in the church parking lot at 9140 California SW.
3:14 PM: For everyone who appreciates a heads-up on offshore sightings: Our friends at Argosy Cruises just pointed out that the tall ship Lady Washington is headed this way. MarineTraffic.com shows it off Normandy Park right now, headed north at about 6 knots. It’s on its way to Kirkland for tours this weekend after a stint in Tacoma.
(Photo by Dave Ellifrit)
The Center for Whale Research just announced that one of Puget Sound’s endangered Southern Resident Killer Whales is missing:
J14, a 42-year old female in J pod, is considered missing. Ken Balcomb of the Center for Whale Research last saw her on July 31. Center for Whale Research staff members have since had three on-the-water encounters with the rest of her matriline but she was not present.
J14, also known as Samish – named by the Samish Tribe – was born in 1974, the first year Dr. Mike Bigg, commissioned by the Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada, started studying the Southern Resident killer whales. She has three living offspring: daughters J37 and J40 and son J45; she is also grandmother to J37’s calf J49. J14 is the only known daughter of J12 and a possible descendant of J2.
CWR staff member Melisa Pinnow last photographed J14 from shore on August 3rd. When last seen in July, J14 gave no indication of being sick or otherwise unhealthy.
We will wait to have one more definitive encounter with the J14’s before recording her as indeed deceased.
If you’re wondering what Seattle Police are doing in Schmitz Park … they are investigating the discovery of a body not far from the Admiral Way entrance. The person was reported to have a gunshot wound but police and the Medical Examiner (who just arrived) are investigating to confirm whether it’s suicide, and when it happened – the person clearly had been dead for a while, as there was not a major medical callout, just one SFD crew, which has long since departed. Our crew at the park talked to officers but there’s no further information about the person who died. We did confirm that the park remains open.
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
This started, as many WSB stories do, with an e-mailed question:
Why is the new sidewalk along Fauntleroy Way SW, by Fairmount Playfield, half concrete and half asphalt?
The sidewalk was installed this summer, two years after the removal of trees that left the old one cracked and bumpy. This is an especially bad place for that since this is a school-bus pickup/dropoff zone for nearby Fairmount Park Elementary, in addition to its frontage along a popular park in a densifying area.
There’s no obvious explanation for the mid-sidewalk material switch. But we went over for a firsthand look and noticed that where the concrete ends, it has a stamp: MOVE SEATTLE.
That, you’ll recall, is the $930 million levy passed by voters last year.
When we asked SDOT about the two-tone sidewalk, we learned that it’s related to a much smaller number: $90,000 – less than one-hundredth of one percent of the levy amount.
The explanation:
SDOT spokesperson Norm Mah first answered our question “why is half the sidewalk concrete and half asphalt?” with this information: “SDOT was able to replace a portion of the sidewalk with concrete and use asphalt temporarily for the remaining section to keep within budget. SDOT is planning to replace the asphalt section with concrete next year.”
So – we asked in a followup – there wasn’t enough money to use concrete for the entire project?
That’s not exactly what “keep(ing) within budget” means in this case, Mah replied: “With the budgetary constraints facing projects, our goal is to minimize project costs as much as possible. This sometimes requires doing small projects in phases. The statewide bid limit law restricts SDOT crews to projects that cost approximately $90,000 or less per year. Otherwise the project has to be sent out to bid, which can raise the cost and extend the timeline to deliver the project. To stay within the bid limit, we split the project in two phases – one in 2016, the rest of it next year in 2017. The city is aware that there would be some cost savings and efficiencies if we could mobilize the crew and finish it all at the same time. However, we are bound by the state’s law concerning limits on crew-completed work.”
And now you know.
(Last night’s sunset from Me-Kwa-Mooks – photographed by Jeff Johnson)
Enjoy the WARM weather this afternoon/evening before it gets HOT the next two days (heat advisory now out!): Six ways to spend the rest of your West Seattle Wednesday:
GET OUT OF THE HOME OFFICE … and go spend your noon hour at West Seattle’s only coworking center, WS Office Junction (WSB sponsor), for the weekly meetup – work-at-home, entrepreneurs, freelancers, coworkers, everybody’s welcome. Noon-1:15 pm, and you’re welcome to bring your lunch. (6040 California SW)
FREE PIZZA: As mentioned here last night, Pagliacci Pizza is celebrating its 20th anniversary in West Seattle, with free slices (up to 2 per person), now through 4 pm at its Junction location. (4449 California SW)
HIGH POINT MARKET GARDEN FARMSTAND: Another chance to get West Seattle-grown produce, sold right where it’s grown and harvested! 4-7 pm – details in our calendar listing. (32nd SW/SW Juneau)
FREE WORKOUT CLASSES! Elite BJJ of Seattle (WSB sponsor) is now offering POP Pilates classes run by Fit Girls NW, and two free sessions are coming up later today: 5:30 and 6:30 pm, 30-minute “preview classes.” And kids over 3 are welcome in Elite BJJ’s family-friendly gym. Read more about POP Pilates here. (5050 Delridge Way SW)
ULTIMATE AUTUMN FRISBEE: 6 pm at Fairmount Playfield, the weekly drop-in Frisbee fun moves to a slightly earlier time – details here. (5400 Fauntleroy Way SW)
BROOKS SHOES AND BRAS DEMO RUN: 6:15 pm group run from West Seattle Runner (WSB sponsor) with shoes and bras to try – full details in our calendar listing. (2743 California SW)
10:24 AM: Thanks to Susan for the tip – power is out for what Seattle City Light says is 108 customers (homes/businesses) in The Arroyos and vicinity. The cause isn’t yet known, but the utility hopes to have power back by mid-afternoon, as of the latest guesstimate.
P.S. This is the same footprint and customer count as the outage this past May that lasted more than 24 hours.
11:21 AM: Scott Thomsen of City Light tells WSB that the outage has been traced to “equipment failure” and they’re now hoping to have the power back by 4:30 pm.
7:36 PM: As pointed out in comments, it’s not fixed yet and the restoration guesstimate is now past midnight. SCL says an underground cable is what failed.
11:05 PM: Still out, says the City Light outage-tracker map, now pushing the guesstimate to 4 am-ish.
6:35 AM: JL says in comments that the power returned at 5 am – that would have been after more than 20 hours.
Artist Ryan Fedderson is in search of selfies.
He’s creating a temporary mural for the building shown above, which is at Delridge Community Center/Playfield, and wants to use the faces of up to 50 people, as rendered from selfies they photograph and send to him, with priorities given to photos taken at Delridge CC, Playfield, or Skatepark. But he’s turning this around fast and accepting selfies only through Friday (October 26th). And they have to be submitted through Facebook (we asked about an e-mail address or alternate means – no). The project is about change and evolution in the neighborhood and titled “White Out Delridge” – explained in part:
…Prior to the installation, the artist will collect selfies from park goers that represent the community in the Delridge neighborhood. From these selfies the artist will create drawings that will be applied as stencils to the building prior to a temporary white washing, whiting out the stencils and the building itself. After a brief period, the artist and the public will work together to unveil the portraits by picking and peeling the stencils away. For the remainder of the installation, time and weather will corrode the piece allowing the colors and complexities of the building to re-emerge. …
Full details, including the link for your photo if you’re interested in participating, are on his website, here.
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