West Seattle, Washington
28 Tuesday
And with that, the M/V Doc Maynard was officially welcomed to the King County Water Taxi fleet – though it’s not expected to join the West Seattle-Downtown Seattle run until December – after filling in for its twin M/V Sally Fox on the Vashon run for a while, and after some work is done at Seacrest to accommodate its size and configuration. The celebration at Pier 50 downtown included speeches and even stories – King County Councilmember Joe McDermott, drawing on a past gig as an Underground Tour guide, told the tale of the boat’s namesake:
After the speeches and bottle-smashing, it was out onto the bay for a test run. Here’s a quick look around the top deck at the stern (there’s room for more than 30 to stand at the bow, too) – mouse over the Instagram image to bring up the “play” button:
Interior, main deck, new West Seattle Water Taxi. pic.twitter.com/wV8tnXGu2b
— West Seattle Blog (@westseattleblog) September 18, 2015
We have lots of photos, video, and info to add once we’re back at HQ.
ADDED FRIDAY NIGHT: More from the event – first, the group shot of West Seattleites who took the short “maiden voyage” after the ceremony, out into the bay and back:
(Photo courtesy KCDOT)
The county points out that the space on the bow is one thing differentiating Doc Maynard from Sally Fox – since the DM will travel mostly in calmer Elliott Bay waters, rather than across the heart of the sound as SF does to get to Vashon Island. Here’s what it looks like on the inside upper passenger deck, which has a view directly into the wheelhouse:
On the outer lower deck, at the stern, some of the bicycle storage:
The event wasn’t just a celebration of the new boat – funded mostly with a grant from the federal government (which had a rep on hand too) – but also of the Water Taxi’s history. It was pointed out that it now goes back 17 years, into the late 1990s, at which time then-King County Councilmember Greg Nickels championed it as a “demonstration project.” Introduced as “the father of the Water Taxi,” he spoke today too:
Nickels noted that the fellow West Seattleites with whom he stood, County Executive Dow Constantine and Councilmember McDermott, also worked with him back in the Water Taxi’s early days. If you’ve been around a while, you’ll recall other boats that have handled the Water Taxi’s run; while the way-back boats weren’t present for the ceremony, the other three current boats were out on the water as the Doc Maynard pulled away:
Besides the Sally Fox, you saw in that clip the current West Seattle boat, the Spirit of Kingston, and the current backup, the Melissa Ann, which is leased. SofK will be the backup boat once Doc Maynard goes into service.
(WSB photos)
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
When the doors open at Colman Pool for its 75th-anniversary season next summer, be sure to look up as you walk in.
The 6′ x 13′ mural over the reception window in the lobby is getting some TLC right now, following the end of the 2015 season for the city-owned outdoor, saltwater pool on the shore of Point Williams at Lincoln Park.
We stopped in earlier this week to talk with Peter Malarkey, the conservator who is cleaning and repairing the mural for what might be the first time in its three-quarters of a century:
The mural was painted by Ernest Norling for the pool’s completion and dedication on July 4th, 1941.
Malarkey, who cleans and restores privately owned paintings as well as public artwork like this, says he’s seen worse – but still, here’s proof of what he’d removed in the first few days:
Since the pool is only open to the public a few months a year, and there are no other sources of “emissions” to contribute to the grime, that’s likely why it’s in what Malarkey terms “surprisingly good shape.” You have to look hard to see the spots he’s repairing – a few nicks and scratches, one long line of “graphite” that he suspects might have been caused by someone with a pencil. A few spatters, too.
And then, a protective coat of varnish will go over the entire mural – not too glossy, so it doesn’t detract from the art itself, “as invisible as possible,” says Malarkey. “It’s meant to be panels of color, not a lush oil painting.”
Talking about the mural restoration led to a discussion of the mural itself, which reflects many aspects of the time, and the interests of Laurence Colman, for whom the pool is named. You can read about the mural, titled “American Youth and Freedom,” on interpretive signage in the lobby (which has other items of interest, even an old-fashioned phone booth):
We discussed the mural’s style – which Malarkey sees as a reflection of American Regionalism, and the so-called “American Scene” painters. He has another term for it – “late ‘Public Deco’.” The mural, he observes, “clearly responds to the building,” including its curves
Back to Peter Malarkey’s work as a conservator. “All the materials I will use are reversible,” he said. His work is “to influence the painting as little as possible” – everything is soluble in case at some point it needs to be removed. “Reversibility” is important in the kind of work he does. When you see the mural again next year, “the fresher colors will give you a chance to look at (Norling’s) work again, the way he intended it to look.”
Malarkey expects to be done by the middle of next week. Of the project (publicly and privately funded, for an estimated total of $15,000), he says, “It’s good of Parks and the city to be taking care of this – it shows a lot of dedication to the building (and its history). It’s an example of a wise investment in the city’s culture.”
(Photo courtesy of Rachael)
10:26 AM: Seattle Fire has sent a full “fire in building” response to 5630 California SW. First crews on scene are not seeing anything. Avoid the area – traffic is blocked right now.
10:29 AM UPDATE: One crew has just found the source of the smoke – apparently a lamp. Most of the crews are being dismissed. Northbound California remains blocked, south of SW Findlay – this is on the east side of the street.
(Photo by Paul Walchenbach, at sunset last Saturday over Alki)
We’re heading into the last weekend of summer, whether the weather reinforces that or not – highlights from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
PARKing DAY: One pop-up mini-park in West Seattle this year, outside Wyatt’s Jewelers (WSB sponsor) at Westwood Village. Check it out starting at 10 am. If you’re elsewhere in Seattle today, here’s the citywide map – note that the small green icons are the pop-up parks. (2800 SW Barton)
M/V DOC MAYNARD DEDICATION: The new West Seattle Water Taxi‘s dedication is at 11:30 am at Pier 50 downtown, but you can ride there and back from Seacrest for free if you start with the 10:45 am outbound run. Or, just show up at Pier 50 (south of the WSF terminal at Colman Dock).
WS BIG BAND PLAYS SINATRA: Check to see if there’s still room at this benefit for and at the Senior Center of West Seattle – no-host bar opens 6 pm, Italian dinner at 6:30, the West Seattle Big Band plays the music of Frank Sinatra at 7. (SW Oregon & California SW)
WESTFEST: Holy Rosary School‘s annual fall festival starts 6-10 pm tonight (and continues tomorrow). Info and entertainment schedule here. (42nd SW & SW Genesee)
FREE MOVIE AT HPIC: Doors open at 6 at Highland Park Improvement Club, kids’ short at 6:15, main feature at 7 – details here. Free (bring $ for concessions, sold by volunteers) – HPIC has chairs, or bring your own. (12th SW & SW Holden)
HIGH-SCHOOL FOOTBALL: Playing on the peninsula tonight – West Seattle High School hosts Garfield HS, 7 pm at Southwest Athletic Complex. (2801 SW Thistle)
BOB’S BOWL-A-RAMA: Benefit bowl-a-thon at West Seattle Bowl, 7 pm tonight, to raise money for Ronald McDonald House Charities – details here. (39th SW & SW Oregon)
LIVE MUSIC! and more, in the additional listings you’ll find on our complete calendar.
(Four WS-relevant views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
No incidents reported so far in, or outbound from, West Seattle.
NEW WATER TAXI TO BE DEDICATED TODAY: The M/V Doc Maynard, which will take over the West Seattle Water Taxi run this fall, will be dedicated today at Pier 50 at 11:30 am (as first announced in August). You can catch a free ride there from Seacrest at 10:45 on the Spirit of Kingston.
REMINDER: FERRIES START FALL SCHEDULE SUNDAY: Washington State Ferries starts its fall schedule this Sunday (September 20th); for Fauntleroy/Vashon/Southworth, that means fewer weekend sailings.
UPDATED 7:35 AM – METRO CANCELLATIONS TODAY: 3 announced for West Seattle so far this morning:
Transit Alert – Route 55 to downtown Seattle due to leave SW Atlantic St and 44th Av SW at 7:18 AM will not operate this morning.
— King County Metro (@kcmetrobus) September 18, 2015
Transit Alert – Route 56 to downtown Seattle due to leave SW Admiral Way & 51st Av SW @ 7:30 AM will not operate this morning.
— King County Metro (@kcmetrobus) September 18, 2015
Transit Alert – Route 57 to downtown Seattle due to leave the Alaska Junction at 6:41 AM will not operate.
— King County Metro (@kcmetrobus) September 18, 2015
Colleen adds in comments that a RapidRide run was cancelled, unannounced, in the 6 am hour.
WEEKEND CITYWIDE ALERTS: Here’s the SDOT list of what’s up around the city this weekend (though there’s one omission not far from here – the Fiestas Patrias parade in South Park on Saturday morning at 11).
Two West Seattle Crime Watch notes before the night is through:
HELICOPTER SEARCH: We’re hoping to get more details on this from police in the morning, but for those who asked about the helicopter over southeastern West Seattle early this evening, it was related to a car crash in the Olson/Myers vicinity, reported as a hit-run; police were looking for someone who wound up in the greenbelt, and eventually, became the subject of a Guardian One search and SFD rescue.
CAR PROWL: From Robert:
My car was broken into last night. No damage and nothing stolen, just rummaged thru my glove box but nothing was of value. Woke up with all my stuff on my seat. I live at 34th and Alaska. Just wanted to give a heads up.
This is one of those events that tends to sell out way ahead of time – so here’s your advance alert. If you want to celebrate Oktoberfest authentically, without leaving the peninsula, it’s reservation time – Martin Král sends the info (and the photo of his son Logan):
The Austria Club of Washington has the most authentic Oktoberfest – and it’s held in West Seattle!
Date and Time: Saturday, October 10 6 – 11 pm
Location: Alki Masonic Hall, 4736 40th Avenue SW
Featuring the Bert Carlson Band
Folk costume (Tracht) encouraged
German beer and wine at modest pricesCost: $35 (includes dinner)
Advance purchase only!Tickets must be paid by October 3
Mail check (made out to ‘Austria Club of WA’) to Rosie Mulholland, 11737 5th Avenue NE “C”, Seattle, WA 98125
For info call Rosie at 367-1988 or visit www.austriaclubwa.com
If you go to Westwood Village tomorrow, stop by the PARKing Day park outside Wyatt’s Jewelers (WSB sponsor), any time after 10 am. Once again this year, they’re participating in the worldwide festival of creating temporary mini-parks … and this year, according to the SDOT map, theirs is the ONLY pop-up park in West Seattle.
(Photo substituted for video window post-event, until archived video is available; thanks to County Councilmember Joe McDermott for permission to republish)
7:35 PM: Click the play button and you should get the live feed of tonight’s Youngstown Cultural Arts Center faceoff between the City Council District 1 candidates who made it to the general election, Shannon Braddock and Lisa Herbold. This is one of a citywide series of forums/debates presented by Town Hall and the Seattle Channel; lead moderator tonight is your editor here, with community moderators Cecile Hansen, chair of the Duwamish Tribe, and Fernando Mejia-Ledesma of OneAmerica, and Q&A moderator Edward Wolcher from Town Hall. You can e-mail a question to debates@townhallseattle.org or ask one via Twitter with the hashtag #seacouncil.
7:40 PM NOTE: This program is intended to run an hour, by the way, so it will go until about 8:35 pm. After that – we’ll be watching for the archived video.
8:38 PM UPDATE: The forum’s over, so the live feed is too; Edward from Town Hall says it will be on Seattle Channel (cable) Monday night. Archived video will also be available via the SC website, and we’ll add it here when it is. Thanks to everyone who came to Youngstown to be in the “live” audience – the lights were bright and we didn’t get a count, but in a quick early glance, seemed like most of the seats are filled. Town Hall is doing these in all the districts – this was the first one. Also, if you missed it but want to be sure to see the candidates in person before you vote, you’ll have at least four more chances – we know of four forums in West Seattle next month – stand by for those dates.
Three notes, two of which are updates on projects we’ve mentioned before:
(Rendering: S + H Works Architecture & Design)
DESIGN REVIEW FOR APARTMENT BUILDING AT 9021 17TH SW: Back in June, we reported on a plan for a 31-unit, 31-parking-space apartment building at 9021 17th SW in South Delridge. The project is now on the Southwest Design Review Board‘s schedule, as the second review of the night on Thursday, October 15th, 8 pm at the Sisson Building (home of the Senior Center) in The Junction.
THREE TOWNHOUSES BEHIND 2336 44TH SW: New project just popped up in the system – a plan to demolish a building described as a “garage/carriage unit” (see the bottom photo here) behind this address, on the alley between 44th and California SW, and replace it with three townhouses.
THREE HOUSES REPLACING 1 AT 6715 CALIFORNIA SW: Back in January, we mentioned this south Morgan Junction plan. This week, work has begun, with the 97-year=old house on the site torn down, and the rest of the site-clearing work under way.
Back-to-school scenes from around the peninsula:
Sup't Nyland welcomes incoming freshman to Chief Sealth International on the first day of the 2015-16 school year. pic.twitter.com/2MZWFb0BpP
— Seattle Schools (@seapubschools) September 17, 2015
As previewed here Wednesday, SPS Superintendent Dr. Larry Nyland started Day 1 with visits to CSIHS and Concord International in South Park.
On the north end of the peninsula, West Seattle’s most populous elementary school enjoyed its annual first-day tradition for the last time at its original campus:
@SchmitzPark Flag Ceremony 2015. A great start to the school year! 655 students strong. @seapubschools pic.twitter.com/vVkZ0ItqjR
— Gerrit Kischner (@PrincipalKisch) September 17, 2015
Here’s video, courtesy of Southwest Seattle Historical Society executive director Clay Eals (who reports on today’s ceremony here):
Providing construction continues to be on schedule, Schmitz Park Elementary will start next school year in its new Genesee Hill location.
Last but not least – a reader photo – the Bear boys, ready for Day 1:
The brothers were off to Sealth and Denny.
Got a first-day photo to add? editor@westseattleblog.com – thanks!
ADDED 5:01 PM: Thanks to Mel for sharing the photo – sophomore at Sealth!
Also just in – Mateo, 4th grader at Concord International:
Two West Seattle coffee notes percolating today:
FIRST CHICKEN, THEN COFFEE: Welcome the new spinoff from Harry’s Chicken Joint in north Morgan Junction – call it Harry’s Coffee Joint, though it’s really Catherine and Jared’s coffee joint – there they are above, Catherine Cougan, daughter of Chicken Joint founder Bruce Cougan, and Jared Harkness. They’re in soft-open mode right now on the south side of Harry’s, with free samples, and then officially opening 7 am-2 pm weekdays starting next Monday. They’re roasting their own coffee except for the espresso blend (Vashon); they’re also baking their own goodies, including the bursting-with-blueberries scones we saw while visiting a little while ago. It’s a cozy spot, as is the chicken side, but stools are on order, Catherine tells us, and you can sit over in the chicken space says the Coffee Joint – his daughter’s enterprise – officially opens next week, with espresso and treats, and will be open 7 am-2 pm, while the chicken hours continue at 4 pm-8 pm. This is all going on at 6032 California SW.
FRESHY’S EXPANDS DOWNTOWN: If you work downtown and need coffee .. you’ll soon have a new West Seattle-rooted shop to patronize: Freshy’s Coffee, which has been in The Admiral District for 10 years now, is opening a second location at 1099 Stewart St., Suite 102. “Hoping for a soft opening in October,” they say via Instagram.
The rain falling right now reminds us of what’s coming up Sunday afternoon in the Sunrise Heights and Westwood neighborhoods – the King County Wastewater Treatment Division‘s celebration of the completion of the Barton Combined Sewer Overflow Control project. 15 blocks now have roadside raingardens after two seasons of construction; a ceremonial ribbon-cutting is planned at 1 pm Sunday at 32nd SW and SW Kenyon, and then from 1:30-4 pm, tours will be offered of “three recently planted blocks.” It’s also a chance to get updated information about the project, including the ongoing RainWise program, offering incentives for people in the target area to install rain gardens and/or cisterns. This project has been much-discussed, going all the way back to early meetings six years ago, so now that it’s done – whether you’re coming to the celebration or not – the county’s offering a survey for feedback – find it here.
(Added: Thursday morning photo by Jeremiah Holt)
Looking ahead to the rest of today/tonight – lots going on in West Seattle! From our calendar:
‘SCHOOL’S BACK IN SESSION’ GROUP RUN: New free group run starting at West Seattle Runner (WSB sponsor), 10 am each Thursday – details in our calendar listing. (2743 California SW)
DELRIDGE GROCERY FARM STAND FINALE: 4-7 pm, it’s your last chance this summer (yes, it’s technically summer for a few more days!) to buy farm-fresh produce from the Delridge Grocery Cooperative (WSB sponsor) at its weekly farm stand. (5455 Delridge Way SW)
SW ADMIRAL WAY SAFETY PROJECT: 6:15-7:45 pm, SDOT hosts an “open house” at Hiawatha Community Center (with a presentation scheduled around 6:45 pm) about the revised version of its plan for Admiral Way between the business district and the beach. (2700 California SW)
6058 35TH SW @ DESIGN REVIEW BOARD: The mixed-use building proposed for 35th SW & SW Graham in High Point goes back before the Southwest Design Review Board tonight at 6:30 at the Sisson Building (home of the Senior Center). The project, now dubbed “Upton Flats,” is currently described as a “4-story structure containing 89 residential units, 8,500 sq. ft. of office space and 1,500 sq. ft. of retail space located at ground level (with) surface parking for 98 vehicles.” This is a second round of Early Design Guidance; see the city report on the first one, in June, here; see the new design “packet” here; meeting will include a public-comment period. (SW Oregon & California SW)
ALKI COMMUNITY COUNCIL: 7 pm at Alki UCC, the council’s monthly meeting includes a presentation about the SolTerra project Perch planned for 1250 Alki SW (first reported here in May, and scheduled for its first Design Review meeting next month – see the “design packet” here). All welcome. (6115 SW Hinds)
‘UNPLUGGED’: 7 pm open-microphone event at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor) – details in our calendar listing. (5612 California SW)
FIRST CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT 1 LOCAL FACEOFF POST-PRIMARY: 7:30 pm at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center in North Delridge, City Council District 1 (West Seattle/South Park) candidates Lisa Herbold and Shannon Braddock will have their first local faceoff since the August primary. It’s presented by Town Hall, which requests RSVP but, we are assured, will not require it for admission (that does guarantee you a seat, though). Details here; your WSB editor is among the moderators. (4408 Delridge Way SW)
BELLY DANCE SHOWCASE: 7:30 pm at The Skylark in North Delridge, the monthly Alauda belly-dance showcase is free and all-ages. (3803 Delridge Way SW)
THAT’S NOT EVEN EVERYTHING … go browse our complete calendar to see it all (and to peek at the days/weeks ahead).
In the middle of a building boom, the city is making/considering changes in some of its processes and programs – including the only one that guarantees public meetings about some development projects. Two notes this morning about how you can get involved:
BREAKING UP DPD: As first announced in June, the city plans to separate the current Department of Planning and Development functions into two new divisions. This morning’s Land Use Information Bulletin includes the official notice of an October 20th public hearing at City Hall about the proposed change:
(This would) reorganize the Department of Planning and Development into two separate departments: (1) the Office of Planning and Community Development; (2) and the Department of Construction and Inspections. This Bill clarifies responsibilities for planning, permitting and enforcement activities between the two departments.
Part of the news in that is the name “Department of Construction and Inspections,” which was still TBA when the breakup announcement was made in June. The October 20th hearing is at 5:30 pm, with speaker signups an hour earlier.
DESIGN REVIEW CHANGES: For an even-longer time, the city’s been reviewing the Design Review program, which has for years been the only means by which public community-based meetings have been required for some development projects. The next step before potential changes is a set of open houses, one for the north part of the city and one for the south. The latter is the closest to West Seattle, set for September 29, 6–7:30 pm at Columbia City Library, 4721 Rainier Ave. South. (Thanks to Deb Barker, a former Southwest Design Review Board member, for calling our attention to that so we could make sure you knew.)
(Four WS-relevant views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
6:37 AM: Eight days later than originally scheduled, Seattle Public Schools start classes today. West Seattle is home to 16 of them; the times when you’ll see the flashing school-zone beacons are listed here (for all schools in the district). Four school zones now have speed-enforcement cameras – Louisa Boren K-8 STEM/interim Arbor Heights Elementary on Delridge; Roxhill Elementary and Holy Family School, which has been in session for two weeks, on Roxbury; and Gatewood Elementary, on Fauntleroy Way.
ROAD-WORK REMINDERS: With rain last night and more on the way later this morning, you might not encounter crews this morning, but remember for starters that the Roxbury and 35th SW projects are now under way, so if you’re driving Roxbury between 17th and 35th and/or 35th between Holly and Roxbury for the first time in a while because of school (or some other reason), be aware that the lane configurations have changed – primarily one lane each way with a center turn lane.
7:18 AM: If you use northbound I-5 through downtown, there might be some backup through the commute because of a lane closure at Mercer related to repairs from an early-morning crash.
7:20 AM: Crash reported at California/Charlestown and SFD is en route to check out a 17-year-old boy for possible injuries.
(Added above – photo from Bryce – thank you. The crash is in the outside northbound lane just north of Charlestown.)
7:29 AM: **Transit notes** – commenters say the first Route 57 and a Route 21 bus have been no-shows this morning. We haven’t seen any text or tweet alerts from Metro.
8:10 AM: The aforementioned left-lane closure on NB I-5 at Mercer downtown continues, with a miles-long backup reported.
9:11 AM: Texter says a broken-down vehicle is in the left lane near the crest of the high bridge, no emergency vehicles on scene, leading to trouble not just because of the blocked lane but because of vehicles diverting at the last minute.
10:35 AM: Have been in the thick of this for the past hour and a third; headed out after the last update with an hour to make it to the UW for a presentation at a student-journalism conference. Instead, by 10:20, we were still on the bridge; called to say we’d never make it, and now we’re in a parking spot downtown updating before heading back to the bridge and home base. The stall turned out to be a collision; it was cleared by about 9:50 – we only saw the police lights in the distance – but the gridlock had started at Alaska/Fauntleroy and continued eastward. I-5 in the distance was sluggish too. If you have been waiting to leave, things might be a bit better now – once we got onto 99, it was slow until the Viaduct rise, and then finally everybody was up to 30 mph.
10:41 AM: WSDOT has tweeted that the NB I-5 lane is finally open again:
The left lane of NB I-5 at Mercer Street has reopened after an earlier collision.
— WSDOT Traffic (@wsdot_traffic) September 17, 2015
11:14 AM: Just came across the bridge westbound. Eastbound is STILL jammed, from Nucor eastward. And northbound 99 doesn’t look much better than it did when we were on it last hour.
6:24 PM: Crash at Olson/Myers – don’t know about the traffic effects, but be careful in that area.
(WSB photos)
“Both teams played their hearts out!” So said West Seattle High School volleyball head coach Staci Stringer after her team hosted their crosstown rivals from Chief Sealth International High School on Wednesday night.
WSHS took the match in three games – 25-21, 25-15, 25-14.
This was the third match of the season for both teams.
Next up for the Wildcats – they’re playing at also-undefeated Ballard, 7 pm Friday night, in a game that could determine division leadership. The Seahawks, coached by Lorna Considine, play at home at 7 on Friday, hosting Franklin.
Thanks to Lynda B for texting the photo this evening – first we’ve heard that Seattle Parks is planning to remove the “love locks” that have turned up on the fence at Duwamish Head. They’re a tradition in some spots around the world – even other spots in the city – but we’ve only noticed them here relatively recently. The sign says they’ll be removed on Friday, so if you have one you’d like to retrieve (and you didn’t throw away the key!), better go get it. We’ll check with Parks tomorrow to find out why they’ve decided to remove the love locks.
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
Crime trends and self-protection were on the agenda as the West Seattle Crime Prevention Council returned from summer break.
Last night’s meeting started with Southwest Precinct Captain Pierre Davis briefing those in attendance. “The summer was … the summer. In West Seattle, it’s typical for us to have a riproaring summer, but it wasn’t out of control.” He talked about the importance of the recently developed “microcommunity” policing plans, and the importance of feedback on them.
It’s been five months since Capt. Davis returned to West Seattle as precinct commander; he noted that some categories of crime were spiking back then, but they’ve been “strateg(izing)” how to fight them, and have had success. For one, he said, they’ve put together what is in effect “a posse to go out and hunt our bad guys … (those responsible) for auto thefts, burglaries, other crimes that have plagued neighborhoods.”
(WSB photo, taken from behind the protection-zone tape)
Walking on the Lincoln Park shore this afternoon, on our way to meet an interview subject, we happened onto an unexpected sight – this harbor-seal pup on the beach. Seal Sitters Marine Mammal Stranding Network‘s first responder Lynn Shimamoto was already there and marking off an area to keep it safe from people and other animals. On our way back from our (unrelated) interview, we stopped to talk with Seal Sitters’ Robin Lindsey, who said it’s continued to be a slow season for pup sightings otherwise, as noted on their Blubberblog website (where you’ll likely see a post later about today’s visit, which came four days after a brief sighting nearby). Most likely, Robin said, today’s pup was already weaned, as most pups are born in July or August and now past the time they stay with their moms. One telltale sign: Like this one, the weaned pups aren’t very plump, as they are learning how to hunt for themselves. This means it’s even more important they get space to rest, because if they’re spooked, they’ll burn more of what little stored fat they have as they scoot back into the water to find safety. If you see a seal or other marine mammal on a local store, call Seal Sitters’ hotline at 206-905-SEAL.
P.S. For tracking purposes, pups protected by Seal Sitters often are given names. Lynn told us passersby from Wales suggested “Cariad,” which means “sweetheart” in Welsh.
Metro has just announced details of its next “service change,” scheduled to take effect on September 26th (one week from Saturday). You can see all the changes here; here are the area routes we see listed (please let us know if we’re missing one), plus a big change for holiday service, with several local routes involved:
ROUTE 21
Route 21 daytime and evening service frequency will also improve to every 15 minutes on Sunday as all southbound Route 5 trips will be connected to Route 21 operating to Westwood Village and all northbound Route 21 trips with be connected to Route 5 operating to Shoreline CC.
ROUTE 113
Route 113 to Shorewood will start from the bus stop on 2nd Ave just south of Bell St. It will no longer serve the bus stop eastbound on Blanchard St just east of 1st Ave.
CHANGE IN HOLIDAY SERVICE
Beginning Saturday, Sept 26, reduced weekday schedules will be eliminated on the following routes: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 21, 24, 26, 27, 28, 29, 33, 36, 40, 41, 43, 44, 50, 56, 60, 64, 70, 76, 77, 124, 131 and 132. These routes will operate regular weekday service on holidays.
If you’d rather scroll through a text list of all the changes around the region, find it here.
3:52 PM: With peak pm drive time approaching, you might need to know this: Northbound 4th Avenue S. is closed in the stadium zone because of a crash at Edgar Martinez Way. This is also affecting buses – Route 21, for example, is routed off 4th in the area. The crash involved a motorcyclist who has “significant injuries,” says SPD, after the rider hit a pole; all are advised to avoid 4th TFN.
4:18 PM: Another crash, this one on SB 35th just south of Trenton. A damaged pickup truck is blocking the southbound lane – no emergency vehicles on scene; drivers are using the center turn lane to get around it.
4:31 PM: We’re just back from the 35th crash scene and now hearing via the scanner that police have arrived and are calling for a tow.
6:07 PM: We went through 35th/Trenton about half an hour ago and the scene there was clear.
6:40 PM: SDOT says 4th Avenue South is now open again.
Though November might seem far away, the city’s earthquake-preparedness presentations tend to fill up fast, so we’re sharing word of this one in case you want to sign up:
Are you prepared for the next big earthquake and other disasters Seattle could face? Attend a presentation at one of the below library branches to hear from local emergency management experts about what you can do to get prepared. Learn about the City’s new emergency alert and notification system – AlertSeattle – and bring questions to ask the City’s hazard specialist during an open Q&A session.
Wed. November 4, 2015
5:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Southwest Library BranchRegister for a class by emailing your name and the presentation you plan to attend to snap@seattle.gov
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