West Seattle, Washington
28 Thursday
A promise that the weather will improve? Forecast says that tonight and most of tomorrow should be calmer. Meantime, WSB’ers have shared views of the rainbow sighting this past half-hour or so – top photo is from Glenn Brooks. Next, from Lise Thivierge, a High Point view:
And from Willie Ellenberg via the WSB Facebook page, a double rainbow!
Thanks as always to everyone for sharing – editor@westseattleblog.com (or other contact channels) any time!
On this busy pre-holiday-shopping day, we welcome one of our newest sponsors – Capco Beverages, the liquor store opened by longtime Junction entrepreneur Leon Capelouto in the spot that was previously the state’s premier liquor store; now it’s a premier private liquor/wine store, as the Capco Beverages team wants to make sure you know:
(WSB photo: Jan, Jane, and at center, manager Dolly)
The word “premier” isn’t just a label; this is not your average liquor store. Capco Beverages‘ stock includes unusual and rare spirits. “We have things you won’t find anywhere else in West Seattle: bourbons, scotches, tequila,” store manager Dolly Amend says. “All the local Seattle area bourbons. Our Scotch section is constantly growing. We want to have the best selection of Scotch, bourbons, gins, liqueurs, tequila and vodkas anywhere in the state.” The Scotch section of the store is absolutely the best in the city, if not the state, says Dolly – single malts, for example, you might never have found in Seattle before, such as Laddie Classic, Ledaig, Tobermory.
Capco Beverages also offers an extensive tequila section, with what aficionados call “fantastic mezcals,” and a selection of liqueurs from all over the world: Italian Amari, pastis from France, Cynar, every possible fruit liqueur. Dolly says that if a product is listed with a distributor, she will stock it. If a customer asks and it isn’t on the shelf, she will try to get it. And dozens of made-in-Washington labels are in stock.
Its merchandise also includes a collection of Alki t-shirts, sweatshirts, jackets and caps, martini shakers, and just about every tool and ingredient for making cocktails – including tipsy cherries, cocktail onions, many bitters, even a special salt to rim your Margaritas. Plus ginger beer, soda, tonics and many different vermouths. We also have wine and drink gift baskets ready to purchase – or custom baskets can be made.
“Grocery stores wouldn’t have room to carry the 3000-plus brands and sizes of liquor we have now,” Dolly says, also pointing out that Capco Beverages has a “huge, wonderful selection of wine.”
Capco Beverages is at 41st and Alaska, in Capco Plaza (same building as QFC and Petco). You’ll also find the store on Facebook. And you can use a special coupon you’ll find here on WSB to get a discount on your purchase.
HOLIDAY NOTE: Capco Beverages plans to be OPEN Thanksgiving Day – 10 am-2 pm. Regular hours are listed online.
We thank Capco Beverages for sponsoring independent, community-collaborative neighborhood news via WSB; find our current sponsor team listed in directory format here, and find info on joining the team by going here.
(August 2011 photo of Spirit of Kingston at Seattle dock, by Oran Viriyincy, via Flickr)
Right after the holiday weekend, the King County Ferry District Board will consider taking a step toward acquiring a third boat at little or no cost – even before it builds its own two new boats for West Seattle and Vashon Water Taxi service. This was first reported by KUOW, and we have since followed up with the office of County Councilmember Joe McDermott, who chairs the board. The boat is the 65-foot catamaran Spirit of Kingston, now idle after Kingston-Seattle foot-ferry service ceased. Here’s what McDermott legislative aide Michelle Allison tells WSB:
The Port of Kingston recently discontinued service from Kingston to Seattle and announced they would no longer be a passenger ferry service provider. Their primary vessel, the Spirit of Kingston, is available for transfer to another public agency with no capital cost outlay to that entity. The vessel was purchased for 2 million dollars using Federal Transit Administration (FTA) funding. The vessel is certified to carry 147 passengers and a crew of three. Due to the FTA investment, there may be an opportunity to obtain the vessel at no cost to the King County Ferry District (KCFD).
The Marine Division (KCMD) has evaluated the costs and potential savings associated with obtaining a third vessel and found that in addition to improving operational and service reliability, the addition of the Spirit of Kingston to the KCFD fleet would reduce overall expenses over the next five years and beyond.
Specifically, KCMD is recommending that Spirit of Kingston be brought into the KCFD fleet as the primary West Seattle Water Taxi vessel, and move the Rachel Marie into back-up vessel service. When the new vessels are constructed, the Spirit of Kingston would be moved into back-up vessel service. This approach increases reliability and is anticipated to save more than $425,000 on lease and rental expenses over the next five years.
Last week the Executive Committee passed a motion supporting the Chair in writing a letter of interest that would be submitted to the FTA. The full Board will weigh in on November 26th. If the full Board supports the motion, the Chair will then write the letter to the FTA. The final decision is up to the FTA but would also require one more action of the Board to approve the transfer of the asset. … As you know, we are currently running a two-boat, two-route operation so the option of a third boat as a back-up vessel with no capital cost to the Ferry District is very appealing.
Port Townsend had been interested in the Spirit of Kingston, but is reported to have shelved its plan for a foot ferry to Seattle, so King County may not have any competition if it finalizes interest in the boat.
Rachel Marie, as Water Taxi riders know, has had multiple problems in recent months. The Spirit of Kingston is slightly smaller – 65 feet compared to RM’s 77 feet – but much newer, built in 2005, while RM (as noted in this WSB report before the county leased it in 2010) was built in 1988. According to a detailed briefing paper that Allison also provided (you can read it here), the district has three options for deploying Spirit of Kingston if it’s obtained – including saving even more money in 2014, by letting one of its current vessel leases expire 9 months before the newly built boats come into service.
Vietnamese Cultural Center director Lee Bui sends word that the center, along with Puget Sound Pharmacy, will bring flu shots, haircuts, and hot food to Nickelsville tomorrow – as they did last Thanksgiving (WSB coverage here). It’s not only for Nickelsville residents, he says, but for others who are low-income/homeless, too – just show up. Along with pharmacist Rosalie Nguyen and Dr. Khanh H. Tran, volunteers will be there offering the service 11 am-1 pm on Thanksgiving Day. Nickelsville is at West Marginal Way SW/SW Highland Park Way.
Day before Thanksgiving; here are two groups of notes:
From the WSB West Seattle Holiday Events/Info page:
DESSERT DONATION: The traditional free community dinner at The Hall at Fauntleroy isn’t till tomorrow, but organizers welcome dessert donations, which you can drop off as early as 10 am-3 pm TODAY (or after 9 am tomorrow). South side of the old Fauntleroy Schoolhouse, 9131 California SW.
FOOD BANKS’ LAST-MINUTE HOURS/NEEDS: West Seattle Food Bank is open 9 am-3 pm for donations (and told us yesterday that canned hams are their biggest need), southeast corner of 35th/Morgan; the White Center Food Bank (10829 8th Ave SW) is open 8:30 am-5 pm, and says turkeys are what they need most.
From the regular year-round WSB West Seattle Events Calendar (plus a last-minute sighting or two):
HELP FOR NICKELSVILLE: Via Facebook, The Forsythe Studio in The Junction (4456 California SW) announced it’s collecting donations today, 10 am-7 pm, for Nickelsville – “ANY warm clothes, blankets, socks, etc. for the displaced families suffering from flooding … ANYTHING would be greatly appreciated! Things will be picked up (today) and distributed on Thanksgiving morning! We thank you in advance!”
MORE HELP FOR NICKELSVILLE: Just found out that Hotwire Online Coffeehouse (WSB sponsor; 4410 California SW) is collecting donations too, through the end of the holiday weekend. Proprietor Lora Swift says – “waterproof outerwear; gently worn boots, coats, pants, hats, and socks. Pet supplies too.”
LIVE GLASS-BLOWING: “Because we know you have family in town looking for entertainment, we will have live glass-blowing 11 am-5 pm,” says Avalon Glassworks” (2914 SW Avalon Way).
LUNCH TO HELP SUPERSTORM SANDY VICTIMS: The West Seattle Eagles are raising money to help fellow Eagles back east – every Wednesday lunch in November goes to that cause; more info here.
NEW BABY? Early Days drop-in support group at Nurturing Expressions (WSB sponsor) in The Junction welcomes you, noon-2 pm, more info here.
LIVE MUSIC: Tonight’s listings on the calendar include Jonny Smokes’ Thanksgiving Eve show at Feedback Lounge (WSB sponsor), 9 pm.
(Live view from the only WS Bridge camera currently in operation; see other cameras on the WSB Traffic page)
More rain overnight. And it’s windy right now – a short-term burst of nasty weather, says the National Weather Service. But that’s it for problems, at the moment. BUS ALERT: Metro will be on its Sunday schedule tomorrow (Thanksgiving Day) and “reduced weekday” schedule for Friday.
7:04 AM NOTE: In case you work to the south (or have other business there this morning), we should note there’s a power outage right now in parts of Burien, Boulevard Park, and Seatac. See the boundaries on the Seattle City Light website.
1:56 PM: If you are heading toward Ballard, note that a crash has blocked all northbound lanes of the Ballard Bridge, so you’ll want to take an alternate route, maybe through Fremont, or westbound from Wallingford/U District off I-5.
Just back from the West Seattle Crime Prevention Council meeting. The transit discussion – which swerved back and forth across just about every imaginable bus-related issue that’s come up recently – will be in a story all its own. So we’ll start this Crime Watch roundup with the WSCPC meeting-opening briefing on crime trends, followed by 5 reader reports we’ve received.
The briefing:
Southwest Precinct commander Capt. Steve Paulsen said that a spike in property crimes about a month ago is over because of recent arrests – the rate had dropped back down in the past week or so. He says the year overall remains on track around 20 percent below last year’s property-crime rate – a year that in turn was about 20 percent above the long-term average.
Another “bump” may be ahead, he warned, because it’s “that crazy time of the year, the holidays,” when thieves and burglars are after items you’ve bought for gifts, maybe even before you get them into your vehicle or home: “(When shopping) you become more of a target, so be aware of your surroundings, look around,” Capt. Paulsen warned, adding that there will be more police presence at Westwood Village and The Junction – not on overtime, but by “shuffling around” resources. He also cautioned people to arrange for deliveries in ways that won’t lead to packages unattended on front doors.
Betty asked about the Fairmount Springs break-in reports that circulated one week ago (they’re in this WSB Crime Watch roundup), apparently targeting homes inhabited by women, home alone. The cases were news to Capt. Paulsen and Community Police Team Officer Jonathan Kiehn, who monitor for patterns, but said these hadn’t surfaced as one. Another attendee said she had come to ask about the incidents too, and the perception that there might be a known suspect who hadn’t yet been arrested. Police promised to check into these cases ASAP.
One attendee brought up mail theft and asked if police could “set up a sting.” Short answer: No, since it’s a federal-jurisdiction crime, but if you see it happening, do call 911, the citizen was told, since, Capt. Paulsen said, they have caught mail thieves “over the years.” He was also advised to look into a locked mailbox. Immediately after the exchange, he and Officer Kiehn started a followup conversation.
Now, Part 2 of this roundup: The latest reader reports – five in all, the first two with photos:
We’re at the Southwest Precinct, where Capt. Steve Paulsen has just presented a certificate of appreciation to Ken Wicklund. He’s the citizen who asked an officer and sergeant if they needed help when they found themselves in a struggle with a suspect one week ago tonight near the old Charlestown Café. They said yes – he jumped in to help. And tonight, the commander and his team – including Sgt. Joe Bauer and Officer Sara Mulloy (at front left in the photo below) – said thanks to Wicklund, whose family was on hand too.
We’ve been covering the case, most recently with a report on the charge filed Friday against suspect Skyler Gronholz, who remains in King County Jail, in lieu of $45,000 bail for this case and a warrant that was already out for his arrest.
Wicklund works as a captain for Argosy Cruises. He told us that this happened after he left home to pick up dinner at Spiro’s Pizza, just blocks away. He came home and saw police activity near his home – and as he got closer, he noticed officers and suspect on the ground, and that’s when he asked if they needed help. He, and Sgt. Bauer and Officer Mulloy, were all injured, but all are OK now. We have video of tonight’s ceremony and will add it here once it’s uploaded (added – here it is):
After tonight’s presentation, the Wicklund family got a guided tour of the precinct.
(One group of Madison students who helped with this year’s food drive)
Again this year, Madison Middle School held a food drive to help families in their school community. School nurse Sami Hoag organized the effort:
Thanks to many staff, students and families who donated a total of 5,850 pounds of food to put into 45 large Thanksgiving baskets for our Madison families in need.
In addition we were able to help 5 Madison families who live in shelters with grocery cards.
Several students bought a large amount of food with their own money. Most of the baskets were delivered by volunteers in the pouring rain.
Our Madison students did the following to help with this project:
-Make signs, made presentations and collected food in their science classes
-Sorted food after school into baskets
-Made Thanksgiving cards for each family
-Moved hundreds of pounds of food into family cars
Thanks to Anne Weglin for sharing the information from Madison.
If you are still looking for a way to help local people in need, before Thanksgiving- we have food-bank-donation information at the end of the Thanksgiving roundup we published this morning. Both local food banks – West Seattle Food Bank and White Center Food Bank – have donation hours tomorrow, and in a word, WS most needs canned hams, WC most needs turkeys.
Just in from Seattle Ski Shuttle, which is operated by the same folks who bring you Mountain to Sound Outfitters and Alki Kayak Tours:
Crystal Mountain is officially opening on Wednesday, November 21, 2012. The Seattle Ski Shuttle will be running our first shuttle of the season that day. Also, starting Friday, November 23rd, we will be operating our regular schedule to Crystal Mountain (Mondays, Thursdays, & Fridays every week)! We will also be running a shuttle to Snoqualmie Central on weekends once the mountain opens up. For more information and to book a seat, go to: seattleskishuttle.com
Wild weather this afternoon! The photo was shared by Carlos H. via Twitter. And though there’s a band of blue sky advancing as we type, you should know we’re under a wind advisory till early evening, too, as the next front literally blows through. Local meteorologist Patrick K. points out that what you see in Carlos’s photo is a “squall line.” Latest forecast says rain/showers are expected to continue off and on all week. If you can, take advantage of the impending break in the rain to clear your nearest storm drain! It’s usually a quick job, since yours probably isn’t THIS imposing:
That’s the Longfellow Creek sluice gate at 25th and Juneau; Lauren has been telling us about it, and shared the above “before” photo, with leaves, sticks and logs cluttering it till cleared – not by city crews (though we’ve seen them out and about all day) but by her husband. If it gets clogged, there’s a risk of big flooding, Lauren explains.
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
Though the vote on the Seattle Public Schools BEX IV construction-project levy isn’t until February, the process of planning one of its designated projects is under way now.
Last night, the Design Team for what’s for now known as the new Schmitz Park Elementary at Genesee Hill convened a “community conversation,” inviting neighbors to come talk about ideas and concerns. The school will be built on the site where the closed Genesee Hill Elementary now stands; it was long home to Pathfinder K-8 until that school moved into what had been Cooper Elementary on Pigeon Point in fall 2009, as part of the school-closure plan that shuttered GH permanently.
(Photos taken this morning by WSB co-publisher Patrick Sand)
For a while this midday, it was raining again – just as they’re trying to pump out the floodwaters at the homeless encampment on the southeast edge of West Seattle that calls itself Nickelsville, as it has since it was founded at that site four years ago, the site to which it returned a year and a half ago. After publishing these photos by WSB contributing photojournalist Nick Adams during Monday’s deluge, we went back this morning to see what’s needed, since many are asking. The campers we talked with said about half the residents had gone to emergency shelters when their tents became uninhabitable in the floodwaters. But even tiny residents are poking around, like Coffee the cat:
You may have heard via our friends at KING 5 News that a pump donated this morning was making progress in clearing out the standing water – before the rain resumed. Here’s what they told WSB they need:
Gas for the existing pump
Another pump, as this pump was donated but has to go back tomorrow morning
Dry blankets and dry bedding
Labor needs are up in the air, as they need to get the standing water out before they can determine what needs to be done
With donated items or any other offers to help, just show up at their main gate, which is off the small parking lot on the southwest side of the triangle of land they are on, at West Marginal Way and Highland Park Way.
SIDE NOTE – NICKELSVILLE’S FUTURE: The water woes are bringing new light to the camp’s situation – a year and a half without either authorization or eviction on a government-owned site. We’re waiting for a reply from Mayor McGinn’s office regarding its stance on what’s happening there. We also checked this morning with Food Lifeline, the nonprofit which is pursuing a possible purchase of the site, as reported here in October. From spokesperson Amy Lee Derenthal: “We’re still in conversations with both the city and state and nothing has changed since we first shared we were interested in the property for our Hunger Relief Center.”
12:59 PM UPDATE: We had asked Mayor McGinn’s office earlier today for comment on the situation and just got the official reply via spokesperson Aaron Pickus: “Our Human Services Department is working with Public Health to help place families with children in shelter tonight. We have opened our severe weather shelter at Seattle Center and are providing bus tickets to residents who wish to access shelter. Our shelters at City Hall and Frye Hotel are also open. Our Public Utilities and Finance and Administrative Services department are also assisting, as appropriate.”
Thanks to Jenn Padilla for sharing that photo from the Alki boardwalk, where high water from our record rainfall has augmented what was already one of the month’s highest tides, 12 feet, peaking about an hour ago. Jenn texted us the photo (206-293-6302 any time), saying she’d never “seen the Sound so full that it spilled over.” (The peak high tide was 12.6 feet last Saturday.) P.S. From just around the point to the south, here’s high-tide coverage on Beach Drive Blog.
Two days till Thanksgiving! From the WSB West Seattle Holidays page, and updates we’ve received, some reminders today:
DONATE DESSERTS FOR HALL AT FAUNTLEROY’S FREE DINNER: West Seattle’s most famous free holiday meal is at The Hall at Fauntleroy on Thursday afternoon, noon-3 pm. They have the volunteer help and the main/side dishes – but what they REALLY need, we’re reminded by Carol from Tuxedos and Tennis Shoes Catering, is donated desserts, whether you’re going to the dinner or not. You can drop off a dessert donation tomorrow (Wednesday) between 10 am and 3 pm, or after 9 am on Thanksgiving Day. The Hall is on the south side of the Fauntleroy Schoolhouse at 9131 California SW.
ANOTHER FREE THANKSGIVING DINNER: If you’re planning to dine a little later but would like to take advantage of a free feast just the same, join the West Seattle Eagles, whose annual “Thanksgiving to Remember” is 2-5 pm at their HQ next to the post office in The Junction.
LOOKING FOR A RESTAURANT OPEN THANKSGIVING? Here’s our list so far – we’ve made dozens of calls, but please let us know if something’s missing, or changed – editor@westseattleblog.com
WONDERING WHICH WEST SEATTLE GROCERY STORES ARE OPEN THANKSGIVING DAY? Here’s our list with that info.
FOOD BANK HELP BEFORE THE HOLIDAY: Here again are our updates on the West Seattle Food Bank and White Center Food Bank, both of whom are accepting donations through tomorrow (or, follow those links to their websites and give cash, which goes even further):
–WS Food Bank here – they tell WSB today that they need “canned hams for distribution to homeless communities”
–WC Food Bank here – they tell WSB today that the big need is “turkeys, turkeys, turkeys”
Again, all of this and MUCH more (including Christmas, Hanukkah, New Year’s info) is on the WSB Holidays page – which you can find any time from its red-type tab atop the page.
Good news for West Seattle Lights-lovers … Monday’s mini-windstorm didn’t wreak too much havoc with designer Jim Winder‘s setup at the Helmstetler Family Christmas Spectacular HQ on SW Charlestown, across from the water tower. Just one star was damaged, Jim told us last night. In fact, despite the resurgent rain, he kept an early-evening appointment with WSB to run through one lights-synched song, which you can see in our clip above. (The audio’s somewhat muddied by the rain and wind, but the lights are big and bright!)
Some things you’ll want to know, especially if you missed our November 1st preview report:
-The lights launch Friday night; the schedule is on the official website – note the “special shows” for Christmas Eve/Day and New Year’s Eve (which is the final night of the season).
-The official lighting ceremony is Saturday night, with the free Judy Pancoast concert, at 7 pm. DIFFERENT THIS YEAR: Charlestown will be blocked off, that night only, for that block only – so come enjoy the block-party atmosphere! And bring donations for the West Seattle Food Bank; you can also make cash donations, which will be split between WS Food Bank and NW Parkinson’s Foundation (as explained on this webpage – where you also can donate $ any time).
How many lights? Jim is STILL adding them. You’ll find plenty of numbers on the website’s “Fun Facts” page, but there might not be a final tally till showtime! This is the fourth year we’ve covered this extravaganza, which keeps getting literally bigger and brighter.
(Monday photo by Nick Adams for WSB)
Two days till Thanksgiving, and the full holiday lineup (open restaurants/coffee shops, grocery-store hours, free dinners, other events) is on the WSB West Seattle Holidays page. But for Thanksgiving Eve-Eve, here are some of the regular calendar’s highlights for today/tonight:
BENEFIT DANCE CLASS: Gildenfire‘s class is at 10:45 am at Highland Park Improvement Club (12th and Holden) for 2-4-year-olds, free with 2 cans of food, to benefit the West Seattle Food Bank. More info in our calendar listing.
CO-WORK MEETUP: The WS Office Junction team is continuing to organize “co-work meetups” as it works on a permanent location. You’re welcome to join them noon-1:30 pm today at Uptown Espresso in The Junction: “This week we would hope to steer the conversation to what everyone is working on in their businesses to see if we can get some collaborative networking started.”
DESSERT WITH TRANSITIONAL RESOURCES: TR is having Thanksgiving dinner today – and inviting the community to drop in for potluck dessert – bring one and come share, 1-4:30 pm. Details and map in calendar listing.
TALKING TRANSIT AT CRIME PREVENTION COUNCIL: Safety and other issues raised by West Seattle transit changes, including the expansion of the Westwood transit hub, are at the heart of the agenda – with guests from Metro, Sound Transit, and SDOT – tonight at the West Seattle Crime Prevention Council meeting, 7 pm, Southwest Precinct (Delridge/Webster). Also bring your neighborhood crime concerns.
BELLY DANCING: It’s the monthly Alauda showcase at Skylark Café and Club (3803 Delridge Way SW), 7 pm.
More nightlife and other listings on the year-round WSB West Seattle Events Calendar here; full holiday listings, Thanksgiving through New Year’s, in the WSB West Seattle Holidays guide here!
MOUNT VIEW ELEMENTARY NEEDS BOOKS: West Seattleite Shoshanna Cohen, the ELL Interventionist at Mount View Elementary in White Center, asks for your help as they vie for a $5,000 grant to buy books. Many of the kids at MV Elementary speak Spanish as their first language, and the school has few books in Spanish – Cohen explains, “There is so much research showing that by promoting the student’s first language, their growth in their second language (English) is astronomical.” Just contribute a vote by going to this webpage and clicking the lower-right link that says VOTAR/VOTE. You’ll go to a page with the entries – look for the student in the Cat in the Hat-striped hat, and that’s for Mount View. Just click the “vote” link you’ll find with that specific photo, and that’s it, no strings attached. The contest runs through this weekend.
WEST SEATTLE STEM NEEDS TECH: And while we’re talking about online votes for school grants – West Seattle STEM Elementary (aka K-5 STEM) has a month left in their bid for a $50,000 tech grant – here’s our original story, which explains how to vote.
(Live view from the only WS Bridge camera currently in operation; see other cameras on the WSB Traffic page)
No rain this morning – though more is on the way later today – so the morning commute might not be so bad. Please let us know if you encounter any holdover standing-water trouble spots – and thank you for the many updates and photos shared during yesterday’s storminess (text or voice, 206-293-6302 any time, or all the other ways listed here).
Thanks to Becky for the tip and Chris for the photo – just southeast of Westwood Village, that car missed a curve and wound up upside down in a yard. No injuries reported – there wasn’t even a medic dispatch for the crash. We’re checking with police for any more information about the circumstances.
(Photo courtesy Dave McCoy)
At Fauntleroy Creek, Salmon Watch 2012 is over. Five late spawners showed up Saturday, then none on Sunday, reports Judy Pickens, with the overview of the record-setting season:
Eighteen salmon watchers documented 274 coho spawners in Fauntleroy Creek between Oct. 24 and Nov. 17. Our previous high was 167, in 2001. We had an estimated 290 visitors, including five school groups. Watchers were able to see that nearly all the fish were hatchery-released (not fish that started life here or came through Salmon in the Schools). All, however, are now providing valuable nutrients to the habitat and we’ll be checking for “home hatch” starting late February.
As noted in our close-up look at Salmon Watch two weeks ago, last year brought only 11 coho to the creek – but that was still better than the completely spawner-less year in 2010.
(Photos by Nick Adams for WSB)
Our stormy day had two distinct phases – in the morning, it was all about the water, including the mini-lake in WSB contributing photojournalist Nick Adams‘ image from SW Barton Street. In the afternoon, it was all about the wind:
The tree-buried SUV was in Sunrise Heights, in the 7100 block of 32nd SW; head-on, it was almost completely out of sight.
Other toppled trees were featured in our afternoon coverage.
Tomorrow’s forecast: Rain at times, but mostly in the afternoon, so the morning commute, at least, shouldn’t resemble anything like today.
(Photos by Nick Adams for WSB)
As we first showed you during afternoon storm coverage, getting around the West Seattle encampment that calls itself “Nickelsville” was like hopscotch this afternoon – and that was even after residents built a walkway.
(From left, Matthew and JS using pallets for a walkway over the water and mud)
WSB contributing photojournalist Nick Adams went to Nickelsville this afternoon after we learned from a volunteer that the camp was in need of fuel to power generators to provide power to pumps, to deal with the floodwater brought by today’s two-inch deluge.
That’s Nickelsville head of security Steve Westfall, surveying the scene.
A year and a half has now passed since the encampment returned to the triangle of public land at West Marginal Way SW and Highland Park Way SW – a site for which they have neither been officially organized nor told to get out, unlike the encampment’s original stay at the same site in September 2008, which lasted less than a week before police were ordered to go in and evict the campers. Nor, still, do they have running water or other basic services. There has been some talk of moving to another site – if somebody helps find one.
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