West Seattle, Washington
25 Monday
(WS bridge and Highway 99 views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
Welcome to a brand-new week. The traffic watch is on. And so is the look ahead:
OVERNIGHT HIGHWAY 99 CLOSURE: If it’s not canceled for weather or another reason, work is scheduled overnight tonight on southbound 99, closing that side of the highway between our bridge and the stadium zone, 10 pm-5 am.
METRO REMINDER: The September service change took effect on Saturday. No West Seattle routes were among the cuts/reductions, but if you transfer to/from other routes, you might want to doublecheck the list.
TRANSPORTATION NEWS: The West Seattle Transportation Coalition is starting its second year with a list of 5 priorities it believes the city could and should address ASAP … ICYMI over the weekend – dog rescued on the bridge!
7:52 AM: Thanks to everyone in comments (also Lise and Maggie via Twitter) for word of the broken-down RapidRide bus on the eastbound bridge. Maggie also points out that WS buses have extra passengers this morning because the Vashon Water Taxi is out of service (mechanical trouble with Melissa Ann).
8:00 AM: SDOT says the stalled bus is cleared now (but as always, residual backups will take a while to clear).
The West Seattle Transportation Coalition is about to start its second year. After one year of meetings, conversations, discussions, and outreach, WSTC has announced a list of “the five most pressing transportation issues for the West Seattle peninsula, which are within the power of the City of Seattle to directly address and resolve,” and sent a letter about them to city leaders.
First, the WSTC list:
(WSB file screengrab of SDOT camera looking toward bridge’s offramp to 99)
Expand vehicle capacity from the West Seattle Bridge to SR-99.
(Photo by Long B. Nguyen)
Develop a “West Seattle Peninsula” emergency relief plan.
(WSB file photo of the sign that marked the former 4th Ave. onramp spot until 2008.)
Increase access to the westbound Spokane St. Viaduct from SODO.
(City file photo of Lander tracks)
Complete the Lander Street Overpass.
(December 2013: De-icer-slick, closed-to-traffic bridge; WSB photo by Christopher Boffoli)
Immediate mitigation of traffic events to West Seattle peninsula chokepoints.
WSTC says it has sent a letter outlining “… these issues, possible resolutions, and (calls) for action …” to Seattle Mayor Ed Murray, City Council President Tim Burgess, and City Council Transportation Committee Chair Tom Rasmussen. It asks for a response with the “plan of action” by January 9, 2015. You can read the letter on the WSTC website, or below:
Agree? Disagree? Get involved! The WSTC meets on second Tuesdays and invites all to its next meeting, October 14th, 6:30 pm, at Neighborhood House’s High Point Center.
SIDE NOTE: This will also be a busy season on some of the problems for which WSTC and local neighborhood councils already have pushed for action – next launch is the 35th Avenue SW Road Safety Corridor project, with a community meeting October 22nd.
ADDED TUESDAY: Thanks to Clay Eals at the Southwest Seattle Historical Society for sharing a new scan:
With relatively rapid redevelopment in parts of some Seattle neighborhoods – West Seattle, Ballard, Capitol Hill come to mind – concern percolates about losing “character.” In some cases, neighborhoods have special districts as “overlays” meant as an attempt to preserve some of that character – Pioneer Square, notably, and Capitol Hill’s Pike-Pine area, for example. But what about other neighborhoods, like West Seattle, where the Southwest District Council has been trying for two years to get a historic-resources survey going for part of our area, as a first step?
“Neighborhood Conservation Districts” might be a tool for our area and others, suggests Councilmember Tom Rasmussen, who is sponsoring a briefing on the concept tomorrow, during the first part of the City Council’s two-part Monday meeting. Here’s the slide deck they’ll be going through:
The presentation during tomorrow’s 9:30 am Council meeting (agenda here) will not include a vote – it’s just a briefing, and there’s no specific council bill attached to it. But Councilmember Rasmussen tells us, “If my colleagues agree, I will continue to work for legislation to establish a process for neighborhoods to nominate themselves to become Conservation Districts.” Tomorrow’s briefing should start around 10 am and will be live online and on cable via Seattle Channel.
Thank you, as always, to “Diver Laura” James for sharing another view of what you won’t see unless you’re a diver too. From her dive last night off Seacrest, an unedited stretch of octopus-watching:
Along with the link, Laura wrote: “We spent almost 10 minutes with this amazing beautiful creature before we had to leave because of depth, time and air constraints (though I would have happily spent all night). It turns out my buddy swam right over the well-camouflaged octopus and was checking out the den of another octopus looking to see if there were any eggs (none to be found so far). You can see me signal him by bobbing my lights. The octopus gets curious and decides it wants to come check me out (I’m actually swimming backwards in some of the video) until my dive buddy comes over and then it decides to do something even more entertaining. Upon noticing my dive buddy, it ceases advancing on me and for lack of a better descriptive, turns around and starts sneaking up on my buddy. You can actually see it hunkering down and hiding behind the log, then it squeezes under the log and boo! Octopus! It does not appear upset in any of the interactions, more curious and checking things out. It does get upset later on when it tries to invade the den of a second octopus and gets into a bit of a wrestling match.” P.S. Interesting Giant Pacific Octopus info and trivia here.
P.S. On a much-smaller scale – remember Laura’s iPhone-microscope plankton-watching? She has agreed to join us in the WSB booth at the West Seattle Junction Harvest Festival four weeks from today, so you can bring your kid(s) by to have a look at the tiny creatures that fill our seas. The Harvest Festival is set for 10 am-2 pm Sunday, October 26th.
ADDED 3:42 PM: Laura just sent an edited video with a “potpourri of critters” from the dive, so we’re adding it:
Potpourri of Critters from Laura James on Vimeo.
One month until Halloween – and if you have kids, you know you can’t put off costumes until the last minute, whether you’re making them or buying them. There is another option – swapping costumes – and you’ll have a chance this Wednesday (October 1st) at My Three Little Birds in south Morgan Junction. Proprietor Jennifer Young says you can bring in a no-longer-needed (doesn’t fit, etc.) kids’ costume 1-5 pm that day and trade it for another one. Her shop is at 6959 California SW. (Anyone else doing costume swaps this year? Let us know!)
(Click image to see full-size aerial photo on city website)
The southeasternmost corner of West Seattle is along Myers Way, south of the east end of Roxbury. On both sides of Myers, which continues on into unincorporated North Highline, you’ll find vacant government-owned land – some state, mostly city – and a few other uses, such as the city’s Joint Training Facility (outlined in red on the city aerial view above).
On the Friends of Lincoln Park website, Mark Ahlness has written about a new suggestion for the city to keep 31+ acres of land in that area (outlined in orange above), as “Myers Park,” instead of selling it. It’s not a suggestion FROM his group, or from him, but they were contacted by the person proposing it, Cass Turnbull, a greenspace advocate known for work including founding Plant Amnesty. The city website says the area was declared surplus – and therefore sellable – in 2006. A sale fell through back then, but the city is still looking for one or more buyers, according to 2012 documents like this one, which included a city recommendation that one part of the site be kept, and the rest be sold to cover original acquisition costs (estimated at $13 million).
If you’re interested in getting involved in a campaign to keep it as open space, Turnbull’s contact information is included in the post on the FLP site.
West Seattle Sunrise @westseattleblog @PortofSeattle http://t.co/XFmatPgeK4 pic.twitter.com/9r3aVQ3nWr
— Christine (@dontblinkart) September 28, 2014
(Photo tweeted by Christine Dorfer)
Quieter calendar today – but still some options to add to whatever you have planned for the first Sunday of fall:
FALL FRESHNESS: 10 am-2 pm, see what’s new at the West Seattle Farmers’ Market. (44th/Alaska)
BACKYARD RAINGARDEN! Or front yard. Or side yard. Or maybe a cistern. Through the RainWise program (WSB sponsor), you might be able to get a rebate covering all or most of the cost for one. But figuring out how might be a bit daunting – so here’s an easy way to get your questions answered – RainWise is at the “Raingarden Festival” this afternoon at West Seattle Nursery, 1-4 pm. (California/Brandon)
‘KEEP HIGH POINT GREEN’: 2-4 pm, community-organized event to plant shrubs/flowers by Neighborhood House’s High Point Center, and get to know your neighbors. (6400 Sylvan Way)
BENEFIT AUCTION: Vinyl records donated by Easy Street will be auctioned off at Feedback Lounge (WSB sponsor) starting at 2 pm, to benefit Animal Aid and Rescue Foundation. (6451 California SW)
BAND OF LOVERS: 3-5 pm at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor), you’ll see/hear this indie folk/rock duo, live. (5612 California SW)
‘THE MOUNTAINTOP’ MATINEE: No football game today – perfect day for theater instead. 3 pm at ArtsWest (WSB sponsor), which promises “your heart will be touched and your soul stirred.” (4711 California SW)
FREE CHOCOLATE TASTING: 4 pm at X-Gym – stop by and try! (3213 Harbor SW)
ALL-AGES OPEN MICROPHONE: Starts at 4 pm (signups at 3), at the Skylark. (3803 Delridge Way SW)
GOING OUT TONIGHT? See some of your options here.
Thanks to Elizabeth MacKenzie for sharing three photos taken today at Barton Street P-Patch – one week before its Fall Festival. She explained that she was walking there today “when I encountered Kate Farley and Keith Brewer of Farley Landscape Design. They were finishing up their 2 years of work on the pizza oven and counters! I so love the Barton P-Patch and I was so happy to tell them how much I admire the work they have done on it.” In the top photo, Elizabeth says, Kate was “placing the very last stone, which was the final bit to be done on the entire project.”
About that festival: Next Saturday (October 4th), noon-4 pm, you’re invited to come enjoy music, wood-fired pizza (bring your own toppings), homemade dessert pies (available for donation, as is the pizza), kids’ activities, as announced in the flyer. And of course – the beauty of what’s growing in the garden:
Barton P-Patch is on the southwest corner of 34th/Barton in Westwood.
Biggest party in West Seattle tonight: The Spotlight Gala at The Hall at Fauntleroy raising money for Southwest Youth and Family Services, the North Delridge-based nonprofit with more going on inside its nondescript headquarters than you’d guess just from passing by. Emcee for the night, former Mayor (and major soccer fan) Greg Nickels, there with wife Sharon Nickels:
Two of our area’s state legislators were there to support SWYFS – State Senate Democratic leader Sen. Sharon Nelson of Maury Island:
And longtime State House Rep. Eileen Cody of West Seattle:
SWYFS executive director Steve Daschle was all smiles:
His agency is focused on education, counseling, and support services, and has expanded its reach in the past year-plus, stretching further into South King County by merging with New Futures. It’s also reaching out to invite West Seattleites to find out more about what it does and how to help and/or get help; toward that goal, you’re invited to an open house 2-6 pm Thursday, October 9th, with a hot-dog barbecue and prize raffles as well as entertainment. SWYFS is at 4555 Delridge Way SW, just south of Delridge Community Center and east of Delridge Playfield.
Two programs are looking for adult volunteers to help local kids:
(Student/mentor cohort; photo courtesy Empower Mentoring)
BE A MENTOR! Here’s how:
Empower Mentoring Program is gearing up to start their second year at Denny International Middle School. We are still looking for a few more volunteer mentors to work with the students. Mentors and students meet three times a month, twice as one-on-one pairs, doing fun stuff around the community, and one time attending a workshop that will give the student skills that will help them through middle school, and later in life. To get involved, please call our executive director Julia Hodges at 206-819-6416, email at
empowermentoring@gmail.com, and visit our website at empowermentoring.org.
BE A COACH! Girls On The Run is about to start its new season – Monday! – and needs one more coach for each of three participating local schools – West Seattle Elementary, Westside School (WSB sponsor), and Alki Elementary. Volunteer coaches “empower 3rd – 5th grade girls to celebrate their bodies, honor their voices, recognize their gifts, and activate their power to make healthy choices for years to come!” with a curriculum that “uses running games to teach healthy living lessons that develop the whole girl; her social, emotional and physical self. Alongside 1-2 other coaches, you will explore issues like media awareness, nutrition, emotional health, positive communication, and community service.” Interested? Apply here, ASAP. Questions? jen@girlsrun.org
FIRST REPORT, 3:55 PM: For a short time about half an hour ago, the west end of the eastbound West Seattle Bridge was backed up to Fauntleroy. Anne Higuera from Ventana Construction (WSB sponsor) sent the photo and explains why:
Just watched as hundreds of people stopped their cars on the West Seattle Bridge to wait while a couple of valiant dog catchers blocked traffic and captured a little dog that refused to stop and was running all the way down Fauntleroy and onto the bridge. They finally wrapped him up in a jacket and put him in a box and I’m going to assume that they’re going to then try to locate the owners of the dog. Everyone was so well mannered. Not a single horn blown and everyone waited patiently until the little dog was captured. It was really sweet.
We heard a bit about this on the scanner but had no idea how it turned out until Anne’s note. The dog might be hurt, according to a tweet from Dan. (If whomever now has the dog sees this, we can of course put a note on the WSB Lost/Found Pets page, where we’ve had multiple “found dog” reports today but no “lost” reports yet.)
4:45 PM UPDATE: We have heard now from both the dog’s owner and the finder – the latter, via comments, saying it’s been taken to Seattle Animal Shelter; the former, via e-mail, explaining the dog, a Jack Russell Terrier mix named Woody, bolted from Petco in The Junction “just fitted … for a new harness & lead and obviously it didn’t fit! He backed out of it and ran for it.”
We’re hoping they all connect quickly!
You still have time to get to Chief Sealth International High School for the culmination of Confucius Institute Day – performances including the Seattle Chinese Community Girls’ Drill Team, whose members were there early, checking out other activities including language and writing instruction. The schedule, as featured in our preview earlier this week, also includes lion dancing:
Another highlight – a demonstration of Peking Opera. Costumes and props were shown off earlier in the afternoon:
It’s a free festival, open to all:
Sealth and adjoining Denny International Middle School are home to a branch of the Confucius Institute, a “nongovernmental and nonprofit organization affiliated with the Ministry of Education of China,” focused on cultural education and understanding, with 400 branches in 130 countries. This festival and others are part of Global Confucius Institute Day, marking the program’s 10th worldwide anniversary.
Hundreds of volunteers spend thousands of hours every year helping the West Seattle Food Bank fight hunger. Among them is Joan, who we found stationed outside Metropolitan Market (WSB sponsor) as today’s “Mayors’ Day of Concern” food drive got under way. Other Food Bank board members, volunteers, and staffers, are pitching in as the drive continues until 5 pm. The wish list they’re handing out to shoppers focuses on two specific needs, detailed here.
That photo is from the volunteers comprising the Walking on Logs Landscape Restoration Group, some of your West Seattle neighbors (backstory here) who have been doing what they can to honor the longstanding mandate for community upkeep of the area. This is their last cleanup session of the year; the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce is looking at organizing one at the start of November. (The Chamber keeps the sign-up sheet for nonprofit promotional use of the site – what’s up right now replaced the guerrilla messaging spotted earlier in the week).
P.S. You might not notice unless you’re passing by as a passenger, but we’re told the aspens are in fine form and the snowberries are blooming!
From Rick:
My work van with all of my tools inside was stolen from in front of my home at 39th and Holden. It is a 2003 Ford Ecovan with Relius Marine in large blue and green lettering. The license # is A46580Z. The police have been informed. The van was stolen after 1:00 a.m. or so on September 27, 2014. I am out of business without my tools & van. Please call Rick at 253-350-4263 with any information.
And call 911 if you see it – don’t approach a suspected stolen car, police advise, since you never know who or what might still be in it.
Two coyote sightings to share today, first ones we’ve received in a while. As we’ve done more than 150 times in the past six years, when we get them, we publish them, not as cause for panic, but in the spirit of information/education, since not everyone realizes that we share our city with them. Patricia:
Coyote sighting this morning in Arbor Heights… about 6:30 am as I was walking two spaniels north on 39th Ave SW, a coyote was spotted sitting at the edge of the yard of the demolished-for-new-construction home between SW 106th and SW 104th. Pretty big – taller than my larger dog, though not so heavy. He moved into the street and sat down, watching us. We got to within 50 feet… close enough for me so I stamped twice. He turned north then west on SW 104th. Pretty neat!
And a quick report from Cynthia on Friday evening:
Coyote spotted on Trenton and 14th Ave SW.
The reports we’ve received over the years (archived here, newest to oldest) also tend to debunk myths such as, they only come out at night, or, they only live near greenbelts. So, what to do if you see one? Most important advice: Scare it away. That and other advice from state wildlife authorities is here.
(Great blue heron, photographed by Mark Wangerin)
Happy Saturday! While the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar has today’s full list, here are some highlights of what’s ahead:
LONGFELLOW CREEK TRAIL BILINGUAL BIKE RIDE: 9 am, come to the baseball fields by Roxhill Elementary to join this English/Spanish tour led by two teachers from Denny International Middle School – our preview has more info, here. (30th/Roxbury)
WALK ‘N’ ROLL: The annual event in honor of National Ataxia Awareness Day starts from the Alki Beach Promenade – registration 9 am, walk/roll at 10 am, registration is by donation – and heads to Luna/Anchor Park and back (or smaller loops if you prefer). More info here. (61st/Alki)
MONSTER DASH REGISTRATION PARTY! 10 am-2 pm, go to West Seattle Runner (WSB sponsor) and sign up for the October 25th West Seattle Monster Dash at a discount off the online fee – plus, get a 10 percent discount on WSR in-store purchases while you’re there. Even more info here. (California/Charlestown)
DRUG TAKE-BACK DAY: 10 am-2 pm, take your unwanted/unneeded/expired prescription drugs to the Southwest Precinct during the twice-yearly Drug Take-Back Day. They’ll be disposed of safely, no questions asked. (Delridge/Webster)
FOOD BANK DAY OF CONCERN: 11 am-5 pm, donate to the West Seattle Food Bank during the “Mayor’s Day of Concern for the Hungry” food drive today. You’ll find WSFB reps at Metropolitan Market (WSB sponsor), along with info on what they need most. (42nd/Admiral)
NATURE CONSORTIUM COMMUNITY PICNIC: 11 am-2 pm, you bring the picnic, the Nature Consortium has the fun, and games, and hikes, all in West Seattle’s own West Duwamish Greenbelt. Details here. (Entrance from SSC parking lot at 6000 16th SW)
CONFUCIUS INSTITUTE CULTURAL CELEBRATION: 1-4 pm at Chief Sealth International High School, a free, fun celebration of Chinese culture. Our preview includes the schedule. (2600 SW Thistle)
WRITING WORKSHOP: 2-4 pm, writer Kim Baker will lead you through a workshop on writing humor for kids – but you have to register, so call ASAP to see if there’s room! West Seattle (Admiral) Branch Library. (2306 42nd SW)
SOUTHWEST YOUTH AND FAMILY SERVICES GALA: 5:30-8:30 pm at The Hall at Fauntleroy, help SWYFS raise money to continue helping local youth and families. Dinner, auction, more. (9140 California SW)
NIGHTLIFE! Live music, theater, karaoke … see the listings here.
(#54 Emanuel Santos, #17 Robert Harrelson, #22 Fynniecko Glover, #85 Andrew Burggraff)
As always for homecoming games, the football was just part of it. West Seattle High School celebrated homecoming tonight at Southwest Athletic Complex, and of course there was royalty – seniors Annalisa Ursino and Maxwell Eronimous …
Juniors Casey Hart and Ezra Sarmiento …
And the band, under the direction of Ethan Thomas, put on a show …
Here’s video:
Now, to the football. Rainier Beach left with the victory, 44-18, but the game was closer for much of the first two thirds. Two of the Wildcats’ three touchdowns were by #44, senior Gavin Garcia-Penor, starting with the first play of the second quarter:
The other West Seattle TD was scored by senior Carter Mensing toward the end of the second quarter; at the half, it was Rainier Beach 15, WSHS 12. West Seattle took the lead, 18-15, with Garcia-Penor’s second touchdown in the third quarter. But that’s where the Wildcats’ scoring ended, and Beach scored 29 unanswered points before the game came to a close.
Coach Tom Burggraff‘s Wildcats play Roosevelt next Friday night (October 3rd), 7:45 pm at Memorial Stadium.
If you’re headed toward or away from Highway 509, note that Seattle Fire and Police are currently at a crash scene at Olson/1st (map). SFD says a 31-year-old man was taken to the hospital in “stable condition” after crashing his car into a pole. Also per SFD, the car caught fire and bystanders rescued the man from it. Officers have called for an SDOT crew to come clean up fluid on the roadway.
Tonight’s team on the road: Chief Sealth International High School, the opponent for Ballard‘s homecoming game at Memorial Stadium downtown. Final score, BHS 48, CSIHS 20. According to the play-by-play on Ballard’s Twitter feed, the Beavers were up 21-0 before the Seahawks’ first touchdown with 4:59 left in the first half; the halftime score was 28-6. As the second half began, Sealth returned the opening kick for another TD, and got their third and final touchdown on a 48-yard run with less than 6 minutes left in the game. Sealth is home at Southwest Athletic Complex next Friday night (October 3rd), 7 pm, vs. Franklin.
One more West Seattle Crime Watch reader report tonight – an attempted strong-arm robbery. Jacqueline sent this note:
I wanted to let you know that I called the police and reported an incident that happened just before 8 pm this evening, 9/26/14. I stopped at the Walgreens at the corner of 35th & Morgan in West Seattle (High Point neighborhood), right across from the West Seattle Food Bank. I was stopping quickly to return a dvd rental at the Redbox. When I was getting out of my car, a man approached me and grabbed a hold of my car door handle and tried to grab my purse. I immediately screamed extremely loud, and since I still had my right side of my body partially inside of my SUV, I started beeping my horn and the man backed off, and I also swung my door open at him to try to get him away. I screamed so much and got everyone’s attention in the parking lot with the sound of my horn.
I was able to get back into my car and get the heck out of there. I pulled out onto 35th Ave SW and drove up a few blocks and called 911. Here is the description I gave the police:
(January 2014 photo by WSB’s Patrick Sand)
On a Friday night back in January, 33-year-old Nicholas Broughton drew the attention of thousands by driving that stolen SUV through a fence near a relative’s home west of The Junction, with the Guardian One helicopter overhead, tracking him through the LoJack device in the SUV. He was arrested, jailed, and charged, described by prosecutors as an “11-time felon.” In the ensuing months, Broughton got out 
on bond, then was charged with identity theft related to cards stolen in earlier car prowls.
Other developments since his January arrest include the Labor Day incident in which he and his girlfriend both bolted when pulled over by police, two days after he pleaded guilty to most of the aforementioned charges. The official record listed her as being in King County Superior Court today when Judge Catherine Shaffer sentenced Broughton for possession of a stolen vehicle, hit and run, and two counts of second-degree identity theft. The sentence, same as what prosecutors had recommended, totals (see the document here) a little over four years in prison, with credit for the two months Broughton has served since the January arrest. He will be on probation, aka “community custody,” for a year after he gets out.
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