West Seattle, Washington
16 Thursday
Even though the 1st Avenue South ramp to/from the westbound Spokane Street Viaduct is now open, other work continues, both city and state projects, including the ongoing closure of the eastbound SSV offramp at 1st (till late September). Otherwise, no closures till after Labor Day. Here’s the night-by-night, day-by-day list for the week-plus ahead:
SATURDAY 9/1 (today) through MONDAY 9/3
*No closures planned
TUESDAY (9/4)
*Alaskan Way Viaduct/99 – Southbound lanes closed 9 pm Tuesday to 5 am Wednesday, between Battery Street Tunnel and West Seattle Bridge
WEDNESDAY (9/5)
*Alaskan Way Viaduct/99 – Southbound lanes closed 9 pm Wednesday to 5 am Thursday, between Battery Street Tunnel and West Seattle Bridge
THURSDAY (9/6)
*Alaskan Way Viaduct/99 – Southbound lanes closed 9 pm Thursday to 5 am Friday
*Spokane Street Viaduct – From SDOT:
The eastbound lanes of the Spokane Street Viaduct between SR 99 and I-5 will be closed from 1 am to 5 am Thursday morning. All traffic on the West Seattle Bridge will be detoured to northbound SR 99. Traffic wishing to continue further east will be diverted to the lower Spokane Street roadway.
FRIDAY, SATURDAY, SUNDAY (9/7-9/9)
*Spokane Street Viaduct – Aside from ongoing 1st Avenue S. exit closure, nothing scheduled
*Alaskan Way Viaduct/99 – Nothing scheduled
LOOKING AHEAD
*The full list of everything notable – elsewhere in the city, too – is here. You’ll note there is a northbound 99/Alaskan Way Viaduct closure scheduled for the weekend of September 15-16.
(WSB photos by Patrick Sand)
FIRST REPORT, 4:16 PM: Just ended at West Seattle Stadium, Seattle Lutheran High School‘s first football game of 2012, a loss to Carson Graham Secondary from B.C. – CG 48, SLHS 21.
ADDED SATURDAY NIGHT: Details, ahead:Read More
Almost a year and a half after it closed during a conversion from 76 to Arco, the gas station/mini-mart on the east side of the Fauntleroy/Alaska intersection appears to be on the way to reopening, under new ownership. We checked its status after a tip from Paul of PB&J Textiles (WSB sponsor); he noticed the fence that had ringed it for a year was down and the site appeared “cleaned up.” It was fenced off last January and then listed for sale; county property records show the $1.3 million sale to PacWest Energy LLC closed a week and a half ago, and city online records show an application for a sign permit – under the Shell brand. What we’ve found online so far indicates that PacWest is a joint venture between Shell and Idaho-based Jacksons Food Stores. Does this mean anything for the also-Shell-branded station across the intersection? We’ll be checking on that, and on the timetable for this one.
12:10 PM: On our way to a house-fire call in the 1200 block of SW Webster.
12:18 PM UPDATE: At the scene. Units rolling up. It was a microwave problem, they told us.
Four weeks from today, big changes take effect for Metro riders in West Seattle, among other places. The start of RapidRide Line C is the biggest one, but as discussed and decided months ago, other routes will change too, so in case you aren’t already thoroughly familiar with what’s happening to the route(s) you use, here’s early warning. The schedules won’t be out till mid-September, Metro says, but you can follow the links to the “summary of changes” and the new route maps from the right side of this page.
Two West Seattle Crime Watch reader reports: First, from Tom in North Admiral:
This morning, I woke up to both of my cars each with all 4 tires slashed. Called the police and they said that 6 to 8 other families were reporting the same issue with their cars. Great way to start a 3-day holiday.
And yet another bicycle theft – this one reported last night by Heather:
My bike was stolen from my home just north of Lincoln Park. It’s a red Diamond Back. It was loaded with green panniers and a striped bucket-style helmet. My white three-ring binder with teaching materials was in the pannier. I’d love to get that back, even if I never see the bike again!
To get involved with community crime-prevention efforts, now that it’s September, watch for the meeting announcements of the West Seattle Crime Prevention Council (9/18) and the West Seattle Blockwatch Captains’ Network (9/25).
(Last night’s moonrise, from Don Armeni – photo by David Hutchinson)
Welcome to September! Here are some of the highlights for today/tonight, from the WSB West Seattle Events Calendar:
LEND A HAND AT LINCOLN PARK: Start your Labor Day weekend with a little volunteer forest restoration at Lincoln Park. Meet the Friends of Lincoln Park at 9 am – details here.
BLOOD DRIVE IN THE JUNCTION: 9 am-3 pm, look for the mobile unit at 42nd/Alaska (except for a 11:30 am-12:30 pm closure).
SHOP THE DUWAMISH LONGHOUSE: Day 2 of the “Native Market and Jumble Days” event, 10 am-4 pm. (4705 W. Marginal Way SW)
HIGH-SCHOOL FOOTBALL: Two matches scheduled for West Seattle Stadium – Seattle Lutheran plays Carson Graham Secondary, 1:30 pm; West Seattle HS vs. Lindbergh HS at 7 pm (The Seattle Times (WSB partner) says this will technically be a “controlled scrimmage”).
LUAU: You’re invited to enjoy food and performances at Seaview Methodist Church, 2 pm – details here.
TERRY BROOKS AT BARNES & NOBLE: As previewed last night, the West Seattle-residing best-selling author is at Westwood Village B&N for his annual appearance, 2 pm.
THE HARD ROAD TRIO: They’re bringing Americana/bluegrass music to Kenyon Hall tonight, 7:30 pm.
LATER SCHEDULE FOR WEST SEATTLE WATER TAXI: The schedule is extended because of tonight’s UW football game – details here.
‘ROCKY HORROR’ AT THE ADMIRAL: The monthly (usually) 1st Saturday show at the Admiral Theater, with a shadow cast – tonight at midnight.
There’s more – as well as a chance to browse ahead to tomorrow and beyond – on the calendar.
(Sealth’s Trevor Forsell, #10, had two TDs. Photos by Nick Adams for WSB)
The first game of the season is in the books: At Southwest Athletic Complex tonight, in a hard-fought game, it was Chief Sealth International High School 26, Evergreen High School (in White Center) 20.
(Halftime meeting on the north side of the stadium)
This was the first game and the first win for Sealth’s new head football coach Luther Carr (who told us back in February, “If we do the right thing, the victories will come.”). WSB co-publisher Patrick Sand talked with him on camera right after the game:
Story ahead (and more photos) …
Two author updates! First – if you hadn’t already seen it on the WSB West Seattle Events Calendar – or the author’s own website – tomorrow is the annual hometown appearance by mega-best-selling fantasy author Terry Brooks. He’ll be at Barnes and Noble in Westwood Village at 2 pm Saturday. Melissa from B&N notes that it’s a discussion and signing of Brooks’ “new book, ‘Wards of Faerie: The Dark Legacy of Shannara.’ We always have a good crowd for Mr. Brooks, so be sure to arrive early for a good seat!” (We can confirm that – WSB has covered his West Seattle appearances every year since 2007 – our photo is from last year.)
Second – Next Saturday, a book-signing (and more) event at West Side Presbyterian Church, whose longtime Senior Pastor Paul Smith is a contributor. Here’s the church’s announcement:
All are invited to a “book launching” of David Marshall’s new book, “Faith Seeking Understanding,” on Saturday, September 8, from 7 to 9 pm in the Howell Auditorium of West Side Presbyterian Church. The book is a compilation by David and “a few of his friends” to, first of all, honor Dr. Paul Brand (former WS resident, Orthopedic surgeon and pioneer in reconstructive surgery to leprosy patients, missionary, and author), and Ralph Winter (U.S. Center for World Missions). Other contributors to “Faith Seeking Understanding” include Philip Yancey (Christian author of 29+ books), Earl Palmer (Pastor Emeritus of University Presbyterian; founder, Earl Palmer Ministries), Miriam Adeney (SPU professor and author), Ben McFarland (SPU biochemistry professor), and Paul Smith (senior pastor of West Side Presbyterian for more than 30 years). Several will be joining David Marshall for the “book launching!” Books will be available for just $12. It’s a unique opportunity to hear and meet the authors, be among the first to get your book “hot off the press” and have it autographed!
If you have to head downtown or beyond, avoid northbound Highway 99. A crash earlier this evening drew a major medical response, and the camera on the WSB Traffic page still shows a significant backup. One WSB’er says he saw the car “bouncing off the rails” just before the crash.
“Look who was sunbathing in my backyard today!” Jude wrote, sharing this photo on the WSB Facebook page. Clearest, “closest” coyote photo we’ve seen in a while – but no, Jude wasn’t really face-to-face with this one; she was inside her home and equipped with good camera equipment, as well as skill. She lives near Schmitz Park – but remember, as our map of WSB’ers’ coyote reports showed, they’re everywhere, not just near parks/greenbelts. (If you do wind up close to one, the best thing to do for their sake and yours is to try hard to scare it away – the state’s coyote-info page has suggestions.)
(Photos by Nick Adams for WSB)
On Thursday night, standup paddleboarders went out on the Magical Moonlight Paddle with Alki Kayak Tours (WSB sponsor). Tonight, it’s kayakers’ turn. Last night, WSB contributing photojournalist Nick Adams went out for the views from, and off, Seacrest – including the moon/plane view featured here earlier today – ahead, more of what he saw:
4:26 PM: Thanks to everybody who has texted about this – police and fire are on the scene of a crash at Delridge and Barton. The response level doesn’t suggest major injuries, but the texters say the road is blocked – we’re off to check it out.
5 PM UPDATE: The call has closed.
Example #2 of why speaking up at public meetings can make a difference: Above, that’s Morgan Junction resident and longtime neighborhood volunteer Cindi Barker (with neighborhood-district coordinator Ed Pottharst holding the mike, and Chas Redmond in the background) at Mayor McGinn‘s West Seattle Town Hall this past Tuesday night. As reported in our coverage of the event, Barker asked the mayor about a West Seattle bike-lane plan that had suddenly turned up in SDOT flyers around her neighborhood, with no previous public announcement, and seemingly imminent – a lane on the south side of SW Morgan between Fauntleroy and 35th SW, with all parking removed on that side of Morgan as a result. Barker said she is not opposed to bike lanes, but she was concerned about, among other factors, the prospect of losing parking close to the Morgan Junction business district, and the lack of previous outreach – the flyer said installation was planned for “later this summer” – as in, done deal, any time now. The mayor referred her to an SDOT rep at the meeting; we also contacted SDOT to ask for more information. This afternoon, we received this reply from SDOT spokesperson Marybeth Turner:
Based on what we’ve heard during the initial outreach, we will put the Morgan Street project on hold until 2013 while we see what comes out of the Bicycle Master Plan Update and consider the suggestion for a neighborhood greenway on SW Graham Street. We will also conduct additional community outreach. Once we’ve done these things, we will decide how to move forward.
For context on what the project would have – and might in the future, since “on hold” doesn’t mean “scrapped” – entail, take a look at the flyer (which Barker scanned to share with WSB) – front here, back here. P.S. If you missed “Example #1” – here’s that story.
Four reader reports in today’s West Seattle Crime Watch roundup. First, three short theft notes, and then (after the jump, if you read this from the WSB home page), the story of a car-prowl arrest – and what police subsequently told us about it.
#1 – Mac reports a bike theft:
I just had my bike stolen (Thursday) from our apartment’s secure garage at California and Hudson. It is a teal and purple Novarra (I think that’s the brand), with black handlebars and a small cargo rack on the back. It has an old bike computer mount danging from the handlebars, and new tires. It wasn’t the nicest bike, but it got me where I wanted to go. Maybe someone will see it?
#2 – A mail-theft report from A:
My boyfriend and I live on North Delridge, across from the community center. We have been suspecting mail theft for a long time, but (Wednesday) night I finally found proof: our mailbox was left wide open and our junk mail was scattered down the street.
#3 – Also mail theft, reported by Tommy:
Just wanted to give a heads up that there has been a resurgence in mail stealing on the 5600 block of 26th Ave SW. It’s been a problem in the past; didn’t happen much this summer; seems to be happening again. It isn’t much fun trying to find a pet ID on the side of the road that was being sent from the City of Seattle (those little things aren’t cheap!).
After the jump, a Morgan Junction resident tells the story of how they’ve been hit by repeated car prowls and made the call last night that resulted in an arrest – plus, our followup with police:
Holiday weekends are often a perilous time for blood supply – more need, fewer donations. Right after the Labor Day weekend, a one-day drive is planned here in West Seattle, just announced by Seattle Police Southwest Precinct commander Capt. Steve Paulsen:
On Tuesday, September 4th, 2012, we will be having a blood drive at the SW Precinct. The Puget Sound Blood Center will be stationed in our parking lot.
We are partnering with King County Sheriff’s Department, the Department of Justice, and the Ahmadiyya Muslim community as a commemoration to honor the victims of 9/11.
The blood drive will be between 10 am and 4 pm. … The donation of blood is something we all can do that is positive as well as its impact in saving lives for all people. We invite our entire West Seattle community to stop by and give a pint!
The precinct is on SW Webster at Delridge Way SW – here’s a map.
Our full-moon photo is by WSB contributing photojournalist Nick Adams, who was out on and by the water at Seacrest for last night’s “blue moon” – watch here for more of his photos later today. Meantime, this might be a good night for more moon-watching – the moonrise/moonset times are always on the WSB West Seattle Weather page, by the way – since the calendar for today/tonight is fairly light – you can see all the listings here. Two highlights include the first day of a two-day “Native Market and Jumble Days” rummage/estate/crafts/food sale event (till 4 pm) at the Duwamish Longhouse, and the local high-school-football kickoff, Chief Sealth vs. Evergreen at Southwest Athletic Complex, 7 pm.
(WSB photo, October 2011)
Good news for early-bird commuters – the King County Ferry District Board (aka King County Council) has approved a fall/winter schedule change. Here’s the official announcement:
When the water taxi begins its winter commute schedule for West Seattle on Monday, October 29, riders will be able to depart at 6:15 a.m. from Seacrest Park. This is thirty minutes earlier than the present 6:45 a.m. first departure, which does not accommodate commuters who need to arrive to work by 7:00 a.m.
The 6:15 a.m. run was the most popular of the added sailings last October during the Alaskan Way Viaduct closure week and was used by many new commuters working in health-care fields headed to First Hill and other riders looking to get an early start to their work day. This new departure will replace the current 9:15 a.m. departure from Seacrest dock. The last sailing of the morning from Seacrest Park will be at 8:45 a.m. The afternoon water taxi sailing schedule will remain the same.
Here’s the full fall/winter schedule. Wondering if the WSWT will keep the 6:15 am beyond winter? We asked spokesperson Rochelle Ogershok, who says that will be part of a “larger budget conversation” next year, and that its popularity will of course be watched.
P.S. This coming Monday – Labor Day – the West Seattle Water Taxi will be on a Sunday schedule, while the Vashon Water Taxi will not run.
Just back from SODO, where we verified that the new ramp to/from the westbound Spokane Street Viaduct is indeed open. For the first time in more than two years, you can get onto the westbound West Seattle Bridge without taking I-5 or Highway 99. The dash-cam view right at 6 am:
The old westbound onramp at 1st/Spokane closed in May 2010 and was demolished shortly thereafter as part of the Spokane Street Viaduct Widening Project; the old westbound onramp at 4th/Spokane was closed in 1993, but not torn down till this project (we photographed the then-15-year-old sign for our first in-depth look at the then-upcoming SSVWP in May 2008).
Note that this opening does NOT mark the end of the project – westbound surface Spokane Street won’t open for another month or so, SDOT says, and that’s also when they expect to reopen the eastbound 1st Avenue S. offramp, which is being repaired/resurfaced.
ADDED 3:14 PM: Thanks to KING 5 for sharing this SkyKING image of the new ramp:
The image looks toward the northeast – that’s the offramp on top, the onramp “below” it.
During tonight’s Summer Concerts at Hiawatha finale, at the south edge of the row of sponsor/community group tables bordering the lawn, Sean Reynolds was there on a mission: To talk with anyone interested in Phase 3 of the Lafayette Elementary Playground Improvement Project, for which volunteers – who in previous rounds have engaged in various forms of fundraising – are seeking a city grant. This time, it’s the area between the school building’s west side and the playground – with three concepts in play right now. Sean shared the PDFs you can open to take a closer look at each concept:
Each weaves aspects of environmental learning with improvements to reduce the impermeable area of the schoolyard. If you haven’t already commented on them, there’s one more chance next week:
Master Plan presentation meeting – Thursday, September 6th, 7:00 PM Lafayette Elementary
This meeting will be a presentation to the community of the updated Lafayette Elementary School Phase III Master Plan to be submitted to the city in an attempt to win funding through the City of Seattle Parks & Green Spaces Levy Opportunity Fund. This will be the final round of feedback to incorporate into the materials to be submitted with the application on September 17th.
It’s been almost exactly a year, by the way, since Phase 2 was dedicated just before the start of school last year.
Seal-pup season isn’t all cheery news of pup sightings – Seal Sitters Marine Mammal Stranding Network has to handle the sad calls too. Like the one Robin Lindsey reports tonight:
I just wanted to give your readers a heads up that Seal Sitters MMSN responded to a report of a dead pup at Lincoln Park late this afternoon. The pup was decomposed to the point that we could not get an i.d. and was not a candidate for necropsy to determine cause of death. The pup was definitely thin, however. We marked the pup with two fluorescent magenta dots of paint and are hoping that the pup disappears with the tide tonight, providing nourishment for other sea critters. If the pup comes back ashore, we are asking folks to please call the hotline @ 206-905-7325 (SEAL) and we will have Parks bury him. The marine mammal stranding networks mark dead animals with either a green grease marker or fluorescent spray in order to keep track of mortality statistics and not be counting the same animal twice.
Since harbor seal pups have only a 50% chance of survival their first year, Seal Sitters does indeed respond to quite a few dead pups each year; it is definitely the sad side of the work we do. On the flip side, it is exhilarating to watch over a stretching/yawning/snoozing pup on the beach, knowing we are all giving that pup the very best chance to thrive. Here’s to lots of fat and happy pups this season!
6:46 PM: We’re on the east lawn at Hiawatha Community Center – where the sun is shining on the south half of the field, but there’s a bit of an almost-autumn chill in the shade, as Curtains For You plays its first set of the last Summer Concerts at Hiawatha show this year. Come by – free popsicles for everybody who wants one (come see the Admiral Neighborhood Association at the east edge of the lawn – we’re right next to them), free face painting for kids – or, arm-painting …
… and free music, till 8.
7:42 PM: Another couple songs and they’re wrapping up. ANA president Katy Walum took the stage to thank this year’s sponsors, musicians, volunteers, and attendees. And – last but not least – her ever-supportive husband Erik Walum:
And Katy confirmed there’ll be a fifth season of Summer Concerts at Hiawatha! More to come in our wrapup of tonight, including a clip of Curtains For You (which will open for The Head and The Heart at the Paramount downtown on September 15th).
10:30 PM: Here’s the clip:
And we’ve been meaning during the season to mention the stage crew, Randy Knowles and Dave Grixoni, who’ve worked every concert in the series:
Dave is a letter carrier by day, around The Junction. He’s been working on the concerts ever since Katy Walum called him, having heard from someone that he knew something about sound systems. They talked about the Admiral setup – and eventually Katy asked if he could run the sound. Dave said Hiawatha had some great equipment (board, amps, speakers) so it shouldn’t be too hard. He had played in bands with Randy, and between the two of them, they had equipment if anything wasn’t readily available. They’d known each other since Randy’s days at a local store; Dave delivered the mail to the store, got to talking with Randy, and they decided to play music together.
Their first band, they told WSB co-publisher Patrick Sand, was the Neil Young tribute band Ragged Glory (which played the Hiawatha series its first year), and that’s morphed into Melanie and Her Blue Suede Dudes, much more bluesy, they say, than Ragged Glory.
Since they have worked together for so long, it only takes about an hour for them to set up, and the sound check for a 6:30 pm concert is usually 5 pm. So look for Dave and Randy next year – the unsung heroes behind the scenes (or, at least, the stage).
A 54-year-old Alki woman is accused of stealing thousands of dollars and jewelry from a 91-year-old Holocaust survivor for whom she served as a caregiver earlier this year. Mary C. Park was in King County Superior Court today and pleaded not guilty to first-degree theft. She spent a day in jail after her arrest earlier this month, but she has no criminal history, and the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office says Park will remain out of custody while the case proceeds. Charging and search-warrant documents say Park started working last February for the family of the victim, who is said to have stored cash in her home because of fears tracing back to having been sent to the Auschwitz death camp during World War II. It’s suspected that Park stole the cash one day last month when the victim recalls having been told to get into the bathtub and ordered to stay there. Gold, opal, and diamond necklaces were discovered to be missing, too. The family fired Park at the end of July, documents say, and called police days later after realizing the money and jewelry were missing. Park is due back in court on September 13th.
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