West Seattle, Washington
04 Thursday
(Friday photo of the Spokane Street Viaduct – top of the photo is the east end – by Long Bach Nguyen)
We just confirmed with SDOT‘s Paul Elliott, spokesperson for the Spokane Street Viaduct Widening Project, that the plan to switch open offramps on the eastbound side is a “go” for tonight.
This means that starting tomorrow morning, if you use the eastbound SSV (the West Seattle Bridge between 99 and I-5), the 4th Avenue South offramp will be OPEN, while the 1st Avenue South offramp will be CLOSED, a reverse of what it’s been for the last few weeks. This is required as they continue to repair and resurface the old – south – side of the elevated structure (we explained the work in this April report). Elliott says they’re still projecting the 1st Avenue ramp will be closed about two and a half weeks, but “it could slip.” The westbound SSV, he reminds us, will be closed most of the weekend June 9th-10th (6 pm Saturday 6/9 through 5 am Monday 6/11).
The entire SSV project is currently expected to be complete by early September; while the new 1st Avenue South on/offramp on the west side will be usable by emergency vehicles soon, it will not be open to general traffic until the project is complete, because of the need for transition space for regular traffic to get on and off, which won’t be available till the full width of the newly widened bridge is in use.
ADDED 2:17 PM: A commenter wondered about Metro reroutes – yes, there are some, and here’s the full list.
(Olympia takes a study break)
Story and photos by Jason Grotelueschen
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
Reading books out loud is a familiar task for elementary-school students, but 2nd-graders at Hope Lutheran School often find a particularly friendly 4-legged visitor in the classroom to make the experience a bit more special.
On most Thursdays during the school year, a gentle 5-year-old yellow lab named Olympia pays a 1-hour visit to the classroom along with her handler, Caryn Burnett Ridings, as students like Olivia Turner (all pictured below) take turns reading their favorite books aloud:
If you were at West Seattle Thriftway (WSB sponsor) about half an hour ago and noticed a bit of commotion – here’s what and who it as all about: Posing with one of his two shopping carts of merchandise, Joe Michael, a Morgan Junction resident who won the Thriftway raffle for a $500 shopping spree – for products by Western Family (which distributes more than 3,600 private-label products), who had reps on hand for the occasion too.
Two more transportation alerts beyond the Spokane Street Viaduct info in the morning preview – First, early-early-early-morning drivers/bicyclists/etc. beware – Highway 99 will be closed 11:59 pm tonight to 5 am Wednesday NORTH of the Battery Street Tunnel because the Aurora Bridge is being lifted for some quakeproofing work (similar to what was done on the Fauntleroy Expressway end of the West Seattle Bridge months ago) … Also, thanks to Donna for letting us know about this alert – the Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth ferry run is down to 2 boats again today, because of mechanical problems with the Sealth. Here’s the official 2-boat schedule.
(Railroad bridge over the Duwamish River, by Don Brubeck, shared via the WSB Flickr group pool)
Happy post-holiday-weekend Tuesday! Half a dozen highlights, from the WSB West Seattle Events Calendar:
TRAFFIC ALERTS TONIGHT: As announced last week, the eastbound Spokane Street Viaduct (West Seattle Bridge between 99 and I-5) is scheduled to be reduced to one lane 9 pm-5 am as crews work on the realignment that will reopen the 4th Avenue South offramp and close the 1st Avenue South offramp for the next two weeks.
CHEER ON A WINNER! The winner of a $500 Western Family shopping spree at West Seattle Thriftway (WSB sponsor) goes down the aisles this morning at 10 am and the store invites spectators to cheer him on.
CHACO CANYON’S FIRST ‘$2.50 TUESDAY’: Starting today, 3 pm-close on Tuesdays, organic wine, beer, or cider will cost you only $2.50 at Chaco Canyon Organic Café (38th/Alaska in The Triangle).
K-5 STEM AT BOREN DESIGN TEAM: The group planning for the launch of West Seattle’s new public school meets tonight at 6:15 pm, Madison Middle School (45th/Spokane).
‘HOW TO CONDUCT PRODUCTIVE MEETINGS’: West Seattle Toastmasters Club 832 invites you to join them in exploring this topic, 6:30 pm at The Kenney (7125 Fauntleroy Way SW; WSB sponsor).
LAST SCHEDULED DAY FOR WEST SEATTLE’S STATE LIQUOR STORES: As announced last week, the Junction and Westwood stores are scheduled to close after today – two days before they would have had to close as part of the transition to privatized liquor; the state decided to close its stores in phases (the White Center state-run store will close after tomorrow). Both are scheduled to reopen Friday under private ownership, according to what their respective new owners have told WSB.
Planning an event in West Seattle/White Center/South Park? Please let us know so we can calendarize it! No need to write up a full news release – who/what/when/where/why/weblink (and/or Facebook event link) will do – just plain text in your e-mail, please; e-mail to editor@westseattleblog.com – preferably at least a week in advance, though if you have something planned for weeks or even months from now, go ahead and send it!
By Megan Sheppard
On the WSBeat, for West Seattle Blog
As always, the WSBeat summaries are from reports on cases handled recently by Southwest Precinct officers, incidents of note that (usually) have not already appeared here in breaking-news coverage or West Seattle Crime Watch reports, but that might at least answer the question “what WERE all those police doing on my block (whenever)?”:
*A resident received two odd phone messages on his cell regarding a woman he doesn’t know: The first said, “I don’t know who you are, but if you’re looking for Ms. XXXX, she doesn’t own a phone anymore. She just got shot in the chest. Hope she’ll survive.” The second message relayed that the woman had died. The recipient called the number back, said he didn’t know the woman, and the calls stopped. He decided to contact police to provide information in case a woman actually had been assaulted.
*On Friday the 18th, a citizen reported a potential hazard in the 5200 block of 44th SW. A property owner had dug a 20-foot-deep hole but hadn’t shored up the walls. The caller was afraid the walls would collapse. The property owner/digger told officers he was working with an architect and a seismic expert and had permits. Looking up the permit, the officer found one that had expired in April. The man kept digging, saying, “If it collapses, it collapses on my property.” The officer planned to follow up with the Department of Planning and Development. He also noted that the location was not fenced off and could be easily accessed by children.
Seven more summaries ahead:Read More
In the Admiral District, Laurie is remodeling her 1917 home … and, after pulling up the old floors, found them lined with 1917 newspapers, with plenty of clues as to the state of the 1917 housing market. Yes, those prices above are the actual full listing prices. 4556 California, the office advertising above, is the address of Cupcake Royale today; the address in this next item currently would place you at California/Dawson, north side of the Rite-Aid parking lot:
Laurie also found the Olympus Theater‘s weekly promotional pages:
The “Olympus Weekly” places the theater at California and Lander in the Admiral District. This December 1917 page touts silent movies starring Mary Pickford, Maxine Elliott, Ann Pennington, and Dustin Farnum:
(Click for a larger view)
The bottom of the “Olympus Weekly” page carried ads for other businesses, including one that tells us which newspaper Laurie found beneath the floorboards:
A check of the 1987-published West Seattle history book “West Side Story” reveals “The West Seattle Press” was published 1908-1918, known by a few other names along the way, including “The West Side Press.” Thanks to Laurie for sharing what she found!
The annual Memorial Day service at West Seattle’s Forest Lawn Cemetery (WSB sponsor) spanned the years in more ways than one. Cub Scouts from Pack 793 placed the wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown as the service began; just before it started, we photographed American Legion Post 160 Commander Chris Shea, speaking for a 7th year, with the man who will succeed him at the post, Kyle Geraghty:
The service itself was as always relatively short but stirring; Shea read “In Flanders Fields” as part of his reflections, while Seattle Opera mezzo-soprano Lucy Weber, a West Seattleite, sang the national anthem and “America the Beautiful.” Here’s the entire 37-minute service as we recorded it:
Shea paid tribute to the past, and its lessons for the present and future, reading the poem “In Flanders Fields” and also recounting the story of Gen. Douglas MacArthur and his successes following failure. As the service began, we counted more than 50 people – including some standing:
The veterans buried at Forest Lawn include some who served as far back as the Civil War.
Stopped by Seacrest this morning just for a quick bit of sunshine and view … The West Seattle Water Taxi was getting ready to take off, and kids out on the open deck were shouting about jellyfish. Took a closer look, and what you see above is what we saw … the water, on closer look, thick with jellies.
Like snowflakes, no two are exactly alike … not in shape nor in size … but they’re beautiful to watch. As is the Water Taxi, in its own way … Sunday schedule today:
Melissa Ann – usually serving Vashon (which has no WT service today) – is on the WS route for the holiday.
In comparison to OTHER parts of the city – where yesterday, for example, brought six shooting reports in the span of about 18 hours (all chronicled on SPD Blotter) – it’s been a relatively quiet holiday weekend in West Seattle. But not devoid of incidents; beyond a few we’ve already covered, we’ve received miscellaneous reader reports, including two break-ins with loot that you’re asked to be on the lookout for – read on:Read More
(Photo by Eric Larse)
WEST SEATTLE MEMORIAL DAY SERVICE: 2 pm today at Forest Lawn Cemetery (WSB sponsor) east of High Point, presented by American Legion Post 160 and Forest Lawn, everyone welcome. More Memorial Day notes:
BUS/FERRY SCHEDULES: Sunday schedule today for Metro, the West Seattle Water Taxi and its shuttles (but no Vashon Water Taxi today), and Sound Transit Express buses (including Route 560). For Washington State Ferries, the Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth route is on a regular weekday schedule.
TRASH/RECYCLING (ETC.) PICKUP: If Monday is your pickup day, Seattle Public Utilities says everything’s on the normal schedule.
LIBRARIES: Seattle branches closed, King County branches closed.
COMMUNITY CENTERS: City-run centers are closed.
LIQUOR STORES: The state says the Junction store (41st/Alaska) is open, 10 am-7 pm.
U.S. POSTAL SERVICE: No mail delivery, and post offices are closed.
BANKS: Closed.
SCHOOLS: Seattle Public Schools are closed, as is South Seattle Community College.
‘FREE PARKING DAY’ FOR CITY PAY STATIONS/METERS: If you’re heading toward a neighborhood with paid street parking, no worries, it’s free today, according to this city webpage.
One big event is in the books, and another one ahead, for the Rotary Club of West Seattle. First, what’s ahead: Advance orders are now being taken for the annual berry sale – deliveries are expected in July, but the sooner you order, the better. As usual, it’s a three-round sale – strawberries first, then raspberries, then blueberries; prices and projected pickup dates are listed here; you can place an order online by going to this page. It’s another of their major fundraisers for activities such as the annual Children’s Holiday Shopping Spree. Earlier this week, they gathered for the annual breakfast – photos ahead:Read More
Faith and sports are both in the mix at Our Lady of Guadalupe‘s new building – which is why you see a soccer ball, basketball, and volleyball in that photo, as retired Seattle Archbishop Alex Brunett blessed OLG’s new gym, which is named after him, and Parish Center, both formally dedicated as part of an expanded 11 am Mass today.
Parishioners walked across SW Myrtle to the new 10,000-square-foot complex, led by OLG’s pastor, Father Jack Walmesley:
There, Archbishop Brunett gave a blessing at the doors:
Inside, the celebration continued:
This comes two weeks shy of a year after the groundbreaking, during which the pastor didn’t just wield a ceremonial shovel, but actually operated the construction equipment to dig right in (WSB coverage, with video, here).
Thanks to Gay for sharing the photo of Shirley, taken today outside West Seattle Thriftway (WSB sponsor) in Morgan Junction. Gay explains that Shirley “has been making/selling poppies for The American Legion since she was a little girl in the 1940’s.” The American Legion Auxiliary Poppy Program, collecting donations for disabled/hospitalized veterans, dates back to 1921 and is explained here.
P.S. For a traditional way to commemorate Memorial Day, be at Forest Lawn Cemetery (6701 30th SW; WSB sponsor) at 2 pm tomorrow. It’s usually not long – 35 minutes last year – but it’s presented by West Seattle’s American Legion Post 160, and always stirring.
If it’s doing its job, your heart is out of sight and (mostly) out of mind – but that can change in an instant, as West Seattle resident Kayla Burt learned almost a decade ago. She was a UW basketball starter, hanging out with friends, when sudden cardiac arrest almost ended her life way too soon. As amply covered at the time and afterward, she survived – in no small part thanks to her friends, whose actions included calling 911, performing CPR, and making way for emergency personnel to get to Kayla. She visited West Seattle High School health classes this past week with a message that could save others’ lives – about heart-health awareness, about learning CPR, and more. Her host was health teacher Sarah Orton:
Kayla’s post-college achievements have included working as a coach at the University of Portland, serving as an EMT and a hospital staffer, and, now, as outreach coordinator for the Bellevue-based Hope Heart Institute, which her online bio explains she joined “after realizing her passion for heart disease awareness and prevention of cardiac arrest, especially in athletes, overcame her desire to do anything else.” Kayla, by the way, says that while experts never figured out why she went into cardiac arrest, she now lives “a completely normal life that involves daily exercise, basketball, biking, running, and anything else I set my mind to do!”
(SIDE NOTE: It’s not affiliated with Hope, but if you are interested in learning CPR – which we’ve evangelized here before, because of incidents like this one – here’s one of the places to check with.)
Two photos to share (click either/both for larger views):
From pilot/photographer Long Bach Nguyen, a view of the Admiral District, looking north to Elliott Bay, this Friday – note Hiawatha at lower right.
Meantime, Machel Spence, who often shares closeup looks at tiny marvels, wonders if you can guess what this is:
Her only clue: She took the photo Saturday at Village Green Perennial Nursery (WSB sponsor), where she says her photo cards will soon be sold.
Just a few notes from the calendar as the holiday weekend continues:
WEST SEATTLE FARMERS’ MARKET: No holiday here! 10 am-2 pm at 44th/Alaska as always. Market managers are touting tomatoes as among the new arrivals this week.
VEGETABLE STAND: Organic gardener Marguerite Lynch and family are selling some of their harvest at 44th/Hill, 10:30 am-1 pm, with half the proceeds to benefit the West Seattle Food Bank.
BENEFIT BEERFEST: West Seattle Nursery is selling beer and hot dogs starting at 1 pm today to benefit team member Ingrid Nokes as she fights breast cancer.
MUSIC IN THE GARDEN: Village Green Perennial Nursery (WSB sponsor) is hosting Sawesome, live music including banjo, autoharp, and saws, 1 pm, 10223 26th SW.
WS COOKING CLUB, SUNDAY SESSION: Been meaning to check out the West Seattle Cooking Club, but unable to make their usual Monday afternoon meeting times? Here’s your chance. Today, they’re meeting 1-3 pm at Beveridge Place Pub, with the theme “Picnic Food”; you bring yours, and try theirs.
1:13 AM: Very busy night for police in West Seattle, and they’re investigating another incident now – a rollover crash on the eastbound West Seattle Bridge. According to scanner traffic, police have found the crashed vehicle – but no one inside; two people may have taken off.
(Scene where victims were found, 23rd/Andover, photo via Twitter from @salishseagirl)
1:15 AM UPDATE: One “patient” is said to have been found near the bridge, in Pigeon Point.
1:24 AM UPDATE: One of the fire engines on this call is now asking for ambulances for TWO patients.
1:43 AM UPDATE: Via Twitter, Cheryl reports both patients on stretchers and going into the ambulances.
(Police on 16th, north of Roxbury, south of the reported crime scene)
10:33 PM: Police are searching right now in South Delridge for a suspect in what was reported to be a robbery. We don’t have full details yet but we have gone to the scene and can confirm a heavy police presence, including K-9 teams. The scanner indicates one person is being detained and another being sought. More as we get it.
10:44 PM UPDATE: Police at the scene are not saying much but do confirm one person is being questioned and another being sought. They say two people went into a business in the 9400 block of 16th SW and one of them showed a gun; the details of the reported robbery are still being sorted out. No injuries reported; no description made available to us for the person who’s being sought.
At West Seattle’s only cemetery, Forest Lawn (WSB sponsor) east of High Point, Memorial Day weekend is a busy time, as people come to pay tribute to loved ones lost. Flags and crosses mark hundreds of veterans’ graves; some were still being set out while we were there this morning.
More-personal tributes mark others.
Throughout Memorial Day weekend, Forest Lawn has a tent not far from the Sylvan Way entrance, with maps so that visitors can get help finding specific gravesites if need be. It will also be the site of the traditional Memorial Day service on Monday, 2 pm, in conjunction with West Seattle’s American Legion Post 160.
When we caught up with Mountain to Sound Outfitters and Alki Kayak Tours proprietor Greg Whittaker at his new on-the-beach rental stand around 4 pm, he said it had been a busy day – so busy, all the stand-up paddleboards were out between his two waterfront locations, except the one with which he posed! Perfect day for a debut, given that both the weather and the crowd gave Alki a bit of a Venice Beach veneer. The M2S setup also includes other beachgoing supplies – sunscreen, water bottles, hats:
Other sports equipment will be phased in at the rental stand, on the sand at 55th SW.
Last month, during the West Seattle Thriftway (WSB sponsor) customer-appreciation celebration, the store raffled off a $500 Western Family shopping spree, with ticket sales benefiting the West Seattle Food Bank. Not only did that bring in $400 for the food bank, says Michele from Thriftway, there’s a winner, and she says they’re hoping for a cheering section – 10 am Tuesday (May 29), just show up at the store (California/Fauntleroy/Morgan).
Tomorrow he dedicates a brand-new building – but today, Fr. Jack Walmesley from Our Lady of Guadalupe was in a hockey jersey at Barnes & Noble/Westwood, right after reading a hockey-themed story during the OLG School Bookfair. We just missed his turn reading, but we did catch another celebrity reader:
That’s Brian Callanan from Seattle Channel, also a familiar face at OLG. While today is the official Bookfair day, with events till 4 pm, purchases made with the special code #10749117 at any B&N, or online, benefit the school through May 30th (next Wednesday).
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