Avalon sinkhole repair work almost done
Just drove through – traffic is moving in both directions, without flaggers, once more — though a crew is still at the scene finishing up some work. Thanks again to the folks who live in the area who added updates to previous posts!
Avoid Avalon
The hole shown in the post below is definitely a sinkhole – just drove by, traffic at that spot on the Avalon slope is down to one lane, because of repair work (as of 6:20, it wasn’t even filled yet), with flaggers on both sides of about a two-block stretch directing traffic. Here’s the flashing-light proof:
All this is happening just west-southwest of here. 7:20 AM ADDENDUM: Amanda, who sent us the original report very early this morning, just told WSB she and others in the area have been without water since about the time we posted that first report. So this definitely involves water pipes.
Reader report: Avalon sinkhole?
Just in from Amanda on Avalon:
Amanda sent that photo along with this:
I live in an apartment on Avalon and around 11:35 pm a sink hole or something appeared in the street. Water was rushing down the street from the hole. I saw a huge puff of smoke appear but didn’t think much of it, just thought it was a car exhaust but then I saw all the water. The cops came and then some sort of utility truck is here now. Should be fun for the morning commute if they don’t get it fixed tonight.
This is on Avalon about halfway between 35th and Harbor Ave. We’ll check on it in a few hours.
New superintendent wants to lunch with you in West Seattle
On Election Day — when four Seattle School Board seats will be decided, including the open seat for West Seattle’s District 6 (Maria Ramirez vs. Steve Sundquist for the seat Irene Stewart is leaving) — the board’s highest-profile hire of the year happens to be coming to West Seattle, and inviting you to lunch:
Seattle Public Schools Superintendent Maria L. Goodloe-Johnson Ph.D.
Cordially invites you to lunch and an informal community gathering in School Board District 6
Tuesday, November 6, 2007
11:45-1:15 p.m.
Denny Middle School library
8402 30th Ave SW
Lunch is available for purchase for those who RSVP by Nov. 1
$3.50, exact change please
Choices include Chicken Caesar Salad
Turkey Sandwich on Hoagie Roll
RSVP with your lunch choice to Pat McKenzie at 252-0200 or
pmckenzie@seattleschools.org
This community gathering is open to anyone in District 6. Please feel free to let your District 6 friends, neighbors and colleagues know about this gathering.
You should know, Denny actually is quite famous for its food.
Canine mystery at Fauntleroy ferry dock
Reader Stacy says the two black Labradors shown below — one un-neutered male and one female she says looks to have given birth recently — turned up today at the Fauntleroy ferry terminal. They found an animal-control officer to scan them; one dog had a microchip, but — “with outdated info based in Redmond,” says Stacy. Any ideas who they belong to? Let us know and we’ll get you in touch with Stacy.
Junction soon to go Craze-y
Even more is afoot at California/Oregon in The Junction: The mortgage office is gone at the northwest corner, and the storefront window has the makeshift sign you see above … promising Crazé Clothing on the way. Only thing we have found out so far — the business license is in the category the city titles “women’s, juniors, misses suits, skirts, and coats.” P.S. Big thank you to the WSB readers who first spotted this and e-mailed us about it, so we could share the news.
Traffic alert for The Bridge
The West Seattle Bridge itself will remain open, but certain on- and off-ramps will be closed at times this Saturday morning because of drainage work. Here’s the full announcement from the city:Read More
Another December ’06 windstorm loose end
The P-I has an article today about an Arbor Heights couple still trying to get their insurance company to pay for the damage done when this happened during last winter’s storm:
Right after last week’s storm, we heard from the couple too, but hadn’t gotten the opportunity to go over and talk with them yet. Since their story’s out elsewhere in the mediasphere now, though, we thought you might want to read the version they sent out, press release-style, last week. Here it is, unedited:Read More
Looking for one very special Viaduct commuter
Most of us vent about the traffic; would you be willing to help tell the story of what it’s like to be part of it day in and day out? Local filmmaker David Wheeler is making a documentary about The Viaduct and hoping the subject he’s looking for just might be out there in WSB-land:
Specifically, I need help finding a daily commuter who travels from W. Seattle downtown daily using the viaduct. Would be great if they were a Seattle native and would allow me to film them on their daily commute. I would use this as a thread to provide the storyline and cut the rest of my interviews around it.
This is a serious project; David already has met with agencies and groups from WSDOT to the Port of Seattle to the Admiral Neighborhood Association. If you think you might be the commuter he’s looking for, e-mail him here.
Traffic alert: Bridge backup
If you’re waiting for someone coming home up the Fauntleroy side of the end of The Bridge – might take a while longer; there’s a big backup because of some kind of “aid response” just past the overpass. Big Fire Department rescue vehicle & several police cars. Couldn’t quite tell what was wrong with/in the car — might be clearing soon; looks from the 911 log like the Fire Dept. is clearing out. (Campic of the backup below – the one with the rescue vehicles didn’t come out.)
West Seattle seal pups update
The residents who first sounded the alarm about the net fishing vs. seal pups problem off Anchor Park say the fishing crew in question (shown in the photo above, provided by those residents) hasn’t been back since last weekend. Some reports suggested the net might have belonged to the Suquamish Tribe, which is still investigating, so there’s no confirmation at this point who was to blame, nor about the fate of the pups that were photographed. … Also regarding the seals who continue showing up on West Seattle shores, we have heard from Brenda Peterson of the Alki Seal Sitters, who has two things she wants you to know: “With the beautiful weather there is a lot of foot and dog traffic, so we are asking people to please leash their dogs, especially now. Several pups were almost attacked this past weekend by off-leash dogs — the number one predator of seal pups on the beach.” Brenda also says there is a fishing derby off Harbor Ave this weekend and volunteers are needed to keep watch over any seals that may haul out during the tournament; e-mail us if you might be available to help (be sure to include a phone number) and we will forward your contact information to Brenda.
Last day to gawk at the goats
At midday tomorrow, sadly, the Rent-A-Ruminant goats leave the formerly tangled slopes of Gatewood Elementary. Organizer Steve from the Gatewood playground project tells us they’ve been amazed at the reception — people stopping by for a look at the goats at all hours, as well as during the “Kids for Kids” playground-renovation fundraiser they had last weekend. He says they’ve definitely covered the costs of bringing in the four-hooved land-clearers, so that’s good news; Steve adds, “Bringing them in has made significant strides in knocking down the foliage [as shown in WSB photos above & below, taken this morning] … so we can now go back with humans and continue the cleanup. … (After this) we could use volunteers to help dig out roots and lay out the burlap and wood chips. All time spent counts as hours that we need for matching our grants.” Contacts for the Gatewood PTSA and playground project organizers are here; see WSB goat-arrival video here.
West Seattle Food Bank follow-up: Donate at your door!
Since we reported yesterday on the West Seattle Food Bank‘s request for immediate help — we have already heard of some people stepping up in ways big and small, all helpful. (Read the original report here.) That includes at least one business joining the cause — Garlic Jim’s Pizza proprietor Ryan Reese says he’s going to print up 3,000 coupons offering $3 off pizza deliveries for customers who donate at least three canned/nonperishable food items — giving the donations to the GJ’s drivers who shows up at their door. They bring you the pizza, you give them donations for the WSFB; as Ryan puts it, “how easy is that!” He’s planning on sending the coupons out for printing this afternoon after the Food Bank folks take a look at it this morning. 3,000 coupons=at least 9,000 items for the Food Bank! (And remember the online donation link here.)
Big beefy buy
4 weeks after we told you about WSB reader Meghen‘s invitation to others to join the West Seattle Meateaters meat-buying club she was forming to get sustainably raised meat through Thundering Hooves – they just got their first delivery over the weekend. Meghen sent us the photo above, and told WSB that Thundering Hooves declared the WS delivery their biggest first-time order ever. They’ve got unlimited room for more people to join before the next delivery December 1st; you can sign up any time up till the Monday before the delivery (in this case, that would be November 26th) by going to the Thundering Hooves site and looking for West Seattle Meateaters. (Or e-mail Meghen directly with questions by clicking here.)
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