West Seattle, Washington
03 Wednesday
(UPDATE: Power came back for almost everyone at 2:20, after 3 1/2 hours; Admiral reported open again at 5:50 am)
FIRST REPORT, 10:52 PM: It isn’t on the Seattle City Light map yet but we’re getting multiple reports of a power outage. Some reporting it say they’re near The Junction, some are south of Admiral. We have a photographer checking out a crash on Admiral Way that might have taken out lines.
(WSB photos by Christopher Boffoli)
10:54 PM: WSB’s Christopher Boffoli is at the crash scene on Admiral Way between 49th and Garlough [map] and confirms “City Light just cut the power.”
10:56 PM: The power outage is still NOT on the City Light map. We’re hearing from folks all over Admiral and points south. Southernmost report so far is Fauntleroy/Dawson.
11 PM: Now we’re hearing it’s back, at least for some. City Light finally shows the extent that it at least had – more than 4,400 customers.
Meantime, Christopher says Admiral might be closed for some hours at the crash scene because of the pole’s condition. He also reports, “No injuries. SFD tells me that the driver said he was texting. Also claimed he didn’t have insurance. Car appears to be a large SUV of some kind.”
11:12 PM: Those still without power number 1,500+ homes and businesses, per the City Light map.
11:18 PM: While headed back to his HQ to process images, Christopher tells us, he observed: “Traffic lights out at Admiral and 47th, but on and functioning normally at California and Admiral. And the entire Admiral District retail area seems to have power.” Thanks to Ted for the updated outage map image in comments – here it is if you haven’t seen it there:
SCL says via Twitter that repairs could take “4 to 6 hours.” They had to de-energize the lines because the leaning pole sent wires into tree(s) that started catching fire.
11:35 PM: Commenter asked about food safety in multi-hour outages. Here’s advice from the feds. Meantime, we’re adding a few more images from the crash scene. Also, a request – if you’re up when the power goes back on, please text us – 206-293-6302 – we’re not in the outage zone and the City Light maps don’t show when power is restored, only the time it went out. Thanks!
12:09 AM: No change in the City Light map info. We’ll be checking back periodically.
2:25 AM: Just received two texts from people in North Admiral saying their power’s back on.
5:27 AM: According to SDOT, Admiral Way has not yet reopened. This is affecting bus routes too:
Transit Alert – Routes 50, 56 and DART 775 are rerouted off of SW Admiral Way between 49 Ave SW and 59 Ave SW – due to a blockage. UFN.
— King County Metro (@kcmetrobus) March 24, 2016
5:52 AM: Metro just sent an alert that the road is open again and buses are back to normal.
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
“It takes all of us to make a change.”
So declared a student toward the start of the all-school assembly that concluded today’s first-ever Equity Day at West Seattle High School.
The assembly’s guest speaker, Erin Jones – a longtime educator who is running for State Superintendent of Public Instruction – told the tale of her rise from an orphanage to education executive, saying your beginnings don’t have to define your endings.
She spoke of her own beginnings, born to a black man and white woman who she said was told she could not keep her baby. Members of her adoptive family referred to her with the “N” word, she said, speaking of, at age 35, confronting and forgiving her grandmother for using that word instead of Jones’s name. There is a difference between racism and ignorance, Jones said, saying her grandmother was guilty of the latter.
She spoke of growing up in The Netherlands, where her father moved the family when she was 5, and attending a school that was visited by royalty and VIPs, and deciding she wanted to change the world, and started to learn languages to make that happen. “I don’t care where you started, your beginning doesn’t have to define your ending. If you’re a refugee, maybe even homeless, or living with three families in one small apartment … that doesn’t have to define you.” Nor does a disability, she said, talking about her three grown children, one on the autism spectrum, another with dysgraphia, all high achievers.
Life is not easy, Jones said – “it’s not about the barriers, but what you’re going to” do about them. “Make your community the best place it can be – that’s what equity is all about.” And, she exhorted the students to “find something to live for … that you care enough to die for.”
Before her speech, the first part of the assembly, on an abbreviated school day, taught a lesson about diversity and cooperation via a “wheelbarrow” race.
That followed a morning of workshops that replaced regularly scheduled classes. Equity Day was organized by the WSHS Diversity Club and ASB, with the theme “Raising Awareness, Inspiring Action,” and the hashtag #StayWoke. The equity issues raised in the workshops ranged far and wide, including race, gender, sexual identity, income, and more.”
The list of workshops:
Microaggressions: Power, Privilege and Everyday Life
What is equity anyway?
Why Awareness is Important
Understanding LGBTQ Equity
Equity in Government
Racial Equity in Seattle
Income Equity
Criminal Justice Equity
Performing Arts Equity
Religious Equity and Anti-Muslim Stereotypes:
Equity in Sports
Physical Activities and Individuals with Disabilities- Universal Approach for ALL to PLAY:
Equity and Homelessness
Racial Equity
Equity in Education
Environmental Equity
Gender Equity
Workshops had both student leaders and community leaders, including King County Councilmember Larry Gossett, Seattle School Board director Dr. Stephan Blanford, state Corrections Department executive Dr. Donta Harper,
The co-presenting organizations wrote that its goal was to support the school’s mission “Every Student Achieving, Everyone Accountable” by “making everyone accountable for equity at WSHS and to make every student comfortable in order to allow for every student to achieve.”
That’s Clayton, who’s hoping you can help with a donation drive that he and his classmates are wrapping up at the end of the week. The photo and request were sent tonight by his family:
Clayton and his 7th-grade classmates at Westside School are collecting supplies for homeless youth. Clay’s group is trying to wrangle 50 new or barely used reusable water bottles by this Friday! They’d love some help from the West Seattle Community. Donations can be dropped off at our house (5417 36th Ave SW) or at Westside School by Friday at 8:15.
The school is at 10404 34th SW in Arbor Heights.
Her first “district office hours” day was a hit, and now City Councilmember Lisa Herbold has announced more upcoming dates:
As before on March 4th, I will be available from 12:00 pm – 7:00 pm. This is a rotating office to help best serve all communities in District 1.
I’m including evening hours to accommodate those who want to stop by after work. These will be open office hours for anyone to stop by; additionally, you’re welcome to let me know you’re coming by emailing my scheduler, Alex Clardy. We will likely continue adjustments as we move forward, and as before, your input is welcome.
April 1 Senior Center of West Seattle (4217 SW Oregon St)
April 29 South Park Community Center (8319 8th Avenue S)
May 20 Southwest Neighborhood Service Center (2801 SW Thistle St)
June 10 South Park Community Center (8319 8th Avenue S)
Herbold said she met with 24 people during that first event March 4th.
(WSDOT photo from last week – workers walking toward the tunneling machine’s back end)
Another update this afternoon on the Highway 99 tunnel project, currently in a “maintenance stop” getting ready to tunnel beneath the Alaskan Way Viaduct, which WSDOT plans to close for about two weeks when that happens.
No date yet but WSDOT’s update says they’re getting closer:
Inspections and routine maintenance of the SR 99 tunneling machine are ongoing as Seattle Tunnel Partners continues preparing the machine for its drive beneath the Alaskan Way Viaduct.
Crews have been performing planned maintenance since the machine reached a maintenance stop earlier this month. They’ve also been preparing for a series of inspections that must occur in hyperbaric conditions. Hyperbaric conditions are those in which the air pressure is greater than the atmosphere we live and breathe in every day – similar to what scuba divers experience during the course of an underwater dive. This post explains the process for completing hyperbaric work.
So far this week, STP crews have completed a total of 10 hyperbaric shifts in the chamber behind the tunneling machine’s cutterhead. Most of that time has been devoted to cleaning muck from the cutterhead openings and building the platforms crews will stand on as they perform the inspections.
The inspections are expected to take several more days. STP will determine the expected duration of the remaining maintenance based on the results of the inspections.
The end of the maintenance period will usher in the next step in Bertha’s journey: a trip beneath the viaduct. WSDOT plans to close the viaduct for approximately two weeks to allow the machine to pass beneath the structure.
We will provide the public with advance notice of the closure, but the start date isn’t yet known. It will depend on the amount of work that must be completed while the machine is in the maintenance stop. Check 99closure.org for additional details as the closure approaches.
Local transportation and transit agencies have not yet formally announced their plans for what’ll change to help mobility during the Viaduct closure, but some tentative plans were previewed at last month’s West Seattle Transportation Coalition meeting – here’s our coverage.
P.S. WSDOT’s 99closure.org site also is adding more detailed information you might not have seen, including this, and an FAQ.
Congratulations to Lily Bertucci, honored for a play she wrote in ACT’s Young Playwrights Program, which has spotlighted other local student writers before. Her family shares the news and photo:
Lily Bertucci, 8th grader at Madison Middle School, was awarded Honorable Mention for her play, “More Than a Knight,” written during the Young Playwrights Program (YPP) After-School Program at ACT Theater. Her play was selected by theater director and educator Meghan Arnette, to be performed on March 25th (this Friday) at TOPS K-8 Middle School.
Here’s what Lily has to say: “The YPP program was a great experience for me. I learned about what goes into writing a play, what a play is as a form of writing, and how to express my character’s feelings and personality through dialogue. I would recommend the YPP program to anyone, even if you have never done playwriting before. The program helped me step out of my comfort zone. It was a chance to work with a great instructor, K. Brian Neel, meet new people, and improve my writing. One of my favorite parts was being able to hear my play being read out loud. I am happy to have been awarded Honorable Mention and to have Meghan Arnette select my play to be performed at the TOPS school. I am really looking forward to seeing the performance.”
Lily’s mom wants to get the word out that ACT offers their 10-week after-school playwriting class in Seattle at the ACT theater: “YPP at ACT is an outstanding opportunity for kids who are interested in playwriting but do not have the YPP integrated into their school’s curriculum.”
According to the ACT website, the afterschool program starts up again in September.
As previewed during Councilmember Lisa Herbold‘s visit to the West Seattle Block Watch Captains Network last night (WSB coverage here), the new police-staffing survey was reviewed by a City Council committee today.
The video above shows the meeting of the Gender Equity, Safe Communities, and New Americans Committee, chaired by West Seattle-residing at-large Councilmember Lorena González. While Herbold isn’t a member of the committee, any councilmember is welcome to join any committee meeting, so she was there today to bring up some questions.
First, the report itself – you can download the slide deck here. Previews published last Friday mentioned that it calls for SPD to add more officers, but the numbers are just part of what was discussed.
SPD and city-budget managers who led the meeting offered frequent caveats that the 120+-page report – which was made public months later than expected – doesn’t necessarily reflect current staffing levels or philosophies. For example, they said, the concept of “responding to Priority 1 calls within 7 minutes, 90 percent of the time” might deserve a further breakdown – splitting up types of what are now considered Priority 1 calls, between what’s happening now (like a burglary in progress) and what could probably wait (someone who died at home). Also, what about Priority 2, 3, 4 calls – are the current labels for each type of call really the way SPD views and wants to respond to it?
Also, as Herbold had mentioned last night, SPD has a goal of splitting its time between proactive duties and reactive duties. The report, it was pointed out, calls investigations “proactive,” but that might not be how SPD sees them. Councilmember González said she agreed with Herbold that this is a key point of analyzing and evolving SPD operations. Herbold said that some granularity in staffing assignment, such as bicycle patrols, might help boost the proactivity.
Meantime, the briefers said, while SPD might choose to maintain the scheduling of three 9-hour shifts in each day, the overlap might be worth changing – if they overlap an hour instead of a half-hour, that “could provide better coverage.”
In all, the report was described as more of a “jumping-off point” than a blueprint for where SPD should be going. And in the meantime, it’s “hiring at an aggressive rate, a fast clip,” the councilmembers were told; Herbold said more use of civilian personnel might help with the challenges posed by the time-consuming process of getting sworn personnel on board.
What’s next? SPD managers said they want to come up with their own model for staffing and deployment.
Another unique stolen item to watch for: Linda Sabee‘s Little Free Library:
Linda is the proprietor of The Junction boutique Carmilia’s, and the stolen LFL (shown in her photo from its time outside her Alki-area home) has sentimental value:
My dad and son built it in honor of my mom, who was an elementary school teacher and sadly died in 2007. She was a lover of education and a huge supporter of reading, book,s and literacy.
About a year and a half ago, when I did a freshening-up of the shop, I decided to put the free library in front of Carmilia’s. It was very wel- used and a fun addition to the ‘hood and my shop.
About two weeks ago it was vandalized; someone tore it off its base. I left it on the sidewalk where it continued to be used. My dad will be returning from his snowbirding soon and I figured he and my son could fix it. Unfortunately, it was stolen last week. It really sickens me that people would treat any piece of personal property with such disrespect, but such a sentimental piece confounds me all the more.
Contact police if you have info – or Linda, who can be reached via her shop (4528 California SW).
Near West Seattle’s Seacrest Pier, the underwater zone known as Cove 2 is cleaner thanks to an effort led last weekend by 17-year-old Tanner O’Donnell, as part of his senior project for Nathan Hale High School. Our area’s best-known clean-water activist, “Diver Laura” James, worked with him and, along with her “dive buddy” Lamont Granquist, got some of the efforts on video (see for yourself above, and hear from Tanner in the clip).
If you follow Diver Laura on Twitter and/or Periscope, you know there was also an experimental live stream for a while – so watch for more of that in the future. Laura also shares these words of thanks, for “… Larry McLean for doing the honors of being our PADI Project AWARE Foundation Sponsor; Jan Shaw, the best beach-mom of all; and THE HUGEST of thanks to Tanner (and his Mom) for caring so much about our shared waters, and letting me be a part of this project… We should all care so much. As he says, ‘we’re citizens of the earth’.”
(Barred owl, photographed by Mark Wangerin)
From the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar for the rest of today/tonight:
NETWORKING MEETUP: Noon-1:15 pm at West Seattle’s only coworking center, WS Office Junction (WSB sponsor) – all welcome. (6040 California SW)
WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON AT THE MOVIES: 1 pm at the Senior Center of West Seattle, this afternoon’s movie is “My Lucky Star” (1938) with Sonja Henie, Joan Davis, Cesar Romero. $1-$2 suggested donation. (4217 SW Oregon)
PURIM CELEBRATIONS: Two events tonight, with details on the WSB page for Holy Week, Easter, Purim, etc. – 6:30 pm at Kol HaNeshamah (6115 SW Hinds) and 8 pm for the West Seattle Torah Learning Center, at the WS Veterans Center (3618 SW Alaska).
GROUP RUN: Try water bottles and hydration belts during tonight’s 6:15 pm group run from West Seattle Runner (WSB sponsor) – all welcome. (2743 California SW)
HIGHLAND PARK ACTION COMMITTEE: 7 pm at Highland Park Improvement Club, join HPAC for an information-packed meeting:
Updates:
SPD
RV Safe lot
Highland Park Elementary PTA – Highland Park Playground Improvement
West Duwamish Greenbelt TrailsNew Business:
Update and recommendation for 4 projects for the 2016 Neighborhood Parks & Street Fund
Date for Highland Park Neighborhood Clean Up Day – Possible dates Saturday, April 30th or Saturday, May 7th 10 am – 2 pm – Focus on 3 areasFacilitated discussion: Developing HPAC Structure
Review Monthly Meeting Time
Review Number of meetings per yearPossible Sub-Committees
Outreach and Community Engagement
Highland Park Playground Improvement
Street/Sidewalk/Alleyway Improvement
Community SurveyFacilitated discussion: Neighbor Assessment of Highland Park
Help us document neighborhood streets issues (speeding, accidents, etc.), lack of sidewalks, alleyways, and traffic issues for future grants, advocacy, and engagement.
(12th SW/SW Holden)
POEMS AND STORIES: 7 pm at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor), the monthly gathering for poets, storytellers, and those who enjoy their work, including a community microphone. Larry Crist and Christine Clarke are tonight’s featured readers. (5612 California SW)
LOTS MORE – please check out our complete calendar for the rest of what’s up today/tonight/beyond.
Along with a general reminder about our special page listing this week’s spring holiday/celebration activities/services, this morning we’re calling your attention to an egg hunt just added: The list of city locations with 10 am egg hunts on Saturday now includes Southwest Teen Life Center/Pool (2801 SW Thistle). This was NOT in the city’s spring community-center brochure nor on other lists circulated by the city, so it wasn’t on our page until a center rep told us it IS on, for up to age 9, at “10 am sharp” (arrive at 9:45) on Saturday, same time as the city-sponsored egg hunts elsewhere.
P.S. Anything else we’re missing? Not too late for us to add info – editor@westseattleblog.com – thanks!
(Click any view for a close-up; more cameras on the WSB Traffic page)
6:12 AM: Good morning. No incidents in or from West Seattle so far. A few notes:
SCHOOL’S OUT EARLY TODAY: Today is an early-release day (two hours) for Seattle Public Schools, which shifts the times you’ll see flashing beacons, buses, biking/walking students, etc., this afternoon.
ADDED POLITICAL RALLY FRIDAY: If you commute through SODO – note that presidential candidate Bernie Sanders announced last night he’s coming back to Seattle Friday for a Safeco Field rally (4 pm).
METRO CHANGES START SATURDAY: Another reminder that Saturday brings Metro’s next “service change,” including the RapidRide C and D Lines separating, with the C Line route ending in South Lake Union. See all the Metro info here.
P.S. For downtown workers/commuters – as of right now, the #ManInTree incident downtown continues. SDOT is tracking nearby lane/road closures.
8:11 AM: Multiple reports of general slowness.
8:39 AM: Still (as at least one commenter affirms) nothing specific to blame for this – just overall regional backups. The morning’s incidents are all in areas that don’t usually have any sort of direct effect on outbound traffic from here.
12:12 PM: If you haven’t heard, #ManInTree was down safely before noon, after about 25 hours. So that part of downtown should be back to something resembling normal traffic.
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
About 50 people filled the Southwest Precinct’s public-meeting room tonight, as the West Seattle Block Watch Captains Network heard from – and talked with – District 1 City Councilmember Lisa Herbold for the first time.
One big issue is one that she and other councilmembers will discuss tomorrow morning – Seattle Police staffing – also a hot topic at WSBWCN two months ago.
The meeting also included SW Precinct commander Capt. Pierre Davis‘s usual briefing; more on what he said, after our recap of Councilmember Herbold’s appearance.
“About the public-safety work I’ve been doing this year,” she listed matters including her request for further breakdown of 911-response-time data – particularly the two sectors in the SW Precinct, drilling down further to the “beats, so we can see if there are any conclusions we can draw.” Among other factors she wants to look at is response/distance correlation. 9.4 minutes and 10.9 minutes were the average response times for the two sectors, she said.
She said she’s been working with the “nuisance crime” problem in South Park, and also is “excited to dig into the (SPD staffing) study … I still believe that it is a correct belief that we are understaffed as a department.”
“We would all agree with that!” interjected an attendee.
Herbold continued, “I was disappointed that we could not reach an agreement to make some gains while we waited for the staffing report,” which will be reviewed tomorrow (Wednesday) morning at 9:30 am at City Hall by the Gender Equity, Safe Communities, and New Americans Committee, chaired by at-large-but-West Seattle-residing Councilmember Lorena González.
Four reader reports in tonight’s West Seattle Crime Watch:
UPPER FAUNTLEROY BURGLARY: M & K report this from 41st and Thistle:
Basement windows broken to gain access to the outside entry basement. Bedroom window forced open to gain access to main area of the house, sometime between 10 am and 3 pm today.
Our house was ransacked, drawers emptied, jewelry, silverware and electronics stolen.
Neighbors described a man in his late 50’s walking back and forth behind our house along the 42nd street side while talking on a cell phone midday.
We are also speaking with neighbors who have security cameras for footage. If anyone reports seeing something, please contact us or SPD.
PRESCHOOL BURGLARY: Who steals from a preschool? Somebody, apparently: The Community School of West Seattle 22nd/Roxbury) was broken into overnight, according to a note sent to its families. We haven’t yet procured the report nor school permission to quote the note forwarded to us by a parent, so we hope to have more on this tomorrow.
CAR BREAK-IN, SPORTS GEAR STOLEN: Kristin is asking that you be on the lookout for what was stolen in this car prowl:
My daughter’s car was broken into parked on 27th Ave SW by Chief Sealth HS today between 1:15 pm and 3:10 pm. She is certain the doors were locked, but it’s an older car, and not difficult to get into with the right tools. Stolen from the trunk were a navy blue duffel bag with her volleyball gear (shoes, knee pads, spandex, etc) and a black backpack with softball gear (new glove, cleats, batting gloves, Under Armor, face mask, etc). I would assume these items have no street value, and may have been dumped somewhere in the surrounding neighborhood. If they are found, we would be happy to know and come retrieve. It’s already cost us almost $250 just to replace the necessities to get through this week’s high school softball games.
A report is filed with police.
PROWL ATTEMPT CAUGHT ON CAMERA: From a Sunrise Heights apartment garage, a would-be prowler caught on camera:
Here we have a prime example of Prowlus Interruptus, a sub-species that clings to the bottom rungs of society and attempts survival by taking things that do not belong to them.
Thankfully, I came down into the garage just in time to scare them off. Police have been notified and a case is open. Please keep your eyes open for this white Jeep in the neighborhood.
We believe this was a targeted attempt to prowl one of our residents, but there was definitely some casing of the garage going on as well.
THANKS … for sharing the reports – our peninsula is one community and crime crosses neighborhood borders; a thief who strikes in Admiral could strike next in Arbor Heights … editor@westseattleblog.com or, if it’s happening now, text/call 206-293-6302 – once you’ve called 911, of course!
P.S. We covered tonight’s well-attended West Seattle Block Watch Captains Network meeting and will have the story up around 10 if breaking news doesn’t interrupt.
Thanks to Megan for the photo and report on one of the troops that participated in Scouting for Food last weekend:
Our West Seattle troop, #282, participated in Scouting for Food the last two weekends. We put up door hangers in the Genesee neighborhood the first Saturday, asking residents to donate food for the West Seattle Food bank. We went back last Saturday to pick up donations. Residents of Genesee were very generous. We collected 356 pounds of food for the Food Bank. We do this every year at this time because it is a time that food banks are historically low on supplies but yet there are still many in our community who need help.
If you weren’t in the territory covered by the Scouting For Food drives, you can still help local food banks in many ways – West Seattle Food Bank info is here; White Center Food Bank info is here.
(WSB photos. Above, Sound & Fog proprietor Justin Krebs)
Back when what’s now Broadstone Sky (4745 40th SW) went through Design Review in 2013, board members pushed for the project to include a commercial café-type space on its north side, adjacent to what will eventually be a city park.
The space became part of the plan, and now it has a tenant, just signed: A coffee-and-more café to be called Sound & Fog.
Morgan Junction resident Justin Krebs tells WSB that he’s worked in the coffee business for 13 years, for companies big and not-so-big, and now “it’s time to make money for myself.”
“Sound & Fog is going to be a coffee bar that will feature Olympia Coffee Roasters with rotating roasters monthly from the Seattle area and Internationally,” he explains. In addition to espresso, pour-overs and drip coffee, he expects to “feature a seasonal array of rotating coffee and tea-based beverages. I will also be serving a rotating line of local breweries (3-4) on tap and in bottles as well. In addition to beer, I’ll have a significant offering of seasonal wines to choose from for in-house consumption or bottle takeaway.” Some “small” food offerings, too.
(North- and east-facing sides)
Right now, the space is a big, bright shell, with windows on three sides. Some of the windows open, so it’ll be airy as well as bright. Some seating is planned along the windows, but the centerpiece of the space will be the bar, right in the middle. One wall will be “retail” for that “takeaway wine.” You might also find a small mural in the space; Krebs is talking with artist friends about that.
(East- and south-facing sides)
We had to ask about the name. Krebs said coming up with one was “stressful” – until one day, his husband suggested Sound & Fog, and that was it. “It’s what I like about living in West Seattle” – including the occasional foghorns heard from the neighborhood where he lives; he considers the foghorns “romantic” (though he acknowledges with laughter that not everyone might agree).
At Sound & Fog, in the early months you’ll be more likely to hear sirens than foghorns, since temporary Fire Station 32 is on the Parks-owned land to the north, and some construction sound from The Whittaker to the east. But that will all eventually be done and Sound & Fog will be, as Krebs says, “situated well. … My goal is to create a relaxed atmosphere where you can grab a coffee and meet with friends for a beer or glass of wine.”
Krebs expects buildout to start in mid-April, and he hopes to be open by the start of summer about two months later. He’ll be open seven days a week, probably until about 8 Sundays-Thursdays, 10-ish Fridays-Saturdays, for starters.
That flyer (PDF version here) shows what will, and won’t, be accepted at the next Recycle Roundup at Fauntleroy UCC Church, now just a month away. Judy Pickens sent it along with the early reminder – 9 am-3 pm on Sunday, April 24th, you’ll be able to drop off your recyclables for free, as 1 Green Planet sets up at the church parking lot (9130 Fauntleroy SW) for the day, as they do twice yearly, in partnership with the church’s Green Committee.
SIDE NOTE/QUESTION: If you are – or know of someone who is – planning a SHREDDING event this spring, please let us know as soon as you can – we are frequently asked if one is coming up, but haven’t received any announcements yet.
Story and photos by Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
It’s an almost-sacred trust: You turn or pull a handle to open a faucet in your home, and you expect clear, clean water to flow.
Unlike many areas of the world – as is being amply pointed out today, World Water Day – if you have lived here all or most of your life, it’s something you might not think twice about.
That’s why, for those who experienced “brown water” in recent months – as reported here repeatedly, starting when Myrtle Reservoir was offline for work but continuing intermittently even after it went back online – it was so startling, even when reassured that the water’s safe to use. Compounding the concerns is news from elsewhere, particularly the crisis in Flint, Michigan.
So that led some readers to ask, who’s routinely watching the water here, and how?
In response to that question, Seattle Public Utilities offered us a visit to its Water Quality Laboratory in SODO.
There, not only does SPU monitor and test samples from around its service area (the entire city and a few areas beyond) through a variety of lab procedures, it also convenes a twice-monthly gathering of taste testers. (To be precise – they test flavor, not taste. More on that shortly.)
(WSB photo)
By Randall Hauk
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
The notice for a liquor-license application in the front window of the Admiral District’s Mawadda Café has caught the attention recently of visitors seeking a taste of the Mediterranean eatery’s notoriously delicious falafel.
Cafe owner Rami Al-Jabori confirms to WSB that he has interest from a new ownership entity behind listed applicant “Irashai” (the Japanese word for “welcome”), but says he’s still talking to multiple potential buyers of his current space at 2352 California Avenue SW and has yet to commit to a sale.
“We’re still negotiating,” Al-Jebori told WSB. “The deal is not closed.”
Even so, Al-Jebori says he is seeking to shutter his West Seattle location after failing to find a consistent audience over the last four-plus years.
“We thought it was a big opportunity four years ago, but we’ve not been able to break even,” says Al-Jebori, who acknowledges he is actively looking to sell in order to close the West Seattle location while continuing to operate successful eateries in the Rainier Valley and Burien under the “Mawadda” name, which means “beloved” in Urdu.
For now, Al-Jebori says the Admiral location will continue to operate at its normal hours.
Bellevue business advisers SHK Group, who own the phone number listed on Irashai’s liquor license application, were unable to comment on their client’s plans. Efforts to contact the client have been fruitless so far.
(Juvenile bald eagle drying out at Alki Point, photographed by Gary Jones)
First – thanks for all the great photos! We’re featuring four here this morning (one of them ours), interspersed with today/tonight’s list, and more are in queue. On to the calendar highlights:
BABY STORY TIME: 10:30 am at Southwest Library – bring your baby, up to one year old, for a fun, free half-hour. (35th SW/SW Henderson)
(Lincoln Park, photographed last week by 14-year-old Conor)
COUNCILMEMBER, SPD AT BLOCK WATCH CAPTAINS’ NETWORK: All welcome to hear from, and bring questions/concerns to, City Councilmember Lisa Herbold and Southwest Precinct commander Capt. Pierre Davis at tonight’s West Seattle Block Watch Captains Network meeting – you don’t even have to be in a Block Watch. 6:30 pm at the precinct meeting room, right off the parking lot. (2300 SW Webster)
(Along Alki Avenue on Monday afternoon: WSB photo)
TUESDAY TUNE-UP FOR FULL LIFE CARE: Music, awareness, fun, and fundraising at Salty’s on Alki (WSB sponsor) 6:30-8:30 pm tonight, as the Tuesday Tune-Up with pianist Victor Janusz and friends benefits Full Life Care – explained here. No cover, but donations gratefully accepted. (1936 Harbor SW)
CROCHET, KNIT, SOCIALIZE … with the circle that meets 7-9 pm Tuesdays at Uptown Espresso in The Junction. All skill levels welcome. (California/Edmunds/Erskine)
BILLY JOE & THE RC’S: Rocking the Parliament Tavern, 7-9 pm, no cover. (4210 SW Admiral Way)
(Monday’s peek sunset, photographed by James Bratsanos)
HEY! THAT’S NOT EVERYTHING! The one place to find all our listings – for today/tonight/beyond – is the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar.
Two sightings your West Seattle neighbors wanted to share:
NEAR MORGAN JUNCTION: Brandon just e-mailed this:
Just wanted to report that I ran into a coyote this morning while walking the dogs, in case it is news. It came out of the alley between Mills and Willow, headed across Fauntleroy and headed down Willow [map] toward Pelly Place. It was around 7:30 this morning. My wife thought that cat owners would like to know.
MID-DELRIDGE: Sunday night, a texter reported a “coyote sighting at 24th and Myrtle [map] – our first sighting in 2 years living here.”
Just because you haven’t seen one doesn’t mean they’re not around – scroll through our archives for years of sightings (many with photos). We share them to be sure everyone’s aware they share our city (among others). Most important thing you can do if you see one is to scare it away – coexistence requires a healthy distance – lots more info on that can be found in this state-produced one-sheet.
(ADDED: WSB photos)
6:23 AM: A Seattle Fire response is arriving at 9421 18th SW, describing a small fire in a rug on a cabinet at this former church site which now houses the Hope Academy school and other facilities.
6:32 AM: The fire is reported to be under control; per scanner (our crew is almost there), firefighters are trying to determine whether its source was electrical.
6:38 AM: We’ve talked to SFD at the scene and they have confirmed it was an electrical fire, now out.
6:50 AM: The damage is minimal, we’re told, confined to a single outlet in the “main sanctuary” area, and shouldn’t affect use of the building. Fire crews are starting to leave.
(Click any view for a close-up; more cameras on the WSB Traffic page)
6:12 AM: Good morning and welcome to Tuesday – no travel trouble spots reported in or from our area right now.
METRO SERVICE CHANGE SATURDAY: Time for daily reminders that Saturday is Metro’s next “service change,” and this is the one with a big change for RapidRide – the C and D Lines separate, with the C Line route going to South Lake Union. All the Metro info is here.
‘EARLY RELEASE DAY’ WEDNESDAY: Also of note – tomorrow is the next “early release day” for Seattle Public Schools, two hours earlier than usual.
6:19 AM: There’s a fire response at 9421 18th SW – we’ll be covering separately.
7 AM: The fire response is clearing. One other reminder for today – presidential candidate Hillary Clinton is in the area, for afternoon/evening events in Everett, Medina, and Rainier Beach.
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