West Seattle, Washington
09 Thursday
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
“In this room, at this moment, this is West Seattle,” declared Southwest Seattle Historical Society executive director Clay Eals, toward the start of Saturday’s sold-out Champagne Gala Brunch fundraiser.
And West Seattle showed its generosity as well as its spirit – Eals tells WSB that the revenue from the event, which filled the Salty’s on Alki (WSB sponsor) event rooms from windowed wall to windowed wall, totals “$77,180, up 26.4 percent from last year.”
Early on during the brunch, Eals had other numbers of note: SWSHS’s 31st anniversary, and the 100th birthday of Erma Couden, widow of its founder Elliott Couden.
While the brunch’s theme was “Coming Home to the Homestead,” he cited a long list of highlights for the year even before the historic Alki Homestead/Fir Lodge‘s sale was announced and restoration commenced, including:
–Art Wolfe speaking
–Admiral Theater upgrading (the SWSHS saved the Admiral a quarter-century ago)
–West Seattle Junction Historical Survey launched
-Museum Manager transition, Sarah Baylinson succeeded by Lissa Kramer
–“Count the Lincoln Logs” contest
-Supporting the Duwamish Tribe‘s fight for federal recognition
–“If These Walls Could Talk” tour of Ye Olde Curiosity Shop founder Daddy Standley‘s house
-Coat of paint and other touchups for the museum
-Interior work, new shelving at museum
–Riverside walking tour
-Third year of the Words, Writers, & West Seattle literary series
–Totem Pole Cruise to Alaska
–Richard Hugo tribute concert and film screening in White Center
–School Daze pop-up museum at The Kenney (WSB sponsor)
–First-ever Family Halloween on the Porch
The society won two big awards this year: Last year’s Totem Pole unveiling was at the heart of 2 awards, one from Association of King County Historical Organizations, “best single-impact-event award,” and SWSHS was crowned Nonprofit of the Year by the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce.
But the biggest news of all this year was new ownership of the landmark Alki Homestead/Fir Lodge, purchased in March by Dennis Schilling, who quickly embarked on its restoration, six years after the landmark was charred by fire. For so long, its fate remained unknown, Eals reminded the brunch audience, showing the 2010 “This Place Matters” gathering, echoed by a photo op this past summer – “This Place Still Matters” – that was more of a celebration.
The Homestead rebirth by itself has inspired myriad events, including the log-structure-restoration lecture/demonstration by David Rogers in August. Also, Homestead memories are being shared on the “virtual chicken dinner” page on the SWSHS website. And the 1,000-plus-student photo op on June 5th dubbed “Group Hug for the Homestead” was a morning to remember, as we showed you here.
(WSB photo, June 5th, as students were still arriving)
Eals enthused about the memories that event generated for a new generation:
On this Green Seattle Day, the Friends of Lincoln Park led one of two West Seattle planting parties – and it was big. According to FLiP – whose Mark Ahlness shared the photo – before the day was done, 34 volunteers participated in planting 300 trees and shrubs, west and south of the north ball field, where the group’s been working much of the year. Read about how they got “green and grubby,” and see more photos, by going here.
ORIGINAL SATURDAY NIGHT REPORT: After another postseason win today, the Seattle Lutheran High School football team is waiting to find out who and where they play next. This afternoon at the King’s High School stadium in Shoreline, the Saints faced the Washington School for the Deaf (from Vancouver), winning 52-12.
(WSB photos by Patrick Sand)
#3 is junior Isaiah Dowding-Albrecht, who ran back the game’s opening kickoff for the first touchdown. Two of his teammates scored two TD’s – senior Brandon Lulow, #22:
And junior JJ Young, #23, the second one on a 92-yard run.
Other Saints TDs were from senior Hawkins Ehret and sophomore Joe Meehan. The Terriers’ two touchdowns were toward the end of the first half and the end of the game; they have a very mobile backfield, and while those players could move the ball back and forth, they had trouble getting up the field. We should know by tomorrow who the Saints will play next, and we’ll update this story.
SIDE NOTE: Seattle Lutheran got some regional recognition this week, with the Seattle Times reporting on how their excellent season followed heartbreaking loss.
ADDED SUNDAY NIGHT: The date/location aren’t posted yet, but looks like SLHS will play Naselle next as the postseason continues.
ADDED MONDAY NIGHT: The game will be at Naselle (in southwestern Washington), 7 pm Friday.
Just a quick reminder in case you missed the first announcement and/or won’t see Sunday’s daily preview: Tomorrow night, veterans, active-duty, reserve, and National Guard members are all invited – with their families – to American Legion Post 160 and American Legion Auxiliary Unit 160‘s annual Veterans Day Italian Dinner at the Legion Hall in The Triangle. Free, no RSVPs needed – just go to 3618 SW Alaska between 5 and 7 pm tomorrow.
(Photo added 5:32 pm, looking southward over the pond, toward SW 102nd)
FIRST REPORT, 3:09 PM: Wildlife experts are hoping to help more than a dozen birds struggling with oiled feathers after a spill in a White Center pond. A reader texted us this photo:
King County has sent this news release:
Crews are responding Saturday afternoon to an oil spill that was discovered in a King County stormwater retention pond in White Center.
An estimated 20 to 50 gallons of what is believed to be cooking oil was found floating in the pond, which sits along 13th Avenue Southwest at Southwest 100th Street in unincorporated King County. Lab analysis of the oil will determine its exact composition.
Employees with the Water and Land Resources Division (WLRD) of the King County Department of Natural Resources and Parks were at the pond this morning, along with Washington Department of Ecology spill response personnel, to assess the spill and determine its source.
An oil-spill response team from NRC Environment was also on site this morning to contain and clean up the oil from the pond. A crew trained in cleaning wildlife was on its way to the pond to capture and clean the estimated 20 waterfowl that appeared to have been in contact with the oily water.
Stormwater system experts with WLRD will look into how the oil got into the retention pond, which accepts runoff from the surrounding neighborhood and helps clean stormwater runoff before it continues downstream to Hicklin Lake.
Shorelines along the White Center pond system have been a focus of cleanup efforts we’ve covered on partner site White Center Now, but usually the problems have been on the shore, not in the water.
5:17 PM UPDATE: We’re just back from the scene, where we talked with a Department of Ecology rep; others on the scene include NRC (spill response) and Focus Wildlife, the contractor there to help with the birds. While we were there, they captured one Canada goose that had been wandering in busy SW 102nd on the south side of the scene, apparently unable to fly because of the oil.
They found out about the oil because of a nearby resident who watches the area and often photographs birds; they haven’t traced the source yet but because of its smell and consistency, they’re fairly certain it’s cooking oil. What looks like a white boom around the edges of the pond is actually absorbent material intended to soak up anything that can’t be cleaned up.
The responders were going to work until it got dark and then return at first light tomorrow. The rescued birds were going to be warmed in a truck on site, and then taken to PAWS for rehabilitation. Besides the wandering goose, we saw a group of ducks milling on the sidewalk along the pond’s western side; the Ecology rep said they’d been there all day.
Most of the oil, he added, was on the north end of the pond.
… this is the one. Whether you choose to comment or not, the “Seattle 2035” process to update the city’s Comprehensive Plan (as in, envision the future) is moving forward, and next Thursday brings a West Seattle-specific opportunity to listen and speak. Here’s the reminder message from the city:
How should Seattle grow over the next 20 years?
The Seattle Department of Planning and Development has prepared a Draft Plan and we have some Key Proposals we’d like your feedback on!
Come check out the Key Proposals at one of our upcoming open houses. At the meetings you can learn more about what’s proposed, and chat with staff to share your thoughts and ask questions. We’ll also have information available about the potential expansion of our urban villages, and the City’s proposed Housing Affordability and Livability Agenda (HALA).
Open House Dates and Locations
· West Seattle – November 12
Senior Center of West Seattle (Hatten Hall)
4217 SW Oregon St.
6:00 to 8:00 p.m. (presentation at 6:30 p.m.)
If you just can’t be there:
You can submit your comments on the Draft Plan through November 20. Here’s how:
1. Join the Seattle 2035 Online Community Conversation at seattle2035.consider.it and discuss the potential pros and cons of proposed policies with your fellow Seattleites.
2. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter
3. Send us your comments by November 20:
o Email: 2035@seattle.gov
o Mail: City of Seattle Department of Planning and Development, Attn: Seattle 2035, 700 5th Avenue, Suite 2000, PO Box 34019, Seattle WA 98124.Feedback received will help shape the Mayor’s Recommended Plan, which will be adopted by City Council in early 2016.
Lots and lots of information, including the draft plan, a summary, and more, can be found here.
10:33 AM: Northbound California is blocked at Findlay because of a crash involving two cars, one of which (as shown in our top photo) went up onto the NE curb and hit stopped just short of a hydrant, right next to the RapidRide stop. Police are directing traffic around the scene, alternating use of the southbound lane. So far, it doesn’t appear that anyone will have to go to the hospital.
10:55 AM: Added two more photos. The one above this line is courtesy of Robert; the one below is ours, showing the other car that was involved.
11:51 AM: Just a note – we haven’t been able to go back and see if the street is clear yet. If you go through the area and can verify, please comment – thanks!
12:27 PM: Thanks to William for sending word that the road is now open both ways.
Via Twitter, SDOT just published an alert about road work closing the left lane on the eastbound bridge at Delridge. We don’t know how long it’s going to last – SDOT confirmed it’s “unplanned” work – but will watch for updates (and you can too, at twitter.com/seattledot). Right now, as we publish this at 10:08 am, the camera above, looking west at the eastbound side, is showing the work crew.
(Western Scrub-Jay: Once rarely seen this far north, says photographer Mark Wangerin, but now a Seattle regular)
Happy Saturday! Highlights from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
GREEN SEATTLE DAY: This citywide planting party has two locations in West Seattle – Lincoln Park and the West Duwamish Greenbelt. Even if you didn’t sign up in advance, you can show up and help, 9 am – details here.
FOOD DRIVE: 10 am-2 pm, the West Seattle Food Bank is holding a food drive at West Seattle Thriftway (WSB sponsor). Donate nonperishable food and/or money; you can also buy a Holiday Raffle ticket for $5: “You could win a Wine Tasting for 10 people at Viscon Cellars Tasting Room here in West Seattle with Duos Catering providing the appetizers.” (California/Fauntleroy/Morgan)
FAUNTLEROY FINE ART AND GIFT SHOW: The biggest day for this annual show and sale featuring local artists, 10 am-4 pm at the Fauntleroy Church Fellowship Hall.
(WSB photo from show setup Friday)
Get more info, including the participant list, via our calendar listing. (9140 California SW)
MONDAY ARTISTS SHOW/SALE: 10 am-3 pm today (and tomorrow), with artists’ reception at noon today. Come see the paintings of this group of local artists who meet regularly at the Island View Apartments to work together. (3033 California SW)
TROLLBEADS TRUNK SHOW: 10 am-6 pm, new Trollbeads items and more at Wyatt’s Jewelers (WSB sponsor) at Westwood Village. (2800 SW Barton)
FIVE PLY DESIGN LIGHTING LAUNCH: Click! Design That Fits (WSB sponsor) hosts Five Ply Design‘s Peter Benarcik all day (11 am-5 pm) as he launches a line of lighting. (4540 California SW)
COLLEGE ESSAY WORKSHOP: 11 am-5 pm, aspiring college students can get help with their essays – a big part of the application process! – via volunteers from the Bureau of Fearless Ideas, at High Point Library. (35th SW & SW Raymond)
SOUTHWEST SEATTLE HISTORICAL SOCIETY: Two notes for today – 11 am, it’s the annual Champagne Gala Brunch at Salty’s on Alki (WSB sponsor), at capacity so this is just a reminder if you have a ticket! As a media sponsor, we’ll be covering it, so watch for the story later. And because volunteers are busy with the brunch, SWSHS’s Log House Museum is CLOSED today – go visit again tomorrow (61st SW & SW Stevens), noon-4 pm.
PRE-HOLIDAY SHOPPING @ LIVE LIFE LOCAL COLLECTIVE CONVENTION: Noon-6 pm, shop local from a multitude of sellers/vendors at the first-ever Live Life Local Collective Convention, presented by The General Store Seattle (WSB sponsor) at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center. (4408 Delridge Way SW)
PILGRIMAGE FOR PEACE: 1-3 pm, Alki UCC and partner synagogue Kol HaNeshamah “invite our wider community to a multi-faith presentation/discussion about peace efforts in Israel/the emerging state of Palestine.” More info in our calendar listing. (6115 SW Hinds)
‘BOOKS AND BRICKS’ BENEFIT DINNER: 7 pm at St. John the Baptist Episcopal Church: “Social time, raffles and an African-style dinner (with lots of American choices). Monies raised will go toward scholarships and mentoring activities for primary, secondary, and college level students, and maintaining two libraries in Kenya.” More info in our calendar listing. (3050 California SW)
‘THIS CHANGES EVERYTHING’: West Seattle Meaningful Movies presents the new film directed by Avi Lewis and based on Naomi Klein‘s “This Changes Everything: Capitalism vs. the Climate,” 7 pm at Neighborhood House’s High Point Center. More info in our calendar listing. (6400 SW Sylvan Way)
(Quick clip of salmon in Longfellow Creek last year, contributed by Josh)
Tom e-mailed earlier this week to report spotting salmon in Longfellow Creek, by Dragonfly Pavilion in North Delridge – two last Friday, and “four big ones” last Monday. If you want to go look for salmon, tomorrow morning brings an excellent chance – go on an educational walk 10 am-11:30 am Saturday with Puget Soundkeeper volunteers. You’ll learn about their ongoing study of pre-spawning mortality, too. Meet up at the pavilion (4107 28th SW); you’re advised to “wear clothes you don’t mind getting wet/stinky.”
P.S. On the other side of West Seattle, no salmon sightings in Fauntleroy Creek yet, as of our last check.
(Added: WSB photo outside Super 24, taped off after shell casings were found in the parking lot)
5:50 PM: Thanks for the tips – police are investigating gunfire in the Delridge area, with a report of shell casings found near Delridge and Findlay, and possibly other locations. No word of any injuries so far.
6 PM: Police were also investigating reports from the 17th/Elmgrove area, but aren’t finding anything, per scanner.
6:21 PM: At Delridge/Findlay, the investigation centers on the Super 24 store’s parking lot. The casings found there are proof of gunfire, but still no indication of any victims. The officers there had no further information beyond the basics as reported here. We’re off to see if anything turned up at 17th/Elmgrove.
6:26 PM: The Guardian One helicopter (operated by the Sheriff’s Office but assisting with other law-enforcement agencies in the region, including Seattle Police, which does not have its own chopper) is now headed toward Delridge/Webster to search for something possibly related in that area. So is our crew, which didn’t find anyone on 17th.
6:37 PM: We talked to police searching across Delridge from the precinct. What they’re checking out there is a report that someone heard what sounded like a shotgun being “racked.” We asked them if they have any description(s) to share – they said no, they’ve just been chasing reports, as have we. Our crew is headed back to Delridge/Findlay to see if anything’s new there.
6:53 PM: Two things – regarding the shotgun, we heard via scanner that the sound might have been attributable to a piece of metal in the road. Second, we did speak to officers back at Delridge and Findlay who say three vehicles might have been involved in all this – they have partial descriptions of two: A blue Chevy Impala and a light-colored Mercedes.
Until 7 pm, author and longtime West Seattleite Shirley Enebrad is at Barnes & Noble/West Seattle for this month’s edition of the Southwest Seattle Historical Society-presented literary series Words, Writers, & West Seattle. She’s currently based in Honolulu but remains well-known here for her years not only as a neighbor but also as an entrepreneur – she co-owned The Good Book – and television producer. B&N is in the midst of a mini-Makers Faire so Shirley is talking tonight about the process of “making” writing, from TV to books to web, as well as speaking about her book “Over the Rainbow Bridge,” chronicling her 9-year-old son Cory‘s death from cancer. Shirley was introduced by series coordinator Dora-Faye Hendricks.
(UPDATED 7:03 PM with day’s second results release)
4:12 PM: The first of two expected vote-count updates for today is out and in the Seattle City Council District 1 race, Shannon Braddock‘s lead over Lisa Herbold has shrunk again –
Braddock – 10,078 – 50.74%
Herbold – 9,691 – 48.79%
That’s a 387-vote gap, with thousands more ballots remaining to be counted. Last night, Braddock’s lead was 638 votes.
4:41 PM: To be more specific about ballots remaining, the county releases a nightly count (8 pm) of how many ballots have been returned. As of last night’s count, 27,298 ballots were in and “ready to count” in District 1. Just under 20,000 have been counted (in addition to the Herbold and Braddock numbers above, 94 ballots were tallied as “write-ins”).
Probably a good time for you to check the status of your ballot – invariably there are some whose signatures weren’t validated or which haven’t (yet) been counted for one reason or another, and you may still be able to fix that – go here to check. (And note that the final stage is “your ballot will be counted” – that does NOT mean it hasn’t been counted yet, it’s just the final status they give.)
7:03 PM: Second run of the day is in – Herbold is now 104 votes behind Braddock.
Braddock – 10,905 – 50.02%
Herbold – 10,801 – 49.54%
9:37 PM: As pointed out in comments, the total number of votes in the race does not equal the number of ballots counted – this version of the results (unlike the plain-text version) shows the number counted per race, and it says 24,000+ have been counted, leaving 3,000+ as of this evening’s returns.
2:56 PM: We’re outside the King County Jail downtown, where Judge Anne Harper set $300,000 bail a short time ago for the 22-year-old man arrested in connection with recent West Seattle arsons (WSB was first to report the arrest this morning) – twice what the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office had requested. The suspect declined the chance to appear at the hearing, at which Judge Harper found probable cause to keep him in jail while prosecutors decide on what could be multiple counts of second-degree arson. Prosecutors told the judge that the suspect has no known criminal history, as reported here earlier. He is said to have told police he set fires because he wanted to get help; hearing that, Judge Harper said, left her more concerned that he would be a danger to the community if released without getting that help. His family has just left the courthouse, declining to comment to waiting reporters. We’re awaiting a copy of the probable-cause documents and will add to this story when we get them.
3:25 PM: Just received the documents. They say he has confessed to setting four fires – the two on October 12th in High Point, at the SW Morgan eastbound bus stop between 34th and 35th, and around the corner in a front-yard waste bin in the 6500 block of 34th SW – steps from his residence – as well as the two on October 31st in The Junction.
The documents begin by listing eight fires that police have investigated – six fires in High Point and Morgan between October 12th and October 21st, then the two set in The Junction early Halloween morning, including the one beneath the Senior Center of West Seattle, where surveillance video, the documents say, shows the fire being set at 2:02 am, and showing the fire-setter leaving, then returning a moment later “to see if the fire is going.”
Less than 20 minutes later, a witness saw someone leaving the alley behind the Easy Street Records building, and then saw a dumpster on fire; two citizens pushed it away from the building’s wall.
Surveillance video from The Junction 7-11 about two blocks south shows someone in clothing similar to that worn by the person seen at those arson scenes – a red hoodie with a “dark body or vest over it” – making a purchase around 2:30 am. The document jumps ahead to this past Wednesday, when officers saw someone matching the arsonist’s description walking in The Junction, but weren’t able to make contact.
Then police got a tip from someone who knows the suspect and had seen the surveillance video from the bus-stop fire. The tipster met with police yesterday and identified the suspect. Last night, as reported earlier, police served a warrant on his home in the 6500 block of 34th SW, where the documents say they recovered clothing matching what was worn by the person seen on video in the Junction arsons. Shortly thereafter, they found and arrested him at Shadowland in The Junction (the documents don’t say how they knew he was there) and took him downtown for questioning. In that questioning, police say he admitted to setting the October 12th and 31st fires but would not admit to any others. And, as noted earlier, he said he did it because he needed help. He is due back in court next Tuesday (November 10th), by which time prosecutors should decide on charges.
(WSB photo from 2013)
It’s a West Seattle tradition, and it’s back for another year, confirms Carol Madaio from Tuxedos and Tennis Shoes Catering:
The Free Community Thanksgiving Meal at the Hall at Fauntleroy is (again) on Thanksgiving Day – November 26th from noon until 3 PM. It’s our 17th year and is open to anyone who needs a hot meal or just a warm and friendly place to go on the holiday. We are fortunate to have plenty of volunteers this year but encourage people to come and eat and mingle. That is a big part of what makes the event so wonderful!
We do accept desserts. They can be dropped off at the Hall at Fauntleroy on Thanksgiving Day from 10 AM on. This year we are also holding a sock and blanket drive. We are trying to fill our cargo van! We will be distributing them on Thanksgiving and also to a shelter.
People can drop off new socks and blankets to our office in Sodo at 4101 Airport Way S or there is a collection bin at the Fauntleroy Schoolhouse at 9131 Fauntleroy Way SW. People can call me at 206-932-1059 if they have any questions.
The Hall at Fauntleroy is on the south end of the historic schoolhouse, same address.
P.S. Thanks to everyone who answered our call earlier this week to send event listings and information for another tradition, the WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide. If you haven’t sent us your info – events (plus donation drives, restaurant/bar holiday hours, all the things we usually publish) – editor@westseattleblog.com, soon as you can!
Four West Seattle roads are still in line for a five-mph speed-limit reduction. That’s what we’ve learned since a reader calling himself “A Dad on Dangerous Delridge” e-mailed us Thursday to wonder what happened to SDOT‘s plan to reduce the speed limit on 5 West Seattle arterials by year’s end. We wrote about it in mid-February, when SDOT released details of its Vision Zero plan. “Dad” CC’d various city officials, including Councilmember Tom Rasmussen, who asked SDOT to respond, even before we started inquiring. SDOT’s Jim Curtin responded: “We will be reducing the speed limit from 35 mph to 30 mph (on Delridge Way) north of SW Orchard Street in December.” We then asked about the other roads on the list. Curtin’s reply: “35th was reduced to 30 between Roxbury and Holly in September. … Fauntleroy, Delridge, and Harbor will be reduced to 30 before the end of 2015. We’re designing additional countermeasures for the Olson Pl SW/Roxbury reduction to 30 mph. This will include radar speed signs for both Roxbury and Olson Place along with flashing beacons to add additional emphasis to our curve-warning signs (where we’ve had some trouble over the years as you know). Still aiming to implement in 2015.”
(WSB photo: Investigators, firefighters at October 31st dumpster arson behind Senior Center)
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
9:51 AM: Seattle Police have just confirmed to WSB that a suspect is in custody in connection with recent West Seattle arsons. Which ones, we don’t yet know – SPD spokesperson Sgt. Sean Whitcomb says details are yet to come.
Here’s what we had found out before getting that confirmation:
A 22-year-old West Seattle man with no apparent criminal record was booked into the King County Jail just after midnight for investigation of arson. A few hours earlier, we confirmed with the Southwest Precinct after a reader tip, the Arson and Bomb Squad was involved in serving a warrant at a residence on 34th SW between Morgan and Holly, the same block where one of the earliest fires in the High Point/Morgan string happened – a waste bin set afire on October 12th.
The King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office tells us that since the suspect was booked into jail early today, his bail hearing will not be until tomorrow. We’ll update this story as soon as more information is available.
9:56 AM: Additional details just reported via SPD Blotter:
… Officers arrested the man at a bar near SW Oregon and California Ave SW after serving a warrant on his home and finding evidence linking him to several recent fires in West Seattle. Detectives interviewed the 22-year-old and booked him into the King County Jail for investigation of arson.
So far, detectives have linked the man to four fires in the West Seattle area, including incidents captured on surveillance video on October 12th and Halloween. Police believe the man may be connected to a number of other fires in West Seattle as well, but are still investigating and working with prosecutors to bring charges.
The Halloween-morning fires were both in The Junction (WSB coverage here), in dumpsters under the Senior Center and alongside the California/Alaska building that houses businesses including Easy Street Records and Twilight Gallery. The October 12th fires were in High Point; the one on surveillance video was at the bus stop on the south side of SW Morgan just east of 35th SW:
(October 12th surveillance video showing fire being set at Morgan/35th bus stop)
10:20 AM: We have an update from the Prosecuting Attorney’s Office: The suspect will have a bail hearing today, after all. Documentation from that hearing should provide even more information about why police arrested him.
BACKSTORY: Here’s how this has all unfolded over the past three weeks (keep in mind, the October 12th fires weren’t brought up until days later), with links to our coverage:
October 18: Early-morning arson damages two cars in Sylvan Ridge area east of High Point
October 19: Early-morning arson damages High Point management building at 35th/Holly; flareup in the afternoon does even more damage
October 20: SW Precinct Capt. Pierre Davis tells the West Seattle Crime Prevention Council that police also are looking at October 12th bus stop, trash can fires as possibly related arsons
October 21: Not far from the 10/12 arsons, recycling bin set afire outside 40th/Morgan house
October 22: Police go public with surveillance video of person starting 10/12 bus-stop fire
October 31, early morning: Firefighters put out two dumpster fires in The Junction
October 31, afternoon: Police release surveillance photos they believe show the suspect in the Junction arsons
2:37 PM UPDATE: We’re at the jailhouse courtroom downtown, where the suspect waived his right to appear. Prosecutors requested $150,000 bail; Judge Anne Harper doubled that to $300,000, citing danger to the community. The probable cause documents are reported to say the suspect said he set fires because he “wanted help.” We’ll write a separate update when documentation is available later.
Via Twitter, Vanessa reports the orcas are back again today. She’s seeing them southbound off Beach Drive, just south of Constellation Park. That’s the third time this week!
(WSB photo: City Light truck on Highland Park Way during Sunday night’s outage)
The question came up again after Sunday night’s 2,100+-customer power outage from Puget Ridge to White Center: Since the line along the Highland Park Way hill seems to be particularly vulnerable, wouldn’t it make sense to put that line underground? We took the question to Seattle City Light.
Short answer: No.
Long answer, via SCL spokesperson Connie McDougall:
I’m told that the utility is aware of that area’s outages, and of course regrets the inconvenience, but City Light does not consider an underground system to be a viable solution for that area.
As one person told me, these kinds of projects are not only enormously expensive, but also very complex. Some folks might think it’s just a matter of digging a trench and then installing power lines but it’s not that simple. There’s a lot to consider.
Part of it is environmental. Crews would have to remove hundreds of healthy trees in the greenbelt area to make way for such a system, which in turn would damage roots of nearby trees. Also, by mayoral executive order, when crews remove one tree, they must replace with two suitable trees. Just making room for that scope of planting would mean thinning out hundreds of additional trees, adding to the cost to say nothing of aesthetic issues. Also, there are protected wetlands in the area, which further complicates it.
The other reason City Light would not consider an underground system viable for that area is our commitment to cost effectiveness. Even if you could somehow overcome all of the environmental issues, this would be a multi-million dollar job, using funds the utility simply does not have. Like everyone else, City Light has to stick to a budget and must make decisions and choices that are fiscally responsible.
To reduce tree-related outages, City Light’s vegetation management folks did trim the trees immediately around the wires in that area in May of this year. They trim about 10-feet around the powerlines, perhaps a few feet more depending on the situation. They try not to cut any more than is necessary for both practical and aesthetic reasons. The tree that caused your recent outage last weekend was not in that trim zone, but had a large reach, so when it went down, it went into the lines. This is just the nature of a greenbelt. And again, for practical and aesthetic reason, crews never trim trees deep into an area, but only around the wires.
This may not be any consolation, but you may also want to tell readers that when there’s an outage underground, it takes much longer to find it and repair it. Crews literally have to look into all the vaults in the area until they find the one with the problem. Overhead outages are a lot easier to find and repair, so customers get their power back sooner.
In newer construction of course, developers and contractors can plan for underground systems and build it into the cost and scope of the project.
Other tree-linked outages traced to that stretch include last August and March 2014; in November 2013, a car-vs.-pole crash there caused an outage with the same basic footprint. Those are just the ones we found easily in our archive, which also includes the signature sign of the 2006 Hanukkah Eve windstorm aftermath,
(Great Blue Heron at Jack Block Park, photographed by David Hutchinson)
From the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
HOLIDAY BAZAAR AND BAKE SALE AT THE MOUNT: 9 am-4 pm today, it’s the big one-day bazaar and bake sale at Providence Mount St. Vincent. (4831 35th SW)
TROLLBEADS TRUNK SHOW: 10 am-6 pm at Wyatt’s Jewelers (WSB sponsor) in Westwood Village – details in our calendar listing. (2800 SW Barton)
FAUNTLEROY FINE ART AND GIFT SHOW: First of three nights/days for the big show and sale at Fauntleroy Church‘s Fellowship Hall!
(Added: WSB photo, Friday afternoon, getting ready for the show)
Open 5-8 pm tonight; details in our calendar listing. (9140 California SW)
WORDS, WRITERS, WEST SEATTLE: Author Shirley Enebrad speaks and reads at this month’s edition of the Southwest Seattle Historical Society-presented literary series.
5-7 pm at Barnes & Noble in Westwood Village. (2800 SW Barton)
CORNER BAR: Highland Park Improvement Club‘s first-Friday popup bar starts at 6 pm; at 7 pm, it’s your chance to catch the first of two sets by Miss Rose and Her Rhythm Percolators. (12th SW & SW Holden)
DRINK ‘N’ THINK TRIVIA: 6:30 pm, arts and music trivia presented by Pacific NW Arts Collective at Admiral Bird. (California & Admiral)
POLITICAL PARODIES … with the Kook Brothers at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor), 7 pm. (5612 California SW)
THAT’S NOT ALL … see the rest on our complete calendar.
(Six WS-relevant views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
6:43 AM: We start with a transit alert, first one tweeted for a West Seattle trip cancellation in a while:
Transit Alert – Rt 55 to downtown Seattle due to leave California Av SW & SW Atlantic St at 7:21 AM will not operate this morning.
— King County Metro (@kcmetrobus) November 6, 2015
MORGAN JUNCTION SIDEWALK PROJECT: Today will be the second day of sidewalk work on the west side of California SW south of Fauntleroy. The businesses remain open and accessible.
7:33 AM: Still no incidents through/from West Seattle. So here’s a transportation-news note: SDOT is redesigning its website. If you use it and have some suggestions of what you’d like to see changed/added/etc., the city has a survey for you, and a focus-group invitation.
From Wednesday night’s Southwest District Council meeting:
TERMINAL 5 ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW: Admiral neighbors who have gotten their wish – for a full environmental review of the Port of Seattle’s Terminal 5 modernization plan – returned to the SWDC to talk about the issues on which they would like to see the community focus, as the “online open house” continues at T5EIS.publicmeeting.info, and as next Thursday’s “scoping meeting” approaches.
Members of the Chief Sealth Class of 1965 have officially presented their alma mater with the plaque we first told you about in September, in honor of Sealth graduates who lost their lives while serving their country.
It happened today at the school’s Veterans Day assembly, where, above, Sealth ’65 graduate and Navy veteran John McElroy was the spotlight speaker. He served in Vietnam in the ’60s while in the Navy and recently retired from the Merchant Marine. He spoke about the importance of service, and said he knew some of those whose names are on the plaque. Along with reading those names, he spoke of meeting Sealth’s current teachers and students, and said that if the young people he’s met are the future, we have nothing to worry about. One of those students, Mahala Provost, sang the National Anthem – listen!
Sealth’s flag team performed a routine set to “Stars and Stripes Forever“:
And the assembly concluded with a student-created video, with some students talking about family members in the military, and some faculty/staff members talking about their time in the service. (The official observance of Veterans’ Day, November 11th, is next Wednesday, and school will not be in session.)
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