West Seattle, Washington
21 Tuesday
(UPDATED 3:33 PM, adding Foss statement on intent to appeal city DPD ‘interpretation’)
(Polar Pioneer in Port Angeles this afternoon; webcam image used with permission of PA Chamber of Commerce)
ORIGINAL REPORT, 12:24 PM: As reported here Thursday, the Port of Seattle Commission plans to discuss in public session on Tuesday what it will do about the city’s declaration that the port has to apply for a new permit to use West Seattle’s Terminal 5 for Shell’s offshore-Arctic-drilling vessels. The commission’s agenda for Tuesday meetings usually is posted by Thursday afternoon but didn’t appear on the port website until a short time ago. The T-5 lease situation is the only item on the 1 pm public agenda:
The city Department of Planning and Development’s “interpretation” of the need for a new permit was announced by the mayor on Monday; it was published on the city website yesterday, and our report also includes an open letter from Foss and local unions to the mayor, contending this action will be damaging to the city’s maritime industry. Meantime, the Polar Pioneer platform remains anchored in Port Angeles; the Noble Discoverer drillship is expected in Everett next week; and two Shell-related vessels, Aiviq and Harvey Champion, are at T-5 right now. And a Shell executive was quoted earlier this week as saying the city ruling wouldn’t impede their Arctic-drilling plan.
ADDED 3:33 PM: Foss Maritime has announced it plans to appeal the DPD interpretation, and that it intends to go ahead with bringing Shell’s oil rigs here during the time it takes to resolve the appeal:
Foss Maritime plans to appeal the city of Seattle’s determination that Foss’s use of the Port of Seattle’s Terminal 5 is not allowed under the Port’s existing use permit.
The appeal process will take months to complete. In the meantime, Foss intends to provide its customer, Royal Dutch Shell, the services for which it contracted over the next few weeks as it prepares for the summer oil exploration season in Alaska.
The city’s position is not supported by the plain language of the permit at issue, and will cause long-term harm to the maritime industry as a whole. The permit for Terminal 5 allows Port customers to tie up vessels so that goods and cargo can be stored, loaded and unloaded, which is precisely what Foss is doing at Terminal 5.
By taking this action so late in the day, Mayor Ed Murray is trying to stop a lawful project that has already put 417 people to work full-time and will soon employ hundreds more, many of them citizens of Seattle. Worse, he has openly solicited the Port of Seattle to use the city’s action as a pretext to break a valid lease at Terminal 5, despite the separately elected Port Commission’s recent unanimous vote to uphold the lease.
These actions are an attempt to prevent one of the city’s oldest and most prominent companies from performing marine services that it has provided and the Port has welcomed for generations. This action is akin to the mayor ordering Seattle City Light to cut off all electricity to Amazon on the Friday after Thanksgiving.
If his actions simply impacted Foss, that would be bad enough. But it jeopardizes many other business activities across the waterfront, and calls into question the sincerity of the mayor’s previous statements in support of the maritime sector.
For example, under the city’s initial determination, Alaska fishing trawlers would not be allowed to winter over at the cruise ship docks at Terminals 90 and 91; the Seattle Fire Department’s fire boats could not dock at Terminals 90 and 91 as they are currently doing; and the vessels of the U.S. Navy and other navies that visit during Seafair would not be allowed to tie up at Port facilities. Maritime businesses from Ballard to South Park are doubtless nervously checking their permits and wondering whether the mayor will deem them worthy.
Foss believes that the permitting at Terminal 5 is appropriate for our use, and that the city’s determination is a statement of politics rather than policy. Accordingly, we will challenge it through the appropriate channels. The process looks like this:
* Foss will appeal the determination to the Seattle Hearing Examiner within 14 days. Other interested parties, such as the Port, may join in the appeal.
* The hearing examiner will then set a hearing date on the matter.
* The hearing examiner would typically produce a ruling on the matter within 15 days after the hearing.
* Under normal circumstances, the city would not issue a violation to Foss or the Port of Seattle until and unless it prevailed in the hearing.
The mayor’s office has just announced new directors for two city departments – including a new director for the Department of Neighborhoods, though it’s a name many will recognize. Here’s the official announcement:
Seattle Mayor Ed Murray today named Jessica Finn Coven to serve as director of the Office of Sustainability & Environment (OSE) and Kathy Nyland to serve as director of the Department of Neighborhoods (DON). Bernie Matsuno, who has served as director of DON since 2011, will be stepping down effective June 2.
Finn Coven comes to OSE after serving as Washington Director of Climate Solutions since 2011. Previously she worked at the U.S. Climate Action Network and Greenpeace. She serves on the board of directors of Washington Conservation Voters and Puget Sound Sage.
“Jessica brings deep connections to Seattle’s environmental community,” said Murray. “Her commitment to environmental justice will lend strength to Seattle’s new Equity and Environment Initiative. The benefits of progressive environmental policy must reach all our diverse communities more equitably, including low-income families, immigrants and people of color.”
“Anyone who knows Jessica appreciates her deep knowledge of environmental policy,” said Rashad Morris of the Bullitt Foundation. “Her commitment to economic and racial equity makes this an especially strong choice as Seattle works to bridge issues of sustainability and social justice.”
“Seattle has long been a proof point that we can create more broadly shared prosperity by prioritizing a clean and healthy environment,” said Finn Coven. “Mayor Murray has been a leader throughout his career on sustainable transportation solutions and equitable responses to climate change. I’m absolutely thrilled to join his team and to be part of Seattle’s next chapter in clean energy development and ensuring the health of all Seattle’s family.”
Finn Coven will be paid $132,000 and start at OSE on June 12. Finn Coven replaces Jill Simmons, who announced her decision to step down as director of OSE in April.
Nyland is currently a senior policy advisor on land use and planning in the Mayor’s Office of Policy and Innovation. She is a former chief of staff to City Councilmember Sally Bagshaw. Before joining city government, she served on several community councils, founded the Georgetown Merchants’ Association and chaired Seattle’s City Neighborhood Council.
“During my first year as mayor, Kathy has become a trusted advisor,” said Murray. “Her personal history as a community advocate, her strong relationships with neighborhood leaders throughout the city, and her policy acumen make her the natural choice to step into this role. I look forward to her leadership in community conversations on private development, public investments and support for vibrant neighborhoods in our city.”
“I am honored by this opportunity to continue to serve the Mayor and the city in this new role at the Department of Neighborhoods,” says Nyland. “I’ve long believed that our communities are our strongest resources and I look forward to bringing more voices to the table. We want to support and strengthen all our neighborhoods in Seattle.”
Nyland joins DON on June 2 and will earn $136,000.
Matsuno came out of retirement to serve as director of Seattle Department of Neighborhoods, intending to serve only a few months, but staying on for more than four years. She developed and expanded new community programs at DON, including the People’s Academy for Community Engagement (PACE) and the Public Outreach and Engagement Liaison (POEL) program to expand civic engagement, especially in underrepresented communities.
“Bernie has been a true champion of our neighborhoods and a helpful advisor to me on community issues and needs,” said Murray. “She has advocated effectively for the community to have a greater voice in City government and their neighborhood – an important role that the department will sustain.”
“I’m very appreciative of the opportunity to serve in Mayor Murray’s administration, but I am looking forward to this new chapter in my life,” said Matsuno. “I’m excited about this transition and intend to continue my professional work for the people of Seattle, as well as volunteer in my community.”
“Bernie Matsuno was one of my first and best hires 27 years ago,” said Jim Diers, former DON director. “Bernie initiated a powerful leadership development program and innovative outreach strategy to ensure that all voices are heard. I’m excited that Bernie is passing the torch to Kathy Nyland, someone who I have long admired for her leadership of the Georgetown neighborhood. I know that she believes deeply in the department’s mission and I can’t wait to see what she does in taking it to the next level.”
Matsuno will continue to lend her expertise to future City community-engagement projects.
A Belvidere resident was hit by a “sophisticated identity theft” that she describes as resulting from “an easily overlooked risk,” and wrote this to warn you about it:
Sometime around the end of April, someone hacked into my wireless router and stole my name, address, WDL#, and SS#. I’ve since discovered that wireless routers have two passwords – one for the wireless signal (which I had locked down), but also one for the router admin itself. The router comes from the factory with a standard login/password, and no instructions for changing it. This is something I overlooked, and this is how the thief got in.
I was first alerted to the theft when I received an email receipt from a store in University Village for a large purchase I didn’t make, on a card I haven’t used in years. I called the store, and they fortunately remembered the woman who made the purchase, and were able to provide a description – a white woman, age 30-35, with long blond hair (not a description of me). She had a WDL ID with her photo and my name and address.
I of course immediately checked my credit reports and set up fraud alerts, and discovered that over a dozen inquiries had been made with my name, and several new cards opened.
It turns out the thief also had a plan to collect the new credit cards and statements. The thief put a vacation hold on my mail at the post office on California & Oregon (using her fake ID), saying she would be back May 15 to pick up the mail. Sure enough, when I figured this out & got my mail restarted, there were the new credit cards and statements.
With further investigation, I discovered that my identity had been used in Puyallup and Everett to open store credit accounts, and that the thief was using a prepaid cell phone purchased in Everett. I also received an alert that my complete information (plus passport # & medical ID #) was for sale on a black-market website.
I’ve filed reports with both the police and postal service investigators.
Just want to emphasize this was a complex and local theft – to get into my router, the thief had to physically be close to my house. Then of course they visited the WS post office, and shopped at nearby shopping centers. Everyone, please check your wireless router admin login and secure it! If you find your information has been compromised, do report it to the police and let them know you’re aware of my case so they can put it all together. I was told the police cannot investigate this kind of fraud without more evidence, more thefts, or a higher amount of actual monetary loss.
Here’s what the Federal Trade Commission says about how to protect yourself from what happened to “Belvidere Resident.”
Good morning! Summer-ish weather today (and tomorrow too), and a great day to be on the water – that’s the carrier John C. Stennis (CVN 74) with the Bremerton ferry, photographed by Greg Snyder, back today from at-sea training. Somewhat quiet schedule for today/tonight, as we head toward a big weekend (Mother’s Day on Sunday, West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day tomorrow):
FREE BAKING CLASS FOR TEENS: 3 pm at Delridge Community Center – learn how to bake, free! (4501 Delridge Way SW)
METRO LEAGUE HIGH-SCHOOL BASEBALL TOURNAMENT: Games tonight at Southwest Athletic Complex in West Seattle and Steve Cox Memorial Field in White Center.
RUDY’S WEST SEATTLE GRAND OPENING PARTY: 6-10 pm, music, food, beer, freebies to celebrate the grand opening of Rudy’s Barbershop (WSB sponsor) in West Seattle, as previewed here on Thursday. (4480 Fauntleroy Way SW)
FRIDAY NIGHT SKATING: 6:30-8:30 pm, roll the night away at Alki Community Center. (5817 SW Stevens)
LIVE AT KENYON HALL: 7:30 pm, The Syncopaths take the stage. (7904 35th SW)
LIVE AT THE FEEDBACK: 8:30 pm, Buckets of Rain CD-release show at Feedback Lounge. (6451 California SW)
MORE! on the calendar.
(Four WS-relevant views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
7:39 AM: Good morning! Much quieter so far than yesterday was – no trouble spots to report so far.
WEEKEND 99 CLOSURES: If you have seen the signs, you might not realize these do NOT involve 99 between here and the Battery Street Tunnel – the Alaskan Way Viaduct itself remains open. The closures are from the tunnel north to Valley Street, as explained here.
VIEW FROM THE WATER: Maggie, who commutes from Vashon and has long shared helpful info, also shares beautiful views like this on occasion, snapped from the Water Taxi:
@westseattleblog Morning WSB crew! Mount Rainier behind the Alki lighthouse. Passed by on the Sally Fox this morning. pic.twitter.com/6YuG7Nxufp
— SudsyMaggie (@SudsyMaggie) May 8, 2015
WEST SEATTLE COMMUNITY GARAGE SALE DAY TOMORROW: If you’ve missed the mentions elsewhere – tomorrow is the 11th annual West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day (an event coordinated by WSB since its fourth year in 2008). Many people use it as an occasion to wander around their immediate neighborhoods and see who’s selling what – with 340+ sales, chances are there’s at least one near you; both versions of the map (with short descriptions highlighting some features of each sale) are here. Forecast: Sunny, high in the mid-to-upper 70s.
8:28 AM – BRIDGE CRASH: First trouble spot of the morning. Crash reported to be blocking the bus lane on the eastbound bridge, midspan.
8:35 AM: Just added that screengrab of the bridge camera showing the crash-related activity. Haven’t heard anything on the scanner yet about injuries.
8:57 AM: No update yet on how soon this might clear. At least one person is reported to be hurt and the outside lane is blocked.
9:06 AM: Cleared!
(UPDATED Friday afternoon with fire’s cause)
(Texted photo)
9:57 PM: Seattle Fire is responding to a “fire in building” call at Delridge and Barton. It’s believed to be a commercial building. Police are blocking traffic both ways, at Delridge to the north. Westbound traffic is being blocked at 20th/Henderson. More to come.
(ADDED: WSB photo)
10:05 PM: Firefighters confirm it’s a commercial building. They say they have the fire knocked down; our crew has just arrived and says it’s very smoky – firefighters are bringing out their ventilating equipment. As we write this, our crew is telling us the building’s signage says D & H Auto.
10:10 PM: No report of injuries. Despite the volume of smoke, it’s not a huge fire – some units are being dismissed.
10:23 PM: SFD confirms no injuries – no one was in the building when the fire started. The fire marshal (investigator) has been summoned and will determine what caused it.
10:32 PM: We talked at the scene with SFD spokesperson Kyle Moore. He says that flames were visible from the sides of the building when firefighters arrived, but it only took them 10 minutes to get the fire out. They’re still checking for damage inside – one car might have been in the building. Investigation of the cause is under way. The roads in the area should reopen within an hour.
MIDNIGHT: Just drove by. The roads are indeed open, though northbound is narrowed right in front of the fire scene. One fire engine is still there, apparently on “fire watch,” keeping a crew on scene (rotating a new one in every so often) just in case it rekindles. No word yet on the cause. Adding video (above) of our brief interview with SFD spokesperson Moore.
ADDED 1:26 PM FRIDAY: The cause, from SFD:
Seattle Fire Investigators determined a fire at a West Seattle auto repair shop was accidental, caused by overheated electrical wiring inside an office. The damage estimate is $70,000.
The update on SFD’s Fire Line website also says one car was destroyed.
Big win for the West Seattle High School varsity baseball team, as postseason play begins. Thanks to Caryn Johnson for the report and photo:
First day of the Metro Playoffs. West Seattle matched up against Franklin at Hiawatha this afternoon. Sophomore Ryan Kimsey (above) started on the mound for the Wildcats and proceeded to throw the entire game. In the bottom of the 1st inning, Junior Morgan McCullough led things off with a solo home run. The Wildcats would tack on 4 more runs to close out the inning. Then in the bottom of the 3rd, the Wildcats opened up the game, scoring 8 runs off of 8 hits. West Seattle would run away with this game, winning 1-15. Their next opponent is Roosevelt, tomorrow (Friday) at 4:00 pm at Steve Cox Field in White Center.
P.S. Tickets are still on sale for the June 22nd Mariners’ game, to benefit the Wildcats and their annual appearance in the High School Baseball Classic at Safeco Field. You can get yours by sending e-mail to wshsmarinerstickets@gmail.com.
About a dozen people rallied on the sand at Alki Beach tonight to call attention to their campaign against 12 cell-phone antennas planned on the roof at Stevens Crest Apartments (61st/Alki), as previewed in our Monday report. They had a bonfire, as announced, burning items representing the antennas, and displayed signs and exhibits about their concerns, which range from the antennas’ appearance to possible health effects. The next major step in their appeal of the city approval of a variance allowing the antennas is a conference later this month, in advance of the July 22nd hearing scheduled in the Hearing Examiner’s chambers downtown.
5:48 PM: Just one of those days. Almost every major route has had something go wrong. Right now, the low bridge:
The Lower Spokane St Bridge is currently closed due to a technical malfunction. Use alternate routes. pic.twitter.com/QbyktMGZqb
— seattledot (@seattledot) May 8, 2015
The low bridge, officially known as the Spokane Street Swing Bridge, also suffered a “technical malfunction” on Sunday that made it unusable to surface traffic for an hour and a half. Here’s the “live” webcam that looks at the low bridge:
More as we get it; no ETA on a fix so far.
6:33 PM: As of the latest update from SDOT a minute ago via Twitter, still out of commission.
7:40 PM: After almost two hours, it’s working again. No explanation of the malfunction – we’ll be following up tomorrow.
(WSB photo from 2010 Hood-To-Hood Challenge party in West Seattle)
The full announcement isn’t until next Tuesday, but KEXP is offering a sneak peek of the details locked in for the West Seattle’s Hood-To-Hood Challenge victory party – first one here since 2010. Every year, fundraising drive, KEXP offers the party as a prize to the neighborhood that yields the most money during its summer fundraising drive, and last time West Seattle came out on top – a narrow victory, 100 dollars or so, but a win it was, so KEXP is planning the big bash here for Friday, May 29th.
KEXP’s Jeff Vetting tells WSB that one block of California SW will be closed to motorized vehicles that day, between Alaska and Oregon. The fun will include KEXP DJs broadcasting live, including West Seattleite Kevin Cole in the afternoon. Live music is planned on a stage that’ll be set up at SW Alaska – the full lineup isn’t public yet, except for Australia’s Miami Horror, which will be here as part of its U.S. tour. Then 6-9 pm, more KEXP DJ action at venues around West Seattle, followed by band showcases around town starting at 9 pm. Full announcement during Kevin’s show on KEXP next Tuesday (2-6 pm) – the bands, the venues, the extras.
(Wondering what Hood-to-Hood Day was like last time around? See our updates from 2010 here, here, and here.)
Now just two days until the 11th annual West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day, presented by WSB, 9 am-3 pm Saturday, May 9th. Looks like sellers are clear to start getting ready, because it’s clear sky all the way to and through Saturday, the forecast says.
The newest toplines:
*340+ sales of all sizes, all over West Seattle
*Addresses and sale descriptions are on the online map here and the printable list/guide/map here
*The sales are numbered for easy referencing, same numbers on both versions of the map, of course
*Looking for a specific item or type of item? Use the search icon on the online map, or open up the printable (21-page PDF map) and use the FIND function
*Two official multi-seller sites, for people who didn’t have the room or the amount of stuff to have an entire standalone sale:
—-Hotwire Online Coffeehouse (WSB sponsor)/Ginomai courtyard/lots, 4410 California SW
—-C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor), 5612 California SW
*For sellers with leftovers they don’t want to keep post-sale, AND/OR for people who want to shop for fun and donate their purchases to good causes, SEVEN organizations have donation drives going on Saturday (and a few of them on Sunday) for dropoffs (even one offering pickups). See the full details here, including who’s accepting what, where, and when.
*If you missed any or all of them, here are links to highlight lists we’ve published:
*Nonprofit/benefit sales
*Trivia from this year’s lineup
*Unusual items
*Memorable descriptions
Few more lists to come tonight/tomorrow, including block sales and unusual items, 2nd round. Also: We invariably get last-minute sale cancellations – we mark them on the ONLINE map, but it’s too late to change the PRINTABLE map, so please check the map page or westseattlegaragesale.com for those changes.
2:36 PM: At first the call was for a crash in the southbound Battery St. Tunnel; now SDOT says the tunnel is closed in both directions, so if you’re heading to or from the north side of downtown (or beyond), looks like I-5 is your choice for now. Updates to come.
2:46 PM: We’ve added the city webcam view from the curve going into the northbound side of the tunnel – traffic remains at a complete halt. Seattle Fire says it’s a two-car crash with minor injuries.
2:59 PM: SDOT says the northbound side of the tunnel has reopened (you can see from the “live” cam above that the backup has dissipated) – but the southbound side is still closed.
3:26 PM: The tunnel is open again both ways, according to SDOT.
Today we’re welcoming a new WSB sponsor, Seattle App Academy. As a new local sponsor, they get the chance to tell you who they are and what they do:
Seattle App Academy is a volunteer organization that coaches students in computer programming, electronics, and robotics. Modeled after Little League, Girl & Boy Scouts, and other youth-focused organizations, the mission of Seattle App Academy is to inspire tomorrow’s technology creators.
Located in Jefferson Square (just above Bartell’s), the Seattle App Academy classroom is equipped with thirty state-of-the-art 23-inch touch-screen computers, Arduino microcontrollers, Mindstorms robotics, and more. Our classes are offered in eight-week sessions for students in grades 4-12. Three of our most popular classes will also be offered in a day-camp format as part of our Summer@SAA program in June and July.
As a volunteer organization, community support allows us to offer high-tech classes at an affordable price. We are thrilled with the parents, teachers, developers and designers that have continued to coach with us over multiple sessions and that help make our programs great! All volunteers are trained by Seattle App Academy to work with our students and to effectively deliver our curriculum.
Earlier this year, Seattle App Academy partnered with Kennedy Catholic High School to offer classes to high-school students. Our 16-week computer science and programming class introduces students to basic data types, computer logic, and structure to build a foundation for more advanced programming concepts and experiences. Students will receive school credit for the class.
In June, Seattle App Academy will host The Hacker Cup Competition, showcasing student talent in programming and game design. A small panel of judges will review all submissions and award trophies for first, second, and third place. Attendees will also have the opportunity to see student-created gadgets and robots.
Learn more about the Seattle App Academy by visiting our website and signing up for our newsletter. We regularly host open houses and free programs for kids, including our very popular Keyboarding & Minecraft Boot Camp. Please feel free to contact us at info@seattleappacademy.com and thanks for your support!
We thank Seattle App Academy for sponsoring independent, community-collaborative neighborhood news via WSB; find our current sponsor team listed in directory format here, and find info on joining the team by going here.
Two West Seattle biznotes from businesses with celebrations ahead:
RUDY’S WEST SEATTLE GRAND-OPENING PARTY: 6-10 pm tomorrow (Friday, May 8), Rudy’s Barbershop (WSB sponsor) in The Triangle invites you to its official grand opening party. Free food and beer from Tasty Vibes and Big Al’s; live music with The Wimps starting at 8; free pre-designed tattoos courtesy of Blue Geisha, two DJs, free bowl cuts, and a raffle or two. See the official flyer/invite here. (4480 Fauntleroy Way SW)
MY THREE LITTLE BIRDS TURNS ONE: Jennifer Young of the “upscale children’s resale store” My Three Little Birds in south Morgan Junction is excited to announce that her shop is celebrating its one-year anniversary Saturday. Stop by 10 am-5 pm (yes, Jennifer says, she knows you’ll be out and about for WSCGSD anyway!) – celebration highlights include face-painting from 10 am to 11 am, the Ben and Jerry’s Scoop Truck 11:30 am-1 pm, and a BOGO sale all weekend long. (6959 California SW)
(Downy woodpecker, photographed by Mark Wangerin in Fauntleroy Park)
For tonight, from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
COMMUNITY ORCHARD OF WEST SEATTLE: 5-7 pm on the north end of the South Seattle College (WSB sponsor) campus, drop by, pitch in; it’ll be a perfect evening to work and learn outdoors. BYO gloves/water. (6000 16th SW)
NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER: 6:30 pm, it’s the annual gathering at Alki Beach, sponsored by the West Seattle Ministerial Association. (61st/Alki)
‘BARNYARD MUSICAL MYSTERY’: 7 pm at Chief Sealth International High School auditorium, it’s the first of three performances of Lafayette Elementary‘s musical, as previewed here. (2600 SW Thistle)
GENESEE-SCHMITZ NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCIL: 7 pm, general meeting at West Side Presbyterian Church (WSB sponsor), with agenda including the new school under construction on Genesee Hill and Seattle Green Spaces Coalition. (3601 California SW)
CELL-ANTENNA OPPONENTS’ RALLY: 7 pm at the Alki Beach fire pits, the group opposed to 12 cell-phone antennas proposed atop an Alki apartment building plan a rally, as previewed here. (59th/Alki)
WHAT ELSE IS UP, YOU ASK? Just go here to see.
9:57 AM: Police and helicopter are searching east of California/Andover. We don’t know yet what the crime was but the person they were seeking was described as a white man in his 30s, black hair, blue jeans. More to come.
10 AM: Police report one person in custody near 35th/Andover. Whatever the incident was, it started at California/Hinds.
10:21 AM: We caught up with police there to find out how this started. They describe the man as being in crisis (added: “throwing things into the street, kicking cars and generally screaming obscenities” was an initial report) and say his behavior was what led to a police call; they didn’t call for Guardian One but the helicopter happened to be nearby and offered to come help them track the man down. (The pilot who recently spoke to the West Seattle Block Watch Captains Network – WSB coverage here – did say they monitor many frequencies when up, and sometimes self-assign this way.) The man is being taken to the hospital by private ambulance for a mental-health evaluation.
Three West Seattle Crime Watch notes this morning:
BIG POLICE RESPONSE EARLY THIS MORNING: Several people asked about a big police response westbound on Admiral just after 6:30 am. According to Tweets by Beat (the feed you’ll find on the WSB Crime Watch page), it was a response to a report of an “in progress (or) just occurred) burglary” in the 2600 block of 50th SW. We have a message out to SPD to find out if the burglary was verified and, if so, if anyone was arrested. (Added 10:12 am, SPD spokesperson Det. Drew Fowler tells us a man found two intruders inside his home; they fled toward Schmitz Park, search with K-9 ensued but no arrests so far – description: Hispanic males, late teens, one in a black T-shirt and gray sweatpants, other in a black coat, gray sweatpants, with a black backpack.)
FOLLOWUP ON ITTO’S TABLES/CHAIRS: At the end of reporter Randall Hauk‘s story about the future Junction restaurant Itto’s, you might remember the postscript about the theft of tables and chairs from outside the space at California/Genesee. Randall tells us Itto’s proprietor Khalid Agour subsequently spotted the stolen stuff online and with the help of police, they were recovered and a suspect was arrested; the restaurateur wanted to express big thanks to the Southwest Precinct Anti-Crime Team.
CAR PROWL: It’s been a quiet week so far for reader reports but here’s one from last weekend:
My 2013 VW Passat was broken into, at 17th and Henderson, between the hours of 12 am – 8 am, Saturday May 2nd. They broke into the car, made a mess, left a cigarette butt, and a nugget of weed, took nothing but my car registration and my work ID / Key card. They left the change I had in the car, as well as all my kid stuff in the trunk. It seems like the burglars spent time hanging out in my car, but got away with personal information.
(Four WS-relevant views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
6:34 AM: Good morning! We start with a traffic alert from WSDOT today, if you use the 1st Avenue S. Bridge:
On SR 99 northbound & southbound at 1st Ave S Bridge all lanes closed today intermittently due bridge maintenance.
— WSDOT Traffic (@wsdot_traffic) May 7, 2015
Looking further ahead, and farther north, remember this weekend’s closures on Highway 99 from the Battery Street Tunnel north to Queen Anne – details are here.
AND NOW A LOOK BACK … this week’s “Traffic Throwback Thursday” view from the Seattle Municipal Archives:
(Click for the much-larger view on the SMA site.) The archives describe that as “West Spokane Re-deck,” dated October 6, 1958.
7:04 AM UPDATE: And now back to the present: A crash on the eastbound bridge, toward the crest, reportedly involving a car and motorcycle. (added) Two lanes are blocked, SDOT says:
A crash on the W Seattle Bridge EB before SR 99 has closed the 2 center lanes, Expect long delays and use alt routes pic.twitter.com/Ly1zWTftvl
— seattledot (@seattledot) May 7, 2015
7:08 AM: Over the scanner, we hear arriving officers say it’s a “minor injury” situation.
7:26 AM: One SFD unit is still at the crash scene, as you can see via the top-left image atop this story. (And a moment later …) Now, just one police car and what appears to be the motorcycle, with one lane blocked.
7:41 AM: As the camera shows, a tow truck is now on scene.
7:50 AM: Scanner: “Bridge is now clear, all lanes.”
8:18 AM: New problem. From Washington State Ferries: “Service to and from the Fauntleroy terminal is temporarily suspended due to necessary repairs.” This was just posted on the WSF website minutes ago, just as we were investigating a texter’s report of what seemed to be an interruption in service. More as we get it – we’re headed to the dock to find out more.
8:31 AM: No word from our crew yet but Melissa says in comments that the Fauntleroy dock problem is a stuck truck.
8:39 AM: Stuck propane truck, our crew has learned. Somewhat “high-centered” on the ramp, we’re told.
(WSB photo by Patrick Sand)
That’s the front of the tow truck you see, with the propane truck behind it.
8:57 AM: WSF tells us they have engineers “inspecting the hinge and span.”
9:01 AM: Vehicles appear to be loading onto the ferry now – we’ve been watching one particular vehicle in the waiting-to-load lanes and it’s advanced. (Update: It advanced a ways and stopped. So we’re not entirely sure.)
9:08 AM: WSF says the “transfer span” is clear and operations are “back to normal.” With some catching up ahead, of course.
9:18 AM: And now … a stalled vehicle reported on the northbound Alaskan Way Viaduct “just south” of the Seneca exit, according to radio discussion monitored via scanner.
2:48 PM: New trouble, as reported separately – a crash shutting down both directions of the Battery Street Tunnel, so avoid that section of 99 TFN.
(UPDATED 11:52 AM: Added ‘open letter’ to mayor)
ORIGINAL REPORT, 5:48 AM: The latest developments in the Terminal 5/Foss/Shell situation:
INTERPRETATION OFFICIALLY PUBLISHED: Today’s city-circulated Land Use Information Bulletin will include official publication of the city Department of Planning and Development interpretation saying the Port of Seattle needs a new permit before Shell drilling vessels can come to T-5, announced earlier this week (read the interpretation in our Monday report). The notice offers a two-week period for appeals. Will the Port appeal, or apply for a permit, or … ? We’re checking. (Added 7:12 am: Port spokesperson Peter McGraw tells WSB, “The Commission will be taking the matter up in public session next Tuesday.” Agenda out later today.)
DRILLSHIP STATUS: As noted Monday, the interpretation said the drillship Noble Discoverer is not expected to moor at T-5.
(Photo of Noble Discoverer’s April 2012 Seattle arrival by Ilona Berzups)
But it is due in Everett next week, MyEverettNews.com reports. MEN quotes a Port of Everett spokesperson as saying “the Noble Discoverer is scheduled to make a brief stop in Everett next week to load/unload cargo.” And it’s now been revealed that while the ND was in Hawaii late last month, it had to make repairs to “the device that separates oil from the water in its bilges,” VICE News reported on Wednesday, quoting a US Coast Guard spokesperson. That part of the drillship also was implicated in the troubles that led to millions in fines after it left West Seattle and headed to the Arctic in 2012. VICE quotes a Shell spokesperson as saying this new development is nothing more than “mechanical repairs, which from time to time are required on any equipment.”
THE REST OF THE FLEET: The platform Polar Pioneer is still in Port Angeles; checking MarineTraffic.com while writing this story, Aiviq and Harvey Champion are currently docked at Terminal 5.
MAYOR’S DEFENSE: As we reported via Twitter while covering Mayor Murray’s Beacon Hill event announcing the revised transportation levy, he ended by turning to the T-5/Shell controversy. What he said seemed to be a response to the Foss statement on Monday; Murray contended that the city has been and continues to be an ally to the maritime industry and that this one “disagreement” shouldn’t “obscure” that.
ADDED 11:52 AM – OPEN LETTER TO MAYOR: This letter sent to the mayor takes issue with that:
(Photo courtesy West Seattle YMCA)
Another new preschool has just opened, this time at the Boren Building. Joleen from the West Seattle YMCA (WSB sponsor) shares the news, and the photo:
We just opened a new preschool at Arbor Heights / STEM elementary. The photo attached is of the first day! It’s a half-day, year-round program for children ages 2.5 to 5 years old. Our programs are values-based, with an emphasis on building self-reliance through our core values: Caring, Honesty, Respect, and Responsibility. Children have the opportunity to learn language through stories, songs, math, art and crafts, and theme-based activities in a warm and inviting environment. Our program provides: Experienced and professional teachers, creative curriculum, reading, science, math, technology, & engineering activities and a nutritious lunch We still have some availability – contact Emilia Holbik at eholbik@seattleymca.org
The Boren Building (permanent home to STEM and interim home for one more year to Arbor Heights ES) is at 5950 Delridge Way SW.
(Wednesday low-tide photo by Lynn Hall)
In case you haven’t already seen it in the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar – the Southwest Seattle Historical Society is launching a new series of beach walks, starting this Saturday, but with a twist – the walks are not tours in themselves, but rather, your chance to help shape a tour. This announcement from SWSHS explains:
The history of Alki Beach awaits a rich, multi-layered walking tour to be developed this spring by the Southwest Seattle Historical Society, and you can help make it happen.
The historical society plans three “scouting expeditions” on foot from 10:30 a.m. to noon on three Saturdays this month. The walks will start and end at the historical society’s “Birthplace of Seattle” Log House Museum, 3003 61st Ave. SW.
People can sign up for one, two or all three sessions. They will cover these sections of the beach:
* The promenade, Saturday, May 9
* The sandy beach, Saturday, May 16
* The rocky beach north to the former Luna Park (often called Anchor Park), Saturday, May 30
Leading the sessions is Dave Hrachovina, who grew up in West Seattle and is the museum’s regular docent/greeter on Fridays and Saturdays. He is looking forward to putting together the beach walks.
“You never get tired of Alki,” he says. “It is like an inexhaustible spring of pleasure for young and old. It is Seattle’s headwater, and it is contagious. The more you learn, the more it grows on you.”
The purpose of the sessions is to identify points of interest to be included on a beach walk, everything from the Duwamish tribal story and the Landing Party saga to the times of shacks, tents and the “Coney Island of the West.” Icons present and past will be part of the mix, including the “Birthplace of Seattle” monument, the Statue of Liberty replica, the Alki Bathhouse, the Alki Natatorium, and Luna Park.
If you are interested in taking part in these “scouting expeditions,” please call 206-938-5293 or e-mail clay.eals@loghousemuseum.info to reserve your spot.
Our toplines from last night’s Westwood-Roxhill-Arbor Heights Community Council meeting:
CSO PROJECTS: It’s been about three months since Seattle Public Utilities started working on improvements to its two combined-sewer-overflow storage-tank sites in eastern West Seattle, one a few blocks east of Westwood Village, one on the east side of the Delridge/Orchard/Dumar intersection. Project manager Tara Wong-Esteban came to WWRHAH with updates. Both projects will be done by year’s end, she says. The one that’s in WWRHAH’s area of interest, CSO #3 at 22nd/Henderson, is is the midst of major work right now, including a diversion facility at Barton St./Barton Place. Soon an access path for city trucks’ maintenance access will be built; it will include paving stones surrounded by grass. The landscaping overall will make the area more open, she said. Here’s the design concept:
The project also is getting an art installation, as part of the Municipal Art Plan; artist Rebecca Cummins was introduced at the meeting. She’s going to use water valves like those found in CSOs to make cameras obscuras – you can see an image on this city webpage (scroll down to the bottom and click the image for a closer look). Two will be installed along the Barton side of the project, the smaller one intended for kids walking by.
ARBOR HEIGHTS MICROSURFACING UPDATE: As he had at last month’s Southwest District Council meeting, SDOT’s Art Brochet provided an update on this summer’s plan for more microsurfacing in AH.
Compared to chip seal, microsurfacing needs time to set and dry, once it’s put down. They’re still trying to work out logistics for the roads going into the Arroyos in southwesternmost West Seattle; the project is out to bid and the contractor’s not chosen yet, Brochet said, so that’ll be worked out once those details are finalized. He was asked about some other pavement issues in WWRHAH’s area, including the Westwood Village area, and promised to pass those along. WWRHAH co-chair Amanda Kay Helmick noted at that point that issues had arisen during the recent multi-agency walking tour around WWV (WSB coverage here) and they hadn’t received updates from the city reps who had participated, so she said she’d take Brochet up on his offer to help them find out where things stand.
WWRHAH meets on first Tuesdays, 6:15 pm, Southwest Library.
Thanks to Marilyn Mears for the photo and report:
Six senior girls, three each from West Seattle High School and Chief Sealth International High School, were honored recently by AAUW (American Association of University Women), Seattle Branch, for their achievement in the areas of Math, Science, and Technology. The girls were chosen by their schools and received certificates and a small monetary award at an evening reception at the Best Western Executive Inn on April 22. The speaker at the event was Renee Agutsama, a former high school science teacher who is currently completing her PhD in Public Health Genetics, with a focus on Genetics and Arts Education.
West Seattle High School honorees included: Abigayle Riggins (Math), Annalisa Ursino (Science), and Kristine Le (Technology).
Chief Sealth International High School honorees included: Monica Harris (Math), Gabrielle Fillis (Science), and Thy Duong (Technology).
[L-R in photo above – Ursino, Riggins, Duong, Harris; Le & Fillis, not pictured]
AAUW is a national organization which advances equity for women and girls through advocacy, education, philanthropy and research.
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