West Seattle, Washington
19 Tuesday
(Steller’s Jay silhouetted against the early-morning sun outside WSB HQ this morning)
Do a good deed while having a good time! Three of our calendar highlights for today/tonight fit that description and are on the list:
PEGASUS BENEFIT FOR KURDISTAN RELIEF: 4-9 pm at Pegasus Pizza on Alki, specials and raffle tickets benefit relief for children and families in Kurdistan – details in our calendar listing. (2770 Alki SW)
LAST CALL FOR FAMILY-FRIENDLY TENNIS LESSONS: 6 pm tonight, it’s the final session for USTA Family-Friendly Tennis at Solstice Park – you’re welcome even if you haven’t been to any previous sessions, and regardless of your skill level; details in our calendar listing. (7400 Fauntleroy Way SW)
SALTY’S BENEFIT FOR CITY OF HOPE: Tonight’s Tuesday Tuneup at Salty’s on Alki (WSB sponsor), 6:30-8:30 pm, emceed and entertained by pianist Victor Janusz, is a fundraiser for City of Hope – no cover charge, donations accepted. (1936 Harbor SW)
SCHMITZ PARK ELEMENTARY OUTDOOR MOVIE: Rescheduled from last week (the weather’s much better now!), “Rio 2” outdoors at Schmitz Park Elementary, raising money for the 4th-grade Islandwood trip. “Doors open” at 6:30, movie around 8:15 pm, more in our calendar listing and on the SPE PTA website. (5000 SW Spokane)
BOBBY BARE JR., LIVE: Live in-store at Easy Street Records in The Junction tonight at 7 pm, it’s Bobby Bare Jr. – details on the ESR website. Free. (California/Alaska)
BELLY DANCING: Time for the monthly Alauda freeform-bellydancing showcase at Skylark Café and Club (no cover charge), 7:30 pm. (3803 Delridge Way SW)
BRIAN LEE & THE ORBITERS @ THE FEEDBACK: The weekly “Blues To Do” show features Brian Lee and The Orbiters tonight at Feedback Lounge (WSB sponsor), 8 pm. (6451 California SW)
MORE! … just go check out our calendar.
With two weeks to go until school, it’s time for families to get supplies lined up for the new school year. The cost can add up, and some families need help. Next chance to get it – Westwood Christian Community shares the news that they’re having a “Kids’ Block Party” and backpack giveaway tomorrow (Wednesday, August 20th), at 6:30 pm. Food and games too; all welcome. WCC is at 9252 16th SW.
(WS bridge and Highway 99 views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
Good morning! Time to watch traffic, just in case, and to share alerts and transportation news:
ROXBURY PAVING TODAY: The city will be finishing the work between 25th and 27th SW.
ARBOR HEIGHTS MICROSURFACING CONTINUES: The long-anticipated work is under way, as announced by SDOT on Monday. Kevin McClintic shares this view of one road post-treatment:
He says the street was kept closed for about four hours after application, and has some advice: “Keep your animals inside until the sealant dries, lest they get the stuff on their paws and they lick themselves crazy.”
NIGHTTIME LANE CLOSURES ON HIGHWAY 99: Announced on Monday, for the nights leading up to the big closure this weekend (and partly beyond). Speaking of which
HIGHWAY 99 CLOSURE STARTS FRIDAY NIGHT: The stretch from the West Seattle Bridge to the Battery Street Tunnel will be closed both ways all weekend; from the tunnel to Valley Street, it will be closed late Friday night-early Wednesday morning. See maps/times here.
PAINTING CREWS ON THE WAY: SDOT expects its road-painting crews to start work out our way by week’s end.
8:34 PM: For the second night in a row, police are investigating reported gunfire in North Delridge. This time, according to an SPD tweet a few minutes ago, it’s reported near 23rd and Juneau (map), which would be near the north side of the Boren campus, which will be housing two schools, K-5 STEM and Arbor Heights Elementary, as of next month. As in last night’s case – around the same time of night, near Delridge/Brandon – so far, no injuries reported.
8:53 PM UPDATE: A woman who says she saw it happen told our crew the shots were fired from a red car heading north on 23rd just north of Juneau, and were aimed at four young men walking on the street. Again, no injuries reported.
They’re looking at bullet holes in at least two parked cars, one of which has a flat tire (photo above); police won’t say how many shots they think were fired, but the witness thinks it was at least 10.
Before we get to this weekend’s big Highway 99/Alaskan Way Viaduct closure (which continues north of the Viaduct for two days beyond that, WSDOT has announced some nighttime lane closures this week for prep work, starting tonight. Here’s the alert:
Drivers who use State Route 99 through Seattle’s SODO district should plan ahead for possible nighttime delays this week.
Contractor crews working for the Washington State Department of Transportation will close up to two lanes in both directions between Spokane and Atlantic streets nightly for pavement rehabilitation work.
The southbound lanes will begin closing at 9 p.m., and the northbound lanes will begin closing at 10 p.m. All lanes will be open by 5 a.m.
In addition to the weeknight closures, the eastbound West Seattle Bridge off-ramp to northbound SR 99 will close from 10 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 21 until 5 a.m. Friday, Aug. 22.
The work will help prepare the roadway for the upcoming weekend closure of SR 99 in which 81 damaged concrete panels will either be repaired or replaced. The $10.08 million project on the south end of the Alaskan Way Viaduct will extend the life of SR 99 and provide a smoother, safer ride for drivers.
Jean Barton arrives at rally but has not spoken yet. pic.twitter.com/4d4eHMHwGE
— West Seattle Blog (@westseattleblog) August 18, 2014
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
Jean Barton never did speak at the downtown rally called by housing-justice activists as a followup to the Friday arrests that removed her, her disabled husband, and one of their sons from the Morgan Junction house they long owned, as their foreclosure/eviction fight continues.
The activists, led by the group SAFE (Standing Against Foreclosure and Eviction), gathered this afternoon in Courthouse Park, to which they’d summoned the media; we were there along with regional-TV crews. While they engaged in chants denouncing King County Sheriff John Urquhart for the Friday arrests, Jean Barton arrived on the sidelines, and reporters/photographers converged.
She basically had a news conference steps away from where the advocates continued to shout and chant. She said that husband Byron Barton remains at the Seattle VA Hospital, but she wasn’t sure where she would be staying tonight, as she had been put up in a hotel for a few days but that was ending.
She also said, “As far as I am concerned, it is still our home.” Her lawyer explained that their lawsuit alleging illegal foreclosure (90-page PDF) continues to go through the courts, as does their appeal of the “unlawful detainer” complaint that resulted in their original official eviction exactly one month ago.
It was then announced via bullhorn that the protest would move over to the courthouse next door, where the KCSO is headquartered. Demonstrators marched back and forth in front of its 3rd Avenue entrances, while Jean Barton went inside to request a one-on-one meeting with the sheriff, who, as you can hear in our video, wasn’t there, she was told:
KCSO is charged with carrying out eviction orders regardless of whether they are in the jurisdiction of an agency such as the Seattle Police Department. After they evicted the Bartons on July 18th, the couple went back inside the house. SPD arrived on the scene and could have arrested them for alleged trespassing but did not; the following Monday, Mayor Murray announced he had asked SPD to “stand by” while the case played out in court.
After that, the company that bought the house at a foreclosure auction in April, Triangle Property Development, went to court to seek a “writ of mandamus” which would have ordered the city to take action. Last week, King County Superior Court Judge Mariane Spearman denied that request, saying it would have been an extraordinary action to order the city to do something in which it had discretion, while, she said, Triangle had other avenues available for getting possession of the house.
Then last Friday, KCSO showed up at the Morgan Junction house and carried out a search warrant it had obtained, signed by Superior Court Judge Helen Halpert, citing grounds that it had evidence a crime – trespassing – was happening in the house, and swept in around 8 am, arresting and removing the Bartons. Representatives of Triangle promptly occupied the house, saying they were readying it for a renter who would move in quickly. Byron Barton was reported to have been shuttled between the VA Hospital and Harborview before winding up at the former, and that brings us to what unfolded today. What’s next? We’ll continue watching court files, among other sources, to see.
Several days/nights a week, C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor) features live music, free admission. Today we have word of a show that C & P proudly announces as “kind of a big deal,” and seating is limited, with an admission charge, so here’s early word: Jon Auer, co-founder of The Posies, is playing at C & P 7-9 pm Thursday, August 28th, admission $21 – RSVP ASAP to nancystandifer1@msn.com.
Just in via SPD Blotter:
A coffee-shop employee was beat up and robbed in the North Admiral neighborhood Monday morning while he waited for the store to open. The victim got to work, near 41st Avenue Southwest and Southwest Admiral Way, about 4 am, before the manager arrived. After he sat on the steps to read a tablet computer, three men approached and asked for money. The victim said he didn’t have any and the men began hitting him in the face and head. The robbers took the victim’s tablet, cell phone and bag, then fled. Officers arrived quickly and surrounded the area but did not find the (robbers). Medics treated the victim at the scene and gave him a ride home.
Though the item doesn’t identify the coffee shop, the only one at that corner is the Admiral Starbucks.
Another alert from SDOT – the “microsurfacing” work in Arbor Heights (and south Fauntleroy) is under way. You might already have seen the crews doing advance weed-clearing work along the roads in recent days. Here’s a larger map and full info. It’s been seven months since SDOT’s original announcement of this work.
SDOT has just sent out a general alert about crews repainting lines “on major arterial streets throughout the city” while the clear, dry weather lasts – 850 “lane miles” in all. Notes SDOT’s Marybeth Turner, “Re-marking the yellow, solid white and dashed white lines makes them easier to see, and the reflective beads in the paint also helps, enhancing safety.” The crews have already been through North Seattle and downtown, are in east Central Seattle now, and expected in our area later this week “where, if weather is favorable, they expect to complete striping in about three weeks.” The trucks carry signs warning you to keep away from the wet paint – please heed them!
(WSB photo)
9:37 AM: If you have a west-facing view and noticed the smoke by the Southworth ferry dock, it’s a house fire, according to a tweet from the Kitsap Sun. We got a call about it (thank you!) and are photographing the smoke from Constellation Park.
10:29 AM: The Sun reports firefighters say it’s “knocked down.” No other details yet but it is indeed close to the dock, according to this photo tweeted by a passenger:
House on fire from Southworth Ferry Terminal, WA. pic.twitter.com/MtsdUWzugz
— Jim Emery (@jimery) August 18, 2014
12:53 PM: Here’s the Kitsap Sun’s full story, plus a photo sent to us by Mark Dale:
(WSB photo: M/V Issaquah heading out from Fauntleroy this morning – the run is back to 3 boats today)
Getting down to the quieter weeks of summer – but not *entirely* quiet:
ONE WADING POOL, ONE SPRAYPARK: Most city wading pools’ seasons ended over the past few days, but Lincoln Park‘s wading pool remains open daily (weather permitting), 11 am-8 pm, through Labor Day – so that’s two more weeks. Same for Highland Park Spraypark, 11 am-8 pm through Labor Day. Addresses and other info here.
AFTERNOON BOOK GROUP: 2 pm at Southwest Branch Library; this month’s book is “Snow Flower and the Secret Fan” by Lisa See. No registration or previous participation required – just show up. (35th/Henderson)
WHAT MAKES A BOAT FLOAT? Kids 4-8 will find out tonight at 6 pm at High Point Branch Library. Free but registration is required – info and the phone number, all here.
P.S. for politics-watchers:
NO CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS FOR TWO WEEKS: If you keep watch on what the council and its committees are up to, you get a two-week break starting today – it’s the annual hiatus.
(WS bridge and Highway 99 views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
No major problems right now as the heart of the morning commute approaches. As reported here very early this morning, the Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth ferry run is back to three boats. Here’s what’s ahead this week:
ROXBURY PAVING, TUESDAY: The city has already ground down SW Roxbury from 25th to 27th but needed dry weather to repave, so that’s now set for tomorrow.
HIGHWAY 99 CLOSURE, STARTING FRIDAY NIGHT: The stretch from the West Seattle Bridge to the Battery Street Tunnel will be closed both ways all weekend; from the tunnel to Valley Street, it will be closed late Friday night-early Wednesday morning. See maps/times here.
ALKI SW CLOSURE NEXT SUNDAY: The Alki Beach 5K benefiting breast-cancer patients is next Sunday morning.
We noticed on Washington State Ferries‘ VesselWatch that the M/V Evergreen State, which broke down on Saturday, was back on the move as of earlier this hour – and now, WSF has sent official word that it’s back to the three-boat Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth for today’s morning commute:
Necessary repairs on the Evergreen State have been made and the route will return to the three boat schedule on Monday, August 18 beginning with the 4:05 am sailing from Vashon.
Without the Evergreen State, the “Triangle route” had been down to 2 boats all weekend, with long waits.
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
Just before the end of last school year, a member of the Highland Park Elementary School PTA made a pitch to the nearest community council, the Highland Park Action Committee.
Peter Weiss told HPAC’s May meeting that he wanted to organize a 5K to bring the PTA and the school not just money but awareness. HPES, he explained, is the lowest-performing elementary school in the entire district.
That was jaw-dropping news to many, if not most, in the room. Just supporting an event would not be enough. A community conversation was called for.
The conversation began in earnest this past Tuesday night.
Though most community groups skip midsummer meetings, HPAC and the HPE PTA set a date, issued an invite – and the room was full.
We counted more than 50 people.
At the front of the room, along with Sol Mendez from the HPE PTA and HPAC co-chairs Carolyn and Billy Stauffer, were school and city leaders – among the former, new HPE principal Chris Cronas and the district’s regional executive director of schools Israel Vela; among the latter, Deputy Mayor Hyeok Kim and City Councilmember Tom Rasmussen.
More questions than answers emerged. But it was one of those events where the event itself was the triumph, for starters, rather than any single declaration or promise made.
No word of any injuries, but it appears that police have confirmed that was gunfire heard by many near the Delridge Library (5400 block of Delridge) a little while ago. Officers are still in the area investigating and one reported (via radio) finding shell casings. One nearby resident who called 911 tells WSB that dispatchers told her others had called too.
Seattle Fire has sent a sizable response to the 7500 block of 24th SW (map) for a possible house fire. First crews on scene are seeing “light smoke” from the second floor.
7:47 PM UPDATE: The fire call turned out to be “food on the stove.” Lots of smoke, though, so fans are being used to ventilate the residence right now. No injuries reported. Most units have been dismissed.
(Photo by David Hutchinson, from 2012 Alki Beach 5K)
Only one week till the summer’s next big benefit 5K in West Seattle, the Northwest Hope and Healing-presented Alki Beach 5K, 9 am next Sunday (August 24th). It’s a fundraiser for West Seattleite-founded-and-led NWHH’s work helping breast-cancer patients. You can run or walk; Alki SW will be closed for the run, so there’s plenty of room for you and the other hundreds of people who will be part of it. Sign up online right now, or in person this week at West Seattle Runner (WSB sponsor), which also has an early-packet-pickup event set for Saturday (10 am-2 pm, California/Charlestown), if you want to get yours before 5K day. See you at the beach (start/finish line is by the Bathhouse, 61st/Alki) next Sunday!
With this weekend’s Washington State Ferries woes – Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth is still running two boats because the un-mothballed M/V Evergreen State remains out of service – some have wondered about the status of ferries in view at Vigor on Harbor Island. The one in the foreground of our photo above is the 130-car M/V Kitsap, a 34-year-old ferry that is at Vigor until late September for $5 million worth of scheduled work, including painting and galley modifications. In the background at right is the M/V Yakima, in for about $310,000 of maintenance scheduled to last another week. The third ferry you might glimpse at Vigor is still being built, the 144-car M/V Samish, expected to go into service next year.
Another West Seattle retailer has just added a location downtown, but wants you to know it’s NOT leaving WS. >Fleurt (WSB sponsor) proprietor Sam Crowley explains:
Many have reached out to me after hearing Fleurt is closing in West Seattle and moving to Pioneer Square – as Clementine is doing. This is NOT true for Fleurt – Fleurt West Seattle is open and there are no plans to close this shop. Fleurt West Seattle is our “home” and flagship store. We are constantly growing our business in the areas of retail gifts, flower deliveries, full service flower shop, weddings and events. We are truly grateful to all our customers for their loyalty, love, and support for the past 4 years, and we look forward to many more years.
This Thursday (August 21st) is Fleurt Pioneer Square’s grand-opening party (112 S. Washington), from 5 pm to 7 pm.
(At new Junction ‘bike corral,’ last stop on the tour)
West Seattle Bike Connections members spent part of their weekend taking City Councilmember Tom Rasmussen, who chairs the council’s Transportation Committee, on a tour “to get a first-hand look at some of the routes and intersections in the Seattle Bicycle Master Plan that we think are high priority for funding and implementation,” according to WSBC president Don Brubeck, who shares photos and this report from Saturday’s tour:
We started at Highland Park Improvement Club. First stop: The crosswalk at 11th Ave SW (a planned Greenway route) at SW Holden St, a busy arterial. We are supporting the Highland Park Action Committee’s application to SDOT for flashing beacons to help make this a safe crossing for kids going to schools and playgrounds in Highland Park and Riverview.
Then south on 10th Ave to SW Thistle at Highland Park Playfield. These are mapped as future Greenway routes, and seem ideal low traffic streets for walking and riding bikes. A set of public steps at 14th allows pedestrians to continue through on Thistle, but stops cars and bikes. We’d like to see a “runnel” gutter for bike wheels added to the steps, which are under construction now.
Then north on 17th Ave SW, which is a neighborhood Greenway route currently in the planning and design stage. The proposed route jogs over to 15th Ave on Kenyon, then back over to 17th at Webster. These jogs did not seem realistic to our group. Who would want to go 2 blocks east out of their way, and then 2 blocks west back to their route? And the intersections of Kenyon & 16th, 15th & Holden, and Webster & 16th would all need marked crosswalks and signals to be safe Greenway crossings. It looks much easier to just improve Holden for the short block from 17th to 16th, and then 16th to Webster, to get around the block that does not go through on 17th.
(Delridge sunflowers, by Laura Goodrich, shared via the WSB Flickr group)
Notes from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar – after a transportation alert:
FERRY ALERT: The Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth run is still on a 2-boat schedule, and fog is complicating it further this morning. Keep an eye on which boat is where, “live,” via WSF VesselWatch.
WSHS MUSIC CAR WASH: 10 am-4 pm, get your car washed on a donation basis as a benefit for West Seattle High School‘s music program, raising money “for an upcoming trip to Disneyland next spring to march in the Disneyland parade and other music events.” West Seattle Autoworks (WSB sponsor). (35th/Webster)
SCHOOL SUPPLY DRIVE’S LAST DAY: Local Girl Scouts are collecting school supplies through today, with a dropoff box at Mind Unwind in The Admiral District – details in our original report. (2206 California SW)
LAST DAY FOR SHOOFLY, DIVA: This is the last day for two local businesses: Shoofly Pie Company in The Junction (as announced last month; per Facebook, they’re opening at 10 am today and going until they sell out) and Diva Espresso in The Triangle (our previous report is here, explaining why they’re out and who’s in).
LUNA PARK BLOCK PARTY: Noon-3 pm with music, fashion, accessories, and more; details in our calendar listing. (2942 Avalon Way SW)
CITYDOG MAGAZINE COVER-DOG SEARCH: Does your dog have star power? S/he might be CityDog Magazine cover material. Photo sessions at West Seattle Thriftway (WSB sponsor) noon-2 pm today by donation – details in our calendar listing. (California/Morgan/Fauntleroy)
WHILE YOU’RE THERE … The Dog Days of Summer adoption drive also continues at WS Thriftway today, noon-3 pm – details here.
WADING POOL’S LAST DAY: Delridge Community Center wading pool’s last day of the season, 12-6:45 pm – see the citywide schedule here. (Delridge/Genesee)
BEERFEST AND PET-ADOPTION EVENT: 1-4 pm at West Seattle Nursery, come have beer, a hot dog, and a chance to add a new companion to your household. Four animal-advocacy/rescue groups are participating; live music too – details here. (California/Brandon)
GOLDEN HERON GAMELAN IN CONCERT: Traditional music of Indonesia at Village Green Perennial Nursery, 1 pm – details in our calendar listing. (10223 26th SW)
ALKI LIGHTHOUSE TOUR: Five chances left this summer to take a free tour of historic Alki Point Lighthouse with US Coast Guard Auxiliary volunteers – today (and the next two Saturdays/Sundays), 1-4 pm. (3201 Alki SW)
MUSICAL THEATER X 2: Again today, two local productions onstage, and both have 3 pm matinees – “Hello, Dolly!“ presented by Twelfth Night Productions, and “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown,” presented by the ArtsWest youth – click on either production’s name for details.
SUPPORT GROUP: New West Seattle miscarriage support group meets today, 3 pm – location information via RSVP; details in our calendar listing.
MUSIC THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT … see the calendar!
(WSB photo by Katie Meyer)
12:42 AM: Police are closing the southbound side of Fauntleroy Way SW right now in the Fairmount Playfield area, between Dawson and Brandon (map), because of what we’re told is a flipped-car crash. At least one person is hurt, described as a woman in her 30s.
12:59 AM: Adding photos. Police say the woman has been taken to the hospital; the car is on its side, and officers are awaiting a tow truck to clear it away. Witnesses tell us a parked car was also hit. (added) Second photo from WSB’s Katie Meyer actually shows at least two parked cars damaged.
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