West Seattle, Washington
09 Saturday
Two weeks from tonight, you’re invited to the Seattle Lutheran High School gym (4100 SW Genesee) for a West Seattle elementary/middle-school education fair. The 6:30-8:30 pm event is hosted and organized by SLHS and sponsored by WSB, and free for families to participate. There’s still time for schools to sign up to be part of it – here’s the form. See you there!
The east-facing camera on the West Seattle Bridge is back after some downtime; so are a few others, as you can see on the WSB Traffic page.
No new road work or other alerts so far, but we have two notes:
WEST SEATTLE TRANSPORTATION COALITION NEEDS YOU! The new group launched a manifesto of sorts over the weekend, with the letter it’s sending to local/regional leaders challenging them to join in solving West Seattle’s transportation challenges. You’re invited to sign on by contacting the WSTC (that link also will show you a survey they’re using to shape priorities).
SPEAKING OF TRANSPORTATION ADVOCACY … there’s still that matter of no transportation-funding measure from the State Legislature, with problems looming including cuts in bus service, and if you have something to say to legislators, there’s a special meeting downtown, 6-9 pm, details here.
ADDED 11:22 AM: From Washington State Ferries:
Beginning later this afternoon, the 87-car Klahowya returns to service and will replace the 90-car Sealth. The galley on the Sealth will close today at noon in preparation for the boat move. The galley on the Klahowya will open on Tuesday, 10/15, at 2 pm.
(Click image for larger view)
Thanks to Dustin T. Smith for sharing his sunset view of the Olympic Mountains and the centennial-celebrating Alki Point Lighthouse. (If you’re interested in the technical points of the image, Dustin posted notes on the photo page he shared via the WSB Flickr group.) Looks like more sunset views ahead this week, with a rainless forecast stretching days ahead.
We start our weekend-ending West Seattle Crime Watch roundup with a semi-happy ending. From Adam:
I just wanted to let you know that a bicycle that was stolen from me a year ago has been recovered. It is thrashed, but it is back. I just went to identify it at the station today. They say they are cracking down on the bicycle thefts and identifying more and more. They found mine in a stash that an arrested burglar told them about. The police are taking notice. Just wanted to let you know about a successful recovery. I thought I’d never see it again a couple months after it was nabbed. This is kind of awesome. $900 bike, a tune-up and some new parts are better than dishing out another $900.
Remember that SPD is tweeting info on bicycles it recovers – check @getyourbikeback.
Now, two reader reports received this weekend. From Jackie:
On Friday morning, the staff at Images hair salon arrived at work to find the police waiting there. Someone had smashed the front door, entered the salon then (burglarized) and ransacked it. According to the officer, they have a good idea who did it, so we are hopeful the fingerprints they found will put this person in jail.
The salon is in the 5000 block of California SW, south of The Junction. Next, from Rachel:
Thought I’d share for other Highland Park residents that my car was broken into Wednesday night and my GPS was stolen. I thought my husband had just gone looking for something in the car because our items were shuffled around, but the doors were locked in the morning when I got up to take my kids to the zoo. My husband just noticed today that the GPS was missing. No broken windows, just a thief courteous enough to lock the doors when they were finished.
P.S. The West Seattle Crime Prevention Council‘s next meeting is this Tuesday – and as always, you are welcome to bring neighborhood concerns/questions to police leadership for Q/A during the meeting, which also is scheduled to feature guest speakers, as noted on the WSCPC website. 7 pm Tuesday (October 15th) at the Southwest Precinct, Delridge/Webster.
(Chickens and fans at last year’s Fauntleroy Fall Festival; 2012 WSB photo by Nick Adams)
Just one week until this year’s Fauntleroy Fall Festival – 2 pm-5:30 pm Sunday, October 20th, in and around the Fauntleroy Schoolhouse, The Hall at Fauntleroy, Fauntleroy YMCA (WSB sponsor), and Fauntleroy Church. Judy Pickens shares a partial preview:
In addition to the festival’s customary line-up of free things to do, this year’s event will have a record number of environment-related activities, including
*Chickens and other backyard farm animals with the Seattle Farm Co-Op
*Sweet talk about bees with the Puget Sound Beekeepers
*Fly tying with Pete and his amazing array of supplies
*Salmon-hat decorating with the Fauntleroy Watershed Council
*A preview of the Kilbourne ravine project with Fauntleroy’s forest stewards
*Critter study with those fun-loving naturalists from Camp Long
*An up-close look at the Barton pump station upgrade with King County Wastewater Treatment Division
Here are more photos from last year’s festival; here’s a map to the festival location. See more festival previews on the FFF Facebook page.
ADDED MONDAY NIGHT: The music lineup is out now; from the FFF Facebook page:
• Church lot: Lauren Petrie (keyboard—2 p.m.), Pickled Okra (bluegrass—3 p.m.), 5 Buck Band (rock ‘n roll—4:30 p.m.)
• West side of schoolhouse: Jump Jazz (2:30 p.m.), Polka Service (4 p.m.)
• Fellowship Hall: Y Zumba (2 p.m.), Dance Seattle (classical—4 p.m.)
• Church sanctuary: Endolyne Children’s Choir (2 p.m. practice, 2:30 performance),
• Hall at Fauntleroy: Epic Jam Session (teens—2–5 p.m.)
EDITOR’S NOTE: Earlier this year, WSB started a series of stories about independent local businesses and why they matter more to a community like ours than you might realize. Then, the “West Seattle: We Have That” campaign launched at midsummer. Starting today, WSB will continue publishing the series – and inviting you into the conversation. Many of the reports, starting with this one, will be underwritten by the West Seattle Junction Association, but not as ads – it’s their contribution to an issue of importance from Alki to Westwood, Fauntleroy to Highland Park, and all over WS.
By Keith Creighton
Special to West Seattle Blog
Demolition is under way on the southeast corner of Alaska Avenue, California Avenue SW, and 42nd Avenue SW, on properties that were once anchor points of the West Seattle Junction. While the buildings have been empty for more than a year and life has continued as normal, many of us have taken comfort in knowing interesting restaurants and shops will return to the corner someday.
But what if they didn’t return?
Two-dozen other boutiques still line The Junction. For some West Seattleites, these stores are rich with treasures: Home décor to fashion, shoes, eyewear, music, wine, and beer, pet supplies and more. Store regulars know the shop owners and clerks by name and enjoy the personalized service only stores like these can provide.
For a greater percentage of area residents, West Seattle shop windows are just eye candy, gazed upon as we stroll the avenue and duck into our favorite restaurants. Window shopping is a difficult task to monetize, so the futures of many of these stores might be passing them by as well.
Do you “Buy Local” in West Seattle – not just The Junction, but other areas as well?
Please share your story in the comments section below, including: If you prefer to shop at malls or online, would you miss West Seattle’s locally owned stores if they went away?
The discussion isn’t merely about supporting a few dozen retailers. It’s about preserving the way of life that sets West Seattle apart from other corners of King County.
To spark retail support from Alki to Endolyne and beyond, the West Seattle Junction Association launched “West Seattle: We Have That” in partnership with a coalition of local retailers and the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce.
“Independent retailers and businesses need to feel the love and patronage of the community to keep their doors open and make West Seattle feel like West Seattle,” says Susan Melrose, director of the Junction Association. “This campaign sheds light on the robust selection of affordable goods and services that can be found every day on this side of the bridge.”
In the coming weeks, these reports will take a closer look at the impact locally owned stores have on West Seattle’s financial future, real estate values, environment, schools and non-profits and our overall quality of life. And if you think you know everything West Seattle businesses have to offer – you might see cause to think twice. So stay tuned, and let us know what you think.
Keith Creighton is a West Seattle-based writer.
The doors are open at Dakota Place Park‘s historic building and local vendors are set up for the first West Seattle Wedding Showcase, on until 4 pm today. Admission’s free – check out the building, the park, and local sources for everything from your cake to your flowers. Just north of The Junction, at California/Dakota.
Double reason to be at Easy Street Records in The Junction tomorrow – they’ve just confirmed hot band The Head & The Heart will be live in-store at 6 pm – free, but ESR says you’re only guaranteed to get in if you’re among those buying the band’s new album “Let’s Be Still” starting at noon Monday at the store (wristbands will be handed out). That precedes the 9 pm release party for Pearl Jam‘s “Lightning Bolt,” and between the two events, they’ll be cooking up their newly famous chicken wings (a semi-new Thursday night tradition). More details on all of the above – including special extras for the PJ release party – on the ESR website.
MONDAY P.S. From the West Seattle Food Bank: “Bring 2 non-perishable food items for the food bank and be entered into a raffle for tickets to the 12/6 Pearl Jam sold-out KeyArena concert!”
Four sightings reported in the past (almost) 24 hours:
*Just called in this morning, “big male coyote at 50th and Graham.” [map]
And three in eastern West Seattle:
*Jonel e-mailed late last night: “Just saw a coyote running down the sidewalk on SW Webster between 16th and 14th. [map] He ran when he saw humans.”
*Jeff saw one “standing in our driveway” around 1 pm Saturday, “6000 block of 17th SW. [map] Ran away when our dog started barking.”
And Kellie reported that her son saw what might have bene the same one on Saturday afternoon while “walking on 17th from the path by Duwamish Housing, up the Graham stairs towards 16th and SSCC.” [map]
Scaring them away is best for them and you, so they are conditioned to keep a healthy distance from humans (and their pets), as advised by state wildlife authorities (if you’ve never followed that link we usually include with coyote reports, it’s got lots of other good advice too).
Thanks to Mark Wangerin for today’s featured photo! He says it’s a Surfbird, adding: “They have returned to Alki now in reliable-to-see flocks of 25 or so. Black Turnstones can be seen with them.”
For today’s highlights, check out our calendar here – click the “plus” sign on the right side of individual listings to get full details on events including:
*Alki UCC Blessing of the Animals service at 10 am
*West Seattle Wedding Showcase at Dakota Place Park, 1-4 pm
*City Fruit cider press at West Seattle Nursery, 1-4 pm
*Ladies’ Musical Club concert at West Seattle Library, 3 pm
*Two Brothers Winery release event at Belli Capelli, 3-6 pm
*Booze, Balls, and Bingo benefit at Feedback Lounge (WSB sponsor), 5 pm
Get a chance to catch up on your day-to-day “Go Bag”/disaster-preparedness-kit building on Saturday? No? Today’s another chance to at least get started – and if you’re all caught up, congratulations! Remember we’re doing this with the help of West Seattle Be Prepared, in honor of Washington State Disaster Preparedness Month, because much as we hope The Big One never happens, it COULD happen at any time. (Not to mention other types of disasters …)
Motivation of the day: Saturday’s earthquakes around the globe included a 6.4-magnitude shaker off the coast of Greece. Check out this view on the US Geological Service website showing where people felt it. The USGS calls this feature “Did You Feel It” (DIFY) and anyone can report in about any quake, which helps with data collection.
Now, what to do today for your growing “Go Bag” – Cindi from WSBP writes:
We will continue the water stashing today. If you set aside 2 gallons earlier, today you will add 3 more gallons. For those who are using liter soda bottles and had to break out calculators, I just went online and the answer is today you will fill 11 liters. And a double check for everyone, the goal will be 7 gallons or 27 liters. A reminder for how to clean those bottles – see the cleaning and labeling guide here.
Those 27 liter soda bottles will take up a huge amount of space. Rumor has it that if you ask soda delivery drivers nicely, they will sometimes let you have the plastic carriers that they use, and then you can stack several carriers on top of each other. Let us know if the rumor is true!
For a refresher course (including the conversation in the discussion section), go back to Day 5. And to catch up with other days, scroll through our newest-to-oldest archive of preparedness-related coverage.
(UPDATED late Sunday morning with new information from police)
12:45 AM: Police and fire are on the scene of a crash in the 4800 block of West Marginal Way SW and sounds from the scanner as if one person is dead at the scene. More to come.
12:54 AM UPDATE: Seattle Fire verifies via Twitter that one person is dead and another seriously hurt. This is reported to involve a vehicle hitting a tree at high speed.
1:45 AM UPDATE: Just back from checking the scene. West Marginal Way SW is closed in that area, as you’d expect, in the heart of the industrial zone on one side, greenbelt on the other. The car is small and reddish, and officers at the scene were referring to it as a Ford Focus.
3:30 AM UPDATE: Road’s still closed. We’re hoping for more information on the crash later this morning. Meantime, while the 911 log put the location as the 4800 block, comparing maps to the location we saw while out there, we would say it’s more in the early 5000s.
10:41 AM UPDATE: Just in from SPD Blotter:
On 10/13/13, just shortly after midnight, a vehicle was S/B on W. Marginal Wy in the 4800 block, at (according to a witness) a very high rate of speed.
The driver lost control and struck a tree, causing the vehicle to roll over several times. The driver was pronounced dead at the scene. The passenger was taken to Harborview Medical Center by Seattle Fire Dept in critical condition. The collision was witnessed by a tow truck driver, who stated the vehicle was going over 100 MPH.
At West Seattle Stadium on Saturday night, Seattle Lutheran hosted La Conner, which returned home with the win, 48-0. Injuries had the Saints missing some of their veteran players for this game, and while they had some big defensive moments, scoring proved elusive. Next Saturday, Seattle Lutheran goes to Orcas Island for a 1:30 pm game.
It’s Saturday night, so maybe you have a minute or two to spare to help a West Seattle student who is in a cooking contest that could net prizes including $ for her school. Pathfinder K-8 third grader Carmen came up with the recipe for Five-Spice Fried Brown Rice, and she and mom Sandra made a video to enter the “Ben’s Beginnings” contest. Sandra says, “Entering cooking contests is a family hobby, and if Carmen wins, Pathfinder K-8 wins $30,000 for a cafeteria makeover!” The voting is no-strings-attached – you don’t have to “like,” register, or sign up for anything – and you can vote once a day through October 27th. Just go here.
If you have unwanted, unused, expired prescription medication, best thing to do is get rid of it through a safe, official, no-questions-asked dropoff, and the next one in West Seattle is coming up two weeks from today, 10 am-2 pm on Saturday, October 26th, at Seattle Police’s Southwest Precinct. Operations Lt. Pierre Davis shared the announcement today, and says that if you have items to dispose of, “Simply bring them to the Southwest Precinct during the aforementioned date and time and your precinct desk officer will do the rest.” It’s a matter of safety, convenience, and even ecological prudence – dumping medication down the drain, or flushing it, contaminates the water that is eventually drained back out into Puget Sound (wastewater treatment doesn’t get everything).
Three weeks after we brought you word of the first West Seattle Wedding Showcase, it’s hours away: Tomorrow (Sunday), 1-4 pm, at Dakota Place Park (California/Dakota). If you’re getting married or thinking about it, come meet West Seattle vendors (see the list in our original announcement) who can help make your wedding local, local, local – admission is free and there’ll be door prizes.
Admiring the fall colors this weekend? A visit to the past-and-future school site on Genesee Hill (50th SW/SW Genesee) might be in order – to pay your respects to that American Elm honored as a “Best in City” tree in PlantAmnesty‘s Heritage Tree program. Karen Lyons shares the photo and the news:
I belong to a group that is trying to save some of the fine trees on the school’s 6.2 acres. I’m the group’s botanist so I volunteered to take a tree survey last year and found a magnificent American Elm! The majority of American Elms in the US were wiped out by Dutch Elm disease. Somehow this tree is either immune (making it valuable for research) or has escaped the disease. I later contacted the Heritage Tree committee and they sent a group of 6 investigators to measure and take samples of the Elm. That was a few months ago. On October 1st I received this letter naming this tree and awarding it as “Best In The City”. It will be spared!
District documentation verifies that the tree will not be taken out during the construction of the new school – from last month’s summary of the newest design changes: “The steep hillside on the site will be fully protected, as will the significant and exceptional trees on the hillside (including the old elm near the center of the site).” The district expects to start construction next spring; the current Schmitz Park school program is expected to move into the new school at mid-year 2015-2016, while the district proposes to turn the current Schmitz Park building into an early-learning center.
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
How can West Seattle’s transportation tangle best be untangled?
With unified, peninsula-wide voices, resolve, and action.
That’s what the newly rechristened West Seattle Transportation Coalition is organizing. This morning, its interim board members are meeting for a strategy session, as they prepare for their first big public action, sending a letter to local political leaders – the ones who have (or potentially have) the power to forward and fund solutions to our peninsula’s muddled intersection between population growth and lack of transportation vision.
Here’s the brand-new letter the WSTC will send to elected officials and candidates (scroll to the end to see the list of addressees, and if you can’t see the embedded document, here’s the PDF link):
The WSTC (whose board members are listed here) isn’t just going to wait for politicians to take action, though. It’s also going to draft a transportation vision. And it’s looking for as much support as possible. Here’s how:
-Show your support and/or your group, business, organization – go here
-Explain what matters most to you in the creation of a peninsula-wide transportation vision – send e-mail, circulate a survey, see how by going here
-Come to WSTC meetings, listed here – next one is Tuesday, November 12th, a general meeting expected to focus on operational issues including planning and recruitment.
BACKSTORY: The WS Transportation Coalition is the renamed WS Transit Coalition, which itself launched less than three weeks ago – here’s our coverage, with video, of that first meeting.
6:59 PM NOTE: WSTC board members finalized and formatted the letter at their meeting today and that finalized version is now linked and embedded above.
In honor of Washington Disaster Preparedness Month, we’re continuing to publish day-by-day instructions on making the “Go Bag” that you want to have in case of disaster (big earthquake, longrunning power outage, etc.). Some of the items on the list so far are things you might well already have around the house. This one probably is not. From West Seattle Be Prepared:
It’s Saturday, so hopefully you should have time to shop for this item; a hand-crank AM/FM radio with NOAA weather radio channel. If it also has a USB charger, that’s even better.
In Seattle there are several commercial radio stations that would become official emergency-channel radio stations: KIRO-AM 710 and/or FM 100.7, KOMO-AM 1000, KNWX-AM 770, and KVI-AM 570. But to hear directly from the National Weather Service, a NOAA Weather Radio is best. It also has a warning alarm feature, and site-specific and event-select capabilities. It serves as Washington’s “all-hazards” warning system, including tsunamis, volcanoes, and hazardous releases. Lots of detailed information about weather Radios and the spotter system we have in Washington can be found here.
You can look for this type of radio at a variety of stores – hardware and electronics, among them. If you can’t find one at a store, order it online and put it in the bag as soon as it arrives. We found them on websites including Radio Shack (here) and Amazon (here) – and you can even buy yours from the Red Cross!
Haven’t started the “Go Bag” yet? Don’t feel guilty! Just get GO-ing. Find the suitcase or backpack you’re going to designate (that was Day 1) and scroll through this WSB archive page to find the items for days 2-10.
8:59 AM: Thanks to @hommesea for the tip via Twitter: There’s a crash on northbound 99, and the Battery Street Tunnel is closed in that direction as a result. If you have to head out sometime soon, you might want to wait a while or check out another route.
9:27 AM: Northbound 99 is now reported clear. HOWEVER – there’s scanner talk of a crash on northbound I-5 in downtown, though it’s not on the 911 log.
(WSB photo: Crows at Junction Plaza Park on Thursday afternoon)
Options for your Saturday, from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
TIBBETTS RUMMAGE SALE, DAY 2: 9 am-3 pm, from cookware to clothing to crystal and much more, rooms of stuff on sale at Tibbetts United Methodist Church (WSB sponsor) in the second and final day of their big fall rummage sale. (3940 41st SW)
ELECTRONICS RECYCLING AT PCC: 9 am-4 pm, drop off your unwanted electronics and metal items at PCC Natural Markets-West Seattle (WSB sponsor) to be recycled, free! Find a list of what will be accepted by going here. (California/Stevens)
COSTUME SWAP: A different kind of recycling – bring in a gently used Halloween costume, and swap it for another one, starting at 10 am at City Mouse Studio and Store in The Junction, as previewed here. (4218 SW Alaska)
FIRST HOLIDAY BAZAAR OF THE SEASON: 10 am-4 pm at the Masonic Center in The Junction. (40th/Edmunds)
LOG HOUSE MUSEUM VOLUNTEERING: 11 am-1 pm at the Southwest Seattle Historical Society‘s Log House Museum, it’s the next session for prospective volunteers, as explained on the LHM website. They would love to see you! (61st/Stevens)
CATS IN SEARCH OF FOREVER HOMES: Two places you can go to meet your next feline companion(s) today – a one-time-only event at the Alki Community Center with adoptable foster felines via the Seattle Animal Shelter, noon-3 pm (details in our calendar listing), and Kitty Harbor, noon-6 pm (on Harbor Ave. SW north of the West Seattle Bridge).
FIND YOUR ROOTS: 1:30-5:30 pm, come to the West Seattle (Admiral) Branch Library for a free class/workshop on genealogical research – explained in our calendar listing. (2306 42nd SW)
REFLECTIONS ON RESTORATION: Come to Roxhill Park/Bog 2-4 pm to find out more about its long restoration process – details in our calendar listing.
FIRST NATIONS CELEBRATION: The Duwamish Tribe honors the First Nations with a program this afternoon-evening at their West Seattle longhouse. Details in our calendar listing. 4-7 pm. (4205 West Marginal Way SW)
NIGHTLIFE: See live-music listings for tonight on the calendar!
(Photos by WSB co-publisher Patrick Sand)
After weeks of road games, the West Seattle High School Wildcats finally played at home Friday night; the band had a whole new look for the occasion. The game went into overtime, and was hard-fought, though visiting Ingraham pulled out the win, 12-6.
That’s WSHS #12, Carter Golgart, taking down Ingraham’s #12, Nate Han. In our next photo, the Wildcats’ defense snags Ingraham’s running back Emmery Porter:
Next weekend, it’s the always-awaited Huling Bowl, with Westside facing Chief Sealth for annual bragging rights – 7 pm Saturday, October 19th, at West Seattle Stadium (4432 35th SW).
(Chief Sealth quarterback Weston Reed; photos by WSB co-publisher Patrick Sand)
The Chief Sealth International High School Seahawks scored first but eventually lost Friday night to Nathan Hale at Northeast Athletic Complex, 33-20. Here’s Alloney Burris after that first TD:
Next, Sealth’s Larry Mao going up for the pass, with Hale’s Gadisa Margarsa blocking:
Next week, the Seahawks are close to home but technically on the road as they face West Seattle High School for the Huling Bowl, 7 pm Saturday, October 19th, at West Seattle Stadium (4432 35th SW).
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