West Seattle, Washington
10 Thursday
Until the fate of Seattle City Light‘s surplus ex-substations is decided, tree-cutting in the name of “cleanups” must stop, says the West Seattle Green Space Coalition.
Two weeks ago, a reader tip led us to report on tree-cutting at one of those sites, the former Andover substation at 21st/Andover. Reader comments also revealed something similar at the Dumar ex-substation, 16th/Holden. The WSGSC has put together before/after views of both sites. First, Pigeon Point:
Then, Dumar:
City Light told us the tree-cutting had to do with cleaning up contamination and that at least three other sites were slated for cleanup work. The Pigeon Point specifics are in our December story; regarding Dumar, SCL’s Lynn Best told us, “This is similar to the other site, Andover. The pesticides dieldrin and DDT were found at levels above (Model Toxics Control Act) cleanup levels. PCB levels below MTCA cleanup levels were found around the concrete pad. The vegetation removal was done in preparation for the cleanup.”
Here’s the news release from the WSGSC:
Ignoring neighborhood and West Seattle Green Space Coalition requests, and apparently without a directive from the Seattle City Council, in mid-December, Seattle City Light chopped down all the trees at the Pigeon Point former substation site and the Dumar former substation site.
West Seattle Green Space Coalition is demanding that Seattle City Light halt removal of plants and trees at its former substations in West Seattle. These sites contain mature vegetation, including significant trees, which are important to healthy neighborhoods. Established, green spaces are being destroyed with no plan to balance out the loss of these green spaces. Although these are only a few small parcels in West Seattle, they have been open, green habitat. The destruction of these longstanding spaces is detrimental to West Seattle. These sites are providing a small but significant balance to major high density development which is taking place in West Seattle.
(Photo courtesy Erik Nachtrieb)
A new chapter in the saga of West Seattle’s “Archer Addy,” the young champion whose story we brought you back in August. She’s now the subject of an in-the-works series of books, and the team is seeking a young artist to add images to the words:
West Seattleite and author/producer Erik Nachtrieb is looking for a youth illustrator, 8-17 years old, to illustrate for the Archer Addy chapter book series. The first book in the series is completed, in text form, and with the editor.
“The real-life adventures of the Archer Addy book series follow Addison (Archer Addy), a 9-year-old girl determined to enter a man’s sport and become a World Champion target archer in the midst of balancing homework, friends, her sister, and parents. Written on the positive themes of dreams, determination and self reliance, Archer Addy, in her own voice, brings the 8-12 year-old reader into her experiences and inspires them to think differently, try new things, and never give up.”
The Archer Addy series is written from the voice and experiences of Addy, who is a real-life West Seattleite and competitive target archer. We, the Archer Addy Book Team, feel utilizing a child from greater Seattle to illustrate the book would keep within tone and message of the book. We are hoping to find a young person with the same passion and drive for art as the character Archer Addy has for archery.
If you are between 8-18 years old, please have your parents contact us at: 1iOpenProductions@gmail.com. We will then deliver you a few excerpts from the book along with illustration titles from which you can derive inspiration for your drawings.
Further details ahead:
Read More
(Male bufflehead near Alki Point at sunset, photo by Danny McMillin, shared via WSB Flickr group)
One last day before everything gets back up to full post-holiday speed, with classes resuming Monday at Seattle Public Schools (and most independent schools). So we hope you will have a restful Sunday. If you’re looking for something to do – some options:
WEST SEATTLE FARMERS’ MARKET: New vendors today, market managers say – Farmbox Greens, Eaglemount Cider, Terra Fleurs, and Palmera Naturals (headed by West Seattle entrepreneur Maria Esztergalyos). 10 am-2 pm. (44th/Admiral)
WEST SEATTLE ULTIMATE FAMILY FRISBEE: 11 am at Walt Hundley Playfield in High Point – should be a sunny if chilly morning to get out and play! Find out more about the league via its Facebook page. (31st/Myrtle)
PROBIOTICS SAMPLING: 11 am-2 pm at Metropolitan Market-Admiral (WSB sponsor) – details in our calendar listing. (41st/42nd/Admiral Way)
REMODELING EXPO: If you’re going to this big event that’s in its third and final day today at the Convention Center downtown, 11 am-5:30 pm, look for West Seattle firms including three WSB sponsors – Ventana Construction (booth 313), Potter Construction (booth 518), and NCompass Construction (booth 811).
LIVE MUSIC AT C & P: Roo and the Few perform at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor), 3-5 pm. (5612 California SW)
ROLLER DERBY – FOR SKATERS, NOT SPECTATORS: New program starting at Southwest Teen Life Center, Sundays and Tuesdays – details here. (2801 SW Thistle)
Four West Seattle Crime Watch reader reports to share:
This time last year, the latest wave of West Seattle development hadn’t yet resumed its rise; one measure – just one project went before the Southwest Design Review Board in the first two months of 2013. So far in 2014, a different story; between now and February 20th, seven reviews are scheduled – including one just added to the schedule, 2626 Alki Avenue SW, at the corner of 59th and Alki (map).
That’s the project first reported here in Alki Community Council coverage last June, after architect Roger Newell came to the ACC for an early public presentation. Its Early Design Guidance meeting before the SWDRB is tentatively scheduled for Thursday, February 20th. It’s now described in the city Department of Planning and Development files as “3-story structure containing 14 residential units, 5 live-work units, and 3,250 sq. ft. of commercial space,” with 28 ground-level parking spaces, accessed off 59th (Newell explained in June that they can’t have an underground garage because of peat issues at the site). Documents submitted to the city by the architecture firm further explain that, fronting Alki, the building will have 4 apartments over 5 live-work units which in turn are over commercial space, and behind that, 10 apartments will be on two floors over the parking area. Three buildings are to be torn down at the corner of 59th and Alki and to the northeast, currently holding an office, pet-services shop, medical-marijuana dispensary, and restaurant, plus second-floor apartments in two of those three buildings.
The February 20th meeting is scheduled for 6:30 pm at the Senior Center of West Seattle, where the SWDRB usually meets these days; formal notice should appear within a few weeks in the twice-weekly Land Use Information Bulletin.
Thanks to Russ Walker for the photo from Alki this morning, a 13.3-foot high tide, tied with 8:04 am tomorrow for highest predicted Seattle tide of the year. While the lack of stormy weather meant it was a rather placid scene, it’s still important for those – like the state Ecology Department – who are tracking these tides, called “king tides,” to document “how very high tides affect the natural environment and our coastal infrastructure (to) help us visualize what sea-level rise might look like in the future.” If you took (or take) photos, share them with the Ecology Department’s Flickr group (as Russ and other West Seattle photographers did).
With the second truckload of trees dropped off during their Christmas-tree-recycling fundraiser at the Alki Masonic Center in The Junction today are West Seattle Rainbow Girls (from left) Zoë, Kyla, Esther, Destiny, and Laurel. This is the sixth year of tree-cycling for the group, and we haven’t heard from any other West Seattle organizations doing it, so if you missed it, here’s how to work with the city to recycle yours, and some ideas on how to handle it in a home garden.
Thanks to two photographers for sharing beautiful views of bald eagles in West Seattle this past week. Top photo is by Leroy Lewis, from the 3000 block of 50th SW; next three, by Gary Jones at Alki Point:
Think you know everything about bald eagles? Check the Audubon Society‘s info page!
(WSB photo: The Westy’s bar takes shape)
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
It’s become almost routine for new enterprises to do some crowdfunding – asking friends, family, online supporters to chip in to help cover startup costs. The Westy Sports and Spirits, under construction at 7908 35th SW in Westwood, is joining that crowd – but not via the usual donation drive.
The Westy has just become the 15th area enterprise to launch a drive via Community Sourced Capital – which you might call crowd-loaning instead of crowdfunding. And unlike the major donation-type crowdfunding sites, CSC is based in Seattle (see who else it’s worked with).
After hearing about The Westy’s campaign on Thursday, we returned to the under-construction space Friday afternoon to check in with its proprietors.
NYEve From Alki from Craig Howard on Vimeo.
That time-lapse video is the work of Craig Howard, who recorded the Seacrest-vicinity scene as New Year’s Eve unfolded and then made way for New Year’s Day. Now, here we are already on the first weekend of the New Year, and many are watching the water again …
HIGHEST TIDE OF THE YEAR: This morning and Sunday morning, high tide hits 13.3 feet – highest of the year. No storm surge, so no trouble’s expected, but if you’re by the water, you’ll notice it’s way up there, as explained here. 7:22 am today, to be precise. (P.S. Remember that you can find a tide chart any time on the WSB Weather page.)
CHRISTMAS TREE RECYCLING: Get the tree out of the living room before it’s a fire hazard – between 10 am and 2 pm, you can drop it off at the West Seattle Rainbow Girls‘ annual tree-recycling fundraiser in the lot at the Masonic Center in The Junction, $5 suggested donation. More info here. (40th/Edmunds)
TEEN RUNNERS’ GROUP: Today is the kickoff meeting for the new group that West Seattle Runner (WSB sponsor) is hosting for teen runners, 11 am. Details here. (California/Charlestown)
VOLUNTEER WITH SWSHS: Today’s the monthly info session for prospective volunteers at the home of the Southwest Seattle Historical Society, the Log House Museum at Alki, 11 am. Here’s our preview. (61st/Stevens)
FREE E-CYCLING: Have the holidays left you with old electronics to recycle? In nearby South Park, there’s a free dropoff event today, 1-4 pm – info in our calendar listing. (8201 10th Ave. S.)
WEST SEATTLE MEANINGFUL MOVIES: As previewed here last week, “Dirt: The Movie” is the first West Seattle Meaningful Movies presentation of 2014. 6:30 pm, dessert and mingling; 7 pm (free!) movie, Neighborhood House’s High Point Center. (6400 Sylvan Way)
VERY OZZY NEW YEAR: 9:30 pm at Feedback Lounge (WSB sponsor), it’s an Ozzy Osbourne tribute! (6451 California SW)
FIRST ‘ROCKY’ OF 2014: The monthly first-Saturday midnight screening of “Rocky Horror Picture Show” is tonight at Admiral Theater. Not too late to toast the New Year! (2343 California SW)
From Pigeon Point and Puget Ridge in particular, you might have heard or seen a big Seattle Fire response this past hour. They were called out to a spot on the Duwamish River right under the West Seattle Bridge, described by SFD via Twitter as “27-foot sailboat drifted into bridge abutment on the Duwamish. No injuries.” The SFD fireboat Chief Seattle was called in to help get the sailboat to shore.
(Photos by WSB’s Patrick Sand)
9:57 PM: Both games are over now, and both of West Seattle High School‘s varsity basketball teams won tonight against host Chief Sealth International High School – girls 65-31, boys 62-46.
ADDED 1:48 AM: Scenes and notes from the games.
Unless the fog rolls back in sometime soon, you should be able to see this firsthand looking right across the bay. Carolyn Newman sent the closer look above – and then Jeff Pond shared the wider view, below:
You might also remember the building, as we did, for its Valentine show almost six years ago.
And just as we were about to publish those two views – another sign of spirit came in:
Doree, who shared the photo, says she and her fellow “lunch ladies” at Denny International Middle School are going all out to cheer the Seahawks on.
Thanks to Anand for sharing the photo of Seattle Fire Department‘s Ladder 11 at Link Apartments in The Triangle earlier this afternoon – right across the street from L11’s home base at Station 32. Noting that no fire calls were on the log for that area OR for L11, we checked with SFD spokesperson Kyle Moore, who verified that the crew was practicing: “Ladder 11 was drilling on aerial placement and rooftop ventilation. This is a relatively new building, so the crew worked with the building’s management to practice, in case a fire ever occurs at the property.”
After Puerto Vallarta Restaurant owner Eduardo Morales-Cardenas was charged in November with trafficking in stolen liquor, we asked the state Liquor Control Board what that meant for the restaurant. At the time, a spokesperson told us, the LCB had taken no action. But today, we received a reader tip that Puerto Vallarta’s license had been temporarily suspended, and we have just verified that with the LCB. It’s a ten-day suspension – 3 pm yesterday until 3 pm January 12, according to a flyer posted in the restaurant’s window. LCB spokesperson Mikhail Carpenter tells WSB that the penalty is for “liquor purchase from an unauthorized source,” and that the penalty was either a thousand-dollar-fine or a 10-day suspension, and the latter was levied, he said, because “the fine wasn’t paid on time.” Carpenter says additional penalties are possible pending the outcome of the criminal case; Morales-Cardenas, arrested in September, is one of five people charged. We just checked the online case files, which show his next hearing set for January 13th.
While WSDOT says they’re not saying this is the only thing that stopped the tunnel-boring machine four weeks ago – they’ve gone public this afternoon with a discovery. No, not a huge boulder, or train car, or UFO, or whatever your favorite guess might have been. According to this brand-new update, they have found a pipe that was submerged by WSDOT itself more than a decade ago. From the update:
On Jan. 2, the water pressure was low enough and enough soil was removed from the excavation chamber to inspect the top 15 feet of the chamber.
This inspection showed an 8-inch-diameter steel pipe protruding through one of the many openings in the cutterhead. We believe the steel pipe is a well casing installed by WSDOT in 2002 after the 2001 Nisqually earthquake to better understand how groundwater flows through this area. The location of this pipe was included in reference materials in the contract.
We also believe at least some of the obstructions found by the exploratory holes are pieces of the 2002 steel pipe, which could be a contributing factor in the delay of boring.
So while the tunneling contractor and WSDOT are taking pains to say this might not be the ENTIRE problem, they are also figuring out now how to remove that pipe for starters. As the full update says, they don’t know yet what this means to the schedule, which had projected tunnel completion by the end of 2015 and Alaskan Way Viaduct teardown starting after the tunnel opened.
6:30 PM: More followup on today’s disclosure, via Seattle Times (WSB partner) transportation reporter Mike Lindblom.
Seattle Public Schools campuses don’t resume classes until Monday, but this school librarian was busy this week encouraging students and families to make reading even more of a priority in this brand-new year. He’s Craig Seasholes, librarian at Sanislo Elementary School, and he spent New Year’s Eve afternoon hosting a drop-in event at Delridge Branch Library to continue evangelizing the collaboration between the Seattle Public Library and the public-school libraries at Sanislo and Roxhill. Events ahead include an author visit via Skype and the annual Global Reading Challenge competition; ongoing programs include weekly “Raising a Reader” book bags that go home with kindergarteners every week, plus a boost of 500 SPL books at the Sanislo library, and students helping out before school as part of the Library Club.
Of course, by “tossing” your tree, we mean “recycling.” We published information about your options here right after Christmas, but you might have missed it, so here’s that link again. Short story even shorter: You have nine more days for free tree-cycling through the city (curbside or Transfer Station), or you can support the West Seattle Rainbow Girls via their annual tree-dropoff fundraiser tomorrow, 10 am-2 pm at 40th/Edmunds in The Junction.
Look! A sunbreak! That’s what we found at Seacrest, checking out this morning’s extra-high tide (the next two mornings bring the highest tides of the year!). And while the calendar doesn’t really start revving up until next week, we have items of note for this afternoon/evening:
HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL: School’s not back in session until Monday but our area’s two biggest high schools hit the court tonight – playing each other. A full afternoon/evening of basketball with West Seattle High School visiting Chief Sealth International High School begins with girls’ junior varsity at 3:15 pm, continuing with boys’ JV at 4:45 pm, girls’ varsity at 6:15 pm, and boys’ varsity at 8. (2600 SW Thistle)
‘WORDS, WRITERS, WEST SEATTLE’: The series of monthly appearances by West Seattle authors continues 4-6 pm today at Barnes & Noble/Westwood Village with Robert Spector, author of “The Mom and Pop Store.” Here’s our most-recent preview; here’s the home page for the series on the Southwest Seattle Historical Society website. (2800 SW Barton)
FRIDAY NIGHT SKATING: Checked out Alki Community Center‘s weekly roller-skating session? 6:45-8:45 pm, per Seattle Parks‘ quarterly brochure. (5817 SW Stevens)
LIVE MUSIC: Find it tonight at The Cask in The Admiral District, with Jamie Tippett and Adam Ludwig, 8 pm … And at Skylark Café and Club in North Delridge (3803 Delridge Way SW), it’s Seacastle and Something in The Trees, 9 pm.
And outside West Seattle, but featuring local businesses:
REMODELING EXPO: If you’re going to this big event today (noon-8 pm) through Sunday at the Convention Center downtown, look for West Seattle firms including (updated) three WSB sponsors – Ventana Construction (booth 313), Potter Construction (booth 518), and NCompass Construction (booth 811).
The Duwamish Rowing Club, based in South Park, is the one and only rowing club for this area – West Seattle too – and even though it’s not quite rowing weather yet, you can get ready for the summer with classes about to start at SP Community Center, Tuesday nights and/or Saturday mornings, starting next week – specific dates and times here. SPCC is at 8319 8th Avenue S., just a few miles east of West Seattle, where you can sign up in person at your first class.
(Latest bridge and Viaduct views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
After a rainy night, the weather‘s supposed to keep getting better as the weekend gets closer. So there’s a promising note with which to get the day going. Traffic-wise, a messy crash wreaked havoc with northbound 405 in Bellevue overnight, so if you commute out that way, check here for updates. No road-work advisories today, but if you missed our mention last night – late-night/early-morning closures are planned next week on I-5; details are here.
Another way to make 2014 even better than 2013: Spend more time volunteering! An easy way to get going with that is coming up tomorrow – the monthly intro-to-volunteering session at the Log House Museum. The museum’s parent organization, the Southwest Seattle Historical Society, can use your help with a variety of things – as explained here. SWSHS executive director Clay Eals leads the intro session, 11 am-1 pm Saturday (January 4th); the museum is at 61st and Stevens, just a block inland from Alki Beach.
You might already have seen the signage, at the entrance to northbound I-5 from the West Seattle Bridge – closures are coming up next week. Too many details to fit onto signs, but here’s the full text of a preview sent today by WSDOT:
Drivers should prepare for a series of lane and ramp closures on northbound and southbound Interstate 5 in the University District and SODO starting Monday, Jan. 6.
Some of the closures require crews to close all lanes of northbound or southbound I-5 in order to install highway-wide crossbeam sections of the overhead sign bridge. When I-5 is closed, traffic will be shifted to the collector-distributor or signed detours will direct drivers off and on the highway.
Closure highlights:
Monday, Jan. 6 to the morning of Tuesday, Jan. 7:
Northbound I-5
Two right lanes of northbound I-5 at Edgar Martinez Drive S. and the Edgar Martinez Drive S. off-ramp will close from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m.Tuesday, Jan. 7 to the morning of Wednesday, Jan. 8:
Southbound I-5
Driver alert: All lanes of southbound I-5 at S. King Street will close from 11 p.m. until 4:30 a.m. All traffic will be shifted to the collector-distributor which runs parallel to mainline I-5.
Northbound I-5
Three left lanes of northbound I-5 between South Spokane Street and the entrance to the Express Lanes will close from midnight to 5 a.m.
Two left lanes of northbound I-5 at Olive Way and the University Street on-ramp to northbound I-5 will close from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m.Wednesday, Jan. 8 to the morning of Thursday, Jan. 9:
Northbound I-5
Driver alert: From 11 p.m. until 4 a.m., multiple lanes and ramps on northbound I-5 will close between South Spokane Street and the Olive Way off-ramp.
All lanes of northbound I-5 will close from 2 a.m. until 2:30 a.m. between the Seneca Street exit and Olive Way.
The Cherry Street off-ramp and Olive Way off-ramp will close from 11 p.m. until 4 a.m.
The Express Lanes will operate northbound for the duration of the closure.Thursday, Jan. 9 to the morning of Friday, Jan. 10:
Southbound I-5
Driver alert: From 11 p.m. until 4 a.m., multiple lanes and the Northeast 50th off-ramp from southbound I-5 will close between Northgate Way and the Northeast 50th Street off-ramp.
All lanes of southbound I-5 will close from 2 a.m. until 2:30 a.m. in the vicinity of Northeast 85th Street.
The northeast 50th Street off-ramp will close from 11 p.m. until 4 a.m.
The Express Lanes will operate southbound for the duration of the closure.Northbound I-5
· Driver alert: All lanes of northbound I-5 at S. Dearborn Street will close from 11 p.m. until 4:30 a.m. All northbound traffic will be shifted to the collector-distributor which runs parallel to mainline I-5.For a full listing of next week’s I-5 lane closures associated with sign bridge replacement work, go here: wsdot.wa.gov/Northwest/King/Construction/i5Construction.htm
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