West Seattle, Washington
26 Sunday
(“Live” cam looking at the eastbound West Seattle Bridge; more cams here)
6 AM: We’re watching traffic more closely than usual this morning, because WSDOT’s continuing to work on the I-5 Spokane Street Interchange Special Bridge Repair project, which means:
*Eastbound West Seattle Bridge ramps to I-5 are closed
*Eastbound West Seattle Bridge ramp to Beacon Hill is closed
*You have to exit at 4th Avenue S. if you’re not exiting at NB 99 or 1st Ave. S.
*At 4th, WSDOT promises a trooper/flagger and adjusted signal timing
They’re ahead of schedule, and expecting to reopen the ramps by 3 pm today, but till then, you’ll have to detour or use alternate routes. Detours for getting to I-5 are outlined here. (Or from south West Seattle, take Highland Park Way to get to NB 99 and, at the north end of the 1st Avenue S. Bridge, take the Michigan exit to reach I-5.)
Also this morning:
*First commute since the Metro “service change” on Saturday; biggest change, Route 50 – here are full details
*No Water Taxi service because of the Presidents Day holiday
*School’s out for most (if not all); Seattle Public Schools resume classes tomorrow
We’ll add updates; yours are appreciated too (if you can comment or text/call – 206-293-6302 – legally & safely, e.g. as a passenger, or once you get to your destination). Thanks!
4:41 PM NOTE: As published in a separate update, the I-5 ramps did reopen before 3 pm. And the day has been devoid of traffic trouble.
Local artists are invited to come sell their creations at the next “Homemade Brigade,” March 2nd at Freshy’s in The Admiral District, according to Krystal Kelley from event partner Mind Unwind:
The Homemade Brigade is a community partnership between Mind Unwind and Freshy’s Coffee. The Brigade is comprised of artists who create goods and art pieces in small batches by hand. Most of the artists featured in the past use recycled and reused materials, but this is not necessary.
For artists, come sell your wares. Entrance fee includes table, you keep all your sales…there is no commission. Table fee is $15 per artist. Register early, space is limited!
Follow this link to register.
For art enthusiasts, come buy local art that is creative and inspiring. Support local art and business!
Two West Seattle Crime Watch reader reports tonight – first, Lizz reports a car theft:
Hey, my car was stolen from the corner of 9th and Thistle in the Highland Park area, in the middle of the night between 2/15-2/16, not sure what time. It is a light blue Honda Civic ’91, with a fuzzy steering wheel, cherries and a yellow air freshener tree hanging from the front mirror. There is no side mirror on the right side. The license plate number is 530YTG. Please keep an eye out, and if spotted, please call the police and Tina at 206-321-5660. Thank you!
And from Diane, a car prowl:
I want to report that we had our car prowled (Charlestown &52nd Ave SW) sometime late last night 2/16/13 or early this morning 2/17/13. The car was unlocked and there was nothing of great value in it but the contents of the glove box were strewn all over and my dog barrier was broken. It seems they did not take the change from the door pocket but did make off with some leather gloves and I’m hoping nothing else.
Yet another reminder – your next chance to bring neighborhood-crime concerns/questions directly to local police, and to hear about the latest trends, is Tuesday night (February 19th) at the West Seattle Crime Prevention Council’s meeting, also including guests discussion Seattle Parks security/safety and the SPD Victim Assistance Program. 7 pm at the precinct (Delridge/Webster), all welcome.
If you are thinking about taking the West Seattle Water Taxi tomorrow morning just in case the I-5/Beacon Hill ramp closures bring extra bridge backup – just a reminder, you can’t; both Water Taxi runs are out of service on Presidents Day.
P.S. 7-day-a-week WT service resumes April 8th.
That just-published video shows a winning performance – the Chief Sealth International High School Percussion Ensemble, led by student leaders Farhan Vohra and Francisco Leon, under the direction of CSIHS band director Marcus Pimpleton – as they won the Elliott Bay Music Educators‘ Solo and Ensemble competition last weekend at Seattle Pacific University. In April, they will represent the Seattle area in the large percussion category at the WIAA/WMEA State Solo and Ensemble competition in Ellensburg. Congratulations!
(“Live” traffic cam for east end of WS Bridge; see more cameras @ WSB Traffic page)
WSDOT says the ramp work at the east end of the West Seattle Bridge will be done early – but not before the morning commute, so this advisory includes information you need for tomorrow morning:
The ramps from the West Seattle Bridge to Interstate 5 will open much sooner than expected, but Monday morning commuters will still need to add an extra 15 minutes to their drive.
Contractor crews working for the Washington State Department of Transportation are making excellent progress and will reopen all of the ramps to I-5 from the Spokane Street Viaduct and lower Spokane Street by 3 p.m. Monday, Feb. 18.
The closure began on Friday, Feb. 15 and was scheduled to last until 5 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 19. Crews have worked around the clock to remove and replace aging expansion joints and also jacked sections of the ramp to repair slabs of concrete.
While President’s Day is Monday, not everyone has the day off work. In anticipation of heavy traffic on the detour route, the City of Seattle has retimed the light at 4th Avenue South and a trooper from the Washington State Patrol will flag traffic during the Monday morning drive.
Until the ramps reopen, 4th Avenue S. is where you’ll have to get off the eastbound bridge if you haven’t already exited at 1st or to NB 99.
P.S. The next scheduled closure in the I-5 Spokane St. Interchange Special Bridge Repair Project is Friday night 3/1 until Monday morning 3/4 and will only affect the ramp to southbound I-5 from the east end of the bridge.
With the Roxhill Park skatespot set to open soon – it’s the perfect time for a new skate shop across the street in Westwood Village. SW Skate Shop is in its second week of business on the breezeway (east of Bed Bath Beyond). We stopped in today and met Ian Mandt, the manager, and Luke Constant:
They told us the shop’s focusing on local brands whenever possible, and it’s carrying boards, components, apparel, even local art – check out Jason Singler‘s work, displayed on the walls (and available for purchase, too):
Mandt says their hours are somewhat flexible for starters, noon-6 weekdays, 11-5 weekends.
If you’ve seen the police response near Me-Kwa-Mooks Park and are wondering what’s going on: Police were looking for someone reported to be possibly in danger of harming himself, and, according to scanner traffic, found him, and were calling in an ambulance to get him some help.
The days are longer, the temperatures are higher, and rummage-sale/garage-sale season is in view! Tibbetts United Methodist Church (WSB sponsor) has just announced the plan for its big spring sale:
Spring Rummage Sale
Friday, March 8th from 9:00 am – 4:00 pm and
Saturday, March 9th from 9:00 am – 3:00 pm“A” is for Appliances
“B” is for Baby stuff
“C” is for Cookware
“D” is for Dresses
“E” is for EVERYTHING . . .Everything you could possibly want or need, all at prices “not of this century.” This twice-yearly event is coming right up and will feature usual bargains galore! Furniture, bikes, BBQs, and garden items outside. Plenty of clothing for all ages, jewelry, toys, games and other great stuff inside.
Tibbetts UMC is at 3940 41st SW, online at tibbettsumchurch.org and on Facebook here.
SIDE NOTE #1 – The ninth annual West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day, coordinated by WSB, isn’t far away either: Saturday, May 11th. Watch for our registration-dates announcement next month.
SIDE NOTE #2 – If you are having your own sale, any time of year, here’s how to list it for free on WSB.
Just in case the sun doesn’t show up today, here’s one last look at Saturday – the sunset scene from Constellation Park, courtesy of Jon Anderson. Now, on to Sunday, with five highlights for the rest of today from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
WEST SEATTLE FARMERS’ MARKET: Year-round and open today as usual, 10 am-2 pm, 44th/Alaska. Don’t usually go in the winter? You might be surprised by the list of what’s generally available this time of year.
TALK ABOUT HOMELESSNESS … with a panel including regionally known experts/activists, noon at Alki UCC (62nd and Hinds); details in the calendar listing.
JAMTIME AT C & P: Sunday afternoon “old-time country and bluegrass” at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor), which just celebrated anniversary #10. 1-4 pm (5612 California SW).
BEEN TO THE TOOL LIBRARY LATELY? As the weather warms and the days lengthen, it’s getting to be prime time for projects again. The award-winning West Seattle Tool Library‘s regular Sunday hours are 1-5 pm. It’s at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center (4408 Delridge Way SW), on the northeast side of the building. You can even browse the inventory online before you go.
‘LOVE LETTERS’ FINALE: One final performance for the Fauntleroy Players‘ production at Fauntleroy UCC (9140 California SW). 2 pm; tickets at the door.
… and as always, there’s more on the calendar, for today, tomorrow, and the weeks/months beyond.
That’s the traffic cam looking eastbound on the West Seattle Bridge; no problems so far, but tomorrow might be a different story, since the ramps to I-5 and Beacon Hill will remain closed for repair work until early TUESDAY morning. This camera shows part of the work zone:
The repair work is for WSDOT’s I-5 Spokane Street Interchange Bridge Repair project, which continues into spring with periodic closures, though never the same spot twice. This weekend, if you don’t exit to northbound 99 or to 1st Avenue South, you will be diverted off the eastbound bridge at 4th Avenue South. The westbound side is NOT affected. Detours and project details are here; more traffic cameras are here.
(Photos by Nick Adams for WSB. Above, the Au Lac Vovinam Dance Team)
With a lion dance, firecrackers, and even a mayoral appearance, all graced by sunshine, West Seattle’s Vietnamese Cultural Center celebrated the Lunar New Year on Saturday afternoon. But there is more to the celebration than those bright and loud elements:
That’s the center’s director Lee Bui, after lighting incense. Another tradition: A tray of five fruits, as an offering:
Lanh Bui prepared it …
… and placed it on the outdoor altar:
There were photos with their guest, Mayor McGinn:
And time to admire the center’s growing complement of tributes and temples:
What looks like garlands hanging in the foreground of that view were actually strings of firecrackers, waiting to be lit:
That’s Duong Tan setting them off. And of course there was dancing:
From the Au Lac Vovinam team, which performed, here’s Doan Dinh in the foreground:
The celebration was about ceremony, but also about people – like Phuoc Huynh, who spoke:
And Chi Nguyen:
And the uniformed veterans often seen at Cultural Center events, like Len Hua, photographed saluting during the national anthems:
And this time, a special guest:
You’re welcome to visit the center on Saturday afternoons, when it’s open to the public, noon-3 pm at 2236 SW Orchard. The iconic statue on its grounds depicts the 13th-century hero Gen. Tran Hung Dao.
The new Genesee Hill elementary school to be funded by the voter-approved BEX IV levy is advancing through the design process. The Genesee-Schmitz Neighborhood Council has published new design graphics, both for the building and its landscaping – with a caveat that the district has told GSNC the building schematics need to be updated again, because the school will definitely be built for a 650-student capacity. (As noted by GSNC, and reported here earlier this month, the current Schmitz Park Elementary – whose community is planning the new Genesee Hill school – is expected to teach almost 600 students next year.) You can see the new graphics in multiple posts on the GSNC website at genesee-schmitz.org, where there’s also a list of upcoming “community conversation” meetings about the project: February 26, March 14, April 30, all at SP Elementary, all at 6:30 pm.
(October 2012 photo by Nick Adams for WSB; click image for larger view)
Last month, the first talk in a new series presented by The Whale Trail drew a full house to C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor). The next talk is just five days away – Thursday (February 21) – and tickets are still available, reports TWT’s Donna Sandstrom with this reminder:
It has been almost 8 years since the Southern Resident Killer Whales (J, K and L pods) were listed as endangered. How are they doing? What progress has been made towards their recovery? What can we do to help?
Join us for this informal and informative talk featuring Lynne Barre, NOAA Fisheries. Learn what NOAA and its partners are doing to conserve and protect these iconic and beloved whales, including current research findings, management approaches and population updates.
Lynne is the Branch Chief in the Protected Resources Division at NOAA. She worked on the endangered listing of the Southern Residents, designated critical habitat, and developed and finalized the SRKW Recovery Plan.
As part of the recovery program, Lynne developed an oil-spill-response plan and protective regulations for killer whales in Washington. She works closely with partner organizations, including The Whale Trail, to implement the recovery plan. Lynne also works on the newly listed rockfish species and coordinates with Puget Sound salmon recovery.
We’ll also hear updates from Robin Lindsay (Seal Sitters) and Laura James (tox-ick.org).
This is the second in an “Orca Talk” series, hosted by The Whale Trail at C&P, 5621 California SW. Cost: $5 suggested donation, kids free. Advance tickets available at brownpapertickets.com/event/337516. Buy tickets now – see you there!
Questions – or, interested in volunteering? Here’s how to reach Donna: donna@thewhaletrail.org or 206.919.5397.
While there’s no update on the armed street robbery we reported last night in the 28th/Adams area of North Delridge, SPD Blotter has published summaries of two others from last night – 
one in the Admiral area, another one in North Delridge. In the first case, the victims and suspects were all juveniles – 3 victims, 4 robbers, around 9 pm in the 2600 block of California SW – here’s the summary. In the second, a man walking in the 4800 block of Delridge Way just before 11 pm, after leaving what police describe as a “large party,” was held up; police found the suspect, and the items he stole, by going back to the party. Here’s that summary.
Also, a reader report of a man who she says was behaving lewdly – not a complete flasher but seemingly on the verge – on Marine View Drive this afternoon between Roxbury and 104th (map). She described him as “seemingly Latino or Middle Eastern with facial hair, probably in his 30s” and says he was “walking along with his shirt rolled up and the top of his pubic region exposed,” and after they passed, pulled his pants further down to expose more of his backside. She says she tried calling the non-emergency police line but gave up after being bounced around. As we told her, police advise that you call 911 in most cases, including something like this; the dispatchers are the same and will route you if need be.
Less than a week after winning the title of America’s Best Bagger at the National Grocers Association convention in Las Vegas (WSB coverage here), Andrew Borracchini is back at work today at Metropolitan Market-Admiral (WSB sponsor). Management and co-workers held a celebration in his honor this afternoon, before he got back to the bagging business. We stopped in for a photo and asked a couple quick questions: When did he know he would win? Soon as he was called back up as one of the five finalists, he replied, he knew he had it. (We took this screengrab of the Final Five from the live UStream feed during the event:)
And, what’s the plan for his $10,000 prize? Saving it for now and deciding later, Andrew replied. (He also gets a trophy, and the store is slated to get a special commemorative “Best Bagger” checkout stand!)
Watch for that wedding ring – which belonged to the late husband of a West Seattleite who says her family’s home was broken into Friday. The burglary victim, who asked that her name not be used, says there were also irreplaceable items – photos of her late husband – on an iPod (described as “5th generation, blue”) taken by the burglar(s). The break-in happened sometime between 8 am and 3 pm Friday near 50th/Edmunds (map); if you have any information about the ring, or the burglary, contact police.
(EDITOR’S NOTE: We’re continuing to update the story – scroll down for the latest)
11:10 AM: Thank you to Michelle for the updates on the case of the trimaran in trouble off Beach Drive; this is the fourth day, but apparently possibly final, as her newest photo (above) shows that someone is here to tow it assist. Earlier this morning, she had sent a photo showing both the trimaran and its owner’s smaller boat were swamped:
Beach Drive Blog was first to report on the plight of a boat some commenters recognized as having been offered recently for free in a Craigslist ad.
(This photo and next, by Nick Adams for WSB)
12:21 PM UPDATE: Photojournalist Nick Adams is at the scene for WSB and says the Department of Ecology is on site; with the tide out, as his photos show, the boat’s apparently basically wreckage on the beach.
The photo above shows what commenter KMF pointed out – part of the boat has broken away.
12:40 PM UPDATE: Nick reports a salvage company is coming from Lynnwood. The mast is a big worry – neighbor Michelle adds via e-mail that there’s concern it will crash into a unit at Harbor West if not moved away soon.
4:40 PM: Update from Michelle – a crew has arrived on scene. And the rising tide shows another view of the boat’s “blown-out” side:
The next high tide isn’t till after 10 pm. And Michelle tells us the crew just chain-sawed the mast. (P.S. Turns out we have TWO nearby-residing Michelles who have kindly been sharing photos and information. Thanks to both!)
6:28 PM: As the sun sets:
From the neighbor, who says, “The owner is still down moving things, but the crew is gone.”
(Fauntleroy Park photographed by Flickr member Walkabout Wolf, shared via the WSB Flickr group)
From the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar, highlights for the rest of your Saturday:
TRAFFIC REMINDER: Can’t mention this one often enough – the eastbound east end of the bridge is closed past 4th Avenue South – so make alternate plans to get to I-5 or Beacon Hill. The closure is scheduled to last till early TUESDAY morning. More info here.
METRO SERVICE CHANGE: As Metro Transit makes one of its periodic “service changes,” with adjustments around the system, the major West Seattle change is that Route 50 is, for the first time since its launch, starting its “real” route. Here’s our Friday update with details.
WEST SEATTLEITES AT HOME SHOW: Potter Construction (WSB sponsor) is among the exhibitors at the Seattle Home Show – look for them if you’re going! (It runs through February 24th at the CenturyLink Field Event Center.)
LUNAR NEW YEAR CELEBRATION: 2 pm at the Vietnamese Cultural Center, 2236 SW Orchard (just north of Home Depot), all welcome for festivities including a lion dance.
‘THE LINE’: Documentary screening at St. John the Baptist Church, 6:30 pm (California/Spokane) – details here.
JAZZ AND SWING AT KENYON HALL: Glenn Crytzer and his Syncopators play tonight at Kenyon Hall (7904 35th SW), 7:30 pm – details here.
‘LOVE LETTERS’: Third of four performances for the Fauntleroy Players’ production at Fauntleroy Church‘s Fellowship Hall (9140 California SW), 7:30 pm.
WESTSIDE BURLESQUE: 9:30 tonight at Skylark Café and Club (3803 Delridge SW), promising, among other things, “strange prizes.”
LIVE MUSIC: The calendar has listings for Feedback Lounge (WSB sponsor), Poggie Tavern, and Benbow Room – see them all here.
That’s the traffic cam from the east end of the eastbound West Seattle Bridge/Spokane Street Viaduct and it’s closed to traffic right now, not scheduled to reopen until early TUESDAY morning. This is part of WSDOT’s I-5 Spokane Street Interchange Bridge Repair project, which has a rolling list of various ramp-closure configurations most weekends through spring. Until this reopens, you will be diverted off the eastbound bridge at 4th Avenue South – no access to the I-5 or Beacon Hill ramps. (The westbound side is NOT affected.) Find detours and other information here.
Two close games in a row for the Seattle Lutheran High School boys’ basketball team. Two nights after their one-point last-seconds win over Auburn Adventist (WSB coveage here), the Saints went into double overtime in La Conner tonight – losing to LC 56-53. Here are the game stats as published by our partners at The Seattle Times.
(WSHS’s Lexi Ioane)
It’s a season to remember for the West Seattle High School girls-varsity basketball team, and tonight it ended at Bellevue College with the Wildcats losing to Juanita High School, 63-36. With head coach Sonya Elliott chosen as Metro League Coach of the Year as her team won their division and moved into the playoffs, the memories are many. As for tonight’s game ….
(WSHS’s #10 Charli Elliott, #24 Lydia Giomi, #21 Gabby Sarver)
The game was the second tough one this week for the Wildcats, who led at the end of the first quarter and stayed close through the second, despite having trouble hanging onto the ball.
(WSHS’s Shelby Walker)
In the second half Juanita became more assertive, grabbing the ball and maintaining a full-court press till the end.
7:51 PM: In North Delridge, police are searching after a report of a street holdup near 28th and Adams (map), per scanner traffic, in the Dragonfly Park area. The victim reported being held up by two people. We don’t have descriptions at this point but are publishing this preliminary information just in case you see the search – for which a K-9 team has been summoned – and wonder what’s going on. Updates when we get them.
10:41 PM: Southwest Precinct Lt. Alan Williams tells us that the suspects are “four teenage males – at least one of whom was wearing a mask. Officers are attempting to get more specific descriptions. No one is in custody.” This is being investigated as an armed robbery, Lt. Williams says, because a gun was reported to have been displayed.
| 4 COMMENTS