West Seattle, Washington
25 Monday
Just in from SDOT:
SDOT pavement marking crews will re-mark lines on the West Seattle Bridge tomorrow, Saturday, Sept. 22, weather permitting. They plan to begin at approximately 4:30 am and complete the work by 3:30 pm.
The crews do not expect to close lanes, but motorists will need to slow down when driving behind the paint trucks which travel an average of three to six miles an hour during this operation. Motorists are asked to drive cautiously, allowing the crews plenty of room to do their work safely.
Full Tilt Ice Cream proprietor Justin Cline sends word that pre-packed pints of FT are about to go on sale at West Seattle Thriftway (WSB sponsor)! Starting next week, he says, Thriftway (California/Fauntleroy/Morgan) will be selling 12 flavors of Full Tilt – vanilla, salted caramel, übe, green-tea chip, Thai iced tea, backyard-mint chip, dark chocolate, Mexican chocolate, huckleberry chip, lavender, peanut butter and jelly, and strawberry basil. P.S. Justin tells us this is Full Tilt’s first retailer in West Seattle!
Several sites around West Seattle/White Center/South Park got an extra boost from volunteers today, during the United Way of King County “Day of Caring”:
At WestSide Baby‘s WC headquarters, the volunteers included former Mariners player Dan Wilson and wife Annie Wilson, photographed with WS Baby executive director Nancy Woodland. They are the chairs of UWKC’s campaign this year. WS Baby also welcomed dozens of volunteers from Virginia Mason. Full story – with video – is on our partner site White Center Now.
In West Seattle, volunteer sites included the Westwood Village QFC:
That’s where we photographed Judy Nash and Sukhvinder Singh Gulati, Microsoft employees there to help with a food drive to benefit the White Center Food Bank. Microsoft also shared some of its staff with the Nature Consortium‘s work party in the West Duwamish Greenbelt today. (Anyone else who worked on “Day of Caring” today – as a volunteer or a nonprofit host – let us know!)
(Photos by Christopher Boffoli for WSB)
FIRST REPORT, 1:13 PM: Avoid Fauntleroy Way SW south of the Triangle – there’s a big fire-department response for a house fire in the 5000 block (map).
1:21 PM UPDATE: Firefighters are actively fighting what’s described as a basement fire in a one-story home. We’ve added a photo from WSB’s Christopher Boffoli. No word of injuries so far – firefighters are searching to make sure there’s no one inside. Again, Fauntleroy is blocked by fire units – so take alternate routes.
1:26 PM UPDATE: The fire is “tapped” – the first milestone of major progress – but firefighters are being warned to be careful in the room where it started, because of what was described on the scanner as “a possible hazardous situation” involving “needles on the floor.”
1:45 PM UPDATE: The fire has since been reported as “out.” SFD spokesperson Kyle Moore is on the scene so our crews are getting a summary from him shortly.
1:51 PM UPDATE: Moore confirms no injuries; firefighters did encounter very thick smoke upon arrival, and that plus the results of the firefighting operation make it unlikely the home’s residents will be getting back in any time soon. Regarding the needles, he says a box of hypodermic needles was in the basement and got knocked over, but doesn’t know anything more regarding why they were there. No cause determined so far. Fauntleroy’s still likely to be blocked in the area for a while, an hour or so, he thinks. We have his briefing on video and will add here when it’s uploaded. (added – here it is)
3:29 PM UPDATE: Fauntleroy is open again through the fire zone, so you won’t have a problem during the commute. Still awaiting word from SFD on the cause.
MONDAY UPDATE: The cause, from SFD spokesperson Moore:
Seattle Fire Investigators determined a fire at a West Seattle Home on Friday was accidental. Fire investigators determined the basement bedroom fire was most likely caused by an unattended candle or improperly discarded smoking materials.
The first 911 call came in 1:05 p.m. to reports of flames visible from a one-story home with basement in the 5000 block of Fauntleroy Way SW. The firefighter/paramedics from Medic Unit 31 arrived first and made sure all occupants were safely outside the house. Firefighters ran hose lines to the basement. It took about 12 minutes to knock the flames down.
The American Red Cross was called for the two female and five male occupants who were displaced by the fire. No one was injured.
Fire investigators estimate the fire caused $30,000 damage to the structure and $15,000 to the contents.
The first of this fall’s three homecoming football games in our area is tomorrow afternoon at West Seattle Stadium, as the Seattle Lutheran High School Saints host the Concrete High School Lions (from eastern Skagit County), 1:30 pm. SLHS fans asked us to remind you today – “Wear white to support the Saints!”
About two dozen people filled a room at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center for the Delridge Neighborhoods District Council‘s September meeting on Wednesday night – and about half were city employees, mostly to talk about projects previewed here earlier, repaving the south mile of Delridge next year (map above), and reducing combined-sewer overflows into Longfellow Creek. Read on for the toplines on those topics and other key points:
What had been a boat business at 5050 Delridge Way SW is in the process of conversion to a martial-arts/fitness center. David Stegman from West Seattle Fight & Fitness e-mailed us to share the news of what he and his business partners have in progress there, and shared photos too, saying, “We are very excited to be a part of this growing community of local businesses!” They’ll specialize in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, which he will teach: “I’m currently one of the highest-ranking Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Black Belts in the Northwest and the only one that lives and will be teaching in West Seattle!” They’ll have a “full-fitness gym area,” too – here’s where it’ll be:
(More remodeling photos are on their Facebook page.) And they’re planning on classes for children ages 3 and up – Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, tumbling, and Tae Kwon Do. He’s expecting West Seattle Fight & Fitness to open sometime next month.
Since yard/garage-sale season isn’t over yet, we’re still receiving some questions about where to announce sales on WSB. The quick answer: The WSB Forums‘ Freebies/Deals/Sales section. Here’s how:
*If you already have a WSB Forums user name, sign in and go here
*If you don’t, go here first to register
*Then when you do, go here
*Please be sure the subject of your post includes the sale’s date(s)
That’s it! Free listing for your yard/garage/rummage sale.
P.S. If your school, church, or other large nonprofit organization is having a big benefit sale, you are also welcome to send an announcement for the WSB West Seattle Events Calendar – editor@westseattleblog.com (as with all calendar items, please include the who/what/when/where/why/link info in your e-mail, NOT as an attachment, and please e-mail us at least a week in advance – thanks).
P.P.S. Yes, we’ll be presenting West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day again next year – mark your calendar(s) for May 11, 2013!
(Newly paved stretch of Beach Drive, Juneau to Atlas, completed Thursday)
Happy Friday! Here are highlights from the WSB West Seattle Events Calendar, on the eve of autumn (the equinox is at 7:49 am our time Saturday):
FOOD DRIVE: As part of the United Way Day of Caring, Microsoft employees will be at Westwood Village QFC 10 am-1 pm collecting food and money donations for the White Center Food Bank.
BALLROOM DANCING: 1:30-3:30 pm at Delridge Community Center (Delridge Way SW south of SW Genesee) – the monthly event with Lauren Petrie.
HIGH-SCHOOL FOOTBALL: West Seattle High School hosts Cleveland at Southwest Athletic Complex (2801 SW Thistle), 7 pm. (The full sports schedule for WSHS and Chief Sealth, daily, is always linked from our calendar.)
WINE TASTING: 6-7:30 pm at Bin 41 in The Junction, a “Washington Wine Medley,” in conjunction with West Seattle distributor Elliott Bay, also featuring “a couple wines from our neighbors in Oregon.”
WCCDA DINNER: As previewed on partner site White Center Now last week, trailblazing King County Councilmember Larry Gossett is the featured speaker at tonight’s White Center Community Development Association‘s 10th annual dinner/auction, 6-9 pm at South Seattle Community College‘s Brockey Center (south end of the campus at 6000 16th SW). Ticket info here.
RESTORATIVE YOGA AT SOUNDYOGA: 6:30 tonight with Milo Minnis, “no experience needed” – a great way to follow a busy week. SoundYoga (WSB sponsor; 5639 California SW) – details in the calendar listing.
MOVIE NIGHT IN HIGHLAND PARK: At HP Improvement Club (12th/Holden) tonight, doors open at 6:30 pm, movie at 7. Here’s the rest of the announcement:
Volunteers will be selling popcorn, candy and other movie fare. Bring blankets and pillows or sit in our chairs. Movie hint: In this 1985 classic, a group of kids embark on a wild adventure to save their neighborhood from dastardly developers after finding a pirate treasure map. Free admission! Please bring your family and friends and join us!
LIVE MUSIC: Lots of it tonight! Follow the links to calendar listings with details. Sid Law at C & P Coffee (WSB sponsor), 6-8 pm … Coven and Demon Dogs (CD release party) at Skylark Café and Club, 8 pm … Kimball and The Fugitives at The Cask, 8 pm … Barbie Anaka at Salty’s on Alki (WSB sponsor), 8 pm … NMERCER and PonyHomie at The Benbow Room, 9 pm … Flat 5 at Feedback Lounge (WSB sponsor), 9:30 pm
More for today/tonight – plus a preview of the weekend! – on the calendar.
Thanks to Barry for the sunset view above, and to Chad for the one below. The spectacular-sunset streak may not last too much longer, if the newest forecast is accurate – it’s predicting a string of cloudy days, starting shortly.
P.S. The National Weather Service offers this observation re: our rainlessness (sorry, the caps are theirs):
THE RECORD FOR THE LEAST NUMBER OF DAYS OF MEASURABLE PRECIPITATION FOR THE AUGUST 1ST TO SEPTEMBER 30TH TIME FRAME FOR SEATTLE IS 4 DAYS SET IN 1974. SO FAR THIS YEAR WE HAVE HAD ONLY 2 DAYS. THE RECORD FOR THE DRIEST AUGUST 1ST TO SEPTEMBER 30TH ON RECORD FOR SEATTLE IS 0.19 INCHES SET IN 1993. CURRENTLY THERE HAS ONLY BEEN 0.02 INCHES OF RAIN SINCE AUGUST 1ST. BOTH OF THESE RECORDS INCLUDE THE FEDERAL BUILDING RECORDS WHICH GO BACK TO 1891.
From Karen:
Sometime in the middle of the night, my 1998 Red Honda CRV was stolen from in front of my house on the 7300 block of 29th SW. Police report has been filed. CRV has older Yakima rack with roof mounted bike rack and rear tire mounted Thule 2 bike rack (silver and black). License plate 649VJZ, just in case any WSB readers see an out-of-place Red CRV matching description.
(WSB photo from last April’s Recycle Roundup)
This Sunday brings another chance for you to recycle no-longer-needed and/or no-longer-working electronics, among other things, as Fauntleroy Church hosts another of its twice-a-year Recycle Roundups with 1 Green Planet. Check the list on the official flyer – it’s a LONG list! – those are the items you’re welcome to drop off in the church parking lot, 9140 California SW, between 9 am and 3 pm on Sunday (September 23). Last time around, participants dropped off a record 16 tons of recyclables!
Six more Thursday nights till the November 6th election – which means six more chances for you to be part of a unique joint-effort phone bank in support of marriage-equality Referendum 74. We photographed the volunteers tonight in the room where they’ve been working at the building shared by Alki UCC and Kol HaNeshamah. They would love to have more volunteers – training and food are provided; you’re asked to bring a laptop and cell phone. It’s a standing listing for 5:30-8:30 pm Thursdays on the WSB West Seattle Events Calendar – see it here.
(SIDE NOTE: If you are just starting to pay attention to this fall’s issues – Referendum 74 started with the Legislature and Governor Gregoire making same-sex marriage legal; opponents gathered signatures to put the new law to voters as a referendum. If the majority of voters vote to approve R-74, the law is affirmed; if more voters reject it, it is overturned. Read the full text of the law here.)
Another beautiful evening. And more to come. Going to the park? Thinking about a way? Take it one step further. Or maybe 100 steps further. Longtime WSB sponsor Fitness Together (headquartered in The Junction) came up with “The Lincoln Park Workout” and put it on video, as one way to enjoy the entirety of West Seattle’s biggest park, while getting a sizable amount of exercise. (You can break it down into components, too, if you just want to do part of it.)
Thursday is when state and local transportation planners go public with updates on road-closure schedules, and we have advance warning of the next both-directions Highway 99/Alaskan Way Viaduct closure: Friday night 10/5 through Sunday afternoon 10/7, according to this roundup of all major closures/changes.
2:56 PM: If you’re in Arbor Heights and wondering about the notable police presence – there’s a search under way for a hit-run driver, according to Seattle Police. After the crash – for which we don’t have full details yet – the driver parked and ran, with a citizen in pursuit for a while.
3:03 PM: We’re in the neighborhood where it happened, 44th SW south of SW 98th. Nobody hurt. An SPD K-9 team just arrived to join the search. The driver is described as a bald Caucasian man, white T-shirt and blue jeans. He was driving a blue sedan that smashed into a parked white Suburban.
Call this a followup to a followup. As requested by Mayor McGinn last week, the FAA has scheduled a south-end meeting “in response to community concerns about air traffic issues over Seattle,” according to the mayor’s spokesperson Aaron Pickus. He says the meeting is scheduled for Oct. 23 from 6-8 pm at NewHolly Gathering Hall, 7054 32nd Ave. South. The mayor’s letter was inspired in part by Alki Community Council president Tony Fragada bringing up concerns about the “Greener Skies” air-traffic proposal at the August 28 mayoral town hall at Southwest Teen Life Center. Tonight, in fact, the ACC’s monthly meeting includes a followup on “Greener Skies”; the public’s welcome as always, 7 pm, Alki UCC (61st and Hinds).
UPDATE: According to the Quieter Skies Task Force, the NewHolly Hall meeting is now at 6:30-8:30 pm on October 23rd.
Lots of informative but photo-less news so far today – so we’re glad this just arrived to save the day! Thanks to Relaena from Sindelar Marketing for sharing her photo of a scene from the east Alki shore. Sunny up here in Upper Fauntleroy now, after a socked-in morning; hope the sun has finally arrived where you are, too!
And just out of the WSB inbox: Next Thursday, you’re invited to come talk about community safety as part of the city’s “Safe Communities” program. 7-9 pm September 27th at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center (4408 Delridge Way SW). And it’s a conversation, not a meeting, as the invitation-format announcement makes clear:Read More
Diane, an avid library user, says she hadn’t heard about this till spotting a sign in a local branch, so we’re mentioning it to make sure you’re not caught by surprise: All Seattle Public Library branches are closed for staff members’ in-service day next Thursday, September 27th.
In the days leading up to the announcement of his budget proposal for next year, Mayor McGinn has been parceling out parts of the plan. Today’s announcement: 10 extra hours a week for each of seven community centers in the city, after-school and late-night, to “provid(e) at-risk youth with additional safe outlets outside school hours.” Two are in this area: Delridge and South Park. The announcement also included $1.68 million for expansion of the Youth Violence Prevention Initiative.
In West Seattle Crime Watch – four reader reports about three incidents. First, an attempted burglary as told by both the victim and the neighbor who interrupted. Read More
The city’s twice-weekly Land Use Information Bulletin is out, and there are two projects potentially of note to neighbors who might want to comment:
3829 CALIFORNIA SW: We’ve reported before on this proposal for a 3-story, 30-unit, 30-parking-space apartment building. It’s been through Early Design Guidance; no date set yet for the second Design Review meeting, but the developers have officially applied for a Master Use Permit, which triggers a new comment period. The official notice has information on how to get your comment(s) to the city (deadline October 3rd).
4526 41st SW: This application would subdivide one Junction lot into four, with townhome plans already under consideration. Here’s the official notice, with a link for public comment (deadline October 3rd).
P.S. The city offers tips on making “effective public comments” – see them here.
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