West Seattle, Washington
27 Wednesday
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
The Spokane Street Viaduct Widening Project is unmistakably into its end stage – and “it may look done to the public” – but it’s not done, and there’s still a lot going on, according to the project team.
We heard from them at noontime today during the final meeting of a community task force set up to address communications challenges after the February closure that caught many by surprise.
So there’s still no date for the opening of the new 1st Avenue South on-/offramp, but project manager Stuart Goldsmith told the task force he expects they’ll be able to establish one “in 10 days or so.” Once they know the date the ramp will be ready, they’ll plan a ribboncutting for that date and get it open to the public ASAP, promises SDOT.
So why is this opening so much later than originally estimated? We asked that question, and Goldsmith gave a detailed reply. Believe it or not, the project is under budget and the contractor is still within the amount of “working days” in the contract – the explanation, ahead:
(Photos by Nick Adams for WSB)
Nine months ago, they saddled up in the loft at Mission. Three months later, they put on a launch party that soared through the West Seattle Eagles‘ HQ. And last night, the ringleaders of the arts-advocacy posse The West presided over its first fully public event, a West Seattle Art Walk afterparty:
Photojournalist Nick Adams was there for WSB, under the lights and amid the fog of the Heartland Café‘s legendary Benbow Room. Hobosexual was the headliner (top photo); 11 more scenes ahead:
Might be the busiest summer Friday yet. Because of this morning’s breaking news, we’re sending you to the WSB West Seattle Events Calendar for full information on TWENTY options for your Friday – including The Haggis Brothers at The Mount, THREE outdoor movies (including the rescheduled Thrive benefit), E-Fest at The Feedback, Rockypalooza at The Admiral … On the calendar page, click the “plus” on the right side of any line to expand the entry. For full details from there, including a map, click “read more” at lower right. Have fun!
(TOPLINE: Water Taxi evacuated 7:30 am after smoke led captain to return it to dock. Service resuming at 11:30 from Pier 50 with Melissa Ann)
(Added, photo by Christopher Boffoli for WSB – firefighters on board Rachel Marie)
FIRST REPORT, 7:38 AM: Just got an alert that the West Seattle Water Taxi is having mechanical trouble and has returned to Seacrest. Jana, who was on the sailing, tweeted that a “strong smell (was) emanating from the engine room.”
Oooops.
#RachelMarie is returning to alki dock. Strong smell emanating from engine room.@westseattleblog— Jana Uyeda (@jana_obscura) August 10, 2012
And now the Fire Department is headed there as a fire response. More to come.
(Photo by Christopher Boffoli for WSB)
7:45 AM UPDATE: About half the units have been canceled, as they have determined it’s not a major fire after all, but what’s there is still causing a traffic jam-up at Seacrest in addition to having interrupted Water Taxi service.
7:50 AM UPDATE: And yes, if you’ve heard a helicopter, it’s related – at least one media chopper was checking out the situation. Per scanner, we’re hearing that they have not found flames – just some “burned wires” so far. Updated a few minutes later – apparent “burned-out alternator.” A city fireboat is at Seacrest too – just added photo from WSB contributing photojournalist Christopher Boffoli.
8:05 AM UPDATE: Harbor Avenue remains blocked around Seacrest. Thanks to Toni for this overview:
No indication of injuries at this point. Update regarding service, from Christopher:
Rachel Marie captain Tara Rochester tells me that they had just departed Seacrest for downtown when the Rachel Marie started to fill with smoke. They returned to the dock. Everyone got off OK. One of the engines was on fire. Rochester says no replacement vessel available now but they’ll probably have something worked out for the afternoon.
8:20 AM UPDATE: April, who’s on board the 37 after having been evacuated from the Water Taxi when it returned, says she and others then had to wait to get through on Harbor. In comments, Paul says the road has just reopened, and WSB’s Patrick Sand at the scene has just confirmed that.
8:27 AM UPDATE: SFD spokesperson Kyle Moore has briefed the media at the scene. He says captain Rochester did all the right things in getting Rachel Marie back to the dock so everyone could get out safely. The fire was confined to the engine room. TRAFFIC UPDATE – Patrick reports that while traffic is being allowed to use Harbor going TOWARD the bridge, the westbound direction toward Seacrest is still blocked at Fairmount.
9:03 AM UPDATE: Harbor Avenue has reopened, according to police. Here’s our video of the briefing by SFD’s Moore:
Water Taxi management says via a text alert, “Plans for repairs and resuming service are under way.”
(Photo by Christopher Boffoli for WSB)
10:38 AM UPDATE: Forwarded by County Councilmember Joe McDermott, who chairs the board that oversees the King County Ferry District, including Water Taxi matters, an update from Paul Brodeur, county Marine Division director:
This morning’s incident on the RM was a failed alternation on the port generator.
This is a small (one gallon milk jug size) 12 volt electrical unit that charges the batteries which start the prime mover. Just to put it in perspective, your car has one of these alternators which also charges your cars battery. This failure caused smoke -NO FIRE – When the captain was notified of the smoke, she took appropriate action and the trained crew responded by securing fuel and air to the engineroom.She secured the vessel at the dock and the crew debarked the passengers with no injuries. The Us Coast Guard and the Seattle fire department responded and Seattle fire provided assistance.
The USCG is currently aboard and taking crew statements. We are awaiting their investigation and permission to move the vessel back to pier 50 at which time service can resume using the Melissa Ann.
11:14 AM UPDATE: The Rachel Marie has headed downtown (per MarineTraffic.com and a sighting from Sunny near the pier). We’ll update when we see/hear Melissa Ann taking its place. (A few minutes later) From Councilmember McDermott: “We are notifying passengers that we will resume West Seattle service with the 11:30 a.m. Pier 50 sailing. Our current plan is to repair the Rachel Marie this afternoon in time for the afternoon/evening sailings.”
4:10 PM UPDATE: Jeff Switzer with King County DOT confirms that Rachel Marie has been fixed and cleared to return to service, and should be leaving downtown around 4:15 pm.
So far, a relatively quiet week in West Seattle Crime Watch reports … four reports to share, and a reminder about your chance to meet local police at the Southwest Precinct tomorrow. Read on:Read More
The Admiral District Business Association invites you to come on over and wander their shops this Saturday (August 11th), 10 am-2 pm, for flea-market-style shopping. First time the recently organized Admiral merchants’ group is trying a sidewalk sale like this, so as you browse and buy, let them know what you think!
Making an early stop on the West Seattle Art Walk, we found a bake sale! Parents and students from Schmitz Park Elementary are outside Carmilia’s tonight, raising money for the 4th grade trip to Islandwood. (Inside Carmilia’s, you’ll find artist Randi Rohde and her photography of theatrical vignettes featuring perfume bottles.)
Also in The Junction, Wallflower Custom Framing is debuting a new show:
Northwest photographer David Atkinson is there tonight; his work will be up for about a month. More to come – and if you’re out on the Art Walk tonight, check out the free tickets for the 9 pm afterparty at the Benbow Room, with Tyson Meade, The Grizzled Mighty, and Hobosexual.
8:16 PM UPDATE: We stopped by the Benbow to peek in on preps – here’s the stage where the music (MC’d by Brent Amaker!) will happen later:
Back on the Art Walk route – two more stops in the Admiral District. First, at Atomic Boys, artists Quinn Sadow and Chance Williams:
They’re showing their drawings tonight. And over at Mind Unwind, living art:
We found Herban Flora outside – featuring Rachel Grossman and Holly McNeill, whose art is focused on plants – succulents, mosses, and air plants.
They’ve been playing together for decades – and tonight, the folk duo of Reilly and Maloney are onstage alongside Hiawatha Community Center‘s east lawn, for the third show in the Admiral Neighborhood Association-presented Summer Concerts at Hiawatha series. They’re just wrapping up a break between their two sets – so you still have time to drop by. It’s free and casual – bring your own blanket, chair, water, snacks; also come say hi to ANA reps and some of us co-sponsors at the tables east of the crowd. Next week’s concert is down the hill at Alki – The Braxmatics, 6:30 pm Thursday night, August 16th; rest of the series is listed here.
FIRST REPORT, 3:48 PM: Just announced by Seattle Public Utilities – If the Waste Management strike caused you to miss a recycling pickup on Monday 7/30, Tuesday 7/31, or Thursday 8/2, you will get a catch-up recycling pickup THIS SATURDAY (8/11).
ADDED 5:26 PM: Susan Stoltzfus from SPU answered a couple questions we sent her after they were raised in the comment section, regarding next week’s schedule, plus a question regarding whether the catchup pickups are costing the city extra – and, she adds a reminder:
Regular collections for all customers are expected next week for garbage, food and yard waste, and recycling.
Our contract with Waste Management does not pay for overtime for drivers.
We would also like to remind your readers that the performance fees being assessed will be coming back to customers affected by the strike. We still have to get the total of the fees and finalize an equitable way to distribute back to the customers. Likely they will see a credit on a future utility bill.
(West Seattle Fabric Company’s Monica Skov and daughter, outside WSFC’s future sewing-studio site)
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
After less than two years in business, West Seattle Fabric Company proprietor Monica Skov has learned what might be the most important lesson an entrepreneur can learn.
Listen to your customers. And respond.
Hers have been asking for things that just wouldn’t fit into her cozy retail space at 2210 California SW in the Admiral District – an area for open sewing (your machine or theirs), for parties, for quilting.
Now, she’s found a place where that can all happen, a second site that will become the West Seattle Fabric Company “Creative Sewing Studio” (working title, so that might change). The space is at 5910 California SW, in the former Emerald Spiral space in the California/Juneau business node (directly across from Pan Africa Grill).
We talked with Monica there this morning, just as remodeling work was about to begin:
Three and a half weeks ago, the construction fence at 3261 Avalon went up – and today, the vacant houses on the site are coming down. (Thanks to E for the tip.) This is an all-residential project, half a block northeast of 35th – planned for six stories and 120 apartments. The land-use permit was granted in January.
Sue Bird bobblehead, anyone? Or how about a sturdy steel rainbarrel? Just two of the eclectic items already ready and waiting for a megasale this weekend, at the hub – really, the heart – of Highland Park.
Come one, come all to the annual Highland Park Improvement Club Giant Group Sale. More than 20 participants with a huge variety of stuff, from cool collectibles, to folk/yard art, furnishings, clothing, jewelry, you name it we have it. A one-stop shopping experience!
Proceeds help the Club, the sellers, and the neighborhood – so drop by and say hi.
Sale hours: 9 am to 3 pm, one day only, Saturday Aug. 11th
Address: 1116 SW Holden, corner of SW Holden and 12th Ave SWQuestions? e-mail Kay Kirkpatrick at hpic1919@gmail.com
P.S. If you’re having a yard sale this weekend (or any time) – you can feature it in the WSB Forums for free; make sure you post in the Freebies/Deals/Sales section (and be sure to mention the date in the subject line).
One hour, once a week. If you can spare that small amount of time, you can make a big difference for students at schools including West Seattle’s Roxhill Elementary! Mona Delgado e-mailed to let us know about this request:
Here’s your opportunity to give back. For one hour, just once a week on your way home from work, you can go into a nearby Seattle grade school and tutor a child who needs a little extra help with his or her studies. Invest in Youth is looking for additional tutors for the 2012-2013 school year.
Participating in Invest in Youth requires a tutoring commitment of one hour per week (with several holidays) for the duration of the school year. Upon joining the program, you will be paired with an elementary school student in 3rd, 4th or 5th grade and work with that same student for the entire year, getting to know their strengths and weaknesses while tracking their progress from week to week. It is an extremely rewarding experience for both students and their tutors!
In 2012 we will be working with the following schools:
· Tuesdays, Beacon Hill International School (2025 14th Ave S.), 3:15-4:15pm
· NEW! Tuesdays, Roxhill Elementary School (9430 30th Ave SW), 3:45-4:45pm
· Wednesdays, Daniel Bagley Elementary School (7821 Stone Ave. N.), 3:45-4:45pm
· Thursdays, Thurgood Marshall Elementary School (2401 S. Irving), 3:50-4:50pmOrientation sessions for new tutors will take place the week of September 24th with tutoring beginning the week of October 1st and lasting through June 2013.
To find more and to register, please visit www.investinyouth.org/get-involved/become-a-tutor/
(Downy woodpecker in Fauntleroy Park; photo shared by Mark Wangerin)
Music, art, wine, and more tonight, plus a few things today – from the WSB West Seattle Events Calendar (where you’ll find even more – these are just some of the highlights):
TONIGHT’S TRAFFIC ALERT: Same as last night – southbound Alaskan Way Viaduct/99 closed 9 pm tonight till 5 am Thursday, between the Battery Street Tunnel and the West Seattle Bridge. So if you’re headed this way from downtown or points north, use I-5 or surface streets (you can take 1st or 4th to the 1st Avenue South Bridge and get into WS via Highland Park Way or backtracking north on West Marginal Way to Delridge, Admiral, etc.).
BLOOD DRIVE AT SSCC: Can you donate? The Puget Sound Blood Center’s Bloodmobile is at the college 10:30-4:30 pm today; more here.
SHOP LATE THURSDAY IN THE JUNCTION: Every Thursday night, all summer long, 6-9 pm – here’s the list of shops you’ll find open. And while you’re there, check out the Junction venues for the …
WEST SEATTLE ART WALK: Second Thursday of every month, every season – enjoy art from paintings to sculpture to photos to more, live music here and there, snacks and beverages, one big party from Alki Arts in the north to The Building in the south. Your venue list/map is here; the official Art Walk website, with details on some of tonight’s artists, is here.
ART WALK AFTERPARTY: The West invites you to the Benbow Room at the Heartland Café (4210 SW Admiral Way) for their first-ever West Seattle Art Walk Afterparty, starting at 9 pm. Hobosexual, The Grizzled Mighty, and an acoustic set from Tyson Meade (ex-Chainsaw Kittens), with MC Brent Amaker and DJ Troy Nelson. Ask about free tickets at Art Walk venues tonight (we know Hotwire Online Coffeehouse [WSB sponsor] will have ’em) or $5 at the door.
HIAWATHA CONCERT #3: Another beautiful night ahead on the east lawn of Hiawatha – come for one song or the whole set, bring blankets/chairs/picnic dinner, relax away from the screens. Free! Tonight, longtime folk duo Reilly and Maloney will serenade you. Music starts at 6:30 pm, in the third concert of the annual six-show series presented by the Admiral Neighborhood Association.
WINE AND MUSIC AT C & P: Choro Tocando – recently seen at the Alki Art Fair – perform at C & P Coffee (WSB sponsor) tonight for the monthly night of wine tasting and music, 6-8 pm. Details here.
ASK AN EXPERT: 6-8 pm at the nationally renowned West Seattle Tool Library (northeast side of Youngstown Cultural Arts Center, 4408 Delridge Way SW), not only can you check out the tool library, you can also meet and talk with local professionals – with the firms represented tonight including WSB sponsor LD Arch Design.
MORE NIGHTLIFE: Three bands at Skylark (3803 Delridge Way SW; details here); music and poker at The Bridge (details here).
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
The 34th District Democrats are now officially on the record as against the proposed SODO arena.
That’s the result of a resolution approved following an hour and a half-long forum in which three supporters and three opponents participated.
Many stressed this wasn’t an anti-bring-back-the-Sonics vote, but rather a vote reflecting serious concerns about the location, as have been voiced by organizations including the Port of Seattle and the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce (here’s their July 25th letter).
Seattle Parks and Recreation has just released its list of adult sports available this fall, and a couple – including flag football and women’s basketball – will be in West Seattle.
Both men’s and co-ed flag football leagues are going to be offered at Riverview Playfield from September 16th through November 18th. Both leagues’ games will be played on Sundays at varying times between 10 am and 2 pm. The cost to join is $635, which includes an eight-game guarantee, and all teams will make playoffs. The first place team wins a trophy and t-shirts (plus bragging rights). To enter, call 206-684-7092 or email antoiniette.daniel@seattle.gov.
Women’s pick-up basketball games, though not on the official list, will also be offered at High Point Community Center starting August 18th. Players can come with a team or as an individual every Saturday from 10 am to noon. The cost is $3 per person (free with high school ID), with all proceeds going to the Community Center. Questions? E-mail nadjastars@aol.com or call the Community Center at 206-684-7422 (ask for Sharri or Jimmy).
We’re welcoming a new WSB sponsor, Dan DeSantis, who is the agent for 4325 1/2 Thistle, 
a home in south West Seattle which he calls an in-city retreat. The home features unbroken mountain and Puget Sound views, as it is perched above the tree line, so you are looking over treetops instead of roofs. The home features a newly remodeled kitchen with stainless-steel appliances, two separate view living areas, wood fireplaces on both levels, and a bed/bath on each level.There’s a wrap-around deck and garden patio that includes a hot tub. It’s located near the Morgan Junction business district as well as Westwood Village. Lincoln Park and Lowman Beach are nearby as well; nearby schools include Gatewood Elementary as well as the Denny-Sealth campus. See photos of this home at thistletreehouse.info.
Dan DeSantis has been a multi-million-dollar producer in West Seattle for more than 30 years as a Residential and Investment Real Estate specialist. He says, “Knowledge and negotiating skills are the basis for client satisfaction and success; I get the best for my clients. I most often hear from my clients that I gave them great service. I listened to and met their needs, while being a great negotiator. 90 percent of my business is from referrals and repeat customers.” He also is involved in the community as a board member for the West Seattle YMCA. You can reach him at 206-947-4773 or by e-mail at dandesantis.re@comcast.net.
We thank Dan DeSantis for sponsoring independent, community-collaborative neighborhood news via WSB; find our current sponsor team listed in directory format here, and find info on joining the team by going here.
Roxhill Elementary‘s new principal has been announced, just three weeks after word that Carmela Dellino would move up to become Seattle Public Schools‘ new executive director of West Seattle schools. Here’s the letter from Superintendent José Banda:
Dear Roxhill Elementary community,
I am excited today to announce the appointment of Sahnica Washington as your new principal.
Ms. Washington has been with Seattle Public Schools since 1998, and she comes to Roxhill after serving as a STAR mentor for the past four years. She is deeply committed to helping all students excel by encouraging them to work to their highest potential. She will be a great fit for Roxhill Elementary community.
Sahnica Washington is familiar to many Roxhill families from her time as principal intern in the 2010-2011 school year. She is excited to return as principal and looks forward to continuing to work with the students, families and staff at Roxhill.
In Metro‘s work to figure out how buses will get through downtown once the Alaskan Way Viaduct and its central-downtown on/offramps are history, a reconfigured Columbia Street seems to be in the lead.
That’s according to a presentation made to citizen advisory “working groups” last week, and our followup conversation with a Metro rep.
One more announcement today from Kelly Davidson at Seattle Parks: The long-awaited new comfort station for Riverview Playfield is finally close to reality. Davidson explains, “The existing facility has been vandalized multiple times and does not meet the current ADA codes. … We have been working to replace it for years, and we finally have the funding.” If the bidding process next month goes as planned, construction will probably start in November.
(Click to see larger image)
Too cute to wait – while we work on more news, enjoy Gary Jones‘ photo of a harbor seal, and friends, on and around the Joy D. Smith Wildlife Raft near Alki Point during this morning’s short-lived snshine. (If you missed it in 2009, here’s the story behind the raft.)
P.S. Remember that it’s pupping season, so if you see a seal on a local beach, let Seal Sitters know – keep their hotline handy, 206-905-SEAL.)
If you’re watching and waiting to see what happens with the Roxhill Skatepark and Playground project, which went to a second round of bidding (as reported here last month), we have an update today from Seattle Parks‘ project manager Kelly Davidson. She says, “After a review and protest period, California Skateparks has been determined by Contracting to be non-responsive. Contracting has determined that Grindline Skateparks is the next low bidder and has requested their Supplemental Bidder Qualifications for review and approval. These should be received by Friday and we should be able to make a determination early next week if we can move forward with the request to award.”
In the first round of bidding, according to Parks documents, West Seattle-based Grindline – which designed and built Delridge Skatepark – had been deemed the “apparent low bidder” (as reported here) even though the dollar amount was more than $100,000 above California Skateparks’ bid. Factors included the fact that CS – which donated design services – and two other firms failed the “inclusion-plan scoring,” falling far short of the city’s WMBE (women- and minority-owned business) goals, while Grindline scored much higher. But Grindline’s first bid was too far over the estimate for the city to work with, Davidson said last month, so it too was rejected.
In the new round of bidding, Davidson tells WSB, “The Non-Responsive ruling was based on the fact that California Skateparks did not fill out a line item on the bid form. They protested the ruling for several reasons, but Contracting is standing behind the original decision.” She says this time around, CS bid $445,500 (close to what it bid the first time), while Grindline’s bid was $468,999, far below its previous $572,000 bid.
Once a contractor is chosen, they will build the skatepark (in city terms, a “skatespot” as it’s somewhat smaller than full “skateparks”) and will also prepare the adjacent playground site for renovations – a play structure is to be built there by volunteers later this year.
The August edition of the West Seattle Art Walk is tomorrow night. See the walking map/venue list here – and start planning your route with some of the venue/artist previews that are on the official Art Walk website now. Such as – photos of perfume bottles in theatrical vignettes at Carmilia’s in The Junction; and in the Admiral District, the art includes Atomic Boys displaying drawings by two youth artists, Chance Williams and Quinn Sadow.
The Admiral District is also where you’ll find something extra AFTER the Art Walk – The West is presenting an afterparty at the Heartland Café‘s Benbow Room, 9 pm-2 am. You’ll find a while-they-last supply of free tickets at some Art Walk venues (Hotwire Online Coffeehouse [WSB sponsor], for one), or it’s $5 at the door. The lineup just expanded – in addition to The Grizzled Mighty and Hobosexual, an acoustic opening set by Tyson Meade (ex-Chainsaw Kittens) has just been added; details on the event’s Facebook invite.
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