We went in to check in on his progress toward getting the store open; he tells us that if all goes well, he might be open as soon as the end of next week. That would be ahead of the schedule he was hoping for when we talked to him in March! As for the beer, he mentions he’s particularly proud of having been able to procure Pliny the Elder.
Out of the inbox, forwarded by a few folks (thank you!), SDOT’s Paul Elliott sent out this alert regarding the “low bridge” during the evening commute:
I just was told that we expect NOAA to bring two large vessels through the swing bridge this afternoon, probably about 5:30, but perhaps ten or fifteen minutes earlier. We expect the openings to last in the 25-30 minute range. Apparently we didn’t get notification until yesterday afternoon, hence this last-minute push to get the word out.
Also remember that SDOT sends word of imminent rush-hour low-bridge openings via Twitter, but this is an earlier heads-up in case you want to plot an alternate path/time to go home.
(NOTE: Updated repeatedly since first publication; thanks to Nancy for the added research)
More than a few people requested a list of West Seattle establishments that plan to have the World Cup on their bigscreens as play begins this week (here’s the schedule) – and it also came up in the WSB Forums. So WSB contributor Keri DeTore started investigating. The following venues say they’ll be showing World Cup games during their regular business hours, unless otherwise noted – such as Abbondanza, Angelina’s and Beveridge Place Pub, which will be open some special hours for viewing. (For hours/contact info, we have linked establishment names to their website – except for those that do not have readily locatable sites, in which case we’ve used other online listings). Click ahead for the list (and let us know if there’s someplace we’re missing!):Read More
(Photo courtesy Historic Seattle)
The date is now set – two weeks later than previously projected – for the Landmarks Preservation Board to vote on whether to make West Seattle’s “Bloss House” an official city landmark. Board members decided in April (WSB coverage here) to proceed with consideration, but that’s no guarantee of designation. It’s a 95-year-old Craftsman home at (4055 SW Holgate), most notable as a largely unaltered example of the working-class bungalow that dominated so much of the residential construction back then. The two-part nomination document presented to the board (text here, photos here) includes a peek into West Seattle history as well as the background of the house itself. The designation vote is set for the board’s 3:30 pm meeting next Wednesday, June 16, on the 40th floor of the Municipal Tower downtown.
Today is the last day of classes at Chief Sealth International High School for seniors, whose graduation ceremony is coming up next week. And for one of them, Sabas Rousseau, this is a truly memorable day – as he got a big surprise: Cirque de Soleil performers and reps from Sun Life Financial showed up to give him a Rising Star $5,000 scholarship – which he didn’t know about in advance! Flanking Sabas in the photo are Sealth principal John Boyd and Sun Life’s Mark O’Connor. The surprise award was elaborately orchestrated – Sabas and a small group of his fellow seniors were invited to come see a special show in honor of their last day of classes – here’s a card-trick skit, in which Sealth senior Daniel Davis played the sidekick:
Sabas, by the way, is one of three area students receiving a Rising Star scholarship today – the only one from West Seattle. In addition to his academic achievement, Sabas is an active volunteer, and is involved with Treehouse‘s College and Career Planning program, which helps foster-care youth with college and career readiness; as part of this award, Treehouse receives a $50,000 grant for financial education.
New details from police this morning in the incident dispatched last night in Westwood as an “assault with weapons.” While shots apparently were fired, police tell us, no one was hit – but two people were beaten. Det. Mark Jamieson says the first call went out as a “fight disturbance in progress with shots fired” at 29th SW/SW Trenton. Several people said they saw teens fighting and heard four gunshots. When police got there, they found, according to Det. Jamieson, “a group of about 20 people huddled around a male victim who was sprawled out on the sidewalk, northeast corner of the intersection. At first, officer thought victim had been shot, because of the way he was lying and he was unresponsive. He was, in fact, not shot, but had been badly beaten up.” He was taken to the hospital; another male had injuries to the face and head, Det. Jamieson says, but didn’t need hospitalization. The two had been “‘jumped’ by at least 12 other males,” who allegedly shot at them as they tried to run away; police “were able to locate where the shots were fired from (29th SW/SW Cloverdale). After officers were able to interview everyone involved , three young men were arrested and booked into King County Jail for investigation of assault.”
As previewed here Wednesday morning, an Admiral Neighborhood Association delegation took the mike at last night’s 34th District Democrats meeting to make a pitch to Mayor Mike McGinn, City Council President Richard Conlin, and Councilmember Bruce Harrell: Make the 47th/Admiral intersection safer with a pedestrian-activated street light. Our clip shows ANA president Katy Walum making the pitch (applauded by the 34th DDs) and the mayor’s reply – which boiled down to, he needs to ask SDOT what they think. Just a few hours earlier, it turns out, Walum had received some new information from SDOT:
She forwarded us a Wednesday afternoon note from SDOT’s Luke Korpi, who wrote that the department “will be conducting another study for a pedestrian signal at Admiral Way at 47th Ave SW. This will probably be completed in about two to three months.”
As for the 34th DDs – we’ve got another story in the works, focusing on the rest of the group’s hour-plus discussion with the mayor and councilmembers – topics ranged from the Viaduct/Tunnel situation to whether the city will step up to fund the White Center Food Bank for the work it does on behalf of in-city residents.
(King County rendering of South Park Bridge, post-closure, leaves permanently up)
Story and photos by Jonathan Stumpf
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
If you can’t have a bridge – how about a gondola?
That was one of the ideas in circulation last night as more than 100 people gathered at the South Park Community Center to ask Mayor Mike McGinn what kind of assistance the City of Seattle will provide as they prepare for the June 30 closure of the South Park Bridge.
The two-hour meeting began with a short speech from Mayor McGinn, introducing his team assigned to assist with the neighborhood transition, and discussing key points in the finalized bridge-closure plan. The majority of the evening was an open forum for questions from residents and business owners about how to help the neighborhood cope with the closure.
“South Park is a great neighborhood and our neighborhood,” said McGinn to attendees. “We’re prepared to do our fair share.”
The questions posed to Mayor McGinn, and later councilmember Sally Clark — the lone representative from the City Council — were from a frustrated community disappointed with how their government had failed them, but seeming accepting of their fate, and willing to move forward to work toward a solution to save the neighborhood.
(City Councilmember Tom Rasmussen at the meeting Wednesday night; DPD’s Susan McLain is at right)
They’ve talked about parking, streetscapes, and more … and Wednesday night, the West Seattle Triangle Advisory Group, assembled and convened by the city this spring, was to take on land use, though the meeting ultimately sprawled across broader ground.Read More
Joining Drago were Hank Myers, who became KCFD Executive Director in March, and Scott Davis, director of the Marine Division of the King County Department of Transportation. The trio answered questions from attendees, provided updates on the state of the service and its two routes, and gathered information via a survey handout and a “Where Do You Live?” posterboard. Also in attendance was Chris Arkills, transportation adviser to County Executive Dow Constantine, a longtime Water Taxi champion.
The West Seattle-to-downtown run of the 2010 Water Taxi season has been underway for just over two months since its April 5 kickoff. Although the county leaders touted the overall success of the program (which features an upgraded West Seattle dock, relocated downtown dock, new vessel, and new fare structure), Davis reported that overall West Seattle-to-downtown ridership is down about 40% from the same period in 2009 (which was way up from 2008). Vashon-to-downtown ridership, he added, is strong.Read More
Upper Morgan Junction, maybe Gatewood and/or High Point, be on the lookout – Marie just e-mailed about an odd late-night door-knocker in her neighborhood – read on:Read More
In addition to the Morgan Junction Community Festival (here’s our latest preview), we have new info on two other major events coming up Saturday – First, volunteers getting ready to open the West Seattle Tool Library on Saturday got together at its South Seattle Community College location last night for some last-minute work. One big thing they want you to know – repeated in an announcement toward the end of tonight’s 34th District Democrats meeting – you’ll need two forms of ID to borrow tools (the second one can be a library card or current utility bill. Tools they still need: Electric pressure washer and portable table saw. The grand opening is 9 am-2 pm on Saturday; go to the SSCC north entrance on 16th SW. Another event on Saturday centers around under-constructionJunction Plaza Park:
Brian Presser of TouchTech Systems in The Junction sent that photo tonight – he noticed a big crew working fast after the rain stopped: “Bricks going in, landscaping, lots of workers. Like Extreme Home Makeover – only for a park!” On Saturday, it’s the rescheduled planting party to put 800 plants in at the park, which is to be dedicated in less than three weeks – the evening of June 29th. If you’re not already signed up to volunteer Saturday, you can check to see if they still need help – info’s here.
7:31 PM: That’s Mayor Mike McGinn at the South Park businesses-coping-with-bridge-closure meeting – one of four events we’re covering right now. One of the others is the 34th District Democrats’ meeting in Fauntleroy, where the mayor is expected to arrive within the next hour. We’ll add any big news that emerges – with full stories to come later. 8:43 PM UPDATE: 34th DDs is a great meeting so far. But the big news – the Molly Moon’s Ice Cream truck, which tweeted earlier that it was thinking of coming to West Seattle tonight, has turned up OUTSIDE The Hall at Fauntleroy – and the 100+ people in here are suddenly distracted! 8:49 PM: After a brief discussion of the previous point, the Admiral Neighborhood Association leadership asked their question about the 47th/Admiral stoplight request. The mayor said he’s not prepared to answer that question but will check with SDOT. Councilmember Bruce Harrell, who is also here, as is Council President Richard Conlin, says he’d like to know more, but it belongs with Councilmember Tom Rasmussen‘s committee (Transportation). Conlin says, “We must be more creative, innovative and responsive in dealing with neighborhoods on these issues.” 10:09 PM: Meeting ended about half an hour ago. Full story to come, as well as separate coverage of the Triangle, Water Taxi and South Park meetings.
ORIGINAL REPORT: Just arrived at the 29th/Trenton assault with weapons call. More shortly. Trenton is blocked eastbound -westbound traffic is still getting by. 7 PM UPDATE: Scene cleared quickly – someone was being transported in an ambulance (which generally means less-serious injuries than if someone was transported in an aid/medic unit – the officer at the scene said he had to follow the ambulance. We’ve got a call to the media unit looking for more details. Trenton is now back open both ways.
Three days till the next big festival – the Morgan Junction Community Festival on Saturday (11 am-6 pm in Morgan Junction Park and behind the Feedback Lounge [WSB sponsor]/Zeeks Pizza buliding) – More information to share about what you’ll see and hear while you’re there. The Morgan Community Association website has the full list of live-music acts and other entertainers – it’s an eclectic lineup, too, including jazz, country, rock, and punk music, plus belly-dancing and bubbles! Then there’s the Taste of Morgan (free coupons for food samples at area eateries) – and in the exhibitor area (behind Feedback/Zeeks), you’ll find us – we’re co-sponsoring the festival – and you’ll get to meet reps from more than two dozen other local businesses/groups … including Ventana Construction (WSB sponsor), West Seattle Natural Energy, MISSIONmoto, Madrid Frame, West Seattle Food Bank, Sustainable West Seattle, Furry Faces Foundation, Animals First Foundation, 34th District Democrats, Wahine Sport, Barefoot Books, The Kenney, Solstice Park P-Patch, West Seattle Garden Tour (co-sponsored by WSB), Penguina Designs, Emergency Preparedness Communications Hubs, Pacific Rim Emergency Planning, Bruce Savadow Photography, Alice Kuder from Prudential NW, Tatayna Graphics, Emerald Spiral, SDOT, and of course the Morgan Community Association itself. 11-6 Saturday, see you there (and at the West Seattle Junction Health Fair the next day!).
Tomorrow, Thursday, June 10, from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., SDOT will be conducting a maintenance inspection on the SW Spokane Street Bridge in the eastbound pedestrian and bike lane. Pedestrians and bicyclists will be flagged around the equipment involved in the work activities. Bicyclists will be asked to dismount through the work zone.
(Photo from Genesee work zone, added Wednesday evening)
Second – Heidi on Genesee Hill e-mailed to ask about what appeared to be an unannounced paving project in the works. We checked with SDOT, whose Marybeth Turner replied:
DOT crews are paving SW Genesee from 47th to 49th. It wasn’t on the lists because it was not certain that there would be funds for it this year. When it became apparent that there would be sufficient funds, they started the job. The plan is to pave on Friday or Monday. One lane will remain open in each direction.
Since major minus tides return to our beaches starting tomorrow (here’s the chart), that means more people on the shore, and additional importance for this heads-up just sent by Ted:
A disturbing find today – playing with 3 of my kids on the beach and found a syringe washed up with the seaweed. Picked it up and put near the garbage. Thought that was the end of it until I found another in with the driftwood about 300 feet away !! That’s 2 within 15 minutes – wonder what else is down there? I left both of them near the dumpster near one of the covered picnic areas on the waterfront.
He asked for advice on who to report it to – we suggested the Parks Department, for starters. (We also have a followup out to him, asking exactly where on the LP beach.) As for the question of what you should do if you find one – here’s some advice on the King County Public Health website – note that it is against the law to place them in a regular trash or recycling container.
Today’s West Seattle Crime Watch roundup has four reports – one from the Seattle Police some-reports-viewable website, three from the WSB inbox. After the jump, we start with the SPD report, in which a man said he was attacked in Roxhill Park last Friday night (just heard from a WSB’er that a TV crew is out and about trying to follow up on this) – read on:Read More
Got a note from Kristina saying she’d heard that Terrace West Chinese Restaurant inside West Seattle Bowl will be closing; she wanted to “let the nice family who runs the current space know they will be greatly missed.” The restaurant is part of WS Bowl, whose boss Andrew Carl confirms to WSB that they are making a change, including remodeling, in the bowling center’s eating/drinking space. He says it’s too soon to say much else, except that the next restaurant will not be Chinese food, and that he hopes it will be open by September 1st (though he says a closing date for Terrace West isn’t yet finalized). “We should have a much clearer picture for everybody in early to mid-July,” he says. Right now, though, they’re “still in the development area.”
(WSB photo from June 2009)
Just nine days till a unique all-night cancer-fighting event takes over West Seattle Stadium – Relay for Life of West Seattle. Rebecca sent this announcement to be sure your calendar’s marked:
The West Seattle Relay for Life is just around the corner and we hope you all can make it! Whether you are part of a team or just interested in checking out what is going on – all are welcome. 20 teams made up of more than 200 participants plan to join the festivities – why don’t you!
Relay for Life is a fundraiser for the American Cancer Society held in communities around the nation and the world. The event runs from 6pm on Friday June 18th through 12 noon on Saturday and our teams have a member on the track at all times because just like us… Cancer never sleeps either. There will be activities and games for all ages going on all throughout the event, and lots of prizes to win and donations to pick up from some of West Seattle’s greatest supporters!
Have you heard of Relay before but been too intimidated to dive head in? This is your perfect opportunity to come and check it out without any reservations! Join us for our opening ceremony on Friday night at 6 pm where King County Executive Dow Constantine will give an opening address, followed by our Survivor Celebration.
Come out and help us celebrate, remember and fight back! We have raised more than $21,000 toward our goal of $75,000 so far – we hope you will come out and join us and help us reach our target! www.relayforlife.org/westseattlewa Any questions, contact Rebecca Polivy (bec@busstop.org).
(Google Map removed because of technical problems for some site visitors)
Three and a half years have passed since it was the site of a much-publicized deadly crash … but area residents say the Admiral Way crosswalk at 47th is still a place where you take your life into your hands just to cross the street. So the Admiral Neighborhood Association is leading a new push to get the city to install a pedestrian-activated stoplight. The crosswalk goes between two busy businesses – Life Care Center on the north side, Alki Mail and Dispatch on the south side – with residential neighborhoods behind each. Since the fall 2006 death of Tatsuo Nakata, “traffic-calming” measures have gone in nearby – in 2007, the intersection was marked by a “Crosswalk” sign with flashing lights overhead and narrowed by curb bulbs, while more recently, a radar speed sign was placed on the eastbound (uphill) side of Admiral at Garlough. The ANA says that’s not enough. Karl de Jongbrought up the issue at last month’s meeting, and since then, a group also including ANA’s president Katy Walum and Jim Del Ciello has explored the concept, including talking with SDOT. Del Ciello said he’d also spoken with an Alki Community Council rep who suggested they’d be willing to partner on the safety advocacy too. Tonight Walum plans to be at the 34th District Democrats‘ meeting to make the case for a pedestrian-activated light directly to Mayor Mike McGinn.
Meantime, when this was discussed at last night’s ANA meeting, talk also turned to the study on eastern Admiral Way – where SDOT is looking at possible rechannelization, as first reported here May 21st. Walum says SDOT’s study will include measurements of bicycle traffic as well as cars, and then, she says they’re promising a “well-advertised open house” in “early fall” to unveil what the study revealed. She also said SDOT has assigned project manager Virginia Coffman to that Admiral Way study.
More than a few people requested a list of West Seattle establishments that plan to have the World Cup on their bigscreens as play begins this week (
New details from police this morning in the 
Three days till the next big festival – the 
Got a note from Kristina saying she’d heard that 
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