West Seattle, Washington
14 Tuesday
(Recent photo of in-progress interior work at 4513 California SW, courtesy VAIN)
Behind the under-construction facade in The Junction where the liquor store and train store used to be, new spaces are taking shape – including the future new home of The Beer Junction (which is CURRENTLY STILL IN ITS ORIGINAL LOCATION on 42nd) and the new West Seattle branch of VAIN at 4513 California SW. We first told you about the latter back in August, and tonight, we have word that its “boutique portion” will open this weekend – noon-8 pm on Saturday and Sunday, “with limited hours till Christmas,” according to the update we received, which continues, “We’ll have some of the top accessories, hats, scarves, bags, and party jewelry from our other two locations, and we’ll have staff onhand to answer questions about VAIN’s hair services. The salon portion will open in early 2012.” (And of course we know you’ll at least be in The Junction on Sunday for the third and final Hometown Holidays Sunday of the season – mule-drawn-carriage rides, DIY Santa photos, and more.)
This month we’re marking a lot of anniversaries – six years since we launched this site (December 24, 2005), five years (exactly!) since the windstorm that blew WSB toward morphing into a news site (December 14-15, 2006), four years since your editor here left old media to run the site full-time (December 9, 2007), three years since the crazy snow days of December 2008 that brought community collaboration on WSB to a whole new level … But we prefer to look ahead, rather than look back, so it’s time for more milestones. Earlier this year, more than 500 WSB’ers were kind enough to respond to a three-question survey we posted here, with questions including “what’s missing on WSB?” One popular answer was, weather info. Fixed that. Another one: A restaurant section. So today – we finally have one. See it here (note “Restaurants” in the tab navigation atop WSB pages).
We’ve actually been trying for more than three years to put one together. We didn’t want to just partially launch it and keep adding. But now it’s up, thanks in no small part to WSB contributor Katie Meyer, who did the work that finally got it to the table, so to speak. It’s nothing fancy – meat and potatoes, if you will (tofu and potatoes if you’re meatless), but we believe the pages have the basics for each restaurant, and a place for your comments (please follow the posted rules!). We have pages for more than 120 restaurants, linked from the index page, and we would love you to kick the tires – let us know if we missed someone, if you see an error, etc. If you are a restaurateur or employee and you know the menu/hours are changing, please let us know so we can update the page. Except for a few establishments for which we couldn’t find web pages, we link to restaurants’ own websites, as well as Facebook and/or Twitter. Comments, corrections, etc. are welcome here or to us via e-mail at editor@westseattleblog.com.
(P.S. The guide includes a few White Center restaurants; we’ll be adding more. We also have some of the not-full-fledged-restaurant West Seattle establishments that serve a fair amount of ready-to-eat food items, and are open to suggestions there too.)
Five quick mid-afternoon notes:
HALF-PRICE TREES: Sandy Brown sends word that the Holy Rosary Tree Lot, which closes after this weekend, has now chopped prices:
Christmas trees 50% off now thru the 18th at Holy Rosary (41st and Dakota tree lot). Elves need to prepare for the Big Day and need to sell their stuff quickly. HRS wants to help out everyone this year by providing fresh trees at lower prices so all trees 50% off. Proceeds benefit the school and 15% of the proceeds go to 4 wonderful charities.
BUYING BOOKS? SCHOOL BENEFIT: Arbor Heights Elementary is the latest school to have a bookfair at Barnes and Noble – which usually also means that with a special code, they get a share of sales for a week or so afterward.
Their book fair (parent-provided photo above) was last Friday, so through this Friday, you should be able to use this code: 10612505 with a purchase at Barnes and Noble OR online, and Arbor Heights will benefit. If you’re having an event like this, by the way, please let us know in advance – the further in advance the better so we can get it on the calendar and let others know in advance – editor@westseattleblog.com, any time.
WEST SEATTLE HIGH SCHOOL ORNAMENT SALE: From WSHS activities coordinator Craig Richardson:
At West Seattle High School, we have wonderful Christmas tree ornaments that are being sold for only $8 … there are only a limited supply of these left, and they would make a great stocking stuffer, or gift for someone during the holidays. If you are interested in purchasing one of these ornaments, e-mail cdrichardson1@seattleschools.org or call (206) 252-8816 – We also have on sale Wreaths with a candle setting for holiday decorations only $12; this is a fundraiser for the WSHS athletics program.
CHIEF SEALTH INTERNATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL GEAR: A new shipment of sweatshirts, T-shirts and hats has arrived at CSIHS, on sale at the ASB office on campus before school and after lunch (visiting adults need a pass from the office) and at the concession stands during this Friday night’s CSIHS-WSHS basketball games.
CHARLESTOWN CHOWDER FOR THE HOLIDAYS? Got a note out of the blue from Larry Mellum, formerly a co-owner of West Seattle’s shuttered-since-spring Charlestown Café. The same chowder the café used to sell has been offered all along at his current ventures, Pike Place Chowder shops at Pike Place and Pacific Place downtown – and now he says, it’s also available at Seattle Fish Company in The Junction (4435 California SW). “We have it available in quart-sized, frozen containers to take home or to ship anywhere in the country.” And he says the chowder recently added another feather to its proverbial cap (or maybe a fin is more appropriate), winning the West Coast Chowder Competition in Monterey, California.
(From a dump-truck crash next to Youngstown Arts Center this time last year)
Commercial-vehicle traffic is particularly big for our area with the Port of Seattle stretching into West Seattle, so this is major news: Seattle Police have announced a new task force to keep an eye on commercial vehicles, after discovering they are involved in a sizable percentage of serious local crashes. Here’s the announcement, from SPD Blotter:
The Seattle Police Department (SPD) has partnered up with the Washington State Patrol (WSP) and the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) to create a Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Squad (CVES). The CVES mission is to improve public safety within the Seattle region by reducing the number of unsafe commercial motor vehicles operating on our roadways through a process of education and enforcement.
The SPD squad is made up of four officers from the Traffic Section who completed a three week long commercial vehicle enforcement training course at the WSP Academy. The four CVES officers will devote their time to enforcing commercial vehicle safety regulations and will also be part of a multi-agency commercial vehicle enforcement task force.
Our usual home for lost/found pet reports is the WSB Pets page, which marks its fourth anniversary next month as the only one-stop online bulletin board if you have lost or found a pet in this area. Today, we’re spotlighting a special “found pet” report – because it’s quite out of the ordinary.
Amy e-mailed us the photo of Arlene the one-eyed cat. Arlene is what Amy calls her, anyway. And she had two eyes when Amy found her in bad shape near 34th/Holden a month ago: “I think she’d had a run-in with a raccoon or coyote.” Amy’s first note was pretty sparse, so we inquired: You’ve gotten some care for her, then? Yes, Amy replied:
She had her eye removed, along with some teeth, and flea and ear mite medicine. I didn’t post anything earlier because I wasn’t sure she would survive (she had a bad abscess in her jaw that had gone behind her eye, and she was having seizures for a while). There was also a week or two where she had fluid surrounding her heart and in her abdomen, but that’s all gone now. She’s still taking kidney medication and a diuretic. … It did cost a lot but there was no way I could have just left her in the street, so I didn’t mind paying!
(And of course they checked for a chip; there was none.) Amy has grown to love Arlene and can keep her – but says she felt she just had to post a “found cat” notice because, “I know if I lost my cat, I would want to know she was alive.” If you are, or know, this kitty’s (original) owner, you can e-mail Amy at amywms23@yahoo.com.
Happening as of a short time ago in the Admiral District – police are looking for a suspected hit-run driver who apparently took off after hitting a parked car at California/Hill (the red one in our photo) and then a utility pole. We’ll check with police later to see if they ever found the hit-run driver (no description at this point). No serious injuries reported.
Meantime, also in West Seattle Crime Watch this morning, two reader reports about recent burglaries – read on:Read More
(From left, Brian Lange, Justin Huertas, Nick Edwards; photo courtesy ArtsWest)
“Every Christmas Story Ever Told” continues at ArtsWest in The Junction, 7:30 pm tonight. From the WSB West Seattle Events calendar and Holiday Events/Info page, here’s what else is happening:
PARTIAL BRIDGE CLOSURE SCHEDULED TONIGHT: The westbound Spokane Street Viaduct – the bridge between I-5 and Highway 99 – is scheduled to be closed overnight each night, starting tonight, through next Friday. That means no West Seattle Bridge access from I-5 or Beacon Hill, though the 99 ramps should be open. Here’s the official alert from SDOT.
CALIFORNIA SW WORK CONTINUES: By day’s end yesterday, the crews resurfacing California SW between Findlay and Graham had scraped the old pavement off the two outer lanes. Their work is scheduled to continue 9 am-5 pm today; lanes remain open but we’d advise avoiding that stretch if you can.
BOOK SIGNING: “At the Kitchen Table: The Craft of Cooking at Home”: You can find author Greg Atkinson signing copies: 5-7 pm at Metropolitan Market (WSB sponsor; 42nd/Admiral).
WINE TASTING: Bin 41 wine tasting, 6-7:30 pm: Walla Walla Winery: Reynvaan Cellars with Mike Reyvaan.
34TH DISTRICT DEMOCRATS’ PARTY: Instead of a business meeting, it’s the 34th District Democrats’ holiday party tonight at The Hall at Fauntleroy, 6 pm – details here
JOIN THE GARDEN TOUR! West Seattle Garden Tour Committee Meeting and Potluck, 6:30 pm. The West Seattle Garden Tour Committee is actively seeking new volunteers to join our group. If you are interested in learning more about the WSGT and becoming a volunteer, please contact us at westseattlegt@gmail.com or visit our website westseattlegardentour.com. to learn more. An agenda with meeting location and driving directions will be provided to anyone interested in attending.
HOLIDAY SHOW AT ARTSWEST: ArtsWest presents the Seattle premiere of “Every Christmas Story Ever Told (And Then Some!)” by Michael Carleton, James FitzGerald and John K. Alvarez. 7:30 pm plus Sunday 3 pm matinees; ticket info here.
CHRISTMAS LIGHTS? CHRISTMAS TREES? One more reminder, check the WSB West Seattle Holidays page. And keep sending your events if they’re not already on the page (including Hanukkah/Christmas services, business hours for Christmas/New Year’s, etc.) – editor@westseattleblog.com – thanks!
By Karen Berge
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
The agenda at Monday evening’s North Delridge Neighborhood Council (NDNC) monthly meeting focused primarily on discussion of the DESC project (the Downtown Emergency Service Center‘s 75-unit “supportive housing” project at 5444 Delridge Way).
Parie Hines, new co-chair of NDNC, led this major segment of the meeting. She explained potential next steps as she walked the group through 2 flipchart pages — which defined a new structure and process for moving forward that integrates feedback from earlier discussions and meetings.
The basis of the proposed process is the formation of a separate advisory group, the “Delridge Alliance,” described as an advisory group of stakeholders organized to gather input and synthesize the community’s concerns regarding the DESC project; to help the community envision priorities for the DESC space; and to actively work with key decision-makers to represent the community’s needs throughout the DESC project timeline.
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
Admiral won’t lose as much Metro bus service as the first draft of the transit service’s “restructuring” plan proposed.
That’s what lead planner Jack Lattemann told the Admiral Neighborhood Association tonight, in the first public update on what’s happening since the public-comment period for that draft plan closed. The “restructuring” is planned in connection with next fall’s debut of RapidRide service in West Seattle (which will replace the 54).
And they got plenty of public comments, he said: 3,000 people took the online questionnaire; another 1,000 people provided non-online written comments. As an Admiral-specific result, he said, “I can assure you that we are going to submit a revised proposal that will include some level of bus service on California 7 days a week all the way as far north as Atlantic Street … it looks like that is going to be feasible,” said Lattemann. “We’ll have a second round of proposals out in about a month.”
That round will include another series of community meetings, he said, likely in the first two weeks of February. He says other “concepts” from the draft circulated online and at public open houses (including two in West Seattle) are being revised in response to public comments, too.
One option for that could be extending Route 128, Lattemann said, and that route already is up for an extension with service at least until midnight – California and Admiral both will be served at least that late, he said. (It also, he said, is up for the addition of two afternoon trips to help with the student load at those times.)
At Ola Salon in the Luna Park business district tonight, that’s Tiann Stubberfield with the tweezers and Transitional Resources‘ Darcell Slovek-Walker (reclining) and Yemaya St. Clair. Ola and TR are neighbors – TR, which provides housing and other services to people living with “severe and persistent” mental illness, is headquartered just a few blocks south on Avalon Way. Tonight, Ola held a fundraiser for TR, including donating the proceeds from certain services as well as raffle tickets. Treats too, plus live music from West Seattle’s own Sid Law:
If you missed tonight’s event – here’s how to help Transitional Resources. Meantime, still lots of chances for you to reach out and give this holiday season – we’ve got a special section, with both fundraisers and direct donation opportunities, on the WSB West Seattle Holidays page.
Our nightly spotlights continue: Tonight’s photo is courtesy of the McKean Family, whose lights are shining at 3431 48th SW, near Schmitz Park. Thanks for including the photo! We appreciate photos if you have them to go with Christmas-lights reports – but it’s not mandatory, just let us know where you’ve seen lights others might want to know about! We’re continuing to add them to the clickable/printable Google Map you will find on the WSB West Seattle Holidays page (along with lots of other holiday info and event listing).
Following up on Monday’s story about John’s Corner Deli joining the Healthy Foods Here program – we stopped by for a photo as the FEEST (Food Empowerment Education and Sustainability Team) volunteers got ready to visit the surrounding neighborhoods with info about, and coupons for, the store’s new offerings. From left in our photo are Leoma, Katt, Dureti, Matthew, Celina, and Megan. (They wanted to get John’s owner David Ji in the shot too – but he was too busy with customers, and for a store, that’s a GOOD thing!)
(Photo courtesy Jim Loder)
Thursday night, OutWest Bar is hosting a benefit that will help save lives on the other side of the world. Starting at 6 pm Thursday, an auction and proceeds from drink specials, plus a share of the night’s bar proceeds, will go to Omilero, an organization whose director of development Jim Loder is a West Seattle resident. Omilero is working on a sustainable way to provide Nigerian families with safer drinking water through the use of clay water-filtration pots. Loder provided the photo, showing families using water filters provided in their first phase. Regarding Thursday, he explains, “This event is in support of our next phase, now that we’re confident the local populations want and will use the filters, where we will bring in filters to serve an additional 10,000 people. We expect that to be in place by February 2012. We hope our next phase will be to build a ceramic studio in country where local potters will learn the process and will then be able to build the filter locally. That investment will be about another $50,000 to complete the construction, siting, and training of local potters. Our end goal is to establish a sustainable, locally run enterprise that will support clean water and promote economic development.” Wondering about the name? According to Omilero’s website, it means “Water is the cure,” in the Yoruba language. And the problem it’s curing is a deadly one – Omilero says disease spread through contaminated water kills at least 10 Nigerian children each day.
Story and photos by Keri DeTore
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
What can you – and can’t you – do with, and about, street trees by your home?
The answers may soon change in Seattle. City Arborist Nolan Rundquist (pictured) shared the city’s proposed Street Tree Ordinance with an audience last night at High Point Community Center.
A “Street Tree” is any tree located in a city right-of-way such as parking strips (or “planting strips”) in front of homes and businesses, or traffic circles. These trees, though on city property, are required by law to be maintained by the property owner. While there currently are laws dictating how trees should be maintained and protected, they aren’t particularly clear, or enforceable. Since then-Mayor Greg Nickels introduced his Urban Forestry Management Plan in 2007, the city has been looking at ways to better maintain, and even increase the tree count in Seattle.
The city is asking for the public’s input for the new ordinances being drafted now. If you have a home with trees on the parking strip, or on a city right-of-way, let the city know what you need to keep your trees healthy and maintained.
(Photo courtesy Athena Frederick)
Congratulations to Athena Frederick, whose Fit Family, LLC, is the Stroller Strides fitness program’s franchisee in West Seattle (and 7 other parts of the city) . She’s been chosen as Stroller Strides Franchisee of the Year, out of almost 300 nationwide. Judging criteria, according to the Stroller Strides news release: “Business acumen, her successful fitness program and enthusiasm, and involvement in the community.” Frederick’s franchise has supported nonprofits from the Salvation Army’s domestic-violence programs to WestSide Baby to Autism Speaks to well-building. We featured Stroller Strides when it first offered classes here in 2008; it’s a group-fitness program that new moms can do with their babies.
‘Tis the season for holiday crime as well as holiday joy, holiday giving, holiday celebrations … We have two reports of decoration theft in this West Seattle Crime Watch roundup. Linda e-mailed to say that “outside Christmas lights and lighted candy canes (were) stolen from the 4800 block on 49th Ave SW.” Molly (35th/Trenton/Henderson) reported a similar theft in this WSB Forums post, with another member adding a mention of a Fauntlee Hills theft later in the thread.
On a non-holiday note, from Carolyn:
I just wanted to let people in the Highland Park area know that this morning we found mail that belonged to a house about 2 block away in the road. There was an envelope with pictures that had been opened and an offer from a credit card company also opened, but the mail containing bills were left unopened. The mail was found at the corner of 8th Ave SW and SW Elmgrove St. We took the mail to the house it belonged to, but nobody answered, so we left the mail on the door step. Just a reminder for people to be extra vigilant during the holiday season. We will continue to keep a close eye out for any other suspicious activity.
Seasonal crime-prevention advice is in the latest SPD crime-prevention newsletter, by the way.
With less than two weeks till Christmas, the giving trees, food drives, diaper drives, etc., all acquire a new sense of urgency – as does the need for volunteer help at some local nonprofits. One of them is the White Center Food Bank – which, remember, serves part of West Seattle too – and Ann just sent this request:
We are still looking for volunteers for our holiday distribution on Monday, December 19 from 12:30 – 3:30. Volunteers will assist clients that have signed up for holiday distribution by assisting clients to gather foods from our distribution line during this time period. Best for adults, volunteers will be on their feet for the time period and should dress warmly. If anyone can assist, contact Audrey Zemke at 206-762-2848 or email audrey@whitecenterfoodbank.org. Thank you!
Please take a minute when you can and scroll down the West Seattle Holidays page for some of the other giving opportunities around our area.
(Photo by Steve Mohundro, from the WSB Flickr group pool)
From the WSB West Seattle Events calendar and Holiday Events/Info page (where you’ll find the West Seattle Christmas Lights map, lists of who sells Christmas trees, upcoming events, and more):
CALIFORNIA SW RESURFACING CONTINUES: Day two of work between SW Findlay and SW Graham on California SW, scheduled for 9 am-5 pm. One lane of traffic available in both directions but no parking on California in those blocks. Here’s our Monday update.
FAUNTLEROY EXPRESSWAY CLOSURE CANCELED FOR TONIGHT: As reported here last night. Next closures likely next week.
AT THE LIBRARIES TODAY: Toddler Story Time at West Seattle Branch, 10:30 am; Baby Story Time at Southwest Branch, 11:30 am; Somali Story Time at the High Point Branch, 1:30 am; Family Story Time at Delridge Branch, 7 pm; see the Seattle Public Library Calendar of Events page for links and details
FEEST VOLUNTEERS IN SUNRISE HEIGHTS: As reported here on Monday, youth volunteers with FEEST will be meeting at John’s Corner Deli in Sunrise Heights (35th/Webster) at 3:30 pm to canvass the neighborhood with info and coupons about the new “Healthy Foods Here” produce on sale at the store.
FUNDRAISER AT OLA SASON: For a donation of $20 that goes to Transitional Resources, which provides housing and other services for people living with mental illness, Ola Salon offers blowouts and brow waxes tonight, 5-8 pm, plus a raffle and other holiday fun. Here’s our original report.
LOWMAN BEACH (MURRAY) PUMP-STATION DESIGN ADVISORY GROUP: Meets tonight, 6:30 pm, The Hall at Fauntleroy (9131 California SW). (See the meeting materials here.)
ADMIRAL NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION: Metro’s proposed service cuts – including a big change for North Admiral – are on the agenda at 7 tonight, Admiral Church (California/Hill). Holiday treats too, all welcome.
CHRISTMAS LIGHTS? CHRISTMAS TREES? One more reminder, check the WSB West Seattle Holidays page. And keep sending your events if they’re not already on the page (including Hanukkah/Christmas services, business hours for Christmas/New Year’s, etc.) – editor@westseattleblog.com – thanks!
The ‘crop’ those Gatewood Elementary students (and others) helped “harvest” is now out in the world, supporting good work. From Gatewood teacher Darren Radu:
Once again this year, kids from all across the school worked together to bring in close to 400 pounds of pennies (and other coins) as part of the 2011 Penny Harvest. We shipped our bags of coins to the local Penny Harvest offices on Thursday.
In the New Year, we will convene a Philanthropy Roundtable, where students from each grade will research organizations working for justice in the community, country, and world, and determine which organizations are in most need of support. The Philanthropy Roundtable will then allocate grant funds from the pennies raised to these organizations. One of the Roundtable’s most important criteria is ‘leverage per dollar’ – the Philanthropists use their research to allocate funds in a way that works most effectively to make a positive difference in the world. Last year, Gatewood students awarded Penny Harvest grants to Save the Children Japan, Southwest Boys and Girls Clubs, and the Nature Consortium. Students weighed the impact of their decisions and made the final call on where to send the money.
The attached photo shows some of our many ‘harvesters’ with a few of the 30-pound bags they filled.
You can find out more about the Penny Harvest here:
Much ‘Gator Gratitude’ goes out to our Gatewood neighbors, families, and friends, for supporting this worthwhile work!
Sorry for the subpar photo – some equipment challenges for a while on Monday night. But even if it had been taken by the most talented photographer with the most fabulous equipment, the point of this display would be the same – it’s not brilliantly light-laden, but we love the tree atop the beautiful old brick Alki Apartments building at 2348 Alki SW – you can see it from quite some way away. The entire beachfront drive is worthwhile for light-lovers, as many condo- and apartment-dwellers deck their balconies, and some of the remaining single-family homes do, too (one of the fabled Flower Houses has some cute lights). We happened onto this during a late-night scouting trip after discovering the home we had hoped to photograph elsewhere was already “off” for the night. Keep the tips coming – editor@westseattleblog.com – and check out our Google Map of all the spots we’ve featured, including this one, viewable on the WSB West Seattle Holidays page.
We’ve just confirmed a change in plans for this week’s work on the Fauntleroy Expressway Seismic Retrofit Project – which is entering a new phase as the contractor gets ready to lift the bridge deck to add special quake-resistant pads. SDOT had announced that the expressway – the southwestern end of the West Seattle Bridge, between Delridge and 35th – would be closed three nights this week for that phase of the job to begin, starting tonight. But when we checked in with SDOT communications consultant Josh Stepherson, who has briefed more than a few local community groups about the projects in recent months, he told us there was a late-breaking change in plans: “A couple of hours ago the contractor made the decision not to raise the Expressway this week. They still intend to close the Expressway tonight to survey the structure. They will not close it this Tuesday or Wednesday. Their current plan is to raise the Expressway, for the first time, Monday the 19th. They also plan to close the Expressway on Tuesday and Wednesday the 20th and 21st.” Look for more information from SDOT later this week; meantime, tonight’s closure, again, IS still on – scheduled roughly 10:30 pm to 5 am. (We’ll check on its status once that time frame kicks in.)
More than 40 people gathered at the Pathfinder K-8 cafeteria tonight for a Pigeon Point Neighborhood Council meeting that primarily served as the annual holiday potluck – the first year the community party wasn’t at the home of the late community activist Vivian McLean, who died this past spring.
There was a bit of business for the group to handle, before they got down to serious revelry: The recent rash of burglaries, which has hit Pigeon Point hard, as well as several other parts of West Seattle. The group was briefed by Southwest Precinct Operations Lt. (second-in-command) Pierre Davis, who didn’t have news of any new arrests, but did answer questions, and provided a general update.
3:21 PM: We are in the 900 block of SW Spokane, where protesters have just arrived.
Police have stopped eastbound traffic. They are still heading west on Spokane, as Guardian One and tv choppers hover. So far, no conflicts that we have seen. No word how long eastbound traffic will remain stopped.
(Photo by Torin Record-Sand; substituted for cameraphone pic that was originally here)
3:44 PM: Traffic still stopped. Police appear to have made at least one arrest. Reinforcements have just arrived. (added) Some scuffling was visible from our vantage point (photos later from our crew elsewhere in the crowd) – watch the left side:
4:09 PM: Sorry for the lag – we have a photographer on the scene and your editor here got stuck one truck back from the front lines while dropping him off. Adding images shortly. He says traffic has resumed westbound across the low bridge – but it’s advisable to completely avoid the area till this is clear some hours from now (after 6 pm).
4:27 PM: Metro is rerouting some West Seattle (etc.) buses via the 1st Avenue South Bridge: 21, 22, 56, 118 & 119. Also keep in mind that we’re now an hour away from the Seahawks game, further complicating the traffic picture.
4:43 PM: The low bridge may technically be open to traffic but still worth avoiding. As of right now, one of the bridge cams is focused on the protest scene. You can see all our traffic cams here.
5:43 PM: From WSB contributor Christopher Boffoli, a recent overview of the scene where most of this unfolded through the mid- to late-afternoon:
Via Twitter, SPD confirms “multiple arrests.” They also say they have “contacted” the driver involved in the hit-run incident noted in comments below this story.
6:52 PM: A closer look, from earlier. A group of West Seattle activists gathered at the Chelan Café to walk to join the protesters who marched from Westlake:
And as the marchers arrived around quarter past three:
For the 6 pm rally, demonstrators moved to Terminal 5, according to our partners at the Seattle Times, who also report that the arrests so far have numbered more than a dozen.
ADDED 10:54 PM: More images from tonight and this afternoon. First – Christopher Boffoli was there as more demonstrators were arrested tonight:
According to SPD Blotter, “Eleven adult subjects were arrested for various violations including Failure to Disperse and Assaulting an Officer.” Some if not all of them were processed at the Southwest Precinct here in West Seattle, according to SWP Operations Lt. Pierre Davis, with whom we spoke while he visited tonight’s Pigeon Point Neighborhood Council meeting to talk about the recent increase in burglaries. As the evening events wound down, Christopher got these scenes on video:
Here’s how Occupy Seattle’s website chronicled the afternoon/evening.
(WSB photo by Torin Record-Sand)
| 1 COMMENT