West Seattle, Washington
21 Tuesday
A gathering of dignitaries and community activists this morning at the Duwamish Longhouse in West Seattle was a precursor to a gathering next week at which your help is vital – with the hope of a healthier future in eastern West Seattle and other Duwamish River-area communities including South Park and Georgetown.
It was a celebration as much as anything – the Duwamish River Cleanup Coalition has received a $100,000 federal grant for a program called Duwamish Valley Healthy Communities. DRCC staff including James Rasmussen – who emceed the event (and is shown above with EPA’s Dennis McLerran) – B.J. Cummings, and Alberto Rodriguez were there.
Duwamish Tribe chair Cecile Hansen spoke first (after you hit “play” on our clip above, that’s who you’ll see). King County Executive Dow Constantine and City Council President Richard Conlin – both fervent environmental advocates – spoke too, as did the EPA’s regional director.
But the people most involved in making “healthy communities” happen, collaborating (as described in a news release) “to understand and reduce risks due to toxic pollutants and environmental concerns from all sources,” weren’t there – because they’ll just be finding out about it now: Local residents, and businesspeople. “We must work through this together,” Rasmussen said.
“We are evolving a new vision of what the Duwamish can be,” observed Conlin, saying that for all the talk about the Seattle waterfront’s future, that cannot merely address the Elliott Bay waterfront post-viaduct, it must include the Duwamish River waterfront too.
Constantine noted that communities’ concerns will be prioritized, and that equity and fairness will be sought, with the end result a “healthy physical and natural environment.” He also mentioned the county’s Combined Sewer Overflows-reduction program (which has made news on West Seattle’s Puget Sound shoreline too), and the hundreds of millions of dollars going into cleaner water through that program.
McLerran, EPA’s Region 10 Administrator, called it a “very exciting day” for his agency, which doesn’t make grants this size so much any more, he said. This is one of 100 communities to get the grant so far, though, and he said they “really do result in great things for communities.”
He declared the program “the right money going to the right places for the right things.”
So what exactly will those “things” be? That’ll be determined in the convening of a “sustainable partnership” – starting with a meeting on November 10th, 6-9 pm, at South Seattle Community College‘s Georgetown campus (6737 Corson Avenue South). Food, music, kids’ activities, and Spanish/Vietnamese interpretation are all planned. Cummings (right), who recently returned to DRCC after a sabbatical, is point person on the Healthy Communities Project, and excited about it. You can contact her for information – bj@duwamishcleanup.org or 206-458-0284..
Good to keep in mind as storm season approaches – and for other reasons – Seattle City Light now has a mobile site – just announced at m.seattle.gov/light:
On the site, customers can report a streetlight problem, get information about outages, read City Light news, get money-saving energy conservation tips, or find links to contact the utility on other matters. Customers who are signed up for eBilling also can pay their bills. The mobile site is accessible to any phone with an Internet connection. A free mobile app is now available on the Android Market that will launch the mobile-enabled web pages. An iPhone version is pending with Apple for distribution in the iTunes store. … City Light already is looking at ways to enhance its mobile site. Customers who use it are encouraged to send feedback and suggestions for potential additions to webteam.scl@seattle.gov
If you’re a customer of Petco in The Junction, you’ve probably heard they’re opening their new Capco Plaza location – 41st/Alaska, next to the new state liquor store (as first reported here in February) – tomorrow. And like its new neighbors, Petco’s making its move without missing any days of business. WSB contributor Keri DeTore just talked with store manager Ann, who says moving trucks are expected around 3 pm (that’s why the NO PARKING signs are up in front of the store). The old store will be open till 6 tonight, and Keri says they have a shelf full of free stuff they’d rather not move. Grooming is closed for today, though nail trims will resume after 3. Then tomorrow at 9, Ann told Keri, the new store will open with everything up and running: “It’s brand-spankin’ new in there. So clean, it’s lovely.” They’ll have grand-opening events this weekend including a ribbon-cutting ceremony Saturday morning just before 9. P.S. The current Petco space is still listed as available for lease.
Just one day after Harbor Island’s Vigor (formerly Todd) Shipyards delivered the ferry Kennewick to the state, three months ahead of schedule, there’s news that work will start soon on a new ferry. This one is more than double the capacity of the 
Kwa-di-Tabil Class (3 ferries including Kennewick) – it’s the first of a a new 144-car class based on the Issaquah class (whose flagship usually sails the Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth run). The state signed an order with Vigor today, and work on the new $147 million ferry is expected to begin early next year. Though the state has a contract with Vigor for three of these ferries, there’s only funding for one right now, says Transportation Secretary Paula Hammond, warning that because of the aging state fleet, “We are on the brink of a crisis.” When this ferry is finished in 2014, it’ll allow the 55-year-old Evergreen State to be retired, according to Hammond – but that’s far from the only ferry that needs to be replaced. (Photo courtesy WSDOT)
3 notes from the West Seattle coffee world:
CAFFE´FIORE OPENING DATE CHANGES: Last week we reported that Caffé Fiore had announced tomorrow as its opening date in a new live/work building at 2206 California SW (next to West Seattle Fabric Company [WSB sponsor]). This morning we got a note from general manager Katrine Callahan saying they’ve had to reschedule to November 8th (one week from today). The night before that (Monday 11/7), she says, “We are inviting friends, family, and all our new neighbors and community members to come on over on the evening of Nov. 7th from 6 pm-9 pm for a ‘house warming’ or rather Fiore warming party!”
CAFE´ OSITA ANNIVERSARY: Proprietor Andrea Ramirez notes on Facebook that today is the second anniversary of the shop’s opening at 35th/Webster. (Last week, you’ll recall, a thief took the tip jar; she posted an update following the story thanking everyone for their support.)
SUGAR RUSH BAKING COMPANY: As this Junction enterprise celebrates its 7th anniversary, it’s focusing on the Sugar Rush name and phasing out “Coffee to a Tea with Sugar,” says SRBC boss Jilyan Perry. So just call them Sugar Rush from now on.
Early note to everyone in the West Seattle coffee business – you’re invited to send us your planned Thanksgiving/Christmas/New Year’s hours soon as you know them, for our annual “where to get coffee on the holiday” lists! editor@westseattleblog.com
ORIGINAL 9:45 AM REPORT: The timetable for deciding which schools will reopen to deal with West Seattle (and elsewhere) school overcrowding has been changed. When Seattle Public Schools hosted a “capacity management” meeting in West Seattle last month, as noted in our report, there was a projected timetable of decisionmaking for next school year: District officials’ slide presentation at the meeting said a proposal would be introduced at tomorrow’s School Board meeting, and voted on as soon as November 16th. However, we noticed that “capacity management” is NOT on tomorrow night’s agenda – though the board is having a workshop session on that topic today this week – and subsequently asked the district about the new timetable. SPS spokesperson Lesley Rogers tells WSB this morning, “Board action is expected in December/January for the fall 2012 plan, because we are going to do more community engagement, meeting dates to be announced soon. Also, the capacity management team wants more time for feedback from the newly formed Facilities and Capacity Management Advisory Committee.” It has been widely expected that the plan for next year will include reopening the former Boren Junior High on Delridge; beyond that, it’s still in flux.
7:53 PM UPDATE: The newest timetable is reported on the Save Seattle Schools website, suggesting the next round of meetings will be in the first half of December, and a board vote in January.
(WSB photo taken last week during our morning West Seattle Water Taxi coverage at Seacrest)
A bit of a Halloween holdover as November begins, with a few of the following highlights from the WSB West Seattle Events calendar:
STORY TIMES AT SEATTLE PUBLIC LIBRARY BRANCHES: From the SPL Calendar of Events – baby story times at 10:30 (West Seattle/Admiral) and 11:30 (Southwest) am today, Somali story time at 1:30 pm (High Point), family story time at 7 pm (Delridge)
DREAM DINNERS’ OPEN HOUSE, BOOK SIGNING: Taste the November/holiday menu and meet Western Washington entrepreneurs turned authors at the West Seattle Dream Dinners (WSB sponsor) store 5:30-7:30 pm tonight, 4701 41st Ave SW, Ste 110. More details – including a bonus just for RSVP’ing – in our preview published earlier this morning.
SKELETON THEATRE, NIGHT TWO: At 36th/Hanford, the animatronic production Skeleton Theatre is on for its second and final night tonight. Full details on its official website; shows are 6-9 pm, every half-hour – here’s our preview from Sunday night and our Monday night coverage.
TOASTMASTERS TELL TALES: West Seattle Toastmasters Club 832 invites you to its annual “Tales of the Hearth” guest night at The Kenney (WSB sponsor; 7125 Fauntleroy Way SW) at 6:30 pm. All welcome; more details in our preview published earlier this morning.
HOPE’S OPEN HOUSE: Open house at Hope Lutheran School, 7 pm (42nd/Oregon). Event details on this Facebook page.
TRIVIA: Rock music/pop culture trivia 8 pm tonight (and every Tuesday night) at Feedback Lounge (WSB sponsor).
They literally wrote the book on finding a way to keep the tradition of family mealtimes even in this busy day and age. Stephanie Allen and Tina Kuna, co-founders of Dream Dinners and co-authors of “The Hour That Matters Most,” will be at the West Seattle Dream Dinners store (WSB sponsor) 5:30-7:30 pm tonight. The event is not only their book signing but also the store’s November tasting and open house. Prizes too! According to media material, their book “aims at helping American families reconnect over the dinner table, a lost art that has been found to be an important ritual in child development and family bonding.” If you RSVP before attending the event, you get a free copy of the book, but e-mail alaskajunctionWA@dreamdinners.com ASAP. West Seattle Dream Dinners is at 4701 41st SW, Suite 110, on the eastern ground-level side of Jefferson Square, entry from 41st. (P.S. Though Dream Dinners now has stores across the country, it was founded right here in Western Washington; Stephanie and Tina are from Snohomish, where their company is headquartered.)
12:13 PM UPDATE: WS DD proprietor Leslie says EVERYONE who comes will get a book – they just got some extras – don’t worry about RSVP’ing, just drop by.
Three local groups/organizations are inviting you to check them out this week. First, tonight, Toastmasters Club 832. From Jacqueline:
West Seattle Toastmasters Club 832 is having its annual “Tales of the Hearth” Guest Night at The Kenney, (tonight) at 6:30. All are welcome to come to this free event to hear some entertaining storytelling, enjoy some leftover Halloween candy (plus other delicious treats) and learn about how a Toastmasters club can help improve their public speaking and leadership skills. E-mail wstoastmasters832@gmail.com for more information.
Then Wednesday morning, also at The Kenney (7125 Fauntleroy Way SW), the BNI Westside Professionals invite businesspeople to join them for networking and breakfast. From Jackie:
If you want your local business to grow and expand BNI chapters are a solid way to help you. We meet Wednesday mornings at The Kenney from 8-9:30 and a full breakfast is provided. We welcome any local business owners to join us.
And Wednesday night, The Olio Show invites interested singers/actors to check out their rehearsal. Marie writes:
We have two ensembles: The Olio Players and The Olio Glee Club and together we plan to produce 3 Olio Shows (which are all-ages variety/vaudeville shows) in the coming year. Our goal is to provide opportunities for adults to develop their singing and acting skills in a fun, supportive environment. Previous training is helpful, but not necessary. No audition is required!
The directors of the show are Bert Gulhaugen and Jerry Halsey, who offer voice lessons through their West Seattle company, In Good Voice. They have produced several Olio Shows in the past, the most recent one a couple of years ago at the Youngstown Performing Arts Center.
Our next rehearsal is this coming Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. at the Westside Unitarian Universalist Church at 7141 California Ave SW. We are very much in need of male voices! We encourage West Seattle dads, husbands, brothers, uncles and sons to come join us and add to the fun! For information, people can call Jerry Halsey at 206-851-3617.
Our first singing performance of the season will be at The Great Figgy Pudding Street Corner Caroling Contest on December 2, downtown Seattle, starting around 5 p.m. We will be one of over 40 caroling teams singing to raise money for the Pike Market Senior Center and Downtown Food Bank. We’d love to find a volunteer with video skills who can do a YouTube video of our Figgy performance, so we can start adding Olio video to our website. Anyone interested can email me at marie.mckinsey@gmail.com.
A few more scenes from around West Seattle this Halloween night:
Skeleton Theatre isn’t the only animatronic show in town – David Williams told us this morning about his annual show on 44th SW south of Charlestown – 16 minutes full of musical skull-duggery, shall we say:
And jolly jack-o-lanterns:
We’re putting that on the early checklist for next year. Meantime, back to skeletons: We stopped for photos after spotting this ghoulish skier on the side of a thoroughly-decorated house along SW Hinds a few blocks east of California SW:
Not far away, one of his compatriots was caught in a web of trouble:
Sprouting skulls graced a nearby stretch of lawn:
How about a few humans? Stephanie shared this trick-or-treat pre-funk in the Gatewood area:
And Aaron sent a photo of his house – in that spirited Admiral District again!
A few blocks east, we got late word of one house that had Elvis – the ultimate “undead” – singing out front. Human version this time, not animatronic! Got there just as he was telling the audience “See you later.” Darn.
ADDED 10:25 PM: Spooky – just after publishing this, we discovered that Eric had e-mailed us cameraphone video of “Elvis” (from a distance, but you can certainly hear him – and the crowd):
It’s a rock concert and rockumentary rolled into one at Skeleton Theatre. You know it’s serious, because the yard-turned-stage has people walking around wearing headsets – and the crew platform is right up over the SKELETON THEATRE sign. Once again this year, Chris Walker and friends have engineered the tale of a megagroup gone bad – and then gone back together – with the animatronic skeleton rockers onstage, interspersed with narrated video clips from their backstory on a big screen up above. You can sit or stand on the lawn to watch:
If you don’t get to 36th/Hanford to check it out before 9 tonight, you have six chances tomorrow (Tuesday) night, roughly at the top and bottom of the hour, between 6 and 9. We’ll add a video clip here after we get back to HQ.
ADDED TUESDAY MORNING: Though we haven’t gotten our clip going yet, Ted Johnson just shared his HD iPhone excerpt (thanks!). It starts with a section of the “rockumentary” and gets to the “live” singing after about the 5-minute mark:
Almost forgot to mention – this year’s production starts with a preview of next year. Otherworldly, shall we say.
Another round of business trick-or-treating is under way – this time at Westwood Village, where WSB sponsor Wyatt’s Jewelers‘ namesake Wyatt was handing out the treats when we stopped in (that’s dad/shop owner Kirk Keppler off to the right). Lots of kids out and about here too!
The new ownership of Westwood Village promised more candy this year; trick or treating continues till 7.
King County Water Taxi management says the Rachel Marie is now fixed (after breaking down during the Friday pm commute) and back on the West Seattle run, which means the Melissa Ann is back on the Vashon run. (One more reminder – the West Seattle winter schedule, Monday-Friday only and commute hours only, is in effect now; see it here.)
The trick-or-treating, and treasure-seeking, has begun! 45 stops on the map for Admiral Treats and Treasures this year (printable PDF here). Make as many stops as you can – then drop off your map as a drawing entry for one of two “treasure chests” (worth more than $300) at Merrill Gardens-Admiral Heights (WSB sponsor; 2326 California SW).
ADDED 4:54 PM: The trick-or-treaters continue to run wild. Well, actually, they’re crossing in an orderly fashion (there’s even a crossing guard!):
As the Material Girl, it’s Admiral Neighborhood Association president Katy Walum:
West Coast Entertainment has one of the best props on display – a Segway from the tours they’ve been giving around the area:
Outside Max and Quinn’s Atomic Boys Shop-O-Rama, we found co-namesake Max with parents Parris and Kent Sadow:
It’s the first Halloween in business for West Seattle Fabric Company (WSB sponsor):
Fresh off helping bicyclists navigate “Viadoom,” it’s Alki Bike and Board‘s Stu Hennessey:
And inside the historic Admiral Theater, you can get caramel corn from boss Dinah Brein:
CLICK AHEAD FOR EVEN MORE PHOTOS! Read More
Mayor McGinn plans another West Seattle visit this week. According to a media advisory sent out this afternoon, he’ll be at West Seattle High School this Wednesday morning “to call attention to the under-publicized benefits of school-based health centers funded by the Families & Education Levy.” That’s one of the measures on the ballot for the November 9th election. His visit will feature a tour of the WSHS health center, along with a group scheduled to include the CEO of Neighborcare – which operates the school centers – and an executive from Group Health.
FINAL WEEK FOR STOCKBOX GROCERS’ WEST SEATTLE PROTOTYPE: It’s the 8th week of Stockbox Grocers‘ “prototype” store at 24th/Holden – and the final week, since, as they’d warned all along, this was just a test. Stockbox founder Jacqueline Gjurgevich (at right, photographed as they prepared to open) says they’re having a sale: “The last day the store will be open is Sunday, November 6th although it may close earlier depending on when we sell out of inventory. We have 300 items in the store ranging from cleaning supplies to baking products to condiments to pasta and other staples. Dairy products and produce are also on sale. Most items in the store have been priced 20-75% off and people are flocking in to stock up on great deals. As a thank you to the Westhaven apartments and immediate vicinity we had a preview sale that started over the weekend and would now like to open up the sale to the greater West Seattle community.” They haven’t announced future, permanent locations but promise they’ll be back.
GUIDE TO SOUTH DELRIDGE/WHITE CENTER MARKETS: If you haven’t shopped some of the small-ish food stores in South Delridge/White Center, you might be missing a world of delights. If you’ve ever wanted to know more before venturing into one of the markets, the White Center Community Development Association has just granted your wish – creating a guide to nine of the markets. (See it as a PDF, here.)
Halloween creativity meets catch-phrase in North Admiral: Photographer/writer David Perry texted us (206-293-6302 any time) with word he was about to add the final touches to his gourd-geous “Occupy Dave’s Tree” display – protest signs. We happened to be in the area and detoured over just as he was about to head up the ladder to place the signs:
He says the display will be lit tonight for Halloween enjoyment – in the 2100 block of 42nd SW (map). … Here’s our list of other West Seattle Halloween sights/events.
(Click to see full-size PDF)
When we first reported on Metro‘s proposed 2012 changes last week, it looked like your first chance to see an official presentation in West Seattle would be Metro’s November 9th and 17th meetings. Now there’s late word of an earlier chance: Metro’s now on the agenda for this Wednesday night’s meeting of the Southwest District Council, 7 pm at South Seattle Community College‘s board room, and yes, as always, it’s a public meeting. Also on the agenda: A presentation about the changes SDOT is making on West Seattle streets to accommodate next year’s Metro West Seattle RapidRide debut (including SW Alaska rechannelization). SSCC’s at 6000 16th SW; the board room is in the Robert Smith Building – campus map here, building map here.
P.S. An online survey about the Metro proposal is now available, with questions about how it would affect you – you can take the survey here.
Thanks to Mike for sharing the photo of his Halloween decorations on 16th SW two blocks north of South Seattle Community College (and an appropriately spooked “bystander”). He says they don’t get many trick-or-treaters and wonders if maybe they’re doing something to scare them away … All set for YOUR Halloween? Here’s our highlights list (followed by two notes of non-Halloween events):
BUSINESS DISTRICT TRICK-OR-TREATING: Admiral District “Treats and Treasures,” 3-6 pm – here’s the map; here’s the list. … Westwood Village trick-or-treating, 5-7 pm (new ownership this year and they promise plenty of candy) … White Center trick-or-treating, 5-8 pm (participating merchants – check this FB page) in the heart of the 16th SW business district.
DAYTIME HAUNTED HOUSE: The Kenney (WSB sponsor) invites the community to join Kenney team members and residents in Community Room 2 for chills, thrills and laughter as they are walked/guided through a haunted house. (Remaining) showings are 1 hour each: 2:30 pm and a NEW special 4 pm showing for any children who might want to start their Halloween a little bit early after school. The Kenney will provide “goodie bags” with items other than candy (pencils, stickers, etc). for any child interested in taking one on their way out. (7125 Fauntleroy Way SW)
HALLOWEEN CUISINE: West Seattle Cooking Club meets at Beveridge Place Pub, 2 pm, this week’s theme: Halloween-inspired culinary creations.
TRICK OR TREAT ON ROXBURY: Roxbury Spine and Wellness Clinic welcomes trick-or-treaters during their annual Halloween celebration from 3:30 -6:30 p.m. at 2656 SW Roxbury. Costume contest and more. Details here.
HOWL-O-WEEN PET-COSTUME PHOTOS: 4– 7 pm, Howl-o-Ween Pet Costume Photo Shoot, The Wash Dog, 6400 California SW. Furry Faces Foundation invites area residents to dress up their pets for a very special photo shoot that will help raise awareness of the importance pets play the lives of the elderly, even after they can no longer afford to take care of them. 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM. No charge for the session, but either a bag of healthy pet food or a $5 donation to the Furry Faces Foundation is suggested.
SKELETON THEATRE: At 36th/Hanford, the animatronic production Skeleton Theatre is back! Full details on its official website; shows are 6-9 pm, every half-hour, tonight and tomorrow – here’s our preview from last night.
‘NIGHTMARE ON 44TH’: On 44th SW between Charlestown and Andover, more animatronics – David Williams sends word of his 16-minute loop between 6-9 pm, with: “Animatronic skulls singing ‘Grim Grinning Ghosts’ from Disneyland Haunted Mansion; pumpkins with lighting to the song ‘This is Halloween’; a Phantom Bride skull that sings ‘Phantom of the Opera’ during a lightning storm; and a graveyard with hidden animated surprises and lighting synced to music.” This is his third year, and it takes more than 3 months of work to put together!
HALLOWEEN KARAOKE: Costumed Karaoke with Kelli at Skylark Café and Club, 9 pm.
(added) ADULT BINGO AT THE BRIDGE: Thanks to Ricki for the tip: Doors open at 7 pm for Halloween XXX Bingo at The Bridge (35th just south of Avalon), costume contest and all.
And from the non-Halloween-related file for today:
VOTER REGISTRATION DEADLINE: Last chance to register if you’re not already, if you want to get in on next Tuesday’s election (details here).
PROPERTY TAX DEADLINE: Last day to pay without a penalty. Just go here. (Thanks to Forest for the reminder!)
NEW PAVERS AT CHIEF SEALTH: That’s one of the first fundraising pavers to be installed in front of the Chief Sealth International High School auditorium. The photo is courtesy of Friends of Sealth president Debbie Taylor, who explains, “Friends of Sealth is selling these pavers as a perpetual fundraiser to support scholarships for seniors and other activities for the students and alumni of Chief Sealth International High School.” She says they’ve been “endeavoring to get this paver project ‘on the ground’ throughout the Sealth renovation project and are well pleased that our first wave of pavers are ready for public viewing.” Want one (or more) of your own? Order them through the Friends of Sealth website, www.friendsofsealth.org .
SEATTLE LUTHERAN HOLIDAY GREENS SALE (AND GALA REMINDER): November starts tomorrow, which means the holiday season is roaring toward us. Got a reminder this morning that Seattle Lutheran High School is selling holiday greens – you can get the order form here. And the combined SLHS-Hope Lutheran School fundraising gala is now just a week and a half away – here’s our recent preview.
LAFAYETTE WALK-A-THON SUCCESS! The recent Lafayette Elementary PTA “Walk It To Win It” Walk-A-Thon was a “huge success,” reports Amy French (who also shared the photo). 
“Each grade of students had a 45 minute shift to walk and run laps to raise money for the PTA. Staff, teachers, students and parents all put in a great effort with blasting music and crowds cheering them on. A kindergartner ran 21 laps, which is 5 miles, and the most laps ran was 30. This event is special because the students raise the money themselves by getting pledges, and the Walk-A-Thon day is a wonderful demonstration of Lafayette Elementary’s fantastic community of students, parent volunteers and cheerleaders. The donations are still coming in, but we are expecting to reach our goal based on our generous business sponsorships and individual pledges to students. The Lafayette Elementary community would like to thank all the businesses and families who supported this event, as well as all the volunteers who made it happen! A special thank you to West Seattle Runner staff, who spent the entire day handing out water to the kids.”
What you see on Highway 99 north of the West Seattle Bridge is what you get … till the tunnel’s done (projected: end of 2015). The first commute is on, after a week in which WSDOT says it demolished 2,825 feet of the Alaskan Way Viaduct, resulting in 6,000 estimated truckloads of concrete rubble (to be reused in the tunnel project) and steel rebar (to be recycled). We’re watching traffic cams, traffic reports, and other sources and if there are any problems, we’ll note them here; your observations about the new route are welcome too!
Yes, the rollercoaster week of “Viadoom” is in our rear-view mirrors. But things are different tomorrow, in various ways:
VIADUCT/HIGHWAY 99: Both directions were open again by 1 pm Saturday. Our subsequent report includes dash-cam video recorded as we tried the trip in both directions. It’s narrower in spots, and the speed limit is lower, so we’ll be publishing commute updates again in the morning with word on how that’s shaking out.
(Melissa Ann on the West Seattle run last Monday morning, which it’ll also handle today)
WEST SEATTLE WATER TAXI: The Rachel Marie, which broke down during the pm rush hour on Friday, is not yet ready to return, so its twin Melissa Ann, which usually handles Vashon, will be on the West Seattle run tomorrow morning (the Spirit of Kingston will fill in for Vashon). Remember that the new winter schedule starts tomorrow, which means commute hours only (here’s the new schedule) – first trip from Seacrest is 6:45. Also, for those who asked, the WT will NOT be running late for the Sounders game on Wednesday, or any other fall/winter sporting event – the staffing doesn’t permit for that, the county says.
METRO: Buses were scheduled to be back on their “Viaduct routing” as of this morning. Metro says it will watch closely to see how the new configuration – including the two-lanes-each-way elevated section – affects their schedule. Their official advisory:
Routes 21 Express, 37 southbound, 54, 54 Express, 55, 56 Express, 113, 120, 121, 122 and 125 have returned to their regular routing using the new viaduct bypass in SODO. The temporary stops at 4 Av S & S Lander Street and 4 Av And Jackson St Island will no longer be served. Expect some delays in service on the bypass due to narrow lanes and lower speed limits and please be aware that bus times may be longer (than) before the viaduct was demolished.
(“Energizer station” last Wednesday; photo courtesy WSDOT)
BICYCLES: Cascade Bicycle Club was planning one more “energizer station” tomorrow morning starting at 6:45 at the west end of the “low bridge” to cheer on riders, particularly those who tried two-wheel commuting for the first time (or returned to it) last week.
(“Spur” the guitarist – photo courtesy Skeleton Theatre)
The all-out animatronic extravaganza Skeleton Theatre is back this Halloween, confirms Maia Low, spouse of creator Chris Walker: “The show is basically the same this year – Bonaparte’s Reunion Concert. There is added video and more effects this year. We’ll be running the show from 6:00-9:00 pm on Monday, Oct. 31 and Tuesday, Nov. 1 on the hour and the half hour.” Bonaparte (get it?) is a legendary, albeit skeletal, rock band. Their video-recorded reminiscences, “Behind the Music” style, are part of the show, on a big screen over the animatronics onstage. You’ll find Skeleton Theatre in the yard (visible from the street) at 36th/Hanford (map). You can see our coverage from last year, including video, by going here. The show’s free, but the crew appreciates online donations to help cover expenses.
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