West Seattle, Washington
24 Friday
4:48 PM: A full house-fire response is at a home in the 3800 block of Boyd Place SW. According to scanner traffic, it’s an exterior fire, no one’s home, and some of the initially dispatched units are being dismissed. We’re en route to take a look.
5:08 PM: Our crew is there; this is a few blocks uphill from Cormorant Cove, south of Alki Point. Firefighters are on the deck of the home. Lots of fans are in use – usually used to ventilate after smoky fires. Earlier scanner traffic had said nobody was home.
5:31 PM: Whatever damage was done, wasn’t major, and wasn’t visible from the street. The house is habitable, we’re told. Investigators are working to figure out what started the fire.
7:03 PM: SFD spokesperson Kyle Moore says investigators blame the fire on spontaneous combustion of paint rags, with damage totaling $12,000.
When team members from West Seattle’s two Windermere Real Estate offices join forces to help build High Point’s new playground this Friday, it will be a sort of preview of things to come. The Morgan Junction office (WRE-Fauntleroy; photo above) will soon close, and its staff will move into the office in The Junction. Both branches are owned by Janet Haberbush, with whom we talked today, after a tipster pointed us to this listing showing that the Fauntleroy space (between Abbondanza Pizza and Subway) is up for lease. She says the consolidation is partly driven by the fact their lease was up on the Morgan Junction space, but also will enable operating efficiencies, and will take advantage of some space they added in The Junction a while back. There’s no hard-and-fast date yet for them to be completely moved out of Morgan Junction; right now, according to Haberbush, they’re modifying the Junction space to accommodate the enlarged team, which she says will include more than 60 agents/brokers. (The move is somewhat reminiscent of what another major player in West Seattle real estate, Prudential Northwest, did in 2009, when it closed its Admiral offices and moved everyone into Jefferson Square.)
Two notes this afternoon: First, the explanation for an alarming sight at the closed Genesee Hill Elementary campus last night. We got calls, e-mails, and tweets from people who saw police tape, cars, and even what one person thought was a body. Absent any other indications of an actual crime, we were fairly sure it was training, which happens there from time to time, and finally, we got confirmation from Southwest Precinct Lt. Ron Rasmussen that it was indeed a “training class.” We’ve received advance alerts before but didn’t this time. Meantime, we have a burglary report today – read on (also, added 4:31 pm, a vehicle-theft report):Read More
Unless you are jellyfish-phobic, the video is so tranquil, it seems as if it could be a screensaver. Diver/photographer Laura James watched that lion’s-mane jellyfish north of Alki Point last night, and shared the video early today. We recently featured some of her other work – chronicling the outfall pipes off West Seattle shores, which provides a visual reminder of the importance of the runoff-reducing Tox-Ick campaign.
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
WSDOT and King County Metro both had news for West Seattle commuters during the “one month till the 9-day closure” briefing that just wrapped up in the shadow of a soon-to-be-demolished Alaskan Way Viaduct section.
The toplines (per executives who happen also to be West Seattleites – Matt Preedy, deputy program director for WSDOT [photo right], and Christina O’Claire, senior transportation planner for Metro):
*The Avalon Way northbound bus lane through the Luna Park business district, expected to be installed sometime in the next few months as the county prepared for next year’s RapidRide debut, may be in place early – before the 9-day Viaduct closure. And that won’t be temporary – that would be permanent, even though RapidRide isn’t scheduled to start in West Seattle until fall of next year.
Seven more key points for West Seattle commuters, ahead:Read More
SDOT has just sent word that the “spot paving” work originally scheduled for the rest of this week on California SW south of The Junction and on Avalon Way through the Luna Park business district is now delayed at least a day from the original schedule because of equipment challenges. So California SW is not expected to start before tomorrow; Avalon, not before Friday.
The economy and its troubles affect us all. Will it get fixed? Or should it be radically reinvented? Two hours of wide-ranging discussion comprised last night’s Sustainable West Seattle community forum, titled “Sustainable Alternatives to Growth Economics,” and in case you weren’t able to go, we got it all on video. (That’s SWS’s past president Bill Reiswig with the introduction, as the video begins. Background info is here.)
P.S. Next up for SWS, another round of teaching you to tackle Tox-Ick, this Saturday, with prizes! Details here.
(WSB photo from July 2011 West Seattle Hi-Yu Community Breakfast)
Who will succeed Queen Kelsey and Princesses Victoria and Rosemarie? The first milepost on the newly rescheduled road to the West Seattle Hi-Yu Festival Senior Court selection is here: It’s application time. Hi-Yu members decided back in May (as reported here) to reboot the calendar and reschedule the process, with applications in the fall and coronation in spring. Now the application is ready to go, and most of the process is online – it starts here. Candidates must be high-school seniors or college students who live, work, and/or attend school in West Seattle. New this year: Hi-Yu has two informational sessions planned during the application process, so that prospective candidates can talk with board members and past royalty. Both have Facebook event pages: 2 pm October 2nd at St. John the Baptist Episcopal Church, and 6:30 pm October 6th at Prudential Northwest Realty. Applications have to be in by November 1st.
(Recent WSDOT aerial of the south-end Viaduct Replacement Project, from the WSB Flickr group pool; click for larger view)
With one month and one day to go till the dreaded 9-day Alaskan Way Viaduct closure, WSDOT plans another media briefing today. (We previewed bus changes here last night.) That’s one of the stories we’ll be covering today. And a smaller round of road work is among the other highlights from the WSB West Seattle Events calendar:
TRAFFIC ALERT: “Spot paving” work is scheduled to start today on a block of California SW south of Edmunds in The Junction and continue tomorrow, throughout the day both days. Full details in city’s announcement here.
MEET THE PRINCIPAL: West Seattle High School PTSA invites the school community to an informal chat with Principal Ruth Medsker. She will be hosting informal coffee chats throughout the year. 9-10:15 am in the main office conference room.
END-OF-SUMMER BARBECUE: Super Deli Mart at 35th/Barton invites the community to its “end of summer” barbecue, 3 pm-7 pm, no purchases required. Super Deli Mart’s owner says, “We will be roasting corn and serving hot dogs in addition to chips and drinks. This will be a lot like our birthday party, but more low key.”
RETURN OF THE ORCHESTRAS: West Seattle Community Orchestras‘ new season begins, with rehearsals starting at 5:30 pm (read this carefully for the latest information on who, when, and where, plus how to join).
RETURN OF THE WEST SEATTLE CRIME PREVENTION COUNCIL: After its summer hiatus, the West Seattle Crime Prevention Council returns to its monthly public meetings, and you’re invited to join them tonight at the Southwest Precinct (Delridge/Webster), 7 pm. In addition to crime-trend updates, this month’s spotlighted topic is Identity Theft, with Angie Kaake from the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office.
SKY POLLUTION: Organizers of Bigsplash Seattle say “aviation emissions” a toxic threat too few people are paying attention to, and they’re planning to change that, starting with an event at Café Rozella tonight, including live music by the popular Haggis Brothers – details on this Facebook event page.
CUB SCOUT PACK 282 KICKOFF/INFORMATION EVENT: Please join Cub Scout Pack 282 for our annual Kickoff meeting, 7-8 pm, at West Side Presbyterian Church, 3601 California Ave SW. We will enjoy games, popcorn, door prizes, Pinewood Derby races and an opportunity for interested boys between grades 1 – 5 to learn more about our fun activities and how to get involved. For more information, please call Steve Shelver at 206-938-8614 or e-mail shelvers@wwdb.org.
BELLY DANCING: The monthly Alauda belly-dance showcase shimmies its way through Skylark Café and Club, 7:30 pm.
TRUMPET/GUITAR DUO: West Seattle jazz trumpet player Chad McCullough e-mailed to share word he’s playing with Portland-based guitarist Storm Nilson at Locöl tonight, 7:30 pm.
Arbor Heights Elementary put a team on the field at The Safe on Saturday, as part of the celebration for AH winning the first-ever Mariners-Nikon Earth Day Program. The school was recognized for its “green” initiatives, led by teacher Angie Nall (in the teal shirt), including composting and “upcycling” (as featured here previously). The moment in the spotlight before the Saturday night game – chronicled above – was part of the prize, as were new Nikon D3100 cameras. And even a pose with The Moose!
Thanks to everybody who sent tips about this, including the parent volunteer who provided the photo and video. (Got school news? Let us know so we can share it!)
That’s one of two owls that wildlife watcher/writer/photographer Trileigh Tucker has just seen for the first time in a while:
It’s been quite a few weeks since I’ve seen the Lincoln Park Barred Owl pair, but (Monday) morning (thanks to the loud cacophony of Steller’s Jays announcing them) I saw both owls of the pair, not too far apart. Thought you might like to know they’re here and doing fine!
Trileigh continues to chronicle wildlife sightings/thoughts on her “Natural Presence” website.
If you ride Metro buses, two events coming up next month may affect the way you get around. Many are wondering how the October 21st-31st Alaskan Way Viaduct closure will affect routes between West Seattle and downtown, and while Metro is working on that, they also want to be sure you keep your eyes on the upcoming October 1st “service change,” just a week and a half away.
One big change will be, as reported here recently, trips will be added to Route 54, which Metro says will mean they’re “increasing frequency from 30 minutes to every 15 minutes during weekday, midday, and Saturdays to match the existing 15-minute service now offered during weekday commute periods. This is a similar level of service that will operate to and from West Seattle when the RapidRide C Line debuts a year from now.” Three other routes with Viaduct connections will get added trips in the October 1st service change – 18 Express, 120, and 358. Then, there are the reroutes on 10 routes, some serving West Seattle, that will start October 1st and last for at least four years, as well as temporary reroutes for that Viaduct closure:
(Photo courtesy Barton Street P-Patch)
The “web” continues to take shape at West Seattle’s newest P-Patch (Barton/34th), but unlike spider webs, this is no solo effort – it takes a community of gardeners and helpers, and Terri Lindow sends word they’re looking for more assistance, even in simple ways:
The Barton Street PPatch is seeking more community to help build our community
garden! If you are interested in learning to build mortar and reclaimed chain link walls (a family-friendly “mud pie” activity), want to swing a sledgehammer, spend some quality time with a wheelbarrow and some wood chips, or would like to provide snacks for our workers, you are invited to stop by. Over the next 6 weeks we’ll be holding work parties Saturdays 9:30-3 pm and Sundays 11-3 pm. All are welcome!
For more about the Barton Street P-Patch’s progress, check out their Facebook group. There’s also info on the city Department of Neighborhoods website, where Barton is P-Patch #85.
(Photo courtesy Potter Construction)
The giant pencil on that truck is a West Seattle-based artist’s sculpture with the “write” stuff, and tomorrow, it’s scheduled to get a new home, in front of Potter Construction (WSB sponsor). Here’s the announcement:
At 9 AM on Tuesday, September 20, West Seattle business owner Gary Potter of Potter Construction will begin installation of a larger-than-life sculpture of a yellow pencil on California Ave. SW. The 13.5-foot sculpture is to be installed on the street-side facade of Potter Construction’s main office at 5606 California Ave. SW. Beyond a visible way to display Potter Construction’s inspired knowledge and experience in the art of home remodeling, Potter sees this as an opportunity to be on the cutting edge of community art projects that have a positive effect on West Seattle neighborhoods.
This playful facsimile of an everyday pencil with its bright pink eraser is the creative collaboration of Rock Brothers, under the direction of artist and West Seattle resident Stephen Rock. The sculpture is made from one solid log and was hand-tooled by the three brothers on a very large lathe in their workshop in Ellensburg, WA. The colorful, hand-painted pencil was first seen as part of a larger Rock Brothers’ sculpture titled “Brush Pile” in a juried outdoor exhibit at Cal Anderson Park in 2010. This installation of multiple large-scale paintbrushes, pens, and pencils was part of MadArt in the Park’s mission to “bring art into our lives in unexpected ways and to create community involvement in the arts.”
Beginning tomorrow, every visitor and passerby of Potter Construction’s office at 5606 California Ave SW will experience this blend of joyful art with Potter Construction’s inspired commitment to enlivening everyday lives.
You can scroll down this page to see how the giant pencil was used in the aforementioned “Brush Pile” installation.
From partner site White Center Now: Downtown WC is about to get its third medical-marijuana business. This one will be a “farmers-market-style” operation, Northwest Cannabis Market, at 9640 16th SW, open only on weekends for starters. Full details on WCN.
SDOT was already planning to be over here doing “spot paving” on California SW in the block south of SW Edmunds tomorrow and Wednesday (as reported here). Now comes word that SW Avalon Way will follow, between 35th SW and SW Spokane (map), on Thursday and Friday, 9 am-5 pm, weather permitting. SDOT’s announcement says, “One lane of traffic in each direction will remain open. Bicycles will merge with general traffic within work zones. All sidewalks and crosswalks will remain open.”
It’s a popular question: So when the Highway 99 tunnel opens, how much will the toll be? That has yet to be decided – but the City Council has just appointed 15 “community representatives” to an Advisory Committee on Tolling and Traffic Management for the future Alaskan Way Viaduct Central Waterfront replacement. Here’s the official announcement, with the list of appointees. They’re tasked with working with the city and state “to review potential traffic impacts on city streets and I-5 for different tolling scenarios for the SR 99 tunnel; explore ways to refine tolling strategies to meet state funding goals and minimize diversion; and also investigate strategies to reduce or mitigate diversion.” They’re supposed to come up with “preliminary tolling and traffic recommendations” by the end of next year.
This Friday is your last chance to nominate someone for the Jeff Fairhall Local Food Hero Award, which will be presented again this year at the annual Eat Local Now! dinner celebration. Once again this fall, the dinner is happening at SODO Park, the acclaimed venue operated by West Seattle-founded Herban Feast (also parent to Fresh Bistro in The Junction). It’s set for October 24 – details here – with tickets now on sale (buy them online here), and while the event’s not in West Seattle, Sustainable West Seattle is a major sponsor/organizer, along with other area groups. Our area is full of advocates who work to promote growing and eating local food – who’s YOUR hero? (Previous winners included Aviva Furman from Community Harvest of SW Seattle and the Community Orchard of West Seattle, and City Council president Richard Conlin.) Get your nomination in by Friday (September 23) – the form is here.
Heads-up in the north Beach Drive area Wednesday and Thursday. From King County’s Wastewater Treatment Division:
On Sept. 21, crews with King County’s clean-water utility will begin a two-day project to replace corroded equipment inside a sewer structure on Southwest Spokane Street between Beach Drive Southwest and 62nd Avenue Southwest [map].
For safety reasons, the work is scheduled between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. when system flows are lowest. Though most work will take place below ground, neighbors might experience noise and glare associated with construction vehicles and generators. During work hours, traffic will be reduced to one lane of local access on Southwest Spokane Street. Flaggers will be on site to assist drivers.
It’s possible some work may need to occur during daytime hours on Sept. 26. People with questions can contact Heidi Sowell, King County Wastewater Treatment Division community services planner at Heidi.Sowell@kingcounty.gov or 206-684-1207 or 711 TTY.
(Photo by Mike Fiechtner)
Sarah Lenssen of Seaview is mom to three kids, two of whom are from Ethiopia. This week – to help save the lives of starving children in their homeland and other food-crisis-ravaged nations in the Horn of Africa – her #Ask5for5 campaign is being spotlighted on dozens of websites. Sarah explains that #Ask5for5 is “simple: anyone who wants to participate gives $5 and then asks 5 friends to give $5 and they each ask 5 more friends to give $5. So far 754 people have donated over $23,000 for victims of the drought and famine. 100% of the funds multiplied up to 5 times by government grants and are being administered by local organization World Vision in the Horn for relief efforts.” She started it about a month ago, and then sought other online writers to feature it during Social Media Week, which kicked off today. If you have a website and are willing to feature Sarah’s ready-to-publish “guest post” about #Ask5for5 – you can see it here, including contact information. And/or, if you would like to donate, you can do that here.
It wasn’t just celebration at Saturday’s Delridge Day festival, presented by the North Delridge Neighborhood Council – it was also about information, including one of the hottest current topics in the neighborhood, 
Downtown Emergency Service Center‘s proposal for 75 apartments in the 5400 block of Delridge Way SW to house homeless people living with mental illness (and in some cases, sustance abuse). One week earlier, we reported on Delridge neighborhood advocates’ tour of two DESC facilities in Columbia City and Cascade, and mentioned their plan for a town-hall-style forum. The date has now been announced: Tuesday, October 11th (evening, time TBA), at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center. NDNC distributed flyers on Saturday in multiple languages. They also have launched a website with info about the forum; see it here.
(Photo by Justin Atwell from Saturday’s Delridge Skatepark grand opening; WSB coverage here)
Summer’s making a comeback this week, we hear (forecast and lots more on the new experimental WSB Weather page), right before fall arrives. Meantime, here’s what’s up tonight, from the WSB West Seattle Events calendar page:
LIBRARY EVENTS RESUME: This is the first full week of Seattle Public Library branches’ regular weekly events, after a small break that followed the weeklong furlough. Today: 2 pm, Southwest Library‘s Afternoon Book Group (reading Evelyn Waugh‘s “Brideshead Revisited”; 7 pm, High Point Library, family story time.
WEST SEATTLE COOKING CLUB: This club for people who enjoy cooking meets 2:30 pm at Beveridge Place Pub. Bring your creation with the ingredient of the week: Seasonal fruit.
ADMIRAL BUSINESSES’ MEETING: Business owner/merchant in the Admiral District? Reminder that today’s the meeting with Admiral Neighborhood Association and West Seattle Chamber of Commerce, 4 pm refreshments and 4:30 pm meeting, Porterhouse.
SUSTAINABLE WEST SEATTLE TALKS ECONOMICS: Think outside the economic box; come be part of Sustainable West Seattle‘s community forum on alternatives to growth economics, Youngstown Cultural Arts Center, 7 pm – full details here.
WEST SEATTLE PRESCHOOL ASSOCIATION: Meets 8-9:30 p.m at Endolyne Joe’s (WSB sponsor). Topic: Nutrition, with Carol Cartnell from the city of Seattle. From the invitation: “You might like to come with an idea that you have on ways to get kids to try new foods, incorporating cooking into the classroom, or balanced-meal/portion-size strategies. Come and share an evening with other preschool educators; we hope to see you there!”
(Photo by Deanie Schwarz for WSB and White Center Now)
Tonight, a new, properly illuminated flag flies over a small, decades-old tribute to veterans, re-dedicated today in the Delridge Triangle, where White Center and West Seattle meet. It’s the result of efforts by the White Center Chamber of Commerce. A full report on this afternoon’s re-dedication ceremony is on our partner site White Center Now.
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