West Seattle, Washington
25 Friday
On this first post-holiday weekend, you might be taking down the tree, lights, etc. So here’s one more reminder about recycling:
TREES: If you have curbside pickup, you can put yours out in 4-foot-max sections, through month’s end. Or, take your tree – up to three per vehicle – to the not-far South Transfer Station. (Here’s the original announcement.)
LIGHTS: You have dropoff or even mail-in options if you have lights, working or not, that you want to recycle – King County’s website has an updated-for-this-season list.
Looking ahead to next school year? Three schools are having open houses tomorrow (Saturday, January 7th):
TILDEN SCHOOL: This independent elementary school‘s open house for prospective families is set for 10 am-noon:
We invite you to visit the school, tour our campus, and chat with the teachers and specialists who make Tilden extraordinary. Tilden School has been providing academic, engaging, individualized education since 1985, in West Seattle.
We are housed in (but not affiliated with) the First Lutheran Church of West Seattle, on the corner of California and Dakota – their back door is our front door! Enter on the west side of the building, in the alley, across from the south end of the parking lot.
The official address for Tilden School (WSB sponsor) is 4105 California Avenue SW.
HARBOR SCHOOL: This independent K-8 school is on Vashon Island and invites prospective families of 4th through 8th graders to visit for its 10 am open house:
Visit our campus on Saturday, January 7th to learn about our outstanding academic program, robust travel study program, individualized approach to instruction and annual camp adventures. We hope you’ll come to campus, meet our wonderful faculty & staff and learn more about our school! RSVP at https://bit.ly/3Uu387v
Harbor School (WSB sponsor) is at 15920 Vashon Highway.
BRIDGE SCHOOL: This co-op elementary school also is having an open house, 10 am-noon Saturday:
The Bridge School, located at 10300 28th Ave SW, is a cooperative, multi-age, progressive elementary school program that fosters authentic learning through whole child development.
Questions before or after this open house? membership@bridgeschoolcoop.org or 206-922-1202.
Two items in West Seattle Crime Watch this evening:
ROBBERY SUSPECT ARRESTED: Seattle Police just announced an arrest in the early-morning holdup at the 35th/Barton 7-11 on December 4th. They say the 22-year-old man was identified through evidence gathered by detectives and arrested Thursday in Auburn. He is in the King County Jail, bail set at $750,000. No word on other suspects’ status in the case; when the robbery happened, police said three people were involved, and that they also were likely suspects in a holdup a short time later in Burien.
JTF BURGLARY REPORTED: Police were dispatched today to investigate a reported burglary at the Seattle Fire Joint Training Facility on Myers Way in southeast West Seattle. Dispatchers told officers that the burglar(s) were reported to have taken $5,000 in training equipment. We asked SFD for comment, but they said information would have to come from SPD, so we’re now awaiting that.
As promised, SDOT has gone public before week’s end with details of how you can ride the West Seattle Water Taxi and/or Metro buses fare-free for the duration of the low-bridge closure. As SDOT reps told West Seattle Bike Connections on Tuesday, the plan uses the Transit GO app, so if you’re interested, you have to download that if you don’t have it already. Here’s what happens from there, as explained by SDOT:
-Click on “Rewards” and enter code LOWBRIDGE23 to get 1,500 points for your next ride. Please note: there may be a slight delay in these points appearing.
-Tap “Redeem” and then select the free ride of your choice (King County Metro bus or West Seattle Water Taxi).
-Go to “View Ticket” and then confirm your order (required).
-Then, activate your ticket and show it to your transit operator.
-Once your ticket has been used, you’ll automatically be rewarded with another 1,500 points for your next ride. You’ll continue to earn free tickets while this rewards program is in effect.
As for how long that’ll be – how long the low-bridge closure will last – no new info on that. Meantime (as also noted on Tuesday), the funding for the bus/Water Taxi rides is coming from the voter-approved Seattle Transit Measure, a .15% sales tax (15 cents on a $100 purchase).
Look closely at the top half of that photo and you’ll see bolts that formerly held the Admiral Way/Belvidere USPS mailbox. We got a tip this morning that the big blue collection box was missing again, more than 11 years after its previous theft. A spokesperson for the U.S. Postal Inspection Service confirms to WSB that the mailbox was indeed stolen – and says it’s just been recovered this past hour “in the Burien area.” We have followup questions out including when it happened (we recall seeing the box in place just a few days ago) and what you should do if you might have had mail in the box; we’ll add whatever we hear back.
(WSB photos)
As announced last week, today is opening day for Portage Bay Café‘s new West Seattle Junction location, the former Agave Cocina spot at 4725 42nd SW. We just went over for photos.
Today is a soft-open day, for which they took a limited number of reservations, so they opened at 9 am and are closing at 1 pm. Regular hours will be Thursdays 8 am-1 pm, Fridays 8 am-1:30 pm, Saturdays and Sundays 8 am-2 pm, Mondays 8 am-1 pm, closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays.
Above is the famous “bar” where you can choose toppings for your pancakes or french toast. For now, we’re told, they’re offering the same breakfast/brunch menu as the other PBC locations, but once they’ve truly settled in after a few weeks or so, the chef will also have a location-specific fresh sheet. We first reported Portage Bay’s West Seattle plan in August; this is the southernmost location for the mini-chain, founded a quarter-century ago by John Gunnar.
(Sunrise photo by Theresa Arbow-O’Connor)
The weekend is almost here! Your options for the rest of today/tonight include, (mostly) from our West Seattle Event Calendar:
AFTER-SCHOOL MAGIC LEAGUE: Weekly 4-6 pm event for 12+, $5 per player – learn about and play “Magic: the Gathering” at Meeples Games (3727 California SW)
DJ AT EASY STREET: Alternative 12″ singles with Depeche Mike, 6-9 pm at Easy Street Records (4559 California SW).
FREE INTRODUCTION TO PRANIC HEALING: 6:30 pm at Alki location that will be sent to those who register – the link is in our calendar listing.
SOUND BATH: 7 pm at Move2Center (3618 SW Alaska), offered by Inner Alchemy – details in our calendar listing.
SPELLDOWN AT THE SKYLARK: Doors at 7 pm for this 21+, one-night-only “adult spelling bee” – details in our preview, including ticket link. (3803 Delridge Way SW)
HIGH-SCHOOL BASKETBALL: Varsity home games tonight at West Seattle High School vs. Seattle Prep – 7 pm girls, 8:30 pm boys. (3000 California SW)
Something to add to our calendar? westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you! :
An announcement for families with kindergarteners:
Cub Scout Pack 282 Kindergarten Den Starting!
Calling Kindergarten Girls and Boys! Cub Scout Pack 282 will be starting a Lion Den in the new year! Have your Kinder join us with their grown-up January 10th at 6 pm at West Side Presbyterian Church (3601 California Ave). Please direct any questions to Margaret at megamead@hotmail.com or via text at 206-769-6522.
6:01 AM: Good morning! It’s Friday, January 6th.
LOW-BRIDGE CLOSURE
This is the 15th day the low bridge has been closed to surface traffic.
ROAD WORK
–Seattle Public Utilities has a lane closed in the 1400 block of Alki SW for the pump-station project
WEATHER & WATER
More rain expected today, breezy, high in the low 50s. (Thursday was warmer than predicted, with a record-for-the-date high of 59, 12 degrees above the historical norm.) … Also, although the 6:06 am high tide should be considerably lower than what we saw December 27th, there’s a Coastal Flood Advisory alert through 9 am.
TODAY’S TRANSIT STATUS
–Metro is on a regular schedule today but still down buses for repairs – keep watching notification channels such as @kcmetroalerts for trip cancellations and route suspensions.
-The West Seattle Water Taxi is on its regular schedule.
-WSF’s Triangle Route remains on its two-boat schedule- check here for alerts/updates.
SPOTLIGHT CAMERAS
Delridge cameras: Updating this recent report, five are now live. Besides the one below (Delridge/Genesee), cameras are also up at Delridge/Oregon, Delridge/Juneau, Delridge/Orchard, and Delridge/Henderson.
High Bridge – the camera at the top.
High Bridge – the view from its southwest end (when SDOT points the 35th/Avalon/Fauntleroy camera that way).
1st Ave. S. Bridge – the south route.
Highway 99: – the northbound side at Lander.
All functional city traffic cams can be seen here, most with video options; West Seattle and vicinity-relevant cameras are also on this WSB page … Are movable city bridges opening for vessels? Check the @SDOTBridges Twitter feed.
If you see a problem on the roads/paths/water, please text or call us (when you can do so safely) – 206-293-6302.
Tomorrow marks two weeks since the West Seattle low-bridge breakdown left it out of service to street and path traffic. Here’s the latest:
(SDOT photo)
That’s SDOT director Greg Spotts visiting the low bridge today for a firsthand look at the repair work. (He chronicled his visit in this Twitter thread.) No new estimates of how long the bridge will be closed, though. We asked today if there’s a date yet for removing the leaky cylinder, which SDOT says has to be done before they can estimate a timeline for repairs; spokesperson Ethan Bergerson replied, “We’re continuing our preparations, such as securing all the necessary equipment, and haven’t scheduled the exact day and time yet.” (Back on Tuesday, he said they hoped to remove it within a week.) We also asked how long until they announced details of the plan to offer free Water Taxi and bus rides; Bergerson said, “We are currently working with King County Metro to finalize everything in order to offer free transit. We hope to be able to make an announcement tomorrow.” SDOT reps told West Seattle Bike Connections on Tuesday that the free rides – funded by city dollars – would be available to everyone, not just bike riders, whose only alternative to the low bridge is a lengthy detour about which riders have raised safety concerns.
The low bridge broke down on December 23rd, with SDOT blaming multiple issues, most significantly an “intensified” leak in one of the four 15,000-pound cylinders that open and close the 31-year-old bridge for vessel traffic.
ADDED 10:23 AM: While we await full details, SDOT wants to reiterate what we reported Tuesday night – that the free-ride offer will be available via the Transit GO app, so if you’re interested, you’ll need to download that in advance.
The photos and report are from management at City Watch Apartments (4744 41st SW) in The Junction:
They report this happened between 7 and 8 am this morning: “This couple was caught on camera wandering around our lobby this morning and stole 2 boxes of food and a package that was left for a resident near our mailboxes.” The two are believed to be associated with a dark-blue PT Cruiser that has been seen in the neighborhood before. No police report # yet.
Back a few years, when events were few and far between, Herbert Shepard set up rock and mineral shows under a tent in his Pigeon Point driveway.
(2021 photo)
Now he has a storefront, explaining, “After a long search we have found a location to open a retail and wholesale rock facility. It’s 1500 square feet, which is awesome and infinitely better than our one-car garage.” The World’s Fossils and Minerals is a short hop across the bridge in SODO, at 2700 4th Ave. South [map]. The proprietor adds, “Free 1-hour street parking. Entrance is up the stairs just west of the red and white Mallet Design Build sign. Open Wednesdays-Sundays, 10 am-4 pm, except Thursdays noon-6.”
Almost 2,000 coho salmon eggs were distributed to local teachers from a Fauntleroy carport today, steps from the creek into which those that hatch will be released this spring. It’s an annual rite for Judy Pickens and Phil Sweetland, volunteers with the Salmon in the Schools program, picking up the eggs at Soos Creek Hatchery in the morning, then distributing them to program participants hours later. They, and other volunteers, took the eggs to schools pre-pandemic; now teachers come to their carport for the handoff instead.
(Judy and Phil with teacher Angie from [corrected] Arbor Heights)
Once at school, the eggs are placed into tanks where students care for them and learn about them as they grow. Our Lady of Guadalupe sent this photo taken after their pickup, as 1st graders watched the tank placement:
In the spring, salmon fry are brought to the creek and released – students participate in that too, as we show you every year. This year’s participating schools, in addition to OLG, include Alki, Arbor Heights, Gatewood, Highland Park, Roxhill, and Sanislo Elementary Schools, plus Louisa Boren STEM and Pathfinder K-8s, and Westside School (WSB sponsor), plus three local preschools. The Fauntleroy Watershed Council is raising 500 additional coho eggs as backups.
With a fairly high tide – 12.2 feet – arriving amid somewhat unsettled weather, the National Weather Service has issued a Coastal Flood Advisory alert for Friday morning. The alert will span 3 to 8 am; high tide is at 6:06 am. The NWS explains, “A Coastal Flood Advisory indicates that onshore winds and tides will combine to generate flooding of low areas along the shore.” The current forecast predicts a windy night but it’s expected to calm down by morning,
(WSB photos unless otherwise credited)
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
“We’re an environmental organization, not an emergency organization.”
Despite that observation, Duwamish River Community Coalition executive director Paulina López and staffers from her organization have been on the ground – and, at first, in the water – in the South Park flood zone, continuously, since the river overflowed its banks December 27th.
(Reader photo, December 27th)
We talked with her at the Resource Center, the nerve center of recovery efforts in north South Park at midday Wednesday, where South Chicago Street [map] is lined with trailers and tents – temporary office space, hygiene facilities – and storage pods for residents who had to get belongings out of flooded homes.
We went to South Park to find out more about what sort of help is most needed now, and will be needed in the future.
Our first stop was the Duwamish River Community Hub, in the heart of “downtown” South Park at 14th Avenue South/South Cloverdale, the former pizza joint converted into a community space by the Port of Seattle. Right now it’s serving as a dropoff and storage spot for donations, as well as a place flood victims can go get some of those donated items, like food staples. But food is no longer on the “most needed” list as of today’s update.
Back at the Resource Center, both López and DRCC’s Robin Schwartz told us that some of the larger items will be needed later, when families are either able to move back into their homes or into someplace new. Even finding places for flood victims to stay is a challenge – the city has arranged for lodging through at least January 11th, but these are families who in many cases have jobs and students and who want to stay in or near the South Park area.
DRCC is working to transition some of this assistance over to other community/social-service organizations whose missions better synergize with it – such as Villa Comunitaria and Khmer Community of Seattle King County. What DRCC wants to prioritize for its part, López says, is health and safety. They have been pushing for Public Health – Seattle & King County to come out and survey the homes that flooded to assess whether they’re safe enough to be reoccupied. And she has her eye on the big long-term “systemic” needs of which this situation has been a painful reminder.
Even balancing the recovery work with ongoing life in the neighborhood is a challenge. While we were speaking with López, someone from a nearby business came over to say cars – ostensibly belonging to people involved with the recovery work – were blocking their gate, and she had to go try to spread the word about that. We continued the conversation with Schwartz, who not only is a DRCC staffer, but also a resident of one of the flooded neighborhoods, though she said her home only took in inches of water, compared to others whose basements were swamped by feet of it.
As the recovery operation continues, there’s a looming concern about the next “king tides,” less than three weeks away – the basic prediction is slightly higher than December 27th, but the river may stay within its banks in the absence of atmospheric conditions such as those that intensified last week’s tides, Still, the city – and the residents and businesses – have to be ready. (We’re following up with Seattle Public Utilities to find out about their plans.)
For now, here are ways you can help:
-The aforementioned “current needs” list, updated again today, is here
–DRCC’s crowdfunding page THURSDAY NIGHT UPDATE: Financial donations are now directed to three community organizations – the two mentioned above and Cultivate South Park – find direct links on this page
-Two families have GoFundMe pages that were posted in this WSB comment thread
And if you’re offering help, patience is a plus too. Community organizations can get overwhelmed in situations like this, especially in the early going, but the needs will stretch on for weeks and even months, so if you reach out with an offer – maybe you have an appliance you could donate to someone who lost theirs in basement flooding – understand that you may not hear back immediately.
(November photo from Gene Pavola)
Since military flyovers for stadium events so often bring questions when the aircraft pass over here, this time we have a heads-up: Four helicopters from Joint Base Lewis-McChord are scheduled to fly over Lumen Field before this Sunday’s Seahawks/Rams game, which ends the regular season. We’re told the flyover around 1:20 pm will be preceded by up to three practice passes, which will likely include some time in holding patterns, The helicopters expected to participate are two UH-60 Black Hawks and two AH-64 Apaches, as seen in November.
(Black Turnstones near Duwamish Head, photographed by Ann Anderson)
Her are reminders about what’s up for the rest of today/tonight, from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
THURSDAY FOOD-TRUCK POP-UPS: 4-8 pm at Highland Park Corner Store (7789 Highland Park Way SW), the Home Bites truck will be visiting.
HIGHLAND PARK RUN CLUB: Also at HP Corner Store, meet up at 6:30 pm Thursdays for a ~3-mile run.
OPENING NIGHT FOR DRIFTWOOD: The new restaurant/bar at 2722 Alki Avenue SW is scheduled to officially open tonight at 5 pm.
WESTSIDE SCHOOL INFORMATION NIGHT: Interested in preschool through 4th grade at Westside School (10404 34th SW; WSB sponsor)? 6 pm tonight is your chance to learn about it. Our calendar listing has the link for registering to attend.
LIVE MUSIC AT THE SKYLARK: David’s Van, Midpak, Mirabai Kukathas, all-ages show, doors at 6, music at 7 (3803 Delridge Way SW)
TAE KWON DO CLASSES: 6 pm at High Point Community Center (6940 34th SW), it’s the first class of the month for the West Seattle Tae Kwon Do Club – info in our calendar listing.
(added) JOKES IN THE JUNCTION: 8 pm, Great American Diner (4752 California SW):
You ever hear people say “I saw that comedian when he was just getting started?”
Coming to this show is how people get those stories. This is an audition show for our 10 other venues. These comics are vetted and have to submit tape to get a spot to wow our fantastic West Seattle crowd at the Great American Diner. The closer for this month’s show is Nesil Izil, an incredibly funny comic just coming off semi-finalist performance at the Seattle International Comedy Competition. Tickets are $5 online, $10 at the door.
WEST SEATTLE SILENT BOOK CLUB: C & P Coffee (5612 California SW; WSB sponsor) is one of four locations where the club will meet to read starting tonight at 7. See the full lineup here!
Have something to add to our calendar? Email info to westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
6:03 AM: Good morning! It’s Thursday, January 5th. 35th SW south of Avalon reopened three hours ago after a 10-hour-long closure following the fall of a big tree.
LOW-BRIDGE CLOSURE
This is the 14th day the low bridge has been closed to surface traffic.
Here’s the latest update on repair needs and plans; the temporary bike lanes along a detour route for riders are supposed to be completed today.
ROAD WORK
-Watch for the aforementioned bike lanes being coned off along stretches of West Marginal Way and 1st Avenue South
–Seattle Public Utilities has begun the lane closure in the 1400 block of Alki SW for the pump-station project
WEATHER
More rain expected today, breezy, high in the low 50s.
TODAY’S TRANSIT STATUS
–Metro is on a regular schedule today but still down buses for repairs – keep watching notification channels such as @kcmetroalerts for trip cancellations and route suspensions.
-The West Seattle Water Taxi is on its regular schedule.
-WSF’s Triangle Route remains on its two-boat schedule- check here for alerts/updates.
SPOTLIGHT CAMERAS
Delridge cameras: Updating this recent report, five are now live. Besides the one below (Delridge/Genesee), cameras are also up at Delridge/Oregon, Delridge/Juneau, Delridge/Orchard, and Delridge/Henderson.
High Bridge – the camera at the top.
High Bridge – the view from its southwest end (when SDOT points the 35th/Avalon/Fauntleroy camera that way).
1st Ave. S. Bridge – the south route.
Highway 99: – the northbound side at Lander.
All functional city traffic cams can be seen here, most with video options; West Seattle and vicinity-relevant cameras are also on this WSB page … Are movable city bridges opening for vessels? Check the @SDOTBridges Twitter feed.
If you see a problem on the roads/paths/water, please text or call us (when you can do so safely) – 206-293-6302.
Thanks to the Denny International Middle School parent who shared an alert sent today to families from Denny and adjacent Chief Sealth International High School:
A Denny student reported a suspicious vehicle following them as they walked to school this morning. The vehicle drove away when the student took out their cell phone. The student reported the incident when they arrived at school. Denny staff immediately contacted the Seattle Police Department (SPD) and Seattle Public Schools (SPS) Safety and Security team.
SPD officers were dispatched to the school and patrolled the area near our school throughout the day. An additional member of the SPS Safety and Security team was stationed outside the school in the area where the vehicle was last seen. He will be stationed there again on Thursday.
I am proud of how the student and our school community responded. Our school and district safety protocols were followed. Our school and district staff remain steadfast in our commitment to fostering the well-being of every student.
You can help your student(s) stay safe by talking to them about personal safety:
• Reporting incidents as soon as they happen,
• Being aware of surroundings,
• Not talking to strangers or going anywhere with them,
• Walking to school or activities in pairs or groups.
The alert, signed by Denny principal Jeff Lam and Sealth principal Ray Garcia-Morales, did not include a description of the car, nor the specific area(s) in which the student was followed. We’re trying to obtain those additional details.
5:06 PM: What one responder described to dispatch as “a very large tree” has fallen on 35th near Avalon.
5:11 PM: Thanks to everyone who’s sent photos. 35th is closed between Avalon and Alaska because of this. Above and below are texted photos:
5:16 PM: That photo shows the location clearly – just south of the bus stop on northbound 35th. Note there’s at least one utility pole caught up in this, and responders have just warned that the railing behind the stop “might be electrified.” Also, Metro has just sent an advisory that this situation will affect C Line and Routes 21, 50, 55, and 773 (Water Taxi shuttle).
5:41 PM: That’s our crew’s view from the other side of the tree blockage. No reports of injuries. Two buses got stuck behind the tree – one marked 21, one marked “to terminal” – and they’re trying to get them out by backing up. The tree’s indeed affecting some poles/lines, but no outage is reported. Meantime, our crew also reports that traffic is snarled in the Y vicinity and elsewhere just west of 35th. If you’re headed eastbound on Alaska, you can turn to southbound 35th from there, but not northbound.
6:09 PM: No estimate on reopening.
7:54 PM: Still closed. A traffic camera is pointing southward toward the closed/blocked stretch of 35th:
8:53 PM: The SDOT camera shows activity around the tree, but otherwise the road remains closed to traffic.
9:40 PM: More crews are arriving and the tree is brightly illuminated. We’ll continue watching for progress. … A nearby resident reports hearing chainsaw activity.
10:09 PM: Two angles from people who have a view from the west side of 35th, as removal continues:
That pic is from a texter who described the tree as “monstrous” – the photo is from after at least a third of it was gone. Also, Katherine sent this video, so you can hear the operation:
11:53 PM: The tree appears to be gone but crews continue with utility work.
1:10 AM: That’s continuing, Here’s a ground-level photo that Matty contributed in the comment section:
3 AM: After 10 hours, 35th SW has just reopened – the utility crews are leaving; the signs, cones, and tapes have been removed. We’ll be following up later today on plans for ensuring there aren’t any other trees in that roadside stand in danger of falling.
According to Washington State Ferries‘ most-recent Service Restoration Plan update, “Early in 2023, WSF will begin trialing full, three-boat service on the Fauntleroy/Vashon/Southworth route.” How early? The plan is on the agenda for WSF’s winter community meetings, which will be held online next week, as explained in the announcement:
At 12:30 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 11, and 6 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 12, WSF staff will discuss the ferry system’s service restoration progress, ongoing efforts to address workforce challenges as well as updates on key projects. WSF Assistant Secretary Patty Rubstello will lead the meetings in coordination with the Ferry Advisory Committees, appointed representatives of ferry-served communities who advise WSF.
Both events will cover the same material and are designed to give participants the option to join the Zoom meeting that best fits their schedule. Meeting participants will be able to ask questions and provide comments.
You can register for one or both meetings via links on this page. Meantime, given that vessel availability is a factor in service restoration, we asked WSF today about repair progress on M/V Cathlamet, out of servive since the Fauntleroy crash last July. WSF spokesperson Ian Sterling says it’s expected back in service by the end of March.
3:14 PM: Thanks to Mel for the tip. SPD and SFD are responding to a two-car crash reported on Sylvan Way at High Point Drive [map]. Avoid the area for a while.
4:09 PM: Thanks to Sam for the report that Sylvan has reopened in both directions. We’re checking with SFD regarding injuries.
2:48 PM: Seattle Fire is sending a water-rescue response by land and sea to Seacrest, to look into a report of people who are possibly in distress about 300 yards out. Updates to come.
2:51 PM: So far, all they’re seeing is divers – but they’re checking to be sure the divers are OK.
2:53 PM: And they’ve confirmed – it’s three people out diving and they’re fine. “False alarm,” they’ve proclaimed, and the response is being canceled.
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