West Seattle, Washington
02 Tuesday
(Thanks to Karl for the rainbow photo from Westwood Village)
4:53 PM: Yes, that was thunder, as a storm cell moves through the area – we saw a big bright bolt of lightning a bit northwest of us a few beats before the boom. No special weather alerts but the forecast overall did warn of a chance of thunderstorms.
@westseattleblog Rainbow view from Admiral 'hood pic.twitter.com/sKHLSqwr9F
— Jason G (@jgrotel) May 6, 2015
5:13 PM: Longtime WSB’er “MetPatrick” is watching the charts and warns of another one that appears to be headed this way.
@westseattleblog Rainbow in the junction pic.twitter.com/pDUUJq4CyD
— NLB (@g7on) May 6, 2015
6:21 PM: Did you catch the hail (ice pellets) and downpour? If you use the Periscope livestreaming app, be sure to follow @westseattleblog – we were experimenting during all that. Meantime, thanks to everyone who’s sent rainbow photos – we’re adding a few here!
(WSB photos)
The Rotary Club of West Seattle was up extra-early today for a special occasion – a breakfast event at Salty’s on Alki (WSB sponsor). At right above is Jim Edwards, honored by the Rotary with the Paul Harris Fellow award, named after Rotary’s founder. Jim’s long history of community service includes coordinating the West Seattle Grand Parade, which is now presented by the Rotary. He accepted the award with his daughter Michelle Edwards, who works with him on the parade, as does Dave Vague, at left, honored by the Rotary last year. (One of the other things for which you might know Jim right now is the West Seattle Big Band, which donates its earnings to student programs.) This year’s parade, by the way, is coming up fast – Saturday, July 18th, from The Admiral District to The Junction as always.
Rotarians also heard from King County Executive Dow Constantine this morning:
The centerpiece of his talk was his new initiative, Best Starts for Kids, announced in his recent State of the County address as a plan to “provide the resources needed to prevent negative outcomes in the community and put every child on a path toward lifelong success.” Its components include mental-health and developmental screenings and a host of other services aimed at the notion that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Voters will be asked to approve a levy to fund it. Early childhood is a subject not only important to Constantine as a leader but also as a parent, and he noted that daughter Sabrina is about to turn 1.
From SDOT today, news that the warmer, drier weather will bring out its crack-sealing crews and equipment. They’ve sent a list of spots around the city which will be on the list where work could start as soon as next week, “applying low-tack sealant to pavement cracks to keep water from seeping under the street surface, helping to prevent potholes and other roadway damage.” The two West Seattle streets listed are:
*SW Admiral Way – between Olga Street and California Avenue SW
*California Avenue SW – between SW Admiral Way and SW Edmunds Street
The city says you’ll get about three days’ warning when the crews are on the way, when NO PARKING signs go up. The work will be done in the daytime and: “Crews will close one lane at a time for approximately 3-4 hours for the operation and to allow the sealant to set. Traffic flaggers will assist and sidewalks will remain open at all times.” The full citywide list of to-be-sealed zones is here.
By Randall Hauk
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
The West Seattle Junction is getting a tapas lounge!
Local resident Khalid Agour is hoping to have his new endeavor ready for business no later than July 1. Itto’s will bring Moroccan fusion to the northeast corner of California SW and SW Genesee, as soon as the former Firefly Café and Creperie space can be made ready.
Agour’s brother Aziz will be the culinary mind behind Itto’s, named for their mother who passed away last November and was the primary chef for the Agour family when the brothers were young. Khalid says that the restaurant will fulfill a long-held ambition to start a business in his neighborhood.
(Pam Mandel from Nerd’s Eye View photographed this great blue heron @ Constellation Park)
Here’s what’s up for the rest of today/tonight, mostly from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar (where you’ll always find even more listings than what we get to spotlight here):
GIVEBIG, UNTIL 11:59 PM! The annual donate-a-thon is under way – here’s our list of West Seattle, White Center, South Park nonprofits to which you can donate, making them eligible for extra “stretch” money. (Also note “Dine Out for Hunger” participants in White Center.)
GELARTO SOFT OPEN: The gelato-and-coffee shop on Alki Beach that we first told you about in March says it’s “soft-opening” at noon today. They’re still working on an organic-dairy provider, so no dairy-inclusive coffee drinks just yet. (59th/Alki)
HELP FIRE FAMILIES: 4 Morgan Junction establishments are donating part of their proceeds tonight to help the three families who lost homes in the big Pelly Place fire last Thursday. Details in our preview.
HIGH-SCHOOL SOFTBALL: West Seattle High School varsity team hosts Eastside Catholic at Southwest Athletic Complex, 3:30 pm. (2801 SW Thistle)
CINCO DE MAYO CELEBRATION: 6 pm, music, food, and dance at Delridge Community Center. (4501 Delridge Way SW)
CINCO DE MAYO ‘TACO TUESDAY’: 6 pm event at Alki Bathhouse – details in our calendar listing. (60th/Alki)
WESTWOOD-ROXHILL-ARBOR HEIGHTS COMMUNITY COUNCIL: 6:15 pm at Southwest Branch Library, with agenda including:
6:20-6:45: Delridge Basin Sewer System Improvement with Tara Wong Esteban, SPU, & Kelly Pajek from the Arts Department: This is the project currently underway at 22nd Ave SW and Henderson/Barton Pl.
6:45-7:10: Arbor Heights Micro-Surfacing Project Update with Art Brochet: Did your street get missed? This is an opportunity to hear from SDOT what streets will be completed this time.
7:15-7:30: Committee & Neighborhood Council Updates
7:30-7:40: WWRHAH Elections!
In the library’s upstairs meeting room. (35th/Henderson)
ABOUT YOUR ACHING KNEES … 6:30 pm at West Seattle Runner (WSB sponsor), Elite Sports and Spine “will be presenting on knee pain,” according to WSR’s announcement: “This topic will include patellofemoral syndrome and ITB syndrome. They will cover causes, signs and symptoms as well as treatment strategies: including strengthening and stretching. West Seattle Runner will be offering 10% off all injury prevention merchandise, including inserts.” (2743 California SW)
DEAD MEN WALKING: Live in-store, free, all ages, 7 pm at Easy Street Records. (California/Alaska)
(Added: WSB photo of response on 25th SW)
9:48 AM: Seattle Fire is responding to a deck fire at a house in the 6500 block of 25th SW.
9:52 AM: Crews at the scene say the fire has NOT spread to the house. They’re dismissing most of the responding units. Meantime, in an UNRELATED call you might also be seeing, SFD is checking out a report of a brush fire near the West Seattle Bridge, in the Admiral Way vicinity.
10:07 AM: The brush-fire call already has closed. The 25th SW call remains “open” but our crew at the scene says it’s out, was limited to a small portion of the deck, and that SFD is wrapping up.
ORIGINAL REPORT, 9:04 AM: Thanks to the texters who alerted us to this: The Seattle Education Association teachers union says its members have voted for a one-day walkout on Tuesday, May 19th, two weeks from today. The announcement was published via the SEA Facebook page last night:
With an 85% yes vote, Seattle educators have voted to join the wave of one day strikes over the legislature’s failure to fund education! The strike will be Tuesday, May 19. It’s time for reasonable class sizes and caseloads, and for livable wages!
As our partners at The Seattle Times point out, teachers in more than 20 other districts already have had this type of walkout or are planning one. Meantime, we checked with Seattle Public Schools to ask about their plan for the walkout date; spokesperson Stacy Howard tells WSB that the district has no official notification from SEA, but will comment once they do. So – updates to come.
ADDED 2:17 PM: Just in from SPS – a letter sent out by the superintendent to SPS staff, noting that school will be canceled May 19th and so an extra day is added at the end of the year, June 16th:
The Seattle Education Association (SEA) has voted to join in a statewide action against the legislature to protest the lack of education funding in our state. SEA is the organization of professionals and union that represents teachers in our district. This protest involves a one-day walkout.
SEA has selected May 19 as the day for their one-day walkout. Therefore, there will be no school for students on May 19, as teachers will not be at work on that day. SEA chose the day to provide the district two weeks of notice to work on arrangements in an effort to minimize disruption for students, parents and district staff to the greatest extent possible.
While there is no school for students on May 19, the school day will have to be made up, just as we would make up a snow day or other unforeseen calendar change. The make-up day will be added to the end of the school year. This means Tuesday, June 16, will become our last day of school and a work day for district staff.
The SEA action is not directed at Seattle Public School as a district, but is a statement to the state legislature about the current lack of adequate state funding for basic education and we share that concern. I thank you in advance for your understanding. If you have questions about your work schedule for next week, please work closely with your supervisor.
Sincerely,
Dr. Larry Nyland
Superintendent
(MAJOR ALERT: Northbound I-5 closed in heart of downtown – see below)
(Four WS-relevant views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page. P.S. Sorry about the broken cameras – out of our control)
7:38 AM: There’s a crash on northbound 99 right where it meets the West Seattle Bridge, and that’s slowing traffic in all directions 99-bound, according to SDOT:
UPDATE: A Collision on SR 99 NB at the W Sea Br has 1 lane open to traffic, delay on W Sea Br EB SR 509 NB & SR 99 NB pic.twitter.com/3JZApcjh0d
— seattledot (@seattledot) May 5, 2015
Updates as we get them. Meantime, speaking of 99:
HIGHWAY 99 CLOSURES NORTH OF DOWNTOWN THIS WEEKEND: If you use Highway 99 from the Battery Street Tunnel northward to Valley Street, either direction, please note planned closures this weekend. They’re in phases, with reopenings for sports-related traffic.
7:56 AM UPDATE: Now the blockage on northbound 99 is down to one lane.
8 AM UPDATE: If you are thinking of taking 4th Avenue South as an alternative – note that there is a crash just south of Costco – a car hit a bus – and they’ve just upped the response to rescue so they can cut someone out.
8:10 AM UPDATE: The 4th Ave. S. crash is blocking both northbound lanes, per scanner, but police are diverting NB traffic into a SB lane to get people by.
8:16 AM: Back to the NB 99 crash, “all lanes are open” per SPD announcement monitored via scanner.
8:20 AM: New problem, 4-vehicle crash on northbound I-5 at the Convention Center, with at least one reported to be on fire, per scanner. That could soon affect the WS Bridge traffic headed for NB 5.
8:25 AM: WSDOT now says all northbound lanes of 5 are CLOSED because of the crash/fire. Several people are hurt, at least one seriously. So stay away from NB 5 TFN!
The backup on NB 5 at Olive is about 7 miles. Again, avoid I-5, all lanes blocked with serious collision. pic.twitter.com/4PSusrrEF3
— WSDOT Traffic (@wsdot_traffic) May 5, 2015
9:23 AM: All but one lane of northbound I-5 is open now.
Again this year, dozens of local nonprofits are participating in today’s GiveBIG one-day donate-a-thon coordinated by the Seattle Foundation. The money you give TODAY ONLY to any or all of the participating nonprofits goes beyond face value – it boosts their eligibility for a “stretch pool” of partial matching funds, to be distributed proportionately depending on how much each participating organization raises during GiveBIG, by 11:59 pm tonight.
MEGA-IMPORTANT: You **must** donate through the special pages all participants have on the GiveBIG website, NOT via the organizations’ own websites. So here’s our list of those special pages for participating West Seattle, White Center, and South Park-based or -founded/-connected nonprofits. The special links take you to pages on the Seattle Foundation website with background information, as well as the donation links to use for this one-day event. Please also note that some organizations require an extra step – the “go here” link takes you to their “fiscal sponsor” or parent organization and then you MUST write the local org’s name in the “comments” area. (P.S. Please let us know if we missed a WS, WC, or SP-based organization – post a comment or e-mail us ASAP at editor@wsb.blackfin.biz so we can check it out – thanks!)
ART FOR ANIMALS’ SAKE – go here
ARTS CORPS – go here
ARTSWEST – go here
CITIZENS FOR OFF-LEASH AREAS – go here
DELRIDGE NEIGHBORHOODS DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION – go here
DENNY-SEALTH PERFORMING ARTS – go here
DISABILITY RIGHTS WASHINGTON – go here
DUWAMISH RIVER CLEANUP COALITION/TECHNICAL ADVISORY GROUP– go here
DUWAMISH ROWING CLUB – go here
DUWAMISH TRIBAL SERVICES – go here
EARTH MINISTRY – go here
EMPOWER MENTORING PROGRAM – go here
ENVIRONMENTAL COALITION OF SOUTH SEATTLE – go here
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE CENTER – go here
EXPLORER WEST MIDDLE SCHOOL – go here
FAUNTLEROY CHILDREN’S CENTER – go here
FEEST – go here
FREE2LUV – go here
FRIENDS OF SEALTH – IB SCHOLARSHIP FUND– go here
FURRY FACES FOUNDATION – go here
HIGHLINE SCHOOLS FOUNDATION FOR EXCELLENCE – go here
HOLY ROSARY PARISH SCHOOL – go here
INVEST IN YOUTH – go here
K-5 STEM PTA – go here
KILLER WHALE TALES – go here
KING COUNTY LIBRARY SYSTEM FOUNDATION – go here
KOL HANESHAMAH – go here
LEGAL COUNSEL FOR YOUTH AND CHILDREN – go here
MARRA FARM COALITION – go here
MULTI-COMMUNITIES (M.I.C.) – go here
NATURE CONSORTIUM – go here
NAVOS – go here
NEIGHBORHOOD FARMERS MARKETS – go here
NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSE – go here
NONFICTION MEDIA– go here
NORTHWEST CENTER – go here
OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE SCHOOL – go here
PLUMBERS WITHOUT BORDERS – go here
PONGO PUBLISHING – go here
PROVIDENCE MOUNT ST. VINCENT FOUNDATION – go here
PUGET SOUNDKEEPER ALLIANCE – go here
REEL GRRLS – go here
ROOTS OF EMPATHY USA – go here
SAFE FUTURES YOUTH CENTER – go here
SCHOOL OF ACROBATICS AND NEW CIRCUS ARTS – go here
SEAL SITTERS – go here and in the comments area, write that you’re donating for Seal Sitters
SEA MAR COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTERS – go here
SEATTLE CHINESE GARDEN SOCIETY – go here
SEATTLE GLEE CLUBS – go here
SEATTLE PARKS FOUNDATION – go here
SEATTLE POLICE FOUNDATION – go here
SEATTLE PUBLIC LIBRARY FOUNDATION – go here
SEATTLE SINGLE PARENT ADVOCACY COUNSELING ENRICHMENT – go here
SEATTLE YOUTH SYMPHONY ORCHESTRAS – go here
SENIOR CENTER OF WEST SEATTLE – go here and write “Senior Center of West Seattle” in the “comments” area
SOUTH PARK AREA REDEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE – go here
SOUTH PARK INFORMATION AND RESOURCE CENTER – go here
SOUTH PARK NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION – go here
SOUTH PARK SENIOR CITIZENS – go here
SOUTH SEATTLE COLLEGE FOUNDATION – go here
SOUTHWEST SEATTLE HISTORICAL SOCIETY – go here
SOUTHWEST YOUTH AND FAMILY SERVICES – go here
SPORTS IN SCHOOLS – go here
TECHNOLOGY ACCESS FOUNDATION – go here
TECHNOLOGY SERVICES CORPS – go here
THE CABIRI – go here
THE ILLUMINATIO PROJECT – go here and specify in the comments area that it’s for The Illuminatio Project
THE MISSION TO SEAFARERS – go here
THE SALVATION ARMY – KING COUNTY – go here
THE SERVICE BOARD – go here
THE VILLAGE OF HOPE – go here
THE WHALE TRAIL – go here
THEATER SIMPLE – go here
TOTEM STAR – go here
TRANSITIONAL RESOURCES – go here (TR’s board is matching the first $2,500 donated)
TWELFTH NIGHT PRODUCTIONS – go here
VIVACE CHAMBER PLAYERS – go here
WEST SEATTLE BE PREPARED – go here and write the organization’s name in “comments”
WEST SEATTLE BLOCK WATCH CAPTAINS NETWORK – go here and write the organization’s name in “comments”
WEST SEATTLE FOOD BANK – go here
WEST SEATTLE HELPLINE – go here
WEST SEATTLE JUNCTION ASSOCIATION – go here
WESTSIDE BABY – go here
WESTSIDE SCHOOL – go here
WESTSIDE UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST CONGREGATION – go here
WHITE CENTER COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION – go here
WHITE CENTER FOOD BANK – go here – and again this year, WCFB has an added event on GiveBIG day, Dine Out For Hunger:
Dine out on May 5, 2015, and these restaurants will donate a portion of their proceeds to the White Center Food Bank!
Company Bar
Full Tilt Ice Cream (White Center location)
Mac’s Triangle Pub
Meander’s
Proletariat Pizza
Zippy’s Giant Burgers (White Center AND Georgetown locations)These wonderful restaurants will donate to us through giveBIG, so their donations will be stretched and matched, too!
WHIT PRESS – go here
YES FOUNDATION OF WHITE CENTER – go here
WEST SEATTLE/FAUNTLEROY YMCA – go to the YMCA of Greater Seattle donation page and write in the comments that it’s for the West Seattle YMCA
YOUTH FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE – go here
YOUTH MEDIA INSTITUTE – go here
YOUTH VIOLENCE PREVENTION NETWORK – go here
YWCA OF SEATTLE-KING COUNTY – go here
In four weeks, one of these young women will be crowned as this year’s West Seattle Hi-Yu Senior Court queen. Tonight, Holy Names Academy senior Kelly Crum (left) and Chief Sealth International High School senior Aislyn Crane (right) read their essays to a panel of judges during the monthly Hi-Yu meeting. The topic: “What are my dreams for my future?” The series of judged events will culminate in the coronation during this year’s Hi-Yu Tea and Silent Auction, 2 pm Sunday, May 31st, at The Hall at Fauntleroy – details (including ticket info) here.
So far, the forecast looks great for the 11th annual West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day, now just five days away – 9 am-3 pm this Saturday, May 9th. The online map of the 340+ registered sales went live on Saturday 
(the screen-grab at right is what it would look like if you zoomed way out) – if you haven’t already seen it, go here, or click the “Garage Sale Day Map” tab above the sidebar on any WSB page. The printable map/sale list (PDF version) is almost ready – we’re still triple-checking those 340+ listings! If you are a seller, your number is the same, of course, on both versions of the map, so let all your friends, co-workers, relatives, etc., know they can find you at #xx. If you haven’t printed a poster already, here’s one (PDF, 8 1/2 x 11) – put it on the board at work, school, wherever, and add a note with your sale number! (Even if you’re NOT a seller, consider sharing a poster – we’ve put up dozens around West Seattle already but we also promote the sale off-peninsula so if you work downtown, Eastside, wherever, you’ve got the opportunity to put up a poster someplace we won’t be able to!)
Some 2015 WSCGSD trivia, from the listings:
*74 listings feature “kid” stuff
*29 listings are for “moving sales”
*13 sales promise treasure(s)
*11 sales will have coffee (including the two multi-seller sites, which ARE coffee shops!)
*8 sales plan to serve lemonade
*6 sales are for “downsizing”
*5 sales list knick-knacks
*2 sales mention ephemera
*2 sales offer tchotchkes
Even if you’re not really looking for anything in particular, what we hear each and every year is that this is a prime chance to get out and mingle with your neighbors – somebody nearby is probably having a sale. Maybe more than one “somebody.”
Tomorrow – more highlights, including, by request, a list of the fundraiser sales!
One week from the start of the official filing week for the District 1 (West Seattle and South Park) City Council race, another candidate has appeared on the city’s list of who’s running – Jody Rushmer. No contact info listed yet, and we haven’t found a website or Facebook page, but for everyone who’s keeping track, Rushmer becomes current candidate #9. Next candidates’ forum is two weeks from tonight, as noted here over the weekend.
That’s the flyer for a benefit tomorrow to help the three families whose homes burned last Thursday – Peel and Press, The Bridge, and Beveridge Place Pub have announced that they will donate part of Tuesday’s proceeds to help them with short-term expenses. The fire Thursday afternoon (WSB coverage here) tore through three houses on 46th SW in the Pelly Place area, which is between Morgan Junction and Lincoln Park. No human injuries, but at least one pet was lost. Seattle Fire investigators determined Friday that it was sparked by an improperly installed heater, estimating $2.7 million damage to all three homes and their contents. Crowdfunding accounts also have been set up for the families – here, and here, and here.
ADDED: Feedback Lounge is reported to be in as well.
11:46 AM: Just in from the city Department of Planning and Development, that’s the document we’ve been waiting to see, ever since hearing that Mayor Murray told a breakfast meeting this morning that the city would tell the Port of Seattle that new permits would be needed for Shell’s Arctic-drilling vessels to dock at West Seattle’s Terminal 5. We’re reading the document now but note one item of interest early on:
(Monday afternoon image courtesy Port Angeles Chamber of Commerce webcam)
The city says the port indicates only the drilling platform Polar Pioneer would be mooring here, with “two tugboats,” not the drillship Noble Discoverer as well, as had been previously believed.
The interpretation released today is the result of the city investigation announced almost two months ago. (Updated) The mayor has now released this statement:
To prevent the full force of climate change, it’s time to turn the page on things like coal trains, oil trains and oil drilling rigs. It’s time to focus on the economy of the future: electric cars and transit, green homes and environmentally progressive businesses. I expect the port to obtain all required city permits before any moorage or work begins at T5 on off-shore oil drilling equipment. While requiring a new permit may not stop the port’s plans, it does give the port an opportunity to pause and rethink this issue. I urge the port to consider, is this really the right use of Terminal 5, even for the short term? Does this use reflect the businesses of the future we want in Seattle? This is an opportunity for the port and all of us to make a bold statement about how oil companies contribute to climate change, oil spills and other environmental disasters – and reject this short-term lease.
The port has not yet commented; when we contacted spokesperson Peter McGraw earlier this morning, he replied, “We have not received the interpretation yet. When we do, we will review it and provide a response.”
Meantime, EarthJustice, leading a lawsuit that challenged the Port granting a lease to Foss Maritime for hosting Shell vessels, sent this statement:
Today, Mayor Ed Murray announced that the Seattle Department of Planning and Development’s investigation showed the Port of Seattle cannot use Terminal 5 as a homeport for Shell’s Arctic drilling fleet under its current permit. The Port is in violation of its twenty-year-old shoreline permit issued by the City.
On March 2 in King County Superior Court, Earthjustice filed a lawsuit on behalf of Puget Soundkeeper Alliance, The Sierra Club, Washington Environmental Council, and Seattle Audubon Society. That legal challenge details the Port’s circumvention of public process and violation of the State Environmental Policy Act. The City’s decision today is consistent with our argument that Shell’s use of Terminal 5 is a change from the Terminal’s historical use as a cargo terminal and requires environmental review and the issuance of new permits.
“We applaud the Mayor’s office and the City of Seattle for prioritizing this investigation and reaching a conclusion consistent with the law and the public’s interest in full participation,” said Earthjustice Managing Attorney Patti Goldman. “We urge the Port of Seattle’s commissioners to take the Mayor’s invitation to use this opportunity to reevaluate the Port’s priorities and to reject Shell’s use of Seattle’s waters as a homeport for its harmful Arctic drilling operations.”
As we’ve been reporting, Shell’s already had one vessel at Terminal 5, the icecutter Aiviq, which is there right now, (updated) as is another support ship, the Harvey Supporter. The Polar Pioneer has been in Port Angeles for two weeks (with this PA Chamber of Commerce webcam focused on it), being prepared for a tow here. We’ll be adding more as we read the DPD document and as other reaction comes in.
ADDED 1:13 PM: Foss says it’s carrying on, considering this “a dispute between the city and the port”:
Foss Maritime has a lease with the Port of Seattle to operate a portion of Terminal 5. During the negotiation of that lease, Foss had extensive discussions of its planned activities there, including the moorage of the Polar Pioneer and other vessels.
Port management agreed that those activities were allowed under Terminal 5’s existing permit, which was issued by the city in the 1990s, so Foss entered into the lease in good faith.
On Monday morning, Mayor Ed Murray suggested that the activity is not consistent with the permit. This is a dispute between the city and the port. Foss intends to continue work at Terminal 5 under our lease with the Port regardless of the mayor’s comments.
The Mayor’s action also raises grave concerns about his stated commitment to Seattle’s thriving maritime community. By giving a small but vocal group the ability to jeopardize the commercial relationships between our local maritime businesses and the Port of Seattle, the Mayor is casting serious doubt on the future of the city’s working waterfront.
ADDED 4:58 PM: The mayor has published something of a rebuttal to that last paragraph.
(SEE JUNE STORY FOR UPDATE – CAR SHOW **IS** ON FOR 2015)
(WSB photo from 2014 West Seattle Car Show)
No West Seattle Car Show this year, according to Swedish Automotive and West Seattle Autoworks (both WSB sponsors), who joined forces last year to make sure the show would go on despite the death of its founder. They have just sent this statement and asked us to share it with you:
Due to all the changes in The Junction, including scheduling and space restrictions, The Junction is no longer an option for a car show, and there is no other reasonable alternative at this time. We regret to inform the community that we are unable to put on a car show in 2015. We appreciate the community support we had last year in our first presentation of the show in honor of Michael Hoffman and all of the volunteers, sponsors, participants, and spectators that made it a great success – and the biggest in the show’s history.
The show had been an annual late-summer Junction tradition since its start in 2008, founded and organized by local entrepreneur Michael Hoffman until his sudden death at age 47 in March of last year.
Thanks to Elaina Alonzo for that photo of bubble-blowing on Alki during Sunday’s sunset (first published on the WSB Facebook page). Looks like it’ll be another beautiful night at the beach (and elsewhere) – but in the meantime, here are highlights for today/tonight:
HIGHLAND PARK PTA: As previewed here last night, Highland Park Elementary‘s PTA is having its final meeting of the school year, starting with a 5:30 pm potluck before the 6 pm meeting. (1012 SW Trenton)
SCHOOL BOARD DIRECTOR’S COMMUNITY MEETING: West Seattle/South Park’s rep on the Seattle Public Schools board, Marty McLaren, hosts one of her periodic community-conversation meetings, 6-7:45 pm at (UPDATED LOCATION) Southwest Branch Library. (35th SW/SW Henderson)
WEST SEATTLE AMATEUR RADIO CLUB: Every Monday night at 6:30 pm, weekly on-air “meeting”:
The West Seattle Amateur Radio Club (WSARC) weekly net @ W7AW Repeater, 441.800, input +5, tone 141.3. Echolink and IRLP are also available -see westseattlearc.org for more info. The repeater is located at High Point.
HI-YU MEETING: During tonight’s 7 pm West Seattle Hi-Yu meeting at Admiral Congregational Church, the candidates for Senior Court Queen will present judged essay readings, as part of the process leading up to the coronation later this month. More meeting details here. (California/Hill)
YOU’LL FIND MORE TO DO … if you check out the full list of events for today/tonight (and beyond).
(Four WS-relevant views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
7:34 AM: So far, so good for this morning’s commute. One reminder for today:
DOWNTOWN BUS STOP CHANGES: Two bus stops on 3rd will be closed for more than two months starting today, and one is now closed permanently – read about them here.
8:09 AM: From the scanner, police are being dispatched to check out a report of a stalled vehicle on the eastbound bridge. Not sure yet exactly where – the main camera for the eastbound bridge isn’t working.
8:24 AM: Center lane @ the crest, says commenter WSBorn&Bred.
8:29 AM: And now SFD is being dispatched to a reported 2-car crash at Delridge/Brandon with one possible injury.
8:40 AM: Commenter “Fun” says no sign of stall now.
8:47 PM: SFD has closed out of the Delridge/Brandon incident, per the 911 log; no further details.
ORIGINAL REPORT, 11:02 PM SUNDAY: Most of the time when we mention a city councilmember’s visit to West Seattle, it’s in connection with a meeting or a walking tour, staples of an elected official’s life. But Councilmember Mike O’Brien came here this morning for something entirely different:
He was among those who participated this morning in the latest round of “kayaktivist” training in advance of the on-water demonstrations planned when Shell‘s Arctic-offshore-drilling rigs get to Terminal 5. The activist coalition that’s organizing them has been leading kayak training with Alki Kayak Tours at Seacrest, roughly twice a week for the past few weeks. Our partners at The Seattle Times covered this morning’s session too, and photographer Ken Lambert went out on the water for this photo he tweeted:
Kayakers prep for oil-drilling protests in W.Seattle http://t.co/c5K6Am2Xwd (photo @SeaTimesFotoKen) @westseattleblog pic.twitter.com/lZpVO3Rz8S
— Ken Lambert (@SeaTimesFotoKen) May 4, 2015
The Times’ story with Ken’s photos is here. O’Brien chairs the council’s Planning, Land Use, and Sustainability Committee, which on Tuesday will consider a resolution that voices opposition to Arctic offshore drilling and urges the Port of Seattle to reconsider the lease with Foss that is bringing the Shell rigs here. The first to arrive in Washington waters, the drilling platform Polar Pioneer, is still in Port Angeles; a Chamber of Commerce webcam there still has it in sight; live image here, and here’s a screengrab from earlier today (used with the PA C of C’s permission):
No date set for its expected tow to Terminal 5; the other drill rig Shell has said it hopes to use in the Arctic Ocean this summer, the drillship Noble Discoverer, left its latest stop, off Honolulu, more than a week ago and is not back in MarineTraffic.com range yet. The only Shell ship to visit Terminal 5 so far, the icecutter Aiviq, is back there now after some time in Port Angeles. As announced in mid-April, the anti-drilling coalition has set May 16-18 for a “festival of resistance” starting with a kayak flotilla.
ADDED 8:42 AM MONDAY: Regional news orgs are reporting that Mayor Murray announced at a breakfast event today that the city has determined new/renewed permit(s) will be needed before Shell’s rigs can come here. We’re working to find out more and will have a separate story soon.
Just about six weeks left in the Seattle Public Schools year, and that means some PTAs/PTSAs are meeting soon for the last time until fall. Holly Briscoe tells us that the Highland Park Elementary PTA has its last meeting of the year tomorrow night – Monday (May 4th) – starting with a potluck dinner 5:30-6 pm, then continuing with business including electing next year’s board. All welcome. HPES is at 1012 SW Trenton.
(WSB photo)
The rooftop of the Stevens Crest Apartments on the southeast corner of 61st/Stevens in Alki is the latest battleground for concerns over the installation of cell-phone antennas in local neighborhoods. City approval for 12 new antennas on that rooftop has been appealed, with the city Hearing Examiner scheduled to consider the case in July, and before that, opponents who have formed a group called “Stop Alki Cell Towers” have announced a community rally at the beach for next Thursday (May 7th).
We mentioned the opposition to the proposed antennas back in March, when it was one of the issues that community members brought to Mayor Murray during his coffee-conversation stop after a Junction/Triangle walking tour; we also noted that an online petition had been launched. Here’s the “appeal statement” that has been filed with the city; nearby residents say they are worried about health risks, proximity to Alki Elementary (3 blocks east – here’s a map), noise, and visual effects. To the latter point, the following document from the online project file shows simulations of what Verizon and its project team say the antennas would look like if/when installed:
The installation also requires an equipment room – “supporting BTS (Base Transmission System) radio equipment” – in the building basement, according to other documents in the online file, apparently on the parking level, which is beneath three levels of apartments in the building.
Meantime, here’s what “Stop Alki Cell Towers” spokesperson Barb Morgen says about the plan for Thursday’s protest:
The group will be hosting an information rally and demonstration on the beach near the Bathhouse at Alki Beach Park on Thursday, May 7 at 7 pm,
immediately following the PTA meeting at Alki Elementary School. Parents, kids, neighbors and all who use Alki Beach Park are welcome to join us. We will be making S’Mores for the kids, sharing information on the proposed towers, and how everyone can help with the group’s appeal to Seattle DPD to stop the towers from being built. The rally and demonstration will end with replicas of the 12 cell towers being burned in protest, in a fire pit at Alki Beach.
The construction-permit application for the antennas has not received final approval; the review is on hold until there’s a decision on the aforementioned appeal.
EDITOR’S NOTE, ADDED WEDNESDAY: Alki Elementary’s PTA tells us they do NOT have a meeting this Thursday – their next meeting is a week later, on May 14th, and is entirely unrelated to this topic – so we have struck that part of the group’s announcement, above.
3 notes from the northwest side of 35th/Roxbury:
PEOPLE’S CHOICE UPDATE: More than two months ago, we told you about DPD documents indicating the People’s Choice Marketplace medical-marijuana access point, currently in the 9400 block of Delridge, was planning to open at 9451 35th SW. They didn’t answer our inquiries about it, but now a big banner’s up. By the way, for those who asked about the legalities of medical-marijuana storefronts (this is right across the street from Northwest Patient Resource Center on the northeast corner of 35th and Roxbury) near schools – with the charter school planned at the southwest corner – we talked to the City Attorney’s Office a while back and they basically told us that due to the mostly unregulated nature of dispensaries, this isn’t necessarily a conflict. But that was before a new law passed the State Legislature this year, so it’s all yet to be worked out, apparently.
CANNA HEALTH GONE: Immediately north of this spot, the medical-marijuana-authorization provider Canna Health is gone. But that freestanding building isn’t empty …
NEPENTHE MASSAGE’S NEW LOCATION: Nepenthe Massage, which used to be between The Junction and Morgan Junction, is now open in the former CH spot (9447 35th SW), according to a sign out front as well as its website.
FIRST REPORT, 2:40 PM: As of just before 2:30, the low bridge is out of commission because of a “technical malfunction,” per SDOT. Updates as we get them.
2:59 PM: SDOT says a crew is on the way.
3:50 PM: Just walked out onto the bridge. SDOT truck visible beneath it but crew not in sight.
Bridge is stuck “closed”; no perceptible gap in the deck. Some bicyclists are choosing to squeeze through gap in gates and cross anyway; alternatives are Water Taxi, C Line, or 1st Ave S Bridge.
4:21 PM: SDOT says the low bridge is now working again, after about an hour and a half.
More of your neighbors reaching out across the globe to help survivors of the 7.8-magnitude Nepal quake that killed more than 7,000 people. Just got word of this:
7-11 at Admiral Junction started a Nepal Earthquake Relief Fund to be assured that timely help is reached to Earthquake victims in remote villages far away from Kathmandu City. We are requesting our community to donate as little or much they are able to. This store has already collected over $800 from its customers in the last few days and hopes to raise more to buy basic food and tents to victims in the rural areas where time is running out and no aid has yet reached. The money raised is wired daily to the volunteers in Kathmandu who will deliver directly to the victims in need at the earliest possible time. If you want to know more about this, please feel free to contact Kap at 7-11 at the Admiral Junction, West Seattle. Thank you in advance for your kindness.
The store is at 4312 SW Admiral Way.
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