West Seattle, Washington
23 Monday
As MLK Day 2016 winds down, more views to share:
DAY OF SERVICE AT DENNY: From principal Jeff Clark: “Thank you to Ms. Moland for organizing the Denny International Middle School Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service today! The scholars and volunteers did a great job cleaning up the school grounds as a way to serve our school community. Go Dolphins!”
DOWNTOWN MARCH: West Seattle photographer Vy Duong shared scenes from the downtown MLK Day March:
Marchers carried signs for a variety of issues, from racism to school funding to nuclear-weapons abolition to presidential campaigning. Police monitored from behind the march, including members of the West Seattle-based Mounted Patrol:
Any other MLK Day scenes? editor@wsb.blackfin.biz – thanks!
ADDED 8:05 PM: Tim just shared this photo from the downtown march:
He explains, “Took two young ladies to the March today. They’ve been studying MLK at school and are aware of the history and why the march was important.”
Four cases in West Seattle Crime Watch this afternoon:
STREET ROBBERY REPORT: This is happening right now – a report of a citizen held up on the street near Delridge and Cloverdale, with the robber reportedly getting away southbound in an alley. The Guardian One helicopter might be called in for the search. No other details yet; we’re working on it. (3:22 pm update) The helicopter is indeed in the area. (3:38 pm update) The helicopter is gone; scanner mentioned someone detained – we haven’t been able to find an active scene on the ground, though, but will update if we do find out more.
BACK TO ORIGINAL REPORT: And from the WSB inbox:
UPPER FAUNTLEROY CAR BREAK-IN: Car prowler(s) smashed a window to get into Erin‘s VW Bug in Upper Fauntleroy overnight but made off with nothing but Hot Tamales candy (right). She says, “I’d be less angry if I left something obvious for them to take but there was nothing to take but candy in the cup holder. Jerks!”
About a mile to the north:
MORGAN JUNCTION CAR BREAK-IN: And it wasn’t the first time, reports Eva:
Another act of vandalism to report from the night of Saturday, January 16th into the morning of Sunday, January 17th. The driver side window of my vehicle (parked in the open garage of my apartment building at 6900 California Avenue SW) was smashed in. There were no valuables in the car and it appears nothing was taken. This is the second time my car has been broken into in the span of two months. In the previous attack the thief/thieves destroyed two locks on the car and stole an assortment of mundane items from inside.
And from there, a little more than a mile east:
HIGH POINT VANDALISM: Michelle sends the photo (we’ve cropped it so as not to show the entire outsized tag on the pavement in front of the bench), noting, “This is not common in this pretty park…happened (Saturday) night.”
You can report graffiti vandalism via the city’s Find It, Fix It app, too.
REMINDER – CRIME PREVENTION COUNCIL TUESDAY NIGHT: If you have neighborhood concerns, questions about an ongoing situation or unsolved case, this is where you’ll find precinct leadership (and usually Community Police Team officers too) when the all-volunteer West Seattle Crime Prevention Council meets, 7 pm Tuesday at the SW Precinct (2300 SW Webster). Special guest, an insurance-industry expert who’ll talk about the newest trends in how car prowlers/thieves are doing their illegal work, and which cars are currently most vulnerable. All welcome.
Southside Revolution Coed Junior Roller Derby skaters (and parents) are out volunteering on this MLK Day: They’re cleaning up at Roxhill Park/Skatepark (where we photographed the trio above) and then heading to the South Park Skatepark to do the same. They were planning to do some skating at both parks, too, before practice tonight at their home base, Southgate Roller Rink (9646 17th SW). That’s also where you can see their second bout of Southside Revolution’s second season, in less than two weeks – 5:45 pm Saturday, January 30th; it’s a Harry Potter-themed bout against Spokane’s Cherry Bomb Brawlers. The evening will include a 50/50 raffle and bake sale to benefit Brawlers coach Ti “Smartass” Marchand in her own “brawl” against cancer. More info here!
Tomorrow night, you have an extra-special opportunity to play trivia hosted by longtime Talarico’s trivia host Phillip Tavel, while helping the Senior Center of West Seattle! Doors open Tuesday at 7, with trivia starting at 7:30, at the Senior Center (in the Sisson Building, California/Oregon). $12/person if you sign up in advance, at sc-ws.org or by phone at 206-932-4044, extension 1; $15/person at the door. The Senior Center needs an extra boost this year because of a funding cut, as reported here last month. No-host bar and snacks will be available. Go show what you know!
(WSB photo from M/V Doc Maynard’s first morning on the West Seattle run, last week)
King County Water Taxi fares are going up on March 1st. We just found the new fares posted on the Water Taxi website – most fares on the West Seattle-to-downtown run are going up 50 cents each way, and most remain discounted if you use an ORCA card to pay:
When the system’s first-ever “strategic plan” was published a little more than a year ago, it pointed out that while “farebox recovery” was rising, the system was still operating unsustainably, and more had to be done to increase revenue. The county is also studying adding more routes – as noted in the newest Water Taxi newsletter, two on Lake Washington and one from downtown to Ballard are under discussion. Ridership on both existing routes – West Seattle and Vashon Island – set a record last year, surpassing half a million passengers.
Thanks to Trileigh Tucker for sharing the photos of Pacific Wrens she found near Pelly Place this weekend, “singing softly back and forth. They have a lovely mellifluous complex song; if you haven’t heard it, take a listen.” Perhaps a love song, she surmised. (And remember – you can now click most WSB photos to open a “lightbox” window with a much-bigger view.) Today would be a great day for bird-watching, park walks, other ways to enjoy nature … and here’s what else is up:
HIGH-SCHOOL BASKETBALL: We usually only feature home games but since it’s a holiday, you might be interested in going crosstown to cheer on the West Seattle High School varsity teams, playing as part of an MLK Day slate at Garfield High School – boys vs. Eastside Catholic at 1:30 pm, girls vs. Rainier Beach at 3 pm. (400 23rd Ave.)
SUSTAINABLE WEST SEATTLE: MLK Day has long been a Day of Service, and Sustainable West Seattle invites you to honor that intention by getting involved with the group – at any level that interests you, including leadership. Here’s more on tonight’s meeting, 7 pm (following a 6:30 pm meet-and-greet) at Admiral Bird. (California SW & SW Admiral Way)
QUIZ NIGHT: 7:30 pm at The Skylark, free and all ages – info in our calendar listing. (3803 Delridge Way SW)
TRIVIA NIGHT: 7:30 pm at Christo’s on Alki. (2508 Alki SW)
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6:03 AM: Good morning! What you need to know about this holiday Monday:
*Metro is on a reduced-weekday schedule
*Sound Transit Route 560 is on a regular schedule
*Water Taxis are not running
*Washington State Ferries are on regular schedules
*Street parking is free in neighborhoods with pay stations
*Most government facilities are closed
*U.S. Postal Service holiday
*Schools are closed
REMEMBER – HIGHWAY 99 LANE CLOSURES START TONIGHT: North of downtown, but still of note for all 99 users – here’s the latest.
8:58 AM: Police are blocking the northbound 99 exit to Seneca. A reader reports that someone appears to have fallen or jumped from the offramp. Medics are being dispatched.
9:02 AM: The ramp has reopened. If this was a case of suicide … we always mention the Crisis Clinic and its 24-hour hotline for anyone considering self-harm, or in any kind of crisis: 206-461-3222.
9:06 AM: According to fire personnel monitored via scanner, the person did not survive.
Dozens of local students are waiting for tutors to help them improve their reading skills. Maybe you can help? From Reading Partners:
Reading Partners is a nonprofit literacy organization that recruits and trains community volunteers to work one-on-one with elementary students who are behind grade level benchmarks in reading. At each of our school sites we have a dedicated reading center where all tutoring takes place. Volunteers are asked to commit to as little as one-hour of tutoring each week. We ask that each volunteer commits to the same one-hour to work with the same student weekly. During every session tutors follow a structured, research-based curriculum with the support of a full-time AmeriCorps Site Coordinator. Additionally, we offer initial and on-going training and support for every volunteer.
Anyone interested in getting involved can follow this link to sign up or contact Reading Partners at volunteerSEA@readingpartners.org. Below is scheduling and location information for our highest need schools:
Highland Park Elementary, 1012 SW Trenton St
*21 students waiting for a tutor
*Tutoring runs from 8:45 a.m. to 2:35 p.m. Monday through ThursdaySanislo Elementary, 1812 SW Myrtle St
*13 students waiting for a tutor
*Tutoring runs from 9:30 a.m. to 3:40 p.m. Monday through Thursday
WSDOT has been warning about lane closures on Highway 99 north of downtown for a long time – and now, they’re about to start. Just so everyone’s clear, they start tomorrow night, so they will not affect the Monday commutes (which will be lighter than usual anyway, because of the holiday). Here’s the latest info from WSDOT:
Drivers and bus riders should anticipate longer-than-normal commutes as construction crews reduce each direction of State Route 99/Aurora Avenue North by one lane between the Aurora Bridge and just north of Mercer Street. The median lanes in each direction will close for four to five weeks starting 8 p.m. Monday, Jan. 18.
Closure details
*Beginning 8 p.m. Monday, Jan. 18, a single median lane will be closed in each direction of SR 99/Aurora Avenue North between the Aurora Bridge and just north of Mercer Street
*Lane closures will remain in place for four to five weeks, until mid-February
*An additional lane in each direction will close at night and during several weekends including Jan. 23-24
During the first phase of this two-phase project, when the median lanes are closed, the southbound bus-only lane will open to all traffic. Drivers should use caution since buses will travel – and stop – in the lane with other vehicle traffic.
Contractor crews working for the Washington State Department of Transportation need access to the median lanes to build four large sign foundations for the future SR 99 tunnel.
WSDOT encourages drivers and bus riders to plan ahead as additional congestion is expected on Aurora Avenue North. Consider alternative travel modes such as ride-sharing or carpooling, or traveling in off-peak times. Keep informed by using King County Metro’s rider alerts or trip planning tools as well as WSDOT’s travel tools and SDOT’s traveler information page.
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
Most of what happened at the first 2016 meeting of our area’s largest political organization, the 34th District Democrats, involved two topics: This year’s elections, and the city/county-declared homelessness emergency.
First, the elections:
Marcee Stone-Vekich, starting her fourth year as chair, noted that U.S. Rep. Jim McDermott‘s decision not to run for re-election caught her by surprise. “And I’m hoping another fellow named McDermott may run for that seat” – referring to County Councilmember Joe – a statement that drew applause.
Joe McDermott is usually at the 34th DDs’ meetings but missed this one due to illness and as of this writing has not announced whether he’ll run or not; in November, he won re-election to the County Council, unopposed. Other candidates in other races were in attendance, though:
Ready to get the bats and gloves out of storage? West Seattle Baseball is registering players now:
West Seattle Baseball is a 100%-volunteer organization dedicated to teaching kids the game of baseball and giving them opportunities to get out on the diamond. In addition to regular-season play, all kids ages 7 and older participate in post-season tournaments. Those kids wanting to continue playing have opportunities to play baseball well into the summer in programs such as All Star programs for ages 8-12 years old as well as summer recreation programs including the West Seattle Crush at the Pee Wee fields. West Seattle Baseball also hosts several summer all-star tournaments in West Seattle featuring some of the top teams in Western Washington.
West Seattle Baseball welcomes players of all experience levels. West Seattle Baseball is proudly affiliated with the national PONY Baseball organization. Our goals include teaching the fundamentals of baseball and good sportsmanship while building a sense of community among players and their families. Practices begin in March, and the West Seattle Baseball regular season runs from the beginning of April to early June.
To find out more and/or sign up, go to westseattlebaseball.com.
Reported by your neighbors around West Seattle:
BIKE FOUND – STOLEN FROM YOU, PERHAPS? Anthony found a new Novarra bicycle leaning against a fence north of Lincoln Park on Friday night, apparently abandoned, as tends to happen to stolen bicycles. If this might be yours, please e-mail him details about the color/model/accessories of the one you’re missing – anthonymedeiros1958 (at) gmail.com
HIGHLAND PARK CAR BREAK-IN: Reader report received this morning:
My husband’s car was broken into and vandalized last night. Went to bed around midnight and woke up around 8 am. Found glove-box contents strewn about the seat; a broken phone holder was stolen. We’re right across the street from Highland Park Elementary, 8600 block 10th SW.
ADMIRAL CAR BREAK-IN: From S:
Just wanted to report our car was broken into late night Saturday the 9th, possibly early that Sunday morning. They stole a mahogany Martin guitar. It was in the Admiral District off 42nd and Lander on the side of The Sanctuary. We have sent a police report, just now getting the word out as we had to leave out of town the next day.
Side note: Learn more about the newest tactics car prowlers/thieves are using, by coming to the next West Seattle Crime Prevention Council meeting, 7 pm Tuesday at the Southwest Precinct (2300 SW Webster).
HIT AND RUN: From Jon:
Car hit and run: At around 10 am on Sunday 1/10, an unmanned parked car was hit from behind on 55th between Genesee and Dakota. The force of the impact pushed the car into the street. Witnesses saw a black 4-door Hyundai sedan drive away with something (its bumper?) dragging. I imagine there is significant damage to the front of this car. If you see a car that matches this description, please call the Seattle police. Much thanks!
ILLEGAL DUMPING INTERRUPTED: Jim reports interrupting this truck trying to “offload its contents on private property around noon Saturday in North Shorewood – pretty distinctive-looking ’90s Ford pickup:”
That’s just over the city limits line, so it’s been reported to the King County Sheriff’s Office.
Good morning! The Steller’s Jay photographed by Mark Wangerin is in honor of the Seahawks – we couldn’t find a bird in West Seattle that was blue AND green. As you can do with most of our photos now, click this one if you’d like to open it in a much-larger, “lightbox” view (then click outside that window to return to the page, no “back” button required).
TAILGATE PARTY: Doors just opened (at 9) at Highland Park Improvement Club. All ages welcome. (12th SW and SW Holden)
WEST SEATTLE FARMERS’ MARKET: 10 am-2 pm, on the street in the heart of The Junction. (California SW between SW Alaska and SW Oregon)
WEST SEATTLE TOOL LIBRARY: Open 11 am-4 pm on Sundays. Working on a list of projects for the new year? Check it out, on the northeast side of Youngstown Cultural Arts Center. (4408 Delridge Way SW)
CAT ADOPTIONS: Kitty Harbor is concluding a special mid-winter adoption weekend, noon-3 pm. (3422 Harbor SW)
JAMTIME, LIVE: At C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor), 1-4 pm. (5612 California SW)
WEST COAST SWING DANCE: You’re invited to join the Seattle West Coast Swing Dance Club at Alki Masonic Center tonight. DJ/instructor is Andy Vanosdale; there’s an intermediate lesson at 4 and 5 pm, dancing 6-10 pm, newcomer/novice competition, too. $7 members, $11 guests. More at seattlewcswing.org. (4736 40th SW)
BUILDING HEALTHY CONNECTIONS: Find out how at the Emotional Fitness Zone‘s January meetup, 4-6 pm. RSVP/fee required – more info here.
FOOD DRIVE: The “ton-and-a-half” drive at Straight Blast Gym of Seattle (WSB sponsor) is extended because the West Seattle Food Bank isn’t picking up until Tuesday – so you have two days left to donate:
(5050 Delridge Way SW)
LIBRARIES ARE CLOSED TOMORROW … so if you need something, go today. If you’re new to the area, here’s a list/map of branches, including the five in West Seattle and South Park.
(ADDED: WSB photo, Sunday high tide at Don Armeni Boat Ramp)
It’s a blustery Sunday, and one weather alert is in effect – a “coastal flood advisory” until noon today. The rain and wind are accompanying one more “king tide” – 12.4 feet at 10:27 am – and the alert warns that as a result, “low-lying areas next to Puget Sound … will likely see a few inches of water for an hour or two around high tide.”
P.S. If you have an urgent road/sidewalk hazard to report (tree down, etc.) – 206-386-1218 is SDOT’s around-the-clock dispatch. We were just asked for that number so we’re sharing it again.
@be_the_ball1 @westseattleblog Here ya go! Blue/green visible on other buildings, too. Wheel neds more #GoHawks! pic.twitter.com/37BaOH2Bji
— Kevin Freitas (@kevinfreitas) January 17, 2016
The skyline’s best-known “12” is blazing bright tonight on the Russell Investments Center – with the big Seahawks-Panthers playoff game less than 12 hours from kickoff. Kevin Freitas tweeted that photo by request. The Seahawks themselves published this behind-the-scenes video about it on YouTube today:
If you’re looking for someplace to watch … consider the all-ages tailgate (and beyond) party at Highland Park Improvement Club (12th SW and SW Holden). Doors open at 9 am.
The Junction is where it’s all been happening today. We also received this from a texter – it’s up at Be’s Restaurant (4509 California SW). So if you’re looking for your waffle and/or pho fix (two faves that we’ve heard mentioned), get there before Tuesday.
As reported here earlier this week, the play structure at Roxhill Park is now fenced off as Seattle Parks gets going on work to enable to return of the custom-crafted turret originally installed with the rebuilt playground in 2013 and removed for safety concerns in 2014. We checked with Parks to find out how long it was likely to take and a few other details. From spokesperson David Takami:
Our crews, specifically, the Concrete Crew, is indeed starting the work to reinforce the section of the Roxhilll Park play area that supports the turret. The unexpected heaviness of the turret had caused it to lean and the underlying structure to slightly sink. The work involves lifting the underlying structure, pouring a new concrete foundation at that location, and reinforcing the recycled plastic structure supporting the turret. Once that is done, the crew will reinstall the turret. Staff will monitor the turret in the weeks and months after the repair work. I’m not sure of the cost but it will be absorbed as part of our annual maintenance budget. The work is expected to take 2 to 3 weeks.
Thanks for the tips (text/call us any time at 206-293-6302) – the California/Oregon signal is broken again for at least the second time this week, flashing red in all directions, and when we were in The Junction a little while ago, that was leading to backups in all four directions, as well as precarious conditions for pedestrians trying to cross while vehicles were trying to figure out whose turn it was to go next. While the best way to report urgent problems like this is by phone – 206-684-ROAD, for example – SDOT acknowledged our “tag” of them via Twitter, and at least one other user had done the same, so a crew should be on the way.
If you’ve noticed the police, fire, and ambulance activity on SW Alaska west of California – police are looking for a suspect in an assault reported on a Metro bus. The victim has been taken to the hospital. No other details yet.
While on an errand in The Junction this afternoon, we happened onto Port of Seattle firefighters fundraising for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society on behalf of a big event that’s coming up: The Scott Firefighter Stairclimb, March 6th at Columbia Center downtown. They’re done for today but told us they planned to be back 9 am-1 pm next Saturday (January 23rd).
Thanks to Don Brubeck for the photos from Jack Block Park this morning, where the high tide at 9:39 this morning was 12.7 feet, close to the peak of this week’s “king tides,” the highest this winter (they peaked at 12.9 feet Wednesday-Friday mornings).
The state Ecology Department is continuing to study king tides and welcomes photos – either hashtagged via social media, or via the upload tool on this page.
Thanks to Mark Wangerin for yet another beautiful West Seattle bird photo – this one’s a yellow-rumped warbler. Try clicking it to see a full-size photo in a “lightbox” frame – then click back outside the window to get to the page; that’s a new viewing feature enabled by our technical overhaul. Meantime, it’s a quiet Saturday, since it’s a holiday weekend, but we have a few notes and events, mostly from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
HIGHWAY 99 TRAFFIC ALERT: Just north of downtown, southbound 99 is down to one lane on Aurora until noon.
OPEN HOUSE: The Community School of West Seattle preschool has an open house today – adults only – 10 am-2 pm. (9450 22nd SW)
LOG HOUSE MUSEUM: Perfect time to go see the new Ivar Haglund display and what else is new at the Southwest Seattle Historical Society‘s Log House Museum on Alki, open noon-4 pm. (61st SW & SW Stevens)
TALK WITH YOUR SCHOOL BOARD REP: The first “community conversation” meeting for West Seattle and South Park’s newly elected School Board rep Leslie Harris is 3-4:30 pm – you can drop in at any time – at Southwest Library. (35th SW & SW Henderson)
LIVE MUSIC: Enjoy live hard rock music at The Skylark, 9 pm, featuring The Big Bad, The Flying Tortugas, and White Horse. (3803 Delridge Way SW)
Local high schools’ varsity-basketball teams all won on Friday night:
CHIEF SEALTH: Two victories at home over Nathan Hale – girls 52-23, boys 78-46. (Thanks to Mel for that score and the photo.)
SEATTLE LUTHERAN: Two victories at home over Mount Rainier Lutheran – girls 41-30, boys 74-37. (Thanks to Mike Jensen for the score reports.)
WEST SEATTLE: Two victories on the road over Bainbridge – girls 78-41, boys 57-49.
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