Entrepreneur proposes three ways to make Admiral District more walkable. Next step, community support

| Neighborhoods | Safety | Transportation | West Seattle news

(California/Admiral intersection – Google Maps Street View image)

Stu Hennessey has a dream – a walkable Admiral District.

It’s where he does business as the proprietor of Alki Bike and Board (WSB sponsor), and it’s home to an increasingly busy collection of homes and businesses, including newer apartment buildings such as Luna, Admiral Station, and Element 42, plus Lafayette Elementary, West Seattle High School, and a senior-living complex.

While The (Alaska) Junction has a “walkability score” of 98, the Admiral Junction area scores only 70, says Hennessey, who presented his ideas for fixing that to Tuesday night’s Admiral Neighborhood Association gathering.

In a written version of his presentation, he asks, “Is it our fate to have so much less walkability than the Alaska Junction? Both intersections have about the same amount of daily traffic volume. Both intersections should have the same regard for pedestrian safety. There have been plenty of pedestrian or bicycle accidents along California Ave. SW from SW Stevens to SW College St. Considering the schools, assisted-living facilities, and business storefronts, this neighborhood requires the same amount or more safety improvements to raise our walkability score to the level of the Alaska Junction. The call for better walkability is a call for economic development that will serve businesses and neighbors alike.”

(California between Admiral and Lander – Google Maps Street View image)

Here are Hennessey’s three proposals – two of which would mirror what’s in place at Alaska Junctiion:

—Walk-All-Ways intersection at California/Admiral. He says, “The biggest safety concern for pedestrians crossing the streets is the right turn on red. The all-walk design would eliminate the right turn on red. Traffic-light synchronization would both keep the traffic flow from backing up and increase the mobility and safety for pedestrians with a 40-second all-walk crossing.”

—Mid-block raised crossings on California between Lander and Admiral and College and Admiral. These would serve people going to and from the Admiral Theater and Admiral Safeway.

—Permanently close SW Lander between California and 44th. Hennessey elaborates, “This is an often-ignored one-way and daytime-temporarily-closed street that could be used as an emergency gathering point for Lafayette School, auto-free pickup of students, and a potential event space such as a farmers’ market.”

So what would it take to make any or all of that happen? He hopes to engage everyone with a stake in the area – residents, businesses, schools, even law enforcement – to petition SDOT. Support could be voiced through a variety of feedback channels, he suggests, and shown via yard signs with a QR code as well as flyers in shop windows, all pointing to the petition.

How to pay for it? Hennessey has thought about that too: “Beyond the next transportation-plan levy, there is available federal funding, and matching grants.” Last year, he said, the feds made $5 billion “available for community-safety improvements. To date, $813 million has been granted to 385 community groups like ours.”

Hennessey is no stranger to community advocacy; he is a co-founder of Sustainable West Seattle and led the campaign to create Puget Ridge Edible Park. His next step toward a more-walkable Admiral District is to build a stakeholders group, and he suggested the ANA should be involved. President Joanie Jacobs said their board will discuss it, but first reaction was positive. Hennessey emphasized that the funding is out there – what will be needed to make any of this happen is widespread organized community effort. He expects to return to the ANA at its next general gathering in March with updates.

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COUNTDOWN: Four months until West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day 2024

January 11, 2024 8:30 pm

| 1 COMMENT

| Community Garage Sale Day | West Seattle news

We’ve already received questions about this year’s West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day – so here’s a quick “countdown” note: It’s now exactly four months away, second Saturday in May as always, and that’s May 11 this year. If you’re new, this isn’t one big sale, but rather sales large and small all over the peninsula, one of the first events of the spring/summer season. In the spirit of other community-wide sale days around the country, this one was founded by a now-defunct nonprofit in 2005, and we took over as coordinators starting in 2008. Registration to be on the official WSCGSD map will open in early April. (Here’s our coverage from last year.)

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Seen on 2024’s first West Seattle Art Walk

January 11, 2024 6:59 pm

| 1 COMMENT

| West Seattle Art Walk | West Seattle news

Still time to bundle up and get out to see art tonight!

Photographer Iris Margell is one of the West Seattle High School students showing their work tonight at West Seattle Grounds (2141 California SW) during the January 2024 West Seattle Art Walk. Magnus Payne is another student artist showing work there until 8 pm:

WSHS musicians are providing the soundtrack:

Toward the south end of tonight’s Art Walk (see the map/list of venues here), Alki Arts (6030 California SW) also has a reception until 8 pm:

Above, Kate Flückinger Petty; below, Brooke Borcherding:

Those are just two of dozens of places you’ll find art and/or food and drink specials on the second Thursday of every month – find highlights for each month here. (WSB is a community co-sponsor of the West Seattle Art Walk.)

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FOLLOWUP: Sound Transit Board votes to hire Goran Sparrman as interim CEO for $385,000+

January 11, 2024 6:35 pm

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| Sound Transit

Three days after Sound Transit announced Goran Sparrman was under consideration to become interim CEO, board members voted this afternoon to hire him for a year. Outgoing CEO Julie Timm‘s last day will be tomorrow, and Sparrman will start work right after that. Timm was hired less than a year and a half ago for $375,000; Sparrman’s salary will be $385,000, plus a $30,000 signing bonus and $29,000 retention bonus if he stays the entire year, according to the board-motion document. Sparrman is a former director of the city of Bellevue’s transportation department as well as former deputy director and interim director of SDOT; most recently, he worked for private-sector infrastructure firm HNTB. Major ST action expected during his year at the helm is expected to include the board’s final vote on West Seattle light-rail routing and station locations, after the Final Environmental Impact Statement is published (currently expected “midyear”).

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WEST SEATTLE WEATHER: Alert issued for ‘record-breaking cold temperatures’

January 11, 2024 4:44 pm

| 13 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle weather

(Morning view at Luna/Anchor Park, by Theresa Arbow-O’Connor)

4:44 PM: So far, doesn’t look like we have to worry much about serious snow, but that very cold air is arriving. The National Weather Service issued a Special Weather Statement alert this afternoon for our area, including:

Record-breaking cold temperatures are expected to spread across western Washington this afternoon and tonight and continue into at least early next week. The coldest temperatures and wind chills are expected Friday through Sunday followed by a very slow warming trend.

This cold snap will begin with rapidly falling temperatures this afternoon through tonight and could result in flash freezing of any wet surfaces including roadways. This could create rapidly deteriorating travel/commute conditions.

By Friday morning, extremely cold air will be in place across western Washington …

In addition to all the other preparation advice, we’ve been asked to remind you – keep your pets inside, and watch out for your neighborhood birds, too, like this one:

(Photo by Jerry Simmons)

Reader Laura sent this advice if you have a hummingbird feeder:

Rather than bringing feeders inside at night, it is best to keep them up 24/7 and provide heat to keep the nectar thawed during sub-freezing temps. If you have some incandescent (non-LED) holiday lights you can simply wrap the lights around the feeder or put the bundled string of lights in an empty plastic nursery plant pot and hang it underneath the feeder (I use unfolded paperclips to connect from the perches on the feeder to a few holes punched along the rim of the pot). If your feeder has a bottle, slipping an old wool sock and/or bubble-wrap around the bottle helps too. If you keep feeders thawed by bringing them indoors periodically, this is best done by swapping them out (have at least 2) so there is always one available.

As always, thanks in advance for tips and photos enhancing our weather coverage – text 206-293-6302 or email westseattleblog@gmail.com any time!

5:31 PM: North winds are bringing in that cold air, and they’ve also led to the cancellation of the Vashon Island Water Taxi for the rest of the evening. (West Seattle is still running.)

6:30 PM: Very light snow, but it’s cold enough that it’s sticking to parked vehicles:

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WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Two followups and two reader reports

January 11, 2024 2:44 pm

| 9 COMMENTS

| Crime | West Seattle news

In West Seattle Crime Watch:

HIGH POINT HATE-CRIME ARREST FOLLOWUP: The 38-year-old man arrested Tuesday remains in the King County Jail. Today we’ve obtained the probable-cause document from a hearing Wednesday at which his bail was set at $50,000. It says police first responded around 12:16 pm Tuesday to a call of a man yelling “racist remarks” at passersby and pointing a gun at them. The document says the suspect, who is described as white, is reported to have used a derogatory term for Black people, yelling from the second floor of an apartment building, including threatening to kill someone. According to the document, he lives in the building where he was arrested near Lanham/Graham. Police say they found “a pellet gun that looks like a real gun.”

ADMIRAL ARRESTS FOLLOWUP: In this story last night, we mentioned two juveniles taken into custody after incidents at Admiral businesses late Wednesday afternoon. We still don’t have full details on what happened, but an SPD spokesperson answered our inquiry:

This incident involved two juveniles ages 11 and 14. The 14-year-old male juvenile was booked into the King County Child and Family Justice Center for burglary and the following charges for property destruction, assault, and unlawful use of weapons were requested. The 11-year-old was identified and released to a legal guardian and charges were requested for burglary.

We’re following up with the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office.

MAILBOX TAMPERING: From a reader:

Wanted to share that today 1-11-24 our community mailbox was pried open and broken into. 2400 block SW Webster St, near the home Depot.

PACKAGE THEFT: The latest reader video is from an Arbor Heights resident:

The victim says this happened Tuesday, and that the thief who drove into her driveway took four packages. She filed a police report, tracking number T24000707.

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UPDATE: Here’s who wants to be your next citywide Seattle City Councilmember

January 11, 2024 12:15 pm

| 34 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle protests

12:15 PM: The City Council has just gone public with the list of 72 “qualified applicants” for the citywide position vacated by Teresa Mosqueda‘s move to the King County Council. See it here, along with their application materials. The council meets tomorrow to choose finalists; the person they choose later this month will serve until someone is elected this fall to serve what will then be the final year of Mosqueda’s term. We’re still reading through the 642-page document, but an initial search for West Seattle references brought up some familiar names: Three-time City Council candidate Phil Tavel, West Seattle VFW commander (and Seattle Police Captain) Steve Strand, and former King Conservation District supervisor Chris Porter. Also identifying themselves as West Seattle residents – Cheyenne Baron, Chris Cody, and Nick Duda. We’ll add any other local names we find.

1:54 PM: Just finished scrolling through the entire document. Another former District 1 candidate from last year, Preston Anderson, is also among the applicants. And as mentioned in this story last night, Mark Solomon, another former candidate (not in D-1) who is currently handling SPD Crime Prevention Coordinator duties in the Southwest Precinct as well as South, has applied. Other former candidates from around the city are also among the applicants, as is a current Seattle School Board member, Vivian Song.

4:22 PM: The list is now online in short form, with links to each applicant’s background info.

9:33 PM: A reader tells us applicant Wesley Andersen is also a West Seattle resident.

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Zoo Brazilian Jiu Jitsu – West Seattle: Welcome, new WSB sponsor!

January 11, 2024 11:18 am

| 4 COMMENTS

| West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news

Today we’re welcoming Zoo Brazilian Jiu Jitsu – West Seattle as our newest WSB sponsor. When new sponsors join us to advertise their local businesses to you, they get the opportunity to tell you about themselves – here’s what Zoo Brazilian Jiu Jitsu – West Seattle would like you to know:

Zoo Brazilian Jiu Jitsu – West Seattle specializes in offering both Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and Self-Defense classes for kids and adults Mondays-Saturdays as well as private lessons during certain off-hours. They are located at 5432 California Ave SW and are enrolling kids starting at age 9 as well as adults. (There is currently a waitlist for kids 6-8.)

Owner/founder Bob Brown and his family moved from Missoula, MT to West Seattle in November of 2021. After a 13-year career in the corporate world, Bob started Zoo Brazilian Jiu Jitsu – Missoula in 2015, still operating and thriving today. Zoo Brazilian Jiu Jitsu – West Seattle is his second location and he’s excited to offer the West Seattle community a positive space for adults and kids to learn a new skill, get an incredible physical and mental workout, and meet new people. No experience is needed to start and, in fact, almost everyone that walks through the doors has little to no martial-arts background. Just like learning any new skill, all it takes is consistent practice and time.

What’s a typical class like? “We like to mix things up to keep it exciting, but a typical class will start off with a brief warmup. Sometimes the warmup will include calisthenics. Other times it will be a functional warmup where we incorporate movements that will be used during the technique portion of the class. Then the bulk of the class will be spent performing techniques that the instructor demonstrates. The instructor will monitor and help you drill the moves correctly until you are able to perform them without help. Finally, the class will usually conclude with a period where you perform the same techniques but with increased intensity and potentially more resistance from your partner. This allows you to get accustomed to executing the movements against an active opponent.”

If you or anyone you know might be interested in checking out Zoo Brazilian Jiu Jitsu – West Seattle, they offer a free trial class! The first step is to email them to get on the schedule and then go from there. The first class is free; after that, cost will depend on a number of factors such as how much you want to train, payment frequency (e.g. monthly, yearly), payment method, etc.

For more questions you can email Bob directly or check out the FAQ section on the Zoo Brazilian Jiu Jitsu – West Seattle website.

We thank Zoo Brazilian Jiu Jitsu – West Seattle for sponsoring independent, community-collaborative neighborhood news via WSB; find our current sponsor team listed in directory format here; email patrick@wsbsales.com for info on joining the team!

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West Seattle Art Walk, benefit comedy show, much more for your Thursday

January 11, 2024 9:58 am

| 4 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

Highlighting tonight’s happenings … 2024’s first West Seattle Art Walk. Here’s the new list/map for this quarter:

Some venues have art and receptions for this month’s featured artists, some just art, some food and drink specials for those out on the Art Walk. Here’s where to get previews of venues and who they’re featuring. Most events are 5-8 pm. That includes one of tonight’s highlights, a show by West Seattle High School students at West Seattle Grounds (2141 California SW). Some run longer, like the Jet City Cauldron Artists’ Pop-Up Shop (5-9 pm, 4547 California SW).

Also happening today/tonight, mostly from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:

FREE INDOOR PLAYSPACE: Open until noon, drop in at the West Seattle Church of the Nazarene (42nd/Juneau).

PRESCHOOLER STORY TIME: 10:30 am at West Seattle (Admiral) Library (2306 42nd SW), every Thursday morning!

UNDERSTANDING MEDICARE: 11 am presentation at Senior Center of West Seattle (4217 SW Oregon).

WEST SEATTLE UKULELE PLAYERS: All levels welcome to this weekly 1 pm gathering. Email westseattleukuleleplayerswsup@gmail.com for info on where they’re playing today.

HPCS FOOD-TRUCK VISIT: Every Thursday, 4-8 pm, Highland Park Corner Store (7789 Highland Park Way SW) gets a food-truck visit. Tonight it’s Lunch on the Plate.

FREE ECO-ARTS CLASS: 4-7 pm at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center (4408 Delridge Way SW) – drop in!

VISCON CELLARS: Along with presenting artist Michael A. Knutson as part of the West Seattle Art Walk, the winery’s tasting room/wine bar is open 5-9 pm (5910 California SW; WSB sponsor) for wine by the glass or bottle.

INTRO TO WAXING: 6 pm class at Mountain to Sound Outfitters (3602 SW Alaska; WSB sponsor) – what to know now that snow-sports season is in full gear.

WORDS, WRITERS, SOUTHWEST STORIES: As previewed here last night, Maria Chávez speaks online about “The Firsts: Latina Struggles in the United States,” 6 pm. Go here to register for the link.

HIGHLAND PARK RUN CLUB: 6:30 pm, meet at Highland Park Corner Store (7789 Highland Park Way SW) for a 3-mile run through the neighborhood.

WESTIES RUN CLUB: Meet at Future Primitive Beer Bar (2536 Alki SW) at 6:30 pm for a 3-mile run – more in our calendar listing.

BENEFIT COMEDY SHOW: 7 pm at Otter on the Rocks (4210 SW Admiral Way), Cozy Comedy presents a show benefiting the Lafayette Elementary PTA. Check to see if tickets remain!

BLUES NIGHT: 6:30-9 pm at The Spot West Seattle (2920 SW Avalon Way), every Thursday you can listen to the blues.

OPEN MIC: 7-9 pm at C & P Coffee (5612 California SW; WSB sponsor), open mic for musicians of all genres.

YOGA, BREATH WORK, GONG BATH, MORE: 7 pm at Move2Center (3618 SW Alaska), $35.

Planning something that should be on our calendar and in daily preview lists like this? Email info to westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!

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Memorial service January 20 for Terrence A. Menstell, 1960-2023

January 11, 2024 9:04 am

| 2 COMMENTS

| Obituaries | West Seattle news

Family and friends will gather January 20 to remember Terry Menstell. Here’s the remembrance being shared with his community now:

Terrence (Terry) Anthony Menstell, age 63, of Seattle, passed away on Sunday, December 31, 2023.

Terry is survived by his wife of 35 years, Leslie; his mother Marian; brother Steve; sisters Virginia and MaryLynn; his children Elizabeth (Tyler) and Katharine; and his grandson August. He was preceded in death by his father Robert and his brother John.

A proud graduate of the Culinary Arts program at Seattle Central College, Terry worked professionally as a chef in a variety of Seattle-area establishments ranging from the Seattle Sheraton Hotel, the Lakes Club, and the Harbor Club to senior living communities including Madison House – Kirkland, Queen Anne Manor Senior Living, and Sunrise Senior Living – Mercer Island and Bellevue.

A loving and dependable son, brother, husband, father, grandfather, uncle, son-in-law, brother-in-law, co-worker, and boss, Terry always lent a cheerful and generous helping hand – from picking staff up and driving them to work on snowy early mornings, dead car battery rescues to computer troubleshooting, multiple household dump runs, and moving day help – truck and heavy lifting all included.

A memorial service will be held at (updated location) Fauntleroy Church (9140 California SW) in West Seattle at 12 noon on January 20, 2024, followed by a light lunch.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that memorial donations be made to FareStart: https://www.farestart.org/donate.

To share a memory about Terry, please visit the Dignity Memorial site: https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/seattle-wa/terrence-menstell-11611935

(WSB publishes West Seattle obituaries and memorial announcements by request, free of charge. Please email the text, and a photo if available, to westseattleblog@gmail.com)

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TRAFFIC, TRANSIT, WEATHER, ROAD WORK: Thursday notes

January 11, 2024 6:03 am

| 3 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

6:03 AM: Good morning. It’s Thursday, January 11th.

WEATHER + SUNRISE/SUNSET TIMES

Mostly cloudy, possible rain/snow, high in the low 40s – then the colder air is due to head in, with a low in the 20s tonight. Today’s sunrise will be at 7:55 am, and the sun will set at 4:39 pm.

(Wednesday photo by Peter DeLory)

ROAD-WORK ALERT

SDOT crews are expected to continue work on the permanent signal at Highland Park Way and Holden. Lane closures are likely.

LOOKING AHEAD

Monday is Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day – school and government closures, and some transit changes.

TRANSIT NOTES

Water Taxi today – Regular schedule. Check the real-time map if you’re wondering where the boat is. For Monday’s holiday, the WT will be out of service.

Metro today – Regular schedule; check advisories here.

Washington State Ferries today – 2-boat service on the Triangle Route. Check alerts for changes, and use the real-time map to see where your ferry is.

SPOTLIGHT TRAFFIC CAMERAS

(The video options on SDOT‘s camera map are working again.)

Delridge cameras: Besides the one below (Delridge/Orchard), cameras are also at Delridge/Genesee, Delridge/Juneau, Delridge/Henderson, and Delridge/Oregon.

High Bridge – the main camera:

High Bridge – the view from its southwest end (when SDOT points the 35th/Avalon/Fauntleroy camera that way):

Low Bridge:

1st Ave. S. Bridge:

Highway 99: – northbound side at Lander:

MORE TRAFFIC CAMS: See all working traffic cams citywide here; West Seattle and vicinity-relevant cameras are on this WSB page.

BRIDGE INFO: The @SDOTBridges feed on X (ex-Twitter) shows whether the city’s movable bridges are opening for vessel traffic.

If you see a problem on the bridges/streets/paths/water, please text or call us (when you can do that safely, and after you’ve reported to authorities if applicable). Thank you!

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From traffic to trends, here’s what police discussed with two West Seattle community groups Tuesday night

January 10, 2024 10:19 pm

| 19 COMMENTS

| Neighborhoods | West Seattle news | West Seattle police

Southwest Precinct police representatives were guests at two community meetings we covered last night, with different topics:

ADMIRAL NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION: Mark Solomon, Crime Prevention Coordinator from the South Precinct who’s also currently handling Southwest, was the guest. The ANA conversation with him touched on two major topics: One, the two teenagers who have been reported as involved in multiple incidents in local businesses. Attendees included at least one affected business owner. The two boys were described as well-known to business owners, as they have gone in to various shops and restaurants, harassing employees. Solomon said he would check on the situation. (Side note, two teens were taken into custody in the Admiral District late today after incidents in at least three businesses; we’ll be following up with SPD tomorrow.)

He also mentioned that Admiral has not been immune to the business burglaries that have happened around the peninsula; he said Wiseman’s Appliance was broken into last month.

Solomon also got an earful about traffic violations in the Admiral area – people speeding, running red lights, and ignoring pedestrians. One person asked if there were stats on running red lights; Solomon said he only gets collision stats. There was also a request for motorcycle officers to give speeding tickets, but Solomon said the motorcycle patrol’s role these days is primarily to aid traffic these days and not so much hand out tickets.

(Separate from the discussion with SPD’s Solomon, the ANA also heard about a new community proposal to make Admiral more pedestrian-friendly; look for that story tomorrow. And one more note – Solomon, who ran for City Council last year, confirmed to us that he’s applied for the current council vacancy.)

FAUNTLEROY COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION: Traffic was also a topic as second-watch Lt. Joshua Ziemer and community-liaison Officer German Barreto visited the FCA meeting. President Mike Dey brought up the recent collision that killed Steven Hulsman as he rode his bicycle on Marine View Drive, and wondered about speed bumps. How did Alki get so much traffic calming? was the question. FCA might consider asking Alki community advocates how they had so much success with SDOT, it was suggested.

Meantime, the SPD delegation brought crime-trend information that Lt. Ziemer said was for West Seattle in general. Homicides in the Southwest Precinct (which includes South Park) more than doubled, 3 in 2022, 7 in 2023 (the SPD crime dashboard says 8). The newest trend: Burglaries are on the rise. A not-so-new trend: Auto thefts are way up, 2023 was up 39 percent over 2022, and he said that mirrors a nationwide trend, fueled by the Kia and Hyundai thefts. They’re hopeful that a recent arrest (no name but likely this one) will make a dent. Robberies are also up (and in response to a question, he said that most carjackings fall into that category) – they believe the auto theft and robbery rises are related, because many vehicles are taken to be used in a crime.

How’s SPD recruitment going? they were asked. Departmentwide, they’ve still had more departures than new hires. Lt. Ziemer noted that it’s a nationwide problem, not just a Seattle problem. He said a contract agreement with the officers’ union would be an important step to assist in recruitment. But Lt. Ziemer stressed that they’re not just looking for “numbers” in hiring, they want “quality people” who want to come to SPD and will stay a while. The Southwest Precinct remains a popular place to work, he added.

(We’ve published two other reports from the FCA meeting – the latest on Seattle Parks‘ pickleball-court planning, and an update on West Seattle dog-park siting.)

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UPDATE: Car-on-side crash on Admiral Way

January 10, 2024 7:55 pm

| 8 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | WS breaking news

7:55 PM: Thanks for the tips. Emergency responders are arriving at the scene of what texters describe as a car-on-side crash on Admiral Way, at/near the Schmitz Park bridge. So far dispatchers have reported only minor injuries. No images yet, but one texter says, “The car is wedged in some trees very oddly, almost flipped over. I can’t imagine how it ended up that way.” … The response is reported to be blocking the eastbound lanes.

8:47 PM: Thanks to Tony Tschanz for the photo of the tow crew hauling it out. SFD closed out its response fairly quickly, reinforcing the initial assessment of “minor injuries”; we’ll follow up to be sure.

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THURSDAY: Words, Writers, Southwest Stories’ first online event of 2024 – and what’s ahead

January 10, 2024 6:52 pm

| Comments Off on THURSDAY: Words, Writers, Southwest Stories’ first online event of 2024 – and what’s ahead

| West Seattle books | West Seattle history | West Seattle news

This Thursday, January 11, is the second Thursday of the month, which means it’s time for the Southwest Seattle Historical Society‘s monthly online speaker series, Words, Writers, Southwest Stories. SWSHS’s Elizabeth Rudrud gives us this preview – not just of tomorrow’s speaker, but also who’s ahead, and a request for your feedback:

Our first Words, Writers, Southwest Stories program is this Thursday, featuring Maria Chávez, Professor of Political Science at Pacific Lutheran University. Her talk, “The Firsts: Latina Struggles in the United States,” explores the unique challenges Latina professionals in the US face and draws from wide-ranging interviews and her own personal experiences.

The Words, Writers, Southwest Stories program is a monthly speaker series of the Southwest Seattle Historical Society with support from Humanities Washington, 4Culture, and the City of Seattle Office of Arts and Culture.

This year, we will present talks on a range of topics including:

February – Nancy Koppleman, “The Oldest Hatred: Coming to Terms with Antisemitism”
March – Harriet Baskas, “Wonderful, Weird, and Worrisome Objects in Washington State Museums”
April – Kestrel Smith, “Fish Wars: Tribal Rights, Resistance, and Resiliency in the Pacific NW”
May – Luther Adams, “A Space for Black History”
July – Shin Yu Pai, “Ten Thousand Things: Artifacts of Asian American Life”

These programs are always free but donations are greatly appreciated. Programs are presented online on the second Thursday of each month. [Register here for Thursday’s link.]

Is there a speaker or topic you would like to see included in our 2024 series? The Southwest Seattle Historical Society would like to hear from you! Send in your suggestions to museum@loghousemuseum.org

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WEST SEATTLE WEATHER: Snow or no, sub-freezing temperatures are on the way. Here’s advice on home readiness

January 10, 2024 5:03 pm

| 10 COMMENTS

| Utilities | West Seattle news | West Seattle weather

(Photo by James Bratsanos)

Lowland snow? Maybe. Sub-freezing cold? Definitely. That’s the current forecast for what’s on the way. Starting tomorrow night, temperatures will drop below freezing, with daytime highs in the 20s on Friday and Saturday, overnight lows as cold as the upper teens on Friday and Saturday nights. So Seattle Public Utilities – which handles water service among other things – wants you to be ready. Today SPU invited media crews to a home in Seaview for demonstrations on simple steps you can take – like protecting outdoor faucets:

(WSB photos/video from here)

In our photo is SPU’s Sabrina Clark-Bentley, who showed options for that – either a foam cover you can buy, or a DIY wrap with an old sock or towel, plastic bags, and tape:

Inside, SPU recommends turning on a faucet to a “slow drip” when it’s below freezing, so water keeps flowing in your pipes to reduce the chance of a break. In your kitchen, if your sink is against an exterior wall, open the doors beneath it to bring in warmer air:

And know where your water shutoff is, in case you need it. Other things to consider before the cold wave hits – storm-drain clearing. That’s part of what we discussed in a brief interview with SPU’s emergency-management program manager Chad Buechler:

Again, the number he mentioned for SPU-related emergencies, like water breaks and clogged street drains, is 206-386-1800 (same one we often mention for brown water).

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UPDATE: Orcas off West Seattle

January 10, 2024 3:00 pm

| 3 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | Whales

3 PM: Orcas are in the area again, seen off Alki Point Lighthouse, per Kersti Muul. Let us know if you see them too!

3:07 PM: I They’re southbound, now off Emma Schmitz Memorial Overlook (4500 block Beach Drive), Kersti says.

3:34 PM: Now off Lincoln Park.

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CRIME WATCH FOLLOWUP: Awareness campaign launched after more than two dozen sexual-harassment reports

January 10, 2024 2:22 pm

| 24 COMMENTS

| Crime | West Seattle news

That’s the poster (full-size PDF here) that local women have been distributing around the area to warn others about a man suspected in multiple incidents of sexual harassment. We first published a reader report about this on December 30th; one of the women involved emailed us the poster today, explaining, “Since emailing you on this originally, we are now up to more than 2 dozen similar reports (majority in West Seattle but some in Burien and White Center as well) of harassment via social media reports – the most recent on Sunday near the West Seattle Farmers Market, which they reported on our original blog post.” (Here’s the link to that comment.) They asked us to again publish a photo of the man’s pickup truck:

And they want you to know that if you have an incident to report, SPD has told them to advise victims to please call it in to 911 and. refer to SPD incident # 24-002311.

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Parking-lot pickleball? New possible site for adding local courts revealed by Seattle Parks @ Fauntleroy Community Association

January 10, 2024 11:34 am

| 84 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle parks

(WSB photo – Nino Cantu Southwest Athletic Complex parking lot)

By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

Seattle Parks has a new idea for where to add pickleball courts in West Seattle: The parking lot at Nino Cantu Southwest Athletic Complex.

That’s what Parks’ director of planning and development Andy Sheffer told the Fauntleroy Community Association last night.

It’s not a sure bet, though, as the parking lot is Seattle Public Schools property.

Before we get into those details – some backstory: Sheffer was invited to talk with FCA after the group’s previous meeting, last November (WSB coverage here), included a discussion with opponents of Parks’ plan to repurpose an old paved pad – once tennis courts, more recently a storage area for Parks maintenance – by setting up six pickleball courts. As FCA president Mike Dey explained in introducing Sheffer, they wanted to hear “the facts” about Parks’s plan, which first emerged in September, when Parks dropped a plan to add pickleball stripes to Solstice Park tennis courts, and drew intense opposition.

First Sheffer explained that the “next step” is a study on mitigating pickleball noise, a major point of concern for project opponents, contending the Lincoln Park courts would be disruptive both to wildlife and to people. He said this study – for which a “kickoff meeting” is imminent – involves the University of Washington Engineering Department, which is working on pickleball equipment that would reduce the noise by at least 50 percent. “Nobody ever really thought about the noise, but now that it’s a mainstream sport, they have to think about it.” (He noted later that pickleball noise concerns also include the “laughter and joy” expressed by players.) They’re also working with local wildlife/environmental advocates, he said, including Birds Connect Seattle.

But, he said then, “We are studying other sites concurrently … I’ve always had my eyes on the Southwest [Athletic Complex] parking lot.” Sheffer said he’s already had one meeting with the school district about the idea and has another one set up. He explained,, “What I’d like to see come out of that is to be able to build the same number of courts with the ability to park over [them] for the two or three big events a year.” He didn’t specify which events he was referring to; the NCSWAC is used for a variety of sports events throughout the year, plus high-school graduations, among other things, and its lot is adjacent to Parks-owned Southwest Teen Life Center and Pool.

Sheffer said they’re open to other sites but a major criteria is that a site would have to already be paved – they don’t want to pave anything that’s not; he said he’s been “scouring the city looking for impervious surfaces.” In West Seattle, he said, the Lincoln Park pad and NCSWAC parking lot “are really it” but he stressed that he’s hopeful the parking-lot idea “will go through and then we can look at other uses for Lincoln.”

If Lincoln Park remains the site, Sheffer was asked, what about its condition? One person in attendance said, “We have pictures of broken asphalt and treeroots coming up through it.” Sheffer replied, “We would patch the broken areas of asphalt and do another asphalt overlay and a top coat.” He added that the Lincoln Park site wasn’t identified for repurposing previously because Parks’ “old leadership” said it was needed as a maintenance facility, while “new leadership” decided the materials could be stored somewhere else.

Another question: What’s the rush for new pickleball courts? Sheffer replied, “We have a huge demand for pickleball … huge demand from West Seattle for sure.” So much so, he said, that existing sites are under pressure to expand – he noted, “There’s a big push to make Walt Hundley [Playfield, in High Point] more of a dedicated pickleball facility.”

What about a privately owned site, like Westwood Village, which has both a huge parking lot and two large empty indoorspaces? Sheffer said they could certainly consider that; FCA board member Marty Westerman said the suggestion had already been made to the shopping center’s owners, but they had yet to reply.

Sheffer returned multiple times to an acknowledgment of the concerns voiced previously by those opposing the Lincoln Park site (the FCA has yet to take a formal position) – “This is your park, we hear you loud and clear, you shouldn’t have to fight the city … I’ve heard a lot through this process.”

Other questions were aimed at eliciting more specifics about the study. Sheffer said it’s “kicking off” with a meeting tomorrow (Thursday, January 11th) and shouldn’t last longer than three months – “a lot of it is literature review,” he added, referring to what he said was “lots” of studies already done regarding pickleball noise.

He was asked about the best way to advocate, either for or against the pickleball project. At first Sheffer suggested people wait to see how the study turns out; later in the meeting, he suggested an online survey would be a possibility, maybe with questions such as “if noise could be reduced by 50 percent, would you be opposed?”

WHAT’S NEXT: Before leaving the meeting (which moved on to other non-Parks topics we’ll recap separately), Sheffer said his next steps would be the study, a survey, and review of other possible sites; he said the next conversation with SPS regarding Nino Cantu Southwest Athletic Complex was slated for the “third week in January.” (It should be noted that NCSWAC already has tennis courts dual-striped for pickleball, just west of the pool building.)

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