West Seattle, Washington
26 Sunday
(August 2008 photo by John LaSpina)
What do you need to know, and what can you do, about the state of the Duwamish River, the West Seattle-bordering waterway on which so much depends, from wildlife to industry? Tonight – Sustainable West Seattle convenes a Community Forum with leaders representing many facets of the complex situation, from the Duwamish River Cleanup Coalition to the Duwamish Tribe to the federal Environmental Protection Agency. You’re invited to listen, learn, question, and discuss (just as a key document on cleanup alternatives is going public) 7 pm @ Camp Long Lodge (here’s our original preview; the SWS website has an updated list of panelists). 5200 35th SW … Also tonight: Family Story Time at High Point Library, 7 pm … This afternoon, flu shots are offered at Merrill Gardens-West Seattle (WSB sponsor), 4611 35th SW, 1-3 pm, followed by free Mega-Bingo; call 206-932-5480 for an appointment … Monday night also means weekly bingo at Alki UCC (6112 SW Hinds), doors open 5:30, first game at 6:30 … More on the WSB West Seattle Events calendar.
Starting today, King County Water Taxi riders can use credit/debit cards to pay their fare – by buying tickets from the machines now installed at Seacrest, Pier 50 downtown, and Vashon. The one in West Seattle, shown in our photo, is alongside the southeast side of the main building at the pier, close to where shuttle riders get on/off buses. The machines sell one-way tickets; more info here. Meantime, if you drive along Fauntleroy or 35th SW to get to the West Seattle Bridge, as of about 6 am this morning, the electronic signs along those routes are supposed to start showing travel times, as announced by the city on Friday. If you just want to check online before you leave home, this map is supposed to show times for even more areas.
Yes, PIHA – Paranormal Investigations of Historical America, shiny black van and all – really did pay West Seattle’s Log House Museum a visit on Friday night (as previewed here Thursday). They didn’t stay as long as they were expecting to (1 am) – they were packing up when we arrived around 11:30 pm – but we did get to chat a bit.
They heard a lot, the investigators informed us, but they won’t be able to interpret what, or who, it was, till getting back to headquarters and analyzing it all. Somebody certainly sensed a presence, we were told, and they dealt with it by asking questions, which they believe were answered by something/someone “friendly.” The “dish” in the photo above is one of the main listening devices. They also recorded their visit in more conventional ways that, museum director Andrea Mercado told us, will result in a video documenting it all; SWSHS has a few photos online too. And the topic of otherworldly presence at the Log House Museum will certainly be on the menu at the Southwest Seattle Historical Society‘s fundraising Halloween brunch at Salty’s on Alki, 11:30 am October 30th (ticket info here). SWSHS has another event coming up:
This new book was created with help from WSB’ers who answered the call we published back in February, after hearing Andrea talk about the project at a meeting of the Southwest District Council. A book-release party is set for 6:30 pm November 2nd at Zeeks Pizza in Morgan Junction; if you pre-order the book through the Log House Museum, you get 10 percent off (20% if you’re a SWSHS member).
Thanks to Craig Young for sharing the photos and report from the marina that’s just south of West Seattle’s bridges:
(Friday) morning at the Jim Clark Marina, a new 24 inch diameter by 80 foot long steel piling replaced 3 wood pilings that rotted and broke last spring. This piling helps hold the boat houses in place.
Manson Construction Co. set the piling and vibrated it in place. After it was in place, Ted Planta, president of the Duwamish Waterway Association, inspected it and gave it a thumbs up.
The association operates Jim Clark Marina, which is privately owned and has almost 100 slips where the west and east Duwamish Waterways converge into one river (here’s a map).
SPEAKING OF THE DUWAMISH RIVER: As first reported here a week ago, the state of the river – plus its past and future – is the subject of this month’s Sustainable West Seattle Community Forum. It’s happening at Camp Long Lodge tomorrow night, 7 pm, and the list of prominent participants has grown since our first report – get the latest at the SWS website.
Two more area schools have issued invitations for vendors at their upcoming holiday bazaars. Schmitz Park Elementary started lining up its vendors last month – here’s our previous story – 
and tonight we have invites from both Highland Park Elementary and Shorewood Elementary. Highland Park (1012 SW Trenton) is having its bazaar 10 am-3 pm on December 4th – in addition to the bazaar itself, they’re having a raffle, with donations from vendors and local businesses, linked to a food drive for the West Seattle and White Center Food Banks (bring a nonperishable food item, get a free raffle ticket). If you’re intererested in being a vendor, e-mail highlandparkpta@hotmail.com. Meantime, Shorewood (2725 SW 116th) is looking for craft vendors for its bazaar, 10 am-4 pm on November 13th; e-mail shorewoodbazaar@gmail.com to find out more. (P.S. If your school or organization has a bazaar coming up, please share the info! editor@westseattleblog.com – if you’re looking for vendors, we can share the news; if you’re not, we want to be sure it’s at least on the WSB Events calendar.)
Two photos from the WSB inbox (thanks!): First, Amanda shared that shot of a sign that’s turned up on the fence by Delridge Playfield – if you’ve passed the in-progress renovations lately, the joke makes perfect sense; if not, take a close look at what’s in the background, and imagine dozens of those mini-hills on one field. (We’ll be checking with Seattle Parks on the project’s status this week.) Meantime, a view from inside The Bohemian:
As Ryan put it in the note accompanying the picture, “Everyone (was) enjoying the sun today.” Another place to enjoy it was the South Seattle Community College Arboretum on West Seattle’s Puget Ridge:
WSB contributor Keri DeTore shared that with a few other fall-colors photos from a walk through the Arboretum this afternoon – you’ll see another one atop tomorrow’s morning-preview lineup.
(More photos, video added since this was first published in mid-afternoon)
ORIGINAL 3:12 PM REPORT: They’re standing tall in Fauntleroy this afternoon – even without the stilts on which that roaming performer is perched. Under the clear blue sky, the annual Fauntleroy Fall Festival continues at two sites across the street from each other, Fauntleroy Church and co-located Fauntleroy YMCA plus the Fauntleroy Schoolhouse, till 5:30 pm. Many free activities for all ages – including, of course, autumn art, and at this table, birdhouse-making:
And tasty treats (bring some $ for those), including creations cooked up by new WSB sponsors Tuxedos and Tennis Shoes Events and Catering, which is headquartered at the Hall at Fauntleroy in the historic schoolhouse, though the crew’s mostly outdoors today:
We’re going back over to check in again shortly – music, dance, and more are on the schedule (see it here). Not sure where the church/Y/schoolhouse are? 9131/9140 California SW, but don’t try to head straight down California from points north, because this part doesn’t connect – here’s a map.
7:01 PM NOTE: Huge turnout this afternoon; we have more photos and video to publish later. ADDED 9:58 PM: Chief Sealth International High School‘s Jazz Ensemble 2 – described as a “non-auditioned group” that had only been playing together a few weeks; could have fooled us! – performing “Shake and Bake” in the Fauntleroy Church sanctuary:
Also performing, bands including Let’s Get Lost – whose keyboardist had a four-footed assistant:
Then there was a festival visit from this walking-upright “dog” – there to promote picking up after your canine companions:
Lots of other critters on view – and check out the line for the petting zoo – the nearby pony rides were popular too:
Another pic or two yet to come.
We mentioned Avalon Glassworks‘ pumpkin-making event earlier – seems there’s another patch of glass pumpkins in West Seattle today: WSB contributing photographer Ellen Cedergreen happened onto this show/sale that Tacoma Glassblowing Studio is presenting till 4 pm at Alki Bathhouse. Above, that’s studio co-owner Jeannine Sigafoos; part of today’s proceeds are going toward an orphanage in Romania and a Puget Sound charity (explained here, along with other venues that’ll be hosting the event in the weeks ahead).
Just got word from WSDOT that the Alaskan Way Viaduct inspection/maintenance closure is over, and it reopened about half an hour ago, more than five hours ahead of schedule. Their announcement says this is what they did this time around:
In addition to structural inspections, WSDOT and the City of Seattle coordinated maintenance and preservation work during this closure. Work this weekend included:
*Surveying the structure to check for settlement.
*Repairing expansion joints and damaged bridge rails.
*Applying a protective covering to exposed rebar.
*Servicing drainage and lighting systems and traffic cameras.
*Washing the walls of the Battery Street Tunnel and inspecting its lighting and ventilation systems.
“Preliminary inspection results” will be made public by Friday.
Saturday night’s 10th anniversary celebration for West Seattle-based Killer Whale Tales was in an unusual – but thoroughly appropriate – setting: The Seattle Aquarium, after-hours. Killer Whale Tales is an educational program led by West Seattleite Jeff Hogan – who often sends first word of local orca sightings to share with WSB’ers. He presented a slideshow to last night’s partygoers:
WSB contributing photographer Ellen Cedergreen reports that the slideshow’s focus was on educating kids, to ensure the future of the whales. Jeff explained what he does in the classroom with the kids – not just interactive talks, but also having kids take pledge sheets home and fill them out and then send them back to KWT. They pledge to use less water, learn how to properly dispose of toxic waste, how to use less electricity, etc. They are also encouraged to get adults to pledge the same. In addition to Jeff’s presentation, the party included a fundraising auction, with items including a Killer Whale Tales San Juan Islands Orca Expedition. And there was more exhibit viewing – otter-feeding! Particularly a hit with young eventgoers.
There was also the chance to meet more volunteers working to educate people about local marine life, like another West Seattleite, Donna Sandstrom from The Whale Trail:
Last night, we also learned more details about upcoming events, including one on which Donna and Jeff are collaborating (we’d heard a bit while out whale-spotting last week): On November 7th at Alki Bathhouse, you’re invited to a “Welcome the Whales” Environmental Fair. Jeff is scheduled to give a talk as part of it; Donna will be talking about the Neighborhood Matching Fund grant that The Whale Trail has won to install local whale-viewing signs and to start an orca-steward training program. More on that, and the event, soon. (KWT, by the way, is a nonprofit, and donations are tax-deductible – here’s how to help, any time.)
Robotics is one of the hottest team “sports” for kids – some get involved through school, but there are other ways too, like the team that Brian Conte e-mailed WSB about:
I am forming a West Seattle team to enter the FIRST robot building competition. FIRST is an organization that helps kids 9-14 learn about teamwork, research, and of course robotics. We are starting Monday, and we currently have 7 out of the maximum 10 kids – so still have a few open slots left.
More details are available online here, including how to contact Brian (ASAP!) to let him know about a potential team member.
(WSB photos by Ellen Cedergreen)
Three nights after White Center Food Bank executive director Rick Jump was at the microphone in South Seattle Community College‘s Brockey Center, telling the City Council Budget Committee about his agency’s new mobile service, its truck was at the same spot – on display for the food bank’s annual Harvest Dinner and Auction. With it above are volunteers Brittany McIntyre, Lena Guevara, and Johnny Huynh. It took to the streets for the first time on Tuesday, serving WC Food Bank clients at Arrowhead Gardens (WSB sponsor). Of course, the food bank’s leader himself was at last night’s event too, all smiles over the big turnout:
The Harvest Dinner program noted, “This year we’ve faced tremendous challenges as we coped with the realities of an economic downturn and the sharp rise in need in our community. Thanks to your support and partnership, we’ve more than met the basic needs of the families we serve to ensure nutritious meals are available to those who need them most.” Also on the program, quite the entertainment lineup, including Rainier Dance Group, photographed as they prepared to go onstage:
Also performing: Fusion Dance Crew, plus a harpist and jazz pianist. The night included live and silent auctions, a dessert dash (with all money going to buy holiday pies for WC Food Bank clients), and a 50/50 raffle. If you weren’t there, your chance to help out the White Center Food Bank – which is responsible for southern West Seattle too (Myrtle is the south boundary of the West Seattle Food Bank‘s service area) – is year-round, online – just go here.
Reminder that the Alaskan Way Viaduct is closed again today for one of its regular inspections, scheduled to reopen at 6 pm (we’ll update if it happens sooner) … No need to leave the peninsula – as previewed last night, the Fauntleroy Fall Festival is 2-5:30 pm at the church/Y/schoolhouse (map) – the full schedule is here, from pony rides to art creation to environmental activities and tons more … Got a fall project? The new hours at the West Seattle Tool Library, as of this weekend, include 1-5 pm Sundays, north side of South Seattle Community College, 6000 16th SW … Today’s the day Avalon Glassworks is making customer-designed glass pumpkins – check if they still have spots available (2914 SW Avalon Way) … The West Seattle Farmers’ Market is open 10 am-2 pm as always, 44th/Alaska in The Junction … Also from the “every Sunday” department, it’s all-ages live-music night at Skylark Café and Club (WSB sponsor), 3803 Delridge Way, schedule here.
12:20 AM: From King County Department of Transportation:
The King County Water Taxi West Seattle/Downtown Seattle route is expected to return to normal operation Sunday, Oct. 17, pending the U.S. Coast Guard’s inspection and approval of repairs made to the vessel Melissa Ann. Service was cancelled Saturday because of a mechanical problem.
Here’s our earlier coverage. Meantime, on the same webpage that’s been tracking this, you’ll find word that there are ticket machines at the Seacrest and Pier 50 docks (Vashon too, for that route) that will start operating on Monday, taking credit/debit cards.
8:52 AM UPDATE: The county confirms the Water Taxi is running again – and the live marine-traffic map confirms this.
Fire trucks have rushed back to the 17th SW house that burned this morning. More to come. 12:03 AM UPDATE: At the scene. Flareup out. Most trucks dismissed. House doesn’t look much worse than the gutted condition in which this morning’s fire left it. 12:33 AM UPDATE: Per the scanner, an engine will be staying there TFN on “fire watch.”
First thing this morning, volunteers were at work in the Fauntleroy Church parking lot, one of the venues for the annual Fauntleroy Fall Festival tomorrow (Sunday) afternoon. So far, the forecast looks perfect – brisk fall sunshine. The festival happens at multiple spots around the church/co-located YMCA (WSB sponsor) and the Fauntleroy Schoolhouse across the street, 2 pm-5:30 pm, with a long list of activities – we published the full schedule a week ago (you can see it here). There’s environmental learning for kids and adults, music and dancing, food (bring $) from purveyors including Tuxedos and Tennis Shoes Catering and Events (WSB sponsor), tours of the renovated church, pony rides for the youngest kids, a climbing wall for the older ones – even a chance to see the West Seattle Hi-Yu Festival 2010 float up close and personal. Again, the list’s here; the addresses are 9131 and 9140 California SW – here’s a map – but at this point, California is more like a bend in SW Barton, headed downhill from 35th SW toward the Endolyne business district, and the ferry dock.
Saturday night in The Junction, and the nightlife is usually centered around the restaurants and bars – but this evening, Click! Design That Fits (WSB sponsor) was the place to be. Two weeks after opening for business in their new, larger Junction store, proprietors John and Frances Smersh threw their official grand-opening party. The top photo was taken from the “mezzanine” overlooking the store’s main floor – it’s mostly administrative/storage space, but tonight it was DJ Cotton Candy‘s perch too:
Back down among the partygoers and merchandise, two young shoppers found a place to sit:
This is the seventh year in business in West Seattle for Click! – their sixth anniversary was October 1st, the day the new store at 4540 California SW opened its doors. T-shirts, anyone?
As first reported here earlier this week, their former storefront at 2210 California SW is now the future home of West Seattle Fabric Company.
As WestSide Baby‘s car-seat-collection drive was wrapping up at 2 this afternoon, that dumpster was packed full of car seats for recycling – about 400 collected today and at a Ballard dropoff last Saturday. The dropoffs today also included about 50 reusable car seats:
Today’s drive is in an expansion facility that WestSide Baby is finally ready to start talking about in a big way – it’s a former auto shop right behind their 15th SW headquarters in White Center, but it fronts on 14th SW, and gives them lots more room to accept donations for local families, and for volunteers to work on sorting those donations, starting in early November. WestSide Baby’s Nancy Woodland explains that it means not only can they accept more items to distribute to local families in need, they also can separate the pickup and dropoff areas, making it easier for people on both ends of the equation to deal with WS Baby. The expansion building – which is being remodeled with donated materials and labors by many businesses, groups and individuals (including WSB sponsor West Seattle Design Build) – is at 10027 14th SW; it’s also where the diapers collected in last July’s Stuff the Bus were taken for storage (here’s our report with video). If you missed today’s car-seat event, by the way, no worries, Nancy says they hope to have more!
(Tailgating in the chilly sunshine before the game)
This weekend’s final local high-school football game is over – at West Seattle Stadium, it was Orcas Island 28, Seattle Lutheran High School 20. This was homecoming for the Saints, so lots of ceremony. ADDED SATURDAY NIGHT: Video (including the guest band from Chief Sealth) and more details after the jump:Read More
2:24 PM UPDATE: KCDOT has just announced that the West Seattle Water Taxi is canceled for the rest of today/tonight. They’re still saying “mechanical problems.”
10:24 PM UPDATE: In case you’re wondering, the county still has not announced whether there will or won’t be Water Taxi service tomorrow (keep an eye on this page).
(Scroll down for newest information – investigators have figured out how the fire started)
(Video substituted at 12:14 pm for previously published photo)
ORIGINAL 11:12 AM REPORT: On our way to check out the house-fire call (7900 block of 17th SW – map). 11:23 AM UPDATE: We are at the scene, significant fire, front of house charred, smoke still coming out. No word yet if anyone is hurt. 11:34 AM UPDATE: Incident commander tells us everyone got out OK but a few firefighters are being checked out for possible minor injuries. It’s easy to see inside the front of the house from the street, and it appears gutted. It’ll be a while before investigators can say how it started. 12:16 PM NOTE: In comments, Mookie mentioned “decon” for firefighters on scene. Here’s what that consisted of:
We’ll update whenever the information’s available about the fire’s cause. 1:29 PM UPDATE: SFD confirms via Twitter that two firefighters had to be treated for “minor injuries.” 2:51 PM UPDATE: Update from SFD: The fire was accidental, started when someone tried to get a fire going in the fireplace and nearby “combustible materials” caught fire in the process. The house is considered “pretty much a total loss,” according to SFD’s Helen Fitzpatrick, with damage to home and contents estimated at $150,000. She also explains that the two firefighters who were hurt suffered ankle injuries from stepping out the back door into a “short drop” that had no stairs. 12:29 AM SUNDAY: Firefighters went back late Saturday night for a flare-up. It appeared to be out by the time we got there, with most of the dispatched trucks having been sent back.
Cindi Barker and Sharonn Meeks are two of the volunteers at the Fauntleroy Emergency Communications Hub (explained here), one of three hubs, along with Highland Park and Admiral, that are part of an earthquake drill this morning. It’s a followup to a May drill – meant to simulate what the hubs might deal with in the not-as-immediate aftermath of The Big One. The scenario given to volunteers is that it’s about 30 hours after a major quake hit the region, affecting power and transportation, and breaking or overloading major communications systems, so Community Hubs are up and running, and ham-radio teams are in action. Today’s participants are acting as if they are relieving the first group that’s been working since just after the quake, and have to deal with “a large amount of message traffic” – note the radio and the bulletin board in the photo. The volunteers will be attempting to relay those messages, among other parts of the drill. (This is the same one for which we put out a call for “actors.”) What can you do? Know where your nearest Emergency Communication Hub is – that’s where you would go to find out information and how to get help when the conventional ways of doing so have failed. Also, don’t just think of a disaster kit as “we’ll get around to it” – be ready now – weather disasters may be partly predictable, but earthquakes still aren’t. Find tips on the excellent, volunteer-created West Seattle Be Prepared website.
That’s Katie Salinas from Waste Management, photographed a week ago when we got full details about the car-seat collection events in which WM is partnering with WestSide Baby. Today is the big collection event for West Seattle/White Center and vicinity; between 10 am and 2 pm, take your no-longer-need car seat/booster seat to 10027 14th SW in White Center (that’s a block from WS Baby’s current location – here’s a map). If it’s in good-enough shape to reuse, that’ll happen; if not, it’ll be recycled. More details on the WS Baby website – which says the collection event in Ballard last weekend netted 50 reusable seats and almost 200 recyclable ones. Can West Seattle/White Center top that? Just hours to go.
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