West Seattle, Washington
07 Sunday
Till 6 pm, you’re invited to help PCC Natural Markets (WSB sponsor) celebrate the 20th anniversary of their West Seattle store (California/Stevens; map). Outside, the Kid Picks van at left with fun stuff for the little ones, and free burgers getting grilled in the tent under the sign; inside, birthday cake and lemonade:
Free samples and cooking demos are happening inside the store too. Event schedule here (chocolate samples at 3 pm!).
While we continue to watch for updates on the cause of this morning’s Stewart Manor fire, we are also awaiting the start of the “World Naked Bike Ride” first reported here last Monday. WSB photojournalist Christopher Boffoli is in Morgan Junction at the site where prospective riders are gathered and reports nothing has started yet. According to a link left this morning in a comment on our original report, this map shows the “proposed route” – down California SW all the way to Alki, and then back around the shoreline down Beach Drive to Lincoln Park and back eastward. We’ll keep you updated. 12:59 PM UPDATE: We’ve learned the ride starts at 2. Prospective riders are currently getting painted. Added the “proposed route map” as an embed, above. 2:09 PM UPDATE: Hadn’t started yet, as of a couple minutes ago. Body-painted people milling about. We’ll start a separate item when it does get under way.
(scroll down for updates, more photos)
(video clip above by WSB photojournalist Christopher Boffoli, added 10:17 am; cameraphone photo below by Patrick Sand, from our original 9 am-hour coverage)
ORIGINAL 9 AM REPORT: Big callout right now to 6339 34th SW (map), and at least one report of “a lot of smoke.” 9:05 AM UPDATE: We’re on scene and can see the smoke. Police are blocking traffic for blocks around the building. The fire’s on the 5th floor and crews are working to get everybody out – this is the big building run by the Housing Authority just east of the convenience store at 35th/Morgan. Co-publisher Patrick Sand is there and says smoke is pouring from one window on the 5th floor. He says medics are checking out at least three people for possible smoke inhalation. 9:14 PM UPDATE: In addition to the cameraphone pic we added above, here’s another view from WSB contributing photojournalist Christopher Boffoli:
Cindi Barker from the Morgan Community Association — who lives a few blocks west — reports the traffic closure includes 35th/Morgan. SFD spokesperson Dana Vander Houwen is there and says the fire’s tapped.
9:22 AM UPDATE: Note that you also cannot get into Walgreen’s on 35th, just west of the fire scene, because its parking lot is being used as a staging area for some of the many crews that responded to this fire at the building (Stewart Manor). Cindi says crews also have been using hydrants from the other side (west side) of 35th.
9:34 AM UPDATE: Buses are being rerouted too. Fire crews are being rotated, as you can hear on the scanner – take a look at the online 911 log to see how many units responded. Crews are sweeping inside the building to check for damage – we just heard one report that the 4th floor, beneath the fire, “has no smoke or water damage.” Stewart Manor has 72 units, according to this SHA webpage.
9:41 AM UPDATE: SFD’s Vander Houwen just talked with us. She says 12 people in all are being treated for potential smoke inhalation. One was taken to Harborview Medical Center because of previous respiratory problems. The fire was in one unit on the fifth floor, no word on the cause so far; everyone’s out of the building and the sweep will determine if it’s safe for some to go back in.
9:56 AM UPDATE: Police have just reopened 35th SW to traffic in both directions. We just got an update at the scene from SFD’s Vander Houwen – investigators have not yet determined the cause; the fire was in one unit, on the east side of the 5th floor, with some smoke/water damage to an adjacent unit. Floors 1-3 have been cleared for people to go back in. More of the fire units are about to be cleared from the scene, but some will be there all day continuing to check air quality in the building. Adding more photos — WSB contributing photojournalist Christopher Boffoli took this one of someone being evacuated down a fire-truck ladder:
10:08 AM UPDATE: Bill Bacon at One Community Commons (kitty corner from Stewart Manor) took this photo – as you can see from the smoke, this was before the fire was out:
The smoke-inhalation cases are the only injuries that SFD has reported – nobody wound up jumping or getting hurt in other ways – you’ll see more of the fire crews’ evacuation work in video that we will have back at HQ shortly.
10:29 AM UPDATE: Added Christopher’s video at the very top of the story. Also received another photo from nearby resident Bill – this woman, who identified herself as Grace, had just been brought out of the building at this moment:
He also photographed medics checking evacuees out in the triage area they’d set up:
10:57 AM UPDATE: Update from SFD’s Vander Houwen – two people have gone to Harborview for “minor smoke inhalation,” both by private ambulance. The other 10 people who got medic attention did not need to go to the hospital. Still no cause or damage estimate yet. She says the one person you see being brought down a ladder is the only one who had to be evacuated that way – everybody else was brought out by the stairs. Here’s a view we haven’t shown you yet – part of the massive response – this clip was taken looking all the way around from a spot on Morgan at 34th:
11:26 AM UPDATE: Morgan also has just reopened, per Nuni in comments.
11:59 AM UPDATE: Here’s video of the entire 4-minute briefing that SFD spokesperson Dana Vander Houwen gave at the scene:
ADDED 12:19 PM: As you heard her say in that video, one main task for the firefighters was making sure everybody got out safely, especially considering there are elderly and medically challenged residents in the building, as you can see in these additional photos from WSB contributing photojournalists – first from Christopher Boffoli, second from Matt Durham:
Again, no major injuries were reported. Matt (who has worked as a newspaper photojournalist and also currently works as a firefighter in a department outside Seattle) also reported that three-year Stewart Manor resident Michael E. Searcy, shown in the photo above, told him the hallways were dark as they evacuated: “We don’t have any emergency lighting when the power goes out. … There are no sprinklers; they say our building is grandfathered.” We will follow up on this with the Housing Authority. Meantime, the latest post-fire update from Vander Houwen – three patients are now reported to have gone to Harborview for “minor smoke inhalation.”
1:56 PM UPDATE: As Mookie notes in comments, SFD has announced the cause on Twitter:
Fire at 34th and Morgan ruled accidental – caused by resident heating shoe polish with hand held flame which spread to the bed. Damage $175k.
3:08 PM UPDATE: Seattle Times (WSB partner) talked with a resident of the unit, who explained what was happening with said shoe polish – here’s their story.
They’re the fastest vegetables in the West – today, anyway – the zucchini you’ll find converted into racing machines today at West Seattle Farmers’ Market (where we recorded that clip during this event two years ago). Starting at 10 this morning at the market (44th/Alaska), “kids of all ages” (as the announcement puts it) can make their racers out of produce and parts supplied for free. Shopping, too? Here’s today’s Ripe and Ready list.
Hit the Farmers’ Market early, then meander up California to PCC Natural Market (WSB sponsor) for the West Seattle store’s 20th birthday bash – free burgers, macaroni salad and birthday cake, cooking demonstrations, plus samples of other items (even chocolate), plus the ever-fun PCC Kid Picks van … the schedule’s here; party starts at 11 am, 2749 California (map).
That’s also when you can get an hour and a quarter of free yoga at SoundYoga (WSB sponsor), 5639 California SW (map). From there – to the beach! where Cones For Kids will get you Husky Deli ice cream 1-4 pm, presented by the Eternally Joyful Guild supporting Children’s Hospital. This year, you’ll find them by Picnic Shelter #1, west of the bathhouse.
Just as Cones For Kids wraps up, the neighbors of North Delridge will be firing up S’mores in the Park at Delridge Community Center/Playfield (4501 Delridge; map), 4-6 pm. Hot on the heels of the well-attended Ice Cream Social, they’re hoping to draw neighbors from all over the area to meet and share treats.
Then the night wraps up at Fauntleroy Church (9140 California SW; map), with nationally renowned singer/songwriter Susan Werner in concert at 7 pm – ticket info’s on the FC website.
These are just the highlights – see more on the West Seattle Weekend Lineup list – click here to hop directly to the Sunday section.
A Saturday night comment reminded us we’d been meaning to add this feature, so now we have: In addition to being able to preview your comment before it’s published, you now get a 5-minute window to edit it, after you publish it. No log-in required; the comment system otherwise works the same way it always has. Once you’ve posted the comment, you’ll see a countdown clock ticking down that 5-minute editing period, during which you can use a button to the left of the countdown clock to open an editing window (click “more options” to edit the screen name and/or URL you used with the comment).
For the second consecutive year, the Seattle Lesbian and Gay Film Festival will include screenings at Admiral Theater here in West Seattle. So says the Three Dollar Bill Cinema website, to which we were pointed by this item at Gay Cap Hill, noted on Twitter by our fellow indie-neighborhood-news site Capitol Hill Seattle. The festival runs October 16-25 but the specific movies/dates aren’t public yet – the TDBC site says they’ll be announced next Friday.
In case you check in tonight but not in the morning: 1st, tomorrow’s the PCC Natural Markets (WSB sponsor) West Seattle 20th anniversary party, 11 am-6 pm at the store (2749 California SW), food and fun, full lineup here (including specific times for cooking demonstrations and samples). 2nd, tomorrow’s the day announced for the annual “World Naked Bike Ride” through West Seattle – nothing new has been posted via Twitter or the WNBR site since the announcement that led to our report here, but we’ll see if anyone shows up at the Morgan Junction meetup point at noon, and will report whatever happens.
The score and stats are up at seattletimes.com (WSB partner): Seattle Lutheran High School 29, North Beach 8. The Saints are now 1-1 and host Northwest Christian at West Seattle Stadium next Saturday, 1:30 pm. (Here’s our report on last night’s WSHS and Sealth games.)
A few days ago, WSB contributor Christopher Boffoli, who’s been chronicling the saga of The Swinery setting up shop in West Seattle, reported that its projected opening date has slid a bit (to September 21). The establishment itself (moving into 3207 California SW; map) continues to chronicle its progress at theswinery.blogspot.com, but one thing you won’t find there is the menu it’s planning to offer when it opens – for its meats and sandwiches. Here it is – note that it’s a draft, provided to us as a roughed-out Excel form which we’ve converted into a PDF. But it’ll give you a better idea of what they’re planning.
CANDIDATE FORUM IN HIGHLAND PARK: Next meeting of the Highland Park Action Committee, 7 pm September 23, is now taking shape with a candidates’ forum as the centerpiece; HPAC chair Dan Mullins says they’re focusing on all the big races – King County Executive, Seattle Mayor and Council, Port Commissioner – and “the candidates are responding to our requests” (no final lineup yet though). It’ll be at the Highland Park Improvement Committee building, 1119 SW Holden (map).
MAYORAL HOPEFULS AT THE LABOR TEMPLE THIS WEEK: Less than one week after their much-talked-about first “debate” – more of a Q/A forum – downtown, Joe Mallahan and Mike McGinn will share the stage again at 4:30 pm this Wednesday (September 16) at the Seattle Labor Temple, 2800 1st Avenue (map) — not in West Seattle, but it was among the events announced at last Wednesday’s 34th District Democrats meeting.
Less than a week after West Seattle Montessori School (WSB sponsor) moved into its new campus at 11215 15th SW (map) – complete with that spacious playground – they’re inviting you to an open house that’s under way right now. Treats too – free hot dogs, and cake:
We stopped by within the past hour for a quick preview; it’s a great night to be outside but they’re also leading tours inside their new 2-story building:
WSMS moved from the location where they’d been for decades in West Seattle’s Triangle area after the land they’d leased was sold for development. They offer preschool through 8th grade; the 4th through 8th grades are now known as West Seattle Academy (that’s the WSA you see on the cake in the middle photo) – the lower grades have always been popular but they say middle-school interest is taking off too. You’ll find them online at westseattlemontessori.com; tonight’s open house continues till 7:30.
Lashanna sent that photo just as “Crank It Up” was about to get going in South Park’s Cesar Chavez Park (7th So. and So. Cloverdale; map). She’s there doing facepainting – as she’s done at lots of West Seattle events too! “Crank It Up” continues till 6 pm and is just a short hop from West Seattle – here’s the list of what’s happening, starting with a bike ride that’s under way now and then moving on to live music starting at 3 with The Not-Its (who played the Alki community picnic recently) – There’s Full Tilt Ice Cream at “Crank It Up” too! UPDATE: Another photo from Lashanna – Ambulance is one of the bands that played – she says they’re all middle- and high-school students from Ballard:
If you venture into a certain North Admiral neighborhood this afternoon, you’ll find those guys on a street-food test run, according to Sherri Chun, who just sent the photo and this explanation of who and what you’ll find at 2215 47th SW (map):
I thought I’d put a plug in for some young entrepreneurs on our block – Mark and Kyle Howell and their new business, Howie’s Hot Dogs. Mark and Kyle are West Seattle natives, and will soon be taking their business on the road. They’re doing a trial run in their front yard today. We wanted to spread the word – beef, polish, and Italian hot dogs with all the fixins, plus chips, drinks, and Dessert dogs, too! Please spread the word, and come support these guys with their new business venture!
Sherri’s checking on how long they’ll be there today; she says their future location is TBD. (Added 3:06 pm – Answer, as long as they have food and as long as people keep showing up!) Also with eats on the street right now, Marination Mobile, which has been coming to High Point for two months now (after its Fourth of July debut).
(Photo by Christopher Boffoli, added 3:06 pm)
Thanks to JayDee for the reminder that MM is there right now, set up on the northeast corner of 35th/Graham (map) 11 am-2 pm every Saturday TFN – here’s more about what they serve. (They’re on Twitter too, as are all the street-food stars – @curb_cuisine – not to mention fixed-location eateries too, including WSB sponsors Cafe Revo at @caferevo and Endolyne Joe’s at @chowfoods.)
ADDED 3:06 PM: Speaking of Twitter (where we are @westseattleblog for human-powered news, @westseattlenews for automated links to all our stories), one more “street food” (beverage, in this case) note – got a Twitpic from @mjtwit from their ongoing yard sale (till 4) at 5613 44th ave SW (map) – 25-cent lemonade! Here’s the photo.
That’s how this sunny Saturday started at Seacrest, as photographed by Christopher Boffoli … 
and it just keeps getting better. At right, a little pic sent by West Seattle High School assistant volleyball coach Jim Hardy, who says they’re washing cars an extra half-hour, till 2:30 pm, and says they’re thankful for everybody supporting Westside volleyball: “This is both a major fundraiser for the program to help offset some budget reductions from the School District, and part of a Team Building weekend. Supporters are asked to make donations. It is going to be an exciting year for the team which features some good young players who should continue to improve through the season.” They’re in the WSHS parking lot. Meantime, remember everything going on today is in the West Seattle Weekend Lineup (to jump directly to the Saturday section, click here – and if you know of something NOT on the list, please add a mention in comments!).
(Photo courtesy Seal Sitters)
By Mary Sheely
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
It’s the season for lots of recreational fishing along West Seattle’s shores. And it’s also the season for lots of harbor seal pups.
That was evident last Saturday night at Lincoln Park, when a fisherman unexpectedly found a harbor seal pup at the end of his line. The drama was resolved quickly; with help from two onlookers, the hook was quickly removed and the pup set free.
Events unfolded too fast last for anyone to make a call, but when a marine mammal is in distress or a seal is spotted, these are the important numbers to know:
To report a seal on the beach in West Seattle: 206-905-SEAL (7325)
For all other reports, the NOAA Stranding Hotline: 800-853-1964 (monitored 24 hours)
If a marine mammal is being harassed or harmed, the NOAA Enforcement Hotline: 800-853-1964
If there is imminent danger, call 911
After the pup was released, conversation onshore continued — what exactly is the best thing to do in that situation?
Accordions doing ABBA? That video is from a California performance last fall by Those Darn Accordions, who are at Admiral Theater tonight, 2343 California SW (map), 8 pm. But first – what to do today? In the shopping mood? Fauntleroy Church‘s Second-Time Sale:
9 am-3 pm, bountiful bargains, 9140 California SW (map). From there, head north to get your car washed for a good cause; you can support the West Seattle High School volleyball team by taking your wheels to their wash in the WSHS parking lot (3000 California SW; map) 10 am-2 pm. Once your car’s clean — how about bringing home a new furry friend?
We saw those cute little guys at a Southwest Community Center foster cat Adopt-A-Thon last fall; today, another group of home-seeking kitties will be at SWCC, noon-3 pm. Then you can do even more to help reduce cat overpopulation by going to a benefit tonight for FCAT, which traps and sterilizes feral cats; Dong Khanh Cafe (9655 16th SW; map) is where you’ll find the fun, food and music, starting at 5 pm. One more event for tonight: West Seattle Montessori School (WSB sponsor) wants to show off its brand-new campus and invites you to an open house tonight for tours, free food and fun – 5:30-7:30 pm, 11215 15th SW (map).
More events in the latest West Seattle Weekend Lineup!
Just a couple pretty pictures as we look ahead to what could be another record-high-temperature day … yesterday set a record at Sea-Tac by hitting 87, but today’s record is 88, and the forecast doesn’t look THAT hot. Anyway, the top photo is from Max, looking toward downtown during Friday night’s moonrise; below, an Alki sunset scene that Greg Wright photographed earlier in the week, focusing on the water instead of the sky:
Both of tonight’s games are over: At Memorial Stadium downtown, West Seattle High School (now 2-0) beat Franklin, 28-13; at Southwest Athletic Complex in West Seattle, Chief Sealth High School (0-2) lost to Rainier Beach, 39-0. Seattle Lutheran High School plays North Beach in Ocean Shores tomorrow afternoon. ADDED EARLY SATURDAY: A little more about the WSHS game – which started late and ran long, so our correspondent didn’t get to see much of the Sealth game (we can tell you all the scoring happened in the first half): At Memorial Stadium, Franklin and WSHS played a lackluster first half that was marred by an array of penalties. After the half, WSHS seemed to find their foot and got off to a fast start, scoring on their first series in the second half. In that series alone, sophomore Nikko Emm had two carries for 33 yards. On the night, Emm managed to gain 187 yards. After the game, Coach Davis Lura talked with us about Emm and the change in momentum in the second half:
You can also see game stats at seattletimes.com (WSB partner); and another account of the game is on this site written by WSHS assistant principal Jenni MacDonald. Side note: Former WSHS football standout Aaron Grymes is back in Seattle today (Saturday). Grymes is currently playing for the University of Idaho, so he’ll be at Husky Stadium for the Vandals’ game against the UW.
Shared by Alki photographer David Hutchinson, who explains:
My wife and I took a walk down by the Alki Statue of Liberty Plaza this evening. I took the photo on the left on September 13, 2001 and the one on the right this evening almost 8 years later. The differences in the photos make for some interesting contrasts on a number of different levels.
If you weren’t here in 2001 – the Alki statue became a touchstone for mourners, a place for memorials, after 9/11. And on this date two years ago, the recast statue was dedicated/celebrated on its old pedestal, which was replaced by the new one less than a year later. Now, those who helped make that happen are looking ahead to one more big event a week from tomorrow.
We’ve covered more than a few fundraisers in the past few months – and now, the big event is here: Tonight, the Seattle Breast Cancer 3-Day walkers have concluded Day 1. Among the West Seattleites on the 60-mile route this time, Tracy Dart – breast-cancer survivor and namesake of Team Tracy – who has posted updates online (with photos!). You can follow along in other ways – we’re seeing some updates from 3-Day walkers on Twitter (here’s the search for updates marked #3day). If you’d like to go cheer the walkers, there are two “cheering stations” in Everett tomorrow – listed here along with one on Capitol Hill, and the closing ceremony downtown, on Sunday. (Photo from twitpic.com via @snelson)
The final public meeting about Junction Plaza Park (mentioned in our coverage of Tuesday’s Junction Neighborhood Organization meeting) is now officially scheduled: 6:30 pm October 5 at the Senior Center of West Seattle. Topics will include what the Parks Department announcement describes as “plant selection and minor design elements.”
The neon sign beneath which you see West 5’s bartender Jo-Ann Clutcher and proprietor Dave Montoure came from West Seattle’s legendary Admiral Benbow Inn. Jo-Ann worked at the Benbow for 35 years, and was the first hire at West 5 when it opened six years ago, and today, we and her fans are wishing her “Happy 70th Birthday!” Jo-Ann tells us she started out at the Benbow as a waitress, but after only two weeks, the manager told her she needed to handle vacation relief for a bartender – and she wound up sticking with that job till the Benbow closed in 2002: “I just watched how the other bartenders did things and pretty soon I knew how to do the job.” Her secret after three-plus decades of bartending: “You have to love your work.” She works Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays, and says she loves meeting people, noting that any conversation starting with the question “Where are you from?” always turns out to be a good one. She’s served customers from as far away as Australia, including celebrities – she recalls serving Randy “Big Unit” Johnson a drink when he was still with the Mariners. Biggest change in the overall biz over the years? People drink more responsibly now, she says. Retirement any time soon? Nope.
Whether or not you got to do volunteer work on this Day of Service – or among the thousands whose volunteer work truly keeps West Seattle running, growing, thriving day in, day out – there are two more events tomorrow we wanted to spotlight, since full details came in after we’d published the West Seattle Weekend Lineup (though both are now added, and you’ll find several other work parties listed there too) – they’re work parties at two of West Seattle’s precious natural treasures. First, thanks to Donn for forwarding details of the Roxhill work party:
Roxhill Park Wetland Restoration Work Party
WHEN Saturday, September 12, 2009, 9 am – 1 pm
WHERE Roxhill Park
2850 SW Roxbury St
SPONSORING ORGANIZATION Friends of Roxhill Park
CONTACT Scott Blackstock
CONTACT PHONE 206-938-2144
NOTE We are restoring the headwaters of Longfellow Creek. More than 300,000 native plants have been planted there in the last seven years. There is a parking lot on SW Barton & 29th Ave. SW. [map] We will meet behind the restrooms.
And Philip sent more details on tomorrow’s Alki Beach Volleyball cleanup at Alki (photo at top of this story is an AVA photo from last year’s cleanup):
The AVA (Alki Volleyball Association) is having another beach cleanup on Alki Beach Saturday Sept 12th. Every year the AVA has two volunteer beach cleanups to help keep Alki beach clean. Local residents appreciate the cleanups and volunteer the day off, helping to pick-up cigarette butts, bottle caps, Glass, Charcoal and other things that make Alki beach unsightly. There will be refreshments and juice from (Columbia Gorge Organic) and prizes! Free T-Shirts to volunteers. Look for the white tent and blue AVA banner close to the Bathhouse side of Alki beach [map] on Saturday morning Sept. 12th between 9 am and 1 pm. More about the AVA on their website: www.alkivolleyball.com
For either event – and the other work parties on the Weekend Lineup (and listed way in advance at greenseattle.org) you’re welcome to just show up and pitch in.
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