West Seattle, Washington
02 Wednesday
Local government agencies are getting quicker all the time at posting important info online. Latest example – it only took a day for the comments from, and video of, last night’s downtown jail-site forum to make it onto the jail-site-search website. Not fast, but faster than most. Highland Park Action Committee had a delegation there, and you’ll see some of their comments in the transcribed materials. All the links to the info and video are here. (If you’re just catching up: The search for a new misdemeanor jail is now focused on six sites, with one in West Seattle at Highland Park Way/West Marginal Way, but since there was a public forum for that site last July, the new round only targets the sites just added to the list – last night’s gathering was about the site newly proposed next to the downtown jail, which neighborhood advocates say would be the best site IF a jail has to be built at all.)
That’s Kelsey, who’s selling her glass ornaments at the holiday bazaar that’s under way till 8 pm tonight at Arbor Heights Elementary – and modeling the new fashion statement that you’ve seen in our photos from meetings in the past few weeks, with AH fighting a district proposal to close its “program” and relocate Pathfinder K-8 to the AH building. But this bazaar has been in the works a long time, long before the closure proposal started drawing on the community’s time and energy, and it’s a biggie – this is just one of two jampacked rooms full of merchandise, activities, and treats:
Some of the merchandise is kid-made, like Kelsey’s very professional painted-glass ornaments, but there are adult vendors here too – we were especially enchanted by these “presents” that are really crystal-clear sculpted plastic with lights inside:
Some whimsy, too – at this table, the “fish soap” looks from a distance like those little plastic bags of goldfish in water that we all brought home from carnivals a hundred years ago:
Again, the bazaar’s on till 8 o’clock tonight; if you live in north West Seattle, you may not even have been to Arbor Heights before (we lived on Beach Drive our first 2 years in WS and hadn’t ventured south of California/Fauntleroy till we were house-shopping!), but it’s worth the trip (here’s a map) – check the view we got after parking our car before walking to the bazaar pre-sunset:
Other schools’ holiday events are on our Holiday Happenings calendar (tomorrow night, for example, Lafayette Elementary has a craft fair, and everyone’s invited!).
West Seattle High School‘s got a lot more rhythm today, thanks to a surprise gift from the WSHS Foundation – here’s the announcement just out of the WSB inbox (and it includes a calendar date to mark for next year!):
On Tuesday, West Seattle High School music director Cathy “Coach” Rutherford stumbled across a surprise on the school’s auditorium stage — a stack of boxes containing brand new musical instruments. An hour later, she had opened and inventoried four Yamaha snare drums, with cases; two Yamaha Field Corps marching bass drums, with hardware and cases; and two sets of Zildjian marching cymbals.
“The drums and cymbals are the most recent gift from the West Seattle High School Foundation, which has dedicated many tens of thousands of dollars in musical instruments and visual arts equipment to our school,” said WSHS principal Bruce Bivins. “We are fortunate to have a caring community.”
The drums and cymbals will augment the school’s popular new Drum Line class, taught by Rutherford. Valued at $6,600, the Foundation’s gift resulted from donations at the Spring Dinner & Play last May, an annual event featuring a catered dinner and reserved seating at the school’s spring musical. In 2008, the school produced A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum. Mark your calendar for the Sixth Annual Dinner and Play to be held May 14, 2009.
“The Foundation also committed to adding a trombone and a Sousaphone this year,” said Bivins. “At $700 and $4,000, respectively, there’s no way we could accomplish that without their help.”
“Our board comprises a dozen members of the West Seattle community who are really committed to the arts,” said Foundation president and WSHS alum Christy Rowe. “We know what a difference visual and performing arts make to the overall quality of education. All of us remember the difference it made in our own high school experiences, our dedication to the school and to lifelong learning.”
The West Seattle High School Foundation, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, raises money to purchase necessary items left unfunded by the school and district. Larger gifts in recent years have included musical instruments, choir robes, audio/visual equipment, and electronic ‘smart’ boards. Donations are accepted throughout the year. For more information, call 206-252-0476, e-mail wshsfoundation@gmail.com or go to www.wshsfoundation.com on the Web.
A few West Seattle notes on the semiweekly Land Use Information Bulletin sent by the city (you can subscribe in the right sidebar here): The 3-story office-building project just north of PCC has officially applied for its land-use permit (notice here; here’s our report from its Design Review meeting last April). Also in today’s LUIB, a three-lot subdivision has been granted for 6739 25th SW (map); read the decision here – this is the Google Street View of the area:
The LUIB also includes the official notices of the Design Review Board meetings 12/18 for 4502 42nd SW (as reported here a week ago) and The Kenney‘s redevelopment project (which, as mentioned here earlier, is the subject of a community meeting at 7 pm tonight, Fauntleroy Church [WSB sponsor]). On the 18th, the DRB will meet at Madison Middle School; 4502 42nd will be discussed at 6:30, The Kenney at 8.
We’re back at the Alaskan Way Viaduct project HQ in the Wells Fargo building downtown for another of what’s become nearly weekly briefings on more data from ongoing analysis of the options under study for replacement of the Viaduct’s “Central Waterfront” section. A final scenario is supposed to be settled on by year’s end. The data that’s coming out today involves analysis of “open space” created by the various scenarios, and economic impacts. We’re reviewing the material handed out in advance of the briefing – the “open space” information includes significant analysis of the “integrated elevated” option, Scenario E (above), that’s gained a lot of buzz (in no small part because of support from State House Speaker Frank Chopp) – the handout says that option “is the least desirable option from an urban design and open space standpoint and, in some respects, is worse than the existing Viaduct. While (it) has the most open space overall, it provides a lower quality of public space and compromises the historic identity of the waterfront and access to it from the downtown.” That’s just part of what we’ll hear about shortly, when state, city and county reps join us media types for the briefing. We’ll add any major points as it continues, as well as links to these presentations when they are up on the Viaduct project website (alaskanwayviaduct.org) – meantime, here’s the “open space” presentation, from the media disc that’s just been provided, and here’s the “economics” presentation. All this comes out in advance of the Stakeholders Advisory Committee meeting later today (4 pm, City Hall). UPDATE: The presentations are all on the Viaduct website now too – under Dec. 4 meeting materials – find them here. Here’s the news release summarizing what’s being presented today:Read More
Earlier this week, we mentioned the search for a man accused of stabbing his ex-wife to death in the Rainier Valley. One of the victim’s neighbors is Amber Campbell, who operates an independent neighborhood-news site, the Rainier Valley Post. Amber has just sent this out and we want to help spread the word:
Friends & neighbors,
Most of you already know that earlier this week, my neighbor Noemi Lopez – the mother of three beautiful children, 15-year old Karina, 13-year old Alandra and 6-year old Alex – was killed by her ex-husband. Angel has confessed to the murder and remains on the run. The children are staying with relatives but they have been unable to return to their home for clothes, school supplies, personal belongings, etc. Can you help them?
I am personally keeping in touch with the family on a regular basis to keep tabs on their needs and deliver the outpouring of sentiments, blessings and donations. So far neighbors have contributed money, clothing and a tree to plant in Noemi’s memory.
At this time we are focused on helping the children with clothing, school supplies and gifts for the holidays, as well as the crime scene clean-up costs that will range somewhere in the area of $1,000 – $5,000.
The Rainier Valley Post has established a fund specifically for the Lopez Children and we would all be very grateful for whatever you can spare to help these poor kids during the most horrible time of their lives. No amount is too small.
The “donate” button is atop the right sidebar on the RVP homepage; find it here. And as Amber has written in a different post – keep watch over your neighbors for signs of domestic violence, not just the other crimes we hear about almost every day. To this date, there has been only one murder in West Seattle this year … domestic violence … a woman killed by her husband, who then killed himself. Meantime, the Rainier Valley suspect remains on the run – his photo, and links to other info, are here.
The wreaths and ribbon on the lampposts were just the start. Right now, work crews are putting up garlands of greenery across the awnings and facades of Junction businesses – delivered literally by the truckload:
The finishing touches, bright-red bows:
All this, just in time for the first round of Hometown Holidays weekend festivities presented by the West Seattle Junction Association (WSB sponsor) – including the Tree Lighting at 5 pm Saturday (your WSB co-publishers are helping emcee, to present a jampacked one-hour lineup of everything from music to theater to the first drawings in the $5,000 Junction Giveaway, which you can enter for free at any time at any participating store), and the first big Sunday noon-4 pm slate of holiday fun – professionally photographed Santa pics at Cupcake Royale (donation suggested, to benefit WestSide Baby and other local nonprofits), draft-mule carriage rides, in-store events.
Kick off the whole weekend with the Kiwanis Club of West Seattle‘s pancake breakfast, 7 am-11 am Saturday at the Masonic Hall on the east edge of The Junction; here’s a map – then wrap up the weekend with the Taproot Theater dessert-theater production of “It’s a Wonderful Improv Life” at West Seattle Christian Church [WSB sponsor], more info here.
We took that photo on November 22, as a block-long line waited for the 500-turkey giveaway at Eastridge Christian Assembly (across from West Seattle Bowl). Just got word from Eastridge that they’re doing it again on December 20th, another 500 turkeys (and groceries) to be given away, no questions asked, 9 am-noon (although Eastridge’s Lori Zwick points out that the turkeys were gone in less than two hours last time). Side note as always – if you’d like to extend holiday help to local families in need, you can do it any time through online $ donations to the West Seattle (click here) and White Center (click here) Food Banks.
New on the Friends and Neighbors of North Admiral website 
for the proposal to add a “natural playscape” to California Place Park: A report that eight firms have responded to the “Request For Qualifications” to design it (the part of the potential project for which the group received a city $15,000 matching-funds grant). The eight are listed here; next step, the group reviews their applications, schedules interviews, and chooses a landscape architect by mid-month – the RFQ says that architect will facilitate the next public meeting on the project, second week of January. FANNA, by the way, is sponsoring a family event at Hiawatha Community Center/Park on December 13th (details here).
ARBOR HEIGHTS BAZAAR: Long before they were rocked by the proposal to close their “program,” the Arbor Heights Elementary community had been getting ready for this big holiday event. Now, it packs extra punch. Go visit them and find everything from pizza to performances to presents, 4 pm-8 pm (full details here).
SCHOOL CLOSURES COMMUNITY MEETING: However they shake out, the closures/changes are on a fast track, and the district wants community suggestions ASAP. Tonight’s the next chance, 6:30-8:30 pm at Stanford Center (district HQ) in Sodo (more info here).
SANISLO ELEMENTARY CONCERT AT WEST SEATTLE HIGH SCHOOL: It’s a celebration to conclude Sanislo‘s musical residency with Joe Craven, and the community’s invited, free! 6:30 pm
COMMUNITY MEETING ON THE KENNEY’S MEGAPROJECT: Morgan Community Association and Fauntleroy Community Association have joined forces to get questions answered regarding where the project stands and what happens next, Fauntleroy Church (WSB sponsor) fellowship hall, 7 pm (previous WSB coverage of the project is archived here; the next Design Review meeting is finally on the city website, 8 pm 12/18 at Madison Middle School)
GOT YOUR OWN PROJECT IN MIND? Ventana Construction (WSB sponsor) presents its next edition of the free “Building a Better Home: Remodeling and Custom Home Workshop” tonight at Ventana offices, 5458 California Ave SW, 6:30 pm. Call 206-932-3009 to make sure there’s still room.
LATE-NIGHT SHOPPING: Another WSB sponsor, Click! Design That Fits in Admiral, has the first of its Late-Night Thursdays holiday shopping events tonight, open till 9 with “rotating specials, snacks and libations from 6 to 9 pm” each of the next three Thursdays (this week’s special, 15% off all holiday decorations and cards during the event).
More on the frequently updated WSB West Seattle Events calendar, which runs well into next year.
(photo by Arbor Heights parent Craig Harrold)
We reported toplines from Wednesday night’s Seattle School Board meeting as they happened – now, we have video of all six Arbor Heights parents who spoke (after a concerted campaign to get onto the list when bookings opened Monday) about district staff’s recommendation to close their school “program” so the school “building” can become home to Pathfinder K-8, whose deteriorating Genesee Hill building would then be shut down. First, Arbor Heights PTSA co-president Suzette Riley laid out the four alternatives they are proposing:
“This proposal would close a popular, successful neighborhood school, and would also cost the district money,” Riley said (among other points). We also have video of each of the five other Arbor Heights speakers from the meeting, each uploaded in its entirety – click ahead to see any or all of them, and also to see what happens next:Read More
Out of the WSB inbox, from Travis:
I don’t know how many of your readers are concerned with the space behind the Admiral Theater, but I just bought a townhouse here about 6 months ago. Everything was fine for almost 6 full months, and in the last 3 weeks there has been a significant spike in graffiti, likely gang related, and I was shocked to hear from my neighbor this morning that her car was broken into @ 5:30 am. These incidents have been reported to the police but their frequency and severity appear to be on the rise. A police watch placed on the alleyway for the last several weeks has not seemed to curb the offenses.
I for one am quite concerned as a new homeowner who paid high N. Admiral prices to live in a safe, clean, and friendly neighborhood.
From Arbor Heights, a cheerful display, 12000 block of 39th SW (map). Gratuitous reminder – Join us for the annual West Seattle Community Christmas Tree Lighting, 5 pm Saturday in The Junction (Farmers’ Market parking lot), with your WSB co-publishers helping emcee an all-star lineup for one hour of holiday fun — including the Endolyne Children’s Choir, “Plaid Tidings” cast members from ArtsWest, singalong holiday caroling, and the first drawings in The Junction’s $5,000 Holiday Giveaway (multiple chances to win gift certificates! – have you entered yet?). And in the meantime, please send us Christmas lights photos and/or addresses!
We’ve been looking for something like this in West Seattle — hoping to practice our creaky remembered-from-high-school choir alto line in “Hallelujah Chorus” — so thought we’d pass along what we just got from Seaview United Methodist Church music director Dell Gossett (it’ll be on the West Seattle Holiday Happenings calendar momentarily, too):
Seaview United Methodist Church is hosting the second “Messiah” Sing-along on December 14 at 2 pm. All who love to sing (or hear) this glorious musical expression are invited. Bring your own score if you have one, and if you don’t, we will have extras. Accompaniment will be with professional string players. If you think you can’t carry a tune in a bucket, we will even provide buckets!
Seaview UMC is at 46th SW and Graham (map).
We’re at school district HQ in Sodo, with a standing-room-only crowd here to speak out about the school-closure/changes plan at tonight’s School Board meeting – and half the room (photo above, taken moments ago) is dominated by Arbor Heights Elementary School families, fighting to keep their school “program” from being eliminated, because district management is proposing to move Pathfinder K-8 there. No decision will be made tonight, but this is the first official board meeting since the closure/change plan was announced eight nights ago. We’ll add updates as things develop – in addition to scheduled public comment (six AH reps are on the list, which is compiled from people who called and e-mailed starting first thing Monday morning), Superintendent Dr. Maria Goodloe-Johnson is scheduled to present an update on the closure/change plan; you can watch the meeting live on cable channel 26. Side note: District HQ is formally named the John Stanford Center for Educational Excellence; a few days ago, Nov. 28, marked 10 years since the passing of the legendary superintendent (taken by leukemia at age 60) after whom this facility is named.
6:36 PM UPDATE: The first four Arbor Heights parents to speak have just taken their turns. They are focusing on four alternative proposals: Wait for Denny Middle School to be vacated when it moves to a new building on the Chief Sealth campus; close Roxhill and move its students to Arbor Heights, Highland Park, and Gatewood; move Pathfinder to Cooper Elementary or West Seattle Elementary. Two more Arbor Heights parents are still on the speaking list, along with people speaking on behalf of other controversial closure/change proposals elsewhere in the city.
6:50 PM UPDATE: Eric Iwamoto, co-president of the Arbor Heights PTSA, spoke, focusing on “why isn’t a high school being closed?” – he says Franklin, Cleveland, or Rainier Beach (which has 1300 seats but barely a third of them filled) all have aspects that could qualify them for potential closure, and he says closing a high school would save the cost equivalent of closing two elementaries.
7:20 PM UPDATE: The public comment period of the meeting is over; the board is taking a brief break so the superintendent’s “update” on the school closure/change proposal can be technically set up for display on the big screen.
7:54 PM UPDATE: Before the school-closure briefing, a budget briefing from district financial boss Don Kennedy – district may be $37 million short next year, not just the $24 million already anticipated. Thanks to the SPS Community Blog at saveseattleschools.blogspot.com for noting that the superintendent’s presentation, including the closure update, is already posted online here. From that presentation, in a section that addresses some of the questions board members asked when the recommendations were presented last week:
Questions about locating Pathfinder at Arbor Heights or at Cooper
○ Response: At the work session on November 25 the School Board indicated that the option of altering the Student Assignment Plan to permit the location of Pathfinder at Cooper should be evaluated. Staff are evaluating this option.
The superintendent also is proposing another workshop (next Tuesday, apparently, will update when time/day/place is finalized) about the closure/change proposal, with these goals (from the presentation linked above):
□ Review of functional capacity numbers
□ Review of comments heard at December 4th and 6th
community meetings
□ Review of questions/concerns raised after November 25
work session
□ Review of potential final recommendations
“Functional capacity” is being evaluated now with walkthroughs at schools (it was mentioned last night that Arbor Heights had just gotten such a visit).
8:30 PM UPDATE: Board members have been asking more questions about the superintendent’s presentation. They’re saying they’re glad it’s obviously an “iterative” process.” Next events, a reminder – tomorrow night, a public “workshop” here at Stanford Center 6:30-8:30 pm; another one Saturday morning, Filipino Community Center, 5740 Martin Luther King Way, 9:30-11:30 am (map); that day, Saturday afternoon, Steve Sundquist will have another informal community gathering to discuss this (and other school issues) – 3-5 pm, Delridge Library.
8:50 PM UPDATE: The aforementioned work session, with lots of data etc., will be 4 pm next Tuesday here at district HQ “and we’ll go till we’re done,” says Dr. Goodloe-Johnson. She says feedback at any time can and should be sent to:
capacity@seattleschools.org
but mail also welcome at
schoolboard@seattleschools.org She just also mentioned an Arbor Heights-specific meeting for next Tuesday as well – checking on that.
9:24 PM NOTE: We have all of tonight’s Arbor Heights speakers on video and will upload those clips later tonight when we’re back at HQ – more pix too, like this:
ADDED 11:40 PM: Still working on the next report but in the meantime, here’s the info on the Tuesday meeting at Arbor Heights: 6 pm, per this district webpage. Concurrent with part of the aforementioned board workshop.
One way to look at it is, it’s like helping get the toys and clothes from Santa’s workshop, into the sleigh: WestSide Baby, which collects and distributes clothing, diapers, and toys for local families in need, is having a Sorting Party tomorrow night, and it’s a classic case of “many hands mean lighter work” — If you can spare all or part of two hours, 7-9 pm tomorrow (Thursday), you can help get items from shelves like the ones above, into family-tailored bags like the ones below (with “orders to fill” for almost 200 kids as of our visit this morning):
RSVP to Sarah at sarah@westsidebaby.org – or just show up, 10032 15th SW in White Center (map). Read on for more, as explained by WestSide Baby executive director Nancy Woodland:Read More
Two quick reminders about events that aren’t happening IN West Seattle tonight, but have potential for major effects ON West Seattle – Seattle School Board, 6 pm, district HQ in Sodo, with members of the public speaking about the school-closure proposal as well as an update expected from the superintendent; downtown forum for the proposed King County Jail-adjacent site for a new regional misdemeanor-offender jail (one of six sites now on the list), with Highland Park reps expected to be there to speak in support of a downtown site (the West Seattle site that’s still on the list is in HP, West Marginal/Highland Park Way), 6-9 pm at City Hall downtown (more info on the new jail-site-search website). ADDED 4:15 PM: The Save Arbor Heights blog reminds us that since this is a regularly scheduled school-board meeting (unlike the closure-announcement meeting last week), you can watch it live on cable TV: Channel 26. We will be at the meeting to cover it in person and will post periodic updates, but since it’s being broadcast live, we don’t plan to liveblog it like last week.
Good food doesn’t have to be expensive: That’s one of the guiding principles for the Junction restaurant we are welcoming today as WSB’s newest sponsor, Ama Ama Oyster Bar and Grill. It’s been in business more than a year now but Ama Ama also has something new – someone new, to be precise – Chef Jared Wentworth, who recently joined Ama Ama:
Ama Ama notes that Jared “has worked his way west while honing his culinary skills in New York (Aureole, Park Avenue Cafe) and Chicago (Charlie Trotter’s, Atlantique, Tizi Melloul) and most recently in Seattle as Chef de Cuisine at Quinn’s on Capitol Hill. He has worked for acclaimed chefs such as David Burke, John Hogan, Keith Korn, Charlie Trotter, and David Bouley. Jared brings to Ama Ama extensive knowledge of French, Japanese, and Mediterranean cuisines, and more than 12 years of executive chef experience preparing cutting-edge food. While Jared has had many high-profile culinary experiences, his approach to cooking remains simple: Fresh, wholesome ingredients, dictated by the changing seasons. He also shares in our belief that creative, high-quality food doesn’t have to be expensive.” Speaking of “not expensive” — 7 days a week you have a chance to try Ama Ama‘s fabled oysters for a low price – they’re 75 cents each from 4 to 6 pm and 10-11 pm every day/night. If you’re looking for someplace to get a late bite to eat, oysters or not, Ama Ama serves till midnight every night of the week. You’ll find Ama Ama on the northeast corner of California and Edmunds (map) in The Junction; you can find its new fall menus online. We thank Ama Ama Oyster Bar and Grill for supporting 24/7 West Seattle news/information/discussion — for, and by, the community — by joining the WSB sponsor team; the current lineup is here, along with info on how to become part of it!
Just received that photo and the one below this post from Jeff Hogan, executive director of Killer Whale Tales, who was more closely involved than most people with the sightings we reported yesterday (anyone seen them today? we think we MAY have seen them in the distance, south of the Fauntleroy ferry dock, within the past hour, but our binoculars leave much to be desired). Jeff e-mailed:
I just wanted to let my new West Seattle neighbors know that we have members of the endangered Southern Resident Killer Whale Community in the area. Yesterday they spent most of the day off Alki Point and were easily visible for the better part of the afternoon. I am including two photos I took from the beach, one is picture of 13 year old J30 and the other has J8, a 75 year old female in the foreground and L7 a 47 year old female in the background. I spent most of the day on the water with a group of NOAA scientists, collecting fecal samples, (yes, poop) as well as scale samples from their prey. If anyone sees them on the water please give me a call at 206.660.0835 or call the Orca Network hotline at 1.866.672.2638.
Here’s the photo of J30:
Our coverage from yesterday is here (first report) and here (Orca Network sightings details, plus a link for more on the individual whales). For more information on Killer Whale Tales, here’s its website.
That photo shows some of the food and clothing collected so far for West Seattle Food Bank and West Seattle Helpline by the folks at Vending Solutions. Linda Jarvimaki wrote to tell us that VS — a “West Seattle-based, nationwide management company” — is having an office competition to liven up its campaign to support those in need, “the gals against the guys… The team with the most points wins a prize and the individual person who brings in the most points wins a prize, both prizes donated by management. Each week, there is a bonus point day – everything from goofy hat day to slipper day where teams can accumulate points if every team member complies with the bonus point day requirement and brings a one-point item (such as a can of food.)” Linda also shared a team photo from the aforementioned “goofy hat day”:
She adds, “We also had a salad bar day – everyone brought an item for the salad bar and then contributed a dollar to eat (and also had to wear an apron.) In addition, we are having an auction – several people donated their talents (photography, baking, crafts) and all monies collected will be donated to our community. Although our office is small, it’s amazing what can be accomplished. We want to make a difference and invite other businesses to do the same.” Linda and everybody at Vending Solutions also invites you to drop off donations at their office – they’ll deliver them for you! 5415 California SW (map), Monday-Friday, 8 am-4:30 pm. As listed on our West Seattle Holiday Happenings page, donation drives are also under way at other businesses including AAA Travel, Cafe Rozella, and C and P Coffee. If we’re missing yours, please e-mail to let us know (photos welcome too – when we heard from the Vending Solutions folks, we asked them if they had pix, and that’s why they sent these – so we could show you the places and faces making West Seattle better every day), so we can share the good news.
Thanks to those who e-mailed to ask about a loud boom near 16th/Kenyon (map) around 6:30 this morning, followed by “police” sightings. Ralph had the most vivid description of what he saw at a house he identifies as being in the 7900 block of 16th SW:
I heard a loud ka-boom and thought it was a bomb. (About a year or so ago, someone did pipe-bomb neighbor’s back yard.) I thought that I should call that one in.
But first I looked out the window, and everything was quiet. Then I looked out the other window and realized that I didn’t have to call this one in – the lights were already flashing. Then a floodlight illuminated the entire front of the house … And there were numerous SWAT (or whatever) team folks there, armed and wearing helmets. … Turns out it was King County sheriff – no SPD, which surprised me. The ka-boom must have been the flash-bang used by the assault team.
Before Ralph’s note came in, we had been checking with the Southwest Precinct, and indeed, it wasn’t an incident with which they were involved – so we moved on to King County Sheriff’s Office, where Sgt. John Urquhart tells us an arrest warrant was being served – no details on what the person was wanted for, but the person is in custody.
Just in from SDOT:
SDOT crews plan to work on the westbound approach to the lower Spokane Street Bridge to West Seattle on Friday, December 5, from 9 a.m. until no later than 12 p.m. Eastbound traffic will not be affected. Westbound traffic will be detoured around the work area by way of Southwest Klickitat Avenue before crossing the bridge. During this time, crews will place a shim on a sharp dip in the roadway.
Thanks to Chas Redmond for forwarding the city e-mail that’s apparently gone out to all 120-plus people who signed in at Monday night’s open house about the Fauntleroy “rechannelization” proposal (to be done during next year’s repaving). The e-mail, which is officially from SDOT’s Peter Lagerwey via walkandbike@seattle.gov – the address to use, as we’ve mentioned, for feedback – promises answers next week to questions raised at the event (WSB coverage here):
We heard support for re-paving the street, reducing speeds, improving pedestrian crossings and installing new bicycle facilities. We also heard concerns about possible congestion, diversion of traffic and lack of enforcement. As soon as we compile comments, we will respond to questions in writing to the group. We will have this work completed by the end of next week, December 12.
All comments will be taken into account as we move forward on a lane configuration decision by the end of the year. We will provide an update once a decision has been made.
The project website mentioned on Monday night handouts still isn’t up; we’ll check today on a timeline for that. As mentioned that night, the timeline for the “rechannelization” would be during the May-October 2009 period set for the repaving. 2:07 PM UPDATE: As Allie points out in comments, the webpage is now live, with some basics about the repaving project but not much on the “rechannelization” proposal; there’s also a spot to subscribe to e-mail bulletins about SDOT paving projects.
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