West Seattle, Washington

10 Friday

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month : 10/2018 326 results

TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Friday watch; Highway 99 closure reminder; downtown gas leak
October 19, 2018 7:03 am
|      5 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

(SDOT MAP with travel times/video links; is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE)

7:03 AM: Good morning! No transit alerts or outbound traffic incidents reported so far.

HIGHWAY 99 CLOSURE REMINDER: The weekend closure is in 2 phases – SB starting 9 tonight and lasting all weekend, NB starting at 6 am Saturday and end by 5 pm that day.

9:50 AM: Sorry to be late catching onto this. A gas leak has caused closures downtown in the 1st/Columbia/Cherry vicinity. Some of this seems to be easing, according to what we’re hearing on police radio, at least for pedestrians in the area.

9:59 AM: There’s also a gas-leak call at Holden/Highland Park Way. Apparently not major as two of the three dispatched units have been dismissed, but please let us know if you are seeing otherwise.

10:20 AM: A downtown update from police radio – while sidewalks in the area are being opened, 1st will remain closed to traffic between Columbia and Yesler. 2nd is being reopened.

10:50 AM: 1st also has reopened between Yesler and Marion, per SDOT.

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Fauntleroy Fall Festival 2018: Here’s the fun awaiting you Sunday!
October 18, 2018 9:28 pm
|    Comments Off on Fauntleroy Fall Festival 2018: Here’s the fun awaiting you Sunday!
 |   Fauntleroy | West Seattle festivals | West Seattle news

(WSB photo, 2017 Fauntleroy Fall Festival)

Three days until three hours of fun await you at this year’s Fauntleroy Fall Festival! Tonight we have the schedule for what you’ll be able to see and do during the festival 2-5 pm Sunday (October 21st):

(Note: Updated version substituted Friday night. If you can’t view what’s above, here’s the PDF version.) The festival happens at and around the Fauntleroy Schoolhouse/Hall and Church/YMCA grounds, across the street from each other in the 9100 block of California SW:

Crossing guards make sure you can get back and forth safely. Everything’s free except food/drink – just show up and be ready for a great time! And remember that if you enjoy baking, contenders for the cake-decorating contest and donations for the cake walk are welcome – here are those details. See you at the Fauntleroy Fall Festival (looks like it’ll be sunny)!

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West Seattle Crime Watch: 10-year-old’s motorcycle, brand-new bicycle stolen
October 18, 2018 7:20 pm
|    Comments Off on West Seattle Crime Watch: 10-year-old’s motorcycle, brand-new bicycle stolen
 |   Crime | West Seattle news

Two reader reports – first, from Tammy in the Alki area:

Someone broke into our garage either late last night or today and stole my son’s (10 years old) dirt bike. He is devastated. It was a little red motorcycle made for a kid – Honda. Had a plastic piece on the front of it where there would normally be a number but has a pic of someone riding a motorcycle instead. Please let me know if you saw anything or saw someone pushing it around.

We’ll add the police report # when we get it. Same with the next report, from Dave:

A brand-new Salsa Journeyman Bicycle (700cX54cm) was stolen in front of the Southwest Library on 35th Avenue at approximately 6:00 pm on September 28th.

Dave is offering a reward for its return.

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FOLLOWUP: What’s happened since crash/fire that damaged West Seattle Health Club, whose management said ‘enough is enough’
October 18, 2018 5:00 pm
|      71 COMMENTS
 |   Safety | West Seattle news

Those are three of the RVs parked along SW Andover across from the West Seattle Health Club that have just been tagged by Parking Enforcement. That’s one of the developments since the club was damaged early Wednesday by a gas fire that erupted after the building was hit by a vehicle – initially described by Seattle Fire as an “RV” and later as a “shuttle van.”

Seattle Police confirmed to WSB today that the vehicle’s driver has yet to be found; they said on Wednesday that it matched the description of a vehicle that fled Admiral Safeway after a shoplifting incident shortly before the crash.

(Photo courtesy West Seattle Health Club)

West Seattle Health Club management has told its members that the pool, in the wing of the building that was damaged by the crash and fire, will likely remain closed for a couple weeks. A Puget Sound Energy crew was at the scene this morning when we went to the area to check on a commenter tip about the tagged RVs.

WSHC says it’s been dealing with camping in the area long enough (we first reported on it almost three years ago) and “enough is enough” – they’re demanding city action. (We also chronicled an early-morning incident last July in which an RV careened through the WSHC lot and ended up on the bank over Longfellow Creek.)

City Councilmember Lisa Herbold‘s staff, meantime, shared with us what she’s been telling constituents who have contacted her about the incident and the nearby RV camping, including:

Councilmember Herbold has contacted the Seattle Police Department, including Chief Best. She has also contacted Fire Department Chief Scoggins, Mayor Durkan, Deputy Mayor Fong, and other Mayor’s Office staff about this. Mayor Durkan responded swiftly and personally to let Councilmember Herbold know that Chief Scoggins would be in touch. Chief Scoggins responded to say that he did not believe that this was an RV fire. Councilmember Herbold understands that people in the community believe that, RV or otherwise, that this was a vehicle that was being occupied as a residence. Councilmember Herbold has spoken with Dan Lehr, the V.P. of Operations at the West Seattle Health Club and he assured her that not only was this a vehicle modified for living in, but that it was a vehicle that was being resided in at this particular location.

(Several WSB commenters reported familiarity with the vehicle in the area.) Also from Herbold’s reply to constituents:

The City has an RV remediation program designed by SPD and SPU. Below is SPD Deputy Chief Wilske’s description of that program, in response to Councilmember Herbold’s request several months ago to clarify for her, and for the public, the approach SPD is taking to address the impacts upon residents and businesses resulting from several hundred RVs parked throughout the City serving as dwellings:

“As everyone has noticed, we are seeing an increase in people who are living in vehicles, both cars and RV’s. In some cases we are seeing significant impact to the surrounding neighborhoods, and have partnered with Seattle Public Utilities to implement a RV remediation program to address these problematic sites.

The ultimate goal of this program is to try to connect the people to services, insure that they move their vehicles in conformance to city law (primarily the 72 hr ordinance), and ensure we clean up any debris that is left behind. Using a team concept also allows us to insure we are consistent with recent court decisions regarding vehicle residents, so that we do not inadvertently expose the city to unnecessary legal jeopardy. The goal is not to impound these vehicles, but instead have them move regularly and be less impactful on the locations where they park.

The team uses specific criteria to determine which site will be prioritized for clean up, with an emphasis on Public Health (large amounts of debris, rodents, needles etc) and Public Safety (crime statistics, 911 responses, officer anecdotal information). We are currently doing 6 plus clean ups a month on large locations, with some additional work being done via the precincts and the parking enforcement officers, but again using the same prioritization criteria.”

One court case decision Wilske references is a Superior Court decision from earlier this year raised challenges about the city charging fees for impounded vehicles that serve as residences.

Herbold’s staff said she asked SPD and SPU when the area near the club was “most recently assessed for remediation.” Their reply: Last month, but it “did not qualify for priority cleanup for the month of September.” At Herbold’s request, they went back yesterday and still said “it did not score high enough for service.” She subsequently spoke with Mayor Durkan, her office tells us, saying the mayor then “agreed to reassess the Andover St. area to potentially move it up the list for remediation.”

–Tracy Record, WSB editor

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Great Washington ShakeOut: How Explorer West handled today’s earthquake drill
October 18, 2018 3:34 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   Preparedness | West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

(WSB photos)

Taking cover under classroom desks was only part of the plan as Explorer West Middle School (WSB sponsor) participated in today’s Great Washington ShakeOut earthquake drill. No matter how ready you are, an earthquake or natural disaster can lead to injuries, so EWMS practiced dealing with those too:

Preparedness means having supplies on hand (this includes suggestions):

And it means everyone’s involved. Here’s EW head of school Evan Hundley:

There was a communications component too – this text was sent to EWMS parents:

P.S. As mentioned in our daily highlights list and calendar, Explorer West has the first of three open houses for prospective families tonight – 6:30-8 pm, 10015 28th SW.

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West Seattle Crime Watch: Suspects arrested after Morgan Junction-area street robbery
October 18, 2018 1:32 pm
|      12 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | West Seattle news

(WSB photo)

1:32 PM: Police are searching for three people believed to be involved in a street robbery in the Morgan Junction area. We don’t know exactly where the robbery happened – per scanner, a “phone and belt” were taken – but police are focusing on the south end of the Morgan business district right now (south of Fauntleroy). More to come.

1:39 PM: K9 has joined the search, which is also extending into nearby residential areas. And now there’s a report of three people “detained” somewhere in the search area.

1:46 PM: The search continues while police sort things out. The actual robbery apparently happened on Fauntleroy, west of where the search has been focused. Added a photo above of the K9 team that has been searching – some possible evidence was found in that strip mall off California south of Fauntleroy; the area where possible suspects were detained is east of there. Meantime, the victim is described as a juvenile.

2:10 PM: Arrests have been made (photo added – in west Gatewood).

If you’re seeing continued police activity in the business area, that’s because more potential evidence was reported to have been found in/near the nearby McDonald’s.

3:44 PM: All three suspects taken into custody were juveniles, SPD confirms. We’ll be checking tomorrow for details from the official report.

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FOLLOWUP: West Seattle Junction outdoor mailbox gone
October 18, 2018 1:18 pm
|      26 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news

(WSB photo)

Thanks to Greg for the tip. A week after damage – reportedly from a driver – took it out of service again, the West Seattle Junction Post Office outdoor mailbox has been taken away. Last year it was gone for seven months. Our track record of getting official USPS responses to mailbox questions has been pretty bad, so if you have any inside info, editor@wsb.blackfin.biz – thanks!

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VIDEO: 14 questions for 34th District State Senate candidates @ Delridge District Council/South Seattle College forum
October 18, 2018 11:29 am
|      7 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle politics

The ballots are in the mail. The ballot dropboxes (including the brand-new one in The Junction) open today. What you’ll see on your ballot includes only one contested, open local seat: 34th District State Senator. Last night was the second-to-last West Seattle forum for the two candidates who survived the 11-candidate primary. Above, our video of the entire forum, presented by the Delridge Neighborhoods District Council (in place of its regular monthly meeting), at and with South Seattle College (WSB sponsor) on Puget Ridge; below, our notes with key points – NOT full transcriptions – from the candidates’ replies to the 14 questions asked at the forum (including some “different ones!” as they observed with some measure of delight).

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What’s up for the rest of your West Seattle Thursday
October 18, 2018 10:35 am
|    Comments Off on What’s up for the rest of your West Seattle Thursday
 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(More Harlequin Ducks! Photographed at Constellation Park by Jim Borrow)

From the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:

PRESCHOOLERS’ DROP-IN ART: 11-noon at Delridge Library, “join our guest teacher, Miss Lisa, to complete art projects using nature, recycled materials, and more.” Free. (5423 Delridge Way SW)

WEST SEATTLE TIMEBANK: Learn about timebanking at this month’s meeting, and bring a dish for the optional potluck if you want! 6:30 pm at the Senior Center/Sisson Building. (4217 SW Oregon)

SUPERINTENDENT IN SOUTH PARK: Seattle Public Schools Superintendent Denise Juneau visits Concord International Elementary tonight for a listening session in Spanish and English, 6-8 pm. (723 S. Concord)

‘ANGST’: Come watch this film about anxiety and then talk about it at the Denny/Sealth Auditorium – all welcome, even if you’re not a student and don’t have one in the family – anxiety can affect/afflict people at all ages. 6:30 pm. (2600 SW Thistle)

EXPLORER WEST OPEN HOUSE: Considering Explorer West Middle School (WSB sponsor)? You’re invited to an open house, 6:30 tonight. RSVP here. (10015 28th SW)

ONE MORE LOOK AT THE CANDIDATES: For the second night in a row, 34th District State Senate candidates Shannon Braddock and Joe Nguyen will answer your questions at a forum in West Seattle. (Our report on last night’s forum, with video, will be published later this morning.) The West Seattle Chamber of Commerce is presenting this one, promising a focus on business and transportation issues. Doors open at 6:30 pm at the Disabled American Veterans Hall; ballot initiative discussion at 6:45; candidates at 7. (4857 Delridge Way SW)

ALKI COMMUNITY COUNCIL: 7 pm at Alki UCC, all welcome – here’s the agenda. (6115 SW Hinds)

NIGHTLIFE AND MORE! See the rest of today’s listings – and beyond – on our complete calendar. Plus, our Halloween Etc. Guide has two weeks of spookiness.

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LAST CALL! Be part of the 2018 West Seattle Junction Harvest Festival
October 18, 2018 9:31 am
|    Comments Off on LAST CALL! Be part of the 2018 West Seattle Junction Harvest Festival
 |   West Seattle festivals | West Seattle news

(2017 photo by Leda Costa for WSB)

With a week and a half to go until this year’s West Seattle Junction Harvest Festival, here’s one last call for your business/school/organization to be part of it by offering an activity! More options mean more fun for the festival, which happens in the heart of The Junction 10 am-2 pm Sunday, October 28th – an ever-growing extravaganza involving not only activities, but also a costume parade (11:30 am), trick-or-treating (noon), the Farmers’ Market, chili cookoff to raise money for the West Seattle Food Bank, a root-beer garden, and more. A few booth spaces remain – here’s where to register for one.

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TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Thursday watch; weekend Highway 99 closure
October 18, 2018 7:02 am
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

(SDOT MAP with travel times/video links; is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE)

7:02 AM: Good morning! No outbound incidents or traffic alerts reported so far.

HIGHWAY 99 CLOSURE REMINDER: The details of this weekend’s closure have changed – while the SB side will be closed starting at 9 pm Friday as planned, scheduled to last all weekend, the NB closure plan has been shortened, to start at 6 am Saturday and end by 5 pm that day.

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Simple ways to make your home safer, plus Q&A with police, @ West Seattle Crime Prevention Council:
October 17, 2018 11:34 pm
|    Comments Off on Simple ways to make your home safer, plus Q&A with police, @ West Seattle Crime Prevention Council:
 |   Crime | Southwest Precinct Crime Prevention Council | West Seattle news | West Seattle police

Home safety was the spotlight topic at the final West Seattle Crime Prevention Council meeting of the year, Tuesday night at the Southwest Precinct, so we’re starting with what the ~15 people in attendance heard from Jennifer Danner, the precinct’s crime-prevention coordinator:

She began by going around the room and asking people what they wanted to know about. Most had questions about video and cameras. Danner reminded everyone that she can do home-security assessments. She started with some myth debunking – “when a door is kicked in, it’s not the door that breaks, usually it’s the frame.” Changing the length of the screws with which your door is fastened is an easy, cheap way to help secure it, Danner said. When it comes to locks, exterior doors should have deadbolts – there too, the length is important; an inch-and-a-half throw is even better than the more-standard inch.

Window security – “You always want to add one more thing to your window,” since most windows can be broken into from the outside.

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COMMUNITY GIVING: West Seattle Food Bank gets a boost from real-estate community golf tournament
October 17, 2018 10:32 pm
|    Comments Off on COMMUNITY GIVING: West Seattle Food Bank gets a boost from real-estate community golf tournament
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle people

(Michael Mallagh [Co-Director] and David Katt)

This fall sunshine has been a boon for outdoor activities – including a benefit golf tournament organized by members of the local real-estate community to raise money for the West Seattle Food Bank. Don Bereiter from Windermere has sent photos and a wrap-up on the event held at the WS Golf Course last Friday – all totaling a $7,000 donation to the WSFB, from $3,500 in sponsorships and donations matched by PepsiCo. All from a first-ever tournament that was pulled together in just two weeks! Don continues:

Michael Mallagh and Stephanie Quam (Berkshire Hathaway HS Real Estate) are the brains behind it. They wanted to do something for the Food Bank and get others involved in the Real Estate community. Agents, lenders, title companies, etc., all pitched in a very short time period to make this happen. Below are a list of sponsors and volunteers just to show how everyone came together for a good cause. This was the first annual, and with more time for planning for next year, the dollar amount raised will be significantly larger.

The picture below is the winning team (from left to right) Mike and Debbie Kerns, Jill and Jim Campbell, with a score of 10 under par:

Sponsors

Pepsi – Kenny Turner: Matching Donation Sponsor
JetClosing – Nate Eisele: Beverage Ticket Sponsor
Stewart Title – Cathy Steger & Mary Forrey: Check-in Sponsor
The Westy, Connelly Skis, & The Bridge: Prize Supporters
Ballad Pictures / Adam Bale & Kent Colony: Photos
Garrett Wheadon – Sign Pros
Kelli Strand – Chicago Title
Ron Ballman – American Home Shield
Chris Dutton – Guild Mortgage
Holmquist + Gardiner Attorneys at Law
Nick Perovich – HomeStreet Bank
Shari Kruse – Windermere
Napoleon Williams – Cornerstone Home Lending

(Cathy Steger, Mary Forrey, Jennifer Whip, Stephanie Quam (Tournament Co-Director), Jennifer Ruemping, Sally Hardwick, Kathy Sheldon)

Volunteers

Kathy Sheldon – Berkshire Hathaway
Jennifer Ruemping – Berkshire Hathaway
Sally Hardwick (and Emily!) – Windermere
Jennifer Whip – Windermere
Stephanie Quam – Berkshire Hathaway

The Winners!

1st Place with a 62 (-10): Jill Campbell / Jim Campbell / Debbie Kerns / Mike Kerns ($300)
1st Place (Mixed Division) with a 69 (-3): Stephanie Quam / Marian Padgett / Tonya Hamilton / Chris Dutton ($200)
2nd Place with a 63 (-9): Napoleon Williams / Tyler Martinez / Matthew Martinez / Carsten Olufsen ($100)
Closest to the Pin (Hole 11): Jeff Dabbs & Nancy Spiro ($50 Gift Card)
Long Drive (Hole 12): Tyler Martinez and TBD for the women (the long drive results went missing, so if you hit the fairway let me know ;) ($50 Gift Card)

Motivated to join them in donating to the WS Food Bank? Here’s how.

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West Seattle Crime Watch: Car break-in at Lincoln Park
October 17, 2018 8:15 pm
|      25 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | West Seattle news

The photo and report are from Leanne:

As I now understand, Lincoln Park is unsafe and cars are broke into here daily. A Good Samaritan helped me to clean the mess. It happened around 3:30 this afternoon. They got a leather tote, purse, iPad, etc. … but not my wallet!! Haha!!!

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UPDATE: SW Genesee closed for 6+ hours after steel balls spill from truck
October 17, 2018 4:53 pm
|      89 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

4:53 PM: Thanks for the tips! Those are forged-steel balls and bags full of them fell out of a truck on the SW Genesee hill east of Avalon, which is currently closed westbound as a result from 26th on up. We’d advise avoiding the area both ways for a while.

4:59 PM: Our crew at the scene says that these are heavy items – check the inscription on the bags:

So SDOT is trying to figure out how to clean up the ones that spilled. Some have rolled into vehicles parked in the area.

7:11 PM: Cleanup is under way – and both sides are blocked, we’re told – thanks for this texted photo:

Your co-publishers are embedded at community events tonight, so we appreciate an update (in comments preferably) if you notice the road has reopened before we get word of it!

8:50 PM: Just went by. Still closed.

10:06 PM: Scanner traffic indicates getting the truck off the hill will involve some backing up and potentially a temporary Delridge closure, so heads up on that.

11:23 PM: After more than six hours, the truck and balls are gone. We’ll do our best to follow up on whether any citation was issued.

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CONGRATULATIONS! West Seattle HS golfer Lauryn Nguyen sets course record, wins Athlete of the Week
October 17, 2018 3:55 pm
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools | WS & Sports

Two updates this afternoon on West Seattle High School golf star Lauryn Nguyen:

First, her WS Golf Course record has been confirmed. It was mentioned in this report on the WSHS girls-golf season that she was believed to have set it during the Metro Championships last week – and today, WSHS says it’s official – at 67, 5 under par, she holds the course’s women’s record.

Second, she is the third local high-school athlete in three weeks to be honored as a Washington Interscholastic Activities Association Athlete of the Week! WIAA noted in today’s announcement, “Nguyen was the Metro League Golf Championship Individual Champion with her score of 67, setting a new ladies’ course record by two strokes. She also was named Metro League Player of the Year.”

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FOLLOWUP: Tunnel tolls finalized, plus other Highway 99 notes – including a change to this weekend’s closure plan
October 17, 2018 1:34 pm
|      19 COMMENTS
 |   Alaskan Way Viaduct | Highway 99 tunnel | West Seattle news

(WSDOT photo: NB view inside the tunnel, from August)

1:34 PM: The state Transportation Commission has finalized the toll rates for the Highway 99 tunnel – $1 to $2.25, depending on daypart, providing you use Good To Go. From the announcement:

On weekdays, tolls will be $1.50 during the morning peak commute (7 a.m. to 9 a.m.), $2.25 during the evening peak commute (3 p.m. to 6 p.m.), and $1.25 during non-peak hours between 6 a.m. and 11 p.m. Overnight (11 p.m. to 6 a.m.) and weekend tolls will be $1.00. Toll rates will increase by 3 percent every three years beginning in July 2022, subject to annual review by the Transportation Commission.

The Transportation Commission has previously determined that there will be consistent exemptions on all toll facilities for public transit, emergency responders, highway maintenance vehicles, school buses and qualified private buses, which serve the public or commuters.

State law requires that SR 99 tunnel tolls be used to repay $200 million borrowed to build the tunnel as well as related debt service costs, and ongoing operations, maintenance, and safety costs.

Drivers will not be charged immediately when the tunnel opens in early February. The start date has not been set, but it will apparently be months after the tunnel opens rather than weeks – this WSDOT Blog report about traffic-pattern changes expected when the tunnel opens says tolling is “expected to begin as soon as summer 2019.” In the meantime, until tolling begins, the report says, WSDOT is projecting more drivers will use the tunnel than currently use the Viaduct. … While we’re discussing Highway 99, yet another reminder that it will be closed BOTH WAYS this weekend, starting Friday night (October 19th) for inspection plus some viaduct-to-tunnel-transition work. As always, if the closure ends early, we’ll update you here.

4:21 PM: And we have an update already. The NB part of this weekend’s closure will be shorter. From the WSDOT website: “Northbound SR 99 will close Saturday, Oct. 20 at 6 a.m. and reopen Saturday afternoon by 5 p.m. The southbound closure remains unchanged.”

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UPDATE: Toddler found alone in Highland Park
October 17, 2018 11:58 am
|      9 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle police

11:58 AM: Tweeted by Seattle Police: “Officers located an unaccompanied 2-year-old boy near 8th Ave SW and SW Henderson a short time ago and are looking to reunite him with his parents. If you’re missing a child, please contact the SW Precinct at 206-733-9800 or 911.” Working to find out more.

12:47 PM: We went to the precinct to ask at the front desk. The child was spotted around 9:30 am by someone who called 911. Parents/guardians apparently not found yet, as he is now in CPS custody.

2:46 PM: No further info on circumstances but we did just get word there’s been a reunion.

4:10 PM: And a clarification – Southwest Precinct Operations Lt. Steve Strand tells us that while the child’s mother was found, the child remains with CPS for now “for safety reasons.”

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West Seattle Wednesday: Candidates; WordsWest; Morgan Community Association; more!
October 17, 2018 11:16 am
|    Comments Off on West Seattle Wednesday: Candidates; WordsWest; Morgan Community Association; more!
 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Photo by Don Brubeck, looking toward Magnolia from Upper Alki this morning)

Just a sampling of what’s happening:

WEDNESDAY AT THE MOVIES: 1 pm screening at the Senior Center of West Seattle. This afternoon’s movie: “Richard III” from 1995. $1 members/$2 nonmembers. (4217 SW Oregon)

LEARN ABOUT CREATING ‘INTENTIONAL HOUSEHOLDS’: Westside Neighbors Network is at HomeStreet Bank (WSB sponsor) for a free presentation explained here. Wine and hors d’oeuvres too, 6-7 pm. (4022 SW Alaska)

THE CANDIDATES! As ballots are mailed today, it’s almost time to vote. Tonight, the Delridge Neighborhoods District Council offers you another chance to see Joe Nguyen and Shannon Braddock, 34th District State Senate candidates, side by side, 7 pm in Olympic Hall at the south end of the South Seattle College (WSB sponsor) campus. P.S. Free parking. (6000 16th SW)

MORGAN COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION: Busy night for MoCA‘s quarterly meeting, 7 pm at The Kenney. See the agenda here. (7125 Fauntleroy Way SW)

WORDSWEST LITERARY SERIES: West Seattle is a place to celebrate writing, and the monthly WordsWest events offer you an opportunity to see and hear topnotch writers. 7 pm at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor), “an evening with writers Stacey Levine and Anca Szilágyi, whose female characters inhabit and explore worlds that stretch far beyond their given roles.” (5612 California SW)

BREAST CANCER AWARENESS NIGHT: The West Seattle High School volleyball team is accepting donations for the fight against breast cancer during tonight’s home game against Cleveland. 7 pm. (3000 California SW)

MADISON PTSA: First general meeting of the 2018-2019 school year! 7 pm – agenda details here. In the school library. (3429 45th SW)

AND MORE! Check our complete calendar page to see what else is happening in the days and weeks ahead.

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Motorcycle rider hurt in Morgan collision
October 17, 2018 9:23 am
|      14 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news

SFD is just clearing 41st/Morgan, which has reopened after a crash that sent a motorcycle rider to the hospital. Police told us that the rider was headed uphill and a driver was headed downhill when they collided.

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TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Wednesday watch; weekend 99 closure reminder
October 17, 2018 7:33 am
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

(SDOT MAP with travel times/video links; is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE)

7:33 AM: Good morning! No transit alerts or outbound incidents from West Seattle so far.

WEEKEND VIADUCT CLOSURE: A reminder again, Highway 99 is scheduled to close in both directions this coming weekend (late Friday, October 19th, through early Monday, October 22nd) for the Alaskan Way Viaduct’s final planned inspection, plus some tunnel-transition-related work.

7:51 AM: Problem in the right eastbound lane on the bridge high-rise.

8:22 AM: SDOT says that scene is clear.

9:04 AM: Medic response at 41st/Morgan and texter tells us a motorcycle is involved. On our way to check.

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UPDATE: West Seattle Health Club in North Delridge damaged after ‘RV’ hits building, sparks fire, gas leak
October 17, 2018 1:25 am
|      135 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle fires | West Seattle news

(CONTINUING TO ADD UPDATES as the day goes on)

(SFD photo)

1:25 AM: Seattle Fire has a “full response” arriving in the 2600 block of SW Andover. Updates to come.

1:32 AM: The address logged for the response is the West Seattle Health Club. “Light smoke” reported by fire crews searching inside. A gas meter is involved and an “ongoing gas leak” is reported.

1:37 AM: SFD says via Twitter that this started as an RV fire.

1:43 AM: Though RVs park nearby, generally west and north of the health club, this one hit the SW corner of the building, according to our crew who’s just arrived on scene.

(WSB photos from this point on)

1:57 AM: Photo added of the burned vehicle. No word yet on injuries but SFD’s public-information officer has just arrived on scene.

2:05 AM: You might recall that we covered an RV crash on the east side of the health club’s parking lot back in July; the building and its operations were not involved. Meantime, the gas leak remains the big lingering concern at the site right now.

All but four SFD units from the initial response are being dismissed.

2:21 AM: We’ve talked to SFD’s Kristin Tinsley. The gas is off now. She says (update) no one was treated for injuries. (Video added)

We don’t know yet how, or if, this will affect WSHC operations and will have to check back a little later in the morning. (If you get an update before we do, text/call our hotline – 206-293-6302.)

6:17 AM: Per texter the club is open but the pool is closed.

8:01 AM: As one commenter notes, the vehicle looks like a bus. However, RV is how SFD describes it, apparently more as a catch-all term for a rolling-residence type of vehicle. Meantime, the club posted this morning:

Well folks, another RV plows into the clubs property. This time it started a fire in the pool area and caused significant damage to the structure. We’ve been trying for months to have the RV encampment removed from Andover st. Please call the mayor’s office at 206 684 2489 and complain. We have to stop the unsafe conditions they bring to our club. Constant drug use, illegal dumping of garbage, and theft.

Unfortunately the pool will be closed until we can repair the damage. We will try to keep you posted on the reopening once we learn the extent of the damage.

We are also following up with SPD to see if they had contact with the driver, as SFD confirmed they did not.

8:42 AM: West Seattle Health Club has given us permission to publish its photos from the crash/fire aftermath:

“Enough is enough!” club management said in our exchange, vowing not to stop until they “get this resolved.”

12:20 PM: We are still waiting for responses to our followup questions for SPD. Meantime, Councilmember Lisa Herbold‘s office shares this report they just received from SFD:

The accidental fire occurred when the suspect of a shoplifting incident fled the scene in an approximately 15-passenger shuttle van and crashed the vehicle into the west exterior wall of the West Seattle Health Club’s pool building. The van collision damaged the exterior above-ground natural gas line. Fire from the van extended primarily to the exterior wall of the pool building. No injuries were reported. Damage is estimated at approximately $300,000.

Here’s an exterior view, as seen when we went back around 9:30 am:

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What happened when the Seattle Public Library’s chief librarian came to West Seattle
October 16, 2018 10:14 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   West Seattle news | Westwood

When Marcellus Turner, who leads the Seattle Public Library system, came to West Seattle for a community conversation earlier this month, we weren’t able to be there, but SPL told us they planned an online recap. That recap is now online, and if you’re among SPL’s thousands of local users, you might be interested. Along with a summary of what Turner told those in attendance at Southwest Library, you can also read how he responded to the following questions – on the recap page, each is followed by a plus sign you can click to see the response.

Are building renovations covered under the maintenance portion of the budget?

Is the Library allowed to pursue grants?

Do you approach local businesses to request in-kind services?

When I was growing up, librarians were strict. But now, kids are often noisy while playing games on computers, sometimes multiple people per one computer. It goes against what I feel is the proper use for the Library.

Different libraries seem to allow different levels of noise. Can we have a maximum noise level?

If there’s a group that gets consistent complaints, can they be removed?

I have inadvertently viewed material on the public computers at the Central Library that I didn’t want to see. What is being done to prevent that?

How is the Library addressing the needs of people who need quiet vs. people who need to make noise?

Can the Library have resources, programs and outreach focused on people with dementia?

Could we have more Young Adult titles in Peak Picks?

Can the Library loan more physical objects? For instance, a wooden shoe that kids could learn to tie shoes with.

If nobody is waiting for a book, why are we limited to only two renewals?

Please don’t shelve juvenile non-fiction with adult non-fiction – it makes it hard for me to find the kids books.

Is the Wi-Fi turned off at night?

I want to see book groups at every branch.

When we give our information to a third party company through the Library, like for streaming videos or e-books, is the info we give them protected by the Library’s privacy policy?

This was Turner’s only West Seattle stop in the current round of community conversations. SPL says about 30 people were there.

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