PINNED: Welcome to WSB’s backup site, with coverage below for the morning of January 30, 2016

UPDATE: WSB is back as of midmorning. Still some work to do, so please keep this site bookmarked in case we experience more downtime.

EARLIER: We’re doing some server work the morning of January 30, 2016, so we’re publishing again here in the meantime, as we did January 8th-15th.

We’ll be publishing links in our social media channels (Facebook and Twitter) too. Thanks for your understanding and patience as we work to grow and improve!

(P.S. What you see below January 30th coverage here on the backup-site front page is the news we published while using this site January 8th-15th, 2016. Thanks again to the thousands of readers who followed us here that week! It’s all also archived on our permanent website.)

High-school basketball: How your local teams did

Here’s how local teams did in last night’s high-school basketball, as we get closer to the end of the regular season:

SEATTLE LUTHERAN HS: Both teams won at home last night over Quilcene, girls 47-45, boys 71-11 (thanks to Mike Jensen for the scores).

WEST SEATTLE HIGH SCHOOL: Played at Garfield, where the WSHS girls remained undefeated, 62-40; the boys fell 86-32.

CHIEF SEALTH INTERNATIONAL HS: Played at Roosevelt, which took both games – girls 54-41, boys 69-57.

Seattle City Light chooses ‘smart meter’ provider, plans installation next year

Seattle City Light says it’s chosen a vendor for its “advanced metering technology” – colloquially known as “smart meters” – to be installed throughout the city. The company is Switzerland-based Landis+Gyr, in which Toshiba has a majority stake. which is working on systems for dozens of other clients. Its system, SCL says, “includes a multi-purpose radio frequency network, advanced meters and a meter data management system. It also adds distribution intelligence through advanced grid analytics software. The company will provide network management services on a contract basis to operate and maintain advanced metering system infrastructure.” What the utility calls “large-scale meter installations” will start in the middle of next year; the announcement adds that, “In addition to electric meters, the network is capable of communicating with intelligent sensors in distribution equipment and streetlights, and can also be used to automate water and gas meters.” Read the full announcement here. The contract total isn’t mentioned but this year’s city budget includes $27 million for “initial installation” of advanced metering.

8 options for your West Seattle Saturday

(North shore of Lincoln Park, photographed last weekend by Jim Clark)

Weekend time! Your options for today include:

WEST DUWAMISH GREENBELT TRAILS WORKSHOP: 9:30-11:30 am, you’re invited to a workshop at South Seattle College (WSB sponsor) “to discuss what the future trail system in the West Duwamish Greenbelt might look like,” including “potential connections to destinations such as South Seattle College, the Duwamish Longhouse, Pathfinder School, Riverview Playfield, and others.” The workshop will be at the Chan Center on the north side of the campus, next to the Arboretum – all welcome. (6000 16th SW)

COMETA PLAYSCHOOL OPEN HOUSE: 10 am-noon, open house at Spanish-language-immersion preschool Cometa Playschool. (4402 SW Walker)

FIRE STATION 29 OPEN HOUSE: 11 am-1 pm, come see the recently completed upgrades to the North Admiral firehouse, as previewed here. (2139 Ferry SW)

WEST SEATTLE MONTESSORI OPEN HOUSE: 1-3 pm, prospective families are invited to the West Seattle Montessori School & Academy (WSB sponsor) open house for “a chance to meet our staff, teachers, and tour the facilities. You’ll be able to view samples of student work and pick up application materials.” (11215 15th SW)

VISCON CELLARS TASTING ROOM: 2-7 pm Saturdays, the tasting room is open at Viscon Cellars (new WSB sponsor) – find out more about the winery here. (5910 California SW)

SOUTHSIDE REVOLUTION JUNIOR ROLLER DERBY: 5:45 pm at Southgate Roller Rink, come cheer for Southside Revolution during its second bout of the season – a Harry Potter-themed doubleheader, with the SSR Cadets and Friends mixup at 5:45 pm, the SSR Rebels and Cherry Bomb Brawlers mixup at 7:10 pm. Admission $10 adults, $5 children 6-12, free 5 and under. All proceeds, including 50/50 raffle and bake sale, go to a medical-funds benefit for the Brawlers’ coach, who lost her fight with cancer days ago. (9646 17th SW)

NOT DEAD YET: West Seattle favorites! Not Dead Yet is live tonight at The Skylark, 9 pm. (3803 Delridge Way SW)

SCOTT M.X. TURNER: West Seattle’s Scott M.X. Turner “is joined by bluesman Zach Rourke for a night of rousing tunes” at Parliament Tavern in The Admiral District, 9-11:45 pm. No cover. (4210 SW Admiral Way)

West Seattle Crime Watch: Tools taken; mail stolen

Two West Seattle Crime Watch reader reports. First, from Brooke:

(At mid-afternoon today) while a contractor was on break, someone stole the tools from his truck, and kicked in the door of the house he was working on and stole the tools from inside as well. The tools were taken from the 9000 block of 14th AVE SW. He is really distressed, and just called the police after much urging from several of us on the street and him being pessimistic that they could do anything. I was hoping we could be awesome neighbors and keep our eyes peeled to see if we can reunite him with his tools. If anyone sees anything or notices someone unloading or trying to sell a large number of tools, please call the police and tell them you think it might be related to this case.

And from Heather:

I am contacting you so you can remind our West Seattle community to be vigilant about checking their mail every day. I live at on the 6000 block of California Avenue near the Morgan Junction and a row of mailboxes was broken into last night.

We found out the hard way that a new credit card had been in the mailbox: At about 6:00 (Thursday) evening, the thieves went to a gas station and then tried to buy merchandise at Nordstrom’s. For once, the fact that the card was at its limit saved us because the transaction was denied. The only way we found out was an email from Amex apologizing for not being able to complete the purchase.

I strongly urge everyone to check the balances on debit and credit cards regularly for suspicious charges. Check your mailbox every day. And keep your eyes peeled for these criminals. Something as simple as stealing mail can cause quite the headache, financial and otherwise.

And a reminder – the West Seattle Crime Prevention Council resumes its monthly meetings next Tuesday, January 19th, 7 pm at the Southwest Precinct (2300 SW Webster). Along with local police, an insurance-industry expert will be there to talk about current trends in car break-ins and thefts, in hopes the information can help reduce your chances of becoming a victim.

West Seattle restaurants: Guadalajara’s last weekend in Fauntleroy

By Randall Hauk
Reporting for West Seattle Blog

Guadalajara Mexican Restaurant is vacating its longtime Fauntleroy-area location (9214 45th Avenue SW) after this Sunday.

Jose Prieto and Maria Rodriguez say they were unable to negotiate an extension of their lease with property management, after nearly 13 years near the Fauntleroy ferry terminal, and were forced to seek alternatives for continuing operations. The husband-and-wife restaurant owners looked at Morgan Junction as a possibility, but ultimately decided paying a third more rent was more than their business could handle.

“It’s sad, you know,” says Prieto. “I have all my regulars. I even have people who come all the way from Lynnwood and Des Moines. It’s a really great neighborhood. We hurt, you know?”

Prieto says he has no idea what the current property owners have planned for the space, but is already working hard to reopen in a new Federal Way location as El Mariachi (29100 Pacific Highway S.).

Before they leave West Seattle, however, Prieto plans to say goodbye to the neighborhood by running Happy Hour specials all weekend long, offering buy-one-get-one-for-half-off entrée deals, and opening earlier than their normal 12 noon Sunday start time to accommodate those who want to watch the Seahawks-Panthers playoff game.

“Hopefully, we’ll clear out all our food and be out of here after Sunday,” says Prieto. “We’ll open up and start fresh down there. Our goal is to be open March 1st.”

TOMORROW: Talk with your new School Board rep Leslie Harris

Got something about Seattle Public Schools on your mind? Tomorrow is your first chance to join an informal community conversation with your new School Board rep for West Seattle and South Park, Leslie Harris. She’ll be at Southwest Library (35th/Henderson) 3-4:30 pm on Saturday – just drop in.

West Seattle food: Fresh Flours Bakery and Café expanding to come here

A new bakery and café is on the way to South Delridge – an expansion for Fresh Flours, which already has three locations, on Phinney Ridge and in Beacon Hill and Ballard. Fresh Flours proprietors Etsuko and Keiji happen to be West Seattle residents and are “so very excited” to be opening a location here in their neighborhood, at 9410 Delridge Way SW. Etsuko tells us via email that it’s more than another café:

We will bake all breakfast pastries such as croissants, danish, scones, muffin, macarons, and cookies, out of our Delridge kitchen to cater to other locations. Of course we will have an espresso bar – serving Stumptown coffee. The cafe will be small but there will be nice seating space. We are planning to do some landscape work to install outdoor seating after taking down an old house next to our bakery.

They expect to open the new Fresh Flours in the spring, possibly April, and Etsuko promises: “It is going to be fun!” If you’re not familiar with what they offer, take a look here.

PHOTOS: USS John C. Stennis in view, headed out on deployment

10:32 AM: We mentioned the other day that the aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) was scheduled to deploy from Bremerton today – and a texter sends word that it’s in view (or will be shortly) from West Seattle, rounding south Bainbridge Island as it comes out of Rich Passage. The Navy says the Stennis is headed for the Western Pacific.

11:54 AM: Added photos, courtesy of Greg Snyder – above, we had heard the Stennis would be flying a 12th Man flag, and indeed it did.

UPDATE: Seattle Public Utilities fixing water-line break in Fauntleroy

9:40 AM: Seattle Public Utilities confirms there’s a water-line break in Fauntleroy. We checked with them after hearing from Danielle that she had lost water service near 44th and Barton and that water was in the street. SPU says a crew is making emergency repairs and they expect to have more information for us to add shortly.

10:21 AM: Our crew reports that 44th SW is closed south of Wildwood (Barton) while repairs are under way.

11:18 AM: From Ingrid Goodwin at SPU: “Water is off to about 28 homes to allow SPU crews to repair the broken 4-inch water main that runs ups 44th Ave SW to the dead end. Excavation has occurred and crews estimate that the repair will be done and water back on to customers by 3 pm today. The water was turned off about 9:45 am today.”

2:05 PM: SPU had hoped to get the repair finished earlier than expected, but then, Goodwin updates us: “Unfortunately, as crews were back filling the hole and preparing to leave the site, the water main sprung another leak. So crews are digging up the pipe again and have turned off the water. I will let you know when we expect to have the water back on, but it will likely be off through the remainder of the afternoon.”

3:05 PM: Update – SPU says they made the original 3 pm estimate after all.

TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Friday updates and alerts

(IF IMAGE IS STUCK ON OLD VERSION – CLICK IT TO GO TO “LIVE” VERSION)

6:23 AM: Good morning – we start another morning with no incidents reported in/from West Seattle so far.

WEEKEND REMINDER … If you drive Highway 99 north of downtown, WSDOT wants to be sure you know about this: “2 right lanes of SB SR 99/Aurora Ave N at Aurora Bridge closed 6:30 am-noon Sat. and Sun. for bridge inspection work.”

THEN STARTING MONDAY NIGHT … that’s when a month-plus of lane closures begin, also on Highway 99 north of downtown, but both ways – details here.

ALSO ON MONDAY: Transit changes for the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Day holiday include a “reduced weekday” schedule for Metro buses and no service for the West Seattle and Vashon Water Taxi routes. (And remember that school’s out on Monday.)

NIGHTTIME ROAD CLOSURE REMINDER: Nightly work on SW Alaska between 40th and Fauntleroy is scheduled to continue into next week.

7:05 AM: Megan tweets that her RapidRide C Line bus is stuck on the eastbound bridge, in the bus lane.

9:14 AM: Texter says there’s a crash at West Marginal Way S. and Holden/599. The SFD response is closed, though.

9:20 AM: WSDOT says it’s blocking the two right northbound lanes.

Barton P-Patch safety concerns: Planting seeds for solutions

By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

Tending a community garden requires more than planting, weeding, harvesting.

This week, members of the Barton P-Patch community gathered to talk about problems and solutions.

The meeting was mediated by neighborhood district coordinator Kerry Wade of the city Department of Neighborhoods, which runs the P-Patch Community Garden Program and worked with local gardeners to turn this site from dream to reality four-plus years ago. It’s full of special touches, not the least of which is its community pizza oven, which has been at the heart of neighborhood events.

West Seattle Crime Watch: Seen this stolen car, and carseat?

Someone stole Brent‘s 1996 black Honda Accord EX: “It was last parked at 42nd and Edmunds, parked next to Safeway on the street. It had a handicap placard hanging from the mirror. There was a brand-new Britax car seat (1 week old) in the back seat.” The license plate: AHF 0976. Call 911 if you see it.

West Seattle scene: Northwest Wine Academy goes blue and green (along with red and white)

(Photo courtesy Kevin Maloney, South Seattle College)
You know Northwest Wine Academy at South Seattle College (WSB sponsor) for its reds, its whites … and today, its blues and greens. The photo was taken while reps of Mayor Ed Murray‘s office were visiting NWWA this afternoon – there to pick up some choice NWWA wine for the mayor’s impending coast-to-coast bet with his counterpart in Charlotte, NC, over Sunday’s Seahawks-Panthers game.

ADDED 9:55 AM FRIDAY: We asked the mayor’s office which wines – here’s the photo:

Their announcement this morning:

Mayor Ed Murray has entered into a friendly wager with Charlotte Mayor Jennifer Roberts ahead of Sunday’s NFC Divisional Playoff game between the Seattle Seahawks and the Carolina Panthers. Sunday’s game marks the second consecutive year the two teams have met in the Divisional round, with the Seahawks winning last year 31-17.

“I’m looking forward to celebrating another Seahawk playoff win with another package of prizes from yet another Mayor of Charlotte,” said Mayor Murray. “We have never lost to the Panthers in the playoffs and I know Coach Carroll has the team ready for this road playoff game. Last week’s game is proof that the Seahawks can beat any opponent, in any weather, in any stadium.”

“As much as I’d love to share our fine southern cuisine with our cross-country colleagues, they will have to settle for eating crow after we beat the ‘Hawks’,” said Mayor Roberts. “Coach Rivera has the team prepared to defeat anyone standing in their path to the Super Bowl. Pete Carroll will be sleepless in Charlotte trying to develop a game plan to stop Cam Newton.”

If the Seahawks beat the Panthers, Mayor Roberts will send Mayor Murray barbeque from Mac’s Speed Shop, beer from The Olde Mecklenburg Brewery, and salted caramel brownies from Amelie’s French Bakery.

If the Panthers defeat the Seahawks, Mayor Murray will send Mayor Roberts beer from Pike Brewing, wine from the South Seattle College’s Northwest Wine Academy, and Chinese barbeque from Kau Kau in the Chinatown-International District.

Sunday’s game kicks off at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte at 10:05 a.m. Pacific time.

FOLLOWUP: Next meeting set for Lincoln Park North Play Area renovation

Miss the November open house regarding the renovation of the north play area at Lincoln Park? You have one more chance to get involved – and the date has just been announced: Tuesday, February 2nd, 6:30-8 pm, at Gatewood Elementary (see the flyer here). You’ll have a chance to see the “schematic design” and offer your thoughts about play equipment – at least some of which is expected to facilitate the inclusivity discussed with Seattle Parks by the former Explorer West Middle School (WSB sponsor) students whose ongoing work we’ve been covering. Find the LPN Play Area project info here, including the photos/drawings of potential play equipment as shown at the November open house.