West Seattle, Washington
28 Thursday
SDOT confirms, no more round-the-clock closures on 35th SW as its Safe Routes to School sidewalk project continues in Arbor Heights. On Tuesday, it looked like the announced 2-week shutdown of 35th between 102nd and 104th had finally begun – but a commenter noted that the stretch reopened later in the day. So we checked today with project spokesperson Ching Chan, who explained:
Our contractor’s concrete sub for paving 104th – 106th was delayed by a couple of days two weeks ago, which pushed back our schedule a little. We had originally planned for a full closure between 102nd – 104th just as we did with 104th – 106th. However, we were getting complaints from neighbors on 34th that cars are using 34th as a detour/shortcut. We intended the closure because it will allow our crews to complete the work in the shortest length of time. So we came to a compromise of only fully closing 102nd – 104th during our work hours, 7 am – 4 pm (depending on our workload, this may shift a little) and then reopening it at the end of each day to accommodate commuters. This temporary closure will last through end of July. And once we complete this section, we will apply the same plan for 100th – 102nd.
(Sunday morning fire, photo sent by David)
The man who police say told them he started a fire in his West Seattle Junction apartment Sunday morning is now charged. One count of first-degree reckless burning was filed today against 31-year-old Andrew D. Morales, and his bail was raised to $125,000, half what prosecutors requested. In the charging document, they note, “Although the defendant has no apparent Washington criminal history, he has a notable arrest and conviction history in New Jersey, including felony convictions in 2007 for Felony Aggravated Assault on Law Enforcement and Felony Possession CDS /Analog – Schedule I, II, III.” (In NJ law, CDS = Controlled Dangerous Substance.) Otherwise, the charging document has the same narrative we reported after Morales’s bail hearing Monday, that he told firefighters and police he had set the fire because there were “snipers” in his apartment and that he believed doing so had saved others from them.
This year’s West Seattle Summer Fest is ever closer, and our previews continue! This time, three reasons to explore the corners of California/Oregon on the north side of the festival zone:
ON THE SOUTHEAST CORNER – A RAFFLE! Here’s what you’ll be going for, and the explanation:
Once again, West Seattle Quilters have made a quilt to support the West Seattle Senior Center. Raffle tickets are $1 each and sales begin July 13 at West Seattle Summer Fest outside the Stop ‘n’ Shop. After Summer Fest, you can purchase raffle tickets at the Senior Center reception desk. All the ticket money goes directly to the Senior Center.
The drawing for the winner of this year’s quilt will be held on Friday Sept. 28, 2018, at 8:30 pm during Rainbow Bingo. You don’t need to be present to win.
The handmade quilt is a months-long effort by 28 people. This year’s quilt is titled “Stained Glass,” and the design features fractured squares that shimmer against a modern gray backdrop. This throw-sized quilt is the perfect size for your sofa or a nap!
West Seattle Quilters meet at the Senior Center on the first and third Mondays of the month at 7pm to share quilting ideas and projects. Quilters of all ages, abilities, and quilting styles are welcome to join us!
And right across the street from the Senior Center, just south of the southwest corner of California/Oregon …
VERITY CREDIT UNION GRAND OPENING WEEKEND: The Junction’s new branch of Verity Credit Union (WSB sponsor) is celebrating its grand opening throughout Summer Fest, and has this schedule of events planned at its new storefront:
Friday, July 13
11:00-1:00 caricature artist
1:30-3:30 face painters
4:00-6:00 Elijah DhavvanSaturday, July 14
10:00-12:00 caricature artist
12:00-2:00 Champagne Honeybee
2:00-4:00 face painters
4:00-6:00 The Whole Bolivian ArmySunday, July 15
11:00-1:00 caricature artist
2:00-4:00 Katie Kuffel
GIANT GAMES: And on the northeast corner of California/Oregon, one of this year’s new Summer Fest features – Giant Games! The festival website has the list of 11 games you’ll be able to play for free. Another reminder that festival hours are 10 am-6 pm Friday and Saturday – music and beer garden running later both nights – and 11 am-5 pm Sunday. Still more previews on the way!
Until 7 pm, fresh flowers and vegetables await you at the High Point Market Garden‘s first farmstand of the season … steps from where they were grown:
What we saw during our brief stop included beets, onions, carrots, zucchini, and greens. Also under the tent at 32nd SW and SW Juneau, other fresh-grown produce, including fruit, brought in by ROAR (Roots of All Roads):
You can shop the High Point farmstand every Wednesday through September.
If you usually head southbound on 35th SW through the High Point/Gatewood area, you might consider waiting or detouring. That tour bus didn’t have enough undercarriage clearance and got stuck at SW Holly, with its front end protruding into the southbound side of 35th SW. A tow truck is on the way, police told us, but it’ll be a while.
Christopher reports his dark green 1998 Honda Civic, four-door, license plate BEC6072, was stolen from the Montridge Arms apartments at 20th/Henderson. He adds, “I did get a flat tire yesterday, so the vehicle has a doughnut on the right rear wheel.” If you see it, call 911.
Amy sent the photo, wondering about that state ferry’s eye-catching maneuvers off Alki. MarineTraffic.com id’d it as the Suquamish, which has been under construction at Vigor on Harbor Island – where it was christened in January – so we checked with them. Spokesperson Athena Maris says the Suquamish was out on sea trials, and is expected back out early tomorrow morning, starting around 7 am. It’s expected to join the WSF fleet later this year.
(Added – texted photo; thank you!)
2:24 PM: If you have to travel on Beach Drive SW south of Jacobsen, consider waiting a bit. There’s a Seattle Fire response blocking the road for a natural-gas leak in the 4800 block (here’s a map of the vicinity where it was reported). According to SFD communication monitored via scanner, a line was not punctured; it’s a “small leak” and they’re working to shut off the gas while awaiting Puget Sound Energy.
2:57 PM: Per the incident log, all SFD units have closed out of the call.
Continuing to count down to this year’s West Seattle Summer Fest, this Friday-Sunday in the heart of The Junction, it’s time to talk food! As WS Junction Association (the merchants’ organization that presents Summer Fest) executive director Lora Swift explains, “We’re focused more and more on the incredible food you can find right here in The Junction. With each restaurant offering table service, fair specials, plenty of seating, and front-row people watching, grabbing a bite at Summer Fest has never been better or more delicious.” The first list below is year-round food/beverage businesses with “extended service” during Summer Fest – in most cases that means temporary outdoor cafés:
Easy Street Records
Elliott Bay Brewing Company
Supreme
Great American Diner & Bar
Falafel Salam
Vine and Spoon
The Lodge Sports Grille
Pizzeria Credo
Maharaja
Kizuki Ramen
Seattle Fish
The Beer Junction
JaK’s Grill
West 5
Pecado Bueno
Ma’ono
Shadowland
Coastline Burgers
Talarico’s
Bin 41
Some – like West 5 (WSB sponsor) – get going with their outdoor café on Summer Fest Eve, so come down tomorrow evening and wander! Meantime, for festival days Friday-Sunday, here are the vendors you’ll find with booths/stands on SW Alaska:
Monster Dogs
3 Little Sisters Filipino Deli
Ray’s Food
Frelard Tamales
Bang Bar
Matador West Seattle
Pecos Pit Bar-B-Que
Tasty Craves Roasted Corn
Kenyan Kitchen
Official festival hours are 10 am-6 pm Friday and Saturday – with music and beer garden running later those nights – and 11 am-5 pm Sunday. But “extended service” also can mean added hours, so wander when you’re at the festival and see what you find! More previews to come …
Every summer, two honorees are chosen to ride toward the start of the West Seattle Grand Parade – the Grand Marshal (as announced earlier this week, Lora Swift) and the winner of the Orville Rummel Trophy for Outstanding Service to the Community. This year’s Orville Rummel Trophy recipient has just been announced: Velko Vitalich, best known as West Seattle High School‘s baseball coach for 31 years – a run that just ended a year ago.
Coach Velko’s retirement didn’t start then, though – he stayed on at WSHS (his alma mater, Class of 1973) to coach golf this past season. He’ll be formally presented with the trophy at next Tuesday’s West Seattle Big Band Concert in the Park (co-sponsored by WSB), 7 pm July 17th on the east lawn at Hiawatha Community Center, and then you can cheer for him as he rides down the parade route four days later, on Saturday, July 21st (starting at 11 am, southbound on California SW from SW Lander in Admiral to SW Edmunds in The Junction). The parade is presented by the West Seattle Rotary Service Foundation and coordinated by local volunteers.
ABOUT THE ORVILLE RUMMEL AWARD: It’s named after the man who founded the West Seattle parade in 1934, Orville Rummel – lots of background in the story we published the year we were honored with the trophy, in 2010. The award was first presented in 1984. Here’s the full list of recipients along the way:
1984: Charles and Ann Gage
1985: RB Chris Crisler Jr.
1986: Morgan and Carol McBride
1987: Margaret Miaullis
1988: Charles Jung
1989: Aurlo Bonney
1990: Katie Thorburn
1991: Dorothy Poplawski
1992: Dan Wiseman
1993: Virgil Sheppard
1994: Dorene Smith
1995: Doris Richards
1996: John Kelly
1997: Dick Kennedy
1998: Jim Edwards and Barbara Edwards
1999: Lt. David E. Cass
2000: Husky Deli/Miller Family
2001: Stephanie Haskins
2002: Forest Lawn
2003: Sue Lindblom
2004: Edgar and Ann Phipps
2005: Karen Sisson
2006: Walt DeLong
2007: David and Doreen Vague
2008: Tim St. Clair
2009: Morey Skaret
2010: West Seattle Blog
2011: Cindi Barker
2012: Shirley Vradenburgh
2013: Judy Pickens
2014: Earl Cruzen
2015: Donn Weaver
2016: Clay Eals
2017: Keith Hughes
2018: Velko Vitalich
(Summer in the city! Alki scene photographed by Mark Jaroslaw)
From the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar, for our sunny Wednesday:
LOW-LOW TIDE WITH BEACH NATURALISTS: Another round of low-low tides has begun – lower than -3 feet the next three days! Today’s tide has already bottomed out but Seattle Aquarium volunteer beach naturalists are out at Constellation Park (63rd SW/Beach Drive) and Lincoln Park (8011 Fauntleroy Way SW) until 11:30 am. Here’s their schedule for the next four days – and here’s the tide chart.
WADING POOLS OPEN – The wading pools scheduled to be open today, since the weather qualifies, are Lincoln Park until 8 pm (8011 Fauntleroy Way SW), Hiawatha 12 pm-6:30 pm (Walnut/Lander), EC Hughes 12 pm-7 pm (2805 SW Holden).
BABY STORY TIME: 11:30 am, bring your littlest one(s) – up to 12 months old – to story time at High Point Library! (3411 SW Raymond)
HIGH POINT MARKET GARDEN FARMSTAND: First weekly farmstand this summer for produce grown next to where it’s gold, 4 pm-7 pm. (32nd SW & SW Juneau)
POETRYBRIDGE: 7 pm at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor), with featured readers Jonathan Shipley and Christina Buckman – more info on the PoetryBridge website! (5612 California SW)
34TH DiSTRICT DEMOCRATS: Our area’s largest political organization meets at 7 pm at The Hall at Fauntleroy, with agenda items – according to this month’s newsletter – including an endorsement for King County Prosecuting Attorney and a discussion of immigration policies. (9131 California SW)
LOTS MORE … for today/tonight/beyond, on our complete-calendar page!
Ever wonder what happens AFTER successful crowdfunding for a project? West Seattleites Chad and Lillian Gray can tell you – in the photo they shared, they’re holding some of the results of last year’s Kickstarter crowdfunding to produce the card game they designed, Goatfish! It’s been distributed to backers and is now available to all. So they’re celebrating its release with a family-friendly event tomorrow night (Thursday, July 12th) at Meeples Games (3727 California SW), 6:30-9:30 pm: “There will be game decks available to play and an official Goatfish tournament with prizes!” You can also check out Goatfish in the Meeples Games booth at West Seattle Summer Fest this Friday-Sunday in The Junction.
That’s the question the city hopes you will answer, whatever your age, via a new survey. It was sent to WSB by Irene Stewart, the longtime West Seattle community advocate who works in aging and disability services for the city Human Services Department:
Will you be able to live independently in your current home or a home of your choice? How do you prefer to get information about services and community resources? Aging and Disability Services — the Area Agency on Aging for Seattle & King County — wants to know! You can help by taking the community survey at surveymonkey.com/r/V5WKDF8. This survey is for adults (age 18+), not just older adults or others who already use their services. Share the link with family, friends, neighbors, and colleagues of all backgrounds. The survey is available until the end of July. For alternative formats or other languages, e-mail aginginfo@seattle.gov.
(SDOT MAP with travel times/video links; is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE)
7:20 AM: Good morning! No incidents currently reported in/from West Seattle.
LOOKING AHEAD: Reminders that – starting 4 pm Thursday, California closes to vehicle traffic between Edmunds and Genesee, and SW Alaska closes between 44th and 42nd, through Sunday night, for West Seattle Summer Fest … Friday night brings the next major weekend-long northbound I-5 closure – you can still get to/from West Seattle, as explained here.
West Seattle Summer Fest is almost here – the streets in the heart of The Junction start closing at 4 pm Thursday for setup and Summer Fest Eve festivities, and then starting at 10 am Friday, it’s on! We’ve been previewing various features of the festival – and right now, we want to call your attention to the question mark on the map above, at California/Alaska. That’s the Information Tent, but as always, it will be more than “just” festival info. It’s also where WSB is headquartered during Summer Fest, for as-it-happens coverage – and it’s also where community organizations/public agencies have free space so you can get community info! Here’s who will have reps there this year and when you can stop by to talk with them:
Friday, 10 am-2 pm
Girl Scouts of Western Washington
Seattle Public Schools Head StartFriday, 2 pm-6 pm
Neighborcare Health
Making Strides Against Breast Cancer with American Cancer Society SeattleSaturday, 10 am-2 pm
Seal Sitters Marine Mammal Stranding Network
SR3 Sealife Response, Rehab and ResearchSaturday, 2 pm-6 pm
West Seattle Be Prepared
Endolyne Children’s ChoirSunday, 11 am-2 pm
Seattle Police Department
Seattle SubwaySunday, 2 pm-5 pm
Southwest Youth and Family Services
West Seattle Rotary Service Foundation
You’ll also find some community orgs at GreenLife in Junction Plaza Park, too.
Later today (Wednesday) – more previews – including Summer Fest food! (And you can browse the festival website for tons of advance info, too.)
Festival hours are Friday 10 am-6 pm, Saturday 10 am-6 pm, Sunday 11 am-5 pm, with music and beer garden running later the first two nights. See you at Summer Fest!
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