7:41 PM: As noted by K in a comment, Highline says it’s expecting to reopen schools on Thursday because they’ve “taken steps to allow us to restore certain segments of our digital network in a secure manner.” Details of how they’ll reopen are on the district website.

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All schools will remain closed on Tuesday, September 10. All school activities, athletics and meetings are canceled. Central office will be open.

Our investigation into unauthorized activity on our technology systems is ongoing, and critical systems are still offline.

The message sent to Highline staffers, as forwarded to us, also says “We have not seen evidence of staff, family, or student information compromised.” The district so far is not commenting on the nature of the “unauthorized activity,” first disclosed on Sunday afternoon.

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Boeing Field – aka King County International Airport, “one of the busiest non-hub airports in the nation” – is just over the ridge from West Seattle, with much of its operations within earshot if not always within view. So you might be interested in this announcement:

King County International Airport-Boeing Field (KCIA) invites community members to attend an open house on Sept. 4 to learn about the Part 150 Study purpose and process. The Part 150 Study is a voluntary Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) process that identifies the level of aircraft noise in an airport vicinity and identifies potential measures to reduce the effects of noise on surrounding neighborhoods.

The open house will be held from 6 to 7:30 p.m., Wednesday, Sept. 4 at the KCIA Flight Service Station, 6526 Ellis Ave. S. in Seattle. Free parking is available in the building’s parking lot and on nearby streets. A King County Metro bus stop at Ellis Avenue South and South Warsaw Street, across from the KCIA Flight Service Station, serves the 124 and 60 lines.

Community members can stop by any time between 6 and 7:30 p.m. to meet and talk with the project team and share their feedback. No registration is necessary, and there will be no formal presentation. Language interpretation will be available in Spanish, Mandarin, Cantonese, Khmer, Vietnamese, and Tagalog. For those unable to make this event, the study team will host additional open houses and engagement opportunities throughout the study, which will continue through 2026.

KCIA is undertaking two important studies to plan for the future of the airport: the Vision 2045 Airport Plan and the Part 150 Study. King County owns and operates KCIA, a public-use airport. Both the county and the FAA have authority over different parts of the airport’s operations, management, and future development.

“Public input is critical to the successful outcome of Vision 2045 and the Part 150 Study,” said John Parrott, KCIA airport director. “We invite the community to join us Sept. 4 to learn more about the Part 150 Study and talk to us about airport noise. Both technical information and community input will inform the process as we move through this study and identify measures to reduce noise.”

The Part 150 Study will be completed according to FAA guidance and will inform aspects of the Vision 2045 Airport Plan. The Part 150 Study will include the following:

-Study existing and future flight corridors.
-Develop aircraft noise exposure maps for current and future flight conditions.
-Evaluate air traffic control procedures that could reduce noise exposure over residential areas.
-Consider land use controls that the cities of Seattle and Tukwila, and King County, could introduce to reduce future incompatible land uses (such as residences, schools, and churches) from being developed within high noise exposure areas.
-Evaluate ways to reduce noise impacts within high noise exposure areas.

To learn more or provide input online, visit the project website at KCIAPlanning.com.

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“Come On, Get Tappy!” follows Tappy McCrackin, the pint-sized star of the “Tappy McCrackin Variety Hour,” as she fights off the bad guys on the night of the show’s 25th-anniversary broadcast. Aptly described as ”Annie meets Carol Burnett meets Scooby-Doo,” this campy, family-friendly production is poised to captivate audiences of all ages. Vibrant sets, crackling comedic dialogue, lots of sequins, and big dance numbers will make it a truly unforgettable spectacle that’s great for kids and adults. Plus, the team has some surprises in store that will make the show feel truly immersive. The “Come On, Get Tappy!” experience will be luxe, and it will begin as soon as theatergoers enter the lobby, before they’re in their seats.

The announcement quotes Hart as saying, “We’ve worked on this show through life, marriage, kids, a pandemic, and more – and it’s held together. It is stronger than ever and I can’t wait to see it come to life.” The backstory from the musical’s origins to this premiere run is here, dating all the way back to an offhand joke and a made-up nickname. A spokesperson for the production notes that these aren’t easy times for original theater, so “it’s nothing short of a miracle that this show has found funding, is fully orchestrated, and is currently being produced with an all-star cast of respected theatre artists in our area.” The musical has 16 more performances at SecondStory Repertory, including weekend matinees; tickets and showtimes are here. (The theater is at Redmond Town Center, 7325 166th NE in Redmond.)

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She says that the festival – free to attend – will feature “booths, speakers, crafts, live music, food, and much more … Everyone, regardless of age, background, and expertise, is invited to explore the complexity of the deep sea, the intersection between a healthy ocean and a healthy community, and solutions to current threats to this vibrant ecosystem.” Her project includes “local and global partners such as the Sustainable Ocean Alliance, Seattle Aquarium, and Marine Conservation Institute” with the intent “to swirl together education, inspiration, and action to preserve the deep sea.”

The Fisheries Science Building is on the UW campus at 1122 NE Boat Street – here’s a map.

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9:47 PM: Thanks for the texts and photos. Across Puget Sound, what appears to be a new wildfire is burning on the Olympic Peninsula, visible from West Seattle (as shown above). We’re still looking for specifics. Fred sent this photo from friends in Seabeck [map], looking west across Hood Canal:

UPDATE: Just a moment after we published this – this fire-watching X/Twitter user says it’s fire 2620 and that DNR (the state Department of Natural Resources) is on it.

ADDED THURSDAY MORNING: Texter notes that the Brinnon FD was the initial responder on this. They describe the fire as being on Mount Jupiter and report that DNR has taken over.

ADDED THURSDAY AFTERNOON: Thanks to Lorabeth for that photo of the view from North Admiral last night. Meantime, DNR has sent its first news release about the “2620 Road Fire,” including this:

State fire assistance has been mobilized under the Washington State Fire Services Resource Mobilization Plan in support of local firefighters working to contain the 2620 Fire located in Jefferson County, near the town of Brinnon. Washington State Patrol Chief John Batiste authorized the mobilization of state firefighting resources on August 15, 2024, at 12:45 p.m. at the request of Fire Chief Tim Manly, Brinnon Fire Department.

The 2620 Road Fire started on August 14, 2024, at approximately 5:00 p.m. This fire is estimated at 150 acres and growing. It is burning in slash and timber and is threatening homes. Level 1 and 2 evacuations are in effect at this time. The fire cause is currently under investigation.

The State Emergency Operations Center at Camp Murray is activated to Level 2, partial activation, to help coordinate state assistance for the 2620 Road Fire. Mobilization specialists from the Fire Protection Bureau have ordered two strike teams to help aid in containment efforts. State Fire Marshal’s Office personnel are working remotely to coordinate the dispatch of resources.

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1:01 PM: The outage map now shows the unplanned part of the outage resolved. But we weren’t able to get through to a live person at Costco to ask if they’ve reopened.

1:48 PM: Commenter J says they’ve confirmed with employees that the store has power again.

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Did you know that the Vashon Island School District is currently accepting non-resident applications for students in grades K-12? This is a wonderful opportunity for families in our neighboring communities to become part of an exceptional school district. At Vashon Island School District, we take pride in small school environments where every student is not just a name on a roster, but welcomed, known, and treasured.

Join over 200+ students, K-12, who commute daily to be a part of our close-knit island community.

Apply for admission using the VISD Non-Resident Student application, Non-Resident Application

Questions, forms, and other information can be received for each school from the following people:

Chautauqua Elementary: Caleb Johns, CES Registrar – cjohns@vashonsd.org 206-463-8540

McMurray Middle School: Kelly Murphy, McM Registrar – kmurphy@vashonsd.org 206-463-9168

Vashon High School: Deb Franson, VHS Registrar – dfranson@vashonsd.org 206-463-8684

Choice Transfers, District Contact: Kareem Greenidge – kgreenidge@vashonsd.org 206-463-8530

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From the ‘in case you wondered too’ file: Jamie sent the photo, wondering about the plume of dark smoke visible in the south, as seen from the Genesee Hill vicinity. We found a callout indicating that South King County firefighters are responding to a residential fire in the 2100 block of SW 162nd in Burien [map].

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Two years after closing in the West Seattle Junction, the owners of Kamei Japanese Restaurant have justopened a new location in Tacoma. They contacted us today to ask us to share that news with their West Seattle fans. They sent a few photos, too.

You’ll find Kamei Sushi Restaurant at 10435 Pacific Avenue South in Tacoma, Tuesdays-Sundays 11 am-2:30 pm for lunch and 4:30-8:30 pm for dinner. It opened earlier this month. (The West Seattle building that replaced the former locations of Kamei and Lee’s Asian restaurants, at 4508 California SW, is nearing completion, but its commercial space will be taken by an urgent-care clinic, as we reported in December.)

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Vashon Island School District Still Accepting Non-Resident Applications

(Photo courtesy Vashon Island SD)

Did you know that the Vashon Island School District is currently accepting non-resident applications for students in grades K-12? This is a wonderful opportunity for families in our neighboring communities to become part of an exceptional school district.

At Vashon Island School District, we take pride in small school environments where every student is not just a name on a roster, but welcomed, known, and treasured.

Join over 200+ students, K-12, who commute daily to be a part of our close-knit island community.

Apply for admission using the VISD Non-Resident Student application, Non-Resident Application

Questions, forms, and other information can be received for each school from the following people:

Chautauqua Elementary: Caleb Johns, CES Registrar- cjohns@vashonsd.org 206-463-8540
McMurray Middle School: Kelly Murphy, McM Registrar – kmurphy@vashonsd.org 206-463-9168
Vashon High School: Deb Franson, VHS Registrar – dfranson@vashonsd.org 206-463-8684
Choice Transfers, District Contact: Kareem Greenidge – kgreenidge@vashonsd.org 206-463-8530

We asked the superintendent for a few more specifics about their current “commuter” student population: “We have 257 off-island students who commute. Approximately 25-30 are from Southworth and the remainder from Fauntleroy. Approximately 25 are K-5 with the remainder grades 6-12.” The total district enrollment is just over 1,500, so that means one in six students is from off-island.

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68-year-old Bob Jensen, described by friends as a longtime West Seattleite, was shot and killed after getting out of his vehicle on 4th Avenue South to confront a driver who reportedly refused to let him merge at a spot where two lanes narrowed to one. Police said the man who shot him, then-38-year-old Angel A. Valderrama of Kirkland, told police he shot Mr. Jensen because he was holding something that might have been a weapon. None was found on Mr. Jensen’s person or in his pickup. Valderrama was not arrested at the time but was charged with second-degree murder a month later. Court documents show that Valderrama was found not guilty by a King County Superior Court jury last month, after a trial that lasted less than two weeks. Jurors had the option to convict him of manslaughter but found him not guilty of that too; the trial minutes show they deliberated for a day and a half. Jurors also had to decide an extra issue, whether the defendant proved that the use of force was lawful; a “yes” verdict would have entitled him to compensation for lost wages while jailed. The jury’s decision was “no.”

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9:35 PM: There’s one heck of a fireworks show under way – according to the peek we could get from the end of our street, looks like it’s off south Bainbridge Island. Trying to find out whose!

9:44 PM: On Twitter/X, @westseawx unearthed an announcement from the Bainbridge Island Fire Department that there would be a “private fireworks show” tonight.

(Added: Photo by John Skerratt)

9:54 PM: The BIFD announcement said it would be “south of” the island and out of their jurisdiction, but within the Coast Guard’s jurisdiction.

10:05 PM: The BIFD announcement, and a KUOW story some have linked in comments, note that there was a similar show on the corresponding third Saturday night in September last year. We just checked our archives and it got only a fleeting mention because at that moment on that night (9/17/22) the West Seattle Bridge had just reopened.

10:23 PM: The dogs in our neighborhood are still barking. … We checked the latest Coast Guard Notice to Mariners, but it gave no hint of fireworks – the notation was just “Private Party, 2130-2200, IVO (in vicinity of) Blake Island.”

11:10 PM: For comparison, 10 years ago there was a private fireworks show off a barge off Beach Drive. The local company producing the celebration that included the show circulated an alert three weeks ahead of time.

SUNDAY EVENING: The Seattle Times identifies the fireworks company involved, and the various goverment agencies nominally involved, but still no enlightenment as to who the show was for and why.

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5:10 PM: A texter sent that photo as several other readers were asking if we knew anything about that dark smoke from downtown. It’s a fire response logged to Fairview and Mercer, in the South Lake Union area, just re-coded on the 911 log to “encampment fire.” Firefighters are still working to extinguish it, according to radio exchanges.

6:06 PM: SFD says the fire is under control and that no one was hurt.

ADDED TUESDAY: Regional media has long since picked up on this – our initial basic item was published because they were slow on the uptake and we were getting lots of questions. But for the record, here’s the SPD report summary posted today:

At 1654 hours, officers responded to assist SFD with a fire that occurred in an encampment located near Minor Ave N / Mercer St. The encampment was in a vacant lot near an apartment building. SFD put the fire out before it could damage the apartment building. No one was in the encampment during the fire and the only losses were tent structures and personal property inside the encampment and plant life. Witnesses described a suspect who may have started the fire. Officers located that suspect in the area. The suspect provided information indicating that he lived in the encampment and accidentally started the fire. The suspect was taken into custody for Reckless Burning 1st degree.

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