(From kingcounty.gov)

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.

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.

10:44 AM: Thanks to the readers who have sent word that if you’re braving the bridge or alternate routes to try to get to Costco on 4th Avenue, don’t do it right now – they’re closed because of a power outage. The City Light map shows a small outage adjacent to a planned-outage area.

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.

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].

Several readers asked about a major sighting of police vehicles in the Fauntleroy ferry dock vicinity in the past few hours. They were King County Sheriff’s Office vehicles, including SWAT, heading to/from Vashon Island, and a story from the Vashon Beachcomber explains why: An incident on Cove Road [map] involving a domestic-violence suspect. The Beachcomber reports that the suspect is in custody.

Midway through the 2023-2024 school year, families are finalizing their plans for 2024-2025. So we’ve been showcasing open houses and tours for various West Seattle schools of all types. A nearby district is raising its hand for your consideration, too. Vashon Island School District superintendent Dr. Slade McSheehy asked us to share this announcement with you:

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.

We’re continuing to go through court files of cases we hadn’t checked in a while, and found another one has been resolved – the shooting death of a West Seattle man near the SODO Costco store in July 2022.

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.”

(Added: Photo sent by Shawn)

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.

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.

10:17 AM: Thanks to everyone who sent pics/questions after a large, dark plume of smoke started billowing from Bainbridge Island. According to an alert from Bainbridge Island city government, it’s from a “working structure fire” in the Falk Road area (map). No other details.

12:42 PM: The Kitsap Sun has since published a story saying the fire was at a two-story house and is blamed on oil-soaked rags.

Summer camp isn’t just for kids – and it’s not just in the neighborhood. Want to get away? Wonder Camp in the San Juans is sponsoring WSB right now to let you know what you can experience there:

Come out to the San Juans to enjoy the lakes, mountains and forests – plus explore your creativity at Wonder Camp in Moran State Park.

Family Camp is August 5-8 with 3-night lodging and meals. Sing, strum, drum, play, dance, read poetry and learn directly from island creatives. Wonder Camp is the perfect chance to take a dive into creative arts and the natural world. Campers can also choose from indigo dyeing, blacksmithing, painting, drawing, and wildcrafted body-care-product-making classes. Guided field walks include herbalism, mushroom ID, and wilderness survival skills. Adult and family packages.

Spark your imagination – Lots to explore!

The historic Camp Moran is Wonder’s homebase and a lovely setting surrounded by meadows, mountains, forest and lake. Cabin and tent site options.

Meet our instructors and learn more at orcaswondercamp.org

Wonder Camp also is offering a Writers’ Track:

Writers of all types are invited to join the summer Wonder Camp for our Writers Track, August 6th and 7th.

Guest instructors for the Writers Track are Abigail Morgan Prout and Quinn Bailey, who both grew up in the San Juans and whose writings capture the intricate balance of loving, observing, fearing for, and protecting these beautiful islands.

Read more about the Writers Track workshops here. Registration is at the same link – orcaswondercamp.org.

Fireworks season has begun, formally as well as informally. We’ve been hearing booms in the distance for a while, indicating a show somewhere, and indeed, it’s the Bremerton Bridge Blast.

(File photo)

Got a student in your household who’s interested in robotics? Two teams that meet a bit south of here – but have, and welcome, West Seattle participants – sent this announcement of an event that’s just a few days away:

Two local robotics teams will be hosting an information night for students and their families on May 23rd, from 6:30 to 8 pm. Tekerz Robotics and Skunk Works Robotics are competitive robotics teams based in the Highline area. They are affiliated with 4-H and accept members from any school, including homeschoolers. The teams share a workspace graciously provided by Highline Public Schools.

Skunk Works and Tekerz have been in the Highline area for 17 and 13 years respectively and have won numerous awards as part of FIRST robotics. Both are looking for new members who want an opportunity to develop and utilize skills in CAD, programming, graphic design, statistical analysis, marketing, wiring and parts fabrication. The teams function as businesses and learn marketable skills and teamwork under the supervision of mentors.

Students are welcome to visit with either team or both. The Tekerz plan to compete in FTC and FRC. The Skunks focus solely on the FRC division. FTC competes on a 12’x12′ field and builds robots that must fit into a 18″ cube. FTC is for students from 7th to 12th grade. FRC competes on a 54’x27′ field and builds robots that weigh less than 125lbs. The size requirements vary each year. FRC is primarily for 9th to 12th grade.

We ask that a parent or guardian attend as well. Interested students may fill out the Google form and the teams will contact them with additional information regarding the programs and the location prior to the event. You may also contact the teams directly via email at tekerzrobotics@gmail.com or coach@skunkworks1983.com

At the left side of that traffic-camera image is a sight that made a lot of teriyaki fans sad today – major fire damage at I Luv Teriyaki at 4th/Michigan just east of the north end of the 1st Avenue South Bridge [map]. The fire was big but didn’t get as much citywide-media attention today as it might have if not for some other big incidents, so several people asked us about it. We just got info tonight from Seattle Fire. Nobody was hurt in the fire, reported just after 1:30 am. SFD says its investigators determined the fire “was accidental and started in the kitchen.”

Texter reported a lot of black smoke from the north end of Vashon Island, so we looked into it, and found out there’s a house-fire response in the 10700 block of SW 111th Place [vicinity map]. No further information so far.

P.S. No official information, but commenters have shared some updates and visuals.