West Seattle, Washington
01 Sunday
It’s just one night — but its ripple effects will make a difference in thousands of lives over the ensuing year. The West Seattle Food Bank‘s “Instruments of Change” fundraiser is coming up, and this Thursday is the deadline to RSVP for tickets. The event May 1st at The Hall at Fauntleroy not only features KIRO Radio’s Gregg Hersholt as emcee, but also includes former mayor Norm Rice as a special guest speaker, plus live music and a Dessert Dash. Go here for full details, including how to get tickets.
Checking through the inboxes to make sure we didn’t miss anything good during another busy, crazy week, we have a few photos to share: Several people photographed the vivid Thursday sunset – the version above is from Dan E. And remember the Jefferson Square sign putting us in triple-digit heat last weekend? What a difference a few days make:
Brian sent us that photo of the J-Square sign in subzero mode. (He took it earlier this week, but we happened to be within line of sight of that sign this afternoon and can confirm it’s still in subzero mode!)
First, from seattlepi.com, a Delridge man has told police he’s being harassed – with his truck repeatedly egged, and a swastika drawn on it. Second, a vandalism report from the WSB inbox tonight, sent by Shannon:
I wanted to report some new activity in our area. When we woke up this morning we noticed that someone had spray-painted some type of graffiti on the fire hydrants in bright orange paint. On the way to work, I realized the graffiti was on all the hydrants along 48th Avenue between Brandon and Raymond [map]. We made a police report – hope this isn’t signs of more to come. I park on that street and will definitely be bringing everything in from my car tonight – CD player, CDs, etc.
You may have noticed yellow tape cordoning off some areas along the sidewalk in The Junction’s business district: Liz at the West Seattle Junction Association tells WSB that landscaping work is happening along California between Edmunds and Oregon, through next week, and the tape will come down as the new plants go in. West Seattle-based Artego’s is donating their services.
(3/16/08 photo from Doug and Anne, originally published here that night)
On March 16, we brought you breaking news about a West Seattle kayaker who got into trouble off Brace Point. The photo above was shared by local residents, as the ferry crew that helped get Scott Redfern out of the water returned their small vessel to the Issaquah. Today, we received Scott’s story, told firsthand. He also provided all the photos in the story below.
By Scott Redfern
Special to West Seattle Blog
I would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to the rescue crew of the Washington State Ferry, the Seattle Fire and Police Departments, and Gaye Hewson, who opened her home to me. I would also like to thank my friends who have held me close to them and for their love and caring. I feel embraced by this community of West Seattle that is where I make my home. For those of you that know me but are not in touch: I am grateful, healthy and whole. I love you all.
These days are hard as winter slowly recedes. It leaves me wanting for warm and sunny days. With heart-felt sighs and grey, dreary skies, I force myself out to exercise between storm breaks, in this case in the wake of a storm.
Before I took the kayak out I went for about an hour run in Lincoln Park. I chugged up the wet, muddy slippery hills carrying the burden of my extra winter weight. Upon return from my run I look out from my apartment at the wind blown water and the white caps. My endorphins are coursing and I feel like more work. I want to push back against the depressing weather. I’ve been out there on days like this before. It seems every other day it changes direction. Today the winds and swells are moving from south to north.
WSDOT says a truck in trouble is blocking the ramp from the West Seattle Bridge to northbound I-5 — and the cameras on our Traffic page verify a backup on the eastbound bridge as a result. 4:40 PM UPDATE: WSDOT says the truck’s been cleared to the shoulder, so the backup should start easing.
After encountering a brief mention of “Fauntleroy Bridge seismic work” on a city page listing future projects, we checked with SDOT to see what that’s about. Here’s the explanation of what’s on the drawing board for a half-mile section at the southwest end of the West Seattle Bridge, from SDOT communications director Rick Sheridan:
This work will upgrade the Fauntleroy Expressway Bridge, which spans over SW Admiral Way, Harbor Ave SW, SW Avalon Way, SW Manning St., and local railroad tracks that access the adjacent steel mill. This reinforced concrete bridge is approximately 2527 feet long and carries traffic between the West Seattle Freeway and Fauntleroy Way SW.
The city completed a first phase of seismic retrofit work in the mid 1990s. This covered widening and strengthening bridge supports, and tying bridge segments together over the supports. The project you referenced is a second phase of work. This will upgrade the structure to prevent a collapse during a 1000 year seismic event, which is the new national design standard.
We have identified the bridge weaknesses that need to be retrofitted to meet this new standard. A consultant contract is being negotiated to design and detail the retrofit work. Construction is tentatively scheduled to begin in early 2010.
Lots of discussion here following the city’s update on the recycling/trash transition Thursday, now there’s a sequel: The city is cracking down on the apartment/condo pickup problems – read on:Read More
WSB photojournalist Christopher Boffoli took that photo of the newly completed staircase through Orchard Street Ravine in Gatewood, site of a work party tomorrow morning. Tomorrow’s also prime time for egg hunts; though we have a special page with Easter (and Friday/Saturday) services here, and an overall Easter page (including Saturday/Sunday egg hunts) here, those events are just part of what’s in this West Seattle Weekend Lineup – with other highlights including West Seattle Nursery‘s spring open house, and lots more going on this weekend, more than three dozen events ahead on our list brought to you by Skylark Cafe and Club:Read More
Reminder: Discount early registration is still under way for the first-ever West Seattle 5K – benefiting local schools. It’s happening along Alki on May 31st, same day that Alki Ave will close (roughly from Seacrest to Cactus) for Car-Free Day-Turned-Celebrate-Seattle-Summer-Streets. Not only can you sign up online, you can also designate donations for the participating schools – start here.
A regional roundup from WSDOT, including I-5 slowdowns in the city as well as possible challenges elsewhere – if you’re hitting the road this weekend, read on:Read More
During last night’s West Seattle Art Walk, stopping by Brunette Mix (WSB sponsor) in The Junction would have brought you a little Parisian flavor – Vertu Cakes‘ creation echoed the Eiffel Tower. Elsewhere, treats abounded:
Beneath the painting by “subdued surrealist” T.S. Pew, that’s the dessert buffet offered last night by M3 Bodyworks (whose ad on the WSB sidebar is a gateway to the latest M3 specials). You can see more of Pew’s work at other local businesses including Elliott Bay Brewery and Mashiko, and online at tspew.com. Also on display last night, the work of student artists:
That’s art from Holy Rosary School students, shown last night at The Kenney, the southernmost stop. Last but by no means least, the classic Art Walk pairing may be art and snacks, but at Click! Design That Fits (WSB sponsor) in the Admiral District, the elegant pairing was modern living and modern real estate:
Click! joined forces with 360 Modern, a regional firm that handles, as noted online, “the buying and selling of modern homes.”
Even if you missed last night’s Art Walk, or – like us – only managed a few stops, keep in mind that many of the art displays are at the participating venues for the entire month – so keep an eye out for art as you shop in West Seattle. Next month’s Art Walk – always on the second Thursday – is May 14. And watch the WSB Events calendar for other Junction (and elsewhere) happenings in the meantime, like this one just announcedt:
April 24th from 7-10pm Carmilia’s, Clementine, Edie’s and Sweetie are joining together to host a night of beauty and fashion. Each store will have mini-spa treatments, drinks, treats and of course shopping with great deals. Visit each store and get a punch card stamped good for a glass of bubbly at West 5. There will also be a VIP Discount card given out, good for discounts at the stores and the participating salons (Julie from Ola, Heidi from Seattle Style Salon, Sara from Sara’s Skin Butik and The Body Bar). Please join us for an amazing night. Questions? Call Erin at Edie’s, 206.937.2029
FURLOUGH: This is another one of those money-saving furlough days for King County government. Here’s the list of what’s open and what’s closed.
GOOD FRIDAY SERVICES: Many are listed on our Holy Week/Easter services page; for other Easter-related activities, such as tomorrow’s big slate of egg hunts, go here.
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