West Seattle, Washington
25 Thursday
(Photos, Story and Video by Christopher Boffoli)
Tonight’s Alki Community Picnic had to move off the playfield and into the Alki Community Center due to the weather. But the gray skies, drizzle and blustery winds certainly didn’t diminish the energy of the crowd of children who danced to the music provided by The Board of Education.
Here’s guitarist Jon Goff inspiring a new generation of musicians by handing out guitar
picks at the end of the show.
And here’s a short video clip with some musical highlights:
Covering tonight’s Feet First–organized Walk and Talk Tour of the West Seattle Triangle with Councilmember Tom Rasmussen, photojournalist Edgar Riebe of Captive Eye Media reports participants braved the weather to visit spots from West Seattle Rotary Viewpoint Park (above) to an inside look at the under-construction Link, below:
We’ll add Edgar’s video report on the tour later tonight. Meantime, the city-led Triangle Advisory Group meetings continue later this fall, according to information received by group members; the next meeting’s been set for October 27th, with a public open house planned on November 10th.
11:58 PM UPDATE: Here’s Edgar’s video report:
Traffic in both directions on Admiral Way will be impacted tomorrow, according to this SDOT notice:
Lane Closures on Admiral Way Bridge Wednesday
Wednesday, September 1, the Seattle Department of Transportation will close lanes on the Admiral Way Bridge between Walnut Avenue SW and 39th Avenue SW while they inspect and make drain repairs on the structure. The work will take place from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The right lane eastbound will be closed first, then the westbound right lane will be closed. There will be no impact to the bridge sidewalks.
(Video from West Seattle See Dogs and other guide puppies meeting SPD horses in Highland Park in June)
Tonight at the Mariners-Angels game, guide dogs will be in the spotlight – local Guide Dogs for the Blind volunteers, puppy-raisers including West Seattle See Dogs, and others, sold more than 738 tickets for the game and get the honor of throwing out the first pitch! West Seattle See Dogs’ Ruth Oldham tells WSB, “There will be over 40 guide dog puppies and guide dogs in the stands and on the Main Concourse Meeting and Greeting fans as they arrive. (Section 128 behind Home Plate) at the Main Entrance.” Then around 6:40 pm, Ruth says, “The First Pitch (will be) thrown out by Bob Sonnenburg and his guide Nino (since this whole thing was Bob’s idea!). Other pre-selected GDB volunteers and pups will join Bob on the field.” They’ll also have informational tables for Guide Dogs for the Blind at a couple of places around the stadium, and if you’re at the game, you’ll hear announcements too. Ruth enthuses, “What an incredible opportunity. There has never an event this large with the potential for increasing public awareness about Guide Dogs, and increasing public awareness about blindness in general.”
(Photo by Jason Grotelueschen)
Two months and one day after the shutdown of the old South Park Bridge (WSB video coverage here), the first major part of the demolition work has begun – King County Department of Transportation confirms that one of its “leaves” (the actual drawbridge sections) will “be detached and lowered onto a barge sometime this afternoon.” The KCDOT announcement continues:
Prior to removal, nine steel cuts will be required to separate the leaf from the remainder of the bridge. Once the cuts have been made, the leaf will slowly be lowered onto the barge. This work is extremely complicated and may take a few hours to complete.
This process will be repeated when the second leaf is removed over the next few days. Both leaves will then be barged to another site for salvage and recycling.
During this first demolition phase, crews have also been demolishing vacant structures on county-owned property adjacent to the bridge to accommodate future construction staging. The work will set the stage for future construction of a new South Park Bridge when a funding package is in place.
UPDATE 4:40 PM: As of this afternoon there is still not a whole lot of movement as work progresses slowly. Jason Grotelueschen staked out the bridge this afternoon, reporting only an occasional drizzle and a few showers of sparks, as workers continued to make cuts in the steel. Here’s one more photo from Jason, with a closer view of workers on aerial lifts:
6:30 AM (Wed) UPDATE: According to eyewitness reports and the YourSouthPark newsgroup, the “South Park side of the bridge” was finally dismantled and lowered safely onto a barge below, at around 7 pm last night (see photos from SeattlePI.com). The other side of the bridge should be removed by later this week.
(Photo added at 12:32 pm)
ORIGINAL 11:39 AM REPORT: We’re receiving reports of SPD units responding to a bank robbery call at the Alaska USA Federal Credit Union in Westwood Village. We’re off to check it out.
12:32 PM UPDATE: We’ve confirmed that the Alaska USA Credit Union inside the Westwood Village QFC was robbed earlier today. The branch is currently closed while investigators process the scene. We’ll be checking with SPD for more information and will post an update as soon as we learn more.
4:17 PM UPDATE: FBI Special Agent Fred Gutt has provided us with a bit more information now. He said they are seeking a white, female suspect. Approximate age and hair color were not provided. She was estimated to be about 5′ 4″ and 140 pounds, wearing a black vest over a gray hoodie, with a black hat and stonewashed jeans. She also had a swollen upper lip. A weapon was not seen and only “implied” but he said the suspect should still be considered armed and dangerous. Special Agent Gutt said the suspect left the scene on foot.
Thanks to those readers who called and texted about a small slide on the 9800 block of Marine View Drive. We responded quickly but SDOT already had the debris cleared to the side of the road by the time we arrived. It appeared to be more brush than mud. No damage was reported.
The rain seems to have let up a bit for now. But there’s more predicted throughout the rest of the day. We did find some slick streets around West Seattle this morning, as the rain has picked up some oil from the roadway. So do drive carefully.
Thanks to photographer Steve Shelton for his photo of the debris removal:
This morning, we welcome a new WSB sponsor: Melanie Carey, CH, hypnotherapist and Reiki practitioner at West Seattle Wellness. As per the WSB new-sponsor tradition, here’s what she’d like you to know about what she does: 
“Actually, I feel like I UN-hypnotize people”, Melanie says. “We are all walking around in a trance most of the time, moving through our routine, serving our addictions and habits. My sessions offer a place away from everyday life, to clear your mind, hear yourself think, and connect with what you really want from your life.” Whether it’s time to change, or time to get ready to make that change, hypnotherapy is the most effective method out there. Hypnotherapy is for freedom from smoking and other addictions, letting go of weight, birthing without fear, or discovering blocks to fertility, hypnotherapy can help with any issue that exists. It empowers you. “I have never felt so relaxed” is what Melanie says she hears most often from her clients at West Seattle Wellness. Deep relaxation and freedom from issues – a new way of handling problems. It doesn’t have to be a fight; it is inspiring and empowering. If you’re wondering: What is Reiki? Reiki is a hands-on therapy that clears energy blocks in the body. It is similar to acupuncture, except without the needles. Reiki can offer relief from: stress, allergies, depression, anxiety, emotional and mental confusion, insomnia, or any other dis-ease. It is worth experiencing the peace and beauty of Reiki. You can find Melanie Carey, CH, at West Seattle Wellness LLC, online at westseattlewellness.com – where you’ll find an online appointment scheduler! – or call 206-453-5397.
We thank Melanie Carey, CH, at West Seattle Wellness for sponsoring independent, community-collaborative neighborhood news on WSB; find our sponsor team, and info on joining, all here.
Local forecaster Cliff Mass called it yesterday:
An unusually heavy rainfall event for August is going to strike our region during the next two days, and its coming from the west and northwest…
From the looks of things outside this morning, that has definitely started to happen. It’s expected to continue through tonight and tomorrow, and we’ll keep an eye on the weather’s impact on today’s events and happenings.
1:15 PM UPDATE: Alki Community Center’s picnic/concert IS definitely moving indoors.
A few of the West Seattle highlights for today/tonight: West Seattle Elementary starts today, eight days before most other Seattle Public Schools, because of its improvement plan (here’s our Monday report on the back-to-school barbecue with new principal Vicki Sacco) … Speaking of back-to-school barbecues, Roxhill Elementary has one today (and, have you signed up yet to help rehabilitate the R?) … The second major Feet First event in West Seattle in four days: Tonight, walk and talk in The Triangle with City Council Transportation Committee chair Councilmember Tom Rasmussen (details here) … And Alki Community Center presents the summer-ending Alki Community Picnic tonight @ Alki Playfield – they’re providing the food starting at 5:30 pm, The Board of Education‘s providing the music starting at 6, and they’re planning to sell $10 bike helmets too … There’s more on the WSB West Seattle Events calendar (and share your event with us any time – even if it’s months away; the calendar already stretches into next year).
12:36 PM UPDATE: We have confirmed that tonight’s concert with The Board of Education is still on but will now be located inside the Alki Community Center (5817 SW Stevens Street). The Feet First event is unchanged. The Walk & Talk with CM Tom Rasmussen begins at Rotary Viewpoint Park (at 35th and SW Alaska) promptly at 6 pm. Feet First Director Lisa Quinn tells us that the first ten people who show up tonight will receive a free Feet First umbrella!
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