West Seattle, Washington
08 Monday
(July 2012 Alki Lighthouse photo by Jordan Petram – tour time’s running out!)
Not only will it be summery, it will be REALLY hot – at least by Seattle standards – says the National Weather Service, which now has a heat advisory in effect noon today through 8 pm Sunday. So take care of yourself and your pets (don’t leave them in cars, or without water) … and take advantage of all the outdoor and indoor fun today:
SEAFAIR – BLUE ANGELS, NAVY SHIP TOURS, HYDROS: Find the schedule info linked in our preview. Toplines: The Blue Angels take off from Boeing Field (watch from around the airport periphery OR best of all, from the Museum of Flight) around 1:30 pm. The show is over Lake Washington, where hydro racing gets up to full speed today. (If you’re going, consider a shuttle.) Along the Elliott Bay waterfront from Pier 46 in the south to Pier 90 in the north, you can tour the three Seafair Fleet U.S. Navy ships, 9:30 am-3:30 pm.
SHOW LINCOLN PARK SOME LOVE: Forest-restoration work party starts at 9! Details here.
OUTRIGGER RACE FROM ALKI: The annual “Da Grind” outrigger-canoe race to Blake Island is happening today, so in case you saw the canoes, that’s what it’s about. Details here.
MEET THE HENRIETTAS AT WHITE CENTER FOOD BANK: Open house, with chickens! 11 am-2 pm at 8th and 108th; WC Food Bank serves part of West Seattle too. More info here.
SUMMER FESTIVAL AND BACKPACK GIVEAWAY: 11 am at Delridge Community Center, Eastridge Church invites kids to its Summer Festival, with a first-come-first-served backpack giveaway – details here.
BALLOT DROPOFF VAN, DAY 2: Check our Friday story to see what you’re looking for on the southwest side of the West Seattle Stadium parking lot/driveway, 10 am-5 pm today (and Monday, as well as 7 am-8 pm Tuesday), to drop off your ballot (no postage stamps needed) for Tuesday’s election.
VIETNAMESE CULTURAL CENTER: Director Lee Bui shared that photo of visitor Katy F from last Saturday as a reminder that the center is open for visitors, free, every Saturday, noon-3 pm. It’s at 2236 SW Orchard (north of Home Depot).
LOG HOUSE MUSEUM: Noon-4 pm Thursdays-Sundays you are welcome at this repository of West Seattle (and vicinity) history, 61st/Stevens.
ALKI POINT LIGHTHOUSE: Just a few more weekends to tour this West Seattle icon – 1-4 pm Saturdays and Sundays through the end of August.
OPEN HOUSE: At Little Pilgrim preschool, Fauntleroy Church, 2-4 pm.
‘LION KING’ AT WEST SEATTLE OUTDOOR MOVIES: Third Saturday night movie of the summer in the courtyard next to Hotwire Online Coffeehouse (WSB sponsor) at 4410 California SW! “Lion King” is the film. Magic by Louie Foxx is preshow entertainment. And you’re invited to partake in a free barbecue courtesy of West Seattle Christian Church. The movie’s at dusk (9:30-ish), preshow 7:30 pm, but come earlier to be sure you’ll get a spot (bring your own chair/s and/or blanket/s). Entertainment is free but bring some money for budget-priced concessions provided by WSB sponsor PB&J Textiles (benefiting WSCC’s well-building project) and raffle (benefiting West Seattle Helpline).
(Photo from last weekend’s Lincoln Park performance, courtesy Myrtle G)
OUTDOOR SHAKESPEARE: Last chance to see “Taming of the Shrew” in a West Seattle park courtesy of GreenStage this season – 7 pm at Lincoln Park.
‘ANYTHING GOES’: West Seattle’s own Twelfth Night Productions (WSB sponsor) brings the classic Cole Porter musical to West Seattle High School Theater (3000 California SW) again at 7:30 pm tonight, then running Fridays-Sundays the next two weekends. Food drive too – bring a nonperishable-food donation for the West Seattle Food Bank!
‘SCHOOLHOUSE ROCK LIVE JR.’ CONTINUES: Second-to-last chance to catch it, tonight at 7:30 pm at ArtsWest (4711 California SW).
LIVE MUSIC: Gregg Curry at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor), 6-8 pm … Tyson Meade at VAIN in The Junction, 7 pm (see our preview story from last night) … Three bands at Skylark Café and Club, starting at 8 …
(Photo added 12:21 pm – truck trouble in Delridge – see below)
7:45 AM: One more reminder before it’s too late, in case you missed the noontime announcement yesterday … since many Wednesday trash/recycling customers missed two pickups during the Waste Management strike, the company plans to have trucks out in those neighborhoods TODAY to catch up, so get yours out and keep it out till 6. (If you’re Monday or Tuesday, as of this writing, they’re planning to catch up on those regular days.)
12:21 PM UPDATE: The photo above is courtesy of Ronnie, who says the WM truck got into some kind of trouble in an alley east of Delridge, near Brandon. Ronnie says the truck’s “back popped open,” and that supervisors have arrived to check it out. No word on how or if this might affect pickups, but again, if you have Wednesday pickup, the company asks you to leave everything out at least until 6 tonight.
1:02 AM: We heard it too; have since received a phone call and various messages. Police are checking it out, and the scanner indicates 911 has received more than a few calls, too. We’ll update here if we hear anything definitive is found.
1:16 AM: Just to note – about 15 minutes have gone by, and there’s no report of smoke, fire, injury, anywhere, so far. Police are still checking out some of the various reports called in to 911.
2:11 AM: Nothing reported found, that we’ve heard. A WSB’er who lives on the northwest edge of The Junction reported a flash from outside concurrent with the boom, though.
Cate, who describes her neighborhood as the west side of North Admiral, is looking for help in ID’ing the bird in her photo:
I have never posted or shared anything before, but I’m hoping your readers can help me identify these wonderful birds that have been visiting my deck for the past three days. I think they may be juvenile peregrine falcons …. or maybe that’s just wishful thinking :-) because it would be super cool to have falcons on the deck!
I’ve seen one or two of them the past three days. The first day, there was one and he was very unstable – clutching the deck rail and looking very wobbly. I actually thought he was injured. The next day, there were two and it looked like they were practicing flying …. half jumping, half flying from one deck rail to the other. Today, I saw only one and he was doing slightly longer swooping flights.
Anyone?
There’ll be live music tomorrow night in a Junction venue where you wouldn’t expect it: Singer-songwriter Tyson Meade, former frontman for ’90s glam-punk band Chainsaw Kittens, will be at VAIN for an acoustic performance and to talk about his plans to record an album in China. 
It will be his first album in almost ten years, a collaboration with high school and university students in Shanghai, where he has taught for the last five years, and he says friends in the U.S. music industry have agreed to contribute too.
Meade will soon head back to Asia, but he is making one last stop in Seattle. We are told he chose VAIN as the venue for his performance due to his friendship with general manager Lisa Matson and several VAIN employees, and because it provides an intimate space to talk about his work in China. More details are on the VAIN website. Meade also launched a Kickstarter campaign to raise money for his project in China; check out this video on that site. Tomorrow’s free show starts at 7 pm at 4513 California SW. (June 2012 photo; credit: Davrollins, licensed through Creative Commons)
Big crowd in the courtyard tonight as the Providence Mount St. Vincent (WSB sponsor) four-Fridays series of summer concerts began with acclaimed Elvis tribute artist Danny Vernon. Tributes to The King even extended to The Mount’s food offerings for the night:
Inspired by Elvis Presley’s legendary love for bananas and peanut butter, the dessert offered with dinner ($10 for entree – fried chicken tonight – sides, dessert and drink) was banana pound cake with peanut-butter frosting. Also available, burger/veggie burger/hot dog dinner with side and drink for $6, beer or wine for $5, and even popcorn/snow cones on the other side of the courtyard. But back to the show:
The stage is set up on the south side of The Mount’s campus. Lots of room to dance:
Here’s the full series lineup; next week’s performers are The Haggis Brothers; food and beverages go on sale by 5:30 pm, music starts at 6.
West Seattle hasn’t had a ballot-dropoff box since 2009, but the county is trying something new this election season by bringing a ballot-dropoff van here. We first mentioned the plan a month ago, and today was the first of four days you can use it to vote without a postage stamp. Richard, Kaleigh, and Ted staffed the van near the entrance to the West Seattle Stadium parking lot starting at 10 am today; they’re there till 5 pm, then the van’s back 10-5 tomorrow, 10-5 Monday, and 7 am-8 pm on Tuesday (which is Election Day, and therefore your deadline to get the ballot to a dropoff spot or a mailbox).
(WSB photo of SFD Lt. Sue Stangl with Engine 29 during July 2011 “Fill the Boot”)
The annual firefighters’ fundraiser for the Muscular Dystrophy Association starts with teams at intersections around the city 2-6 pm next Tuesday-Wednesday (and again during two days in September). The planned intersections in West Seattle are:
*Delridge Way SW/ SW Orchard St
*California/Admiral
*California/Alaska
*Harbor/Spokane
*California/Fauntleroy
More background info from today’s announcement, ahead:Read More
(Photo by Nick Adams for WSB)
1:37 PM: As of 1:35 pm, the Blue Angels are finally in the air – a jet similar to theirs, an FA-18 Super Hornet, performed in the Seafair airshow at 1 pm, so if you thought you heard them earlier, that’s what it was. Updates to come.
2:25 PM UPDATE: They landed a few minutes ago. Great viewing today from Boeing Field – the full “high show,” which includes more than a few maneuvers you can see from this side of the ridge.
(Photo by Nick Adams for WSB)
(Added) Here’s video of the takeoff view, from the mid-crowd perspective)
The shows tomorrow and Sunday should be around the same time – 1:30-ish takeoff. Almost anyplace you plan to view, though, get there early. Even here in the parking lot, most spaces were full by 12:30 pm.
Waste Management hinted at this yesterday, and now we have official word: Wednesday customers, many of whom have missed TWO pickups because of the now-settled strike, can expect catch-up pickups TOMORROW (Saturday). Here’s the announcement from Seattle Public Utilities:
Waste Management garbage, recycling and food/yard waste drivers are working to catch up in Seattle today after Thursday’s settlement of the week-long Teamsters Union strike.
Wednesday customers who were missed for collection this week should put their carts out until 6 p.m. Saturday, August 4 to allow time for collection. Customers will not be charged extra for any additional items placed at the curb.
If your collection is missed, please report it.
Instructions for other customers, includes the following:
Friday Customers:
All carts should be collected today. If not, Leave carts out until 6 p.m. Saturday.
Thursday Customers:
Most recycling pickup was missed yesterday, August 2. Put out all recyclables next Thursday, August 9.
Customers who have been affected by the strike may drop off up to 6 bags of either garbage or yard waste in any combination at either of Seattle’s transfer stations for free, through this weekend. Yard waste should not be in plastic bags. Recycling drop off is always free.
Hours have been extended through Friday at the South Transfer Station: 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday and Sunday hours are from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
SPU will provide updates as needed. Customers with solid waste service issues or concerns may call the Call Center at (206) 684-3000.
What do the Blue Angels do before their afternoon airshows on Seafair Weekend? Here’s one answer: Community visits for Q/A and military-recruiting outreach (which after all is the team’s stated purpose). This morning, South Seattle Community College got a visit from the officer who flies Blue Angels jet #3 this year, U.S. Marine Corps Capt. Brandon Cordill, and an airframer from the enlisted support team, Sgt. Doug Green. Among the college delegation there to greet and hear from them, in a presentation that was open only to students and staff, was SSCC math teacher Heidi Lyman, who flew a ridealong during Seafair Week last year:
Cockpit video of Lyman’s flight was shown during this morning’s presentation. That’s part of the video we’re adding shortly – including Capt. Cordill’s humorous-at-times story of how he got to be a Blue Angel, as well as Sgt. Green’s story, potential inspiration for the aviation students at SSCC.
ADDED 11:20 AM: Capt. Cordill’s recounting of how he went from a not-exceptional high-school student (“I didn’t know what I wanted to do in life”) with a low SAT school, to elite Blue Angels aviator inspired by 9/11 to join the military:
Capt. Cordill, by the way, is one of two Marine Corps pilots flying the Blue Angels demonstrations this year, which is rare – they usually have one. (Plus the team that flies the support C-130 “Fat Albert” is USMC, too.) Meantime, here’s the video of Heidi Lyman’s 2011 flight, as shown today:
We’ll add video of Sgt. Green’s story and the Q/A later this afternoon – heading out to Boeing Field now to see the Blue Angels take off. (Capt. Cordill says takeoff is scheduled for 1:30 pm, just in case you were wondering.)
Seafair weekend means more Blue Angels (and hydros and ship tours) in the city today – and much more you can check out without even leaving West Seattle tonight, including outdoor music and indoor theater. All that and a few more news notes:
TRAFFIC ADVISORIES: From the day-by-day/night-by-night closure list here: I-90 is closed for the Blue Angels’ practice show 12:45 pm-2:40 pm. Tonight, the Spokane Street Viaduct is closed EASTBOUND east of the 1st Avenue South exit, 10 pm, continuing till 5 tomorrow morning.
WASTE MANAGEMENT STRIKE AFTERMATH: No “recovery” pickups are scheduled in our area today, according to WM (but watch for possible word of some in the days ahead); those who have Friday pickup are asked to have everything out today, including extra for what was missed. And the city says it’ll be free to drop off up to six bags of trash/yard waste at transfer stations through Sunday (recycling is always free).
BALLOT DROPOFF VAN: Look for it in the southwest corner of the West Seattle Stadium parking lot, 10 am-5 pm today (and tomorrow and Monday, as well as 7 am-8 pm Tuesday), if you’d like to drop off your ballot for Tuesday’s primary election rather than pay for postage.
SEAFAIR – BLUE ANGELS, NAVY SHIP TOURS, HYDROS: All the schedule info is linked in our preview from last night, and we’ll be covering events throughout the day. (Toplines: The Blue Angels go up for one “practice show” today, with takeoff scheduled from Boeing Field (we say it all the time – go watch from the Museum of Flight, which has special programs throughout the weekend too!) after 1 pm. But there’s a full schedule of hydro testing and other aerial demonstrations today. And along the Seattle waterfront from Pier 46 in the south to Pier 90 in the north, you can tour any of the three ships that sailed past West Seattle on Wednesday.
SUMMER CONCERT SERIES AT THE MOUNT: First of four free Friday night concerts! Elvis stylist Danny Vernon performs tonight at 6. Dinner and drinks are available for purchase starting at 5:30. Just bring your chair/blanket to the south side of The Mount (4831 35th SW).
THE REPTILE MAN @ ALKI CC: You never know what will happen – or who will appear – at one of his shows, and tonight, he’s in West Seattle to amaze an all-ages crowd at Alki Community Center (5817 SW Stevens). 6:15 pm; details here.
SECOND ‘CORNER BAR’ AT HPIC: The Highland Park Improvement Club‘s new once-a-month incarnation happens at 6:30 tonight for the second time:
Draft beer, wine and non-alcoholic refreshments will be available at our pop-up neighborhood bar. A casual and friendly way to meet new friends and hang out with people you know. $3 gets you a beer or glass of wine, $1 for non-alcoholic beverages. We will have snacks like peanuts and pretzels – if you want more, bring your own or something to share. Special this month: Sangria. Also special: live music from the Drew Medak Trio. Classic jazz standards, fusion, modern jazz and originals on piano, bass and drums. Free admission – donations for the musicians accepted!
FREE SHAKESPEARE IN THE PARK: The Bard among the trees! GreenStage‘s “Henry VIII” is at Lincoln Park tonight, 7 pm.
OPENING NIGHT FOR ‘ANYTHING GOES’: Twelfth Night Productions (WSB sponsor) presents its summer production at West Seattle High School Theater (3000 California SW), Cole Porter‘s classic musical, 7:30 pm tonight and tomorrow, then running Fridays-Sundays the next two weekends. Tickets are available online; also, bring a nonperishable-food donation for the West Seattle Food Bank!
‘SCHOOLHOUSE ROCK LIVE JR.’ CONTINUES: Tonight at 7:30 pm at ArtsWest (4711 California SW).
FERRIS WHEEL’S LIGHT SHOW: If you want to see the Seattle Great Wheel‘s flashy colored lights (first shown here when they were tested in June), you have another chance each remaining night of Seafair, at 10 pm.
Even more on the calendar!
The newest list of upcoming traffic impacts from the Spokane Street Viaduct Widening Project is out – and it includes two major points:
*Starting next Monday, First Avenue South will be one lane each way between S. Horton and S. Spokane for about eight weeks, around the clock.
*Early August 17th, the onramp from Harbor Island to the eastbound Spokane Street Viaduct will reopen.
Here’s what else you can expect, starting with an eastbound SSV closure overnight Friday night (10 AM NOTE: 2 partial closures have been cancelled since this was published here – updated below):Read More
Some West Seattleites saw them … some just heard them … no mistaking the sounds and sights of the Blue Angels practicing for Seafair Weekend today. Doug B (a frequent Flickr contributor, including the WSB group pool) shared a few of his photos – including this low pass over Lake Washington:
If tomorrow is like most Seafair Fridays, they will go up after 1 pm (leaving Boeing Field, where Museum of Flight viewing of the takeoff/landing is a don’t-miss experience too) to go through the same show they will officially perform on Saturday and Sunday.
You can see the full airshow and hydroplane schedule for all three days of Seafair Weekend by going here. (Remember that you can watch from Seafair HQ on Lake Washington for free tomorrow, but Saturday and Sunday, admission is charged.) Tours of the visiting U.S. Navy ships are scheduled to continue all three days too – that schedule is here. (Tip – if you’re going to visit the USS Bunker Hill, the West Seattle Water Taxi dock is a short walk away.)
P.S. The scheduled I-90 bridge closure times are the same each of the next three days – 12:45-2:40 pm.
Singing the blues isn’t always a downer – we’ve heard lots of upbeat the first half-hour at Hiawatha tonight with Mark DuFresne headlining the season’s second free concert presented by the Admiral Neighborhood Association. Still time to get here – the crowd keeps growing, but there’s still room to sit on the grass and enjoy the music – and the balloons! Joyful the Clown is making balloon animals for kids, sponsored by Merrill Gardens-Admiral Heights (WSB sponsor):
And there are bubbles. Lots of bubbles. ANA vice president Karl de Jong couldn’t resist:
Karl led off tonight’s show, introducing emcee Jim Dever from KING 5’s Evening Magazine. C’mon down to the east lawn at Hiawatha if you can, even to drop in for a song or two – they’ll be playing till about 8.
ADDED 8:02 PM: Video:
Next Thursday night at 6:30 pm, it’s Reilly & Maloney with folk music – be here!
Lots of work going on in the vicinity of Washington State Ferries‘ Fauntleroy terminal. The crane in the photo above just arrived today, and it will be doing work for King County’s Barton Pump Station Upgrade Project, which got under way earlier this summer on the north side of the dock. Meantime, a crane that had been working on the ferry dock itself has now departed. Kevin McClintic photographed it on Monday:
This one WAS a ferry-system project. WSF’s Marta Coursey tells WSB, “During a recent bridge inspection, a pile was discovered missing under the timber trestle due to loss of pile embedment. The area was closed while an emergency contract was developed and materials were procured. The work began on Monday to drive two steel H-piles and remove one timber pile.”
(October 2011 photo by Colby Chester)
The state has just announced an $18,000 fine for a fuel spill related to last October’s sinking of a construction company’s landing craft off Beach Drive. The sinking, and raising, of the Justin played out over two days, last October 14th (WSB stories here and here) and 15th (coverage here and here). The state’s announcement today also reveals that the size of the spill was determined to be 320 gallons, and that more assessments may be forthcoming:
The Washington Department of Ecology (Ecology) has fined Waterfront Construction Inc. (Waterfront) of Seattle $18,000 for spilling 320 gallons of diesel fuel in Puget Sound off West Seattle in October 2011.
The company also faces more than $32,000 in additional assessments for environmental damage and state costs associated with responding to the spill.
Waterfront’s 74-foot, 1950s-vintage military landing craft, the Justin, sunk on the morning of Oct. 14, 2011, while moored off a work site along the shoreline about two miles south of Alki Point. The vessel was delivering boulders for a construction project.
Although Waterfront failed to notify Ecology of the oil spill, the company did hire salvage and environmental cleanup contractors to respond to the incident. They refloated and removed the vessel the next day.
After the Justin was raised, inspectors found two half-inch holes in a corroded section of the hull.
Next Tuesday is Primary Election Day – which means you have to get your ballot in the mail by Tuesday night. But you can save the money for a stamp, and be sure you’ve delivered it directly to King County Elections, 
by using the “ballot dropoff van” that will be stationed in West Seattle tomorrow, Saturday, Monday, and Tuesday. We first reported the plan in early July, and it’s time now for a reminder. You can drop your ballot(s) off at the van at West Seattle Stadium (turn east off 35th just south of Avalon) 10 am-5 pm tomorrow, Saturday, and Monday, or 7 am-8 pm on Tuesday. Lots more election info on the county website. Remember that while this is technically a primary election, there are some issues and races that will be decided in this vote – including county Prop 1 (for a new juvenile/family justice center) and city Prop 1, the library levy.
(WSB photos by Patrick Sand; top picture substituted 1:49 pm for original iPhone pic)
1:02 PM: Big response headed to a fire call at an apartment building in the 9000 block of 20th SW (map). First arrivals are seeing some smoke from the building’s fourth floor, per scanner traffic. We’ll have updates from the scene shortly.
1:10 PM: Fire’s under control, per scanner.
1:13 PM: Added photo from the scene. Smoke no longer showing from the building.
1:22 PM: Fire’s reported out. Still some traffic trouble in the area (Delridge/20th). We’re expecting to talk soon to the incident commander for more official information.
1:30 PM: Seattle Fire spokesperson Kyle Moore is there and we should be talking with him soon. We’ve also heard from the neighbor who says he called 911 to report the fire, Jeff at eGreen Landscaping, whose business is right next door on Delridge: “We reported it to 911 and then ran up and alerted the building manager, who hit the building fire alarm.”
1:35 PM: Moore says the fire was confined to a bedroom in one apartment. No injuries. (Update: Here’s video of his briefing:)
Investigators are working to figure out how it started; all the other residents will be allowed to go back inside. The woman who lived in the burned unit wasn’t home at the time; her cat might have been inside, and fire crews were looking for it.
5:23 PM UPDATE: Seattle Fire has just published a report here – saying the fire has been ruled accidental, and was “likely” started by a lamp in the bedroom. The report also notes that damage is estimated at $45,000 – and that the resident was reunited with her cat.
(Pride Parade 2012 photo by Seattle Gay News, republished with permission)
August 11th will mark exactly one year since OutWest Bar opened its doors in the former pharmacy storefront at 5401 California SW. Its owners and staff plan a two-day anniversary celebration on August 10th and 11th, and are publicly thanking the community now:
This achievement is not necessarily due to the great business acumen of her two owners, but more importantly to the marvelous work of the tireless team of Joe, Josh, Holly, Nich, Rich, and Shannon, and most entirely to our unfailing patrons who believe in the OutWest Bar as the “LGBTQA community center with adult beverages” in West Seattle. When we marched in the Pride parade this year (our second year, as we also marched last year two months before opening) we were thrilled with the cheering reception of supporters from all over the city and region and knew we’d done a good thing.
We feel very welcome in West Seattle (especially as many of us have personally lived here more than a decade or so) and feel warmly accepted into the larger community. We believe our presence has encouraged a healthy conversation about difference and tolerance in our age and area. We truly are the gay frontier, and as good neighbors we embrace our dual responsibility of honest communication and to advance businesses and provide jobs in West Seattle by continuing to promote local stores and restaurants to our LGBTQA patrons and beyond.
In seeking to create a “small, local, comfortable, neighborhood LGBTQA focused but straight friendly bar”, and although there is no shortage of great ideas and plenty more to do, we believe we’ve attained this fundamental promise. It is no small accomplishment to have survived this year during the Great Recession, and Chad and Bob wholeheartedly and humbly thank our terrific team and our very loyal friends and customers: we are here entirely for and because of you. Please come by to celebrate with us on August 10th and 11th, we open at 4 pm and will have drink specials, our favorite video DJ, Andy, and a sparkling wine toast at midnight on the 11th. And please keep coming by to meet your friends at OutWest Bar and have a drink or two.
Thank you so much,Bob, Chad, Joe, Holly, Nich, Rich, and Petey
OutWest Bar
Followup information is just in from Seattle Public Utilities regarding the now-over Waste Management strike (here’s the Teamsters‘ ratification announcement), and it answers the question we’ve received most frequently since last night – yes, you still have a few days to take trash/yard waste to transfer stations for free. Here’s the full news release from SPU:
Teamsters Local Union No. 117 recycling drivers voted this morning to end their strike against Waste Management, and garbage and food/yard waste collections have resumed across Seattle. The city of Seattle thanked both parties for reaching an agreement. At least partial collection of recycling materials is also expected today.
The mayor said city inspectors are on the streets today, checking for garbage, food/yard waste and recycling that went uncollected yesterday. Fines will be assessed against the company for materials that were missed yesterday. No fines will be levied for materials missed today.
The mayor also announced that, through Sunday, Seattle residents serviced by Waste Management can continue to drop off up to six bags up to six bags of either garbage or yard waste in any combination at the transfer stations — for free. Yard waste should not be in plastic bags. Recycling drop off is always free.
Residents can put out any extra materials that were previously missed, on their next regular collection day, through next Wednesday.
If your collection is missed, please report it.
The mayor also announced that, through Sunday, Seattle residents serviced by Waste Management can continue to drop off up to six bags of either garbage or yard waste in any combination at the transfer stations — for free. Yard waste should not be in plastic bags. This free service will last through this Sunday. Recycling drop off is always free.
Check SPU’s website for station hours, and webcam links. The South Transfer station will be open until will be open until 9 p.m., tonight and Friday.
SPU will provide updates as needed. Customers with solid waste service issues or concerns may call the Call Center at (206) 684-3000.
(Photo of 2011 ‘Wine in the Woods’ participants, courtesy Nature Consortium)
You can still join the Nature Consortium for fun at Camp Long this month, even though – as first announced at their annual brunch – the Arts in Nature Festival is skipping this year. At 7 pm August 10th – one week from tomorrow – you’re invited to “Wine in the Woods,” a fundraiser for future editions of the festival. The NC’s announcement explains:
In addition to wine tasting, Wine in the Woods will feature performances and installations by previous Arts in Nature Festival artists. There will also be an opportunity to donate directly to the Arts in Nature Festival and other NatureC programs. After sunset, follow luminaria on a trail through the forest to a campfire and desserts.
The full lineup for the night – including the musical acts and appetizers to accompany the wine – is described here. You can buy your $45 ticket online.
(Great blue heron during low tide on Alki on Wednesday; photo by Patrick Linville)
Notes for the day/night ahead:
RECYCLE/YARD-WASTE DRIVERS’ STRIKE DEAL: As reported last night, Waste Management and its striking drivers reached a tentative deal, and the drivers have a ratification vote this morning. After that, we hope to find out more specifics for everyone who missed pickups during the weeklong strike. In the meantime, if you were supposed to have Wednesday pickup, you are urged to LEAVE YOUR CARTS OUT because the city is still taking inventory; if you have Thursday pickup, put your carts out – garbage-truck drivers, who had walked out in support of the recycle/yard-waste strike, are back on the job now, but the other pickups’ schedule isn’t firmed up yet.
BLUE ANGELS: Today’s the first of four days the Blue Angels will roar through Seattle skies for Seafair, with I-90 bridge closures as a result. Today’s the day with two closures: 9:45 am-noon and 1:15-2:30 pm. All four days’ closures are listed here. As for what exactly they’re doing during today’s practices, Seafair spokesperson Melissa Jurcan explains:
The U.S. Navy Blue Angels #s 1-4 will take off at 10 am … from Boeing Field near the Museum of Flight for circle and arrival maneuvers in preparation for the Boeing Air Show. They will be in the air over the city getting familiar with the area. At 11 am #s 5-6 will take off for a look at the South Lake Washington event site. The I-90 Bridge will be closed between 9:45 a.m. and noon.
All Blue Angels jets will return to Boeing Field and be on the ground for a short time. Following that #s 1-6 will take to the air for a practice performance over Lake Washington. Again, the I-90 Bridge will be closed between 1:15 pm and 2:30 pm for this practice.
OTHER TRAFFIC ADVISORIES: Tonight’s alerts are the same as the last three nights – 99/Alaskan Way Viaduct will be closed southbound 9 pm-5 am between the Battery St. Tunnel and West Seattle Bridge; the bridge’s eastbound offramp to 1st Avenue S. will again be closed 10 pm tonight to 5 am tomorrow. (See the day-by-day/night-by-night closure list here.)
LOW TIDE: Still low enough for good tidewalking – and you might see sights like the heron above. 11:35 am, -1.9 feet (here’s this month’s chart).
SUMMER CONCERTS AT HIAWATHA: Tonight you’re invited to the series’ second of six free Thursday night shows presented by the Admiral Neighborhood Association – bluesy Mark DuFresne performs on Hiawatha Community Center‘s east lawn, 6:30 pm. KING 5‘s Jim Dever emcees. Bring your own chair(s)/blanket(s), picnic, etc. (Hiawatha is at 2700 California SW, but the east lawn faces Walnut.)
YOUNG WRITERS: A second night of readings at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor; 5612 California SW) 6:30-8 pm, more details here.
MAKE YOUR OWN MUSIC: Join the Thursday night drum circle at Alki’s Statue of Liberty, 6:30 pm.
‘SCHOOLHOUSE ROCK LIVE JR.’: The second show of this production starring summer students is at 7:30 pm at ArtsWest in The Junction.
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