West Seattle, Washington
08 Friday
The opening date for the new South Park Bridge isn’t set yet, and King County isn’t offering an estimate (aside from “summer”), but it’s close to completion, as you can see in the two views shared this week by West Seattle photographer/pilot Long B. Nguyen:
The county Department of Transportation says it’s continuing electrical testing – 142 miles of wire in the project, according to an update earlier this spring. The old bridge was shut down in June 2010 after a raucous sendoff, and South Park community members are working right now to plan a grand-opening party they hope will eclipse it.
P.S. If you’re new to the area – here’s a map showing the bridge’s location.
(UPDATED 4:29 AM SUNDAY with word that he’s been found)
ORIGINAL REPORT, 5:10 PM: Have you seen this man? Seattle Police are trying to find him :
Seattle Police are looking for this developmentally disabled male. He was last seen this afternoon at 12:30 pm, riding a blue bicycle on Alki beach. He is a 26 year old mixed race male, wearing a gray T-shirt with “West Seattle High School” printed on the front. He was also wearing brown/blue plaid shorts and sandals. Please call 911 if you see him.
(Photo added, 5:29 pm)
8:55 PM: He is still missing, according to SPD, which has just tweeted the alert citywide, adding that the missing man’s name is Vincent.
11:14 PM: No updates, but it appears Guardian One revisited West Seattle to help take a look this past half-hour:
Assisted @SeattlePD at Jack Block park on search for missing person
— KCSOAirsupport (@KCSOAirsupport) June 1, 2014
4:30 AM: SPD says the search is over – and ended a ways away:
Update on missing 26 year old. Found safe in Bothell.@SeattlePD would like to thank everyone that assisted in looking.
— Seattle Police Dept. (@SeattlePD) June 1, 2014
4:49 AM: And we also have confirmation from Southwest Precinct Sgt. Neil Larkin that Vincent’s been found “safe and sound.”
An SUV fire led to a traffic snarl under the bridge for a while this afternoon – right at Spokane/Harbor/Avalon in the heart of a sunny Saturday. We didn’t catch word of it in real time, but Kristina shared the photo above while the SUV’s front end was ablaze, and Dana sent the aftermath view below:
No word of any serious injuries, but traffic was diverted for a while. We believe the scene’s clear now but are going by to doublecheck.
West Seattle author Brenda Peterson not only lives near the water, she writes about it, and advocates for those who live in and near it. It’s at the heart of her new book, “The Drowning World,” which will be featured next Friday when she’s in the “Words, Writers, & West Seattle” series spotlight:
(Video by Mark Jaroslaw)
The monthly reading/autographing/author talk series presented by the Southwest Seattle Historical Society moves to a new time for the occasion – you’ll find Brenda Peterson at Barnes and Noble/Westwood Village next Friday (June 6th), 5-7 pm.
P.S. The book she and fellow Seal Sitters founder Robin Lindsey wrote for kids, “Leopard and Silkie,” is up for the prestigious Beverly Cleary Children’s Choice Award, as announced earlier this month.
Exactly four weeks from now, participants in this year’s Relay for Life-West Seattle will have just finished their intense overnight event at WS Stadium (7:30 pm June 27-11:30 am June 28), one of hundreds of similar events across the country raising money for the American Cancer Society. Right now, it’s full-on advance-fundraising mode, and one of the local teams, “Answers for Cancers,” is doing just that with this car wash at West Seattle Autoworks (35th/Webster; WSB sponsor). By donation, they’re cleaning up cars until 2 pm today. If you can’t make it today, you can also donate to Relay for Life-WS by using the link you’ll find here, and by visiting the stadium during the public Relay for Life events next month.
(UPDATED 3:33 pm with hospital-room meeting between crash victim and Good Samaritan)
10:57 AM: The bicycle rider badly hurt by a hit-run driver last week is recovering and talked with KING 5 reporter Elisa Hahn for the story you can watch above (and on the station’s website). 30-year-old John Macy and his family hope someone will come forward – maybe even the driver her/himself – to solve the case. The newest information is still the same update reported here a week ago, republished below:
Detectives have reason to believe the suspect vehicle is light metallic blue and is missing the right-side mirror. The vehicle should have damage to the front bumper as well as heavy damage to the windshield. The suspect’s vehicle had been traveling westbound at the time of the collision and likely continued over the lower bridge and into West Seattle. Detectives are asking anyone with information to please call TCIS Detective Andrew Norton at -206-684-8934.
(It happened the night of Thursday, May 22nd, around 9 pm.)
3:33 PM UPDATE: We just learned from Harborview Medical Center that David Peterson, the Good Samaritan who spotted John Macy in the road, met him today at the hospital:
That photo is by Bobbi Nodell of Harborview, who says the family asked that they share an update so we could share it with you. She quotes David Peterson as saying, “A huge weight has been lifted knowing he will be OK.” The photojournalist you see at right is from KING 5, which will have a followup on TV tonight.
(Great blue heron and snack, photographed at Constellation Park on Friday by Gary Jones)
Yes, all this really is happening in the next 12 hours or so – and this isn’t even EVERYTHING on the calendar (go see for yourself):
BIKE TRAIL MAKEOVER: 9 am-noon, come help make the SW Andover bike trail safer – details in our calendar listing. (32nd/Andover)
MEXICAN FOOD FAIR FUNDRAISER: Community of Hope Church invites you to come buy homemade Mexican food 9 am-4 pm. (8600 9th SW)
(added) BENEFIT CAR WASH: This year’s Relay for Life, raising money to fight cancer, is coming up, and a team is having a benefit car wash at West Seattle Autoworks (WSB sponsor) today, by donation, 10 am-2 pm. (35th/Webster)
FREE SHREDDING AND E-CYCLING: 10 am-1 pm, bring your shreddable documents and recyclable electronics to the West Seattle Junction parking lot off 42nd between Oregon and Alaska. Here’s our preview, which includes a link to find out what’s e-cyclable and what’s not. (4500 block 42nd SW)
DENNY-LINCOLN CLASSIC BIKE RIDE: Watch for Denny International Middle School scholars, families, and staff on the road during their second annual ride from the school to Lincoln Park, celebrating the end of Bike to School Month and more. 10 am-noon. (2601 SW Kenyon)
TALK WITH YOUR SCHOOL BOARD REP: Last chance this school year to meet with West Seattle’s school-board rep Marty McLaren – bring your questions/concerns. 10 am-noon, Southwest Branch Library. (35th/Henderson)
YACHT RACE IN THE DISTANCE: FYI for west-facing water-watchers, the Blake Island Race is set for 10:30 am-6:30 pm today, with yachts starting from Port Orchard, circling Blake Island, and heading back – details in the club’s annual handbook (page 23).
HELP THE HELPLINE – BUY BBQ! Benefit barbecue at West Seattle Thriftway (WSB sponsor) today will benefit West Seattle Helpline, 11 am-4 pm. Look for the tent! (California/Fauntleroy/Morgan)
DELRIDGE GROCERY CO-OP OWNERS/MEMBERS MEETING: First annual meeting of current or future co-op owners as Delridge Grocery‘s board members outline where things stand and what happens next. Salvation Army, 11 am-1:30 pm. (9050 16th SW)
EXPLORE THE BEACH WITH NATURALISTS: One last time before the mid-June low tides arrive, explore Constellation Park or Lincoln Park shores with the Seattle Aquarium volunteer beach naturalists, on hand 11:30 am-2:30 pm today.
VIETNAMESE STORY TIME: 11:30 am-noon at Delridge Branch Library. (5423 Delridge Way SW)
COLMAN POOL’S SECOND PRESEASON WEEKEND: The outdoor pool on the shore at Lincoln Park is open for its second pre-season weekend, starting today at noon. Schedule here.
INCREASE THE PEACE: Free community festival in the lot next to Ginomai Art Center, noon-4 pm. Free kids’ face-painting, free food & beverages, music, conversation. (4401 42nd SW)
GATEWOOD ELEMENTARY ‘GATOR FEST’: Mary sends word of Gatewood Elementary‘s spring fair, 1 pm-4 pm: “We avoid plastic toys and focus instead on fun, environmentally friendly summer activities and will feature marine touch tanks from the MaST Center, The Whale Trail, Home Depot kits, a worm bin build, The Makery and a jump rope demonstration by Jump Works as well as other attractions.” (4320 SW Myrtle)
ALKI POINT LIGHTHOUSE TOUR SEASON BEGINS: Today through August 31st, you can tour the lighthouse on Alki Point 1-4 pm Saturdays and Sundays.
(WSB photo from June 2013)
There’s a little schedule divergence later in the summer – see the official webpage for details. (3200 Point Place)
BEEP BASEBALL: West Seattle is home to the South King Sluggers, who play beep baseball – designed so that sight-impaired/blind players can come to the plate – and today you are invited to watch them play a Seattle Police team. 1:30-3:30 pm at Walt Hundley Playfield #2 – details in our preview. (6920 34th SW)
SANISLO ELEMENTARY POETS … are among the young poets reading at Elliott Bay Book Company on Capitol Hill at 2 pm today. They would welcome your support; reception follows the reading. (1521 10th Ave.)
WEST SEATTLE GREEN SPACES: The organization working on a community vision for the future of Seattle City Light surplus properties in West Seattle has its next meeting at 3 pm at Delridge Library – all welcome. (5423 Delridge Way SW)
WEST SEATTLE 15NOW ACTION GROUP: Diane shares word of this local group in the $15-minimum-wage movement meeting at 3 pm at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor), looking ahead to what’s next as the City Council prepares to vote Monday on a version of the $15 minimum. (5612 California SW)
‘HAIR’: Second-to-last weekend to see the musical at ArtsWest (WSB sponsor), onstage tonight at 7;30 pm. (4711 California SW)
NIGHTLIFE! See tonight’s highlighted music listings on our calendar.
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