West Seattle, Washington
02 Wednesday
Will a light rail route including West Seattle be part of Sound Transit‘s next long-range-plan update? Possibilities are being studied, as noted here two months ago, when the ST Executive Committee got a progress report on the study. But it’s by no means a sure thing. And ST is still rounding up input on future directions – including via a survey that’s open for three more weeks, first noted here last month. So this regional transit organization is at the heart of many West Seattle conversations right now – and you’re invited to be part of two of them.
First, the West Seattle Transportation Coalition is expecting two Sound Transit reps at its meeting next Tuesday (July 8th), 6:30 pm at Neighborhood House’s High Point Center – chair Joe Szilagyi tells WSB that ST planner Chris Rule and ST government/community-relations officer Rachel Smith have confirmed. All are welcome.
Smith is also booked as guest speaker at the next West Seattle Chamber of Commerce lunch meeting, 11:30 am Thursday, July 17th, at The Kenney (WSB sponsor). All are welcome to this, too, but there’s a charge because it’s a luncheon (WSCC member and non-member rates) and you need to RSVP – more info here.
We have an update this evening on Colman Pool, the only city-run outdoor pool in West Seattle, closed all weekend because of a circulation-pump breakdown: The parts needed for repairs are expected to arrive tomorrow (Monday) and Seattle Parks hopes to reopen the pool on Tuesday – with the water likely to be colder than usual, since they can’t refill the pool until the pump’s fixed, and can’t heat the water until it’s in the pool. The pump failure, discovered Saturday morning, drained much of the water in the pool. Your city-run swimming options, in the meantime, include indoor Southwest Pool (2801 SW Thistle; schedule here) and, for the littlest West Seattleites, wading pools and Highland Park Spraypark (schedules/addresses here). Thanks to Allison at Colman Pool for the updates – including the latest photo of the sign outside.
(Photo added – SPD still investigating as of just before 5 pm)
2:36 PM: Police are investigating a report of shots fired in the 9400 block of 15th SW (map). No reports of anyone being hit/injured; radio communication monitored via scanner says it’s believed to have involved some kind of argument between people in a car and people on foot – we haven’t heard whether the shots came from the former or latter.
3:23 PM: Police reported finding at least one shell casing.
4:13 PM: Now there’s word someone WAS hit and wound up at Valley Medical Center – just tweeted by SPD, which says the victim has non-life-threatening injuries.
4:56 PM: Just talked to police at the scene. The man previously reported as hit was in the car involved in the incident, which took him directly to a hospital, and that’s why there was no medic callout. Separately, a stray bullet hit a parked van behind a local business (The Live Butcher – photo added below).
No one was in the van and no one was hurt by that bullet, nor was the business itself affected. And as we write this update, an SPD Blotter post has just been published, saying a woman in the car was “grazed” by a bullet in addition to the man who was shot in the leg. Police are still on the scene looking for witnesses.
GF asked about this in a comment today, so in case anyone else wondered too: The Rotary Club of West Seattle is no longer selling berries as a summertime fundraiser. Past president Len Burton-Hardin explains:
Our club made the painful decision to discontinue this fundrasiser after 30 years. Lack of a venue with refrigeration facilities, rising costs to us and the unpredictability of Mother Nature and the growing season made it very hard for us. We are very grateful to our supporters and are saddened that we couldn’t not continue, The positive is that our numerous local Farmers’ Markets provide high-quality berries for West Seattle residents.
(We can attest to that, having seen fresh-picked berries at the WS Farmers’ Market today, and also at local grocery stores.) The Rotary has added two new endeavors – as you’ve probably heard by now, it’s presenting the West Seattle Grand Parade starting this year (July 19th!), and it’s also sponsoring a first-ever Oktoberfest celebration, October 11th at the Masonic Center (watch for details).
It’s a big year for anniversaries and the West Seattle Garden Tour is part of it – celebrating its 20th anniversary! We are now exactly two weeks away from the WSGT, which is a self-guided tour, 9 am-5 pm Sunday, July 20th. Ticket books are on sale, including the addresses of the nine residential gardens that are featured – along with the West Seattle Bee Garden in High Point – and the WSGT notes that among the nine is the garden of world-famous nature/culture photographer Art Wolfe, who will be there to talk with visitors and sign books. Your WSGT admission includes the guest lunchtime lecturer, Susie Egan, speaking at noon on tour day at The Kenney (WSB sponsor); she owns the private two-acre botanical garden/nursery Cottage Lake Gardens near Woodinville. WSGT is a nonprofit and its net proceeds in turn benefit other local nonprofits – see this year’s beneficiaries here. You have seven places/ways to buy your ticket book right now – here’s that list.
(Photo by Mark Wangerin)
From the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar – first a reminder:
COLMAN POOL CLOSED AGAIN TODAY: In case you missed our report on Saturday – Colman Pool in Lincoln Park is closed again today while they work to fix a broken circulation pump. We’ll update by day’s end on the outlook for Monday.
Here’s what IS happening:
WEST SEATTLE FARMERS’ MARKET: Every Sunday, even on holiday weekends, 10 am-2 pm. The WSFM Facebook page notes one feature for today – it’s the last day this year that Langley Fine Gardens from Vashon Island will be at the market with their wonderful plants. Other booths will overflow as usual with vegetables, fruit, meat, baked goods, and more. (44th/Alaska)
WEST SEATTLE ULTIMATE FAMILY FRISBEE: The weekly 11 am game at Fairmount Playfield is also ON as usual, despite the holiday weekend. All ages welcome. (5400 Fauntleroy Way SW)
LOG HOUSE MUSEUM: The home of West Seattle’s history is open to the public noon-4 pm – exhibits inside, newly renovated/installed totem pole outside. (61st/Stevens)
ALKI POINT LIGHTHOUSE TOURS: Summer weekends are your only chance – don’t miss it! – free tours with the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary at Alki Point Lighthouse, 1-4 pm. (3200 Point Place)
ART UNVEILING: At Meeples Games, artist Paul Gasoi will be on hand for the unveiling of his “Cosmic Interstice Chess” work, 4:30-6 pm. (California/Charlestown)
Thanks to Refawne Acarregui for the victory photo of the West Seattle Little League 9/10 All-Stars, the latest WSLL team to become District 7 champions, with a Saturday win over Seattle Central. The team managed by Isaiah Brent heads to Richland for the state tournament, opening play next Saturday afternoon – here’s the bracket.
The WSLL Intermediate All-Stars also won their district championship and start state tournament play in Snohomish today vs. Camas. WSLL all-star rosters are here.
And WSLL’s district champs in the Majors will be on the field when the organization hosts that state tournament at Bar-S on Alki Point starting next Saturday (July 12th).
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