month : 06/2017 320 results

Possibilities for your West Seattle Sunday


(Anna’s Hummingbirds, photographed by Mark Wangerin)

Good morning! from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar (where you’ll find even more):

WEST SEATTLE LITTLE LEAGUE: Championship play today, and you’re invited to watch, starting at 9:30 am, at Bar-S Playfields. (Admiral Way SW/65th SW)

WEST SEATTLE FARMERS’ MARKET: More new, fresh items are showing up every week here in peak season. 10 am-2 pm in the street in The Junction. (California SW between Oregon and Alaska)

COLMAN POOL: Another pre-season weekend at the outdoor saltwater pool on the shore at Lincoln Park, with swim sessions noon-7 pm. Here’s the schedule.

LOW TIDE, WITH BEACH NATURALISTS: Low tide today is -1.5 feet at 12:47 pm; between 11:30 am and 2:30 pm, you’ll find Seattle Aquarium volunteer beach naturalists at Constellation and Lincoln Parks.

LOG HOUSE MUSEUM OPEN: Visit the home of West Seattle’s history, noon-4 pm. (61st SW/SW Stevens)

ALKI POINT LIGHTHOUSE TOURS: Visit the historic lighthouse for a free tour with the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary between 1 pm and 4 pm – be there by 3:40 pm for the last one. (3201 Alki SW)

LINCOLN PARK NATURE WALK: Jonathan Hover will lead a nature walk focused on edible and medicinal plants, 3-5 pm. Check to see if there’s still room. (8011 Fauntleroy Way SW)

THE WELL SAID: Duo performing with vintage small guitars from the 1930s @ C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor), 3-5 pm. (5612 California SW)

STEPHANIE KITSON & DANNY LACKER: 7 pm at Parliament Tavern – “R&B and hip-hop arrangements of original material.” No cover. 21+. (4210 SW Admiral Way)

Growing pains, benefit plans, neighbors’ concerns @ Camp Second Chance Community Advisory Committee

June 11, 2017 2:53 am
|    Comments Off on Growing pains, benefit plans, neighbors’ concerns @ Camp Second Chance Community Advisory Committee
 |   Myers Way | West Seattle news


(Polly Trout of camp operator Patacara Community Services, with committee members and attendees)

By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

The second meeting of the Community Advisory Committee for city-sanctioned Camp Second Chance brought more neighbors who wanted to expand the discussion to concerns along Myers Way outside the encampment.

More than 25 people gathered at the camp for the meeting last Sunday (note that this was one day before a man was beaten to death at an unrelated unauthorized encampment across Myers and some blocks to the south, so that incident is not part of this report). As of the meeting day, camp management said, they had 55 residents.

Those who gathered for the meeting also included camp residents and staffers, committee members, and representatives of groups such as Seattle Green Spaces Coalition that worked to convince the city not to sell the Myers Way Parcels, where the camp set up last year, months before receiving city authorization and funding. Also there, Tom Van Bronkhorst from the city Department of Neighborhoods and independent videographer Barry White, who said he was recording the meeting as part of a plan “to tell the story of the camp.”

Here’s what attendees heard and said: Read More

Reader reports from the front porch: Misdelivered package; solicitor suspicion

From the WSB inbox:

MISDELIVERED PACKAGE: Jenny R says this was not a case of package theft – the US Postal Service shows her package was delivered today, and she was home when her carrier left only envelopes. This is something that can’t just be replaced so she’s wondering if you can check YOUR porch or other delivery spot:

I know people have things misdelivered all the time, but this was a custom-made dress I bought for my upcoming 40th birthday and 15th wedding anniversary, so I’m wondering if neighbors can check their front porches for a priority box addressed to me. I live in the 9400 block of 21st Ave SW. I’m sad.

If you ended up with Jenny’s package, let us know. (SUNDAY MORNING UPDATE: Jenny reports in comments that it was delivered four blocks away and has been returned to her!)

SOLICITOR SUSPICION: Reports of suspicion-sparking door-to-door solicitors are starting to surge again – here’s one, from Bill:

Wanted to alert neighbors of a very aggressive door-to-door solicitor. He said he was looking for donations to attend culinary school. He claimed to be a neighbor and mentioned one of my neighbors by first name. He had a wad of folded/laminated papers, but no badge that I could see. I thanked him and told him I was not interested, but he persisted. I told him two more times I was not interested, then finally had to ask him (twice) to leave my property. As he was walking away, he made a disparaging comment about me being rude.

With door-to-door season seeming to rev up, we’re reminding you about the major rules. As most recently published here last fall:

*Door-to-door (residential) selling is allowed between 8 am-9 pm.

*The entity for whom the seller is working has to have a license, and the seller (agent) must have ID showing the license and the agent’s name: “All licensees and agents shall conspicuously display on their outer clothing their residential sales license or residential sales agent licenses when selling.” If you choose to open the door, ask to see it immediately: “Each residential seller or agent shall, immediately upon contacting the prospective buyer, disclose to the prospective buyer his/her name, company, and the product or service represented.”

*Solicitors are required to honor a “no soliciting” sign if you have one. Whether you do or don’t, they’re also required to honor this part of the code: “If requested to do so, (the agent) shall leave the premises immediately.”

Read the full set of rules by going here.. And note the city says they don’t apply to sellers of “newspapers, or fresh or perishable food items”; nor is a license required for a person who turns up at your door seeking charity donations. (That of course does not mean you can’t ask for ID or further information on what a donation would go toward.)

If you do buy something from a solicitor, you have cancellation rights.

CONGRATULATIONS! Madison and Denny boys play for city soccer championship

FIRST REPORT, 9:54 PM SATURDAY: Congratulations to the boys-soccer teams of Madison Middle School and Denny International Middle School for playing for the city championship this afternoon! Thanks to Jodi Bennett for the first game report and photo:

Under sunny skies and the shadow of the Space Needle, Madison Middle School won the city championship for boys’ soccer today at Memorial Stadium. The final match came down to a good old-fashioned rivalry of West Seattle – Denny vs Madison. Final score was 3-2 with Sam Dagg and Ben Lapchis scoring the goals for Madison. It was a nice ending to a great season. Go Bulldogs!

ADDED 11:23 AM: From Denny principal Jeff Clark:

On Saturday, Denny and Madison both won semi-final matches at Memorial Stadium to set up an all-West Seattle city-wide championship game! Denny had won the West Seattle Cup earlier in the season. On Saturday, it was Madison’s turn as they won a highly competitive match 3 to 2 to win the championship. Congratulations to the Bulldogs on the win!

It was an amazing year for Denny boys soccer — we are very proud of all of our players, coaches, supporters and fans! A special thank you to Coaches Holland, Gutierrez, Vargas, and Tschida, Athletic Director Rodriguez, and everyone who has supported and encouraged our players all season! Go Dolphins!

FOLLOWUP: West Seattle Baseball’s new Snack Shack joins the lineup

June 10, 2017 7:41 pm
|    Comments Off on FOLLOWUP: West Seattle Baseball’s new Snack Shack joins the lineup
 |   West Seattle news | WS & Sports

We told you back on Thursday about the brand-new Snack Shack built for West Seattle Baseball at the Pee-Wee Fields in lower Riverview – and today, it was dedicated. We photographed project manager Karen, league president Erik, Peter from Charter Construction, and Eric from JEM Contractors as they got ready for the early-afternoon ribboncutting. Inside – classic snacks:

Hot dogs, popcorn, and nachos are available too. In our Thursday story, we mentioned the business donors who made it happen; today, Harvey and Sam displayed a thank-you banner with other contributors:

As we left, families were arriving for an afternoon of baseball – and, of course, snacks.

VOLUNTEER POWER: Orca Month cleanup at Alki

Alki’s a little cleaner after one hour of volunteer help today – thanks to Kersti Muul for the photos and report!

Today many groups are meeting at several beaches to help clean up for “An hour for the ocean” another event for Orca Month.

I worked with Whale Scout at Alki and we got 100 pounds of trash in one hour, in a small stretch near the bathhouse!

Beautiful day, beautiful people. We had a woman from Poland there, and one from Colombia helping, amazing!

More chances to clean up the beach are coming up this summer – including a Seal Sitters event two weeks from today!

WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: 1 arrested after stolen car ditched in High Point

2:20 PM: You’ll want to avoid 34th/35th/Morgan for a while – there’s a police search under way, K-9 included. We’re headed over to find out more.

2:32 PM: The intersection is not affected – police are in nearby parking lots including the gas station/minimart on the northeast corner. They tell us that two people bolted out of a stolen car that’s currently by the pumps, and that’s who they’re looking for. Adding a photo.

2:41 PM: One suspect has been taken into custody.

2:50 PM: Police tell us the suspect arrested is the person they believe was driving the stolen car.

VIDEO: First-ever Roll Hawks 5K, benefiting Chief Sealth International High School’s cross-country team

Spectacular morning to run and/or walk in Lincoln Park – exactly what more than 30 people did in the first-ever Chief Sealth International High School Roll Hawks 5K.

It’s a benefit for the cross-country team; coach Jim McCue (below) told the group just before the run that this is going to be a great year for the growing program, which was just chosen to get a boost from Brooks Running.

Unique to the course setting, the coach told runners to be careful in an area where a mother raven is protecting her babies. And at the nearby Fauntleroy ferry dock, the ferry happened to be at the dock as the run got going (it’s at the end of our starting-line video above).

Results will be online later.

VIDEO: Community celebration @ Murray CSO ‘wet-weather facility’

Until noon, you’re invited to come tour the new Murray combined-sewer-overflow-control “Wet Weather Facility” across from Lowman Beach Park – where a million-gallon storage tank is underground (where the people in the top photo are standing), ready in case a big storm sends too much stormwater and sewage to the Murray Pump Station (named for Murray Avenue SW) across the street. The King County Wastewater Treatment Division built the facility and we’re about to hear from its director Mark Isaacson as well as project manager Marla Coles, King County Council Chair Joe McDermott, and Deputy County Executive Fred Jarrett.


(Project consultant Scott Radford, demonstrating how water drains right through permeable pavement)

There are treats, informational stations, and tours, right where 48th SW meets Lincoln Park Way and Beach Drive.

ADDED 4:34 PM: Here’s our video of the speakers, who voiced pride in the project and thanks to the neighbors for putting up with years of construction:

Still a bit more to add later!

P.S. Those who took tours today got a look inside the building – if you missed that, here’s the story of our tour last Monday.

VIDEO: Kids fishing at Seacrest with West Seattle Sportsmen’s Club

June 10, 2017 9:22 am
|    Comments Off on VIDEO: Kids fishing at Seacrest with West Seattle Sportsmen’s Club
 |   West Seattle news | WS & Sports

ORIGINAL REPORT, 9:22 AM: Until 11 am – or until the ~250 rainbow trout are all caught – kids and teens 14 and younger are invited to fish at Seacrest with the West Seattle Sportsmen’s Club. It’s free; pole provided.

Already a good turnout when we stopped by shortly after the once-a-year event’s 8 am start.

11:48 AM: Added a few more photos.

That’s Eric Iwamoto at the fish-cleaning station, beneath which a savvy sea gull was waiting:

Your almost-summer West Seattle Saturday highlights!

June 10, 2017 7:29 am
|    Comments Off on Your almost-summer West Seattle Saturday highlights!
 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous


(Cargo ship and tour boat on Elliott Bay, photographed by Jim Borrow)

Welcome to a busy summer Saturday in West Seattle!

KIDS’ FISHING POND: Today’s the day the West Seattle Sportsmen’s Club presents the annual free fishing pond at Seacrest. 8 am-11 am, for kids 14 and younger, poles provided. (1660 Harbor SW)

ROLL HAWKS 5K: First year for a brand-new benefit run, starting at 9 am at the waterfront picnic shelters in Lincoln Park, with proceeds going to the Chief Sealth International High School Cross-Country Team. (8011 Fauntleroy Way SW)

MURRAY ‘WET-WEATHER FACILITY’ CELEBRATION: 10 am-noon, you’re invited to the community celebration at the combined-sewer-overflow-control facility across from Lowman Beach Parkdetails here, including the event schedule. Here’s our sneak peek from a tour earlier this week. (48th SW/Beach Drive/Lincoln Park Way)

WEST SIDE ARTISTS’ TOUR: Visit any or all of four participating studios, 10 am-8 pm. Map, addresses, and list can be found here.

WORK PARTY, GARDEN TOUR, PLANT SALE: It’s all happening between 10 am-3 pm at the South Seattle College Arboretum on the north end of campus – schedule is here. (6000 16th SW)

LOW TIDE WITH BEACH NATURALISTS: 10:30 am-1:30 pm, Seattle Aquarium volunteer beach naturalists will be back at Constellation and Lincoln Parks to assist with your low-tide exploring. Today’s low tide is -1.4 feet at 12:12 pm.

WEST SEATTLE BASEBALL: Celebrate West Seattle Baseball‘s new Snack Shack at the Pee-Wee fields at lower Riverview Playfield, starting at 11 am, ribboncutting at 11:45, Pinto and Mustang championship games start at 1 pm. (7226 12th SW)

TRIBUTE TO CASS TURNBULL: 12:30 pm at the SSC Arboretum, a plaque will be placed in tribute to the late Plant Amnesty founder Cass Turnbull – details in our calendar listing. (6000 16th SW)

NEIGHBORHOOD PRESCHOOL ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION: 1-4 pm, you’re invited to stop by the Neighborhood Preschool and help celebrate its 10th anniversary. (6902 35th SW)

NO ALKI LIGHTHOUSE TOURS:The Coast Guard Auxiliary had to cancel them for today. On for tomorrow, though, 1-4 pm.

WINE RELEASE: 2-7 pm, new wines will be poured at Viscon Cellars (WSB sponsor) – 2016 Perseverance Viognier and 2016 PORCH Rose’ of Syrah:

You can try and buy the rest of Viscon’s selections, too! (5910 California SW)

(TIME CORRECTED TO 2 PM) LAFAYETTE’S ‘LITTLE MERMAID’: Last chance to see this year’s Lafayette Elementary production! **2 pm** at West Seattle High School Theater, “Little Mermaid Jr.” is back on the stage. Ticket info’s in our calendar listing. (3000 California SW)

TLC FOR FAIRMOUNT PLAYFIELD PARK GREENBELT: 3:30-6 pm, come help Fairmount Playfield‘s volunteer forest steward Christine Deppe continue clearing invasive plants so that hundreds of new native plants can replace them later this year. (Fauntleroy Way/SW Brandon)

ALBUM SIDE SATURDAY: Fun new drop-in event at Highland Park Improvement Club, 4 pm-8 pm. Chick’n Fix food truck will be there 4-7 pm; HPIC DJs will play their favorite vinyl album sides; the bar’ll be open; paper-airplane-making too. All welcome! (1116 SW Holden)

BURGUNDY PEARL: Americana duo performs live at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor), 7-9 pm. (5612 California SW)

NORTHWEST FIRELIGHT CHORALE: “They sing, they dance (a special brand of “choralography”), and they have a meaningful mission — to invite the opening of people’s hearts to love and healing through inspired rehearsals and performances of soul-stirring music” – and you can see and hear them tonight at 7:30 pm at Fauntleroy Church. More info in our calendar listing.

TRIANGULAR JAZZTET: Live at Whisky West, 9 pm. No cover. 21+. (6451 California SW)

EVEN MORE … on our complete calendar!

UPDATE: ‘Small wall fire’ at condo building in 2400 block SW Trenton

12:20 AM: If you’re hearing sirens, it’s a “full response” for a possible fire in a multifamily building in the 2400 block of SW Trenton. First crew to arrive isn’t seeing anything, so far. More to come.

12:23 AM: Now they’re finding “light smoke” from a third-floor unit. Suspected “wall fire.” The address checks to the Westwood Plaza complex.

12:45 AM: What’s described as a “small wall fire” that did not spread is tapped and some units are being dismissed. No injuries reported. Adding a photo of Ladder 7 just before it pulled back.

HALA REZONING: Digging into the Draft Environmental Impact Statement, part 1

By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

If you want to settle into the weekend with a little light reading, consider the 460+ pages of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Housing Affordability and Livability Agenda‘s Mandatory Housing Affordability component (let’s just call it the HALA MHA DEIS for short).

Since it officially went public on Thursday, we’ve been looking through the HALA MHA DEIS in order to present the first in a series of “what you need to know about it” – or, ways to wade through it – reports, rather than just slapping up a news release and a link and moving on. While the comment period runs a month and a half, its marquee event – a City Hall public hearing – is only three weeks away.

The Draft EIS is the next major step in the process we have been closely covering since last October, when the draft maps showing proposed rezoning appeared online. The point of HALA MHA is to require developers to set aside a certain percentage of their projects as affordable housing, or to pay a fee into a city fund that will pay for affordable housing somewhere else. In exchange, zoning increases to give them more capacity – on average, an extra floor. But other proposed changes are more complex, such as upzoning all single-family areas in urban villages, and expanding urban-village boundaries in some areas (the West Seattle Junction Hub Urban Village is proposed for some of this). Read More

UPDATE: Water rescue response off West Seattle shores; no one to rescue

9:26 PM: First there was a small response looking for something or someone off Beach Drive – now, Seattle Fire is sending a full water-rescue response to the Seacrest vicinity. A fireboat is headed south off Alki Point, according to MarineTraffic.com. We’re headed over to find out more.

9:40 PM: We caught up with SFD just as they were leaving a spot across from Me-Kwa-Mooks, with a fireboat still offshore.

The item they were looking for turned out to be an inflatable that apparently fell off someone’s boat. No one in distress, no one to rescue, everything’s winding down.

10:06 PM: Photos added now that we’re back at HQ.

FOLLOWUP: See Jesse Link’s finished Admiral mural

A post shared by jesse link (@jesselink50) on

Back on Wednesday, we showed you the mural that artist Jesse Link was in the middle of painting on the north side of the Lyman Building on the southwest corner of California/Lander. Via Instagram, he announced it’s complete as of a few hours ago. We’re showing his photo above, since his aerial view is better than ours would be from the ground! This is Link’s third West Seattle mural, after two painted in 2015 at Shack Coffee and at Lofts At The Junction. When we talked to him briefly on Wednesday, he said he’d probably call the new mural “Festoon,” since that’s what it depicts.

WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Car-prowl arrest; theft from work truck; 2 burglaries

Four West Seattle Crime Watch reports, plus some crime-prevention advice:

CAR-PROWL SUSPECT ARRESTED: From SPD Blotter, word of an arrest in the Luna Park area late last night:

Officers responded to a report of a man breaking into a red SUV near SW Avalon Way and SW Spokane Street just after 11 p.m. Thursday. Officers arrived in the area and found the 35-year-old suspect sitting inside rummaging through a gym bag. Officers ordered the man out of the vehicle and verified the suspect had already pocketed a GPS unit before he was found sifting through the bag. Officers arrested the suspect and booked him into King County Jail for theft.

STOLEN FROM WORK TRUCK: From Liz:

Overnight between Tuesday 6/6 and Wednesday 6/7 multiple items were taken from the bed of our work truck. The truck was parked on the parking strip just south of our home on 42nd SW & SW 104th. Items missing included a portable air compressor, a sawsall, a Makita drill with impact driver, a set of step drill bits, Channel locks, and a few other misc hand tools. This is a business vehicle and items missing hindered work being done on 6/7 for one of our customers in West Seattle. We are a home based, sole proprietor business that can struggle just to make ends meet during the slower times, as much of our work is seasonal, and we are currently in the slower months.

We’ve requested the police-report number and will add it if/when we get it, in case anyone has found any of the stolen items.

Two burglaries are among a handful of West Seattle incidents with report narratives posted in SPD’s online files – both happened last Sunday:

BUSINESS BREAK-IN: Someone passing a business in the 6500 block of 35th SW around noon called to report its door was open, though the business was usually closed Sundays. Officers discovered the door glass had been pushed out and its frame damaged. They called the owner, who arrived, checked around, and reported that the only thing missing was some change.

HOME BREAK-IN: A resident in the 8400 block of Delridge Way SW told police that a noise awakened him around 10 pm Sunday night but he didn’t think much of it until he discovered in the morning that someone had pried open his basement door, gone into the basement, and used a hammer to try to break into the rest of the house. Police found hammers and a crowbar; the only thing that kept the intruder from getting into the main living area was something pushed up against the door to the basement.

DETERRING BURGLARS: Southwest Precinct Crime Prevention Coordinator Jennifer Burbridge shares this “bulletin” with home-burglary-deterring advice:

She also invites you to contact her for a free home- or business-safety assessment – jennifer.burbridge@seattle.gov – That’s also the e-mail you can use to get on her mailing list to directly receive bulletins like this one, as well as her monthly newsletter.

After 31 years as West Seattle High School baseball coach, Velko Vitalich ends a home run of a career


(WSB photo: Baseball coach and 1973 WSHS alum Velko Vitalich)

By Tracy Record and Patrick Sand
West Seattle Blog co-publishers

With a record of 398-256, West Seattle High School baseball coach Velko Vitalich has decided a 31-year career is long enough.

“I really enjoyed this year’s group of kids,” he told WSB in a conversation at WSHS this week. “It was a great way to end it.”

So why stop now?

“As much as I enjoy it …it’s getting harder to do – physically, there’s a lot to do, it’s draining.” He said he sees “good young coaches” at meetings and thinks there’s someone out there to take his place. “I probably do too many things too long,” he laughed, saying he “just had to decide” – and during the season, he did.

It’s only been four years since the most-successful of all those years – when WSHS finished #2 in the state in 2013:

(May 25, 2013, postgame photo by Greg Slader)

The coach keeps track of his alums. Read More

COUNTDOWN: 8 days to Morgan Junction Community Festival 2017!

(WSB photo: Bubbleman at 2015 Morgan Junction festival)

The first big neighborhood festival of summer is now only eight days away – the Morgan Junction Community Festival, in and around Morgan Junction Park, on the west side of California SW just north of Fauntleroy Way, 10 am-5 pm on Saturday, June 17th, presented by the Morgan Community Association. Here are some entertainment and food highlights, from Susan Madrid with the festival-organizing committee:

The music kicks off with the Endolyne Children’s Choir at 10 am. Soyaya, featuring exciting African rhythms, performs at 11:15, right after the Bubbleman (10:30). Gary Benson, local solo guitarist, plays at 12:30. The Brian and Janie Show, rocking out with top 40 dance/pop hits and classics, comes on at 2:15. The music wraps up with Yesod, a three-piece eastern/western string and percussion ensemble, from 4:00 to 5:00.

Food offerings are:

The Tamale Guy, who was very well received last year. They will offer three different fillings, served with their excellent Mexican slaw.

Das Brat Wagen will grill up a variety of German style gourmet dogs, including two kid-friendly items.

Mini the Dough-Nut will be serving cooked-to-order doughnuts with traditional or create-your-own toppings.

Sweet Bumpas Ice Cream, our local ice cream guys, offer 100% homemade ice creams and sorbets with a creative and creamy touch. Flavors are inspired by the seasons and always have a special twist.

West Seattle Thriftway will be grilling burgers in front of the store from around 11 until 3. Proceeds from sales go to funding next year’s festival.

An Italian Ice cart will be set up behind Zeeks Pizza in the vendor area. The rest of the food vendors and eating area will be in the Beveridge Place Pub parking lot.

That’s just part of what you’ll find at the festival – we’ll have more previews next week!

YOU CAN HELP: TLC for Fairmount Playfield greenbelt

June 9, 2017 12:01 pm
|    Comments Off on YOU CAN HELP: TLC for Fairmount Playfield greenbelt
 |   How to help | West Seattle news | West Seattle parks

The photo is from Christine Deppe, volunteer Green Seattle Partnership forest steward for the greenbelt at Fairmount Playfield, where she’s hoping for a few others to join work parties today and tomorrow. They’re mostly working through the summer to remove invasive plants such as ivy and blackberry in the north end of the greenbelt, Christine says, “so the site is ready for the 450 native plants (lots of berries, ferns, flowers, trees, pollinator-friendly brushes) to be planted at work parties in October and November, which is actually the best planting season for Seattle.” She would love to see you there today, 4-6:30 pm (more info here) and/or tomorrow (Saturday), 3:30-6 pm (more info here).

West Seattle Friday: Dance, listen, tour, walk…

June 9, 2017 10:21 am
|    Comments Off on West Seattle Friday: Dance, listen, tour, walk…
 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

Thanks to Lindsi Griggs for today’s featured photo, a barred owl photographed during a walk along Longfellow Creek last night, near the Louisa Boren STEM K-8 campus. Besides birdwatching, here’s what you can do in West Seattle today/tonight:

LOW TIDE WITH BEACH NATURALISTS: This morning’s low tide (-1.3 feet at 11:39 am) isn’t mega-low, but low enough for some good beach-walking, and the Seattle Aquarium volunteer beach naturalists are out at Constellation and Lincoln Parks, 10 am-1 pm.

WEST SIDE ARTISTS’ STUDIO TOUR: 4-10 pm, tour four local studios – here’s the map and list. (If you can’t do it today/tonight, the tour continues on Saturday!)

(added) VISCON CELLARS’ NEW WINES: Two new wines are being released by Viscon Cellars (WSB sponsor) tonight and tomorrow – “great summer wines, just in time for the sun!” says Ben Viscon. The wines are 2016 Perseverance Viognier and 2016 PORCH Rose’ of Syrah. Pouring 5-9 tonight and 2-7 Saturday. (5910 California SW)

CONCERT AND DANCE: Chief Sealth International High School Jazz Band, Denny International Middle School Jazz Band, and Jazz Underground are all on the bill for a concert and dance tonight in the Sealth Galleria, 6 pm dance lesson, 7 pm concert and open dance floor. Free; donations welcome. (2600 SW Thistle)

JOHN BRAZELL: 7-9 pm, singer/songwriter live at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor), performing with Browder Sister. (5612 California SW)

METAL MEN, GUARDIAN ALIEN: 9 pm at Parliament Taverndon’t miss the description. $5 cover. 21+. (4210 SW Admiral Way)

FOUR BANDS: See The Skylark‘s slate here. 9 pm. $7 cover. 21+. (3803 Delridge Way SW)

P.S. Last day of school for some in our area – see the list in our morning traffic-watch coverage!

CONGRATULATIONS! Friends of Sealth scholarships for 3 students

Thanks to Debbie Taylor from the Friends of Sealth Scholarship Committee for the report and photo:

Friends of Sealth (a non-profit organization supporting the 5 A’s of Chief Sealth: Academics, Athletics, Arts, Activities, and Alumni) was privileged to award scholarships to three Chief Sealth International High School students at Senior Awards night last night held in the school auditorium.

Pictured left to right: Katherine Fry, Performing Arts recipient; Michelle Ly, Academic recipient; Laurel Glatzmayer, Athletic recipient. Friends of Sealth congratulates the dedication of these three individuals to their education and the disciplines for which they were awarded.

About last night’s mystery flash/boom

Stepping away from the scanner for a few minutes to run an errand late last night, we missed the news that many people had called in about a loud boom and flash, audible/visible from northeast West Seattle. The Seattle City Light map didn’t show any outages. But this morning via Twitter, SCL says it was indeed a power-line situation – across the Duwamish River – “a bird got into the wrong place” at East Marginal and Oregon. A one-customer outage resulted – not shown on the map, but SCL reminds us that a few areas of their service territory remain off-map – and was repaired within three hours.

TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Friday watch; last day of school for some

June 9, 2017 6:59 am
|    Comments Off on TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Friday watch; last day of school for some
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

(SDOT MAP with travel times/video links; is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE)

6:59 AM: Good morning and happy Friday! No incidents in/from West Seattle so far. The biggest regional problem is a semi-truck that went sideways on southbound I-5 in Tacoma, so if you head south from here, beware of that.

SCHOOL’S OUT, OR ALMOST OUT: This is the first day of summer vacation for Seattle Lutheran High School (congrats to the Class of 2017, who graduated last night) … Today is the last day of school at Westside School (WSB sponsor), Holy Rosary, Hope Lutheran School, and Shorewood Christian … Next Tuesday, June 13th, is the last day of school for Our Lady of Guadalupe and Explorer West Middle School (both WSB sponsors) … One week from today, Friday, June 16th, is the last day for Tilden School (WSB sponsor) and Holy Family SchoolSeattle Public Schools‘ last day is June 26th.