West Seattle, Washington
25 Thursday
(2014 US Army Corps of Engineers photo of failing seawall)
From City Councilmember Lisa Herbold‘s newest weekly update – a milestone for the Beach Drive seawall project that’s been years in the making. How many years? For one – the 475-foot stretch of seawall itself, at Emma Schmitz Memorial Overlook, is 90 years old. For two – it’s been three years since the official public-comment period that accompanied an announcement from the Army Corps of Engineers of its agreement with Seattle Parks, and even that followed years of consideration, Beach Drive Blog pointed out earlier in 2014. Now, Herbold writes (sixth item here), a vote this past week puts the project on the road to construction starting next year:
The Council passed an agreement between the City’s Parks Department and the US Army Corps of Engineers to replace the seawall at Emma Schmitz Memorial Overlook Park (along) Beach Drive. The seawall was originally built in 1927, and is nearing the end of its useful life; it has a 30% probability of failure during a storm event, and by 2025 will have a 60% probability of failure. It’s 500 feet long, and supports important infrastructure, including a sewer main, a PSE gas line, a storm sewer main, and a water main.
The estimated cost is $2.8 million; the agreement provides for 65% federal funding, and 35% from Parks (approximately $1 million). After detailed design and permitting are completed, construction is anticipated for Autumn of 2018, with completion by Spring 2019.
I asked whether the design accounts for climate change and sea level rise; the Project Management Plan notes that the new seawall “will be two feet higher than the existing structure “to account for increased storm wave heights and future sea-level rise.”
Earlier this month, the Office of Sustainability & Environment released a Preparing for Climate Change report, which noted this seawall as being at risk from sea level rise.
The report notes that sea level rise increases the potential for overtopping of seawalls, and notes that “newer seawalls and other structures have been designed to accommodate projected sea level rise.”
Here’s a presentation and the Environmental Assessment.
Seattle Public Utilities has a map showing areas in Seattle most likely to be affected by sea-level rise.
Thanks to Councilmember Juarez, Chair of the Parks, Seattle Center, Libraries and Waterfront Committee, for shepherding the legislation through committee.
If you look back at our 2014 story (linked in the first paragraph), you’ll note the cost has gone up – still split two-to-one between federal and local funding, but it’s now estimated at $2.8 million, up from $2.3 million.
Thanks to Pete Spalding for the photos and report:
Parents from Pathfinder school and members of the Pigeon Point Neighborhood Council did a repainting project today.
About two years ago this mural was painted in the intersection of 21st Ave SW & SW Genesee. Over the last two years the mural has faded with normal traffic wear and a nearby construction project a couple of months after it was first completed. So today it was “refreshed.”
We were fortunate that with the change in the weather the project was able to be completed.
Here’s our report on the original mural painting, in July 2015.
2:37 PM: A three-car crash at 44th/Director [map], north of the Fauntleroy Schoolhouse, is sending at least one person to the hospital, we’re told at the scene – the driver of the red vehicle, which hit a pole. Police are also looking into a report that vehicle may have been involved in an earlier hit/run crash at 35th and Barton; we’re heading off to check that scene.
2:49 PM: The photo above is from 35th/Barton; the white car visible between the fire engine and police cars is the one struck by a hit-run driver suspected of involvement in the aforementioned crash. No serious injuries, we’re told.
As previewed in our West Seattle Sunday list, local author Linnea Westerlind is signing copies of her new guidebook “Discovering Seattle Parks” right now at Click! Design That Fits (WSB sponsor) in The Junction. She’s there until 3 pm, and it’s the first of four West Seattle events for her this month. This Wednesday (August 16th) at 11 am, she’s leading a free “kid-friendly park walk” at Jack Block Park – “stroller-friendly and about one mile round trip.” Details, including where to meet, are in our calendar listing. Also on Wednesday, at 6 pm, she’s presenting a talk and slideshow at Kenyon Hall – free admission – and selling her book. Then on Saturday, August 26th, starting at the north parking lot in Lincoln Park, she’ll lead a free guided walk through several local parks, about 4 miles round trip, lasting up to two hours.
Spotted at the Marshall Reserve greenspace along Harbor Avenue across from Don Armeni, the West Seattle rest stop for two-day participants in the cancer-research-fundraising Obliteride. Again this year, Obliteride offered multiple options to participants, all the way up to a two-day route (see the map here), riding mostly along the eastern shore of Puget Sound today, including Alki and points south. All the riders are raising money for Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, and heading for the finish line at Gas Works Park on Lake Union.
If you’re ready to rally after the ugliness of this past week – from Charlottesville to DC-vs-Pyongyang – Hate-Free Delridge has an invitation for you. Received this morning:
Hate-Free Delridge will be standing for peace on Wednesday, August 16, from 4:30 to 6:00 PM.
Come join us on the Delridge pedestrian overpass at Oregon Street.
Bring a sign — for example:
No War
No Nukes
Make Love, Not War
Negotiate, Don’t Escalate
A peace symbolTell your friends. We need to be heard. We need to speak out. See you there.
It’s been almost exactly a year since we first reported on the birth of Hate-Free Delridge in the wake of a racist attack on a local family.
(Added: WSB photo @ Don Armeni, as this weekend’s salmon season continues)
It really did start raining overnight. So – welcome to a gray Sunday! Activity options from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar include:
WEST SEATTLE FARMERS’ MARKET: 10 am-2 pm in the street in The Junction. (California SW between SW Alaska and SW Oregon)
‘DISCOVERING SEATTLE PARKS’ BOOK SIGNING: While you’re in The Junction, go meet Linnea Westerlind, the West Seattle author who wrote THE guide to parks here and around the city, as featured on WSB back in June. She’s at Click! Design That Fits (WSB sponsor) 11 am-3 pm. (4540 California SW)
UPDATE – NO WADING POOLS TODAY: As of 9:34 am, Seattle Parks has updated its wading-pool hotline to say that the pools will NOT be open today because it’s cloudy and below 70 degrees.
NO ALKI LIGHTHOUSE TOURS TODAY … they’ll see you next weekend!
POP-UP BOUTIQUE BENEFIT: 2-4 pm, shop a LuLaRoe Pop-Up Boutique with a percentage of proceeds benefiting WestSide Baby, and a match for $100+ donations – details in our calendar listing. (3444 California SW)
BEETHOVEN SONATAS FESTIVAL: 3 pm, presented by Music Northwest at First Lutheran Church of West Seattle – details in our calendar listing. (4105 California SW)
‘SHREK, THE MUSICAL’: First matinee for Twelfth Night Productions‘ summer show, 3 pm at West Seattle High School. Find ticket info in our calendar listing. (3000 California SW)
FREE SHAKESPEARE IN THE PARK: GreenStage presents “Hamlet” at Delridge Playfield, 4:30 pm (we’re checking on rainout plans) – details here. (4458 Delridge Way SW)
YOUTH FASHION EXTRAVAGANZA: Free food and entertainment, all-ages, presented by Unified Outreach at West Seattle Christian Church Activity Center, 6 pm, doors open 5 pm. (4400 42nd SW)
P.S. – transit reminders:
WATER TAXI’S BACK IN SERVICE: After five days out of service for the downtown dock move (now it’s north of Colman Dock instead of south), the West Seattle Water Taxi returned to service on Saturday, and the Vashon WT will resume running tomorrow.
WSF TRIANGLE ROUTE ON 2-BOAT SCHEDULE: Washington State Ferries has two boats on the Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth route again today; here’s the schedule.
(Duwamish Rowing Club photo: Gold medal winners L-R, Molly MacDonald, Bree Hopkins, Coxswain: Dirke Holsberry, Hazel Dahlquist, Laurel Glassley)
From the Duwamish Rowing Club, word of rowers’ success and a reminder about your chance to learn to row:
The Green Lake Summer Extravaganza is one of summer’s last regattas for rowing crews in the Northwest.
This year, 24 crews from Washington, Oregon, and Alaska gathered on Saturday, August 5th for one last fun race of 1000 meters before fall’s longer head race season begins.
The Duwamish Rowing Club had seven entries in six races for both masters (adults) and junior youth crews. Our DRC girls under 16 rowed their quad to win the gold medal, crossing the finish line with open water between them and the other crews. It was exceptionally sweet because many of the girls were novices with only three weeks’ rowing experience. A quad is a boat that holds four rowers, each with a sculling oar in each hand or eight oars. They row together in unison.
The Duwamish Rowing Club has both youth and master’s programs and is currently seeking more members. Come join a vibrant, growing, fun team. Over the next six weeks, we are hosting a free learn to row event. If you would like to be on land and on the water learning the sport of rowing, contact us at duwamishrowingclub.org.
In addition to the Admiral Way repaving alert we published on Friday, there’s one more that you might want to know about – outside West Seattle, but a major route for getting to/from downtown. SDOT says that the six-month repaving project for 4th Avenue South, between S. Spokane Street (the bridge) and S. Royal Brougham (stadium zone), starts Monday. Here’s what that means:
From 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekdays beginning Monday, August 14, travelers can expect:
· Crews on 4th Ave S to be working from south to north beginning at S Spokane St and working north to S Royal Brougham Way.
· Work will be done during the week; however some night and weekend work is expected and will be communicated in advance.
· Intermittent lane closures around the work zone. 4th Ave S will otherwise remain open throughout construction.
· On-street parking will be temporarily removed in the active work zone.
· Rough pavement after grinding and steel plates on the roadway.
· Construction-related noise, dust, vibration, and asphalt odor. …
· King County Metro bus stops will be temporarily shifted around work zones. For information on changes to Metro routes, please (go here).
You can read the full announcement here. We’ll track this project in our weekday-morning traffic coverage, in the weeks/months ahead.
A 3-year-old boy was taken to Harborview Medical Center this past hour with injuries from an incident police are still trying to sort out. It happened in the 5200 block of Fauntleroy Way SW; police were told the child was hit by a vehicle, but no one has a description. No info so far on any other circumstances, including who if anyone was supervising him at the time. If you saw anything, please let police know.
5:44 PM: Thanks to the person who texted about this: A tree limb fell on a car on the north end of Lincoln Park’s north parking lot; that entrance is closed right now.
A Seattle Parks rep at the scene told us no one was injured and that the car was not seriously damaged. He said it happened about an hour ago and that a crew is en route.
We don’t know if this is one of the ~90 Lincoln Park trees identified for pruning/removal, as reported here earlier this summer; that work is expected to start soon.
8:20 PM: Just went by the parking lot. A Parks crew is wrapping up removal of the downed limb. The north entrance to the north lot is open again.
EDITOR’S NOTE: With nine days until the solar eclipse, we’re getting questions about where to get viewing glasses, and West Seattle’s best-known sky-watcher has put together a list. Watch for more pre-eclipse coverage here tomorrow and beyond, too.
By Alice Enevoldsen
Special to West Seattle Blog
I will tell you where you can get safe eclipse glasses after two short paragraphs of safety information; my conscience won’t let me skip the safety warnings.
Eclipse Glasses
You absolutely need special equipment to see this event safely.
Eclipse glasses are also called solar-observing glasses and they are not related to sunglasses. There are only a handful of companies that make glasses that meet the current international standard of safety.
To use glasses safely:
*Check that they are marked compliant with the safety standard ISO 12312-2:2015
*Check that the lenses are flat and free from scratches, punctures, or damage. Discard them if there are problems.
*Stand still, looking away from the Sun.
*Put on the glasses.
*Look toward the Sun.
*If the Sun looks bright, or your eyes get tired from the glare, then the filter is letting too much light though. Look away and use a different filter.
“West” Seattle Sources for Eclipse Glasses
I’ve included some farther than West Seattle because everywhere has limited supplies. Most of these locations have the glasses behind the main counter.
Seattle Public Library Branches — FREE!
All the branches of the Seattle Public Library are participating in the Space Science Institute’s STAR_Net Initiative with support from NASA, Google, and the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation. You can pick up one pair per family while supplies last.
(UPDATE: Since we published this – we’ve been told Seattle Public Library branches are OUT. So scroll down to the other suggestions. Ken @ High Point Library says that branch’s eclipse-viewing gathering 8:30-11:30 am on the 21st will have glasses to share. ALSO – see comments below this story for additional locations reported by readers.)
11:33 AM: It’s on! Delridge Day 2017 has begun in the park outside Delridge Community Center (4501 Delridge Way SW), celebrating east West Seattle with music, vendors, community groups, food, skating, and fun. First, the entertainment schedule, on the main stage by the community center – the first band, Yesod, has just finished; here are the music and dance performances that are coming up:
11:40 am – AAA Divas
Noon – Burley Mountain
12:40 pm – PI Legion
1 pm – Galaxy
1:40 pm – Dance Brazil
2 pm – Massive Monkees
There’s a second stage on the west side of the park, too, which is also where you’ll find Seattle Police with their Picnic at the Precinct – which includes free hot dogs and ice cream:
And rubber ducks:
At the skatepark on the northeast side of the park, Skate Like a Girl is offering three free skateboarding clinics, at noon, 12:45, and 1:30 pm.
And in the rest of the park, you’ll find dozens of community groups and vendors. We’re here too, and will be walking around shortly to get a list. Right across from us – West Seattle Food Bank, West Seattle Helpline, the 34th District Democrats, the West Seattle Democratic Women. We also know ORCA 2 Go is here, if you need an ORCA card. Right next to us – the information booth, so you can talk to the festival’s community organizers.
One more thing to mention – right after the festival, 3-10 pm, Ounces is having a Delridge Day afterparty – live music and beer, with $1 of “select pints” being donated toward next year’s festival costs! Ounces is at 3809 Delridge Way SW. More Delridge Day coverage to come!
12:24 PM: The weather’s beautiful – not hot, not cold, a little breezy, sun’s out, and some blue sky’s in sight. The wading pool here at the park has opened. You’ll see it in our short full-circle video on Instagram:
Also in our clip: two horses from the SPD Mounted Patrol have arrived. Meantime, we’ve wandered around to check out more of the organizations that are here – Delridge Neighborhoods Development Association, West Seattle Timebank, West Seattle Emergency Communication Hubs, Southwest Seattle Historical Society, Sound Generations, Seattle Public Library, South Seattle College, Southwest Youth and Family Services, Delridge Grocery Master Composters, various health organizations …
At the info booth next to us, by the way, you can buy a T-shirt to support Delridge Day!
Meantime, lots of people stopping by – all ages, including families with strollers, people on bicycles, and we’ve seen a few dogs, like this cute trio:
At the booth across from us, the 34th Dems are offering voter registration, if you aren’t registered yet. Lots of things you can sign up for and learn about here, besides having fun, enjoying treats, etc.
1:56 PM: Only an hour left – this festival goes fast. Still time enough to come enjoy entertainment and treats. Just caught these dancers on video:
Dancing at Delridge Day! Festival's on until 3 pm pic.twitter.com/4wODyJllE1
— West Seattle Blog (@westseattleblog) August 12, 2017
And lots of interesting people have been here today – we’ve been lucky to talk with some of them, including Ken Workman from the Duwamish Tribe council:
He says the T-shirt is available at the Duwamish Tribe Longhouse and Cultural Center at 4705 W. Marginal Way, where an art market is happening until 4 pm today.
Across from us, WS Democratic Women have a game going at their booth – you get 10 pennies to allocate between 12 slots, each representing a billion dollars to spend to combat climate change.
They promise us they will share word of the results later! Meanwhile, on the main stage, Massive Monkees are dancing:
Massive Monkees at Delridge Day pic.twitter.com/kYD9TAORDB
— West Seattle Blog (@westseattleblog) August 12, 2017
2:44 PM: We’re in the final minutes already! Among the organizations that have enjoyed the day, Eastridge Church says it’s given away almost all the 500 backpacks it brought:
Besides the backpack giveaway, you might also know Eastridge for the turkey giveaway every Thanksgiving season.
Earlier, we mentioned the upcoming afterparty at Ounces, with $1 from select pints to be donated to fund Delridge Day – Ounces is here too:
We asked which pints would be part of the fundraiser – so, if you want to help, be sure to order Lucky Envelope Helles Lager, Rooftop Neutron Session IPA, or Mollusk Kaffeebier Coffee Brown Ale. Again, Ounces is at 3809 Delridge Way SW; afterparty’s on until 10 pm. We’ll add more festival photos when we’re back at HQ later!
Four reader reports in West Seattle Crime Watch:
BUSINESS ROBBERY: Bree at Alki Mail and Dispatch reports a robbery Friday evening:
I just wanted to warn other small businesses in the area to be vigilant and aware. Last night at 5:15pm we had a snatch and grab robbery in the shop. A man who appeared to be of Middle Eastern decent, about 6′ tall and around 180 lbs and I would guess to be in his 30s, came in and ordered a coffee. When my employee rang him up and the cash drawer opened, he reached over and grabbed the money from the till and ran out the door. Another employee bravely gave chase but was unable to catch him. He ran south along 47th avenue and was then picked up by a black male with dreadlocks in a red car, possibly a Honda, with plate # BCL23–. Police reports were filed and thankfully no one was injured and he only got away with $148 but I would hate for this to happen to anyone else!
GYM THEFT: From Julie:
When LA Fitness says they are not responsible for lost and and stolen items they mean it! Use at your own risk. My purse was stolen from the women’s locker room of the LA Fitness on Alaska between 5:30 and 6:30 pm Thursday Aug 10th. I was not the only one whose purse was stolen. Another woman came to the front desk to report her purse stolen too.
There was actually a staff member in the women’s locker room who was vacuuming during that time. Apparently she didn’t see anything. It would be nice if they had cameras in the workout area. At least they could review the footage to who was coming and going at that time. They are able to see who checked in at the front desk.
In case you’ve found a dumped purse – it’s a chocolate-colored Travelon – ironically, called the “anti-theft classic mini-shoulder bag.”
MAIL THEFT: Derek reported that in the 10 am hour Friday, “We just (in the past hour) got hit by a very brazen mail thief in the 9600 block of 25th Ave SW. 5’6″ to 5’8″ African American female, putting everyone’s mail into several reusable grocery bags,” wearing a “long-sleeved shirt and skull cap,” and, Derek adds, “working with a taller African American male with several grocery bags and a wheeled suitcase.” KCSO and SPD were both searching for the thieves, last seen headed north on 24th SW in the Westwood area.
BICYCLE TAKEN: From Colleen:
A man’s large frame black Trek Allant bicycle was stolen from the secure garage of our condo building in the 5000 block of California SW sometime between 1:30 pm Wednesday and 9 pm Thursday. It was cut from a secure wall mount. Serial number WYU074C6092K. Seattle Police Incident #17-295719. Please be on the lookout for this new bike.
(Killdeer at Constellation Park, photographed by Mark Wangerin)
Happy Saturday! First, a transportation note:
WEST SEATTLE WATER TAXI SERVICE RESUMES: As announced Friday afternoon, the West Seattle Water Taxi is back in service as of today. Note two things that are different: Its downtown dock is now north of the Washington State Ferries terminal, and its schedule has changed.
Next, it’s a day full of sales:
ARTS & CRAFTS FAIR: One-day event at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor), 8 am-2 pm. (added) Thanks to Linda for sending the photo:
(5612 California SW)
TIBBETTS’ ANNUAL GARAGE SALE: 9 am-1 pm, the big annual garage sale at Tibbetts United Methodist Church (WSB sponsor) promising a “variety of clothing, furniture, baby items, tools, outdoor gear, jewelry, books, games, toys, household wares, and arts and crafting supplies.” (3940 41st SW)
HPIC ‘HUGE ANNUAL GROUP SALE’: 9 am-3 pm, see who’s selling what at Highland Park Improvement Club during this big once-a-year sale. (1116 SW Holden)
NATIVE ART MARKET AND JUMBLE DAYS: 10 am-4 pm, second day of “arts & crafts, estate, rummage sale, and food” at the Duwamish Tribe‘s Longhouse and Cultural Center. Free admission/parking for shoppers. (4705 W. Marginal Way SW)
UNIFIED BREWING GARAGE SALE: Noon-5 pm at the former Big Al Brewing/future Unified Brewing in White Center, a sale raising money for WestSide Baby – more on our partner site White Center Now. (9832 14th SW)
And now, the rest of the highlights!
URBAN FARM TOUR: Self-guided tour of urban farms in West Seattle, White Center, and Burien, 10 am-4 pm. Tickets required for adults – and that gets you the list of locations; if you haven’t bought yours online in advance, there are two places to go for day-of tickets: 5011 47th Ave SW, 10223 26th Ave SW.
DELRIDGE DAY: Annual festival at Delridge Community Center park, 11 am-3 pm, with vendors, organizations, skatepark events, police Picnic at the Precinct visitors and activities, and more. We’ll be reporting from the park, too. See you there! (4501 Delridge Way SW)
WADING POOLS AND SPRAYPARK OPEN TODAY: Lincoln Park wading pool and Highland Park spraypark are open 11 am-8 pm; Delridge and Hiawatha wading pools are open noon-6:30 pm. (Find addresses here)
PENCIL ME IN FOR KIDS DONATION DRIVE: Help kids get what they need to be successful in school – dropoff donation fundraising drive is happening today/tonight at the West Seattle YMCA (WSB sponsor) – these items are being collected by Value Village to raise money for PMIFK:
By donating gently-used clothing, shoes, accessories, book, linens, and small household items (no furniture), you can help provide the 13 West Seattle elementary schools with basic supplies such as black & white composition books, pencils, colored pencils, glue sticks, dry erase markers, pink erasers, washable markers, and pocket-file folders. We get paid for every pound of goods donated and we use the funds to buy each school’s requested items.
If you’re coming to tonight’s movie at the Y (see below), bring your items for dropoff then! (36th SW/SW Snoqualmie)
SATURDAY IN THE GARDEN: The Barton Street P-Patch welcomes you noon-3 pm for fresh-baked pizza from its outdoor oven, music, and mingling – details here. (34th SW/SW Barton)
ALKI LIGHTHOUSE TOURS: Today’s the only day the historic lighthouse is open this weekend, so don’t miss the free tours – 1 to 4 pm, get there by 3:40 pm to be in the last group. (3201 Alki SW)
ECLIPSE EDUCATION: Astronomy expert and author Dennis Schatz (“When the Sun Goes Dark,” geared toward kids) talks about the upcoming solar eclipse at the Admiral (West Seattle) Library, 3 pm – details here. Free but get there early for a seat. (2306 42nd SW)
SALSA ON ALKI: Dance at the beach! Lesson at 5, dancing 6-10, $15 cover – details here. (60th SW/Alki SW)
‘FINDING DORY’ AT WEST SEATTLE OUTDOOR MOVIES: Gates at 5:30 pm, free movie at dusk (8:45-ish) – tonight, it’s “Finding Dory“:
This edition of West Seattle Outdoor Movies includes food trucks Nibbles and Macho Burgers, raffles benefiting White Center Food Bank and Senior Center of West Seattle, and co-sponsors including WSB sponsors Dream Dinners and HomeStreet Bank. Kids’ activities presented by your co-host West Seattle YMCA (WSB sponsor) – you’ll find the movie in the “festival street” south of the Y. Bring your own chair/blanket. And bring your Pencil Me In For Kids donations – see above! (36th SW/SW Snoqualmie)
PB&J: Original acoustic music at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor), 7-9 pm. (5612 California SW)
THE HOME RULERS: 7:30 pm at Kenyon Hall, hear this group “explore unique Celtic songs, tunes, and stories, wistful to wild.” (7904 35th SW)
‘SHREK, THE MUSICAL’: Second night for Twelfth Night Productions‘ summer show, 7:30 pm at West Seattle High School. Find ticket info in our calendar listing. (3000 California SW)
BLUES AND ROCK: At Parliament Tavern, 9 pm-midnight: Fast Nasties, Barring The Weather, The Mighty Dreadful: “Progressive blues, groovy rock and rockabilly bluegrass.” $5 cover. 21+. (4210 SW Admiral Way)
EVEN MORE … on our complete calendar!
Thanks to David Hutchinson for the Friday night sunset photo from Alki Beach. He noted, “Nice to see some actual clouds and blue sky – not just the smoke.” And this time, the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency says it’s not expecting an encore.
Just hours away from this year’s Delridge Day festival, again featuring Picnic at the Precinct, all happening 11 am-3 pm Saturday at Delridge Community Center park. The festival offers a variety of family fun – including activities at Delridge Skatepark – and the chance to meet your neighbors, including many local organizations. We’ll be on scene to report on who’s there and what’s happening, so check here for updates. And if you haven’t been before, here’s what’s offered at the precinct “picnic,” as Crime Prevention Coordinator Jennifer Burbridge describes it:
Precinct Picnics provide opportunities for each precinct’s surrounding neighborhoods to come together and enjoy an afternoon of celebration with the officers that protect their families and businesses. Businesses financially support the event through donations and community groups assist in the planning and execution of each picnic.
The first Picnic at the Precinct was held in September 2004 at the East Precinct. Since then, the Picnic in the Precinct program has grown to include all five precincts. Thousands of Seattle residents enjoy food, music, and an opportunity to learn about and interact with many of the Department’s units, including K-9, Mounted Patrol, Bomb Squad, and SWAT.
They usually bring treats, too. See you at Delridge Day tomorrow!
For the second consecutive day, Gatewood stabbing suspect Ryan Cox refused to appear for his scheduled bail hearing, according to King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office spokesperson Dan Donohoe. So another one has been scheduled for tomorrow (Saturday), and Cox remains in King County Jail, three days after he was taken into custody, accused of stabbing a 40-year-old West Seattle man multiple times after a confrontation at California and Orchard. The victim’s friends and family say he will survive. Prosecutors are expected to make their charging decision on Monday; as we detailed on Wednesday, Cox has been in and out of the criminal-justice and mental-health systems for years.
2:52 PM: Thanks to everybody who has messaged about this – reporting that the West Seattle Junction finally has its drive-up/ride-up mailbox back. It’s been a month and half since our last update, from reader Diana, who was told by the USPS that it might be “several more months.” The old, damaged box was removed in mid-January, right after our original report about it having been out of service for a few weeks.
3:10 PM: WSB’s Katie Meyer just checked out the new box and sent the photo we added above. She says it is still being fine-tuned but it is usable – and bolted into concrete.
Just announced by SDOT:
The Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) advises travelers that crews will be paving SW Admiral Way from SW Lander St to SW Stevens St, beginning Tuesday, August 15 through Friday, August 18.
From 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Tuesday, August 15 through Friday, August 18, travelers can expect:
Crews will be paving SW Admiral Way from SW Lander St to SW Stevens St.
Traffic in each direction will be detoured to use the parking lanes.
Parking will be restricted.
72 hours before work starts temporary “No Parking” signs will be placed.
Traffic will have slight delays during work hours.
You may enter and exit driveways, but you may have to wait up to 15 minutes for equipment to clear.
If possible, use alternate routes during construction.
King County Metro bus stops are not expected to be impacted.
This project is part of SDOT’s Arterial Major Maintenance (AMM) program. The AMM program maintains our busiest streets by making strategic small-scale investments at key locations on city streets.
SDOT would like to thank the public for its patience while this work is completed.
This follows recent paving work on 35th SW in Sunrise Heights, on Beach Drive, and on 63rd SW.
The Water Taxi website says it’s official: “King County Water Taxi will resume service out of its temporary location at Pier 52 beginning Saturday, Aug. 12 for the West Seattle route, which will operate on a new sailing schedule. The Vashon Island route will resume service on its normal sailing schedule beginning Monday, Aug. 14.” Both routes have been out of service since Monday so that the dock could move from the south side of the main downtown ferry terminal to the north side (see map above). It’ll be there for about a year and a half while the new passenger-ferry terminal is built on the site of the old one.
As predicted, the air is clearing. The Puget Sound Clean Air Agency has lifted the burn ban; the National Weather Service no longer has an air-quality alert in effect. And the latest forecast has a chance of showers overnight tonight, more of a chance tomorrow night.
Story and video by Linda Ball
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
Swagger fun style is how dancer Hank Kershell describes his dance style. Perhaps you’ve caught his moves. He’s danced for up to 10 hours at a time, 19 Fridays in a row, at the Junction in front of Key Bank. Not only that, he danced every day at this year’s West Seattle Summer Fest, which he said “did him in.”
WSB readers have been asking if we had ever found out the story of “the dancing man,” so we talked with him last Friday.
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