West Seattle, Washington

16 Monday

52℉

month : 08/2018 314 results

TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Tuesday watch; Beach Drive crash closure
August 7, 2018 6:16 am
|      5 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

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

6:14 AM: Thanks for the text. Beach Drive is closed near Shore Place (here’s a map) because of a crash that damaged a utility pole, which will have to be replaced.

(Thanks to Randi for the photo.) SPD says the closure is expected to last a couple more hours.

6:32 AM: Metro alert because of the crash: “Route 37 is rerouted off of 48 Av SW btwn SW Graham St & Lincoln Pk Wy SW also Beach Dr SW, south of SW Jacobsen Rd.”

7:21 AM: Still closed (and this remains this morning’s only traffic incident in/from WS so far). SFD tells us that one man was taken to the hospital after the crash, in serious condition.

7:59 AM: Northbound traffic is now being allowed through.

9:04 AM: The new pole has arrived for installation:

11:31 AM: Just went back to check. Traffic now getting by both ways, alternating, with flaggers.

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5 days to SPF30: Briefing for volunteers who’ll be helping at Saturday’s Sub Pop event on Alki
August 6, 2018 10:23 pm
|      8 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle festivals | West Seattle news | WS culture/arts

Just five days until the Sub Pop Records 30th anniversary party at Alki Beach – noon-10 pm next Saturday (August 11th), with 18 bands on four stages (see the schedule here). Tonight, volunteers gathered at the beach for a briefing and T-shirt distribution – here’s what you’ll see them wearing on Saturday:

With the band list and schedule out, the final details yet to come primarily involve the final transportation plan, including road closures, and we’re expecting that tomorrow. It’s been five months since Sub Pop started bringing updates to neighborhood meetings, seven months since SPF30 was announced.

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Another smoky West Seattle sunset: Forest fire on the Olympic Peninsula
August 6, 2018 8:39 pm
|    Comments Off on Another smoky West Seattle sunset: Forest fire on the Olympic Peninsula
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle weather

8:39 PM: Thanks to David Hutchinson for the view from Alki. He and others pointed out smoke from the south end of the Olympics, and after some research, we’re thinking it’s the fire near Hamma Hamma on Hood Canal, now more than 70 acres, burning in what’s described as “steep terrain.”

ADDED 11:33 PM: From Long Bach Nguyen, a photo from the fire area, which is also near Lake Cushman:

The state is calling this the Maple wildfire.

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West Seattle Crime Watch: Stolen business truck (found!)
August 6, 2018 8:29 pm
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | West Seattle news

ORIGINAL MONDAY REPORT: Another stolen vehicle to watch for, this one taken from the garage at The Whittaker (4755 Fauntleroy Way SW): “Dodge 1991 D350 white flatbed truck. Black rims, black grille, white exterior, tool/utility boxes underneath and on flatbed. Wooden side panels on flatbed. California plates. Cash reward. Report to police if found; call Jacob at 206-484-9232 with information.”

UPDATE: The truck has been found – apparently spotted by a reader.

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Housing challenges and other updates @ Camp Second Chance Community Advisory Committee
August 6, 2018 5:40 pm
|      8 COMMENTS
 |   Myers Way | West Seattle news

(L-R, city rep Tom Van Bronkhorst, LIHI’s Josh Castle and Richard Horne, committee member Aaron Garcia and chair Willow Fulton)

By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

No one from Camp Second Chance, West Seattle’s only city-permitted encampment, has been placed in housing in two months.

That’s what the C2C Community Advisory Committee was told when it met on Sunday for the first time since June. In the month prior to the June meeting, C2C’s case manager Richard Horne had reported, he helped seven campers find housing. On Sunday, he described the challenges that are thwarting further progress.

But first: Present from the committee were chair Willow Fulton, a nearby resident; Judi Carr, who lives at Arrowhead Gardens, where they meet; and Aaron Garcia, from the White Center Community Development Association. LIHI, which operates the camp, was represented by Horne and by Josh Castle. C2C founder and resident manager Eric Davis also was there, as was the usual city representative, Tom Van Bronkhorst of the Department of Neighborhoods.

UPDATES: Fulton started by reading a message from absent committee member Cinda Stenger, who wrote that Alki UCC – one of the camp’s major donors – has finished two more “tiny houses” for the camp, with five additional ones almost done, and is raising money for more. (City funding for the encampment does not cover tiny houses or tents, just the platforms on which they are held.)

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FOLLOWUP: Unanimous Council approval for Orchard Street Ravine expansion acquisition
August 6, 2018 4:37 pm
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   Gatewood | West Seattle news | West Seattle parks | West Seattle politics

Quick followup on the city’s planned purchase of a parcel expanding the Orchard Street Ravine “passive park” in Gatewood – the $235,000 purchase, to be funded by Park District levy money, just got unanimous final approval from the full Council. The 5600-square-foot parcel at 7137 38th SW, on a slope past a dead end (shown on this map), currently holds a dilapidated house that will be demolished, with an additional ~$125,000 to be spent on that and other costs. Full backstory is in our two previous reports – here and here.

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Crime Watch: Stolen gray 4Runner
August 6, 2018 3:59 pm
|    Comments Off on Crime Watch: Stolen gray 4Runner
 |   Crime | West Seattle news | White Center

From Tim, a stolen-vehicle report: “Gray Toyota 4Runner ’99 SUV. Washington plates 231XWQ. Also: Black brush guard on the front end. Stolen Saturday night, 98th and 17th SW. Please call 911 if you see it!”

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West Seattle’s historic murals: Here’s how you can help save the rest of them
August 6, 2018 1:55 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   How to help | West Seattle history | West Seattle news | WS culture/arts

(WSB photo, April 2018)

The Mosquito Fleet mural on the east side of the city-landmark Campbell Building is next up for restoration in the finally launched project to restore all of West Seattle’s historic murals; it’ll be restored by muralist Bob Henry, who recently brought the Morgan Junction mural back to life. While the campaign to save all the Murals of West Seattle has a good start to the necessary funding – thanks to Adah Rhodes Cruzen‘s gift and to the West Seattle Garden Tour, among others – community contributions are requested, too, and that fundraising campaign has officially launched. This video tells the story:

(Video by This Is It Video Production)
More backstory on the murals and the restoration campaign – plus your options for contributing – can be found here.

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LAST CALL: Deadline for registering your Night Out block party
August 6, 2018 12:10 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   Neighborhoods | Safety | West Seattle news | West Seattle police

(Photo courtesy Pete Spalding. P.S. For Delridge Day info, here’s our most-recent update!)

Clever sign like that one from Pigeon Point NOT required – but if you want to close a (non-arterial) street for your Night Out block party tomorrow night, you have until 5 pm today to register it. Just go here. And you can go here to find templates for street-closure signs and neighborhood invitations. If you won’t be at your own block/building party – remember that as of last count, more than 260 parties were registered in this area, so be mindful of many closed side streets between 6-9 pm tomorrow!

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4 for August’s first West Seattle Monday
August 6, 2018 11:11 am
|    Comments Off on 4 for August’s first West Seattle Monday
 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Parasailing over Elliott Bay, photographed this weekend by David Hutchinson)

Moving on with our Monday:

WADING POOLS: Today’s scheduled-to-be-open West Seattle wading pools are Lincoln Park (11 am-8 pm; 8011 Fauntleroy Way SW) and Delridge (12 noon-6:30 pm; Delridge Way/Genesee).

FAMILY STORY TIME: 6:30 pm at High Point Library, which has excellent air conditioning! (3411 SW Raymond)

WEST SEATTLE QUILTERS: Join their meeting at 7 pm at the also-well-cooled Senior Center/Sisson Building! (4217 SW Oregon)

TRIVIA: 7:30 pm at The Skylark. All ages – free – with prizes! (3803 Delridge Way SW)

LOTS MORE FOR THE WEEK AHEAD, AND BEYOND … on our complete calendar!

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For second time in a week, short but widespread West Seattle power outage: 16,000+ customers affected
August 6, 2018 8:30 am
|      136 COMMENTS
 |   Utilities | West Seattle news

(Screengrab from Seattle City Light website at peak of outage)

8:30 AM: Thanks for the texts. Ours is out too. We’re getting reports from a widespread area – as far north as Admiral. More to come.

8:38 AM: City Light map says more than 16,000 homes/businesses are out. Remember that intersections are four-way stops when the signals are out.

8:46 AM: City Light says via Twitter that they “believe the outage was caused by a switching problem and estimate power will be restored about 9:15 a.m.”

8:50 AM: It’s been six days since a similarly widespread outage (WSB coverage here) was blamed on a “relay malfunction,” though that one lasted only a few minutes.

8:53 AM: Our power’s back (Fauntleroy/Gatewood line). Yours? We of course will be following up with SCL. Also note that – as happened after last Tuesday’s even-shorter outage – there may be some lingering effects like flashing traffic signals.

9:26 AM: Just talked with Scott Thomsen at City Light, who is looking into questions such as whether this was human error, a mechanical problem, etc. He says the “routine maintenance” at the Delridge Substation continues so that’s one thing this did have in common with last Tuesday’s outage. We will update again later when we get more followup information.

2:23 PM: SCL’s Thomsen says via e-mail: “Crews were testing switchgear at the Delridge Substation as a part of our maintenance and reliability work. When one of the workers closed the doors for the switchgear they were testing, the vibrations tripped a relay, which then opened, cutting off power for the electrical bus (imagine a giant power strip connected to four feeder lines going out of the substation into the neighborhoods). Our engineering staff is looking at what we can do to dampen vibrations and avoid a repeat of this problem, which does occasionally affect utilities.”

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TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Monday watch
August 6, 2018 7:02 am
|    Comments Off on TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Monday watch
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

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

7:02 AM: Good morning! No incidents reported in/from West Seattle right now.

7:59 AM: Texter says there’s a crash at the top of the bridge.

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West Seattle scenes: Pink and Blue
August 6, 2018 12:35 am
|      1 COMMENT
 |   Blue Angels | West Seattle weather

(Photo by Kanit Cottrell)

12:35 AM: As we say goodbye to the weekend – contributed photos captured the pink of Sunday’s sunset, and the Blue Angels‘ flight earlier.

(Photo by David Hutchinson)

(Photo by Marc Milrod)

(Photo by Monica Zaborac)

Thanks as always for the photos!

ADDED 10:45 AM: In case you wondered … the Blue Angels are gone until next year:

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VOTE! Tuesday’s your deadline for getting your primary-election ballot out
August 5, 2018 9:31 pm
|      21 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle politics

If you haven’t already voted, dig up your ballot to get it done and send it out! Tuesday is your last chance to get it in either a dropbox or a mailbox. It’s not a long ballot (here’s what it looks like) but you have three major decisions:

–34th District State Senate: 11 people are running for this open seat. Which two will advance to November? Here’s the order in which they’re listed on the ballot, with party preference – the names link to their infopages on the state website (with everything from resumé toplines to links showing you who donated to their campaigns):

Joe Nguyen (Prefers Democratic Party)
Lois Schipper (Prefers Democratic Party)
Sofia Aragon (Prefers Democratic Party)
Courtney Lyle (Prefers Republican Party)
Hillary Shaw (States No Party Preference)
Annabel Quintero (Prefers Democratic Party)
Lemuel W. Charleston (Prefers Democrat Party)
Shannon Braddock (Prefers Democratic Party)
Darla Green (Prefers Republican Party)
Debi Wagner (Prefers Independent Party)
Lisa Ryan Devereau (Prefers Democratic Party)

We’ve covered four forums in this race, all with video: White Center Chamber of Commerce‘s forum, West Seattle Chamber of Commerce‘s forum, West Seattle Democratic Women‘s forum, 34th District Democrats‘ forum.

–U.S. Senate: Incumbent Maria Cantwell has 28 challengers. Which two of the 29 candidates (all listed here) will make it to the general election?

–King County Prop 1: Replacement levy for Automated Fingerprint Identification System Services

TO VOTE: This is the first election with prepaid postage, so if you send your ballot via US Postal Service mail, you do NOT need a stamp. You can also use a county dropbox – there’s one in West Seattle, alongside the High Point Library at 3411 SW Raymond, and you have until 8 pm Tuesday to drop off your ballot there. (The full countywide list is here.)

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SPORTS: West Seattle Little League plays again at regionals Tuesday after tournament-opening loss
August 5, 2018 7:27 pm
|      8 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | WS & Sports

The cheers resounded from 1,000 miles away, but the end result was disappointment from San Bernardino to Seattle as Little League Northwest Regionals play opened with a 16-6 loss for the West Seattle Little League All-Stars. Barry J. White sent the photo from the local viewing party we mentioned here last night, reporting:

A large contingent of 60+ Westside fans watched from the Great American Diner. It wasn’t the result anyone hoped or expected, but the crowd was loud and enthusiastic throughout. Despite the 16-6 result after five innings, many expressed confidence the team would bounce back on Tuesday.

The state-champion WSLL players’ opponents today were the Idaho champs from Coeur d’Alene; here are the game stats. At 7 pm Tuesday, West Seattle will play either Alaska or Montana.

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West Seattle weekend scene: Touring the house where REI started its climb
August 5, 2018 6:57 pm
|    Comments Off on West Seattle weekend scene: Touring the house where REI started its climb
 |   Gatewood | West Seattle history | West Seattle news

(WSB photos)

Every year, the Southwest Seattle Historical Society offers a tour of a local house with a notable past. This afternoon, while many were watching hydroplane racing and/or Blue Angels aerobatics, this year’s “If These Walls Could Talk” tour invited visitors inside the Gatewood home where Lloyd and Mary Anderson began the business that became REI.

At center in the photo above is SWSHS executive director Jeff McCord, talking with visitors inside the basement where the Andersons launched their buying coop in 80 years ago. After Lloyd died in 2000, Mary – who died last year at age 107 – Mary sold the house.

It’s since been remodeled and expanded, with three more houses added on the site where it was built in 1932, as this Seattle Times Now and Then story explains, but part of the exterior, including the porch and overhang, remain the same.

The site is now known as Anderson Gardens in the couple’s honor. The REI website has more on how they founded the company, which remains a co-op.

P.S. At its own home, the Log House Museum, SWSHS will debut a new exhibit about local music history, noon-2 pm Thursday (August 9th), just in time for its spotlight during Sub Pop’s SPF30 anniversary celebration next Saturday.

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COMMUNITY GIVING: Litter League’s August turnout
August 5, 2018 3:16 pm
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle people

As mentioned in our daily preview, today was another Litter League cleanup in Morgan Junction – and organizer Jill Boone sent that photo of the turnout, neighbors who spent an hour and a half out cleaning up. Want to get on the e-mail list for future cleanups? litterleague@gmail.com

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FOLLOWUP: Mural work begins at Roxhill Elementary’s new EC Hughes home
August 5, 2018 12:33 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   Sunrise Heights | West Seattle news | West Seattle schools | WS culture/arts

The photo and report are from Friends of Roxhill:

Artist Henry Luke has started working on the community inspired mural for Roxhill Elementary at E.C. Hughes at the corner of 32nd and Holden. The mural has been designed through a community process, with 75 comments through West Seattle Blog outreach alone. Friends of Roxhill Elementary, the 501c3 booster club for Roxhill Elementary, received a $100,000 grant from the Department of Neighborhoods, which funded both the recent playground for Roxhill at the renovated, updated E.C. Hughes (built by community volunteers) and the mural. Stop by and say hello if you see Henry at work! Questions? Contact friendsofroxhill@gmail.com.

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READER REPORT: From the ‘found, likely stolen/dumped’ file
August 5, 2018 10:38 am
|      5 COMMENTS
 |   Delridge | West Seattle news

The photo and report are from Melinda:

An interesting find at my back gate this morning. It appears to be fishing gear and an unopened bottle of beer. The larger bag says Starbucks on the side. We live in Youngstown, south of the steel mill. I’ll keep for a few days and then give to Goodwill if no one claims it. Bottle of beer was unopened!

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8 possibilities for your West Seattle Sunday, plus traffic alerts
August 5, 2018 6:07 am
|    Comments Off on 8 possibilities for your West Seattle Sunday, plus traffic alerts
 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

Happy Sunday!

(One of the Blue Angels maneuvers you can see from here – photo by Harlan Weniger)

FIRST, TRAFFIC ALERTS: The I-90 floating bridge will close one last time, 12:55 pm-2:45 pm for the Blue Angels‘ final Seafair performance. And from SDOT, West Seattle alerts continue – at 1st Ave S/Olson Place SW, 8:30 am-9 pm work is scheduled for traffic-signal upgrades.

CLEANUP TIME! Another Morgan Junction-area community cleanup organized by Jill Boone:

Bring yourselves, Bring your young ones, Bring your teens …. Help clean up Morgan Junction! Once again, we are doing our litter cleanup and your help is needed.

Sunday, August 5 from 9:30 – 11:00. Meet at the ATM by the Shell Station and Domino’s.

Bags, litter grabbers, safety vests and buckets for the kids are provided. I have a few kid vests and grabbers too. Bring your own gloves if you want them! … We will handle the bus stops and the corners of Fauntleroy and California and up to C&P and back and up to the UU and back if we have enough folks. Pups who are well behaved and on leash are welcome.

(6540 California SW)

WEST SEATTLE FARMERS’ MARKET: 10 am-2 pm in the street in the heart of The Junction. (California SW between SW Oregon and SW Alaska)

WADING POOLS: Warm weather means they’ll be open today. Your West Seattle wading pools on Sundays: Lincoln Park (11 am-8 pm; 8011 Fauntleroy Way SW) and Delridge (noon-6:30 pm; Delridge/Genesee)

‘IF THESE WALLS COULD TALK’ HOME TOUR: Still tickets available, the Southwest Seattle Historical Society tells us, for a tour of the Gatewood home where REI began. Noon-2 pm VIP reception with food, drink, and guest speaker Bobby Whittaker; 2-4 pm, public tour. Go here for both ticket levels. Tour address and full details are on the SWSHS website.

ALKI POINT LIGHTHOUSE TOURS: The US Coast Guard Auxiliary leads 1 pm-4 pm tours (arrive by 3:45 pm) at historic Alki Point Lighthouse. (3201 Alki SW)

CAMP 2ND CHANCE COMMUNITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE: After skipping July, the committee is back to its regular first-Sunday meeting schedule, 2 pm in the community room at Arrowhead Gardens, for updates on the city-sanctioned encampment on Myers Way. (9200 2nd SW)

LAURA MAY: Singer-songwriter at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor), “folk with roots in southern rock.” 3-5 pm. (5612 California SW)

LITTLE LEAGUE VIEWING PARTY: 4 pm, the West Seattle Little League All-Stars, Washington state champs, play Idaho as the Northwest Regionals start in San Bernardino, California. The ESPN+ gamecast will be on at Great American Diner and Bar in The Junction. (4752 California SW)

(added) ALSO WATCHING: West 5 (WSB sponsor) is hoping to have a TV set up for the first time ever, to watch!

WHEN YOU WISH UPON A PIZZA: 5 pm at Highland Park Playground, a one-hour family-friendly play presented by 14/48! Free. (1100 SW Cloverdale)

PREVIEW THE WEEK AHEAD, AND BEYOND … by checking out our complete calendar.

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West Seattle weekend scene: Saturday sunset
August 5, 2018 12:40 am
|    Comments Off on West Seattle weekend scene: Saturday sunset
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle weather

Thanks to James Bratsanos for the Saturday sunset view! The weather’s warming up again – the forecast predicts 90s by Wednesday.

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SUNDAY: Viewing party as West Seattle Little League All-Stars start regional play
August 4, 2018 8:12 pm
|    Comments Off on SUNDAY: Viewing party as West Seattle Little League All-Stars start regional play
 |   West Seattle news | WS & Sports

Want to join neighbors in rooting for the state-champion West Seattle Little League All-Stars as they start the next phase of their quest to get to the Little League World Series? A viewing party is planned, says Kathy Powers of WSLL:

We’d love to invite the community to join together and cheer for our West Seattle Little League boys at a viewing party at the Great American Diner and Bar. They have subscribed to ESPN+ and will be airing the games. If you can’t join the fun in person, you can always follow along with ESPN+ (7 day free trial right now for the app).

Great American is at 4752 California SW. WSLL’s first game is 4 pm Sunday, vs. Idaho – you’ll find the listing here. This is WSLL’s first trip to the regionals; the same team won the state championship as the 11-year-old All Stars last year, but that age group doesn’t go to regional competition. Meantime, the crowdfunding campaign to cover expenses continues here.

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COUNTDOWN: One week to Delridge Day!
August 4, 2018 6:37 pm
|    Comments Off on COUNTDOWN: One week to Delridge Day!
 |   Delridge | West Seattle festivals | West Seattle news

Just a week until eastern West Seattle’s biggest event of the summer – Delridge Day! The festival is set for 11 am-3 pm Saturday, August 11th, in the park outside Delridge Community Center (Delridge/26th/Genesee), and Pete Spalding shared info today on what you can expect to see – two stages of music and cultural performances, ~40 vendors, lessons and competitions at adjacent Delridge Skatepark with Skate Like A Girl, Seattle Police‘s Southwest Precinct Picnic with specialty-unit demonstrations plus free hot dogs, chips, and drinks … Pete says a classic rig from the Last Resort Fire Department will be there too. (Among those with booths, as mentioned here earlier this week, Sound Transit – so bring your questions about West Seattle’s future light rail!) Schedule details are in our calendar listing. Co-sponsors include WSB – see you there!

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