West Seattle, Washington
25 Thursday
Thanks to Byron and Marty for the tips and photos. We’ve confirmed with Washington State Ferries what citywide media first reported: A helicopter search in Elliott Bay followed a ferry apparently striking a whale. A WSF spokesperson tells us it happened just a few minutes after the M/V Wenatchee’s departure from downtown, bound for Bainbridge Island. Passengers saw what they believed was a gray whale surface just a few feet from the bow – too close for the ferry to avoid hitting it. The spokesperson says as far as she knows, no one felt the collision – the witnesses got word to the crew. The ferry continued on to Bainbridge Island; the U.S. Coast Guard searched for the whale, which wasn’t seen again:
(The ferry in this photo is NOT the Wenatchee)
The WSF spokesperson says the USCG thinks it might have spotted something near Pier 66 but darkness has complicated the search. No whales – gray or otherwise – had been reported in the area earlier, so that’s made this a bit of a mystery. WSF has, meantime, also notified NOAA.
It’s gardening season. And … gardening-related-theft season. Two reader reports:
STOLEN SOIL: Sue e-mailed to report, “Someone stole 2 large, Costco bags of soil from the alley behind us. They were right next to our garage. If you have them, please bring them back. If someone shows up near you with them, please let me know.” This was in the west Admiral area. Blue bags with the Costco logo.
PILFERED PLANT (AND MORE): John sent these clips recorded last week in the 7700 block of Delridge Way SW. First – a pot of flowers:
Then, something bigger:
Got something for Crime Watch? Email westseattleblog@gmail.com. Breaking news: text or call 206-293-6302
If you haven’t seen The West Seattle Turkey in person yet (we haven’t!), these photos sent by Monica Zaborac just might be your clearest view yet. So, for all The Turkey’s fans, we are publishing these pronto:
Monica explained, “The Turkey was spotted hanging around 39th and Hanford. A dog got loose and started chasing it and it is the first time I have seen a turkey fly! He is still hanging around in that area. Also 2 houses away, a bunny rabbit.”
It’s been a month now since first word of The Turkey.
Mayor Jenny Durkan is visiting nearby South Park for a town-hall-style meeting this Thursday, around 6:20 pm after a pop-up city resource fair starting around 5:45 pm. The event set for the South Park Community Center (8319 8th Ave. S.) was just announced today, according to South Park reps at tonight’s District 1 Community Network meeting in West Seattle. The announcement says the departments to be represented include Finance and Administrative Services, Office of Economic Development, Seattle Police Department, Parks and Recreation, Human Services Department, Department of Neighborhoods, Department of Transportation, Seattle Public Utilities, Office of Planning and Community Development, Office of Housing, and Seattle Fire Department.
(WSB photos)
Though the sign outside Southwest Pool still says its closure was to end today, the sign in the lobby tells a different story: Two more weeks until a “partial reopening.” The pool’s liner is being replaced, part of a package of improvements that one contractor is making at Seattle Parks pools around the city. The pool website elaborates:
The pool’s opening is further delayed due to unforseen complications. Drop-in programming will resume Wed. June 12 and the full schedule for summer resumes on June 24. All remaining spring lessons are cancelled. Accounts will be credited for the missed lessons in the near future, and affected registrants will be contacted via email addresses on file. The Teen Life Center is OPEN.
Southwest Pool also has had other recent improvements, primarily for accessibility – some are in view outside:
Those included, Parks told us recently, “accessible upgrades to parking, building entry, bathrooms, locker rooms, kitchen, and other areas of the facility.”
(Photo courtesy Locust Cider)
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
A “neighborhood-y” taproom is what Locust Cider plans to bring to Alki.
We mentioned Friday that the Woodinville-headquartered company is the new tenant for the ex-Alki Urban Market space (2820 Alki SW). This morning, we talked by phone with co-founder Jason Spears to get details on the plan.
He and brother Patrick Spears founded Locust Cider just four years ago. They already have expanded to add taprooms in Ballard and Tacoma, plus Colorado and Texas, but “we’re actually a pretty small company,” Jason insists. “The taprooms we operate are all super-small, neighborhoody, and cider-irst, plus beer and wine.” (They brew the beer, too.)
They’re expecting to have about 50 seats in the Alki taproom, with something their others don’t have: A larger kitchen, so they can serve more food, rather than it being an “afterthought” as is more typical for taprooms. Jason says “cool things are in the works,” details to come, though he offers one: They plan to build on what they’ve been offering with a “really cool gluten-free Brazilian cheese bread,” which is used as the base for “a little hand pie” among other things.
They plan to open with 16 cider and beer taps (and a few by-the-glass wines) in a space that’s more like a coffee shop than a bar, he explains, “a little different” than the stereotypical taproom. Locust offers a cider/beer club for which you can buy a membership, he adds, called “The Swarm”; he says club members “turn into a family,” with everything from special events to an online discussion group. But even if you don’t sign up for that, “the vibe” at the taproom is meant to be a “casual place to hang out and build community.”
He hopes the Alki taproom will be open in July – “we’re not doing much construction, just a facelift inside, shouldn’t take too long.” Hours will be in the noon-9 pm vicinity.
And yes, children will be welcome. Jason is a dad himself. And one of his two kids is inspiration for something else that’s important to Locust Cider – “our cause,” as the company website describes it. His four-year-old daughter Lucy was born with hydrocephalus. Brain surgery is the only way to treat it – Lucy’s already been through it multiple times, as is typical for patients, and Locust raises money for research, through donating part of its proceeds, as well as a $25 donation from each Swarm membership.
Overall, Jason says Locust Cider’s goal is to “become part of the neighborhood, not a big destination place.” He says he’s well aware that West Seattle is “one of the tightest communities” around and he hopes the new taproom will enhance that.
As reported here multiple times last year, West Seattle-based Transitional Resources plans a new supportive-housing apartment complex in the 2800 block of SW Yancy. The next step: A community open house as part of the city Early Design Outreach program. Here’s the announcement from TR:
Transitional Resources (TR) has been delivering behavioral health services here in West Seattle since 1976. With our main office, small residential treatment facility, and two apartment developments located on SW Avalon Way, we have been a part of the local neighborhood for many years. TR is a licensed provider of behavioral health care services and supportive housing, offering a continuum of behavioral health treatment, housing, and vocational services to those who are most in need in our community. We are intentional in our small scale and high staff-to-client ratios. As a result, TR produces some of the best outcomes in King County.
Over the past year, we have been keeping the community apprised of our plans to redevelop three shared houses at 2811, 2821 and 2827/2829 SW Yancy St into small apartment buildings, providing studio apartments for people with behavioral-health needs who are experiencing homelessness or at risk of homelessness. We are pleased to report that we have secured the necessary funding from the City of Seattle, King County, the State of Washington, Federal Low Income Housing Tax Credits, and the Federal Home Loan Bank of Des Moines, and are now proceeding with the next stage of design for the project.
As part of the City’s design review process, we are inviting interested stakeholders to an open house, where attendees can provide input to the design team from SMR Architects. Please join us:
Wednesday, June 5th from 6 pm – 7:30 pm
Avalon Place Community Room
2988 SW Avalon WayAll are welcome. No RSVP is necessary.
The Yancy Street project will be similar to our other permanent supportive-housing buildings on Avalon Way. Each of the 44 residents will have their own studio apartment facing an interior courtyard that includes a community living room and laundry room. Staff will be on site to offer support for the residents 24 hours per day, seven days per week. Additional support will be available at our drop-in center and behavioral health program offices ½ block away on Avalon Way.
We look forward to sharing more about our organization at our open house next week. We will continue to post project updates on our website at www.transitionalresources.org. I also invite you to contact me directly by phone at 206-883-2026 or via email at darcellw@transitionalresources.org.
ORIGINAL TUESDAY REPORT: Cool treats are a hot commodity in summertime, and this summer you’ll have another option on Alki. The plant-based (aka vegan) ice-cream purveyors Frankie & Jo’s are opening a “pop-up” shop in the ex-Sushi Samurai spot at 2758 Alki SW, starting with a soft-open day tomorrow (and official grand opening Thursday). From the announcement:
This pop-up shop is reminiscent of their other scoop shops with a few exceptions: tons of purchasable plant life provided by friends at Glasswing Greenhouse and an exciting photo booth provided by Hello There You that includes an incredible custom backdrop installation built by DISCO NAP. They will also have their pint cooler filled to the brim for neighborhood passersby that want to pop colorful pints into their f&j *hello sunshine* reusable cooler bags and stroll over to the beach for summer picnics.
And don’t fret! The shop will have all of their everyday flavors: brown sugar vanilla, chocolate date, salty caramel ash, gingered golden milk, mint brownie, beet rose sorbet, chocolate tahini supercookie, date shake, california cabin, as well as their three aggressively seasonal monthly flavors. They will continue to make their gluten-free maple vanilla waffle cones in house, and have activated charcoal caramel sauce, Moon Goo, and their vegan chocolate sauce, Dark Cocoa, to top the scoops.
They’re planning to be open through Labor Day, “with the potential of a long-term location in the future.”
ADDED WEDNESDAY: They’re open! A look inside:
Also note, as a commenter mentioned, they are not taking cash. It’s an experiment at this store only, they tell us.
12:38 PM: Four days after heading out, the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz is inbound again, just about to pass West Seattle on its trip back to Bremerton. Thanks to Benjamin for the tip!
1:14 PM: Photo added (thank you, Jim Borrow). The Nimitz is entering Rich Passage. (added) Another view – thanks to David Hutchinson:
According to the Kitsap Sun, the Nimitz was out on a training mission after maintenance.
(WSB photos, 2018 parade)
Now that Memorial Day is past … we can look forward to the next big holiday, Independence Day. This year, the 4th of July is on a Thursday, five weeks away, and it will again be highlighted by the big West Seattle 4th of July Kids’ Parade through North Admiral. This is the 25th anniversary of the parade! It starts at 10 am at 44th/Sunset and is a casual family-friendly stroll along several blocks, ending at Hamilton Viewpoint Park with kids’ activities including sack races and craft tables.
Speaking of which …Nicole Lutomski, co-organizer of the parade this year with Megan Erb, says business sponsors are still being sought to host tables and/or support the parade! It’s an all-volunteer effort but costs to make it happen include a park permit, special-event permit, insurance, and more. Here are the sponsorship levels – including a special “silver” support level open to all in honor of the parade’s silver anniversary:
RED, $500:
Announced at the Welcome Address as the provider of the FLAGS and LEIS distributed to the crowd at the beginning of the parade.
Logo on “Walking on Logs Statues” Banner & Parade Banner
Logo on Yard Signs distributed around town
Host a Kid Craft Table at the end of the paradeWHITE, $250:
Logo on “Walking on Log Statues” Banner & Parade Banner
Logo on Yard Signs distributed around town
Host a Kid Craft Table at the end of the paradeBLUE, $100:
Logo on Yard Signs
Host of a Kid Craft Table* * * SILVER * * * $25+
Friends of the Parade, no commitment necessary
* * * * * * * * *
You can contribute at any level via the parade’s PayPal page.
And to be part of the parade, just show up at the gathering place (map’s on the parade website) – decorated bikes, (non-motorized) scooters, wagons, strollers, etc., all welcome – if it’s your first year, we advise coming early – as you can see in our past coverage, it’s usually a sizable turnout!
(Red-breasted Sapsucker, photographed by Mark Wangerin)
Welcome to post-holiday Tuesday! From the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
BABY STORY TIME: Bring your up-to-12-month-old(s) to Southwest Library for stories, songs, and rhymes, 10:30 am. Free as always. (9010 35th SW)
PRIORITIZE PARKS/STREETS PROJECTS: Your Voice, Your Choice offers you the chance to participate in city budgeting. Current process: Prioritize proposed parks/streets projects in District 1. Tonight’s meeting starts at 5:30 pm, South Park Community Center. Not many opinions yet online – as you can see here – so you can still make a big difference. (8319 8th Ave. S.)
PHOTOGRAPHY WORKSHOP: 5:30 pm at Delridge Library, learn about travel photography. Free but first-come first-served, limited space. (5423 Delridge Way SW)
ULTIMATE FAMILY FRISBEE: Everybody is welcome to come play! 6:30 pm at Fairmount Playfield. (5400 Fauntleroy Way SW)
NO BLOCK WATCH CAPTAINS’ MEETING: Due to the proximity to the holiday, the West Seattle Block Watch Captains’ Network meeting that would have happened tonight is canceled – next one June 25th.
DISTRICT 1 COMMUNITY NETWORK: 7 pm at Duwamish Longhouse. Our calendar listing includes the agenda for this group of community advocates from around West Seattle and South Park. (4705 W. Marginal Way SW)
SUFFERING F-HEADS: 9 pm, the punk/jazz duo plays Parliament Tavern. 21+. No cover. (4210 SW Admiral Way)
LOOK INTO THE FUTURE … with our complete calendar!
(SDOT MAP with travel times/ Is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE/ West Seattle-relevant traffic cams HERE)
6:58 AM: Good morning. No incidents or transit alerts in our area so far.
AVALON/35TH PROJECT: Here’s the latest update on what’s next with this major project.
STADIUM ZONE: Mariners are home again tonight vs. the Rangers, 7:10 pm, and that means a late night for the West Seattle Water Taxi.
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