day : 18/07/2019 14 results

Parade day is almost here! Saturday at 11 am, the West Seattle Grand Parade will start at California/Lander, headed southbound to California/Edmunds. Every year we watch and listen as parade coordinators meet to put the final lineup together, so that we can share some preview info with you. Tonight – some of the performing participants you’ll see (besides the marching bands we’ve already previewed)!

*Joyas Mestizas (2018 parade photo above)

(Pathfinder K-8 Unicycle Team in a past West Seattle Grand Parade)
*The famous unicyclists from Pathfinder K-8

*Jump-rope stars from West City Ninjas and RopeWorks (2018 entry in above video)
*Cheer teams from local high schools
*Drill teams
*Martial artists
*Seafair Pirates and Clowns

And of course, this remains the ONLY area parade with two motorcycle drill teams – it’s the only U.S. appearance by the Vancouver, B.C., PD team, and the hometown Seattle PD team is part of the Grand Parade too. The two groups of motorcyclists take to the street before the rest of the parade, and if you are in The Junction, you’ll see the PAWrade on California between Genesee and Edmunds first. (You can be part of it too – and/or you can start your morning even sooner with the Float Dodger 5K leaving Hiawatha and taking to the parade route at 9:30 am.) One more preview to come before parade day!

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VIDEO: Sen. Nguyen tells West Seattle Chamber of Commerce why he’s not afraid of controversy

July 18, 2019 9:40 pm

| 2 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle politics

(WSB photo: Sen. Joe Nguyen and WS Chamber board chair Lauren Burgon)

By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

“Some of my positions are controversial because I don’t care about getting re-elected.”

So said 34th District State Sen. Joe Nguyen toward the end of his West Seattle Chamber of Commerce Q&A today at The Kenney (WSB sponsor).

He was a last-minute booking – the Chamber had long planned to host County Executive Dow Constantine at this month’s lunch meeting, but he canceled yesterday, and first-year Sen. Nguyen agreed to appear instead.

We recorded it all on video:

Text toplines ahead:

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WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: The ‘Just Do It’ thief

July 18, 2019 7:24 pm

| 8 COMMENTS

| Arbor Heights | Crime | West Seattle news

7:24 PM: Just in from an Arbor Heights resident – this clip showing a package thief in a “Just Do It” T-shirt. The victim reports:

We had a few packages stolen from our porch today, and this dude seemed to be making the rounds (I’m assuming because a lot of Prime Day stuff was getting delivered).

If it’s helpful to anyone, here is the video from my doorbell … it seems like others have had the same people steal from them today as well.

The resident also sent this clip from a neighbor’s camera showing a different thief but apparently the same vehicle. We’ll add the police-report number when available. This kind of incident usually can be reported online – police continue to reiterate that it’s really important for everything to be reported.

11:59 PM UPDATE: Police report # is 19-264203.

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RAINOUT: No concert at Hiawatha tonight

July 18, 2019 6:14 pm

| Comments Off on RAINOUT: No concert at Hiawatha tonight

| West Seattle news | West Seattle weather

6:14 PM: Just in from the Admiral Neighborhood Association – the first Summer Concerts at Hiawatha show, scheduled for 6:30 tonight, is RAINED OUT – the gym at Hiawatha is not available as a backup. No word yet if Sway Wild will be rescheduled. Five more Thursday night concerts are scheduled – here’s hoping for better weather!

ADDED 8:23 PM: Thanks to Mark for texting the photos.

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UPDATE: Driver hits motor home, flips car on Delridge across from school

July 18, 2019 4:58 pm

| 34 COMMENTS

| Delridge | West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

(WSB photos added)

4:58 PM: Avoid Delridge Way at Juneau. Seattle Fire and Police have sent a big response for a reported rollover. SB Delridge is reported to be blocked. We’re on the way to find out more.

5:16 PM: Our crew just arrived. No injuries. The driver whose vehicle rolled hit a parked motor home. Police are letting traffic through both ways, alternating directions.

5:22 PM: Police say no one was in the motor home when it was hit.

This is actually south of Juneau, right across from Louisa Boren STEM K-8. SDOT has a cleanup crew on scene.

ADDED FRIDAY AFTERNOON: City records show the 40-year-old woman driving the car was cited for inattentive driving.

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AVALON/35TH PROJECT: What’s next, and what caused this week’s bonus backups

July 18, 2019 4:39 pm

| 9 COMMENTS

| Luna Park | Transportation | West Seattle news

SDOT‘s weekly “what’s next” update for the Avalon/35th repaving-and-more project has arrived. Note some timetable updates, a new road closure ahead, and also, the project team addresses why 35th had a very slow morning earlier this week:

Crews have paved the west side of SW Avalon Way from SW Charlestown St to south of SW Andover St! Crews also completed the last expected water shut offs this week to connect the new water mains at 35th Ave SW and on SW Avalon Way at SW Charlestown St.

Zone A (SW Avalon Way from SW Spokane St to SW Yancy St)
We are continuing work on SW Avalon Way between SW Charlestown St and SW Andover St, including:

*Beginning roadway demolition and excavation on the east side of SW Avalon Way between SW Yancy St and SW Charlestown St to rebuild the road
*A closure of SW Yancy St due to our work on the nearby bus pad. The closure is scheduled to begin as early as Friday and last for a few weeks.

Zone E (35th Ave SW from SW Avalon Way to SW Alaska St)
We are continuing work on the new drainage utilities on 35th Ave SW from SW Avalon Way to SW Alaska St, including:

*Beginning roadway demolition and excavation on the west side of 35th Ave SW to rebuild the road as early as next week
*Storm drainage work at SW Oregon St and SW Snoqualmie St
*We are monitoring the worksite on the weekends and will implement traffic control as needed.

Things we’ve heard from the community

Each week, we’ll plan to address a few common questions we’ve heard from your neighbors.

Once the road is rebuilt by my home, will I experience any more impacts?
Once we have substantially completed base paving and sidewalk improvements in the road near your home, active roadwork will not take place in front of your home until we come back later this fall to pave the final, top layer of SW Avalon Way. After paving, it’s anticipated that we’ll return in spring or summer of 2020 to re-channel the road with new striping and install the protected bike lane.

Why was traffic so bad during the morning commute on Wednesday the 17th?
Crews conducted night work overnight from Tuesday, July 16 to Wednesday, July 17 on 35th Ave SW to make the final connections and water service transfers over to the new water main. This work took longer than anticipated so crews were not able to safely open the road until around 8:35 AM. Thank you for your patience and we apologize for the inconvenience on your morning commute.

Where will work start next?
Now that the water main is connected, we will work to rebuild 35th Ave SW over the next few weeks We’ll also work to build a new transit island at SW Avalon Way. We anticipate beginning work in zone C (SW Avalon Way between SW Genesee St and 35th Ave SW) as early as mid-August.

Does that mean the 35th work won’t last all the way until November? We’re asking that on followup

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DELRIDGE TRIANGLE: First-round design ideas are in – take a look and have a say!

July 18, 2019 3:28 pm

| 2 COMMENTS

| Delridge | How to help | West Seattle news | West Seattle parks

The rendering and announcement are from the neighborhood volunteers in Friends of the Delridge Triangle:

Over the past several months, The Friends of the Delridge Triangle and community members have worked with the contracted landscape architects Makers, to gather and create a community-generated plan to redevelop the Delridge Triangle at 9201 Delridge Ave SW.

We now need your feedback on key design ideas so South Delridge can move forward in the creation of a pocket park that will dramatically increase safety sight-lines as well as encourage children and adults at all levels to accessibility to gather, celebrate and play.

Will you please take the feedback survey? This round of feedback will close on Sunday, July 28th: surveymonkey.com/r/DelridgeTriangle

Community work to create a brighter future with a more-usable Delridge Triangle has been under way for almost three years.

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WATER TAXI ALERT: Spirit of Kingston on West Seattle run

July 18, 2019 3:13 pm

| 2 COMMENTS

| King County Water Taxi | Transportation | West Seattle news

From King County Water Taxi management: M/V Doc Maynard is getting a propeller replaced, so the lower-capacity Spirit of Kingston is on the run until Saturday. That could mean some sold-out runs, so don’t wait till the last minute to show up for a particular departure!

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PHOTOS: Canoe families arrive at Alki

July 18, 2019 12:33 pm

| 3 COMMENTS

| West Seattle beaches | West Seattle news

12:33 PM: As previewed, tribal canoe families headed north on the Paddle to Lummi have begun arriving at Alki Beach for an overnight stay hosted by the Muckleshoot Tribe. Far fewer than last year since this is near the start of the northbound route, as opposed to last year, when it was toward the end of a southbound journey – about 15 are expected today, Muckleshoot cultural director Willard Bill Jr. told WSB.

The canoes will remain on the beach overnight, departing tomorrow, headed northwest to the next stop, hosted by the Suquamish Tribe. Updates to come!

1:46 PM; All here:

Buses still line the water side of Alki Ave. SW to transport the visitors to the Muckleshoot HQ in Auburn.

ADDED THURSDAY EVENING: More photos. The arrivals coincided with a very low low tide, so there was a considerable distance to haul the canoes up onto the beach.

Next three photos are by David Hutchinson, capturing some of the details of the canoes:

At the next stop in Suquamish, the canoe families will stop for two nights, Friday and Saturday.

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FOLLOWUP: Food truck in Fauntleroy

July 18, 2019 11:34 am

| 10 COMMENTS

| Fauntleroy | West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news

Along with Endolyne Joe’s (WSB sponsor), The Original Bakery, and Wildwood Market, the Fauntleroy business district now has one more food option: The El Camion food truck. We mentioned in our recent Fauntleroy Community Association meeting report that it was on the way to 9250 45th SW, and Jonathan just sent the photo with word that it’s arrived. He says they told him they’ll be open daily 11 am-7 pm.

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Canoes, concert, candidates, development, more for your West Seattle Thursday

July 18, 2019 10:30 am

| 3 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Anna’s Hummingbird with tiger lilies, photographed by Trileigh Tucker)

Big day/night ahead:

SEN. NGUYEN @ CHAMBER OF COMMERCE: 11:30 am monthly lunch meeting of the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce at The Kenney (WSB sponsor) has a last-minute change of speaker, State Sen. Joe Nguyen (County Executive Dow Constantine was previously scheduled). If you’re not already RSVP’d, contact the Chamber ASAP. (7125 Fauntleroy Way SW)

CANOE JOURNEY’S ALKI STOP: This year, regional tribes’ canoe families are headed north on the Paddle to Lummi, and the Muckleshoot Tribe is again hosting those who stop at Alki Beach on the way. About 15 canoe families are expected; arrivals were expected to start as early as noon – a texter tells us they were passing Three Tree Point just after 10. (60th/Alki)

EXPLORE BRAZILIAN MUSIC: 6 pm at West Seattle (Admiral) Library with Show Brazil (did you see them at the Arts in Nature Festival last month?). Free. (2306 42nd SW)

DESIGN REVIEW FOR 4747 CALIFORNIA SW: 6:30 pm at the Senior Center/Sisson Building, the Southwest Design Review Board gets its second look at this mixed-use Junction project planned for 70+ apartments plus a new home for Husky Deli. Our recent preview includes the newest design proposal. The meeting will have a public-comment period. (4217 SW Oregon)

DISTRICT 1 CITY COUNCIL CANDIDATES’ FORUM: Your ballot could arrive as soon as today, and you have until August 6th to vote. The three candidates for City Council District 1 – Brendan Kolding, Lisa Herbold, and Phil Tavel – will answer questions side by side for what we believe will be the final pre-primary forum, 6:30 pm at Olympic Hall on the south side of the South Seattle College (WSB sponsor) campus, presented by the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce. All welcome. (6000 16th SW)

SUMMER CONCERTS AT HIAWATHA: 6:30 pm on the east lawn at Hiawatha Community Center, Sway Wild is the band for the first of this summer’s six free Thursday night concerts presented by the Admiral Neighborhood Association. Bring your own chair/blanket. (Walnut/Lander)

BRASSY! Later in the evening, travel a bit to the north to see Super Krewe at Parliament Tavern, 9 pm, $8, 21+. (4210 SW Admiral Way)

MORE! See the full lineup for today and beyond, on our complete calendar.

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Celebration of Life on Sunday for Dominick J. Viscardi, Jr., 1950-2019

July 18, 2019 9:40 am

| 4 COMMENTS

| Obituaries | West Seattle news

Friends and family will gather at Alki Beach on Sunday to remember Dominick Viscardi. Here’s the announcement and remembrance:

Dominick Joseph Viscardi, Jr. passed away on January 26, 2019, in Seattle, where he resided since 1973, after a brief and brave battle with cancer.

Dom was born on June 13, 1950 in Moses Ludington Hospital, Ticonderoga, New York. He attended Weedsville School and was the salutatorian of the first graduating class at St. Mary’s School, Class of 1964. Dom was an altar boy from shortly after he made his first communion to the 8th grade and was a member of Boy Scouts Troop 72, attaining the rank of Life Scout. He graduated from Cranwell Prepatory School, where he was a member of the football and lacrosse teams, in 1968, and from Saint Michael’s College in 1972.

Dom worked as a stock broker in several prominent brokerage firms until he retired to open his own personal fitness company. Dom has helped so many people recover from injuries and regain their lives. He had just retired from his second career when he became ill.

Dom was devoted, generous and kind man to his family and friends throughout his life.

He is greatly missed. Please help us celebrate the life of our dear friend!

Sunday, July 21st, from 10 AM – 1 PM, at Alki Beach Park

Please bring a potluck item, and a memory to share.

We will be at the covered picnic area west of the bathhouse, across from Cactus on Alki.

(WSB publishes West Seattle obituaries by request, free of charge. Please e-mail the text, and a photo if available, to editor@westseattleblog.com)

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WHALE ALERT: Orcas in our area

July 18, 2019 8:54 am

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| West Seattle news | Whales | Wildlife

Just got word from Kersti Muul that orcas were seen northbound off north Vashon about half an hour ago.

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TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Thursday watch

July 18, 2019 6:57 am

| Comments Off on TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Thursday watch

| West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

(SDOT MAP with travel times/ Is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE/ West Seattle-relevant traffic cams HERE)

6:57 AM: Good morning! No alerts or incidents in our area currently.

SATURDAY STREET CLOSURES: The West Seattle Grand Parade will close California SW south of Admiral Way, to Edmunds, by 8 am Saturday, until early afternoon. Some side streets near the start and end of the route are used for staging and breakdown. The NO PARKING signs are up for 7 am-3 pm on affected streets. Bus reroutes are linked here.

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