West Seattle, Washington
27 Saturday
Next round of Da Grind is on: https://t.co/U6hq1wZBAQ pic.twitter.com/83YQIqegd7
— West Seattle Blog (@westseattleblog) July 27, 2019
We’re at Alki Beach, where you have one more chance – around 2 pm – to watch outrigger canoes start a round of racing as part of the Seattle Outrigger Canoe Club‘s 2019 “Da Grind.” The club and crews have tents on the sand just east of the Alki boardwalk (which is filled with Alki Art Fair booths – separate report on that soon).
The second round of racing is out on the long course right now, and the 2 pm-ish racing will be on the short course, with awards around 3:30 pm. More photos later!
(WSB photos and video)
FIRST REPORT, 11:44 AM: Just under way at Disabled American Veterans Chapter 23 (4847 Delridge Way SW), an all-day event that all are welcome to drop in on, however much or little time you have: The chapter is hosting its first Black Veterans Appreciation/Celebration event. Above, after chapter Commander Ron Bryant and Adjutant Kameko Thomas welcomed attendees, they presented an award to Frankie Manning, a U.S. Army veteran who is former Chief of Nursing at the regional VA hospital. Two U.S. House members are present too – Rep. Suzan DelBene and Rep. Adam Smith. Schedule information for the rest of the day is in our preview. We’ll add video and more photos later.
ADDED SATURDAY NIGHT: Among those introduced as the event began, the veteran described as the Pacific Northwest’s last surviving Buffalo Soldier, Clyde Robinson:
Adjutant Thomas explained that the inspiration for the event was the story of another Black World War II soldier, Sgt. Isaac Woodard, told in the DAV’s magazine under the headline “Blind Justice”:
The injustice suffered by Sgt. Woodward happened after his honorable discharge from the Army, when police beat and blinded him. Thomas said she realized there are so many stories people don’t know about, they decided to create this event to help rectify that – in honor of all the Black veterans “who go unseen, unheard, unappreciated.” Her explanation is part of this clip, which also includes Commander Bryant’s welcome and Rep. Smith’s remarks:
Rep. Smith called the event “incredibly important” and expressed his gratitude for the veterans’ service. Rep DelBene also offered a few words of appreciation; she’s part of this next video clip, which begins with the award presentation for Frankie Manning:
Receiving the first Distinguished Veteran Award bequeathed by Chapter 23, Manning was lauded for her four-plus decades of service at VA hospitals including the one here, and her 22 years serving in the Army. Her career included many other achievements – including missionary work in Haiti and founding the Wichita Black Nurses Association.
She said she had been honored over the years to hear so many veterans’ stories. “No day is a bad day when you can care for a veteran,” she said. The regional VA health-care director Michael Tadych called her legendary.
Other distinguished guests included the state DAV commander Jeff Bele, who had words of praise for Chapter 23 as a “well-run chapter,” saying he was “overwhelmed and honored” to be part of the event.
(Friday evening photo by Jim Borrow)
Here are highlights of what’s ahead this Saturday!
OUTRIGGER CANOE RACING: The Seattle Outrigger Canoe Club‘s annual “Da Grind” at Alki, with racing starting around 9:30 am – details here. (2701 Alki SW)
‘SESAME STREET’ AT LINCOLN PARK: 9 am-3 pm, the 50th-anniversary “road trip” brings a live show and family fun fair to the park – but you have to already have secured (free) tickets, so if you didn’t, this is just a reminder of the event in the field near the north parking lot. (8011 Fauntleroy Way SW)
LEMONADE-STAND FUNDRAISER: Right across from Lincoln Park, 10 am-3 pm, local moms and kids will have a lemonade-stand fundraiser to help refugee/immigrant families at the southern border. (46th SW & SW Rose)
ALKI ART FAIR, DAY 1: 10 am-6 pm – with music continuing until 9 – the annual AAF just keeps getting bigger and better. Here’s the overview; here’s the music lineup for the main stage east of Alki Bathhouse.
If you are not riding/walking to the beach, try the free shuttle from Admiral/California by the gas station or from the park-and-ride under the bridge. (2701 Alki SW)
WEST SEATTLE VFW REFRESH: 10 am-4 pm, go lend a hand to help brighten up the West Seattle VFW HQ in The Triangle.(3601 SW Alaska)
BLACK VETERANS CELEBRATION/APPRECIATION: 11 am-5 pm at DAV Chapter 23, the first-ever appreciation/celebration of the Pacific Northwest’s Black veterans. All welcome. Our preview has details on the schedule for the day. All welcome. (4857 Delridge Way SW)
DUWAMISH ROWING CLUB REGATTA: 11 am from Duwamish Waterway Park in South Park, our area’s only rowing club invites you to the annual Dieter Hotz Regatta. (7900 10th Ave. S.)
HISTORIC HOME TOUR: Noon-4 pm, the Southwest Seattle Historical Society‘s annual “If These Walls Could Talk” tour takes you inside the historic Colman house south of the Fauntleroy ferry dock.
(WSB photo from June)
Noon-2 pm is the VIP version, 2-4 pm general admission. More info in our preview – and yes, tickets will be available at the site. (9343 Fauntleroy Way SW)
FREE GRILLED CHEESE: Noon-2 pm at Ounces, “just show up” to get free grilled-cheese from Seattle Sourdough! (3803 Delridge Way SW)
ELVIS TRIBUTE: With a Beach Party theme! Local Elvis tribute artist Bret Wiggins performs at the Senior Center of West Seattle. Doors open at 5:30 pm; dinner at 6; show at 6:30. If you don’t already have tickets, check ahead with the center. (4217 SW Oregon)
TICKET TO THE ROOFTOP II: Party atop Junction 47, with local sips, bites, and DJ, 6:30-10 pm. Tickets available here; part of the proceeds benefit Delridge Neighborhoods Development Association. (4715 42nd SW)
THEE DECEPTION AT EASY STREET: 7 pm live in-store at Easy Street Records. Free, all ages. (California/Alaska)
JOHN QUINN AT C & P: Singer-songwriter, 7-9 pm at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor). No cover. All ages. (5612 California SW)
‘THE BEST YOU’VE EVER SEEN’: “Curated evening of music, film, and visual effects,” 9 pm at Parliament Tavern. $8 cover. 21+. (4210 SW Admiral Way)
If you looked closely at one of the no-parking signs lining part of Harbor Avenue SW, you might have wondered why they say “PARADE,” considering ours was last weekend, and the route was nowhere near Harbor. It’s because Terminal 5 is a storage area for some of the floats participating in the Seafair Torchlight Parade downtown Saturday night. As we’ve shown in past years (2015 here, 2016 here), the floats have headed toward downtown in a convoy on Saturday morning (8-9 am-ish), then back post-parade.
6:51 PM: The drums are booming and the spectators are cheering at Southwest Athletic Complex as the 2019 Band Jam marching-band showcase proceeds.
Before Seismic Sound, the drumline that’s on the field right now, the Junior All-City Band performed:
Among the other bands coming up at this free event, the award-winning All-City Band themselves, whose director Dr. Marcus Pimpleton hatched the idea for this pre-Torchlight Parade showcase a decade ago. In the SWAC lot right outside the stands, something new this year, food trucks, so even if you haven’t had dinner yet, grab the family and come on over (2801 SW Thistle). You’re also invited to buy 50/50 raffle tickets to support the ACB.
7:11 PM: The band from nearby Kennedy Catholic High School followed – they were in West Seattle just last Saturday for the WS Grand Parade, as was the group on the field now, the Rainbow City Band (with their flag team Spinout), which so far has gone from Lady Gaga to Macklemore to Bruno Mars.
7:40 PM: Yet another band seen in the Grand Parade last Saturday, from Sumner High School in Pierce County, followed:
The event is in an intermission right now, with the Seahawks’ drumline Blue Thunder due to play at 8 pm, and the All-City Band to follow.
8:05 PM: But first – Sounders FC’s Sound Wave is on the field.
8:35 PM: Also from the stadium zone, Blue Thunder:
8:44 PM: And the grand finale, the hosting All-City Band, is taking the field.
($505 raised for them by tonight’s raffle, too!)
12:30 AM: We’ve finished adding visuals above.
That’s a rendering of the new play structure planned for West Seattle’s EC Hughes Playground (2805 SW Holden). To get it built, Seattle Parks will have to close the EC Hughes wading pool early this summer; one week from today will be the final day of the season. Here’s the announcement from Parks:
Construction for the new play area at E.C. Hughes Playground begins in August and is anticipated to be complete and open for play in early 2020. Because of the proximity of the construction site to the wading pool, Friday, August 2, 2019 will be the last day the wading pool will be open for the 2019 season. The closest wading pool/spraypark is the Highland Park spraypark at 1100 SW Cloverdale St. The restrooms will remain open for the majority of the construction, however, they will need to close for a short period when the pavement leading up to them is demolished and replaced.
The play area renovation project will update aging equipment with play structures accessible to children of all abilities, ages 2-5 and 5-12. The intent is to enhance the safety and play area accessibility in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The new play area is anticipated to open early 2020.
Funding for this park project is provided by the Seattle Park District. Approved by Seattle voters in 2014, the Seattle Park District provides more than $47 million a year in long-term funding to Seattle Parks and Recreation for maintenance of parklands and facilities, operation of community centers and recreation programs, and development of new neighborhood parks on previously acquired sites.
For more information on the project please (go here). For questions about the project or if you need an interpreter or accommodations, please contact Katie Bang at katie.bang@seattle.gov or 206-684-9286.
The old play equipment had to be taken out of service earlier this summer due to safety concerns.
1:25 PM: The trucks in our photo are part of the crew that’s at Lincoln Park setting up for tomorrow’s “Sesame Street” 50th-anniversary event, expected to draw 4,000 people (who had to register in advance) over the course of the day. Inside the park, the baseball field south of the wading pool/play area is the hub of activity:
Here’s the newest update on likely afternoon traffic effects: Washington State Ferries had been told last night that the trucks on Fauntleroy Way would clear out for the afternoon no-parking period (2-7 pm) after all. But then, WSF spokesperson Hadley Rodero told WSB this afternoon, the production company instead said they were trying to hire off-duty police to direct traffic around the trucks this afternoon instead. We’ll be checking back at the scene after 2 pm. (added) Here’s the live traffic cam:
Also note if you’re driving to the park, the staging has also taken over some of the spaces toward the north end of the north lot.
2:59 PM: The camera shows the trucks have since moved out of the staging lane. Heading down the hill to see if anything else remains aside from standard Friday afternoon traffic.
3:40 PM: Verified that nothing remains in the queueing lane. (Saw a private car getting towed, though, with an SPD Parking Enforcement officer right behind.) Just the “usual” Friday afternoon ferry backup, almost to the north edge of Lincoln Park as of about 15 minutes ago.
(Visitor on Puget Ridge – photo sent by Alison)
Before we get further into Friday, six highlights for the hours ahead:
WADING POOLS & SPRAYPARK OPEN TODAY: Another sunny, warm “open” day for the pools: Lincoln Park (8011 Fauntleroy Way SW) is open until 8 pm, EC Hughes (2805 SW Holden) is open noon-7 pm, Hiawatha (Walnut/Lander) is open noon-6:30 pm, and the Highland Park Spraypark (1100 SW Cloverdale) is open until 8 pm.
TALK WITH YOUR CITY COUNCILMEMBER: 2-7 pm, it’s Councilmember Lisa Herbold‘s July district-office-hours session at the Southwest Customer Service Center. Drop-ins welcome as long as you get there by 6:30 pm. (2801 SW Thistle)
CHIEF SEALTH ALL-CLASS REUNION: 5-9 pm at the south end of Lincoln Park beach, all Chief Sealth alums welcome at this year’s all-class reunion! More info in our most-recent preview. (8011 Fauntleroy Way SW)
BAND JAM: The annual marching-band extravaganza hosted by the All-City Band is back at Southwest Athletic Complex, 6:30 pm, free. Come cheer for them in a way you can’t quite do on a parade route! Expected participants are listed in our preview. (2801 SW Thistle)
WHATEVERLY BROTHERS: Live music at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor), 7-9 pm. No cover. All ages. (5612 California SW)
LUCKY BROWN & THE SG’s: 9 pm at Parliament Tavern. $8 cover. 21+. (4210 SW Admiral Way)
SEE MORE … on our complete calendar!
10:27 AM: A sizable SFD/SPD response in the Jefferson Square parking lot right now after a driver hit a pedestrian – “while backing out,” according to the dispatch. Our crew is there and says the victim is being readied for transport to the hospital by SFD medic unit. This happened toward the southwest end of the lot.
10:31 AM: An AMR ambulance has arrived, which means the victim’s injuries are not life-threatening. Access to Jefferson Square is limited until this all clears.
6:22 PM: We’ve just heard from a relative of the victim, who is a 93-year-old woman and remains in the hospital with serious injuries. (See comment below.)
Another Saturday preview: Just last summer, West Seattle’s VFW post celebrated its centennial. This year, it’s getting a little community help in sprucing up its headquarters (3601 SW Alaska). The more help, the better, if you can donate some time between 10 am and 4 pm tomorrow (Saturday, July 27th). Besides serving local veterans, the building also hosts community events. Just show up! If you have questions, contact info’s in our calendar listing for the event.
(SDOT MAP with travel times/ Is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE/ West Seattle-relevant traffic cams HERE)
6:59 AM: Good morning! No incidents reported in our area so far. One transit alert:
Transit Alert – Route 56 to downtown Seattle due to leave Alki at 7:16 AM will not operate this morning.
— King County Metro 🚏🚌🚎⛴🚐 (@kcmetrobus) July 26, 2019
FERRY TRAFFIC ALERT: From Washington State Ferries:
Passengers traveling through Fauntleroy this weekend should prepare for potential delays getting to the tollbooth starting tomorrow. Washington State Ferries has learned that the city of Seattle has permitted event staging in front of Lincoln Park from 6 a.m. Friday, July 26, through 6 a.m. Sunday, July 28, as part of Sesame Street’s Road Trip event. This may block Fauntleroy Way ferry staging lanes between Southwest Kenyon and Southwest Monroe streets, possibly leading to extensive backups.
Travelers should give themselves extra time to get to the terminal. As a reminder, ferry traffic queues that extend beyond Lincoln Park continue on Fauntleroy Way. Drivers should avoid using nearby 47th Avenue to get in line.
STADIUM ZONE: The Mariners continue their series against the Tigers tonight, 7:10 pm.
Exactly one year ago, we covered a community meeting addressing the subject of whether “near-term improvements” would be made in the Fauntleroy Boulevard project zone while the full-scale project remains on hold awaiting light-rail routing decisions. (That decision was made a year and a half ago.) Now, the decision is final – some work will be done, and soon. The flyer above (also here in PDF) shows the plan. Here’s the announcement from SDOT:
This summer we will be making some minor improvements along Fauntleroy Way SW. While the full Fauntleroy Boulevard Project continues to hold pending Sound Transit’s alignment for light rail to West Seattle, we have worked with key stakeholders to design near-term improvements that will improve safety and mobility. For a list of improvements, please see the (above) flyer and visit the project website.
This work will not conflict, nor add to the impact of the 35th/Avalon project. Most of our improvements involve no more than one day of work at each location, and will take place during off-peak hours. We’ve also coordinated this work with the 35th/Avalon project so we don’t work when they have major impacts scheduled.
Tomorrow (Friday), we’ll begin notifying businesses and properties in the area about the expected timeline for construction and what they should expect.
We’ll be following up so we can report those specifics too.
6:58 PM: Great place to hang out in the shade – the east lawn at Hiawatha Community Center, where The Not-Its are onstage right now as the Admiral Neighborhood Association‘s Summer Concerts at Hiawatha presents its first show of the year (after last week was rained out). You still have time to get there – the concert (free!) continues until 8 pm. More photos later.
9:45 PM: Great crowd, and lots of smiles evoked by the band’s playful style:
Here’s a bit of video:
This concert had a bonus follow-up act – talented young musicians from School of Rock West Seattle:
We have some video from their performance too:
Next Thursday night (August 1), at 6:30 pm, Alec Shaw performs.
SDOT has sent its weekly update on the Avalon/35th repaving-and-more project, including word that the northernmost “zone” is close to complete:
We anticipate completing work in Zone A as soon as the week of August 5!
Zone A (SW Avalon Way from SW Spokane St to SW Yancy St)
To complete work in Zone A, we are continuing work on SW Avalon Way between SW Charlestown St and SW Andover St, including:· Continuing work on the new Rapid Ride bus stop and transit island on the east side of SW Avalon Way near SW Yancy St
· Wrapping up water utility work at SW Charlestown St and paving SW Charlestown St as early as August 5
Temporarily closing SW Yancy St at SW Avalon Way as early as Monday, July 29 to complete bus pad construction. SW Yancy St may re-open as soon as August 6.
Zone E (35th Ave SW from SW Avalon Way to SW Alaska St)
We are continuing work on 35th Ave SW from SW Avalon Way to SW Alaska St, including:
· Installing remaining catch basins along the west side of 35th Ave SW
· Continuing to demolish the roadway at SW Snoqualmie St and continuing this demolition work along 35th Ave SW from SW Alaska St to SW Avalon Way
Excavation of the road: Driveways will be temporarily impacted during this work but we will place steels plates to provide access when safe and feasible.
We are monitoring the work-site on the weekends and will implement traffic control as needed.
Upcoming Work
Zone C (SW Avalon Way from SW Genesee St to 35th Ave SW)
· As early as the week of August 5, we will begin work in Zone C
· This work will include impacts to driveways
· If your property manager or HOA board would like a briefing about what to expect during construction, please email us at AvalonPaving@Seattle.gov and check our website for updates on construction and driveway impacts
· Please share this information with others who might be interested in receiving project updates about Zone C
35th Ave SW and SW Avalon Way upcoming intersection closures
· We are anticipating multiple weekend closures at 35th Ave SW and SW Avalon Way to rebuild the intersection
· Work is tentatively scheduled for Friday night through Monday at to reduce weekday traffic impacts and scheduled to begin in mid to late August
· Detours will be provided
We will provide more details about these closures on our website and in our listservs as they are scheduled.
Also:
Things we’ve heard from the community Each week, we’ll plan to address a few common questions we’ve heard from your neighbors:
Why was traffic so bad on my Tuesday evening commute? While working to install a catch basin on 35th Ave SW, our crews noticed unsafe road conditions next to our work site. For the safety of both people driving and our crews, we restricted traffic to one lane and had flaggers present to alternate traffic in each direction through the area. This restriction was in place from around 3 PM to 5 PM. Thank you for your patience as we continue to safely complete our work!
Will my driveway be impacted when you begin work in Zone C? There will be driveway impacts as we complete work throughout Zone C. We will be in touch with more information as we get closer to construction and will continue to share updates through our email updates and on our project webpage. Why is construction so loud? We recognize that construction can be loud and disruptive. The City of Seattle allows crews to do certain work activities at night with a noise variance so that we can keep traffic moving during the day. When we complete night work, crews are working with a noise variance to allow that late work. This is necessary to keep the project compliant with City of Seattle regulations and to allow us to complete the project on schedule.
4:57 PM: Almost nine years after Vigor Industrial took over Harbor Island’s Todd Shipyard, Vigor has announced a sale and merger. Here’s the full announcement:
THE CARLYLE GROUP AND STELLEX CAPITAL MANAGEMENT TO ACQUIRE, MERGE MARITIME AND DEFENSE COMPANIES VIGOR INDUSTRIAL AND MHI HOLDINGS
Transaction to Create Bicoastal Platform of Scale Serving Defense and Commercial Customers
The combined company will create a bicoastal leader in critical ship repair services and commercial and defense-related fabrication services. Key customers include the U.S. Navy, U.S. Coast Guard, Military Sealift Command, Boeing, cruise lines, fishing fleets, barges and ferry services for local and state governments, and other key commercial and defense customers.
The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions and is expected to close by the end of the third quarter 2019. Financial terms were not disclosed.
Frank Foti, President and CEO of Vigor, said, “Through this transaction, Vigor gains responsible, forward-thinking investors who will seek to build on our current platform while maintaining a values-driven culture. In addition, we are excited to join forces with a company of MHI’s caliber which has a history of delivering strong results and shares our mission to serve the people who protect our country every day. This evolution takes us where we want to go, growing sustainable jobs into the future. I’m excited to be an investor in this adventure and to be a part of what’s to come.”
Tom Epley, President and CEO of MHI, said, “MHI is stronger than it has ever been, and we’ve successfully executed our strategy of delivering cost effective maintenance and repair solutions to the U.S. Navy, a job we take very seriously. We are excited to continue our partnership with Stellex and look forward to working with The Carlyle Group and our new colleagues at Vigor. The MHI leadership team and our 800 employees across MHI Ship Repair, Seaward Marine and Accurate Marine remain committed to our mission.”
Derek Whang, Principal at The Carlyle Group, said, “We look forward to working with our partners at Stellex, Vigor and MHI to create a stronger combined company of scale, capable of providing differentiated, coast-to-coast services to the U.S. Navy, U.S. Army and other defense, infrastructure, and maritime customers. Together, Vigor and MHI are well positioned with their unique, national assets to grow in the highly attractive ship repair and fabrication markets, supported by compelling sector dynamics.”
David Waxman, Managing Director at Stellex Capital, said, “We are thrilled to have partnered with the MHI management team to grow the business over the last four years, including through the acquisitions of Accurate Marine and Seaward Marine, and look forward to working with the combined management teams as we expand our geographical and customer mix. MHI’s commitment to its customers and its employees has been the foundation of its growth, and we welcome the partnership with Carlyle and Frank Foti in this next stage.”
The Carlyle Group will become majority owner of the combined company. Equity for the investment will come from the Carlyle U.S. Equity Opportunity Fund II, a $2.4 billion fund that focuses on middle-market and growth companies in the United States and Canada. As part of the transaction, Stellex Capital, MHI’s existing owner, will contribute new equity to the platform, while Vigor’s CEO Frank Foti will roll a portion of his existing Vigor ownership stake into the combined company.
A CEO search is underway for the new company. Tom Rabaut, former President and CEO of United Defense and a current Operating Executive at The Carlyle Group, and Admiral James Stavridis, a retired 4-star U.S. Navy officer, former NATO Alliance Supreme Allied Commander, and a current Operating Executive at The Carlyle Group, will both join the Board of Directors. Mr. Foti will also join the Board of Directors as Vice Chairman and will continue as Vigor’s CEO until a new CEO is retained. Tom Epley will continue to lead the MHI business.
Vigor Industrial LLC, majority-owned by CEO Frank Foti, is a provider of complex fabrication and ship repair services. It employs 2,300 people and operates eight drydocks across the Pacific Northwest and Alaska, including the largest floating drydock in North America. Vigor excels at ship repair, specialized shipbuilding, and other complex fabrication projects in support of aerospace, defense, and infrastructure end markets. While the company is widely known for building ferries, it also builds high-performance military craft for the United States and other allied foreign governments.
MHI Holdings LLC, owned by Stellex Capital, is a leading provider of full-range ship maintenance, repair, and modernization services to the U.S. Navy and Military Sealift Command in Norfolk, Virginia. MHI also provides hull cleaning, ship husbandry services, underwater painting and inspections, wastewater treatment, and chemical cleaning services globally. MHI is one of the only private shipyards in Norfolk that can service large surface combatants and amphibious ships.
Latham & Watkins LLP served as legal advisor to The Carlyle Group and Stellex Capital Management. DLA Piper served as legal advisor to MHI Holdings LLC and Stellex Capital Management. BofA Merrill Lynch, BNP Paribas, and Credit Suisse have agreed to provide debt financing for the transaction. Capstone Headwaters served as exclusive financial advisor to Vigor Industrial LLC, and K&L Gates LLP served as Vigor’s legal advisor.
We have a question out to Vigor regarding whether a name change will be part of the deal.
5:52 PM: Vigor spokesperson Athena Maris tells WSB, “No name change is anticipated. The acquisition is the culmination of a recapitalization process Vigor leadership began in early 2018 to replace existing investor capital with new long term capital with a global reach. Our shared goal is to create a stronger combined company of scale, capable of providing differentiated, coast-to-coast services to the infrastructure, aerospace and defense, and maritime markets.”
(Clay Eals, your tour guide – photo courtesy Atlas Obscura Society)
Next Tuesday’s tour of West Seattle’s historic murals – featured in the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar – is sold out, but now we’ve received word that a second one has been added, 6 pm August 21st:
With their origins tracing back to the late 1980s, the murals of West Seattle depict glimpses of long gone local history, from Elliott Bay’s once-thriving “mosquito fleet” to the “Old Mud Hole” of Lincoln Park.
Join Atlas Obscura for a fascinating, fact-filled tour of these large-scale artworks found around the Alaska Junction neighborhood of West Seattle with Clay Eals, former editor of the West Seattle Herald and former executive director of the Seattle Southwest Historical Society. You’ll get the whole story of how these murals were created by civic leaders and a team of world-class artists, discover the tricks of their trade, learn which local luminaries were depicted in various scenes, and get more inside scoop on these unique achievements. A portion of the proceeds from this event will be donated to the West Seattle Junction Association’s mural restoration project.
Don’t wait if you’re interested – go here to get your ticket(s)!
(Photo by Jamie Kinney, from early July)
Now that we’re back in a multi-day stretch of warm, dry weather, there’s a chance – especially in light of algae blooms like the one shown above – that “the stench” could recur along West Seattle’s west-facing shores. Fauntleroy-residing writer Judy Pickens shares some backstory and coping strategies:
After a seven-year hiatus, the summer “stench” was back in 2018 and is again evident to residents near Fauntleroy Cove and along Beach Drive. Sea lettuce is flourishing with heat from the sun and ample nutrients in the water and, when the green mats dry on the beach at low tide, they give off hydrogen sulfide gas.
First documented in the early 1980s, the noxious gas can irritate eyes, cause headaches, and even prompt vomiting. Heavy and colorless, it can persist in basements and other low-lying sites.
After years of seeking relief at local and state levels, the Fauntleroy Community Association gained an understanding of the situation but little more, including why we had no stench for those seven years. Now the State Department of Ecology has a unit monitoring algae blooms and accepting reports.
Here are precautions to take if you turn out to be in the stench zone:
*Avoid being outdoors and close windows and doors an hour or so either side of low tide.
*Use a large fan to clear the air in bedrooms before retiring for the night.
If the stench is especially strong, leave home for a few hours if you can.
(WSB photo: Sheri Wallace and Maile Hudson)
Thanks for all the tips! Longtime customers are sad to hear that Jan’s Beauty Supply in the West Seattle Junction is closing – proprietor Sheri Wallace is retiring after more than three decades. We went over to talk with her after readers forwarded this email announcement sent to customers:
It is with extreme mixed emotions that we have decided to retire and close Jan’s Beauty Supply.
There are so many beautiful memories we have created together in the 36 years we have been in business. First and foremost, is the joy that Jan and I had working side by side for so long. She originally started this business and I was lucky enough to be able to join her after a few years. We are not only sisters but best friends forever!
To the hundreds of customers who have become close friends and have shared their life’s stories with laughter and tears, I will always treasure the many deep conversations we had. The most difficult part of this life transition is walking away from these relationships.
Some of our employees became family like our Alissa Cullen. She is and always will be a cherished member.
My two dear ladies now working with me have been a Godsend. They have supported me through some difficult times both physically and emotionally. Maile Hudson and Raelyn Barton will always have a special place in my heart and my life. They also have become like daughters to me.
Remembering the fun events we participated in like the Street Fair, Wine Walks, Holiday Happy Hours and many more will always leave me smiling.
We will be forever grateful for the wonderful customers who have allowed us to serve them. If I could reach out and hug every single one I would! There are not sufficient words to express my personal thanks but know I will never forget the love and support given to me by so many.
I am looking forward to more time with my husband, Pat and our Puppy! In addition to being able to create more memories with my grandsons, my supportive sister Holly and daughters, Stacy and Janny. I am incredibly fortunate to have had their support and I can now give them more of mine.
Sheri tells us that she’s expecting to remain open about another month – until late August. The shop’s been in the same location at 4517 California SW since her sister opened it, and she stresses – as detailed in her announcement – it’s simply “time.” They plan a variety of sales in the weeks ahead and are working on a schedule for those; we’ll publish a followup with that announcement when it’s available.
(Leucistic crow, photographed at Lincoln Park by Susan Whiting Kemp. Reminds us of “Leucy”)
Big day/night ahead, including:
WADING POOLS & SPRAYPARK OPEN TODAY: Another “open” day for the pools: Lincoln Park (8011 Fauntleroy Way SW) is open 11 am-8 pm, EC Hughes (2805 SW Holden) is open noon-7 pm, Hiawatha (Walnut/Lander) is open noon-6:30 pm, South Park (738 S. Sullivan) is open noon-7 pm. And the Highland Park Spraypark (1100 SW Cloverdale) is open 11 am-8 pm.
DESIGN AN APP: 1 pm at High Point Library: “Youth will work in small teams, facilitated by UW students.” It’s part of the Summer of Learning program. (3411 SW Morgan)
DIABETES SUPPORT GROUP: People with diabetes, and friends/family/caregivers, all welcome – details here. 3:30 pm at Senior Center of West Seattle. (4217 SW Oregon)
4401 42nd SW PROJECT MEETING; We first reported 2 months ago that an apartment building is planned for 4401 42nd SW. Your early feedback is welcome 5-6 pm tonight, as project architects invite you to an early-design outreach meeting. Meeting’s at the Senior Center/Sisson Building. If you can’t get there, you can still provide feedback here. (4217 SW Oregon)
GIRLS’ NIGHT OUT: 6-9 pm at Alair, swimwear, lips, nails, snacks, more, and a raffle raising $ for the West Seattle Food Bank – full details here. (3270 California SW)
THE NOT-ITS @ SUMMER CONCERTS AT HIAWATHA: 6:30-8 pm, the Admiral Neighborhood Association-presented first free fun concert on the east lawn of Hiawatha Community Center (since last week’s scheduled series-starter was rained out). Kindie-rockers The Not-Its will be joined by guests from School of Rock-West Seattle. Bring your own chair/blanket. (Walnut/Lander)
WEST SEATTLE TRANSPORTATION COALITION: 6:30 pm at Neighborhood House High Point. Agenda highlights:
6:30 pm – Call to order; Welcome & Introductions
6:40 pm – A Conversation with Brendan Kolding, Candidate for City Council, District 1
7:05 pm – Discussion of SW Barton Street Rapid Ride stops and crosswalk at Westwood Village
7:35 pm – Delridge Way SW – Rapid Ride H Outreach Team
8:15 pm – Legislative Priority Update
8:30 pm – Adjourn
All welcome. (6400 Sylvan Way SW)
AT THE SKYLARK: Bradley Palermo & Sim Williams w/TBASA and Pineola, 8:45 pm, $8 cover, 21+. (3803 Delridge Way SW)
AT PARLIAMENT TAVERN: Into the Cold + guests, 9 pm, $5 cover, 21+. (4210 SW Admiral Way)
SEE OUR CALENDAR FOR MORE … go here.
From The Friends of the Delridge Triangle:
How About A New Pocket Park for South Delridge? Feedback Closes Sunday Night!
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.
Check out the key ideas in support of a safe and accessible urban green space and let us know what you think!
The final of feedback for this phase of the project will close midnight on Sunday night, July 28th: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/DelridgeTriangle
(SDOT MAP with travel times/ Is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE/ West Seattle-relevant traffic cams HERE)
7:15 AM: Good morning! No alerts or incidents in our area.
STADIUM ZONE: The Mariners start a series against the Tigers tonight, 7:10 pm. That means the West Seattle Water Taxi runs into the late night.
ORIGINAL REPORT, 12:20 AM: Police have closed northbound 16th SW at Brandon while investigating what was initially described via radio communication as a robbery or carjacking attempt. The would-be robbers are reported to have fired into the air as they fled; police found at least one shell casing in the street. A K-9 team is helping search right now. No further details but we’ll follow up.
ADDED THURSDAY NIGHT: We obtained the police report; this was classified as an armed robbery. The three victims told police they had been parked on 16th SW when the robbers walked up to the passenger side of the car and said, “This is a robbery, give us all your s–t! Get out of the car!”P Police say the victims thought that the two robbers – who appeared to be juveniles – were joking until one pulled out a handgun and pointed it at them. The robbers then grabbed a victim’s backpack. The unarmed robber jumped into the car at one point. Eventually after a struggle over the backpack, the two robbers ran away. The one with the gun fired a shot in the air first; nobody was hit. Police searched but didn’t find them.
Three months have now passed since WSB readers first reported spotting what we simply call The West Seattle Turkey – which quickly made its way from southwest West Seattle to the Admiral area, and has been there ever since. Tonight, the best pic yet – texted by someone who says The Turkey showed up at their home near Hiawatha and made friends with their chicken. Video too:
The Turkey’s origins remain a mystery. It appeared three years after another never-explained turkey made local rounds.
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