West Seattle, Washington
27 Saturday
(WSB photos)
Inside that building is the new home of The Clothesline, the clothing bank offered to people in need by the West Seattle Helpline. It’s on the West Seattle Christian Church campus, only about half a block from its previous home, which was in a church-owned building set for demolition and redevelopment. We got a quick look inside during tonight’s reopening celebration.
The Clothesline is set up like a clothing store – except that it’s free. That is of course thanks to generous donors, and the volunteers who sort and process what comes in:
Wondering how to help? Here’s what they need. Wondering how to get help? That info’s here.
Seattle Fire says a “full response” dispatch to an apartment building in the 9200 block of 15th SW was for a kitchen fire that’s already out. One person is being evaluated for “exposure to smoke.
The weekly Avalon/35th repaving-and-more project update from SDOT includes a schedule for some work outside the basic project zone – the treatment on the steep SW Charlestown hill west of California SW. Also, early warning of a weekend closure of the 35th/Avalon intersection. Here’s the full update:
Asphalt base paving is complete on the north side of Zone C (SW Avalon Way from SW Genesee St to 35th Ave SW) and crews have begun excavating on the south side of Zone C.
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:· Finishing concrete paving work on the new bus island at SW Yancy St this week
· Completing curb ramp and sidewalk work at SW Charlestown St. SW Charlestown St should reopen as soon as the end of this week.
· Rebuilding the sidewalk on the west side between SW Bradford and SW Charlestown streets
Zone C (SW Avalon Way from SW Genesee St to 35th Ave SW)
We are continuing work on SW Avalon Way between SW Genesee St and 35th Ave SW, including:· Demolishing and excavating the road base on the south side of the road this weekend and next week
· Maintaining daytime driveway access when safe and feasible during the workday. If you need to leave your driveway, please plan for delays of up to 1 hour. We encourage you to speak with our crews to check when excavation will take place near your property.
· Placing steel plates or building temporary driveways between 5 and 7 PM to maintain evening access
· Paving the north side of the road is anticipated for Friday, August 30. This work is weather dependent and subject to change.
· There will be no driveway access on August 30 from 7 AM to 7 PM
· If you need access to your car, plan to park on side streets the night before. You will not be able to use your driveway while the pavement cures.
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:· Concrete paving on the west side of the street this week This work is weather dependent and subject to change.
· SW Snoqualmie St remaining closed for staging
While we are not conducting work in Zone B until we return to complete final paving, you may see private projects restricting parking and utilizing traffic control.
35th Ave SW and SW Avalon Way Intersection:
To rebuild the concrete roadway, we will be closing the intersection of 35th Ave SW and SW Avalon Way. The 35th Ave SW and Avalon Way SW intersection must be rebuilt to extend the useful life of the road, make utility upgrades, and make transit improvement for people walking, bicycling, driving, and riding the bus. Closing the intersection will allow us to complete this work as quickly and safely as possible. This intersection closure is weather dependent and subject to change.
(Corrected map substituted Friday morning – SDOT fixed Genesee’s mislabeling as Dakota on prior version)
· The intersection will be closed from Friday, September 6 at 9 AM to Monday, September 9 at 6 AM, weather depending
· Metro buses will be allowed southbound on 35th Ave SW from Fauntleroy between 3 PM and 7 PM on Fridays to assist with the evening commute
· This work will take up to 3 weekends
· Please visit our website for more information
· Please follow posted detour routes, see map above
High Friction Surface Treatments
In the next few weeks, crews will be placing high friction surface treatments on SW Genesee St and Charlestown Ave SW.· Crews will be working on SW Genesee St from SW Avalon Way to 30th Ave SW. One lane of traffic will be maintained, with flaggers present to direct traffic in each direction.
· Crews will be working on Charlestown Ave SW from 46th Ave SW to 47th Ave SW. Charlestown will be closed to through traffic from 45th to 48th. Please follow posted detour routes.
· Work is expected to take place on both SW Genesee St and Charlestown Ave SW on August 28-29 and September 3-6 from 9 AM to 3 PM
In case you wondered:
What is a high friction surface treatment?
We use high friction surface treatments on steep hills throughout the city to reduce the likelihood of slipping on the roadway. Crews will put down an epoxy and then place coarse rock-like material on top, to create a rougher surface for cars to travel over.
(WSB photos and video)
6:44 PM: Caspar Babypants fans are filling the east lawn at Hiawatha Community Center for what’s invariably the bounciest night of the Admiral Neighborhood Association‘s annual concert series. “My Flea Has Dogs,” “Free Couch,” “Mr. Rabbit,” and other faves already have the youngest concertgoers dancing nonstop.
Mr. Babypants intro’ing ‘Free Couch’ pic.twitter.com/8aPRoQb8dp
— West Seattle Blog (@westseattleblog) August 23, 2019
You have until 8 to get here and share the fun.
While you’re here, say hi to the series sponsors tabling on the east edge of the crowd, including WSB sponsors West Seattle Realty (with Otter Pops) and Dream Dinners (with crafts).
(Added: Dream Dinners’ table, above; West Seattle Realty’s Otter Pop-ularity, below)
7:50 PM: Show just ended – and with it, this year’s Summer Concerts at Hiawatha. We have more photos/video to add when we’re back at HQ.
10:21 PM: Adding more photos and video. Caspar B (who most probably know by now is Chris Ballew, who had a pre-Babypants claim to fame with The Presidents of the United States of America) insisted “every song is a true story”:
You can’t argue that when the song is, for example, “Banana Bread,” telling the practical tale of why you don’t have to discard overripe bananas. Many of his songs are critter tales, though, like this:
As you saw there, some fans didn’t even stop bouncing when the music stopped. That can have side effects:
Many more were starting to wind down by show’s end. Afterward, there was a chance to buy merch and art – CB’s cover artist Kate Endle, who also happens to be married to him, was there:
One more person to acknowledge – Stephanie Jordan, who plans and coordinates the Hiawatha series for ANA:
Watch next year for word of the 2020 series!
Why wait until your 100th birthday to have a big party? West Seattle writer, comedian, and political activist Georgie Bright Kunkel is about to turn 99, and friends gathered on a sunny Gatewood lawn to celebrate. The guest of honor wore a tiara; host Ann Martin and the West Seattle Democratic Women – of which Georgie is a past president – provided birthday fixings from a cake to flowers to two golden “9” balloons. And a round of “Happy Birthday”:
Ann read words of wisdom that Georgie wrote upon turning 90: “Never be defined by one’s arthritis or pain or age. Keep your spirit shining out of your eyes and put your best foot forward when you go out into the world. … Never give up hope. All through history, there has always been a light at the end of the tunnel to lead the way into a better life.” But right now, Georgie told partygoers (who included local political leaders), “I appreciate everything, and life is good.”
This Sunday marks 400 years since the arrival in English-occupied North America of the first ship carrying enslaved Africans, and there is a call for bell-ringing as part of a Healing Day. St. John the Baptist Episcopal Church in West Seattle has announced it’s participating:
The Episcopal Church of St. John the Baptist will join other churches and organizations across the country and ring our bell for one minute at 12:00 noon this Sunday, August 25 to honor the enslaved Africans who landed in 1619 at Port Comfort in Hampton, Virginia. The site is now part of Fort Monroe National Monument, which is leading the national bell ringing ceremony.
Presiding Bishop Michael Curry has encouraged Episcopal churches across the country to take part. More on that here.
To learn more about Fort Monroe, and the significance of bells as symbols of freedom, healing and reconciliation, (go here).
The church is in The Admiral District at 3050 California SW. Any others participating? Let us know.
We checked with SDOT after a reader question about why 59th SW is lined with “no parking” signs for this Sunday (August 25), 7 am-5 pm, between Admiral Way and Alki Avenue. The only hint on the signage was attribution to the AAC (asphalt/paving/etc.) division. Here’s what SDOT spokesperson Ethan Bergerson tells us: Crews will be out on Sunday removing the rubber speed cushions on 59th SW and replacing them with asphalt speed cushions.
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
The organization that operates the Senior Center of West Seattle is protesting being passed over for major ongoing funding from the King County Veterans, Seniors and Human Services Levy.
County Executive Dow Constantine‘s office announced the funding earlier this week. The list is highlighted by ongoing funding for 14 proposals, from $885,000 for a senior center in Enumclaw to $1.9 million for four agencies in Seattle to serve Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. (The application guidelines, the announcement explains, “encouraged regional senior centers and other community groups to form collaborations or ‘hubs’ to better reach specific demographics, or serve a defined geographic area or cultural group.”)
While that major funding will be over the course of the six-year levy, at the bottom of the announced list are 13 agencies/facilities getting one-time-only grants of $90,000 each. That’s where you’ll find the Senior Center of West Seattle – which describes itself as the largest senior center in the city, serving more than 4,500 people a year.
A reader sent that photo of a bicycle abandoned in the City View neighborhood. Yours? Let us know and we will connect you.
We photographed Jeffrey Carlson and Sonia Carlson at the launch party last night for their new business, Sifted Tea. It’s a caffeine-free tea you brew from organic cacao husks, and they’re selling it online – or you can try it at West Seattle Grounds (2141 California SW), where the party was held last night. The husks are sourced from organic cacao farmers in Ecuador.
(House Finch, photographed by Mark Wangerin)
Morning through night, highlights of what’s happening:
CULINARY ARTS PROGRAM OPEN HOUSE: 10 am-11 am, visit and learn about the acclaimed program at South Seattle College (WSB sponsor). Find the Culinary Arts Building via this campus map. (6000 16th SW)
POSTCARDS TO VOTERS: Reach across the miles via mail! Read what it’s about here; drop in at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor) 10 am-noon. Organizer Kathy Rawle sent this photo of last week’s meetup:
More info here. (5612 California SW)
DRAGONFLY GARDEN’S FUTURE: As reported here last week, community volunteers and the artist who designed Delridge’s Dragonfly Garden/Pavilion are concerned about Seattle Parks’ plan to cover its distinctively shaped planting beds with grass. They’re meeting with Parks reps at the site at 12:30 pm; anyone interested is welcome to be there too. (28th SW/SW Dakota)
CLOTHESLINE GRAND REOPENING: Join the West Seattle Helpline to celebrate the reopening of its Clothesline clothing bank, 5:30-7:30 pm. Tours and more! (4425 41st SW)
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AFTER-HOURS: The West Seattle Chamber of Commerce‘s monthly “after hours” networking event this month is at Quail Park Memory Care of West Seattle (WSB sponsor) in The Junction, 5:30-7:30 pm, free for Chamber members, $10 nonmembers. (4515 41st SW)
FESTIVAL PLANNING: Last chance to help plan the upcoming World Music Festival at Roxhill Park! Meet at the picnic tables in the park’s northwest corner, 6-7:30 pm. (29th SW/SW Barton)
THE DAN DUVAL GOOD VIBES TRIO: Live at the Pacific Room/Alki Beach, 6-9 pm. No cover. (2808 Alki SW)
CASPAR BABYPANTS @ HIAWATHA: The Admiral Neighborhood Association-presented concert series’ 2019 finale is the everpopular, ever-lively Caspar Babypants, beloved by kids, often earworm-inducing for grownups, 6:30-8 pm on the east lawn at Hiawatha. Free! Bring your own chair/blanket/picnic. (Walnut south of Lander)
KIRO SKIRO & FRIENDS: Triple bill at The Skylark, 7 pm, $8, 21+. (3803 Delridge Way SW)
MORE, FOR ALL AGES! See today’s other listings via our full calendar.
(SDOT MAP with travel times/ Is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE/ West Seattle-relevant traffic cams HERE)
6:56 AM: Good morning.
FOR WATER TAXI RIDERS: The downtown traffic-flow changes also mean changes for those on foot near the dock, as announced last night.
Two West Seattle Crime Watch reader reports:
SCOOTER STOLEN: From Ann:
HAVE YOU SEEN THIS SCOOTER? DO YOU KNOW WHO THE THIEF IS? PLEASE CONTACT POLICE.
Stolen right out of the locked garage @ West Water condos, 6900 block of California Avenue SW, sometime in the late hours of Monday evening 8/19 to early morning 8/20.
Mini Sport Scooter
Make: ZLMI
Model: ROMA 150
Year: 2014
Color: Green with Black trim
HOME BURGLARIZED: A reader west of The Junction reports, “We had a break-in at our home (Wednesday) during the daytime. Appears to have removed screen on open backyard window. Trashed the bedroom and bathroom, taking money and a few bottles of prescription medication.”
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