month : 08/2019 302 results

THE WEST SEATTLE TURKEY: Video of a visit

Yes, in month 4 on the peninsula, The West Seattle Turkey is still roaming southeast of Admiral. A revisit to Rose De Dan‘s home office resulted in the video above – Rose calls The Turkey “Admiral Belvidere” for the area(s) it’s adopted. As you can see on the video, The Turkey’s visit included a clash with crows. Rose tells the story here.

SUNDAY: West Seattle family’s 2nd annual bake sale to help refugees/immigrants

(WSB photo: Jen and Theo at last year’s bake sale)

Another West Seattle fundraiser for refugee/immigrant families – Jen Schill and son Theo Schill had a bake sale last year that raised money for the Refugee and Immigrant Center for Education and Legal Services, and we got word today they’re doing it again tomorrow (Sunday, August 4th). Husband/dad Scott Schill says Theo‘s been baking all day, plus they have some community donations. You’ll find them outside 4146 44th SW, 10 am-1 pm tomorrow.

WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Caught on cameras … before stealing them

That’s a screenshot of one of the thieves who stole three surveillance cameras from West Seattle Christian Church in The Junction between 3 am and 6 am on July 25th. WSCC’s Worth Wheeler tells WSB, “From what we can tell there were 2 to 3 individuals involved and they went to quite a lot of effort to removed the cameras, even using a long bamboo pole, standing on our a-frame signs, and bringing one of those extendable gripping devices with a grabbing claw at the end.” Here are video clips showing some of their activity including the camera thefts:

Police have been notified; we don’t have a case # yet.\

UPDATE: Water-rescue response at Alki

(Added: SFD at Don Armeni, photographed by Kevin Ainsworth)

3:07 PM: Seattle Fire has sent a sizable water-rescue response to Alki, by land and sea, with some units at Don Armeni too. We haven’t yet heard any details on the call but we’re headed that way.

3:17 PM: One radio exchange has since mentioned kayaker(s) possibly in trouble off Alki Point.

3:19 PM: And another has mentioned two kayakers and one paddleboarder who have been assisted by the Coast Guard.

3:33 PM: We’ve confirmed with firefighters as they got ready to leave Alki that everyone is OK.

West Seattle weekend scene: Stephanie Zimmerman completes Bremerton-to-Alki Point swim

(Photo by David Hutchinson, as swimmer and escort boat approached Alki Point)

Arms raised in victory, Stephanie Zimmerman emerged from Puget Sound at Alki Point early this afternoon, a little more than four and a half hours after she went in at Bremerton, to tackle what’s known as the Amy Hiland Swim.

(This photo and next by WSB’s Patrick Sand)

Supporters crowded around with congratulations:

Then – it was time to rest. She has been training off Alki for two years, according to Northwest Open Water Swimming Association president Andrew Malinak. NOWSA’s records show that Stephanie is the sixth person to complete the swim since Amy Hiland herself in 1959 – the route went untried for decades until Erika Norris swam it in 2016; Melissa Blaustein, Lauren Boilini, and Jerome Leslie in 2017; and Rose Filer in 2018. (Stephanie and Rose were among the panelists talking about open-water swimming at an event we covered in March.)

UPDATE: King County reports ‘sewer overflow’ in Fauntleroy

10:17 AM: Just in from King County Wastewater Treatment Division:

King County Wastewater Treatment Division is investigating a leaking pressure relief valve on the Barton Pump Station pipeline that travels through Lincoln Park located in West Seattle that resulted in a small sewer overflow.

Signs have been posted advising the public to avoid contact in the area located in the southern-most end of the park along the beach trail north of the Fauntleroy Ferry Dock. King County dispatched a crew to clean up the site and water quality testing will be done throughout the weekend. The overflow has been reported to health and regulatory agencies.

We have followup questions about the size/volume of the overflow and the stretch of shore affected, since there’s a stretch of private shoreline north of the dock, as well as little Cove Park, before you get to the south end of Lincoln Park. We’re also headed out to look for signage/work crews.

11:25 AM: No reply yet, but we did find a “stay out of the water” sign at Cove Park; photo added above.

1:03 PM: From KCWTD spokesperson Norm Mah: “The estimate is between 200-400 gallons, most of which was cleaned up by a vactor (vacuum) truck last night. Some of it was within the vault that houses the valves.”

11 for your West Seattle Saturday!

August 3, 2019 6:07 am
|    Comments Off on 11 for your West Seattle Saturday!
 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Photo by Jen Popp: August’s first Alki sunset)

Welcome to the first weekend of August! Still a lot of summer left. Highlights from our event calendar:

CROSS-SOUND SWIM: As previewed earlier this week, Stephanie Zimmerman is planning to swim from Bremerton to Alki Point today, roughly 8:30 am-2 pm. You can watch the tracking signal here.

SAVE THE FOREST: Join Friends of Lincoln Park to start your weekend off with a few hours of urban-forest restoration. 9 am-noon; meet in the north lot. (Fauntleroy & Rose)

WEST SEATTLE PCC JOB FAIR: No, the new West Seattle store isn’t open yet, but it’s hiring (scroll down this page for listings), and a job fair is set for 10 am-1 pm today at the Burien PCC. (15840 1st Ave. S.)

HISTORY HIKE IN WEST DUWAMISH GREENBELT: 10 am free hike – learn the history of the greenbelt’s acquisition from Paul West. Details here. Free. (14th SW/SW Holly trailhead)

HISTORY WALK IN RIVERSIDE: Join the Southwest Seattle Historical Society for the annual walking tour of historic Riverside, led by Frank Zuvela. $5 suggested donation. (West Marginal Way SW/SW Marginal Place)

WADING POOLS & SPRAYPARK: Open today are Lincoln Park wading pool (8011 Fauntleroy Way SW), 11 am-8 pm; Hiawatha wading pool (Walnut/Lander), noon-6:30 pm; Highland Park spraypark (1100 SW Cloverdale), 11 am-8 pm.

LOW-LOW TIDE: Last one for a while, out to -2.2 feet at 1:14 pm, with Seattle Aquarium volunteer beach naturalists at Lincoln and Constellation Parks 11:30 am-2:30 pm.

BLUE ANGELS: Taking off from Boeing Field (where they are parked outside the Museum of Flight) just before 3 pm for today’s Seafair airshow.

(Friday photo by Jim Clark)

Though the airshow is intended primarily for the south Lake Washington audience, you’ll generally see some flybys if you have a wide viww to the east.

BASEBALL SEASON-ENDER: Last chance to see the Highline Bears this year! Tonight (Saturday, August 3rd) is their final game of the season, 7:05 pm at Steve Cox Memorial Park vs. the Redmond Dudes. It’s Fan Appreciation Night, too. Ticket info here. (1321 SW 102nd)

DANIEL PELLEGRINI RELEASE SHOW: 8 pm at The Skylark, with Evie B, Lonnie Baldwin, Matt Lincoln. $10 cover. 21+. (3803 Delridge Way SW)

ROCKABILLY PUNK: At Parliament Tavern, 9 pm – Shag-Nasty, New Rose, The Lesser Disciples. $7 cover. 21+. (4210 SW Admiral Way)

MORE! Hop over to our full calendar to see.

WEST SEATTLE WEATHER: 90s in the forecast

(New moon, photographed from Alki Point by Jim Borrow)

Whether you love or loathe hot weather, brace yourself for another round – the forecast for Sunday now says we could get into the 90s. The last 90-or-hotter high temperature was 91 degrees on July 21st; before that, 95 on June 12th.

NEW 5K: First-ever Alki Beach Sunset Run set for next month

August 2, 2019 8:16 pm
|    Comments Off on NEW 5K: First-ever Alki Beach Sunset Run set for next month
 |   West Seattle news | WS & Sports

For years, there’s been a late-summer run on Alki. Two years ago, after Northwest Hope and Healing stopped presenting the Alki Beach 5K, the Cosmo 7K moved to West Seattle. This year, the late-summer run has another big change: It’s become the Alki Beach Sunset Run, and it’ll happen five weeks from tonight, on Friday evening, September 6. That means an evening road closure on the usual 5K route from Alki Bathhouse to Anchor Park and back; we’re still waiting for the full plan, but the race FAQ says the city is requiring organizers to reopen the road by 7:30 pm, a little over an hour after the 6:20 pm start. As with the past two years’ Cosmo 7Ks, an afterparty with DJ and drinks is planned for racers. Registration is open here.

FOLLOWUP: What SDOT says it’ll do about the homeward-bound slowness

(Screengrab from SDOT traffic camera at 1st/Madison a few minutes ago)

ORIGINAL FRIDAY REPORT: If you travel home from downtown on 1st Avenue – especially by bus – you know it’s been agonizingly sluggish, increasingly often. People have been begging Metro and SDOT to figure out something. Just forwarded from the office of City Councilmember Lisa Herbold, who’s been talking with SDOT too, a new reply from SDOT:

We recognize that traffic conditions are constrained on 1st Ave, and we appreciate everyone’s patience as we navigate the Seattle Squeeze, Seattle’s period of tough traffic as construction projects change how we get around downtown. 1st Ave is not a long-term plan for buses; this was a temporary relocation due to Alaskan Way Viaduct demolition work. Buses will move off 1st Ave onto Alaskan Way entirely once the two-way Columbia St transit corridor is built. In the meantime, we know there have been impacts to bus riders.

1st Ave is operating at capacity, meaning that an unforeseen event such as a disabled vehicle, or a planned mid-day event in the stadium, can quickly tip the system to failure. Additionally, it takes quite a while for the system to resume normal operation once the problem is resolved. Construction activity along Alaskan Way to demolish the Viaduct at the south end of the corridor is causing additional trips to detour to 1st Ave causing further delay. SDOT and Metro have also been working to make sure buses use the center lane due to the weight restrictions along the curb lanes in Pioneer Square, which causes some additional friction as buses try to access the southbound stop at Railroad Way. Last week, the confluence of these new traffic patterns and evening events at T-Mobile Park resulted in some very long travel times along 1st Ave.

In response, SDOT will implement the following changes in an effort to provide a more reliable experience for all modes, with a special focus for transit and pedestrian users. These changes include:

-Revising signal timing at 1st Ave S & S Dearborn St and Alaskan Way S & S Dearborn St to further aid transit operation
-Further optimizing the signal timing plan for the 1st Ave corridor through Pioneer Square while emphasizing the north and south movements
-Implementing pre-game event timing to support the last two midday baseball games for the season
-Working to ensure high priority for incident management during the morning and afternoon commute time

In the meantime, we’re working closely with WSDOT and Metro to monitor traffic conditions and consider what can be done to keep people and goods moving.

That reply also was sent directly to some of the frustrated commuters who contacted SDOT. Two weeks ago, we had followed up with Metro, which at the time indicated no immediate action was likely.

ADDED MONDAY: Metro says, no reroute:

Some have asked if we could return to the pathway used during the viaduct closure. That pathway worked in January because many commuters changed their travel times and patterns for a month and also because of several temporary bus lanes and uniformed traffic control officers at key intersections. These measures would be difficult and costly to renew and maintain for an extended time.

BIZNOTE: Here’s what’s happening with the original Youngstown Coffee Company location

Though demolition has been happening around it and the signage is down, the original Youngstown Coffee Company location at 5214 Delridge Way SW is NOT out of business. We checked on it today after a reader question, driving by the site and then going up to Youngstown Coffee’s newer Morgan Junction location, where we found proprietor Zoe. She says the Delridge location is reopening on Monday – the property owner is redeveloping the rest of the site, and part of the initial work required closing the shop for a while. Meantime, her plan for salads and sandwiches in the ex-Harry’s Chicken Joint (etc.) space next to the Morgan shop is almost ready to go – she had a few trial runs this past week and hopes to officially launch soon.

FOLLOWUP: Brian Clevenger’s second West Seattle Junction restaurant Haymaker is about to open

(Photos courtesy Haymaker)

By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

If you wonder whether Chef Brian Clevenger‘s new West Seattle Junction restaurant Haymaker might be too fancy for you, consider this:

One of the menu items he’s most excited about is a burger.

It’ll be on the Haymaker happy-hour menu – a “BIG” happy-hour menu, he notes – with two happy hours every day of the week, 5-6 pm and 9-10 pm.

Haymaker officially opens Monday (after friends-and-family and limited-soft-open nights this weekend), in the 4706 California SW space that briefly held Vine & Spoon. We noted Clevenger’s name on a liquor-license application for the space in May; a month later, details were announced.

Clevenger is not only a West Seattle resident, he already has a presence in the local restaurant scene, having opened Raccolto barely two blocks north in fall 2016.

So what will be the biggest difference between the two?

Raccolto is “heavy on pasta, light on protein,” while Haymaker will be “heavier on protein, lighter on pasta.” Also, it won’t be focused on “Italian-inspired” dishes. (Besides that happy-hour burger, he also mentions steak and fries, and a roasted half-duck.)

But Clevenger stresses that Haymaker will still be strong with “what we know” – vegetables, seafood. It’s his fifth restaurant; his three outside West Seattle are Vendemmia, East Anchor Seafood (a market as well as dine-in venue), and Le Messe.

As we talked in Haymaker’s remodeled space, it bustled with pre-opening activity – ingredient deliveries coming through the door, trays of fresh-made pasta visible near the kitchen entrance. Clevenger admits that getting ready to open a new restaurant can be “terrifying,” as you wait to see “if the neighborhood will support it” – and ultimately, he says, Haymaker is intended to be “a neighborhood restaurant,” for the neighborhood he has long loved.

Starting Monday, Haymaker will be open 5-10 pm for dinner, reservations accepted but not required. (Clevenger notes that the 57-seat restaurant can accommodate “larger parties,” too.) He’s hoping to add weekend brunch after the first month or so.

MAKE MUSIC! West Seattle Community Orchestras now welcoming fall signups

(WSCO photo: Sofia Aragon and Caroline Peyton, both members of the Debut Orchestra)

Calling musicians! The West Seattle Community Orchestras are ready for you to join:

West Seattle Community Orchestras (WSCO) announces that registration is now open for its fall 2019 session.

For those of you who aren’t familiar with WSCO, this is West Seattle’s very own community music organization, with three orchestras and a wind symphony (concert band). These performance ensembles rehearse weekly through the school year, each performing quarterly concerts.

In addition to these performing groups, we offer classes for adults in strings (violin, viola, cello, bass) and winds/percussion (e.g., flute, clarinet, saxophone, French horn, trumpet, trombone—oh, and percussion).

This fall we are also adding beginning student strings for those in grades 4 through 12. No charge to students for this class or for participating in any of our groups. (Adults pay a modest fee.) As far as we know, WSCO is unique in the state of Washington for having adults and young people play side by side in each of our performing groups. That is, placement is by ability (or inclination), not age!

Registration for all groups and classes is now open online: Visit www.wscorchestras.org and click on the Registration tab. (We’d appreciate your registration before August 31st to reserve space.)

UNCERTAIN WHICH GROUP IS RIGHT FOR YOU? If you’d like more information on opportunities to learn an instrument or perform in our ensembles, please fill out the registration form with your contact details. For new musicians, we’ll be in touch soon, to orient you further before the first classes and rehearsals begin.

As in previous years, rehearsals will be held Tuesdays at Chief Sealth International High School. Specific start times for the rehearsals and more details will be shared in upcoming announcements as well as listed on our website, www.wscorchestras.org, or you can contact info@wscorchestras.org.

We hope to see many of you—former members as well as newbies—when we open this, our eighteenth season of providing outstanding concerts for our community!

7+ for your West Seattle Friday

August 2, 2019 10:15 am
|    Comments Off on 7+ for your West Seattle Friday
 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

Thanks to John Murphy for the photo of a Blue Angels flyby seen from West Seattle on Thursday. They’ll be up again 3-4 pm today. Here’s what else is happening:

LOW-LOW TIDE: Seattle Aquarium volunter beach naturalists are at Constellation and Lincoln Parks 10:30 am-2:30 pm because the tide is out to -2.9 feet at 12:27 pm.

LAST DAY FOR EC HUGHES WADING POOL, & WHAT ELSE IS OPEN: Lincoln Park (8011 Fauntleroy Way SW) is open until 8 pm, EC Hughes (2805 SW Holden, last day of the season because it’s closing for playground construction) 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.

BINGO! 11 am-2:30 pm at the Senior Center of West Seattle. (4217 SW Oregon)

SUMMER CONCERTS AT THE MOUNT: 5:30 pm, dinner’s available for purchase; 6 pm, music begins. Danny Vernon‘s “Illusion of Elvis” starts the series tonight. Free, bring your own chair/blanket. South side of Providence Mount St. Vincent campus. (4831 35th SW)

CORNER BAR: Highland Park Improvement Club‘s monthly pop-up bar starts at 6 pm. Music and more! (1116 SW Holden)

HIGHLINE BEARS: Second-to-last game of the season for the semipro team playing at Steve Cox Memorial Park. 7:05 pm vs.the Wallbangers. (1321 SW 102nd)

ROCK/AMERICANA: That’s what you’ll find at Parliament Tavern with Sweet Jesus and Welcome Strangers, 9 pm. $10 cover. 21+. (4210 SW Admiral Way)

LOTS MORE! Just visit our complete calendar.

Celebration of Life planned August 17 for Darlene Thornton, 1938-2019

Family and friends will gather August 17th to remember Darlene J. Thornton. Here’s the remembrance being shared with the community:

Darlene Janet Thornton “Ooma” passed away peacefully surrounded by family and friends on July 3rd, in Seattle with “Sweet Caroline” playing in the background.

She is survived by her father David E. Edwards Sr., husband of 63 years Jerry Sr., sons Jerry Jr., Joel, Jon, Jim, and brother David Edwards Jr. and numerous aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Preceded in death by her loving son Jeff and mother Jeanne Edwards.

Darlene was born in West Seattle January 8, 1938. She graduated from West Seattle High School and attended University of Washington. She married Jerry Sr. in the Fauntleroy Congregational Church November 29, 1957 and soon after moved to Tukwila and started their family.

Ooma also leaves 12 grandchildren: Jaimie, Justin, Chelsey, James, Tyler, Jordan, Erika, Jessica, Kylie, Eamon, Nyreese, and Cormac, along with 3 greatgrandchildren Falina, Katilynn, and Joslynn.

Darlene’s life was strongly rooted in raising her boys. First as a preschool teacher and then as a lunch lady at Cascade View Elementary School. After her boys were grown, she went on to a rewarding 30-year career at Larry’s Market in Tukwila working alongside her boys and making lifelong friends.

Darlene was an avid sports fan and spent countless nights and weekends attending her boys’ baseball and football games at Foster High School. She and her husband loved University of Washington baseball and football games and have held season tickets since 1959. Darlene loved the Seattle Mariners. As season ticket holders, Darlene and her husband traveled the country to attend games, including spring training in Peoria, Arizona. Darlene missed only one Seattle Mariners spring training since Ken Griffey Junior was a rookie in 1989. Darlene enjoyed the excitement of a new baseball season and reuniting with friends that had relocated to the Phoenix area. She was at home at any baseball park and loved the history and memories made anywhere. from GE Field rooting on the Tukwila Little League to singing along with “Sweet Caroline” in Fenway Park.

Matriarch and Rock of the Thornton family, she was beloved by her family and friends and will be greatly missed.

Whenever you see a ladybug; it’s her smiling at you!

Private inurnment at Riverton Crest Cemetery.

A Celebration of Life will be held August 17th 1:30 – 3:00 at T-Mobile Park.

Please share your memories of Darlene and condolences with her Family by visiting her Tribute Page. Care & Arrangements entrusted to Emmick Family Funeral Home & Cremation.

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

TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: August’s first Friday

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

6:56 AM: Good morning!

WATER TAXI REMINDERS: The smaller Spirit of Kingston continues on the route through Sunday.

(WSB photo from Thursday)

Then Monday, both Water Taxi routes are OUT OF SERVICE for the downtown dock move, scheduled to resume service August 12th.

WEEKEND NOTES: The tunnel closure that was set for tonight has vanished from advisories so apparently it’s NOT happening … One more reminder that the Blue Angels’ performances today through Sunday (3-4 pm) will NOT close I-90 … The Sounders play Kansas City on Sunday night at CenturyLink Field, 7 pm.

West Seattle scene: Seafair Pirates’ vessel commandeered?

The photo is from Alki photographer David Hutchinson, who explains: “Heard a siren a bit ago and looked outside expecting to see law enforcement or a medic – instead it was the Moby Duck with what appeared to be some of the sailors from the Seafair Fleet on board.” P.S. Here’s the schedule for the remaining Seafair Fleet Week tours of the sailors’ own ships.

MORE OUTDOOR MUSIC: 2019 Summer Concerts at The Mount start Friday

August 1, 2019 7:52 pm
|    Comments Off on MORE OUTDOOR MUSIC: 2019 Summer Concerts at The Mount start Friday
 |   Fun stuff to do | West Seattle news

(WSB photo from 2017 Summer Concerts at The Mount)

Now that it’s August, Providence Mount St. Vincent is about to launch its 2019 series of four free outdoor concerts! They start tomorrow (Friday, August 2) on the south side of The Mount’s campus at 4831 35th SW. If you haven’t already seen it in our calendar, here’s the lineup:

August 2nd — Danny Vernon, The Illusion of Elvis

August 9th — Loose Heels – Country covers and originals

August 16th — The Abbagraphs (Abba tribute band)

August 23rd — The 85th Street Big Band

The concerts are free – so are popcorn and snow cones – but you have the option of buying dinner and drinks starting at 5:30. Music starts at 6. Bring your own chair/blanket.

PHOTOS, VIDEO: Alec Shaw @ Summer Concerts at Hiawatha

6:52 PM: “My favorite place to play is outside!” enthused Alec Shaw between songs as tonight’s Summer Concerts at Hiawatha show got going. It’s a great place to be tonight whether you’re onstage or on the lawn (east lawn at Hiawatha Community Center (Walnut south of Lander) to be specific) – the stage and most of the lawn are in the shade already and the rest will be soon. The show’s on until about 8 – free – bring your own blanket/chair.

7:57 PM: Concert’s wrapping up – last song.

ADDED 11:11 PM: More photos!

You can find out more about Alec Shaw’s music here. Next week at Hiawatha – Ranger and the Re-Arrangers, 6:30 pm Thursday (August 8th).

AVALON/35TH PROJECT: Work starting soon in another zone

August 1, 2019 5:35 pm
|    Comments Off on AVALON/35TH PROJECT: Work starting soon in another zone
 |   Luna Park | Transportation | West Seattle news

The weekly update on the Avalon/35th paving-and-more project is in. From SDOT:

Last week, crews worked to excavate the road in Zone A and are getting ready to begin work in Zone C as early as the week of August 5.

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:

-Paving at SW Charlestown St as soon as August 5
-Pouring new curb ramps at SW Charlestown St, which will remain closed until the week of August 16
-Paving SW Yancy St, which will remain closed until the week of August 5
-Pouring the new transit island north of SW Yancy St
-Weekend work on Saturday, August 3 and Sunday, August 4

As crews wrap up paving, please use extreme caution if you are riding a bike through Zone A as the roadway is uneven.

Zone C (SW Avalon Way from SW Genesee St to 35th Ave SW)
We anticipate beginning work in Zone C as soon as August 5, including:

-Saw cutting and excavation on the north side of the road, followed by base repairs and then asphalt paving
-Two to three weeks of work on the north side of Zone C

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:

-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.
-Beginning concrete paving in certain areas towards the end of the week of August 5

Upcoming intersection closures for 35th Ave SW and SW Avalon Way

Crews will use multiple weekend closures of 35th Ave SW and SW Avalon Way to rebuild the intersection. While dates have not yet been scheduled, you can expect work to take place during the weekend in early to mid-August to reduce traffic impacts. You can also expect detours to be provided during this work.

NODE: Welcoming a new West Seattle Blog sponsor!

Today we welcome a new WSB sponsor, NODE. Here’s what they want you to know about what they do:

(Photo by Andrew Pogue)

NODE is delivering sustainable homes through a process that focuses on customer delight and backing it up with a guaranteed price. People come to us because building is hard, and risky. We offer a one-stop shop for sustainable, well-designed backyard cottages. We make the process simple for folks by taking care of everything and guarantee the price. A lot of people don’t build because they are overwhelmed by the process, or they have built before and know that budget and schedule is a moving target.

Why should you consider adding a backyard cottage (formally known as a detached accessory dwelling unit, DADU)? In addition to adding resale value to your property, a DADU has many potential uses. For some folks, it’s so their parents to age in place in their own home, yet literally be in the backyard. For others it’s a way to secure extra income through long-term rentals or short-term, Airbnb-type rentals. And for others, they don’t want to move, but want extra space for guests or a home office. Seattle’s just liberalized the rules, making it easier than ever for folks to build DADUs. Our clients love the design and our commitment to sustainability and nature.

NODE offers tours of some of their existing homes; sign up here. Want more info? Here’s how to contact NODE.

We thank NODE for sponsoring independent, community-collaborative neighborhood news via WSB; find our current sponsor team listed in directory format here, and find info on joining the team by going here.

Pianos in the Parks is back, with one in West Seattle

Pianos in the Parks is back, with 11 art-covered pianos placed temporarily around the metro area, including this one in Junction Plaza Park (42nd SW/SW Alaska). The artist for this piano is Mindi Katzman; the community partner is West Seattle Community Orchestras; Pianos in the Parks is presented by One Reel. You can see this piano – and play it! – through August 18th.

West Seattle scene: Lowest tide of what’s left of summer

August 1, 2019 12:46 pm
|    Comments Off on West Seattle scene: Lowest tide of what’s left of summer
 |   West Seattle beaches | West Seattle news

As previewed in our daily highlight list, today’s low-low tide was the last one out to -3 feet (-3.1 to be precise) before summer ends. A few minutes after the 11:41 low-low-tide moment, we were out at Seacrest for a look at the exposed pier supports, and caught a Blue Angels flyby. As for a closer look at the sea life:

Though starfish have reappeared elsewhere, they weren’t in view here. (For comparison, see our 2009 view here.) One more low-low-tide view a bit to the northwest:

It takes a tide this low to show the remains of what used to be off Duwamish Head – which bustled a century-plus ago with docks, industry, even the legendary Luna Park amusement park. Meantime, if you couldn’t get out on the beach today, tomorrow’s almost as low, -2.9 feet at 12:27 pm Friday.