West Seattle, Washington
01 Sunday
Though tomorrow will likely bring rain, it should be gone by Thursday night’s grand finale of this year’s Summer Concerts at Hiawatha series, presented by the Admiral Neighborhood Association. The kid-geared rock of Caspar Babypants will undoubtedly fill the east lawn at Hiawatha Community Center as usual, so don’t be late. 6:30 pm start time, free, BYO chair/blanket/kid(s)/picnic, along Walnut south of Lander. P.S. Mr. Babypants has a new album out – “Flying High.”
Three reports in West Seattle Crime Watch today:
PACKAGE THIEVES AT WORK RIGHT NOW: Just in from Marc near 35th/Cloverdale – thieves struck about half an hour ago: “Woman and two accomplices that appear male in a grey sedan with no front plate. Video:
Car and accomplices
Woman’s face
NEAR LINCOLN PARK: Nicole says car prowler(s) went through her husband’s car between midnight and 6 am near 46th SW and SW Austin:
They grabbed lots of stuff, but dumped much on the way from their walk from our house to the bus stop near the 76 gas station at the north end of Lincoln Park. Two things not recovered–two sets of golf clubs, one adult set of Cobras in a black bag with a Seahawks sock on the driver and one kid set in a red Wilson bag:
Since they seemed to be on foot, would love it if anyone seems them dumped somewhere or for sale online or at consignment. Also: a DVD wallet of kids’ movies and wireless headphones for the car DVD player.
I had my car broken in to on 30th Ave SW last night (August 19th-August 20th). Someone smashed in my front passenger side window, looted through my glovebox, and stole a phone charger. Thankfully I don’t keep anything of value in my car, but it also looks like other cars on the street were broken into last night.
No incident #’s yet for any of these cases but we’ll add them when we get them.
(Harbor porpoise, photographed from Alki Point by Danny McMillin)
From the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
WADING POOL & SPRAYPARK: Warm and sunny, so Lincoln Park (8011 Fauntleroy Way SW) wading pool and Highland Park Spraypark (1100 SW Cloverdale) will be open 11 am-8 pm.
‘RAISING A READER’ BILINGUAL STORYTIME: Stories in Español and English, plus snacks, 4-5 pm at Southwest Youth and Family Services. Free. (4555 Delridge Way SW)
‘EARLY OUTREACH’ SITE TOUR: 7 townhouse units are planned for 2606 45th SW and the project team will be at the site at 6 pm for a site tour as part of the Early Design Outreach process.
EVENING BOOK GROUP: 6:30 pm at High Point Library. This month’s book is “The Whole World Over” by Julia Glass; next month, “To Siberia” by Per Petterson. (3411 SW Raymond)
UNPLUGGED! A MUSICAL GATHERING: Acoustic musicians and singers! It’s your night at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor), 7-9 pm. (5612 California SW)
OPEN MIC: The spotlight and microphone are yours starting at 9 pm at Parliament Tavern. 21+. (4210 SW Admiral Way)
Event for our calendar? Please send the info to westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
Another fall date to save! The local nonprofit centered on helping people stay out of homelessness, West Seattle Helpline, invites you to its fall fundraiser. The announcement:
We are excited to announce that tickets are on sale for the West Seattle Helpline’s 10th annual Neighbors Helping Neighbors Dinner & Auction, presented by Metropolitan Market. Join us on Saturday, October 12th at The Hall at Fauntleroy for a fun-filled evening celebrating and strengthening our wonderful West Seattle and White Center community! There will be a cocktail hour with live music and a silent auction, a delicious dinner, exciting live auction, and our famous dessert dash.
All proceeds from Neighbors Helping Neighbors will allow the West Seattle Helpline to continue to provide our homelessness-prevention services to keep our neighbors safe and stable in their homes, including:
-Emergency Rent & Utility Assistance program, which provides emergency financial assistance to over 1,000 community members to prevent homelessness, imminent evictions, and utility shut-offs.
-The Clothesline, our free clothing bank that serves over 1,500 clients and their families.
-Transportation Voucher program, which offers over 7,000 free bus tickets to help neighbors travel to work, medical appointments, interviews, and more.
-The Helpline Hotline, a hub for neighbors to find resources for no-cost public and private services.
You can purchase your ticket(s) here; if you’re interested in sponsoring the event, email
Interested in becoming a sponsor? Email Cilia Jurdy – development@wshelpline.org.
(SDOT MAP with travel times/ Is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE/ West Seattle-relevant traffic cams HERE)
7:06 AM: Good morning. No incidents in our area so far this morning.
BRIDGE ALERT: SDOT says this will be a second day of West Seattle Bridge lane closures for hydrant testing – inside lane in both directions, starting around 8:45 am.
It’s become a tradition at West Seattle Elementary, and you’re invited to be part of it on the first day of school: The fourth annual “Be There Rally.” Community members “dressed for success” line the path that students will walk to enter the school that morning, clapping, cheering, and high-fiving them. The invitation from WSE principal Pamela McCowan-Conyers and assistant principal Sahnica Washington stresses that this event is meant to “represent all demographics of the school,” and explains to participants, “Your presence at the school on the first day will support efforts to build valuable partnerships with families and members of the community in order to support student learning and positive academic outcomes.” If you can be part of it, you’re asked to be at West Seattle Elementary (6760 34th SW) at 7 am on Wednesday,September 4th.
(2017 WSB photo: Looking into West Duwamish Greenbelt from NE edge of SSC campus)
We feature a lot of local nature walks/hikes that happen on weekends – but tomorrow brings a rare weekday-morning opportunity, so in case you haven’t already seen the listings in the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar, you’re invited to join a free “mindful meditation” nature walk Tuesday morning, 10:30 am on Puget Ridge. Meet at the main entrance to the Seattle Chinese Garden on the north side of the South Seattle College (6000 16th SW; WSB sponsor) campus. Recreation Specialist John Hasslinger will be there to lead the short walk through the SCG and adjacent greenbelt. Just show up!
Two notes this afternoon:
1ST AVE. CRASH AFTERMATH: This morning, we tracked the 1st/Yesler dump-truck crash in our traffic-watch report for a while; SPD says 4 people were taken to Harborview, and that “catastrophic mechanical failure” is suspected. According to the most-recent SDOT updates, 1st is open, but parts of James and Yesler are closed just east of it. The bus reroute in effect for a while earlier has been lifted. If you travel through the area this afternoon and see anything your homeward-bound neighbors should know, please comment! (6:22 pm update: James has just reopened.)
MORE BRIDGE LANE CLOSURES TOMORROW: SDOT announced this afternoon that the hydrant testing on the West Seattle Bridge will continue Tuesday. Same parameters as today – inside lane closed in both directions, 8:45 am to 2:45 pm.
The Baja Taco Westwood Village location is closing. Checking out a tip (thank you!), we inquired there today, and were told that Saturday (August 24) will be the last day. We reported back in March that MOD Pizza had filed plans with the city to open a second West Seattle location, with the site plan showing they would combine the Baja Taco space and the former Giannoni’s Pizza spot next door. We checked back with MOD today and they’re still not commenting on the plan or timeline. Baja Taco, meantime, says the Jefferson Square location (which changed ownership last year) will remain open.
Thanks for the tip! A film crew is at Don Armeni Boat Ramp right now, working on a Jeep commercial.
Along with all the activity in the park, Harbor is lined with several big trucks that transported the Jeeps:
A crewmember told us they’re filming at multiple locations around the city and will be at this one into the evening.
After we received a few questions about an incident early Saturday in The Junction; we followed up with Seattle Police today, and here’s what they told us: Just before 2 am Saturday, a caller reported “a possible domestic-violence disturbance in the alley behind his apartment building in the 4500 block of 44th Avenue SW,” with what looked to be a man and woman involved. Police continue:
The male pulled out a small handgun and appeared to be showing it off. He eventually handed it off to the female, who then discharged one round toward an unoccupied building across the alley. The shot occurred as officers were arriving in the area. Both subjects then entered the apartment building. Officers took up containment and a contact team was assembled. The apartment building was cleared floor by floor. Both parties were located on the rooftop patio and taken into custody without incident. The handgun was recovered from the male. The building did sustain bullet damage, and one spent round/casing were recovered. The male had a concealed pistol permit and was interviewed and released from SW precinct. The female was booked into King County Jail. There were no injuries.
A check of jail and court records shows the 32-year-old woman was released a short time ago after two days in jail.
As previewed on Friday, the inside lanes of the high bridge are blocked off for hydrant testing, scheduled to reopen by midafternoon. Seattle Public Utilities spokesperson Sabrina Register wants to be sure you know there’s one other possible effect of the hydrant testing: Discolored water (sediment such as rust gets stirred up with the lines opened). If it happens at your residence, she says, “The water is safe and should clear on its own or after running the cold water for a few minutes.” But if it doesn’t, or if you have questions, you can call SPU at 206-386-1800.
The photo was sent by Victoria, a first responder for Seal Sitters Marine Mammal Stranding Network, who explains: “Seal Sitters received a call about this raft on Lowman Park beach. Not sure who the owner is but they may wish to come and claim it before the tide takes it back out into the water.” Next high tide is at 8:33 pm.
(The real “Seahawk” as photographer Chris Frankovich describes it – an osprey, with snack)
From the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
WADING POOL & SPRAYPARK: The forecast is for sunshine and 70s later, so Lincoln Park (8011 Fauntleroy Way SW) wading pool and Highland Park Spraypark (1100 SW Cloverdale) will be open 11 am-8 pm.
SOUTH SEATTLE COLLEGE INFO SESSION: Interested in the bachelor’s-degree Hospitality Management program at South Seattle College (WSB sponsor)? You’re invited to an info session at 1 pm. (6000 16th SW)
WATERCOLOR CLASSES: At C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor) with artist Jennifer Carrasco. 6 pm. Contact the artist to see if spaces remain – info’s in our calendar listing. (5612 California SW)
WEST SEATTLE QUILTERS: New members always welcome. Twice-monthly meetings, 7 pm at the Senior Center/Sisson Building. (4217 SW Oregon)
QUIZ NIGHT: Go play! 8 pm at Parliament Tavern, $2/player. 21+. (4210 SW Admiral Way)
Family and friends will gather next Saturday to celebrate the life of Mead H. Logan and are sharing this remembrance with the community:
Mead Hale Logan
May 20, 1939 – August 8, 2019Mead, a lifelong West Seattle resident, passed peacefully after a battle with cancer at home on August 8, 2019.
Born to Alfred Mead Logan and Lera Alleda Hale on May 20, 1939, Mead was known as little Meady, or Jr, only because his father disliked his own first name. He attended Jefferson Elementary, Madison Junior High, West Seattle High School, and the University of Washington. He served in the U.S. Army where he was based in Alaska and upon his honorable discharge returned to West Seattle where he met and married his wife of 50 years, Janis.
Janis and Mead raised their family of 3 children in West Seattle and were known for their many parties and patriotically painting their home inside and out in red, white and blue to honor the bicentennial.
Mead spent his career as an appliance repairman, as well as serving as a manufacturer’s rep for industrial machine tools. Throughout his 50+-year career, he repaired many appliances in West Seattle homes.
Janis predeceased Mead in 2017; however, Mead is survived by his 3 children, Kevin, Derek (Pam), Erin (Mike); 5 grandchildren, Nicole, Johanna, Aidan, Alessandre, and Annabel; 2 great-grandchildren, R.J. and Logan.
Please join us for memories and good times as we celebrate Mead on Saturday, August 24th at the American Legion Hall in West Seattle from 11 am – 1 pm. In lieu of flowers Mead would prefer that you spend extra time with your loved ones and friends.
(WSB publishes West Seattle obituaries by request, free of charge. Please e-mail the text, and a photo if available, to editor@westseattleblog.com)
(SDOT MAP with travel times/ Is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE/ West Seattle-relevant traffic cams HERE)
6:52 AM: Good morning!
LANE-CLOSURE REMINDER: As announced on Friday, the inbound lanes in each direction on the high bridge will be closed approximately 8:45 am-2:45 pm for hydrant testing.
9:59 AM: If you’re headed toward downtown, avoid 1st – there’s a major emergency response for what’s described as a vehicle into a building.
10:08 AM: Via Twitter, witnesses report this as a dump truck that went “out of control” down James so the investigation scene is likely to be fairly extensive and closed for a few hours.
10:17 AM: They’re also evacuating the damaged building (which included businesses including a Subway shop, photos show). SFD says three people have been taken to Harborview.
1st and Yesler Way: crews working to extricate dump truck from building once building is completely evacuated. pic.twitter.com/Qw776zWDbY
— Seattle Fire Dept. (@SeattleFire) August 19, 2019
10:45 AM: Per scanner, investigators may be “processing” the scene for up to six hours so this will likely affect the evening commute and we’ll track with a separate pm update for the southward-bound hours.
11:13 AM: Metro alert:
Transit Alert – NB buses are rerouted & not serving 1 Av/King St stop. Use the stop NB on Prefontaine/Yesler or regular stops on 3 Av.
— King County Metro 🚏🚌🚎⛴🚐 (@kcmetrobus) August 19, 2019
That’s a preview of “On the Brink,” a documentary that’ll be screened at West Seattle’s Admiral Theater, three weeks from tonight. Though it focuses on dramatic change in another Seattle neighborhood, the team behind it says it’s relevant to others including ours:
We have partnered with the Admiral Theater to screen the documentary “On the Brink” for the first time in our West Seattle community. The event will also feature a Q&A with the Filmmaker, Professor Jeff Shulman of University of Washington, and cast members.
The movie explores the hyperbolic growth of Seattle and its ramifications to local communities and neighborhoods. The Seattle Times hailed it as “a cautionary tale and a call to action in the face of Seattle’s rapid growth.” Crosscut wrote, “The history lesson here is one all Seattleites would benefit from learning.”
While the documentary takes place in Seattle’s Central District, it evokes the human impact of a transformation that is occurring in neighborhoods throughout Seattle. West Seattle is experiencing rapid changes and the Historic Admiral Theater is hosting the screening as a community event to start a constructive dialogue about our neighborhood’s growth.
Please join us and help spread the word about this event on Sunday, September 8th at 7PM at Admiral Theater.
Tickets are $13 and are available on the Admiral Theater’s website. All ticket sales will be donated to Southwest Youth and Family Services. Southwest Youth and Family Services partners with youth and families to transform their futures through its counseling, education, family support and youth development programs.
Still a month-plus left in summer – but some students are going back to school this week. As we do each year, we looked up the start dates for West Seattle (and vicinity) schools. The school names link to their calendar pages:
AUGUST 21
Summit Atlas
AUGUST 27
Kennedy Catholic High School
AUGUST 28
Seattle Lutheran High School
AUGUST 30
Holy Family Bilingual Catholic School
SEPTEMBER 3
Holy Rosary Catholic School
Hope Lutheran School
Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic School
Vashon Island School District
SEPTEMBER 4
Explorer West Middle School (WSB sponsor)
Highline Public Schools
Seattle Public Schools
Tilden School (WSB sponsor)
West Seattle Montessori School & Academy
Westside School (WSB sponsor)
SEPTEMBER 23
South Seattle College (WSB sponsor) starts fall quarter
Some schools have different start dates for kindergarteners and/or other pre-start-of-school events such as meet-and-greets; these are just the main start dates. We welcome school news, announcements, event-calendar listings (etc.) from any and all schools throughout the year – best way to get us information is via email, westseattleblog@gmail.com (unless it’s an urgent message, in which case please text or call our hotline, 206-293-6302) – thank you!
Another government agency is asking for your opinion about its future direction. This time, it’s Metro, and while the title is a little wonky – a “mobility framework” survey – some of the questions are big ones, from equity to emphasis. If you’re interested, the survey starts here. (Thanks to Mike for the tip!)
After moving to South Park last year, Festival CentroAmericano is back in West Seattle, and the celebration’s happening at Westcrest Park until 7 pm.
You can enjoy treats …
… vendors …
… and entertainment:
The Coffee Band – a group with Honduras roots – was onstage while we were there. Other music and dance groups are scheduled to perform all afternoon. The festival’s free – lots of room to roam on the sprawling green at Westcrest!
(October 2018 photo by Leda Costa for WSB)
The West Seattle Junction’s fall celebration, the Harvest Festival, will return for its eighth year on Sunday, October 27th, 10 am-2 pm. Even though that’s more than two months away, The Junction is signing up sponsors/activity providers now, if you’d like to be part of the festival. If you’re new, here’s how it works: The West Seattle Farmers’ Market is on California SW between Oregon and Alaska that day as usual, but the block to the south is closed too as well as part of SW Alaska (just like Summer Fest!) for free kids’ activities and other highlights – a costume parade, chili cookoff, and root-beer garden are usually part of the celebration. If you’re interested in sponsorship, go here!
From a reader on Puget Ridge:
Our white 1999 F250 was stolen from our driveway sometime between 9:45pm and 9:15am this morning. License plate is C73348J.
Call 911 if you see it.
(American Goldfinch, photographed in West Seattle by Mark Wangerin)
Happy Sunday!
START YOUR DAY RESTORATIVELY … with Friends of Lincoln Park, 9 am-noon. (8011 Fauntleroy Way SW)
WEST SEATTLE FARMERS’ MARKET: 10 am-2 pm in the street, in the heart of The Junction. (California SW between SW Oregon and SW Alaska)
STAPLES BLOCK PARTY: Second day of the Westwood Village store’s “block party” with discounts on school supplies, a donation drive so you can buy them for students in need, vendors, and food trucks, 10 am-6 pm. (2501 SW Trenton)
WADING POOLS & SPRAYPARK: Looks like a sunny, warm afternoon, so that’s wading-pool weather. Lincoln Park wading pool (8011 Fauntleroy Way SW) is open 11 am-8 pm; Delridge wading pool (4501 Delridge Way SW) is open noon-6:30 pm – last day! Meantime, Highland Park spraypark (1100 SW Cloverdale) is open 11 am-8 pm.
FESTIVAL CENTROAMERICANO: The celebration of Central American cultures is back at Westcrest Park this year! Live performances (listed here). Noon-7 pm; free. (9000 8th SW)
‘BETWEEN THE LINES’ OPENS: First day to see the new Log House Museum exhibit – as previewed here. Noon-4 pm. (61st SW & SW Stevens)
FREE GRILLED-CHEESE SANDWICHES: Courtesy of Seattle Baking Company, at Ounces, noon-6 pm. (3809 Delridge Way SW)
TOUR ALKI POINT LIGHTHOUSE: Third-to-last chance for tours this year! 1-4 pm tours of the historic lighthouse on Alki Point – get there by 3:45 pm. No admission charge. (3201 Alki SW)
‘9 TO 5, THE MUSICAL’: Final performance of the Twelfth Night Productions show at the West Seattle High School Theater, 3 pm. Ticket info and more here. (3000 California SW)
ALL-AGES SHOW: Garden Party, B’Boys, Castoffs, doors at 5, music at 6, at The Skylark. $5 cover. (3803 Delridge Way SW)
DRUNKEN OWL THEATER: 7 pm, Parliament Tavern‘s “monthly theater event featuring a real live acting troupe reading works from local playwrights.” 21+. (4210 SW Admiral Way)
SEE WHAT ELSE IS UP … by browsing our full calendar.
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