West Seattle, Washington
17 Tuesday
Don’t toss it – recycle it!
Twice a year, Fauntleroy Church invites you to bring no-longer-wanted/neeed items to its parking lot (9140 California SW) 9 am-3 pm, and next Sunday (April 28th) sis the day you can drive/ride/walk up to drop recyclables off for free. 1 Green Planet will be there, and the newest list of what they’re accepting this time is here.
(A Rufous Hummingbird again today, but a very different view – this one, photographed by Kersti Muul)
First, from our West Seattle Easter/Passover/Etc. page:
SUNRISE SERVICE AT FOREST LAWN: As announced by the Kiwanis Club of West Seattle, 6 am at Forest Lawn (6701 30th SW; WSB sponsor).
SUNRISE SERVICE ON ALKI BEACH: 6 am, West Seattle’s three UCC churches join for an early service on the beach, all welcome. (57th SW & Alki SW)
OTHER EASTER SERVICES:: See the listings on our page!
EGG HUNTS: Several churches are having them today – that info’s also in our listings.
And from our year-round West Seattle Event Calendar:
WEST SEATTLE FARMERS’ MARKET: Every Sunday, holiday or not! 10 am-2 pm, in the street, in the heart of The Junction. (California SW between SW Alaska and SW Oregon)
JAMTIME: 1-4 pm at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor), bluegrass and old-time music. No cover. All ages. (5612 California SW)
HOMINY HASH: Acoustic music at Parliament Tavern, 7 pm. $5 cover. 21+. (4210 SW Admiral Way)
ULTIMATE FAMILY VARIETY SHOW: 7:30 pm at Kenyon Hall – big fun! Details and ticket info are in our calendar listing. (7904 35th SW)
PREVIEW THE WEEK AHEAD … via our complete calendar!
The photos and report are from proud parents Corey Dickinson and Anne Dickinson:
Lifetime West Seattle resident and West Seattle High School junior Keaton Dickinson just won first place in the Youth Against Gun Violence Essay Contest on the date of the 20th anniversary of the Columbine High School Shooting. The essay contest was sponsored by Washington Ceasefire, an organization dedicated to reducing gun violence.
Keaton arrived at City Hall this morning thinking she would listen to and support common-sense ideas on preventing gun violence in schools and society. She soon learned that she won first place in the essay contest and a $750 scholarship.
She then read her essay to a crowd of 200, which included Mayor Jenny Durkan, City Attorney Pete Holmes, State Attorney General Bob Ferguson, and Seattle City Councilmembers.
Keaton is passionate about preventing gun violence. She has volunteered for Washington Initiative 1639, gathering petitions for the measure to help get it on the 2018 ballot, and she also worked the phone banks to help the initiative get passed. She is President of the West Seattle High School Gun Violence Prevention Club. Earlier this year, Keaton organized a voter registration drive at West Seattle High School where she registered over 500 voters, most of whom will be first-time voters.
You can read Keaton’s essay here (PDF).
(Added: Reader photo, texted)
7:22 PM: SFD and SPD are at the scene of what’s described as a 2-vehicle crash at 35th/Hudson, 1 person trapped. Avoid the area. Updates to come.
7:33 PM: We are just arriving. On the north side of the scene, 35th is closed at Edmunds.
7:43 PM: The extrication from this car, a Subaru, is over and the person’s being taken to the hospital.
(WSB photos from here down)
Police are talking to the person we believe is the driver of the other vehicle, a Jeep.
7:53 PM: SPD tells us the Traffic Collision Investigation Squad has been called out, so the closure will likely last a few hours.
8:29 PM: According to SFD spokesperson Kristin Tinsley, the injured driver is “approximately 99 years old.” He was in stable condition as SFD transported him to Harborview. Police told us the early indication was that he was headed eastbound on Hudson, to turn onto 35th, when he collided with the Jeep driver, who was headed southbound.
11:39 PM: Still closed.
12:17 AM: SDOT just tweeted that the road has reopened.
The first egg hunt of the weekend was off and almost-running at West Seattle Thriftway (WSB sponsor) this morning – and yet there’s always a moment amid the rush for a bunny-meets-bunny moment:
Once eggs have been procured among the produce (or kitchenware, or …) it’s time to stop and check what’s inside:
For the smallest participants, that requires assistance:
And the search went on:
Thriftway just celebrated its 31st birthday and will have other special events as the spring and summer roll on – next Saturday, for example, weather permitting, they’ll try again for the first benefit barbecue of the season – buy an outdoor-grilled lunch starting around 11 am, and the proceeds will be donated to the West Seattle Food Bank.
(WSB photos)
Well-dressed egg hunters were in view at Hiawatha Community Center this morning, one of many Seattle Parks-run centers around the city that welcomed local kids on this semi-sunny Saturday. Bunny ears were a popular accessory:
The littlest egg hunters got a bit of grown-up help:
This annual tradition involves a lot of planning and preparation by center volunteers and staffers – then suddenly it’s time to gather by age group, and the biggest final task is to get the excited attendees to wait for “go”!
(Added) Minutes after we published this, we received two photos from the Austins:
They write, “It was crazy! The high school helpers work awesome, as well as everyone else who volunteered to make this day a success. My kindergartner was very happy.”
Kids ready for a second round of egg hunting have their choice of several local churches having them tomorrow before or after holiday services – check our list for locations!
On the calendar date that’s become an unofficial holiday for cannabis aficionados, an adults-only carnival is happening until 6 pm outside Canna West Culture Shop, sibling store to Canna West Seattle (WSB sponsor). Performances and games are happening outside the store.
Treats too – free Husky Deli ice cream, cookie dough and chocolate when we stopped by. Even some magic, with Canna West Seattle’s own Erik Backes:
No admission but you do have to be at least 21. Canna West Culture Shop is at 5435 California SW, right across the street from Canna (which is having sales for the occasion, too).
Two gunfire investigations in the past 12 hours:
WHITE CENTER: Thanks for all the tips on this afternoon’s 16th SW gunfire. Deputies say people in two vehicles exchanged gunfire, both missing but hitting a third, the minivan in our photo above. No injuries. We’re updating the story on our partner site White Center Now.
WEST SEATTLE: Though we were on the desk until 4:30 am, we didn’t hear anything about this until an email question at midday about gunfire heard around 3 am. Checking the SPD automated Tweets by Beats, we found a call categorized as “drive-by shooting/no injuries” in the Fauntleroy/Edmunds vicinity about that time. No further details.
The Easter … stormtrooper? That was among the sightings at Lincoln Park this morning during one of three egg hunts we covered. This one is presented every year by Eastridge Church and draws hundreds of kids.
Thousands of eggs were in the meadow for the “hunters.”
More egg hunting this afternoon and tomorrow – see our list! And we’re working on more coverage of this morning’s big fun elsewhere, too.
(Added: Saturday evening photo, before Norwegian Joy moved to Harbor Island)
1:53 PM: Though cruise-ship season doesn’t officially resume until May 4th, a big ship is at Pier 66 today and will then be at Harbor Island for a while. Port of Seattle spokesperson Peter McGraw tells WSB that the 3,804-passenger-capacity Norwegian Joy will move from the downtown dock to Vigor “for some minor interior work” before it returns to 66 for the May 4th departure. (This report indicates that’s the final phase in a “refit” as the two-year-old ship shifts to Alaska cruises after starting out in Asia.)
SUNDAY MORNING UPDATE: MarineTraffic.com shows the Joy is now off Harbor Island.
ADDED: Thanks to Max for the photo:
Community members rescued Roxhill Bog years ago and are working to do it again.
You can see for yourself firsthand until 1 pm at the Roxhill Park community fair that’s part of Duwamish Alive! Activities for all ages, including a chance to learn about wildlife:
You’ll see the fair in the park from its main entrance at 29th and Barton.
(Rufous Hummingbird, photographed by Mark Ahlness, shared via WSB Flickr group)
Welcome to a very busy Saturday! First, the seasonal highlights:
FULL LIST OF EGG HUNTS: They’re happening from morning through afternoon, at businesses and at community centers and parks, and there’s even one for adults! The full list is on our Easter/Passover/Etc. page along with other special eents.
COMMUNITY SEDER: The Kol HaNeshamah community seder happening on this second night of Passover is at capacity, so we’re just mentioning it as a reminder if you preregistered.
SERVICES: Church services for today, tonight, and tomorrow are on our special page too.
Now, highlights of what else is up today/tonight, (mostly) from the year-round WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
RIDE FOR MAJOR TAYLOR: Cascade Bicycle Club‘s ride benefiting the Major Taylor program leaves White Center Bicycle Playground at 8 am and, after a route through south King County, to Tacoma, and onto Vashon Island, will pass through West Seattle on the way back as riders ferry from Vashon to Fauntleroy and return to WC. Full details and course map here.
TAI CHI AT THE BEACH BEGINS: First Saturday of the season for Tai Chi at Alki Beach with Caylen Storm! 9 am near Statue of Liberty Plaza. Free, “but portraits of presidents are welcome” – more info in our calendar listing. (61st SW and Alki SW)
PANCAKES! First-ever community all-you-can-eat pancake feed at Nepenthe, 9 am-noon. (9447 35th SW)
DUWAMISH ALIVE! – T-107 OPENING EVENT: Before a day of volunteering along, and in the watershed of, Seattle’s only river, hear from local advocates and leaders at the T-107 Park opening ceremony, 9:30 am. (4750 W. Marginal Way SW)
DUWAMISH ALIVE! – COMMUNITY FAIR AT ROXHILL PARK/BOG: 11 am-1 pm, come to Roxhill Park to have fun, enjoy a free lunch, and learn about its role as the headwater site of Longfellow Creek, during this first-ever community fair. (29th SW and SW Barton)
WEST SEATTLE BOAT SWAP: First-ever swap and scratch-and-dent sale! Noon-6 pm at American Legion Post 160. (3618 SW Alaska)
CANNA 420 CARNIVAL: The unofficial holiday for cannabis aficionados is here, and Canna West Culture Shop invites you (provided you’re at least 21) to a carnival! 2-6 pm. Music, magic, art, free Husky Deli ice cream, and more – details here. (5435 California SW)
WSHS BASEBALL AT T-MOBILE PARK: 6:30 pm, you can get in for free at the big baseball stadium downtown as West Seattle HS plays Ballard in this year’s High School Baseball Classic. (1250 1st Ave. S.)
PADDLING FILM FESTIVAL: 6:30 pm at American Legion Post 160, the festival’s world tour stops in West Seattle, with the screening presented by Alki Kayak Tours and Mountain to Sound Outfitters. (3618 SW Alaska)
AT KENYON HALL: The Ray Skjelbred Trio in concert, 7:30 pm. Ticket info is in our calendar listing. (7904 35th SW)
NIGHTLIFE: Music way into the night – see the listings on our full calendar.
(WSB photos. Above, head coaches Ernest Policarpio of CSIHS and Bryan Tupper of WSHS)
In the late-Friday drizzle at Hiawatha, West Seattle High School hosted Chief Sealth International High School to see who would take this year’s baseball bragging rights as “Best in the West.”
Wildcats junior Jackson Sullivan got the win on the mound, a 4-0 shutout. And that meant WSHS got the trophy – at least until next year’s game.
Tonight (Saturday) you can see the Wildcats play at T-Mobile Park, 6:30 pm vs. Ballard, free! The next game for the Seahawks, meantime, is Monday (April 22nd) at 4 pm at Southwest Athletic Complex vs. Bainbridge Island.
Environmental Slam, held last night at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center in North Delridge. Above is the Madison Middle School team that won the People’s Choice Award for their presentation “Save the Buzz”; below, Avery Berg from Explorer West Middle School (WSB sponsor), whose presentation was titled “More Bees, Please.”
Other local students who participated included, also from Explorer West, Cece Pyfer and Faye Turcotte on “Wolves on the West Coast”:
MC was former County Executive (among other distinguished roles) Ron Sims, below with Isabel Moorhead from Westside School (WSB sponsor), who presented “Stay Wild, Stay Free”:
Sims urged the young advocates to nurture their passion as well as their faith in science, telling them that the use of the scientific method, of scientific inquiry, is a key factor in what has made our nation so great. He congratulated them all and noted that even though he’s the owner of a few bee hives, he learned more about bees at the Environmental Slam than in the entire time he’s had those hives. Award recipients included the “Save the Buzz” team (Tim Deppe, Ethan Murray, Lila Kellison-Miller, Lauren Anderson) for the People’s Choice Award and two judges’ awards, the “Wolves” team plus Juniper Copland from The Northwest School, for her presentation “With Love, Water”:
With Juniper above is Explorer West teacher Tim Owens, who coordinates the Environmental Slam, which is presented by the Washington Foundation for the Environment. Prizes go to the causes for which participants advocate.
(Roughed-out footprint for future project at Junction 7-11 site, as shown at “Early Outreach” meeting)
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
The city’s new-ish “Early Outreach for Design Review” process has launched extremely early in the case of one West Seattle project.
Architects for the future redevelopment of the West Seattle Junction 7-11 site confirmed at this week’s “Early Outreach” community chat that the mixed-use project is still 4 years away – the store has a lease until then.
And after the project’s built, the architects revealed, the 7-11 may have a new home in its ground-floor commercial space – they’re talking about it right now.
A trio from Cone Architecture was at the Senior Center of West Seattle for the “Early Outreach” meeting Monday evening. That made it a one-to-one ratio between presenters and attendees with ample time for Q&A and everyone sitting at the same table.
On our way back from Beach Drive pavement photography, we noticed the ex-Tully’s at 2676 Alki SW now has the signage for its new identity as Harry’s Beach House. As revealed in early February, this will be a new outpost for Julian Hagood, who runs the acclaimed Harry’s Fine Foods on Capitol Hill. We have an inquiry out regarding the estimated time frame for opening on Alki.
SDOT plans to finally finish repaving Beach Drive SW between Me-Kwa-Mooks and Weather Watch Parks. You might recall that the stretch between Carroll and Genesee was originally announced for last year, but crews left after stopping a short distance south of Carroll. They told us at the time that the repaving would resume but didn’t say when. That was the last we heard of it until this notice today:
As the notice says, the work is scheduled – weather permitting – to start next Wednesday. (Here’s a map of the area.) Meantime, if that leaves you wondering about the removed-but-planned-for-replacement speed bumps (aka humps) further south on Beach Drive, SDOT anticipated that question and adds, “Also note that we are working to schedule construction on the Beach Drive speed hump replacement and will notify the community in advance.”
Four days after SDOT‘s Avalon/35th/Alaska repaving-and-rechannelization project launched work – starting on Avalon between Yancy and Genesee – we’ve just received the toplines of what’s next, including a bus-stop closure starting Monday and advance word of intersection work next weekend:
Overview of upcoming work for next week
What you should expect:
Lots of construction activity including jackhammering, removing the east portion of the roadway, large trucks, machines, noise, dust, and vibrations. We will coordinate with residents for driveway closures.
Uniformed police officers will typically be onsite
Typical weekday work hours from 7 AM – 5 PM. There will be some weekend and nighttime work.
We have heard that Seattle Public Utilities will be working to make some water service renewals along SW Avalon Way. They will coordinate directly with neighbors as their work is scheduled.
Buses are making in-lane stops. Please follow the safe passageways set up for your safety.Starting Monday, April 22nd the northbound stop at Genesee will be temporarily closed.
Sign up for Metro’s Rider Alerts to stay up to date on stop relocations. If a stop is relocated or a bus is detoured, signs will also be posted along the corridor.Traffic impacts and detours:
30th Ave SW will be temporarily closed for construction staging. You will not be able to access SW Avalon Way from 30th Ave SW.
Right turns only on SW Avalon Way. For the safety of people driving and our crews, we
are allowing right turns only throughout work zone B. People turning into their driveway will
need to turn right into their driveways and will not be permitted to turn across traffic.
No Parking signs throughout zone B, and into zones A and C to facilitate the traffic shift.
We will maintain one lane of traffic in each direction on SW Avalon Way between SW Genesee St and SW Yancy StFor people walking and biking along SW Avalon Way:
Bikers should use extreme caution on SW Avalon Way and consider traveling on alternative routes
Sidewalk and crosswalk detours. Please follow posted pedestrian detours when you see them.Weekend work is scheduled for April 27 and 28 at the intersection of SW Avalon Way and the
east side of SW Genesee St.We need to work across multiple lanes of traffic in the intersection to do water utility repairs along SW Avalon Way. People driving west on SW Genesee St will not be able to access SW Avalon Way. One lane of traffic in each direction will be maintained on SW Avalon Way through the SW Genesee St intersection. We will maintain local access to driveways on SW Genesee St near the SW Avalon Way intersection.
SDOT is also requesting: “If you have a driveway on SW Avalon Way between SW Genesee St and SW Yancy St, please reach out to us with your address and best contact information.” … AvalonPaving@seattle.gov is the contact address (also for anyone with questions/concerns).
From Tricia:
Have you seen my car?? License plate ADZ3128. Stolen Silver Volvo XC90, taken from 45th/Lander yesterday.
If you see it, call 911.
WSDOT says demolition of the Alaskan Way Viaduct is 30 percent complete, and on schedule. With that news, they published the video above, a new time-lapse of a section of the demolition. Coincidentally, just before that landed in the WSB inbox, we returned from an errand downtown that took us along waterfront Alaskan Way past the demolition zone for the first time, and we have to say, regardless of your feelings about the old double-decker highway, the teardown zone is quite a sight. WSDOT’s Laura Newborn adds this: “In case you are wondering, a portion of the viaduct across from the ferry dock will remain standing until summer to keep the Marion Street pedestrian bridge to-and-from Colman Dock operational. The contractor is currently building a temporary pedestrian bridge along Columbia Street to replace the Marion Street bridge. This summer, the new Columbia Street bridge will connect to a new portion of Colman Dock. After that happens, demolition crews will remove the remaining section of viaduct near Marion Street.”
(WSB photo from May 2018)
With so many big spring/summer events getting closer, it’s reminder season! So today, we’re reminding you that the West Seattle 5K is now exactly one month away – Sunday, May 19th. As our photo from last year shows, all ages are welcome in this morning run/walk along Alki, which benefits and is organized by the West Seattle High School PTSA (with community co-sponsors including WSB). Online registration is open – you can do it right here, right now.
(Remember the barred-owl cameo two days ago? Here’s Mark Wangerin’s full view of the owl)
First – today brings Good Friday and the start of Passover. For services and other events, see our Easter/Passover/Etc. page here.
Now – highlights from our year-round West Seattle Event Calendar:
VINTAGE HOME MARKET: You can shop more than 20 local vendors at Daystar until 3 pm today. (2615 SW Barton)
PARK PUNKS @ LINCOLN PARK: Free this afternoon to give some time to a local treasure? Join the Park Punks cleanup at Lincoln Park, 1 pm-4 pm. (8011 Fauntleroy Way SW)
BASEBALL: West Seattle HS hosts Chief Sealth IHS at Hiawatha, 4 pm. (2700 California SW)
SOUTH PARK COMMUNITY CENTER’S FUTURE: Open house 5-8 pm at the center, all welcome to learn and talk about its design, including the future spraypark. (8319 8th Ave. S.)
JOHN STEPHAN BAND: At Poggie Tavern in The Junction tonight, 9 pm. 21+. (4717 California SW)
JULIA FRANCIS, THE JELLYROLLERS: Your Friday night slate at Parliament Tavern starts at 9 pm. $8 cover. 21+. (4210 SW Admiral Way)
Back on Monday, we mentioned that a juvenile gray whale was found dead in Elliott Bay. We found out last night that local observers were part of what happened next. The photos and update were subsequently shared by David Hutchinson of Seal Sitters Marine Mammal Stranding Network:
It was reported to Sno-King Marine Mammal Response, our partner network to the north. WDFW Enforcement towed the whale up to a site on Whidbey Island, where a necropsy was performed that afternoon. While the whale was not found in Seal Sitters’ West Seattle territory, we were present to observe the procedure.
The necropsy team included participants from Cascadia Research, WDFW Marine Mammal Investigations, SR3 and World Vets. Measurements were taken and samples of the blubber, baleen (photo below), and various organs were collected for later analysis.
No food remains or plastics were found in the whale’s stomach.
Please see Seal Sitters’ Blubberblog for additional details and a link to the preliminary report by Cascadia Research.
Archives note: It’s been exactly nine years since a young gray whale stranded and died in West Seattle.
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