West Seattle, Washington

15 Friday

38℉

month : 05/2021 323 results

ROAD WORK, TRAFFIC, WEATHER: Wednesday watch
May 19, 2021 6:03 am
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

6:03 AM: Good morning. Mixed weather outlook again today.

ROAD WORK UPDATES

Alki Avenue SW – All day today, the crane at 1250 Alki SW is scheduled to be taken down, so the street will be one lane, alternating, at times.

Delridge project – Here’s this week’s plan.

FERRIES/BUSES

Regular schedules today.

BRIDGES AND DETOUR ROUTES

422nd morning without the West Seattle Bridge. (Repair contractor proposals are scheduled to be opened today.) Here’s how it’s looking on other bridges and routes:

Low Bridge: 19th week for automated enforcement cameras; restrictions are in effect 5 am-9 pm daily – except weekends, when the bridge is open to all until 8 am Saturday and Sunday mornings. (Access applications are available for some categories of drivers.)

Here’s a low-bridge view:

West Marginal Way at Highland Park Way:

Highland Park Way/Holden:

The 5-way intersection (Spokane/West Marginal/Delridge/Chelan):

And the 1st Avenue South Bridge (map):

For the South Park Bridge (map), here’s the nearest camera:

Are bridges opening for boats or barges? Check the @SDOTBridges Twitter feed.

See all local traffic cams here; locally relevant cameras are also shown on this WSB page.

Trouble on the streets/paths/bridges/water? Please let us know – text (but not if you’re driving!) 206-293-6302.

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CORONAVIRUS: Tuesday 5/18/2021 roundup
May 18, 2021 11:56 pm
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   Coronavirus | West Seattle news

Tonight’s pandemic toplines:

MORE VACCINATION CLINICS AT SCHOOLS: The city announced today that its mobile team is going to private and charter schools too – at least 2 in West Seattle.

RENTER RELIEF: A county pandemic-relief program that started taking landlord applications three weeks ago is now accepting applications from renters.

NEWEST KING COUNTY NUMBERS: So here’s where’re we’re at tonight, per the today’s daily summary from Seattle-King County Public Health – the cumulative totals:

*107,498 people have tested positive, 130 new since yesterday but 95 fewer than yesterday’s total due to removal of duplicates

*1,562 people have died, 3 more than yesterday’s total

*6,064 people have been hospitalized, 5 more than yesterday’s total

*1,070,769 people have been tested, 1,452 more than yesterday’s total

One week ago, the totals were 101,389/1,544/5,973/1,061,360.

STATEWIDE NUMBERS: See them here.

NATIONAL/WORLDWIDE NUMBERS: 164.2 million cases worldwide, 32.9 million of them in the U.S. – see other nation-by-nation stats by going here.

HEALTH OFFICIALS’ BRIEFING: At 8:15 am tomorrow online, state health officials will present their weekly briefing and media Q&A. Watch the livestream here.

SUPERMARKET UPDATE: West Seattle Thriftway (WSB sponsor) is allowing personal bags again.

GOT SOMETHING TO REPORT? westseattleblog@gmail.com or 206-293-6302, text/voice – thank you!

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Admiral Theater announces Q&A with ‘The Paper Tigers’ director Wednesday night
May 18, 2021 9:55 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   Admiral Theater | West Seattle news

Interested in behind-the-scenes moviemaking info? Tomorrow (Wednesday) night at West Seattle’s only moviehouse, the historic Admiral Theater, the 6:30 pm showing of Seattle-set/filmed martial-arts comedy “The Paper Tigers“ will be followed by Q&A with its director, Bao Tran. Joining him will be Kris Kristensen, the movie’s West Seattle-residing editor, who did Q&As there last weekend. As first reported here a week and a half ago, The Admiral was particularly excited to book this movie after learning about its backstory, including how its director fought to make it with Asian-American leads despite potential financiers’ suggestions otherwise. And the movie is doing well here – it was first planned for just a one-week run but has been held over at The Admiral for at least one more week.

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About those black-bagged signs in Arbor Heights
May 18, 2021 7:42 pm
|      44 COMMENTS
 |   Safety | Transportation | West Seattle news

From the “you asked, so we asked” file – those new black-plastic-covered signs in Arbor Heights are for the upcoming speed humps/cushion installations, and we’ve found the plan is for more than originally announced. When we first reported on them after a reader tip last month, SDOT‘s map showed them within a few blocks of Arbor Heights Elementary and Westside School (WSB sponsor). But now the plan has gone behind that map – three added on SW 106th “in the long block between 39th Ave SW and 35th Ave SW” (above), and two planned for Marine View Drive (below):

SDOT says the Marine View Drive speed humps are meant “to improve safety along the [bridge] detour route as part of the Reconnect West Seattle program.” All the signs will be uncovered when the speed humps/cushions are installed soon.

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UPDATE: Garage fire in Westwood
May 18, 2021 7:00 pm
|    Comments Off on UPDATE: Garage fire in Westwood
 |   West Seattle fires | West Seattle news | Westwood

7 PM: All those sirens are for SFD units arriving at a garage fire at a house just west of Westwood Village, in the 9000 block of 31st SW. The first arrivals report smoke from a garage that’s about 20 x 20. Updates to come.

7:18 PM: The fire was confined to furniture in the garage, firefighters tell us. No injuries, no structural damage.

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WEST SEATTLE WEATHER: Thunderstorms!
May 18, 2021 5:22 pm
|      5 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle weather

5:22 PM: Don’t let the sunbreaks fool you. We’ve had hail (or some form of icy precipitation) within this past half-hour, and now a loud clap of thunder. The forecast for this evening does include a “slight chance of thunderstorms.” An overall ongoing chance of showers continues until Friday.

9:13 PM: The weather’s calmed a bit – still raining off and on. Added a photo by Jerry Simmons, pre-dusk rainbow sighting.

10:30 PM: Two more photos – this one by Theresa Arbow-O’Connor:

And this one by Beth Davis:

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BIZNOTE: Compass opens office in West Seattle Junction
May 18, 2021 3:58 pm
|      31 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news

(Photos courtesy Compass)

We mentioned back when Zamboanga closed at 4531 California SW that a real-estate office was on the way. Now it’s open as the new West Seattle office for Compass, home to Managing Broker Mara Haveson; brokers Baouyen Chan, Susi Musi, Annie Wagar, Ben Gade, Trevor & Raeanne Russell, Denise Simens, and Connie Sorensen; and office manager Jayne Leahy.

Haveson is enthusiastic about the market: “Values for homes in this area have gone up over 100% since I first started selling in this area in 2000. This is a very close-knit community where you get to meet people easily. It is an easy place to navigate, there are fabulous views, and you get more for your money in real-estate investments.” The office is handling commercial real estate as well as residential, through Musi, who has connected West Seattle businesses including Bella Mente, Blue Stone Apartments, Cometa Playschool, Moto Pizza, and Lake Washington Physical Therapy to their spaces.

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First landlords, now tenants: King County opens relief-program applications for renters
May 18, 2021 2:05 pm
|      12 COMMENTS
 |   Coronavirus | West Seattle housing | West Seattle news

King County’s Eviction Prevention and Rental Assistance Program is now open for applications from renters facing housing instability because of the pandemic. Three weeks ago, we published news of the first phase of applications, for landlords; more than 5,000 properties and 1,429 landlords with 5 or more tenants behind in rent are now registered. If your landlord is getting funding, you don’t have to apply directly; if not, you do. Eligibility information is here. If you qualify, the program will “offer payments for back rent, utility expenses and even future rent obligations,” according to today’s full announcement, which also says that if a property qualifies, “Landlords must agree not to terminate or refuse to renew tenancy until after December 31, 2021, except for special circumstances such as sale of the property or health and safety issues.”

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Ceremonial groundbreaking kicks off next phase of RapidRide H Line work
May 18, 2021 12:12 pm
|      17 COMMENTS
 |   Transportation | West Seattle news | White Center

(WSB photos by Patrick Sand)

After a pandemic year-plus largely devoid of ceremonial events, they’re starting to rev up again. Today at Steve Cox Memorial Park in White Center, elected officials and transportation directors gathered for a “groundbreaking” photo op as preparation work for the RapidRide H Line expands to construction of its 51 stations. The actual bus-line launch is currently set for fall 2022, reaffirmed Metro general manager Terry White:

Once Route 120 is converted into the H Line, White noted, it’ll mean every-7-minute service during peak hours, both ways between South Lake Union and Burien. The mayor of the latter city was among those participating today:

That’s Burien Mayor Jimmy Matta elbow-bumping King County Councilmember Joe McDermott. Matta said improvements (and Transit Oriented Development planning) are getting under way for Ambaum Boulevard as part of the preparations. Here in West Seattle, the Delridge Way road work that started almost a year ago is on schedule to wrap up this fall, said SDOT director Sam Zimbabwe. The most enthusiastic participant was Aaron Garcia, who’s with the White Center Community Development Association (and is also a Highline Public Schools board member):

King County Executive Dow Constantine said the 120 is the sixth-busiest in the entire Metro system (which is now making 85 percent of the daily bus trips made pre-pandemic, he added). The RapidRide concept goes back to his predecessor, Ron Sims, he recalled, and while the system is planned through “the first third of the alphabet … there are plenty of letters to go.” If the H Line indeed launches in September 2022, that’ll be exactly a decade after the launch of West Seattle’s first RapidRide route, the C Line.

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VACCINATION: 2 more local school clinics in partnership with city
May 18, 2021 11:13 am
|    Comments Off on VACCINATION: 2 more local school clinics in partnership with city
 |   Coronavirus | West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

Along with the Seattle Public Schools student-vaccination clinics already announced, the city is partnering with charter and independent/parochial schools to host clinics. According to an announcement from the mayor’s office today, that will include two pop-ups in our area – one for local independent schools (and students’ families/caregivers) at Holy Family Bilingual Catholic School (20th/Roxbury) 9 am-4:30 pm on Wednesday, May 26th, and one at Summit Atlas (35th/Roxbury, awaiting word on the date). The city also is offering “youth and family days” at the vaccination hub at the Lumen Field Event Center, with “updated hours to better serve families, on-site pediatric clinicians administering the vaccinations, and special Seattle Seahawks programming for kids and families.” No appointments required. These special events are 1:30-5:30 pm tomorrow (Wednesday, May 19th) and 11:15 am-5:45 pm Saturday (May 22nd).

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WEST SEATTLE TUESDAY: 5 notes
May 18, 2021 9:54 am
|    Comments Off on WEST SEATTLE TUESDAY: 5 notes
 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Seen along the SW Thistle stairway – photo by Troy Sterk)

Quick notes for the rest of your Tuesday:

STUDENT VACCINATION CLINIC: Seattle Public Schools‘ campus clinics continue – locally today, there’s one at West Seattle High School.

ARTIST AS STORYTELLER: This series of online presentations organized by South Seattle College (WSB sponsor) faculty members continues today with tattoo artist Emma Kates-Shaw at 1 pm – info in our preview.

DEMONSTRATION: The weekly announcement from organizer Scott:

Black Lives Matter sign-waving

Tuesday, May 18, 4 to 6 pm, corner of 16th SW and SW Holden

Thursday, May 20, 4 to 6 on, corner of 16th SW and SW Holden

Come build awareness & stimulate actions to tear down the systems that have oppressed Black lives for over 400 years on this continent. Hold signs, meet neighbors and stand for racial justice. Scott at Puget Ridge Cohousing, endorsed by Hate-Free Delridge. Signs available.

BRIEF FREEBIE: As previewed Monday, MOD Pizza‘s giving coupons for a free pizza or salad to up to 50 people between 5 pm and 5:08 pm at all locations (including The Whittaker and Westwood Village), in celebration of the chain’s 500th location.

NO WSCPC MEETING: The third Tuesday is usually the night for the West Seattle Crime Prevention Council meeting, but the precinct says there’s no meeting this month.

Something for the calendar? westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!

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YOU CAN HELP: Volunteer for White Center/South Delridge spring-cleanup sites
May 18, 2021 8:59 am
|    Comments Off on YOU CAN HELP: Volunteer for White Center/South Delridge spring-cleanup sites
 |   How to help | West Seattle news | White Center

In case you haven’t already seen this on partner site White Center Now: Help is needed at a long list of sites on both sides of the city-limit line for this year’s White Center Refresh! The invitation is from Mark Ufkes:

We need “I Love White Center” Volunteers!

White Center “Refresh” Spring Clean 2021

White Center Needs Volunteers for two 2-day sessions :

Friday and Saturday, May 21 and 22
Friday and Saturday, May 28 and 29

Volunteers who want to earn a “I Love White Center” T-shirt must sign up and help complete one of the 15 projects listed below. The free T-shirt supply is limited so sign up soon.

You can sign up by sending a message by e-mail or text to volunteer Project Coordinator Mark Ufkes (email; markufkes@comcast.net or Text; 206-595-7124). In your sign-up email or text, include your name, your shirt size, and the number of the project you want to volunteer for and show up at the location at the listed day and time. The Project Coordinator will promptly confirm your project assignment.

Once you arrive at the location on the day and time listed below, our crews will have all the gear you will need to complete the project and help you make White Center more beautiful.

We cannot be responsible for your children at these clean-up events. Please bring work gloves and rakes if your project includes yard work. All paint, brushes, rollers, etc. will be provided.

If you are a White Center business owner, we encourage you to clean up the area in front of your business while our volunteers do the larger White Center projects. Consider adding hanging flower baskets in front of your business, clean your front windows and nicely cover over or remove nearby graffiti. Our goal is to help you transform White Center during this two-week period.

White Center Projects include;

Friday, May 21

White Center Welcome Sign (4th SW and SW 108th) Mow and rake area, plant flowers under the sign. 4 volunteers, 2 hours (Friday, May 21; 2 pm)
White Center Welcome Sign (Delridge and 18th SW) Mow and rake area, plant flowers under the sign. 3 volunteers, 2 hour (Friday, May 21, 4 pm)
Back Alley (SW 96th and Delridge SW) Paint over graffiti, match previously used brown and white paint to make the walls look nice. 4 volunteers, 2 hours (Friday, May 21, 3 pm)

Saturday, May 22

Touch Up Murals on both sides of street (107th at 16th SW) Touch-up existing murals on both sides of 107th, paint new murals, mow median strips. 10 volunteers, 3-4 hours (Saturday, May 22; 9 am)
White Center Plaza Building (98th and 15th SW) Paint over graffiti, paint walls to make them look nice. 6 volunteers, 3 hours (Saturday, May 22; 10 am)
White Center Bus Stop (100th and 15th SW) Paint over graffiti. 4 volunteers, 2 hours (Saturday, May 22, 10 am)
Alley between 15th and 16th SW (Behind Proleteriat Pizza); Paint over graffiti. 4 volunteers, 2 hours (Saturday, May 22, 11 am)

Friday, May 28

White Center Community Events Board (100th and 16th SW) Clean the Events Board display, paint the display. 3 volunteers, 2 hours (Friday, May 28, 2 pm)
Lions Mural Building (Roxbury and 17th SW) Touch up painting on murals, paint over graffiti. 5 volunteers, 2 hours (Friday, May 28, 3 pm)

Saturday, May 29

White Center Welcome Sign (Roxbury and 20th SW) Clean sign, plant flowers below sign, and rake and clean the hillside around the sign. 6 people, 2 hours (Saturday, May 29, 9 am)
9800 Block of 16th SW (Northmart and Starbucks area) Paint over graffiti, clean and sweep the area, pick up trash. 10 volunteers, 2 hours (Saturday, May 29, 9 am)
White Center Welcome Sign (10th SW and Roxbury) Mow and weed eat along the sidewalks between 9th to 11th, touch up mural, paint upper guard rail white. Park at the 10th dead end. 10 volunteers, 3 hours, (Saturday, May 29th, 10 am)
Saars Market Evergreen High School Art Class Mural; Touch up the painted areas next to mural, make wall and area look nice. 4 volunteers, 2 hours (Saturday, May 29, 10 am)
100th Block of 16th (south of Autozone); Paint over graffiti on walls, rust red; make the walls look nice. 4 volunteers, 2 hours (Saturday, May 29, 11 am)
White Center Eagles on 15th, paint over graffiti, clean up area. 4 volunteers, 2 hours (Saturday, May 29, 11 am)

White Center Refresh Spring Clean 2021 is organized by the White Center Community Development Association (White Center CDA) and the all-volunteer Eagle Scout White Center Improvement Club.

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ROAD WORK, TRAFFIC, WEATHER: Tuesday watch
May 18, 2021 6:07 am
|    Comments Off on ROAD WORK, TRAFFIC, WEATHER: Tuesday watch
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

6:07 AM: Good morning. Blustery weather expected today.

ROAD WORK UPDATES

Delridge project – Here’s this week’s plan, and progress reports for work zones like the intersections with Orchard and Thistle.

Alki Avenue SW – All day Wednesday, the crane at 1250 Alki SW is expected to be taken down, so the street will be one lane, alternating, at times.

I-5 FYI – A year-long project on northbound I-5 through downtown has begun; WSDOT says work will be done at night to reduce impacts.

FERRIES/BUSES

Regular schedules today.

BRIDGES AND DETOUR ROUTES

421st morning without the West Seattle Bridge. Here’s how it’s looking on other bridges and routes:

Low Bridge: 19th week for automated enforcement cameras; restrictions are in effect 5 am-9 pm daily – except weekends, when the bridge is open to all until 8 am Saturday and Sunday mornings. (Access applications are now available for some categories of drivers.)

Here’s a low-bridge view:

West Marginal Way at Highland Park Way:

Highland Park Way/Holden:

The 5-way intersection (Spokane/West Marginal/Delridge/Chelan):

And the 1st Avenue South Bridge (map):

For the South Park Bridge (map), here’s the nearest camera:

Are bridges opening for boats or barges? Check the @SDOTBridges Twitter feed.

See all local traffic cams here; locally relevant cameras are also shown on this WSB page.

Trouble on the streets/paths/bridges/water? Please let us know – text (but not if you’re driving!) 206-293-6302.

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CORONAVIRUS: Monday 5/17/2021 roundup
May 17, 2021 10:59 pm
|      9 COMMENTS
 |   Coronavirus | West Seattle news

Our nightly roundup of local pandemic-related information:

NEWEST KING COUNTY NUMBERS, AND A DASHBOARD CHANGE: First, an announcement:

Public Health – Seattle & King County is adding “probable cases” to our COVID-19 data dashboards. It will have a small impact on our count of cases, hospitalizations and deaths on all of our dashboards. These will now include people who have had a positive PCR test or a positive antigen (rapid) test.

So with that, here are tonight’s totals from the Seattle-King County Public Health daily summary:

*107,593 people have tested positive, 131 more than yesterday’s total (this includes 4,474 probables)

*1,559 people have died, unchanged since Saturday

*6,059 people have been hospitalized, 18 more than yesterday’s total

*1,069,317 people have been tested, 1,151 more than yesterday’s total (note that the dashboard makes the distinction that these are people tested by PCR)

One week ago, those totals were 101,274/1,542/5,962/1,059,270.

STATEWIDE NUMBERS: See them here.

WORLDWIDE NUMBERS: 163.4 million cases, 3,386,000 deaths – 586,000 in the U.S. See the other stats – nation by nation – here.

STUDENT VACCINATION CLINIC: Tomorrow there’s one at West Seattle High School.

VAX STATS: In King County, 72.4 percent of people 16+ have had at least one dose; 56.1 percent are fully vaccinated. In West Seattle, the most-vaccinated zip code remains 98136 – 84.5 percent of people 16+ have had at least one dose.

POST-PANDEMIC PERMANENCE? Last week, this was a proposal – expanding free sidewalk/curb-space shopping and dining permits until next year, then maybe making the program permanent. Now it’s official.

NEED FOOD? The nearest Food Lifeline distribution is 2-5 pm Friday (May 21st) at 815 S. 96th.

GOT SOMETHING TO REPORT? westseattleblog@gmail.com or 206-293-6302, text/voice – thank you!

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FOLLOWUP: Kids for Kids zine published by West Seattle’s Pleasure Boat Studio
May 17, 2021 8:23 pm
|    Comments Off on FOLLOWUP: Kids for Kids zine published by West Seattle’s Pleasure Boat Studio
 |   West Seattle books | West Seattle news | WS culture/arts

That wasn’t just a beach picnic at Lincoln Park on Sunday – it was a publication celebration! Back in February, we reported on a call for contributions to a zine to be published by West Seattleite Lauren Grosskopf‘s Pleasure Boat Studio. Now the 100-page zine, Kids for Kids, is out and the publisher invited contributors and their families to an informal gathering at the beach. She printed 100 copies of the zine, which features art, stories, poetry, and comics – with contributors getting them free – and while about half are spoken for, the rest are available for purchase at $15 by going here (where you can also download a PDF version free).

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Corner crash on SW Genesee
May 17, 2021 6:47 pm
|      13 COMMENTS
 |   Safety | West Seattle news

In case you passed by and wondered what happened: A two-car collision at 38th/Genesee this past hour left two cars off the road – one on the sidewalk, the other through a fence. The photo was sent by the owner of the fence, who says nobody was hurt. On the other side of the fence, the primary damage, reports the owner, was a lilac bush.

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FOLLOWUP: Delridge/Roxbury sidewalk camp shrinks, as health problems shelve removal plan
May 17, 2021 5:46 pm
|      9 COMMENTS
 |   Delridge | Health | West Seattle news

ORIGINAL MONDAY REPORT: More than a week after our last report on the sidewalk-blocking camp along Delridge just north of Roxbury, the site now has about half the number of tents that were there at its peak – down to about half a dozen as of early this afternoon. A texter reported seeing a city crew there earlier in the day. Before that text, we already had inquiries out to both SDOT and the Human Services Department – the former would be accountable for prioritizing (or not) the site for removal, under city policies leaving that up to departments that “own” individual sites, while the latter would be involved with services and outreach. First we heard back from HSD spokesperson Kevin Mundt, who said the camp was to be removed this week until a health situation led to a postponement:

Urban League, REACH, and the CCS Scope team outreach workers were at the Roxbury & Delridge location last week, in coordination with the HOPE Team. REACH made two referrals from the location to the Executive Hotel Pacific enhanced shelter on Thursday (May 13). As of last week, it was estimated that seven to ten people were residing in the encampment.

During the course of this outreach, providers notified the HOPE Team of individuals in the encampment who appeared sick with a gastrointestinal illness. Once notified, the HOPE Team shared this information with Public Health, who is investigating. Per recommendations from Public Health, a removal of the Delridge & Roxbury encampment planned for this week was postponed. The HOPE Team is encouraging outreach providers to continue their engagement at the site in the meantime.

Once a site is identified as a priority location by our City department partners, the HOPE Team shares that information with providers and directs outreach to those locations in an attempt to have the site be encampment free through outreach strategies alone. If necessary, a site may be subject to a removal under the MDARs.

That stands for Multi-Department Administrative Rules, the city policies that cover “unauthorized camping on city properties,” among other things (read them here). The HOPE Team is explained here.

SDOT, meantime, said a response to our inquiry would come from the mayor’s office, and that just arrived, from spokesperson Rachel Schulkin, explaining the city-crew sighting:

Today, REACH, a City-contracted outreach provider, contacted the Clean City initiative to request items they identified as trash and debris at the Roxbury and Delridge encampment be removed. Per the request, a Clean City Parks crew identified the items (with assistance from the outreach workers) on site and removed the debris from the encampment. Individuals residing on site were not asked to move and their property was left. As mentioned previously, there is no current scheduled removal for the encampment.

Two of the remaining tents are in front of White Center Glass, whose proprietor Abby Fisher was the latest to surface the sidewalk-blocking camp to the city. Of the newest developments, she says, “While that hasn’t improved as much as we would like to see – it is progress.” We’re following up separately with Seattle-King County Public Health to see what their investigation entails.

TUESDAY EVENING UPDATE: The camp is even smaller tonight – a few tents at the south end of the block. We’ve heard from the CoLEAD program, which has been working with the sidewalk residents, and expect to learn more tomorrow about how that has unfolded.

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BIZNOTE: Free pizza – briefly
May 17, 2021 4:48 pm
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle restaurants

Tomorrow, MOD Pizza is planning a brief giveaway to celebrate a milestone. The Seattle-founded chain now has 500 locations (two of which are in West Seattle – at The Whittaker, 4755 Fauntleroy Way SW, and Westwood Village, 2600 SW Barton). So for 500 seconds at 5 pm Tuesday – that’s 8 1/3 minutes – the first 50 people in line at each location chain-wide will each get “a redeemable coupon for one free MOD-size pizza or MOD-size salad in-store only between 5/18-5/20/21.”

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TRAFFIC ALERT: West Seattle’s only tower crane will be taken down Wednesday
May 17, 2021 2:52 pm
|    Comments Off on TRAFFIC ALERT: West Seattle’s only tower crane will be taken down Wednesday
 |   Development | West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

(2020 photo by Lynn Hall)(WSB photo)

After Wednesday, West Seattle will be without a tower crane. The only one currently in use, at the 1250 Alki Avenue SW project, is coming down that day. The alert from the project team says:

Traffic setup will be on the morning of the 19th and we expect to be completed by 6:00 PM. Due to alternating single-lane usage, vehicle traffic should expect minor delays and will be limited throughout the day of the dismantle.

The crane went up a year ago for construction of Infinity Shore Club Residences, 37 luxury condos.

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FYI: No West Seattle Crime Prevention Council meeting tomorrow
May 17, 2021 2:12 pm
|    Comments Off on FYI: No West Seattle Crime Prevention Council meeting tomorrow
 |   Southwest Precinct Crime Prevention Council | West Seattle news | West Seattle police

The third Tuesday of the month usually brings the West Seattle Crime Prevention Council meeting, primarily a chance for community members to hear from and talk with local police. Since that’s tomorrow and we hadn’t heard anything, we checked – the. precinct tells us there’s no meeting this month. (If you missed last month’s coverage, read it here.) But police reps are often at local community-council meetings, so watch for news of those if you have an issue to bring up. The most recent briefing we covered was at the District 1 Community Network‘s May meeting.

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UPDATE: Duwamish Tribe hosts Gov. Inslee’s bill signing for HEAL Act
May 17, 2021 11:32 am
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   Duwamish Tribe | Environment | West Seattle news

11:32 AM: Gov. Inslee is in West Seattle right now during a daylong tour of the metro area, signing bills. He has just arrived at the Duwamish Tribe Longhouse, he is signing the HEAL Act (SB 5141), which he says will “set a course toward a more healthy and equitable future with greater environmental justice for all Washingtonians.” The Longhouse is hosting a celebratory event for the occasion, both inside and outside.TVW plans to stream the signing above; we are at the Longhouse to cover the event, and we’ll add more photos/details later.

(After arrival, governor elbow-bumps Paulina López of the Duwamish River Cleanup Coalition)

11:52 AM: The ceremony has begun with a song of welcome. James Rasmussen of the Duwamish Tribe then speaks.

“My people have been here for over 10,000 years.” The bill the governor will sign today, he says, is “about healing” – not just environmental, but “all kinds.” He also reminds those gathered – and those watching.- that the Duwamish are still seeking federal recognition.

11:59 AM: Now the governor takes the podium. He says this bill addressing systemic racism’s role in environmental injustice has been decades in the making. He hails the work of organizations such as the Duwamish River Cleanup Coalition, whose executive director Paulina López is among the dozens of people in attendance. While the bill may “sound like process,” the governor insists that it’s “about results.”

(L-R with the governor: Sen. Rebecca Saldaña, Rep. Debra Lekanoff, Rep. Kirsten Harris-Talley)

Also speaking, the bill’s sponsor, Sen. Rebecca Saldaña. “It is about how we approach all the work we do” – to undo what has led to disparities in “health and opportunity” affecting too many “because of where they live.” Joining her at the podium is Rep. Kirsten Harris-Talley, a new legislator who speaks emotionally about her pride that this was accomplished – “I don’t want one more auntie to die 10 years too early … I don’t want one more child to have asthma” because of pollution.

12:40 PM: And after more speaking and singing, the signing.

The governor declares that the HEAL Act will make environmental justice part of the state’s “core strategy.” He moves on to one more on-location signing in about an hour, three environmental bills he’ll sign in Shoreline, two of them sponsored by West Seattle House Rep. Joe Fitzgibbon. Meantime, the video from this event should be viewable, archived, above, before long. And we’ll add more coverage when we’re back at HQ.

ADDED MONDAY NIGHT: From the legislative news release about the HEAL Act, more explanation:

Senate Bill 5141, the Healthy Environment for All Act (HEAL Act), addresses the disproportionate exposure to environmental hazards suffered by Black, Indigenous, and other communities of color, along with low-income communities in neighborhoods across Washington state, putting them at higher risk of adverse health outcomes. This risk is further amplified for communities with pre-existing economic barriers and environmental risks.

The HEAL Act, sponsored by Sen. Rebecca Saldaña (D-Seattle), implements recommendations from the Environmental Justice Task Force – established by the Legislature in 2019 – on how state agencies should incorporate environmental justice principles to reduce health disparities when implementing policies and programs. Environmental justice means the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race, color, national origin, or income with respect to the development, implementation and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies. …

Saldaña’s bill establishes environmental justice requirements for seven state agencies, an interagency workgroup, and a permanent environmental justice council, the makeup of which includes a majority of representatives from impacted communities. It also sets timelines for guidance, recommendations, and implementation of environmental justice assessments, measurements, and public reporting of progress.

The indoor ceremony at the Duwamish Longhouse and Cultural Center was followed by an outdoor celebration (with food by the Off the Rez truck, funded by Front and Centered Coalition). Speakers included the tribe’s longtime chair Cecile Hansen:

She also reminded those in attendance that the Duwamish battle for recognition is not yet won, and noted what they had given up so long ago – 55,000 acres, while now, they hold only the 2/3 of an acre on which the Longhouse sits. As noted in our recent District 1 Community Network report, you can expect to hear more about the tribe’s renewed quest. Their message is that despite the federal attempt at erasure, “We are still here.”

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BIZNOTE: Spring sale at Kid-Friendly Footwear
May 17, 2021 10:39 am
|    Comments Off on BIZNOTE: Spring sale at Kid-Friendly Footwear
 |   West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news

Longer days and more sunshine mean more time outside for kids to explore and play – and busy, growing feet might need new shoes! Kid-Friendly Footwear @ Again & Again (WSB sponsor) in The Junction wants you to know they’re having a sale:

Here at Kid Friendly Footwear @ Again & Again we miss our friends & neighbors visiting to get outfitted with new & used sandals, shoes, boots & other gear for all seasons. After 25 years in the same location, this long pandemic year has been a little lonely. We can’t live without you!

We’re open for shopping now 10 am-5 pm Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays & Mondays, (masks required). Closed Tuesdays. Other times available by appointment only for urgent needs.

Celebrate spring & the end of 2020 with 20% off all KEEN footwear (thru 5/31), Many other discounts 20- 50% off throughout the store including Hatley raincoats & boots, and iplay swimsuits & SPF50+ rashguards.

Shop online kidfriendlyfootwear.com
We offer $4.99 flat-rate US shipping & free delivery in the West Seattle neighborhood. Hope to see you again soon, please let us know how we can help you, 206-933-2060 or hello@kidfriendlyfootwear.com

The shop is at 4832 California SW.

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YOU CAN HELP: Preschool fundraiser Friday
May 17, 2021 9:13 am
|    Comments Off on YOU CAN HELP: Preschool fundraiser Friday
 |   How to help | West Seattle news

Beach weather is expected to return by Friday – so if you’re heading to Alki that day, here’s a way to do a good deed too. From the WSB inbox:

Alki Co-op Preschool is hosting a Dine-Out Fundraiser at Ampersand on Alki on Friday, May 21st from 6 am-7 pm. Part of SSC’s West Seattle Preschool program, Alki Co-op Preschool is a non-profit preschool that enriches our community through positive-discipline education.

Ampersand is at 2535 Alki SW.

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