West Seattle, Washington

16 Tuesday

46℉

month : 06/2021 339 results

CONGRATULATIONS! West Seattle’s Adonis Williams wins Changemaker Challenge
June 2, 2021 2:47 pm
|      8 COMMENTS
 |   Environment | West Seattle news | West Seattle people

West Seattle High School junior Adonis Williams, an activist for much of his young life, has won a national award from Students Rebuild, in the “Changemaker Challenge.” From the announcement:

As the Challenge closes on June 4th — the culmination of a nine-month process that brought together students from 55 countries and all 50 states — Students Rebuild has selected six changemakers to honor for their community-change efforts, including Adonis. Each award recipient will receive $1,000 to further their efforts.

Adonis Williams is a high school junior, artist and activist. At the age of 12, Adonis was one of eight young people who, in partnership with Our Children’s Trust, sued the Washington State Department of Ecology for failing to adequately protect them and future generations from the effect of climate change. Since then, he has remained deeply involved in environmental activist work across various organizations in the Puget Sound region, including Greenpeace, Seattle Tilth, and Plant for the Planet.

Adonis dearly appreciates the world’s life support systems and the ecology of the natural world around him — and takes every chance he gets to appreciate the beauty of mother earth, which fuels his activism.

(Students Rebuild, which provided the photo, is part of the Bezos Family Foundation.) The Changemaker Challenge awards for middle- and high-school students, including Adonis, will be presented in an online ceremony at 11 am Friday; you can watch by RSVPing here.

Share This

UPDATE: Eastbound Spokane Street Viaduct exit to northbound I-5 reopens after crash
June 2, 2021 1:37 pm
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

1:37 PM: If you’re headed for the eastbound Spokane Street Viaduct, take note that a crash has closed the exit ramp to northbound I-5, so traffic is being diverted. No details on the crash other than a driver is reported to have hit a barrier.

1:55 PM: The ramp has reopened, police at the scene have told dispatch.

Share This

RETURNING: Lou Cutler’s Make-A-Wish laps at Pathfinder K-8, pandemic-modified 2021 plan
June 2, 2021 12:56 pm
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   How to help | Pigeon Point | West Seattle news | West Seattle people

(WSB photo from 2018 Laps With Lou)

It’s been a June tradition for almost two decades – now-retired Pathfinder K-8 PE teacher Lou Cutler raising money for Make-A-Wish by running/walking around the school’s field, one lap for every year of the age he’ll be on his late-June birthday. Last year, with campuses closed for the pandemic, Lou instead walked “one big lap” around West Seattle with a few supporters. This year, students are back at Pathfinder, so Lou will be back, but in a modified manner – laps on two days, June 8th and June 10th. Lou says this is the plan:

To avoid having multiple classes on the field at one time, the solution was to have me walk two laps with one classroom at a time and rotate in new classrooms every 15 minutes. Since each classroom is divided into morning and afternoon sessions, there would be 35 different groups coming to walk two laps each with me, which amazingly would be 70 laps, my upcoming age.

The days of the walk will be June 8th and June 10th and we will start at 8 AM.

I will end up doing the equivalent of a half marathon over these two days, as I will walk extra laps with teachers to reach 13.1 miles … I will complete the marathon walk on my official 70th birthday on Friday, June 25th. I will start at Pathfinder and depart at 10 AM and be joined by MAW volunteers and staff and any friends who want to come along for a great walk and cause.

This will be the 18th year of the MAW event, and thus far, we have raised $81,228 and naturally would love to raise the total significantly this year.

Lou’s also made a priceless contribution to Make-A-Wish with a quarter-century of volunteer work. You can donate/pledge right now by going here.

Share This

WEST SEATTLE WILDLIFE: Caution, otters crossing
June 2, 2021 11:32 am
|      1 COMMENT
 |   Safety | West Seattle news | Wildlife

Just out of the WSB inbox, from Aimee:

My daughter and I spotted a river otter at the Solstice P-Patch this morning around 10:30 AM.

Unfortunately we didn’t get a picture but am hoping you might have a good way to give folks a reminder to watch the roads.

Despite the name, river otters are what you see in Puget Sound – not sea otters. (Learn about them here.) Their dens are on land. Most often in this area. they’re seen crossing Harbor/Alki Avenues – here’s our favorite photo, of one on the Alki Trail years ago:

(WSB file photo)

To get to Solstice P-Patch, next to the tennis courts that are across from the north end of Lincoln Park, the otter would have had to cross Fauntleroy Way SW, so consider that a potential otter route too. A few years back, young otters wandered up Fairmount Ravine into the neighborhoods near Hiawatha!

Share This

BIZNOTE: Youngstown Coffee, HeartBeet Café expanding space + organizing Morgan Junction Pride Parade
June 2, 2021 10:03 am
|      1 COMMENT
 |   West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news | West Seattle people

Two notes from Youngstown Coffee Company and HeartBeet Organic Superfoods Café in Morgan Junction (6032 California SW) – first, proprietors Autumn Lovewell and Monica Colgan are expanding their space:

Starting Friday, June 4th, Youngstown Coffee and HeartBeet Cafe will have seating open next door. We are excited to have space for you to meet a friend for coffee and a breakfast sandwich. Or bring your family for a nutritious meal from HeartBeet. And since we’re headed for warmer weather, don’t forget to take advantage of our outdoor patio tables under the shade.

Coming soon in our new space, we will be selling very cool Youngstown merchandise and feature even more local retailers and artwork crafted by LGBTQ- and BIPOC-owned small businesses.

And down the road when more of us are vaccinated, get excited for community events and the ability to rent out our small space for your event.

Here we are a year later and super excited to celebrate by inviting more of you in to our little space here in the Morgan Junction. Thank you for your continued support! Together we will be radical in our work toward a more just and kind world.

The expansion space formerly held Sound Fitness. Meantime, if you haven’t already seen this in the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar, Youngstown and HeartBeet are presenting a Pride Parade in Morgan Junction on Friday, June 11th:

Bring your family and meet up with your friends for a safe outdoor parade-walk around Morgan Junction. Wear your festive Pride gear and bring supportive signs for our transgender youth.

-Skates, bikes, strollers, and dogs welcome
-Outdoor event rain or shine
-Free Pride goodies and samples
-Lady Jane DJ
-Pride specials with proceeds benefiting Lambert House in Seattle

The route starts at Morgan Junction Park at 5 pm, heads north on California Ave, crosses the street at Findlay, comes around back down and ends at Youngstown Coffee and HeartBeet Cafe, where there will be free Pride goodies for kids, specials on drinks, and music.

The park is in the 6400 block of California SW.

Share This

ROAD WORK, TRAFFIC, WEATHER: Wednesday notes
June 2, 2021 6:07 am
|    Comments Off on ROAD WORK, TRAFFIC, WEATHER: Wednesday notes
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

6:07 AM: Good morning. The forecast suggests we could see the mid-80s again today, after a Tuesday high of 86. This morning’s weather photo, Tuesday’s sunrise from Gatewood, by Nord Bjornson:

ROAD WORK UPDATES

Delridge project – The Delridge/Orchard work is done, the north-end Delridge paving is too, but the west side of Delridge/Barton/Henderson and the east side of Delridge/Thistle are still closed. Here’s the rest of this week’s plan.

SW Yancy – Still closed west of 28th SW because of drainage/utility work related to construction.

FERRIES/BUSES

Regular schedules today.(Watch @kcmetrobus for word of any bus cancellations, @wsferries for any major WSF changes.)

BRIDGES AND DETOUR ROUTES

437th morning without the West Seattle Bridge. Here are the views of other bridges and routes:

Low Bridge: 21st 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.

Share This

CORONAVIRUS: Roundup for Tuesday 6/1/2021
June 2, 2021 12:51 am
|    Comments Off on CORONAVIRUS: Roundup for Tuesday 6/1/2021
 |   Coronavirus | West Seattle news

June’s first pandemic toplines:

FIRST NUMBERS SINCE SUNDAY: The daily summary from Seattle-King County Public Health wasn’t updated Monday, so these are the cumulative totals reflecting two days:

*109,779 people have tested positive, 121 new since Sunday

*1,592 people have died, unchanged since Saturday

*6,170 people have been hospitalized, 11 new since Sunday

One week ago, the totals were 108,689/1,575/6,111.

STATEWIDE NUMBERS: See them here.

NATIONAL/WORLDWIDE NUMBERS: 171.1 million cases worldwide, 33.2 million of them in the U.S. – see other nation-by-nation stats by going here.

VACCINATION UPDATES: 74.3 percent of King County residents 12+ have received at least one dose of vaccine … One more week to get vaccinated at the West Seattle hub, 2801 SW Thistle – June 9th is its last day … A pop-up in High Point on Saturday morning is booking appointments now.

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.

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

Share This

SEEN OFF WEST SEATTLE: Fireboat at sunset
June 1, 2021 10:18 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   Seen at sea | West Seattle news

A cooling sight at the end of a very warm day (86 was the official high, 17 degrees above “normal” for this date) – the fireboat Leschi off Alki. Thanks to David Hutchinson for the photo above, Ethan Frank for the photo below:

P.S. SFD plans to livestream from aboard the Leschi during Fire Day this Saturday.

Share This

WEDNESDAY: Neighborhood planning, Fauntleroy ferry terminal @ District 1 Community Network
June 1, 2021 8:51 pm
|    Comments Off on WEDNESDAY: Neighborhood planning, Fauntleroy ferry terminal @ District 1 Community Network
 |   Neighborhoods | West Seattle news

First Wednesdays of each month are when the District 1 Community Network meets. Two spotlight topics are on the agenda for the West Seattle/South Park community coalition tomorrow: The city’s upcoming neighborhood-planning process for Westwood-Highland Park, and the Fauntleroy ferry-terminal replacement project. The meeting’s online, starting at 7 pm Wednesday, all welcome; here’s the videoconferencing link, meeting ID 850 4211 4712, passcode 165919.

P.S. Here’s our coverage of last month’s D1CN meeting.

Share This

FOLLOWUP: Here’s what’s in the police reports from Saturday’s Alki Beach bedlam
June 1, 2021 6:15 pm
|      78 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle police

Here’s what we have found out today after requesting police reports from Saturday night’s Alki Beach bedlam.

As reported in our as-it-happened coverage, the crowd that showed up for a social-media-organized megaparty got to be so big, Seattle Police and Parks closed the beach and cleared the street. Police reports show an estimate in the thousands by nightfall.

(Saturday photo by David Hutchinson)

The next day, SPD said three people had been arrested. So far, the reports we’ve read show that only one was booked into jail, a 20-year-old Puyallup woman who was released Monday, after spending two nights in jail for investigation of assault and obstructing officers. The police report says the arrest happened while police were clearing the area around 9:30 pm. They say she “shoved an officer in the face with both hands” while they were trying to push the crowd back. The report says the officer suffered “pain but no other readily apparent injury.” The woman faces potential misdemeanor charges. 2 other people were detained for involvement in what police called a “large fistfight,” taken to the precinct and questioned, then released and told not to return to the beach.

The man from whom a gun was seized, as noted in the SPD Blotter report on Sunday, was not arrested. He wasn’t a visitor for the beach party, either – the police-report narrative says he’s an Alki resident. The parking lot in which he was seen “pacing” with a gun is next to his apartment. When police arrived, the report says, they asked him “to secure his weapon and walk out to the street to speak with officers. (He) complied with that request, though he simply placed his pistol in his pocket before walking out to meet us.” He told the officers he had armed himself in self-defense after a confrontation with someone parking in the lot without authorization. They noted he seemed and smelled intoxicated and asked him “if he was aware of the danger he caused by handling a firearm while intoxicated.” He claimed he had a concealed-pistol license but police couldn’t find an evidence of that; they seized the gun as evidence.

No arrest was made in the street robbery reported that night, but here’s what the police report says happened: Just before 8 pm, they were flagged down by the victim, who said she and her friends had been “jumped” by four people who pushed down her and her friends and kicked them, then stole her phone. A tracker briefly showed the phone was nearby but then was deactivated before it could be found. Seattle Fire medics were called to tend to head lacerations the victim had suffered.

Otherwise, the report narratives overlap to some degree, but the major problem mentioned, repeatedly, was large fistfights. There were no reports of shots fired. One DUI arrest was reported in the Alki area, but police say it’s not clear whether the person was in the area for the beach party or not.

One other note from the reports: Some of the officers were from the Community Response Group, a roving team that SPD assigns to situations when they feel reinforcements are needed, particularly protests.

Share This

VACCINATION: Saturday pop-up in High Point
June 1, 2021 5:49 pm
|    Comments Off on VACCINATION: Saturday pop-up in High Point
 |   Coronavirus | High Point | West Seattle news

Another pop-up COVID-19 vaccination clinic is coming up in West Seattle: The mobile nurse-practitioner service Pliable invites you to get vaccinated – first or second dose of Pfizer, or the one-dose J&J – at Neighborhood House High Point (6400 Sylvan Way SW) this Saturday (June 5th), 8 am-11:30 am. You can make an appointment online now by going here.

Share This

BIZNOTE: West Seattle Junction Verizon store closes
June 1, 2021 3:58 pm
|      10 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news

The West Seattle Junction Verizon store (aka Sound Advice) on the street level of the Senior Center of West Seattle building has closed. Proprietor Mike Ellis is retiring, and the Senior Center will be looking for a new tenant. Sound Advice has been in The Junction for more than 30 years, at 4702 California SW until the Junction 47 project forced the move northward nine years ago. Store fixtures are for sale – including display cabinets, file cabinets, and racks – and if you’re interested, you can reach Mike at 206-940-3215.

Share This

FERRY FARES: Comment time for 2 increase options
June 1, 2021 2:21 pm
|      17 COMMENTS
 |   Transportation | West Seattle news

(WSB file photo)

Ferry fares are going up – they have to, to keep up with the fare-generated funding required by state law. As discussed during last week’s Washington State Ferries community meetings, there are two alternatives. The state Transportation Commission makes the decision, not WSF, and the commission is now asking your opinion on the options:

Alternative 1: 2.5% increase applied to all fares on October 2021 and 2022

Raises passenger and vehicle fares 2.5% in October of each year.

This approach spreads the fare increase equally between vehicles and walk-on passengers.

Alternative 2: Passenger fares remain unchanged in 2021 but increase in October 2022, and vehicle fares increase in 2021 & 2022

Passenger fares do not increase in October 2021.
Vehicle fares increase 3.1% in October 2021.
In 2022, both passenger and vehicle fares increase 2.5% in October.

This approach continues to encourage walk-on passengers which continue to be significantly below pre-pandemic levels.

Go here to comment by June 10th. The commission will settle on one by early July, and the final decision is expected in October.

Share This

Part of Walker Rock Garden site to be redeveloped
June 1, 2021 12:19 pm
|      22 COMMENTS
 |   Development | West Seattle history | West Seattle news

Thanks to the neighbors who’ve sent photos, including the one above. Redevelopment has begun on the site that holds part of the Walker Rock Garden, a backyard work of art created more than a half-century ago as a true labor of love (here’s the backstory), east of Fairmount Park.

The original owners are long gone. A decade ago, relatives put the site up for sale, hoping to find a buyer interested in maintaining the rock garden. That time, it didn’t sell. Two years later, they listed it again. No sale that time either. Finally, last fall, the south part of the site was sold to a developer, and a permit was sought for redevelopment with two houses.

When we inquired about the sale and the garden’s status, the family told us, “The Garden, due to time and time’s natural impact on things, has experienced significant deterioration on the rock and structures. Unfortunately, no one was identified who could make the hefty financial and time investments needed to restore and maintain the Garden.” It used to be made available for public visits on Mother’s Day; last one we have record of was in 2014.

The north part of the site still holds the original house, now a rental, and at least some of the rock art. But the Walker Rock Garden’s most-famous feature, the gazebo – seen in the photo above – is on the parcel where the new houses are to be built.

Share This

MYSTERY: Found at a school playground
June 1, 2021 10:39 am
|      8 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

From the “too unusual for the Lost/Found/Non-Pets section of the WSB Community Forums” department:

This was found in the Holy Rosary playground. Hat with red folder that contains helicopter landing notes. Name on it is Mackey. Call Holy Rosary if it’s yours. 206-937-7255

Share This

Notes for your West Seattle Tuesday
June 1, 2021 8:59 am
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Wisteria in bloom, photographed by Theresa Arbow-O’Connor)

Three notes for today so far:

CITY COUNCIL: The regular week-starting full-council meetings are happening today, 1 day later than usual because of the holiday. 9:30 am “briefing” meeting agenda is here; 2 pm agenda is here (including police funding, utility-bill relief, more). Those agenda links include information on how to watch and/or comment.

LIBRARY HOURS EXPAND: Starting today, the only Seattle Public Library branch in West Seattle open for in-building services, Southwest Library (9010 35th SW), will expand hours to 10 am-6 pm, Tuesdays-Saturdays.

DEMONSTRATION: The weekly announcement from organizer Scott:

Black Lives Matter sign waving

Tuesday, June 1, 4 to 6 pm, corner of 16th SW and SW Holden

Thursday, June 3, 4 to 6 pm, 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.

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

Share This

ROAD WORK, TRAFFIC, WEATHER: Post-holiday Tuesday notes
June 1, 2021 6:07 am
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

6:07 AM: Good morning. Holiday’s over but the warm weather isn’t – 80s are predicted again today. Our featured weather pic – Monday’s sunrise, by Stewart L.:

ROAD WORK UPDATES

Delridge project – Crews resume work today. The Delridge/Orchard work is done, the north-end Delridge paviing is done, the east side of Delridge/Barton/Henderson and Delridge/Thistle are still closed. Here’s the rest of this week’s plan.

SW Yancy – Still closed west of 28th SW because of drainage/utility work related to construction.

FERRIES/BUSES

Regular schedules today. Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth ferry route might see some extra use because another boat breakdown has the Seattle-Bremerton run down to 1 boat. (Watch @kcmetrobus for word of any bus cancellations, @wsferries for any major WSF changes.)

BRIDGES AND DETOUR ROUTES

436th morning without the West Seattle Bridge. Here are the views of other bridges and routes:

Low Bridge: 21st 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.

Share This