West Seattle, Washington
25 Thursday
That’s the detour map provided by SDOT for closures of SW Genesee coming up the next two weekends – Friday, July 9th, until early Monday, July 12th, and the same timeframe July 16th-19th. Genesee will be closed between Delridge Way and 25th SW for “street upgrades” as part of the ongoing project to prepare for RapidRide H Line. Here are other key points of the weekly preview:
-Street demolition and paving along Delridge Way SW between SW Holden St and SW Thistle St to begin as early as July 12
This work includes upgrading several sections of the street in both lanes of traffic. We’ll share more details and a detour route for this work soon.-Overnight and weekend demolition and paving in select areas between SW Henderson St and SW Cambridge St to begin as early as July 16
We will mostly work near Boss Drive-in and Two Fingers Social.-Intersection upgrades at SW Henderson St continue into July. We are still working to upgrade the street at this intersection. Once this work is complete, we will begin upgrading sidewalks. We anticipate keeping the street closed during sidewalk upgrades due to the narrow width of the street and needing space for our equipment to operate.
Other details of upcoming work along the corridor are here. Still no estimate of how much longer SW Thistle, on the east side of Delridge, will remain closed.
In case you don’t get up early and might miss tomorrow morning’s list before it’s too late, two events of note at Alki tomorrow:”
COMMUNITY CLEANUP: Jessica‘s monthly first-Saturday cleanup at Alki Beach always welcomes volunteers. 10 am-1 pm, meet at 2452 Alki SW, bring your own “pick stick” and bucket if you have them (she has a limited number) – kids welcome if accompanied and supervised by adults. You can sign up/RSVP by texting her at 206-769-6330.
‘STOP THE VIOLENCE’: Three nonprofits – Progress Pushers, Southwest Youth and Family Services, and the YMCA – are presenting this 1-4 pm Saturday at Alki Beach Park across from 62nd/Alki. Here’s the poster. It promises youth speakers, a discussion of the impact of gun violence, music, food, and more. (Thanks to Seana for the tip.)
(WSB photo, December 2020)
Bus stops along two West Seattle Metro routes have been bagged like that for the past half-year. This September, one set of stops will reopen. Metro plans to continue “suspension” of Route 37. But it is planning to bring back Route 22, which runs between Arbor Heights and The Junction. This was not in the tentative plan Metro had presented to a County Council committee earlier this year, but it was added by the time Metro returned to the council’s Environment and Mobility Committee last week. (Here’s the presentation, which notes that the Route 22 restoration was added to its fall plan because of survey feedback.) We didn’t hear about it until local transportation writer Ryan Packer mentioned it in a WSB comment discussion; we followed up with Metro spokesperson Jeff Switzer, who confirmed, “Route 22 will be returning with weekday service with the fall service change, operating between 6 AM-9 PM. Similar to service levels pre-pandemic, service will be hourly.”
Two West Seattle Crime Watch reader reports:
PEEL & PRESS BURGLARIZED AGAIN: In Morgan Junction, burglar(s) have again struck Peel & Press (6503 California SW), whose proprietor Dan Austin sent the photo and report:
This should be a celebratory weekend with the Fourth of July and 100% capacity for the first time in 16 months at the restaurant. Instead we walked in and found that we’ve been burglarized again. We are frantically trying to replace some critical equipment with hopes of being able to open later tonight.
ADDED: Some followup information:
Security hard drive was taken. They also got a week’s worth of my kitchen’s tips :-(. I just want neighbors to be aware and if folks want to buy some food over the next … it wouldn’t hurt. Thanks to White Center Glass for moving as fast as possible to get the glass replaced early next week and to the folks at The Bridge for helping me, temporarily securing the back door. The business community and neighborhood always rally.
CATALYTIC-CONVERTER THIEVES’ GETAWAY CAR: The video is from Sarah:
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My husband caught these guys taking our catalytic converter on our Prius. Older model white Dodge Durango, tinted windows, silver rims. End of the license plate is 793P or 723P. Contact police if you see this vehicle.
This happened before 6 am today in the Fairmount Park area.
(WSB file photo)
Last week, the city announced a 9-month pilot program closing Golden Gardens, the Ballard beach park, at 10 pm, but nothing for Alki. Today – four days after a deadly shooting – an announcement that Alki will close early too, but only for the next four nights:
Seattle Parks and Recreation is implementing new temporary closing hours at Alki Beach Park (2665 Alki Ave. SW) beginning on Friday, July 2 through Monday, July 5. The park will close daily at 10:00 p.m. (instead of 11:30 p.m.) and reopen as normal at 4:30 a.m.
This temporary closing time change, authorized by SMC 18.12.040, is intended to deter illegal use of fireworks and to help mitigate illegal activity at the park during the anticipated busy holiday weekend. Alki Beach Park has experienced an increase in public safety issues, including acts of violence, excessive noise violations, illegal fires, and unpermitted events.
SPR has already implemented several strategies to try to discourage illegal behaviors at Alki Beach Park:
· Public education: To clarify and publicize beach fire rules and other park rules, we are using our website and social media resources, sandwich-board signs at the park, and most recently, two large electronic reader-boards stating that fires are allowed in authorized firepits only, and the time by which fires must be extinguished. (Reader-board messaging may change to reflect updates.)
· Enhanced staffing: Five staff are on the beach nightly. They remind park users that fires can be in firepits only and must be extinguished by 9:30 p.m.; remind park users that amplified music is prohibited; pick up litter; clean and restock restrooms.
· Reduced hours for fires: Staff extinguish beach fires by 9:30 nightly.
· SPD coordination: We stay in close communication and strategize with SPD regarding efforts to enforce laws and prevent illegal behaviors.
Alki Beach Park will continue to allow beach fires over the holiday weekend in designated fire rings. All beach fires must be extinguished by 9:30 p.m. and all visitors will be asked to leave the park by 10 p.m. Please see beach fire rules here.
Alki Beach Park daily operating hours will return to 4:30 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. effective July 6, 2021.
SDOT West Marginal Way info by WestSeattleBlog
Still no decision on the West Marginal Way protected bicycle lane proposal. But for those interested in this major detour route, some data that might interest you, if you didn’t get to attend last week’s West Seattle Transportation Coalition meeting. WSTC had asked SDOT about collision and speed data for West Marginal; SDOT’s Brad Topol presented the slide deck you see above (here’s the PDF version). As of last week’s meeting, no major-injury collisions had happened on the road this year, he noted. The big trouble spot, not surprisingly, is the Highland Park Way intersection; the number of collisions in that area has tripled since the bridge closure. And while there’s been some reduction in speed along West Marginal, according to the data, people are still driving over the (reduced) speed limit. As a result, Topol said without elaboration, they’re working on “other methods” for slowing West Marginal traffic. Video of the meeting will eventually be available on WSTC’s YouTube page; WSTC expects to keep meeting through the summer, fourth (corrected) Thursdays, 6:30 pm, online, so July 22nd is the next date. (Our other story from last week’s meeting is here.)
Two things happening right now in the West Seattle Junction:
FREE PIZZA: There’s a line outside Pagliacci (4449 California SW) because they’re giving away free slices, chain-wide, until 3 pm, as a reopening celebration. Limit two slices per person. Full details are on the Pagliacci website.
Kitty-corner from there, outside the Senior Center of West Seattle, another reopening celebration:
‘FUN & FESTIVE FRIDAYS’: The Senior Center wants everyone to know it’s open, so today they’re kicking off “Fun & Festive Fridays,” with refreshments & cookies outside until 1 pm, and live music by The Ukes, 2-4 pm. The center’s message: “We’re excited to welcome back the community!”
ADDED: Joining the celebration, Dan Jackson, photographed by Jerry Simmons:
Got a reopening celebration/special/event? Let us know – westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
The return of youth sports this season has had winning results for West Seattle Little League – they’re sending a team to the state championships! Thanks to Meg Bell for the photo and Knathan Ryan for the report:
West Seattle Little League 12s won the District 7 Championship last night, July 1, defeating the South Highline Nationals by a score of 11-6 at Bar S Fields.
Timely hitting, great defense, and consistent pitching were the factors for this team throughout the tournament and led to their ultimate win. Otis Schlede and Asher Straus hit a grand slam and solo home runs, respectively, to lead the offensive onslaught in the championship game. The Westside All-Stars went undefeated in the tournament. The team now advances to the Washington State Little League All-Star Tournament held in Redmond, which begins on July 17.
Congrats, West Seattle All Stars! Here’s the lineup of the team: Alex O’Donnell, Asher Straus, Otis Schlede, Aiden Peters, Waylon Ryan, Owen Fahy, Kye Ritzman, Jaxton Dailey, Sam Kraynek, Liam Bell, Cole Williamson, Mateo Garcia, Ben Grimes, and Brady Stenberg, with coaches Mike Fahy, Matt Schlede, and Knathan Ryan.
WSLL is hosting the district’s 9/10/11 All-Star tournament starting July 10th.
Seattle Lutheran High School has new leadership. Here’s the announcement we received from the school:
Seattle Lutheran High School and Hope Lutheran School are excited to welcome Kristen Okabayashi in her new position as Principal of Schools. Okabayashi received the keys to the building Thursday and is excited about her new role.
“After months of planning and some behind the scenes work on special projects, I am excited to actually be working at the school with the amazing team already in place, from the\ talented faculty to the organized office staff,” said Okabayashi.
She is in her 12th year as principal at Hope Lutheran School and will continue to serve in that role with newly appointed assistant principal Jennifer Neafcy assisting at Hope Lutheran.
Okabayashi holds hold a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Administration (Accounting and Finance) from the University of Washington, a Master’s of Arts in Teaching from Seattle Pacific University, and a Master’s of Education in Educational Leadership (K-12) also from Seattle Pacific University.
Andie Merlino will continue the hard work she has been doing at SLHS as interim principal and will serve this next year as the part-time assistant principal. Merlino will directly oversee the teachers, curriculum and academics at SLHS, and looks forward to strengthening the overall educational programs over coming weeks and months. She holds a bachelor’s degree in English from Whitman College, a Master’s degree in Math Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Washington, and a Doctorate in Educational Leadership from Seattle University and has worked in education for over 35 years as a math teacher and dean of students.
“I look forward to working more closely with Kristen next year. She and I have a very similar approach to education, and I value her leadership experience and dedication to the students, parents and staff. She’ll be a great addition to our community,” commented Merlino.
Okabayashi and Merlino are already working on finalizing the fall schedule, adding a few additional classes to the course catalog, hiring staff and planning for students to attend fully in-person in the fall. “Our staff is really looking forward to welcoming all our students back into the building and bringing back many of the activities, sports and clubs that make Seattle Lutheran a great school. Our school has a lot of room to grow and we look forward to opening our doors to more students and their families,” said Okabayashi.
This coincides with the start of an agreement announced early this year for the two schools to be managed together.
6:04 AM: Good morning, The Fourth of July is two days away. Today’s forecast calls for some clouds, some sun, 70s.
(Photo by Jerry Simmons)
ROAD ALERTS
Heat damage – Work starts today at 36th/Oregon, where SDOT says repairs might take almost two weeks.
Delridge project – RapidRide station work as well as road work continues.
FERRIES/BUSES
Regular schedule for buses and ferries. WSF has announced that the Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth route will run two boats on Sundays starting this weekend. Holiday preview: Limited West Seattle Water Taxi service Monday (July 5th), and a Sunday schedule for Metro on that day. Watch @kcmetrobus for word of bus cancellations, @wsferries for major WSF changes.
BRIDGES AND DETOUR ROUTES
466th morning without the West Seattle Bridge. Here are the views of other bridges and routes:
Low Bridge: 25th 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.)
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 draw/swing bridges opening for boats or barges? See the @SDOTBridges Twitter feed. (1st Ave. South Bridge openings also are tweeted on @wsdot_traffic.)
See all local traffic cams here; locally relevant cameras are also 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.
Be on the lookout for Tom‘s stolen car, a dark-blue 1997 Subaru Outback, license AXH 2450, taken from the 3900 block of 42nd SW (corner of SW Bradford) on Wednesday night. If you see it, call 911.
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