day : 12/07/2021 6 results

Another sign that West Seattle life is getting back to something resembling pre-pandemic normal – in-store shows at Easy Street Records in The Junction! Tonight ESR presented Waterparks, the rock trio from Houston, which had fans lining up long before the show, and singing along during it.

They’re on tour in support of their newest album “Greatest Hits.” Easy Street’s Matt Vaughan told us the relaunch show was one “for the kids.” But his record store/café/music venue has something new for the grownups too:

Kelsey and Patrick were in the loft tending the new Easy Street bar, which has been open for some sneak peeks lately. One more spin of Easy Street news – as of last weekend the shop’s gone back to pre-pandemic hours, 9 am-9 pm Mondays through Saturdays, 9 am-7 pm Sundays.

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WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Noontime catalytic-converter theft; abandoned bicycle

July 12, 2021 8:16 pm

| 29 COMMENTS

| Crime | West Seattle news

Two reader reports in West Seattle Crime Watch:

CATALYTIC CONVERTER STOLEN ON THE STREET: Jeff saw it happen:

I witnessed a catalytic converter theft on Alki this afternoon.

At approximately 12:00 PM, I was jogging down the hill at California Way SW leading to Harbor Ave SW (near Marination Ma Kai) when I saw a man underneath a parked silver Toyota Prius. Another man was standing next to the car. They were both white, in their late 20s or early 30s, and wearing backward baseball caps and undershirts. A woman in a parked silver Nissan Pathfinder without rear or front plates was looking back from the driver’s seat at the 2 men. After a few seconds, they had retrieved the Prius’s catalytic converter and ran toward the parked SUV, and then all 3 drove off. I took a picture of the Nissan and attached it.

Hopefully I got the make/model of the getaway car correct, would appreciate input from anyone who might be better at identifying cars from suboptimal pictures. I filed a police report and am awaiting a case number.

Jeff also left a note for the Prius’s owner and has connected with them.

ABANDONED BICYCLE: Mason saw this abandoned bicycle both days this weekend:

There was a bike left on the side of street on Holgate & 44th … (Sunday) it was still around, maybe someone stole it, then left it? Any reports of a missing old blue road bike?

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ELECTION 2021: 13 questions answered in West Seattle by 9 people who want to be Seattle’s next mayor

July 12, 2021 3:28 pm

| 50 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle politics

(WSB photo. From left – Lorena González, James Donaldson, Jessyn Farrell, Colleen Echohawk, Andrew Grant Houston, WSJA executive director Lora Radford, Lance Randall, Bruce Harrell, Casey Sixkiller, Don Rivers)

By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

When nine of the 15 candidates for Seattle mayor sat side by side for an hour and a half at noontime Saturday, it wasn’t just the only pre-primary forum devoted to West Seattleites’ questions – it was also their first in-person forum of the campaign. With days to go until voting starts, they had appeared in dozens of forums, but all online.

So though the questions were serious, it was almost a festive atmosphere, unlike the more-typical mood by the time campaigning gets down to the wire.

Bruce Harrell joked that he wore shorts in the Zoom-call spirit. Lance Randall handed out custom-labeled mini-bottles of hand sanitizer. Casey Sixkiller and Jessyn Farrell asked to borrow scratch paper, confessing they were out of practice for toting supplies to in-person events.

Along with those four, the forum at the Senior Center of West Seattle featured James Donaldson, Colleen Echohawk, Lorena González, Andrew Grant Houston, and Don Rivers. WSB co-presented it with the West Seattle Junction Association, which streamed it live on Instagram’s IGTV while we streamed to YouTube. Our videographer for the occasion, Edgar Riebe of West Seattle-based Captive Eye Media, also recorded it, and here’s the video, followed by our summary:

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UPDATE: 5 hours of street closures, evacuations after gas-line break in Admiral District

July 12, 2021 10:29 am

| 126 COMMENTS

| Utilities | West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts | WS breaking news

10:29 AM: Seattle Fire is just arriving in the 2700 block of California SW for a potential natural-gas problem. The logged address is the construction site toward the north end of the block. They’re blocking California SW so avoid the area for a while.

10:34 AM: Puget Sound Energy is on the way; firefighters told dispatch that the break appears to be “by an excavator.” They’re monitoring air status in nearby buildings including Safeway.

10:50 AM: Our crew is there and sending photos. The California closure starts further north, as shown in our top photo – in the 2600 block. If you leave the Safeway parking lot, for example, you’ll only be allowed to turn north. The closure extends to Stevens (the PCC corner).

10:56 AM: PSE has arrived.

11:05 AM: The incident commander just told dispatch that PSE says this is a four-inch east-west line and “this will be a prolonged incident,” so they’re going to have City Light shut down power nearby.

11:17 AM: Firefighters just told dispatch they’re evacuating Safeway. (We just called PCC and so far they’re stlll open, as is West Seattle Runner [WSB sponsor] just up the block.)

11:42 AM: Not resolved yet. And for those who’ve asked, yes, that’s a TV helicopter.

12:04 PM: SFD says “all affected businesses and residences have been evacuated.”

12:43 PM: Our crew went back to the scene for updates. The leak can still be heard, so it’s not shut off yet. Meantime, as a commenter mentioned, some power’s been cut in the area. Some businesses including Safeway (whose staff was lunching in the parking lot) remain closed.

1:02 PM: We talked with SFD spokesperson David Cuerpo at the scene. He says the air quality in the area is generally OK and evacuations were done as a precaution more than anything. PSE is still working on getting the broken line shut down safely. No estimate yet on how much longer this is likely to last.

1:23 PM: A commenter asked about West Seattle High School. We went over to the office; they told us the students were sent home.

(Photo by Vy Duong)

1:55 PM: SFD is swapping out crews. We’re headed back for another update.

2:48 PM: The hissing from the break is quieter than it originally was, and SFD confirms that PSE has “reduced” the leak but not yet stopped it.

3:38 PM: SFD says PSE has stopped the leak and everything is reopening. Our crew should be back in the area in a few minutes to verify.

3:50 PM: Safeway, for one, has reopened. But the streets are not yet open again, our crew reports.

4:10 PM: Metro has resumed regular routing, which means the streets are back open.

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BIZNOTE: Bastille Day at The Brocante Beach House

July 12, 2021 9:34 am

| 1 COMMENT

| West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news

Extra chance for you to visit The Brocante Beach House (WSB sponsor) on Alki this week – the shop will be open Wednesday (July 14th), noon-8 pm, for its first annual of Bastille Day. Here’s the announcement from proprietor Kim Medica:

Come to the Brocante right on Alki Beach and celebrate Bastille Day. We will have refreshments, macaroons by Black Magic Sweets, a raffle drawing for a fabulous French-inspired basket of goodies valued at over $150, and much more! Each purchase on Wednesday 7/14 gives you one ticket entry. The winner will be announced at 8 pm Wednesday. Need not be present to win.

The Brocante Beach House is at 2622 Alki Avenue SW.

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ROAD WORK, TRAFFIC, WEATHER: Monday notes

July 12, 2021 6:09 am

| Comments Off on ROAD WORK, TRAFFIC, WEATHER: Monday notes

| West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

8:48 AM: “Blocking collision” reported at Delridge/Cloverdale. 2 vehicles, no injuries, northbound lane.

8:53 AM: Also just dispatched – crash at Delridge/Barton.

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6:09 AM: Good morning, Today’s forecast calls for more sunny, warm weather, with a high around 80.

ROAD WORK

Delridge project – As soon as this morning, southbound Delridge will be closed between Holden and Trenton for up to two weeks. Here’s the full preview for this week.

Roxbury repaving – Next week SDOT plans to repave Roxbury between 24th and 25th; tree-trimming is planned later this week to prepare.

TRANSIT

Buses and ferries are on their regular schedules today – except for the Route 120 reroute because of the Delridge work. Watch @kcmetrobus for word of bus cancellations, @wsferries for major WSF changes.

BRIDGES AND DETOUR ROUTES

476th morning without the West Seattle Bridge. Here are the views of other bridges and routes:

Low Bridge: Automated enforcement cameras remain in use; 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.

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