day : 13/07/2021 11 results

10:02 PM: Firefighters and police are at 45th and Glenn right now on the west side of The Junction, tending to an injured motorcyclist. Witnesses say he was the victim of a hit-run driver. Medics have told dispatch that the victim is a. 46-year-old man, conscious and alert, possibly with a fracture.

(Texted photo)

10:19 PM: The victim is being taken to the hospital.

10:27 PM: One neighbor who was at the scene says, “From talking to neighbors no one got a good look at the car but heard it dragging its bumper. Big props to a nurse practitioner neighbor who evaluated the hit motorcyclist before aid arrived.”

10:43 PM: Added a photo of the bike – technically a scooter rather than motorcycle.

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WEST SEATTLE BRIDGE: Updates Wednesday (and next week)

July 13, 2021 9:20 pm

| 14 COMMENTS

| Transportation | West Seattle Bridge Safety Project | West Seattle news

Your next chance for updates on the West Seattle Bridge and related projects/issues is noon tomorrow, when the Community Task Force meets online. Here’s the link to watch; here’s the agenda. Updates will include the 60 percent repair design milestone, the latest low-bridge access stats, and West Marginal Way (still awaiting the bike-lane decision). The meeting is scheduled from noon to 2 pm; if you can’t watch, just one week later, SDOT promises bridge updates at its community meeting (5:30 pm July 21st). P.S. The West Seattle Transportation Coalition, which usually includes bridge updates at its monthly meeting, will NOT be meeting this month – instead of its regular meeting, which would have been on July 22nd, they’re urging everyone to attend SDOT’s meeting.

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From White Center Now: Celebration of Life this Saturday for Tara Eckman Scott

July 13, 2021 7:49 pm

| 10 COMMENTS

| Obituaries | West Seattle news | White Center

On Monday, on our partner site White Center Now, we reported on the death of 51-year-old Tara Eckman Scott, proprietor of White Center’s Taradise Café. Since she lived in West Seattle and had previously worked at the long-gone, long-beloved Charlestown Café, some WSB readers suggested we report her passing here too. A memorial has been growing outside the Taradise, and tonight her family has announced a public celebration of life in the café parking lot for 4 pm Saturday (July 17th). The announcement also says they’re accepting donations (via Venmo) to keep the café going; as we noted in an earlier story on WCN, it has been closed for more than two weeks after a problem described as a basement flood.

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FOLLOWUP: Admiral gas-line break investigation

July 13, 2021 6:27 pm

| 21 COMMENTS

| Utilities | West Seattle news

(WSB photo, Monday)

One day after a construction crew broke a 4-inch gas line at California/Lander, closing the street and evacuating nearby businesses for five-plus hours (WSB coverage here), an investigation is under way. We followed up today with Puget Sound Energy, which provides natural-gas service in our area. We asked, first, why it took so long to shut off the gas after Monday’s break. PSE spokesperson Jarrett Tomalin said, “When our crews are called to an incident, each one may have its own unique factors to obtain shutdown. Typically, we’ll have our mapping team determine the best option for shutting down the gas leak to ensure safety, while also ensuring the fewest number of customers are impacted. The shutdown process in yesterday’s incident was complex, as it required other utilities to cut power, and heavy equipment to excavate the shutdown location.” Our other question: Who’s investigating? Tomalin’s reply: “This incident will be investigated by PSE, the locating service, and the contractor responsible for the damage to PSE’s gas line, with the UTC being notified of the gas line incident.” (That’s the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission.) For some, the break’s effects lasted into today; one nearby apartment resident noted in a comment that their building’s gas service was affected, which meant no hot water for washing and bathing,

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WHALES: Transient orcas, northbound

July 13, 2021 3:42 pm

| 5 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | Whales

Transient killer whales – they’re the seal-eating type rather than salmon-eating resident orcas – should be in view again soon. Thanks to Kersti Muul for the tip – she says they’re emerging from Colvos Passage west of Vashon Island, headed northbound. Since they’re on the other side of Puget Sound, you’ll want to use binoculars. Let us know if you see them!

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UPDATE: Sewer break fouls Puget Sound off Beach Drive

July 13, 2021 3:10 pm

| 8 COMMENTS

| Environment | Health | West Seattle beaches | West Seattle news

(Photo from @quapet via Twitter)

3:10 PM: Thanks for the tip and photo. That signage went up at Cormorant Cove Park in the 3700 block of Beach Drive SW – and we just got this Seattle Public Utilities notification explaining why:

Today Seattle Public Utilities responded to a sewer overflow due to a broken side sewer located along Beach Dr near Cormorant Cove. As a result, beaches in the area will be closed to water activities, including Cormorant Cove as well as the beach access at Beach Dr. SW/63rd Ave SW in West Seattle.

Staff will sample the water and work with Public Health-Seattle & King County and Seattle Parks Department to determine when the area can be safely reopened. SPU will provide an update when we have more information. Seattle Public Utilities is working with the property owner to ensure a timely repair of the side sewer.

If you find flooding or sewer backups, please report them to the SPU 24/7 Operations Response Center at 206-386-1800.

5:56 PM: We went down to the shore to check the extent of the signage. It continues northward at Constellation Park, beyond 63rd/Beach:

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WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Carjacking investigation

July 13, 2021 2:29 pm

| 4 COMMENTS

| Crime | Highland Park | West Seattle news

If you wondered what the big police response at 10th/Henderson [map] in Highland Park at noontime was all about – it was related to a reported armed carjacking. After that happened near 2nd SW and SW Michigan (by the 1st Avenue South Bridge), police tracked the car (in our photo above) up the Highland Park Way hill and southward to 10th/Henderson, where everybody bailed out of it. At least one person – possibly the armed woman who was believed to be at the wheel – was reported to have fled in a second vehicle; two others were on foot after abandoning the car, and police arrested one suspected accomplice found nearby.

The investigation is being turned over to robbery detectives.

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WEST SEATTLE BOOKS: New edition of ‘Hiking Washington’s History’

July 13, 2021 12:33 pm

| 2 COMMENTS

| West Seattle books | West Seattle news

(Photo courtesy Judy Bentley)

This is perfect weather for hiking – and with the help of a West Seattle author’s newly revised book, you can not only enjoy trails’ beauty, but also explore their history. Writer/historian Judy Bentley‘s “Hiking Washington’s History” is now out in a second edition. She tells WSB:

The second edition of Hiking Washington’s History, with co-author and prolific guide book writer Craig Romano, has been published this month by the University of Washington Press, which also published the first edition in 2010.

The second edition includes 12 new historic hikes, including a trail in the West Duwamish Greenbelt. The second edition has many photographs and maps, a timeline of trails, sidebars, and detailed hike narratives. I will be giving a talk with the Southwest Seattle Historical Society in September.

Bentley is a longtime West Seattle resident, South Seattle College (WSB sponsor) instructor, and past president of SWSHS. She says you can get her book at Paper Boat Booksellers in Morgan Junction (6040 California SW).

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DEVELOPMENT: Preview ‘early design’ before review meeting Thursday for 4448 California SW

July 13, 2021 10:57 am

| 39 COMMENTS

| Development | West Seattle news

The newest redevelopment proposal for The Junction goes to the Southwest Design Review Board in an online meeting this Thursday. It’s a first look at 4448 California SW, in the Early Design Guidance phase, so the proposal focuses on options for the building’s size, shape, and placement on site, not its final appearance. It’s proposed for 96 apartments across six stories over ground-floor commercial space, no offstreet parking proposed (none is required), on a parcel zoned for up to 75 feet, currently holding the commercial building that’s rented to Doll Parts Collective and a mortgage lender. Here’s the meeting packet by architects Atelier Drome:

4448 California packet by WestSeattleBlog

(You can also see the meeting packet here.) Information on how to attend/watch/listen to the meeting at 5 pm Thursday (July 15th), and how to comment on the project’s design, can be found here.

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Fauntleroy Community Association and what else is up for your West Seattle Tuesday

July 13, 2021 8:59 am

| Comments Off on Fauntleroy Community Association and what else is up for your West Seattle Tuesday

| West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Monday photo by David Hutchinson)

Here’s what’s happening in the hours ahead, from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar and inbox:

TODAY’S AQUATIC SCHEDULE: Highland Park spraypark (1100 SW Cloverdale) is open 11 am to 8 pm, Delridge wading pool (4501 Delridge Way SW) is open noon-5:30 pm, Colman Pool (on the shore at Lincoln Park, 8011 Fauntleroy Way SW) is open noon-7 pm.

GOT A BIKE TO DONATE? Bike Works will be in High Point noon-4 pm and would be happy to accept bicycle donations. Parking lot behind Neighborhood House (6400 Sylvan Way SW).

BEST STARTS FOR KIDS RENEWAL: South King County community conversation with supporters of the levy renewal that’s on the August 3rd ballot, 5 pm online – attendance info is in our calendar listing.

DEMONSTRATION: Scott‘s twice-weekly sign-waving streetcorner demonstrations for racial justice continue today, 4-6 pm at 16th/Holden, bring your own sign or borrow one.

FAUNTLEROY COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION: 7 pm online, monthly board meeting, community welcome. The agenda includes updates on ferry issues, crime/safety, and the Fauntleroy Fall Festival. Go here to register for the attendance link.

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

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ROAD WORK, TRAFFIC, WEATHER: Tuesday notes

July 13, 2021 6:09 am

| 1 COMMENT

| West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

6:09 AM: Good morning, Today’s forecast calls for another sunny day with a high around 80. That means another clear night, too – thanks to Kanit Cottrell for this photo from last night:

ROAD WORK

Delridge project – Southbound Delridge is now closed between Holden and Trenton for up to two weeks. Here’s the full preview for the entire project.

Roxbury repaving – Starting tomorrow, SDOT plans tree work in advance of repaving Roxbury between 24th and 25th.

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

477th 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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