day : 02/08/2021 9 results

(WSB photo, July 24)

Weekend before last, we covered two recordsetting swims between Bremerton and Alki Point. The first one was a solo swim by Melissa Kegler, who became the first swimmer to make a roundtrip on the route that’s known as the Amy Hiland Swim (for the first person on record to do it). Since then, she has written the story of what it was like – everything from seal sightings to challenging currents to what she called the “most terrifying moment” of her long history of marathon swims, as well as what it meant to be cheered on by not only the escort boat crew but also passing ferries. You can read her story here (photos too).

ELECTION 2021: Less than 24 hours to vote

August 2, 2021 8:23 pm

| 5 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle politics

That’s the King County Elections ballot dropbox at South Seattle College (6000 16th SW; WSB sponsor), easy to ride/walk/drive up to, one of three dropboxes in West Seattle (here’s the countywide map, which also includes one in White Center and one in South Park). Dropboxes are open until exactly 8 pm tomorrow for your primary-election ballot; if you decide to send yours via US Mail, please do that early in the day rather than late so it will definitely get postmarked. As of this evening, KCE says Seattle is up to 17.3 percent turnout (ballots returned). Reminder, the ballot has six decisions for you to make – two city races without incumbents (mayor and City Council Position 9), two city races with incumbents (city attorney and Council Position 8), one county race (Executive), and one county ballot measure (“Best Starts for Kids” renewal/expansion). First round of results will be out around 8:15 pm tomorrow.

Share This

WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: More car windows smashed; porch prowler

August 2, 2021 6:26 pm

| 7 COMMENTS

| Crime | West Seattle news

6:26 PM: Whether or not it’s just a tactic for thievery, car-window smashing has proliferated lately. Here’s the latest report, from Kate:

Our Toyota RAV4 front passenger-side window was shattered last night, sometime between 11 pm-6 am on Aug 1/2. The car wasn’t rummaged through and nothing was stolen. We’re on the 2700 block of 39th Ave SW; it appears at least one other neighbor’s car window was shattered as well. We have filed a police report, and are just sharing in case of uptick of this kind of damage in the area.

(added) Kate’s neighbor Sarah also emailed us to confirm “that the driver side rear window of my Subaru Forester was also smashed in. No rummaging and nothing was taken (I don’t keep anything in my car). I filed a police report as well.” Other recent incidents have been at the West Seattle Golf Course/Stadium parking lot and on Beach Drive.

ADDED 8:06 PM: One more reader report while this is atop the main page – a porch prowler on Puget Ridge:

That’s one of two clips sent by Paul on 16th SW: the other shows the prowler (after the break on the stoop) trying the door. Neighbors reported other doors tried, on cars as well as homes.

Share This

WEST SEATTLE LIGHT RAIL: Sound Transit Board to vote on ‘realignment’ this week

August 2, 2021 3:42 pm

| 1 COMMENT

| Sound Transit | West Seattle news

After more than a year of talking about “realignment” to deal with an “affordability gap,” the Sound Transit Board is scheduled to take action this Thursday afternoon. When we first wrote about the concept in June of last year, ST staff warned that they could be as much as $12 billion short on what was needed through the ST3 plan’s scheduled end in 2041. More recently, the projection has been almost halved, down to $6.5 billion; as a result, some board members have objected to settling on either big delays or big cuts that might not be needed. What they eventually landed on, as we reported last month, is what they’re calling a “flexible framework” that could be revisited every year. To the point of peninsula interest, that realignment proposal would push West Seattle light rail to 2032 (it was originally planned for 2030 but pandemic-delayed to 2031).

The resolution they’ll be considering can be read here; various proposed amendments are here. The 1 pm Thursday (August 5th) online meeting includes a public-comment period. The agenda includes information on how to participate in that, and/or how to comment in advance, as well as how to watch/listen.

Share This

MORE MUSIC: Flutes in the Forest encore

August 2, 2021 1:55 pm

| 2 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle parks | WS culture/arts

If you missed the first “Flutes in the Forest” outdoor concert last month – here’s another chance: 4 pm Wednesday (August 4th), Jennie Goldberg and Jaime Cornutt of the West Seattle flute duo Toujaise will be playing at Schmitz Park. Free, bring your own chair/blanket; enter the park from Admiral/Stevens [map] and, the musicians advise, “walk the paved road 300 feet to the sound of flutes in the forest.”

Share This

NIGHT OUT: More than 20 buskers to perform in West Seattle Junction

August 2, 2021 12:11 pm

| 3 COMMENTS

| Fun stuff to do | West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news

The biggest Night Out party in West Seattle is tomorrow night (Tuesday, August 3rd) in The Junction. As previously reported, the West Seattle Junction Association put out a call for buskers to perform, and so far more than 20 are signed up, including fiddler Dawn Hepburn, a local regular (here she is playing at the Farmers’ Market in July):

Other performers range from world music to an Elvis tribute! WSJA invites you to come to The Junction 5:30-9 pm tomorrow – either instead of your own Night Out party or after yours winds up! Some venues are offering food/drink specials and some stores are staying open late – see the list (still growing) of participating businesses and buskers by going here.

Share This

Incoming kindergartener? Register if you haven’t already!

August 2, 2021 11:26 am

| Comments Off on Incoming kindergartener? Register if you haven’t already!

| West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

Seattle Public Schools registration for kindergarten resumes with today’s reopening of the Admissions Office – you can sign up in person or online. The earlier you sign up your student-to-be, the better, principals have told us, because that enables more-accurate staffing allocation from the start, rather than schools having to scramble for added staffing once the year has begun because more students showed up than expected. The district’s enrollment page has forms and other info. P.S. First day of school for kindergarteners is September 9th; 1st through 12th grade, September 1st.

Share This

What’s up for your West Seattle Monday

August 2, 2021 9:27 am

| Comments Off on What’s up for your West Seattle Monday

| West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Monday sunrise, photographed by Jerry Simmons)

What’s ahead on this first weekday of August:

CITY COUNCIL: Weekly meetings today at 9:30 am (briefing, agenda here) and 2 pm (agenda here), both viewable via Seattle Channel.

TODAY’S AQUATIC SCHEDULE: Open today – Highland Park spraypark (11 am-8 pm, 1100 SW Cloverdale); Delridge (noon-5:30 pm, 4501 Delridge Way SW) wading pool, and Colman Pool (at Lincoln Park, noon-7 pm) are open.

COMMUNITY SUP NIGHT: Monday night standup-paddleboarding discounts at Alki Kayak Tours (1660 Harbor SW), 6 pm – info in our calendar listing.

MONDAY NIGHT TRIVIA: 7:30 pm at The Skylark (3803 Delridge Way SW) with Quizfix – prizes!

Anything else happening today/tonight? Text 206-293-6302 or email westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!

Share This

ROAD WORK, TRANSIT, TRAFFIC, WEATHER: Monday notes

August 2, 2021 6:07 am

| 2 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

6:07 AM: Good morning, Today we’re expecting sunshine, haze, and a high around 80.

ROAD WORK

Delridge project – Two closures in South Delridge – the southbound closure of Delridge Way SW between Thistle and Trenton continues, and northbound Delridge closes “as soon as (today)” between Cambridge and Henderson; details here.

26th SW – Major work starts as soon as Wednesday on NB 26th SW between Roxbury and Barton – details here.

TRANSIT

Buses are on regular schedules – except for the South Delridge rerouting. Watch @kcmetrobus for word of bus cancellations.

For ferries and water taxis, all should be normal. Watch @wsferries for updates.

BRIDGES AND DETOUR ROUTES

497th 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; the bridge is open to all until 8 am Saturday and Sunday mornings. (Access applications are available here 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):

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.

Share This