West Seattle, Washington
24 Wednesday
(Photo by James Bratsanos)
9:34 PM: Tonight, the sun didn’t set behind the Olympics – it set behind the smoke, well before it would have gotten to the point where the mountains become the western horizon. After a day of ever-thicker alert-level smoke, red dots are all over the air-quality map. Here’s what the National Weather Service says in its newest regional Forecast Discussion:
Surface smoke should gradually clear out Saturday, but pockets of poor air quality are likely to stick around. The skies will remain hazy through the rest of the weekend though as smoke at the upper levels is expected to stick around through Sunday.
(Photo by Gene Pavola)
The heat warning is still set to expire Saturday evening, and tomorrow’s temperature is only forecast to get into the 80s; Today’s official high was 91, down four degrees from Thursday.
10:21 PM: After the pink-red sun, the orange-red moon – another photo sent by Gene Pavola:
5:25 PM: Thanks for the tips. A “bang” was heard and then the power went out – we’re getting reports so far from the South Delridge area.
5:29 PM: A caller says there’s a wire down in trees by Delridge and Kenyon. The City Light map says more than 200 customers are out.
6:05 PM: The signal at 17th/Roxbury is out. Remember that a nonworking signal means an all-ways stop.
7 PM: Thanks for the tips. The outage hss just expanded to more than 2,000 customers.
8:49 PM: The map attributes the outage to unspecified “equipment failure.” We have a call out to their on-call media rep seeking further elaboration.
9:55 PM: Power’s back for almost everyone, though one of the original pockets – 50 customers – is still shown as out.If we don’t hear sooner, we’ll follow up f9r a more detailed explanation of the cause on Monday.
ADDED SATURDAY AFTERNOON: As of 3:30 pm Saturday, the map shows 59 customers still out, mostly in pockets along SW Roxbury. Here’s the screengrab for the record:
5:13 PM SATURDAY: Since then, everybody’s been reconnected.
Smoke alert, heat alert – and now, a burn ban. Here’s the announcement from the Seattle Fire Department:
The City of Seattle has joined King County under a State 2 burn ban effective immediately. During a Stage 2 burn ban, any outdoor fire such as a backyard fire pit or campfire using chopped firewood or charcoal is prohibited.
Under the ban, any person with a recreational fire who fails to take immediate action to extinguish or discontinue when ordered or notified to do so can be charged with, up to and including, a misdemeanor. Seattle firefighters have also been directed to extinguish any illegal fires during this ban.
Manufactured portable outdoor devices are allowed, including barbecues and patio warmers that are used in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions. Approved fuel devices – including those that rely on charcoal, natural gas or propane gas – are also allowed.
Seattle has experienced two large brush fires along I-5 this week, and the long spell without significant rainfall, the risk of fire in vegetated areas remains high. Let’s do all we can to reduce the risk of an unintentional fire:
• Follow the Stage 2 burn ban
• Safely discard any smoking materials (e.g. don’t snuff out in potted plants)
• Check your vehicle to make sure nothing could drag and create sparks while driving
• Avoid parking on dry grassy areas as hot components could start a fireCall 9-1-1 immediately if you see a brush fire so we can send crews right away.
Another crew shortage for Washington State Ferries on the Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth route has it down to two boats this evening. WSF has canceled all sailings scheduled for the #3 boat; the list of specific canceled sailings is here.
(WSB photo, last month: West Seattle Bridge seen from Harbor Avenue rooftop)
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
Answers to recurring questions were among the highlights of this month’s West Seattle Bridge Community Task Force meeting, held online Thursday afternoon
The meeting was led by CTF co-chair Greg Nickels. Here’s the video, followed by our report on what happened:
MEMBERS’ OBSERVATIONS/QUESTIONS: The meeting usually begins with these, ever since one meeting that was stuffed full of presentations, with little time for CTF members to discuss anything. Liz Powell of West Seattle Bridge NOW brought up Seattle City Council Position 8 finalist Ken Wilson, a civil engineer, having been quoted by a Seattle Times columnist as contending that the bridge could/should be partly reopened immediately.
(WSB photos)
Thanks for the tips! After reader questions about the future of the bright-green building at 11th/Henderson, we made contact with its owners, who bought the property late last year, and found out about their plan:
Addy’s Pet Shop is on the way this fall. David Leischner and wife Cortney are the building’s owners, and he’s busy remodeling:
He explains that they live in Highland Park “and we would drive by the building every day. During the start of the pandemic, I was helping out a friend at his pet store in Wallingford, Wally’s Pets, which is where the idea of opening our own shop began. We would walk our dog, Addy, past this building frequently to Westcrest dog park. We feel fortunate in our decision when you consider the location of the building to the dog park and the great neighborhood we live in.”
So far they’re on schedule to open Addy’s Pet Shop on October 1st. Hours will be 10 am-7 pm Tuesdays through Sundays, closed Mondays. They’ll specialize in dog and cat supplies – food, treats, toys, carriers, leashes, collars (no fish or reptile supplies).
P.S. This is not the family’s only new venture – their second child is due soon, too!
(SDOT photo – new curb bulb)
Work continues on and near Delridge Way SW in the project to prepare for next year’s conversion of Metro Route 120 to the RapidRide H Line. SDOT usually sends a weekly preview on Fridays – here are the key points for the week ahead (and a bit beyond):
• Final channelization and overnight lane striping will continue throughout the corridor later this month
• Construction in Zone B is nearly complete but we will continue to make minor updates throughout the duration of construction
• We have started installing the new sidewalk on SW Hudson St and will continue these upgrades through next week
• Spot sidewalk upgrades between SW Holden St and SW Thistle St on the east side of Delridge Way SW began this week. We will also be returning to SW Thistle St to adjust one of the curb ramps in the area later this month.
• As a reminder, 26th Ave SW is closed to northbound traffic between SW Barton St and SW Roxbury St for King County Metro’s construction of their portion of the project. Please contact King County Metro if you have any questions about this work.
Here’s the full preview. Meantime, speaking of work that’s not part of the project, we have been mentioning in our morning traffic notes that SW Genesee is closed west of Delridge, today through the weekend. SDOT says that’s not part of its project – the private developer who has built townhouses at that corner is working on the street.
Now THAT is a cool perch. If you don’t have the advantage of flying to the top of the Alki Point Lighthouse, here are other ideas for beating the heat:
WHERE TO FIND A/C: From the city-compiled list, today in West Seattle, you’ll find air conditioning at the libraries in High Point (3411 SW Raymond) and Delridge (5423 Delridge Way SW), until 6 pm. The Senior Center of West Seattle (4217 SW Oregon) is open until 4:30 but might extend if usage is high. Air-conditioned businesses include West Seattle’s only moviehouse, Admiral Theater (2343 California SW); also see our list of businesses from June’s heat wave.
AQUATIC SCHEDULE: City-run facilities open today – Highland Park spraypark (1100 SW Cloverdale) 11 am to 8 pm; Lincoln Park wading pool (8011 Fauntleroy Way SW) noon-7 pm; Colman Pool, also at Lincoln Park.
Also happening today/tonight:
FUN & FESTIVE FRIDAYS: The Senior Center isn’t just a hub for air conditioning – Friday means the weekly special event, with refreshments outside 11 am-1 pm and a performance inside 3-4 pm – today, pianist/vocalist Richard Dean.
SAFETY HUB MEET AND GREET: The West Seattle Safety Hub is hosting a Community Meet and Greet at High Point Neighborhood House (6400 Sylvan Way SW), 3 pm-7 pm, with free food, a DJ, and a 2×2 Basketball Tournament for youth 12-17.
BE PART OF THE STONE COTTAGE’S MOVE: 2nd-to-last day to bid in the auction for various opportunities as part of the historic Stone Cottage‘s move to a temporary holding site next Tuesday night – start here.
’80S NIGHT AT ADMIRAL PUB: You can also find A/C at Admiral Pub (2306 California SW; WSB sponsor), where tonight is ’80s Night with DJ Bugzy, 9 pm.
Thank you to everyone who’s tipped us on this. Admiral Safeway can’t sell you frozen/refrigerated items right now because of an equipment malfunction. After several reader tips, we called to ask about the situation; the store otherwise is open, we’re told, and someone is on the way to fix the problem,
If you haven’t already seen these in the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar – you have three opportunities to make a difference by donating food and other items this weekend:
SATURDAY – ADMIRAL CHURCH: 11 am-3 pm Saturday, the church at 4320 SW Hill is hosting another dropoff food drive. Pet food will be accepted too.
SATURDAY – SOCCER FIELD DAY + FOOD DRIVE: 4-6 pm Saturday at Walt Hundley Playfield (34th SW and SW Myrtle), Highline Premier FC is hosting a field day and food drive. Even if you’re not participating in the field-day activities, you’re invited to bring food and/or cash donations to benefit the West Seattle Food Bank.
SUNDAY – KIDS’ CLOTHING AND FOOD DRIVE: The Westside Interfaith Network is supporting 13 recently arrived families from Nicaragua and needs children’s clothing, so that’s being collected as well as food at this Sunday’s Alki UCC donation drive. Men’s casual work clothing and hygiene items always welcome too. 11 am-3 pm outside 6115 SW Hinds.
6:10 AM: Good morning. Heat and smoke alerts continue – with a high in the 90s again today.
ROAD WORK
SW Genesee west of Delridge – We stil don’t have details on this closure but Metro is rerouting Route 50 today through Sunday, so we’re assuming drivers will be affected too. (10:05 AM – Thanks to the commenters for confirming the closure. SDOT has subsequently told us this is for the nearby private developer to restore the road.)
26th SW, north – Neighborhood Greenway striping is happening overnight this week, SDOT says.
26th SW, south – Closed northbound between Roxbury and Barton, for repaving to handle more RapidRide buses.
Delridge project – Pending the weekly update later today, here’s where crews are working this week.
Highland Park Way/West Marginal – SDOT says intersection work continues this weekend, 3 am-1 pm both days. Here again is SDOT’s graphic showing what they’re doing:
CLOSURE
SW Andover pedestrian/bicycle overpass – This remains closed, explained by SDOT as related to “trespassing” problems and neighborhood concerns in advance of the fall seismic-retrofit project.
TRANSIT
Buses are on regular schedules – except for the South Delridge and 26th rerouting. Watch @kcmetrobus for word of bus cancellations.
For ferries and water taxis, regular schedule. Watch @wsferries for updates.
BRIDGES AND DETOUR ROUTES
508th morning without the West Seattle Bridge. Here are 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? The @SDOTBridges Twitter feed will tell you. (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.
| 1 COMMENT