West Seattle, Washington

23 Tuesday

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month : 08/2021 315 results

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.

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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.

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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.”

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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.

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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.

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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!

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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.

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What’s new at West Seattle’s only tiny-house encampment, Camp Second Chance
August 1, 2021 11:56 pm
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   Myers Way | West Seattle news

(WSB photo: Camp Second Chance’s front gate, July)

First Sunday afternoon of the month usually brings the monthly online meeting of the Community Advisory Committee for West Seattle’s only city-sanctioned tiny-house encampment, Camp Second Chance, on the city-owned Myers Way Parcels [map]. Here’s what happened today:

CAMP UPDATE: CSC director Scott Harris wasn’t in attendance, so updated camp stats weren’t available, but Hattie Rhodes from camp operator LIHI was there with other updates. She said a city inspection is happening Tuesday afternoon to ensure that all’s well. She also said LIHI had a recent hiring fair and hopes to fill positions at encampments including CSC, which will be getting a “village organizer …. to help out at the camp.” They’re also still looking for a case manager, while serving campers with visiting CMs. Also – LIHI is opening new camps in other parts of the city and looking for more sites because “the need is still there.” She didn’t have exact numbers but said it was “exciting” to see some CSC residents move to housing at The Clay – a microapartment building owned by LIHI – to ‘take the next step in their journeys.” CAC chair Willow Fulton asked about the intake process for CSC. That’s primarily through the city’s HOPE Team, Rhodes said, but LIHI also has a waitlist in case an opening comes up at one of its camps and the HOPE Team can’t quickly fill it. What about referring someone currently living unsheltered? Refer them to the outreach workers at REACH, Rhodes suggested – she didn’t have a contact number but noted REACH has offices at 3rd/Blanchard. Rhodes was asked about CSC expansion, which Harris mentioned at the last meeting. She said “that’s not the hugest priority for us right now” though they might “see if there’s room here or there to add a few more (tiny) houses” at CSC.

COMMITTEE MEMBERS’ UPDATES: These updates often range beyond camp-related matters, and this time was no different. Aaron Garcia of the White Center Community Development Association wanted everyone to know that the county eviction-prevention/rent-assistance program is still open and WCCDA is assisting White Center families with getting into the process. He also said there’ll be a vaccination clinic at Steve Cox Memorial Park on August 18th; it’s meant to be second dose for those vaccinated at the recent clinic, but first doses will be available too, noon-6 pm … Cinda Stenger from the Westside Interfaith Network said the group is continuing to assist more than a dozen Central American refugee families who have settled in the area so if CSC hss extra clothing, they would appreciate being able to re-donate to the refugees (they’re also looking for kids’ clothing and other housewares) … Grace Stiller of Weed Warriors recapped the recent wrap party for the latest phase of her organization’s Myers Way Parcels wetland-restoration program (WSB coverage here); she’s looking ahead to Phase 3 of the restoration project, working closer to Hamm Creek, dependent on funding. … Chair Fulton, who’s been keeping watch on illegal dumping along Myers Way, says the most-recent ones have been cleaned up. Concerns remain about the safety of people walking along Myers Way, especially considering pedestrians are pushed farther into the road by the fencing set up to prevent access to the roadside greenbelt. Once again this month, though, no city rep was present to hear those concerns.

NEXT MEETING: September’s date is to be determined, since the first Sunday will be during Labor Day weekend.

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PANDEMIC UPDATES: Weekly check-in #4, 8/1/2021
August 1, 2021 9:31 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   Coronavirus | West Seattle news

Every Sunday night, we’re publishing weekly pandemic updates. Tonight, the fourth one. First, the newest local numbers.

KING COUNTY CUMULATIVE NUMBERS AS OF FRIDAY:

116,837 people have tested positive – 1,358 more than a week ago (4,072 in West Seattle, up 53)
6,686 people have been hospitalized – 46 more than a week ago (202 in West Seattle, up 1)
1,682 people have died – 2 fewer than a week ago* (67 in West Seattle, unchanged) *data adjustment

VACCINATION RATE:

75.1% of King County residents 12+ have completed their vaccine series (up .6% in the past week)

By West Seattle zip code:
98106 – 77.6%
98116 – 84%
98126 – 73.2%
98136 – 85.2%
98146 – 71.7%

(More COVID-related King County stats here)

THE WEEK’S HEADLINES

Briefing: On Friday, King County Public Health Officer Dr. Jeff Duchin gave another pandemic briefing. Watch it here:

While the increase in cases and hospitalizations is concerning, he said, it was good news that (as the stats show above) King County had no COVID-19 deaths in the preceding week.

Masks: Earlier in the week, Dr. Duchin and other health officers from around Puget Sound issued a joint statement strongly recommending that everyone wear them in indoor public spaces. Some West Seattle coffee shops, restaurants, and supermarkets have reinstated mask requirements, as we reported Thursday.

Testing availability: Though the city announced this week that it’s getting out of the testing business, the UW Medicine testing service at the Nino Cantu Southwest Athletic Complex parking lot (2801 SW Thistle) continues to operate.

When to get tested: Here’s a refresher.

NOT VACCINATED YET?

Go here to see where you can change that.

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PHOTOS: Why you’re seeing smoke, but not breathing it
August 1, 2021 8:00 pm
|      11 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle weather

(WSB photo)

From the yellowish hazy sunlight this afternoon to the reddish-orange color of the soon-to-set sun right now, we’re seeing wildfire smoke – but our air quality remains good. The Washington Smoke Information website explains that the smoke is overhead – back on Friday, the site said, “While two waves of smoke are expected to reach our skies, they’ll be at 2 km or higher, and the situation at surface should be very different.” The smoke that is up there is reported to be from Northern California and Oregon, not our state – so far.

ADDED: First “red sun” photo in is from Jerry Simmons:

ADDED: Second one is by Dan Ciske:

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WEST SEATTLE MUSIC: First Thursday Funk Night returns
August 1, 2021 7:09 pm
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | WS culture/arts

If you check our calendar and/or almost-daily highlights lists, you know live music is back at multiple West Seattle venues. Today, advance word of a regular event that’s returning even though its previous venue is gone. First Thursdays used to be “funk night” at the Parliament Tavern, now closed (with a new venue on the way to that space, as we reported Saturday). But promoter B Dahlia sends word that the funk returns this week, with its new home at The Skylark (3803 Delridge Way SW). B explains, “The band has had a few changes and we’re moving the show to Skylark, so West Seattle Soul featuring The Pulsations is on hiatus and the new band’s name is ‘Battlestar Kalakala‘! Still big band funk and soul, with a few new members and a new home.” 9 pm Thursday, August 5th, is the launch date, $10 at the door.

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ELECTION 2021: Tiny turnout so far in primary voting
August 1, 2021 4:52 pm
|      46 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle politics

Only two days left to vote in the primary election, but very few ballots are in. As of this afternoon, only 13.4 percent of Seattle ballots had been returned to King County Elections; that’s just a hair below the countywide percentage, 13.5 percent. Just six decisions to make on your ballot – 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). Still not sure about the mayor’s race, in which a field of 15 will be narrowed to two? Watch the one and only in-person West Seattle forum (presented by us and the Junction Association three weeks ago) here with 9 of the candidates, and/or check out the Seattle Channel’s Video Voters Guide (for mayor and the other city races) here. If you’re going to mail your ballot (no stamp needed), do that by tomorrow so you can be sure it’ll be postmarked in time; if you’re going to use a dropbox (three in West Seattle!), get it in by 8 pm Tuesday. First round of results is expected by 8:15 that night.

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WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: 2 reader reports
August 1, 2021 2:35 pm
|    Comments Off on WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: 2 reader reports
 |   Crime | West Seattle news

Two reader reports in West Seattle Crime Watch this afternoon:

CAR, GARAGE BREAK-INS: From Mary:

We live on the 6700 block of Beach Drive and had our truck window broken out on Tuesday night. Miscellaneous items taken. Another neighbor on Beach Drive had their garage broken into.

ABANDONED CAR: From Matt:

This car was ransacked and abandoned on 21st Ave at Myrtle, next to Sanislo Elementary School. Maybe it belongs to someone?

The plate on it starts with BWL.

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UPDATE: Diver’s body found off Seacrest
August 1, 2021 11:33 am
|      24 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | WS breaking news

11:33 AM: Seattle Fire has just dispatched another water-rescue response to Seacrest. This time the dispatch was “possible diver having a problem, could be related to (the situation) from last night.” We are headed there to find out more.

(Added: WSB photo)

11:39 AM: The dispatcher has told rescuers that divers reported seeing a person in 35′ of water, 100′ offshore. (We hadn’t received word of recovery of last night’s victim since SPD took over late last night.)

11:53 AM: So far it does appear to be a recovery – the person found by divers is described as showing “no signs of life” and they’re calling for the Medical Examiner.

Also a traffic note: If you’re driving down California Way, you can’t turn right onto Harbor because of the response vehicles on Harbor on the east side of Seacrest. (Our crew has just confirmed this.)

12:08 PM: After bringing the person’s body out of the water, SFD is downsizing the response. They’ve dispatched a public-information officer so we hope to have official word before too long on whether this is indeed believed to be the person who went missing last night – there’ve been no additional reports today of anyone missing or in trouble.

12:29 PM: We’ve talked with SFD spokesperson Kristin Tinsley at Seacrest. She says it’s up to the Medical Examiner to say for sure whether it’s the same person who went missing last night, the description is the same – a woman in her 30s. And we’ve confirmed with an SPD sergeant at the scene that SPD did not recover a body last night after taking over last night’s recovery operation. (Added: Here’s video of Tinsley explaining the responses last night and today:)

NOTE: Our archives show this was the first diver death in the area since August 2016, when another student diver died.

ADDED: The diver who died has been identified by the Medical Examiner’s Office as 33-year-old Yuyu Xu.

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TRAFFIC ALERT: Tree down at Delridge/Orchard
August 1, 2021 11:31 am
|    Comments Off on TRAFFIC ALERT: Tree down at Delridge/Orchard
 |   Delridge | West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

Thanks for the photos. As shown above, there’s tree trouble at Delridge/Orchard – beware if you’re planning to head through that area.

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11 notes for August’s first West Seattle Sunday
August 1, 2021 6:34 am
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Lowman Beach Park, photographed by Theresa Arbow-O’Connor)

August has arrived. Happening today/tonight:

ROAD-WORK REMINDERS: The Highland Park Way/West Marginal intersection work is scheduled until 1 pm again today, and southbound Delridge Way is closed between SW Thistle and SW Trenton.

CHURCHES: Many are still streaming, in place of – or in addition to – in-person services. Here are the newest links for 20+ West Seattle churches’ services. (We’ll continue updating that list each Sunday for as long as a significant number of streaming services continue.)

WEST SEATTLE FARMERS’ MARKET: 10 am-2 pm on California between Oregon and Alaska. Scroll down the page at this link to find the vendor list and map for this week. Food and drink, open-on-all-sides entry/exit, and busking are all back. (The market is a WSB sponsor.)

SOUL BRUNCH: 10 am-2 pm at Easy Street Café (California/Alaska), with DJ Brownstone.

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) and Lincoln Park (noon-7 pm, 8011 Fauntleroy Way SW) wading pools. Colman Pool is open noon-7 pm, not weather-dependent.

(added) FISHER SCONES: The famous fair scones have gone mobile, and we’ve learned belatedly that the truck is at Metropolitan Market in Admiral (41st/42nd/Admiral Way) 11 am-4 pm today.

FUNDRAISING LEMONADE-AND-TREATS STAND: 11 am-2 pm, last chance for now to support Harper and Akemi as they sell lemonade and treats at 42nd/Charlestown to raise money for an Outward Bound trip to Costa Rica.

SUNDAY RUN CLUB: Noon at Ounces (3809 Delridge Way SW) – info in our calendar listing.

(added) CAMP SECOND CHANCE COMMUNITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE: The CAC is meeting today, we’ve confirmed, 2 pm online – attendance information is in our calendar listing.

LIVE MUSIC @ C & P: Jazz Standards with Jeff Johnson and Bill Anschell, 3-5 pm at C & P Coffee (5612 California SW; WSB sponsor).

THE ALLEY’S ANNIVERSARY: The Triangular Jazztet‘s regular Sunday night performance at The Alley (4509 California SW), 8-10 pm, wraps up the venue’s four-night third-anniversary celebration.

Event listings welcome – westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!

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