day : 22/09/2021 9 results

(WSB photos by Patrick Sand)

Yes, tonight’s edition of season-change sunset watch with Alice Enevoldsen at West Seattle’s Solstice Park did indeed feature the sunset, appearing after a mostly gray afternoon. It also drew ~20 attendees:

Alice’s safety precautions included distancing markers – even this red beanbag on the park stone that shows the equinox alignment of the sunset:

As usual, Alice explained what actually happens at the equinox movement, and discussed recent space developments too, including the recent groundbreaking SpaceX flight:

Next sunset watch will be on winter-solstice day, December 21st, 3:45 pm.

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WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Stolen inflatable paddleboard

September 22, 2021 7:02 pm

| 1 COMMENT

| Crime | Luna Park | West Seattle news

One reader report, from Melissa: “My car was broken into 9/21 in the evening or early morning sometime on SW Orleans Street, behind Luna Park Café. My inflatable paddleboard was stolen. It is a Body Glove paddleboard.” If you see one dumped somewhere, let us know and we’ll connect you.

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WEST SEATTLE WILDLIFE: Caution, otters crossing

September 22, 2021 5:23 pm

| 5 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | Wildlife

That’s a River Otter on the beach at Lincoln Park; Linda Rackner sent us the photo earlier this month. Another reader email brings the sad reminder that you have to watch for these creatures inland as well as on the beach or in the water: Mary and Mike emailed earlier this week to report, “On returning from a walk at Lincoln Park, we saw a car heading north swerve and an otter wiggling out the other side. We stopped, called Seal Sitters, and they said Animal Control was the proper entity to call. So they were called. We presume the otter was dead as it no longer moved. A parking patrol made sure Animal Control was coming. Maybe we need an Otter Crossing Sign for Fauntleroy. Sad to see an otter killed, and there was a cat immediately interested.” They say this happened just south of the south entrance to the south Lincoln Park parking lot. Otters cross roads to get to inland dens – they’ve been seen well away from the water.

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WHALES: Orcas off West Seattle

September 22, 2021 2:24 pm

| 21 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | Whales

(Added: Photo tweeted by Robin L, when orcas ventured into Elliott Bay)

2:24 PM: Thanks to Donna Sandstrom of The Whale Trail for the tip – orcas are reported off Lincoln Park, headed north. Let us know if you see them!

2:38 PM: Kersti Muul texted to say they’re transients, closer to this side of the Sound.

2:41 PM: Donna says in a comment below that it’s a group of four whales.

2:54 PM: Kersti says they’re now off Alki, spotted in the 2100 block.

3:19 PM: Update from Kersti – two groups, two females and a calf off the downtown waterfront, “second group now coming into the bay … at Duwamish Head.”

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FRIDAY: Duwamish River rally to show concern about plans to change the cleanup

September 22, 2021 1:29 pm

| 5 COMMENTS

| Environment | South Park | West Seattle news

(WSB photo: August vessel traffic on the Duwamish River)

The Duwamish River Cleanup Coalition wants to call attention to ongoing challenges to the river’s health as well as proposed changes in the ongoing cleanup, so it’s inviting you to a rally/walk by the river on Friday.

We are deeply concerned for the health of the Duwamish Valley communities as a result of proposed changes to how EPA and members of the Lower Duwamish Waterway Group intend to clean up our Duwamish River. WITHOUT community consultation, EPA and these responsible parties recently proposed three changes to our river cleanup that increase toxic exposures and health risks to our community and undermine our hard-won river cleanup, which violates EPA’s and Ecology’s environmental justice policies, ignores our local governments’ stated commitments to equity, and threatens to further exacerbate pronounced health disparities that have been documented in our communities. The Duwamish River must be recovered to standards that support our community and fishing for future generations. We demand health justice, especially for community members who have been historically marginalized, silenced, and disproportionately burdened with the legacy pollutants that have given rise to this cleanup.

There’s more info here about what the DRCC calls the “triple threat.” The rally/walk is set for Friday (September 24th), starting at 5 pm, at South Park Plaza (14th Avenue S./Dallas Ave. S.; here’s a map). All ages welcome.

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DEVELOPMENT: Preview proposal for new Golden Tee at 3201 SW Avalon Way, before Southwest Design Review Board meeting

September 22, 2021 11:54 am

| 20 COMMENTS

| Development | West Seattle housing | West Seattle news

That’s the “packet” from Public47 Architects for tomorrow night’s Southwest Design Review Board meeting about the proposal for a new building to replace the Golden Tee Apartments – keeping the name – at 3201 SW Avalon Way [map]. From the packet, here’s the overview:

The proposed 8-story, mixed use project seeks to achieve the following development objectives:

• Provide approx 144 residential apartment units
• Parking for 70-80 vehicles
• Provide +/- 3500 SF of street-level commercial space
• Foster pedestrian friendly sidewalk experience
• LEED Gold construction standard

The review meeting is online, at 5 pm Thursday, and includes an opportunity for public comment on the proposed design, Information for videoconferencing or calling in is on the city website. This could be the final Design Review meeting for this project; the site has been upzoned to 80′ maximum, leading to project revisions, since its first review meeting three years ago.

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FOLLOWUP: Westwood Village post office’s drive-up/ride-up mailbox is back

September 22, 2021 10:41 am

| 14 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | Westwood

We’ll admit, we don’t know when this mailbox reappeared – given that previous absences had lasted for months, we weren’t checking regularly. But just in case you hadn’t already noticed, the Westwood Village post office’s drive-up/ride-up mailbox is back, We reported August 29th that it was damaged and taped off; within a few days, it was removed. (The USPS never did respond to our questions about damage cause and repair plans.) Meantime, another mailbox mystery remains – we subsequently checked on the 63rd/Hinds streetcorner mailbox, which also disappeared recently; as of this morning, it hasn’t been replaced.

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WEST SEATTLE WEDNESDAY: Change-of-seasons day

September 22, 2021 9:00 am

| Comments Off on WEST SEATTLE WEDNESDAY: Change-of-seasons day

| West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

So long, summer! Autumn arrives at 12:21 pm. Thanks to Paul Weatherman for the sunrise photo above, and Don Brubeck for the view this morning in the other direction:

Here are highlights for the hours ahead:

TASTE OF WEST SEATTLE: Today is the third day of the weeklong dine-out benefit for the West Seattle Food Bank. 27 food/drink establishments are participating – some by donating a percentage of proceeds, some with specific menu items. The venue list and other info – be sure to get your “passport” if you haven’t already! – can be found here.

VACCINATION CLINIC: 1-6 pm, get vaccinated against COVID-19 at the White Center Library (1409 SW 107th).

BEER EVENT: Fresh Hop Week continues at Ounces (3809 Delridge Way SW), 4-10 pm.

WINE EVENT: “Exploring San Gimignano with Owen Kotler Selections” at Molly’s Bottle Shop (3278 California SW), 5-7 pm – details here.

AUTUMN EQUINOX SUNSET WATCH: Whether it’s cloudy or clear, join Alice Enevoldsen at Solstice Park (uphill from the tennis courts at 7400 Fauntleroy Way SW) at 6:30 pm for a masked/distanced sunset watch to welcome fall – details here.

HPAC: The community council for Highland Park, South Delridge, and Riverview meets online at 7 pm, with traffic and crime among the topics. Attendance info and agenda details are here.

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TRAFFIC, WEATHER, ROAD WORK, TRANSIT: Wednesday notes

September 22, 2021 6:02 am

| 2 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

6:02 AM: Good morning! Cloudy forecast today, with fall arriving at 12:21 pm.

ROAD WORK

26th SW & beyond – Northbound 26th SW remains closed between Roxbury and Barton’ King County expects the closure to shift to the southbound side within a few weeks.

25th SW & Barton – 25th is closed on the south side of this intersection – details here.

Delridge project – Major work is done, but “punch list” tasks contnue.

TRANSIT

Buses are on regular schedules today – except for the rerouting in RapidRise H Line work zones. Watch @kcmetrobus for word of canceled trips.

For ferries and water taxis, regular schedule today, but note that the Spirit of Kingston has replaced Doc Maynard on the West Seatte Water Taxi Run until further notice. Watch @wsferries for ferry updates.

BRIDGES AND DETOUR ROUTES

547th 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 camera’s back, now pointed west:

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.

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