West Seattle, Washington

19 Friday

49℉

month : 09/2021 297 results

Brace Point Pottery in ‘downtown Arbor Heights’ to become Rain City Clay
September 10, 2021 12:01 pm
|      10 COMMENTS
 |   Arbor Heights | West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news | WS culture/arts

By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

After 25 years in what was once “downtown Arbor Heights,” artist Loren Lukens is leaving.

But his Brace Point Pottery studio and gallery site at 4208 SW 100th will remain in an artist’s hands.

We found out about the transition plan from Deb Schwartzkopf, who announced this week that she will open Rain City Clay there next March.

We talked to Lukens last night while Brace Point Pottery was open for the September West Seattle Art Walk. He and wife Beth Kirchhoff are moving in February to central California, near where their daughter is a geology professor. He plans to set up a studio there once settled, but isn’t expecting to get back into the gallery business. He’s been in Seattle for 40 years – 25 of them in Arbor Heights.

He’s proud that the sale means the studio will remain just that, rather than be redeveloped like the former church next door (which was demolished for a stalled townhouse project).

Here’s where Deb Schwartzkopf and her Rain City Clay plan comes in. It’s meant as an addition to her current business, Rat City Studios, which she says is “a thriving community that supports ceramic artists of all levels” but after eight years has outgrown its capacity “and cannot accommodate the waitlist for independent study participants or classes in their current location.

“We would love to expand our reach to youth, golden-agers, and underserved communities in our immediate vicinity as we grow,” Schwartzkopf said in the announcement. And regarding taking over the Arbor Heights studio: “We couldn’t be more excited for the opportunity to build on the legacy of this artist community.”

To expand into her full vision – to “offer classes for all levels, skill-building workshops, a firing service for local potters, artist studios, and a specialty shop featuring local and national artists” – Schwartzkopf is crowdfunding. As also explained on her website, the Arbor Heights facility will need some maintenance and upgrades, so that’s part of what the contributions will cover. The GoFundMe page is here; you can also support her plan, she says, via taking an online clay class or buying her pottery.

Though the official handoff isn’t until March 1st, an exhibition is planned in January to introduce Rain City Clay at the Brace Point Pottery location. (And you’ll have chances to say goodbye to Lukens before that – the gallery continues to host events including a sale tomorrow of Cathy Woo’s work, and the Westside Artists tour later this month. (That tour, in fact, began as a collaboration between artists including Schwartzkopf and Lukens.)

(Deb Schwartzkopf photo by Matisse LB Photography)

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What’s up for your West Seattle Friday
September 10, 2021 10:03 am
|    Comments Off on What’s up for your West Seattle Friday
 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Juvenile Osprey, photographed along the Duwamish River by Mark Wangerin)

From the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:

YOUTH BASKETBALL TRYOUTS: The West Seattle Reign (WSB sponsor) youth-basketball program continues tryouts tonight – 6:30 pm for 5th-6th grade boys, 7th-8th grade boys at 7:30 pm, both at Westside School in Arbor Heights (10404 34th SW). Full details and registration link here.

HIGH-SCHOOL FOOTBALL: Chief Sealth International High School hosts Clover Park at Nino Cantu Southwest Athletic Complex (2801 SW Thistle) at 7 pm. West Seattle HS is on the road at Bellingham, 8 pm. Also of note: Kennedy Catholic HS vs. O’Dea at West Seattle Stadium (4432 35th SW), 7 pm.

AT THE SKYLARK: Doors open at 7 pm, music at 8: “Bad With Birds is teaming up with local psych rockers Of The Heavy Sun for a pounding and guitar drenched evening of music” at The Skylark (3803 Delridge Way SW), $10 cover.

Something for our calendar? westseattleblog@gmail.com is the best way to get the info to us – thank you!

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Here’s the schedule for Southwest Pool’s reopening
September 10, 2021 8:59 am
|      6 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | Westwood

As announced last month, the city’s only indoor pool in West Seattle, Southwest Pool (2801 SW Thistle), will reopen next Monday (September 13th). And finally, the initial schedule is out:

The full flyer has info on fees and health/safety policies.

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ROAD WORK, TRAFFIC, TRANSIT, WEATHER: Friday notes and weekend alerts
September 10, 2021 6:06 am
|      8 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

6:06 AM: Good morning! After three days with a high of at least 80, today is expected to be cloudy and cooler.

ROAD WORK

26th SW & beyond – Northbound 26th SW is still closed between Roxbury and Barton.

Delridge project – Curbs, medians, and landscaping – with next week’s overview due later today..

Tunnel closure tonight – 10 pm Friday to 6 am Saturday, the Highway 99 tunnel will be closed for maintenance.

WEEKEND ALERTS

West Marginal Way work, announced by SDOT:

This Saturday and Sunday, we’re continuing to upgrade parts of West Marginal Way along the detour route. At the intersection of West Marginal Way and Highland Park Way, this work includes filling in the islands we built last week and installing the vehicle detection signals in the pavement. We’ll start work as early as 3 AM and be finished around 1 PM.

Near Puget Way SW, we’ll be trimming trees on southbound West Marginal Way. We’ll complete this work on both Saturday and Sunday, starting as early as 6 AM and completing tree trimming around 1 PM each day.

Junction work, also announced by SDOT:

Building curb ramps at 44th Ave SW and SW Edmunds St

Near the West Seattle Junction at the 44th Ave SW and SW Edmunds St intersection, we’re continuing our work to build new curb ramps. This work will last from approximately 8 AM to 4 PM. Traffic impacts should be minimal. If you are driving in the area, please drive slowly through the work area and practice caution.

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. Watch @wsferries for ferry updates.

BRIDGES AND DETOUR ROUTES

536th 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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WEST SEATTLE ART WALK: Adding music to the palette
September 9, 2021 11:17 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   West Seattle Art Walk | West Seattle news | WS culture/arts

In the heart of The Junction tonight, bassist/vocalist Marina Christopher brought The Art of Music back to the West Seattle Art Walk. (In our clip, she’s performing Warren Zevon‘s “Carmelita” with Andy Short.) The pop-up performances coordinated by John Redenbaugh returned to the WS Art Walk starting tonight, also featuring harpist Alyvia Miller at Welcome Road Winery in South Admiral. Here’s who’s booked for next Art Walk:

October 14

Verity Credit Union — Award-Winning Singer-Songwriter Larry Murante
Sopranos Antico — Byron Street Swing: A Quartet Performing Hot Club Jazz and Early French Swing Music

And of course, there was art tonight, at venues around the peninsula. Our Art Walk wanderings were cut short by breaking news but we did see West Seattle mixed-media artist Linda McClamrock at Windermere:

We have one more story to tell from tonight’s Art Walk, but that will have to wait until tomorrow. The Art Walk happens on the second Thursday, every month year-round, so the next one will be October 14th.

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ELECTION 2021: Seattle Mayor candidate Bruce Harrell’s West Seattle Junction visit
September 9, 2021 9:31 pm
|      53 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle politics

As announced, Seattle Mayor candidate Bruce Harrell visited the West Seattle Junction this afternoon/evening. When we arrived shortly before 5 pm, he was talking with potential constituents at KeyBank Plaza (California/Alaska), including Husky Deli‘s Jack Miller:

(WSB photos)

Shortly thereafter, he embarked on a walking tour with West Seattle Junction Association executive director Lora Radford. She led him behind KeyBank to the parking lot and pitched him on the merits of a potential purchase of the four WSJA-leased parking lots by Community Roots Housing, with city-backed funding (reported here in April).

Harrell asked her how the community would react to the loss of the parking lots; Radford said the expectation is that redevelopment would include some public parking spaces, as well as affordable housing and commercial storefronts. From there, they stopped in a few of the businesses open for Art Walk (included Wlld Rose’s and Capers Home, where he did a little shopping).

We had to break off shortly thereafter because of breaking news. Harrell, a former City Councilmember, faces Lorena González, current City Council President, in the November 2nd election, just under eight weeks away. Voting starts as soon as you get your ballot, which King County Elections plans to mail on October 13th.

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WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: North Delridge gunfire
September 9, 2021 7:50 pm
|      5 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | Delridge | West Seattle news

After getting some texts this afternoon about suspected gunfire in North Delridge, we looked around but didn’t see evidence of a shooting scene. We checked back with SPD tonight, and Det. Valerie Carson tells WSB that officers did confirm there was gunfire:

Several witnesses reported a drive-by shooting at 26th Av SW and SW Juneau St. Upon arrival five shell casings were located in the street. Through the investigation it was determined that there was a disturbance associated with a house in the 5600 block of 26th Av SW. A male approached a woman and began yelling at her. The female fired five shots either at his car or in the air. Both vehicles fled the scene in different directions. No victims and/or property damage were located.

This happened shortly before 4 pm.

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UPDATE: ‘Scenes of violence’ response in Gatewood for shooting victim
September 9, 2021 5:42 pm
|      11 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | Gatewood | West Seattle news

5:42 PM: Big emergency response near California/Portland [map] in Gatewood; the call is classified “scenes of violence.” We’ve just arrived to find out what’s happening.

5:47 PM: According to police, one person was shot in the leg. Officers on the scene tell us they believe it happened somewhere else “south of here”; the driver of the vehicle the victim was in pulled over in this neighborhood to call for help. They’re still trying to find out more about the circumstances.

6:05 PM: If you’re noticing a helicopter, that’s just TV, not law enforcement.

6:17 PM: SFD says the victim is an 18-year-old man who’s been taken to Harborview Medical Center and was in stable condition when transported.

6:56 PM: Update from SPD:

At 5:23 p.m., a woman in the 7800 block of 44th Avenue Southwest called 911 to report her 18-year-old son had been shot in the leg. When police arrived, the victim told officers the shooting had happened in Burien and he then drove himself home to West Seattle. He refused to provide any additional information about the incident. SPD officers coordinated with King County Sheriff’s Office deputies, but a shooting scene was not located.

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Registration open for bicycle tour of West Seattle’s musical history
September 9, 2021 4:15 pm
|      6 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle history | West Seattle news | WS culture/arts

Just announced: A limited-participation ride that’ll take you on a tour of local musical history:

The Southwest Seattle Historical Society is delighted to announce the return of Cycle History in partnership with West Seattle Bike Connections for the fifth year in a row. Cycle History, Sound Spots is happening Saturday, September 18 2021! Please plan to arrive at 9:15 am and be ready to ride at 9:30. Registration is required to participate in this ride. This program is limited to 25 participants.

Join us for an in-person ride through West Seattle’s Admiral District starting and ending at Hiawatha Playfield and Community Center. This year, we’ll be exploring highlights of West Seattle’s musical history. From jazz to grunge, we’ll have stops to please music lovers, bike enthusiasts, and everyone in between!

Seattle is famous for its grunge scene, but our music history goes far and wide. Some of the best hits were created right in West Seattle! We’ll explore locations where music was made, where historic artists performed, and talk about the local and national impact of West Seattle on music history.

To register, please visit loghousemuseum.org/exhibits/cycle-history-sound-spots-bike-dont-run/. For more information, please contact Maggie Kase, Curator, at maggiek@loghousemuseum.org.

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BIZNOTE: Paper Boat Booksellers’ 2nd-anniversary party
September 9, 2021 2:05 pm
|      6 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle books | West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news

Independent bookstore Paper Boat Booksellers in Morgan Junction (6040 California SW) will celebrate its second anniversary on Saturday and invites you to the party. Here’s the announcement from proprietors Desirae and Eric Judy:

The last year and half have taken everybody by storm – we’ve done so many things we never thought we’d have to do, yet it seems like we’ve done nothing but try to survive! But we did it…and we are grateful and excited to be celebrating our 2nd year anniversary with our community, right where we belong.

We hope you’ll join us on Saturday, September 11th, from 10 am-6 pm as we ring in year 2 with a special 20% discount on purchases over $50, a raffle with prizes including signed books by local author Susanna Ryan (Seattle Walk Report, Secret Seattle), a book launch and signing with Danitra Hunter, author of Purrdie Burrdie (the cutest children’s book around), and we will be handing out ice cream from Full Tilt while supplies last. It’s going to be a fun day, so come on down and join us – we can’t wait to see you!

Danitra will be joining us at 12:00 and will be set up just as you enter the store. We will have copies of her book Purrdie Burddie: I Love Myself, Can You See? available for purchase and signed copies will be at the shop after the the event.

(We featured Danitra and Purrdie Burrdie here last year.)

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City’s property-tax-break program for apartment buildings up for extension, including two in West Seattle
September 9, 2021 12:24 pm
|      15 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle housing | West Seattle news | West Seattle politics

Almost all the sizable apartment buildings that have gone up in West Seattle in the past decade-plus are participants in the city’s Multi-Family Tax Exemption (MFTE) program. It’s a voluntary program that enables building owners to not pay property tax on the residential portion of their projects, as long as they provide a certain number of units at lower rents pegged to tenants’ income levels. Tomorrow (Friday, September 10th), the City Council’s Finance and Housing Committee looks at legislation that among other things would extend the program – otherwise, nine participating properties will expire this year, after 12 years, including two in the West Seattle Junction, Mural and Altamira. (For an example of how the exemption works, you can look at Mural on the King County Assessor website – the property’s assessed value is $47.7 million, but it’s taxed on $5.7 million of that.) The slide deck for tomorrow’s meeting says 28 apartments at Mural and 32 at Altamira have MFTE-restricted rents. The proposed MFTE changes also could mean lower rents for tenants if they meet new, lower-income levels; otherwise, they’d be grandfathered in at the current rent level. The city says the proposed updates are the result of recent changes in state law. Tomorrow’s committee meeting is at 9:30 am, online; see the agenda for how to comment and how to watch.

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West Seattle Art Walk; Words, Writers, Southwest Stories; and more for your Thursday
September 9, 2021 10:30 am
|    Comments Off on West Seattle Art Walk; Words, Writers, Southwest Stories; and more for your Thursday
 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Lincoln Park – photo by Theresa Arbow-O’Connor)

Lots to leap into for the rest of today/tonight, if you haven’t already seen the highlights via the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:

GOV. INSLEE’S BRIEFING: This one’s not on the calendar as it was just announced this morning. Gov. Jay Inslee will answer media questions about the pandemic and other topics at 2:30 pm; you can watch live here.

MAYORAL CANDIDATE: As previewed yesterday, Seattle Mayor candidate Bruce Harrell plans to visit The Junction and will be available for questions at 4:30 pm at Walk All Ways (California/Alaska).

NEW TIME/LOCATION FOR PICKUP ULTIMATE FRISBEE: The weekly Thursday night “drop by and play” Ultimate Frisbee fun moves location/time starting tonight, to 5 pm, Walt Hundley Playfield (34th/Myrtle).

WEST SEATTLE ART WALK, WITH MUSIC: 5 pm “until late,” you can visit venues all over the peninsula to see art and/or enjoy food/drink specials – plus, tonight, The Art of Music, 6-7:40 pm at locations in The Admiral District and The Junction. See our preview for details plus the venue map; tonight’s previews are on the Art Walk website here.

WORDS, WRITERS, SOUTHWEST STORIES: West Seattle writer and historian Judy Bentley will talk about “New Historic Trails” as featured in her book “Hiking Washington’s History,” 6 pm online – details here; register to watch by going to the Southwest Seattle Historical Society website.

BOARD GAME NIGHT: You’re invited to Meeples Games (3727 California SW) to play, 6:30-10 pm Thursdays.

Something for our calendar/daily previews? westseattleblog@gmail.com is the best way to get us non-breaking-news info – thank you!

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Play dodgeball, save lives!
September 9, 2021 9:31 am
|      1 COMMENT
 |   Health | How to help | West Seattle news | WS & Sports

On September 25th at Riverview Playfield, you’re invited to play dodgeball for a cause – saving children’s lives. The organizer is Dennis Williams Jr., who explains:

The inspiration for this fundraiser is our 5-year-old son Isaac. He was diagnosed with stage 4 high-risk Neuroblastoma at 18 months old. He spent the next 15 months being treated by Seattle Children’s Hospital for a disease that had a 50% mortality rate. Without the innovation and improvements in treatment protocols, especially with immunotherapy, who knows what the outcome would have been. We are eternally indebted to Seattle Children’s and every child who comes behind Isaac. Only 4% of government funding goes to pediatric cancer research, so we have to do more to increase the odds of success for our kids. They are the most important thing on earth.

Teams are still being recruited for the tournament – this flyer has information, and the tournament’s fundraising page explains how to set up a team. You can simply donate at that same link. Spectators will be welcome on the day of the tournament too – 11 am to 3 pm September 25th, with vendors, food trucks, and a DJ, lower fields at Riverview (7226 12th SW).

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ROAD WORK, TRAFFIC, TRANSIT, WEATHER: Thursday notes
September 9, 2021 6:05 am
|      14 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

6:05 AM: Good morning! Another sunny forecast, with a high in the 70s (Wednesday’s high was 80).

BACK TO SCHOOL

Almost every school is back in session – today’s returnees include Seattle Public Schools kindergarteners and Explorer West Middle School (WSB sponsor).

ROAD WORK

26th SW & beyond – Northbound 26th SW is still closed between Roxbury and Barton.

Delridge project – Curbs, medians, and landscaping this week.

Tunnel closure Friday – 10 pm Friday (September 10th) to 6 am Saturday, the Highway 99 tunnel will be closed for maintenance.

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. Watch @wsferries for ferry updates.

BRIDGES AND DETOUR ROUTES

535th 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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BIZNOTE: West Seattle Liquor and Wine close to opening
September 8, 2021 8:45 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news | WS beverages

A few people have asked for an update on West Seattle Liquor and Wine, the former Capco Beverages store reopening with a new owner and new location. State Liquor and Cannabis Board records show the store’s been licensed as of last month. So we checked in with Dolly Amend, who managed the store at its previous location and will do so here too. She says they’re not locked in on a date yet but hoping it’ll be in two weeks or so. The store closed in its old location seven months ago; that space has since become West Seattle’s main Swedish clinic site. The new store location, 4714 42nd SW, is on the outer west side of Jefferson Square, by Nikko Teriyaki.

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BACK TO SCHOOL: Explorer West MS students’ ‘Change The World’ project could change dress codes
September 8, 2021 6:43 pm
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

The next 8th-grade class at Explorer West Middle School (WSB sponsor) will start school this week, looking ahead to a year that ends with an EWMS tradition: “Change The World” projects.

We’ve covered some of these over the 8 years that they’ve been a vital part of the EWMS curriculum.

Last year’s EWMS 8th-grade graduates included four young women whose project has the potential of changing the school experience for students throughout our state.

Read More

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THURSDAY: Summer’s last West Seattle Art Walk, with music!
September 8, 2021 5:13 pm
|    Comments Off on THURSDAY: Summer’s last West Seattle Art Walk, with music!
 |   West Seattle Art Walk | West Seattle news | WS culture/arts

Tomorrow night, the last West Seattle Art Walk of summer offers live music as well as art displays. Above is this quarter’s list of participating venues, some with artists, some with food/drink specials for Art Walk visitors, some with both. Venues span the peninsula from Arbor Heights (Brace Point Pottery & Gallery, C.A. Pierce show and sale, 4208 SW 100th, 5-8 pm) to Admiral (West Seattle Grounds, Priyanka Parmanand painting live, 2141 California SW, 5-8 pm). Some venues are showing multiple artists’ work, like Fogue Gallery (WSB sponsor), 4130 California SW, open “until late” on Art Walk night, with a group show featuring guest artist Reeve Washburn (who also happens to be the WSAW’s coordinator). This month’s highlight is the return of live music to accompany your Art Walk wanderings. The Art of Music is happening in two locations – Welcome Road Winery, 3804 California SW, hosts harpist Alyvia Miller, and bassist/vocalist Marina Christopher is at KeyBank Plaza in The Junction, both performing 6-7:40 pm. Plan your Art Walk night with this month’s full preview – venue spotlights and hours – here.

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FOLLOWUP: Alki Point Keep Moving (Stay Healthy) Street still technically ‘temporary’
September 8, 2021 3:17 pm
|      50 COMMENTS
 |   Transportation | West Seattle news

(Tuesday photo, 64th/Alki)

When SDOT announced a survey last week featuring three design concepts for the Alki Point Keep Moving (Stay Healthy) Street‘s future, it sounded a lot to us like the street’s closed-to-through-traffic status had been made permanent. Not so, says SDOT spokesperson Ethan Bergerson: “We were not intending to indicate a change in overall project status. As you noted in your story, the language in our new survey is very similar to what we’ve said in the past, and we are also continuing to label the Keep Moving Street as a temporary closure in the project map on the front page of the survey. We are still working to secure funding for designing and building permanent changes on the street based on community input. In the meantime, Alki Point will remain a Keep Moving Street in its current form until spring 2022 or until we secure funding for permanent changes on the street.” He added, “At this point, we’re just exploring these concepts and it’s possible that the feedback we receive could lead us to explore new ways to combine popular attributes from each concept, or to reconsider if there is a strong trend of people saying that they don’t like any of the concepts.” If you have an opinion one way or another and haven’t replied to the survey, go here.

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ELECTION 2021: Mayoral candidate Bruce Harrell to visit West Seattle Junction
September 8, 2021 1:15 pm
|      34 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle politics

checkbox.jpgNow that Labor Day is past, the fall campaigns are expected to rev up. Top of the ticket remains the race for Seattle Mayor – City Council President Lorena González vs. former City Councilmember Bruce Harrell. Tomorrow night brings the first announced West Seattle event of the fall campaign: Harrell will be touring the West Seattle Junction before and during the West Seattle Art Walk. Junction Association executive director Lora Radford says he’ll be here to talk with community members and answer questions starting at 4:30 pm Thursday at Walk-All-Ways (California/Alaska). Voting for the November 2nd election starts once voters receive ballots, which are scheduled to be mailed October 13th.

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About those after-midnight military helicopters
September 8, 2021 11:29 am
|      9 COMMENTS
 |   Helicopter | West Seattle news

(2017 US Army photo, UH-60 Black Hawk from 16th Combat Aviation Brigade)

Very early this morning, we noted on Twitter that a low, loud passing helicopter was identified on tracking software as a U.S. Army UH-60 Black Hawk (similar to the one above). As it headed up the West Seattle shoreline, another one was flying over Vashon Island; it too crossed the peninsula, but headed east over Lake Washington, while the first one turned around and headed back south. Today, also via Twitter, we learned these were training flights. The 16th Combat Aviation Brigade (from Joint Base Lewis-McChord south of Tacoma) said, “As the days become ‘shorter,’ our pilots will fly earlier in the evening to complete required night vision training flights. In the summer it does not get dark enough, early enough, to fly under night vision at hours when most people are still awake.” They added that, “At a given moment, during weekdays, there are several 16th CAB helicopters in the air all over western and central Washington.” More often than not, military aircraft aren’t identified on standard online flight trackers, but the two we heard in the midnight hour last night were.

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What’s happening on your West Seattle Wednesday
September 8, 2021 10:03 am
|      1 COMMENT
 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Sanderling, back from the Arctic – photo by Mark Wangerin)

Here’s what’s happening in the hours ahead:

NORTHWEST SEAPORT ALLIANCE: The commissioners from the Ports of Seattle and Tacoma meet online at noon as the Managing Members of the NWSA – which is building the Terminal 5 modernization project, among other things. Find the agenda and video link here.

YOUTH BASKETBALL TRYOUTS: The West Seattle Reign (WSB sponsor) youth-basketball program starts tryouts tonight – 6:30 pm for 5th-6th grade boys, 7th-8th grade boys at 7:30 pm, both at Westside School in Arbor Heights (10404 34th SW). Full details and registration link here.
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34TH DISTRICT DEMOCRATS: Our area’s largest political organization meets online at 7:15 pm, with a pre-meeting program at 6:30 pm about the Whole Washington Health Trust. The agenda is here; register for the participation/attendance link here.

OPEN MIC: 7:30 pm signups, 8:30 pm performances at The Skylark (3803 Delridge Way SW).

Something for the calendar and daily preview? westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!

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YOU CAN HELP: Get North Shorewood Park ready for fall/winter
September 8, 2021 9:18 am
|    Comments Off on YOU CAN HELP: Get North Shorewood Park ready for fall/winter
 |   How to help | Shorewood | West Seattle news

(May photo by Gill Loring)

Just south of West Seattle, and west of White Center, you’ll find little North Shorewood Park. This Saturday, you can help get the park ready for the change of seasons. Here’s the announcement:

Restoration and Stewardship at North Shorewood Park
10044 24th Ave SW

Saturday, September 11, 2021
9 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Space is limited; register here.

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ROAD WORK, TRAFFIC, TRANSIT, WEATHER: Wednesday notes
September 8, 2021 6:04 am
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

6:04 AM: Good morning! Another warm day expected, with a high possibly in the 80s (Tuesday’s high was 81).

BACK TO SCHOOL

More schools are starting classes today – including Westside School (WSB sponsor) and Tilden School.

ROAD WORK

26th SW & beyond – Northbound 26th SW remains closed between Roxbury and Barton.

Delridge project – This week is focusing on curbs, medians, and landscaping.

Tunnel closure Friday – 10 pm Friday (September 10th) to 6 am Saturday, the Highway 99 tunnel will be closed for maintenance.

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. Watch @wsferries for ferry updates.

BRIDGES AND DETOUR ROUTES

534th 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 – No camera for a few weeks (explained here)

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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