West Seattle, Washington
09 Friday
(WSB file photo, Delridge wading pool)
The pandemic-shortened season for city-run outdoor aquatics ends tomorrow. Labor Day – that’ll be the last day for the Lincoln Park wading pool (8011 Fauntleroy Way SW, noon-7 pm), the Delridge wading pool (4501 Delridge Way SW, noon-5:30 pm), the Highland Park spraypark (1100 SW Cloverdale, 11 am-8 pm), and Colman Pool (at Lincoln Park, noon-7 pm). One week later – on Monday, September 13th – indoor Southwest Pool (2801 SW Thistle) is scheduled to reopen (no schedule posted yet, though). The city kept some wading pools closed this season – including E.C. Hughes and Hiawatha in West Seattle – and cut the schedule for others, citing a chlorine shortage.
Six years after Click! Design That Fits co-founders John and Frances Smersh announced that Frances had been diagnosed with young-onset Alzheimer’s, Frances has died. Here is the remembrance her family is sharing:
Frances Suzanne (Cousins) Smersh passed away on September 4th, 2021 at the age of 54, in Seattle. She died from complications of Younger Onset Alzheimer’s Disease, which she was diagnosed with six and a half years prior. She is survived by her husband, John Francis Smersh of Seattle, and sister Natalie Cousins-Robledo (husband Ted Robledo, son Enzo) of Pasadena, CA.
Frances was born in the Greater Los Angeles area, where she lived with her mother, father, grandmother, and sister. After graduating from St. Joseph High School, she studied at Loyola Marymount University, earning her degree in Sociology in 1989. It was there at LMU that Frances met her partner for life, John. After college they lived in Venice Beach, CA for two years. They married in 1990 and moved to Seattle’s Fremont neighborhood in 1991, where she started her first business, Smersh Design Jewelry. The couple moved to West Seattle in 1994 and bought a home in the North Admiral neighborhood.
Living in West Seattle, Frances continued to explore the art of jewelry making, first designing and creating and then selling her pieces at art fairs before expanding to wholesale markets, eventually selling her work in hundreds of stores across the US and internationally. Her passion for art and design flourished over the years, leading her to expand and innovate her jewelry using unconventional materials like Concrete and Pearls, Cork, and Powder Coated Steel to make exquisite, wearable art.
In 2004, it was Frances’s creative spark that inspired Click! Design That Fits, a contemporary gift and accessory boutique co-created and curated by herself and husband, John. In 2010 they moved the store to the West Seattle Junction, where it continues to thrive today.
Following her successes in jewelry, Frances transitioned to creating visual art through painting and sketching, regularly showing as the featured artist at Click!. Her catalog of work is vast and diverse, and has garnered a great deal of attention within the Seattle art-loving community.
Above all else, Frances had an inspiring, uplifting, and giving soul and she always went out of her way to bring joy to the people around her. All who knew her were touched by her kindness and she will be greatly missed.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Washington State chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association.
Services will be held in late September. Updates will be made to the Caring Bridge journal as details are finalized.
The Smershes shared Frances’s journey with her community; five years after moving their shop (WSB’s longest-running sponsor) to The Junction, they shared the news of her diagnosis at just 48. They shared this update in 2018, and Frances was able to attend an exhibit of her work at Providence Mount St. Vincent in early 2020, just before the pandemic.
If you use the Seattle Public Library, there’s a quick way you can help with the search for the system’s new leader. The announcement:
The Seattle Public Library’s Board of Trustees is conducting a local and national search for a new Executive Director and Chief Librarian to lead the organization.
Koya Partners, the consultant firm hired to lead the search, has developed a short survey to help inform the position profile of the job. The position profile is a recruiting document which helps potential candidates learn more about the position, institution and community. The position profile will be used to help recruit a pool of local and national candidates for the Library Board to consider.
The survey will run through Wednesday, Sept. 17. More information and a link to the survey can be found at spl.org/ChiefLibrarianSearch. For people who may lack access to computers or the internet or who may need staff assistance or language translation, paper surveys are available at all open Library locations and Library staff are ready to assist. Find a list of open Library locations at hours at spl.org/Hours.
The Library’s previous Chief Librarian, Marcellus Turner, took a new position with the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Library in Charlotte, N.C. at the end of March 2021. Tom Fay, the Library’s Director of Programs and Services, has since served in the role of Interim Chief Librarian.
Thanks to Ashwin Moodithaya for sending that photo of the Saturday sky with the sentiment, “Let’s also celebrate the clouds! I know the sunny sunsets are spectacular, but I also find a lot of cozy comfort in the cloudy days of Seattle!” Whatever weather today brings, here’s what’s on the schedule:
HIGHLAND PARK CORNER STORE: As previewed here, HPCS is now operating as a real corner store (7789 Highland Park Way SW), 7 am-8 pm, and celebrating with festivities all weekend, including free hot dogs 11 am-2 pm today (while they last).
CHURCHES: Many continue streaming, in addition to in-person services. Here are the newest links for 20+ West Seattle churches’ services.
CREATED COMMONS, MORNING SESSION: 10 am at Westcrest Park (9000 8th SW), north of the P-Patch, get moving on the festival’s final day with a free session of K-Pop Zumba.
DELRIDGE GROCERY COOPERATIVE: The store at 5444 Delridge Way SW is open 11 am-3 pm today.
DUWAMISH LONGHOUSE NATIVE ART MARKET: Second of three days, 10 am-5 pm at the Duwamish Tribe Longhouse and Cultural Center (4705 W. Marginal Way SW), not only can you support Indigenous artists and crafters, you can also learn about the Duwamish’s fight for federal recognition. (Here’s our Saturday coverage.)
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. (The market is a WSB sponsor.)
SUNDAY RUN CLUB: Noon at Ounces (3809 Delridge Way SW) – info in our calendar listing
VOLUNTEER: You can help out at Schmitz Park (Admiral/Stevens) 1-3:30 pm – find out how here.
CREATED COMMONS, FINAL AFTERNOON/EVENING: Jack Straw Cultural Center artists will be featured as this week-plus festival of art and science concludes under Lelavision‘s Interspecies Connection kinetic sculpture (which you can operate!) at Westcrest Park:
3 pm: Seattle Kokon Taiko
4 pm: Jourdan Imani Keith and Women & Whales Collective poets Ebony Wellborn, Rasheena Fountain, Savannah Smith, and Jae Un Kim
5 pm: Trio Guadalevin, with Denny Middle School Poet Elizabeth Palma Alvarado
6 pm: E.J. Koh and 2016 Jack Straw Writers Robert Lashley and Shin Yu Pai
7 pm: Nic Masangkay
LIVE MUSIC AT C & P: Singer-songwriter Jim Page performs, 3-5 pm at C & P Coffee (5612 California SW; WSB sponsor).
SUNDAY NIGHT KARAOKE: 8 pm to 1 am at Admiral Pub (2306 California SW; WSB sponsor).
SUNDAY NIGHT JAZZ: Triangular Jazztet at The Alley (4509 California SW), 8 pm and 9 pm sets.
Event listings welcome – westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
Again this year, the Taste of West Seattle – benefiting the West Seattle Food Bank‘s work fighting hunger and preventing homelessness – will last an entire week. Here’s the announcement:
Take a Taste Tour of West Seattle’s Restaurants, Cafés, Breweries, and Wineries! September 20-26
The Taste has always been about bringing neighbors together over delicious food, promoting our local restaurants, and ultimately supporting and strengthening our community. While the event format has to change again this year, these values remain. Now, more than ever, we see the importance of coming together to support our local restaurants and helping our community. In order to ensure the health and safety of our neighbors, we are adapting the Taste of West Seattle from a 500-person event gathering, to a “restaurant week”-style event for the second year. We hope to return to our in-person event format in 2022.
From Monday, September 20th to Sunday, September 26th, neighbors can dine in or get take-out and enjoy delicious meals and drinks from participating West Seattle restaurants, all while knowing their money is supporting both restaurants and the West Seattle Food Bank’s mission to end hunger and homelessness. When you support local restaurants, they will donate a percentage of proceeds to West Seattle Food Bank.
All participating restaurants will be listed on a restaurant “passport”. The more stamps participants receive on their West Seattle restaurant tour; the more times they are entered into the drawing. Each stamp = 1 drawing entry. We will select 3 winners for a $100 gift card to a West Seattle Restaurant and 2 winners for a $100 Whole Foods Gift Card.
The event website will be updated soon with a list of participating restaurants – for now, save the dates! (Community co-sponsors for The Taste include WSB.)
Just keeping you updated on where catalytic-converter thieves are hitting – here’s the most-recent reader report we’ve received. From Kevin:
I live in a home around 60th and Admiral, Alki neighborhood. My Lexus SUV catalytic converter was stolen between 11:30 am and 5:30 pm (broad daylight) on Friday 9/4/21. It has been reported to police and insurance. Writing this so others keep a vigilant eye out for your neighbors or think about securing your catalytic converter.
Case # 2021-915725.
Photo of damage attached:
4:05 PM: Created Commons continues through Sunday at Westcrest Park (9000 8th SW) and right now the performances are celebrating Pacific Islander culture – Hawaii, Samoa, and now Okinawa. It’s all free, outdoors, just north of the P-patch, until about 8 pm. (Here’s the schedule.) Video and photos later!
6:48 PM: We were there for two performances – first, Ala Talo from the Asia Pacific Cultural Center introduced a trio of dancers who she said had not performed onstage before today.
They were a late substitution for a Hawaiian dance group originally scheduled for this afternoon.
The dancers’ previous collaboration: Playing on the volleyball team Pakka Hittaz. Like some other performances we covered in the past week-plus at Created Commons, this one featured audience participation. Talo talked about the mood conferred by the music, particularly a song she attributed to a 12-year-old Marshallese boy, with the lyrics: “Smile and be happy/don’t let nobody take the smile away/Live life to the fullest/As if you’re dying every day.”
Following the dancers, the duo of Mako and Noriko performed Okinawan music, with vocals, the stringed instrument sanshin, and a traditional drum.
Some of the music was hypnotic and lulling; other songs, festive and upbeat. Mako explained her instrument between songs – covered in python skin, with a pick made from a water-buffalo horn.
The afternoon was hosted by R2ISE‘s Alexia Jones and curated by the Jack Straw Cultural Center, which also presented poets and writers; Jack Straw writers are also on the schedule for tomorrow, the final day of Created Commons, a grant-funded festival of art and science that began Friday, August 27th, spotlighting BIPOC artists and speakers, produced by Lelavision. Our coverage of night 1 is here; the second day, here; third day, here; fourth night, here.
P.S. Sunday begins, as did today, with a free 10 am wellness class – this time, K-Pop Zumba!
That sign is one of the reasons why what’s happening at the Duwamish Tribe Longhouse in West Seattle through Monday is the Labor Day Acknowledgment Art Market – you’re offered not only a chance to shop Indigenous art and craft items, but also to learn about and support the tribe’s ongoing fight for federal recognition (acknowledgment). Yard signs, brochures, and other information about supporting the tribe are all under the canopy by the entrance. Inside, new T-shirts have arrived at the gift shop:
(If you can’t read it, beneath Seattle it says “Occupied Duwamish Territory.”) Beyond the gift shop and Cultural Center displays inside the longhouse, you can shop the Native Art Market:
Vendors include Singing Pots and Love Warrior Medicinals:
And Native Knits:
There’s plenty of parking (and if you park across the street, there are crossing guards to stop traffic) – here’s a map. The market continues until 5 pm today, and again 10 am-5 pm Sunday and Monday, at 4705 W. Marginal Way SW.
Missing your mailbox?
A texter sent that photo of mailboxes discovered dumped along the 45th SW/Marine View Drive stairway this morning.
West Seattle’s Scout Troop 282 is continuing weekly meetings after a summer to remember. The report and photos are from Jay Brock:
School’s back and Troop 282 had another successful and exciting summer. Between Troop 282 and Crew 282 the 2021 summer was awesome. The Troop continued meeting outside at Lincoln Park on Tuesdays throughout the summer. They trained in the areas of dining fly setup, rope fusing & whipping, Dutch oven cooking, hypothermia, and many other hiking & camping skills. The scouts used the skills learned for a terrific summer camp at Chief Seattle Council’s Camp Parsons. They also completed a 5-day, 4 night backpacking trip for new scouts in the Alpine Lakes area between North Bend and Snoqualmie Pass. The last hoorahs for the summer were a swimming and water-sports day at Seward Park and fun at Wild Waves Theme Park.
Crew 282 completed a long-awaited trek to Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico. The high adventure crew comprised of more than 15 scouts (14 and older) split into three treks at Philmont covered between 60 and 120 miles, depending on the crew, hiking over a 12-day period. All three groups summited Mt. Baldy at more than 12,400 feet and had adventures that included archaeology, blacksmithing, gold mining & panning, shotgun shooting, wildlife conservation, and others. The crews were completely self-sufficient carrying and cooking their own meals, orienting their way through the more than 140,000 acres of rugged terrain, and completing a conservation project. The trek had originally been planned for 2018 but was moved to 2020 due to a devastating fire and then got pushed to 2021 because of COVID-19.
Troop 282 will be continuing their meetings on Tuesdays at 7:30 at Lincoln Park or Westside Presbyterian Church please check our troop calendar for details http://troop282.net/calendar/. All are welcome as Troop 282 has boys’ and girls’ troops. COVID-19 guidelines are followed, so please bring a mask. Our fall adventures include a rafting trip, at least one campout a month, and day/snowshoe hikes when the snow arrives.
(Friday night’s sunset, photographed by David Hutchinson)
Welcome to Labor Day weekend! Here’s what you need to know about today/tonight:
TRAFFIC ALERTS: Work continues at the Highland Park Way/West Marginal intersection through early afternoon … Electrical crews will be doing some work on the Delridge Way project today.
HIGHLAND PARK CORNER STORE: As previewed here, today is the first day of the store’s operation as a real corner store (7789 Highland Park Way SW), 7 am-8 pm, and they’re celebrating with special festivities and pop-ups all weekend, including tamales 11 am-2 pm today.
DELRIDGE GROCERY CO-OP: Open 9:30 am-1:30 pm, 5444 Delridge Way SW, featuring the Freezer Fest Sale and Member-Owner Discount Day (explained here).
LONGHOUSE’S LABOR DAY ART MARKET: 10 am-5 pm at the Duwamish Tribe Longhouse and Cultural Center (4705 W. Marginal Way SW), not only can you support Indigenous artists and crafters, you can also learn about tribal sovereignty and the Duwamish’s fight for federal recognition.
ALKI BEACH CLEANUP: 10 am-1 pm, join Jessica in a community cleanup at Alki. Our preview has details on where to meet and what to bring.
CREATED COMMONS, FREE MORNING YOGA: 10 am at Westcrest Park (9000 8th SW, north of the P-Patch), the day begins with a free yoga and meditation session, all welcome.
LIVE MUSIC: Marco de Carvalho and friends, 10:30 am-noon at C & P Coffee Company (5612 California SW, WSB sponsor).
LAST SATURDAY FOR OUTDOOR AQUATICS: Monday is the last day for the city’s outdoor aquatics this summer – today, provided the sunny70s forecast holds into the morning, both Delridge (4501 Delridge Way SW, noon-5:30 pm) and Lincoln Park (8011 Fauntleroy Way SW, noon-7 pm) wading pools will be open. Whatever the weather, Highland Park spraypark (1100 SW Cloverdale, 11 am-8 pm) and Colman Pool(at Lincoln Park, noon-7 pm) will be open.
VISCON CELLARS: Tasting room at Viscon Cellars (5910 California SW; WSB sponsor) is open 1-6 pm – buy wine by the bottle or sit down and enjoy a glass.
CREATED COMMONS, AFTERNOON/EVENING PERFORMANCES: Starting with 2 pm poetry and 3 pm dance, the second-to-last day of Created Commons at Westcrest Park is again full of performances, all free, continuing through 8 pm. Here’s the schedule.
OPEN MIC: 6 pm at The Spot West Seattle (2920 SW Avalon Way), come share your talent!
MORE LIVE MUSIC: 7:30 pm at The Skylark (3803 Delridge Way SW), Joe Hellmore performs rock/pop.
Upcoming event? Send us info for a calendar listing – westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
(WSB photos by Patrick Sand)
Fall high-school football returned with a roar at Nino Cantu Southwest Athletic Complex tonight. The West Seattle High School Wildcats kept the Sammamish Redhawks from taking flight, 55-6.
#8, junior Mason Kallinger, accounted for three of the Wildcats’ eight touchdowns. Two were the work of #6, senior Jaxton Helmstetler:
Also with a touchdown apiece, #3, sophomore Bo Gionet:
#7, senior Will Godwin:
And #22, freshman Terryus Smith:
Head coach Jeff Scott is back this year, after leading WSHS to a division title during the short, late season last school year:
Tonight, WSHS opened the scoring with 5:54 to go in the first quarter, which ended with the Wildcats ahead 16-0. They more than doubled that to 36-0 by halftime. “Wildcats are RED-hot,” chanted the Cheer Squad, and the team certainly was.
After three quarters, they were up 49-0. Sammamish finally got on the board with a big TD run by #25 Ty Webster early in the fourth quarter, but that was it for the Redhawks’ scoring.
NEXT WEEK: WSHS is scheduled to play on the road at Bellingham, 8 pm next Friday (September 10th).
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
The District 1 Community Network gathered online Wednesday to share updates and hear about public safety, environmental advocacy, and transportation issues.
Rather than having the same person run every meeting, D1CN rotates – Cindi Barker from the Emergency Communication Hubs facilitated this meeting.
LEAD: This was a continuation of D1CN’s series of spotlights on community-safety alternatives. Aaron Burkhalter and Sam Wolff were there to talk about this evolving program. The new meaning of the acronym – Let Everyone Advance with Dignity – was explained.
Two reader reports in West Seattle Crime Watch:
CATALYTIC-CONVERTER THEFT: John reports:
I had my catalytic converter stolen off my 2007 Prius while it was in the driveway. I live up on 44th Ave. SW, just up the hill from Endolyne Joe’s. I did file a police reportl just wanted to get the word out for other people in the area to check their vehicles and keep a sharp eye out
WINDOW DAMAGE AND HARASSMENT: This happened in The Junction today, a reader reports:
At 9:50 am this morning, a very angry woman was seen throwing rocks at the windows of the Junction 47 apartments, some of which also hit Bishops Barbershop. The incident only lasted a few minutes, and she was seen heading across the street. The police were called by myself and a few others.
At 10:10 am the woman entered Bishops Barbershop and had a small confrontation with the receptionist, and refused to leave. The police were called again, but she left before they arrived, heading down 42nd Ave towards Alaska st.
I’ve attached a picture of the woman responsible.
Police incident # is 21-230289.
(WSB photo, Beach Drive “Keep Moving Street” in May)
SDOT has launched a survey asking what you think about the Keep Moving Street (aka Stay Healthy Street) that wraps around Alki Point – Alki Avenue SW and Beach Drive SW west of 63rd SW – and it includes three proposed concepts for the street’s future. The stretch was closed to motor-vehicle through traffic early in the pandemic. Most recently, the city said that semi-closure would remain in place until at least early next year, and somewhere along the line they’d decide whether to make it permanent. Today’s survey announcement sounds as if that decision has been made, though SDOT has yet to answer our followup question seeking vonfirmation of that:
We’re seeking your input! We’re looking for public feedback on a permanent design for the Alki Point Keep Moving Street. We’d like to know how you currently use Alki Point, what’s working and what’s not, and how you would like to see Alki Point function in the future.
Please take a few minutes to fill out our survey. In the coming weeks we’ll be meeting with stakeholders and community groups to expand our public engagement efforts. … We currently have funding for outreach and early design on this project and we’re working to secure funding for construction.
The wording is similar to the city’s update back in April. The survey itself includes the three proposed “concepts” for the street – two converting it to a Neighborhood Greenway, the third making it a one-way street with a new walking/biking path. Those were among the options the city listed in an update one year ago, but now, going back to the way it used to be is apparently off the list. Again, you can take the survey here – note that the concepts don’t come up until several pages in.
(File photo of calf J56 and mother J31, by Mark Sears. permit 21348)
Just a few weeks after the presumed death of Southern Resident Killer Whale K21, another resident orca is reported to be in bad shape – and this one is just two years old. News of J56’s condition is in a state Department of Fish and Wildlife news release today reminding boaters to give orcas space. In particular, the state has issued an emergency order for commercial whale-watching boats to stay at least half a mile away from J56 and the group with which she is traveling. The news release does not specify their last-known location but the Orca Network reported via its sightings email update that J-Pod was seen in the San Juan Islands earlier this week. Research has shown that vessel noise is a particular stressor for orcas, and that females tend to stop foraging for food when boats are within 400 yards. There’s more information here about giving whales space when you’re out on the water (and how to report violations if you see them).
(Photos by Mark Wangerin)
That Harbor Porpoise got into trouble at Constellation Park south of Alki Point today. With NOAA approval, local marine-life advocates got it back into deeper water so it could swim away. We got first word of this from Kersti Muul, who was among those who helped, along with Jeff Hogan from Killer Whale Tales (below), and SR3.
Kersti says the porpoise came back in after the first assist but then after a second nudge was “heading northwest pretty much on its own.”
P.S. If you see a marine mammal in trouble or on the shore, Seal Sitters Marine Mammal Stranding Network is at 206-905-SEAL (206-905-7325). Do not attempt to handle any animal yourself.
Two notes about Jack Block Park, the Port of Seattle-owned waterfront park at 2130 Harbor Avenue SW:
WHY ONE RESTROOM IS CLOSED: Thanks to Jessica for sending the photo and wondering what happened to the men’s restroom in the park’s easternmost comfort station:
Port spokesperson Peter McGraw says it was damaged by fire, apparently this past Monday. “Repairs are currently underway,” he said, but no estimate for reopening yet.
PIER’S FUTURE: Steps away from that comfort station is the park pier that’s been closed for months because of safety concerns.
Back in spring, the port conducted a survey asking your thoughts on the pier’s future, promising to update the community afterward. Five months later, no word. Andrew emailed us wondering what ever happened to it. McGraw says the results should go public “likely sometime in the middle of October.”
Here are three ways to join neighbors in making West Seattle more beautiful this weekend:
ALKI CLEANUP, SATURDAY: Jessica leads this on first Saturdays:
Alki Beach, Parks and sidewalks Cleanup September 4th
Where: Meet outside at 2452 Alki Ave SW
Time: From 10 AM to 1 PMBring your own pick sticks, gardening gloves and a bucket (works better than bags, especially if windy). I have a limited number of pick sticks and buckets. Recommend that you bundle up if cold and if warm, best to wear closed-end shoes.
Kids welcome if supervised by adult. Text Jessica to RSVP, 206-769-6330.
FRIENDS OF LINCOLN PARK, SATURDAY: This longtime group has a couple spots for more help
September 4 9 am – 12 pm
Ivy, blackberry and holly, oh my! Join FLiP (Friends of Lincoln Park) as we work to restore our beautiful natural spaces. The Park includes 80 acres of forested areas, with a huge diversity of native trees and plants. But our urban forests are threatened by nonnative, invasive plant species and need our help to thrive and remain healthy. This is where YOU come in! We promise you a good workout and lots of eco-karma. Good for the environment and good for your health!
Sign up by going here.
SCHMITZ PARK, SUNDAY: Still some room left for help at this event too.
September 5, 1 pm – 3:30 pm
There is something for everyone! We will be pulling ivy in a shady valley, watering native plants to help them survive this hot, dry summer, and hauling wood chips to prepare for the plants arriving this fall.
Sign up by going here.
(Thursday night photo by Theresa Arbow-O’Connor)
Here’s what’s happening in the hours ahead, featuring highlights from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
AQUATIC SCHEDULE: We just confirmed that wading pools and sprayparks will be open again today, which means Highland Park spraypark (1100 SW Cloverdale) is open 11 am to 8 pm and Lincoln Park wading pool (8011 Fauntleroy Way SW) is open noon-7 pm. Same hours for Colman Pool, also at Lincoln Park.
DELRIDGE GROCERY COOP: Big events at the store this weekend, starting with 3-7 pm today, big sale! And 4-7 pm, the store will host West Seattle’s own Rebellyous Foods, showing off their plant-based chicken, with discount coupons so you can buy on the spot. The DGC store is at 5444 Delridge Way SW.
VACCINE CLINIC: 4-6 pm in the parking lot behind Neighborhood House High Point Center (6400 Sylvan Way SW), offering Pfizer, first or second dose. No appointment needed.
CREATED COMMONS: The events continues just north of the P-Patch at Westcrest Park (9000 8th SW) with a 6 pm community drum circle, featuring, according to CC producers Lelavision, “rhythms of the African Diaspora with artist Sumayya E. Diop. Some drums will be provided, or participants can bring their own percussion (including clapping, stepping, and heartbeat).”
FOOTBALL: High-school football starts tonight and the first local game is West Seattle High School hosting Sammamish at Nino Cantu Southwest Athletic Complex (2801 SW Thistle), 7 pm. Chief Sealth International High School is on the road at Foster HS. Update: Sealth/Foster was cancelled.
Something for our calendar? Email westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
The Highland Park Corner Store has been open five months, mostly as a coffee shop – but now it’s ready to open as a true corner store. It’s closing early today, at noon, to get ready for a real “grand opening” weekend. Here are the details from proprietor Meaghan Haas:
We’re opening the inside of our store starting at 7 am on Saturday. Moving forward our hours will be 7 am-8 pm daily.
In addition to our coffee, pastry and readymade service, we’re adding locally sourced grocery staples, beer and wine to our offerings. We also now have indoor seating, as well as a covered and lit outdoor patio.
Our initial beers on tap are all from breweries that are female-, BIPOC-, and/or LGBTQ-led:
Marzen – Bosk Brew Works
New Zealand IPA – Metier Brewing
Tangerine Hefeweizen – Peddler Brewing
Mosaic Pale Ale – Stoup BrewingWe’re working with the folks at Walden Selections (also West Seattle residents!) to find delicious and affordable natural and organic wines – in bottles, in cans, and by the glass. Our grocery staples feature offerings from local West Seattle vendors including Milpa Masa tortillas and Seola Bees honey. We’ll continue with our current coffee service featuring QEDCoffee, and still have fresh pastries daily from Macrina Bakery.
To celebrate our Grand [Re]Opening, we’ll have some fun additions to the store on Saturday and Sunday:
CocinaMX 32 (the genius team behind Sunrise Tacos) will pop up with tamales Saturday 11 am-2 pm (while supplies last; we sold out pretty early last time!)
We’ll have some free hot dogs Sunday 11 am-2 pm (again: while supplies last).
And the talented folks in the neighborhood will keep us in good music with DJ sets throughout the weekend.
We’re excited to continue to grow what we offer to Highland Park and West Seattle!
Highland Park Corner Store is at 7789 Highland Park Way [map], former site of a mini-mart, once planned for demolition and redevelopment until West Seattle entrepreneur/preservationist John Bennett bought it, fixed it up, and leased it to Haas.
6:03 AM: Good morning! Mixed forecast today.
BACK TO SCHOOL
Returns continue next week, after the holiday weekend. One more reminder that school buses, school-zone flashing beacons, and speed cameras are all in operation now.
ROAD WORK TODAY
Spokane Street Viaduct – The “deck scan” is scheduled to wrap up today.
26th SW & beyond – Northbound 26th SW closure continues between Roxbury and Barton.
Delridge project – Curbs, sidewalks, and landscaping this week – watch for next week’s preview later today.
ROAD WORK THIS WEEKEND
West Marginal – Two work zones, SDOT says:
This Saturday, we will be restriping the paint lines on the east leg of West Marginal Way and Highland Park. We will also be working on repairing the curb islands on the south, east and west legs. To complete this work, we will close the left lane on the south, east and west legs. There will be officers in the area to support the crew with traffic control, as needed. We will have officers in the area to support the crews with traffic control, as needed. The work is anticipated to start at 3 A.M. and may conclude as soon as 1:00 P.M.
North of this area, at the 5-way intersection near the Chelan Café, we will also be replacing the overhead signs on the sign structure in front of the Chelan Café on Saturday as soon as 5:00 A.M. They will work to complete this as quickly as possible and should be done as early as 1:00 P.M
If you are driving in the area, please drive slow through the work area and follow detour signs. Thank you for your continued patience and understanding as we work to make West Marginal Way and Highland Park Way more accessible, efficient, and safe.
TRANSIT TODAY & THIS WEEKEND
Buses are on regular schedules today – except for the rerouting in RapidRise H Line work zones. Lots of trip cancellations this week, so watch @kcmetrobus for word of those. On Labor Day (Monday), Metro will run the Sunday schedule.
For ferries and water taxis, regular schedule today – but note that the West Seattle Water Taxi will be on a reduced schedule Monday. Watch @wsferries for updates. Another note for Washington State Ferries – it’s warning of possible crew shortages during the holiday weekend. We’ll watch for any major schedule disruptions on the Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth route and publish updates as needed.
BRIDGES AND DETOUR ROUTES
529th 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.
From Sarah:
Please be on the lookout for 2 bicycles stolen from our home, sometime overnight before 7 am on September 1. They were not visible from the street. One is a small women’s Ghost mountain bike with a drop seat, the color is called “Jade Blue” but more of a green-turquoise. The other is an Easy Rider silver mountain bike. A police report has been filed. Stolen from 25th Ave SW between Brandon and Findlay.
If you find one or both, let us know, and we’ll connect you.
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