day : 13/10/2021 12 results

Election Day is November 2nd, but voting is about to begin. King County Elections mailed 1.4 million general-election ballots today. Dropboxes open tomorrow; West Seattle has three – at 44th/Alaska in The Junction, at South Seattle College (6000 16th SW; WSB sponsor), and at High Point Library (3411 SW Raymond) – or you can use the USPS to mail yours. Though a handful of races have commandeered most of the attention, you will actually be making 17 decisions – go here to preview your ballot. You’ll see:

State Advisory Votes No. 36, 37, 38 (explained here)
King County Charter Amendments No. 1 and 2

ELECTED OFFICES

King County Executive

Court of Appeals, Division 1, District 1

Port of Seattle Commission Positions 1, 3, 4

Seattle Mayor

Seattle City Attorney

Seattle City Council Positions 8, 9

Seattle School Board Districts 4, 5, 7

Voting deadline is November 2nd. If you’re not registered yet, October 25th is the deadline to do that online, or you can go to a county vote center to register in person up through Election Day.

Share This

WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: 2 stolen vehicles (update: 1 found), car prowl

October 13, 2021 8:57 pm

| 2 COMMENTS

| Crime | West Seattle news

We start West Seattle Crime Watch tonight with two vehicle thefts – if you see either of these, call 911:

STOLEN PICKUP TRUCK: In the Lowman Beach area on Sunday night, a thief or thieves stole this pickup truck belonging to the proprietor of Harold’s Fitness (WSB sponsor) in north Morgan Junction:

It’s a 1997 Nissan Hardbody with an extended cab and automatic transmission. Plate is WA C28238G. The truck had a magnetic Harold’s Fitness sign on it. (FRIDAY UPDATE: The pickup was found, near 2nd/Michigan.)

STOLEN CAR: Margaret‘s 2004 Mitsubishi Eclipse was stolen last night from Alaska House in The Junction (4545 42nd SW).

(Added) License plate number ALL 9704; police incident number 21-271029

CAR PROWL: Just before 3 pm in the 4800 block of Fauntleroy Way SW, Rich saw two people who appeared to be breaking into a car – saying they “punched through the plastic-wrapped window to unlock the car and go through the contents before heading south.” He called police.

Share This

FERRY ALERT: Washington State Ferries downsizes schedules to deal with crew shortages

October 13, 2021 7:00 pm

| 8 COMMENTS

| Fauntleroy | Transportation | West Seattle news

(Ferry near Fauntleroy dock, photographed by Theresa Arbow-O’Connor)

After dealing with spot service reductions during weeks of crew shortages, Washington State Ferries is downsizing schedules until further notice, starting this Saturday. That includes the Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth route. Here’s the WSF announcement:

Beginning Saturday, Oct. 16, Washington State Ferries will temporarily operate reduced schedules on most routes to provide more predictable and reliable travel. The change comes as the system is exercising maximum effort to crew its sailings in the face of a global shortage of mariners that has been exacerbated by the pandemic.

The severe staff shortages are also due to many other variables including an aging workforce, COVID-19 cases, and quarantines. Given what has happened to the response to calls to fill positions on recent weekends, WSF feels there is too much uncertainty to continue the schedule at this moment. WSF will continue to evaluate and strive to return additional boats back into service on a daily basis. Ferry customers are encouraged to monitor the agency website, the WSDOT app and social media channels for updates.

Route-by-route schedule changes

Starting Saturday, Oct. 16, the following sailing schedules will be in operation:

Seattle/Bainbridge, Edmonds/Kingston and Mukilteo/Clinton: One-boat service instead of two
Fauntleroy/Vashon/Southworth: Two-boat schedule instead of three
Anacortes/San Juan Islands: Three-boat schedule instead of four with temporary suspension of vehicle reservations
Seattle/Bremerton: Continued reduced one-boat service instead of two
Point Defiance/Tahlequah: Continued one-boat service as normal
Port Townsend/Coupeville: Continued one-boat service with vehicle reservations as normal for this time of year

“Throughout the pandemic, we’ve worked hard to maintain reliable service, completing the vast majority of sailings,” said Patty Rubstello, head of WSF. “However, to better reflect the service we can currently provide and to minimize last-minute cancelations due to a lack of crew, we made this difficult decision to adjust our schedules.”

Recruiting new employees

Although COVID-19 has not allowed WSF to hire or train new recruits at the same rate as prior to the pandemic, more than 150 new crewmembers have been brought on this year. Prior to COVID-19, WSF hired new crewmembers once a year leading into the busy season. The system is now continuously recruiting new employees, but is struggling to find qualified mariners. WSF is also expanding its recruitment efforts with maritime academies across the country.

Share This

3 flu-shot clinics coming up at West Seattle schools, open to all

October 13, 2021 4:12 pm

| 9 COMMENTS

| Health | West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

The Seattle Visiting Nurse Association sent word of three flu-shot clinics at local schools in the next week and a half, all open to the entire community:

Saturday, October 16th at Madison Middle School from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM

Sunday, October 17th at Chief Sealth International High School from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM

Sunday, October 24th at Madison Middle School from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM

Insurance will be required for no-cost immunizations. Most insurance is accepted, including Apple Health, but we are unable to accept TriCare or Cigna.

These clinics are open to the public, and you can register at schedule.seattlevna.com/home/9d20cac8-d510-ec11-b6e6-000d3a57ec4c

The SVNA says the clinics will be held indoors.

Share This

WEST SEATTLE BRIDGE: Here’s how to watch Thursday’s Community Task Force meeting

October 13, 2021 2:25 pm

| 1 COMMENT

| West Seattle Bridge Safety Project | West Seattle news

(WSB photo from last month’s media tour of the bridge)

Tomorrow brings SDOT‘s next public briefing on the status of West Seattle Bridge repair planning, during the monthly online meeting of Community Task Force members. Here’s the agenda for the 4 pm Thursday (October 14th) meeting. Along with updates on the preparations for repair work, SDOT reps will present detour-route traffic and collision data as well as low-bridge information, including its upcoming work. Task Force members will also get a chance to talk about their recent tours of the bridge. Once the meeting begins, you’ll be able to watch the livestream by going here.

Share This

HALLOWEEN: Admiral District businesses will welcome trick-or-treaters after all

October 13, 2021 12:34 pm

| 4 COMMENTS

| Holidays | West Seattle news

Speaking of candy … The Admiral District will have trick-or-treating after all! Just in:

The organizers of the Admiral District Halloween regretfully cancelled this year’s event earlier this month. The decision was made out of caution since no guidelines had been given from the CDC, and Covid trends were unclear. While some of the businesses in the Admiral District were in favor of hosting the event, others were not. With a lack of a consensus, the event was cancelled.

This week we received new information. On October 12th, Dr. Fauci made the announcement that Halloween events should be safe as long as they are held outdoors. Given this new information, we are proud to bring this fun family event back to our community for 2021!

We are very excited to announce that the Admiral District Halloween event will be held on Friday October 29th from 3pm to 6pm! Event posters will be distributed to Admiral District Merchants this week. Kids and their parents can look for the sign in the window of participating businesses and Trick or Treat!

Happy Halloween!

At least two other business-district trick-or-treat events are planned – the West Seattle Junction on October 31st, 10 am-2 pm, and downtown White Center, also on Halloween, starting at 3 pm.

Share This

BIZNOTE: See’s Candies coming to West Seattle

October 13, 2021 12:23 pm

| 39 COMMENTS

| West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news

West Seattle has many options for sweet treats – amazing bakeries, ice cream, candymakers – but no candy-only retail store. That is about to change. The sign is up for See’s Candies on the east side of inner Jefferson Square, between the future optical clinic and the current U-Frame-It. We saw See’s listed on the center’s site map at one point last month and sent the company an inquiry; we never heard back, and the notation vanished, so we thought maybe it was something that fell through, as happens on occasion. But now a sign’s up, so we’ve renewed our inquiry with the century-old company in hopes of getting a target date for opening.

Share This

RENAME THE TEAM! You can vote on two options for former Highline Bears

October 13, 2021 11:35 am

| 25 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | White Center | WS & Sports

Here’s your chance to rename a baseball team! The White Center-based (former) Highline Bears announced earlier this year they were pursuing a new name. Now it’s down to the final two, and they’re inviting you to help choose. From today’s announcement:

Today the Highline Bears summer collegiate baseball team announced the final two possible new team names. The final names are the DubSea Seal Slingers and the DubSea Fish Sticks. The team will now let the community vote online for which name they want to see on the field next summer. Fans can vote online at RenameOurTeam.com, and they can also vote by pre-ordering merchandise of the logo and team name they like best. Voting will remain open for four weeks and the final team name will be announced on November 15th.

Back in June the team announced they would be renaming the team and ran a “Name the Team” contest for 2 weeks. After receiving more than 200 entries, they flew in the baseball-branding company Brandiose. The branding company has helped name dozens of teams in minor league baseball over the past fifteen years, including the Rocket City Trash Pandas and Armadillo Sod Poodles. While in town in July they canvassed the area, ran community focus groups, and brainstormed with the team about what direction they should go. Over the course of the past three months the team has been working on narrowing down all the fan entries, checking trademark statuses on potential names and developing the final two brands,

The team plays more than two dozen games during regular summers (not the past two years, though) with a 40-player roster of college players from around the country, who stay with host families during the season. Their home field is Mel Olson Stadium at Steve Cox Memorial Park in White Center.

Share This

Highland Park Improvement Club’s post-fire town hall, and what else is up for the rest of your West Seattle Wednesday

October 13, 2021 10:45 am

| 1 COMMENT

| West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

Quick look at some of what’s on our calendar for the rest of today/tonight:

(Great Blue Heron, photographed by Tom Reese)

PHOTO EXHIBITS: Come to Youngstown Cultural Arts Center (4408 Delridge Way SW) 4-6 pm to see Tom Reese‘s photo exhibits focused on the Duwamish River and Longfellow Creek, including the image above – more info in our calendar listing.

34TH DISTRICT DEMOCRATS: The monthly meeting starts at 6 pm online with a presentation about Native American homelessness. Participation information is in our calendar listing.

HPIC POST-FIRE TOWN HALL: 7 pm online, come hear what’s ahead for Highland Park Improvement Club and how you can help. Participation info is here.

OPEN MIC: The weekly open mic at The Skylark (3803 Delridge Way SW) – signups start at 7:30 (but the line often forms earlier, the club says), performances at 8:30.

KARAOKE: The second karaoke night of the week at Admiral Pub (2306 California SW) has moved to Wednesdays, 8 pm-1 am.

Are we missing something? If it’s happening today/tonight, please text our hotline ASAP, 206-293-6302 – thank you!

Share This

Celebration of Life on Saturday for Heidi Wargel

October 13, 2021 9:49 am

| Comments Off on Celebration of Life on Saturday for Heidi Wargel

| Obituaries | West Seattle news

Family and friends will gather this Saturday (October 16th) to celebrate the life of Heidi Wargel. Here’s the announcement:

Please help us Celebrate the Life of Heidi Wargel this Saturday, October 16th at Jellyfish Brewing in Georgetown. Heidi was a proud West Seattle-ite the past 10+ years, an amazing physical therapist, friend, and wife, and she truly lived life to its fullest before losing her battle with cancer on July 15th this year. She is dearly missed but will never be forgotten.

Full details below:

Jellyfish Brewing
917 S Nebraska St.
Seattle, WA 98108

Here is the schedule for the day:

12:30 pm – venue will open for all guests attending in person
1:00 pm – the more formal portion of the day will begin
2 to 4 pm – the entire brewery is ours with an open bar and snacks provided
4 pm – the brewery will start to open to the general public, but we are welcome to stay as long as we like
5:30 pm – Seattle Sounders watch party – the Sounders are playing the Houston Dynamo and everyone is welcome to attend

COVID Protocols:
We humbly request that if you choose to attend in person that you are vaccinated
The venue is indoor/outdoor with large doors that will likely be open. We recommend that you bring a good jacket or layers to accommodate for being inside/outside

From Jellyfish Brewing:
COVID policy – We strictly abide by and enforce all COVID requirements/mandates. Currently, regardless of vaccination status, all patrons are required to wear a mask while indoors, unless seated. This means, no matter where you are in the facility, a mask must be worn, unless seated. So standing with a drink and mingling inside is not possible (but outside is okay).

The outdoor area is covered and heated, but truth be told, the heating isn’t going to keep anyone toasty warm.

Any questions can be sent to jrwargel@gmail.com; thank you, everyone, for the outpouring of support during this time.

(WSB publishes West Seattle obituaries and memorial announcements by request, free of charge. Please email the text, and a photo if available, to editor@westseattleblog.com)

Share This

Teen in the family? Online event to look at life after high school

October 13, 2021 8:59 am

| 5 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

If you have a teen in the family, it’s never too soon for them to start thinking about life after high school. Get some guidance one week from tonight – on Wednesday, October 20th, online at 7 pm, the West Seattle High School PTSA presents “Set Up for Success – College and Career Planning.” They’re inviting all local families, not just those with WSHS ties. Here’s the announcement:

Join the West Seattle High School PTSA for an informative evening with a panel of knowledgeable counselors, staff, parents, and students assembled to give a better understanding of the options students have after high school, how to best utilize high school for the future, what resources exist and where to find them.

While the panel will be West Seattle High-centric, the bulk of the information is universal to all SPS students.

You can register for the meeting here: us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZArdu6tqzgrG9eAkKvOOAlgtH84zuCkwjbG. Once you register, you will be sent a Zoom link for the October 20th meeting.

We have also put together a brief survey for your input so that we can best prepare to address your specific questions. To fill out the survey, please go to https://forms.gle/nzEYCFPFty8bD4sX7

Share This

TRAFFIC, TRANSIT, ROAD WORK, WEATHER: Welcome to Wednesday

October 13, 2021 6:05 am

| 3 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

6:05 AM: Good morning!

WEATHER

Mixed forecast, but this morning is warmer than yesterday, which had a record low (36).

ROAD WORK

26th SW – Now closed southbound between Roxbury and Barton for street upgrades to prepare for RapidRide H Line.

BUSES, WATER TAXI, FERRIES

Regular Metro schedule, except for the rerouting in RapidRide H Line work zones – on 26th and 15th SW in particular. Lots of canceled trips lately, so watch @kcmetrobus for word of those.

For ferries and Water Taxi; Check here for any late word of changes; you can watch @wsferries too. … No scheduled changes for the West Seattle Water Taxi.

BRIDGES AND DETOUR ROUTES

568th morning without the West Seattle Bridge. Here are views of other bridges and routes:

Low Bridge: Automated enforcement cameras remain in use; restrictions are in effect 5 am-9 pm daily – except weekends; the bridge is open to all until 8 am Saturday and Sunday mornings. (Access applications are available here for some categories of drivers.)

West Marginal Way at Highland Park Way:

Highland Park Way/Holden:

The 5-way intersection (Spokane/West Marginal/Delridge/Chelan):

The 1st Avenue South Bridge (map):

For the South Park Bridge (map), here’s the nearest camera:

Are movable bridges opening for boats or barges? The @SDOTBridges Twitter feed is working again. (1st Ave. South Bridge openings are also 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.

Share This