West Seattle, Washington

30 Monday

40℉

month : 12/2021 298 results

TRAFFIC, WEATHER, TRANSIT: Christmas Eve-Eve Thursday
December 23, 2021 6:03 am
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

6:03 AM Good morning! Last day before what will be at least a three-day weekend for many.

WEATHER

Showery with gusty south winds at times – the forecast doesn’t bring in that cold and possible snow for a couple more days.

BUSES, WATER TAXI, FERRIES

Metro is on its regular weekday schedule. Watch @kcmetrobus for word of trip cancellations. (Holiday plans: Tomorrow (Christmas Eve), Metro will be on a Sunday schedule; Christmas Day will be a regular Saturday schedule.)

Ferries and Water Taxi: WSF continues a two-boat schedule on the Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth run. Check here for alerts/updates. The Water Taxi is on its regular schedule. (Holiday plan: No Water Taxi service Friday or Saturday.)

BRIDGES AND DETOUR ROUTES

639th 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.)

The 1st Avenue South Bridge (map):

South Park Bridge:

West Marginal Way at Highland Park Way:

Highland Park Way/Holden:

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

Are movable bridges opening for vessels? The @SDOTBridges Twitter feed can tell you; 1st Ave. S. 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

WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Prime time for car prowling
December 22, 2021 10:41 pm
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | West Seattle news

With holiday-shopping season almost wrapped up, it’s prime time for car prowling – as two reader reports remind us:

*Misti reports that around 9:30 am in the QFC/Petco garage in The Junction, she startled, and possibly thwarted three men who appeared to be casing the car next to hers, “looking inside while holding a huge tool (that) looked like it could easily shatter a car window.” She had lingered in her car making a phone call and adds, “Guy right next to my window jumped about 5 feet when he saw me, he said hello then they all walked off quickly.”

*Haile reports, “Man seen for several hours today (ongoing) looking in cars and following delivery trucks on Alki in the 59th/60th and 60th/61st alleys on both sides of Admiral.”

Share This

PANDEMIC NOTES: School district update; test-site FYI
December 22, 2021 8:19 pm
|    Comments Off on PANDEMIC NOTES: School district update; test-site FYI
 |   Coronavirus | West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

Two pandemic notes tonight:

SCHOOL DISTRICT UPDATE: In the middle of the first week of the two-week winter break, an update from Seattle Public Schools, sent to families and published on the district website:

Our plan is to reopen schools as scheduled on Monday, January 3.

That said, we are also preparing for the possibility that some classrooms, and perhaps some schools, will have to go remote at some point in January.

Uncertainty at any time is challenging, but no more so than now, after the stress and anxiety of the last several weeks. We are sharing this information with you now so you can be as ready as possible should your child need to switch to remote learning.

Along with vaccinations/boosters, the district is recommending that students get a COVID test before school resumes.

TEST-SITE FYI: Speaking of testing, we’ve heard this from multiple readers – though the website for the Curative kiosk at Don Armeni Boat Ramp says walk-ups are welcome, readers report having been turned away without an appointment. Right now, the next appointment availability on the website isn’t until next Monday. The city/UW Medicine testing site at Nino Cantu Southwest Athletic Complex, however, is showing open testing appointments on Friday.

Share This

WEST SEATTLE CHRISTMAS LIGHTS: The glow next door
December 22, 2021 6:57 pm
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   Holidays | West Seattle Christmas lights | West Seattle news

Thanks to Monica Zaborac for tonight’s photo. She says this display is at 40th/Charlestown [map], right next to Wyatt‘s house, which was featured here last week. It’s a corner so bright, it was even on the map for this year’s West Seattle Runner (WSB sponsor)-organized Christmas Lights Run! Got lights for us to spotlight? Please let us know, with or without photo(s), via westseattleblog@gmail.com or 206-293-6302 … see this season’s list in the West Seattle Holiday Guide, and scroll through the pics here.

Share This

CRIME WATCH FOLLOWUP: West Seattle burglary suspect charged here, plea-bargaining in Nevada
December 22, 2021 4:35 pm
|      24 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | West Seattle news

Last month, we brought you Amy‘s story – her car was stolen from Alki, and hours later, her home was burglarized. A tip from an anonymous WSB reader helped police identify the suspect; they tried at least twice to arrest him at his North Delridge residence, but he was gone. Then Amy got word two weeks later – as reported here – that the suspect had been arrested in Nevada, trying to elude police.

We’ve since spoken to the Mineral County District Attorney’s Office, which is prosecuting him there, and have obtained their court documents as well as those detailing a charge filed against him here. The suspect is 28-year-old Jordan J. Edmonds – we obtained the photo at right from the Washington State Department of Corrections, taken when he was in their custody in 2018. In Nevada, deputy district attorney Jaren Stanton told us, Edmonds has agreed to plead guilty at a January 6th hearing to two felony charges – eluding an officer and unlawful gun possession. He will be sentenced about six weeks later, Stanton said. After he serves time in Nevada, Edmonds faces two felony charges here, filed by the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office in the break-in at Amy’s house – residential burglary and second-degree identity theft. Those documents indicate Edmonds already had been charged in four other cases this year and last year – two residential-burglary cases, two unlawful-gun-possession cases. According to prosecutors, he had gotten out of jail by posting bond in all four cases (court files show $50,000 bail in a West Seattle burglary last summer), and conditions of release included not leaving this state. His criminal history includes four burglary cases – two as an adult, two as a juvenile.

Amy, meantime, says she’s continuing to work through “issues” related to the burglary but is “grateful” to the WSB reader whose tip helped solve the case. We’ll follow up next month to see what happens when Edmonds is sentenced in Nevada.

Share This

YOU CAN HELP: West Seattle’s only winter-weather shelter needs volunteers
December 22, 2021 3:24 pm
|      17 COMMENTS
 |   How to help | Triangle | West Seattle news

Once again, American Legion Post 160 in The Triangle is opening a winter-weather overnight shelter – but we just learned this afternoon that volunteers are urgently needed. Post commander Keith Hughes says they are required to have two people on site at all times while open as a shelter, and they need help filling those slots. Ideally a volunteer could be there either 6 pm-midnight or midnight-6 am, but if you can only give a few hours, they’ll take the help they can get. If you have questions, or are ready to volunteer, call Post 160 any time between 8 am and 6 pm at 206-932-9696, or call Keith directly at 206-941-6654.

Share This

WEST. SEATTLE HOLIDAY SCENE: Candlelight for the longest night
December 22, 2021 1:31 pm
|    Comments Off on WEST. SEATTLE HOLIDAY SCENE: Candlelight for the longest night
 |   Gatewood | Holidays | West Seattle news

Thanks to Marco for the photos. The open field at Myrtle Reservoir Park was a field of light last night for the candlelight labyrinth set up by the Westside Unitarian Universalist Congregation to mark the winter solstice. WSUU also gathered for singing:

P.S. WSUU is one of the local churches that have sent info for the Christmas Eve services listed in our West Seattle Holiday Guide – not too late to add, westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!

Share This

WEST SEATTLE WEDNESDAY: What’s up for the rest of today
December 22, 2021 11:19 am
|      1 COMMENT
 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Seen in an Upper Fauntleroy yard)

Quick look at what’s ahead today/tonight, from our West Seattle Holiday Guide and Event Calendar:

COOKIE-DONATION DROPOFFS: Until 3 pm, first day to drop off donated homemade cookies for The Christmas People. Take them to West Seattle Coworking (6040 California SW).

PRE-HOLIDAY SALE: Today at Wyatt’s Jewelers (Westwood Village; WSB sponsor), 15% off handcrafted jewelry. Open until 6 pm.

SANTA AT WEST SEATTLE THRIFTWAY (California/Fauntleroy; WSB sponsor) – 3-6 pm today, see Santa at the supermarket!

HOLIDAY MUSIC AT WEST SEATTLE THRIFTWAY – Also this week, live holiday music at the store, 3-6 pm today.

‘WE’VE BATTLED MONSTERS BEFORE’: The ArtsWest (WSB sponsor) musical has a Wednesday performance this week because of the uocoming holiday – 7:30 pm. Still a few tickets left as of this writing, (4711 California SW)

Share This

WHO’S OPEN ON CHRISTMAS: Where to find West Seattle info, and how to add more
December 22, 2021 10:28 am
|    Comments Off on WHO’S OPEN ON CHRISTMAS: Where to find West Seattle info, and how to add more
 |   Holidays | West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news

One more reminder that it’s not too late to let us know about retailers and food/drink businesses’ hours on Christmas Eve/Day. All the info we have compiled so far – including the complete grocery-store hours list for Friday/Saturday – is toward the end of our West Seattle Holiday Guide page (which has a list of church services, too). We’re still checking around today for additions before cross-referencing it all on our Event Calendar too; if you can help by providing info, please email westseattleblog@gmail.com or text 206-293-6302 – thank you!

Share This

TRAFFIC, WEATHER, TRANSIT: Winter’s first Wednesday
December 22, 2021 6:03 am
|      1 COMMENT
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

6:03 AM Good morning!

WEATHER

First full day of winter. The temperature rose overnight; the forecast calls for showers and a high near 50.

BUSES, WATER TAXI, FERRIES

Metro is on its regular weekday schedule. Watch @kcmetrobus for word of trip cancellations. (Holiday plans: This Friday (Christmas Eve), Metro will be on a Sunday schedule; Christmas Day will be a regular Saturday schedule.)

Ferries and Water Taxi: WSF continues a two-boat schedule on the Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth run. Check here for alerts/updates. The Water Taxi is on its regular schedule. (Holiday plans: No Water Taxi service Friday or Saturday.)

BRIDGES AND DETOUR ROUTES

638th 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.)

The 1st Avenue South Bridge (map):

South Park Bridge:

West Marginal Way at Highland Park Way (angles – which are controlled by SDOT, not us – still not fixed yet as of early this am – UPDATE – fixed as of mid-morning):

Highland Park Way/Holden:

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

Are movable bridges opening for vessels? The @SDOTBridges Twitter feed can tell you; 1st Ave. S. 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

UPDATE: Power outage in south West Seattle, fully restored after two hours (updated with cause)
December 22, 2021 1:26 am
|      70 COMMENTS
 |   Arbor Heights | Fauntleroy | Sunrise Heights | Utilities | West Seattle news | Westwood

1:26 AM: So far we have two reports that power’s out in Arbor Heights. Flickered here in Upper Fauntleroy, Not on City Light map yet. Anyone else out?

1:29 AM: Add Fauntlee Hills.

1:32 AM: The outage is mapped now – 4,880 customers, mostly southwest West Seattle.

1:39 AM: No cause yet but a few people report it was preceded by a “boom.” We noticed the wind kicking up. (The forecast was updated again after 9:30 pm and notes “Gusts to 30 mph after midnight.”)

2:24 AM: One hour in. No word on the cause yet.

2:31 AM: Just got a text about restored power in Arbor Heights. (added) Commenters from other areas, too.

2:36 AM: Map shows the outage is down to just under 1,000 customers. Mostly Sunrise Heights, and a bit of Gatewood, plus a stretch along SW Holden reaching into Highland Park. Updated map:

3:43 AM: And after a little more than two hours, everybody else is back on. We’ll follow up later this morning with SCL regarding the cause.

11:37 AM: Just got that info from SCL’s Julie Moore: “The cause was a large tree that came down on our lines just south of SW Juneau and 26th Ave SW. Initially the outage at 1:22 a.m. impacted 4,879 customers, but within about an hour we were able to determine it was safe to re-energize a large section of our system as the crews continued to patrol and locate the issue. Once they did, the remaining 982 customers were restored by 3:30 a.m.”

Share This

WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Seen this stolen red Ford pickup truck?
December 21, 2021 10:15 pm
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | Delridge | West Seattle news

Matthew sent this report tonight about a relative’s pickup truck, stolen from a parking lot:

Yesterday, Monday 12/20/2021, late morning or early afternoon, a red 2003 Ford F-250 pickup truck was stolen from the Home Depot parking lot on North Delridge. Here are some more details:

License plate: B96483N

Other details: Has a matching red Leer canopy & Leather interior

It has been reported to Seattle Police.

Call 911 if you see it.

Share This

WEST SEATTLE WEATHER: Welcome to winter. Snow soon?
December 21, 2021 9:34 pm
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle weather

Thanks to Carolyn Fitzgerald for the photo of the greeting her family created at Jack Block Park today. Winter arrived at 7:59 am, and the day was colder than normal – hitting only 37 degrees, nine degrees below the usual high. The forecast for this weekend still includes the possibility of snow – maybe as soon as Christmas Day – though the National Weather Service reminds us that it’s always difficult to accurately forecast snow around here; right now, the NWS says, if it does snow, it’s not likely to be much – “total snowfall Saturday through Monday only looks to be 1-3 inches for this entire period with not a single 6-hour block of snowfall exceeding a quarter of an inch.” No alerts yet, but it’s early. P.S. Snow or no snow, Sunday and Monday nights could drop into the 20s.

Share This

WEST SEATTLE CHRISTMAS LIGHTS: Somewhere under the rainbow
December 21, 2021 7:15 pm
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   Holidays | West Seattle Christmas lights | West Seattle news

Thanks to prolific photographer Jerry Simmons for tonight’s photo – a rainbow of lights in the 5400 block of (corrected) 41st SW. (Here’s a vicinity map.) This is the 24th display showcased here on WSB this season, thanks entirely to reader tips – you can scroll through them all here, and see the list in our West Seattle Holiday Guide. We’re hoping to keep showing lights nightly through New Year’s Eve – tips, with or without photo(s), are appreciated – email westseattleblog@gmail.com or text 206-293-6302 – thank you!

Share This

DEVELOPMENT: 200+-apartment mixed-use building for South Delridge
December 21, 2021 5:08 pm
|      32 COMMENTS
 |   Delridge | Development | West Seattle news

(King County Assessor’s Office photos)

New in city files: The biggest redevelopment proposal yet for South Delridge. This past May, we mentioned an early-stage filing for 1704 SW Roxbury; the new filing shows that the planned apartment county has now quintupled to more than 200. That corner parcel, currently home to Meineke Auto Repair, and the vacant building to its north were bought within the past few months by an entity in which records show South Delridge’s busiest current developer – Craig Haveson of STS Construction (WSB sponsor) – is a partner.

The site plan included in the new filing says a 4-story building with “ground-floor retail” is planned, though the site is zoned for up to 55′, and 6 stories are mentioned on the website of Housing Diversity Corporation, whose CEO Bradley Padden is Haveson’s partner in this project. That website outlines the residential component of the project as a “214-unit development, 171 attainably priced market-rate units and 43 rent-restricted units through Seattle’s Multifamily Tax Exemption Program.” (No mention of whether any offstreet parking will be part of the project.) The architecture firm is Atelier Drome, whose site-plan document shows two other parcels to the north will be part of the project, though they are not yet on record as under the same ownership (Seattle Bible Church is those parcels’ owner of record).

Share This

SEEN OFF WEST SEATTLE: Second submarine sighting in 2 days – USS Connecticut, arriving for repairs
December 21, 2021 4:03 pm
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   Seen at sea | West Seattle news

For the second consecutive day, water-watchers in west-facing West Seattle saw an inbound submarine – and this time, it was the damaged USS Connecticut (SSN 22), on its way to Bremerton for repairs, 2 1/2 months after hitting an undersea mountain. Thanks to James Borrow for the photo! Here are arrival details from The Kitsap Sun‘s Josh Farley.

Share This

REMINDER: The Christmas People are hoping for thousands of homemade cookies, starting tomorrow
December 21, 2021 3:51 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   Holidays | How to help | West Seattle news

Baking holiday cookies? Add an extra dozen or two and take them to The Christmas People! For three days starting tomorrow, they’ll be accepting cookie dropoffs in West Seattle to include in the meals they’ll be delivering to people in need. Every year, community members have stepped up to fill the order. (Homemade only, please.) You can drop cookies off any time between 9 am and 3 pm Wednesday through Friday (December 22-24) at West Seattle Coworking (6040 California SW)

Share This

HOLIDAY SCHEDULE: Log House Museum’s plan
December 21, 2021 1:56 pm
|    Comments Off on HOLIDAY SCHEDULE: Log House Museum’s plan
 |   Holidays | West Seattle history | West Seattle news

The home of West Seattle’s history is closed until the new year. Here’s the announcement from the Southwest Seattle Historical Society‘s Log House Museum:

The Log House Museum will be closed through January 2nd, 2022 for the holiday season. We will reopen Friday, January 7th during our normal operating hours: Friday-Sunday from 12:00 to 4:00 pm. We look forward to seeing you in the new year!

The museum at 61st and Stevens on Alki is no longer “by appointment only,” so once it reopens, you can just drop in during the aforementioned hours.

Share This

Washington State Ferries plans January community meetings
December 21, 2021 11:56 am
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   Fauntleroy | Transportation | West Seattle news

(Fauntleroy ferry dock photographed from Lincoln Park by Theresa Arbow-O’Connor)

It’s been an eventful year for Washington State Ferries and its riders, from crew shortages to vessel challenges to the start of planning for the Fauntleroy terminal/dock replacement. WSF plans to start the new year with online community meetings, and the dates/times have just been announced:

Commuters, occasional riders and community members are invited to attend Washington State Ferries’ upcoming virtual community meetings designed to provide updates and answer questions about the ferry system.

On Wednesday, Jan. 5 and Tuesday, Jan. 11, members of WSF staff will discuss the ferry system’s service and ongoing efforts to mitigate challenges as well as progress on key projects. WSF Assistant Secretary Patty Rubstello will lead the meetings in coordination with the Ferry Advisory Committees, appointed representatives of ferry-served communities who advise WSF.

Both meetings will cover the same material and are designed to give people the option to join the meeting that best fits their schedule. Meeting participants will be able to ask questions and provide comments. People can join the meeting from a laptop, desktop computer or mobile device, but advanced registration is required to participate.

Registration for the January virtual community meetings:

Registration for 6 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 5.
Registration for 1 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 11.

Participants must provide a name and valid email address and have access to a computer or mobile device with an internet connection.
Once registered, participants will receive an email with detailed instructions on how to log in to the webinar.

The day after each meeting, a video recording will be available online on our community participation webpage.

Share This

WEST SEATTLE TUESDAY: From solstice to shopping to Santa, here’s what’s happening
December 21, 2021 10:27 am
|      1 COMMENT
 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

Seen from north-facing West Seattle, that’s snowy Mt. Baker, photographed by Jim Borrow. Winter is here and your options for the hours ahead include these, starting with solstice events:

SOLSTICE CLEANSE: Organized by CleanupSEA:

Come cleanse your mind and clean the environment on Winter Solstice! Meet at Constellation Park (Beach Drive & 63rd Ave SW) at 12:00 pm noon and we’ll fan out across Alki Point to clean the beach, streets, parks, and drains. Rain or shine. Pickers, gloves, hand rakes & bags provided. Families welcome! Bring a 5-gallon bucket or bag for trash collection if you have one.

Pre-clean warmup meditation at 11:30 am: If you’d like to join a solstice meditation beforehand, gather at Cormorant Cove (just south of Constellation Park at 3701 Beach Dr SW 98116). Weather permitting. Mats provided. Comment in your RSVP if you plan to join.

Can’t make it during this time? Take a moment on Dec 21 to reflect and get outside for a little pick-me-up.

Hope to see you there!

RSVPs requested but not required – go here.

SOLSTICE SUNSET WATCH WITH ALICE: 3:45-4:45 pm at Solstice Park, NASA Solar System Ambassador Alice Enevoldsen hosts her quarterly change-of-seasons sunset watch (regardless of whether the sun’s going to be visible; only heavy rain cancels). From Alice: “Please be vaccinated, masked, and distance from other attendees at this small outdoor public event!” (7400 Fauntleroy Way SW, uphill from the tennis courts)

CANDLELIGHT LABYRINTH WALK & SOLSTICE SINGING: Hosted by the Westside UU Congregation at Myrtle Reservoir Park (35th/Myrtle):

We pause as the path of the sun reverses, seemingly holding its place for a moment of turning. Let us delve into the gifts of darkness at the winter solstice. We follow curiosity and contemplation down into the cold earth, taking a journey to the world below the surface. Here we find acorns, cached by squirrels and chipmunks, perhaps to be food laid in store, or perhaps to become trees in the fullness of time. We find the burrows of hibernating animals, those who sleep and repair. We find seeds, including some that will not sprout unless they first wait through frost and ice. Life finds rest and renewal in the darkness.

Let this be a time of celebration. What joy can be found, let us hold it close, blow on its embers, and share its spark. We do not take for granted having come this far, and we give thanks for our companions on the journey.

Hosted by the Westside UU Congregation, come and move through the candlelight labyrinth, and share in song, word and ritual. This event is open to everyone, an opportunity for the whole community to mark the turning of the wheel, the season’s change. The labyrinth will be open from 5-9 pm and the service will be from 7-8 pm.

SOLSTICE MUSIC: 6 pm at The Spot West Seattle (2920 SW Avalon Way), live music with West Seattle’s own John Stephans Band.

Also happening today/tonight:

PRE-HOLIDAY SALE: Today at Wyatt’s Jewelers (Westwood Village; WSB sponsor), 10 percent off men’s jewelry. Open until 6 pm.

SHUG’S MINI POP-UP: Final day for the holiday pop-up with Baked Alaska, ice cream, more. Noon-4 pm at the future “mini” location of Shug’s Soda Fountain. Info here. (California/Charlestown)

EXTRA SHOPPING: Avalon Glassworks (2914 SW Avalon Way) is open noon-4 pm today.

LADY JAYE HOLIDAY BAZAAR: At Lady Jaye (4523 California SW) in The Junction:

We are hosting our 2nd Annual Holiday Meat Market Bazaar 4 pm-8 pm. Featuring Wagyu & Whiskey. We will be bringing in A5 wagyu beef from Japan as well as Full Blood Wagyu from Bothell WA. Super local! We will also have over 100 mini airplane bottles of some of our top whiskeys so people can try really cool whiskeys or use them as great stocking stuffers. We will be bringing back our wagyu smoked old fashioned cocktails to go too! The bar will be open, featuring cocktails by our very own Sara Rosales and we will be serving Smoked Wagyu Cheeseburgers off the smoker on the patio. A DJ Called Moon (Derek Moon) will be spinning on the back patio and you will also be able to grab specialty desserts by Sweet Nothings and More and specialty curated stocking stuffers from Keonii of Fleurt Boutique.

SANTA AT WEST SEATTLE THRIFTWAY (California/Fauntleroy; WSB sponsor) – 5:30-8:30 pm today, see Santa at the supermarket!

HOLIDAY MUSIC AT WEST SEATTLE THRIFTWAY (California/Fauntleroy; WSB sponsor) Also this week, live holiday music at the store, with Gary Benson 2:30-4:30 pm today and Alex Baird 5:30-8:30 pm.

Share This

Remembering Steven A. Olson, 1956-2021
December 21, 2021 8:59 am
|      8 COMMENTS
 |   Obituaries | West Seattle news

Family and friends are remembering Steven A. Olson, and sharing this remembrance with his community:

Steven A. Olson (September 24, 1956 – June 8, 2021), died in a tragic auto accident in Federal Way. Steve was preceded in death by his father, Donald S. Olson. Steve was the first of four siblings and grew up near the Fauntleroy Ferry dock in West Seattle. Steve played many sports growing up but loved his time playing Gil Dobie football. He met and retained a number of friends from the sport. His brother-in-law Chris, for one. Steve graduated from Chief Sealth High School in 1975 and went on to Wenatchee Valley Community College on a football scholarship.

Steve spent 36 years as general manager of our family business Ole and Charlie’s Marinas, first in Seattle, and then in Tacoma. Steve was a talented oil-painting artist. We all treasure the memories of his artwork. Famous northwest cowboy artist Fred Oldfield was his protege. Steve loved boating, and his sister’s family spent many years on regular trips to Lake Chelan and Lake Roosevelt boating, water-skiing, and just enjoying life. Steve spent an abundance of years sport fishing with his dad in Alaska. Steve had a huge passion for life, and that was evident when Steve entered the room. He had so many planned outings that the pandemic had changed, like a planned cruise once again to Alaska.

Steve leaves behind his mother Barbara, his partner Sandi, his sister Kim Mickelson (Chris), who was his best friend of 55 years, brothers Mark Olson (Janell), and Craig Olson. He also leaves behind many nieces and nephews, Christiana (George), Trine (Clint), Tristen, Matthew (Michelle), Marie (Dan), Jessica (Garrett), Luke (Willow), Lily, and many cousins. His Aunt Molly and Uncle Ed of Scottsdale, Arizona. And so many friends! Steve is dearly missed but will never be forgotten!

We also want to thank Federal Way officer Chris Mickelsen, who was first on the scene to help and the witness to the accident, Kristina, who cared for his dog and was there for him. Remembrances can be made to Medic One in his honor.

(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

TRAFFIC, TRANSIT, WEATHER: Winter-solstice Tuesday
December 21, 2021 6:03 am
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

6:03 AM Good morning!

WEATHER

Winter starts at 7:59 am. A mostly cloudy forecast launches the season, with rain likely later.

BUSES, WATER TAXI, FERRIES

Metro is on its regular weekday schedule. Watch @kcmetrobus for word of trip cancellations. (Holiday plans: This Friday, Metro will be on a Sunday schedule; Christmas Day will be a regular Saturday schedule.)

Ferries and Water Taxi: WSF continues a two-boat schedule on the Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth run. Check here for alerts/updates. The Water Taxi is on its regular schedule. (Holiday plans: No Water Taxi service Friday or Saturday.)

BRIDGES AND DETOUR ROUTES

637th 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.)

The 1st Avenue South Bridge (map):

South Park Bridge:

West Marginal Way at Highland Park Way (if this cam and the next one are still badly aligned by late morning, we’ll ask SDOT what’s up):

Highland Park Way/Holden:

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

Are movable bridges opening for vessels? The @SDOTBridges Twitter feed can tell you; 1st Ave. S. 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

CORONAVIRUS: 21 new local cases in weekly Seattle Public Schools update
December 20, 2021 10:23 pm
|      8 COMMENTS
 |   Coronavirus | West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

West Seattle/South Park has 21 new cases reported in this week’s update of the COVID-19 dashboard for Seattle Public Schools. That’s more than three times the number a week earlier; 135 new cases were reported districtwide – students and staff – since last week’s update – twice as many new cases as the week before. Here’s the local school-by-school breakout (as always, the total is cumulative since the start of the school year):

Denny International Middle School – 26, up 2
Chief Sealth International High School – 24, up 4
Roxhill Elementary – 15, unchanged
Highland Park Elementary – 14, up 1
Genesee Hill Elementary – 14, unchanged
Arbor Heights Elementary – 14, unchanged
Gatewood Elementary – 12, up 3
West Seattle High School – 11, up 5
Louisa Boren STEM K-8 – 11, up 1
Madison Middle School – 11, unchanged
West Seattle Elementary – 10, up 1
Lafayette Elementary – 10, unchanged
Concord International (Elementary) – 9, unchanged
Pathfinder K-8 – 8, up 2
Fairmount Park Elementary – 7, up 2
Alki Elementary – 5, unchanged
Sanislo Elementary – 4, unchanged
BRIDGES @ Roxhill – 1, unchanged

The district does not break out the school-by-school numbers by teachers/staff; districtwide, SPS says, 88 percent of the cases were among students, 12 percent staff.

Share This