West Seattle, Washington
14 Thursday
Thanks to the texter who sent that photo and word of a stuck truck on SW Nevada at 28th SW [map]. Its driver reported a mechanical problem. Avoid the area for a while.
(WSB photo, May)
Just before the last school year ended, work began on Lafayette Elementary upgrades including boiler replacement, fire sprinklers, and earthquake proofing, preceded by asbestos removal that generated staff and parent concerns. The work has continued through the summer. After a reader question, we checked today to see if the $3 million project will be done in time for the first day of classes next Wednesday. Yes, says Seattle Public Schools spokesperson Tim Robinson, who says the project team reports they’re “returning furniture to classrooms and offices. Waxing floors.” Next Tuesday, they’ll walk through with a final “punch list”; any resulting work will be done after-hours.
Haley sent the report:
I live on 35th between Henderson and Trenton. Someone stole my catalytic converter off my 2000 Honda Accord last night. It was parked in the alley in our off street parking spot. Car is low to the ground so they must have had to jack it up in order to access the catalytic converter. Police report filed, but wanted to let others in the area know.
According to the National Insurance Crime Bureau, catalytic-converter theft grew tenfold nationwide between 2018 and 2020.
(WSB photo, Delridge work earlier this month)
The weekly update on the Delridge road/utility work preparing for the RapidRide H Line is in. Here are the key points:
-Final channelization and overnight lane striping will continue throughout the corridor, we are currently working to complete striping in Zone C and may return to Zones A and B to finish lane markings and bus lanes
-Crews will be working overnight from 6 PM to 6 AM. We have obtained a noise variance to complete this work.
-Landscaping continues throughout the corridor
-We are repairing some sections of the sidewalk and irrigation throughout Zone A next week
-In Zone B we will be install curbs between SW Juneau St and SW Graham St
-Traffic signal upgrades begin in Zone C. There may be intermitted interruption to traffic in this area as we work to complete upgrades
-King County Metro continues constructing their portion of the project in White Center and Burien. 15th Ave SW between 106th and 107th remains closed to all general traffic.
Note that the work between Juneau and Graham is in the same blocks as Louisa Boren STEM K-8, where classes begin Wednesday, so you’ll see school traffic there as well as workers. Next week’s full preview is here.
(Interspecies Communication kinetic sculpture being set up at Westcrest for Created Commons – photo by Gill Loring)
Your mind might be on the weekend – but first, here’s what’s happening today/tonight:
CARMILIA’S/CLEMENTINE’S SALE: Clementines – the shoe shop formerly in The Junction – is popping up at Carmilia’s – the boutique that’s still in The Junction – for a sale this weekend! Hours today at 4528 California SW are 11 am-6 pm.
AQUATIC SCHEDULE: No wading pool again today, since the requisite 70 degrees/sunny weather is not expected. But Highland Park Spraypark (1100 SW Cloverdale) is open 11 am-8 pm and Colman Pool at Lincoln Park is open noon-7 pm.
PANDEMIC BRIEFING: Hear about the state of the pandemic in King County from Public Health Officer Dr. Jeff Duchin in a 1 pm briefing today. You can watch the stream here or look for the recording later here.
DELRIDGE BRIDGE REMOVAL INFO TABLING: 2-4 pm outside Delridge Community Center (4501 Delridge Way SW), SDOT reps will be available for your questions/comments about whether the nearby pedestrian bridge should stay or go, as we’ve been reporting.
(added) FOOTBALL JAMBOREE: Chief Sealth International High School is hosting a preseason jamboree at Nino Cantu Southwest Athletic Complex (2801 SW Thistle), starting at 4:30 pm. Other schools include West Seattle HS. $5 admission.
CREATED COMMONS OPENING EVENT: 6 pm at Westcrest Park (9000 8th SW), it’s the first event on the schedule for the Created Commons celebration of art and science through September 5th – here’s our preview. P.S. Free groceries available at tonight’s event for those in need.
MOVIE IN THE PARK: Free outdoor movie at Grace Church, “Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day,” at dusk, 10323 28th SW.
ALBUM RELEASE PARTY: Tonight at The Skylark (3803 Delridge Way SW), Electric Finger heads the bill for their “Red Flags” album-release party, doors at 8, music at 9, $10 cover.
Got a West Seattle event or announcement? westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
Thanks to Alison for sending the photo and announcement about a celebration tomorrow:
Local Delridge pickleball players initiated a grant to get additional semi-permanent pickleball nets, and utilize Neighborhood Matching Funds to purchase the nets.
They’re here! And now we want to share the nets and encourage members of our West Seattle neighborhood to discover pickleball, America’s fastest-growing sport. Meet local players, play a little, meet your community at our pickleball play event. All are welcome!
Saturday, August 28, 12 noon to 4 PM at the Delridge pickleball courts, 4501 Delridge Way SW.
Seattle Metro Pickleball Association is a 501c3 working to grow pickleball venues indoors and out, and enable pickleball play for persons of all ages and abilities in an inclusive and welcoming environment. Join us! We have so much more work to do.
If you’re not familiar with the sport, the USA Pickleball Association explains that it “combines many elements of tennis, badminton and ping-pong,” and notes that it was invented here in the Puget Sound area, on Bainbridge Island,
6:05 AM: Good morning! Mixed forecast today.
ROAD WORK
26th SW & beyond – Northbound 26th SW closure continues between Roxbury and Barton.
Delridge project – Pending the weekly update later today, here’s the latest.
Beach Drive – More scheduled tree trimming for utility lines, 5900-6500 blocks.
Weekend alert #1 – Highland Park Way/West Marginal intersection work continues Saturday/Sunday mornings/early afternoons.
Weekend alert #2 – Junction work announced by SDOT:
Concrete paving will begin this weekend on 44th Ave SW and SW Edmunds St
Starting as early as this weekend, we will be updating sidewalks and ramps along 44th Ave and SW Edmunds. This work is expected to be completed during the weekend but may extend throughout the week. Please go slow when driving in the area. Watch for people biking and walking, follow signs, and expect delays as traffic will be shifted around the work area.
TRANSIT
Buses are on regular schedules – except for the rerouting in RapidRise H Line work zones. Watch @kcmetrobus for word of bus cancellations.
For ferries and water taxis, regular schedule. Watch @wsferries for updates.
BRIDGES AND DETOUR ROUTES
522nd 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.
(WSB photo – school bus on test run earlier this month)
School starts soon for most students in and near West Seattle – but for some it’s already begun! We’ve checked local schools’ start dates and here’s what we’ve found. For one – August 18 was the first day of school at Summit Atlas, West Seattle’s only charter school. Everyone else has yet to start. Here are the dates from schools’/districts’ online calendars:
August 30 – Holy Rosary Catholic School
August 30 – Seattle Lutheran High School
August 30 – Vashon Island School District (1st-12th grades)
August 31 – Kennedy Catholic High School
September 1 – Hope Lutheran School
September 1 – Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic School
September 1 – Seattle Public Schools (1st-12th grades)
September 1 – Vashon Island School District (kindergarten)
September 2 – Highline Public Schools (1st-12th grades)
September 7 – Holy Family Bilingual Catholic School
September 7 – Hope Academy
September 8 – Highline Public Schools (kindergarten)
September 8 – Tilden School
September 8 – West Seattle Montessori
September 8 – Westside School
September 9 – Explorer West Middle School
September 9 – Seattle Public Schools (kindergarten/preschool)
September 27 – South Seattle College
8:41 PM: Seattle Fire has upgraded a response in the 2400 block of SW Myrtle to “brush fire/major.” This will also affect traffic on Sylvan Way. Updates to come.
8:48 PM: Thanks to the texter who sent the photo. Firefighters are using a hydrant at Home Depot, so the fire is west of there.
8:52 PM: Firefighters just told dispatch it’s under control after burning an estimated quarter-acre.
9 PM: Reader video from Austin Reimers added. Firefighters are now searching the woods to be sure no one was injured (added: after finding an encampment in the area). The address is also revised on the SFD log to 24th SW/Sylvan Way.
9:31 PM: Firefighters have reported to dispatch that the fire is “tapped” (out).
Sunday, the four-events-in-one Loop the ‘Lupe – an obstacle course, 5K run/walk, youth dash, and Senior Saunter – is back, and it’s not too late to be part of it. We asked race director Brian Callanan for updates – he had four:
REGISTRATION STILL OPEN! But – “There’s a $5 price increase that kicks in on Saturday, so get signed up soon – here. People aged 3 to 83 have registered this year, along with several top finishers from the Alki Beach Sunset Run. So, plenty of fun for people of all ages and elite athletes, too! School of Rock is providing live music, food and drinks are available, and we’re featuring a beer garden courtesy of Georgetown Brewing.”
PACKET PICKUP: Don’t wait till Sunday – get your T-shirt, bib, and swag bag during the packet-pickup event on Saturday, 3-5 pm at West Seattle Runner (2743 California SW; WSB sponsor).
GET VACCINATED, GET A DISCOUNT! Brian says, “Through a partnership with Bird’s Eye Medical and the WA Dept. of Health, we’re offering COVID vaccinations onsite. bit.ly/Loop_Vaccination is the link for people to register (though we’re taking walkups, too). Pfizer and Moderna shots will be offered. Immunocompromised people can get their booster, but boosters are not available to the general public, as of yet. OLG is working on a second clinic within the next few weeks to make sure everyone who gets the vaccine gets their second shot. We’re offering a half-off race entry fee discount to anyone who registers for a vaccine; send confirmation of your appointment to loopthelupe@gmail.com.”
MASK REMINDERS: “The state recommends that fully vaccinated individuals wear a mask in crowded outdoor public places if 6 feet of distance cannot be maintained. If you are not fully vaccinated, you are required to wear a mask. While we will do our best to space out participants in waves during the event, please consider your safety and other participants, too.”
Again, you can register for Loop the ‘Lupe here; the four events are explained here (with start times between 11 am and 1 pm),. It’s all happening at Walt Hundley Playfield (34th and Myrtle) this Sunday. (WSB is a community co-sponsor.)
What’s being stuffed into that car is a bicycle stolen moments earlier – around noon today – from outside the south end of Admiral Safeway. The thief cut the cable lock, according to (update) a friend of the bike owner’s mom, Kelly. The bicycle is a blue 2021 Kona Kahuna, 29″ wheels, bought from Alki Bike and Board (WSB sponsor). The thief’s car had an Oregon license plate, starting with 990; the image is from video taken by a bystander who followed him after the theft (we don’t have the clip in a playable size). No police-report # yet.
(SDOT photo)
As first reported here two weeks ago, the Andover pedestrian/bicyclist bridge over the west end of the West Seattle Bridge is closed, and SDOT says today it will stay that way until after its upcoming earthquake-safety work is completed. Today’s update says the work will start next month; Mukilteo-based Combined Construction is the contractor chosen for the levy-funded $1.9 million project, expected to last up to three months. And SDOT promises the 60-year-old bridge will be reopened after the work is done. That work will include “installing new bridge expansion joints, which allow the concrete to naturally expand and contract without cracking, and strengthening the base of the east side of the bridge,” So what about the “illegal activity reported by community members” that SDOT blamed for the early closure? They say they’re “evaluating other long-term options such as fencing, gates, and other security measures to prevent illegal activity on the pedestrian bridge and to reduce trespassing onto the West Seattle High-Rise Bridge.”
With school starting next week for most local students, the city’s school-zone speed cameras will be activated starting Wednesday (September 1st) – and SDOT has just announced that for the first time in six years, there’s a new one in West Seattle. In addition to the existing automated cameras, SDOT says it’s added one on 35th SW between SW Willow and SW Othello, near Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic School. That stretch has long had a warning about enforcement because SPD had on occasion deployed a mobile speed-camera van, but now there’s a permanent camera. It’s one of 15 around the city, also including sites on Fauntleroy Way SW near Gatewood Elementary, on SW Roxbury near Holy Family Bilingual Catholic School, and on Delridge Way SW near Louisa Boren STEM K-8. (SDOT confirmed, when we asked on followup, that the new camera will have a 30-day warnings-before-tickets period as has been the case in the past.)
(December 2020 rendering by Public47 Architects)
Three years after the first Southwest Design Review Board meeting about 3201 SW Avalon Way, the next one has just been scheduled for September 23rd. As we reported last December, the project at what’s currently the Golden Tee Apartments site has changed since the 2018 review – now 8 stories (taller), 144 apartments (fewer), 70 offstreet-parking spaces (fewer), with a different architecture firm, Public47. This document filed in December shows those new details. The full design packet isn’t available yet, and the city webpage still shows the old plan’s toplines, but what could be the final SWDRB meeting about the project is now set for 5 pm September 23rd, online; watch here for attendance details.
Today we welcome a new sponsor, Khadra Mohamud, who operates Sahra’s Family Day Care at 21st and Barton.
New WSB sponsors have the opportunity to tell you about what they offer. Currently Khadra has six openings available . She accepts children from infants up to age 8 and is open from 6 am to 6 pm Monday through Friday.
Khadra says, “I have a natural way with children. Children gravitate toward my empathetic nature. I find it easy and fun to care for children. My clients often say I’m clean, attentive and caring. My kind nature and willingness to help is what makes my clients come back. The security and safety they feel allows them to go to work in peace.” Khadra is a Seattle University graduate who likes to hike and explore the outdoors. Her day-care home is licensed and bonded.
If you are interested in an opening at Sahra’s Family Day Care, she asks that you use the form on her website or give her a call at 206-235-6844,
We thank Sahra’s Family Day Care for sponsoring independent, community-collaborative neighborhood news via WSB; find our current sponsor team listed in directory format here, and find info on joining the team by going here.
Last week, we previewed a first-ever event coming up at Westcrest Park (9000 8th SW) – actually a series of events spread over nine days, tomorrow (Friday, August 27th) through Sunday, September 5th – transforming part of the park into a “Created Commons,” hosted and curated by Lelavision. The Created Commons will feature what the overview describes as “BIPOC-centered performances, kinetic musical-sculpture, eco-art installations and workshops, wellness offerings, and science panels to cultivate our health as a community.” Now that it’s almost here, we have updates.
The first event is at 6 pm Friday (calendar listing here), honoring the Duwamish Tribe, with other participants sharing “stories, music, and tales of their activism on behalf of the resident Orcas in the Salish Sea.” On Friday night, families in need can get free groceries at the park, thanks to Free Food for All. A highlight this Saturday (August 28th) is the Arts in Nature Festival Showcase presented by Delridge Neighborhoods Development Association, 3-8 pm, a mini-version of the annual festival, promising music, poetry, and dance.
As you can see in the full Created Commons schedule on Lelavision’s website, this isn’t just a spectator event – there are opportunities for participation. That includes the vaccination pop-ups we mentioned yesterday as well as free wellness classes:
Those are just some of the events – we’re adding listings to the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar too. And along with scheduled events, Lelavision will bring its kinetic sculpture Interspecies Communication (seen in South Park in 2017) to the park for community interaction, noon-8 pm all four weekend days (August 28-29, September 4-5). All events over the course of Created Commons are free, funded by grants and sponsorships.
(Wilson’s Warbler – a migratory bird that’ll head south soon – photographed by Trileigh Tucker)
Here’s what’s happening in the hours ahead, from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar and archives:
VACCINATION POP-UP: Get vaccinated at this one-day clinic today – open until noon and then again 1-7 pm – in the north parking lot at South Seattle College (6000 16th SW; WSB sponsor)
AQUATIC SCHEDULE: No wading pool today, since we’re not expected to hit 70 degrees. Highland Park Spraypark (1100 SW Cloverdale) is open 11 am-8 pm and Colman Pool at Lincoln Park is open noon-7 pm.
(added) LEMONADE AND BRACELETS: Thanks to Lisa for word of another team of young entrepreneurs in Arbor Heights:
Until 3 pm at 39th SW/SW 104th, you can buy lemonade and bracelets (made “with love” by Nora, Maddie, Addy, and Grace).
VACCINATION APPRECIATION: 11:30 am-8:30 pm, Copper Coin (2329 California SW) is offering a free drink today if you buy a meal and show proof you’re fully vaccinated.
ULTIMATE FRISBEE: Show up for pickup play at Fairmount Playfield (5400 Fauntleroy Way SW) at 6 pm.
BOARD GAME NIGHT: Meeples Games invites you in to play, 6:30 pm-10 pm on Thursdays. (3727 California SW)
WEST SEATTLE TRANSPORTATION COALITION: 6:30 pm online, all welcome to the WSTC’s August meeting, with guests from Sound Transit, SDOT, and the 16th Avenue Safety Committee. Our calendar listing has the link and number for participating via videoconference or phone.
Event coming up? Send info to westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
6:06 AM: Good morning. We know you’ve heard this before, but there’s a chance of rain in the forecast – maybe this afternoon, probably tonight.
ROAD WORK
26th SW & beyond – Northbound 26th SW closure continues between Roxbury and Barton.
Delridge project – Lane striping continued overnight. Here’s what else is happening this week.
Beach Drive – Tree trimming for utility lines is scheduled to continue in the 5900-6500 blocks.
Highway utility work – If you’re traveling 509 or 99 south of West Seattle late tonight/early tomorrow, be aware of this.
Weekend reminder – Highland Park Way/West Marginal intersection work continues Saturday/Sunday mornings/early afternoons.
TRANSIT
Buses are on regular schedules – except for the rerouting in RapidRise H Line work zones. Watch @kcmetrobus for word of bus cancellations.
For ferries and water taxis, regular schedule. Watch @wsferries for updates.
BRIDGES AND DETOUR ROUTES
521st 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.
That’s the aerial view of a – distanced! – neighborhood celebration this past weekend on Pigeon Point. Robert Shampain sent the video, report, and photos:
On Sunday, August 22, The Pigeon Point Neighborhood of West Seattle (just south of our Once-and-Future West Seattle Bridge) hosted the “Pigeon Point Back-Together-In-Person Get-together” near Pathfinder K-8 School. It was sponsored by a Small Sparks Grant from the Department of Neighborhoods, along with several local businesses, and it was a huge success!
Over 200 people attended during the afternoon, and enjoyed free tacos from West Seattle’s own El Chapulin Oaxaqueño taco truck along with lots of other food and drink, wonderful music by 5 local resident professionals (Brian Cutler, Nick Droz, Scott Herman, Ellaina Lewis, and Gabi Montoya), and presentations by the Duwamish Tribe’s Ken Workman, the new Pathfinder K-8 Principal and Vice Principal, the “Ridge-to- River” and West Duwamish Greenbelt trails project, PREP (Puget Ridge Edible Park), and DNDA (Delridge Neighborhoods Development Association).
There were a lot of kids-and-family events, like “Nature Art” with the Nature Consortium’s Jules Hepp and Jen Paur of “Tiny Science,” who brought all sorts of wonderful insects and information on bugs to share. Cindi Barker from the West Seattle Emergency Hubs had an information booth, as did the West Seattle SkyLink project, who had asked to attend. It really was an amazing afternoon. And best of all, neighbors all pitched in to clean up so well at the end, you couldn’t even tell how much fun had been had!
Thanks to Steyn Benade of Always Local Photos for that pic and word that a harbor-seal pup was rescued at Alki Beach today. We asked David Hutchinson of Seal Sitters Marine Mammal Stranding Network what happened; he sent this photo and response:
A very young harbor seal pup was responded to by Seal Sitters today at Alki Beach. Volunteers established a perimeter and watched over the pup during the early afternoon. Given its poor body condition – it was very thin – it was felt that an intervention was required. SR3 in Des Moines was contacted and they arrived, captured the pup, and provided transport to their facility. On initial examination, it was determined that this was a nursing-age pup with no attending mother. Hopefully rehab will be successful.
We don’t know why the pup was abandoned, but if humans/pets get too close, that can scare the mom away from returning to her pup. (Both of the photos were taken with long lenses.) If you see a marine mammal on a West Seattle beach – or in distress offshore – call Seal Sitters Marine Mammal Stranding Network at 206-905-SEAL.
Two reader reports in West Seattle Crime Watch:
APARTMENT BURGLARY: Una says this happened while she was out of town:
I wanted to alert you and by extension the community that my apartment was broken into. I live in a secured access building near the Junction that was broken into around 3:30 am on August 23rd. The thieves hammered at the lock multiple times until it finally broke. My own security footage picked up sounds of door tampering on the 16th, 17th, and 20th as well. They appear to have known that apartment was empty. Items stolen include: phones, hard drive, fine jewelry, costume jewelry, perfumes, sunglasses, and dozens of pieces of personal affects (letters, cards, marathon medals).
Una says building management apparently has images of the burglar(s) but has not made them available.
ABANDONED TRICYCLE: From Jason:
This SmarTrike was likely stolen and dumped by my house. It is located on the north side of SW Genesee just west of 26th across from the golf course. It’s in excellent condition and probably new.
6:41 PM: Thanks for the tips. 2nd SW is still closed south of Highland Park Way while that RV fire is investigated. We talked to SFD at the scene; they say no one was hurt.
7:48 PM: The call has closed, so the street should be open again.
ADDED THURSDAY: SFD spokesperson David Cuerpo tells WSB, “Fire investigators ruled the incident as undetermined with an estimated loss of $800. Crews report the fire started within an encampment and extended to an RV and two vehicles. No occupants were present at the time of the incident and no injuries were reported.”
(WSB photo, taken atop the bridge last week)
Next week, SDOT plans a “deck scan” of the Spokane Street Viaduct – that’s the section of the West Seattle Bridge that’s still open, east of 99. The announcement explains, “A deck scan is one way we understand the condition and performance of our streets and bridges to keep them safe and durable. … Our contractor will be conducting the deck scan to identify any potential defects with the following tools: A sound scan that uses sophisticated audio equipment to listen to the road with an array of microphones. The scan notes changes in acoustic response as it drives over the roadway, which helps us identify spots on the concrete deck that may result into future potholes. … Ground penetrating radar (that) uses electromagnetic waves to locate potential concrete delamination – or a layer of unbonded concrete – on the deck. Finally, we’ll use an overhead 4K camera to complete infrared imaging to take an in-depth view of the surface of the roadway.” This work won’t close the SSV but will lead to slowdowns, 7 am-5 pm Monday (August 30th) through Friday (September 3rd) next week. SDOT says a deck scan also is planned for “closed portions of the West Seattle Bridge and streets and ramps leading to it.” The north half of the Spokane Street Viaduct is less than a decade old, completed in 2012.
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