day : 08/01/2022 9 results

(SDOT video: Finishing the cleanup)
Almost 33 hours after a slide that took out trees and power lines, the Highland Park Way hill has fully reopened, according to SDOT. The power was restored by late last night but the slide cleanup took a day longer.

CRIME WATCH FOLLOWUP: Stolen-car suspect charged

January 8, 2022 6:50 pm

| 21 COMMENTS

| Crime | West Seattle news

A week and a half ago, we reported on the arrest of a 31-year-old man found in a damaged stolen Chevy Suburban partly blocking traffic at California/Fauntleroy. The suspect, Aaron E. McCord, is still in jail, and the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office has filed a felony charge of stolen-vehicle possession against him. He was already awaiting trial on another case with the same charge, involving an auto theft from a Ballard apartment complex; the stolen car in which he was found here was taken in Southeast Seattle. In both arrests, police say they found McCord in possession of “shaved keys” he’s believed to have used to start the cars. In this case, police say he claimed he had bought the car from someone; in the previous case, he is reported to have told officers he borrowed the stolen car from a friend. Court documents say he has one felony conviction, also on a charge related to auto theft. His bail is set at $5,000.

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FOLLOWUP: Closer look at Highland Park Way slide, as cleanup and closure continue

January 8, 2022 2:38 pm

| 60 COMMENTS

| Highland Park | Utilities | West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

2:38 PM: More than 25 hours after a slide took out trees and power lines, closing the Highland Park Way hill and cutting power to 3,200 homes and businesses, the cleanup continues and the road remains closed. We’ve received photos and an update from SDOT.

SDOT spokesperson Ethan Bergerson tells WSB that crews from other city departments are assisting – including Seattle City Light and Parks and Recreation: “City crews are still working to clear debris and perform erosion control. There is still a lot of debris, and the hillside is muddy and destabilized. We understand that this is an important detour route for the West Seattle Bridge closure and are working hard to reopen some lanes as soon as it is safe to do so.”

No ETA for reopening all or part of the hill, though, Bergerson says. (The power outage was resolved within 8 1/2 hours, as noted in our Friday updates.) A slide in 2017 closed the same stretch of road for more than two days.

8:20 PM: Update from SDOT via Twitter:

UPDATE: Crews are hand pressure washing to improve the road condition. We are working on making it safe before reopening. Thanks for your patience. pic.twitter.com/7nlezYSc4b

— SDOT Traffic (@SDOTtraffic) January 9, 2022

10:24 PM: Reopened.

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WHALES: Humpbacks off West Seattle

January 8, 2022 2:00 pm

| Comments Off on WHALES: Humpbacks off West Seattle

| West Seattle news | Whales

Not only are sailboats off the peninsula today, there are whales too! Kersti Muul sends word that two humpbacks are in the area, making their way north. At last report, they’re south of Alki. Let us know if you see them!

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UPDATE: First West Seattle Bridge work platform installed

January 8, 2022 12:53 pm

| 18 COMMENTS

| West Seattle Bridge Safety Project | West Seattle news

12:53 PM: That’s the first half of the first work platform hoisted up under the West Seattle Bridge today. We photographed it from the low-bridge walking/biking path around 11:30 am, just as it was reaching the top. This half is under the south side of the bridge; the other half was scheduled to go up a few hours after the first one – we’ll check back later this afternoon. As noted in our Friday preview, the hoisting operation is not affecting traffic.

2:22 PM: Watching this “live” SDOT camera, we’re noticing that it appears crews are now moving the second half of the platform into place for hoisting now – look at the lower right of the screen.

5:13 PM: Returned to the area just before dusk for the photo above – second half in place. We’ll find out this week about the timetable for installing the other platform, on the east side of the main span.

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READER REPORT: Walk-in booster shots at city vaccine clinic

January 8, 2022 12:37 pm

| 3 COMMENTS

| Coronavirus | West Seattle news

We don’t have any way to verify this but if you’ve been looking for a booster shot, a reader just sent word that they got one as a walk-in at the Neighborhood House High Point (6400 Sylvan Way SW) city-run clinic today, and that they were told there’s room for more walk-ins. That could change before you get there but we didn’t want to let the potential opportunity go by unannounced – reader tips often yield the most accurate, up-to-date info on vaccination opportunities. The clinic is scheduled to be open until 4:30 pm.

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SEEN OFF WEST SEATTLE: Three Tree Point Yacht Club’s first race of the year

January 8, 2022 12:19 pm

| 1 COMMENT

| Seen at sea | West Seattle news

12:19 PM: Great day to be on the water, with this break in the weather after all the storminess these past two weeks! Thanks to everyone who texted/emailed about the passing sailboats – the photo above is by David Hutchinson. This is the Three Tree Point Yacht Club‘s Duwamish Head Race. 48 boats are listed as registered; race results will be here later.

12:43 PM: Thanks to Gary Jones for more photos:

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Delridge Library closed today

January 8, 2022 11:02 am

| 8 COMMENTS

| Delridge | West Seattle libraries | West Seattle news

The Seattle Public Library has been closing some branches on a day-to-day basis because of staffing shortages. In West Seattle, the Delridge branch will be closed today. The Southwest branch was closed yesterday. If you need to use the Delridge branch’s book drop, that IS still open today.

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WEST SEATTLE SATURDAY: 9 notes

January 8, 2022 6:34 am

| 5 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Snowy Olympics, photographed earlier this week by Stewart L.)

Welcome to the weekend. Here’s what’s happening:

TRAFFIC ALERT: As noted here, SDOT “will have signal crews working to replace overhead signs on Chelan Avenue SW (in front of the Chelan Café). The work is anticipated to begin Saturday as soon as 5 am and conclude as soon as 5 pm. Traffic impacts include lane closures below the signs as they work to make updates.”

ALSO FYI: As previewed Friday, the contractor for West Seattle Bridge repairs plans to raise one of the work platforms toward the west end of the main span. SDOT says it will be raised in two parts, the first one as early as 8 am, th second one a few hours later, and that this will not affect traffic.

‘GET FIT WEST SEATTLE’ KICKOFF: Are you participating in the free fitness program presented by West Seattle Runner (WSB sponsor)? Be at the shop (2743 California SW) for the kickoff run.

THE BRIDGE SCHOOL OPEN HOUSE: 10 am-noon at The Bridge School (10300 28th Ave SW; WSB sponsor), which is a cooperative elementary school.

WOMEN’S PERSONAL SAFETY CLASS: 10 am online, learn about crime prevention and safety. Free but registration’s required – sign up here.

FREE WEEKLY WRITERS’ GROUP: New participants welcome. 10:30 am – registration link and other details are in our calendar listing.

WINE TIME: Viscon Cellars‘ (5910 California SW; WSB sponsor) tasting room is open 1-6 pm.

KURDISH AND EGYPTIAN MUSIC: Ahmad and Omar perform at C & P Coffee (5612 California SW; WSB sponsor), 7-9 pm.

WEST SEATTLE DRAG SHOW: At the Admiral Pub (2306 California SW) with Dolly Madison, 9 pm.

Are we missing anything? Email westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!

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