day : 28/01/2022 11 results

West Seattle Transportation Coalition takes a ride into the future of Metro buses, state-ferry service

By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

Instead of the bridge, this month the West Seattle Transportation Coalition chose to focus on buses and ferries. Here’s what happened at Thursday night’s online meeting:

METRO’S WEST SEATTLE FUTURE: The centerpiece of the meeting was a conversation rather than a presentation. King County transportation-policy adviser Chris Arkills, a frequent WSTC attendee, was a guest this time. First, he reiterated that Metro plans to return to the high bridge once it reopens. “The low bridge has served us well” in the meantime, but with Terminal 5 reopening to regular cargo-ship calls, other demands will be front and center. So that means schedules will be a bit in flux when West Seattle routes change over from low bridge to high bridge this summer.

Share This

WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Road-rage gunfire; stolen silver Elantra; tribe’s canopy taken

January 28, 2022 8:56 pm

| 1 COMMENT

| Crime | Duwamish Tribe | West Seattle news

Three reports in West Seattle Crime Watch:

ROAD-RAGE GUNFIRE: SPD provided this brief summary tonight of an incident just before 9:30 this morning:

The victim and suspect were driving on the 1st Ave. S. Bridge when a road-rage incident occurred. The suspect followed the victim and drove in front of him. The suspect got out of his vehicle and made threats to kill the victim. The victim drove away, and while driving in the area of W Marginal Way SW/Highland Park Way SW, the suspect shot at the victim. The round struck the victim’s passenger-side door. The suspect fled SB on Highway 509.

As is usual for brief initial summaries, no descriptions were included.

STOLEN CAR: Reported by Carolyn:

Hyundai Elantra Silver 4-Door, License BKG 4627

Stolen yesterday, 1/27/22, from parking garage at Arrowhead Gardens Senior Living Apartments at 9230 2nd Avenue SW (near the Fire department training center off Olson Place SW and Myers Way South).

Additional identifying marks: Pink license-plate holder and reddish-brown Arrowhead Gardens parking sticker on rear window.

If seen, contact Carolyn – text location of vehicle to 206-965-5051

But first call 911.

TRIBE’S CANOPY TAKEN: Reported tonight by the Duwamish Tribe, via Twitter:

This canopy was stolen during a break in of our storage shed yesterday among other things. pic.twitter.com/bzFqhbSa0P

— @duwamish_Tribe (@Duwamish_Tribe) January 29, 2022

The Duwamish Longhouse is at 4705 W. Marginal Way SW. We’re checking with them to seek more information on what happened and what else. was taken.

Share This

WEST SEATTLE SUNSET: Last colorful show for a while?

January 28, 2022 7:44 pm

| 2 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle weather

Thanks to Brooke Gosztola (above) and James Bratsanos (below) for the views during and after tonight’s sunset.

If the forecast is borne out, this is likely the last sunset show we’ll see for at least a few days, as clouds are expected to move in tomorrow and rain by Sunday. Though tonight’s starting off with a clear sky, the temperature is not expected to drop as far as it did last night, with an official overnight low of 28, ten degrees below normal.

ADDED: One more sunset view, sent by Erin O.:

Share This

BIZNOTE: Reopening night for Dumplings of Fury

January 28, 2022 5:22 pm

| 22 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle restaurants

(WSB photos)

Tonight is the official reopening night for Dumplings Of Fury in The Junction! Thanks to Morgan for the tip after DOF soft-opened last night – proprietor Ben Jenkins then told us that after continuing the soft-open into lunchtime today, they would officially reopen for dinner tonight. Three weeks ago, he told WSB that DOF was “super close” to reopening in its expanded space at California/Oregon – months after closing for what at the time was expected to only be a matter of weeks.

Tonight the restaurant will likely stay open a bit later, until 10ish, and then they’ll decide when to open tomorrow, but by Sunday they’re expecting to settle into the regular 11 am-9
pm hours (closed Mondays). What’s new, besides the expanded space? Potstickers and a gluten-free Szechuan sauce, we’re told. (Added) Here’s the menu:

Share This

WEST SEATTLE LIGHT RAIL: First day of 3-month comment period for Draft Environmental Impact Statement. Here’s how to have your say

January 28, 2022 4:34 pm

| 32 COMMENTS

| Sound Transit | West Seattle news

(Rendering from DEIS Executive Summary, looking east on SW Genesee, east of Avalon)

What route will West Seattle’s future Sound Transit light-rail line travel, and where will its stations be? Data to shape those decisions is what you’ll find in the Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the West Seattle and Ballard light-rail extensions. The DEIS has been public since last week – all the documents are linked here, starting with the executive summary – but the official 3-month comment period didn’t start until today. First, from today’s announcement, here’s what ST is offering so you can learn more and tell them what you think:

Members of the public are invited to attend an online open house at wsblink.participate.online, where they can review alternatives and station options, and submit formal responses. People can also provide feedback by phone, by mail, by email, or at upcoming virtual, and possible in-person, public meetings.

Virtual public meetings will take place on the following dates and times:

Tuesday, March 15, 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. (Interbay/Ballard focused)
Tuesday, March 22, 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. (Downtown focused)
Thursday, March 24, 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. (CID/SODO focused)
Wednesday, March 30, 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. (West Seattle focused)

If public health guidance permits, an in-person open house is scheduled for Thursday, March 17 at Union Station from 12 – 7 p.m. This event may transition to virtual in accordance with public health recommendations. More information on attending the public meetings is available by visiting the online open house site.

Comments may be sent via email to WSBLEDEIScomments@soundtransit.org or by voicemail at 800-471-0879.

Written comments can be mailed to:

WSBLE Draft Environmental Impact Statement Comments
c/o Lauren Swift
Sound Transit
401 S. Jackson Street
Seattle, WA 98104

The Draft EIS is available for review at the online open house. Printed copies are available for review at Union Station, and at select Seattle public libraries and community centers. A list of locations is available on the open house site.

In West Seattle, all four Seattle Public Library branches are on that list, as is Youngstown Cultural Arts Center (4408 Delridge Way SW). In addition to the ST events mentioned above, the West Seattle Transportation Coalition also plans to host a workshop about the DEIS during its March 24th meeting. The commenting deadline is April 28th; after that, the ST Board will decide what should be in the final EIS, and then after that’s out next year, board members make the final decision on routing and station locations. West Seattle light rail is currently scheduled to launch in 2032, two years later than the date projected when voters approved the ST3 ballot measure more than five years ago.

P.S. ST will be making other community appearances over the course of the comment period; we just got word that one of the first will be at the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce‘s monthly online lunchtime event, noon February 10th, membership not required, and while a donation is requested from attendees, it’s not required either. Both members and nonmembers can register here to attend. And two days before that – at 5 pm February 8th – the Community Advisory Group for West Seattle will have its next meeting; watch here for attendance info.

Share This

BIZNOTE: Entrepreneur bringing her ‘alternative’ dream to life with Animated Café

January 28, 2022 2:13 pm

| 36 COMMENTS

| West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news | Westwood | WS beverages

A coffee stand opens next Friday at 35th/Barton. And this little stand has a big backstory.

(Photo courtesy Animated Café)

In the photo is Melanie Robbins, a West Seattle resident who is opening Animated Café in the Tony’s Market lot on the northeast corner of the intersection. She wants other young people to know you can chart your own path. She dropped out of high school just before the pandemic and went into training to be a barista (eventually getting her GED). Instead of going to work for somebody else’s coffee shop, she’s launching her own. She says a year and a half of online studies inspired many of her peers to “carve their own path in the world” too. In email before we spoke by phone, she wrote:

…I’ve watched nearly every one of my friends pursue an alternative lifestyle in order to feel less stuck in a world that seems to have forgotten about them. That means getting a job and fast-tracking their adult lives. The world that has historically valued school as the primary way of learning, and that has been disrupted. We are inspired by social media, do our research on Google, and learn how to make things on YouTube. School was day care for most kids prior to COVID. It turned into a joke during the pandemic instead of being the educational resource it is promised to be

I dropped out of high school 4 months before the pandemic started. Counter to social norms and expectations I felt extremely fortunate because this gave me a massive head start. While getting my GED I joined a program called Fare Start which taught me how to be a barista. At 16, when the pandemic started, I already had my high school equivalency, a job, and was enrolling in college all while my peers were facing the harsh reality of loneliness, fear, & a complete loss of structure. For the first time I felt like an outsider looking in. I had a clear mission, “Save as much money as possible, start a business, and take control of my life.” This seemed different from everyone else I knew at school, but I hope I can be a model for this generation of high-school students who feel stuck in time.

While in lockdown I fortified my love for everything animated. Disney+ just came out, and Hulu and Netflix had a deep library of anime. I always loved this genre of entertainment, and its popularity seemed to spike during the pandemic since people have been stuck at home looking for new shows to watch and mangas to read. 2 years later I have put every dime I earned toward that goal of taking control of my life in a world that seems so out of control. On February 4th Animated Cafe will become a reality, and I think more people my age should do the same thing versus waiting for the world to care.

She has advice for other would-be entrepreneurs, too, and it’s all on the Animated Café website. Starting next Friday, she invites you to come see what her hard work and planning has created. The “animated” theme will feature the proprietor serving guests as “Ana,” a costumed (“family-friendly”) character. “It’s going to be fun!” she promises. She’s planning to serve Dillano’s Coffee and pastries and sandwiches from Seattle’s Favorite. Animated Café will be drive-up, ride-up, or walk-up, 5 am to 5 pm for starters, until she sees what makes sense with the customer flow.

Share This

WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Store robbed; package taken

January 28, 2022 12:13 pm

| Comments Off on WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Store robbed; package taken

| Crime | West Seattle news

Two West Seattle Crime Watch reports:

STORE ROBBERY: The 7-11 at 35th/Avalon was robbed just after midnight, according to a brief report summary from Seattle Police. It says the store was held up by multiple people, at least one armed with a handgun; no descriptions in the summary, but we have requested more info from SPD and will add it if/when we get it.

PACKAGE TAKEN: Via email:

Had a package stolen from our porch (Wednesday) at 8:20 am. Looks like it may be teenagers in an older Honda Ridgeline. Hope a parent can see this and maybe stop future behavior. This was at California/Brandon. SPD (incident #) 2022-902092.

Share This

BIZNOTE: New mural reveals business move in Admiral

January 28, 2022 10:57 am

| 12 COMMENTS

| Pets | West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news | WS culture/arts

We’ve had several recent questions about work at the former Muttley Crew space on 42nd SW just north of SW Admiral Way. Finally an answer arrived via this photo – thanks to Melissa for sending it with word that West Seattle artist Desmond Hansen is painting it! We went over to try to get info in person but were unsuccessful; today we got email confirmation that it’ll be the new home of DogCity. The business is currently in The Triangle but has to move because its site is part of the upcoming 2-building Sweeney Blocks project (which just finished going through Design Review in November). The photo shows the east side of the building; DogCity says Hansen will be painting the north side too.

Share This

4 for the rest of your West Seattle Friday

January 28, 2022 10:37 am

| 1 COMMENT

| West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

Thanks to the texter who shared that dawn view, looking south. Just a few notes for the rest of today/tonight:

ONLINE OFFICE HOURS: 2-6 pm, City Councilmember Lisa Herbold‘s first online “office hours” of the year – our calendar listing has contact info for getting an appointment.

BASKETBALL: Chief Sealth IHS and West Seattle HS boys’ and girls’ teams, JV and varsity, all face off tonight. While there’s restrictions on attendance, you can watch livestreams from a WSHS student video crew by going here.

DJ NIGHT: 6-10 pm at The Spot West Seattle (2920 SW Avalon Way)

‘MONSTERS OF THE AMERICAN CINEMA’: The new world-premiere play at ArtsWest Playhouse and Gallery (4711 California SW; WSB sponsor) continues its run at 7:30 tonight. Read more about it here; buy your tickets here.

Something for our calendar? westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!

Share This

SATURDAY: Cleanup under the bridge

January 28, 2022 9:58 am

| 1 COMMENT

| Environment | How to help | West Seattle news

Start your weekend with community work. Saturday morning (January 29th), some of your West Seattle neighbors are leading a cleanup under the West Seattle Bridge and along the bike path. From the announcement:

Saturday from 10 am – Noon; meet at Riverside Memorial Park (a little plaza at the intersection of SW Marginal Pl. and 17th Ave SW). ADULTS ONLY (for safety).

This will be the first in a series of grittier-style cleans under the WS Bridge and along the bike path and surrounding areas (adults only.) Our mission will be to create a safer environment for bicyclists and pedestrians who use this area to pass thru on their commutes. Currently garbage, broken glass, and many discarded items make this a hazardous area to travel.

Vests, gloves, buckets and pickup sticks will be provided. More details are in the full announcement here. Organizers welcome any help, even if you can’t spare the full two hours.

Share This

TRAFFIC, TRANSIT, WEATHER: Friday notes and weekend alerts; Admiral hill crash

January 28, 2022 6:03 am

| 9 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

7:25 AM: Texters report the Admiral hill north of the bridge is blocked off because of a crash – apparently a utility pole was hit. Chris reports via email that multiple vehicles were involved. SFD has already cleared the scene so apparently no major injuries.

7:36 AM: This may be a while – per an exchange between dispatch and officers, Seattle City Light isn’t there yet. And as noted in comments, this chilly, slick morning has brought other problems around the metro area.

8:19 AM: The hill is reported to have reopened to some traffic.

==========

6:03 AM Good morning!

WEATHER

Today’s forecast foresees sunshine, after a very chilly morning, with a high in the 40s.

WEEKEND ALERTS

Saturday – the two-piece second work platform will be raised under the West Seattle Bridge, with a detour for people using Terminal 102 at the south end of Harbor Island. … Also on Saturday, SDOT “will be addressing vegetation overgrowth and clearing sidewalks on East Marginal Way S between South Hudson St [map] and South Alaska St. … Traffic impacts may include the closure of the northbound curb lane.”

Sunday – low-bridge closures of up to half an hour each around 9 am, 1 pm, and 5 pm, for more preparatory work looking ahead to that bridge’s repairs.

BUSES, WATER TAXI, FERRIES

Metro is on its regular weekday schedule. Watch @kcmetrobus for word of trip cancellations.

West Seattle and Vashon Water Taxi routes are on regular schedules.

Ferries: WSF continues a two-boat schedule on the Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth run. Check here for alerts/updates.

BRIDGES AND DETOUR ROUTES

675th morning without the West Seattle Bridge.

Low Bridge: Automated enforcement cameras are still 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 roads/paths/water? Text or call us (when you can do so safely) – 206-293-6302.

Share This