day : 06/02/2022 9 results

(WSB photo, last month)

One month after its first modernized berth opened for cargo shipping, Terminal 5 has ‘already had a huge win,” Northwest Seaport Alliance managing members were told at their February meeting.

The NWSA says the West Seattle terminal is benefiting from port and railroad congestion in Canada – two of the first three ships to call were sent here instead of Vancouver, B.C., and sent thousands of containers via rail to Montreal and Toronto. Terminal 5’s rail capability was a key selling point for the modernization project.

This was announced in the “operational update” during the meeting of the Seattle and Tacoma port commissioners (the NWSA is the two ports’ joint cargo-operations authority). They were told that the initial startup of T-5’s north berth “is going very well.” All four of the giant new cranes have operated with no downtime – something of a rarity, NWSA staff said – and unions have filled all the terminal operators’ orders for workers.

Next milestones for the north berth, as we’ve reported, will be the arrival of the first big ships later this month (the dates change frequently). These also tend to be newer as well as shore-power-capable, meaning they can use on-dock electricity rather than running their engines and burning fuel while docked.

The NWSA meeting this past Tuesday (here’s the video) also included a construction update on the overall T-5 project, which includes modernization of the south berth, on which work is well under way. Project manager Emma Del Vento said they’re seeing some effects of the concrete strike and supply-chain issues, but nothing affecting the “critical path” schedule overall. Here’s the slide deck she presented:

The total cost of the T-5 project is now projected at $368 million. That’s double the low end of the early projections back in 2015.

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Ailing harbor seal rescued from Lincoln Park beach.

February 6, 2022 8:41 pm

| 2 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | Wildlife

Thanks to Kelly for the video above and S. for the photo below. Seal Sitters Marine Mammal Stranding Network, with the assistance of SR3, rescued an ailing harbor seal at Lincoln Park today. Seal Sitters’ Lynn Shimamoto tells WSB that this is a weaned pup they watched at the park this past Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. It returned this afternoon “and was observed to be very thin and coughing … Shocking how much the pup’s condition had deteriorated.”

It’s been taken to SR3’s facility in Des Moines for evaluation. If you see a marime mammal on a West Seattle beach – or appearing to be in distress offshore – call Seal Sitters at 206-905-SEAL.

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WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Early-morning burglary

February 6, 2022 6:35 pm

| 5 COMMENTS

| Crime | West Seattle news

The report is from Bismark, who lives near 30th/Charlestown:

On February 5 [Saturday] at around 3:30 am, our house was the target of a home invasion burglary.

My roommate and I were sleeping upstairs at that time and was alerted by my dog that someone was inside the house. We quickly assessed the situation and took appropriate action in equipping ourselves with our personal defense and called 911. The subjects ended up getting away with valuable assets and around 6 am we received a call from Kirkland PD that the 4 people responsible were arrested along with the stolen car they had at the time. They are currently in custody … and I am asking the West Seattle community if they have been a target of recent burglary or have footage of suspects entering homes to please contact Seattle and Kirkland PD with your findings.

We hope to bring justice and peace of mind that we don’t tolerate this criminal activity in our neighborhood.

We are also aware that our situation could have been a terrible outcome and luckily nobody got hurt or worse.

The SPD incident number is 22-030289. We don’t have the Kirkland PD incident number yet but will be following up.

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WEST SEATTLE BIRDS: 8 more views of our winged neighbors

February 6, 2022 4:50 pm

| 4 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | Wildlife

Another Sunday bird gallery, thanks to local photographers kindly sharing their work! Above, Trileigh Tucker captures one of those adorable tiny Bushtits you might see flocking through the trees. Below, one of the more captivatingly colorful backyard birds, a Varied Thrush, photographed by Michelle Green Arnson:

Michelle also shared this view of a Bald Eagle:

Next, another Bald Eagle is the first of three birds James Tilley shows us:

Also in flight, two Gulls:

This one’s more of a backyard bird, a Yellow-rumped Warbler:

Tom Trulin photographed a Great Blue Heron against the sunset (and the Fauntleroy ferry):

And in case you missed the Jerry Simmons photo of a rain-damp California Scrub-Jay we showed here, he shared another view:

Thanks for the photos! One more note – bird lovers will want to be part of a Duwamish Longhouse event on Saturday, February 26 – Birds of the Duwamish River Valley! In-person bird walks at 9 and 11 am, and a talk at 10 am with nature guide Elaine Chuang. (A chance to watch the 10 am presentation online is promised too, but we don’t have a link for that yet – hope to have that in a calendar listing soon.) The Longhouse is at 4705 W. Marginal Way SW.

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ELECTION 2022: The one that’s not on the ballot you got in the mail

February 6, 2022 2:38 pm

| 4 COMMENTS

| Environment | West Seattle news | West Seattle politics

Separate from the school-levies vote, there’s another election happening right now. Tuesday’s also the deadline for voting. And it’s even easier – for this one, you can vote online. It’s the King Conservation District‘s election for one of its three supervisor positions. From the most-recent reminder:

King Conservation District (KCD) is holding its annual Board Supervisor election through February 8, 2022. The 2022 election has attracted four candidates for the position. Kirstin Haugen, Barbara Roessler, Dominique Torgerson, and Tripp Williams are all vying for the seat. Candidate statements can be found at kingcd.org/elections. …

Ballots will be available to eligible voters online … through February 8, 2022, at 8:00 PM. Voters may return ballots electronically through the online ballot access system or print and mail ballots to King County Elections at 919 SW Grady Way, Suite 200, Renton, WA 98057. Mailed ballots must be postmarked by February 8, 2022, and received by February 17, 2022, to be counted. Ballots may also be dropped off at King County Elections at 919 SW Grady Way, Suite 200, Renton, WA 98057. King County Elections will tabulate all ballots and report all results.

KCD is a special purpose district committed to helping people engage in stewardship and conservation of natural resources, serving over two million people in 34 cities and unincorporated King County (excluding the cities of Enumclaw, Federal Way, Milton, Pacific, and Skykomish). KCD assists private residents with forestry management, streamside and shoreline restoration, farm conservation planning, and other environmental efforts. It works with cities and community organizations to support community gardens, urban forest canopy, and local food systems. KCD is funded primarily by a per-parcel assessment fee.

An all-volunteer, five-member Board of Supervisors is responsible for overseeing KCD operations, budget, and setting policy. Voters elect three supervisors and the Washington State Conservation Commission appoints two supervisors. Supervisors serve three-year terms.

For more information about the election and candidates, please visit kingcd.org/elections.

The link for voting is at the bottom of that webpage. Considering very few have voted so far, your vote could count in an outsize way.

P.S. As far as we can tell, none of the four candidates for this position are West Seattle residents, but one of the other two elected KCD supervisors, whose position is not up for election this year, is – Chris Porter.

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UPDATE: Small fire, big initial response in 8100 block 15th SW

February 6, 2022 2:04 pm

| Comments Off on UPDATE: Small fire, big initial response in 8100 block 15th SW

| Highland Park | West Seattle fires | West Seattle news

2:04 PM: Seattle Fire is sending a “full response” to a possible fire in the 8100 block of 15th SW [map]. First crew to arrive reports “light smoke.” Updates to come.

2:07 PM: Turned out to be another small fire, already out, and the response is being downsized.

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ELECTION 2022: Two more days to vote on school levies

February 6, 2022 12:19 pm

| 3 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle politics | West Seattle schools

As of Friday, fewer than 18 percent of Seattle’s registered voters had turned in their ballots for Tuesday’s school-levy election. So here’s your reminder to vote. Two Seattle Public Schools levies are the only things on your ballot – three-year Proposition 1: Educational Programs & Operations, and six-year Proposition 2: Buildings, Technology, and Academics/Athletics. For details on both, here’s a story we published last month. 8 pm Tuesday (February 8th) is when the dropboxes close; if you plan to mail your ballot, be sure it’s postmarked no later than Tuesday.

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A tribute to Jon Boudreau, and a way to assist his family

February 6, 2022 10:29 am

| 6 COMMENTS

| How to help | Obituaries | West Seattle news

Friends of Jon Boudreau are sharing news of his passing along with a way to assist his family:

It is with a heavy heart that we report the passing of Jon Boudreau, a beloved member of our West Seattle community and the spouse of Odetta Owen Boudreau. After a glioblastoma diagnosis, Jon focused on healing his body and soul by focusing his energy on his love of family, friends, music, and gardening.

In addition to giving support and care to Jon, Odetta has given so much to our community in times of need, including organizing a food distribution center at Highland Park Improvement Club at the beginning of the pandemic that operated for 2 years.

To honor Jon’s memory, we are posting Odetta’s tribute to him and a link to the GoFundMe page set up in his name to help the family during this difficult time.

“With a heavy heart I share with you that my beloved Jon passed quietly and without pain (January 30). Over two years ago he was given the fatal diagnosis of brain cancer, glioblastoma. At the time he never wanted that information on social media. He did not feel that it would be helpful to anyone and he was in this diagnosis, as in his entire life, determined to live.

When you think of Jon and this period of his life, I hope you will as I am today remembering this beautiful quote.

‘The body of a starving horse does not forget the size it was born to.’
-Jane Hirshfield

Jon knew the eventual outcome of his diagnosis. In spite of that he never forgot the size he was born to.

Although we here still tethered to the planet, did not get what we wanted in outcomes for our dear, sweet husband, father, son, brother and friend, we must always honor the path he took. We feel deeply a loss, and we tend to talk about disease, especially cancer in terms of winning and losing.

Sweet friends, such language diminishes the size Jon was born to. Simply, and truthfully, God chose to heal him in a way that was different than what we wanted.”

gofundme.com/f/boudreau-family-support

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WEST SEATTLE SUNDAY: 9 notes

February 6, 2022 6:34 am

| 2 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Push-pin slime mold, photographed at Fauntleroy Park by Rosalie Miller)

Here’s what’s happening on February’s first Sunday:

TRAFFIC ALERT: Repaving is scheduled to continue on West Marginal Way between 2nd SW and Highland Park Way, detouring northbound traffic, until about 1 pm. (Let us know if you see the road fully reopened sooner – text 206-293-6302 – thank you.)

CHURCHES: Many West Seattle churches are continuing online-only services for now – here’s our weekly update on 20+ churches.

WEST SEATTLE FARMERS’ MARKET: 10 am-2 pm, find fresh food at the weekly WSFM (WSB sponsor). (California SW between SW Oregon and SW Alaska)

LINCOLN PARK CO-OP PRESCHOOL DINE-OUT (& MORE) FUNDRAISER: Lincoln Park Co-op Preschool gets a boost today from Lady Jaye (4523 California SW) – shop their market 10 am-2 pm, dine/drink 2 pm-8 pm (there or takeout), or buy gift cards (today only) – details in our calendar listing.

BLANKETS & BEDDING DRIVE: 11:30 am-1 pm donation drive at Alki UCC (6115 SW Hinds) – details in our calendar listing.

‘MONSTERS OF THE AMERICAN CINEMA’: Today’s 3 pm matinee wraps up the second weekend of this world-premiere play at ArtsWest Playhouse and Gallery (4711 California SW; WSB sponsor). Read about it here; buy your tickets here.

NEED FOOD? White Center Community Dinner Church serves a free meal (take-away available) at 5 pm Sundays at the Salvation Army Center (9050 16th SW).

SUNDAY NIGHT KARAOKE: 8 pm to 1 am at Admiral Pub (2306 California SW).

SUNDAY NIGHT JAZZ: Triangular Jazztet at The Alley (4509 California SW), 8 pm and 9 pm sets.

Got an event to list in our calendar and previews? Email info to westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!

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