West Seattle, Washington
07 Monday
Congratulations to the West Seattle High School girls’ basketball team for a season that took them all the way to the regional playoffs. Unfortunately, that’s where it ended tonight, just one win short of qualifying for state. The Wildcats lost to Auburn, 56-52, in a regionals game played in Puyallup.
(Short, silent trailer for ‘Monsters of the American Cinema’)
ArtsWest Playhouse (WSB sponsor) will open its next play soon – but first, you have the opportunity to watch its most-recent production without leaving home. “Monsters of the American Cinema,” by Christian St. Croix, is now available to stream whenever you want to watch it. ArtsWest describes the production – directed by and starring Lamar Legend and also starring Alexander Kilian – as “haunting and humorous.” You can support the playhouse by buying a ticket for as little as $15; they’ll throw in the popcorn (sent to your mailing address)! Start here; it’ll be available online through March 23rd.
The photos are from the Vietnamese Cultural Center (2234 SW Orchard) in West Seattle, during a recent visit by a group from the South Park Senior Center. The VCC is open for visitors on Saturdays, noon-3 pm, or by appointment for group visits like this one.
Haven’t visited the center? It’s been in operation since 2006; here’s some backstory.
(Image courtesy Sebastian Myrick)
The Seattle Fire Department has finally released the cause of last Saturday morning’s apartment fire near Westwood Village (WSB coverage here). The fire that injured five people was ruled accidental, SFD spokesperson David Cuerpo told WSB today. Investigators believe it was sparked by a “malfunctioning appliance.” The official damage estimate was $200,000.
West Seattle resident Christi came up with an idea for a community-wide cleanup beyond the usual site-specific group gatherings. She’s circulated the idea on social media but wanted to be sure WSB readers knew about it too:
Let’s clean up YOUR neighborhood! Do what you can, with what you have, where you are~
What: Neighborhood Litter pickup
When: Saturday, Feb. 26, 9-11 [or a time of your choosing]
Where: YOU CHOOSE!This is a community litter pickup event. Everyone that wants to participate is encouraged to spend two hours on Saturday, Feb. 26 picking up litter in your neighborhood, a block up, a block over, or wherever you feel the need.
No time, but want to participate? Just clean up in front of your house and against the sidewalk. Maybe extend it to the older neighbor next door. Your neighborhood is already clean, but you want to participate? Select your favorite restaurant or shopping area, go to their parking lot and pick up litter there. I am sure the business owners and employees would be thrilled! Your street is good (not two hours worth of picking), but your route to work always breaks your heart? Pick there! Everyone wants to live in a clean community.
I do firmly suggest you only go to sidewalk neighborhoods. It’s pretty dangerous otherwise. Meeting a friend for coffee then? Great! Enjoy your coffee and then stroll and pick up litter in that area. Kids have events at that time? Pick up the ball field – I bet others would join you as you set an example of responsibility; especially younger siblings of those playing. Dog needs a walk? They will enjoy a stroll and a sniff here and there while you pick up litter.
WARNING: You will feel good and will feel so happy when you next drive through that area! You may even want to pick up litter again!
If you decide to do this, consider sending us a pic so we can celebrate your efforts – thanks!
On the last day of winter, you’ll be able to do some almost-spring cleaning by bringing shreddable paper and recyclable/reusable items to the next big West Seattle drop-off event! Here’s the announcement we received this afternoon:
Have stuff to recycle that doesn’t go in your cart? Bring it to the “Beyond the Cart” Community Reuse & Recycling Event on March 19th hosted by the West Seattle Chamber and the West Seattle Junction Association!
Saturday, March 19th
9 am-12 pmSouth Seattle College
Entrance #1, 6000 16th Ave SWACCEPTED ITEMS:
§ Household batteries (no leaking or broken, tape ends)
§ Fluorescent tubes and bulbs (no broken bulbs, limit 4)
§ Small Electronics (TVs, computers, etc.)
§ Small Appliances (non-Freon (microwaves, toasters, etc.)
§ Paper for shredding (limit 4 boxes)
§ Styrofoam (Clean & Dry – remove labels and tape)
§ Clothing (shoes, pants, shirts, purses, belts)
§ Curtains and drapes
§ Small propane canisters (camp-stove size)More information can be found here: seattle.gov/utilities/your-services/collection-and-disposal/recycling/beyond-the-cart
Thank you to Waste Management and Seattle Public Utilities for making this event possible!
For the second time in less than a week, police are investigating a reported case of gunfire on the road. This happened after 7 pm last night. The victim said she was driving northbound on West Marginal Way – somewhere between the 4700 and 6800 blocks – when another driver began swerving and tailgating her. That driver then turned off its headlights, sped up to get closer to the victim’s vehicle, and someone in the car fired what the victim said were eight to nine shots. She drove home and called police. Officers counted “four fresh bullet holes” in her car and noted its rear tire had gone flat. The report says she “could not provide any details of the suspect vehicle, suspect(s), or motive.” If you saw anything, the case number is 22-047828.
(WSB photo: Sue Lindblom at left with Nancy, Heather, Monica, Anna, Rita)
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
“We’ve had a lot of fun – I believe it’s important to have a lot of fun, and laugh.”
That philosophy has propelled Sue Lindblom through almost 44 years of owning and operating the trailblazing West Seattle salon Illusions Hair Design (5619 California SW; longtime WSB sponsor). So much fun, she couldn’t bear to retire until now. Illusions has just announced it’s closing permanently at the end of May. (Read her full emailed announcement here.)
“I thought I’d retire at 65, or 67, or 68 … here I am, almost 74. But those numbers are just numbers.” This isn’t just her decision, her retirement. The entire Illusions team, with a collective century and a half at the salon, decided to call it a day, all planning to leave the hairstyling business. “It was just time – seemed like the right time for all of us.”
Lindblom has operated Illusions differently from most other salons. No tipping, for one. But that’s just part of it.
She was 30 when she and then-business partner Linda Rhoton opened Illusions Hair Design on June 1, 1978, ten years after she started in the business. She became sole owner when Rhoton had to retire early. “I didn’t think I’d be doing it this long.” A previous employer’s innovations inspired her. “I was managing that salon and started to think I could run one.” But it took a decade or so before she started “different ways of doing things.”
(Thursday low tide at sunset, photographed by Jen Popp)
From the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar, inbox, and archives:
(added) POP-UP CLEANUP: Join Erik 10 am-noon at Gatewood Elementary (4320 SW Myrtle):
This is a family-friendly, leisurely clean starting at Gatewood’s front entrance courtyard on SW Myrtle. From there we’ll head around the perimeter of the block, hit the playground and also send folks out into the surrounding neighborhood.
Vests, gloves , buckets, and pickup sticks will be provided and we’ll transfer all the trash into Seattle Public Utilities bags for pickup.
Have a kid who needs service hours? Send ’em over and we’ll set them up! Come for as little or as much as you’d like, invite your family and friends as we make this a safer environment for our students and teachers as they return to school next week :)
I’ll be walking & cleaning too so if I miss you at the start time I’ll leave the supplies in the courtyard.
I can be reached at 206-852-9552
ONLINE OFFICE HOURS: City Councilmember Lisa Herbold‘s monthly “office hours” are 2-6 pm today – our calendar listing explains how to book part of that time.
AFTER-SCHOOL MAGIC LEAGUE: No school for many this week, but the Magic League is still in session 4-6 pm at Meeples Games (3727 California SW) – details in our calendar listing.
DJ NIGHT AT THE SPOT WEST SEATTLE: Friday night DJ’ing starts at 6 pm. (2920 SW Avalon Way)
CD RELEASE PARTY: Electric Mainline, with Margo Adrift and Wasabi Samba, at The Skylark (3803 Delridge Way SW), 7 pm doors, 8 pm show.
‘A YEAR WITH FROG AND TOAD’: Opening night for Twelfth Night Productions‘ presentation of this whimsical musical, 7:30 pm at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center (4408 Delridge Way SW). Our calendar listing includes the ticket link.
(added) BASKETBALL: The West Seattle High School girls’ must-win regional-playoff game is tonight vs. Auburn HS at 8 pm, at Puyallup HS (105 7th St. SW),
WEST 5 ONLINE AUCTION CONCLUDES: When West 5 in The Junction announced its closure, there was mention of an auction. That auction is happening online through 8 pm tonight – go here to browse and/or bid.
6:03 AM: Good morning!
WEATHER
No snow. Today’s forecast suggests it’ll be the last sunny day for a while, with a high in the mid-to-upper 40s.
NO WEEKEND ALERTS
SDOT says nothing’s planned this weekend.
BUSES, WATER TAXI, FERRIES TODAY
Metro is on its regular weekday schedule, with one alert – construction work in the Westwood area will affect Routes 22 and 120 between 7 am and 3 pm today, and the southbound stop on Delridge north at Henderson will not be served. … Watch @kcmetrobus for word of reroutes/cancellations.
Water Taxi‘s on its regular schedule.
Ferries: WSF continues the two-boat schedule for Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth. Check here for alerts/updates.
BRIDGES AND DETOUR ROUTES
703rd morning without the West Seattle Bridge.
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.)
1st Avenue South Bridge:
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? Check the @SDOTBridges Twitter feed; 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.
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