West Seattle, Washington
30 Monday
Thanks to Rob Wright for the highlight reel from the West Seattle High School girls’ district-playoffs victory over Holy Names on Tuesday at Bellevue College, 50-40. Next up, the Wildcat girls face top-seeded Garfield for the third time in less than three weeks; that game is also at Bellevue College, 3:30 pm tomorrow (Thursday, February 17th).
(Fishing off Lincoln Park, photographed by Vincent Marx)
Here’s what’s up for the rest of today/tonight:
MAYOR/EXECUTIVE ANNOUNCEMENT: Happening at 1 pm today:
King County Executive Dow Constantine, Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell, and Public Health – Seattle & King County Health Officer Dr. Jeff Duchin will hold a media availability today to discuss major updates to the County’s COVID-19 vaccination verification policy for restaurants and other public venues, first announced in September 2021 and in effect since October 2021. Executive Constantine and Mayor Harrell will also announce upcoming return to office plans for County and City employees as part of the ongoing pandemic recovery.
You’ll be able to watch live here.
DISCOVER SEATTLE COLLEGES: 5:30-6:30 pm tonight, online, learn about skilled-trades and technical training at South Seattle College (WSB sponsor) and its sibling Seattle Colleges. Go here to get the link.
EMBROIDERY CLASS: As previewed here Tuesday (follow that link for registration info), WEND (3278 California SW) is hosting artist Emily Juarez‘s “Embroidery 101” class at 6 pm.
HPIC GENERAL MEETING: 7 pm, Highland Park Improvement Club members are invited to a general membership meeting to talk about the ongoing post-fire rebuilding plan. You can join or renew here (members will get the meeting-attendance link).
SKYLARK OPEN MIC: 7:30 pm signups @ West Seattle’s longest-running open mic – no cover to watch. (3803 Delridge Way SW)
WEST SEATTLE BASEBALL: Today is the deadline for registration – details are in our original announcement.
Something for our calendar? Email info to westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
St. Patrick’s Day is one month from tomorrow. Since it’s on a Thursday this year, many celebrations will be held on the preceding weekend – like this one for which West Seattle Runner (WSB sponsor) invites you to register now:
We are doing something cool and partnering with Good Society Brewing on Sunday, March 13th at 9 am!
Join us for Group Run to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day. Meet at West Seattle Runner for 5k route around the ‘hood. Finish at Good Society Brewing
We ask that you sign up to take part (so Good Society can plan; they are opening early for us! And so we can decide if we need to arrange waves and an outside gathering). Please note that you need to mask up in the shop. You will have the option to be outside or indoors at Good Society. And of course, the run takes place outdoors, so this can be something to participate in a COVID-safe way.
Sign up by stopping by West Seattle Runner [2743 California SW] and purchasing an entry for $1.The dollar is to hold your place (if you choose to not attend after registering, please let us know, so your spot can go to someone on the waitlist). Each dollar will be given to Good Society staff as a tip. Soon, we will post a link to purchase on our web store. But we want first dibs to go to our customers before the public can sign up remotely. There will be a cap on the number of participants.
Good Society will donate part of proceeds to The West Seattle Food Bank or Social Justice Fund.
Wear your green or risk being pinched! There will be a raffle drawing to boot!!
10:53 AM: If you’re heading toward I-5 via the 1st Avenue S. Bridge and its Michigan exit, note that a crash investigation at 6th/Michigan has narrowed lanes and is slowing things:
Thanks to Rose for the photo and tip.
Earlier:
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6:03 AM: Good morning! It’s Wednesday.
WEATHER
In the forecast for today – some clouds, some fog, maybe some showers, high near 50.
BUSES, WATER TAXI, FERRIES
Metro is on its regular weekday schedule. Watch @kcmetrobus for word of reroutes/cancellations.
West Seattle and Vashon Water Taxi routes are on regular schedules.
Ferries: WSF continues the two-boat schedule for Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth. Check here for alerts/updates.
BRIDGES AND DETOUR ROUTES
694th 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.)
The 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.
Thanks to Christopher for the photo taken today at Me-Kwa-Mooks. We asked Seattle Parks about the tree crew; spokesperson Rachel Schulkin tells WSB that the pine was “being removed by Seattle Parks and Recreations Urban Forestry. This tree has come under attack by beetles carrying a fungus that is killing the tree.” If you look closely at the photo, you can see some of the tree’s branches are discolored.
Next week is mid-winter break. After that, blink, and it’s suddenly summer. So it’s time to start signing up for camp! In West Seattle, Mode Music and Performing Arts has opened registration – here’s the announcement:
MMPA Summer Camps
June 20th – August 26thMode Music and Performing Arts is back in full swing, with camps all summer long! Each week-long camp includes a morning and afternoon session, with a lunch break in between for those who sign up for a full day.
Summer camps will run from June 20th through August 26th. The morning camp runs from 9 AM to 12 PM and the afternoon camp runs from 12:30 PM to 3:30 PM.
Partial and full scholarships are available, and camp spots are limited.
Learn more and register for your camps now at modemusicandperformingarts.org/camps.
You can also email education@modemusicandperformingarts.org with additional questions.
MMPA is the nonprofit sibling of Mode Music Studios (WSB sponsor).
Twp reader reports:
STOLEN GEAR: Amanda reports a car break-in Sunday night/early Monday:
My 2015 Subaru Forester was broken into on the 2800 block of SW Adams. The hood release latch was ripped out and stolen, and my rock-climbing gear (shoes, harness, chalk) and tire chains were taken.
PACKAGE-THEFT AFTERMATH: From Greg:
I found a couple of Amazon deliveries on the side of SW Charlestown St that had been evidently “porch pirated.” There were actually 2 different packages – one addressed to someone on the 3800 block of 51st Ave SW (shipped on 2/13 based on the label) and the other addressed to someone in the 3000 block of 60th Ave SW (shipped on 2/12 based on the label). Both of the boxes were opened and empty and stuffed into the plastic Amazon delivery envelope. I have pictures of the 2 labels with names and exact addresses, but since the contents were emptied, through the envelope in the trash and the boxes in the recycle bin.
If you’re in that area and missing a package, contact us and we’ll connect you.
That’s Mayor Bruce Harrell‘s first State of the City speech, which lasted more than half an hour, presented at the start of this afternoon’s City Council meeting. No major announcements – his lone West Seattle-specific mention was a description of the 23-months-closed West Seattle Bridge as one of the city’s “most pressing priorities.” Recapping his announcement last week that the ongoing concrete-drivers strike may delay its reopening, he offered his City Hall conference room to the two sides if they need a place for talks. Earlier in the speech, he declared that “the status quo is unacceptable” and promised his administration will get “back to the basics.” He spent a major chunk of time on public safety, both embracing alternatives and declaring that the city needs more police on the streets. He said a promotional campaign will launch to encourage new officers to join – “the right number and the right kind” – and that the training academy will have a special Seattle-focused class of 36 in June. The city already has funding to hire 125 officers, he noted, budgeted even before he was elected. Regarding homelessness, he said a Unified Care Team would be created as the latest attempt to align resources, and that the city will simplify the process for members of the public to report issues of concern. On other issues, he voiced concern for struggling small businesses and promised to work with them. (Here’s the full transcript.)
12:11 PM: Thanks to Alison for the tip (added: and photo). SFD is arriving at what’s described as a three-vehicle crash with “pole down,” near the intersection with West Marginal Place, just south of the bridge [map]. No word yet on injuries, but this could mean traffic trouble for a while.
1:12 PM: SDOT says West Marginal is closed both ways at the scene, and City Light is there making repairs. They also sent this photo:
No ETA yet for reopening.
1:36 PM: Update from Alison:
They are turning all northbound Marginal Way cars around at Cal Portland/T103. The cars [from the crash] are being towed but City Light will need to fix before opening the road back up since it’s hanging so low that trucks can’t get through.
2:22 PM: We checked with SFD to see if anyone was hurt in the crash. One person, according to spokesperson Kristin Tinsley – a 92-year-old man who was a passenger in the vehicle that hit the pole. He was taken to the hospital in stable condition.
3 PM: No official updates yet but a texter says northbound WMW traffic is being detoured around via 16th SW by the recycling center.
3:37 PM: SDOT has just announced the scene is clear.
4:15 PM: More from SDOT: “The damaged pole belonged to CenturyLink, and Seattle City Light crews assisted with completing an urgent short-term repair because CenturyLink could not arrive as quickly. CenturyLink is heading to the area to finish repairs, but we do not expect this to have a significant traffic impact as they expect to be able to complete repairs only occupying the right southbound lane. As you know, this lane begins in this location and does not continue all the way through the corridor.”
Learn something new Wednesday night at WEND Jewelry (3278 California SW). They’ve sent word there’s still room in an “Embroidery 101” class with West Seattle artist Emily Juarez: “She will introduce us to a simple embroidery stitch for beginners. You’ll use colorful thread to personalize a simple white cotton tea towel with a fun word or message. No previous experience with embroidery is necessary. All supplies are included.” The class is 6-8:30 pm tomorrow (February 16th) at the gallery, and you can sign up online right now.
If you live, work, study, and/or play in the Alki area, and are interested in community involvement, the Alki Community Council is back on the web, at alkicommunitycouncil.org. The newly launched website is its first one at that address and it’s the work of a new infusion of volunteer involvement. It’s meant to be a central location for information including ACC meetings, which are most months on third Thursdays, so the next one is this week – Thursday, February 17th, at 7 pm. ACC has moved to “hybrid” meetings, so you can attend in person (at Alki UCC, 6115 SW Hinds) or online. On the new ACC site, you’ll also find links including Alki history, area resources, social media, and membership signup.
From the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar and inbox:
WEST SEATTLE LIGHT RAIL: The City Council’s Transportation Committee gets briefed this morning on Sound Transit‘s Draft Environmental Impact Statement for West Seattle-to-Ballard light rail. The meeting starts at 9:30 am; here’s the agenda; here’s where to watch.
STATE OF THE CITY: Mayor Bruce Harrell gives his first State of the City speech at 2 pm – watch it here.
BASKETBALL PLAYOFFS: Both West Seattle High School varsity teams have district-tournament games on the Eastside today/tonight, 3:30 pm for the girls, 8:15 pm for the boys, as reported here.
DEMONSTRATION FOR RACIAL JUSTICE: 4:30-6 pm at 16th/Holden, Scott leads the weekly demonstration for racial justice. Signs available if you don’t have your own.
DISCOVER SEATTLE COLLEGES: 5:30-6:30 pm tonight, online, learn about science, tech, engineering, and math studies at South Seattle College (WSB sponsor) and its sibling Seattle Colleges. Go here to get the link.
WEST SEATTLE TOASTMASTERS 832: 6:30 pm – you’re invited to the twice-monthly online meeting – details are in our calendar listing.
TRIVIA X 2: Two venues to play tonight – 7 pm at Admiral Pub (2306 California SW), 7:30 and 8:30 pm at The Lodge (4209 SW Alaska).
BELLE OF THE BALLS BINGO: Play bingo with Cookie Couture at The Skylark (3803 Delridge Way SW), 8 pm. Free, all ages!
There’s more on our calendar – and if you have something to add for the future, email us the info at westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
6:01 AM Good morning! Welcome to Tuesday.
WEATHER
Cloudy forecast for today, with a high in the mid-to-upper 40s.
BUSES, WATER TAXI, FERRIES
Metro is on its regular weekday schedule. Watch @kcmetrobus for word of reroutes/cancellations.
West Seattle and Vashon Water Taxi routes are on regular schedules.
Ferries: WSF continues the two-boat schedule for Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth. Check here for alerts/updates.
BRIDGES AND DETOUR ROUTES
693rd 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.)
The 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.
When we reported last week on the arrest of 26-year-old Joseph Depaco after a police search in the West Duwamish Greenbelt, we noted that court records revealed he had just been sentenced in another case. Tonight we have word of a charge filed in last week’s incident, plus an explanation of why he hadn’t begun serving the alternative sentence he got for the other case. (At left is a photo of Depaco we obtained from the state Corrections Department.)
The new charge filed by the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office is possession of a stolen vehicle, a felony. The vehicle in which police say they found Depaco in the greenbelt was a stolen Toyota Tacoma pickup. A passerby reported it as suspicious, and responding officers say that after they found Depaco asleep in the vehicle, he woke up and bolted, which led to a ground and air search that resulted in his arrest. (He is not charged in connection with the under-construction gun found in the vehicle.)
We had asked the KCPAO for more background on why Depaco wasn’t already in the residential drug-treatment program to which he was sentenced as part of a three-case plea bargain February 4th. He was supposed to enter the program within a few days, they explain, but after the sentencing, the treatment provider canceled the original date and said it would not have a bed available until today. Depaco had been out of jail since January 7th, which the KCPAO says was his original sentencing date, and that’s why the new charge was filed today with an “aggravating factor” of “rapid recidivism.” That could lengthen the sentence if he’s convicted. Tonight Depaco – who already has seven felony convictions – remains in jail in lieu of $50,000 bail and is due next for arraignment on the new charge February 28th.
Businesses and community champions are honored every year with the Westside Awards, which start with nominations that can be made by anyone. Just announced, the four-week nomination period is on:
Annually the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce presents the Westside Awards, and the nomination portal is now live for you to submit your selections for:
1) Business of the Year
2) Not for Profit of the Year
3) Emerging Business of the Year
4) Westsider of the Year.You can submit your nominations online here . Deadline to submit nominations is Monday, March 14, 2022 at 5 pm.
Each year at the Annual Westside Awards Breakfast, we celebrate the successful business environment and community involvement found in West Seattle. At this event, we honor three local businesses and one individual who demonstrate results-oriented leadership, a cornerstone of a thriving economic region.
“It’s so nice to get to recognize our local businesses and individuals for their contribution to our community,” said Dawn Leverett, 2022 West Seattle Chamber Board Chair. “We look forward to hearing the stories of triumph from the past year.”
Save the date for the Annual Westside Awards Breakfast to be held in-person on Tuesday, May 17th, 2022 from 7:30 am to 8:30 am. Event details to follow at www.wschamber.com. Take a look back at the previous Westside Award winners in each category here wschamber.com/westside-awards.
Questions? Ask Chamber executive director Whitney Moore at whitney@wschamber.com.
Thanks for the tips/questions. We went over to check on a reported sizable police response on 35th SW across from Southwest Library, south of SW Henderson. Officers say it was a “person in crisis” situation at an apartment building, and they were arranging for the person in question to be transported to a hospital for mental-health help – that’s why, as shown in our photo, an ambulance responded too.
Thanks to Margaret for the tip. She got a postal-mail flyer from Seattle Public Utilities about work coming up on 8th SW just north of SW Roxbury and thought you should know, given the increased traffic through that area because of bridge detouring. We asked SPU about it, and they sent the flyer, which says the work will repair a sewer line on 8th between Roxbury and Cambridge. Work could start as soon as next Monday (February 21st) and could last up to three weeks. Lane closures and parking restrictions are part of the plan, which says general work hours will be 7 am-4 pm weekdays.
Thanks to the reader who tipped us that Toshi’s Teriyaki in Westwood Village had been broken into on Saturday morning. We obtained the report narrative from police today. According to the report, an alarm at the restaurant led to a police dispatch at 5:43 am. They found the glass shattered in the left entry door. When the store manager arrived, they looked at security video, which showed two people approaching the door just after 4:30 am, and one throwing a large rock through it. They left in a vehicle, and moments later another vehicle returned; two people got out of it and entered the restaurant, but weren’t inside for long before turning and leaving without taking anything. The report has only clothing descriptions for the people involved; the rock-thrower was described as “wearing a gray beanie, black jacket, gray sweats, and white sneakers”; the two who went into the restaurant are described as one “wearing a black jacket, dark-colored cap, dark pants, and black shoes or boots, carrying a black plastic bag in his right hand” and the other “wearing all-dark clothing with black and white tennis shoes.” If you have any information, the case number is 22-036584.
12:54 PM: A collision earlier this morning on Harbor Island, at 16th/Klickitat, hasn’t been cleared yet, and now the resulting blockage is affecting the westbound low bridge and westbound Spokane Street Viaduct, according to an SDOT alert and a texter.
1 PM: Metro just sent an alert that it’s routing westbound buses off the low bridge as a result.
1:32 PM: Metro says it’s resumed regular bus routing. As for the rest of the backup, though, cameras show westbound traffic sluggish all the way to the east end of the Spokane Street Viaduct.
1:46 PM: Per scanner, all involved lanes are open but it’ll take a while for the backup to clear.
In our coverage of last month’s quarterly Morgan Community Association meeting, we noted the new owner of the Ivy Court mixed-use building announcing a new tenant for a vacant commercial space. West Seattle Pilates and Fitness proprietor Jenny Melville says the move is now complete:
West Seattle Pilates and Fitness has moved from the ActivSpace building to Morgan Junction. The new address is 6521 California Ave SW. We offer private/duet lessons and will be adding semi-private classes (up to 4 people) starting February 28th. Feel free to call or email with questions! 206-822-5844 * westseattlepilates@gmail.com
Ivy Court is also home to Second Gear Sports and Mailbox West.
(Photo by Rick Rasmussen – thank you!)
From the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar and inbox:
LAST-MINUTE VALENTINE SHOPPING: If you still need to get a gift for your Valentine, two West Seattle shops that are usually closed on Mondays are open today just for you. Wyatt’s Jewelers (Westwood Village; WSB sponsor) is open until 6 pm; Alair (3270 California SW) is open until 3 pm.
CITY COUNCIL’S WEEKLY BRIEFING: 2 pm, councilmembers brief each other and the public on what they’re up to and what’s coming up this week. Staffers will also give the weekly update on how the city’s State Legislature priorities are doing. Watch live at seattlechannel.org.
DISCOVER SEATTLE COLLEGES: 5:30-6:30 pm tonight, online, learn about health and medical studies at South Seattle College (WSB sponsor) and its sibling Seattle Colleges. Go here to get the link.
TRIVIA X 3: Here are tonight’s three options – 7 pm at Best of Hands (35th/Webster), 7 pm at The Good Society (California/Lander), 7:30 pm at The Skylark (3803 Delridge Way SW)
Something for our calendar? westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
9:44 AM: Thanks to the multiple readers in Highland Park who have sent word of this – an Xfinity/Comcast service outage that the company says is affecting more than 2,500 customers. Let us know if it’s affecting you in other areas; we’re checking with the company.
ADDED MONDAY EVENING: We dead-ended while looking for a Comcast contact earlier but a regional spokesperson emailed us tonight to say: “We experienced an interruption today at 8:03 a.m. with our internet service in Highland Park. Our engineers began working to address the issue immediately and as of 8:44 a.m., service was restored. We apologize to those who were affected.”
6:00 AM Good morning! It’s Monday, and it’s Valentine’s Day.
WEATHER
Rainy, breezy forecast for today.
BUSES, WATER TAXI, FERRIES
Metro is on its regular weekday schedule. Watch @kcmetrobus for word of reroutes/cancellations.
West Seattle and Vashon Water Taxi routes are on regular schedules.
Ferries: WSF continues the two-boat schedule for Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth. Check here for alerts/updates.
BRIDGES AND DETOUR ROUTES
692nd 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.)
The 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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