day : 11/03/2022 12 results

As of tomorrow (Saturday, March 12), the county and state indoor mask mandates are over. But that doesn’t mean masks are optional everywhere. Here’s the thumbnail reminder:

Also, Seattle Parks and Recreation said today that its mask requirement will stay in effect until April 4th – as explained here.

Plus, some businesses can and will choose to continue to require masks. Among them, Pegasus Book Exchange in The Junction. Eric emailed today to ask us to mention this: “For the time being, until we see the stats in a few weeks, we will be continuing to require customers and staff to wear masks in our shop.” Mashiko noted a similar sentiment via social media, saying they’re continuing to require masks at least a little while longer: “We just want to feel this out for few weeks before we tear off the bandaid.” Youngstown Coffee in Morgan Junction says it’s requesting masks but not requiring them. (Any other businesses/venues requiring/requesting masks, you’re welcome to email us so we can mention you too.)

Most masking may be over, but, officials stress, COVID-19 is not. Among them, King County Public Health Officer Dr. Jeff Duchin, who held a briefing/media Q&A session this morning – here’s what he said:

P.S. If you’re not vaccinated/boosted yet but thinking about it, the West Seattle YMCA (3622 SW Snoqualmie; WSB sponsor) has its next pop-up clinic tomorrow.

Share This

READER REPORT: Fire at Longfellow P-Patch shed

March 11, 2022 8:05 pm

| 13 COMMENTS

| West Seattle fires | West Seattle news | Westwood

Thanks to Liz for the photos and report on a fire at the Longfellow Creek P-Patch, just east of Chief Sealth International High School. She emailed to say, “I first noticed something going on when driving east on Thistle St. around 2:30 pm. There were fire trucks and an ambulance parked on the north side of the road with lights flashing but couldn’t stop to investigate further. Then around 4pm I walked my dog through the P-Patch and took the attached photos of the damage.”

We checked with Seattle Fire, which could only tell us that a shed was damaged, and that no injuries were reported. Our later check of this week’s SFD dispatch logs shows this was the fourth day in a row that they were dispatched to that area – Thursday’s call around 4 pm was classified as an “encampment fire,” while the Wednesday response around 11:30 am was labeled a “shed fire,” and Tuesday’s response just before noon was not logged with a specific type of fire. Like other P-Patches, this one is tended by volunteers.

Share This

WEST SEATTLE SCENE: Launch party for Elise Hooper’s book ‘Angels of the Pacific’

March 11, 2022 7:06 pm

| Comments Off on WEST SEATTLE SCENE: Launch party for Elise Hooper’s book ‘Angels of the Pacific’

| West Seattle books | West Seattle news

Happening now at Westside Unitarian Universalist Congregation (7141 California SW), West Seattle author Elise Hooper is introducing a hometown crowd to her fourth book, “Angels of the Pacific.” It’s a novel, but it will also educate you about World War II history, “set in the Philippines and inspired by the extraordinary true stories of World War II’s American Army and Navy nurses famously known as the Angels of Bataan and the unsung contributions of Filipinas of the resistance.”

At the event, Hooper is talking about the book, and you can also buy your copy from event hosts Paper Boat Booksellers. (If you don’t get to tonight’s celebration, you can still get signed copies at Paper Boat’s Morgan Junction store as well as at Pegasus Book Exchange in The Junction.) This is the fourth work of historical fiction authored by Hooper – you can find out about her other books on her website.

Share This

Remembering Bear the kitten

March 11, 2022 5:53 pm

| 33 COMMENTS

| Obituaries | Pets | West Seattle news

We publish obituaries for free, and sometimes that means tributes to departed pets. The Dennis family loved their short-lived kitten Bear, and one of their younger members wrote this tribute for publication:

It is with great sadness that my sister and I announce the loss of our much-beloved kitten, Bear.

At just two years old, we were not surprised at his passing due to a tumor condition he had had since birth – but that hasn’t made this day any easier. He lived much longer than the vet thought he would after all. For this we are so grateful.

Of our three cats, Bear was the one who exuded character and then some! He was very wild by nature, yet so full of affection. We will forever remember his loving head butts, rubbing our noses and our legs, his paws touching our cheeks and his kitten-like kneading of our soft spots. He loved napping on his Special Person’s bed – and his Special Person’s Seahawks blanket in particular. He loved watching Strong Man videos. We cherished his company while we gardened in our backyard – one of his favorites of our activities.

He was always so painfully thin, but no less pleasant to stroke – his tail always ramrod straight up in the air in greeting. If he was wet and cold after coming in from outside, his loud plaintive meows announcing his return accompanied that characteristic tail. Our weakness for his cries also meant he always got what he wanted when he wanted it – wet treats, dry treats, bites of our meals, etc. We were helpless not to spoil him as we knew we wouldn’t have him long.

He loved and is survived by his two kitty-brothers. When we first got him and he was sickly and weak, he was so utterly amazed by the strength and grace of his middle brother CoCo. He aspired to jump just like CoCo to the bathroom sink for a drink. CoCo was so very affectionate with him and taught him everything he could when he wasn’t sweetly bathing or kissing him. They wrestled and rough housed quite often. From his oldest kitty-brother, Little Kitty – somewhat of an elderly grouch – Bear learned the importance of sticking up for himself!

Bear, we will miss your sweet habit of laying out in our driveway awaiting our return from errands. We will miss the way you – unlike any other cat in the universe – would willingly jump into the car to welcome us back home. You will always be our “little baguette.” We will forever hold you in our hearts.

(WSB publishes West Seattle obituaries and memorial announcements by request, free of charge. Please email the text, and a photo if available, to editor@westseattleblog.com)

Share This

REAL ESTATE: West Seattle Junction’s city-landmark Campbell Building up for sale

March 11, 2022 4:41 pm

| 9 COMMENTS

| West Seattle history | West Seattle news

(Undated photo from landmark-nomination document)

Five years after local preservation advocates got two buildings in the heart of the West Seattle Junction designated as city landmarks, one of them is up for sale – the Campbell Building on the northeast corner of California/Alaska. A check of commercial real-estate listings shows the century-old brick-clad building went on the market Thursday for an asking price of $6 million. It’s a mixed-use building, with apartments and offices over business spaces, including the three currently occupied by Cupcake Royale, City Mouse, and Shanghai Hair Studio. Landmark designation does not necessarily guarantee preservation of a building; the listing for this one notes, “NC3P-95 Zoning allows a significant development opportunity for one of the most important corners in the Junction.” By vote of the city Landmarks Board in April 2017, the exterior of the building was declared a landmark, but not the interior; elsewhere in the city – Capitol Hill, for example – redevelopment projects have preserved historic facades at the bottom of new buildings. As reported in our 2017 coverage of the Campbell Building designation, the building’s been owned by the same family for almost 80 years, and they did not object to the designation. (Here’s the city document on the building’s landmark status.)

Share This

BIZNOTES: New gallery’s grand opening; shop reopens; fitness studio’s change

March 11, 2022 2:20 pm

| 2 COMMENTS

| West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news

Three West Seattle business notes this afternoon:

GALLERY OPENING: Another special event this weekend – the grand opening of the Lars Gesing Fine Art Nature Images Gallery, 4-7 pm Saturday (March 12th) at 4413 42nd SW in The Junction.

(Photo courtesy Lars Gesing)

The artist explains, “I am an award-winning German-born, Seattle-based photographic artist specializing in luxury large-format residential and commercial art installations. By capturing the essence of our joy in nature, my artworks allow people to turn their space into a sanctuary.” He also describes his images as “a comfortable escape for your busy mind, a daily dose of happiness and positivity in your home or office.” After Saturday night’s event, Gesing says, his gallery will be open by appointment, and also on West Seattle Art Walk nights (second Thursdays) starting April 14th.

SHOP REOPENS: Inner Alchemy has reopened the Crystal Shop at 3043 California SW, according to proprietor Maari Falsetto, who says it’s open every Wednesday and Saturday, noon-4 pm. She also says Inner Alchemy is offering a Kundalini Yoga, Meditation and Gong Bath event every Sunday from 7 pm to 8:30 pm – find out more about it here.

FITNESS STUDIO’S CHANGE: StarCycle West Seattle (4532 42nd SW) has announced new ownership, and says that “we are in a complete rebuilding phase” – that includes offering discounts and free trials. The indoor-cycling franchise opened two and a half years ago in the Adell mixed-use building.

Share This

WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Another stolen pickup (update – found); charge filed in theft of delivery driver’s car; business break-in attempt

March 11, 2022 12:24 pm

| 7 COMMENTS

| Crime | West Seattle news

Two auto-theft notes start West Seattle Crime Watch this morning, followed by a break-in attempt at an auto-repair business:

ANOTHER STOLEN PICKUP: In addition to the stolen work truck noted early this morning, we have word of another pickup theft, from Chad:

Unfortunately our truck was stolen sometime between Thursday evening and Friday morning from Fairmount Ave at Stevens.

It’s a black 1993 GMC Sierra stepside, license plate B72971Z

I’m reporting it to SPD now but would appreciate data if it’s spotted. She’s been in the family for almost 30 years and is loved!

(Update: Found!)

CHARGE FILED IN THEFT OF DELIVERY DRIVER’S CAR: The King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office has charged the suspect in a West Seattle car theft earlier this week. 43-year-old Mark A. Walker of Kent is accused of stealing a package-delivery worker’s car this past Monday night. Court documents say the driver left his 2005 Camry running while making a delivery near 24th/Holden, and while he was gone “for two minutes,” somebody jumped in and drove it away. His Apple AirPods were in the car and had a tracking feature, so he used that in addition to calling police. Less than an hour and a half later, officers spotted the stolen car being driven near Rainier/Walker. They followed it, attempted to pull it over, and finally caught up with the driver at a stoplight – at which point, they say, he took off again. Ten minutes later, police again spotted the car downtown, and this time were able to contact and arrest the driver, identified as Walker, who the charging documents say told police “I’m so high, man, I don’t even know what I was doing” and admitted to taking the car. He was booked into jail; prosecutors asked for $10,000 bail and the judge ordered $5,000, on which he’s still being held. The charging documents say he has one adult felony conviction, for theft, almost 20 years ago.

BUSINESS BREAK-IN ATTEMPT: Todd at Swedish Automotive (35th/Kenyon; WSB sponsor) reports a break-in attempt:

sometime overnight, someone tried to get into our back lot and wound up cutting a hole in our gate and tried cutting the locks, but were not successful. Fortunately, it doesn’t look like anything else was damaged and we are waiting for repairs now. Police report is filed and I just wanted to add this to the ever-growing list of crimes like this going on these days.

Share This

Looking for a preschool? A Child Becomes open house on Sunday

March 11, 2022 11:41 am

| 2 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

If it’s almost preschool time for your child(ren), visit A Child Becomes Preschool (WSB sponsor) on Sunday. Here’s the invitation:

A Child Becomes Preschool would like to invite you to our upcoming Open House! No RSVP is required and children are welcome. Enjoy the opportunity to tour the classrooms and meet the teachers for next year. We’d love to have you drop by!

Sunday, March 13th
2:30 pm – 4:00 pm
4320 SW Hill Street
Admiral District – West Seattle

* No RSVP needed!
* Face masks required while inside the school

About Our School:

Founded in 1989, A Child Becomes Preschool offers three part-time educational programs for students ages 2 ½-5 years old. Each program is age appropriate and supports the developmental needs of the students. Our self-developed curriculum is rooted in building strong emotional intelligence and social and emotional skills.
• Caterpillar – ages 2½-3. Two day a week program.
• Butterfly – ages 3-4. Choice of 3 or 4 day a week program.
• Sunbeam – ages 4-5. Choice of 4 or 5 day a week program.

Registration:

Applications are being accepted now for the 2022-23 school year beginning in September! For additional information about our admissions process, please visit our website at achildbecomes.org

Share This

Book launch, tasting, grand opening, music, more for your West Seattle Friday

March 11, 2022 10:03 am

| 3 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

The weekend’s almost here! From the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:

GIRL SCOUT COOKIES: Cookie booths continue – check here for local times/locations.

TASTING TIME @ WEST SEATTLE LIQUOR & WINE: 4-6 pm at West Seattle Liquor and Wine (4714 42nd SW; WSB sponsor), drop in to try French Beaujolais and Cremant d’Alsace.

OPENING NIGHT: As we reported earlier this week, it’s opening night for the cocktail bar Otter on the Rocks (4210 SW Admiral Way), starting at 4 pm.

DJ NIGHT AT THE SPOT WEST SEATTLE: Friday night DJ’ing starts at 6 pm. (2920 SW Avalon Way)

ELISE HOOPER’S BOOK LAUNCH: Join West Seattle author Elise Hooper to celebrate the launch of her fourth book, “Angels of the Pacific,” 7 pm at Westside Unitarian Universalist Congregation (7141 California SW) – doors open at 6:30.

SONGWRITERS’ SHOWCASE: Monthly musical event at C & P Coffee (5612 California SW; WSB sponsor), 7-9 pm.

AT THE SKYLARK: Live music with Lomon, Margo Adrift, & Monitor at The Skylark (3803 Delridge Way SW), 7 pm.

‘A YEAR WITH FROG AND TOAD’: Third weekend starts 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.

Anything to add to our calendar? Email us – westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!

Share This

Brown water reported in Admiral

March 11, 2022 9:10 am

| 6 COMMENTS

| Utilities | West Seattle news

Just got a text from someone reporting brown water from the taps near 41st/Walker. No emergency outages reported on the Seattle Public Utilities map, nor recent nearby fires (hydrant use also can stir up the sediment – mostly rust – in the system).

Any time this happens at your residence/business, call SPU at 206-386-1800.

Share This

TRAFFIC, ROAD WORK, TRANSIT, WEATHER: Friday notes + weekend alerts

March 11, 2022 6:03 am

| 3 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

8:51 AM: Busy morning for SFD. Texters mention an RV fire at 7th and Michigan, on the detour route to I-5, and there’s a fire-alarm call at a building on SW Avalon – no fire so far, just an alarm.

Earlier:

==================

6:03 AM: Good morning! Welcome to Friday, March 11th.

WEATHER

Clouds in the forecast, high near 50.

ROAD WORK TODAY & THIS WEEKEND

TODAY: As announced earlier this week, work is expected to start today, continuing into the weekend, to repair the leaky sewer line beneath Beach Drive north of Lowman Beach – a flagger will help with traffic. … Also today, SDOT crews will be back at 26th/Andover working “to revise the stop sign for the bike lane and add stop bars on the pavement for people driving and biking at that intersection.” (11:50 am update: We asked SDOT what exactly’s going to be done there. The reply: “The bike lane stop sign will be a smaller stop sign (18” instead of 30”), and it will be relocated to the right side of the bike turn lane, oriented facing northeast.”)

(Added) Commenters have mentioned utility work at 11th/Holden. (9:52 am update – just went through the area, clear now)

SATURDAY: Two more alerts from SDOT:

On Saturday, we’re building a natural drainage system (swale), on SW Webster St between 12th Ave SW and 15th Ave SW in the Highland Park neighborhood. This work is part of the Reconnect West Seattle Home Zone program and prioritized with the Highland Park community. We’ll complete this work between 7:30 AM and 4 PM on Saturday. This is a low-traffic street and we do not anticipate significant impacts to people traveling in the area, however, please expect construction activity and navigate the area with caution.

We’ll also be repairing the lane divider on SW Spokane St, near the SR 99 ramp entrance on Saturday morning. We’ll complete this work in three phases, with the first phase on Saturday from approximately 8 AM to 12 PM. During this work, we’ll need to close the eastbound ramp from SW Spokane St to southbound SR 99. If you are driving in the area, instead of taking the ramp to SR 99, please follow the posted detour on street-level to SR 99.

BUSES, WATER TAXI, FERRIES TODAY

Metro is on its regular weekday schedule. 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

717th 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 by @wsdot_traffic.

All city traffic cams can be seen here; West Seattle and vicinity-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

WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Stolen business pickup truck (update: found)

March 11, 2022 1:00 am

| 2 COMMENTS

| Crime | West Seattle news

1 AM: From Anne at Ventana Construction (longtime WSB sponsor):

Our silver 1999 F-250 was stolen while parked in front of our office at California and Raymond in Morgan Junction a little after 6 pm Thursday evening. We saw it driving through High Point on Graham a few minutes later, but then it disappeared in the side streets. The truck has lumber racks and Ventana Construction signage on the sides and back. Please call police if you see it. Case # 22-060507. License plate begins with B082.

1:30 PM: Anne reports the pickup was found in Federal Way and is “on the way back to West Seattle.”

Share This