West Seattle, Washington

03 Saturday

70℉

month : 03/2022 305 results

Memorial service April 4 for Dr. Susanne Gee, 1952-2022
March 20, 2022 10:14 am
|      7 COMMENTS
 |   Obituaries | West Seattle news

Thanks to the reader who sent the link to this remembrance announcing the death of Dr. Susanne Gee, a longtime West Seattle dermatologist who had moved to New Mexico in her retirement. Dr. Gee died this week, not long after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. In addition to her practice, she also was active in the local community over years of involvement with the Rotary Club of West Seattle. Dr. Gee’s memorial is set for April 4th at Sunset Hills Funeral Home in Bellevue.

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WEST SEATTLE SUNDAY: 13 notes for the start of spring
March 20, 2022 6:34 am
|    Comments Off on WEST SEATTLE SUNDAY: 13 notes for the start of spring
 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Sunset from Beach Drive earlier this week, photographed by Theresa Arbow-O’Connor)

Spring arrives at 8:33 this morning. Here’s what else is noteworthy today/tonight:

ROAD-WORK ALERT: Repaving is scheduled to continue today on Marine View Drive between SW 104th and SW 106th, 7:30 am-3:30 pm

CHURCHES: Many West Seattle churches are continuing online services, with most resuming in-person too – here’s our weekly update on 20+ churches.

GIRL SCOUT COOKIES: Last day for sales. Check here to find your nearest cookie-booth times and locations!

LAST DAY OF ONLINE AUCTION: Fauntleroy Children’s Center has one more day of benefit bidding – get started here.

WEST SEATTLE FARMERS’ MARKET: 10 am-2 pm, find fresh food – produce, meat, fish, cheese, beverages, baked goods, and prepared food – at the weekly WSFM (WSB sponsor). (California SW between SW Oregon and SW Alaska)

DONATION DRIVE: 11 am-3 pm, drop off food and/or clothing donations at Alki UCC (6115 SW Hinds) – our preview has info on what’s needed.

ARTSWEST MATINEE: ArtsWest‘s new play “This Girl Laughs, This Girl Cries, This Girl Does Nothing” continues this afternoon, 3:00 pm, in the theater at 4711 California SW. Tickets available here.

LIVE MUSIC AT C & P: 3 pm, Lookout Mountain brings its country sound to C & P Coffee (5612 California SW; WSB sponsor). No cover.

LIVE MUSIC AT THE SKYLARK: 5 pm, Aurora Avenue, Okay-ish, School of Rock West Seattle House Band perform at The Skylark (3803 Delridge Way SW). All ages. $5 at the door.

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

EQUINOX SUNSET WATCH: 6:30-7:30 pm at Solstice Park (uphill from the tennis courts at 7400 Fauntleroy Way SW), join Alice Enevoldsen for the seasons-change sunset watch, as previewed here.

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

SUNDAY NIGHT KARAOKE: New time, 9 pm to 1:30 am at Admiral Pub (2306 California SW).

Have an event to list on our calendar? We’re adding more daily – email westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!

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DEVELOPMENT/REAL ESTATE: 3 beach notes
March 19, 2022 9:17 pm
|    Comments Off on DEVELOPMENT/REAL ESTATE: 3 beach notes
 |   Development | West Seattle news

Three quick updates tonight:

4022 BEACH DRIVE: Almost a month after the heavy equipment showed up at this redevelopment site, demolition was finally under way when we passed by this morning. As we noted in February, the 107-year-old house is to be replaced by four townhouses, each with a one-car garage.

1116 ALKI: The official notices went up this week for the upcoming Southwest Design Review Board meeting we told you about three weeks ago, the board’s first look at the proposal for 1116 Alki SW. The meeting date and time are the same – Thursday, April 7, 5 pm, online – and the link for participating in the meeting (which will include a public-comment period) is now available here. Though the city description calls the proposal a ’65-unit apartment building,” project materials online describe it simply as “residential” and include potential configurations that could have fewer units. This project is planned for a site that currently holds six houses.

2516 ALKI: The building that includes Duke’s Seafood Restaurant on Alki (WSB sponsor) has a new owner. An investment firm just bought it for $4.8 million, according to online records. The seller was a company to which Duke’s owner had sold it in 2015 for $3.3 million. Records show the new owners are part of an Eastside firm that has at least one other property in West Seattle, the Westwood Vista apartments just south of Westwood Village. According to a news release from the brokers who handled the recent sale, Duke’s has a “long-term lease” in the building, which also has a top-floor residential unit. There is no redevelopment proposal for the site currently, but it’s zoned for 4-story mixed-use.

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YOU CAN HELP: Food, clothing donation drive Sunday at Alki UCC
March 19, 2022 6:18 pm
|    Comments Off on YOU CAN HELP: Food, clothing donation drive Sunday at Alki UCC
 |   How to help | West Seattle news

Throughout the pandemic, Alki UCC has continued collecting donations for neighbors in need. Its next drive is tomorrow (Sunday, March 20th) – here’s what they’re looking for:

Alki UCC Food/Men’s Casual Clothing/Winter Gear Donations Drive
Sunday, March 20
11:00 am to 3:00 pm
Front Courtyard
6115 SW Hinds

As always, we welcome non-perishable food and hygiene items to be distributed through the White Center Food Bank.

The WSFB reprises its recent urgent call for Similac baby formula to replace stock lost due to a recall.

Other priority donations include: rice (white rice, basmati, jasmine, Thai sticky rice, etc.); sugars (white or brown); and oil — ideally containers that are 5 pounds or less (not bulk).

The Westside Interfaith Network (WIN), our other donations-drive partner, is especially low on blankets, backpacks, and sleeping bags to help keep our unsheltered neighbors warm and dry. We also welcome donations of clean men’s casual/work clothing and new men’s socks.

Many thanks to our generous community for supporting our neighbors in need.

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BIZNOTE: Fire Tacos moving into Alki space
March 19, 2022 4:25 pm
|      8 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news | West Seattle restaurants

Thanks to Chris for the tip! Banners in the windows on the corner of 61st/Alki reveal what’s next for the restaurant space that most recently held the No-Name Diner. We reported on its closure four weeks ago (that story includes the list of seven restaurants that had been in the 2738 Alki SW space since Alki Bakery‘s abrupt closure 11 1/2 years ago). At the time of No-Name’s closure, its post said its chef was planning an “entirely new concept” for the space, but now the Kent-based food truck Fire Tacos says it’s moving in, continuing the recent trend of mobile food providers going bricks-and-mortar. Fire Tacos specializes in tacos de birria and explains online that “Birria is a Mexican stew made with meat (beef, lamb, goat) braised in an adobo, flavored with dried chiles and herbs. Garnished with cilantro, onion and lime.” Fire Tacos’ truck opened in fall 2020. We have an inquiry out in hopes of finding out more.

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SEEN OFF WEST SEATTLE: Saturday sailboat racing
March 19, 2022 2:09 pm
|    Comments Off on SEEN OFF WEST SEATTLE: Saturday sailboat racing
 |   Seen at sea | West Seattle news

Thanks to Karen for sending the photo! Amid the unsettled weather mixing sun and showers, sailboats were in view off Duwamish Head. While the U.S. Coast Guard Notice to Mariners shows several races/regattas around Puget Sound today, the only one listed in this area is the Corinthian Yacht Club‘s Center Sound Series Race #2. Third race in the series is in two weeks, on April 2nd.

ADDED: Another photo, sent by Stephen:

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WEST SEATTLE WEEKEND SCENE: CommUNITY Sale @ Southwest Teen Life Center
March 19, 2022 1:13 pm
|    Comments Off on WEST SEATTLE WEEKEND SCENE: CommUNITY Sale @ Southwest Teen Life Center
 |   West Seattle news | Westwood

Another kind of recycling happening now – the CommUNITY Yard Sale in the lot between Southwest Teen Life Center and Nino Cantu Southwest Athletic Complex (2801 SW Thistle). The weather’s unsettled but the sale has canopies, so take advantage of the sunbreaks and head over to check it out before 4 pm. SWTLC is gearing up more in-person events this spring – more on that later this weekend.

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WEST SEATTLE WEEKEND SCENE: 2022’s first West Seattle recycling/shredding event
March 19, 2022 10:30 am
|      20 COMMENTS
 |   Environment | West Seattle news

As always, recycling/shredding is popular – this year’s first West Seattle event has a big turnout. We just went over to the north lot at South Seattle College (6000 16th SW; WSB sponsor) for a look.

Organizers didn’t have a master count yet but our informal look at tally sheets suggested at least 200 cars in the first hour; commenters on our morning-preview post mentioned a long line in the early going, and cars stretched back to the south entrance when we arrived in the area around 10 am. Once you get onto the campus, the line splits into two.

Some people parked on 16th SW north of the campus and walked their items in. This continues until noon, provided the trucks don’t all fill up!

Here’s what they’re accepting, while there’s capacity. The event is a collaboration between the West Seattle Junction Association, the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce, and Seattle Public Utilities. If you miss this, Fauntleroy Church‘s first 2022 Recycle Roundup, also a dropoff event, is scheduled for 9 am-3 pm Sunday, April 24th.

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Recycle/shred event, music, theater, sweet treats, much more – 23 notes for your West Seattle Saturday
March 19, 2022 6:34 am
|      5 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Almost-spring flowers, seen in Gatewood)

Biggest Saturday lineup in a long time – here’s what’s happening on the last full day of winter:

ROAD-WORK REMINDERS: Two SDOT projects today – traffic camera installations until about 1 pm at two Highland Park Way SW intersections, 2nd SW and West Marginal Way SW, and paving on Marine View Drive between SW 104th St and SW 106th St., 7:30 am-3:30 pm.

METRO ‘SERVICE CHANGE’: Today’s one of the two occasions per year when Metro makes schedule tweaks. Since our original preview, Metro has announced that Saturday service is returning to Route 125. Also, here’s the updated page where you can check if any trips on your route(s) have been canceled.

GIRL SCOUT COOKIES, FINAL WEEKEND: Find local Scouts out selling cookies today, second-to-last day for cookie booths – use the lookup.

RECYCLE/REUSE/SHRED EVENT: 9 am-noon, dropoff event in the north lot at South Seattle College (6000 16th SW; WSB sponsor) – our calendar listing has details including the list of what items will be accepted.

JET CITY BEIGNET POP-UP: 9 am-noon, get Jet City Beignet‘s signature sweet treats and coffee at their “ghost kitchen,” 4611 36th SW.

LOVELY & DAPPER DESSERTS POP-UPS: Two chances to get their famous mini-cakes, a St. Patrick’s Day version – 9:30 am-1:30 pm at Delridge Grocery Co-op (5444 Delridge Way SW), 6-9 pm at Good Society (California/Lander).

MARGINAL MARCH MADNESS: Join your West Seattle neighbors in this two-hour cleanup with various meeting spots, 10 am-noon – details here.

COMMUNITY YARD SALE: 10 am-4 pm, group sale at Southwest Teen Life Center (2801 SW Thistle).

STUDIO ART SALE: 10 am-4 pm at West Seattle Church of the Nazarene (4201 SW Juneau), artist Magdaléna Cooney is hosting a sale.

LIVE MORNING MUSIC AT C & P COFFEE: 10:30 am-noon, Marco de Carvalho and Friends perform at C & P Coffee Company (5612 California SW; WSB sponsor). No cover.

FREE WEEKLY WRITERS’ GROUP: New participants welcome. 10:30 am – go here to register and to get the meeting address. More details are in our calendar listing.

VIETNAMESE CULTURAL CENTER: Open to visitors noon-3 pm, as noted here. (2234 SW Orchard)

BYSTANDER INTERVENTION TRAINING: 1-4 pm at Our Lady of Guadalupe‘s Walmesley Center (3410 SW Myrtle), learn how to not just silently stand by if you witness bias/harassment – info’s in our calendar listing.

WINE TIME: Viscon Cellars‘ (5910 California SW; WSB sponsor) tasting room is open 1-6 pm, for tasting or by-the-glass/by-the-bottle wine.

WHITE CENTER PUB CRAWL: Starting at 4 pm, benefiting the next White Center Block Party – details, and how to get your ticket, are in our calendar listing.

LIVE ONLINE BIDDING BENEFITING THE BRIDGE SCHOOL: 6 pm, live event wraps up a week of silent-auction bidding for The Bridge School (WSB sponsor) – register here to be part of it.

OPEN MIC: Go perform at The Spot West Seattle (2920 SW Avalon Way), 6 pm!

LIVE EVENING MUSIC AT C & P COFFEE: 7-9 pm, Roo Forrest and Friends perform at C & P Coffee Company (5612 California SW; WSB sponsor). No cover.

THEATER: ArtsWest‘s new play “This Girl Laughs, This Girl Cries, This Girl Does Nothing” continues tonight, 7:30 pm, in the theater at 4711 California SW. Tickets available here.

IRISH MUSIC AT KENYON HALL: 7:30 pm, Magical Strings performs at Kenyon Hall (7904 35th SW) – our calendar listing has more info, including how to get ticket(s).

(Photo courtesy Bent Not Broken)

BENT NOT BROKEN, BENEFITING THE SKYLARK: 8 pm, local band Bent Not Broken plays a benefit show at, and for, The Skylark, all ages until 10, then 21+. $10 donation suggested. (3803 Delridge Way SW)

‘MUSIC FOR THE SOUL’: Northwest Symphony Orchestra in concert at Holy Rosary Catholic Church (4210 SW Genesee) at 8 pm – ticket link and more info in our calendar listing.

DRAG SHOW: Tonight’s the night for Dolly Madison‘s show at Admiral Pub (2306 California SW), 9 pm.

Something to add, for today/tonight or beyond? Email westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!

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Beach petition, Stone Cottage’s status @ brief Alki Community Council meeting
March 18, 2022 10:15 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   Neighborhoods | West Seattle news

With no guests or presentations, the Alki Community Council only convened for about 35 minutes on Thursday night. We have three notes from the in-person-and-online meeting:

(WSB file photo)

ALKI BEACH PETITION: This online petition is not an ACC project, but it voices a sentiment that comes up at many ACC meetings – the need for more Seattle Parks TLC at Alki Beach. It begins: “This is a call to action for our parks department and the city of Seattle to make the necessary repairs and improvements prior to the busy season of Alki Beach Park.” The petition also calls for more education to ensure people are mindful of the wildlife with which they share “this precious piece of paradise,” noting, “This beach is also the home to 200 species of fish, 100 species of sea birds, 26 kinds of marine mammals, and 3,000 species of invertebrates.” If you want to sign it, go here.

(WSB photo, last Saturday)

STONE COTTAGE: The ACC has already donated money to the rescue effort for the beloved bungalow, currently in storage, and now is deciding whether to endorse the idea of permanently siting it between the Alki Bathhouse and Statue of Liberty Plaza, an idea that Save The Stone Cottage is continuing to pursue with Seattle Parks. (We reported on this in our update last weekend.) Attendees decided they weren’t ready to take a vote, though, and are hoping to get a Save The Stone Cottage representative to their next meeting.

WEBSITE: The group also talked briefly about its new website, which currently features a spotlight story about a nonprofit whose volunteers are often seen at Alki, Seal Sitters Marine Mammal Stranding Network. You can see the spotlight here.

NEXT MEETING: The ACC meets at 7 pm on third Thursdays, so that’ll be April 21st, likely also “hybrid” – online as well as in-person at Alki UCC (6115 SW Hinds) – watch alkicommunitycouncil.org for updates.

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COLLEGE CASH: Rotary Club of West Seattle offering two scholarships
March 18, 2022 9:00 pm
|    Comments Off on COLLEGE CASH: Rotary Club of West Seattle offering two scholarships
 |   Rotary Club of West Seattle | West Seattle news

College-bound student in the household? The Rotary Club of West Seattle wants to be sure you know about two scholarships, with the application deadline just two weeks away:

The Rotary Club of West Seattle has two different college scholarships that qualified students can apply for now: The Gambriell Scholarship and the Past Presidents’ Scholarship,

The Gambriell Scholarship can be awarded to any student in Seattle, but preference is given to those who reside in West Seattle and those who would not be able to attend college or further their education without the scholarship. Financial need is a major element in awarding the Gambriell Scholarship. Variable amounts are awarded each year, depending on how many students apply.

The Past Presidents’ Scholarship is available to students who are not Rotarians or members of a Rotarian’s immediate family. Awardees must either reside in the West Seattle area or be graduating this year from a West Seattle-area school. This $6,000 scholarship may be used to obtain a 4-year degree or an advanced degree.

Go to our website at westseattlerotary.org/scholarships to apply.

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RUNNING: Registration open for Lake Washington Physical Therapy workshop with Chris Johnson
March 18, 2022 7:24 pm
|    Comments Off on RUNNING: Registration open for Lake Washington Physical Therapy workshop with Chris Johnson
 |   Health | West Seattle news

If you’re a runner – at any level – you might be interested in this limited-space workshop, announced by Lake Washington Physical Therapy West Seattle (WSB sponsor) co-proprietor Mark Bouma:

I’d like to share a learning opportunity for the West Seattle Community on Saturday, April 23rd from 3-5 pm. We will be hosting a Running Workshop for beginning, intermediate, and competitive runners.

Chris Johnson, PT is a nationally recognized clinician, speaker, and educator. We are very fortunate to have him spend a few hours with us and the running community to share his expertise and answer questions.

The registration fee is only $10, which will be fully donated to our charity of the month, WestSide Baby.

Register and pay here: lakewpt.securepayments.cardpointe.com/pay

During registration, be sure to include RUNWORKSHOP as the Invoice number. Attendees will need to bring their emailed registration receipt for entry. Due to space limitations, this event will be limited to the first 30 registrations.

If there are any questions, please email: frontofficewestseattle@lakewashingtonpt.com

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WELCOMING SPRING: Equinox sunset watch with Alice Enevoldsen on Sunday
March 18, 2022 5:23 pm
|    Comments Off on WELCOMING SPRING: Equinox sunset watch with Alice Enevoldsen on Sunday
 |   Skies Over West Seattle | West Seattle news | West Seattle parks

(WSB photo, spring sunset watch 2018)

Spring arrives at the equinox moment of 8:33 am Sunday, but if you want to welcome the new season in West Seattle tradition style, be at Solstice Park (uphill from the tennis courts at 7400 Fauntleroy Way SW) 10 hours later for the quarterly sunset watch with Alice Enevoldsen. If you’re new to the area, Alice is an educator and volunteer NASA Solar System Ambassador who’s led sunset-watch events for more than a decade to explain what the equinox/solstice really means. Solstice Park, with stone slabs aligning with the sunset at each of the four season changes, is the perfect place to gather. She’ll be at the park ~6:30-7:30 pm Sunday; though the official sunset time is (corrected) 7:22 pm, as Alice points out, the sun’s actual moment of vanishing behind the Olympics is about 15 minutes earlier. Even if the sun’s not visible, her events are still on (barring only heavy rain). All ages welcome; full details here.

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FOLLOWUP: Longfellow Creek P-Patch gardeners’ gratitude
March 18, 2022 3:52 pm
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   Gardening | West Seattle fires | West Seattle news

(WSB photo, Thursday afternoon)

Two days after another fire ravaged the shed at Longfellow Creek P-Patch, the gardeners are grateful – to the community, for donations that will enable them to keep growing in a garden that also gives back, with food-bank donations. Here’s the update from Christina:

Thanks to the overwhelming generosity of the West Seattle community, we now have all the tools and equipment we need for the upcoming season. West Seattle Blog readers are truly amazing! We are still accepting monetary donations to help us rebuild our shed. If readers want to help us rebuild, they can donate online at grownorthwest.org and designate that the donation is for “Longfellow Creek” P-Patch. We are also working with Seattle Police to help prevent future incidents of arson.

They’re storing tools and equipment offsite in the meantime.

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WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Stolen business vehicle (update: found)
March 18, 2022 1:52 pm
|    Comments Off on WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Stolen business vehicle (update: found)
 |   Crime | West Seattle news

1:52 PM: Reported to us via text, another stolen vehicle to watch for:

Stolen van. Last seen 3/17/22 on 34th Ave SW and Cloverdale. License 710XSG. Contact 206-714-4543.

4:53 PM: Update – it’s been found, thanks to a WSB reader.

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‘Things are looking up’: How The Skylark survived
March 18, 2022 12:10 pm
|      7 COMMENTS
 |   Delridge | West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news

(Photos courtesy The Skylark)

By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

West Seattle’s longest-running live-music venue, The Skylark in North Delridge, is still standing as pandemic restrictions recede, despite many eventless months. But the challenging times aren’t in the rear-view mirror yet, and tomorrow night (Saturday, March 19th), the band Bent Not Broken is playing a benefit show at, and for, the venue (here’s the flyer).

As with many West Seattle businesses, the challenges have come from not only the pandemic but also the West Seattle Bridge closure – The Skylark sits right next to the bridge. So how has The Skylark managed to make it through? Here’s what proprietor Matt Larson, who’s in his 10th year as Skylark owner, told us in an email interview.

“We worked our asses off to hold it together,” Larson says. Pivoting The Skylark’s food operations was a big factor in the early going: “When things shut down at the very beginning, we decided to strip down our menu and sell our house-made meats, growlers, ready to heat meals, and pantry goods, as we couldn’t have any customers in house and our to-go business wasn’t consistent enough to warrant serving our full menu and staffing for it. We offered pick-up and free delivery in West Seattle for a good chunk of that time.”

Read More

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From milkshakes to music, here’s what’s happening on your West Seattle Friday
March 18, 2022 10:30 am
|    Comments Off on From milkshakes to music, here’s what’s happening on your West Seattle Friday
 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

Here’s what’s happening as Friday continues:

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY, LUNA PARK CAFE: 33rd anniversary today for Luna Park Café (2918 SW Avalon Way) – go have a birthday-cake milkshake (thanks to proprietor John Bennett for sending the photo). Read the café’s history here. Open until 9 pm.

AUCTIONS: The online bidding continues for two local fundraising auctions – The Bridge School (WSB sponsor), info here, and Fauntleroy Children’s Center, info here.

GIRL SCOUT COOKIES: This is the last weekend for cookie booths – find the times/locations by using this quick lookup.

SPORTS: One home game today, in softball – West Seattle HS hosts Kentridge, 4 pm at Nino Cantu Southwest Athletic Complex (2801 SW Thistle).

IN-STORE AT EASY STREET: Thee Deception performs at Easy Street (California/Alaska), 7 pm, free/all ages.

LIVE MUSIC AT C & P: 6-7:30 pm at C & P Coffee (5612 California SW; WSB sponsor), Halcyon the Mermaid sings and plays Irish harp, free/all ages.

LIVE MUSIC AT THE SKYLARK: Doors at 7, music at 8, for Nurse Ratchett, RED Classic Rock Trio, Lesser Disciples. 21+. $10. (3803 Delridge Way SW)

THEATER: ArtsWest‘s new play “This Girl Laughs, This Girl Cries, This Girl Does Nothing” continues tonight, 7:30 pm, in the theater at 4711 California SW. Tickets available here.

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REMINDER: Recycle/reuse + shredding event tomorrow
March 18, 2022 9:47 am
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   Environment | West Seattle news

Before we get to today’s highlights, last reminder about a big event tomorrow (Saturday, March 19th) – the year’s first West Seattle recycle/reuse event, including free shredding (4-box limit), 9 am-noon in the north lot at South Seattle College (6000 16th SW; WSB sponsor). Our previous reminder includes the list of what they’ll be accepting until the trucks fill up. This is a drive-up/ride-up/walk-up event. The event is co-presented by the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce and the West Seattle Junction Association

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TRAFFIC, TRANSIT, ROAD WORK, WEATHER: Friday notes + weekend alerts
March 18, 2022 6:01 am
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

6:01 AM: Good morning! Welcome to Friday, March 18th. It’s also Transit Operator Appreciation Day.

WEATHER

Cloudy, high in the 50s.

ROAD WORK, TODAY + THIS WEEKEND:

Today – The 35th/Findlay sewer work is expected to continue.

This weekend – Two alerts from SDOT:

Paving on Marine View Dr between SW 104th St and SW 106th St

On Saturday and Sunday, we’ll be paving Marine View Dr between SW 104th St and SW 106th St. We’ll start this paving around 7:30 a.m. and expect to be done by 3:30 p.m. each day. During this work, we may need to reduce traffic to a single lane. If you are driving in the area, please follow posted detour signs during this work

Installing cameras at intersections for monitoring traffic

On Saturday, we’re installing traffic-monitoring cameras at the 2nd Ave SW and Highland Park Way SW intersection and the West Marginal Way SW and Highland Park Way SW intersection. We’ll complete this work from about 6 a.m. to 1 p.m. We do not anticipate a detour or major impacts during the work.

BUSES, WATER TAXI, FERRIES TODAY

Metro is on its regular weekday schedule. Watch @kcmetrobus for word of reroutes/cancellations. (NOTE: Saturday is Metro’s next “service change”; here’s our story with West Seattle changes, plus there’s an addition since then.)

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

724th 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.

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WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Stolen red Lincoln (update: found)
March 17, 2022 11:30 pm
|      7 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | West Seattle news

11:30 PM THURSDAY: Just sent by Joellyn:

My sister’s car was stolen sometime between 5:30 pm and 7:30 pm tonight.

Parked on California Ave in front of California Nail Salon and across the street from Soundview Apartments at the south end of the Junction.

Red 2017 Lincoln MKZ
License Plate: BWU 9390

Police Report 22-067080

FRIDAY MORNING UPDATE: Car’s been found.

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THE WHALE TRAIL: You’re invited to the first in-person gathering in 2 years
March 17, 2022 10:39 pm
|      10 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | Whales

(Southern Resident orcas in Puget Sound, photographed by Mark Sears, NOAA Research Permit 21348)

One week from tonight, you’re invited to The Whale Trail‘s first in-person gathering since pre-pandemic days. Here’s the announcement:

After two years of hibernation, The Whale Trail is ready for a new season! Join us to welcome Spring with special guests Rachel Aronson (Quiet Sound), researcher Mark Sears, and Whale Trail Director Donna Sandstrom. Catch up on news about orcas and programs to protect them, and learn how you can help.

Rachel will introduce us to Quiet Sound, a new program to protect whales by reducing noise and disturbance from large vessel like tankers, container ships and ferries. Mark will share photos from recent field research, including encounters with southern resident orcas. Donna will recap news around The Whale Trail, including upcoming events to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Springer’s rescue!

Attendance is limited. Get tickets ahead of time here.
Masks are optional but recommended.

What: Whale Trail Spring Gathering 2022
When: Thursday, March 24, 7 PM (Doors open at 6:30)
Where: C&P Coffee Company, 5612 California Ave SW
Cost: $5
Advance tickets: bpt.me/5404648 (Brown Paper Tickets)

Attendance is limited. Masks are optional but recommended.

The Whale Trail’s last in-person gathering was in February 2020, just a few days before King County announced its first COVID cases.

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Questions about questions, comments about comments as Fauntleroy ferry-dock-replacement’s Community Advisory Group reconvenes
March 17, 2022 8:58 pm
|    Comments Off on Questions about questions, comments about comments as Fauntleroy ferry-dock-replacement’s Community Advisory Group reconvenes
 |   Fauntleroy | Transportation | West Seattle news

By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

Are members of the Community Advisory Group for the Fauntleroy ferry dock/terminal replacement plan being rushed along to get buy-in on potential locations without enough information for a true comparison?

That’s what some suggested at last night’s meeting, a followup to the one two weeks ago (WSB coverage here) at which Washington State Ferries presented nine “draft alternatives,” including Lowman Beach and Lincoln Park.

Some CAG members also suggested the process is putting too much emphasis on dock location/size when some of the biggest issues, like traffic, could and should be addressed operationally, and long before the replacement is built (currently expected in 2025-2027).

Here’s how the meeting unfolded:

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FOLLOWUP: Andover Bridge work resumes with ‘small amounts’ of ‘independent’ concrete, but West Seattle Bridge still waiting
March 17, 2022 8:05 pm
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   Transportation | West Seattle Bridge Safety Project | West Seattle news

(WSB photo, late this afternoon)

One small bridge project has resumed, but the West Seattle Bridge work still awaits concrete, despite drivers’ back-to-work announcement earlier this week. First, here’s what SDOT announced today about the Andover overpass over the southwest end of the West Seattle Bridge:

We’ve resumed work on the SW Andover St Pedestrian and Bicycle Bridge (Andover Bridge) seismic retrofit project. Our contractor for this project is using independent drivers to pour small amounts of concrete.

Remaining work includes landscaping around the new sidewalk and base of the bridge, installing and painting the handrail, and replacing fencing near the bridge. With work starting on the Andover Bridge again, we expect to complete the seismic retrofit in the next few weeks. We appreciate your patience and look forward to reopening the bridge after the work is done and it’s ready for use again.

After getting that announcement, we asked SDOT if there’s an update on the Teamsters Local 174 drivers’ offer to resume work for three companies in hopes of getting concrete to some projects including the West Seattle Bridge. The reply from spokesperson Ethan Bergerson:

Contractors have autonomy to select concrete suppliers and we were informed last week by the contractor for the Andover St Pedestrian Bridge Seismic Retrofit project that they would be pouring a comparatively small amounts of concrete using independent drivers.

This is not the same kind of concrete as is needed for the West Seattle Bridge. The West Seattle Bridge program requires specialized concrete which is capable of holding more than 20 million pounds of force and must sustain its strength for decades for the bridge to remain standing. This is a different kind of concrete than what is used for most other transportation projects like streets or sidewalks, which does not need to hold up to the same kinds of force.

Kraemer has reached out to all the concrete suppliers to determine who can supply the special type of concrete needed for the West Seattle Bridge and other details about timing and logistics. We are still awaiting more information from the concrete suppliers.

As for the drivers, they have a new statement online tonight, saying drivers for one company – Salmon Bay – are back at work, but alleging another company, Cadman, is dragging its feet on setting a date for drivers’ return.

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