West Seattle, Washington
28 Thursday
Next week, West Seattle’s psychedelic-country rocker Brent Amaker and his band The Rodeo perform a special hometown show to help the venue where it’s happening.
They’ll play at Yen Wor Village (2300 California SW) to help the family-owned restaurant/bar get through tough times. Not just COVID-restriction-related – this goes beyond that. There’s a crowdfunding campaign too, and as explained on that page, proprietors Gary and Wendy Wong have battled serious medical problems – for Gary, a life-threatening bout with COVID, followed by a stroke; for Wendy, a fall that led to broken bones and surgery. Both had pre-existing chronic illnesses, too. Now their sons are running the Yen Wor, and the business has needs too, from renovation to back rent. It’s been a West Seattle staple for more than 30 years and they hope to keep it going another 30, with help. On April 13th, the doors open at 6 pm – go sing karaoke! – and Brent Amaker and The Rodeo take the stage at 10. Donations will be accepted at the door.
(Photo by Dan Ciske)
After a day of alternating storm squalls and sunbreaks – wind, rain, even hail along the way – the National Weather Service‘s Wind Advisory alert has ended, and the weather should be settling down. We have a few photos to share from the day – above, surfing Brant at Constellation Park, photographed by Dan Ciske; below, a double rainbow seen from Don Armeni Boat Ramp:
That photo is from Stewart L.; thanks to everybody who sent a version of that view (which we saw too while in the area). Earlier in the morning, Brooke Gosztola caught a morning rainbow and whitecaps looking west across the Sound:
At times today, icy pellets coated the ground – or, as at Christopher Grupp‘s home, the deck:
For some, like the squirrel photographed by Rene Karn, there was nowhere to hide, just trees in which to try to take refuge:
The forecast brings some hope of warmer, calmer days – Wednesday and Thursday, the forecast is for some sunshine and highs possibly into the 60s.
6:13 PM: Seattle Fire is arriving at what’s described as a residential fire in the basement of a house in the 9200 block of 25th SW [vicinity map]. Updates to come.
(Added: WSB photo)
6:18 PM: Firefighters are searching the other areas of the building after knocking down the basement fire.
6:20 PM: They’ve now told dispatch the fire is “tapped” (out). No injuries reported.
6:21 PM: City records show this house is slated for demolition – the permit was issued last November – with townhouses to replace it.
5:34 PM: Thanks for the tip! Another pole problem on this blustery afternoon – this one is down across the north end of 44th SW where it intersects with Brace Point Drive and SW Wildwood on the east side of the Fauntleroy business district. Not a major blocking problem – just part of 44th at the bottom of the hill. Police had just arrived when we got there.
12:30 AM: Not fixed as of late Monday night – John Skerratt sent this photo of a worker at the scene:
(SDOT image)
3:47 PM: The 4th Avenue South bridge in SODO (south of Costco) is closed right now both ways because of “leaning poles.” No word yet how long repairs are expected to take. There’s also a power outage in the area – (added) reader Mary tells us, “No lights at Costco and no traffic lights working on 4th Ave.”
8:05 PM: The bridge is still closed, and buses are being diverted. Many of the customers involved in the original outage have their power back, but the SCL map still shows 140+ out.
(WSB file photo)
Also returning this year: The large-scale volunteer-work day all along the Duwamish River and its watershed, to help restore the health of Seattle’s only river. The spring 2022 Duwamish Alive! event is planned for Saturday, April 16th. Even before announcing it to the community at large, some groups have filled up the volunteer openings at various sites, but some openings remain: “Group B” for kayak cleanup (kayaks provided!) and habitat restoration – find the signup info here – and The Heron’s Nest, which is also open to groups and offering children’s activities – email info@duwamishalive.org to sign up for that site.
One SPD report summary of note from the weekend – another case of gunfire blamed on road rage. Police were called to 62nd/Admiral just before 2:30 am Sunday, after a report of gunfire from a vehicle. The victims told officers, the report says, that they “had been involved in a road-rage incident with an older gold Honda sedan.” They said someone in the Honda threw a bottle at their car, and the glass broke their sunroof. (No further details on what if any kind of “road rage” preceded the bottle-throwing.) The report continues, “One of the victims approached the vehicle and a verbal disturbance ensued. A passenger in the Honda subsequently pointed a handgun out the window and fired at least two shots before driving off.” No injuries; police did not find casings in the area. If you have any information, the incident number is 22-082322.
(Traffic-camera image, looking east from South Park side)
The eight-year-old South Park Bridge is (corrected) owned by King County, which sent an alert about maintenance work planned all day tomorrow; 8 am-4 pm Tuesday (April 5th), the bridge “will intermittently be reduced to one of two lanes in both directions. The lane closures are needed to allow maintenance crews room to clean the drainage systems and expansion joints on the bridge.”
10:33 AM: The week is not off to a good start for Washington State Ferries. The Fauntleroy dock is out of service for repairs. The downtown dock is also down to one slip because a boat from the Bainbridge run made a hard landing, and both the boat – M/V Kaleetan – and dock are being assessed. WSF says Fauntleroy service “will be suspended while maintenance staff assess and repair the issue. The repairs are currently estimated to be completed by mid-afternoon. This means service on the Fauntleroy/Vashon and Fauntleroy/Southworth routes is cancelled until further notice. Service between Southworth and Vashon will continue to run, and the #1 vessel will sail as scheduled, while the #2 vessel will operate unscheduled trips as needed.” We are told at least part of the Fauntleroy problem is related to a worn-out cable. Updates as we get them.
10:44 AM: WSF spokesperson Ian Sterling confirms, “There’s some sort of issue with a cable that is currently being inspected. It’s my understanding the cable is used to help lower and raise the ramp to and from the ferry.”
1:04 PM: WSF says the repairs are complete and the Fauntleroy terminal is back in service with the 1:15 boat to Vashon.
As promised, we’re opening registration today for the return of West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day – first one since 2019! Saturday, May 14, 2022, is the day for simultaneous sales all around the peninsula; as WSCGSD coordinators, we make a map/guide with locations and listings for all registered sales. This will be the 16th WSCGSD – first one was in 2005; we’ve coordinated it since 2008, when. we reduced the fees and have kept them the same ever since – $12 for an individual sale, $20 for a business/organization/school, $30 for a block sale of three or more sellers. The map/guide, in clickable/printable formats, will be ready a week in advance. If you’re having a sale, we ask that you have it open for the official WSCGSD hours, 9 am-3 pm, but you’re welcome to also start earlier and/or end later – you can mention the added hours in your up-to-20-words listing (sale description) in the guide. Ready to register? Go here!
6:03 AM: Good morning. It’s Monday, April 4th.
WEATHER
A Wind Advisory alert remains in effect all day, with gusts to 50 mph expected. (Weather trouble? Let us know – 206-293-6302 text or voice.)
NOTES FOR THIS WEEK
*Spring quarter at South Seattle College (WSB sponsor) starts today.
*Highway 99 tunnel has its monthly maintenance closure this Friday night.
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. Shuttle service is now back to serving all runs.
Ferries: WSF is still using the two-boat schedule for Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth. Check here for alerts/updates.
BRIDGES AND DETOUR ROUTES
742nd 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.)
NOTE: SDOT IS STILL WORKING ON ITS TRAFFIC-CAM TROUBLE, SO WE ONLY HAVE THIS WSDOT CAM:
1st Avenue South Bridge:
CAMERA P.S. – YOU CAN ACCESS LIVE VIDEO FROM CITY CAMERA WINDOWS ON SDOT MAP HERE
Are movable bridges opening for vessels? Check the @SDOTBridges Twitter feed; 1st Ave. S. Bridge openings are also tweeted by @wsdot_traffic.
Trouble on the roads/paths/water? Text or call us (when you can do so safely) – 206-293-6302.
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