West Seattle, Washington

27 Tuesday

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month : 06/2022 293 results

SUMMER: What Chief Sealth International High School fall-sports athletes need to know
June 15, 2022 9:48 am
|    Comments Off on SUMMER: What Chief Sealth International High School fall-sports athletes need to know
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools | WS & Sports

Back on Monday, we published information that West Seattle High School‘s athletics program wanted to be sure students have before school ends – including summer dates for registration, tryouts, and practices. Today we have the same info for Chief Sealth International High School students planning on fall-sports participation – see it here. This is for those planning to participate in cross country, golf, football, slow-pitch softball, volleyball, and/or girls soccer and swimming/diving.

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TRAFFIC, TRANSIT, WEATHER, ROAD WORK: Wednesday watch
June 15, 2022 6:03 am
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

6:03 AM: Good morning; welcome to Wednesday, June 15th.

WEATHER

Mostly cloudy, high in the 60s (Tuesday’s high was 63, eight degrees below normal).

ROAD WORK

Seattle Public Utilities‘ pavement-restoration work at California/Myrtle continues.

LAST WEEK OF SCHOOL

-Today’s the last day for Our Lady of Guadalupe; Westside School (WSB sponsor) is out after Thursday; for Holy Family and most Seattle Public Schools, Friday is the final day (for Chief Sealth IHS, it’s next Tuesday).

BUSES, WATER TAXI, FERRIES

Metro is on its regular weekday schedule; watch @kcmetroalerts for word of reroutes/trip cancellations.

The West Seattle Water Taxi is on its regular schedule. (Looking ahead – there’s a reduced schedule next Monday for the Juneteenth observance.)

Ferries: WSF continues on the two-boat schedule for Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth. Check here for alerts/updates.

BRIDGES AND DETOUR ROUTES

815th 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 (one of four new cameras!):

Highland Park Way/Holden:

The 5-way intersection (Spokane/West Marginal/Delridge/Chelan):

Are movable city bridges opening for vessels? Check the @SDOTBridges Twitter feed; 1st Ave. S. Bridge openings are 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: Attempted vehicle theft
June 14, 2022 9:31 pm
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | West Seattle news

The photo and report are from Al:

Attempted vehicle theft 48th & Graham. This morning (6/14), discovered that at some point since last Tuesday night, someone forced open the passenger-side lock (destroying it in the process) and removed the ignition housing. There are plier marks on the ignition switch but apparently they couldn’t start the vehicle. The ignition housing is gone, as is any other trace of their existence; however, all my personal items (none of value) remain untouched. The vehicle starts and runs just as if nothing happened, thank goodness, but now I’ve got to shell out some $$ to rectify that jerk’s actions!

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Westwood neighbors and SPD discuss community safety and Block Watch
June 14, 2022 7:58 pm
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   Safety | West Seattle news | West Seattle police | Westwood

By Jason Grotelueschen
Reporting for West Seattle Blog

Concerns about safety in and around Westwood Village were the focus of a community forum organized and hosted by the Seattle Police Department.

The meeting was held online last week by Southwest Precinct Crime Prevention Coordinator Jennifer Danner, at the request of staff and residents at nearby Daystar Retirement Village (WSB sponsor), but was open to neighbors and the general public (as we previewed here). The agenda included safety trends, suggestions for how to best communicate with neighbors and report issues to SPD effectively, and how to best use the neighborhood Block Watch model.

Danner was joined in the meeting by Southwest Precinct officer Tammy Frame, along with Crime Prevention Coordinator colleagues Sarah Lawson and Katelyn Yep (from SPD’s North Precinct).

Read More

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ANDOVER ENCAMPMENT: West Seattle Health Club says city is promising to clear it Thursday
June 14, 2022 5:19 pm
|      130 COMMENTS
 |   Delridge | West Seattle news

(WSB photo from last Friday)

As we’ve been reporting, the city has promised another “remediation” this month at the six-plus-years-old RV encampment on SW Andover between 26th and 28th SW. On Friday, we reported that the “no parking” signs had gone up for this week. So far, the city hasn’t given us specifics about what exactly will happen. However, one of the businesses in the area, the West Seattle Health Club, has just told its members via email and social media that “all” vehicles “will be forced to move or be towed” Thursday, and that eco-blocks will be placed to prevent future parking. From the WSHC’s announcement:

Many of you have shared your concerns regarding the encampment on Andover Street requesting an update of the status. Over the past several weeks, myself, our neighboring businesses, city councilmen and several outreach programs have been working with the Mayor’s office to get updates and a resolution to this ongoing issue in our community. During this time, the residents of the encampment have been offered alternative living arrangements as well as new batteries and tires for the vehicles that are no longer running.

This Thursday (6/16) beginning at 9 am, the areas between 26th Ave & Andover Street and 28th Ave & SW Yancy St will be declared a work zone. All vehicles parked along the street will be forced to move or towed.

Today, the Seattle Police Department were out giving notice to the residents of the encampment that they are required to move within 48 hours, or their vehicles will be towed on 6/16/22. Some of the residents were agitated after receiving the notification on their residences and/or vehicles. We strongly recommend that you avoid any interactions with them for your safety.

The club will remain open during this time, however, the entrance to the club from Andover street will not be accessible beginning at 9 am. Please use the entrance from Yancy Street to access the club’s parking lot. We anticipate the area along Andover street to be busy with SPD, outreach programs and media.

According to the Mayor’s Office, the goal is to have the entire area completely cleaned up by the end of the day on Thursday, 6/16. To avoid the return of the encampment, the West Seattle Health Club is partnering with our neighboring businesses to place cement eco-blocks along the surrounding area. The City Council has also proposed to turn the area into a bike lane for the neighborhood.

We went through the area twice this morning, and noted orange tags on most of the 15 RVs/trailers parked there (that count doesn’t include other vehicles or tents that also line the north side of Andover). If this encampment really is cleared, it would be the second major sweep in West Seattle in less than two weeks, after Rotary Viewpoint Park/West Seattle Stadium last week.

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COUNTDOWN: Morgan Junction Community Festival returns Saturday
June 14, 2022 3:56 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   West Seattle festivals | West Seattle news

Though the weather doesn’t seem to want to get summery yet, festival season continues with another event returning this Saturday:

The Morgan Community Association is easing back into things with a condensed version of its annual (aside from the pandemic summers) festival. Stop by Morgan Junction Park (6413 California SW) between 11 am and 1 pm this Saturday (June 18th) for some low-key neighborhood fun. Well, the opening act isn’t quite low-key … The Bubbleman will perform at 11 am, and acoustic musician Gary Benson will follow. Some local organizations will have tables, so you can come chat about what’s happening in your neighborhood. Among the participants already announced are The Whale Trail – come talk about what you can see at sea! – the Southwest Seattle Historical Society, and us. This is a volunteer-powered event. See you there!

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UPDATE: Crash, vehicle fire on 1st Avenue South Bridge
June 14, 2022 2:01 pm
|    Comments Off on UPDATE: Crash, vehicle fire on 1st Avenue South Bridge
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

2:01 PM: Two-car crash reported toward the north end of the northbound 1st Avenue South Bridge, with one vehicle on fire as shown in the framegrab from the traffic camera – avoid the area..

2:07 PM: Firefighters have since arrived and just reported the fire is out.

2:25 PM: The NB bridge is still down to one lane past the scene.

2:52 PM: Now two NB lanes are open. We’re following up with SFD regarding injuries.

3:15 PM: The scene is clear and all northbound lanes are open.

5:38 PM: SFD says no injuries were reported.

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FAREWELL: Gatewood Elementary kindergarten teacher retiring after 32 years
June 14, 2022 12:14 pm
|      6 COMMENTS
 |   Gatewood | West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

The last week of school closes the book in many ways. Among them: Educators’ retirements. Michelle Green Arnson sent this word of a momentous departure from the Gatewood Elementary community:

As this school year comes to a close, beloved kindergarten teacher Nancy Carney will be retiring after 32 years at Gatewood Elementary. Mrs. Carney is a true institution, having worked with five different principals, three decades’ of colleagues, and countless young students. Her warmth and enthusiasm has made her classroom a welcoming space for learning and growth for so many children, while her boundless energy and seemingly limitless patience has astonished and inspired a new crop of parents every year. Mrs. Carney will be missed more than she can know!

If you would like to join Room 4 and the broader Gatewood community in wishing Mrs. Carney a very happy retirement, you can post messages, memories, and photos here: kudoboard.com/boards/4Mr9nfx4

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Alki Elementary rebuild meeting, ferry-system discussion, mega-low tide, more for your West Seattle Tuesday
June 14, 2022 10:13 am
|    Comments Off on Alki Elementary rebuild meeting, ferry-system discussion, mega-low tide, more for your West Seattle Tuesday
 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Newly reopened Westcrest Park Off-Leash Area, with Fergus posing in photo by Caitlin Huertas)

Great day to go to your favorite park – or to check out the other options on today’s list:

POSTCARDS TO VOTERS: Drop-in advocacy, Tuesdays at 10:30 am at C & P Coffee Company (5612 California SW; WSB sponsor).

LOW-LOW TIDE: Today’s tide is out to a mega-low -4.0 feet at 11:22 am. Seattle Aquarium volunteer beach naturalists are at Constellation and Lincoln Parks between 9:45 am and 1:15 pm.

WASHINGTON STATE FERRIES MEETING: 1 pm online, it’s the first of two systemwide community meetings for Washington State Ferries users. Our preview has the registration link.

CITY COUNCIL MEETING: Online at 2 pm; here’s the agenda. Watch live here.

LADY JAYE MEAT MARKET: In advance of Father’s Day, Lady Jaye is hosting a meat market and patio party, 4 pm-8 pm. Details in our calendar listing. (4523 California SW)

DEMONSTRATION FOR BLACK LIVES: Longstanding weekly 4:30-6 pm sign-waving demonstration at 16th/Holden. Signs available if you don’t have your own.

ALKI ELEMENTARY REBUILD MEETING: Get the latest on the levy-funded plan to rebuild Alki Elementary, 6 pm online. The registration link and other details are here.

CAMP SECOND CHANCE COMMUNITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE: 6 pm online, your monthly chance for comments/questions about West Seattle’s city-supported tiny-house village.

FAMILY GAME NIGHT: Meeples Games (3727 California SW) welcomes families 6-8 pm to this weekly hosted game-playing night.

OPEN MIC: Otter on the Rocks (4210 SW Admiral Way) invites you to a 7 pm open mic hosted by Midnight Marauders.

FAUNTLEROY COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION: 7 pm, the FCA board’s monthly meeting welcomes community attendance.

TRIVIA X 3: Three of the venues where you can play tonight – 7 pm at Ounces (3809 Delridge Way SW), 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!

See more on our calendar – and if you have something to add for the future, please email us the info at westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!

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BIZNOTE: New option at Dream Dinners West Seattle
June 14, 2022 8:59 am
|    Comments Off on BIZNOTE: New option at Dream Dinners West Seattle
 |   West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news

Longtime local meal-prep kitchen Dream Dinners West Seattle (WSB sponsor) is launching a new option – reducing its minimum order, so customers have more flexibility. Now you can start with just three dinners, and add more as needed; previously, Dream Dinners had focused on having customers order an entire month of dinners in one visit. Reducing the minimum order means families with smaller freezers or budgets can also utilize Dream Dinners to help avoid dinnertime stress when you’re trying to balance everything else life throws at you. Dream Dinners’ pre-prepped meal kits enable you to get dinner ready in 3 easy steps: thaw, cook, and enjoy. Most meals cook in under 30 minutes or come home ready to bake in the oven. Dream Dinners West Seattle is at 4701 41st Ave SW, on the east-facing street side of Jefferson Square. To place a June order, visit DreamDinners.com/WestSeattle.

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TRAFFIC, TRANSIT, WEATHER, ROAD WORK: Mid-June Tuesday
June 14, 2022 6:02 am
|    Comments Off on TRAFFIC, TRANSIT, WEATHER, ROAD WORK: Mid-June Tuesday
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

6:02 AM: Good morning; welcome to Tuesday, June 14th.

WEATHER

Partly sunny, chance of showers, high in the 60s (Monday hit 60, ten degrees below normal).

ROAD WORK

Seattle Public Utilities‘ pavement-restoration work at California/Myrtle continues.

LAST WEEK OF SCHOOL

-Today’s the last day for Explorer West Middle School (WSB sponsor) and Summit Atlas; Our Lady of Guadalupe is out after Wednesday; Westside School (WSB sponsor) is out after Thursday; for Holy Family and most Seattle Public Schools, Friday is the final day (for Chief Sealth IHS, it’s next Tuesday).

BUSES, WATER TAXI, FERRIES

Metro is on its regular weekday schedule; watch @kcmetroalerts for word of reroutes/trip cancellations.

The West Seattle Water Taxi is on its regular schedule. (Looking ahead – it will have a reduced schedule next Monday for the Juneteenth observance.)

Ferries: WSF continues on the two-boat schedule for Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth. Check here for alerts/updates.

BRIDGES AND DETOUR ROUTES

814th 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 (one of four new cameras!):

Highland Park Way/Holden:

The 5-way intersection (Spokane/West Marginal/Delridge/Chelan):

Are movable city bridges opening for vessels? Check the @SDOTBridges Twitter feed; 1st Ave. S. Bridge openings are 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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GRADUATION: Congratulations, West Seattle High School Class of 2022!
June 13, 2022 11:59 pm
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

The class motto for West Seattle High School‘s newest grads was “We cannot direct the wind but we can adjust our sails.” Fitting, then, that their ceremony happened on a breezy night at Nino Cantu Southwest Athletic Complex. Even principal Brian Vance noted the “June-uary” weather. But the joy of the night kept the shivers at bay, for spectators as well as grads:

ASB president Samuel Lewis spoke of the “unusual journey” he and his classmates had taken, particularly through the pandemic years, which brought “intentional and accidental” growth:

Staff speaker Kim Depew told her graduating students that she “got an education from YOU,” while marveling at their kindness and tenacity, and voicing confidence that their generation’s promise means “things are going to be all right”:

Exemplifying that hope, Cosmo Davis‘s “lessons of life” speech included his exhortation for classmates that “we have to fight to improve things … “we’re the future, not the adults; we need to start changing the world”:

The 250-plus graduates will do that in different places and different ways:

Some might even do it through music – this jazz performance was a highlight:

It was a summer-themed song, but the grads had a few last tasks before the first summer of the rest of their lives could begin. After their principal offered a few words of advice – including “perseverance” and “fail forward” – School Board director Leslie Harris declared “You are graduates!”

This was our area’s fourth and final Class of 2022 graduation. We covered the other three too:
Chief Sealth IHS
Seattle Lutheran HS
Summit Atlas

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GRADUATION: Congratulations, Chief Sealth International High School Class of 2022!
June 13, 2022 10:21 pm
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle live | West Seattle schools

(WSB video/photos)

“Class of 2022, you made it!” That’s how Chief Sealth International High School principal Ray Morales greeted his first graduating class tonight at Nino Cantu Southwest Athletic Complex. He acknowledged what the 230+ seniors had experienced, with the pandemic dominating more than half their time in high school. But no one dwelled on that. Student speaker Joselyn Panganiban quoted the school’s namesake, Chief Seattle: “Take nothing but memories and leave nothing but footprints.”

Staff speaker Matthew Baudhuin speculated that students chose him for his “dad jokes” – and told a few – while also sharing words of inspiration, advising the grads to “go forth and be awesome.”

This was the shortest of the night’s two ceremonies at NCSWAC, but it included unique elements, starting with a land acknowledgment followed by a Native song:

As the graduates walked up for their individual moments of acknowledgment, many of their caps told stories, in some cases what’s next for the grads:

And in some cases, words of wisdom:

Whatever was or wasn’t on them, many of those caps went toward the sky after the tassel turn led by Jessica Hong:

School Board director Leslie Harris, asked by principal Morales if she would accept the class, declared, “Indeed I do!” Morales, meantime, was congratulated on his first year by also-first-year Superintendent Dr. Brent Jones:

(L-R, director of secondary schools Chris Carter, Harris, Morales, Jones)

In less than an hour, the ceremony concluded, with proud family and friends ready to greet the grads:

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CRIME WATCH FOLLOWUP: Suspect arrested, charged in West Marginal carjacking
June 13, 2022 7:33 pm
|      10 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | West Seattle news

A short police summary from the weekend noted that, at 2 pm Saturday, “officers were searching for a suspect wanted for armed carjacking and eluding police … located the man mowing his lawn outside of his home and took him into custody.” Pursuing further information, we learned that the suspect was wanted for the May 12th shot-fired carjacking incident on West Marginal Way. 28-year-old James C. French was charged three weeks ago with first-degree robbery, and that’s why police had a warrant to arrest him on Saturday.

(WSB photo, May 12th)

The charging documents say French first caught police’s attention May 12th near 40th/Dakota, as what turned out to be a stolen vehicle was being loaded onto a trailer. Police caught up with the Ford Expedition towing the trailer under the West Seattle Bridge and tried to pull it over; the driver, believed to be French, didn’t comply. Police did not pursue but shortly thereafter happened onto a collision involving the Expedition and trailer (above) and another vehicle. French and others were photographed walking away from the scene toward a nearby gas station, where French is accused of stealing another vehicle at gunpoint, firing a shot in the process. Police found that stolen vehicle near 21st and Holly. The charging documents say that’s near French’s house, though police didn’t yet know that he was the suspect. They did find his ex-girlfriend, who said the Expedition was hers and that she already knew about it because someone had shown her, the charging document says, “a photo of her crashed white Expedition on the West Seattle Blog.” The investigation continued, and within a few days, police say, the carjacking victim identified French’s photo from a montage. He was charged May 24th but did not show up for his scheduled arraignment last week, so the warrant was issued. He’s now in jail in lieu of $150,000 bail. According to court documents, he has no prior felony record.

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WEST SEATTLE ART: Desmond Hansen’s newest box mural
June 13, 2022 6:36 pm
|      9 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | WS culture/arts

Thanks to Brandy for sending the photo! That’s West Seattle muralist Desmond Hansen, working today on his newest signal-box portrait. It’s on the southwest corner of 35th and Trenton, and in case you don’t recognize the subject, we noticed in passing that the north side of the box now identifies him – Portland drummer Joe Plummer, known for his work with bands including Modest Mouse. (Added – commenter points out Plummer has Portland roots but calls West Seattle home!)

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Fire at South Park transfer station
June 13, 2022 5:30 pm
|    Comments Off on Fire at South Park transfer station
 |   South Park | West Seattle fires | West Seattle news

You might have noticed this response on your way to or from the 1st Avenue South Bridge: Seattle Fire was called to the transfer station on South Kenyon for what turned out to be a “smoldering garbage” fire. They put it out quickly, and no one is hurt.

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BIZNOTE: Opening day for Alki Phở & Bar
June 13, 2022 2:29 pm
|      28 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news | West Seattle restaurants

(WSB photos)

Two months after we first reported that Alki Phở & Bar was on the way to 2808 Alki Avenue SW, it’s opening day.

The proprietors are Lynda Nguyen and Bien Phu Le.

They’ll be open 11 am-9 pm Sundays through Thursday, 11 am-11 pm Fridays and Saturdays.

You can see the menu here and here. The previous establishment in the space. J & J Public House, closed last November.

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WADING POOLS: Here’s when they’ll open in West Seattle
June 13, 2022 12:25 pm
|      6 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle parks

(WSB file photo, Delridge wading pool)

The city is finally out with this year’s schedule for wading pools. The list indicates four wading pools in West Seattle and South Park will be open:

JUNE 25-SEPTEMBER 5
Lincoln Park wading pool (8011 Fauntleroy Way SW)
7 days a week, 12 pm-7 pm

JUNE 27-AUGUST 21
EC Hughes Playground wading pool (2805 SW Holden)
Mondays, Tuesdays, Sundays, 12 pm-7 pm

JUNE 27-AUGUST 17
South Park Community Center wading pool (8319 8th Ave. S.)
Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, 12 pm-7 pm

JUNE 29-AUGUST 19
Delridge Community Center wading pool (4501 Delridge Way SW)
Wednesdays, Thursdays, Friday, 12 pm-5:30 pm

The Highland Park spraypark (1100 SW Cloverdale) is already open, 11 am-8 pm daily through September 5th.

You’ll notice that the Hiawatha wading pool is not on the list, likely because of work at the center and upcoming work at the play area, but its absence is not explained in the city announcement, so we’re following up. It hasn’t been open since 2019.

P.S. Take note, especially in this cooler-than-usual-so-far season, that the city generally opens pools on days when sunny/70-degrees-or-more weather is expected.

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Graduations and more for the rest of your West Seattle Monday
June 13, 2022 10:59 am
|    Comments Off on Graduations and more for the rest of your West Seattle Monday
 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

The biggest events tonight are both at Nino Cantu Southwest Athletic Complex (2801 SW Thistle), where preparations are under way:

That’s the field where our area’s two biggest high schools will have their Class of 2022 graduations tonight – Chief Sealth International High School at 5 pm, West Seattle High School at 8 pm.

Also happening in the hours ahead:

LOW-LOW TIDE: Today’s tide was out to -3.2 feet just after 10:30 am, as previewed here last night, and that means prime beachwalking time for the rest of the morning and early afternoon.

CITY COUNCIL BRIEFING MEETING: 2 pm, councilmembers look at the week ahead and recap the past week. No public-comment period, but the agenda explains how to attend/watch/listen.

WOMEN’S PERSONAL-SAFETY CLASS: 6 pm, online, free. Details, including the registration link, are in our calendar listing.

OPEN D&D: Drop in to play 6:30 pm-10 pm Mondays at Meeples Games (3727 California SW).

ZEN SITTING/MEDITATION: Free weekly event at the chapel at Fauntleroy UCC (9140 California SW), 7 pm.

TRIVIA X 3: Three scheduled options tonight for trivia players – 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)

Have something coming up that should be listed on our calendar and in our daily previews? Please send info to westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!

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CRIME WATCH: Vandalism temporarily closes West Seattle COVID test site
June 13, 2022 10:03 am
|      10 COMMENTS
 |   Coronavirus | Crime | West Seattle news | Westwood

10:03 AM: Thanks for the tips. That big red SITE CLOSED sign is what you’ll see if you show up at the city’s COVID-testing site at 2801 SW Thistle. We went over to find out why; staff at the site told us the generator was vandalized, and crews from UW Medicine, which does the testing at the site, were on their way to assess. They’re not sure yet whether they’ll be able to reopen today (normal hours are 9 am-5:30 pm), so for now they’re directing everyone to the SODO site (3820 6th Avenue South, same hours). As we note in our weekly COVID-stats updates (like this one published last night), there’s also a Curative-operated testing kiosk at Don Armeni Boat Ramp (1222 Harbor SW), open until 3 pm.

3:46 PM: UW Medicine says the site reopened later in the morning.

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SUMMER: What West Seattle High School fall-sports athletes need to know
June 13, 2022 9:50 am
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools | WS & Sports

As noted, it’s the last week of classes for most local students. If your household includes a West Seattle High School student who’s planning on sports involvement this fall, you need to know what’s happening before school starts, with registration, tryouts, and practices starting in August. Fall sports include golf for both girls and boys; cross-country for both girls and boys; soccer, swimming/diving, and volleyball for girls; and football for boys. All the info you need is in this document sent by WSHS athletic director Corey Sorenson.

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TRAFFIC, TRANSIT, WEATHER, ROAD WORK: Mid-June Monday
June 13, 2022 6:01 am
|    Comments Off on TRAFFIC, TRANSIT, WEATHER, ROAD WORK: Mid-June Monday
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

6:33 AM: The Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth ferry route is down to one boat – the Kittitas is out for repairs.

7:27 AM: 2-boat service has resumed.

Earlier:

6:01 AM: Good morning; welcome to Monay, June 13th.

WEATHER

Breezy, partly sunny, chance of showers, high in the 60s.

ROAD WORK

Seattle Public Utilities‘ pavement-restoration work at California/Myrtle continues.

LAST WEEK OF SCHOOL

-Some schools are already out; Explorer West Middle School (WSB sponsor) and Summit Atlas are out after Tuesday; Our Lady of Guadalupe is out after Wednesday; Westside School (WSB sponsor) is out after Thursday; for Holy Family and most Seattle Public Schools, Friday is the final day (for Chief Sealth IHS, it’s next Tuesday).

–Nino Cantu Southwest Athletic Complex will see a lot of traffic tonight – the CSIHS (5 pm) and WSHS (8 pm) graduations are happening.

BUSES, WATER TAXI, FERRIES

Metro is on its regular weekday schedule; watch @kcmetroalerts for word of reroutes/trip cancellations.

The West Seattle Water Taxi is on its regular schedule.

Ferries: WSF continues on the two-boat schedule for Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth. Check here for alerts/updates.

BRIDGES AND DETOUR ROUTES

813th 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 (one of four new cameras!):

Highland Park Way/Holden:

The 5-way intersection (Spokane/West Marginal/Delridge/Chelan):

Are movable city bridges opening for vessels? Check the @SDOTBridges Twitter feed; 1st Ave. S. Bridge openings are 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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CORONAVIRUS: This week’s West Seattle, King County numbers
June 12, 2022 10:03 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   Coronavirus | West Seattle news

We’re continuing our weekly updates on West Seattle and countywide COVID trends – here’s what we have this week, from the Public Health – Seattle/King County dashboard:

*19 percent more cases countywide in the past week than the week before
*Currently averaging 1,250 new daily cases countywide (up from 1,042 when we checked a week ago)

*2 percent more hospitalizations countywide in the past week than the week before
*Currently averaging 15 new hospitalizations daily (down from 16 a week ago, the county says, though the total is slightly up)

*Same death rate countywide in the past two weeks as the two weeks before (the dashboard doesn’t offer a one-week increment)
*Currently averaging 2 deaths daily (same two-week average as last week)

For West Seattle, we have two-week comparisons (these are the combined totals from two “health reporting areas,” labeled West Seattle and Delridge):
*956 cases between 5/23 and 6/6, up from 951 between 5/8 and 5/22
*9 hospitalizations between 5/23 and 6/6, down from 12 between 5/8 and 5/22
*2 deaths between 5/23 and 6/6, up from 0 between 5/8 and 5/22

VACCINATION: Boosters are recommended for everyone 5 and up. Checking vaccination rates:
*81.3 percent of all King County residents have completed the initial series (same as a week ago)
*86.1 percent of all King County residents ages 5 and up have completed the initial series (up .1% from a week ago)
*50.1 percent of all King County residents have had the initial series plus a booster (up .4% from a week ago)

*In West Seattle, here are the zip-code vaccination rates for ages 5 and up (reminder, 98106 and 98146 are not entirely within WS):
98106 – 88.3% completed initial series (same as a week earlier), 54.1% have had a booster (up .4%)
98116 – 93.2% completed initial series (up .1% from a week earlier), 65.9% have had a booster (up .4%)
98126 – 83.9% completed initial series (up .1% from a week earlier), 56% have had a booster (up .4%)
98136 – 94.1% completed initial series (up .1% from a week earlier), 69% have had a booster (up .4%)
98146 – 83.3% completed initial series (same as a week earlier), 48.7% have had a booster (up .2%)

VACCINATION AND TESTING: Two pop-up clinics for Seattle Public Schools students, staff, and families are planned in West Seattle this week, as previously announced here; otherwise, look for vaccination locations via this statewide lookup. … If you want to get tested and don’t have a kit at home, public testing sites include the city-supported site at Nino Cantu Southwest Athletic Complex (2801 SW Thistle, 9 am-5:30 pm Mondays-Saturdays except holidays) and the Curative kiosk at Don Armeni Boat Ramp (1220 Harbor SW, 9 am-3 pm Monday-Friday except holidays). … If you need to report self-test results, that’s explained on this page.

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