West Seattle, Washington

19 Friday

57℉

month : 06/2022 293 results

MISSING: Ashley – FOUND
June 28, 2022 3:29 pm
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle police

8:35 PM: Ashley’s dad Justin reports she has been found.

Earlier: Read More

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FOLLOWUP: Sunday morning’s house fires
June 28, 2022 3:15 pm
|    Comments Off on FOLLOWUP: Sunday morning’s house fires
 |   West Seattle fires | West Seattle news

Around 2 pm Sunday, we reported on two house fires that both drew big initial responses, about 15 minutes apart. We asked SFD about the cause of both fires; they weren’t able to get us an answer until today. Neither was suspicious, so SFD’s investigator was not sent, says SFD spokespersoon David Cuerpo. The first one, in the 2500 block of Portland Court SW, was “a small exterior fire” extinguished by occupants, no cause determined. The second one, in the 7500 block of Fauntleroy Way SW, was “a deck fire on the rear side of the home (that) partially extended into the rear wall and the eaves of the home,” and was determined to have been started by “improperly discarded smoking materials.”

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InterConnection: Welcoming a new WSB sponsor
June 28, 2022 2:16 pm
|    Comments Off on InterConnection: Welcoming a new WSB sponsor
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle online

Today we’re welcoming InterConnection as a new WSB sponsor. That means they get to explain to you what they do:

InterConnection is a Seattle-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization building digital equity by providing affordable computers and internet service to underserved groups. Digital inclusion is critical in today’s society, where access to information, education, health care, and employment opportunity is increasingly difficult without a computer and the internet. Since 1999, InterConnection has provided affordable computers to more than 300,000 people and prevented more than 6 million pounds of e-waste from entering landfills through environmentally sustainable computer refurbishment, re-use, and recycling.

Become a Business Partner, Enable Digital Equity in Seattle
Computers are often retired before their usable life is over. By partnering with InterConnection, businesses ensure that their computers are refurbished for reuse, or recycled instead of reaching landfills.

As the first U.S. nonprofit to earn R2 and ISO 14001 certification status, InterConnection provides sustainable IT asset disposition solutions for companies large and small. We follow industry best practices ensuring the confidential data and private information existing on IT assets is never compromised. InterConnection’s standard data destruction procedures are compliant with NIST 800-88 Guidelines for Media Sanitization and the Department of Defense 5220.22-M.

Drop Off Your Used Electronics for Reuse & Recycling
InterConnection proudly offers a secure, environmentally friendly way for community members to dispose of unwanted electronic devices and accessories at our Loading Dock in Fremont, Monday through Friday from 10 am-3 pm.

Shop
InterConnection has great deals on locally refurbished desktops, laptops, and tablets – complete with a 1-year warranty and free shipping nationwide!

Donate | Shop | Connect

We thank InterConnection for sponsoring independent, community-collaborative neighborhood news via WSB; find our current sponsor team listed in directory format here, and find info on joining the team by going here.

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Two local Seattle Public Library branches to close one day per week
June 28, 2022 1:26 pm
|    Comments Off on Two local Seattle Public Library branches to close one day per week
 |   West Seattle libraries | West Seattle news

The Seattle Public Library is reducing hours at some branches for the rest of the summer. We compared the list of what days/hours branches will be open starting next Tuesday (July 5th) with the current days and hours, and that showed two local branches affected: Southwest will be closed on Saturdays, West Seattle (Admiral) will be closed on Fridays. Here’s the SPL explanation:

In response to ongoing staffing shortages related to COVID-19, The Seattle Public Library will temporarily reduce open hours through the summer at several locations, beginning Tuesday, July 5. The Library is tentatively planning to restore these hours in the fall when schools are back in session. …

Book returns will remain open on days that libraries are scheduled to be closed. Holds are extended during planned closure days and are held for patrons for seven open days.

The new, temporary schedule was created based on staffing availability and geographic spread to ensure Library access throughout the city of Seattle. While the Library continues to hire additional staff to support open hours, low staffing levels are primarily due to increased use of employee leave, including sick leave, COVID-19 leave, and Family Medical Leave.

It’s been less than four months since SPL restored some days/hours leading to the current schedule.

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WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Planted, then stolen
June 28, 2022 11:44 am
|      20 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | Gardening | West Seattle news

Thanks for the tips. Some of the hard work done by Seattle Parks gardeners and community volunteers at Alki last Friday was undone by thieves/vandals.

After James Tilley sent us photos including that one, we checked with Parks’ southwest-region crew chief Kristy Darcy, who confirms that about 110 plants were stolen. That’s about a tenth of the plants Darcy had told the Alki Community Council she had ordered for the annual planting, and some were left over after Friday, so one of her new gardeners is busy now replacing the ones that were taken.

SIDE NOTE: A commenter had asked about the watering plan for the plants, following our work-party preview last week. Darcy explains, “We are going to have to water them manually to start, as the irrigation is still not quite ready. We are waiting on the plumbers to come and fix a main line break on that system. Once that is complete we can then repair the heads on that one zone that are broken. … We are prepared with all of the heads and nozzles we need though, and should be able to get it up and running pretty fast once the water is on.”

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10 for your West Seattle Tuesday
June 28, 2022 10:12 am
|    Comments Off on 10 for your West Seattle Tuesday
 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Sunset last weekend, photographed at Lincoln Park by Tom Trulin)

From the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:

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

WADING POOLS CLOSED: Cloudy and probably below 70 degrees today, so the city says wading pools won’t open. (Highland Park Spraypark at 1100 SW Cloverdale is open 11 am-8 pm, though.)

COLMAN POOL: The outdoor pool at Lincoln Park will be open today as its 7-days-a-week schedule continues, noon-7 pm.

CITY COUNCIL MEETING: Hybrid meeting (online and in-person at City Hall) at 2 pm; here’s the agenda, including the West Seattle street-vacation item noted here. Watch live here.

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.

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

BOOK CELEBRATION: 6:30 pm at West Seattle Brewing (4415 Fauntleroy Way SW), “a reading, book signing, and celebration for West Seattle writer Rebekah Anderson, whose debut novel, “The Grand Promise,” was just released by Empty Bowl Press.”

OPEN MIC NIGHT: 7 pm at Otter on the Rocks (4210 SW Admiral Way, hosted by Midnight Marauders.

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 info to westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!

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YOU CAN HELP: Roots of Empathy volunteers sought for fall
June 28, 2022 9:00 am
|      1 COMMENT
 |   Arbor Heights | How to help | West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

Here’s plenty of advance notice for one volunteering opportunity coming up at a local school:

Have you been wondering how you can give back to the West Seattle community? Have you ever considered becoming a Roots of Empathy Instructor? Arbor Heights Elementary is in need of volunteers who are willing to train as Roots of Empathy Instructors in the coming school year. Applications are currently being accepted and training dates are scheduled for October 18-20, 2022.

What is Roots of Empathy? Roots of Empathy is an evidence-based classroom program that fosters empathy in children, now entering its 15th year of partnership with elementary schools in the Seattle area. Arbor Heights has participated in Roots of Empathy since 2013 and they are looking for a few more people who are willing to give time to children and watch them evolve over the school year as they watch “their” baby grow.

Want to see what Roots of Empathy looks like? Click to view a recent BBC World Hacks feature on the Roots of Empathy program. You can learn more about what being an Instructor means here.

Please reach out to Suz Fix, local Program Manager, at sfix@rootsofempathy.org if you’re interested in joining Roots of Empathy in changing the world, child by child.

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TRAFFIC, TRANSIT, ROAD WORK, WEATHER: Post-heat Tuesday notes
June 28, 2022 6:02 am
|    Comments Off on TRAFFIC, TRANSIT, ROAD WORK, WEATHER: Post-heat Tuesday notes
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

6:02 AM: Good morning; welcome to Tuesday, June 28th.

WEATHER

The heat advisory expired last night, and today’s forecast suggests a high around 70 (which would be 21 degrees cooler than Monday’s 91-degree high)..

ROAD WORK

*Pavement work – building concrete road panels – continues at California/Myrtle, with traffic alternating through one lane at times.

*Puget Sound Energy maintenance is scheduled on SW Roxbury between 14th and 15th again today and Thursday. The alert says you might be affected this way: “Westbound travel on SW Roxbury St: The right lane and sidewalk will be closed from 7 AM to 2 PM. Additionally, the bus stop will be temporarily relocated 250 feet to the east. Eastbound travel on SW Roxbury St: The right lane will be closed from 9 AM to 3 PM. The sidewalk will be open.”

BUSES, WATER TAXI, FERRIES

Metro buses are on their regular weekday schedule; watch @kcmetroalerts for word of reroutes/trip cancellations.

The West Seattle Water Taxi is on its regular schedule. (Here’s the schedule it’ll run on the Fourth of July next Monday.)

Ferries: WSF continues on the two-boat schedule for Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth – and WSF says that probably won’t change for many months. Check here for alerts/updates.

BRIDGES AND DETOUR ROUTES

828th 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 recently installed 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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CONGRATULATIONS! One local All-Star team wins big
June 27, 2022 10:46 pm
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | WS & Sports

Congratulations to the 10U Red West Seattle Baseball All Stars – Danny Sizemore sent the photo and report of their big tournament win:

This past weekend they traveled to Yakima to take part in The Golden Glove tournament. There were 7 teams from around the state in their bracket. The West Seattle Reds went undefeated (4-0) to bring home the championship by beating teams from Moses Lake, Wenatchee, and Ellensburg.

Here’s how all the tournament games turned out. The Reds also competed in the all-star tournament WS Baseball hosted two weeks ago.

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DEVELOPMENT: City Council vote Tuesday to end five-year street-vacation process at West Seattle project site
June 27, 2022 8:53 pm
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   Development | West Seattle news

This isn’t particularly controversial, but if you pay attention to public process, it’s notable: A City Council vote tomorrow is expected to pave the way for the end of a five-year process involving a West Seattle street vacation. That’s the term for a publicly owned right-of-way – whether developed as a street or not – being given up by the public entity that owns it. In this case, both the West Coast Self-Storage facility that opened more than a year ago on Harbor Avenue SW and nearby Nucor are getting something out of the transfer of three-fifths of an acre of land that technically have been undeveloped parts of 29th SW and SW City View. We wrote extensively about the plan back in 2017, when councilmembers approved it. The self-storage company offered a package of “public benefits” estimated to be worth more than $300,000 (originally detailed in 2017), including metal art panels like these two and various pedestrian/bike-trail improvements:

Last Tuesday, the council’s Transportation and Utilities Committee got a presentation how it had all turned out. You can see it about 30 minutes into the meeting recording:

(Added: The slide deck from that meeting is here.) The purpose of this final part of the process is to confirm that the beneficiary of the street vacation has completed their obligation, The committee members who were present signaled their approval with “yes” votes. Tomorrow, the full council has to take one last vote. After that, there’ll be one last step to finalizing the turnover – the property will officially be transferred to WC Self-Storage, which has already paid the city more than a million dollars for it. If you’re wondering about Nucor’s role in all this – it involves part of the railroad tracks.

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FOURTH OF JULY: First pre-holiday week without fireworks stands in neighboring North Highline
June 27, 2022 7:39 pm
|      22 COMMENTS
 |   Holidays | West Seattle news

With one week to go until the Fourth of July, in past years this is when fireworks sales started in White Center and the rest of unincorporated North Highline, just south of West Seattle. Not this year. The fireworks ban in unincorporated King County has taken effect. If you’re outside the city limits – as published previously on our partner site White Center Now, here’s how the complaint/enforcement process will work:

With this year being the first that fireworks aren’t permitted, King County is emphasizing community education about the new rules and is deferring issuing citations for a year. However, that doesn’t mean folks will be able to light fireworks without repercussion. As of June 14th, residents have been able to report violators to the King County Permitting Division:

-Online by visiting kingcounty.gov/reportfireworks (Users will have to sign up for our system)

-Phone: 206-848-0800

King County will issue a warning to violators and include them in our records. If the behavior continues, these violators will likely be the first to eventually receive citations. Local Services is finalizing the details of how violators will be cited beginning in 2023.

Fireworks of course have long since been banned from sale and use on both sides of North Highline, in Seattle and Burien

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WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Alleged rapist arrested, accused of ‘terrorizing’ local businesses
June 27, 2022 5:06 pm
|      17 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | West Seattle news

An accused rapist is in the King County Jail after being arrested in The Junction early Saturday. We first learned of the arrest from this SPD summary:

It has been reported that, every weekend for weeks, a suspect has been terrorizing patrons and employees of various Admiral/Alaska Junction establishments and venues. Officers have become familiar with the subject and staff have formed a loose community advising one another whenever the suspect or his vehicle come into the area. Generally, suspect takes off prior to police arrival. On 06-25-2022 at 0149 hours, officers received a similar call for service. Officers determined that the suspect had a rape warrant with a $1,000,000 bail, formulated a plan and took suspect into custody without incident.

We’ve learned that the suspect is 29-year-old Domanick A. Gaskin; we obtained the photo at right from the state Department of Corrections, which had it because he has served time in state prison. Most recently, that was for a South Seattle case in 2018 that made regional news – in a domestic-violence incident in which he was described as both suspect and victim. Court records show he pleaded guilty to reduced charges in 2020 and was given a three-year sentence with credit for time already served. He had two prior robbery convictions a decade ago, as well as a domestic-violence conviction in 2016. The new rape case against him was just filed Friday and it too involved domestic violence, according to the court documents, in an incident that happened in North Seattle earlier this month. Now that he’s in custody, we’re waiting to hear back from the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office about what happens next, and will add anything more we find out.

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WEST SEATTLE WEATHER: 2 local library branches closed for the rest of the day
June 27, 2022 2:52 pm
|    Comments Off on WEST SEATTLE WEATHER: 2 local library branches closed for the rest of the day
 |   West Seattle libraries | West Seattle news | West Seattle weather

Thanks for the tip! Two of the peninsula’s Seattle Public Library branches are closed for the rest of the day because of the hot weather: West Seattle (Admiral), which is not air-conditioned, and Southwest, which is partly without A/C. The SPL announcement notes, “Book returns remain open and holds will be extended.” Both are expected to reopen tomorrow, since the heat is supposed to subside by then, with Tuesday’s high expected to be around 70.

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HAPPENING NOW: COVID vaccination openings for 5- to 11-year-olds
June 27, 2022 2:34 pm
|    Comments Off on HAPPENING NOW: COVID vaccination openings for 5- to 11-year-olds
 |   Coronavirus | West Seattle news

While the opportunities for babies/toddlers/preschoolers are all booked up, Neighborhood Naturopathic (5410 California SW; WSB sponsor) just sent word that they have some openings this afternoon to vaccinate 5- to 11-year-olds. If you are interested, call 206-486-8383 ASAP.

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WEST SEATTLE SCHOOLS: Kindergarten openings at Holy Rosary
June 27, 2022 1:24 pm
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

If your family will have a kindergartener starting school this fall, this might be of interest, as announced by Holy Rosary Catholic School (WSB sponsor) in The Junction:

Holy Rosary School has a few rare Kindergarten openings for the 2022/23 school year. If you are interested in igniting your student’s spirit and mind, please contact admissions@holyrosaryws.org for a tour.

• Students engaged by enthusiastic teachers with hand-on curricula designed to spark creativity and encourage critical thinking.

• 8:30 am – 3:00 pm school day for K-8th grade

• Before & After School Care available

• STEM+ program

• 2 classes per grade

• Kindergarteners have 8th grade buddies

• MAPS testing – RIT scores are consistently higher than local & national averages for Catholic & non-Catholic schools

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WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Bank robbery at Westwood Village
June 27, 2022 11:49 am
|      5 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | West Seattle news | West Seattle police | Westwood

(WSB photo)

11:49 AM: Thanks for the tips. Seattle Police are investigating a robbery at the Westwood Village Chase Bank. Investigators were all inside the bank when we went over to try to find out more, so we weren’t able to talk with anyone, but it was dispatched about an hour ago as a “robbery at gunpoint,” involving two robbers; the gun was implied but not seen. No injuries reported. The bank is still closed while the investigation continues. We’re still listening to archived audio for description information.

12:07 PM: Officers told dispatch that the robbers were seen getting away in a silver sedan, likely a mid-2000s Mercedes “S or E class” linked to other robberies. They were described as 20ish Black men, one clothed partly in black and one clothed partly in orange; the car, with no rear plate, was last seen headed northbound on 29th SW from Barton.

3:02 PM: A bit more information from the preliminary police summary – “The (robbers) handed the bank employee a note that requested money and threatened to shoot up the bank if their demands weren’t met. The bank employee gave (them) cash, and (they) left the bank and entered a vehicle that was near Roxhill Park. … The suspects in this robbery are possibly the same suspects from a Robbery that occurred later at a Chase Bank in Des Moines.”

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7 for your West Seattle Monday
June 27, 2022 10:44 am
|    Comments Off on 7 for your West Seattle Monday
 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(WSB photo – seen in Gatewood)

Here’s what’s happening today, including ways to cool off:

SHOP! From Emerald Water Anglers (4502 SW Oregon, WSB sponsor), “Monday, June 27th, is National Women’s Fly Fishing Day! We are celebrating with 20% off all women’s apparel and equiptment. Come by and see us!” Open until 6 tonight.

WADE! As noted last night, two more local city-run wading pools open today, so EC Hughes (above) at 2805 SW Holden will be open noon-7 pm; same hours for South Park at 8319 8th Ave. S. And Lincoln Park at 8011 Fauntleroy Way SW is open noon-7 too.

SWIM! Colman Pool on the Lincoln Park shore is also open noon-7 pm.

PORT POLICE CHIEF CANDIDATES: 4:30 pm online, the two finalists for Port of Seattle police chief – Interim Chief Mike Villa and Seattle Police Capt. Eric Sano – will answer questions during a community forum. Info including the registration link is in our calendar listing.

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

FREE-PLAY PINBALL: The Admiral Pub‘s 16 pinball machines are open for free play 7-10 pm Mondays. (2306 California SW)

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 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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Remembering Dennis A. Ross, 1939-2022
June 27, 2022 9:40 am
|      15 COMMENTS
 |   Obituaries | West Seattle news

The family of longtime West Seattle community advocate Dennis Ross has announced his death. Here’s the remembrance they’re sharing:

Dennis Andrew Ross passed away on February 2, 2022 from congestive heart failure. Dennis was born on March 24, 1939. He was raised in Vinita Park, MO, a small village near the city line of St. Louis. He attended St. Rita’s grade school, Mercy High School and St. Louis University. He served in the US Marine Corps from 1963-1965. Dennis began his career at the Kroger Company, where he quickly established himself as a troubleshooting expert in transportation and logistics for the company. Kroger transferred him throughout the midwest including Peoria, IL, Pittsburgh, PA, Columbus, OH, Nashville, TN, and Cincinnati, OH.

After leaving Kroger with 20 years of service, he took similar positions in Phoenix and Los Angeles. He then lived in Durango, Colorado, where he pursued his love of the natural world. In the early 1990s he moved to Seattle, where he lived until his passing.

Wherever Dennis lived, he contributed to his community, volunteering and leading efforts to better those places and people he befriended, however he could best serve. He was unassuming, totally reliable, hard-working, and as clever as they come in the pursuit of what improved the world around him. West Seattle, where he lived, benefitted for many years from his dedication to improving that unique part of Seattle which he loved. HIs persistence and commitment to his community was most remarkable.

Dennis loved to travel, both throughout the United States as well as abroad. Even in his later years, with modest means, he figured out how to scratch that itch, be it train rides across Canada, bus trips to visit all the major-league parks in the midwest, even China to see the Great Wall and the terracotta soldiers.

He loved his Washington Huskies, attending all manner and number of sporting events, especially the Lady Husky basketball team. His capacity to understand systems, and how to improve them, never left him. He dispassionately surveyed the fate of the Seattle Mariners every Spring and accurately predicted their performance, which unfortunately has been far more dismal than successful. But he still went to Spring Training every chance he got.

His great passion was to walk the streets and parks of Seattle and central Puget Sound. He walked as much and as often as he could until he could walk no more. He was a proud and appreciated member of several organized walking clubs in Seattle. He rode the bus tirelessly throughout the region and railed about how he could fix its problems if only given a chance! And he was spot on … as always.

Dennis received great care from the VA hospital, which extended the quality of his life. His cardiac Nurse Practitioner, Sandy Cruz, looked out for him and was on his team all the way to the end. His final care at the LakeView Adult Family home was compassionate and competent. Dennis was preceded in death by his parents William A. Ross and Blanche Mowry Ross and his wife, Toni Ross. He is survived by his brothers Tom and Bill and his sister Sally. He was loved by many cousins and friends.

If people are moved to remember Dennis, donations to the Sierra Club or the American Diabetes Association would be appreciated. A celebration of Dennis’s life will occur later this summer.

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

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TRAFFIC, TRANSIT, ROAD WORK, WEATHER: June’s final Monday
June 27, 2022 6:01 am
|    Comments Off on TRAFFIC, TRANSIT, ROAD WORK, WEATHER: June’s final Monday
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

6:01 AM: Good morning; welcome to Monday, June 27th.

WEATHER

The heat advisory continues until 11 tonight, and today’s forecast suggests we’ll be in the 90s again (90 was Sunday’s official high).

ROAD WORK

*Pavement work – building concrete road panels – continues at California/Myrtle, with traffic alternating through one lane at times.

*Puget Sound Energy maintenance is scheduled on SW Roxbury between 14th and 15th today, Tuesday, and Thursday. The alert says this is how you might be affected: “Westbound travel on SW Roxbury St: The right lane and sidewalk will be closed from 7 AM to 2 PM. Additionally, the bus stop will be temporarily relocated 250 feet to the east. Eastbound travel on SW Roxbury St: The right lane will be closed from 9 AM to 3 PM. The sidewalk will be open.”

BUSES, WATER TAXI, FERRIES

Metro buses are on their 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 – and WSF says that probably won’t change for many months. Check here for alerts/updates.

BRIDGES AND DETOUR ROUTES

827th 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 recently installed 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: See this past week’s trends for West Seattle, King County
June 26, 2022 11:59 pm
|      6 COMMENTS
 |   Coronavirus | West Seattle news

From the Public Health – Seattle/King County dashboard, here’s our weekly look at countywide and West Seattle-specific COVID numbers:

*Zero percent change in cases countywide between the past week than the week before
*Currently averaging 1,001 new daily cases countywide (up from 995 when we checked a week ago)

*22 percent fewer hospitalizations countywide in the past week than the week before
*Currently averaging 14 new hospitalizations daily (down from 18 a week ago)

*22 percent fewer deaths in the past two weeks than the two previous weeks (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):
*799 cases between 6/6 and 6/20, down from 886 between 5/22 and 6/5
*9 hospitalizations between 6/6 and 6/20, up from 7 between 5/22 and 6/5
*No deaths between 6/6 and 6/20, down from 3 between 5/22 and 6/5

VACCINATION: As reported last week, the Western States review workgroup has affirmed that the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines are safe and effective for children 6 months to 4 years old. Also, boosters are recommended for everyone 5 and up. Checking vaccination rates:
*81.5 percent of all King County residents have completed the initial series (up .1% from a week ago)
*86.2 percent of all King County residents ages 5 and up have completed the initial series (unchanged from a week ago)
*50.8 percent of all King County residents have had the initial series plus a booster (up .2% 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 – 88.6% completed initial series (up .1% from a week earlier), 55.0% have had a booster (up .5%)
98116 – 93.4% completed initial series (up .1% from a week earlier), 67.1% have had a booster (up .7%)
98126 – 84.1% completed initial series (up .1% from a week earlier), 57.0% have had a booster (up .5%)
98136 – 94.1% completed initial series (same as a week earlier), 70.1% have had a booster (up .6%)
98146 – 83.5% completed initial series (up .1% from a week earlier), 49.4% have had a booster (up .3%)

TESTING: 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 some 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.

VACCINE CLINICS: No new pop-ups to report; the one we mentioned earlier this week, for newly eligible children, filled up fast. Look for opportunities here.

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DEVELOPMENT: 4448 California SW to return to Southwest Design Review Board
June 26, 2022 10:28 pm
|      49 COMMENTS
 |   Development | West Seattle news

What could be the next West Seattle Junction redevelopment project to start construction needs one more level of approval from the Southwest Design Review Board, and a date is now set for their next look at it. The proposal would replace a small commercial building at 4448 California SW [map] with a seven-story mixed-use building, including almost 100 apartments as well as ground-floor commercial space, with no offstreet parking required or planned. The project cleared the first phase of Design Review last year (here’s our coverage from November), and is penciled in to return to the board at 5 pm Thursday, August 4th, online. Here’s the draft design packet with details on the plan. The August review will include a public-comment period, but if you have something to say, you can also email the project’s assigned city planner, at david.sachs@seattle.gov.

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SUMMER: Two more local wading pools open Monday
June 26, 2022 8:44 pm
|    Comments Off on SUMMER: Two more local wading pools open Monday
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle parks | West Seattle weather

Just in time for what’s expected to be the finale of this mini-heat wave, two more local wading pools open tomorrow: EC Hughes (above) at 2805 SW Holden will be open noon-7 pm Mondays, Tuesdays, and Sundays through August 21st, and South Park at 8319 8th Ave. S. will be open noon-7 pm Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays, Lincoln Park at 8011 Fauntleroy Way SW is already open daily (except for cool weather) noon-7 pm daily through Labor Day, and Delridge at 4501 Delridge Way SW will be the last to open, noon-5:30 pm Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays starting this week. One more option for little ones to stay cool: Highland Park Spraypark at 1100 SW Cloverdale, open daily through Labor Day, 11 am-8 pm. See the citywide schedule here.

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UPDATE: Pole fire closes 55th; power outage follows
June 26, 2022 7:07 pm
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news

7:07 PM: Thanks for the tip! 55th SW is blocked at Andover right now because of a small smoldering fire atop a utility pole. SFD is there, waiting for City Light.

8:24 PM: SFD has closed the call.

10:42 PM: Commenter Jenny says there’s now a power outage in the area; the SCL map shows 86 homes out as of less than half an hour ago.

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