West Seattle, Washington
25 Thursday
Before the night ends, we need to remind you that West Seattle Summer Fest is now only a week away – Friday-Sunday, July 15-17, in the heart of The Junction. Tonight’s preview: Celebrating Springer at Summer Fest! It’s part of a Junction Association partnership with The Whale Trail for this year’s festival, explained as follows:
Springer is a Northern Resident orca who was discovered near West Seattle in 2002, lost, alone and 300 miles away from home. Later that summer she was rescued, rehabilitated and returned to her family on the north end of Vancouver Island. Today she is thriving with two calves of her own – it’s the only successful orca reunion in history!
The West Seattle Junction Association and The Whale Trail are teaming up to celebrate Springer’s success with family-friendly activities at Summer Fest.
Follow The Whale Trail in The Junction – look for orcas in local stores! We will have a Whale Trail table on Summer Fest Eve on Thursday the 14th where kids can pick up a map of where the Orcas will be in the Junction. They find them and merchants will sign the map. On Friday-Sunday the maps will be at the Info Booth (California/Alaska). Bring the completed list back to the Junction Info booth at the festival and kids will get a ticket for each Orca they found. They take the tickets to the Orca presentations below for a chance to win an orca-themed prize.
The Whale Trail will present 3 PM showings of “Orca Rescue! The true story of an orphaned orca named Springer” on Saturday and Sunday at the Senior Center. Hear Springer’s story and learn how you can help orcas today. All events are free and family-friendly. Hope to see you there!
Full festival details are on the official Summer Fest website. Our previous previews:
–Overview of what’s new/different this year
–Music lineup
–Kids’ Zone
–Summer Fest Eve
We haven’t received a coyote-sighting report in quite some time, but this one came in tonight via text – seen in Seaview. Coyote reports have dwindled in the past few years; we still don’t know whether that’s because they’ve dwindled in numbers, or are just keeping themselves out of sight. A sighting report is meant as an FYI, not a warning; if you’re not familiar with how to co-exist with coyotes, these state-published recommendations can help.
Three reader reports in West Seattle Crime Watch tonight:
HARASSMENT/THREATS: Via email:
My wife and I live in the Junction, and were harassed and terrorized in the middle of the night around 1 AM in our home.
A group of 3-4 males (mid/late 20s or early 30s) in a large dark-colored SUV parked outside of our home, and banged on our windows/doors repeatedly trying to enter the home. The individuals also circled the block several times, shouting explicit threats before driving off. We believe we have the address of one of the individuals and have already reported this individual’s address to the authorities.
Please be on the lookout and be aware of any similar activity in the next few days and weeks. Also please reach out if you have any additional information on who these individuals may be. We believe they may be local to West Seattle.
We’ve asked the victim for the police incident # and will add it when we get it.
VANDALISM: Jennifer at West Bay Coffee reports that the for-sale building next to her stand (2255 Harbor Avenue SW) has become a repeat target for graffiti vandalism. The latest, she says, happened this morning at 4 am.
DUMPED-LIKELY-STOLEN BICYCLE: Via email:
I found this bike in the woods on the east side of Beach Drive SW, 6000 block. I presume it was stolen and dumped, since it was somewhat hidden. It is off on the side of the street. If anyone recognizes it, or needs a bike (and can do a little repair work), come and get it.
A reader asked us about an incident involving a RapidRide C Line bus around 6:40 this morning on northbound Highway 99 just south of the tunnel, saying they were in a nearby car when they saw the bus appear to “go out of control and slam into the far right barrier on the off-ramp and skid along hard enough to create sparks/fire and crack the doors/window.” The bus came to stop in a traffic lane on the Dearborn offramp, as shown in this camera image from an @SDOTTraffic tweet:
We contacted both Metro and SFD to ask about it. Metro spokesperson Al Sanders says their Traffic Control Center reported that “the northbound coach made contact with the Jersey Barrier at Colorado St. There was damage to the right side, with the right side mirror breaking off from the impact. Seven passengers were treated at the scene for minor injuries. Operator was relieved, and a new coach was dispatched to continue the service.” SFD said their crews only needed to treat one person, a 61-year-old woman. Metro’s report did not indicate a cause; SFD said it was initially reported to them as a collision involving the bus and another vehicle.
6:50 PM: Seattle Fire has a “full response” arriving at 45th/Alaska for what they describe as a “working fire” – a wall fire extending toward the attic. Updates to come.
6:57 PM: Firefighters are actively fighting the fire. No injuries reported so far.
7:02 PM: As Juan’s photo above shows, firefighters are ventilating the roof to get at the attic. They’ve also searched the house to confirm no one was inside.
(WSB photo)
7:05 PM: Firefighters have just declared the fire to be under control.
7:12 PM: Firefighters have updated that to “tapped fire” (out). SFD confirms no one was hurt.
7:36 PM: All but a few units have been dismissed from the scene, The fire’s cause is under investigation.
8:04 PM: SFD’s investigator is still on scene. Spokesperson David Cuerpo is too, and told us they’re investigating a possible electrical cause.
ADDED: That was confirmed as the fire’s origin.
At the end of a summer of event comebacks – something new is planned: The West Seattle Art Hop & Shop! Though it’s two months away, planning is happening now, and there are two ways you can be part of it – as organizers explain in this announcement:
The West Seattle Art Hop & Shop is a new community-wide arts event that will be held on Saturday, September 17th from 10 am to 5 pm. The Hop & Shop will take place across West Seattle peninsula, from West Marginal Way west to the water, and bounded by the city limits to the south. For artists, this is a chance to share your work with the community in a fun and low-key event. For art lovers, you’ll get to discover all kinds of local artists and makers as you hop and shop your way across the peninsula with our interactive map.
Unlike traditional art tours, the West Seattle Art Hop & Shop is community-driven and open to any artist who registers. This open format will celebrate the delightful variety of creative work happening all across West Seattle.
To participate, artists need to identify where within the West Seattle boundaries they will be showing, either at their own location, or with a host location. Each artist will then register online for $10 and take part in creating their own “dot” on the interactive map. Need to find a space to hold your sale, or want to host an artist? There is a do-it-yourself tool to connect hosts and guest artists. Because this is a community-driven event, artists are also expected to take an active part in promoting the event.
Registration for the West Seattle Art Hop & Shop is open until September 2nd. Early registration is encouraged to allow the volunteer team to feature as many artists as possible on social media leading up to the event. More information and registration can be found at wsartwalk.org/west-seattle-art-hop-shop.
The West Seattle Art Hop & Shop is organized by an all-volunteer committee of artists and art lovers with support from West Seattle Art Walk and West Seattle Junction Association. If you’re interested in getting involved behind the scenes, the West Seattle Art Hop & Shop team would love to have your help! Email WSArtHop@gmail.com.
(Thursday photo sent by Corianton Hale)
As reported here last night, Zippy’s Giant Burgers has closed early the past two nights, after selling out of food both nights following their announcement Tuesday that they’re closing permanently after 14 years. Just got word from Zippy’s proprietors Rahel and Blaine Cook that the overwhelming response means tomorrow (Saturday, July 9th) will be their closing day, one day sooner than first announced:
Just a heads up that tomorrow will be our last day instead of Sunday.
Our final food order that we received today won’t be enough to sustain beyond then and there are no deliveries tomorrow.
We are grateful for everyone’s support over the last few days. It has meant the world to us.
They plan to open Saturday at 10 am.
When Seattle Public Utilities announced in May that upgrade work was about to start on Pump Station 38 in the 1400 block of Alki Avenue SW, one key thing was missing – final permit approval. Today they’ve sent notice that the approvals are finally in and work will start “as soon as” Monday, July 18th. As reported previously (and shown in the rendering above), the overhauled pump-station site will include an art installation. The $2 million project will be built by Harbor Pacific Contractors, Inc. of Woodinville; construction is expected to last up to nine months.
(WSB photo, July 2)
Harbor Avenue SW has seen a fluctuating number of RVs in recent years, from a few to more than a dozen. Lately, it’s been the latter; the lineup grew about the same time as the Andover/26th sweep (we noted 9 on Harbor before that and counted a dozen RVs/trailers yesterday between the 3000 block and the Bronson street-end). The area drew another round of complaints when one RV burned last weekend, and questions about whether Harbor too would be swept. After several reader emails, we asked the city this week about plans for the area and just received this response from Seattle Public Utilities spokesperson Sabrina Register:
With a focus on addressing public health and safety, Seattle Public Utilities (SPU) performs multiple RV Remediations monthly in different areas of the City. We do site assessments where there are five or more RVs in one location. The assessments help the City determine which areas should be prioritized for cleanup.
At least three days prior to the remediation, temporary “no parking” signs are placed at the location, letting the public know about parking restrictions for a particular time period. Staff follow up with direct outreach to RV occupants starting 72 hours prior to a remediation.
Harbor Avenue SW is scheduled for an intense, one-day clean (called geographic or geoclean) next week.
Whether that means the RVs will have to be moved remains to be seen – we’re checking with SDOT about the parking-enforcement aspect of this. Past “geocleans” at various West Seattle sites have just been cleanups. We asked about the burned-out RV shell remaining from last Sunday’s fire (which SFD said did not result in any injuries); Register said it was being prepped to be “safely towed” (if that hasn’t happened already).
We also asked about the 16th/Graham vicinity, which has seen more than five RVs recently; Register said, “SPU’s upcoming site assessments will include 16th SW near SW Graham to determine if it meets the criteria for an upcoming RV Remediation.”
(Photo by Chuck Bowden, from the roof deck of Oregon 42)
The weekend’s almost here! On the list for today/tonight:
WADING POOLS OPEN: It’s expected to be unny and warm this afternoon, so the city will open the pools that are scheduled for Friday operations. In West Seattle, that means Delridge (4501 Delridge Way SW), noon-5:30 pm, and Lincoln Park (8011 Fauntleroy Way SW), noon-7 pm. Highland Park Spraypark at 1100 SW Cloverdale is open 11 am-8 pm, too.
COLMAN POOL CLOSED: The outdoor pool at Lincoln Park will be closed to the public again today for a swim meet.
SHAKESPEARE IN THE PARK: 7 pm at High Point Commons Park (3201 SW Graham), GreenStage presents “Much Ado About Nothing,” the Backyard Bard condensed version. Free!
BASEBALL: The DubSea Fish Sticks host the Redmond Dudes at Steve Cox Memorial Park (1321 SW 102nd, White Center) at 7:05 pm. Tickets here!
LIVE MUSIC AT C & P COFFEE: Songwriters’ Showcase tonight at 7 pm at C & P Coffee Company (5612 California SW), no cover.
LIVE MUSIC AT THE SKYLARK: Fishing Trip, Puppy Feet, Dead Amy perform at The Skylark. 7 pm doors, 8 pm music, $10 cover. (3803 Delridge Way SW)
Have something to add to our calendar? Email info to westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
One or both of these might be of interest:
ISLAND VIEW BLOCK WATCH: Two months ago, a resident of this complex was carjacked, and that brought safety concerns in the spotlight. Southwest Precinct crime-prevention coordinator Jennifer Danner asked us to publish this announcement:
Date: Tuesday July 12th
Time: 6 pm- 7 pm
Location: Island View SHA Senior Living Community (3033 California Ave SW)
Topic: Community Safety and Block Watch
Please join us if you live within a few blocks of Island View to speak about what Block Watch is all about, how to report suspicious and/or criminal activity and how to assist in making your community safer.
COMMUNITY-POLICE DIALOGUES: Wherever you live in West Seattle, you’re invited to a conversation with police and researchers. Here’s the invitation:
Seattle University collaborates with the Seattle Police Department to conduct the annual Seattle Public Safety Survey as part of the Micro-Community Policing Plans (MCPP). As part of the MCPP, Seattle University will be holding a series of virtual community-police dialogues. The purpose of the dialogues is to provide community members and Seattle Police personnel opportunity to engage in conversation about the findings of the 2021 Seattle Public Safety Survey and to discuss real-time concerns about crime and public safety at the precinct and micro-community (neighborhood) level.
You don’t have to live in one of the MCPP neighborhoods to participate in the next Southwest Precinct-specific dialogue; it’s happening online at 5:30 pm Thursday, July 14th. If you’re interested, the registration link is here.
6:50 AM: The Water Taxi is on a reduced schedule this morning because of crew shortage. Next run is 8 am. Normal schedule is expected to resume with 9:10 departure.
Earlier:
6:02 AM: Good morning; welcome to Friday, July 8th.
WEATHER
The forecast is for a mostly sunny day, high in the 70s.
ROAD WORK – TODAY AND SATURDAY/SUNDAY
Today: Pavement work continues on California SW between SW Frontenac and SW Myrtle.
This weekend: Here’s what SDOT says its crews will be working on:
On Saturday we will be completing paving work on Marine View Dr SW between 35th and 39th. Paving will begin as early as 7 AM and conclude by 4:30 PM. During this work, we’ll need to reduce the two travel lanes to a single lane and there may be delays for people driving.
Also on Saturday, we will continue updating signal lights on 7th Ave S and S Cloverdale St in South Park. A majority of the work will be completed on 7th Ave S with minimal impacts to S Cloverdale St.
On Sunday, we will be doing some additional vegetation cleanup and landscape work on Olson Place SW between 1st Ave S and SW Roxbury. The work is anticipated to begin as early as 5 AM through 1 PM. Traffic impacts include the closure of the right-hand curb
lane, the lane will reopen at 1 PM however we may extend working hours. Please anticipate delays while driving in the area
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 before next spring. Check here for alerts/updates.
BRIDGES AND DETOUR ROUTES
838th 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? Please text or call us (when you can do so safely) – 206-293-6302.
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