day : 20/07/2022 10 results

Spring isn’t the only season in which you might see baby birds. Community naturalist Kersti Muul shares a report with photos:

While doing my weekly tern-colony surveys (earlier this week), I encountered my very first baby seagulls ever.

I’ve renamed them french-fry cheetahs!

Also, They did it again!! The West Seattle crow pair who had two caramel babies (leucistic) in 2019, just fledged two more!

While leucistic birds are not considered common, or ‘rare’, it is very rare to have two in the same brood, and then have two again. I couldn’t believe my eyes and I wonder which parent carries that gene … The babies are gorgeous with pale blue eyes against their soft brown feathers and pink gapes. Both (all black) parents have a recessive gene for leucism and each chick has a 25% chance of being leucistic. They had three chicks total; one black, two brown. Interestingly enough the leucistic chicks have brown feet and pale bills which kind of belies the definition of leucism, as only the feathers should be affected. Of course I will be looking more into this!

As for the aforementioned tern colony (previous report here), Kersti says she hasn’t seen any eggs hatch yet.

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Two unusual found items: Luggage, planter

| West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

We have a Lost/Found (Non-Pets) section in the WSB Community Forums, but these are both a bit beyond what we usually post there:

Joel found that luggage left on his lawn. “Looks like someone left it on the way to the airport packing up the car… It just got left on my lawn at Findlay. 4100 block, about six hours ago. Now I have it and I would like to return it to the West Seattle person who must have departed for Sea-Tac too quickly.”

Meantime, this one is more likely to be in the “dumped-likely-stolen” category. Katherine says, “I found a medium-to-large planter, with plants, in the middle of the street on Admiral Way up the hill from the beach. I rescued it; but it seemed very odd and unlikely that someone would have put it there if it was ‘free to a good home’.She’s withholding descriptive details. For both items, email us – westseattleblog@gmail.com – and we’ll connect you.

P.S. The found photographic equipment noted here recently has been reunited with its owner.

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DEVELOPMENT: New proposal for long-vacant, vandalized 5242-5258 California SW site

July 20, 2022 4:26 pm

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| Development | West Seattle news

(2021 WSB photo of part of the site, which also includes 2 ex-restaurants to the south)

4:26 PM: The long-dormant, frequently vandalized development site in the 5200 block of California SW – two former restaurants and a former strip mall – has a new plan, according to what we just found in online city files: An assisted-living complex. An early-stage site plan filed with the city Tuesday shows the proposal is from Aegis Living, which already has one West Seattle assisted-living/memory-care complex, in west Admiral. We reported one year ago that the site was back on the market, after a plan to redevelop it as townhouses stalled, and the listing has had the notation “(sale) pending” for some time; King County Assessor records do not yet show a completed sale. The site is zoned for four-sstory mixed-use development (NC2-40). We’re contacting Aegis to find out more about their plan, which the city website summarizes simply as “new assisted living and life neighborhood building.”

7:17 PM: We’ve heard back from an Aegis spokesperson who says there’s not a lot to say as this is so early-stage but promises some information tomorrow.

THURSDAY MORNING UPDATE: In response to our inquiry, we’ve received this statement from Walter Braun, Aegis Living’s Chief Development Officer:

Aegis Living is in the early stages of a potential second development in West Seattle. Our team has loved being a part of West Seattle and hope to bring another Aegis Living assisted living and memory care community to the area. It is too early to share details, but we can confirm we have signed a purchase and sales agreement to explore this development. We are excited about the potential project, and as we continue in our due diligence, are hopeful we can share more details soon.

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ALKI ART FAIR: Two days until expanded festival begins

July 20, 2022 3:47 pm

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| West Seattle festivals | West Seattle news | WS culture/arts

Another look ahead to a major weekend event – the Alki Art Fair, which is not only returning after three years, but also expanding to three days. It begins Friday (July 22nd). The artist/vendor booths stretch along the promenade, westward from Alki Bathhouse; the main music stage is on the lawn east of the Bathhouse. Our preview two weeks ago has details, but here are the basics:

FRIDAY
Artist Booths & Food Vendors: 2-8 pm
LIVE DJ : 4-8 pm

SATURDAY
Artist Booths & Food Vendors: 10 am-6 pm
Live Music: 11 am-8:30 pm

SUNDAY
Artist Booths & Food Vendors: 10 am-6 pm
Live Music: 11 am-5 pm

The Alki Art Fair also has a Kid Zone presented by Outer Space Seattle. And while there’s no admission charge, there are ways to support the festival, such as bidding in the silent auction inside the Bathhouse – organizers tell us you’ll be able to “Find everything from art to gift certificates from some of your favorite West Seattle eateries, museum and sports tickets, massages and more!” See the festival website here for the artist and music lineups. One more note: As with other returning events, this is a transition year – they’re not offering a shuttle this time, but you do have transportation options, such as the Water Taxi shuttle and Route 50 Metro bus.

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WEST SEATTLE GRAND PARADE: Saturday brings the most nautical lineup ever

July 20, 2022 1:21 pm

| Comments Off on WEST SEATTLE GRAND PARADE: Saturday brings the most nautical lineup ever

| West Seattle Grand Parade | West Seattle news

Three days until the West Seattle Grand Parade, so today we step up the previews. As had become an annual tradition pre-pandemic, we sat in on the parade-lineup meeting, where parade-team members arrange the entries into the order you’ll see on Saturday (July 23rd). The 70+ entries this year include more nautical-themed participants than past years.

(Photo courtesy Michelle Edwards)

That’s Smitty J. Tugboat from the South Sound Maritime Heritage Foundation. You’ll also see a 21-foot replica of the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (itself periodically seen off West Seattle), courtesy of the Pacific Northwest Naval Air Museum, plus the Miss HomeStreet hydro, Seafair Pirates‘ landlubbing vessel Moby Duck, and boats from the Seafair Commodores and the West Seattle Yacht Club.

(WSB photo, Moby Duck at Alki before last month’s Seafair Pirates Landing)

Also in the seagoing vein, other entries include a float from Port Orchard’s Fathoms O’ Fun Festival and local wildlife responders SR3.

That’s just a small sampling of who and what you’ll see on Saturday. The parade starts from California/Lander at 11 am and travels south down California to Edmunds (see the route here). You can hear the announcements at California/Charlestown and California/Alaska. Since this is a transition year, no pre-parade mini-parades this year – like the PAWrade or Kiddies’ Parade – aside from the Float Dodger 5K, which heads down the parade route at 9:30 am. Next preview, we’ll have more about the parade entries, plus the behind-the-scenes parade process.

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WEST SEATTLE PETS: Cheech the Lowman Beach cat is headed home

July 20, 2022 11:18 am

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| Pets | West Seattle news

This is not your average lost/found pet story. In the photo is a cat called Cheech, known and loved in the Lowman Beach area. One of his fans, Barbara, sent us the photo last week with a note explaining that Cheech – and his house, accessories, and food/water bowls, set out at the Murray Wet Weather Facility across from the beach – had suddenly vanished. Over the ensuing days, Cheech’s person, Amber, who lives neqrby and has cared for him for 13 years, explained on social media that Cheech always came home to snuggle at night, even though otherwise he had kind of become the neighborhood cat in recent months. She theorized that maybe someone had catnapped him thinking he was abandoned, which he most certainly was not. Cheech’s fans started leaving (chalked) messages of support:

And now, a happy ending: Today, Barbara tells us, there’s word that Cheech turned up at the Seattle Animal Shelter; Amber was headed there to pick him up and bring him back to the beach. So you just might see him on your next visit to Lowman.

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Morgan Community Association, music, trivia, more for your West Seattle Wednesday

July 20, 2022 10:30 am

| Comments Off on Morgan Community Association, music, trivia, more for your West Seattle Wednesday

| West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Photo from last weekend’s low tide, sea star and opalescent nudibranch, by Geoff Yule)

From the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar, inbox, and archives:

WADING POOLS OPEN: It’s sunny and warm, so the city says wading pools will be open – in West Seattle today, that’s Delridge (noon-5:30 pm) and Lincoln Park (noon-7 pm). (Also, Highland Park Spraypark at 1100 SW Cloverdale is open 11 am-8 pm.)

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

NETWORKING: Wind Down Weekly networking at Junction Plaza Park, presented by Work and Play Lounge, 6-8 pm. (42nd/Alaska)

LIVE AT OTTER ON THE ROCKS: Jazz Night at Otter on the Rocks (4210 SW Admiral Way), 6:30 pm.

LIVE AT LOCOL: Locöl Barley & Vine (7902 35th SW) spotlights live music 6:30-8:30 pm Wednesdays, no cover, 21+, rotating artists.

MORGAN COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION: Quarterly community meeting, online, 7 pm. See the agenda and connection information here.

MUSIC BINGO: Now weekly at The Good Society (California/Lander), 7 pm.

KUNDALINI YOGA, MEDITATION, SOUND BATH: New night and location – Inner Alchemy now presents this at Solstice Park, 7 pm Wednesdays. (7400 Fauntleroy Way SW)

SKYLARK OPEN MIC: 7:30 pm signups @ West Seattle’s longest-running open mic – no cover to watch. (3803 Delridge Way SW)

TRIVIA x 4: Larry’s Tavern (3405 California SW) hosts Wednesday-night trivia starting at 7:30 pm; also tonight at 7:30 pm, you can play trivia at the West Seattle Brewing Mothership (4415 Fauntleroy Way SW); trivia starts at 8 pm at Beveridge Place Pub (6413 California SW); at 8:30 pm, trivia is back at Talarico’s (4718 California SW) with Phil T.

Calendar event to add? Please email westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!

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UPDATE: Admiral Safeway reopens after temporary closure

July 20, 2022 9:35 am

| 2 COMMENTS

| West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news

9:35 AM: Thanks for the tips. Admiral Safeway is temporarily closed. Some initial tips we got were that multiple local Safeways were closed because of a point-of-sale technology problem; we went to the one closest to us (Roxbury) and they’re open but a staff member said it’s a random point of sale problem affecting some stories. Jefferson Square told us by phone they’re having problems but are still open. We’re now attempting to reach regional HQ to find out more.

11:38 AM: Still haven’t heard back from corporate, but we just went back to Admiral Safeway to check on the store’s status, and they have reopened.

7 PM: A Safeway spokesperson explained in a reply to our inquiry: “A system update performed last night caused some technical delays that required temporarily closing some stores. All stores are now operating normally and have re-opened for business.”

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Remembering Wendi Hirshberg, 1961-2022

July 20, 2022 9:00 am

| 6 COMMENTS

| Obituaries | West Seattle news

Family and friends are remembering Wendi Hirshberg, and sharing this remembrance with her community:

Wendi Hirshberg passed away on July 4, 2022 from mesothelioma. After a 4-year fight to find a cure, she died in peace, surrounded by her immediate family.

Born September 24, 1961, Wendi was a West Seattle native who attended Fairmount Park Elementary, Louisa Boren Junior High, and was a graduate of West Seattle High School. After earning a teaching degree at WSU, Wendi went back to the school she first attended, to teach at Fairmount Park.

While raising her own 2 children, Ben and Sadie, in Blue Ridge, she made the commute back to West Seattle, where she quickly became a beloved parent educator with the Seattle Colleges Co-op Preschool Programs for 22 years.

Known for nurturing the parents of newborns and toddlers, she helped so many families build a strong foundation as they started their parenting journey. She is most remembered for her enthusiasm, warmth, non-judgmental spirit, and true empathy. A lifelong learner herself, Wendi was always ready to share the latest in child development and guidance. With many co-teachers, Wendi created a welcoming team and place for parents to connect with one another and start to build their “village.” Even second- and third-time parents came back to get that smile, hugs, and personal “Wendi time.” Wendi was also asked to teach in the APPLE Parenting Program where her ability to nurture, won over any potential barriers of English Language Learners and families who experienced an extra layer of life challenges.

Wendi was a special person to many and touched their lives in such an impactful way. Few people can be as genuine in all their relationships. Her fellow teachers at the West Seattle Co-op Preschool and Parent Education Program are filled with sadness and mourn the loss of not just a coworker, but a beloved friend. Wendi’s students, friends, and family are left with memories that will be with them forever.

She leaves behind her husband Rich, her children Ben and Sadie, her parents Duane Ruud and Darlene Ruud, and her brother Tim. She is pre-deceased by her brother Jeff.

Donations in Wendi’s honor can be made to the Co-op program she loved so that families in need can receive financial tuition support:

Wendi Hirshberg Memorial Fund

(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: Wednesday watch

July 20, 2022 6:00 am

| 1 COMMENT

| West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

6:00 AM: Good morning; welcome to Wednesday, July 20th.

WEATHER

Another forecast for sunshine all day, and temperatures likely to get into the 80s. (Tuesday’s high was 83.)

ROAD WORK

Overnight work nightly for the rest of the week, for “overhead work on the bridge.” Impacts include:

Detours for those using SW Spokane Street between Delridge Way SW and SW Avalon Way (between 10 PM and 5 AM).
Lane reduction on southbound W Marginal Way SW between 17th Ave SW and Chelan Ave SW (between 7 PM and 6 AM).
Detours for those accessing westbound SW Spokane Street at East Marginal Way S (between 10 PM and 5 AM)

EARLY WEEKEND HEADS-UP

The Float Dodger 5K and West Seattle Grand Parade on Saturday (July 23) will close California SW between Lander and Edmunds until early afternoon. Watch for parking restrictions on side streets, too, especially near the start and end of the route.

BUSES, WATER TAXI, FERRIES

Metro buses are on their regular weekday schedules; 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

850th 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.)