West Seattle, Washington
29 Monday
One week after the still-unsolved hit-run crash that killed Robert “Robb” Mason as he rode his bicycle home from his workplace in West Seattle, his family and friends are sharing this remembrance:
Robert J. Mason, “Robb,” 63, residing in Seattle, passed away on July 15th, 2022 after having been the victim of a hit-and-run driver while commuting home on his bicycle.
Born in Van Nuys, CA, Robb graduated from Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma with a BFA in Communications & Broadcast Journalism. Later in his career, Robb discovered his true calling and retrained as a massage therapist at the Brian Utting School of Massage in Seattle. He opened his own practice, RMBodyWorks, in 2003 as a licensed massage therapist. He also completed additional training at the National Academy of Sports Medicine, with an emphasis on core fitness and balance/stabilization techniques.
In addition to his private practice, Robb also worked at Highline Physical Therapy in West Seattle. As a massage therapist, Robb saw his role as that of a facilitator for positive change and healing, using his massage techniques and listening skills to make a positive difference in his clients’ lives. He was seen by colleagues and clients alike as an astute and caring clinician.
A sports and physical fitness enthusiast throughout his life, Robb enjoyed track, baseball, skiing, cycling and golf. In later years, he became an avid hiker, enjoying multiple trips to the Alps in Switzerland to hike with members of his extended family. He marveled at the beauties of nature on these trips, and they served to deepen his reverence and respect for the environment.
Robb and his wife sponsored a child, Alexander, in Ecuador.
He is survived by his wife of 18 years, Claudia Mason (née Perotto), and by his sister, Faith Mason. He is predeceased by his parents, William and Imogene Mason, and his brother, Charles.
A private memorial service for Robb Mason will be held on Monday, July 25th, 2022 for relatives and close friends.
Due to the tragic circumstances of his passing, a memorial vigil ride in honor of Robb Mason will be organized by Seattle Critical Mass on July 29th, from downtown Seattle to the site of the collision on SW Spokane Street, just east of the West Seattle low bridge.
The Seattle Police Department continues to investigate this collision and have asked anyone with information about it to call the Violent Crimes Tip Line at (206) 233-5000.
(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)
6:02 AM: Good morning; welcome to Friday, July 22nd.
WEATHER
Cloudy morning, sunny afternoon, high around 70. (Thursday’s high was 81.)
ROAD WORK TONIGHT
Overnight work expected again tonight, 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)
FIRST WEEKEND HEADS-UP – 5K + PARADE
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. Watch here for word of bus reroutes.
SECOND WEEKEND HEADS-UP – ROAD WORK
From SDOT:
On Saturday and Sunday, we’ll be repairing sidewalks and building curb ramps on 37th Ave SW and Fauntleroy Way SW. We’ll being working as early as 8 AM and conclude by 4 PM. During this work, we’ll need to close a northbound travel lane. People driving should anticipate delays while traveling in the area.
Also on Saturday and Sunday from 7 AM to 5 PM, we’ll be paving 35th Ave SW between SW Morgan St and SW Holly St. We’ll be paving the eastern side of the street and traffic impacts include closing one lane in each direction. Parking will also be restricted while we complete this work. Please navigate the area with caution.
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
852nd 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.
Saturday brings one more comeback – for a local summer event that’s been gone for more than the pandemic hiatus: West Seattle Outdoor Movies. The long-running series needed a new presenting organization after the summer of 2018, but that didn’t happen, so those were the last screenings … until now. The West Seattle Junction Association revived the series this year, but the first one is outside The Junction:
Camp Long (5200 35th SW) is where you can watch the first movie, “The Goonies,” on Saturday (July 23rd). The Camp Long Advisory Council is helping get the word out. In case you’re not familiar with Camp Long, we asked for details on where in the park the screening will happen. Here’s how Camp Long’s Matt Kostle explains it:
Movie screen will be located at the south end of the field to allow people to put down blankets or short back chairs on a little bit of the grassy area and those in the back can take advantage of the already established wooden bench style theatre seating which is normally used for our large fire ring. Photo attached for reference of the view point from behind the wooden benches looking out into the field.
If folks are unfamiliar with the park, once you park in the parking lot, you can either walk down to the south end of the parking lot and turn left by the shed there and follow the maintenance road that leads directly down to the south end of the field. If you park in the lot and walk down the main stairs located near the Lodge, you will end up at the North end of the field and will have to walk across the field to the viewing area.
Two comfort stations will be open at the park that night. No concessions, so bring your own snacks/(non-alcoholic) beverages/picnic dinners/etc. The gates open at 7:30 pm, and the movie will start at dusk. Admission is free. After this weekend, the next four Saturdays’ movies will be at Hotwire Coffee‘s courtyard (4410 California SW) in The Junction:
JULY 30 – “The Never-Ending Story”
AUGUST 6 – “Encanto”
AUGUST 13 – “Coco”
AUGUST 20 – “Back to the Future”
Three upcoming alerts:
35TH SW PAVING: 7 am-5 pm Saturday and Sunday, paving is planned on the east (northbound) side of 35th between Morgan and Holly. SDOT says, “We’ll be paving the eastern side of the street and traffic impacts include closing one lane in each direction. Parking will also be restricted while we complete this work.”
37TH/FAUNTLEROY WORK: Also on Saturday and Sunday, 8 am-4 pm, SDOT crews will be doing sidewalk repair and curb-ramp construction, which means: “During this work, we’ll need to close a northbound travel lane. People driving should anticipate delays while traveling in the area.”
Regarding the above two, when you keep in mind that California will be closed for several hours Saturday morning and early afternoon because of the West Seattle Grand Parade. Meantime, we also have an alert for next week, no sooner than Wednesday:
ALKI AVENUE LANE CLOSURE: We’ve been previewing the pump-station project in the 1400 block of Alki Avenue SW. It’s finally ramping up, and Seattle Public Utilities announced today:
SPU contractor crews have begun construction activities to upgrade the pump station located at 1411 Alki Ave SW. As soon as July 27, crews will set up a bypass system to support work on the pump station. To perform this work safely and effectively, the southbound travel lane of Alki Ave SW will be closed to traffic. This lane closure is expected to take less than one day and will occur during daytime hours.
6:04 PM: Police are converging on the Fauntleroy/Alaska vicinity, after reports of gunfire outside a business at The Whittaker. No reports of injuries so far and no other info yet on the circumstances. They’re looking for two people described as a Black man and woman in their 20s; he is about 5’6″, with an Afro hairstyle, in baggy black and yellow clothing; she is about 5’5″, straight black/reddish-purple hair, black clothing. She is reported to have fired a shot; he is reported to have a hatchet. More when we get it.
6:10 PM: We talked to a sergeant in the area; they told us they’re still trying to sort out the circumstances of the gunfire, whether someone was specifically targeted or it was random. They confirmed that no injuries are reported.
6:19 PM: Police report finding “one fired cartridge” on the east side of the Fauntleroy/Alaska intersection.
ADDED FRIDAY: Only one added detail from a police summary today (also noted by a commenter) – the incident started at the gas station in the California/Alaska intersection.
If the West Seattle Grand Parade had a marquee, the All-City Band would be atop it – the student musicians who are perennial favorites in this parade and others. Above is video sent to us showing the band practicing at Seattle Center earlier this week; tonight they’ll be rehearsing at Nino Cantu Southwest Athletic Complex; and then you can watch for them Saturday as the parade gets going at 11 am from California and Lander, headed south on California to Edmunds. Their rehearsals are reminders that parades don’t just spontaneously happen – they take a lot of planning. We got our annual peek into the parade-planning process back on Monday night at American Legion Post 160 headquarters in The Triangle.
(WSB photo. From left, Rolla Queen, Jim Edwards, Keith Hughes, Michelle Edwards)
That’s when members of the parade team gathered for the lineup meeting, arranging the 70+ entries into a running order for Saturday. It’s definitely an art – beyond the perennial basics such as placing the Grand Marshal (this year, restaurateur and small-business advocate Dan Austin) and Orville Rummel Trophy winner (Deb Barker, as reported here) toward the start. This year was especially interesting, noted coordinator Michelle Edwards, because of the variety of entries – some regular participants haven’t fully restarted their efforts, but some first-time-ever entries surfaced to more than compensate.
Entries are from as far away as Sequim and Olympia, but of course West Seattle entries are at the heart. You’ll see community groups like the Highland Park Improvement Club, sports organizations like West Seattle Baseball and West Seattle Reign, unique vehicles like the DeLoreans and antique fire trucks, school groups including Holy Rosary and West Seattle High School, jump-rope performers, roller skaters, two folkloric dance groups, local businesses (including WSB sponsors Potter Construction and Mountain to Sound Outfitters) … All-City Band isn’t the only marching band; other musical entries include the Kennedy Catholic High School Marching Band. And on Wednesday, we told you about the nautical entries!
Sometimes things change at the last minute, so the parade team has to plan for that too, with placeholders and contingency plans. And it all has to balance out with the staging areas on Saturday morning near the starting point. With all the street-closure and no-parking signs along the route, lots of logistics are involved – generally unseen along the parade sidelines are amateur-radio operators communicating about anything of note (stalled vehicles, for example).
But all you have to do is show up and watch! Anywhere along the route (announcements can be heard at two spots, California/Charlestown and California/Alaska). The parade starts at 11 am, but the street closures start hours earlier, with parking restrictions kicking in at 7 am (don’t ignore the signs, you’ll be towed). At least one more preview to come!
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
The Morgan Community Association‘s quarterly meeting last night started with what’s become a more-urgent-than-ever topic in West Seattle after two traffic deaths in less than three months:
(WSB photo, May 6)
CHANGES AT CALIFORNIA/FINDLAY: The city’s semi-new traffic engineer Venu Nemani was at the online meeting to talk about improvements to California/Findlay in the wake of the crash that killed 30-year-old Nicholas Wolf in May as he crossed the street just north of the intersection, headed to his home. SDOT recently announced the crossing on the south side of the intersection will be upgraded fron flashing overhead lights to a pedestrian-activated “half-signal.”
Nemani noted that the intersection falls in the middle of almost a mile of California without signals, and that it’s one of only a few RapidRide stations without a signal nearby.
(WSB photo from 2019 Float Dodger 5K)
Don’t wait until race day – register online before 8 pm for the return of the Float Dodger 5K, a fun (costumes encouraged!) run/walk on the West Seattle Grand Parade route just before the parade. The start/finish is at Hiawatha Playfield (2700 California SW), where a free kids’ dash starts the morning at 8:45 am, with runners/walkers heading out at 9:30. The “float” in the 5K’s name has two meanings – when you get back to Hiawatha, the second one kicks in, with root-beer floats for runners! West Seattle Runner (WSB sponsor) founded and presents the Float Dodger 5K, which this year is raising money for the West Seattle Food Bank. You can register right now by going here.
Another local business has been broken into. This time, Alki Bike and Board in The Admiral District (WSB sponsor), which sent the photo and report:
Wanted to report that our back door was smashed last night. Still working on inventory – so far we know a Red Kona Fire MTN bike is missing. If anyone has any tips or has seen anything, please contact us.
We don’t have the police-report number yet but will add it when we do.
(Wednesday night sunset, photographed by Bill Schrier)
Here’s what’s happening for the rest of today/tonight:
WADING POOLS OPEN: Sunny and warm today, so the city will open the pools that are scheduled for Thursday 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 also open, 11 am-8 pm.
COLMAN POOL OPEN: Noon-7 pm, go swimming in the saltwater pool on the shore at Lincoln Park (8011 Fauntleroy Way SW).
CURRICULUM EXPLORATION: 4-6 pm at Community School of West Seattle (9450 22nd SW):
The doors of The Community of West Seattle are opening this Thursday for the entire community! Join us for a night of Curriculum Exploration. Take a live look at the mission being fulfilled at The Community School of West Seattle. Take this wonderful opportunity to ask questions, enjoy outdoor playtime (under parental supervision), and meet our staff!
Let us know you’re coming:
docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdfxfpty1TCtwvzHh6oznzJ2WqbJ0xAJ8dPuiuTJ5rMPriNvQ/viewform?usp=sf_link
ULTIMATE AT FAIRMOUNT: 6 pm, Thursday night summertime Ultimate pickup games are back at Fairmount Playfield (5400 Fauntleroy Way SW).
LAVENDER WAND-MAKING: 6:30 pm class at WEND (3278 California SW) – learn to make lavender wands! Register here.
ALKI COMMUNITY COUNCIL: 7 pm online or in person (Alki UCC, 6115 SW Hinds), it’s the monthly meeting of the Alki Community Council, with agenda items including a petition related to racing concerns on Harbor and Alki Avenues.
PIANO MUSIC: Solo piano at Otter on the Rocks (4210 SW Admiral Way), starting at 7 pm.
FISH STICKS BASEBALL: Cheer on the DubSea Fish Sticks as they play Rush Baseball at Steve Cox Memorial Park (1321 SW 102nd) at 7:05 pm.
MUSIC UNDER THE STARS: The Seattle Chamber Music Society welcomes you to enjoy a live ensemble at 8 pm followed by a streamed concert, all at High Point Commons Park (3201 SW Graham), free.
Have something to add to our calendar? Email info to westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
That’s Obi Wan the Bernese Mountain Dog, whose people have noticed more like him around the peninsula, so they’re organizing a meetup. Here’s the announcement:
Calling all West Seattle Bernese Mountain Dogs – Meetup!
PLEASE JOIN US!
DATE: Saturday, July 30, 2022
TIME: 11:00 am – 1:00 pm
LOCATION: Westcrest Dog Park
BRING: Yourself and your doggoWe are West Seattle residents, and the proud new owners of a Bernese Mountain Dog (Obi Wan – now 1 year old). We are noticing a lot of Berners when we go for walks! We would like to form a West Seattle BMD group for playdates and perhaps other events.
Hope to see you there!
Obi (and family)
6:01 AM: Good morning; welcome to Thursday, July 21st.
WEATHER
Another forecast for sunshine all day, and temperatures likely into the 80s. (Wednesday’s high was 84.)
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)
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
851st 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.
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.
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.
(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.
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.
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.
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.
(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!
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.”
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:
(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)
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.)
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.
(WSB photos/video)
A first tonight for the West Seattle Big Band – a concert at High Point Commons Park. This was the return of the annual summer Concert in the Park for the first time since 2019, but the traditional venue – Hiawatha Community Center‘s east lawn – isn’t available this year, so that called for a new venue. WSBB director Jim Edwards admitted he didn’t know what to expect, or who, but by our informal count, at least 100 people showed up to enjoy the evening and the music. You can see the spectators as well as the band in our recording of the concert:
For an hour and a half, the Big Band enthralled the crowd with classics like “In the Mood,” “All of Me,” and “Fever” – some instrumental, some featuring vocalists Jenaige Lane and Jeff Carter:
The WSBB musicians spanned a wide age range tonight – including Henry, who’s also drum major for the West Seattle High School Band:
The brass included director Edwards trading in his baton for his trombone:
The Big Band also plays gigs for hire and donates the proceeds to help student musicians. So, as Edwards told the crowd, if you need a band for an event, contact them!
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