day : 08/08/2022 9 results

Just as the mini-heat wave was officially ending with the expiration of the weather alert, the sky filled with sunset colors. Thanks for the photos – the one above, overlooking Luna/Anchor Park, is from Jan Pendergrass, while the next one is from James Bratsanos.

Today’s official area high was 91 degrees; “normal” for this date is 79, and tomorrow should be in that vicinity.

VIDEO: 10-year-old Nathan’s bowling challenge for you, to help fight hunger and homelessness

August 8, 2022 8:27 pm

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| How to help | West Seattle news | WS & Sports

10-year-old Nathan Tavel spent an hour this afternoon at West Seattle Bowl, knocking down pins as fast as he could – he was a young man on a mission: The start of a month-long fundraising challenge to help the West Seattle Food Bank‘s work knocking down hunger and homelessness. Just take a look at a moment of the pace he kept up for an hour:

In his hour of bowling, Nathan knocked down 2,116 pins. (He’s been bowling since he was 4.) Now it’s your turn. Any time between now and Labor Day, go to West Seattle Bowl and lay out $25 for the challenge. $15 of that goes to WSFB, $10 to WS Bowl. You get an hour to try to top Nathan’s pin total. If you don’t, you donate an additional $25 to the food bank; if you do, WS Bowl will donate an additional $25 to the food bank on your behalf. And if you do top Nathan’s pin total, you’ll be entered into a drawing for $100 at a local restaurant. This isn’t Nathan’s first bowling benefit – whose proud dad Phil was there today to cheer him on:

Two and a half years ago, we covered Nathan’s real-time bowling challenge – he invited teams to try to beat his pin total in two hours. That raised more than $900! P.S. If you haven’t been to West Seattle Bowl, it’s at 39th/Oregon on the east edge of The Junction.

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SEATTLE POLICE STAFFING: ‘Unprecedented separation numbers’ continue, though Southwest Precinct rebounds

August 8, 2022 5:19 pm

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| West Seattle news | West Seattle police | West Seattle politics

Tomorrow at 9:30 am, the City Council’s Public Safety and Human Services Committee, chaired by West Seattle/South Park Councilmember Lisa Herbold, gets its quarterly report on Seattle Police staffing. “Unprecedented separation numbers have continued into 2022,” the presentation prepared for the meeting notes. Through the first half of the year, SPD had lost 109 more officers, and hired 30. The number of departures is close to the 125 originally projected for the entire year.

When the first-quarter report was presented in April, we reported here that Southwest Precinct sworn-staffing numbers had dropped more than any other precinct. The second-quarter report shows the precinct – which covers West Seattle and South Park – has regained what it had lost since last year.

As of the end of June, the new report shows, SW officers and sergeants totaled 65 sworn staff, up from 58 at the end of the first quarter. 65 is the number the precinct had at the end of 2021’s first quarter. Citywide, though, precincts’ total staff has dropped again, from 545 citywide at the end of the first quarter to 539 at the end of the second quarter. That’s more than 20 percent down from two years ago, when precinct staffing citywide totaled 677.

Departures have cost the department monetarily too – the documents for tomorrow’s briefing say that halfway through the year, SPD had spent two-thirds of the year’s budget for separation pay.

The meeting documents also cover some other SPD stats, such as response times dating back to 2019. The presentation notes that “median values [half sooner, half later] are the same or better everywhere except the Southwest Precinct.” One example – median response teams for Priority 1 calls – the most serious crime/life-safety issues – have gone up here from six and a half minutes in 2019 to eight and a half minutes now. (Seven minutes is what SPD is supposed to be aiming for.)

You can watch the presentation/discussion – and/or comment on the meeting – at 9:30 am tomorrow, The agenda explains how; the livestream will be on Seattle Channel.

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WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Two gunfire incidents; another business burglary

August 8, 2022 3:32 pm

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| Crime | West Seattle news

Three incidents in West Seattle Crime Watch:

ROAD-RAGE GUNFIRE: From the SPD weekend summaries – this was reported just after 11 pm Saturday, when the victims showed up at the Southwest Precinct “to report a road rage incident in which their vehicle was shot.” They said a black Mercedes “occupied by a male and female” (no other descriptive information in the summary) had tailgated them northbound on Delridge until a red light at SW Henderson, when the Mercedes pulled up alongside them in the left-turn lane. The summary continues, “The victim exchanged words with the driver of the suspect vehicle, who drew a gun and shot once at the victim vehicle,” then headed westbound on SW Henderson. No injuries reported.

GREENBELT GUNFIRE: One other confirmed gunfire incident in the weekend summaries – just before 10 pm Friday, police got a call about possible shots heard “in a greenbelt area located on SW Brandon St near 26th Ave SW. Officers located evidence of a shooting, likely from the incident. One witness reported hearing a single shot. No houses nearby, no victims or suspect description.”

ANOTHER BUSINESS BURGLARY: We received a tip that The Missing Piece Café and Game Lounge at 35th and Roxbury had been broken into. Co-proprietor Alex confirmed it via email: “The burglar broke through our glass door at 6am on Saturday. He took a few board games and a big stash of our Magic: The Gathering cards.”

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WEST SEATTLE WILDLIFE: See a seal on shore? What to do, and what not to do

August 8, 2022 1:58 pm

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| West Seattle beaches | West Seattle news | Wildlife

The photo – taken from a distance with a long lens – is from David Hutchinson of Seal Sitters Marine Mammal Stranding Network, which has a reminder for you:

We are in the middle of harbor seal “pupping season” so it was not surprising that the Seal Sitters’ Hotline received a call last week reporting a seal on the Elliott Bay shoreline. When volunteers arrived, they found an adult harbor seal, which is unusual – pups are much more common. Seals are generally very skittish and return to the water quickly when approached by people. The Hotline report stated that a couple of people were too close, taking photos and trying to feed the animal.

Under the protection of volunteers, this seal was able to spend about 5 hours resting before returning to the water in the early afternoon. Volunteers are always happy to answer your questions about the animals they are watching over.

If you spot any marine mammal on the shore of West Seattle (alive or dead), please keep your distance, keep people and pets away, and call the Seal Sitters’ Hotline at 206-905-7325.

If it’s easier to remember, the number is also 206-905-SEAL.

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FOLLOWUP: SW Andover eco-blocks removed as new phase of cleanup begins

August 8, 2022 12:20 pm

| 41 COMMENTS

| Delridge | Safety | West Seattle news

12:20 PM: Thanks for the tip. Dozens of “eco-blocks” placed in the aftermath of the SW Andover/26th/28th RV encampment sweep almost two months ago are gone, and city crews are back in the area today. They told our photographer that they’re there to remove some of the soil as the next phase of the cleanup.

As our top photo shows, SW Andover is blocked in the area, and crews expect to be there until about 2 pm today. Before the sweep, West Seattle Health Club said they’d been told of a proposal to build a bike lane along that stretch of Andover; the person who tipped us today said a crew member told them about a plan for pedestrian/bike infrastructure. We’re asking SDOT if that’s true, as well as seeking further details of what’s happening today, and will add whatever we hear back.

4 PM: We’re still waiting for additional info from SDOT. Meantime, Newell Aldrich in Councilmember Lisa Herbold‘s office tells WSB, “CM Herbold has been in touch with SDOT since June about potential extension of the bike lanes on Andover beyond the existing portion between Delridge and 26th. She received confirmation from SDOT that they do plan to install bike lanes there beyond 26th and Andover to 28th, and beyond. We haven’t seen a design yet. The Seattle Bicycle Master Plan includes connections on 28th, then Yancy to Andover.”

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Here’s the list for the rest of your West Seattle Monday

August 8, 2022 10:39 am

| 3 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Yes, hibiscus does grow here too! Photo sent by Waikikigirl)

Mostly from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar, here are highlights for the hours ahead:

WADING POOLS: Three local city-run wading pools will open today, EC Hughes at 2805 SW Holden noon-7 pm; same hours for South Park at 8319 8th Ave. S. And Lincoln Park at 8011 Fauntleroy Way SW, noon-7 too. (The Highland Park spraypark continues its daily schedule, 11 am-8 pm, 1100 SW Cloverdale.)

COLMAN POOL: Colman Pool on the Lincoln Park shore is also open noon-7 pm.

BOWLING FOR THE FOOD BANK: 2+ years ago, Nathan, now 10, bowled to raise money for the West Seattle Food Bank. This year, he’s doing it again – but with a role (roll!) for you: He’s bowling at West Seattle Bowl (39th/Oregon) 4-5 pm today and his pin total will be posted; then, through Labor Day, you can bowl any time at WS Bowl for an hour and $25 to try to beat his total – $15 of that goes to the food bank. More details in our calendar listing.

(added) COMMUNITY SUP PADDLE: 6-8 pm with Alki Kayak Tours (1660 Harbor SW) – details here.

CRAFTING AND CREATIVITY NIGHT: 6-10 pm at The Missing Piece (9456 35th SW), explained in our calendar listing.

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

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

PLAY TRIVIA! 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 preview lists? Please send info to westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!

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YOU CAN HELP: Here’s how to become a SUNGuide!

August 8, 2022 9:40 am

| Comments Off on YOU CAN HELP: Here’s how to become a SUNGuide!

| How to help | West Seattle news | West Seattle parks

Love wildlife? Plants? Parks? Here’s a volunteer opportunity we’ve been asked to let you know about:

Become a SUNGuide!

Seattle Urban Nature Guides enhance, promote and foster appreciation of nature by connecting families, students and the community with their Seattle parklands, and provide educational opportunities for all.

As a SUNGuide, you will:

● Develop Job Skills such as public speaking, education techniques and group engagement
● Enjoy a community of fellow volunteers and city staff
● Receive FREE Training on Pacific Northwest flora and fauna, habitats, environmental-education techniques to connect with a wide variety of audiences, and equity concepts

● Lead hands-on learning experiences in a variety of settings from playgrounds to beaches
● Familiarize yourself with Seattle’s diverse parklands while helping others do the same

Application deadline is Saturday, August 20th; training begins Saturday, August 27th. To apply please visit our website:
Environmental Education Volunteering – Parks | seattle.gov

Questions? Contact Penny Rose at penny.rose@seattle.gov

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TRAFFIC, TRANSIT, WEATHER: Monday notes

August 8, 2022 6:01 am

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| West Seattle news

6:01 AM: Good morning! It’s Monday, August 8th.

WEATHER

Today’s forecast is sunny, hot, and breezy.

FERRIES, BUSES, WATER TAXI

Ferries: WSF is on the 2-boat schedule for Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth. Check here for alerts/updates.

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.

BRIDGES AND DETOUR ROUTES

869th morning without the West Seattle Bridge. 34 days until the week SDOT hopes to reopen it.

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 – camera malfunctioning, as are a few others in eastern West Seattle (they’ve been reported to SDOT, still no estimate on when they’ll be fixed)

Highland Park Way/2nd SW (one of four recently installed cameras):