West Seattle, Washington
10 Saturday
Last year, Joe Drake‘s friend Amy told us about his World Marathon Majors achievement, Now Amy has let us know that the West Seattle runner living with Parkinson’s is getting ready for a new running adventure: On September 9-10, Joe and 11 others living with Parkinson’s will run the Blue Ridge Relay as Team Synapse. Watch the video above to meet them all. It’s a 208-mile relay spanning two states, Virginia and North Carolina, over a day and a half. They’re looking for support to back Parkinson’s research – their running is extra-meaningful because exercise is a tool they use to slow the progression of Parkinson’s. The link to donate is on this page.
(Photo by Jan Pendergrass)
You probably won’t be sad to hear that today’s clouds kept the official Sea-Tac high from hitting the 90s, which would have been a record-tying 12th day in the 90s in one year. It stopped at 87. The clouds did bring a colorful sunset – thanks to those who sent photos.
(Photo by Carol Ann Joyce)
There was one record high at Sea-Tac – the highest low for this date, 68 degrees, previous record 61.
(Added: Photo by Hana Alishio)
Three reader reports in West Seattle Crime Watch:
STOLEN CAR: From Ben:
We had our vehicle stolen from the street in front of our home (41st & Juneau) last night.
It was a silver 2014 Acura RDX with plates: BGH8437.
Police incident # is 22-218151.
STOLEN E-BIKE: From Heather:
Our white Rad Wagon electric bicycle was stolen around 5pm on 8/18 from outside the ATT store by Admiral Safeway. It has one orange saddle bag (with a dark blue raincoat inside), and a drink holder mounted to handlebars. Serial number WB719J—–.
Police incident # is 22-218637.
ABANDONED BIKE: From Ryan:
I found this bike in Pigeon Point, it had been sitting on the side of the road for about a week. It’s not in rideable condition at the moment and appears not to have been any time recently, so more likely “dumped” than stolen…. If it’s yours, email me at ry.carn@gmail.com
(WSB photo, March)
Back in March, a sewer line under Beach Drive near Lowman Beach leaked an estimated tens of thousands of gallons of sewage. Repairs followed. Now, it’s time for more. We happened onto a mention of the project in city permit files; the summary said the repair work “to minimize risk of sewage leak due to pipe failure” might involve part of Lowman Beach Park, which just reopened after the seawall-removal project. So we asked the King County Wastewater Treatment Division for details. Here’s the reply from spokesperson Rachael Hartman:
During (the March) project, crews inspected both pipes that run north under Beach Drive SW from the Murray Avenue Pump Station, located in Lowman Beach Park. They discovered that one of the pipes is severely eroded and needs to be repaired. Our current plan is to install a new liner in the pipe starting in September, schedule dependent on materials delivery and weather.
We are currently planning the work and don’t have the details solidified yet. At this time, the contractor does not believe they will need to use an area of the park for the repair work. If they did need to use an area of the park for their work, it would be a small area near Beach Drive that would not require any park closure. If the contractor needs to use some portion of the right-of-way and take up some street parking along Beach Drive, a permit from SDOT would be obtained. We will have more specific information about the project and possible impacts as early as next week.
The pipe that leaked in March was 27″, according to KCWTD, which handles sewage/wastewater (as opposed to Seattle Public Utilities, which handles water).
One week ago, SDOT announced September 18th as the expected reopening date for the West Seattle Bridge – provided all goes as planned. So we asked today: Still on schedule? Replied SDOT spokesperson Ethan Bergerson, “Yes, we are still on track to reopen the bridge on September 18.” We also asked if repair contractor Kraemer NA is still ready to lower one of the two under-the-bridge work platforms this weekend, as we learned during a visit to the bridge work zone last week. For that too, the answer is yes, probably Saturday, no exact time yet. Bergerson adds, “We are also very close to completing the carbon fiber wrapping and epoxy injection work, and expect this to be completed by next week.”
SIDE NOTE: Checking the archives – on this date last year, a D.C. delegation including Sen. Maria Cantwell visited the bridge as crews were preparing for the final repairs.
No arrest yet in Monday’s North Delridge sexual assault, nor do detectives have any new information to release, Seattle Police tell WSB today. But area residents plan an action Friday night. “We want to bring awareness and support, and make the authorities look at us and do something,” says one neighbor. Another tells WSB the neighborhood’s reaction began with anger but then led to a search “for ways to bring more attention to this issue.” They plan to meet up at Cottage Grove Park at 5 pm tomorrow (Friday, August 19th) to place teal balloons around the neighborhood; that’s the color for sexual-assault awareness. They’ll also be circulating flyers. They want to ensure everyone knows this happened. The victim was attacked around 6:15 pm Monday; police searched the 26th/Juneau vicinity and beyond for hours, but SPD has released few details and only a description of what the attacker was wearing.
The number of RVs on the westbound (northbound) side of Harbor Avenue has been shrinking in recent weeks, as we noted when we reported two weeks ago that the city said another “remediation” was planned. The “No Parking” signs went up for this week; as of last night around 6:30 pm, the remaining RV on that side – somewhat notorious for its pot-plant patch – was still there. As of midday today, multiple area residents emailed us to report, it’s gone. Wrote one, “The black RV on Harbor Ave was last to go. It is surreal seeing the street as it should be.” We were out at the time those notes came in so we went over to verify. As seen in our video above, no RVs remain on that side. Just beyond the end of our clip, two remain on the eastbound side just east of Fairmount, along with a decommissioned school bus that’s been in the Harbor/Beach Drive area a while.
(Wednesday night photo by Kanit Cottrell)
Here’s what’s happening for the rest of today/tonight – there’s even more on our West Seattle Event Calendar:
BLOCK DROP DIY CLEANUP SUPPLIES: Until 6 pm, today’s Block Drop is at Fairmount Park Elementary (3800 SW Findlay).
HELP WITH MEDICARE: Got questions? Need guidance? Patrice Lewis is at the Senior Center of West Seattle (4217 SW Oregon) to offer help, 11 am-12:30 pm – our calendar listing has info on how to call first to register.
WADING POOLS, SPRAYPARK OPEN: The city plans to open the wading pools, including 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 will be open as usual, though – 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).
‘FUN WITH WATER’: Family-friendly games, art, and other fun (including free lunch for those 18 and under) at Roxhill Park (2850 SW Roxbury), 12:30-2:30 pm.
ART AT THE COFFEEHOUSE: Cam’s Art Show, with new work plus a West Seattle Food Bank fundraiser, 5-7 pm at C & P Coffee Company (5612 California SW; WSB sponsor).
ULTIMATE AT FAIRMOUNT: 6 pm, Thursday night summertime Ultimate pickup games are back at Fairmount Playfield (5400 Fauntleroy Way SW).
PIANO MUSIC: Solo piano with Betty Spangenburg at Otter on the Rocks (4210 SW Admiral Way), starting at 6:30 pm.
BENBOW GOES COUNTRY: Thursday “Nashville Nights“ continue at the Benbow Room (4210 SW Admiral Way), 9 pm. 21+.
Have something to add to our calendar? Email info to westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
A unique outdoor concert that delighted parkgoers last summer is back this summer for an encore: Flutes in the Forest. You can enjoy it free this Saturday at Schmitz Park. Here’s the announcement:
Enjoy the sounds of the JBC Rose Flute Trio on Saturday afternoon, August 20, from 2:00-3:00 pm in Schmitz Park: Jennie Goldberg, Barb Cotton, and Carolyn Hoppe-Denend.
Bring your own chair or blanket; stay as long as you’d like.
Enter Schmitz Park off SW Admiral Way and SW Stevens Way. Walk the paved road 300 feet to the sound of flutes in the forest. Plenty of street parking along SW Stevens.
Concert is FREE and open to the public.
Note: there are no restrooms in the park.
6:04 AM: Good morning! It’s Thursday, August 18th, one month until the expected West Seattle Bridge reopening date.
WEATHER
Sunny and hot today, with the high likely to hit 90 again. (That’s where it topped out Wednesday at the official Sea-Tac gauge, which means that 90 or higher today would tie the record, twelve 90-or-higher-degree days in a year.)
FERRIES, BUSES, WATER TAXI
Ferries: WSF continues 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.
ROAD WORK
Watch for spot repaving work on California SW north of Admiral Way.
BRIDGES AND DETOUR ROUTES
879th morning without the West Seattle Bridge. 31 days until the day SDOT expects to reopen it, one month from today – September 18th.
Low Bridge: Automated enforcement cameras remain in use until the high bridge reopens; 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:
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, many with video options; 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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