West Seattle, Washington
29 Friday
We first reported in 2019 about the levy-funded plan for synthetic turf and six 70-foot light poles to be added to the Madison Middle School field. A comment period followed in May 2020; the project was at that point expected to be completed that year. Then it was bundled with the classroom-addition project, which is almost complete; now, a new comment period for the playfield work has opened, according to a notice in today’s city-circulated Land Use Information Bulletin. The most detailed document available regarding the lights/turf project is this “environmental checklist.” If you’re interested in commenting, today’s notice explains how, The deadline is September 6th.
One of the biggest West Seattle events of fall is still two months away – but your next to chance to support the volunteer-organized, donation-funded Fauntleroy Fall Festival is tomorrow. Here’s the announcement:
We are hosting a Fundraiser Tuesday night (August 23rd) from 3-8 pm at Wildwood Market. The event is 21 & over and all beer & wine proceeds go to the Fauntleroy Fall Festival. Our goal this year is to keep the festival fun and free for the kids in the neighborhood, just as it has been for the last 20 years. Wildwood Market will be open for food service during the event. Live music.
The market is at 9214 Fauntleroy Way SW. And for your longer-range calendar – the Fauntleroy Fall Festival itself is on Sunday, October 23rd, this year. As we’ve mentioned previously, after a modified drive-up/ride-up event last year, this year organizers are planning a full-fledged festival.
As we continue counting down to the expected reopening of the West Seattle Bridge on Sunday, September 18th – now less than four weeks away – we’re checking on various questions readers have asked. This one’s been answered before but people are still asking, so we re-checked with Metro: Yes, the buses that formerly used the high bridge will be back on it once it re-opens; Metro’s fall “service change” is happening on Saturday, September 17th, the day before the scheduled reopening, so they’ll be issuing new timetables anyway. Per Metro spokesperson Elaine Porterfield, “Metro will return routes 21, 21X, 50, 55, 56, 57, 120, 125, and C Line to the High Bridge immediately upon reopening. Our fall service change reflects this pathway change. Routes 118 and 119 that previously traveled on the High Bridge will remain intra-Vashon Island routes.” (As for the bridge itself, if you missed our Saturday coverage, crews brought down the first of the work platforms; the rest are scheduled for removal next weekend.)
(Riley Nachtrieb on Mount Yale in Colorado)
When last we heard from West Seattle ultra runner Riley Nachtrieb, she ran the 132-mile Olympic Discovery Trail in May. Now – she’s getting ready for a new adventure. She sent this update:
I will leave for India on August 26th to run the 17,600 ft Khardung La Challenge on September 9th (13,000 ft start, 17,600 ft summit, 10,000 ft finish).
Not only is this a big feat in altitude, as I am coming from sea-level in Seattle, I will also be the first person from the US, and the youngest to ever run this race.
I will run 45 miles across the Khardung La Pass, located in Leh Ladakh, Kashmir Jammu, India – at the base of the Western Himalaya Mountain Range. This is also known as the highest motorable road in the world.
I am really excited for this next adventure, since I completed my goal to set the first recorded run across the Olympic Peninsula in May. I have been traveling to Colorado in the past months in preparation for the Khardung La race.
I want to thank the West Seattle Community for always supporting me and my love for running. I will not have a live tracker for the race.
Read more abut the race here – where it’s described as the “highest ultra marathon in the world.” Minimum age to run it is 20 – and that’s how old Riley happens to be.
(Today’s sunrise, photographed by Linda McKelvey)
From today’s listings on the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
BLOCK DROP: Today’s Block Drop spot to pick up and return equipment for a DIY community cleanup is Alki Statue of Liberty Plaza (61st/Alki), until 6 pm.
WADING POOL: Only one local city-run wading pool still in operation this season – Lincoln Park at 8011 Fauntleroy Way SW will be open noon-7. (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.
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.
(Sunday sunset, photographed by Gene Pavola. Tonight’s sunset is at 8:08 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 to add to our calendar and in our daily preview lists? Please send info to westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
If you have a young singer in the household, West Seattle’s Endolyne Children’s Choir welcomes their participation this fall! Here’s the announcement:
Join us for Endolyne Children’s Choir’s 20th season! We’d love to sing with you.
Endolyne Children’s Choir is a secular, non-audition, community choir, open to any child in grades K-12 who loves to sing. We offer a safe, equitable, inclusive environment that supports children’s emotional, social, and musical development.
Rehearsals take place in the Admiral Junction at 3050 California Ave SW on Tuesdays starting September 6:
Debut Prep (grade K): 4:30-5:15
Debut (grades 1-2): 4:30-5:30Encore (grades 3-6): 5:45-6:45
Advanced Ensemble (grades 6-12): 7:00-8:30
Registration ends August 29. Choose your tuition tier when registering. Discounted tuition and scholarships available to anyone. Register at form.jotform.com/222254668243154
6:01 AM: Good morning! Welcome to Monday, August 22nd.
WEATHER
Mostly sunny today, with the high around 80.
FERRIES, BUSES, WATER TAXI
Ferries: WSF continues the 2-boat schedule for Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth. Check here for alerts/updates. (UPDATE: 1 boar is out of service until 7:55 am.)
Metro buses are on their regular weekday schedules; watch @kcmetroalerts for trip cancellations/reroute alerts.
The West Seattle Water Taxi is on its regular schedule.
ROAD WORK
Spot repaving work continues on California SW north of Admiral Way.
BRIDGES AND DETOUR ROUTES
883rd morning without the West Seattle Bridge. 27 days until the day SDOT expects to reopen it – 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.
We’re continuing weekly updates on local COVID numbers via the Public Health – Seattle/King County dashboard:
*14 percent fewer cases countywide in the past week than the week before
*Currently averaging 472 new daily cases countywide (down from 542 a week ago)
*30 percent fewer hospitalizations countywide in the past week than the week before
*Currently averaging 11 new hospitalizations daily (down from 16 a week ago)
*18 percent more deaths countywide in the past two weeks than the two previous weeks (the dashboard doesn’t offer a one-week increment)
*Currently averaging 3 deaths daily (same as last week’s two-week average)
For West Seattle, we have two-week comparisons (the combined totals from two “health reporting areas,” labeled West Seattle and Delridge, together comprising the entire peninsula):
*385 cases between 8/1 and 8/15, down from 530 between 7/17 and 7/31
*8 hospitalizations between 8/1 and 8/15, down from 10 between 7/17 and 7/31
*3 deaths between 8/1 and 8/15, same number between 7/17 and 7/31
VACCINATION: Checking vaccination rates:
*82.3 percent of all King County residents have completed the initial series (up .2% from a week ago)
*86.7 percent of all King County residents ages 5 and up have completed the initial series (unchanged from a week ago)
*52.2 percent of all King County residents have had the initial series plus a booster (up .2% from a week ago)
*In West Seattle, here are the vaccination rates by ZIP code for ages 5 and up (reminder, 98106 and 98146 are not wholly within WS):
98106 – 89% completed initial series (unchanged from a week earlier), 56.3% have had a booster (up .1%)
98116 – 93.9% completed initial series (up .1% from a week earlier), 68.5% have had a booster (up .2%)
98126 – 84.6% completed initial series (unchanged from a week earlier), 58.4% have had a booster (up .2%)
98136 – 94.6% completed initial series (unchanged from a week earlier), 71.6% have had a booster (up .1%)
98146 – 83.8% completed initial series (unchanged from a week earlier), 50.6% have had a booster (up .2%)
GETTING VACCINATED: Ten days until the vaccination pop-up scheduled for August 31st at Delridge Library, all ages … Look for other options here.
TESTING: If you want to get tested and don’t have – or want to get – a home kit, here’s info on West Seattle’s two public testing sites: The city-supported site at Nino Cantu Southwest Athletic Complex (2801 SW Thistle, 9 am-5:30 pm Monday-Saturday this week) and the Curative kiosk at Don Armeni Boat Ramp (1220 Harbor SW, 9 am-3 pm Monday-Friday this week). … To report self-test results, this page explains how (click “What should I do if my test is positive?”).
Two reader reports:
STOLEN PICKUP SEEN ON TICKET CAMS: This vehicle was stolen in Burien but its owners live in West Seattle and it’s turned up on two ticket cameras, including the low bridge, so it might be here somewhere. From Jill:
We had our Ford F250 stolen from Maaco, where we were having work done on it.
Address: 13646 1st Ave, Burien.
License Plate: #B25327L
Police (King County Sheriff’s Office) report: #C22023333It is a black and white pickup truck. Since it was stolen it has received a red light ticket in Burien and another ticket on SW Spokane Street. Since it was stolen, the thief has installed a white cab top with two doors that open in the back and also a trailer hitch to try to disguise it.
The image above is from one of the camera-issued tickets
CAR PROWL: The video below spans the entire length of the 3 minutes that car prowlers were breaking into Sara’s vehicle:
Our Subaru was broken into (Saturday) morning at 5:10 AM; corner of Findlay/48th. They drove west down Findlay St. Our car manual was stolen as well as vehicle documents. We have a video of the suspects and their extended cab truck with black canopy. Looks like minimum three people: driver, front passenger, and man in back righthand seat.
There is a very good shot of their vehicle as they come in (11 sec in), and their faces show at diff moments throughout the theft. It was at least three people (two on passenger side–front and backseat–and the driver). Unfortunately our shrub and our Subaru hide most of the action. They leave the frame @ 2:56 minutes.
When we saw yellow tape up by the Westwood Village drive-up/ride-up mailbox, we feared the worst, given its history. But instead … turns out there’s an asphalt patch in front of it. Will this resolve the infamous pothole problem that came up in comment discussion every time the mailbox made news for other reasons? Let us know next time you use it.
Thanks for the tips! One texter mentioned that transient killer whales were southbound, north of Elliott Bay, so we’ve been checking for word of if/when they were in view from here, and just got that from Kersti Muul, who says they’re visible from Constellation Park, but closer to the Bainbridge Island side, so you’ll definitely need binoculars.
(King County video, photo)
That video shows one of the many cleanup operations along the polluted Duwamish River – in this case, a King County-led project removing almost 2,000 creosote-contaminated pilings that are part of a “derelict timber dock” on west Harbor Island. This week the county sent an update on the $8 million project, which is expected to be complete by the end of September. Barge-based equipment has been pulling the pilings up for “safe disposal offsite”; after all the pilings are dealt with, “crews will remove the concrete bulkhead and other dock components on land and stabilize the shoreline,” the update says.
The old dock is part of the former Fisher Flour Mills site that the county bought almost 20 years ago; as part of the deal, an “aquatic lease” with the state was transferred to the county, and its requirements led to this cleanup project, as explained here.
Some have asked if there is anything they can do to help the woman who was attacked and raped in Delridge this past Monday evening, beyond joining neighbors in their awareness campaign (covered here Friday night). Now there is. We’ve heard from Melissa, a friend of the victim, who says they have just set up a GoFundMe page if people are interested in donating to help with her expenses as she recovers. Friends say she is an immigrant who had been working as a nanny and planning to start college this fall as an international student. Meantime, the 18-year-old suspect arrested Friday is expected to have a probable-cause/bail hearing tomorrow.
Last month we reported on the search for witnesses to a shooting near Costco that police originally described as “road rage.” It happened on 4th Avenue South on July 21st, and the victim was a 68-year-old longtime West Seattleite named Bob Jensen. Today, after a tip, we’ve just confirmed via court documents that the man who admitted to shooting Mr. Jensen is in jail, charged Friday with second-degree murder. The King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office summarizes the shooting as:
On Thursday, July 21, 2022, the defendant was involved in an altercation with the victim close to the Costco parking lot in Seattle, just after 10 am in the morning. The confrontation began when the defendant refused to allow the victim to merge his vehicle in front of the defendant’s car when the street they were traveling on (4th Avenue South, Seattle) reduced from two lanes to one. Both vehicles continued driving for less than a mile and proceeded to stop at an intersection next to Costco. The defendant was the first to come to a stop at the red light, with no cars in front of him, when he saw the victim’s vehicle stop immediately behind his. The victim got out of his vehicle and approached the defendant. The defendant then chose to exit his vehicle and engaged with the victim while armed with a firearm. The victim, an unarmed sixty-eight year old man, was shot by the defendant within seconds of the victim exiting his vehicle.
The suspect, 38-year-old Angel A. Valderrama of Kirkland, was one of five people who called 911 just after the shooting, and was questioned at the scene, but not arrested at the time. The charging documents say Valderrama has no record of criminal convictions and that he did have a concealed-carry permit for the gun, a loaded 9mm Glock handgun that police seized at the scene. The charging documents add, without elaboration, that Valderrama “has had a number of interactions with law enforcement related to his possession of firearms.” He told police that he fired his gun on July 21st because he believed Mr. Jensen had something in his hand that could have been a weapon, but at least one witness said otherwise. The documents also say the shooting was recorded by a camera belonging to Costco, describing the view as “distant and grainy” but saying that the video shows there was “little or no time for any significant interaction between the two men” before Mr. Jensen was shot, and that it contradicts other elements of Valderrama’s story. The documents also say that while Mr. Jensen also had a concealed-carry permit, he was not armed when he was shot, and that no gun was found in his pickup truck, nor anything else that could have been construed as a weapon, aside from a folding pocket knife found beneath papers in the driver’s-door pocket. Valderrama is being held in lieu of $2 million bail; the jail register says he was arrested Saturday afternoon.
On August 12th we published this remembrance of Rick Weglin, longtime proprietor of Harrah’s Automotive. The date for his Celebration of Life has changed. The new date is 1 pm Saturday, October 1st, at Fauntleroy Church (9140 California SW).
(Saturday’s sunset, photographed by Mike Burns)
Mostly from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar, here’s what’s happening today:
TRAFFIC ALERTS: Here’s what SDOT has scheduled today:
We will be paving a median island on West Marginal Way SW, just north of the Highland Park Way SW intersection. Work is anticipated to begin as early as 7 AM and will conclude by 3 PM. Please anticipate delays while driving through the area.
In South Park, our traffic signal crews will be replacing overhead signs and complete signal wiring activities on 14th Ave S and S Cloverdale St. The work is anticipated to begin as early as 7 AM and conclude by 3 PM. We anticipate minimal traffic impacts as a majority of the work will be completed from the sidewalk, however, please navigate the area with caution. A detour will be set up for people using the sidewalk. (The traffic signals may be out too, in which case uniformed police will direct traffic.)
Also, WSDOT‘s “Revive I-5” work continues on southbound I-5 between I-90 and the West Seattle Bridge exit.
CHURCHES WITH ONLINE SERVICES: We’re continuing to list these – see today’s list here.
TWO BIG SALES: 9 am-3 pm, the West Seattle Tool Library (4408 Delridge Way SW, northeast side of Youngstown Cultural Arts Center) is having a big garage sale; the Thunderbird Apartments have a courtyard sale 9 am-4 pm at 4815 Fauntleroy Way SW.
FOOD DRIVE: Donate non-perishable food at Admiral Church (4320 SW Hill) today, 10 am-12:30 pm.
WEST SEATTLE FARMERS’ MARKET: 10 am-2 pm, the market is open with peak summer produce as well as flowers, cheese, fish, meat, baked goods, condiments, prepared food, and more. Here’s today’s vendor list. California SW between Oregon and Alaska.
FUNDRAISING CAR WASH: Get your car washed and support Chief Sealth International High School cheerleaders, 10:30 am-3 pm at Les Schwab (Fauntleroy/Alaska).
DONATION DRIVE: Clothes and food are just part of what Alki UCC is accepting today, 11 am-3 pm, at 6115 SW Hinds.
WADING POOLS: With a warm afternoon expected, the wading pools will be open – it’s the last day of the season for EC Hughes (2805 SW Holden), noon-7 pm; also open, the wading pool in central upper Lincoln Park (8011 Fauntleroy Way SW), noon-7 pm.
COLMAN POOL: The outdoor pool on the Lincoln Park shore (8011 Fauntleroy Way SW) is back open to the public, noon-7 pm.
LOG HOUSE MUSEUM: The Southwest Seattle Historical Society museum< is open on Alki, and you can visit noon-4 pm, (61st/Stevens)
ALKI POINT LIGHTHOUSE TOURS: The U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary volunteers are giving lighthouse tours today, first site entry 1 pm, last entry 3:45 pm; more info here.
WEST SEATTLE TIMEBANK GATHERING, WITH GAMES: Meet new friends, play games, learn about timebanking, 3-5 pm on the lawn behind Hiawatha Community Center (2700 California SW).
COFFEEHOUSE MUSIC: Lookout Mountain Lookout plays at C & P Coffee Company (5612 California SW; WSB sponsor), 3-5 pm.
NEED FOOD? White Center Community Dinner Church serves a free meal (take-away available) at 5 pm Sundays at the Salvation Army Center in South Delridge (9050 16th SW).
MEDITATION AND MORE: Kundalini Yoga, Meditation, Gong Bath at Solstice Park (7400 Fauntleroy Way SW) with Inner Alchemy, 7-8:30 pm.
SUNDAY NIGHT JAZZ: Triangular Jazztet at The Alley (4509 California SW), 8 pm and 9 pm sets.
SUNDAY NIGHT KARAOKE: 9 pm to 1:30 am at Admiral Pub (2306 California SW).
Have an event to list for our calendar? Please email westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
A block of gleaming custom cars drew attention along Alki Avenue this afternoon/evening. Thanks to Rachel for the tip; we checked out the cars while covering the Alki Beach Sunset Run. This was part of Eazy Duz It Car Club‘s summer barbecue; while club members and their families gathered in the picnic area along the promenade, their cars attracted appreciative attention:
Eazy Duz It also organizes community events including a holiday-season toy drive in South Delridge.
Speaking of which – we don’t know which if any of these cars and their owners will be there, but we’re now one week away from the second annual Lowrider Block Party, noon-6 pm next Saturday (August 27th) on 17th SW between Delridge and Roxbury.
6:13 PM: Just heading out, hundreds of runners are participating in this year’s Alki Beach Sunset Run. They’re headed toward Duwamish Head and back; an outdoor cocktail party with a DJ will follow. No road closures.
7:30 PM: Race presenters Fizz Events told us they had about 500 registrations for this year’s run. They were launched in four waves – (updated) here are all four:
We’re waiting for race results with names and times but these two runners were first in:
(Updated – results are here): Above is #99, 32-year-old Spencer Judge, who finished in 18:12.79; below is #432, 38-year-old Kristi Williams, who finished in 18:43.12:
Participants 21+ got admission to a post-race cocktail party in a cordoned-off area along the west promenade near the start/finish lines.
Want to get your car washed while supporting students? Tomorrow (Sunday, August 21st) Chief Sealth International High School cheerleaders will be at Les Schwab West Seattle (SW Alaska and Fauntleroy Way SW) to raise money by washing cars. The fundraiser is set for 10:30 am to 3 pm Sunday. They’ll accept cash, Venmo, or donations online via SchoolPay – here’s the team link; here’s the link to support individual cheerleaders, if you know one. They’re fundraising for new uniforms and other equipment.
Heads-up if you’re headed to the beach via north/westbound Harbor/Alki Avenues – two crashes this hour. The one in the photo above sent by Michelle is in the 1700 block of Alki SW; Mark sent word earlier this hour of a Harbor Avenue crash just south of Seacrest. No Seattle Fire dispatch for either, which indicates no serious injuries.
(WSB photos/video unless otherwise credited)
Our video above shows five of the six minutes it took to bring down the first of the under-bridge work platforms around 8:30 this morning. Repair contractor Kraemer NA‘s project manager told us a week and a half ago that the first platforms would likely be removed this weekend, and that’s what’s happening.
The platforms being removed this weekend – looks like one but it’s in two parts – comprise the western set; the eastern platforms are expected to be brought down next weekend, with trickier logistics because those are over railroad tracks.
(Photo sent by James Thornton)
We’re told these will be disassembled on site, probably by tonight.
Other bridge work happening right now includes cleaning the deck of the Fauntleroy end – where there’s been pavement repair/resurfacing – to prepare for permanent restriping. The bridge’s scheduled reopening date, after a closure of nearly 2 1/2 years, remains September 18th – four weeks from tomorrow.
From Hannah:
Stolen this morning – 2004 Subaru Impreza WRX wagon
Black exterior with Lifted bronze wheels on off-road tires
License plate # 142-YEO
Last place seen was 49th Ave SW straight up from Me-Kwa-Mooks
Contact: 206-265-3776
Police incident # is 22-220467.
UPDATE: The car’s been found.
10:39 AM: Seattle Fire and other agencies are now heading to the water off 55th/Alki for a report of two people in the water “screaming for help.” Updates to come.
10:43 AM: The people who were calling for help, described as an adult and juvenile, are reported to be out of the water safely, so the response is being downsized.
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