day : 02/09/2022 12 results

FOOTBALL: Chief Sealth IHS hosts Franklin Pierce for season opener

September 2, 2022 11:58 pm

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| West Seattle news | West Seattle schools | WS & Sports

(WSB photos by Patrick Sand)

#2, senior Demiko Bousely, scored Chief Sealth International High School‘s first touchdown of the year in this afternoon’s season-opening game vs. Franklin Pierce. That came midway through the second quarter, after FP had gone out to a 14-0 lead.

Playing at Nino Cantu Southwest Athletic Complex, Head Coach Daron Camacho‘s Seahawks tied the game in the third quarter, 14-14.

(#4, junior Isaac Martinez)

But then FP broke out with 14 unanswered points in the fourth quarter and that left CSIHS with a 28-14 loss. … In other notes, the cheer squad invited everyone to come dressed as superheroes or supervillains:

Next Friday (September 9th), Chief Sealth hosts Lakeside, 7 pm at NCSWAC.

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CONTRACT TALKS: Seattle Public Schools wants mediation with educators’ union

September 2, 2022 10:20 pm

| 17 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

10:20 PM: As reported here Wednesday, the Seattle Education Association says its members are voting online all weekend on whether to authorize a strike. Their contract expired two days ago. Tonight, Seattle Public Schools says it has sent families a letter warning that a delay in the start of classes – currently set for Wednesday (September 7th) – is “possible.” With a copy of that letter, the district sent this statement to media:

Seattle Education Association has turned down Seattle Public Schools’ request for legal mediation in an effort to reach a contract agreement before the start of school next Wednesday. The offer, extended earlier today, was met with immediate decline by SEA.

SPS was prepared to begin bargaining in June, and we honored SEA’s request for a two-week blackout period from June 27-July 11. SPS shared our first proposal with SEA at the end of June with the majority of SPS proposals shared with SEA by August 9. We received SEA’s first proposal on August 2.

While this news is disappointing, SPS believes mediation is necessary. We remain committed to the needs of our students and to a meaningful negotiations process. SPS gave SEA reasonable notice of our meeting schedule through the holiday weekend and into next week. Our bargaining team is ready to make substantive progress and has identified three days of availability – Sunday, Labor Day, and Tuesday. Mediation also remains on the table.

We’re seeking comment from the SEA. Their voting is scheduled to end Tuesday morning, with results to be announced later that day – and depending on what happens in the meantime, either classes or a strike starting Wednesday.

EARLY SATURDAY: We haven’t heard yet from the SEA but a commenter points out that the union said via social media that SPS didn’t show up for what it says was a scheduled bargaining session Friday.

ADDED NOON SATURDAY: SEA responded to our inquiry with a statement addressing the bargaining schedule but not mentioning the mediation question: “SEA is committed to working around the clock to settle a contract that meets students’ and educators’ needs. It’s infuriating that SPS didn’t show up to bargaining last night and isn’t willing to bargain today. We need to work together to support our schools.”

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FOLLOWUP: Speed humps finally planned for Alki Avenue

September 2, 2022 8:49 pm

| 34 COMMENTS

| Safety | Transportation | West Seattle news

After years of community requests that the city do something to deter speeding on Alki Avenue SW, SDOT is finally going to try speed humps, as hinted back in May. Christopher tipped us this morning about the sighting of outlines for the future installations; we photographed this set on Alki just east of 63rd SW, and driving Alki/Harbor to look for others, spotted another set of outlines on Alki just west of 57th SW. We then asked SDOT about the plan; here’s the reply from spokesperson Madison Linkenmeyer:

Two speed humps are being installed on Alki Ave SW later this month where there is high pedestrian crossing activity. The locations are between 63rd Ave SW and 62nd Ave SW and another one between 58th Ave SW and 57th Ave SW. We’re also installing on Alki Ave SW some in-lane crosswalk warning signs that say “State Law Stop for Pedestrians within Crosswalk.”

These speed humps and signs came through the Vision Zero program in coordination with the Seattle Police Department and Seattle Fire Department.

Official community notification of the impending installation is scheduled for next week.

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UPDATE: Flipped-van crash on 16th SW

September 2, 2022 6:32 pm

| 14 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | WS breaking news

6:32 PM: Seattle Fire is sending a “rescue extrication” response to the 7900 block of 16th SW. Avoid the area. First engine on scene says it’s a “car on its top.” Updates to come.

6:36 PM: The callout is being downsized because nobody’s trapped after all – one person was in the vehicle and got out OK, firefighters told dispatch. Power lines might be involved, so they’re contacting City Light.

6:49 PM: Photos added. Responders are talking to the driver. No indication yet if they’ll have to go to the hospital, nor of how this happened. (Added) One more component of the scene – a leaning utility pole:

7:02 PM: Police just told dispatch they’re moving the closure boundary to 16th/Holden “because of a high-voltage line that came down.”

7:22 PM: Note that Metro Routes 125 and 128 are routed off 16th SW in the area. See here for alternate routing.

8:39 PM: SFD says the driver, in his mid-40s, was taken to a hospital in stable condition by AMR ambulance. … Also, both affected bus routes have resumed regular routing, indicating the street has reopened.

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About that smoke: Vehicle fire on 99 in South Park

September 2, 2022 5:51 pm

| 4 COMMENTS

| South Park | West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

(Texted photo)

5:51 PM: Thanks for all the tips. The big column of black smoke visible a short time ago is from a vehicle fire on Northbound Highway 99 in the 14th Avenue South vicinity in South Park. (Update) All NB lanes of 99 are closed at the scene. Adding a WSDOT camera image:

6:04 PM: WSDOT says (and the camera verifies) that they’ve opened one northbound lane.

6:16 PM: Both lanes are now open again. No injuries reported but we’re doublechecking with SFD.

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WHALES: Learn from Fauntleroy’s humpback, six years later, during ‘Care for the Stranded’

September 2, 2022 4:44 pm

| 2 COMMENTS

| Fauntleroy | West Seattle news | West Seattle parks | Whales

(WSB photo, August 7, 2016)

Six years have passed since that juvenile humpback whale stranded and died by the Fauntleroy ferry dock. It’s something we’ll never forget seeing – and hearing, as the 39-foot-long whale took her last breaths while people tried to save her. Later this month, the whale will be teaching posthumous lessons as part of a “walkshop” in nearby Lincoln Park. We received the announcement today from the Henry Art Museum, which invites you to the September 24th event “Care for the Stranded“ as part of its “Learning Endings” series:

On August 7, 2016, a juvenile humpback whale died on the beach just south of Fauntleroy Ferry Terminal in West Seattle. This animal was one of hundreds of marine mammals that strand every year on the northwest coast of the Pacific. These ocean-dwelling animals are mostly hidden from humans during their lifetimes, but in a stranding death, they reveal themselves to us, and call on us to care. This care can take many forms — from traditional ceremony, to scientific necropsy, to community vigil. Join Learning Endings collaborators for a forest and shoreline walk of storytelling, conversation, participation, and performance as we collectively consider what the death of the Fauntleroy humpback can teach us about the lives of these animals, those who care for them, and the entangled futures of humans and oceans.

Care for the Stranded is part of Learning Endings, a multi-part project by artists and researchers Patty Chang, Astrida Neimanis, and Aleksija Neimanis. Through a series of events, gatherings, research, and discussions, Learning Endings brings together local communities, scientists, artists, and humanities researchers to consider ecologies of care in a time of endings, with a focus on stranded marine mammals. For this Shoreline Walkshop, the Learning Endings collaborators will be joined by regional knowledge keepers Ken Workman, member of the Duwamish Tribal Council, and research biologist Jessie Huggins, as well as Canadian-based audio artist Anne Bourne.

Participants will meet at 9:30 am Saturday, September 24th, by the north parking lot of Lincoln Park (8011 Fauntleroy Way SW), and will be together for about three hours. There is no fee, but you need to register here (look for the “tickets” link). The Fauntleroy humpback was one of three whale strandings we covered on local shores last decade, along with a gray whale in The Arroyos in April 2010 and a fin whale at Seahurst Park in April 2013.

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In case you’re wondering: Helicopter’s just checking out ferry traffic

September 2, 2022 3:59 pm

| 7 COMMENTS

| Fauntleroy | Helicopter | West Seattle news

3:59 PM: Just in case you’ve forgotten, it’s holiday-weekend-getaway time, and that’s why the shared TV-news helicopter is circling Fauntleroy right now – taking a look at ferry traffic. It’s nothing unusual, per the most-recent update from Washington State Ferries – the #2 boat is running about half an hour behind schedule.

4:15 PM: It’s moved on, for now.

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PARKS: EC Hughes Playground restrooms closed by fire damage

September 2, 2022 2:24 pm

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| West Seattle news | West Seattle parks

Last month, we reported on a Seattle Parks briefing at a City Council committee meeting, proposing increased spending to keep the parks’ “comfort stations” (freestanding restroom buildings) up and running, Arson and other vandalism were listed as costing at least half a million in repairs each year. Today a local park is the latest one affected – Parks says the EC Hughes Playground (2805 SW Holden) comfort station was damaged by fire and will be closed until work can be completed next year. A portable restroom has been placed at the park in the meantime. We don’t know when the fire happened – there’s no SFD call logged there this week – so we have a followup question out to Parks.

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FOLLOWUP: City crews at 26th/Juneau RV encampment

September 2, 2022 12:43 pm

| 48 COMMENTS

| Delridge | West Seattle news

(WSB photos)

City crews, with the assistance of tow trucks, are clearing the 26th/Juneau RV encampment right now. Thanks to area resident Ryan for the tip; he’s been leading neighborhood communication imploring the city to take action. He reported that a Seattle Public Utilities rep told him at the site earlier this week that 26th/Juneau was about to be addressed and that 29th/Brandon is scheduled for action after Labor Day. Our city contact wouldn’t confirm dates – saying they’re always subject to change – but noted that “in recent days … public notices were posted in this area stating that the City’s 72-hour parking limit will be enforced, and that unauthorized encampments will be removed in the coming weeks.” Multiple city departments are on site for this, including SDOT/Parking Enforcement, which told us they expects one more RV to be removed within a few hours. Police are there too.

This follows a city assessment team’s visit to the area two weeks ago, as reported here.

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WEST SEATTLE BRIDGE: ‘Casting call’ for community video

September 2, 2022 11:24 am

| 35 COMMENTS

| How to help | West Seattle Bridge Safety Project | West Seattle news

(WSB photo from last week’s media tour of bridge)

16 days until the scheduled reopening of the West Seattle Bridge on September 18th, two and a half years after its sudden shutdown. As previously noted, no giant party – but the reconnection will be celebrated and commemorated in other ways. This one has a role for you, if you’re interested: The “West Seattle Best Seattle” community coalition would like to invite you to be part of a video shoot. Here’s the announcement:

It’s a casting call! We’d like to invite any and all West Seattleites to be the stars of a video we’re putting together to spread the excitement about the reopening. It’s purely for entertainment, but we hope to create something fun and interesting that people inside and outside West Seattle will watch and engage with. The basic idea is to celebrate the reopening, attract people back to West Seattle, and help support neighborhoods/businesses that have suffered through 900+ days of the bridge closure.

We’re working with local filmmaker Ryan Cory to shoot a short video on Wednesday, September 14th. We’ll be shooting clips at four locations through the day, with a culminating group shot on the west end of the West Seattle Bridge (which we’ve cleared with SDOT). We’re asking people to come as they are (no clothing with profanity allowed), and we can’t provide transportation or guarantee parking. The optimal number of people in the first three locations would be 100 (though we’d happily take more), with a special focus on having at least 200 (or more!) for the final bridge shot (big drone camera finish). We’ll do our best to include everyone who shows up. We’re working with the visual concept of, “Wow, I just got a message that the bridge is going to reopen, and I’m so excited, I’m going to meet up with others and celebrate,” and so having people bring their phones would be great.

Here’s the schedule for September 14th, and showing up a bit early is encouraged, because we’re on a tight timeline:

11:45 am Alki Beach by the Statue of Liberty
12:45 pm Admiral Theater
1:45 pm Alaska Junction by Easy Street
2:45 pm at the bridge’s west entrance

The video would be used across all social media platforms and websites affiliated with West Seattle, and will be sent to as many media outlets as possible. We’re working on releasing short clips before/during the reopening, with a longer version, about two minutes long, available by September 30th. Participants must be able to follow directions onsite and be quiet and respectful when the director is speaking through the megaphone. There may be some hurry-up-and-wait type of moments, so we’re asking for some patience, too. There will be no payment, in-kind gifts, or actor credits given.

The link for you to register for one or all of the locations is here. Questions about the project can be directed to wsbestseattle@gmail.com.

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Chief Sealth IHS & West Seattle HS football openers, Skylark’s spelling bee, more for your Friday

September 2, 2022 9:54 am

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| West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Port cranes in this morning’s fog, photographed by Kevin Freitas @kevinfreitas)

Here’s what’s happening today/tonight:

RETURN OF THE BLOCK DROP: DIY cleanup equipment is available at Alki Elementary (59th/Stevens) until 6 pm – that’s also where you can drop off what you clean up, as part of closing the Block Drop loop!

ART HOP & SHOP REGISTRATION: Quick reminder that today is the deadline for artists to register for this first-ever West Seattle event.

MOUNTAIN TO SOUND OUTFITTERS SALE: As previewed last night, this is day 1 of the big clearance sale at Mountain to Sound Outfitters (3602 SW Alaska, WSB sponsor), open 11 am-6 pm.

HIGH-SCHOOL FOOTBALL: Today/tonight brings the first games of the season for the Chief Sealth International High School Seahawks and the West Seattle High School Wildcats, both at Nino Cantu Southwest Athletic Complex (2801 SW Thistle) – CSIHS plays Franklin Pierce at 4 pm, WSHS plays Renton at 7 pm.

WADING POOL OPEN: With a sunny, warm afternoon expected, the city plans to open its still-in-operation wading pools today, including Lincoln Park (8011 Fauntleroy Way SW). Plus Highland Park Spraypark at 1100 SW Cloverdale is open 11 am-8 pm, too.

COLMAN POOL: The outdoor pool at Lincoln Park is open to the public today, noon-7 pm.

MUSIC AT THE COFFEEHOUSE: Blue Mercy performs at C & P Coffee (5612 California SW; WSB sponsor), 7-9 pm.

MUSIC AT KENYON HALL: Rebecca Kilgore & the Ray Skjelbred Trio live at Kenyon Hall (7904 35th SW), 7:30 pm, tickets available at the door last we heard.

SPELLING BEE AT THE SKYLARK: 8 pm, as announced last month, it’s the debut of Spelldown After Dark – an adult spelling bee. Check to see if there’s room for participants/spectators! (3803 Delridge Way SW)

Have something to add to our Event Calendar? Email info to westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!

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TRAFFIC, TRANSIT, WEATHER: Pre-Labor Day Friday, plus weekend alerts

September 2, 2022 6:01 am

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| West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

6:01 AM: Good morning! Welcome to Friday, September 2nd, as we head toward Labor Day weekend.

WEATHER

Sunny, 70s predicted.

WEEKEND ALERTS

*As previewed here, the Spokane Street Viaduct’s eastbound lanes will close 8 am-4 pm Saturday.

*SDOT plans to mark two intersections 9 pm tonight to 7 am Saturday:
-1st Ave S/East Marginal Way S and 2nd Ave SW/Highland Park Way SW. Traffic lanes will be closed as needed and will be restored after the intersection markings have been painted.

FERRIES, BUSES, WATER TAXI

Ferries: WSF continues the 2-boat schedule for Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth. Check here for alerts/updates. Labor Day will be on a Sunday schedule.

Metro buses are on their regular weekday schedules; watch @kcmetroalerts for trip cancellations/reroute alerts. Labor Day will be on a Sunday schedule.

The West Seattle Water Taxi is on its regular schedule. Labor Day will be on a Sunday schedule.

BRIDGES AND DETOUR ROUTES

894th morning without the West Seattle Bridge. 16 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.