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FOLLOWUP: Highland Park Way SW fully open again. Here’s what was done after the last big slide
January 13, 2022 7:30 pm
|    Comments Off on FOLLOWUP: Highland Park Way SW fully open again. Here’s what was done after the last big slide
 |   Highland Park | West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

All lanes are now open again on the Highland Park Way hill between West Marginal and SW Holden, two days after the latest landslide. Last night we reported on the SDOT/Seattle Parks plan for erosion control to deter recurrences. Today we asked SDOT about what was done after the February 2017 slide that closed the hill for two days.

(WSB photo, February 2017)

Five months after that slide, we reported on City Council funding for a planned “rock buttress” in the area. We don’t have a record of what happened after that, so we asked SDOT. Spokesperson Ethan Bergerson confirmed that the pre-existing concrete blocks south of the recent slides are part of the measures taken after the 2017 slide:

The landslides this past week have occurred at another location to the north of the 2017 landslide. Because Highland Park Way travels alongside about half a mile of the West (Duwamish) Greenbelt without connecting to any other roads, both landslides resulted in the same stretch of road being closed even though they occurred on different slopes.

In 2017, there was a large landslide to the south of where the landslides occurred this past week, which resulted in Highland Park Way SW being closed for multiple days. Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) and Seattle Parks and Recreation (Parks) worked together on erosion control measures in this location. Parks crews installed permanent erosion controls and planted native plants on this part of the slope in spring 2017, and SDOT crews returned in the summer to install a concrete block wall with a rock buttress to stabilize the base of the slope (the rocks are behind the concrete blocks and can’t be seen from the street). The steep slope in this location has been stable since then.

This week, SDOT crews installed over 60 feet of concrete blocks as a temporary measure. Parks is also planning to perform additional temporary erosion control measures, and both agencies are planning to return in the spring to install more permanent measures which can only be done when the ground is not so saturated with water.

The area has long been slide-prone; the 2000 Seattle Landslide Study has multiple references.

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New art at Fogue Gallery during January’s West Seattle Art Walk
January 13, 2022 6:51 pm
|    Comments Off on New art at Fogue Gallery during January’s West Seattle Art Walk
 |   West Seattle Art Walk | West Seattle news | WS culture/arts

Chris Baumgarten is a new guest artist at Fogue Gallery on the north edge of The Junction (4130 California SW; WSB sponsor), one of your potential stops on tonight’s West Seattle Art Walk. The artist is debuting a collection titled “Numbers” at Fogue, where you’ll find a variety of work. Stop by before 8 pm to meet her and browse everything on display. This month’s venue list/map is in the preview we published earlier this afternoon. Many venues – like Fogue, of course – show art all month, so the monthly Art Walk post is also a guide to where you can enjoy art in the days and weeks ahead, too.

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WEEKEND TRAFFIC ALERT: Repaving planned for rutted section of SW 106th
January 13, 2022 4:09 pm
|      5 COMMENTS
 |   Safety | West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

(Added: WSB photo)

SW 106th east of 35th SW is one of the stretches of road we’ve featured in this week’s post-storm pothole alerts as part of our first-thing-in-the-morning traffic watches. Good news for those who use that road – SDOT has announced plans to repave two blocks this weekend – here’s the alert:

On Saturday and Sunday, we will be repaving two blocks of SW 106th St between Seola Beach Drive and 32nd Ave SW. [map] We’ll begin this work as early as 7 AM and expect to be done by 3 PM. If you are driving on SW 106th St during this work, impacts include single lane reductions. Please anticipate traffic delays. We do not expect impacts for people walking and biking in the area.

We’ll have other weekend alerts in the Friday morning traffic watch.

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SATURDAY: All welcome at Highland Park Elementary health event featuring vaccinations and more
January 13, 2022 3:41 pm
|      11 COMMENTS
 |   Coronavirus | Health | Highland Park | West Seattle news

This Saturday (January 15th), everyone is welcome at a socially distanced health event at Highland Park Elementary (1012 SW Trenton). HPES says it’s open to all ages. They’re offering COVID-19 vaccinations – 1st, 2nd, or booster shots – plus health screenings (glucose, cholesterol, blood pressure, BMI) and mammograms (call 800-756-5437 for an appointment). The health event also offers resources such as ORCA Lift cards and health-insurance signup help. A free food truck will be on site too. The event is scheduled for 11 am-3 pm Saturday; here’s the flyer.

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WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Food-delivery driver carjacked
January 13, 2022 1:26 pm
|      14 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | West Seattle news

As noted in our update on last night’s cannabis-store robbery, police said on of the suspects matched the description of a West Seattle carjacking 20 minutes earlier. We’ve obtained the police-report narrative on that incident. Police say an Uber Eats driver told them he was picking up an order at a restaurant in the 6500 block of 35th SW around 7:50 pm when two men approached him “walking toward his vehicle very fast.” One pulled out a “black Glock-style handgun and held it at waist level, aiming it directly at” the victim and telling him “give me your keys.” The keys were already in the car, which was running, so the victim gave the robbers his money clip. They got into the car and drove away southbound on 35th SW. Three things missing in the information we obtained: The report does not identify the restaurant (Grillbird is the only one in that area). The report also does not describe the car – we heard it mentioned on police radio as a white Acura – nor the robbers, aside from the possible link to the store holdup 20 minutes later. If you have any tips, the police incident # to refer to is 22-009805.

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TONIGHT: West Seattle Art Walk, January edition!
January 13, 2022 11:45 am
|      1 COMMENT
 |   West Seattle Art Walk | West Seattle news | WS culture/arts

The weather has lifted just in time for the monthly West Seattle Art Walk. Here’s the map/venue list for tonight:

Art Walk participants include both venues with art and restaurants/bars with specials for Art Walk night. Times vary from site to site. Though The Junction remains a major hub, venues dot the peninsula, as previewed on the official WSAW website. On the north end, West Seattle Grounds (2141 California SW) will have painter Nida Ansari on hand tonight, 4-8 pm. Toward the south end, Viscon Cellars (5910 California SW; WSB sponsor) is hosting Priyanka Parmanand 5-9 pm. The artist explains, “I paint florals because they reinvigorate ‘Hope’, the fundamental belief for human existence. It is an expression of all that is different while unifying this diversity through a common denominator of human feelings. Plus, they are comforting, healing and bring smiles.” And on the north end of The Junction, you can visit Fogue Gallery (4130 California SW; WSB sponsor) 4-8 pm tonight to see a variety of artists’ work – new additions are featured here.

P.S. Before you head out to one or more of tonight’s Art Walk venues, check this version of the map/list for any word on late changes/cancellations.

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UPDATE: Slide cleared after blocking North Delridge path to low bridge
January 13, 2022 10:19 am
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

10:19 AM: Thanks to everyone who’s emailed – the photo above is from Rose – to report a slide blocking the biking/walking trail that goes from the north end of Delridge Way to the low bridge. This is the same stretch where a tree fell in November. We’re told it’s being reported to SDOT (206-684-ROAD).

10:33 AM: Just got an update from Rose – she and neighbor Geo cleared a small opening on the west side of the trail so riders/walkers can get through.

12:58 PM: Another update from Rose – it’s been fully cleared.

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YOU CAN HELP: Donate clothing, food, more during Mode Music & Performing Arts/Mode Music Studios winter drive
January 13, 2022 9:58 am
|    Comments Off on YOU CAN HELP: Donate clothing, food, more during Mode Music & Performing Arts/Mode Music Studios winter drive
 |   How to help | West Seattle news

Help your neighbors stay warm and fed. Mode Music and Performing Arts is teaming up with Mode Music Studios (WSB sponsor) for a winter donation drive. Here’s the announcement:

Drop off your donations at the front desk of Mode Music Studios at 3805 Delridge Way SW until January 19th. All proceeds and donations requested below will go to the White Center Food Bank and Mary’s Place. Help us keep our community warm this winter by donating warm clothing, nonperishables, and toiletries!

The White Center Food Bank is taking:
Soup (pop-top), Canned Meat (pop-top), Rice Noodles, Spices, Peanut Butter, Canned Fruit (pop-top), Boxed Baking Mixes, Coffee, Non-Dairy Salad Dressing, Flour, Broth, Condiments, Sugar, Rice, Soy Sauce, Brown Sugar, Oats, Tamari Sauce, Oil, Spaghetti, and Ponzu Sauce

Canned goods are accepted within 18 months of the expiration date
Boxed cereals and pastas within 6 months
Drinks within 3 months
Dry Beans and Grains within 2 years

Mary’s Place is taking:

Winter Drive Items:
Winter Coats, Raincoats, Jackets, Sweatshirts, Hoodies, Fleece, Warm pajamas, Hats, Scarves, Gloves/Mittens, Blankets, and Hand Warmers

Toiletries:
Shampoo/Conditioner, Toothpaste/Toothbrushes/Mouthwash, Deodorant, Feminine Hygiene products, body wash/body lotion, lip balm, brushes/combs, pain relievers, makeup, nail care

Diapers and Wipes with larger sizes needed (5, 6), and pull-ups (size 4t and 5t).

Clothing (new and like new):
All clothing for women, men, children and infants, bras and underwear, twin-sized blankets and sheets, towels of all sizes

If you’re interested in music, theater, and dance classes, visit the drive’s sponsors online at modemusicstudios.com or modemusicandperformingarts.org

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Remembering Joseph P. Wenderoth, 1961-2021
January 13, 2022 8:59 am
|    Comments Off on Remembering Joseph P. Wenderoth, 1961-2021
 |   Obituaries | West Seattle news

Family and friends are sharing this remembrance of Joe Wenderoth:

Joseph P. Wenderoth passed away unexpectedly on December 13, 2021. Joe was born on March 9, 1961 to John and Barbara Wenderoth. He was the 5th of six siblings who grew up in White Center, graduating from Evergreen High School in 1979.

Joe was an explorer at heart. After graduating from high school, he moved to Southern California, where he began a lifelong career in the parking business. It was there that he met the love of his life, Lisa. They were married in 1984 and raised two beautiful children, Nick and Kalie.

Joe would tell you that he was never the smartest person in the room, but he was always the hardest-working one. It was that work ethic that propelled him as he steadily rose to leadership positions in the parking business. In 2012, he and Lisa made the risky decision to start their own company, Legacy Parking – a thriving business that will live on with his children.

Joe had many accomplishments in his life, but the one he was the most proud of was his family. His love for Lisa, Nick, and Kalie, along with his daughter-in-law Katie, knew no bounds. To say Joe will be missed is an understatement. He had cultivated an incredible group of friends and never missed an opportunity to include them in his adventures. Whether it was sailing in the Caribbean, hiking in the Rocky Mountains, or on Safari in Africa, Joe lived a good life, full of love and excitement.

Joe was preceded in death by his parents John and Barbara Wenderoth. He is survived by his wife Lisa, son Nick (Katie), daughter Kalie, siblings Mary (Tom), Mike, Chris (Janet), Cathy (Carl), and Carrie (Brian), and numerous nieces and nephews.

His family is heartbroken, Joe had a lot more life left to live and it is hard to imagine a world without him. To those who love him, Joe will always be with you. He will find a way to remind you of how much he loved you, and when he does it will surely leave you with a smile and just a hint of sadness.

(WSB publishes West Seattle obituaries and memorial announcements by request, free of charge. Please email the text, and a photo if available, to editor@westseattleblog.com)

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TRAFFIC, WEATHER, TRANSIT: Thursday watch
January 13, 2022 6:03 am
|    Comments Off on TRAFFIC, WEATHER, TRANSIT: Thursday watch
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

6:03 AM Good morning!

WEATHER

Some rain, some sun, both in the forecast, with another high in the 50s.

HIGHLAND PARK WAY

The soonest the two closed lanes would reopen is later today, SDOT says.

West Marginal Way at Highland Park Way:

Highland Park Way/Holden:

BUSES, WATER TAXI, FERRIES

West Seattle and Vashon Water Taxi routes are on their regular schedules. And dogs and cats are now allowed on board. (Advance alert: No Water Taxi service on Monday, MLK Day.)

Metro is on its regular weekday schedule. Watch @kcmetrobus for word of trip cancellations.

Ferries: WSF continues a two-boat schedule on the Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth run. Check here for alerts/updates.

BRIDGES AND DETOUR ROUTES

660th 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.)

The 1st Avenue South Bridge (map):

South Park Bridge:

The 5-way intersection (Spokane/West Marginal/Delridge/Chelan):

Are movable bridges opening for vessels? The @SDOTBridges Twitter feed can tell you; 1st Ave. S. Bridge openings are also tweeted on @wsdot_traffic.

See all local traffic cams here; locally relevant cameras are also on this WSB page

POTHOLE ALERT

We’ve been spotlighting them all week. The eastbound Fauntleroy Way potholes were still there as of this photo by Jerry Simmons:

Here’s how to report potholes. If you see the city’s Pothole Rangers in action, text us! Same number as road/path/water-travel tips and other breaking news – 206-293-6302.

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WEST SEATTLE SUNSET: ‘Sky on fire’
January 12, 2022 11:59 pm
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle weather

We can’t let Wednesday go without a few of the photos sent to us after the blazingly bright sunset, spectacular whether you had a view across the water as did James Bratsanos (above) or across a hill (Charlestown) as did Greg Snyder (below):

Greg called it a “sky on fire.” The colors even spread to the east, as shown in Carolyn Newman‘s photo:

And one more look at that orange sky in the west, from John Bartell:

If you’re treasuring the lengthening days … note that we’re just two weeks away from 5 pm-and-later sunsets.

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WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Armed-robbery investigation
January 12, 2022 8:23 pm
|      27 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | West Seattle news | West Seattle police

(Added: WSB photo, police @ robbery scene)

8:23 PM: Police have converged on the Origins cannabis store in The Junction to investigate a report the store was held up at gunpoint. Here’s what we’re hearing from officers and dispatch: The store was robbed by three men in their 20s, who got away with some merchandise and two registers. The early description information is that the robbers were Black, all thin-to-medium build, wearing face masks, one taller than 6′ and carrying what was described to police as an “Uzi,” another shorter than 6′, no clothing description so far. They were last seen headed westbound on Edmunds from 40th (the store is at that corner). A K9 team (from the King County Sheriff’s Office, as no SPD K9 team was available) is on the way to join the search.

8:30 PM: More detailed descriptions of two of the robbers – the one with the “Uzi” wore a blue coat, black beanie, and dark pants, and is about 6’2″ and slender; another about 5’6″ and 180 pounds, carrying a tan “Glock-type” gun, wearing a red hoodie and dark pants. Only one added detail for the third robber – wearing a “paintball mask.”

10:10 PM: No further updates since then; we’ll be requesting the report in the morning.

10 AM THURSDAY: Only one additional detail in the preliminary summary – that one description matched that of a suspect in a carjacking 20 minutes earlier near 35th/Morgan. W4’re requesting the report on that and will publish separately when we have details.

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WEST SEATTLE LIGHT RAIL: See early designs for 13 station alternatives, as shown to new advisory group
January 12, 2022 8:17 pm
|      54 COMMENTS
 |   Sound Transit | West Seattle news

(Sound Transit recording of Tuesday’s meeting)

By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

Three stations are planned for Sound Transit‘s West Seattle light-rail extension – Delridge, Avalon, The Junction. Each one still has multiple potential locations under study, but the newest ST public presentation provided an official detailed look at early design possibilities for all of them.

That happened during the first meeting of the West Seattle/Duwamish Community Advisory Group for the project, which is now projected to launch light rail to/from the peninsula in 2032.

The slide deck for this meeting ran 119 pages – you can scroll through for the closest look yet at all the station possibilities that are being studied and will be part of what’s addressed in the Draft Environmental Impact Statement:

Read More

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FOLLOWUP: City’s initial plans for Highland Park Way post-landslides
January 12, 2022 6:32 pm
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   Highland Park | Safety | West Seattle news

(SDOT photo, Tuesday afternoon)

Two lanes of Highland Park Way will remain closed until at least tomorrow, SDOT says, in the aftermath of two landslides (Friday and Tuesday). That’s a “safety precaution due to the risk of more landslides while it continues to rain,” according to spokesperson Ethan Bergerson. So what’s being done to address the ongoing risk? Bergerson says SDOT is working with Seattle Parks – which owns much of the slope alongside the uphill lanes – “to plan temporary erosion-control measures now, as well as to promote more vegetation in the spring.” Among those measures are “concrete blocks at the base of the hill to support and hold back the land” – those were installed before the road was partly reopened last night. In spring, when conditions are better for vegetation growth, the plan includes hydroseeding the slope “to protect the near surface soils.”

These slides came five years after a massive slide closed the same stretch for two days. Five months after that, the City Council was considering supplemental-budget funding for a $60,000 “rock buttress” along that same section of Highland Park Way; we’re still researching what eventually happened – Google Street View shows concrete blocks along part of the road, across from the SW Othello intersection – adjacent to where the new ones have been placed, as shown in the top photo, following Tuesday’s slide.

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SEEN OFF WEST SEATTLE: Test fishing
January 12, 2022 4:25 pm
|      9 COMMENTS
 |   Seen at sea | West Seattle news | Wildlife

James Borrow, who often shares photos of interesting offshore sights, photographed that boat off Alki on Tuesday. We asked the Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife what kind of research its crew was doing. Here’s what WDFW’s Chase Gunnell found out for us: “Our understanding is that boat is contracted by the Muckleshoot Indian Tribe to do test fishing (also known as catch sampling) for Puget Sound winter Chinook (also known as blackmouth) and other salmon in coordination with WDFW during the ongoing Marine Area 10 winter salmon season.” That season opened on New Year’s Day and is scheduled to run through the end of March, allowing fishing on Saturdays, Sundays, and Mondays, with a daily limit of one salmon. Gunnell says WDFW has its own boat out test-fishing those three days, as well, and has staff doing spot checks at area boat ramps including Don Armeni – here are the charts of what they’ve found.

SIDE NOTE: This past weekend, we learned from Gunnell, some of the people fishing off West Seattle were participating in the annual Tengu Blackmouth Derby – a derby with an 85-year history. Here’s the story.

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WEST SEATTLE SCENE: King County Water Taxi’s new pet policy unleashed
January 12, 2022 2:42 pm
|      9 COMMENTS
 |   King County Water Taxi | Pets | West Seattle news

(WSB photo)

No, the dogs aren’t unleashed, just the policy. A few canine companions of Metro employees joined King County Executive Dow Constantine at a brief Seacrest event this morning to spotlight the new policy allowing dogs (leashed) and cats (in carriers) aboard the King County Water Taxi. We mentioned the policy change on Tuesday. What about other pets? readers wondered, so we asked. Maybe down the road, Metro says. We also asked whether this really entailed more than just saying hey, guess what, you can bring your dog or cat aboard. Answer: Yes – it required U.S. Coast Guard approval, because of capacity limits. You can read the full KCWT pet policy (just one page long) here.

Side note – independent of the new policy, one dog had a backstory:

Jim is holding KC Metro, adopted after being found, abandoned, on board a Metro Route 36 bus.

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BIZNOTE: West Bay Coffee and Smoothies crowdfunding to stay afloat after weather damage
January 12, 2022 12:47 pm
|      11 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news | WS beverages

(Photo courtesy GoFundMe)

“I didn’t want to lose my business … I could not imagine closing.”

That’s why Jennifer West is going to drastic lengths, including seeking crowdfunding, to keep her independent drive-up/ride-up West Bay Coffee and Smoothies in business after weather damage threatened to end its 14-year run at 2255 Harbor Avenue SW.

The stand shares water service with the larger commercial building on the site. Pipes broke during the recent ultra-cold weather, West says, flooding the larger building. She says the property manager proposed just cutting off service, which would force her to move. Or, she could fix the lines affecting the stand, at her own expense. She also has no access to a restroom or storage in the main building. So she’s paid for the plumbing to her stand, a new porta-potty just delivered yesterday, and is working on a new storage shed.

All that costs money, so she launched a GoFundMe crowdfunding page this week. “It’s been a nightmare but we’re working through the logistics to try to remain open,” West tells WSB. As the synopsis on the crowdfunding page says, she’s already gone through a lot, as have so many businesses – “We’ve been through covid exposures, weathered ongoing supply-chain issues and enormous supply price hikes, while trying to keep everyone safe” – she can’t bear to throw in the towel now.

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Mayor extends eviction moratorium one more month
January 12, 2022 11:34 am
|      31 COMMENTS
 |   Coronavirus | West Seattle news

11:34 AM: Seattle’s eviction moratorium – which was about to expire – will be extended another month. Mayor Bruce Harrell announced that decision this morning. He’s also continuing to suspend utility shutoffs for another 90 days, and continuing the suspension of “booting” parking-ticket scofflaws indefinitely. The eviction moratorium affects residential, small business, and nonprofit tenants and their landlords, and that will continue until February 14th. The mayor is also issuing an order telling city departments to collect data on effects of the moratorium, and to evaluate coordination of the types of relief that are available, among other big-picture steps. We’ll link the full announcement when it’s available.

1:13 PM: Here’s the announcement.

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WEST SEATTLE WEDNESDAY: 6 notes
January 12, 2022 10:57 am
|      1 COMMENT
 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Photo by Theresa Arbow-O’Connor)

Here’s what’s up for the hours ahead:

SECOND SHIP AT T-5: A late add to the frequently revised shipping schedule (since our last check Wednesday), AS Carlotta is at Terminal 5 today, second ship to call at the newly modernized north berth. This is a smaller ship than the one that called last week.

NEW CLASSES AT DELRIDGE CC: More new winter classes start today – including a “Let’s Make Cats” craft class for kids at 4 pm and all-ages karate at 5:30 pm. Contact Delridge Community Center (4501 Delridge Way SW) for registration information.

SEATTLE SCHOOL BOARD: For those interested in whether the COVID situation will be discussed, the Seattle Public Schools Board of Directors‘ next meeting is at 4:15 pm today, online. Here’s the agenda, which includes information on how to view the meeting.

WESTSIDE SCHOOL INFO NIGHT: Future middle-schooler in the household? Westside School (WSB sponsor) has an online information night for you tonight at 6 pm. Our calendar listing explains how to register to attend.

SPORTS MEDICINE TALK: “What are the 3 key functional tests every runner should be able to perform?” Get the answer to that question, and more, at 6:20 pm tonight, when West Seattle Runner hosts Lake Washington Physical Therapy (both WSB sponsors) for a free talk at the shop. (2743 California SW)

34TH DISTRICT DEMOCRATS: Monthly meeting online – 6:30 pm pre-meeting presentation about how the pandemic is affecting mental health, 7:30 pm monthly meeting with items including board elections and annual awards. Here’s the link for registering to attend.

Something to list on our calendar? Email the info to westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!

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VACCINATION: West Seattle clinic for kids this Saturday
January 12, 2022 9:40 am
|    Comments Off on VACCINATION: West Seattle clinic for kids this Saturday
 |   Coronavirus | West Seattle news

Families of 5-to-11-year-olds who are still looking for COVID-19 vaccination opportunities for their kids are invited to one this Saturday morning in West Seattle. 9 am-noon on Saturday (January 15th), Neighborhood Naturopathic (5410 California SW) is hosting a clinic for kids, and they don’t have to be current clinic patients. For those who get their first dose that day, a second-dose clinic is planned 9 am-noon February 5th. For an appointment, and/or if you have questions, call 206-486-8383.

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Remembering Deborah Lin Smith, 1966-2021
January 12, 2022 9:00 am
|      13 COMMENTS
 |   Obituaries | West Seattle news

Family and friends are remembering Deborah Lin Smith and sharing this remembrance with her community:

Deborah (Deb) Lin Smith passed away December 15, 2021, at the age of 55 after a battle with cancer.

Deb was born to Ronald and Karin Smith in Seattle, and shortly thereafter the family moved to Billings, Montana. Deb attended Boulder Elementary, Will James Junior High, and Billings West High School, graduating in 1984. She was always an excellent student and attended the University of California, San Diego, studying molecular biology. She received her Bachelor of Science in molecular biology in 1988.
Upon graduation, she moved to Seattle, where she lived the rest of her life. Her first job there was at The Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, and later she worked as a bench scientist at Zymogenetics.

A blind date led her to meet Mark Anderson, and they fell in love. They married July 13, 1996, on a record-breaking hot summer day, and thereafter made their roots in West Seattle. Their 25th wedding anniversary was celebrated this past July. The greatest joys in her life were her two daughters: Hanna, now a senior at Tufts University, and Keira, a senior in high school.

Deb was always a sports enthusiast, playing varsity volleyball in high school and on intramural teams. She was a loyal fan of the Sounders, Storm, and the University of Washington Huskies. She was an excellent cook and baker and loved exploring new tastes and flavors. She always had a love for animals, especially dogs, and her yellow lab Bailey will miss her dearly.

She participated in many volunteer activities including at the YMCA, the Red Cross, voter registration, and at Swedish hospital as a cuddler of newborns. She also spent much of her time while the girls were growing up attending their many concerts and sporting events including soccer, volleyball, basketball, and crew.

Personal relationships were always very important to Deb, and she maintained and treasured those throughout her life. She had a vast number of friends that she met through high school and college and later through involvement in tennis, her gym, and of course the many friends she met through involvement with her daughters’ activities.

She is preceded in death by her grandparents, and survived by her husband Mark, daughters Hanna and Keira, parents Ron and Karin Smith, brother Len Smith (Maura), sister Erika Smith, her in-laws Anne and Warren Anderson, her sister-in-law Kristi Anderson, and her many nieces and nephews.

A private family service will be held at a later date. To share your condolences and memories of Deb with her family and friends, visit funerals.coop/obituaries/deborah-deb-lin-smith.html. In lieu of flowers, please consider a gift in her memory to the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, directed toward lung cancer research at fredhutch.org.

(WSB publishes West Seattle obituaries and memorial announcements by request, free of charge. Please email the text, and a photo if available, to editor@westseattleblog.com)

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TRAFFIC, WEATHER, TRANSIT: Wednesday watch, with another pothole alert
January 12, 2022 6:27 am
|      7 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

6:27 AM Good morning!

WEATHER

Even warmer today, according to the forecast – which predicts rain and a high in the mid-to-upper 50s.

HIGHLAND PARK WAY

No update so we’re assuming it’s still one lane each way between Holden and West Marginal, following Tuesday’s slide. Here are the relevant cameras:

West Marginal Way at Highland Park Way:

Highland Park Way/Holden:

BUSES, WATER TAXI, FERRIES

West Seattle and Vashon Water Taxi routes are on their regular schedules.

Metro is on its regular weekday schedule. Watch @kcmetrobus for word of trip cancellations.

Ferries: WSF continues a two-boat schedule on the Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth run. Check here for alerts/updates.

BRIDGES AND DETOUR ROUTES

659th 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.)

The 1st Avenue South Bridge (map):

South Park Bridge:

The 5-way intersection (Spokane/West Marginal/Delridge/Chelan):

Are movable bridges opening for vessels? The @SDOTBridges Twitter feed can tell you; 1st Ave. S. Bridge openings are also tweeted on @wsdot_traffic.

See all local traffic cams here; locally relevant cameras are also on this WSB page

POTHOLE ALERT

We featured a few on Monday and Tuesday. For today, another report, from Ellie;

Coming along East Marginal Way toward the bridge … there are some wicked potholes. I was in the center lane and around Lucile (maybe a little further North) saw the car ahead swerve and then saw potholes but I had cars either side of me so kept on course. That resulted in two flat tires – I made it to the Jack in the Box parking lot which seemed the safest place to go and over the next hour when waiting for a tow truck saw at least four other cars (all sedans) come in with flat tires. Wish that I had swerved too but it was thick traffic and didn’t feel safe to do so. Wanted to pass along in case it’s helpful for other commuters!

Here’s how to report potholes.

Trouble on the streets/paths/bridges/water? Please let us know – text (but not if you’re driving!) 206-293-6302.

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UPDATE: Pole fire, power outage in Lowman Beach area
January 11, 2022 11:12 pm
|      20 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle fires | West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

11:12 PM: Thanks to Aaron for the tip. SFD is at a call on Lincoln Park Way described as a “transformer fire,” and they’ve asked SPD to close the street to traffic.

(Added: Reader photo)

11:38 PM: SFD has closed out the call. But a texter and commenters report power’s out in the Lowman Beach area – nothing on the Seattle City Light map, though.

11:43 PM: Mapped now – 249 customers out.

1:16 AM: Still out, going on two hours.

9:29 AM: As noted in commenters, the power was restored around 6:30 am, after about seven hours.

2:29 PM: We asked SCL spokesperson Jenn Strang for more specifics on what went wrong. She explained, “Crews determined that the equipment failure [which sparked the fire] originated in the primary insulators. This can sometimes occur during wet weather.”

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