West Seattle, Washington
24 Wednesday
A multi-location food drive to benefit the White Center Food Bank – which also serves south West Seattle – has just days to go, and organizers at White Center Pride hope you’ll donate – or donate again! Dropoff locations are in south West Seattle and White Center. Here’s the reminder we received today:
We are just a little over a week away from wrapping up our winter food drive for the White Center Food Bank. As of mid-February we had collected over 600 lbs. of shelf-stable food. We are hoping to push that number up to 1000 lbs by the time we finish the drive.
Here’s the direct link to the needs-list info mentioned at the bottom of the graphic.
(WSB photos unless otherwise credited)
4:05 PM: SFD is on the scene of what’s described as a water-main break in Fauntleroy, just west of the Endolyne business district, in the 9200 block of 46th SW. We’ve also received a report of discolored water in Morgan Junction.
(Texted photo)
We’re on the way to find out more.
4:29 PM: Adding photos. SFD and SPU are on the scene of the break. Water in the street is subsiding. Meantime, our texter from Morgan Junction called SPU (reminder: any water problem, call 206-386-1800) and said they indeed attributed it to a break. The discoloration, as is usual in these cases, is because of sediment – usually rust – getting stirred up in the line when there’s a problem.
5:36 PM: SPU spokesperson Sabrina Register tells us the break involves “some broken pipe” and continues, “Customers on 46th Ave SW between SW Wildwood Place and SW Brace Front Drive may be temporarily without water. We are working to excavate the location of the break for repair. It’s unknown how many customers are affected or the extent of any possible damage to a few homes in the area.” That damage includes some basement flooding – here’s a photo Catherine sent:
Catherine says she’s “downhill” from the break site.
9:21 PM: Update from SPU – since the first break, which involved an 8-inch pipe, there’s been a second one in the 9300 block of Fauntleroy Way SW, just a few blocks west. SPU says both should be repaired, with service restored, by morning. Regarding the first break, SPU’s update says, “Some customers may have experienced higher than normal water pressure during the break. The break was horizontal, which typically releases more water compared to a vertical break.”
Just out of the WSB inbox, a big party starts tomorrow at The Admiral District’s award-winning The Good Society Brewery and Public House:
We are celebrating turning 3 and we’ve got some good stuff lined up for you!
On Friday we will release our 3rd Anniversary DIPA, 3rd Time’s a Charm. We added Phantasm and used a thiol-boosting yeast to release some awesome tropical notes. Combined with the boozy 8.7% abv, it’s reminiscent of sitting on the beach with a drink in hand!
We are also release Rye Hard 2: Rye Harder. We took Rye Hard, our Imperial Rye Stout we brewed late in 2021, aged it in rye whiskey barrels, and then blended it with a young batch. We will have a sixtel of the original on as well.
On Saturday, we are doing weekend versions of Music Bingo and Trivia! We love these events and often hear how folks have trouble making it to these events during the week, so here’s your chance! Come win some prizes!
We also partnered with our friends at Shug’s Soda Fountain to bring you ice cream sandwiches and beer floats!
The Good Society opened on Valentine’s Day 2020 on the southwest corner of California and Lander.
A nine-digit budget gap is staring down Seattle Public Schools, and the district is talking about major cuts including possible “school consolidation” (closures) as soon as the 2024-2025 school year. No specific local schools have been mentioned yet, but SPS is now getting to the “community engagement” phase, so plans and proposals might emerge soon. Here’s the district FAQ on where things stand, noting a $131 million “structural deficit” in the budget, with enrollment decreasing yet staff increasing.
Some background, if you’re new to the area, West Seattle has been through school closures before: Fairmount Park Elementary was closed in 2007, then expanded and reopened in 2014. The former Genesee Hill Elementary had hosted Pathfinder K-8, which was moved to the Pigeon Point site of what had been Cooper Elementary until the district closed Cooper’s “program” in 2009; the old GHES was torn down in 2014 and replaced by a bigger new school into which the former Schmitz Park Elementary was moved. Currently the former Schmitz Park campus is used as an interim site for schools during construction projects – West Seattle Elementary is in its second year there right now, and Alki Elementary is scheduled to move there during its rebuild, starting this fall. (Despite the talk of cuts and closures, there’s been no talk so far of cancelling projects like Alki, which will expand that school’s capacity.)
The School Board is required to pass a balanced budget by early July. They held a work session on the budget situation this past Tuesday; you can see the background information here, and watch the meeting video here:
The district promises a “community budget information session” March 20th. But before then, you have a chance this Saturday to talk with and hear from our area’s representative on the School Board, Leslie Harris – regarding the budget and/or any other SPS issues of interest. She’ll be at Delridge Library (5423 Delridge Way SW) starting at 2 pm Saturday (March 4th).
The report and photo are from Katherine:
My car was stolen from (the 3800 block of) Beach Drive SW and I’ve reported it to the police. It is a 2018 Hyundai Elantra – Color white – rear window smashed – stolen between 6:15 pm-8:17 pm Wednesday. Thinking it will most likely be dumped somewhere. License plate BRX-1834. Police report # 23-58043.
(Female Common Merganser in breeding plumage, photographed off Jack Block Park by Ann Anderson)
Here are highlights for the hours ahead, from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
WEST SEATTLE UKULELE PLAYERS: All levels welcome, weekly 1 pm gathering. Email westseattleukuleleplayers@gmail.com to see where you’ll find them playing today.
FREE INDOOR PLAYSPACE: 2-6-year-olds welcome 3:30-5 pm at the Salvation Army Center (9050 16th SW).
THURSDAY FOOD-TRUCK POP-UP: 4-8 pm at Highland Park Corner Store (7789 Highland Park Way SW), the Birrieria Pepe El Toro truck will be visiting.
DEVELOPMENT MEETING: 5 pm online, the city is convening a meeting for comments on a proposed 11-unit development in Delridge, at 6504 24th SW, on an “environmentally critical” site near Longfellow Creek. The meeting notice explains how to participate, by video or phone, and how to comment.
TAE KWON DO: Tonight at 6 pm at High Point Community Center (6920 34th SW), the West Seattle Tae Kwon Do Club starts March lessons. New students can join at any time, and beginners are welcome.
HIGHLAND PARK RUN CLUB: Meet up at Highland Park Corner Store at 6:30 pm Thursdays for a ~3-mile run.
SILENT BOOK CLUB: The West Seattle Silent Book Club – read by yourself, then talk if you want – meets at 11 locations this month, starting at 7 pm tonight. They’re all listed here.
PIANO BAR: Join Larry Knapp and friends for music and more at the Senior Center of West Seattle (4217 SW Oregon) 7-10 pm – bar’s open too, and musicians are welcome as well as spectators.
NORTH HIGHLINE UNINCORPORATED AREA COUNCIL: The community council for White Center and vicinity meets online at 7 pm, all welcome. Agenda and attendance info can be found in our calendar listing.
JOKES AT THE JUNCTION: 8 pm comedy show at Great American Diner and Bar (4752 California SW), presented by West Seattle-based Cozy Comedy. Ticket link is in our calendar listing!
If you have something to add to our calendar, please email info to westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
Here’s an easy way to help students at a local school – bid in an online auction! Bidding in the Fairmount Park Elementary PTA auction is open today and tomorrow. Here’s the announcement:
Fairmount Park PTA is hosting the Annual Virtual Auction. Bidding closes Friday, March 3rd, at 7 pm. Fairmount Park Elementary School serves a diverse community of 450 students and their families. The PTA works to promote the social, emotion and academic well-being of all students. The auction raises money to fund school supplies, teacher grants, meals and backpacks for families in need, grants to support the art and music programs and various other programs throughout the school year.
Auction items include tickets to Seattle sports games, gift certificates to local businesses and restaurants, tickets to Seattle experiences and Gift Baskets from Seattle businesses. We hope you have a fun time bidding to support the Fairmount Park Elementary School PTA.
Please click the link to access the virtual silent auction:
fpepta.schoolauction.net/auction2023
6:03 AM: Good morning! It’s Thursday, March 2nd.
WEATHER
Windy, intermittently rainy forecast for today,, high in the mid- to upper 40s.
TRANSIT TODAY
Water Taxi – Regular schedule.
Metro – Regular schedule, but still canceling some trips, so check notification channels such as @kcmetroalerts.
Washington State Ferries‘ Triangle Route continues on the 2-boat schedule; check here for alerts/updates and use Vessel Watch for boats’ locations.
SPOTLIGHT TRAFFIC CAMERAS
Delridge cameras: Besides the one below (Delridge/Oregon), cameras are also up at Delridge/Genesee, Delridge/Juneau, Delridge/Orchard, and Delridge/Henderson.
High Bridge – the camera at the top:
High Bridge – the view from its southwest end (when SDOT points the 35th/Avalon/Fauntleroy camera that way):
Low Bridge – looking east to west:
1st Ave. S. Bridge – another route across the river:
Highway 99: – the northbound side at Lander.
MORE TRAFFIC CAMS: See all working traffic cams citywide here, most with video options; West Seattle and vicinity-relevant cameras are on this WSB page.
BRIDGE INFO: Are movable city bridges opening for vessels? Check the @SDOTBridges Twitter feed.
If you see a problem on the bridges/streets/paths/bay, please text or call us (when you can do it safely, and after you’ve reported to authorities if needed) – 206-293-6302.
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