West Seattle, Washington
12 Thursday
(Governor’s office photo)
That’s Gov. Jay Inslee, during a visit this afternoon to the encampment cleanup on what’s mostly state-owned land by the (also state-owned) 1st Avenue South Bridge. This was the second day of an extensive cleanup at the site; workers at the site this morning told us they expected to be there two or three more days.
(WSB photo)
The governor used his visit to focus on the fact that 30 people had been living there and have been placed in shelter/housing, and to repeat his criticism of the State Senate for not allotting as much money on housing as he wants them to.
6:41 PM: If you live, work, do business, study, or enjoy recreation in Fauntleroy, this is the place to be tonight – until 8 pm at The Hall at Fauntleroy (9131 California SW), it’s the annual general meeting of the Fauntleroy Community Association – also known as the Food Fest because local purveyors of food and beverages bring free tastes (savory and sweet) as a community contribution. Tonight, those include Wildwood Market:
(Regina and Lonjina from Wildwood Market)
Also Nola’s, Tuxedos and Tennis Shoes Catering (which operates The Hall), The Birdhouse, The Unsweetened Tooth, and Endolyne Joe’s. You can also find out not only what the FCA’s about (including the annual Egg Hunt coming up April 1st) but also other organizations including the Morgan Community Association, Fauntleroy UCC, RainWise (which is again offering rebates to many homes in this area for installing green stormwater features), the Fauntleroy Watershed Council, and – with the mobile precinct parked outside – Seattle Police‘s Southwest Precinct.
You can also learn about the Fauntleroy Fall Festival, set this year for October 15th (with a fundraiser coming up April 18th at Endolyne Joe’s).
8:30 PM: Though mingling was the main order of the night, there was a bit of business: Voting on whether to re-elect the FCA board.
They were re-elected by acclamation. From left in our photo are vice president Catherine Bailey, president Mike Dey, Kris Ilgenfritz, Bill Wellington, Susan Lantz-Dey, David Haggety, Diana Spence, Bruce Butterfield, and Marty Westerman. Three other board members weren’t able to attend: Frank Immel, Alan Grainger, and Nils von Veh. In general updates from the stage, Dey said the board welcomes new members – they have openings for secretary and treasurer currently – contact info is on the FCA website, fauntleroy.net. The board meets second Tuesdays most months at 7 pm at the schoolhouse, and community members are always welcome.
Two months after Morgan Junction’s only gas station closed for an ownership and brand transition, it’s partly reopened. After a tip (thank you!), we confirmed that the gas pumps – now dispensing Mobil gasoline – are now functioning. You have to pay at the pump, though, until the station’s mini-mart opens. That could happen as soon as tomorrow, we were told while there.
Yet another sign of spring – West Seattle Little League baseball and softball teams are about to start playing. You’re invited to the season-opening, two-location jamboree – here’s the announcement:
West Seattle Little League will kick off the season with its annual Jamboree this weekend. Tee ball and baseball games will be held at WSLL’s Bar-S home field, and girls’ softball will also be celebrating the opening weekend with games at Chief Sealth.
Games will occur on Saturday 25th and Sunday 26th of March. Baseball games will occur between 9 am and 7 pm on both days. Softball games will occur between 9 am and 5:30 pm Saturday and 10 am and 4:30 pm Sunday.
Come cheer on our kids, get some pics with the Mariners Moose and DubSea Fish Sticks, learn about WSLL, and grab a bite to eat at the concessions.
The Bar-S fields are at 64th SW and SW Admiral Way in Alki; the Chief Sealth (Nino Cantu Southwest Athletic Complex) fields are at 2801 SW Thistle in Westwood. According to the WSLL website, the Moose will be at Bar-S 10:30 am-2:30 pm Sunday; the Fish Sticks mascot’s schedule is TBD.
Thanks to Joe Laubach for the photos and report:
The old bike counter on the East end of the Spokane Street bridge has been out of order for several years. I’m pleased to see SDOT has installed a new bike counter and it is up and operational!
On a related note, I’m happy to see so many people biking around West Seattle now that the weather has warmed up. Motorists – please drive carefully and be attentive. Thank you.
This is near the site where Robb Mason was hit and killed last July (his accused killer‘s case continues making its way through the court system, with another hearing next month). We have an inquiry out to SDOT for more information about the new counter and will add whatever we hear back. (The stats page is here.)
ADDED WEDNESDAY: SDOT spokesperson Mariam Ali responded to our inquiry: “We have replaced the bike counter on the Spokane St Swing Bridge (West Seattle Low Bridge) to address inconsistencies with the data from the old counter. The previous bike counter was experiencing intermittent issues storing and transmitting data which has led to periodic gaps in our historical data beginning in May 2021, despite multiple repair attempts.”
Back in October, we reported on a city plan for a new “natural drainage system” – basically stormwater-filtering landscaping – along a stretch of SW Holden in Highland Park. As we subsequently learned, the project is also meant to assist with traffic calming on what the city considers a too-wide section of the street. Seattle Public Utilities has announced the next step in the project – an on-site opportunity to talk with city reps one week from today, at 17th/Holden, 2:30-5:30 pm Tuesday, March 28th. The city website says the plan is just getting to 30 percent design and is still not expected to go into construction before next year. You can review and comment on early design concepts at next week’s drop-in event, SPU says. The city has already installed “natural drainage systems” in other areas, including a section of 17th further south, between Kenyon and Henderson.
(WSB photo from 2022 Delridge Community Center egg hunt)
This spring’s lineup of egg hunts in West Seattle starts this weekend. Here’s a quick look at what we have so far:
MARCH 25: The West Seattle Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints(4001 44th SW) invites kids from throughout the community, 10-11:30 am; event includes egg hunt and cookie decorating.
APRIL 1:
-The first city-presented egg hunt in our area, at South Park Community Center (8319 8th Ave. S.), 10 am.
–Fauntleroy Community Association Egg Hunt, 1-4 pm at Fauntleroy Schoolhouse (9131 California SW).
APRIL 8: This is the big date.
–Delridge Community Center (4501 Delridge Way SW), 10 am
–Eastridge Church at Lincoln Park (8011 Fauntleroy Way SW, south meadow), 10 am
–High Point Community Center (6920 34th SW), 10 am (the city brochure time is wrong, we’re told)
–Ounces Beer Garden (3809 Delridge Way SW), 3 pm
APRIL 9: If you’re attending an Easter Sunday service, check with your church – several hold them in conjunction with services. (added) So far, we have one announced by Alki UCC (6115 SW Hinds), 11:15 am, community welcome.
Are we missing any? Email info to westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
(Monday afternoon’s rainbow, photographed by Jerry Simmons)
Here are the highlights of what’s happening in the hours ahead, mostly from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
BRIDGE AUDIT: The City Council’s Transportation and Public Utilities Committee will get an update on the audit of Seattle bridges during its 9:30 am meeting, viewable via Seattle Channel. Here’s the agenda.
SPRING PLANT SWAP: All week. “Bring plants to swap or repot, pots to fill or trade, seeds to share,” noon-3 pm daily at Nepenthe (9447 35th SW) – details in our calendar listing.
CHESS CLUB: Tuesdays 1:30-3 pm at the Senior Center of West Seattle (4217 SW Oregon): “Are you looking for a new activity to keep your brain sharp and clear? The Senior Center Chess Club welcomes both novice and experienced players. Join us at 1:30 p.m. for lessons, short tutorials and chess for all levels of expertise. For more information, contact Conwell: conwell@conwelld.net.”
CITY COUNCIL: 2 pm this afternoon, it’s the full council’s weekly meeting, online or at City Hall (600 4th Ave.). See the agenda here; the meeting is viewable via Seattle Channel.
FREE INDOOR PLAYSPACE: Toddler Gym weekday afternoons at the Salvation Army Center (9050 16th SW), ages 2-6, 3:30-5 pm.
DEMONSTRATION FOR BLACK LIVES: Long-running weekly sign-waving demonstration at 16th/Holden. 5-6 pm. Signs available if you don’t have your own.
FAUNTLEROY COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION FOOD FEST: It’s the FCA’s annual general meeting with bites from local businesses and more, including info-tables from local organizations – drop in at The Hall at Fauntleroy (9131 California SW) between 6 and 8 pm.
FREE CONCERT: First of two spring concerts this week by the West Seattle Community Orchestras at Chief Sealth International High School (2600 SW Thistle), 6 pm, free admission.
SCRABBLE NIGHT: 6-10 pm, you can play Scrabble at The Missing Piece (9456 35th SW).
OPEN MIC: 7 pm at Otter on the Rocks (4210 SW Admiral Way), hosted by Midnight Marauders.
TRIVIA X 3: Three establishments where you can play Tuesday nights – 7 pm at Ounces (3809 Delridge Way SW), 7 pm at Admiral Pub (2306 California SW), 7:30 and 8:30 pm Sporcle Pub Quiz at The Lodge (4209 SW Alaska).
BELLE OF THE BALLS BINGO: Play bingo with Cookie Couture at The Skylark (3803 Delridge Way SW), 8 pm. Free, all ages!
You can look into the future any time via our event calendar – if you have something to include on it, please email info to westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
6:03 AM: Good morning! It’s Tuesday, March 21st.
WEATHER & TIME
The forecast for today: Mostly cloudy morning, mostly sunny afternoon, high in the 50s. Sunrise 7:10 am, sunset 7:23 pm.
TRANSIT
Metro – Second weekday for RapidRide H Line replacing Route 120, and for added trips on C Line and Route 50.
Water Taxi – Regular schedule.
Washington State Ferries‘ Triangle Route continues on the 2-boat schedule, with added runs as of last week; check here for alerts/updates and see Vessel Watch for boats’ locations.
SPOTLIGHT TRAFFIC CAMERAS
Delridge cameras: Besides the one below (Delridge/Henderson), cameras are also up at Delridge/Genesee, Delridge/Juneau, Delridge/Orchard, and Delridge/Oregon.
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 southwestward toward it:
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: Check the @SDOTBridges Twitter feed to see if the city’s movable bridges are opening for vessel traffic.
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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