day : 24/03/2023 10 results

(SDOT camera image from shortly after crash)

On the third night since the early-morning West Seattle Bridge crash that ended the lives of two 18-year-olds, here’s what we know, after various followup inquiries:

The driver accused of hitting them, described by police as believed to have been “impaired,” is apparently still in the hospital. On Wednesday afternoon, police still didn’t know his name, but they do now, SPD spokesperson Det. Judinna Gulpan told WSB today. In most cases, though, police don’t release a suspect’s name until and unless they are booked into jail, and because of the suspect’s condition, that hasn’t happened yet. We’ve asked the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office whether charges might be filed while he remains in the hospital, but haven’t yet received an answer yet. If and when charges are filed, that is likely the first time we will get more details on what investigators have found. There have been various reports that people saw him as far away as Roxbury and called him in; we have listened again to archived dispatch audio, and there is one mention of a possibly DUI driver, no vehicle described, near 35th and Roxbury 11 minutes before the report of a wrong-way driver in a white truck on the bridge; an officer from the Ocean sector in South Seattle was headed up to check that out when, two and a half minutes later, she happened onto the crash and radioed that in.

Meantime, crowdfunding pages have been launched for the families of both victims, who are from Snohomish County: The one on behalf of Khalea Thoeuk, who was in her senior year at Snohomish High School, is here; the one on behalf of Riley Danard is here. Finally, in addition to the suspect driver’s “impairment,” some have wondered if bridge entrances need better signage or markings to deter wrong-way entries. That question hasn’t landed on SDOT’s radar yet, according to spokesperson Ethan Bergerson.

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WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Gunfire investigation

March 24, 2023 7:32 pm

| 9 COMMENTS

| Crime | West Seattle news | West Seattle police

7:32 PM: After multiple 911 calls about suspected gunfire, police are in the area of 29th/Morgan and have told dispatch they found “multiple holes” in the windows of a home. No word of injuries so far. Updates to come.

(Added: WSB photo)

7:35 PM: Officers tell dispatch they’ve also found “a couple rounds in front of the residence.”

7:54 PM: No additional information at the scene aside from that this does not appear to have been random.

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FOLLOWUP: Answers to three questions about Seattle City Light’s EV chargers, future and current

March 24, 2023 7:27 pm

| 3 COMMENTS

| Environment | Utilities | West Seattle news

As reported here Thursday, Seattle City Light has confirmed the locations of 31 new on-street electric-vehicle-charging stations around the city, including five in West Seattle. A few questions arose, and we took them to SCL spokesperson Jenn Strang. First – a clarification: The one location we hadn’t already reported, the 6000 block of 16th SW, is not actually on the South Seattle College (WSB sponsor) campus – Strang says it will be on the “west side of 16th Ave SW, opposite the South Seattle College campus. It will be located near the walkway leading to the Duwamish Cohousing complex.” Readers, meantime, asked what’s being done to deter thieves from hitting the new chargers’ cords, as they have with others. Strang says, “The curbside Level 2 chargers have charging cables that automatically retract.” And that led t the question, what’s going on with the still-not-back-in-service chargers on 39th SW south of West Seattle Bowl? Strang explains, “In early March we installed two cables on the chargers at 4535 39th Ave SW, and our technician was unable to get the chargers to deliver a successful charge. Following various attempts to troubleshoot the issue with the manufacturer, it was determined additional parts are needed. We are waiting on the delivery of parts to continue troubleshooting the issue with the 39th Ave SW chargers and to complete repairs on the other chargers that had cables stolen.”

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CREATIVE CAREGIVING: Free workshop at Senior Center of West Seattle next week

March 24, 2023 5:04 pm

| 1 COMMENT

| West Seattle news | WS culture/arts

If you’re a caregiver, creative expression might help you cope. The Senior Center of West Seattle has several spots still open in a free workshop next week. We just got the announcement:

Creative Workshops for Caregivers
Wednesday, March 29, 1–2 pm
Senior Center of West Seattle (4217 SW Oregon St.)

Creative Aging at the Frye Art Museum is excited to launch the first in a series of creative workshops for caregivers. Presented in partnership with Sound Generations and led by teaching artist Carmen Ficarra, the workshops are designed to give caregivers an opportunity to create in a fun and relaxing manner. While the session will focus on how caregivers can turn to art in their own leisure time, participants will also explore the possibilities of these projects being done with those in their care. No prior experience as an artist is necessary. The workshop is free and art materials are provided. For more information, or to register by Monday, March 27, email brittanybl@soundgenerations.org or call 206-727-6261.

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FOLLOWUP: Construction also starting soon on West Marginal Way protected bicycle lane

March 24, 2023 2:39 pm

| 54 COMMENTS

| Safety | Transportation | West Seattle news

(SDOT photo of Green Lake bike lane like the one to be built on West Marginal)

Another “construction starting soon” notice just in – this time, for the permanent protected bicycle lane on West Marginal Way SW. It’s a two-way lane that will run just under half a mile on the west side of the street between the bridge and the Duwamish Longhouse. (The temporary bike lane installed during the low-bridge closure is still in place there.) Along with building the permanent lane, SDOT will be “updating all 17 Duwamish Trail / driveway crossings on the east side of the corridor with signs and pavement markings.” All this is expected to start in early April – weather permitting, SDOT hopes to finish the bike-lane construction over the first two weekends of the month. Here’s the construction notice, which notes: “Construction will be on weekends for the bike lane and on both weekday and weekends for the Duwamish Trail driveway crossing treatments. Trail detours in short sections will be noted on signs. Please dismount bikes and walk around wet paint near driveways.”

BACKSTORY: SDOT first unveiled the bike lane as an option in January 2021. Various rounds of discussion ensued (including a February meeting at which attendees were invited to begin with a “moment of meditation and reflection”). Then the department told the West Seattle Bridge Community Task Force in July 2021 that it would go ahead with the plan. Here’s the design they showed then:

SDOT promised at the time that construction wouldn’t start until after the reopening of the West Seattle Bridge (which has now been back in service for 6 months, following its 2 1/2-year closure). The department says the change will add a few seconds at most to travel times. Other changes will follow as part of the corridor safety project, as noted on its webpage.

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FOLLOWUP: White Center Food Bank starts construction of new HQ

March 24, 2023 12:36 pm

| Comments Off on FOLLOWUP: White Center Food Bank starts construction of new HQ

| How to help | West Seattle news | White Center

(Rendering of new WCFB HQ)

The White Center Food Bank – which also serves south West Seattle – has announced a milestone in its journey to a new headquarters: Construction is beginning at the site (10016 16th SW; map), six months after the location was revealed. WCFB spokesperson Jefferson Rose says a construction wall went up today, and explanatory banners are expected to go up on Monday. The WCFB has to move from its longtime home at 8th/108th because a new building, to include affordable housing and a community “hub,” is going up at that site. At the new site, Rose says they’ve already done some demolition, and what starts now includes “mostly interior work to build out the grocery store, offices, and lobby area” as well as getting the warehouse space ready to use. All that is expected to take about six months. You can read more about the new WCFB headquarters – and donate to the project and/or the WCFB’s plan for a new site for its giving garden – by going here.

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Harbor Avenue, police updates @ Alki Community Council

March 24, 2023 11:54 am

| 8 COMMENTS

| Neighborhoods | West Seattle news

This month’s Alki Community Council meeting included updates on two ongoing topics:

HARBOR AVENUE RVs: Since the most-recent city attempt to clear the street, some RVs have returned (we counted three on Thursday afternoon). An outreach worker at the ACC meeting said that area is “a priority” now – as outreach for the 2nd/Michigan encampment was wrapping up at the time of this meeting last week – and that more people “are accepting offers” than used to be the case. SPD Southwest Precinct Operations Lt. Dorothy Kim added that parking-enforcement officers are going through the area twice weekly to tag vehicles: “We’re not letting it be stagnant.”

OTHER POLICE UPDATES: Updating crime trends from SPD data, Lt. Kim said that in the Alki area, property-crime reports are down, except for auto theft, which continues on the rise citywide. Violent crime is unchanged. So far, as of meeting time, the Alki area has had one verified shots-fired incident since the start of the year (at Hamilton Viewpoint Park). The new SPD schedule “seems to be working,” Lt. Kim said, with a three-hour overlap during the first two watches of the day enabling some officers to be spared for “directed patrol” in areas that need more attention. She also mentioned that staffing issues are improving, saying that they “just got two officers back from the vaccine mandate” (which ended recently) and others returning from parental leave or “limited duty” constraints. She also noted that the department has been developing more officers as “field trainers” for new hires, which requires them to go through special training of their own; a new class of trainers is starting up.

GET INVOLVED: If you live/work or have some other interest in the Alki area, the ACC needs more participation – it’s been operating at a bare-bones level for a long time. A little help can make a lot of difference. You can send questions or suggestions via this page on the ACC’s website.

The Alki Community Council meets 7 pm third Thursdays most months, in-person (at Alki UCC, 6115 SW Hinds) and online.,

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WEST SEATTLE FRIDAY: 10 things to do

March 24, 2023 10:20 am

| 1 COMMENT

| West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Rainbow glimpsed from Alki on Thursday – photo by Tom Trulin)

From the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar, here’s what’s happening for the rest of your Friday

SCRABBLE CLUB: Come play 12:30-1:30 pm at Margie’s Café in the Senior Center of West Seattle (4217 SW Oregon).

FREE INDOOR PLAYSPACE: Toddler Gym weekday afternoons at the Salvation Army Center (9050 16th SW), ages 2-6, 3:30-5 pm.

WEST SEATTLE COMMUNITY ORCHESTRAS: Second and final free spring concert, 7 pm at Chief Sealth International High School Auditorium (2600 SW Thistle).

AT KENYON HALL: Second edition of the all-ages Kenyon Hall Cabaret drag show, doors at 7, show at 7:30 pm. (7904 35th SW)

BASEBALL: 7 pm home game for West Seattle High School vs. O’Dea, Nino Cantu Southwest Athletic Complex (2801 SW Thistle).

MUSIC AT THE COFFEEHOUSE: Gary Benson & Ellen Reed at 7 pm at C & P Coffee (5612 California SW; WSB sponsor).

DJ AT THE SPOT: 7-10 pm, DJ Sang-Do spins at The Spot West Seattle (2920 SW Avalon Way).

‘LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS’: West Seattle High School‘s spring musical continues tonight at 7:30 pm. Our calendar listing has details and ticket info. (3000 California SW)

SOUND BATH: “For peace and relaxation,” 7:30 pm with Maari Falsetto at Move2Center (3618 SW Alaska), $35.

AT THE SKYLARK: Sun King, Urban Achievers, tribute bands (The Cult and Led Zeppelin), doors 7:30, music 8:30. (3803 Delridge Way SW)

Something to add to our calendar? westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!

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YOU CAN HELP: Highland Park Elementary PTA crowdfunding to add staff

March 24, 2023 9:16 am

| 12 COMMENTS

| Highland Park | How to help | West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

From the Highland Park Elementary PTA:

Highland Park Elementary needs our support more than ever to raise 200K to add a classroom teacher and fund the Youth Services Assistant. This is a direct ask of our Highland Park Staff to support our school the way they see best fit.
Please share this Go Fund Me with anyone you know!

https://gofund.me/ee5640ff

The 150k is not just the salary, it includes the benefits of the teacher.

The Youth Service Assistant helps with social emotional support/development at HPE full time and our current HPE budget can only afford half time for this position; we want to raise the funds to have this support all the time for our growing students.

Even a small donation could help Highland Park PTA reach our fundraising goal. And if you can’t make a donation, it would be great if you could share the fundraiser to help spread the word.

More information can be found on our website or send us an email if you would like your company to match your donation. hpemustang@gmail.com

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TRAFFIC, TRANSIT, WEATHER: Friday notes + weekend alerts

March 24, 2023 6:02 am

| Comments Off on TRAFFIC, TRANSIT, WEATHER: Friday notes + weekend alerts

| West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

6:02 AM: Good morning! It’s Friday, March 24th.

WEATHER & SUNRISE/SUNSET TIMES

The forecast for today: Mostly cloudy, chance of showers, breezy, high around 50. Sunrise 7:04 am, sunset 7:28 pm.

WEEKEND ALERTS

–WSDOT says that you’ll want to avoid Highway 509 northbound at the 1st Ave S Bridge on Saturday morning – 7 am-1 pm, 2 right lanes will be closed for grid-deck repairs.

–SDOT is expected to continue work that began last weekend east of the West Seattle low bridge.

TRANSIT

Metro – First week continues 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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