West Seattle, Washington

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month : 04/2023 304 results

FOLLOWUP: West Seattle’s Cettolin House recommended for designation as city landmark
April 19, 2023 9:16 pm
|      22 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle history | West Seattle news

(Photo from slideshow prepared for today’s meeting)

Pending final city approval, West Seattle will have another city landmark. This afternoon, the Seattle Landmarks Preservation Board voted unanimously to recommend giving landmark status to the Cettolin House, 4022 32nd SW [map]. The house was built in the ’20s and ’30s by Italian immigrant Fausto Cettolin, inspired by the architecture of his homeland. He worked as a steelworker at the nearby mill and spent decades working on the home and grounds in his off-hours. He and wife Erma Cettolin raised six children there, the youngest of whom, Virginia, attended today’s hearing.

There wasn’t much discussion; it was largely a recap of what led to the board’s also-unanimous vote last month to consider the designation. Historic-resource consultant David Peterson recapped his extensive nomination document, which details the history not only of the house but also of the neighborhood. (See a shorter slideshow here.) Board members said mostly that they concurred with the staff recommendation that the house and its grounds merited designation, for the same reasons they previously supported advancing its nomination for consideration.

Though it was not a topic at the board meeting, it’s been noted – including by its current owners, who sought the designation – that the Cettolin House is potentially in the path of West Seattle light rail. City landmark status does not necessarily protect a building from demolition. We’re asked Sound Transit how they deal with historic landmarks; while promising a more specific answer, they pointed us to this section of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the West Seattle/Ballard Link Extensions project, which talks in general about “mitigation” if “historic resources” are affected, adding, “Designated Seattle landmarks and districts that would be directly modified would be subject to review and issuance of a certificate of approval from the Landmarks Board and/or District Review Boards.”

NEXT STEPS: Finalization of the Cettolin House’s landmark designation requires a City Council vote approving the “controls and incentives” that will be worked out for it.

SIDE NOTES: Before this, West Seattle’s most-recent landmark designations include two mixed-use buildings in the heart of the West Seattle Junction, the Campbell Building (northeast corner of California/Alaska) in 2017 and the Hamm Building (northwest corner of California/Alaska) in 2018. When the designation is finalized, the Cettolin House will be one of a handful of West Seattle private homes with landmark status, including the Beach Drive “Painted Lady,” the Hainsworth House, and the Bloss House. (Here’s the full city list of landmarks.)

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YOU CAN HELP: Benefit bookfair for Tilden School
April 19, 2023 7:07 pm
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   How to help | West Seattle news

Book purchase in your future? Through Sunday, do it at Paper Boat Booksellers (6040 California SW) and you can not only be supporting a local independent business, but also be supporting local independent Tilden School (WSB sponsor). Here’s their announcement:

Paper Boat Booksellers is hosting a book fair / fundraising event for Tilden School this week until Sunday, April 23. Selected books earmarked for the school library will be available for purchase in a designated section and held at Paper Boat. For all other purchases, mention “Tilden” at checkout to ensure a portion of the purchase price will go toward additional purchases for the Tilden library!

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CONGRATULATIONS! Easy Street, Papa Tony’s, The Mount, Claiborne Bell win Westside Awards
April 19, 2023 4:59 pm
|      8 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news | West Seattle people

Congratulations to the winners of this year’s Westside Awards, announced this afternoon by the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce:

Annually, the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce presents the Westside Awards honoring three local businesses and one individual who demonstrates results-oriented leadership, a cornerstone of a thriving economic region. We received an outpouring of nominations from the community for the 2023 Westside Awards and this year’s winners are:

Westside Business of the Year: Easy Street Records

Westside Emerging Business of the Year: Papa Tony’s Hot Sauce

Westside Not-for-Profit of the Year: Providence Mount St. Vincent

Westsider of the Year: Claiborne Bell

We will be honoring this year’s winners and nominees at the Annual Westside Awards Breakfast on Tuesday, May 16th, 2023, 7:30 am-9 am, at The Brockey Center at South Seattle College. Please join us for networking, a delicious buffet breakfast, recognition of all the nominees and to hear directly from this year’s winners. Early Bird Pricing for tickets is $55/person – Early Bird Pricing in effect through April 29th, and $65/person – April 30th or later. The deadline for purchasing tickets is Wednesday, May 4th at midnight. Get your tickets at wschamber.com.

You can see all of this year’s nominees listed in the full announcement, here.

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CONGRATULATIONS! Young mom chosen Rotary Club of West Seattle’s Student of the Semester
April 19, 2023 4:09 pm
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   Rotary Club of West Seattle | West Seattle news

(Photos courtesy Rotary Club of West Seattle)

The Rotary Club of West Seattle continues honoring local students for their achievements, and with this announcement, points out that honors go to students in alternative programs as well as conventional high-school paths:

Twice during this school year 2022-23, Fall and Spring, the West Seattle Rotary has presented a Student of the Semester (SoS) Award to a student chosen by the Southwest Youth and Family Services (SWYFS) GED Prep Program. These are outstanding students who are expected to earn their GED by the end of the school year and go on to an accredited post-secondary program.

They receive an award certificate, $100, and a chance to be chosen as the SWYFS GED Prep Student of the Year (SoY). The SoY winner will receive a $2,000 scholarship from West Seattle Rotary during a ceremony on June 13th. On April 11th, West Seattle Rotarian Alan Mitchell presented the Spring SoS award to Jessica Delker during the Club’s lunchtime meeting at the West Seattle Golf Course. She was introduced by Case Manager Amanda Alvarado and presented a brief, highly evocative bio.

Jessica was also accompanied by her 11-month-old son Joel (above), her mother, and her partner.

Jessica exemplifies the high potential of teenagers and young adults who are enabled by SWYFS to follow an unconventional pathway to a high-school degree, college, and career, despite daunting life circumstances. West Seattle Rotary worked with Amanda and other leaders in the SWYFS GED Prep Program to tailor the SoS and SoY awards for its students’ special needs.

You can read more about the SWYFS – based in North Delridge – education programs here.

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City Attorney Ann Davison to speak at Alki Community Council on Thursday
April 19, 2023 2:04 pm
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   Neighborhoods | West Seattle news

Now in the second year of her term, Seattle City Attorney Ann Davison has been working on some major initiatives – from dealing with “high utilizers” to suing the carmakers whose vehicles have become frequent targets of thieves. Has her office’s work made a difference for neighborhoods? You can hear from her firsthand during Thursday night’s Alki Community Council meeting, in person at Alki UCC (6115 SW Hinds) or online. You can RSVP here; video/phone attendance info is in our calendar listing. (Photo: Davison at SW Crime Prevention Council last November)

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VIDEO: Meteor over West Seattle, caught on camera
April 19, 2023 12:08 pm
|      11 COMMENTS
 |   Skies Over West Seattle | West Seattle news

Thanks to Kevin Freitas for sharing the video from last night – a meteor fireball streaking across the sky, seen on his sky-watching setup near The Mount. The American Meteor Society‘s page for this “event” shows dozens of reports around the region. (If you ever see one, here’s how to report it.) Kevin describes his setup as a “modified Wyze v3 cam” atop the roof of his home.

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ORCAS: Whales off West Seattle
April 19, 2023 10:47 am
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | Whales

10:47 AM: Thanks to Kersti Muul for the tip. Orcas are in our area again – northbound in Elliott Bay shipping lanes, at last report. Whether these are transients or southern residents, that’s not known yet. Let us know if you see them!

11:35 AM: Update from Kersti, after she posted in comments that they were southbound – Washington State Ferries’ M/V Kittitas reports it’s seeing “at least two adult females and two juvenile orcas” right in front of the Fauntleroy dock.

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UPDATE: Repaving on SW Alaska
April 19, 2023 10:27 am
|      45 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

10:27 AM: Thanks for the tips about a traffic backup in the heart of The Junction. We went down to check it out and found the reason – repaving work in the outside westbound lane of SW Alaska between 42nd and California. An officer is there directing traffic. We’re checking with SDOT about project details.

3:26 PM: SDOT tells WSB this one lane on one block was all they were doing, and that it should be finished this afternoon – indeed, the traffic cam shows (framegrab above) that it is.

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Morgan Community Association and more for the rest of your Wednesday
April 19, 2023 10:17 am
|    Comments Off on Morgan Community Association and more for the rest of your Wednesday
 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Photo by Jerry Simmons – taken last week near Charlestown/41st)

Highlights of the hours ahead, mostly from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:

LANDMARKS BOARD HEARING: As previewed here, 3:30 pm online or in-person at City Hall downtown, the city Landmarks Preservation Board considers whether to recommend designation of the Cettolin House in West Seattle as a city landmark. Attendance/commenting info is in the agenda.

FREE INDOOR PLAYSPACE: Ages 2-6 welcome to drop in and play, weekday afternoons at the Salvation Army Center (9050 16th SW), 3:30-5 pm.

FIX-IT WORKSHOP: Don’t toss it – fix it! Weekly event, 5:30-7:30 pm at West Seattle Tool Library (4408 Delridge Way SW, northeast side of Youngstown Cultural Arts Center).

TRIVIA x 6: Here’s where to play tonight. At 6 pm, Locust Cider (2820 Alki SW) now offers trivia … at 7 pm, you can play trivia at the West Seattle Brewing Mothership (4415 Fauntleroy Way SW); Larry’s Tavern (3405 California SW) hosts Wednesday-night trivia starting at 8 pm; there’s 7:30 and 8:30 pm Sporcle Pub Quiz at The Lodge (4209 SW Alaska); trivia starts at 8 pm at Beveridge Place Pub (6413 California SW); at 8:30 pm, trivia at Talarico’s (4718 California SW).

LIVE MUSIC AT THE LOCOL: 6:30 pm. 21+. Rotating performer slate. (7902 35th SW)

MORGAN COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION: Live, work, shop, study in Morgan Junction? Get community updates at MoCA’s quarterly meeting, online, 7 pm – attendance link and agenda highlights are in our calendar listing.

MUSIC BINGO: Play weekly at The Good Society (California/Lander), 7 pm.

SKYLARK OPEN MIC: 7:30 pm signups @ West Seattle’s longest-running open mic – no cover to watch. (3803 Delridge Way SW)

KARAOKE AT BENBOW ROOM: 9 pm-2 am – info in our calendar listing. (4210 SW Admiral Way)

Planning an event – presentation, meeting, performance, reading, tour, fundraiser, sale, discussion, or … – that could be featured on West Seattle’s only comprehensive event calendar? Tell us about it! Please email info to westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!

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5 speakers announced for Southwest Seattle Historical Society’s spring celebration
April 19, 2023 9:29 am
|      1 COMMENT
 |   How to help | West Seattle history | West Seattle news

Got your ticket(s) yet for the Southwest Seattle Historical Society‘s May 5th celebration? SWSHS has announced five women as the spotlight speakers:

West Seattle is thriving – and not just because the bridge has reopened. It is also because of community leaders and their ability to foster meaningful connections, forge strong coalitions, and work together to promote the well-being of all who call the Duwamish Peninsula home.

On Friday, May 5th the Southwest Seattle Historical Society will celebrate those who are making lasting impacts across West Seattle. Guest speakers from organizations across the Peninsula are the highlight of the 2023 Spring Gala – Celebrating Connections, Together We Thrive.

The event takes place at Salty’s on Alki from 6 – 8:30pm, will feature music from the Chief Sealth International High School Jazz Ensemble, will open with a blessing from Duwamish Tribal Councilman, Ken Workman, and of course, feature Salty’s food and a cash bar with Cinco de Mayo themed margaritas.

“We hope our guests enjoy the opportunity to visit with each other and our speakers throughout the event, to celebrate and create new connections,” said Elizabeth Rudrud, the Historical Society’s Programs and Outreach Director. “It is also an opportunity to have fun, bid on unique West Seattle experiences during our live auction, and support the Log House Museum and the Southwest Seattle Historical Society.”

The Spring Gala is the organization’s biggest fundraiser of the year. Funds go to operational costs, programs and collecting and preserving local history. “The event is open to everyone and we think this is a great opportunity for our neighbors across the Peninsula to learn more about what we are doing and why it matters.” An online auction will be held in advance of the Gala on May 1 – 4.

The event is designed to be a social mixer but also features a program with community leaders who serve diverse communities from Alki Beach, the Junction, Delridge, Highpoint and South Park. The historical society announced its speakers this week. Full bios of the speakers, and registration information for the Gala and online auction can be found at www.loghousemuseum.org.

Southwest Seattle Historical Society Spring Gala Guest Speakers Include:

Stacy Bass-Wolden, co-founder of Alki Beach Pride. Alki Beach Pride has a mission is to unite Seattle’s LGBTQ+ community and celebrate Queer culture in a dignified way that acknowledges the intersection of race.

Joanna Florer, West Duwamish Greenbelt Trails Group. The West Duwamish Greenbelt Trails Group is a community-based organization with a mission to create a larger Duwamish Peninsula trail system, with a spur to the Duwamish Longhouse and Cultural Center, focused on native species restoration, serving the hiking and walking community with space for other uses.

Mesha Florentino is co-director of Housing and Finance for the Delridge Neighborhoods Development Association. DNDA is a non‐profit organization devoted to social, racial and environmental justice dedicated to preserving and increasing affordable housing for a range of incomes, enhancing the natural environment, and providing such vital resources as arts and cultural opportunities, education and youth programs for our neighbors.

Rosa Lopez, organizer, Reconnect South Park. Reconnect South Park is a grassroots coalition that wants to remove the segment of SR-99 that cuts through South Park and create a land trust to ensure the 40 acres it will free up are developed equitably.

Christine Mackay, Executive Director, West Seattle Junction Association. The West Seattle Junction Association is a nonprofit which produces community events throughout the year including Art Walk, Wine Walk, Summer Fest, Outdoor Movies, Harvest Festival, and Hometown Holidays. The Junction helps to keep the streets of the Junction safe, clean and beautiful.

Here’s the direct link for tickets.

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TRAFFIC, TRANSIT, WEATHER: Wednesday morning
April 19, 2023 6:03 am
|    Comments Off on TRAFFIC, TRANSIT, WEATHER: Wednesday morning
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

6:03 AM: Good morning! It’s Wednesday, April 19th.

WEATHER & SUNRISE/SUNSET TIMES

The forecast for today: Similar to the past few days – showers, chance of pm thunderstorms, high around 50. Sunrise 6:13 am, sunset 8:05 pm.

SCHOOL STREET

Today’s the day that SW Lander between California and 45th is scheduled to start the “School Street” test – explained here.

TRANSIT

Metro – Regular schedule, but trip cancellations are still happening, so watch for alerts (if you’re not signed up to get them, check channels like this).

Water Taxi – Now on the spring/summer schedule, which adds Friday/Saturday late-night runs starting this week.

Washington State Ferries‘ Triangle Route continues on the 2-boat schedule; check here for alerts/updates and see Vessel Watch for boats’ locations. The Seattle-Bremerton run has a smaller boat because of the weekend Walla Walla incident, so that might mean some spillover to the Fauntleroy-Southworth run.

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). Thank you!

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WEDNESDAY: Will West Seattle’s Cettolin House be designated as a city landmark?
April 18, 2023 9:04 pm
|      24 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle history | West Seattle news

(Photo from landmark-nomination packet)

A month and a half after deciding to consider city-landmark status for the Cettolin House in West Seattle, the city Landmarks Preservation Board is expected to decide tomorrow (Wednesday, April 19th) whether to recommend designating it as a landmark. The 3:30 pm meeting is open, with public comment, at City Hall or online; here’s the agenda, which explains how to access the meeting and how to sign up to comment. The Cettolin House at 4022 32nd SW was built by steelworker Fausto Cettolin on nights and weekends between 1926 and 1939; he and wife Erma Cettolin, Italian immigrants, raised six children in the house, and died three years apart in the 1960s. The staff report for tomorrow’s meeting suggests that the site and exterior of the house meet three standards for landmark designation:

C. It is associated in a significant way with a significant aspect of the cultural, political, or economic heritage of the community, City, state or nation.

D. It embodies the distinctive visible characteristics of an architectural style, or period, or a method of construction.

E. It is an outstanding work of a designer or builder.

You can see images of its exterior and interior in this presentation for tomorrow’s meeting, and read about its history (with a hefty helping of West Seattle history) in the nomination document. For a shorter summary, see this Seattle Now & Then story by West Seattle journalist/historian Clay Eals, published last October.

WEDNESDAY 5:08 PM UPDATE: The designation was approved unanimously. Separate story this evening.

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WEST SEATTLE SCENE: 2 ways to help keep Fauntleroy Fall Festival free
April 18, 2023 7:29 pm
|    Comments Off on WEST SEATTLE SCENE: 2 ways to help keep Fauntleroy Fall Festival free
 |   Fauntleroy | How to help | West Seattle news

Fans of the Fauntleroy Fall Festival, you still have more than two hours to be part of a major fundraiser that helps keep the festival free for all. It’s happening at Endolyne Joe’s (9261 45th SW) and you have two ways to support the festival there right now – until 9 pm you can buy tickets for the gift-basket raffle, and/or you can dine/drink before Joe’s closes at 10 pm, and part of the proceeds will go to the festival.

The gift baskets span a variety of interests, from cooking to gardening to sports and more.

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WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Bank robbery in The Junction
April 18, 2023 5:42 pm
|      6 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | West Seattle news

Police are in The Junction looking for a bank robber. Sound Credit Union (4730 California SW) was hit about half an hour ago. The robber was initially described to officers as a white man in his 20s, 5’6″, medium build, wearing sunglasses, black sweatshirt, blue jeans, and red gloves, plus a backpack, last seen leaving on foot southbound. This is the second time that Sound Credit Union branch has been robbed this year; the first was in February, and according to archived police audio, employees told officers it might be the same robber this time.

This is the fourth Junction bank robbery of the year; the previous Sound CU holdup was preceded by two holdups at HomeStreet Bank (WSB sponsor) and at WaFD, two consecutive days in late January. … If you have any information on today’s robbery, the SPD incident # is 23-104784.

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West Seattle Water Taxi is now on spring/summer schedule. Will it revert to weekdays-only this fall?
April 18, 2023 4:21 pm
|    Comments Off on West Seattle Water Taxi is now on spring/summer schedule. Will it revert to weekdays-only this fall?
 |   King County Water Taxi | West Seattle news

As of this week, the West Seattle Water Taxi is on its spring/summer schedule. Since it continued seven-days-a-week service through the fall and winter, the only change is that it’s running Friday and Saturday nights too. In pre-pandemic times, the foot ferry cut back to weekdays only in the cooler months; seven-day service was facilitated by county funding this year, but city funding in 2021-2022, during the West Seattle Bridge closure. So we asked Metro today what the plan is for next fall/winter, since the current schedule is posted as ending on Friday, October 13th. Short answer: They don’t know yet. Long answer, from spokesperson Al Sanders: “Metro is currently evaluating the ridership from this winter and comparing it to last year when the bridge was closed. Once we have reviewed this information, we will be able to better determine what next winter’s Water Taxi schedule will be.”

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ALSO RETURNING: Admiral Neighborhood Association’s summer concerts
April 18, 2023 2:11 pm
|      6 COMMENTS
 |   Neighborhoods | West Seattle news | WS culture/arts

If you’ve read our coverage of Admiral Neighborhood Association meetings – and/or attended them – you know ANA has been resolute in reviving the group’s long-running summer-concert series, even though its past venue, the back lawn of Hiawatha Community Center, is unavailable. Most recently, ANA was zeroing in on the Lafayette Elementary School playground as a site, and has announced today that three concerts will be held there, on Thursday nights as in the past, July 13th, 20th, and 27th. Performers and other details are forthcoming. If you have questions, a good place to bring them would be ANA’s next general meeting, 7 pm May 9th at Admiral Church (4320 SW Hill). ANA says the agenda that night also will include a long-sought guest appearance by a Seattle Parks official with an update on Hiawatha’s upcoming projects.

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RETURNING: South Delridge Farmers’ Market goes weekly this year
April 18, 2023 11:56 am
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   Delridge | West Seattle news

(WSB photo, July 2022)

As we continue to look ahead to the big warm-season events, organizers of the South Delridge Farmers’ Market have announced that it will be back for a third year, with an expanded schedule – every Saturday from May 20th to October 28th, 10 am-2 pm. Last year, the market operated twice monthly, and it was once a month in its first year. The location will be the same – the grounds of Hope Academy, 9421 18th SW. From the announcement:

The Delridge Farmers Market is run by African Community Housing & Development, a local Black-women-led nonprofit organization that focuses on promoting prosperity for African Diaspora immigrant and refugee communities. The market was inspired by African Diaspora youth and to this day they remain a priority at the market, and this year youth from African Community Housing & Development’s education programs designed the poster and will be present at the ribbon cutting for opening day. The Delridge Farmers Market also prides itself on accepting and promoting food access methods like SNAP/EBT and more and offers ACHD Kid Bucks ($5) for every kid that comes to the market to spend on food.

Some of the vendors who have participated in the past are showcased on the market’s webpage.

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Fall Festival fundraiser, Camp 2nd Chance meeting, Toastmasters, more for your West Seattle Tuesday
April 18, 2023 10:17 am
|      1 COMMENT
 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Spring flowers, photographed by Arlene Rubin)

Lots happening as Tuesday continues! Mostly from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:

SUMMER CAMP REGISTRATION OPENS: Online signups for Seattle Parks camps start today.

FAUNTLEROY FALL FESTIVAL FUNDRAISER: Until 10 pm tonight, dine/drink at Endolyne Joe’s (9261 45th SW) and part of the proceeds will help cover the costs for the Fauntleroy Fall Festival (always free to attend). 5-9 pm, you can also buy gift-basket raffle tickets from festival volunteers at the restaurant, whether you’re dining or not!

POSTCARDS TO VOTERS: Long-distance political networking continues 10:30 am at C & P Coffee Company (5612 California SW; WSB sponsor).

CIVIC COFFEE HOUR: 12:30 pm-2:15 pm at Senior Center of West Seattle (4217 SW Oregon) – info 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.” (Questions? Email 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: Free toddler/preschooler gym, ages 2-6, weekday afternoons at the Salvation Army Center (9050 16th SW), 3:30-5 pm.

SPORTS: Chief Sealth IHS hosts Roosevelt in two sports at Nino Cantu Southwest Athletic Complex (2801 SW Thistle) at 4 pm today – softball and boys’ soccer.

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.

CAMP SECOND CHANCE COMMUNITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE: Questions, comments, concerns about West Seattle’s only tiny-house encampment? Attend this online meeting, 6 pm – here’s the link (Passcode: 245935)

=SCRABBLE NIGHT: 6-10 pm, you can play Scrabble at The Missing Piece (9456 35th SW).

TOASTMASTERS 832: Join the online meeting at 6:30 pm to work on your speaking skills!

OPEN MIC: 7 pm at Otter on the Rocks (4210 SW Admiral Way).

TRIVIA X 3: Three places 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!

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Celebration of Life planned May 6 for Keith Grayson, 1947-2023
April 18, 2023 9:00 am
|      26 COMMENTS
 |   Obituaries | West Seattle news

Family and friends will gather next month to celebrate the life of Keith Grayson. Here’s the remembrance they are sharing with the community now:

Keith Grayson, beloved husband, father, and grandfather, passed away on March 30, 2023.

He is survived by his wife Helen, his two children Matthew and Heather, and four grandchildren – as well as three brothers and their families.

Keith was well known in the West Seattle community as a football and baseball coach, owner of the Classic Barber Shop for over three decades, and as a lifetime resident. He loved fishing and watching the Washington Huskies play football, in addition to spending time with his family.

His Celebration of Life will be held on May 6th at noon at the Junction Church in West Seattle, followed by a reception at the West Seattle Eagles from 1:30 – 4:30 pm. Donations may be made to the Junction Church in lieu of flowers. He will be greatly missed.

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

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TRAFFIC, TRANSIT, WEATHER: Tuesday notes, including Highland Park crash
April 18, 2023 6:01 am
|      5 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

9:35 AM: Police are checking out a reported collision at 11th/Holden.

9:59 AM: Thanks to the texter who sent this photo from that scene:

10:50 AM: Commenters say a second vehicle was involved but had been removed before the photos we received, including this one from Kay:

No SFD dispatch, so apparently no injuries of note were reported.

Earlier:

6:01 AM: Good morning! It’s Tuesday, April 18th.

WEATHER & SUNRISE/SUNSET TIMES

The forecast for today: Showers, chance of pm thunderstorms, breezy, high around 50. Sunrise 6:15 am, sunset 8:03 pm.

TRANSIT

Metro – Regular schedule, but trip cancellations are still happening, so watch for alerts (if you’re not signed up to get them, check channels like this).

Water Taxi – Now on the spring/summer schedule, which adds Friday/Saturday late-night runs.

Washington State Ferries‘ Triangle Route continues on the 2-boat schedule; check here for alerts/updates and see Vessel Watch for boats’ locations. The Seattle-Bremerton run has a smaller boat because of the weekend Walla Walla incident, so that might mean some spillover to the Fauntleroy-Southworth run.

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). Thank you!

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UPDATE: Kayaker rescued off Alki Point
April 18, 2023 1:07 am
|      20 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | WS breaking news

1:07 AM: An SFD water-rescue response and SPD units are headed for the Alki Point vicinity, and dispatch is describing the incident as a possible disturbance on a boat. Updates to come.

1:14 AM: First units arriving in the area aren’t seeing anything so far.

1:21 AM: A fireboat has located “a patient” offshore and has them onboard. They’ll be taking the person to Seacrest. Dispatch is describing the person as “a kayaker that was in distress.”

1:31 PM: SFD says the kayaker is unhurt. Both they and their kayak are on board the fireboat.

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Will captive Southern Resident orca Lolita/Tokitae come home?
April 17, 2023 11:53 pm
|      10 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | Whales

(WSB photo – 2017 Alki march supporting freedom for Lolita)

It’s been two and a half weeks since news that the last surviving Southern Resident Killer Whale from the captures half a century ago might be able to come home after all. But will a homecoming really happen for the 57-year-old orca Lolita/Tokitae? As this report from Florida explores, there’s some controversy and confusion on that side of the country, and even if plans can be worked out, the whale’s move could be years away. In today’s Seattle Times, West Seattle-based The Whale Trail executive director Donna Sandstrom writes about lessons learned in an orca reunion with which she was involved, that of Springer, the Northern Resident orca who got lost down here. We had asked Sandstrom recently for her thoughts on the Lolita/Tokitae announcement, and here’s what she told us:

The big news in the recent release is that the Miami Seaquarium is on board, and they have found a committed funder. However, returning an orca is not as simple as the stories make it sound. Having secured these major commitments, I’d encourage the organizers to take the next most critical step and start talking with NOAA.

Based on my experience working on the Lolita project in the mid-1990s, and as a community organizer on the successful effort to return Springer to her pod in 2002, here are some things to consider.

1. If Lolita is going to be moved to a net pen in Puget Sound, NOAA Fisheries will be the decision-maker, and have ultimate authority and responsibility for the project, in consultation with other key stakeholders like Washington State and Fisheries and Oceans Canada.

2. Before permitting a reintroduction or relocation to a new facility such as a net pen, NOAA and their teams will consider the benefits compared to the risk – for Lolita, for her endangered family, and for the marine ecosystem here. It’s a complex set of conditions with no easy answers. For example:

-How healthy is Lolita? Will she be able to survive the stress of the relocation, and re-adapt to life in Puget Sound?

-The southern resident orcas are critically endangered. The organizers propose to put Lolita in an open-sided net pen in Puget Sound. What is the risk of disease transmission between them and Lolita, and vice versa? Or between Lolita and other marine mammals?

-In 2017 a net pen catastrophically collapsed in Puget Sound, not far from where they propose to put Lolita. As the impacts of global warming accelerate, including increasing high tides and severe storms, how can the structural integrity of the pen, and Lolita’s safety, be ensured for as long as she might live?

-If a reintroduction is not possible, and she is “retired” permanently to a net pen in SRKW range, what would it do to her to be able to hear her family and not join them? What would that do to her family (L pod)?

For Springer, NOAA determined that there was a high likelihood of success and that it was a risk worth taking. I am not sure where that analysis will land for Lolita. But it is in everyone’s best interest – especially Lolita’s – to get that conversation going.

The federal agency made one key ruling on Lolita/Tokitae’s behalf eight years ago – ruling that she would be included in the listing of the Southern Resident Killer Whales as endangered. That announcement noted that “any future plan to move or release Lolita would require a permit from NOAA Fisheries and would undergo rigorous scientific review.”

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From the dumped-likely-stolen file: Husqvarna motorcycle, Roadmaster bicycle found
April 17, 2023 8:01 pm
|    Comments Off on From the dumped-likely-stolen file: Husqvarna motorcycle, Roadmaster bicycle found
 |   Crime | Found bicycles | West Seattle news

Two readers reported finding these abandoned in parks:

MOTORCYCLE: This report is from Matthew:

Found: 2010 or 2011 red and white Husqvarna motorcycle in Pigeon Point Park on Friday morning about 8:30 am.

If it’s yours, or you think you know the owner, contact us – westseattleblog@gmail.com – and we’ll connect you. Same goes for this:

BICYCLE: Sarah found this bike in Lincoln Park:

Thanks to everyone who has helped reunite people with stolen/lost items, big and small!

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