West Seattle, Washington

09 Saturday

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month : 04/2023 304 results

WEST SEATTLE WEEKEND SCENE: Duwamish Alive! volunteering
April 15, 2023 4:54 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   Environment | West Seattle news | West Seattle parks

Just two days after serving as the backdrop for a state/local environmental announcement, Roxhill Park got some TLC as part of today’s Duwamish Alive! twice-yearly multi-site volunteer restoration work.

DNDA‘s Nature Team organized today’s event. The park’s endangered bog is the site of the historic headwaters of Longfellow Creek, which connects to the Duwamish River. Other sites where volunteers worked today ranged from the river itself – with a kayak-patrol cleanup – to lower reaches of the watershed in south King County.

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UPDATE: RV fire in Delridge
April 15, 2023 2:42 pm
|      11 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle fires | West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

2:42 PM: SFD is asking for SPD traffic assistance in connection with what the dispatcher described as an “RV fire” in the 2200 block of SW Holden, which is just west of Delridge. We’re on our way to check it out; avoid the area in the meantime.

3:02 PM: Thanks to Shane for the photo above – our crew has had trouble finding the scene because it’s actually a block south of Holden. Our crew has since arrived and reports no one was hurt; police have asked dispatch to call for a tow truck. Here’s our photo of the aftermath:

3:16 PM: We’ll be checking with SFD regarding the cause; apparently not suspicious, as they did not send their investigator, and the call is completely closed. Here’s video Laurel recorded from a nearby apartment before SFD arrived.

4:36 PM: We asked Laurel if the RV had been in that spot a while; she said no, it wasn’t there even as of 1 pm today.

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WEST SEATTLE WEEKEND SCENE: Plant giveaway, art market, stewardship @ The Heron’s Nest
April 15, 2023 12:39 pm
|    Comments Off on WEST SEATTLE WEEKEND SCENE: Plant giveaway, art market, stewardship @ The Heron’s Nest
 |   Gardening | How to help | West Seattle news

One of the 28 highlights on today’s West Seattle event list is continuing until 4 pm – the Giving Gardens plant giveaway at The Heron’s Nest. As explained in this preview, these are edible-plant starts, grown by volunteers; your part of the deal is to take them home, plant them, and donate produce to people in need.

Heron’s Nest Sprouts is not the only volunteer-powered project at The Heron’s Nest today – youth volunteers are focused on a drainage-related project today, as site restoration continues:

(You’re invited to Volunteer Land Stewardship events like this most Saturdays and Mondays – check this calendar.) One more reason to visit – one of The Heron’s Nest’s periodic outdoor markets is happening until 5 pm:

If you’ve never been to The Heron’s Nest (featured in this 2021 WSB report), it’s just uphill from West Marginal Way, south of the Duwamish Tribe Longhouse – here’s a map.

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Gift-giving ahead? Fundraiser offers flowers and chocolates
April 15, 2023 11:19 am
|      1 COMMENT
 |   How to help | West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

If you’re looking ahead to gift-giving for your mother and/or “special other” next month, Hope Lutheran School wants you to know about this fundraiser for their 7th- and 8th-graders’ East Coast trip:

It’s never too early to start planning for your Mother’s and Special Other’s Day [May 14th]! Why not take the guesswork out of the perfect gift? Show your appreciation to the special women in your lives and help Hope students at the same time!

Hope Lutheran School is partnering with local businesses Bakery Nouveau and Market vendor, Friendly Hmong Farms, to offer chocolates and flowers for Mother’s Day! Delivery available within West Seattle!

Click the link: form.jotform.com/230777727637166

Deadline for orders is April 27th.

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28 notes for your West Seattle Saturday!
April 15, 2023 6:21 am
|      5 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Photo by Theresa Arbow-O’Connor)

No reason to be bored today – abundant activities, morning through night. Plus some FYIs too:

TRANSPORTATION NOTES: No West Seattle Water Taxi this weekend … Possible road work on the West Marginal Way SW protected bike lane if the weather is dry.

WEST SEATTLE RUNNER 13TH ANNIVERSARY: The celebration continues at West Seattle Runner (2743 California SW; WSB sponsor) all weekend, with an 8 am group run to demo Altra shoes (treats afterward) and an anniversary sale. The shop is open today 10 am-5 pm.

SOUTH SEATTLE COLLEGE GARDEN CENTER: 9:30 am-3:30 pm, the South Seattle College (WSB sponsor) Garden Center will be open for the first time this spring, selling a vast variety of student-grown plants. (6000 16th SW, north end of campus)

FREE PLANTS FOR GIVING GARDENS: As previewed here, between 10 am and 4 pm today, you can go to The Heron’s Nest (4818 Puget Way SW) and pick up free edible-plant starts if you’re ready to grow them and donate produce to the community. While you’re at The Heron’s Nest, check out today’s Art Market!

DUWAMISH ALIVE! 10 am-2 pm multi-site work party supporting the Duwamish River and its watershed. West Seattle volunteer sites are all fully booked, so this is an FYI that you might see volunteers out doing restoration work at your favorite park.

VOLUNTEER AT NANTES PARK: Here’s someplace you can just show up to help out today – 10 am-1 pm at Nantes Park (5062 SW Admiral Way), where the Seattle-Nantes Sister City Association is having the year’s first work party.

DOING GOOD IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD: West Seattle Nursery (5275 California SW) will host another session of its ongoing volunteer fair with visiting local organizations. 10 am-noon, A Cleaner Alki will be there, and you’ll find Block Drop supplies at WSN until 6 pm for your DIY-cleanup use.

SEATTLE CHINESE GARDEN: 10 am-5 pm, the garden’s centerpiece courtyard is open, while the rest of the garden’s grounds are accessible dawn to dusk. More info here. (5640 16th SW)

PERSONAL SAFETY CLASS: 10 am-noon online, SPD offers this free facilitated discussion/lecture about crime prevention and safety. Register here.

FAMILY STORY TIME: 10:15-10:45 am at High Point Library (3411 SW Raymond).

MORNING MUSIC: 10:30 am-noon at C & P Coffee (5612 California SW; WSB sponsor), Marco de Carvalho and Friends perform. Find out about Marco’s music here.

FREE WRITING GROUP: 10:30 am in West Seattle, registration required – see full details in our calendar listing.

FAMILY READING TIME: Every Saturday at 11 am at Paper Boat Booksellers (6040 California SW).

(added) BEACH VOLLEYBALL: Thanks for the tip in comments! The UW’s only home beach-volleyball tournament of the year is happening today (starting at 11:15 am) and Sunday (starting at 10 am) at Alki.

VIETNAMESE CULTURAL CENTER: The center is open to visitors noon-3 pm, as explained here. (2234 SW Orchard)

LOG HOUSE MUSEUM: You’re invited to visit the home of West Seattle’s history noon-4 pm Saturdays. (3003 61st SW)

APRIL POOLS DAY: 12:15 pm-1:15 pm, free water-safety education and fun activities for your family at Southwest Pool (2801 SW Thistle).

FREE STEERING-WHEEL LOCKS … for Kia/Hyundai owners at risk of theft, 1-3 pm at Southwest Precinct (2300 SW Webster) while supplies last.

VISCON CELLARS: 1-6 pm, visit the tasting room at Viscon Cellars (WSB sponsor) – selling wine by the glass or bottle. Learn about their wines here! (5910 California SW)

NORTHWEST WINE ACADEMY: Taste, sip, buy student-produced wine at South Seattle College (WSB sponsor; 6000 16th SW), 1-6 pm.

LEONARD’S ART SHOW: 12-year-old artist Leonard Jarvey showcases his creations at Paper Boat Booksellers (6040 California SW), 3-5 pm

LIVE AT THE SKYLARK: Doors 7 pm, show 8 pm, James Carr Band, The Jarrod Tyler Band, Mattlock and the Keys at The Skylark (3803 Delridge Way SW), $10 cover. 21+.

OPEN MIC AT THE SPOT: 7-10 pm, do your thing! (2920 SW Avalon Way)

NIGHTTIME COFFEEHOUSE MUSIC: 7 pm at C & P Coffee (5612 California SW; WSB sponsor), live music with Roo Forrest and Friends.

‘GYPSY JAZZ’ AT KENYON HALL: 7 pm doors, 7:30 pm show with Ranger and the Re-arrangers at Kenyon Hall (7904 35th SW).

BYRD ENSEMBLE: Chamber vocal music at Holy Rosary (4139 42nd SW), 7:30 pm, as the Byrd Ensemble performs “Prince of Music: Palestrina.” Our calendar listing has the program. Buy tickets online with code WESTSEATTLE30 and get a discount!

‘AFTER HOURS’ AT ARTSWEST: 7:30 pm:

Join us for the return of audience favorite AFTER HOURS with Mathew Wright! One part “Inside the Actors Studio” and one part cabaret, AFTER HOURS features performances from some of Seattle’s hottest musical theater artists in conversation and song with ArtsWest Artistic Director Mathew Wright at the piano. 4/15 – guests are Aaron Norman and Gloria Alcalá.

Get tickets here. (4711 California SW)

TIM’S TAVERN, THIRD WEEKEND: 8 pm show at the new Tim’s Tavern in White Center (16th/98th) – The Melody Round-Up w/The Rainieros // Johnny 7 and the Black Crabs // Slim Sandy and the Hillbilly Boppers (BC).

If you have a show, sale, event, meeting, seminar, reading, field trip, fundraiser, class, game, or ? for our calendar … please email info to westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!

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BIZNOTE: Morgan Junction McDonald’s closing for overhaul
April 14, 2023 10:32 pm
|      19 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news | West Seattle restaurants

Another West Seattle McDonald’s is closing for an overhaul. That sign, displayed on the doors and drive-thru menuboard at the Morgan Junction McDonald’s (6546 California SW), announces it’s closing after tonight. The sign doesn’t estimate how long the closure will last, but the person who tipped us to this says they spoke to some “VIPs” on the site who told them it would be about two months. The restaurant closed for a few weeks back in December, but permit filings indicated that mostly involved equipment upgrades. That’s most of the information visible regarding this closure too – the online summary says, “Remodel existing McDonald’s restaurant. Update mechanical systems and new kitchen hoods.” An earlier tip – which we weren’t able to confirm – said this remodel is expected to be “extensive.” Another area McDonald’s, the one at Westwood Village, recently reopened after a major overhaul.

SIDE NOTE: City permit files also show another remodel on the drawing board for the Admiral McDonald’s (3003 California SW), which was overhauled five years ago. This probably won’t start for a while as the early “pre-application” was just filed a week ago.

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UPDATE: Crash on Avalon Way
April 14, 2023 9:07 pm
|    Comments Off on UPDATE: Crash on Avalon Way
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

9:07 PM: Thanks for the texted tip and photo! Avoid the 3200 block of Avalon Way for a while – three vehicles are reported to be involved in a collision that’s partly blocking the road. No major injuries reported so far.

9:41 PM: Police have just told dispatch that the road has reopened all ways.

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WEEKEND PREVIEW: Byrd Ensemble returns to West Seattle on Saturday, with a ticket deal
April 14, 2023 8:48 pm
|    Comments Off on WEEKEND PREVIEW: Byrd Ensemble returns to West Seattle on Saturday, with a ticket deal
 |   West Seattle news | WS culture/arts

The acclaimed Byrd Ensemble is performing in West Seattle again Saturday night at Holy Rosary Catholic Church. This time, the chamber vocal ensemble’s concert is themed “Prince of Music: Palestrina.” Here’s the concert summary:

Palestrina was the outstanding composer of the late Renaissance in Europe. His long-lasting influence on the development of church music and counterpoint included his most famous mass setting, Missa Papae Marcelli, which served as a model for mass settings during the Counter-Reformation. The program also features music by two other leading contemporaries of Palestrina: Spanish Counter-Reformation composer and possible pupil of Palestrina, Tomás Luis de Victoria, and Franco-Flemish composer Orlando Lassus.

The full program and other information can be seen in our calendar listing. To get the word out, the Byrd Ensemble is advertising on WSB, and offering a deal if you use this code while getting tickets online: WESTSEATTLE30. The concert starts at 7:30 pm Saturday (April 15th); Holy Rosary is at 42nd/Genesee on the north side of The Junction.

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First West Seattle Junction Pride Fest planned, and two other new events on the way
April 14, 2023 6:15 pm
|      6 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle festivals | West Seattle news

(WSB photo, 2019)

Since 2019, the West Seattle Junction has put up Pride flags, but there’s been no accompanying festival. That’s about to change. This year, the Junction area will have its own Pride Fest, the result of a city grant program (mentioned here in February) that will help launch that and two other new events. Here’s the announcement from the Junction Association:

The West Seattle Junction Association has been working with the City of Seattle Office of Arts and Culture (ARTS) on a funding program for cultural activations in the Junction. With $56,950 to distribute, we requested proposals and convened a awards panel of West Seattle arts and business professionals. We saw many excellent proposals and wished we could have funded them all!

We are delighted to announce that funding was awarded for the three following projects:

West Seattle First Fridays, a dynamic art and retail experience beginning in May at Jet City Labs, with an emphasis on creating opportunities for BIPOC makers, artists and entrepreneurs.

Sounds from Around the World: two free community concert events produced by Urgent Africa – one all day in Junction Plaza Park on June 3, one in the Senior Center on May 31 – of live world music featuring at least 25 performing artists in total.

West Seattle Pride Fest: our community’s long overdue first Pride Fest, held throughout the West Seattle Junction on June 17, bringing the community together to celebrate LGBTQ Art and Culture with music, comedy, drag shows, and more.

We are looking forward to the continued revitalization of arts, culture, and community in the Junction!

We’re reaching out to the respective events’ organizers to find out more about the plans.

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FOLLOWUP: Highland Park’s new signal at 12th/Holden complete
April 14, 2023 4:07 pm
|      8 COMMENTS
 |   Highland Park | Safety | Transportation | West Seattle news

(SDOT photo)

We just heard from SDOT this afternoon that the new signal at 12th/Holden is complete and should be in operation by now:

We have installed two pedestrian crossing signals (slated to be activated today), curb ramps, and a crosswalk, and painted the roadway. This project provides another controlled crossing at SW Holden St for people walking or biking along 12th Ave SW. There will be “new signal ahead” signs to alert drivers of the new signal. This signal at 12th Ave SW is also intended to be part of the Highland Park/Riverview Neighborhood Greenway. Signage on this is to come at a future phase of work.

The flashing lights at 11th Ave SW and SW Holden St will remain.

The 11th/Holden beacon was originally planned for removal until community pushback.

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CRIME WATCH FOLLOWUP: Leticia Martinez-Cosman’s death confirmed; Prosecuting Attorney’s Office to file murder charge
April 14, 2023 1:03 pm
|      31 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | West Seattle news

1:03 PM: Two weeks after Leticia Martinez-Cosman vanished, last seen leaving a Mariners’ game with a man now in jail, the search for her is over.

It’s been confirmed that she is the person found dead in Renton after investigators went there this past Tuesday – the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office has just announced it plans to charge 46-year-old Brett M. Gitchel with second-degree murder for her death.

Gitchel is the man with whom she attended the Mariners’ game; he is already charged with kidnapping and trying to kill Ms. Martinez-Cosman’s 24-year-old special-needs son and then setting her car on fire hours later. A gun found in his car is the reason for another felony charge, as he is already a convicted felon and not supposed to possess one. In addition, as we first reported Wednesday, Gitchel is charged with committing a West Seattle burglary shown here in a Crime Watch reader report on March 28th.

Ms. Martinez-Cosman was known in West Seattle as owner of the Café Rozella coffee shop and community hub in South Delridge a decade ago. Checking the archives of our partner site White Center Now, we found this 2012 photo of her and her son, who had just achieved the honor roll at Madison Middle School:

Raising money for his future is the subject of crowdfunding. The newest page was set up by his uncle Ricardo Martinez; find it here.

Meantime, Gitchel remains in jail, bail set at $5,050,000, and is due in court to be arraigned April 24th. Information yet to be released includes the cause of Ms. Martinez-Cosman’s death.

2:57 PM: The Medical Examiner has just released that, saying she died by strangulation, and estimating the date of death as April 1st.

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ANNIVERSARY: Here’s how West Seattle Runner is celebrating 13 years
April 14, 2023 11:35 am
|      7 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news

(WSB photos)

By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

51,318 pairs of shoes.

That’s how many West Seattle Runner has sold in the past 13 years.

The total will certainly grow over the next three days, as West Seattle’s only running shop – a longtime WSB sponsor – celebrates its 13th anniversary with a sale and other events.

We visited the shop this week to talk with co-proprietors Tim and Lori McConnell, who we first met in February 2009, in an interview for this story about their plan to open the shop. At the time, they were not only working on their shop’s original space – at Charlestown Center, from which they moved to 2743 California SW six years later – but also inviting for name suggestions.

Read More

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11 options for your West Seattle Friday afternoon/evening
April 14, 2023 10:23 am
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Photo from this morning, by Linda McKelvey)

The weekend’s almost here!

WEST SEATTLE RUNNER ANNIVERSARY SALE & GROUP RUN: Help WSR (longtime WSB sponsor) celebrate 13 years in business! Sales and more. Group run tonight at 6:15 pm – you can demo Hoka shoes on your run, then come back to the shop for a Beer Junction Keg and Root Beer Social Hour, plus a raffle for a pair of Hoka shoes. (2743 California SW)

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

NORTHWEST WINE ACADEMY TASTING ROOM: 1-6 pm, open for visits at the north end of the South Seattle College (6000 16th SW; WSB sponsor) campus.

FREE INDOOR PLAYSPACE: 2-6-year-olds welcome 3:30-5 pm at the Salvation Army Center (9050 16th SW).

LIVE AT EASY STREET: Sandrider performs a free in-store concert at 6 pm tonight. (4559 California SW)

(added) DRY HEAT: Monthly alcohol-free “sober bar night” at BeBop Waffle Shop (California/Admiral), 6-9 pm.

COFFEEHOUSE MUSIC: Songwriters’ Showcase at C & P Coffee (5612 California SW; WSB sponsor), 7 pm.

MUSIC AT THE SPOT: 7 pm, teenage West Seattle band Geoducks perform at The Spot West Seattle (2920 SW Avalon Way).

KENYON HALL CABARET: 7 pm doors, 7:30 pm drag show at Kenyon Hall (7904 35th SW) – details in our calendar listing.

ACUPUNCTURE AND SOUND HEALING: 7:30-8:45 pm with Maari Falsetto at Move2Center (3618 SW Alaska), $45.

AT THE SKYLARK: Preacher’s Flask, Letters From Traffic, Trask, 8 pm. (3803 Delridge Way SW)

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

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Volunteers, vendors, performers sought for 2023 White Center Pride Block Party
April 14, 2023 9:13 am
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   How to help | West Seattle festivals | West Seattle news | White Center

(WSB/WCN photo, June 2022)

Again this year, White Center Pride is inviting neighbors far and wide to a daylong block party – this time set for noon to midnight June 3rd. WCP asked us to publish their call for volunteers, vendors, and performers:

White Center’s annual Pride Block Party is less than two months away! We are looking for volunteers, entertainers, and vendors to celebrate with us. On June 3rd , we will block off 16th Ave SW between Roxbury and SW 100 th St, and fill the street up with music, shows, wrestlers, local businesses, food and beer gardens, and our first ever kids area with the White Center Library’s book mobile, face painters, storytellers, and more.

Please visit our website at whitecenterpride.org/white-center-pride-festival to learn
more. We need volunteers to assist with all types of activities for the day. We are also looking for local businesses to help fill out the street with booths and food trucks. And finally, we want to put out the call for entertainers that want to celebrate our region’s LGBTQIA+ community. Any questions, feel free to email info@whitecenterpride.org. Thank you!

The White Center Pride Committee
501c3 Nonprofit

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TRAFFIC, TRANSIT, WEATHER: Friday morning
April 14, 2023 6:03 am
|    Comments Off on TRAFFIC, TRANSIT, WEATHER: Friday morning
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

6:03 AM: Good morning! It’s Friday, April 14th. final weekday of spring break for Seattle Public Schools and others.

WEATHER & SUNRISE/SUNSET TIMES

The forecast for today: Partly sunny, high in the mid-50s. Sunrise 6:23 am, sunset 7:58 pm.

TRANSIT

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

Water Taxi – Regular schedule. Reminder: Late-night Friday/Saturday trips resume April 21; to get ready, there will be no WSWT service this weekend (Saturday-Sunday, April 15-16).

Washington State Ferries‘ Triangle Route continues on the 2-boat schedule; 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). Thank you!

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VIDEO: Muse Fest weaves music into April’s West Seattle Art Walk
April 13, 2023 11:56 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   West Seattle Art Walk | West Seattle news | WS culture/arts

Eleven extra reasons to explore the West Seattle Art Walk tonight – mini-concerts at 11 venues as part of the second Muse Fest: The Power of Women’s Voices music festival. Above is Carly Ann Calbero, who performed at West Seattle Grounds in North Admiral; below is jean mann at Verity Credit Union (WSB sponsor) in The Junction:

Tonight’s venues stretched southward to Morgan Junction, where WSB contributor Jason Grotelueschen photographed the performers – first, Sue Quigley – who co-coordinated Muse Fest – at Beveridge Place Pub:

And almost-next-door at Zeeks Pizza, Katrina Kope:

Co-coordinator John Redenbaugh, who also produces The Art of Music, says those performances will be back on second Thursday Art Walk nights this June through December

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FOLLOWUP: Ex-Pegasus Pizza space up for lease
April 13, 2023 10:23 pm
|      27 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle restaurants

Four months after Pegasus Pizza was evicted from 2768 Alki Avenue SW, the space is being offered for lease. We’ve been keeping an eye out for this ever since the eviction and closure, and noticed tonight that the sign had gone up since our last pass through the area a few days earlier. At year’s end, we noted that a court filing indicated the eviction ruling would be appealed. but in March, the appeals court closed the case, saying followup documents due in January had never been filed. The space is listed for lease by Alki Property Management, the building owners who have their offices next to the ex-pizzeria.

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CRIME WATCH: North Seattle murder suspect arrested in West Seattle
April 13, 2023 9:15 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   Crime | Myers Way | West Seattle news

When the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office sends documents in major cases to its media list, we usually skim the non-West Seattle ones too, just in case there’s a local tie. And when we read the charging papers for the suspect in a recent North Seattle murder, we found one. 19-year-old Kajali A. Camara is charged with second-degree murder for the shooting death of 27-year-old Anthoni Orozco last week on the campus of Nathan Hale High School. The charging documents say Camara was arrested last Friday night – two nights after the murder – leaving the tiny-house encampment Camp Second Chance (9701 Myers Way S.). The documents don’t say why Camara was there, but police apparently had advance knowledge, as the narrative says SWAT officers were there and “observed Camara walk out of the property,” subsequently taking him into custody and removing an unloaded gun, described as a “Taurus 9mm semiautomatic pistol,” from his pants pocket. Police say it matched a photo provided by a witness to the murder, which prosecutors link to a confrontation with someone he had been dating. The gun had been reported stolen in Renton. Since the charging documents don’t explain what Camara was doing at Camp Second Chance or how police knew he was there, we took several questions to LIHI, the nonprofit that operates CSC and Seattle’s other tiny-house encampments. We got replies tonight from LIHI spokesperson Josh Castle:

Due to client confidentiality, we are not able to confirm or deny if this was a program participant at Camp Second Chance or any details about their specific situation. However, I can share a couple things about our policies and how we enforce them. CSC continues to have a no-visitors policy. LIHI also strictly prohibits firearms and other weapons on the premises, as it is obviously a danger to the community, and we strictly enforce these policies. If a client is discovered with a firearm, it is a common practice that they will be immediately exited from the village and program and also a common practice that village staff will call 911 and hope that police will arrive and assist our staff with the exiting process. Both of those rules are outlined in our Code of Conduct that clients agree to as a condition of staying at CSC. If a client does have a warrant on their record, and the police arrive to enforce the warrant, we will cooperate with the police.

Court documents list the murder suspect’s “last known address” as state-operated Naselle Youth Camp, but its website says the camp has been closed since last fall. Meantime, Camara remains in jail, bail set at $2 million.

SIDE NOTE: If you have questions about the Camp Second Chance arrest or anything else about CSC, its Community Advisory Committee meets online next Tuesday (April 18th) at 6 pm, and connection/call-in information will be in our daily event list that day.

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VIDEO: Washington Tree Equity Collaborative launched with Roxhill Park event
April 13, 2023 6:44 pm
|      21 COMMENTS
 |   Environment | West Seattle news

By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

17 years ago, Seattle’s then-mayor Greg Nickels announced a tree-planting plan to keep the city from losing more of its tree canopy.

Several mayors later, the city is still struggling with stopping canopy loss.

The city is working on a new tree policy. Separate from that – and yet an offshoot of sorts – Mayor Bruce Harrell was among a group of officials and advocates who gathered at West Seattle’s Roxhill Park this morning to announce a new statewide tree initiative: The Washington Tree Equity Collaborative.

This one is a “statewide effort to create tree equity in Washington,” as described by Jad Daley of American Forests, who emceed the event. Daley said his group has studied canopy cover in neighborhoods nationwide – creating this “scoring” tool as a result – and found less of it in neighborhoods where a majority of residents are low-income and/or BIPOC. “This is not just scenery we’re talking about – this is critical green infrastructure,” Daley declared. Before our summary continues, here’s video of the five speakers:

Daley said that getting every neighborhood in the state to even a 75 tree-equity score would take 2.6 million more trees. An even more ambitious goal, getting to 100, would take 13 million trees.

Right now, though, said state Public-Lands Commissioner Hilary Franz, the state’s trees are declining in number and health: “Washington is known as the Evergreen State, yet our trees are truly in trouble. … Access to greenspace and shade should be a fundamental right.” Less tree canopy means more heat, and that’s the weather extreme that’s deadlier than catastrophic storms, Franz said. “The answer is so simple – plant more trees and plant them in the right places.” That costs money, she noted, mentioning an $8 million request before the Legislature, and $6 million already secured from the federal government.

Then it was on to the city’s role. Seattle’s Office of Sustainability and Environment director Jessyn Farrell acknowledged that the most recent canopy assessment showed Seattle had lost 255 acres of trees, 1.7% of its canopy, since the previous assessment six years earlier. And relevant to today’s topic, the loss is happening inequitably. She added that addressing the problem means not just planting trees but taking better care of the existing ones.

Speaking next, Mayor Harrell acknowledged that the latest tree-canopy assessment showed that canopy loss on public property is a major problem, noting that he’s ordered that every tree lost on city land be replaced by three new ones.

Bringing it home to the specific piece of public property on which everyone was gathered this morning, Delridge community advocate Willard Brown (above with the mayor) pointed out the plight of Roxhill Park’s bog, a historic wetland that’s been drying out. The area’s status as Longfellow Creek‘s headwaters is priceless, he said – “it’s vital that the creek remains healthy.” Some work is planned later this year, Brown said. He also gently dinged the city for big talk and no followthrough on another West Seattle site, the Myers Way Parcels, which the city promised X years ago would be transferred to Seattle Parks – which has yet to happen.

After the speeches, one question was asked: Local greenspace activist and arborist Michael Oxman asked how the talk of increasing canopy matches with what’s happening in Olympia, with legislators approving upzoning for much of the state, opening the door to more densification. Farrell – a former state legislator – tackled the question, declaring, “There is no conflict between increasing tree canopy and increasing housing.” She said the biggest trouble spots even now are public lands and “neighborhood residential” (formerly “single-family”) zoning, “not so much because of development as because of age and health.” Franz echoed that “we have to address both our housing crisis and our tree crisis,” also contending they aren’t in conflict.

Then it was off to a photo op, mulching trees in the park’s southwest corner. The mayor had moved on by then but Farrell dug in:

P.S. You can check your neighborhood’s Tree Equity Score via the American Forests map here. You can read the Memorandum of Understanding that’s at the heart of the new collaborative by going here.

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FERRIES: Return of three-boat Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth service not expected before May
April 13, 2023 5:15 pm
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   Fauntleroy | Transportation | West Seattle news

(Triangle Route ferry photographed from Lincoln Park by Theresa Arbow-O’Connor)

Thanks to Tom for the tip via this comment. Washington State Ferries now says they don’t expect to restore three-boat service on the Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth run before next month. That’s a change from what WSF said when they announced M/V Cathlamet was returning to service, and also from the Service Restoration Plan‘s projection of trial 3-boat service in early April. The problem, says WSF spokesperson Ian Sterling, remains staffing: “We’re still too short-handed to reliably go to three-boat service. However, we anticipate that by May, the staffing situation will have improved enough to allow us to trial full service, thankfully.”

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UPDATE: Water outage southwest of West Seattle Junction
April 13, 2023 3:23 pm
|      5 COMMENTS
 |   Utilities | West Seattle news

3:23 PM: Thanks for the tips. Seattle Public Utilities is working on emergency repairs for an outage described as centered in the 5200 block of 49th SW, affecting at least three dozen customers. One texter says they’re affected in an area north of what’s on the SPU map. We’re checking with SPU to find. out more about the problem.

5:01 PM: We have yet to hear back from SPU, but the map shows the outage resolved. (If your water’s not back, call 206-386-1218 to be sure they’re aware.)

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One month away from West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day, and two more weeks to register
April 13, 2023 2:37 pm
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   Community Garage Sale Day | West Seattle news

West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day 2023 is exactly one month away! Saturday, May 13th, is this year’s big day – always the second Saturday in May since WSCGSD’s inception in 2005 – and so far 180 sales are registered. As usual, participants are all around the peninsula – north-south from North Admiral to Seola Beach, east-west from Highland Park to Fauntleroy, In the listings we’ve checked so far, sellers are promising something for everyone – clothing, furniture, kitchenware, music gear, tools, even an outboard motor and swamp cooler – and that’s just what we’ve seen in the first 40 or so to sign up. A few sellers say they’ll be open Friday as well as Saturday. Basic WSCGSD hours are 9 am to 3 pm; you’re welcome to start earlier and/or end later – if you plan to do that, be sure to include it in your sale description on the registration form. Deadline to sign up to be on the map/list is 11 pm Thursday, April 27th (two weeks from tonight). When you’re ready to register, here’s where to do it!

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PROTECTING ORCAS: State House passes buffer bill to keep boaters further away from endangered Southern Resident Killer Whales
April 13, 2023 1:09 pm
|      9 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle politics | Whales

(J44 [Moby] and J53 [Kiki] – photo by Mark Sears, permit #21348)

Back in January, we reported on legislation to require that endangered Southern Resident Killer Whales be given more space. Now, a milestone on the journey to becoming law – here’s what Donna Sandstrom of The Whale Trail, who worked on the governor’s orca task force, reports a key bill is almost all the way through the Legislature:

Good news! The bill to establish a 1,000-yard buffer around the southern residents passed the House yesterday (read the House announcement here.) It won’t take effect until January 2025, which was a disappointment, but it will be mandatory for all boaters – a big win for the whales.

The bill also requires Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife to establish a working group focused on boater solutions, so recreational boaters have the tools they need to know when southern residents are in the area, and how to estimate 1,000 yards at sea.

SB 5371 implemented a recommendation from WDFW in a recent adaptive management report, and is based on best available science showing that vessel approaches closer than 1000 yards significantly reduce the whales’ ability to find and catch their prey. The harmful impacts of noise and disturbance are more pronounced on females: female southern resident orcas abandon hunts when vessels approach closer than 400 yards.

Even though the distance requirement won’t be mandatory until 2025, there’s no reason to wait to give the whales the space they need. Boaters can take the voluntary pledge at givethemspace.org, to 1,000 yards away. Download the free app Whale Alert and learn when southern residents are in the area, so you can watch them from shore, or avoid them at sea.

Special thanks to House Majority Leader Joe Fitzgibbon and Senator Joe Nguyen, who supported this bill every step of the way. Also to other legislative champions, WDFW, our fellow organizers in the Give them Space campaign, and the many people and organizations who stepped up for the orcas this session. A sea change is underway, against great odds.

This bill is the outcome of public process that began on the Governor’s Task Force. On the long road to recover the orcas, this is a big next step. We can’t wait to tell J pod!

Donna adds that the bill isn’t final yet – there’s one more “step in the Legislative process before the bill achieves final passage. Because the House bill is different than the bill that passed the Senate, representatives from both bodies will meet to reconcile the difference, a process known as concurrence.”

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