West Seattle, Washington
21 Saturday
(March photo by David Hutchinson, Southern Residents seen from Constellation Park)
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
News of what’s believed to be a newborn Southern Resident Killer Whale didn’t emerge until after The Whale Trail‘s summer gathering four nights ago.
Nonetheless, it was an optimistic, even jubilant gathering just the same, with an update on the resident orcas from their spring visits and the new laws meant to “give them space” on the water.
The gathering filled C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor) last Thursday night, with The Whale Trail’s founder/executive director Donna Sandstrom first providing an update on her organization, which is now educating people from California to Canada about the orcas (and other sea life) with more than 130 interpretive signs installed so far, including four in West Seattle, “to connect people more deeply to the place they’re at.” Almost half those signs are in British Columbia, where the newest one – in Saturna – was just dedicated, with a special audio feature so that visitors can hear local First Nations people’s songs about the whales.
Nine months after the West Seattle Bridge reopened following its 2 1/2-year closure, no new problems, says SDOT. But it’s maintenance time, and some work postponed last month is now set to start at 9 pm tomorrow night. Here’s the SDOT announcement:
We are planning overnight lane closures on the West Seattle High-Rise Bridge to perform routine preventative maintenance this Tuesday and Wednesday. There are no problems with the bridge, and crews will be working to protect the interior of the bridge by applying waterproof sealant to access hatches along the surface of the bridge deck.
The closure will begin at 9 p.m. on Tuesday, June 27 and end by 5 a.m. the following morning. If necessary, the closure will be repeated the following night (Wednesday, June 28). This work requires dry weather and is subject to change. The bridge will be reduced to one lane in each direction overnight between State Route 99 and Delridge Way SW. All on- and off-ramps will remain open as normal.
You’ve likely heard of the Fremont Troll. Now get ready for the West Seattle Troll.
(Photos courtesy Scan Design Foundation. Above, Dambo troll installed in Dayton, Ohio)
As first reported by GeekWire, a Danish artist is going to install “six giant hand-built Nordic troll characters” around the Northwest later this summer – at sites in West Seattle, Ballard, Issaquah, Bainbridge and Vashon Islands, and Portland.
Artist Thomas Dambo has already installed ~100 trolls, made from recycled materials, around the world. (Currently he’s in New Jersey.) His Northwest project is being overseen by the Scan Design Foundation, whose announcement says Dambo’s work carries a “message of turning trash into treasure and building community through art” and will be “amplifying the network of cultural heritage between Coast Salish tribal communities and Danish and Scandinavian traditions (to reinforce) the shared values of environmental stewardship for watershed protection, restoration, and preservation of riparian habitats.” The artist is quoted as saying, “I want people to know that trash has value. My trolls do that, and also help me tell stories, like the legends I grew up with. In nature, there is no landfill. Nature is circular – everything has a meaning and everything is recycled.”
(Dambo troll installed in Breckenridge, Colorado)
So, you’re wondering, where will the West Seattle troll be? They’re not announcing specific locations yet but Seattle Parks is a “site partner” so it’ll be in a park; when the concept was circulated among neighborhood groups many months ago, Lincoln Park was mentioned as a possibility. The reveals are scheduled to happen between early August and mid-September – one per week, per the early concept discussion – and once complete, the trolls will remain in place “for at least three years.” As for “how big” is meant by “giant,” the early discussions suggested at least 20′ high. (The photos accompanying this story are three trolls installed at other sites in the U.S.)
(Dambo troll installed in Jackson Hole, Wyoming)
The regional project is titled “Northwest Trolls: Way of the Bird King” and has a website, including a list of who’s funding and sponsoring the project.
(Seattle Parks photo)
When Seattle Parks told us last month that the Hiawatha and Delridge Playfields turf-replacement projects would overlap for about six weeks, that apparently was an underestimate. Hiawatha just started two weeks ago, with a three-month estimate, and Delridge is about to start, with a four-month estimate, so the overlap with both fields closed is likely to be more like two and a half months. Parks announced today that Delridge will close starting July 1st – this Saturday. In addition to the turf replacement, Parks says, “Accessibility issues to the exterior of the restrooms will also be addressed during the closure.” According to the city website, the winning bid – $2.8 million – was by South Seattle-based Ohno-Touchdown JV.
12:28 PM: Thanks to Christina for the tip. If you look closely at the “Coming Soon” signs that have popped up in the corner space of 2701 California SW (next to The Good Society), you’ll see the first “o” is the logo for Seattle Yarn. The store, currently at 5633 California SW (where the space is listed as available for lease), has more than a quarter-century of history; its current owners took over five years ago. Their store is closed Mondays so we couldn’t stop in to inquire about the new plan, but we have sent a message and hope to hear back.
1:58 PM: Just talked by phone with Seattle Yarn co-proprietor Destiny Itano. She says they’re hoping to move into the new space around “end of summer” – no set date yet. They’ve been doing some work inside but she says they’re excited not about the increased visibility of that corner, but also about some things the space will enable them to do – it has some separate rooms, for example, which means they can have dedicated class space instead of “shuffling tables around” to make room on the main shop floor. She says they’re also excited to have Good Society as their new neighbor, as that opens possibilities for synergy with their groups and other activities.
As noted here Saturday, the Rotary Club of West Seattle has now placed five Peace Poles around West Seattle, part of a worldwide initiative. But the story behind the one dedicated Sunday at Our Lady of Guadalupe goes beyond the poles’ inscription, “Let Peace Prevail on Earth.” This one is part of an installation meant as a reminder of those whose land it’s on:
That plaque honoring the Duwamish Tribe is on a bench made by Eagle Scout Nick Krum:
He explained the project to those gathered for the dedication:
The space with the pole and benches is in front of the church on 35th SW south of SW Myrtle.
(This morning’s sunrise, photographed by Theresa Arbow-O’Connor)>
Here’s what’s happening in the hours ahead, mostly from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
HIGHLAND PARK SPRAYPARK: Open 11 am-8 pm, whatever the weather. (1100 SW Cloverdale)
E.C. HUGHES WADING POOL OPEN: First day of the season, noon-7 pm. (2805 SW Holden)
LINCOLN PARK WADING POOL OPEN: Noon-7 pm daily through Labor Day, except for chilly/cloudy days. (8011 Fauntleroy Way SW)
COLMAN POOL OPEN: Also at Lincoln Park, this outdoor salt-water pool is open noon-7 pm daily through Labor Day. See the session schedule here.
CRAFTING AND CREATIVITY NIGHT: 6-10 pm at The Missing Piece (9456 35th SW), info here.
OPEN MIC: Weekly BedHead Open Mic continues at West Seattle Church of the Nazarene (4201 SW Juneau), 6:30 pm – info in our calendar listing.
D&D: Open D&D starts at 6:30 pm at Meeples Games (3727 California SW), all welcome, first-time players too. $5.
FAUNTLEROY MEDITATION: Free weekly Zen sitting/meditation event at the chapel at Fauntleroy UCC (9140 California SW), 7 pm-8:30 pm.
PLAY TRIVIA! Three options on Monday nights for playing trivia – 7 and 8 pm Sporcle Pub Quiz at Three 9 Lounge (4505 39th SW); 7 pm at The Good Society (California/Lander), 7:30 pm at The Skylark (3803 Delridge Way SW)
MONDAY MUSIC: Live music with The Westside Trio, 8 pm at The Alley (behind 4509 California SW), 21+, no cover.
Have a West Seattle/White Center event to add to our calendar ? Please send info to westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
7:45 AM: Bill Schrier reports, “A giant oak tree has fallen across Southwest Holgate Street between 44th and 45th SW.” (Photo added from his tweet:)
Earlier:
6:03 AM: Good morning. Welcome to Monday, June 26th, just one week and one day until the Fourth of July!
WEATHER & SUNRISE/SUNSET TIMES
Mostly sunny, high in the mid-70s. Today’s sunrise was at 5:13 am; sunset will be at 9:11 pm.
(Sunday’s sunset, photographed by Marc Milrod)
STILL IN SCHOOL
Seattle Public Schools classes continue through this Friday (June 30).
TRANSIT
Metro – Regular schedule, with trip cancellations and temporary route suspensions possible.
Water Taxi – The West Seattle WT is on its regular schedule.
Washington State Ferries – Vashon Island is down to one slip at the north terminal today and tomorrow, 6 am-6 pm both days, as repairs are made – meantime, 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 main camera:
High Bridge – the view from its southwest end (when SDOT points the 35th/Avalon/Fauntleroy camera that way):
Low Bridge – east-end vicinity:
1st Ave. S. Bridge – alternate route across the river:
Highway 99: – 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: The @SDOTBridges Twitter feed shows whether the city’s movable bridges are opening for vessel traffic.
If you see trouble 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!
9:42 PM: Thanks for the tips. Police, reportedly including SWAT, are at an apartment building in the 3600 block of Beach Drive SW. It all started with a report that a resident armed with a gun had threatened a neighbor around 7 pm. No injuries reported so far.
10:02 PM: Meantime, a separate incident at Alki has police blocking off an area near 59th/Lander. We’re not certain exactly what this is about, though there was a dispatch for a “fight with weapons” about half an hour ago.
10:14 PM: The Alki situation is also getting some SWAT officers. It reportedly involves domestic violence, and as with the other situation, a suspect reported to have a gun.
10:33 PM: Neither situation is resolved yet. The one near 59th/Lander is actually at a residence on Marine (east of 59th). SWAT remains at both scenes. If you’re near either, you may hear PA messages meant to encourage surrender, and possibly the “flashbang” type noise devices SWAT often uses.
10:50 PM: Officers have just told dispatch that the Beach Drive suspect is in custody, so some of the units that have been there are headed to the Marine/Lander standoff.
11:48 PM: The Marine/Lander situation is still ongoing. Officers have told dispatch they’re communicating with the suspect.
12:05 AM: Officers have told dispatch their suspect is in custody. They have a warrant to search the residence, which is what they’ll be doing next.
10:39 AM: Both suspects were booked into jail, we’ve confirmed. The Beach Drive suspect is a 49-year-old man held for investigation of felony harassment; the Marine/Lander suspect is a 44-year-old man held for investigation of assault and unlawful imprisonment.
TUESDAY: SPD has recapped the Beach Drive incident on SPD Blotter.
Three months after the West Seattle Bridge crash that ended two young lives, the driver charged with killing the two 18-year-old victims has been booked into jail. The King County Jail roster shows 36-year-old Delfino Lopez-Morales was booked Saturday, as was expected to happen as soon as he was released from the hospital. He is scheduled to appear in King County Superior Court tomorrow for arraignment on the charges filed against him three weeks ago – two counts of vehicular homicide and one count of reckless driving. Lopez-Morales’s bail is set at $250,000. Prosecutors say he was driving 100 mph, under the influence of alcohol and cannabis, going the wrong way on the westbound West Seattle Bridge, when he smashed into the car in which Khalea Thoeuk and Riley Danard, Snohomish County residents, were heading to Alki Beach in the early-morning hours of March 22nd. Before being booked into jail, Lopez-Morales was at Harborview Medical Center for more than a month and then, according to court documents, moved to rehab at UW Medical Center.
Thanks for the photo. The driver of that vehicle crashed through a wall in the 5700 block of Admiral Way just before 5 pm, leading to what was initially a “rescue extrication” response, quickly downsized. No serious injuries reported.
Been seeing the seemingly endless headlines about AI – artificial intelligence – but not sure how you feel about it? Or, maybe you’re already using it, and excited about its possibilities. Or, perhaps you’re somewhere between worried and terrified of where it might take us. However you feel about AI, if you’re interested in a facilitated “civic conversation” about it, your West Seattle neighbor James Boutin is hosting one this Wednesday evening (June 28th), 5-7 pm, at C & P Coffee (5612 California SW; WSB sponsor). When James sent us the announcement for the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar, we asked why – what’s his stake in AI? He replied that first and foremost, “I’m a citizen who cares a great deal about democracy and believes the public is in desperate need of public spaces to talk openly about the speed at which AI technology is advancing (among many other issues important to our world).” He also is “an educator and facilitator who is hoping to get more practice under my belt in facilitating these types of conversations. I just completed a master’s program on facilitation and conflict studies at the Processwork Institute of Portland, OR, and I’m dedicated to practicing the skills I learned about holding open forums out in the world.” (His website is here.) James suggests a $15 donation “to help me cover the costs of preparation and spreading the word, but folks are also welcome to donate less or come for free.”
Thanks to readers’ contributions, here’s another West Seattle bird gallery – starting with a mystery bird that several people have asked us about in recent weeks. The photo above is from Heather, who said, “This guy has been hanging around the Fauntleroy Park area (near Cambridge entrance) for the past month. Anyone know the story of this lone pheasant friend?” Please comment below if you do! Meantime, less mysterious sightings include fledglings – Ann Anderson photographed a House Sparrow:
And this Steller’s Jay is from Robin Sinner:
Two from James Tilley – first, a Bald Eagle:
And a Common Loon:
Jon Anderson says these Band-Tailed Pigeons are fans of his feeder;
Finally, a hummingbird photographed by Brian Michel:
You can find info about these and other bird species seen in our region – with photos and even audio of their calls – by going here. P.S. We also feature bird photos periodically in our daily event lists, published every morning – thanks again to everyone who contributes!
(Photo sent by Bill Schrier)
That house in North Admiral is the northernmost of 10 stops on this year’s West Seattle Garden Tour, happening until 5 pm today. It’s an annual celebration of not just what’s in bloom, but the creativity with which some gardeners have used the available space on their property. We visited a stop in the south, a home in Arbor Heights:
(WSB photos from here down)
Homeowner Greg Olsen told us his daughter designed the garden around the house, which was built 12 years ago, and required some excavation so “not a plant was left on the site.” Now, beautiful collections of plants are everywhere, front, back, side:
Olsen said most of the open space originally was covered with sod – no budget left for landscaping – but over the past decade, with his daughter’s help, it’s been transformed.
He thinks they’re largely done – “until she has a new idea!” (Gardeners will identify with that sentiment – you’re never really “done.”)
Other stops on the tour this year are in the Alaska and Morgan Junction areas, Gatewood, Genesee Hill, the Arroyos, and Puget Ridge, where the Seattle Chinese Garden is featured. You can visit there today – or any other day – without a Garden Tour ticket book; it’s at the north end of the South Seattle College (WSB sponsor) campus at 6000 16th. WSGT organizers tell us they’re offering tour attendees tastings at the nearby Northwest Wine Academy, too.
One important aspect of the Garden Tour: Both through ticket-book sales and a silent auction of this year’s competition-winning artwork, it raises money to support other nonprofits. They’re still seeking applicants for next year’s grants – here’s how to apply.
(Photo by Theresa Arbow-O’Connor)
It’s the first Sunday of summer. Here’s what’s on the list for today/tonight, mostly from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
WEST SEATTLE GARDEN TOUR – SOLD OUT: Just an FYI that today’s the annual West Seattle Garden Tour, 9 am-5 pm, but if you don’t have a ticket, it’s too late – they sold out far in advance.
WEST SEATTLE FARMERS’ MARKET: 10 am-2 pm; the market offers summer produce as well as flowers, cheese, fish, meat, baked goods, condiments, fresh-cooked food, beverages (from kombucha to beer/wine), nuts, plant starts, more. Here’s today’s vendor list. (California SW between Oregon and Alaska)
SOUL SPA: Inner Alchemy is hosting Soul Spas on Sundays at Jet City Labs (4547 California SW) during Farmers’ Market hours, 10 am-2 pm: “a fun community experience of meeting our talented local healers, makers, and artists right alongside the Farmers’ Market. Mini-sessions, shopping, connecting, and Timmy cooking brunch!”
HIGHLAND PARK SPRAYPARK OPEN: 11 am-8 pm daily through Labor Day, shine or rain. (1100 SW Cloverdale)
LINCOLN PARK WADING POOL OPEN: Noon-7 pm daily through Labor Day, except for chilly/cloudy days. (8011 Fauntleroy Way SW)
COLMAN POOL OPEN: Also at Lincoln Park, this outdoor salt-water pool is open noon-7 pm daily through Labor Day. See the session schedule here.
PEACE POLE DEDICATION: 12:15 pm outside Our Lady of Guadalupe (35th/Myrtle), all welcome.
ALKI POINT LIGHTHOUSE TOURS: Second Sunday of the season for free tours of historic Alki Point Lighthouse (3201 Alki Avenue SW), 1-4 pm (last tour starts at 3:45 pm).
PASTRY POP-UP: Ounces (3809 Delridge Way SW) hosts Pastry Boy for a sweet pop-up, 2-5 pm.
CLASSIC NOVELS (AND MOVIES) BOOK CLUB: Monthly gathering at C & P Coffee (5612 California SW; WSB sponsor), 3 pm. See our calendar listing for info on this month’s topic!
FREE YOGA CLASS: 6 pm outside Hiawatha Community Center (2700 California SW), presented by Dragonfly. Donations accepted, as explained here; go here to register.
SUNDAY NIGHT JAZZ: Triangular Jazztet at The Alley (4509 California SW), 8 pm and 9 pm sets.
Have an event – one-time or recurring – to add to our calendar? Please email westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
Police dispatched after 911 callers reported hearing gunfire in the Lincoln Park vicinity Saturday night confirmed it. The reports came in around 11 pm. Officers told dispatch they had found at least one casing; a nearby resident reports that police found at least five (in the street on Fauntleroy Way, radio exchanges indicate). No injuries reported.
1:33 AM: Seattle Fire is sending a “full response” to 18th and Roxbury. Updates to come.
1:39 AM: Arriving units report flames from the first floor of a three-story building.
1:42 AM: SFD describes the building as an under-construction townhouse.
1:46 AM: The fire is reported to be under control, an “exterior fire.” Meantime, we don’t know if it’s the same site, but there was a fire at under-construction townhouses in that same area last July.
1:50 AM: They’ve told dispatch that traffic is closed westbound on Roxbury starting at 17th.
2:20 AM: The fire’s out and no injuries are reported. SPD and SFD are investigating whether it was a set fire.
(WSB photo)
10:24 AM: We just went over to the site (including the photographer who covered last year’s fire). This fire was in the northeast building on the site; last July’s fire (linked above) was in the southeast building.
11:27 AM: SFD spokesperson Hilton Almond tells WSB, “Fire investigators have determined the fire was intentionally set and has been referred to Seattle Police Arson and Bomb Squad.”
Fireworks season has begun, formally as well as informally. We’ve been hearing booms in the distance for a while, indicating a show somewhere, and indeed, it’s the Bremerton Bridge Blast.
Will skating officially be in the Morgan Junction Park expansion‘s future? Last Sunday during the Morgan Junction Community Festival, community volunteers talked about it with visitors – and hosted a Build-A-Board station. Josh Radick sent photos and tells WSB, “We were able to build and distribute 15 complete skateboards, 10 skateboard decks, and countless wheel and bearing combos to kids in the community!”
Also at the festival was Seattle Parks, talking to visitors about the site. Josh notes, “The voting on-site indicated that there is definitely an interest to have skateboarding included at Morgan Junction, along with a slew of other active space options for our community.”
Now it’s time for online opinion sampling – Parks promised to launch an online survey after the festival, and it went live at week’s end. The survey features elements from the original design from the site – and new ones like the possibility of accommodating skating – and asks you to pick three you’d like to see. Go here to answer the survey.
Meantime, the site – which previously held a mini-mart and dry cleaner – is due for soil cleanup starting later this year, and park development in 2025. As for the skating advocates, Radick tells WSB, “We hope to do more build-a-board events this summer.”
Seven hours in, the local amateur-radio operators gathered at South Seattle College (WSB sponsor) for this year’s Field Day are just getting started. They’ll be there for a full 24 hours, until midday tomorrow. It’s part of a national event, so they’re talking with and listening to other “hams” around the country. They’re also talking about technology:
And they even have a swap meet set up for buying and selling equipment:
Ham radio is more than a hobby – it’s also a vital part of the plan for communications in case a catastrophe interrupts the regular methods, so this event is a test/practice too:
Many of the scheduled events for the day are over but you’re still welcome to stop by (all ages invited) to see what they’re doing and how things work – they’re in the north lot and field of the college (6000 16th SW).
That’s one of two new Peace Poles installed around the peninsula by the Rotary Club of West Seattle
4:10 PM: Just in from Kersti Muul, word of northbound orcas off West Seattle’s western shore – seen off Lincoln Park.
4:21 PM: Kersti says some are now in view off Constellation Park.
The only West Seattle park that’s home to a climbing rock is celebrating that and more today. Until 5 pm, you’re invited to Mountain Fest at Camp Long (5200 35th SW).
Not an experienced climber? No worries. They’ll show you how. If you’d rather keep your feet on the ground, there’s still lots to do. The Falconer is there – we got to see Junebug the falcon:
Kids’ craft activities are an option too:
Our preview includes the map of what’s happening where around the park.
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