West Seattle, Washington
04 Wednesday
Received tonight from Andrew:
I had someone break into my house tonight in the 5700 block of Admiral Way. This individual identified herself as Sarah Rose and was chased out by my neighbor. She went up 59th and likely hid in someone’s yard to avoid police, who were called and responded. Case number is 23-206843.
(WSB file photo, Kennedy Catholic HS in past West Seattle Grand Parade)
Saturday’s West Seattle Grand Parade is just hours away, preceded by the Float Dodger 5K. Here’s a last look at what you need to know!
WHEN: The 5K starts at 9:30 am; the parade starts at 11 am.
WHERE: The parade starts from California/Lander and continues south on California to Edmunds – see the route here. The 5K travels the same route except for a start/finish slightly south, at West Seattle High School.
WHO: 70+ parade entries, 500+ 5K runners/walkers (you can still join them)
WHAT: Floats, all sorts of vehicles – cars, fire trucks, buses, boats – plus people walking, dancing, jumping, and rolling, drill teams, school groups, and yes, marching bands, like the All-City Band and Kennedy Catholic HS Band
GRAND MARSHAL: Whitney Moore, executive director of the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce, as noted here
ORVILLE RUMMEL TROPHY HONOREE: Erik Bell, founder of A Cleaner Alki, which has expanded to lead volunteers in stewarding a cleaner West Seattle in general – read more about him and the trophy here
PARADE PRESENTERS: The West Seattle Rotary Club Service Foundation presents the parade, which is planned and coordinated by volunteers
ANNOUNCERS: Led by West Seattle-residing journalist/broadcaster Brian Callanan and wife Christa Callanan at the main California/Alaska stand; the Kiwanis Club of West Seattle has a stand at California/Charlestown
AWARDS: The parade is judged and the winners will be announced post-parade (we’ll publish the list).
STREET CLOSURES/PARKING RESTRICTIONS: The latter kick in at 7 am (don’t risk getting your car towed!); the former start taking effect at 8 am. Also note that in addition to the route on California, some side streets near the start and end of the route are used for staging, so they are posted too. More info here. (P.S. Bus reroutes for Routes 50 and 128 and the C Line – info’s here.)
WHERE TO WATCH: Anywhere along the route! Be near California/Lander to be the first to see everyone get going; be at California/Charlestown or California/Alaska to hear the entries announced. (Some people stake out spots early.)
The first day of this year’s Alki Art Fair has just wrapped up. We made it there in time to wander the booths in brilliant evening sunshine. Not only is the AAF located right on the shore of Puget Sound – along the Alki Beach promenade – it’s also full of sea-inspired creators, like Maq Martin, who we found in the Emerging Artists tent between the Bathhouse and Statue of Liberty Plaza:
Also there is Stacey Sterling, the artist who led the sea-life community mural-painting at West Seattle Summer Fest last weekend:
She said she worked with 125 people during her two days at Summer Fest! … Continuing the sea-life theme, Seal Sitters Marine Mammal Stranding Network volunteers are there to talk with you about what you might see on- and offshore;
Another local nonprofit, the Alki-based Southwest Seattle Historical Society, is there to talk with you about their work;
Lots of creative play opportunities for the youngest visitors, in the free play zone presented by Outer Space Seattle:
Music starts tomorrow (see the lineup here) but main-stage sponsor Canna West Culture Shop was there today, ready to talk with you about CBD:
You can also browse jewelry, apparel, handbag, many types and styles of creations. (See the full artist/creator/vendor list here.) Saturday’s hours are 10 am-6 pm for booths, music noon-7 pm: Sunday, 10 am-6 pm for booths, music 11 am-5 pm. (WSB is a community co-sponsor of the Alki Art Fair.)
6:56 PM: Thanks for the reports! We’ve received word of at least two humpbacks seen heading northbound off The Arroyos and Fauntleroy.
8:04 PM: Three whales! John and Jan caught their spouts on video:
Police have said at multiple recent community meetings that auto theft is the only category of property crime on the rise in West Seattle. Today is certainly contributing to the trend – we’ve received four more reports:
GREEN FOCUS: Cadence‘s car has a distinctive feature:
Around 12:30 am my car was stolen at gunpoint by two teenagers on the intersection of California and Graham by The Bridge Bar. Last seen heading south on California AVE. It is a green 2006 Ford Focus zx3 with underglow that is purple when the car is on. The license plate is CFG4285. Any details about it would be appreciated. This car is my baby and I love it.
Cadence says police have been contacted; a gunpoint theft would generally be classified as a robbery/carjacking, but we haven’t yet found the report number on the police log. (added) Report # is 23-205971.
GRAY TUCSON: Just texted as we wrote this roundup:
My parents just had their car stolen; we live right on 35th between Brandon and Dawson, It is a gray Hyundai Tucson with a license plate number of BSL3533; it was stolen within the last few hours.
Police report # to come for this too. (Update: 23-206657)
RED YUKON: From Gail:
I would like to report our 2005 GMC Yukon was stolen sometime between 11:00 and 7:00. 36th SW below the water tower. It’s red; license plate #CHA5090. Police report # 23-206152
GOLD VUE: Hanna reports her sister’s car was taken: “This happened yesterday evening in the parking lot of the Wells Fargo on California Ave and Admiral Way. The car is a 2008 gold Saturn Vue.” It had a temporary plate as it had just been transferred from a relative. We’re waiting for the police report #. (UPDATE: This car has been found.)
This afternoon, state and local cleanup crews were at the encampment across from the Arrowhead Gardens senior-living complex on Myers Way in southeast West Seattle. After photographing what they were doing, we asked WSDOT how exactly today’s work fits into the “resolution” plan detailed at a meeting Tuesday night (WSB coverage here). Here’s what WSDOT’s Brian Nielsen subsequently said in an email update:
As mentioned on Tuesday evening, last Friday WSDOT posted notice at the Myers Way encampment sharing that all operable vehicles needed to move off the site, urging individuals who have challenges moving their vehicles to reach out to outreach teams on site for assistance. Work wrapped up yesterday to place barrier to eliminate access for any new vehicles to the site. The City of Seattle also posted “No Parking” signs on both sides of Myers Way.
This is a very important step in WSDOT and our partners’ work to manage access and inhibit growth within the encampment. We also know there are inoperable vehicles that will likely remain onsite and will be addressed once the encampment is resolved.
I’m also glad to share that the pool and associated wood fencing has been removed. I know this garnered a lot of attention and for many was a symbol of how firmly entrenched this encampment was. We were able to successfully provide housing for the individual associated with these structures. Related to some of our discussion Tuesday evening, this individual was not initially interested in moving, but felt differently after working with the outreach team.
In coordination with the City of Seattle, a significant amount of debris and trash removal also occurred today, allowing for better access and sight lines as well as removing potential flammable material. Ongoing trash pickup will continue.
Also from Nielsen’s update: “While the timeline to resolution doesn’t have exact dates, it is one based on proven results. The (state Right Of Way Safety Initiative) has successfully addressed 30 encampments statewide with over 800 housing offers matched to people’s individual needs. Of those, 694 people remain in their housing options – that’s an 85% success rate in keeping people living indoors.”
What happened near 46th/Massachusetts in North Admiral around midnight sounds similar to what happened near 41st/Portland in Gatewood earlier this week. Terry sent photos and a note thanking neighbors for their heroism:
Big THANK YOU to all our neighbors in North Admiral who called 911 shortly before midnight last night and woke me and my husband to alert us about the fire on our property. There apparently was a loud explosion prior to the fire. Looking for the woman who turned on our garden hose and started to try to put out the flames before we were able to get out of the house – my husband took the hose from you but we were in such shock we were not able to properly thank you before you left. Kudos to the quick response from Seattle Fire and Police – the only damage appears to be to our landscaping.
12:01 PM: Thanks for the tip. The Fauntleroy ferry dock is full and the offloading/loading of M/V Kittitas is delayed because of a problem with the apron, according to what we’re told at the dock. Terminal workers tell us it’s being worked on. Updates to come.
12:05 PM: To be more specific, we’re told it’s a power problem with the apron. It’s just been announced at the dock that an electrician has arrived but they don’t have an ETA for how soon this will be fixed.
12:16 PM: The Kittitas has left Fauntleroy headed back to Vashon since there’s no ETA, and cars waiting at Fauntleroy are being allowed to turn around and leave the dock.
12:21 PM: WSF has finally officially issued a bulletin about this, saying only, “The Fauntleroy Terminal in west Seattle is out of service until further notice due to necessary maintenance.”
(Latest image from WSF camera at dock)
1:19 PM: The empty Kittitas has returned to wait at Fauntleroy. Meantime, WSF is detouring boats to downtown: “Seattle-bound traffic from Vashon or Southworth will be diverted to Pier 52 to off-load. But traffic bound for Vashon will not be loaded at Pier 52.”
2 PM: The Kittitas has left again, apparently to be put into service on the diverted runs that will head from Vashon/Southworth to downtown. No updates on repair progress.
2:40 PM: WSF says repairs were “successful” and the Fauntleroy dock is in service again:
Operations out of the Fauntleroy Ferry Terminal have resumed following successful repairs to the terminal bridge. Though the route will return to service, customers should anticipate longer than usual waits due to increased traffic. Boats are still attempting to move as much traffic and get back into position as quickly as possible …
Though it’s not mentioned in that update, Vessel Watch showed a third boat, M/V Issaquah, was summoned into service, at least temporarily.
2:53 PM: The King County Water Taxi is adding a run from downtown to Vashon at 3:30 pm to help with the backlog.
Each of these two reader reports is about two bicycles:
STOLEN BICYCLES: Zoe says thieves in this truck stole two electric folding bikes from her garage last night between 5:45 and 6:15:
It’s a Chevrolet Silverado that she says “drove by in the alley” off 35th SW between Andover and Dakota, “then came back again and stole the bikes … two men, one with white hair, wearing a mask.” The bikes are “a Jetson bike and Lectric Lite beige.”
DUMPED-LIKELY-STOLEN BICYCLES: From Nancy:
Two adult bicycles were left at my office building around 2 am this morning (July 21, 2023) in the 5400 block of California Ave SW. A light green Electra Cruiser 7 bicycle and a green Takara bicycle.
We don’t yet have police-report #s in either of these cases, so if you have specific information on any of these bikes, let us know and we’ll connect you. (Update) A commenter says they parked the last two bikes there intentionally; we’ve notified the person who reported them.
The Alki Art Fair headlines what’s up today/tonight in West Seattle. This is the first of three days, and it gets going at the beach – starting in the Bathhouse and vicinity (60th/Alki) and stretching west along the promenade.
*Hours today: 2-8 pm
*Artist/vendor info here
*Music info here
*Food vendors listed here (scroll down)
*Free Kids’ Zone
Alki Art Fair community co-sponsors include WSB. Here’s the rest of the lineup for today/tonight, mostly from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
GARDEN CENTER OPEN: Need more plants for your garden, containers, etc.? You can shop at the South Seattle College (WSB sponsor) Garden Center, open with a wide variety of student-grown plants, until 2 pm. (North end of campus, 6000 16th SW)
ART POP-UP: Second of three days at 4500 California SW – open until 10 pm; details here.
SPRAYPARK OPEN: 11 am-8 pm, Highland Park Spraypark (1100 SW Cloverdale) is open daily.
SUMMER MEALS FOR KIDS: Here’s the list of local sites where free food is available for kids on weekdays this summer, 11:30 am-1 pm lunch, 2-3 pm snacks.
ANNIVERSARY SALE: West Seattle’s only comic-book shop Tails to Astonish (4850 California SW) is having a sale the next two days: “Big sales on back issues and used trade paperbacks & hardcovers!” Open 11:30 am-7 pm today.
DELRIDGE AND HIAWATHA WADING POOLS OPEN: Noon-5:30 pm. (4501 Delridge Way SW and 2700 California SW)
LINCOLN PARK WADING POOL OPEN: Noon-7 pm. (8011 Fauntleroy Way SW)
COLMAN POOL OPEN: Noon-7 pm on the shore at Lincoln Park; session schedule here.
SCRABBLE CLUB: You’re invited to play 12:30-1:30 pm at Margie’s Café inside the Senior Center of West Seattle (4217 SW Oregon).
NORTHWEST WINE ACADEMY: 1-6 pm on the north side of South Seattle College (6000 16th SW; WSB sponsor), student-produced wine by the glass or bottle.
FLOAT DODGER 5K PACKET PICKUP: 3-6 pm at West Seattle Runner (2743 California; WSB sponsor), pick up your packet for tomorrow morning’s 5K – participants get 10% off store items while there!
VISCON CELLARS: Tonight, visit Viscon Cellars (WSB sponsor) for wine by the glass or bottle, 5-9 pm (5910 California SW).
WATCH PARTY: Outer Space Seattle (2820 Alki SW) continues its family-friendly Women’s World Cup watch parties – doors open 5:30 pm, kickoff at 6 pm tonight for USA vs. Vietnam. Adult and under-1-year-olds free; kids 1 and up, $14 for use of the playspace.
KENYON HALL SHOWCASE: Monthly showcase for singers and songwriters at Kenyon Hall. signups at 6, music at 6:30. More info in our calendar listing. (7904 35th SW)
SHAKESPEARE IN THE PARK X 2: GreenStage has two free outdoor performances in West Seattle tonight at 7 pm:
–“Henry VI, part 1“ at Camp Long (5200 35th SW)
–“Romeo and Juliet” in Lincoln Park (8011 Fauntleroy Way SW)
COFFEEHOUSE MUSIC: Dublin Abbey performs at C & P Coffee (5612 California SW; WSB sponsor), 7-9 pm.
SUMMER SUNSET SOUND BATH: 7 pm at Solstice Park (7400 Fauntleroy Way SW), $35.
HEDWIG & THE ANGRY INCH: The musical is in its final weekend at ArtsWest (4711 California SW; WSB sponsor). Our calendar listing includes the ticket link.
LIVE AT THE SKYLARK: The Evenings, Ruby Vision, Camp Hero, doors 8 pm, music 9 pm at The Skylark – $10. (3803 Delridge Way SW).
Something to add to our calendar? westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
Another West Seattle Little League all-star team has won the district championship and is headed to state! This report and photo are from Amy:
The WSLL 8-10 team was undefeated in the District Championships last week and are headed to the State Championships in Othello, WA this weekend.
The team includes:
Blake Dennison
Cal Reed
Carter Kuhlmann
Clyde McCary
Elliott Jewett
Everett Harkins
Jason Ardales
Jude Dykgraaf
Konley Bissell
Owen Umeno
Reiar Anderson
Samuel ShigetaniManager: Randy Shigetani
Coach: Mike Jewett
Coach: Justin Dennison
6:03 AM: Good morning. It’s Friday, July 21st.
WEATHER & SUNRISE/SUNSET TIMES
Clouds, then sunny, high in upper 70s. Today’s sunrise was at 5:33 am; sunset will be at 8:57 pm.
(Thursday moonset photo by James Bratsanos)
WEEKEND ALERTS
*The West Seattle Grand Parade and Float Dodger 5K this Saturday (July 22) will close California SW for several hours, morning to early afternoon, from Admiral to Edmunds, as well as some side streets. Here are the details of bus reroutes, street closures, and parking restrictions.
*Though surface traffic will NOT be affected, maritime traffic needs to know that the low bridge will only be able to open one leaf between 1 am Saturday and 5 am Monday – the full notice is on this webpage.
TRANSIT TODAY
Metro – Back to regular schedules – check here for advisories. Note extra C and H Line trips for this weekend’s Taylor Swift concerts.
Water Taxi – Also planning extra late-night runs for this weekend’s concerts. Regular service today, though.
Washington State Ferries – 2-boat service. Check Vessel Watch to see where the boats are.
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!
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