West Seattle, Washington
27 Saturday
Three West Seattle scenes from August’s first Friday:
Above, James Bratsanos captured the colors of tonight’s sunset. … Below is Steve Pumphrey‘s photo of salmon seekers lined up along the north side of Point Williams at Lincoln Park:
And below, an image from today’s Blue Angels flight – Rainer Klett photographed a Space Needle flyby from Alki:
Saturday’s forecast has some clouds – maybe even a chance of an afternoon shower.
Just received this reminder to share with you – the second-ever West Seattle Glass Float Hunt starts tomorrow (Saturday, August 5):
FINDERS KEEPERS! This is what you’re looking for:
Starting Saturday, August 5th, 100 glass floats will be hidden throughout West Seattle: Alki to Roxbury, the Sound to the Duwamish. If you find one, it’s yours! Please be mindful of the environment when hunting. Outside floats will be in public spaces, not on private property. One float per household, per year.
Share your hunting experience(s) for a chance for it to be reposted! Regardless of finding one or not, let’s hear about it! What new places have you discovered? Tag @westseattlejunction @westseattlechamber on Instagram.
This event is brought to you by the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce and the West Seattle Junction Association from the money raised through Reunited T-shirts last year. Avalon Glassworks made each individual glass float with a pattern never to be recreated! Pecos Pit sponsored the tags, which we are so grateful for.
HAPPY HUNTING!
The first Glass Float Hunt happened a year ago, in the weeks before the West Seattle Bridge’s 2 1/2-year closure ended.
(WSB photo, June)
In hopes that fewer Hyundais and Kias will wind up like that one – stolen and pushed down a slope at Westcrest Park – SPD is giving away more steering-wheel locks. After two giveaways in April, two more dates have just been announced for late August and early September. Sent today by Southwest Precinct Crime Prevention Coordinator Jennifer Satterwhite:
In response to a rise in vehicle thefts involving certain Kia and Hyundai models, SPD’s Crime Prevention Coordinators will be giving away steering wheel locks at each of its five precincts this summer.
Dates & Times:
Tuesday August 29th : 2:30 pm – 6:30 pm
Saturday September 2nd : 9:30 am – 11:30 amLocations:
East Precinct – 1519 12th Avenue
West Precinct – 810 Virginia Street
North Precinct – 10049 College Way N
South Precinct – 3001 S Myrtle Street
Southwest Precinct – 2300 SW Webster StreetThe devices are available at no charge to people who live or work in the City of Seattle, with a focus on those who own or lease a Kia or Hyundai vehicle. Due to limited availability, locks cannot be set aside or held. Only one lock allowed per person. Please go to the pickup event scheduled for the precinct where you live or work.
The ballot-counting has almost caught up with the ballot-receiving at King County Elections, so today’s update of results from Tuesday’s election doesn’t include that many more votes. First, here’s where the top three stand in Seattle City Council District 1:
Maren Costa 8,714 33.15 %
Rob Saka 6,343 24.13 %
Phil Tavel 5,276 20.07 %
That’s with 36 percent of ballots counted, only one-half percent less than the percentage received. Next, here’s how King County Council District 8‘s top two have shaken out, with 33 percent of ballots received and counted:
Teresa Mosqueda 28,646 57.56 %
Sofia Aragon 18,691 37.56 %
(Since Mosqueda is an at-large Seattle City Councilmember, if she goes on to victory in November, that means the City Council will have a majority of new members – five of nine – as four district-seat incumbents already aren’t running for re-election; the council would appoint an interim person for her seat.) Here’s the top two in Seattle School Board District 6, with 36 percent of ballots received and counted:
Gina Topp 19,672 79.70 %
Maryanne Wood 3,515 14.24 %
The top two in the Seattle Port Commission Position 5 race, s countywide vote, with just under 30 percent of ballots counted:
Fred Felleman* 212,442 56.50 %
Jesse Tam 96,449 25.65 %
And the Veterans, Seniors, and Human Services countywide levy, also with just under 30 percent of ballots counted, is passing with 71.5 percent approval.
That was the traffic-camera view – with an arrow drawn by SDOT – when a crew was out Wednesday morning during peak commute time, doing emergency repairs on a pothole on the eastbound Spokane Street Viaduct. (That’s the bridge between 99 and I-5.) This reminded us of what we reported in May, when discussion of the huge hole in the state-owned ramp from the bridge to 99 put the spotlight back on the SSV’s condition. When SDOT got a $5 million grant last year for resurfacing eastbound SSV, there was a vague timeline of “the next few years”; then in May, they said it would likely move up to 2024. This week, SDOT spokesperson Mariam Ali confirmed that: “It is currently in design and expected to go to construction next year. The project is to remove the existing deteriorating concrete overlay along the eastbound lanes just east of SR 99 overpass to around 6th Ave S and placement of a new overlay.” The eastern side of the SSV is the older side, dating back to the ’40s, while the western side was built a little over a decade ago. It was closed several times for repair work during the 2 1/2-year-long full closure of the West Seattle Bridge west of 99.
Two afternoon biznotes:
WESTWOOD GETS SPOOKY AGAIN: Driving through Westwood Village just now to check on the few remaining vacancies, we noticed the Spirit Halloween banner has gone up at the ex-Bed Bath Beyond storefront. This will be the second year for the seasonal all-things-Halloween shop in that space – the signage says simply “coming soon,” while the website says August – an earlier start than last year.
EX-VILLAGE WOODWORKS: Thanks to Anne for this tip. Back in March, we reported a fitness business had filed for permits for the ex-Village Woodworks space in The Junction (4538 California SW). We don’t know if it’s the same one, as we’d since heard that first plan had stalled, but now a regional mini-chain called Industrious Fitness says it’s moving in. The franchisees are a West Seattle family. We have an inquiry out about their timeline.
We just received this report from Chelsea:
This morning between the hours of 6-10 am, my husband’s shaved-ice stand that he runs through his non-profit, Enigma ASD Services, was vandalized and demolished. The shaved-ice stand is located next to Colman Pool in Lincoln Park. The stand provides first job opportunities for people with disabilities. It has been damaged beyond being able to reopen this season.
It was undamaged when he went on his morning run at 6 this morning. We are surprised by the amount of damage considering the beach/park/path are crowded with people fishing this morning.
This is the third incident involving the stand and theft/destruction.
It is a sad day for the employees who won’t have a job to go to this afternoon and this summer.
We asked Chelsea what people could do to help. First, if you were in the park early and saw anything, this has been reported to police, though so far they just have a tracking number (T23017099) pending the official incident number. You can also donate to Enigma.
(A Blue Angels jet with Mount Rainier in the background on Thursday – photo by Jamie Kinney)
Here’s the lineup for the rest of 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)
OPENING DAY: Future Primitive opens its Alki tap shack today, as announced earlier this week. (2536 Alki SW)
SPRAYPARK OPEN: 11 am-8 pm daily, 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.
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.
BLUE ANGELS: Today their scheduled airshow (which will affect other air traffic routing) is set for 3:20-4:30 pm, per the Seafair website.
VISCON CELLARS: Tonight, visit Viscon Cellars (WSB sponsor) for wine by the glass or bottle, 5-9 pm (5910 California SW).
KIDS’ NIGHT OUT: Outer Space Seattle (2820 Alki SW) offers a three-hour drop-off, ticketed event for kids 3 to 12 – more in our calendar listing.
COFFEEHOUSE MUSIC: John Quinn performs at C & P Coffee (5612 California SW; WSB sponsor), 7-9 pm.
SUMMER SUNSET SOUND BATH: 7:30 pm at Solstice Park (7400 Fauntleroy Way SW), $35.
LIVE AT THE SKYLARK: Fishing Trip, The Slurps, doors 8 pm, music 9 pm at The Skylark – $10, all ages. (3803 Delridge Way SW).
OUTDOOR MOVIE: “Spirited Away” is tonight’s monthly outdoor movie at Maarten Park next to West Seattle Church of the Nazarene, all welcome, 8:49 pm. (42nd/Juneau)
Something to add to our calendar? westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
As that photo sent by Amber shows (along with others emailed by readers – thank you!), it’s a busy day on Elliott Bay. The question: What’s everyone fishing for? The answer, salmon. Two types, according to Mark Yuasa with the state Department of Fish and Wildlife, who tells WSB, “Pink salmon are starting to arrive into Puget Sound,, and with almost 4 million expected to return, this should really generate a lot of anglers onto the water. This weekend inner-Elliott Bay also opens for Chinook salmon fishing.” That’s today through Monday (August 7th); for more on the pink-salmon season, go here.
Long before classes start for the new school year, tryouts and practices begin for fall high-school sports. West Seattle High School has sent its list of first practice/tryout dates for six fall sports:
Wildcat Football
First Day of Practice: August 16thWildcat Girls Volleyball
First Day of Tryouts: August 21stWildcat Girls Soccer
First Day of Tryouts: August 21stWildcat Girls & Boys Golf
First Day of Tryouts: August 21stWildcat Girls Swim & Dive
First Day of Practice: August 21stWildcat Girls & Boys Cross Country
First Day of Practice: August 21st–
Times and locations vary – all those details, along with other information about what to do and who to contact before tryouts/practices begin, can be found here.
6:00 AM: Good morning! It’s Friday, August 4th.
WEATHER & SUNRISE/SUNSET TIMES
Sunny, high in the low 80s. Today’s sunrise was at 5:51 am; sunset will be at 8:39 pm.
ROAD WORK
On West Marginal, “quiet zone” work has begun – here’s the announcement from last week.
WEEKEND
-Highway 99 tunnel closed both ways 10 pm Friday night to 6 am Saturday night.
-I-90 does NOT close for the Blue Angels.
TRANSIT TODAY
Metro – regular schedule – check here for advisories.
Water Taxi – regular schedule.
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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