West Seattle, Washington
18 Thursday
(Reader photo, July 16th)
Three weeks ago tonight, a speeding driver on Alki Avenue smashed into another car so hard, it was pushed over the seawall and into Elliott Bay, with passersby jumping into the water to rescue that car’s driver, 24-year-old Madison Kelly. Harborview Medical Center is no longer able to answer media questions about her condition, due to her medical-privacy status. The most recent update on the crowdfunding page for Ms. Kelly and her family is from two weeks ago, at which time she was described as “breathing on her own (and) discharged from the ICU (but) in a comatose state.” The update says her recovery could take months or years. Meantime, the driver who hit her, a 23-year-old North Seattle man who was driving his brother’s car, has not yet been charged. He was arrested the night of the crash on suspicion of DUI but taken to the hospital rather than jail; he is no longer at Harborview Medical Center but we don’t know whether he was transferred to another medical facility from there. The King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office told WSB late Friday that the case had not yet been referred to them by Seattle Police detectives; as discussed at the most-recent Alki Community Council meeting, discussions were under way regarding whether charges could be filed before the state lab’s toxicology report came in. Meantime, the City Council has since passed a bill that would enable speed-enforcement cameras in that area, but it’s up to SDOT to come up with a plan for installing them; that’s also the agency still mulling whether more speed humps should be added on Alki/Harbor Avenues.
The Blue Angels‘ final 2023 performance in Seattle is over as of three-plus hours ago. We have reader photos to share – above, Monica Zaborac‘s classic view of their downtown flyby, from West Seattle; below, Erin Szekely sent a view from Seacrest:
From Christie B., some of the people who gathered at the Jack Block Park overlook to watch:
West Seattle photographer Jerry Simmons went to the show’s intended viewing area on the east side, and describes this image as a “vapor cone” around the jet, resulting from higher humidity:
Next weekend the Blue Angels perform in Montana, at the Yellowstone International Air Show.
Thanks to everyone who’s continued sending views of our feathered neighbors this summer. We’ve featured some with our daily preview lists, but as the weekend wraps up, we have a moment to share a gallery – starting, above, with Jerry Simmons‘ catch, a gull apparently getting warned off by a crab. The star in another gull’s bill wasn’t so lucky, Theresa Arbow-O’Connor shows us:
Other birds just grab their prey from the water and take off, like this Osprey photographed by James Tilley:
James also caught the brilliant color of a Purple Martin:
Another brightly colored bird – this Anna’s Hummingbird photographed by Jon Anderson:
From Jamie Kinney, a Barred Owl:
And a Great Blue Heron:
A closer view of another heron – via long lens – from David Hutchinson:
And another photo from Jerry Simmons – a young Northern Flicker getting fed:
Thanks again to the photographers. And be mindful of our winged neighbors as summer continues – it doesn’t take a desert-style heat wave for bird baths to dry out quickly!
3:30 PM: Thanks to everyone who’s sent photos (the one above is from Shaun) and questions about that fleet of boats in view from west-facing West Seattle, first headed northbound and now eastbound into Elliott Bay. MarineTraffic.com shows it’s the entire Kitsap Transit foot-ferry fleet, 10 boats. The reason for the group trip – photo op, perhaps? – we don’t know yet but will update when we do.
4:31 PM: Kitsap Transit confirmed to us via Twitter/X: “We are working on capturing photos and videos of our ferry fleet today.”
5:13 PM: KT spokesperson Sanjay Bhatt adds via email that this is the first time they’ve ever done this.
(WSB photo)
Back on Thursday, after reader tips (206-293-6302 text or voice any time!), we showed you the first demolition at Alki Elementary, tearing down the old portable on the north side of the school. But the crew did not proceed immediately to the building. Seattle Public Schools explained that’s because the portable demolition is “under a separate permit, issued at the beginning of July.” The full permits are still awaiting the ruling of appeals filed against the zoning exceptions (“departures”) sought by the district. The hearing examiner who heard the case July 25th (WSB coverage here) had promised a ruling within 20 days, so that should happen in the next week or so, but SPS says other work can proceed in the meantime: “There also will be grading and shoring work on the site prior to completion of the departure process. None of the early construction activities involve any of the departures SPS is seeking for the project. Beginning them will not preclude implementing any conditions imposed on the project by the Hearing Examiner.” The new school’s height is no longer being appealed, so the issues that await a ruling have to do primarily with transportation, including the plan to build the new school with no offstreet parking. Meantime, when the 2023-1024 school year starts in a month, Alki classes will be at the former Schmitz Park Elementary.
Sundays in The Junction keep expanding – beyond the West Seattle Farmers’ Market itself, and the year-round businesses, pop-ups add to the possibilities, and starting today there’s another one: Summer Sundays in the Alley. To find it, just walk into the alley east of California on the Farmers’ Market block (between Oregon and Alaska) and look for the mural and canopies.
Food, art, and music are part of the plan, 10 am to 4 pm every Sunday this month, with different guest vendors within the pop-up, like Lovely and Dapper Desserts‘ mini-cakes today:
If you’re more into savory than sweet, the crew from Matador is selling street tacos. Or just soak up the vibe:
This is happening right behind the boutique Carmilia’s (4528 California SW), also open 10 am-4 pm on Sundays.
(WSB photo, Friday)
If you frequently pass by the Pump Station 38 project site in the 1400 block of Alki Avenue SW, you’ve likely noticed the construction isn’t complete yet, even though it was described as near completion months ago. The artwork is installed, as our photo shows, along with the new guardrail, but otherwise, cones and holes remain. Seattle Public Utilities says in an update, “The work has been delayed due to a malfunctioning pump that needed to be returned to the manufacturer for repair. At this time, the project is tentatively scheduled to be completed in September.” That’ll be five months longer than the “up to nine months” estimated when work started in July of last year.
(Gray Saturday ends with pink-sunset surprise – photo by Javier Fosado)
Welcome to Sunday! Here’s what’s on the list:
LAST DAY OF SUMMER SCRAMBLE: The pirate-themed West Seattle scavenger hunt ends at 7 tonight, but you can still get in on it today.
WEST SEATTLE GLASS FLOAT HUNT: 23 of the first 50 were still waiting to be found as of late last night.
BICYCLING FOR EVERYONE: Outdoors for All is presenting an adaptive-cycling demonstration on Beach Drive at Constellation Park, 10 am-2 pm.
WEST SEATTLE FARMERS’ MARKET: 10 am-2 pm, the market is happening between SW Alaska and SW Oregon on California, offering summer produce as well as flowers, cheese, fish, meat, baked goods, condiments, fresh-cooked food, beverages (from kombucha to beer/wine), nuts, plants, more. Here’s today’s vendor list.
SUMMER SUNDAYS IN THE ALLEY: 10 am-4 pm behind Carmilia’s (4528 California SW): “Vintage, Art, Music, and Street Tacos” – new weekly event in August. Plus today, Lovely & Dapper Desserts will be there with mini-cakes.
HIGHLAND PARK SPRAYPARK OPEN: 11 am-8 pm daily through Labor Day, shine or rain. (1100 SW Cloverdale)
E.C. HUGHES WADING POOL OPEN: Noon-7 pm. (2805 SW Holden)
LINCOLN PARK WADING POOL OPEN: Noon-7 pm. (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.
NO ALKI POINT LIGHTHOUSE TOURS TODAY: Volunteers are busy with Seafair today but lighthouse tours will resume NEXT Sunday.
HIGHLAND PARK CARS: Meet photographers Peter de Lory and Franklin Stauffer as their exhibit opens at Highland Park Corner Store (7789 Highland Park Way SW), 3-5 pm.
POP-UP TREATS: 3-6 pm, Butter Half Cakes will be at Ounces (3809 Delridge Way SW).
MUSIC AT THE COFFEEHOUSE: At C & P Coffee (5612 California SW; WSB sponsor), Paul Gerard performs, 3-5 pm.
(Saturday photo by David Hutchinson)
BLUE ANGELS: One last Seafair airshow, scheduled for 3:20-4:30 pm, taking off from (and returning to) Boeing Field.
SUNSET GONG BATH & MEDITATION: 7:30 pm at Lowman Beach (7017 Beach Drive SW) – details in our calendar listing. $25 suggested donation.
SUNDAY NIGHT JAZZ: Triangular Jazztet at The Alley (4509 California SW), 8 pm and 9 pm sets.
Something for our calendar – one-time or recurring? Email us the info – westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
| 47 COMMENTS