day : 28/08/2023 10 results

WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Business burglarized, again

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| Crime | West Seattle news

Swedish Automotive (WSB sponsor) has been hit by another smash-and-grab burglary, similar to one back in February. Swedish proprietor Todd Ainsworth sent the photo and report:

We got hit again with another broken window sometime between Thursday evening and Friday morning. Some of our awesome clients and neighbors started texting us Friday morning, saying they saw the window while they were walking or driving by.

Whoever it was grabbed a couple of easy-to-reach items from one of our techs’ toolboxes and we have filed a police report. If anyone has any information, it would be great to know.

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SCHOOLS: Four-week delay for online ‘well-resourced schools’ meeting

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| West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

Tomorrow night was supposed to be Seattle Public Schools‘ grand finale to its series of community meetings meant to collect ideas to define “well-resourced schools.” That’s what the district says it needs to move toward – and that might mean closing/consolidating schools. So far, it’s had a series of in-person meetings around the district, including this one we covered on August 10th. Late today, the district announced the citywide online meeting scheduled for tomorrow will instead be held at 5:30 pm September 26th. The announcement says in part, “Moving this online engagement to Tuesday, Sept. 26, after the school year has begun will allow for wider community participation. It will also help us prepare an exceptional experience for a larger number of people.” If you RSVP here, they promise to send the meeting link during the week of September 11th. Meantime, they’re still promising an online survey in “early September.” This is all supposed to result in a plan to be presented by superintendent Dr. Brent Jones in November.

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UPDATE: 15-customer power outage southeast of The Junction

August 28, 2023 6:46 pm

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| Utilities | West Seattle news

6:46 PM: After a bit of a lag, the Seattle City Light outage map is now showing an outage a texter says started about 6:25 pm. They heard an explosion and then lost power. The map says 15 customers are out.

7:25 PM: Our texter reports that a dead crow was found near the origin of the outage – “closed circuit and blew fuse,” they were told, along with the promise that power should be back shortly.

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WEST SEATTLE STAIRWAYS: Bonair closure, Brandon construction, California Drive update

August 28, 2023 5:08 pm

| 19 COMMENTS

| Transportation | West Seattle news

Updates today on three West Seattle stairways, present and future:

BONAIR/HALLECK WORK: Thanks to Desiree for the tip on this. If you use this stairway in upper Alki, note that tree/vegetation work is set to start Wednesday.

(SDOT photo)

The stairway will be closed during the work, according to the official construction notice. It’s expected to last up to two days. SDOT‘s Greg Funk says this is prep work before the stairway is rebuilt (which is also awaiting a separate project – Seattle City Light needs to move the pole at the bottom of the stairway).

BRANDON CONSTRUCTION: This under-construction stairway between 21st and 23rd, a block east of the Delridge Library, has caught a lot of attention:

(WSB photo)

This isn’t an SDOT project – the developer of an adjacent house-building project was required to build it as a condition of the project permit. But, SDOT’s Funk tells us, it will be turned over to the city when complete. One feature that not all stairways have: As requested by at least one community member, this will have “runnels” so that bicycles can be pushed up/down the stairway. As for its status, Funk says, “The bike runnels have been formed and poured and the contractor is working on forming and pouring stair treads. No ETA on completion but October for concrete work and then another month for rail.”

CALIFORNIA DRIVE: This stairway project in Fauntleroy “is almost complete,” Funk says. “SDOT crews are installing the permanent rail this week.”

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YOU CAN HELP: Benefit Thursday for Southgate Roller Rink manager

August 28, 2023 3:51 pm

| 3 COMMENTS

| How to help | West Seattle news | White Center

If you’ve skated at our area’s only roller rink – Southgate, in White Center – you might know manager Katie. She’s fighting cancer, and the rink is hosting a benefit 8:30-11 pm Thursday night (August 31st) to help her win that fight:

Let’s raise some money to help our good friend and manager Katie! This is a 21+ fundraising event. There will be A RAFFLE featuring donations by local businesses and artists! Music by DJ Josh and a special live music performance by MAN PLUS! The admission is $25 and free skate rental. 100% of the admission will go to Katie and will be matched by Southgate.

Katie has been taking care of everyone else and always puts their needs before herself. She will beat cancer and in the meantime let’s raise some money to cover her rent, living expenses, and medical bills!

If you are unable to attend, this is the link to the gofundme: gofundme.com/f/r9kgn-help-katie-beat-cancer

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UTILITY NOTES: Mystery brown water in Fauntlee Hills; followup on Puget Ridge’s Saturday power outage

August 28, 2023 1:52 pm

| 7 COMMENTS

| Utilities | West Seattle news

Two West Seattle utility notes:

MYSTERY BROWN WATER: Via text, a reader report: “Just want to report brown water to multiple homes in the Fauntlee Hills area (39th and 40th Ave SW). Called SPU. They said no fire hydrant testing in the area and are sending this to the water quality inspector to investigate.” Hydrant testing has been the most common cause of brown water – stirring up sediment (rust) in the lines – lately, but certainly isn’t the only possibility, which is why reporting it to 206-386-1800 is important, every time.

SATURDAY OUTAGE FOLLOWUP: More than 300 Seattle City Light customers, mostly on Puget Ridge, lost power for more than an hour and a half on Saturday night, as reported here. Shortly after the start of the outage, SFD responded to a “vault fire” call in the 6700 block of West Marginal Way. Today when we followed up, SCL’s Jenn Strang confirmed the two were related – the vault fire actually led to the wider outage: “We de-energized the additional 319 customers for a brief period out of an abundance of caution while SFD and City Light crews safely entered the area. SFD confirmed there was no active fire, but smoke was coming from the vault. The cause was determined to be a fuse in the underground system.”

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BIZNOTE: Ephesus closes in West Seattle

August 28, 2023 11:56 am

| 60 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle restaurants

Thanks to the readers who emailed in recent days about the closure of Ephesus, the Turkish-turned-Greek restaurant at 5245 California SW. Via email, Aydin from Ephesus confirmed the closure and said they didn’t renew their lease because “Our landlord wanted to increase rent 100% and we didn’t accept.” You can find the same Greek food and beverages at 210 Occidental Ave. S. in Pioneer Square.

Property records show the West Seattle building has had the same ownership for 30 years; they sold off the long-stalled building site next door last year. (The new project for that site, first noted here last year – again, under different ownership from the now-closed restaurant – is still making its way through the city permit process; here’s the new design packet for the 9 townhouses planned there.)

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11 for your West Seattle Monday

August 28, 2023 10:39 am

| 4 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

Thanks to Steve Bender for a colorful photo to brighten a gray morning – a tree frog, photographed in West Seattle. Meantime, here are the calendar highlights for the rest of your Monday:

LEARN TO CHEER: Today’s the registration deadline for Chief Sealth IHS Cheerleaders‘ upcoming after-school mini-camp for kids of all ages – details here.

WADING POOL: Despite the clouds, Seattle Parks says the weather will be warm enough, with some sun, to open the Lincoln Park wading pool noon-7 pm (8011 Fauntleroy Way SW).

COLMAN POOL OPEN: This outdoor salt-water pool at Lincoln Park is also open noon-7 pm daily for one more week – through Labor Day. See the session schedule here.

MOVIE MONDAYS: At the Senior Center of West Seattle (4217 SW Oregon) at 1 pm, Terry’s “Greatest Movies You’ve Never Heard Of” continue, with free popcorn plus newsreels, previews, and cartoons. Today’s movie: “The Devil to Pay” (1930). Members free, nonmembers $5.

SUMMER EVENING PADDLING: Monday nights all summer long, get out on the water with Alki Kayak Tours, 6 pm. (1660 Harbor SW).

GET CRAFTY: 6-10 pm, this is “Crafting and Creativity Night” at The Missing Piece (9456 35th SW), info here.

D&D: Open D&D starts at 6:30 pm at Meeples Games (3727 California SW), all welcome, first-time players too. $5.

MONDAY MEDITATION: Free weekly Zen sitting/meditation at the chapel at Fauntleroy UCC (9140 California SW), 7 pm-8:30 pm.

BEDHEAD OPEN MIC: Weekly BedHead Open Mic at West Seattle Church of the Nazarene (4201 SW Juneau), 7 pm (signups at 6:30) – info in our calendar listing.

MONDAY NIGHT TRIVIA! Three options – 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 with QuizFix at The Skylark (3803 Delridge Way SW)

MUSIC AT THE ALLEY: 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!

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Remembering Stefan Gryniewski, 1995–2023

August 28, 2023 9:00 am

| 30 COMMENTS

| Obituaries | West Seattle news

Family and friends are remembering Stefan Gryniewski. His father shares this remembrance:

My son, Stefan Gryniewski, died of an accidental drug overdose in the early morning of August 23, 2023. He left this world too soon. At least I know that he is at peace now in God’s love and no longer subject to the ravages of a terrible drug addiction.

He will be missed terribly and remembered always.

From his very beginning Stefan faced challenges in life. He was born prematurely, weighing a mere 2 lbs. 4 ozs. He spent 58 days in an incubator before coming home. When I first held him in my hands, and he wasn’t much bigger than my hands, I wondered aloud “how is this baby going to survive?” However, he received excellent care from the doctors and nurses at Swedish Hospital in Seattle, and I am forever grateful.

Stefan was a fighter. He not only survived but he thrived. He sought to overcome every obstacle he faced in life. He had the strength, courage, and desire to live life to its fullest. He was smart, funny, sociable, dependable, and loved his family. Unfortunately, over the last few years Fentanyl and heroin hijacked his resolve and took his life.

Stefan’s smile lit up a room. He loved to laugh and sing. For some odd reason he had a special love for songs from the 1970s. He was a goofball in every way. He was also focused, motivated, and goal oriented.

Growing up, Stefan immersed himself in many things. He loved sports – especially baseball and football. He was a rabid Mariners, Huskies, and Seahawks fan. He loved American muscle cars and dreamed of owning one at some point in his life. He took every auto shop class that he could in high school and learned his way around cars.

Stefan also loved camping and nature. We spent many wonderful summers camping together at Tahklahk Lake in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest. He loved swimming, fishing, hiking, and reading Harry Potter by the fire. For those memories Tahklahk Lake will always occupy a special place in our hearts now and forever.

A voracious reader, Stefan was also interested in current events, politics, and the world around him. He was passionate about many causes and always stood up for what he believed in. He had a particular gift for languages and was fluent in many of them. Stefan was proud of his Polish heritage and dreamed of traveling to Poland someday to meet his relatives.
More than anything, Stefan wanted to create a loving, stable life for his family and dreamed of a successful career, becoming a homeowner, and contributing to his community.

Stefan graduated Cum Laude from Ingraham High School, where he also wrestled and played football. He was enrolled at the University of Washington – Tacoma, where he was 30 credits short of a degree in Global Honors at the time of his passing.

Stefan is survived by Bruce Gryniewski (father), Eva Luna (mother), Levi Gryniewski (brother), Pechanda Von (wife), Felix Gryniewski (son), and many loving aunts, uncles and cousins.

In lieu of flowers or remembrances, please consider making a donation to a drug addiction treatment center or organization of your choice. No words can describe the pain of losing a child but every life we save will be forever in his memory.

(WSB publishes West Seattle obituaries and memorial announcements by request, free of charge. Please email the text, and a photo if available, to westseattleblog@gmail.com)

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TRAFFIC, TRANSIT, WEATHER: August’s last Monday

August 28, 2023 6:03 am

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| West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

6:03 AM: Good morning! It’s Monday, August 28th, and we’re starting the last workweek before Labor Day.

WEATHER AND SUNRISE/SUNSET TIMES

Partly sunny, chance of showers/thunderstorms, high in the mid-70s. Today’s sunrise will be at 6:22 am; sunset will be at 7:58 pm.

BACK TO SCHOOL

More local students will return to class this week – Wednesday (August 30th) is the official first day for Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic School and the Vashon Island School District (which has many students who commute by ferry from Fauntleroy). Our full list of start dates is here.

TRANSIT TODAY

Metro – regular schedule – check here for advisories. The September “service change” happens Saturday – for West Seattle, the Route 55 suspension and some Route 22 changes are most notable.

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 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 cam:

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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