West Seattle, Washington
25 Thursday
Thanks to Jan Pendergrass (above) and James Bratsanos (below) for the photos of Labor Day Weekend 2023’s first sunset.
The forecast says tomorrow will be the sunniest, warmest day of the weekend, with a high near 80. Then the cooler, cloudier weather rolls back in.
The Boeing Employees Choir, which rehearses in West Seattle, is inviting potential new members to come to their rehearsals starting later this month. Thie choir has a big trip planned, too. Here’s the announcement sent to us to share with you:
We are planning a 2-week concert tour of Greece in late September 2024 and are recruiting new members from the West Seattle area. Come to an open rehearsal at the American Legion Hall on 3618 SW Alaska Street on Tuesday evenings (6:30 – 9:00 pm) to see if you’d like to join and schedule an easy audition. Open rehearsals run Tuesday 9/12/23 through 10/10/23. Historically made up of Boeing employees and their families, we have opened membership to the public, sharing our love of music and cheer in numerous concerts throughout the year, especially during the Christmas holidays. Suggested dues are $150/semester. Sign up in September to ensure your spot on our tour! For questions, email president@boeingchoir.org.
Three weeks ago, we reported on the boutique Cherry Consignment> celebrating 14 years in business. In conjunction with that milestone, HomeStreet Bank (WSB sponsor) spotlighted Cherry throughout the month, and (above R-L) proprietor Nyla Bittermann joined HomeStreet’s Joyce Leslie for a Thursday drawing to win a gift card. Every month, the HomeStreet West Seattle branch (4022 SW Alaska) spotlights a local business or nonprofit; this month, it’s the West Seattle Food Bank, so if you visit the branch, you can learn about WSFB too.
Seven years after voters approved ST3, four years before Sound Transit expects to start building the West Seattle light rail line, some of your neighbors want to reconsider it. They say we need more transit – but not necessarily this kind of transit. They’re launching what they call Rethink the Link, with a community walk in two weeks – here’s their announcement:
When we say “Rethink the Link,” we are acknowledging that a lot has happened in the 7 years since voters decided to approve ST 3.
-A global pandemic.
-The 2 1/2 year closure of the West Seattle Bridge.
-The work-from-home phenomenon.In light of those events, it’s time to take a fresh look at our transit options and insure that we have efficient, safe, and sustainable connections to the places we want to go.
Starting with Link Light Rail.
West Seattle residents have been asking Sound Transit to walk the proposed route with us so we can get a better idea of what the future will look like if light rail comes to our community. They’ve promised many times to “get back to us,” but never have. We have lots of questions. Maybe you do, too. So we’ve decided to host our own walk.
Using the information Sound Transit has made public about its preferred “alternatives,” and knowledge from residents who have served on transportation advisory panels, we are going to walk the eastern portion of the route between the proposed locations for the Delridge and Avalon stations. We’ll walk the rest of the route, between the Avalon and the Junction stations, in the near future.
On this walk, you will learn about the proposed route; physical dimensions of the infrastructure; businesses that will be displaced; the effect the project will have on the Duwamish greenbelt, wildlife, and salmon habitat; and how light rail will affect the residential area.
We believe that when our neighbors have a chance to see what light rail will mean for our community, they will be better able to make up their minds about what should come next.
The walk will leave Ounces (3809 Delridge Way SW) at 11 am September 17th. They’re specifically advocating for the “no-build alternative,” which is one of the options featured in this section of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (see page 73). It “includes the transportation system and environment as they would exist in 2042 without the proposed project, and it provides a baseline condition for comparing impacts of the Build Alternatives and design options.” That section also says “No Build Alternative improvements include transit, roadway, and other transportation actions by state, regional, and local agencies that are currently funded or committed, and those that are likely to be implemented based on approved and committed funding.” Theoretically, the Sound Transit Board could decide on this option, rather than light rail, when making its final commitment to “the project to be built” at some point after the Final Environmental Impact Report comes out next year.
Thanks for the tips about the fenced-off closure of the play structure at Alki’s Whale Tail Park. There’s no fully explanatory signage, so we asked Seattle Parks on Wednesday about the situation. We got the info today from Parks spokesperson Karen O’Connor:
The “whale tail” play area on the north end of the park had a damaged slide. When we received the replacement slide, it was the wrong specs and could not be installed. We have ordered another. Once we receive the slide, we will re-install and open this section of the play area. We anticipate it will be re-open by mid-September.
O’Connor says they’ll get a sign posted so visitors know what’s going on.
P.S. We also asked her about the schedule for replacing long-closed Lincoln Park South and Westcrest Park play areas, since the construction contract has now been officially awarded. She’s hoping to have that information post-holiday.
(WSB photo, July 22)
We feature lots of opportunities for contributing to the community, but don’t always get the results. Today, we learned the final tally from this year’s Float Dodger 5K on July 22nd, presented by West Seattle Runner (WSB sponsor) to raise money for the West Seattle Food Bank‘s work preventing hunger and homelessness, WSR’s Lori McConnell tells WSB their official donation to WSFB was $6,883! (If you weren’t among the 600 runners/walkers for the 5K along the West Seattle Grand Parade route, here’s our coverage of how it went.)
P.S. As mentioned here Thursday, your next big chance to have a good time while helping the food bank is the September 28 Taste of West Seattle.
(Alki photo by James Bratsanos from earlier this week – today’s low tide is -0.9 feet at 12:24 pm)
Here’s what’s happening as we head toward the holiday weekend, mostly from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar!
SPRAYPARK OPEN: Final Friday! Highland Park Spraypark (1100 SW Cloverdale) is open until 8 pm.
LINCOLN PARK WADING POOL OPEN: Also the final Friday! 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.
BELLY-DANCING CULTURAL CELEBRATION: Free! Dancing, music, bites, more. 5-9 pm at Jet City Labs (4547 California SW).
FOOTBALL: High-school season begins, with one local team playing a home game – West Seattle HS vs. Columbia River at 6 pm at Nino Cantu SW Athletic Complex (2801 SW Thistle).
LIVE AT EASY STREET RECORDS: Album-release party for Frankie and the Witch Fingers, 7 pm, free, all ages. (4559 California SW)
COFFEEHOUSE MUSIC: David Garbers 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: Orange Comfort. Bazaar, Ember Mists, doors 7 pm, music 8 pm at The Skylark, $10 cover, all ages until 10 pm. (3803 Delridge Way SW).
‘STAGE STRUCK’ SENDOFF: 8 pm tonight, for alums and friends of the long-running youth theater program. If you missed our story – read it here.
Something to add to our calendar? westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
Every school year, we tell you about ways you can help local students, from tutoring to attending events to donating money. Here’s the announcement for one of the first fundraisers of 2023-2024, from Friends of Roxhill Elementary:
Kick off the new school year by giving to the Roxhill Field Trip and Classroom Fund!
Did you know schools and families cover the cost of field trips? This creates a disparity between field trip experiences across schools in our district.
With your generous donations, Friends of Roxhill provides each teacher at our school with money for field trips and to equip their classroom with much-needed supplies, like educational games, toys, and books. Last year, each teacher received ~$15 per student. We’d like to increase the amount to ~$20 per student this year!
Not all families in our school have the means to give. If you do, please consider donating on behalf of your student and a classmate. 100% of funds will go to teachers to benefit our RoxStars.
Roxhill Elementary is a small but mighty Title I school with about 250 students, located in the south end of West Seattle. Friends of Roxhill Elementary supports the education and enrichment of our multicultural public school in Seattle. Over 70% of our students are from BIPOC communities (Black, Indigenous, Person of Color). Our nonprofit focuses on building equity for students through fundraising, community building, and other important projects for our kids’ school success.
You can go here to help. (And if you have news of a school fundraiser/event/cool potential news story, email westseattleblog@gmail.com or text 206-293-6302!)
(WSB file photo)
If you’re staying in West Seattle this holiday weekend, we have a few special events to spotlight – first, the Children’s Moonlight Festival at the Vietnamese Cultural Center (2236 SW Orchard, just north of The Home Depot) on Sunday (September 3rd). Despite its name, this celebration happens during the day, 2-4 pm,; it’s full of free activities and treats, plus a lantern parade (with kids carrying lanterns they just made) and a lion dance. All are welcome; here’s the flyer with more details.
6:01 AM: Good morning! It’s Friday, September 1st.
WEATHER AND SUNRISE/SUNSET TIMES
Sunnier as the day goes on, high in the mid-70s. Today’s sunrise will be at 6:27 am; sunset will be at 7:49 pm.
BACK TO SCHOOL
Right after the holiday, the schools that aren’t already open will start on Tuesday or Wednesday. Our full list of start dates is here.
TRANSIT TODAY, INCLUDING HOLIDAY-WEEKEND CHANGES
Washington State Ferries – The Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth run lost 1 boat to mechanical trouble yesterday afternoon. Check Vessel Watch to see if it’s back to 2 yet. Meantime, the Triangle Route will be on its weekend schedule Monday.
Metro – regular schedule – check here for advisories. The September “service change” happens Saturday – for West Seattle, Route 55 will be suspended and Routes 50 and 22 have changes.
Water Taxi – regular schedule. On Labor Day, the West Seattle Water Taxi and its shuttles will run on the Sunday schedule; the Vashon Water Taxi won’t run.
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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