West Seattle, Washington
29 Thursday
9:09 AM: Thanks for the tip! 23 homes in southwesternmost West Seattle have been without power since just before 6:30 this morning. No cause listed yet; we’re checking with Seattle City Light; a screengrab of SCL’s outage map shows the outage location.
3:36 PM: The outage has ended since we last checked the map earlier this afternoon. Here’s what SCL’s Jenn Strang tells us about the cause: “Crews found a blown fuse caused by a tree branch contacting wires near 47th Ave SW and Maplewood Place SW. Additional vegetation management and overhead line crews needed to be called in to clear multiple spots of branches growing into the lines in this area before reenergization.”
6:33 AM: WSF says the Fauntleroy terminal is “out of service due to unplanned maintenance.” WSF says it can’t offload vehicles because of a transfer span problem but hopes to have it fixed within an hour.
6:59 AM: WSF says this is now fixed.
Earlier:
6:02 AM: Good morning! It’s Monday, September 18th.
WEATHER AND SUNRISE/SUNSET TIMES
Cloudy start to the day, rain possible, sun later, high in the mid-60s. Sunrise today is at 6:49 am; sunset, 7:17 pm.
TRANSIT TODAY
Metro – Regular schedule; check advisories here.
Water Taxi – Regular schedule.
Washington State Ferries – 2-boat service on the Triangle Route. Check alerts for changes, and use Vessel Watch to see where your ferry is.
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/X 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!
(Photo by Lynn Hall)
Tonight’s sunset ended the last weekend of summer. Autumn arrives at the equinox moment of 11:49 pm Friday (September 22nd). A few hours before that, educator and expert skywatcher Alice Enevoldsen will lead her next change-of-season sunset watch, starting at 6:30 pm at Solstice Park (7400 Fauntleroy Way SW, upslope). Not only will Alice explain the equinox, she’ll be talking about how to get ready to view the October 14th solar eclipse (partial in our area). Free eclipse-viewing glasses, too!
Starting this weeik, Outer Space Seattle plans to fully relaunch its all-day open-play space on Alki. Here’s the announcement:
Outer Space Seattle’s unfortunately timed opening in December 2019 (just two and a half months before the pandemic) left them in quite the financial predicament. The owners, Caitlin Huertas & Jeannie Hammock, pivoted their business plan by offering learning pods, child care, and preschool. While this allowed them to keep their doors open, they are thrilled to be going back to their original plan — full-day open play and café.
Huertas says, “We were happy to help West Seattle families by offering remote learning pods and child care during the pandemic. But the time has come for us to go back to our original plan: All-Day Open-Play Indoor Playground & Cafe. This also allows us to offer more play opportunities to more families. We have updated our menu, improved our sensory room, and we added sound absorbing panels to help with the noise level. We look forward to seeing everyone at our Grand Reopening this Wednesday, September 20th, 2023!”
Things to know:
-Socks are required for all
-No outside food allowed, but unopened, prepackaged baby food is ok.
-Parents need to stay onsite and supervise their children.
-The menu offers a range of family-friendly foods.Hours:
Monday – Thursday 10 am to 8 pm
Friday 10 am to 9 pm
Saturday 6:30 pm-9 pmOuter Space Seattle is closed to the public on Saturdays until 6:30 pm and all day Sundays for private parties.
They’re at 2820 Alki Avenue SW, between Locust and Cactus.
2:53 PM: Thanks to Kersti Muul for the report: Transient orcas are visible, northbound, from Emma Schmitz Overlook.
ADDED 4:35 PM: New from Kersti: “At least two humpbacks along the line from Alki near Cactus to Eagle Harbor. (Possibly three) heading toward Elliott Bay.”
As we first reported last month, the West Seattle Junction Association is turning what used to be the Harvest Festival into two events starting this year – and the first one is now a week away: The Fall Festival is planned for 11 am-2 pm Sunday, September 24th. It features just about everything you loved about Harvest Fest (except the trick-or-treating, which happens closer to Halloween) – chili cookoff, cornhole tournament, pie-eating contest, live music. (Signup links for the contest and tournament are on this page.) The Farmers’ Market will be on as always, in its usual spot on California SW north of SW Alaska, while the block between SW Alaska and SW Edmunds will also be closed to traffic and will be the site of festival fun. (Meantime, the trick-or-treating celebration is set for Sunday, October 29th, including the traditional costume parade!)
(September 2020 photo by Tony Welch – bridge with stabilization-work platforms)
No commemorations are planned that we know of, just the daily drumbeat of vehicles making the crossing, but we wanted to note that today marks one year since the West Seattle Bridge reopened. The city closed it with just a few hours’ notice March 23, 2020, after cracking left engineers concerned about collapse risk. Stabilization work ensued, followed by repair work, and finally after 2 1/2 years, the bridge was reopened to traffic just after 9 pm Saturday, September 17, 2022. Our coverage of how those 2 1/2 years unfolded is all archived here (reverse-chronological order, as per our publishing format).
Two reports this morning:
ANOTHER BUSINESS BURGLARY: Amber at The Birdhouse in Upper Fauntleroy reports they were hit by a burglar overnight – here’s what she sent:
I have attached pictures of the person who entered our building and stole our safe and till money. The break-in happened around 1:00 am. The police came after (the) Macrina driver found the crime scene about 5:30 am.
They’re still looking through security video for any other images of note, including whether there was a getaway car. The police incident # is 23-269772.
ANOTHER CRASHED, DUMPED HYUNDAI: A reader sent this photo of the car, found crashed/abandoned at Riverview Playfield:
Police-radio traffic indicates an officer just checked it out and verified it was stolen.
For the first time since 2019, the streets of South Park were alive with the celebration of Latin American cultures and heritage known as Fiestas Patrias, as hundreds of people paraded through the heart of the neighborhood on Saturday. Many of them rode – not just vehicles, but horses:
The parade ended with dozens of high-stepping horses and riders:
Earlier, there was horsepower:
Low riders from the Eazy Duz It Car Club rolled – and bounced – down the parade route:
Two-wheeled participants, too .. from scooters:
… to BMX bicycles …
… to unicycles – these students came all the way from Whittier Elementary in Ballard:
Schools from closer by participated too – here’s our video of Chief Sealth International High School‘s Cheer Team and Band:
South Park’s own Duwamish Valley Youth Corps walked in the parade:
Several folklorico groups danced along the route:
The parade was sponsored by Sea Mar Community Health Centers, which also is presenting a weekend-long Fiestas Patrias festival at Seattle Center downtown.
(Texas Striped Sweat Bee in photographer Rosalie Miller’s West Seattle garden)
Last Sunday of summer – here’s what’s happening:
ROAD-WORK ALERTS: The Junction paving project is scheduled to continue today – in the eastbound lanes of SW Alaska between California and 44th.
WESTIES RUN CLUB: Now they’re running on Sunday mornings too – meet at 9 am at Dough Joy Donuts (4310 SW Oregon).
WEST SEATTLE FARMERS’ MARKET: 10 am-2 pm, the market is open between SW Alaska and SW Oregon on California, offering late-summer fruit and vegetables as well as flowers, cheese, fish, meat, baked goods, condiments, fresh-cooked food, beverages (from kombucha to beer/wine), nuts, more. Here’s today’s vendor list.
DOUGH JOY AT OUNCES: Another 10 am-2 pm Dough Joy Donuts popup at Ounces (3809 Delridge Way SW).
DONATION DRIVE AT ALKI UCC: 11 am-3 pm, drop off donations at 6115 SW Hinds. Our calendar listing explains what they’re looking for.
‘RETHINK THE LINK’ WALK: Supporters of the “no-build alternative” will lead a walk along part of the potential West Seattle light-rail route, as previewed here. Meet at 11 am at Ounces (3809 Delridge Way SW)
SECOND-TIME SALE: Fauntleroy Church‘s mega-sale concludes today in the Fellowship Hall. Tables and tables and tables of curated, clean, lightly used items. 11:30 am-3 pm. (9140 California SW)
‘MATT & BEN’: Second matinee for the new play at ArtsWest (4711 California SW; WSB sponsor), 3 pm. Check for tickets here.
COFFEEHOUSE MUSIC Jen Howard performs 3-5 pm at C & P Coffee Company (5612 California SW; WSB sponsor). No cover.
END THE WEEKEND LAUGHING: The Junction Comedy Show is tonight at ArtsWest (4711 California SW; WSB sponsor), 7:30 pm. Ticket link is in our calendar listing.
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!
Sent by Hillary:
To add to the growing number of vehicle thefts recently, my 2017 Kia Soul was stolen from the NW corner of California Ave SW and SW Hanford St. I parked there at around 12:30 am Friday night/Saturday morning and noticed it gone (and a pile of glass) at 6:30 pm Saturday. She is black with License plate # BOS4455.
We’ll add the police report # when we get it. (UPDATE: 23-269435)
FRIDAY UPDATE: The car’s been found.
(Added: Photo sent by Shawn)
9:35 PM: There’s one heck of a fireworks show under way – according to the peek we could get from the end of our street, looks like it’s off south Bainbridge Island. Trying to find out whose!
9:44 PM: On Twitter/X, @westseawx unearthed an announcement from the Bainbridge Island Fire Department that there would be a “private fireworks show” tonight.
(Added: Photo by John Skerratt)
9:54 PM: The BIFD announcement said it would be “south of” the island and out of their jurisdiction, but within the Coast Guard’s jurisdiction.
10:05 PM: The BIFD announcement, and a KUOW story some have linked in comments, note that there was a similar show on the corresponding third Saturday night in September last year. We just checked our archives and it got only a fleeting mention because at that moment on that night (9/17/22) the West Seattle Bridge had just reopened.
10:23 PM: The dogs in our neighborhood are still barking. … We checked the latest Coast Guard Notice to Mariners, but it gave no hint of fireworks – the notation was just “Private Party, 2130-2200, IVO (in vicinity of) Blake Island.”
11:10 PM: For comparison, 10 years ago there was a private fireworks show off a barge off Beach Drive. The local company producing the celebration that included the show circulated an alert three weeks ahead of time.
SUNDAY EVENING: The Seattle Times identifies the fireworks company involved, and the various goverment agencies nominally involved, but still no enlightenment as to who the show was for and why.
Tomorrow’s the day that advocates of the “no-build alternative” lead a walk along much of the potential West Seattle light-rail route. Organizers, now under the banner Rethink the Link, have an update on what they plan to discuss. As laid out here:
-You will pass businesses likely to be demolished or affected adversely in some way.
-There will be explanations of the environmental impacts on Pigeon Point, the Duwamish Greenbelt, and Longfellow Creek.
-The Walk will pass where we THINK the route and Delridge Station will go. Walkers will be able to get an idea of the scale of the structure.
-You’ll cross Avalon Way and look back to see where the proposed route will weave its way through the various Transitional Resources buildings.
-At the top of the hill, you’ll see where the proposed route transitions from an elevated track, to tracks at grade, into a “retained cut.”
-You’ll also get a general idea of where the Avalon Station will be, if it remains part of the plan
Organizers say they have one change from the list of speakers mentioned here – Longfellow Creek will be discussed by Pamela Adams of BeaverInsights. Walk participants are meeting at 11 am tomorrow (Sunday, September 17th) at Ounces (3809 Delridge Way SW).
7:08 PM: SPD says northbound traffic on California at Edmunds/Erskine is being diverted because of a collision. It’s reported as a driver hitting a pedestrian, and the pedestrian will be taken to the hospital. Northbound traffic is being sent down Erskine.
7:50 PM: No further information so far. We’re checking with SFD for more information about the person taken to the hospital.
EARLY SUNDAY: We haven’t heard back from SFD yet, but meantime two commenters who report being there say the victim was a bike rider who was hit by a car door.
Two reader reports this afternoon:
STOLEN CIVIC: The report is from Beau: “Taupe/beige 2000 Honda Civic, license plate BLN5706. Taken from the High Point neighborhood, at the corner of High Point Drive SW and Macarthur Lane.” We’ll add the police report # when we get it.
DUMPED ITEMS: From a reader who wanted to be anonymous:
Found on Frontenac near 42nd SW. Student supplies and personal items.
Yours? Let us know and we’ll connect you.
Kersti Muul reports: “One lone male orca (likely T65A5 heading to meet family) is southbound, outer edge of Elliott Bay, past Skiff Point, Bainbridge Island.” (That’s directly across from West Point on the north edge of the bay.)
Received from our area’s Seattle Public Schools director Leslie Harris:
HUGE apologies – SPS District 6 Community Meeting is cancelled due to unforeseen mistakes in scheduling.
Next meeting (w/ lasagna) is scheduled for the West Seattle Library, October 21, 2023 – 2 – 5 p.m.
Please make sure to attend the online Well Resourced Schools [online] meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 26th from 5:30 – 7 p.m. and take the poll that allows narrative answers.
And tune in to the Board Work Session on the Budget on Weds. Sept. 20th, 4:30 – 6 p.m.
seattleschools.org – for sign-in information.
11:02 AM: As previewed here, the West Seattle Eco-Fair is happening today, presented by by the Care for Creation Ministry of Our Lady of Guadalupe and Holy Rosary Catholic parishes. We dropped by early for a look at some of what you’ll see – including information you can act on, like the plastic-avoidance display featured above, and RainWise (below):
This continues until 2 pm today.
It’s happening in the Walmesley Center at OLG, on the northeast corner of 35th/Myrtle.
2:04 PM: Wrapping up now. Thanks to Tony Fragada for sending this view from when the event was fully up and running:
How big is Fauntleroy Church‘s Second-Time Sale? So big that about two dozen people were waiting to get in when we arrived just before the doors opened at 9 am. So much stuff, the Fellowship Hall is brimming – even some items on the stage:
And more outside!
Here’s the overview from volunteer Judy Pickens: “Bargain-priced items range from towels to fine jewelry, books to cookware, and china to furniture, all clean, culled, and well-organized. Proceeds benefit the ministries of this active United Church of Christ congregation.” (That includes community projects like next Saturday’s Recycle Roundup!) The sale is on at 9131 California SW until 4 pm today, with an encore session 11:30 am-3 pm Sunday.
Reported by Claudia:
Unfortunately, it looks like we found a stolen and dumped vehicle this morning at the intersection of SW Cloverdale St & 37th Ave SW. It’s a black Hyundai Sonata with a WA license plate #AEB1901. The driver’s door has a dent and was left open. The car also looks like it was rifled through with various pens and paper scattered throughout the car and spilling out. I’m guessing the car was likely dumped sometime late at night, 9/15, or early this morning, 9/16.
I reported it to the city as an abandoned vehicle … Whoever this car belongs to, I’m sorry this happened to you.
(WSB photo – Gatewood sunflowers)
Welcome to the last Saturday of summer! Here’s what’s happening:
TRAFFIC ALERT: The paving project on eastbound SW Alaska between 44th and California will resume this morning, with that side of that block closed all weekend – that means some bus reroutes, too.
ORCA HALF: This half marathon between Lincoln Park and Don Armeni Boat Ramp will start, in waves, at 7:30 am. No road closures. For people coming from the other side of the bay, an extra early West Seattle Water Taxi run has been added from Pier 50 at 7:30 am.
FREE GROUP RUN: If you’d prefer to run a shorter distance, you can get your weekend off to a good start with this weekly West Seattle Runner (2743 California SW) group run, All levels welcome. Meet at the shop by 8 am.
SECOND-TIME SALE: Fauntleroy Church‘s mega-sale starts today in the Fellowship Hall. Tables and tables and tables of curated, clean, lightly used items. 9 am-4 pm. (9140 California SW)
CRAFT SHOW: Local artists are selling their work at The Missing Piece (35th/Roxbury), 9 am-4 pm. Overflow parking at Summit Atlas, kitty-corner across the intersection.
MORE SALES: See local sale listings on the WSB Community Forums‘ Freebies/Deals/Sales board.
TAKE A HIKE! Meet at the South Seattle College Arboretum (north end of 6000 16th SW campus) for a 9;30 am guided hike into the West Duwamish Greenbelt.
WEST SEATTLE ECO-FAIR: 10 am-2 pm at Our Lady of Guadalupe Walmesley Center (35th/Myrtle), meet reps of local groups that can help you figure out how to respond to the ecological emergency.
SOUTH DELRIDGE FARMERS’ MARKET: The weekly farmers’ market on the grounds of Hope Academy (9421 18th SW) is open for shopping 10 am-2 pm, prioritizing vendors of color, presented by African Community Housing & Development.
ANNIVERSARY SALE: The Discovery Shop – West Seattle (4535 California SW), which raises money to fight cancer, is having a 25%-off sale today, 10 am-4 pm.
MORNING MUSIC: 10:30 am-noon at C & P Coffee (5612 California SW; WSB sponsor), Marco de Carvalho and Friends perform. Learn about Marco’s music here.
FREE WRITING GROUP: 10:30 am in West Seattle, registration required – see full details in our calendar listing.
(added) BATMAN DAY: From Tails to Astonish (4850 California SW):
Today is Batman Day! And Tails to Astonish will be passing out free Batman comics for all ages. Plus, we are having a sale of 20% off all Batman back issues and toys. Come celebrate the caped crusader!
Open 11:30 am-7 pm.
FIESTAS PATRIAS PARADE: The parade celebrating Latin American cultures is back! 11 am in South Park, from 10th/Henderson east to 14th/Henderson, north to 14th/Cloverdale, west to 8th/Cloverdale, ending slightly north on 8th.
FAMILY READING TIME: Every Saturday at 11 am at Paper Boat Booksellers (6040 California SW).
SATURDAY COOKOUTS: Highland Park Corner Store is grilling, 11 am-2 pm on Saturdays through the end of the month. (7789 Highland Park Way SW)
INTERNATIONAL COASTAL CLEANUP ON THE RIVER: Noon-3 pm, bring your own boat and join in a Duwamish River cleanup. Meetup location and registration link are on this page.
VIETNAMESE CULTURAL CENTER: The center is open to visitors noon-3 pm, as explained here. (2234 SW Orchard)
LOG HOUSE MUSEUM: See what’s new at the home of West Seattle’s history – visit the Log House Museum (61st/Stevens) 12-4 pm.
VISCON CELLARS: Tasting room open – wine by the glass or bottle – 1-6 pm at Viscon Cellars (5910 California SW; WSB sponsor).
NORTHWEST WINE ACADEMY: 1-6 pm, with student-produced wines available. North end of South Seattle College (WSB sponsor) campus. (6000 16th SW)
AT THE SKYLARK: Emerald City Kings Ball at The Skylark (3803 Delridge Way SW), 7 pm.
ALL-AGES OPEN MIC: 7-10 pm at The Spot West Seattle (2920 SW Avalon Way)
‘MATT & BEN’: Second weekend for the season-opening play at ArtsWest (4711 California SW; WSB sponsor), 7:30 pm. Check for tickets here.
AT KENYON HALL: Jack Williams performs at 7:30 pm. (7904 35th SW)
Planning a concert, open house, show, sale, event, meeting, seminar, reading, field trip, fundraiser, class, game, or ? Get it on our calendar! Please email info to westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
The photo is from Nick, one of several people who emailed/texted late Friday night about that sight in the sky. It was another Starlink sighting. SpaceX launched another 22 internet-service satellites from Cape Canaveral, Florida, just after 8:30 pm our time Friday, and that was the fourth Starlink launch this month. However, that’s not what we were seeing here, according to FindStarlink.com – this “satellite train” was from Starlink 104, launched a week ago.
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
King County Elections will send out ballots for this fall’s general election a little more than a month from now, so voting time is fast approaching.
Voters in West Seattle and vicinity will elect a new City Council District 1 representative; after eight years, Lisa Herbold, the first and only person to hold the seat since seven of the nine councilmembers started being elected by district, decided not to run again. The top finishers in an eight-candidate primary to succeed her are Maren Costa, who received 33 percent of the August vote, and Rob Saka, who got 24 percent.
As we did before the primary, we sat down with them for half-hour-ish interviews, recorded on video. We recorded each conversation at Fauntleroy Schoolhouse. Saka talked with us on Thursday, September 7th. The main topic for both conversations was public safety, and that’s where we began:
If you can’t or don’t want to watch the video, here’s our summary of the conversation:
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