West Seattle, Washington
18 Thursday
That’s the team at Seattle Bridal Rack, a “brand new off the rack bridal boutique” at 4304 SW Walker in North Admiral. They’re planning a grand-opening party in a week and a half. Seattle Bridal Rack is an offshoot of Samila Bridal and Formal, which has been matching women with special-occasion apparel for a quarter-century – “we joined forces with our master pattern makers and trusted vendors to bring forth the same level of excellence and trendy designs at outlet prices.” Seattle Bridal Rack says it’s “the only bridal shop in Washington state to offer both sample sale and brand-new gowns at discounted outlet prices.” They offer free appointments and also say they’re “the only discount bridal boutique that has digitalized our entire dress collection online” so prospective customers can look at the selection before making an appointment. You can even take your dress home the same day. But even if you’re not currently engaged – or expecting to be – Seattle Bridal Rack invites you to the grand-opening celebration, 2-4 pm Sunday, October 15th, which will be not only a showcase (and ribbon-cutting) for the new shop, but also will feature partner vendors with everything from bling to blossoms.
Ballots go out two weeks from today. Although we’ve been focusing on the Seattle City Council District 1 vote, you’ll be deciding another city matter in the general election: The renewal/expansion of the Seattle Housing Levy. You can read the ballot measure in its entirety here; its official explanatory statement begins:
Proposition 1 would authorize a seven-year property tax increase, replacing an expiring levy, to finance low-income housing and provide for housing needs of low-income persons. Approximately 51 percent of levy funding is anticipated to serve households earning 30 percent or less of Seattle area median income.
Over those seven years, as we reported earlier this year, the levy would raise almost a billion dollars. When councilmembers finalized it in June, we published a breakdown of where those dollars would go. Seattle has had a Housing Levy since 1986; that first one was for $50 million, while the one that’s expiring now totaled almost $300 million. If your house is worth about $900,000, this is projected to cost you about $32 a month. The arguments for and against are linked here. Projects funded at least in part by the expiring levy include Salish Landing, the 82-apartment Delridge complex that opened this year, built on the site of the former Lam Bow Apartments
Winter-sports season approaches … and Mountain to Sound Outfitters (3602 SW Alaska; WSB sponsor) wants you to be ready. Today marks the start of M2SO’s winter-sports daily and season ski/snowboard rentals. Here’s how that works:
Mountain to Sound Outfitters offers Seasonal Ski Rentals and Snowboard Rentals for you to try before you buy. Some people know this as Season Ski Lease or Season Snowboard Lease and it’s all the same thing – pick it up now, and bring it back in April … or if you enjoy the gear you rent from us for the season, you can buy it outright in the spring.
Season rentals are typically available starting the first weekend in October and are due back by April 15th. Returns can be extended until May for an additional fee…. Daily rentals may be picked up the day before you head up to the mountain at no additional charge.
More info here, including the link for getting an appointment.
P.S. Also remember that Mountain to Sound Outfitters’ annual Ski Swap is approaching too – October 14-15 – whether you’re interested in buying or selling, you can find info here.
Our photo shows the spot in Lincoln Park where Seattle Parks says it will convert former tennis courts into new pickleball courts, photographed late in the day last Sunday. In the nine days since we last checked in on the controversy, there’ve been a variety of developments.
First, the backstory: We reported in August that Parks planned to add pickleball striping to three of the six tennis courts at nearby Solstice Park during upcoming resurfacing work. After feedback including tennis players’ opposition, Parks changed its mind, announcing – though not widely – that it would keep Solstice tennis-only while creating a pickleball-only site in Lincoln Park.
This did not go over well with the pickleball community, whose leaders say they had no warning the Solstice plans – months in the works – were being reconsidered, nor with a community of Lincoln Park devotees who are worried pickleball will be too noisy and disruptive for wildlife and peace-loving parkgoers. Both of those groups are represented in online petition drives; local wildlife biologist/advocate Kersti Muul started this one voicing opposition to the Lincoln Park pickleball plan (and potential off-leash area), with more than 1,200 signatures as of this morning, while the Seattle Metro Pickleball Association‘s petition, approaching 500 signatures at last check, asks the city to stick to the Solstice-striping plan.
Right now, though, Parks is standing firm. Its decision has been made, and it’s not reopening the discussion, according to what spokesperson Rachel Schulkin told us when we asked. She says the department’s position remains what she wrote in an email response to opponents of pickleball at Lincoln Park, including:
… This is an existing court, and the work is categorically exempt from SEPA [environmental study] requirements as maintenance of an existing facility. A landscape architect has been assigned to the development [of the] Lincoln Park tennis courts, and they have reviewed the site and will be using best management practices to implement courts here.
We plan to offset bringing another active use to Lincoln Park by relocating the SPR grounds storage facility to the crew headquarter location. This will remove trucks, along with their emissions and traffic, driving in and out of this actively used part of Lincoln Park.
We are committed to communicating our plans for pickleball courts in Lincoln Park frequently. While there are no opportunities for public engagement, we can answer any questions you have and share any concerns you may have with Parks and Recreation leadership. In addition, we’ll install a project sign near the site to share project and contact information.
Parks says it expects to complete the grant-funded conversion by “late fall.” Possible lighting is being considered separately; one reader who asked what was being taken into consideration for that was told, “At this point we are assessing the cost, what work would be needed to be done to install lights, and what type of lighting would be most appropriate for this space.”
All the while, the Solstice Park resurfacing hasn’t happened yet: “There isn’t a date set for Solstice resurfacing. We are still awaiting supplies coming in to the contractor, and then will have to plan for a stretch of drier weather.” Pickleball advocates say that project was at one point expected to be complete by the end of summer. The association’s official position:
Seattle Metro Pickleball Association is supportive of SPR’s plan to build dedicated courts for pickleball. We support the Lincoln Park site selected by SPR. We also believe they should put pickleball lines on the Solstice courts. We understand plans can change, but in this case, there was no visibility into the decision-making process, nor was it known that the Solstice plan was even being reconsidered.
Parks has said the Lincoln Park site was at some point considered when the Outdoor Pickleball Study was under development a few years ago, though that plan landed on Hiawatha as a pickleball-only site, and “public engagement” regarding that proposal is still expected.
Announced today by SDOT, once the work was under way:
In addition to the [upcoming] work on the low bridge, the West Seattle Bridge high bridge will conduct preventative maintenance from October 4 through Tuesday, October 10. This work will include a single right lane closure westbound starting at 6:00 AM and eastbound starting at 9:00 AM until 3:00 PM.
(WSB photo, Sunday)
If you’ve noticed that the turf-replacement project at Delridge Playfield looks almost done … that’s because it is, Seattle Parks confirms. We asked about its status, and a Parks spokesperson responded that the work will be complete on Friday (October 6th) and the field will open to users the next day (Saturday, October 7th). The project started three months ago – that’s less time than the four-month estimate. The contractor for the project is Ohno-Touchdown JV. The Delridge field is reopening one month after Hiawatha Playfield, which also has new turf.
(Woolly bear caterpillar, photographed at South Seattle College Arboretum by Rosalie Miller)
Here’s what’s happening in the hours ahead, mostly from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
TODDLER READING TIME: 10:30 am at Paper Boat Booksellers (6040 California SW).
EMERGENCY-ALERT TEST: 11:20 am today is when federal agencies are scheduled to test emergency warning systems, resulting in an alert being sent to most cell phones, as well as one for TV/radio/cable systems. No action is required – it’s just a test. More info about what you’ll see/hear and why is in our preview.
FIX-IT WORKSHOP: Don’t replace it – repair it! Weekly event, 5:30-7:30 pm at West Seattle Tool Library (4408 Delridge Way SW, northeast side of Youngstown Cultural Arts Center).
CANCELED GET READY FOR ECLIPSE VIEWING: Online event with West Seattle skywatching expert/educator Alice Enevoldsen, looking ahead to the October 14th solar eclipse, 6 pm. Our calendar listing explains how to participate.
COFFEEHOUSE ART: Jennifer Carrasco leads figure painting/drawing at C & P Coffee Company (5612 California SW; WSB sponsor), 6-9 pm. Contact her to sign up.
TRIVIA x 6: Six places to play tonight. At 6 pm, Locust Cider (2820 Alki SW) offers trivia … there’s 7 pm trivia at West Seattle Brewing (4415 Fauntleroy Way SW) … 7:30 and 8:30 pm Sporcle Pub Quiz at The Lodge (4209 SW Alaska); trivia starts at 8 pm at Beveridge Place Pub (6413 California SW); Larry’s Tavern (3405 California SW) hosts Wednesday-night trivia starting at 8 pm … and at 8:30 pm, trivia with Phil T at Talarico’s (4718 California SW).
FREE GROUP RUN: Meet at West Seattle Runner (2743 California SW; WSB sponsor) for the weekly free group run at 6:15 pm.
LIVE MUSIC AT THE LOCOL: 6:30 pm. 21+. Rotating performer slate. (7902 35th SW)
DISTRICT 1 COMMUNITY NETWORK: 7 pm in-person meeting for this community coalition with organization reps and advocates from West Seattle and the rest of District 1:
The October 4th District 1 Community Network (D1CN) meeting will be IN PERSON at High Point Neighborhood House from 7 pm to 9 pm, 6400 Sylvan Way SW, in West Seattle.
Featured speakers:
Amy Smith Ed.D, Deputy Director, Community Safety & Communications Center (CSCC), City of Seattle,
Sound Transit Staff, Outreach Updates
Candidates for District 1 City Council
HIGH-SCHOOL VOLLEYBALL: One home match – West Seattle HS hosts Lincoln, 7 pm. (3000 California SW)
LIVE PIANO MUSIC: 7 pm at Otter on the Rocks. (4210 SW Admiral Way).
MUSIC BINGO: Play weekly at The Good Society (California/Lander), 7 pm.
SKYLARK OPEN MIC: 7:30 pm signups @ West Seattle’s longest-running open mic – no cover to watch. (3803 Delridge Way SW)
If you’re planning a presentation, meeting, performance, reading, tour, fundraiser, sale, discussion, etc., and it’s open to the community, please send us info for West Seattle’s only comprehensive event calendar! westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
(WSB file photo from past Duwamish Alive!)
The focus of this month’s Duwamish Alive! mega-work party on and around the Duwamish River and its watershed is to celebrate the salmon’s homecoming. Multiple sites from West Seattle to Tukwila are open for volunteer help 10 am-2 pm on Saturday, October 21st. Wherever you sign up to assist, you’ll provide the salmon a better chance at thriving by restoring their habitat to provide “food, shelter, and cool, clean water that salmon need,” as the Duwamish Alive! Coalition says. You can join a kayaking trash cleanup or habitat restoration in parks and open spaces, The coalition says, “By working together, we can make a substantial difference in improving the health of our region.” You can see the sites accepting volunteers, and find signup links, by going to duwamishalive.org or emailing info@duwamishalive.org.
6:07 AM: Good morning! It’s Wednesday, October 4th.
WEATHER AND SUNRISE/SUNSET TIMES
Rain possible, becoming partly sunny, high in the low 60s. Sunrise today is at 7:12 am; sunset, 6:42 pm.
(Tuesday night sunset, photographed by Marc Milrod)
3 DAYS TO LOW-BRIDGE CLOSURE
We’re reminding you daily that the West Seattle low bridge will be closed to surface traffic (motorized vehicles, bicycles, pedestrians) this Saturday (October 7) through Saturday, October 14, as SDOT announced last week. The closure will start at 12:01 am Saturday, SDOT tells us.
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 feed on Twitter/X 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!
Before the night is out, three more Crime Watch incidents we need to tell you about:
ROBBERY/ASSAULT IN GROCERY-STORE LOT: We just got a call from a longtime reader who wanted to be anonymous, a woman in her 60s who was robbed and assaulted in the Admiral Safeway lot tonight. She says it happened so fast – she was parked in the middle of the lot, around 9:30 pm, and a 4-door white sedan pulled up, with a man getting out of the back seat on the driver’s side, running up and grabbing her purse off her shoulder. He knocked her down, and she fell and hit her head, also banging up a previously injured elbow and replaced hip. The robber got back in the car, and they left via the 42nd SW exit. Her purse – a black Lesac – contained her phone and a red cardholder with her ID as well as debit and credit cards, which she says the robber quickly tried to use at gas stations and a fast-food restaurant. She says she only got a partial description – her glasses were knocked off when she was knocked down – 6′ tall, light to medium complexion, slender, light hoodie, dark pants. She says she screamed and someone called 911; police responded and SFD treated her at the scene. She says police also helped her get home safely and brought her a steering-wheel lock in case the robber came for her car (which is manual transmission, so they likely wouldn’t get far). If you have any information, the incident number is 23-286790.
NEIGHBORHOOD NEAR-CARJACKING. This one also was brought to our attention late tonight. It was caught on video that was provided to us by the camera’s owner, though he wasn’t the near-victim. He says it happened in North Delridge around 3:45 pm Tuesday, on 26th SW between Hudson and Alaska – a delivery driver left his car running when a passerby ran over and jumped in, jumping back out when the driver’s wife – in the car with their baby – screamed:
The camera’s owner says he provided the video to the driver, but didn’t know if the driver had subsequently reported this to police.
STOLEN WHITE PICKUP: Nathaniel reported this to us Tuesday afternoon:
I had my vehicle stolen on 42nd Ave in front of Nikko Teriyaki in the early morning of 9/29/23. It’s a white 1999 Chevy S-10, License plate # C78386Y. Incident # 23-282047
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