year : 2023 3682 results

Family and friends will gather January 28 to celebrate the life of Donna Bystrom. They’re sharing this remembrance with her community:

Donna Jean Bystrom
October 3, 1926 – November 26, 2022

Donna was born and raised in West Seattle, eldest of the two children of Irene and Howard Whittlesey. She attended school at Lafayette Elementary and West Seattle HS, graduating in 1944. She went on to attend UW for a couple years and played saxophone in the band.

She was working as a clerk at Sears when she met Albin (Al) Bystrom at the Trianon Ballroom in downtown Seattle. They married in 1949 and lived for a time at her parents’ house as Al began his career at Boeing.

Donna and Al bought a house on Olga Street in West Seattle, where they started their family. Margaret, Elaine, and Keith began their lives in that home. In 1960 the family moved to a new home designed by Al’s brother Arne on 56th Ave SW where, soon after, Craig was born.

Donna was a stay-at-home mom; while active in St John’s Episcopal Church, she was involved in Saint Anne’s Guild, various committee activities, and the annual Rummage Sale.

In 1962 the family bought lakefront property on Mason Lake and over the coming years built a large cabin and dock and spent summers skiing, swimming, and enjoying campfires and happy hours with friends and family. Donna truly loved it there and welcomed the grandchildren who came to enjoy it, too.

Donna and Al traveled to Europe, Scandinavia, China, and enjoyed a number of sea cruises following Al’s retirement from Boeing in 1987. They were active snow skiers for many years with a close group of friends. When Al died in 2010, Donna stayed in the house for another year before selling and moving to an apartment at the Landmark in Ballard. She remained there until 2019 when she returned to West Seattle, living in an apartment at Mount Saint Vincent. Early in 2022 a decline in health brought her to Aegis Living in West Seattle.

Preceded in death by her husband of 61 years, Al, and her brother, Ken, she is survived by her children, Margaret (Paul), Elaine (Tami), Keith (Debi), and Craig (Karen); grandchildren Eric (Andrea), Mara (Sean), Chad, and Kirsten (Blake); and great grandchildren Jardyn, Olivia, and Addison.

A celebration of life is scheduled for Saturday, January 28, 1 p.m. at St. John the Baptist Episcopal Church, 3050 California Ave. SW in West Seattle. In lieu of flowers, donations to West Seattle Food Bank in Donna’s honor are encouraged.

(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: Monday begins

| West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

6:03 AM: Good morning! It’s Monday, January 9th.

LOW-BRIDGE CLOSURE

This is the 18th day the low bridge has been closed to surface traffic.

Last night, SDOT removed a leaky cylinder – and now they’ll be able to estimate how much longer the bridge will be out of service for street and path users.

WEATHER

Rainy, breezy, high in the upper 40s.

TODAY’S TRANSIT STATUS

Reminder that while the low bridge is out of service for surface traffic, free Metro/Water Taxi rides are available via an app.

–Metro is on a regular schedule today but still down buses for repairs – keep watching notification channels such as @kcmetroalerts for trip cancellations and route suspensions.

-The West Seattle Water Taxi is on its regular schedule.

-WSF’s Triangle Route remains on its two-boat schedule- check here for alerts/updates.

SPOTLIGHT CAMERAS

Delridge cameras: Updating this recent report, five are now live. Besides the one below (Delridge/Genesee), cameras are also up at Delridge/Oregon, Delridge/Juneau, Delridge/Orchard, and Delridge/Henderson.

High Bridge – the camera at the top.

High Bridge – the view from its southwest end (when SDOT points the 35th/Avalon/Fauntleroy camera that way).

1st Ave. S. Bridge – the south route.

Highway 99: – the northbound side at Lander.

All working city traffic cams can be seen here, most with video options; West Seattle and vicinity-relevant cameras are also on this WSB page … Are movable city bridges opening for vessels? Check the @SDOTBridges Twitter feed.

If you see a problem on the roads/paths/water, please text or call us (when you can do so safely) – 206-293-6302.

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UPDATE: SWAT team at 35th/Dakota (with Monday followup)

January 8, 2023 9:42 pm

| 38 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle police

(Reader photo of police blocking 35th)

9:42 PM: Thanks for the tips about a sizable police presence at 35th/Dakota, to which a SWAT team has just been added. Police will not comment except to say that they’re investigating a “suspicious circumstance.” They have 35th blocked at the scene. More information as we get it.

9:58 PM: Police have announced via PA that they have a warrant. If you’re in the area, you may hear other things such as “flash-bangs,” which are devices used to make noise to disorient anyone who might be inside. Meantime, combing back through dispatch audio, we found the original report that brought police here: Someone called 911 around 4:30 pm to say that their security camera showed what they thought could have been people bringing a body wrapped in a blanket out of the house. We don’t know whether police have confirmed that someone is currently in the house or not, and we don’t know whether anyone’s death has been confirmed.

11:32 PM: After searching the house and yard, officers have found one person. Whether that person is a suspect in anything isn’t clear, nor do we know whether police have yet found any evidence of a crime. The SWAT team will be wrapping up their work. They are calling for SFD medics to check that person out. (added) SFD dispatch has told responders that they’ll be checking out “an adult male said to have ingested cocaine.”

ADDED 10:03 AM MONDAY: In response to our inquiry, SPD spokesperson Sgt. John O’Neil confirms what we reported and adds what they’ve learned since:

Neighbors reported that they saw two people load a body in car and leave. This was on video they had. Based on the same footage, it appeared to be a female that had arrived there earlier. They called Police and we viewed the footage.

Based on what we saw, we obtained a warrant to search the house to look for evidence of a homicide. SWAT searched the house and spoke with the other person that was in the Neighbor’s video. He said he did indeed load a female in the car, but she was alive. She had overdosed. They took her to HMC. Officers confirmed that this was true.

They arrested (one person) for an outstanding Felony warrant for Robbery 2nd Degree.

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WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Hit-run homicide arraignment Monday; 35th/Avalon arrests; garage burglary

January 8, 2023 8:28 pm

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| Crime | West Seattle news

Three items in West Seattle Crime Watch tonight:

HIT-RUN HOMICIDE ARRAIGNMENT MONDAY: As reported here Wednesday, a suspect is now charged with vehicular homicide and felony hit-run in last July’s death of Robb Mason. 20-year-old Mohamed A. Yusuf will be arraigned tomorrow morning at 8:30 am in courtroom E-955 at the King County Courthouse. His family and friends sent a statement that they “would like to let the West Seattle community know that the arraignment is open to the public for anyone who can be present as a show of support for Claudia Mason and her beloved husband Robb.” The courthouse is at 516 Third Avenue.

35TH/AVALON ARRESTS: Several people asked about a sizable police response around 10 pm last night at the 35th/Avalon – including Evan, who sent this photo:

Research today yielded information that this was a stolen-vehicle recovery, with people in the vehicle when police found it – two were reported to have been taken into custody.

GARAGE BURGLARY: Karen reports from Hansen View (the neighborhood just south of The Mount) that someone broke into a neighbor’s garage Friday afternoon by smashing out a glass panel:

This happened while someone was home; the burglar(s) stole items including three bicycles, one of which Karen found a few doors down. SPD incident # is 23-005507.

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SEEN ON SHORE: Know anyone missing steps and railing?

January 8, 2023 6:54 pm

| 1 COMMENT

| West Seattle beaches | West Seattle news

Thanks to Elizabeth for the photo and report: “If someone’s missing a set of wooden steps (looks like 11 total and railings) they’ve landed at the pocket beach by La Rustica. Other than having detached and drifted, they seem to be in good shape.” The tide is receding at the moment, headed for low tide at 11:46 pm, so this would be a good time to retrieve them if they’re yours. (The “pocket beach” is Weather Watch Park, 4035 Beach Drive SW.)

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WEST SEATTLE BIRDS: 9 views of our feathered neighbors

January 8, 2023 4:42 pm

| 9 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | Wildlife

With the Seahawks having just won in OT, it’s too late for counterprogramming but we still have time this Sunday afternoon to show some of the bird photos we’ve received in recent weeks – thanks to all who’ve sent them (we publish some with our daily event lists, too). Above, Angela Summerfield‘s view of Cedar Waxwings in Fauntleroy in late November. Below, a wind-ruffled Steller’s Jay photographed by Jerry Simmons:

Danny McMillin caught a Crow and Bald Eagle in an air-supremacy battle over Alki Point:

Another Bald Eagle was watching from a perch over the Alki Promenade when spotted by James Tilley:

James also sent this photo of a Yellow-rumped Warbler seen in early December:

A Varied Thrush visited Trileigh Tucker:

In Arbor Heights, this Townsend’s Warbler was photographed by Cindy Roberts:

And two views of Cormorants – Dan Ciske says that’s Three-Fingers Mountain in the backdrop of this view:

Ann Anderson saw this Double-crested Cormorant off Duwamish Head:

Thanks again to everyone sharing bird (and other) photos – westseattleblog@gmail.com – breaking-news images are also always welcome via texting our hotline, 206-293-6302.

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1 injured in crash near west end of West Seattle Bridge

January 8, 2023 3:50 pm

| 12 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle police

Several people have asked about that crash scene this morning toward the west end of the bridge. We didn’t cover it at the time – initial response was at 8:48 am – but after hearing two-the wreckage was still there a few hours later, and that passersby were worried about major injuries due to the driver’s-side damage, we checked on it. SFD spokesperson David Cuerpo says one person was hurt, a 49-year-old woman, but her injuries were not life-threatening – she was reported in stable condition and was taken to a hospital “by a private vehicle.”

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SEEN FROM WEST SEATTLE: Flyover helicopters

January 8, 2023 3:27 pm

| 2 COMMENTS

| Helicopter | West Seattle news

3:27 PM: With the murky, drippy weather this morning/midday, some wondered if the pre-game Army helicopter flyover previewed here Thursday had actually happened. Jerry Simmons caught two of the helicopters on camera, so there’s your proof.

7:45 PM: Here’s video of what it looked like from one of the helicopters.

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WHALES: Orcas in the area

January 8, 2023 1:39 pm

| 4 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | Whales

Thanks to Kersti Muul for the report that orcas have been making their way down central Puget Sound southbound. Just as the rain finally lightens, she says they’re off The Arroyos now, toward the west side of the Sound – members of J-Pod. They’ll eventually have to head back north, though!

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UPDATE: Next major repair step – leaky cylinder removed from West Seattle low bridge

January 8, 2023 12:16 pm

| 12 COMMENTS

| Transportation | West Seattle news

(SDOT photos)

12:16 PM: SDOT has just sent photos from inside the West Seattle low bridge (aka the Spokane Street Swing Bridge), with word that the next major step in repair work is happening right now. Crews are removing the bridge’s leaky cylinder – after which, SDOT has said, they’ll be able to estimate how long it’ll take to get the bridge back to full service.

This is what SDOT said last week will be done next:

The cylinder will need to be temporarily removed and overhauled off-site. Over the past 10 days, we built and assembled some of the equipment necessary to move the massive cylinder. Once the cylinder is removed, we will re-engineer the bridge’s eastern span to temporarily operate on the single remaining turning cylinder. This work requires reprogramming the control system and testing it to ensure the new configuration is reliable and safe. While the eastern bridge span is running with one cylinder, opening and closing the bridge for passing ships will take about 10 minutes longer than usual.

The bridge has been closed to street and path traffic since December 23rd.

P.S. SDOT director Greg Spotts is play-by-play posting about the removal on Twitter.

2:11 PM: Another photos added from inside. – above, what Spotts describes as “the ‘cradle’ that will receive the cylinder.” SDOT says this is pretty much a day-long operation – when the cylinder comes out, it’ll be on the east side of the “machine house” at ground level, possibly visible via this camera.

2:36 PM: They’re getting closer to cylinder removal:

5:36 PM: They’re still working on getting the 15,000-pound cylinder out. As of about an hour ago, it was secured in its cradle:

6:39 PM: Almost there:

7:33 PM: It’s out:

Now it’ll be taken to an SDOT facility, and then to a hydraulic-repair shop.

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Remembering Harold D. Foster, 1926-2022

January 8, 2023 9:31 am

| 6 COMMENTS

| Obituaries | West Seattle news

Family and friends will gather for a funeral mass this Friday and a celebration of life in March to honor Harold Foster. Here’s the remembrance they’re sharing with his community:

Harold Dale Foster, 96, passed away peacefully at home on Christmas Eve, December 24, 2022, in White Center. He was born on February 26, 1926 in Spearfish, South Dakota to Ralph Bay Foster and Gertrude G. (Willsie) Foster.

Harold was preceded in death by his wife of 66 1/2 years, Lorraine C. (Garceau) Foster, his son Michael Dale Foster, his parents Ralph and Gertrude Foster, and all of his siblings, including his brothers Ray Foster, Everett Foster, and Wesley Foster, and his sisters Fae E. Rainey and Lola Mae Foster, as well as many extended family relatives and very dear friends.

Harold is survived by his son Jeffrey J. Foster and his daughter Sue Foster; his grandchildren Kara (Adam) Peters, Amanda Foster, Matthew Lambertsen, and Mark Lambertsen; great-granddaughter Sloan P. Kilpatrick-Foster and great-grandson Oliver Dale Peters, as well as his nephew Wayne (Kathy) Rainey and Loraine (Rainey) McRae and many special distant relatives and very close friends.

Harold had a nomadic childhood due to poverty since his father Ralph Foster was always looking for work. He told stories of moving many times and having very little to eat while growing up, including working for a neighbor and getting paid with a sack of potatoes to help feed his family when he was a teenager. His Father died in 1942, a few days after having surgery for a ruptured ulcer, when Harold was 16 years old. He moved back to Seattle, where his mother Gertrude Foster was staying with his older sister Fae E. Rainey. Eventually, Harold bought a house with his mother near South Seattle Community College. Gertrude Foster was working as a Nurse, and he started working at the Boeing Company in 1943. He left the Boeing Company briefly to serve his country in the Navy from 1944 – 1946.

In 1948, Harold was back working at the Boeing Company and he met his future wife Lorraine Garceau through her sister Aurora Garceau. Harold and Lorraine had a double wedding with Lorraine’s sister Muriel and Keith (Bud) Pearson on September 15, 1950, at Holy Rosary Catholic Church in West Seattle. They had three children, Michael Dale, Jeffrey John, and Suzette Marie. They purchased their home in 1961 and Harold would go on to live there for 61 years with many family gatherings and Harold’s last birthday open house on February 26th, 2020.

Harold and Lorraine were parishioners at Holy Family Catholic Church for almost 70 years and had their children attend Holy Family school as well as their granddaughter Kara and many other cousins. Harold was also a longtime Aerie member of the White Center Eagles since the 1950s, where Harold and his wife would dance around the supporting pole in the middle of the dance floor at the old Eagles building. In later years, he would go to the new Eagles building to meet his “Cooney” friends (as Lorraine would say) for a drink at 4pm and he enjoyed Sunday morning breakfasts with his Eagle buddies.

Harold and Lorraine went on to purchase camping membership at Lake Trask Timber Trails near Shelton in 1975 with many other Sears and Boeing families. Camping was a great getaway from the city at their summer retreat. They made many friends over the years there who became like extended family and Harold always had a joke or two to share with everyone as well as a helping hand.

And that’s his story and he is sticking to it. Please smile to yourself when you remember him.

His funeral mass will be held on Friday, January 13th, 2023 at Noon at Holy Family Catholic Church in White Center, located at 9622 20th Ave SW. His burial will follow at 2 pm at Greenwood Memorial Cemetery, 350 Monroe Ave NE, Renton. No reception following.

His Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, March 25th, 2023 from 2 pm to 4 pm at the White Center Eagles, 10452 15th Ave SW.
The Foster Family is looking forward to celebrating this wonderful man’s life with everyone.

In lieu of gifts, please donate to Northwest Kidney Centers, PO Box 3035, Seattle, Washington 98114.

(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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WEST SEATTLE SUNDAY: 11 notes

January 8, 2023 6:34 am

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| West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

Here’s the list for your Sunday, from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:

LOW BRIDGE CLOSED: Reminder that the West Seattle low bridge is in its third week of being closed to all street and path users until it’s fixed, and there’s no word yet how long that’ll take.

CHURCHES WITH ONLINE SERVICES: We’re continuing to list these – see today’s lineup here.

FLYOVER & PRACTICE: As reported here earlier this week, four U.S. Army helicopters are expected to be in the area for a flyover at the Seahawks‘ final regular-season game of the year – practicing in mid-morning, then the actual flyover before the 1:25 pm kickoff. (Weather might affect this.)

WEST SEATTLE FARMERS’ MARKET: As usual, 10 am-2 pm, the market offers winter produce as well as flowers, cheese, fish, meat, baked goods, condiments, fresh-cooked food, beverages, nuts, more. Here’s today’s vendor list. (California SW between Oregon and Alaska)

ALL-GIRLS LACROSSE WINTER CLINIC: From West Seattle Lacrosse Club:

We want to invite all youth and High School age girls to our West Seattle Lacrosse Club Winter Clinic to meet our coaches and learn the game. Come join us today 12:30-2:00 pm at Hiawatha Playfield. Learn more about the club or contact us at westseattlelaxclub.org or westseattlelax@gmail.com

(2700 California SW)

LIVE MUSIC AT C & P: 3 pm at C & P Coffee (5612 California SW; WSB sponsor), the Silver Lining Band plays. No cover.

(added) CONCERT AT WEST SEATTLE LIBRARY: 3 pm, the Ladies Musical Club performs a free classical concert at West Seattle (Admiral) Library – see the program here. (2306 42nd SW).

NEED FOOD? White Center Community Dinner Church serves a free meal (take-away available) at 5 pm Sundays at the Salvation Army Center in South Delridge (9050 16th SW).

YOGA, MEDITATION, GONG BATH: Presented by Inner Alchemy, 7 pm at Move2Center (3618 SW Alaska), $35.

SUNDAY NIGHT JAZZ: Triangular Jazztet at The Alley (4509 California SW), 8 pm and 9 pm sets.

SUNDAY NIGHT KARAOKE: 9 pm to 1:30 am at Admiral Pub (2306 California SW).

Have an event to add to our calendar? Please email westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!

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ELECTION 2023: Less than 3 weeks until your next ballot arrives

January 7, 2023 9:15 pm

| 49 COMMENTS

| West Seattle housing | West Seattle news

Although this year’s biggest election will be the City Council primary in August, that won’t be the first election of the year. You’ll get a ballot in less than three weeks for the February 14th special election, with just one measure on your ballot: Seattle Initiative 135. Not familiar with it? Here’s the text that you’ll see:

City of Seattle Initiative Measure 135 concerns developing and maintaining affordable social housing in Seattle.

This measure would create a public development authority (PDA) to develop, own, and maintain publicly financed mixed-income social housing developments. The City would provide start-up support for the PDA. The City Council would determine the amount of ongoing City support. Before it transfers any public lands for nonpublic use, the City would be required to consider a transfer to the PDA. The PDA’s Charter would govern the election, composition, and duties of the PDA’s Board of Directors.

So what’s “social housing”? Here’s how the organization behind the initiative explains it:

Housing created outside of the private market, publicly financed and publicly controlled. Unlike public housing models in the United States, social housing does not rely on profit motives, the private market or private partnerships, which creates permanent affordability and housing free from market speculation. Residents and their homes are shielded from the free market, with specific measures prohibiting the sale and marketization of social housing to ensure it remains in the public’s hands, for public use.

Also from their FAQ page, the explanation of “who will pay for it?”, since the city “start-up support” does NOT include funding:

Our initiative follows the path of the Pike Place Market and the monorail. This is a multi-step process. We are setting up the structure and the vision to get this public developer started, then we will begin raising money. We are pursuing several options, but money that is available today will not necessarily be the extent of what’s available tomorrow.

Once the public developer is established, they can receive and request funds from city, state, federal governments, as well as private donations if those donors feel so inclined.

You can read the full text of I-135 here. For a slightly shorter overview, see this page on supporters’ site (which also includes the full text). The House Our Neighbors political committee of Real Change gathered signatures to get it on the ballot. No opposition campaign is registered, so far. Ballots are scheduled to be mailed January 25th. Not registered to vote? Here’s how to do it.

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Two chances to talk with, hear from police in West Seattle this week

January 7, 2023 6:38 pm

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| Neighborhoods | West Seattle news | West Seattle police

If you have questions for police – a neighborhood concern, ongoing problem, unsolved case – you can attend both or one of these community meetings in the week ahead:

ADMIRAL NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION: 7 pm Tuesday (January 10th), Admiral Church (4320 SW Hill). ANA says a Southwest Precinct rep will be there.

WEST SEATTLE CRIME PREVENTION COUNCIL: 7 pm Thursday (January 12th), Southwest Precinct (2300 SW Webster). Much of this meeting is set aside for community Q&A. If you can’t go to the precinct, our calendar listing has info on video or call-in participation.

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Teenager investigated for DUI after crash at Walnut/Hinds

January 7, 2023 2:51 pm

| 25 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle police

SPD has released information today about a crash last night at Walnut/Hinds in which they are investigating a teenage driver for DUI. Above is a photo sent to us today by a neighbor; police say two people were taken to the hospital after the 6:30 pm crash, including the “male juvenile” driver. Police say witnesses told them the driver was speeding before hitting another car and then a utility pole, Their report continues:

Officers also observed drug paraphernalia in the suspect vehicle. A Seattle Police Drug Recognition Expert responded to evaluate the male driver of the suspect vehicle, who exhibited signs of impairment. Officers obtained a search warrant for a blood draw. The male juvenile suspect was processed for driving under the influence and ticketed for additional traffic citations, then released to his guardians.

His age wasn’t in the report, and the case isn’t yet in the public files of the Municipal Court website. Here’s another neighbor photo of the damage done to the utility pole, which is now leaning:

Neighbors say there have been multiple collisions at this intersection.

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SEEN OFF WEST SEATTLE: Sailing race on a soggy day

January 7, 2023 2:00 pm

| 4 COMMENTS

| Seen at sea | West Seattle news

Thanks to everyone who’s sent photos of the sailboats off West Seattle this afternoon! Above, Chris Frankovich‘s view from Seola; below, Brooke Gozstola‘s view from further north:

And from Mike Fischer, who notes that this is the Three Tree Point Yacht Club‘s Duwamish Head Race.

According to the TTPYC website, more than 50 yachts were registered for the race. The race course – starting and finishing in Des Moines – is outlined here.

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SPORTS: High-school basketball scores

January 7, 2023 1:05 pm

| 1 COMMENT

| West Seattle news | West Seattle schools | WS & Sports

Now that we’re past winter break, we’re in the heart of high-school basketball season. Varsity teams from both local schools had games last night. Both West Seattle High School teams played Seattle Prep at home – according to the Metro League scoreboards, the girls won 48-31, boys won 48-44. Chief Sealth International High School played at Nathan Hale – girls won 41-21, boys lost 46-37.

NEXT GAMES: The West Seattle girls are scheduled to play this afternoon at Peninsula HS in Gig Harbor; both Chief Sealth teams play Lincoln at home next, boys at 7:30 pm Tuesday, girls at 7:30 pm Wednesday; the West Seattle boys play at Garfield at 7:30 pm Tuesday.

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SURVEY: Metro recruiting study participants

January 7, 2023 10:40 am

| 9 COMMENTS

| Transportation | West Seattle news

While looking for transit-related information, we happened onto a Metro survey – in this case, a survey that’s being used to find participants for a study seeking feedback on “trip-planning tools like maps, schedules, and alerts.” The deadline for the survey is tomorrow; its questions involve demographics and transportation habits. They’re offering incentives – drawings for $100 gift cards among people who take the survey, and $150 compensation for respondents chosen for the study. If you’re interested, you can answer the survey here.

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WEST SEATTLE SATURDAY: 12 notes

January 7, 2023 6:34 am

| 2 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Photo by Caity Gerhardt)

Here’s what’s happening on the first Saturday of 2023, from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar and inbox:

LOW BRIDGE CLOSED: Reminder that the West Seattle low bridge is in its third week of being closed to all street and path users until it’s fixed, and there’s no date estimate for that yet.

SATURDAY MORNING ULTIMATE: 8 am at West Seattle Stadium (4432 35th SW), drop in and play with the West Seattle Ultimate Frisbee Family.

TILDEN SCHOOL OPEN HOUSE 10 am-noon, prospective families are invited to visit this independent K-5 school (WSB sponsor) that’s “been providing academic, engaging, individualized education since 1985, in West Seattle.” Our calendar listing explains its location at 4105 California SW.

BRIDGE SCHOOL OPEN HOUSE 10 am, this cooperative elementary school serving children 5-11 in multi-age classes welcomes prospective families. (10300 28th SW)

HARBOR SCHOOL OPEN HOUSE 10 am, prospective families with 4th-8th graders are invited to visit this independent K-8 school on Vashon Island, (15920 Vashon Highway SW)

MORNING MUSIC: 10:30 am-noon at C & P Coffee (5612 California SW; WSB sponsor), Marco de Carvalho and Friends perform.

SEATTLE CHINESE GARDEN: 10 am-4 pm, the garden’s centerpiece courtyard is open, while the rest of the garden’s grounds are accessible dawn to dusk. More info here. (5640 16th SW)

FREE WRITING GROUP: 10:30 am in West Seattle, registration required – full details in our calendar listing.

VIETNAMESE CULTURAL CENTER: Open to visitors noon-3 pm, as noted here. (2234 SW Orchard)

LOG HOUSE MUSEUM: The home of West Seattle’s history is open to visitors noon-4 pm. (3003 61st SW)

WINE TIME: The tasting room at Viscon Cellars (WSB sponsor) – selling wine by the glass or bottle – is open 1-6 pm. (5910 California SW)

FREE COMMUNITY HEALING NIGHT: 6:30 pm at Alki Beach location that will be sent to you upon registration – see our calendar listing.

Something to add to our calendar – event, class, game, music, theater, comedy, outdoor activity, or … ? Email info to westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!

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Post-holiday recycling – trees and lights

January 7, 2023 2:29 am

| 5 COMMENTS

| Environment | Holidays | West Seattle news

On this first post-holiday weekend, you might be taking down the tree, lights, etc. So here’s one more reminder about recycling:

TREES: If you have curbside pickup, you can put yours out in 4-foot-max sections, through month’s end. Or, take your tree – up to three per vehicle – to the not-far South Transfer Station. (Here’s the original announcement.)

LIGHTS: You have dropoff or even mail-in options if you have lights, working or not, that you want to recycle – King County’s website has an updated-for-this-season list.

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SATURDAY: Open houses for three schools

January 6, 2023 8:15 pm

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| West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

Looking ahead to next school year? Three schools are having open houses tomorrow (Saturday, January 7th):

TILDEN SCHOOL: This independent elementary school‘s open house for prospective families is set for 10 am-noon:

We invite you to visit the school, tour our campus, and chat with the teachers and specialists who make Tilden extraordinary. Tilden School has been providing academic, engaging, individualized education since 1985, in West Seattle.

We are housed in (but not affiliated with) the First Lutheran Church of West Seattle, on the corner of California and Dakota – their back door is our front door! Enter on the west side of the building, in the alley, across from the south end of the parking lot.

The official address for Tilden School (WSB sponsor) is 4105 California Avenue SW.

HARBOR SCHOOL: This independent K-8 school is on Vashon Island and invites prospective families of 4th through 8th graders to visit for its 10 am open house:

Visit our campus on Saturday, January 7th to learn about our outstanding academic program, robust travel study program, individualized approach to instruction and annual camp adventures. We hope you’ll come to campus, meet our wonderful faculty & staff and learn more about our school! RSVP at https://bit.ly/3Uu387v

Harbor School (WSB sponsor) is at 15920 Vashon Highway.

BRIDGE SCHOOL: This co-op elementary school also is having an open house, 10 am-noon Saturday:

The Bridge School, located at 10300 28th Ave SW, is a cooperative, multi-age, progressive elementary school program that fosters authentic learning through whole child development.

Questions before or after this open house? membership@bridgeschoolcoop.org or 206-922-1202.

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WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Store-robbery suspect arrested; JTF burglary reported

January 6, 2023 5:56 pm

| 5 COMMENTS

| Crime | West Seattle news

Two items in West Seattle Crime Watch this evening:

ROBBERY SUSPECT ARRESTED: Seattle Police just announced an arrest in the early-morning holdup at the 35th/Barton 7-11 on December 4th. They say the 22-year-old man was identified through evidence gathered by detectives and arrested Thursday in Auburn. He is in the King County Jail, bail set at $750,000. No word on other suspects’ status in the case; when the robbery happened, police said three people were involved, and that they also were likely suspects in a holdup a short time later in Burien.

JTF BURGLARY REPORTED: Police were dispatched today to investigate a reported burglary at the Seattle Fire Joint Training Facility on Myers Way in southeast West Seattle. Dispatchers told officers that the burglar(s) were reported to have taken $5,000 in training equipment. We asked SFD for comment, but they said information would have to come from SPD, so we’re now awaiting that.

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LOW-BRIDGE CLOSURE: Here’s how app-based free Water Taxi/bus rides will work

January 6, 2023 3:55 pm

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| King County Water Taxi | Transportation | West Seattle news

As promised, SDOT has gone public before week’s end with details of how you can ride the West Seattle Water Taxi and/or Metro buses fare-free for the duration of the low-bridge closure. As SDOT reps told West Seattle Bike Connections on Tuesday, the plan uses the Transit GO app, so if you’re interested, you have to download that if you don’t have it already. Here’s what happens from there, as explained by SDOT:

-Click on “Rewards” and enter code LOWBRIDGE23 to get 1,500 points for your next ride. Please note: there may be a slight delay in these points appearing.

-Tap “Redeem” and then select the free ride of your choice (King County Metro bus or West Seattle Water Taxi).

-Go to “View Ticket” and then confirm your order (required).

-Then, activate your ticket and show it to your transit operator.

-Once your ticket has been used, you’ll automatically be rewarded with another 1,500 points for your next ride. You’ll continue to earn free tickets while this rewards program is in effect.

As for how long that’ll be – how long the low-bridge closure will last – no new info on that. Meantime (as also noted on Tuesday), the funding for the bus/Water Taxi rides is coming from the voter-approved Seattle Transit Measure, a .15% sales tax (15 cents on a $100 purchase).

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