West Seattle, Washington
23 Saturday
Three biznotes before the night’s out, all in The Junction:
FITNESS TOGETHER WEST SEATTLE: As previewed here last night, longtime WSB sponsor Fitness Together West Seattle threw a party tonight to celebrate their expansion at 4546 California SW – more room not just for their specialty, personal training, but also for small group classes. Owner Bryan Habas and team cut the “grand reopening” ribbon to start tonight’s open-house celebration. Even if you missed the party, you can contact FTWS to ask about their deals (noted in our preview).
And you might want to move a bit more as we shift into Valentine-chocolate season – here are two related Junction notes:
CUPCAKE ROYALE’S DEATHCAKE: The coffee-and-treats shop a couple doors down from Fitness Together, on the northeast corner of California/Alaska, wants you to know that Deathcake is back: “Three beautiful layers of sea-salted chocolate decadence, our award-winning chocolate cake, and Stumptown™ espresso ganache. Each Deathcake comes in its own jar, perfect for warming!” You can pre-order one now for shipping, or get it at the shop starting February 1st.
THE BEER JUNCTION’S CHOCOLATE BEER WEEK: Set your calendar reminder now – starting Valentine’s Day, The Beer Junction (4511 California SW) celebrates chocolate beers for what’s actually a week and a half, through February 25. Proprietor Corey Leitch says, “Looking for some fun to kick off (or finish up,) your Valentine’s celebrations this year? Join us for a festival of decadent confection inspired beers that are better than any box of chocolates! We will have beers from Fremont, Structures, Perennial, Oskar Blues, Belching Beaver, Double Mountain, Bottle Logic, Mother Earth, Block 15, Boulevard and Oakshire on tap from 2/14-2/25.”
Got a biznote? Email westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
As announced last month, District 1 City Councilmember Rob Saka is chairing the Transportation Committee – so you might not be surprised to hear he’s just hired a former top-level SDOT manager to 
join his staff. You might even recognize her: Heather Marx was the most visible SDOT manager during the 2020-2022 West Seattle Bridge closure, as the head of the bridge-stabilization-and-repair program. So visible, that her name appears in WSB archives 105 times – although the first few mentions are from her pre-bridge role as Downtown Mobility Director during the Highway 99 viaduct-to-tunnel project. Most recently, Marx has been working at the Seattle Police Department. And now she’s Policy Adviser for Councilmember Saka, who announced this in his latest newsletter, sent this afternoon. From the announcement:
Heather brings 25 years of city policy experience to the role, with a particular focus on transportation. Before joining our team, Heather served as Strategic Initiatives Director at the Seattle Police Department, and as the Program Director for Seattle Department of Transportation’s West Seattle Bridge Safety Program. While at SDOT, she led the Department’s efforts to successfully reopen the West Seattle Bridge. She brings a wealth of policy expertise in the critically important issue areas of public safety and transportation. Heather is a long-time resident of District 1 where she raised two children in Seattle Public Schools and lives in the Fauntleroy neighborhood with her husband.
Marx joins Councilmember Saka’s two previously announced staffers, Chief of Staff Elaine Ikoma Ko and District Relations Director/Scheduler Leyla Gheisar. You can see Saka’s full newsletter here.
(WSB photo, Westwood Village, 10/20/23)
Back in October, we reported on the arrest of two 15-year-old boys after a purse-snatch robbery in Admiral and a purchase made with one of the victim’s cards. This week, one pleaded guilty and was sentenced, while the other has a plea hearing scheduled for next week. As they are being prosecuted as juveniles, we have identified them only as Suspects #1 and #2. The one who pleaded guilty this week is #1. Court documents say he was the one who got out of a car that pulled up behind the victim, near 45th and Stevens in the middle of the afternoon, and ran up to her from behind, knocking her to the ground and struggling with her for her purse, finally pulling it away. A tracing signal from the phone in her purse led police to the two boys at Westwood Village, where they were coming out of GameStop with a PlayStation they had bought with one of the victim’s cards. They split up, but police quickly took both of them into custody. #1 has remained in detention; his previous convictions, as we reported here, included a 2022 carjacking in Burien and a car theft last year in Kent. While on “electronic home monitoring” for the latter, he cut off the monitoring bracelet, and was arrested in September for an incident also involving Suspect #2 and a stolen car found at Bellevue Square.
Getting back to the current case, #1 pleaded guilty this past Wednesday to one reduced charge, second-degree conspiracy to commit robbery, and one charge that was unchanged from October, second-degree ID theft. The King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office recommended the standard range of 15 to 36 weeks in state juvenile detention, and that’s what Judge Joe Campagna ordered. But that’s not all the time the defendant will be serving, KCPAO spokesperson Casey McNerthney explains – he also has an additional “15-to-36-week range” from a prior conviction – previously suspended, but now that’s revoked – plus two months. Juvenile sentencing works differently from adult sentencing, with ranges rather than fixed periods, and it will be up to the state Department of Children, Youth, and Families to determine when he’s released.
Seattle Public Utilities is working to get the word out about two things that aren’t supposed to go in the garbage any more: Batteries and electronics. It’s a new city rule as of the start of this year. SPU explains both categories need “special handling”; batteries in particular have become a major fire risk at transfer stations. In short:
What doesn’t go in the garbage?
-Cathode ray tubes
-Electronic products covered by the Washington Electronics Recycling Law. These include:
*TVs
*Monitors
*Computers and Laptops
*Tablets (like iPad and Amazon Fire)
*E-Readers (like Kindle and NOOK)
*Portable DVD Players-Batteries, as defined under the state’s Dangerous Waste Regulations. Examples of batteries include but are not limited to:
*Miniature button cell batteries
*Alkaline, silver oxide, zinc air, and other single-use batteries
*Lithium-ion, nickel-cadmium, and other rechargeable batteries
So if you can’t put any of this in your trash or recycling, what can you do with it? The city offers “special item pickups” at an extra charge. For free dropoff – batteries can be taken to the nearby South Transfer Station; this lookup also shows dropoffs at Junction True Value and The Home Depot. For electronics, free dropoff events are coming up in West Seattle this spring (more details when they get closer). There are private services such as Ridwell, too.
2:41 PM: Police have told dispatch that a three-vehicle collision is blocking the intersection of 8th and Roxbury. At least one person is reported injured. It might not clear quickly because they’ve had to call for three tow trucks, so avoid the area for a while.
3:22 PM: Officers just reported “all lanes back open.”
5:04 PM: We checked with SFD regarding injuries. Spokesperson David Cuerpo tells us a 10-year-old girl was injured and was in stable condition when taken to a hospital by private ambulance.
Today we’re welcoming Alki Arts as a new WSB sponsor. When new sponsors join us to advertise their local businesses to you, they get the opportunity to tell you about themselves – here’s what Alki Arts would like you to know:
Alki Arts proprietor Diane Venti says her mission at her new location in Morgan Junction, at 6030 California Avenue SW, remains the same as it’s been since her first gallery opened on Alki in 2010 – to provide original art from local artists at a reasonable price. She says that if you’re looking for something to put over the mantle that makes a statement, she can help you do that without breaking the bank.
To find art for Alki Arts, Diane tours shows in the Pacific Northwest to find the highest caliber of professional art created by people who aren’t necessarily famous, but have years of experience creating work for shows and art tours. Diane says that means you’ll find art at Alki Arts from established artists with impressive resumes. Every month, Diane brings in new groups of artists to exhibit at Alki Arts. Some of the featured artists have been showing at her galleries for more than a decade; she also brings in new and upcoming artists.
Alki Arts is also an event space, and you can go there to enjoy music, too – Diane has launched an “Intimate Concert Series” (see the schedule on the website).
Alki Arts is open 12 pm-6 pm Tuesdays-Saturdays and by appointment; it’s closed Sundays and Mondays. Diane also works with private clients.
We thank Alki Arts for sponsoring independent, community-collaborative neighborhood news via WSB; find our current sponsor team listed in directory format here; email patrick@wsbsales.com for info on joining the team!
As of moments ago, season tickets are on sale for the debut of West Seattle’s new “pre-pro” soccer club, West Seattle Junction FC. The team says it’s confirmed Nino Cantu Southwest Athletic Complex (2801 SW Thistle) as the stadium for its home games, and the schedule will go public in February. The roster is still being finalized; as we reported while tryouts were under way earlier this month, Erik Oman is on board as head coach. The team’s creation was announced last month by “a team of soccer enthusiasts that have supported our youth soccer community for over 25 years,” explaining that Junction FC is intended to be “a much-needed platform for our most talented athletes to showcase their skills.” (Plus another means of community connection and fun.) West Seattle Junction FC will compete in USL2‘s Northwest Division, whose other teams include the league champion Ballard FC. Along with season-ticket sales, starting today the club also is offering merch pre-sales including hats, scarves, hoodies, and stickers (jerseys later). Individual game tickets will go on sale in about three weeks.
(Pileated Woodpecker, photographed at Lincoln Park by Mark MacDonald)
Mostly from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar, here are Friday afternoon/evening highlights:
SOUTHWEST POOL REOPENS: As noted here. (2801 SW Thistle)
SCRABBLE CLUB: Play 12:30-1:30 pm at Margie’s Café inside the Senior Center of West Seattle (4217 SW Oregon).
VISCON CELLARS: Tasting room/wine bar open – wine by the glass or bottle – 5-9 pm at Viscon Cellars (5910 California SW; WSB sponsor).
GRAND REOPENING: As previewed here last night, Fitness Together West Seattle (upstairs at 4546 California SW; WSB sponsor) is celebrating its expansion and inviting you in for a look tonight, 5:45 pm.
TEA-ROOM POTLUCK: You’re invited to the Friday Feast at My Necessitea (3237 California SW), 6:30 pm: “Potluck for singles, loners, and introverts.” Bring a dish to share.
LIVE MUSIC AT C & P: West Side Music Academy student showcase at C & P Coffee (5612 California SW; WSB sponsor), 7-9 pm, all ages, no cover.
SHOWCASE AT THE SPOT: Fridays are Live Artist Showcase nights at The Spot West Seattle (2920 SW Avalon Way), 7-10 pm.
LIVE AT THE SKYLARK: 7 pm at The Skylark (3803 Delridge Way SW), Queen Chimera, Scorn Dog, Ugly Bunch. $10.
FULL MOON SOUND BATH: 7:30 pm, presented by Inner Alchemy at Move2Center, $35. (3618 SW Alaska)
DJ NIGHT AT REVELRY ROOM: Music 9 pm-1 am on Fridays! (4547 California SW)
Something to add to our calendar? westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
The West Seattle High School girls’ bowling team has reason to celebrate after winning the Metro League championship – again! This is the fifth consecutive year the team, coached by Jeremy Marzofka, has taken the league title – which is every year since the program launched in 2020. (Thanks for the tip, and to WSHS for providing the photo.)
6:03 AM: Good morning. Welcome to Friday, January 26th!
WEATHER + SUNRISE/SUNSET TIMES
Rain expected in the pm, high in the upper 40s. Today’s sunrise will be at 7:43 am, sunset at 5 pm.
TRAIL-SPUR CLOSURE ALERT
One more mention – as reported here, a trail spur beneath the low bridge will be closed for more than two months because of work to upgrade the bridge’s communication cabling. (See this comment for a related heads-up.)
TRANSIT NOTESs
Water Taxi today – Regular schedule. Check the real-time map if you need to see where the boat is.
Metro today – Regular schedule; check advisories here.
Washington State Ferries today – 2 boats on the Triangle Route. Check WSF alerts for changes, and use the real-time map to see where your ferry is.
SPOTLIGHT TRAFFIC CAMERAS
Delridge cameras: Besides the one below (Delridge/Orchard), cameras are also at Delridge/Genesee, Delridge/Juneau, Delridge/Henderson, 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:
1st Ave. S. Bridge:
Highway 99: – northbound side at Lander:
MORE TRAFFIC CAMS: All functioning traffic cams citywide are here; West Seattle and vicinity-relevant cameras are on this WSB page.
BRIDGE INFO: The @SDOTBridges feed on X (ex-Twitter) shows whether the city’s movable bridges are opening for vessel traffic.
If you see a problem on the bridges/streets/paths/water, please text or call us (when you can do that safely, and after you’ve reported to authorities if they’re not already on scene). Thank you!
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