day : 13/02/2024 11 results

(WSB photos)

Jubilation tonight for the West Seattle High School boys after their 53-52 come-from-behind win over Bellevue HS in the district tournament’s second round, playing at Sammamish HS. Seldom has a free throw been as thrilling as the one #3, senior Bo Gionet, hit to win the game with three seconds to go:

He had 16 points total tonight. The Wildcats were behind for most of the game – down by 8 points after the first quarter, down 7 after the second, 10 points behind after the third – but then in the fourth quarter, they managed to shut down the inside shooting that had kept Bellevue ahead, and then it was comeback time. After Gionet, West Seattle’s second-leading scorer tonight, with 10, was #0, junior Alex Pierce.

Next, the WSHS boys play Rainier Beach at 5 pm Thursday (February 15) at Bellevue College – and regardless of how that turns out, per the bracket, it’s on to state.

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BASKETBALL: West Seattle HS girls’ close loss in second district game

February 13, 2024 10:05 pm

| 1 COMMENT

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

(WSB photos)

In the first of two back-to-back district-tournament games tonight for West Seattle High School‘s varsity basketball games, the Wildcat girls fell to Lake Washington, 38-35, playing at Sammamish HS in Bellevue. WSHS led 14-10 after the first quarter but the Kangs had pulled ahead by halftime and went on to win.

(added) Top scorer for WSHS was #21, junior Alyssa Neumann, with 12:

#4, senior Carmen Cruz, had 9:

And #20, junior Colby Timmons, collected 7:

The Wildcats get another chance at districts, playing Roosevelt at 5 pm Friday (February 16) at Bellevue College.

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BIZNOTE: Itto’s Vino ‘super close’ to opening

February 13, 2024 7:05 pm

| 8 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle restaurants | WS beverages

You might have noticed the signage that’s been going up next door to Itto’s Tapas at California and Genesee. Since it’s named Itto’s Vino, you’ve probably figured out it’s related to its neighbor. Itto’s proprietor Khalid Agour has been working for a while on a new venue in what used to be a nail shop next door. The official description of the new venue is a “new West Seattle wine bar, highlighting the culture, food, and terroirs of the Mediterranean.” He told us its food will differ from what’s offered at Itto’s Tapas. After a few more reader questions prompted by the signage sighting, we asked Khalid how close he is to opening Itto’s Vino. His reply: “We’re getting super close to open, hopefully in a couple weeks. We have some small details to work on.”

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West Seattle Junction’s spring flowers are growing now! So are adopt-a-basket opportunities

February 13, 2024 4:17 pm

| Comments Off on West Seattle Junction’s spring flowers are growing now! So are adopt-a-basket opportunities

| Gardening | How to help | West Seattle news

Though spring is still five weeks away, the baby blossoms you’ll eventually see in West Seattle Junction flower baskets this year are growing now. The Junction Association provided these photos from Van Wingerden Greenhouses in Blaine, raising the spring/summer color show again this year:

With basket season approaching, WSJA has opened this year’s adopt-a-basket opportunities – almost 100 this year, and you can adopt – aka sponsor – one for $189, supporting the nonprofit’s operations. You can sign up here.

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ELECTION 2024: King Conservation District Supervisor online voting ends tonight

February 13, 2024 2:51 pm

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| Environment | West Seattle news | West Seattle politics

One last reminder about the election for King Conservation District Supervisor – a position you’ve probably heard little, if anything, about, but which helps decide how millions of public dollars are spent. Voting is all done online and ends at 8 pm tonight. As explained in last month’s election announcement:

KCD is a special-purpose district committed to helping people engage in stewardship and conservation of natural resources, serving over two million people in 34 cities and unincorporated King County (excluding the cities of Enumclaw, Federal Way, Milton, Pacific, and Skykomish that are not member jurisdictions). KCD assists private residents with forestry management, streamside and shoreline enhancement, farm conservation planning, and other environmental efforts. It works with cities and community organizations to support community gardens, urban forest canopy, and local food systems. KCD is funded primarily by a per-parcel rates and charges fee paid by residents of the district.

An all-volunteer, five-member Board of Supervisors is responsible for overseeing KCD operations, budget, and policy. Voters elect three supervisors and the Washington State Conservation Commission appoints two supervisors. Supervisors serve three-year terms.

Three candidates are contending for the one seat on this ballot – Brittney Bush Bollay, Aaron Ellig, and Erik Goheen. Last week we published their responses to eight questions posed via email by the Duwamish Alive! Coalition. Again, you have until 8 tonight to vote.

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VIDEO: Stoplight at Fauntleroy ferry intersection before terminal redo? Possibility presented to Community Advisory Group, along with new renderings

February 13, 2024 12:54 pm

| 14 COMMENTS

| Fauntleroy | Transportation | West Seattle news

The traffic flow – or lack of it – into and out of the Fauntleroy ferry dock has long been a challenge. At peak times, when available and funded, a law-enforcement officer helps. So what about a stoplight? The idea is far from new, but it’s resurfaced during the planning process for the dock-replacement project – and suddenly there’s talk it could be installed a lot sooner. That’s part of what was presented in the most recent meeting of the project’s Community Advisory Group.

First, here’s video of the entire meeting, published Monday (the meeting was held online last Wednesday):

Washington State Ferries managers told the CAG members – who represent all three stops on the route served by this dock, Fauntleroy, Vashon Island, and Southworth (Kitsap County) – that they’ve been talking with SDOT about the possibility of installing a stoplight sooner rather later, and talked about preliminary ideas for how it would work. They also said they had ruled out one controversial idea discussed at an earlier meeting – cutting into the bluff across the street from the dock in order to widen the intersection. (The bluff is topped by a lookout known as Captain’s Park.)

The diagram they showed (top image) was based on the concept of signalizing the intersection based on its current configuration. And the signal would be set up to use vehicle detection – obviously the dock-into-Fauntleroy Way direction wouldn’t be needed in the times between boats’ unloading. Discussion with CAG members included questions about how, or whether, the signalized intersection would discourage drivers from turning left into the dock from northbound Fauntleroy, and how it would be sequenced so that pedestrians and bicyclists could safely get across.

No specific time frame was listed for potential installation.

As for the dock itself, the process is moving toward design and construction in 2027-2029, and a “preferred alternative” size and shape for the replacement isn’t expected to be chosen until next year.

But WSF is continuing to consider seven alternatives (above) – potentially longer and/or wider than the current dock – so another major section of this meeting was devoted to new sets of renderings of how those alternatives would look. The renderings’ views were presented as from the pump station north of the dock, from the Cove Park beach north of the dock, looking toward the water from the street end of the walkway to/from the dock (which could run a fifth of a mile in the longest-new-dock scenario), and from the Captain’s Park lookout across the street. Since there were so many renderings, we have to refer you to the slide deck PDF for a look instead of posting them all here. Here’s a sample set, though – the existing view from Captain’s Park and the rendering of what the longest, largest alternative – C, which could hold up to 186 vehicles, a boatload and a half – would look like from there:

The WSF project engineering lead who presented the various sets of renderings, Edd Thomas, was asked questions such as how the motorcycle and bicycle loading – envisioned to have their own lanes – would work, and what sort of elevation change would be required from street to dock in order to prepare for sea-level rise. (Not much, was that reply – the current dock is a bit of a drop from the tollbooths, so that would instead be leveled out.) Another question: With the dock surface potentially much larger, what kind of light permeability would be built in, in order to avoid shading so much more water? Still under evaluation, was the reply – maybe some glass block along the south side of the dock.

The project is currently in a variety of studies before moving into the next phase of alternating alternatives. One major issue that’s being studied is how ferry traffic would be affected by advance ticketing or the Good To Go! automatic-payment pass system – potentially enabling the new dock to have a footprint similar to the existing one. WSF managers promised they will have that information at the next meeting, probably sometime in March. (UPDATE: It’s scheduled for 6 pm March 20.) In the meantime, the project is a major topic on tonight’s Fauntleroy Community Association meeting agenda, with guests from WSF, 6 pm at Fauntleroy Schoolhouse (9131 California SW), open to the community (also viewable online).

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BEACH ALERT: Cormorant Cove closed because of sewage leak next door

February 13, 2024 11:49 am

| 11 COMMENTS

| Environment | Utilities | West Seattle beaches | West Seattle news

Just in from Seattle Public Utilities:

Beach closure signs (are) posted near Cormorant Cove.

Seattle Public Utilities (SPU) responded to reports of a broken (private) side sewer at 3717 Beach Drive SW on Saturday.

The customer hired a contractor to repair a small leak at one of the units. The customer is working with a contractor to perform the repair during favorable tidal conditions this week.

On the recommendation of Public Health – Seattle & King County (PHSKC), SPU has posted signs notifying the public the beach in that immediate area is currently closed to water activities. SPU is working with PHSKC to determine when the beach can be reopened.

The listed address is that of the over-water Harbor West Condos immediately south of Cormorant Cove Park. We’ve reported on several previous sewage-leak problems there.

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SEEN ON SHORE: This morning’s ‘king tide’ delivers a dock

February 13, 2024 9:49 am

| 13 COMMENTS

| Seen at sea | West Seattle news

If you’re missing a 12-foot-or-so length of dock, that might be it in Angela‘s photo above (thanks also to Pam for a similar report). In the wake of this morning’s 13-foot “king tide,” the wayward wooden structure was seen by Luna/Anchor Park on Duwamish Head.

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Fauntleroy Community Association, West Seattle Women Entrepreneurs, Devotchka, more on the list for your Tuesday

February 13, 2024 9:13 am

| 2 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(View from Solstice Park, photographed earlier this winter by Paul Woloshin)

Here’s your daily reminder of what’s happening in the hours ahead, mostly from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:

FREE PLAYSPACE: Drop in Tuesday mornings 9 am-noon at West Seattle Church of the Nazarene (42nd/Juneau).

MEET THE CHIEFS: The year’s first meeting of the City Council’s Public Safety Committee, 9:30 am, features the chiefs of all three city public-safety departments (SPD, CARE, SFD) giving overviews to the councilmembers. Here’s the agenda. You can watch live via Seattle Channel.

ART & CRAFT FELLOWSHIP: Drop in at West Side Presbyterian Church (3601 California SW), 10 am-noon. “Bring your paints, collage materials, jewelry findings, knitting, sewing or craft supplies and join others in creative endeavors. Be encouraged and encourage others!”

CHESS CLUB: Tuesdays 1:30-3 pm at the Senior Center of West Seattle (4217 SW Oregon). All levels welcome. (Questions? Email conwell@conwelld.net.)

CITY COUNCIL MEETING: Regular weekly meeting of the Seattle City Council, 2 pm. There is a public-comment section – in person or by phone – if there’s something you want to tell the council. The agenda explains how.

GARMIN Q&A NIGHT: 5-6 pm at West Seattle Runner (2743 California SW; WSB sponsor).

DEMONSTRATION FOR BLACK LIVES: Long-running weekly sign-waving demonstration continues at 16th/Holden. 5-6 pm. Signs available if you don’t have your own.

FAUNTLEROY COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION: New time – 6 pm – in the conference room at Fauntleroy Schoolhouse (9131 California SW). Online option too – register at fauntleroy.net/meetings. Here’s the agenda.

WEST SEATTLE WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS: New meetup group, explained here. 6 pm at West Seattle Coworking (9030 35th SW; WSB sponsor) – RSVP here.

LEARN ASL: Free weekly classes, 6 pm at West Seattle’s Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (4001 44th SW). Start any Tuesday night! Details in our calendar listing.

SCRABBLE NIGHT: 6-10 pm, you can play Scrabble at The Missing Piece (9456 35th SW).

FREE TRACK RUN: Run with friends old and new! Meet at West Seattle Runner (2743 California SW; WSB sponsor) for this free weekly run at 6:15 pm.

BASKETBALL POSTSEASON: Both West Seattle High School teams play at Sammamish HS in Bellevue tonight as the district tournament continues – girls vs. Lake Washington at 6:30 pm, boys vs. Bellevue at 8 pm.

34TH DISTRICT REPUBLICANS: Monthly meeting, 6:30 pm at The Grove (3518 SW Alaska), all welcome.

MAKE POTTERY: 6:30-9 pm “girls’ night” at pottery studio The Clay Cauldron (5214 Delridge Way SW), sign up in advance to work on your project(s).

DEVOTCHKA AT EASY STREET RECORDS: Live in-store show, free, all ages, 7 pm. (4559 California SW)

BINGO AT THE SKYLARK: Play – free! – Belle of the Balls Bingo hosted by Cookie Couture, 7 pm Tuesdays. (3803 Delridge Way SW)

TRIVIA X 4: Four places to play Tuesday nights – The Beer Junction (4711 California SW) now has Sporcle Pub Quiz with David at 7 and 8 pm … 7 pm at Ounces (3803 Delridge Way SW), free and hosted by Beat the Geek Trivia; 7 pm at Zeeks Pizza West Seattle (6459 California SW), hosted by Geeks Who Drink; 7 pm at Admiral Pub (2306 California SW).

BINGO AT TALARICO’S: You’re invited to 8 pm bingo every Tuesday. (4718 California SW)

What are you planning? Tell everyone via our event calendar – please email the info to westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!

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SPORTS: Spring-season registration time for West Seattle High School athletes

February 13, 2024 8:50 am

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

Now that the regular season is over for high-school winter sports, practices and tryouts for spring sports are about to begin. West Seattle High School asked us to publish this reminder that student athletes need to register ASAP to get ready – Monday, February 26, is the day it all begins, practices for softball, tennis, and track/field, and tryouts for baseball and boys’ soccer. Here’s the info-sheet with everything athletes and their players need to know; when ready to register, here’s the link.

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TRAFFIC, TRANSIT, WEATHER: Tuesday toplines

February 13, 2024 6:02 am

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| West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

6:02 AM: Good morning! Welcome to Tuesday, February 13.

WEATHER + SUNRISE/SUNSET TIMES

Today’s forecast: Partly sunny, high in the upper 40s. Today’s sunrise will be at 7:18 am, sunset at 5:29 pm.

TRANSIT NOTES

Water Taxi today – Regular schedule. Check the real-time map if you need to see where the boat is. **Holiday note – Both Water Taxi routes are out of service on Presidents Day next Monday (February 19).

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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