West Seattle, Washington
14 Wednesday
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
Guests for two of the topics on the Fauntleroy Community Association agenda last night were no-shows, so the meeting centered on the YMCA and the future ferry-dock replacement. One of the other two topics – pickleball in Lincoln Park – surfaced at meeting’s end anyway. But first:
FAUNTLEROY YMCA’S FUTURE: This was the first formal FCA discussion of the issue, which had just surfaced a few days before last month’s meeting. Representatives of the Y and Fauntleroy Church, with which it’s co-housed, were in attendance last night. Rev.Leah Atkinson Bilinski reminded everyone that her church has hosted the Y for a century. But the pandemic’s after-effects linger – 
and Y execs initiated a discussion with the church about their organization’s challenges. Cleveland King, West Seattle/Fauntleroy Y branch executive, acknowledged that before the community outcry, they had expected to be closing Fauntleroy – and because of that, he said, the Y’s 2024 budget had no line item for operating that location. It’s the only site in the Greater Seattle Y system that the Y doesn’t own, he explained, and they had already closed some other rented spaces to save money. But he said he agree with the emergent sentiment that “it would be a shame to lose this relationship”- it’s more than another gym space. The question then became, “Are we actually using the space for the best use of the community?” At the recent town hall (WSB coverage here), he said, though some attendees wanted answers on the spot, he wanted to listen.
Thanks to Doug Eglington for sending the photo. Piling placement work continues at West Seattle’s Don Armeni Boat Ramp, one month after the start of the long-in-the-works dock-replacement project. American Construction is the contractor for the work to install new concrete floats and steel pilings, which is expected to continue until mid-March, with one float kept open at all times so the ramp remains usable.
The video and report are from Peter, who says this happened on 23rd SW at midday Tuesday:
He stole the package within a few minutes of delivery around 12:15. (His car looked) like a red Subaru outback with gray plastic trim.
We asked what the item left behind turned out to be; Peter said it “looked like a cover from a car headrest” and seemed new.
Tomorrow (Thursday, February 15) brings the second Alki Community Council gathering since new leadership took over. The first one was lively and well-attended (here’s our coverage). What will tomorrow night bring? The ACC plans another hybrid meeting – at 7 pm Thursday, be at Alki UCC (6115 SW Hinds) in person or join online via this link. The full announcement is in our calendar listing (as are the codes you might need for online attendance). Here are agenda highlights:
1. Arrive to see the work of a local artist whose map of West Seattle immediately got crazy popular on (social media). Meet Sonja Rupnick.
2. A familiar face making impact across the city joins Alki Community Council in a Chair role to lead and inspire. He’s done a lot! What can we do together?
3. Seattle Police update on the rash of one-night smash and grab group robberies and advise on other safety issues.
4. Plus, we’ve got it locked in! We’re hosting SPD Crime Prevention and FREE Personal Safety training that could change the way you think as you move through town. Get the scoop on early registration. Customized content to target Junction to Alki.
5. Meet the NEW Seattle Parks Alki Playground Renovation Planner Kevin Bergsrud. (No presentation, but look ahead.) Plus, hear from the head of Recreational Programs, Tianna Scott, on shuffles to hop to and news on the Alki Bathhouse.
6. Alki Beach PRIDE readies to celebrate 10 years! Don’t know Roger or Stacy? They are ready to rock a soulful summer celebration. You can get involved!
7. That last cool person? That’s you! Got a passion for something particular? Love working on a safer neighborhood? Planning fun foodie events? Maybe you’d like to provide a front porch-style welcome to neighbors? We love all that! Join Alki Community Council to whistle while we work to make Alki the best it can be.
First 20 people attending in-person receive a sweeeet chocolate surprise!
1:32 PM: SPD is assisting SFD with traffic control at a call in the 5200 block of California SW – a 911 caller reported a “burning smell and smoke seen in the building,” according to dispatch.
1:39 PM: Firefighters have determined it was just “smoke from a self-cleaning stove” and are ending the call.
We reported multiple times in recent weeks on the King Conservation District Supervisor vote, an almost-countywide election that’s conducted mostly online for an agency that doesn’t get a ton of attention. Voting ended last night and preliminary results are out: Incumbent Brittney Bush Bollay has 4,187 votes, 44 percent; Erik Goheen has 3,676 votes, 39 percent; Aaron Ellig has 1,564 votes, 17 percent. But even compared to the low turnout in our recent local elections, this turnout remains tiny: Those votes add up to three-quarters of a percentage point of the 1.3 million registered voters eligible to participate. This isn’t the final count; voters had the option to print and mail paper ballots, and those will be counted and added as long as they’re received by February 22nd.
P.S. Next election is the statewide presidential primary on March 12.
More congratulations for a local student headed into statewide competition – tomorrow marks the third consecutive year at state for West Seattle High School diver Giovanni Slye. Here’s the announcement:
West Seattle High School senior Giovanni Slye will be competing in the 3A Diving Championship this coming Thursday morning. The event will be held at the Weyerhaeuser King County Aquatic Center in Federal Way. This is his third year in a row qualifying for the state-level competition.
Giovanni has been diving since age 9, including a recent opportunity to train in Mexico City with renowned coach Serafín Bratt.
Swim and dive teammates, coaches, and school community are very proud of Giovanni. Special thanks to Coach Stephanie Hunt [in the photo above with Giovanni] for her dedication and commitment to her athletes. Best of luck to the two of them.
Go Wildcats!
You can find tournament info here. 3A diving begins at 8:30 am tomorrow (Thursday, February 15).
(That’s Skidoo, “rocking his Valentine’s Day duds,” photo just sent by Mindy)
A belated edition of the list for the rest of today/tonight – just a reminder of what’s on our Event Calendar (where you’ll find even more for today and beyond):
BLACK HISTORY MONTH PRESENTATION: 1 pm at Senior Center of West Seattle (4217 SW Oregon), “In the Shadow of Reconstruction: A Portrait of Northwest Black Pioneers” with Maisha Barnett – RSVP requested.
FREE TODDLER GYM: 3-5 pm drop-in playspace at the Salvation Army Center in South Delridge (9050 16th SW).
FIX-IT WORKSHOP: Repair your broken item instead of replacing it! Weekly event, 5:30-7:30 pm at West Seattle Tool Library (4408 Delridge Way SW, northeast side of Youngstown Cultural Arts Center).
LAKE WASHINGTON PT TALK = FREE GROUP RUN: Meet at West Seattle Runner (2743 California SW; WSB sponsor) – first for the Lake Washington Physical Therapy (WSB sponsor) sports-medicine talk at 6 pm, then for the weekly free group run!.
TRIVIA x 4: Four places to play tonight. At 6 pm, Locust Cider (2820 Alki SW) offers trivia … Larry’s Tavern (3405 California SW) hosts Wednesday-night trivia starting at 7:30 pm … Quiz Night starts at 8 pm at Beveridge Place Pub (6413 California SW) … and at 8:30 pm, trivia with Phil T at Talarico’s (4718 California SW).
(California Scrub-jay, by Jerry Simmons)
POETRYBRIDGE: This month’s gathering at C & P Coffee (5612 California SW; WSB sponsor) celebrates the group’s 14th anniversary – pie at 6:30 pm, poetry (with featured readers and community mic) at 7.
LIVE MUSIC AT THE LOCOL: 6:30 pm. 21+. Rotating performer slate. (7902 35th SW)
VALENTINE’S KICKBACK: Activities for teens, 7 pm at Southwest Teen Life Center (2801 SW Thistle).
LISTENING EVENT: 7 pm at Easy Street Records (4559 California SW), listen to Idles‘ new album TANGK. Giveaways and freebies!
MUSIC BINGO: Play weekly at The Good Society (California/Lander), 7 pm.
SKYLARK OPEN MIC: 7:30 pm signups for 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 photo, November 2023)
Before we get to the rest of what’s up today, one biznote for ice-cream lovers – Colleen at Shug’s Mini (California/Charlestown) sends word that they’re open a bonus day today “for a special Wednesday Valentine’s Day treat.” Hours will be noon to 9 pm. Those are the regular Shug’s Mini hours Thursdays-Sundays, and, Colleen adds, “We will have specials throughout the weekend to help celebrate love, family and friendship.”
6:03 AM: Good morning! It’s Wednesday, February 14 – Valentine’s Day and Ash Wednesday.
WEATHER + SUNRISE/SUNSET TIMES
Today’s forecast resembles Tuesday’s: Partly sunny, high in the upper 40s. Today’s sunrise will be at 7:17 am, sunset at 5:30 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!
Police are searching the area around Admiral Safeway and Hiawatha after a shoplift-turned-robbery at the store. According to the dispatch, a man brandished a 2 1/2-inch folding knife at store staff while making off with an 18 pack of Modelo beer. He was last seen headed south toward Hiawatha. He’s described as Black, 19 to 20 years old, 5’6″, medium build, blue sweatshirt, tan pants. A K-9 team is joining the search.
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