West Seattle, Washington
30 Tuesday
Among the photos on the east wall of the great gathering room at the Duwamish Tribe Longhouse and Cultural Center in West Seattle, one stands out – a large portrait of the eldest daughter of Chief Si’ahl (Seattle), known as Princess Angeline, though her real name was Kikisoblu. The tribe gathers supporters each year for a tea social that is also a tribute to her, and that event filled the Longhouse today.
Titling the event the SovereignTEA was one way of reminding supporters about its ongoing fight to regain federal recognition.
There was no major update on the long-running legal battle today, but it was mentioned in some of the short speeches from Duwamish leaders. First, chair Cecile Hansen cheerily welcomed the sold-out crowd:
Duwamish Tribal Council member Paul Nelson had words of gratitude for community members continuing to support “justice for the Duwamish”:
Later, he told the story of Princess Angeline’s determination to stay in the city rather than moving out to a reservation; Seattle, the city named for her father, was the city where she lived and died. One of the chief’s descendants, Ken Workman, also spoke today:
Final words were offered by Edie Nelson, with a hope that Duwamish Tribe recognition – and true sovereignty – “will come soon.”
The Longhouse/Cultural Center hosts other public events throughout the year; next month, for example, a Spring Native Art Market is planned for the weekend of April 27-28.
It happens on the streets, it happens inside homes and businesses, it happens at schools: Drug overdoses are taking lives that could have been saved. If you have two hours to spend learning what to do for someone who is overdosing, we just found out about a free workshop Sunday afternoon at Southwest Library (9010 35th SW). The Washington Recovery Alliance is presenting it, 1 pm-3 pm tomorrow: “Patrons will gain knowledge, practice, and resources on how to identify and respond to a drug overdose. The trainer will also discuss local overdose trends, harm reduction & recovery resources, and provide naloxone at no cost.” Registration is optional, but you can do that here.
7:33 PM: This day that began with a beached SUV at Lincoln Park is concluding with a beached sailboat at Alki. Thanks to the reader who sent the photos with a tip about the SFD/SPD response by land and sea. It’s toward the west end of Alki (off the 3000 block).
So far as we can tell from emergency-radio exchanges, the person who was aboard the boat is unhurt, just stuck. The tide is going out right now, with low tide just after 11 pm, and the next high tide isn’t until 5:42 am tomorrow.
SUNDAY AFTERNOON UPDATE: The boat’s still there. This update was sent by Andrew:
Talked to the fellow inside the boat and he said it was getting dark, he was trying to lower his sails, he was too close to shore (duh), and the wind got him. Wonder when the tide will be high enough to get him floating again…
According to the chart, next high tide is just after 5:30 pm, though it won’t be as high as the one this morning just after 5:30 am.
(Course map, from Emerald City Ride website)
While we’re talking about the West Seattle Bridge, here’s a reminder – you can see it up close and personal from a bicycle in just six weeks. We first told you two weeks ago about the Cascade Bicycle Club‘s Emerald City Ride, which will close the westbound side of the high bridge for a few hours on Sunday morning, May 5, so riders can cross as part of a route that starts and ends in SODO, with other West Seattle streets along the way. (See the course map here. The full ride is 20 miles, but there are shorter options.) Cascade is sponsoring WSB right now to advertise the ride, with registration still open – go here to sign up! Register by April 11 to get your packet by mail instead of having to pick it up.
(West Seattle Bridge cracks in March 2020, from sdotblog.seattle.gov)
This is a notable date in West Seattle history: Four years ago today, just before 3 pm on March 23, 2020, the city announced it would shut down the high-rise West Seattle Bridge indefinitely because of safety concerns, and did so a few hours later. (Here’s our as-it-happened report on the announcement.) The bridge didn’t reopen until two and a half years later, on September 17, 2022; a pivotal moment along the way was on November 19, 2020, when then-Mayor Jenny Durkan announced the bridge would be repaired, not replaced.
Looking ahead to today’s anniversary, we asked SDOT a few questions. When was the bridge last inspected? It got an in-person inspection back in January, responded SDOT spokesperson Ethan Bergerson, and inspectors found “no notable new developments.” And it remains under continuous electronic monitoring, he adds: “There have not been any new developments since we published our one-year monitoring report this past September saying that the West Seattle Bridge remains safe and strong. The bridge is continuously monitored by an extensive and sophisticated structural-health monitoring system which allows us to detect subtle movements or any growth of existing cracks. This monitoring system runs 24/7 and automatically alerts engineers immediately of any issues that would require further inspection.” (You can read the September update here; it in turn links to this 10-page report.)
Next up, as we first reported earlier this week, is a big project for the bridge’s eastern half, the Spokane Street Viaduct, a separate structure that was not involved in the 2020-2022 closure: Resurfacing its eastbound (corrected: south) side. Bergerson says, “Construction will likely begin this summer and occur over several weekends. Once we select a contractor, we will work with them to schedule the exact dates and notify the public beforehand.” Since the project just went out to bid, it’ll be at least May before that happens.
Thanks to West Seattle/Georgetown/South Park entrepreneur John Bennett for sending the tip and the photo: A one-of-a-kind South Park business is having a going-out-of-business sale today and tomorrow. It’s the Big Top Curiosity Shop “antiques and oddities” store at 8507 14th Avenue South, right by the south end of the South Park Bridge. Open until 8 pm today, noon-6 pm tomorrow. As for why they’re closing, they’re also referring to this as the “lost our lease sale.”
11:42 AM: Just texted by Kersti Muul: “Group of orcas near Seattle to Bainbridge ferry lanes … Direction unknown.” Let us know if you see them!
12:09 PM: Kersti says the orcas are now off the north tip of Vashon Island, southbound, but not yet clearly showing which path they’ll choose to continue southward (west channel or east channel).
7:10 AM: SPD and SFD are on the north shore of Lincoln Park for what’s described as a vehicle in the water – but they have deduced that no one is in the vehicle, nor in the water nearby. One texter describes the vehicle as a “white SUV” (added: and says it’s actually on the beach, not submerged). We’re on our way to find out more.
7:32 AM: Thanks to the texter who sent that photo. Our photographer, walking into the park from the Lowman Beach end, has talked with one officer at the park who says a tow crew is on the way. The tide is receding; next low tide is at 11:31 am. (added) The next photo, sent by Greg Dirks, shows where on the north shore this happened:
7:48 AM: Unlike last weekend’s car-in-water off Alki, this one is getting towed out quickly – our photographer has arrived and says they’re there now.
Police tell us they don’t know yet whether the vehicle (described as a GMC Acadia) is stolen and they also haven’t figured out which way it was driven there, from the south entrance or north entrance – we’re looking and don’t see any obvious tracks or damage hinting at that.
ADDED SATURDAY NIGHT: Stephen Nielsen sent this photo of the SUV after it was pulled off the beach.
We hope to be able to find out Monday if police ever confirmed whether the SUV was stolen.
ADDED MONDAY: Police told us today they were unable to confirm whether it was stolen – at least, it hadn’t been reported stolen before turning up in the park. The incident summary says it was registered to someone in Kent: “Kent Police attempted to speak with the registered owner but were unable to reach him by phone.”
(Photo by Jerry Simmons)
Welcome to the first weekend of spring! Here’s what’s in our Event Calendar listings for today/tonight:
WEST SEATTLE LITTLE LEAGUE JAMBOREE: 8:30 am-6 pm at Bar-S Fields (64th/Admiral) on Alki Point, cheer on <strong>West Seattle Little League teams in the season-opening Jamboree, as previewed here. (Find the game schedule here.)
FREE! GROUP RUN: Start your Saturday with this weekly West Seattle Runner (2743 California SW) group run! All levels welcome. Meet at the shop by 8 am.
FREE! HEAVILY MEDITATED: Arrive by 8:50 am for community meditation at Move2Center (3618 SW Alaska). Free event every Saturday but please register.
CRAFT SHOW AND SALE: The Missing Piece (35th/Roxbury) is hosting its third annual Craft Show and Sale, 9 am-4 pm.
SSC GARDEN CENTER: Scheduled to be open 10 am-2 pm today: “The Garden Center at South Seattle College provides Landscape Horticulture students the opportunity to increase their knowledge of plants while gaining real-world retail experience. Plants available for sale are selected, propagated, grown and presented by students. Additional plants are brought in from local growers.” (6000 16th Ave SW, north lot)
(added) SEATTLE LUTHERAN HIGH SCHOOL GIVEAWAY: 10 am-3 pm at the former SLHS, future Hope Lutheran School north campus (4100 SW Genesee): “Two SLHS Board members, Pete Renn and Kelly Hammond, are hosting an event today at the former Seattle Lutheran High School main floor. Jerseys, yearbooks, backpacks, lanyards, etc will be available for SLHS alumni and supporters to select from.”
MORNING MUSIC: 10:30 am-noon at C & P Coffee (5612 California SW; WSB sponsor), Marco de Carvalho and Friends perform. Info about Marco’s music is here.
FREE WRITING GROUP: 10:30 am in West Seattle, registration required – see full details in our calendar listing.
FAMILY READING TIME: Every Saturday at 11 am at Paper Boat Booksellers (6040 California SW).
PRINCESS ANGELINE SOVEREIGNTEA: Annual event at the Duwamish Tribe Longhouse (4705 West Marginal Way SW), 11 am-1:30 pm. When we asked Friday, a few tickets remained; online sales are over, so call to check.
ROXHILL COMMUNITY DAY: Celebrate Roxhill Park! 11 am-2 pm, DNDA and partners present games, activities, music, and food, for all ages. (29th/Barton)
LOG HOUSE MUSEUM OPEN: The home of West Seattle history is open for your visit, noon-4 pm. (61st/Stevens)
VIETNAMESE CULTURAL CENTER=: The center is open to visitors noon-3 pm, as explained here. (2236 SW Orchard)
VISCON CELLARS: Tasting room open – wine by the glass or bottle – 1-6 pm at Viscon Cellars (5910 California SW; WSB sponsor).
NORTHWEST WINE ACADEMY: Tasting room/wine bar open 1-6 pm, north end of South Seattle College (6000 16th SW; WSB sponsor) campus.
NEPENTHE’S WALK-IN MASSAGE CLINIC: 3-5 pm, show up at Nepenthe (9447 35th SW) with a specific problem to be addressed by massage, and you’ll get a free (gratuities appreciated) trial of their work.
MEET THE WINEMAKERS: Fossil & Fawn winemakers from Oregon are the guests for a 4-7 pm tasting today at Sebastiano’s (3278 California SW).
WIP & SIP: 6 pm at Jet City Labs (4547 California SW), paint and sip with artist Christopher Coleman – check to see if tickets remain!
LIVE AT THE SKYLARK: The Flying Waves, Crash Site, Drama Club at The Skylark (3803 Delridge Way SW), 7 pm, all ages, $10 at door.
FIRES AT EASY STREET: Free in-store show and signing by Fires, 7 pm at Easy Street Records (4559 California SW), all ages.
LIVE AT C & P: 7-9 pm, folk trio Friends and Folk at C & P Coffee (5612 California SW; WSB sponsor). No cover, all ages.
LIVE AT KENYON HALL: 7 pm doors for Wiley Gaby ft. Acacia Forgot . (7904 35th SW)
ALL-AGES OPEN MIC: 7-10 pm at The Spot West Seattle (2920 SW Avalon Way)
BEATS: Saturday night DJs at Revelry Room – 9 pm. Tonight, DJ TOPSPIN. (4547 California SW, alley side)
KARAOKE: Saturday night, sing at Talarico’s Pizzeria (4718 California SW), starting at 10 pm, with Michael Van Fleet.
Planning a pop-up, concert, open house, show, sale, event, walk, run, meeting, seminar, reading, field trip, fundraiser, class, game, or ? If the community’s welcome, your event belongs on our calendar! Please email info to westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
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