day : 17/05/2024 11 results

By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

Even with one marquee guest (City Attorney Ann Davison) canceling, last night’s Alki Community Council meeting was information-laden.

One headline: The ACC is organizing its first community celebration, with the help of a city grant. Set your calendar for 5-8 pm Thursday, June 20, when music, food, and fun will fill Alki Playfield. ACC vice president Lindsay Pearsall is organizing the event: “The idea is to bring the whole community together … to find opportunities to connect and celebrate.” It’ll also synergize with the quest for public feedback on plans for the playground between the past-and-future Alki Elementary site and the playfield. This will replace the ACC’s usual third-Thursday meeting.

Another headline: Parks still hasn’t formally announced the closing times for Alki beach-fire rings and the rest of the beach park, though ACC president Charlotte Starck received an email from Parks official Markeith Blackshire a week ago saying the superintendent had decided to keep the closure at 10:30 pm, same as the past few years, and same as what Parks said during last November’s meeting covering a variety of West Seattle topics. But this was all before the early-Wednesday gunfire on both ends of the greater Alki area – Beach Drive and Harbor Avenue – so things could change.

With summer-like weather bringing crowds last weekend, the beach park was a major topic. Pearsall said she had seen two newly graduated Park Rangers at the beach over the weekend; Starck said she had noticed more police presence.

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WEST SEATTLE SCENE: Junction Wine Walk draws 1,000+ people to sample beverages and businesses

May 17, 2024 10:28 pm

| Comments Off on WEST SEATTLE SCENE: Junction Wine Walk draws 1,000+ people to sample beverages and businesses

| West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news | WS beverages

Tonight’s sold-out West Seattle Wine Walk, organized by the WS Junction Association, not only brought out more than a thousand people to taste wine and visit businesses, it also gathered donations for WestSide Baby. More than 50 wineries and businesses participated – we visited three of the WSB sponsors who were participating. Ben from Viscon Cellars was pouring at CAPERS Home:

You can visit his tasting room Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays at 5910 California SW. To the north, Ava and Jo from Spruce Hill Winery (open Fridays/Saturdays in SODO) were pouring at Kendall Dental:

And Emerald Water Anglers (42nd/Oregon) hosted Momento Cellars:

The Junction Association announces events like these months in advance, so be sure to snap up your ticket(s) next time as soon as you hear about it, so you don’t miss out – you’ll see the news here as well as wsjunction.org.

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UPDATE: Big callout, small-but-smoky fire in 2100 block California SW

May 17, 2024 8:17 pm

| 3 COMMENTS

| West Seattle fires | West Seattle news

(Added: Reader photo, sent by Patrick Brown)

8:17 PM: The first units arriving at a fire-in-building callout in the 2100 block of California SW [vicinity map] say it’s a kitchen fire.

8:20 PM: This is on the first floor of a four-story apartment building. Firefighters just told dispatch the fire is under control but very smoky.

8:24 PM: They’ve declared the fire “tapped” (out). … No injuries reported.

8:55 PM: They’re calling for Red Cross help for one woman and two pets.

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WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Gunfire investigation

May 17, 2024 6:51 pm

| 6 COMMENTS

| Crime | High Point | West Seattle news

6:51 PM: After 911 calls reporting apparent gunfire near 30th SW and SW Morgan [map], police have arrived in the area and confirmed it. They have found at least three casings in an alley near that intersection. They also have found a vehicle with “two bullet holes in the windshield,” officers told dispatch. No report of any injuries so far; there are reports the gunfire may have involved multiple groups of people on foot and in vehicles.

6:54 PM: Now they’ve reported to dispatch that they’re up to 15 casings.

7:14 PM: Officers have also told dispatch about “possible gunfire damage” to the 2nd floor of a home in the area.

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SPORTS: Madison MS boys’ soccer team to play for district championship

May 17, 2024 6:38 pm

| 4 COMMENTS

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

The photo is from Amber, one of two Madison Middle School parents who sent word that the boys’ soccer team plays for the district championship Saturday morning at Memorial Stadium downtown. The other parent notes, “They are led by the amazing and caring Coach Zanna Peterson, who is also an Instructional Assistant at Madison. Congrats to Coach, these players, and their families!” The game at 10 am tomorrow, Amber says, is vs. North Seattle’s Robert Eagle Staff Middle School.

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WEEKEND PREVIEW: West Seattle Bee Festival tomorrow!

May 17, 2024 3:33 pm

| 1 COMMENT

| High Point | West Seattle festivals | West Seattle news

First big event of a lively West Seattle weekend starts at 9 am tomorrow – the West Seattle Bee Festival! Here’s how the day will unfold:

Commons Park runs north behind Neighborhood House (6400 Sylvan Way SW; map) and the West Seattle Bee Garden is at its north end (corner of Lanham and Graham); Lanham is where you’ll find most of the booths during the community activities between noon and 4 pm (that street will be closed to traffic much of the day). It’s all free! The first Bee Festival was back in 2013, celebrating the launch of the Bee Garden itself.

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BIZNOTE: U-Frame-It proprietor gets ready to hang it up after almost half a century of framing

May 17, 2024 1:12 pm

| 24 COMMENTS

| West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news

(WSB photos)

By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

In two weeks, Tom Sweeney will end a 48-year career, closing one of West Seattle’s last two framing shops.

It’s not because of lack of business, or increased rent, or any of the frequently cited business-closure reasons. The proprietor of U-Frame-It says simply, “I’m tired.”

We talked to Tom in his shop at Jefferson Square, where he’s been for 10 years, after 20 years on California SW, in a storefront lost to redevelopment. We found out about his retirement plan from readers who heard it from him face-to-face; he hasn’t made an announcement via email, or social media, as he says he doesn’t use a computer or cell phone – “I’m an old Luddite,” he laughs, displaying a sheaf of handwritten business records when we ask how many customers he’s served over the decades.

How did he happen into framing as a career? Tom says he was a cross-country driver, just back from eight months on the road, when he walked into a shop to see about framing some photos he had taken. They happened to be hiring, no experience required. Tom said he’d “had enough” of life on the road – so he decided to give it a try, and started November 1, 1975. “They were having so much fun.”

And so was he, until a few years ago. Until the pandemic, Tom says, “this wasn’t work” – and then business intensified, with so many more people spending so much more time at home. He was overwhelmed; his turnaround time increased, from one week to two months. (The shop name U-Frame-It might imply self-serve, but Tom says that business line ended a while back. He doesn’t have employees, either, though he says he did until The Great Recession in the ’00s.)

Even with the steady business, Tom says, “Nobody wants to buy stores.” Nobody much wants to buy his equipment, even; he’s sold one item to a downtown business, but the rest, he expects, will end up “in my garage.” He realizes that “being a shopkeeper is an old-fashioned thing.” And he’s an old-fashioned framer, “doing it the same way I have since I started.”

Not that long ago, he says, West Seattle had seven framing shops. After U-Frame-It closes, only Northwest Art and Frame will remain. He’s already sending people there; though May 31st is his planned last day, he’s already turning away new business (someone opened the door while we were in the shop talking with him, and he offered regrets and redirection).

Since he isn’t making a formal announcement, we asked if he has parting words: “West Seattle’s been incredibly kind to me … I’ve met people (and am) doing their children’s framing now. The clients have been nothing but gracious and kind to me. I’m going to miss them … I’m very grateful.”

So what’s Tom planning to do in retirement? “Sleep, and work in my yard. I’ve been ignoring my yard for 30 years.”

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Thinking about this year’s Loop the ‘Lupe obstacle-course 5K (or other options)? Here’s a deal if you sign up today

May 17, 2024 11:52 am

| 1 COMMENT

| Fun stuff to do | West Seattle news

Just three weeks until this year’s Loop the ‘Lupe, featuring our area’s only obstacle-course 5K. Here’s one reason to register today instead of waiting until the last minute:

Loop the ‘Lupe director Brian Callanan tells us that he’s putting in the orders for T-shirts today. So to guarantee you get the T-shirt size you’re looking for, sign up before midnight – and if you do, here’s a special one-day-only deal: Use the coupon code SHIRT5 to get a $5 discount on registration! Go here ASAP and use that code. As that page explains, you have five options for the big day – Saturday, June 8, at Walt Hundley Playfield – (34th/Myrtle) with starts between 11 am and 1 pm: Obstacle-course Elite Wave, obstacle-course Family Wave, 5K Fun Run, Senior Saunter, Youth Dash. It’s one big party, with music and food/drink. (WSB is Loop the ‘Lupe’s media sponsor – here’s our coverage from last year.)

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Laugh, dance, skate, sip, and other West Seattle Friday options

May 17, 2024 11:02 am

| Comments Off on Laugh, dance, skate, sip, and other West Seattle Friday options

| West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Hoverfly – aka flower fly – Genus Eumerus on lavender leaf. Photo by Rosalie Miller)

Mostly from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar, here’s what’s up for the rest of your Friday:

WATER TAXI EXTENDED HOURS: The Water Taxi’s spring/summer hours add Friday and Saturday later-evening service each week.

SSC GARDEN CENTER: Plants await you at the north end of the South Seattle College (6000 16th SW; WSB sponsor) campus, until 3 pm.

LIBRARY CLOSURE: The Seattle Public Library‘s temporary closure days continue; the West Seattle (Admiral) branch will not be open, but it’s regular hours today for our area’s other libraries.

MASCOT MAYHEM: Ounces (3809 Delridge Way SW) kicks off Seattle Beer Week 5-9 pm by hosting two Seattle sports mascots – Blitz and the Moose – details in our calendar listing.

WEST SEATTLE WINE WALK, SOLD OUT: If you have your ticket, tonight’s the night in The Junction, 5-9 pm. If not – sorry, sold out!

VISCON CELLARS: In addition to participating in the Junction Wine Walk, the tasting room/wine bar is open tonight for wine by the glass or bottle – 5-9 pm – at Viscon Cellars (5910 California SW; WSB sponsor).

OPEN MIC AT KENYON HALL: Signups start at 6, music at 6:30. (7904 35th SW)

LAUGH AND PLAY: Murder mystery meets comedy in this version of Mafia at Meeples Games (3727 California SW), 7 pm – check fast to see if tickets remain.

WEST SEATTLE COMMUNITY ORCHESTRAS: First of two free May concerts by WSCO, 7 pm at Chief Sealth IHS (2600 SW Thistle).

PARENTS’ NIGHT OFF: For ages 6-12, 7-10 pm at Wicked Rae’s Art Studio, with a “Moana” theme – check to see if openings remain. (3220 California SW)

AT THE SKYLARK: Publique Official DJ night, featuring featuring Suede Rango, Travieso, Kevibe, Richard Mixon. Doors at 7 pm, music at 8. (3803 Delridge Way SW)

SHOWCASE AT THE SPOT: Fridays are Live Artist Showcase nights at The Spot West Seattle (2920 SW Avalon Way), 7-10 pm.

DJ AT REVELRY ROOM: DJ Topspin, 9 pm-1 am! (4547 California SW)

MAKE IT LOUD! Skate to live music at Southgate Roller Rink (9646 17th SW), 9 pm-midnight, this week featuring Tacos!, Noise-A-Tron, Klesa. $18 cover + $5 skate rental.

LATE-NIGHT SINGING: 10 pm karaoke at Talarico’s Pizzeria (4718 California SW).

Something to add to our calendar? westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!

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CRIME WATCH FOLLOWUP: Bail set at $500,000 for suspect in hit-run death of Tommy Joe Garrett

May 17, 2024 9:15 am

| 26 COMMENTS

| Crime | West Seattle news | White Center

(Victim’s photo, as displayed at April 27 vigil)

9:15 AM: Three and a half weeks after a hit-run driver killed 81-year-old Tommy Joe Garrett at 15th/Roxbury, the King County Sheriff’s Office has announced an arrest. Here’s the news release:

King County Sheriff’s Office Detectives have made an arrest in fatal pedestrian hit and run that occurred
in White Center on April 22, 2024. On April 22, 2024, just after 10 PM, an 81-year-old man was crossing SW Roxbury Street at 15th Ave SW when he was fatally struck by a vehicle in the hours of darkness. The vehicle did not stop and fled the scene. Detectives were able to identify the fleeing vehicle as a silver- colored Jeep Compass. Over the next few weeks KCSO Detectives continued checking the area

businesses and residences to trace the vehicle’s route pre and post collision. This eventually led them to identifying a vehicle license plate with a view of the driver, a lone 37-year-old male driver. With the help of the King County Metro Transit PD Street Crimes Detectives, the driver was arrested yesterday without incident on a traffic stop as he was leaving a home in the Puyallup area. He was eventually booked for investigation of the fatal hit and run into the King County Jail. The driver subsequently admitted that he moved the Jeep to Port Orchard, where he had it parked under a tarp at a family member’s residence. King County Sheriff’s Office Detectives have recovered the vehicle, and it was brought back to King County as evidence and for processing.

This case is still an active and open investigation. We are not naming the suspect as he has not been charged yet by the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office. We hope to have more information to release whenthe case has concluded.

We’re working to find out more and will update this story with additional details when we do.

4:20 PM: The suspect’s bail was set this afternoon at $500,000, as requested by prosecutors. He is being held for investigation of hit-run death. We checked his record; he was arrested for domestic violence 10 years ago, and the case was dismissed, but the charging documents noted he had numerous driving violations. The document from today’s hearing says the suspect lives in Puyallup and that the car belongs to his mother. The plate was traced through an image from the Westwood Village McDonald’s, recorded minutes before the crash.

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TRAFFIC, TRANSIT, WEATHER, ROAD WORK: Friday + weekend info, including Bike Everywhere Day, Bee Festival, West Seattle 5K

May 17, 2024 6:00 am

| 1 COMMENT

| West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

6:00 AM: Good morning! It’s Friday, May 17.

BIKE EVERYWHERE DAY

As previewed here, West Seattle Bike Connections is hosting a “Celebration Station” 6-9 am today, along the path at the west end of the low bridge. Here’s the map of all stations around the region.

WEATHER + SUNRISE/SUNSET TIMES

Increasing clouds, high in the low 60s.. Today’s sunrise was at 5:28 am; sunset will be at 8:43 pm.

(Thursday sunset, photographed by James Bratsanos)

ROAD-WORK ALERTS

*SDOT work at Highland Park Way/Holden – repairing the sidewalk at the intersection’s northwest corner, restriping the road, and rebuilding the curb ramps to fix accessibility issues.

*SDOT’s Delridge pedestrian-bridge earthquake-safety project continues, with narrowing at Delridge/Oregon:

WEEKEND ALERTS

*Lanham Place north of Sylvan/Morgan in High Point will be closed for much of Saturday for the West Seattle Bee Festival.

*SPU may again close Sylvan Way SW between SW Orchard St and Delridge Way SW on Saturday, 7 am-7 pm, for pavement restoration.

*Harbor and Alki Avenues will be closed to traffic approximately 8-11 am Sunday morning for the West Seattle 5K.

TRANSIT NOTES

Metro today – Regular schedule; check for advisories here.

Water Taxi today – Regular schedule, with Friday late-night runs. Check the real-time map if you need to see where the boat is.

Washington State Ferries today – The usual 2 boats on the Triangle Route. Check WSF alerts for last-minute changes. Use the real-time map to see where your ferry is. … Monday note: Work at the Southworth terminal will close lanes there for about 3 weeks.

SPOTLIGHT TRAFFIC CAMERAS

Low bridge: Open.

Delridge cameras: Besides the one below (Delridge/Orchard), cameras are also at Delridge/Genesee, Delridge/Juneau, Delridge/Henderson, Delridge/Oregon, and video-only (so you have to go to the map), Delridge/Holden and Delridge/Thistle.

High Bridge – Here’s the main camera:

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

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 open for vessel traffic. (Except the low bridge, for now; SDOT says it’s working on that.)

If you see a problem on the bridges/streets/paths/water, please text or call our hotline (when you can do that safely, and after you’ve reported to authorities if they’re not already on scene) – 206-293-6302. Thank you!

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