West Seattle, Washington
16 Sunday
If you’ve been to the Alki Masonic Center in The Junction, chances are it was for a meeting or party – Sound Transit has had “open houses” about West Seattle light rail there; the Kiwanis Club of West Seattle has had its holiday-season pancake breakfasts there; just last week the Center for Active Living (formerly Senior Center) announced its new name there … the events are countless.
But they aren’t the building’s main purpose. It’s home to Alki Masonic Lodge 152, a 118-year-old chapter of a centuries-old fraternity. For decades, its members have engaged in community service too – including the annual School Awards Night in Support of Our Public School System last night.
(Photos by Rick McGann. Above, L to R, Martin Monk, Delton Johnson, Tom Christie)
The lodge and its parent organization believe strongly in public education, so every year these awards are given to accomplished junior-year students from Chief Sealth International High School and West Seattle High School. The Masons are “very proud” of being able to provide this support, said Martin Monk, who emceed the event. Before the awards were presented, the lodge’s current leader, Worshipful Master Delton Johnson, expressed hope that the students would “build on what’s good in the world and foster change in what you think can be better.” He quoted Malcolm X: “The future belongs to those who prepare for it today.”
Agreed Tom Christie, another lodge member who spoke: “Education is a lifelong process – there’s always something new to learn.”
The awards are a collaboration between the schools and the lodge – they ask administrators to nominate potential recipients. Here are the Chief Sealth students honored last night:
Charlotte Lindow
Hannah Mueller
Heran Andermariam
Sadie Ransom
Vinh Le-Truong
Eleanor Kamin (not present)
Allison Ohta (not present)
And the WSHS honorees:
Edie Branner
Ellen Rikhof
Danna Martinez
Nina Soleil Abdus-Salaam
Jhana Saboe Hutchinson
Fiona Tesfamariam
Afra Mizra
Souljah Tyson (not present)
Each honored student receives a certificate and a “monetary gift,” their hosts explained. Then the Top Students were announced – from WSHS, Edie Branner – whose interest in international affairs was noted – and Ellen Rikhof, who plans to pursue studies in marine biology, and from CSIHS, Charlotte Lindow and Alison Ohta (unable to accept in person). The Top Student winners were invited to speak, and all three who were there offered words of gratitude to their families and educators. Both schools were invited to send faculty; for WSHS, counselor Erica Nguyen and assistant principal Ron Knight were there. Knight accepted the perpetual plaque that displays the name of each year’s top two:
Today at CSIHS, principal Ray Morales was given the Sealth plaque:
(Photo courtesy Michelle Riggen-Ransom)
At last night’s event, photo ops followed the presentation, along with a pizza dinner downstairs in the big room where so many organizations have their events. And the students also went home with warm words from the Masons – Johnson called them “changemakers”; Christie observed, “I think the world is in good hands.”
Sent by Will on behalf of his neighbor:
They had posted their car for sale and had someone come for a test drive – and the person drove off and stole it! This happened around 4 pm yesterday on 52nd Ave by Alki. The car is a black Mercedes SUV, license BPA 2209. Any sightings would be appreciated. Police report # 24-137147.
Call 911 if you see it.
(WSB file photo)
Cupcake Royale‘s West Seattle café, long listed for sale, will “eventually” close, as will the mini-chain’s other remaining cafés (the Ballard shop closed earlier this spring). That’s according to an email announcement from owner Jody Hall a short time ago.
In 2003 we opened our doors and pioneered the cupcake craze. It’s been an incredible journey, celebrating life’s big moments and everyday joys. Thank you for being part of our sweet story!
We have some big news and I wanted you to hear it from me first. We’re exploring various options to reinvent ourselves to flourish for the next 20 years. This includes our decision to eventually close our retail cafes and rebuild the business to offer better cupcake pricing, richer compensation for our team, and ability to maintain a sustainable business. It’s a tough but necessary call. ….
Even before this announcement, we had been seeking comment from Hall about the for-sale listing, but she declined to discuss it until she had met with her staff. In addition to urging customers to keep visiting the cafés while they’re open, Hall’s email today says CR is “actively seeking partners for cupcake pick-up locations across Seattle and the Eastside” and she’s also seeking suggestions for “who should fill our shoes” in West Seattle (as well as Madrona and Burien). The West Seattle location, in the city-landmark Campbell Building on the northeast corner of California/Alaska, opened almost exactly 18 years ago – on May 19, 2006.
Ben and Reed from the Fauntleroy Fall Festival are at Endolyne Joe’s (9261 45th SW) right now as the restaurant’s special annual festival fundraiser continues. If you dine/drink, part of today’s tab will go to the donations-and-volunteers-powered festival, but that’s not the only way to help!
Whether or not you’re dining/drinking, you can buy raffle tickets – three for $5 – for a chance at a variety of donated goodie baskets – items up for grabs include games, puzzles, coffee, event tickets, gardening items, more!
The basket raffle is on through 9 pm; Joe’s is open until 10. And set your calendar for the next Fauntleroy Fall Festival – October 20! (Here’s our 2023 coverage, if you’ve never been and wonder what it’s like.)
4:05 PM: Thanks for the tips! 38 homes on Genesee Hill are out of power, and this is the likely cause:
Gary sent that photo and reports, “It was a transformer explosion…..fire truck has the alley south of the 4400 block of Genesee cordoned off. The transformer is still smoldering.” According to the Seattle City Light outage map, this happened around 3:11 pm.
MIDNIGHT: Power’s been restored since our last check of the outage map a few hours ago.
(2023 photo by Mike Mahanay, just before Colman Pool’s season opened)
While Colman Pool‘s opening date was announced last month, the full schedule wasn’t finalized – but we have it today, along with this year’s wading-pool and spraypark schedules.
COLMAN POOL (8603 Fauntleroy Way SW): The city’s heated outdoor saltwater pool on the Lincoln Park shore will open for “preseason” weekends May 25-27, June 1-2, June 8-9, June 15-16. Swim-session times are listed here. Daily operation starts June 22 and continues through Labor Day (Monday, September 2). Colman Pool will be closed to the public on these dates for swim meets: June 27-29 and July 12-13.
SPRAYPARK: West Seattle has one, at Highland Park Playground (1100 SW Cloverdale), and it will be open daily starting Saturday (May 25), through Labor Day, 11 am-8 pm each day.
WADING POOLS: West Seattle has four (citywide info is here):
Lincoln Park (8011 Fauntleroy Way SW), 12 pm-7 pm every day, June 22-September 2
EC Hughes Playground (2805 SW Holden), June 24-August 18, Mondays, Tuesdays, Sundays, 12 pm-7 pm
Delridge Community Center (4501 Delridge Way SW), June 26-August 16, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, 12 pm-5:30 pm
Hiawatha Community Center (2700 California SW), June 27-August 17, Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, 12 pm-5:30 pm
*The South Park wading pool is closed this year “due to community-center closure and plans to convert to a spraypark,” Parks says.
INDOOR POOL: Southwest Pool continues regular operations through the summer.
Sent by Casey at First Lutheran Church of West Seattle (north of The Junction):
This suitcase was by the front door of First Lutheran Church this morning, open and rifled through, containing personal items looking like possibly stolen out of someone’s car returning from the airport. Call us, or email admin@flcws.org if it looks like yours. 206-935-6530
(WSB photo, downhill on HP Way, late Monday afternoon)
A week and a half ago, we reported on SDOT‘s proposal to replace a downhill driving lane on the Highland Park Way hill with a protected bicycle lane (1st rendering below), an expanded multi-use path (2nd rendering below), or both (bike lane first, expanded path later).
The announcement and infopage list several opportunities to hear from/talk with SDOT reps about the plan, and the next two days bring three of those events, so we wanted to mention them: Two are tomorrow (Wednesday, May 22) – at South Seattle College (WSB sponsor) Brockey Center during the Spring Fling, 11 am-2 pm, and during the monthly HPAC meeting, 7 pm, online-only this month so go here to get the connection information. Then on Thursday (May 23), SDOT will be back at Highland Park Corner Store (7789 Highland Park Way SW), 4-8 pm.
If you can’t get to any of those events in person, you can also comment online in survey format – go here by June 15 – or via email at HighlandHolden@seattle.gov.
11:02 AM: As the screengrab from the West Seattle Bridge traffic camera shows, lanes are currently blocked on both sides of the West Seattle Bridge while crews clear away “debris” – apparently gravel – spilled on both sides, near 99. This isn’t the only trouble on that stretch of the bridge, which also saw a crash earlier, as noted in our morning traffic roundup.
11:10 AM: According to police radio, the gravel is from a truck that hit the barrier.
11:47 AM: Just checked the live camera; the cleanup continues.
12:09 PM: The cleanup has wrapped up and all lanes are open again.
Happening now and in the hours ahead, mostly from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
FAUNTLEROY FALL FESTIVAL DINE-OUT BENEFIT: Dine at Endolyne Joe’s (9261 45th SW) any time today/tonight – it’s open until 10 pm – and part of the proceeds go to the Fauntleroy Fall Festival, as previewed here. If you’re there for dinner (4-9 pm) you can also buy tickets for a benefit raffle.
FREE PLAYSPACE: Drop in Tuesday mornings 9 am until noon at West Seattle Church of the Nazarene (42nd/Juneau).
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 period – in person or by phone – if there’s something you want to tell the council. The agenda explains how. You can watch live via Seattle Channel.
TRANSPORTATION LEVY PUBLIC HEARING: Got something to say about the mayor’s revised proposal for a transportation levy raising $1.45 billion over eight years? The City Council is reviewing it now and the first public hearing is at 4:30 pm, as previewed here; the agenda explains how to comment, either in person or remotely.
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.
WEST SEATTLE COMMUNITY ORCHESTRAS, FREE CONCERT #2: Thanks to Dawn Hepburn for the video from last Friday’s first free May WSCO concert – tonight at 6 pm, two more WSCO groups present a free concert, 6 pm at Chief Sealth IHS‘s auditorium (2600 SW Thistle).
FREE INTRODUCTORY ASL CLASSES: This start-any-time series continues, 6 pm at the West Seattle Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (4001 44th SW), info here.
SCRABBLE NIGHT: 6-10 pm tonight, play Scrabble at The Missing Piece (9456 35th SW).
FREE TRACK RUN: Run with your neighbors! Meet at West Seattle Runner (2743 California SW; WSB sponsor) for this free weekly run at 6:15 pm.
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).
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) 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 (tonight – Taylor Swift trivia!); 7 pm at Zeeks Pizza West Seattle (6459 California SW), hosted by Geeks Who Drink; 7:10 pm at Admiral Pub (2306 California SW).
WEST SEATTLE PFLAG MEETING: Second monthly meeting of the new group, 7:30 pm at Admiral Church (4320 SW Hill).
BINGO AT TALARICO’S: You can play 8 pm bingo every Tuesday. (4718 California SW)
What are YOU planning? Are community members invited? Tell everyone via our event calendar – please email the info to westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
8:53 AM: Two months ago, new owners were announced for Admiral restaurant/bar Mission Cantina, which had closed in early February after 19 years. This morning, its reopening date has been announced – one week from today. A ribboncutting is planned for 4 pm Tuesday, May 28, according to general manager Mike D. Adams. New owners Gina Topp and Ben Johnson announced in March that they weren’t planning any major changes – “our primary objective is to maintain the community asset that is Mission Cantina.” (If you’ve never been, it’s at 2325 California SW.)
ADDED 10 AM: The formal announcement of the reopening says hours will be 4 pm-midnight Sundays-Thursdays and 4 pm-1 am Fridays and Saturdays.
9 AM: Via text – “Two-car blocking accident on WSB on ramp going west from 99. Extremely slick road conditions there due to heavy rain after being dry & I assume all the car fluids built up over the last few weeks.”
11:04 AM: More bridge trouble – a debris spill on both sides of the barrier at that spot. A cleanup crew is on site.
Earlier:
6:03 AM: Good morning! It’s Tuesday, May 21.
WEATHER + SUNRISE/SUNSET TIMES
Showers, high in the mid-50s.. Today’s sunrise was at 5:24 am; sunset will be at 8:48 pm.
ROAD-WORK ALERTS
*SDOT work at Highland Park Way/Holden continues.
*SDOT’s Delridge pedestrian-bridge earthquake-safety project continues, with narrowing at Delridge/Oregon:
*Sound Transit is scheduled to be drilling on 41st SW in the east Junction – here’s the alert info.
NEW SIGNAL
Bill emailed to point this out: “Of interest to cyclists and pedestrians, and a newly active signal drivers need to be aware of: The long-dormant new pedestrian crossing on West Marginal Way SW at 17th Ave SW & SW Marginal Pl SW is active. This allows crossing from the protected bike lane on W Marginal Way SW to the new sidewalk on the north side of W Marginal. Going between the Alki Trail and Duwamish Trail cyclists can avoid riding over the hump at the west end of the lower bridge and waiting at the Chelan intersection.”
TRANSIT NOTES
Metro today – Regular schedule; check for advisories here.
Water Taxi today – Regular schedule. 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. … Starting this week, work at the Southworth terminal is closing some 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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