West Seattle, Washington
26 Friday
11:26 PM: Police are investigating a report of someone seen firing a gun from a car, described as a black sedan – possibly a Chrysler – in the vicinity of 31st SW and SW Holden. The Guardian One helicopter is reported to be on the way to help search. No report of any injuries so far.
11:29 PM: They’ve just canceled the helicopter request, as they don’t have enough descriptive information for it to track anyone. They have found casings, though.
By Christopher Boffoli
Special to West Seattle Blog
When one considers how important utility poles are to modern life, we really don’t give them much thought, until a driver plows into one of them and the lights go out. Nearly 100,000 poles stand around the city, carrying power, communication, and providing light to streets. When I was a kid we simply called them “telephone poles” for the landlines they carried. These days they’re much more likely to be strung with fiber-optic cables than the twisted copper of old. However, while most everything at the top of the pole has gone digital, the communication at the lower reaches of these tall, straight wooden posts remains refreshingly analog.
(Photos by Christopher Boffoli unless otherwise credited)
Walk up to any utility pole along West Seattle’s main arterials and you’ll likely find a pincushion of metal staples, nails, and tacks, the remnants of decades of informal, community advertising. Beneath official street signs that direct (or restrict), you might find yard sale posters, lost pet fliers, color photocopies advertising a random assortment of services – from tango lessons to gutter cleaning – and maybe stickers that still remind us that Andre the Giant had a posse. It was also on a utility pole, in the 3400 block of California Avenue SW, that I first encountered a series of enigmatic posters that, while aesthetically executed, left me with so many questions about their meaning and origin.
The first one I noticed could have been a one-off for all I knew; three pieces of white paper with a simple but distinctive red block typeface, which began faded but grew darker as the text descended: “WE ARE LOST STILL WE ARE DEVOTED”
It was restrained in its presentation. Even the punctuation was omitted. The few random words barely comprised a thought. It was not at all provocative, though it did compel my interest. In the days and weeks that followed, as I walked past the pole while running errands, I found myself looking forward to what new piece might be posted there, eager to see if more of the story would be revealed. I was disheartened whenever I would see that the posters had been ripped to shreds, but then was always buoyed by every new installation, which happened with impressive frequency. The forces of destruction were doing their best, but creativity was winning.
The writer in me wondered if there was an overarching story, as a narrative purpose is generally a pretext for art.
(WSB photo, July 2023)
If you are planning on going to the beach to stay cool on Saturday afternoon, here’s your reminder that you might find yourself in the middle of a high-seas showdown – tomorrow brings the annual Seafair Pirates Landing, with the “Pirate Kings of the Northwest” approaching from offshore, barging onto the beach, and declaring this summer’s regional party officially under way. Announcements have listed their expected arrival time as both 1 pm and 1:30 pm, so our advice if you don’t want to miss the spectacle is to be there on the earlier side. Once ashore, the Pirates bluster, mingle, showboat, and become the Pirate Kings of Photo Ops – and then climb aboard their shore-going “ship” Moby Duck, rolling away to other stops on their itinerary (which, two weeks later, will include the West Seattle Grand Parade on July 20th. Tomorrow, look for all this toward the west end of the sandy beach, by Alki Bathhouse. (If you haven’t been before, here’s our coverage from last year.)
3:53 PM: At Delridge/Trenton, SFD is evaluating one person reported injured in what was described over the air as a collision between a vehicle driver and “moped” rider. Buses are being rerouted. Avoid the area for a while.
4:18 PM: Thanks to B for the photos.
Per SFD radio, two people are being taken to the hospital, one via medic unit, one via private ambulance. B says both were from the “moped.” The scene is clearing and Metro says buses are returning to regular routing; we’ll be following up with SFD.
5:13 PM: SFD spokesperson Kaila Lafferty confirms that both people taken to the hospital were on the two-wheeled vehicle – “~23-year-old male in stable condition, ~24-year-old male in serious condition.”
(May 25 photo by Joe Christian for WSB)
If you haven’t had a chance to cheer yet for West Seattle High School‘s state-championship-winning baseball team – or even if you have! – your next opportunity is just two weeks away: The WSHS champs have been chosen as Grand Marshals of this year’s West Seattle Grand Parade, we’ve learned from parade coordinator Michelle Edwards. The team won the state 3A championship May 25 with a victory over Mount Vernon HS, 9-3, playing in Pasco. That capped a season that also included the Metro League championship plus other honors, including state 3A Coach of the Year (head coach Dylan Mclauchlin) and state 3A Player of the Year (Caden Fahy). Being Grand Marshals means the team will ride toward the start of the West Seattle Grand Parade, which happens two weeks from tomorrow, on Saturday, July 20, starting at 11 am from California/Lander and proceeding southward on California to Edmunds at the south end of The Junction, presented by the West Seattle Rotary Service Foundation and supported by volunteers and sponsorships. This will be the parade’s 90th year!
(WSB photo – Fauntleroy dock and ferry at noontime today)
Washington State Ferries has yet another boat in need of repairs, and that’s going to have a domino effect for the Triangle Route and elsewhere – here’s the WSF explanation:
Due to urgent repairs needed, the Walla Walla, the only vessel assigned to the Bremerton/Seattle route, needs to be removed from service for approximately 1-2 days next week. Not doing this work risks a catastrophic failure that could take the vessel out of service for an extended period of time.
To complete these urgent repairs, we need to move vessels around based on capacity and route ridership. We’ll make these moves on Wednesday, July 10 and expect them to last for 1-2 days.
The 144-vehicle Chimacum will move from the Bainbridge route to the Bremerton route, replacing the 188-vehicle Walla Walla.
The 90-vehicle Sealth will move from the Fauntleroy/Southworth/Vashon “Triangle” route to the Bainbridge route. This means we won’t have the third, unscheduled boat on the “Triangle” route during these repairs.
We will return the Chimacum to Bainbridge and the Sealth to the “Triangle” route as soon as we complete the repairs, which we expect to take 1-2 days.
Sent by Guy
This car is in one of the pay lots in the 4700 block of 44th Ave. SW (across from State Farm building). The passenger-side window appears to be broken from the inside, as indicated by the pile of glass on the pavement.
Reverse image search says it’s a Lexus IS 250.
(River Otter on the beach this morning, photographed by Stewart L.)
Here’s what’s happening in the hours ahead, mostly from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
FREE SUMMER MEALS FOR KIDS: Multiple locations and varying times in West Seattle – here’s the list.
SSC GARDEN CENTER: South Seattle College (6000 16th SW; WSB sponsor) campus, until 3 pm.
LOW-LOW TIDE, WITH BEACH NATURALISTS: The tide is out to -2.8 feet at 11:05 am; Seattle Aquarium volunteer beach naturalists are out at Constellation (63rd/Beach Drive) and Lincoln (8011 Fauntleroy Way SW) Parks until 12:30 pm.
HIGHLAND PARK SPRAYPARK: Open 11 am-8 pm. Free! (1100 SW Cloverdale)
WADING POOLS: Open today – Lincoln Park (8011 Fauntleroy Way SW), noon-7 pm; Delridge (4501 Delridge Way SW) and Hiawatha (2700 California SW), noon-5:30 pm.
COLMAN POOL: Open today, on the beach at Lincoln Park – here’s the schedule.
VISCON CELLARS: 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).
(added) FISH STICKS BASEBALL: Though the Fourth of July game was a sellout, we’re told tickets remain for tonight’s 6:35 pm game vs. the Washington A’s at Steve Cox Memorial Park (1321 SW 102nd, White Center).
COFFEEHOUSE COMEDY: Midnight Mystery Theater at C & P Coffee (5612 California SW; WSB sponsor), 7-9 pm.
AT THE SPOT: Fridays are Live Artist Showcase nights at The Spot West Seattle (2920 SW Avalon Way), 7-10 pm.
REVELRY ROOM DJ: Tonight’s spinning is by DJ Lady Coco, 9 pm-1 am! (4547 California SW)
YOU SKATE, THEY PLAY: “Make It Loud!” returns at Southgate Roller Rink (9646 17th SW), roller skating to live bands, featuring Muñeca, War Puppy, Sun Puddle. $18 cover, $5 skate.
YOU’RE THE STAR: 10 pm karaoke at Talarico’s Pizzeria (4718 California SW).
What are we missing? If you have something else to add to our event lists and calendar, please email info to westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
West Seattle’s Scout Troop 284 has been home to more than 115 Eagle Scouts over the decades – and now you can add Jack Revello to the list of those who have earned that rank! The photo was sent by proud mom Jeannie Revello – that’s Assistant Scoutmaster James Kim shaking Jack’s hand. Jeannie explains that Jack “created a giant playground chessboard at Gatewood Elementary for his Eagle Project.”
6:03 AM: Good morning! It’s Friday, July 5. Not an official four-day holiday weekend, but we’re guessing it will feel a lot like one anyway.
WEATHER + SUNRISE/SUNSET TIMES
The heat-advisory alert takes effect at noon; today’s forecast is for sunshine, high in the mid-80s. Today’s sunrise was at 5:18 am, while sunset will be at 9:09 pm.
ROAD WORK
*The Admiral Way Bridge seismic project starts Monday; here are more specifics. (Got questions? We’re talking with a project-team member Monday.)
*SDOT’s Delridge pedestrian-bridge earthquake-safety project continues, with narrowing at Delridge/Oregon.
*Beach Drive: Gas-pipeline work continues at spots along the southern stretch.
STADIUM ZONE
For those traveling through SODO, note the Mariners are playing a homestand – 6:40 pm tonight vs. Toronto.
TRANSIT NOTES
Metro today – Back to regular schedule; check for advisories here.
Water Taxi today – Back to regular schedule. Check the real-time map if you need to see where the boat is. It’s Friday, so there are later sailings tonight.
Washington State Ferries today – The usual 2 boats on the Triangle Route, but now with the unscheduled “bonus boat” on weekdays when available; check WSF alerts for last-minute changes and use the real-time map to see where your ferry is.
SPOTLIGHT TRAFFIC CAMERAS
Low bridge: Here’s the main view:
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:
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.
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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