West Seattle, Washington
29 Thursday
12:46 PM: Thanks for the tips. 4,400+ homes and businesses are out of power in West Seattle, including High Point and Westwood, (added) parts of Highland Park, Gatewood, and Sunrise Heights too. Part of west South Park is affected too. Updates to come.
12:53 PM: We haven’t heard of any obvious cause yet – no crashes or fires logged, for example. (Let us know if you see City Light crews zeroing in on any particular spot.) … The outage zone covers part of major streets including Delridge, 16th, and 35th, so please remember to treat intersections with non-functioning signals as if they are four-way stops.
1:24 PM: One texter reports a City Light truck near 25th/Myrtle. Meantime, if this is your first power outage, a reminder that the “estimated restoration time” on SCL’s map is entirely useless – the utility told us years ago that those times are basically wild guesses. And they often change – for example, a short time ago, this one was listed as 4 pm, and now it’s changed to 1:22 pm (though that time has already passed [update, at 1:40 pm they went back to a 4 pm estimate]). Could be a lot sooner than the estimate, could be a lot later.
1:32 PM: As this approaches hour 2, if you’re looking for a place to cool off, our area’s three fully air-conditioned libraries are all outside the outage zone and open until 6 pm – High Point (3411 SW Raymond), Delridge (5423 Delridge Way SW), Southwest (9010 35th SW). … (added) Meaghan at Highland Park Corner Store (7789 Highland Park Way SW) says they’re open, air-conditioned, with places to sit, purchase not required …
1:52 PM: Many are reporting they’ve got power back. The SCL map hasn’t yet updated so we don’t know if everyone’s back on.
2:04 PM: Map finally updated – 382 are still out.
The map also now describes the cause as “tree/vegetation.”
2:44 PM: Thanks to the texter who sent word that indeed, it was a falling tree limb on 25th:
3 PM: Everybody’s back on now, and SCL spokesperson Jenn Strang confirms that the cause was “a tree that came down onto some wires at 24th Ave SW and 25th Ave SW.”
We won’t hear from Seattle Public Schools superintendent Dr. Brent Jones about possible school closures/consolidations until September. So what’s happening in the meantime? The School Board director for West Seattle and most of South Park, Gina Topp, is continuing to host community-conversation meetings, and just announced that her next one will be online, 6-7 pm Wednesday, July 17. Go here for the link you’ll use then (meeting ID 239 288 774 688). These conversations are drop-in events without a scripted agenda (here’s our report on Topp’s previous one) – bring your SPS-related question(s) and/or comment(s).
(Eagle and crab on Alki, photographed over the weekend by James Tilley)
Today’s highlight list, mostly from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
FREE SUMMER MEALS FOR KIDS: Here’s the list of locations and times.
HIGHLAND PARK SPRAYPARK: Daily operation continues – open 11 am-8 pm, free. (1100 SW Cloverdale)
COLMAN POOL: The outdoor heated-salt-water pool on the shore at Lincoln Park (8011 Fauntleroy Way SW) is open noon-7 pm – session times are on the Colman Pool webpage.
LINCOLN PARK WADING POOL: Also at Lincoln Park, the 7-day-a-week wading pool is open today noon-7 pm, in the central upper part of the park near the north play area.
BABY STORY TIME: Bring little ones up to 2 years old to Southwest Library (9010 35th SW), noon-12:30 pm, for story time!
CITY COUNCIL BRIEFING MEETING: 2 pm at City Hall, the weekly meeting in which councilmembers talk about their plans for the week ahead. Here’s the agenda. Watch live via Seattle Channel.
ART SALON: 4-6 pm at C & P Coffee (5612 California SW; WSB sponsor):
This is a monthly gathering of artistic, creative people interested in drawing, painting, printing, journaling, collaging and other creative pursuits. The purpose of this gathering is to provide encouragement and community. Creative people at all stages of development, both casual and professional, are welcome but this gathering is especially for beginners, people who are self-taught, and/or those who simply enjoy making art and think a monthly social gathering will help them make time each month for art! Together, let’s create a safe space for people of all abilities and interests to make art in the company of other creative people. This event is free! Bring your own supplies. Water based mediums only please.
GET CRAFTY: 6-10 pm, Monday brings “Crafting and Creativity Night” at The Missing Piece (9456 35th SW), info here.
D&D: Weekly D&D at 6:30 pm at Meeples Games (3727 California SW). All welcome, first-time players too.
MONDAY NIGHT TRIVIA! Three places to play tonight – 7 pm at The Good Society (California/Lander); 7 and 8 pm Sporcle Pub Quiz at Three 9 Lounge (4505 39th SW); 7:30 pm with QuizFix at The Skylark (3803 Delridge Way SW)
MEDITATION IN FAUNTLEROY: All welcome at free weekly Zen sitting/meditation in the chapel at Fauntleroy UCC (9140 California SW), 7 pm-8:30 pm.
MEDITATION IN ALKI: The Alki Dharma Community hosts meditation at Alki UCC (6115 SW Hinds), 7-8:30 pm.
MUSIC AT THE ALLEY: Live music with The Westside Trio, 8 pm at The Alley (behind 4509 California SW), 21+, no cover.
KARAOKE: 9 pm start for Monday night karaoke at Talarico’s Pizzeria (4718 California SW).
Have a West Seattle/White Center event to add to our calendar? Please send info to westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
6:00 AM: Good morning! It’s Monday, July 8.
WEATHER + SUNRISE/SUNSET TIMES
We’re still under a Heat Advisory until 10 pm Tuesday. Sunday’s high, 93, was a record for the date. Today’s forecast is for more sunshine, high near 90. Today’s sunrise was at 5:21 am, while sunset will be at 9:07 pm.
(Sunday’s sunset with crescent moon, photographed by Peter Galli)
ROAD WORK
*The Admiral Way Bridge seismic project starts today; here are more specifics. (Got questions? We’re talking with a project-team member this morning.)
*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.
SUMMER FEST AHEAD
For West Seattle Summer Fest, road closures start as early as Thursday morning, according to the West Seattle Junction Association – California Avenue SW closes between Edmunds and Oregon and for much of the block north, and Alaska closes between 42nd and 44th.
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, 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!
Sometime in the next few months, Sound Transit is expected to release the Final Environmental Impact Report on West Seattle light rail, followed by a board vote on routing and station locations. With that looming, the 34th District Democrats and West Seattle Chamber of Commerce have just announced a “Transit Town Hall” for 7 pm Tuesday, July 23:
Presented by the 34th District Democrats and the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce, this forum with Sound Transit staff intends to educate West Seattle residents about the proposed Link extension project ahead of the vote to identify the project to be built.
As it stands, the project would include three light rail stations: Delridge (at Delridge and Andover), Avalon (at 35th and Avalon), and West Seattle Junction (at Alaska and 41st). The presentation and forum will provide background about ST3, review of the project plan and timeline, detail the alternatives proposed and the possible alignments, discuss the financial cost and community impacts, provide an overview of the entitlements for displaced residents and businesses, and end on a call to action.
The event will conclude with a question-and-answer segment. If you would like to submit your questions ahead of time, you may do so on this form. Pre-submitted questions will be asked at the beginning of the segment by our moderator.
Even if you don’t have a question, follow the form link to reply to a short survey. The venue is the Center for Active Living (ex-Senior Center), 4217 SW Oregon.
(Added: Photo by D, via X/Twitter)
Thanks to Andrea for the tip! As confirmed by MarineTraffic.com, the Bremerton-based aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN-68) is northbound in Puget Sound right now, sailing across the mouth of Elliott Bay.
(Added: Photo sent by Kevin)
(WSB photo, last Monday)
One more reminder – SDOT is about to start work on the Admiral Way Bridge earthquake-safety project. Crews will start that work under the bridge, in Fairmount Ravine, so Fairmount Avenue will be closed to all traffic beneath the bridge for the duration of the project – expected to be about eight months. As we reported last week, here’s roughly where the road will be blocked:
As explained by project spokesperson Dr. Matthew Howard, “There will be barricades at the bottom of the hill at SW Prince, at the top at SW Forest, and then another set farther down at the actual work area, with fencing. There will be no thru traffic as the work will be taking place on the bridge structure with cranes and equipment blocking the road.” Later in the summer – not likely before August – the top of the bridge (which is really two bridges) will see lane closures, plus two weekend-long full closures. If you have any questions about the project, comment below or email us – we’ll be talking with Dr. Howard tomorrow morning for more details.
6:04 PM: SFD and SPD are on scene at Myers Way and 1st Avenue South, after a motorcycle rider was reported seriously hurt; in early radio exchanges, no other vehicle was reported to be involved. SFD is preparing to take the rider to a hospital.
6:12 PM: In a radio exchange with emergency doctors, medic described the rider as in his late 30s and said he collided with a barrier. He’s being taken to Harborview Medical Center.
Another crew shortage has the Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth state-ferry route going down to one boat this evening. Here’s the announcement:
Due to a shortage of crew, the M/V Kitsap will go out of service following its 6:15 p.m. sailing from Fauntleroy to Vashon. The route will continue to operate on one-boat service on the #1 schedule for the remainder of the service day.
This cancels the following sailings:
6:40 p.m. and 9:15 p.m. from Vashon to Southworth
7:05 p.m. and 9:35 p.m. from Southworth to Vashon
7:55 p.m. and 8:50 p.m. Fauntleroy to Vashon
And a reminder that next week, starting Wednesday and lasting for up to two days, the route’s unscheduled third boat will be out of service because of the domino effect from another route losing a boat to maintenance – this too is explained on the WSF bulletins page.
That sign at the north end of the West Seattle Farmers’ Market has extra meaning this week – next week, because of West Seattle Summer Fest, the market will be on California Avenue SW north of SW Oregon instead of south. Most if not all of your favorite farmers and other vendors will still be participating, and the hours are the same – 10 am to 2 pm Sunday (July 14) – but the market moves on that one Sunday each year so that festival vendors can continue in their Friday-Sunday spots. (The block north of Oregon is home to the main stage and beer garden on Friday and Saturday – see the music lineup here.) Now that Summer Fest week has arrived, we’ll have daily updates leading up to Summer Fest Eve on Thursday and the festival’s start on Friday (following recent previews of the reusable servingware and the Kids’ Zone additions) – see you there!
(Texted photo, smoke as seen from Nino Cantu SW Athletic Complex)
2:08 PM: If you’re seeing smoke – Seattle Fire units is headed to the hillside west of Home Depot, south of Sylvan Way, to check out what was initially reported as a “brush fire” but might involve an encampment.
2:13 PM: Fire command is calling for crews to run another hundred feet of hose because “this is pretty deep into the woods.”
(WSB photo)
2:28 PM: Too far into the woods for us to get a firsthand look, but firefighters’ initial assessment was that the fire covered an area roughly 25′ x 20′.
2:42 PM: Incident commander on scene confirmed to us that no one was hurt and that the fire was in the area of an encampment.
3:12 PM: Firefighters have just declared the fire “tapped” (out) and are wrapping up.
After two much-hotter-than-normal days (Saturday’s high was 91, Friday was 89), the National Weather Service‘s “heat advisory” alert continues until 10 pm Tuesday. We’ve just heard from one more place offering respite from the heat – the Westside Neighbors Shelter/West Seattle Veteran Center/American Legion Post 160 building at 3618 SW Alaska. Manager Keith Hughes emailed us to say they’re “operating as a cooling center Sunday through Tuesday from 7:00 AM until 9 PM. All are welcome.” The shelter/center/post is privately operated, supported by volunteers and donations. For info on city resources, go here.
Hot ticket at Easy Street Records last night – West Seattle’s own THEM packed the house, celebrating their first EP “Girls Mind.” After making their entrance down the stairs from the Easy Street loft, greeted by raucous cheers, they launched right into the title track:
The EP is “the first physical copy of our music we’ve ever had,” the musicians enthused. It arrives midway through a year that started auspiciously, with THEM performing at the Space Needle on New Year’s Eve. We first featured THEM – formed at Mode Music Studios (WSB sponsor) – after ” rel=”noopener” target=”_blank”>their debut 2 1/2 years ago. Other songs from THEM’s CD on last night’s set list included “Sophia”:
Besides being known for hosting in-store shows with rising stars as well as long-established musicians, Easy Street has extra reason to take pride in THEM – band member Hudson works there. She and Ellie, Thompson, and Maia have more big summer gigs ahead, including the Capitol Hill Block Party. (Last night friend Brandon sat in on drums.)
That photo is from WSB contributor Jason Grotelueschen, who also posted this YouTube playlist of more music from the Easy Street set, which THEM followed by signing “Girls Mind.”
(Sunrise Seacrest fishing on Saturday, photo by Theresa Arbow-O’Connor)
Another sunny, hot day ahead – here’s what’s happening, mostly from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar!
ADMIRAL CHURCH FOOD DRIVE: Continues today – drop off nonperishable-food donations at the church (4320 SW Hill) 9 am-noon.
PLUNGE INTO THE SOUND: If ever there was a day when this sounded perfect – at 9 am, you’re welcome to join a group plunge into Puget Sound off Alki – meet at Statue of Liberty Plaza (61st/Alki).
NO WESTIES RUN CLUB TODAY: Canceled because of the holiday weekend.
YOU CAN HELP: Work party at the West Seattle Bee Garden (Lanham/Graham), 10 am-noon.
WEST SEATTLE FARMERS’ MARKET: The market is open today, 10 am-2 pm as usual, on California SW between SW Alaska and SW Oregon, offering summer vegetables, flowers, fruit, and plants, plus baked goods, cheese, fish, meat, condiments, fresh-cooked food, beverages (from cider to kombucha to beer/wine), nuts, candy, more! Here’s today’s vendor list. Also note: NEXT week it will be a block north, north of Oregon, because of West Seattle Summer Fest.
HIGHLAND PARK SPRAYPARK: Daily operation continues – open 11 am-8 pm, free. (1100 SW Cloverdale)
COLMAN POOL: The outdoor heated-salt-water pool on the shore at Lincoln Park (8011 Fauntleroy Way SW) is open to the public today, noon-7 pm – session times are on the Colman Pool webpage.
LINCOLN PARK WADING POOL: Also at Lincoln Park, the season continues for the only city-run wading pool in West Seattle that operates seven days a week, noon-7 pm, in the central upper part of the park near the north play area.
LOW-LOW TIDE, WITH BEACH NATURALISTS: The tide is out to -2.3 feet at 12:27 pm; Seattle Aquarium volunteer beach naturalists are out at Constellation (63rd/Beach Drive) and Lincoln (8011 Fauntleroy Way SW) Parks from 10:30 am to 1:30 pm today.
ALKI POINT LIGHTHOUSE TOURS : Reminder that the historic Alki Point Lighthouse is open to the public today for free tours, 1 pm-3:45 pm, Alki Avenue SW & Point Place SW.
SOCCER: Third-to-last home match for Junction FC, vs. FC Olympia, 2 pm, at Nino Cantu Southwest Athletic Complex (2801 SW Thistle), tickets available online.
LIVE MUSIC AT THE ALLEY: Enjoy Sunday night music with the Triangular Jazztet at The Alley (4509 California SW), 8-10 pm.
Organizing and/or publicizing something that should be on our community event calendar – one-time or recurring? Please email us the basics – westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
3:07 AM: Firefighters are arriving at a building fire reported in the 9000 block of 30th [vicinity map]. Updates to come.
(WSB photo)
3:12 AM: The building is a house. No report of injuries so far. This is about a block west of Westwood Village.
3:18 AM: The fire is reported to be under control.
3:25 AM: And now SFD reports the fire is out. Our crew at the scene is trying to confirm the status of any occupants. SFD said via X/Twitter that the “seat” of the fire was in the basement.
3:46 AM: SFD tells us the residents were at home and got out safely, confirming that no one is hurt. SFD’s investigator will determine what started the fire.
ADDED SUNDAY AFTERNOON: SFD tells us they’re not expecting to have info to release on the fire’s cause before Monday. Meantime, if you’re wondering about a tree/brush fire not far away and not long before this, we asked, but SFD spokesperson Kaila Lafferty tells us, “There is nothing in either report to indicate that the brush fire was related to the house fire.”
12:35 AM: Thanks to the texter who sent that photo of a fire on the West Seattle Stadium/Golf Course grounds. Looked big enough that it even caught a police officer’s attention from a block or so today, but SFD is on scene now and report it’s a single tree. No word how it started, but scattered fireworks usage is still happening around here and the rest of the city, dispatches indicate.
1:12 AM: The call closed a few minutes ago.
11:06 PM: SFD is sending a rescue response to what SPD reports as a one-car crash at Harbor/Avalon, driver went “off the road” and is reported to be unconscious. Updates to come.
11:09 PM: Arriving police tell dispatch that Harbor will be blocked both ways.
11:21 PM: SDOT has swung the camera around to show the responders on Harbor just north of the bridge, but we’re not sure exactly where the car crashed – this area has the almost-complete apartment building on the west side of the street, businesses on the east side.
11:34 PM: The driver, a 48-year-old man, is reported to have regained consciousness. His injuries are not believed to be life-threatening so he will be taken to the hospital via AMR ambulance rather than SFD medic unit.
12:06 AM: Police are reopening northbound Harbor.
12:12 AM: Southbound has reopened too.
Sent by Aileen:
Last night my car was broken into. 30th/Webster. I was exhausted coming back from a trip and it was hot and I wasn’t thinking clearly, didn’t get the whole car emptied! If anyone has time to be on the lookout, (social media), Craigslist, buy sell trade sites, garage sales, these are what the bastards stole: Gray Gregory Jade 63 backpackers backpack, Blue Gregory Wander 50 Kids pack, full of dirty but pricey clothes, my favorite Ciccia wrap dress, a Seaa Surf/Swimsuit, Bambody underwear, Elomi Cate bras, my pink Sarah McLachlan tank top, an Orcas Island t-shirt, 2 pairs of jeans, green Adidas warmup pants, lots of size 10 boys clothes and his swimsuit/rashguard too, plus 4 Shashibos, 32 Hot Wheels and 2 Squishmallows. Please let me know if you find any of our items, happy to pay you for them. Special place reserved in hell for the bastard that took the bag of my kid’s toys.
We’ll add the police-report number when we get it.
(Photos courtesy Junction FC)
One place to spend Sunday afternoon in the shade – in the stands at Nino Cantu Southwest Athletic Complex (2801 SW Thistle), watching West Seattle Junction FC play FC Olympia. Here’s what Junction FC says about the match, their third-to-last at home this season, as they battle for a playoff bid in their first season:
Having drawn 1-1 in their previous meeting this season, picking up three points will be crucial for Junction FC in their hopes of earning one of the two available playoff spots. Junction FC are heading into Sunday’s matchup with three wins, one draw, and one loss in their last five games. FC Olympia on the other hand currently sit four points behind Junction FC in the table, with a win for Junction meaning they could jump up to second place if other results across the division go their way. “This really is the home stretch of our season now,” said Head Coach Erik Oman, following their recent loss against United PDX.
The match kicks off at 2 pm; tickets start at $10 and are available online. Food providers you’ll find at the stadium Sunday include Fit Bar Smoothies, Falafel Salam, and Seattle Pops.
(This photo and next by David Hutchinson)
It was just before 1 pm when cannon fire boomed offshore, announcing the Seafair Pirates‘ annual approach to Alki, where a welcoming party awaited them in honor of their 75th anniversary.
After a pause to assess the situation, the Pirates jumped in to wade their way ashore:
(Video and photos, from here, by WSB’s Patrick Sand, unless otherwise credited)
Once on the sand, the Pirates did more posing than pillaging:
The Pirates and Seafair royalty – Queen Alcyone Ming-Ming Tung-Edelman, King Neptune Chris Cashman, Miss Seafair Karina Hlastala – made their way to the Pirates’ ship-on-wheels Moby Duck, where King County Executive Dow Constantine challenged the royals to stop the pirates from claiming a symbolic key:
Once the pageantry predictably yet spiritedly reached its conclusions, the pirates readied to make their rolling getaway:
(Photo by David Hutchinson)
They have a busy summer schedule ahead, including the West Seattle Grand Parade two weeks from today, on July 20th.
We’re now exactly month away from this year’s Night Out block parties around Seattle (and the rest of the country). August 6 is the date this year, and you can sign up to close your (non-arterial) street to vehicle traffic that night – SPD has a registration link here. Hundreds are already signed up around the city; you can choose whether or not to have yours on the map. Deadline to register for street-closure permission is July 28.
Andrew reports this happened overnight:
Last night somebody broke into our detached garage in Fauntleroy/Arbor Heights and stole our three eBikes – three Rad bikes – an orange Rad Wagon, a black Rad Cruiser and a foldable white Rad Expand.
And, it gets a little weird, the thieves LEFT some items behind – two blue inflatable paddle boards.
It took us a while to figure out that the paddle boards were likely stolen from a neighbor then dumped when the thieves found something better (our eBikes).
If you have any information, the preliminary SPD report # is T00005086 – we’ll substitute the permanent number available. (Update: It’s 24-934593.)
10:54 AM: Thanks for the texted tips. “Police activity” that’s been under way most of the morning now has the 1st Avenue South Bridge blocked both ways, so you’ll need to use either the South Park Bridge (or West Seattle bridges) to get across the river. (added) Archived radio exchanges indicate it’s a person-in-crisis situation.
11:10 AM: The northbound direction has been reopened to traffic but the southbound side is still closed.
2:41 PM: As commenters have noted, and as traffic cameras show, the southbound side is still closed.
4:20 PM: They’re still dealing with the person in crisis, after 7+ hours.
5:15 PM: The WSDOT camera focused on the police standing by is no longer showing them – so we’re waiting for official word that this is over. (Added: That official word csme at 5:39 pm. We are checking with SFD re: the person’s condition.)
9:31 PM: Here’s the summary we received from SFD spokesperson Kaila Lafferty: “At around 9:00 a.m. crews were dispatched to be on standby for a possible rescue response at the 1st Ave bridge. The call was for a person in crisis on the bridge. At Around 4:30 p.m. the patient agreed to come down on an aerial ladder. The patient, an approx. 32-year-old male, refused treatment by medics. The incident was turned over to SPD.”
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