West Seattle, Washington
29 Thursday
Two nights ago, we reported on West Seattle’s oldest senior-living complex, The Kenney, being placed into receivership to try to stabilize its financial situation, with court documents showing $13+ million in debt, and vendors having gone unpaid. The court-appointed receiver is SAK West Seattle, an entity of the consulting firm that’s been managing The Kenney since last year, SAK Healthcare, which specializes in “turnaround” for troubled health-care facilities. We spoke with SAK’S CEO Suzanne Koenig, who is based in Illinois, by phone, to ask a few followup questions. She stressed repeatedly throughout our conversation that her goal is to restore the facility to “the old Kenney that it used to be … its former splendor.”
Though a sale is one possible outcome of receivership, and the court has given them the authority to sell it, Koenig said that’s not a foregone conclusion: “(Receivership) could lead to a sale, but it doesn’t have to.” First and foremost, she said, it’s “a tool” to use to “put all the debt on hold” and therefore enabling “things that need to be done” to get done. Areas of attention that Koenig mentioned would include “remodeling some rooms,” repairing elevators, and work on the HVAC system. She said The Kenney will also get “all-new programming,” including programming for memory-care residents, which she said hadn’t been provided previously. She vowed the facility would “improve at all levels.”
As we reported Monday, the court documents filed last week said 66 people are currently living at The Kenney, which is just north of Lincoln Park at 7125 Fauntleroy Way SW. Asked about that number and about The Kenney’s capacity, Koenig didn’t have numbers handy but said she would provide them. She also expressed hope that past residents who moved elsewhere would consider returning: “We want them all to come back.” That also goes for the community groups that had events at The Kenney pre-pandemic: “We want them to come back too.”
Reported by PP:
Father-in-law’s Prius got stolen yesterday here in West Seattle. Next to Westwood Village (2500 SW Trenton). Stay on the lookout for a gray-colored car with the plate listing in the pic:
Car is a 2017 Prius V. Case # 24-212549.
Call 911 and refer to that case number if you find it.
It’s the next-best thing to being an Olympic Games runner – getting a chance to run the same course! A West Seattle couple will head to Paris soon to do exactly that. Shannon Chappon tells the story of what’s ahead for her and Huy Son:
I thought it would be fun to share that my husband and I will be running the Paris Marathon course in a few weeks in a never-before experience for non-elite runners.
The Paris Olympic Marathon course will be open for a select number of runners in between the elite men and women. The men run in the morning of August 10th and the Marathon Pour Tous will be later that day at 9 pm. The women run the following morning. There is also a 10K. More details about the Marathon Pour Tous can be found here.
For the past year or so Huy and I tracked our running and attempted to win an entry through the weekly challenges provided by the Marathon Pour Tous. None of those challenges gained us an entry, but we continued to run and rack up points which eventually earned us a chance in the lottery. I gained an entry in late January and so we decided to go to Paris. Huy planned to watch me on the course but a few weeks later he also gained an entry.
Never in my life would I have imagined that we would be able to experience something like this! I have been running since I was little and just love the feeling of going wherever my feet can take me. I would go down to Alki and push against the wind when I was in my early teens. I ran track at Kennedy Catholic and then ran for fun in college at the University of Washington. Huy started running later in life when a friend invited him to run Beat the Blerch. He discovered the joy of running and a few years later qualified for Boston. I watched him run Boston 2022 and decided that I would like to try and qualify as well. A year later I qualified and ran Boston 2023. We have been chipping away at the 6 Marathon Majors, having run Boston, New York, Chicago and Berlin. We still have Tokyo and London but we are in no rush. Running has provided us with such amazing opportunities to see the world and make new friends wherever we go. Some of our adventures are on my Instagram (@chappons).
I am a West Seattle native and Huy’s first apartment in Seattle was on Alki. We moved back to West Seattle a few years ago. My dad also grew up on Alki and attended West Seattle High School. I absolutely love West Seattle and we can both be found running Lincoln Park to Beach Drive and onward to Alki.
We wish them bonne chance!
One month ago, we published Camp Long‘s request for your help choosing which movies to show on three dates in August. The first free-movie night is this Friday (August 2nd) and Camp Long’s Matt Kostle says these are the winners:
Matt says, “After voting, there was overwhelming support for the following movies: Barbie, Wakanda Forever and Elemental! Thanks to all who voted and please come join us for these movies throughout the next month!” Sunset this Friday will be at 8:41 pm; temperature should be in the 70s. Camp Long’s main entrance is at 5200 35th SW.
One more belated crime report: Police have released a summary confirming gunfire on Alki early Monday morning. They say 911 calls came in at 3:43 am “to report gunshots near 60 Ave SW/Alki Ave SW.” SPD says officers found 14 shell casings and one “live round,” all 9mm. The summary notes, “A witness stated that prior to the shooting she heard a possible disturbance in the alley and a male voice say ‘hold on’ a couple of times. The witness stated that she then heard multiple gunshots. An unknown vehicle quickly drove from the scene.” No one was reported injured, either in the area or at local hospitals.
Every weekday, the King County Medical Examiner’s Office releases a list of names and causes of death from recent investigations. On Tuesday afternoon, that list included a new ruling that a death in June is now considered a case of homicide, by “blunt-force head injury” suffered in the 4500 block of California SW [map]. That case wasn’t on our radar previously, so we immediately inquired with Seattle Police, and received this response today:
On June 13th at 2:01 a.m., patrol officers responded to a physical assault that occurred near the 4500 block of California Avenue Southwest. Officers arrived along with the Seattle Fire Department. The victim was conscious and bleeding and being treated by SFD and later transported to Harborview Medical Center. Officers were unable to question him about the incident due to his injured state. The suspect fled the area and was not located. No arrests have been made at this time. On June 16th, the victim, 53, was pronounced deceased. This is an open and active Homicide investigation.
The KCMEO identified the victim as William G. Tappe. We also went back into audio archives to see how the incident was initially dispatched on June 13; Seattle Fire sent a low-level, one-engine “aid response” described as “male assaulted, minor injuries”; the SPD dispatch was described as for a victim who was “punched and kicked” by someone who then “got on a bus and left.” No description was provided. If you have any information about this incident, the case number is 24-160382.
Love ABBA? Don’t miss the third and final concert in the Admiral Music in the Parks series, tomorrow (Thursday) night, 6:30 pm at Hamilton Viewpoint Park (1120 California SW). The band in our 2019 clip above, The ABBAgraphs, will be performing hits from the Swedish supergroup. The Admiral Neighborhood Association is presenting the free concert series again this year, this time at three different locations since the original site (Hiawatha) isn’t available due to construction. Bring your own chair/blanket and picnic dinner (or order one for park delivery!) and feel free to dance. Here’s our coverage of this year’s first two AMP concerts – July 18 and July 25. (WSB is the series media sponsor.)
P.S. The ANA has more outdoor music for you on August 24th too, when they present the third annual Admiral Funktion block party – watch for the lineup soon.
site_plan_gene_jaurez_west_seattle-073024
11:58 AM: One month after Sound Credit Union closed at 4730 California SW in The Junction, there’s an early-stage permit filing for a new tenant: Gene Juarez Salons and Spas. The Seattle-founded chain – owned by an L.A.-headquartered investment firm since 2018 – has filed a site plan for the 2,700-square-foot space from which SCU cleared out at the end of June. Gene Juarez currently has 12 locations around the region. We have an inquiry out to the company to ask about the prospective West Seattle salon.
12:58 PM: Company CEO Katie Trent responded, “We do not have anything to share at this time.”
(Photo by Stewart L.)
Here’s our list of what’s happening today/tonight in West Seattle and vicinity, mostly from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
DONATE FOOD! The almost-daily summer food-donation drive continues at Admiral Church (4320 SW Hill) – you can drop off nonperishable items until noon.
TODDLER READING TIME: 10:30 am Wednesdays at Paper Boat Booksellers (6040 California SW).
SPRAYPARK: Highland Park Spraypark (1100 SW Cloverdale) is open every day, 11 am-8 pm, free.
COLMAN POOL: The season continues for the outdoor heated-salt-water pool on the shore at Lincoln Park (8011 Fauntleroy Way SW), 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 noon-7 pm, in the central upper part of the park near the north play area. (Though it’s cloudy this morning, the city plans to open the wading pools because warm, clearer weather is expected this afternoon.)
DELRIDGE WADING POOL: Also open today, next to Delridge Community Center, noon-5:30 pm. (4501 Delridge Way SW)
FIX-IT WORKSHOP: Fix it, don’t toss it! Weekly event, free (donations appreciated), 5:30-7:30 pm at West Seattle Tool Library (4408 Delridge Way SW, northeast side of Youngstown Cultural Arts Center).
FREE ART CLASS: Watercolor mixed-media class, at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center (4408 Delridge Way SW), 6-8 pm.
FREE GROUP RUNS: All runners are welcome on the weekly West Seattle Runner (2743 California SW; WSB sponsor) group run, for all levels – meet at the shop by 6:15 pm.
TRIVIA x 4: Four places where you play tonight: At 6 pm, Locust Cider (2820 Alki SW) offers trivia … Larry’s Tavern (3405 California SW) hosts Wednesday-night trivia starting at 7:30 pm … Quiz Night begins at 8 pm at Beveridge Place Pub (6413 California SW) … and at 8:30 pm, trivia with Phil T at Talarico’s (4718 California SW).
LIVE MUSIC AT THE LOCOL: 6:30 pm. 21+. Rotating performer slate. (7902 35th SW)
MUSIC BINGO X 2: Play weekly at The Good Society (California/Lander), 7 pm … At Three 9 Lounge (39th/Oregon), you can play MINGO music bingo at 7:30 pm Wednesdays, hosted by Mingo Maniac.
YOGA IN THE PARK: Two West Seattle teachers lead Wednesday night outdoor-yoga events at Myrtle Reservoir Park (35th/Myrtle), 6:30 pm – follow the link for ticket info.
OUTDOOR YOGA AND MORE: Outdoor Kundalini Yoga, Breath Work, Meditation and Gong Bath, 7 pm at Solstice Park (7400 Fauntleroy Way SW), ticket info in our calendar listing.
SKYLARK OPEN MIC: Take a turn in the spotlight! 7:30 pm signups for West Seattle’s longest-running open mic. (3803 Delridge Way SW)
Planning a show, presentation, meeting, open house, reading, tour, fundraiser, sale, discussion, etc., that’s open to the community? Please send us info so we can get it onto West Seattle’s only comprehensive event calendar! westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
Before we get to our list of what’s happening today/tonight, we’re looking ahead to Thursday, when West Seattle writer Steve Duda will launch his first book “River Songs” with an event at Emerald Water Anglers (4502 42nd SW; WSB sponsor). “River Songs,” subtitled “Moments of Wild Wonder in Fly Fishing,” is described in the launch announcement as “a collection of 14 essays that represent the wonders and losses experienced in a life outdoors.”
Distinguished writer and head of Fish Tales at Patagonia, Steve Duda asks what is it about this “ridiculous activity” that connects us to this planet, makes us human, and gives us hope? Avoiding fly fishing’s clichés of romantic elegies, Moby-Dick-like conquests, and play-by-plays of “victory” over a fish, Duda instead offers pieces that breathe lived experience, reveal vulnerabilities, and a broad perspective of what it means to have “a long run with a tight crew.” Interspersed through the essays, readers will discover 14 “river songs”—short pieces of prose and poetry that introduce moments of reflection, insight, humor, and tenderness.
The event Thursday (August 1) at EWA is at 6:30 pm. Duda says, “I’ll be giving a short reading, followed by a discussion with Dylan Tomine (author of “Headwaters” and “Closer to the Ground”) and then a Q&A. Cover artist and River Songs’ illustrator Matthew Delorme will also attend and will have prints of his work available. Food from Eva’s Wild will be served. Beer by Georgetown Brewing.” If you can’t make it to the event, check your favorite local independent bookstore for “River Songs,” or get it through publisher Mountaineers Books (which also is headquartered in West Seattle).
6:03 AM: Good morning! It’s Wednesday, July 31.
WEATHER + SUNRISE/SUNSET TIMES
Becoming sunny, high in the mid-70s. Today’s sunrise was at 5:46 am, while sunset will be at 8:44 pm.
ROAD WORK
*The Spokane Street Viaduct resurfacing project has begun. Tonight’s closure plan: Full eastbound closure, 7 pm-6 am. (EB bridge exit to NB 99 will remain open.)
*Installation of speed cushions/humps continues along Alki Avenue; after weekend work, we noticed crews doing more installation on Tuesday.
*The Admiral Way Bridge seismic project is in progress. Fairmount Avenue is closed under the bridge for the duration of the project, likely into early 2025. But SDOT now says it will NOT have weekend closures of the entire bridge.
*The Delridge pedestrian-bridge earthquake-safety project also continues, with narrowing at Delridge/Oregon.
*Beach Drive: Gas-pipeline work continues at spots along the southern stretch.
*Highway 99 tunnel closure 10 pm Friday-6 am Saturday for maintenance.
TRANSIT NOTES, WITH METRO FLEX
Metro Flex – Second week for this on-demand service in Delridge (and South Park), starting a two-year pilot. Here’s how it works.
Metro buses – Regular schedules; check for advisories here.
Water Taxi today – Regular schedule. The real-time map will show you where the boat is.
Washington State Ferries today – 2 boats on the Triangle Route, and the unscheduled third boat may be available. Check that link before you sail.
SPOTLIGHT TRAFFIC CAMERAS (West Seattle Bridge cameras are back but some others remain out)
High Bridge – Here’s the main camera:
Low bridge: Here’s the main view:
1st Avenue South Bridge:
Delridge cameras: Besides the one below (Delridge/Genesee), cameras are also at Delridge/Juneau, Delridge/Henderson, Delridge/Oregon, and video-only (so you have to go to the map), Delridge/Holden and Delridge/Thistle.
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!
Four miscellaneous West Seattle business notes:
SPIRIT-ED AGAIN: Apparently the Westwood Village space where Bed Bath & Beyond closed two and a half years ago still doesn’t have a permanent tenant waiting in the wings. The temporary store Spirit Halloween is coming back for a third year, per signage we spotted, confirmed on the company website.
COFFEE CLOSURE: Reminder that the drive-thru Starbucks at Avalon/Fauntleroy is now closed for about a month of remodeling, as mentioned when the company announced the upcoming permanent closure of its Alki store. (That store’s last day is August 11; Avalon/Fauntleroy is expected to reopen sometime in September.)
SPEAKING OF REMODELING: That’s what’s happening at the Junction 7-11, according to the staff member we asked tonight after a few reader questions about the big containers in the store’s parking lot. The store remains open. No details of the remodeling, and there’s nothing in online permit files, so we’ll have to inquire further.
ELSEWHERE IN THE JUNCTION: The restaurant Raccolto, on the north edge of The Junction, has been closed since Thursday, dealing with “plumbing issues.” The note on the door expresses hope for “tomorrow,” though we don’t know how long that’s been up. (Thanks to Ian for the tip.)
(Reader photo, via text)
Several readers asked about a big law-enforcement response at Roxbury Safeway early this evening. On Seattle Police radio, we heard SPD officers sent to back up King County Sheriff’s Office deputies who were “fighting with a suspect,” but the response was called off fairly quickly, as the suspect was reported to have been taken into custody. We just got information from KCSO on what led to this – spokesperson Det. Michael Ramirez says it was dispatched just after 5 pm as a “possible robbery in progress.” Arriving deputies wound up in “a brief struggle” with the suspect, he says, before they were able to make an arrest. Det. Ramirez adds that no injuries were reported and the suspect was taken to King County Jail to be booked for investigation of robbery.
ADDED WEDNESDAY NIGHT: Bail was set today at $10,000 for the suspect, who is 33. He does not appear to have a felony record, though the docket lists many misdemeanor cases in various jurisdictions.
(SDOT camera view, Monday night)
As reported here, the Spokane Street Viaduct resurfacing project got started last night. Today we have new details from SDOT on the extent of closures planned in the next two weeks.
TONIGHT (JULY 30) – one or two eastbound lanes closed, 7 pm-6 am
WEDNESDAY NIGHT (JULY 31) – full eastbound closure, 7 pm-6 am
THURSDAY NIGHT (AUGUST 1) – full eastbound closure, 7 pm-6 am
FRIDAY NIGHT TO MONDAY MORNING (AUGUST 2-5) – full eastbound closure, 10 pm Friday to 5 am Monday
TUESDAY NIGHT (AUGUST 6) – one or two eastbound lanes closed, 7 pm-6 am
WEDNESDAY NIGHT (AUGUST 7) – full eastbound closure, 7 pm-6 am
THURSDAY NIGHT (AUGUST 8) – full eastbound closure, 7 pm-6 am
FRIDAY NIGHT TO MONDAY MORNING (AUGUST 9-12) – full eastbound closure, 10 pm Friday to 5 am Monday
During all of those closures, SDOT says, the eastbound ramp to northbound 99 will remain open; all eastbound-side ramps beyond that will be closed.
ALSO NOTE: The state will close the Highway 99 tunnel for maintenance 10 pm Friday (August 2) to 6 am Saturday (August 3).
That’s the mural “Old Mud Hole” – now repaired, weeks after a tagger used red paint to vandalize it. When we reported on the damage last week, West Seattle Junction Association executive director Chris Mackay was still working to figure out how to restore it, since the WSJA’s graffiti team said they couldn’t do it without destroying the underlying mural. Then on Monday, a reader texted us a photo of someone at work on the mural:
And this morning, we found the tagging gone. It reminded us of what happened seven years ago, when another Junction mural was vandalized by tagging, and a mystery artist appeared to clean it up. Mackay tells us this is the same artist: “We talked last night and she got on it. Her name is Tess Morgan. She is a trained artist and has worked on other WS murals.” (Our archives show this one in 2012.)
Sent by Susan:
My 2006 silver Chevy Trailblazer was stolen last night in (the 4400 block of) SW Juneau St., West Seattle. License BWW8642, silver with back bumper sticker about dogs making our lives better. Police report 24-211543. Picture of one similar.
Call 911 if you find it.
(Photo by Gary Jones – USS Sampson passing Alki)
12:32 PM: As noted in our daily event list, today’s the day for Seafair‘s downsized Parade of Ships, this year featuring one U.S. Navy destroyer and several U.S. Coast Guard boats. The official “parade” is along the downtown waterfront, but the participating ships sail eastward along Alki and the rest of West Seattle’s north-facing shoreline along the way, so we’re watching from Luna/Anchor Park, as the ships approach Alki Point for their eastward turn. In addition to the ship announced this morning by the U.S. Navy, USS Sampson (DDG 102), online tracking identifies the USCG participants as including Terrapin, Osprey, Sea Lion, buoy tender Henry Blake, and newly commissioned David Duren. (Seattle fireboat Leschi is heading out to greet them.)
(Photo by Javier Fosado – SFD fireboat Leschi with USS Sampson)
The Sampson and some of the USCG vessels will be open for tours on the downtown waterfront Wednesday-Sunday; see the schedule here.
12:54 PM: Now passing Duwamish Head, with the Sampson leading the way.
1:39 PM: The ships have moved on to downtown.
2:42 PM: Here are our pics with a closer look:
(Admiral Way Bridges from Fairmount Avenue, via Google Maps Street View)
The Admiral Way Bridge earthquake-strengthening project is now in its fourth week. Work is primarily continuing under the bridge, where Fairmount Avenue is closed to all traffic until early next year. But some work is planned on the deck, as we’ve reported. Now, though, there’s a big change in the plan. Thanks to MJ for the tip on this – SDOT confirms that it is no longer planning two weekend-long full closures of the bridge. Lane closures are still planned (no official schedule yet).
(Flower at West Seattle Bee Garden, photographed by Susan Whiting Kemp)
Here’s what’s happening for the rest of today/tonight, as listed on the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar (send us your event any time – westseattleblog@gmail.com):
POSTCARDS4DEMOCRACY: Advocacy from afar, 10:30 am-noon every Tuesday at C & P Coffee (5612 California SW; WSB sponsor).
SEAFAIR PARADE OF SHIPS: While headed downtown, a scaled-down Seafair fleet should be passing West Seattle’s north-facing shores around noon. According to an announcement this morning, one U.S. Navy ship is participating, guided-missile destroyer USS Sampson (DDG 102), and U.S. Coast Guard ships TBA.
SOUTH PARK SPROUTS GARDEN CLUB: Calling families with kids 6-12 – come help beautify the SP Library branch and learn about nature while you’re at it! Noon-1 pm; more in our calendar listing. (8604 8th Ave. S.)
COLMAN POOL: Continued daily operations for the outdoor heated-salt-water pool on the shore at Lincoln Park (8011 Fauntleroy Way SW), noon-7 pm – session times are on the Colman Pool webpage.
LINCOLN PARK WADING POOL: Also at Lincoln Park, the wading pool is expected to be open today, noon-7 pm, in the central upper part of the park near the north play area, with the weather due to warm up this afternoon.
CHESS CLUB: Tuesdays 1:30-3 pm, at the Center for Active Living (4217 SW Oregon). All levels welcome. (Questions? Email conwell@conwelld.net.)
CITY COUNCIL: 2 pm weekly meeting, with public comment in person or online – the agenda explains how. Today’s agenda items include the confirmation vote for Amy Smith as CARE Department Chief. Watch via Seattle Channel.
DEMONSTRATION FOR BLACK LIVES: Long-running weekly sign-waving demonstration continues on the corners at 16th/Holden. 5-6 pm. Signs available if you don’t bring your own.
PLAY ALONG IN THE PARK WITH WSCO: 6 pm at Lincoln Park (8011 Fauntleroy Way SW), the final night this summer you can bring your musical instrument to play along with the West Seattle Community Orchestras – or just listen in! Off the north parking lot. Our calendar listing includes a link for players to preregister.
OPEN HOUSE: West Seattle School of Rock (4701 41st SW, outer east Jefferson Square) invites you to visit 6-8 for a free class, door prizes, more.
STORYTIME IN THE GARDEN: 6 pm Tuesdays all summer, bring the little one(s) to Delridge P-Patch (5078 25th SW) for storytime plus a garden activity.
SCRABBLE NIGHT: 6-10 pm tonight, play Scrabble at The Missing Piece (9456 35th SW).
FREE TRACK RUN: All runners welcome! Gather at West Seattle Runner (2743 California SW; WSB sponsor) for this free weekly run at 6:15 pm.
TOASTMASTERS 832: The West Seattle group meets online at 6:30 pm and invites you to work on your leadership and communication skills with them. Our calendar listing explains how to RSVP for the link.
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).
(update: canceled tonight, back next week) BINGO AT THE SKYLARK: Play – free! – weekly Belle of the Balls Bingo hosted by Cookie Couture, 7 pm. (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; 7 pm at Zeeks Pizza West Seattle (6459 California SW), hosted by Geeks Who Drink; 7:10 pm at Admiral Pub (2306 California SW).
Event coming up? Are community members invited? Tell your West Seattle neighbors via our event calendar – please email the info to westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
A memorial service is planned at 4 pm today in Normandy Park for the woman who served as a state legislator for our area for many years. Georgette Wald Valle was just four months away from her 100th birthday when she died on July 10th. Ms. Valle was a Democrat who served 12 terms in the State Legislature, including representing the 34th District 1987-1997. This photo was taken during those years, in 1989:
(Photo from Paul Dorpat Collection)
That’s Ms. Valle at right during a demonstration on the Admiral Theatre‘s closing night, when its future was in question. In addition to her service as an elected official, she also was involved with a long list of organizations from here to Burien, among them the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce, Senior Center of West Seattle (now the Center For Active Living), and Southwest Youth and Family Services. She founded the Environmental Science Center at Seahurst Park (to which you’re invited to donate in her memory). Environmental advocacy was a passion of hers, and environmental issues were a major part of what she championed in the Legislature. Ms. Valle stayed active long past her political career, which also included a stint on the Burien City Council; WSB archives feature this photo of her at the 2011 34th District Democrats‘ baseball game.
(With Ms. Valle and then-34th DDs member Karl DeJong is then-governor candidate Jay Inslee)
Ms. Valle, who was born into a Minnesota farming family, is survived by her two children and four grandchildren. Her memorial service is planned for 4 pm today (Tuesday, July 30) at Normandy Park UCC (19247 1st Ave. S.), to be followed by a reception.
6:02 AM: Good morning! It’s Tuesday, July 30.
WEATHER + SUNRISE/SUNSET TIMES
Rain possible this morning, becoming sunny later, high in the low 70s. Today’s sunrise was at 5:45 am, while sunset will be at 8:45 pm.
TRANSIT NOTES, WITH METRO FLEX
Metro Flex – Second week for this on-demand service in Delridge (and South Park), starting a two-year pilot. Here’s how it works.
Metro buses – Regular schedules; check for advisories here.
Water Taxi today – Regular schedule. The real-time map will show you where the boat is.
Washington State Ferries today – 2 boats on the Triangle Route, and the unscheduled third boat may be available. Check that link before you sail.
ROAD WORK
*The Spokane Street Viaduct resurfacing project has begun, first with weeknight overnight lane closures, 7 pm-6 am, then with several all-weekend one-direction closures, starting this weekend. Here’s last night’s update.
*The first new speed cushions/humps are in along Harbor Avenue, as we reported Sunday.
*The Admiral Way Bridge seismic project is in progress. Fairmount Avenue is closed under the bridge for the duration of the project, likely into early 2025. We’ll have an update on this project later today.
*The Delridge pedestrian-bridge earthquake-safety project also continues, with narrowing at Delridge/Oregon.
*Beach Drive: Gas-pipeline work continues at spots along the southern stretch.
SPOTLIGHT TRAFFIC CAMERAS (West Seattle Bridge cameras are back but some others remain out)
High Bridge – Here’s the main camera:
Low bridge: Here’s the main view:
1st Avenue South Bridge:
Delridge cameras: Besides the one below (Delridge/Genesee), cameras are also at Delridge/Juneau, Delridge/Henderson, Delridge/Oregon, and video-only (so you have to go to the map), Delridge/Holden and Delridge/Thistle.
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!
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
Back in February, we reported on new management for West Seattle’s historic senior-living complex, The Kenney, located north of Lincoln Park for 115 years. Midwest-based “turnaround” specialist SAK Healthcare had taken over, hired by The Kenney’s board and lender, after it spent nine years as part of East Coast-based Heritage Ministries. Now, another change – SAK is still in charge, but with a different role – as court-appointed receiver. The Kenney announced today that it’s been “placed into receivership” in connection with a King County Superior Court case filed by its lenders:
The Kenney was placed into a court-supervised receivership in order to ensure that the residents continue to receive the highest levels of care and service and to ensure the financial success of the facility. The Kenney’s commitment to providing exceptional care and maintaining a safe, comfortable living environment for our residents remains the top priority. The receivership process will allow The Kenney to stabilize its financial situation and implement necessary changes to strengthen that financial foundation. By doing so, the Kenney can continue to meet the needs of its residents and uphold the high standards of service that it is known for.
According to documents in the court case, which was filed five days ago, The Kenney has been in default for a year on more than $13 million in loans, and it hasn’t been paying vendors, at least two of which have gone to court. From the receivership-case documents:
There are approximately 66 people currently residing at the Community, each of whom receives varying levels of care from the staff based upon their medical condition and personal needs. A receiver is necessary to ensure that the Community remains open, that there is no gap in medical or health care provided to any resident, that no harm will come to any resident, and to manage the financial operation of the Community going forward until a new owner can be found to take over the management and operations of the Community.
SAK specializes in “rescuing … distressed” facilities in situations like this, the documents say. The announcement we received notes that “Affiliates of SAK West Seattle [the official name of the receivership entity] have been appointed receiver for senior living facilities in cases around the country.” It also quotes SAK founder/CEO Suzanne Koenig as saying, “Our team of experienced and compassionate professionals will work with existing staff and will continue to deliver the same level of excellence that the residents and their families have come to expect. We are confident that this financial restructuring will enhance the community now and in the future.” We hope to speak with her tomorrow to get answers to some followup questions.
For backstory, The Kenney had a $150 million reinvention plan more than 15 years ago. That plan was dropped after three years; in 2016, a smaller-scale expansion plan was introduced, even as The Kenney worked to get back to financial stability. That plan never came to fruition, either (and some of the land envisioned for new units instead was sold off). Other changes under previous management included closure of its skilled-nursing center in 2017.
SDOT confirms that overnight lane closures for resurfacing work on the Spokane Street Viaduct started tonight. When dates for the work were announced last week, SDOT said the lane closures could start “as soon as” tonight, so we checked to see if it was still a go, given the wet weather. When they confirmed to us that it’s a go for tonight, a spokesperson also said they’ve changed the hours – in the original announcement, the overnight lane closures were described as “between 10 pm and 5 am,” but now they’re planned for “typically between 7 pm and 6 am.” (Per the traffic-cam screengrab above, the lane-closure work zone tonight starts just after the eastbound bridge exit to NB 99.) They may also have some “full directional closure(s) overnight” in addition to the five weekend full-directional closures, scheduled to start this weekend – closed eastbound (plus the inside westbound lane) 10 pm Friday, August 2, to 5 am Monday, August 5. The work is expected to continue until early October.
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