West Seattle, Washington
13 Sunday
10:52 PM: SPD and SFD are closing Fauntleroy both ways at Rose while investigating a crash in which a man on foot was reported to have been hit by a driver on the southbound side, by Lincoln Park [map]. Avoid the area.
(Screenshot from closest SDOT traffic camera)
11:08 PM: Police say the street has reopened both ways. We haven’t heard an update on the man’s condition but will be following up with SFD.
Of note, SDOT announced earlier this year that it would restore a marked crosswalk at this intersection, something community groups had long been requesting; the previous one was removed in the mid-’00s.
9:58 AM WEDNESDAY: SFD tells us that the victim is 21 and was in stable condition when taken to Harborview Medical Center.
Tomorrow (Wednesday, August 28) is the first day of classes at the next West Seattle school to start the 2024-2025 year, Holy Family Bilingual Catholic School. The new year already has begun at two area schools, Summit Atlas – the charter middle/high school in Arbor Heights (since August 14) – and Kennedy Catholic High School in Burien (since August 21). Here’s when other local schools start:
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 3
Holy Rosary
Hope Lutheran
Our Lady of Guadalupe
Vashon Island School District
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 4
Bridge Cooperative Elementary
Explorer West Middle School (WSB sponsor)
Highline Public Schools (grades 1-12)
Seattle Public Schools (grades 1-12)
Tilden School (WSB sponsor)
West Seattle Montessori
Westside School (WSB sponsor)
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 9
Seattle Public Schools (pre-K and kindergarten)
Whichever school(s) you’re affiliated with, we’d love to hear what’s new, now and as the year progresses – new principal? fundraisers? events open to the community? successes? – westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
Last week, we told you about three marathon swims announced by the Northwest Open Water Swimming Association for last week. We noted the first swim’s successful completion last Wednesday – Chelsea Lee completing what’s known as the Bert Thomas Swim, almost 19 miles from Old Town Dock in Tacoma to Point Williams by Colman Pool in West Seattle, in . She finished in just over 9 hours. Two days later, last Friday, NOWSA confirms, Wendy Van De Sompele of Vashon Island – aquatic director at Colman Pool – swan from Alki Point to West Point, six miles, in 2:45.
(Wendy, post-swim – photo by Scott Lautman)
With that, she became the first person to complete 5 out of the 6 swims in the Puget Sound Lighthouse Series.
Then on Sunday, NOWSA’s big week concluded with a round-trip all-woman relay from/to Alki Point, around Blake Island, completed in 6:28:
(Salish Sirens at relay’s end, photo by Stephanie Zimmerman)
They were dubbed the “Salish Sirens” – Melissa Kegler, a Triple Crown marathon swimmer (English Channel, Catalina Channel, around Manhattan Island) headed the relay team, whose members spanned all decades from 30-70: Becky Smith, Carol Horowitz, Guila Muir, Emily White, and Shea DeWald. They all regularly swim in the Sound off Alki. Boat support was provided by Seastr PNW, which NOWSA explained is “dedicated to inclusive access to waterborne activities for people who have been historically excluded from the maritime industry and water sports.” You can learn more about NOWSA here.
The recent cyberattacks on SEA and on the Seattle Public Library are reminders that online security is a concern for us all. This Thursday, you’re invited to learn about risks and protection, as well as fraud/scam protection, in a cybersecurity presentation by the Seattle Neighborhood Group, hosted at Village Green West Seattle (2615 SW Barton; WSB sponsor). It’s scheduled for 1-2:30 pm in Building 2 at the complex, and all are welcome – RSVP is requested but not required; corinne@villagegreenretirement.com.
(Photo sent by Eddie from The Junction)
Thanks for the photos and video! Thunder, rain, and hail rolled through West Seattle – and southward into White Center – this past hour.
(Video sent by Christopher from High Point)
No alerts, not much out there on radar, and it’s all supposed to clear up in time for several clear days starting tomorrow … but things have been a bit unpredictable lately.
(Photo sent by Jerry Simmons, who measured the hail at 1/4″)
(Video sent by Bobbie from White Center)
We always appreciate photos via westseattleblog@gmail.com, also breaking via text at 206-293-6302!
Thanks for the tip! The White Center KFC and A&W location at 10050 16th SW has suddenly shuttered, and that big banner explains why. This is WC’s second fried-chicken closure in less than three weeks, after Bok a Bok. We’ll be adding details on our partner site White Center Now as we get them. (West Seattle’s KFC closed six years ago; Habit Burger is at that site now.)
1:39 PM: A Seattle Public Utilities crew is wrapping up repairs on what they told us was a “small” water break related to a home-construction site near 48th/Sunset in North Admiral. We heard about it from a texter who lost water service as a result. SPU’s water-outage map wasn’t working so we went to the scene to find out more; sometimes water breaks also result in “brown water” nearby so if you’re experiencing that in the area, this might be the problem (always report it to 206-386-1800 even if you think you know the cause).
3:33 PM: More information from SPU spokesperson Brad Wong:
Seattle Public Utilities (SPU) received a call today around 8:40 a.m. about a broken water main at 1925 Sunset Ave. SW in Seattle. SPU crews arrived and learned that a 1.5-inch water service line was damaged. Crews decided to do an emergency service repair, which required shutting down an 8-inch water main at approximately 11:30 a.m. The repair affected 28 customers in the area. As of 2 p.m., SPU crews had completed the repair. Water service is expected to resume this afternoon.
ORIGINAL TUESDAY REPORT: Wildwood Market in Fauntleroy was hit by a burglary early this morning – and in the process, its gas meter was damaged. That led to an SFD callout just before 7 am. Firefighters shut the gas off fairly quickly. Store staff told us the burglars stole items including the safe. We’re still working to get other details from police and store ownership, but Wildwood was open for business as usual when we went by at mid-morning.
UPDATE, 1:10 PM WEDNESDAY: We obtained the police narrative today, and it explains how the gas meter got damaged:
(The business owner) stated that she received a message from a delivery driver to the business that the window was broken on the front of the business at 0615 hrs.
(She) stated that since she had arrived at the business she could smell the odor of natural gas. I had SFD respond to the scene. Engine 37 arrived and determined that the gas meter on the outside of the building was leaking natural gas because it had been damaged.
(We) checked the interior of the building and it was clear of any suspects. (The owner) went through the building with me and stated that the suspects took some change from the cash register and the safe and a filing cabinet from the office. Neither of those items contained any money.
We also found the back door open. It is likely that the suspect(s) went out the backdoor and threw the filing cabinet and the safe over the deck railing and it landed on the gas meter, causing the leak.
Boeing Field – aka King County International Airport, “one of the busiest non-hub airports in the nation” – is just over the ridge from West Seattle, with much of its operations within earshot if not always within view. So you might be interested in this announcement:
King County International Airport-Boeing Field (KCIA) invites community members to attend an open house on Sept. 4 to learn about the Part 150 Study purpose and process. The Part 150 Study is a voluntary Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) process that identifies the level of aircraft noise in an airport vicinity and identifies potential measures to reduce the effects of noise on surrounding neighborhoods.
The open house will be held from 6 to 7:30 p.m., Wednesday, Sept. 4 at the KCIA Flight Service Station, 6526 Ellis Ave. S. in Seattle. Free parking is available in the building’s parking lot and on nearby streets. A King County Metro bus stop at Ellis Avenue South and South Warsaw Street, across from the KCIA Flight Service Station, serves the 124 and 60 lines.
Community members can stop by any time between 6 and 7:30 p.m. to meet and talk with the project team and share their feedback. No registration is necessary, and there will be no formal presentation. Language interpretation will be available in Spanish, Mandarin, Cantonese, Khmer, Vietnamese, and Tagalog. For those unable to make this event, the study team will host additional open houses and engagement opportunities throughout the study, which will continue through 2026.
KCIA is undertaking two important studies to plan for the future of the airport: the Vision 2045 Airport Plan and the Part 150 Study. King County owns and operates KCIA, a public-use airport. Both the county and the FAA have authority over different parts of the airport’s operations, management, and future development.
“Public input is critical to the successful outcome of Vision 2045 and the Part 150 Study,” said John Parrott, KCIA airport director. “We invite the community to join us Sept. 4 to learn more about the Part 150 Study and talk to us about airport noise. Both technical information and community input will inform the process as we move through this study and identify measures to reduce noise.”
The Part 150 Study will be completed according to FAA guidance and will inform aspects of the Vision 2045 Airport Plan. The Part 150 Study will include the following:
-Study existing and future flight corridors.
-Develop aircraft noise exposure maps for current and future flight conditions.
-Evaluate air traffic control procedures that could reduce noise exposure over residential areas.
-Consider land use controls that the cities of Seattle and Tukwila, and King County, could introduce to reduce future incompatible land uses (such as residences, schools, and churches) from being developed within high noise exposure areas.
-Evaluate ways to reduce noise impacts within high noise exposure areas.To learn more or provide input online, visit the project website at KCIAPlanning.com.
(Jay and pigeon, photographed by Jon Anderson)
Here’s what’s on our highlight list for the rest of today/tonight, from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar (which you can browse any time for an earlier look at what’s up):
SPRUCE UP MADISON MS: 9:30 am-11:30 am, help the school (3429 45th SW) get ready for 2024-2025 – just show up and pitch in, as previewed here.
INTRODUCTORY QI GONG: 10 am session at Viva Arts (4421 Fauntleroy Way SW) – registration link is in our calendar listing. $10 suggested donation.
FOOD FUNDRAISER: Get food from/at MOD Pizza in Westwood Village (2800 SW Barton) 10:30 am-10 pm and a percentage of the proceeds will go to Chief Sealth International High School Football if you use the code that’s in our calendar listing.
HIGHLAND PARK SPRAYPARK: Open daily through Labor Day, 11 am-8 pm. (1100 SW Cloverdale)
COLMAN POOL: Also open through Labor Day, 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 CLOSED: Also at Lincoln Park, the wading pool is (update) CLOSED today because of the weather.
SOUTHWEST POOL CLOSED: Repair/maintenance closure continues until after Labor Day.
ROTARY CLUB OF WEST SEATTLE: Noon lunch at West Seattle Golf Course, guest speaker from the Seattle Architecture Foundation. Public welcome – our calendar listing has RSVP contact.
CHESS CLUB: Tuesdays 1:30-3 pm, at the Center for Active Living (4217 SW Oregon). All levels welcome. (Questions? Email conwell@conwelld.net.)
NO CITY COUNCIL MEETING: The council’s late-summer break continues.
BUSINESS WORKSHOP: “Finding and Securing the Perfect Commissary Kitchen,” 4-6 pm at Southwest Library (9010 35th SW).
FREE DROP-IN CLIMBING: Weather permitting, you’re invited to try out Schurman Rock at Camp Long (5200 35th SW) – two free sessions, 5 pm and 6:30 pm, with signups starting half an hour before the session begins.
DEMONSTRATION FOR BLACK LIVES: Long-running weekly sign-waving demonstration on the corners at 16th/Holden. 5-6 pm. Signs available if you don’t bring your own.
CUB SCOUTING FOR GIRLS: 6 pm at West Side Presbyterian Church (3601 California SW), girls in grades K-5 are invited to a special Cub Scouting event, explained in our calendar listing.
STORYTIME IN THE GARDEN: 6 pm, weather permitting, 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! Meet up 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! – weekly Belle of the Balls Bingo hosted by Cookie Couture, 7 pm. (3803 Delridge Way SW)
TRIVIA X 4: Four trivia options 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).
Planning an event? If it’s open to community members, tell your West Seattle neighbors via our event calendar – just email the info to westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
6:01 AM: Good morning! It’s Tuesday, August 27 – six days to Labor Day.
WEATHER + SUNRISE/SUNSET TIMES
Showery morning, sun later, high in mid-60s. Today’s sunrise will be at 6:22 am, while sunset will be at 7:58 pm.
SPOKANE ST. VIADUCT AND OTHER ROAD WORK
*No work, no closures, until after Labor Day, for the Spokane Street Viaduct resurfacing project.
*The Admiral Way Bridge seismic project is in progress. The north half of the bridge is closed, with one lane each way on the south side; Fairmount Avenue remains closed under the bridge.
*The Delridge pedestrian-bridge earthquake-safety project also continues, with narrowing at Delridge/Oregon.
*The East Marginal Way S. project continues, with a temporary routing change for bicycle riders (explained at that link).
*Beach Drive: Gas-pipeline work continues at spots along the southern stretch. Watch for no-parking zones and steel plates (many on northbound side right now), plus flaggers.
TRANSIT NOTES
Water Taxi today – Regular schedule for both routes.
Metro buses today – Regular schedules; check for advisories here.
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
High Bridge – Here’s the main camera:
High Bridge – The Fauntleroy-end camera:
Spokane Street Viaduct – This view looks westward, with eastbound lanes at left and westbound lanes at right:
Low bridge: Here’s the main view:
1st Avenue South Bridge:
South Park Bridge – Looking east:
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!
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