From a texter tonight:

We just saw a coyote in our neighborhood on 38th & Genesee – wanted to alert local pet owners!

That reminded us we were overdue to publish the others received since our previous compilation almost two weeks ago. Molly saw this one in Upper Fauntleroy earlier this week:

Spotted this one on 38th at about 9:15 pm. It then went down to Henderson and trotted west. Did not seem afraid of us—stood and watched us awhile until we shouted at it to shoo it away. Never seen one so bold!

That’s one recommendation of experts – try to “haze” them, by shouting, waving, etc., to try to encourage them to keep their distance. The same night, and almost the same time, as Molly’s sighting, Coleman saw a coyote in Sunrise Heights:

We just spotted a coyote 9:00 pm standing in front of our house on 32nd and Holden. Heading North toward Walt Hundley Playfield. Beautiful to see.

Several days before those, a texter sent this report and photo from the neighborhood near Gatewood Elementary:

Coyote sighting on Woodside at Myrtle. I saw [a previous] Woodside sighting in The Blog, so I was excited to see this one in person.

Last but not least, Kate shared this early-morning sighting of an apparent coyote family, near the Longfellow Creek Trail:

Now, our standard side note: We report coyote sightings in the spirit of awareness, not alarm – our chances of uneventful coexistence improve if you avoid providing food (from unattended pets to unsecured garbage). Here’s more of what you should know about coyotes.

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ELECTION 2024: Three notes, as campaign season revs back up

August 31, 2024 8:08 pm

| 14 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle politics

Your ballot for the November 5 election will arrive in less than seven weeks. After a post-primary lull, it’s time to start up the pre-general election coverage.

‘WEST SEATTLE ANSWERS THE CALL’: This past Monday night, 200 local supporters of the Democratic presidential ticket gathered for one of the biggest local political fundraisers we’ve heard of in a while – probably the biggest one since the candidate herself spent an hour in West Seattle three months ago.

Co-hosts Amy Daly-Donovan and Laurie Reinhardt sent photos from the event, titled “West Seattle Answers the Call,” held at a West Seattle home. Speakers included King County Executive Dow Constantine, 34th District State Rep. and House Majority Leader Joe Fitzgibbon, and statewide Coordinated Campaign Director Christina Carvalho.

The organizers say, “There was so much good energy and camaraderie in the air.” They report the event raised more than $45,000 to support the presidential campaign as well as other Democratic races. They also noted interest in the yard signs, adding, “we purchased them from signsofjustice.com, a Portland-based, Black-owned business with great service and excellent quality!”

RECOUNT: One statewide race on the November ballot has yet to be finalized – State Commissioner of Public Lands, in which Republican Jaime Herrera Beutler finished in undisputed first place, but Democrat Dave Upthegrove was only 51 votes – a thousandth of a percent – ahead of Republican Sue Kuehl Pederson. That mandated a hand recount, and election offices around the state have been conducting theirs, with most reported to have finished but not yet certified. The biggest, King County, started last Monday and will certify results on Wednesday morning (September 4).

ENCOURAGING YOUNGER VOTERS: One week from today, 10 am-1 pm September 7th, Youngstown Cultural Arts Center (4408 Delridge Way SW) will host a watch party for a YWCA-presented nonpartisan national town hall focused on Gen Z women voting, though all are welcome to attend. Our calendar listing has details; organizers of the event, which will be streamed from Philadelphia, say they’ve invited the presidential candidates too but haven’t yet received confirmations. (UPDATE: DNDA says this is canceled for lack of RSVPs.)

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MUSIC: West Seattle Community Orchestras welcome two new conductors, open 2024-2025 registration

August 31, 2024 5:17 pm

| 1 COMMENT

| West Seattle news | WS culture/arts

Big news from the West Seattle Community Orchestras – two new conductors. And the organization has opened registration for the new season, which starts soon. Here’s the announcement:

The West Seattle Community Orchestras organization is welcoming two new conductors.

Asieh Mahyar, who serves as the interim Director of Orchestral Studies at Pacific Lutheran University, will conduct the Symphony Orchestra. Originally from Iran and one of the very few female conductors from her country, Ms. Mahyar brings in her extensive experience working with ensembles at various levels and in different countries. For the 2024-2025 season, she eagerly looks forward to leading the Symphony Orchestra on a fantastic musical journey. Dynamic and vibrant, the repertoire will include festive Holiday music, selections from timeless masterworks, premieres of music by composers from diverse cultural backgrounds, and inspiring collaborations with distinguished local musicians.

The Wind Symphony is getting some new direction under Justin Murray as well. Justin is an active music educator, clinician, and conductor who also works as the Director of Membership at Classical KING (98.1 FM). This year, he is particularly excited about returning to directing an ensemble and sharing the process and experience of making music with members of our West Seattle Community.

If you want to join one of the 6 ensembles of WSCO, registration is currently open for returning and new members, with auditions on September 17 and rehearsals starting on October 8 at Chief Sealth International High School.

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Early end to Lincoln Park wading pool’s season

August 31, 2024 2:06 pm

| 5 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle parks

Thanks to the texter who sent that photo and a note that Lincoln Park‘s wading pool is closed, no explanation on site. According to a Seattle Parks social-media note we subsequently found, a “plumbing problem” will keep it closed for the rest of the season, which had been scheduled to end after Monday. This means no West Seattle wading pools, since the others closed about two weeks ago; the Highland Park spraypark is scheduled to remain open through Labor Day, 11 am-8 pm daily.

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VIDEO: 2024 Alki Beach Pride street festival and beach party

August 31, 2024 12:15 pm

| 2 COMMENTS

| West Seattle festivals | West Seattle news

12:15 PM: This year’s Alki Beach Pride celebration – combination beach party and street festival – is on! Thanks to Alki Community Council president Charlotte Starck for the early photo. We’re headed to Alki for more pics but wanted to remind you first that Alki Avenue is closed to vehicles between 57th and 61st; that means a Water Taxi shuttle reroute. The festival is on until 8 pm; see the entertainment schedule here.

2:51 PM: The Rainbow City Marching Band was performing while we were there – here’s a bit of music (Macklemore‘s “Downtown”):

Also on stage – deputy mayor Greg Wong and City Councilmember Rob Saka‘s district director Leyla Gheisar, presenting a proclamation accepted by Alki Beach Pride co-founder Stacy Bass-Walden – it recounts the history and intent of ABP:

Beyond the stage, you’ll find dozens of booths, both vendors and resource providers:

Among them, the West Seattle Food Bank, whose booth is where – as noted here last night – you can enter a drawing for a ticket to the Taste of West Seattle, now less than three weeks away:

As noted in the city proclamation, this is the 10th ABP celebration, with a simple theme:

Headliner Mariah Counts is just an hour away; the festival continues until 8 pm

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SEEN OVER WEST SEATTLE: Another aurora appearance

August 31, 2024 10:51 am

| 2 COMMENTS

| Skies Over West Seattle | West Seattle news

Thanks to Manuel for the photos! Another sighting of Northern Lights in our area overnight … his photos are from Alki.

(Others around the Sound saw them too.) For tips on aurora-viewing, and links to forecast sites, check out this page on West Seattle skywatcher/educator Alice Enevoldsen‘s website.

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WEST SEATTLE SATURDAY: 34 notes for holiday weekend’s first day

August 31, 2024 6:07 am

| 9 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Bush cricket, photographed near Lincoln Park by Steve Bender)

Welcome to the holiday weekend! Here are notes for today/tonight, mostly from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:

NO SSV CLOSURE: Reminder – the Spokane Street Viaduct (continuation of West Seattle Bridge between 99 and I-5) is fully open this weekend.

ART ON THE CORNER: 8 am-3 pm at 39th/Holden, artist Bonnie is having another one of her famous art sales, with proceeds benefiting the West Seattle Food Bank.

GARAGE/YARD SALES: See what’s listed today in the WSB Community Forums.

SATURDAY GROUP RUN: Meet at West Seattle Runner (2743 California SW; WSB sponsor) at 8 am for the regular Saturday morning run.

BIG BLUE TRUCK: The Northwest Center‘s donation-dropoff truck has returned to West Seattle! You’ll find it outside WaFd Bank (4102 California SW). Our calendar listing has info on what items the truck (a WSB sponsor) will accept. 9 am-5 pm.

DELRIDGE FARMERS’ MARKET: West Seattle has TWO farmers’ markets every weekend! This is the first one – your weekly Saturday opportunity to go get fresh food from growers and makers – 10 am-2 pm, the market’s fourth season offers produce, plants, condiments, prepared food, more! (9421 18th SW; WSB sponsor)

WALKING FOR WELL-BEING: You’re invited to join others taking a walk in Lincoln Park (meet at 47th/Fauntleroy), 10 am.

SSC GARDEN CENTER, WITH THE OTTER PUP: Summer gardening season isn’t over yet – even though we’re getting a taste of fall weather. Student-grown plants await you at the north end of the South Seattle College (6000 16th SW; WSB sponsor) campus, 10 am-3 pm. Plus: The Otter Pup is open by the center, with coffee, ice cream, and other treats!

FREE WRITING GROUP: 10:30 am in West Seattle, registration required – see full details in our calendar listing.

MORNING MUSIC: 10:30 am-noon at C & P Coffee (5612 California SW; WSB sponsor), Marco de Carvalho and Friends perform. Info about Marco’s music is here.

KNIFE-SHARPENING POP-UP: Kneighborhood Knives returns to Hotwire Coffee (4410 California SW) for another one-day pop-up, 11 am-4 pm, $10/knife.

DIVAS BRUNCH: Prelude to Alki Beach Pride, drag brunch at Harry’s Beach House (2676 Alki SW), 11 am and 1 pm seatings. Go here to see if tickets are left (there were some as of very early this am).

POP-UP PLANT SALE: 11 am-7 pm – details in our calendar listing. (6350 18th SW)

FAMILY READING TIME: Every Saturday at 11 am at Paper Boat Booksellers (6040 California SW).

HIGHLAND PARK SPRAYPARK OPEN: Spraypark’s open, 11 am-8 pm, free. (1100 SW Cloverdale)

ALKI BEACH PRIDE: On the beach and on the street, this is the 10th edition of West Seattle’s biggest Pride celebration, noon-9 pm. Key points:
-Alki Avenue SW closed between 57th SW and 61st SW
-Entertainment schedule on the ABP website
-Other highlights in our preview, including free HIIT class on the beach at noon, Drag King Story Time at 12:10 pm in Alki Bathhouse, volleyball starting at 1 pm

FREE FROZEN TREAT FOR YOUR PUP: You’re invited to treat your dog to something tasty and free! Noon-3 pm at All the Best Pet Care (4722 Fauntleroy Way SW; WSB sponsor), bring your dog in to get a free frozen treat!

POSTCARDS 4 DEMOCRACY: Noon at C & P Coffee (5612 California SW; WSB sponsor), bonus weekly session of long-distance advocacy, drop-ins welcome.

COLMAN POOL: Final weekend of the season begins. Open noon-7 pm on the Lincoln Park shore – find the session schedule online. (8011 Fauntleroy Way SW)

LINCOLN PARK WADING POOL: Final weekend of the season for this pool too – 12 pm-7 pm in the upper park, north of the main lot. Update: Closed for rest of the season because of plumbing problems.

SOUTHWEST POOL CLOSED: The city-run indoor pool will stay closed for repairs and maintenance until after Labor Day.

LOG HOUSE MUSEUM OPEN: The home of West Seattle history is open for your visit, noon-4 pm. (61st/Stevens)

VIETNAMESE CULTURAL CENTER OPEN: The center is also open to visitors noon-3 pm, as explained here. (2236 SW Orchard)

VISCON CELLARS TASTING ROOM/WINE BAR: Tasting room open – wine by the glass or bottle – 1-6 pm at Viscon Cellars (5910 California SW; WSB sponsor).

MAKE A BIRD BATH: 1 pm class at The Clay Cauldron (5214 Delridge Way SW), $40. Our calendar listing explains how to sign up.

NORTHWEST WINE ACADEMY TASTING ROOM/WINE BAR: The tasting room/wine bar is open 1-6 pm with student-produced wines and “affordable eats” at the north end of the South Seattle College (6000 16th SW; WSB sponsor) campus.

MONTHLY SONG CIRCLE: Soul Sisters in Seattle welcome you to join them at 1 pm:

Come join a group of kind, fun women for a song circle led by Sandra Glauz. No singing experience needed, just come if you want to sing delightful, easy, heart-filled songs and chants. Sandra teaches all the songs and parts. Please reach out to Sandra with your name and cell phone number and she’ll text you the address and flyer. listwithsandra@yahoo.com

NEPENTHE’S WALK-IN MASSAGE CLINIC: 3-5 pm, show up at Nepenthe (9447 35th SW) with a specific problem to be addressed by massage, and you’ll get a free (gratuities appreciated) trial of their work.

LIVE AT KENYON HALL: Sam Weber ft. Moonface, doors 7, show 7:30 pm at Kenyon Hall (7904 35th SW) – details in our calendar listing. All ages.

ALL-AGES OPEN MIC: 7-10 pm at The Spot West Seattle (2920 SW Avalon Way)

WEST END GIRLS AT THE SKYLARK: The monthly West Seattle drag extravaganza, featuring Fraya Love, Cookie Couture, and special guests Midori Monet, Londyn Bradshaw, Whispurr Water-Shadow, & BabyLoveCrash! Doors 7, show 8, all ages. Tickets online or at the door. (3803 Delridge Way SW)

REVELRY ROOM DJ: 9 pm, DJ Cide. (4547 California SW)

JARAY’S DJ: 9 pm, DJ Buzsy at Jaray’s Lounge (2216 SW Orchard).

KARAOKE AT THE PIZZERIA: Saturday nights, you can sing at Talarico’s Pizzeria (4718 California SW), starting at 10 pm.

West Seattle event coming up? If the community’s welcome, your event belongs on our calendar! Please email info to westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!

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