West Seattle, Washington
27 Tuesday
(Students volunteering at Lincoln Park on MLK Day of Service 2024 – photo by forest steward Lisa McGinty)
By Aspen Anderson
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
A reader asked WSB to compile a list of volunteering opportunities for MLK Day of Service next Monday (January 20). Local options aren’t plentiful, but here’s what we’ve found so far.
Delridge Neighborhoods Development Association: Plant Trees
Event: Plant Trees for MLK Day of Service
Plant native trees and shrubs, remove invasive plants and mulch new plantings.
Time: 10:00 am – 01:00 pm
Location: Pigeon Point Park, 1901 SW Genesee
Registration: Sign up as an individual or group on the DNDA website
Bring: Dress for rain or shine with long pants, layers, closed-toe shoes and rain gear. Bring water and work gloves if you have them. Youth under 18 need a signed waiver.
They provide: Tools, gloves, light snacks, and training on restoration activities and safety.
Green Seattle Partnership: Lincoln Park
Event: Lincoln Park – MLK Day of Service
Time: 9:00 am – 12:00 pm
Location: Lincoln Park, West Seattle
Help remove invasive plants (e.g. blackberry, ivy, holly) and make room for native trees and plants.
Registration: Register here (a few spots are left)
Bring: Dress for winter Seattle weather. Bring a signed Youth Participant Waiver Form if under 18. Wear closed-toe, sturdy shoes or boots. Bring a personal water bottle, garden/work gloves (if you have them), and dress in NW layers.
Where to Meet: Near the map kiosk in the NORTH parking lot on Fauntleroy Way SW (and SW Rose St).
Parking: NORTH parking lot or street parking on Fauntleroy Way.
Bus: The RapidRide C Line stops at SW Rose St by the parking lot.
Contact: Lisa McGinty (lmcginty206@gmail.com), WSHS Earth Club Leaders: tatumpaddock20@gmail.com or cmlewis260@gmail.com.
Neighborhood House
Event: MLK Day of Service – Facility Cleanup
At Neighborhood House High Point, this volunteer opportunity focuses on cleaning and organizing various sites to ensure welcoming and functional spaces for families. Pick up trash, dust windows, organize boxes, power wash, beautify playgrounds, organize files, and move furniture.
Time: 11:00 am – 2:00 pm (volunteers are encouraged to dedicate 4 hours.)
Location: 6400 Sylvan Way SW
Registration: Register here
Bring: Dress comfortably for cleaning and outdoor work.
A Cleaner Alki: Lincoln Park
The local cleanup coalition says Genesee Hill Elementary School is organizing a Block Drop cleanup at Lincoln Park for MLK Jr. Day. Participants can meet at the south parking lot near the ferry dock, with options to head into the upper park or down to the beach. Additional park-sprucing projects may be available, especially near the beach.
Time: Monday 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM
Location: Lincoln Park / South Lot, 8617 Fauntleroy Way SW
Parking: Park in the south lot by the water side near the birdhouse.
Bus: The RapidRide C Line stops nearby.
Registration: No registration required. All are welcome to join.
YMCA West Seattle (WSB sponsor)
Event: Annual MLK Day of Service (Details TBD)
The YMCA in West Seattle typically organizes volunteer activities in honor of MLK Day, although nothing formal has been published yet.
Registration: It is recommended to register as a volunteer in advance.
Keep an eye on the YMCA’s website for updates and specific event details.
Find more volunteer opportunities outside of West Seattle here and here. And if you have anything local to add – please let us know, westseattleblog@gmail.com, so we can add it – thank you!
Another round of nighttime low-low tides has accompanied the full moon, and Rosalie Miller has shared photos of the wildlife she saw on the shore at Charles Richey Sr. Viewpoint/Constellation Park (along the north end of Beach Drive SW). Above, a Pacific Octopus; below, a Monterey Dorid:
And a Northern Leopard Dorid:
Still time to get to the beach for tonight’s lowest tide, -2.4 feet at 10:28 pm.
We heard a dispatch to the Westwood Village Post Office this morning for a report of gas theft and fence vandalism. We’ve since obtained the Seattle Police report narrative. It says officers were called for a report on two separate incidents: Last night around 10 pm, they discovered that gas had been siphoned from two vans, and their tanks had been damaged in the proces. Then around 8:30 this morning, they found a hole had been cut in the fence, and “a plastic bag containing an unknown white powder” was found in the area. Police took it for evidence; the report does not indicate whether the substance was subsequently identified.
The Washington State Legislature convened today. If you’re available at mid-morning tomorrow, you can talk about it here in West Seattle with a unique group that Postcards 4 Democracy is hosting – here’s the announcement they asked us to share with you:
West Seattle’s Postcards4Democracy.org, the local group that advocates for voter registration and getting out the vote via handwritten notes to people in places where it counts nationwide, concludes its presentation of candidates being considered for our 34th District House & Senate this month due to Sen. Joe Nguyễn’s appointment to state Director of Commerce under the new Ferguson administration.
State House Rep. Emily Alvarado is one of 2 who have emerged so far that are being considered by the PCO’s of the 34th District Dems to refer on to the King County Council to appoint for the soon to be vacant Senate seat. (John “Skip” Crowley is the other and to date no contact info has been found for him, nor did he attend the Jan. 5 forum hosted by the 34th.)
There are 7 folks throwing their hats into the ring vying for the house seat should Emily Alvarado move up to fill the vacant spot in the Senate. Previously, last week, we introduced Geoffrey Wukelic, Gina Topp (Seattle School Board president), and Representative Alvarado, who will keep her house seat if she doesn’t move into Senator Nguyen’s post.
We look forward to hosting 4 of the other candidates for the potential House Rep opening should Emily Alvarado move into the senate, plus Senator Joe Nguyễn, this Tuesday, 1/14/25 at C & P Coffee, from 10:30 – 12 noon.
In addition to Senator Nguyễn, we are expecting to hear from:
Brianna Thomas, Csenka Favorini-Csorba (who currently serves as a King Conservation District Supervisor), Sarah Moore (who currently serves in Position No. 5 on the Burien City Council), and Stephanie Tidholm (who currently serves on the Highline School Board).
There will be opportunity for questions, we hope you will join us! More info at: postcards4democracy.org
Meantime, the next step in the process of appointing Sen. Nguyễn’s successor is a King County Democrats meeting this Sunday – here’s info about that.
(WSB photo)
2:44 PM: Police are investigating a bank robbery in The Junction, a few minutes before 2 pm at the 42nd/Edmunds US Bank. It was originally dispatched as a theft – but the dispatcher then was told that the person had shown or implied a “possible weapon,” and made off with $1,000 cash, so it was reclassified to a bank robbery. The robber was described as a white woman in her 20s or 30s, glasses, dark-gray hoodie, last seen heading on foot toward California Avenue. No injuries reported.
ADDED TUESDAY: SPD has released a brief report summary: “… It was reported a female suspect entered the bank and passed a note to the front teller. The note advised a bank robbery was taking place and demanded all the money in the register. Shortly after displaying the note the female brandished a firearm that she was carrying in her purse. The teller handed over $1,000 dollars in cash, and the suspect left the bank. …”
(Rendering by Studio 19 Architects)
Five years have passed since we first told you about an apartment building planned for 3010 SW Avalon Way [map]. Three years ago, the proposal passed the first stage of Design Review. Now it’s set for a second and potentially final review, at what will be the Southwest Design Review Board‘s first meeting in more than a year (they last had a project to review in 2023 – much Design Review is now done by city staff, without public meetings). The 3010 Avalon project is currently described as eight stories, 86 units, 84 bike-parking stalls – that’s from the latest design proposal, which the city’s meeting page says is “not available” but which we found buried in the online files – see it here. The meeting is set for 5 pm February 6th, online; commenting and attendance info will be here at least a week in advance.
12:13 PM: Police say they’re blocking downhill traffic on the Highland Park Way hill because of a crash described as a driver colliding with a motorcycle or scooter rider. The rider has injuries and is being treated by Seattle Fire medics.
12:33 PM: In medical-assessment radio communication, medics now describe the rider as a 75-year-old man who was on a scooter when hit. His injuries are not described as life-threatening; he’ll be taken to Harborview Medical Center.
10:51 AM: Thanks for the tips. A power outage has taken out more than 3,200 customers, mostly in northeast West Seattle, though also stretching southward toward High Point. Updates to come.
10:59 AM: No word yet on the cause of this. If you’re hearing sirens/seeing fire trucks, note that outages sometimes trigger automatic fire alarms, and that’s happened in at least two places so far. Note that much if not all of the Admiral business district is in the outage zone – also some signalized intersections (which become all-way stops when the signal’s dark).
11:42 AM: The southernmost stretch of the outage has been restored – so it’s down to just under 2,000 customers. Here’s the updated outage map:
12:35 PM: No change since then, and we’re still awaiting SCL’s response on the cause. Meantime, WSB’s Aspen Anderson is checking on the Admiral District and confirms commenter report that Metropolitan Market is closed:
Admiral Starbucks is among the other businesses without power. Traffic signals too.
(WSB photos)
12:47 PM: Also out, Aspen reports, is the Admiral Bartell Drugs. And as mentioned in comments, West Seattle (Admiral) Library continues using paper slips like this to check people out:
However, the libary computers are not working, nor other equipment. But they say they lose power once a year so they have this system in place — but they are trying to stay open as long as possible. … Mud Bay is open and checking people out with a handheld credit-card device.
12:54 PM: Another 300 customers just got power back. … That includes Admiral Safeway, where, Aspen report, the “produce/cold drink sections closed right before the power went back on — they are giving produce a minute to come back to temperature.”
1:04 PM: Now all are back on; we’ve confirmed the Admiral District is back. Aspen says Metropolitan Market tells her they’ll stay closed an hour or so more, to be sure temperatures are all in “safe zones.”
ADDED MONDAY EVENING: Regarding the cause, an SCL spokesperson tells WSB, “It was not related to the planned outage in the adjacent area. Our systems operations center said that there was a mainstem cable on the feeder that failed.” (We’ve requested a bit more explanation, such as where this cable is/was.)
ADDED TUESDAY MORNING: To that question, SCL spokesperson Jenn Strang responded, “The main issue occurred in the vicinity of SW Admiral Wy and SW City View St.”
(Photo by Theresa Arbow-O’Connor)
here’s what’s happening for the rest of today/tonight, mostly from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
A CLEANER ALKI: The local volunteer cleanup group is out until 11:30 am :
We’ve been helping Jeremy with a cleanup along the Duwamish Trail and look to do another section this week, this time we’ll start down under the First Avenue Bridge off Highland Park Way, which will more or less complete the West Seattle section of the trail all the way to the WS Bridge.
Parking & Meet-Up
Parking shouldn’t be a problem as there’s plenty under the bridge, but it’s a little confusing getting there. From West Seattle take West Marginal just past Subway, take a left on Highland Park Way and then another left on 2nd Ave SW, then a right on Michigan and follow around the underside of the bridge to parking. Look for the van. I’ll have my phone on me if you need to reach out at 206-852-9552.
BABY STORY TIME: Noon at Southwest Library (9010 35th SW).
BLUE ANGELS JET VISITS: As reported on Sunday, the Blue Angels‘ #7 jet is due to land at Boeing Field in the 1:30-2:30 pm vicinity for winter planning meetings.
CITY COUNCIL: The councilmembers’ second briefing meeting of the year is at 2 pm – here’s the agenda, which also explains how to watch (no comment period during briefings).
GET CRAFTY: 6-10 pm, Monday is “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, including first-time players.
LISTENING TO GRIEF SUPPORT GROUP: 6:30 pm with Tamara Kubacki, meeting at Mama Be Well Healing Studio (4034 California SW). “Grief groups are brave and safe spaces where bereaved people can share their stories and speak their loved one’s name without fear of getting advice, platitudes, or being shut out, no matter how long it’s been since their loved one’s passing.” – you can attend once or multiple times. Fee. Preregistration requested – our calendar listing explains how.
BASKETBALL: The West Seattle High School boys host Seattle Prep tonight, varsity at 7:30 pm. (3000 California SW)
CONCESSIONS FUNDRAISER: And if you’re going to the game(s), we received this announcement:
The West Seattle High School softball team is selling concessions at the WSHS basketball games tonight (JV at 6 pm, V at 7:45 pm). There will be pizza, mini Bundt cakes, drinks and other goodies. Many items sold out last week so come by early and often! Proceeds go toward uniforms, travel, and team events. Direct donations can also be made here (note ‘for softball’ so it easily gets to the team!):
PayPal: paypal.me/WSBooster
Venmo: @WSBooster
MONDAY NIGHT TRIVIA! Four places to play tonight! Every-other-week music quiz at Easy Street Records (4559 California SW), 6:30 and 7:30 pm … 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: Monday night meditating – free weekly Zen sitting/meditation in the chapel at Fauntleroy UCC (9140 California SW), 7 pm-8:30 pm.
MUSIC AT THE ALLEY: The Alley has music Monday nights, with The Westside Trio, 8 pm at The Alley (behind 4509 California SW), 21+, no cover.
MONDAY KARAOKE 9 pm, it’s Monday night karaoke at Talarico’s Pizzeria (4718 California SW).
If you have a West Seattle/White Center event to add to our calendar, please send the info to westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
If you’re looking for a new job – or new employee(s) – in this new year, here’s one of our periodic reminders that WSB has a West Seattle Jobs Offered section in the WSB Community Forums. Six new listings are there, from just this past week. If you are hiring in West Seattle/White Center, it’s free to post – go here if you don’t already have a login. (And when you post a job, be sure to include contact info so applicants can reach you directly.)
6:02 AM: Good morning! Welcome to Monday, January 13, 2025.
WEATHER + SUNRISE/SUNSET TIMES
Today, early-morning patchy fog, then mostly cloudy, with a high in the low 40s. (Weather history: On this date last year, the high was only in the 20s.) Sunrise/sunset – 7:53 am and 4:43 pm.
TWO REMINDERS
*The new “school street” on 45th in front of Madison Middle School, between Spokane and Hinds, starts today. No motorized vehicles on that block 7 am-5 pm unless you live there or are a delivery driver delivering there.
*Sound Transit starts geotechnical-research drilling just east of the southwest end of the West Seattle Bridge.
TRANSIT
Metro buses – Regular schedule
Water Taxi – As noted, regular schedule.
Washington State Ferries – Regular service.
SPOTLIGHT TRAFFIC CAMERAS
High Bridge – Here’s the main camera, followed by the Fauntleroy-end camera:
Spokane Street Viaduct – This view usually looks westward, with eastbound lanes at left and westbound lanes at right:
Low Bridge – Looking west:
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.
See trouble on the bridges/streets/paths/water? Please text or call our hotline (when you can do it safely, and after you’ve reported to authorities if they’re not already on scene) – 206-293-6302. Thank you!
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