West Seattle, Washington
29 Tuesday
Thanks to Margaret for the photo and report. She snapped the pic of a Tesla Cybercab on the Admiral Way Bridge today, first spotting it on the West Seattle Bridge and following it onto the peninsula, turning away as it continued to head westbound toward Alki. Though the Cybercabs are described by Tesla as part of its Robotaxi fleet, they aren’t likely to be operating autonomously here any time soon, as it’s not yet allowed, and city policies remain under development (though test runs with human “safety drivers” on board are allowed). Cybercabs are only in operation currently in Austin, Texas.
(WSB photos by Torin Record-Sand)
It’s a West Seattle Labor Day tradition dating back 17 years – Alki Masonic Lodge #152 swaps the American flag that’s flown outside its Junction building for a new one. This year, veterans from three VFW posts carried out the ceremony.
After lowering the old flag and raising the new one, three of the VFW visitors – Darrell Pilat from Post 1263 in Renton, Thomas Snead from Post 2224 in Puyallup, and West Seattle Post 2713’s Jesse Palacios – carefully folded the old one and presented it to the Lodge’s Worshipful Master Michael Riley, who was among those watching from the lot below:
Riley explained that, pragmatically, the Lodge had this ceremony on Labor Day rather than, say, the Fourth of July, because more people tend to be in town.
In short remarks about the ceremony itself, he said the flag deserved to fly over the Lodge as a symbol of freedom.
The VFW reps were joined by Traci Williams, a past state commander from Post1263,who watched rather than participating this year. She and the other three are also regular participants in an even-more somber duty – twice a month, they serve in the honor guard for funerals at Tahoma National Cemetery.
Today’s ceremony was followed by an indoor picnic lunch with free hamburgers and hot dogs for everyone who showed up. The lodge’s other community work includes annual awards for local high-school students (here’s our coverage of this year’s event).
Thanks to Ian for the tip. Seattle-headquartered WaFd Bank, which has one West Seattle branch (4102 California SW), is merging with EverBank. According to the news release announcing the merger, “EverBank Financial Corp will merge with and into WaFd, Inc., with WaFd, Inc. continuing as the resulting financial holding company” – but then, “Immediately following the holding company merger, WaFd Bank, a federally insured Washington state chartered commercial bank, will merge with and into EverBank, N.A., a national banking association, with EverBank continuing as the bank chartered by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency.” The announcement says EverBank has branches in California, New York, and Florida; while WaFd has “more than 200 branches across nine western states.” It had two branches in West Seattle until closing the California/Fauntleroy location – still vacant – five and a half years ago. It appears from this slide deck that WaFd will remain the regional “brand,” but we’ll be seeking to confirm that.
3:04 PM: Thanks for the tips! A U.S. Navy aircraft carrier is inbound, off the northwest edge of Elliott Bay. We can’t see it but it’s likely the USS Ronald Reagan, which headed out four days ago for sea trials after maintenance work at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard in Bremerton.
3:44 PM: Now in view off Beach Drive; confirmed (through binoculars) it’s the Ronald Reagan (CVN 76).
4:14 PM: Thanks to Gary Jones for the photo, added above.
ADDED MONDAY NIGHT: One more photo, this one from Greg C:
Unlike some past years, Labor Day is not the last day of earlier-for-summer closing time at Alki Beach and Don Armeni Boat Ramp. As we first reported in March, closing time is 10:30 pm through September 30, when it reverts to 11:30 pm at Alki, and 24-hour operation at Don Armeni. This would be the last day of beach-fire season, except that they’ve been prohibited since the Stage 2 Burn Ban went into effect.
Two reader-sent coyote sightings – first one, around 8:30 this morning, near Fire Station 32 (37th SW/SW Alaska):
The reader said their dog noticed the coyote first. Meantime, this one is from Rob, a coyote seen about a week ago near The Kenney:
We’ve been publishing coyote reports for 18 years, archived here, for awareness, not alarm. (Learn about coyotes here.)
Looking for something to do as the holiday weekend winds down? You can sort your no-longer-needed stuff for the fall Recycle Roundup at Fauntleroy Church, coming up Saturday, October 3. Here’s the official list:
It’s happening 9 am-3 pm in the church’s main parking lot (9140 California SW). Volunteers and the crew from 1 Green Planet will be there to take your recyclables from home, office, or school – drive up, ride up, or walk up. The church has been offering these events since 2010, and reported last spring that more than 400 tons of recyclables have been collected over the years!
(Sunday photo sent by Wyatt)
Good morning! Holiday notes:
TRANSIT/TRAFFIC
–Metro buses are running on a Sunday schedule
–West Seattle Water Taxi is on a regular schedule
–Washington State Ferries’ Triangle Route is on a weekday/holiday schedule
–Sound Transit buses and light rail are on Sunday schedules
-If you’re going to an area of the city with pay-station street parking, you don’t have to pay today
-Check local traffic cams here, citywide cams here
HAPPENING TODAY/TONIGHT
Last day of the season for most city outdoor aquatic facilities – After today, city-run wading pools and sprayparks are closed until next year – so it’s your last day for Highland Park Spraypark (1100 SW Cloverdale), 11 am-8 pm, and Lincoln Park‘s wading pool (noon-7 pm if forecast permits, call 206-684-7796 after 9 am). But Colman Pool not only will be open noon-7 pm today, it’ll have two more postseason weekends this year.
Flag ceremony, picnic – Everyone is welcome at Alki Masonic Lodge‘s annual event, starting with the annual flag-dedication ceremony at noon at 40th/Edmunds, including free burgers/hot dogs – bring a side dish to share if you can.
(See our calendar for more!)
NOT HAPPENING TODAY
-Banking (holiday)
-U.S. Postal Service (holiday)
-Libraries (closed)
-Many Seattle Parks facilities (here’s the closed/open list)
-City Council briefing meeting (councilmembers are back from 2-week end-of-summer break for committee meetings tomorrow)
WEATHER AND SUNRISE/SUNSET
Cloudy, chance of showers, then clearing, high in the upper 60s. Sunrise will be at 6:36 am, sunset at 7:37 pm.
Breaking news, holiday cancellation, anything else we should know? Please text 206-293-6302 – thank you!
| 58 COMMENTS