West Seattle, Washington
16 Tuesday
(Photos courtesy Potter Construction)
After some trouble with vandalism, the 13 1/2-foot-tall pencil sculpture that used to point skyward outside the California/Findlay offices of Potter Construction (WSB sponsor) was taken down for a while – but now it’s been refurbished and reinstalled. It used to be perpendicular to the ground, and now it’s parallel, right over the company’s front window.
The pencil was created by West Seattle artist Stephen Rock of Rock’s Studio and originally installed almost two years ago; a Potter Construction crew put it up in its new spot this morning.
The date’s been changed a few times – but King County says the “wet well bypass” is finally under way NOW at the site of the Barton Pump Station Upgrade Project, which means diesel pumps running around the clock for the next few days just north of the Fauntleroy ferry dock. Ahead, the full announcement:Read More
As the West Seattle Community Orchestras celebrated 10 years of musicmaking with a gala concert last night at Chief Sealth International High School, there was an emotional moment before the closing singalong: WSCO co-founder Dr. Toni Reineke – leading the WSCO Intermediate Orchestra in our first clip above – announced she’s retiring from conducting:
(Her announcement was followed by the closing singalong, “Rock Around the Clock.”) As was stressed in the announcement, Dr. Reineke – whose bio is here – will remain involved with the organization she founded to give community members of all ages/abilities a chance to be involved with orchestral music. She’ll be teaching beginning winds/percussion in the fall – class information, along with how to join WSCO, is on the organization’s website.
P.S. WSCO has one more concert this season before its summer break – 7 pm June 11th, also at CSIHS, the Symphony Orchestra performs works by Schubert, Schumann, and more!
It’s becoming an annual reminder, but an important one so newcomers (etc.) don’t get worried: If you see reddish-orange water like this off West Seattle shores, it’s not a spill, and it’s not poisonous. It’s a bloom of single-cell plankton known as “noctiluca.” Thanks to Beach Drive resident Lura Ercolano for sharing the photo she took this morning, now that the current wave has hit full bloom; she helped educate us and readers about it two years ago, too. The state tracks blooms like this, so if you see it, you’ll find an e-mail address for reporting it on this Department of Ecology page, which explains that blooms usually result from “abundant sunlight, nutrients, and the right water conditions.”
FRIDAY FOLLOWUP: The state Ecology Department has a news release this morning about the bloom, earlier than usual, they say. You can see it here.
(Male black-headed grosbeak photographed in Fauntleroy Creek area by Mark Wangerin)
Highlights ahead for today/tonight (with even more on the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar):
GIVEBIG TO LOCAL NONPROFITS: The link is atop the WSB sidebar – but if you see this first, go here to see which West Seattle, White Center, and South Park nonprofits are participating this year and eligible, depending on how much is given, for “stretch” funds! Deadline for making your gift count: 11:59 pm tonight.
LAST FULL DAY TO REGISTER ONLINE FOR SUNDAY’S WEST SEATTLE 5K: Tomorrow, online registration closes for the 9 am Sunday (May 19th) benefit run/walk on Alki – and it costs less than same-day signups. So don’t procrastinate – register here right now.
SEALTH TEAMS IN TOURNAMENT PLAY: First, it’s district-tournament softball, 2 pm at Lower Woodland Park, where the Chief Sealth International High School Seahawks play Mercer Island. If they win and then defeat Blanchet at 4 pm, it’s on to state. Meantime, for the Sealth boys’ soccer team, state play starts at 6 pm at Snohomish High School, vs. Glacier Peak. (P.S. As announced a few days ago, CSIHS is launching a new soccer camp for younger students this summer – details in this story.)
SANISLO ELEMENTARY PTA MEETING: Last one of the year and, as explained in the calendar listing, it’s a biggie. 6:30 pm.
DUWAMISH RIVER CLEANUP PLAN MEETING EN ESPANOL: At 5:30 pm at the South Park Community Center, the Environmental Protection Agency makes history with its first-ever public hearing in Spanish, taking comments on its proposed Duwamish River Cleanup Plan. Simultaneous English translation available. Details here, via the Duwamish River Cleanup Coalition. (8319 8th Ave. S.)
DELRIDGE NEIGHBORHOODS DISTRICT COUNCIL: On the agenda for tonight’s 7 pm meeting of reps from community councils and other major organizations around eastern West Seattle: City Council President Sally Clark discusses public campaign financing, Youngstown Cultural Arts Center’s director David Bestock has an update on its status, and DNDC chair Mat McBride, along with Pete Spalding, will have an update on the Delridge Corridor proposal, after feedback from recent neighborhood meetings. The DNDC meeting’s at Youngstown, 4408 Delridge Way SW.
P.S. Not a highlight so much as a reminder – Seattle Public Schools are out 2 hours early today.
(8/14 note: To check whether a business is still a current WSB sponsor, please go here)
This morning we welcome one of our newest WSB sponsors, Center Studio, which wants you to know:
Center Studio, in the heart of White Center, is an inclusive space where our community can connect – a one stop shop for holistic fitness for our bodies craving strength, sweat & stretch and our minds seeking balance, focus & peace. We offer all levels of Yoga classes as well as Prenatal, Kids & Family Yoga, private Thai Yoga Therapy, special workshops, and more! Our Pilates classes will ground your body and strengthen your inner core. Our Above the Barre classes combine ballet, yoga, pilates and strength to work your mind and body. To bring your wellness full circle, we have two intuitive and nurturing Massage Therapists who bring 14 years of experience to combine a variety of bodywork specialties including Massage Cupping – an ancient detoxifying healing modality – Swedish, Deep Tissue, Prenatal Massage, Aromatherapy and more.
Founded by West Seattle resident Lonjina Verdugo, a New Mexico transplant and Seattle resident of 15 years, Center Studio encompasses her vision of bringing together mindful movement, art and community. “After spending lots of quality time with my family in White Center I realized – *this* is the place. I launched Center Studio in Spring of 2012 and the response has been great. People always say to me ‘I’m so glad you opened the studio. We need this in White Center!’ It’s been an exciting journey so far and I can’t wait to see what happens next.” Through her own personal journey she has realized that mindful movement and its underlying lessons can change you from the inside-out as well as the outside-in.
Looking to rent a unique venue? When we are not using it for classes, Center Studio can be used for photography/video shoots, workshops, rehearsals, meetings, birthday parties you name it! The open, light-filled space is perfect for inspiration and celebration. We look forward to seeing you soon!
Center Studio is at 9611 16th Ave SW (in the heart of White Center). Please visit us at www.whitecenterstudio.com for more information on classes, massage, special workshops & events, and on Facebook for insights, updates and specials. (And here’s a WSB coupon!) Center Studio is a stop on the White Center Art Walk and welcomes artist inquiries.
We thank Center Studio for sponsoring independent, community-collaborative neighborhood news via WSB; find our current sponsor team listed in directory format here, and find info on joining the team by going here.
(Live view from the east-facing WS Bridge camera; other cameras are on the WSB Traffic page)
Nothing to report as the heart of the commute moves on, except: Today’s the scheduled start of the new southbound Delridge Way detour between Holden and Thistle, as the repaving project starts Phase 3. And SDOT also plans to be fixing a section of Delridge at 23rd, scheduled as a one-day project.
Again this year, dozens of local nonprofits are participating in today’s GiveBIG one-day donation drive coordinated by the Seattle Foundation. The money you give to any or all of the participating nonprofits helps them be eligible for a “stretch pool” of partial matching funds, to be distributed proportionately depending on how much each participating nonprofit raises during GiveBIG, by 11:59 pm tonight. The BIG catch: You **must** donate through the special pages that participants have on the foundation’s website, NOT via theirs own websites. So again this year, we have made a list of all those special pages for participating West Seattle, White Center, and South Park-based or -founded nonprofits (and a couple parent organizations). The special links take you to pages on the Seattle Foundation website with background information and links to the organizations’ own sites, as well as the donation links to use for this one-day event. (P.S. Please let us know if we missed a WS, WC, or SP-based organization – post a comment or e-mail us ASAP at editor@westseattleblog.com – thanks!)
ART FOR ANIMALS’ SAKE – go here
ARTS CORPS – go here
ARTSWEST – go here
COOLMOM – go here
DELRIDGE NEIGHBORHOODS DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION – go here
DENNY-SEALTH PERFORMING ARTS – go here
DUWAMISH RIVER CLEANUP COALITION/TECHNICAL ADVISORY GROUP– go here
ENVIRONMENTAL COALITION OF SOUTH SEATTLE – go here
FRIENDS OF SEALTH – IB SCHOLARSHIP FUND– go here
HIGHLINE MEDICAL CENTER FOUNDATION – go here
HIGHLINE SCHOOLS FOUNDATION FOR EXCELLENCE – go here
INVEST IN YOUTH – go here
KILLER WHALE TALES – go here
KING COUNTY LIBRARY SYSTEM FOUNDATION – go here
KOL HANESHAMAH – go here
LUNGEVITY FOUNDATION – go here (offering a cupcake incentive for donations over $40)
MARRA FARM COALITION – go here
MULTI-COMMUNITIES – go here.
NATURE CONSORTIUM – go here
NAVOS – go here
NEIGHBORHOOD FARMERS MARKETS – go here
NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSE – go here
NONFICTION MEDIA– go here
NORTHWEST CENTER – go here
NORTHWEST HOPE AND HEALING – go here
OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE SCHOOL – go here
PLUMBERS WITHOUT BORDERS – go here
PONGO PUBLISHING – go here
PROVIDENCE MOUNT ST. VINCENT FOUNDATION – go here
PUGET SOUNDKEEPER ALLIANCE – go here
SAFE FUTURES YOUTH CENTER – go here
SEAL SITTERS – This is an unusual path; you need to go to the Associated Recreational Council GiveBIG page, click donate, and then in COMMENTS, write Seal Sitters – ARC is its fiscal sponsor
SEA MAR COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTERS – go here
SEATTLE CHINESE GARDEN SOCIETY – go here
SEATTLE PARKS FOUNDATION – go here
SEATTLE POLICE FOUNDATION – go here
SEATTLE PUBLIC LIBRARY FOUNDATION – go here
SEATTLE YOUTH SYMPHONY ORCHESTRAS – go here
SENIOR SERVICES – go here
SOUTH PARK AREA REDEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE – go here
SOUTH PARK INFORMATION AND RESOURCE CENTER – go here
SOUTH SEATTLE COMMUNITY COLLEGE FOUNDATION – go here
SOUTHWEST SEATTLE HISTORICAL SOCIETY – go here
SOUTHWEST YOUTH AND FAMILY SERVICES – go here
SPORTS IN SCHOOLS – go here
TECHNOLOGY ACCESS FOUNDATION – go here
THE ANUNNAKI PROJECT – go here
THE SALVATION ARMY – KING COUNTY – go here
THE SERVICE BOARD – go here
THE VILLAGE OF HOPE – go here
THE WHALE TRAIL – go here
TRANSITIONAL RESOURCES – go here
TWELFTH NIGHT PRODUCTIONS – go here
WEST SEATTLE FOOD BANK – go here
WEST SEATTLE HELPLINE – go here
WEST SEATTLE JUNCTION ASSOCIATION – go here
WESTSIDE BABY – go here
WESTSIDE SCHOOL – go here
WHITE CENTER COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION – go here
WHITE CENTER FOOD BANK – go here – and note, again this year, WCFB has added events on GiveBIG day, including a portion of proceeds donated this morning if you have breakfast at Meander’s Kitchen, and tonight if you dine at Proletariat Pizza, Zippy’s Giant Burgers, or Company in WC. Caffé Delia (WSB sponsor) and Dubsea Coffee also will have “donation stations” set up in the morning.
WHIT PRESS – go here
YES FOUNDATION OF WHITE CENTER – go here
YMCA OF GREATER SEATTLE – go here
YOUTH MEDIA INSTITUTE – go here
YOUTH VIOLENCE PREVENTION NETWORK – go here
YWCA OF SEATTLE-KING COUNTY – go here
(King County photo)
Will state legislators be impressed? They were the real target of tonight’s County Council committee hearing inviting people to voice their concerns about Metro’s warning of “devastating” service cuts if nothing is forthcoming to replace special funding that expires next year. The Times estimates the crowd at about 400, and multiple sources say more than 100 people signed up to speak, with the hearing finally ending after 7:30 pm. Coverage links:
*Coverage on the Metro Matters website
*Tweets, photos in a Storify aggregation
*Seattle Times (WSB partner) coverage by transportation reporter Mike Lindblom
*Daily UW report, focused on student participation at hearing
If you’re just catching up, our coverage of Metro general manager Kevin Desmond‘s April 1st briefing explains what’s going on, with links to ways in which he says service might be affected. From that story, the map of potential West Seattle changes (shown again at today’s hearing, according to Joe Szilagyi from the Westwood-Roxhill-Arbor Heights Community Council):
(Metro summary of what West Seattle/White Center might face, with a clearer view of the map shown above, here)
More recently, here’s our Tuesday report following a WSB interview with Desmond, mostly on behalf of the skeptics who still aren’t so sure crisis looms. So what happens now? Depends on the Legislature; HB 1954 – reintroduced when the special session started Monday – remains the bill to watch, for now.
Graffiti/tagging vandals strike anywhere and everywhere – the photo above is a blurred version of a defaced wall back in 2009 at a local school that was getting hit over and over again. Parents fought back there. Wherever you are, you can challenge this kind of vandalism – as long as there’s help. That’s where you come in. You can join a community cleanup this Saturday to paint out graffiti/tagging vandalism in the Delridge area (and if you don’t feel like painting, trash-pickup help is needed in the area too). Meet at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center, 4408 Delridge Way SW, at 10 am Saturday (May 18th). This is the start of a graffiti-fighting campaign that organizers expect will also eventually include mural-painting to protect and beautify targeted areas. Questions? Contact David Bestock at Youngstown, david@youngstownarts.org or 206-935-2999.
4:49 PM: Thanks for the tips that 1st Avenue is closed in the Georgetown area, north of the 1st Avenue South Bridge. According to the Seattle Fire Department, a car vehicle hit a pedestrian this afternoon at 1st and Findlay – a 70-year-old woman suffered life-threatening injuries. Investigators are now at work in the area. No update on how long it will be closed, but if you would take 1st to or from the bridge, find an alternate route.
5:49 PM UPDATE: According to SPD Blotter, the 69-year-old woman hit by a pickup truck in this crash has died.
6:22 PM UPDATE: SPD estimates 1st will reopen around 7:15 pm.
4:23 PM: One day after the second anniversary of the “Nickelsville” encampment’s return to a mostly-city-owned site in West Seattle (here’s our Monday report), Mayor McGinn says he sees two options for the site – and one of them is to pass a proposal that would allow it to be converted into a “semi-permanent” encampment site. The other option – sell the site to Food Lifeline as that agency has sought, but only after the council passes a bill that would enable more possible encampment sites at “non-religious” locations. Both options are outlined in a letter he has sent to City Council President Sally Clark; read it here (or here, added, uploaded to Scribd):
Mayor McGinn's letter re: 'Nickelsville' by WestSeattleBlog
We received it in response to our query sent to the mayor’s office yesterday asking where the mayor stood on the issue.
4:33 PM UPDATE: Though the mayor’s letter says he prefers the option of selling the site to Food Lifeline once he’s sure the residents of Nickelsville will have somewhere else to go, Highland Park Action Committee chair Carolyn Stauffer, whose group had asked the mayor and council not just to promise to move Nickelsville out but to set a date, is not happy. Her response, shared with us via e-mail:
We have been holding off on contacting a lawyer with high hopes for our elected leaders, but now see the need to speak with one as soon as possible. If anyone out there could help us, please email any names or contacts that might be interested in helping HPAC pro-bono to hpacchair@gmail.com.
4:55 PM UPDATE: We’ve started checking with city councilmembers and their staffs to find out what’s next – since this broke late in the day, we will still be finding out more tomorrow, but for starters, the office of Councilmember Nick Licata – who proposed the “non-religious encampment” bill that the mayor says he would support – says both options will be discussed in the committee he chairs, Housing, Human Services, and Health Care, a week from tomorrow (May 22nd) at 2 pm. Licata favors proceeding with that bill and a Food Lifeline sale, according to staffer Lisa Herbold.
6 PM UPDATE: We’ve also heard back from Council President Clark. She says she is reserving substantive comment until a briefing tomorrow, but adds, “I can say that I’d like to see people living at Nickelsville find open doors into housing as soon as possible, and I’d like to see Food Lifeline land their new facility in the city.” And a statement has just arrived from Revel Smith, on behalf of SHARE/Tent City 3, not regarding Nickelsville specifically, but regarding the ordinance, which Smith says they consider “redlining,” because of what they understand is a “residential zone restriction,” which they oppose because, they say:
• Restricting camps by Ordinance from Residential Zones unfairly plays on, and accommodates, irrational fears of homeless people.
• Residential Zoning Restrictions EXCLUDE 65% of all available land in Seattle!
• NO other city or jurisdiction in King County — many of which also have Encampment Ordinances — restrict camps from Residential Zones. Therefore, there is NO REASON for Seattle to do so.
• It’s a big step back from the successful modus operandi of Tent City3 during 10 years of our operation (2002-2012) under a Consent Decree which did not have any Zoning Restrictions.
• And finally, if it’s OK for churches in Residential Zones easily to host camps (under the Religious Encampment Ordinance), why not vacant private land in those neighborhoods too? Churches can’t carry the weight of solving homelessness all on their own.
We’re checking to see if the text of the ordinance is available online.
Many questions about the police motorcycles spotted in the area – it’s more motorcade/escort training, confirms Seattle Police.
2:06 PM: Former Youngstown Cultural Arts Center director Randy Engstrom [right, above] is back at the center right now for a big city announcement regarding arts education: New money for visual-arts and music education for all students in Seattle Public Schools. Engstrom points out that arts funding is a social-justice issue as well as an important underpinning for industry. The program, he says, aligns at the district level as part of the strategic plan, as well as working with principals of all schools, “so that by junior high we haven’t left any of our students behind.” The funding, he says, comes from higher-than-expected revenue from the city admission tax from venues including the new Seattle Great Wheel; 75 percent of those taxes are supposed to go to “arts-related programming.” (The family behind the big ferris wheel has representatives here too.) The implementation will begin with the Central Pathway, says Mayor McGinn, who’s part of the announcement here too: “Arts really define Seattle as a city, too … this is a very, very exciting day,” he said. Also part of the announcement: Carri Campbell, who is the school district’s program manager of Visual & Performing Arts, and says those arts will be increased “in every single school,” and assistant superintendent Michael Tolley.
2:16 PM: “Arts education is one of the academic assurances we put in place” with the switch to neighborhood schools a few years ago, Tolley points out. In Q/A, we asked how this will be rolled out; it’ll take six years, says Campbell, and the second pathway – after Central, where this will be inaugurated – hasn’t been determined yet, so we don’t know when it will get to West Seattle schools.
3:02 PM: The event’s over; the full news release is here.
P.S. One more note – the value of arts education was touted by a Youngstown veteran, professional breakdancer Sammy Tekle, who is now a teaching artist at Orca K-8, introduced by Engstrom:
Just announced by Katy Walum from the Admiral Neighborhood Association – the lineup for this year’s series of Thursday night Summer Concerts at Hiawatha: Glenn Crytzer and his Syncopators kick things off on July 25th; then it’s The Dusty 45s on August 1st; Impossible Bird on August 8th; Massy Ferguson on August 15th; Fly Moon Royalty on August 22nd; and Strong Suit on August 29th. Read on for the full announcement with background on the bands:
(5/7/2013 photo by Christopher Boffoli for WSB)
Less than two weeks after 54-year-old Lance David died at East Marginal and Hanford after his bicycle collided with a truck, and one week after participating in a memorial ride to that site, Mayor McGinn says today that he’s asking the City Council to approve $900,000 in safety improvements to that area, and about half a million for lower Spokane St. and feeder roads such as Delridge and Admiral. Read on for the official announcement, which includes other proposed work around the city:
We reported here Monday on a big police response and search on the south side of Southwest Athletic Complex. Our information trail ended with police searching for a gun after discovering one of the suspects had bullets. Today, SPD Blotter picks up the trail, explaining that “Boomer” the bomb-detecting K-9 found the gun – which turned out to have been stolen in a burglary two weeks ago. The report says three suspects were caught; the two oldest ones, both 16, were booked into juvenile detention.
This story is from the “looks can be deceiving” file. Messages/questions we’ve received suggest that more than a few people who have seen those two real-estate shingles in the 4800 block of Beach Drive believe the “sold” sign means the historic-landmark Satterlee House/”Painted Lady of Beach Drive” finally has a buyer, after years on the market. No, the 107-year-old Satterlee House has NOT been sold; it is still on the market. The “sold” sign is for the house to the south, 4872 Beach Drive; we confirmed that with its selling agent, Dan Mullins, who tells WSB that while that house is not an official landmark, it has a long history of its own: “It was built about 100 years ago for the Chinese consulate.” He says the family buying it wants to “restore it to its original beauty.”
Meantime, a couple of people who e-mailed us also wondered about the work crew you see on the Satterlee House’s front lawn in the background of our photo, recalling that the “lawn” is actually on the books as three separate lots (which was part of the subject of the long court fight that ended at the state Supreme Court’s doorstep three years ago). According to the permit shown in online city records, it’s side-sewer-repair work.
P.S. Here’s the current listing for the Satterlee House, on the market right now for $1,595,000 (down more than $600,000 from its 2008-2009 listing price).
Want to watch a soccer-championship match on a big screen? The West Seattle Soccer Club is offering you the chance, sponsoring the 2013 UEFA Champions League final match live at The Admiral Theater on Saturday, May 25th. Doors open at 10:30 am and will close when they reach capacity – everyone is welcome, first-come, first-served. Free admission; you’re asked to bring a “kid-friendly food item” to benefit the West Seattle Food Bank. Read on for the full announcement, as shared by WSSC:
(Photo by Machel Spence: Cute – itchy! – duckling that strayed a bit from its mom on Sunday)
Today’s highlights from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
TRIANGLE PARKING DISCUSSED BY COUNCIL COMMITTEE: Live right now, webcast via the Seattle Channel (online and on cable channel 21), the City Council Transportation Committee is meeting, and its agenda items include a parking study done in The Triangle, as SDOT works on a parking plan for the area.
LOCAL ATHLETE IN INTERNATIONAL SOCCER MATCH: We brought you the story last week of Special Olympics athlete Christian Freitas representing Chief Sealth International High School and all of Seattle on the USA team in an international soccer tournament. 10 am today is the team’s match vs. top-seeded Paraguay, according to this update. You’re invited to “follow the action” here.
‘SALUTE TO VETERANS’ LUNCH: 11:45 am at the Senior Center of West Seattle – details in our calendar listing. (California/Oregon)
METRO HEARING: If you want to show support for funding to stave off Metro cuts – 4 pm today at Union Station downtown (401 S. Jackson) is the big County Council hearing, as discussed in our story yesterday featuring an interview with Metro GM Kevin Desmond. Here’s the Metro page with information about the hearing and how to comment if you can’t get there.
WEST SEATTLE HIGH SCHOOL MUSIC BENEFIT: Starting at 5 pm, dine tonight at Abbondanza in Morgan Junction and a portion of the proceeds benefits the West Seattle High School music program. Here’s our earlier preview. (6503 California SW)
COMMUNITY ORCHESTRAS’ 10TH ANNIVERSARY CONCERT: The West Seattle Community Orchestras celebrate their 10th anniversary with a gala concert tonight, starting at 6:30 pm, Chief Sealth IHS Auditorium – details here; free, but donations appreciated at the door. (2600 SW Thistle)
ADMIRAL NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION: The ANA‘s monthly meeting is at 7 pm on the lower level of Admiral Congregational Church. (California/Hill)
FAUNTLEROY COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION: FCA‘s monthly board meeting is at 7 pm at Fauntleroy Schoolhouse‘s meeting room. (9131 California SW)
The Walking on Logs sculpture by the pullout near the southwest end of the West Seattle Bridge is decked out in advance of the fifth annual West Seattle 5K, coming up this Sunday (May 19th). Thanks to race director Jeff Mensing for the photo! Three timeline points ahead for WS5K, which is organized by and benefits the West Seattle High School PTSA in its work to help the school and its students:
ONLINE REGISTRATION ENDS TOMORROW: You can sign up until Wednesday at westseattle5k.com.
PACKET PICKUP/IN-PERSON REGISTRATION SATURDAY: Noon-6 pm (May 18th) at West Seattle Runner (WSB sponsor) at California/Charlestown.
RACE DAY SUNDAY: The race starts just after 9 am. Alki and Harbor Avenues will be closed along the usual WS5K footprint, to Don Armeni; then most of the waterfront roadway will reopen around 11, except for the stretch that will be closed until 5 pm for the Alki edition of Seattle Summer Streets (aka “car-free day”), 56th to 63rd. Here’s the map:
WSB is co-sponsoring West Seattle 5K again this year as we have since the start, and will be an on-site participant in Summer Streets, which features some big fun this year highlighted by the Alki Beach Creeps’ Costumed Bike Parade at 1 pm – see you there!
The Matson Navigation team on Harbor Island shares news of another community-service project. The photo and report are from Jackie, who has updated us in recent years on their efforts including storm-drain stencils on Alki and cleanup work in the Terminal 10 area:
This year we reached out to the Port with hopes of cleaning up the same Terminal 10 site, and this past Thursday we made that happen. We took advantage of the clear blue skies and sunny weather, and worked alongside Port employee George Blomberg to tidy up the area. We did heavy weeding (a portion of the weed pile is shown in the photo), and also planted several small trees in the area. It was really fulfilling to work to keep this site looking healthy and clean so the wildlife there could continue to enjoy it. And as always, it was a nice opportunity to enjoy the great weather Seattle has had, and spend some time with coworkers doing something good for the community and environment.
WSB is about good news like this in addition to 24/7 coverage of what you need to know about breaking news, community issues, transportation, development, schools, politics, etc. – so thanks to Jackie, and to everyone else who continues to share these kinds of reports!
(Live view from the east-facing WS Bridge camera; other cameras are on the WSB Traffic page)
Nothing reported to be out of the ordinary right now on the main routes in and around West Seattle. The weather’s chillier than recent mornings but has calmed from yesterday. One note from Metro – its customer-service phone line is having trouble.
Speaking of Metro, today at Union Station, 4 pm, is the County Council committee hearing at which it’s hoping for a show of support from system users concerned about cuts if there’s no funding solution during the Legislature’s special session. (Details in this WSB story from Monday.)
Road-work reminder #1: SDOT confirmed on Monday that tomorrow (Wednesday) is when Phase 3 of the Delridge Way repaving project starts, which means a new southbound detour between Holden and Thistle.
Road-work reminder #2: A separate, one-day paving project also is scheduled tomorrow on Delridge, at 23rd, as announced last week.
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