West Seattle, Washington
16 Monday
(Sound Transit rendering, possible routing at Genesee looking east toward Avalon)
The Community Advisory Group convened by Sound Transit for the most-recent planning phase of West Seattle light rail has met for the final time. The meeting this past week was for feedback from the group members, on their preferred routing and station locations as well as on the possible cost-saving ideas ST proposed at their previous meeting. Here’s the recording:
Since the meeting was about feedback, not presentation of proposals, there wasn’t much to the slide deck, but you can see that here. In general, regarding routing and station locations, most participants spoke in favor of as much tunneling as possible, particularly into The Junction. For the Delridge station location, feedback was more mixed, including a few calls for reviving the previously discarded option nicknamed the “purple line” (which would tunnel through Pigeon Point).
Regarding the cost-saving ideas – the idea of saving money by moving the Fauntleroy elevated station option east, avoiding the newly built 4754 Fauntleroy Way SW complex, did not get much traction, mostly because many group members didn’t like the elevated Fauntleroy option regardless of where it would be built. The other big cost-saving idea was potentially dropping the Avalon station. Several reiterated that removing a station should only be an option if West Seattle had something to gain from doing it – like “smart design,” one group member suggested.
WHAT’S NEXT: The ST board members who comprise the System Expansion Committee have a workshop focused on the West Seattle/Ballard extensions 1-3:30 pm Friday (May 20th). Then in July, they and the full board meet about confirming or modifying a “preferred alternative” before going into the final environmental-impact process – the committee on July 14th, the full board on July 28th. The board’s final decision on routing and station locations is expected in what ST now describes as “late 2023.”
Every Sunday, we checke countywide and West Seattle COVID stats from the past week. This time, we’ve found that cases are up countywide for an eighth week, again at a slower rate than the previous week; hospitalizations are down; deaths are up. Here are the specifics, from the Public Health – Seattle/King County dashboard:
*9 percent more cases countywide in the past week than the week before
*Currently averaging 1,042 new daily cases countywide (up from 946 when we checked a week ago)
*13 percent fewer hospitalizations countywide in the past week than the week before
*Currently averaging 10 new hospitalizations daily (down from 11 a week ago)
*133 percent more deaths countywide in the past two weeks than the two weeks before (the dashboard doesn’t offer a one-week increment)
*Currently averaging 2 deaths daily (doubling the two-week average from last week)
For West Seattle, we have two-week comparisons (these are the combined totals from two “health reporting areas,” labeled West Seattle and Delridge):
*817 cases between 4/25 and 5/09, up from 514 between 4/10 and 4/24
*8 hospitalizations between 4/25 and 5/09, up from 6 between 4/10 and 4/24
*No deaths between 4/25 and 5/09, same as between 4/10 and 4/24
And checking vaccination rates:
*81 percent of all King County residents have completed the initial series (up .1% from a week ago)
*85.8 percent of all King County residents ages 5 and up have completed the initial series (up .1% from a week ago)
*49 percent of all King County residents have had the initial series plus a booster (up .2% from a week ago)
*In West Seattle, here are the zip-code vaccination rates for ages 5 and up (reminder, 98106 and 98146 are not entirely within WS):
98106 – 88.1% completed initial series (up .1% from a week earlier), 53.1% have had a booster
98116 – 92.9% completed initial series (up .1% from a week earlier), 64.8% have had a booster
98126 – 83.6% completed initial series (up .1% from a week earlier), 54.8% have had a booster
98136 – 93.8% completed initial series (up .1% from a week earlier), 67.9% have had a booster
98146 – 83.1% completed initial series (unchanged from a week earlier), 48% have had a booster
VACCINATION AND TESTING, UPDATED HOURS: The Senior Center of West Seattle is hosting a pop-up clinic noon-5 pm Friday (May 20th) – walk-ins welcome … Look for other vaccination locations via this statewide lookup. If you want to get tested and don’t have a kit at home, public testing sites include the city-supported site at Nino Cantu Southwest Athletic Complex (2801 SW Thistle, 9 am-5:30 pm Mondays-Saturdays) and the Curative kiosk at Don Armeni Boat Ramp (1220 Harbor SW, 9 am-3 pm Monday-Friday). The Curative van at Summit Atlas (35th/Roxbury) does not show any availability this coming week; we’ll be checking on whether it’s on hiatus or discontinued. … If you need to report self-test results, that’s explained on this page.
Big thanks to the photographers who have shared more views of our feathered neighbors, Above, James Tilley photographed a juvenile Bald Eagle and Caspian Tern flyby; below, Matthew Olson found a Marbled Murrelet:
Gene Pavola caught this bird (ID, anyone?) watching the water from a pole perch:
Jim Clark shares another golden view of a duck family at Seola Pond:
This Canada Goose family was on its way to Elliott Bay when photographed by Jerry Simmons:
Away from the water, Jerry also got this pic of a Black-headed Grosbeak:
This photo of a Brown-headed Cowbird is from Gary Jones:
We also feature bird photos some mornings in our daily event lists, so don’t skip those if you enjoyed these. From birds to breaking news, we appreciate pics at westseattleblog@gmail.com or (if urgent) 206-293-6302 any time!
You might know Anthony Nelson. He describes himself as “father, son, brother, friend, artist, bartender [at Maharaja], storyteller, and one of the many faces of cancer …” a disease he rues “is doing all it can to take me away from all of that.” But, Anthony adds, “I recently read that each year in America more than 1.6 million people are diagnosed with cancer, and nearly 600,000 will die from it. For once in my life, I am happy to think of myself as one in a million. I choose to be one of the people who live through and get to tell the past tense story about how I beat cancer.” In hopes of helping with that, his friend Morgan pointed us to Anthony‘s crowdfunding page, where he explains:
My worst fear is to be a burden on my community and especially to those I love. Although I have a remarkable support system of people, the realities of cancer (the loss of revenue due to incapacitation and the astronomical expenses associated with the years of anticipated treatment), and the fact we are not made of money, I am faced with either not being able to follow through on what I need to survive or not being able to meet the financial challenges I will accrue. This is why I need your help.
Anthony’s radiation treatments for throat cancer just began Friday, and his GoFundMe page includes an update.
1:35 PM: Thanks to Kersti Muul for the tip. Just as the rain starts to lift, orcas are in the area, northbound past west-facing West Seattle.
1:44 PM: Kersti says in comments that another group is “about 20 minutes behind” this one, including the hard-to-miss “Chainsaw”!
ADDED SUNDAY EVENING: Thanks to Robin Sinner for the photo!
(Photo by James Bratsanos during Saturday’s low tide. Today it’s out to -1.8 feet at 11:04 am)
Now on to the second half of the weekend!
.DONATION-ONLY YOGA CLASS: 9 am at Jet City Labs (4546 California SW, upstairs) – details in our calendar listing.
CHURCHES WITH ONLINE SERVICES: We’re still listing these – see today’s list here.
WEST SEATTLE FARMERS’ MARKET: 10 am-2 pm, find fresh food – produce, meat, fish, cheese, beverages, baked goods, and prepared food – at the weekly WSFM. (California SW between SW Oregon and SW Alaska)
YARN & CAKE: Last day of Puget Sound Local Yarn Tour at Seattle Yarn (5633 California SW), open 10 am-6 pm today, with pop-up by Lovely & Dapper Desserts, 10 am-3 pm.
LOG HOUSE MUSEUM: The Southwest Seattle Historical Society has reopened its museum on Alki, and you can visit noon-4 pm, (61st/Stevens)
SEATTLE BEER WEEK AT OUNCES: Open noon-8 pm today, with beer plus … a mobile spa! (3809 Delridge Way SW)
DRAW A NEW DISTRICT 1: The City Council redistricting process continues with a public forum today for District 1 (West Seattle/South Park), which needs to expand in this process – 1-3 pm at Seattle City Hall or online.
BIRDS, BEATS, BREWS: 1-4 pm Seattle Beer Week event at Beveridge Place Pub (6413 California SW)
‘ALMA’ AT ARTSWEST: First time Benjamin Benne‘s play is being performed in Seattle! 3 pm curtain at ArtsWest Playhouse (4711 California SW; WSB sponsor). Get your ticket(s) here.
NEED FOOD? White Center Community Dinner Church serves a free meal (take-away available) at 5 pm Sundays at the Salvation Army Center in South Delridge (9050 16th SW).
KUNDALINI YOGA & MEDITATION: 7 pm at Inner Alchemy Studio (7356 35th SW) – details here.
SUNDAY NIGHT JAZZ: Triangular Jazztet at The Alley (4509 California SW), 8 pm and 9 pm sets.
SUNDAY NIGHT KARAOKE: 9 pm to 1:30 am at Admiral Pub (2306 California SW).
LUNAR ECLIPSE: Weather permitting, the lunar eclipse could be visible from here. Skywatching expert Alice Enevoldsen says 9:11 pm would be the peak.
Have an event to list on our calendar? We’re adding more daily – email westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
SATURDAY NIGHT REPORT: Their record led the league, and now their final tournament win cements the championship. Tonight at Steve Cox Memorial Park in White Center, the West Seattle High School baseball team beat Eastside Catholic, 3-1, for the Metro League title. Mike Jensen tweeted video of the on-field celebration:
The No. 1 ranked West Seattle High School Wildcats are metro champs!!! @_WSHSbaseball_ @WSHSAthletics1 @westseattleblog pic.twitter.com/UhqJcj5MKU
— Mike Jensen (@mjtwit) May 15, 2022
Miles Gosztola got the win for the Wildcats, striking out 10 while allowing only one run and one hit. West Seattle’s Jaxton Helmstetler was the hitting leader, going two for three, and teammate Jake Lockwood got a home run. Now WSHS moves on to the next level of postseason play; we’re awaiting word on where, when, and who they play next.
SUNDAY NIGHT UPDATE: The Wildcats will play next Saturday (May 21st), at Bannerwood Park in Bellevue, time TBD, vs. the winner of a Tuesday game between Stanwood and Kelso.
It wasn’t just U.S. Postal Service trucks pulling into post offices today – trucks like this one from South Park-headquartered Food Lifeline were at post offices nationwide to pick up donations from the Stamp Out Hunger food drive. Along with the carriers who spent the day picking up donations left by mailboxes, volunteers descended on post offices to help with the transfer:
The photos are from Ian, one of today’s volunteers at the Westwood post office. This was the first Stamp Out Hunger drive since pre-pandemic, and the 30th anniversary of what’s called the nation’s “biggest one-day food drive.” No word on totals yet.
Thanks for the tip – we’re hearing the dispatch on this too: A crash is backing up traffic on the ramp/turn from southbound Admiral to eastbound Spokane Street under the bridge. No word yet if anyone’s hurt. The crash is described as involving at least three vehicles.
It’s past 3 pm, so for most sales, the curtain has fallen. Thanks to everyone who’s been selling or shopping, enabling a decade-and-a-half-plus tradition to return. A few notes:
DONATION TRUCK FULL: If you missed the mentions in our as-it-happened coverage and on the map/list page, the Lafayette PTA Goodwill truck filled within minutes, so do NOT take anything there. Two other organizations have expressed an interest in donations, as noted here.
LEFT BEHIND: We’ve received two notes about items left behind – in one case, a purchased item whose buyers did not take everything they were entitled to. John says they bought “a Ryobi 40V battery pole hedge trimmer from me but did not take the batteries and charger with them. I’d love to get the batteries to them. Especially since it won’t work without them.” If that trimmer buyer is you, let us know so we can connect you.
Also – did you buy this at one sale and accidentally leave it at another?
Marianne reports, “This was left at our garage sale: 3433 39th Ave. SW.”
2:28 PM: Another stolen car to watch out for. Reported by Peter: “Car may have been taken last night or the night before. Black 2000 Honda Civic Coupe. CBGB sticker on the back. License Plate # ARX5225, near SW Henderson and 25th Ave SW. Call 911 if you see it.” Incident # is 22-121080.
SUNDAY AFTERNOON: Update from Peter – “Found as of this morning a few blocks from where I live and the theft, but pretty much inoperable due to a damaged ignition.”
(FIND THE WSCGSD MAP/LIST AND UPDATES HERE … INSTAGRAM STORIES COVERAGE AT @WESTSEATTLEBLOG … LIST OF BENEFIT SALES HERE)
(From Haley at Sale #54, 4222 SW Hill)
As if on cue, the sun broke through just a few minutes before the official start of West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day at 9 am. Forecasters – and radar – say the morning showers have mostly passed. Some sellers are under cover anyway, like Elise at Sale #305, 5643 47th Ave SW:
This is meant to help Elise’s parents downsize: “Please please please, come buy their … stuff.” We’re adding more pics (westseattleblog@gmail.com) and we also have a team visiting some sales for Instagram Stories you’ll find at @westseattleblog.
9:23 AM: First sale we tried stopping at was just getting set up – understandable since the weather took its time about drying out. (Which @WestSeaWX says is indeed what’s happening.) But most are up and running – here’s a pic Christine sent from Sale #30 at 2311 SW Myrtle:
Their sale promises a wide variety of apparel and accessories as well as an electric chainsaw.
10 AM: The annual bonanza of antiques and collectibles at California/Genesee is Sale #75 this year:
Ringleader here is local entrepreneur John Bennett:
Melissa at Sale #262, 9327 45th SW, has an eclectic array too, from original framed artwork to home décor including rugs:
10:44 AM: More sunshine! And a sale pic, this time from Colleen at Sale #65, 4403 45th SW, with items including antique furniture:
We stopped by the arts/crafts sale at C & P Coffee Company (5612 California SW; WSB sponsor), Sale #252 on the WSCGSD map – on until 2 pm. Check out the woodcrafted items:
(added) Also selling art there, multi-media artist Kristi Scocco:
11:17 AM: Sale #255 (alley corner of Juneau and 41st) is one of today’s benefits, with proceeds to the Kitsap Humane Society – go say hi to Jessica and Vern:
Another fundraising sale – the plant sale at Solstice Park P-Patch (7500 Fauntleroy Way SW) is Sale #303 on the map. Brandy sent the pic and says, “Large crowd and great variety at the sale this morning. Abundant wonderful gardener advice as well. So great to see our neighbors again.”
11:47 AM: Another of today’s business locations, Thunder Road Guitars/The Bass Shop, #253 on the map, at 6400 California (WSB sponsors), are hosting the annual Garage Sale Day sale:
One of the benefit stops on the map – Sale #221 at 7350 31st SW has tween-made DIY bamboo art kits, all proceeds going to educate girls in Honduras:
They’re created by Chava, in our photo with mom Shoshanna and brother Lev:
Chava tutors some of the girls online and is raising scholarship money for them via Esperanzas Unidas.
Further north on 31st, Regina‘s Sale #231 at 5623 31st SW has lots of “gently used” cookware, creatively displayed:
And while we’re on 31st, yet another photo that’s come in, from Lindsay at Sale #184, 7135 31st SW – kids’ stuff, bookshelves, some tools. Lindsay reports, “We have had some good traffic so far!”
12:30 PM: Yet more sun! In The Junction, you’ll find a WSCGSD sale at longtime WSB sponsor Click! Design That Fits (4540 California SW, #108 on the map), a loft sale continuing until 6 pm:
12:45 PM: We just visited the Heartbeet Café/Youngstown Coffee site, Sale #291 at 6030 California SW – eclectic offerings, including restaurant equipment, and then this collectible item from half-a-century-plus ago:
Next pic is from Eden at Sale #287 (5212 44th SW), who notes “kids’ stilts” and a drone!
Looking for furniture? Go see Deirdre at Sale #163 (1706 California SW):
1:12 PM: From Charles at Sale #6 (5432 21st SW), books!
At Sale #261 (4300 SW Willow), the “Morgan Block Pop-Up Shop,” Megan reported “things are hoppin'”:
2 PM: Final hour (except for the sales adding an extra hour or two). Sale #92, at 4845 48th SW, just sent this photo – Julie reports, “Star Wars and Fortnite toys went first but we keep finding things to sell!”
Julie also has young assistants, as does Chris in Arbor Heights, Sale #316 at 10206 37th PL SW (video). … Lori sends this photo from Sale #242, 5627 37th Ave. SW:
Reports Lori, “American Girl 70s-style egg chair, bathtub. spa chair and bed: $2 to $10! We’ve also got Hanna, Gap and Abercrombie clothes for girls, size 10 to 13.”
Again, the clickable and printable versions of the list/map are here.
P.S. We’ll have a separate update on this, but as noted in comments as well as email we just received, the Lafayette PTA‘s Goodwill truck filled almost immediately after opening at 2 pm, so don’t take anything there.
WSB readers have found many recently stolen cars. NH hopes you might spot this one too:
My Honda Accord was stolen yesterday Friday in West Seattle near California Ave. The left-side mirror is taped & the right side mirror is black. License # BOV5726. If found, please call me at 206-330-9892 or the police with the case number 2022-120067.
Welcome to the weekend! Here’s what you should know as we get Saturday started:
ROAD-WORK NOTE: Today SDOT will “be replacing three traffic signs on SW Spokane St in the eastbound direction near 26th Ave SW. We anticipate this work to begin as early as 7 AM and conclude by 5 PM. We’ll need to reduce the two travel lanes to a single lane and there may be delays for people driving.”
WEST SEATTLE COMMUNITY GARAGE SALE DAY: Today’s the day! 9 am-3 pm, ~300 sales all around the peninsula, with some starting earlier and some ending later. You can browse them all on the WSCGSD map page here, which has clickable and printable versions of the map and listings (plus last-minute updates and changes). One sale (#272) even includes a car:
Benefit sales, business sales, plant sales, block sales, unusual items – those lists are all linked on the map page. This is the first WSCGSD since 2019; we’ll be covering it as it happens here on WSB – you’re also invited to keep an eye on our Instagram feed for “Stories” from some of the sales, and we’ll be tweeting too.
STAMP OUT HUNGER: Also returning this year, the door-to-door food drive, with your USPS carrier picking up a bag of nonperishable food you leave by your mailbox today.
ARTS, CRAFTS, AND CAKE: While you’re at C & P Coffee (5612 California SW; WSB sponsor) for the arts/crafts sale that’s #252 on the Garage Sale Day map, enjoy the Lovely and Dapper Desserts pop-up, with personal-size cakes, 9 am-2 pm.
SOUTH DELRIDGE FARMERS’ MARKET: 10 am-2 pm, it’s the return of this market to the grounds of Hope Academy (9421 18th SW).
PUGET RIDGE WALKING TOUR: Meet at 10 am at the north entrance to South Seattle College (6000 16th SW; WSB sponsor) for this free, all-ages, guided 2.75-mile walk.
PUGET SOUND LOCAL YARN TOUR: Another epic day at Seattle Yarn (5633 California SW), open 10 am-6 pm today for the second-to-last day of the tour.
LIVE MORNING MUSIC AT C & P COFFEE: Arts, crafts, cake, AND music! 10:30 am-noon, Marco de Carvalho and Friends perform at C & P Coffee Company (5612 California SW; WSB sponsor). No cover.
NATIVE PLANT PALOOZA: 11 am-1 pm activity for kids and families at the Log House Museum (61st/Stevens).
SEATTLE BEER WEEK AT BEVERIDGE PLACE PUB: Play “Barleywood Squares” noon-3 pm! (6413 California SW)
VIETNAMESE CULTURAL CENTER: Open to visitors noon-3 pm, as noted here. (2234 SW Orchard)
BIKE AND BREW RIDE: Join West Seattle Bike Connections for this ride – meet at 1 pm at Delridge Community Center (4501 Delridge Way SW).
WINE TIME: Ready to relax post-garage sale(s)? The Viscon Cellars‘ (5910 California SW; WSB sponsor) tasting room is open 1-6 pm, for tasting or by-the-glass/by-the-bottle wine.
FILL THE GOODWILL TRUCK: 2-5 pm at Lafayette Elementary (2645 California SW), ready for Garage Sale Day leftovers and your donations, to benefit the Lafayette PTA. (For other donation opportunities, go here.)
SEATTLE BEER WEEK AT OUNCES: Open 2-10 pm today, with beer plus … a mobile spa! (3809 Delridge Way SW)
OPEN MIC: You can perform at The Spot West Seattle (2920 SW Avalon Way), 6 pm!
BASEBALL: West Seattle High School plays Eastside Catholic for the Metro League championship, 7 pm at Steve Cox Memorial Park (1321 SW 102nd).
EVENING MUSIC @ C & P COFFEE: Roo Forrest & Friends at C & P Coffee Company (5612 California SW; WSB sponsor), 7 pm, no cover.
THREE BANDS AT THE SKYLARK: Doors at 7, rock out at 8 with Triacs, Alt Vault, Bennycamps and the Bastards at The Skylark (3803 Delridge Way SW). 21+. $10.
INSTRUMENTS OF CHANGE: No more tickets for the in-person event, but you can be part of the online program/auction tonight, 7:15 pm, benefiting the West Seattle Food Bank‘s work fighting hunger and homelessness. Go here.
‘ALMA’ AT ARTSWEST: Seattle premiere run for Benjamin Benne‘s play! 7:30 pm curtain at ArtsWest Playhouse (4711 California SW; WSB sponsor). Get your ticket(s) here.
DRAG SHOW AT ADMIRAL PUB: Saturday’s the night for Dolly Madison‘s show at Admiral Pub (2306 California SW), 9 pm.
Something to add, for today/tonight or beyond? Email westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
The Chief Sealth IHS and West Seattle HS softball teams played two games apiece again Friday at Nino Cantu Southwest Athletic Complex in the Metro League playoffs. The Seahawks won both their games, 23-18 over Eastside Catholic and 18-3 over Garfield; the Wildcats lost to Garfield 8-5 and then beat Eastside Catholic 11-7. If we’re reading the district-tournament bracket correctly, looks like the crosstown competitors play each other on Tuesday (May 17th), again at NCSWAC, 3;30 pm.
A week and a half after the report of a draft US Supreme Court opinion that would overturn Roe v. Wade, demonstrations continue. Today a group of West Seattle High School students left the school in the 11 am hour, marching to The Junction and back to Admiral. We didn’t get word of it in time to send our photographer but one of the organizers, Claire, sent photos.
Abortion-rights supporters plan demonstrations across the country tomorrow; none here in West Seattle that we’ve heard, but we received a media advisory for one on Capitol Hill.
A passing police officer happened onto a crash on Sylvan Way a short time ago, describing it as a car into a tree, calling in SFD to treat an injured man. The location was described as “just south of the cemetery.” Only one vehicle mentioned.
Here we go – hours away from the return of West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day, defiant in the face of possible morning showers. Here are some final updates:
-We’ve continued updating the online map/list here. If you’re shopping, check before you head out. Also note that some sales not originally slated for garages might actually move into them if the weather doesn’t dry out fast enough.
-We’ll be covering WSCGSD as it happens, as always. This year, three ways – here on WSB, via Twitter, and via Instagram (where we will have a surprise guest host posting Stories from some of the sales). Photos from sellers and shoppers are welcome – email westseattleblog@gmail.com or text 206-293-6302, and be sure to mention the sale number so we can cross-reference with the address.
-Before you start your sale (or head out to shop), consider setting out a bag of nonperishable food for the Stamp Out Hunger drive.
-Speaking of donations, for sellers interested in donating “leftovers,” community groups/organizations have offered a few options – see them here (and if you have something to add, let us know and we’ll get it on the list).
-Speaking of lists, one more: Unusual items! Just a sampling that caught our attention when we were reviewing listings:
*Sale #7 has a gorilla suit
*Sales #31 and 319 have smokers
*Sale #163 has a free piano (bring your own truck)
*Sale #191 has a 1960s Singer sewing machine
*Sale #219 has a vintage wood-train set
If you find a treasure, we’d love to hear about that too! And if you’re looking for a particular type of item, use the map search function (explained on the map page) to search – as we suggest there, keep it to one keyword for best chance of success. (Our previous lists are linked atop the map.) Wishing everyone a fun Saturday!
Tomorrow while hundreds if not thousands of people put on jackets and head out to sell or shop at garage sales, one West Seattleite will be taking on an intense challenge a few hours from home. Riley Nachtrieb sent this announcement of what she plans to start tomorrow morning, no matter what the weather is:
20-year-old West Seattle-based ultra-runner Riley Nachtrieb will be re-attempting to run the first recorded Fastest Known Time (FKT) on the 135-mile Olympic Discovery Trail this Saturday, May 14th. An FKT is a speed record for a running route. It is not a race; there is no competition or award for completion. They are self-organized and ran solo with a support crew.
The ODT spans from Port Townsend to La Push, and Riley is aiming to complete the 135 miles in under 30 hours. The trail is 90% pavement, mostly on the side of the highway. She first attempted to run this route in 2019, but her Dad made her stop at 82 miles in 21 hours because she got a stress fracture in her foot. Despite this undesired ending to her first attempt, Riley, also an aspiring filmmaker, turned her story into an award-winning short film, “Broken” premiering at the Auburn Adventure Film Festival (watch it here).
Ever since stopping in 2019, Riley has been hungry to complete it. As a lead-up training run last month, she set the first women’s FKT on the 55-mile Whidbey Island Traverse, in 11 hours, 10 minutes.
“Running 135 miles will not be easy,” she says. “I do these hard things because I want to show people that women can do hard things. I run ‘insane’ distances to disrupt the narrative society knows, not only about running but how capable women are. As a young female in the sport, I’ve had many experiences of people doubting my abilities- But these experiences only light the fire within me to show how capable we are as women, if we dare to try.”
She starts running in Port Townsend at 7 am on May 14th. A crew full of family and friends will meet her at checkpoints. You can track her live using this link: share.garmin.com/rileynachtrieb
And you can see photo updates on her Instagram, @rileynachtrieb.
Riley adds that she’s thankful for the community support she’s received over the years.
3:30 PM: Seattle Police and Fire are responding to the West Seattle Health Club vicinity after a report that a man “walked in and said he’d been shot.” They’re looking for a possible suspect in the area – we don’t have a description yet. Updates to come.
3:38 PM: Police continue looking for the shooter, while medics treat the victim, who is reported to have been shot in the back. No info yet on circumstances, though at least two people in the area tell us via Twitter that they heard shots.
3:45 PM: K9 teams are on the way to help with the search. One officer has said via radio that the shooting was “on the sidewalk.” They’re reviewing security video that shows someone “running westbound on Yancy.”
3:49 PM: Our crew has spoken with SFD at the scene. The victim is a man believed to be about 40. He has multiple gunshot wounds and is being taken to Harborview. Adding scene photos.
3:52 PM: We also confirmed at the scene that the shooting happened north of the club, on the side with the RV emcampment across the street. … The helicopter overhead is the shared TV-news chopper, not law enforcement.
4:11 PM: Police are still searching for the shooter. As noted in comments, this is the second time in a month and a half that someone has been shot in that area. A suspect was arrested and charged in the March shooting and remains in jail. … Police just told dispatch they need to block traffic at 28th/Yancy as their investigation continues.
4:49 PM: They’re still searching actively.
5:12 PM: No arrest yet. But the streets that were closed for the investigation (including SW Yancy) are reopening.
5:58 PM: No further information. Here’s what SPD posted – no details about circumstances, suspect described only as “white male, mid-30s” (see this comment for what was heard over police radio early on; we also heard later mention of the orange sweatshirt with white lettering, possibly DB). We’re still waiting to hear back from SFD about the victim.
We’ve reported previously on the upgrades – and art – planned for Seattle Public Utilities‘ Pump Station 38, on the water side of the 1400 block of Alki Avenue SW [map]. Now, SPU has announced the work is expected to start within a few weeks, so it’s time for a reminder. The city says the flow through the station has increased in recent years, so the upgrade will “convert the current pump station from an airlift-type station to a more standard pump station … to reduce the risk of failure.” The project has been awarded to Harbor Pacific Contractors, Inc. of Woodinville, for $2,066,085, according to project manager Jonathan Brown. (That’s up from the $1.2 million estimate last year.) The work is expected to last six to nine months once it begins; the start was estimated “as early as mid-May” when a notice was sent out recently, but now, Brown tells WSB, it’s “looking more likely that it will be a late-May or early June start” as the contractor is still working on right-of-way permits. The work will require parking restrictions and Alki Trail detours for people walking/running/rolling.
The project includes art funded through the city’s half-century-old 1% For Art program, commissioned from Idaho artist Sarah Thompson Moore. We reported last year on the updated design (shown above), including a safety guardrail that the site upgrade would require, with or without art. The city says the art “seeks to create an engaging and thoughtful space that highlights the history of local Indigenous communities and their relationship to the land and waterways surrounding West Seattle.”
SDOT – which now oversees parking-enforcement officers after their move out of SPD – says it’s resuming enforcement of the 72-hour parking rule. The announcement does not clearly state whether that involves any change in whether long-parked RVs will be towed, however, so we have that out as a followup question. Meantime, here’s the full text of today’s announcement:
The City of Seattle is resuming full parking enforcement for any vehicle that has remained in one place unmoved for longer than 72 hours, returning to the normal standards which were temporarily paused in 2020 due to COVID-19 public health guidelines. While full enforcement is resuming now, parking enforcement officers will continue to provide official warning notifications on vehicles allowing owners and occupants to move them before enforcement occurs.
Seattle Municipal Code does not allow a person to park a vehicle on the same block of a city street for longer than 72 consecutive hours. Public streets are not an appropriate place for long-term vehicle storage.
Enforcement of the 72-hour rule was temporarily paused in March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic public health guidelines. Enforcement resumed in October 2021 with a focus on clearing unoccupied, abandoned, or hazardous vehicles. During this time, the City continued to enforce other parking rules, such as vehicles violating posted signs or leaving cars where parking is never allowed (such as blocking fire hydrants or transit lanes).
Vehicle owners should get back in the habit of regularly moving vehicles to avoid a possible warning and citation. People should also check their block regularly for temporary parking restriction signs, which can be placed with a minimum of 24-hours notice for things like emergency utility work, cleaning, or special events.
The parking enforcement team cannot be everywhere at once and expects it to take longer than usual to respond to the many requests predicted to happen in the beginning. The enforcement process takes time, and the parking enforcement team will respond to violations as swiftly as possible given capacity.
Seattle Public Utilities continues to lead the RV Remediation program, which focuses on cleaning up and disposing of debris and waste around RVs to ensure public health and safety. Days prior to a scheduled remediation event, SPU and parking enforcement staff engage with people staying in RVs to make them aware of the upcoming clean-up activity. SDOT will continue to work with SPU to prioritize the locations of these clean-up efforts over time.
The first step of enforcement will continue to be leaving official warning notices on vehicles, giving the owner time to move them voluntarily and avoid enforcement action. If it appears that people may be living in one of the vehicles, they will receive information about assistance, support services, and resources.
If a car is towed from a public street, instructions to locate the vehicle and documents required to release your vehicle are available online. The first step to find and reclaim your vehicle is to call Lincoln Towing at 206-364-2000 or search for your vehicle on Lincoln Towing’s www.SeattleImpound.com website.
If your car was towed from a private parking lot, look for posted signs with instructions and a phone number for the tow company which operates the lot. If you still cannot locate your vehicle, call the Community Safety and Communications Center at 206-625-5011.
Tomorrow is West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day, with ~300 registered sales, and a few are starting early – as early as one day in advance, like Sale #248 at 5637 42nd SW, a big sale Mike LaFranchi (below) and Margaret LaFranchi host every WSCGSD to raise money so more kids living with disabilities are able to attend Mount Hood Kiwanis Camp.
The sale is on until 4 pm today and again 9 am-4 pm tomorrow (one hour beyond the close of official WSCGSD hours); it’s part of the list of benefit/fundraising sales that we featured here. Other sales that mentioned Friday starts in their listings include #250 and #264. See the full map/list, including updates such as last-minute cancellations, by going here.
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