(Alki Point Lighthouse, photographed this week by Robin Sinner)

Three quick reminders:

BRIDGE ALTERNATIVES: As previewed yesterday, 10 am online discussion – registration required.

FREE FOOD: As noted in our virus-crisis roundups, Food Lifeline is distributing boxes of food again today, 2 pm-5 pm. (815 S. 96th)

DEMONSTRATION: Weekly event, as announced by organizer Nancy:

Please join us to show support for Black and Brown friends, family, and neighbors, to #SayTheirNames, and to remember that people are still suffering injustice. We welcome people to come and discuss why people support Black Lives Matter, and to discuss what defunding the police means and what it might look like.

What: BLM and #SayTheirNames
When: Friday, August 21st, from 5:30-6:30 pm
Where: Pedestrian overpass on Delridge at the Delridge Community Center/Youngstown Cultural Arts Center.

Please remember to wear your masks!

(Delridge/Oregon)

(One more look at that stormy Sunday sunset – photo by Mark Dale)

5 things happening today/tonight:

WEST SEATTLE YMCA REOPENS: First day for the Y’s Triangle facility, open Tuesday-Friday from 7-11 am and 3:30-7:30 pm and Saturdays from 10 am-2 pm, by reservation. The pool reopens one week from today. More info here. (3622 SW Snoqualmie)

DEMONSTRATION: All are invited, as announced by organizer Scott again this week:

Black Lives Matter sign-waving

Tuesday, Aug 18th, 4 to 6 pm, corner of 16th SW and SW Holden

Thursday, Aug 20th, 4 to 6 pm, 16th and Holden

SEATTLE PUBLIC SCHOOLS ‘TOWN HALL’: The district announced last night that the new school year will start for msot students on Friday, September 4th. Hear from Superintendent Denise Juneau in a live “town hall” online at 4:30 pm.

PARK BOARD MEETS WITH PARK DISTRICT OVERSIGHT BOARD: 6:30 pm online, with some big topics about Seattle Parks‘ present and future – see the agenda here, including details on how to view/participate in the meeting.

TALK WITH/HEAR FROM WEST SEATTLE POLICE: 7 pm online, the West Seattle Crime Prevention Council meets for the first time in six months – bring questions and concerns, and “meet” the new Southwest Precinct commander Capt. Kevin Grossman and operations Lt. Sina Ebinger. Attend via this link.

We begin again this Sunday with road-work reminders:

(WSB photo: Saturday work on 44th SW)

CLOSURES: SW Genesee between 25th and Delridge is scheduled to remain closed all day … so is 44th between SW Alaska and SW Edmunds… details on both are here. Then tonight, 10 pm-5 am, deck-replacement work is again scheduled to close the 1st Avenue South Bridge’s northbound side. (The West Seattle low bridge is open to all 9 pm-5 am, so that’s your alternate crossing.)

Now, our weekly list of online church services:

ADMIRAL UCC: Worship options for today are linked here.

ALKI UCC: 10 am online service via Zoom – info and link on church’s home page.

ALL SOULS SEATTLE (WSB sponsor): Online worship will be viewable here.

BETHANY COMMUNITY CHURCH: Livestreaming for West Seattle here at 9:30 am.

CALVARY CHAPEL: Today’s service will be here, plus 6 pm all-church prayer and 7 pm evening worship (info on home page, as well as word that in-person services have resumed too).

THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS: West Seattle Ward has Sunday services via Zoom at 10 am, one hour long, all welcome. They last an hour. Here’s the link.

EASTRIDGE CHURCH: Livestreaming here at 9 am and 11 am.

FAUNTLEROY UCC: Service at 10 am on the church’s YouTube channel.

FIRST LUTHERAN CHURCH OF WEST SEATTLE: Today’s online liturgy is here.

GRACE CHURCH: Livestreaming here, 10:30 am.

HALLOWS CHURCH: Streaming at 10 am via the church’s YouTube channel.

HOPE LUTHERAN: Today’s worship service and children’s story are viewable here.

OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE CATHOLIC CHURCH: Livestreaming at 10 am, here. (In-person Saturday Masses have been added – registration required.)

PEACE LUTHERAN: Livestreaming at 10:30 am on YouTube.

ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH: Viewable on YouTube: All-Ages Sunday School at 10 am, Morning Prayer at 10:15 am (here’s today’s bulletin), Kids’ Club at 11:30 am.

TIBBETTS UNITED METHODIST CHURCH (WSB sponsor): The video service for today is viewable here.

TRINITY CHURCH: Livestreaming here, 10 am. (In-person services too.)

WEST SEATTLE CHRISTIAN CHURCH: The video service for today is viewable here.

WEST SEATTLE CHURCH OF THE NAZARENE: Livestreaming here, 9 am.

WEST SIDE PRESBYTERIAN Livestreaming at 10 am on the church’s YouTube channel.

WESTSIDE UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST CONGREGATION: Livestreaming at 10:30 am – information’s here.

WESTWOOD CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY: Online worship at 6 pm; info here.

Any other churches to add? Please email us – westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!

Also today/tonight:

WEST SEATTLE FARMERS’ MARKET: 10 am-2 pm. Scroll down the page at this link to find the vendor list and map for this week. (Enter at California/Alaska)

WEST SEATTLE TOOL LIBRARY: Open 11 am-4 pm – need a tool to fix or improve something? (4408 Delridge Way SW)

FREE TO-GO DINNER: White Center Community Dinner Church will serve to-go meals at 5 pm, outside, near the Bartell Drugs parking lot in White Center, SW Roxbury St. & 15th Ave. SW (9600 15th Ave SW)

(Cooper’s Hawk in Lincoln Park, photographed by Steven Sherotsky)

Three previews for the rest of your Tuesday:

SPD CHIEF’S DEPARTURE: Citywide outlets broke the news late last night that SPD Chief Carmen Best is departing, two years after taking over, one day after the City Council’s vote on budget and job cuts. At 11 am today, she and Mayor Jenny Durkan will hold a news conference “to discuss Chief Best’s decision to retire and the future of the Seattle Police Department.” Seattle Channel will stream it here, and we plan to carry the feed.

DEMONSTRATION: 4-6 pm at 16th/Holden, the twice-weekly streetcorner demonstration organized by Scott from Puget Ridge Cohousing: “Hold signs, meet neighbors, and stand for racial justice.”

RECONNECT WEST SEATTLE: Over the next week, SDOT plans 4 “neighborhood check-ins” before finalizing the neighborhood=prioritization results and launching projecs on/near detour routes.The first one is today for Georgetown during its Community Council meeting, 6:30 pm – connection information, and the full list of meetings (including one for West Seattle’s affected neighborhoods Thursday night), is here.

(Blue-Eyed Darner dragonfly, photographed in West Seattle by Mark Wangerin)

Notes for the rest of today/tonight:

COVID-19 TESTING: Until 1 pm, weekly testing in the north lot at South Seattle College (6000 16th SW; WSB sponsor).

NEW FOOD TRUCK SITE: Tat’s Truck has announced a move as of today:

We are now setting up at our commissary kitchen on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays for lunch and dinner service. Plenty of parking and tables and chairs to eat onsite!

New location: 3808 18th Ave SW (off W Marginal under the bridge)

Dates: Every Fri-Sat-Sun 11:00 am – 6:30 pm unless scheduled elsewhere. Check website.

DEMONSTRATION: As announced:

Please join us to show support for Black and Brown friends, family, and neighbors, to #SayTheirNames, and to remember that people are encountering injustice every day. We welcome people to come and discuss why people support Black Lives Matter, and to discuss what defunding the police means and what it might look like.
What: BLM and #SayTheirNames
When: Friday, August 7th, from 5:30-6:30 pm
Where: Pedestrian overpass on Delridge at the Delridge Community Center/Youngstown Cultural Arts Center, south of Genesee St.
Please remember to wear your masks!

(Rufous Hummingbird bathing, photographed by Trileigh Tucker)

Four meetings of note today:

CITY COUNCIL BUDGET VOTES: The council meets again as the Select Budget Committee in two sessions today, 10 am and 2 pm, online. They’ll be voting on cuts to the 2020 budget, including police-related proposals. Here’s the revised agenda packet (including viewing information), which has the SPD discussion up first.

WEST SEATTLE BRIDGE COMMUNITY TASK FORCE: Noon meeting online; connection information is in our Monday preview. Here’s the agenda.

SCHOOL BOARD WORK SESSION: As noted in our report yesterday, the board is meeting at 12:30 pm to talk about the district’s plan for the new school year. Here’s the agenda (including viewing information), with the slide deck and other supporting material.

DISTRICT 1 COMMUNITY NETWORK: This coalition of West Seattle community-organization reps has its monthly meeting online at 7 pm. We haven’t yet received the agenda/viewing information yet, but will add it here when it’s available. (added 2:30 pm) Here it is.

(Monday moonrise photo by Trevor Simonton, from Jack Block Park)

Reminders for the day ahead…

VOTE! It’s Primary Election day, and your ballot includes choices for Congress as well as Governor, Lt. Governor (no incumbent), and more. If you’re going to send your ballot via postal mail, do that ASAP because it has to be postmarked today; you can get it to a King County Elections dropbox until 8 pm – the nearest ones are in The Junction (south side of SW Alaska, just east of 44th) and outside three libraries – High Point (35th/Raymond), South Park (8th/Cloverdale), and White Center (1409 SW 107th).

EXPLORE: With the full moon, the low tide is out to -1.6 feet at 12:04 pm.

DEMONSTRATE: Scott from Puget Ridge Cohousing continues coordinating twice-weekly streetcorner demonstrations for racial justice, 4-6 pm Tuesdays and Thursdays at 16th/Holden, “endorsed by Hate-Free Delridge. Signs available.”

WATCH: Can’t guarantee a view like the one Trevor had, but the almost-full moon rises at 9:42 pm.

(This morning’s sunrise, photographed by Theresa Arbow-O’Connor)

Three events for today:

DEMONSTRATION: The twice-weekly streetcorner sign-holding demonstrations in support of Black lives and ending systemic racism continue today, 4-6 pm at 16th/Holden, organized by Scott from Puget Ridge Cohousing, endorsed by Hate-Free Delridge.

RECONNECT WEST SEATTLE: If you haven’t answered the bridge-closure-related survey(s) yet and have questions, SDOT has one more “virtual office hour” online tonight for you to drop in, 6:30-7:30 pm – find the connection info here.

ORCA TALK: The Whale Trail invites you to “Celebrate Springer,” the orphaned orca rescued in nearby waters nearly 20 years ago, now a mom herself. 7 pm tonight online, free but registration is required – our preview explains how.

(Photo by Anjanette Nelson-Wally)

Four quick notes about the hours ahead:

DEMONSTRATION: 4-6 pm at 16th/Holden, Scott from Puget Ridge Cohousing leads another streetcorner sogn-waving event in support of justice for Black lives.

RETIREMENT PARADE: If you’ve been involved with Fauntleroy Children’s Center, you know Gerry Cunningham – and you should know she’s retiring! A car parade in her honor will be held in the nearby Fauntleroy Church (9140 California SW) parking lot 4:30-6:30 pm today. Drive/ride/walk/run through and wish her well!

WEST SEATTLE ‘TOWN HALL’: As first previewed Monday, the mayor, police chief, SOOT director, and otheer city department heads plan an online “Town Hall” for West Seattleites starting at 5 pm. Here’s how to attend.

WEST SEATTLE TRANSPORTATION COALITION: 6:30 pm online, Sound Transit is in the spotlight, plus a West Seattle Bridge update – here’s our preview, including info on how to attend.

The sun’s out and expected to stay that way through the weekend. Two “swaps” tomorrow might be of interest:

BOOK SWAP: 10 am-2 pm Saturday, Admiral Church presents “the Great Pandemic Book Swap. 4320 SW Hill St. Bring books, take books, on the lawn, masks and distancing required.”

BOAT SWAP: Saturday at Mountain to Sound Outfitters in The Triangle:

The Third Annual Boat Swap and Scratch & Dent Sale Is Approaching!

This community event is a great opportunity to buy and sell human powered watercraft (Kayaks, SUPs, Canoes) and accessories! We will have used Kayaks and SUPs from Alki Kayak Tour’s rental operation, as well as scratched and dented SUPs and Kayaks from Mountain to Sound for sale at amazing summer steal prices! Please view the information below to familiarize yourself with the organization of the event.

When: Saturday, July 18th | 10 am – 4 pm

Where: Mountain to Sound Outfitters, 3602 SW Alaska

Drop Off Date For Sellers: Saturday, July 18th | 9 am – 11 am

Sellers Pick Up Unsold Items: Saturday, July 18th | 4 pm – 5 pm

How To Sell at Boat Swap: Use (the form here) to register to sell your equipment. You’ll receive an email confirmation with more details.

Questions? Email gearswap@m2soutfitters.com

(Dragonfly, photographed in Arbor Heights by Mark)

We had hoped to publish this list a few hours ago, but news got in the way. Not too late, though, to share three things happening the rest of today/tonight:

LIBRARY DROPOFFS BEGIN: Seattle Public Library branches are still closed but starting today, some are accepting dropoffs – including two in our area. From SPL:

This week we will begin accepting returns of Library materials at the High Point, Rainier Beach and Southwest branches. This is a limited operation to help us refine our processes of accepting and processing book returns safely, effectively and efficiently before accepting returns at more locations. Bookdrops will be open limited hours.

You are welcome, but not required, to return your borrowed items at these locations beginning this week. Due dates are extended until at least Aug. 15, and we are a fine-free Library system, so there is no rush to return and you can take the time you need.

When can I return my books? Locations and hours are as follows:

Beginning Tuesday, July 14, the High Point, Rainier Beach and Southwest bookdrops will be open Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays from noon to 6 p.m. or until bookdrops are full.

All returned items will be quarantined – and remain on your account – for a minimum of 3 days before being checked in.

Later this month, SPL expects to expand this to more locations.

SHOWING SUPPORT FOR BLACK LIVES: Tuesday/Thursday streetcorner protests continue:

Come stand in Solidarity with Black Lives Matter

Tuesday, July 14th, 4 to 6 pm, corner of Delridge Way and SW Orchard

Come show support for BLM and ending systemic racism. Hold signs, meet neighbors and stand for racial justice. –Scott at PR Cohousing, endorsed by Hate-Free Delridge. Signs available.

If you miss today, Scott and others will be there 4-6 pm Thursday too.

FAUNTLEROY COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION: 7 pm board meeting online tonight, community members welcome. Agenda includes hearing from the Southwest Precinct’s new commander and operations lieutenant. Go to this page on the FCA website to get the link for registering to attend, so you can get the Zoom link.

(Photo by Theresa Arbow-O’Connor)

What’s up for your Saturday:

SHREDDING: John L. Scott Real Estate-Westwood (WSB sponsor) offers free shredding today, 10 am-noon, NW lot at Westwood Village. Bring food/money to donate to White Center Food Bank if you can.

FREE LUNCH: West Side Presbyterian Church (3601 California SW) is serving a free bag lunch (turkey, ham or beef sandwiches plus other goodies) noon-1 pm. All are welcome.

DROP-OFF FOOD DRIVE: Admiral Church has a no-contact setup so you can bring nonperishable food to donate (4320 SW Hill), 1-4 pm.

PAINT WITH HPIC – ONLINE! Highland Park Improvement Club invites you to a 2 pm online painting event. Free. Register ASAP here.

NEW WINE RELEASES: Viscon Cellars (WSB sponsor) has three of them, and you can stop by to buy, 5910 California SW, 2-5 pm.

(Photo by Michael De Haan)

Four events to spotlight for today/tonight:

SUMMER MEALS FOR KIDS/TEENS: 10 am-4 pm at Highland Park Playground. (1100 SW Cloverdale)

STAND UP FOR BLACK LIVES: Streetcorner demonstration led by Scott from Puget Ridge Cohousing and Hate-Free Delridge. 4-6 pm. Bring signs, and wear your face covering. (16th/Holden)

HEAR FROM YOUNG LEADERS: Local youth are among the speakers at the North Highline Coalition for Drug-Free Youth online event, 6-7:30 pm. RSVP info is here.

WASHINGTON STATE FERRIES’ FUTURE: Online meeting for everyone interested in WSF:

WSF staff will discuss the response to COVID-19, and how it may affect the agency’s finances and service plan. Online participants will be able to ask questions and provide comments during the meeting.

6 pm. The announcement explains how to RSVP and get the link.

(WSB photo from January, former West Seattle Licenses office post-closure)

It’s been six months since the sudden closure of the vehicle-licensing subagent West Seattle Licenses. Though in-person services like this largely remain closed anyway, we wondered recently if West Seattle was close to getting a new one, since the previous estimate was “as soon as June.” So we checked with King County, which leads the process for finding and managing subagents like these. Here’s what spokesperson Cameron Satterfield told us this week:

The RFP is closed, and our Records and Licensing Division is in the process of evaluating the responsive applicants. Six applicants were chosen for interviews, which should (have been) complete by the end of this week. Next step is to rank those applicants in order and send the list to state DOL for their review and final selection. That process takes a minimum of four weeks, but it could be longer considering the pandemic situation. Once we get the final selection back from state DOL, we’ll work with that applicant to get a contract signed and complete the work needed before opening. Since we don’t yet know who the final choice will be, I don’t have a timeline for opening. Some of the factors that go into that include the applicant securing a lease or purchase for their physical location, getting DOL equipment installed and tested, and making sure the applicant and their employees have the necessary training.

As of a few days ago, the location used by the former sub-agent still had a “For Lease” sign in the window (that wouldn’t necessarily be where the new subagent sets up, though). Meantime, no update on the results of a state “administrative review (of) irregularities” involving the previous subagent.

(Photo by David Wilson)

As we’ve been previewing these past few days, there’s a LOT going on today. Quick reminders:

WEST SEATTLE BRIDGE COMMUNITY TASK FORCE: Online meeting, 1 pm-2:30 pm. Our preview has the link you can use to watch. ADDED: Here’s today’s agenda, thanks to a CTF member.

FREE FOOD: 2-5 pm at Food Lifeline in South Park – drive up or walk up. Here’s our preview.

SEAWALL MEETING: 4 pm online, Seattle Parks and the Army Corps of Engineers will present an update on the about-to-start Emma Schmitz Memorial Overlook seawall replacemnt.

SEATTLE LUTHERAN HS DRIVE-UP GRADUATION: 5 pm outside the school (4100 SW Genesee).

‘IMMERSED TUBE’ TUNNEL: Retired civil engineer Bob Ortblad invites all to his online presentation about the “immersed tube” tunnel he suggests could replace the West Seattle Bridge. 7:30 pm – our preview has details on watching/participating.

CHIEF SEALTH IHS GRADUATION: 8:30 pm on YouTube/cable – here’s how to watch.

Three notes for the hours ahead:

(Photo courtesy Sunny Up)

NEW FOOD-TRUCK SITE: Food trucks are visiting the Alki Masonic Lodge parking lot in The Junction at 40th/Edmunds this week, according to an announcement from Broadstone Sky across the street. Above is Sunny Up, there until 2 pm today; then, 2-4 pm, it’s Delfino’s Pizza. Here’s the schedule for the rest of the week (daily through Saturday, different trucks each day). UPDATE: A commenter says today’s time for Delfino’s Pizza has changed to 4-8 pm.

Also happening on this damp Monday:

‘TAKE A KNEE FOR JUSTICE’: As noted previously, Admiral UCC Church is continuing this weekly in-person – but distanced – event on Mondays:

Admiral Church will be sponsoring weekly “Take a Knee for Justice” events on the church lawn at 8 pm on Monday evenings through the end of June (June 15, 22 and 29). We will kneel in silence for 8 minutes to grieve together the deaths of all those persons of color who have been murdered by white supremacy, and to protest racial injustice. Then we will sing a song together; no speech-ing, no preaching, just coming together as a community. Bring masks and protest signs if you have them; we will also have some available.

The church is at 4320 SW Hill.

LIVESTREAMED MEDITATION: From the Puget Sound Zen Center:

Puget Sound Zen Center holds a West Seattle meditation and service each Monday, which, when it begins in person again, will be held at St. John the Baptist Church at 3050 California Ave SW. For the moment, however, it is held on Zoom from 7 – 8:30 PM each Monday. The website is pszc.org – and it provides the Zoom link (as well as the password) for the livestream.

Got something coming up, online or in-person? westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!

(Friday sunrise from Seacrest, photographed by Theresa Arbow-O’Connor)

Four notes as we start May’s first Saturday:

YMCA HEALTHY KIDS DAY: 9:30 am-12:30 pm online, it’s a special edition of the annual free fun event presented by the West Seattle YMCA (WSB sponsor) – our preview has details, including the schedule; go here to connect.

FINANCIAL LITERACY MONTH: 11 am -12:15 pm online, the Seattle Public Library‘s monthlong focus continues by teaching you how to plan for retirement. Here’s how to watch.

FAMILY READING TIME: Paper Boat Booksellers continues to host this, now online, 11-11:30 am every Saturday morning. Registration link is on the event page – sign up and you’ll get the link for participating.

FREE MEALS: If you need food, two companies at KBM Commissary are providing 1,000 free meals today, 4 pm-6 pm curbside pickup – please read our preview carefully for what’s available and how it works. (5604 Delridge Way SW)

With another month of staying home ahead, we’re working on our calendar this weekend to reflect more of what’s going on online – and the few things happening in person, like meal distribution – please let us know if you have something to list!