West Seattle, Washington
13 Monday
More news from the West Seattle/Fauntleroy YMCA (WSB sponsor) – a new executive director! Here’s the announcement introducing you to Miller:
The YMCA of Greater Seattle is proud to announce that Miller has been named as the Executive Director of the West Seattle & Fauntleroy YMCA. Miller joins the branch with nine years of leadership, operations, and team building experience at the YMCA and in other community organizations.
“Miller is a leader whose vision is guided by the Y’s paramount value of ensuring that all people are welcomed and belong,” says Loria Yeadon, President and CEO for the YMCA of Greater Seattle. “We’re thrilled by the leadership Miller will provide to the West Seattle & Fauntleroy YMCA.”
Miller began their career in 2010 with six years of leadership in the YMCA of Central Ohio and the YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago. During that time, Miller oversaw membership growth, retention strategies, and inclusion initiatives to become an Executive Director providing strategic vision and community engagement for the Rauner Family Y and the West Communities Y. Having designed and delivered a nationwide diversity, equity, and inclusion training program for YMCA branch leadership and key stakeholders, Miller brings specialized training in equity and inclusion, cultural awareness, trauma and conflict resolution, race, gender, LGBTQ+ communities to the West Seattle & Fauntleroy YMCA.
“The Y is like a second home to me,” says Miller. “It’s an exciting time to be a part of the West Seattle & Fauntleroy YMCA team – I look forward to learning more about how we can continue to create a sense of belonging for everyone in our community.”
Founded in the 1920s, the West Seattle & Fauntleroy YMCA serves children and teens throughout the community with programs in eight local schools pioneering new ways to strengthen community foundations. With two locations, the West Seattle & Fauntleroy branch offers a wide variety of fitness, youth, swimming, and community programs for all ages. The Fauntleroy location includes fitness equipment, classes, and youth sports programs. The larger West Seattle facility was expanded and renovated in 2016 providing swimming, family programs, fitness equipment, group exercise classes, and a new healthy eating kitchen. Please join the YMCA of Greater Seattle in welcoming Miller to their new position at the West Seattle & Fauntleroy YMCA.
Miller’s predecessor Shalimar Gonzales is now district executive with the YMCA of Greater Seattle.
The West Seattle YMCA (3622 SW Snoqualmie; WSB sponsor) will be open on the holiday – and that volunteer opportunity is one of two reasons why. Here’s the announcement:
Did you know that the West Seattle YMCA is open on Martin Luther King Jr. Day? Come on in for your workout, or stop by the Y on Monday, January 20th for our MLK Jr. Day of Service Community Beautification Project from 9:00 am – 12:00 pm on January 20, 2020. Interested volunteers can sign up online at this link, or just show up ready to garden!
(Townsend’s Warbler, photographed by Mark Wangerin)
Highlights for the rest of your Friday:
SCHOOL TOUR: Roxhill Elementary, 12:30 pm-1:30 pm. See the full list of local Seattle Public Schools elementary/K-8 tours here. (7740 34th SW)
BASKETBALL: Chief Sealth International High School has home games vs. Franklin tonight, girls’ varsity at 7 pm, boys’ varsity at 8:30 pm. (2600 SW Thistle)
U2 AND REM TRIBUTE BANDS: Vertigo Zoo and Chronic Town at The Skylark, 7 pm. $8 cover. 21+. (3803 Delridge Way SW)
‘HARVEY’: Second of three nights for this year’s student-directed West Seattle High School production – the classic play centered on a giant rabbit. 7:30 pm curtain at the WSHS Theater. (3000 California SW)
‘THE REVOLUTIONISTS’: 7:30 pm at ArtsWest, the new production – “a quartet of fierce women — Playwright Olympe de Gouges, assassin Charlotte Corday, former queen Marie Antoinette, and Haitian rebel Marianne Angelle — lose their heads in this irreverent, girl-powered comedy set during the French Revolution’s Reign of Terror.” Check for tickets here. (4711 California SW)
SCOTT LINDENMUTH: Jazz guitarist live at Pacific Room (WSB sponsor) on Alki, 8-10 pm. Cover info here. (2808 Alki SW)
SEE THE FULL LIST … on our complete calendar!
Highland Park Elementary hopes you can help their donation drive to help youth in need. Here’s the announcement:
WE Care for YouthCare!
Looking to clean out your closets this 3-day weekend?!
Our 5th-grade WE Care team (leadership/community activism) is working on gathering supplies for homeless youth in Seattle via the organization YouthCare.
We are specifically looking for:
Blankets/bedding/pillows
Socks
Hats (beanies)
Jackets/hoodies
Mittens
Shoes
Gloves
Gift cards (Target, Fred Meyer)
Pots/pans/utensils/dishes
Hygiene products
Non-perishable snacks
Umbrellas/rain gear
Gently used clothingIf so, please bring them to the Highland Park Elementary front office at 1012 SW Trenton St.
Leave them with Patti at the front desk.
She’ll be there until 3:30 pm today and then, after the Monday holiday, 7:15 am-3:30 pm weekdays.
(SDOT MAP with travel times/ Is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE/ West Seattle-relevant traffic cams HERE)
6:58 AM: Good morning! First incident of the morning has been working for 40+ minutes, a crash involving a bus in the bus lane of NB 99 north of the bridge. Other notes:
1ST AVENE SOUTH: Finally reopened by Holgate early this morning, after a truck hit a utility pole yesterday afternoon.
TUNNEL CLOSURE POSTPONED: If you had made a note of the plan to close the northbound 99 tunnel tonight, note that it’s now postponed to NEXT Friday night (January 24th), 10 pm-8 am.
DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. DAY ON MONDAY: That means no school on Monday, plus transit changes – no Water Taxi service (West Seattle or Vashon), Metro on “reduced weekday” schedule.
7:27 AM: The NB 99 scene JUST cleared – but the “residual backup” will of course take a while.
(WSB photo from 2019 Westside Awards breakfast)
Last year, Alki Lumber was honored as Business of the Year in the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce‘s Westside Awards, which also recognize Emerging Business of the Year, Not-for-Profit of the Year, and Westsider of the Year. Who will it be this year? You are invited to make nominations – chamber membership is NOT required. Use this short form for each nomination; go here to see the criteria and lists of past winners. explains the criteria for each category. You have until the end of February to nominate someone (but why wait?). Once the winners are chosen, they’ll be honored at the annual Westside Awards breakfast, which this year wiil be held at The Hall at Fauntleroy, 7:30 am April 28th.
Three items in Crime Watch:
(1/26/2019 SDOT cam framegrab showing investigation scene)(January 2019 SDOT image)
SENTENCING TOMORROW: 89-year-old Roger Mize will be sentenced tomorrow for shooting another man to death almost a year ago shortly after both boarded a C Line bus in SODO. Mize pleaded guilty to first-degree manslaughter; prosecutors are recommending a 7 1/2-year sentence. As we reported last year, Mize and the victim, 51-year-old Ronnie Tyler, got into a fight aboard the bus after Mize took offense at Tyler walking past him. He pistol-whipped the victim and then shot him. Mize was arrested for shooting another man in 2013 but was never charged; that victim survived.
Two reader reports:
MAIL THEFT: From Chris, whose Arbor Heights neighborhood has been hit by mail theft before:
We have a new mail thief that struck every mail box this morning at 5:20am on SW oceanview Dr.
I can’t quite make out the make and model of the car this time.
Chris says the thief’s car is the dark one at the top of that image.
CAR PROWL: Gatewood again. This report is from Christine:
Just wanted to let you know that our 2004 Audi was rifled through this morning while I was up and making breakfast for my daughter around 6:15 am. I almost caught them because I heard a car with a loud motor rumbling outside and began to walk to the front door but by the time I got to the window and saw the light on in our car, they took off.
The car was parked in the front of the house and accidentally left unlocked but luckily nothing of value was in there. All they took was our Leatherman multi-tool set. The sound of their car certainly drew attention so surprised they’re out casing when people are up and getting ready for work and school!
(Added: SDOT image)
4:20 PM: If you’re about to head this way from downtown – avoid 1st Avenue S. Per tipsters as well as SPD dispatch, a truck is blocking both southbound lanes just north of the West Seattle Bridge ramp, apparently after hitting a utility pole.
5:09 PM: Still backed up. See the almost-live camera image here.
6:31 PM: Scene’s not clear yet but the live video version of that camera shows more traffic being routed around it.
8:03 PM: The camera shows that entire block of 1st closed off now, and NB traffic coming off the westbound bridge being detoured too.
10:36 PM: We’re still monitoring the live video feed from the scene. It’s without power now and City Light is working in at least one bucket truck. The block is still closed to traffic.
1:13 AM: No change. We’re going off-watch for a while but you can check the camera link to see if it’s reopened.
6:54 AM: SDOT tweeted around 5:30 that it was open again.
From SDOT‘s weekly Construction Lookahead, two notes:
NB 99 TUNNEL CLOSURE: The northbound tunnel’s maintenance closure has been rescheduled from this weekend to next – now set for 10 pm January 24th to 8 am January 25th.
SB 1ST AVE. S. BRIDGE: The southbound 1st Avenue South Bridge will be completely closed for repair work for four nights in February – 2/7, 2/8, 2/14, 2/15, 9 pm-8 am nightly.
(WSB photo, 2019)
Last February, we reported on a proposal for 4 four-story houses on that sloped site at 2530 55th SW (map) in Alki, site of a street-closing slide in 2013. Today’s twice-weekly Land Use Information Bulletin brings the official notice that the city has approved the plan, which will include 4 offstreet-parking spaces. The decision (PDF) explains the conditions under which the city approved the project despite the site’s challenges. The approval opens a two-week appeal period through January 30th; this notice (PDF) explains how to file one.
11:46 AM: Just received two reports of brown water in Arbor Heights – 35th/102nd is one location mentioned. We’re checking with Seattle Public Utilities; we’ll update when we hear back. If you’re experiencing it, be sure to call SPU at 206-386-1800, even if you know someone else already has reported it.
1:40 PM: Just heard back from SPU’s Ingrid Goodwin, who explains:
SPU crews had to perform an emergency water-main shutdown around 10:30 am today on 35th Ave SW between SW 100th ST and SW 104th St to repair a broken water main. Water was restored (back on for customers) around 11:30 am. As you know, shutting off water can sometimes cause temporary discolored water for customers. As of about 1 pm, our Operations Response Center reports receiving one call from a customer in the area about discolored water.
Thanks to “West Seattle Local” for the view of the snowy Olympic Mountains, looking over the peninsula and through The Great Wheel from downtown. Down here, the snow’s mostly (if not all) melted, and it’s a “getting back to normal” day. Highlights for the rest of today:
CHILDREN’S STORY TIME: 11:30 am at High Point Library. (3411 SW Raymond)
BACHELOR’S DEGREE @ SOUTH: 4 pm info session about getting a bachelor’s degree in Hospitality Management at South Seattle College (WSB sponsor) – details in our calendar listing, (6000 16th SW)
COUNTRY-POP AT PACIFIC ROOM: Live music with Audrey Collins, 6-9 pm at the Pacific Room (WSB sponsor) on Alki. No cover. All ages. (2808 Alki SW)
ILENE ENGLISH READING/BOOK SIGNING: The author of “Hippie Chick” will be at Paper Boat Booksellers tonight at 6 pm.
ALKI COMMUNITY COUNCIL: Open board meeting at 7 pm, community members welcome, at Alki UCC. (6115 SW Hinds)
BELLY DANCING: Jet City Raqs at The Skylark in North Delridge, 7 pm. All ages. Details here. (3803 Delridge Way SW)
‘HARVEY’ OPENING NIGHT: First of three nights for this year’s student-directed West Seattle High School production – the classic play centered on a giant rabbit. 7:30 pm curtain at the WSHS Theater. (3000 California SW)
‘THE REVOLUTIONISTS’ OPENING NIGHT: 7:30 pm at ArtsWest, “a quartet of fierce women — Playwright Olympe de Gouges, assassin Charlotte Corday, former queen Marie Antoinette, and Haitian rebel Marianne Angelle — lose their heads in this irreverent, girl-powered comedy set during the French Revolution’s Reign of Terror.” Check for tickets here. (4711 California SW)
Have an event for our calendar? Send the info! westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
Another regional effect of the some-got-it-some-didn’t snow – reduced blood supplies, as some donors couldn’t get around and some mobile drives had to be canceled. Antoinette points out that Bloodworks Northwest has told local donors they’re having two drives in West Seattle in the next several days, so if you can donate, please consider doing it – the blood bank is especially short on O positive and negative, A negative, B positive and negative, and AB negative. The drives are Saturday at Westwood Village (SW Barton side), 9 am-3 pm (closed 11 am-noon for a break), and Monday at Admiral Safeway (2622 California SW), 11:30 am-5:30 pm (closed 1:30-2:30 pm). Walk-ins are welcome, or you can find the drives here and make an appointment.
(SDOT MAP with travel times/ Is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE/ West Seattle-relevant traffic cams HERE)
6:58 AM: Good morning! Schools are back to regular schedules today. No traffic incidents or transit alerts for our area so far.
Almost nine months after The West Seattle Turkey showed up on the peninsula, it’s out in the cold … so some fans were worried. Along with this photo posted in a comment, we have an update from Lauren, along with the photos above and below. Lauren reports, “In case anyone’s worried about how the West Seattle Turkey is faring during these snowy days, the answer is just fine. It took refuge in our chicken run while the snow came down.”
Thanks to Lauren and everyone else who’s shared turkey sightings – some unusual, from a parking garage to a tower crane! The Turkey’s origins remain, to date, a mystery.
Seen this stolen car? The photo and report are from Ana:
Our car was stolen last night or early morning today from 42nd and Graham. Washington plates #BEN3517. It is a black Subaru Impreza, 1998. Please contact 911 or call (425) 623-5448 if seen.
SPD case # is 2020-017186.
1/19 UPDATE: Found, per this comment.
Today’s district-wide Seattle Public Schools closure means a one-day delay for opening night of West Seattle High School‘s student-directed play, “Harvey.” Its run will now be Thursday, Friday, and Saturday at 7:30 pm, in the theater at WSHS (3000 California SW). Tickets are $10 at the door; see the cast and synopsis for the production here.
1:57 PM: That’s what Southwest Athletic Complex looked like this morning – one of the places in West Seattle where light snow from earlier this week is lingering. And you might notice a little more on the ground in your neighborhood when you return home tonight – light snow is falling right now and the National Weather Service expects showers to continue for a while:
Another band of moderate to heavy precipitation is moving onshore from the Pacific near Hoquiam. A band of snow is also affecting the Puget sound lowlands. The dry air will limit accumulation and most will fall as flurries to light snow. #wawx pic.twitter.com/qgfWxcoZcY
— NWS Seattle (@NWSSeattle) January 15, 2020
No new alerts so far.
2:26 PM: Half an hour later, still snowing, heavily at times.
2:52 PM: And it’s all but over for now. Some stuck to side streets, though – Heather tweeted this photo from North Admiral:
The temperature’s still above freezing, though. SDOT‘s back out on the arterials just in case.
4:34 PM UPDATE: We just took a trip around the peninsula – roads are fine, no further precip.
(WSB photos)
12:52 PM: As first reported here Monday, American Legion Post 160 has opened its doors to be a “warming center” for anyone in the West Seattle area who needs somewhere to go. Just in, an update from Post 160 Commander Keith Hughes:
Through the generosity of Good Neighbors in West Seattle, we now have cots and blankets, as well as lots of coffee, tea, water, soft drinks, and hot food all day. If you or someone you know of needs to get out of the cold and wet, please let folks know we are open and will be through Friday night and breakfast on Saturday.
Post 160 is at 3618 SW Alaska (here’s a map).
THURSDAY MORNING UPDATE: Now that the temperature is well above freezing, this will end at noon today (January 16th).
(WSB photo, Tuesday customers getting Wednesday pickup in Fauntleroy)
Update from Seattle Public Utilities:
Due to winter weather, residential garbage, recycling, and food/yard waste collections will be delayed by one day for the rest of the week. Solid waste contractors will run full operations today, picking up Tuesday customers.
Tuesday customers will be serviced today, Wednesday, with Wednesday customers serviced on Thursday, Thursday customers on Friday, and Friday customers on Saturday.
Monday customers who have carts out should bring their carts in and can set out double next week at no additional charge.
If your collection was missed on your adjusted set out day, please bring your carts in and you can set out double next week at no additional charge.
(Anna’s Hummingbird in snowfall, photographed by Jamie Kinney – see video here)
Here are highlights for your “no-new-snow snow-day” Wednesday:
SNOW DAY ULTIMATE: The folks behind West Seattle Ultimate Family Frisbee‘s regular pickup games invite you to a “snow day” edition, 10 am at Walt Hundley Playfield. (34th/Myrtle)
(11:30 am update – postponed until January 22nd) MORGAN COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION: 7 pm quarterly meeting at The Kenney – you’re invited! See the plan here. (7125 Fauntleroy Way SW)
COMEDY KITCHEN: 7 pm at Pacific Room on Alki, have some laughs! Hosted by Zack Kitchens. No cover. (2808 Alki SW)
‘THE REVOLUTIONISTS’: Pay-what-you-can preview night for ArtsWest‘s new production, 7:30 pm curtain. Tickets here. (4711 California SW)
OPEN MIC NIGHT: The famous one! 7:30 pm at The Skylark – details here. (3803 Delridge Way SW)
Note that weather-related closures/changes might affect other items on our calendar.
(WEDNESDAY SCHOOL INFO: Changes are ALL LISTED HERE)
5:50 AM: Good morning. It’s been a windy, but not snowy, night. The temperature is above freezing, and the weather alert has been lifted. But conditions elsewhere in the county are still affecting some things. Here are our infolinks:
SCHOOL CHANGES: Listed here, including Seattle Public Schools‘ closure
METRO CHANGES: Here’s the systemwide list
SDOT WINTER WEATHER MAP: See treated/plowed streets citywide here
SDOT TRAVELERS’ MAP: The map we regularly feature with cameras, alerts
OUR TRAFFIC CAMS PAGE: Cameras particularly relevant to WS and vicinity
WARMING CENTER: In West Seattle, go to American Legion Post 160
Got info? Text/call 206-293-6302.
6:45 AM: Remember that some Tuesday-collection trash/recycling customers were skipped – we expect an update from SPU later, but they indicated on Tuesday that they’d try to get to skipped customers today, so leave your cart out.
7:48 AM: Again, even though we didn’t get hit by snow overnight, there are still some ripple effects, and here’s another: Seattle Parks program closures. Here’s the full rundown on what’s open and closed (no golfing in West Seattle today, too).
(first report Tuesday night) Seattle Public Schools just announced the district is CLOSED Wednesday. The district explains:
“Safety is our top priority and multiple factors were considered, including road conditions. We also recognize that tomorrow is an early release day and recognize the hardship a 2-hour delay would cause families.”
Also from SPS: “District offices open. All schools and school buildings are closed. Athletics and all student activities are canceled.”
(below updated 7:52 am Wednesday)
ALSO CLOSED:
Fauntleroy Children’s Center
South Seattle College
Holy Family
Holy Rosary
Community School of West Seattle
DELAYED:
Our Lady of Guadalupe – 2-hour delay, no zero-period Spanish, no morning EDC
Explorer West MS – late start, open at 10 am
Hope Lutheran – 2-hour late start, no morning extended care, no AM-only preschool (confirmed 6:13 am Wed.)
REGULAR SCHEDULE CONFIRMED:
Westside School
Seattle Lutheran HS
Cometa Playschool
OUTSIDE WEST SEATTLE:
Hamlin Robinson – 2-hour delay
UW Seattle – 9:30 am start
Highline Public Schools – normal
Seattle University – normal
Vashon Island School District – normal
We’ll continue adding other school announcements for here, as we get them – 206-293-6302, text or voice.
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