West Seattle, Washington
25 Friday
(Tern, with catch, photographed by Trileigh Tucker)
The air’s clearer, the week’s brand new, the month’s almost over. Here’s what’s up for your Monday, from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
GIVE THE GIFT OF LIFE: 1-7 pm, mobile blood drive at Our Lady of Guadalupe, walk-ups welcome. Closed 3-4 pm for break. (35th SW & SW Myrtle)
FAMILY STORY TIME: 6:30 pm – bring your kids of all ages to the High Point Library for Family Story Time. (35th SW & SW Raymond)
TWIN SHADOW, LIVE AT EASY STREET: 7 pm, free in-store concert at Easy Street Records, with Twin Shadow. All ages. (California SW & SW Alaska)
PUB QUIZ AT SHADOWLAND: Show what you know. 8 pm at Shadowland. (California SW & SW Oregon)
SEE WHAT’S UP TOMORROW, NEXT WEEK, NEXT MONTH … by browsing our full calendar.
SIDE NOTE: For those who track local government – no City Council meetings this week or next, full council or committees. They’re on hiatus until Tuesday, September 8th, the day after Labor Day.
(Four WS-relevant views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
Good morning! Uneventful commute so far, both in West Seattle and on the major outbound routes.
FERRY CHANGES: From Washington State Ferries:
Starting (today), customers are advised to prepare for at least a week of longer-than-usual wait times due to a temporary vessel downsizing on the Fauntleroy/Vashon/Southworth route. The temporary downsizing is needed to maintain a full, system-wide sailing schedule while the Tokitae and Elwha are out of service for necessary repairs and maintenance. The F/V/S route will be served by the 124-car Issaquah, 87-car Tillikum and 87-car Evergreen State.
4:52 PM: Thanks for the messages about some kind of bus delay downtown. Apparently a bus was stalled at 2nd and Columbia. SDOT says it’s cleared.
(Photo by Jim Clark)
That might have been the last red sunset for now. From the National Weather Service tonight (caps are theirs): “GOOD NEWS. DEVELOPING LOW LEVEL ONSHORE FLOW THIS EVENING HAS BEEN FLUSHING OUT THE SMOKE IN MUCH OF WESTERN WA WITH FRESHER PACIFIC OCEAN AIR. VISIBILITIES AND AIR QUALITY HAVE BEEN IMPROVING THIS EVENING.”
(Photo by Tiff Rivera)
Unfortunately, of course, while the air clears here, the fires rage on – almost 800,000 acres involved in “active” fires on the InciWeb list.
8:29 PM: Emergency response is heading to the 6000 block of Beach Drive for a water rescue call, but even as they’re arriving, they’re being told everything’s OK – two people in the water were picked up by a rowboat.
8:36 PM: Just talked to SFD crews who were about to leave and they verify everyone’s OK, no rescuing needed.
Most West Seattle community groups skip meetings in August, but not the one dealing directly with what many consider the peninsula’s biggest challenge. Next Thursday (August 27th), the West Seattle Transportation Coalition will hear from SDOT and SPD about the city’s new plan for traffic-incident management, detailed in a downtown briefing on August 3rd (WSB coverage here) and a City Council committee briefing August 13th (WSB coverage here). Also on the WSTC agenda, reps from the advocacy group Seattle Subway. The meeting’s at 6:30 pm Thursday at Neighborhood House’s High Point Center (6400 Sylvan Way SW).
(WSB video of all runners and walkers as they left from the starting line)
Yes, it was a race, but the biggest winners in today’s Alki Beach 5K are the cancer patients helped by the organization that presents and benefits from the annual run/walk, Northwest Hope and Healing, whose unique work supporting breast-cancer patients is explained here. This year, 1,040 people were signed up by race time, according to NWHH executive director Shari Sewell.
At right, above, with Shari is Kristi Stone, who was today’s official race-starter. She’s undergoing breast-cancer treatment after being diagnosed late last year. Shari told us that in addition to all the usual fundraising from race participants, one person walked up with a check for $5,000!
(Updated) Full results are here. Below, the top runners, each shown in the photo under her/his name.
TOP THREE FEMALE FINISHERS
1. Kelly Lakeman, 30, 19:25:
2. Margaret Lang, 45, 21:18:
3. Emily Ehlers, 30, 21:20:
TOP THREE MALE FINISHERS
1. Kelly Spady, 28, 16:23:
(Our archives show Spady was also first finisher at the Alki Beach 5K in 2012.)
2. Travis Gradjian, 17, 16:47:
3. Michael Drogalis, 24, 17:02:
Other Alki Beach 5K sights – first, Team Saxby:
As always, it was an all-ages event:
This might just have been the tiniest participant:
Along with runners, walkers, pledgers, donors, and volunteers, major contributors to the Alki Beach 5K’s success include its sponsors – including West Seattle Runner (also a WSB sponsor), whose Lori McConnell and Tim McConnell were there as always:
See the full sponsor team here (it features two other WSB sponsors, Fauntleroy Chiropractic and Salty’s on Alki). This is one of three major fundraisers Northwest Hope and Healing holds annually, along with the “Style” fashion show in the spring, and Women Winemakers of the Pacific Northwest in the fall, coming up November 18th in Georgetown – go here to find out more. You can also donate to the organization any time by going here.
Big day for running! Just in from California – that photo and an update on young half-marathoner Miles Trius:
Miles Trius of West Seattle runs with dad again – at Santa Rosa (CA) 1/2 marathon this morning. He ran at 2:10:37. Running with his dad, Navy Chief Ernesto Trius, has become bonding time for father and son. Miles will start 5th grade at Our Lady of Guadalupe School.
Last December, as shown here, they ran the Seattle Marathon half.
Thanks to West Seattle Bee Garden founder Lauren Englund for sharing photos from one of this weekend’s big events – the first Puget Sound Beekeepers Association Kids’ Day at the WSBG.
Lauren reports, “It was jam-packed with learning and fun – kids were engaged in all of the activities (bee anatomy game, flower/pollination worksheets, pollination simulation, waggle dance, scavenger hunt, and especially the bee demonstration).”
She adds, “Good times and great people – I was very impressed by everyone’s eagerness to learn. Many thanks to the Puget Sound Beekeepers Association!” You can visit the Bee Garden any time on the north side of High Point Commons Park at 31st and Graham.
Good morning! A quick look at today’s highlights from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
ALKI BEACH 5K: Run or walk to help Northwest Hope and Healing help breast-cancer patients. If you’re not already registered, you can do it before the 9 am 5K – show up at the registration booth by the Alki Bathhouse, which is close to the start/finish line. If you’re not participating – remember that Alki/Harbor Avenues will be closed for a few hours. (61st SW & Alki)
BAKE SALE TO HELP ANIMALS: As previewed here last night, sixth-graders Muriel and Gwen are having their third annual bake sale to help the Seattle Humane Society – you can also drop off pet food/item donations, or cash/check. 10 am-3 pm. (36th SW & Dakota)
WEST SEATTLE FARMERS’ MARKET: 10 am-2 pm, shop for fresh local food and drink in the street! (California SW between Oregon and Alaska)
ARTS IN NATURE FESTIVAL: Day 2 of the Nature Consortium‘s festival filling the grounds of Camp Long with art, music, poetry, playfulness, and more, 11 am-6 pm. Here’s our coverage from Day 1. Today’s schedule is here. (5200 35th SW)
FINAL DAY FOR DELRIDGE WADING POOL: Noon-6:30 pm, last day of the season for the wading pool in the park north of Delridge Community Center. (Delridge & Genesee)
CITYDOG MAGAZINE’S COVER DOG SEARCH: As previewed here earlier this week, today’s the day to bring your dog to West Seattle Thriftway (WSB sponsor), noon-2 pm, and have her/him photographed for CityDog’s Cover Dog search. $10 donation, benefiting Doney Memorial Pet Clinic. (California/Fauntleroy/Morgan)
ESHTA’S EMERALD CITY ESCAPADE: Belly-dancing to watch, and costumes/practice wear available for purchase, 7 pm, all agesm at The Skylark. (3803 Delridge Way SW)
(WSB photo by Tracy Record)
2:56 AM: If you’re hearing the sirens in southeast West Seattle – Seattle Fire and Police are headed to a crash involving an overturned vehicle on the Highland Park Way hill. No word yet on injuries.
3:06 AM: The SFD response has been canceled, generally an indication of no serious injuries.
3:55 AM: The crash was midway on the hill, south/west-bound side. Trying to determine that, we were stopped for a short time as the tow truck brought the vehicle upright and temporarily blocked all lanes (that’s over now). We weren’t able to talk with police to get information but will follow up when we can.
(UPDATED 11:16 AM with new information from police)
(WSB photos by Patrick Sand)
12:05 AM: Police and fire are rushing to the 4800 block of California SW for a report of a man with a gunshot wound in an apartment building. More to come.
12:14 AM UPDATE: From the scanner, the victim is a man around 35 years old, with a gunshot wound to the upper torso. An SFD medic unit is taking him to Harborview Medical Center. No suspect in custody yet.
12:24 AM UPDATE: Our crew now at the scene reports police have someone in handcuffs – that doesn’t always mean an arrest, though, so we’ll be working to verify at the scene. Scanner traffic indicates police believe it’s the person they were looking for.
12:32 AM UPDATE: Police say they’re not looking for any other suspects; they also confirm the suspect and victim are believed to be known to each other. This is the second shooting in West Seattle in five nights, after the Tuesday night incident that began with a robbery in Admiral and ended with the victim shot in the leg while in a car in North Delridge.
ADDED 11:16 AM: New information from police – they say this is a case of domestic violence, as the 19-year-old man in custody is the shooting victim’s brother. They also say they recovered a loaded handgun and shell casing when searching the apartment. No information about the victim’s condition, though.
Thanks to Ann Anderson for the view (from Seattle & Sunset in North Admiral) of tonight’s smoky sunset. People are still finding it hard to believe, but it’s true – what you see and smell is all smoke from the wildfires raging around the state, mostly to the east. We featured moonset and sunrise views this morning along with Cliff Mass‘s explanation and the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency‘s forecast for the wind to “reverse” tomorrow”; the National Weather Service says tonight that changing flows might not clear it out until late Sunday. More photos to add later!
Goodies for a good cause, tomorrow – the photo and preview are from Carey:
Gwen and Muriel, Madison 6th graders, are putting their love for animals to work again through their third annual Humane Society bake sale! Delicious cupcakes, cookies, brownies, and more! They’ll be back at the corner of 36th and Dakota this Sunday, August 23rd, from 10 am-3 pm. The girls are also sponsoring a barrel from the Humane Society to collect cat or dog food (wet or dry), animal toys, or new scratching posts. Cash and check donations are very welcome; all proceeds go to Seattle Humane Society.
Here’s a map.
That’s one of dozens of short poems on cards lining a path into Camp Long as you enter this weekend’s Arts In Nature Festival, presented by the Nature Consortium. It’s on until 9 tonight and again from 11 am-6 pm tomorrow, and it’s a chance to immerse yourself in art experiences of many kinds, from words to music to ethereal creations woven between tree branches:
You might find performance artists wandering the grounds, like this otherworldly duo:
We first encountered them by a work in progress that’s unfolding all weekend long:
The painting started between two trees and will grow, we were told, to show how the built environment is obscuring nature and greenspaces; go see for yourself by the cabin between the north end of the meadow and the south side of the pond. Some of the comforts of civilization, though, are lining the central meadow – food trucks including the vegan Luchador Taco Company:
There’s a beer garden behind Camp Long’s historic lodge, too. Wander the grounds and you’ll find something to see, do, or hear, almost everywhere – at the small amphitheater on the south side of the meadow, we found these musicians:
Be sure to take several turns around the festival grounds – you might miss something behind a curtain or around the bend, first time you pass. Here’s the full schedule; ticket information is here – online sales are over but you can pay at the tent just past the gates of the park, which is at 5200 35th SW.
Out of the WSB inbox, from Wolfe:
We found a bike at the old Denny School park this morning 30th and Cloverdale. It’s an older Peugeot. It can be claimed by calling 206-940-0696 and telling us what color it is.
We also advise that found bicycles be reported to police – bikes are often stolen, used to get from one crime scene to another, then abandoned.
Three reports of orcas off our shores – most recently, just before 2:30 pm, off Beach Drive in the Me-Kwa-Mooks vicinity, headed southbound. As always, we hope you’ll let us know (comments or text/voice 206-293-6302) if you see them!
(Friday night photo by David Moya)
Yes, that’s wildfire smoke coloring our skies – yellowish haze right now, last night’s moonset (above), today’s sunrise (below) …
(Saturday morning photo by Craig Young)
If you’re sensitive, you probably have even noticed a smoky smell in the air – two people messaged us last night from different areas of West Seattle, wondering if there was a major fire close by. You can find many images and explanations on the Web, but the most comprehensive combination we’ve found so far is from weather analyst Cliff Mass, who published this update on his site, headlined, “Large Smoke Cloud Heads for Puget Sound.” (Puget Sound Clean Air Agency expects the wind to change tomorrow, improving the air quality here.) For information on specific fires, InciWeb is a good source (other suggestions welcome!).
From today’s list … arts-and-crafts creators of all ages are at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor) until 3 pm. Early-early holiday gift, maybe? Or just something for yourself, a loved one, a friend – see which creations catch your eye.
Browse inside and out, at 5612 California SW.
Looking ahead to fall’s first festival in West Seattle – Holy Rosary School’s WestFest, four weeks away, is putting out a call for volunteers to entertain festivalgoers. Tiffany (a volunteer herself) is in charge of lining up stage entertainment and says, “We could use bands, musicians, magicians, etc. WestFest is Friday, September 18th, 6 pm-10 pm, AND Saturday, September 19th, 10 am-10 pm.” If you’re interested, please e-mail Tiffany at westfeststage@outlook.com.
(Ravens photographed over The Arroyos by Lon)
From the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
HAPPENING NOW – ARTS & CRAFTS FAIR AT C & P: Find a treasure during this one-day craft fair at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor) featuring local artisans. Continuing until 3 pm. (5612 California SW)
HAPPENING NOW – PUGET SOUND BEEKEEPERS ASSOCIATION KIDS’ DAY: Happening until 1 pm at the West Seattle Bee Garden, as previewed here. (31st SW & Graham)
HAPPENING NOW – ARTS IN NATURE FESTIVAL: The Nature Consortium‘s weekend of art, music, and nature at Camp Long is on! Until 9 tonight, and 11 am-6 pm on Sunday. You can plan your visit via the schedule on the festival website. (5200 35th SW)
HIAWATHA WADING POOL’S CLOSING DAY: Noon-6:30 pm, last day of the year at the Hiawatha Community Center Park wading pool. (SW Lander & Walnut)
ALKI LIGHTHOUSE TOURS: Free summer-weekend-only tours continue this afternoon, 1-4 pm (last tour starts at 3:40 pm) with US Coast Guard Auxiliary volunteers. (3201 Alki SW)
FREE BACKPACKS: 2-5 pm at Delridge Skatepark, West Seattle Baptist Church is giving away backpacks, with the event to be followed by a free concert. (Delridge Way SW & Genesee)
TWO PERFORMANCES OF ‘SIGNAL’: Performance artist Rachel Green‘s work for Duwamish Revealed will be performed at 3 pm and 7 pm at T-107 Park in West Seattle – details in our calendar listing. (4250 W. Marginal Way SW)
SALSA ON ALKI: Admission includes the dance lesson at 4:30 pm, followed by dancing until 10 pm, at Statue of Liberty Plaza. (61st SW & Alki)
‘ROCKY HORROR’ AT WEST SEATTLE OUTDOOR MOVIES: This is it – sixth and final West Seattle Outdoor Movies event of the year – and it’s the audience-participation “cult” classic, “Rocky Horror Picture Show” (rated R, if you’ve somehow never seen it). Birdseed provided – no rice, please. Gates open at 6:30 pm at the courtyard by Hotwire Online Coffeehouse (WSB sponsor), so come get your space early; bring your own chair/blanket. Admission free but if you can bring some $, you can help local nonprofits via the concessions (Southwest Seattle Historical Society) and raffles (Furry Faces Foundation and AARF are this week’s beneficiaries). Movie’s at dusk, which is likely around 8:30 pm this time around. Series sponsors include WSB and a long list of local businesses and organizations you can see on the right sidebar of the official WS Outdoor Movies website. (4410 California SW)
MOVIE UNDER THE STARS EN ESPANOL: “El Padrecito” will be screened tonight at Steve Cox Memorial Park in White Center, 8:30 pm – details in our calendar listing. (1321 SW 102nd)
PUNK, LIVE! AT THE SKYLARK: 9 pm, three bands at The Skylark in North Delridge. (3803 Delridge Way SW)
Sorry the daily highlights are late today – some technical upgrades got in the way of prep time, but are good news for the future, speaking of which: You can always get a major jump on the day, the week, the month by going directly to the calendar.
Two road reminders:
HIGHWAY 99 CLOSURE: From the Battery Street Tunnel north to Valley Street, 99 is closed both ways all weekend, for realignment onto newly built roadway. The Viaduct is open but if you’re heading northbound, you’ll have to exit at Western (as shown in the “live” webcam image above); if you want to use it southbound to West Seattle, you’ll have to get onto it (or back onto it) south of the tunnel.
ALKI BEACH 5K TOMORROW: Alki and Harbor Avenues will be off-limits to vehicles for about three hours Sunday morning before and during the Alki Beach 5K, a benefit for breast-cancer patients.
Westside School is finishing the transformation of the former Hillcrest Presbyterian Church campus into its new permanent home. Westside (a longtime WSB sponsor) has announced August 29th – one week from tomorrow – as the date for its grand opening:
Westside School will host the grand opening of its new campus on Saturday, August 29 from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. in West Seattle’s Arbor Heights neighborhood. The Westside School community will gather to celebrate the move into its permanent home with a ribbon cutting, tours, food trucks and more.
Construction at the new location began in early 2013. The building is a complete renovation of the former Hillcrest Presbyterian Church and features 53,000 square feet dedicated to teaching and learning: 27 classrooms; light-filled, child centered work spaces; a beautiful library; separate, team-oriented middle school classrooms; a 450 seat auditorium; green space, and warm and inviting gathering spaces where students, teachers, parents and visitors can connect, share, and meet.
Westside School was founded in 1981 by a group of educators and parents who wanted a positive and self-esteem building school experience for their children. Today, Westside School is the only accredited NWAIS (Northwest Association of Independent Schools) pre-kindergarten through eighth grade school located in West Seattle, with 340 students enrolled in for the 2015 – 2016 school year. Over the past few years, the school has grown into one of the largest pre-kindergarten through eighth grade independent schools in the region. Westside School’s mission is to prepare students for the world by challenging them to achieve academic success and by connecting their human spirit to imagination and learning.
Westside’s administration has moved to the new campus, while its camp and Sing Out Seattle will continue their programs at the school’s old campus, the former EC Hughes Elementary, until summer’s end. The plan for what happens to that campus in Sunrise Heights, leased and fixed up by Westside five years ago and recently designated a city landmark, has changed:
While Seattle Public Schools had been saying Hughes would be used as an emergency/interim site after Westside’s move, the district is now moving toward renovating and reopening it to add more elementary capacity in West Seattle. It’s at on the list of proposed projects for one of the levies the district plans to take to Seattle voters next February. The district has not finalized the levy plan yet, but the Hughes plan is already on a “request for qualifications” the district circulated this summer (cached here – the district website is down as we finish this story):
Project #5: E.C. Hughes Elementary: Located at 7740 34th Ave. SW, Seattle, WA 98126 on a site area of approximately 160,736 sq. ft. The school was constructed in 1926 with a three story classroom addition completed in 1949. This project will modernize the existing 47,307 sq. ft. school to provide permanent space for up to 490 students, grades K-5. Construction is anticipated to begin by February 2018 and be substantially complete by July 2019. The construction budget is anticipated to be approximately $15 million to $17 million including hazardous material abatement and offsite improvements. Funding for the project is provided by the State through a Distressed School Grant and BTA IV capital levy dollars. If BTA IV is passed, the project total cost will be approximately $24 million to $26 million dollars.
Before the BTA levy is finalized, the district plans a series of community meetings next month, including one in our area – 6:30 pm Monday, September 28th, at West Seattle High School.
Time is … fleeting! In one month, it’ll be the 40th anniversary of the debut of “Rocky Horror Picture Show.” Don’t wait to celebrate – do it tomorrow night at the courtyard by Hotwire Online Coffeehouse (WSB sponsor), during this year’s West Seattle Outdoor Movies finale. (No rice, please – birdseed will be provided!) And bring your own chairs/blankets … and do show up early – gates open at 6:30 pm and you can start staking out your spot then. Movie (free!) is at dusk, which should be around 8:30 pm. Before then, live comedy and music, and concessions (provided by and benefiting the Southwest Seattle Historical Society) plus raffle benefiting Furry Faces Foundation and AARF. Hotwire’s at 4410 California SW, next to the Junction post office.
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