West Seattle, Washington
04 Thursday
(Tidepool photo by Laura Goodrich, shared via the WSB Flickr group)
From puppets to produce, and beyond, four calendar highlights for today/tonight:
PUPPET SHOW: “Jack Chapeau Meets the Gill Man,” presented by Oregon Shadow Theatre, 2 pm at Southwest Library, free! Details in our calendar listing. (35th/Henderson)
HIGH POINT MARKET GARDEN: Sixth of 12 Wednesdays this summer/fall when you can stop by the High Point Market Garden Farm Stand 4-7 pm to buy organic produce grown by local gardeners, steps away. (32nd/Juneau)
KARAOKE FOR THE CAUSE: Emeritus-Admiral Heights invites seniors from all around the West Seattle community to help it raise money for the Walk to End Alzheimer’s. First event is at 5 pm tonight – Karaoke for the Cause. Details in our calendar listing. (2326 California SW)
MUSIC BINGO AT THE CASK: 7 pm at The Cask (WSB sponsor), guess the songs, play the game! Details here. (2350 California SW)
We’ve had some tropical weather this week – warm, muggy – and sunshine should return in time for a tropical-themed event Friday night: 
The 34th District Democrats‘ annual Garden Party dinner/auction. This year, it’s the “Luau at the Lake,” in honor of its new location: The Technology Access Foundation‘s new Bethaday Community Space in Lakewood Park (605 SW 108th). The 34th DDs are advertising the event on WSB for one last ticket-sales push. See “10 reasons to go” here. Auction items include a flotilla of vacation possibilities on which you’ll be able to bid, including one week on Maui or Kauai; if you’d like to stay closer to home, how about three nights at Long Beach, Washington, or a getaway to Whistler, or even a quick jaunt over to Vashon Island for lunch with local legislators? The party starts at 6 pm Friday (August 15th) and you can RSVP online by going here, or call Karen Chilcutt at 206-935-3216.
(WS bridge and Highway 99 views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
Hours of steady rain overnight has left some standing water out there, so drive carefully. One early alert: The county texted that mechanical trouble has affected the first run of the Route 775 shuttle from Seacrest toward Admiral.
ROAD WORK: If the overnight rain hasn’t affected the plan, today’s the day crews are supposed to work on traction improvement on SW Genesee between Avalon and Delridge.
10:51 AM: SDOT just sent formal notice of work that’s under way through tomorrow on Harbor Avenue.
(Screengrab from Seattle City Light map)
12:40 AM: First reports of a power outage came from 25th/107th area, shortly after major rain started to fall – and now the Seattle City Light outage map shows more than 4,200 homes/businesses are out of power, from the south end of West Seattle south and southeastward. So far, no cause listed – just that SCL is “investigating” – but the start came around the time a downpour began, and at least one tipster reports big lightning accompanied it.
1:26 AM: City Light says it’s restored power to about a third of the homes/businesses affected, but that still leaves about 2,600 without electricity.
1:57 AM: Down to fewer than 1,000.
6 AM: Still almost 600 customers out, in the South Park area per the SCL map.
3:09 PM UPDATE: Everybody was back as of earlier today. City Light’s Scott Thomsen tells WSB a “failed insulator” caused it.
Out of the WSB inbox, one last net-casting for Chief Sealth Class of 1984 alums – this weekend is 30-year reunion time, and three events are planned:
*Alumni Mixer – Friday; August 15th at 7:00 pm*
Maxi’s Lounge at the DoubleTree Hotel
18740 International Blvd; Seattle*Alumni Spouse/Partner Dinner – Saturday; August 16th at 6:00 pm*
Talarico’s Pizza – West Seattle Junction
4718 California Ave SW*Family Picnic – Sunday; August 17th at 12:00 noon*
Lincoln Park – Picnic Area near the south parking lot
That’s Radio Raheem, the self-described “hip hop/new wave/soul/disco superbot Seattle band” headed your way for Thursday night’s episode of Summer Concerts at Hiawatha (as in, Community Center, outdoors, east lawn, 2700 block Walnut), presented by the Admiral Neighborhood Association, with co-sponsors including WSB. Show’s free, 6:30 pm start, bring your own chair/blanket, rain or shine – too soon to tell what Thursday night’s going to be like, but this series has the Hiawatha gym as an indoor backup venue if necessary, steps away.
Cup-half-full version: West Seattle could have light rail as soon as 2026.
Cup-half-empty version: West Seattle won’t get light rail any sooner than 2026.
That was the bottom line of a briefing that was part of the City Council Transportation Committee‘s meeting this morning. Potential West Seattle light rail wasn’t the only topic – in fact, it was the last part of the Sound Transit guest appearance, which in turn was only part of a busy agenda (above is Seattle Channel‘s video of the entire meeting – the briefing starts 35 minutes in). The briefing followed the order of the slide deck. And however you view that potential date, it would depend on West Seattle being written into Sound Transit’s Long-Range Plan when it’s updated later this year; it didn’t make it into the plan previously, ST reiterated today, because of the since-scrapped plan for monorail service between West Seattle and downtown.
The slide deck itself didn’t contain the potential 2026 date – West Seattle-residing Councilmember Tom Rasmussen, who chairs the committee, asked for a date, and all ST reps would give him was that 2016 would be the earliest a “Sound Transit 3” measure could go before voters. Perhaps a “board member” could speculate further, they said, with all eyes turning to Councilmember Mike O’Brien, a board member who happened to be right there at the table.
For so many people with so many recyclables that can’t be put out for curbside pickup, the twice-annual Fauntleroy Church “Recycle Roundup” dropoff events are highly popular. That’s why we’re sharing mega-early news of the date for the next one: 9 am-3 pm Sunday, September 21st, church parking lot @ 9140 California SW. See the newly updated “what they’ll accept” list here.
We might not see a rerun of last night’s sunset (thanks to Barry White for the photo), but here’s what 
IS on the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
‘WALK-AND-TALK’ IN FUTURE RAINGARDEN ZONE: 6 pm, residents in the South Delridge “natural drainage” project zone are invited to meet with city reps for a walk-and-talk discussion about where it stands and what happens next. Details in our calendar listing (Starts at 17th/Elmgrove)
HIGHLAND PARK ELEMENTARY MEETING: The Highland Park Elementary School PTA and HP Action Committee are co-hosting a meeting at HP Improvement Clubto talk about how the community can support the struggling school, 7 pm. (12th/Holden)
SCHMITZ PARK ELEMENTARY OUTDOOR MOVIE: We’ll update if there’s a change because of the weather; “Rio 2” is to be shown tonight at SPES as a fundraiser for the fourth-grade trip to Islandwood. Doors open 6:30; movie at 8:30; cost $3/person (kids under 3 free); concessions to include pizza, popcorn, candy, drinks. (5000 SW Spokane) Thanks to commenter “Mighty Moh” for word this is pushed back a week.
Three reader reports in West Seattle Crime Watch today. First, a stolen car to watch for, taken from 18th SW in the Highland Park area:
We’d be grateful for any help the community may provide in locating the vehicle. It’s a black 2008 Mazda 3 4-door, license plate 863DWG (Oregon). There are some identifying stickers on the vehicle as well: a “Seattle U Law” sticker, and a “Boise State” sticker. It was stolen between the evening of Thursday 8/7 and the morning of 8/10, when we went out to look for it.
As noted in the SPD @getyourcarback tweet about it, call 911 if you see it.
Also keep watch for two bicycles stolen from Alki. From Ara:
Two bikes were locked to a bike rack at the east end of Alki on Saturday at about 5:15 PM. Bike racks on the water side of Alki Ave SW at 55th Ave SW. The lock was cut and the bikes were taken in broad daylight.
2010 Cannondale Synapse Road Bike – Blue Frame, Size 58:
2013 Cannondale Althea Hybrid Bike – Black Frame, Women’s size Tall:
The bikes have traveled with us from coast to coast. They are very loved and important to us. We would love to have them back. Reward and good karma available. Please contact andara13@hotmail.com with any information. Thank you.
Last but not least, a hit-run driver wound up in a yard in the 6300 block of 23rd SW early Sunday and damaged a “stock tank” planter that was growing lettuce and kale.
The planter’s owner says the car’s fender was left behind, “complete with blue-green paint.” It’s now with SPD as evidence, but if you know someone with a car or small SUV that suddenly showed up with a missing fender sometime Sunday (or later) … a police report has been filed.
(WS bridge and Highway 99 views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
As we start a new day of traffic-watching, remember that two of this week’s road-work projects are scheduled for today: The first of two days of SW Roxbury repaving, 25th SW to 27th SW. Also, the first of two days of hill-traction work, starting today with SW Charlestown, 45th SW to 47th SW. (Tomorrow, the crews are scheduled to move on to SW Genesee between Avalon and Delridge.)
ALSO TODAY: 2 big items on the City Council Transportation Committee‘s agenda this morning at 9:30 am – the confirmation process starts for SDOT director nominee Scott Kubly, and another discussion of Sound Transit‘s Long-Range Plan Update, both previewed here. If you can’t be at City Hall, you can watch live at seattlechannel.org.
Next Sunday afternoon (August 17th) at West Seattle Golf Course, a memorial is planned for “Buck” Thompson, whose family shares this remembrance:
Clair Wallace “Buck” Thompson, 83, of Seattle, Washington, passed away on July 14, 2014.
Buck was born in Omaha, Nebraska to Clair and Ethel Thompson. He was a 1950 graduate of West Seattle High School. He went on to earn a degree at Washington State University in Business with a minor in Architectural Small Dwelling Construction graduating in 1954. In his early years, he worked in the hotel and restaurant management business, was a real estate agent selling recreational property in Eastern Washington, and later sold marine supply equipment with Obert Marine Supply. Buck belonged to the Society of Port Engineers of Puget Sound and held the position of President, Chairman of the Board, “Chicken of the Year,” and “Man of the Year”. He enjoyed travel, fishing, sports, and family.
Buck is preceded in death by his parents, Clair and Ethel, and his sister Judith Ann Campbell.
He is survived by his devoted wife Sharon Thompson; sons Paul (Kim) Thompson and Bryce (Eva) Thompson; daughter Dawn (Eric) Hodo; stepson Jamie (Beth) Trigg; stepdaughter Tracy (Mitch) Trotter; eleven grandchildren and several cousins, nieces, and nephews.
A memorial for Buck will be held at the West Seattle Golf Course on Sunday, August 17, at 3:00 PM.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Medic One, without whose help Buck would never have been able to receive the care he did: Medic One Fire Department, 301 Second Avenue South, Seattle, WA 98104.
(WSB publishes obituaries by request, free of charge. Please e-mail the text, and a photo if available, to editor@westseattleblog.com)
(Photo by Christopher Frankovich)
9:18 PM: As predicted, thunderstorms have arrived – coming up from the south/southeast right now, and you might even have seen lightning over downtown already. This follows a record-setting high temperature today, 96 degrees (it was still 85 at 9 pm). The thunderstorms are expected to stay in the area through at least tomorrow.
10:42 PM UPDATE: Rain arrived with the most recent cell. Also a reminder … we had one short-lived lost pet report, a dog spooked by the thunder and lightning, so make sure your pet is extra-safe. Meantime, just received, and added, an excellent lightning photo from West Seattle photographer Christopher Frankovich – thanks!
11:04 PM NOTE: And in case you’ve noticed this too – yes, that’s aircraft heading westward, likely because of the weather, in a different pattern than usual this time of night.
1:24 AM: Thanks also to Doug B for sharing a view of a bolt spotted from Hamilton Viewpoint in North Admiral. Things have calmed down since our last update – the air traffic shifted away, no further thundershowers – but they remain in the forecast for today (Tuesday) as of a late-evening update.
You have likely heard by now that actor/comedian Robin Williams is gone too soon, at 63, found dead in his San Francisco Bay Area home this afternoon, believed to be a victim of suicide.
Two things we wanted to mention here:
(Photo courtesy WSFB, added Tuesday: Mr. Williams in 2004 with WSFB volunteers Aaron & Laurie and then-operations manager Gretchen)
First, Mr. Williams had at least one West Seattle connection – a history of generous gifts to the West Seattle Food Bank, most notably, more than $50,000 in proceeds from downtown performances in 2004, 2007, and 2008.
Second, we wanted to again share the local hotline number that offers help to anyone thinking about suicide (or experiencing other crisis situations), the Crisis Clinic – 206-461-3222. The CC website also recommends reading this.
Thanks to the tipsters who texted/e-mailed about police activity on Beach Drive this past hour. We checked with Seattle Police’s Det. Drew Fowler, who tells us that one “juvenile” suspect is in custody after a purse-snatching incident. Information is still preliminary, but the police log shows that a woman reported someone had stolen her purse and phone around Weather Watch Park (Beach Drive/Carroll; map), and she or someone else was in pursuit. One person was taken into custody.
At week’s end, King County Elections published the legislative-district-by-legislative-district breakdown of the first night’s results in the August 5th election. Though the citywide total has been in favor of Seattle Proposition 1 – creating a Park District with taxing authority for extra parks funding that has previously come via levy – parkland-rich West Seattle is in the “no” column. West Seattle has the bulk of in-city voters in the 34th Legislative District (map), and the district’s opening-night vote was 42 percent “approve,” 58 percent “reject.” That was the lowest “approve” percentage of any legislative district with some Seattle voters; next lowest was the 32nd District (map) in northwesternmost Seattle, at 43 percent “approve.” The strongest support, meantime, was 63 percent “approve” in the 43rd District (map), which includes downtown, Capitol Hill, and Green Lake.
If you’re interested in other King County races’ election-night district-by-district breakout, it’s all in this PDF. No precinct-by-precinct breakout yet; the final vote won’t be certified until next week. (And again, what’s reported above is from a breakdown of the first count, made public election night, and does not include ballots counted and reported since then. The “approve/reject” gap has widened a little citywide since that first round; as of Friday afternoon, “approve” was ahead with 53.2 percent, while on Election Night, it was at 52.4 percent.
When we published the call for West Seattle Outdoor Movies suggestions this year, 10 commenters – from Al to WSResident – nominated 1985’s “The Goonies.” As announced in May, it’s on the schedule for next Saturday (August 16th) on the big screen next to Hotwire Online Coffeehouse (WSB sponsor). It’s free – just bring your own chair/blanket as moviegoers do every Saturday night of WSOM; here’s part of last week’s crowd:
Big turnouts this year and this Saturday is bound to bring the same, so don’t wait until the last minute; gates open at 6:30 pm. There’s plenty to do before the movie; this week’s pre-show band is Layered System, promising blues and jazz. Raffles and concessions benefit a local nonprofit each week, and this Saturday it’ll be Youngstown Cultural Arts Center (which is getting ready for its big mural unveiling two days before movie night). The screen’s in the courtyard at 4410 California SW – see you there! (P.S. “Goonies” is the second-to-last WSOM show of the year; the finale on August 23 is “Frozen.”)
The new school year is less than four weeks away, and there’s a push to muster support for one local school that needs it more than ever, Highland Park Elementary. If you can help – or want to at least find out how to – you can do that tomorrow night. For the basic story, here’s the invitation that Highland Park Action Committee co-chairs Carolyn and Billy Stauffer wrote to district, city, and other leaders:
(HPAC’s) role is to affect positive change in our neighborhood, and we have historically been active in bringing together a voice for our neighborhood, which has faced many challenges.
We hosted parent Peter Weiss at our May community meeting, who came to speak with us as a member of the Highland Park Elementary PTA. In discussing his ideas with us to organize a 5K as a fundraiser for the school, the community learned about the state of affairs for our local school – Highland Park Elementary is ranked last in the Seattle Public School System.
Some of our members were brought to tears with this news, exhausted by what feels like yet another blind eye turned towards our community from our leaders. We write to you in response to a request that night from the community to get some answers as to why our school is doing so badly and what the plan is for improvement. We have since discussed this idea with the PTA and have formed a partnership in our efforts. We, along with incoming PTA president Sol Mendez, would like to invite you to a meeting to discuss the school, and answer some questions from our community.
And that invitation is for you too. Come to the Highland Park Improvement Club (12th/Holden) tomorrow night (Tuesday, August 12th), at 7 pm. HPAC says the RSVPs so far include HPES’s new principal Chris Cronas, school-board member Marty McLaren, and City Councilmember Tom Rasmussen.
ADDED TUESDAY: HPAC co-chair Carolyn Stauffer says the school district’s executive director of schools for this area, Israel Vela, also has RSVP’d.
Thanks to Anne for the photo from Don Armeni Boat Ramp, where canoe paddlers are launching a trip across Elliott Bay to participate later this morning in a rally to show concern about environmental risks from increased oil/coal-carrying train/ship traffic in our region.
(Added 12:57 pm: Tweet with photo of Blue Heron Canoe‘s arrival:)
Blue Heron Canoe Family have landed at the #salishsearally @IdleNoMore4 @billmckibben @backboneprog pic.twitter.com/oDfZuo7vFz
— 350 Seattle (@350_Seattle) August 11, 2014
(back to earlier report) We received this announcement about that rally late last night:
(Today) at 11 am a ‘Protect Our Salish Sea’ rally will begin with a traditional Northwest Coastal canoe landing and kayak flotilla at the beach below the Olympic Sculpture Park, which is a traditional sacred gathering place of the Coast Salish Nations. The rally will include speakers such as Freddy Lane and Laverne Lane of the Lummi Nation, a traditional welcoming and protocol by Ken Workman of the Duwamish Tribe, Mike Evans of the Snohomish Tribe leading a traditional canoe ‘Paddle to Seattle,’ activists Carlo Voli of 350 Seattle, and Bill Moyer of Backbone Campaign. This is a family-friendly event that will include an inter-tribal jam session, a Water Blessing ceremony, and will be immediately followed by a procession to the tracks for a symbolic blockade of the BNSF Railroad at Alaskan and Broad Street in Seattle.
(Sunday’s low tide on Alki, by Danny McMillin)
This will be a great day to get out on the beach (if you’re not stuck in an office) – but take note of the weather alert for tonight/tomorrow, before we get to highlights from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
WEATHER ALERT: “Scattered to abundant lightning” is forecast for much of Western Washington, possibly even here in the metro area, tonight through tomorrow, and the National Weather Service has a wide area under a “red flag warning.” And before we get to that, it’s going to be even hotter today – possibly into the 90s.
Now, from the calendar:
APPEAL HEARING: The second appeal filed in relation to the project to rebuild Arbor Heights Elementary School is being heard today by the city Hearing Examiner, starting at 9 am; here’s our earlier report. (Municipal Tower downtown, 40th floor)
LAST DAY FOR BEACH NATURALISTS: With a low-low tide of -2.0 feet at 11:50 am, it’s the final day of this summer’s Seattle Aquarium volunteer-beach-naturalist program. On the shore at Constellation Park south of Alki and at Lincoln Park (toward the south end), look for the naturalists in red hats, 10:30 am-1:30 pm.
SCIENCE MAGIC! See how to use science for magic tricks – this is a library presentation for ages 5 and up – free! – but it’s at Delridge Community Center, 2:30 pm. (4501 Delridge Way SW)
…AND MORE SCIENCE! Celebrating science is the theme of tonight’s Family Story Time at High Point Branch Library, 6:30 pm, free as always. (35th/Raymond)
NORTH DELRIDGE NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCIL: No formal agenda for tonight’s monthly NDNC meeting, so if you have a community concern/question, bring it! Tonight will be another outdoor meeting, 6:30 pm in Delridge Community Center Park. (Delridge Way SW/SW Genesee)
WONDERING HOW TO SHARE AN EVENT ANNOUNCEMENT? The basics are on the WSB Contact page. Thanks!
(WS bridge and Highway 99 views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
As our traffic watch begins for a new week, a reminder of what’s ahead (the links each go to the previous stories with details on the work):
ROXBURY REPAVING: Scheduled for Tuesday/Wednesday, 25th SW to 27th SW.
CHARLESTOWN TRACTION IMPROVEMENT: Scheduled for Tuesday, 45th SW to 47th SW.
GENESEE TRACTION IMPROVEMENT: Scheduled for Wednesday, between Avalon and Delridge.
(From Harbor Avenue: Photo by David Hutchinson)
As Space.com put it, Sunday night’s full moon was the “superest supermoon” of the year – the closest one to Earth this year.
(Photo by Jim Clark)
Next month’s full moon (September 8th) will be almost as close.
(Photo by Craig Young)
As Alice Enevoldsen writes in the newest edition of “Skies Over West Seattle,” it’s only one of this week’s attractions for skygazers.
(Photo by Carolyn Newman)
How close *was* the moon, you ask? 221,765 miles. Or so. This calculator puts it a bit farther away.
It wasn’t officially West Seattle night at the Sounders FC match tonight (they won over Houston, 2-0), but it might as well have been, for at least two reasons!
West Seattle-founded WestSide Baby had a diaper drive at tonight’s game, and we spotted WS Baby reps everywhere, including Stacy, in our Instagram photo above. The big screens around CenturyLink Field displayed calls to text a special number to donate diapers. Then at the half, Alki Elementary teacher Terry Kegel was honored on the field as the club’s Community MVP:
Tonight @SoundersFC honored Terry Kegel of West Seattle Cup fame as club's Community MVP pic.twitter.com/LsuSuUoBUh
— West Seattle Blog (@westseattleblog) August 11, 2014
Terry, you’ll recall, gained regional fame for organizing the first-ever West Seattle Cup earlier this summer.
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