West Seattle, Washington
19 Tuesday
Thanks to Mike Scharer for that photo from the scene of a crash in the 4700 block of West Marginal Way this afternoon. The Seattle Fire Department’s 911 log shows a major “automobile rescue” response to the scene a little over an hour and a half ago; Mike says this was the only car involved, and medics transported the man who was driving it. We don’t have any information about his condition. Another WSB’er, JayDee, passed the scene around 3 pm and reported the car was being towed.
(Photo by Les Crimmins, added Saturday evening)
1:47 PM: We are at Lake Washington today, and the Blue Angels’ performance has just begun. We’ll update when it’s over.
2:29 PM: Show’s over for today. Photos later!
ADDED SATURDAY NIGHT: Photos! Thanks to Les for the top view, from West Seattle. Next, Alki photographer David Hutchinson caught the Blues as seen over the earlier-generation Blue Angels Skyhawk jet in the Museum of Flight parking lot:
The next five are from WSB contributing photojournalist Nick Adams:
Listening to the narrative at the lake, we were reminded that these maneuvers are called “breaks”:
Gotta love “Fat Albert”:
In the background, the Cascades:
And another high-speed pass:
One more show to go – Sunday, same time, 1:30-ish takeoff.
(June 2012 photo by Scott Scowcroft)
If you have attended solstice or equinox sunset-watching events at Solstice Park with West Seattle’s volunteer NASA Solar System Ambassador Alice Enevoldsen, you might have noticed the stately cupola of The Kenney (WSB sponsor) to the northwest. That’s the site of her next event, for the Curiosity landing on Mars tomorrow night. Back during the event in the photo above, the summer-solstice-sunset watch back in June, Alice mentioned she was seeking a venue, with Internet access, for an indoor viewing party for the upcoming Mars landing – and The Kenney turned out to be the spot. So you are invited to join her and other space fans, starting around 10 pm, with the landing expected around 10:31 (here’s the info on the Alice’s Astro Info site, and here’s more info on the landing, from NASA’s site). The Kenney’s at 7125 Fauntleroy Way SW.
Don’t be chicken! You too can make friends with the fabulous fowls of the White Center Food Bank. Both named Henrietta. That’s Linda, in our photo, with one of the Henriettas. They’re both meeting visitors right now during the WC Food Bank’s summer open house – and they’re the inspiration for a program that you can be part of, to provide fresh eggs to more of WCFB’s clients (who are in West Seattle as well as WC). Till 2 pm, you can meet the H’s, tour the demonstration gardens, and get to know some cool people, at 10829 8th SW.
You might have seen the canoes if you’ve been out on Alki this morning – Leann did, and shared her iPhone clip. While the hydros zip across Lake Washington, on this side of the city, it’s a low-tech boat race – the annual “DaGrind” outrigger-canoe race to Blake Island. Find out more about it here.
ADDED 5 PM: Thanks to April Long for sharing photos!
Another big boat race from Alki is just three weeks away – Sound Rowers’ Cross-Sound Race is coming up on August 25h.
(July 2012 Alki Lighthouse photo by Jordan Petram – tour time’s running out!)
Not only will it be summery, it will be REALLY hot – at least by Seattle standards – says the National Weather Service, which now has a heat advisory in effect noon today through 8 pm Sunday. So take care of yourself and your pets (don’t leave them in cars, or without water) … and take advantage of all the outdoor and indoor fun today:
SEAFAIR – BLUE ANGELS, NAVY SHIP TOURS, HYDROS: Find the schedule info linked in our preview. Toplines: The Blue Angels take off from Boeing Field (watch from around the airport periphery OR best of all, from the Museum of Flight) around 1:30 pm. The show is over Lake Washington, where hydro racing gets up to full speed today. (If you’re going, consider a shuttle.) Along the Elliott Bay waterfront from Pier 46 in the south to Pier 90 in the north, you can tour the three Seafair Fleet U.S. Navy ships, 9:30 am-3:30 pm.
SHOW LINCOLN PARK SOME LOVE: Forest-restoration work party starts at 9! Details here.
OUTRIGGER RACE FROM ALKI: The annual “Da Grind” outrigger-canoe race to Blake Island is happening today, so in case you saw the canoes, that’s what it’s about. Details here.
MEET THE HENRIETTAS AT WHITE CENTER FOOD BANK: Open house, with chickens! 11 am-2 pm at 8th and 108th; WC Food Bank serves part of West Seattle too. More info here.
SUMMER FESTIVAL AND BACKPACK GIVEAWAY: 11 am at Delridge Community Center, Eastridge Church invites kids to its Summer Festival, with a first-come-first-served backpack giveaway – details here.
BALLOT DROPOFF VAN, DAY 2: Check our Friday story to see what you’re looking for on the southwest side of the West Seattle Stadium parking lot/driveway, 10 am-5 pm today (and Monday, as well as 7 am-8 pm Tuesday), to drop off your ballot (no postage stamps needed) for Tuesday’s election.
VIETNAMESE CULTURAL CENTER: Director Lee Bui shared that photo of visitor Katy F from last Saturday as a reminder that the center is open for visitors, free, every Saturday, noon-3 pm. It’s at 2236 SW Orchard (north of Home Depot).
LOG HOUSE MUSEUM: Noon-4 pm Thursdays-Sundays you are welcome at this repository of West Seattle (and vicinity) history, 61st/Stevens.
ALKI POINT LIGHTHOUSE: Just a few more weekends to tour this West Seattle icon – 1-4 pm Saturdays and Sundays through the end of August.
OPEN HOUSE: At Little Pilgrim preschool, Fauntleroy Church, 2-4 pm.
‘LION KING’ AT WEST SEATTLE OUTDOOR MOVIES: Third Saturday night movie of the summer in the courtyard next to Hotwire Online Coffeehouse (WSB sponsor) at 4410 California SW! “Lion King” is the film. Magic by Louie Foxx is preshow entertainment. And you’re invited to partake in a free barbecue courtesy of West Seattle Christian Church. The movie’s at dusk (9:30-ish), preshow 7:30 pm, but come earlier to be sure you’ll get a spot (bring your own chair/s and/or blanket/s). Entertainment is free but bring some money for budget-priced concessions provided by WSB sponsor PB&J Textiles (benefiting WSCC’s well-building project) and raffle (benefiting West Seattle Helpline).
(Photo from last weekend’s Lincoln Park performance, courtesy Myrtle G)
OUTDOOR SHAKESPEARE: Last chance to see “Taming of the Shrew” in a West Seattle park courtesy of GreenStage this season – 7 pm at Lincoln Park.
‘ANYTHING GOES’: West Seattle’s own Twelfth Night Productions (WSB sponsor) brings the classic Cole Porter musical to West Seattle High School Theater (3000 California SW) again at 7:30 pm tonight, then running Fridays-Sundays the next two weekends. Food drive too – bring a nonperishable-food donation for the West Seattle Food Bank!
‘SCHOOLHOUSE ROCK LIVE JR.’ CONTINUES: Second-to-last chance to catch it, tonight at 7:30 pm at ArtsWest (4711 California SW).
LIVE MUSIC: Gregg Curry at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor), 6-8 pm … Tyson Meade at VAIN in The Junction, 7 pm (see our preview story from last night) … Three bands at Skylark Café and Club, starting at 8 …
(Photo added 12:21 pm – truck trouble in Delridge – see below)
7:45 AM: One more reminder before it’s too late, in case you missed the noontime announcement yesterday … since many Wednesday trash/recycling customers missed two pickups during the Waste Management strike, the company plans to have trucks out in those neighborhoods TODAY to catch up, so get yours out and keep it out till 6. (If you’re Monday or Tuesday, as of this writing, they’re planning to catch up on those regular days.)
12:21 PM UPDATE: The photo above is courtesy of Ronnie, who says the WM truck got into some kind of trouble in an alley east of Delridge, near Brandon. Ronnie says the truck’s “back popped open,” and that supervisors have arrived to check it out. No word on how or if this might affect pickups, but again, if you have Wednesday pickup, the company asks you to leave everything out at least until 6 tonight.
1:02 AM: We heard it too; have since received a phone call and various messages. Police are checking it out, and the scanner indicates 911 has received more than a few calls, too. We’ll update here if we hear anything definitive is found.
1:16 AM: Just to note – about 15 minutes have gone by, and there’s no report of smoke, fire, injury, anywhere, so far. Police are still checking out some of the various reports called in to 911.
2:11 AM: Nothing reported found, that we’ve heard. A WSB’er who lives on the northwest edge of The Junction reported a flash from outside concurrent with the boom, though.
Cate, who describes her neighborhood as the west side of North Admiral, is looking for help in ID’ing the bird in her photo:
I have never posted or shared anything before, but I’m hoping your readers can help me identify these wonderful birds that have been visiting my deck for the past three days. I think they may be juvenile peregrine falcons …. or maybe that’s just wishful thinking :-) because it would be super cool to have falcons on the deck!
I’ve seen one or two of them the past three days. The first day, there was one and he was very unstable – clutching the deck rail and looking very wobbly. I actually thought he was injured. The next day, there were two and it looked like they were practicing flying …. half jumping, half flying from one deck rail to the other. Today, I saw only one and he was doing slightly longer swooping flights.
Anyone?
There’ll be live music tomorrow night in a Junction venue where you wouldn’t expect it: Singer-songwriter Tyson Meade, former frontman for ’90s glam-punk band Chainsaw Kittens, will be at VAIN for an acoustic performance and to talk about his plans to record an album in China. 
It will be his first album in almost ten years, a collaboration with high school and university students in Shanghai, where he has taught for the last five years, and he says friends in the U.S. music industry have agreed to contribute too.
Meade will soon head back to Asia, but he is making one last stop in Seattle. We are told he chose VAIN as the venue for his performance due to his friendship with general manager Lisa Matson and several VAIN employees, and because it provides an intimate space to talk about his work in China. More details are on the VAIN website. Meade also launched a Kickstarter campaign to raise money for his project in China; check out this video on that site. Tomorrow’s free show starts at 7 pm at 4513 California SW. (June 2012 photo; credit: Davrollins, licensed through Creative Commons)
Big crowd in the courtyard tonight as the Providence Mount St. Vincent (WSB sponsor) four-Fridays series of summer concerts began with acclaimed Elvis tribute artist Danny Vernon. Tributes to The King even extended to The Mount’s food offerings for the night:
Inspired by Elvis Presley’s legendary love for bananas and peanut butter, the dessert offered with dinner ($10 for entree – fried chicken tonight – sides, dessert and drink) was banana pound cake with peanut-butter frosting. Also available, burger/veggie burger/hot dog dinner with side and drink for $6, beer or wine for $5, and even popcorn/snow cones on the other side of the courtyard. But back to the show:
The stage is set up on the south side of The Mount’s campus. Lots of room to dance:
Here’s the full series lineup; next week’s performers are The Haggis Brothers; food and beverages go on sale by 5:30 pm, music starts at 6.
West Seattle hasn’t had a ballot-dropoff box since 2009, but the county is trying something new this election season by bringing a ballot-dropoff van here. We first mentioned the plan a month ago, and today was the first of four days you can use it to vote without a postage stamp. Richard, Kaleigh, and Ted staffed the van near the entrance to the West Seattle Stadium parking lot starting at 10 am today; they’re there till 5 pm, then the van’s back 10-5 tomorrow, 10-5 Monday, and 7 am-8 pm on Tuesday (which is Election Day, and therefore your deadline to get the ballot to a dropoff spot or a mailbox).
(WSB photo of SFD Lt. Sue Stangl with Engine 29 during July 2011 “Fill the Boot”)
The annual firefighters’ fundraiser for the Muscular Dystrophy Association starts with teams at intersections around the city 2-6 pm next Tuesday-Wednesday (and again during two days in September). The planned intersections in West Seattle are:
*Delridge Way SW/ SW Orchard St
*California/Admiral
*California/Alaska
*Harbor/Spokane
*California/Fauntleroy
More background info from today’s announcement, ahead:Read More
(Photo by Nick Adams for WSB)
1:37 PM: As of 1:35 pm, the Blue Angels are finally in the air – a jet similar to theirs, an FA-18 Super Hornet, performed in the Seafair airshow at 1 pm, so if you thought you heard them earlier, that’s what it was. Updates to come.
2:25 PM UPDATE: They landed a few minutes ago. Great viewing today from Boeing Field – the full “high show,” which includes more than a few maneuvers you can see from this side of the ridge.
(Photo by Nick Adams for WSB)
(Added) Here’s video of the takeoff view, from the mid-crowd perspective)
The shows tomorrow and Sunday should be around the same time – 1:30-ish takeoff. Almost anyplace you plan to view, though, get there early. Even here in the parking lot, most spaces were full by 12:30 pm.
Waste Management hinted at this yesterday, and now we have official word: Wednesday customers, many of whom have missed TWO pickups because of the now-settled strike, can expect catch-up pickups TOMORROW (Saturday). Here’s the announcement from Seattle Public Utilities:
Waste Management garbage, recycling and food/yard waste drivers are working to catch up in Seattle today after Thursday’s settlement of the week-long Teamsters Union strike.
Wednesday customers who were missed for collection this week should put their carts out until 6 p.m. Saturday, August 4 to allow time for collection. Customers will not be charged extra for any additional items placed at the curb.
If your collection is missed, please report it.
Instructions for other customers, includes the following:
Friday Customers:
All carts should be collected today. If not, Leave carts out until 6 p.m. Saturday.
Thursday Customers:
Most recycling pickup was missed yesterday, August 2. Put out all recyclables next Thursday, August 9.
Customers who have been affected by the strike may drop off up to 6 bags of either garbage or yard waste in any combination at either of Seattle’s transfer stations for free, through this weekend. Yard waste should not be in plastic bags. Recycling drop off is always free.
Hours have been extended through Friday at the South Transfer Station: 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday and Sunday hours are from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
SPU will provide updates as needed. Customers with solid waste service issues or concerns may call the Call Center at (206) 684-3000.
What do the Blue Angels do before their afternoon airshows on Seafair Weekend? Here’s one answer: Community visits for Q/A and military-recruiting outreach (which after all is the team’s stated purpose). This morning, South Seattle Community College got a visit from the officer who flies Blue Angels jet #3 this year, U.S. Marine Corps Capt. Brandon Cordill, and an airframer from the enlisted support team, Sgt. Doug Green. Among the college delegation there to greet and hear from them, in a presentation that was open only to students and staff, was SSCC math teacher Heidi Lyman, who flew a ridealong during Seafair Week last year:
Cockpit video of Lyman’s flight was shown during this morning’s presentation. That’s part of the video we’re adding shortly – including Capt. Cordill’s humorous-at-times story of how he got to be a Blue Angel, as well as Sgt. Green’s story, potential inspiration for the aviation students at SSCC.
ADDED 11:20 AM: Capt. Cordill’s recounting of how he went from a not-exceptional high-school student (“I didn’t know what I wanted to do in life”) with a low SAT school, to elite Blue Angels aviator inspired by 9/11 to join the military:
Capt. Cordill, by the way, is one of two Marine Corps pilots flying the Blue Angels demonstrations this year, which is rare – they usually have one. (Plus the team that flies the support C-130 “Fat Albert” is USMC, too.) Meantime, here’s the video of Heidi Lyman’s 2011 flight, as shown today:
We’ll add video of Sgt. Green’s story and the Q/A later this afternoon – heading out to Boeing Field now to see the Blue Angels take off. (Capt. Cordill says takeoff is scheduled for 1:30 pm, just in case you were wondering.)
Seafair weekend means more Blue Angels (and hydros and ship tours) in the city today – and much more you can check out without even leaving West Seattle tonight, including outdoor music and indoor theater. All that and a few more news notes:
TRAFFIC ADVISORIES: From the day-by-day/night-by-night closure list here: I-90 is closed for the Blue Angels’ practice show 12:45 pm-2:40 pm. Tonight, the Spokane Street Viaduct is closed EASTBOUND east of the 1st Avenue South exit, 10 pm, continuing till 5 tomorrow morning.
WASTE MANAGEMENT STRIKE AFTERMATH: No “recovery” pickups are scheduled in our area today, according to WM (but watch for possible word of some in the days ahead); those who have Friday pickup are asked to have everything out today, including extra for what was missed. And the city says it’ll be free to drop off up to six bags of trash/yard waste at transfer stations through Sunday (recycling is always free).
BALLOT DROPOFF VAN: Look for it in the southwest corner of the West Seattle Stadium parking lot, 10 am-5 pm today (and tomorrow and Monday, as well as 7 am-8 pm Tuesday), if you’d like to drop off your ballot for Tuesday’s primary election rather than pay for postage.
SEAFAIR – BLUE ANGELS, NAVY SHIP TOURS, HYDROS: All the schedule info is linked in our preview from last night, and we’ll be covering events throughout the day. (Toplines: The Blue Angels go up for one “practice show” today, with takeoff scheduled from Boeing Field (we say it all the time – go watch from the Museum of Flight, which has special programs throughout the weekend too!) after 1 pm. But there’s a full schedule of hydro testing and other aerial demonstrations today. And along the Seattle waterfront from Pier 46 in the south to Pier 90 in the north, you can tour any of the three ships that sailed past West Seattle on Wednesday.
SUMMER CONCERT SERIES AT THE MOUNT: First of four free Friday night concerts! Elvis stylist Danny Vernon performs tonight at 6. Dinner and drinks are available for purchase starting at 5:30. Just bring your chair/blanket to the south side of The Mount (4831 35th SW).
THE REPTILE MAN @ ALKI CC: You never know what will happen – or who will appear – at one of his shows, and tonight, he’s in West Seattle to amaze an all-ages crowd at Alki Community Center (5817 SW Stevens). 6:15 pm; details here.
SECOND ‘CORNER BAR’ AT HPIC: The Highland Park Improvement Club‘s new once-a-month incarnation happens at 6:30 tonight for the second time:
Draft beer, wine and non-alcoholic refreshments will be available at our pop-up neighborhood bar. A casual and friendly way to meet new friends and hang out with people you know. $3 gets you a beer or glass of wine, $1 for non-alcoholic beverages. We will have snacks like peanuts and pretzels – if you want more, bring your own or something to share. Special this month: Sangria. Also special: live music from the Drew Medak Trio. Classic jazz standards, fusion, modern jazz and originals on piano, bass and drums. Free admission – donations for the musicians accepted!
FREE SHAKESPEARE IN THE PARK: The Bard among the trees! GreenStage‘s “Henry VIII” is at Lincoln Park tonight, 7 pm.
OPENING NIGHT FOR ‘ANYTHING GOES’: Twelfth Night Productions (WSB sponsor) presents its summer production at West Seattle High School Theater (3000 California SW), Cole Porter‘s classic musical, 7:30 pm tonight and tomorrow, then running Fridays-Sundays the next two weekends. Tickets are available online; also, bring a nonperishable-food donation for the West Seattle Food Bank!
‘SCHOOLHOUSE ROCK LIVE JR.’ CONTINUES: Tonight at 7:30 pm at ArtsWest (4711 California SW).
FERRIS WHEEL’S LIGHT SHOW: If you want to see the Seattle Great Wheel‘s flashy colored lights (first shown here when they were tested in June), you have another chance each remaining night of Seafair, at 10 pm.
Even more on the calendar!
The newest list of upcoming traffic impacts from the Spokane Street Viaduct Widening Project is out – and it includes two major points:
*Starting next Monday, First Avenue South will be one lane each way between S. Horton and S. Spokane for about eight weeks, around the clock.
*Early August 17th, the onramp from Harbor Island to the eastbound Spokane Street Viaduct will reopen.
Here’s what else you can expect, starting with an eastbound SSV closure overnight Friday night (10 AM NOTE: 2 partial closures have been cancelled since this was published here – updated below):Read More
Some West Seattleites saw them … some just heard them … no mistaking the sounds and sights of the Blue Angels practicing for Seafair Weekend today. Doug B (a frequent Flickr contributor, including the WSB group pool) shared a few of his photos – including this low pass over Lake Washington:
If tomorrow is like most Seafair Fridays, they will go up after 1 pm (leaving Boeing Field, where Museum of Flight viewing of the takeoff/landing is a don’t-miss experience too) to go through the same show they will officially perform on Saturday and Sunday.
You can see the full airshow and hydroplane schedule for all three days of Seafair Weekend by going here. (Remember that you can watch from Seafair HQ on Lake Washington for free tomorrow, but Saturday and Sunday, admission is charged.) Tours of the visiting U.S. Navy ships are scheduled to continue all three days too – that schedule is here. (Tip – if you’re going to visit the USS Bunker Hill, the West Seattle Water Taxi dock is a short walk away.)
P.S. The scheduled I-90 bridge closure times are the same each of the next three days – 12:45-2:40 pm.
Singing the blues isn’t always a downer – we’ve heard lots of upbeat the first half-hour at Hiawatha tonight with Mark DuFresne headlining the season’s second free concert presented by the Admiral Neighborhood Association. Still time to get here – the crowd keeps growing, but there’s still room to sit on the grass and enjoy the music – and the balloons! Joyful the Clown is making balloon animals for kids, sponsored by Merrill Gardens-Admiral Heights (WSB sponsor):
And there are bubbles. Lots of bubbles. ANA vice president Karl de Jong couldn’t resist:
Karl led off tonight’s show, introducing emcee Jim Dever from KING 5’s Evening Magazine. C’mon down to the east lawn at Hiawatha if you can, even to drop in for a song or two – they’ll be playing till about 8.
ADDED 8:02 PM: Video:
Next Thursday night at 6:30 pm, it’s Reilly & Maloney with folk music – be here!
Lots of work going on in the vicinity of Washington State Ferries‘ Fauntleroy terminal. The crane in the photo above just arrived today, and it will be doing work for King County’s Barton Pump Station Upgrade Project, which got under way earlier this summer on the north side of the dock. Meantime, a crane that had been working on the ferry dock itself has now departed. Kevin McClintic photographed it on Monday:
This one WAS a ferry-system project. WSF’s Marta Coursey tells WSB, “During a recent bridge inspection, a pile was discovered missing under the timber trestle due to loss of pile embedment. The area was closed while an emergency contract was developed and materials were procured. The work began on Monday to drive two steel H-piles and remove one timber pile.”
(October 2011 photo by Colby Chester)
The state has just announced an $18,000 fine for a fuel spill related to last October’s sinking of a construction company’s landing craft off Beach Drive. The sinking, and raising, of the Justin played out over two days, last October 14th (WSB stories here and here) and 15th (coverage here and here). The state’s announcement today also reveals that the size of the spill was determined to be 320 gallons, and that more assessments may be forthcoming:
The Washington Department of Ecology (Ecology) has fined Waterfront Construction Inc. (Waterfront) of Seattle $18,000 for spilling 320 gallons of diesel fuel in Puget Sound off West Seattle in October 2011.
The company also faces more than $32,000 in additional assessments for environmental damage and state costs associated with responding to the spill.
Waterfront’s 74-foot, 1950s-vintage military landing craft, the Justin, sunk on the morning of Oct. 14, 2011, while moored off a work site along the shoreline about two miles south of Alki Point. The vessel was delivering boulders for a construction project.
Although Waterfront failed to notify Ecology of the oil spill, the company did hire salvage and environmental cleanup contractors to respond to the incident. They refloated and removed the vessel the next day.
After the Justin was raised, inspectors found two half-inch holes in a corroded section of the hull.
Next Tuesday is Primary Election Day – which means you have to get your ballot in the mail by Tuesday night. But you can save the money for a stamp, and be sure you’ve delivered it directly to King County Elections, 
by using the “ballot dropoff van” that will be stationed in West Seattle tomorrow, Saturday, Monday, and Tuesday. We first reported the plan in early July, and it’s time now for a reminder. You can drop your ballot(s) off at the van at West Seattle Stadium (turn east off 35th just south of Avalon) 10 am-5 pm tomorrow, Saturday, and Monday, or 7 am-8 pm on Tuesday. Lots more election info on the county website. Remember that while this is technically a primary election, there are some issues and races that will be decided in this vote – including county Prop 1 (for a new juvenile/family justice center) and city Prop 1, the library levy.
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