West Seattle, Washington
07 Saturday
6:00 AM: Good morning! It’s Tuesday, September 3, and more local schools start the year today.
WEATHER + SUNRISE/SUNSET TIMES
Clearing, high in the low 70s. Today’s sunrise will be at 6:31 am, while sunset will be at 7:44 pm.
SPOKANE ST. VIADUCT AND OTHER ROAD WORK
*We should get the plan today for this week’s work on the Spokane Street Viaduct resurfacing project.
*For the Admiral Way Bridge seismic project, the north half of the bridge is closed, with one lane each way on the south side; Fairmount Avenue remains closed under the bridge. (One more reminder – there’s a new 39th/Admiral crosswalk.)
*The Delridge pedestrian-bridge earthquake-safety project also continues, with narrowing at Delridge/Oregon.
*The East Marginal Way S. project continues, with a temporary routing change for bicycle riders (explained at that link).
*Beach Drive: Gas-pipeline work continues at spots along the southern stretch. You’ll find no-parking zones and steel plates, plus flaggers.
TRANSIT NOTES
Water Taxi today – Regular schedule for both routes.
Metro buses today – Regular schedules; check for advisories here.target=”_blank”>buses will run on a Sunday schedule.
Washington State Ferries today – 2 boats on the Triangle Route. Note that the “unscheduled third boat” will not be available for part of this week because it’s temporarily moving to another run.
SPOTLIGHT TRAFFIC CAMERAS
High Bridge – Here’s the main camera:
High Bridge – The Fauntleroy-end camera:
Spokane Street Viaduct – This view usually looks westward, with eastbound lanes at left and westbound lanes at right:
Low bridge: Here’s the main view:
1st Avenue South Bridge:
South Park Bridge – Looking east:
Delridge cameras: Besides the one below (Delridge/Genesee), cameras are also at Delridge/Juneau, Delridge/Henderson, Delridge/Oregon, and video-only (so you have to go to the map), Delridge/Holden and Delridge/Thistle.
MORE TRAFFIC CAMS: All functioning traffic cams citywide are here; West Seattle and vicinity-relevant cameras are on this WSB page.
BRIDGE INFO: The @SDOTBridges feed on X (ex-Twitter) shows whether the city’s movable bridges are open for vessel traffic.
If you see a problem on the bridges/streets/paths/water, please text or call our hotline (when you can do that safely, and after you’ve reported to authorities if they’re not already on scene) – 206-293-6302. Thank you!
10:23 PM: Southbound Highway 509 is blocked south of the 1st Avenue South Bridge right now after what was initially dispatched as a pedestrian fatality. The driver who hit them is reported to have stopped and was with police. No other details yet, but if you have to head this way from north of there, find an alternate route.
10:37 PM: Police have just told dispatch that State Patrol is taking over the scene.
11:42 PM: WSP confirms this was a driver hitting and killing a pedestrian and says the driver was not impaired. It appears traffic is still being guided off at the West Marginal exit.
9 AM TUESDAY: According to a media memo from WSP, the man who was hit and killed “was crossing SR 509 from east to west” when the driver, a 20-year-old Everett woman, hit him in the southbound center lane. She was not hurt. The road reopened after what was by WSP’s count 2 hours and 47 minutes.
4:16 PM: The King County Medical Examiner’s Office daily list of identified/investigated decedents says the person who was killed was 42-year-old Raul J Vidaurri.
(Cover of draft plan being circulated for comment)
If Sound Transit keeps to its announced schedule, the route and station locations for West Seattle light rail will be finalized before year’s end. Other aspects of planning are proceeding before that momentous decision – including city work envisioning how the stations will change the areas around them. As part of that, SDOT has released “street concept plans” for formal feedback. In this phase of feedback, these plans are in the form of “director’s rules” that would serve as guidelines for “the design of future pedestrian, vehicle, and multimodal transportation infrastructure in the right-of-way, with stated goals of expanding public space, expressing community character and history, providing safer environments for people moving through the neighborhoods around the future light rail stations, and improving connections for people walking, biking, and taking transit.” You can see the entire document here. We’re excerpting the text that summarizes what they’re proposing – note that this is just a fraction of what’s in the document:
DELRIDGE STATION AREA STREET CONCEPT
The street concept design for the Delridge Station Area includes:
• A raised intersection at SW Andover St and 26th Ave SW
• Stop signs and a narrow crossing on SW Andover St at 26th Ave SW to keep people walking and biking safe crossing SW Andover St
• A walking-, rolling-, and biking-friendly street with landscaping on 26th Ave SW north of SW Yancy St by closing the block to people driving
• A turn-around for people driving on SW Andover St near the station to allow vehicles to return to Delridge Way SW and reduce vehicle volumes at 26th Ave SW
• A design that can tie into the future upgrades to the 26th Ave SW Neighborhood Greenway south of SW Yancy StThis design incorporates the following proposed station area assumption:
• Nucor truck access will no longer be from SW Andover St and will instead be from a new signal entrance off of Delridge Way SW at SW Charlestown St
• SW Charlestown St will be transit-access only from SW Andover St
• Future neighborhood greenway improvements for people walking, rolling, and biking on 26th Ave SW south of
SW Yancy St
• The design for 26th Ave SW will be refined in coordination with Sound Transit and other restoration work done around Longfellow Creek
For the Avalon station area, the document notes, “This street concept plan does not include Fauntleroy Way SW, which has an existing project design that dedicates more space for landscaping and for people walking, rolling, and biking.7 The designs identified in this plan are compatible with a future project on Fauntleroy Way SW and align with the design intent identified in the Fauntleroy Boulevard design.” That said, here are the descriptions of two for the Avalon station area:
36TH AVENUE SW/SW GENESEE STREET CONCEPT
The street concept design for the intersection of SW Genesee St and 36th Ave SW includes:
• A realignment of SW Genesee to square up the intersection with Fauntleroy Way SW
• A multi-use trail on 36th Ave SW between SW Genesee St and Fauntleroy Way SW that provides more space for people walking, rolling and biking along the neighborhood greenway
• A raised crossing across SW Genesee St at 36th Ave SW
• A plaza or landscaped space between the new alignment of SW Genesee St and Fauntleroy Way SW; could include covered seating, art, and/or a community gathering spaceSW AVALON STREET CONCEPT
The street concept design for SW Avalon Way includes:
• A widened raised two-way bike lane on the north side of SW Avalon Way for people coming from the east and the west to access the light rail station
• A bike lane on the south side of SW Avalon Way for people biking east
• Expanded plaza space on the north side for people walking and rolling, and greenery that connects into the future light rail entrance of off SW Avalon Way
• A narrower street to make it safer and more comfortable for people crossing SW Avalon WayThere are two versions of the design for SW Avalon Way. The first is a near-term design that can be completed in order to provide access to the new Avalon light rail station. The second is a long-term vision of what the street could look like with additional permanent improvements. One aspect of this long-term vision would be to explore driveway consolidation and closures where appropriate.
Finally, three proposed street-concept designs for The Junction’s station area are described in the SDOT document as follows:
SW ALASKA STREET CONCEPT
The street concept design for SW Alaska St includes expanded space for people walking and rolling, as well as space to gather and wait for the light rail, bus connections, or to connect between the station entrances and the commercial corridors along California Ave SW and Fauntleroy Ave SW. There are raised bike lanes and two transit-only lanes between California Ave SW and Fauntleroy Way SW, with general purpose traffic allowed on SW Alaksa St between 44th Ave SW and California Ave SW and west-bound only between 42nd Ave SW and California Ave SW. This five-block corridor will also have pedestrian features such as raised crosswalks and intersections, all-way stop control, pedestrian- scale lighting, benches, and wayfinding.
There are two design concepts for the block of SW Alaska St between 44th Ave SW and California Ave SW. The first concept is a low- cost design that largely retains the existing curb locations. The second concept includes a “full rebuild” design that moves curb lines and has bike facility with more separation from vehicles. These concepts would need to be aligned with bus operational changes on this block, which are currently assumed to happen in conjunction with the Ballard Light Rail Extension line opening, anticipated around 2039. Because of this, the concepts for SW Alaska St between 44th Ave SW and California Ave SW may not be implemented within the same time frame as other concepts for SW Alaska St east of California Ave SW.
42ND AVENUE STREET CONCEPT
The street design for 42nd Ave SW will open the space in front of the station into a plaza space. This will help connect into the expanded space on SW Alaska St to gather and wait for the light rail or bus connections, and creates new pedestrian-focused space to host community events such as an expansion of the West Seattle Farmers Market. This space will have places for shaded seating, abundant landscaping, and connections for food trucks or other vendors, such as electrical hookups. South of the plaza space, 42nd Ave SW will have raised bike lanes, as buses will also be using this half-block of 42nd Ave SW to exit a layover space between 42nd Ave SW and 41st Ave SW, and between SW Alaska St and SW Edmunds St.
41ST AVENUE STREET CONCEPT
41st Ave SW will be redesigned to provide more space for people walking and rolling, and space for extended landscaping and trees. It will also allow for buses to enter the layover facility. There is a planned east/west mid-block pedestrian connection that ties in the pedestrian connection through the transit layover facility to a potential future connection to the east. One aspect of this design would be to explore driveway consolidation and closures where appropriate.
The full document also includes details on what lighting, pavement, wayfinding, and other components should look like, as well as many more renderings related to the proposals described above – including cross-sections of existing and future channelization.
HERE’S HOW TO COMMENT: This draft street-concept plan was published in tandem with an environmental checklist – specifically referring to the street-concept plan, not the light-rail project itself; you can see that notice here and the related checklist here. Comments on those and/or the street-concept plan can be emailed to Ian.Macek@seattle.gov and/or Lucien.Ong@seattle.gov. Deadline is September 12.
WHAT ELSE IS NEXT: We’re awaiting the Final Environmental Impact Statement, which ST suggested would be released “late in the third quarter” (which ends September 30). A possible timeline hint – checking the public event calendar for Alki Masonic Lodge while looking for something unrelated, we noticed a placeholder for “Sound Transit” on Tuesday, October 1. (That’s been a location of previous major meetings/open houses related to the West Seattle light-rail project.)
Thanks to Al for sending the photos! As previewed here, volunteers assisted Urban ArtWorks these past two days in decorating Lafayette Elementary‘s portable classrooms with murals.
Al says he was told more than 70 volunteers showed up over the two days of painting!
Here’s Alex Nason from Urban Art Works signing the mural.
Classes at Lafayette – and other Seattle Public Schools – start on Wednesday.
Though Wednesday is the biggest back-to-school day this week, three schools and an adjacent district return tomorrow (Tuesday, September 3): Holy Rosary, Hope Lutheran, and Our Lady of Guadalupe. According to their calendars, all three start with half-days, ending at noon.
Tomorrow is also the first day for students in the Vashon Island School District, to which hundreds of off-island students commute by ferry.
Two West Seattle schools are already back in session – Holy Family Bilingual Catholic School since last Wednesday, and Summit Atlas since August 14.
A new American flag flies over the Alki Masonic Lodge in The Junction this afternoon, after the annual retiring-of-the-flag ceremony, with assistance from VFW reps who first lowered the lodge’s old flag:
Next, they carefully folded the old flag:
Then they presented it to the lodge’s leader, Worshipful Master Delton Johnson:
As part of the ceremony, Mary Beasley spoke about the flag’s history – now 64 years for this configuration of the Stars and Stripes:
The ceremony was followed by a free community picnic lunch (as noted in our daily highlight list).
Sent by Meg:
Sad to report that my 2001 Yukon XL was stolen from in front of our house in the 10200 block of Marine View Drive SW at 2 am this morning.
The sound of the engine starting (it’s a 3/4 ton) woke me, and I went to the kitchen window to lock my other car, which I think I’d left unlocked. Didn’t notice the Yukon was missing.
If anyone sees a pewter-colored 2001 Yukon XL with body damage on the back seat passenger side door and running board, plate 924YBP, please call 911. Police report filed, 24-248543.
Thanks to Kersti Muul for the updates – transient orcas are back in the area today; they’ve been headed southbound, seen off Eagle Harbor on Bainbridge Island [map] less than half an hour ago. Let us know if you see them off West Seattle!
8:53 AM: Thanks for the tips. SPD and SFD are arriving at the scene of what’s described as an “overturned truck” (added: on its side, according to first firefighters there) toward the west end of the westbound bridge. Updates to come.
8:59 AM: Police just told dispatch that they’re diverting traffic at the Admiral exit. They’ve also calling for a second SDOT crew because of a large fluid slick as well as jersey barriers pushed into the opposite direction of traffic (the first crew is helping divert traffic). Meantime, the truck has been described as a “late-model Ford pickup.”
9:08 AM: No word on injuries but all three originally dispatched SFD units have already cleared the scene, which indicates nothing major.
9:28 AM: Tow truck reported to have just arrived.
9:48 AM: Eastbound bridge will be briefly blocked while the jersey barrier is pushed back into place.
10:08 AM: Above is the truck involved in the crash as it was being towed off the bridge. Meantime, police have just reopened the eastbound bridge and expect to reopen the westbound side soon.
10:18 AM: Officers just told dispatch that westbound is open again too.
11:34 AM: SFD tells us the driver, a woman in her mid-40s, was assessed at the scene but didn’t need further treatment.
(Early morning fishing at Lincoln Park, photographed by Lisa Ruiz)
Good morning! Holiday notes:
TRANSIT/TRAFFIC
–Metro buses are running on a Sunday schedule
–West Seattle Water Taxi is also on a Sunday schedule
–Sound Transit buses and light rail are on Sunday schedules too
-If you’re going to an area of the city with pay-station street parking, you don’t have to pay today
-Check local traffic cams here, citywide cams here
HAPPENING TODAY/TONIGHT
Last day of the season for city outdoor aquatic facilities – After today, city-run wading pools, sprayparks, and outdoor pools are all closed until next year – so it’s your last day for Colman Pool, open noon-7 pm, and Highland Park Spraypark (1100 SW Cloverdale), 11 am-8 pm. (Lincoln Park’s wading pool ended its season early because of plumbing trouble.)
Art on the Corner – artist’s home-studio sale benefiting food banks, 8 am-3 pm at 39th/Holden
Mural-painting at Lafayette Elementary – help is welcome again today; go here to sign up for slot(s) between 10 am and 4 pm at 2645 California SW
Flag Ceremony and Community Picnic – public is welcome at Alki Masonic Lodge‘s annual event, starting with flag-dedication ceremony at noon at 40th/Edmunds
Pinball Tournament – not too late to register for fundraising tournament at Admiral Pub (2305 California SW), starting at noon – full details on the tournament website
NOT HAPPENING TODAY
-Banking (holiday)
-U.S. Postal Service (holiday)
-Libraries (closed)
-Many Seattle Parks facilities (here’s the list)
-City Council briefing meeting (they’re back from 2-week end-of-summer break tomorrow)
WEATHER AND SUNRISE/SUNSET
Partly sunny, high in the low 70s. Sunrise will be at 6:30 am, sunset at 7:46 pm.
9:13 AM UPDATE: The showers were not in the forecast when we published this but the NWS has since updated to mention “slight chance of thunderstorms this morning.” They’re still saying it’ll be partly sunny this afternoon.
Sent by F:
Last night our Radwagon 5 metallic blue e-bike was stolen. The bike was locked up underneath our carport but the thieves clearly had tools to deal with the lock.
I encountered the thieves this AM on 42nd and Lander parked next to Hiawatha; my bike was strapped to the top of their car. I called 911 but they recognized my car and sped off through the neighborhood.
Description:
-Blue Honda CR-V, late model, with a mismatched panel. License plate BPV7859. Two males in late forties, one Hispanic and one most likely white. Both had a dirty/vagrant look to them. One was wearing a reflective work hoodie.
Police report: 24-247426
If you see these men driving through your neighborhood they are scoping out targets. Call 911.
For the record, we checked an online database and that plate checks to a Honda Fit, so it may not be what belongs with the vehicle F saw their e-bike on.
(Tonight’s sunset, photographed by James Bratsanos)
Reminder that the earlier closing time for Alki Beach Park (and Golden Gardens in Ballard) is ending later this year than last year. As announced in May, the 10:30 pm closing time will remain in effect through Sunday, September 22nd; after that, closing time goes back to 11:30 pm, and beach-fire season ends. Last year, it all ended after Labor Day. The city continues to call this a “pilot,” though this is the fourth year they’ve had an earlier closing time for Alki
7:32 PM: If you’ve been noticing the police report on California south of The Junction – here’s how it’s played out over police radio: First there was a report of a man “covered in blood” with a possible stab wound near California/Lander. Police couldn’t find anyone. Then reoprts started coming in about a man “covered in blood” possibly carrying a pistol, in The Junction, Police have just caught up with a man who they believe is the person reported in both calls – and they say he’s covered in feces, not blood. They have taken him into custody at California/Dawson, though it’s not clear if any crime has been committed – one witness is reported to have told police the man dropped “the gun” near where police caught up with him.
7:37 PM: Our photographer says police at the scene (by Rite Aid) confirm the aforementioned circumstances. No gun found so far. What happens to him next, we haven’t yet heard.
Out of the WSB inboxes this afternoon:
CAR BREAK-INS: William sent the photo, noting two car break-ins on Belvidere Avenue in southeast Admiral.
ABANDONED CAR? Bill sent that photo, reporting, “Looks abandoned and ransacked. On the sidewalk/Duwamish Bike Trail north side of Highland east of the intersection with W Marginal.” He’s reported it but wanted to post here too in case this car’s owner is looking for it.
DAMAGED CAR: From a texter:
It looks like there may have been a gray car hit outside of the Rite Aid on California and it’s up on the sidewalk. Just saw it a few minutes ago when I drove by. Not sure if it was an active incident or a parked car was hit and just hadn’t been cleared, but there was debris around it. I didn’t see any police or response vehicles there when I drove by.
We checked the SFD and SPD logs; nothing in that area in the past couple days.
STOLEN MAIL FOUND: This just came in from “a neighbor on Alaska”:
We had a package stolen this week which was recovered by a very kind neighbor who found it in a ditch and delivered it to us. When I went to take out the trash I noticed a bag inside. I pulled it out and inside there was stolen mail, trash, and evidence of other stolen packages. Most of the mail was from Edmonds but I wanted to alert anyone who may be missing items like a book, small zipper bag, and bandana. These may have been stolen from a car. I have called the police and will be turning in the items to them and the mail to the post office.
Thanks to the anonymous texter who just sent that pic – they and Kersti Muul both just texted that southbound transient orcas are headed this way, toward the mouth of Elliott Bay – let us know if you see them!
One of West Seattle’s newest murals is adorning the restroom building at Walt Hundley Playfield (34th/Myrtle), installed earlier this summer. We hadn’t heard about it until a brief Seattle Parks online mention this week; we went over for a closer look, and also contacted artist Juliana Kang Robinson to find out more.
She tells us the installation, commissioned by the city, is called “Pojagi Mounds.”
Pojagi Mounds is a landscape of belonging and togetherness. The design is inspired by pojagi, the historic Korean patchwork artform using scrap fabric to create cloths that were integral to a person’s daily life. They were used as tablecloths, to deliver gifts, to carry possessions on a journey, and protect valuables. Wrapping a gift in a pojagi communicated respect for the object and good will toward the recipient. Each patch added by the maker was like a prayer of good will that would enfold and carry the gift. For me pojagi represents how diverse members of a community can come together to enfold and carry one another. Pojagi Mounds underscores how the whole is more than the sum of its parts. A mountain is more than simply soil, plants and rocks just as we people in a society are greater when unified. My goal for this public artwork is to create a visual representation of this concept that spur viewers to ponder the beautiful and complex way that different parts can come together to unify and elevate us beyond the self.
She continues:
I used a traditional Korean color scheme called Obangsaek. Obangsaek means “Five Orientations” in balance with the universe – East (blue), West (white), South (red), North (black) and Center (yellow) to promote harmony while warding off evil spirits. In my work I like to incorporate animals with strong family bonds both in reference to the various creation myths and for the conjuring of strength, courage and belonging. In this mural I also wanted to honor our local “ecosystem engineers,” the beavers known for changing and maintaining ecosystems which significantly boost local biodiversity. I also love both creatures as a symbols for familial strength and working hard for one’s family and community.
You can see more of her work on her website.
Sent by Sheila:
This was found abandoned at Westcrest Park. Secured now and ready for owner to claim.
Sheila has the bike, so if you think it’s yours, email us – westseattleblog@gmail.com – and we’ll connect you.
Thanks to everyone who sent versions of that amazing sunset view from Saturday! A spectacular way to end August – and now, it’s on to the start of September and our daily highlights, mostly from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar (where you’ll find even more):
NO SSV CLOSURE: Reminder – the Spokane Street Viaduct (continuation of West Seattle Bridge between 99 and I-5) is fully open this weekend.
ART ON THE CORNER: 8 am-3 pm at 39th/Holden, artist Bonnie is having another one of her famous art sales, with proceeds benefiting the West Seattle Food Bank.
BIG BLUE TRUCK: It’s back in West Seattle – the Northwest Center‘s donation-dropoff truck (WSB sponsor)! You’ll find it outside WaFd Bank (4102 California SW). Our calendar listing has info on what items the truck will accept. 9 am-5 pm.
SWIM IN THE SOUND: At 9 am, you can join the weekly group plunge into Puget Sound off Alki – meet at Statue of Liberty Plaza (61st/Alki).
NO WESTIES RUN CLUB: They’re taking a break this holiday weekend.
WEST SEATTLE FARMERS’ MARKET: No holiday for the market – as usual, open, 10 am-2 pm, late-summer produce, plus beverages, baked goods, flowers, cheese, fish, meat, prepared food, nuts, candy, more. (California SW between SW Alaska and SW Oregon) P.S. Market managers are asking shoppers to take an online survey.
WEST SEATTLE BEE GARDEN WORK PARTY: Monthly chance to show the garden at Lanham/Graham some love, 10 am-noon. Here’s this month’s invitation from Lisa:
Our jobs:
-weed the overgrown shaded area – native shade plants from Wildflowers Northwest on the way to plant out this last wild zone including ferns and solomon’s seal
-clip more dried seed for our seed saving efforts – you are welcome to take seed home with you too, there’s plenty to go around!
-general weeding in beds and pathwaysWhat to bring/wear:
-Your gardening spirit (no experience necessary)
-Water bottle
-Closed-toed shoesYou may want to bring sunblock and a rain jacket! our weather is fickle these days. We have a selection of gardening tools and gloves available but if you have a favorite from home, please bring it, we love learning about folks’ favorite tools.
BIZARRE BAZAAR: Shop local artist/vendors at Box Bar (5401 California SW), 11 am-3 pm.
COLMAN POOL: The outdoor heated-salt-water pool on the shore at Lincoln Park (8011 Fauntleroy Way SW) is open to the public for the second-to-last day of the season, noon-7 pm – session times are on the Colman Pool webpage.
LINCOLN PARK WADING POOL CLOSED: Its season ended early because of plumbing trouble.
SOUTHWEST POOL CLOSED: Maintenance and repair work continue.
ALKI POINT LIGHTHOUSE TOURS: Last chance this season! U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary volunteers are at Alki Point Lighthouse today for free tours starting at 1 pm; get there by 3:45 pm for the last tour of the day. (3201 Alki SW)
HELP PAINT! As previewed here, volunteers are working on murals at Lafayette Elementary today and tomorrow. Still some volunteer slots open as of early today – sign up here.
CHILDREN’S MOONLIGHT FESTIVAL: Annual celebration at the Vietnamese Cultural Center (2236 SW Orchard), 2-4 pm, lion dance, treats, lantern-making, and a parade – all welcome.
SMASH BURGER POP-UP: The Good Society is doing it again – 4-7 pm smash burgers – stop in at California/Lander for burgers and/or beer.
LIVE MUSIC AT THE ALLEY: Enjoy Sunday night music with the Triangular Jazztet at The Alley (4509 California SW) – 8-10 pm.
Organizing and/or publicizing something that should be on our community event calendar – one-time or recurring? Please email us the basics – westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
From a texter tonight:
We just saw a coyote in our neighborhood on 38th & Genesee – wanted to alert local pet owners!
That reminded us we were overdue to publish the others received since our previous compilation almost two weeks ago. Molly saw this one in Upper Fauntleroy earlier this week:
Spotted this one on 38th at about 9:15 pm. It then went down to Henderson and trotted west. Did not seem afraid of us—stood and watched us awhile until we shouted at it to shoo it away. Never seen one so bold!
That’s one recommendation of experts – try to “haze” them, by shouting, waving, etc., to try to encourage them to keep their distance. The same night, and almost the same time, as Molly’s sighting, Coleman saw a coyote in Sunrise Heights:
We just spotted a coyote 9:00 pm standing in front of our house on 32nd and Holden. Heading North toward Walt Hundley Playfield. Beautiful to see.
Several days before those, a texter sent this report and photo from the neighborhood near Gatewood Elementary:
Coyote sighting on Woodside at Myrtle. I saw [a previous] Woodside sighting in The Blog, so I was excited to see this one in person.
Last but not least, Kate shared this early-morning sighting of an apparent coyote family, near the Longfellow Creek Trail:
Now, our standard side note: We report coyote sightings in the spirit of awareness, not alarm – our chances of uneventful coexistence improve if you avoid providing food (from unattended pets to unsecured garbage). Here’s more of what you should know about coyotes.
Your ballot for the November 5 election will arrive in less than seven weeks. After a post-primary lull, it’s time to start up the pre-general election coverage.
‘WEST SEATTLE ANSWERS THE CALL’: This past Monday night, 200 local supporters of the Democratic presidential ticket gathered for one of the biggest local political fundraisers we’ve heard of in a while – probably the biggest one since the candidate herself spent an hour in West Seattle three months ago.
Co-hosts Amy Daly-Donovan and Laurie Reinhardt sent photos from the event, titled “West Seattle Answers the Call,” held at a West Seattle home. Speakers included King County Executive Dow Constantine, 34th District State Rep. and House Majority Leader Joe Fitzgibbon, and statewide Coordinated Campaign Director Christina Carvalho.
The organizers say, “There was so much good energy and camaraderie in the air.” They report the event raised more than $45,000 to support the presidential campaign as well as other Democratic races. They also noted interest in the yard signs, adding, “we purchased them from signsofjustice.com, a Portland-based, Black-owned business with great service and excellent quality!”
RECOUNT: One statewide race on the November ballot has yet to be finalized – State Commissioner of Public Lands, in which Republican Jaime Herrera Beutler finished in undisputed first place, but Democrat Dave Upthegrove was only 51 votes – a thousandth of a percent – ahead of Republican Sue Kuehl Pederson. That mandated a hand recount, and election offices around the state have been conducting theirs, with most reported to have finished but not yet certified. The biggest, King County, started last Monday and will certify results on Wednesday morning (September 4).
ENCOURAGING YOUNGER VOTERS: One week from today, 10 am-1 pm September 7th, Youngstown Cultural Arts Center (4408 Delridge Way SW) will host a watch party for a YWCA-presented nonpartisan national town hall focused on Gen Z women voting, though all are welcome to attend. Our calendar listing has details; organizers of the event, which will be streamed from Philadelphia, say they’ve invited the presidential candidates too but haven’t yet received confirmations. (UPDATE: DNDA says this is canceled for lack of RSVPs.)
Big news from the West Seattle Community Orchestras – two new conductors. And the organization has opened registration for the new season, which starts soon. Here’s the announcement:
The West Seattle Community Orchestras organization is welcoming two new conductors.
Asieh Mahyar, who serves as the interim Director of Orchestral Studies at Pacific Lutheran University, will conduct the Symphony Orchestra. Originally from Iran and one of the very few female conductors from her country, Ms. Mahyar brings in her extensive experience working with ensembles at various levels and in different countries. For the 2024-2025 season, she eagerly looks forward to leading the Symphony Orchestra on a fantastic musical journey. Dynamic and vibrant, the repertoire will include festive Holiday music, selections from timeless masterworks, premieres of music by composers from diverse cultural backgrounds, and inspiring collaborations with distinguished local musicians.
The Wind Symphony is getting some new direction under Justin Murray as well. Justin is an active music educator, clinician, and conductor who also works as the Director of Membership at Classical KING (98.1 FM). This year, he is particularly excited about returning to directing an ensemble and sharing the process and experience of making music with members of our West Seattle Community.
If you want to join one of the 6 ensembles of WSCO, registration is currently open for returning and new members, with auditions on September 17 and rehearsals starting on October 8 at Chief Sealth International High School.
Thanks to the texter who sent that photo and a note that Lincoln Park‘s wading pool is closed, no explanation on site. According to a Seattle Parks social-media note we subsequently found, a “plumbing problem” will keep it closed for the rest of the season, which had been scheduled to end after Monday. This means no West Seattle wading pools, since the others closed about two weeks ago; the Highland Park spraypark is scheduled to remain open through Labor Day, 11 am-8 pm daily.
12:15 PM: This year’s Alki Beach Pride celebration – combination beach party and street festival – is on! Thanks to Alki Community Council president Charlotte Starck for the early photo. We’re headed to Alki for more pics but wanted to remind you first that Alki Avenue is closed to vehicles between 57th and 61st; that means a Water Taxi shuttle reroute. The festival is on until 8 pm; see the entertainment schedule here.
2:51 PM: The Rainbow City Marching Band was performing while we were there – here’s a bit of music (Macklemore‘s “Downtown”):
Also on stage – deputy mayor Greg Wong and City Councilmember Rob Saka‘s district director Leyla Gheisar, presenting a proclamation accepted by Alki Beach Pride co-founder Stacy Bass-Walden – it recounts the history and intent of ABP:
Beyond the stage, you’ll find dozens of booths, both vendors and resource providers:
Among them, the West Seattle Food Bank, whose booth is where – as noted here last night – you can enter a drawing for a ticket to the Taste of West Seattle, now less than three weeks away:
As noted in the city proclamation, this is the 10th ABP celebration, with a simple theme:
Headliner Mariah Counts is just an hour away; the festival continues until 8 pm
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