West Seattle, Washington
12 Wednesday
Quick reminder that we’re presenting a forum with our area’s Seattle City Council and King County Council candidates on Monday night (September 25th) at the Senior Center of West Seattle (4217 SW Oregon). The night starts with County Council District 8 candidates Sofia Aragon and Teresa Mosqueda at 6:30 pm, and after a short break at 7 pm, City Council District 1 candidates Maren Costa and Rob Saka. All are welcome to attend; we will be recording video to publish as soon as possible afterward. As with our primary forum, we’re collecting questions by email – thanks to everyone who’s sent suggestions so far! Please send yours – the more concise, the better to westseattleblog@gmail.com.
(Busy bee, as summer ends. Photo by Janelle Otterholt)
Here are highlights of what’s happening today/tonight, mostly from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar (where you’ll see even more):
WEST SEATTLE UKULELE PLAYERS: All levels welcome to this weekly 1 pm gathering. Email westseattleukuleleplayerswsup@gmail.com to find out where they’re playing today.
DINE OUT & HELP EARTHQUAKE SURVIVORS: As previewed earlier this week, 4-10 pm, Itto’s Tapas (4160 California SW) will donate all of tonight’s proceeds to Morocco earthquake relief.
THURSDAY FOOD-TRUCK POP-UP: 4-8 pm at Highland Park Corner Store (7789 Highland Park Way SW), Incredibowls will be visiting.
HIGHLAND PARK RUN CLUB: Also at HP Corner Store, meet up at 6:30 pm for a 3-mile run!
FILM PREMIERE: Emerald Water Anglers (4502 42nd SW; WSB sponsor) is presenting the premiere of “Tom,” about the life of the passionate angler and conservationist Tom Derry, at 6:30 pm. Our calendar listing has the ticket link.
WESTIES RUN CLUB: Meet at The Good Society (California/Lander) at 6 pm for a 3-mile run – more in our calendar listing.
ALKI COMMUNITY COUNCIL: Live, work, dine, drink, play in the Alki area? Come hear and talk about community concerns and initiatives at the monthly Alki Community Council meeting, 7 pm. In-person at Alki UCC (6115 SW Hinds) or online.
CHAI SHOW & SIGNING: See and hear Chai at Easy Street Records (4559 California SW), 7 pm – in-store show and signing event, free, all ages.
FAREWELL PARTY: As previewed last night:
Farewell Party for Youngstown Coffee and HeartBeet Café w/ Tomo Nakayama at Skylark Café (3803 Delridge Way SW)
Thursday, September 21 at 7 pm
All-ages show
Free (donation recommended at the door)
More info here
BLUES NIGHT: 7 pm at The Spot West Seattle (2920 SW Avalon Way), every Thursday you can listen to the blues.
THURSDAY NIGHT CORNHOLE: Go play at Ounces (3809 Delridge Way SW), 7 pm.
‘MATT & BEN’: Week 3 begins at ArtsWest (4711 California SW; WSB sponsor), 7:30 pm. Check for tickets here.
THURSDAY THROWDOWN: All-vinyl DJ night at Revelry Room (4547 California SW, alley entrance), 8-11 pm.
We publish these daily lists as reminders, but you can look ahead any time, to any day, by visiting our calendar!
(SPU photo)
That’s the Cedar River Watershed, part of where Seattle’s water supply originates. This morning, the city is asking you to use less of that water. Here’s the announcement we just received from Seattle Public Utilities:
After an unusually dry summer and an extended forecast that calls for continued dry conditions, Seattle Public Utilities (SPU) today asked its customers to voluntarily use less water. SPU activated its Water Shortage Contingency Plan and is in the voluntary reduction stage, a necessary action to stretch the water supply until fall rains return.
Seattle is working to manage water supplies for people and fish during this extended dry period. SPU asked its 1.5 million customers, which includes people in King County who receive Seattle Water through the Utility’s wholesale customers, to voluntarily reduce their water use until further notice.
“SPU staff has been thoughtfully preparing for dry conditions throughout the summer, working to ensure an adequate water supply for the needs of residents and fish throughout our region. With these dry conditions sticking around, we must all do our part,” said Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell. “That’s why, at the recommendation of SPU, I’m activating the voluntary stage of the plan and asking residents to cut back on water use until significant rains return in the fall.”
Ways people can reduce their water use:
• Stop watering lawns (It’s OK to efficiently water newly planted lawns, young plants and trees, and vegetable gardens).
• Take shorter or fewer showers.
• Check for and fix leaks now, especially running toilets.
Find more water-saving tips at www.savingwater.org .
“Our customers are great stewards of our environment and already use water wisely every day, and we believe they will take our request to heart,” said Andrew Lee, General Manager of Seattle Public Utilities. “This will be a temporary ask until the fall rains return.”
City of Seattle departments are making immediate operational changes to reduce their water use and stretch the water supply as far as possible.
People who want to stay informed on how well SPU commercial, residential, and wholesale customers are reducing their water use can visit SPU’s At Your Service blog.
SPU manages two large, regional watersheds that supply its 1.5 million customers with some of the cleanest water in the nation. Investing in water conservation programs over several decades has helped stretch water supplies much further than originally anticipated. For example, over the last 40 years, the regional water system has grown from serving 1 to 1.5 million customers, but overall water use has decreased by 30%. Despite this population growth, customers use onlyas much water overall as used in the 1950s.
“While not highly visible work, SPU has done a remarkable job year after year of managing our most precious resource, including watershed protection and careful daily and long-term water resource planning,” said Noel Miller, Chair of the SPU Customer Review Panel. “While our area is typically blessed with sufficient precipitation, SPU’s steadfast commitment to our water supply for people and fish is the reason its customers rarely are asked to reduce water use, even during drier and hotter years.”
For details related to this announcement, including water-saving tips in multiple languages, a map highlighting SPU residential, commercial and wholesale customers, and weekly updates on how much water customers are saving, go here.
6:03 AM: Good morning! It’s Thursday, September 21st, the last full day of summer.
WEATHER AND SUNRISE/SUNSET TIMES
Sunny, high in the upper 60s. Sunrise today is at 6:54 am; sunset, 7:09 pm.
(Wednesday night photo by Jan Pendergrass)
TRANSIT TODAY
Metro – Regular schedule; check advisories here.
Water Taxi – Regular schedule.
Washington State Ferries – 2-boat service on the Triangle Route. Check alerts for changes, and use Vessel Watch to see where your ferry is.
SPOTLIGHT TRAFFIC CAMERAS
Delridge cameras: Besides the one below (Delridge/Henderson), cameras are also at Delridge/Genesee, Delridge/Juneau, Delridge/Orchard, and Delridge/Oregon.
High Bridge – the main camera:
High Bridge – the view from its southwest end (when SDOT points the 35th/Avalon/Fauntleroy camera that way):
Low-bridge cam:
1st Ave. S. Bridge – alternate route across the river:
Highway 99: – northbound side at Lander.
MORE TRAFFIC CAMS: See all working traffic cams citywide here, most with video options; West Seattle and vicinity-relevant cameras are on this WSB page.
BRIDGE INFO: The @SDOTBridges Twitter/X feed shows whether the city’s movable bridges are opening for vessel traffic.
If you see trouble on the bridges/streets/paths/bay, please text or call us (when you can do it safely, and after you’ve reported to authorities). Thank you!
2:35 AM: Police are back at the 35th/Roxbury east-side strip mall right now, after a reported crash-and-grab attempt a short time ago at Global Smoke & Vape, burglarized via vehicle five times in the last four weeks, including the last two days in a row. This time, though, it didn’t work, according to what police have reported so far. But the attempt apparently also did some damage to A Pizza Mart next door, officers told dispatch. In this attempt, so far the burglars’ vehicles were described as silver (possibly Hyundai) and black sedans; the silver car has rear-end damage and one broken light on each end.
10:13 AM: Bollards are now in place outside the shop. Our photographer just went by:
A crew is there working on the steel gate, too.
One month ago, we reported on the announcement that the couple who own Youngstown Coffee, HeartBeet Organic SuperFoods Café, and Launchpad are closing all three businesses, which are side by side at 6030-6032 California SW in Morgan Junction. Tonight we have updates from Autumn Lovewell and Monica Colgan:
FAREWELL PARTY: This is happening tomorrow night:
Farewell Party for Youngstown and HeartBeet w/ Tomo Nakayama at Skylark Café (3803 Delridge Way SW)
Thursday, September 21 at 7 pm
All-ages show
Free (donation recommended at the door)
More info here
CLOSING SALE: This starts Friday:
HeartBeet Café and Youngstown Coffee are having a closing sale open to the public starting Friday, September 22nd, located in Launchpad, through October 8th. Tons of inventory needs to be sold through. Items will be deeply discounted and folks can make offers. Here is a link to find out more details. Kitchen equipment, coffee supplies, office furniture, decorative items, bulk foods, electronics, so much more.
REMAINING OPEN SCHEDULE: Here’s the updated plan:
Youngstown’s last day will be this Saturday, Sept 23rd
Thursday and Friday open 8 am to 12 pm
Saturday 8 am to 2 pmHeartBeet West Seattle is still on track to close Saturday. Sept 30th.
Their current open hours and days are Monday through Saturday 8 am to 3 pm
(HeartBeet Queen Anne’s last day was last Friday Sept 15th)
As noted when they announced their closure plan, their building is being sold.
Now that school’s back in session, there are many community opportunities to help out by volunteering and/or donating. Tonight the call is from the Gatewood Elementary Spirit Fair Committee, seeking teen/tween volunteers:
Volunteer opportunity for Seattle Public Schools middle and high school students:
Gatewood Elementary is hosting their first Gatewood Spirit Fair on September 28, 2023, from 4:30 – 6:30 p.m. and is looking for volunteers to help run carnival games and hand out free hot dogs. Rain or shine. We will feed you.
Volunteer shifts are: 4:15 – 5:30p; 5:15 – 7p.
Contact: GatewoodGatorFair@gmail.com to sign up or for more information
School address: 4320 SW Myrtle Street. Parking in the neighborhood
Public transportation: Rapid Ride C line stop is at Fauntleroy Way SW and SW Myrtle St.
(Added: WSB photo, stuck-open low bridge seen from West Marginal)
5:04 PM: Thanks for the tips. We’re still waiting to hear back from SDOT about why the West Seattle low bridge has been open – and therefore closed to surface vehicle traffic – for more than an hour. In the meantime, use an alternate route, or delay your trip.
5:06 PM: SDOT says the low bridge is having “electrical problems.”
5:13 PM: SDOT says electricians are there but no ETA for repairs yet. Remember, in case it helps, the Water Taxi is running later tonight because of the Coldplay concert at Lumen Field.
7:39 PM: No official update from SDOT but the live camera shows the bridge is back open to surface traffic again. We will follow up tomorrow.
It’s going on two days now since 86-year-old Jim Price was last seen on Pigeon Point. Since we first published word of his disappearance, he’s become the subject of a Silver Alert:
Family and friends are anxious for any leads and are circulating his photo and information far and wide. He was last seen 6:30 to 7 pm Monday night in the 3600 block of 23rd SW [map] and may have been headed for the Senior Center of West Seattle in The Junction. Call 911 if you see/find him and refer to the SPD case # on the poster, 23-271803.
ADDED THURSDAY: Just received, “A team will meet at Delridge Community Center (4501 Delridge Way SW) at 2 pm for a coordinated search.” All help welcome.
(Added: Video and photos by Jamie Kinney)
2:51 PM: Transient killer whales are back in the area! Kersti Muul reports four orcas are northbound, last seen off Brace Point south of Fauntleroy. Let us know if you see them!
3:18 PM: Passing Lincoln Park.
6 PM: Added some of Jamie Kinney‘s video and photos above, from the orcas’ pass by Emma Schmitz Viewpoint on Beach Drive.
Thanks to Frank for the tip. Lily’s Salvadorean Restaurant in Luna Park has closed, but Lily’s will continue serving fresh-cooked food at Farmers’ Markets, including West Seattle, and is launching a food truck, potentially based here too, according to the announcement. Proprietor Lily Anaya opened the restaurant at 2940 SW Avalon Way a year and a half ago. The building (owned by someone else) was on the market earlier this year but the listing now has the notation “withdrawn.” Before Lily’s, the building was home to Allyum, which closed after less than a year.
Twelve days after the 6.8-magnitude earthquake in Morocco, nearly 3,000 people are confirmed dead. Many more are left with injuries and damage. Here’s a simple way to help: Itto’s Tapas in West Seattle (4160 California SW) is holding a fundraiser tomorrow (Thursday, September 21st). Proprietor Khalid Agour, who is of Moroccan heritage, plans to donate the entire night’s proceeds to earthquake relief. Itto’s hours are 4-10 pm.
(Steller’s Jay with sunflowers, photographed by Jerry Simmons)
Here’s what’s happening for the rest of your Wednesday, mostly from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
TALK ABOUT MONEY: Discuss finances 1-2:30 pm at the Senior Center of West Seattle (4217 SW Oregon).
(added) SCHOOL BOARD BUDGET WORK SESSION: 4:30 pm, streamed online. The board will talk about future budgeting in preparation for decisions on closing/consolidating schools, among other possible actions. Here’s the agenda, with documents.
JAM-MAKING CLASS: 5 pm at Senior Center of West Seattle (4217 SW Oregon) – check to see if there’s still room!
FIX-IT WORKSHOP: Don’t replace it – repair it! Weekly event, 5:30-7:30 pm at West Seattle Tool Library (4408 Delridge Way SW, northeast side of Youngstown Cultural Arts Center).
WESTSIDE BABY BENEFIT: Food, drink, and inspiration! “Beyond the Basics” fun(draiser) tonight at 6 pm at the WestSide Baby Hub in White Center (10003 14th SW).
TRIVIA x 4: Four places to play tonight. At 6 pm, Locust Cider (2820 Alki SW) now offers trivia … there’s 7:30 and 8:30 pm Sporcle Pub Quiz at The Lodge (4209 SW Alaska); trivia starts at 8 pm at Beveridge Place Pub (6413 California SW); Larry’s Tavern (3405 California SW) hosts Wednesday-night trivia starting at 8 pm …
FREE GROUP RUN: Meet at West Seattle Runner (2743 California SW; WSB sponsor) for the weekly free group run.
LIVE MUSIC AT THE LOCOL: 6:30 pm. 21+. Rotating performer slate. (7902 35th SW)
HIGH-SCHOOL VOLLEYBALL: One home match tonight – West Seattle High School hosts Roosevelt at 7 pm. (3000 California SW(
LIVE PIANO MUSIC: 7 pm at Otter on the Rocks. (4210 SW Admiral Way).
MUSIC BINGO: Play weekly at The Good Society (California/Lander), 7 pm.
SKYLARK OPEN MIC: 7:30 pm signups @ West Seattle’s longest-running open mic – no cover to watch. (3803 Delridge Way SW)
WEST SEATTLE TRIVIA CHAMPIONSHIP: Instead of regular trivia tonight at 8:30 pm, Talarico’s Pizza (4718 California SW) is hosting the West Seattle Trivia Championship.
If you’re planning a presentation, meeting, performance, reading, tour, fundraiser, sale, discussion, etc., and it’s open to the community, please send us info for West Seattle’s only comprehensive event calendar! westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
(WSB photo)
For the second morning in a row and fifth time in less than four weeks, crash-and-grab burglars have hit Global Smoke and Vape at 35th and Roxbury.
This time it happened just before 3:30 am. The shop owner shared that photo of the stolen Kia Optima used to crash into the storefront – the burglars (up to five people, according to early police reporting) left it at the scene before getting away in another car. A nearby resident sent us this photo of that:
Something we noticed while at the store a little while ago – the concrete wheel stop in front of the store had been moved:
According to a police-radio exchange, the Kia was stolen in North Seattle. Previous Global Smoke & Vape crash-and-grabs we’ve covered in the past four weeks were <August 26th, September 6th, September 13th. and yesterday,
6:25 AM: SFD has a “full response” on scene in the 3400 block of 37th SW (vicinity map). Updates to come.
6:30 AM: Thanks to William for the photo above. He says this is an apartment building and firefighters pulled out a “burning mattress.”
6:50 AM: The response is down to a few units. We have a crew there checking on extent of damage and whether anyone was hurt.
(WSB photos from here)
7 AM: SFD tells us damage was confined mostly to the bed, and that no one was hurt.
ADDED THURSDAY: SFD tells us the fire’s cause was ruled “undetermined.”
7:16 AM: Crash reported on Highland Park Way hill. SPD and SFD responding.
7:48 AM: SFD has closed out the call.
Earlier:
6:01 AM: Good morning! It’s Wednesday, September 20th.
WEATHER AND SUNRISE/SUNSET TIMES
Cloudy and likely rainy morning, high in the mid-60s. Sunrise today is at 6:53 am; sunset, 7:11 pm.
TRANSIT TODAY – INCLUDING BONUS POST-CONCERT SERVICE
Metro – Regular schedule; check advisories here. Extra runs of RapidRide C and H Lines promised after tonight’s sold-out Coldplay concert at Lumen Field.
Water Taxi – Evening runs added to regular schedule because of the concert.
Washington State Ferries – 2-boat service on the Triangle Route. Check alerts for changes, and use Vessel Watch to see where your ferry is.
SPOTLIGHT TRAFFIC CAMERAS
Delridge cameras: Besides the one below (Delridge/Henderson), cameras are also at Delridge/Genesee, Delridge/Juneau, Delridge/Orchard, and Delridge/Oregon.
High Bridge – the main camera:
High Bridge – the view from its southwest end (when SDOT points the 35th/Avalon/Fauntleroy camera that way):
Low-bridge cam:
1st Ave. S. Bridge – alternate route across the river:
Highway 99: – northbound side at Lander.
MORE TRAFFIC CAMS: See all working traffic cams citywide here, most with video options; West Seattle and vicinity-relevant cameras are on this WSB page.
BRIDGE INFO: The @SDOTBridges Twitter/X feed shows whether the city’s movable bridges are opening for vessel traffic.
If you see trouble on the bridges/streets/paths/bay, please text or call us (when you can do it safely, and after you’ve reported to authorities). Thank you!
Three biznotes tonight:
(WSB photo)
BANH MI AT 35TH/HENDERSON: Thanks to Arlene for the tip! The former Indulge Desserts and Stuffed Cakes storefront at 35th/Henderson, between Goldie Lux and West Seattle Fish House, now has a “coming soon” sign up. The space at 9003 35th SW will soon be home to Banh Mi XO, promising sandwiches and tea. We have a message out to the Renton-based proprietors.
(Photo courtesy Shug’s)
SHUG’S GETTING OH-SO-CLOSE: Three months ago, we reported that Shug’s Soda Fountain was finally close to opening their “mini” location in the California/Charlestown spot they’ve held for five years. Now Shug’s says they’re expecting to open next month! The owners of Shug’s are West Seattleites, and they’ve had plenty of community involvement over that long wait – even pop-ups right outside – but this will be the long-awaited final step.
ADMIRAL VISION: One more quick followup: We told you last month about Dr. Peter Wu‘s new optometry practice at 2715 California SW, in the Admiral Station building, nect to West Seattle Realty (WSB sponsor). Dr. Wu tells us his clinic is now open – you can call or text 206-589-2882 for an appointment
They did it for Taylor Swift … for Beyoncé … and now they’re doing it for Coldplay: Adding later West Seattle Water Taxi trips so people going to the sold-out concert can get back here by water. From Metro‘s announcement for the added trips tomorrow (Wednesday, September 20th):
Heading home to West Seattle after the concert? The King County Water Taxi is scheduled for six trips from Pier 50 at starting at 7:30 p.m. (7:30 p.m., 8:30 p.m., 9:30 p.m., 10:30 p.m., 11:30 p.m. and 12:15 a.m.)
The water taxi will have five trips from West Seattle starting at 8 p.m. (8 p.m., 9 p.m., 10 p.m., 11:00 p.m. and 12:30 a.m.)
If you’d rather ride the bus, Metro says they’ll add trips on three RapidRide lines, including C and H, which serve West Seattle.
5:35 PM: In the fourth hour of today’s City Council meeting, councilmembers have just approved the bill that brings city law in line with state law, making public drug use potentially prosecutable. As reported last week, the bill co-sponsored by Councilmembers Lisa Herbold and Andrew Lewis states that diversion is preferable to prosecution. Supporters say that’s an improvement on state law. But opponents say this criminalizes a health problem and that the diversion preference is meaningless because the city is not spending the money it wil take to make treatment and services available. The three “no” votes were Councilmembers Teresa Mosqueda, Tammy Morales, and Kshama Sawant.
7:15 PM: If you want to see what city reps are saying about the vote, here are links to the news releases:
–What the mayor says
–What Councilmember Herbold (a yes vote and co-sponsor) says
–What Councilmember Mosqueda (citywide rep, a no vote) says
–What Councilmember Sara Nelson (citywide rep, a yes vote) says
3:24 PM: A trend that police warned about earlier this month has suddenly shown up in West Seattle today. Right now police are investigating two reported carjacking attempts involving the would-be carjackers rear-ending (or otherwise bumping) someone, and then trying to carjack the unsuspected victim. One attempt is reported to have happened at Spokane/Harbor, one at Harbor/California. Both are reported to have involved a white Lexus LS 450 sedan with three or four people inside described only as male and black or Hispanic, at least one with a gun. If you have any tips, call 911.
3:33 PM: The Guardian One helicopter is expected to join the search, so if you see/hear it, that’s why. One victim said the armed would-be carjacker was in a tan sweatsuit and had a light streak in his hair.
5:24 PM: No further incidents reported so far.
Sentencing is scheduled this Friday for Mohamed A. Yusuf, who hit and killed bicyclist Robb Mason on July 15, 2022, just east of the low bridge. We learned today from Mr. Mason’s widow Claudia that Yusuf, who is 21 – one-third the age of the man he killed – pleaded guilty last week to vehicular homicide and felony hit-and-run. We’ve subsequently obtained the court documents. In them, Yusuf admits, “I was speeding twice the posted limit and crossed into oncoming traffic and slammed into a bicyclist who was crossing at an intersection. I killed him and drove away. I never called the police or reported the crash.” Yusuf was charged five and a half months after hitting Mr. Mason while driving his Hyundai Elantra at 52 mph; the victim was riding home to Magnolia from his job as a West Seattle massage therapist. Detectives identified Yusuf through evidence including debris at the scene, video from a Metro bus, and online records indicating he was aware of what he had done and had been reading news reports about it. He has been on electronic home monitoring ever since his arraignment. According to the plea-bargain court document, the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office is recommending a sentence totaling 41 months – just under 3 1/2 years – which is the low end of the “standard range.” (Yusuf has no criminal history.) King County Superior Court Judge Andrea Darvas will sentence Yusuf at 1:45 pm Friday afternoon (September 22nd). Claudia Mason says anyone who wants to send a message to the judge before the sentencing can do so by the end of today via KCPAO victim advocate Kaili Brown at kaibrown@kingcounty.gov.
12:22 PM: If you’re up for early-afternoon whale-watching, Kersti Muul reports transient orcas are headed this way, southbound, toward the north edge of Elliott Bay at last report. They’re closer to the west side of the Sound, so you’d need binoculars. Let us know if you see them!
4:48 PM: Thanks to Jill Anderson for sending video of the orcas as seen off the Bainbridge ferry earlier!
Two crash-and-grab burglaries to report:
GLOBAL SMOKE & VAPE, AGAIN: The all-too-familiar photo is from Sam, who was first to tip us that Global Smoke & Vape at 35th/Roxbury was broken into again, fourth time in three and a half weeks. It happened around 5:15 am. According to archived police/dispatch audio, the shop owner got an alarm notification and called police while watching the burglary on a video feed. A vehicle was used. Its description wasn’t discussed over the air but we followed up with SPD and they say it appears to likely have been a white SUV. Previous break-ins were on August 26th, September 6th, and September 13th.
MR. O.G. IN WHITE CENTER: Thanks to Zac for the tip and photo.
Zac noticed last night that the cannabis store at 9823 15th SW had the telltale boarded-up front. That’s in King County Sheriff’s Office jurisdiction, so we checked with them this morning. They say a vehicle was used to break into the shop early Monday and the burglars left the vehicle (no description given) behind,
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