West Seattle, Washington
27 Wednesday
(Photos/video by Tom Trulin)
Shown above is the first outbound salmon smolt of the season spotted in one of Fauntleroy Creek‘s new traps this morning, and released to saltwater moments later. This year’s smolt research will use traps designed, built, and installed as part of an Eagle Scout project. Judy Pickens of the Fauntleroy Watershed Council tells the story:
Every spring, coho smolts leave Fauntleroy Creek to feed in Fauntleroy Cove before heading farther afield for their two years in saltwater, and every year since 2003, volunteers have been counting them as they leave.
This annual research requires designing two soft net traps, building them, installing them in the upper and lower creek, and monitoring them twice daily to count and release the smolts.
Ben Vornbrock ably accomplished three of these tasks for his Eagle Scout project, and being from a family that builds helped (Vornbrock & Sons Construction). After consulting with creek volunteers Dennis Hinton and Tom Trulin about trap design, he reviewed it with dad Dan and granddad Greg and assembled the materials. Other Scouts from Troop 284 joined them creekside last Wednesday (March 13) to assemble and install the traps.
Monitors will check the traps twice daily into mid May. The upper trap will catch smolts from school releases last spring in Fauntleroy Park. The lower trap will catch those coming out of the middle reach of the creek, as well as home hatch from fall 2022 spawning in the lower creek.
“Because this is important research, we ask everyone not to tamper with the traps,” Dennis advised. “If you happen to see one of us checking a trap, we’ll be happy to explain what we’re doing and why.”
(WSB photo, Sunday morning)
After more brown water this weekend – including at WSB HQ – blamed on hydrant testing, which stirs up “sediment” (mostly rust) in the lines, we checked with SFD to see if they had any stats on the number of hydrants tested, and if they could recap the policy. Here’s the reply we received from SFD spokesperson Kristin Hanson:
Per our department policy, hydrants are not inspected when temperatures are below 35 degrees to comply with cold weather procedures, so many stations likely saw a “bright” opportunity with the sunshine this weekend to get started. We inspect all hydrants on an annual basis, typically between the hours of 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Hydrant inspections within neighborhoods is dependent on when the fire station is able to work it into their schedule (with call volume, scheduled training, etc.).
We do keep an internal dashboard for hydrants that tracks the completed hydrant inspections for each fire station district. At this time it isn’t available to the public, and is not updated in real-time so it wouldn’t be of use to alert residents in advance to inspections in their neighborhood. To that point, you mentioned that you saw Engine 37 testing hydrants yesterday; however, that has not been updated in the dashboard. For 2024, it appears the majority of our stations have yet to begin (or not yet recorded) hydrant inspections. We do however, have crews contact the SPU Hydrant Inspection Messaging Line prior to flowing water into the barrel of a City-owned hydrant for non-emergency purposes, including conducting annual hydrant inspections, drilling, refilling the booster tank, or flow testing for the Fire Prevention Division.
Hydrant testing isn’t the only potential cause of brown water, though, so even if you think that’s the cause, please notify Seattle Public Utilities’ hotline – 206-386-1800 – it may be first word of a line break or other problem.
(Photos courtesy John Bennett)
A milestone birthday for a West Seattle restaurant! Luna Park Café (2918 SW Avalon Way) is celebrating 35 years in business. Owner John Bennett sent photos, including the ones below “from 1988 when I gutted Pat and Ron’s Tavern to build the restaurant.”
You can read more Luna Park history – including its namesake amusement park, located a short distance north more than a century ago – on the LPC website. The café is currently open for breakfast and lunch, 8 am-3 pm daily, but Bennett says they’re “hopefully opening for dinner this spring.”
(Weekend early-early-morning moonset over Elliott Bay, photographed by Robert Spears)
Here’s the list for the rest of today/tonight, mostly from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
CITY COUNCIL BRIEFING MEETING: 2 pm at City Hall, the weekly meeting in which councilmembers talk about their plans for the week ahead. Here’s the agenda. Watch live via Seattle Channel.
TODDLER GYM PLAYTIME: Free indoor drop-in playspace 3-5 pm at the Salvation Army Center. (9050 16th SW).
GET CRAFTY: 6-10 pm, Monday brings “Crafting and Creativity Night” at The Missing Piece (9456 35th SW), info here.
D&D: Open D&D starts at 6:30 pm at Meeples Games (3727 California SW), all welcome, first-time players too. $5.
MONDAY NIGHT COMEDY: The monthly show at Otter on the Rocks (4210 SW Admiral Way) is tonight, headlined by Kermit Apio, with some tickets still available as of publication time – 7 pm, 21+.
MONDAY NIGHT TRIVIA! Three options tonight – 7 pm at The Good Society (California/Lander); 7 and 8 pm Sporcle Pub Quiz at Three 9 Lounge (4505 39th SW); 7:30 pm with QuizFix at The Skylark (3803 Delridge Way SW)
MEDITATION IN FAUNTLEROY: Free weekly Zen sitting/meditation at the chapel at Fauntleroy UCC (9140 California SW), 7 pm-8:30 pm.
MEDITATION ON ALKI: The Alki Dharma Community invites you to Alki UCC (6115 SW Hinds) for meditation. 7 pm.
MUSIC AT THE ALLEY: Live music with The Westside Trio, 8 pm at The Alley (behind 4509 California SW), 21+, no cover.
KARAOKE: 9 pm, Monday night karaoke at Talarico’s Pizzeria (4718 California SW).
Have a West Seattle/White Center event to add to our calendar and/or Holiday Guide? Please send info to westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
One of our area’s volunteer-powered nonprofits could use more help. Here’s what the Senior Center of West Seattle asked us to share with you:
The Senior Center of West Seattle is currently looking for volunteers to fill several different vacancies at their Junction location. Current volunteer needs:
–Café attendant (take and fill soup/sandwich/food orders): Wednesdays from 8:30 to 12.
–Stop and Shop (retail clerk): various days/times
–Kitchen assistant (chop/prep/run a commercial dishwasher): various dates/times
–Westside Friends (in-home visits to seniors to socialize and/or assist with simple home tasks) various days/times
For more information contact their Volunteer Coordinator, Danny, at dannyp@soundgenerations.org or complete a volunteer application at Volunteer – Senior Center of West Seattle.
No previous experience necessary, training provided.
6:04 AM: Good morning! It’s Monday, March 18th, last full day of winter.
WEATHER + SUNRISE/SUNSET TIMES
A slight cooldown after a weekend with record warmth in the 70s both days. More sunshine expected today, but temps are projected to top out in the low 60s. Sunrise will be at 7:14 am, sunset at 7:20 pm.
(Sunday sunset – photo by Dan Ciske)
TRANSIT NOTES
Metro today – Regular schedule; check advisories here.
Water Taxi today – Regular schedule. Check the real-time map if you need to see where the boat is.
Washington State Ferries today – The usual 2 boats on the Triangle Route. Check WSF alerts for changes. Use the real-time map to see where your ferry is.
SPOTLIGHT TRAFFIC CAMERAS
Delridge cameras: Besides the one below (Delridge/Orchard), cameras are also at Delridge/Genesee, Delridge/Juneau, Delridge/Henderson, 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:
1st Ave. S. Bridge:
Highway 99: – northbound side at Lander:
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 opening for vessel traffic.
If you see a problem on the bridges/streets/paths/water, please text or call us (when you can do that safely, and after you’ve reported to authorities if they’re not already on scene). Thank you!
The Fauntleroy Community Association‘s board meeting this past week wasn’t the organization’s biggest event this month. Tuesday (March 19) is the annual membership meeting known as Food Fest, and next Sunday (March 24) brings the FCA’s spring egg hunt. Those are among the toplines from this past Tuesday’s board meeting:
FOOD FEST: Local eateries and nonprofits will be at The Hall at Fauntleroy (9131 California SW) for FCA members and other residents who attend this big event, 6-8 pm Tuesday, with a brief business meeting at 7 pm to elect officers for the coming year.
EGG HUNT: The plan for this year’s hunt at Fauntleroy Schoolhouse (9131 California SW) is different: Participants will sign in before it starts at 1 pm, and organizers will divide the number of eggs by the number of participants to set a limit for eggs per child. The littlest ones will go first. So don’t be late! Reminder, this is a non-candy egg hunt – we’re told the eggs will contain trinkets, stickers, and tchotchkes. (As noted in our preview, hunt planner Candace Blue could use more volunteers!)
45TH SW CULVERT PROJECT: Following up on last weekend’s informational event, Jonathan Brown from Seattle Public Utilities came to the meeting to answer questions about the Fauntleroy Creek culvert project. Most centered on the timeline length and the traffic issues that will result from having to dig up 45th SW. Brown said it’s too soon for specifics. He also said he doesn’t have info about the second phase of the plan, the culvert work under both private and public property at California SW – the 45th SW segment is the focus first. (Reminder: The project’s online community survey remains open here.)
SPEAKING OF SURVEYS: The board reviewed a draft of results from its latest community survey, to which more than 570 people responded, more than the previous one. The concerns are similar to those from the last survey two years ago – public safety, traffic, the ferry-dock expansion.
AND ABOUT THE DOCK: The FCA board’s point person on Washington State Ferries issues, Frank Immel, reported that he’s working with Vashon Island counterparts to develop a “more unified voice” when dealing with WSF, and to find more common ground. (The Fauntleroy dock project’s Community Advisory Group meets again, online, at 6 pm this Wednesday.)
WHAT’S NEXT: To recap – Food Fest on Tuesday, egg hunt on Sunday, next board meeting April 9.
Almost a year after a group of West Seattle High School students came to a meeting with former School Board rep Leslie Harris to ask for support forming a water-polo team, the team is launched, and the swimmers have played their first official full-length game, after starting the season with a jamboree. Jennifer, who sent the photo and update, tells us the team won the game against Northshore on Friday, 8-4. Their next game is on Wednesday, March 27, at 3 pm versus Shorewood at Innis Arden Pool in Shoreline. They’re playing home games at Medgar Evers Pool in the Central District. The team, coached by Truly Dorland, also expresses gratitude to everyone who donated during their recent fundraiser; you can support them via wsbooster.com (specify “water polo”) – since theirs is a “club sport,” they have to raise their own funding,
From the inbox – a possibly stolen/dumped passport was found by someone who’s hoping to get it back to its owner:
I found someone’s passport on the grass strip west of the car wash. Between 35th and 36th, SW Graham. It was by itself. I will send it to the U.S. Department of State Consular Lost and Stolen Passport Unit (CLASP) … if I don’t hear back.
If it might be yours, email us and we’ll connect you to the finder.
(Last year’s spring-equinox event)
After a record-for-the-date high temperature Saturday (74) and more 70-degree weather today, you might feel like spring has already arrived. But it’s not here officially until the equinox moment – 8:06 pm Tuesday (March 19) – which will be immediately preceded by an only-in-West Seattle way to celebrate: Change-of-seasons sunset watch with expert skywatcher/educator Alice Enevoldsen. Alice will be at Solstice Park (uphill from the tennis courts at 7400 Fauntleroy Way SW) starting at 6:30 pm Tuesday; the official sunset time is 7:22 pm, but the sun is likely to vanish behind the Olympics around 7 pm. Alice has been leading these gatherings for 15+ years, and it’s a fun way both to find out what exactly “equinox” (or solstice, during winter/summer) means, as well as seeing why Solstice Park has its name (being there right at sunset – providing the sun’s not obscured by clouds – is a must).
You might have seen that green-clad group running in the morning sun around Admiral – they were out on the Leprechaun Leg Group Run organized by West Seattle Runner (WSB sponsor) proprietors Lori and Tim McConnell:
The costume contest winner – by a vote of everybody participating – was Colleen:
This pup joined the fun:
They headed out from Hiawatha:
And afterward, nearby Good Society Brewing and Public House opened early for the runners to stop in. Along with special events like this, West Seattle Runner hosts free weekly runs too – they’re always featured in our event calendar and daily lists.
The photo is from Meagan Loftin, who noted, “Leprechauns have been out on 41st Ave again. The green stripe is refreshed.” This is a St. Patrick’s Day tradition on 41st SW north of Admiral Way. We went by this morning for a look, too, and photographed the shamrock at the stripe’s end near SW Hill:
Who are the paint-equipped leprechauns? That remains a mystery. When we showed it 15 years ago, a commenter said this tradition dates back to the 1970s!
Thanks to Lynn Hall for the photos! The car that went into Elliott Bay off Duwamish Head very early Saturday morning has just been pulled out, after this tow crew showed up.
They had police assistance on the water side:
And the flatbed will take it away:
The car was fully visible on the beach at low tide Saturday evening, as shown in photos added to our original coverage. We’ll be following up with police tomorrow on the status of the driver, a man in his early 20s who was not seriously hurt, and with Seattle Parks on whether any seawall/beach damage will need repairs.
ADDED MONDAY: SPD confirmed today that the driver was arrested for investigation of DUI.
9:53 AM: This time it’s happening here in Upper Fauntleroy, about a mile south of the Gatewood report from Saturday; since early this morning, the water has looked like iced tea. Nothing on the Seattle Public Utilities map. We just got through to SPU’s hotline – 206-386-1800 – and they blame early-morning hydrant testing.
11:26 AM: To be specific, SPU said the hydrant testing was at a “record” pace, and apparently they weren’t exaggerating: We passed firefighters opening two hydrants in Morgan Junction and en route to a third.
(WSB photo)
Browse our list to see what’s up today/tonight, mostly from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
GIRL SCOUT COOKIES: Final day for cookie booths at various locations. Search here for your nearest locations.
MINI-POLAR PLUNGE: 9 am every Sunday, you’re welcome to join a group plunge into Puget Sound off Alki – meet at Statue of Liberty Plaza (61st/Alki).
WEST SEATTLE FARMERS’ MARKET: 10 am-2 pm, the market is open as usual on California SW between SW Alaska and SW Oregon, offering late-winter vegetables and fruit, plus cheese, fish, meat, baked goods, condiments, fresh-cooked food, beverages (from cider to kombucha to beer/wine), nuts, candy, more! Here’s today’s vendor list.
SMALL BIZ POP-UP MARKET: While you’re in The Junction, go into Jet City Labs (4547 California SW) to browse vendors, enjoy music, more, 10 am-2 pm.
DONATION DRIVE: Men’s work clothes are especially needed in this month’s donation drive at Alki UCC (6115 SW Hinds), 11 am-3 pm – drop off your donation(s) at the courtyard.
WEST SEATTLE TOOL LIBRARY: Need to borrow something for a home project? Visit the WSTL 11 am-4 pm. (4408 Delridge Way SW, northeast side of Youngstown Cultural Arts Center)
JOB FAIR: 11 am-3 pm at Steve Cox Memorial Park (1321 SW 102) in White Center, the DubSea Fish Sticks baseball team welcomes candidates for a variety of jobs.
WESTIES RUN CLUB: Meet at a later-than-usual time, 11 am at rotating locations – today it’s Highland Park Corner Store (7789 Highland Park Way SW).
‘HIGHLAND PARK PUB’: Speaking of HPCS, it’s transforming into Highland Park Pub for St. Patrick’s Day, noon-4 pm – green beer, baked-potato bar, more!
MORE ST. PATRICK’S DAY FUN: Ounces (3809 Delridge Way SW) is hosting a St. Patrick’s Day party (noon-7 pm) and scavenger hunt (noon-1:30 pm) today.
ART EXHIBITION: Third weekend for Lucha Libre-themed show at South Delridge’s Nepantla Cultural Arts Gallery (9414 Delridge Way SW). Open today noon-6 pm.
MAGICAL STRINGS: St. Patrick’s Day concert at Kenyon Hall (7904 35th SW), 3 pm – check to see if they still have tickets.
BENEFIT DINNER FOR JUSTIN CLINE’S FAMILY: As previewed here, Itto’s restaurateur Khalid Agour is hosting a dinner at the West Seattle Eagles (4426 California SW), 5-7:30 pm, to raise money for the family of Justin Cline, the Full Tilt Ice Cream co-founder who died two weeks ago at age 49. All welcome, all ages, $30 (cash only) donation for dinner; fundraising auction, too.
LIVE MUSIC AT THE ALLEY: See and hear the Triangular Jazztet at The Alley (4509 California SW), 8-10 pm.
Are you planning something that should be on our community event calendar – one-time or recurring? Please email us the basics – westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
10:59 PM: Seattle Fire has a “rescue extrication” response arriving at The Mount (4831 35th SW) after a report of a vehicle over an embankment. First arriving unit reports “vehicle over a small wall.” Updates to come.
(Added: Photo by Kevin Freitas)
11:04 PM: Firefighters told dispatch they got the driver out safely. The response is being downsized.
ADDED SUNDAY: SFD confirms the driver, who they say was an “adult female,” was not hurt.
(WSB photos/video)
It’s International Women’s History Month, and the Vietnamese Cultural Center in West Seattle paid tribute today to two women with a major role in Vietnam’s history: The Trưng sisters (Hai Bà Trưng), Trưng Trac and Trưng Nhi, lived 2,000 years ago; born into a nation under Chinese rule, they organized an army to fight back and drive their oppressors out. The sisters are celebrated each year with a holiday. Today’s commemoration at the center included a procession by women bearing flowers:
Minh Thy told the story of the heroic sisters:
Participants sang a song in the sisters’ honor, “Trưng Nữ Vương và Cô Gái”:
This is one of the events held each year at the Vietnamese Cultural Center (2236 SW Orchard).
Others are listed here, including next month’s memorial for the soldiers lost in the Vietnam War.
Six West Seattleites are back from one of the marathons that comprise what’s known as “the most prestigious distance running series in the world.” The achievement completed the series for two of them – including, for a second time, Joe Drake, who sent the report and photo:
(Photo By Antoine Smith)
Residents of West Seattle – from left in above photo, Des Lee, Sarang Shamshery, Patti Shuster, Joe Drake, Sokphal Tun, and Erik Nakich (not pictured) – trekked to Japan this month to run in the 2024 Tokyo Marathon. All of them are avid fans of our favorite running store, West Seattle Runner.
Tokyo is one of six cities that host the annual World Marathon Majors, the premier events for runners worldwide. Completing all six of them to earn the coveted Six-Star Medal is a bucket list item for many marathoners, a journey that often requires several years of planning and training to knock off. Patti Shuster earned her Six-Star Medal in Tokyo. She had been working toward it for the past two and a half years. Joe Drake took home a second one after picking up his first last year in Tokyo.
The others have some work to do to complete their missions. Erick Nakich has only London standing in his way. Sokphal Tun’s finale will be in New York City, someday, after she takes on Chicago later this year. Desmond Lee is halfway there and is strategizing as to which of his remaining cities – Berlin, London, or New York City – will make the best backdrop for his Six-Star Medal photo. (updated) Sarang Shamshery just began his journey with two majors (Chicago and Tokyo) and plans to enjoy the ride to collect the remaining stars as he and his wife are expecting a child in a couple of months and he will be a busy man. You may see him training with a stroller on Hiawatha track every Tuesday!
For more on the World Marathon Majors, see this link.
West Seattle musician Wicked Mouth has recorded their first album and asked us to help share it with potential listeners. Here’s their announcement and links:
Local North Delridge singer-songwriter Wicked Mouth has released their debut album, Wildfire. Listeners are describing the album as “poetic, quirky, deep, vintage, and hopeful.”
Wicked Mouth is the stage name of Joshua Goupil, a Washington native. Their songs have a classic and nostalgic feel, with moods that evoke several decades, genres, and atmospheres. Their poetic lyrics delve into topics such as queerness, coming out, intimacy, self-reflection, spirituality, and mental health, inviting listeners to join their journey of self-discovery and expression.
Wildfire was recorded and produced by local performer and producer Jared Mitchell=”” at Sound Life Studios in West Seattle and was mastered by Stephen Van Etten in Nashville, TN.
You can stream the album, see the music video for the track “Wicked Mouth,” and connect with the artist here.
(Alki UCC photo from February)
That’s what generous donors gave during Alki UCC‘s monthly donation drive in February – and tomorrow (Sunday) is your next chance to help! Here’s the announcement:
Alki UCC Donation Drive this Sunday, March 17
6115 SW Hinds
11:00 am to 3:00 pm
Front CourtyardMen’s work clothes donations are the priority need: jeans, khakis, hoodies, outerwear for cold weather, boots, socks, layering pieces.
Your donations of food, clothing and outdoor gear are distributed through the Westside Interfaith Network (WIN) Saturday lunch, hosted in White Center.
Deepest gratitude to our community for your generous support of our neighbors in need.
Eight weeks from today, right about now, we’ll be wrapping up this year’s West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day 2024 – and registration starts soon. WSCGSD will be on Saturday, May 11, this year – always the second Saturday in May, with registration opening April 1. Watch WSB that day for the announcement and link. If you’re new, WSCGSD – coordinated by WSB since 2008, three years after it began – is one day with many sales of all sizes, all over the peninsula, in garages and yards and schools and courtyards and community rooms and parking lots and businesses and driveways and … (Here’s WSB coverage of last year’s WSCGSD, with a sample.) We provide a map/guide to all the sales, available a week before WSCGSD so shoppers can start planning. To recap those dates to remember – Monday, April 1, registration begins; Saturday, May 11, sale day! Official hours are 9 am-3 pm; some sellers start earlier and some wrap up later.
For the second day, orcas are in the area. Kersti Muul texted earlier this morning that they were southbound but already passing Arbor Heights; then another texter reported less than an hour ago they were northbound passing Vashon. Orca Network commenters are seeing them off west-facing West Seattle too. Let us know if you see them!
Per a text, discolored water is happening in the 6700 block of 41st SW. No incidents on the Seattle Public Utilities map so far, but if/when it happens to you, it’s always important to report it – SPU’s 24-hour number for this is 206-386-1800 – because your report might be first word of a problem. (Another common cause: Hydrant testing stirring up sediment, aka rust, in the pipes.)
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