West Seattle, Washington
01 Thursday
6:00 AM: Good morning! It’s Friday, June 14 – one week until summer solstice (1:50 pm June 20).
WEATHER + SUNRISE/SUNSET TIMES
Partly sunny, chance of showers, high in the mid-60s.. Today’s sunrise was at 5:11 am again – earliest of the year, and won’t change until June 22 – while sunset will be at 9:08 pm.
LAST DAY OF SCHOOL FOR MANY
Today is the last day of school for many local parochial and independent schools, and it’s generally a short day. (A few schools are already out, including Explorer West Middle School [WSB sponsor] and Summit Atlas.) The last day of classes at Seattle Public Schools isn’t until next Friday.
WEEKEND EVENTS
Saturday: No major street closures for the Morgan Junction Community Festival, but the area around California/Fauntleroy will be busier.
Sunday: West Seattle Junction FC is home, 2 pm at Nino Cantu Southwest Athletic Complex (2801 SW Thistle), vs. Tacoma.
ONGOING ROAD WORK
*SDOT’s Delridge pedestrian-bridge earthquake-safety project continues, with narrowing at Delridge/Oregon:
*Beach Drive: Gas-pipeline work.
STADIUM ZONE
Mariners host the Rangers, 7:10 pm, followed by fireworks.
TRANSIT NOTES
Metro today – Regular schedule; check for advisories here.
Water Taxi today – Regular schedule. Check the real-time map if you need to see where the boat is. Friday night means later-night runs.
Washington State Ferries today – The usual 2 boats on the Triangle Route; check WSF alerts for last-minute changes. Use the real-time map to see where your ferry is. … Note that WSF is holding two online systemwide community meetings next week.
SPOTLIGHT TRAFFIC CAMERAS
Low bridge: Here’s the main view:
Delridge cameras: Besides the one below (Delridge/Orchard), cameras are also at Delridge/Genesee, Delridge/Juneau, Delridge/Henderson, Delridge/Oregon, and video-only (so you have to go to the map), Delridge/Holden and Delridge/Thistle.
High Bridge – Here’s the main camera:
High Bridge – the view from its southwest end (when SDOT points the 35th/Avalon/Fauntleroy camera that way):
1st Ave. S. Bridge:
Highway 99: – northbound side at Lander (sorry if it’s still malfunctioning – out of our control):
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!
Not much drama in Wednesday night’s 34th District Democrats‘ endorsements-focused meeting, with five weeks to go until ballots are mailed for the August 6 primary, Someone observed toward the meeting’s end that it was likely one of the shortest ever, less than two hours. Holding it online no doubt increased the efficiency, compared to paper ballots and counting tables. Also, endorsements for some key state/federal offices – most notably governor (they’re supporting Bob Ferguson) – were made in a block vote at a meeting earlier this spring.
Last night’s meeting also featured a block vote, in which the organization endorsed candidates including the incumbents for lieutenant governor, secretary of state, and superintendent of public instruction.
Two votes were contested – City Council citywide Position 8 and state Attorney General. The council race is for the final year of the unexpired term to which Teresa Mosqueda was elected (she decided to leave the city council to run for County Council, successfully). Councilmembers appointed Tanya Woo to fill the seat until the upcoming election. She is one of four people who filed to run for the unexpired year (after which the position will go back to voters for a full four-year term). All four candidates – Alexis Mercedes Rinck, Saunatina Sanchez, Tariq Yusuf, and Woo – were nominated for consideration, and all four made short pitches to the group. None is a West Seattleite, though Woo said she had attended Schmitz Park Elementary. The 34th DDs’ rules require 60 percent support for an endorsement; no one got that on the first ballot, which was split 32 for Mercedes Rinck, 21 for Woo, 9 for Sanchez, 3 for “no endorsement,” 1 for Yusuf. That sent Mercedes Rinck and Woo to a second ballot, from which Mercedes Rinck won the endorsement, 43 to 25 over Woo.
The other contested endorsement was for state Attorney General, with West Seattle resident and former regional U.S. Attorney Nick Brown vs. State Sen. Manka Dhingra, a King County senior deputy prosecutor. In speeches by those who nominated them, both were hailed as fighters who were ready to defend the people of Washington against whatever the future might bring. After two votes that were near-ties – with Brown a couple votes ahead of Dhingra both times – the group decided on a dual endorsement.
The third position that was the subject of a standalone vote was state Public Lands Commissioner, which Hilary Franz is leaving after two terms to run for Congress. Though he’s not the only Democrat in the race, King County Council chair Dave Upthegrove was the only candidate nominated for 34th DD endorsement consideration. He was the only candidate of the night to have anyone speak in opposition to him, a person who seemed to be blaming him for non-inclusive politics in Burien. Longtime 34th DDs member Chris Porter took issue with that, saying Upthegrove had long been intent on bringing more voices to the table. Ultimately, 67 voters supported endorsing Upthegrove, 10 voted for no endorsement.
WHAT’S NEXT: The West Seattle Democratic Women are having a forum with the four City Council Position 8 candidates at their meeting next Thursday. We haven’t heard of any other local forums yet.
Just got a note from Dave: “Brown water from our faucets tonight near Belvidere & Hinds.” No emergencies shown on the Seattle Public Utilities water-trouble map. Sometimes this can be first word of a problem – if it isn’t related to fire-hydrant testing – so always report it to SPU at 206-386-1800.
With a week and a half to go until the 2024 West Seattle Garden Tour, organizers say that if you haven’t already bought your ticket(s), it’s too late – that’s one of three community messages they asked us to share tonight:
Tickets for this year’s West Seattle Garden Tour are sold out. There are no more tickets available either online or at retail partners. We are grateful to everyone who has supported the West Seattle Garden Tour and our beneficiaries through the purchase of their ticket book and are looking forward to an incredible day in the gardens on Sunday, June 23rd.
For those who are interested in placing a bid in the auction on this year’s winning artwork, Pam Lustig’s Garden Pose (above) is on display at West Seattle Nursery along with the four finalists from our 2024 Art Competition until Thursday, June 20th. To learn more about the winning artist and Garden Pose, visit our website at westseattlegardentour.org/art-competition.
If you or someone you know works with a nonprofit organization in the greater Seattle area, we encourage you to apply for a grant. The deadline to apply for a grant from the West Seattle Garden Tour in 2025 is just four weeks away on July 15th. Eligibility, guidelines, and our application form can be found on our website at westseattlegardentour.org/apply-for-a-grant.
6:19 PM: The June West Seattle Art Walk is happening right now, all over the peninsula! Here’s the map/list of this month’s participants, with detailed previews here, and this month’s Art of Music lineup – three free mini-concerts 6 pm-7:45 pm – here. Our first stop of the night, West Seattle Grounds (2141 California SW) in North Admiral:
Bri High is the featured artist – she works in acrylic on canvas. Also at WSG, Lora Radford with her Wild at Heart pop-up:
She’s selling a variety of slip-cast-concrete items – functional art. A bit further south at 2237 California SW, Hawthorne Massage and Self-Care is featuring multimedia artist Cat Brooks:
To Cat’s left is a digital painting titled “Lilies from the Market” – created, Cat says, with tech tools “while I was sitting on the couch!” We’re off next to The Junction. Most Art Walk receptions – including the ones we’ve stopped at so far – are on till 8 pm, though some run later.
7:02 PM: We stopped at Great American Diner & Bar (4752 California SW) for a bit of Dublin Abbey‘s music:
They and the other two Art of Music performers are scheduled to keep playing until 7:45 pm.
P.S. The next Art Walk is the biggest one of the year – the West Seattle Summer Fest Eve Art Walk, where streets in The Junction are closed for festival setup and hosting special events including sidewalk cafés and entertainment. That’s on Thursday, July 11 – set that night aside! And speaking of Summer Fest …
… any time you’re in The Junction, walk through “Mural Alley” (the cut-through on the west side of California between Alaska and Edmunds) and revisit the ocean murals created during past festivals by community members working with artist Stacey Sterling!
In recent weeks, Southwest Precinct police have mentioned at community-council meetings that the precinct would soon change commanders. Today we’ve finally been able to confirm that. Capt. Krista Bair will take over next Tuesday (June 19). Online research indicates she is a 20+-year veteran of police work, with SPD roles including positions in the Sexual Assault/Domestic Violence Unit (updated: which she currently commands) and Office of Police Accountability. Capt. Martin Rivera, who has led the precinct since October 2021, will become “the new commander of the Violent Crimes Section,” according to SPD’s media team. Capt. Rivera tells WSB, “I am sad to go and will miss this beautiful community and the connections I have made.” He also confirms that Captain Bair will be the first female commander of the Southwest Precinct, which covers West Seattle and South Park. She was featured on the national website for the 30X30 Initiative aimed at advancing women in policing; read their Q&A with her here.
2:47 PM: You’ll recognize this stolen car if you see it. Reported by Emma:
Our Kia Soul was stolen last night, sometime between 11 PM 6/12 and 7:30 AM 6/13 from our neighborhood near the West Seattle Bridge. It’s a very distinctive blue car with a flame paint job and roof rack on it; we’re hoping that helps us recover it quickly. Please call 911 if you see the car.
Year/Make/Model: 2017 Kia Soul
Color: Blue with flames
VIN: (ends in 8518)
License Plate: BQU7212
Case number: 2024-160559
5 PM: As noted in comments, it was found in High Point along with another stolen car. Emma confirms it’s theirs and they’re headed over.
Thanks to Alison for the tip! Last year, the boba-and-more tea chain Happy Lemon opened a shop at Westwood Village (in the spot long held by Vatsana’s Thai Restaurant). 15 months later, they are opening another West Seattle shop, according to signage that just went up in the windows at 2718 Alki Avenue SW. That space has been vacant for six years, since Alki Cleaners ended its 19-year run. It’s had at least two preliminary plans since then – in 2021, a potential market, and last year, early-stage documents in city files suggested a pet store. Neither of those advanced, and now the Happy Lemon signage has turned up (no permit applications yet, though, but the new location is listed in the city business-license database). We have an inquiry out to Happy Lemon requesting details. The Happy Lemon website shows 20 Puget Sound-area locations already, from Lynnwood to Olympia.
Three West Seattle Crime Watch reports:
LATE-NIGHT GUNFIRE: Police confirm this morning that officers found evidence after responding to 911 calls about possible gunfire heard in the 6900 block of Delridge Way SW just after 11:30 last night. SPD says officers found casings in the street; no injuries and no damage. If you have any information, the incident number is 24-160321.
STOLEN MERCEDES: Elaina reports this black 2011 Mercedes C300 was stolen from outside Admiral Safeway on Wednesday.
Plate is CKG0382; police report # is 24-159934.
RACK THEFT: From a reader via email:
Our brand new Kuat Sherpa 2.0 car rack was stolen right off our vehicle parked on Fauntleroy Way in front of the Maris Apartments. It’s a very high hit zone as our car window was broken into parked on the same street a few months ago. The rack itself was locked into the tow hitch; it seems the criminals had some sort of tool to cut the lock off the tow hitch clean. Thankfully my car was not damaged but lesson learned, do not keep your rack attached, as annoying as it is to take it up with you. This happened between 2-8 am.
No report number yet on that incident. (ADDED FRIDAY: It’s 24-933130.)
(Bald Eagles off West Seattle, photo sent by Carol Ann Joyce)
Here’s the highlight list for the rest of your Thursday, mostly from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar!
SOUTH SEATTLE COLLEGE GARDEN CENTER: Need plants? The center is open Thursdays-Saturdays 10 am-3 pm, north end of the South Seattle College (6000 16th SW; WSB sponsor) campus.
LEVY LUNCH: The West Seattle Chamber of Commerce‘s monthly lunch meeting – 11:30 am at West Seattle Golf Course (4470 35th SW) – spotlights the city’s upcoming transportation levy, with reps for SDOT and Councilmember Rob Saka‘s office.
E-BOOKS ARE BACK: As announced by the Seattle Public Library on Wednesday, e-book access returns at noon today.
WEST SEATTLE UKULELE PLAYERS: All levels welcome to this weekly 1 pm gathering. Email we***************************@***il.com for info on where they’re playing today.
NORTHWEST WINE ACADEMY: Tasting room/wine bar now open Thursdays-Saturdays 1 pm-6 pm, north end of the South Seattle College (6000 16th SW; WSB sponsor) campus. Food too – drop by to sip and nosh!
STRONG BODIES, STRONG BONES: 2:30 pm class at what’s now the Center for Active Living (4217 SW Oregon).
HPCS FOOD-TRUCK VISIT: Every Thursday, 4-8 pm, Highland Park Corner Store (7789 Highland Park Way SW) gets a food-truck visit. Tonight it’s C. Davis Texas BBQ.
WEST SEATTLE ART WALK, WITH THE ART OF MUSIC: 5 pm “until late,” dozens of venues open their doors around West Seattle so you can visit, enjoy art, learn about local businesses – the Art Walk website has the artist/venue lineup, and we focused on a few stops in this preview. One major highlight: Three mini-concerts presented by The Art of Music, 6-7:45 pm – one in Admiral, one in The Junction, one in Morgan Junction – get full details on artists/venues here.
VISCON CELLARS: The West Seattle winery’s tasting room/wine bar is open 5-9 pm (5910 California SW; WSB sponsor) for wine by the glass or bottle.
WESTIES RUN CLUB: Meet at Good Society (California/Lander) at 6 pm for a 3-mile run.
HIGHLAND PARK RUN CLUB: 6:30 pm, meet at Highland Park Corner Store (7789 Highland Park Way SW) for a 3-mile run through the neighborhood. (Walking option, too!)
BLUES NIGHT: 6:30-9 pm at The Spot West Seattle (2920 SW Avalon Way), every Thursday you can listen to the blues.
RUB AT EASY STREET RECORDS: Rub performs live to celebrate their vinyl release, 7 pm, all ages, no cover.
OPEN MIC: 7 pm at C & P Coffee Company (5612 California SW; WSB sponsor), all genres welcome.
VINYL AND BEER: The Beer Junction hosts River Barrel Distributing with tunes spun by Nick Weitzel, 7 pm. No cover, just come on in! (4511 California SW)
TRIVIA: 7 pm at Burger Planet (9614 14th SW).
‘CLYDE’S’ AT ARTSWEST: 7:30 pm pm performance for the new play at ArtsWest (4711 California SW; WSB sponsor) – “In this 2022 Tony Award®-Nominated Best Play, creating the perfect sandwich is the shared quest of the formerly incarcerated kitchen staff of Clyde’s, a truck-stop cafe.” Find the ticket link and more info in our calendar listing.
Planning an event that should be on our calendar and in daily preview lists like this one? Email info to we*************@***il.com – thank you!
(WSB photo, Bubbleman at 2022 Morgan Junction Community Festival)
Saturday’s the day for this year’s Morgan Junction Community Festival, presented by the Morgan Community Association, in and around Morgan Junction Park (6413 California SW), 10 am-2 pm. This morning, two updates:
KIDS’ ACTIVITIES: This year, the festival expands back into the lot behind Whisky West and Zeeks Pizza, south of the park, where community organizations and businesses will be set up, including these booths/tables promising interactive activities for kids as well as info on what they do:
Poogooders, The Whale Trail, 34th District Democrats, Southwest Seattle Historical Society, Emergency HUBS, Gatewood Elementary School PTA, West Seattle Wonder Dogs, West Seattle Tool Library, Southwest Precinct
Families will want to be at the festival right at the start at 10 am – that’s when the legendary Bubbleman makes his Morgan Junction Community Festival return, followed by Magician Raymond at 10:50 am. (The full entertainment schedule is on the festival webpage.)
FESTIVAL PARKING: If you’re driving to the festival, we got word this morning that O’Neill Plumbing (WSB sponsor) is opening their nearby lot to festivalgoers, on the northeast corner of California/Graham. Here’s the plan, from proprietor Tim O’Neill:
A flagger and attendant will assist vehicles to enter on California Ave and exit out onto Graham St. We will have a sandwich board out on display also.
We will be on hand to open @ 9:30 and will be asking drivers to return to their vehicles by 2:30 so we can resecure our lot.
The festival zone is also right on multiple bus routes – including RapidRide C Line, 128, and 22. See you there! (WSB is the festival’s media sponsor.)
6:03 AM: Good morning! It’s Thursday, June 13 – one week until summer solstice (1:50 pm June 20).
WEATHER + SUNRISE/SUNSET TIMES
Mostly sunny, high in the upper 60s.. Today’s sunrise was at 5:11 am again – earliest of the year, and won’t change until June 22 – while sunset will be at 9:08 pm.
BOAT RAMP ALERT
Might get busy this morning at/around Don Armeni Boat Ramp – spot-shrimp fishing will be open again, just for a half-day, 9 am-1 pm.
LAST FULL DAY OF SCHOOL FOR MANY
Tomorrow is the last day of school for many local parochial and independent schools, and it’s generally a short day. (A few schools are already out, including Explorer West Middle School [WSB sponsor] and Summit Atlas.)
ONGOING ROAD WORK
*SDOT’s Delridge pedestrian-bridge earthquake-safety project continues, with narrowing at Delridge/Oregon:
*Beach Drive: Gas-pipeline work.
STADIUM ZONE
Mariners host the White Sox one more time, 6:40 pm, going for a sweep of the series.
TRANSIT NOTES
Metro today – Regular schedule; check for 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 last-minute changes. Use the real-time map to see where your ferry is. … Note that WSF is holding two online systemwide community meetings next week.
SPOTLIGHT TRAFFIC CAMERAS
Low bridge: Here’s the main view:
Delridge cameras: Besides the one below (Delridge/Orchard), cameras are also at Delridge/Genesee, Delridge/Juneau, Delridge/Henderson, Delridge/Oregon, and video-only (so you have to go to the map), Delridge/Holden and Delridge/Thistle.
High Bridge – Here’s the main camera:
High Bridge – the view from its southwest end (when SDOT points the 35th/Avalon/Fauntleroy camera that way):
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 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!
No major topics at June’s Fauntleroy Community Association board meeting, held at Fauntleroy Schoolhouse and online on Tuesday night, but we do have a few toplines from monitoring via Zoom:
FAUNTLEROY FERRY DOCK PROJECT: FCA’s ferry-issues point person Frank Immel said the next Community Advisory Group meeting for the dock-replacement project isn’t expected any sooner than July – the traffic studies they’ve been waiting for aren’t ready yet. (WSF is having systemwide general-info meetings next week, though – info on those is here.) He met recently with Ferries’ new boss Steve Nevey; FCA president Mike Dey says he has a conversation scheduled next week with our area’s State Sen. Joe Nguyễn.
FAUNTLEROY FALL FESTIVAL FUNDRAISER: Last month’s dine-out benefit at Endolyne Joe’s was deemed a success. The annual festival is entirely supported by donations and volunteers, so another dine-out benefit is under consideration, perhaps with Wildwood Market as well as Joe’s.
PLANTERS: FCA maintains the flower planters you might have noticed around the Endolyne mini-business district. They were recently replenished – with 19 volunteers, that took about an hour and a half.
WHAT’S NEXT: The FCA board meets most months on the second Tuesday at 6 pm. Watch fauntleroy.net for updates.
(WSB file photo)
The home of West Seattle’s history is also part of West Seattle history, so the Log House Museum is among the stops on a new Alki walking tour that the organization headquartered there, the Southwest Seattle Historical Society, is offering this summer. You have four options! Here’s the announcement, with the registration links for the by-donation, pay-what-you-can tours:
This summer, join the Southwest Seattle Historical Society for walking tours of Alki exploring local history. Learn about the peoples who have lived here and how settlement by various groups and individuals has left its mark on Alki. Visit historic and cultural sites in the area and discuss how our understanding of the area and its people continues to evolve.
Tours include stops at the Log House Museum, Fir Lodge/Alki Homestead, historic sites and monuments at Alki Beach, and Doc Maynard’s home in West Seattle.
Tours are offered rain or shine and include about one mile of walking with multiple stops. The tour is ADA accessible.
All tours begin and end at the Log House Museum at 3003 61st Ave SW.
Click on a date below to register. We are limited to only 20 people per date.
Saturday, June 22 11 am
Saturday, July 6 11 am
Saturday, July 27 11 am
Saturday, August 10 11 am
4:35 PM: Thanks for the tip! Power’s out for 147 customers in south Arbor Heights and The Arroyos, per the Seattle City Light map, which attributes the outage to “bird/animal contact.”
6 PM: It’s resolved, per the map, which had described it as starting just before 4:30; our tipster, however, says the power went out around noon.
Two and a half weeks into its technology crisis, the Seattle Public Library has big news this afternoon:
The Library is very happy to share that we have reached another important milestone in our recovery from a recent cybersecurity event. On Thursday, June 13 at 12 p.m. (noon), patrons will once again have access to the Library’s digital book collection through OverDrive and Libby.
The full announcement is here, including this caveat:
Please note that the Library has been unable to purchase new titles since prior to our technology outage. As a result:
*No titles published since May 21 will be available in our collection.
*Wait times may be longer than normal
*You may encounter some titles that have no copies available.
Here’s SPL’s newest update on where everything else stands.
Another festival this Saturday – but this one lasts all day, so you can get to this as well as the Morgan Junction Community Festival! West Seattle’s environmental-learning center/park Camp Long is inviting you to its 2024 Mountain Fest, 11 am-5 pm Saturday. The park’s famous climbing rock/wall is a major attraction, as is its challenge course:
But you don’t have to climb to have a good time at Mountain Fest – lots of free fun is promised for those who plan to keep both feet on the ground, too. Here’s the map of what they’re planning, and where. (For bird fans, note that The Falconer is scheduled to be there!) Get more Mountain Fest info from this Parkways post. Haven’t been to Camp Long? 5200 35th SW.
Two notes in West Seattle Crime Watch:
TEEN GUN ARREST FOLLOWUP: Around this time Monday, we reported on an Arbor Heights incident in which three people were seen at Seola Pond with at least one reportedly firing a gun into the water. Two people were detained nearby; one, who police say was found with a loaded gun, was arrested and booked into youth detention. The 16-year-old had a hearing on Tuesday, at which he was ordered to be on electronic home monitoring while a charging decision is pending – the deadline for that is tomorrow. He is under investigation for second-degree unlawful gun possession; the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office tells us a conviction on that charge carries a maximum sentence of 30 days in county-level juvenile detention, while state law requires four such convictions before a sentence in state-level juvenile detention is possible. Online court files show no previous record for the person arrested in this case.
STOLEN CAMPER: Also in Arbor Heights, reported by Daniel:
Yesterday, June 11th, between 11 am and 2 pm, our pop-up tent camper was stolen from directly in front of our home. At that time it did not have a hitch lock. More concerning, is during that time, both vehicles at the home were not present. Which leads me to believe that someone was monitoring our camper and waiting for a time when they assumed no one would be home.
It’s disheartening to think, as it leads me to believe that the thief lives within my community and could quite possibly be a neighbor. So please keep an eye out for this old, sentimental pop-up tent trailer. It has Rockwood written on the sides, and a whole bunch of stickers on the back. The only thing of value are the memories of teaching my daughter to enjoy camping and appreciate being outdoors.
Included is a picture of the camper. Please keep an eye out and call it in if you spot it. A police report was filed, incident #: 24-159522.
Please be vigilant, neighbors. Lock your doors and protect the things of value. There are criminals among us watching and waiting for that one time we let our guard down.
ADDED: The trailer’s plate is 2134ZJ.
UPDATE: As discussed in comments, thanks to a reader tip, Daniel has the trailer back!
Tomorrow night (Thursday, June 13) brings this month’s West Seattle Art Walk, with exhibits, artist receptions, food/drink specials, and music around the peninsula! Here’s this month’s venue list:
From this month’s detailed preview, six of the many reasons to go explore:
THE ART OF MUSIC X 3: Again this month, the Art Walk is for your ears as well as your eyes. Three free mini-concerts are set for 6-7:45 pm – north to south, Paul Gerard at Soprano’s Antico in Admiral (2348 California SW), Dublin Abbey at Great American Diner and Bar in The Junction (4752 California SW), and Alex Baird at Whisky West in Morgan Junction (6451 California SW). Find out more about them here.
QUILTS: Artists show in many media during each Art Walk, but it’s not often you’ll see quilts! Local quilter/artist/entrepreneur Julia Douthwaite Viglione will bring hers to John L. Scott in The Junction (4445 California SW), where oil painter Stephanie Scott will also be featured, 5-8 pm reception.
SEA LIFE: Love what lives in our waters? Painter Debbie Bianchi shows her work at CAPERS Home (4511 California SW), during a “5 pm until late” reception.
CITY LIFE: That’s the theme of the four-artist show at Alki Arts in north Morgan Junction (6030 California SW), which you can check out during their 5-8 pm reception on Art Walk night..
ABSTRACT AFAR, REALISTIC UP CLOSE: Do a double-take to get the full scope of BethAnn Lawson‘s work during her reception at Canna West Seattle, 5-8 pm (5435 California SW; WSB sponsor).
WILD AT HEART: Still seeking Father’s Day gift(s)? Lora Radford‘s pop-up offers stoneware including business-card holders and bowls. Find her – plus painter Bri High and musician Steve Thiele – at West Seattle Grounds in North Admiral (2141 California SW).
See you out on the Art Walk! (WSB is a co-sponsor.)
(More spring flowers, photographed by Waikikigirl)
Here’s the highlight list for the rest of today/tonight, mostly from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
FOOD DRIVE: The almost-daily summer food-donation drive continues at Admiral Church (4320 SW Hill) – you can drop off nonperishable items until noon.
TODDLER READING TIME: 10:30 am Wednesdays at Paper Boat Booksellers (6040 California SW).
SPRAYPARK: Highland Park Spraypark (1100 SW Cloverdale) is open every day, 11 am-8 pm, free.
BORDER BOOK AUTHOR AT C & P: Author Sarah Towle is at C & P Coffee (5612 California SW; WSB sponsor) 4-6 pm to talk about her new book addressing a very timely issue:
Just when the debate could not be more divisive, deceptive, or disturbing, Sarah Towle‘s “Crossing the Line: Finding America in the Borderlands” offers a timely, urgent, and engaging exposé of the human costs of US immigration policies and practices. Join Sarah and West Seattle family and friends at C&P Coffee Company for readings and discussion of the US deterrence to detention to deportation complex that is failing everyone — save the demagogues and profiteers who benefit from it.
More info in our calendar listing.
FIX-IT WORKSHOP: Fix it, don’t toss it! Weekly event, free (but donations appreciated), 5:30-7:30 pm at West Seattle Tool Library (4408 Delridge Way SW, northeast side of Youngstown Cultural Arts Center).
AT EASY STREET RECORDS: Listening party for David Bowie: Rock ‘n’ Roll Star, 6 pm, free, all ages, “exclusive freebies while supplies last.”
FREE ART CLASS: Watercolor mixed-media class, at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center (4408 Delridge Way SW), 6-8 pm.
FREE GROUP RUNS: The weekly West Seattle Runner (2743 California SW; WSB sponsor) group run welcomes all levels – meet at the shop by 6:15 pm.
TRIVIA x 5: Five places to play tonight. One night only, travel-trivia fundraiser for Crooked Trails, 6 pm at Great American Diner & Bar (4752 California SW) … At 6 pm, Locust Cider (2820 Alki SW) offers trivia … Larry’s Tavern (3405 California SW) hosts Wednesday-night trivia starting at 7:30 pm … Quiz Night begins at 8 pm at Beveridge Place Pub (6413 California SW) … and at 8:30 pm, trivia with Phil T at Talarico’s (4718 California SW).
‘ULTIMATE CITIZENS’ SCREENING: As previewed here, West Seattle filmmaker Francine Strickwerda‘s award-winning film Ultimate Citizens“ is being shown at the Admiral Theater, 6:30 pm, presented by the Lafayette Elementary Ultimate Frisbee team, including a filmmaker Q&A.
34TH DISTRICT DEMOCRATS: 6:30 pm online meeting focusing on endorsements; registration link is in our calendar listing.
LIVE MUSIC AT THE LOCOL: 6:30 pm. 21+. Rotating performer slate. (7902 35th SW)
MUSIC BINGO: Play weekly at The Good Society (California/Lander), 7 pm.
YOGA IN THE PARK: Two West Seattle teachers begin a series of Wednesday night outdoor-yoga events at Myrtle Reservoir Park (35th/Myrtle), 7:30 pm.
SKYLARK OPEN MIC: 7:30 pm signups for West Seattle’s longest-running open mic. (3803 Delridge Way SW)
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 so we can get it onto West Seattle’s only comprehensive event calendar! we*************@***il.com – thank you!
6:00 AM: Good morning! It’s Wednesday, June 12.
WEATHER + SUNRISE/SUNSET TIMES
Clearing, high in the mid-60s.. Today’s sunrise was at 5:11 am again – unchanging, earliest of the year, until June 22 – while sunset will be at 9:07 pm.
ONGOING ROAD WORK
*SDOT’s Delridge pedestrian-bridge earthquake-safety project continues, with narrowing at Delridge/Oregon:
*Beach Drive: Gas-pipeline work.
STADIUM ZONE
Mariners host the White Sox again, 6:40 pm.
TRANSIT NOTES
Metro today – Regular schedule; check for 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 last-minute changes. Use the real-time map to see where your ferry is. … Note that WSF is holding two online systemwide community meetings next week.
SPOTLIGHT TRAFFIC CAMERAS
Low bridge: Here’s the main view:
Delridge cameras: Besides the one below (Delridge/Orchard), cameras are also at Delridge/Genesee, Delridge/Juneau, Delridge/Henderson, Delridge/Oregon, and video-only (so you have to go to the map), Delridge/Holden and Delridge/Thistle.
High Bridge – Here’s the main camera:
High Bridge – the view from its southwest end (when SDOT points the 35th/Avalon/Fauntleroy camera that way):
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 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!
Though the Sound Transit Board is still at least a few months away from its final decision about a West Seattle light-rail route, the city is moving full speed ahead on its share of the plan – designing how the areas around the likely station locations will change. Latest example: A new survey asks you to take a look at the “street-concept plan” for the three station areas in West Seattle.
The survey link first appeared on X/Twitter; after spotting it there, we asked SDOT for more information. Spokesperson Mariam Ali says SDOT is working on the street-concept plan with the Office of Planning and Community Development, “in consultation with Sound Transit” and incorporating previously received community feedback. Before you start the survey, in which you can give feedback on street concepts for one, two, or all three station areas, she offered a little more context:
What Are Street Concept Plans? Street concept plans illustrate how streets could look in the future with specific improvements, such as trees and landscaping, distinct paving options, relocated curbs, and features like benches or unique lighting. To learn more about how SDOT uses Street Concept Plans, visit Seattle Streets Illustrated.
What’s Happening in West Seattle? SDOT and OPCD are creating a street concept plan for the areas around the future light rail stations in West Seattle. This plan provides a vision and guidance for how streets will look and function when light rail opens. The concepts included in the street concept plan will be used to develop designs for future projects that enhance walking, biking, and transit access around these station areas.
Community Involvement: Community members are encouraged to provide feedback through a survey. This feedback will help refine the vision for these streets. Additionally, more information about the plan, the City’s role in advancing light rail in West Seattle, and the option to sign up for an email listserv can be found on the City’s West Seattle and Ballard Link Extension webpage.
If you don’t have time to answer it now, we recommend saving the link and taking a look when you can spare a bit of time – the concepts have many proposed features, such as a vehicle-free “plaza” section of 42nd SW by the Junction station entrance. What you’ll see aren’t full station designs – just the concepts for key streets/intersections nearby.
ADDED WEDNESDAY: If, like one commenter, you’d like to see the images without answering the survey (yet), we asked SDOT, and they’ve sent this PDF version of the survey, images included, replies not required. Also, there’s now a webpage from which the survey is linked – and there’s word of two opportunities to talk with SDOT in person this weekend, one at Roxhill Park at Saturday, another at the Farmers’ Market on Sunday.
CenturyLink says it has restored service to everyone affected by a multi-day outage blamed on wire vandals/thieves. But the company won’t say much else. We heard about this from customers on Pigeon Point, where the outage apparently hit the hardest. SPD finally released some information on Monday, saying it got word of the situation around 10 pm last Thursday, when a CenturyLink employee called “to report a burglary at one of their vaults under the West Seattle Bridge, located at the 2300 block of SW Spokane Street.” The SPD summary says officers were told that “fiber optics and copper wiring (was) cut,” with damage estimated at up to $200,000, and that the company had received an alarm around 6:30 that night. Though a CenturyLink spokesperson wouldn’t comment to us on how many customers were affected, the SPD summary says, “The fiber optics provide internet and phone service for customers covering parts of West Seattle all the way south to White Center and east to 1st Avenue.” Plus, police say, they were “informed by the technicians that a similar incident occurred in Tacoma about two weeks ago.” We haven’t found information on that but did find this newspaper report about one on the Key Peninsula last summer, and this TV story from two months ago noting that as of early April, CenturyLink (aka Lumen) had almost 70 incidents like this in the region – one-third of what had been reported nationwide.
One Pigeon Point resident we heard from says they and neighbors want to know what the company’s doing to beef up security; the spokesperson wouldn’t comment to us on that either, aside from saying, “In terms of security, CenturyLink has an excellent relationship with local authorities. We pride ourselves on being a good member of the community, and law enforcement has done an excellent job in responding to our concerns about copper theft. We work closely with law enforcement to find and fully prosecute those responsible for these criminal acts. Anyone witnessing a theft in action should call 911.” (If you have any information for police on this incident, the case # is 24-152931.)
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