West Seattle, Washington
06 Tuesday
(Reader photo from High Point branch closure last Sunday)
You’ll soon see signs like that one more often at local libraries – at least for a while. One year after the Seattle Public Library expanded schedules, resulting in all four of the branches in West Seattle opening seven days a week, it’s cutting back. SPL has just announced a temporary cutback that will leave only one local branch open every day. SPL says staffing shortages, combined with the city hiring freeze, will lead to cutbacks for at least the next eight weeks. According to this SPL update, 22 of its 27 branches will be affected, including these three in our area:
High Point Branch
Closed Sundays through June 4Southwest Branch
Closed Saturdays from April 20 through June 4West Seattle Branch
Closed Fridays through June 4
SPL explains, “Several factors have impacted the Library’s staffing capacity, including changes to the Library’s minimum staffing levels and increased leave usage. Our impacted staffing capacity has led to unplanned closures, as the Library must redirect staff from one location to another if a branch doesn’t have the right number, or right mix, of staff to open and operate a building safely and with full library services.” The minimum staffing has increased, SPL says, to “help ensure staff are able to provide full library services and are supported and prepared to manage any challenging or disruptive situations in and around our libraries.” In addition to simply deploying more staffers, SPL spokesperson Laura Gentry explains, “We are looking for a certain mix of position types to be present as well. For example, we have staff identified as ‘building leads,’ and at several locations have identified that at least two lead staff need to be present to open.”
While they are affected by the city’s budget-related hiring freeze, “Chief Librarian Tom Fay has approved several exemptions, allowing the Library to hire temporary staff to help stabilize operations.” Will everything go back to seven days a week on June 4? Gentry tells WSB, “We’re hopeful that this will resolve most unplanned closures during this period of time, but we don’t yet know what our schedule will look like past the June 4 date. We’re working on it and will have more info on that in May.”
Starting our preview for the hours ahead – it’s the first West Seattle Art Walk of spring 2024, which means you can meet artists and enjoy food/drink specials at these 40+ venues:
The Art Walk’s “official” hours are 5 pm to 8 pm, but artist receptions may start/end at different times, so browse the April previews here to get venue-by-venue details on artists and schedules. Here are the other highlights of what’s up today/tonight, mostly from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
EXPANDED FAUNTLEROY YMCA HOURS: Second week of the Fauntleroy YMCA (WSB sponsor) soft-opening its newly expanded hours – 9 am to noon and 4 pm to 7 pm, Mondays through Thursdays.
FREE PLAYSPACE: Drop-in space open at West Seattle Church of the Nazarene (42nd/Juneau) until noon.
SOUTH SEATTLE COLLEGE GARDEN CENTER: Now open Thursdays-Saturdays 10 am-3 pm, north end of the South Seattle College (6000 16th SW; WSB sponsor) campus.
WEST SEATTLE UKULELE PLAYERS: All levels welcome to this weekly 1 pm gathering. Email westseattleukuleleplayerswsup@gmail.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.
THE LAST DINNER PARTY AT EASY STREET: 2 pm meet-greet and signing for album buyers – info in our calendar listing. (4559 California SW)
STRONG BODIES, STRONG BONES: 2:30 pm class at Senior Center of West Seattle (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 CocinaMX32 (last-minute change from what’s on the HPCS website).
(added) UNDER-21 OPEN MIC: 5 pm signup, 6 pm start for the Mode Music Studios (WSB sponsor) under-21 open-mic night at The Skylark (3803 Delridge Way SW).
FREE ECO-ARTS CLASS: New time – 5-7 pm at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center (4408 Delridge Way SW) – you’re invited to drop in!
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.
WORDS, WRITERS, SOUTHWEST STORIES: 6 pm online, the Southwest Seattle Historical Society presents Kestrel Smith on “Fish Wars.” RSVP here to get the link.
WESTIES RUN CLUB: Meet at Good Society (California/Lander) at 6 pm for a 3-mile run – more in our calendar listing.
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.
OPEN MIC: All genres! 7 pm at C & P Coffee Company (5612 California SW; WSB sponsor).
THURSDAY NIGHT TRIVIA: Burger Planet (9614 14th SW) in White Center now has Thursday night trivia at 7 pm – prizes!
SECOND WEEK FOR ‘ENGLISH’: The new play at ArtsWest (4711 California SW; WSB sponsor) takes the stage at 7:30 pm. See our calendar listing for info, including the ticket link – just a few seats left for tonight as of publication time.
Planning an event that should be on our calendar and in daily preview lists like this one? Email info to westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
9:41 AM: Seattle Fire has several units near 50th and 97th in Brace Point [map] after an excavator ruptured a gas line. They’re awaiting Puget Sound Energy to help handle it.
9:48 AM: Responders told dispatch they’ve cleared the affected buildings, but PSE isn’t expected for another 15+ minutes.
10:17 AM: Firefighters just told dispatch that PSE has arrived but is still figuring out the best way to shut off the gas to the broken 1 3/4″-inch line.
10:33 AM: They’ve revised that to a 5/8″-inch line, but they’re “still working on the solution,” firefighters told dispatch.
10:44 AM: SFD says PSE has clamped off the line and stopped the leak.
(Photo courtesy Arbor Heights Elementary PTSA)
Even if you don’t attend the gala dinner/auction events that benefit local nonprofits, you often can help their fundraising anyway by bidding in the online auctions that precede the galas. Right now, the Arbor Heights Elementary PTSA is welcoming your participation in theirs, for items from local-business gift cards to the superstar-autographed musical instrument shown above! Here’s the announcement:
It’s that time of year again – the Arbor Heights Elementary PTSA‘s online silent auction is officially underway! From now until April 19th, you have the chance to bid on an array of incredible experiences and items, all while supporting our beloved school community.
There are so many incredible items and we are so grateful for all of the donations. However, we are very honored to offer a ukulele signed by Eddie Vedder.
This auction is vital to our school. The funds raised provide critical support for music, art, classroom materials, transportation for field trips, 5th-grade camp, and other essential elements that make school fun and engaging for our students.
So, let’s come together as a community and make this year’s auction a resounding success! Bid early, bid often, and help us continue to provide enriching experiences for our Arbor Heights students.
Thank you for your support and happy bidding!
6:03 AM: Good morning. It’s Thursday, April 11, West Seattle Art Walk night, and second-to-last weekday of spring break for Seattle Public Schools and independent schools with similar calendars.
WEATHER + SUNRISE/SUNSET TIMES
Cloudy, rain expected tonight, high in the mid-50s. Sunrise will be at 6:26 am, sunset at 7:54 pm.
(Wednesday evening photo by Theresa Arbow-O’Connor)
ROAD-WORK ALERT
Repaving work today is scheduled on 22nd/23rd east of Delridge – details here.
TRANSIT NOTES
Metro today – Regular schedule; check advisories here – lots of trip cancellations this week.
Water Taxi today – Regular schedule. Check the real-time map if you need to see where the boat is. Reminder, NO WATER TAXI this weekend – April 13-14 – to prepare for the spring/summer season (which adds Friday/Saturday later-evening sailings starting Friday, April 19). The shuttle buses WILL run, though, Metro says.
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.
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 – remember, it’ll be closed to surface traffic April 19-28:
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 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!
By Sean Golonka
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
Two Seattle city councilmembers — District 1’s Rob Saka and citywide Position 8’s Tanya Woo — appeared tonight at the monthly meeting of the area’s largest political group, the 34th District Democrats, talking about ongoing city issues including transportation and the contested minimum wage for gig workers.
Saka and Woo’s appearances come as the city, with a council dominated by first-year members, is in the midst of a major year for long-term planning, with an update to its 20-year comprehensive plan in the works and an eight-year $1.35 billion-or-more transportation levy set for the November ballot.
Also tonight, the 34th DDs voted to oppose a trio of Republican-backed statewide initiatives headed for that same ballot, including proposals to repeal the Climate Commitment Act – major environmental legislation designed to cut greenhouse-gas emissions – and to repeal the capital-gains tax.
Saka and Woo talk transportation, public safety, more
Saka, who was elected to represent District 1 last November, said his legislative agenda in his first year “has largely been set for me” as chair of the transportation committee in a year the city is pursuing a new transportation levy, valued at “a minimum” of $1.35 billion.
(Framegrab from traffic camera, with NB Delridge/Henderson stop at right)
We had a question about a Burien Police car with what looked like a body at Delridge/Henderson, so in case you passed by and wondered too, here’s what happened: SFD originally responded just after 7 pm to a report of an unconscious man at the northbound bus stop there, with drug paraphernalia nearby. Recorded radio exchanges detail how they tried to revive him, but could not. Burien PD responded because they’re part of the King County Sheriff’s Office, which has jurisdiction for Metro transit facilities (and buses). The man who died was estimated to be in his mid-30s; the King County Medical Examiner’s Office will make the official determination of why he died. (Public Health – Seattle & King County tracks drug-overdose and alcohol-poisoning deaths here; so far this year, 306 deaths are confirmed in the county, another 37 suspected pending toxicology results. If that rate continued all year, the 2024 total would be close to the 2023 total, 1,338.)
(WSB file photo of Colman Pool)
Thanks to Keith for the tip. He discovered via the Seattle Parks website that Colman Pool rental reservations opened today, and the season opening date is set. If you’re new – Colman Pool is the only city-run outdoor pool in West Seattle, on the shore at Lincoln Park (approximately midway between the north and south waterfront entrances), filled with heated Puget Sound salt water. This year, the Parks website says, Colman Pool will open Saturday, May 25, for the first of multiple preseason weekends. The website doesn’t have a date (yet) for the summer seven-days-a-week schedule to start, but this might be a hint: Rentals are available daily, starting at 7 pm (when the pool closes), June 30 through September 1. Some kids’ swimming lessons will be offered this summer too, according to session and registration dates on the Colman Pool page, which is also where you’ll find the link for booking a rental. One more note, the dates are set for the annual swim-meet closures: June 27-29 and July 12-13.
Thanks for the tips. What’s going into the former Pizzeria Credo space at 4520 California SW has finally been revealed, with the new awning signage shown above: Pegasus Pizza. The owners are the same as the Pegasus Pizza that closed on Alki more than a year ago, according to the liquor-license application for this space (filed under the business name “Flying Horse”). Court files say the case related to the Alki closure was closed this past February with “full satisfaction of (the) judgment.”
With warmer, sunnier weather, more people are outside, and that invariably means more lost/found items. If you don’t frequent the WSB Community Forums, you might not realize we have a lost/found (non-pets) board there, and right now we have several new listings – lost/found keys and a found backpack, for starters. The forum boards are self-post zones (though we assist if needed) and you can get a login by going to westseattleblog.com/log-in (only required if you want to post something – otherwise it’s open to all for reading).
P.S. Our West Seattle lost/found pet listings are in the same place as usual – here.
Four incidents in West Seattle Crime Watch:
FAUNTLEROY SCHOOLHOUSE BURGLARY: We first heard about this when it was mentioned at last night’s Fauntleroy Community Association meeting, so we followed up with schoolhouse management today (the schoolhouse is a city landmark, nonprofit-operated home to multiple organizations and businesses):
This is the culprit who broke into the schoolhouse Sunday evening.
He first broke into Tuxedos and Tennis Shoes area about 10:45 pm. After he took their computer, sound system, and other oddities, he went across the street to Fauntleroy Church to do some damage over there before coming back to the schoolhouse into our hallways. He was able to break into one of our tenants’ rooms, stole their laptop, Bose system and some very personal items that were given to them by family members that are irreplaceable. One of our tenants’ clients recognized this guy from Morgan Junction area. Apparently, this client has seen him personally provoke & bother people within that neighborhood.
If you have any information, the police incident # is 24-095013.
FOUR VEHICLES DAMAGED IN AVALON HIT-RUN: Thanks for the tips this morning after people saw the damaged cars from this overnight incident.
(WSB photo)
As one tipster this morning, Michael, described it, “Someone SMASHED a parked car so bad the three cars ahead where pushed together.” SPD hasn’t been able to find the report on it but archived audio from the initial response around 1:15 am indicates the hit-run vehicle was a black GMC Yukon registered to someone in North Seattle; a man was seen walking away. Four other vehicles were reported damaged. Here’s another aftermath shot from this morning, sent by Jill, of vehicles still at the scene:
No injuries were reported, as there was no SFD response.
HIT-RUN ON VIDEO: Angela is hoping to find the driver who did this to her car before abandoning the car they were driving:
(Monday) night around 11 pm my vehicle was hit on the 4500 block of 47th Ave SW by a 2013 Ford Flex. My daughter woke me up when she got home around 1am to let me know there was a vehicle blocking the road with airbags deployed and door open. I went outside and called police who arrived in minutes. Vehicle was not reported stolen and driver is captured on video walking around and looking at my vehicle. Also spoke to neighbors. I’m hoping they reach out to me to provide insurance and take care of the damage they caused.
The license plate on the abandoned car started with AKV, in case that helps jog any memory (police impounded it). If you have any information, the incident # is 24-095491.
CAR BREAK-IN: The image and report were sent by Rachael:
We had two of our car windows smashed at 2:53 am on Ferry Ave. Just wanted to alert folks.
12:14 PM: Seattle Fire has units arriving at Jefferson Square for a hazmat call at Safeway – reported as a refrigerant leak. Updates to come.
(Added: WSB photo)
12:17 PM: First units to arrive say they’re not certain yet that it’s a hazmat situation – they’re being told there was a “small fire behind a wall” extinguished by employees, but they’re investigating. They’re also planning to block 42nd SW in the area.
12:22 PM: SFD says they’ve confirmed, no hazmat after all, just that small fire. The incident commander on scene tells us it’s related to an “electrical problem in the meat department.” They’re downsizing the response.
12:55 PM: SFD has closed the call. The store was cleared for people to go back in.
Tomorrow night (Thursday, April 11), you can wander the peninsula, enjoying art and food/drink specials, during the first West Seattle Art Walk of spring 2024! Here’s the list of 40+ spring venues:
The Art Walk’s “official” hours are 5 pm to 8 pm, but artist receptions may start/end at different types, depending on what the venue decides, so browse the April previews here to see who you’ll find, where, and when. Spotlights include:
*West Seattle Realty (2715 California SW; WSB sponsor) hosting artist Autumn Tranquilino 5-9 pm.
*Rush Hour (4517 California SW) hosting artist David Amaya 5-8 pm.
*ArtsWest (4711 California SW; WSB sponsor) hosting artist Audineh Asaf 5:30-7 pm.
*Canna West Seattle (5435 California SW; WSB sponsor) with artist Sarah Hie in the house and selling prints 5-8 pm. (21+ only)
*Jet City Labs (4547 California SW) hosts multiple artists/vendors during its Jet City Cauldron pop-up shop, 5-9 pm on Art Walk night.
Those are just a few of the dozens of participating venues! The second Thursday of every month is a chance to explore local businesses as well as to meet local artists, so set aside some time to enjoy the evening.
(WSB is a community co-sponsor for the Art Walk.)
(Sunrise photo by Theresa Arbow-O’Connor – remember, no Water Taxi this weekend)
Mostly from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar, here are reminders for the rest of today/tonight:
EXPANDED FAUNTLEROY YMCA HOURS: Second week for the Fauntleroy YMCA (WSB sponsor) soft-opening its newly expanded hours – 9 am to noon and 4 pm to 7 pm, Mondays through Thursdays.
TODDLER READING TIME: 10:30 am Wednesdays at Paper Boat Booksellers (6040 California SW).
LOW-LOW TIDE: Out to -1.8 feet at 12:51 pm.
RECYCLING/COMPOSTING 101: Free Earth Month presentation at Senior Center of West Seattle (4217 SW Oregon), 1-2 pm. Details in our calendar listing.
FIX-IT WORKSHOP: Repair your broken item instead of replacing it! Weekly event, 5:30-7:30 pm at West Seattle Tool Library (4408 Delridge Way SW, northeast side of Youngstown Cultural Arts Center).
BOSTON MARATHON SENDOFF RUN: Meet at West Seattle Runner (2743 California SW; WSB sponsor) for a special 6:15 pm group run:
We want to send off the folks heading out to Boston. It will be a chance for us to celebrate your accomplishment and also for those who don’t yet know one another to connect beforehand in case you want to meet up in Beantown or strategize and share tips. Everyone feel free to wear old Boston gear or blue and yellow in support of those running.
We run at 6:15 pm, any distance you choose. We will have refreshments back at the shop after the run for social hour.
Meet at the shop. Email lori@westseattlerunner.com with any questions.
FREE ART CLASS: Watercolor mixed-media class, at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center (4408 Delridge Way SW), 6-8 pm.
TRIVIA x 4: Four places to play tonight. 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).
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.
34TH DISTRICT DEMOCRATS: 7:30 pm online meeting including City Councilmembers Rob Saka and Tanya Woo, plus some endorsement decisions. More info, and registration link, here.
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 for West Seattle’s only comprehensive event calendar! westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
Dream Dinners West Seattle (WSB sponsor) can help you get dinner on the table this month and next while lending a hand to the South Seattle College Cooperative Preschools around West Seattle!
Anyone can support the preschools – just place an order of at least 3 dinners. Can order either April or May. All orders must be placed by May 10th. Put the code word “CO-OP” in the special instructions so we can keep track of everyone that orders. Call/text 206-938-5999 for questions.
Here’s the link to the local store, which is on the north side of outer Jefferson Square (41st/Alaska).
6 AM: Good morning. It’s Wednesday, April 10, still spring break for Seattle Public Schools and independent schools with similar calendars.
WEATHER + SUNRISE/SUNSET TIMES
Increasing clouds, high in the upper 50s. Sunrise will be at 6:28 am, sunset at 7:52 pm.
ROAD-WORK ALERT
More repaving work today on 21st SW between Dawson and 22nd – details here.
TRANSIT NOTES
Metro today – Regular schedule; check advisories here – lots of trip cancellations this week.
Water Taxi today – Regular schedule. Check the real-time map if you need to see where the boat is. Reminder, NO WATER TAXI this weekend – April 13-14 – to prepare for the spring/summer season (which adds Friday/Saturday later-evening sailings starting Friday, April 19). The shuttle buses WILL run, though, Metro says.
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.
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 – and a reminder, it’ll be closed to surface traffic April 19-28:
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 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!
8:57 PM: Seattle Fire and Police are arriving at a two-car crash at Avalon/Andover [map], with one vehicle reported to have flipped. Updates to come. Avalon is blocked at Yancy.
(Added: WSB photo)
9:02 PM: SFD is downsizing its response – they say three people are all out safely, and no one needs to be extricated.
9:15 PM: The initially dispatched medic and aid units were cleared, which suggests no life-threatening injuries. SDOT has a crew on the way to clean up fluid and debris.
(Added: Photo sent by Mark)
9:35 PM: Photos added. We were told at the scene that one person was taken to a hospital; we’re following up further on that.
9:53 PM: Police say they’re reopening “all lanes of travel.”
10:09 PM: SFD spokesperson Kaila Lafferty tells us a woman in her early 30s was taken to a hospital by private ambulance.
We’ve been following up on the 13-year-old boy arrested for investigation of a robbery and assault at the Westwood Village Rite Aid last Saturday night. According to prosecutors and court records, he already has two other cases pending – and was wanted on warrants for both. (We are not publishing his name, as he is in the juvenile prosecution/detention system.)
The first case gained regional media attention – also a business robbery and assault, last September at a mini-mart in Normandy Park, where security video (aired in TV reports like this one) showed someone – allegedly this same suspect – beating and kicking the clerk. The suspect was charged with second-degree robbery, fourth-degree assault, and third-degree theft. Court documents say he was identified to authorities by his parents – his father is quoted as telling authorities he had taught his son to box and recognized his movements in the store security video. He was held in secure detention for some time but then, according to the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, he was placed on electronic home monitoring this past February 14 (though the KCPAO says they have “consistently” argued for detention). One week later, prosecutors say, he cut the monitoring device, and a warrant was issued. One week after that, on February 28, he was charged with taking a motor vehicle without permission in connection with the theft last October of a Hyundai Elantra in Renton. Two weeks after those charges were filed, he failed to appear for arraignment in mid-March, and prosecutors sought another warrant. Since his arrest last weekend, he has pleaded not guilty. Tomorrow is the deadline for charges in the new case; prosecutors asked that he remain held in secure detention, and a judge agreed.
We’re now in the second week of registration for West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day 2024, and 180+ sales are now on the list for Saturday, May 11, one big day of shopping and selling, from Alki to The Arroyos, Pigeon Point to Brace Point, North Admiral to South Delridge, Sunrise Heights to Arbor Heights, and just about every neighborhood inbetween. Most are individual sales but there are also block sales, business sales, and fundraiser sales – wide variety of sellers and merchandise. Registration still has two-plus weeks to go but don’t wait too long – once the deadline (which we’ll set soon) passes, we have to lock down and get busy with the map and guide so that they can be available a week in advance (on May 4). So if you’re ready to register now (with your 20-word sale listing ready to go too), here’s the link!
(Photo sent by Kellie, sighting near 41st/Alaska)
They’re not turkeys, though they’re often mistaken for them. The wandering Guinea Fowl of West Seattle have been seen for months north of The Junction – we’ve featured them in some of our galleries of bird photos sent by readers. But these past few days, readers have sent photos of them closer to the heart of The Junction, expressing concern for their safety – the next photo was from Kristin, who emailed this morning to say, “They’re on the corner of 41st and Oregon. Cars on Oregon are dodging them.”
Those two photos above are from today; the next one was sent by James last week, taken near 41st/Genesee, closer to the north-of-Junction location of most previous sightings people have mentioned to us:
If these are your birds, we’d be interested in the story behind them, after so many sighting reports – westseattleblog@gmail.com.
**UPDATE: The dates are now April 20-29**
(Low bridge, SDOT traffic camera)
When SDOT first sent the alert last Friday that a low-bridge closure was ahead, it was described as likely being for “about a week” during the window of April 19-28. Today, an update from SDOT – the bridge is expected to be closed to surface traffic for that entire 10-day window:
From Friday, April 19 through Sunday, April 28, the Spokane St Swing Bridge (low bridge) will temporarily be closed to people driving, walking and biking. This closure is necessary because the Seattle Department of Transportation crews have to move the control tower wires from the West Seattle Bridge (the high bridge) to a new underground conduit below the West Duwamish Waterway and replace the control system. These wires are connected to the hydraulic system that opens and closes the bridge. The West Seattle Bridge (high bridge) will remain open during the low bridge closure.
Travelers will need to detour to other routes. During the closure of the low bridge, here are options for reaching your destinations:
–Riding the bus: Buses provide a reliable option for travel across the Duwamish Waterway via the West Seattle Bridge (high bridge). They accommodate people walking, biking, and rolling, offering the fastest route without driving. Use King County Metro’s trip planner for route and schedule details.
–Riding the Water Taxi: The West Seattle Water Taxi offers direct service to downtown Seattle and operates seven days a week. Large vessels can accommodate up to 26 bikes.
–Driving/Carpooling on the West Seattle Bridge (high bridge): The West Seattle Bridge (high bridge) remains open for drivers with no vehicle access restrictions. Note that pedestrians and cyclists cannot use this bridge.
–Walking, biking, and rolling: For people who bike, walk or roll, there are several other routes to get around the closure. Check out the SDOT Bike Map to find available bike facilities. For people who walk or roll, we recommend utilizing public transit to reach your destination.
We are offering assistance to people impacted by the closure to use transit with a rewards code available through the TransitGo app. For detailed instructions on how to access this reward, go to this link.
For more detailed information about the closure and how to get around, visit SDOT Blog.
There’s other work ahead too over the next two years that will require “short-term closures,” including more cylinder overhauls. More info about the bridge’s ongoing work is here.
(Course map, from Emerald City Ride website)
Planning to join the Cascade Bicycle Club‘s Emerald City Ride across the West Seattle Bridge and beyond on May 5, but haven’t registered yet? If you sign up by Thursday (April 11th), you can get your packet by mail instead of having to pick it up. We first told you one month ago about the Emerald City Ride, which will close the westbound side of the high bridge for a few hours that Sunday morning so riders can cross as part of a route that starts and ends in SODO, with other West Seattle streets along the way. See the course map here; the full ride is 20 miles, but there are shorter options. You can go here to register.
One of Westwood Village‘s two biggest vacant storefronts apparently has a tenant. Five months after Staples moved out of 2501 SW Trenton in the northeast corner of the shopping center, city permit files show a site plan for Total Wine & More, the multi-state chain that sells liquor as well as wine and beer. Its website shows seven stores in the metro area; two are in Seattle, in Interbay and Northgate. We have a message out to Total Wine to ask about timeline. (Side note: The north side of WWV had a liquor store in the 2010s, state-run for about two years until privatization. Now you can buy liquor at the WWV Target, QFC, and Rite Aid stores.)
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