West Seattle, Washington
07 Monday
1:12 PM: Visitors are already flocking to Fauntleroy Creek for the chance to release salmon fry. The community event presented by the Fauntleroy Watershed Council is on until 3 pm – just walk into Fauntleroy Park at the SW Barton entrance, a few blocks west of 35th on the south side of the street.
ADDED 2:18 PM: WSB’s Hayden Yu Andersen has sent more photos and says volunteers reported 35 people had shown up just in the first few minutes of the event.
The FWC will send a wrap-up report once salmon-release season is officially over, but volunteer Pete told Hayden that this year they’ve worked with 22 schools in the salmon raise-and-release program, up from the yearly average of 15.
3:13 PM UPDATE: Today’s final totals: 118 people showed up, 117 fry were released.
11:28 AM: Big SFD response now for a report of a canoe in trouble off Seacrest with up to 8 people aboard.
11:31 AM: Rescuers have yet to confirm that anyone is in trouble.
11:34 AM: Rescuers have learned it’s a drill. They’re canceling the response. (Added: Whose drill, we don’t know – practicing regaining the control of canoes after capsizing – but one firefighter was heard grousing over the air, “Nice of them to tell us.”)
Also overnight, a geomagnetic storm brought a brief aurora sighting. West Seattle skywatcher Alice Enevoldsen was talking with us about the possibility around 3 am, but at the time it was overcast, and online forecasts showed conditions “quieting.” Then around 3:30 am, Steven Rice got these photos from Alki.
This could happen again tonight. For aurora forecast links and West Seattle viewing tips, see this page on Alice’s website.
9:40 AM: Thanks to the reader who sent the photo and report of 4 am gunfire at 56th/Alki:
Woken up at 4 am on the dot by multiple small-caliber gunshots. Police arrived in 25 minutes, after multiple 911 calls placed. 3 squad cars were seen placing evidence markers directly in front of the octopus-mural painted public restroom in front of Blue Moon Burgers.
Archived incident audio confirms casings indeed were found; no injuries reported. A possibly involved vehicle was described as a “white VW Jetta.” If you have any information, the incident # is 25-148909.
9:50 PM: Just got the police summary. It says the first officer was dispatched at 4:04 am; subsequently, “Officers located five fired cartridge casings grouped together on the north sidewalk at the intersection of Alki Av SW and 57 Av SW. They found one person who said they were out for a walk when they heard gunshots, “looked down the beach and observed multiple subjects getting down on the ground and running away from the area. (The witness) then looked up towards the sidewalk (where the spent casings were found) and observed multiple subjects getting into a (redacted). The car sped off eastbound on Alki Av SW. (The witness) could not give a further description of the vehicle or the subjects involved.”
(Crab photographed off Alki by Theresa Arbow-O’Connor)
Welcome to June! Here are highlights for today/tonight, mostly from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
PADDLE BATTLE PICKLEBALL TOURNAMENT: West Seattle Booster Club fundraiser. If you’re not playing, go cheer! 8 am-5 pm at Nino Cantu Southwest Athletic Complex courts (2801 SW Thistle, west of SW Pool).
WESTIES RUN CLUB: Today’s Sunday Funday run is a Pride Party starting at Marination ma kai (1660 Harbor SW), 9 am.
AMERICAN MAH JONGG: Meet up with other players – all levels – 9:30-11:30 am at The Missing Piece. (35th/Roxbury)
KINDIE WEST FINALE: The family-music series at Fauntleroy Schoolhouse (9131 California SW) concludes at 10 am with the rescheduled Johnny Bregar concert.
SPREAD MULCH, HELP BEES: A big pile of mulch is at the heart of the West Seattle Bee Garden‘s monthly work party, and EVERYONE is welcome. 10 am-noon. (Lanham/Graham)
WEST SEATTLE FARMERS’ MARKET: 10 am-2 pm, with almost-summer produce (strawberries! lots of greens! asparagus!) plus beverages, flowers, cheese, yogurt, fish, meat, prepared hot food, baked goods, nuts, dried peppers, garlic, candy, condiments, more. (California SW between SW Alaska and SW Oregon)
MASTER GARDENERS: While at the market, look for Master Gardeners, ready to answer your questions! Sundays this spring and summer, they’re back at the market, 10 am-2 pm.
FREE NIA CLASS: 10:30 am, first class free if you pre-register. At Inner Alchemy Sanctuary/Studio (3618 SW Alaska)
SPRAYPARK SEASON CONTINUES: Highland Park Spraypark (1100 SW Cloverdale) continues daily operations today, 11 am-8 pm.
WEST SEATTLE TOOL LIBRARY: Need a tool but don’t need to buy it? Borrow it from the Tool Library, open 11 am-4 pm on the northeast side of Youngstown Cultural Arts Center. (4408 Delridge Way SW)
WEST SEATTLE RESISTS: Sunday signholding in The Junction (California/Alaska), 11:30 am-1:30 pm.
COMMUNITY MEAL: ur Lady of Guadalupe 7th graders have planned and will. present “Voices for Refugees and Immigrants: A Community Meal” at noon in Walmesley Center north of the church. All welcome to hear stories, enjoy food, and join in a donation drive, as previewed here.
FOURTH WEEKEND FOR COLMAN POOL: The heated salt-water outdoor pool at Lincoln Park (8011 Fauntleroy Way SW) is open again today during the fourth of six preseason weekends, noon-7 pm, with four hour-and-a-half swim sessions, each half lap swimming and half open swim – see the schedule here.
COMMUNITY SALMON RELEASE: Hundreds of students release thousands of fry into Fauntleroy Creek every year, and today it’s your turn, if you’re interested! Visit the creek by walking into Fauntleroy Park‘s SW Barton entrance between 1 and 3 pm, and you’ll find volunteers at the footbridge with baby fish awaiting freedom.
ALKI POINT LIGHTHOUSE TOURS: Second Sunday of the season for these free tours! Grounds at 3201 Alki SW open at 1 pm; last tour starts 3:45 pm; more info in our calendar listing.
WEST SEATTLE JUNCTION FC HOME MATCH: 2 pm at Nino Cantu Southwest Athletic Complex (2801 SW Thistle) vs. FC Olympia.
WELCOME ROAD WINERY: Enjoy your Sunday afternoon at this West Seattle tasting room (with a patio!) open 2-5 pm, kids and dogs welcome. (3804 California SW; WSB sponsor)
MUSIC AT THE COFFEEHOUSE: Jim Page, “a lyrical genius with a guitar,” performs 3-5 pm at C & P Coffee (5612 California SW; WSB sponsor).
LUKE FITZPATRICK @ KENYON HALL: Doors 6:30, concert 7 pm at Kenyon Hall (7904 35th SW): Luke Fitzpatrick‘s concert-length experimental work Nesting Dolls & Dreamscapes, performed on instruments including the Hall’s Mighty Wurlitzer. Tickets here.
LIVE MUSIC AT THE ALLEY: Weekend’s a wrap – enjoy Sunday night music provided by the Triangular Jazztet at The Alley (behind 4509 California SW) – 8-10 pm.
Are you planning, organizing, and/or publicizing something that we could feature on the WSB community event calendar – one-time or recurring? Please email us the basic details – westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
West Seattle High School‘s nationally recognized Unified Sports program has a state championship to add to the honors. Thanks to the reader who sent the photos and report:
The West Seattle High School Unified Soccer Team (through Special Olympics) just won the state championship! Congrats to be shared with WSHS Unified leader Rachel Myers, the coaches, and all the athletes and players.
The matches were played today in Puyallup.
(All photos taken during Southside Revolution’s May 10 bout with Seattle Derby Brats)
Story by Tracy Record
Photos by Dave Gershgorn
for West Seattle Blog
“Seattle is where roller derby is at!”
So proclaims Patty Gray, a former Rat City Roller Derby skater who is mentoring the newest generation of derby skaters as board president of Southside Revolution Junior Roller Derby.
SSR, whose home bouts are at Southgate Roller Rink in White Center, recently wrapped up its home season with the “Battle in Seattle” vs. Seattle Derby Brats. The two are not only friendly rivals; Patty says they make Seattle the only city in the country with two junior roller-derby organizations.
Though the home season is over, the competition continues. Four teams comprise Southside Revolution – Alliance, Cadets, Rebels, and Resistance; the Rebels are a year-round travel team, headed to regionals in Oregon in June, which are followed by national championships in Colorado in July. They’re hoping to make it to “champs” for the first time in seven years. And SSR is hoping for community support to help get them to postseason success; you can help with that by going to their Royal Masquerade Skate Prom fundraiser at Southgate on Wednesday (June 4). More on that shortly!
Why support SSR? Myriad reasons, including this one: Junior roller derby is an inclusive sport, Patty explains, attractive to many kids and teens who just “didn’t fit in”. with conventional sports. Southside Revolution is open to ages 7-18, and it’s “open gender,” so all can skate together. “All body types,” too. Yes, it gets rough, Patty acknowledges, but it has rules. “These kids are learning how to embody their strength, their skills.” Sometimes during bouts, it’s about speed, but other times, it’s about defense against an opponent trying to break a “jam,” and you might see the line of teammates barely move.
“It’s definitely a team sport,” Patty says.
She says she fell in love with roller derby by watching skaters then known as the Rat City Rollergirls; eventually she joined them. She skated for five years before retiring; now she has two kids who are following in her wheelstops. Skaters of course have derby names; she was Slamburger Patty – her son is Omargeddon; her daughter, Killer Diva.
Though Southside Revolution has been in existence more than a decade – even if you’ve never been to a bout, you might have seen them around, including West Seattle Grand Parade appearances – this is its first year as a nonprofit. That means there’s been a new learning curve, and it includes the world of fundraising. Even if you don’t skate, you can have fun at Wednesday’s Royal Masquerade Skate Prom, 5:30-7:30 pm at the rink (9646 17th SW) – watching skating, of course, for starters.
Also, there’ll be a costume contest, silent auction, refreshments, more to make it a true party. $20 tickets will be available at the door.
P.S. If you have a potential derby skater in your household – watch for word of new-skater clinics that SSR will be offering in fall.
8:36 PM: If you’re seeing/hearing the police response at Don Armeni Boat Ramp, police called for backup to break up a reported crowd of at least 100 stunt drivers. They’re ordering them to disperse, and declaring the park now closed to the public. They’re also blocking Harbor Avenue in the Don Armeni vicinity to facilitate the “clearing out,” officers are telling dispatch.
9 PM: Police say only a few are left, so they’re reopening Harbor Avenue.
ADDED 10:12 PM SUNDAY: We requested SPD narrative on the only incident # we could find on the data map clearly related to this; it tells just part of the story, though, mostly about the woman a commenter mentioned seeing taken into custody. Here’s the narrative, with XXXXX redactions by police – it starts with “remarks” regarding what they were told by dispatch:
REMARKS: REVVING ENGINES, POSS DRAG RACING, NO VISUAL, NO MENTION OF WEAPNS, ON WITH ANOTHER PERSON REPORTING THIS, SAID THERE ARE 500+ PEOPLE
At approximately 2015 hours, I was on a call at 1228 HARBOR AV SW (BOAT RAMP)
As I was pulling into the boat ramp for directed patrol, I observed a Maroon GMC Sierra WA-XXXXXXXX doing burnouts and racing doughnuts while I was patrolling the boat ramp.
I initiated a traffic stop on the same vehicle located at 1228 Harbor Av Sw. I contacted the driver who identified herself as XXXX XXXXX XXXX DOB XX/XX/1998. As I requested the driver for her license and proof of insurance, she provided me with her license and stated that she did not have insurance due to the vehicle being new. Records check revealed that XXXX was clear and current with a current license.
I advised XXXX the reason why I conducted a traffic stop, and she stated that she knew and that she would never do it again.
As I waited for my backing officers to arrive due to the large gathering of people, I observed two toddlers in the back seat of the pickup truck. The vehicle was doing burnouts while the toddlers were seated in the back seat of the vehicle.
As My backing officers arrived, I requested XXXX to step out of the vehicle for further investigation. I advised XXXX that what she did was dangerous especially with two toddlers in the back seat.
I advised XXXX that she was going to be placed into custody. I placed XXXX into custody, and I read her Miranda rights. I requested for a female officer to search XXXX, but due to the large group of people and vehicles we needed to clear the scene for officers safety, so I searched XXXX incident to arrest.
Officer XXXX advised me that one of the witnesses stated that they witnessed the whole thing. The unknown witness stated that while the vehicle was doing burnouts, he stated that he saw a male subject drive the vehicle. Then when the officer pulled over the vehicle XXXX and the unknown male subject switched seats before the officer approached the vehicle.
I asked XXXX if she was the one driving the vehicle and XXXX stated that she did even before I initiated a traffic stop.
Sgt. XXXX arrived on scene and screened the incident at the scene.
I transported XXXX to SW Precinct for further processing. Due to XXXX’s cooperation, she was released from the SW Precinct without further incident.
Two coyote sightings today from the north end of West Seattle – first, via text, 5:30 am at 41st/Walker:
Then, not far from there, reported via email, this sighting was around noon:
We just had a coyote hanging out in our back yard. We live above the Fairmount Ravine and know coyotes are often among us, but this is our first daytime sighting. Thought I would share with the community.
Coyotes are often seen far from ravines, greenbelts, etc., too. For those who haven’t already memorized the coexistence advice, including what to do if you see one, here it is again!
6:39 PM: Up for Saturday evening whale-watching? Kersti Muul sends news that orcas were north of Alki Point, headed south/westward, around 6 pm. Let us know if you see them!
PHOTOS ADDED: Thanks to Robin Sinner for sharing photos from the orcas’ Elliott Bay appearance!
Spread mulch, help bees! That’s the task awaiting helpers at tomorrow’s monthly West Seattle Bee Garden work party. Lisa asked us to, well, spread the word:
Please join us this Sunday, June 1st, 10 am-12 pm in the Bee Garden for our June work party.
Our big task is re-mulching the pathways. We’ll have wheelbarrows and pitchforks to complete the work but bring your own if you have a favorite. As usual, dress for the weather (looks like sun!) and wear closed-toe shoes. Light snacks provided.
We’ll have additional tasks as well, such as weeding (always) and possibly some planting.
Thanks to our amazing community support, this season we’ve been been able to relaunch the field trip program as well as welcoming other education groups back to the garden. It wouldn’t have been possible without your help. Thanks for your continued support!
The West Seattle Bee Garden is on the north end of High Point Commons Park, Lanham/Graham.
The photo and report were sent by Milena:
We recently had our work van stolen from the Diamond parking lot on California and Brandon. It’s a white 2006 Ford Econoline with a Thule rack on top. Plate BQJ2678. Police report # 25-148375.
Call 911 if you find it.
For the second consecutive day, a West Seattle 7-Eleven has been hit by armed robbers. This time, it was the 7-Eleven on Erskine Way at the south end of The Junction. A short summary released by SPD say officers were dispatched there after a holdup-alarm notification at 5:16 am and confirmed with store staff that they’d just been robbed. According to the summary, the two robbers “entered the store, propping the door open with an object … walked about, making sure no other people were inside … then went behind the counter and one pointed a firearm at the clerk … (they) then took several items from behind the counter, mostly tobacco and vape products (and) fled on foot westbound.” Police found “some discarded items in the alley to the west” and suspect a getaway vehicle had been waiting there.” The summary does not include descriptions but archived audio from the response has officers describing the robbers as Black, male, wearing black face masks and black pants, one in a black hoodie, the other in a gray or white sweatshirt with flower print. The summary, meantime, adds that police believe the same robbers “most likely committed another robbery in Queen sector.” It doesn’t say if they’re suspected in the Friday morning Admiral 7-Eleven holdup; meantime, we’ve obtained the narrative for that one and updated the original Friday morning report.
A bright sight on a gray day! Artist Matthew DeLorme has spent almost a week up on that ladder (though not when we passed by in the noontime rain), painting a mural outside Emerald Water Anglers. We showed you an early look this past Tuesday when we reported on the plan for the last vacant space in that Junction building, The Missing Piece moving from 35th/Roxbury by end of summer. EWA moved there from 42nd/Oregon last fall; there’s a mural inside the shop too, as we showed you in coverage of the new location’s grand opening.
(Photos courtesy Brandy DeWeese, Gatewood PTA)
The banner says it all – Gatewood Elementary‘s third annual Gator Fair is on right now! Everyone’s welcome to join in free fun on the playground on the west side of the 4320 SW Myrtle campus:
Some activities and performances are scheduled – here’s the lineup:
The Gator Fair continues until 2:30 pm today (rain or shine!).
(WSB photos)
Pride month begins tomorrow, but Louisa Boren STEM K-8 in Delridge got an early start with a Pride Kickoff Party on the playground last night. Rainbows were everywhere, from chalk creations to costumes:
Sponsors and participants included the PTA, GGLOW, and area organizations like White Center Pride:
WC Pride’s street festival is one week from today, June 7 on 16th SW between Roxbury and SW 100th.
(Photo by Brooke Gosztola, who says these are 2 of her 3 ‘backyard bunnies’)
Last Saturday in May – here’s your list of West Seattle happenings, mostly from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
SATURDAY GROUP RUN: Meet at West Seattle Runner (2743 California SW; WSB sponsor) at 8 am for the free weekly group run.
PLANT SALE TO FIGHT LUNG CANCER: 9 am to 3 pm, another session of Amy‘s famous plant sale, raising money to fight lung cancer. (3703 SW 107th)
HEAVILY MEDITATED: Free community meditation, 9 am at Inner Alchemy‘s sanctuary/studio (3618 SW Alaska).
INTRODUCTORY WALK: First of two sequential weekly walking events – meeting at the same spot, 47th/Fauntleroy, first at 9:30 am for a flat-terrain 1-mile walk.
WALKING FOR WELL-BEING: That’s followed immediately by this walk in which you can participate regardless of whether you were on the introductory stroll. Meet at 47th/Fauntleroy.
DELRIDGE FARMERS’ MARKET: 10 am-2 pm, Saturdays through October, at Hope Academy (9421 18th SW). Fresh produce, cooked-on-site food, body-care products, more.
SEATTLE SPEAKING PROJECT: Your chance to speak up, with this Toastmasters group’s special 10 am online meeting.
MASTER GARDENERS: They’re ready to answer your questions! Saturdays this spring and summer, they’re at The Home Depot (7345 Delridge Way SW), 10 am-2 pm.
GATEWOOD ELEMENTARY GATOR FAIR: Free family-friendly fun at the school (4320 SW Myrtle), 10:30 am-2:30 pm.
MORNING MUSIC AT THE COFFEEHOUSE: 10:30 am-noon at C & P Coffee (5612 California SW; WSB sponsor), Marco de Carvalho and Friends perform. Info about Marco’s music is here.
FREE WRITING GROUP: 10:30 am – “This is a free, weekly, in-person active writing group grounded in the Amherst Writers and Artists method. It is a safe, critique-free space. Writers of all levels welcome, 16 and up.” Our calendar listing has location and RSVP info.
FAMILY STORY TIME: 10:30 am at High Point Library (3411 SW Raymond), meant for kids 0-5.
SPRAYPARK SEASON CONTINUES: Highland Park Spraypark (1100 SW Cloverdale) continues daily operations today, 11 am-8 pm.
HOLDEN NATURAL DRAINAGE SYSTEMS INFO: 11 am-1 pm drop-in info session at BedHead Coffee (16th/Holden) with the latest on the Highland Park project, as previewed in our report on this past week’s HPAC meeting.
FAMILY READING TIME: At Paper Boat Booksellers, 11 am family reading time. (4522 California SW)
WANT TO VOLUNTEER? Visit the Log House Museum for today’s 11 am-noon open house and learn how! (3003 61st SW)
WOMEN’S CLOTHING SWAP: 11 am-3 pm at Westside Unitarian Universalist Congregation (7141 California SW), swap benefiting and presented by nonprofit Leaps and Bounds Children’s Therapy – see our calendar listing for the explanation of how it works.
FOURTH WEEKEND FOR COLMAN POOL: The heated salt-water outdoor pool at Lincoln Park (8011 Fauntleroy Way SW) is open today to start the fourth of six preseason weekends, noon-7 pm, with four hour-and-a-half swim sessions, each half lap swimming and half open swim – see the schedule here.
LOG HOUSE MUSEUM OPEN: After the aforementioned volunteer open house – explore the present and past at the home of West Seattle history, open for your visit, noon-4 pm – see the newest exhibit, about the West Duwamish Greenbelt! (61st/Stevens)
VIETNAMESE CULTURAL CENTER OPEN: The center is open to visitors noon-3 pm, as explained here. (2236 SW Orchard)
ART & SOL: Arts Corps‘ end-of-school celebration with art, performances, more, all ages welcome, noon-2 pm at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center (4408 Delridge Way SW), free.
VISCON CELLARS TASTING ROOM/WINE BAR: Tasting room open – wine by the glass or bottle – 1-6 pm at Viscon Cellars (5910 California SW; WSB sponsor).
MAKE PINCH-POT ANIMALS: At the Clay Cauldron (5214 Delridge Way SW), noon-2 pm; more info in our calendar listing.
NORTHWEST WINE ACADEMY TASTING ROOM, WINE BAR, STORE: On the north end of the South Seattle College (6000 16th SW; WSB sponsor) campus:
The Northwest Wine Academy Tasting Room, Wine Bar and Retail Store are open Thursday-Saturday from 1-6 pm. Come taste and purchase our student-produced wine! The Northwest Wine Academy features a large tasting room and retail store. While tasting one of our current releases, you can you may request a tour of our barrel room and bottling area. Come support our student winemakers and join us for a student tasting.
‘THE SPACE HE LEFT’: This “yoga journey into the loss of a father” is set for 2-4:30 pm at Limber Yoga (7901 35th SW), $65, preregister here.
LIVE AT C & P COFFEE: 6-8 pm, Gary Benson‘s mellow solo songs, no cover, all ages, at C & P (5612 California SW; WSB sponsor).
LIVE AT EASY STREET RECORDS: Racoma performs at 7 pm, free, all ages. (4559 California SW)
THE WIZARD OF OZ: Denny International Middle School presents the youth edition of this classic at Chief Sealth International High School (2600 SW Thistle), 7 pm, free.
DRAG AT THE SKYLARK: Cookie Couture is on hiatus but, with Fraya Love and Kenzie, drag extravaganza West End Girls carries on at The Skylark (3803 Delridge Way SW), doors 7 pm, show 8 pm, tickets here.
REVELRY ROOM DJ: Saturday spinning starts at 9 pm – tonight it’s DJ Cray at Revelry Room. (4547 California SW).
KARAOKE AT TALARICO’S: Up for Saturday night singing? 10 pm karaoke at Talarico’s Pizzeria. (4718 California SW)
Got a West Seattle event coming up? If community members are welcome, your event is welcome on our calendar! Please email info to westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
Story and photos by Jason Grotelueschen
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
Neighbors gathered at the Delridge Library on Wednesday night for the May meeting of HPAC, the community coalition that includes Highland Park, South Delridge, and Riverview.
The meeting was facilitated by HPAC co-chair Kay Kirkpatrick, and featured discussion about crime statistics and prevention, an update on the Holden Natural Drainage System (NDS) project, and a presentation on RV waste outreach efforts. Meeting notes are below:
POLICE UPDATE: First on the agenda was an update from SPD’s Jennifer Satterwhite regarding crime stats in the area.
Although the numbers look good, Satterwhite said the summer months typically bring increases in criminal activity, so continued vigilance by the public is advised. She mentioned the increased summer emphasis on Alki and other hotspots, with overtime patrols and public education on burglary prevention. Regarding illegal vending on Alki: There is only one permitted vendor there; most are unpermitted, raising health and safety concerns as well as pushback from local restaurants. Enforcement is complex due to overlapping agency jurisdictions, and fines are often ineffective as vendors just pay the fine and quickly return.
Regarding the recent uptick in car crashes possibly linked to a social media challenge, Satterwhite said she’s been engaged with the community and SPD is investigating and facilitating prevention meetings. There were 4 crashes on the SW Alaska hill west of the Junction, and another in Sunrise Heights, just in the past couple of weeks.
DRAINAGE AND STORMWATER: Next up was a Seattle Public Utilities presentation from the team behind the Holden Natural Drainage System (NDS) Project, which is described on their website as follows:
More than 12 million pounds of pollution are carried into our water bodies through stormwater runoff each year. Stormwater that falls on the roofs, streets, and parking lots in your neighborhood can pick up harmful pollutants before entering Longfellow Creek, which flows into Puget Sound. The pollutants can harm fish, wildlife, and our ecosystems. The Holden Natural Drainage Systems (NDS) Project plans to build natural drainage systems, also known as roadside rain gardens or bioretention, on SW Holden St between 16th Ave SW and 17th Ave SW. The NDS will capture and treat stormwater runoff before it reaches Longfellow Creek and Puget Sound.
The NDS will be built in the space between the existing sidewalks and the edge of the road. The project will include roadway and pedestrian safety improvements such as curb bulbs and ADA ramps, in addition to new landscape plantings.
Project manager Wan-Yee Kuo led the presentation of the latest project plans and designs. Here is a PDF of the slides, provided by team member Val Bak, and you can also visit the “Project Documents” section of the project website which contains the “Final Design Concept” visuals as well as a narrated version of the presentation (“Final Design Narrated Presentation.”)
The NDS will be on the south side of Holden, using the parking lane for plantings. Some driveway and sidewalk reconstruction will be required. Underground water quality infrastructure (“tree cells”) will be installed on the north side to address flooding (which has been an issue in the area), using special filtering soil and structural elements.
Two small crabapple trees will be removed, and one new tree (hornbeam) will be planted. SPU will pay SDOT to plant five additional trees nearby. The NDS will be maintained by SPU, and the trees maintained by SDOT with annual inspections. Contractors will be responsible for plant establishment in the first year, which prompted some questions from meeting attendees about concerns with tree maintenance (or a lack thereof) on for past projects in the area — Kuo said that the contractors for this project will be carefully vetted.
Construction timeline: The final design is complete, advertising will begin in July, and construction is expected to start winter 2025 and last about a year. Planting will occur in appropriate seasonal windows. Construction will involve noise, dust, parking restrictions, and temporary bus stop relocation; clear communication and on-site engineer presence will be part of the project, according to the team.
Want to learn more? SPU will be hosting a project design drop-in Q&A session at BedHead Coffee at 1513 SW Holden St. (SE corner of SW Holden/ 16th Ave SW) tomorrow – Saturday, May 31st – between 11 AM and 1 PM (WSB event listing here). Free drip coffee for attendees! The team will also be providing the public with ongoing updates via flyers, mailers, and their website.
RV WASTE OUTREACH PROGRAM: As part of HPAC’s continuing conversations about challenges with RV camping in the area, special guest Mary Sweeney from St Vincent de Paul (SVdP) gave a presentation (see the slides here) about her group’s RV outreach & support program in partnership with SPU:
HPAC leaders reiterated that this has been an area of concern, which was brought up in last week’s walking tour of Highland Park, and is a “complex problem has no simple solutions – we need many voices and hands to make change happen.”
Sweeney said that the vehicle outreach program, powered by SVdP volunteers (which she affectionately refers to as “Vincentians”), provides direct outreach to RV residents, addressing public health and sanitation by coordinating with SPU to pump out wastewater and offer basic supplies to those in need. She said she has 20 volunteers, and sends out 2-3 people every day.
Sweeney said that many RV residents are local workers displaced by the housing crisis and pandemic. Most RVs are old and nonfunctional, leading to illegal dumping of waste. Residents of the RVs tend to face hostility, frequent displacement, and lack of safe parking options. St. Vincent de Paul initiated the program after discovering the extent of waste dumping in some areas of Seattle. Years of advocacy led to a pilot with SPU, which was later expanded due to demonstrated cost savings and a significant reduction in sewage spills, which in turn saves the city on costly hazmat cleanups and improves public health.
Volunteers accompany SPU staff and provide food (often provided by local churches and schools such as Holy Rosary with their Lunches of Love program) and connect residents to services, with an emphasis on treating residents with dignity and compassion. Sweeney said the program is unique in the U.S., and (as far as she knows) no other utility offers similar services. She said volunteers are always needed, and the program aspires to be a temporary solution until broader systemic changes occur.
OTHER NOTES: After the meeting adjourned, Satterwhite noted that registration for Seattle Night Out opens this week (Tuesday August 5th). Register your block, and hang out with your neighbors! Also, HPAC leaders said that public feedback is still welcome regarding the city’s Sidewalk Development Program, which was a driving force behind last week’s neighborhood walking tour (WSB coverage here).
NEXT MEETING: HPAC meets on the fourth Wednesdays of most months. Be sure to check the group’s website, hpaction.org, for updates and meeting confirmation.
ORIGINAL FRIDAY NIGHT REPORT: Sent by Wade:
Our car was stolen near E.C. Hughes Park around 7 o’clock tonight. Someone ripped off the handle and smashed the window.
The car is a white Hyundai Tucson with the license plate BMZ8991.
We don’t have a police report yet but will update when we do.
Call 911 if you find it.
SATURDAY AFTERNOON: Wade commented below that the car was found, in South Park.
We’ve routinely reported “brown water” sightings for years – so many at one point, Seattle Public Utilities did a system “flush” in West Seattle in 2016 to try to clear out the rust and other sediment that was getting stirred up. Recently, we heard from multiple West Seattle Junction-area apartment residents with a different sighting in their water – white hair-like “fibers.” Here’s one description:
The hair-like objects range up to about half an inch in length and there was consistently a few in any glass of water. I could not tell if they were plastic, organic, or what. My only rudimentary test showed that they do not dissolve in vinegar. There was no discoloration.
That resident had dealt with SPU and property management among others to try to solve the mystery. SPU is on the front lines in terms of water safety, so we asked them. Here’s what SPU spokesperson Brad Wong told us late today:
Seattle Public Utilities has analyzed water samples from the area around 42nd Avenue Southwest and Southwest Alaska Street in West Seattle after receiving reports from customers of microscopic strands or filaments in it.
SPU believes the strands are a result of a recent algae bloom in one of our water supply reservoirs, which has occurred seasonally for more than 15 years. The water is safe to drink because SPU has treated and disinfected it. The Cedar River supply does not have filtration, but meets treatment requirements with ozone, UV light, and chlorine.
Customers who have concerns can call SPU’s 24/7 Operations Response Center at 206-386-1800. Customers may choose to filter their drinking water or purchase bottled water but should not consider this necessary.
SPU will contact customers who called with concerns and continue to monitor the situation.
The response didn’t explain why these complaints were mainly coming from The Junction; our tipster says the SPU person to whom they spoke didn’t have an explanation for that either. The reader quoted above says an SPU rep told them that the algae bloom was in <strong>Lake Youngs, a source for Seattle city water.
The West Seattle Junction Association has already mentioned a few of the headliners for the year’s biggest party, West Seattle Summer Fest – Friday-Sunday, July 11-13 (following an ever-more-festive Summer Fest Eve on Thursday, July 10). Now, the full lineups are revealed!
First, on the Main Stage (California north of Oregon):
FRIDAY
3:00 Mason Lowe
4:00 Mr. Dinkles
5:00 Weep Wave
6:00 Oh, Rose
7:00 Madman Across The Water
8:00 Couch Riffs presents Funkadelic Tribute
9:00 THEM
10:00 Jenn ChampionSATURDAY
11:00 Mode Music Studio Showcase
12:00 School of Rock
1:00 Princess Pulpit
2:00 Jay Cates & Josh Rowling Trio
3:00 Abbigale
4:00 The Dusty 45s
5:00 AnUngulante
6:00 Fan Club
7:00 The Alain Johannes Band
8:00 New Constellations
9:00 Monsterwatch
10:00 Reignwolf
And on the West Side Stage:
FRIDAY
4:00 WSMA/Kenyon students
4:30 Rootbeer
5:00 Birch Pereira & The Gin Joints
6:00 The PotholesSATURDAY
11:00 Country Dave Harmonson
12:00 Dave Hates Chico
1:00 Narrower
2:00 Cooper Point Road
3:00 The Everlovers
4:00 Reis and Cates Jazz Showcase
5:00 Self Doubt
6:00 asyouwish // Sour and the KrautsSUNDAY
11:00 Matt Benham & David Weidig
12:00 WSMA + Sweetiest Sweeties
1:00 Sonny Parker
2:00 Baby Crow Flight School
3:00 Massy Ferguson
Food and vendor lineups will also show up soon on the Summer Fest website.
(WSB photo, March)
This year’s Loop the ‘Lupe – obstacle-course 5K and more – is one week from tomorrow, and organizer Brian Callanan tells us today that both participants and spectators will have the opportunity to get health care from the Care-a-Van. The mobile health-care service was in West Seattle for March’s Resource Fair at Westwood Village, and it’ll be at Walt Hundley Playfield 11 am-3 pm on Saturday, June 7th. Services will include childhood, flu, COVID, and mpox vaccines, as well as blood-pressure and blood-sugar screenings, with more information – and a QR code for preregistering (though they expect to accommodate some walk-ups too) – on this flyer in English and en Español. Again, you do NOT have to be a Loop the ‘Lupe participant to use the Care-a-Van services during its visit that day.
Another unique event set for this weekend: The West Seattle Booster Club says there’s still time to sign up to play pickleball in its Paddle Battle tournament on Sunday (June 1). It benefits their fundraising for West Seattle High School, and it’s set for 8 am to 5 pm Sunday on the Nino Cantu Southwest Athletic Complex courts west of Southwest Pool. If you’re not signed up already, you can register here right now:
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