West Seattle, Washington
21 Saturday
The timing is coincidental but given this morning’s 20-years-later observance of bicyclist Marvin Miller‘s death, we wanted to mention a safety-spotlighting ride this Saturday (March 21), in case you hadn’t already seen it in our Event Calendar. West Seattle transportation-safety advocate Stu Hennessey has organized a ride “to get out and enjoy our growing bike-lane infrastructure.” The 24-mile route starts on the bike path behind the Chelan Café (3527 Chelan Avenue SW) – meet at 10:45 am – and heads along a route including Georgetown and downtown – the interactive route map is here.
10:14 AM: Police are responding to what was dispatched as a one-car spinout, reported in the area where we’ve been tracking spinouts before, near the Walking on Logs pullout toward the southwest end of the West Seattle Bridge. No serious injury or major traffic effects reported; the dispatcher has mentioned twice that the driver thinks she spun out on “an oil slick” in that area.
11:22 AM: Both westbound lanes will be temporarily closed at the scene while a tow truck removes the vehicle.
11:31 AM: The lanes have reopened.
Thanks to Mike Burns for the photo of the refreshed green stripe on 41st Avenue SW north of Admiral Way, an annual St. Patrick’s Day mystery – attributed to unidentified leprechauns – and tradition! Meantime, we’ve been covering St. Patrick’s Day events since Friday, and today’s highlight list starts with what we have for today/tonight (if we’re missing anything, westseattleblog@gmail.com, thank you!):
CIRCA CELEBRATION: From breakfast through dinner, find special menu items and a festive atmosphere at Circa (2605 California SW; WSB sponsor); see the added dinner menu in our calendar listing. Irish music and decorations too.
(Added: WSB photo)
Open until 10 pm.
IRISH DANCE PERFORMANCE: Dancers from West Seattle’s Comerford School of Irish Dance will be at the Center for Active Living (4217 SW Oregon) at 1 pm.
HIGHLAND PARK PUB: Every year on St. Patrick’s Day, Highland Park Corner Store (7789 Highland Park Way SW) is transformed. Be there 5-8 pm for this year’s festivities: “Join us for corned beef sandwiches and loaded baked potatoes, green beer and mint ice cream, plus Irish tunes.”
Now, our other event notes/reminders/listings for today/tonight, mostly from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
FREE PLAYSPACE AT CHURCH OF NAZARENE: Rather play indoors on this gray day? Open until noon for little ones and their caregivers. (42nd SW and SW Juneau)
KALEIDOSCOPE PLAY & LEARN: This weekly event at at Bridge School Cooperative Elementary is also happening today, 10 am-noon. (10300 28th SW)
POSTCARDS4DEMOCRACY: New postcard-writers as well as returnees are welcome at this weekly advocacy gathering, 10:30 am-noon at C & P Coffee (5612 California SW; WSB sponsor). Sign up here before you go, if this is your first time.
ROTARY CLUB OF WEST SEATTLE: Noon Tuesdays, lunch meetings at West Seattle Golf Course, today with District 5030’s environmental chair Dave Spicer . (4470 35th SW)
CHESS CLUB: All levels welcome to play! 1:30-3 pm, at the Center for Active Living (4217 SW Oregon). Questions? Email conwell@conwelld.net.
OTHER EVENTS AT THE CENTER: Dozens every week! Go here for the full Center for Active Living calendar.
CITY COUNCIL: At 2 pm, the council holds its main weekly meeting. Today’s agenda explains how to comment and/or watch.
HIGH-SCHOOL SPORTS: Two West Seattle HS games at Nino Cantu Southwest Athletic Complex (2801 SW Thistle), softball at 4 pm vs. Roosevelt, baseball at 7:30 pm vs. Kennedy Catholic.
RESTAURANT POP-UP: Update – canceled this week.
DROP-IN HOMEWORK HELP: 4-5:45 pm at High Point Library (3411 SW Raymond).
DROP-IN WINE TASTING: 5-8 pm Tuesdays at Walter’s Wine Shop (4811 California SW) – $15 fee, $5 off with bottle purchases.
DEMONSTRATION FOR BLACK LIVES: Long-running weekly sign-waving demonstration on the corners at 16th/Holden. 5-6 pm. Signs available if you don’t bring your own.
INTERFAITH PRAYER VIGIL: Continuing weekly, 5:30-6:30 pm at Alki Statue of Liberty Plaza. (61st SW and
WEST SEATTLE UKULELE PLAYERS: Monthly evening gathering, 6 pm, rotating locations – our listing has the email address you can use to find out where! (Update: Whisky West – 6451 California SW – per comment below)
TRACK RUN WITH WEST SEATTLE RUNNER: Meet up by 6:15 pm at West Seattle Runner (2743 California SW; WSB sponsor) for WSR’s free weekly track run.
OPEN CHOIR REHEARSALS: 6:30 pm Tuesdays at Tibbetts United Methodist Church (3940 41st SW), come sing with the Boeing Employees Choir, even if you don’t work for Boeing – email in advance to RSVP.
SCOTTISH COUNTRY DANCING: Weekly lessons continue, 7 pm at Fauntleroy Church (9140 California SW), details in our calendar listing.
WOMEN’S MEDITATION CIRCLE: Weekly small-group meditation at Mama Be Well Healing Studio (4034-A California SW), 7 pm. Our calendar listing has info on registering before you go.
BINGO: Play free Tuesday night Belle of the Balls Bingo at The Skylark, 7 pm. (3803 Delridge Way SW)
TRIVIA X 5: Five places where you can play trivia on Tuesdays – The Beer Junction (4711 California SW), Sporcle Pub Quiz with David at 7 pm and 8 pm … 7 pm at Ounces (3803 Delridge Way SW), free and hosted by Beat the Geek Trivia; 7 pm at Zeeks Pizza West Seattle (6459 California SW), hosted by Geeks Who Drink; 7 pm at Admiral Pub, free, prizes. (2306 California SW) … Trivia at Christos on Alki (2508 Alki SW), 7:15 pm.
If you are organizing an event, class, performance, gathering, etc., tell your West Seattle neighbors via our event calendar – just email info to westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
Marvin Miller was riding his bicycle when a driver hit and killed him 20 years ago today. His family is sharing this tribute in his enduring memory:
It’s hard to believe, but as of St. Patrick’s Day, it has been twenty years since Marvin Gene Miller was taken from his family and the West Seattle community far too soon. Marv died doing what he loved. While riding his bike with a friend near West Marginal and Highland Park Way on March 17, 2006, he was struck and killed by a street-racing teenager who intentionally drove onto the path.
Born in 1948, Marv was an Army kid who lived everywhere from Alaska to Italy during his childhood. He attended Eckstein Middle School and Nathan Hale High School for a time before graduating from Punahou on Oahu. An Eagle Scout and National Merit Scholar, he received a full ride to Michigan State University and earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in math. He returned to settle in Seattle, where he married his wife, Sylvia.
Marv was an avid bicyclist who completed the STP twice with his daughter, Teresa, in two days and multiple other times with friends in one day. He also rode RAMROD several times and participated in Cascade Bicycle Club events around the region.
Marv died in the prime of his life, having retired just three years earlier from a more than thirty-year career as a software engineer at Boeing. In addition to enjoying travel, especially to Hawaii, he had a commitment to community service. Over the years, he contributed his time to Boy Scout and Girl Scout troops and helped multiple people get through math classes to earn degrees or GEDs. During his retirement, he volunteered at Denny Middle School. He also helped animals, including an abandoned, geriatric yellow lab he found on Alki and adopted, and he picked up litter wherever he went.
An accomplished genealogist who researched more than 30,000 of his daughter’s ancestors, Marv established a popular genealogy website via paper records and visits to libraries and cemeteries across the country, in a time before the conveniences of at-home DNA testing and easy clicks through Ancestry.com. His research provides the basis for many people’s knowledge of their family trees today. At the time of his death, he was also beginning to fulfill his lifelong dream of learning to play the saxophone.
The West Seattle Herald previously covered his death, and WSB posted a picture of the ghost bike that his son-in-law, Gregory (whom he never had the chance to meet), made in his memory in 2018.
Losing Marv leaves a hole that his family and friends continue to feel all these years later. We invite you to pitch in where he left off, by helping someone in need, leaving places better than you find them, or choosing to drive carefully in a rushed and demanding world. No appointment, text message, or moment of irritation on the road is worth preventing someone from getting home safely to the people who love them.
(WSB publishes West Seattle obituaries and memorial announcements by request, free of charge. Please email the text, and a photo if available, to westseattleblog@gmail.com)
6:02 AM: Good morning! Welcome to Tuesday, March 17, 2026. (Spring starts Friday morning!)
WEATHER + SUNRISE/SUNSET
Rainy, breezy forecast again – high in the mid-50s. Sunrise at 7:17 am; sunset at 7:18 pm.
TRANSIT TODAY
West Seattle Water Taxi – Regular West Seattle service, winter schedule through April 10.
Washington State Ferries – Check WSF’s alert page for any changes to the 3-boat schedule.
Metro buses – Regular weekday schedule and routes.
SPOTLIGHT TRAFFIC CAMERAS
High Bridge – Here’s the main camera, followed by the Fauntleroy-end camera:
Low Bridge – Here’s the westward view. Also note, maritime-opening info is available via X (ex-Twitter):
1st Avenue South Bridge (fully open again):
Delridge cameras: In addition to the one below (Delridge/Genesee), cameras are also at Delridge/Juneau, Delridge/Henderson, Delridge/Oregon, and video-only (so you have to go to the map), Delridge/Holden and Delridge/Thistle.
MORE TRAFFIC CAMS: All functioning traffic cams citywide are here (including links to live video for most); for a quick scan of West Seattle and vicinity-relevant cameras, see this WSB page.
See trouble on the bridges/streets/paths/water? Please text or call our hotline (when you can do it safely, and after you’ve reported to authorities if they’re not already on scene) – 206-293-6302. Thank you!
After 911 calls reporting what sounded like gunfire in or near Westcrest Park, a police officer just told dispatch they’ve found evidence – shell casings in “the main parking lot.” No report of anyone hurt, so far.
The mayor’s office says the city has reviewed 70 possible sites for adding shelter space in its push to get 500 people off the streets by June. That was one headline from a briefing today, delivered by mayor’s office reps to the City Council, which will have to approve some components of the plan. Here’s Seattle Channel video of the meeting:
The 70 potential sites weren’t listed in the meeting documents, and our request for the list so far has gone unfulfilled. But the mayor’s-office team told councilmembers they expect to announce five sites before the end of the month. Many of the 500 spaces – but not necessarily all – would be in “microshelters,” which seems to be the alternative name for “tiny houses.” They promised to work with district councilmembers regarding sites for “shelter acceleration” in three types:
In working with the neighborhoods where shelter would be added, they said they had plans for how safety would be safeguarded:
Of the 70 sites they said they’ve “assessed,” about a third are publicly owned. The first five sites, they said, won’t require the mayor’s newly proposed legislation in order to move forward, but others will, so that was part of why they were at the council meeting, to promote that legislation, which she announced at the Hope Factory tiny-home (microshelter) construction facility twelve days ago (WSB coverage here).
(WSB photo at The Hope Factory in Georgetown, March 4)
That March 4 announcement was brought up by Councilmember Dan Strauss in Q&A, noting a mention in the presentation of each tiny house costing $28,000, while he recalled that the microshelters are built by volunteers.
So will the city be paying for them? Strauss asked. The mayor’s-office team told him, “We’ll get back to you.” They did say part of the costs are from the plan to make these shelter facilities “service-rich environments,” explained this way:
There was no mention of the forthcoming West Seattle tiny-homes-and-RV-lot site Glassyard Commons, so we don’t know if it’s going to be considered one of the five sites or not. It’s continuing to make its way through the city permit system.
(See the full slide deck from today’s presentation here.)
After hearing a police dispatch last night for someone finding a possible “human skull” at the Waste Management transfer station on West Marginal Way, we followed up with police today. Here’s all the info they provided:
On 03/15/2026 at about 7:30 p.m., officers responded to a Waste Transfer station in West Seattle, where a security guard reported finding what appeared to be a human skull. Unable to determine its authenticity, it was photographed in place and entered into evidence. Homicide was contacted as well as the King County Medical Examiner, and a report was written.
The initial dispatch said the possible skull was found “amongst recycling.”
If you or someone you know is in need, this Saturday’s free community store at Denny International Middle School can help. The community store will be stocked with 37 pallets full of food and household supplies to be given away to whoever needs them, 9 am to 2 pm on Saturday (March 21). The store is courtesy of Partnership for Hope, which collaborates with other organizations and volunteers to support people in need. It’s for “students, staff, and the whole broader community,” we’re told. Here’s how to register. And if you’re not in need, but would like to help out, volunteers are gathering the day before as well as during the event – you can sign up here to volunteer. Denny IMS is at 2601 SW Kenyon.
Most of West Seattle’s only official off-leash area, at Westcrest Park, will close for four days next week, according to this announcement from Seattle Parks:
We need to temporarily close the Westcrest Off Leash Area (OLA) from March 23rd through March 26th.
During this time, crews will deliver wood chips (Engineered Wood Fiber) to the terraced area near the shelter and picnic table. We planned this maintenance effort in close consultation with our COLA stewards at Westcrest Park to improve the play space for your pets.
While the main area is closed, the small and shy dog area will remain open and accessible to all dog owners. Because this space is much more confined than the main park, please pay close attention to your dog’s behavior to ensure a safe environment for all visitors.
We recognize this temporary closure might disrupt your routine, and we appreciate your understanding and cooperation as we work to maintain the park. If you have any questions or concerns about this project, please call us at 206-684-4075.
This Thursday morning during the twice-monthly meeting of the City Council committee chaired by District 1 Councilmember Rob Saka, two North Delridge business owners are scheduled to participate in a roundtable discussion about strategies for dealing with light-rail-related displacement. The roundtable discussion is on the agenda for the 9:30 am Thursday (March 19) meeting of the Transportation, Waterfront, and Seattle Center Committee; the local participants are Mode Music Studios (WSB sponsor) proprietor Erin Rubin and Ounces proprietor Laurel Trujillo. Both of their businesses will have to move under the current plan for the Delridge station, which at this point wouldn’t be changed by the newest cost-cutting proposals. Thursday’s roundtable participants also include reps from two city departments and the nonprofit Rainier Valley Community Development Fund, which has been working with local businesses. As always, the meeting will be streamed live, and recorded, by Seattle Channel.
Along with the Fauntleroy dock/terminal replacement project, Washington State Ferries‘ Triangle Route also will be getting a new building at the Southworth terminal.
(WSF photo of current Southworth dock/terminal)
Today WSF launched an online open house with information on design concepts and a survey seeking opinions. The Southworth dock has become increasingly busy as a hub for Kitsap Transit foot ferries too. The main question WSF is posing is, where on the Southworth dock to locate a new building, and it’s unveiled four options. Today through April 5, you can review them and answer a survey by going here. The timing on the WSF website suggests some potential overlap with the Fauntleroy project, though in this case they’re only replacing the Southworth terminal building in the first phase, with a dock trestle replacement in a later second phase.
Thanks to the texter who asked us about a sizable police response in the 2300 block of California, just north of Admiral Way, around 8 this morning. It was logged simply as “suspicious/onview” – the latter word indicates something an officer saw and decided to check out – but listening back to the radio archives, we found there was much more to it. The officer noticed something suspicious about a parked car, and running its plates revealed it was associated with a Silver Alert issued hours earlier for 85-year-old Robert, missing from Mill Creek, last seen leaving a medical facility in Bellevue last night. No one was in the car but it was “still warm,” reported the officer, so he and others looked around the area, and eventually found him nearby. Last we heard, they were talking with police in Bellevue, to arrange to get him back. Why he came here, more than 20 miles away – we haven’t heard.
ADDED: Turns out, according to an SPD summary, that the car attracted the officer’s attention because an Automated License Plate Reader detected its involvement in the alert.
Late last night, 911 reported “a lot of calls” about possible gunshots in the High Point area. They dispatched officers to look around the areas the calls came from. One officer radioed in that he found “evidence of fireworks.” We don’t usually report on “possible gunfire” reports that aren’t verified, unless we get questions about it; multiple people have asked us about it this morning, so in case you wondered too – that’s what they found. (Police consider gunfire verified if they find a victim, shell casings, property damage such as bullet hole(s), and/or if someone actually saw a person firing a gun.)
(WSB photo: Harbor Seal seen at Jack Block Park on Sunday)
Here’s what’s on our list for the hours ahead, mostly from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
FREE TAX HELP: 11 am-4 pm drop-in help at Alki Masonic Center. (4736 40th SW)
BABY STORY TIME: Noon at Southwest Library (9010 35th SW). Free.
LEARN ABOUT SOUTH SEATTLE COLLEGE: 1 pm in-person South Seattle College (WSB sponsor) information session at Cascade Hall, northwest side of campus at 6000 16th SW. Full details and RSVP link in our calendar listing.
‘SOLUTIONS, NOT RESOLUTIONS’: Weekly speaker series continues with 1 pm presentation on “Tech for Health and Wellness” at Brookdale West Seattle (4611 35th SW). Our calendar listing explains how to RSVP.
SPEED-UP-SHELTER BRIEFING: During today’s 2 pm City Council briefing meeting, a team from the mayor’s office will present where Mayor Wilson’s plan to quickly expand shelter capacity is at. The agenda explains how to watch.
FREE HOMEWORK HELP: Drop-in assistance for K-12 students at High Point Library (3411 SW Raymond), 4-5:45 pm.
D&D: Long-running weekly D&D at 6:30 pm at Meeples Games (3727 California SW). All welcome, first-time players too!
‘LISTENING TO GRIEF’ SUPPORT GROUP: 6:30 pm, ongoing weekly group gathering for people experiencing grief – you can participate once, weekly, or occasionally. Fee; before you go, RSVP/register here. (4034 California SW)
MONDAY NIGHT TRIVIA X 2: Two venues for trivia/quiz tonight! 7 pm at The Good Society (California/Lander) … 7:30 pm with QuizFix at The Skylark (3803 Delridge Way SW).
MEDITATE IN ALKI: Monday night meditation at Alki UCC is back this week, doors open at 6:45, meditation at 7. (6115 SW Hinds)
COMEDY AT OTTER ON THE ROCKS: 7 pm, with headliners Rodger Lizaola and Ariel Ehrlich. Our calendar listing has ticket info. (4210 SW Admiral Way)
POOL TOURNAMENT: Pool players! Enter The Corner Pocket‘s weekly tournament starting at 7 pm. $10 buy-in. (4302 SW Alaska)
MEDITATE IN FAUNTLEROY: Free weekly Zen sitting/meditation in the chapel at Fauntleroy UCC (9140 California SW), 7 pm-8:30 pm.
JAZZ AT THE ALLEY: Monday night music with The Westside Jazz Trio, 8 pm at The Alley (behind 4509 California SW), 21+, no cover.
KARAOKE AT TALARICO’S: 9 pm Mondays, karaoke at Talarico’s Pizzeria (4718 California SW).
Big thanks to everybody who sends info for our calendar; if you have something to add or cancel (or update), please send the info to westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
By Macey Wurm
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
The 2026 Washington State Legislature session and the 2025-2026 biennium officially ended last Thursday (March 12). Since our last update, two additional bills primarily sponsored by your 34th District legislators – State Senator Emily Alvarado, House Rep. Joe Fitzgibbon, and House Rep. Brianna Thomas – have been signed into law by Governor Bob Ferguson. Apart from these, five bills have been delivered to the governor’s desk, awaiting action.
SIGNED BY GOVERNOR
The following bills have been signed by Governor Ferguson are now considered session laws. This version is created by the Code Reviser’s Office, and is considered the law until the legislation is officially codified in the Revised Code of Washington (RCW).
HB 2367 – Rep. Fitzgibbon
Exempts emissions from a coal facility occurring before January 1, 2026 from the Cap-and-Invest Program. Makes it so that the limitation on state agencies creating more emission performance standards on a coal facility in operation before July 22, 2011 doesn’t apply after December 31, 2025 to a coal facility subject to the memorandum of agreement. Sales and use tax exemptions for coal purchased or used at a coal facility in operation after December 3, 1969 and before July 1, 1975 are repealed.
HB 2355 – Rep. Thomas
Creates labor protections for domestic workers including minimum wage and overtime requirements. Domestic workers include any employee or independent contractor working in a private residence for four or more hours a month. Allows domestic workers to bring a private cause of action under the Washington Law Against Discrimination in some instances.
HB 2303 – Rep. Thomas
Prohibits employers from microchipping employees. An employer cannot request, require, or coerce an employee to have a microchip implanted.
DELIVERED TO GOVERNOR
The following bills have been delivered to the governor’s desk but are awaiting action. Since they were delivered within five days of the end of the 2026 legislative session, the governor has 20 days from their delivery to take action. All of these bills were delivered to the governor on either March 11 or 12.
SB 6026 – Sen. Alvarado
Certain local governments must include residential development in commercial and mixed-use zones. Prohibits requirement for ground-floor commercial and mixed-use in these zones– subject to exceptions. Prohibits local governments from imposing ground floor commercial and mixed-use requirements on subsidized affordable housing.
SB 5911 – Sen. Alvarado
The Department of Children, Youth and Families cannot apply benefits, payments, funds, or accrual paid to or on behalf of young adults receiving extended foster care as of January 1, 2027. Aims to strengthen the financial stability of persons in the care of DCYF. Specifies when DCYF can assess whether someone is eligible for such benefits.
SB 6027 – Sen. Alvarado
Changes the allowable uses for local sales and use tax for housing and related services. Changes the eligible uses of funding in the Affordable Housing for All Account. Updates the definition of emergency housing for property tax exemptions for low-income persons or victims of domestic violence.
HB 2215 – Rep. Fitzgibbon
Reduces emissions threshold determining covered entity status and compliance obligation in the Cap-and-Invest Program for certain fuel suppliers starting January 1, 2027 for suppliers that began supplying fuels after Jan 1, 2023. Requires them to report emissions to the Department of Ecology. Prohibits state from awarding a procurement contract to certain fuel suppliers, with some exceptions.
HB 2251 – Rep. Fitzgibbon
Repeals three of the Climate Commitment Act funding accounts and replaces them with the Climate Commitment Act Operating Account and the Climate Commitment Act Capital Account. Renames the Carbon Emissions Reduction Account to the Climate Commitment Act Transportation Account. Makes changes to the use of CCA funding and distribution of revenue.
NEXT YEAR
The 2027 legislative session will be a regular session, lasting 105 days, compared to this year’s short session lasting just 60 days. The 2027 session will begin on January 11, marking the beginning of the next legislative biennium.
6:00 AM: Good morning! Welcome to Monday, March 16, 2026. Spring arrives Friday morning!
WEATHER + SUNRISE/SUNSET
Rainy, breezy forecast – high in the mid-50s. Sunrise at 7:19 am; sunset at 7:16 pm.
1ST AVENUE S. BRIDGE REMINDER
All lanes are open again, both ways, but the speed limit remains 25 mph.
TRANSIT TODAY
West Seattle Water Taxi – Regular West Seattle service, winter schedule through April 10.
Washington State Ferries – Check WSF’s alert page for any changes to the 3-boat schedule.
Metro buses – Regular weekday schedule and routes.
SPOTLIGHT TRAFFIC CAMERAS
High Bridge – Here’s the main camera, followed by the Fauntleroy-end camera:
Low Bridge – Here’s the westward view. Also note, maritime-opening info is available via X (ex-Twitter):
1st Avenue South Bridge:
Delridge cameras: In addition to the one below (Delridge/Genesee), cameras are also at Delridge/Juneau, Delridge/Henderson, Delridge/Oregon, and video-only (so you have to go to the map), Delridge/Holden and Delridge/Thistle.
MORE TRAFFIC CAMS: All functioning traffic cams citywide are here (including links to live video for most); for a quick scan of West Seattle and vicinity-relevant cameras, see this WSB page.
See a problem on the bridges/streets/paths/water? Please text or call our hotline (when you can do it safely, and after you’ve reported to authorities if they’re not already on scene) – 206-293-6302. Thank you!
On the last night of winter, talk about spring and summer with the Alki Community Council! You’re invited to the ACC’s in-person meeting Thursday (March 19), 7 pm at Alki UCC (6115 SW Hinds). Planned topics include crime prevention as the beach’s busy season approaches, rebooting the Block Watch Captain program, Schmitz Park Creek restoration, A Cleaner Alki volunteer work, and more. Door-prize giveaways as always. Check in on more of what’s up at alkicommunitycouncil.org.
Often, stories about saving trees involve trees in the path of development.
Not this one – a tree so wide and gangly, we have to show it to you on video rather than just a photo.
The threat to this weeping willow tree in Upper Alki is not development, but another d-word … drainage – according to its owner.
The tree is in Irene Trimble‘s yard in Upper Alki, along SW Spokane east of 59th SW. It’s a landmark – “I’ve given the community access to the tree for engagement, prom, and senior photos as well as wedding ceremonies at no charge to anyone. A lot of memories have been made here by folks in West Seattle.” She provided this photo of one couple:
Part of the tree hangs over her fence, and she’s let people into the yard to visit it.
But it’s dying because of too much underground water just inches below the south side of the yard after a shift in the flow, which she has been told is a natural phenomenon. Irene says an arborist estimates the tree will die in about a year unless the excess water is drained away and rerouted. She’s been told that can be done – for about $9,000.
A friend suggested she try crowdfunding to cover some of that cost, and set up this GoFundMe campaign.
It describes the tree as “ancient” – that’s a relative term, as willows go; Irene says this one is believed to be at least a century old. She bought the property six years ago, and says it didn’t come with any history of the tree, such as who planted it there and why.
All that’s clear is that too much of a good thing – water – is killing it. And for those who know it and appreciate it, Irene says they have a chance to help save it. At least its human fans do – it has wildlife fans too, like this video Irene provided from a duck family’s visit:
Irene says the tree is registered with Plant Amnesty as one of Seattle’s remaining “heritage trees,” and if she is able to save it, it could live to be cherished by at least another generation.
(WSB photos and video by Torin Record-Sand)
We stopped by two more early St. Patrick’s Day celebrations at West Seattle venues this afternoon:
At Ounces in North Delridge, West Seattle Irish Dance performed, after offering a free class this morning.
And at C & P Coffee (WSB sponsor), students of Tudy McLain presented an Irish music festival, including harp and flute.
The students were joined by guest performers too.
St. Patrick’s Day is still two days away, and the festivities that day will include Highland Park Corner Store transforming into “Highland Park Pub,” 5-8 pm Tuesday, with “baked potatoes and corned beef sandwiches, green beer, shamrock scoops, Irish tunes.”
4:29 PM: Seattle Fire is sending a “full response” to in the 5700 block of SW Stevens [vicinity map], across from Alki Playfield, where flames are reported coming from a shed.
4:32 PM: Firefighters assess it as an “exterior” fire and are reducing the size of the response.
5:02 PM: Our photographer is on scene and has verified with the incident commander that the fire’s out and no one was hurt.
10:40 PM: SFD tells us the cause remains under investigation.
Thanks for all the bird photos these past few weeks! Time for a Sunday afternoon gallery. Above, five juvenile Bald Eagles in formation at Lincoln Park, photographed by Rainer Klett; below, a Pheasant – the photo is from Terry Blumer, whose daughter saw it in North Admiral:
Terry’s wife got this view of two Northern Flicker woodpeckers:
Remember the West Seattle Nursery (WSB sponsor) Anna’s Hummingbird eggs? Susan Whiting Kemp photographed the mom in view with babies’ beaks:
Jerry Simmons photographed a Peregrine Falcon:
A Sharp-shinned Hawk, from Carol Christian:
This is from K Smith:
Another corvid – a Steller’s Jay at Al‘s feeder:
Jon Anderson spotted a Spotted Towhee:
And Keri Watson caught a Gull with what appeared to be a snack:
Thank you so much to everyone who sends photos from around West Seattle – whether it’s a bird or breaking news, scenery or surprise sightings – westseattleblog@gmail.com or text to 206-293-6302 any time!
(WSB file photo)
Another reminder: The next West Seattle recycle/reuse/shredding event is now less than a week away, presented by the West Seattle Junction Association, West Seattle Chamber of Commerce, and partners next Saturday (March 21). To ensure you’re ready, we’re again publishing the list of what you’ll be able to drop off during the 9 am-noon event. And remember that the location is changing – now in the south parking lot at South Seattle College (6000 16th SW; WSB sponsor) – drive/ride/walk in via the southernmost SSC entrance off 16th.
The list:
ACCEPTED ITEMS include:
Small propane canisters
Fluorescent tubes and bulbs
Household batteries
Clothing, bedding, curtains in good condition
Small electronics (TVs, computers, cellphones)
Small appliances (non-freon)
Foam blocks (polystyrene only)
Paper for shredding (limit: 4 boxes)
home goods and toysNON-ACCEPTED ITEMS include:
Furniture
Hazardous waste
Bicycle/tricycles
CRT tube TVs
Mattresses
AC units
Car seats
Stained, ripped or worn-out fabrics
Automotive waste
Construction waste
Garbage, compost and household recycling items
Mismatched items (single shoes, etc.)
For suggestions about disposing of those items or others not mentioned at all, check out this Seattle Public Utilities lookup tool. And note that a wider variety of electronic items will be accepted next month at the Fauntleroy Church Recycle Roundup – 9 am-3 pm Saturday, April 25.
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