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Spotlight Stories


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    WEST SEATTLE 5K: See & hear how it went

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    CAR IN THE PARK: Film crew spotted

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    SO LONG, SALMON: Halfway through the season

BRIDGE RETROFITS: Bidding opens for Admiral Way, closes for Delridge overpass
January 25, 2024 3:57 pm
|      5 COMMENTS
 |   Transportation | West Seattle news

As previously reported, two of West Seattle’s smaller bridges are set for earthquake-resistance work soon. Bidding has just closed for one, and opened for another:

(WSB file photo)

DELRIDGE PEDESTRIAN OVERPASS: We reported last month that bidding had opened for this seismic project. As of today, it’s closed. The city had listed the project budget as $5 million; the three “base bids” range from $2.3 million to $3 million. They’ll be vetted before the contract is awarded. Once a contractor is chosen, the construction schedule will be worked out; previously, SDOT has estimated the work could last up to a year.

(Admiral Way Bridges from Fairmount Avenue, via Google Maps Street View)

ADMIRAL WAY (FAIRMOUNT) BRIDGES: Bidding just opened today for this project (technically two bridges), summarized on the bidding website as follows:

The seismic retrofit of the Admiral Way Bridges includes the following general items of work: strengthening of steel column bents, new bracing at concrete pier bents, retrofit of bridge deck joints, bridge abutment retrofit, slope stabilization, strengthening with Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymer (CFRP), and steel painting.

The project also is summarized here (though obviously the construction timeline mentioned there didn’t happen; SDOT told us last spring they were aiming to complete it by the end of this year). As for cost, this 2023 presentation cited a 2020 estimate of $15 million. Bids are due February 21st.

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WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Stolen white work truck
January 25, 2024 2:08 pm
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | West Seattle news

The report and photo are from FL:

Sometime between 8 pm 1/24 and 7 am 1/25 my 1998 Chevy (white) 1500 pickup was stolen from sw Henderson st / 35th Ave SW. It was parked on SW Henderson St between the public library and the Shell gas station. The Shell gas station camera was pointed directly at the spot it was parked in. It was a work truck that I used daily. It had a metal tool rack on the back in place of a canopy. This is the second white truck my family has had stolen from us in the last six months from this location. About 6 months ago our other truck was stolen at roughly the same time of night within a block of this location. Rampant car theft in the area.

License plate # is C13705B. We’ll add the police-report # when we get it.

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911 explained, crime stats detailed, ‘natural drainage’ project updates, more at HPAC’s first 2024 meeting
January 25, 2024 12:28 pm
|    Comments Off on 911 explained, crime stats detailed, ‘natural drainage’ project updates, more at HPAC’s first 2024 meeting
 |   Delridge | Highland Park | Neighborhoods | West Seattle news

By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

Another in-person meeting last night began the 2024 calendar for HPAC, the community coalition for Highland Park, Riverview, and South Delridge. They’re testing various locations since their longtime meeting quarters at Highland Park Improvement Club remain out of commission, so last night’s meeting was held at Southwest Library, which meant an earlier start and fixed cutoff time, since the branch clears meeting rooms 15 minutes before 8 pm closing time.

Nonetheless, the 1 1/4-hour meeting facilitated by HPAC co-chair Kay Kirkpatrick delivered plenty of information. Here’s how it unfolded:

SEATTLE POLICE: The Southwest Precinct team that’s appeared at multiple recent community meetings, Lt. Josh Ziemer and community liaison Officer German Barreto, were asked about the shooting death at Southwest Pool/Teen Life Center on Tuesday, but said they could not divulge any updates. In crime stats, so far this year, Highland Park had three assaults, 6 motor-vehicle-related thefts (car prowls, etc.), 7 motor-vehicle thefts and attempted thefts, including “one restolen from a tow lot,” 1 aggravated assault, 1 attempted burglary, 1 store robbery, 1 residential burglary. 2 larceny (one attempted mail theft and one mail theft). Year to year, 2023 compared to 2022, homicides, aggravated assaults up, motor vehicle thefts up, burglaries down.

For South Delridge, also in HPAC’s coverage area – so far this year 2 assaults, one motor vehicle theft, one hit-run, one business burglary, one robbery (phone snatch) – robberies are down year to year, thefts down, except for vehicle thefts, which are up.

Asked about the 1st/Cloverdale encampment just off the sharp turn west of Highway 509:

Read More

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UPDATE: Southwest Pool closed again today, two days after shooting death
January 25, 2024 11:05 am
|      9 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle parks | West Seattle police

11:05 AM: Two days after a 14-year-old boy died of a gunshot wound in a restroom at Southwest Pool/Teen Life Center, the facility is closed again today, according to this announcement we received:

Southwest Pool will be closed (again today, Thursday, January 25).  The plan is to open for Friday, January 26, for Adult Swim 12-2:30 pm and the HS Swim Meet 3:00-6:00 pm.  Lesson participants will be issued a credit for the missed class.

Following the tragic incident at SW Pool, the Department is allowing staff some time to recover and a chance to heal.

As for the investigation itself, police have yet to provide any updates. Southwest Precinct representatives at last night’s HPAC meeting reiterated that they couldn’t comment while the investigation continues.

ADDED 2:50 PM: SPD has finally just posted about Tuesday’s incident on its “blotter” website, but there’s no additional information beyond what’s already been reported, except a note that anyone with information should call the SPD tipline, 206-233-5000.

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13 options for the rest of your West Seattle Thursday
January 25, 2024 10:21 am
|      1 COMMENT
 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Giant Sequoia, South Seattle College Arboretum, photographed by Rosalie Miller)

Here are highlights of what’s happening in the hours ahead -in case you haven’t already seen them in our calendar:

FREE INDOOR PLAYSPACE: Open until noon, drop in at the West Seattle Church of the Nazarene (42nd/Juneau).

NORTHWEST WINE ACADEMY: Open 1-6 pm at South Seattle College (6000 16th SW; WSB sponsor).

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.

DINE-OUT FUNDRAISER: Dine at West Wings (2329 California SW) 3-9 pm, and part of the proceeds will go to Holy Rosary School.

HISTORY HOUR: “The Asian American Experience” is the topic of today’s 4 pm lecture at Senior Center of West Seattle, with Shin Yu Pai, Seattle’s civic poet. (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 Ana’s Pupuseria.

FREE ECO-ARTS CLASS: 4-7 pm at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center (4408 Delridge Way SW) – drop in!

VISCON CELLARS: The winery’s tasting room/wine bar is open 5-9 pm (5910 California SW; WSB sponsor) for wine by the glass or bottle.

OPEN HOUSE AT MADISON MS: Incoming sixth-graders and their families are invited to tonight’s open house, 6:30 pm at Madison Middle School (3429 45th SW).

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.

WESTIES RUN CLUB: Meet at Future Primitive Beer Bar (2536 Alki SW) at 6 pm for a 3-mile run – more in our calendar listing.

BLUES NIGHT: 6:30-9 pm at The Spot West Seattle (2920 SW Avalon Way), every Thursday you can listen to the blues.

YOGA, BREATH WORK, GONG BATH, MORE: 7 pm at Move2Center (3618 SW Alaska), $35.

Planning an event that should be on our calendar and in daily preview lists like this? Email info to westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!

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YOU CAN HELP: Food, clothing drive in North Delridge, + fundraising self-defense workshop
January 25, 2024 9:39 am
|    Comments Off on YOU CAN HELP: Food, clothing drive in North Delridge, + fundraising self-defense workshop
 |   How to help | West Seattle news

(Photo courtesy Combat Arts Academy)

All ages are assisting with a food and clothihg drive happening right now at Combat Arts Academy (5050 Delridge Way SW), and you can too! They’re also planning a fundraising self-defense workshop for women on Sunday. First, the donation drive, which continues through the end of the month:

Winter’s chill has been upon us, and not everyone has a warm meal waiting. We’re collecting food and clothes for the West Seattle Food Bank through the end of the month. Let’s make a difference together!

Drop off items at Combat Arts Academy at 5050 Delridge Way SW

– M-Th 10a-9p, F 3p-9p, Su 10a-2p
– shoot us a message and we can coordinate.

Items:

– Non-Perishable foods (think ready-to eat): chili, soups, shelf stable milk, etc

– Healthy Snacks for kids (backpack program for school lunch): huge; fruit leather, granola bars, microwaveable pasta meals and soup cups, oatmeal/cereal packs

– Clothesline: winter coats, hats, gloves, hand warmers, towels, tents, sleeping bags, new underwear and socks, backpacks and duffle bags, suitcases with wheels, sheets and blankets

– Baby Corner: diapers, formula, wipes

The women’s self-defense workshop is at 3 pm Sunday (January 28) at CAA, suggested donation $30, for girls and women 13+ – details and registration link are in our calendar listing.

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TRAFFIC, TRANSIT, WEATHER: Thursday info, with reminder for bike commuters
January 25, 2024 6:00 am
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

6:00 AM: Good morning. Welcome to Thursday, January 25th!

WEATHER + SUNRISE/SUNSET TIMES

More rain expected, breezy, high around 50. Today’s sunrise will be at 7:44 am, sunset at 4:59 pm.

TRAIL SPUR CLOSURE ALERT

As reported here, a trail spur beneath the low bridge will be closed for more than two months because of the project to upgrade the bridge’s communication cabling. (See this comment for a related heads-up.)

TRANSIT NOTESs

Water Taxi today – Regular schedule. Check the real-time map if you need to see where the boat is.

Metro today – Regular schedule; check advisories here.

Washington State Ferries today – 2-boat service on the Triangle Route. Check WSF alerts for changes, and use the real-time map to see where your ferry is.

SPOTLIGHT TRAFFIC CAMERAS

Delridge cameras: Besides the one below (Delridge/Orchard), cameras are also at Delridge/Genesee, Delridge/Juneau, Delridge/Henderson, and Delridge/Oregon.

High Bridge – the main camera:

High Bridge – the view from its southwest end (when SDOT points the 35th/Avalon/Fauntleroy camera that way):

Low Bridge:

1st Ave. S. Bridge:

Highway 99: – northbound side at Lander:

MORE TRAFFIC CAMS: All functioning traffic cams citywide are here; West Seattle and vicinity-relevant cameras are on this WSB page.

BRIDGE INFO: The @SDOTBridges feed on X (ex-Twitter) shows whether the city’s movable bridges are opening for vessel traffic.

If you see a problem on the bridges/streets/paths/water, please text or call us (when you can do that safely, and after you’ve reported to authorities if they’re not already on scene). Thank you!

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WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Mailbox break-in
January 24, 2024 10:43 pm
|      13 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | West Seattle news

One reader report received today, from Christopher:

I wanted to report some mail theft that occurred sometime around midday Monday 1/22. I live in a townhouse at the corner of Delridge Way SW and SW Edmunds Street; we have a joint, locking mailbox for our four units. We found that our mailbox has been pried open and our mail stolen. We have reported this to Seattle police department and the USPS Inspector General. I’m hoping to get this out to see if anyone else had their mail stolen as well, and encourage them to report it.

You can report mail theft to the U.S. Postal Inspection Service here.

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Make it a triple! Three ways – including the Dick’s Drive-In truck – to help Highland Park Elementary this Saturday
January 24, 2024 9:09 pm
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   Highland Park | How to help | West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

That’s a photo from the Dick’s Drive-In truck visit to Highland Park Corner Store last May. It’s returning this Saturday (January 27), this time as one of three ways to help nearby Highland Park Elementary School students, via the PTA.

First – show up for a community cleanup at 10 am Saturday – meet on the west side of the school (1012 SW Trenton) by the dumpsters.

Second – At 11 am, head to the HP Corner Store (7789 Highland Park Way SW), where the Dick’s truck will be selling burgers and shakes until 2 pm as part of a fundraiser for the PTA.

Third – While you’re at HPCS, grab a Mighty Mustang soda, and/or a pint of local beer, and bid on raffle items, also at HPCS, as the PTA works to raise money for new stools and acrylic paint for the school’s Art Room. grab a Mighty Mustang Soda or a pint of local beer, and bid on raffle items – the proceeds of which will go to support the Highland Park Elementary PTA. The PTA thanks Dick’s, The Bridge, and HPCS for supporting the school, and hopes you’ll be there to help.

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HAPPY HUNDREDTH! Providence Mount St. Vincent celebrates centennial
January 24, 2024 7:21 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   West Seattle history | West Seattle news

A centennial celebration today at The Mount, which sent this report and photos:

Exactly 100 years ago today, Providence Mount St. Vincent opened its doors in the same location that it is today on 35th Avenue SW. Today “The Mount,” as it is informally called, kicked off a year-long celebration with a special centennial Mass honoring the Sisters of Providence. The Most Reverend Paul D. Etienne, Seattle Archbishop, presided.

(Photos by Jennifer Richard)

The Sisters of Providence founded Providence Mount St. Vincent with a goal of caring for the poor and vulnerable elders in the community with dignity, compassion, respect and love. In 1924 it was known as the “St. Vincent Home for the Aged.” The Sisters and novices relocated Providence’s Provincial headquarters from Vancouver to the West Seattle site.

Today, The Mount serves more than 200 residents on site; 125 children in the child-care center; and nearly 1,000 patients annually in its sub-acute Transitional Care Unit. It is recognized internationally for its intergenerational programs that bring together older adults and children.

On April 26, 2024, Providence Mount St. Vincent will host a Centennial Community Open House Celebration—exactly 100 years since the building was dedicated and officially opened to the public on April 26, 1924.

That event will be open to the public – watch for more details to come.

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VIDEO: You’ve probably passed it many times. Now, see inside King County’s water-cleaning facility just off 1st Ave. S. Bridge
January 24, 2024 5:33 pm
|      15 COMMENTS
 |   Environment | Georgetown | West Seattle news

(WSB photos and video)

With another “atmospheric river” on the way, the King County Wastewater Treatment Division‘s Georgetown Wet Weather Treatment Station is gearing up for another potentially busy run of intercepting contaminated runoff/overflow water before it gets to the Duwamish River. This is the year-old facility you may have driven or rode past many times, near the north end of the 1st Avenue South Bridge, on the northwest corner of 4th and Michigan. Today the county gave media crews a behind-the-scenes tour.

Operating the quarter-billion-dollar facility – built over more than four years – is not labor-intensive – just one person is needed at all times to run it, and if there’s a major storm event sending millions of gallons of water through it, that rises to a grand total of three. It can handle up to 70 million gallons of combined-sewer overflow per day. (So far its peak usage has been 26 million gallons a day during an early December storm.)

Unlike the county’s Murray Wet Weather Facility by Lowman Beach, and the West Duwamish Wet Weather Storage Facility that’ll be built on our side of the 1st Avenue South Bridge, the Georgetown facility is a treatment plant – taking solids out of the water via a “high-speed settling tank” using materials like the sand in these bags to quickly pull the solids out of the water:

The solids eventually wind up in agricultural use. The filtered water gets disinfected with ultraviolet light:

After all that, the treated water gets sent into the Duwamish River, via an outfall under the nearby bridge.

King County Executive Dow Constantine gave the overview of the plant, noting it’s won awards and is intended for climate resiliency, including the fact it was built to handle up to two feet of sea-level rise:

(added) Rebecca Singer, who oversees facilities including this one, said this rainy season is the real test for the treatment station:

The facility also has interpretive features and gets visits from students.

The county has been working on combined-sewer-overflow reduction for more than a decade under orders from the federal government to reduce the overflows into local waterways. The consent decree related to this gave a deadline of 2030 to meet the goals; we asked Wastewater Treatment Division spokesperson Alison Hawkes how much progress the county has made: “We built the Georgetown Wet Weather Treatment Station as one of our commitments in the consent decree. We have controlled a number of outfalls already, and are working to meet requirements on others. Some of the details on this future work, such as the timeline, are in negotiations with EPA and [state] Ecology as part of our request for modification of the consent decree – that information will be released to the public once negotiations are finalized.”

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UPDATE: House fire on 46th SW, out quickly
January 24, 2024 3:04 pm
|      7 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle fires | West Seattle news

(Added: WSB photo)

3:04 PM: A sizable Seattle Fire response is arriving in the 3200 block of 46th SW [vicinity map] for what was initially reported as a kitchen fire spreading beyond the kitchen. Updates to come.

3:08 PM: The fire is under control, firefighters told dispatch.

(Added: Reader photo, sent by Dale)

3:11 PM: And now they’ve declared it out (“tapped”) and are downsizing the response.

3:30 PM: Our crew has arrived at the scene and talked with incident command. They confirm the fire started in the kitchen and tell us everyone got out OK – no injuries.

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West Seattle Foot & Ankle Clinic: Welcome, new WSB sponsor!
January 24, 2024 2:51 pm
|      16 COMMENTS
 |   Health | West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news

Today we welcome West Seattle Foot & Ankle Clinic as a new WSB sponsor, with urgent-care appointments available now!

West Seattle Foot & Ankle Clinic is West Seattle’s independently and locally owned podiatric care clinic. Our board-certified doctors provide the highest level of foot and ankle care possible, while treating patients as a whole. We strive to take time, listen carefully, and educate each patient. Currently owned and operated by West Seattle resident Dr. Matthew LaBella, our clinic has been dedicated to serving patients in West Seattle since 1979.

We have urgent care appointments available most days. Call us at 206-937-4700 to schedule an appointment with a trained, board-certified specialist to address your foot and ankle care needs.

Services

West Seattle Foot & Ankle Clinic sees patients for foot and ankle pain related to use, injury, deformity, and/or acute infection. We see patients of all ages for:

Foot/Ankle Pain
Foot/Ankle Injuries
Heel Pain
Bunions
Hammertoes
Warts
Ingrown Toenails
Diabetic Foot Evaluations
Custom Orthotics
Foot/Ankle Fractures
Achilles Tendon Issues
Overuse Injuries of Foot/Ankle
Arthritis of Foot/Ankle
Flat Feet/Over Pronation
Corns/Calluses
Infections
Gait Issues Related to Foot/Ankle
Fungal Toenails/Skin

Staff

West Seattle Foot & Ankle Clinic is staffed by Dr. Matthew LaBella and Dr. Ryan Schwanke. Both are board-certified in foot and ankle surgery and have outpatient surgical privileges at St. Anne hospital in Burien and in the Providence Swedish health system. Dr. LaBella and Dr. Schwanke are highly regarded practitioners in Seattle and throughout the region.

Our medical and administrative support staff is comprised of mostly West Seattle residents who are passionate about caring for our patients. We see our patients as neighbors and friends in the West Seattle community. To learn more about our staff, visit wsfac.com/staff.html

Insurance

West Seattle Foot & Ankle Clinic is contracted with most major insurance and has an experienced billing manager dedicated to helping our patients maximize their insurance benefits. For more details, visit more at wsfac.com/insurance.html

Contact & Hours

West Seattle Foot & Ankle Clinic is located at 4520 42nd Ave. SW, Suite 34. Our phone number is 206-937-4700. Our hours of operation are Mondays-Thursdays 8 am-5 pm, Fridays 7 am-noon.

We thank West Seattle Foot & Ankle Clinic for sponsoring independent, community-collaborative neighborhood news via WSB; find our current sponsor team listed in directory format here; email patrick@wsbsales.com for info on joining the team!

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FOLLOWUP: Will the lone City Council appointment finalist from West Seattle run next year?
January 24, 2024 12:51 pm
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle politics

One day after City Councilmembers chose Tanya Woo to fill the citywide Position 8 vacancy until November, we heard from the lone West Seattleite among the other seven finalists. Steve Strand, who is commander of the West Seattle VFW Post as well as a Seattle Police captain, told WSB, “I would like to send out a big thank you to the outpouring of support I received from the West Seattle community. I will continue to work hard to make Seattle safe as a captain on the Seattle police department. It was just gratifying to hear the lives I’ve touched throughout West Seattle.” When each councilmember nominated a finalist from among the 72 “qualified applicants” on January 12th, Strand was nominated by Council President Sara Nelson, but on Tuesday, she was one of the five councilmembers who voted to appoint Woo (as was D-1 Councilmember Rob Saka). The appointment only lasts until someone is elected this fall, so will Strand file to run for the job? His reply: “I haven’t decided yet. We’ll see what kind of feedback I get.”

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FOLLOWUP: Seattle City Light promises to remove much-vandalized fencing component at future charging site
January 24, 2024 11:11 am
|      12 COMMENTS
 |   Utilities | West Seattle news

(WSB photo with tags partly blurred out)

When Seattle City Light cleared its former substation/future EV-charging site in Morgan Junction, community advocates worried aloud that it would become a vacant eyesore for however much ensuing time it remained vacant, awaiting construction. Those concerns became reality as the cloth draping on the fencing around the site (4118 SW Morgan), which is bordered by two major streets (Fauntleroy and Morgan), has been repeatedly vandalized by taggers (it’s even visible via a Google Street View image from a year ago). When SCL reps came to last week’s Morgan Community Association meeting with a project update – bottom line, as reported here, the site won’t be open for at least a year – MoCA president Deb Barker asked the reps in attendance if SCL would clean up the tagging; the rep wouldn’t commit to that, and suggested the vandalism would probably stop when the site is “activated” (built). So we followed up with SCL spokesperson Jenn Strang to ask if it were really true that the utility had no intention of cleaning up the fencing. She replied that it’s actually not needed any more anyway, so they’ll just remove it: “Thank you for bringing this to our attention. The mesh barrier that has been tagged is no longer required and we have requested that it be removed. A timeline for the removal will be available after a work order has been generated.”

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HPAC’s first 2024 meeting, U.S. Rep. Jayapal’s town hall, more for your West Seattle Wednesday
January 24, 2024 9:49 am
|      9 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Lowman Beach photo by Kea Ireland)

Here are highlights for the rest of today/tonight from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar (where you can look ahead any time):

TODDLER READING TIME: 10:30 am Wednesdays at Paper Boat Booksellers (6040 California SW).

REP. JAYAPAL’S WEST SEATTLE TOWN HALL: 5:30-7 pm – RSVP here to see if there’s still room at the town hall planned by our area’s U.S. Rep. Pramila Jayapal, and to get the location (in-person event).

FIX-IT WORKSHOP: Repair it 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).

FREE GROUP RUN: Meet at West Seattle Runner (2743 California SW; WSB sponsor) for the weekly free group run, 6:15 pm.

‘GOT FIT’ INFO NIGHT: Also at West Seattle Runner, 6:30 pm, info session about this training program for runners with half-marathon experience.

TRIVIA x 5: Five places to play tonight. At 6 pm, Locust Cider (2820 Alki SW) offers trivia … 7 pm trivia at Burger Planet (9614 14th SW, White Center) … Larry’s Tavern (3405 California SW) hosts Wednesday-night trivia starting at 7:30 pm … Quiz Night starts 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).

HPAC IN PERSON! The community coalition for Highland Park, Riverview, and South Delridge meets in person at Southwest Library (9010 35th SW), 6:30 pm – go here to see what they’re planning to discuss, and bring your community comments/ideas!

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.

BASKETBALL: One varsity home game tonight, at West Seattle High School (3000 California SW) girls host Lakeside, 7:30 pm.

SKYLARK OPEN MIC: 7:30 pm signups @ West Seattle’s longest-running open mic – no cover to watch. (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!

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Remembering Patricia (Patti) Schaefer Newman, 1957-2024
January 24, 2024 9:00 am
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   Obituaries | West Seattle news

The family of Patti Schaefer Newman is sharing this remembrance with her community:

Patricia (Patti) Schaefer Newman, 66, of Seattle, died of a brain tumor on 1/16/24.

She was born in Seattle in 1957 to Marilyn and Bob Schaefer. Patti attended Central Washington University, earning her degree in teaching. Patti had many jobs, but most will remember her for her creative passions, such as baking and weaving. She was a proud graduate of West Seattle High School, class of 1975.

Patti leaves behind her children, Maclean and Lilli. She is survived by her siblings Diana, Scott, and Judy.

In lieu of flowers, please spend time exploring your creative passions in memory of Patti.

She can be seen in the 1975 reunion photo, second down, second row from the top, 4 over from the left:

(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)

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TRAFFIC, TRANSIT, WEATHER: Wednesday begins
January 24, 2024 6:03 am
|      1 COMMENT
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

6:03 AM: Good morning. Welcome to Wednesday, January 24th.

WEATHER + SUNRISE/SUNSET TIMES

Yet more rain expected, with some breaks, and a high around 50. Today’s sunrise will be at 7:45 am, sunset at 4:57 pm.

CLOSURE ALERT

As reported here, a trail spur beneath the low bridge will be closed for more than two months starting as soon as tomorrow because of the project to upgrade the bridge’s communication cabling.

TRANSIT NOTES

Water Taxi today – Regular schedule. Check the real-time map if you need to see where the boat is.

Metro today – Regular schedule; check advisories here.

Washington State Ferries today – 2-boat service on the Triangle Route. Check WSF alerts for changes, and use the real-time map to see where your ferry is.

SPOTLIGHT TRAFFIC CAMERAS

Delridge cameras: Besides the one below (Delridge/Orchard), cameras are also at Delridge/Genesee, Delridge/Juneau, Delridge/Henderson, and Delridge/Oregon.

High Bridge – the main camera:

High Bridge – the view from its southwest end (when SDOT points the 35th/Avalon/Fauntleroy camera that way):

Low Bridge:

1st Ave. S. Bridge:

Highway 99: – northbound side at Lander:

MORE TRAFFIC CAMS: All functioning traffic cams citywide are here; West Seattle and vicinity-relevant cameras are on this WSB page.

BRIDGE INFO: The @SDOTBridges feed on X (ex-Twitter) shows whether the city’s movable bridges are opening for vessel traffic.

If you see a problem on the bridges/streets/paths/water, please text or call us (when you can do that safely, and after you’ve reported to authorities if they’re not already on scene). Thank you!

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WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Carjacking in Gatewood
January 23, 2024 11:23 pm
|      13 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | West Seattle news

ORIGINAL TUESDAY NIGHT REPORT: Police are investigating an armed carjacking reported a short time ago in the 8300 block of 41st SW. From initial exchanges between dispatch and officers, the car taken is described as a black Mazda M6; the suspects are described so far as three or four people associated with a dark-colored sedan, all Black and male, 5’10” to 6′, thin build, wearing ski masks and dark clothing, at least one with a gun. The stolen car was last seen northbound on 41st SW.

ADDED FRIDAY: The victim has told his story in comments below, and SPD has published its summary here.

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FOLLOWUP: YMCA promises more Fauntleroy information ‘in next two weeks’
January 23, 2024 10:00 pm
|    Comments Off on FOLLOWUP: YMCA promises more Fauntleroy information ‘in next two weeks’
 |   Fauntleroy | West Seattle news

Last Friday, during a “town hall” meeting on the Fauntleroy YMCA, dozens of community members pleaded for more details on the financial challenges clouding its future. (Here’s our coverage, including video of the meeting.) Local and regional YMCA executives promised more information would be forthcoming, as well as a community survey. But they didn’t say when, so we asked on Monday. Tonight, we have the answer, in an initial update from the Greater Seattle YMCA, which thanks Fauntleroy community members for participating, and continues:

We are currently consolidating all the email information we received this weekend. We plan to send a follow-up message via email to the emails we have in our system and those gathered at the town hall so that all those who attended and those who could not attend will be able to review the recording and the initial information below as soon as possible. Our goal is to try to reach our entire community, and we will need your help to do so.

In the next two weeks, we also plan to send out communications via email, in-person signage at the Fauntleroy Y, West Seattle Y, and the Fauntleroy Church, the media, and social media. The communication will include an initial survey on ideas, meeting setup, and more, as well as a high-level plan for moving forward. The plan will be hosted on our website so that our community can find the most up-to-date information. This plan should include: (1) communications (format, distribution, and more), continued town halls formatted for collaboration, and project timelines (2) additional context about where we were pre, during, and post the COVID pandemic (3) committee involvement, and (4) a place to ask more questions. Please let us know if you feel something needs to be added or if you have another idea that we should include in that upcoming communication or a question that we should address. As an additional part of our commitment to transparent communications, we will be sure to update you if timelines need adjusting (whether that means we can get you information sooner or later) and why. Please do not hesitate to contact us at pr@seattleymca.org.

Rumors that the YMCA was considering closing the longstanding Fauntleroy branch – which has never resumed daily operation since its pandemic closure – started circulating in early January. In response, statements were made by both Fauntleroy Church – whose campus holds the center – and the Y, which promised it wouldn’t make “hurried final decisions.”

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WEST SEATTLE LOW BRIDGE: Trouble today; work ahead
January 23, 2024 7:01 pm
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   Transportation | West Seattle news

Two things to tell you about the West Seattle low bridge (aka Spokane Street Swing Bridge):

(Latest SDOT traffic-camera image of low bridge)

TROUBLE TODAY: Just after noon, as we noted here, the low bridge malfunctioned. Traffic was flowing again before too long, but we asked SDOT about the glitch:

There was a problem with the vehicle gate not moving back into position correctly after a bridge opening for ships. The mechanics manually moved the barrier back into place … The gate was stuck because the rubber lining on the wheels that support the vehicle barrier had degraded and slipped off the rim causing the wheel mechanism to jam. Our mechanics are working to repair the wheel.

WORK AHEAD: Also this afternoon, SDOT announced that the long-planned communications-cable upgrade is about to start:

As part of our ongoing efforts to upgrade and repair the (low bridge), we will be installing a new communications line which connects the bridge control tower to the bridge’s moving parts.

While this work occurs, we will temporarily close a trail spur that branches off the main West Seattle Bridge Trailway. The impact to people who bike, walk, or roll in the area will be minimal. Our project closure site will not affect the main trail over the Spokane St Bridge, or the primary bike route between West Seattle and Downtown used by most people on bikes. Instead, we will be closing a section of the trail that provides an optional loop around the foundation of the Spokane St Bridge used by some bikers.

Map of the WSB Trail, showing the usual route people take (the green dotted line). Our project closure site will close the trail (seen here with a dotted orange line and solid red line) is not part of the usual route people take to reach West Seattle or Downtown.

SDOT says this work will start as soon as Thursday, and the “trail spur” closure won’t reopen before April.

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Seattle City Councilmembers choose Tanya Woo to join them
January 23, 2024 4:17 pm
|      55 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle politics

(Seattle Channel image)

4:17 PM: Tanya Woo has joined the Seattle City Council as holder of citywide Position 8, at least until the November election. She was sworn in immediately after her appointment to the council on a 5-3 vote. Woo was the choice of Council President Sara Nelson and Councilmembers Bob Kettle, Cathy Moore, Maritza Rivera, and Rob Saka; Councilmember Joy Hollingsworth voted for Linh Thai, Councilmember Tammy Morales for Mari Sugiyama, and Councilmember Dan Strauss for Vivian Song. Woo will serve until the November election, in which whomever the voters choose – whether Woo or someone else – will serve the final year of what was Teresa Mosqueda‘s term before she was elected to the King County Council.

4:49 PM: As noted in the official announcement of the voting results, Woo “will chair the Sustainability, City Light, Arts, and Culture committee. She will also serve as the Vice Chair of the Libraries, Education, and Neighborhoods Committee and as a member of the Housing and Human Services, Land Use, and Transportation Committees.” Council President Nelson had said committees – where much council business gets done before reaching the full council for votes – would not start meeting until after the new councilmember was appointed.

Meantime, it should be noted that before this afternoon’s vote, councilmembers got one last chance to speak, offering general praise for all eight finalists. D-1 Councilmember Saka called it a “very, very tough decision.” He said the process is admittedly “imperfect” but the voters will have an “immediate” chance in November to have a say on who holds the job from that point on. He said he’d received “hundreds of emails” and also said “we need to move beyond over-politicizing the process” despite these “hyper-politicized times.” He added that “no one’s beating down my door for endorsements … I’m just a dad from Delridge” but said decisions like this are what he and his colleagues were elected to make.

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UPDATE: Police investigate after Chief Sealth student dies of gunshot wound at Southwest Pool/Teen Life Center across the street
January 23, 2024 2:02 pm
|      124 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | WS breaking news

2:02 PM Here’s what we’ve found out about the major emergency response at Southwest Athletic Complex/Teen Life Center. It was dispatched as a self-inflicted gunshot wound that happened at an undetermined location, with the victim showing up at the Teen Life Center. We are at the scene – more information as we get it.

2:11 PM: The center and adjacent Southwest Pool are closed because of the investigation. We’re still awaiting information at the scene. As noted in comments, the two schools across the street – Chief Sealth IHS and Denny IMS – are sheltering in place.

2:25 PM: From police radio – the schools wondered if they need to keep sheltering in place; police responded that the issue right now is that there is still an “outstanding firearm.”

2:39 PM: Per police radio, Denny will dismiss on time but they’re going to attempt to keep students away from the area where the investigation continues. (Added: A parent tells us the school also has messaged families that afterschool activities are canceled.) Meantime, Police Chief Adrian Diaz is there.

2:51 PM: We’re told Chief Diaz will brief us soon.

3:03 PM: The chief says the victim has died and that police are still investigating the circumstances of the shooting. When emergency responders arrived, they found the victim in a restroom at the center. He confirmed that they are still looking for the gun. SFD says the victim was a 14-year-old boy.

3:55 PM: Here’s our video of everything Chief Diaz said:

5:30 PM: Still a significant police presence at the center/pool/SWAC area.

6:28 PM: A message to Chief Sealth and Denny families says the 14-year-old was a CSIHS student. The message also says SPD “is investigating and working with the district’s Safety and Security team. Both schools will be open tomorrow. Students will see an increased presence of police and school security staff at and around their campuses.”

1:35 PM WEDNESDAY: We asked SPD several followup questions, including whether the gun had been found. The reply: “No new information as of yet.”

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