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TRAFFIC, TRANSIT, WEATHER: Black Friday notes
November 24, 2023 6:03 am
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

9:37 AM: Collision reported in 3000 block of SW Avalon Way, minor injuries to pedestrian.

Earlier:

6:03 AM: Good morning! It’s Friday, November 24th, aka “Black Friday,” when one of the biggest shopping events on the peninsula is at the corner usually shown in the traffic camera above – Record Store Day at Easy Street.

WEATHER AND SUNRISE/SUNSET TIMES

Sunny, high in the mid-40s. Sunrise today is at 7:27 am; sunset, 4:24 pm.

TRANSIT TODAY

Metro – Back to regular schedule today; check advisories here.

Water Taxi – No service today – boats or shuttle buses.

Washington State Ferries – 2-boat service on the Triangle Route. Check alerts for changes, and use Vessel Watch to see where your ferry is.

SPOTLIGHT TRAFFIC CAMERAS

Delridge cameras: Besides the one below (Delridge/Henderson), cameras are also at Delridge/Genesee, Delridge/Juneau, Delridge/Orchard, 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 – another route across the river:

Highway 99: – northbound side at Lander:

MORE TRAFFIC CAMS: See all working traffic cams citywide here, most with video options; West Seattle and vicinity-relevant cameras are on this WSB page.

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

If you see trouble on the bridges/streets/paths/bay, please text or call us (when you can do that safely, and after you’ve reported to authorities if applicable). Thank you!

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COUNTDOWN: One week until 2023 Winter Wander scavenger hunt
November 23, 2023 7:02 pm
|    Comments Off on COUNTDOWN: One week until 2023 Winter Wander scavenger hunt
 |   Fun stuff to do | Holidays | West Seattle news

While you’re hanging out with family and/or friends tonight, you might ask if anybody wants to join up with you on a team for this year’s Winter Wander scavenger hunt. It starts one week from tomorrow – 5 pm Friday, December 1st. But there are incentives to signing your team early! Here’s how “scavenger hunt architect” – Winter Wander’s inventor/coordinator – Alice Kuder describes it:

The fourth annual Winter Wander Scavenger Hunt will run from 5 pm Friday, December 1st to 7 pm Sunday, December 10th. While intended primarily as a gift to the West Seattle community, the event is free to everyone of all ages. Instructions for this year’s hunt are available for download at bit.ly/winter-wander (full url is wondersinaliceland.com/winter-wander). Clues to the locations of 15 local businesses and five private homes are provided in a Bingo-style clue sheet which will be posted at the same online location at 4 pm December 1st. Wanderers who submit selfies in front of the correct solutions will be entered into a drawing for duffle bags filled with gift cards and swag from local businesses. A $100 Grand Prize will be awarded to the team that earns the most points during the hunt. Extra points are awarded for donations to West Seattle and White Center Food Banks, as well as Toys for Tots. Register your team at bit.ly/winter-wander. Registration before noon on December 1st to earn extra points.

77 teams signed up last year – more than triple the year before; here’s Alice’s 2022 Winter Wander recap.

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THANKSGIVING SCENE: West Seattle Runner’s Gobble Gobble Group Run (and food drive)
November 23, 2023 4:58 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   Holidays | West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news | WS & Sports

Another West Seattle Thanksgiving tradition started the day on Alki – Tim McConnell of West Seattle Runner (WSB sponsor) sent the report and photos from this year’s Gobble Gobble Group Run:

Had a great turnout of runners and walkers for this morning’s blustery group run. They brought around 25 pounds of food to donate for the West Seattle Food Bank and then headed down Alki for a few miles.

In the spirit of Thanksgiving, Lori and I would like to say thank you to everyone who supports West Seattle Runner; we are so lucky to have such a great group of runners/walkers who value what small business does for the community.

Tim and Lori
Owners
West Seattle Runner

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TRAFFIC ALERT: Emergency response on eastbound bridge before NB I-5
November 23, 2023 4:16 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

4:16 PM: If you have to head eastbound off the peninsula, wait a while or find an alternative to the West Seattle Bridge – an emergency response on the eastbound bridge just before the northbound I-5 ramp is tying things up. Exactly what happened isn’t clear, but it seems to involve a medical emergency for someone in a car.

4:58 PM: Scene is clear.

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PHOTOS: The Hall at Fauntleroy’s 2023 free community dinner
November 23, 2023 1:00 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   Fauntleroy | Holidays | West Seattle news

(WSB photos)

At The Hall at Fauntleroy, West Seattle’s longest-running Thanksgiving tradition is happening right now – the folks from DSquared Hospitality/Tuxedos and Tennis Shoes Catering are serving up the annual free community meal. Here’s this year’s menu:

Your hosts are the Haggerty family – Andrew, Meg, Reed, and David:

Desserts were donated by community members – check out the turkey cupcakes!

Also donated for anyone in need – warm clothing:

Dinner is open to all – whether you are having trouble affording a holiday feast this year, or just want to celebrate the holiday with neighbors and friends old and new:

This continues until 3 pm at 9131 California SW. (And if you miss it, see our Holiday Guide – the Eagles’ free-to-all feast is 2-5 pm in The Junction and Chef Gino’s serving a free drive-up dinner 4:30-7 pm in Delridge.)

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Brown water in West Seattle
November 23, 2023 12:44 pm
|    Comments Off on Brown water in West Seattle
 |   Utilities | West Seattle news

For the second day in a row, we’re hearing of brown water in a West Seattle neighborhood … didn’t get a chance to publish the report Wednesday from Gatewood but just got a new one from Morgan Junction. They’ve reported it to Seattle Public Utilities, as you certainly should if it happens at your home or business – the 24-hour number is 206-386-1800. The discoloration is usually just rust stirred up in the lines, and the one thing you definitely don’t want to do until it clears up is laundry.

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West Seattle Thanksgiving Day 2023 info: Grocery stores, restaurants, coffee, free community dinners, more …
November 23, 2023 5:53 am
|      9 COMMENTS
 |   Holidays | West Seattle news

(Fall leaves “hanging on,” photo by Janelle Otterholt)

Happy Thanksgiving! Thanks for being here with us, whether it’s your first visit or thousandth. Here’s information we hope will be helpful on the holiday:

GROCERY STORES OPEN TODAY: This list is in the Thanksgiving section atop our West Seattle Holiday Guide.

COFFEE SHOPS OPEN TODAY: That list – including eight local indies – is also in the Holiday Guide, right next to the grocery-store hours.

RESTAURANTS/BARS OPEN TODAY AND/OR TONIGHT: 13 on the list – see it here.

PRE-TURKEY EXERCISE : Several options in the guide, highlighted by the West Seattle Runner Gobble Gobble Group Run, 8 am from Alki – bring food donations – details here.

WHERE TO FIND A FREE COMMUNITY THANKSGIVING DINNER: Four options this year:
*The Hall at Fauntleroy‘s sit-down community dinner, noon-3 pm. (9131 California SW)
*West Seattle Eagles sitdown community dinner, 2 pm-5 pm (4426 California SW)
*TheHomeSkillit.com‘s Chef Gino is cooking up a free drive-up meal at Delridge P-Patch (5078 25th SW), 4:30-7 pm.
*Admiral Pub, free dinner starting at 5 pm. 21+. (2306 California SW)

WANT TO HELP? You can drop off donations of desserts and/or warm clothing and blankets at The Hall at Fauntleroy, starting at 10 am, same address as above (south end of the historic schoolhouse).

WHAT TO DO AFTER (OR BEFORE) DINNER: The Admiral Theater is open this afternoon/evening – see the movies and showtimes here (2343 California SW).

THANKSGIVING TRANSPORTATION NOTES:
*Metro buses are on the Sunday schedule
*No Water Taxi boat or shuttle service
*Sound Transit light rail and buses, Sunday schedules
*Washington State Ferries‘ Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth run is on the weekday 2-boat schedule
*No charge for parking today on city streets in neighborhoods with pay stations
*Traffic cameras: West Seattle-relevant ones here; citywide views are available via this SDOT map

OTHER INFO:
*No trash/recycling/etc. pickup today – Thursday pickups will happen Friday; Friday pickups on Saturday (transfer station is closed today too)
*Seattle Parks‘ holiday closure list (including the West Seattle Golf Course, which is open until 2 pm)
*No Seattle Public Library services today
*USPS holiday
*Banking holiday

Seasonal info for today and beyond is in the WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide. We hope you will have a joyful holiday! (And if you see/hear news, please text/call 206-293-6302 – we are thankful for your tips, reader reports, photos, etc., all year long!)

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‘The ferry crisis hurts right now’: Vashon Island residents propose ways to ease the pain
November 22, 2023 10:56 pm
|      67 COMMENTS
 |   Fauntleroy | Transportation | West Seattle news

By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

Until a few years ago, Washington State Ferries service was reliable, dependable, fully filling its role as part of the state highway system.

Now, WSF sails in turbulent waters daily – with shortages of boats and workers, cancelling sailings and/or falling behind schedule. On the other side of a 15-minute rain from West Seattle, ferry-dependent Vashon Island is suffering in a big way, since the Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth route has been hit especially hard. It’s long been down to two boats when it’s supposed to have three, and sometimes reduced to one by vessel breakdowns or crew unavailability. Delays happen daily. There’s a shorter route – Point Defiance-Tahlequah – between south Vashon and the Tacoma area, but its one-boat baseline service is not immune to trouble.

This is affecting lives and livelihoods, say island residents – with health, business, educational, and other impacts – and a group has convened to do more than complain and despair. They’ve come up with a list of more than 50 actions that they say could help, and group reps sailed over to West Seattle on Monday to announce their recommendations in the form of a “community report.”

This isn’t just a to-do list for the ferry system. The group, Islanders for Ferry Action, says, “We stand ready to partner with any agency that will help implement the solutions we have documented in this report.” (Read it here.) Some of the recommendations are actions that could be taken by community members. Others would have to be taken on by other agencies or organizations. The islanders know it’ll be years before WSF’s fleet and workforce are back to past numbers, so they’ve worked to suggest actions they believe would make an immediate difference.

Read More

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GREEN SEATTLE DAY REDO: What happened in Lincoln Park, and what you can do at Westcrest Park
November 22, 2023 7:37 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   Environment | How to help | West Seattle news | West Seattle parks

Earlier this month, stormy weather canceled most Green Seattle Day volunteering events. But rescheduling has promised, and it’s already begun. First, here’s forest steward Lisa McGinty‘s report from Lincoln Park‘s event last Saturday:

Saturday was a perfect day for planting! I’m still smiling from our Green Seattle Day event at Lincoln Park. After eight months of hard restoration work, 400 native trees, shrubs and groundcovers were given their forever homes.

Big shout-out to local band The Potholes for providing acoustic music for our volunteers while we planted and to the WSHS Earth Club leaders for helping manage the many details that go into an event like this. Truly grateful to our community for showing up and sharing their time, stories, and smiles.

Lisa also shared this link for upcoming volunteer opportunities around the area. One of them is at Westcrest Park with Dirt Corps on Saturday, 10 am-1 pm – here’s their announcement:

THIS SATURDAY all are welcome to join in on filling the forest of Westcrest Park in our rescheduled Green Seattle Partnership-sponsored planting event!

Earlier this month we were unable to host this planting event, but this Saturday is our rescheduled opportunity for all to plant-up the park with us!

Thanks to all of the volunteers that’ve come out this year and helped prepare the space for planting, and now’s the opportunity to enjoy the victory lap! WE HOPE YOU CAN JOIN US!!

Go here to sign up.

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WEST SEATTLE THANKSGIVING: What you’ll find in our Holiday Guide
November 22, 2023 4:27 pm
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   Holidays | West Seattle news

Busy cooking tomorrow and suddenly realize you forgot to buy a key ingredient? No problem – the WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide has grocery-store hours for tomorrow. Looking for a latte? Find an open coffee shop. Not cooking? Three free community dinners, plus open restaurants, all there. Just wanted to make sure you know, before Thanksgiving Day dawns, that we’re here for you as usual with holiday info. That includes a fun way to start your holiday, the West Seattle Runner Gobble Gobble Group Run (and food drive). And while you’re in the Holiday Guide, scroll through everything else that’s featured – Santa photos, Christmas trees, Black Friday/Small Biz Saturday events/sales … we’re continuing to add to the guide as new listings come in (westseattleblog@gmail.com if you have something to add – thanks to everyone who’s contributed so far!).

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BIZNOTE FOLLOWUP: Soft open, opening dates for Banh Mi XO
November 22, 2023 2:34 pm
|      20 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news | West Seattle restaurants

(Photos courtesy Banh Mi XO)

Two months ago, we told you about Banh Mi XO, coming to the former Indulge Desserts and Stuffed Cakes space at 9003 35th SW. Today we got an update from proprietor Guy Nguyen: “We are set for soft opening this Saturday and Sunday with a limited menu (signature Banh Mi sandwich, Bun (rice noodle) salad bowl, plus bubble drinks and Vietnamese Phin coffee.” Guy sent photos and added, “We do have a bar-style sitting area inside, but space is limited.”

After the soft opening, the official opening is set for December 1st. Hours will be 9 am-4 pm daily (those are also the hours for this weekend’s soft open). You can see the full menu for Banh Mi XO here and here.

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CRIME WATCH: West Seattle Food Bank van damaged by gas thief
November 22, 2023 12:23 pm
|      5 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | How to help | West Seattle news

Right in the heart of an extra-busy season for the West Seattle Food Bank, they’re dealing with an extra expense and hassle. A reader who volunteers at WSFB tipped us that the food bank was down a van because of damage done by a gas thief. We asked the WSFB’s Breanna Bushaw for details:

Someone used a tool to cut a hole in the gas line and siphoned gas out of the van. This happened in our parking garage around 2:30 am on Sunday morning. This was not noticed until the van stopped running (Monday) during our food rescue runs. We know we have incurred towing and repair costs of at least $3,500 plus rental of a replacement until the van is back in action.

We rely on the WSFB vans to transport our food rescue donations from local stores, food drive pickups, mobile food bank deliveries and more. The van is at the auto shop for repairs; we hope to have our second van up and running soon.

We asked Breanna how the community can help – she replied, “Any donations from the community to help with repair costs would be tremendously appreciated – westseattlefoodbank.kindful.com.” Also, as noted yesterday, WSFB will receive all proceeds from tonight’s soft-open (4-9 pm) at GH Pasta & Pizza (7500 35th SW).

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WEST SEATTLE COYOTES: Three sightings, caught on camera
November 22, 2023 11:21 am
|      7 COMMENTS
 |   Coyotes | West Seattle news | Wildlife

Three more West Seattle coyote-sighting reports, all with visuals:

42ND/FINDLAY: That’s where Nicholas‘s video of two coyotes begins:

Just thought I’d send over a video I took of some coyotes running around my neighborhood right behind C&P.

ABOVE ALKI: Sent Tuesday by Amy:

SW Orleans St and Hillcrest Ave SW – he was big and trotting around like he owned the place!

NORTH ADMIRAL: Received today from Deanna:

Last night around 11:30 pm, our daughters saw a coyote going back and forth across the street. Location was at the South end of Sunset Ave SW near 50th.

REMINDER: We publish coyote sightings for awareness, not alarm – until their recent resurgence, many people might have either forgotten or not been aware at all that they have lived around here for a long time. Do’s and don’ts for coexistence are here.

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The list for your West Seattle Wednesday
November 22, 2023 10:26 am
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Photo by Nicholas Lovejoy – glimpse of dawn colors in The Junction)

From the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar and Holiday Guide (which is packed with Thanksgiving-and-beyond info):

WARM CLOTHES FOR DINNER DISTRIBUTION: Donations requested for The Hall at Fauntleroy‘s free Thanksgiving dinner – gently used warm clothing, and new blankets and socks. You can drop items off today in the hallway bin at the Fauntleroy Schoolhouse‘s main entrance next door (9131 California SW), or bring them to The Hall starting at 10 Thanksgiving morning.

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

FOOD BANK FUNDRAISER: 4-9 pm, new restaurant GH Pasta & Pizza (7500 35th SW) is having its last pre-opening soft open, and all proceeds will go to West Seattle Food Bank.

FIX-IT WORKSHOP: Broken? Don’t replace – repair! 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.

TRIVIA x 6: Six places to play tonight. At 6 pm, Locust Cider (2820 Alki SW) offers trivia … there’s 7 pm trivia at West Seattle Brewing (4415 Fauntleroy Way SW) … 7:30 and 8:30 pm Sporcle Pub Quiz at The Lodge (4209 SW Alaska) … Trivia starts at 8 pm at Beveridge Place Pub (6413 California SW) … Larry’s Tavern (3405 California SW) hosts Wednesday-night trivia starting at 8 pm … and at 8:30 pm, trivia with Phil T at Talarico’s (4718 California SW).

LIVE MUSIC AT THE LOCOL: 6:30 pm. 21+. Rotating performer slate. (7902 35th SW)

LIVE PIANO MUSIC: Weekly on Wednesday nights, 7 pm at Otter on the Rocks. (4210 SW Admiral Way).

MUSIC BINGO: Play weekly at The Good Society (California/Lander), 7 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, holiday event 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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Memorial service planned December 2 for Nell A. Rehm, 1930-2023
November 22, 2023 9:31 am
|      1 COMMENT
 |   Obituaries | West Seattle news

Family and friends will gather December 2 to remember Nell Rehm. Here’s the remembrance they are sharing with her community now:

Nell Adele Rehm passed away peacefully in her West Seattle home of 74 years with her husband Richardson (Dick) Rehm at her side. Nell was born on February 20, 1930 in Los Angeles, California, where she grew up with her older sister Margaret Anzul. She met Dick through the friendship of their mothers. He enjoyed meals with Nell’s family when he was home on leave from the Navy, thus their relationship blossomed. Dick and Nell were married on September 10, 1949 and moved to West Seattle promptly thereafter and started their family.

With two little daughters (Sue and Terrie), Nell began a life of involvement in the community and her children’s lives, from helping at the kids’ preschools, the girl’s scout activities, right up through cheering sons Tom and Dave in high school soccer – she was a true “soccer mom”. She also created a welcoming home full of games and books for friends of her kids, as well as her grandchildren Ian, Kaley, Kisa, Cecelia, and Simon.

As a long-time member of St. John the Baptist Episcopal Church in West Seattle, Nell was an active member. She taught Sunday School for many years and was very active in Saint Anne’s Guild. She and Dick participated in stewardship activities and new rector search committees, as well as serving as lay readers, Eucharistic ministers and vestry members. Nell enjoyed being a Eucharistic visitor, meeting with home-bound parishioners, as well as leading short services at nursing homes. On Sundays, and any special occasion at the church, you could find Nell in the kitchen coordinating coffee hour and receptions. During the annual Rummage Sale, Nell and long-time friend Donna Bystrom set up the Treasure Table with unique donated items. Nell was active in the Altar Guild and especially enjoyed creating floral arrangements for the altar, often with flowers from her own garden.

Although Nell was a stay-at-home mom when the children were young, she eventually took a seasonal job in the book department at Frederick & Nelson downtown. From there she had the wonderful opportunity to work with owner Cathy Clemons at the Episcopal Bookstore, which she dearly loved, and was well known for her helpful, kind presence.

Nell enjoyed travel, whether it was road trips around Washington with the family or train trips she took with Dick. The family spent many vacations at the family property on San Juan Island, but also at Lake Shawnigan on Vancouver Island, B.C. Road trips around the state always involved mom in the front seat with the map unfolded in her lap. Dick and Nell crisscrossed the country several times on the train, sometimes going across on the southern routes and sometimes up north through Canada. In later years, they went on several scenic train trips in Washington and on the Oregon coast.

Nell loved to garden. Her backyard was full of seasonal color and, in the front, she grew many beautiful roses. She was a member of the West Seattle Garden Club for many years, organizing programs and keeping records as the historian. At home, she enjoyed keeping her bird feeders well stocked for her feathered friends.

Nell is survived by Dick, her husband of 74 years, and four children: Susan (JT) Quanbeck, Terrie Ingram, Tom (Pam) Rehm and David Rehm; five grandchildren: Ian (Jena) Rehm, Kaley Rehm, Kisa Quanbeck (Desmond Cohen), Cecelia Rehm and Simon Rehm; and two great-granddaughters, Revna Cohen and Ruby Rehm.

A funeral service honoring Nell will be held at St. John the Baptist Episcopal Church, 3050 California Ave.SW, on December 2, 2023 at 2:00 p.m. with a reception following. In lieu of flowers, please consider a remembrance to the charity of your choice.

(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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LAST CALL! Your Season of Sealth tickets await
November 22, 2023 8:46 am
|    Comments Off on LAST CALL! Your Season of Sealth tickets await
 |   How to help | West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

A fun night out for you, big help for local students. The Chief Sealth International High School PTSA wants to remind you one more time that its first auction gala in years is just a week and a half away:

Hello, Chief Sealth friends and fans! Just a gentle reminder to get your tickets for the Season of Sealth auction happening on Saturday, 12/2. We know it’s a busy time of year, but we’re really hoping to see some of you there! The event benefits our athletics programs, Denny/Sealth Performing Arts, and the PTSA.

Purchase tickets and/or preview the catalog here. 80+ auction items, drinks, food, games/raffles, energizing auctioneer, live entertainment, and so much more. You won’t want to miss it! TICKET SALES END SUNDAY, 11/26.

P.S. Still haven’t decided to go? The PTSA offers the “Top 10 Reasons to Attend” here!

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TRAFFIC, TRANSIT, WEATHER: Thanksgiving Eve Wednesday
November 22, 2023 6:03 am
|      1 COMMENT
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

6:03 AM: Good morning! It’s Wednesday, November 22nd, Thanksgiving Eve.

WEATHER AND SUNRISE/SUNSET TIMES

Cloudy, then clearing, high around 50. Sunrise today is at 7:24 am; sunset, 4:25 pm.

(Tuesday sunrise photo by Theresa Arbow-O’Connor)

TRANSIT TODAY AND HOLIDAY PREVIEW

Metro – Regular schedule today; check advisories here. Sunday schedule on Thanksgiving, regular schedule on Friday.

Water Taxi is on its regular schedule too. Advance holiday alert – the Water Taxi will be out of service Thursday (Thanksgiving) and Friday.

Washington State Ferries – The usual 2-boat service on the Triangle Route. That’ll be the Thursday level of service too. Check alerts for changes, and use Vessel Watch to see where your ferry is.

SPOTLIGHT TRAFFIC CAMERAS

Delridge cameras: Besides the one below (Delridge/Henderson), cameras are also at Delridge/Genesee, Delridge/Juneau, Delridge/Orchard, 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 – southeastern route across the river:

Highway 99: – northbound side at Lander:

MORE TRAFFIC CAMS: See all working traffic cams citywide here, most with video options; West Seattle and vicinity-relevant cameras are on this WSB page.

BRIDGE INFO: The @SDOTBridges feed on Twitter/X shows whether the city’s movable bridges (including the West Seattle low bridge) are opening for vessel traffic.

If you see trouble on the bridges/streets/paths/bay, please text or call us (when you can do that safely, and after you’ve reported to authorities if applicable). Thank you!

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READER REPORT: City’s trial-run electric mini-sweeper seen in West Seattle bike lanes
November 21, 2023 9:28 pm
|      18 COMMENTS
 |   Seen around town | West Seattle news

Thanks to Don Brubeck from West Seattle Bike Connections for the photo and report:

Here is a 11/20/23 photo of driver Paul with SDOT’s electric compact street sweeper working on the SW Avalon Way bike lanes. He had to get out to remove some branches by hand. This is a welcome sight for people riding bikes, with all the fall leaves in the lanes becoming a little slippery when wet and hiding who knows what.

As announced in September, SDOT is in the middle of a six-month test of this sweeper, part of a larger look at how much of its fleet could go electric.

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About the emergency response at Avalon/Genesee
November 21, 2023 7:35 pm
|      14 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | West Seattle news

Many questions about an SFD and SPD response that tied up Avalon Way for a while about an hour and a half ago. This one was a bit complicated. Here’s what is reported to have happened, according to dispatchers, officers, and firefighters:

First, firefighters were in the area dealing with an alarm at an apartment building. Meantime, initially unrelated, a woman was reported to be threatening people aboard a northbound C Line bus with a “box cutter.” That would be King County Transit Police‘s jurisdiction, but they asked for SPD help, so officers headed that way. In the meantime, the woman got off the bus and was then reported to be climbing on it, “injuring herself.” Firefighters were treating her for those injuries when they reported that she started threatening them with violence, so they asked for reinforcements including police help. As police approached, she bolted. The search ensued from there. They did not find her and couldn’t get a K-9 team to join, so the search ended. They did circulate a photo taken from the bus’s security camera, but we don’t have access to that; the description announced multiple times over the radio is that she was a Black woman in her 30s, in a reddish or purplish jacket and sweat paints. The suspect was the only person injured so far as we’ve heard.

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First-ever Seattle Youth Transportation Summit seeking delegates
November 21, 2023 5:41 pm
|    Comments Off on First-ever Seattle Youth Transportation Summit seeking delegates
 |   Transportation | West Seattle news

An invitation for teens and young adults:

The City of Seattle is hosting its first-ever Youth Transportation Summit on Saturday, December 9, 2023. Young people aged 14 to 24 years old are invited to participate in this free event to share their personal experiences with transportation, highlight what they’d like to see changed in the future, and discuss opportunities for climate-responsive transportation investments.

This is a free event where young people’s voices will be centered and culminate in a Youth Climate & Transportation Action Plan that will be presented to Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell. Lunch will be provided at no cost. The summit is taking place as part of Mayor Harrell’s 2022 One Seattle Transportation and Climate Justice Executive Order. You can learn more on our website or register here by November 29.

Event details:

Date and time: Saturday, December 9, 9:30 AM – 3:30 PM
Location: The Westin Seattle Hotel in downtown Seattle (Floor 2)
Address: 1900 5th Ave, Seattle, WA 98101
Transit access: Link light rail (Westlake Station) and numerous King County Metro and Sound Transit bus routes

Questions? Please contact Katelyn.Saechao3@seattle.gov. Thank you for your interest!

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Walls? Tunnel? Closure? New phase for push to end Highway 99’s division of South Park
November 21, 2023 3:06 pm
|      23 COMMENTS
 |   South Park | West Seattle news

(Map from Reconnect South Park website, showing focus area and alternate routes)

By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

What sounded like an impossible dream a few years ago is rolling down the road toward potential reality.

A planning effort, with state money and city assistance, is looking at whether 1.4 miles of Highway 99 that divide and pollute South Park neighborhoods could be removed, buried, boulevardized, or at least mitigated.

An event Saturday afternoon at Concord International Elementary School – barely a block west of 99 – was the onramp to the next phase of that work, under the Reconnect South Park banner: Developing a “community vision plan.” The open-house-style gathering in the school’s lunchroom offered information on possibilities as well as opportunities for feedback.

Maria Ramirez, project director, explained in brief remarks, “We know we have options; we don’t know where we’re going to end up. We have a year to come up with a vision.”

When put into numbers, what the highway did to South Park is stark – 22 of the neighborhood’s streets are dead ends because of it, Ramirez noted, and only two places to cross over it.

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WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Robbery search
November 21, 2023 1:28 pm
|      24 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | West Seattle news | Westwood

1:28 PM: Thanks for the tips. The police search in the Westwood Village/Roxhill Park this past half-hour followed a report of an armed robbery. We’re still catching up on details – more to come.

1:33 PM: Police at the scene tell us the victim was robbed in the park. The search has wrapped up; they lost the robber’s trail in the Westwood Village parking lot (which could mean he got away in a car). He was described initially as a Black man in his 20s, 6’1″, thin, red jacket, armed with a handgun.

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BIZNOTE FOLLOWUP: Opening date set for GH Pasta & Pizza
November 21, 2023 12:22 pm
|      36 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle restaurants

(Photos courtesy GH Pasta & Pizza)

The current most-asked-about restaurant opening in West Seattle is finally about to happen. GH Pasta & Pizza – in the cow-topped ex-Best of Hands building at 35th/Webster – will officially open this Friday (November 24), after several casual soft-opens (and another one planned tomorrow). The basics:

-Fresh pastas
-12″ pizzas
-Starters and salads
-Indoor seating for 40, heated outdoor patio with room for 75
-All ages (though there’s a specific “adults only” area)

-20 taps “showcasing breweries throughout Seattle and across Washington state”
-Local and Italian wines
-“Seasonal hand-crafted signature cocktails highlighting spirits from local distilleries and around the world
-Frozen drinks
-Hours 5-10 pm daily, “with a happy-hour menu 4-5 pm”
-Delivery options via Toast online ordering

As first noted here 10 months ago, his is the newest restaurant for Chef Brian Clevenger, who is also proprietor of Raccolto and Haymaker in the West Seattle Junction, as well as half a dozen other venues elsewhere in the city.

SOFT OPEN BENEFITING WSFB: Tomorrow (Wednesday, November 21st) you can get a sneak peek by dining at GH Pasta & Pizza 4-9 pm – all proceeds will be donated to the West Seattle Food Bank.

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