West Seattle, Washington
16 Wednesday
First one appears to be a definite candidate for the dumped-likely-stolen file:
Abandoned burgundy KIA found on 27th and Kenyon. Obvious signs of being stolen (broken windows, ignition, etc.) and signals of drug use. This has been reported to police and assume it will be towed soon. Also footage from camera shows multiple people and cars involved during the dump.
The second one is a little more of a mystery. The reader report came in Saturday; we looked about an hour ago, and the truck is still there, so we’re publishing this:
Appears to be abandoned at 41st and Ida. Half in parking strip. Side work door attempted to be pried open.
It’s also parked facing the wrong way. The person who emailed said they’ve reported to police. Also of note – that’s the same Gatewood intersection where a stolen Hyundai was dumped earlier this week.
Both of West Seattle’s public high schools have started their football seasons with victories. We covered West Seattle HS‘s home win on Friday; then on Saturday, Chief Sealth IHS opened their season on the road at Bellingham. That game ended with a 32-27 victory for the Seahawks. Next week, head coach Daron Camacho‘s team is on the road again, 5 pm Friday (September 8th) vs. Lakeside at Memorial Stadium downtown.
The latest in the resurgence of West Seattle coyote sightings is from Alexis: “My brother saw a coyote last night at 48th and Hinds heading south.” We publish these for awareness, not alarm; you can help ensure uneventful coexistence by not providing potential food sources, from outdoor pet food to unsecured trash to unaccompanied pets. You can read more about them in this state Fish and Wildlife fact sheet. (See past sighting reports by scrolling through this WSB archive.)
(Saturday’s sunrise, photographed by Stewart L.)
Day 2 of the holiday weekend – here’s what’s happening:
ART ON THE CORNER: Gatewood artist Bonnie is again selling her work to benefit local food banks. 8:30 am to 5:30 pm, stop by 39th/Holden.
WESTIES RUN CLUB: Now they’re running on Sunday mornings too – meet at 9 am at Dough Joy Donuts (4310 SW Oregon).
WEST SEATTLE FARMERS’ MARKET: 10 am-2 pm, the market is open between SW Alaska and SW Oregon on California, offering late-summer fruit and vegetables as well as flowers, cheese, fish, meat, baked goods, condiments, fresh-cooked food, beverages (from kombucha to beer/wine), nuts, more. Here’s today’s vendor list.
DONUTS ON DELRIDGE: 10 am-2 pm at Ounces (3809 Delridge Way SW), Dough Joy Donuts will pop up.
FREE STARCYCLE CLASS: 10:15 am – our calendar listing explains how to register, and has other free-class dates. (4532 42nd SW)
HIGHLAND PARK SPRAYPARK OPEN: 11 am-8 pm, second-to-last day. (1100 SW Cloverdale)
LINCOLN PARK WADING POOL: The weather forecast is iffy so check the hotline after 9 am, 206-684-7796; if it’s open, it’ll be noon-7 pm, second-to-last day of the season. (8011 Fauntleroy Way SW)
COLMAN POOL OPEN: Also at Lincoln Park, rain or shine, second-to-last day of the season for this outdoor salt-water pool, open noon-7 pm. See the session schedule here.
ALKI POINT LIGHTHOUSE TOURS: Last chance this year for a free tour, 1-4 pm, last tour starts at 3:45. (3201 Alki SW)
CHILDREN’S MOONLIGHT FESTIVAL: 2-4 pm at Vietnamese Cultural Center (2236 SW Orchard), crafts, treats, lion dance, face painting, and a lantern parade.
JEWISH STORY HOUR: 3:30 pm, the Torah Learning Center of West Seattle will present a story hour at High Point Library (3411 SW Raymond).
SUNDAY NIGHT JAZZ: Triangular Jazztet at The Alley (4509 California SW), 8 pm and 9 pm sets.
Something for our calendar – one-time or recurring? Email us the info – westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
9:58 PM: Seattle Police say northbound 35th SW is blocked at Rose in Gatewood because of a crash. No SFD medical response so far so apparently no serious injuries, but avoid the area for a while.
(Added: Reader photo)
10:48 PM: Police just told dispatch that northbound 35th is open again.
(WSB photo from 2019 Fiestas Patrias parade)
Before summer officially ends, another tradition will return for the first time in four years – the Fiestas Patrias parade in South Park. Sea-Mar Community Health Centers present the parade, and a weekend-long festival at Seattle Center, as a celebration of Latin American culture, and two weeks from today will bring the first parade since 2019. You can watch along 14th Avenue South (Henderson north to Cloverdale) or South Cloverdale Street (14th west to 8th, where the parade ends at the community center) starting at 11 am Saturday, September 16th.
(Photos courtesy Camp Long)
One week from today, you can get up in the treetops at Camp Long (5200 35th SW) for a donation that helps the park’s popular ropes course thrive. Here’s the announcement we were asked to share about a fundraiser that the park’s Advisory Council is presenting:
Come join us for an opportunity to get out onto the High Ropes Course at Camp Long while supporting our programs! Funds raised will be used to purchase needed replacement gear for programs and towards purchasing equipment to improve accessibility of our challenge course.
September 9th
12 slots in the morning from 9 am to 12 pm
12 slots in the afternoon from 1 pm to 4 pm
Suggested donation of $75 per slot or $200 for a family of 3
You must register at this link: form.jotform.com/camplongchallenge/camp-long-pay-to-play-fundraiser
AND you must follow up by calling in and paying for your slot – instructions are on the form. Slots are not confirmed until paid for
Participants must be:
12 years old or older
Able to fit into our harness and helmets which accommodate a range of sizes that most people 12 and older are able to fit
Wear CLOSED-TOED SHOES the day of the event and other weather-appropriate clothes
Confirm registration by calling in for payment
Submit a completed and signed waiver for each person participating
The challenge course was installed a little over a decade ago.
Thanks for the tips. Almost four years after opening Nos Nos Coffee at Upton Flats in High Point (35th/Graham), Khalid Agour has sold the shop to his longtime coffee provider, QED Coffee. Contacted by email, QED’s Matt Greenfield explained why it’s been a low-key transition and what’s ahead:
Having worked as Nos Nos’s coffee partner for years, when Khalid approached us about taking over Nos Nos we were both excited and honored. Nos Nos has a special place in the community and my partner lives only a few blocks away, so it is also part of our personal neighborhood. We took over Nos Nos on somewhat short notice because we did not want to see it sold off to some random “no longer local” group.
In the short term we will be transitioning to QED signage in the next few weeks and will slowly be expanding Nos Nos’ beverage and food options. However, it is our intent to keep most of Nos Nos unchanged. We were lucky enough to retain the same kitchen staff and our in-house food options will continue to be the same.
So Nos Nos may be transitioning to QED, but we intend to retain the things that made Nos Nos the special place that it is.
QED actually had a West Seattle shop for a while last decade, in the space now occupied by (for a few more weeks) Youngstown Coffee.
P.S. Nos Nos founder Agour continues to work on an expansion of his original West Seattle establishment, Itto’s Tapas on the north end of The Junction (California/Genesee). He says that “will be more of a wine bar with different food than Itto’s.”
(WSB photos)
It’s all about love. For a second year, a family who lost a loved one too soon is celebrating his memory with a community event, and you’re invited.
Just getting going in the gym at Southwest Teen Life Center (2801 SW Thistle) is the second “Long Live King Cee Day.” The namesake is Antoine D. Matthews Jr.; tomorrow would be his 34th birthday, if he hadn’t lost his life to gun violence almost two years ago. His family is working to serve and inspire youth, with the affirmation “MOBB (My Obstacles Became Blessings).”
“King Cee” is remembered by family and friends for his big heart; he was also known nearby for his sports days at Chief Sealth, just across the street from where this event will continue until 7 pm, with youth activities, performances, food, and more. The gym is on the south side, lower level, of SWTLC.
We continue keeping track of brown-water instances when we get reader reports about them – otherwise there’s no public way to track them via the Seattle Public Utilities website. Today we’ve heard from one reader who is seeing it near Fauntleroy/Trenton, which is by the south end of Lincoln Park. In many cases, it’s because of SFD hydrant testing stirring up “sediment” (rust) in the lines, but nonetheless, any time it happens at your residence or business, please report it to SPU – 206-386-1800.
(June photo)
“Coming soon” is about to change to “open now”! Two months after we reported that Seattle Yarn was moving to The Admiral District, the one-of-a-kind shop has announced that today is opening day in the new location. Among other things, the new location will facilitate more dedicated class space. Seattle Yarn is now at 2701 California SW; hours are on their website.
(Bumblebee resting on cucumber leaf – photo sent by Suzanne)
Here’s what you need to know about today, mostly from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
METRO SERVICE CHANGE: Today brings one of Metro’s two annual “service changes.” Check here to see if the route(s) you use are on the list.
FREE GROUP RUN: Get your weekend off to a running start with this weekly West Seattle Runner (2743 California SW) group run, All levels welcome. Meet at the shop by 8 am.
ART ON THE CORNER: Gatewood artist Bonnie is again selling her work to benefit local food banks. 8:30 am to 5:30 pm, stop by 39th/Holden.
FREE STEERING WHEEL LOCKS: If you have a Hyundai or Kia, go get your free steering-wheel lock at the Southwest Precinct (2300 SW Webster), 9:30-11:30 am, while they last.
TAE KWON DO: First class of the month for the West Seattle Tae Kwon Do Club at High Point Community Center (6920 34th SW), 9:30 am, all levels welcome.
SOUTH DELRIDGE FARMERS’ MARKET: The weekly farmers’ market on the grounds of Hope Academy (9421 18th SW) is open for shopping 10 am-2 pm, prioritizing vendors of color, presented by African Community Housing & Development.
MORNING MUSIC: 10:30 am-noon at C & P Coffee (5612 California SW; WSB sponsor), Marco de Carvalho and Friends perform. Learn about Marco’s music here.
FREE WRITING GROUP: 10:30 am in West Seattle, registration required – see full details in our calendar listing.
FAMILY READING TIME: Every Saturday at 11 am at Paper Boat Booksellers (6040 California SW).
SATURDAY COOKOUTS: Highland Park Corner Store is grilling, 11 am-2 pm on Saturdays through the end of the month. (7789 Highland Park Way SW)
SPRAYPARK OPEN: Highland Park Spraypark is open through Labor Day), 11 am-8 pm. (1100 SW Cloverdale)
COLMAN POOL OPEN: Last Saturday of this year to swim at the city-run outdoor pool on the shore at Lincoln Park (8011 Fauntleroy Way SW), open noon-7 pm (session schedule here).
WADING POOL: Also the last Saturday of this year for the Lincoln Park pool (8011 Fauntleroy Way SW), 12-7 pm, in the upper park near the north play area.
VIETNAMESE CULTURAL CENTER: The center is open to visitors noon-3 pm, as explained here. (2234 SW Orchard)
LOG HOUSE MUSEUM: See what’s new at the home of West Seattle’s history – visit the Log House Museum (61st/Stevens) 12-4 pm.
‘LONG LIVE KING CEE’ DAY: For the second. year, the family of the late Antoine D. Matthews Jr is hosting a community celebration in honor of his birthday, Performances, food, raffles, face-painting, games for kids. 1-7 pm at Southwest Teen Life Center. (2801 SW Thistle)
NORTHWEST WINE ACADEMY: 1-6 pm, with student-produced wines available. North end of South Seattle College (WSB sponsor) campus. (6000 16th SW)
LIVE AT EASY STREET RECORDS: Hillside ’77 with Conversation Pit, 7 pm, free, all ages. (4559 California SW)
LIVE AT C & P COFFEE: 7 pm-9 pm, Circle of Songs at C & P Coffee (5612 California SW; WSB sponsor). No cover, all ages.
LIVE AT THE SKYLARK: Wyatt Silva, Pilot Seat, Oscar Warnersmith at The Skylark (3803 Delridge Way SW), doors 7 pm, music 8 pm, $10.
Planning a concert, open house, show, sale, event, meeting, seminar, reading, field trip, fundraiser, class, game, or ? Get it on our calendar! Please email info to westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
(WSB photos by Patrick Sand)
Waving their flag and bursting through a banner, the West Seattle High School Wildcats roared onto the Nino Cantu SW Athletic Complex field tonight for the first time this football season. Two-plus hours later, they left the field victorious over Columbia River High School (Vancouver, WA), but only after some literally last-minute drama.
But first – new head coach Anthony Stordahl‘s team got off to a strong start, taking the ball on an interception just half a minute in. They needed a while to break through the Rapids’ defense but with 4:28 to go in the first quarter, #1, senior Leland Gayles III, got the first TD.
The Wildcats got another one in the final minute of the first quarter, with #45, junior Cole Edwards, recovering a Columbia River fumble in the end zone.
The Wildcats capitalized on another of their opponents’ mistakes in the first :15 of the second quarter, when #7, junior Alex Jorge, followed an interception with a run most of the way down the field. That eventually set up a field goal by #34, sophomore kicker Scott Bremen, that boosted the WSHS lead to 17-0 with 10:27 to go in the first half.
The Rapids finally got on the scoreboard with a touchdown at 7:16 left in the half, and that was the end of scoring before halftime, when everyone left the field with WSHS up 17-7.
In the second half, more big runs – including two by #2, junior Sam Turner – paved the way for a touchdown pass at 7:26 caught by #5, senior Gibson Aguilar.
With the point-after kick, WSHS was up to a 24-7 lead. A few minutes later, a spot of trouble – a short-lived physical altercation at midfield, broken up quickly by coaches and refs, saw (corrected) two players, one from each team, ejected. The next significant action in the game didn’t come until the final minute, when Columbia River scored two touchdowns, resulting in a final score of 24-19. Close call, but reason for WSHS fans to join the expanded Cheer Team in celebrating.
NEXT WEEK: WSHS has an early home game, 4:30 pm, next Friday (September 8th) at NCSWAC, against Franklin.
Thanks to Jan Pendergrass (above) and James Bratsanos (below) for the photos of Labor Day Weekend 2023’s first sunset.
The forecast says tomorrow will be the sunniest, warmest day of the weekend, with a high near 80. Then the cooler, cloudier weather rolls back in.
The Boeing Employees Choir, which rehearses in West Seattle, is inviting potential new members to come to their rehearsals starting later this month. Thie choir has a big trip planned, too. Here’s the announcement sent to us to share with you:
We are planning a 2-week concert tour of Greece in late September 2024 and are recruiting new members from the West Seattle area. Come to an open rehearsal at the American Legion Hall on 3618 SW Alaska Street on Tuesday evenings (6:30 – 9:00 pm) to see if you’d like to join and schedule an easy audition. Open rehearsals run Tuesday 9/12/23 through 10/10/23. Historically made up of Boeing employees and their families, we have opened membership to the public, sharing our love of music and cheer in numerous concerts throughout the year, especially during the Christmas holidays. Suggested dues are $150/semester. Sign up in September to ensure your spot on our tour! For questions, email president@boeingchoir.org.
Three weeks ago, we reported on the boutique Cherry Consignment> celebrating 14 years in business. In conjunction with that milestone, HomeStreet Bank (WSB sponsor) spotlighted Cherry throughout the month, and (above R-L) proprietor Nyla Bittermann joined HomeStreet’s Joyce Leslie for a Thursday drawing to win a gift card. Every month, the HomeStreet West Seattle branch (4022 SW Alaska) spotlights a local business or nonprofit; this month, it’s the West Seattle Food Bank, so if you visit the branch, you can learn about WSFB too.
Seven years after voters approved ST3, four years before Sound Transit expects to start building the West Seattle light rail line, some of your neighbors want to reconsider it. They say we need more transit – but not necessarily this kind of transit. They’re launching what they call Rethink the Link, with a community walk in two weeks – here’s their announcement:
When we say “Rethink the Link,” we are acknowledging that a lot has happened in the 7 years since voters decided to approve ST 3.
-A global pandemic.
-The 2 1/2 year closure of the West Seattle Bridge.
-The work-from-home phenomenon.In light of those events, it’s time to take a fresh look at our transit options and insure that we have efficient, safe, and sustainable connections to the places we want to go.
Starting with Link Light Rail.
West Seattle residents have been asking Sound Transit to walk the proposed route with us so we can get a better idea of what the future will look like if light rail comes to our community. They’ve promised many times to “get back to us,” but never have. We have lots of questions. Maybe you do, too. So we’ve decided to host our own walk.
Using the information Sound Transit has made public about its preferred “alternatives,” and knowledge from residents who have served on transportation advisory panels, we are going to walk the eastern portion of the route between the proposed locations for the Delridge and Avalon stations. We’ll walk the rest of the route, between the Avalon and the Junction stations, in the near future.
On this walk, you will learn about the proposed route; physical dimensions of the infrastructure; businesses that will be displaced; the effect the project will have on the Duwamish greenbelt, wildlife, and salmon habitat; and how light rail will affect the residential area.
We believe that when our neighbors have a chance to see what light rail will mean for our community, they will be better able to make up their minds about what should come next.
The walk will leave Ounces (3809 Delridge Way SW) at 11 am September 17th. They’re specifically advocating for the “no-build alternative,” which is one of the options featured in this section of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (see page 73). It “includes the transportation system and environment as they would exist in 2042 without the proposed project, and it provides a baseline condition for comparing impacts of the Build Alternatives and design options.” That section also says “No Build Alternative improvements include transit, roadway, and other transportation actions by state, regional, and local agencies that are currently funded or committed, and those that are likely to be implemented based on approved and committed funding.” Theoretically, the Sound Transit Board could decide on this option, rather than light rail, when making its final commitment to “the project to be built” at some point after the Final Environmental Impact Report comes out next year.
Thanks for the tips about the fenced-off closure of the play structure at Alki’s Whale Tail Park. There’s no fully explanatory signage, so we asked Seattle Parks on Wednesday about the situation. We got the info today from Parks spokesperson Karen O’Connor:
The “whale tail” play area on the north end of the park had a damaged slide. When we received the replacement slide, it was the wrong specs and could not be installed. We have ordered another. Once we receive the slide, we will re-install and open this section of the play area. We anticipate it will be re-open by mid-September.
O’Connor says they’ll get a sign posted so visitors know what’s going on.
P.S. We also asked her about the schedule for replacing long-closed Lincoln Park South and Westcrest Park play areas, since the construction contract has now been officially awarded. She’s hoping to have that information post-holiday.
(WSB photo, July 22)
We feature lots of opportunities for contributing to the community, but don’t always get the results. Today, we learned the final tally from this year’s Float Dodger 5K on July 22nd, presented by West Seattle Runner (WSB sponsor) to raise money for the West Seattle Food Bank‘s work preventing hunger and homelessness, WSR’s Lori McConnell tells WSB their official donation to WSFB was $6,883! (If you weren’t among the 600 runners/walkers for the 5K along the West Seattle Grand Parade route, here’s our coverage of how it went.)
P.S. As mentioned here Thursday, your next big chance to have a good time while helping the food bank is the September 28 Taste of West Seattle.
(Alki photo by James Bratsanos from earlier this week – today’s low tide is -0.9 feet at 12:24 pm)
Here’s what’s happening as we head toward the holiday weekend, mostly from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar!
SPRAYPARK OPEN: Final Friday! Highland Park Spraypark (1100 SW Cloverdale) is open until 8 pm.
LINCOLN PARK WADING POOL OPEN: Also the final Friday! Noon-7 pm. (8011 Fauntleroy Way SW)
COLMAN POOL OPEN: Noon-7 pm on the shore at Lincoln Park; session schedule here.
SCRABBLE CLUB: You’re invited to play 12:30-1:30 pm at Margie’s Café inside the Senior Center of West Seattle (4217 SW Oregon).
NORTHWEST WINE ACADEMY: 1-6 pm on the north side of South Seattle College (6000 16th SW; WSB sponsor), student-produced wine by the glass or bottle.
BELLY-DANCING CULTURAL CELEBRATION: Free! Dancing, music, bites, more. 5-9 pm at Jet City Labs (4547 California SW).
FOOTBALL: High-school season begins, with one local team playing a home game – West Seattle HS vs. Columbia River at 6 pm at Nino Cantu SW Athletic Complex (2801 SW Thistle).
LIVE AT EASY STREET RECORDS: Album-release party for Frankie and the Witch Fingers, 7 pm, free, all ages. (4559 California SW)
COFFEEHOUSE MUSIC: David Garbers performs at C & P Coffee (5612 California SW; WSB sponsor), 7-9 pm.
SUMMER SUNSET SOUND BATH: 7:30 pm at Solstice Park (7400 Fauntleroy Way SW), $35.
LIVE AT THE SKYLARK: Orange Comfort. Bazaar, Ember Mists, doors 7 pm, music 8 pm at The Skylark, $10 cover, all ages until 10 pm. (3803 Delridge Way SW).
‘STAGE STRUCK’ SENDOFF: 8 pm tonight, for alums and friends of the long-running youth theater program. If you missed our story – read it here.
Something to add to our calendar? westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
Every school year, we tell you about ways you can help local students, from tutoring to attending events to donating money. Here’s the announcement for one of the first fundraisers of 2023-2024, from Friends of Roxhill Elementary:
Kick off the new school year by giving to the Roxhill Field Trip and Classroom Fund!
Did you know schools and families cover the cost of field trips? This creates a disparity between field trip experiences across schools in our district.
With your generous donations, Friends of Roxhill provides each teacher at our school with money for field trips and to equip their classroom with much-needed supplies, like educational games, toys, and books. Last year, each teacher received ~$15 per student. We’d like to increase the amount to ~$20 per student this year!
Not all families in our school have the means to give. If you do, please consider donating on behalf of your student and a classmate. 100% of funds will go to teachers to benefit our RoxStars.
Roxhill Elementary is a small but mighty Title I school with about 250 students, located in the south end of West Seattle. Friends of Roxhill Elementary supports the education and enrichment of our multicultural public school in Seattle. Over 70% of our students are from BIPOC communities (Black, Indigenous, Person of Color). Our nonprofit focuses on building equity for students through fundraising, community building, and other important projects for our kids’ school success.
You can go here to help. (And if you have news of a school fundraiser/event/cool potential news story, email westseattleblog@gmail.com or text 206-293-6302!)
(WSB file photo)
If you’re staying in West Seattle this holiday weekend, we have a few special events to spotlight – first, the Children’s Moonlight Festival at the Vietnamese Cultural Center (2236 SW Orchard, just north of The Home Depot) on Sunday (September 3rd). Despite its name, this celebration happens during the day, 2-4 pm,; it’s full of free activities and treats, plus a lantern parade (with kids carrying lanterns they just made) and a lion dance. All are welcome; here’s the flyer with more details.
6:01 AM: Good morning! It’s Friday, September 1st.
WEATHER AND SUNRISE/SUNSET TIMES
Sunnier as the day goes on, high in the mid-70s. Today’s sunrise will be at 6:27 am; sunset will be at 7:49 pm.
BACK TO SCHOOL
Right after the holiday, the schools that aren’t already open will start on Tuesday or Wednesday. Our full list of start dates is here.
TRANSIT TODAY, INCLUDING HOLIDAY-WEEKEND CHANGES
Washington State Ferries – The Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth run lost 1 boat to mechanical trouble yesterday afternoon. Check Vessel Watch to see if it’s back to 2 yet. Meantime, the Triangle Route will be on its weekend schedule Monday.
Metro – regular schedule – check here for advisories. The September “service change” happens Saturday – for West Seattle, Route 55 will be suspended and Routes 50 and 22 have changes.
Water Taxi – regular schedule. On Labor Day, the West Seattle Water Taxi and its shuttles will run on the Sunday schedule; the Vashon Water Taxi won’t run.
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 cam:
1st Ave. S. Bridge – alternate 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 Twitter feed 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 it safely, and after you’ve reported to authorities). Thank you!
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