West Seattle, Washington
21 Thursday
(‘Fungal bouquet’ photographed at Fauntleroy Park by Rosalie Miller)
Here’s today’s list of what’s happening, mostly from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar (where you’ll find even more events than we spotlight in the list):
CITY COUNCIL TALKS BUDGET: As the budget-shaping process nears its end, councilmembers meet all day (meeting started at 9:30 am) to talk budget amendments – here’s the agenda; watch via Seattle Channel.
WALKING FOR WELL-BEING: Meet at 47th/Fauntleroy at 10 am. Details in our calendar listing.
TODDLER READING TIME AT PAPER BOAT: 10:30 am at Paper Boat Booksellers (6040 California SW).
REJUVENATE YOGA: Weekly class at Viva Arts, 1:30 pm. (4421 Fauntleroy Way SW)
TODDLER STORY TIME: At Southwest Library, 3 pm, for kids ages 1-3. (9010 35th SW)
HOMEWORK HELP: 4-7:30 pm at High Point Library (3411 SW Raymond), volunteers are there to help K-12 students with their homework.
FIX-IT WORKSHOP: Fix it, don’t toss it! Weekly event, free (donations appreciated), 5:30-7:30 pm at West Seattle Tool Library (4408 Delridge Way SW, northeast side of Youngstown Cultural Arts Center).
CRIBBAGE NIGHT: Monthly event at West Seattle Eagles (4410 California SW), nonmembers welcome, all ages, come play cribbage!
TRIVIA x 4: Four trivia options tonight: At 6 pm, Locust Cider (2820 Alki SW) offers trivia … Larry’s Tavern (3405 California SW) hosts Wednesday-night trivia starting at 7:30 pm … Quiz Night begins 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).
FREE GROUP RUN: All runners, all levels, are welcome to join the weekly West Seattle Runner (2743 California SW; WSB sponsor) group run – meet at the shop by 6:15 pm.
LIVE MUSIC AT THE LOCOL: 6:30 pm. 21+. Rotating performer slate. (7902 35th SW)
POETRYBRIDGE: Monthly gathering at C & P Coffee (5612 California SW; WSB sponsor) to celebrate poets and poetry.
MUSIC BINGO X 2: One night, two games! Play at The Good Society (California/Lander), 7 pm … At Three 9 Lounge (39th/Oregon), you can play MINGO music bingo, hosted by Mingo Maniac, at 7:30 pm Wednesdays.
KUNDALINI YOGA AND GONG BATH: 7 pm with Inner Alchemy at Move2Center (3618 SW Alaska), $35; ticket link is in our calendar listing.
SKYLARK OPEN MIC: Your turn in the spotlight! 7:30 pm signups for West Seattle’s longest-running open mic. (3803 Delridge Way SW)
Planning an open house, reading, tour, fundraiser, sale, discussion, show, meeting, presentation, etc., that’s open to the community? Please send us info so we can add it to West Seattle’s only comprehensive event calendar! westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
(Photo courtesy WSHS)
That’s a rehearsal photo from the next student production at West Seattle High School, opening tomorrow (Thursday, November 14), “Ophelia.” The student cast and crew are hoping you’ll be part of the audience during one of the performances. Here’s what it’s all about:
Ophelia
Book by By Jeff WanshelDirected by Allison Irvine, this play imagines a world where, rather than being relegated to an unceremonious offstage death, Ophelia takes center stage in the story of Shakespeare‘s most famous brooding prince. Join us for a night of swords, vengeful ghosts, and perhaps more than one person hiding in the curtains…
The show dates are November 14th, 15th, 16th and 20th, 21st, and 22nd at 7:30.
Here is the link to get tickets.
$10 adults and $5 students
The performance venue is the theater at WSHS (3000 California SW).
8:55 AM: Jay texted to say the Delridge onramp to the bridge is suffering from its “standard flooding” and there’s a backup on Delridge as a result.
8:14 AM: Three-vehicle collision at 2nd/Olson, blocking northbound on Olson per dispatch.
6:48 AM: If you’re using West Marginal Way, a caller tells us her vehicle is broken down, with flashers on, on the southbound side in the 4700 block (near the Duwamish Longhouse), and she wants people to take care going past while she awaits a tow.
Earlier:
6:03 AM: Good morning! Welcome to Wednesday, November 13.
WEATHER + SUNRISE/SUNSET TIMES
A wind alert remains in effect through 8 am, with south gusts up to 45 mph possible. The forecast otherwise: Showery, breezy, high in the mid-50s. Today’s sunrise will be at 7:12 am, while sunset will be at 4:34 pm.
TRANSIT
Water Taxi today – Regular service.
Washington State Ferries today – 2-boat service on the Triangle Route with M/V Sealth as the “ghost boat.” Check here for last-minute changes.
Metro buses today – Regular schedule.
ROAD WORK
*The Admiral Way Bridge seismic project continues; the south half of the bridge is closed, with one lane each way on the north side. Fairmount Avenue remains closed under the bridge.
*The Delridge pedestrian-bridge earthquake-safety project also continues, with narrowing at Delridge/Oregon.
SPOTLIGHT TRAFFIC CAMERAS
High Bridge – Here’s the main camera, followed by the Fauntleroy-end camera:
Spokane Street Viaduct – This view usually looks westward, with eastbound lanes at left and westbound lanes at right:
Low Bridge – Looking west:
1st Avenue South Bridge:
Delridge cameras: Besides the one below (Delridge/Genesee), cameras are also at Delridge/Juneau, Delridge/Henderson, Delridge/Oregon, and video-only (so you have to go to the map), Delridge/Holden and Delridge/Thistle.
MORE TRAFFIC CAMS: All functioning traffic cams citywide are here; West Seattle and vicinity-relevant cameras are on this WSB page.
If you see a problem on the bridges/streets/paths/water, please text or call our hotline (when you can do that safely, and after you’ve reported to authorities if they’re not already on scene) – 206-293-6302. Thank you!
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
Three weeks after Seattle Public Schools superintendent Dr. Brent Jones announced plans to close Sanislo Elementary and three other schools to save money, district reps came to Sanislo tonight for an info/Q&A session.
Parents and students around the room came for a fight, though the district reps on hand weren’t the decisionmakers (ultimately, that’s the School Board). They held signs like the one below to show their support for the Puget Ridge school and its staff. Principal Erika Ayer opened by talking a bit about the school’s history and traditions. But the night was largely short on specifics – talk of a “transition,” but not of how exactly it would work.
District chief of staff Bev Redmond filled in for the superintendent, who she said is sick. She said “he would tell you …. this is one of the hardest conversations to have with a (school community).” First came a presentation led by Dr. Marni Campbell (below right), the administrator overseeing the process, who said they’re in a “30-day period of public review” for the proposed closures. She insisted the district isn’t taking the closure/consolidation plan “lightly” but that it wants to ensure students have access to things they can’t do at a smaller school. The slide on the screen made lofty promises about “enhanced learning” and expanded “holistic support.”
Next, director of school operations Tyler Hamilton (above left) took the mic. Why is Sanislo one of the four schools targeted for closing? A slide carried three points: “Building condition and learning environment scores” was at the top of the list. Sanislo is in poor condition, Hamilton said, and its learning environment (“design of the building”) is “fair.” (Sanislo has a unique open design.) Also, “regional distribution of students” is a factor, and “which buildings in West Seattle make the most sense to use as schools.” He showed enrollment numbers from last month – 140 currently at Sanislo, 263 at Highland Park Elementary, with which it’s proposed to be merged. The grid he showed also looked at staffing, some of which would go down per student – one principal and a halftime assistant principal for the combined schools as opposed to two fulltime principals for the two schools, for example. A half-FTE librarian for the combined school – as opposed to half for each school.
Then came a slide selling the benefits of HPE – “a well-resourced, updated facility,” for example. They promised a “full continuum of special-education services.” Campbell said the hope is that the two schools would truly come together, even a merger of PTAs.
Next step: A hearing in December, she said, but while the closure isn’t yet a done deal, it’s important to think ahead to “what will we do, what could we do.” That led, about 20 minutes into the meeting, to the moderator for Q&A. They offered the chance for people to speak aloud or write their question on a card.
Ken was first at the mic. “This is a good school,” he declared, and then brought up Chicago’s unsuccessful bout with school closures. “Why are you closing Sanislo without evidence that it benefits students OR the budget?”
District chief operations officer Fred Podesta said they have a history of opening/closing buildings and they do know how it’ll affect the budget but they really want to invest in “schools that will be successful.” He claimed very few districts have schools with fewer than 300 students – while SPS “has 29.” “We think we can replicate what’s great” in creating these consolidated schools.
Another parent said her student will have less weekly access to arts and music, and that consolidation will mean less attention for the students already at Highland Park, so why is that better? Hamilton said Sanislo has extra music “purchased through a grant” and that’s not shown in the charts they’ve been circulating, so the situation may be better than it looks. Campbell said the teacher positions follow the students – not necessarily the same teachers, though.
The moderator then read written questions which again noted the lower per-capita staff numbers projected for the combined school, Hamilton said they’re “still working through the budget” to see what the actual plan would be. Another question again focused on the strain that will be placed at Highland Park. Campbell said that all the school administrators citywide involved with this “see the benefit of more students.” She claimed Highland Park’s principal Mary McDaniel had said it was getting harder year by year as the enrollment got smaller and smaller (some scoffing was heard in the crowd).
A parent of two Sanislo students broke into tears as she took the mic. “How can you guys guarantee that our kids aren’t going to bear the brunt of the (budget) fix – what are you guys going to give up?” The district is who broke the budget, not the kids, she said. “Do you have plans for busing the families who live super-far from Highland Park?” She said the staff makes this a special place and if the consolidation goes ahead, she wants to see them go with the kids.
Chris Carter, the district official who supervises principals in this region, and is their liaison with the central office. He said, like Redmond, he wanted to recognize “how hard” this is. “What does the transition look like? All the key stakeholders,” he said, talking about “building transition plans” for staff, students, families.
Ann, both a community member and the nurse at Sanislo and Roxhill, talked about the school sitting in the Longfellow Creek watershed, and being among the most linguistically diverse schools. Low-income children, children of color, benefit from being in these environmental spaces. Roxhill was moved from being next to the greenspace. Now Sanislo is being proposed for a move, and how does that affect social/emotional health? Campbell said that’s “definitely something to take under consideration.”
Back to cards – why aren’t the actual teachers following the kids, who will “lose contact with trusted teachers and staff.” Hamilton said, “We want the communities to be able to move together,” but they also have to honor labor agreements.” But “we want staff who want to move with the students to be able to do that.” But, he said, if enrollment keeps declining at individual schools, they have to make hard choices about what to let go, and this should reduce that.
A question read off a card was from a parent wondering if she’d be able to transfer her student to Louisa Boren STEM K-8. “That would happen during the open enrollment period,” replied Campbell. She added that they could have a “school-closure tiebreaker” to give some preference to families like that.
It was almost 7 pm by then; Redmond offered to extend it 15 minutes, as they had done at a similar meeting at Sacajawea.
The next questioner at the mic talked about her son getting extra reading help from a teacher, which she said might not be available at a larger school. She recalled that a lack of attention like that was a challenge during her school days. What are you going to do for kids not to get passed on when they don’t know the material?
Whatever transition happens, Campbell said, they’ll maintain the “caring relationships you’re talking about.”
Next at the mic, a Sanislo graduate, offering “more of a thought,” and breaking up – “This is personal to us – aside from learning, teachers, they were like our parents. They could scold us. My mom gave permission to anybody at this school to scold me.” She talked about Sanislo’s open layout, not “stuck behind four walls.” She wanted to know what opportunity people have to “raise money, get grants” to try to help with the budget problem rather than see the school “ripped away.”
What are you planning to do with the school and land if Sanislo does close? Podesta answered that, saying they’d keep the property in their inventory and “look for interim uses … as the city grows and grows it’s harder to find property” so they’d keep it, but hopefully make the greenspace available to the community. The building, though, might be torn down.
Note-card question: How does the superintendent justify accepting a raise when the district has a budget deficit? Redmond said “yes, the superintendent did receive a cost-of-living adjustment” – that drew laughter – “I won’t justify that, but” it was part of the “terms of his employment.” But, she said, “we have to hustle” to tell legislators “our schools deserve the maximum funding … we don’t want to be in a position like this.” She returned again to “It’s incredibly hard to have this conversation … I can see the love resonating in you … our next step to balance the budget is to head to Olympia.”
One more person had a turn with the mic, and impassioned words: “I’m not hearing any solution for our kids – where are our kids in this? I don’t want to lose all this for my daughter to be like a sardine.” Also, she wondered, where will the other $94 million budget savings be found. “How will you fix your mistakes by closing this school? You say this school is old … that’s your fault. … How do you say these things, with no solution? Sanislo has a lot of people behind it” – multiple generations of supporters. “You can make a family in a school – give us a solution – I’m pretty sure Highland Park already has enough work – I hope there is time … make a difference, make it work, for our kids.”
And with that, the meeting was a wrap – after the moderator was interrupted by the last speaker standing up again to say “Sanislo, we love you, we are a family.”
The next meeting will be November 25th, and they hope to have online access for that one as well as in-person.
(King County photo, Dow Constantine’s 2009 swearing-in)
After 15 years as King County Executive, West Seattleite Dow Constantine announced tonight that he won’t run for another term when his current one is up next year. A WSB source at his “25th Annual 39th Birthday Party” at Mission in The Admiral District says he made the announcement to the crowd, and promised he wouldn’t fade away into retirement.
(Photo special to WSB)
Constantine won the office in 2009, moving up from the County Council, running after his predecessor Ron Sims left for a job in Washington, D.C. He’s also sent a news release, with a statement reading in part:
I am grateful for the progress we have made, striving for a better government and a fairer, more just society. We have built more access to opportunity, taken action to safeguard the health of our environment and our people, and set ourselves to the task of identifying and dismantling the systemic racism, sexism, and all the injustices that hold our nation back.
The work is constantly challenging and often daunting, but it is also extraordinarily rewarding to be able to help others. It has been the honor of a lifetime to serve in this role, but it’s time to let a new leader take the reins and build on the work we have done, and so I will not be seeking re-election.
As for who that’ll be, remember that State Senator Joe Nguyen challenged him three years ago; we’ll be checking with him among others. County Councilmember Girmay Zahilay has sent a news release saying he is “strongly” considering running.
A reader asked in the WSB Community Forums about the status of Snapdragon, the Vashon Island-based bakery that has a satellite operation in the West Seattle Junction. They temporarily closed the Junction shop – on the lower level of the Center for Active Living – for a fall hiatus, and originally promised they’d be back at the end of October. That’s come and gone, so the reader wondered, what’s up? We pinged proprietor Megan, who replied that they’d been having some staffing challenges, but in fact, “We will be back open actually first thing in the morning! 10 am.” For now they’ll be open 10 am-3 pm Wednesdays-Sundays, possibly bumping back to 9 am in the not-too-distant future, and perhaps some other extended hours.
Jenn and Zach at the new-ish Aimee Owenz food truck (35th/Barton) report:
We wanted to let West Seattle know our food truck was broken into and some items were stolen It happened Saturday or Sunday night. The incident number is 24-944866, if anyone knows or saw anything. A few things were taken and our door, fence, and windows were damaged. Someone also tried to steal my brother’s truck while it was parked on the street (nearby, on Barton), Wednesday night as well. They were not successful, but broke the ignition switch. We just finished our first month and are so excited yet this is super frustrating as a new small business.
J-Pod orcas are in the area again, reports Kersti Muul, having emerged out of Colvos Passage on the west side of Vashon Island and traveling NB off Blake Island. Let us know if you see them!
(WSB photo)
2:16 PM: Seattle Parks crews have spent the morning boarding up the windows and doors at Camp Long‘s fire-ravaged lodge. As reported here last night, the fire was reported around 8 pm Monday; no one was hurt, but it’s clear that major damage was done. Seattle Fire spokesperson Kaila Lafferty tells WSB that the fire remains under investigation; this post on SFD’s Fire Line site details how firefighters battled the flames. As for the lodge’s fate, we asked Parks, and spokesperson Rachel Schulkin responded with this statement that reveals the lodge wasn’t the only building affected:
Last night our beloved and historic Camp Long building, along with two other cabins on site, were vandalized and caught fire. We are still actively assessing the situation at Camp Long and currently do not have any information on the future of this facility. We hope to have more information by the end of tomorrow.
(Added: The entire park is closed today.)
Camp Long falls under the designation of what the city calls an Environmental Learning Center; commenters have noted that the proposed city budget calls for cuts to the department’s environmental-education program, and a proposal to move it under a “public/private partnership.” Supporters of the program were already planning to testify at tonight’s 5 pm budget hearing. (Here’s the online petition they’re circulating.) Meantime, people continue arriving at the park’s entrance to gaze sadly at the charred, boarded-up lodge; the word “heartbreaking” was heard over and over again. Many are there in honor of memories made at the lodge. One person who briefly spoke with us said there’s an apartment on the lodge’s second floor in which they lived many years ago.
4:09 PM: SFD has just announced that investigators ruled the fire “intentionally set” and have “shared their findings with police.” Damage is estimated at $1.2 million.
4:25 PM: Added information from a summary released by SPD after their investigator talked with SFD’s investigator:
(SFD’s investigator) informed me he believed the fire was arson. He explained to me there were multiple glass windows broken behind the building, which he believes could have been a forced point of entry. He stated he did not know what was used to start the fire, but believed the fire started inside the North stairwell.
He informed me there were two cabins on the property that appeared to have been broken into. He said one of the cabins had glass shattered across the ground and there were blood droplets inside and outside the cabin. He stated there were no indication that any property was stolen from the lodge or cabins.
.
I then contacted a Seattle Parks and Recreation Branch Manager who walked me around the property and pointed out the damage done to the lodge. I observed a broken glass door on the north end of the lodge and multiple broken windows on the west side of the lodge’s basement. All could have been possible entry points of the suspects.(The manager) then walked me to the two cabins that were broken into. The first cabin was cabin 6 (Glacier). I immediately noticed a shattered window, with glass dispersed across the ground inside and outside of the cabin. I observed what appeared to be a blood trail that started on the front steps of the cabin entrance and tracked inside the cabin.
(The manager) showed me Cabin 4 which appeared to have had its Plexiglas window pushed out of its frame and onto the floor. I confirmed with (the manager) that there was no other vandalism done to the property, and there was no property stolen.
They’ve sent samples of the blood in for testing.
(Photo from commenter Svenry)
Thanks for the tip. The inbound aircraft carrier, just passing Alki Point, is the USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76), headed for Bremerton. We noted its outbound journey a month and a half ago.
(Salmon eggs after a predator gnawed at a spawner’s carcass)
Story by Judy Pickens
Photos/video by Tom Trulin
Special to West Seattle Blog
The 19 coho spawners that came into Fauntleroy Creek the past two weeks lured a record number of volunteers (27) to document them, as well as 262 visitors and students to the spawning reach.
The action began on October 13 with the Fauntleroy Watershed Council‘s annual drumming to call in spawners. They waited several days in Fauntleroy Cove for sufficient rain to freshen creek water – a sign that it would provide suitable habitat for the next generation.
(The last spawner came through the culvert under Fauntleroy Way on Nov. 5)
The first arrived in the spawning reach on Nov. 1 and the last showed up on Nov. 5. This year’s total compares to 34 in 2023 and a near-record 254 in 2022.
“Such fluctuations are typical for this small creek,” said veteran watcher Dennis Hinton. “Having just 19 in a short spawning reach means everyone could find a good spot to leave their fertilized eggs.”
Volunteers began preparing for spawning season in late September when Mark Sears led a work party to relocate drift logs on the beach so spawners would have easy access to the creek mouth. Once watchers saw them in the cove, he checked daily to make sure they could get in at high tide.
(Bridge School students brought questions about habitat and spawner behavior)
A cadre of veteran watchers was on hand to welcome 154 visitors during a Nov. 3 “open creek,” as well as when students and staff came from the Bridge School in White Center and Chief Sealth International High School.
Next up: Tiny fry will emerge from their protective blanket of gravel in about 4 months to start feeding in the lower creek.
(Morning clouds, photographed by Theresa Arbow-O’Connor)
Highlights for today/tonight, mostly from our Event Calendar, where you can get a preview days, weeks, even months ahead
POSTCARDS4DEMOCRACY: Long-distance advocacy via handwritten postcards sent to voters in other states – the work continues – drop in 10:30 am-noon at C & P Coffee (5612 California SW; WSB sponsor), all welcome.
ROTARY CLUB OF WEST SEATTLE: Lunch meeting at noon at West Seattle Golf Course (4470 35th SW).
CHESS CLUB: Tuesdays 1:30-3 pm, at the Center for Active Living (4217 SW Oregon). All levels welcome. (Questions? Email conwell@conwelld.net.)
ADOPT-A-STREET CLEANUP: 4 pm, join the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce‘s quarterly cleanup. Meet at California/Charlestown.
CITY BUDGET HEARING: 5 pm in person at City Hall or online, your last major chance to speak out on what the city should or shouldn’t be spending money on these next two years. Our preview has participation information.
DROP-IN WINE TASTING: 5-7 pm Tuesdays at Walter’s Wine Shop (4811 California SW) – $10 fee, $5 off with bottle purchases.
DEMONSTRATION FOR BLACK LIVES: Long-running weekly sign-waving demonstration on the corners at 16th/Holden. 5-6 pm. Signs available if you don’t bring your own.
SANISLO ELEMENTARY CLOSURE INFO: 6 pm meeting at the school for families and staff, convened by Seattle Public Schools, as previewed here. (1912 SW Myrtle)
FAUNTLEROY COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION: Monthly board meeting, community welcome, as previewed here; 6 pm at Fauntleroy Schoolhouse (online option available), 9131 California SW.
SCRABBLE NIGHT: 6-10 pm tonight, play Scrabble at The Missing Piece (9456 35th SW).
FREE TRACK RUN: All runners welcome! Meet at West Seattle Runner (2743 California SW; WSB sponsor) for this free weekly run at 6:15 pm.
HOPE LUTHERAN MIDDLE SCHOOL OPEN HOUSE: 6:30 pm at Hope Lutheran School North (4100 SW Genesee).
MAKE POTTERY: Weekly 6:30-9 pm “girls’ night” at pottery studio The Clay Cauldron (5214 Delridge Way SW), sign up in advance to work on your project(s).
ADMIRAL NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION: 7 pm general gathering at Admiral Church (4320 SW Hill), with guests including City Attorney Ann Davison, as previewed here.
FREE SWING-DANCE LESSON: Tonight at 7 pm at Center for Active Living, start learning swing dancing! (4217 SW Oregon).
BINGO AT THE SKYLARK: Play – free! Tuesday nights bring Belle of the Balls Bingo hosted by Cookie Couture, 7 pm. (3803 Delridge Way SW)
TRIVIA X 5: Now there are five trivia options for Tuesday – new, 7 pm trivia at Future Primitive‘s Beer Bar on Alki (2536 Alki SW) … The Beer Junction (4711 California SW) has Sporcle Pub Quiz with David at 7 and 8 pm … 7 pm at Ounces (3803 Delridge Way SW), free and hosted by Beat the Geek Trivia; 7 pm at Zeeks Pizza West Seattle (6459 California SW), hosted by Geeks Who Drink; 7:10 pm at Admiral Pub (2306 California SW).
Planning an event? Tell your West Seattle neighbors via our event calendar – just email info to westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
This very moment brings the start of the Alki Elementary PTA‘s online auction, open to all. Here’s the announcement they asked us to share:
We are excited to have part of our silent auction online this year! Starting on Tuesday, Nov. 12 at 9:00 am, everyone can bid on some exclusive items only available online for a few days. This portion of our auction will close Thursday, Nov. 14 at 8:00 pm. You do not need an ticket to our event to bid on the online portion!
This year we have amazing Billie Eilish concert tickets for the SOLD OUT show on 12/5 at Climate Pledge Arena and so many other wow items. Send the auction link to everyone you know so they can help support our school.
Alki Elementary is in its second of three years at the former Schmitz Park Elementary campus while a new school is being built at its site.
9:04 AM: Via comment and phone call, we’re told a vehicle is blocking the ramp to 99 from the eastbound bridge, and that’s causing a backup on the bridge, so if you’re thinking about heading eastbound, you’ll want to wait a while.
8:25 AM: Mel reports the stoplight at 16th/Austin is flashing,
Earlier:
6:01 AM: Good morning! Welcome to Tuesday, November 12.
WEATHER + SUNRISE/SUNSET TIMES
A wind alert is in effect for this afternoon through early Wednesday, with south gusts up to 45 mph possible. Rain likely, heavier in the evening, high in the low 50s. Today’s sunrise will be at 7:11 am, while sunset will be at 4:35 pm.
TRANSIT
Water Taxi today – Back to regular service.
Washington State Ferries today – 2-boat service on the Triangle Route with M/V Sealth as the “ghost boat.” Check here for last-minute changes.
Metro buses today – Regular schedule.
ROAD WORK
*The Admiral Way Bridge seismic project continues; the south half of the bridge is closed, with one lane each way on the north side. Fairmount Avenue remains closed under the bridge.
*The Delridge pedestrian-bridge earthquake-safety project also continues, with narrowing at Delridge/Oregon.
SPOTLIGHT TRAFFIC CAMERAS
High Bridge – Here’s the main camera, followed by the Fauntleroy-end camera:
Spokane Street Viaduct – This view usually looks westward, with eastbound lanes at left and westbound lanes at right:
Low Bridge – Looking west:
1st Avenue South Bridge:
Delridge cameras: Besides the one below (Delridge/Genesee), cameras are also at Delridge/Juneau, Delridge/Henderson, Delridge/Oregon, and video-only (so you have to go to the map), Delridge/Holden and Delridge/Thistle.
MORE TRAFFIC CAMS: All functioning traffic cams citywide are here; West Seattle and vicinity-relevant cameras are on this WSB page.
If you see a problem on the bridges/streets/paths/water, please text or call our hotline (when you can do that safely, and after you’ve reported to authorities if they’re not already on scene) – 206-293-6302. Thank you!
6:07 AM: Thanks to the texter who sent the photo from what was briefly another big Seattle Fire callout, this time in the 2300 block of 44th SW. The log indicates the callout just before 5 am was downsized quickly. We’ll follow up with SFD.
3 PM: SFD tells us, “At 4:58 a.m., crews were dispatched a reported house fire in the 2300 block of 44th Ave SW. They arrived on scene to a porch fire and quickly downgraded the response. They extinguished the fire and found no extension. No injuries reported.” No word on the cause of the “porch fire,” though.
(Added: Reader photo by Trevor)
8:06 PM: Seattle Fire has dispatched a “full response” to 5200 35th SW, which is the address for Camp Long. “Multiple calls on a structure on fire” at the park, per the dispatch.
8:08 PM: First units on scene report this is a “working fire.” They’re calling for more engines. They’re describing the burning building as a “single-family residence with basement.”
8:16 PM: They report the fire is “partly knocked down.” They’re also reporting broken windows on at least one level. We don’t yet know if this is the park’s historic lodge. We have WSB team members on the way. Note police are blocking 35th in the area.
(Reader photo by Kevin Freitas)
8:22 PM: The building is too dangerous for firefighters to be in, so they’re getting out. A nearby neighbor confirms the lodge is what’s on fire.
(Added: Photo by Sharonn Meeks)
8:33 PM: The lodge is more than 80 years old, constructed from wood and stone, rented out for events as well as used for park programs. Fire’s not out yet.
8:48 PM: Those in the area say even in the rain, you can smell smoke for blocks around. Firefighters have been on scene battling the fire for 40 minutes now.
(Reader photo sent by Kacie)
9:05 PM: Southbound 35th is reopening. Some of the units on scene are being dismissed.
9:16 PM: SFD says the fire’s out and under investigation. No injuries reported. The lodge was renovated in 2010. We’ll check with Parks tomorrow, and go to the scene, to find out about the extent of the damage.
9:40 PM: More reader views of what happened during the peak of the firefight – the first video was linked in a comment by Tony:
Kerry Antezana shows us the role one firefighter played:
Kerry also sent this view:
10:25 PM: A few firefighters remain at the scene on “fire watch”:
(Photo by Cindi Barker)
8:20 AM: Here’s our first look at the lodge in daylight:
(Reader photo by Kevin Freitas)
Time to charge everything – the National Weather Service has a “wind advisory” alert in effect for our area from 4 pm Tuesday to 4 am Wednesday. Right now, the alert says “south winds 15 to 25 mph, with gusts up to 45 mph expected.” According to our archives, this is the first alert of this kind since early June.
November’s second Thursday is just three nights out – and it’ll bring you the West Seattle Art Walk featuring The Art of Music. Here’s the list of who’s featuring art and/or food-and-drink specials for Art Walk’ers on Thursday night (November 14):
Individual artists and venues are spotlighted in this preview on the Art Walk website. Highlights this month include Afro SPK‘s reception, 4-8 pm at West Seattle Realty (2715 California SW; WSB sponsor). You’ll also want to roam between the three Junctions to catch this month’s Art of Music performances:
North to south, the Nathan Roz Duo is performing at Soprano’s Antico in Admiral (2348 California SW), Jean Mann is at The Beer Junction (4511 California SW), and Cyd Smith is at Whisky West (6451 California SW). All performances are 6-7:45 pm with a 15-minute midpoint break, no cover. Learn more about the musicians here!
Two-plus weeks ago, we published a request from researchers studying how people might get around in case of catastrophe and inviting participation in a discussion. Today, they wanted to say thanks, and asked us to share this open note to the community:
From researchers Katherine Idziorek (University of North Carolina at Charlotte; formerly UW) and Chen Chen (Oklahoma State University): We wish to extend a sincere thank you to the greater West Seattle community for your interest in our ongoing study of micromobility and disasters. Thanks to the West Seattle Blog, we were able to find more participants for our focus groups than we could accommodate! We learned so much working with folks in the community and look forward to sharing our findings when this phase of our research is complete. We sincerely appreciate your interest and participation!
“Micromobility” is a reference to means of transportation such as bicycles and scooters.
Close call this morning near 11th and Elmgrove [vicinity map]. According to the SPD summary, they were called to the area just before 6 am, after reports that people heard possible gunfire. First they found a 9mm casing, Then they found two bullet holes in the front window of an occupied home, and subsequently found the bullets that had come through the window. No injuries reported. Some 911 callers thought they had heard a vehicle speeding away after the shots, but nobody had a description, and police couldn’t find relevant video in the area. If you have any information, the incident # is 24-319426. This is two blocks from the early-morning gunfire reported three days ago.
Government offices are closed today – but tomorrow (Tuesday, November 12) brings a big event to City Hall. It’s the City Council’s final major public hearing on the budget that they’ll finalize before Thanksgiving. The 5 pm hearing is entirely devoted to public comment, both in person and remote, so if there’s something you want to speak either for or against, this is your big chance. Councilmembers already have proposed changes to the 2025-2026 budget plan that Mayor Bruce Harrell put on the table earlier this fall; budget chair Councilmember Dan Strauss unveiled his “balancing package” almost two weeks ago. We noted here at the time that it featured amendments from District 1 Councilmember Rob Saka, One would remove parallel parking at Duwamish Head, something nearby residents say would cut down on street disorder in the area, where traffic calming such as dividers and speed cushions already have been installed.
Speaking of dividers, another of Saka’s proposals is for “safety improvements” on a stretch of Delridge Way where he has campaigned to get rid of a divider keeping drivers from making left turns across a bike lane near a RapidRide stop. (This budget item is listed as $2 million but Saka’s chief of staff Elaine Ko tells us they’re not sure of the actual cost or the precise project details yet.)
Also on the list of Saka’s amendments: Turf for the Fairmount Playfield baseball infield; local youth-baseball supporters are mobilizing to back that. The agenda document for tomorrow’s hearing includes instructions on signing up to speak; if you just want to watch the hearing, you’ll be able to do that via Seattle Channel. Email the council any time at council@seattle.gov.
P.S. You can review details of the original budget proposal here.
Two corners of Admiral/California have vacancies – and now we’ve learned that change is on the way for a third. After reader tips, we’ve confirmed with Cori Luckenbach that she’s planning to close Bebop Waffle Shop at year’s end, after a decade. But the intersection’s southeast corner is not going dark – she plans a reinvention:
There IS a silver lining. The flower shop is moving to all-online ordering and they will be moving out of the space (sometime next year). I plan on taking over the entire space and converting it into an event space. Which I have experience with from running South Park Hall. In January I’ll be selling a bunch of our furniture and equipment then beginning the remodel. For me pivoting to an event space will support the local restaurants that want to offer catering and also have space for people to come together with events that I’ll curate and a space for people to rent.
Since our email exchange, Cori has published this official announcement, including:
MANY people are asking how to support me during this transition and all I ask is come TIP my staff, pay in CASH, tip in CASH, buy all our merch, lobby for tax breaks for small businesses, AND BOOK the space when we open.
Before rebranding as Bebop, Cori’s shop in the front of the corner space shared with Flower Lab was the Admiral Bird coffee shop.
(Bald Eagle at Alki Point, photographed by Gary Jones)
Today’s list of what’s happening also includes what’s not happening because of the Veterans Day holiday.
PARKS CLOSURES: Here’s the Seattle Parks list.
LIBRARIES: City and county, closed.
USPS: It’s a postal holiday.
BANKS: Most if not all closed.
One Veterans Day discount we’ve heard about (thanks to Al for the tip – any others? comment or email us, westseattleblog@gmail.com):
SPUD ON ALKI: Veterans and active military personnel can get a free 2-piece fish and fries, with regular beverage, with proof of service. Open 11 am-9 pm. (2666 Alki SW)
Regular Monday events from our WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
GET CRAFTY: 6-10 pm, Monday brings “Crafting and Creativity Night” at The Missing Piece (9456 35th SW), info here.
D&D: Weekly D&D at 6:30 pm at Meeples Games (3727 California SW). All welcome, including first-time players.
LISTENING TO GRIEF SUPPORT GROUP: 6:30 pm evening group with Listening to Grief, preregistration required. (4034 California SW)
MONDAY NIGHT TRIVIA! Three places to play tonight – 7 pm at The Good Society (California/Lander); 7 and 8 pm Sporcle Pub Quiz at Three 9 Lounge (4505 39th SW); 7:30 pm with QuizFix at The Skylark (3803 Delridge Way SW)
MEDITATION IN FAUNTLEROY: You’re invited to free weekly Zen sitting/meditation in the chapel at Fauntleroy UCC (9140 California SW), 7 pm-8:30 pm.
MEDITATION IN ALKI: The Alki Dharma Community also hosts Monday night meditation at Alki UCC (6115 SW Hinds), 7-8:30 pm.
MUSIC AT THE ALLEY: The Alley in back of Bonjour Vietnam is open – Monday nights, live music from The Westside Trio, 8 pm at The Alley (behind 4509 California SW), 21+, no cover.
SING! 9 pm is the start time for Monday night karaoke at Talarico’s Pizzeria (4718 California SW).
If you have a West Seattle/White Center event to add to our calendar, please send the info to westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
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