West Seattle, Washington
28 Thursday
“Thank you for being a friend!” The board of Friends of Roxhill Elementary offers those words of gratitude in advance for help with the first fundraiser of the year – here’s their message:
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, donations helped send Roxhill students to the Seattle Aquarium, the Woodland Park Zoo, and the Seattle Children’s Theater.
Last year, each teacher received ~$15 per student. We’d like to increase the amount to ~$20 per student this year!
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 help by going here. School starts two weeks from Wednesday!
6:03 AM: Good morning! It’s Monday, August 19.
WEATHER + SUNRISE/SUNSET TIMES
After the wild weekend weather, today’s forecast is relatively calm: Partly sunny, high in the low 70s, chance of rain tonight. Today’s sunrise will be at 6:11 am, while sunset will be at 8:13 pm.
SPOKANE ST. VIADUCT CLOSURES
The Spokane Street Viaduct resurfacing project continues; we expect to find out this week’s closure schedule this morning.
TRANSIT NOTES
Water Taxi today – Regular schedule for both routes.
Metro buses today – Regular schedules; check for advisories here.
Washington State Ferries today – 2 boats on the Triangle Route, and the unscheduled third boat may be available. Check that link before you sail.
ONGOING ROAD WORK NOTES
*The Admiral Way Bridge seismic project is in progress. Fairmount Avenue is closed under the bridge for the duration of the project, at least into early 2025. Lane closures have begun on the top deck too.
*The East Marginal Way S. project continues, with a temporary routing change for bicycle riders.
*The Delridge pedestrian-bridge earthquake-safety project also continues, with narrowing at Delridge/Oregon.
*Beach Drive: Gas-pipeline work continues at spots along the southern stretch. Watch for no-parking zones and steel plates (many on northbound side right now), plus flaggers.
SPOTLIGHT TRAFFIC CAMERAS
High Bridge – Here’s the main camera:
High Bridge – The Fauntleroy-end camera is working again:
Spokane Street Viaduct – This view looks westward, with eastbound lanes at left and westbound lanes at right:
Low bridge: Here’s the main view:
1st Avenue South Bridge:
South Park Bridge – This camera is working again:
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.
BRIDGE INFO: The @SDOTBridges feed on X (ex-Twitter) shows whether the city’s movable bridges are open for vessel traffic.
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!
It’s been a while since we’ve been able to publish a Sunday bird gallery – this one was about to take flight a few hours ago, and then the wind swept in. But now that things have quieted down …
That’s a Killdeer that Andy monitored earlier this summer as it incubated four eggs on the rocky beach near his home. After a six-week process – during which he noted the parents facing off with potential predators like Crows – he saw two chicks:
Another reason to tread lightly on local beaches. … We have more beach-bird images, including this video of two Bald Eagles “chatting” at Lowman Beach:
Anthony Decena spotted this Bald Eagle on a seawall at Alki:
Great Blue Herons are a popular photographic subject. Mark MacDonald photographed this group looking for lunch, also at Alki:
Stewart L. found this one with an overview:
And a long-lens look at a Heron’s intense expression:
Susan Whiting Kemp sent this photo of a Mallard family:
Moving to not-so-aquatic birds – the Cooper’s Hawk photo is from John Sturtevant:
Steve Bender shows us a splendid Northern Flicker:
Another woodpecker – Downy Woodpecker, to be specific – showed up at Jon Anderson‘s feeder;
And before we close out this gallery – a recent photo of the wandering West Seattle Guinea Fowl:
Will Lint sent that pic three weeks ago. We had two other sightings of them today. It’s been almost a year since the first sighting we heard about; if they’re news to you, in short, they are reported to have a home, but they’re not kept in a secure yard, so almost daily they turn up roaming, most often in the east Junction area. Drive carefully, as they’ve been known to wander into the street. Meantime, thanks to everyone who shares bird (and other) photos – between galleries, we also sometimes include them as the unofficial “photo of the day” with our daily event list – westseattleblog@gmail.com is the best way to get us images (unless it’s breaking news, in which case text us at 206-293-6302) – thank you!
4:39 PM: No weather alerts yet, but in the past few minutes, the wind has kicked up in a big way, and radar shows another storm band heading this way. Lights are flickering too. Keep everything charged and stay safe! If you have downed trees or anything else to report, once you’ve alerted authorities, tell us too (206-293-6302 text or voice) – thanks!
4:42 PM: It’s not on the map yet but we’re getting outage reports from Riverview. … Here’s the outage, stretching south into White Center and South Park:
4:50 PM: There’s a report of a tree down on Seola Beach Road. Citywide, a dispatcher just declared, “We’re getting a TON of downed tree and wire calls right now.”
4:59 PM: At least one tree is reported down in the Myers/Olson area at the east end of the Roxbury corridor.
5:02 PM: Now there’s a water-rescue response to the 1200 block of Alki Avenue SW. Erin, who called it in, tells WSB, it’s for a “kayaker in distress” who tried to wave down a passing boat. Tons of whitecaps while that giant blast of wind roared through, she observes.
5:16 PM: Responders aren’t finding anyone in trouble so far. As for the 2,221-customer power outage, repairs might take a while, as SCL is dealing with more than 26,000 customers out of electricity around its service area. As for the weather itself, looks like the rain shown on the radar might have bypassed us.
5:21 PM: The Alki water-rescue response is now officially canceled.
5:38 PM: Commenters in Morgan Junction mentioned a loud “explosion.” The SCL map now shows a 27-customer outage between Graham, Fauntleroy, 41st, and 42nd. … From Gatewood, Paul sent this photo:
Paul reports, “On 36th just north of Othello. Came down during wind storm. Everyone jumped in to help clean up. Some damage to vehicle.”
9 PM: Both aforementioned outages remain unresolved, per the SCL map. But the utility’s making progress overall – down to 11,000+ customers out throughout its service area, less than half of the peak number.
10:42 PM: This is now the last large outage left. SCL provided a short update of sorts on X/Twitter a few minutes ago: “Crews continue to troubleshoot the issue and are working toward a solution until power is restored to all.”
11:12 PM: The South Park area of this outage just got power back, so it’s down to just under 700 customers, mostly in West Seattle. The short description of the cause is finally labeled as “tree/vegetation” (we’ll be asking SCL tomorrow about the specific location, as to date nobody has reported where the crew is).
11:46 PM: Just for the record, here’s a screengrab of the SCL map showing who’s still out:
12:43 AM: After eight hours, the map shows everyone in this outage is back on. (If you’re not, please let SCL know!)
August 25, 2023, was the day that Bruun Idun the troll was officially introduced near Colman Pool in Lincoln Park (WSB coverage here), after weeks of semi-secret construction by Danish recycled-materials artist Thomas Dambo and volunteers. Next Sunday is the one-year anniversary, and a restoration event is at the heart of the celebration:
The restoration work party is planned from 10 am to noon Sunday, August 25 – followed by ice cream! Forest steward Lisa McGinty sent the invitation:
August 25th is BRUUN IDUN DAY in Seattle! Celebrate with our much-loved troll in Lincoln Park. We’ll be working to restore natural areas surrounding the troll and making space for winter planting season. After our work is done, Scan Design Foundation will be treating all to an ICE CREAM SOCIAL as we honor Bruun Idun and the land and sea where she calls home. Great opportunity for student service hours!
All ages are welcome; bring your own gloves if you have them, but if you don’t, you’ll be able to borrow a pair, with tools available too. You’re asked to RSVP – you can do that right now, here.
Two food biznotes:
CAMP WEST: Toni at Camp West sends word that the Junction restaurant/bar at 4539 California SW has made some additions:
We started opening up early on Saturday and Sunday at 12:00. We also started a late-night food happy hour from 10-11. We will extend the late night happy hour in the fall and winter.
GOOD SOCIETY: From Nick at Admiral brewpub The Good Society (California/Lander):
We are debuting our own smash burger pop-up at The Good Society today at 4 PM. We are calling it SmasH After the MASH. Since we don’t have a hood in our kitchen, it will be a somewhat random pop-up when we feel like having some fun. Our full menu will also be available. People can find more info, schedule, etc., at smash.goodsocietybeer.com.
Reminder to swimmers – as first reported here in early August, Southwest Pool is closed for two weeks of maintenance starting today. The pool is scheduled to reopen the day after Labor Day (right after outdoor Colman Pool ends its season). Seattle Parks says the work will include “repairs of various mechanical systems. (and) a Health Department mandated replacement of our deep-end drain covers.”
(Saturday low tide at Fauntleroy – photo by Tom Trulin. More bird pics later today!)
Here’s what’s happening on your late-summer Sunday, mostly from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar (where you’ll find even more):
SPOKANE STREET VIADUCT OPEN: Another reminder that this weekend’s planned closure was canceled because of the rain, so the bridge between 99 and 5 is fully open.
BIG BLUE TRUCK: Third weekend for the West Seattle return of the Northwest Center‘s donation-dropoff truck (WSB sponsor)! You’ll find it outside WaFd Bank (4102 California SW). Our calendar listing has info on what items the truck will accept. 9 am-5 pm.
SWIM IN THE SOUND: At 9 am, you can join a group plunge into Puget Sound off Alki – meet at Statue of Liberty Plaza (61st/Alki).
WESTIES RUN CLUB: 9 am, the Westies meet up at Highland Park Corner Store (7789 Highland Park Way SW) for this week’s Sunday run.
WEST SEATTLE FARMERS’ MARKET: 10 am-2 pm, midsummer produce, plus beverages, baked goods, flowers, cheese, fish, meat, prepared food, nuts, candy, more. (California SW between SW Alaska and SW Oregon)
SUNDAYS IN THE ALLEY: Pop-up shopping experience – apparel, art, music too – behind Carmilia’s, in the alley behind the east side of the 4500 block of California SW, 10 am-3 pm. More info in our calendar listing.
SMALL BIZ POP-UP MARKET: Inside Jet City Labs (4547 California SW), 10 am-2 pm.
LOW-LOW TIDE: Out to -2.3 feet at 10:27 am.
MAKERS’ ART MARKET AT ALKI: Noon-5 pm by Alki Bathhouse, shop more than 20 local vendors’ handmade creations. (60th/Alki)
COLMAN POOL: The outdoor heated-salt-water pool on the shore at Lincoln Park (8011 Fauntleroy Way SW) is open to the public today, noon-7 pm – session times are on the Colman Pool webpage.
LINCOLN PARK WADING POOL: Elsewhere at Lincoln Park, you’ll find this 7-days-a-week city wading pool, noon-7 pm, in the central upper part of the park near the north play area.
E.C. HUGHES WADING POOL FINALE: Also open noon-7 pm, last day of this pool’s season. (2805 SW Holden)
ALKI POINT LIGHTHOUSE TOURS: U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary volunteers are at Alki Point Lighthouse today for free tours starting at 1 pm; get there by 3:45 pm for the last tour of the day. (3201 Alki SW)
SAWYER BEST ON THE MIGHTY WURLITZER: 2 pm doors, 2:30 pm show at Kenyon Hall (7904 35th SW).
STAR ANNA AT EASY STREET: 7 pm in-store concert, free, all ages. (4559 California SW)
GONG BATH & NATURE MEDITATION: 7:30 pm at Lowman Beach Park (7017 Beach Drive SW) – ticket link’s in our calendar listing.
LIVE MUSIC AT THE ALLEY: Enjoy Sunday night music with the Triangular Jazztet at The Alley (4509 California SW) – which is still open even though remodeling continues on the restaurant in front – 8-10 pm.
Organizing and/or publicizing something that should be on our community event calendar – one-time or recurring? Please email us the basics – westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
3:59 AM: Thanks for the tip. Another power outage in West Seattle – this one much bigger than the one we mentioned earlier: More than 3,200 homes and businesses.
4:21 AM: Some just got their power back (thanks for the texts). The map now has the outage down to 2,800+ customers. As for a cause, one possibility – SFD responded to a call logged as a “transformer fire” around 3:25 am at Avalon/Andover, described by the arriving crew as a “pole fire.” … Archived audio for that dispatch includes a firefighter warning that it was “burning through to a high-tension wire” and calling for Avalon to be closed in that area.
4:48 AM: The map shows the outage is now down to 481 customers.
11:11 AM NOTE: Thanks to the texters who sent photos of the City Light crew at work earlier this morning. The outage wsa reported over by about quarter past 9. The photo above is from nearby restaurateur John Bennett, who notes this pole has had at least two previous transformer fires; in this case, lightning is blamed.
12:18 AM: Police are closing West Marginal Way at the scene of what’s reported as a one-vehicle crash. The driver is said to have hit a pole and been ejected from the vehicle “near the railroad tracks” in the 4500 block of West Marginal. SFD medics are treating him now for what are reported to be significant injuries.
12:26 AM: This is a short distance north of the Duwamish Longhouse. According to the plate information discussed over the air, the car is a 1991 Honda Civic. The driver is described as in his 30s. What police have reported finding at the scene indicates speed and alcohol likely factored into the crash.
1:02 AM: West Marginal has reopened both ways, police told dispatch; the driver has been taken to Harborview.
(Added: Quick clip of lightning as it approached, recorded by Tom Trulin)
8:40 PM: You’ve probably heard the thunder even if you haven’t seen the lightning. A band of thunderstorms has arrived in our area and the National Weather Service has issued a flood alert for most of the region, in effect until 10:45 tonight, because of heavy rain accompanying the thunderstorms. The flooding isn’t expected to be major but beware of street ponding, for example. Let us know (206-293-6302 text) about any problems like downed trees or outages – in the meantime, keep everything charged!
9:51 PM: Some really close strikes in the past few minutes, so it’s a good time to stay inside.
(Added: Elissa Roche’s video captures the sound of the rain, plus some lightning)
10:28 PM: The rain has lightened and the lightning/thunder have moved on (mostly).
11:41 PM: Thanks to everyone who’s shared visuals of the lightning. The photo above is from Nicolay Thomassen, who was looking west from just north of Lincoln Park. So far no major problems anywhere in our area, and the weather is definitely a lot calmer now – though the NWS has extended the Flood Advisory alert to 2:45 am.
12:30 AM: Thanks to the texter who points out the first notable power outage in the area – 67 customers near 20th/Thistle.
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
In a month with few community meetings, our area’s biggest political organization met to celebrate results of the last election, look ahead to the next one, and hear from current officeholders.
The 34th District Democrats‘ endorsed candidates fared well in the August primary, including Alexis Mercedes Rinck, the City Council citywide Position 8 challenger with a 12-point lead over appointed incumbent Tanya Woo (both will advance to November).
The only nailbiter noted at Wednesday’s meeting was the race for state Commissioner of Public Lands, with Republican former U.S. House Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler already locking in one general-ballot spot, while Democratic King County Councilmember Dave Upthegrove hangs onto a less-than-a-tenth-of-a-point lead over Republican Sue Kuehl Pederson for the second general-election spot.
State House Position 2 Rep. Joe Fitzgibbon told the group that race is vital because Upthegrove would use a “science-based perspective to manage our public lands.” All in all, Fitzgibbon – who is House Majority Leader – declared himself “thrilled” by the primary results, even though, he noted wryly, his Position 1 counterpart Rep. Emily Alvarado got more votes than he did (barely – 329) in their respective re-election races. He said Democrats expect to add to their majorities in the State House and State Senate. And he noted his own household had added “a new Democrat” when he and his wife welcomed a baby in June.
Also briefly taking the microphone, our area’s Seattle Public Schools Board Director Gina Topp. With the new school year now three weeks away, she said the district is “working hard on safety” and she hopes for an update from the SPS administration at the board’s next meeting August 28. She also is hoping that’s when superintendent Dr. Brent Jones will present his long-anticipated plan for potential school closures/consolidations (it’s not on the agenda so far, though). “Difficult choices” are ahead, she warned.
Shortly thereafter, the meeting moved on to the agenda centerpiece, a Town Hall with King County Executive Dow Constantine and Deputy County Executive Shannon Braddock, both West Seattle residents (“our administration is tilted toward West Seattleites,” he joked).
One of the summer’s festival finales is also just a week away. The Admiral Neighborhood Association wraps up a busy summer – previously presenting the West Seattle 4th of July Kids’ Parade and three Admiral Music in the Parks concerts – with the Admiral Junktion street party. It’s happening 11 am-8 pm next Saturday (August 24) on California Avenue SW between SW Admiral Way and SW College Street. There’s of course a live music lineup – as announced August 1st:
12 pm School of Rock
1 pm Plum
2 pm Princess Pulpit
3 pm The Potholes
5 pm DAD Band
6 pm NovaChrome
7 pm Secondhand Flannel
WSB is a festival co-sponsor. We hope to have a few more previews with other details in the days ahead. See you there!
(WSB photos)
If you’re a fan of Lucha Libre (the showy masked wrestling style that originated in Mexico) but you missed the 2 pm bouts at SOPASUPA, good news – luchadores from Lucha Libre Volcánica will be back in the ring at 6 pm. This is part of the South Park Summer Party festival, happening in multiple spots at and around the 14th/Cloverdale intersection in the heart of South Park.
In the first bout, Sniper (wearing the black and white shirt) was victorious….
In the second bout, Red Dog (in pink and black) was the last luchadore standing.
The ring – as well as the main music stage – is behind the building on the southwest corner (right behind The Scene coffee shop). You can even buy your own luchadore mask:
Behind the building on the northwest corner of 14th/Cloverdale, you’ll find the Kid Zone, with bouncy toys:
And a coloring table:
Across 14th at the northeast corner, art and food vendors:
And a few blocks west on Cloverdale, next to the Highway 99 overpass, South Park’s skatepark is hosting festivities too. The festival’s on until 9 pm; the stage schedule is in our calendar listing.
(WSB photo, 2021 Great Cross-Sound Race)
If you’re a rower or paddler and you haven’t tried the Great Cross-Sound Race yet – this might be your year! One week from today, the annual 7-mile race heads out from Alki to just off south Bainbridge Island and back, 9 am Saturday, August 24. Sound Rowers and Paddlers organize the race and registration is open – there are categories for single, double, and triple (or more) watercraft. You can register here. (You can also watch from the Alki seawall west of the Bathhouse and cheer the racers, at a distance!) This is the first one in two years; last year’s race was canceled due to air quality from wildfire smoke.
Thanks to the texters who sent photos and reports of another beach driftwood fire, this time early this morning on the north beach at Lincoln Park;
The first photo was from someone who said SFD had been called; the second, from someone who wrote, “Another log burning in Lincoln Park, just south of Lowman. We put sand on it, though it’s still smoking slightly. Someone is clearly setting these and just wondering if SFD is looking into it before it causes too much damage.” We’re not seeing any police call logged for today’s fire; we asked SFD about their response, just before 6 am, but they tell us only that their firefighters “extinguished a tree stump that was smoldering.” Previously we’ve reported on fires at Lowman Beach and at Weather Watch Park.
Received from Kevin:
An e-bike appeared at 6 am along the side of my house (near 35th and Morgan), I’m assuming it was stolen, and I have a video of it being left there.
Light-blue VanMoof S3. Would like to get this back to its owner if they can provide a correct description and serial number (I will be calling VanMoof’s store when they open this morning, not sure if they can track down the owner, though).
If you’re missing an e-bike that matches the description, email us and we’ll connect you.
(Friday sunrise – photo by Stewart L.)
Here’s what’s happening, mostly from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar (where you’ll find even more):
NO SSV CLOSURE: First, a major traffic note – the Spokane Street Viaduct (continuation of West Seattle Bridge between 99 and I-5) is fully open this weekend; no work because of the rainy forecast.
GARAGE/YARD SALES: See what’s listed today in the WSB Community Forums.
SATURDAY GROUP RUN: Meet at West Seattle Runner (2743 California SW; WSB sponsor) at 8 am for the regular Saturday morning run.
ALSO AT WEST SEATTLE RUNNER: 8 am also brings the kickoff of the Full Fit marathon-training program.
BIG BLUE TRUCK: Third weekend of the Northwest Center‘s donation-dropoff truck‘s return to West Seattle! You’ll find it outside WaFd Bank (4102 California SW). Our calendar listing has info on what items the truck will accept. 9 am-5 pm.
FUND RUN 5K, WITH TRAFFIC ALERT: 9 am, the Salvation Army (9050 16th SW) presents this fundraising 5K, with a 1K option. SW Barton will be closed from 8th SW to 16th SW as part of the course.
HEAVILY MEDITATED: New location for free community meditation, 9 am at Schmitz Preserve Park (5551 SW Admiral Way).
TAKE A HIKE! 9:30 am, the free monthly guided hike in the West Duwamish Greenbelt begins – south end of Pathfinder K-8 lot (1901 SW Genesee); more info in our calendar listing.
DELRIDGE FARMERS’ MARKET: Go get fresh food from growers and makers – 10 am-2 pm, the market’s fourth season offers produce, plants, condiments, prepared food, more! (9421 18th SW; WSB sponsor)
WALKING FOR WELL-BEING: You’re invited to join others taking a walk in Lincoln Park (meet at 47th/Fauntleroy), 10 am.
SSC GARDEN CENTER, WITH THE OTTER PUP: Summer gardening season isn’t over yet – and fall’s in view – add something new! Student-grown plants await you at the north end of the South Seattle College (6000 16th SW; WSB sponsor) campus, 10 am-3 pm. Plus: The Otter Pup is open by the center, with coffee, ice cream, and other treats!
ARTISTS’ SECONDS SALE: 10 am-2 pm at 3512 SW Charlestown, West Seattle artists’ seconds sale with Yardia and Honeyberry Studios. More info in our calendar listing.
FREE WRITING GROUP: 10:30 am in West Seattle, registration required – see full details in our calendar listing.
MORNING MUSIC: 10:30 am-noon at C & P Coffee (5612 California SW; WSB sponsor), Marco de Carvalho and Friends perform. Info about Marco’s music is here.
EMERALD CITY ROMANCE AUTHOR & READER EVENT: As previewed here, dozens of romance authors are gathered in one place for an event fans will love – VIP ticketholders get in at 11, general-admission ticketholders at noon, Brockey Center at South Seattle College (6000 16th SW; WSB sponsor), event continues until 5 pm. Ticket link and more info in our calendar listing.
FAMILY READING TIME: Every Saturday at 11 am at Paper Boat Booksellers (6040 California SW).
HIGHLAND PARK SPRAYPARK OPEN: Spraypark season continues – open 11 am-8 pm, free, every day. (1100 SW Cloverdale)
FREE COOL TREAT FOR YOUR PUP: Treat your dog to something tasty and free! Noon-3 pm at All the Best Pet Care (4722 Fauntleroy Way SW; WSB sponsor), bring in your dog for a free frozen treat!
POSTCARDS 4 DEMOCRACY: Noon at C & P Coffee (5612 California SW; WSB sponsor), bonus weekly session of long-distance advocacy, drop-ins welcome.
SOPASUPA: The South Park Summer Party is happening at and around the heart of South Park, 14th Avenue S./S. Cloverdale, noon-9 pm, with live music, beer garden, food trucks, kids’ activities, Lucha Libre wrestling, more. The schedule’s in our calendar listing.
COLMAN POOL: Open noon-7 pm on the Lincoln Park shore – find the session schedule online. (8011 Fauntleroy Way SW)
LINCOLN PARK WADING POOL OPEN: Also at Lincoln Park, the season continues through Labor Day for the only 7-days-a-week wading pool in West Seattle, noon-7 pm, in the central upper part of the park near the north play area. (8011 Fauntleroy Way SW)
HIAWATHA WADING POOL’S LAST DAY: Last day of the season today, noon-5:30 pm. (2700 California SW)
LOG HOUSE MUSEUM OPEN: The home of West Seattle history is open for your visit, noon-4 pm. (61st/Stevens)
WEARABLE ART POP-UP: Tucker Willow is at Alki Arts (6030 California SW), noon-5 pm today.
VIETNAMESE CULTURAL CENTER: The center is open to visitors noon-3 pm, as explained here. (2236 SW Orchard)
VISCON CELLARS TASTING ROOM/WINE BAR: Tasting room open – wine by the glass or bottle – 1-6 pm at Viscon Cellars (5910 California SW; WSB sponsor).
NORTHWEST WINE ACADEMY TASTING ROOM/WINE BAR: The tasting room/wine bar is open 1-6 pm with student-produced wines and “affordable eats” at the north end of the South Seattle College (6000 16th SW; WSB sponsor) campus.
NEPENTHE’S WALK-IN MASSAGE CLINIC: 3-5 pm, show up at Nepenthe (9447 35th SW) with a specific problem to be addressed by massage, and you’ll get a free (gratuities appreciated) trial of their work.
FONTAINES D.C. LISTENING PARTY: 5 pm at at Easy Street Records (4559 California SW), be the first to hear Fontaines D.C.‘s new album “Romance.” Free, all ages, bar open for 21+.
GRIEF-RELEASE DANCE PARTY: Help A Sacred Passing recover from a repair bill by joining this fundraising dance party, 6 pm in South Park. Ticket info in our calendar listing. (836 S. Kenyon)
LIVE MUSIC AT THE COFFEEHOUSE: Guitar Gil at C & P Coffee (5612 California SW; WSB sponsor), 7-9 pm, no cover, all ages.
ALL-AGES OPEN MIC: 7-10 pm at The Spot West Seattle (2920 SW Avalon Way)
LIVE AT THE SKYLARK: Coral Moons with Hit It! at The Skylark tonight, 7 pm doors, 8 pm music, $15 at door. (3803 Delridge Way SW)
REVELRY ROOM DJ: 9 pm, DJ Element. (4547 California SW)
JARAY’S DJ: 9 pm, DJ Buzsy at Jaray’s Lounge (2216 SW Orchard).
KARAOKE AT THE PIZZERIA: Saturday nights, you can sing at Talarico’s Pizzeria (4718 California SW), starting at 10 pm.
West Seattle event coming up? If the community’s welcome, your event belongs on our calendar! Please email info to westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
Sent by Hillary:
A locked 2011 sky-blue Hyundai Sonata, license plate AF8321, was stolen at 7:47 PM tonight in the 6900 block of 37th Ave SW. Four young men were involved, all wore masks, but from what was visible, they appeared Caucasian, age 16-20.
While one, dressed in all black with a hoodie and mask rushed toward the car to gain entry, the other three rolled up in a Kia (2019, white – has been reported stolen) and intimidate the onlooking neighbors. The Hyundai was quickly entered, hotwired, and the entire group fled.
Please send any info to SPD under case number 24-230571.
SUNDAY UPDATE: Commenter Brian notes below that this car was found outside West Seattle, used in a crash-and-grab business burglary.
9:39 PM: Police are investigating gunfire in High Point and trying to determine whether anyone is injured – an SFD ‘scenes of violence’ response has been sent to the 6300 block of 30th SW just in case. One person who says their car has bullet damage is reported to be waiting at the Southwest Precinct to speak with police. All this comes after multiple 911 calls reporting what sounded like gunfire, and police are working to sort it out. Updates to come.
9:43 PM: Still no victim found, but police report finding at least one shell casing “on the sidewalk.”
10:14 PM: Officers have reiterated that they found the evidence of gunfire in the 6300 block of 30th SW.
ADDED THURSDAY: Police have posted a summary of this incident including more specifics:
At 2128 hours, SW Patrol responded to numerous calls of shots heard in the High Point neighborhood. Initial calls indicated that a victim may have been on the ground not moving. Witnesses reported an unknown make vehicle fleeing the scene westbound in the alley and a separate subject running southbound on 29 Ave SW. An uninvolved victim drove to the Southwest Precinct and reported their vehicle had been struck by gunfire at 29 Ave SW and High Point Dr SW. There were no injuries to this caller. Officers located a single scene in the 6300 block 30 Ave SW where a total of 11 FCC’s were on the sidewalk. Two FN 5.7×28 and nine .40 FCC’s were recovered from this location.
More speed cushions are in the works for West Seattle, and this time they’re not at the beach. SDOT sent us a list of projects they plan to build by year’s end as part of the Safe Routes to School program, aimed at making it “easier for students to walk and bike to school.” The descriptions are from SDOT:
SW TRENTON TRAFFIC CALMING
To support Chief Sealth International High School and Denny International Middle School students, we’ll install traffic calming on SW Trenton St between 25th and 29th. It will include “speed cushions” and “paint and post” bulbs to improve the visibility of the crossing at Trenton/26th – next to Westwood Village.
Last year, SDOT installed an all-way stop at 25th/Trenton, followed by speed cushions in the CSIHS vicinity on SW Thistle.
DECORATIVE CROSSWALK AND ALL-WAY STOP AT DENNY IMS
Denny students held a design contest for a decorative Community Crosswalk in front of their school on Kenyon.
The crosswalk marks the central entrance to the school and will be installed with an all-way stop.
PERMANENT ‘SCHOOL STREET’ ON GENESEE HILL
We’re making the Genesee Hill Elementary School Street permanent. Both entrances to the School Street will feature more durable signage, painted curb bulbs, and art. Genesee Hill students designed the pavement art that crews will install on SW Dakota St to support a safe and welcoming school environment.
23RD SW WALKWAY
Connecting between Louisa Boren STEM K-8 and the newly redeveloped Delridge Wetland Park, we’re installing a walkway with a planter strip and trees on the west side of 23rd Ave SW.
SDOT’s website lists a few other Safe Routes to School plans for West Seattle but notes they’re “paused pending funding.”
Two reports in West Seattle Crime Watch:
MULTIGENERATIONAL SHOPLIFTING: The report is from Jennifer at My Three Little Birds:
Hoping this might help other small businesses. I borrowed these photos from Doll Parts Collective. This large group of 3 families came into our store (THREE LITTLE BIRDS) as well as Doll Parts down the road. The kids trashed the store causing complete chaos while the women distracted the staff with questions and requests.
In the meantime the 7 or so kids left one by one stealing many items from our store. Definitely an organized crime. They had clearly done this before. Sharing everywhere. I know the police won’t do much, but maybe getting the photos out will prevent this from affecting another small business. We are so stunned, violated and disheartened today. … They stole a really expensive stroller system, toys, and clothing. They work quickly and seemed to know in advance what they were taking. At Doll Parts they also went through the employee’s purse and wallet. The police officer helping today says they tell small businesses to never allow large groups in the store all at once because of this.
We’ll add the police-report # when we get it.
MINI-MART BREAK-IN: We requested this report from police the day it happened, Tuesday, and just got it today. They responded to the 41st/Admiral mini-mart around 2:16 am after a report that a store manager or owner checked their camera following a call from their alarm company and saw “front door smashed and cigarettes all over.” They subsequently confirmed that someone had broken in by smashing the front glass with a large rock; the burglar(s) took “several items of merchandise.” Video of the burglary was provided to police later but the report summary provided to us did not include a description.
(WSB photo, Monday)
Back on Monday, we reported on a fire that damaged three buildings at Full Gospel Pentecostal Federated Church in North Delridge. The next day, as we noted in an update at the end of the original report, SFD announced the fire was accidental. Readers have asked how to help the church recover; today, District 1 City Councilmember Rob Saka‘s newest newsletter has suggestions. He writes:
… Church leadership are looking at the availability for an alternative site for their Sunday service and they will be issuing community notifications soon. The leadership shared: “Our greatest joy would be to see the community of supporters in person and their best donation is the time taken in human fellowship.”
Monetary donations can be sent electronically to the Church’s Cash App log-in: #FullGospel5071, or Zelle, log in fgpfcf@gmail.com. Checks may be mailed to: Full Gospel Pentecostal Federated Church, c/o P.O. Box 232 Renton, WA 98057.
{Note: Other types of donations are welcomed, but the capacity to store them is currently very limited at this time.}
No one was injured by the fire. We spoke at the scene with someone from the church who told us it hit doubly hard because they were already grieving, having just hosted a memorial service two days earlier for a longtime member.
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