West Seattle, Washington
24 Sunday
Another garage burglary resulting in an e-bike theft. This one was reported by Julie:
This was stolen out of my garage on Alki on Sunday night. RadTrike electric tricycle, gray. (Stock photo) It was brand new. They used bolt cutters to cut the lock off. They don’t have the key to turn on the battery. It’s a long shot but I’d love to get it back. 24-935601 police report.
11:02 AM: Just texted by Kersti Muul: “There’s a humpback whale that’s been slowly making its way north this morning. It’s now getting close to the Fauntleroy Ferry Lanes. Close to shore.” Please let us know if you see it!
3:33 PM: Kersti also let us know about four orcas southbound in the Bainbridge ferry lanes about half an hour ago. An Orca Network commenter says they’re now off Blake Island and have flipped to head northbound.
(Art on Alki, photographed by Stewart L.)
Here’s our list of what’s happening for the rest of your Thursday, mostly from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
SOUTH SEATTLE COLLEGE GARDEN CENTER: If you need plants, the center is open Thursdays-Saturdays 10 am-3 pm, north end of the South Seattle College (6000 16th SW; WSB sponsor) campus. Annuals, perennials, sun, shade, natives, edibles, ground covers … wide variety!
SPRAYPARK: Highland Park Spraypark (1100 SW Cloverdale) is open every day through Labor Day, 11 am-8 pm, free.
COLMAN POOL: You can swim today in this outdoor heated-salt-water pool on the shore at Lincoln Park (8011 Fauntleroy Way SW), noon-7 pm – session times are on the Colman Pool webpage.
LINCOLN PARK WADING POOL: Also at Lincoln Park, the 7-day-a-week wading pool is open today noon-7 pm, in the central upper part of the park near the north play area.
DELRIDGE WADING POOL: This wading pool is open today, next to Delridge Community Center, noon-5:30 pm. (4501 Delridge Way SW)
HIAWATHA WADING POOL: And this pool is open today too, next to Hiawatha Community Center, noon-5:30 pm. (2700 California SW)
WEST SEATTLE UKULELE PLAYERS: All levels welcome to this weekly 1 pm gathering. Email westseattleukuleleplayerswsup@gmail.com for info on where they’re playing today.
NORTHWEST WINE ACADEMY: Tasting room/wine bar open Thursdays-Saturdays 1 pm-6 pm, north end of the South Seattle College (6000 16th SW; WSB sponsor) campus. Food too – stop by to sip and nosh!
STRONG BODIES, STRONG BONES: 2:30 pm yoga class at what’s now the Center for Active Living (4217 SW Oregon).
HPCS FOOD-TRUCK VISIT: Every Thursday, 4-8 pm, Highland Park Corner Store (7789 Highland Park Way SW) gets a food-truck visit. Tonight it’s Vandalz.
VISCON CELLARS: The West Seattle winery’s tasting room/wine bar is open 5-9 pm (5910 California SW; WSB sponsor) for wine by the glass or bottle.
LOG HOUSE MUSEUM RECEPTION: 6-8 pm, visit the Log House Museum (61st/Stevens) for the closing reception celebrating its award-winning Longfellow Creek exhibition, as previewed here.
WALKING FOR WELL-BEING: Meet at 6 pm at 47th/Fauntleroy for a group walk in Lincoln Park – details in our calendar listing.
WESTIES RUN CLUB: Meet at Good Society (California/Lander) at 6 pm for a 3-mile run.
ADMIRAL MUSIC IN THE PARKS: Second of this year’s three free outdoor concerts presented by the Admiral Neighborhood Association, 6:30 pm, California Place Park (California/Hill), featuring Michael Pearsall and Westside Pretenders. Bring your own chair/blanket, and bring a donation for the Admiral Church food drive if you can!
HIGHLAND PARK RUN CLUB: 6:30 pm, meet at Highland Park Corner Store (7789 Highland Park Way SW) for a 3-mile run through the neighborhood. (Walking option, too!)
BLUES NIGHT: 6:30-9 pm at The Spot West Seattle (2920 SW Avalon Way), every Thursday you can listen to the blues.
TRIVIA: 7 pm at Burger Planet (9614 14th SW).
Planning an event that should be on our calendar and in our daily preview lists? Please email info to westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
Before we get to what’s happening for the rest of today/tonight, we’re previewing a weekend event whose organizeRs are sponsoring WSB this week to get the word out – Saturday’s Soulfest block party, back for another year!
Soulfest began on Capitol Hill in 1997 and has since evolved into a unique music festival that celebrates talented artists, soulful tunes, and an electrifying atmosphere. Join us on July 27th, 2024, in the heart of West Seattle for an unforgettable experience filled with live music, delicious food, and great vibes.
Featured Artists
Aurora Avenue Band
A Seattle-based Indie-pop rock band formed in 2020. Known for their catchy melodies, upbeat rhythms, and J-pop influences, Aurora Avenue is set to bring an energetic performance.Harmonious Funk
This 7-piece band from Seattle blends classic funk, soul, and R&B. With over 10 years of experience, they have performed all over the Pacific Northwest, delivering groovy tunes that get everyone dancing.DJ Kipprawk
Seattle’s own DJ Kipprawk will take over the turntables. With over 25 years of experience, DJ Kipprawk is known for his eclectic mix of music and his ability to get the crowd moving. Expect an exciting ’90s Dance & Singalong session!DJ Derek Moon
Owner of Revelry Room, Derek’s blend of talents and knowledge brings a unique energy to any event. He loves West Seattle, and Revelry represents the achievement of a long-held goal. Get ready for a fantastic set that showcases his passion for music and community.On the Menu
Get ready for a mouthwatering culinary experience crafted by our friends and family. Indulge in Southern favorites like:
● BBQ Pork Shoulder
● Joe’s Fried Chicken
● Mac n Cheese
● Hotlinks
● Cornbread
● Tater Tots
● The original Seattle Dogs from Hotdogjoe’sGet ready to savor the best party food ever!
Gates open at 4 pm in the 6300 block of 46th SW; food starts at 4:30. The full schedule is in our calendar listing. Tickets are available at soulfestblockparty.com.
6:01 AM: Good morning! It’s Thursday, July 25.
WEATHER + SUNRISE/SUNSET TIMES
Becoming sunny, high in the low 70s. Today’s sunrise was at 5:39 am, while sunset will be at 8:52 pm.
(Tuesday sunset, photographed by Theresa Arbow-O’Connor)
TRANSIT NOTES, WITH METRO FLEX
Metro Flex – Fourth day for this on-demand service in Delridge, starting a two-year pilot. Here’s how it works.
Metro buses – Regular schedules; check for advisories here.
Water Taxi today – Regular schedule. Check the real-time map if you need to see where the boat is.
Washington State Ferries today – 2 boats on the Triangle Route, and the unscheduled third boat may be available. Check that link before you sail.
ROAD WORK
*The Spokane Street Viaduct resurfacing project is about to start, first with overnight lane closures, then with several all-weekend one-direction closures. Here’s the announcement.
*The Admiral Way Bridge seismic project is in progress. Fairmount Avenue is closed under the bridge for the duration of the project, likely into early 2025.
*SDOT’s 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.
SPOTLIGHT TRAFFIC CAMERAS (West Seattle Bridge cameras are back but some others remain out)
High Bridge – Here’s the main camera:
Low bridge: Here’s the main view:
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.
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!
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
One notable achievement of Tuesday night’s Transit Town Hall: A few of the local business owners facing likely relocation because of light rail got a very public chance to put Sound Transit reps on the spot.
That happened during the live Q&A comprising almost half the two-hour event. As shown in our first report Tuesday night, the event – presented by the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce and 34th District Democrats – began with an ST recap of project planning, from 2016’s ST3 vote to the current status, awaiting the Final Environmental Impact Statement “in the late third quarter,” which will be followed by a final vote on routing/station locations.
Then it was time for Q&A – both pre-submitted and asked live. We’ll start with the latter. First, video of the in-person Q&A:
The most pointed exchanges were with business owners facing relocation, including Erin Rubin of Mode Music Studios (WSB sponsor) and nonprofit Mode Music and Performing Arts, which serve hundreds of students.
(WSB photo: Mode’s Erin Rubin, with moderator Jordan Crawley)
Rubin recounted waiting for a promised reply from ST real-property director Faith Roland – one of the panelists – that never came, and made a request that she’s made to ST before: Why can’t she get an evaluation from ST now rather than having to wait for the official vote on the Delridge station location that will almost certainly displace her business? Starting the resource-providing conversation now, she said, would “make us feel more secure.”
8:30 PM: For the second time today, Seattle Fire sent a water-rescue response to the waters off Fauntleroy – this time to the Lincoln Park vicinity, after a report of a person in the water in trouble. SFD says “the patient was rescued from the water by a civilian vessel. A fire boat now has the patient and is bringing them to shore to be evaluated.”
ADDED EARLY WEDNESDAY: We’re still waiting for followup information from SFD, but meanwhile, we listened back to archived incident audio; an Argosy Cruises boat picked up the person, who was then transferred to the fireboat. No hint of circumstances or whether this had any link to the earlier incident; we hope to know more this morning.
9:59 AM: SFD tells us the person rescued is a 65-year-old man who had been paddleboarding. After SFD brought him to shore, he was taken to a hospital via AMR ambulance. And below are more details from a commenter identifying themselves as the captain of the Argosy boat that rescued him.
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
Since Seattle Public Schools superintendent Dr. Brent Jones decided not to go public with an expected list of school closures/consolidations until September, it’s become a summer of waiting, and dreading, for many involved with the district – staff, students, families. One SPS employee in attendance at School Board Director Gina Topp‘s monthly community-conversation meeting, seeing coworkers and students at summer school, described it as “waiting for a giant hammer to fall.”
Anticipation of, and concern about, what’ll be in the proposal dominated Topp’s meeting, held online a week ago (she switches up formats, locations, days, and dayparts in hopes of increasing accessibility). The director herself, in her first year on the board, representing a district including West Seattle and most of South Park, repeatedly described herself as “disappointed” in the delay, particularly because it will result in a condensed public process between the time the announcement is made and the time the board will have to vote on any closures to take effect in the ’25-’26 school year.
Topp started the meeting with a few updates, including the board’s recent vote to finalize the budget for next school year.
A 22-year-old man is in the King County Jail for the ninth time in nine months after his arrest early today following a short-lived fire-engine theft in West Seattle. According to information we’ve obtained from SFD and SPD, an SFD engine was on a medical call at the Arrowhead Gardens senior-living complex, dispatched just after 3 am, when “a witness called regarding a man that reportedly rode a scooter up to a Fire Engine, entered it, and drove away with lights and sirens activated.” He didn’t get far, police say: “After starting the vehicle, (the thief) failed to deactivate the parking brake and was only able to drive around the corner.” Police arrested the suspect a short time later. SFD adds, “The engine was quickly returned to the crew, and the patient received the care they needed.” (The SFD incident log shows it would have been South Park-based Engine 26.) The suspect was booked into jail for investigation of vehicle theft. The jail log shows he has eight previous bookings dating back to last October – most ranging from two to five days at a time, except for the most recent, from June 20th to July 1st, related to two stolen-vehicle cases in which he was charged last year; we haven’t dug through the case-specific documents yet but both of those cases appear to be still making their way through the system, with hearings in early August. Court files do not appear to show any felony convictions on his record.
That’s one of the photos Tom Trulin sent last week, showing significant progress on the years-overdue rebuild of the Lincoln Park South Play Area. When we published an update last week, Seattle Parks told us they hoped to have more information “early (this) week” on when the playground would open. So we asked for an update, and received this reply: “The play area is still anticipated to be completed by the end of the month – no set date for opening.” (The month ends one week from today.) It’s been closed for seven years.
From Josh:
The Dakota building along California Ave (4116 California Ave SW) had a break-in this weekend. They took our garage door off the tracks and broke three of our doors. There were four suspects and their license plate was captured. They broke into a car, an electrical room and stole items.
According to a summary that Josh forwarded, compiled by building management, this likely started around 4:45 am Sunday:
Camera in lobby shows Suspect #1 enter the lobby via the elevator at 0454. He walks to the door from the lobby to the garage, sets down his backpack and takes out a 24-30 nch bar. Uses the bar to wrench open the door handle. The door did not unlock. He picks up an Amazon package from a counter in the lobby and exits via the front doors at about 0456.
Camera in alley shows Suspect #1 walking SB in the alley from north of the building at 0500. At 0501 he uses something, possibly same tool, to pry the garage gate off its track far enough to squeeze through. He prowls around the garage for several minutes … During this time he probably used his bar to wrench open the door to the electrical room. The contents of the Amazon package were opened and left on top of a cart in a bicycle storage area. A bicycle from that area was moved to a parking space about 20 feet away.
One burglar then was shown checking car doors and opening a resident’s car trunk before going through some items stored in another parking space, subsequently carrying two totes into the garbage room and rummaging through them.
Suspect #1 left via the garbage room double doors at 0515 and walked SB toward SW Genesee St. Suspect #1 Description: Black or Hispanic Male; 20’s to 30’s; average build. Wearing gray pants and a gray hoodie with “All Hustle No Handouts” on the front. Carried a blue or black backpack.
Josh says managers are still working on providing the video but did circulate this image of that burglar:
Video also shows a car associated with the three other suspects, “a silver or gray compact, possibly a Hyundai,” license CLE2—. They are described as:.
Suspect #2; White or Hispanic Male; 30’s; average build. Wearing gray pants and dark gray hoodie and black baseball hat; white sneakers. Does not appear to be the original suspect (#1).
Suspect #3; Unknown race male or female; heavy set; orange puffy coat over a white shirt, blue pants.
Suspect #4; White male; Very long ponytail; heavy set, but not nearly as much as #3; wearing mask; dressed in greenish jumpsuit with patches visible.
They’re still assessing what was stolen. If you have any information, SPD case number is 24-201737.
(Today’s sunrise, photographed by Stewart L.)
Here’s our list of what’s happening today/tonight in West Seattle and vicinity, mostly from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
FOOD DRIVE: The almost-daily summer food-donation drive continues at Admiral Church (4320 SW Hill) – you can drop off nonperishable items until noon.
FREE SUMMER MEALS FOR KIDS: Five locations and varying times in West Seattle – here’s the list.
FISHER SCONE WAGON: Back in the area – right now, at McLendon Hardware in White Center (10210 16th SW) until 3 pm.
TODDLER READING TIME: 10:30 am Wednesdays at Paper Boat Booksellers (6040 California SW).
SPRAYPARK: Highland Park Spraypark (1100 SW Cloverdale) is open every day, 11 am-8 pm, free.
COLMAN POOL: The season continues for the outdoor heated-salt-water pool on the shore at Lincoln Park (8011 Fauntleroy Way SW), noon-7 pm – session times are on the Colman Pool webpage.
LINCOLN PARK WADING POOL: Also at Lincoln Park, the 7-day-a-week wading pool is open noon-7 pm, in the central upper part of the park near the north play area.
DELRIDGE WADING POOL: Also open today, next to Delridge Community Center, noon-5:30 pm. (4501 Delridge Way SW)
END-OF-LIFE PLANNING WORKSHOP: 2-3:30 pm, at Southwest Library (9010 35th SW):
Talking about the final chapter of your life has many benefits. One of the most helpful is understanding how to ensure the choices made about your health and quality of life are yours.
Join the team from Worry-Free Wednesdays to learn the four things you can do to ensure the end-of-life decisions you want made for yourself or your loved ones are well-documented and communicated.
They’ll show you how to build an end-of-life plan and then how to share it and update it once a year on a Wednesday of your choosing, living worry-free knowing your “house is in order” before you die.
Free; no RSVP needed.
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).
FREE ART CLASS: Watercolor mixed-media class, at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center (4408 Delridge Way SW), 6-8 pm.
FREE GROUP RUNS: You’re welcome on the weekly West Seattle Runner (2743 California SW; WSB sponsor) group run, which welcomes all levels – meet at the shop by 6:15 pm.
TRIVIA x 4: Four places to play 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).
WHITE CENTER PROJECT MEETING: As previewed here, King County Road Services has a community meeting at 6:30 pm to talk about designs for the 16th SW rechannelization project, at the White Center Food Bank HQ (10016 16th SW). You also can participate online – the link is here.
LIVE MUSIC AT THE LOCOL: 6:30 pm. 21+. Rotating performer slate. (7902 35th SW)
MUSIC BINGO: Play weekly at The Good Society (California/Lander), 7 pm.
YOGA IN THE PARK: Two West Seattle teachers lead Wednesday night outdoor-yoga events at Myrtle Reservoir Park (35th/Myrtle), 6:30 pm – follow the link for ticket info.
OUTDOOR YOGA AND MORE: Outdoor Kundalini Yoga, Breath Work, Meditation and Gong Bath, 7 pm at Solstice Park (7400 Fauntleroy Way SW), ticket info in our calendar listing.
SKYLARK OPEN MIC: Your turn for the spotlight! 7:30 pm signups for West Seattle’s longest-running open mic. (3803 Delridge Way SW)
Planning a show, presentation, meeting, open house, reading, tour, fundraiser, sale, discussion, etc., that’s open to the community? Please send us info so we can get it onto West Seattle’s only comprehensive event calendar! westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
A unique outdoor volunteering opportunity is open at Camp Long – you are invited to join the park’s Climbing Corps, helping more people enjoy its historic Schurman Rock! From Camp Long’s Matt Kostle:
We need folks to volunteer as part of our new Camp Long Climbing Corps program! This is an opportunity to get trained in the skill of belaying folks on a top rope rock climbing setup so you can help with our Tuesday Rocks series of free and open to the public rock climbing events on Tuesday evenings in August!
No prior experience is needed and this is an opportunity to volunteer supporting a really fun program which is often many kids’ first climbing experience and you can help them enjoy the magic that Schurman is as the oldest human-made rock climbing wall in the country! This is a new pilot program and we are hoping this allows us to expand our programming but we need community support to make it happen! Come be part of the Camp Long community and help others climb on a piece of history!
A training session for volunteers is planned next Tuesday (July 30). Sign up here!
6:00 AM: Good morning! It’s Wednesday, July 24.
WEATHER + SUNRISE/SUNSET TIMES
Sunny today, high in the mid-70s. Today’s sunrise was at 5:37 am, while sunset will be at 8:53 pm.
TRANSIT NOTES, WITH METRO FLEX
Metro Flex – Third day for this on-demand service in Delridge, starting a two-year pilot. Here’s how it works.
Metro buses – Regular schedules; check for advisories here.
Water Taxi today – Regular schedule. Check the real-time map if you need to see where the boat is.
Washington State Ferries today – 2 boats on the Triangle Route, and the unscheduled third boat may be back. Check that link before you sail.
ROAD WORK
*The Spokane Street Viaduct resurfacing project is about to start, first with overnight lane closures, then with several all-weekend one-direction closures. Here’s the announcement.
*The Admiral Way Bridge seismic project is in progress. Fairmount Avenue is closed under the bridge for the duration of the project, likely into early 2025.
*SDOT’s 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.
SPOTLIGHT TRAFFIC CAMERAS (West Seattle Bridge cameras are back but some others remain out)
High Bridge – Here’s the main camera:
Low bridge: Here’s the main view:
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.
1st Avenue South Bridge:
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!
3:43 AM: Seattle Fire has sent a water-rescue response by land and sea off the 9200 block of Fauntleroy Way SW, south of the ferry dock [map], and a search is under way. Police are assisting. Updates to come.
3:52 AM: SFD says this started after “a caller heard splashing and someone yell for help.” Neither the caller, nor the personnel on scene so far (including rescue swimmers and boat crews), has seen anyone in distress, though.
3:59 AM: According to dispatch, the U.S. Coast Guard is sending a helicopter to help look.
4:03 AM: The incident commander has told responders that since it’s been more than half an hour since the original report (the dispatch was at 3:21 am), they’re switching to “recovery mode,” so divers and rescue swimmers are ceasing their active searching in the water.
4:11 AM: With no sign of anyone in the water, responders are wrapping up the search and apparently canceling the request for USCG help too. A boat crew did find some clothing on a “small swim dock,” though, but nothing to indicate it was placed there recently.
9:31 AM: As a commenter points out, a USCG helicopter is out there now, and flight trackers show it’s been looping over the area. The Coast Guard does not have helicopters based in the immediate area; this one came from Port Angeles.
We counted about 60 people at the peak of tonight’s “Transit Town Hall” with four Sound Transit reps answering West Seattle light-rail questions in a forum organized by the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce and 34th District Democrats. We’re presenting our coverage in two reports, as the meeting served multiple purposes. First, Sound Transit made some news by offering an updated, narrower window estimating when the next milestone in the planning process, the Final Environmental Impact Statement, will arrive: “Toward the end of the third quarter,” said ST’s Leda Chahim. That suggests it’s about two months away. The FEIS is a necessary precursor to the Sound Transit Board finalizing a route and station locations. Meantime, the ST reps at the Town Hall began with a half-hour presentation recapping how the project got to its current point and what’s next – here’s our video:
The presentation was followed by moderator Jordan Crawley – active with both presenting organizations and with a business that may have to relocate, Alki Beach Academy – asking pre-submitted questions, and then opening the floor to attendees’ questions. We’ll cover all that in our second report tomorrow. But before we wrap up this short first report, we’re noting three rumors that were debunked during the Q&A period:
1) Will the early years of WS Link require a two- or three-seat for bus-to-light rail riders to get downtown? No, said Metro’s Chris Arkills, declaring that the West Seattle bus routes will NOT be restructured until the Ballard extension is complete too (currently projected for 2039, seven years after West Seattle), which will enable West Seattle light-rail riders to get downtown without transferring.
2) Will light-rail construction affect the West Seattle Bridge? One attendee asked this, saying he’d heard a rumor that the bridge could be closed for eight years by the project. Absolutely not, said the ST contingent; the project will build a separate light-rail-only bridge.
3) The same attendee said he’d also “heard” that Nucor is moving and if so, why isn’t light rail being routed through that site? The ST reps said that’s a false rumor too, that Nucor’s told them it’s staying put,
The most pointed moments of the Q&A came toward the end, when several owners of businesses likely to have to move confronted the ST reps about inadequate interaction regarding questions and requests, despite ST talking a good game about working with businesses. What they said, and how ST replied, will be part of our second report tomorrow. As for what’s next, besides the ST process continuing, Chamber board chair Lindsay Wolpa wrapped up the meeting by promising that her organization would coordinate more conversations about various aspects of the project.
(Photo courtesy West Seattle Chamber of Commerce)
As reported here last month, the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce has been fixing the “Welcome to West Seattle” sign along the southwest end of the West Seattle Bridge – and a texter tipped us today that the repairs looked to be complete. So we checked in with chamber executive director Rachel Porter, who sent this announcement:
The West Seattle Chamber of Commerce has repaired the iconic “Welcome to West Seattle” sign after months of work. For more than two decades, the “Welcome to West Seattle” sign along the Fauntleroy Expressway has served as a beacon for travelers and residents alike. The sign was damaged by an uninsured driver in 2023.
Longtime Alki resident Adah Rhodes Cruzen made a significant financial contribution to the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce, designated for the installation of a new “Welcome to West Seattle” sign and a sustainable maintenance plan in 2018. The donation was made on behalf of the estate of her late husband, Earl Cruzen, who died Jan. 23, 2017, at the age of 96.
Earl is recognized for bringing three groups together, the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce, the Junction Merchants Association and the West Seattle Trusteed Properties, as the Junction Development Committee. The “Welcome to West Seattle” sign, installed in September 1996, is one of the many legacy projects Earl and this group completed and was originally a simple wooden sign.
The Chamber received financial support from an anonymous donor who wanted to carry on the legacy of Adah and Earl Cruzen.
“The Welcome to West Seattle sign serves as more than just a landmark, it’s a symbol of community pride and our gateway to economic opportunities here in the West Seattle Peninsula,” said Rachel Porter, Executive Director of the West Seattle Chamber. “Welcoming visitors and residents with this iconic sign only enhances the West Seattle experience and encourages local businesses to feel a sense of belonging in our community.”
Sign repair and maintenance was done by Pacific Architectural Metals out of Georgetown. Pacific Architectural Metals is a premier custom metal fabrication shop for specializing in residential, commercial or artisanal project needs here in Seattle. “It was our pleasure to help get the West Seattle signage back in action. When we first saw the project in person, the frame was barely hanging on, a lot of panels were damaged or missing, and we needed to do a lot of work getting the structure straightened out and strong again. Now that the front panel is on, it finally looks like it should. We need to do some more work to get all the panels looking sharp and we are adding solar lighting to give it an additional pop in appearance. As a longtime West Seattle resident, we know how much exposure this sign gets and are happy to lend a hand making it right,” said James Reinhardt, Owner, Pacific Architectural Metals.
After a few more repairs are finalized, a ribbon cutting celebration will be held.
The Chamber has also told WSB that the repaired sign will have a vandalism-resistant coating.
Some of the problems mentioned in our previous story are beyond individual residents’ ability to fix – but there’s one simple-yet-mighty action anyone can take: Neighborhood solidarity and collaboration. That’s what the annual Night Out block parties are about, and we’re reminding you tonight that this year’s Night Out is now two weeks away: Tuesday, August 6. You can have a “block party” in many places – schools, apartment buildings’ community rooms, condo courtyards – but if you want to sign up to close your (non-arterial) street to vehicle traffic that night, SPD has a registration link here. Registration will offer you the opportunity to have yours on the citywide Night Out map. Deadline to register for street-closure permission is this Sunday, July 28.
P.S. We’ll be out taking photos on Night Out as usual – if we’d be welcome to stop by your block party for a photo, let us know where and when, westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
Moments before Mayor Harrell announced at noontime today that the city is working on getting 20 spaces at the regional SCORE misdemeanor jail, the City Council’s Public Safety Committee had heard about – among other things – the inability to book many misdemeanor suspects into the King County Jail. This, despite an 18-year contract with the county costing $22 million this year alone, which led to Council President Sara Nelson exclaiming, “I want my money back!”
That was toward the end of an information-packed committee meeting with an agenda also including Interim Police Chief Sue Rahr‘s report on her first two months on the job, plus the confirmation of Amy Smith as permanent Chief of CARE (the department that includes the city’s 911 center as well as a team of crisis responders). Here’s the video:
The meeting lasted two and a half hours, starting with public comment and Chief Smith’s confirmation (which committee members voted 4-0 to recommend to the full Council, which might vote as soon as next Tuesday), until an hour and 20 minutes in. That’s when Chief Rahr began her update (see the slide deck here).
Rahr said she’s been focused on four areas – staffing, technology, accountability, and the department’s “criminal justice partners.” The first, she said, is still “a crisis” – hiring remains “behind where we’d hoped to be”:
She presented an overview of a recent overnight shift citywide to show how those numbers translate operationally (note that the Southwest Precinct, West Seattle and South Park, had six officers that shift, four below what it should have):
We’ve been reporting for two years on the SDOT plan for resurfacing work on the Spokane Street Viaduct – the West Seattle Bridge section east of the Highway 99 overpass – and today, they’ve announced the dates for the closures that’ll be needed to get the work done – both lane closures and full closures of one side of the roadway. SDOT says work will start “as soon as” next Monday (July 29):
This work will require multiple weekend closures of all eastbound travel lanes and one weekend closure of the westbound travel lanes. There will also be overnight closures of one or two lanes at a time on weeknights this summer and fall.
These closures are necessary to repair damaged pavement which is prone to potholes and “alligator skin” cracking. Crews will repave the bridge deck and apply a synthetic polymer sealant to the road surface to help ensure it remains in good condition over time. Crews will also make drainage improvements and bridge deck repairs on the westbound lanes.
Weekend Directional Closures (schedule subject to change):
10 PM Friday, August 2 to 5 AM Monday, August 5: All eastbound lanes and one westbound lane closed.
10 PM Friday, August 9 to 5 AM Monday, August 12: All eastbound lanes and one westbound lane closed.
10 PM Friday, August 16 to 5 AM Monday, August 19: All eastbound lanes and one westbound lane closed.
10 PM Friday, August 23 to 5 AM Monday, August 26: All eastbound lanes and one westbound lane closed.
10 PM Friday, August 30 to 5 AM Tuesday, September 2: All westbound lanes closed.Weeknight Overnight Lane Reductions:
Crews will close one or two lanes at a time on weeknights between 10 PM and 5 AM starting as soon as July 29, 2024. These weeknight lane closures will continue through the summer and fall of 2024.
SDOT notes that the project “is funded by a $5 million federal grant from the Federal Highway Administration Bridge Improvement Program, which is funded in part by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and then passed to WSDOT’s Local Bridge Program.” (We first reported on that grant two years ago.) That’s not the entirety of the funding, though, as we reported in June that Combined Construction won the project with a bid of $7.5 million.
BUSINESS BURGLARY: Pecos Pit (35th/Fauntleroy; WSB sponsor) was broken into overnight. We went over to find out more after hearing about the burglary. They say someone got in through a window and broke into the safe.
Some cash was taken, and as a result, Pecos Pit is going cashless TFN. But they are open for business otherwise.
ART THEFT: Thanks to Kelly for the report on this: At least two artists report having artwork stolen from their booths at last weekend’s Alki Art Fair during the hours when the three-day festival was closed. One is Ula Nero, who is asking people to look for these two paintings:
In all the years I’ve done art shows all over Washington this has never happened to me or any other artists. Tents were cut and graffiti left as the reminder how awful people could be.
We’re checking on that case number (update: it’s 24-935480); meantime, 24-935511 is the case number for Richard Jahn, who says four of his paintings were stolen, including these two:
I also had 4 original paintings stolen from the Alki Art (Fair). I am devastated about it. Please pass on to everyone to be on the lookout for these paintings. Please call Seattle Police if you have any clues.
(WSB photo, last Thursday)
Thursday brings the second concert in the Admiral Neighborhood Association‘s three-show summer series, Admiral Music in the Parks. It’s free to attend – but if you can, this week, ANA asks you to bring a non-perishable food donation to support the all-summer-long Admiral Church-led food drive; you’ll find the donation bin at the ANA’s booth at the show. Last week, as shown above (and covered here), the first concert was at Belvedere Park, but this week it’ll be at California Place Park, at California/Hill, adjacent to the Admiral Church campus. This week is another double bill – Michael Pearsall and the Westside Pretenders. Bring a chair/blanket/picnic dinner (or order one!), 6:30 pm Thursday (July 25).
(Lunaria – ‘money plant’ – seed pods, photographed by Jerry Simmons)
Here’s what’s happening for the rest of today/tonight, as listed on the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar (send us your event any time – westseattleblog@gmail.com):
FREE SUMMER MEALS FOR KIDS: Our calendar listing has information on where and when kids 1-18 can get free food.
CITY COUNCIL PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE: Committee meeting starting at 9:30 am features an agenda including a 60-day update from interim Seattle Police Chief Sue Rahr, whether to confirm Amy Smith as CARE Chief, and a look at the criminal-justice ecosystem with those chiefs plus City Attorney Ann Davison. Watch via Seattle Channel.
POSTCARDS4DEMOCRACY: Advocacy from afar, 10:30 am-noon every Tuesday at C & P Coffee (5612 California SW; WSB sponsor).
SOUTH PARK SPROUTS GARDEN CLUB: Calling families with kids 6-12 – come help beautify the SP Library branch and learn about nature while you’re at it! Noon-1 pm; more in our calendar listing. (8604 8th Ave. S.)
COLMAN POOL: Continued daily operations for the outdoor heated-salt-water pool on the shore at Lincoln Park (8011 Fauntleroy Way SW), noon-7 pm – session times are on the Colman Pool webpage.
LINCOLN PARK WADING POOL: Also at Lincoln Park, the wading pool is open today, noon-7 pm, in the central upper part of the park near the north play area.
LOW-LOW TIDE: Out to -2.7 feet at 1 pm; from 11 am to 2:30 pm, find Seattle Aquarium volunteer beach naturalists at Constellation and Lincoln Parks.
CHESS CLUB: Tuesdays 1:30-3 pm, at the Center for Active Living (4217 SW Oregon). All levels welcome. (Questions? Email conwell@conwelld.net.)
CITY COUNCIL: 2 pm weekly meeting, with public comment in person or online – the agenda explains how. Watch via Seattle Channel.
DEMONSTRATION FOR BLACK LIVES: Long-running weekly sign-waving demonstration continues on the corners at 16th/Holden. 5-6 pm. Signs available if you don’t bring your own.
PLAY ALONG IN THE PARK WITH WSCO: 6 pm at Lincoln Park (8011 Fauntleroy Way SW), the third night this summer you can bring your musical instrument to play along with the West Seattle Community Orchestras – or just listen in! Off the north parking lot. Our calendar listing includes a link for players to preregister.
STORYTIME IN THE GARDEN: 6 pm Tuesdays all summer, bring the little one(s) to Delridge P-Patch (5078 25th SW) for storytime plus a garden activity.
SCRABBLE NIGHT: 6-10 pm tonight, play Scrabble at The Missing Piece (9456 35th SW).
FREE TRACK RUN: All runners welcome! Gather at West Seattle Runner (2743 California SW; WSB sponsor) for this free weekly run at 6:15 pm.
MAKE POTTERY: 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).
TRANSIT TOWN HALL: Moderated community forum for Q&A and info about West Seattle’s light rail plan, 7 pm at the Center for Active Living (4217 SW Oregon) – details and the form for advance questions are in our calendar listing.
BINGO AT THE SKYLARK: Play – free! – weekly Belle of the Balls Bingo hosted by Cookie Couture, 7 pm. (3803 Delridge Way SW)
TRIVIA X 4: Four places to play Tuesday nights – 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).
Event coming up? Are community members invited? Tell your West Seattle neighbors via our event calendar – please email the info to westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
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