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COUNTDOWN: 1 month until registration begins for West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day 2024
March 1, 2024 4:26 pm
|    Comments Off on COUNTDOWN: 1 month until registration begins for West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day 2024
 |   Community Garage Sale Day | West Seattle news

A few more people have asked us about West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day 2024 – so we’re stepping up the countdown. Today, we are exactly one month away from the start of registration. WSCGSD will be on Saturday, May 11, this year – always the second Saturday in May – and we open registration in early April. So on Monday, April 1, watch WSB for the announcement that registration has begun. If you’re new, WSCGSD – which we have coordinated since 2008, three years after it began – brings many sales large and small all over the peninsula, in garages and yards and courtyards and community rooms and schools and businesses and driveways and … (Here’s our coverage of last year’s WSCGSD.) We create a map/guide to all the sales, available a week in advance so you can start planning. So again, the dates to remember – April 1, registration begins; May 11, sale day!

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VIDEO: With church’s help, Fauntleroy YMCA is ‘not going anywhere,’ executive promises
March 1, 2024 1:57 pm
|      6 COMMENTS
 |   Fauntleroy | West Seattle news

By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

“Tell anyone that will hear you … we’re not going anywhere.”

At last night’s West Seattle/Fauntleroy YMCA annual-fund-drive kickoff dinner, that’s the “exciting news” that branch executive Cleveland King exhorted attendees to share. He was referring specifically to the Fauntleroy YMCA and the questions about its future that have been circulating since the Y considered closing it amid financial struggles.

King had one major announcement: Fauntleroy Church is giving the Y a rent break for the next three years, signing a lease through 2026, with what he later told WSB is a 33 percent discount. But that’s not all he said about Fauntleroy’s future – first, here’s video of his remarks:

King declared himself “the biggest advocate for keeping Fauntleroy YMCA open,” and acknowledged the Y had received both positive and not-so-positive suggestions in the two months since closure rumors sent a shock wave through the community.

Among the criticism has been the schedule for the location – just nine hours a week, weekday mornings at that. In an info sheet provided at last night’s event, the Y said it’s been unable to expand hours because the West Seattle/Fauntleroy membership and revenue still hasn’t recovered from the pandemic shutdown and restrictions: “During the pandemic, we lost 54% of our members and 60% of our membership revenue. Unfortunately, right now, we are still down. Currently, we have 30% fewer members, compared to the period before the Covid-19 pandemic.” The info sheet also notes staffing and operational costs have risen “substantially.” And it says the Y has tried to reduce expenses with limiting facility and building hours at both locations, as well as closing its Studio B space.

Nonetheless, King promised, they’re going to “work on” offering more at Fauntleroy, citing survey results showing community priorities including group fitness and teen activities. He again stressed that community participation is vital toward making that happen – three committees will meet on March 26 (as explained here).

But it’s not going to be all work and no play – he promised that the church and Y also will plan a centennial celebration, too, commemorating how long the two have been partners. “It’s a great day for the Y, the church, relationships … we’re sitting on 100 years and looking at another 100 years … tell anyone that will hear you, that we’re not going anywhere.”

Last night’s event overall was not meant just to drum up support for the Fauntleroy Y, but also to assist the branch’s main location in The Triangle.

Board chair Lisette Terry served as emcee and introduced several guest speakers who highlighted specific Y programs. Dr. Sonya Walker explained their “whole person health” offerings, including mental-health coaching as well as various ways of addressing physical health:

Aquatic director Sam Haisten said the pool program will be relaunching the “Safety Around Water” program:

Early-learning director Jill Mudge talked about their preschool programs, especially the relatively new center at Westwood Village, which she said is now serving more than 100 children, while explaining how scholarship money can help with the costs for some families. Perhaps the most enthusiastic speaker was youth basketball coach Mike Kreiger, who exclaimed, “What the YMCA does is magic!” as he spoke about kids getting their sports start in its programs.

One unscheduled speaker delivered the bottom-line call to action, standing up from a table just before the event ended. She asked attendees to “work at what we have to do to raise the money to support our beloved Fauntleroy,” adding, “You cannot be passive at this moment.” She recalled past drives that she said had brought in a quarter-million dollars (five times this year’s fund-drive goal). “We can do this again!” (Donations can be made online here.)

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FOLLOWUP: West Seattle’s new driver-licensing office now open
March 1, 2024 12:36 pm
|      11 COMMENTS
 |   Delridge | West Seattle news

(WSB photo, February)

We just double-checked, and yes, West Seattle’s new driver-licensing office is now open as scheduled at Delridge/Dakota, on the back side of the building. The state announced the new location February 1 and opened it today after a week-long closure for moving out of the old location east of Westwood Village (whose owner plans a redevelopment project). Here’s where to make an appointment.

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From cookies to nightlife, here are highlights for the rest of your West Seattle Friday
March 1, 2024 11:16 am
|    Comments Off on From cookies to nightlife, here are highlights for the rest of your West Seattle Friday
 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Springlike scene earlier this week outside Holy Family – photo by Gill Loring)

Delayed by breaking news, here’s our list of Friday highlights, mostly from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:

NORTHWEST WINE ACADEMY: Open 1-6 pm at South Seattle College (6000 16th SW; WSB sponsor).

GIRL SCOUT COOKIE BOOTHS: First day, as previewed last night – 12 locations with booths today, as early as 2 pm and as late as 8 pm.

FREE TODDLER GYM: 3-5 pm at the Salvation Army Center (9050 16th SW).

VISCON CELLARS: Tasting room/wine bar open – wine by the glass or bottle – 5-9 pm at Viscon Cellars (5910 California SW; WSB sponsor).

BRITTANY DAVIS AT EASY STREET: Record-release party and live performance, 7 pm at Easy Street Records (4559 California SW). Free, all ages.

SWEET, SWEET MUSIC: Music, poetry, and dessert! 7 pm at Fauntleroy Church (9140 California SW), $10 suggested donation, kids free.

LIVE MUSIC AT C & P: Tonight, you can enjoy the acoustic Circle of Songs at C & P Coffee (5612 California SW; WSB sponsor), 7-9 pm, all ages, no cover.

SHOWCASE AT THE SPOT: Fridays are Live Artist Showcase nights at The Spot West Seattle (2920 SW Avalon Way), 7-10 pm.

LIVE AT THE SKYLARK: 8 pm, Royal Blunder, Mourning Watch, Square Peg. $10 cover. (3803 Delridge Way SW)

DJ NIGHT AT REVELRY ROOM: Music 9 pm-1 am on Fridays! (4547 California SW)

MAKE IT LOUD! Skate to live music at Southgate Roller Rink (9646 17th SW), 9 pm-midnight, this week featuring KLED, No Edits, Laser Beans. $18 cover + $5 skate rental

LATE-NIGHT SINGING: 10 pm karaoke at Talarico’s Pizzeria (4718 California SW).

Something to add to our calendar? westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!

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UPDATE: Slide blocks trail on north Lincoln Park shore
March 1, 2024 9:38 am
|      9 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle parks

9:38 AM: Thanks to Desiree for the photo and report of a slide blocking Lincoln Park‘s north waterfront path, a short distance east of Colman Pool (and Bruun Idun the troll). We’re checking with Parks regarding cleanup plans.

3:15 PM: Christina Hirsch of Parks replied, “I can confirm that the trail will not reopen today. Our Heavy Equipment crew needs to get out there to do cleanup first.”

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UPDATE: West Seattle Water Taxi service resumes after 3-hour suspension following ‘minor engine fire’ on Sally Fox
March 1, 2024 8:37 am
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   King County Water Taxi | West Seattle fires | West Seattle news

(Photo sent by Jonathan)

8:37 AM: Thanks for the tips about the SFD response to the West Seattle Water Taxi dock at Seacrest. SFD says there were “no signs of active fire” so it reduced what was initially a large response.

(Added: Photo sent by Carolyn)

8:49 AM: All SFD units have left the scene. Metro says West Seattle Water Taxi service is canceled for the rest of the morning. The Sally Fox is still at Seacrest, its doors open.

(WSB photo)

9:05 AM: The crew won’t comment on what happened; the original dispatch was for a possible engine-room fire. We’re checking with Metro management for comment, including how this will affect service later in the day.

10:35 AM: Here’s the official statement via Metro spokesperson Elaine Porterfield:

A minor engine fire was detected and quickly extinguished at about 8 a.m. on the King County Water Taxi MV Sally Fox while at the Seacrest dock in West Seattle. Crew members quickly evacuated the one passenger on board and activated the automated fire suppression system. The fire was immediately extinguished. No injuries occurred and the Seattle Fire Department inspected the vessel and confirmed the fire was out. Four crew members were aboard.

The Port Engineer and U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) will inspect the vessel. Once the vessel is cleared to depart Seacrest dock, it will be brought back to Pier 48. It is anticipated that the King County Water Taxi the MV Spirit of Kingston will be brought in to resume West Seattle midday service.

11:04 AM: Water Taxi Watch tracker shows Sally Fox has left Seacrest, headed downtown.

11:29 AM: Metro says service is resuming with the 11:30 am run from downtown to West Seattle.

11:51 AM: As noted by a commenter, service has resumed with Doc Maynard, not Spirit of Kingston, though Metro’s Porterfield tells us the vessel assignment might change later.

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TRAFFIC, TRANSIT, WEATHER: March begins
March 1, 2024 6:03 am
|    Comments Off on TRAFFIC, TRANSIT, WEATHER: March begins
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

9 AM: As noted here, West Seattle Water Taxi service is suspended until some point later in the day because of what was reported as an engine-room fire, albeit short-lived, aboard the Sally Fox.

Earlier:

6:03 AM: Good morning! It’s Friday, March 1st.

WEATHER + SUNRISE/SUNSET TIMES

Mostly cloudy, breezy, and more “wintry mix” possible in today’s forecast, high in the mid-40s. Sunrise will be at 6:48 am, sunset at 5:55 pm.

TRANSIT NOTES

Metro today – Regular schedule; check 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 – The usual 2 boats on the Triangle Route. Check WSF alerts for changes, and use the real-time map to see where your ferry is.

SPOTLIGHT TRAFFIC CAMERAS

Delridge cameras: Besides the one below (Delridge/Orchard), cameras are also at Delridge/Genesee, Delridge/Juneau, Delridge/Henderson, and Delridge/Oregon.

High Bridge – the main camera:

High Bridge – the view from its southwest end (when SDOT points the 35th/Avalon/Fauntleroy camera that way):

Low Bridge:

1st Ave. S. Bridge:

Highway 99: – northbound side at Lander:

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 opening for vessel traffic.

If you see a problem on the bridges/streets/paths/water, please text or call us (when you can do that safely, and after you’ve reported to authorities if they’re not already on scene). Thank you!

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READER REPORT: Missing a Kuat bike rack?
February 29, 2024 10:07 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   Crime | West Seattle news

Sent by Johanna:

I found these parts of a Kuat bike rack behind my fence in the alley between 26th SW and 28th SW, 9400 block. They are quite expensive parts and I’m assuming taken off a stolen vehicle and dumped or some other nefarious circumstance. I’m hoping maybe their owner may see them on the blog so I can give them back even though they are just parts now.

If this might have been your bike rack, let us know and we’ll connect you.

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COOKIE TIME: Girl Scouts start selling outside West Seattle businesses Friday
February 29, 2024 7:47 pm
|      14 COMMENTS
 |   How to help | West Seattle news

Girl Scout Cookie fans, tomorrow (Friday, March 1) is the day – local scouts open “cookie booths” outside local businesses. According to the cookie finder on the Girl Scouts’ website, 12 West Seattle businesses host Scout troops’ cookie booths tomorrow afternoon and/or evening. But before we get to that list, the list of cookies (updated per commenters) is here – 9 flavors this year, including one that is gluten-free (Toffee-tastic), and one that is vegan (Thin Mints); halal and kosher info is here.

Now – here’s where you’ll find our area’s first round of cookie booths tomorrow, according to the Girl Scouts’ website:

Roxbury Safeway 2 pm-8 pm
Junction True Value 3 pm-5 pm
Husky Deli 3 pm-7 pm
Marination Ma Kai 4 pm-6 pm
Menchie’s 4 pm-6 pm
West Seattle Thriftway (WSB sponsor) 4 pm-8 pm
Easy Street Records 4 pm-8 pm
Trader Joe’s 4 pm-8 pm
Junction QFC 4 pm-8 pm
Westwood QFC 4 pm-8 pm
Admiral Safeway 4-8 pm
Junction Safeway 4-8 pm

If you can’t cookie-shop until the weekend, you’ll find additional locations and different hours Saturday and beyond. Cookie-booth season continues through Sunday, March 17; you can also buy online – if you search for cookie sales in your area, the search results will match you with a local troop from which you can buy online, as well as the nearest booths’ locations and times.

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WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Stolen black CR-V
February 29, 2024 5:51 pm
|      5 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | West Seattle news

That’s Rose‘s black 1999 Honda CR-V, plate CKU4036, stolen from 34th SW near West Seattle Elementary in High Point today. Police report number is 24-057258 – if you see this car, refer to that report when you call 911.

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Overnight overflow in Duwamish River after West Seattle pump-station malfunction
February 29, 2024 3:59 pm
|      6 COMMENTS
 |   Environment | West Seattle news

(Port of Seattle file photo of park near outfall that overflowed)

The King County Wastewater Treatment Division disclosed this afternoon that a pump-station malfunction caused a combined-sewer overflow into the Duwamish River during heavy rain overnight:

King County crews this morning stopped a combined sewer overflow that occurred overnight, caused by an electrical malfunction at a pump station. Employees initiated a cleanup by mid-morning.

The electrical malfunction — (compounded) by the heavy rainfall — caused a mixture of stormwater and wastewater to back up from maintenance holes and into two local businesses and overflow into the Duwamish River. Staff from Seattle Public Utilities discovered the overflow and alerted King County.

Crews from King County Wastewater Treatment Division responded just after 2 a.m. to the West Marginal Pump Station (7119 West Marginal Way SW). Crews determined that electrical equipment had malfunctioned and prevented the system from operating normally, causing sewer backups and the release of combined stormwater and wastewater into the river.

The combined flow was released from an outfall located near t̓ałt̓ałucid Park and Shoreline Habitat — formerly 8th Avenue South End Park [map] — along the south bank of the Duwamish River. County employees are working to determine the amount of combined sewer that flowed in the river. King County is working to repair the pump station equipment and clean up any affected property in the area.

The Wastewater Treatment Division reported the overflow to the Washington State Department of Ecology and is coordinating with Public Health – Seattle and King County to determine the impacts to public health, based on water quality testing results along the river. It is generally recommended that people avoid contact with local water bodies near a combined sewer overflow outfall for 48 hours following a discharge event.

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FOLLOWUP: Here’s what Metro told HPAC about proposed bus-stop changes
February 29, 2024 1:44 pm
|      5 COMMENTS
 |   Highland Park | Transportation | West Seattle news

(WSB photo, last week)

“We really bumbled out of the gate,” acknowledged Metro‘s Robbie Frankel at last night’s HPAC meeting, referring to how the proposed bus-stop closures in Highland Park/South Delridge were – and were not – initially communicated. As first reported here, the only initial notification was via paper notices posted at the stops, and they pointed would-be commenters to an email address that bounced. That emailbox – which apparently had been deactivated since the last time Metro gathered feedback on stops in this area – has since been reactivated, and Frankel said the feedback already has likely taken one pair of stops off the table for closure consideration: He says they’ve heard a lot about the importance of the SW Thistle stops, two of six stops proposed for changes on the original list.

Otherwise, Frankel stressed that the proposal is in the very early stages. As to why stop closures are being proposed at all, he said it’s because of the City of Seattle’s plan to give Metro money to beef up weekend/night service on Route 125, and to improve some of the stops – maybe adding shelters, benches, paved pads, etc. They wouldn’t want to waste that money on stops that might eventually be removed in a future Metro review of the route, so they stepped up the review (though otherwise their next look at local routes isn’t scheduled until 2026).

It was stressed to Frankel that 16th SW serves South Seattle College (WSB sponsor) and the community really wants to ensure the college is getting the support it needs to thrive, so that’s another reason to tread lightly with this route. It was also suggested that Metro will want to reach out to the 16th SW Safety Committee that’s been active in advocating for traffic calming and other concerns closer. Meantime, the extended deadline for comments is two weeks from today – March 14 – and you can email your feedback to busstopsw@kingcounty.gov.

P.S. More on the rest of last night’s HPAC meeting later.

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‘Healthy Streets’ weren’t supposed to remove parking. Alki Point will. Wildlife advocates have a problem with that.
February 29, 2024 11:40 am
|      153 COMMENTS
 |   Transportation | West Seattle news

(Updated photo: Constellation Park section of Alki Point Healthy Street, today)

By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

Two local wildlife advocacy organizations say the final design for the Alki Point “Healthy Street” – Beach Drive and Alki Avenue from 63rd to Alki Point – is an impediment to their work and the wildlife and people who benefit from it, as well as to Constellation Park visitors.

After what they say was a fruitless appeal directly to SDOT, Seal Sitters Marine Mammal Stranding Network and The Whale Trail are taking their case to the mayor and asking for community support in a new campaign they’re calling “Alki Point for All,” with an online petition. Both groups have historically used Constellation Park, along the Beach Drive section, extensively, Seal Sitters for responding to beached, sick, and/or dead marine mammals, The Whale Trail for assisting land-based viewing when orcas are in the area.

While the “Healthy Street” designation has been on the stretch for almost four years, what’s new is the final design, reported here in December, removing more than 60 on-street parking spaces, mostly to add a 10-foot-wide “walking/rolling lane” adjacent to the waterfront sidewalk. That was a major change from the design proposal on which SDOT gathered feedback a year earlier, which did not include major parking removal. Regarding their challenge now, the Alki Point for All coalition explains:

An SDOT representative has informed our organizations that SDOT will not be reconsidering our request to keep the existing beach-side parking spaces around Alki Point as well as the public vehicle access. … We are disappointed by this decision since it not only impacts our organizations but many others who come to these parks and rely on the existing parking configuration.

We have asked to meet with the Healthy Street project manager, but that meeting has not yet been scheduled by SDOT.

Our coalition met with Councilmember Rob Saka and his staff regarding this matter. In addition, we sent a letter to Mayor Bruce Harrell appealing this decision and asking that his office review the SDOT decision to designate Alki Point as a “Healthy Street” with very restrictive public access as well as removing sixty-seven beach side parking spaces around Alki Point.

We have established an online petition to allow the broader Seattle community to respond to the negative impacts this decision will have on public access to a premiere marine reserve and the city park. We invite West Seattle and the wider community to join us in voicing their concerns and join our campaign Alki Point For All!

The coalition points to this excerpt from SDOT’s most recent FAQ document regarding the Healthy Streets program:

(The question “Will the permanent Healthy Street take away parking spaces on my street?” is answered “No, permanent Healthy Streets will not remove any legal street parking spaces.”) What became “Healthy Streets” were originally announced in the early pandemic days as places where more people could walk, run, roll, etc. while safely “social distancing,” but were kept in place even after the pandemic ebbed. The Beach Drive section of Alki Point, however, was also an undeniable solution to a long-running problem about which nearby residents had complained for years – recklessness and noise related to driver gatherings – as acknowledged by police in 2020.

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New ‘Screenagers,’ YMCA kickoff, music, more for your West Seattle Thursday
February 29, 2024 9:54 am
|    Comments Off on New ‘Screenagers,’ YMCA kickoff, music, more for your West Seattle Thursday
 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Red-tailed Hawk, photographed by James Tilley)

Here’s what’s happening for the rest of your Thursday, mostly from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:

FREE PLAYSPACE: Drop-in space open at West Seattle Church of the Nazarene (42nd/Juneau) until noon.

FREE CHOWDER: Duke’s Seafood on Alki (2516 Alki Avenue SW; WSB sponsor) continues celebrating its reopening with a bowl of free chowder for any guest who asks. Open 11 am-10 pm.

FREE PIZZA: Pagliacci is giving away two slices per person, 11 am-3 pm today, if you have their app. (4449 California SW)

BRAIN HEALTH & WELLNESS: 1 pm at Senior Center of West Seattle (4217 SW Oregon). RSVP requested.

NORTHWEST WINE ACADEMY: Open 1-6 pm at South Seattle College (6000 16th SW; WSB sponsor).

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.

STRONG BODIES, STRONG BONES: 2:30 pm class at Senior Center of West Seattle (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 Project Pizza.

FREE ECO-ARTS CLASS: 4-7 pm at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center (4408 Delridge Way SW) – drop in!

WEST SEATTLE JUNCTION FC COMMUNITY MEETING: Got questions about the new team, its first season, or …? Drop in between 4:30 and 7 pm at Southwest Teen Life Center (2801 SW Thistle).

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.

WESTIES RUN CLUB: Meet at Future Primitive Beer Bar (2536 Alki SW) at 6 pm for a 3-mile run – more in our calendar listing.

YMCA FUND DRIVE KICKOFF: 6:30 pm at Fauntleroy Church Fellowship Hall (9140 California SW), as previewed here – RSVP requested.

NEW ‘SCREENAGERS’: The latest documentary in the series focuses on the messaging that students are getting about vaping, alcohol, and drug use. Free showing for anyone interested, 6:30 pm at West Seattle High School (3000 California SW).

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.

BLUES NIGHT: 6:30-9 pm at The Spot West Seattle (2920 SW Avalon Way), every Thursday you can listen to the blues.

JAZZ NIGHT AT MY NECESSITEA: 7-9 pm. (3237 California SW)

THURSDAY NIGHT TRIVIA: Burger Planet (9614 14th SW) in White Center now has Thursday night trivia at 7 pm – prizes!

Planning an event that should be on our calendar and in daily preview lists like this one? Email info to westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!

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GOT FURNITURE? West Seattle High School’s Student Council seeking some
February 29, 2024 9:22 am
|      6 COMMENTS
 |   How to help | West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

This request was sent by Malia from the West Seattle High School Student Council:

We’re trying to jazz up our student community room and we could really use some help finding furniture and decor due to budgeting.

We’re on the hunt for some furniture donations to make our student community room super cozy and welcoming. We want it to be a place where students can hang out, study, and just enjoy being together!

If anyone out there has some gently used chairs, decorative lights, tables, couches, etc., we’d be so grateful. We’d be happy to swing by and pick up any donations. If you need more info or have any questions, just reach out to me at maliahbarker@icloud.com.

We asked Malia for a few specifics. The community room is about 200 square feet and “what we’re focusing on finding at least is 2 couches and 2 living chairs. Other decor is much appreciated as well!”

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BIZNOTE FOLLOWUP: Bel Gatto now open in Fauntleroy
February 29, 2024 7:32 am
|      27 COMMENTS
 |   Fauntleroy | West Seattle news | West Seattle restaurants

7:32 AM: After two tips that Bel Gatto in Fauntleroy planned to open first thing this morning, we just went down to 9253 45th SW, and indeed, it’s open. This is the new bakery-and-more eatery in the space where The Original Bakery closed a year ago.

Proprietor Peter Levy of Chow Foods – which also operates Endolyne Joe’s next door – announced earlier this month that Bel Gatto (“a handsome cat”) was close to opening, and provided these details on what it’s offering.

Hours will be 7 am-7 pm for starters, seven days a week.

9:56 AM: A few amendments to that in the early going. We heard back this morning from Peter Levy, who explains, “We are not yet fully operational and will have a limited menu given that we are still without a ventilation hood. We hope to be in full swing by mid-March.” And thanks to Loren for sending a pic of a sign now posted saying Bel Gatto will be closed the next two Mondays (March 4 and 11), hoping for that hood installation on the second one, which will enable them to offer bombolini.

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TRAFFIC, TRANSIT, WEATHER: Leap Day Thursday
February 29, 2024 6:03 am
|    Comments Off on TRAFFIC, TRANSIT, WEATHER: Leap Day Thursday
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

6:03 AM: Good morning! It’s Thursday, February 29 – Leap Day.

WEATHER + SUNRISE/SUNSET TIMES

More rain in today’s forecast, possibly some wintry mix and/or even thunder, high in the mid-40s. Sunrise will be at 6:50 am, sunset at 5:53 pm.

TRANSIT NOTES

Metro today – Regular schedule; check 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 – The usual 2 boats on the Triangle Route. Check WSF alerts for changes, and use the real-time map to see where your ferry is.

SPOTLIGHT TRAFFIC CAMERAS

Delridge cameras: Besides the one below (Delridge/Orchard), cameras are also at Delridge/Genesee, Delridge/Juneau, Delridge/Henderson, and Delridge/Oregon.

High Bridge – the main camera:

High Bridge – the view from its southwest end (when SDOT points the 35th/Avalon/Fauntleroy camera that way):

Low Bridge:

1st Ave. S. Bridge:

Highway 99: – northbound side at Lander:

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 opening for vessel traffic.

If you see a problem on the bridges/streets/paths/water, please text or call us (when you can do that safely, and after you’ve reported to authorities if they’re not already on scene). Thank you!

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UPDATE: Xfinity outage reported, post-squall
February 28, 2024 10:37 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   Utilities | West Seattle news

10:37 PM: According to multiple texted reports, that big squall a half-hour or so ago left behind an Xfinity outage. We’ve heard from customers near 42nd/Andover and 42nd/Manning.

11:30 PM: One of our tipsters reports restoration.

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‘The medical bills for Steve’s care have started to come in’: Crowdfunding for West Seattle bicyclist’s widow
February 28, 2024 8:58 pm
|      36 COMMENTS
 |   How to help | West Seattle news | West Seattle people

(‘Ghost bike’ memorial at crash site – WSB photo from December)

Two months ago, 66-year-old Steve Hulsman was riding his bicycle in Arbor Heights when a 53-year-old man driving a car made a left turn and didn’t see him in time to stop. It was less than two hours later, according to the police report, when Mr. Hulsman died at the hospital. Now his widow is dealing with the bills, saying their coverage has been exhausted, and that the driver was uninsured. A friend asked us to write about her crowdfunding page, so we also looked into the status of the case. King County Superior Court and Seattle Municipal Court files don’t show any charges filed, so far, in the incident, though the officer who wrote the initial report noted that the driver “operated his vehicle in a manner that endangered a person.” As was first reported by Seattle Bike Blog, records show the driver had a suspended license and a history of DUIs, but officers said that at this scene there was no indication he was impaired. Meantime, SDOT has told us in past cases that they evaluate sites of traffic deaths for possible modifications; we asked them about this location, and a spokesperson replied, “We conducted review of the site at Marine View Dr SW and 46th Ave SW as part of our fatal-review process. We will carefully assess the findings and engage in discussions to determine the most appropriate next steps for this location.” We’ll continue following up. Meantime, Mr. Hulsman’s widow is also hoping that crowdfunding will help with the costs of a memorial for her husband and for bike safety projects, which were a passion of his. Here’s the link.

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SEATTLE TRANSPORTATION PLAN: Here’s what’s in it for West Seattle
February 28, 2024 5:34 pm
|      24 COMMENTS
 |   Transportation | West Seattle news

Most of West Seattle’s arterials get shoutouts in the newly released Seattle Transportation Plan, billed as the city’s long-term vision for people will get around over the next 20 years or so.

We reported several times last year on comment opportunities for the draft version of the plan; today, Mayor Harrell officially sent his recommended final version to the City Council for consideration. The SDOT announcement describes the plan as the “20-year vision for the future of Seattle’s streets, sidewalks, and public spaces.” In addition to philosophy and goals, it includes a list of dozens of potential projects meant to help achieve those goals.(You can see them in the “implementation strategy” section – 103 pages into the plan with more project-by-project details in Appendix A.)

The plan does not address funding – that’ll be in the spotlight within a few months, when the next transportation levy proposal is unveiled. Nor does it include specific dates for the potential projects. But it does offer prioritization.

Two West Seattle projects are listed in the “highest tier” of prioritization – 35th Avenue SW and “Fauntleroy Boulevard.” The latter is a project that was supposed to be in the nine-year transportation levy that’s expiring this year, shelved because of the possibility that light rail would follow the same path and lead to relatively new roadwork being torn up. The former is of interest because 35th SW got a significant amount of attention, including partial rechannelization, last decade. The overview of this potential project (19 pages into Appendix A) says:

This project will improve a major street that connects many West Seattle neighborhoods. This could include:

• Repaving portions of the road
• Redesigning the street to better support transit
• Repairing sidewalks and making it safer to cross the street with elements like extensions of curbs and better crossings
• Adding bicycle routes for people of all ages and abilities
• Enhancing access to destinations like shops, businesses, restaurants, and cultural centers in the area

The “middle tier” of prioritization includes projects for California SW, SW Alaska, and the south section of Fauntleroy Way (separate from the Triangle-area section involved in the “Fauntleroy Boulevard” plan). The rest of the list includes possible projects for 16th SW, SW Orchard/Dumar, Highland Park Way, Roxbury, the Alki Trail, and an Admiral Way project that’s definitely many years down the line – redirecting the RapidRide H Line to Admiral/Alki once West Seattle’s light-rail extension opens (currently projected for late 2032).

Again, the projects are just part of the plan. SDOT says things will get more specific when they create an “implementation plan” for the Transportation Plan next year; meantime, the City Council will be accepting public comment before voting on whether to accept the plan – council@seattle.gov, and public comment during a council meeting on March 5 (watch for the agenda here).

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Another anniversary of note: Nisqually earthquake, 23 years ago. Here’s one readiness reminder
February 28, 2024 3:48 pm
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 |   Earthquake | Preparedness | West Seattle news

Another anniversary to note today: 23 years since the 6.8 magnitude Nisqually Earthquake on February 28, 2001. The next big one could happen in a minute or a year or a century … so preparedness is always a good idea. We usually take this occasion to remind you of one simple thing: Learn and remember the location of your nearest Emergency Communication Hub. It’s where community volunteers will help coordinate information and resources, if an earthquake – or other major disaster – knocks out normal channels of communication. Here’s the West Seattle map:

Again, this is an all-volunteer effort, so if you don’t see a hub near you, it’s probably just because someone hasn’t volunteered to coordinate one! Here’s how. (Hub volunteers hold regular drills – here’s one we covered last year.)

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UPDATE: Power outage leaves some Westwood Village businesses in the dark
February 28, 2024 12:55 pm
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 |   Utilities | West Seattle news | Westwood

WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON: Thanks for the tip. A reader found a sign on the door at Westwood Village Marshall’s saying the store’s without power. The Seattle City Light map shows a 26-customer outage in the area, blamed on “equipment failure.” We went to the center for a quick survey and it appears that businesses north of QFC, on the east-facing side, are affected, so if you’re planning to go to one of the businesses in that area, try calling before you leave.

WEDNESDAY NIGHT: We asked SCL spokesperson Jenn Strang about the outage: “This appears to be an underground system issue. In order to fully and safely access equipment, we will need to take additional phases of power to the shopping center offline.” They delayed that a bit at the request of WWV management, but the outage appears to be resolved now.

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BIZNOTES: Moon Room reopens; Circa ‘birthday party’
February 28, 2024 12:47 pm
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 |   West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news | West Seattle restaurants

Two biznotes:

MOON ROOM REOPENS: After a two-week closure, Moon Room Shop and Wellness (WSB sponsor) has reopened and is awaiting your visit at 5902 California SW. The shop’s regular hours are Wednesday-Fridays 11 am-6 pm, Saturdays and Sundays 11 am-5 pm, Mondays-Tuesdays noon-5 pm. (Haven’t been to Moon Room yet? Here’s what they’re all about.)

CIRCA TURNS 26: Happy 26th anniversary to Circa (2605 California SW). They’re celebrating today/tonight by offering “birthday party” specials. Circa co-proprietor Gretchen tells WSB, “We are doing $15 Circa burger & fries, $5 Manny’s Pale Ale, and free funfetti birthday cake for all dine-in patrons all day and night as a thank you for supporting us all these years. We love west Seattle!” Circa is open until 10 pm tonight.

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