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WHALES: Southern Residents’ J-Pod in the area
February 21, 2024 2:38 pm
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | Whales

2:38 PM: After heading south this morning, whales from the Southern Resident orcas’ J-Pod are northbound again and right across the Sound from West Seattle, reports Kersti Muul. She says they’ve exited Colvos Passage (on the west side of Vashon) and are headed for the east side of Blake Island. Let us know if you see them!

3:51 PM: Gary says in comments that as of a few minutes ago, they were passing Alki Point, still northbound.

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READER REPORT: Fisher Scone truck in Admiral
February 21, 2024 2:18 pm
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news

Thanks to Laurie for the tip! If you want a taste of the State Fair without going to Puyallup, you can catch up with the Fisher Scones truck at Metropolitan Market (42nd/Admiral) in West Seattle until 4 pm today.

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UPDATE: 2 hurt in crash on Olson Place
February 21, 2024 1:06 pm
|      6 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

1:06 PM: SFD and SPD are headed for a crash reported toward the east end of the Roxbury corridor, on the Olson Place hill, just west of Arrowhead Gardens [map]. Avoid the area for a while.

1:08 PM: First arriving crews report it’s a two-vehicle crash, including “a truck on its side.”

1:27 PM: Thanks to Collin for the photo. No word so far on injuries, but no medic unit’s been sent, which suggests no major injuries – we’ll be following up with SFD.

2:20 PM: SFD has closed the call but Collin tells us the scene hasn’t cleared yet – next step is towing.

2:29 PM: Clear now!

ADDED WEDNESDAY EVENING: SFD says two people were hurt – a 47-year-old woman who was taken to a hospital by private ambulance, and a 62-year-old woman treated at the scene.

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VIDEO: City Councilmember Rob Saka puts his ‘King of Potholes’ nickname into action
February 21, 2024 11:52 am
|      36 COMMENTS
 |   Transportation | West Seattle news | West Seattle politics

(WSB photos/video)

If you’re going to be The King of Potholes, you might as well go get a firsthand look at your kingdom. That’s what District 1 City Councilmember Rob Saka did this morning, joining an SDOT “Pothole Rangers“ crew at work in South Park and West Seattle. We heard him mention the plan during yesterday’s meeting of the Transportation Committee, which he chairs, so we contacted his staff and arranged to meet up at his first stop.

In this case, the Pothole Rangers had a fairly deep rut to deal with immediately south of the city transfer station in west South Park – an industrial area heavily traveled by trucks. Saka put on a hard hat and vest and joined the crew.

The rain stopped just in time, but SDOT’s crew told us they work in every kind of weather except snow/ice. So first task was to dry out this pothole best as they could.

Then came the application of “tack,” to which the asphalt fill would adhere. And finally the asphalt itself, with which the councilmember assisted:

Here’s the “after” view, and how the process concluded:

As recently noted here, SDOT crews – which are based regionally, including one assigned to West Seattle – filled more than 25,000 potholes around the city last year. And there’s always more waiting to be filled – here’s a screengrab from the map of reported-and-waiting potholes:

(Go here for options on how to report one.) Saka told us this is just the first visit he plans to make to a variety of frontline crews – he’ll be visiting bridge-maintenance workers too. He also reiterated that he’s well aware the underlying cause of potholes needs to be addressed too – streets in desperate need of repaving. The next transportation levy is expected to address that, though Saka said he hasn’t been involved yet in specific project lists, so he doesn’t know whether, for example, SW Roxbury (which was supposed to be repaved with Levy to Move Seattle money, then got shelved) will be addressed.

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Today’s West Seattle list!
February 21, 2024 10:03 am
|      5 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Photo by Rosalie Miller, who explains: “Trametes versicolor fungus on a decomposing stump in North Admiral”)

Here’s what’s up in the hours ahead:

TODDLER READING TIME: Every Wednesday morning, 10:30 am at Paper Boat Booksellers (6040 California SW).

PRESCHOOL OPEN HOUSE: 11 am-noon, visit Alki Cooperative Preschool (6115 SW Hinds).

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

FIX-IT WORKSHOP: Repair your broken item instead of replacing it! Weekly event, 5:30-7:30 pm at West Seattle Tool Library (4408 Delridge Way SW, northeast side of Youngstown Cultural Arts Center).

FREE GROUP RUN: Meet at West Seattle Runner (2743 California SW; WSB sponsor) for the weekly free group run.

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 starts 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).

34TH DISTRICT DEMOCRATS: Online this month. 6:30 pm program focuses on the war in Gaza, 7:30 pm meeting focuses on monthly business matters including candidate appearances – see agenda highlights here; register to view/participate 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.

SKYLARK OPEN MIC: 7:30 pm signups for West Seattle’s longest-running open mic – no cover to watch. (3803 Delridge Way SW)

If you’re planning a presentation, meeting, performance, reading, tour, fundraiser, sale, discussion, etc., and it’s open to the community, please send us info for West Seattle’s only comprehensive event calendar! westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!

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THURSDAY: Next chance to talk with West Seattle’s school-board rep
February 21, 2024 9:00 am
|    Comments Off on THURSDAY: Next chance to talk with West Seattle’s school-board rep
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

Before we get to what’s happening today – here’s a heads-up for tomorrow: The Seattle Public Schools Board director for West Seattle and most of South Park, Gina Topp, is hosting her second community-conversation meeting Thursday night (February 22). This time, it’s online, 6-7 pm. The link for participating is here. These are usually informal meetings with an opportunity to ask questions and discuss concerns; here’s our coverage of her first one last month.

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TRAFFIC, TRANSIT, WEATHER: Wednesday begins
February 21, 2024 6:00 am
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

6:00 AM: Good morning! It’s Wednesday, February 21; midwinter break continues for many local schools.

WEATHER + SUNRISE/SUNSET TIMES

Showers and a high in the low 50s are again in today’s forecast. Sunrise will be at 7:05 am, sunset at 5:41 pm.

(Tuesday noontime rainbow, photographed by Theresa Arbow-O’Connor)

ADVANCE ALERT

The two right northbound lanes on the 1st Avenue South Bridge are scheduled to be closed Saturday morning (February 24) for road work.

TRANSIT NOTES

Metro today – Regular schedule; check advisories here. Monday will be on the regular weekday schedule.

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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BIZNOTE: West Seattle’s newest restaurant/bar Little Donkey opens Wednesday
February 20, 2024 8:41 pm
|      59 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news | West Seattle restaurants

(WSB photos)

After a few soft-open trial runs, including tonight, the new restaurant/bar Little Donkey plans to officially open tomorrow (Wednesday, February 21) at 3401 California SW. As we first reported when Spiro’s ended its 31-year run in the corner space 14 months ago, it’s a venture with partners including Ben Jenkins (Shadowland, Dumplings of Fury) and Mike Meckling (Woodinville Cut Shop, Neumos), both West Seattleites. It’s all ages, except, of course, at the bar.

You can see the menu here – overseen by chef Enrique Vargas, who’s worked in the industry for more than 20 years and is originally from Mexico City:

The drink menu is perusable online, too. For starters, Little Donkey will open at 3 pm – but soon they’ll be offering weekend brunch starting at 9 am, launching not this weekend, but the weekend after (March 2-3).

WEDNESDAY UPDATE: The Little Donkey team tells us they’re not opening until 5 pm tonight and Thursday.

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Brown water in South Delridge/Highland Park
February 20, 2024 8:28 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   Utilities | West Seattle news

Just reported by email: “Starting this evening I noticed our tap water was noticeably brown. Not sure if it’s just our house. We’re by 15th Ave SW and Henderson.” No incidents on the Seattle Public Utilties water-trouble map; if it happens to you, be sure to report it to SPU’s 24-hour hotline, 206-386-1800. (And us too!)

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COUNTDOWN: Four days until Polar Plunge ‘winter beach party’ at Alki
February 20, 2024 7:59 pm
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   Fun stuff to do | How to help | West Seattle news

(WSB file photo, past Special Olympics Polar Plunge)

If the forecast holds, it won’t be very “polar” for Saturday’s Special Olympics Washington-benefiting Polar Plunge at Alki. But it’s good news overall for the “winter beach party” that the event promises to be, with a beer garden, food trucks, and costume contest, before all the “plunging” gets going. The party starts near Alki Bathhouse (60th/Alki) at 10 am Saturday (February 24); the costume contest starts around 12:10 pm, and even if you’re not going in the water (that begins at 1 pm), you have a role to play, since the costume judging will be by audience acclaim. If you do want to go in, there’s still time to register online. P.S. The beer garden also offers a tasting experience – tickets are available in advance online here.

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VIDEO: Mayor Harrell’s third State of the City speech
February 20, 2024 5:51 pm
|      7 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle politics

Just one scripted shoutout to West Seattle in Mayor Bruce Harrell‘s State of the City speech today – in the context of the planned Sound Transit light-rail extension. Other topics in his speech, delivered at the Museum of History and Industry in South Lake Union, were familiar and timeless, public safety chief among them – he hailed some ongoing changes, like the creation of the CARE Department (with 911 and a crisis-response team), and said – as we’d heard last week – that Seattle’s Park Rangers will soon be working citywide. He also promised to convene a public-safety forum next month to hear from community members. And he said that when he proposes the next transportation levy, it will focus on “the basics” – repaving, bridge maintenance, signage and striping, potholes (District 1 City Councilmember Rob Saka got a shoutout there), etc. And he acknowledged that the pressure is on, since he can pretty much count on support from the mostly-new City Council: “There is a new level of expectations.” On homelessness, he hit the points made in the media briefing we covered last week. Read the speech here (or watch the video above).

P.S. Set your calendar – the mayor said the next citywide Day of Service is set for May 18th.

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NOMINATION TIME: 2024 Westside Awards
February 20, 2024 3:19 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news | West Seattle people

Just in from the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce – it’s nomination time for the businesses, organizations, and people you’d like to see recognized with this year’s Westside Awards. Here’s the announcement we received:

The West Seattle Chamber of Commerce presents the annual Westside Awards in May and the nomination process is now open for submissions. The Chamber is seeking nominations in the following categories:

1) Business of the Year
2) Not-for-Profit of the Year
3) Emerging Business of the Year
4) Westsider of the Year

The community is invited to submit nominations online here: loom.ly/qS8SmDE. The deadline to submit nominations is Tuesday, March 12, 2024, by 5 pm.

The Westside Awards honor leadership in entrepreneurship, innovation, and community impact, highlighting the achievements and contributions of businesses, organizations, and individuals within our West Seattle community.

“The Westside Awards represent the heartbeat of our community’s resilience,” said Rachel Porter, executive director of the West Seattle Chamber. “The Awards showcase the extraordinary contributions of businesses and individuals who make West Seattle such a vibrant, thriving community.”

Mark your calendar for the annual Westside Awards Breakfast to be held in person on Wednesday, May 22, 2024. The West Seattle Chamber will honor the award winners as well as the awardee finalists at the Awards Breakfast — event details to follow at wschamber.com.

“Our Chamber has a long history of recognizing leadership,” notes Porter. You can take a look back at the previous Westside Award winners in each category online, by visiting wschamber.com/westside-awards.

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VIDEO: Before the next transportation levy, what has the current one done? City Council Transportation Committee gets SDOT recap
February 20, 2024 1:53 pm
|      15 COMMENTS
 |   Transportation | West Seattle news

16 minutes into that Seattle Channel video, the City Council Transportation Committee – chaired by District 1 Councilmember Rob Saka – hears SDOT recap the past eight years of the $930 million Levy to Move Seattle, which expires at the end of this year. (See the slide deck here.) This is a precursor to announcing the plan for the next levy, which Mayor Bruce Harrell said in his State of the City address today that he expects to do in spring. The SDOT contingent briefing the Transportation Committee today was led by director Greg Spotts and Francisca Stefan. They noted that the levy funding comprises almost a third of SDOT’s budget, and that this is the 18th year SDOT has had levy funding. They also noted the levy “pivot” for the pandemic, and then the later course correction to get back on track with its original intent. One program that’s getting back on track is seismic upgrades for bridges – though no new specifics were given, two are pending for West Seattle this year, the Delridge pedestrian overpass and the twin Admiral Way bridges over Fairmount Ravine. (A check of records shows that the contract for the former is about to be awarded, and bidding is still open for the latter.)

It was also noted that one major West Seattle project promised when the Levy to Move Seattle went to the ballot in 2015, known as Fauntleroy Boulevard, remains “paused,” as it has been for six years, since Fauntleroy Way became a possible path for the Sound Transit light-rail extension, which now seems likely to tunnel into The Junction instead. (The project actually was included in a revised version of the levy announced by then-Mayor Ed Murray, two months after the original proposal.) Not mentioned today, but also unfulfilled though it was expected when the levy was passed – Roxbury repaving. (Initial planning happened, but then in 2019 we discovered it was shelved until at least the next levy.)

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UPDATE: Gas leak at 40th/Dawson
February 20, 2024 12:47 pm
|      6 COMMENTS
 |   Utilities | West Seattle news

12:47 PM: Police are helping SFD block off traffic on 40th SW between Hudson and Dawson [map], southeast of The Junction. Fire crews say a 3/4-inch gas line has been severed and they’re evacuating some homes in the area. They’re awaiting Puget Sound Energy to shut off the gas.

1:13 PM: The incident commander has just told dispatch that PSE has arrived and is “assessing.”

1:51 PM: Firefighters have deemed the nearby houses safe to re-enter, and they’re getting ready to leave the scene.

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FOLLOWUP: ‘This is a huge day’ – Permit progress for Highland Park Improvement Club rebuild
February 20, 2024 11:34 am
|      6 COMMENTS
 |   Highland Park | West Seattle news

(Rendering by Wittman Estes)

11:34 AM: From today’s city-circulated Land Use Information Bulletin, word of a key land-use approval for the Highland Park Improvement Club rebuild. Two and a half years have passed since a fire shut down the community organization’s historic headquarters at 1116 SW Holden, and HPIC has been working ever since to reach the rebuilding stage. They’ve obtained some major grants and other donations, but are still fundraising; meantime, the announcement of this city approval opens a two-week window for appeals of the decision – this notice explains how. You can read the full decision here. We have a message out to HPIC for an update on the project status (this is by no means the last stage of the permit process); meantime, here’s our coverage of their most recent “town hall” about the project, one month ago.

3:22 PM: Responding to our request for comment, HPIC board president Rhonda Smith says this is very good news for the project:

We also received notice this morning that SDCI has approved the MUP [Master Use Permit]. Finally we know that we can proceed with the building permit process without having to make any changes to the design we submitted that triggered the MUP. This is a huge day for HPIC and the community as we were not certain which direction SDCI would take.

We can now finalize the standard building permit set for the project and reactivate plans to remove unusable portions of the building. This involves the architects and our general contractor’s schedules. Demolition work will be the first opportunity for community hands-on involvement on the property since the fire, and will make such a big visual change to the site to get ready for construction.

In addition, we can begin in earnest actively fundraising now that we know the City is on board with this project. As we reported at the January Town Hall, we have about a $2M funding gap. This is where we will be emphasizing our focus this year, along with community outreach and events.

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State of the City, Firefighter Story Time, bingo, music, trivia, more for your West Seattle Tuesday
February 20, 2024 9:27 am
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Monday’s sunset photographed from Alki Pump Station 38 by Dan Ciske)

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

FREE PLAYSPACE: Drop in Tuesday mornings 9 am-noon at West Seattle Church of the Nazarene (42nd/Juneau).

CITY COUNCIL TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE: The second meeting of the committee chaired by District 1 Councilmember Rob Saka starts at 9:30 am. Scheduled topics include an update on what’s been funded so far by the Levy to Move Seattle. Here’s the agenda. You can watch live via Seattle Channel.

STATE OF THE CITY: Mayor Bruce Harrell delivers his midterm progress report at noon. You can watch live via Seattle Channel.

CHESS CLUB: Tuesdays 1:30-3 pm at the Senior Center of West Seattle (4217 SW Oregon). All levels welcome. (Questions? Email conwell@conwelld.net.)

PARKINSON’S SUPPORT GROUP: 2 pm at the Senior Center of West Seattle (4217 SW Oregon).

CITY COUNCIL MEETING: Regular weekly meeting of the Seattle City Council, 2 pm. There is a public-comment section – in person or by phone – if there’s something you want to tell the council. The agenda explains how. You can watch live via Seattle Channel.

FIREFIGHTER STORY TIME: 3:30 pm at Delridge Library (5423 Delridge Way SW), bring the kid(s) to meet firefighters and learn about safety.

DEMONSTRATION FOR BLACK LIVES: Long-running weekly sign-waving demonstration continues at 16th/Holden. 5-6 pm. Signs available if you don’t have your own.

LEARN ASL: Free weekly classes, 6 pm at West Seattle’s Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (4001 44th SW). Start any Tuesday night! Details in our calendar listing.

SCRABBLE NIGHT: 6-10 pm, you can play Scrabble at The Missing Piece (9456 35th SW).

FREE TRACK RUN: Run with friends old and new! Meet at West Seattle Runner (2743 California SW; WSB sponsor) for this free weekly run at 6:15 pm.

WEST SEATTLE TOASTMASTERS 832: “Improve your public speaking, communication, and leadership skills” at this online meeting, 6:30 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).

AKIRA GALAXY AT EASY STREET RECORDS: Live in-store show, free, all ages, 7 pm. (4559 California SW)

BINGO AT THE SKYLARK: Play – free! – Belle of the Balls Bingo hosted by Cookie Couture, 7 pm Tuesdays. (3803 Delridge Way SW)

TRIVIA X 4: Four places to play Tuesday nights – The Beer Junction (4711 California SW) now 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 pm at Admiral Pub (2306 California SW).

OPEN MIC: 7 pm at Otter on the Rocks (4210 SW Admiral Way). 21+.

BINGO AT TALARICO’S: You’re invited to 8 pm bingo every Tuesday. (4718 California SW)

What are you planning? Tell everyone via our event calendar – please email the info to westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!

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Remembering Jeffrey S. Heald, 1955-2024
February 20, 2024 8:46 am
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   Obituaries | West Seattle news

Family and friends are remembering Jeff Heald. Here’s the remembrance they are sharing with the community:

Longtime West Seattle resident Jeff Heald died at his home in Buckeye, Arizona, on 1/3/2024 after a hard-fought battle against a very rare Salivary Gland cancer which metastasized into Lung Cancer.

Jeffrey Stephen Heald was born in Seattle on 9/18/1955 to Charles Heald and Joanne Chicketti Heald, and passed away surrounded by family on 1/3/2024.

Jeff attended Lafayette Elementary School, James Madison Jr. High, West Seattle High School Class of 1974, and finally Western Washington University, Class of 1978. Jeff married Donna Taylor in 1977, and settled in West Seattle, before moving to Mukilteo in 1995. Jeff and Donna had three children, Ryan in 1978, Danielle in 1981, and Jacinta in 1983; sadly Danielle did not survive more than a few hours. Jeff was co-owner of a commercial drywall construction company, Firstline Systems Inc., starting in 1987, where he was also CFO before retiring in 2015. Jeff and Donna had several vacation homes in Arizona over the last 24 years before finally settling full time in the residential community of Verrado in Buckeye.

Jeff loved all sports and played Soccer until he was 60, but his passion was Golf, which he played at least three times a week until he wasn’t physically able last summer. Jeff was also a huge New England Patriots fan for many years and traveled around the country with his family to watch them play.

Jeff loved life, his wife, his children, grandchildren, extended family, and his many friends. Jeff is survived by his wife Donna, son Ryan, daughter Jacinta, grandchildren Olivia and Collin, and great-granddaughter Ava arriving in July, his mother Joanne, sister Jodi Van Campen, numerous nieces and nephews, and extended family and friends.

A Celebration of Life will be held at The Verrado Golf Course Grille on 2/24/2024. And another will be held in Seattle this Summer, date and time TBD.

(WSB publishes West Seattle obituaries and memorial announcements by request, free of charge. Please email the text, and a photo if available, to westseattleblog@gmail.com)

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TRAFFIC, TRANSIT, WEATHER: Post-holiday Tuesday
February 20, 2024 6:03 am
|    Comments Off on TRAFFIC, TRANSIT, WEATHER: Post-holiday Tuesday
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

6:03 AM: Good morning! It’s Tuesday, February 20; midwinter break continues for many local schools.

WEATHER + SUNRISE/SUNSET TIMES

More showers and a high in the low 50s are in today’s forecast. Sunrise will be at 7:06 am, sunset at 5:39 pm.

TRANSIT NOTES

Metro today – Regular schedule; check advisories here. Monday will be on the regular weekday schedule.

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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WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Vandal breaks school windows
February 19, 2024 9:25 pm
|      15 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | West Seattle news

That’s one of seven windows at Hope Lutheran School‘s future north campus – the former Seattle Lutheran HS – broken by a vandal early this morning. The report and photos are from Hope’s Sally Heit, who says it happened at 1:50 am. “Repairs are underway, but needless to say it is very frustrating.”

She also sent this image of the vandal, who she says matches a photo of a person shown on social media “panhandling at the Jefferson Square Safeway with what is reported to be an aggressive dog (which you can see in the photo; he’s on the guy’s back).”

Police report # for the vandalism is 24-047421.

TUESDAY UPDATE: Here’s security video of the vandal as he threw the rock, twice.

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About the Trump-merch tent in The Triangle
February 19, 2024 7:09 pm
|      236 COMMENTS
 |   Triangle | West Seattle news | West Seattle politics

Several readers texted Sunday to ask about the story behind that tent set up in the triangle at Fauntleroy/Oregon known as Fauntleroy Place Park. We weren’t able to go over and talk with its operators yesterday, so we looked late this morning to see if they were back. The park was empty when we went by just after 11 am, but then a reader texted just before sunset that it was there, so we went back. There we found Ben, who told us he’s the “helper” – that the owner was off taking a break. Ben said they are here because it’s a “liberal area” – that they travel up and down the West Coast setting up their tent in liberal areas because that’s where they feel their message, support for former President Donald Trump, needs to get out. He wasn’t sure how long they planned to stay – they might be back tomorrow, or might not. He also said they didn’t have a vendor permit, which is generally required for selling in parks.

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REMINDER: Last week for West Seattle’s current driver-licensing office
February 19, 2024 5:31 pm
|      7 COMMENTS
 |   Delridge | West Seattle news

(WSB photo)

Those newly striped spaces on the west side of the office building on the northwest corner of Delridge/Dakota are a reminder that the building will soon be home to West Seattle’s driver-licensing office. As announced February 1, this is the new location starting March 1 – officially 2420 SW Dakota – but the office will be closed for a week of moving, so this is the final week at the old location east of Westwood Village, 8830 25th SW. We first reported more than a year ago that the Department of Licensing was seeking a new location because the current one is slated for demolition, with 140+ apartments to be built in its place.

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GRATITUDE: They asked, you answered
February 19, 2024 3:32 pm
|    Comments Off on GRATITUDE: They asked, you answered
 |   How to help | West Seattle news

On Saturday, we previewed Alki UCC‘s monthly donation drive, with an urgent call for warm outerwear, with many chilly nights still ahead before the warm season. Today we received this report from Cinda:

Alki UCC reporting in on how wonderful the response was from the West Seattle community due to your feature of our donation drive on the WS Blog. We received many warm coats, as well as hats, gloves, long underwear, blankets, etc. It was so great to greet everyone as they dropped off yesterday, to experience their positive spirits contributing to a deep need in the wider community. Thank you everyone who took the time out to search your closets and to drop by Alki UCC with your donation. Every single piece will go toward making someone a little warmer this month. We appreciate you so much!

We feature various ways to help – donating items, money, and/or time – almost daily, so if you’re having a drive/campaign/event/etc. in which the community can participate, please let us know by sending info to westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!

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WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Another business burglary on 35th SW
February 19, 2024 1:35 pm
|      5 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | West Seattle news

After a reader tip, we went over to Super Deli Mart (35th/Barton) to check on a report they’d been broken into overnight. Indeed, the telltale broken window told the story. Part of it, anyway – staff told us that the vaping-related items stolen were worth far less than it will cost to replace the window. According to recorded dispatch audio, their security company got an alarm notification around 2:40 am. If you have any information, the SPD incident number is 24-046976.

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