West Seattle, Washington
25 Monday
Thanks to Karl at Potter Construction (WSB sponsor) for sending the photo. On Saturday, Potter Construction again participated in the Master Builders Association of King and Snohomish Counties‘ annual Rampathon, during which volunteer labor and donated materials result in access ramps for residents in need. This year, Laurie at Potter Construction tells us, the recipients are “a local West Seattle retired couple, in need of a permanent ramp due to mobility issues.” The builders’ association takes applications from prospective ramp recipients each winter. Potter has been participating since the early 2000s.
(Photos by Omar Abdulkadir for WSB)
Park visitors of all ages got a chance to experience climbing during Camp Long‘s Mountain Fest on Saturday. It’s the annual chance to explore the park’s unique features that give you the chance to climb without leaving West Seattle:
Mountain Fest also provided opportunities to learn about wildlife – whether from The Falconer‘s raptors like this owl …
or from Seattle Parks naturalists who were there to answer questions about other creatures you might see (all in a day’s work for them, since Camp Long is an Environmental Learning Ceter):
If you didn’t get to Mountain Fest, Camp Long is open to visitors at other times too – the main entrance is at 35th/Dawson, by the historic lodge, which is available for rentals (as are the 10 cabins at the park)
Got a prospective soccer player under your roof? Not signed up for fall soccer yet? The West Seattle Soccer Club asked us to share this reminder that now’s the time:
Hey, West Seattle Families!
Founded in 1968, The West Seattle Soccer Club (WSSC) is a recreational soccer club for youth who reside in the southwest neighborhoods of Seattle. All youth ages 5-18 are eligible to play and experience is not required.
As we gear up for the Fall Soccer Season, excitement is booming with well over a thousand players already registered! With the Spring Season wrapping up this weekend, it’s time to ensure that you, your friends, and your neighbors join in too! Registration closes June 30th, so act fast. Whether your child is a seasoned player or just starting out, we’re excited to unveil our Fall Registration and anticipate the adventures ahead.
The Fall Season kicks off September 14th and 15th with seasons spanning 8, 10, or 12 games based on age division.
Secure your child’s spot or learn more at westseattlesoccer.org. Questions? Reach us at wsscboard@gmail.com.
Make this Fall Soccer season unforgettable! Enroll today to see your child thrive on the field, make friends, and create lasting memories. Financial assistance is available for qualified applicants. Don’t miss out – register now!
This year’s Loop the ‘Lupe fundraising run/walk/obstacle course was a success in many ways. Organizer Brian Callanan says a record number of people signed up. (We showed you some of the fun in our coverage.) And they recruited a record number of volunteers, too – some of those are in the photo above. But, Brian says, “We have about half as many donations this year as we’ve had in years past. The Loop is OLG’s largest external fundraiser.. The money goes toward supporting work like providing food and rental assistance to local families in need, helping prisoners re-integrate into the community after their sentences, and much more.” In hopes of bringing in a bit more to support that work, Brian says, the donation link will be open through tomorrow (Monday, June 17) night at midnight. If you can help, here’s where to go
Family and friends are remembering Al Boss, and sharing this remembrance with his community:
Al Boss — an everyday hero who made people laugh with his sarcastic wit and irreverent sense of humor — died May 19. He was 63.
Boss was taken to Harborview Medical Center and put on life support after a fall. He was leaving a performance May 14 at the Salon of Shame, a theater in the International District showcasing bad writing from people’s adolescence.
Around 50 of his friends and family lined a hallway outside of the Intensive Care Unit of Harborview to say their tearful goodbyes. In his hand was one of his “Get out of hell free” cards. His son, Nathan, 25, knew he would appreciate it. Boss liked to give out these cards to people to cheer them up.
On LinkedIn, Boss referred to himself as a web developer, accessibility engineer, and a human Swiss Army knife. He prided himself on being a divergent thinker and was known for coming up with ingenious ideas.
Former colleague Elizabeth Inglese called Boss “seriously brilliant.” “He had a way of problem solving that took all components of a situation into consideration. He could look at scenarios from a 50,000-ft view but also from a boots-on-the-ground perspective. With everything he did, he approached it thoughtfully, carefully, and with a light sense of humor.”
Boss’ friends and family describe him as a frustrated optimist who was passionate about his family, loved ones, and giving back to his community.
He was a longtime volunteer for the Seattle King County Clinic, a giant four-day free health clinic at Seattle Center that provides dental, vision, and medical care to anyone in the region who struggles to access or afford health care. Project Executive Julia Colson told the family Boss will be dearly missed. “He was incredibly kind, dedicated, funny, and always fully present, engaged, and thoughtful. We are incredibly grateful for the time he spent with us, his commitment to making the world a better place, and the bright light he brought with him wherever he went,” she wrote.
Boss was also a long-time volunteer for the Seattle chapter of the Red Cross in disaster services. He was a board member for Third Place Technologies, a sponsor of Electric Sky art camp, which he looked forward to each year.He also volunteered at Creative Mornings – Seattle, was on the King County Library System Computer Advisory Group, served as the Puget Sound chapter president of the University of Missouri Alumni Association, and offered technical support to several nonprofit organizations, including Cancer Lifeline and Habitat for Humanity.
He taught web courses at South Seattle College and Cascadia College. One of his signature lessons was having students create a website that had the “worst user experience” to show students how they can often learn better from mistakes and what not to do.
He even opened his home to two young men facing housing insecurity and gave them stability and hope. One of those young men said Boss asked him what he wanted to do. He replied, “connect with people,” so Boss paid for acting lessons.
Boss knew life wasn’t easy. He grew up in Potosi, Missouri, a historical town of 2,500, located 72 miles southwest of St. Louis. His father, Marvin Boss, owned independent dry goods stores; his mother, Joyce Boss (Schneidman), managed the household. He was always the center point of their lives, and was also much loved by his older brother, Steven Boss, though they didn’t grow up together. He grew up with lots of open space and dogs, but he talked about being bullied for being Jewish, said his wife, Laura Duncan Boss.
One of Boss’ recent joys was discovering his birth relatives from DNA research. He was adopted and deeply enjoyed getting to know a new side of his family. He even spent the weekend before his death at the wedding of a nephew in California.
Boss graduated from the University of Missouri with degrees in medical anthropology and community development. After graduating, he followed friends who moved to Seattle, and he met his wife in a French class at the University of Washington. She said they would talk in their cars for hours about everything. They were married in October 1991 in the Chinese Room at the Smith Tower. Their only child, Nathan, was born in 1998.
Laura Boss said her husband would take Nathan all over West Seattle as a baby and the two became such a favorite in coffee shops that Nathan asked if he could invite all the baristas at one coffee shop to his birthday party.
Boss started working with King County in 2005 on the web team. His colleagues said he spoke his mind in a clever way, using allegories, metaphors, puns, and clever acronyms. When arguing the case against pop-ups, he told a colleague, “How would you like it, if before you go shopping at Home Depot, you were asked if you would like to hear the history of Home Depot?”
Boss was admired for his passion for good user experience and accessibility. His interest was likely fueled by his own unique challenges. He had prosopagnosia, a condition where you have difficulty identifying people’s faces.
Recently, Boss became a dog dad after years of raising cats. A friend had asked his family if they would foster a German Shepherd she had rescued. But it was love at first sight. Boss and 73-pound Viktor, now 3, were inseparable and often traveled by bus to local dog parks.
Nathan Boss, who called his dad a saint and his best friend, said one of the greatest lessons he learned from his dad is to get creative, not mad. He said when his dad was in high school, he was tired of a kid stealing his spray deodorant so he disguised a can of spray paint with a deodorant label. According to his dad, the kid spray painted his armpits black and never bothered him again.
Albert W. Boss truly leaves the world a better place and has taught us all so much about having fun, giving back, showing up, and thinking outside of the box.
In memory of Al, the family asks that you become an organ donor, and find a way to give back to your community.
Al’s wife Laura was recently diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. If you would like to help with her current and future health-care costs, you can do so here.
(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)
(Cloudy sky as car carrier Helios Ray arrived Friday – photo by Lynn Hall)
Here’s our list for this Father’s Day Sunday, mostly from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar!
ADMIRAL CHURCH FOOD DRIVE: Continuing today – drop off donations at the church (4320 SW Hill) 9 am-noon.
MINI-POLAR PLUNGE: 9 am every Sunday, you’re welcome to join a group plunge into Puget Sound off Alki – meet at Statue of Liberty Plaza (61st/Alki).
WESTIES RUN CLUB: 9 am, meet at Highland Park Corner Store (7789 Highland Park Way SW) for this week’s Sunday Funday Run.
FATHER’S DAY GRIEF WALK: Walk in Schmitz Preserve Park with Listening to Grief, 10 am (meet at Hinds St. entrance). RSVP not required.
WEST SEATTLE FARMERS’ MARKET: The market is open today, 10 am-2 pm as usual, on California SW between SW Alaska and SW Oregon, offering almost-summer vegetables, flowers, fruit, and plants, plus baked goods, cheese, fish, meat, condiments, fresh-cooked food, beverages (from cider to kombucha to beer/wine), nuts, candy, more! Here’s today’s vendor list.
TALK WITH SDOT AT THE MARKET: Look for SDOT’s booth at the Farmers’ Market if you have comments/questions about the proposed street concepts for West Seattle’s light-rail-station areas (as shown in a survey that debuted this week).
ALSO WHILE YOU’RE AT THE MARKET … visit Jet City Labs (4547 California SW) to shop its small-biz pop-up market, also 10 am-2 pm.
FAMILY MUSIC WITH THE NOT-ITS: Jump, bounce, dance during the last show of this year’s Kindie West concert series at Fauntleroy Schoolhouse (9141 California SW), 10:30 am – tickets here.
ALKI UCC CLOTHING DRIVE: 11 am-3 pm, drop off donations at the church (6115 SW Hinds):
Men’s work clothes are a continued priority! Our donations drive serves many men participating in day labor who go through a lot of jeans, khakis, sweatshirts, hoodies, t-shirts, work boots, jackets … and lots of NEW socks to keep their feet healthy. Your donations of food, clothing and outdoor gear are distributed through the Westside Interfaith Network (WIN) Saturday lunch, hosted in White Center.
Deepest gratitude to our community for your generous support of our neighbors in need.
HIGHLAND PARK SPRAYPARK: Daily operation continues – open 11 am-8 pm, free. (1100 SW Cloverdale)
COLMAN POOL: Another “preseason weekend” 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.
NO ALKI POINT LIGHTHOUSE TOURS TODAY: Reminder that Alki Point Lighthouse is NOT open to the public today for tours, which resume next Sunday.
JUNCTION FC PRIDE MATCH: Special activities planned as West Seattle Junction FC returns home to Nino Cantu Southwest Athletic Complex (2801 SW Thistle) to face the Tacoma Stars – details in our calendar listing.
‘CLYDE’S’ AT ARTSWEST: 3 pm performance at ArtsWest (4711 California SW; WSB sponsor) – “In this 2022 Tony Award®-Nominated Best Play, creating the perfect sandwich is the shared quest of the formerly incarcerated kitchen staff of Clyde’s, a truck-stop cafe.” Find the ticket link and more info in our calendar listing.
LIVE MUSIC AT THE ALLEY: Sunday night music by the Triangular Jazztet at The Alley (4509 California SW), 8-10 pm.
Are you planning something that should be on our community event calendar – one-time or recurring? Please email us the basics – westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
10:54 PM: Second case today of confirmed gunfire: This time in North Delridge, on SW Brandon just east of 29th [vicinity map]. Officers just told dispatch they’ve found shell casings there, after multiple 911 callers in the area reported hearing shots a short time ago. No injuries or property damage reported so far; no witnesses, either, so there’s no word so far of shooter or (potential) vehicle description.
11:06 PM: Officers report they’ve “collected nine 9-millimeter casings.”
8:50 PM: Thanks for the photos! After a sunnier-than-forecast day, the showers moved in around 4:30 – with some hail/ice pellets too. Theresa Arbow-O’Connor says that’s what the sky looked like, northeastward from Alki, right about when the first drops fell. Between showers, a rainbow graced the eastern sky:
Thanks to the texter who sent that from High Point. Unsettled, cooler-than-normal weather is forecast to continue into tomorrow, with a continuing chance of thunderstorms, but by midweek we’re supposed to see 70s again.
ADDED 10:08 PM: Thanks to Stewart L. for a different rainbow view:
Three Washington State Ferries notes:
TONIGHT: On the Fauntleroy/Vashon/Southworth route, M/V Kitsap is sailing at a reduced capacity for the rest of the night, 300 people maximum, because of a crew shortage.
SUNDAY: The systemwide summer schedule takes effect tomorrow. For the Triangle Route, that means two things, WSF says:
Beginning with our summer schedule, we will operate an unscheduled third ferry weekdays on our Fauntleroy/Vashon/Southworth route when crewing and a vessel are available.
This boat will sail around the other two scheduled vessels to help move more riders and keep the two-boat schedule on time.
(Also) an added roundtrip sailing between Vashon and Fauntleroy midday on Fridays.
MONDAY/TUESDAY: Another reminder that WSF’s systemwide updates/Q&A community meeting will be held in two online sessions, noon Monday and 6 pm Tuesday, with duplicate presentations. Registration to get the link for either (or both) is here.
SDOT wants to replace the outside downhill lane of the Highland Park Way hill with a protected bicycle lane (1st rendering above), an expanded multi-use path (2nd rendering above), or both (bike lane first, expanded path later). Today’s the final day for this survey asking what you think. SDOT says it’s received almost 2,000 responses as of Thursday. We first reported on the proposal a month ago; back in 2020, SDOT proposed an uphill bicycle lane on the hill, then tabled that. Funding for a protected bike lane on HP Way is mentioned in one of the project lists in the proposed transportation levy currently under City Council review.
1:43 PM: Thanks for the texted tips and photo.
Multiple readers report police are investigating gunfire in Admiral about an hour ago. One reader reports: ” My son and his girlfriend were playing tennis and a black Elantra went by with music blaring, they turned right on Walnut following another car and then heard 4 gunshots. Everyone panicked. My son and his girlfriend stayed behind to talk to the police.” No injuries reported. No official info – we went up after the first text but police were leaving just as we arrived in the area. SPD incident # is 24-162978.
4:50 PM: We weren’t at the desk during the original dispatch on this but have since listened to archived audio. Investigating officers told dispatch it looked like a road-rage incident, with someone in one car shooting at another, and that they found a total of three casings in the 2700 block of Walnut [vicinity map]. A nearby resident sent this short clip (.mov file) in which you can hear the three shots.
Sent by Debra:
Our rented U-Haul moving truck with all of our belongings was stolen between 10pm June 14 and 8:30am June 15 near Walnut Ave SW & Hinds Street. 20′ with North Carolina/Ashville graphics, license plate Arizona AH68825. SPD and U-Haul have been contacted. Police incident # 24-162841.
10:12 AM: Until 2 pm, the Morgan Junction Community Festival is on! The entertainment has just begun with The Bubbleman.
Magic and music is coming up too. … Seattle Police Mounted Patrol Unit horseback officers have just arrived:
This is all happening in and around Morgan Junction Park, just north of Beveridge Place Pub on the west side of California SW about half a block north of Fauntleroy.
The Morgan Junction All-Wheels Association is set up on Beveridge Place between the pub and Whisky West:
They’re there to talk with you about the plan for an all-wheels area in the south part of the park. Take this survey to see the concepts – or better yet, come to the festival and talk about them with MJAWA!
This is NOT just for skaters – they want to hear from everyone.
10:43 AM: Ray the Magician is starting his performance.
He has classic magician props – a hat, magic ropes, magic rings – and stories about getting interested in magic as a kid (now it’s a sideline to his day job as a lawyer).
11:20 AM: The magic show has concluded. Here’s some of what else you can do – the Gatewood Elementary PTA has a “gator launch” activity over in the southernmost area:
Alice Kuder‘s Just In Case (WSB sponsor) makes disaster preparedness fun, and that’s what she’s doing at her table:
Just In Case focuses on personal preparedness – while neighborhood preparedness is what the Emergency Communication Hubs are all about, and Cindi Barker can explain them to you:
In the heart of the park, you and your kids can learn about orcas from The Whale Trail‘s Donna Sandstrom:
11:42 AM: Gary Benson, acoustic musician and longtime festival favorite, has just started his performance in the park, introduced by emcee Phil Tavel.
This is all volunteer-powered, and presented by the Morgan Community Association, greeting festivalgoers from their table near the park entrance (we’re nearby).
Back over in the festival expansion zone behind Zeeks (right along Fauntleroy just west of California), more Seattle Police representation – Crime Prevention Coordinator Jennifer and Community Service Officer Dennise:
They have steering-wheel locks if you need one. Over at the Southwest Seattle Historical Society booth, say hi to Elizabeth and Meagan:
12:20 PM: City Councilmember Tanya Woo has just stopped by – she’s currently one of four candidates who’ll be on the August ballot for the citywide seat to which she was appointed:
(We have a longstanding policy that if you’re running for something and you’re at a local festival that we’re at too, come say hi and we’ll take your photo.) District 1 Councilmember Rob Saka is supposed to be here soon too, scheduled to introduce The Potholes, final performers of the festival.
12:57 PM: Councilmember Woo spoke briefly. Shortly thereafter, Councilmember Saka gave a longer speech, mostly riffing off the pothole theme and how he uses the “King of Potholes” nickname as a symbol for attention to governmental basics:
Then emcee Tavel took the mic to talk briefly about two people long active with MoCA who passed away this past year – Eldon Olson and Chas Redmond (who handled the sound system for this festival for many years). As he noted, Chas wasn’t a “moment of silence” kind of person – so instead, there was a “moment of noise.” And The Potholes will be playing shortly.
1:21 PM: They’re performing now!
The festival continues until 2 pm.
2 PM: It’s been a breezy but dry and sunny festival – thanks to everyone who came – and here are the organizers from the Morgan Community Association:
MoCA meets quarterly, with a ton of information about what’s happening in the community – next meeting (likely online and in person) will be July 17 – watch morganjunction.org for info.
(Friday night photo by Gene Pavola)
Here are the highlights, mostly from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
FREE FIT4MOM CLASSES: Two this morning in the Alki area, 7:30 and 9 am – details in our calendar listing.
WEST SEATTLE RUNNER’S FREE GROUP RUN: The store is where you and other runners will meet up for the weekly free group run at 8 am. (2743 California SW)
FREE! HEAVILY MEDITATED: Arrive by 8:50 am for community meditation at Move2Center (3618 SW Alaska). Free event every Saturday but please RSVP.
HIKE THE WEST DUWAMISH GREENBELT: To join this month’s free guided hike, meet up at Pathfinder K-8 (1901 SW Genesee) by 9:30 am.
MORGAN JUNCTION COMMUNITY FESTIVAL: 10 am-2 pm, in and around Morgan Junction Park (west side of California a short distance north of Fauntleroy) – entertainment, activities, drop-in design meeting for the park’s future all-wheels area – here’s our final pre-festival preview.
STORYTIME AT SEOLA POND: 10 am, first in a series of “read-alouds” at Seola Pond (map) with local teacher Isabelle – bring a blanket to sit on.
DELRIDGE FARMERS’ MARKET: 10 am-2 pm, the market’s fourth season offers produce, plants, condiments, prepared food, more. (9421 18th SW)
SSC GARDEN CENTER: Student-grown plants await you at the north end of the South Seattle College (6000 16th SW; WSB sponsor) campus, 10 am-3 pm.
STORYTIME AT THE BEE GARDEN: 10:30 am at the West Seattle Bee Garden (Lanham/Graham), Seattle Public Library librarians will lead storytime.
MORNING MUSIC: 10:30 am-noon at C & P Coffee (5612 California SW; WSB sponsor), Marco de Carvalho and Friends perform. Info about Marco’s music is here.
FREE WRITING GROUP: 10:30 am in West Seattle, registration required – see full details in our calendar listing.
CAMP LONG MOUNTAIN FEST: Climb, explore, learn about plants and birds … all part of the daylong free fun at Camp Long (5200 35th SW), 11 am-5 pm – details and a map are in our preview.
SUMMER SOLSTICE FEST: DNDA presents activities at Roxhill Park, 11 am-2 pm. (29th/Barton)
TALK WITH SDOT ABOUT STREETS NEAR STATIONS: During the 11 am-2 pm Roxhill Park event, SDOT will have reps there to talk/answer questions about the newly released “street concepts” for West Seattle light-rail stations, as reported here.
FAMILY READING TIME: Every Saturday at 11 am at Paper Boat Booksellers (6040 California SW).
MARKET DAY AT THE HERON’S NEST: 11 am-4 pm, vendors, activities, and skillshares – details in our calendar listing. (4818 15th SW)
HIGHLAND PARK SPRAYPARK: Spraypark season continues – open 11 am-8 pm, free, every day, whatever the weather. (1100 SW Cloverdale)
COLMAN POOL: Fourth weekend 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.
LOG HOUSE MUSEUM OPEN: The home of West Seattle history is open for your visit, noon-4 pm. (61st/Stevens)
VIETNAMESE CULTURAL CENTER: The center is open to visitors noon-3 pm, as explained here. (2236 SW Orchard)
VISCON CELLARS TASTING ROOM/WINE BAR: Tasting room open – wine by the glass or bottle – 1-6 pm at Viscon Cellars (5910 California SW; WSB sponsor).
NORTHWEST WINE ACADEMY TASTING ROOM/WINE BAR: The tasting room/wine bar is open 1-6 pm with student-produced wines and “affordable eats” at the north end of the South Seattle College (6000 16th SW; WSB sponsor) campus.
‘BEHIND THE CURTAIN’: 2-5 pm benefit for Chief Sealth International High School Drama, with performances, a theater tour, art sale, drawing, more – details and ticket link are in our preview.
NEPENTHE’S WALK-IN MASSAGE CLINIC: 3-5 pm, show up at Nepenthe (9447 35th SW) with a specific problem to be addressed by massage, and you’ll get a free (gratuities appreciated) trial of their work.
BENEFIT AT THE SKYLARK: At The Skylark (3803 Delridge Way SW), “Sara’s Steamy Save The Skylark Gay Soiree, a live music and dating show benefit,” doors 6 pm, show 7 pm – more info here.
ALL-AGES OPEN MIC: 7-10 pm at The Spot West Seattle (2920 SW Avalon Way)
MUSIC AT THE COFFEEHOUSE: Hans York performs at C & P Coffee (5612 California SW; WSB sponsor), 7-9 pm, free, all ages.
SEE ‘CLYDE’S’ AT ARTSWEST: 7:30 pm performance at ArtsWest (4711 California SW; WSB sponsor) – “In this 2022 Tony Award®-Nominated Best Play, creating the perfect sandwich is the shared quest of the formerly incarcerated kitchen staff of Clyde’s, a truck-stop cafe.” Find the ticket link and more info in our calendar listing.
BEATS AT THE ROOM: Saturday night, DJs at Revelry Room – 9 pm. Tonight, DJ Soul Focus FM. (4547 California SW, alley side)
OUT AT THE BOX: Free Pride Month drag show at Box Bar (5401 California SW), 9:30 pm, 21+.
KARAOKE AT THE PIZZERIA: Saturday nights, you can sing at Talarico’s Pizzeria (4718 California SW), starting at 10 pm.
REMINDER – EARLY CLOSING TIME CONTINUES AT ALKI: Through late September, the park officially closes at 10:30 pm.
Planning a happening? If the community’s welcome, your event belongs on our calendar! Please email info to westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
1:21 AM: Police say Alki Avenue is blocked both ways in the 1200 block [map] because of the response for a three-vehicle crash. No major injuries reported but SFD is there to treat at least one person.
(Added: Photo sent by Lynn Hall)
2:08 AM: Police just told dispatch that they are reopening the street. We’ll be following up with SFD regarding injuries.
ADDED TUESDAY: Seattle Police provided this summary today:
At 0059 hours, an officer was doing a directed patrol on Alki Ave SW. The officer witnessed a vehicle with no lights on doing donuts and then quickly accelerated and drove down Alki Ave SW. The vehicle was driving at a high rate of speed and struck two unoccupied vehicles. The officer drove to the area of the collision and saw the damaged vehicles in the 1200 BLK of Alki Ave SW. The occupants of unit #1 were outside the vehicle and one male fled the scene on foot. Three juveniles were transported to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. One of the injured females was pregnant. The street was shut down for almost an hour.
10:03 PM FRIDAY: Thanks to Hayk for the photo. The temporary-closure sign on the door at Shadowland didn’t explain the reason, so we emailed Shadowland’s Ben Jenkins. He says the “unforeseen circumstance” is a pipe break in the basement, and they’re working to get it fixed “fast.” The bar/restaurant at California/Oregon is in its 17th year.
1:19 PM SATURDAY: Shadowland will reopen this afternoon, according to a comment below.
Rain or shine, the Morgan Junction Community Festival is on for tomorrow (Saturday, June 15), 10 am-2 pm, in and around Morgan Junction Park (6413 California SW).
MEET YOUR COUNCILMEMBER: Late word from Deb Barker, president of the Morgan Community Association – which presents the festival – is that City Councilmember Rob Saka will be there, and in his self-declared role as “King of Potholes,” will introduce the final performers of the festival, West Seattle band The Potholes.
FULL ENTERTAINMENT SCHEDULE: Four hours, four acts!
10:00 to 10:45 – The Bubbleman: Returning Festival favorite featuring good clean fun. Brought to you by West Seattle Blog
10:50 to 11:40 –Raymond the Magician: Artful, innovative and very, very cool. Brought to you by Mailbox West
11:45 to 12:35 – Gary Benson: Our local folk-rock favorite. Brought to you by Thunder Road Guitars
12:45 to 2:00 – The Potholes: Still slinging funky-fusion, guac and rock right back at ya!! Brought to you by Pet Elements
EXPANDED SITE: While you’re there, remember that the festival has expanded to re-add the lot behind Whisky West and Zeeks Pizza, as in pre-pandemic days – you’ll find community organizations’ activities and resource booths there.
MORGAN JUNCTION ALL-WHEELS ASSOCIATION: On the southwest side of the park, MJAWA will be holding an all-festival-long drop-in community conversation about the plan for an all-wheels area in the park. That includes a chance to comment on the design!
If you’re driving, there’s extra parking at O’Neill Plumbing (WSB sponsor) on the northeast corner of California/Graham; however you get there, hope to see you at the park tomorrow!
Washington State Ferries says that “due to the lack of an Oiler,” it will take M/V Kitsap out of service after the 6:15 pm Fauntleroy to Vashon sailing. After that, all #2 sailings are canceled for the rest of the night; M/V Kittitas will remain in service. (You can use Vessel Watch to check its location while you’re waiting.)
(SDOT camera image, 2023)
It’s been three months since we last asked SDOT about the upcoming resurfacing project for the eastbound side of the east half of the West Seattle Bridge, officially known as the Spokane Street Viaduct. SDOT had told us in March that the project would likely happen this summer – and summer’s about to officially start. As of yesterday morning, the project website hadn’t been updated since we inquired in March, so we asked about the status. Spokesperson Mariam Ali replied, “We’re working with the construction contractor to determine the schedule. We will update you when specific dates are chosen, but at this point it looking like construction may begin in the late summer or fall of 2024.” (Concurrent with that reply to us, the project website was updated.) According to the city’s bidding website, the contractor chosen for the work is Combined Construction, which bid just under $7.5 million. The same company resurfaced part of the rest of the bridge during its 2020-2022 closure, as well as the Andover pedestrian-bridge earthquake-resistance work three years ago. SDOT says the Spokane Street Viaduct work, whenever it starts, will require five weekend closures.
(WSB photos from Alice’s 2023 solstice–sunset watch)
If you were planning on celebrating the change of seasons by attending NASA Solar System Ambassador Alice Enevoldsen‘s quarterly sunset watch at Solstice Park – note that she’s having it one day later this time. Due to a conflict, Alice will be gathering sunset-watchers at 8:30 pm next Friday (June 21) rather than on the actual solstice date Thursday. The setting sun will still be visible in line with the park’s marker – assuming the forecast holds. If you haven’t been before, this is in upper Solstice Park, upslope from the tennis courts at 7400 Fauntleroy Way SW. (Actual sunset time is just after 9 pm, but the sun will drop behind the Olympics about 10 minutes before that. And the actual solstice moment, for the record, will be 1:50 pm Thursday.)
It’s been a tradition at Denny International Middle School for more than a decade – the 8th-grade Poetry Slam – and more than 60 poets participated this year, reading poems to an audience at the school last night. First they heard from Denny alum Arthur Clemens, now headed for college, who didn’t get to participate in the Poetry Slam when he was an 8th grader – in 2020:
The Slam is scored, and Arthur was one of the Denny-alum panelists, along with Alex Casamalhuapa and Burk Popelka:
Some poems were collaborations – like this group’s ode to a curb, as explained in an introduction by teacher Colin Slingsby:
Others were individual work – here’s Zoe Plummer, with her poem about beauty:
Here’s Yunis Mohamed:
Parker Wahl:
The evening included guest poet Hannah Park, a Tacoma teacher, introduced by Denny principal Mary Ingraham and teacher Gillian Dockins:
Emcees were Danifah Da and Bruno Diaz Jimenez:
And in our videos, you might have heard a bit of the work of DJ Sureal:
Before the performances, attendees enjoyed dinner:
Poetry teachers not mentioned above included Elisa Yzaguirre, Andrea Chomey, Emily Neeleman, Wilma Champion, and Liz Barry. Congratulations to all the poets and educators!
11:29 AM: Seattle Fire has a big response arriving at Lincoln Park, where SFD says “are investigating reports of a person that has fallen down a cliff from a trail.”
11:33 AM: We don’t know the exact location but this is described as near a trail and stairs, apparently toward the north end of the park; firefighters have spotted the victim and are headed in toward her. … She’s reported to be 15 feet down a slope.
(Added: WSB photo)
11:41 AM: Rescuers have just radioed that they’re about to pull the victim up a slope. Her injuries are so far not believed to be major.
11:52 AM: Some SFD units are staged on 47th SW and they’re asking SPD for traffic-control help; avoid that area for a while.
11:57 AM: SFD says the victim has been brought up and will be taken to a hospital. At the scene, they also confirm to us that her injuries are not life-threatening and that this indeed happened toward the north end of the park.
12:08 PM: Our crew tells us the (updated) 64-year-old woman is being transported by AMR ambulance. SFD units are starting to leave.
An alert this morning from Public Health – Seattle & King County – “a confirmed measles case in a child, with possible exposures at Franciscan Urgent Care – West Seattle” (4755 Fauntleroy Way SW) this past Monday afternoon/evening. Here’s the full news release, explaining what to do if you might have been exposed.
Public Health – Seattle & King County is investigating a confirmed measles case in a child. The individual was at Franciscan Urgent Care – West Seattle while infectious. Anyone who was at the facility during the time span when the child was there on June 10th may have been exposed to measles. The child was not vaccinated, and the infection was likely associated with travel outside the United States.
“Measles is highly contagious and if you don’t have immunity, you can get it just by being in a room where a person with measles has been,” said Dr. Eric Chow, Communicable Disease Chief for Public Health – Seattle & King County. “We’ve seen an increase in measles cases around the world and in the U.S., so it’s an important time to check your vaccination status and get vaccinated if you aren’t protected. Talk to your doctor about vaccinations and other recommendations to prevent infection during your travel.”
Fortunately, the measles vaccine is very effective. Two doses of measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine provides about 97% protection against getting infected by measles and that protection lasts a lifetime.
Transmission of measles can occur before people know they have the disease, before any rash appears.
The infected individual was at Franciscan Urgent Care – West Seattle during a period when they were infectious but before being diagnosed with measles. The time includes the period when the individual was at the clinic and two hours after. Measles virus can remain in the air for up to two hours after someone infectious with measles leaves the area. Anyone who was at the following location during the time listed could have been exposed to measles:
Date: June 10, 2024
Time: 3:30 pm to 8:00 pm
Location: Franciscan Urgent Care- West Seattle 4755 Fauntleroy Way SW, Suite 110What to do if you were in a location of potential measles exposure
Most people in our area have immunity to the measles through vaccination, so the risk to the general public is low. However, anyone who was in the location of potential exposure to measles around the times listed should:
-Find out if you have been vaccinated for measles or have had measles previously. Make sure you are up-to-date with the recommended number of measles (MMR) vaccinations by talking to your doctor.
-Call a healthcare provider promptly if you develop an illness with fever or with an unexplained rash. To avoid possibly spreading measles to others, do not go to a clinic or hospital without calling first to tell them you want to be checked for measles after an exposure. And it is also important to limit contact with others, especially those without known immunity.
-Vaccination or medication can be given after exposure in some cases to prevent illness – check with your healthcare provider. This is especially important for people at high risk for measles complications.
-If you were at the location at the times listed above and are not immune to measles, the most likely time you would become sick would be between June 17, 2024 – July 1, 2024. People who are immuno-compromised may take longer to experience symptoms.
Alerts like this are rare – last one in our archives was 10 years ago. You can find more measles info from Public Health by going here. There’s also an FAQ here.
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