West Seattle, Washington
05 Saturday
School starts for many local students three weeks from today and we’re continuing to publish back-to-school announcements. Today – an invitation for Chief Sealth International High School students to sign up for fall sports, which get going even before classes begin:
Sports tryouts and practices begin soon. Sports Registration is open.
All registration is completed online. More detailed instructions on how to register, and coaches’ email (Sports Offered Tab), can be found here.
Sports offered and start dates are as follows:
August 18, 2021
Football
August 23, 2021
Girls’ Volleyball
Girls’ Slowpitch Softball
Girls’ Soccer
Girls’ Swim & Dive
Co-ed Cross Country
Co-ed GolfJoining a fall sport is a great way for new students to meet classmates before school begins!
If your school has an announcement, now or at any time during the year, please email us the info – westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
6:09 AM: Good morning, Today’s forecast is the prelude to the heat wave – mid-80s expected (yesterday’s high was 85).
ROAD WORK
26th SW – Closed northbound between Roxbury and Barton. See project details here
Delridge project – Here’s where crews are working this week.
SW Andover pedestrian/bicycle overpass – Readers report this had “closed” signs on Tuesday. We’re waiting for a response from SDOT re: what’s going on.
TRANSIT
Buses are on regular schedules – except for the South Delridge and 26th rerouting. Watch @kcmetrobus for word of bus cancellations.
For ferries and water taxis, regular schedule. Watch @wsferries for updates.
BRIDGES AND DETOUR ROUTES
506th morning without the West Seattle Bridge. Here are views of other bridges and routes:
Low Bridge: Automated enforcement cameras remain in use; restrictions are in effect 5 am-9 pm daily – except weekends; the bridge is open to all until 8 am Saturday and Sunday mornings. (Access applications are available here for some categories of drivers.)
West Marginal Way at Highland Park Way:
Highland Park Way/Holden:
The 5-way intersection (Spokane/West Marginal/Delridge/Chelan):
The 1st Avenue South Bridge (map):
For the South Park Bridge (map), here’s the nearest camera:
Are draw/swing bridges opening for boats or barges? The @SDOTBridges Twitter feed will tell you. (1st Ave. South Bridge openings also are tweeted on @wsdot_traffic.)
See all local traffic cams here; locally relevant cameras are also on this WSB page.
Trouble on the streets/paths/bridges/water? Please let us know – text (but not if you’re driving!) 206-293-6302.
It’ll be a warm evening Thursday as the August West Seattle Art Walk takes center stage from Alki to Arbor Heights, starting at 5 pm.
Some venues have air conditioning, like Fogue Gallery (4130 California SW), open until 8 pm with the opening reception for Abstracts in the Key of Flamingo, participants in the Seattle Deconstructed Art Fair.
Also participating in the Deconstructed Art Fair, multidisciplinary artist Shima Star will be at Virago Gallery (4537 California SW) 5-9 pm on Art Walk night.
Nearby at 4525 California SW, Capers Home will be hosting West Seattle artist/photographer Chandra Sandoval, also 5 pm-8 pm.
Those are also the hours you can visit the southernmost stop on the August Art Walk, Brace Point Pottery (4208 SW 100th) in Arbor Heights, this month featuring paintings by Lynn Davis-Smith and Bruce Howard as well as the fabric and concrete constructions of Su Cummings.
What we’ve mentioned are just a few of the participating venues – some with art, others with food/drink specials. You can check the official August Art Walk preview for many other suggestions of where to visit this month!
Thanks to Eric Bell for the cooling photo, looking toward Luna/Anchor Park. Keep that scene in mind as the next heat wave rolls our way. The National Weather Service has kicked the alert level up to an Excessive Heat Warning, starting at noon tomorrow, continuing until 7 pm Saturday. The highest temperatures are expected Thursday and Friday, with highs in the 90s, but higher-than-usual humidity is in the warning too, and that will increase the impact. The city released a list of air-conditioned libraries, community centers, and senior centers with air conditioning, but the West Seattle options are few – we’ll be checking tomorrow to see if any locations/hours will be added.
ADDED WEDNESDAY: The list has been updated – now the Delridge and High Point libraries, both air-conditioned, will be open 10 am-6 pm Wednesday-Thursday-Friday. (Follow the link above.)
Three reader reports in West Seattle Crime Watch:
GARAGE BURGLAR TAKES BICYCLES: DH sent the photos and report:
Around 3 am on Saturday, August 7th, we were victims of a burglar who broke into our locked condo garage and helped himself to our bikes, backpacking and camping gear, and suitcases full of clothes and shoes that were all packed into our car for our daughter’s drive over to WSU later that morning. A report has been filed with the Seattle Police department and a case # has been assigned.
Attached are the photos taken by our HOA security system. These do a good job of showing the burglar’s identifiable features.
I’m hoping these can be published in the Crime Watch section of the WSB with the goals of:
1) Asking if anyone knows this guy (if so, please notify the police)
2) Warning folks this guy is on loose, so protect your stuff or report him to the police if you see him lurking around
BIKE STOLEN FROM BUS: From Beth:
Bike stolen off Metro C-Line at approximately 9:45pm 8.9.21. Please be on the lookout for a Silver Allez Specialized road bike 56cm with multicolor handle bar wrap (green/yellow/red/black) or might be bare if they pull it off. Also has Grateful Dead Dancing Bear sticker on side. Reward if found!
ANOTHER CATALYTIC CONVERTER GONE: This report is from Neysa:
I wanted to share that my Honda Element’s catalytic converter was stolen from in front of my residence just two blocks south of the Fauntleroy Ferry docks. The theft happened sometime between Friday August 6th at 10:30 pm and Saturday August 7th at 10 am. I filed a police report. I have no leads or footage, but wanted to share to further alert those in the area of the ongoing cat thefts.
(Photo from seattle.gov)
In late July, we reported that Seattle Parks hoped to reopen Southwest Pool – West Seattle’s only city-run indoor pool – in September. No date was set at the time. Now, we have one: Monday, September 13th. That’s when SW Pool (2801 SW Thistle) will reopen “for lap swim, limited aquatic exercise classes, independent aquatic fitness, and swim team rentals.” No swim lessons, though, per today’s announcement. In the meantime, city-run Colman Pool, on the shore at Lincoln Park, remains open through September 6th. P.S. The city still has aquatic-job openings!
Tracking emergency dispatches, we usually check the Seattle Fire Department‘s Real-Time 911 page multiple times a day. It’s an automated log of where, when, and why SFD units are dispatched. From time to time, the call types on the log change – for example, what used to be “assault with weapons” if a weapon was believed to be involved changed in 2018 to “scenes of violence.” On Monday, we noticed a new designation – the word “encampment” was appearing before some fire and medical calls, such as this one from Monday’s log:
Many readers use the 911 page too, so we asked SFD spokesperson Kristin Tinsley about it when we saw her at the Joint Training Facility Monday afternoon. She checked into it and provided this explanation today:
In order for us to better track our responses to homeless encampments, we have added in new dispatch type codes that list “encampment” if this information is known when someone calls 911 to report an incident. Crews can also change the type code from a regular type code by contacting dispatch once they arrive on scene if it’s at an encampment. In addition to tracking, it also gives responding crews improved situational awareness that the response is at an encampment location.
So far today, the new labels have applied to six of the 200 (as of this writing, 16 hours into the day) lines on the call log.
(SDOT camera image from Twitter)
2:05 PM: A big emergency response for a collision is blocking the California/Edmunds/Erskine intersection. Updates to come.
2:22 PM: We just got there and the scene is now clear, street reopened, SPD tells us via email that a pedestrian was taken to Harborview after being hit by a driver. We’ll check with SFD on their condition.
3:22 PM: SFD says the person who was hit is a 66-year-old man, in stable condition when transported.
The West Seattle and Fauntleroy YMCA (WSB sponsor) is one of six regional Y’s with hiring fairs this Saturday. You’ll find, the Y tells us, “on-the-spot interviews, prizes, food, and fun” as well as the opportunity to “take advantage of our limited-time sign-on incentives of up to $600!” The Y says working with them is your chance to “be a changemaker.” The local hiring fair is at the main West Seattle branch in The Triangle, 36th SW and SW Snoqualmie, 10 am-1 pm this Saturday (August 14th). Job openings in the region include Day Camp Counselors, Resident Camp Counselors, Lifeguards, Swim Instructors, Early Education Teachers, more. If you can’t go to the hiring fair, you can also apply right now at seattleymca.org/jobs.
12:11 PM: Thanks to Jennifer for calling the WSB hotline to suggest readers who are airport-bound should know about a big problem at Sea-Tac – the lower arrivals drive is closed right now while a “suspicious package” is investigated. That’s led to a massive traffic backup. The airport advises via Twitter, “If you’re looking to use the lower arrivals drive, we encourage you to use the south entrance at S. 182nd St. Upper departures drive is open, but has heavy traffic.”
(WSDOT camera image)
12:38 PM: The lower arrivals drive has reopened. But keep in mind that traffic backups take a while to dissipate.
(WSB on-the-road photo, looking toward the bridge from West Marginal Way)
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
The next public updates on the 16-months-closed West Seattle Bridge and associated projects are expected this Thursday (August 12th) at the monthly Community Task Force meeting.
But you’re not likely to hear anything revelatory about the repair/reopening timeline. SDOT‘s bridge project director Heather Marx tells WSB a schedule update is more likely next month, as repair contractor Kraemer North America is using the “60-percent design” to work on that right now.
Some repair preparation is under way, too – an asbestos survey has been completed, and ordering of materials is getting under way, according to Marx, who was joined in our conversation by Sara Zora, who heads up the Reconnect West Seattle program.
(Lincoln Park at dusk – photo by Theresa Arbow-O’Connor)
More of what’s ahead today/tonight, from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar and inbox:
POLICE STAFFING & COMMUNITY-SAFETY ALTERNATIVES: Both are on the agenda as the City Council Public Safety and Human Services Committee, chaired by West Seattle/South Park Councilmember Lisa Herbold, meets at 9:30 am today. Here’s the agenda; here’s where to watch.
FERRY-FARE HEARING: The state Transportation Commission’s hearing on ferry-fare increases is at 10 am today, online – participation information is in our preview.
DONATE BLOOD: Pop-up today at Salty’s on Alki (1936 Harbor SW; WSB sponsor) – some donation spots available; appointment info is in our calendar listing.
DEMONSTRATE FOR RACIAL JUSTICE: From organizer Scott:
Black Lives Matter sign-waving
Tuesday, August 10, 4:30 to 6 pm, corner of 16th SW and SW Holden (note–starting at 4:30p now)(We are no longer doing Thursday sign-waving at his time.
Come build awareness & stimulate actions to tear down the systems that have oppressed Black lives for over 400 years on this continent. Hold signs, meet neighbors and stand for racial justice. Scott at Puget Ridge Cohousing, endorsed by Hate-Free Delridge. Signs available.
PLAY ALONG IN THE PARK: Last Tuesday night to join the West Seattle Community Orchestras to play music in Lincoln Park (or watch) – 6 pm easy, 7 pm not-so-easy. More info in our calendar listing.
LIVE MUSIC AT THE SPOT: 6 pm, Andrea Lockwood performs at The Spot West Seattle (2920 SW Avalon Way).
TRIVIA & TACOS: 7 pm at Admiral Pub (2306 California SW).- help the pub defend its TopTV Trivia title!
Got something for our calendar? westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
Seattle Lutheran High School invites you to meet the Saints’ new volleyball coach tonight. Here’s the announcement:
Saints Athletics is pleased to announce our new volleyball head coach for the 2021-2022 season, Dylan Lavis.
Coach Lavis grew up playing the game on the beaches of California. He is a former high school and college volleyball player. He has coached high school and club volleyball, as well as played professionally in Europe. He is a graduate of Humboldt State with a degree in Business Administration.
Coach Lavis lives in West Seattle and is excited to be at Seattle Lutheran, and he hopes to be able to build a strong program at Seattle Lutheran High School with a love and excitement for the game.
There will be a Meet & Greet for Coach Lavis on Tuesday (tonight), from 6:00 – 7:00 pm, in the Seattle Lutheran gymnasium. We invite the West Seattle community to welcome Coach Lavis and his fiancée Saraya to our Saints community.
The SLHS gym is at 4100 SW Genesee.
7:10 AM: WSF has a crew shortage this morning so it’s canceled some sailings on the Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth #2 vessel M/V Issaquah – through at least 8:25 am.
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6:01 AM: Good morning, Today’s forecast is still pleasant, but that heat wave is rolling this way, for Thursday and Friday in particuar.
ROAD WORK
26th SW – Closed northbound between Roxbury and Barton. See project details here
Delridge project – Here’s the plan for this week.
TRANSIT
Buses are on regular schedules – except for the South Delridge and 26th rerouting. Watch @kcmetrobus for word of bus cancellations.
For ferries and water taxis, regular schedule. Watch @wsferries for updates.
BRIDGES AND DETOUR ROUTES
505th morning without the West Seattle Bridge. Here are views of other bridges and routes:
Low Bridge: Automated enforcement cameras remain in use; restrictions are in effect 5 am-9 pm daily – except weekends; the bridge is open to all until 8 am Saturday and Sunday mornings. (Access applications are available here for some categories of drivers.)
West Marginal Way at Highland Park Way:
Highland Park Way/Holden:
The 5-way intersection (Spokane/West Marginal/Delridge/Chelan):
The 1st Avenue South Bridge (map):
For the South Park Bridge (map), here’s the nearest camera:
Are draw/swing bridges opening for boats or barges? See the @SDOTBridges Twitter feed. (1st Ave. South Bridge openings also are tweeted on @wsdot_traffic.)
See all local traffic cams here; locally relevant cameras are also on this WSB page.
Trouble on the streets/paths/bridges/water? Please let us know – text (but not if you’re driving!) 206-293-6302.
Six days after the primary election, vote-counting continues. After today’s count, here’s where things stand:
SEATTLE MAYOR – Still former City Councilmember Bruce Harrell and current City Council President Lorena González advancing to the general election, but they’re a lot closer than they were in the first count – Harrell now has 34.1%, González 32.1%. He was almost 10 points ahead on Election night.
SEATTLE CITY ATTORNEY – Incumbent Pete Holmes conceded Friday, and today’s count had no reason for him to rethink that. Nicole Thomas-Kennedy, who wants to end prosecution of misdemeanors (those are the crimes that go through the City Attorney’s Office, not felonies) leads with 36.3%, while private attorney Ann Davison is at 32.7%; Holmes has 30.7%.
SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL POSITION 8 – Incumbent Teresa Mosqueda is up to 59.4%, while her apparent challenger in November will be Kenneth Wilson (16.2%), a bridge engineer who believes the West Seattle Bridge could be partly reopened immediately.
SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL POSITION 9 – Community organizer/cultural worker/artist/attorney Nikkita Oliver is now in the lead over brewery owner Sara Nelson, 40.15% to 39.52%; Nelson led by seven points on Election Night.
KING COUNTY EXECUTIVE – Incumbent Dow Constantine is now just under 20% ahead of State Sen. Joe Nguyen, 51.9% to 32.4%; it was a 23-point lead on Election Night.
WHAT’S NEXT – Once-per-weekday results updates continue until the election is certified a week from tomorrow (Tuesday, August 17th)
Thanks to Gene Pavola for the photo of tonight’s colorful sunset! Just in case you were wondering, the National Weather Service says that late-in-the-week heat is still on the way – the Excessive Heat Watch alert is still in effect starting Wednesday afternoon, but Thursday and Friday are expected to be the hottest days, in the 90s.
Three West Seattle Crime Watch notes:
ALKI SHOOTING MIGHT NOT HAVE BEEN A SHOOTING: Seattle Police have released additional details on the Saturday night incident reported here, and they might explain why officers couldn’t find any evidence of gunfire, as noted in our coverage. Here’s the SPD narrative:
On 08-07-2021 at 2347 hours, officers responded to an unknown call, in the 6100 block of SW Admiral Way. Additional information came in that a male victim was shot in the face. Officers arrived to find the victim’s vehicle had collided with two parked vehicles. The victim was located inside a nearby residence, where he had summoned assistance. The victim reported that an unknown male on a motorcycle had shot him in the face, but he could not provide further information. Seattle Fire treated the victim on scene and transported him to Harborview Medical Center, with non-life-threatening injuries. Officers attempted to locate a shooting scene, with negative results. After being examined at HMC, doctors believe the facial wound was more consistent with being stabbed (no exit wound and no projectile located).
THREAT ARREST: Police say this happened around 8:18 pm Sunday:
officers responded to a Threat Call in the area of Fauntleroy Wy Sw/ Sw Graham St. The suspect threatened to kill the victim, while yelling racial slurs. The victim felt that the suspect targeted him because of his race. Officers located the suspect in the area. The victim positively identified him as the suspect. The suspect was placed into custody and booked into King County Jail.
The jail-register website has just completely changed format so we’re not able to deduce who the suspect might be an what their status is, but will see what we can find out tomorrow.
(WSB photos and video)
While the Seattle Fire Department‘s newest class of 39 recruits trained yards away, a lineup of city and education officials made an announcement in West Seattle today that could benefit future classes as well as current firefighters.
The announcement at the city-owned Joint Training Facility (which is off Myers Way just south of the Olson end of the Roxbury corridor): Enrollment is under way for a program that’s the first of its kind in King County, an associate degree in Fire Science, offered through North Seattle College but with instruction mostly online, so geography won’t be a barrier for attendance. You don’t have to be a firefighter to apply – but it’s also no guarantee of employment; graduates who aren’t already firefighters would have to take a test for recruitment to Seattle or other area fire departments or emergency agencies. However, they’ll be obtaining internship experience as part of their studies.
Here’s how it was explained by speakers including Mayor Jenny Durkan, Fire Chief Harold Scoggins, North Seattle College president Dr. Chemene Crawford:
The program’s first classes start in late September and there’s plenty of room in the new program – college officials told us about 10 students are signed up so far. Financial aid is available, too. Register by September 20th; find out how by going here.
(April photo by Mike Shaughnessy of Save the Stone Cottage)
West Seattle’s historic Stone Cottage finally has a moving date – one week from tomorrow. Announced this afternoon by the volunteer preservationists of Save the Stone Cottage:
The moving date is SET! The historic Stone Cottage is about to embark on its First Mile road trip, and the Save the Stone Cottage team is celebrating this big step with an online auction complete with once-in-a-lifetime opportunities.
The stone-studded cottage has been a beloved and legendary landmark in West Seattle for 90 years. Threatened with demolition, the Stone Cottage has been saved by the community, and is going to be moved into secure storage at the Port of Seattle just a mile south of its 1123 Harbor Ave SW location. This ‘First Mile’ move will be on the evening of Tuesday, Aug. 17, 2021, starting after 11 p.m. and going until approximately 2 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 18. All are invited to watch the convoy from the Harbor Avenue SW sidewalk.
Leading up to the move, you can participate in the ‘First Mile’ Auction where fans of the Stone Cottage have the opportunity to bid on five separate packages that epitomize moving the Stone Cottage:
Lead the Move — Ride in the Pilot Car
Launch the Convoy — Push The Blast-Off Button
Backseat Driver — Ride in the Moving Rig
Shadow the Convoy — Ride in the Sweeper Car
Wave-in the Convoy — Finish Line Checkered Flag
Prefer something less high profile? Consider a ‘Buy The Mile’ per-foot donation for the haul route.
The Save the Stone Cottage ‘First Mile’ Auction website is open for bids from 10 a.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 10, 2021, through 4 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 14, 2021. Highest bid winners will be notified of their status and specific move details beginning at noon Sunday, Aug. 15, 2021.
Visit The ‘First Mile’ Auction site to bid and start the fun. The ‘First Mile’ Auction site is hosted by the Southwest Seattle Historical Society and we are grateful for its auction expertise.
Save the Stone Cottage LLC has raised more than $82,000 of the $110,000 donation goal to execute a phased plan to rescue, relocate and restore the Stone Cottage. Donations are still being accepted through the website www.savethestonecottage.org and a GoFundMe charity account. The Southwest Seattle Historical Society, a tax exempt 501(c)(3) organization, is serving as the fiscal sponsor of the Save the Stone Cottage Project. We appreciate its steadfast participation.
Special ‘First Mile’ Thanks to the Southwest Seattle Historical Society, Nickel Brothers, Chainqui Development, All City Fence, Bennett Properties, Port of Seattle, Seattle Department of Transportation and Northwest Insurance Group.
It’s been four months since the Stone Cottage was jacked up in preparation for the move. Save the Stone Cottage’s Jeff McCord tells us it’s still in good shape, and that jacking it up early was actually beneficial, protecting it from potential risks such as vandalism. As for why the long delay, he said permits took longer than expected. As for what happens after the move – the next step is to find a permanent new home.
(Governor’s Office photo)
2:06 PM: As noted in our pandemic-news roundup last night, Gov. Jay Inslee is in Seattle today, and planned an announcement intended to increase the vaccination rate. His briefing has just wrapped up. From the announcement:
Gov. Jay Inslee today announced a requirement for most state workers, and on-site contractors and volunteers to be vaccinated against COVID-19 as a condition of employment. State employees and workers in private health care and long-term care settings will have until October 18 to be fully vaccinated.
The requirement applies to state workers, regardless of teleworking status. This applies to executive cabinet agencies, but the governor encouraged all others such as higher education, local governments, the legislative branch, other statewide elected officials and organizations in the private sector to do the same. …
You can read the entire announcement here. He made it at Kaiser Permanente on Capitol Hill with other officials including Mayor Jenny Durkan (who was at an unrelated event in West Seattle right before this – more on that later) and King County Executive Dow Constantine, both of whom also announced employee vaccination requirements.
3:39 PM: Here’s the city announcement:
Coinciding with Governor Inslee and King County Executive Constantine announcement to require vaccines for most state employees, health care providers, and county employees, Mayor Jenny Durkan announced City employees will be required to be fully vaccinated by October 18, 2021. This decision has been made in response to rising COVID-19 rates nationwide as the highly-contagious Delta variant spreads through communities across the country, with the overwhelming majority of cases and hospitalizations being among the unvaccinated. This directive applies to all City workers in executive departments, regardless of whether or not they are reporting to the office, unless they have a sincerely held religious or medical exemption. Currently, all employees and visitors are required to wear masks for indoor public settings.
“From the initial days of the COVID-19 pandemic to today, Governor Inslee, Executive Constantine and I believe in the importance of speaking as one government. So many small businesses have stepped up to require vaccines and as some of Washington’s largest employers, we are too. The spread of the Delta variant has required that we continue to make decisions that are safe for our employees, their families, and our community. There is no doubt that vaccines work, and that they are our best defense against the highly contagious Delta variant,” said Mayor Jenny Durkan. “Seattle has led the way by listening to our public health officials- it’s why we have the lowest cases, hospitalizations and deaths of every major city. It is crucial that in our workplaces where we work, eat, have meetings, and laugh together, we make sure we are doing what we can to keep ourselves and our colleagues, our children and families, customers, and members of the public safe from serious illness, hospitalization, or death from this virus.”
Seattle is already leading the country on vaccination rates: over 82.5% of residents 12 and older have received at least one dose of the vaccine. City and countywide data show that vaccines are effective at preventing serious illness, hospitalizations, and deaths even as the state has lifted most capacity restrictions at businesses. There has not been a reported death of a Seattle resident since July 11, and Seattle has averaged some of its lowest hospitalizations over the last four waves.
More than 60% of City employees have returned to their work sites with additional employees expected to continue to return as the City of Seattle safely reopens its public counters, community centers, and libraries in the coming weeks. For individuals who can continue to work remotely, the City of Seattle will allow employees to work on site or telework until at least mid-October.
4:45 PM: Here’s the full King County announcement.
While at the Low Rider Block Party last Saturday, we noticed that sign inside Tacos y Mariscos El Tiburón on the corner of 17th and Roxbury. They were too busy for us to stop in and follow up then; we subsequently found their online announcement:
Queridos amigos lamentamos informarles que este mes de Agosto será el último mes que estaremos sirviendo nuestra comida mexicana. Tacos y mariscos el tiburón cerrará el 31 de Agosto. Queremos darles las gracias a todos nuestros clientes que nos apoyaron y estuvieron en las buenas y en las malas. Gracias
…………………………………………………………………Dear friends, I’m sad to inform you that this month of August will be our last month serving you our traditional Mexican food. Tacos y Mariscos will be closing August 31st. We will like to thank you all for your support and for always being loyal customers in the good and bad times. Thank you for everything.
We went over this morning for a photo. They told us the decision to close is simply a matter of slow business. The location was previously another location of Tacos Guaymas.
The photos are from Conrad, who wondered about what appeared to be a stalled city project:
There has been at least six weeks of construction along the Delridge Way onramp to the West Seattle Bridge, requiring a detour onto a small portion of the onramp for bicyclists and pedestrians. It appears crews are installing safety bollards along the sidewalk and redoing the staircase into Pigeon Point.
This work is appreciated, but it is a bit confusing because there hasn’t been any visible work done on the area in weeks. It seems construction started and then stopped without being completed.
We asked SDOT spokesperson Mariam Ali – here’s the reply:
This is a Neighborhood Street Fund project that was working on the railing for the Delridge trail widening.
Below are all the updates for the construction of Delridge trail widening and railing:
-Core drill is done for the railing footing
-Asphalt paving is done for the shoulder area.
-RS Mechanical Group is scheduled to install railing around mid-August.
-Crews were mainly working on the stairs before and now should be able to focus more on our railing installation work.
Bottom line, work should resume soon.
SIDE NOTE: The aforementioned Neighborhood Street Fund, which builds community-proposed projects, may not solicit new ideas for a few years. The Levy to Move Seattle Oversight Committee was told earlier this month (see the memo here) that SDOT is proposing choosing 2022-2024 projects from the existing pool of suggestions.
It runs along much of West Seattle’s eastern edge, but what do you really know about the Duwamish River? This Thursday night, online, here’s your chance to find out more. The announcement is from the Southwest Seattle Historical Society:
Words, Writers & Southwest Stories, a speaker series of the Southwest Seattle Historical Society, is excited to announce that it is hosting BJ Cummings for a live Zoom presentation on Thursday, August 12 at 6:00 PM. Cummings will deliver a presentation on her book “The River That Made Seattle: A Human and Natural History of the Duwamish.” Registration is required. Please register HERE.
With bountiful salmon and fertile plains, the Duwamish River has drawn people to its shores over the centuries for trading, transport, and sustenance. Chief Si’ahl and his allies fished and lived in villages here and white settlers established their first settlements nearby. Industrialists later straightened the river’s natural turns and built factories on its banks, floating in raw materials and shipping out airplane parts, cement, and steel. Unfortunately, the very utility of the river has been its undoing, as decades of dumping led to the river being declared a Superfund cleanup site.
Using previously unpublished accounts by Indigenous people and settlers, BJ Cummings’s compelling narrative restores the Duwamish River to its central place in Seattle and Pacific Northwest history. Writing from the perspective of environmental justice—and herself a key figure in river restoration efforts—Cummings vividly portrays the people and conflicts that shaped the region’s culture and natural environment. She conducted research with members of the Duwamish Tribe, with whom she has long worked as an advocate. Cummings shares the river’s story as a call for action in aligning decisions about the river and its future with values of collaboration, respect, and justice.
BJ Cummings is the author of “The River That Made Seattle: A Human and Natural History of the Duwamish” (UW Press 2020), winner of the Association of King County Historical Association’s 2021 Virginia Marie Folkins Award for outstanding historical publication. Cummings founded the Duwamish River Cleanup Coalition in 2001, served as the Puget Soundkeeper Alliance’s “Soundkeeper” from 1994–99, and as Sustainable Seattle’s Executive Director from 2016–18. She is currently the Community Engagement Manager for the University of Washington’s EDGE and Superfund Research Programs in the Environmental and Occupational Health Department in the School of Public Health, and is the co-author of several community health studies, including the Duwamish Valley Cumulative Health Impacts Analysis and Duwamish River Superfund Cleanup Plan Health Impact Assessment.
Cummings holds a Masters Degree in Environmental Geography from UCLA, and is the author and producer of numerous articles, books, and documentary films on environment and development issues locally and throughout the Americas, including her 1990 book, “Dam the Rivers, Damn the People: Resistance and Survival in Amazonian Brazil” (Earthscan/WWF UK), and 2000 documentary film “Ecosanctuary Belize” (Outside Television). Her work has been featured in Outside Television’s documentary film, The Waterkeepers and PBS Frontline’s Poisoned Waters, as well as numerous regional news outlets. Over the past two decades, Cummings has been recognized as a National River Network “River Hero,” Sustainable Seattle’s “Sustainability Hero,” King County’s Green Globe winner for Environmental Activism, recipient of Puget Soundkeeper Alliance’s “Inspiration Award,” and one of Seattle Magazine’s “10 most influential leaders.”
This presentation is part of the Humanities Washington Speakers Bureau. The Southwest Seattle Historical Society is grateful to Humanities Washington for their support. This series is open to hosting any author or speaker addressing historical issues relating to the Puget Sound/Duwamish Peninsula and/or the general public. Additional information on future presentations can be obtained by contacting Dora-Faye Hendricks, Chair, ‘Words, Writers & SouthWest Stories’ by phone at 206-290-8315 or by e-mail at Dora-Faye@comcast.net.
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