West Seattle, Washington
29 Sunday
6:07 AM: Good morning!
WEATHER
Mixed forecast for today – with another 60-ish high..
ROAD WORK
26th SW – The closure between Roxbury and Barton is expected to shift to southbound this week. (Update: A texter confirms this is now in place.)
15th SW – Also as part of the RapidRide project, southbound 15th will be closed at Roxbury all week for underground utility work.
Delridge project – Some work remains but nothing big – we talked with SDOT on Friday and plan to publish that story tonight or tomorrow.
TRANSIT
Remember that the fall “service change” happened Saturday, so this is the first weekday for various changes, including the return of Routes 22 and 113. Also keep in mind the rerouting in RapidRide H Line work zones. Watch @kcmetrobus for word of canceled trips.
For ferries and water taxis, regular schedule today. Watch @wsferries for ferry updates.
HIGHWAY 99 TUNNEL
Tolls went up Friday.
BRIDGES AND DETOUR ROUTES
559th 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: (Note: If these next two cameras still appear frozen in date, please report to SDOT at 206-684-ROAD)
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 movable 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.
Here’s our weekly collection of local pandemic updates, starting with the newest numbers.
KING COUNTY CUMULATIVE NUMBERS AS OF FRIDAY:
*152,282 people have tested positive – 3,329 more than a week ago (5,414 in West Seattle, up 114)
*8,049 people have been hospitalized – 107 more than a week ago (242 from West Seattle, up 2)
*1,895 people have died – 41 more than a week ago (72 in West Seattle, up 2)
VACCINATION RATE
80.4% of King County residents 12+ have completed their vaccine series (up .5% in the past week)
By West Seattle zip code:
98106 – 81.8%
98116 – 86.2%
98126 – 77.9%
98136 – 87.7%
98146 – 77.5%
(More COVID-related King County stats here)
THE WEEK’S PANDEMIC HEADLINES
Encouraging trends – This week’s briefing by state health officials included the news that infections and hospitalizations statewide are trending downward, while remaining high. Watch the full briefing here:
West Seattle to get a city vax site again – Four months after the city closed its West Seattle vaccination site, it announced plans to open a new one for boosters – no word yet on where.
Seattle Public Schools cases – This week, the dashboard added fewer new cases districtwide than the previous week.
NEED TO GET TESTED IN WEST SEATTLE?
The UW Medicine testing service at the Nino Cantu Southwest Athletic Complex parking lot (2801 SW Thistle) continues to operate; you can make an appointment here, though readers report walk-ups have been accepted. Meantime, the Curative testing kiosk at Don Armeni Boat Ramp (1222 Harbor SW) is also still operating. In addition, both West Seattle Walgreens stores are offering drive-up testing (35th/Morgan and 16th/Roxbury) – more info here.
NOT VACCINATED YET?
Go here to see where you can change that.
First we heard from Lisa, who sent these photos after seeing a man kicking cars in the Jefferson Square parking lot today:
Lisa says the man went into Bartell Drugs – where she had been shopping – “and was escorted out by an employee.” She called 911.
One of the damaged cars belonged to John, who emailed us later in the afternoon – not the first time he has sent a report for Crime Watch recently, as he noted:
Two weeks ago I sent you a note about my stolen catalytic converter.
Today Sunday Oct 3 2021, 12:30pm at the Safeway store in Jefferson Square. When I parked in the busy parking lot, I noticed a deranged man waving and yelling idiotic non-legible rants. I went in the store, shopped and when I returned to my car (a 2007 Honda Element), I noticed a huge dent in my driver’s side door, and a couple smaller dents on that side of the car.
He says witnesses told him what had happened. We don’t know if police caught up with the man; the incident number is 21-261445.
Remember back when everyone was being urged to participate in the 2020 Census? One of the many reasons why is coming to bear now: Redistricting, because of population changes. The process of redrawing the maps for legislative (state House and state Senate) and U.S. House districts is under way, and this week, you have two chances to speak out about proposed options. The Washington State Redistricting Commission has four voting members – two Democratic appointees, two Republican appointees – and each of them has proposed a legislative map and a U.S. House map.
LEGISLATIVE: The state Legislative map proposals are here – you can comment directly there, and/or participate in an online public-comment meeting at 7 pm Tuesday (October 5th) – info on that is here. For background – West Seattle is currently in the 34th Legislative District, along with Vashon and Maury Islands, White Center, and part of Burien; one proposal, that by Republican appointee Paul Graves, would split West Seattle, putting part in the 43rd District; the proposal by Democratic appointee Brady Piñero Walkinshaw would keep WS in the 34th but move Vashon Island into another district. Those are just a couple of the possible changes – zoom in on all four maps to see proposed borders.
CONGRESSIONAL: The U.S. House map proposals are linked here – you can comment directly there, and/or participate in an online public-comment meeting at 10 am next Saturday (October 9th) – info on that is at the same link. West Seattle would remain in District 7 under the commissioners’ proposals.
If you can’t make it to the meetings, other ways to have a say are here.
Thanks to Jeff for the tip! The Fauntleroy YMCA (WSB sponsor) – co-located with Fauntleroy Church at 9140 California SW – has reopened. It’s now open Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays for starters, 9 am to noon each of those days. Here’s the class schedule.
Published on SPD Blotter this afternoon, this report on how a car stolen on Capitol Hill wound up in the southeast West Seattle industrial zone on Saturday:
Police arrested the driver of a stolen vehicle Saturday afternoon in Southwest Seattle after he fled from officers, rammed patrol cars, and caused significant damage to a gas station convenience store.
At 3:39 p.m., a food delivery driver called 911 to report his vehicle had been stolen near 10th Avenue and East Pike Street. He had left his car running when he went into a restaurant to pick up an order, and when he came back out his Toyota sedan was gone. The victim told officers he could track the location of his car and provided updates on its location.
The suspect later became caught in traffic for a Mariners baseball game near Edgar Martinez Drive South and Occidental Avenue South. Police attempted to pull the vehicle over, but the driver sped away, entering lanes of oncoming traffic and endangering the many pedestrians and other motorists in the area.
Nearly an hour after the car was stolen, the victim reported it had stopped at a gas station in the 7800 block of Detroit Avenue SW [map]. The suspect had backed into a parking spot along a wall of the station’s convenience store. Arriving officers parked their patrol cars in front of the stolen car, boxing it in. When the officers stepped out of their cars and instructed the driver to exit the vehicle, he attempted to flee again, repeatedly driving the car forward and backward, alternately ramming the patrol cars and the building. Officers pulled the suspect out of the vehicle after a struggle and arrested him. Officers also interviewed and a female passenger in the vehicle and released her at the scene.
(SPD photo)
Police booked the 22-year-old driver into King County Jail for vehicle theft, eluding and property damage. Police also processed the suspect for DUI based on statements he made about recent narcotics use, and requested charges for violation of a protection order, as he was not supposed to be in contact with the female passenger. Lastly, officers notified the Department of Corrections they were booking the man, since he had a warrant for escaping community custody.
National Poetry Series winner Teresa K. Miller, who has deep West Seattle roots, has an online reading coming up Thursday (October 7th) and wants to let the community know. Miller is a graduate of Tilden School and while she now lives in the Portland area, her mother still lives in West Seattle. Miller was chosen last year as a winner of the National Poetry Series for her second full-length collection, “Borderline Fortune,” which will be released by Penguin this Tuesday. She will be launching the book Thursday via a virtual event hosted by Seattle’s Elliott Bay Book Company. The announcement says Miller’s new book “explores the ancestral legacy of the climate crisis,” and that the poet “seeks through these beautifully crafted poems to awaken from the intergenerational trance and bear witness to our current moment with clarity and attention, refusing the mind’s limits.” Thursday’s online event is at 6 pm; you can register here.
West Seattle entrepreneur Jess Selander says her brand of wine, Jøyus, is “the first premium alcohol-removed brand that not only tastes as amazing as alcoholic wine, it’s actually made by a non-drinker.” She says it’s a fulfillment of her dream “to make a non-alcoholic wine that tastes like wine and to change how we think about drinking.” This month is “Sober October,” so she is getting the word out about Jøyus, which has two varieties on the market – sparkling white wine and sparkling rosé, both available at Wildwood Market in Fauntleroy (9214 45th SW) and online at drinkjoyus.com. Selander says she first started pursuing this dream five years ago, but stalled because “the technology and processes were not great.” During the pandemic, she decided to give it another try. Though she and her business are based here, the wine is made in California: “The process starts with alcoholic wine, then the alcohol is gently removed, all while preserving the delicate flavors of the wine.” Jøyus wines are on the dry side, she adds, and that means low-calorie – 90 calories in an entire bottle. She has one more dream: “I’m not setting out to be the only premium non-alcoholic winery whose products actually taste like wine. I’m doing this to normalize non-drinking culturally. I dream of the day I can walk into any grocery store and pick up a couple of different bottles of great tasting non-alcoholic wines. I want to go to a party and find there’s already a bottle of non-alcoholic wine there. And that means people need variety.” (She’s working on getting Jøyus into a variety of additional retail outlets, too.)
From Libby:
In case someone is missing 2 pairs of vintage water skis on good condition, we found them stashed in the bushes of Holy Rosary church (Saturday). Guessing they were stolen?
To claim them, email me at parishoffice@holyrosaryseattle.org with a brief description.
(Side note: If you find something that’s more likely truly lost than stolen, our Community Forums have a board for that.)
(Saturday view of Mount Rainier – photo by Jerry Simmons)
Here’s what’s ahead for your Sunday, from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar, inbox, and archives:
ROAD-WORK ALERTS: Two work zones of note today, as previewed here – the Duwamish Longhouse crossing/signal project on West Marginal Way, 6:30 am-4 pm, plus Roxbury/Olson “fall cleanup” work, 7 am-3:30 pm.
CHURCHES: Most are still streaming, along with offering in-person services. Here are the newest links for 20+ West Seattle churches’ services.
SEATTLE RUN SERIES: Run a 5K or 10K from Alki Beach starting at 9:30 am – info in our calendar listing.
WEST SEATTLE FARMERS’ MARKET: 10 am-2 pm on California between Oregon and Alaska. Scroll down the page at this link to find the vendor list and map for this week. (The market is a WSB sponsor.)
ULTIMATE FRISBEE: Join the weekly drop-in game at Walt Hundley Playfield (6920 34th SW), 10 am.
SOUTH PARK HALL CLOSING SALE: 10 am-3 pm, the West Seattleite-owned event venue (1253 S. Cloverdale) is closing and selling what’s left of its furnishings/fixtures, as reported here.
OKTOBERFEST AT OUNCES: 11 am-8 pm, final day of the fall festivities at Ounces (3809 Delridge Way SW) – details here.
SOUTHWEST COMMUNITY ARTISTS SHOWCASE: First day you can check out the artwork on display at the Southwest Library (9010 35th SW) as part of this monthlong, non-juried showcase. The branch is open noon-5 pm today.
CAMP SECOND CHANCE COMMUNITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE: 2 pm online, all welcome at the monthly meeting to talk about West Seattle’s only city-funded tiny-house encampment – participation/connection info in our calendar listing.
ZOOT ALORS: French café music at C & P Coffee (5612 California SW; WSB sponsor), 3-5 pm.
CANDIDATE FORUM: 6 pm online, neighborhood groups from around the city are co-sponsoring a forum with Seattle mayor and council candidates. Viewing information is in our calendar listing.
SUNDAY NIGHT KARAOKE: 8 pm to 1 am at Admiral Pub (2306 California SW).
SUNDAY NIGHT JAZZ: Triangular Jazztet at The Alley (4509 California SW), 8 pm and 9 pm sets.
Got an event for listing in our calendar and previews? Email westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
You enter it in the Elysian Brewery Great Pumpkin Weigh-Off, of course:
That’s what Trevor did, after growing the pumpkin in his Gatewood garden:
He says “sunshine, good seeds, a lot of water, and some special care – that may be unique to the pandemic” enabled the pumpkin to swell to 500 pounds.
So then there was the matter of how to get it to Georgetown for the weigh-off. Trevor says his entire block on 37th SW came together to help:
The pumpkin contest was a prelude to Elysian’s Pumpkin Beer Festival. The winning pumpkin was 1,575 pounds. But Trevor’s was no less impressive, He credits family support, too,
(Thanks to Trevor for sending the photos and report!)
8:56 PM: Thanks for the tip! If you’re heading back toward West Seattle soon, avoid the Olson exit off 509 for a while. There’s a crash on the uphill side from 1st, and one person is being treated for injuries; the tipster says SFD is blocking multiple lanes.
9:24 PM: SFD has cleared from the scene.
From Jennifer:
2001 Chevy Silverado. Stolen from 17th Ave. SW between Trenton and Cloverdale at 2 am 10/2/21 (today). License plate B36240L. Democrat bumper stickers on the back.
Call 911 if you see it.
Keeping an event venue going during a long-running pandemic – when events have been banned or restricted – proved to be too tough a challenge for South Park Hall to keep going. So after four years, the renovated historic space at 1253 South Cloverdale is closing, One of its original proprietors, West Seattle entrepreneur Corina Luckenbach, has announced a fixtures/furniture sale for tomorrow (Sunday, October 3rd), 10 am-3 pm. Some items already have been sold but at last report they still had some tables and chairs as well as their bar. Luckenbach’s main business, Bebop Waffle Shop in The Admiral District, is still “doing great.” As for the fate of the South Park Hall space, owner John Bennett, the West Seattle-based entrepreneur/preservationist, says he’ll be seeking a new tenant,
The report is from Anthony:
I’d like to make the community aware of an assault that occurred on the Lafayette Elementary playground this morning around 10:45 AM.
I was there with my kid and asked a man walking two off-leash dogs to check and make sure they didn’t poop in the bushes on the west side of the playground when they were out of his sight. He immediately asked if I wanted to fight, and came from across the playground (he was heading towards the north exit) and immediately got in my face. We argued for a few minutes, he insisted on fighting me, in front of my kid and another person, even as I tried to walk away. Ultimately he lost it and hit me in my right shoulder, promptly leaving when I got my phone out to call 911.
He left the playground heading south on 44th Ave and went west on SW Stevens. He was a white male, about 6’3″ , 220 pounds, had on a dark blue hoodie (University of California shirt, I believe), blue sweatpants, flip-flops and a hat. He had two labradoodles/poodles with short hair, golden/white in color, about 40 pounds each. Thank you to the other parent who intervened and removed my kid from the situation. Such a strong reaction in front of children on a playground is very disturbing.
If you have any information, the police report number is 21-260407.
The 120 is just one of the West Seattle routes affected by Metro‘s fall “service change” plan, which took effect today. A major West Seattle change, the revival of Route 22, is still two days away, since it’s coming back (for now) as a weekday-only run. Also back: Route 113. NOT back yet: Route 37. Other changes include trip additions or subtractions – you can check the route-by-route list here to see if that includes yours. (We previewed West Seattle changes when the service-change details were announced last month.)
P.S. This is the last fall service change for the 120 – next fall, it’ll become the RapidRide H Line.
Many bars/beer gardens celebrate Oktoberfest, but Ounces in North Delridge is going the extra mile in its weekend-long celebration that started last night – with live music! In our video above, the Bonnie Birch Trio played last night; today, the Smilin’ Scandinavians are scheduled, 5-8 pm. Whenever you stop in, proprietors Laurel Trujillo and Andrew Trujillo invite you to raise a stein:
At 4 pm today, you can even participate in a stein-raising competition. The full Oktoberfest lineup is online. Ounces is open at 3809 Delridge Way SW noon-10 pm today, 11 am-8 pm tomorrow.
(Photo by Jerry Simmons)
Happy Saturday! From the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar and inbox:
TRAFFIC ALERTS: Work continues at the Duwamish Longhouse signal site on West Marginal Way.
THE MISSING PIECE CELEBRATES: 8 am-10 pm, stop by The Missing Piece (35th SW and SW Roxbury) to help celebrate their first anniversary and grand opening.
VACCINE CLINICS: Two today – COVID shots 10 am-noon and flu shots 9 am-3 pm at Chief Sealth International High School (2600 SW Thistle), and COVID (Pfizer) boosters for those eligible, 8 am-noon at Neighborhood House High Point (6400 Sylvan Way SW)
SALE @ WHITE CENTER LIBRARY: 10 am-3 pm, book sale and other items too – a fundraiser by the White Center Library Guild (1409 SW 107th).
ALKI BEACH CLEANUP: Join organizer Jessica at the monthly cleanup starting at 10 am – whatever time you can spare. Details here, including how to RSVP.
SHOW OFF YOUR ART: Today’s the last day that you can drop off art for the Southwest Artist Showcase at Southwest Library (9010 35th SW), which is open 10 am-6 pm.
AT C & P COFFEE: Live music with Marco de Carvalho, Hans Teuber, and Jeff Busch, 10:30 am-noon, outdoors. (5612 California SW; WSB sponsor)
FREE WRITING GROUP: 10:30 am Saturdays at 6044 48th SW – details in our calendar listing.
OKTOBERFEST AT OUNCES: Noon-10 pm, celebrate the season during a special weekend at Ounces (3809 Delridge Way SW).
ROBOTICS TEAM OPEN HOUSE: SkunkWorks Robotics invites all youth in eighth through twelfth grade to come check out their open house, 1 pm, 11427 3rd Ave. S., as previewed here.
OPEN MIC: At The Spot West Seattle (2920 SW Avalon Way), starting at 6 pm.
NOT DEAD YET CD RELEASE: Local faves at The Skylark (3803 Delridge Way SW), 7 pm doors, show at 8, also featuring The Memphis Radio Kings and Caveman Ego.
LIVE MUSIC AT THE BEACH: 8 pm at J&J Public House (2808 Alki SW), live music led by Grammy winner Andrew Gouché. $10 cover.
LIVE MUSIC AT DRUNKY’S: 8 pm doors, 9 pm music – tonight it’s Tripp Rezac and Caleb and Walter at Drunky Two Shoes’ BBQ (98th/16th in White Center).
WEST SEATTLE DRAG SHOW: 9 pm at Admiral Pub (2306 California SW), it’s Dolly Madison and The DJ.
Something today/tonight we’re missing? Text us – 206-293-6302 – and if you have a listing for something further into the future, just email us at westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
(WSB photos)
We’re continuing to cover local football teams’ home games each weekend. Friday night, Chief Sealth International High School played at Nino Cantu Southwest Athletic Complex for the first time in three weeks. The Seahawks hosted the Franklin Quakers, who got the win, 10-2. The only touchdown of the game was by Franklin’s #5, junior James Scott.
Lots of pink tonight, in honor of breast-cancer awareness:
Sealth’s band made their home debut for the season:
Next Friday, head coach Daron Camacho and the Seahawks are back at NCSWAC, but earlier in the evening.
They’re scheduled to play Cleveland at 5 pm.
One of West Seattle’s biggest future transportation projects, replacement of the Fauntleroy ferry terminal, was at centerstage during this month’s Fauntleroy Community Association meeting.
Washington State Ferries‘ David Sowers and Hadley Rodero were at the online meeting this past Tuesday night to talk about it. Much of their slide deck was a recap of information presented previously:
As noted toward the end, the next meeting of the Community Advisory Group for the project is not likely to happen before early November. They’re also promising a general public meeting about the project before year’s end. And meetings of the other advisory groups – Technical and Executive – will be publicly accessible as they happen, which wasn’t originally the case. (Video recordings of all three groups’ meetings are linked here.)
A key feature of the early planning stage is development of a Purpose and Need Statement for the project; WSF presented a “preliminary” draft to the Community Advisory Group in July (WSB coverage here). They told the FCA board that they’re now revising it to incorporate the many public comments they’ve since received. The FCA board had some suggestions too, such as looking at ways to reduce dock traffic, creative ways to discourage single-occupancy vehicles, for example.
TRAFFIC: Speaking of traffic – at the next meeting, FCA hopes to invite Fauntleroy community members to join them for a conversation about traffic issues, with SDOT and SPD among others. Traffic was a top issue in FCA’s recent community survey, and they hope community members can contribute constructive suggestions about trouble spots and how to address them. The meeting is tentatively scheduled for 7 pm Tuesday, October 12th – stand by for more as it gets closer.
POLICE: Lt. David Terry, the third watch (night shift) commander, represented the Southwest Precinct. He announced that Lt. Dorothy Kim is now the precinct’s Operations Lieutenant (second in command). He mentioned that SPD has had officers on “emphasis patrol” at Westwood Village, usually on overtime, and that seems to have helped reduce crime there. Overall, staffing is still a concern – he said he has “a heck of a time” meeting what’s supposed to be the per-shift minimum of nine officers, and said the precinct “may lose two or three more officers in the next month.”
FAUNTLEROY FALL FESTIVAL: We reported on this separately – a drive-up/ride-up version is planned 2-5 pm October 24th.
NEXT MEETING: October 12th – watch fauntleroy.net for updates.
That’s some of the damage left behind by a burglar who broke into Arthur’s in The Admiral District early today, Arthur’s proprietor Rebecca Rice tells WSB, “Lots of damage to equipment and small electronics and liquor stolen. We are safe, which is the most important thing.” Here’s a security-camera image:
The SPD incident number is 21-259252. Arthur’s remains open.
2:38 PM: Thanks for the tips. Police tell us they are dealing with a person in crisis, possibly armed, near 36th/Roxbury, and have blocked Roxbury in that area. They tell us nearby Summit Atlas middle/high school is in lockdown as a result. No injuries reported thus far but avoid the area.
3:27 PM: Not resolved yet. A dispatcher recapping the situation described it as having started when the person “brandished a rifle at a neighbor’s window” and was then seen by officers with “a pistol.” They are reported to be inside a house.
4:06 PM: As noted in comments, Summit Atlas has since let out for the day. Meantime, SWAT team officers have joined the response. The person who’s the focus of all this is reported to be a man in his 60s.
5:04 PM: Not resolved yet. Note for traffic purposes that Cambridge also is blocked west of 35th SW.
5:34 PM: Officers are continuing to use a PA system to ask the man to surrender.
5:58 PM: If you just heard an explosion in the area, that’s a “flash-bang” deployed by SWAT. … Shortly after that, another one.
7:13 PM: They’ve now advised the man via the PA that they have obtained a search warrant and if he doesn’t come out, they’re going in.
7:31 PM: Still trying to convince him to surrender, with another flashbang, in the standoff’s sixth hour.
8:01 PM: Now seventh hour. Police report the man has been firing a “pellet” gun among other erratic behavior.
9:01 PM: Eighth hour. SWAT officers are continuing to try different tactics, and continuing to tell him via PA that he’s under arrest and needs to surrender.
10:02 PM: Ninth hour. No change.
10:14 PM: SWAT officers reported to dispatch that they’ve moved in and are taking him into custody. They’re calling for SFD to come check him out for exposure to gas (which they used multiple times earlier) and for “Taser deployment.”
10:26 PM: Officers tell dispatch he’ll be taken to the hospital.
Thanks to Mike Munson for the photo from Lowman Beach Park, where crews are in their third week of what’s expected to be an eight-month project, removing the failing seawall and the adjacent tennis court, and restoring a more natural shoreline, as was done on the south end of the beach years ago, We asked project manager Janice Liang about this work, and she explained that it’s related to another component of the project, daylighting the end of Pelly Creek: “The Contractor is currently installing new storm drain structures (as seen in the photo) to connect to the existing 18″ Pelly Creek storm drain on the uphill side. The pipe will be daylighted at a pipe outfall midway of the site, with exposed stream beds connecting down to the beach.” For a view of what the finished project is supposed to look like, you can find design documents here.
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