West Seattle, Washington
26 Thursday
(WSB photo from last month)
Many have asked – and now we have the answer: West Seattle Liquor and Wine will open its doors at 4714 42nd SW (lower west side of Jefferson Square) this Saturday (October 9th). The news is from manager Dolly Amend, who also ran the store in its previous incarnation as Capco Beverages. That store’s original owner closed it after leasing the previous space (at 41st and Alaska) to Swedish; new owners bought the business and leased the new space to reopen it. “We have a great selection of spirits and wine,” promises the manager. She says the first weekend’s hours will be 10 am-7 pm Saturday and 11 am-6 pm Sunday.
From Diane:
My beloved Kia Soul was stolen early Sunday morning from the Seaview area. We reported it to the police. When he got there, he said it was the 7th, yes 7th, call that morning for stolen vehicles. Please keep an eye out for it. It was my most favorite car. It is a 2-plus. It is the weird green of a Kia Soul, but more silver. It had all the bells and whistles. The outside package had a lot of black trimming and “vents” on the front side in front of the doors. It’s the only one I saw with mud guards on the wheel wells. The license plate is BUB2436.
As with all known stolen vehicles, call 911 if you see it.
(Photo by Augie Hoffman)
From the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
ADMIRE ART: The Southwest Library‘s community art showcase continues all month during regular library hours – today, noon-8 pm. (9010 35th SW)
DISTRICT 1 COMMUNITY NETWORK: All are welcome at this monthly online meeting of community advocates, 7 pm. The agenda – which includes viewing/call-in information – includes updates on Terminal 5, The Heron’s Nest, West Seattle SkyLink, and American Legion Post 160‘s extreme-weather sheltering plans.
HIGH-SCHOOL SPORTS: One team plays at home tonight – West Seattle High School volleyball, 7 pm vs. Bishop Blanchet.
OPEN MIC: The weekly open mic at The Skylark (3803 Delridge Way SW) – signups start at 7:30 (but the line often forms earlier, the club says), performances at 8:30.
KARAOKE: The second karaoke night of the week at Admiral Pub (2306 California SW) has moved to Wednesdays, 8 pm-1 am.
Are we missing something? If it’s happening today/tonight, please text our hotline ASAP, 206-293-6302 – thanks!
One week from today, King County Elections will send general-election ballots; that means you could vote as soon as one week from tomorrow. This week, two local organizations are presenting online forums with the two West Seattleites in the race for King County Executive, three-term incumbent Dow Constantine and first-term State Senator Joe Nguyen. The first one is with the North Highline Unincorporated Area Council, the community council for White Center and vicinity – that’s at 7 pm Thursday (October 7th); viewing/participation information is here. Two nights later, the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce will host Nguyen and Constantine at 7 pm Saturday (October 9th); viewing information is here.
SATURDAY NIGHT UPDATE: Just found that the forum stream link moved here.
6:01 AM: Good morning!
WEATHER
Rain and wind are in the forecast again.
ROAD WORK
26th SW – Now closed southbound between Roxbury and Barton.
15th SW – Also as part of the King County-led work on the RapidRide project, southbound 15th is closed at Roxbury for underground utility work.
TRANSIT
The fall “service change” happened Saturday, so various West Seattle changes are in effect, including the return of Routes 22 and 113. Also note the rerouting in RapidRide H Line work zones – on 26th and 15th SW in particular. Watch @kcmetrobus for word of canceled trips.
For ferries and water taxis, regular schedule today. Reminder that, as announced Monday, there will be NO West Seattle Water Taxi service this Saturday and Sunday, Watch @wsferries for ferry updates.
BRIDGES AND DETOUR ROUTES
561st 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 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.
As mentioned in our report on September’s Fauntleroy Community Association meeting, the group has been planning a conversation about Fauntleroy traffic issues. Now we have the announcement, including how you can contribute questions:
A local Fauntleroy traffic-issues meeting will be held virtually October 12th, from 7 to 9 PM, with members of SDOT, Seattle Police Department’s Southwest Precinct, Seattle Police Traffic Division, and City Councilmember Lisa Herbold’s office.
This meeting stems from the most recent survey conducted by the FCA, in which traffic issues such as speeding, noise, pedestrian safety, and neighborhood cut-throughs were the number one concern of the Fauntleroy community. We request that community members submit questions, concerns, recommendations, and, importantly, issues with specific streets and cross-streets where the issues exist to traffic@fauntleroy.net by the close of business October 8 [this Friday]. Questions will be compiled so they may be addressed by the attendees.
Registration is required to attend next Tuesday’s meeting – go here.
(WSB photo, last week)
Thanks to commenter Mem for pointing this out: 9059 16th SW, the abandoned commercial building gutted by fire nine days ago, went up for sale days later. It’s listed online at the asking price of almost $700,000. The listing says:
Builder’s Alert!! 4923 SF lot zoned LR3 in prime south Delridge located on main thoroughfare of 16th Ave SW. Value in the land. Possible 4 units. Corner Lot. New 24 townhouse project one block to the south. Walking distance new restaurants and amenties of White Center. Close to freeways to downtown/Seatac airport. Fire to duplex-tear down. Property sold in “as is” condition.
SFD said the fire’s cause could not be determined because the building was unsafe to enter; they referred it to SPD investigators, who, when last we checked, had nothing to report.
Two West Seattle Crime Watch items:
RESIDENCE HIT BY GUNFIRE: Seattle Police report that this happened around 7:15 pm Monday in the 7100 block of 34th SW. Someone “fired at least one round from an area near a city park. That round struck a home, narrowly missing the resident. It is believed the suspect was firing at a vehicle nearby and the house was not the target.” The brief report doesn’t say which park, but the location is less than a block south of Walt Hundley Playfield. That’s the second time in a week that gunfire has hit a West Seattle residence; the other happened last Thursday night near 49th and Charlestown.
HIT-AND-RUN: This happened more than two weeks ago; we received the report and photo today from Cyrus:
My car was totaled by a hit and run driver at 3 am on September 18th. Parked just south of Harbor West condo, 3717 Beach Drive. Car was pushed into the street and police had it towed to a Shoreline impoundment lot as my phone was off so they couldn’t contact me. Given that it was parked facing south, the driver crossed the center line and struck it head on. I’m guessing it was street racers or a drunk. High rate of speed as frame and engine were bent. No witnesses or evidence.
If you have any information, the SPD incident number is 21-246508.
Registration is open for this year’s West Seattle Monster Dash Virtual 5K and in-person Kids’ Dash:
Monster Dash Virtual 5K
Benefitting South Seattle Cooperative Preschools
October 15-24, 2021
Register here (runsignup.com)Join Monster Dash enthusiasts from all over the globe as they participate virtually in this year’s 10th Annual Event. Participants can complete the Virtual 5K wherever and whenever they like! 5K registration includes a t-shirt featuring our iconic Monster.
Here’s info on the in-person event, also a benefit for the co-op preschools:
Monster Dash Kids Dash & T-Shirt Pick-Up
Saturday, October 23, 2021
10 am – 1 pm
White Center Co-op Preschool
10806 12th Avenue SWCome race around our Monster track, create Halloween arts and crafts, and pick up your Monster Dash t-shirt. Wear your costume and pose in front of our photo booth! Kids Dash registration includes a t-shirt featuring our iconic Monster.
(Same registration link.)
Thanks to Rose for the photo and report: “On Delridge on-ramp a tree has fallen. It is completely blocking. A crew is working on it right now but bike commuters will likely have to head towards Chelan Cafe and head south from there.”
3:40 PM: Rose sends word that SDOT has finished clearing the path.
Thanks to the Madison Middle School parent who forwarded this, suggesting “a shoutout for anyone in our community that would love to help some eager kids play Ultimate Frisbee ASAP”:
Madison had over 100 students turn out for Ultimate Frisbee last week. This is exciting news!
At this time we have two coaches and are seeking parent or community member volunteers to sign up and help on the field during practices and games. Practice days are Tuesdays and Thursdays 4:00-5:30 pm and games are on Saturdays. Email Madison’s Athletic Director and Assistant Principal, Eric Marshall at ermarshall@seattleschools.org and sign up using the link below to be an Ultimate Frisbee volunteer.
Madison staff members will help supervise practice while we recruit and clear volunteers. No students will be cut at this time and we will continue to follow SPS health and safety guidelines.
Here’s how to become an athletic volunteer This is different than being a general volunteer. There are different health and safety requirements to be on the field with students: Copy and paste into your browser this link: schooljobs.com/careers/seattleschools/jobs/349379/athletics-volunteer-coach/apply
(August reader photo, sent by Darin)
Back when SDOT closed the Andover pedestrian/bicycle bridge over the west end of the West Seattle Bridge two months ago, citing community-safety concerns among other things, they noted that the bridge would be closing soon for its seismic retrofit anyway. That construction was expected to start in September. So, now that September’s over, we wondered why the project hadn’t started yet. The reply from SDOT spokesperson Ethan Bergerson:
We will start construction as soon as we receive the necessary materials. We ordered the equipment but still have not been given an exact delivery estimate from our supplier. Unfortunately, the kinds of transportation equipment and building materials necessary for this project have been subject to the same global supply chain issues which have affected many different kinds of industries. Once we know a target date of when construction will start, we will let you know.
Once that $1.9 million project starts, it’s expected to last about three months.
Thanks to Jim Borrow for sending the photo! That’s the Galloway Express, seen off West Seattle a few hours ago, headed southbound to Olympia. It’s a livestock carrier, built in China for the Dutch shipping company Vroon. (For our fellow maritime geeks, here are its specs.) According to MarineTraffic.com, the Galloway Express’s last port of call was Oita, Japan, which is known for, among other things, Wagyu beef. But Olympia also has exported cattle, too; we’re checking with the port to see if they have details on this voyage.
(Monday’s sunset, photographed from Duwamish Head by David Hutchinson)
From the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
NORTHWEST SEAPORT ALLIANCE: Regular monthly meeting of the managing members (Seattle and Tacoma port commissioners) – public online session starts at 11 am; here’s the agenda, with viewing info.
DEMONSTRATION: The weekly event organized by Scott:
Black Lives Matter sign-waving – 4:30 to 6 pm, corner of 16th SW and SW Holden
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.
LIVE MUSIC: 6 pm at The Spot West Seattle (2920 SW Avalon Way).
WEST SEATTLE TOASTMASTERS 832: 6:30 pm online meeting, offering you a chance to “practice speaking, communication, and leadership skills in a positive, supportive environment.”
HAVE YOUR SAY ON NEW LEGISLATIVE MAPS: As previewed here Sunday, tonight brings an online meeting about proposed changes in state Legislative districts. Go here for info on how to participate/watch.
TRIVIA & TACOS: 7 pm Tuesdays at Admiral Pub (2306 California SW).
ONLINE CANDIDATE FORUM: 7:30 pm, you’re invited to the next candidates’ forum for Seattle Mayor, co-presented by the League of Women Voters of Seattle-King County; the forum also features candidates for Seattle School Board Position 4, which (along with two other school-board seats) will be voted on citywide in the general election, Go here for info on how to participate/watch.
BELLE OF THE BALLS BINGO: 8 pm Tuesdays at The Skylark (3803 Delridge Way SW), play bingo free with Cookie Couture.
Are we missing something for today/tonight? Text our hotline – 206-293-6302; for event listings further down the road, email westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
Family and friends will gather Sunday to celebrate the life of Leslie W. Lynch. Here’s the remembrance they’re sharing with the community:
Leslie Walter Lynch passed away on May 11, 2021, surrounded by loved ones.
He was an (almost) lifelong resident of West Seattle, eldest child of Dixie Fisher and Leslie Lynch, big brother to James, Michael, Julie, Patrick, and Sean. Les attended WSHS, Class of ’69, and began his career with Seattle City Light in 1981. Les and Joyce (Armitstead) married in 1981 and he became a proud father to Ryan, Erin, and Kelli. Les was also a loving uncle to James Lynch and Travis and Leslie Greenfield.
He enjoyed being a member of the local community and utilized his passion for sports by coaching soccer and little league baseball for many years. A lover of animals and children, he enjoyed spending time with his great-niece and -nephews Brooklyn, MJ, Logan, and Liam and being surrogate “Grumpa” to Micheal. Les was elated about the arrival of his own grandchild as Ryan and Jutarat welcomed Marshawn Lynch to the family in March 2021. Les was loved by many and will be remembered for his big heart and bawdy sense of humor.
There will be a celebration of life event on Sunday, October 10th, 2021 at the Auburn Community & Event Center from 1 pm-5 pm; all who knew him are invited to attend. Masks will be required and vaccines appreciated.
(WSB publishes West Seattle obituaries by request, free of charge. Please email the text, and a photo if available, to editor@wsb.blackfin.biz)
6:03 AM: Good morning!
WEATHER
Rain and wind are expected today..
ROAD WORK
26th SW – The closure between Roxbury and Barton has now shifted to the southbound side.
15th SW – Also as part of the RapidRide project, southbound 15th is closed at Roxbury for underground utility work.
Delridge project – Major work is done; look for our update today/tonight
TRANSIT
The fall “service change” happened Saturday, so various West Seattle changes are in effect, including the return of Routes 22 and 113. Also keep in mind the rerouting in RapidRide H Line work zones – on 26th and 15th SW in particular. Watch @kcmetrobus for word of canceled trips.
For ferries and water taxis, regular schedule today. Note that, as announced Monday, there will be NO West Seattle Water Taxi service this Saturday and Sunday, Watch @wsferries for ferry updates.
BRIDGES AND DETOUR ROUTES
560th 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.
This afternoon, Kersti Muul texted us as an FYI that a beluga whale had been spotted in Tacoma’s Commencement Bay. Then this evening, she got word of what’s probably the same one, seen off West Seattle.
The photo is by Shannon Felix, who was kayaking near Jack Block Park at the time of the sighting, around 5:30 pm. This is way out of the usual range for belugas, which – as explained in this NOAA fact sheet – are generally Arctic dwellers. But they can stray – we found this report of one off San Diego last year. Kersti says she’s consulted a beluga researcher to confirm that’s what this is.
(WSB photo from August, Water Taxi dock @ Seacrest)
No West Seattle Water Taxi service this weekend, because of dock work. Here’s what Al Sanders at Metro tells WSB:
The Water Taxi dock at Seacrest Park is in need of maintenance and will be closed this weekend, October 9th and 10th. Operations from West Seattle will cease after the 11 pm sailing on Friday October 8th and will resume again on Monday October 11th with the 6:15 am sailing. The weekend work will be separating two of the floats, replacing the rubber cushions and the connecting wires between the floats.
That is an almost-stolen catalytic converter and the tool the would-be thieves had to leave behind when Edgar chased them off late last night:
Heard a clatter outside our house on the corner of 42nd and SW Brandon and found two young men taking liberties with my Lexus catalytic converter. Not my best moment but I ran out, swore at them and proceeded to kick the guy that was underneath my car and they took off in a sedan with Oregon plates. They threw their beverage at me on the way by.
A call to police ensued. SPD incident # is 21-261915.
As Sound Transit gets closer to the next milestone in West Seattle-Ballard light-rail planning – publishing the Draft Environmental Impact Statement this fall – it’s just announced a plan for new Community Advisory Groups. Here’s the announcement:
Sound Transit is looking for people along the West Seattle and Ballard corridor who bring diverse perspectives and lived experiences to serve on a community advisory group (CAG). The CAGs will provide an additional forum for community members to help inform the Sound Transit Board’s confirmation or modification of the preferred alternative for the West Seattle and Ballard Link Extensions project.
The CAGs will work collaboratively to highlight issues and tradeoffs to the community for the Sound Transit Board to consider as the agency works to deliver a project on time and within scope. Feedback from the advisory groups will be taken together with all the input gathered from the public comment period when Sound Transit releases the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the project, and shared with the Sound Transit Board before it confirms or modifies the preferred alternative early next year. In addition to participating on a CAG, community members will be able to engage in a variety of ways during the public comment period including at public meetings, by phone, mail, email and online.
The CAGs will include a balance of neighborhood and community interests and reflect the diversity throughout the corridor, including income level, race, age, physical and cognitive abilities, and lived experience. Each advisory group will be comprised of 10-15 community members, and organized by geographic area.
Sound Transit is seeking people who:
· Live, work and/or volunteer along the project corridor.
· Are a part of or have deep understanding of one or more of the communities along the corridor.
· Have knowledge and/or interest in public transportation, mobility and how transportation affects the lives of people in the region.
Sound Transit asks that members be prepared to:
-Act as a community ambassador, willing to share information with community members and bring forth community values, concerns, and ideas.
-Consider the community as a whole and go beyond personal interests.
-Participate collaboratively with group members whose views may be different from their own.
-Attend approximately six-monthly meetings from fall 2021 through early 2022, participating fully in the process.Interest forms will be accepted through 5 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 27. Fill out an interest form at wsblink.participate.online/#cag. For assistance, contact the West Seattle and Ballard Link Extensions project team at wsblink@soundtransit.org or 206-903-7229.
From the West Seattle Food Bank, news that the annual food-drive competition between local physical therapy clinics has begun! Here’s how you can be part of it:
For the 10th year, West Seattle Physical Therapy clinics are uniting for the month of October in a good-natured competition to celebrate National Physical Therapy Month with donations to the West Seattle Food Bank.
The participating PT clinics are:
Biojunction Sports Therapy – 3729 California Ave. SW
Dexter Physical Therapy – 6021 B California Ave SW
Highline Physical Therapy – 4700 42nd Ave. SW
Lake Washington Physical Therapy – 1309 Harbor Ave. SW
Life in Balance Physical Therapy – 5410 California Ave. SW
Kinetic Physical Therapy – 4828 California Ave. SW
Sea Pines Physical Therapy – 4617 37th Ave. SW
Sound Physical Therapy – 3823 Delridge Way SW
(added) Therapeutic Associates West Seattle Physical Therapy – 4532 42nd Ave. SW
Please stop by one of the above clinics before October 31 and drop off your donation! The Food Bank will be weighing each clinic’s donations throughout the month and let you know which clinic will be victorious, but we know for sure that our West Seattle neighbors in need will be the real winners!
Seattle Public Schools‘ weekly COVID-19 dashboard update shows a case-increase rate this week that’s only slightly higher than the previous week – 69 new cases; last week’s increase was 63. Here are the school-by-school breakouts for our area, with the changes from a week earlier – again, the numbers are cumulative for the entire school year so far:
Chief Sealth International High School – 12, up 4
Denny International Middle School – 12, up 2
Roxhill Elementary – 8, up 2
Highland Park Elementary – 8, unchanged
Lafayette Elementary – 6, unchanged
Madison Middle School – 4, up 2
Gatewood Elementary – 4, unchanged
West Seattle High School – 3, up 1
Pathfinder K-8 – 3, unchanged
Arbor Heights Elementary – 2, newly reported this week
West Seattle Elementary – 2, unchanged
Fairmount Park Elementary – 2, unchanged
Genesee Hill Elementary – 1, unchanged
Louisa Boren STEM K-8 – 1, unchanged
Sanislo Elementary – 1, unchanged
Still no cases reported at Alki or Concord International elementaries, according to the dashboard.
(Friday’s sunset cloudscape, photographed by Kanit Cottrell)
Here’s what’s ahead for today/tonight:
SHOE DRIVE: Here’s our weekly reminder that the Lafayette Elementary PTA “has partnered with Funds2Orgs to raise money for the PTA and repurpose shoes by sending them to developing countries around the world.” You can drop off “gently used” shoes at West Seattle Runner (2743 California SW; WSB sponsor) through mid-November; the store is open 10 am-6 pm today..
CITY COUNCIL: Today’s 2 pm agenda (which explains how to comment/watch) includes final votes on renaming “single-family” areas to “neighborhood residential” areas, as well as rental regulations and a resolution supporting decriminalization of entheogens.
OPEN D&D: Drop-in play at Meeples Games (3727 California SW), 6:30-10 pm.
HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS: One local home match tonight – Chief Sealth International High School (2600 SW Thistle) hosts Rainier Beach in volleyball, with the varsity team playing at 7 pm.
READ THE KORAN IN 4 WEEKS: Rev. Ron Marshall‘s next series starts tonight, 7 pm, online – details in our calendar listing.
(added) GOOD SOCIETY TRIVIA:Monday Night Trivia at The Good Society Public House (California/Lander).
•Hosted by Jesse of ‘Trivia O Muerte’.
• 7-9 pm
•Teams up to 8 people welcome.
•$2/person entry – winner take all.
•proof of vax or negative test required to be inside/play
QUIZFIX TRIVIA: 7:30 pm at The Skylark (3803 Delridge Way SW), with prizes.
Anything we’re missing today/tonight? Text our hotline at 206-293-6302 – otherwise, email upcoming event info to westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
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