West Seattle, Washington
14 Sunday
Family and friends will gather October 28 to celebrate the life of Jerrol Neupert. Here’s the remembrance they are sharing with the community now:
Jerrol Ross Neupert was the only child born to Hugo and Eleanor Neupert in Seattle.
After graduating from Chief Sealth High School, he earned a degree in Biology from Carleton College in Northfield, MN. He then attended Medical School and earned his M.D. from the University of Washington in Seattle. He met and married his wife of 45 years, Janet Doris (Adams) Neupert, during his residency at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN. He was drafted into the Navy and served as the base ophthalmologist in Groton, CT.
After the military, they moved to Seattle to establish an ophthalmology practice. He finished his medical career in 2013 when he retired from Eye Associates Northwest. He was dedicated to his work and his patients’ health and well-being, as well as time with his family. His passions involved building and flying radio-control model airplanes. Additionally, he was an avid reader, which he thoroughly enjoyed at home and on vacation.
He is predeceased by his parents as well as his loving wife. He is survived by his children, Shevaun D. Neupert, Ph.D. (Jan Hannig, Ph.D.) and Erich R. Neupert (Stephanie H. Neupert), and his grandchildren, Klára and Declan Hannig and Valerie and Cassandra Neupert. We will celebrate his life on October 28th at 11 am at West Side Presbyterian Church in West Seattle. Any donations are recommended to Mothers of Preschoolers.
(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)
6:01 AM: Good morning! It’s Tuesday, October 17th.
WEATHER AND SUNRISE/SUNSET TIMES
More rain likely, high in the low 60s. Sunrise today is at 7:31 am; sunset, 6:17 pm.
(Monday sunset, photographed by Tom Trulin)
ROAD-WORK ALERT
Delridge repaving in the northbound lanes north of Genesee is scheduled to continue today – here’s the announcement from Friday.
TRANSIT TODAY
Water Taxi – Regular schedule today – now on fall/winter schedule, which is still 7 days a week, but no late-night service Fridays/Saturdays.
Metro – Regular schedule today; check advisories here.
Washington State Ferries – 2-boat service on the Triangle Route. Check alerts for changes, and use Vessel Watch to see where your ferry is.
SPOTLIGHT TRAFFIC CAMERAS
Delridge cameras: Besides the one below (Delridge/Henderson), cameras are also at Delridge/Genesee, Delridge/Juneau, Delridge/Orchard, and Delridge/Oregon.
High Bridge – the main camera:
High Bridge – the view from its southwest end (when SDOT points the 35th/Avalon/Fauntleroy camera that way):
Low Bridge:
1st Ave. S. Bridge – southeastern route across the river:
Highway 99: – northbound side at Lander:
MORE TRAFFIC CAMS: See all working traffic cams citywide here, most with video options; West Seattle and vicinity-relevant cameras are on this WSB page.
BRIDGE INFO: The @SDOTBridges feed on Twitter/X shows whether the city’s movable bridges are opening for vessel traffic.
If you see trouble on the bridges/streets/paths/bay, please text or call us (when you can do that safely, and after you’ve reported to authorities if applicable). Thank you!
11:43 PM: Seattle Fire has a sizable response in the 9200 block of 20th SW for what’s described as a fire in a “vacant building.”
11:46 PM: The fire was apparently confined to the fireplace, and only four of the originally dispatched ~20 units are still on scene.
11:53 PM: Side note, the property to which this call is logged has a demolition permit and a plan for six townhouses.
11:59 PM: The call is closed.
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
If you have something to say about the draft Seattle Transportation Plan, you have one more week to say it – October 23 is the deadline.
One West Seattle man is not only commenting – he’s proposing a neighborhood transportation transformation as his feedback, and he’s inviting you to travel along.
Maybe you’ve seen the flyers Jack Conness has posted in Highland Park and South Delridge, pointing you to his Highland Park Public Transformation Plan website:
After a reader saw one of Jack’s flyers and told us about it, we contacted Jack to find out more, and sat down with him for an early-morning chat at Fresh Flours Bakery in South Delridge. Jack is a relatively new arrival – two years ago – to south Highland Park, a former Californian who is originally from “90 miles west of Chicago.”
While he landed here with the thought that it might be a stepping stone to another area of Seattle, he says he’s “fallen in love with this neighborhood” and that’s why he is proposing a plan to make it safer. “I thought I could put something out there that might sway decisionmakers (and) instead of just submitting a comment myself, I could submit a comment with lots of people.” He also admits he’s a “bit weird and wonky” at heart.
His experience of getting around started with arriving here as a UW graduate student – during the West Seattle Bridge closure – and having to get to UW. That put him in the public transportation system, taking the bus to light rail to get to school. (He’s enamored with how Seattle is expanding its light-rail system, even knowing that’s more because the region is trying to catch up, than leaping ahead.)
He works in climate-change policy, so he’s interested in that aspect of transportation too, aware that to get people onto buses and rail they have to be more safe and available.
But right outside our doors, being able to walk and bike safely in neighborhoods is the first step (literally). So he’s outlined some ideas.
He lives near 14th and Roxbury, and crosses the latter “all the time” to get to the “incredible food and nightlife options” in White Center. “It’s a nightmare” and was even more so when the bridge closure made Roxbury another major detour route, leaving drivers “sitting on the crosswalk in their vehicles.” Another street that factors into his plan, SW Henderson, for which he proposes reconfiguration:
“It splits north and south Highland Park and feels like a freeway – built for speed.” No place to truly safely cross between 9th and 16th, he says, but families in south Highland Park have to cross it to get to Highland Park Elementary on SW Trenton. No kids in his family yet, but he and his wife cross with their dog. “It’s dangerous. Our neighbors have kids – not a fun trek to make. So how do we make it safer and friendlier” for everyone to cross? He also has ideas for Thistle, 16th, Roxbury, and 10th, with some raised crosswalks in the mix too.
Getting to Westcrest Park is another challenge. “It’s a great park but there’s no safe way to get there unless you’re driving.” And to those who are skeptical because they’re not seeing many people walking or biking now, Jack offers a line from a movie about professional baseball (in which he worked): “If you build it, they will come.” And that means more chances to interact with your neighbors.
He started getting the word out via posters because he figured people already walking and biking would be those most interested in his ideas. They had been barely up a week by the time we talked on Friday, and he’d already received almost 50 signatures. The first one, he recalled, “was an incredible feeling – somebody else feels the way I do.” He’s also already met with some interested residents who are “trying to find ways to get involved … I didn’t expect this outcome so quickly, I thought I was the only weird person out there.”
Jack has also talked with people who have long been involved and heard about “the battles they’ve had to fight.” He hopes he can add new energy to the fight. He is also encouraged by the new leadership in SDOT – this is the first year for director Greg Spotts – “I’ve been following what they’re up to … (things) can’t change overnight but I’m very much excited and motivated, so that’s part of why I wanted to get involved.” He’s requested one of the neighborhood walking tours Spotts has promised to attend.
But right now, he wants to find out who else is interested in signing on to his plan before he sends it to the city for consideration before the draft Seattle Transportation Plan becomes the official Seattle Transportation Plan. That won’t be the end of his efforts, though, but just the beginning. “The intent is, low-cost, low-barrier moves that can be made. This is step one of many more.”
We ask, if just one part of your plan can become reality for starters, what would it be? SW Henderson, Jack replies, seeing it as a “simple fix” with stop signs and bicycle infrastructure.
His plan also suggests a bike path araund Highland Park Elementary and the park next to it – “imagine if you could safely send your kid out on that bike path … It’s an incredible community that’s continuing to grow (and) invite more people in.”
And the people, he believes, is who should take precedence on the streets – it’s not good enough, in his view, to have “greenways” which are supposed to be shared streets where “you have to trust drivers” so the signage confers “a false sense of security.” Other halfway measures aren’t enough, either: “Crosswalks with a flag are a policy failure.”
You can see Jack’s full proposal here. Here’s where you can sign on, if you support it. (Or if you want to submit your own comment on the draft Seattle Transportation Plan, you can go here.) Wherever his ideas go, he’s optimistic: “The future is bright.”
As we continue spotlighting West Seattle Halloween-decoration displays, tonight’s photos are from Ryan, who announces:
The light show at 4040 47th Ave. SW (4040 House) is once again live for Halloween.
The show will run nightly from 6 pm-9 pm.
We have all-new music and some new lights. There is a new feature “the haunted jukebox”. Those watching can request songs from a playlist. More information can be found at 4040house.com.
We ask people remember to keep the noise down and if you do drive, please park along Dakota or Andover.
Big thanks again to everyone who’s sending tips, with and without photos – westseattleblog@gmail.com – and see what we’ve already showcased by scrolling through our Halloween archive, here!
It was a day full of off-on rain … but also multiple rainbow sightings. Thanks to everyone who sent photos! Above, an end-of-day Alki photo from Lisa Murphy; below, from Robin Sinner:
Stewart L. captured the downtown skyline beneath a rainbow:
And Manuel photographed the meeting of rainbow, state ferry, and cruise ship:
Still a chance of more showers through tomorrow, and then the forecast clears up for a while, possibly sunny and near 70 degrees on Thursday!
Another one-car crash toward the west end of the westbound West Seattle Bridge. The driver was apparently unhurt but their Jeep Liberty is reported to be partly blocking traffic as it approaches the Fauntleroy end of the bridge. One caller, according to dispatch, reported the vehicle had flipped; this is out of camera range so we haven’t confirmed that.
SDOT sent an update today on the Highland Park Way/Holden project – paving is done, installation of the art piece is weeks away, and the new signal will follow:
(SDOT photo, west side of Highland Park Way SW)
We recently finished pouring concrete and asphalt for the Highland Park Way SW and SW Holden St Safety Project. There are now new sidewalks, curb bulbs, and ADA accessible ramps along Highland Park Way SW between SW Holden St and SW Portland St. These improvements will make this intersection safer and more accessible for people living, working, and traveling through the area. …
Last week, we moved most of the equipment and materials out of the area. We also hydroseeded the new topsoil, a process where we spread a mixture of grass seed, fertilizer, mulch, and water. You should see grass sprouting soon. We will return briefly over the next few months to complete the following:
*Remove old roadway markings and paint new ones. This is tentatively scheduled for late October but could shift based on weather.
*Install a new public art piece in early November. (Artist Matthew Mazzotta‘s rendering of “Where’s the party?” is a larger than life Steller’s jay that will perch at the SW corner of Highland Park Way SW and SW Holden St.)
*Install permanent metal traffic signals and poles at the Highland Park Way SW and SW Holden St intersection in December or January. You’ll notice there are orange barrels at the four corners of the intersection. These are protecting the exposed anchor bolts for the future poles.
The permanent signals will replace temporary signals that were hastily installed right after the West Seattle Bridge’s sudden shutdown in March 2020, after SW Holden and Highland Park Way SW became a major detour route to get to the 1st Avenue South Bridge. Community members had been lobbying for safety improvements to the intersection for many years before that.
(Photos courtesy Camp Long)
West Seattle’s Camp Long (5200 35th SW) has two special events ahead – and multiple ways for you to be part of them. One is the first “Trail or Treat” since 2005! This is set for 4-8 pm Saturday, October 28. Camp Long’s Matt Kostle explains:
The idea is to have community organizations and members “adopt” a cabin, which simply means they would volunteer to provide people to decorate the cabin however they want (and can totally include info about their organization/programs/etc.) and have someone or several people there during the event to hand out goodies of their choice (we are recommending more natural items like fruit leathers or things like that as opposed to the standard trick or treat candy)! Dressing up is of course encouraged as well but not required!
We will create a pathway with lights that goes to all the respective cabins for folks to stop at for goodies and will end at one of our shelters for activities from our Naturalists, a campfire with smores goodies and some story telling!
With that we have an ask of the community and that is that we need organizations to adopt these cabins! We have a few already spoken for but would love more from the community! We would also love to have support in the form of anyone who wants to volunteer helping set up on the day of the event! Camp Long feels like such a perfect place for this type of family friendly event but we would love to spruce it up even more so in addition to people, if anybody has any décor they would be willing to donate to this event please let us know! I am attaching a photo (above) all the way back from 2005 which might have been the last time we did an event like this to showcase some decoration ideas! We would also love lighting for the pathways if anyone is able to help with that! We will share the final lighted pathway that we will map out based on how many cabins we have participating. We are hoping to wrap up getting volunteers signed up by the 19th! Please reach out to us at camp.long@seattle.gov or 206-684-7434 to sign up for volunteering or adopting a cabin for the event!
Camp Long is also planning a Día de Muertos Ofrenda! Above is a photo of last year’s ofrenda.
The Seattle Parks & Rec Environmental Education Team would like to invite our neighbors and community to participate in this beautiful Mexican tradition. The altar will be located on the north side of the lodge and available for viewing beginning October 28 at Camp Long’s Trail or Treat event. The installation will be available until Nov 10 and we would love for the public to participate by adding pictures, nameplates, or special items to our community ofrenda. This is a way to celebrate and honor the life of loved ones who have passed. For more information, you can reach out to Nicolasa Hernandez, Seattle Parks & Rec Community Naturalist, at Nicolasa.Hernandez@seattle.gov
While a formal plan isn’t expected until next month, Seattle Public Schools‘ next step toward addressing a budget gap happens at a School Board work session tomorrow (Tuesday, October 17). We heard today from a local teacher who says it’s important for concerned families to turn out for the meeting – at SPS HQ in SODO – because of the recent reconfiguration plans (WSB coverage here) as well as what’s ahead. She writes:
SPS’s management made a mistake. We need families to go to the SPS board budget meeting, TOMORROW. Tuesday October 17, 4:30 pm – in-person at JSCEE. The goal is to get many families in one place to connect and support one another. We URGENTLY need to get currently unaffected schools to support our affected schools because they could become affected schools next.
SPS administrators say they have a budget gap of more than $100 million to cover, and here are some of the possibilities listed in a slide deck for tomorrow’s meeting (part of the agenda documents):
You might recall, the “system of well-resourced schools” is where the possible school closures/consolidations come in, but again, the detailed proposal on that is still a month away. The district collected some community feedback at recent meetings (here’s our coverage of the one in West Seattle), mostly general opinions such as “what do you like about your school?”, and plans a report on the feedback at tomorrow’s work session too. If you’re interested in attending, the district HQ is at 3rd/Lander; if you can’t go, you can watch the livestream here.
P.S. Our area’s school-board member Leslie Harris has her next community Q&A meeting this Saturday (October 21st), 2-5 pm, at West Seattle (Admiral) Library, 2306 42nd SW.
9:48 AM: Two weeks after a 21-year-old man was shot and killed on a Metro bus at 15th/Roxbury, the King County Sheriff’s Office has identified a 17-year-old suspect and is releasing photos, asking for your help in finding him:
King County Sheriff’s Office (KCSO) Major Crimes Detectives are seeking the community’s help in locating the suspect of a homicide in White Center on October 3rd.
17-year-old Miguel Rivera Dominguez (pictured) has been identified as the suspect who fatally shot Marcel Da’jon Wagner, 21, on a Metro Bus earlier this month.
Rivera Dominguez has strong ties to the Burien area and is known to use public transportation or seek rides from others. It’s likely he will be wearing a mask to conceal his face while in public. Rivera Dominguez is believed to be armed and extremely dangerous.
Anyone with information on the suspect’s whereabouts can submit a tip by calling (206) 263-2090, via email at mcutips@kingcounty.gov, or anonymously via the P3Tips app. If located, call 911 immediately.
We asked KCSO for any additional descriptive information. They tell us he is 6′ tall, 170 pounds.
3:53 PM: A reader just forwarded us an alert sent to the South Seattle College (WSB sponsor) community by campus security:
… we are sending this alert because the suspect does have ties to our main campus in West Seattle and could show up here.
There is no known immediate threat to our college or campus at this time. If that changes, we will send emergency alert messaging. Campus security is doing extra patrols to keep an eye out for the suspect and is in contact with authorities investigating the case.
We asked SSC for any further information about the suspect’s “ties”; they had none to provide.
7:09 PM: Commenters noted that it appears Rivera Dominguez is or was a student at Burien’s Highline High School. One reader has since forwarded us a community message from HHS principal Clint Sallee saying he is a former student: “Miguel left HHS in December of 2022 and has not attended our school since that time. Some of our students know Miguel. Hearing this information about a former classmate or friend may impact them. Please contact the counselor if you believe your student needs support.”
When you have a small business, you’re often everything from the CEO to the CTO to the COO to the HR director to the staff. How do you get it all done? Spending just one hour in a free class this Thursday at West Seattle Coworking (WSB sponsor) can pay off – here’s the invitation:
Hello, neighbors and fellow business owners. Following the success of last month’s workshops, we are happy to present another free event for our beloved Business community. There are so many hats to wear as a small-business owner and so little time in the day. Come and learn from this one-hour conversation on how to boost our efforts and regain lost momentum. This Thursday, October 19th, 5-6 pm at West Seattle Coworking HQ, 9030 35th Avenue SW. Find more details and signup link here.
6:03 AM: Good morning! It’s Monday, October 16th.
WEATHER AND SUNRISE/SUNSET TIMES
More rain, possibly a pm thunderstorm, breezy, high in the low 60s. Sunrise today is at 7:29 am; sunset, 6:19 pm.
ROAD-WORK ALERT
Delridge repaving in the northbound lanes north of Genesee is tentatively scheduled to start today – here’s the announcement from Friday.
TRANSIT TODAY
Water Taxi – Regular schedule today – now on fall/winter schedule, which is still 7 days a week, but no late-night service Fridays/Saturdays.
Metro – Regular schedule today; check advisories here.
Washington State Ferries – 2-boat service on the Triangle Route. Check alerts for changes, and use Vessel Watch to see where your ferry is.
SPOTLIGHT TRAFFIC CAMERAS
Delridge cameras: Besides the one below (Delridge/Henderson), cameras are also at Delridge/Genesee, Delridge/Juneau, Delridge/Orchard, and Delridge/Oregon.
High Bridge – the main camera:
High Bridge – the view from its southwest end (when SDOT points the 35th/Avalon/Fauntleroy camera that way):
Low Bridge:
1st Ave. S. Bridge – southeastern route across the river:
Highway 99: – northbound side at Lander:
MORE TRAFFIC CAMS: See all working traffic cams citywide here, most with video options; West Seattle and vicinity-relevant cameras are on this WSB page.
BRIDGE INFO: The @SDOTBridges feed on Twitter/X shows whether the city’s movable bridges are opening for vessel traffic.
If you see trouble on the bridges/streets/paths/bay, please text or call us (when you can do that safely, and after you’ve reported to authorities if applicable). Thank you!
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
Voting begins this week in the general election, with three major open seats in our area – Seattle City Council District 1, King County Council District 8, and Seattle School Board District 6.
At its monthly lunch meeting this past Thursday, the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce hosted two half-hour mini-forums with the candidates in two of those races. We’ve already published our coverage of the Q&A with the County Council candidates (see it here). Here’s what happened when City Council D-1 candidates Maren Costa and Rob Saka shared the stage to answer questions asked by local journalist/broadcaster, and Chamber board member, Brian Callanan. (The Chamber’s new executive director Rachel Porter made it clear first that the organization does not endorse candidates and was presenting this as an opportunity “for our business leaders to hear from those who wish to represent us.)
Below are brief summaries of the questions and responses; as with our usual coverage format for events like this, these are paraphrases except for any words/phrases inside quotation marks.
10:06 PM: SFD has sent several crews to Westwood Village for what’s reported as an “exterior fire” at the Target loading dock They’re checking to see if it’s having any effects inside the store.
10:31 PM: This did not turn out to be major and two of the four units were dismissed quickly, with only one still on the scene, We’ll follow up with SFD.
ADDED: Here’s what SFD spokesperson David Cuerpo told us: “Crews responded to a rubbish fire outside of a retail strip mall. A bystander was able to knock down the fire with an extinguisher, then our firefighters fully extinguished it. The fire did not extend to any nearby buildings, and no injuries were reported.”
Rite Aid announced tonight that – as long expected – it has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. Its announcement says it’s arranged for $3.4 billion in financing, but expects to close “additional underperforming stores.” Rite Aid has two stores in West Seattle – California SW south of The Junction, and Westwood Village – and the company owns Bartell Drugs, which has two West Seattle stores, in Admiral and The Junction. As first reported here, the Bartell store in White Center was closed just two weeks ago. The announcement does not list stores planned for closure, and this “fact sheet” says, “While we do not yet know which stores will be closed, we will keep you informed as decisions are made.” No timeline is listed for those decisions. Meantime, if you’re interested in legal documents, a sheaf of them related to today’s filing can be found here. They include “first-day motions” on which a hearing will be held tomorrow before a federal bankruptcy judge in New Jersey, where the case was filed.
Thanks to the texter who tipped us about this today. The owners of West Seattle’s most-visible vacant house – 3804 23rd SW, along the Delridge onramp to the West Seattle Bridge – are under an “emergency order” to seal it up by tomorrow morning. The texter noted this order tacked up at the property:
It orders the building to be “closed” by 8 am tomorrow. We went by late today and didn’t see any sign of work to do that. We’ve mentioned this house many times over the years, most recently half a year ago, when we discovered a plan to remodel it. That plan does not appear to have advanced past pre-application stage so far. Meantime, the violation that has led to the “emergency order” to seal the house by tomorrow is related to at least four prior violations of the city’s Vacant Building Standards. Here’s the full notice; it says that if the owner doesn’t comply by the deadline, they can be fined up to $1,000 a day, and: “the [Department of Construction and Inspections] Director may take corrective action and recover the costs of that action (and) the City may file a lawsuit against you to collect the penalties and costs.” We’ll watch to see if anything comes of it; the house has been a problem spot for many years, even called out on a community-organized tour of problem properties in 2009, with city councilmembers and department heads in attendance.
Thanks to Jerry Simmons for contributing tonight’s featured Halloween-decorations photo. Somewhere in West Seattle, the spirit of the soothing-voiced TV painter Bob Ross is haunting a garage door! (Got a display to suggest, yours or someone else’s? We’ll be featuring at least one nightly through Halloween. westseattleblog@gmail.com is the best way to let us know – and thanks to everyone who’s already sent suggestions!)
2:14 PM: The Fauntleroy Fall Festival is on! You have until 5 pm to get to the 9100 block of California SW for free festival fun at venues on both sides of the street – the activity list and schedule can be seen here. (And if you’re worried about the weather – many of the events/activities are under a canopy or indoors.)
2:43 PM: Bunny visits are immensely popular. Here’s the line:
That’s happening behind the schoolhouse, where you’ll also find pumpkin bowling:
And music – the Brews Brothers are playing until 3:
Walking from that area toward the schoolhouse, you’ll find West Seattle photographer Holli Margell‘s decorated photo booth:
One change in plan – no birds; The Falconer had to cancel because of illness.
3:30 PM: Before the cakewqlk (video above), the cake judging – Josie and her Dia De Muertos cake won big:
(added) Kathryn sent the next photo – explaining, “Cora was so excited to win the beginners category with her first cake!”
Heading outside, to the Fauntleroy Church parking lot, a variety of festival classics – like pumpkin-decorating:
Birdhouse-building too:
Little ones can make salmon hats to wear to the salmon-drumming event one week from today:
Or get up and take a look inside Seattle Fire Engine 37 (nearest one to Fauntleroy):
Along with activities, you’ll also find booths with local organizations, including the Fauntleroy Community Association:
And the Emergency Communication Hubs (a good thing to get up to speed on – it’s just been a week since that North Sound earthquake shook some here, and the statewide earthquake drill is ahead this Thursday):
And as we’ve been noting in previews, this is volunteer-powered, including the crossing guards helping people get safely between the venues:
The rain has remained light, but again, there’s plenty to do indoors too – the West Seattle Big Band, directed by Jim Edwards, has just started its set inside The Hall at Fauntleroy on the schoolhouse’s south end!
Festival’s only half-over – still time to get here and have fun until 5.
7 PM: Adding more photos and video above. The festivities were best summarized by someone we passed while there, remarking to someone she was with, “This is a delightful fall festival!”
Opponents of Seattle Parks‘ plan to convert former Lincoln Park tennis courts into six pickleball courts gathered today for what you might call a pre-protest. 16 people met up by the park’s main lot, some with signs, before standing along Fauntleroy Way to wave them.
They were strategizing for what they hope will be a sizable protest at the park at 11 am next Saturday (October 21st). They say they’re not opposed to pickleball, just opposed to this location for courts. Their flyers to publicize the upcoming protest are headlined “We Love Pickleball! But Not at the Expense of Seattle’s Biodiversity and Human Respite.”
The biodiversity reference is in relation to birds in the park, who court-conversion opponents fear will be chased away by the loudness of pickleball and by court lighting (which may or may not be installed following the conversion, Parks has told us). Opposition organizer Kersti Muul says she has an appointment to meet with the City Attorney’s Office to discuss her contention that the court conversion is not exempt from State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) review; the city says it is because pickleball is not a change in use from the site’s previous status as tennis courts. This is a photo texted by a reader, showing Parks already has cleared the ex-courts of materials that had been stored there:
The conversion plan announced a month ago surprised people because local pickleball players were expecting Parks to make good on a promise to add pickleball striping to three of the six tennis courts at nearby Solstice Park when it’s resurfaced (which was supposed to have happened by now but is on hold until next year because of weather, Parks told us). Parks says it scrapped Solstice striping and came up with the Lincoln Park plan because both tennis and pickleball players preferred separate facilities.
Earlier this week, at the on-site meeting about the West Seattle Junction “landbanked” park site, we asked about its counterpart in Morgan Junction – the future “addition” site to expand the existing park north of Beveridge Place Pub. Parks’ Kelly Goold, who was at the Tuesday Junction pop-up, also happens to be point person on the Morgan project. He said the next step at that site remains the soil remediation (cleanup) required because a dry cleaner used to be on the site. Newest timeline for that, possibly next spring – he says they’re still struggling through the permit process. The design for that park, unlike the one in The Junction, is expected to evolve beyond its original plan, because of the community interest in adding a skateable area, sparked when community members turned the long-idle site into an unofficial skatepark next year. For a more-detailed update on where the site stands, attend this Wednesday’s Morgan Community Association meeting, 7 pm October 18, online – this is part of what’s on the agenda.
In 15 years of publishing the only all-West Seattle lost/found-pets webpage, we’ve heard a lot of stories about how pets find their way home. This week, we heard from Shelley, whose cat is home four months after vanishing, and her story carries a reminder for everyone who shares their life with one or more pets:
Almost four months ago we placed a Lost and Found notice in the West Seattle Blog for our kitty, who went missing on June 19th.
The good news is, a kind man named Dale brought her into West Seattle Animal Hospital in Jefferson Square and Dr. Quincy examined her and found she was chipped. A big thank you to the West Seattle Animal Hospital and especially to a West Seattle resident named “Dale” for bringing Natasha back to us. Surprisingly she doesn’t seem to remember us, but I’m sure we can love her back to the way things used to be.
We asked Shelley how Dale had found Natasha: “She had been living near the Sunset area behind his house down in the wooded area, and she would come up and eat his cat’s food. He fell in love with her and thought she was one brave, beautiful kitty, but his own cat was crabby with her. he is an elderly man and so kind to try to catch her and bring her in to the vet to get her checked out.” So the reminder is – be sure your pet is chipped! And be sure the chip information is up to date – we heard recently from another reader who got her dog back because the finders posted here, but might have had a faster reunion if the chip info had been updated – they’d moved over the years.
(Photo by Theresa Arbow-O’Connor)
Here’s what’s happening as the weekend continues!
NO WATER TAXI: The West Seattle Water Taxi is out of service this weekend for maintenance going into the fall/winter seasons.
WESTIES RUN CLUB: Now they’re running on Sunday mornings too – meet at 9 am at Dough Joy Donuts (4310 SW Oregon).
SOUTHWEST ARTIST SHOWCASE: Community art on display at Southwest Library (9010 35th SW), open 10 am-6 pm.
WEST SEATTLE SKI SWAP, DAY 2: Skis, snowboards, boots, gloves – get everything you need to start preparing for the winter-sports season at this big community sale!
It’s presented by Mountain to Sound Outfitters (WSB sponsor), happening 10 am-4 pm at the VFW Hall (3601 SW Alaska).
WEST SEATTLE FARMERS’ MARKET: 10 am-2 pm, the market is open as usual between SW Alaska and SW Oregon on California, offering fall fruit and vegetables as well as flowers, cheese, fish, meat, baked goods, condiments, fresh-cooked food, beverages (from cider to kombucha to beer/wine), nuts, more. Here’s today’s vendor list.
CHALLAH FOR ISRAEL: Torah Learning Center of West Seattle is demonstrating challah braiding at the Farmers’ Market today, 10 am-2 pm.
POP-UP ART SALE: Last day for the Alki Arts multi-artist pop-up in the pop-up space at Senior Center of West Seattle (4217 SW Oregon), 11 am-6 pm.
ART-GLASS PUMPKIN PATCH: Seasonal specialties at Avalon Glassworks (2914 SW Avalon Way), noon-4 pm.
FAUNTLEROY FALL FESTIVAL: Everything you can see and do during this free 2-5 pm celebration is listed in our most-recent preview, which includes the map of the festival grounds on both sides of the 9100 block of California SW. To list some of what’s happening – see birds and bunnies, decorate pumpkins, make a salmon hat, play and climb on inflatables, listen to live music, judge decorated cakes and win them during an old-fashioned cakewalk! (And remember that if you’re entering/donating a cake, drop it off at The Hall at Fauntleroy by noon.)
SEATTLE BRIDAL RACK GRAND OPENING: 2-4 pm, you’re invited to the grand-opening celebration at this new shop in North Admiral, as previewed here. (4304 SW Walker)
COFFEEHOUSE ART: Jennifer Carrasco leads figure painting/drawing at C & P Coffee Company (5612 California SW; WSB sponsor), 6-9 pm. Contact her to sign up.
EARLY HALLOWEEN PARTY: All invited, 6:30-8 pm at Admiral Church (4320 SW Hill):
HALLOWEEN BINGO, PIZZA, AND COSTUME PARTY!
FREE! Great costume and Bingo prizes! Community warmly welcomed!
Grand Prize: 3 nights in Scenic Leavenworth!
SUNDAY NIGHT JAZZ: Triangular Jazztet at The Alley (4509 California SW), 8 pm and 9 pm sets.
Something for our calendar – one-time or recurring? Email us the info – westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
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