silent is fuck West Seattle Blog… | 2018 | August

West Seattle, Washington

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month : 08/2018 314 results

YOU CAN HELP! Two Dream Dinners sessions next week to support Pearl Jam-led fundraising to fight homelessness
August 4, 2018 4:19 pm
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   How to help | West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news

Even if you’re not going to the Pearl Jam Home Shows next week, you can support the band-led fundraising campaign to help with homelessness. We have heard from one West Seattle business that’s joining the campaign – longtime WSB sponsor Dream Dinners-West Seattle:

Dream Dinners, West Seattle is proud to band together with Pearl Jam and our community to alleviate homelessness.

We are committing $10 of each session sale on August 7 and August 8 to support #thehomeshows. Eat, drink and fight homelessness in King County.

Select a date and dinners for:
Tuesday, August 7th at 6:29 PM, or
Wednesday, August 8th at 6:30 PM
Password: dinner

Assemble 3 medium family-size (2 to 4 servings) dinners for $34.95.

Select 3 of the following dinners:

Terracotta Chicken with Pita and Hummus
Savory Grilled Chicken with Sesame, Honey Butter
Kentucky Pork Chops with Bacon Ranch Green Beans
Limoncello Shrimp with Coconut Rice
Buffalo Chicken Cavatappi

Snag your spot by following one of those links above and placing your order. Haven’t been to Dream Dinners before? Here’s how it works.

P.S. Other Seattle-area food-and-drink businesses donating part of their proceeds next Wednesday are listed here.

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UPDATE: Short-lived water-rescue response on Alki
August 4, 2018 3:13 pm
|    Comments Off on UPDATE: Short-lived water-rescue response on Alki
 |   West Seattle news | WS breaking news

3:13 PM: Seattle Fire is sending a water-rescue response to Alki/Harbor. We haven’t yet heard the reason for the dispatch but have a crew on the way.

3:18 PM: The call has closed.

3:26 PM: WSB’s Christopher Boffoli arrived in the area and verified there’s no trace left of an emergency response.

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West Seattle 10-year-old’s big bike ride
August 4, 2018 2:35 pm
|      9 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle people | WS & Sports

The report and photo are from proud mom Joelle Hammerstad:

West Seattle’s own Boden Hammerstad finished the 202-mile Seattle-to-Portland (STP) bike ride with his dad, David Hammerstad, last month. At just 10 years old, Boden is one of the youngest riders to finish the race. It was a long ride with temperatures in the 90s on both days of the race. Boden and his dad started out at the University of Washington on Saturday, July 14, and camped in Chehalis that night.

On Sunday, July 15, the final day of the ride, with less than 20 miles to go before the finish line, Boden took a spill, and had to get bandaged in the medic tent. (See the bandage on his arm.) He wasn’t deterred, though. He got right back up on his bike, and finished the final stretch — even passing adults along the way as he sped toward the finish line.

Boden is a rising fifth grader at Genesee Hill Elementary. He got the idea to ride the race last summer, and asked his dad to help him train to become a rider this year. He and his dad trained all spring and into the summer — going on rides sponsored by the Cascade Bicycle Club, as well as on their own. They participated in the Flying Wheels ride in June to practice for the big day. Boden’s hard work culminated in finishing the largest multi-day bike ride in the Pacific Northwest.

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West Seattle Thriftway: Benefit barbecue today, Night Out contest catering Tuesday
August 4, 2018 12:18 pm
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   How to help | West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news

At West Seattle Thriftway (4201 SW Morgan; WSB sponsor), Michele Grasso is leading another benefit barbecue right now – on most summer Saturdays, the store cooks and serves a barbecue lunch to raise money for a local nonprofit. Today it’s the Humane Society, and you can stop by until mid-afternoon.

The store has more community-supporting excitement ahead Tuesday night: Catering a Night Out party in Sunrise Heights for the winner of a contest held to raise awareness of the annual community-building block party night. Over the past two months, customers used punch cards – one punch for every $20 spent shopping – to get contest entries. Michele says more than 400 cards were entered by the time they made the drawing. The winner, Julie Robinson-Jasper, gets Thriftway catering for the 20+ people expected at her Night Out block party Tuesday (August 7th) in Sunrise Heights. The store’s announcement quotes her as saying she’s turning it into a fundraiser: “Now since nobody has to bring food or drinks, I’m going to ask them to bring money and we’ll donate it to the West Seattle Food Bank.”

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West Seattle Saturday: What’s happening, including traffic alerts
August 4, 2018 7:53 am
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Blue Angels flyby on Friday, photographed from Duwamish Head by David Hutchinson)

We start with traffic alerts:

TRAFFIC ALERTS, NOT JUST FOR BLUE ANGELS: The I-90 floating bridge will close again 12:55-2:45 pm for the Blue Angels‘ Seafair performance. And from SDOT, there are two West Seattle alerts – first, “periodic closures” near the West Marginal/Chelan/Spokane/Delridge intersection because the post-tanker crash cleanup isn’t over yet; also, at the east end of the Roxbury corridor:

This is the first weekend crews will work 12+ hours/days to improve safety at the busy 1st Ave S and Olson Place SW intersection. Excavation starts at 7:30 AM Saturday, to trench and then lay conduit across all lanes of 1st Ave S, for new traffic signaling. Over approximately 70′ of trench, crews will place steel plates — drivers, especially motorcyclists, use extreme caution!

Work continues 8:30 AM – 9 PM Sunday, then picks up again next weekend. Expect lane closures and be patient, as crews work hard to complete the project in 4 consecutive weekends.

Now here’s what else is happening:

VOLUNTEER TO PROTECT TREES: 9 am-noon work party near Fauntleroy/Juneau – location specifics are here, plus other details.

CULTURAL-HISTORY HIKE: Walk in the West Duwamish Greenbelt starting at 10 am and learn about Native cultural history with Ken Workman, the great great great great grandson of Chief Sealth (Seattle) – details in our calendar listing. Meet at 19th/Dawson trailhead.

WADING POOLS: Likely to be open today, given the forecast – Saturday pools are Delridge (Genesee/Delridge) and Hiawatha (Walnut/Lander) noon-6:45 pm; Lincoln Park (8011 Fauntleroy Way SW) 11 am-8 pm. We’ll update when confirmed.

SUMMIT ATLAS HIGH-SCHOOL RIBBONCUTTING: The charter school’s new building has a ribboncutting set for noon today, as previewed here. (9601 35th SW)

‘WHEN YOU WISH UPON A PIZZA’: Goofy free theater at Roxhill Park, 5 pm – details here. (29th/Barton)

SALSA ON ALKI: Dance at the beach! 5-10 pm. Cost and other details here. (61st SW/Alki SW)

DBB DOWNHILL BIKE RIDE: 6 pm, the irreverent-and-then-some annual ride is scheduled to take off this year from Drunky’s Two Shoes BBQ in White Center. (16th SW/SW 98th)

‘THE LAST JEDI’ AT WEST SEATTLE OUTDOOR MOVIES: As previewed here last night, gates open at 6:30 pm, movie at dusk (9-ish) outside the West Seattle YMCA (WSB sponsor) as West Seattle Outdoor Movies continue their free Saturday night shows. “Star Wars: The Last Jedi” is tonight’s movie. (3622 SW Snoqualmie)

‘COCO’ AT CINE EN EL PARQUE: 6:30 pm at Dick Thurnau Memorial Park in White Center, “Coco” is onscreen at the annual King County-presented outdoor movie. (11050 10th SW)

GARY DAVIS: Singer-songwriter performs at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor), 7-9 pm. (5612 California SW)

SEE THE FULL LIST … on our complete-calendar page.

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West Seattle Crime Watch: Restaurant burglar; gas theft; two stolen vehicles found
August 3, 2018 10:20 pm
|      19 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | West Seattle news

In West Seattle Crime Watch:

RESTAURANT BURGLARY: The manager of El Chupacabra on Alki says a security camera caught this man breaking into their restaurant Thursday morning:

If you think you recognize him, contact police and refer to incident #2018-285377.

GAS THEFT: Amy had an unpleasant surprise Thursday night: “Wanted to report that someone stole all the gas out of my car. I am a water taxi commuter, and had the vehicle parked at Salty’s. Last night I returned to the vehicle late after seeing a movie and noticed my gas light was on and the needle below E. I had filled the 17 gallon tank on July 30th, and had 51 miles on the odometer. Maybe send out a warning to commuters if they don’t have a locking gas cap that this could be a trend.”

And a followup note:

STOLEN VEHICLES FOUND: The two stolen vehicles most recently reported here in Crime Watch have both been found – the Toyota pickup stolen from Delridge was found on Puget Ridge; the Accord stolen in Admiral was found in Skyway.

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SATURDAY: “Star Wars: The Last Jedi” at West Seattle Outdoor Movies
August 3, 2018 9:16 pm
|    Comments Off on SATURDAY: “Star Wars: The Last Jedi” at West Seattle Outdoor Movies
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle Outdoor Movies

The second movie in the third “Star Wars” trilogy is on the big screen tomorrow night outside the West Seattle YMCA (3622 SW Snoqualmie; WSB sponsor) in The Triangle. You can watch “The Last Jedi” free at dusk Saturday – it’s the third of this year’s six West Seattle Outdoor Movies! Bring your own chair/blanket and find a spot as early as 6:30; the movie’s at dusk, probably around 9 pm.

This week’s spotlight nonprofit is the West Seattle Food Bank, and if you bring a few dollars for raffle tickets, you’ll be supporting the Y and taking a chance on some cool prizes. Also: West Seattle’s own Sweet Bumpas Ice Cream will be there selling cool treats, in addition to the Y’s weekly concession offerings. We’re this year’s media sponsor – see you at the movies!

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Seen off West Seattle: R/V Sally Ride
August 3, 2018 8:23 pm
|    Comments Off on Seen off West Seattle: R/V Sally Ride
 |   Seen at sea | West Seattle news

Thanks to David Hutchinson for photographing the R/V Sally Ride, seen off West Seattle today. It’s a U.S. Navy=owned research vessel, operated by the Scripps Institute of Oceanography, named for the first American woman in space. Tonight, MarineTraffic.com shows it off the north end of Harbor Island. The 238-foot vessel was built by Dakota Creek Industries up in Anacortes.

P.S. If you’ve been noticing the big gray USNS Bob Hope anchored across the bay in recent days – looks like it finally left today; MT shows it currently up in Everett.

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FERRY BACKUP UPDATE: Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth run returns to 3 boats
August 3, 2018 6:43 pm
|      6 COMMENTS
 |   Fauntleroy | Seen at sea | West Seattle news

6:43 PM: Friday afternoon ferry backups in Fauntleroy are regular occurrences but today’s has been far worse than usual – there’s an extra problem: The Washington State Ferries run between here, Vashon, and Southworth is down a boat. The WSF bulletin says, “Vessel #2 M/V Sealth is out of service until further notice due to problems with the number one engine. Vessel maintenance crews are assessing the problem. All vessel #2 departures are cancelled. #1 Cathlamet and #3 Kitsap are following the regular schedule for #1 and #3 departures.” One tipster reported a backup on Fauntleroy Way all the way to Fairmount Park.

SATURDAY MORNING UPDATE: The third boat returned as of 5:35 am, per WSF.

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Looking for work? Looking for workers? Next Westside Job Fair set for September
August 3, 2018 5:04 pm
|    Comments Off on Looking for work? Looking for workers? Next Westside Job Fair set for September
 |   West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news

Whether you are seeking employee(s) or employment, you’re invited to be part of the second Westside Job Fair, just announced by the West Seattle Junction Association and West Seattle Chamber of Commerce. Local businesses will set up at Great American Diner and Bar in The Junction (4752 California SW) 10 am-1 pm Tuesday, September 18th, for on-the-spot interviewing. (We’ve signed on to be its media sponsor again.) If you’re a business owner and interested in participating, you can e-mail lora@wsjunction.org or call 206-935-0904 to sign up.

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FOLLOWUP: West Marginal Way fully reopens after post-tanker-crash cleanup
August 3, 2018 3:24 pm
|      6 COMMENTS
 |   Environment | West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

That image is from the traffic cam on West Marginal at Spokane/Chelan/Delridge; SDOT says it is now open again, more than 24 hours after a tipped tanker truck was removed and crews started removing spilled gasoline from the drainage system (as explained here). We’re following up with Seattle Public Utilities to see if there’s any new info, but wanted to let you know that the traffic backups should now ease. Meantime, the tanker’s owner, Coleman Oil, has posted a statement in the comment thread following our original coverage of the Wednesday night incident.

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Inside the new building that West Seattle charter school Summit Atlas is about to open
August 3, 2018 2:02 pm
|      28 COMMENTS
 |   Arbor Heights | West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

(WSB photos)

West Seattle’s first and to date only charter school, Summit Atlas, plans a ribboncutting event tomorrow for the new building they’ve added to their Arbor Heights site (which had its first ribboncutting a year ago). We toured it and talked with Summit Atlas’s high-school principal Katie Bubalo as she prepares for the new school year, which starts August 20th for new students, August 21st for returning students.

Summit Atlas opened a year ago with 6th and 9th grades and this year will continue ramping up toward being a full 6th-12th-grade campus by adding 7th and 10th grades. Bubalo says the 7th grade has a waiting list but there’s room in other grades. Asked about last year’s enrollment, she said it fluctuated but ended the year around 105 students in 6th grade, 65 in 9th grade, and while she couldn’t cite numbers, she said the “overwhelming majority” are returning this year.

The new building – adjacent to the former supermarket/church that Summit remodeled before opening last year – has two stories and will mostly be used for the high-school grades, though elective classes for all students (including drama, art, yoga) will be held there. It includes room for special-education classes and a new program called Joy Academy for special-education students whose disabilities might lead them to seek alternatives to traditional college – job training, life skills, etc.

The emphasis in Summit buildings is on flexible open space. Each floor in the new building has a common area; on the ground floor, that space will be used as a lunch area for the high-school students, among other things. (It is a closed campus; Bubalo says they might have a conversation with parents in future years about whether to change that for the older high-school students.)

Upstairs classrooms include spaces for English classes that will also include the school library.

This year, Summit Atlas’s staff will double in size, about 30, according to Bubalo. They will all be on hand at tomorrow’s 12 pm ribboncutting event, as will students and families. We asked about other stats from the first year. Their assessment results will eventually be released by the state, Bubalo said. She describes their demographics as “no (ethnic group) over 35 percent” and evenly split between students eligible for free/reduced-price lunch and those who are not.

Charter schools, approved by Washington voters in 2012, receive state funds for operations; purchase of and construction at the 9601 35th SW site was funded by Washington Charter School Development, from which Summit leases it. Both WCSD and Summit are part of California-based organizations.

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FOLLOWUP: What’s next for SDOT’s Arbor Heights sidewalk project
August 3, 2018 1:03 pm
|      7 COMMENTS
 |   Arbor Heights | Transportation | West Seattle news

(SDOT photo)

SDOT‘s Arbor Heights sidewalk project has veered off its original schedule, as neighbors are well aware. Brand-new info is just in regarding what SDOT says will happen next:

The water shut off by Seattle Public Utilities (SPU) has been postponed from last week to next Monday, August 6. Water will be shut off from 9 AM – 6 PM. Impacted areas include: 35th Ave SW and 36th Ave SW (between SW 100th and SW 104th St) and SW 102nd St (between 35th Ave SW and 36th Ave SW). SPU notified impacted households.

Due to delay and shortage of concrete, we are slightly behind on schedule – our crews are finishing pouring concrete for the curbs between SW 100th St and SW 102nd St today (all curbs are complete after today).

Next Monday, we will pour concrete on all of the driveways – come Tuesday, residents will be able to park on their driveways again.

We will also be paving asphalt on the roadway against the curb (where the gravel used to be).

35th Ave SW will remain open this weekend.

We are scheduled to pour concrete for all sidewalks on Wednesday, August 15.

The main goal of the project is to add sidewalks to the west side of 35th SW from SW 100th to SW 106th.

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SPORTS: Early travel day for West Seattle Little League’s regionals-bound state champs
August 3, 2018 11:56 am
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | WS & Sports

The state-champion West Seattle Little League All-Stars traveled today Southern California today to get ready for their first game at 4 pm Sunday in the Little League Northwest Regionals. The photo is from a team mom, Brooke Gosztola; she reports, “The team met bright and early (5:00 a.m.) at Sea-Tac Airport for their flight to So Cal. Regionals, here they come!”

P.S. As mentioned here Thursday, there’s a crowdfunding campaign to help cover expenses, if you would like to pitch in.

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West Seattle Friday: Summer Concerts at The Mount debut, HPIC’s Corner Bar, and more!
August 3, 2018 10:44 am
|    Comments Off on West Seattle Friday: Summer Concerts at The Mount debut, HPIC’s Corner Bar, and more!
 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Bald Eagle with a pursuer, photographed by Mark Wangerin)

Six notes for your Friday:

WADING POOLS: The Seattle Parks hotline says they will NOT be open today.

THE WORLD’S SLOWEST COMPUTER: 2 pm at High Point Library, a fun competition to build it, as explained here. Free; registration not required. (3411 SW Raymond)

BASKETBALL, STREET ART, & PIZZA: 3-5 pm:

Pickup basketball for middle- and high-school-aged youth and basketball skill activities for younger children on the courts behind Neighborhood House High Point. There will also be art activities set up and led by teaching artists from Nature Consortium. Pizza and beverages will also be provided. The street will be closed to traffic.

(6400 Sylvan Way SW)

SUMMER CONCERTS AT THE MOUNT: The annual four-show series starts tonight, 5:30 pm dinner if you want to buy yours there, 6 pm music, on the south side of the Providence Mount St. Vincent campus, tonight starring The Abbagraphs with ABBA songs and other disco-era music. Dinner menu:

Citrus-Marinated Mahi-Mahi Tacos
Or your choice of
All Beef Franks, Grilled Hamburgers, Veggie Black Bean Burgers

All with Macaroni Salad, Watermelon and Corn on the Cob

Dessert: Mamma-Mia Baklava

Free popcorn/snow cones. Bring your own chair/blanket. (4831 35th SW)

CORNER BAR: First Friday means it’s time for the pop-up bar at Highland Park Improvement Club. Doors open at 6 pm; music by the Yada Yada Blues Band starts around 8 pm. DJ Dr. Lehl, too! All ages; no cover; food and beverages available for purchase. (1116 SW Holden)

BOOK READING/SIGNING: 7 pm at Easy Street Records, author Thomas O’Keefe reads from and signs his new book, “Waiting to Derail: Ryan Adams and Whiskeytown, Alt Country’s Brilliant Wreck,” which “provides a firsthand glimpse into Ryan Adams at the most meaningful and mythical stage of his career.” Free; all ages. (California/Alaska)

WHAT ELSE IS HAPPENING? The full list is on our complete calendar.

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YOU CAN HELP! Go birding, and ‘contribute to vital seabird science’
August 3, 2018 9:58 am
|    Comments Off on YOU CAN HELP! Go birding, and ‘contribute to vital seabird science’
 |   How to help | West Seattle news | Wildlife

(Image provided by Seattle Audubon: White-Winged Scoter photographed by Doug Schurman)

We know the WSB readership includes many bird lovers. Seattle Audubon hopes some might be able to help with this:

Are seabirds in Puget Sound and the Strait of Juan de Fuca increasing or decreasing in numbers? Which species are changing their range? Help us find out.

The Puget Sound Seabird Survey (PSSS) is a community and citizen-science project managed by Seattle Audubon that empowers volunteer birdwatchers to gather valuable data on wintering seabird populations across the southern Salish Sea.

This season we will be expanding the project, yet again, this time north to the Canadian border and the San Juan Islands. We received funding from the Environmental Protection Agency’s National Estuary Program through the Washington Dept. of Fish & Wildlife to add 15-30 new survey sites, develop an oil spill plan and train volunteers on how to react to a spill.

You can contribute to vital seabird science by joining the twelfth season of this exciting project. We are now recruiting enthusiastic and dedicated volunteers to help us monitor the status of our local wintering seabirds. Training on survey methodology will be provided on Tuesday, 17th September at Lincoln Park, with other trainings taking place at 8 additional locations later in September and early October.

The first seabird survey of the season will take place on October 6th, 2018. Volunteers should ideally be able to identify Puget Sound’s seabird species and be available on the first Saturday of each month, October through April, to conduct a 30-minute survey. But, if determining between Lesser and Greater Scaup is a challenge, we’ll team you up with more knowledgeable surveyors. To help us determine each volunteer’s seabird identification skill level, please take this short, fun seabird ID quiz.

There are five survey sites in the West Seattle area that we need volunteers for, 10 sites in the Seattle area that require more volunteers, and numerous other sites around Puget Sound with spaces.

Learn more at www.seabirdsurvey.org and email Toby Ross, Science Manager tobyr@seattleaudubon.org to take part.

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TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Friday watch
August 3, 2018 7:00 am
|      11 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

(SDOT MAP with travel times/video links; is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE)

7 AM: Good morning! No incidents reported in/from our area so far.

Alerts/FYIs:

I-90 BRIDGE CLOSURE: 12:55-2:45 pm today for the Blue Angels‘ Seafair appearance.

STADIUM ZONE: Mariners are home again tonight, 7:10 pm vs. Toronto.

7:11 AM: Transit alert just sent by Metro:


Also:

WEST MARGINAL LANE CLOSURE: The SDOT camera shows the westbound outside lane remains closed east of the West Marginal/Spokane/Chelan/Delridge intersection, as the cleanup related to Wednesday night’s tanker crash continues.

7:19 AM: And now a crash reported on the high bridge, eastbound, described as a single vehicle blocking the left lane after hitting the median.

7:26 AM: Via radio communication – SFD units arriving at the scene report that no one is hurt, so all but one of their units will leave the scene, and that one will be awaiting SPD. This is just past the 99 exit, per tweeted image from SDOT.

7:36 AM: They’re calling for a tow truck and also for SDOT, for cleanup.

7:43 AM: SFD has cleared the scene but police still have 2 lanes blocked pending the aforementioned arrivals.

7:50 AM: If you’re headed in from the south – crash in the right lane on NB First Avenue S. Bridge.

8:02 AM: One lane still blocked on the eastbound bridge now just past 99 as they continue to await a tow for the car tha crashed in the left lane.

8:27 AM: Towed; should be clear before long.

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Southwest Design Review Board sends 4508 California SW back for 2nd try at 1st round
August 2, 2018 11:35 pm
|      15 COMMENTS
 |   Development | West Seattle news

(The “packet” prepared for the Design Review meeting)

By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

For the second time this summer, a West Seattle Junction business owner brought a California Avenue SW mixed-use redevelopment project to the Southwest Design Review Board for the first time.

Both reviews started similarly – with the business owner introducing himself and talking about his history in The Junction – but they ended differently.

Thursday night, unlike two weeks ago, board members sent the project back for a second attempt at the first phase of the process, Early Design Guidance.

The project is 4508 California SW. The entire board was present for the review – chair Don Caffrey, Crystal Loya, John Cheng, Scott Rosenstock, Matt Hutchins – plus assigned city planner Allison Whitworth.

PROJECT TEAM PRESENTATION: The longtime local entrepreneur who owns the site, Leon Capelouto, stood up and opened with some personal history.

He described his background (which we covered in this 2014 story) as “the American dream.” He noted that he has long represented the “interests of the merchants and the (Junction Association) and will continue to do so.” He also mentioned serving on the board of Trusteed Properties, owners of the land that holds The Junction’s “free parking lots,” and being committed to continued parking availability.

Capelouto said his ~70-apartment project will include 25 percent affordable units and says he’s offering the existing commercial tenants on the site “a chance to relocate (in the new building) at a reduced rent if they so choose.” (One of the three spaces in the buildings proposed for demolition is vacant, the former West Seattle Cyclery; the other two spaces have long housed two restaurants, Kamei and Lee’s Asian.)

Read More

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LAST CALL: Friday’s the deadline for voting on ‘Welcome to West Seattle’ sign
August 2, 2018 9:13 pm
|      25 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | WS culture/arts

Will it be option A …

… or option B?

If you haven’t yet voted on which you would rather see along the Fauntleroy Way end of the West Seattle Bridge, thanks to the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce‘s receipt of a gift from philanthropist Adah Cruzen, you have until tomorrow (Friday, August 3rd) to get that done! All the backstory is here; the link for voting is here.

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VIDEO: Car fire by 35th/Barton 7-11
August 2, 2018 8:13 pm
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle fires | West Seattle news | Westwood

8:13 PM: Thanks to the texter who sent that photo of a car fire at the 35th/Barton 7-11. Seattle Fire is still on the scene, according to the incident log. No other details.

ADDED 11:43 PM: Thanks to Ben for sending the video:

As you can see, firefighters got it out quickly.

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VIDEO: Micaiah Sawyer @ Summer Concerts at Hiawatha
August 2, 2018 7:29 pm
|    Comments Off on VIDEO: Micaiah Sawyer @ Summer Concerts at Hiawatha
 |   West Seattle news | WS culture/arts

7:29 PM: The sky is gray but the music is bold and bright in The Admiral District tonight, as the third Summer Concerts at Hiawatha presentation features Micaiah Sawyer (above center), her band, and – as you can see in front of the stage – a would-be guest musician. All ages are out enjoying the evening:

Still time for you to get there – the concert (free!) is scheduled to continue until 8 pm.

Next week (6:30 pm August 9th) it’s “Northwest psychedelic” music with General Mojo’s. (WSB is a series co-sponsor.)

ADDED 10:07 PM: Video from tonight’s concert:

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FOLLOWUP & TRAFFIC ALERT: What’s being done to clean up thousands of gallons of spilled fuel, post-tanker crash
August 2, 2018 5:20 pm
|      22 COMMENTS
 |   Environment | West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

That image was taken a short time ago from the SDOT camera on the east side of the Spokane/Chelan/West Marginal/Delridge intersection, the area blocked off for almost 12 hours after a double-tanker truck went sideways and spilled gasoline. The cleanup continues, and that’s led to the lane closure shown on the camera – so you’re advised to keep avoiding the westbound routes through that intersection. Meantime, we have information from Seattle Public Utilities regarding pollution concerns and what the crew’s doing there; we contacted SPU spokesperson Andy Ryan to ask about it. He provided these details:

The truck leaked an estimated 2,800 to 3,200 gallons of gasoline into the City’s storm drain system, which empties into the Duwamish River. At this point, the fuel has not made it into the river—although we anticipate that some fuel is likely to enter the river.

The transportation company responsible for the spill is paying for contractors to remove the fuel from the storm drain system, and transfer it to storage tanks. Seattle Public Utilities is overseeing the cleanup.
Seattle Fire has sprayed Novacool fire retardant foam in the area to reduce the chance of fire. SFD got the foam as part of a $247,000 grant from Washington Ecology. Novacool is said to be of lower toxicity than other fire retardants, and it breaks down faster to decrease the risk of oxygen depletion in receiving water.

SPU is monitoring safety issues, ensuring there is not an explosive environment in the drainage system, and closing a lane of traffic to facilitate cleanup. Cleanup efforts are expected to take about 36 hours. The cleanup will be performed by vacuum trucks specially designed for the removal of gasoline.

… Because of the potential explosion/fire risk, this material [foam and gas] cannot be boomed and contained at the outfall. There is a large oil/water/separator (OWS) between most of the spill and the outfall that was built and installed specifically for this purpose. As of right now there are several inches of fuel in the OWS and the cleanup contractor (NRC) hired by the trucking company is working on keeping that material pumped down. We are cautiously optimistic that the OWS will prevent most of the material from entering the waterway. This area is tidal, and is beginning to go out so there will be more indication of the level of material bypassing the OWS as the afternoon goes on. At this time, we cannot estimate the volume of material that will be unrecoverable.

The worst-case scenario is fish kills in the area. Gasoline will typically dissipate relatively quickly when exposed to the atmosphere. This would be aided if sunny weather, but unfortunately it does not look like there is sunshine in the forecast. Department of Ecology is taking responsibility for monitoring from the outfall and has a boat from NRC on standby in the event spill material bypasses the OWS.

SPU Spill Response and Safety is onsite to monitor the clean-up activities of NRC and is developing a schedule for SPU to staff the site until the cleanup is complete. As of now, NRC has the appropriate resources onsite to effect clean-up. Early estimates indicate the cleanup process could take 24-36 hours. A debriefing and review of the incident after the clean-up is done will indicate if further action (enforcement) by SPU Source Control & Pollution Prevention is warranted.

As reported in our previous coverage, SPD’s Traffic Collision Investigation Squad is looking into the cause of the crash, with early indications that the trailer went sideways as the truck made a sharp turn. No injuries were reported.

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Remembering Kevin J. Cota, 1964-2018
August 2, 2018 4:00 pm
|      10 COMMENTS
 |   Obituaries | West Seattle news

Kevin J. Cota‘s family is sharing this remembrance with the community:

Kevin Jerome Cota

Began his journey February 4th, 1964 – Changed Paths July 12th, 2018

Kevin was born in Las Vegas, NV but called West Seattle home for most of his childhood and adult life. He moved to Alki to start his story. Kevin loved his experiences with his friends from West Seattle and Alki Elementary. If you knew Kevin from school, then either you are a teacher who had to get on him for his homework or a friend who remembers him for his warmth and joy.

He was a pressman at the Seattle Times for over 20 years and had an unbreakable bond with his friends and colleagues. Kevin loved his job and loved his colleagues more. He was always there to lend a hand when anyone was down; it was his mission to win everyone over and at least try to make a connection. He organized events to raise money for any colleague suffering from illness. If you knew him, then you know what a big heart he had.

Kevin’s strength was not in his muscles but in how big his heart was for everyone. He chose to look at each day of his life as a gift and offered love and kindness when someone was feeling down. Throughout his own battle with cancer, Kevin was often worried about the wellbeing of others in his life and reached out to comfort them.

He lost his fight with cancer July 12th, 2018, surrounded by people who love him dearly.

He is survived by his husband Bruce, sister Theresa, countless extended family and friends (Ron, Daniel, Cathi, Val and Mark, Bonnie, thank you! and many others), and his true love, his mutt Murphy J.

Kevin blessed us all with his kind heart, his easy laugh, and his infectious joy for music, scary movies, and the simple pleasures of hanging out with his beloved people. He made us better. He made us kinder. Though our hearts are broken, the memories and love Kevin gave to us are ours to keep.

Kevin wanted to extend a heartfelt thanks to Dr. Peter Shalit and the Oncology care team at Virginia Mason; Dr. Aboulafia, Dr. Beiter, Dr. Yao, Social workers and ALL of the supporting team. Kevin had an amazing team who tried everything, were generous with their compassion, and, best of all, gave him more time with us.

We will all be touched by cancer at some point, so please consider any size donation to Cancer Pathways (Formerly Gilda’s Club) or Virginia Mason Oncology department. He lived longer as a result of their care and love.

We love you, Kevin!

(WSB publishes West Seattle obituaries by request, free of charge. Please e-mail the text, and a photo if available, to editor@wsb.blackfin.biz)

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