West Seattle, Washington
20 Sunday
(WSB file photo, Electronettes in the West Seattle Grand Parade)
Less than 15 hours until the West Seattle Grand Parade! Some last-minute notes:
MAYOR AND POLICE CHIEF: The parade-presenting West Seattle Rotary got word this afternoon that Mayor Jenny Durkan and Seattle Police Chief Carmen Best will be in the parade, and shortly after we heard about that, the mayor’s office sent a “media advisory” saying they’ll precede the parade appearance with a “walking tour” in The Junction (eight months after their last one):
Mayor Durkan and Chief Best will first tour West Seattle, hear from the neighborhood’s small business owners, and discuss public safety and issues facing residents and employers in West Seattle.
They’re starting the tour at Husky Deli at 10 am.
PARADE PREPS: For parade participants, it’s the time for last-minute preparation:
That’s the crew from Potter Construction, a longtime WSB sponsor as well as a Grand Parade sponsor. Other local businesses you’ll see in the parade include Luna Park Café, returning after a hiatus.
SPEAKING OF FOOD: If you’re watching near the north end of the parade route, Kim at West Seattle Swinery wanted to mention his special: “We will be serving Danny’s famous pork belly rib sliders and a drink for $5.50 tax included until we run out.” (The Swinery is at 3207 California SW.)
PARADE BASICS: Official start time: 11 am (but the motorcycle drill teams may start sooner)
Route: California SW southbound from Lander to Edmunds
Announcers: Brian and Christa Callanan in The Junction, Ron Zuber at California/Charlestown
Closures: California SW from Admiral to Edmunds plus some side streets on both ends, for detours and reroutes, “no parking” starting at 7 am but roads close a bit later
Bus reroutes: See the links here
Float Dodger 5K: Starts near the north end of the parade route, on the field at Hiawatha, 9:30 am (more info here)
PAWrade: 11 am from California/Genesee to California/Edmunds (want to be part of it? here’s how)
Other previews: Scroll through our archive!
Katherine sent that photo with the explanation, “My view for the last 40 minutes … This is ridiculous. At least 3 days/week it’s taking +1.5hrs for me to go 8 miles!” Others on buses have been reporting an especially sluggish return to West Seattle tonight, too. This report via Twitter is one of several:
I was on C line and it took exactly 47mins to go one block(!) on 1st/Pioneer Square. Total 1.5 hr from Westlake/9th to Alaska Junction. It's been lovely for a couple of weeks lately.
— Hyeeun Kelly Park (@KellyPark06) July 20, 2019
Before 5 pm, via email, Katie reported a C Line bus being at a virtual standstill, and then: “The driver finally rebelled and drove down 1st Ave S and got on the overpass to WS. Passengers cheered.” Metro’s alert simply blames “congestion.” P.S. The Water Taxi is reportedly backed up too, with a longer wait because the smaller-capacity Spirit of Kingston is on the West Seattle run.
The summer sun returned just in time for those custom shades to be practical (as well as sporty) during tomorrow’s Float Dodger 5K before the West Seattle Grand Parade. The 5K along the parade route and back, to and from Hiawatha, returns after a year’s hiatus. Until 7 tonight, you can stop by West Seattle Runner (2743 California SW; WSB sponsor), where we took the photo, to pick up your packet and sunglasses, or to register if you haven’t already. (Very last-minute registration will be available tomorrow morning, too.) Here’s the Saturday plan:
8:00 am – Registration and Packet Pickup opens
8:45 am – Free Kids Dash around the track
9:00 am – Costume contest
9:30 am – Race starts
10:00 am – Awards ceremony
10:15 am – After party at West Seattle Runner
Shortly afterward, it’s time for the Grand Parade – one last preview later this evening!
(Click for current “live” map of closures)
Thanks to everybody who called our attention to a state alert about sewage spills that briefly led to a warning to stay out of the water at multiple beaches including Alki. That “closure” is no longer in effect, according to a state update. But just so you know what happened:
The Washington Department of Ecology is investigating sewage treatment failures at King County’s two largest sewage treatment plants. The following is the latest information Ecology has on the unauthorized discharges at the West Point Wastewater Treatment Plant and Renton Wastewater Treatment Plant.
Early this morning, the West Point Wastewater Treatment Plant released an estimated 3 million gallons of untreated sewage for approximately 27 minutes, after backup pumping systems failed during power disruptions at the plant. The system diverted incoming wastewater to an emergency outfall near North Beach in Discovery Park.
On July 18, there was a different power failure at the county’s Renton Wastewater Treatment Plant, resulting in potentially limited disinfection of treated wastewater. This limited disinfection lasted approximately 50 minutes. The Renton plant discharges into Puget Sound, about two miles offshore, northwest of Duwamish Head in Seattle.
Ecology is investigating both incidents as unauthorized discharges that would violate the state’s water quality permits for the facilities. The county reported the incidents to Ecology. Ecology anticipates taking necessary enforcement actions after its full investigation.
The release of sewage into Puget Sound has prompted local health departments to issue several beach closures. Ecology keeps a list of current beach closures online. We advise the public to check with their local health departments for beach closure updates.
If you scroll down this page, you’ll see the list in King County has been revised to ONLY Discovery Park beaches. Alki is OK.
Today we welcome one of our newest WSB sponsors, Spa Phoebe. Here’s what proprietor Phoebe Lind (below with therapy dog Franklin) wants you to know about what she offers:
Phoebe says, “We are a client-based establishment, meaning we gear all our services to fit the client’s needs. We believe that every person is unique and their body responds differently to different modalities.” She also says that the reviews and emails Spa Phoebe has received since opening last September talk about how clients find that she and her staff truly care about their needs and comfort and about how she and her staff are happy to accommodate clients’ specific goals in a safe, inviting, and professional space.
Spa Phoebe offers reiki, Swedish, prenatal, hot-stone, oncology, and deep-tissue massage. You can also book facials, waxing, and lash- or brow-tinting appointments, and you can book a session for a body treatment like a scrub, wrap, or an infrared sauna blanket or bio mat.
She adds that one of her clients calls Spa Phoebe her “happy place,” while others look forward to seeing her and her dog Franklin. Others say they keep coming back because Phoebe has created a place where you can appreciate the calm environment the spa offers.
Spa Phoebe is involved with the community, including membership in the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce and West Seattle Junction Association. Phoebe has also donated to many West Seattle schools and organizations in the few months since she opened. You might have seen her last weekend at West Seattle Summer Fest – and tomorrow you will see Phoebe and Franklin in the West Seattle Grand Parade!
Spa Phoebe is at 4801 Fauntleroy Way SW. You can book appointments online by going here.
We thank Spa Phoebe for sponsoring independent, community-collaborative neighborhood news via WSB; find our current sponsor team listed in directory format here, and find info on joining the team by going here.
11:50 AM: One by one, the canoe families are leaving Alki Beach, carrying their wooden canoes to the water and paddling off to the next stop, hosted by the Suquamish Tribe on the Kitsap Peninsula, ultimately headed for the Lummi Nation, this year’s hosts at journey’s end. (And yes, this is what the helicopter is circling Alki for; it’s a TV chopper.) More photos to come.
1:04 PM: The Duwamish Tribe has joined the Paddle to Lummi – after we left Alki, we found the Duwamish canoe launching from Don Armeni:
Back at the beach, Alki photographer David Hutchinson says all have left, just one canoe (flying the Chehalis flag) left on the beach. He sent this photo:
ADDED FRIDAY NIGHT: Carrying a canoe back to the water posed some challenges:
It was something to watch with admiration:
The departures continued:
Still adding!
(Rendering by Ankrom Moisan)
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
Hugs and handshakes last night from friends and family of Husky Deli proprietor Jack Miller, after the Southwest Design Review Board gave unanimous approval to the project that will be his business’s new home.
It’s not the final step, though, in the permit process for the project, which Miller says could start construction in about a year (depending on how it fares in the city’s infamous backlog).
But it’s an important step. The board had no major critiques in its second and final look at the project, one year after its first. Here’s how it went:
(Sailing off Constellation Park, photographed by Robin Sinner, shared via the WSB Flickr page)
Highlights from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
COLMAN POOL CLOSED TO THE PUBLIC: Another swim-meet closure today.
CANOE JOURNEY DEPARTURES: The Paddle to Lummi resumes around 11 am, we’re told, with canoe families leaving Alki after spending the night with the stop-hosting Muckleshoot Tribe. Time approximate, though. (2701 Alki SW)
POCKETFUL OF POEMS: 11 am at Southwest Library</a>: “Create poems, haikus and artwork with award-wining author/illustrator Javaka Steptoe!” (9010 35th SW)
FRIDAY AFTERNOON AT THE MOVIES: 1 pm at the Senior Center of West Seattle, this week’s movie is the original “Planet of the Apes.” $1 members, $2 nonmembers, includes popcorn. (4217 SW Oregon)
WHITE CENTER JUBILEE DAYS: Carnival 1-11 pm at White Center Heights Elementary as the festival continues. (10015 6th SW)
FLOAT DODGER 5K PACKET PICKUP/REGISTRATION: 4-7 pm at West Seattle Runner (WSB sponsor), pick up your packet for tomorrow’s pre-parade 5K if you’re registered, sign up if you’re not. (2743 California SW)
SHAKESPEARE IN THE PARK: GreenStage presents “The Taming of the Shrew,” 7 pm at Camp Long. Bring your own chair/blanket to sit on. Free! (5200 35th SW)
AT C & P COFFEE: Singer/songwriter Michael Prysock, 7-9 pm, no cover, all ages. (5612 California SW)
AT KENYON HALL: 7:30 pm, “unique and engaging evening of songs and stories” with Bobby Bridger. Full details here. (7904 35th SW)
OUTWEST BAR FAREWELL PARTY: Sunday’s the last day of operation for Outwest Bar but tonight’s the big bash with Dolly and The DJ one more time. 9 pm-2 am. (5401 California SW)
AT THE SKYLARK: Water Felon and The Thursday Collective, 8 pm, $8 cover, 21+. (3803 Delridge Way SW)
AT PARLIAMENT TAVERN: Shady Bottom, 9 pm, $8 cover, 21+, party funk. (4210 SW Admiral Way)
(SDOT MAP with travel times/ Is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE/ West Seattle-relevant traffic cams HERE)
7:27 AM: Good morning! No alerts or incidents reported right now in our area.
STADIUM ZONE: Mariners are back home starting tonight, 7:10 pm vs. the Angels.
TUNNEL CLOSURE TONIGHT: The NB 99 tunnel is scheduled to be closed 11 pm tonight through 9 am Saturday.
SATURDAY STREET CLOSURES – WEST SEATTLE: The West Seattle Grand Parade will close California SW south of Admiral Way, to Edmunds, by 8 am tomorrow, until early afternoon. Some side streets near the start and end of the route are used for staging and breakdown. The NO PARKING signs are up for 7 am-3 pm on affected streets. Bus reroutes are linked here.
WEEKEND STREET CLOSURES – WHITE CENTER: On Saturday, the White Center Jubilee Days street fair will close 16th SW all day and into the night between Roxbury and 100th. On Sunday, the Jubilee Days parade will close 16th in the morning between 100th and 112th.
Parade day is almost here! Saturday at 11 am, the West Seattle Grand Parade will start at California/Lander, headed southbound to California/Edmunds. Every year we watch and listen as parade coordinators meet to put the final lineup together, so that we can share some preview info with you. Tonight – some of the performing participants you’ll see (besides the marching bands we’ve already previewed)!
*Joyas Mestizas (2018 parade photo above)
(Pathfinder K-8 Unicycle Team in a past West Seattle Grand Parade)
*The famous unicyclists from Pathfinder K-8
*Jump-rope stars from West City Ninjas and RopeWorks (2018 entry in above video)
*Cheer teams from local high schools
*Drill teams
*Martial artists
*Seafair Pirates and Clowns
And of course, this remains the ONLY area parade with two motorcycle drill teams – it’s the only U.S. appearance by the Vancouver, B.C., PD team, and the hometown Seattle PD team is part of the Grand Parade too. The two groups of motorcyclists take to the street before the rest of the parade, and if you are in The Junction, you’ll see the PAWrade on California between Genesee and Edmunds first. (You can be part of it too – and/or you can start your morning even sooner with the Float Dodger 5K leaving Hiawatha and taking to the parade route at 9:30 am.) One more preview to come before parade day!
(WSB photo: Sen. Joe Nguyen and WS Chamber board chair Lauren Burgon)
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
“Some of my positions are controversial because I don’t care about getting re-elected.”
So said 34th District State Sen. Joe Nguyen toward the end of his West Seattle Chamber of Commerce Q&A today at The Kenney (WSB sponsor).
He was a last-minute booking – the Chamber had long planned to host County Executive Dow Constantine at this month’s lunch meeting, but he canceled yesterday, and first-year Sen. Nguyen agreed to appear instead.
We recorded it all on video:
Text toplines ahead:
7:24 PM: Just in from an Arbor Heights resident – this clip showing a package thief in a “Just Do It” T-shirt. The victim reports:
We had a few packages stolen from our porch today, and this dude seemed to be making the rounds (I’m assuming because a lot of Prime Day stuff was getting delivered).
If it’s helpful to anyone, here is the video from my doorbell … it seems like others have had the same people steal from them today as well.
The resident also sent this clip from a neighbor’s camera showing a different thief but apparently the same vehicle. We’ll add the police-report number when available. This kind of incident usually can be reported online – police continue to reiterate that it’s really important for everything to be reported.
11:59 PM UPDATE: Police report # is 19-264203.
6:14 PM: Just in from the Admiral Neighborhood Association – the first Summer Concerts at Hiawatha show, scheduled for 6:30 tonight, is RAINED OUT – the gym at Hiawatha is not available as a backup. No word yet if Sway Wild will be rescheduled. Five more Thursday night concerts are scheduled – here’s hoping for better weather!
ADDED 8:23 PM: Thanks to Mark for texting the photos.
(WSB photos added)
4:58 PM: Avoid Delridge Way at Juneau. Seattle Fire and Police have sent a big response for a reported rollover. SB Delridge is reported to be blocked. We’re on the way to find out more.
5:16 PM: Our crew just arrived. No injuries. The driver whose vehicle rolled hit a parked motor home. Police are letting traffic through both ways, alternating directions.
5:22 PM: Police say no one was in the motor home when it was hit.
This is actually south of Juneau, right across from Louisa Boren STEM K-8. SDOT has a cleanup crew on scene.
ADDED FRIDAY AFTERNOON: City records show the 40-year-old woman driving the car was cited for inattentive driving.
SDOT‘s weekly “what’s next” update for the Avalon/35th repaving-and-more project has arrived. Note some timetable updates, a new road closure ahead, and also, the project team addresses why 35th had a very slow morning earlier this week:
Crews have paved the west side of SW Avalon Way from SW Charlestown St to south of SW Andover St! Crews also completed the last expected water shut offs this week to connect the new water mains at 35th Ave SW and on SW Avalon Way at SW Charlestown St.
Zone A (SW Avalon Way from SW Spokane St to SW Yancy St)
We are continuing work on SW Avalon Way between SW Charlestown St and SW Andover St, including:*Beginning roadway demolition and excavation on the east side of SW Avalon Way between SW Yancy St and SW Charlestown St to rebuild the road
*A closure of SW Yancy St due to our work on the nearby bus pad. The closure is scheduled to begin as early as Friday and last for a few weeks.Zone E (35th Ave SW from SW Avalon Way to SW Alaska St)
We are continuing work on the new drainage utilities on 35th Ave SW from SW Avalon Way to SW Alaska St, including:*Beginning roadway demolition and excavation on the west side of 35th Ave SW to rebuild the road as early as next week
*Storm drainage work at SW Oregon St and SW Snoqualmie St
*We are monitoring the worksite on the weekends and will implement traffic control as needed.Things we’ve heard from the community
Each week, we’ll plan to address a few common questions we’ve heard from your neighbors.
Once the road is rebuilt by my home, will I experience any more impacts?
Once we have substantially completed base paving and sidewalk improvements in the road near your home, active roadwork will not take place in front of your home until we come back later this fall to pave the final, top layer of SW Avalon Way. After paving, it’s anticipated that we’ll return in spring or summer of 2020 to re-channel the road with new striping and install the protected bike lane.Why was traffic so bad during the morning commute on Wednesday the 17th?
Crews conducted night work overnight from Tuesday, July 16 to Wednesday, July 17 on 35th Ave SW to make the final connections and water service transfers over to the new water main. This work took longer than anticipated so crews were not able to safely open the road until around 8:35 AM. Thank you for your patience and we apologize for the inconvenience on your morning commute.Where will work start next?
Now that the water main is connected, we will work to rebuild 35th Ave SW over the next few weeks We’ll also work to build a new transit island at SW Avalon Way. We anticipate beginning work in zone C (SW Avalon Way between SW Genesee St and 35th Ave SW) as early as mid-August.
Does that mean the 35th work won’t last all the way until November? We’re asking that on followup
The rendering and announcement are from the neighborhood volunteers in Friends of the Delridge Triangle:
Over the past several months, The Friends of the Delridge Triangle and community members have worked with the contracted landscape architects Makers, to gather and create a community-generated plan to redevelop the Delridge Triangle at 9201 Delridge Ave SW.
We now need your feedback on key design ideas so South Delridge can move forward in the creation of a pocket park that will dramatically increase safety sight-lines as well as encourage children and adults at all levels to accessibility to gather, celebrate and play.
Will you please take the feedback survey? This round of feedback will close on Sunday, July 28th: surveymonkey.com/r/DelridgeTriangle
Community work to create a brighter future with a more-usable Delridge Triangle has been under way for almost three years.
From King County Water Taxi management: M/V Doc Maynard is getting a propeller replaced, so the lower-capacity Spirit of Kingston is on the run until Saturday. That could mean some sold-out runs, so don’t wait till the last minute to show up for a particular departure!
12:33 PM: As previewed, tribal canoe families headed north on the Paddle to Lummi have begun arriving at Alki Beach for an overnight stay hosted by the Muckleshoot Tribe. Far fewer than last year since this is near the start of the northbound route, as opposed to last year, when it was toward the end of a southbound journey – about 15 are expected today, Muckleshoot cultural director Willard Bill Jr. told WSB.
The canoes will remain on the beach overnight, departing tomorrow, headed northwest to the next stop, hosted by the Suquamish Tribe. Updates to come!
1:46 PM; All here:
Buses still line the water side of Alki Ave. SW to transport the visitors to the Muckleshoot HQ in Auburn.
ADDED THURSDAY EVENING: More photos. The arrivals coincided with a very low low tide, so there was a considerable distance to haul the canoes up onto the beach.
Next three photos are by David Hutchinson, capturing some of the details of the canoes:
At the next stop in Suquamish, the canoe families will stop for two nights, Friday and Saturday.
Along with Endolyne Joe’s (WSB sponsor), The Original Bakery, and Wildwood Market, the Fauntleroy business district now has one more food option: The El Camion food truck. We mentioned in our recent Fauntleroy Community Association meeting report that it was on the way to 9250 45th SW, and Jonathan just sent the photo with word that it’s arrived. He says they told him they’ll be open daily 11 am-7 pm.
(Anna’s Hummingbird with tiger lilies, photographed by Trileigh Tucker)
Big day/night ahead:
SEN. NGUYEN @ CHAMBER OF COMMERCE: 11:30 am monthly lunch meeting of the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce at The Kenney (WSB sponsor) has a last-minute change of speaker, State Sen. Joe Nguyen (County Executive Dow Constantine was previously scheduled). If you’re not already RSVP’d, contact the Chamber ASAP. (7125 Fauntleroy Way SW)
CANOE JOURNEY’S ALKI STOP: This year, regional tribes’ canoe families are headed north on the Paddle to Lummi, and the Muckleshoot Tribe is again hosting those who stop at Alki Beach on the way. About 15 canoe families are expected; arrivals were expected to start as early as noon – a texter tells us they were passing Three Tree Point just after 10. (60th/Alki)
EXPLORE BRAZILIAN MUSIC: 6 pm at West Seattle (Admiral) Library with Show Brazil (did you see them at the Arts in Nature Festival last month?). Free. (2306 42nd SW)
DESIGN REVIEW FOR 4747 CALIFORNIA SW: 6:30 pm at the Senior Center/Sisson Building, the Southwest Design Review Board gets its second look at this mixed-use Junction project planned for 70+ apartments plus a new home for Husky Deli. Our recent preview includes the newest design proposal. The meeting will have a public-comment period. (4217 SW Oregon)
DISTRICT 1 CITY COUNCIL CANDIDATES’ FORUM: Your ballot could arrive as soon as today, and you have until August 6th to vote. The three candidates for City Council District 1 – Brendan Kolding, Lisa Herbold, and Phil Tavel – will answer questions side by side for what we believe will be the final pre-primary forum, 6:30 pm at Olympic Hall on the south side of the South Seattle College (WSB sponsor) campus, presented by the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce. All welcome. (6000 16th SW)
SUMMER CONCERTS AT HIAWATHA: 6:30 pm on the east lawn at Hiawatha Community Center, Sway Wild is the band for the first of this summer’s six free Thursday night concerts presented by the Admiral Neighborhood Association. Bring your own chair/blanket. (Walnut/Lander)
BRASSY! Later in the evening, travel a bit to the north to see Super Krewe at Parliament Tavern, 9 pm, $8, 21+. (4210 SW Admiral Way)
MORE! See the full lineup for today and beyond, on our complete calendar.
Friends and family will gather at Alki Beach on Sunday to remember Dominick Viscardi. Here’s the announcement and remembrance:
Dominick Joseph Viscardi, Jr. passed away on January 26, 2019, in Seattle, where he resided since 1973, after a brief and brave battle with cancer.
Dom was born on June 13, 1950 in Moses Ludington Hospital, Ticonderoga, New York. He attended Weedsville School and was the salutatorian of the first graduating class at St. Mary’s School, Class of 1964. Dom was an altar boy from shortly after he made his first communion to the 8th grade and was a member of Boy Scouts Troop 72, attaining the rank of Life Scout. He graduated from Cranwell Prepatory School, where he was a member of the football and lacrosse teams, in 1968, and from Saint Michael’s College in 1972.
Dom worked as a stock broker in several prominent brokerage firms until he retired to open his own personal fitness company. Dom has helped so many people recover from injuries and regain their lives. He had just retired from his second career when he became ill.
Dom was devoted, generous and kind man to his family and friends throughout his life.
He is greatly missed. Please help us celebrate the life of our dear friend!
Sunday, July 21st, from 10 AM – 1 PM, at Alki Beach Park
Please bring a potluck item, and a memory to share.
We will be at the covered picnic area west of the bathhouse, across from Cactus on Alki.
(WSB publishes West Seattle obituaries by request, free of charge. Please e-mail the text, and a photo if available, to editor@westseattleblog.com)
Just got word from Kersti Muul that orcas were seen northbound off north Vashon about half an hour ago.
(SDOT MAP with travel times/ Is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE/ West Seattle-relevant traffic cams HERE)
6:57 AM: Good morning! No alerts or incidents in our area currently.
SATURDAY STREET CLOSURES: The West Seattle Grand Parade will close California SW south of Admiral Way, to Edmunds, by 8 am Saturday, until early afternoon. Some side streets near the start and end of the route are used for staging and breakdown. The NO PARKING signs are up for 7 am-3 pm on affected streets. Bus reroutes are linked here.
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