A Windy Welcome to June

June 3, 2024 by Leave a Comment

According to Wind Alert, it’s blowing about 31 mph from the south right now and I believe it! This blustery weather is forecasted to last through tomorrow so you may want to make sure that anything that can take flight in your yard is secured.

As I write this post (7:30 am), there is a Small Craft Advisory until 5:00 am Tuesday morning.


I know I’m not the only person looking forward to the sunny weather that’s coming up this weekend!

8:00 AM UPDATE: Some Beach Drive homes are impacted by a power outage. Seattle City Light expects power to be restored by 11:00 AM.

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10:25 AM UPDATE: A Wind Advisory has been issued:

…WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 11 AM PDT TUESDAY…

* WHAT…South winds 15 to 25 mph with gusts up to 40 mph.

* WHERE…Portions of northwest and west central Washington.

* WHEN…Until 11 AM PDT Tuesday.

* IMPACTS…Gusty winds could blow around unsecured objects. Tree
limbs could be blown down and a few power outages may result.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

Use extra caution when driving, especially if operating a high
profile vehicles. Secure outdoor objects.

NOTE: The Puget Sound Marine forecast has not been updated since 2:30 am.  And it looks like power may still be out to those homes along Beach Drive per Seattle City Lights outage map.

Filed Under: Weather Tagged With: ,

4209 Beach Drive SW

May 22, 2024 by 1 Comment

The home once located at 4209 Beach Drive SW was owned by an actress, Nancy Kilgas. Nancy was in several films, including Seven Brides for Seven Brothers and Oklahoma.

The home on Beach Drive has seemed abandoned since we’ve lived here (about 20 years). We used to walk by it and wonder about the stories the old home could have told once upon a time. I know I have more photos of it that I’ve taken…and when/if I find them, I’ll add them to this post.

It has recently been demolished and it appears there will be three homes (townhomes) put in it’s place.


With the recent changes to zoning in Washington state, you can expect more single-unit homes to be demolished for multi-unit homes.

Filed Under: Beach Drive Homes, Tear Downs

Beach Drive Natural Gas Main Replacement

May 1, 2024 by 1 Comment

Puget Sound Energy will be replacing portions of the existing underground natural gas main along parts of Beach Drive in two weeks. This project is expected to start on May 13th and last for up to seven months from the 4800 block to Lincoln Park Way. This stretch of Beach Drive will be reduced to one lane and controlled by flaggers and portions of sidewalks may be closed.

Some PSE customers may experience an interruption of natural gas. PSE says they will notify customers prior to work if their gas is required to be temporarily shut off. Please call 1-888-225-5773 for more information.

Jeff McCoy is the PSE Project Manager. He can be reached at jeff.mccoy@pse.com; reference project #109115749.

Ready for the good news??? I’m hoping this will deter some of the speed racers down Beach Drive this summer… at least from Lincoln Park to Jacobson.

Filed Under: Construction, Safety Tagged With: , , ,

State Parks bet on Tillicum Village

April 1, 2024 by Leave a Comment

A new tenant for the iconic Native American styled “village” on Blake Island has signed a multi-year lease to renovate and expand the existing vacated buildings near the state park’s marina. 

Big Fin Casinos Inc., a Klallam tribal consortium based in Tacoma is planning on keeping the nearly 60-year-old iconic name “Tillicum Village” for it’s new resort project. The onset of COVID-19 marked the end of Argosy Cruises long run of island excursions which officially ended with an announcement on December 13th 2021 with the Washington State Parks & Recreation Commission.

Billy Trimble, Project Manager for BFC, recently responded to the News Tribune “We have an agreement with the State to keep our Tillicum venue harmonious with the State Parks natural setting. This property is exclusively designed to accommodate clientele that values recreational gambling in a non-smoking and slots free environment. This is exclusively a card and dice establishment. No one needs to be concerned about multi-level flashy signage or loud Leonard Skynyrd tribute bands …. think more Blue Oyster Cult-ish acoustic type concerts.” He went on to say he was “absolutely elated of the amount of progress being made to meet our June 3rd grand opening. Nearly all 8 units reserved for our Whale level clientele are in final stages of construction and the dock renovations are well underway.”

Transportation to and from Tillicum Casino will initially be operated by TUG (Tribal Union Gill-netter Association) located at Port of Tacoma’s pier on Dock Street. Future plans include whale watching excursions to and from Blake Island when Orca are in the vicinity.

Before you plan to drum up the courage to bet the entire tent or boat on a solid blackjack hand, know that this small scale Tillicum resort is exclusively reserved for Big Fin patrons. Will the powers-to-be eventually open the village up to the general boating and camping public? I wouldn’t bet on it.

Scupper reporting for BDB

 

Filed Under: Just for fun, Not on Beach Drive, Scupper Tagged With: ,

Hit and Run this Morning

February 28, 2024 by 2 Comments


This morning just after 6:00 am, a car was struck along the 4800 block of Beach Drive. Apparently the driver who struck the car, took off on foot heading north onto properties on the 4700 block of Beach Drive.

A person wearing a hoodie was seen on a home camera walking along seawalls heading north towards Emma Schmitz Viewpoint.

A second person wearing a light jacket was also seen on a camera on property on the 4700 block of Beach Drive near the same time.

No injuries were reported.

Filed Under: Crime Tagged With: ,

Beautiful Photos compliments of Patrick Robinson

February 3, 2024 by Leave a Comment


You can see more of Patrick’s lovely photos here.

Filed Under: Art, Puget Sound Tagged With: , , , ,

Windy Weather: Gale Watch and Wind Advisory starting later tonight

January 8, 2024 by Leave a Comment

The US National Weather Service has issued its first Blizzard Warning for the Cascades and Olympics in over 11 years. While our neighborhood will thankfully miss that experience, it looks like we are in for some windy weather.

A Gale Warning has been issued starting later tonight for Puget Sound and a Wind Advisory is in effect from 4:00 am to 10:00 pm on Tuesday.

The current weather forecast have possible snow on Thursday.

Check out the current forecast from Wind Alert (as I write this at 5:55 am on Monday morning).

High tide for Tuesday, January 9th is estimated at 11.61 feet at 4:50 AM and 11.03 feet at 1:47 PM.

Puget Sound Marine Forecast:

Puget Sound and Hood Canal-
247 AM PST Mon Jan 8 2024

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH
LATE TONIGHT...
...GALE WATCH IN EFFECT FROM LATE TONIGHT THROUGH TUESDAY
EVENING...

.TODAY...S wind 5 to 15 kt becoming 10 to 20 kt in the afternoon.
Wind waves 2 ft or less. Rain. 
.TONIGHT...S wind 15 to 25 kt rising to 20 to 30 kt after
midnight. Wind waves 3 to 5 ft. Rain. 
.TUE...SW wind 20 to 30 kt rising to 25 to 35 kt in the
afternoon. Wind waves 4 to 6 ft. Rain. 
.TUE NIGHT...SW wind 20 to 30 kt easing to 15 to 25 kt after
midnight. Wind waves 3 to 5 ft.  

National Weather Service
...WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 4 AM TO 10 PM PST TUESDAY...

* WHAT...Southwest winds 25 to 35 mph with gusts up to 45 mph
  expected.
Filed Under: Weather Tagged With: , ,

Power Outage Along Beach Drive

January 6, 2024 by Leave a Comment


145 neighbors are without power this morning. Seattle City Light is investigating the cause.

Filed Under: Safety

Gale Warning Later Tonight

December 1, 2023 by Leave a Comment

Hang onto your hats – it looks like we’re in for some gusty weather starting later today. Check out the forecasted gusts in the 40s starting around midnight.

Tides from NOAA show that our next high tide will be around 12 feet at 9:15 am on Saturday (we’re just past high tide as I’m writing this).  Winds are estimated to be gusting around 25 mph according to the graph above at that time. Luckily during the predicted gusts in the 40s, we’ll be at very low tides. Stay tuned!

Puget Sound Marine Forecast as of 248 AM PST Fri Dec 1 2023

SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT THROUGH LATE TONIGHT
GALE WARNING IN EFFECT FROM LATE TONIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY
AFTERNOON

TODAY
S wind 15 to 25 kt. Wind waves 2 to 4 ft. A chance of
rain in the morning then a slight chance of rain in the afternoon.

TONIGHT
S wind 20 to 30 kt rising to 25 to 35 kt after
midnight. Wind waves 4 to 6 ft. A chance of rain in the evening
then rain after midnight.

SAT
SW wind 25 to 35 kt easing to 15 to 25 kt in the
afternoon. Wind waves 4 to 6 ft subsiding to 2 to 4 ft in the
afternoon. Rain likely in the morning then rain in the afternoon.

Filed Under: Safety, Weather

Gale Warning and Wind Advisory in effect starting tonight

November 10, 2023 by Leave a Comment

Strong, gusty winds are in the forecast for tonight and tomorrow. It looks like tides should be in our favor with a high tide of 9.80 feet at 3:57 am on Saturday and 11.07 feet at 2:52 pm.

This is a screenshot from WindAlert with gusts possibly hitting the 40mph and more starting around 9pm tonight. 
From the National Weather Service
1255 PM PST Fri Nov 10 2023

…WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 7 PM THIS EVENING TO 7 AM PST
SATURDAY…

* WHAT…South winds 20 to 30 mph with gusts up to 50 mph
expected.

* WHERE…Southwest Interior, Everett and Vicinity, Tacoma Area,
Hood Canal Area, Lower Chehalis Valley Area, Central Coast,
Bellevue and Vicinity, Seattle and Vicinity and Bremerton and
Vicinity.

* WHEN…From 7 PM this evening to 7 AM PST Saturday.

* IMPACTS…Gusty winds could blow around unsecured objects.
Tree limbs could be blown down and a few power outages may
result.

* ADDITIONAL DETAILS…Winds will be strongest near the water.

Last but not least, the Marine Forecast:

PZZ135-111100-

Puget Sound and Hood Canal-  200 PM PST Fri Nov 10 2023
GALE WARNING IN EFFECT THROUGH LATE TONIGHT
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM LATE TONIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY AFTERNOON
TONIGHT  S wind 15 to 25 kt rising to 25 to 35 kt after  midnight. Wind waves 2 to 4 ft building to 4 to 6 ft after  midnight. Rain.
SAT  S wind 20 to 30 kt becoming SW 15 to 25 kt in the  afternoon. Wind waves 3 to 5 ft. Rain in the morning then a  chance of showers in the afternoon.
SAT NIGHT  S wind 15 to 25 kt easing to 5 to 15 kt after  midnight. Wind waves 2 to 4 ft subsiding to 2 ft or less after  midnight. Rain in the evening then a chance of rain after  midnight.

Filed Under: Weather
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