And now, a word from our Sponsor

February 17, 2023 by 3 Comments

Hello Beach Drive Neighbors!

It’s hard to believe that we have been writing Beach Drive Blog for 16 years now! We’re kind of proud to be one of the sleepier blogs in West Seattle, mainly focusing on our neighborhood along Beach Drive. Our hard-hitting news is typically warning of potential storms or flooding, a garage sale or possibly a lost pet. It’s obvious that this is not my full-time job and my budding art career is not enough to where I can “quit my day job”…honestly, I actually quite enjoy my day job so… I was thinking that I’m probably overdue as the sole sponsor to provide a brief commercial. 🙂

I am a licensed mortgage loan officer and have been helping people with their mortgage needs for 23 years. I am employed at a privately owned, nationwide company, New American Funding and can offer just about any mortgage you can think of. You can learn more about our programs, including our cash-buyer program, on my mortgage blog, The Mortgage Porter.

New American Funding retains servicing on about 95% of the mortgages we originate, and they were recognized as #1 in Customer Satisfaction among Mortgage Services by J.D. Power last year. In other words, your mortgage will not be sold over and over again and you will continue to receive excellent service after the closing of your mortgage.

If you, or anyone you know, are considering buying, refinancing or remodeling your home and are in need of a mortgage, I would be absolutely honored to help you!

That’s it! My commercial break is over! Thank you for reading this post and Beach Drive Blog….and now, back to your regular programing!

Rhonda Porter (aka Hitch’s human) MLO-121324 | New American Funding nmls#6606

 

Filed Under: People, Real Estate Tagged With: , ,

Thanks for the mention, Redfin!

February 10, 2023 by Leave a Comment

Recently Julia Weaver from Redfin published “What is Seattle known for? 22 Ways to Get to Know the Emerald City” and our tiny blog was featured.

““The neighborhood along Beach Drive features several marine parks that are easily accessible from Constellation, Commorant Cove, Emma Schmitz View Point to Lincoln Park,” says writer Rhonda Porter at The Beach Drive Blog. “Cormorant Cove has a beach where people launch kayaks and paddle boards and leave small treasures for others to find. It’s not unusual to see people lined up with their binoculars to watch Orcas from Emma Schmitz, and Lincoln Park is a jewel on its own with a saltwater swimming pool and trails to explore.”

Check out the rest of the article for the other 21 things to know about our beautiful city!

 

Filed Under: Alki, Just for fun, Weblogs

Gunshots Last Night

January 21, 2023 by Leave a Comment

Some neighbors who live on the 5000 block of Beach Drive are reporting hearing 405 gunshots last night (Friday, January 20, 2023) around 8:35 pm.

If you live between 5000-5100 blocks of Beach Drive, neighbors are asking you to please check your outdoor security cameras around that time and share any additional information with the SPD.

 

 

Filed Under: Crime, Safety Tagged With: , ,

Barking Dog Report: Gale Watch through Late Tuesday Night

December 26, 2022 by Leave a Comment

We had a heck of a storm today with waves that just didn’t seem to stop. Some neighbors agree that it’s one of the worst storms they have ever witnessed living on Beach Drive with the waves and wind.

Tomorrow’s forecast looks like it could be more severe that what we experienced today with gusts predicted up to 50 mph around 4:00 pm.

High tide is an est. 12.90 feet at around 8:39 AM; about when the winds are predicted to start shifting to more south – southwest with estimated gusts of around 40 and heading higher.

From Wind Alert as of 3:30 p.m. today.

Puget Sound Marine forecast has not been updated since this morning.

Puget Sound and Hood Canal-
852 AM PST Mon Dec 26 2022

SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 AM PST THIS MORNING GALE WATCH IN EFFECT FROM LATE TONIGHT THROUGH LATE TUESDAY
NIGHT

TONIGHT
E wind 5 to 15 kt rising to 25 to 35 kt after midnight. Wind waves 2 ft or less building to 5 to 7 ft after midnight. Rain.

TUE  S wind 25 to 35 kt. Wind waves 5 to 7 ft. Rain.

TUE NIGHT   SW wind 20 to 30 kt. Wind waves 5 to 7 ft.

 

So bottom line, this is a “barking dog” report. If tomorrow is anything like today, we anticipate that homes along Beach Drive may be dealing with waves coming over. Stay safe, Neighbors!

Filed Under: Safety, Weather Tagged With: , ,

LOST CAT: Have you seen Malcolm?

December 10, 2022 by Leave a Comment


Greetings Neighbors,

Our sweet Malcolm has been missing since snowy Saturday, Dec 3 from the 5600 block of Beach Drive. He is a prolific hunter and likely trapped and starving somewhere. Please check basements, garages, crawl spaces and sheds. He is 5-yrs-old, neutered and microchipped. Affectionate but can be skittish. Good at hiding, especially on high shelves.

Found or sighted, please text/call Phyllis 425.591.4019

Filed Under: Animals, Lost and Found, Pets Tagged With: ,

UPDATE: FOUND! Missing Cat: Have you seen Poncho?

December 6, 2022 by Leave a Comment

Poncho was found near Emma Schmitz park and has been reunited with his humans.

Lost Cat – Poncho- Beach Dr./Charlestown St area.
Please call if you have seen him. Indoor/outdoor cat but comes back every day and night. Microchipped. Collar may have fallen off. We miss him. Last seen 12/4 9am. (520)331-3386 day or night. Please call.

Filed Under: Animals, Lost and Found Tagged With: ,

Barking Dog Report: Wind and Waves Friday

November 3, 2022 by Leave a Comment

Well… it’s looking like this could be a “Barking Dog Report” with possible gusts reaching 50mph tomorrow according to the current Wind Alert forecast (as of 2:53 pm 11/3/22).


High tide is around 3:02pm Friday at 11.76 feet.

The current marine forecast, from 8:54am this morning has wind waves up to 5 feet tomorrow. We should have an updated forecast soon and I will update this post.

…stay tuned!

Filed Under: Safety, Weather

Mark your calendars! Fauntleroy Fine Art and Holiday Gift Show

October 28, 2022 by Leave a Comment

Come check out the Fauntleroy Fine Art and Holdiay Gift Show. Doors open at 5:00 pm Friday at the Fauntleroy Church UCC.

Yours truly will have prints and some original paintings for sale. Stop by and say hello!

I hope to see you there!

Filed Under: Art, Events, Not on Beach Drive Tagged With: ,

Potential Barking Dog Report: Stormy Weather Ahead

October 25, 2022 by Leave a Comment

Seasoned readers of Beach Drive Blog know that a “barking dog report” is issued when we think there is a strong possibility of stormy weather about to happen that typically includes waves breeching seawalls. We call it a “barking dog report” because it could be similar to a neighbor’s dog that bark might actually be indicating danger or it could be just something the dog thought it saw (a big nothing). This Thursday is looking like it could be one of those days where dogs will be howling with the wind.

Check out the current forecast from Wind Alert showing gusts in the upper 30s to (almost) mid-40s!

The Marine Forecast is predicting waves up to 7 feet for Thursday!
THU: S wind 25 to 35 kt rising to 30 to 40 kt in the afternoon.  Wind waves 5 to 7 ft.

On Thursday, high tides are 11.58 feet at 7:21 AM (gusts of 39 mph predicted above) AND 11.26 FEET AT 6:02 PM (gust of 38 mph). Yikes!!

Alot can happen between now and Thursday with the weather. Stay tuned…

PS: As I’m writing this (12:18 pm on Tuesday, October 25, 2022), the winds are picking up quite a bit. We do have a small craft advisory in effect until 8:00 pm tonight. The Puget Sound marine forecast states we could see wind waves build to 3-5 feet this afternoon. Fingers crossed that it hits when tides are lower…our next high tide today is a 11.40 feet at 5:32 PM. According to Wind Alert, we could see gusts in the low-30s…so we could see some splashing but I don’t believe it will be near what we may see on Thursday.

This is all a good reminder to be prepared for the fall and winter storms. 🙂 Take care neighbors!

 

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

What’s with the big white boat off Emma Schmitz Memorial View Point?

October 17, 2022 by 1 Comment


We believe that this is a UW research boat, The Thomas G. Thompson, to investigate methane gas that’s bubble plumes.

“In mapping the bubble plumes, it became clear that large numbers were aligned along geologic fault zones, primarily the ones running east and west, known as the Seattle, Tacoma and South Whidbey faults. Others lined up with smaller north-south faults, but the greatest number of bubble plumes occurred where the faults intersected, such as off Alki Point in West Seattle.”

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