West Seattle Blog…

High-school sports: Baseball updates, including WSHS game today

Play ball! West Seattle High School‘s varsity-baseball team will do just that at their home field today, hosting Ingraham HS at Hiawatha after a road win against them on Wednesday:

(Cameron Slader with a hit in Wednesday’s game; photo by Greg Slader)
The players won’t have to deal with one thing that beset Wednesday’s game – rain! Greg Slader reports that the game was tied 5-5 in the 4th when pitcher Alex Coats took over and held Ingraham scoreless the rest of the way. As for offense: “Cameron Slader‘s three hits got the offense going but none were more important than his walk in the seventh inning, as he scored when Alex Coats laid down a squeeze bunt for the go-ahead run. Three more outs and it was ‘game over’.” Go cheer on the Wildcats at Hiawatha this afternoon, 3:30 pm.

Also today: Chief Sealth International High School‘s varsity baseball team is on the road, playing Franklin HS at Rainier Playfield at 3:30 pm. … Seattle Lutheran High School‘s team is off until Monday night, when they’ll host Tacoma Baptist at Southwest Athletic Complex, 6:45 pm.

West Seattle Friday: Three movies; two development issues; more

(Shared via the WSB Flickr group; photo by “old desolate“)
From the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:

EARTH MONTH BAKE SALE: Until 7 pm today (and 9-7 tomorrow), Shanti in North Admiral is raising money for Puget Soundkeeper Alliance with a bake sale. (2138 California SW)

TOT TREK AT CAMP LONG: See the “water babies” in Camp Long‘s ponds. Details in our calendar listing. 10:30 am. (5200 35th SW)

FRIDAY AFTERNOON AT THE MOVIES: “The Plainsman,” with Gary Cooper and Jean Arthur, is the featured movie at the Senior Center of West Seattle this afternoon, 1 pm; details in our calendar listing. (California/Oregon)

SMALL-LOT DEVELOPMENT, MICROHOUSING BRIEFING @ COUNCIL COMMITTEE: Two hot development-related topics are on the agenda for the City Council’s Planning, Land Use, and Sustainability Committee at 2 pm today at City Hall downtown – documents are linked from the agenda. Public-comment time at the start of the meeting; if you can’t be there, it’ll be live on Seattle Channel. (5th/Cherry)

MOVIE NIGHT AT HPIC: Wrap up spring break by taking the family to the monthly Movie Night at Highland Park Improvement Club. See our calendar listing for the hint! Free as always, but concessions are available. Doors open 6:30 pm. (12th/Holden)

MOVIE AT YOUNGSTOWN: “The Passion of the Christ” will be screened by The Way Church of God, 7 pm at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center. (4408 Delridge Way SW)

LIVE MUSIC … multiple West Seattle venues! See the listings on the calendar.

TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Friday updates; weekend traffic alerts

(Latest bridge and Highway 99 views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
Finally Friday – last week of spring break for most Seattle schools – and we’re looking ahead to a few weekend traffic alerts:

I-5 LANE CLOSURE TONIGHT: Updated from the larger lane-closure project, which has been canceled for this weekend, one lane in the northbound collector-distributor will be closed 10 pm tonight to 7 am tomorrow.

SATURDAY MORNING ON ALKI: Tomorrow morning, Alki Ave SW will be closed – to parking, too – 9 am-11 am or so for the Earth Day 5K, in West Seattle for the first time.

OTHER WEEKEND CITYWIDE ALERTS … are here.

We’ll also be checking on the SW Genesee project (was still under way when last we passed that way Thursday afternoon).

Update: Man stabbed in South Delridge; two attackers sought

12:19 AM: Police and fire are rushing to the 9200 block of 20th SW (map), where a 35-year-old man is reported to have been stabbed in the abdomen. No other information about circumstances so far.

12:36 AM: Medic conversation over the radio indicates the man has multiple stab wounds to the upper abdomen and what were described as slash wounds to the arm(s) from defending himself, but has not lost consciousness.

7:15 AM: Police say via SPD Blotter that this happened during a home-invasion break-in, and they are looking for two people who knocked on the victim’s door, forced their way inside, tried to get him to go outside, and attacked him when he refused. His wounds are described as non-life-threatening. Here’s the full text of what Det. Jeff Kappel wrote on SPD Blotter:

Click to read the rest of Update: Man stabbed in South Delridge; two attackers sought…

Design Review doubleheader, project #1: 3824 California SW ordered back for a third round of Early Design Guidance

(The “massing” options shown tonight for 3824 California SW, whose architects have to try again)
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

3824 California has never had it easy before the Southwest Design Review Board.

Seven years ago, when a standalone Petco store was proposed on the site, the project died after its first two Early Design Guidance proposals were shot down, and the Charlestown Café stayed open three more years before closing in 2011.

Now, the first post-café development proposal for 3824 California SW – a ~30-townhome/live-work-unit project – has been ordered to come back for a third round of Early Design Guidance, meaning it will appear before the board at least four times before, if, it gains approval to move ahead..

Here’s how EDG round two unfolded tonight (here’s the design packet that was used for most of the review):

Click to read the rest of Design Review doubleheader, project #1: 3824 California SW ordered back for a third round of Early Design Guidance…

West Seattle scene: Double rainbow before sunset

Thanks to everyone who’s shared views of the double rainbow that appeared before sunset! We’re building a gallery and adding more. For starters – this one’s from Max.

In some cases, the view wasn’t double so much as just, big. This view looking toward Fairmount is from Maris:

Next – from Debbie Bukoski:

From Eric Renn:

And Melissa sent her perspective via video, panning across the double rainbow from the shore of the bay:

Might add a few more – meantime, thanks to EVERYONE who shared!

Townhouse-rezone endorsement and more @ Morgan Community Association’s quarterly meeting

By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

The Morgan Community Association is now officially on the record as supporting the West Seattle Church of the Nazarene‘s proposed six-townhouse plan for land it owns south of the church and its parsonage at 42nd and Juneau.

The vote came at the end of last night’s meeting, after a return appearance by developer and area resident Joe Paar (above), who said he and the church – planning to sell the townhouses but retain ownership of “park” open space on the rest of the site – wanted MoCA’s blessing since they are about to take the first part of the rezoning proposal to the city. The room was full of church members/supporters, about triple MoCA’s usual turnout in the lower-level meeting area of The Kenney (WSB sponsor).

They had a multipage glossy color handout with renderings and Q/A on the project. (Previously, they set up a website.) A sign and painted-on-the-ground outlines are now set up, said Paar. He said they’re still working out where to put the park on the open space that will be left between the townhouses and 42nd SW. He said they’ve been designed to look like “Craftsman-style townhouses,” not the “modern” design that is prevalent in new construction today. The community will be asked to vote on color schemes.

He noted that he and church leadership already have made three appearances at MoCA and will be back often as the proposal proceeds – “you’re going to get sick of us.” A community garden and movie screen are proposed as part of the park section of the site. The project will require a zoning change, as noted previously. The townhouses will have a private porch transitioning into a semi-private yard, then a public path, and the community park area. Their garages won’t be connected to the homes – residents will have to walk to their homes, “which is intentional,” Paar said.

They propose 12 spaces of parking for the townhomes, in addition to 11 parking spaces for the church. The biggest townhomes will have 2 bedrooms and 2 baths in addition to basement space that could be used for a bedroom or office. It was reiterated that these will be sold, not rented, townhomes on fee-simple land. “Would somebody be allowed to buy them for an investment and rent them out?” an attendee asked. “That’s not what we’re looking to sell these for,” said Parr. The church retains ownership of the “park” portion of the land, as well as the parsonage house between the “park” site and the church building.

One attendee said “I commend you on how these buildings look; the buildings they’re building now, they look terrible.” Parr reiterated that he lives nearby and he was afraid a “bad-guy developer would get a hold of the site and build something (we didn’t want to see).”

He outlined a timeline:

*May 2014 – rezoning proposal going to City Council
*May 2015 – response expected from council
*Construction not expected until 2016 or even 2017

It’s a two-step rezoning process, he said, and it requires community support. So far, he says, they have 33 letters from neighbors voicing support, but they all but pleaded for MoCA’s support. The brochure they circulated even included a public accounting of what the church would do with the expected $760,000 revenue, including $200,000 work on the church’s exterior.

MoCA president Deb Barker stressed that the comprehensive-plan amendment being proposed here to facilitate a contract-rezone proposal would only affect the lots on the site. And Parr noted that what they were presenting involves the public benefit they would be required to provide. MoCA’s Eldon Olson said the “park” portion of the site – which would be open to the public but remain church-owned – was attractive, as urban areas are supposed to have more of those.

In the end, MoCA went on the record as voting unanimously to support the comprehensive-plan amendment proposed to change the zoning from single-family to Lowrise 1 on the site. Since MoCA allows anyone present to vote, those who came to show support were part of the vote too.

Earlier in the meeting:

Click to read the rest of Townhouse-rezone endorsement and more @ Morgan Community Association’s quarterly meeting…

Traffic alert: Motorcycle crash on 1st Avenue ramp to westbound bridge

4:42 PM: After some difficulty in sorting out the exact location, emergency crews have just arrived at the scene of a motorcycle crash on the 1st Avenue ramp to the westbound West Seattle Bridge. The rider was reported (via scanner) to be “sitting up.” No other details but a heads-up if you are heading this way from downtown/SODO any time soon, avoid that ramp.

4:46 PM: Injuries apparently not serious – the medic unit’s been canceled.

5:45 PM: Haven’t heard an update but the SFD portion of the call is “closed” now and it doesn’t[ appear the ramp ever had to be closed, so traffic should be back to relatively normal in the area.

Mid-afternoon photo break: The eagle has (almost) landed

You love skyline-from-Duwamish-Head photos. You love bird photos. Now – thanks to Craig Howard – two in one! Couldn’t wait until tomorrow’s daily preview to share it, so while we work on a few more news stories, here it is. Craig was on the beach at low tide, and “a murder of crows sent this eagle down right in front of me. He hung around until the crows went away. Didn’t seem to mind me at all.”

Looking for more/better police/crime info online? West Seattle Block Watch Captains Network hosts SPD Web rep Tuesday

Wish you could get more/better/faster information about crime/police activity online? Have ideas for how Seattle Police could improve/beef up what they offer online now? Come talk about it in person with Shanna Christie from the SPD Web team, next Tuesday (April 22nd) at the West Seattle Block Watch Captains Network. As explained by WSBWCN leaders Karen Berge and Deb Greer:

She wants our feedback about the online tools that are currently available on the SPD website, how they work and how they don’t. Are you able to find the information you need? Is the Block Watch Toolkit useful to you? She will talk about the plans in the works for a re-vamp of the precinct webpages, starting with the SW Precinct. They hope to provide better information, and more timely information, about what is happening in our neighborhoods. Your feedback is needed!

That’s 6:30 pm Tuesday in the meeting room at the Southwest Precinct (Webster/Delridge).

Video: Pointed questions for DPD @ Delridge Neighborhoods District Council meeting

With three representatives from the city Department of Planning and Development due at last night’s Delridge Neighborhoods District Council meeting, we thought video might be in order. The interactions, in fact, were tense at times.

Land use and planning was the night’s theme. Before we started rolling, attendees at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center heard from their crosstown counterpart Southwest District Council‘s co-chairs Sharonn Meeks and Vlad Oustimovitch, talking about the West Seattle Land Use Committee that SWDC is launching with hopes of peninsula-wide involvement. (Stay tuned for news of its first meeting and how to get involved.)

The DPD presenters began with the Seattle 2035 comprehensive-plan-update process we’ve mentioned a few times (including the sparse-in-many-ways “open house” here a week ago). DNDC members’ pointed questions for DPD rep Patrice Carroll included North Delridge‘s Michael Taylor-Judd wondering why the city is looking ahead 20 years when current problems (including exceeded growth targets and inadequate transportation to handle who’s here now and who’s on the way shortly) don’t seem to be getting addressed. WWRHAH‘s Amanda Kay Helmick noted that none of the DPD handouts even mentioned West Seattle.

Second DPD rep was Aly Pennucci, who’s been making neighborhood-meeting rounds for three months talking about the potential rezoning for “pedestrian retail areas.” In the case of Delridge, it was pointed out, that too seems to be looking past a problem – how can you dither about tweaking business districts when there isn’t much commercial space available?

Third up from DPD was David Goldberg, talking about a new project to create a “Healthy Living Framework” for Delridge. A somewhat jargonistic handout was provided, including this paragraph:

“The planning process and resulting action plan will serve to engage the full range of community stakeholders including historically underrepresented communities. The outreach and engagement will focus on the opportunity areas, but may expand to address priorities for historically underrepresented communities. The process will also convene an advisory committee envisioned to transform into or help establish and ongoing and representative implementation committee.”

Part of the preceding bullet points (we don’t have an electronic version of this two-sided handout yet but are looking for) included a mention of “future SDOT improvements along Delridge,” but the DPD rep didn’t have information about upcoming Delridge projects, at and around Andover, which was a point of concern for Pigeon Point‘s Pete Spalding.

ALSO AT THE MEETING: Our crew had to leave after the DPD presentations, so we apologize that we don’t have Cindi Barker‘s land-use-primer presentation on video (but there’s lots of context and info in this one we recorded last fall). In a non-DPD item, North Delridge’s Patrick Baer announced that the city had agreed to fix the asphalt-covered planting strip that resulted from the recent Delridge/Findlay project mentioned here, for which Baer was the original proposer. Here’s our photo from this morning:

We have since confirmed the de-asphalting plan with SDOT’s John Vander Sluis, who says, “Based on public feedback, SDOT will be removing the asphalt and working with the community on the installation of a landscaped planting strip. … The decision to remove the asphalt was made late last week, so I don’t have details on schedule at this point.”

DNDC meets third Wednesdays at Youngstown, 7 pm.

West Seattle Crime Watch: Package theft on video; illegal dumping; car prowl…

Four reader reports to share today, starting with a package theft caught on video:

Pam says the video shows her Netflix Amazon package being lifted Wednesday afternoon near 12th and Barton – and right before the person comes fully into view, they took mail out of her mailbox. Recognize the person in the video? (Added: Here’s a frame grab.) Let police know.

Ahead, three more reports – a car prowl, illegal dumping, and suspicious nail-scattering:

Click to read the rest of West Seattle Crime Watch: Package theft on video; illegal dumping; car prowl……

The Whale Trail’s hitting the road; come to the sendoff party!

(2011 photo of orcas in Elliott Bay, by Craig Savey)
The Whale Trail is hitting the road! West Seattleite Donna Sandstrom‘s vision of helping killer whales with education all along their routes is coming true with an upcoming tour – and you’re invited to the local sendoff next Thursday:

The endangered southern resident orca travel as far south as Monterey, CA. In May, The Whale Trail is headed down the Pacific Coast, too – we’re adding new Whale Trail sites in Monterey (Point Lobos), Santa Cruz, and San Francisco (Point Reyes)!

In May we’re also presenting noted author and marine conservationist Erich Hoyt in a series of talks around The Whale Trail, from Saturna, BC, to Monterey, CA, – nine locations in two countries and four states in 20 days – Orca Tour 2014!

Our vision of building awareness about the orcas throughout their range is quickly coming true – we need your help to make it happen!

Join us for a celebration and informal fundraising event for the Whale Trail, featuring light refreshments, no-host bar, and music by DJ Joe Ross!

–Music from or about California, from the Beach Boys to Los Lobos.
–Seal Sitters and “Diver Laura” James will also be there!

Thanks for your support these past six years, West Seattle. Help us celebrate, and take a giant next step for the orcas. Tickets available now at brownpapertickets.com. You can also buy tickets (at BPT) for our upcoming presentation with Erich Hoyt, Sunday, May 18, at McCaw Hall.

West Seattle Thursday: Design Review x 2; nighttime egg hunt for teens; more!

(Female Anna’s Hummingbird, photographed by Mark Wangerin)
A selection of what’s up for today/tonight:

TODDLER EGGSTRAVAGANZA: Still time to get to High Point Community Center for this 10 am Easter-time little-kid fave. Details in our calendar listing. (6420 34th SW)

WINE AND BUNNIES: From South Seattle College (WSB sponsor):

1-5 PM at South Seattle College’s Northwest Wine Academy student-produced wines and Pastry Arts student creations will be on sale. From egg-shaped cakes to chocolate bunnies and hot cross buns, South will have you covered!

Tomorrow too. (6000 16th SW)

COMMUNITY ORCHARD OF WEST SEATTLE: Drop-in volunteer opportunity every Thursday, 5-7 pm, explained here. North end of SSC campus. (6000 16th SW)

DESIGN REVIEW X 2: Two projects go back to the Southwest Design Review Board for second-round Early Design Guidance reviews – 3824 California SW (30 townhomes/live-work units) at 6:30 pm, 4505 42nd SW (45 apartments) at 8 pm. See our preview of both hearings, including links to the “packets” with renderings and info, by going here. (Both meetings are upstairs at the Senior Center, California/Oregon)

ALKI COMMUNITY COUNCIL BOARD MEETING: 7 pm at Alki UCC, but a location change: “Because of Maundy Thursday service in the Parlor, we will meet in the Choir Practice Room on the third floor next to the church office.” Board-meeting format but all welcome. (6115 SW Hinds)

FLASHLIGHT EGG HUNT: No, teens are NOT too old to hunt for eggs – this special event starting at 8:15 pm at Hiawatha Community Center is just for them; details in our calendar listing. (2700 California SW)

NIGHTLIFE: Multiple West Seattle venues have listings on our calendar!

Don’t wait until it’s too late: Less than one week left to sign up your sale for West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day

Quick reminder, because every year we get a few post-deadline phone calls from people who JUST heard about it … Less than a week left in the registration period (which has been open for more than two weeks) for West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day, the biggest day of its kind in the city! This is the 10th year for WSCGSD, which we at WSB have been coordinating since year four. Great turnout already, with more than 160 sales in the works – individual, block, school, business, service group, and the multi-seller sites at Hotwire Online Coffeehouse and C & P Coffee Company (both WSB sponsors – inquire directly with either one about space). Your space awaits too. Here’s where to sign up – deadline is 11:59 pm next Wednesday night, April 23rd.

And for shoppers – we close registration early so we can make the map and guide in time for it to be available a week in advance, so check back here and at westseattlegaragesale.com on May 3rd.

TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Thursday, and what’s ahead

(Latest bridge and Highway 99 views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
Welcome to Thursday – we’re on the home stretch, headed for a big weekend. And that goes for weekend traffic alerts, too:

ALKI AVE CLOSED SATURDAY MORNING … 9 am-11 am or so for the Earth Day 5K, on the run in West Seattle for the first time.

I-5 RAMP WORK ALL WEEKEND … Another weekend of lane closures on northbound I-5, just north of the West Seattle Bridge, from late Friday through early Monday. Details here.

8:35 AM: Luvsseattle points out in a comment (thank you!) that the I-5 work page now has the notation “canceled,” no further details; likely because of the rain, but we’re checking with WSDOT>

Undies with a twist: West Seattle women crowdfund for BoiBums

“We are excited to share our vision with like-minded women who want a
comfortable alternative to girly women’s underwear,” say Betsy Bruce and Dana Joy – both longtime West Seattleites – as they launch a crowdfunding campaign for their creation: Underwear called BoiBums. They’re trying to raise money to manufacture “a product for women using the same soft fabrics, comfortable cut, and wide-waistband used in men’s underwear.” (Briefs, not boxers.) And the sizing range will be robust – briefs in sizes up to the equivalent of 3XL. You can watch Dana and Betsy’s sassy pitch video on the Kickstarter page for BoiBums. In crowdfunding tradition, they’re offering rewards to donors, all detailed on that page. And if the underwear business goes well, they’re expecting to expand into other – perhaps, more visible – lines of apparel.

Morgan Junction Community Festival on June 21st: MoCA offers a sneak peek

(WSB photo from 2013 Morgan Junction Community Festival)
We’re at the Morgan Community Association‘s quarterly meeting, and have just heard updates on the MoCA-sponsored Morgan Junction Community Festival, which will be happening before MoCA’s NEXT quarterly meeting. This year’s festival date is Saturday, June 21st, and it will include music (likely two stages, including a “cantina”), about 30 booths (a bit less space than last year, and they’re hoping for more nonprofits as well as vendors), ever-popular Bubbleman (one show this time), the Bark of Morgan pet event, the Bite of Morgan food tastes, food trucks (possibly up to three), hands-on kid stuff with the help of local kid-oriented businesses, and more. One thing REALLY needed now – volunteers to step up; this festival doesn’t run without them – “We need volunteers and we need them badly,” said MoCA’s Tod Rodman. And they’re signing up sponsorships, too, with new levels – you’ll find information on the MoCA website at morganjunction.org.

P.S. Lots more has been and is being discussed as tonight’s MoCA meeting continues – more coverage to come.

Think summer! 2nd annual bicycle parade planned for Summer Streets on Alki next month

(WSB photo from Alki edition of Seattle Summer Streets in May 2013)
We’re a month away from a big day on Alki – Sunday, May 18th, starting with the West Seattle 5K Run/Walk at 9 am, followed by Seattle Summer Streets (aka “Car-Free Day”) 11 am-5 pm. And today, Alki’s Guy Olson shares the news that he and the rest of the Alki Beach Creeps Bicycle Club are organizing a costume/bicycle parade again this year. Wear a costume and meet up at 1 pm that day, 63rd/Alki. (See video of last year’s edition in our 2013 Summer Streets coverage.) Skidding competition too, and prizes are promised – full details on the Facebook event page.

See revised design proposals for 3824 California SW, 4505 42nd SW before tomorrow’s Southwest Design Review Board meeting

Two projects return to the Southwest Design Review Board tomorrow night at the Senior Center of West Seattle, and the revised design proposals for both are now publicly previewable:

REVISED DESIGN FOR EX-CHARLESTOWN CAFE SITE: At 6:30 pm, it’s the second Early Design Guidance meeting for 3824 California SW; board members asked the team for the 30-unit (townhouses and live-work units) project to give it another try (here’s our report on the first meeting in January). The rendering above is the “preferred” option proposed by the architects, Caron, the third of these three “massing” options:

You can see the full “design packet” by going here – again, remember, this is the “Early Design Guidance” stage, which means they are just proposing size and shape, and that’s why you don’t see other potential design details.

REVISED DESIGN FOR 4505 42ND SW: At 8 pm tomorrow, this Junction project also is returning for a second round of Early Design Guidance (our report on the first meeting in January is here). The changes in this one involve size as well as shape:

On a site zoned for up to 8 stories, what started as a 7-story proposal is now down to 6, and 45 apartments (five fewer than previously proposed), with 17 parking spaces, and 4,300 square feet of retail. See the full “design packet” by going here.

P.S. Both of these projects are among the dozens on our finally-updated map of West Seattle development projects under construction/on the drawing boards/recently completed. See it here.

Ever wonder ‘who’s on those committees, anyway?’ Could be you! Seattle School Traffic Safety Committee looking for new members

Lots of work in recent years on making the streets and sidewalks safer around West Seattle schools. Maybe you’d like to formalize that by being part of the Seattle School Traffic Safety Committee? The search is on for new members – read on for the announcement:

Click to read the rest of Ever wonder ‘who’s on those committees, anyway?’ Could be you! Seattle School Traffic Safety Committee looking for new members…

Building roadside raingardens in West Seattle: Barton CSO project progress

If you live in or travel through Sunrise Heights or Westwood, you probably know the “roadside raingarden” construction for the first phase of the Barton Basin Combined Sewer Overflow Control project continues to intensify. The King County Wastewater Treatment Division is building “green stormwater infrastructure” in eight blocks this year, seven blocks next year – 91 roadside raingardens in all. En route to a meeting last night, we noticed the activity on one block, 34th SW north of Holden (map), so went back today for a closer look (above). The county is now publishing weekly updates on its website – including what’s happening in which blocks:

For any residents who didn’t get block-by-block informational flyers, those also are available online. This project is part of state-mandated work to reduce combined-sewer overflows into Puget Sound; in this area, it’s called Barton because the wastewater ends up at the Barton Pump Station north of the Fauntleroy ferry dock.

P.S. The county is scheduled to present an update on its other in-progress Combined Sewer Overflow Control project, the Murray-basin-serving storage tank across from Lowman Beach, at tonight’s Morgan Community Association meeting (7 pm, The Kenney [WSB sponsor], lower-level meeting rooms, 7125 Fauntleroy Way SW).

West Seattle Wednesday: DPD at DNDC; Morgan Community Association; more…

Before sharing his Tuesday orca photo, Gary Jones sent another awesome round of eagle photos from Alki Point (thanks!) – all three of which we’re featuring throughout today’s calendar preview.

LIBRARY STORY TIMES: Home on spring break? Parental leave? THREE library story times this morning for kids of various ages – see our calendar page for details (mouse over any line’s right side to get the “plus sign” you can click to open the line for more info).

MORGAN COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION’S QUARTERLY MEETING: 7 pm at The Kenney (WSB sponsor). The agenda, as also published at morganjunction.org:

7:05 Murray/Lowman CSO (King County)

7:15 California @ Fauntleroy Level of Service (SDOT)

7:25 Micro-housing Legislation Update

7:35 Morgan Junction Land Use Topics:

Pedestrian Zone Mapping, Low-rise zoning changes, West Seattle land use committee

7:55 Morgan Junction Festival Update

New Business

8:00 Solar Presentation

8:10 West Seattle Transit Coalition and Prop 1

8:15 CALSeattle Letter: Coalition for an Affordable Livable Seattle

8:30 Nazarene Church Residential Development

All welcome. (7125 Fauntleroy Way SW)

DPD AT DELRIDGE NEIGHBORHOODS DISTRICT COUNCIL: The city Department of Planning and Development has three reps for three programs at tonight’s DNDC – as previewed here yesterday. And West Seattle neighborhood advocate Cindi Barker will be there too, with information on how you can track, and give feedback on, land-use issues. 7 pm, Youngstown Cultural Arts Center. All welcome. (4408 Delridge Way SW)

‘UNPLUGGED’ AT C & P: The Seattle Classic Guitar Society‘s open-microphone night for guitarists and other acoustic musicians, at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor), 7-9 pm. (5612 California SW)

And as usual, much more on the calendar!

TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Wednesday watch

(Latest bridge and Highway 99 views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
The rain’s back; also, a few problems along the way in the early going this morning but WSDOT says they’re all cleared now.

ADDED 8:19 AM: Some other notes, since it’s another quiet morning out there (so far):

COLMAN DOCK ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT: Use the downtown dock for the Water Taxi or Washington State Ferries? The state’s working on its future and is now out with an environmental assessment as an early step in the process. A public hearing is coming up later this month, and comments are being taken now. Details are here, including various outreach events – one of which will be at the Water Taxi dock (Pier 50) on May 1st during the afternoon/evening commute.

ADDED 8:59 AM: A incident at 5th/Roxbury is showing on the 911 log as having been briefly dispatched as a heavy rescue. Not hearing any scanner traffic about it so not sure of the circumstances – please let us know if you passed through the area and saw anything.

9:35 AM: As Dave reported in comments, it was a flipped car. The car was on 5th just north of Roxbury and a tow crew right-sided it moments before our photographer arrived. No traffic effects on Roxbury.

West Seattle Crime Prevention Council, report #1: Trends, updates

(WSB photo by Patrick Sand)
First of two reports from tonight’s West Seattle Crime Prevention Council meeting: The Southwest Precinct’s second-in-command, Operations Lt. Ron Smith, had a long list of quick updates on crime trends and individual situations. Top of the list, the investigation of the death discovered at the scene of this morning’s 24th SW fire, barely a block southwest of the precinct. We had asked Lt. Smith about it before the meeting began, and he mentioned that in addition to SPD joining the investigation by mid-morning (photo above), ATF arson investigators checked out the scene a few hours later. Still no official word on what if anything they found in what Lt. Smith called a “full-blown investigation” – only that it’s “somewhat suspicious … it might not be (a crime) but … we’re at a very preliminary part of the investigation.” The victim has not been identified, nor has her cause of death been announced.

Other case updates/mentions and trends:

Click to read the rest of West Seattle Crime Prevention Council, report #1: Trends, updates…

Style ’14: Fashion, fun, fundraising to help cancer patients, 2 weeks away

(2011 WSB photo by Stephanie Chacharon)
Two weeks and two days until your chance to enjoy a fun and fashionable night and help Northwest Hope and Healing, the West Seattle/West Seattleite-founded and -run organization that helps cancer patients. Tickets are on sale now for “Style ’14,” which includes a runway fashion show that features models who are also breast-cancer survivors, as well as prize drawings, a fund-a-need event, and more. It’s on Thursday, May 1st; you can just attend the show, or you can buy a VIP ticket which includes a pre-event party, cocktail reception, “heavy appetizers,” reserved seats, and a thank-you gift. Doors open at 6:30 pm for VIP, 7 pm for general admission, and the show starts at 7:30 pm; it’s a 21+ event. Though it’s outside West Seattle, at Showbox SODO, not only does it involve NWHH’s West Seattle leadership, it also involves West Seattle businesses including West Seattle Runner (WSB sponsor), Carmilia’s, Coastal, Ola, Twala Intimates, and more, as well as West Seattleites who are on the volunteer planning committee. You can buy your ticket online here (see the left sidebar of that page).

Going to West Seattle egg hunts? Here’s the Saturday schedule

(WSB photo from 2013 Thriftway egg hunt)
If you have one or more kids determined to have the most fun possible at the Easter Eve egg hunts in West Seattle and vicinity on Saturday – here’s where to go, and when:

9 am – West Seattle Thriftway (California/Fauntleroy/Morgan; WSB sponsor) egg hunt

10 am – Seattle Parks & Rec community center egg hunt of your choice:
*********Alki – 5817 SW Stevens – is billed as for ages 11 and under
*********Delridge – 4501 Delridge Way SW – for ages 3-11
*********Hiawatha – 2700 California SW – for 3-11
*********High Point – 6920 34th SW – for 3-11
*********South Park – 8319 8th Ave. S. – for ages 1-10

11 am – Eastridge Church egg hunt at Lincoln Park (8011 Fauntleroy Way SW) – bring donations for the diaper drive for WestSide Baby

We’re still adding other special weekend events to the calendar, so if you have something for Saturday/Sunday (including services), it’s not too late – editor@westseattleblog.com.