day : 04/08/2010 12 results

Three West Seattle Crime Watch reports – including one with a warning/reminder (and not just the ones you think you’ve heard a million times before). Read on for all three, as reported by those who were hit:Read More

Hiawatha concert tomorrow night: Bring food – not just for you

August 4, 2010 10:11 pm

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| Fun stuff to do | How to help | West Seattle news

Hundreds of people spread out across the east lawn at Hiawatha Community Center last Thursday night to enjoy the first of this year’s Summer Concerts at Hiawatha, presented by the Admiral Neighborhood Association (co-sponsored by local businesses including WSB) – and you’re invited to join the fun again tomorrow night for concert #2: 6:30 pm, with Back Burner onstage playing bluegrass. ANA president Katy Walum says kids can get free face-painting (2 painters will be there!) – the concert of course is free – but tomorrow night, please bring nonperishable food and/or money for the West Seattle Food Bank. Katy shares this note from WS Food Bank’s Anna Guitchounts:

The West Seattle Food Bank would like to thank the Admiral Neighborhood Association, Hiawatha Community Center, and all of the sponsors and community supporters of the Summer Concert Series at Hiawatha Community Center this year. We are very honored to be the recipient of the donations collected at the concert being held this Thursday August 5th. Last fiscal year this agency provided food and other supplies to families in need more than 36,000 times. The support of our community is essential in helping us fulfill this need. We thank you for your support of this event and the West Seattle Food Bank and we look forward to seeing you there!

Here’s our as-it-happened coverage from last Thursday’s concert – and the current forecast for Thursday night.

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2 West Seattle projects to get Neighborhood Street Fund money

August 4, 2010 9:10 pm

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| Neighborhoods | Safety | Transportation | West Seattle news

North Delridge and Morgan Junction leaders have just learned that their neighborhoods are winners in the latest round of decisions about who should get a share of city Neighborhood Street Fund Large Projects money. These proposals went through a lot of review, including the local district councils. The decisions just announced will allot $112,000 for crossing improvements – such as striping and signage – at three California SW intersections – at SW Frontenac and SW Othello, as well as, north of Morgan Junction, SW Findlay (see the full proposal here). And $501,000 will be allotted for curbs and rain gardens 25th SW between Brandon and Juneau (see the full proposal here). These are two of 11 projects citywide (here’s the list) that were chosen for NSF money this time around; the mayor and City Council have to sign off on it for next year’s budget, and provided that happens, SDOT says design will likely start this December.

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Wednesday notes: Missing mural; Alki Ave closure; barbecue bye

August 4, 2010 7:52 pm

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| West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

MISSING MURAL: Notice what’s not in that photo? Ken Beres sent it and wondered why the “Press Day” mural had disappeared from the side of 4727 44th SW. We called the nearest office – Terry Gangon‘s insurance agency – and were told the building’s being painted, so the mural (closer look at it here) was removed but will be restored. (Working to find out more specifics bout this.)

ROAD CLOSURE ALERT: Writing about this Friday’s registration party for the Alki Beach 5K Walk/Run to benefit Northwest Hope and Healing, we noticed something new – confirmed by NWHH’s Shari Sewell – this year, Alki Avenue will close for the run, instead of having more than 1,000 people to run on the sidewalk/bike path. She says, “It’s the same route as the WSHS 5k back in May. The closure runs from Alki at 63rd (near the old Pegasus Pizza) to Don Armeni boat launch, from 8 am until 11 am (will re-open earlier if all participants are off the course). Our 5k route turns around at Anchor Park but the police will be directing folks up California Ave off Harbor if they live along the route. There will be one northbound access lane along Alki open for folks who need it.” Again, that’s a three-hour closure the morning of August 29th.

BARBECUE BASH BAGS ALKI: While working ahead on the WSB West Seattle Events calendar, we discovered that the Pacific Northwest Barbecue Association is NOT bringing its Evergreen State BBQ Championship to Alki this fall, though it’s been a fixture for years (here’s our coverage from last year). We e-mailed PNBA president Anthony James to ask why they’re changing the location to Duvall – jump ahead for his reply:Read More

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School news: New principal for West Seattle Elementary

August 4, 2010 5:13 pm

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| High Point | West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

As part of West Seattle Elementary‘s “transformation plan,” required because it was on the state’s “lowest performing” list, the school had to change principals. We checked with Seattle Public Schools today to see if a new one had been named yet, since WSE’s school year starts early – August 31 – and learned that a letter recently went out to WS Elementary families with the announcement. The new principal is Vicki Sacco, who, the district says, has worked for 15 years in Brevard County, Florida. There are more details on her background in the letter sent to WSE families – read it here. The school website invites families to meet the new principal at a barbecue on August 30th. As for former principal Gayle Everly, news about her next job is expected later this week.

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Update: West Seattle garage fire was arson, no arrest(s) yet

August 4, 2010 2:29 pm

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| Crime | West Seattle fires | West Seattle news

(Photo shared by anonymous contributor)
Just in from Dana Vander Houwen at the Seattle Fire Department, regarding the fire that destroyed a garage in the 5100 block of SW 98th (map) this morning (WSB coverage here):

Fire investigators determined that the garage fire that occurred this morning was intentionally set. They estimated that the damage totaled $52,000. The fire extended to a vehicle and also caused some damage to several nearby structures.

Seattle Fire Department Investigators are working with the Seattle Police Arson Bomb Squad, who will take the investigation from here. We ask that anyone who may have information related to this incident call the Arson Alarm Hotline at 1-800-55-ARSON. If people see any suspicious activity taking place they should call 911 immediately.

No one was hurt, but the smoke could be seen from miles away, and the flames burned so high, they were seen from the Vashon ferry (see the video clip in our first report).

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Video: Seafair fleet parades past West Seattle

August 4, 2010 1:52 pm

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| Seen at sea | West Seattle news

ORIGINAL 1:52 PM “SEAFAIR FLEET NOW PARADING PAST WEST SEATTLE” BULLETIN: And downtown next. We’re watching from Duwamish Head. Chopper flyovers too (USCG and TV) Visuals to come!

2:20 PM NOTE: The West Seattle portion of the ship parade is over – HMCS Brandon (710) was the end of the line – but if you’re watching from a downtown window, you probably still have a view. Ship tours are set for Thursday-Sunday; more info here.

3:26 PM: Substituting photo by David Hutchinson atop the story:

The USS Port Royal leads the Seafair Parade of Ships past the Alki Statue of Liberty. In light of recent events, the sentiment expressed by one of the Tribute Plaques installed just in front of the statue becomes even more poignant.

He included the plaque:

3:59 PM: Our video below is a look at the biggest ship in the parade, the USS Green Bay (LPD 20):

It wasn’t listed on the Seafair info page – but we found the US Navy news release with newer information. ADDED 4:45 PM: One of three Canadian Navy ships of the “coastal defense vessel” type, the HMCS Edmonton:

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State flags at half-staff tomorrow for West Seattle’s Jarod Newlove

August 4, 2010 11:55 am

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| West Seattle news | West Seattle people

The latest notice from Gov. Chris Gregoire‘s office, directing that state buildings fly their flags at half-staff in memory of a fallen hero, is on behalf of West Seattle sailor Jarod Newlove. The governor’s office asks that “all Washington state agency buildings” do this tomorrow until close of business, or first thing Friday morning. Petty Officer 2nd Class Newlove died in Afghanistan last week, and the circumstances remain under investigation; family and friends gathered last night at the SW Athletic Complex/Chief Sealth baseball field in Westwood to remember him. As noted here last Sunday, you can donate online to help his family, including his widow and their two very young children; here’s the link to the website set up by a family friend.

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Followup: Q/A on PCC Natural Markets’ West Seattle remodeling

August 4, 2010 11:07 am

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| West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news

After PCC Natural Markets (WSB sponsor) announced yesterday that a remodeling project is about to begin at their West Seattle store – just as the newly set August 21st closing date looms for nearby Admiral Safeway – WSB commenters asked questions. Tom Monahan at PCC procured the answers – read on:Read More

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West Seattle Wednesday: Driving-range meeting; Seafair fleet

August 4, 2010 7:50 am

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| Blue Angels | West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

2 highlights from the WSB West Seattle Events calendar: If you’re interested in the new $3.4 million driving range planned for the West Seattle Golf Course, tonight is the first public design meeting, 7 pm at the WSGC (4470 35th SW). … You can watch Elliott Bay for the Seafair Navy Fleet “parade of ships,” after 1 pm (ships/schedule here) … Speaking of Seafair, today’s only scheduled Blue Angels aerial activities are media/VIP flights in #7 this morning.

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Early morning fire guts garage behind home west of Marine View

August 4, 2010 6:34 am

| 8 COMMENTS

| West Seattle fires | West Seattle news

(Above photo added 7:53 am, shared by anonymous contributor)

In the 5100 block of SW 98th (map), by the water downhill from Marine View and south of Fauntleroy/Endolyne, that fire brought out a big early-morning response – and even a TV chopper. The fire destroyed a garage/storage building behind a home; the house also has a bit of smoke/soot/charring on one corner as a result. Nobody was home; remodeling/renovation appears to be under way at the site. A neighbor’s fence was damaged too. No word yet on how this started; no injuries reported. ADDED 9:11 AM: LB Bryce from Vashon e-mailed WSB to share this video (thank you!), showing how visible this was from the Fauntleroy-Vashon ferry route:

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West Seattle Night Out, report #3: Neighborhood portraits

August 4, 2010 6:28 am

| 11 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle people

One last roundup of photos from Night Out – which, given the many groups of 40/50/more we saw as well as heard about, had thousands of West Seattle participants. All but the last 2 of these photos are by Christopher Boffoli, who went to a few north/central parties to which we’d been invited – then roamed and found more – and gathered neighbors for a group shot at each one. Top photo is from one of the biggest parties, 48th/Dawson, which also had a bike parade:

For the next image, Christopher explains: “47th between Edmunds and Hudson were holding up signs that read
Get Well Betty’ in honor of neighborhood fixture Betty Broughton who was instrumental in planning the block party but who unfortunately was admitted to the hospital (earlier in the day) and could not be there”:

Also west of The Junction, Christopher found a party at Ercolini Park:

49th SW, between Oregon and Genesee:

46th SW, between Genesee and Dakota:

On 40th SW, between Dakota and Genesee:

From that same party, two of the neighborhood kids:

39th, between Dakota and Andover:

Between Beach Drive and the north end of Genesee Hill, you’ll find Hillcrest, whose neighbors have a party so big, there’s even a bouncer for the kids:

Now on to Admiral, where this party was on 46th SW between Hill and Walker:

42nd, between Hanford and Hinds:

And in Alki, from 61st SW between Spokane and Hinds:

Again, all the above photos were by Christopher Boffoli; the next two are from Jason Grotelueschen, at 40th and Hinds, who says their party drew about 50 people: “In the group photo, several of us are lined up from “longest time on the block” on the left (Earl & Sylvia win the prize at 45 years) to “shortest time on the block” (2.5 months) on the right”: