day : 10/02/2011 13 results

(Photos and video by Christopher Boffoli for WSB)
Tonight’s West Seattle Art Walk highlighted imagination and whimsy as well as boldness and brightness in the wide range of art on display around the peninsula. Laura Castellanos was at Click! Design That Fits (WSB sponsor) – you might recognize her “bummerbunny.” Bright night overall at Click!

Also in The Junction, more imagination and whimsy courtesy of Kate Endle, at CAPERS:

Kate is an accomplished illustrator and also works in collage, using decorative and hand-painted paper. You’ll find some of her children’s books on sale at CAPERS, too. Next Junction stop – ArtsWest:

Encaustic abstract artist Kate Fluckinger is one of the artists who are “Spinning Straw Into Gold” in the ArtsWest Gallery‘s current exhibition. A bit off the beaten Junction track, Joya Marie was the featured artist at the Nature Consortium offices, showing her linocuts:

Live music there, too, from Bando-Rio:

Finally, two stops outside The Junction – Art Walk night is always busy at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor), with Wine Club and a featured artist – this time, Chris Hunter:

His “day job” is at Alki Beach Tattoo, but he’s been painting longer than he’s been tattooing, and that’s what C&P is showcasing – watercolor and ink paintings and drawings. Last but by no means least, a stop at Stephanie Hargrave‘s South Admiral studio to say hi to Jean Lovejoy, who drew a full house of fans for her retrospective:

Last night we featured Stephanie’s story about Jean, who’s going strong at 91. Remember, most venues display their artists’ work all month long, so even if you couldn’t get out tonight, you’ve got time to wander around and enjoy it in the weeks ahead. Next West Seattle Art Walk: March 10.

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West Seattle scenes from a beautiful Thursday

February 10, 2011 10:59 pm

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| Seen at sea | West Seattle news

Three gorgeous pictures came in from wonderful West Seattle photographers today – we’re sharing two tonight, and saving one for tomorrow’s morning preview. Thanks to Mike Scharer for the paddleboarder picture above, and Robin Lindsey (also known for her Seal Sitters work) for the great-blue-heron image below:

Got a photo to share with your West Seattle neighbors via WSB? Here’s how.

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High-school basketball tournament: Tonight’s Sealth, WSHS scores

February 10, 2011 10:23 pm

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| West Seattle news | West Seattle schools | WS & Sports

Both West Seattle High School and Chief Sealth International High School had home games tonight in Metro League tournament play. The Seahawks defeated Lakeside; close game for the Wildcats, but they were on the losing end. More after the jump:Read More

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64 mph on West Seattle’s Admiral Way hill: Another SPD speed sting

February 10, 2011 8:01 pm

| 124 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle police

Another week, another speeder roundup on the Admiral Way hill north of the West Seattle Bridge (map), according to a report just published on Seattle Police’s SPD Blotter. After last week’s roundup, WSB’ers had a lot to say. But did the speeders heed the warning? Apparently not, according to tonight’s report, which says they caught one driver at 64 miles per hour:

On February 10th from 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. the SPD Traffic Unit’s Aggressive Driver Response Team conducted a speed enforcement emphasis in the 3300 block of SW Admiral Way. Emphasis patrols are regularly conducted in accordance with the Traffic Unit’s mission to promote traffic safety through the vigorous enforcement of city and state traffic laws. The posted speed limit on this stretch of road is 30 mph.

In the one-hour-long emphasis, five officers issued a total of 42 citations. Among those citations included some notable excessive speeds: Two violators at 50 mph, one at 51 mph, one at 52 mph, and one at 64 mph (who also had no proof of insurance).

The top speed reported in the crackdown a week earlier was 55 mph.

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West Seattle Montessori’s blanket drive to help homeless people

February 10, 2011 7:43 pm

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| How to help | West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

From West Seattle Montessori/West Seattle Academy (WSB sponsor) – If you have a blanket you don’t need (or can buy a new one to donate), get ready to donate it in a blanket drive, inspired by pre-primary student Morgan Williams, who wants to “help the homeless people of West Seattle stay warm,” according to the school’s announcement. Next week, February 14-18, they’ll be collecting clean blankets – new and used – in a bin set up outside the school, so anybody can donate, not just students, staff and families. They’re at 11215 15th SW (map). P.S. Morgan says, “You can give them coats, too!” (One more WSMS note – the elementary play “Fiddler on the Roof” will be performed again tomorrow night, 7 pm, West Seattle High School Theater.)

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Accused ‘Polite Robber’ charged, reported to have confessed

February 10, 2011 6:42 pm

| 8 COMMENTS

| Crime | West Seattle news

65-year-old Gregory Paul Hess is now charged in the videotaped stickup at Roxbury Shell that brought him the nickname “Polite Robber” – eight years after, as we first reported early Tuesday, he gained infamy as the “Transaction Bandit.” The King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office charged Hess with one count of first-degree robbery for last Saturday’s heist. The charging documents reveal a few new details about what happened after the videotaped robbery: First, the station owner didn’t just stand there – he called 911 and then walked out into the parking lot to try to get the license-plate number of the vehicle the robber got away in. The King County Sheriff’s Office (which has jurisdiction because the gas station is outside city limits) got “several tips” on the Monday after the robbery, all identifying the man on the video as Gregory Hess. A detective looked up the name and found it belonged to a 65-year-old man on probation after serving time for bank robbery; federal probation authorities had an address for him in the Top Hat area, and investigators got a search warrant (after the robbery victim identified Hess in a photo lineup). When they found him there, the charging papers say, he told them, “I’m the one you’re looking for.” He also is reported to have pointed them to the pellet gun used during the robbery. While being questioned, authorities say, Hess confessed, saying he got $200 from the robbery and used it to buy food and gas and to pay a cell-phone bill, then depositing the remaining $90 in his bank account. Tonight, he remains in jail in lieu of $250,000 bail, and his arraignment is set for two weeks from today. (Photo: Washington Department of Corrections)

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West Seattle Trader Joe’s progress report, since you asked

February 10, 2011 2:42 pm

| 46 COMMENTS

| Triangle | West Seattle news | West Seattle Trader Joe's

With six weeks having gone by since our last progress report on the West Seattle Trader Joe’s, we weren’t surprised to see questions come up in the comment thread on this past Monday’s Triangle open house. Then, just as we got ready to start on an update, two people e-mailed to say the Burien Trader Joe’s staff — long a source of West Seattle rumors, it seems – had told West Seattle shoppers that the project was allegedly having permit problems. Keep in mind, the formal permit application was made just two months ago, and these things seldom move swiftly through the city pipeline. But to get a better idea of where it’s at, we did two things: 1. Went downtown to the Department of Planning and Development to look into the application file. 2. Talked to John Wunder, who represents properties (including this one at 4545 Fauntleroy Way) owned by Steve Huling and family (the site was the longtime Huling Brothers Buick showroom). Here’s what we found out:

THE FILE: The documents we reviewed at DPD HQ at noontime yesterday appear relatively routine. The newest one-sheet, from the land-use review, was dated February 1st. Most of the back-and-forth has to do with parking for the store, some of which will be on the building’s rooftop parking area, some of which will be on the ground-level lot. According to the documents, some of the parking was in conflict with a strip that’s on the record as an alley, so the city asked that parking proposed for that “alley” area be removed. The city asked for a traffic study and more information on where the “loading berth” will be. A few data points of interest are also in the application – it’s expected the project will generate 1,365 daily vehicle trips. The exterior modifications (architect rendering at right) will bring the height to 39’9″ in at least one spot, a few feet higher than it is now. It appears that only one comment was received during the recent open-comment period for the project’s environmental review; a North Seattle woman wrote that she felt the project would have an environmental impact, and hoped that trees would be included. (The proposal does call for adding “landscaping islands” that are projected to reduce the amount of “impervious” surface on the site.)

THE PROPERTY REP: John Wunder says he’s checked with key players on the project, and there’s really nothing to say other than, it’s proceeding. They hope to finish the permit process this spring.

The documents on file with the city project a 175-day construction schedule – that’s just under six months – so you could certainly conclude the store is not likely to be open before late summer/early fall. (The original TJ’s announcement last June promised only “2011.”) According to the documents, Trader Joe’s would seek to “commence construction immediately” once the permits are granted. The file also notes that “50 to 75 employees” are expected to work at the store.

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The WSBeat: Real-life ‘West Side Story’; sorry, wrong gang; more

February 10, 2011 12:04 pm

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| Crime | West Seattle news | WSBeat

By Megan Sheppard
On the WSBeat, for West Seattle Blog

From reports on cases handled recently by Southwest Precinct officers:

*On Monday afternoon, a ongoing beef between two groups of teens came to a peaceful end when the heads of the two groups shook hands. Witnesses described the genesis of the disturbance to an officer who, in the report, states, “There was a stand-off much like the one between The Sharks and The Jets, but without the finger snapping.”

*Two juveniles had a verbal argument last week, but the victim of threats told officers he wasn’t too concerned: For one thing, the suspect claimed the incorrect gang affiliation for his part of town. (“He doesn’t live there. He should have claimed “xxxx” gang instead.”) And with street lingo favoring the word “cap” for “shoot,” the victim was apparently reassured when the suspect threatened, instead, to “clap” him.

Ahead, six more summaries, including the forger-turned-nanny and the case of the misplaced car keys:Read More

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Get your hair cut for a cause! Illusions’ ‘Have a Heart Day’ Sunday

February 10, 2011 11:31 am

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| How to help | West Seattle news

(Illusions Hair Design Twitpic from last year’s Have a Heart Day)
Need a haircut? You have a chance to combine a good look with a good deed if you get an appointment for this Sunday’s “Have a Heart Day” at Illusions Hair Design (longtime WSB sponsor). The Illusions team is donating its time so that all proceeds go to charity – they’ve done it every year since 1994. This year the beneficiary is Pencil Me in for Kids, which gets school supplies to students who have trouble affording them otherwise. Illusions says some spots are still left (and prices are reduced, too) – 11 am-4 pm this Sunday, February 13th. Call for an appointment ASAP – 206-938-3675.

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34th District Democrats think Olympia, and beyond

February 10, 2011 10:35 am

| 4 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle politics

Olympia was on a lot of minds last night as this area’s largest political organization, the 34th District Democrats, gathered for the first time since their January reorganization meeting. West Seattle-residing City Councilmember Tom Rasmussen spoke toward meeting’s end about a measure that he’d just gone to the state capital to support – House Bill 1536, proposing a vehicle-licensing fee for two years to shore up transit funding and stave off cuts. (West Seattle’s State House Reps. Eileen Cody and Joe Fitzgibbon are among the sponsors.) Rasmussen said its prospects look “favorable,” though all it would do is buy time until a more stable source of longterm funding is found. More from the 34th DDs’ meeting ahead:

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West Seattle Thursday: Art Walk; school visits; 4 wine events

February 10, 2011 8:45 am

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| West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Cormorant and kayakers off Harbor Avenue shoreline; photo by Christopher Boffoli)
From the WSB West Seattle Events calendar: Tonight’s main event is the West Seattle Art Walk, 6-9 pm all around the peninsula. A separate preview’s ahead with highlights but in the meantime, you can find out more about some of the artists on the official Art Walk website … Valentine celebrations begin with the Toddler Valentine event at High Point Community Center this morning, 10 am-12 pm, “an upgraded version of our Toddler Open Gym program” with activities and games … School tours/open houses: West Seattle High School has tours this morning till 10 am; Hope Lutheran has a tour at 9 am; Alki Elementary has a “new student open house” 6:30-7:30 tonight; Lincoln Park Preschool‘s open house is 6-7:30 pm (details on the official flyer); not in West Seattle, but dozens of WS students are at The Center School, a public high school, at Seattle Center, and its open house is at 6 tonight … Seattle Tilth teaches “Starting with Baby Chicks,” 6 pm, Youngstown Arts Center (full details on the Sustainable West Seattle website) … The new Yarrow Spa celebrates its grand opening 6-9 tonight at ActivSpace (3400 Harbor Avenue) … Skylark Café (WSB sponsor) is the place at 8 tonight for a fundraiser on behalf of Tilted Thunder Rail Birds …

ATTENTION, WINE LOVERS: Not 1, not 2, not 3, but 4 wine events – Noon-5 pm, it’s the start of the 3-day Valentine’s wine event at South Seattle Community College‘s Northwest Wine Academy – get full details here … 5:30-9 pm, taste wines of Latin America and Spain at West Seattle Cellars … 6-8 pm, wine tasting with the monthly Wine Club at C & P Coffee (WSB sponsor) $15/person, $20 for two … 6-9 pm at Bin 41 wine: An Italian winemaker from Reverdito is on hand for Art Walk night ($5 tasting fee) … Yet more today/tonight events here.

THREE MORE SCHOOL EVENTS: WSB sponsor West Seattle Montessori School‘s elementary play “Fiddler on the Roof” is tonight and tomorrow, 7 pm, West Seattle High School theater, tickets $10 adults/$6 students, all welcome … Two high-school-basketball postseason games tonight: Lakeside at Chief Sealth and Eastside Catholic at WSHS, both at 7 pm.

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West Seattle Crime Watch: Morgan Junction home searched

February 10, 2011 1:22 am

| 10 COMMENTS

| Crime | West Seattle news | West Seattle police

(Photo by Christopher Boffoli for WSB)
Thanks to Blake for the tip on this: For the second night in a row, Seattle Police officers (including what appeared to be SWAT/undercover officers) showed up in force at a West Seattle location. This time, it was in the 6700 block of California SW. No word if anyone was arrested; before Christopher Boffoli got there for WSB, tipster Blake said it appeared nobody was home when police arrived. Christopher talked with officers, who said they could only say they were there serving a search warrant and conducting an investigation. The trucks shown in our photo towed multiple cars (according to Blake, they were checked out first by K-9). We’ll see if more information is available later this morning.

SIDE NOTE: No indication so far if this has anything to do with last night’s arrest of a man at 41st/Edmunds, but there’s a followup detail on that; the King County Jail Register shows that suspect got out around 9:30 last night after posting bond for $50,000 bail.

THURSDAY MORNING UPDATE: Seattle Police spokesperson Det. Mark Jamieson says it was a “narcotics search warrant served by the (Anti-Crime Team),” no further details at this point.

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Sanislo Elementary student a ‘Neighbor Appreciation’ winner

February 10, 2011 12:41 am

| 2 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle schools | WS culture/arts

A West Seattle student is among the winners in the city’s Neighbor Appreciation Day student art contest. Above, Sanislo Elementary fifth-grader Chandra Burnham took third place (see a bigger version of her work here). Winners (all listed here) are being honored this Saturday during Neighbor Appreciation Day, which also features myriad special fun city events (fire station tours, free swim at Southwest Pool, and more) – see them listed on the WSB West Seattle Events calendar.

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