West Seattle, Washington

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day : 16/02/2011 13 results

Delridge District Council: Youngstown’s 5th, mayor’s visit, more
February 16, 2011 11:52 pm
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 |   Delridge District Council | West Seattle news

As the Delridge District Council met tonight inside the theater at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center, posters decorated the center’s walls, promoting its upcoming 5th-anniversary party. Delridge Neighborhoods Development Association runs Youngstown, and its executive director Derek Birnie announced the February 26th party to celebrate the Cultural Arts Center’s fifth anniversary, which also will be a sendoff for two longtime DNDA employees as well as an open house (all detailed here).

Also announced at tonight’s meeting – Mayor McGinn is tentatively planning a visit to tour the Westwood neighborhood, according to Delridge district coordinator Ron Angeles. The date looks like March 6th, and so far the starting point is expected to be the new P-Patch site at 34th and Barton. More to come on that.

Also discussed tonight – a new citywide project that could bring a rain garden to a Delridge business … read on for that and more:Read More

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2 ways to help: Alki Tavern on Thursday, WS Eagles on Feb. 25
February 16, 2011 11:09 pm
|    Comments Off on 2 ways to help: Alki Tavern on Thursday, WS Eagles on Feb. 25
 |   How to help | West Seattle news

Info on two fundraisers to share – this first one is happening tomorrow (Thursday) night but just came in. From Peter:

All proceeds from food sales at the Alki Tavern (1321 Harbor Ave SW) tomorrow night, Thursday, February 17, 2011, are being donated to the West Seattle Food Bank and Family Promise of Seattle. Readers of the wsblog are already familiar with the great work being done by the WS Food Bank in our community, and they will also recognize Family Promise as the only homeless shelter in West Seattle. The Alki Tavern is well known for its Taco Thursday promotion where they sell tacos for $1.00 apiece, and the view from the tavern is the best in all of Seattle. Good food, good friends, good view, all with a view to building a stronger community. Come join us.

Family Promise, you may recall, is working to raise $90,000 so it can reopen its program housing homeless families with volunteer help from local congregations. Meantime, Jennifer is inviting you to a benefit at the West Seattle Eagles‘ HQ weekend after next – and collecting auction donations now:

Event- 2nd annual Art Erhmann Cancer benefit

Where- West Seattle Eagles, 4426 California SW

When- February 25th, 530-1100 pm
Silent Auction preview starts at 330 pm.

We will have pulled pork sandwiches, beer specials, silent auction, and entertainment.

I’m currently taking donations of any kind of stuff we can put into a gift basket; deadline for donations will be Thursday the 24th by 11 pm. In addition, for any business donating, we will provide a form for tax purposes.

My contact info – 206-938-4426
Jcollinsyoung@gmail.com

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Denny’s Chanda Oatis honored as Assistant Principal of the Year
February 16, 2011 10:11 pm
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

An announcement tonight from Jeff Clark, principal of Denny International Middle School in West Seattle’s Westwood neighborhood:

Please join me in congratulating Ms. Chanda E. Oatis as the recipient of the Principals Association of Seattle Schools Middle School/K-8 Assistant Principal of the Year award! Way to go, Ms. Oatis–we are proud of you.

She’s at left in the photo above, shared by her boss, who describes it as “Ms. Oatis and several Denny scholars enjoying a visit from local members of the prestigious Tuskegee Airmen.” (You may also have seen her on WSB, YouTube, and regional TV recently helping promote Denny’s student-sparking video “Teach Me How to Study“ – now past 18,000 YT views!)

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Youngstown Cultural Arts Center prepares to celebrate its 5th birthday
February 16, 2011 8:06 pm
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 |   Announcements

Youngstown is throwing a party – and just sent out the invitation/announcement:

Our building is old, but we are still young! Join us in a celebration of the creative, collaborative success story that is Youngstown Cultural Arts Center. We opened to the public five years ago on February 26, and this party is for everyone who enjoys the space that exists here for artists, citizens, students, educators, activists, advocates, environmentalists, magicians, performers….you get the idea. It’s for culture building in our community.

4:30 PM-6 PM The residents of Youngstown kick off a monthly film series in our theatre with the funny and insightful Banksy documentary Exit Through the Gift Shop. This movie looks at street art and legitimate art side by side, inside out, and drops it like it’s hot. Oh yes, there will be popcorn. Afterward, we’ll make our own art in the halls.

6 PM-8 PM Guests are invited on a Potluck Adventure (food provided by residents) through the upstairs floors of Youngstown, moving from place to place, floor to floor. Bring your binoculars and you might spot some artists in their native habitat.

8 PM-1 AM At the very end, we take a moment to give gratitude to founding faces Randy Engstrom and KC Corell, who guided Youngstown through its infancy, the terrible twos, the wobbly toddler years, all the way to the sturdy age of five. Now they are off to their next adventures, but not without our love. Our Open Mic and Dance Party is in the Movement Studio. There’s beer! 21+ only.

RSVP and More Info at the links below!

Facebook here; website here

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BULLETIN: Suspect arrested in Fauntleroy killing
February 16, 2011 5:27 pm
|      23 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | West Seattle news

5:27 PM: A suspect was booked into King County Jail this afternoon for investigation of homicide – and Southwest Precinct commander Captain Steve Paulsen confirms it’s a suspect in the Fauntleroy murder early this morning (here’s our previous coverage). He will not comment on whether it’s the person that WSB commenters mentioned seeing in the area, but he does say – as he has said in connection with other recent arrests – thanks to watchful residents for reporting suspicious circumstances and sightings. More to come; we’re researching the background of the person who’s been booked into jail.

6:16 PM UPDATE: The suspect is 19 years old, according to SeattleTimes.com (WSB partner). There is no one in Washington state/county/city criminal records with the name that’s listed on the jail roster (also, to answer another question that’s been asked, the suspect’s surname is not the same as that of anyone listed in public records as living in the household where the stabbing happened). We should have a lot more information through the Prosecuting Attorney’s Office after an anticipated bail hearing tomorrow. Meantime, the King County Medical Examiner’s Office has not yet announced the victim’s identity, and we won’t publish an ID, either in a news story or comments, until it has been made public either by authorities or by the victim’s family.

6:48 PM UPDATE: SPD Blotter also has just noted the arrest, but no additional information.

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West Seattle business notes: 3 signs of change
February 16, 2011 5:14 pm
|      16 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news

If you’ve driven through Fauntleroy/Alaska over the next few days, you have likely noticed another rebranding in progress at the gas station on the east side of the intersection – we’ve received four notes about this so far. Most recently, it’s been a 76 station; before that, a BP. WSB contributor Katie Meyer went over for the photo and a check on what the blue color scheme portends; answer – Arco. She talked with the crew working on the rebranding – including some digging that has to do with infrastructure for the pumps’ payment system – and neither they nor the employees could tell us whether this means an ownership change, or just a rebrand, just that they’re working to get it done as fast as possible. Another national brand spotted not far away:

Thanks to the WSB’ers who wrote with sightings of the Sprint sign in the window of what was briefly a Starbucks on the north side of inner Jefferson Square (and Infinity Espresso before that) – we haven’t rustled up the projected opening date yet (here’s the city project page), but the sign promises “coming soon.” Jefferson Square had a cell-phone store until Cellular World closed after opening a new storefront in Morgan Junction. There’s also a quick update on an in-progress project we wrote about a few months ago:

(WSB photo from last December)
The former pharmacy at California/Brandon – reported here in December as in transition to a “neighborhood restaurant and bar” – has applied for its liquor license, and in the process its new name is now public: Outwest Bar. We checked again with the new tenants, who told WSB they don’t have anything more to say yet about their plans.

ADDED 8:44 PM: Making a periodic check of the commercial-real-estate listings, we note that the OTHER gas station on the west edge of The Triangle, currently a Shell station, is now for sale – just under $2 million.

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Streetlight followup: City Light inspection/maintenance changes
February 16, 2011 4:26 pm
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   Utilities | West Seattle news

Now that Seattle City Light has finished inspecting all 37,000 metal streetlight poles, ground plates, and other facilities, the utility has announced what it plans to do differently so that cases of “contact voltage” will be caught more quickly. The inspections were announced after an electrified plate on Queen Anne killed a dog, followed by a problem with a pole in High Point (as reported here). Eight more problem spots were found in West Seattle and White Center (reported here and here). Read on for today’s SCL announcement:Read More

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West Seattle snow? ‘Special weather statement’ warns of showers
February 16, 2011 1:47 pm
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle weather

Though the air temperature isn’t close to freezing, the National Weather Service is warning of potential snow showers, because of a weather phenomenon that is “dragging” snow levels to sea level – the city’s covered by this advisory; read it here.

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West Seattle HS senior roars into statewide automotive competition
February 16, 2011 1:37 pm
|      7 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

Congratulations to West Seattle High School senior Phi Hoang (center), who is off to a state competition after taking second place in the Auto Service/Advanced competition of the Skills USA Regional competition in Everett last weekend. Two other Automotive Technology students from WSHS, senior Jonathan Delgado Quintana and sophomore Michael Sullivan, both finished in the top 10 in their competition categories, according to automotive instructor Pete McCue. He’s at right in the photo and new this year at WSHS after previous work including 8 years at Garfield HS and 6 in Port Angeles; at left, is Shorecrest High School’s Peter Smith, who set up this year’s regional competition. Congratulations to all and good luck to Phi, who will be vying in the state competition for a $34,000 scholarship to Universal Technical Institute and a spot in the national finals this summer.

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Transit alert for Monday: Metro ‘reduced weekday’; no Water Taxi
February 16, 2011 12:14 pm
|    Comments Off on Transit alert for Monday: Metro ‘reduced weekday’; no Water Taxi
 |   King County Water Taxi | Transportation | West Seattle news

Quick heads-up if you haven’t heard this already: For Presidents Day next Monday (February 21st), Metro will be on “reduced weekday service,” and the King County Water Taxi will NOT run at all (West Seattle and Vashon runs will both be idle).

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Traffic alert: Crews reported at Fairmount ‘sinkhole’; roads blocked
February 16, 2011 10:11 am
|    Comments Off on Traffic alert: Crews reported at Fairmount ‘sinkhole’; roads blocked
 |   Safety | Transportation | West Seattle news

We checked out reports of a small “sinkhole” by the traffic circle at Fairmount/Forest, south uphill end of Fairmount Ravine area (area map), the other day – it didn’t look major, and had a road sign over it more than covering the area, but this morning, Stefan e-mailed to report:

I thought it might be worth mentioning that the intersection of Fairmount and Forest by Hiawatha Community Ctr is closed due to a developing sinkhole. I noticed the beginning of it on Monday and called SDOT. Looks like they will be working on it shortly since they have cordoned off the whole traffic circle and roads leading to are closed.

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West Seattle Hi-Yu Spring Tea/Silent Auction set for April 3
February 16, 2011 9:30 am
|    Comments Off on West Seattle Hi-Yu Spring Tea/Silent Auction set for April 3
 |   Announcements

Just announced:

West Seattle Hi Yu Spring Tea and Silent Auction
The Hall at Fauntleroy
9131 California Ave. SW

Tea sandwiches, savories and sweets! Please join us for a Spring Tea and Silent Auction on Sunday, April 3rd from 2-4:30pm at the The Hall at Fauntleroy. Funds raised will support the Miss West Seattle Hi Yu Scholarship Program and help build the float that represents West Seattle at parades throughout the Puget Sound. Our premier sponsor this year is Tuxedos and Tennis Shoes Catering and special guest Seafair Pirate Chuck Marcoullier will be our MC for the afternoon. Tickets are $25 per person or reserve a table of 10 for $250. Make your reservation today! Call 206 835-0561 or email wshiyu@yahoo.com. Seating is limited.

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Update: Police looking for killer after stabbing in Fauntleroy
February 16, 2011 12:20 am
|      45 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | Fauntleroy | West Seattle news

(This story will stay atop the home page TFN – please scroll beneath it for other, newer stories. Latest update, 5:24 pm, working to find out whether a suspect booked into jail for investigation of homicde is linked to this case)

(Police car in Endolyne business district, as part of search/containment following nearby stabbing)
12:20 AM: Police are on the way – and you may hear a helicopter soon too – to a reported stabbing in the 9300 block of 44th SW (map).

12:28 AM UPDATE: We have a crew on the way. What we’ve heard from scanner so far: Victim is a man about 60 years old. Multiple stab wounds, CPR under way.

(Photos and video added from here, all by Christopher Boffoli for WSB)
12:57 AM UPDATE: Search continues, with K-9, but no suspect found so far. WSB’s Christopher Boffoli is there; he’s been told the victim is believed to be around 65. Scanner indicates no suspect description available so far but the suspect “may be injured.” (If you think you see or hear anything or anyone suspicious anywhere near there, call 911 immediately.)

1:16 AM UPDATE: SeattleCrime.com cites Seattle Fire sources as saying the victim has died. We can tell you that the aid unit in which he was getting CPR never left for the hospital – then, a few minutes ago, left without lights/sirens.

1:35 AM UPDATE: Media have been allowed to leave their vehicles. A briefing is expected shortly. We’ll have details as soon as they’re available.

(iPhone video added – briefing, unedited)
2:02 AM UPDATE: Here’s what Christopher says the media was told: SPD Captain Greg Schmidt briefed reporters, confirming that the victim, in his early 60s, is dead. The 911 call came from the victim’s wife, who was in another room of the house and heard her husband talking with someone, then arguing; when she went out, she found her husband stabbed, apparently in the chest, though SPD cannot confirm number of wounds. The man could not give police any information about the attacker; the wife didn’t see him and didn’t recognize the voice, but it’s believed he was “known” to the victim. This is West Seattle’s first homicide in almost five months; the previous ones were on two successive days, September 22nd and 23rd of last year – first the man killed in Roxhill Park, then the quadruple murder-suicide shootings in southeastern West Seattle.

5:31 AM UPDATE: Still no arrest reported.

8:35 AM UPDATE: Same status; police have posted a short item on SPD Blotter, without new details, except that it mentions a single stab wound to the chest, and asks that anyone with information on the case contact them. Photos added above and below – crime tape across the front of the property, and unmarked (except for the letters/numbers in the back window) Crime Scene Investigation (CSI) vans on the street.

12:23 PM UPDATE: We’ve just checked with the King County Medical Examiner’s Office, and they have NOT yet released the victim’s identity. If they DO confirm it – which doesn’t appear to have happened yet, according to the person with whom we spoke – and finish required notifications, the public announcement would likely be late this afternoon.

1:32 PM UPDATE: Just talked to Det. Mark Jamieson from the SPD Media Unit to ask if anyone’s been arrested or is being questioned. “Nobody in custody,” he replies, and no other news to report as “very active” investigation continues.

5:23 PM UPDATE: The King County Jail Register lists a suspect as having been booked into jail this afternoon just before 3 pm for investigation of homicide. We are working to confirm whether this is indeed a suspect in the Fauntleroy case.

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