day : 23/06/2011 14 results

By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

Maybe the next politician-meets-the-people Town Hall can be a joint city-county effort, with Mayor Mike McGinn and County Executive Dow Constantine both facing the crowd.

The mayor’s Hiawatha Community Center event tonight brought many a question that should have been addressed by that other government headquartered in downtown Seattle.

Some county-flavored foreshadowing came when breakdancing Vicious Puppies Crew performed pre-mayor with three dancers in yellow T-shirts promoting County Council candidate Diana Toledo – they were the second act, after Defined Movement:

But most of all, county considerations came into play when the mayor was peppered with questions and complaints about transit, which is mostly the county’s responsibility, the way things work now. Here’s video of the event in its entirety:

If you’d rather read the toplines, our story continues ahead: Read More

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More about new West Seattle liquor store, including opening date

June 23, 2011 9:50 pm

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| West Seattle news | WS beverages

After finding a few tidbits about the new West Seattle Junction liquor store in a state news release early today (here’s our resulting story), we took a few followup questions to the Liquor Control Board. First answer: The opening date IS already set: August 31st. LCB spokesperson Brian Smith says it’ll be an overnight transition – the old store in The Junction will close at its usual time August 30th, and the new one will open the next day (8/31 is a Wednesday). He also confirms the new store at Capco Plaza (41st/Alaska) will be one of the 30 stores in an experimental liquor-tasting program – the only location they know for sure will be part of the experiment. (The program was mentioned in the earlier news release, so we asked.)

Last but not least, he says there will NOT be a third (contract) liquor store in the Admiral area – we had reported in December that they were advertising for proposals. According to Smith, “Unfortunately we were unable to find an arrangement that met our needs and those of a potential contract store manager. Contract store managers are paid on commission. There were difficulties finding the right Admiral-area location with lease costs that fit the contract store model. Some locations were also too close to schools.”

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At mayor’s Town Hall: New West Seattle Helpline executive director

June 23, 2011 6:26 pm

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| West Seattle news | West Seattle people

We’re at Hiawatha Community Center, as the seats start to fill for Mayor McGinn‘s Town Hall meeting. Among the dozens of community-group reps who are tabling tonight: The new executive director of the West Seattle Helpline, Tara Byrne. Her appointment was just announced today; she follows Anna Fern, who retired this spring. Tara’s background is in education – she’s been teaching at the UW most recently.

Organizations from all over West Seattle are here – neighborhood councils, community-project reps, and more. Come welcome Tara, and meet many other West Seattle neighbors who are working day to day to make our community a better place. The Town Hall kicks off at 6:30 with youth performances, and then Q/A with the mayor and other city reps is scheduled to start around 6:40.

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West Seattle Crime Watch followups: Suspects charged in 2 cases

June 23, 2011 4:56 pm

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| Crime | West Seattle news

Checking the court records, we have new information in 2 cases from the past week:

(June 17th photo by Christopher Boffoli for WSB)
CHARGES IN JUNCTION STORE GUN THREAT: 20-year-old Chriss Arce, a Westwood resident, is now charged with assault for the incident last Friday that started inside West Seattle Computers. Court documents say the store’s owner asked him to leave after seeing him first checking his Facebook account on store computers and then seeing him open various merchandise boxes. The owner then followed him out of the store, concerned he would cause trouble elsewhere; that’s when, the court documents say, Arce turned around, demanded to know why he was being followed, and pulled out a gun. That’s when the owner called 911. Police eventually found Arce hiding in a yard-waste container in an alley a few blocks away, with a loaded 9 millimeter semi-automatic handgun. There were two arrest warrants out for him. He remains in King County Jail, in lieu of $10,000 bail.

BAIL UPPED FOR JUNCTION ASSAULT SUSPECT: One of two men arrested after two incidents in The Junction night before last – an assault on a Matador employee, and window-breaking at two businesses – is now jailed in lieu of $5,000 bail. 23-year-old Kyle Thornton of Burien pleaded not guilty today to misdemeanor charges of assault and obstructing a public officer. His next hearing is set for July 5th. His record includes a felony charge related to an attempt to rob the 16th/Roxbury Walgreens of oxycodone three years ago.

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West Seattle summer: Molly Moon @ Alki; Junction ‘Shop Late’ reminder

June 23, 2011 3:58 pm

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| West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news

MOLLY MOON TRUCK COMING TO ALKI: Another ice-cream truck is heading this way, according to a note from Diana @ Coastal Boutique – she e-mailed to announce that the Molly Moon’s truck will be outside their store 3-5 pm tomorrow, and varying times “every Friday in July.” (West Seattle is already being visited by the Parfait ice-cream truck on Saturdays, 11 am-2 pm, next to Marination Mobile at 35th/Graham.) Diana also says Coastal is having a trunk show tonight, 6-8 pm, with jewelry, drinks, and snacks.

SPEAKING OF SHOPPING: As evening draws closer, a reminder about the first West Seattle Junction “Shop Late Thursdays” night TONIGHT. The 19 participating stores are listed here; many are having specials/sales to celebrate, including longtime WSB sponsor Click! Design That Fits, with a sale on Queen Bee handbags/wallets ONLY during the 6-9 pm “Shop Late” event tonight.

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West Seattle development: Land-use approvals for Conner project

June 23, 2011 2:41 pm

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| Development | West Seattle news

(WSB photo looking at the Conner site from QFC steps – it’s on Alaska’s south side, 42nd to California)
Another key approval is just in for the two-building Conner Homes project in the heart of The Junction – both of its buildings have won land-use approval. Here’s the notice for the California/Alaska building (7 stories, 70 apartments, 10,000+ square feet of commercial), and here’s the notice for the 42nd/Alaska building (7 stories, 126 apartments, 15,000 square feet of commercial). The decisions that triggered those two notices are both linked from the pages we’ve linked, as is information on how to appeal the decisions, which both finalize the reviewed design for the bulidings and the city’s determination of environmental non-significance. Anyone who wants to appeal either or both has to do so by July 7th.

The project roared back onto the front burner two months ago, when City Council votes were scheduled for an “alley vacation” needed to enable a single 271-space underground garage for both bulidings. For this story we published then, we spoke with site owner/developer Charlie Conner, who said they expect to start construction next year. One of the tenants on the site is vacating before then – as reported here on Monday, the city has decided to close the Neighborhood Service Center on June 30th.

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West Seattle Crime Watch: Latest stolen car to watch for

June 23, 2011 12:58 pm

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| Crime | West Seattle news

The Seattle Police @getyourcarback Twitter feed doesn’t mention stolen-car locations, or else we’d just run that daily (you CAN find it on the Crime Watch page). But if you send us a message about your stolen car too (here’s how), we’ll publish its description so folks in this area can keep an eye out. Here’s a new one, from Shane:

Our car was stolen from the front of our house in Arbor Heights last night. Last seen locked and parked in front of our house at 11:30 PM on Wednesday, June 22nd. Please be on the lookout for a 1997 Silver Honda Civic LX, 4-door, license plate #436 VMY. There is a blue Hawaiian turtle sticker on the rear window & two car seats in the back seat.

A police report has been filed, but if you see it, please contact Greta at (206) 518-1201 or Shane (206) 518-1203.

(Here’s the SPD tweet about it.)

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West Seattle (& beyond) traffic alerts: Citywide weekend roundup

June 23, 2011 11:40 am

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| West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

It’s a Thursday tradition in the summer – the SDOT list of what around Seattle might affect your ability to get from Point A to Point B over the weekend. It includes, of course, the Alaskan Way Viaduct closure and others for Saturday’s Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon – but there’s lots more. (Note: Saturday’s Morgan Junction Community Festival here in West Seattle isn’t mentioned but you can expect it’ll be busier at California/Fauntleroy, as there are vendors on both sides of California this year.) Read on for the SDOT list!Read More

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Peninsula participants in today’s one-day online-donation GiveBIG

June 23, 2011 11:26 am

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| How to help | West Seattle news

Lots of buzz today about the one-day online-fundraising drive for hundreds of nonprofits around the region, through the Seattle Foundation. Their online list of who’s eligible is overwhelmingly long, but we reviewed it to cull the West Seattle/White Center-based names we recognized, in case you haven’t already found your favorite nonprofit to donate to. And yes, we know many, many, many more groups operate IN this area as part of regional operations – wherever you choose to donate, just donate, regional or local or wherever! Once you see a name, find it on this Seattle Foundation page to get the direct link for their page. List ahead:Read More

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Morgan Junction Community Festival: Volunteer power, please!

June 23, 2011 10:32 am

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| West Seattle festivals | West Seattle news

Just two days till the Morgan Junction Community Festival, 10:30 am-7 pm Saturday in and around Morgan Junction Park (6413 California SW), with free music, food, kids’ activities, neighbors to meet (we’re co-sponsors and we look forward to seeing you there) … It’s presented by the Morgan Community Association, an all-volunteer community council, and they are looking for a bit more volunteer assistance to set up and take down. From Becky, the volunteer coordinator:

We need 1-2 strong bodies to assist with stage set-up at 6:45 – 8:00 am and stage take-down from 7:30 to 8:30 pm … 4-6 people to assist with traffic control between 10 am and 6:00 pm (assigning people to 1.5 hr shifts) and another 4-6 people to help with trash pick-up, and breaking down tables, chairs and tents between 6:00 and 8:00 pm.

Can you help with any of that – or think you might be able to, but have questions? Please contact Becky ASAP at beckbick@yahoo.com or 206-407-7618.

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West Seattle Thursday: Mayor; candidates; Junction ‘Shop Late’

June 23, 2011 6:07 am

| 5 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Nucor, photographed from West Seattle Corporate Center)
Summer REALLY starts this afternoon, when Seattle Public Schools middle- and high-school students get out for the year. Here’s more from the WSB West Seattle Events calendar:

ART AT SSCC: Workshop and opening reception for artist Dahlia Elsayed at the South Seattle Community College Art Gallery (Jerry Brockey Student Center, 6000 16th SW). Workshop with the artist: 12 – 2 pm, reception 2 – 4 pm. More info on the Art Gallery website.

SEREVI RUGBY INTRODUCTORY CAMP: 4 pm at Hiawatha Playfield – details here.

FIRST ‘SHOP LATE THURSDAY’: The West Seattle Junction Association lists 19 merchants as participating as “Shop Late Thursdays in The Junction” begins tonight, including WSB sponsor Click! Design That Fits. Shop till 9 pm.

MAYOR’S TOWN HALL: Mayor McGinn awaits your Q/A at a Town Hall meeting at Hiawatha Community Center (2700 California SW), 5:30 pm community info fair, 6;30 pm youth performance, 6:40 pm Q/A with mayor/staffers, more details in our preview from last night.

BOOK SIGNING: 40th anniversary celebration continues at Metropolitan Market-Admiral (WSB sponsor, 2320 42nd Ave SW), 6:30 – 8:30 pm, Fit By Nature book signing with John Colver

CITY COUNCIL CANDIDATES @ WSDW: Evening meeting for the West Seattle Democratic Women, 7 pm at the West Seattle Golf Course, with Seattle City Council Position 1 candidates Jean Godden, Maurice Classen, Bobby Forch, and Michael Taylor-Judd, and Position 9 candidates Sally Clark and Dian Ferguson. If you have a question or want to make a reservation, please contact WSDW ASAP at (206) 935-3216 or wsdwomen@yahoo.com.

SEATTLE FOUNDATION “GIVE BIG” DONATION EVENT: More than a few local nonprofits are part of a one-day donation drive through the Seattle Foundation, which is offering some matching/stretching donations for whatever you give between 7 am and midnight today. The full list is here – for a donation to qualify, you have to make it through your chosen recipient’s page on that site. We’ll have an update later with a full breakout on local participants.

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New West Seattle Junction liquor store: ‘High-volume specialty’

June 23, 2011 5:22 am

| 15 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news

When the state Liquor Control Board announced on Wednesday that it will expand and standardize store hours statewide, it also sneaked in a few words about the new West Seattle Junction liquor store. As first reported here in February, the store is moving from its California SW location to a new space in Capco Plaza (the QFC/Altamira Apartments building at 41st/42nd/Alaska). In the LCB’s Wednesday news release, the new West Seattle store is described as a “High-Volume Specialty Store,” which “will offer an upscale environment and an expanded and unique spirit selection complimented by regional wines and Northwest craft beers.” The state says it will open “later this summer.” Meantime, liquor stores’ hours will change July 1st to 10 am-9 pm Mondays-Thursdays and 10 am-10 pm Fridays-Saturdays (noon-5 Sundays for those that are open on Sunday, like this one).

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Election 2011: West Seattle Chamber’s ‘networking’ event

June 23, 2011 4:58 am

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| West Seattle news | West Seattle politics

Two types of networking were in evidence at Wednesday’s monthly West Seattle Chamber of Commerce lunch, and the top photo is proof of one: Regional collaboration between business-advocacy groups. At left is Susan Davis, executive director of the Rainier Valley Chamber of Commerce, which teamed up for the event with the WS C of C, whose CEO Patti Mullen is at center, and those on hand included, at right, April Thanos from the Greater Seattle Business Association (which is having an event in WS soon – more on that later.)

With less than two months till the August 16 primary, the guests in the spotlight at West Seattle Corporate Center (Delridge/Andover – with the giant flag) were most of the candidates running for the five Seattle City Council seats on this year’s ballot, including all but one of the incumbents, on hand for what was billed as “speed networking.”

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