day : 24/08/2011 12 results

(Photo by Patrick Sand for WSB)
10:06 PM: Just in case you heard the sirens (we did) – the fire response is in the 8900 block of Fauntleroy Way SW. Scanner says it’s a kitchen fire that’s already reported “tapped.” But because the (standard for a house-fire call) response is so big, Fauntleroy will be blocked for a bit till units are canceled. We’re on our way to doublecheck.

10:18 PM UPDATE: Our crew at the scene says two engines remain; firefighters are investigating just to be sure the fire didn’t “extend” into the walls or other parts of the structure. The house is a few doors north of the Fauntleroy ferry dock and Cove Park entrances. Fauntleroy Way is no longer blocked, since most of the units have been sent back.

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West Seattle scene: Late-summer sunset

August 24, 2011 10:02 pm

| 8 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle weather

Thanks to those who sent photos of tonight’s truly amazing sunset. That one’s from Debra Salazar Herbst.

And a slightly different angle, from Tina Doherty:

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Video: Almost-done Delridge Skatepark gets a test drive

August 24, 2011 6:11 pm

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| Delridge | West Seattle news | West Seattle parks

Went over to Delridge Skatepark – set for dedication during Delridge Day on September 17th – after getting a tip that somebody was skating the almost-finished park. “Somebody” turned out to be crew members from Grindline, the West Seattle-based company that designed and is building the park, just trying it out. (Important to note – they’re working on the project; this remains a CONSTRUCTION SITE, **not** open to the public.) Major construction work’s been under way for a little more than four months. P.S. To keep up with what else is planned for the Delridge Day festival, in addition to the skatepark opening, you can “like” its official Facebook page.

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Produce stand in Delridge? Co-op plans a test this Sunday

August 24, 2011 5:47 pm

| 3 COMMENTS

| Delridge | Health | West Seattle news

The next big step for Delridge Produce Cooperative, working for more than two years to get a reliable source of fresh produce to Delridge, is this Sunday! DPC board member Galena White sends this update:

We are testing a produce stand by selling a few select, very inexpensive fruits and vegetables outside of the West Seattle Tool Library at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center this Sunday, from about 12:30pm to 3pm. We will have fresh organic peaches, apricots, heirloom tomatoes, hyperlocal red-leaf lettuce, and baby carrot bunches, as well as a few *berry nice* extras. Anyone who wants to show us that a produce stand for Delridge is truly sustainable should show up early, before we run out! We will also be offering a limited-time free membership to those who wish to sign up to get even better prices on our next order.

That’s a reference to the Buyers’ Club they launched two months ago. DPC tested a “mobile market” back in 2009.

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Update from court: Steve Bushaw murder trial goes to the jury

August 24, 2011 3:43 pm

| Comments Off on Update from court: Steve Bushaw murder trial goes to the jury

| Crime | West Seattle news

At 3:38 pm, the lawyers in the Steve Bushaw murder trial finished their closing arguments (including the final rebuttal from prosecutor Jeff Baird), and the jury has gone off to start deliberating. We’ll summarize the gist of the arguments in a story later.

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Hit-run crash followup: Teen cited for DUI, no license

August 24, 2011 1:44 pm

| 54 COMMENTS

| Crime | West Seattle news

(Photo by Katie Meyer for WSB)
We have more information today on last night’s 44th/Stevens hit-run crash that sent four people to the hospital, including two children, who we now know are 5 and 9 years old. Police say the driver reported to have run from the scene is a juvenile – 16 years old – and that his breath test was over the legal drunkenness level. Read on for more details:Read More

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West Seattle Crime Watch: Stolen vehicle to watch for

August 24, 2011 12:53 pm

| 3 COMMENTS

| Crime | West Seattle news

Hope you never need to report a stolen vehicle – but if you do, we’re committed to helping get the word out as part of West Seattle Crime Watch. Jeff just e-mailed to report:

My 2005 white Landcruiser was stolen Monday evening from the Admiral district. Plate number 208SWW. Please call Jeff At 206-390-5919 if you see it.

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Fauntleroy YMCA closed today, expected to reopen tomorrow

August 24, 2011 11:58 am

| 1 COMMENT

| Fauntleroy | West Seattle news

Note from Samantha Bowes at the West Seattle/Fauntleroy YMCA (WSB sponsor):

The Fauntleroy YMCA (9140 California Ave SW) will be closed for the rest of the day today due to a major water issue; we anticipate being able to open on time tomorrow morning. Fauntleroy members are welcome to use our West Seattle facility (4515 36th Ave SW) in the meantime.

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Highland Park spraypark: 3 design concepts unveiled

August 24, 2011 11:42 am

| 2 COMMENTS

| Highland Park | West Seattle news | West Seattle parks

(UPDATED WEDNESDAY NIGHT with clearer images of the concepts, plus PDFs of graphics/info from the meeting)

By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

Along the edge of the three-seasons-closed Highland Park wading pool, more than two dozen people gathered last night to get their first look at ideas for the spraypark that will replace it.

~~They also learned that the spraypark won’t be open next summer – because the scope of the project keeps expanding, so 2012 is now when it’ll be built, 2013 is when it’ll be open.~~ (POST-MEETING UPDATE: The spraypark itself *will* be open for 2012; it’s the rest of the expanded project, such as building renovations, that wouldn’t be done till 2013.)

The big question the project team asked those who gathered in the park by the pool last night: Which of three proposed themes (see them full-size here) do you like, and what do you want to see around the spraypark – places to sit, places to hangout, art, etc.?

This will be West Seattle’s first and only spraypark, so it’s of potential interest to families all over the area, not just in Highland Park.

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Update: Comcast speed problems in West Seattle

August 24, 2011 9:13 am

| 55 COMMENTS

| Utilities | West Seattle news

9:13 AM: In case you’ve noticed this – it’s not just you. Via Twitter and e-mail, we’ve gotten reports of Comcast Internet speed problems – and experienced it ourselves in the 7 am hour at WSB HQ in Upper Fauntleroy. Comcast confirms it’s having problems – apparently not just West Seattle – and is working on them. They’re hoping to have it fixed by mid-afternoon.

12:56 PM: Multiple reports say this has been fixed as of less than an hour ago – let us know if you are still having trouble (but of course first make sure Comcast knows!).

THURSDAY UPDATE FROM COMCAST: Just out of the inbox, from Comcast communications VP Steve Kipp –

On behalf of Comcast, I want to apologize to our West Seattle customers and respond to the people who have commented here as well as my friends and neighbors who contacted me yesterday asking why their Internet speeds were so slow yesterday morning. The short answer is that we were doing some maintenance work overnight on a small portion of our network serving West Seattle. Normally, this type of work, which takes place nearly every night of the week on some portion of our network across the state, results in little or no disruption to our customers and is completed well before people wake to go to work. However, in this case, our network technicians ran into an unforeseen problem that resulted in the work continuing well into the morning and resulting in slower speeds for some of our West Seattle customers. If you have any questions about your service or would like to contact us directly you can call us at 800-COMCAST or reach us at We_Can_Help@cable.comcast.com or @ComcastCares on Twitter.

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West Seattle Wednesday: Bikes, barbecuing, free kickboxing…

August 24, 2011 7:28 am

| 2 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(High Point Market Garden, photographed last month)
From the WSB West Seattle Events calendar:

HEART SCREENINGS: Free heart screenings at Chief Sealth International High School for ANY West Seattle youth 14-24. Appointments between 7:30 am-3 pm. Full details here – pre-registration by e-mail was requested, but you could drop by to see if they still have room (we’ll be checking on that this morning too).

GENTLE YOGA: Drop-in at Senior Center of West Seattle (4217 SW Oregon), Wednesdays 9:15 am – 10:30 am. Chair and standing postures (no floor-sitting). Improve breathing, posture, flexibility, balance and peace of mind. Postures can be adapted to your abilities or limitations. Wear loose and comfortable clothing.

GET IT WHILE IT’S FRESH: Weekly availability of the High Point Market Garden Farm Stand, 4-7 pm, 32nd SW and SW Juneau. This is a weekly Farm Stand selling seasonal fresh organically grown produce right next to the garden where the produce is grown.

TUNES AND TUNE-UPS: Special event at White Center’s Greenbridge Plaza, bike tune-ups plus an outdoor concert, 4 – 6 pm (more info here), with demos of everything from Metro bus bike racks to “healthy smoothies.” Co-sponsors include Sustainable West Seattle.

FREE BARBECUE: Seattle Parks and Recreation will do all the cooking while you have all the fun listening to music, jumping on the BIG Bounce House, playing games, and chowing down on grilled hot dogs, veggie dogs, chips, fruit, veggies, and juice, Southwest Community Center, 5:30-7 pm.

OPEN HOUSE: Sweet Pea Cottage Preschool of the Arts, 7141 California SW, is holding an Open House 6-7 pm.

FREE KICKBOXING: SIMA Martial Arts presents FREE Women’s Introduction to Kickboxing class 6:15 – 7:15 pm! Any fitness level welcome. Call for details and to reserve a spot. 206-935-4531.

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Need your car washed? Benefit car wash Saturday for Nickelsville

August 24, 2011 12:08 am

| 4 COMMENTS

| How to help | Nickelsville encampment | West Seattle news

In case you haven’t already seen this in the WSB Forums: The encampment that’s been on a city-owned site in easternmost West Seattle since mid-May, Nickelsville, hopes to raise some operating funds this Saturday with a benefit car wash. As posted by longtime WSB’er and current Nickelsville resident Mike (miws) in the Forums, it’ll be at Les Schwab Tires in SODO, 6111 4th Avenue South, 8 am-5 pm Saturday (August 27th). Cash donations accepted; they’ll use the money to cover ongoing operating expenses, particularly portable restrooms and trash service.

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