day : 19/10/2011 11 results

Who will win the Huling Bowl this year? We find out Friday night. But, as the official announcement reveals, there are more reasons to come cheer the annual West Seattle High School vs. Chief Sealth International High School football game than just the game itself:

Join both schools, past alumni and the entire West Seattle community in this annual contest between area rivals. Festivities include a free pre-game barbecue provided by long-time supporters and named sponsors, Steve and Tom Huling.

School Principals Ruth Medsker of West Seattle and Chris Kinsey of Chief Sealth have upped the ante and backed their school, by placing a friendly wager on the game. They’ve agreed that the winning team’s leader will get to be “principal for a day” at the other school.

The student leadership of each school is getting into the act as well, asking the fans representing each school to participate in a canned food drive during the week and at the entrance into West Seattle Stadium. All of the donated goods will go directly to the West Seattle Food Bank, with the winning school’s community being recognized during the game.

The game is also in the running for Kiro7’s High School “Game of the Week” with voting taking place online at kirotv.com/hsfootball/index.html.

Half-time entertainment includes an exciting joint performance from the two bands as well a light-hearted competition between the two schools’ staff. The game also marks West Seattle’s “Senior Night,” and recognition will be paid to the senior football players from that program in what will be their last home game of their careers.

Pre-game:
• 5:30: Pre-game BBQ starts (provided by Steve and Tom Huling)
• 6:00: Stadium gates open
• 6:55: Sealth Band performs National Anthem
• 7:00: Kickoff

Half-time (20 minutes):
• 10 minutes: Sealth and West Seattle band in joint field show
• 5 minutes: Sealth vs. West Seattle staff “punt, pass & kick” competition

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Happening now: Halloween Art Jam at Feedback Lounge

October 19, 2011 9:05 pm

| 3 COMMENTS

| Fun stuff to do | West Seattle news | WS culture/arts

What could be scarier than creating art in front of an audience? The Halloween Art Jam is happening right now at Feedback Lounge (WSB sponsor) in Morgan Junction. When WSB contributor Christopher Boffoli stopped by about an hour ago, three artists were busily working – and a fourth was on the way, according to Feedback proprietor Jeff Gilbert. Above, that’s Eric Osborne; next, Steve Klinkel:

He told Christopher they’re expecting to keep going until at least 11 pm – so if you’d like to see the works in progress … which will eventually be available for sale, by the way – head on over to 6451 California SW – Vblast is part of the lineup too:

Jeff, ever the impresario, says he has another art event in the works — 10 artists, 10 easels, they all paint a portion of each one. But first – The Feedback has more Halloween fun to scare up – check out the calendar to see what’s up.

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How to make roads safer? Mayor, council are asking you

October 19, 2011 8:14 pm

| 32 COMMENTS

| Transportation | West Seattle news | West Seattle politics

The mayor and City Council have three questions for you:

*What do you think are the highest priority safety problems to solve on Seattle roads?
*What do you think are the most important things to do to make Seattle roads safer?
*We often talk about what government can do to promote safety. What are the ways that non-governmental groups and individuals can promote safety?

To get your answer, a three-session Road Safety Summit is about to kick off – with the third session in West Seattle, 6 pm November 21st at Southwest Community Center. The city asks that you RSVP if you can – which you can do here.

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Video: School Board challengers, incumbents in West Seattle

October 19, 2011 7:26 pm

| 5 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

As promised, here’s the video from last night’s Seattle School Board candidates forum in West Seattle – all four incumbents, all four challengers, brought together at Madison Middle School by local PTSA/PTA groups. While board members represent specific districts, in the general election, all voters in the district get to vote in all the races, so you will find all four of these matches on your ballot – which should arrive soon, since King County Elections was expecting to put them in the mail today. The candidates are listed here (with links to information about them).

Our video includes the entire hour-plus section of the forum in which the eight candidates answered questions, both written Q’s from the audience and follow-ups by moderator Phyllis Fletcher from KUOW, some in “lightning round” style, some more at length. The video is in three parts – between parts 1 and 2, there was some stopping down to arrange everybody; then the camera itself shut down for a second between parts 2 and 3. If you want to watch any one of the clips fullscreen, click the YouTube logo on that clip, and it’ll take you to the page where you can do that. (The forum began with about half an hour focused on the Families/Education Levy; we have video of that too and will publish it within the next few days.)

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Viaduct-closure countdown notes: Challenge; cycling; coffee

October 19, 2011 5:18 pm

| 11 COMMENTS

| Alaskan Way Viaduct | Transportation | West Seattle news

Three more Alaskan Way Viaduct closure-related notes as the 7:30 pm Friday start time approaches (graphic at left courtesy of Hotwire Online Coffeehouse, whose news is item #3):

WEST SEATTLE POLITICIANS’ COMMUTE CHALLENGE: The idea was hatched at last week’s West Seattle High School open house about the Viaduct closure – but at the time, City Councilmember Tom Rasmussen told us, he and County Councilmember Joe McDermott just had to get County Executive Dow Constantine to commit to it. Apparently he has, because it’s just been announced that the three West Seattle-residing elected officials will showcase commuting alternatives this Friday in a race of sorts. McDermott will take the Water Taxi; Constantine will take Metro; Rasmussen will bike (weather permitting). The starting line: Heart of The Junction (California/Alaska), around 7:30 am Friday; finish line, City Hall, an hour or so later. The media has been amply alerted, so watch for cameras along the way …

RIDING YOUR BIKE? Thanks to Max for pointing this out – the Cascade Bicycle Club is going to give bicyclists a boost if they choose to head from West Seattle into downtown, with a special station on the west side of the “low bridge” on Monday and Wednesday (and a post-closure followup on Halloween morning), followed by a “bike train” ride. Details here.

VIADEALS: Stay home and save! That’s the message local businesses are starting to get out. Among the first: WSB’s original sponsor, Hotwire Online Coffeehouse in The Junction. Proprietor Lora Swift is offering a full hour of Internet access with a beverage purchase throughout closure week – and reminding commute-bravers that they can use TextWire to save time and order in advance. Read all about it here.

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Crime Watch update: $100,000 bail for suspected serial exposer

October 19, 2011 3:43 pm

| 3 COMMENTS

| Crime | West Seattle news

The 29-year-old man suspected of exposing himself to children in the Whale Tail Park area, as well as elsewhere around the city, had a bail hearing this afternoon. The King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office says bail was set at $100,000, and they have until tomorrow to file charges. They also released court documents that say he has at least two aliases, and was convicted of indecent exposure in December 2005. One of the non-WS incidents in which he is suspected, court documents say, went beyond “exposing” – he allegedly got close enough to one young victim to get bodily fluids on her. In the September 29th Alki incident, reported to WSB by a parent, he allegedly stalked a group of kids for several blocks before the exposure incident.He was arrested late Monday night at his home in Kenmore.

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Traffic alert: Partial overnight closure for the other Viaduct

October 19, 2011 3:16 pm

| 1 COMMENT

| Spokane St. Viaduct project | West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

And suddenly, there is one more closure in the mix – this afternoon, SDOT announced that tomorrow (Thursday) night, the westbound Spokane Street Viaduct will be closed, 10 pm to 5 am. That’s the section of the West Seattle Bridge between I-5 and Highway 99. While it’s closed during that time frame, you will not be able to get to the bridge from I-5, but you will be able to reach it from 99. SDOT says this closure, part of the ongoing project to widen that section of the bridge, is “to test techniques for preparing old deck for new paving.”

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Viaduct-closure countdown: Got a plan? Got questions?

October 19, 2011 12:44 pm

| 28 COMMENTS

| Alaskan Way Viaduct | West Seattle news

(WSDOT photo via Flickr – equipment ready to tear down much of the Viaduct’s southern section during the closure)
We’ve been talking about it for four and a half months – and now, the nine-day, ten-night Alaskan Way Viaduct closure is finally almost here. The official bullet points (the unofficial stuff is coming up separately):

*Scheduled to start 7:30 pm this Friday (October 21) and end by 5 am a week from Monday (October 31)
*Entire southbound stretch will be closed that entire time
*Northbound, West Seattle Bridge to Royal Brougham will be closed the entire time, but from Royal Brougham (stadium zones) on, it’ll be open 5 am-7 pm weekdays (and “special events”)
*Extra Metro buses, plus reroutes (which start at 7 pm Friday) – details here
*Extra King County Water Taxi runs (here’s the special schedule), plus bigger shuttles and parking at Don Armeni
*Travel times and city cams (including live WS Bridge video) on the Travelers’ Information map

Lots of other details from our reports in recent weeks … but those are the toplines. If you still have a question about getting around during the closure, or about the project, post a comment and we’ll seek out answers. And/or PLEASE join us and our friends at KING 5 – with whom we’re teaming up next week for maximum traffic-tackling oomph – for a last-minute online chat on Friday morning, 11 am-noon: The page is already set up – find it here!

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Community meetings tonight: Morgan Junction, Delridge

October 19, 2011 10:44 am

| Comments Off on Community meetings tonight: Morgan Junction, Delridge

| West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

In lieu of our regular daily preview, pre-empted by this morning’s developing story, please check out the WSB West Seattle Events calendar to see what’s up today/tonight. In Morgan Junction, the Morgan Community Association has its quarterly meeting at 7 at The Kenney; to the east, the Delridge Neighborhoods District Council meets at 7 at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center, with a vision for Delridge Way’s future on the agenda. Plus, early Halloween, with “Evil Dead” opening at ArtsWest and a special spooky Art Jam at Feedback Lounge (WSB sponsor). Full list here.

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Update: 2 people found dead in west Admiral home

October 19, 2011 4:13 am

| 48 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle police

4:13 AM: Police and fire crews are in the 2600 block of 50th SW, and visible from Admiral Way nearby, after responding to a call described on the SFD log as “assault with weapons” – which is used in a variety of incident types, so that doesn’t necessarily mean someone has been attacked. We’re still working to find out exactly what they believe happened; more shortly.

4:48 AM UPDATE: We’re down the block from the scene and have heard the use of a bullhorn to try to contact someone inside the house that police were called to. KING 5 reports that police say a man called them from the house after 3 am, claiming to have shot someone. Though this is unfolding just about a block off Admiral Way, it’s not affecting traffic – police are conducting their operation on residential streets, including 50th and Waite.

5:10 AM UPDATE: In the “media staging area” east of the scene (photo above), with all TV stations on hand. SWAT vehicles rolled by a few minutes ago.

5:40 AM UPDATE: Southwest Precinct commander Capt. Steve Paulsen just talked with us briefly at the media staging area. He says they still don’t know for sure whether the man who called 911 is in the house or not. He clarifies that the caller, whom he described as “elderly,” claimed he had shot his wife.

6 AM UPDATE: Loud boom/bang sounds in the area are part of the attempt to reach the man, if he is indeed inside.

7:06 AM UPDATE: Det. Mark Jamieson from the SPD Media Unit just briefed us all. Same information, basically, except that he added that police are not going to rush into the house until they’re sure it’s a safe situation – even though, as he acknowledged, there’s a possibility someone is injured in there. He says they do not believe the neighborhood is in danger, though he doesn’t know if any gunshots were actually heard before the man called 911. They are relatively sure that original call after 3 am was made from inside the house – it was via a land line.

7:22 AM UPDATE: Det. Jamieson had an update just a few moments ago – SWAT officers went into the house and found two people dead, a man and woman. Murder-suicide is suspected; investigators are now at work to find out more, and they will have an update later this morning. The murder victim would be the first in West Seattle since the Fauntleroy stabbing death of the vaudeville artist best known as Hokum W. Jeebs back in February. The last murder-suicide case was the quadruple shooting in Highland Park in September of last year.

7:43 PM UPDATE: The SWAT units are leaving.

(Photo by Christopher Boffoli for WSB)
9:58 AM UPDATE: Added a photo of police investigating at the house – media was not allowed near it, for obvious reasons, while the SWAT team was still there and unsure what was happening inside.

10:32 AM UPDATE: Police have posted their summary of what happened; no new information, though. But unofficial sources have said the wife, 80 according to online records, was very ill – including this WSB commenter.

THURSDAY UPDATE: One of the couple’s children talked with our partners at the Seattle Times, identifying the couple as Helen and Harvey Spicer, and saying Mrs. Spicer had Parkinson’s disease.

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West Seattle Crime Watch: Alki home-invasion robbery

October 19, 2011 2:31 am

| 38 COMMENTS

| Crime | West Seattle news

Seattle Police confirm they are investigating a reported home-invasion robbery in Alki late last night. We checked with them after getting a call from a woman who said her neighbors in the 5600 block of SW Lander (map) were robbed by two armed men who forced their way in. Southwest Precinct Lt. Alan Williams tells WSB they did respond to that call about 10:20 pm: “Initial reports were that 2 males in their early 20’s forced their way into a home and detained the two occupants at gunpoint. The suspects took a variety of personal items, then left on foot. No one was injured. A K9 unit responded and attempted to track the suspects, but the suspects likely left in a car that was nearby.” The caller told us the robbers were reported to have taken off with loot “in pillowcases.” No descriptions at this point; we’ll check back with police later this morning.