month : 02/2013 314 results

As our photo shows, Hey Marseilles drew a crowd to Easy Street Records in The Junction tonight, the first of three live in-store concerts in six nights. Here’s what’s coming up, per Easy Street online guru Rod:

Pickwick – March 4 – 7 pm
*Our #1 soul brothers Pickwick are celebrating the release of their first full-length, Can’t Talk Medicine at Easy Street West Seattle March 4 at 7 pm! We’ll be selling their record early too and who knows, they might even stick around to sign some copies. This one’s also free and all ages!

Cave Singers – March 5 – 7 pm
*Get out of your cave and come into ours when we host the release party for the Cave Singers‘ great new record, Naomi! Free and all ages at 4559 California Ave SW.

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West Seattle development: One more new listing of note

February 28, 2013 8:26 pm

| 9 COMMENTS

| Development | West Seattle news

While researching some real-estate/development sites tonight, we happened onto a new listing that might be of interest, particularly to people in Gatewood/Sunrise Heights: On the northwest corner of 35th and Holden, the “Complete Auto Repair” site at 7617 35th SW is part of a parcel listed for $1,195,000, described as “Rare development opportunity with over 13,000 sq. ft. of level NC-2-40 land with excellent westerly views … Can be assembled with adjacent additional 6,870 sq. ft. of NC-2-40 (with great 35th SW frontage) for almost 20,000 sq. ft.” Here’s the listing.

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West Seattle Crime Watch: Suspected burglar arrested twice in one week, allegedly confesses to more

February 28, 2013 4:01 pm

| 43 COMMENTS

| Crime | West Seattle news | West Seattle police

(UPDATED THURSDAY NIGHT with new charge filed)

(WSB photo of February 15th arrest scene at 48th/Findlay)
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

Two recent burglary arrests reported here – exactly one week apart – involve the same suspect, WSB has learned. And court documents say he has confessed to more than 20 other break-ins.

The first arrest was at 48th and Findlay in Seaview, on February 15th. Police arrested 24-year-old Justin Wood for allegedly trying to break into a house there. Court documents say Wood told police that day that he had committed other burglaries, as noted in our two updates last week – in the February 20th WSBeat roundup and our February 21st report on last week’s West Seattle Crime Prevention Council meeting.

We don’t know why Wood wasn’t booked into jail on February 15th. But we do know now that exactly one week later – last Friday, February 22nd – he was arrested on suspicion of breaking into a home near Camp Long (here’s our report from that day), caught after an alert neighbor called police. This time, Wood was booked into jail – after confessing to more burglaries, none of them, court documents say, covered in the previous confession.

Yesterday, after five days in jail, Wood appeared before King County Superior Court Judge Ronald Kessler, who agreed to set what by any account is an extraordinary bail amount for a property-crime case: Half a million dollars.

While Wood has not yet been charged in the recent burglaries, we are identifying him by name because of the report that he has confessed and because he already was charged in another case – a Morgan Junction burglary last October. Before that, according to court documents, Wood’s history included 2009 charges of theft and trafficking stolen property, which led to a conviction on a lesser charge. According to documents from the October case, Wood was tracked down via fingerprints, and arrested at a Genesee Hill residence in November. Jail records show that his bail was set at $5,000 and he got out less than 24 hours after he was booked.

Now, he’s jailed in lieu of a hundred times that. While charges haven’t been filed in connection with either of this month’s cases, we have a message out to the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office to find out if there’s an estimate on when that might happen; court records show that Wood was scheduled for a hearing today related to the October burglary, and we’re keeping an eye out for results of that.

Meantime, in case you are wondering – so far as we know, this has no relation to the case reported here on WSB last night, also expected to solve multiple burglaries, though we did come across the new information on this case while talking with police about the other one.

ADDED 9:21 PM: Checking the online case files one more time before they go offline for the night, we discovered that prosecutors charged Wood today with one count of attempted burglary for the 35th SW incident last Friday. They are asking that his bail remain set at half a million dollars, explaining in the charging document:

… the defendant is a serious threat to the West Seattle community and now faces significant jeopardy on numerous charges.

… On February 15, 2013, the defendant was arrested for another Residential Burglary. During the investigation of that case, the defendant confessed to 10 burglaries in West Seattle. The defendant was released from custody on the February 15, 2013, case, and only a week later, was arrested on February 22, 2013, for the Attempted Residential Burglary charged in (the document). During the investigation of that case, the defendant confessed to an additional 13 burglaries in West Seattle, none of which duplicated his earlier confession. The defendant showed officers the location of each burglary and provided specific details about each crime.

In total, Seattle PD is now investigating 24 residential burglaries that the defendant committed in West Seattle from September 2012 to present. At least three of those burglaries involved a theft of firearms. Seattle PD is in the process of investigating all of these cases and contacting the victims and will forward these cases to the prosecutor’s office for filing when the investigation is complete.

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3210 California SW: Preview the plan, 2 weeks before Design Review

February 28, 2013 1:27 pm

| 36 COMMENTS

| Development | West Seattle news

(Renderings in this story are courtesy Nicholson Kovalchick Architects)
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

When we first reported last month about the five-story apartment building proposed for 3210 California SW – part of the south-of-Admiral block contentiously upzoned in a three-year process – we promised a followup with details.

At the time, we hoped to connect with the developers within a day or two. Didn’t work out that way, but this week, we sat down to talk with the architect, for a preview two weeks before the project’s March 14th Early Design Guidance session with the Southwest Design Review Board.

The 166-apartment building is planned for 400 feet of frontage along California SW – but the design proposed by West Seattleite-owned Nicholson Kovalchick Architects utilizes several means of breaking it up so it’s not, as NK’s Tom Steidl said, “a monolith.”

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Followup: Safety-curb work under way at California/Fauntleroy

February 28, 2013 11:22 am

| 58 COMMENTS

| Safety | Transportation | West Seattle news

With 100 comments on the original story, it’s the hottest WSB topic this week, so we just went down for a look at the safety-curb construction now under way on Fauntleroy Way west of California. As first reported Tuesday, this is being put in to prevent people from trying to pass buses while they’re stopped on the south side of Zeeks Pizza (WSB sponsor), since that passing puts westbound drivers in an east/northeastbound lane. While talking to an SDOT manager about a few topics late yesterday, we asked if this treatment was under consideration anywhere else; the reply was “no” – this is the only spot reported to have generated this type of concern, so far. Work is scheduled to continue through tomorrow.

ADDED 12:07 PM: Different angle, courtesy of Morgan Community Association president Deb Barker:

ADDED 12:49 PM: In case you miss it in comments – Chas Redmond, also from MoCA, reminds us that you have a unique opportunity to ask questions of/voice concerns to the head of SDOT, director Peter Hahn, here in West Seattle next week. He’s scheduled to be at the Southwest District Council meeting at 6:30 pm Wednesday, March 6, Southwest Teen Life Center (2801 SW Thistle, next to SW Pool).

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Alki’s Friedlander Court apartments up for sale for $3.8 million

February 28, 2013 10:12 am

| 35 COMMENTS

| West Seattle housing | West Seattle news

(King County Assessor’s Office photo)
A brand-new multi-million-dollar listing on Alki – the 87-year-old Friedlander Court courtyard apartments at 2246 Alki SW (map). The nine-unit complex on a 15,000-square-foot lot has just gone up for sale, listing price $3.8 million. County records say they were built in 1926 and have been under current ownership since 1996, with a purchase price reported as $850,000 that year. The new listing describes the property: “Classic brick 9-unit w/ big units and 5 garages provide immediate income to offset holding costs for future development. Zoning allows 20-unit apartment building or 10 townhomes with unobstructed views of Puget Sound and Olympics.” While the complex has never gone through historic review that we know of, it was held up as a notable example of “Bungalow Court” architecture five years ago when Charlestown Court was being reviewed; The now-dormant Vintage Seattle website took a closeup look at Friedlander Court a year later. (Thanks to Jonathan French for the tip.)

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West Seattle Thursday: Hey Marseilles at Easy Street, and more

February 28, 2013 10:01 am

| 1 COMMENT

| West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Photo by Laura McCabe, from the Leschi’s visit to Jack Block Park – land, too! – for training Sunday)
4 highlights from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar for today/tonight:

TRAFFIC ALERTS: Even if you don’t usually look at the daily traffic/transit tracker – there’s a lot going on today and throughout the weekend. See it here.

WEST SEATTLE DEMOCRATIC WOMEN: Their monthly meeting is at lunchtime today at the West Seattle Golf Course, after the 10:30 am discussion group; registration starts at 11:15 am. Details here.

DREAM DINNERS ‘TASTE’ EVENT: Curious about how Dream Dinners (WSB sponsor) works? Tonight’s a special “no-host taste event” at which you can sign up to make and take home three dinners – that’s three nights/days you won’t have to spend extra time dealing with the sometimes-dreaded question “what’s for dinner?” DD is on the outer east side of Jefferson Square; details (RSVP ASAP!) in our calendar listing.

BOOMERS AND BEYONDERS: Special event for baby boomers looking at the final third of life – with Pat Cashman and Mike Hearl, at Salty’s on Alki (WSB sponsor). 6 pm – details in the calendar listing.

HEY MARSEILLES AT EASY STREET: Live in-store concert tonight, at Easy Street Records in The Junction – as previewed:

Our West Seattle store is where the action will be tonight as Hey Marseilles performs songs from their new album, Lines We Trace, at 7 pm. If you don’t have a ticket for their sold-out Showbox show tomorrow night – or even if you do – this is where you wanna be. Bonus, you can snag an early copy of the album while you’re there! Free and all ages at 4559 California Ave SW!

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TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Thursday reports, including SW Trenton, Fauntleroy Way work

February 28, 2013 7:00 am

| 1 COMMENT

| West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

(Live view from the east-facing WS Bridge camera; see other cameras on the WSB Traffic page)
First, here are the West Seattle Bridge (above) and 99 (below) cams:

Now the reminders – the Delridge/Trenton weekend intersection closure is preceded by a block of Trenton closing for preparation work, starting right now – details here (here’s the weekend Route 120 transit alert for this work). Today is also the scheduled start of the safety-curb installation on Fauntleroy Way just west of California in Morgan Junction.

Then this weekend, the Viaduct/99 is closed all day Saturday plus Sunday morning – details here, and the ramp to southbound I-5 from the eastbound West Seattle Bridge will be closed this weekend too, starting late Friday night, as part of WSDOT’s Spokane St. Interchange Special Bridge Repair Project.

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College celebration: SSCC reception for Honor Roll students

February 27, 2013 11:43 pm

| Comments Off on College celebration: SSCC reception for Honor Roll students

| West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

(SSCC photos by Glenn Gauthier)
Big party at South Seattle Community College (WSB sponsor) on Tuesday afternoon – the Fall Quarter Honor Roll Reception, with students inviting family and friends to help them celebrate their achievement. SSCC faculty and other staff joined the party too – SSCC president Gary Oertli (below, center) was part of a receiving line congratulating students at the reception’s end:

For fall quarter, 161 students were on the President’s list, 743 students on the Dean’s list.

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City to remove some SW Genesee parking to help Route 50 get by

February 27, 2013 9:45 pm

| 8 COMMENTS

| Delridge | Transportation | West Seattle news

Now that Metro Route 50 is running on SW Genesee, following the activation of the Genesee/Avalon stoplight, another change is in the works: SDOT has announced plans to remove some of the parking along Genesee on both sides of Avalon, after Metro told the city it needs more room on the road to operate safely. We talked today with Jonathan Dong from SDOT, who says the city sent notices a few days ago to Genesee property owners. The details are on this webpage (click on the link “SW Genesee St and SW Avalon Way Parking Removal” to reveal the text), including:

*Parking will be removed on the north side of SW Genesee Street between SW Avalon and Delridge Way SW

*Parking will be removed on the south side of SW Genesee Street between SW Avalon Street and 30th Avenue SW

Though the online text says it will take effect “February 2013,” Dong tells WSB the changes are not happening immediately; the city is getting the word out right now, including the notices and, he adds, a briefing at the next meeting of the North Delridge Neighborhood Council (March 11th, one week from Monday). Dong explains that the road is two feet too narrow to accommodate buses and parking – it’s 25 feet wide, but the minimum for buses and parking is 27 feet. The web page notes that you can reach him for comment at (206) 233-8564 or e-mail at jonathan.dong@seattle.gov.

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West Seattle Crime Watch: 2 arrests might solve many burglaries

February 27, 2013 7:14 pm

| 20 COMMENTS

| Crime | West Seattle news

ORIGINAL REPORT, 7:14 PM: Word tonight from Southwest Precinct Lt. Ron Smith that West Seattle officers have made a big bust that might solve numerous burglaries. Here’s what happened:

At a self-storage facility, victims confronted two suspects last Sunday who were reported to have “the (victims’) stolen items in another unit.” Those suspects “locked up and left” – but police had been called, and tracked down and arrested the suspects. Search warrants followed, for the suspects’ unit and a U-Haul van a block from their residence. The searches happened yesterday and “recovered massive amounts of stolen property from multiple crimes” – at least 119 line items of evidence, including boxes of recovered items worth thousands of dollars, even a safe.

Lt. Smith says the arrest and property recovery might solve “multiple commercial and residential burglaries.” We’re working to get more information – including the storage facility’s location.

8:16 PM UPDATE: Finally dug up the address to match to the case number, thanks to Tweets by Beat (which you can see on the WSB Crime Watch page any time – though take note, not all calls turn out to be the kind of violation they’re described as): 2900 block of SW Avalon Way, location of Public Storage.

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Power outage at Barton Pump Station next to Fauntleroy dock

February 27, 2013 4:51 pm

| 8 COMMENTS

| Fauntleroy | Utilities | West Seattle news

(Recent aerial of Barton Pump Station and project area, by Long Bach Nguyen)
The King County Wastewater Treatment Division says things might be noisier than usual at Barton Pump Station next to the Fauntleroy ferry dock right now, because a power outage has required them to use a generator:

Power was unexpectedly lost at the Barton Pump Station around 3:45 pm today. No overflows were reported, and crews are currently investigating the cause. A generator will be running onsite until power can be restored to the station.

The Barton Pump Station Upgrade includes an onsite generator, which will be housed in an underground vault, for unexpected power loss such as today’s occurrence.

The pump station also had a power outage last June (WSB coverage here) – and that one DID lead to an overflow.

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Next Design Review for ‘Whole Foods project’ tentatively set: March 28

February 27, 2013 3:57 pm

| 1 COMMENT

| Development | West Seattle news

Two and a half months after Early Design Guidance approval for the 4755 Fauntleroy Way proposal – whose developers are calling it “the Whole Foods project” till it’s named – its next Design Review Board session has just been tentatively set for March 28. In addition to Whole Foods Market, the project includes a drugstore that a project spokesperson tells us they’re still not ready to announce, plus more than 370 apartments and almost 600 parking spaces, as well as some smaller retail spaces. While the design is being finalized, the city also is considering the alley vacation that the developers are requesting (here’s our February 12th story about the comment period on that). Meantime, online files include this document with some of the requests the city is making of the developers as the project proceeds. If the March 28th Design Review date holds, the meeting will be at 6:30 pm at the Senior Center of West Seattle (California/Oregon).

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Followup: Harbor West sewage leak fixed; 30,000 gallons estimated

February 27, 2013 1:44 pm

| 10 COMMENTS

| Environment | West Seattle beaches | West Seattle news

(WSB reader photo taken under the building before the leak was fixed)
With warning signs still up on beaches south of Alki Point, we’re still getting questions about the status of the Harbor West condo-building sewage leak (3700 block of Beach Drive) blamed for the contamination, so we just followed up with Seattle Public Utilities. Spokesperson Ingrid Goodwin says they estimate the leak from pipes under the over-the-water building totaled “about 30,000 gallons over a nine-day period.” As for the status of repairs and contamination, she also tells WSB:

The repair was completed on Sunday, February 24, but bacteria levels at Cormorant Cove were slightly elevated on Monday. Therefore, the beach remains closed. SPU will continue to sample and work with Seattle King County Public Health to determine when the beaches can reopen. Per Seattle King County Public Health, we need two consecutive days of low bacteria levels to reopen the beach. We are hopeful that the beach can reopen by next week.

SPU is still investigating to determine if any penalties will be assessed or cost recovered.

The leak was reported to the city around the same time as the trimaran trouble on the beach south of Harbor West, but residents told WSB it predated the boat incident.

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Video: Mail theft/fraud and how to fight it, @ West Seattle Block Watch Captains Network meeting

February 27, 2013 1:04 pm

| 2 COMMENTS

| Crime | West Seattle news

It’s been a busy news day so our toplines are going to have to wait to be added later – but for starters, here’s the video of the hour-plus presentation by Seattle Police Officer Jon Kiehn and U.S. Postal Inspectors Matt Rintoul and Sumyra Duy, talking about mail theft/fraud at last night’s meeting of the West Seattle Block Watch Captains Network. (There weren’t any revelatory visuals, so if you just want to play it back as background audio, that works too.) More than 40 people filled the room at the Southwest Precinct. Tips were shared, myths debunked, and helpful information offered – including how to report mail theft online: postalinspectors.uspis.gov.

ADDED: Some toplines – though we highly recommend listening to/watching the clip to get all the info.

OFFICER KIEHN’S POINTS: A couple were general – don’t ever call the precinct if you’re looking to get an officer dispatched; they are dispatched via 911. When you do call 911, realize that it’s not a call “for conversation” – the person you’re talking to is filling out a list, and it’s your job to help them fill out that list so that they get information and get you help. If you are reporting a suspicious vehicle, the license plate is the most important piece of information you can provide; make and model and color, etc., come after that. Overall, be aware of what’s going on around you – always.

POSTAL INSPECTORS: A few key points – right now, only four inspectors are working on mail theft in all of Western Washington, so your action to stop or prevent it is vital. “Target hardening,” for example – get a locking mailbox, or a private mailbox with either the USPS or a mailbox business. If you can’t do that, make sure your mail is picked up as soon as possible after it’s delivered; make arrangements with a neighbor, if you’re not there to do it yourself. And call police about any suspicious activity around a mailbox.

SCAMS THAT ARE STILL ‘BIG’: The “foreign lottery” – a claim that you’ve won a prize but have to pay to claim it. Usually, those who fall for this are warned not to tell their family; one area woman was bilked out of tens of thousands of dollars, and even after authorities got involved, refused to believe them: The inspectors say they intercepted $10,000 of her money “but she sent $8,000 right back!”

Especially if you have elderly, or otherwise vulnerable, family members, warn them about this – don’t just wait to discover they’ve come into contact with it.

Also, they warned about the “mystery shopper” scam, and other “work at home” schemes.

There’s a “scheme alert” page on the Postal Inspection Service website – see it here.

To contact the inspectors who spoke at the meeting:
mcrintoul@uspis.gov
sduy@uspis.gov

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Followup: Predictive Policing to debut in 2 precincts, including ours

February 27, 2013 12:08 pm

| 14 COMMENTS

| Crime | West Seattle news | West Seattle police

A followup today on our report last week about Southwest Precinct Lt. Pierre Davis telling the West Seattle Crime Prevention Council that SPD would soon use Predictive Policing – a new way to use crime data to work on preventing crime, not just responding to it. This morning, the mayor and police chief announced its debut in the Southwest and East Precincts. Official announcement, with details on how it works, ahead:

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West Seattle traffic-alert: Truck-car trouble at 16th/Dawson

February 27, 2013 11:45 am

| 14 COMMENTS

| Puget Ridge | West Seattle news | WS breaking news

ORIGINAL REPORT, 11:45 AM: Thanks to the WSB’er who just texted us (206-293-6302 any time) that picture of truck vs. car at/near the curve by 16th/Dawson (location and map updated). It’s causing traffic trouble for vehicles including at least one Metro bus, we’re told. No word of injuries so far (no fire/medic callout, either); we’re headed to the scene to find out more.

12:20 PM UPDATE: The bus has gotten through. But the scene isn’t clear yet and it may be a while. Added the photo above, by co-publisher Patrick Sand.

1:24 PM UPDATE: Route 125 is back to normal, Metro has texted.

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West Seattle’s first greenway: Miss the meeting? See the plan

February 27, 2013 10:30 am

| 10 COMMENTS

| Delridge | Transportation | West Seattle news

(WSB photo from February 21st meeting at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center)
One week after interested residents gathered to hear firsthand about the plan for a Delridge Neighborhood Greenway – first one in West Seattle – the graphics and Q/A are all online, so you can see them and find out more about the greenway plan, even if you missed the meeting. The graphics show the planned route – from the north end of Delridge by the bridge, turning onto 26th from Andover, and heading south to Graham – while the Q/A document details how the greenway will work. For example: Stop signs on side streets that intersect with it; no bike lanes, but sharrows would be used (and on eastbound Andover, bicyclists will be routed onto the “wide sidewalk” to avoid truck traffic); no new sidewalks, but there’s a chance to designate set-aside pedestrian areas. This will be the first greenway in West Seattle, with completion expected before the year’s over; the area to be studied for a second one is expected to be further east, along 21st SW.

P.S. What’s a greenway, you ask? An alternative route with safety features focused on walking and biking, as explained on the project page.

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West Seattle Wednesday: Encampment site’s future; job-search help; more

February 27, 2013 9:10 am

| Comments Off on West Seattle Wednesday: Encampment site’s future; job-search help; more

| West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Sunset, looking northwest over Harbor Island, by Don Brubeck)
Four highlights from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar listings for today/tonight:

PRESCHOOL STORY TIME: 10:30 am at West Seattle (Admiral) Library – details and map here.

FREE JOB-SEARCH WORKSHOP: South Seattle Community College (6000 16th SW; WSB sponsor) continues to offer free workshops to help jobseekers. Today at 4:30 pm, resumés are the focus. Details here.

HIGHLAND PARK ACTION COMMITTEE: Big agenda for HPAC, 7 pm at Highland Park Improvement Club (12th/Holden), including Food Lifeline’s update on their plans for the site that hosts the encampment that calls itself Nickelsville, plus a Seattle Parks update on Westcrest Park; more details in our calendar listing.

POEMS AND STORYTELLING: The monthly reading at C & P Coffee Company (5612 California SW; WSB sponsor) features Roberto Ascalon and Thaddeus Gunn at 7 pm, followed by open-mike readings (signups at 6:45 pm). Full details at poetrybridge.net.

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Update: SWAT operation on 16th SW brings ID-theft arrests

February 27, 2013 7:48 am

| 17 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle police

(Photo by WSB’s Patrick Sand)
ORIGINAL REPORT, 7:48 AM: Thanks to those who messaged us early this morning about a SWAT operation just after 6 am in the 7300 block of 16th SW (map). Neighbors heard loud noises – suspected to be the “flash-bang” type of devices often used in SWAT operations – and say they saw one person handcuffed. Only a Bellevue Police vehicle was visible when we arrived; Seattle Police say they were “assisting another agency.” We have a message out to Bellevue PD and will add anything more we find out.

9:40 AM UPDATE: Just talked to Bellevue PD spokesperson Officer Carla Iafrate. She says BPD’s Special Enforcement Team arrested five people – four men and a 15-year-old girl – in connection with an “ID-theft ring (that has) several victims from Bellevue.” Their investigation “led us to this house in West Seattle,” and SWAT was used to get into the house for searching and arresting because of “some intel about possible firearms or (about) one of the individuals,” requiring “extra safety.” Officer Iafrate adds that BPD “collected a lot of evidence at the house, and the detective and officers are going to be weeding through that.” She adds that the team at the scene was thanked by several neighbors – not an everyday occurrence, she notes – who had been aware something was going on there for some time.

12:15 PM UPDATE: Bellevue Police’s official news release is out. The only thing in it that we haven’t already reported is that there may be some non-Bellevue victims. Full text in this PDF.

5:13 PM UPDATE: This photo is courtesy of our friends at KIRO 7 Eyewitness News, who asked permission to use one of our photos from this morning and shared this in return:

That’s some of the evidence displayed by Bellevue PD, according to KIRO, which says it constitutes “close to 200 credit cards, some driver licenses, checks (some altered). Laptops and cell phones,” with “dozens of victims from Bellevue, Seattle, Bonney Lake, Auburn, Kent, Tukwila, Tacoma, and Bainbridge.” And they tell us the 15-year-old girl who was taken into custody was a runaway wanted in connection with something unrelated, not the alleged ID-theft ring.

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Update: Short-lived fire call in Highland Park blamed on potato

February 27, 2013 6:29 am

| 5 COMMENTS

| West Seattle fires | West Seattle news

6:29 AM: Firefighters have responded to a house-fire call in the 8600 block of 9th SW. We’re on the way to find out what’s happening.

6:37 AM: The call has closed on the 911 log and no crews remain, so apparently nothing major.

9:14 AM: We checked with SFD spokesperson Kyle Moore, who explains: “It was an overheated potato in the microwave.” Smoke, but no fire.

P.S. Moore points out that cooking food, left unwatched, is the #1 cause of residential fires.

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TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Wednesday watch

February 27, 2013 6:07 am

| Comments Off on TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Wednesday watch

| West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

(Live view from the east-facing WS Bridge camera; see other cameras on the WSB Traffic page)
Second-to-last day of February – here’s a look at the West Seattle Bridge (above) and 99 (below) cams:

Thanks in advance for traffic updates if you encounter something your West Seattle neighbors should know about – 206-293-6302 if you are able to safely/legally text or call; Twitter works too – we’re at @westseattleblog.

CLOSURES AHEAD: Quick reminders – the Viaduct/99 is closed all day Saturday plus Sunday morning (but open Saturday night so you can get to and from the Sounders game) – details here; the Delridge/Trenton weekend intersection closure will be preceded by a block of Trenton closing Thursday – details here.

P.S. We almost forgot – one more closure this weekend; mentioned it last week but haven’t brought it up again this week. The ramp to southbound I-5 will be closed this weekend too, as part of the WSDOT repair project that’s been closing various ramps at the Spokane St. Interchange on various weekends.

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Chief Sealth Key Club on duty at free Seattle Symphony concert

February 27, 2013 5:53 am

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| Kiwanis Club of West Seattle | West Seattle news

The volunteer power helping with last night’s free Seattle Symphony concert at Chief Sealth International High School included members of the Key Club at Sealth. Second from right in the back row is Shari Sewell from the Kiwanis Club of West Seattle, which presented the concert; Key Club members’ responsibilities last night included assisting concert guests by distributing programs. They’re busy year-round with numerous service projects.

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