West Seattle, Washington

18 Thursday

58℉

day : 02/07/2015 15 results

West Seattle weather: 90s continue, as does ‘heat advisory’ alert
July 2, 2015 10:05 pm
|    Comments Off on West Seattle weather: 90s continue, as does ‘heat advisory’ alert
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle weather

(Photo by James Bratsanos)
A hot-pink sunset starts another hot night. The National Weather Service‘s “heat advisory” alert for our area is now extended until at least 9 pm tomorrow; the NWS also made this observation, “An interesting climate stat: Sea-Tac Airport averages 3 days of 90 degrees or better per year. Today’s high of 93 was the third day of 90-plus this year, and it is only July 2nd.” (An NWS tweet adds that it’s been 80+ for five days in a row, 15 of the last 30.) We’re still in the 80s right now, and it’s after 10 pm; the forecast still says Sunday will be the hottest day of the week, mid-90s.

(Added: Photo by John Hinkey)
P.S. If you have an eastern view, the full moon has risen!

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West Seattle power outages: 2 small ones right now
July 2, 2015 9:05 pm
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 |   Utilities | West Seattle news

9:05 PM: Seattle City Light is working on two small outages in West Seattle right now – a texter tipped us to the one affecting nine households in the 11th/12th/Cambridge/Roxbury vicinity; no cause yet, but our tipster says they heard a loud noise just before the power went out on their block. Looking at the SCL outage map, we also note one in the 20th/Kenyon area, affecting three customers, blamed on “bird/animal.”

12:34 PM: Just checked the map – both outages are over.

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West Seattle Crime Watch: Child threatened, chased; hit-and-run driver sought
July 2, 2015 8:26 pm
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | West Seattle news | West Seattle police

Two more West Seattle Crime Watch reports:

CHILD THREATENED, CHASED: This incident was reported to police on Sunday, but we didn’t hear about it until two people asked us about it, having seen a secondhand mention via social media/e-mail. While the incident was described as an “abduction attempt,” we couldn’t find anything in police files with that classification; finally it turned up classified as a “threats” case, which led to the incident number, enabling us to get this information from the Southwest Precinct:

The report taken by officers say an 11-year-old boy was approached around 5:30 pm Sunday by a man near 45th and Walker, by under-renovation Fire Station 29. The man was making threatening- and insulting-type remarks to the boy, police say, so the boy started to run toward his not-too-far-away home. The man pursued him until the boy was a block away from home, according to police, and then finally stopped. The police report says the man made a motion at one point as if to try to grab the boy, but no physical contact was made. Police were unable to find the man, who they told us was described only as “dirty and grubby, transient-type” looking, no further details; the social-media post forwarded to us said “early 20s, dark hair.”

‘HIT-AND-RUN JOKER’: From Keith:

Last last night my 1993 Chevrolet truck was hit. We live on the 35th arterial north of Fauntleroy and heard a huge screeching of tires locked. Guessing it was a 60 foot skid by the duration and mild skid marks on the road. Then a huge bang. My wife was looking out there ahead of me, and shouted out “oh my gosh, they hit the truck”. I ran outside with her and a dark-colored sedan was backing away from the side of the truck, then took off at top speed up SW Manning St, then north on 37th Ave SW.

We called the police, had witnesses all over the neighborhood coming over to the house to help the SW precinct assemble details. Eventually about 3 or 4 police units had been looking thru the neighborhood for the car. Thankfully the damage appears minimal, at least a hubcap, possibly the hub/axle/wheel/tire needing inspection. Incident number is 2015-223600, officer #6040 – if you have anything to report, or noticed a ’90s Subaru sedan with new left front damage. They really would like to track down this hit-and-run joker.

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‘Nailbiting moment of suspense’: Alice sets the date for Pluto-flyby ‘Phone Home’ event in West Seattle
July 2, 2015 7:09 pm
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   Skies Over West Seattle | West Seattle news

(Recent NASA images: ‘Two faces’ of Pluto)
If you were at Alice Enevoldsen‘s Summer Solstice Sunset Watch last month, you heard Alice mention a plan in the works to host an event the day the New Horizons spacecraft makes its Pluto flyby. The plan’s now in place and she’s sent the details, adding, “As far as I can tell, this is the ONLY day-of Pluto-flyby event in all of Seattle.”

What: Plutopalooza Phone Home!
When: Tuesday, July 14, 2015, 5 – 7 p.m.
Where: High Point Branch Library, 3411 SW Raymond
Who: Everyone welcome, as usual. (Themed craft activity for children approximately ages 3-14, short talk about New Horizons aimed at upper elementary through adult, and NASA TV phone home broadcast for everyone.) Hosted by “West Seattle’s Own” NASA Solar System Ambassador Alice Enevoldsen.

At 4:49 am on July 14th, New Horizons spacecraft will make history as it flies past Pluto, after a journey of more than nine years and 3 billion miles. For much of the day the New Horizons spacecraft will be out of communication with mission control as it gathers data on Pluto and its moons.

At 6:02 pm, on that same day, the spacecraft is scheduled to “phone home” confirming that it completed the rendezvous. This is the nailbiting moment of suspense that we will watch together during the event at the High Point Branch.

While we are waiting for the signal, there will be Pluto-themed activities for kids ages 3 and up, Alice will give a short presentation on the New Horizons mission appropriate for ages 9 through adult, and will be available to interpret the broadcast events as well as answer questions.

P.S. If you want to build a model of the New Horizons craft and bring it with you to the event, I would love to see it. You can also post your West Seattle PlutoTime photos to social media, and tag me: @AlicesAstroInfo.

Library events and programs are free and everyone is welcome. Registration is not required.

Alice also writes periodic Skies Over West Seattle updates for WSB, with advance alerts and info about some of what you’ll see in the sky, including eclipses, planetary conjunctions, meteor showers, and more – they’re archived here.

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FOLLOWUP: July 15th meeting set for SDOT’s 35th SW plan
July 2, 2015 4:54 pm
|      6 COMMENTS
 |   Safety | Transportation | West Seattle news

That’s the postcard the city is about to send to residents on and around 35th SW, announcing Wednesday, July 15th, as the date for the meeting at which SDOT will present its plan for 35th SW. The news come from project manager Jim Curtin, who had said, when we checked in two weeks ago, that the city expected to have a plan by mid-July. The meeting is set for 7-9 pm July 15th at Neighborhood House’s High Point Center (6400 Sylvan Way). If you’re just catching up with the 35th SW Safety Project, there’s backstory on the city’s webpage (which Curtin tells WSB will be updated next week to add the new meeting date).

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UPDATE: Duwamish Tribe’s bid for federal recognition rejected again; tribe’s chair vows to ‘prevail after all’
July 2, 2015 3:45 pm
|      17 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle people

ORIGINAL THURSDAY REPORT: The U.S. Interior Department’s Bureau of Indian Affairs has again told the West Seattle-headquartered Duwamish Tribe that it does not qualify for federal recognition. The decision (first reported locally by KUOW) was announced in this BIA news release and spelled out in this 95-page document that accompanied a letter to Duwamish chair Cecile Hansen. This means that the tribe has now been denied recognition under 1978 and 1994 rules; while Interior declares its decision final, it coincidentally has just announced another change in the recognition rules. Today’s decision traces back to a federal judge’s ruling in 2013, telling Interior to re-review the Duwamish Tribe’s petition. We contacted the tribe for comment and were told they’re waiting to review the decision before commenting; a media briefing is expected next week. (WSB file photo of Duwamish Tribe chair Cecile Hansen, from April 2015 Duwamish Alive! event)

ADDED FRIDAY: We did hear back from Cecile Hansen via e-mail today. Her reaction: “It is a major shock, but after 40 years of proving our case, and why, when I was attacked for trying to defend all Duwamish people in this country, we will prevail after all – does the city of Seattle remember that our tribe welcomed the settlers before treaty times. It is our history and no one in DC can change that part!”

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West Seattle Crime Watch: Seen this stolen motorcycle?
July 2, 2015 3:25 pm
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | West Seattle news

In West Seattle Crime Watch today – Justin woke up this morning to find out that his motorcycle had been stolen overnight. It’s a white 2005 Suzuki GSXR 600 with Washington plate with new tabs good till 2016 (black color), plate number: 7C8072, black rims, black windscreen and aftermarket exhaust, 600cc engine. It was stolen from a space on Alki Avenue between 2 and 9 am. If you’ve seen it, as with any stolen vehicle, police ask that you call 911.

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Music teacher Kirsten Thom: New West Seattle Blog sponsor
July 2, 2015 1:37 pm
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 |   West Seattle news | WS culture/arts

Kirsten Thom is a music teacher and musician, and one of our newest WSB sponsors. Here’s what she’d like you to know:

Specializing in piano and electronic music, Kirsten Thom‘s teaching approach is individually designed for each student based on their area of interest. She teaches students how to integrate injury prevention techniques, as well as personal expression, into practice and performance.

While earning a Bachelor of Arts in Music at University of Puget Sound, Kirsten studied piano under Grammy-nominated pianist Dr. Duane Hulbert, and composition under Dr. Robert Hutchinson. Since graduating in 2010, she has channeled these skills into her electronic music project Bardo:Basho, a moniker under which she has performed extensively with DJ’s and producers from all over the world. Kirsten continues to practice piano while creating and performing, as well as curating a concert series for non-profit event production company Elevator.

Kirsten adds, “I discovered my gift for teaching in college, when a professor of mine asked me to tutor other students in music theory. Many students told me that I helped them to understand the subject matter when other teachers just couldn’t get through. I believe this is thanks to my calm, patient yet enthusiastic demeanor. I have helped students make sense of high-level music theory, daunting electronic music software, complex piano music, and more. One of my very first students was receiving critical acclaim for her own recordings just months after her first lesson.

“In addition to my music degree and my patient, personal teaching approach, students seek me out because of my experience writing, releasing, and performing music. I also have a very broad range of music taste and knowledge, so if a student comes to me wanting to play classical, jazz, metal, techno, or pop music, I am able to tailor my lesson plan accordingly.” Find out more at kirstenthom.com or e-mail kirstenethom@gmail.com.

We thank music teacher Kirsten Thom for sponsoring independent, community-collaborative neighborhood news via WSB; find our current sponsor team listed in directory format here, and find info on joining the team by going here.

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Also in the state budget: Traffic-control help returns to Fauntleroy ferry dock
July 2, 2015 12:14 pm
|      14 COMMENTS
 |   Fauntleroy | Transportation | West Seattle news

The new state budget will restore funding for traffic control at the Fauntleroy Ferry Terminal, according to City Councilmember Tom Rasmussen. Ever since budget cuts did away with the help four years ago, it’s been a sore spot for terminal users, neighborhood residents, and people who travel through the busy terminal zone just south of Lincoln Park – more than 5,100 vehicles a day, in addition to hundreds of people on foot and on bikes. The new “transportation package” brings back $496,000 for use of off-duty law enforcers to “manage the loading and off-loading of ferry commuters,” according to Rasmussen’s announcement, which you can read in full ahead:

Read More

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UPDATE: Trash-can fire on Shinkle Place SW
July 2, 2015 11:54 am
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 |   West Seattle fires | West Seattle news

11:54 AM: Big Seattle Fire response for a possible fire at a townhouse in the 7100 block of Shinkle Place SW (map), just southeast of High Point. So far sounds like a small fire but they’re checking to be sure it didn’t spread.

NOON: SFD says it was a trash-can fire in a garage and has scaled down the response.

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Congratulations! Delridge RecTech teens and international collaborators score big with animated-poem video
July 2, 2015 11:02 am
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   Delridge | West Seattle news | WS culture/arts

Teens in the RecTech Youth Media Institute program led by Leslie Howle at Delridge Community Center are among the collaborators in that animated-poem video, which scored big in this year’s international Adobe Youth Voices competition, landing second place in the Animation category. The news comes from Seattle Parks’ Parkways website. The poem is written and spoken by Seattle artist Hollis Wong-Wear (who herself has West Seattle ties, including past work at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center). It’s about growing up – something we never quite seem to complete, no matter how “old” we’re lucky enough to live to be. Take a few minutes to look and listen, above.

P.S. We last featured RecTech in our coverage of the Delridge Projects Workshop a month ago – and we see via their website that the Delridge-focused mini-doc they screened there is available for online viewing, with a longer version in the works to be shown at the Delridge Day festival August 8th.

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West Seattle Thursday: Low-low tide, wading pools, orchard…
July 2, 2015 9:58 am
|    Comments Off on West Seattle Thursday: Low-low tide, wading pools, orchard…
 |   Holidays | West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Photo by JayDee, featuring the show Venus and Jupiter have been putting on)

With a “heat advisory” still in effect, it’s all about the water in today’s WSB West Seattle Event Calendar highlights:

WADING POOLS & SPRAYPARK: Open today – Highland Park Spraypark, 11 am-8 pm; Lincoln Park Wading Pool (8011 Fauntleroy Way SW), 11 am-8 pm; EC Hughes Wading Pool (2805 SW Holden), noon-7 pm; Hiawatha Wading Pool (Lander/Walnut), noon-6:30 pm.

LOW TIDE, WITH A GUIDE: It’s out to -2.6 feet at 11:46 this morning, one of the summer’s lowest low tides, so Seattle Aquarium volunteer beach naturalists are out again, 10 am-1:30 pm, at Constellation and Lincoln Parks, to answer your questions.

COMMUNITY ORCHARD OF WEST SEATTLE: 5-7 pm, visit the north end of the South Seattle College (WSB sponsor) campus to learn about the orchard and join the weekly work party. (6000 16th SW)

POKER AT THE FEEDBACK: 6 pm, free to play, at the air-conditioned Feedback Lounge. (6451 California SW)

MUSIC AND COFFEE: 7-9 pm, C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor) features Choro Tocando. (5612 California SW)

THE WEST SEATTLE 4TH OF JULY LIST … goes up soon. Something to add? editor@westseattleblog.com

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TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Pre-holiday Thursday edition
July 2, 2015 6:21 am
|      18 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

(Four WS-relevant views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
Good morning! It’s the final day of the pre-holiday workweek – once you get to where you’re going, let us know how the traffic volumes (any mode) seemed to you; we’ve been speculating those who can take a 4-day weekend will be doing that. Meantime, once more, here are the holiday transit changes: Metro and Water Taxi info is here; Washington State Ferries info is here; Sound Transit info is here.

And here’s the citywide alert from SDOT for today through Sunday.

TRAFFIC THROWBACK THURSDAY: Now – our almost-every-Thursday feature. Today, the Seattle Municipal Archives yield an image described as depicting a paving project on 35th SW “between Alaska and Brandon” in 1930. That doesn’t narrow it down much, so we’re wondering if you can identify where along that stretch this might have been:


Click the pic to go to a page with a much-larger version of the same image, if you want to take an up-close look.

9:15 PM: Two-car crash at 41st/Admiral – thanks to Brett for the tip via Twitter:

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Congratulations! West Seattle Baseball 8-year-old All-Stars win regional championship
July 2, 2015 5:04 am
|    Comments Off on Congratulations! West Seattle Baseball 8-year-old All-Stars win regional championship
 |   West Seattle news | WS & Sports

Thanks to Erik Ricard for sharing the news (and the photos):

This past weekend the 8-year-old All Star team from West Seattle Baseball
won the Northwest Region Championship for Pony Baseball, representing Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon & Washington.

This 4 day tournament was hosted in West Seattle at the Pee Wee Fields last weekend. The West Seattle 8U All Stars swept their games in the round-robin section Thursday, Friday and Saturday with an average margin of victory of 11 runs.

The team continued to roll in the semi-finals on Sunday winning 16-6 over Maltby All-Stars and then beat South Sound 13-3 to claim the Region Championship for Pony Baseball. Congrats to all the boys in a great effort over a long hot weekend.

In the official photo below:

– Front Row (L-R): Jake Kent, Marek Hall, Jacob Kriley, Reece Holmes, Seth Clark, Sam Krische
– 2nd Row (L-R): Jesse Dabbs, Ollie Ricard, Bridger Kyle, Teo Perala, Lukas Cheha, Greyson Romas, Sam Waskowitz
– Back Row, coaches (L-R): Coach Lance Kyle, Manager Erik Ricard, Assistant Coach Dan Krische (not pictured: Assistant Coach Greg Holmes)

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West Seattle scene: Trivia, the District 1 campaign edition
July 2, 2015 2:40 am
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 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle politics

2:40 AM: As previewed here Monday, this week’s Wednesday night trivia at Talarico’s in The Junction featured a special guest team – some of the present-and-past City Council District 1 candidates. Trivia host Phillip Tavel – in the race himself – came up with the idea. (L-R above, that’s Tavel with Brianna Thomas, Karl Wirsing, Shannon Braddock, Tom Koch, and Chas Redmond.) Another team of community leaders jumped into the fray:

They had just walked over from the monthly Southwest District Council meeting up the street at the Senior Center (we know because we covered it – report to come later today) – from left, SWDC co-president David Whiting of the Admiral Neighborhood Association, district coordinator Kerry Wade from the Department of Neighborhoods, Cindi Barker from the Morgan Community Association, SWDC co-president Eric Iwamoto of the Westwood-Roxhill-Arbor Heights Community Council, and Susan Melrose of the West Seattle Junction Association.

But no, it wasn’t WS community trivia, at least not in the early going when we stopped by for photos. And we don’t yet have the results (checking; will add when we get them!).

Speaking of results – just two weeks until you’ll get to make your choice from among the full field of nine D-1 hopefuls … the top two advance to the November election. At least two more forums are set before then – 2 pm Saturday, July 11th, on the GreenLife Stage at West Seattle Summer Fest, and 5:30 pm Wednesday, July 15th, at South Seattle College (WSB sponsor)’s Brockey Center.

ADDED THURSDAY MORNING, 10:15 AM: The trivia results, courtesy of host Tavel:
*The candidates’ team, “The Primary Is August 4th,” placed 6th with 33 points
*The SW District Council team, “The Dark Horses,” placed 2nd with 36 1/2 points
*The night’s winners were “Jane Austen’s Super-Excellent Butt-Kicking Trivia Masters,” with 38

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