day : 08/12/2015 9 results

Meet Boden, William, and Whit. They are part of the only Seattle Parks cross-country team in the city, based at High Point Community Center, and they are off to the national championships in Albuquerque! The photos and info are courtesy of their coach, Eric Linxweiler, who explains:

We started training in September at Lincoln Park, and have competed in races all across Western Washington. We have one particularly special set of runners, our 7- and 8-year-old boys. The team took second or third in all their races, including the Western Washington region of USA Track and Field’s Junior Olympics championships. That bought them a ticket to a Regional meet held on 11/21 in Pasco, including runners from Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and Alaska. There, they placed 5th in their age group, getting them a ticket to the National Championship on December 12th in Albuquerque.

We have three boys who will be representing our team going. Whit, Boden, and William. All three are students at Schmitz Park Elementary, and are really excited to be a part of this team, representing all of West Seattle at the national championship. Their race, as all have been, are 2,000m (about 1.2 miles).

They’ve been continuing their training, right on up to this week’s travel to Albuquerque.

Share This

Bigger apartments? Cheaper housing? Southwest District Council hears what HALA might, and might not, do

December 8, 2015 8:03 pm

| Comments Off on Bigger apartments? Cheaper housing? Southwest District Council hears what HALA might, and might not, do

| Southwest District Council | West Seattle news

The Southwest District Council was not among the community groups canceling December meetings. Members gathered to hear a briefing on the most-discussed issue before city leaders right now, housing – specifically, the Housing Affordability and Livability Agenda, aka HALA.

Mayor Murray’s policy-office director Robert Feldstein led the briefing, sitting in for HALA outreach manager Jesseca Brand. “HALA is going to come roaring like a freight train,” explained Cindi Barker, who represents West seattle Emergency Communication Hubs on the SWDC and was a member of the HALA advisory committee.

Feldstein recapped all the basics, which you can review on the HALA website, summarizing: “We think if you build more housing, it reduces the total costs.”

Share This

FOLLOWUP: Man arrested at Junction home charged in SeaTac killing

December 8, 2015 4:53 pm

| 30 COMMENTS

| Crime | West Seattle news

(WSB photo: KCSO officers outside house where murder suspect was arrested last Thursday)

Charges are now filed against 39-year-old Aaron Parypa, arrested by SWAT-geared King County Sheriff’s Officers last week at his Junction-area home in connection with a shooting death near Sea-Tac Airport. Parypa is charged with second-degree murder and first-degree assault, for the death of Andrae Medina-Wong and the attempted shooting of a second man in what detectives say started as an attempted marijuana sale. Parypa remains jailed in lieu of $1 million bail, requested by prosecutors because while he has no criminal history, they allege he “shot at both victims from a moving car in broad daylight during rush-hour traffic … (firing) at least seven times with a high-powered assault rifle.” The shooting made regional news on October 29th because of its proximity to the airport; Medina-Wong was found dead by a car in an intersection just north of Sea-Tac. Another man found hiding in the woods nearby turned out to have been with him. According to court documents, that man told police he and Medina-Wong had used Craigslist to try to buy marijuana, and had obtained – possibly stolen – some, in a glass mason jar, from a prospective seller they arranged to meet in the shopping-center parking lot on the northeast corner of 1st and 160th in Burien.

A vehicle believed to belong to that person subsequently pursued them, the survivor told investigators, and caught up with them at the intersection near Sea-Tac, where he saw a gun barrel pointing at them from the other vehicle. He got out of the car, carrying the mason jar of marijuana, and started running, at which time he heard gunshots. Medina-Wong was later found to have been hit by .223-caliber bullets in the head and heart. The other man was not hit.

The documents tell a detailed story of how detectives identified Parypa as the suspect, including phone and Internet records:

Share This

YOU CAN HELP: Benefit breakfast Saturday in Highland Park for West Seattleite hit by train

December 8, 2015 3:46 pm

| 6 COMMENTS

| How to help | West Seattle news

This Saturday, you’re invited to a pancake breakfast at Highland Park Improvement Club (12th & Holden) to raise money for an 18-year-old West Seattle resident who survived being hit by a train last month in South Seattle. His godmother e-mailed WSB to get the word out, saying that Vincent Hance “is super lucky to be alive and doing amazing!” The event Saturday is from 9 am to noon, with a $5 donation requested to support Vincent’s family: “They don’t have a lot of money and his mother has missed a lot of work.” They also are accepting donations via a GoFundMe page, which tells the story of the incident that left Vincent in the Harborview ICU.

Share This

Second Design Review meeting set for 1307 Harbor Avenue SW project on ex-Alki Tavern site, almost two years after the first

December 8, 2015 1:03 pm

| 23 COMMENTS

| Development | West Seattle news

That’s the latest draft rendering for 1307 Harbor Avenue SW, the mixed-use project planned for what is currently about a half-block of shuttered, fenced off vacant buildings including the former Alki Tavern, across from Don Armeni Boat Ramp. The tavern already had been closed a year by the time the proposed mixed-use project had its first Southwest Design Review Board meeting in April of 2014 – and now, more than a year and a half later, the date is finally set for its next one. In our coverage of that first meeting, the project was described as including 21 residential units and 41 underground parking spaces; now it’s described as including 15 residential units and 27 parking spaces “within the structure.” It’s also still proposed for “retail, restaurant, office, and light manufacturing” space, the same non-residential uses as mentioned before. Here’s the draft of the packet for the meeting, with more details on the plan:

The project has ~~changed~~ architects – the packet shows Rhodes Architecture & Light, a West Seattle-based firm, as “architect of record,” while Miller-Hull was the architect at the time of the 2014 review. The upcoming review meeting is scheduled for 6:30 pm Thursday, January 21st, at the Sisson Building in The Junction (California/Oregon).

ADDED WEDNESDAY: See the comment from Tim Rhodes with clarification of the two architecture firms’ roles.

Share This

UPDATE: Three highlights for your West Seattle Tuesday night

December 8, 2015 12:22 pm

| Comments Off on UPDATE: Three highlights for your West Seattle Tuesday night

| West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

A bit blustery at Constellation Park. pic.twitter.com/4QBYO4iOe7

— West Seattle Blog (@westseattleblog) December 8, 2015

Even before the wind really started kicking up at midmorning, lots of whitecaps off Constellation Park, which is where we recorded the short video clip above. The wind advisory is currently set to expire around 3 pm; right now, before we get too much further into the day, we wanted to share ~~two~~ three scheduled highlights ahead. First, from the WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide:

CRAFT BAZAAR: First night of a two-night craft bazaar by local artists and crafters at Admiral Bird, spotlighting local holiday-shopping options. 5-8 pm. (California/Admiral)

(added) CONCERT: The West Seattle Community Orchestras‘ Intermediate and Debut Orchestras perform at 6 pm at the Chief Sealth International High School Auditorium. Free admission, donations appreciated. Program includes Bohemian Dance, El Tango, Good King Wenceslas, Bizet’s Aragonaise from Carmen, España, Beethoven’s Symphony No. 7, 2nd movement. (2600 SW Thistle)

And from our regular year-round calendar:

HARBOR SCHOOL INFO NIGHT IN WEST SEATTLE: You don’t have to travel to Vashon Island this time to learn about K-8 Harbor School (WSB sponsor) – it’s having a West Seattle Information Night tonight, 6:30 pm at Fauntleroy UCC Church. Details here. (9140 California SW)

P.S. The two community councils that usually meet on second Tuesdays, Admiral Neighborhood Association and Fauntleroy Community Association, are NOT meeting tonight – many neighborhood groups take December off.

Share This

FOLLOWUP: Sealth student’s suspected killer now in custody

December 8, 2015 10:22 am

| 1 COMMENT

| Crime | West Seattle news

Seattle Police say they have arrested Si Phu, the man accused of shooting and killing a 14-year-old Chief Sealth International High School student in Columbia City on Sunday. Relatives of the victim say Phu is her uncle. According to police, he was found in South Seattle, and will be booked into King County Jail for investigation of homicide. Meantime, the candlelight vigil mentioned in the letter sent home to families is set for 5 pm tomorrow outside the school, according to Sealth staff.

ADDED: The King County Medical Examiner has identified the victim as Christy Phu.

Share This

UPDATE: Water-main work brings brown water for some in Admiral

December 8, 2015 7:26 am

| 31 COMMENTS

| Utilities | West Seattle news

7:26 AM: At this early hour we’ve already received three texts from Admiral-area residents who woke up to brown water. So we’re publishing this quick note to let you know, it’s not just you. The first texter says Seattle Public Utilities told them it’s water-main-replacement work – we don’t yet know where. In the meantime, as noted during all our coverage of discolored water in recent months, do call SPU if it’s happening to you: 206-386-1800.

9:04 AM: One texter mentioned the 2200 block of California, so we went there to check, and found an SPU crew flushing a hydrant:

Flushing system in North Admiral (California/Walker) after early-morning water work. #westseattle

A video posted by West Seattle Blog (@westseattleblog) on Dec 8, 2015 at 8:24am PST

Shortly thereafter, Ingrid Goodwin from SPU answered our inquiry:

There was a planned water main shutdown this morning from 5 am to 8 am on California Avenue SW from SW Holgate to SW Walker Street. The work was to seal off a 2 inch water main. Customers impacted by the shutdown would have received a door hanger notification late last week from SPU’s water quality inspectors.

If customers are experiencing dirty water, they should run the cold water for a few minutes to see if it is clearing or still discolored. If the water does not clear, let the water sit for an hour. Then, run the water for a few minutes and flush the toilet a couple of times. If the water remains discolored, please contact SPU at 206-386-1800.

More information about discolored water can be found here.

12:30 PM: Commenters have been discussing continuing concerns; SPU says that while the work is complete, the water main was still being flushed, and a second hydrant was opened to help with that. Goodwin adds, “Flushing too quickly, however, can cause even more discoloration. So they are doing this work carefully. SPU thanks its customers for their patience as we work to clear the water as soon as possible.” We’re expecting another update soon.

Share This

TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Tuesday updates, including ‘wind advisory’ alert; upcoming Highway 99 closures

December 8, 2015 6:26 am

| Comments Off on TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Tuesday updates, including ‘wind advisory’ alert; upcoming Highway 99 closures

| Alaskan Way Viaduct | West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

(Six WS-relevant views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
Good morning! New weather alert overnight – now a “wind advisory” is in effect until 3 pm (read it here). And after a rainy night, you’re going to find trouble spots like the “big bad puddle” at Fauntleroy/Raymond, as tweeted by Megan:

Here are all the ways to contact us.

UPCOMING 99 CLOSURES: As announced by WSDOT on Monday. They all involve the Battery Street Tunnel *northward* but still could affect traffic between the tunnel and bridge, so here’s the heads-up:

Full closure Dec. 18-19

During this closure, contractor crews working for the Washington State Department of Transportation will set up a work zone between the northbound and southbound SR 99 lanes near Harrison Street in order to build the permanent median barrier.

SR 99/Aurora Avenue North will be closed between the south end of the Battery Street Tunnel and Valley Street:
Northbound lanes: Closed from 9 p.m. Friday, Dec. 18 to 5 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 19
Southbound lanes: Closed from 9 p.m. Friday, Dec. 18 to 7 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 19. One southbound lane will remain closed until 1 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 19

Lane closures Dec. 14-22

Additionally, crews installing a variable message sign may close one southbound lane of SR 99 between Roy and Mercer streets from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. nightly, Monday, Dec. 14 through Thursday, Dec. 17 and Monday, Dec. 21 through Tuesday, Dec. 22.

Long-term lane closures beginning mid-January
Contractor crews will install the foundations for new overhead traffic signs on SR 99/Aurora Avenue North between Highland Drive and the Aurora Bridge. One lane in each direction will be closed around the clock for approximately seven weeks. An additional lane will be closed at night when there is less traffic on the road and on some weekends to provide additional work zone for the contractor. One lane will remain open during this work.

8:10 AM: We’ve been out checking on other perennial water-over-road trouble spots, such as W. Marginal Way SW – so far, nothing major. But if the forecast heavier rain arrives this afternoon, that could change.

8:53 AM: Just got a text about water over Delridge by Orchard/Myrtle. Off to check.

9:03 AM: It’s cleared – aside from a sizable curbside puddle by the northbound Delridge bus stop north of Orchard.

Share This