day : 02/08/2016 10 results

FIRST REPORT, 8:16 PM: From the Election Night vote count – just the first count, but the only one we’ll get tonight.

Congress District 7 – Pramila Jayapal leads with 38%, and the race to see who also goes into the general is close – Joe McDermott 21.5%, Brady Piñero Walkinshaw 20.9%. (All three are Democrats. See below for our side note on this race.)

Seattle Housing Levy – winning, 68% yes to 32% no.

Seattle Initiative 123 (elevated waterfront park) – 81% no, 19% yes

All the King County results are here.

****

Statewide results are here. Among the key primary races (note that these may change tonight depending on what various counties’ tallying policies are, and we’ll continue to update them):

Governor (updated 11:13 pm) – Democrat incumbent Jay Inslee 48.6%, Republican Bill Bryant 38.1%

Lt. Governor (updated 11:13 pm) – the leaders so far are Republican Marty McClendon at 20.3% and Democrat Cyrus Habib at 19.6%.

ADDED 9:36 PM: Again, the statewide races will change; the ones that are King County-only won’t. The link in each statewide race will take you to the most-recent results; we’ll be checking at least every half-hour until the early morning. Here are a few more, starting with two races without incumbents:

State Superintendent of Public Instruction (updated 11:13 pm) – Erin Jones 22.8%, Chris Reykdal 20.6%

State Commissioner of Public Lands (updated 11:13 pm) – Steve McLaughlin (R) 39.1%, Hilary Franz (D) 20.8%

And this one does have an incumbent:

Secretary of State (updated 11:13 pm) – Kim Wyman* (R) 48.5%, Tina Podlodowski (D) 45.7%

ADDED 11:17 PM: Only one election night party in West Seattle – Joe McDermott, at Alki Huddle. We stopped by after cutting our Night Out coverage a bit short to stop at the event. He was juggling a variety of interview requests, including ours – we talked with him briefly on video outside the bar:

A small section of the 7th District is in Snohomish County. The final results won’t be certified until two weeks from tonight; we’ll watch this race daily until it’s settled.

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PHOTOS: Night Out 2016! Block parties around West Seattle

August 2, 2016 6:00 pm

| 5 COMMENTS

| Neighborhoods | West Seattle news

(First photo in – from Brandon in Arbor Heights; see below)

6 PM: It’s the official start of this year’s Night Out, a night for neighbors to celebrate and collaborate on safety, preparedness, and more. (That means closed streets, so be careful and patient if you’re on the road.) As usual, we’ll be heading out to stop by some parties for photos; we also welcome YOUR photo – editor@westseattleblog.com, texted to 206-293-6302, or tagged on Twitter/Instagram, @westseattleblog. Updates ahead!

6:18 PM: Thanks to Brandon for sending in the first photo, now atop this story, via Twitter. He reports, “Arbor Heights (California & 102nd-104th) National Night Out, just getting going with Groove Kitchen” (the band).

6:34 PM: Here’s the group at our first stop, just south of Gatewood Elementary School:

Party organizer: Donna Sandstrom of The Whale Trail. This group’s party includes stuffed peppers, cookies, and coinciding with our arrival, a visit from Southwest Precinct Community Police Team Officer Jon Flores and members of the precinct’s Summer Youth Employment Program.

And thanks to Kevin for this photo:

Edmunds Slope/Fairmont Park represent! @westseattleblog pic.twitter.com/rkcvIEpM2g

— Kevin Freitas (@kevinfreitas) August 3, 2016

6:59 PM: Also just in via Twitter:

#NationalNightOut @westseattleblog Cambridge between 24th and 25th! 5 blocks represented. pic.twitter.com/WJ5DtYDEGJ

— Maverick (@smyliegrl) August 3, 2016

7:09 PM: Just stopped by the always-huge Pigeon Point Night Out party. Here too, a Community Police Team officer is visiting – John O’Neil, this time:

We’ve also noticed many places in Pigeon Point with anti-hate signs, in reaction to last week’s racist, threatening note discovery.

7:16 PM: Texted from Fauntlee Hills, this reminder that Seattle Fire is out on Night Out, too:

That’s Engine 37 visiting neighbors. Meantime, Liesbet near Constellation Park texted photos of her neighborhood’s first-ever party, which had a visit from Engine 29:

7:32 PM: Thanks to South Park’ers for texting from their annual Night Out bash South Park Putts Out. We’d heard about the Prince memorial portrait that’s being auctioned:

Jen Nye and Wendy Woldenberg painted the portrait.

Another tweeted photo – from Marcia in Highland Park:

#NationalNightOut #thisblockisthebest @westseattleblog here we are! 9000 block of 13th Ave SW pic.twitter.com/oP5svsUITK

— Marcia Ventura (@marciaventura) August 3, 2016

The kids on the block are making chalk art in the street, too.

8 PM: Two hours down, one to go, though over the years we’ve noted most parties tend to wrap closer to 8 than to 9. We just visited Gatewood, where Dave and Jeanne Edwards are hosting a Night Out party. Dave just turned 100 and is a WSB reader (thank you!) – he’s just left of center in our photo:

Thanks to neighbor Dale for sharing the news about this party (and Dave’s milestone).

Before heading to Gatewood, we stopped in Westwood, where Whitney had let us know that West Seattle’s own Mikey Mike the Rad Scientist was going to perform.

(updated) We missed the show but MM (top right in group photo) gave everybody a star:

And then in Admiral, Angela invited us to the block party where neighbors were making wood-fired pizza:

8:31 PM: Since it’s cloudy, it’s getting dark. More photos! From The Junction:

Loving #neighborhoodnightout w @SeattlePD @SeattleFire and @westseattleblog #40thandedmonds @pikeplacefish pic.twitter.com/n6AixCL5WQ

— Matthew Boehm (@mjboehm267) August 3, 2016

And from North Delridge, where David says the Puget Boulevard neighbors are having their first-ever Night Out party:

Thanks for all the photos – we have more in queue, but have to break away from Night Out for a few minutes since it’s also Election Night …

9:54 PM: Back to the photos! From Jon in the 4800 block of 46th Ave SW:

At 36th and Dawson, the Seattle Police Pipes and Drums visited!

Barry sent the photo from a Gatewood neighborhood we’ve visited in past years – the flags are unforgettable:

From Angela:

She explains, “This was on 18th Ave SW between Myrtle and Webster. We were the only gathering within half a mile or so, so we had some neighbors from the Puget Ridge Cohousing join us!”

Back to Gatewood, where Mark photographed the 39th/Elmgrove block party:

South of Admiral, from Jonathan at 41st/Hinds/Manning:

On Rose St., karaoke and an outdoor movie:

Another SFD visit – Ladder 11 on 39th SW:

More firefighters near Walnut and Hanford:

And another appearance of CPT Officer Flores with neighbors in the 6700 block of 37th SW:

Thanks to Aaron for that photo.

ADDED WEDNESDAY: Another photo – from 36th/Hanford/Stevens:

Hope everyone had a great Night Out!

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West Seattle restaurants: Westwood Village Wingstop ‘soft-opens’ Thursday

August 2, 2016 4:43 pm

| 5 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle restaurants | Westwood

The Wingstop in Westwood Village will open this week. We’ve just confirmed that it will start by “soft-opening” around noontime this Thursday (August 4th); the official grand opening is set for the weekend of August 27th and 28th. At some point during that weekend, we’re told, the franchise’s owner Richard Sherman will be on hand – yes, THAT Richard Sherman, as in Seahawks star, but the company’s not sure exactly when yet. Official hours will be 11 am-11 pm Sundays through Thursdays, 11 am-midnight on Fridays. Wingstop is in the space west of 24-Hour Fitness that was long home to Eats Market Café; it’s been 13 months since we first reported that Eats was closing and Wingstop was on the way.

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‘A Grand Affair’: New West Seattle Food Bank benefit set for September 16th

August 2, 2016 2:59 pm

| 1 COMMENT

| West Seattle news

The West Seattle Food Bank has a new benefit event coming up next month, and WSB has joined the sponsor team. Now’s the time to get your ticket – and/or donate to the live auction – and/or become a sponsor too! Here’s what it’s all about:

Please save the date for the West Seattle Food Bank’s “A Grand Affair”, a Roaring Twenties-themed cocktail fundraising event on Friday evening, September 16th, beginning at 6:00 pm, at Westland Distillery at 2931 1st Ave. S., in SODO.

Bring your friends to this fun event that will celebrate the Food Bank’s achievements in helping our neighbors who are in need of a little help with food and other services. The evening will be filled with casino-style gaming with a chance to win prizes; hosted wine, beer, & hors d’oeuvres; whiskey tasting, themed cocktails, a photo booth, live auction and Funds for Food. Dress is cocktail attire but era costumes are encouraged. Tickets are $65/guest in advance and $600 for a group of 10 (paid at one time), $75 at the door. Each guest will receive $10,000 of play chips with the purchase of a ticket. For more
information on being a sponsor, donating to the live auction, or purchasing a ticket, please go to westseattlefoodbank.org or contact WSFB Development Director Judi Yazzolino at 206.932.9023 or judi@westseattlefoodbank.org.

All proceeds from A Grand Affair will allow us to continue to provide quality, healthy food and the necessities of living to our neighbors in need through our on-going essentials programs:

· The Food Bank, which distributes 1.5 million pounds of food and spends $250,000 on food purchases

· The Baby & Child Corner, which provides $250,000 worth of diapers, baby food, formula, strollers, car seats, toys, furniture and other essential infant and child accessories

· The Backpack Program, which provides 300 schoolchildren at risk of hunger with a “backpack” of nutritious and healthy meals for the weekend

· The Mobile Food Bank, which brings food weekly to the homes of senior and disabled individuals who can’t make it to the food bank

· The Pet Pantry, which distributes over 12,000 pounds of pet food to those that need help caring for their furry friends

· The Bookcase distributes 14,000 donated adult & children’s books yearly to encourage reading

Donations of food, pet food or books are always welcome at 3419 SW Morgan St. at the corner of 35th & Morgan, Monday-Friday 9 am – 3 pm.

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PHOTOS: Seafair Parade of Ships 2016 sails past West Seattle

August 2, 2016 12:48 pm

| 1 COMMENT

| Seen at sea | West Seattle news

[Photo updated 1:19 pm, USS Somerset leading the parade]

FIRST REPORT, 12:47 PM: We’re just west of Duwamish Head, watching the Seafair fleet come into view for today’s Parade of Ships, running a bit later than past years. The ships are listed here; amphibious transport dock USS Somerset (LPD-25) is in the lead, passing Bainbridge, and should be turning eastward toward Elliott Bay shortly. If you’re headed out to watch, consider an umbrella – looks like more storminess is headed this way, according to Sam from Fleurt, whose daughter Keonii took this photo in The Arroyos earlier this hour.

Ship (and weather, if warranted) updates to come!

1:06 PM: The Somerset is now about to pass us (photo added atop story); behind it, the guided-missile destroyer USS Gridley (DDG 101), and USCGC Active (WMEC-618). At least one helicopter is over Alki to photograph the ships.

1:29 PM: The Gridley (above; homeported in Everett as of this summer) is passing our spot now; off to the east, the Seattle Fire Department fireboat Leschi is putting on a spray show just ahead of the Somerset.

1:52 PM: Short Parade of Ships this year – looks like the Canadian Navy ship due to visit isn’t in it; last ship, the Active (homeported in Port Angeles), has just gone by, headed toward Duwamish Head and the downtown waterfront.

Several smaller USCG vessels have sailed past us too, escorting the three bigger ships. Again, free tours will be offered Wednesday through Sunday – see the Seafair website for where/when.

ADDED 3:28 PM: Thanks to everyone who shared photos! From Lance Merkin, a closer look at some of the people – and an aircraft – on the Somerset:

Kyle Asplund caught fireboat Leschi passing Luna/Anchor Park:

And Gary Jones photographed the Somerset, Gridley, and Active from Alki Point:

P.S. The storm never did show up!

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West Seattle Crime Watch update: Morgan Junction bank-robbery suspect arrested

August 2, 2016 11:45 am

| 15 COMMENTS

| Crime | West Seattle news

(UPDATED 6:16 PM with word of arrest)

11:45 AM: Thanks for the tips about a major police presence in Morgan Junction – we’ve confirmed that the Washington Federal branch at California/Fauntleroy has been robbed. No other details right now – we’re waiting to talk with police to at least get a description. The bank is closed for now as police investigate, with a note on the door attributing the closure to an “emergency.” This is right across the street from West Seattle Thriftway (WSB sponsor), which was robbed late last night, but we don’t know yet if there’s any connection. More to come.

12:19 PM: We’ve just talked to a sergeant on scene who told us they don’t know yet how much money the robber got away with, but they do have a description – heavyset black man, 6 feet tall, in his 40s. That is similar to the description of the man who robbed Thriftway last night, but police say it’s too soon to say whether this is the same person or not. No word if a photo will be circulated publicly as it was with last week’s Bank of America holdup.

6:15 PM: We’ve just confirmed with SW Precinct commander Capt. Pierre Davis that a suspect has been arrested – he says detectives “did a stellar job” in identifying the suspect. Expecting more information soon.

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HELICOPTER ALERT: Blackhawk @ Joint Training Facility

August 2, 2016 11:16 am

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| Helicopter | West Seattle news

Just in from Seattle Fire via Twitter: Training in the next hour or so at the Joint Training Facility will involve a Washington National Guard Blackhawk helicopter working with SFD. So if you see one in the area – that’s what it’s about. (The JTF is in southeastern West Seattle, 9401 Myers Way S.)

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West Seattle Tuesday: Election Day; Night Out; Seafair Parade of Ships; more!

August 2, 2016 10:15 am

| Comments Off on West Seattle Tuesday: Election Day; Night Out; Seafair Parade of Ships; more!

| West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

Today’s photo is from Don Brubeck, who observed, “There are worse places to be stuck waiting for traffic to clear – at the Spokane Street Bridge with a bunch of bike riders waiting for a couple of Westrac tugs to bring out the Skagway Provider on the high tide, for their commute to Southeast Alaska.” Here’s where this day/night might take you:

ELECTION DAY: If you don’t get your ballot into the mail by tonight, it’s just wasted paper, so take a few minutes and vote. You can send it by postal mail if you’re sure it’ll have today’s postmark, or you get it to West Seattle’s new dropbox at High Point Library (Raymond east of 35th SW) by 8 pm.

LOW-LOW TIDE: One more day with a -1.9 low-low tide (at 11:08 am), and that brings Seattle Aquarium beach naturalists back to Constellation and Lincoln Parks, 10 am-1 pm.

SEAFAIR PARADE OF SHIPS: Before the Seafair fleet – two U.S. Navy ships, one Canadian Navy ship, and a U.S. Coast Guard cutter – parades past the downtown waterfront at 1 pm, it passes West Seattle, and it’s always a sight. Watch from north-facing shores after noon. Tomorrow through Sunday, the ships are open for tours on the downtown/Magnolia waterfront – details on the Seafair website.

LEARN TO TAKE A COMPUTER APART AND REASSEMBLE IT: 3-5 pm at Delridge Library, free workshop for kids/teens in grades 6-12. Registration required; our calendar listing explains how.

JUSTIN KAUSAL-HAYES: 5-8 pm, live music at Salty’s on Alki (WSB sponsor) – starting with the final hour of Salty’s 3-6 pm happy hour. (1936 Harbor SW)

NIGHT OUT: 6-9 pm, tonight is the annual night for neighbors to get out and get to know each other better, in the interest of everything from crime prevention to preparedness. Many block parties mean non-arterial street closures, so if you’re driving or riding this evening rather than partying with neighbors, please be extra, extra careful. We’ll be covering Night Out “live” as usual – we’ll be stopping at some parties and would also be thrilled to get a photo from yours – e-mail editor@westseattleblog.com, text 206-293-6302, or tag WSB – @westseattleblog – in your photo posted to Twitter or Instagram. Thank you!

‘BEERS FOR BIRDS’ TRIVIA NIGHT: 7-9 pm at Treehouse Lounge, trivia and fundraising for Seattle Audubon! 21+. More info in our calendar listing. (2206 California SW)

JIM PAGE: Singer-songwriter works his magic at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor), 7-9 pm. (5612 California SW)

MORE! on our complete-calendar page.

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REMINDER: Free summer meals for kids and teens continue this month

August 2, 2016 9:18 am

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| West Seattle news | West Seattle parks

With the new school year still more than a month away, so are the school-provided meals that some kids and teens rely on. But anybody under 18 can still get free meals through summer programs that continue into late August. Here’s the reminder we were asked to share:

This summer, hundreds of sites across Washington State are providing free meals for kids and teens! Places like local high schools, elementary schools, community centers, parks and apartment complexes will serve breakfast, lunch and snacks for kids under the age of 18. It is open to everyone! There is no enrollment or registration is necessary. Meal times and days of the week will vary among sites, along with the actual meals served. To find a Summer Meals site near you: Call 888-4FOOD-WA, visit parenthelp123.org or Text MEALS to 96859.

Summer Meals sites in West Seattle include these three, all continuing through August 26th, Mondays-Fridays:

High Point Community Center (6920 34th SW)
Breakfast: 9:30 – 10:00AM
Lunch: 12:30 – 1:15PM

Highland Park Playground (1100 SW Cloverdale)
Lunch: 12:30 PM – 1:30 PM
Snack: 3:00 PM – 3:30 PM

E.C. Hughes Playground (2805 SW Holden)
Lunch: 12:00 – 1:00 PM
Snack: 3:00 – 3:30 PM

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TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Tuesday updates; Night Out block parties tonight; buses on Olson…

August 2, 2016 6:59 am

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| West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

(SDOT MAP with travel times/video links; is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE)

(Click any view for a close-up; more cameras on the WSB Traffic page)

6:59 AM: Good morning! We start with reminders:

BLOCK PARTIES TONIGHT: Many non-arterial streets in West Seattle will be blocked off ~6-9 pm tonight for the annual Night Out block parties, with neighbors building community and talking about crime, safety, and preparedness.

BLUE ANGELS I-90 CLOSURES THURSDAY-SUNDAY: The annual Seafair reminder from WSDOT:

The mainlines of I-90 will be closed between I-5 in Seattle to Island Crest Way on Mercer Island:

Thursday, Aug. 4: 9:45 a.m. – noon; 1:15 – 2:40 p.m. (practice)
Friday, Aug. 5: 1:15 – 2:40 p.m. (practice)
Saturday, Aug. 6: 1:15 – 2:40 p.m. (Seafair Air Show)
Sunday, Aug. 7: 1:15 – 2:40 p.m. (Seafair Air Show)

8:34 AM: Traffic alert on westbound side of the east end of Roxbury corridor – curb lane on Olson is blocked off for charter buses waiting to enter a neighborhood. All we have found out so far is that it’s an event expected to continue until about noon, with more buses coming and going. (The gathering appears to be related to a religious facility on 3rd SW.)

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