day : 13/11/2016 11 results

If you’re on that map and interested in a city briefing about the proposed rezoning that’s part of the Housing Affordability and Livability Agenda – Tuesday is your big chance. The Junction Neighborhood Organization has announced its meeting on Tuesday night will include a presentation by, and Q&A with, senior planner Nick Welch of the city’s Office of Planning and Community Development. JuNO leader René Commons says Welch will “present the upzoning plan for our neighborhood and provide detail around the timing and process of proposed rezoning for increased density.”

The HALA rezoning is toward the HALA goal of Mandatory Housing Affordability; it will affect all property in the city that is currently zoned multifamily and/or commercial, as well as single-family properties that are in urban villages.

Draft maps for all the urban villages in the city – including the four in West Seattle (The Junction, Admiral, Westwood-Highland Park, and Morgan Junction) – were released online last month without an announcement, and the “outreach” since then has been scattered. Besides this guest appearance at the JuNO meeting, your major chance to find out more about what is (or isn’t) proposed for your neighborhood is a citizen-led, West Seattle/South Park-wide event coming up on November 29th (here’s the announcement we published last Monday). Following that, the city has an open house-style event planned for 5:30 pm December 7th at Shelby’s Ice Creamery and Bistro in The Junction, but no presentation, and the maps aren’t the only topic planned.

So if you are in the Junction “urban village” or the areas planned for expanding its boundaries (see the map), come to the Senior Center/Sisson Building (California SW/SW Oregon) on Tuesday (November 15th) at 6:30 pm to get a briefing, and answers to your questions. The questions and comments received by the city regarding the draft maps are expected to lead to final proposals

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UPDATE: Police arrest burglary suspect after wide-ranging Admiral search

November 13, 2016 5:52 pm

| 19 COMMENTS

| Crime | West Seattle news | West Seattle police

(Added: WSB photos)

5:52 PM: Thanks for the calls and texts about a police response and search in Admiral, primarily toward the east side of the business district. We’ve just arrived to find out more.

5:56 PM UPDATE: This apparently is related to the burglary we reported in our previous story – a suspect being sought in relation to the Ford with OR plates, which is in an Admiral business parking lot. Police believe the suspect is on foot and might be armed.

6:13 PM UPDATE: The search continues, including a K-9 team. The car was found between the Admiral Starbucks and Baskin-Robbins, where there’s still a heavy police presence. You might be seeing police blocks away from here, too, in all directions – the containment and search are spanning a wide area. We don’t have a description of the suspect yet.

6:22 PM UPDATE: We now have a partial description – white man in his 30s/40s, dark jacket, blue jeans, white sneakers. The car – reportedly a rental – was found with some items in it, but police won’t elaborate on whether it’s loot from the burglary. A tow truck will be taking it to SPD’s evidence lot shortly.

6:38 PM UPDATE: And now, a suspect is in custody at Hiawatha Playfield. Police tell us they believe it’s the person they’ve been seeking in relation to the burglary.

7:25 PM UPDATE: Photo added, from the WSHS/Hiawatha driveway south of the playfield, just before police took the suspect to the precinct for booking. A soccer team was at the field when the suspect turned up there, by the way; they quickly moved to the sidelines and everyone was OK, if a little startled.

11:31 PM UPDATE: The suspect, 29 years old, has been booked into jail, held for investigation of burglary and firearms violations. He does not appear to have a felony record, at least not in this state. Since he was booked before midnight, he’s likely to have a bail hearing tomorrow, and we’ll find out more about the case then.

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West Seattle Crime Watch: Alki burglary; card-fraud alert

November 13, 2016 5:18 pm

| 3 COMMENTS

| Crime | West Seattle news

Two reader reports:

ALKI BURGLARY: Phil reports his parents’ home in the Alki area was burglarized this afternoon, with the burglar(s) getting away with a lot of family jewelry “that had tremendous sentimental value.” They are believed to be in a silver Ford Escape, Oregon license starting with 179-G (police have the exact number). Call 911 if you see them.

CARD SKIMMING? MD wondered if a card skimmer was in action in the area this weekend – after somebody tried to charge something to his account at the Burien Walgreens, though his card is still in his possession. His previous use had been at a gas station on Roxbury. No proof that it’s where they got his number – he also had used it at a local restaurant the same day – but he wanted to get the word out to remind people to keep close watch on their accounts, and to see if anyone else had been hit by a similar fraud attempt. (The card is now, of course, canceled; he says his bank told him gas pumps and ATMs are the most frequent places numbers get stolen.)

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UPDATE: USS Nimitz sails past West Seattle

November 13, 2016 4:19 pm

| Comments Off on UPDATE: USS Nimitz sails past West Seattle

| Seen at sea | West Seattle news

@westseattleblog @wsferries Here she is….🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/7ctGY2jVtl

— shannon (@seapaddler) November 14, 2016

4:19 PM: Thanks to Shannon for the heads-up via Twitter. The aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68), which returned to Bremerton 10 days ago after almost a month away, is on its way out of Rich Passage right now – just a note for ship-watchers.

4:43 PM: Caught a glimpse from the west end of Alki Beach Park. It’s headed northbound fast.

5:22 PM: Added the photo we took (via long lens) from the promenade.

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CALL FOR ARTISTS: Start dreaming up next year’s West Seattle Garden Tour art

November 13, 2016 2:34 pm

| 1 COMMENT

| Gardening | West Seattle news | WS culture/arts

Four months since this year’s West Seattle Garden Tour, eight months until next year’s WSGT – but NOW is the time to start thinking about its poster/ticket-book art, chosen via competition. Just out of the WSB inbox this afternoon:

Call for Artists: West Seattle Garden Tour Art Competition

West Seattle Garden Tour’s annual search for local talent is under way! Your creative interpretation of the theme “The Art of Gardening” could win you prominence on the 2017 garden tour poster and ticket book, a spot in the West Seattle Art Walk, and $500! Original artwork may be submitted in person February 10-12, 2017, so start creating now. Get all the details and an entry form at the WSGT website.

Recent years’ winners: Cynthia Dale Turner (2016), Gretchen Flickinger (2015), and Sue Madill (2014).

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West Seattle YMCA expansion update: Another sneak peek, including new training system Queenax, with demos about to start

November 13, 2016 1:35 pm

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| Triangle | West Seattle news

(WSB photos)

As the West Seattle YMCA (WSB sponsor) expansion project gets closer to completion, more new features are coming online. We stopped by this week for a hard-hat tour to get a look at what’s happening. Above, the new outdoor play structure is in, but the really big news is indoors – a new exercise area next to the pool features Queenax, described as “a multipurpose training system that centers on your functional fitness, using exercises that mimic what you do in daily life to improve cardiovascular endurance and gain strength, flexibility, and conditioning.”

You can register for free Queenax demos that start tomorrow, whether you’re a Y member or not – sign up online (find the links on this page) or at the Y. Open drop-in times and group-exercise classes launch December 5th (here’s the schedule).

Back to the tour – Read More

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TRAFFIC ALERT: Crash on Delridge offramp from westbound West Seattle Bridge

November 13, 2016 12:55 pm

| 1 COMMENT

| West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

Thanks to Chas Redmond for the tip – he says a car has crashed on, and is blocking, the Delridge offramp from the westbound West Seattle Bridge. SFD Engine 36 was briefly assigned to respond but has already been canceled so we’re not sure about injuries but Chas says the car had major damage. If you’re headed this way any time soon, be aware you might need to take a different exit.

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West Seattleites’ Standing Rock donation drive, update #2: 1 week to go

November 13, 2016 10:43 am

| 3 COMMENTS

| How to help | West Seattle news | West Seattle people

We photographed Giles and Cathy in the storage area that Westside Unitarian Universalist Congregation is letting them borrow for the donations they’ll be taking to the Standing Rock Sioux-led oil-pipeline-route-protest camp later this month. We stopped by yesterday, during the second of three Saturday dropoff events there; one more is coming up, next Saturday (November 19th), 8 am-noon (7141 California SW). If you’re just hearing about this now, here’s their original announcement; here’s last weekend’s update. Now – the update they sent this morning:

Another big thank you to West Seattle. We now have more stuff than will fit in our cargo van. And we have one more week of donations!

We now need folks who are going to Standing Rock to help transport the donations before the winter weather truly sets in. If you can help, let us know so that we can coordinate with you.

Or, we can still take monetary donations.

Cathy Morgan and Giles Stanton

They also provided this inventory of what’s been donated so far (PDF).

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West Seattle whale-watching: Orcas in Elliott Bay, seen from Alki

November 13, 2016 8:00 am

| Comments Off on West Seattle whale-watching: Orcas in Elliott Bay, seen from Alki

| Seen at sea | West Seattle news | Wildlife

8 AM: The weather’s a little murky but if you’re near the water – keep watch for whales. Todd reports a northbound sighting just now, Alki area, headed toward Magnolia.

8:03 AM: Just after posting that, we got a text with another report and more details:

7:30 am-7:50 am, orcas seen between the west end of Alki Beach promenade and Alki Point. Adult and adolescent, possibly one more. Initially 50-100 yards from shore, gradually moving away from shore toward Magnolia, then diagonally toward Pier 91/Queen Anne.Exhibited what I would describe as feeding behavior – circling and roiling the water.

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West Seattle Sunday: Music, sales, and more

November 13, 2016 7:49 am

| 1 COMMENT

| West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Harlequin ducks, photographed by Mark Wangerin)

From the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar and newly launched Holiday Guide, highlights for today/tonight:

CURIOUS KIDSTUFF ONE-DAY SALE: West Seattle’s one and only toy store offers you a deal today – it’s a one-day sale at Curious Kidstuff (WSB sponsor) in The Junction, 10 am-5 pm, 15 percent off. (4740 California SW)

WEST SEATTLE FARMERS’ MARKET: Year-round in The Junction, 10 am-2 pm. (California SW between SW Oregon and SW Alaska)

BOOK DONATIONS: As previewed here last night, the Chief Sealth Key Club welcomes donations of children’s books (particularly kindergarten-4th grade reading level) 10 am-2 pm at the West Seattle Kiwanis booth at the Farmers’ Market. (California SW just north of SW Alaska)

FAUNTLEROY FINE ART AND HOLIDAY GIFT SHOW: 11 am-2 pm, the three-day show/sale concludes at Fauntleroy Church‘s Fellowship Hall. Participating artists are listed here. (9140 California SW)

BENEFIT BOOK SIGNING: As previewed here, First Lutheran Church of West Seattle pastor Ron Marshall signs his new book “Kierkegaard in the Pulpit: Sermons Inspired by His Writings.” Benefit for West Seattle Helpline and West Seattle Food Bank. (4105 California SW)

METROPOLITAN MARKET THANKSGIVING TASTE: 1-4 pm at Metropolitan Market-Admiral (WSB sponsor): “Taste our delicious fully-cooked Thanksgiving meal from our deli, with a variety of sides and desserts.” (41st/42nd/Admiral)

SURVIVING THE HOLIDAYS: Grief-support program at Grace Church, 2-4 pm; details in our calendar listing. (10323 28th SW)

BRAZILIAN MUSIC … with Choro Tocando at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor), 3-5 pm. (5612 California SW)

POLISH PIANO FESTIVAL: Three pianists perform Polish piano music, 3 pm in Olympic Hall at the south end of South Seattle College (WSB sponsor), presented by Music Northwest. (6000 16th SW)

CLASSICAL CONCERT: Free concert by the Ladies’ Musical Club, music for flute, soprano, and piano, 3-4 pm at West Seattle (Admiral) Library. (2306 42nd SW)

AND MORE … on our complete calendar page.

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WEST SEATTLE ART WALK: November scenes

November 13, 2016 12:59 am

| 3 COMMENTS

| West Seattle Art Walk | West Seattle news

Photos by Leda Costa for West Seattle Blog

(Sampling James Elliott’s fragrances at Twilight Gallery)

From smellable art to wearable art …

(Frances Smersh’s earrings at Click! Design That Fits)

… this month’s West Seattle Art Walk offered variety. And gift ideas! Even if you missed the Art Walk on Thursday night, you can still check out (and buy) the artists’ work at most of the venues, so read on for a sampling of what’s out there … Read More

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