day : 27/12/2016 10 results

9:56 PM: Thanks for the messages – stuck our head out the door and heard it too. Fireworks of some kind? We’re checking.

10 PM: At least one person who saw them from north West Seattle says they were visible in the north.

10:04 PM: Found it. The Harbour Public House on Bainbridge Island had a fireworks display to celebrate its 25th anniversary, according to the Bainbridge Fire Department:

Tonight, the Harbour Public House is celebrating their 25th anniversary and has been issued a permit for a public fireworks display. The display will begin around 9:45 pm and last 5-8 minutes. The display will be launched from a barge in Eagle Harbor, similar to the 4th of July show, but much smaller. A safety zone has been set up around the barge.

10:09 PM: Corrected the spelling – the restaurant spells its name Harbour Public House. (While it’s 25 years old, it’s in a building with a much-longer history.)

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WEST SEATTLE POWER OUTAGE: West Marginal/Highland Park Way

December 27, 2016 9:13 pm

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| Highland Park | Utilities | West Seattle news

Thanks to Kathleen for the tip – a power outage at the bottom of the Highland Park Way hill is affecting the West Marginal Way/Highland Park Way intersection. She says City Light and Seattle Police are there. The SCL outage map shows only nine “customers” out, on the south side of the intersection, but in that area, one customer can represent a sizable business facility. The map attributes the outage to “equipment failure.”

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West Seattle scene: Vigil for the orcas

December 27, 2016 8:53 pm

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| West Seattle news | Wildlife

Though the Southern Resident Killer Whales were declared an endangered species in 2005, they’re not recovering, the federal government acknowledges, saying that the population “remains small and vulnerable and has not had a net increase in abundance since the mid-1980s.” The three pods together now number just 79 after J34’s death last week in British Columbia. Tonight, West Seattle was one of three locations where people concerned about the iconic orcas held vigils. More than 25 people gathered by Alki Statue of Liberty Plaza, with flowers and candles in memory of and tribute to the resident orcas lost this year.

The vigil was organized “in solidarity with” one held by the Orca Network at the same time at the Langley Whale Center on Whidbey Island; another was planned in the San Juans.

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CRIME WATCH FOLLOWUP: 3 suspects remain jailed in Junction 7-11 incident

December 27, 2016 5:26 pm

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| Crime | West Seattle news

Following up on one of the incidents we covered right before Christmas weekend:

Three suspects remain in jail in connection with what happened at the Junction 7-11 last Thursday night, and probable-cause documents say they are the ones who told police where they were.

The suspects are a 29-year-old Puget Ridge man, a 30-year-old Rainier Valley man, and a 33-year-old Delridge man.

Police first responded to a report of a fight at the store, and were told the people involved had left in a white car. The 53-year-old man on duty at the 7-11 told police he recognized them as previous shoplifters and told them to leave, but they didn’t. They picked up “several items,” he said, and walked toward the door, which he was blocking. They became argumentative, he said, then he and they went outside, where, he told police, they started hitting and kicking him, knocking him down, and leaving him with cuts and bruises on his face. He said they also stole his phone and about $100 cash he had in his pocket, and a witness told police they had hit his car as they left in theirs.

Meantime, the 30-year-old called 911 to report the incident, saying he was near the Bank of America at 41st and Alaska and wanted to talk to police. Officers found all three men there. The 30-year-old claimed the clerk had assaulted them, and that the phone theft was a mistake. The 33-year-old told police he had just gone into the store to use the ATM and that he had a job and didn’t need to steal.

All three were arrested, in part because of identification from a witness. They’re all being held for investigation of robbery and due back in court tomorrow afternoon, by which time we might find out about charges; the 33- and 30-year-old suspects’ bail is set at $10,000, while the 29-year-old is being held in lieu of $7,500 bail.

(SIDE NOTE: We have not yet been able to obtain the report on another incident at the same location, a man found outside the store early Sunday with gunshot wounds, but will continue trying tomorrow.)

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FOLLOWUP: SW Thistle stairway’s future, and past

December 27, 2016 2:29 pm

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| Fauntleroy | Transportation | West Seattle news

Last week, we reported on SDOT’s online survey looking ahead to 2017 work on the much-used SW Thistle stairway east of Lincoln Park, and nine other stairways around the city. That led to a variety of questions, and today we have answers, thanks to a comment from, and followup e-mail exchanges with, project manager Greg Funk. First:

Funk sent those photos in response to our question about when it was built. While he hasn’t found the exact date, he says records show that it “was approved in May 1945” and that the photos show “the stairway was close to being done in February 1948.”

He also notes that the Thistle stairway includes historical materials: “The stairway is constructed of concrete slabs that used to be the base for the old streetcar, and the R/R tracks were cut up into sections for the rail posts and painted white. The slabs are stacked on top of each other with a brick spacer to give a roughly 6-7 inch rise.”

Since Funk’s comment mentions what sounds like extensive work – “The stairs will be updated so there will be more consistent run rise and upgraded rail on both sides” – we asked what will happen to those historical materials: “If we can, we will build over the existing stairway – it saves on disposal cost, and that’s the plan for this location. Old rail will be cut and scrapped.” (No lighting changes, he says, in case you were wondering.)

As for the project timeline and duration: “It will be closed for about 2-3 months; we have not set a date, but we want to try and be done before summer kicks in, as this is a heavily used stairway.” (Among those who use it – the project manager himself.)

P.S. He says that next year, they’ll get word out earlier about the stairway-work list for 2018 – you should see that list by next March. And if you haven’t responded to the stairway survey for 2017, it remains open through Friday.

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FOLLOWUP: South Vashon ferry route not expected back in service until Friday

December 27, 2016 1:56 pm

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| Transportation | West Seattle news

The Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth route will remain the only way to get to and from Vashon Island until Friday, according to the newest update from Washington State Ferries on the aftermath of the Christmas Eve incident that took the other Vashon route out of service:

The Point Defiance/Tahlequah route remains out of service through the morning of Friday, December 30 due to ongoing dock repair at the Point Defiance terminal. The damage to the dock occurred when the captain of the M/V Chetzemoka suffered a major medical emergency as the vessel was preparing to depart the Point Defiance ferry dock. The captain collapsed and hit the control panel as he fell, causing the vessel to break away from the dock and damage the dock apron (the articulated ramp at the end of the dock). No passengers on the Chetzemoka were injured, and the captain of the Chetzemoka is expected to make a full recovery. However, the damage to the dock is significant, and as a result, the Point Defiance/Tahlequah route is expected to remain out of service until December 30 while crews work around the clock to repair the apron.

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WEST SEATTLE NEW YEAR’S EVE: End the year at a party with a purpose

December 27, 2016 1:17 pm

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| Holidays | West Seattle news

Still making your plans for New Year’s Eve on Saturday night? From the WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide, here’s a party with a purpose:

“Exceptional artists and hilarious comics” are promised at The Skylark‘s big New Year’s Eve event, presented by RocksAnn Promotions, raising money for local musician Rachelle DeBelle‘s medical bills as she fights cervical cancer. It’s all ages 3-10 pm, and then a 21+ dance party. $10 suggested donation. Skylark is at 3803 Delridge Way SW.

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Redevelopment proposals at 7716 Delridge Way, 5015-5017 Fauntleroy Way

December 27, 2016 10:55 am

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| Delridge | Development | West Seattle news

While the bigger development projects get more attention (like the new Triangle proposal we discovered last week), more of the day-in, day-out proposals in city files are like these two:

7716 DELRIDGE WAY SW: From today’s city-circulated Land Use Information Bulletin, the 65-year-old house below is proposed to be replaced with six homes – four single-family houses and a two-unit townhouse building.

(Photos via King County Assessor’s Office)

County records show the house’s 9,500-square-foot site is on the books as three lots, zoned Lowrise 1. The notice published today is formal announcement of your chance to comment on the application (here’s how) – deadline January 9th.

5015-5017 FAUNTLEROY WAY SW: These addresses are on one 8,200-square-foot lot zoned Lowrise 1, according to county records, currently housing a 67-year-old duplex to be replaced by seven 3-story homes:

The proposals for both sites are shown on the “site plan” in city files as a four-unit rowhouse building facing Fauntleroy, and three single-family houses behind it. The formal application is not on file yet – these are early-stage proposals.

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West Seattle Tuesday: Library Legos; orca vigil; Tool Library; Get Fit!

December 27, 2016 9:40 am

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| West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

If you’re off today, take some time to enjoy our area’s beauty – the snowcapped Olympics made an appearance this morning, and while it looks like clouds are creeping back over the peaks, at least we have James Bratsanos‘s photos capturing the view!

Meantime – highlights from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:

LEGO SPACE WARS @ THE LIBRARY: 2-4 pm, as previewed here yesterday, kids are invited to Southwest Library to build spaceships (and more) with Legos! Free; no registration required. (35th SW/SW Henderson)

CANDLELIGHT VIGIL FOR THE ORCAS: 4:45 pm, meet at Alki Statue of Liberty Plaza to remember and honor the Southern Resident Killer Whales lost this year. (61st SW/Alki Avenue SW)

WEST SEATTLE TOOL LIBRARY: Get ready for a project you’re planning in the New Year! Visit the Tool Library tonight, 5-8 pm on the northeast side of Youngstown Cultural Arts Center. (4408 Delridge Way SW)

GET FIT, WEST SEATTLE! INFO NIGHT: 6:30 pm at West Seattle Runner (WSB sponsor), come find out about the couch-to-half-marathon training program for beginners, with its next session starting early in the New Year. (2743 California SW)

Nothing from the WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide for today/tonight, but it has a growing section of New Year’s Eve/Day events – if yours isn’t there, let us know ASAP via editor@westseattleblog.com so we can add it – thanks!

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TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Post-holiday Tuesday

December 27, 2016 7:07 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)

7:02 AM: Good morning. While transit schedules are back to normal today, Metro has sent word – after the fact – of one West Seattle trip that didn’t happen:

Transit Alert – Route 37 to downtown Seattle due to leave SW Alaska St & 35 Av SW at 6:46 AM did not operate this morning.

— King County Metro (@kcmetrobus) December 27, 2016

Washington State Ferries’ south Vashon run (Tahlequah-Point Defiance) is still out of service, so Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth will likely be seeing heavier usage again today.

On the roads – no problems reported so far this morning.

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