West Seattle, Washington

20 Monday

46℉

month : 04/2017 316 results

West Seattle Tuesday: Admiral and Fauntleroy community involvement + math, music, more
April 11, 2017 9:54 am
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

Thanks to Sonya for that rainbow-and-more view, as part of a panorama from the Seattle Chinese Garden on Puget Ridge, shared via the West Seattle Blog Flickr group (almost 6,000 photos!). As with most photos published on WSB, you can click it to see a larger version. Meantime – here are highlights of what’s ahead for today/tonight:

HOLY WEEK SERVICES AND EVENTS: See what’s on our West Seattle list for today/tonight/beyond by going here.

JUSTIN KAUSAL-HAYES: 5-8 pm, live music at Salty’s on Alki (WSB sponsor). No cover. Happy-hour specials are available until 6. (1936 Harbor SW)

KIDS’ CAFE MEALS PROGRAM: Free meals for anyone 18 and under, no paperwork/eligibility required. 3:30-4 pm at High Point Library (35th SW/SW Raymond), 4-4:30 pm at South Park Library (8604 8th Ave. S.)

MATH BUDDIES: 4-5 pm at West Seattle (Admiral) Library, drop-in program for kids K-5 to play math games with a high-school “buddy.” (2306 42nd SW)

DROP-IN CHESS: 4:30-5:30 pm at High Point Library, for kids and teens, all skill levels. Chess sets and guidance from an adult coach are available. (35th SW/SW Raymond)

ADMIRAL NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION: 7 pm, The Sanctuary at Admiral. As previewed here, tonight’s discussions include light rail and the Chelan CSO project. (42nd SW/SW Lander)

FAUNTLEROY COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION: 7 pm, board meeting (but public is welcome) at Fauntleroy Schoolhouse. Agenda includes SPD, ferries, parking, the upcoming Fauntleroy Fall Festival fundraiser at Endolyne Joe’s (WSB sponsor) on May 5th, the Schoolhouse Centennial coming up May 21st, and more. (9131 California SW)

Got something to announce to the community via the WSB calendar? Please send the information in plain text in the body of your e-mail – not as a document or image – as far in advance as you can, to editor@westseattleblog.com – thank you!

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Remembering Shirley Ann Shepard, 1931-2017
April 11, 2017 8:50 am
|      7 COMMENTS
 |   Obituaries | West Seattle news

Family and friends have said goodbye to Shirley Ann Shepard, and are sharing this remembrance with her community:

Shirley Ann (Leach) Shepard, 85, of West Seattle, passed away peacefully at home on March 31st, 2017. Born in Thief River Falls, Minnesota, on November 5th, 1931, Shirley moved to Seattle in 1952. Shirley’s caring presence touched the lives of many while working at the Admiral Way Safeway Store. After her retirement in 1997, Shirley continued playing bingo, enjoyed watching golf, reading, crossword puzzles, playing cards, and cooking for her family and friends. She was a beautiful woman, wonderful Mother who everyone gravitated toward.

As a young girl growing up in the Midwest, Shirley enjoyed many things. Some of her fondest memories were from living in Grafton, North Dakota, 1935-1945, and Fargo, 1945-1952.

Shirley would talk of her Mother’s cooking and how she never used a cookbook. The smell of her fresh-baked bread and her stew was the best. Memories of learning to drive Harold’s Buick, ice skating on the Red River, sledding and cross-country skiing – with snow being abundant, the best part of all, everything was free!

Living in Fargo, Shirley went to school at St. Anthony’s, Agazzi Middle School, and Fargo High School. While attending school she had several different jobs – Piggly Wiggly, Red Owl, and Dutch Maid, just to name a few.

Our Mom – Shirley, we were so blessed to have one the most wonderful women on this earth as our mother.

Not only was she a mother of four, Shirley was a second mom to so many people outside our family. Shirley treated everyone she met with kindness and compassion, and touched the hearts of those around her. Everyone was invited into her home, and there was always an extra helping to give. Her door was always open to anyone who needed help. She took in friends in time of need with no questions asked – just her generosity, love, and support to give. She handled the issues at home with love and understanding, never in anger, and would always give comfort while teaching a good lesson learned.

To say she was organized would be an understatement. Her home was spotless at all times, meticulously cleaned and arranged to perfection. She instilled that same trait into most of us.

At work, Shirley kept the same standards; she took care of every customer like the ultimate caregiver she was. Shirley served as the Safeway Employees Association (SEA) president for years, organizing functions and meetings for her beloved Safeway family.

As a mom, she always put her children first; even in tough times, she had money for bowling, golf rounds or a trip to the hobby shop to race, Legos, Barbie dolls for girls, and the latest 45 records.

At home, there was always a treat baked (crazy cake, cookies), Jello in the fridge, and a candy drawer fully stocked. She made sure our favorite treat was in ready supply. The neighbor kids and friends would come over and make a beeline to the candy drawer to see what treat awaited them.

Shirley was the taxi service for the boys and their teammates, taking them to baseball games or practice, to the bowling center for Saturday-morning league, and all the other sporting events or functions. She loved to play cards with the family – gin rummy, pinochle, cribbage or Skip-Bo, just to name a few. Trips to Birch Bay were a summertime ritual for the family, her favorite vacation destination to gather with our friends. Shirley didn’t mind sitting in on the occasional poker game with her sons when she came home from work, and she always won even if she wasn’t trying to. Shirley was blessed that way.

Shirley loved to give, always having time for her neighbors at her home and the apartment building which she called home for 15 years. Shirley enjoyed fixing extra meals or sending care packages to her neighbors. Shirley had so much fun with her friends on the senior bus trips to the casinos. She loved Keno and Copper Dropper!

Shirley enjoyed music. The Bee Gees were her favorite. To stay current with her children’s music tastes, she would watch MTV back in the ’80s. Later in life, she loved to watch golf and follow her favorite players. Tiger Woods and Fred Couples were at the top of the list.

Shirley would start her day with a pot of Yuban coffee, Columbo, and Matlock. She also enjoyed working her word search puzzles while she watched all the Hallmark shows, Turner Classic Movies, and various shows on Food Network. The simple things in life was all she needed to enjoy each and every day.

On her last day, we were all there to share in her passing. Hand-in-hand and in prayer, she was taken to the heavens, to share her love with family and friends who have preceded her. We couldn’t have hoped for a more beautiful passage.

We, her children, have a tough task ahead following in our mother’s footsteps, raising the bar of humanity to the highest standards. We will do our best to honor her every day, by the example she set – KINDNESS, CARING, LOVING, COMPASSION, AND, GIVING.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Harold and Emma Leach. Shirley is survived by her children Mike (Sue), Pat, Carolyn, and Deanna (Terry); brother Veron Useldinger; sister Joyce Rivinius; and brother Marvin Leach. She is also survived by three grandchildren and one great-grandchild. At her request, a small private memorial and dinner gathering was held April 9th, 2017. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to www.alivingtribute.org: Your plant-a-tree gift in memory of Shirley Shepard will support reforestation efforts in the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest. Condolences may be made at her online obituary.

(WSB publishes West Seattle obituaries by request, free of charge. Please e-mail the text, and a photo if available, to editor@westseattleblog.com)

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TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Rain-free Tuesday
April 11, 2017 6:56 am
|    Comments Off on TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Rain-free Tuesday
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

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

6:56 AM: Good morning. No incidents right now in/from West Seattle.

OF NOTE: Seattle Public Schools, and some independent schools, continue on spring break … The Mariners‘ first home stand continues, with a 7:10 pm game vs. Houston.

ALSO: As reported here last night, the city says it will start clearing the beneath-the-bridge RV camp near Spokane/Marginal today, so be aware of that if you ride/drive through that area.

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PHOTOS: Somewhere under the rainbow
April 10, 2017 10:16 pm
|      5 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle weather

Thanks for all the rainbow photos! At the end of an afternoon that toggled between sun and rain, with thunder along the way, it was a beautiful sight from many angles. The top photo is by Andria Hoover, who explained, “We just happened to be driving by Belvedere Park when we saw this full rainbow. It was only there for a few mins, but was beautiful!!”

From some places, the full double rainbow was visible – Judah Stevenson sent the photo above, saying, “Can’t say I’ve ever seen such a distinct perfect rainbow. The photo was taken from Avalon area looking east.”

The Elliott Bay view above is from Tiff Rivera. And this next one is from Tammi Doyle, west of The Junction:

Finally, a view from the low bridge, over the Duwamish, tweeted by Russ Walker:

Tuesday’s forecast suggests sunshine!

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BIZNOTE: Another health-care provider is West Seattle Junction-bound
April 10, 2017 9:14 pm
|      14 COMMENTS
 |   Health | West Seattle news


Thanks to Stephanie for the tip – she got a partial glimpse of window wrap on the former MoneyTree storefront at 4000 SW Alaska late today and wondered what it was. We went over a short time ago for a look: It’s going to be ZOOM+Care, an urgent-care-and-more chain with locations in Washington and Oregon. Last August, we had word of a similar chain, CityMD, coming to The Whittaker (WSB sponsor) later this year.

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FOLLOWUP: RV clearing under West Seattle Bridge to start Tuesday, city says
April 10, 2017 7:37 pm
|      31 COMMENTS
 |   Safety | West Seattle news


(WSB photo from last Thursday morning)

Four days after the fire that burned those RVs along SW Spokane Street west of East Marginal, the city says its operation to clear out RV campers beneath the bridge will start tomorrow. The accelerated clearing was announced that same day (and by Friday, the burned RVs already had been taken away), and this evening, the timeline was published as part of a long online update, which starts with backstory and then gets to the heart of what happens next, where, and when:

… The City is addressing the immediate hazard where the RV fire occurred last week, clearing that area of any RVs, vehicles, tents and other materials. SDOT has set a perimeter that encompasses the median along Spokane Street, from under the base of the West Seattle Bridge to Colorado Street on the east [map], that must be cleared. That area will then be fenced off to allow SDOT and Seattle City Light to perform repairs and maintenance, including following up on necessary lighting system repairs.

On Friday, April 7, the City provided notice to individuals who were on site that clearing of the area within the perimeter described above would begin on Tuesday, April 11. Recognizing the large number of RVs and other vehicles present, many of which are not operational, the City expects this effort will take several days, possibly into next week. The Navigation Team has also been offering services and alternative shelter to these individuals, outreach that will continue as long as necessary.

Additionally, on Friday the City began notifying RVs and vehicles parked all along the median under the Spokane Street viaduct to the east of the perimeter at Colorado Street that the City will be focusing enforcement of the 72-hour parking law. SPD is assisting with notification and will be leading that enforcement effort as the Navigation Team focuses its outreach efforts on people living in tents in that area.

We got notification of this update too late to ask followup questions such as where the inoperable RVs will be taken to, but will pursue the answers tomorrow. This all is happening a little over two weeks after the city started paying attention to the area, following an attack on a woman bicycling home from her job in West Seattle; days later, tent campers encroaching on the path were cleared, and a trash cleanup began in the RV area nearby. At that time, the city said it was working on “a plan” for the RV camp, but there was no timeline until the aftermath of last week’s fire.

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ROAD WORK ALERT UPDATE: Surface Spokane St. paving east of ‘low bridge’ postponed
April 10, 2017 5:24 pm
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

ORIGINAL REPORT, 5:24 PM MONDAY: Just in from SDOT:

Contractors working for the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) will be replacing several short segments of pavement on the SW Spokane St corridor on Harbor Island this coming Wednesday, April 12 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The segment of 11th Ave SW just south of SW Spokane St (and north of Klickitat Ave SW) will be closed for paving [map].

Detour information:

Westbound traffic onto Harbor Island will not be impacted. Traffic leaving Harbor Island westbound to West Seattle will need to detour east off Harbor Island to under the Alaskan Way Viaduct for a turnaround on surface Spokane St, to return westward.

In addition, several small spot repairs will take place on Klickitat Ave SW, just west of the driveway into the office park on the south side of the street. These repairs will not require any detour.

UPDATED 12:05 PM TUESDAY: SDOT says it’s postponing this work until next week because rain is expected tomorrow.

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CLOSURE: Delridge Community Center shut down all week
April 10, 2017 4:40 pm
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   Delridge | West Seattle news | West Seattle parks


(Delridge Community Center file photo from seattle.gov)

4:40 PM: Heads up if you use Delridge Community Center – it’s closed through Friday, according to Seattle Parks, which says the closure is for “routine maintenance.” But the center is scheduled to reopen by Saturday, when its annual egg hunt is set for 10 am. (Here’s our list of all this week’s egg hunts, services, and other seasonal activities!)

ADDED MONDAY NIGHT: Delridge CC’s Angie Ramirez tells WSB that the maintenance includes refinishing of the center’s hardwood floors in the gym and multipurpose room, and “other deep cleaning of the center.”

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FOLLOWUP: State cites contractors for West Seattle Junction project crane/power-line incident that sent 2 to hospital
April 10, 2017 2:42 pm
|      6 COMMENTS
 |   Safety | West Seattle news

image
(WSB photo from emergency response on September 26, 2016)

Six months ago, we reported on a construction-related electrical incident in The Junction that sent two workers to the hospital. Today, the state Department of Labor and Industries announced that its investigation into what happened at the 4505 42nd SW construction site has led to citations:

Two King County contractors face large fines from the Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) for safety violations after a crane boom made contact with high-voltage power lines at a construction site in Seattle. Two workers were severely injured during the incident when 7,200 volts of electrical current traveled down the crane’s hoist line to the men working below the power lines.

As a result, Marpac Construction, of Seattle, has been cited for six workplace safety violations, including three “willful,” and fined $133,500. A subcontractor, Spartan Concrete of Kirkland, faces five violations, including two “willful,” and $90,000 in fines. Also, Shaffer Crane & Equipment Inc., another subcontractor, was cited for three serious and one general violations with a total fine of $5,700.

The investigation began last September when news outlets reported that two workers had been taken to Harborview Medical Center after suffering severe electrical burns.

L&I investigators at the site found that a mobile crane and a forklift with a crane-boom attachment had been operating under live high-voltage power lines. The power lines were scheduled to be moved underground, but rather than wait for that work to be done, the companies continued to work under them.

A Shaffer Crane employee was operating the crane and a Spartan foreman was giving signals when the incident happened. Seven workers were put at risk by being exposed to the potentially deadly electrical shock.

crane1
(WSB photo, September 26, 2016)

Cranes and power lines a known hazard

The danger from a crane contacting overhead power lines is well-known. From 1999-2012, there were nine deaths in Washington from crane contacts with power lines, including a double fatality in 2010.

In 2012, L&I issued an alert to warn companies of the deadly hazard after receiving reports of six power line contacts by cranes over six months.

Companies operating cranes must make sure that all power line requirements are implemented. That includes putting protective measures in place to prevent crane booms from contacting energized power lines, designating a qualified “lift director” to ensure the safe operation of the crane, and maintaining a safe radius from power lines.

Willful, serious and general violations
The willful citations are for not ensuring that protective measures were in place and for not prohibiting work below energized power lines. Marpac was cited for an additional willful violation for not designating a qualified “lift director” who was aware of the voltages of the power line and the safety requirements for working around them. The investigation found that Marpac’s lift director was not aware of the voltages involved or the specific safety requirements.

Marpac was also cited for three serious violations related to inadequate training and for not ensuring an effective accident prevention plan, with penalties totaling $7,500.

The investigation found that Spartan’s employees were not trained or aware of the danger of working under power lines. Consequently, the concrete company was cited for two serious safety violations and fined $6,000 for not ensuring that employees clearly understood the hazards of overhead power lines and for lack of training and supervision. Spartan was also cited for one general violation for not holding and documenting walk-around safety inspections at the beginning of the job and weekly.

A willful violation is one where L&I finds evidence of plain indifference or an intentional disregard to a hazard or rule. A serious violation is one where there is a substantial probability that worker death or serious physical harm could result from a hazardous condition.

As a result of the violations and the severity of the injuries, both Marpac Construction and Spartan Concrete have been identified as severe violators and are subject to follow-up inspections to determine if the conditions still exist.

Marpac and Shaffer have appealed the citation, and the appeals are pending. Spartan has until April 14 to appeal. Penalty money paid in connection with a citation is placed in the workers’ compensation supplemental pension fund, helping workers and families of those who have died on the job.

We don’t know how the workers are doing now – we’ve never even had their names – but when we followed up three days after the incident (noting that the state investigation was under way), they both had improved, to satisfactory and serious condition.

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UPDATE: About the aircraft noise = Mariners’ home-opener flyover
April 10, 2017 1:32 pm
|      43 COMMENTS
 |   Seen around town | West Seattle news

1:32 PM: We’re getting a flurry of questions about loud jets. Checked the flight tracker – they’re all commercial jets, to/from Sea-Tac Airport. So we’ll be checking with the airport next to see if anything unusual’s happening – might just be an abrupt weather change – we’ll update if we find out more.

1:36 PM: A caller points out there are military jets in the area too. Still checking.

1:40 PM: Sorry we hadn’t heard about this in advance: Military flyover for the Mariners‘ home opener (which has the odd start time of 2:10 pm, as we noted in today’s morning traffic report). That would tend to divert commercial traffic for a while, as when the Blue Angels are flying, for example.

2:27 PM: Mariners spokesperson Rebecca Hale replies, “We did inform media this morning of the possibility of the fly-over. As it was weather dependent, we weren’t sure it was going to happen until the last minute.” Of the many media lists WSB is on, somehow we weren’t on the M’s list, but we’re fixing that.

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New schedule, new look: West Seattle Water Taxi vessel Doc Maynard sports ‘rebranding’
April 10, 2017 1:21 pm
|      7 COMMENTS
 |   King County Water Taxi | West Seattle news


(Photos courtesy King County Department of Transportation)

1:21 PM: As noted earlier, today marks the start of the all-day, 7-days-a-week schedule for the West Seattle Water Taxi. And it marks the debut of the new Water Taxi system logo on MV Doc Maynard. We first told you on April 1st about the impending rebranding of the Water Taxi, after it appeared on at least one shuttle bus. At the time, King County was planning an announcement for last Monday, but it was postponed until today. We’ve just received photos and background info from KC Department of Transportation spokesperson Scott Gutierrez:

The Doc Maynard is now sporting the new Water Taxi logo.

The Water Taxi program logo was carefully thought out to be simple, unique and bold. It is designed in a manner that depicts the shape of the Water Taxi vessel. The logo features various elements that are signature to our service:

· Sun and Water – the program brand mark is a conceptual, dual-purpose graphic depicting the Water Taxi and the sun over water. It represents speed, reliability and the Seattle waterscape.

· Speed and Agility – the sleek flavor reflects the design of the Water Taxi’s two catamarans, the MV Sally Fox and MV Doc Maynard.

· Landscape – a reflection of the rider experience on the Water Taxi, whether the destination is Downtown Seattle, West Seattle or Vashon Island.

Last winter, King County DOT — led by graphic designer Amy Sanders — developed new branding for the Water Taxi. This entirely in-house effort — buoyed by support from talented Metro and Department of Natural Resource and Parks graphic designers — showcases a new logo and program mark. The Water Taxi saved some $35,000 by not hiring a consultant and instead relying on in-house talent to develop and design the new branding.

Riders will also notice new branding on the Water Taxi’s printed schedules and website. Riders will begin seeing the new look on the uniforms of our dedicated crew members later this month.

We have a followup question out on what the total cost was/will be, with the savings mentioned above – as noted in our April 1st report, this year’s county budget had included $144,000 for the first rebranding since 2009, when the Water Taxi was part of a no-longer-separate KC Ferry District.

7:06 PM: Gutierrez says the cost breakdown should be available tomorrow. He adds that the Vashon Water Taxi vessel, MV Sally Fox, is expected to get the “rebranding” look next weekend, weather permitting.

ADDED TUESDAY AFTERNOON: As promised, the cost info, from spokesperson Gutierrez:

The actual cost is about $50,000 for the vessel and shuttle rebranding, marketing materials, uniforms, and facility signage. That is below the total $144,000 that Marine Division was budgeted for rebranding over the biennium. We estimate saving about $35,000 alone by not hiring outside consultants and designers, and instead relying on in-house employees to develop and design the new branding. Other savings were mostly a result of the vessel work (vinyl decal/wrapping) and new uniforms coming in below budget.

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‘Rock the House’: West Seattle event April 27 for ‘all who support a dementia-friendly community’
April 10, 2017 12:32 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   Fun stuff to do | West Seattle news | West Seattle people

Are you dealing with memory loss – or related to/friends with someone who is? You’ll want to plan to be at this social gathering in West Seattle later this month:

People with memory loss, their family and friends, and all who support a dementia-friendly community are invited to attend a fun social gathering called “Rock the House.” Organized by local business owners, organizations, and neighbors, the event takes place from 3 – 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 27, at Shadowland in the West Seattle Junction.

Along with a chance to enjoy food, drinks, and good company, the event features MC Brent Amaker (of Brent Amaker and The Rodeo) and live music by Jay Cates (of The Bend). Happy-hour menu will be available. Event is free other than the cost of menu items ordered.

“I’m excited about this because I love to get people together, especially people in different situations,” says Frances Smersh [WSB photo at right], who helped plan the event. “It’s a wonderful opportunity to engage people and have a great time. And music is always good for the heart and the soul!”

Frances was diagnosed with dementia in 2015 at the age of 48. Since then, she and her husband John, the owners of Click! Design That Fits, have openly shared her diagnosis with the West Seattle community.

“It was important for me to share the news about my diagnosis,” says Frances, “because I knew I couldn’t hide from it, and I don’t think it does anyone any good to try to hide. Remaining engaged in the community is important to me personally, and it seems to be one of the best things for people dealing with memory loss.”

With over 100,000 Washingtonians, and over 5 million Americans, living with Alzheimer’s disease or other dementias, Frances is certainly not alone. However, it can be easy for people with dementia to feel socially isolated. Although they remain vital members of the community, social stigma and other barriers can prevent them from staying involved and engaged.

In this context, a local movement called Momentia is empowering people with memory loss and their loved ones to stay connected and active in their communities. People and organizations are coming together to produce “dementia-friendly” opportunities in popular public spaces – like walking groups at Woodland Park Zoo, art gallery tours at the Frye Art Museum, and service projects at the Cherry Street Food Bank. (Learn more at momentiaseattle.org)

“For too long, a dementia diagnosis has meant fear, shame and isolation,” states Marigrace Becker, Program Manager for Community Education and Impact at the UW Medicine Memory & Brain Wellness Center. “People with memory loss and their loved ones deserve to stay engaged in their communities – and by working together, we can make that happen.”

Here in West Seattle, Momentia is taking off. In the fall, a group of organizations and neighbors involved in the Momentia movement hosted a community meeting for people with memory loss and their loved ones to develop their own dementia-friendly programs, making use of favorite West Seattle venues.

As a result, several new programs are in the works. In the new year, Providence Mount St. Vincent began opening up their drum circle to others living with dementia in the wider West Seattle community. Seattle Parks and Recreation, the Senior Center of West Seattle, and others are offering a 4-week creative arts and storytelling workshop for people with dementia and their loved ones.

And now, the Momentia group of West Seattle is proud to announce “Rock the House.” Whether you have dementia, love someone with dementia, or want to meet others who support a dementia-friendly community, you are invited to attend.

The event is offered in partnership by Shadowland, Click! Design That Fits, the Senior Center of West Seattle, Full Life Care, Seattle Parks and Recreation, and Providence Mount St. Vincent.

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BIZNOTE: El Chupacabra expanding Alki space
April 10, 2017 11:08 am
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle restaurants | WS beverages

Some weeks after Thailanding on Alki quietly closed, its signage and blue paint are gone, and a building-permit application confirms a reader tip that El Chupacabra is expanding into that upstairs space at 2620 Alki SW. We asked proprietor Aaron Wright for details:

We are excited to be expanding the Chupacabra into the upstairs soon. The plan is to add another full bar upstairs with additional seating for 29 inside and 15 on the upper patio. We will be using the upstairs for overflow seating for the summer months. For the winters we will be using the space for private parties and events. The current plan is to add a covered pergola and gas heating to the upper patio for outside dining on the cooler days.

No date for completion yet – Wright says that “the permit process is taking longer than expected” which seems to be the case for just about every commercial project these days – but he’s hoping to be ready “by early summer, June-ish.” It’s been six years now since the Alki location opened – the second El Chupacabra, after Greenwood – and Wright added a third location at South Lake Union in 2015.

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6 options for your West Seattle Monday
April 10, 2017 9:36 am
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous


(Cherry blossoms at 12th/Trenton in Highland Park, photographed by Long Bach Nguyen)

From the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar and Easter & More list:

WALK THE LABYRINTH AT TIBBETTS UMC: Now through 2 pm, the rainbow labyrinth at Tibbetts United Methodist Church (WSB sponsor) is open for contemplative walking. (Enter through north alley door between 40th and 41st)

SPRING BREAK MOVIE: 1 pm, watch “Up” at Southwest Library, free, snacks provided too. (35th SW/SW Henderson)

FREE TAX HELP: The deadline’s getting closer; free tax help is available on a drop-in basis today at Delridge Library, 2-7 pm. (5423 Delridge Way SW)

HELP OUT AT THE COMMUNITY ORCHARD: 3-5 pm is the weekly meetup/work party at the Community Orchard of West Seattle – all welcome to come learn about, and show some love for, the orchard, which is on the South Seattle College (WSB sponsor) campus’s north end. (6000 16th SW)

FREE MEALS FOR KIDS: 3:30-4 pm Mondays-Thursdays, youth 18 and under can get free meals at the High Point and South Park Libraries, no eligibility requirements and no questions asked. (35th SW/SW Raymond, 8604 8th Ave. S.)

FAMILY STORY TIME: 6:30 pm at High Point Library. (35th SW/SW Raymond)

AND THERE’S MORE … especially at the libraries! See the complete list on our full calendar.

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TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Monday watch, with spring break, Mariners, more
April 10, 2017 6:39 am
|    Comments Off on TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Monday watch, with spring break, Mariners, more
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

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

6:39 AM: Good morning! No incidents in/from West Seattle so far. Here’s what you need to know as this week gets going:

SPRING BREAK … is happening this week for many local schools, including Seattle Public Schools, Vashon Island public schools, and some secular independent schools.

WEST SEATTLE WATER TAXI … is now on its spring/summer schedule, with all-day, every-day service – see the schedule here.

SEATTLE MARINERS’ HOME OPENER … is at 2:10 pm today, so the stadium zone will be busy from noontime into the evening commute.

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CRIME WATCH: Convicted child-killer charged with rape, bail set at $1 million
April 9, 2017 9:27 pm
|      33 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | West Seattle news

A convicted child-killer is in jail in lieu of a million dollars bail, charged with raping a woman who was incapacitated because of an untreated injury, and court documents say it happened in February in West Seattle.

The suspect is 40-year-old Chayce A. Hanson, convicted of killing his girlfriend’s 2-year-old daughter, Nenah Walters, in 2000, by kicking her down a flight of stairs. In 2001, he was sentenced to 25 years in prison. Five years later, a Supreme Court ruling led to a lesser conviction and shorter sentence.

Hanson was booked into the King County Jail Friday night, eight days after the filing of a second-degree rape charge in an incident that court documents say happened February 1st-2nd in West Seattle. The case was first reported by The Seattle Times; we learned of it when a reader sent us the link, and we subsequently obtained the court documents. Read More

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UPDATE: Motorcyclist injured by hit-run driver in Highland Park
April 9, 2017 8:12 pm
|      9 COMMENTS
 |   Highland Park | West Seattle news | WS breaking news

8:12 PM: Seattle Fire and Police are on their way to a crash reported to have injured a motorcycle rider in the 900 block of SW Holden, west of Highland Park Way [map]. Dispatch radio indicates this was reported as a hit-run with a driver having left the scene. More as we get it.

8:17 PM: The crash is now described as closer to 11th SW/Holden, blocking eastbound Holden in that area, and a private ambulance is being dispatched, suggesting non-life-threatening injuries.

8:29 PM: Police at the scene confirm that the rider, described only as male, is being taken to the hospital by an AMR ambulance, and that they are looking for a hit-run driver in connection with the crash. No description so far.

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MONDAY: West Seattle Water Taxi’s all-day, 7-day-a-week schedule resumes
April 9, 2017 7:02 pm
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 |   King County Water Taxi | West Seattle news


(WSB photo from last month: West Seattle Water Taxi vessel Doc Maynard)

If you’ve missed the reminders in our weekday traffic coverage – tomorrow (Monday, April 10th) brings the annual return of the West Seattle Water Taxi‘s all-day, 7-days-a-week schedule. In the offseason, the service runs weekdays only, am and pm commute periods only, with no extended service for evening sports events, but starting tomorrow, that all changes. The spring-summer schedule includes later evening runs on Fridays and Saturdays. You can preview it at the bottom of this page.

P.S. The free Water Taxi shuttle buses expand service tomorrow to match the boat schedules, too.

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@ Southwest District Council: Project previews, plus crime trends
April 9, 2017 3:44 pm
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   Southwest District Council | Transportation | West Seattle news

By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

One final community meeting to recap from this past week – here’s what happened as the Southwest District Council discussed three transportation-related projects – including issues such as Fauntleroy Boulevard construction vs. Sound Transit 3 planning – and received a crime-trends update.

NEIGHBORHOOD STREET FUND PROJECTS: SDOT outreach lead Natalie Graves said she was there to “take feedback” as the project leads weren’t available. West Seattle’s projects were two of 12 chosen for funding in this round of the every-three-years Neighborhood Street Fund proposal/selection/construction process.

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TUESDAY: Light rail, combined-sewer-overflow project on Admiral Neighborhood Association agenda
April 9, 2017 1:09 pm
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 |   Neighborhoods | West Seattle news

Tuesday night (April 11th) brings the next meeting of the Admiral Neighborhood Association, and president Larry Wymer has announced that three topics are at the heart of the agenda:

*Light rail: What’s happened since the Sound Transit 3 vote? Light-rail plans for West Seattle will be discussed with the advocacy group Seattle Subway.

*Chelan combined-sewer-overflow project: A 4-million-gallon storage tank needs to be built to prevent overflows into the Duwamish River near Terminal 5, though the site has not yet been chosen. A project rep from King County will be at the meeting.

*Also: “Residents living to the immediate southeast of the current ANA ‘Sphere of Influence’ area (as included within our by-laws) will present their proposal to the group for consideration of officially expanding our boundaries to include their neighborhood.”

ANA’s meeting will start at 7 pm Tuesday at The Sanctuary at Admiral (42nd/Lander), all welcome.

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BIZNOTE: Junction Day of Giving preceded by week of giving at VAIN
April 9, 2017 11:35 am
|      1 COMMENT
 |   How to help | West Seattle news

This year’s West Seattle Junction Day of Giving – with many businesses giving part of their proceeds to local nonprofits – is coming up in less than three weeks. For most, all you have to do is show up and shop that day. For salon/shop VAIN (4513 California SW), you also have the chance to make appointments now for an extra round of giving during the week before. Here’s the announcement:

As part of the Junction Day of Giving, VAIN will be donating 10% of retail sales on April 29th to the West Seattle Senior Center. We will have sales specials and gifts with purchase.

In addition, we have select haircut appointments available April 23-29th, with 100% of the service cost to be donated. For more information or to book an appointment please call VAIN at 206-535-2595 and request a haircut to support the Senior Center. Haircuts are available with the following stylists; Sam, Jason, Angie, Della, Ivy, Jessie, Ashlee, TT, Peyton, Misa, Nicola, and Janae. A style appointment is available with Zoe. Stylist profiles can be viewed at vain.com/stylists

VAIN loves the Senior Center and we are excited for this opportunity to lend our support to this important community resource!

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Remembering John Prentice, 1925-2017
April 9, 2017 9:00 am
|      1 COMMENT
 |   Obituaries | West Seattle news

A celebration of life is planned April 21st for John Prentice, whose family is sharing this remembrance with the community:

On the morning of March 30, 2017, John Prentice packed up his tools, grabbed his saxophone and a handful of tulips, and headed for greener pastures. John’s 91 years ended after a mercifully short battle with cancer, but he met every day to his last with humor, kindness, and curiosity.

John was one of 5 brothers born in Portland, OR, and upon early graduation from high school, enlisted in the Navy and served in WWII as a radioman on ships in the South Pacific. After his discharge, he graduated from Portland University with an engineering degree, was quickly hired by The Boeing Company, and moved to West Seattle to start his family.

He outlived two wives — Mary, who passed in 1986, and Ava, who passed in 2013 — but never lost his ready smile, his drive to understand the world around him, and his joy in sharing his knowledge with anyone willing to learn.

He is survived by his 3 children — John Jr., Mary, and Paul; 3 grandchildren — Brianna, Shandra, and Ian; and 2 great-grandchildren — Miles and Lucy.

A celebration of his life will be held in the Pigott Chapel at Providence Mount St. Vincent on Friday, April 21st at 1:00 pm. Remembrances can be made to The Providence Mount St. Vincent Foundation in West Seattle.

(WSB publishes West Seattle obituaries by request, free of charge. Please e-mail the text, and a photo if available, to editor@westseattleblog.com)

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West Seattle Sunday: Holy Week, anniversaries, art, music, and a traffic alert
April 9, 2017 6:25 am
|    Comments Off on West Seattle Sunday: Holy Week, anniversaries, art, music, and a traffic alert
 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous


(Winged Space Needle? Elliott Bay photo by Lynn Hall)

First, a traffic alert if you are using Highway 99 today:

SOUTHBOUND 99 CLOSURE: WSDOT is scheduled to close southbound Highway 99 for construction work between Valley Street (lower Queen Anne) and the south end of the Battery Street Tunnel, 7 am-5 pm today.

Now – what’s happening in West Seattle today; most of our highlights are from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:

PALM SUNDAY: Holy Week services for which we’ve received listings, today through Easter, are on our Easter & More page.

WALK THE LABYRINTH AT TIBBETTS: At Tibbetts United Methodist Church (WSB sponsor), “We will have our rainbow labyrinth up all during Holy Week as a place of meditation and centering. The Labyrinth is made of heavy canvas and we ask that walkers remove shoes before starting. We will have hand-held labyrinths available for those who are mobility challenged and music will play softly in the background. Tibbetts welcomes ALL to come walk the labyrinth during one of the open times.” Today’s open time is noon-2 pm. (Entry through Fellowship Hall doorway off 41st SW/SW Andover)

FRESH FLOURS TURNS 1: As previewed here, today is the first-anniversary celebration at Fresh Flours Bakery in South Delridge. Dollar-off drinks and free heart cookies. Open 7 am-4 pm. (9410 Delridge Way SW)

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

WEST SEATTLE RUNNER’S 7TH ANNIVERSARY: Third and final day of the anniversary celebration at West Seattle Runner (WSB sponsor), open 11 am-5 pm today, with free massage noon-2 pm. (2743 California SW)

AT C & P COFFEE: Brazilian music with Choro Tocando, 3-5 pm. (5612 California SW)

FREE CLASSICAL CONCERT: 3 pm at West Seattle (Admiral) Library, the Ladies Musical Club presents music for oboe, bassoon, and piano. Program details are in our calendar listing. (2306 42nd SW)

ARTISTS’ RECEPTION: 4-8 pm at Brace Point Pottery in Arbor Heights, it’s the Alki Arts “Old Home Week” exhibition reception – details in our calendar listing. (4208 SW 100th)

AT PARLIAMENT TAVERN: Cooking Churchill, Amy Denio. 7-10 pm: “A night of groove improv. Amy Denio of The Tiptons Sax Quartet opens.” 21+. No cover. (4210 SW Admiral Way)

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