day : 11/05/2017 14 results

We’ve heard from multiple people in the past hour who reported suspected gunfire east of Fairmount Park, near 36th/37th/Brandon. 911 is reported to have received multiple calls, and police were sent to investigate; we haven’t heard yet if they found evidence of gunfire – casings and/or property damage – but so far, no victims are reported. One person tells us a neighbor reported seeing gunfire exchanged between people in two cars.

FAUNTLEROY BOULEVARD: Potential light-rail-route conflict, and other questions asked at West Seattle Chamber of Commerce briefing

May 11, 2017 9:23 pm

| 7 COMMENTS

| Transportation | West Seattle news

(WSB photo: West Seattle C of C CEO Lynn Dennis, left; SDOT’s Fauntleroy Boulevard project manager Norene Pen, right)

By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

No new information emerged about the Fauntleroy Boulevard project at today’s West Seattle Chamber of Commerce lunch briefing, but Q&A did bring some concerns into sharper focus – particularly, whether Sound Transit light rail might go along this route and lead to the project zone being torn up a second time.

The city team acknowledged that’s possible – but not a reason to put this safety-and-beautification project on ice. We also checked with ST later in the day regarding the current level of collaboration. But first:

Today’s briefing in the lower-level community room at The Kenney began with an extensive recap of the project’s backstory and where it stands, including a reminder that it wasn’t city-originated, but rather community-originated, with discussions dating back to the turn of the millennium. (If you’re just tuning in, its route will be along Fauntleroy Way, from Alaska to 35th.)

The briefing slide deck was basically the same as what was presented to the Fauntleroy Way Business and Neighborhood Association at the West Seattle YMCA (WSB sponsor) on April 19th: Read More

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‘PNW VEG’: Kim O’Donnel’s cookbook launch at Click! Design That Fits

May 11, 2017 8:26 pm

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| West Seattle books | West Seattle news

Still some time to get over to Click! Design That Fits (WSB sponsor) in The Junction to meet West Seattle-residing, nationally acclaimed cookbook author and food educator Kim O’Donnel. Her newest book “PNW Veg” has just been published; she calls it her “edible love letter to the Pacific Northwest,” where she has lived for nine years. If you know that this is O’Donnel’s third book of vegetarian recipes – after “Meat Lover’s Meatless Celebrations” (2012) and “Meat Lover’s Meatless Cookbook” (2010) – you might guess she’s vegetarian. But you’d be wrong; she’s just living a “less meat” lifestyle. Until 9 pm, she’s at Click! (4540 California SW) signing books and offering tastes of highlights from “PNW Veg,” including desserts and potato/onion/stinging-nettle frittata as well as black bean and beet burgers.

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NEW CAMP: RVs leave SODO, move to east West Seattle lot next to ex-‘Nickelsville’

May 11, 2017 5:53 pm

| 38 COMMENTS

| Highland Park | West Seattle news

FIRST REPORT, 5:53 PM THURSDAY: Just yards from where the city almost set up an “RV safe lot” last year before scrapping the idea, an unofficial RV camp is taking shape right now. We just visited the site on the east end of the land twice inhabited by the tent camp that called itself “Nickelsville,” after finding out about the RVs’ move via e-mail sent to us and other media outlets. That e-mail said that the RVs headed this way after “Seattle Police provided a 3-day notice to random RVs [in industrial areas of SODO] that their RVs and vehicles – and personal belongings inside them – would be towed and impounded today, 5/11/17.”

The site is state-owned; we counted about 10 RVs during our short visit to find out what was happening. A camper named Rebecca told us more are expected, and that police and state troopers were at the site earlier. The vehicles are parked just inside a gate off 2nd Avenue SW, between Highland Park Way SW and W. Marginal Way SW (south of the marker on this map).

The city’s proposed “safe lot” – a plan officially scrapped in March 2016 – would have been to the west along West Marginal, on a paved lot adjacent to the city-owned encampment site that was cleared three years ago. The announcement of the new unofficial camp notes, “The City of Seattle’s 2016 plan to assist homeless people living in RVs has largely been abandoned. This is an independent effort to find a safe site.” We won’t be able to find out anything from SPD or WSP until tomorrow.

ADDED 9:18 AM FRIDAY: We just heard back from Julie Moore, spokesperson for the city’s homelessness-related efforts. She tells WSB: “The City did not direct people to this site.” They first heard yesterday that “an unauthorized encampment had set up at that property.” She also says that regarding RV campers allegedly being chased there from SODO, “There was no encampment cleanup effort going on in SoDo this week. Any notices about RVs needing to move would have come from SPD parking enforcement.” Meantime, the Navigation Team is “visiting the site to assess the situation this morning.” It’s “not appropriate for camping,” she added, because “it will soon be used for staging for critical I-5 construction work this summer.”

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FOLLOWUP: What the Great American Diner and Bar proprietors are planning

May 11, 2017 4:16 pm

| 35 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle restaurants

By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

After the flyers went up on Sunday, announcing a new restaurant/bar for what was briefly Shelby’s at California/Edmunds, we only came up with a bit to report – but promised a followup.

And now we have it, after sitting down Wednesday evening with the proprietors of the coming-soon Great American Diner and Bar.

Meet Singh Biryah and Glen Quadros, partners in the new operation.

They have decades of experience in the restaurant/hospitality business and say they’re up for the challenge of the corner some call cursed. “We know what’s been happening, we’re taking it up as a challenge,” Glen declared. Read More

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Memorial procession planned for James Murphy on May 21st

May 11, 2017 2:43 pm

| 5 COMMENTS

| Obituaries | West Seattle news

From Corina at Admiral Bird:

On April 30th, we lost a member of our Admiral Family, James Murphy.

On Sunday, May 21st, at 4:00 pm, we are going to meet at the Admiral Bird on the corner of California and Admiral where we will have a slideshow, food, and drinks. Here is where people will be able to share their words and hearts.

At 5:00ish, we will begin the procession from Admiral Bird to Hamilton Viewpoint Park. This way we walk the streets he walked, past his home at “the James,” and end with a view of our beautiful city. There will be live marching music and everyone is encouraged to wear bright colors, dance, and fill the walk with love and revelry.

As the date gets closer, you can check for updates here.

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Olympia Coffee chooses West Seattle for first café outside Washington’s capital city

May 11, 2017 12:24 pm

| 18 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | WS beverages

(WSB photo – Olympia Coffee Roasting’s future West Seattle home at Rally)

By Randall Hauk
Reporting for West Seattle Blog

West Seattle coffee enthusiasts can look forward to this October, when award-winning Olympia Coffee Roasting Co. will open a café at 3840 California SW, in the Rally complex.

Oliver Stormshak tells WSB that he and business partner Sam Schroeder were excited to choose West Seattle for their fourth location, the company’s first outside of Olympia.

“Sam grew up a few blocks from the new location, and his parents still live there,” says Stormshak. “When we first started looking at possible locations in Seattle, West Seattle was high on our list. … We love it there. It feels like home to us.” Read More

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WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Man arrested after Roxhill Park gunfire

May 11, 2017 11:15 am

| 5 COMMENTS

| Crime | West Seattle news | West Seattle police

We inquired with Seattle Police this morning about reports of possible gunfire in the Westwood area late last night – and this SPD Blotter report is the reply:

Officers arrested a 25-year-old man Wednesday after he fired a handgun in a West Seattle park.

Officer Stephanie Hemsley was patrolling near 29th Avenue SW and SW Barton Street at 11:30 pm when she heard gunshots near Roxhill Park. Officer Hemsley began searching the area and saw a man and woman running towards a parked gray Pontiac.

Officers stopped the vehicle and, saw a handgun sitting on the floor of the car under the driver’s seat, and found the man was carrying bullets in his pants pocket.

The man admitted to officers that he had fired multiple rounds inside the park.

Officers released the woman from the scene after determining that she had not discharged the firearm.

The man was booked into King County Jail for discharging a weapon within city limits and a concealed weapons violation.

We’re checking right now to find out more about the suspect. (Added 11:24 am) The suspect remains in jail but details on the citations aren’t available in the Municipal Court system yet, so we’ll have to check again later.

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COUNTDOWN: 2 days to West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day!

May 11, 2017 11:08 am

| 3 COMMENTS

| Community Garage Sale Day | West Seattle news

Another quick reminder that we are now two days away from West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day this Saturday (May 13th), with 300+ sales planned around the peninsula – the biggest day of the year for person-to-person recycling, and neighbor mingling, rain or shine. Browsed the map/list of sales yet? You’ll find the clickable online version, topped with links to the printable list/map – by going here.

Every year the big day is also a boon for local nonprofits who hold donation drives in connection with WSCGSD, from buyers who check the wish lists and pick up requested items, to sellers with leftovers. So far we have word of four specific drives hoping to synergize with WSCGSD – you’ll find them all linked here!

And please remember the Stamp Out Hunger postal-carriers food drive on Saturday, too – put out your bag of non-perishable food by your mailbox (or wherever else your mail is delivered) before you get started on WSCGSD! This too is always on the second Saturday in May, like WSCGSD, but they have a head start … this is the 25th year, while Garage Sale Day is on year 13.

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VIDEO: 34th District Democrats make City Council endorsements, and more

May 11, 2017 11:02 am

| 2 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle politics

By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

This area’s largest political organization is now on record with more endorsements for the August primary. Last night’s meeting of the 34th District Democrats at The Hall at Fauntleroy included a sole endorsement for the much-contested Seattle City Council Position 8, in a process that wound up spanning two meetings.

SEATTLE COUNCIL POSITION 8 ENDORSEMENT: Chair David Ginsberg said it’s been determined since the April meeting (WSB coverage here) that the first Position 8 vote didn’t follow the organization’s rules – the slate of candidates included a non-Democrat).

Then last night, though he was nominated for endorsement, that same candidate, Jon Grant, was again ruled ineligible since he is running as an “independent Democratic Socialist.” That left three endorsees – Teresa Mosqueda, Hisam Goueli, and Sara Nelson. There also was a proposal for “no endorsement,” advocated by Chas Redmond.

Mosqueda won with 60 votes of the 94 credentialed 34th DD members on hand at that point. Read More

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West Seattle Thursday: WS Art Walk, cookbook launch, Morgan Junction Spring Fling, more!

May 11, 2017 9:49 am

| Comments Off on West Seattle Thursday: WS Art Walk, cookbook launch, Morgan Junction Spring Fling, more!

| West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

Your West Seattle Thursday highlights start with the May Art Walk – second month in its newly expanded format!

The Art Walk revs up earlier now – as early as 5 pm – and continues late. Plus, this is the second month that some food and drink spots are offering specials to help inspire you to get out and explore. Here’s the highlights list on the West Seattle Art Walk website – also featuring stops outside The Junction (including two WSB sponsors – Viscon Cellars, north of Morgan Junction at 5910 California SW – no tasting fee during Art Walk! – and the South Seattle College Art Gallery on the Puget Ridge campus, 6000 16th SW).

Also today/tonight, from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:

COOKBOOK LAUNCH PARTY: It’s not just Art Walk night at Click! Design That Fits (WSB sponsor) in The Junction, it’s also launch-party night for acclaimed cookbook author (and West Seattle resident) Kim O’Donnel. Her new creation PNW Veg is just out – read about it here, and stop by Click! to meet her and get the book, 6:30-9 pm. (4540 California SW)

MORGAN JUNCTION SPRING FLING: 5:30-7:30 pm, stop by Lika Love (6031 California SW), West Seattle Cellars (6026 California SW), Third Stone Massage (6026 California SW), The Skin Butik (6057 California SW), Limber Yoga (6019 California SW), and The Bridge (6301 California SW) for “champagne, giveaways, specials” in celebration of the growing Morgan Junction business district.

SECOND THURSDAY OUT! 6 pm at Senior Center of West Seattle – details in our calendar listing. (4217 SW Oregon)

SOCCER PLAYOFFS: Not in WS but if you want to hit the road to cheer them on, the West Seattle High School boys play Garfield at Interbay, 6 pm tonight. Here’s the bracket. (3027 17th Ave. W.)

OPEN MICROPHONE AT C & P: 7-9 pm at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor), open-microphone event for musicians of all genres. (5612 California SW)

DEEP CUTS WITH DJ KINGBLIND: Starting at 8 pm at Maharajah Cuisine of India. (4542 California SW)

MANY MORE LISTINGS FOR TODAY/TONIGHT – see them all here.

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PUGET SOUND EARTHQUAKE: Did you feel this one early today?

May 11, 2017 8:46 am

| 5 COMMENTS

| Preparedness | West Seattle news

Thanks to Eric Baer for pointing out that a recent series of earthquakes just across Puget Sound in the Bremerton area continued with another one at 12:35 am today, and some “felt it here” reports came in from West Seattle.

UPDATE: Mag:3.6 3.4 km ENE from Bremerton, WA Depth:26km 2017/05/11 07:35:UTC V3 https://t.co/AHTNBTpg6m pic.twitter.com/cvi9LCuybX

— PNSN (@PNSN1) May 11, 2017

It wasn’t a major quake – but magnitude 3.6 isn’t a microquake, either. If you felt it, geologists would like to hear from you – here’s the link. One day earlier, a magnitude-3.4 quake hit the same area at 1:14 am; you can see the recent series of quakes by zooming in on this map.

P.S. This is just another reminder that we’re in earthquake country, so we’re reminding you about Neighborhood Emergency Communication Hubs – volunteer-organized gathering spots that would be activated if a major quake or other emergency interfered with regular channels of communication. This map shows you the 13 hubs in our area – click the one nearest you to see where it is, and make sure your families and neighbors know about it.

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Question about Seattle Police traffic enforcement? Be at WS Crime Prevention Council next Tuesday!

May 11, 2017 8:32 am

| 5 COMMENTS

| Southwest Precinct Crime Prevention Council | West Seattle news | West Seattle police

The questions come up often in story comments here on WSB – why don’t you see Seattle Police Traffic Enforcement officers at certain trouble spots? Why do you see them at certain spots some consider to be “speed traps”? How can you get them assigned to enforcement where you believe they’re needed? Those are just a few. Next Tuesday (May 16th), you can bring those questions directly to the commander of the traffic unit, Capt. Eric Sano, who is the scheduled guest at the West Seattle Crime Prevention Council meeting. The monthly WSCPC meeting is also where you can bring local crime questions/concerns to Southwest Precinct leadership, and hear the latest on crime trends. The meeting’s at 7 pm Tuesday in the meeting room just off the precinct parking lot, 2300 SW Webster.

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TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Thursday updates; weekend preview

May 11, 2017 6:59 am

| 2 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

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

6:59 AM: Good morning! Wet roads today for the first time in a while. Otherwise – no incidents right now in/from West Seattle.

WEEKEND PREVIEW: Here’s the city’s list of major events for the next four days. … And on our side of the bay, Saturday is West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day, with 300+ sales (mapped here) in neighborhoods around the peninsula.

8:27 AM: Per scanner, there’s a crash, possibly with injuries, at 35th SW and SW Willow. We are off to check it out.

8:35 AM: Our crew is there and reports it’s a “fender bender,” on the northbound side of 35th SW but traffic is getting around. SFD is already about to leave.

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