West Seattle, Washington

24 Wednesday

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day : 19/05/2018 9 results

UPDATE: Police check out reports of possible shots south of West Seattle Junction; fireworks suspected
May 19, 2018 10:30 pm
|      66 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle police

10:30 PM: We’ve received multiple texts about possible gunfire south of The Junction, heard at points including 5000 block of California SW and 5000 block of Fauntleroy Way. Police have been dispatched to check it out.

10:47 PM: No further word on this so far. If police don’t find evidence of gunfire – a victim, casing(s), damage, or somebody who saw something, it generally gets chalked up as a mystery “noise disturbance.”

11:03 PM: As noted in comments, after two more booms were heard a few minutes ago, one texter called 911 and was told that police have determined someone is shooting off fireworks in the Morgan Junction area.

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UPDATE: Crash on eastbound West Seattle Bridge, cleared after 2+ hours
May 19, 2018 8:39 pm
|      5 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

8:39 PM: The image is courtesy of SDOT, which says all but one lane of the eastbound West Seattle Bridge is blocked by a crash and the emergency response for it, right before the onramp from Delridge. So if you’re headed toward the eastbound bridge, either wait a while or use Delridge to get onto it. No major injuries – the aid unit originally assigned has already been dismissed.

8:55 PM: The incident log shows SFD has closed out its involvement in call, but SDOT says lanes are still blocked. SDOT also warns that the low bridge is not an option right now because it’s about to start a “long closure.” Plus, if you’re headed toward the Viaduct, there’s a crash in the NB Battery Street Tunnel, and that’s backing up things on 99, per the scanner.

10:15 PM: Still blocking all but one lane, per the live video camera (Harbor/Spokane is currently turned up that way) connected to the SDOT traffic map.

10:40 PM: Police have just radioed in that all lanes are now open.

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SUNDAY: Champions Baseball League’s first practice of the season
May 19, 2018 8:31 pm
|    Comments Off on SUNDAY: Champions Baseball League’s first practice of the season
 |   West Seattle news | WS & Sports

We’re in the heart of baseball season, and that goes for youth leagues too. One of the newest ones in West Seattle gets going for the year tomorrow, and Michelle Riggen-Ransom reminds you that it’s not too late to step up to the plate:

Registration is still open for the Champions Baseball League! Our first practice is this Sunday at 1 pm on the Pee Wee Fields in West Seattle. If you have a child with special needs who loves and wants to play baseball, sign up and come and join us for some fun games! The snack shack will be open, and we’d love to have fellow baseball fans come down and cheer on the team as well.

Here’s the link with more information, including how to register for this free, fun program. Hope to see you on the field!

If you haven’t been to the Pee Wee Fields – here’s where to find them.

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TOMORROW: Southwest Stories spotlights architect Arthur Loveless, with a bonus!
May 19, 2018 7:10 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   West Seattle history | West Seattle news

(Photo by Eric Dennon, Dennon Photography)

With so many older homes (at least, older as the West Coast goes!) in our neighborhoods, do you ever wonder about the stories behind them? Tomorrow (Sunday) afternoon, the Southwest Seattle Historical Society and Seattle Public Library present the stories behind an architect who designed homes in many Seattle neighborhoods, Arthur Loveless – and this time, it’s not just a talk, you’ll also be invited on a post-talk tour! It’s the next Southwest Stories event, 2 pm Sunday at West Seattle (Admiral) Library, featuring Susan Shorett, whose great-grandmother was Loveless’s sister. From the announcement:

(Loveless’s) iconic Tudor Revivalist style helped shape many of Seattle’s earliest neighborhoods. Susan and her cousin documented the most thorough list to date of Loveless’s body of work which totals over 100 residential and commercial properties. In 2017, they formulated the idea to document as many of his designs in an attempt to help preserve his architectural legacy in a book of photography of his work as the properties look today.

Susan will be joined by the book’s photographer, Eric Dennon (of Dennon Photography). The two of them will be talking about Arthur Loveless’ body of work, and will show a presentation of the beautiful photography that will be appearing in the upcoming book.

After the talk, everyone there will be invited to a nearby home that Loveless designed a little over a century ago for someone who had “long been heavily involved in early real estate development in West Seattle,” via the West Seattle Land and Improvement Company. It’s all free; the library branch is at 2306 42nd SW, and the tour address will be provided at the event.

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West Seattle’s Potter Construction participates in Rampathon, celebrates awards
May 19, 2018 4:40 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news

(First 2 photos by WSB’s Patrick Sand)

While many were relaxing this Saturday, hundreds of local construction workers were volunteering their time to build mobility-enhancing ramps at local homes. It was the Master Builders Association of King & Snohomish Counties‘ 25th annual Rampathon, building 50 ramps this year around the region, including one in West Seattle, built by Potter Construction (WSB sponsor). We stopped by this morning while the crew was building a ramp for a 69-year-old woman who lives near Genesee Hill Elementary.

(From left, Karl, Dan, Gary, David, Jeff)

While writing this, we got a photo of the finished ramp from Potter Construction’s Karl Coy.

We also want to congratulate Potter Construction for winning three Remodeling/Trade Remodeling Excellence Awards from MBAKS’s Remodelers Council earlier this month. They won for Major Remodel Excellence, Kitchen Excellence, and Design Excellence – Universal Design:

See more photos here.

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2 waterfront notes for Sunday: West Seattle 5K on Alki; protesters at Don Armeni
May 19, 2018 2:20 pm
|    Comments Off on 2 waterfront notes for Sunday: West Seattle 5K on Alki; protesters at Don Armeni
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

The no-parking signs are out, and we’ve been mentioning it all week (and then some), so here’s hoping that even if you’re not running/walking in the West Seattle 5K (co-sponsored by WSB), you know it’ll close Alki/Harbor SW for a few hours on Sunday morning. The race starts from 61st/Alki just after 9 am; the closure starts sooner, and usually lasts past 11 am. (If you want to participate and aren’t signed up yet, you can do it tomorrow morning at 8 am on site – or go to West Seattle Runner [2743 California SW; WSB sponsor] today until 6 pm.)

Meantime, we’ve learned of one other event that could cause some congestion on the West Seattle waterfront tomorrow – another protest at the Kinder Morgan facility on Harbor Island, because of the Trans-Mountain Pipeline Expansion. Organizers say a flotilla of “kayaktivists” and Indigenous canoe families will be launching from Don Armeni Boat Ramp for a 12:30 pm seagoing protest tomorrow.

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AS-IT-HAPPENED COVERAGE: West Seattle Bee Festival 2018
May 19, 2018 10:53 am
|      7 COMMENTS
 |   High Point | West Seattle festivals | West Seattle news

10:53 AM: As the West Seattle Bee Festival ramps up to full buzz – with the parade coming up at 11 am – we’re seeing other creatures too:

That’s Gamma the python, one of the creatures you’ll see inside Neighborhood House – which is the venue for the festival’s indoor component, at Sylvan/Lanham [map]; the latter street is closed to motorized vehicles for the vendor fair, where we and dozens of other community organizations and businesses are boothing (officially starting at 11 am, but most are set up already); and there’s the West Seattle Bee Garden itself on the north end of High Point Commons Park. Here’s the bright and bzz-y schedule:

And what would a Bee Festival “bee” without honey?

11:31 AM: The Big Bee led the parade a short time ago – here’s a bit of video:

Lots of people here and the sun is out. Dog-friendly, too. Just ask Frankie:

We’re about to take a stroll along the vendor fair – here’s the map of who’s where. Lots to be learned – it’s not just vendors, but also community organizations!

NOON: Live music is about to start, and the International Finger Food Buffet is getting going inside Neighborhood House. And Seattle Fire Engine 37 is here:

About that music we mentioned:

12:17 PM: Back inside Neighborhood House, we’ve also spotted Tut the tortoise:

And the sewing pop-up is under way:

It’s a day to express yourself. Marco has a beard of bees!

12:55 PM: One thing that’s impressed us, boothing here at the festival today – a turnout of all ages, from babies to seniors, and people from all over West Seattle (at least judging unscientifically by those who have stopped to say hi). And we’ve even spotted a bee in the wild:

The bee-attracting lupins are in the pollination garden borders around the Bee Garden itself, where Puget Sound Beekeepers are ready to talk with you about the stars of today’s festival:

That’s at the north end of the festival – all along its west side on Lanham is the vendor (etc.) fair:

As mentioned in our Admiral Neighborhood Association report published last night, SDOT is here to talk with you about the West Seattle Neighborhood Greenway (or any other project you have a question about):

1:24 PM: More music!

And along vendor-fair row, it’s photo op time:

Woodland Park Zoo is busy inside and out here at the Bee Festival, which continues until 2!

1:53 PM: Since it’s all about the bees, we checked back with the Puget Sound Beekeepers for the final word on today’s festival (which by the way is hosted by the Events Committee of the High Point Open Spaces Association). They tell us they sold out of all 21 cases of honey they brought – 50 percent more than last year! – and that the turnout was great, lots of people curious about bees and prepared with good questions. The Bee Garden, by the way, is open year-round for visiting.

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Madison Middle School celebrates Super Science Night
May 19, 2018 9:40 am
|    Comments Off on Madison Middle School celebrates Super Science Night
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

Thanks to Madison Middle School science teacher Fred Jenner for the photos and report!

Outstanding job to Madison Middle School’s science department, guest scientists, adult volunteers, and student volunteers for putting on a great Super Science Night Thursday night! We had 415+ in attendance.

Our guests had a great sampling of activities which included liquid nitrogen experiments, chemistry experiments, dry ice experiments, atmospheric science, and neuroscience demonstrations and activities, genius hour projects, science trivia competitions in the Dog Pound, West Seattle High School AP physics trebuchet project demonstrations, teacher demos of heart pumps, chemistry mixtures, rock selections, owl pellet dissections, delicious root beer floats (thanks to Ms. Bunch and the parent volunteers), and a high-interest sampling of books of all genres on the stage (thanks to Ms. Bell and the book store volunteers.)

Again, excellent job to all who helped make this night a super-special one!

Just five weeks left in the school year – Seattle Public Schools‘ last day is June 22nd.

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West Seattle Saturday: Bee Festival, Transportation Forum, benefit workouts, comedy, book signing, wine, music, more!
May 19, 2018 6:03 am
|    Comments Off on West Seattle Saturday: Bee Festival, Transportation Forum, benefit workouts, comedy, book signing, wine, music, more!
 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Male Black-Headed Grosbeak, photographed by Mark Wangerin)

Much going on! Let’s get right to what you need to know:

TRAFFIC ALERTS: Two projects today in West Seattle that you might want to know about – 18th/Myrtle and 29th/Barton.

BENEFIT BOOT CAMPS: 8, 9, 10 am at Project 968 (WSB sponsor), as previewed here, workouts to raise money for Ben Delacour‘s fight against cancer, detailed here. (4617 37th SW)

WEST SEATTLE BEE FESTIVAL: 9:30 am-2 pm at High Point Commons Park, Neighborhood House High Point, and vicinity, including the Honey Run, the parade, a vendor fair, demonstrations, food, Bee Garden visits, more. See the schedule on the official festival website. Free! (6400 Sylvan Way SW)

ROXHILL PARK SPRING CLEAN: 10 am, just show up at Roxhill Park and be part of it! Gloves, tools, etc. all provided. (29th SW/SW Barton)

WORKSHOP FOR LANDLORDS: 11 am at Delridge Library, a workshop to help landlords learn how to keep their property safe and crime-free. (5423 Delridge Way SW)

REGISTRATION/PACKET PICKUP FOR WEST SEATTLE 5K! Not registered for Sunday’s West Seattle 5K yet? Or – you are signed up, but want to get your packet the day before? Noon-6 pm, stop by West Seattle Runner (WSB sponsor) to get it done! (2749 California SW)

SPRING RELEASE, DAY 2: 1-7 pm, spring wine release and tastings at South Seattle College‘s (WSB sponsor) Northwest Wine Academy. (6000 16th SW)

TRANSPORTATION ALTERNATIVES FORUM: 1:30-3:30 pm at the Senior Center of West Seattle. As previewed here, it’s your chance to learn about alternative ways of getting around, particularly for seniors and people with disabilities. (4217 SW Oregon)

LAFAYETTE ELEMENTARY PRESENTS SHREK, THE MUSICAL: 2 pm, final performance at the West Seattle High School Theater. (3000 California SW)

ALKI DAZE: The community celebration continues with a 3 pm kickball game at Alki Playfield, 5 pm bike races and Show & Shine. (59th/Alki)

BARET MAGARIAN BOOK SIGNING: 4 pm at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor), author Baret Magarian will be reading from and signing “The Fabrications.” (5612 California SW)

WEST SEATTLE ROTARY 70TH ANNIVERSARY WINE POP-UP: 4 pm at Alki Masonic Hall, a wine lovers’ event is the culmination of the Rotary Club of West Seattle’s 70th anniversary year. (4736 40th SW)

UNCORKED: Sold out so we’re mentioning it just in case you’re ticketed and need a reminder – 5:30 pm happy hour, 7 pm tastings at the Highland Park Improvement Club‘s wine-tasting fundraiser (with WSB among the co-sponsors). 10th anniversary! (1116 SW Holden)

ECHOES STUDIOS ANNIVERSARY: As previewed here, you are invited to an open house, 6-9 pm, celebrating Echoes Studios‘ first anniversary. (3801 Delridge Way SW)

THE MAMA-LOGUES: 7 pm at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center, the humor in motherhood – raising money for nonprofits including WestSide Baby. Also, an optional preshow reception. Details and ticket info are in our calendar listing. (4408 Delridge Way SW)

ROO FORREST AND FRIENDS: “Eclectic mix of originals and covers” at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor), 7-9 pm. (5612 California SW)

YES, THERE’S MORE … as you can see by browsing our complete-calendar page.

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