Here’s the first wedding announcement we’ve received in a while:

Longtime West Seattle residents David Pelton and Lee Kramer were married on August 24th at their church, Admiral Congregational UCC in North Admiral, in a Hawaiian-themed celebration. Together for almost 22 years, they were delighted to share the happy occasion with family and friends from Seattle and across the country. A dinner reception at South Seattle Community College’s Brockey Center followed the ceremony.

(L-R, that’s David and Lee.)

Wedding to announce? Text/photo, editor@westseattleblog.com

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Local physical-therapy clinics collecting for West Seattle Food Bank

| Health | How to help | West Seattle news

(Thanks to Highline Physical Therapy for the photo!)
October is here and that means six local physical-therapy clinics hope to fill boxes like that one with nonperishable-food donations for the West Seattle Food Bank, whose Judi Yazzolino sends the announcement:

Sound Physical Therapy has challenged other participating West Seattle physical-therapy clinics to unite for the month of October in a goodnatured competition to celebrate National Physical Therapy Month with food donations to the West Seattle Food Bank.

The participating PT clinics are:

Biojunction Sports Therapy – 3729 California Ave. SW Ste 1A
Highline Physical Therapy – 4700 42nd SW, Ste 510
Life in Balance Physical Therapy – 5410 California SW, Ste 101
Kinetic Physical Therapy – 4828 California SW
Sound Physical Therapy – 3823 Delridge Way SW
Southwest Hand Therapy – 4621 35th SW

Please stop by one of the above clinics and drop off your donation! The Food Bank will be weighing each clinic’s donations throughout the month and let you know which clinic will be victorious, but we know for sure that our West Seattle neighbors in need will be the real winners!

Find the link to the Food Bank’s “wish list” by going here.

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Photos: Sports, medicine, media mix in West Seattle for ‘Jocks vs. Docs’ raising breast-cancer awareness

October 1, 2013 5:56 pm

| Comments Off on Photos: Sports, medicine, media mix in West Seattle for ‘Jocks vs. Docs’ raising breast-cancer awareness

| Health | West Seattle news

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and that’s what brought the “Jocks vs. Docs” event to Admiral Safeway this morning. Above, the overview, as balloons decked the checkstands where sports stars, health experts, and regional-media personalities rallied for a bag-off and photo ops.

Recognize football’s Golden Tate (Seahawks) and Warren Moon (Hall of Fame), Olympic swimming gold medalist Megan Jendrick, and soccer’s Kasey Keller in the lineup? Closeups, and more about the event, ahead:

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West Seattle Traffic Watch: 99, Roxbury crashes

October 1, 2013 5:12 pm

| 1 COMMENT

| West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

Two crashes that might complicate your afternoon commute: Amanda sends word of another 8th/Roxbury crash, on the westbound side of Roxbury, not on the 911 log so apparently no major injuries, but she says there’s quite a backup. And SFD crews are responding to a crash on southbound 99 parallel with the stadiums. Complicating matters – it’s starting to rain again. Traffic updates as we get them.

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West Seattle development: New buildings planned for 4505 SW Oregon in The Junction, 1606 California SW in North Admiral

October 1, 2013 2:05 pm

| 59 COMMENTS

| Development | West Seattle news

Two new early-stage development proposals have appeared in city files:

4505 42ND SW: On the southwest corner of 42nd/Oregon, across from nearly complete Oregon 42, there’s a brand-new proposal for a seven-story mixed-use building. The 7,000-square-foot site currently holds a hedge-ringed 105-year-old house (top photo) owned by West Seattle entrepreneur Leon Capelouto, owner/developer of Capco Plaza (QFC, Petco, Altamira Apartments) one block south at 42nd and Alaska. The architects of record are ever-busier West Seattle-founded Nicholson Kovalchick. The early-stage proposal described in DPD records outlines a seven-story building with 55 residential units over two floors with 10,000 sf of retail/office space and one level of underground parking with 14 spaces. The NC3-85-zoned site is immediately north of the Junction Association‘s free-parking lot, across the alley from the Senior Center of West Seattle, and less than half a block south of the planned site of 78-unit Junction Flats at 4433 42nd SW. This project will require Design Review; no meeting date are yet – initial documentation was filed with the city just two weeks ago.

On to North Admiral:

1606 CALIFORNIA SW: The 60-year-old four-plex on the southeast corner of California/Seattle and the 111-year-old house to its south would be replaced by a 16-unit apartment building under a plan that’s also just been filed with the city in the past two weeks. Roger Cayce is listed as owner/developer, and the architecture firm is Roger Newell AIA. The site plan in city files mentions three floors and a below-grade garage, in keeping with the zoning here, which is LR (lowrise) 3.

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You can help: Revegetate Schmitz Park at ground level

October 1, 2013 1:08 pm

| 7 COMMENTS

| How to help | West Seattle news | West Seattle parks

(That’s Schmitz Park in the center of pilot/photographer Long Bach Nguyen‘s 2012 image)
From above, it’s an oasis of unbroken lush green. At ground level, parts of Schmitz Preserve Park need help – and that means you. Shared by Seattle Parks:

Seattle Parks and Recreation is undertaking a project to revegetate damaged areas in the Schmitz Preserve stream corridor. Activities will include planting native plants, erosion control and fencing off redundant foot trails that crisscross Schmitz Creek. The project will help conserve one of Seattle’s rare old-growth forests while supporting the overall environmental stewardship goals of the urban forest system. Schmitz Preserve Park is located in West Seattle at 5551 SW Admiral Way.

Friends of Schmitz Preserve, a group of dedicated community members, are key partners in this preservation and restoration project in the park.

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The WSBeat: Trash-talk threats; spooked suspects; more…

October 1, 2013 10:56 am

| 2 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle police | WSBeat

By Megan Sheppard
On the WSBeat, for West Seattle Blog

This edition of the WSBeat contains summaries written from reports on cases handled in recent days by Southwest Precinct officers – generally cases that (usually) have not already appeared here in breaking-news coverage or West Seattle Crime Watch reports, but that might at least answer the question “what WERE all those police doing on my block?”

*In Highland Park on the 25th, a citizen who officers say they know to be “untruthful, profane, and irrational” threatened Waste Management workers with “gunplay” after being frustrated by their presence in the alley near his residence. An officer stood by until they could complete their route; the officer also provided anti-harassment information.

*Around 11 am on the 27th, two would-be burglars were rattling the door of a residence in the 3500 block of SW 105th and were startled when a resident appeared in a window. They ran off an outer deck, knocking over a patio chair. Within hours of this incident, two nearby residences were burglarized.

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Need to visit a Seattle Public Library? Go today – closed tomorrow

October 1, 2013 10:46 am

| Comments Off on Need to visit a Seattle Public Library? Go today – closed tomorrow

| West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

Thanks to Forest for the reminder: All Seattle Public Library locations are closed tomorrow (Wednesday, October 2nd) for a staff in-service day. So if you need something, have to drop off an overdue item, etc., go today/tonight! All 4 local branches are open until 8 pm tonight.

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West Seattle Tuesday: Winter preview; WWRHAH, WSBC meetings; Punk Rock aerobics; crosstown volleyball; more

October 1, 2013 9:44 am

| Comments Off on West Seattle Tuesday: Winter preview; WWRHAH, WSBC meetings; Punk Rock aerobics; crosstown volleyball; more

| West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Added 10:07 am: At ‘Jocks vs. Docs,’ Golden Tate from the Seahawks, Rob Weaver from Safeway, Tracy Taylor from KING 5)
Just some of what’s scheduled today/tonight on the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:

‘JOCKS VS. DOCS’: 10 am at Admiral Safeway – as announced late yesterday – sports stars, medical experts, and media personalities are joining forces for a bag-off in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. (2622 California SW)

WINTER PREVIEW: Mountain to Sound Outfitters in The Triangle is showing off its winter lines in a special evening event, 6-9 pm, details in our calendar listing. (3602 SW Alaska)

WESTWOOD-ROXHILL-ARBOR HEIGHTS COMMUNITY COUNCIL: We just confirmed WWRHAH is back to its first-Tuesday meeting schedule as of tonight, Southwest Library, 6:15 pm. ADDED: The agenda:

6:15 – 6:20: Welcome! And Introductions
6:20 – 6:25: Community News
6:25 – 6:30: Update on SDOT by Infrastructure Committee
6:30 – 6:45 Safe Routes to School Grants
6:45 – 7:15: Roxhill Days follow up
7:15 – 7:20: Transit meeting on October 14th
7:20 – 7:40: Open Discussion
7:40 – 7:45: Wrapup and Cleanup

(35th/Henderson)

WEST SEATTLE BIKE CONNECTIONS: Potluck meeting to celebrate WSBC’s first year, 6:30 pm, Beveridge Place Pub. Details on the WSBC site. (6419 California SW)

PUNK ROCK AEROBICS: New series starts 6:45 pm at Alki Bathhouse – details in our calendar listing. (2701 Alki SW)

HIGH-SCHOOL VOLLEYBALL: Big game tonight at Chief Sealth International High School, hosting hosts West Seattle High School, 7 pm varsity, following 5:45 pm JV and C games. (2801 SW Thistle)

NIGHTLIFE: Our calendar listings include trivia at Feedback Lounge (WSB sponsor) and at The Bridge; jazz at OutWest Bar; karaoke at Skylark Café and Club; singer/songwriter night at Shadowland … click any of those links for the full details. Are we missing YOUR listing? Please be sure you e-mail us the info – thank you!

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Election 2013: Registered to vote? Info up to date? Take action now

October 1, 2013 8:52 am

| Comments Off on Election 2013: Registered to vote? Info up to date? Take action now

| West Seattle news | West Seattle politics

Lots to decide in the November 5th election – from Seattle Mayor to ballot measures including electing councilmembers by district and adding info to food labels. But you won’t have a say if you’re not registered to vote, and with one big deadline days away, King County Elections has just shared a raft of reminders:

Count yourself in by voting in the next election. Be sure you’re registered to vote and that your voter registration information is up to date.

Monday, Oct. 7 is the deadline for mail-in and online voter registration and address changes. King County Elections will mail ballots to all registered voters on Oct. 16 for the general election, so it’s important that citizens register to vote and keep their address and other information, including their signature, updated.

King County residents not currently registered to vote in Washington can register in person at the King County Elections office or the Voter Registration Annex through 4:30 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 28.

Voters can check to make sure their registration information is current by:

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TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Tracking Tuesday

October 1, 2013 6:03 am

| Comments Off on TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Tracking Tuesday

| West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

(Live view from the east-facing WS Bridge camera; other cameras are on the WSB Traffic page)
6:03 AM: Happy first day of October! Here’s hoping for calmer weather and safer travel today.

5:18 PM: Afternoon trouble – here’s an update.

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Words, Writers, & West Seattle: New venue/title for monthly series

October 1, 2013 2:21 am

| 3 COMMENTS

| West Seattle books | West Seattle news

Two changes in the Southwest Seattle Historical Society-presented series of first-Fridays author readings. It’s now titled “Words, Writers, & West Seattle,” and the readings will be at Barnes & Noble-Westwood Village. Times and dates are the same – 4-6 pm every first Friday through at least next June, starting this Friday, October 4th, with Stephanie Guerra. She and the other eight authors will appear on the same dates as previously announced – browse through the revised flyer to check out the lineup again:

Words, Writers, & West Seattle: Updated info

Admission to the readings will be free; the authors’ books will be on sale, with 10 percent of sale proceeds benefiting SWSHS.

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West Seattle weather: Double rainbow after trio of stormy days

September 30, 2013 10:45 pm

| 2 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle weather

Thanks to Max (top left), Heather (top right), Pete (lower left), Maria (lower right) for this evening’s rainbow photos – click any/all to see a larger version!

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Commercial site? Park? Housing? What’s best for ex-substation in Highland Park?

September 30, 2013 9:18 pm

| 15 COMMENTS

| Highland Park | West Seattle news

One of the former substation sites that Seattle City Light might sell is right in the heart of a Highland Park crossroads.

With this Wednesday’s formal public hearing on the ex-substations’ fate approaching, what’s called the Dumar site – on the southwest corner of SW Holden and 16th SW – got a spotlight at this month’s Highland Park Action Committee meeting.

After City Light rep David Barber‘s presentation about the process that’s under way, community discussion revealed some sentiment that it might be optimal for that site to become commercial/retail property, like two of the three other corners at 16th/Holden (NW corner is 7-11, SE corner is Seamart and Wanna Teriyaki/Burger, and the NE corner holds Fire Station 11, which SCL says is using part of the ex-substation for parking).

One attendee voiced surprise that a park/open space wouldn’t be considered the highest and best use of the site, but HPAC co-chair Carolyn Stauffer said some community members with whom she had spoken suggested that HP has a relative abundance of park space already, but not of open space. Most other commercial properties in HP are scattered in one-off sites, until you reach the South Delridge business area.

The 10,000-square-foot site is officially zoned for potential single-family home (5,000-sf parcel) development.

Wednesday’s public hearing is at 6:30 pm at High Point Community Center (6920 34th SW); you can also comment online – as explained here. City Light says it’s not expecting a final decision on this and the other surplus sites before next year.

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Another ship sighting: Thomas G. Thompson off West Seattle

September 30, 2013 6:20 pm

| 3 COMMENTS

| Seen at sea | West Seattle news

The cruise ships we mentioned earlier weren’t the only sizable vessels off West Seattle today. Thanks to Chaucer Wells Photography for sharing the top photo with first word of the research vessel Thomas G. Thompson off Me-Kwa-Mooks this afternoon. (update) Tweets indicate the 274-foot TGT was on a student research cruise; it’s operated by the University of Washington School of Oceanography and has been involved in headline-making deep-sea-volcano research, among other things. Brian Baum sent a photo too:

Three years ago, we mentioned the TGT’s presence off West Seattle on a deployment for the PRISM project. Thanks for the photos and sightings! (editor@westseattleblog.com any time)

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All-star lineup for ‘Jocks vs. Docs’ in Admiral tomorrow morning

September 30, 2013 4:37 pm

| 6 COMMENTS

| Health | West Seattle news

Just got this announcement, and we’re told everybody’s welcome, so if you’re looking for autographs or just to cheer the competitors on, be at Admiral Safeway 10 am-11 am tomorrow morning:

“Jocks vs. Docs” will kick off one of the state’s largest and most successful fundraisers for breast-cancer research. A team of professional and retired professional athletes will compete alongside some of the region’s best physicians in a grocery bagging contest for Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Following the competition, there will be a brief ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Safeway/SCCA mammography van [photo left], which has been equipped with new, leading-edge tomosynthesis equipment. This new equipment was funded by Safeway’s 2012 campaign, and the Safeway / SCCA MammoVan will be open for screenings at Safeway stores in Western Washington throughout October. (ADDED: Including drop-in appointments at this location on Tuesday)

Jocks:

· Kasey Keller, Seattle Sounders FC alumnus and broadcaster
· Warren Moon, Pro Football Hall of Famer and broadcaster
· Golden Tate, the Seattle Seahawks
· Megan Jendrick, two-time Olympic gold medalist swimmer (as Megan Quann) and fitness columnist

The announcement continues ahead:Read More

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Traffic reminder: Highway 99 closures coming up next weekend

September 30, 2013 3:43 pm

| 1 COMMENT

| Alaskan Way Viaduct | West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

WSDOT has just sent a reminder of this weekend’s Alaskan Way Viaduct/Highway 99 inspection closures – first noted here a week and a half ago: This time, instead of closing for an entire weekend, the closures will be 5 am-6 pm Saturday (October 5th) and 6 am-6 pm Sunday (October 6th). If you will be traveling north of the Battery Street Tunnel, there IS a weekend-long closure, timed to coincide with the other closures: SDOT says, “All lanes in both directions of SR 99/Aurora Avenue North will be closed between the south end of the Battery Street Tunnel and Valley Street from 11 pm Friday to 5 am Monday.”

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West Seattle Weather Watch: First sighting of snow

September 30, 2013 2:51 pm

| 5 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle weather

No, not down here. The snow seen from West Seattle today is on the Olympic Mountains, glimpsed briefly this morning from Luna/Anchor Park. In fact, the Olympics are under a Winter Weather Advisory until tomorrow morning.

P.S. Some snow in the Cascades too – and if that has you thinking about skiing, do note that two ski shuttles operated from West Seattle last year; when the season gets closer and we hear updates on this year’s availability, we’ll share the news.

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‘Urgent action meeting’ next week to fight teen alcohol/drug use

September 30, 2013 12:51 pm

| 4 COMMENTS

| Health | West Seattle news | West Seattle people

We first mentioned this planned meeting in coverage of this month’s West Seattle Crime Prevention Council meeting, where community members announced it while asking police for advice. Now, they’ve shared a more detailed announcement and want to reiterate that all community members are welcome to come help talk about the problem and solutions, not just those with direct ties to the schools:

URGENT ACTION MEETING regarding West Seattle youth alcohol and drug abuse

The West Seattle High School PTSA is sponsoring a community meeting with Neighborhood House, Seattle Police Department, Seattle Parks Dept., West Seattle High School, Madison Middle School, along with other community members, to discuss drug and alcohol abuse by youth around West Seattle High School and Madison Middle Schools.

Thursday, October 10th
7:00 pm-8:30 pm
West Seattle High School (meeting in the Library)
3000 California Ave SW

Over the summer 4 young teens were hospitalized after overdosing in our community on cough medicine. Many parents are concerned about the apparent increase in marijuana and alcohol use and sales around Hiawatha Park and the schools.

By working together, we can address these issues and create a safer environment for our kids – but it takes everyone working together.

For questions, or more info please contact: Mike Graham-Squire, Neighborhood House, 206.353.7945, mikegs@nhwa.org

A few years ago, there had been a community group active in tackling these situations, but it went dormant for a variety of reasons. Again, organizers of this meeting stress that everyone’s welcome to come help plan and take action.

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West Seattle development: Demolition starts Wednesday for Equity Residential’s Junction project

September 30, 2013 10:57 am

| 14 COMMENTS

| Development | West Seattle news

New information today about the impending demolition at the Equity Residential development site at California/Alaska/42nd in The Junction: A notice circulated by the contractor, Andersen Construction, says demolition of the eastern building (right side of our photo) will start this Wednesday (October 2nd), and demolition of the western building (ex-Super Supplements, etc.) is set to start one week later, on Wednesday, October 9th. Full text of the notice, shared by a reader (thank you!):

Demolition of the East Building located at 4203 SW Alaska Street will commence on Wednesday 10/02/13. The sidewalks located along 42nd Avenue SW and SW Alaska Street will be closed to pedestrians during this time.

Demolition of the West Building located at 4706 California Avenue SW will commence on Wednesday 10/09/13. The sidewalks located along California Avenue and SW Alaska Street will be closed to pedestrians during this time.

Demolition work will be complete by 10/21/13.

The North end of the Alley will be closed to through traffic as needed during construction activities; however, egress will remain open as traffic will be diverted through the parking lot located south of the East Building.

The project – initiated five and a half years ago by Conner Homes, which sold the site to Equity two years ago – will include two 7-story buildings with ~200 apartments and 20,000+ square feet of retail space over a ~265-space underground parking garage shared by both buildings. Equity had originally planned to start work in summer of last year and ordered the retail tenants out by July 31, 2012, and has not commented on what led to the subsequent delay. (Its west building, by the way, is in the same block where the 4730 California project, owned by The Wolff Company, is in its fourth month of construction, with the crane going up two weeks ago. Equity’s crane is likely to be up in about three months.)

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Seen from West Seattle: 2013 cruise-ship season finale

September 30, 2013 9:54 am

| 4 COMMENTS

| Seen at sea | West Seattle news

Traveling around Duwamish Head a little while ago, we noticed three cruise ships in port – Celebrity Century at downtown’s Pier 66 above, Holland-America Line’s Oosterdam and Sapphire Princess at Magnolia’s Pier 91 below.

Checking our story from the start of this year’s cruise-ship season, we verified this is the end – last day on the Port of Seattle‘s 2013 cruise-ship schedule.

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New date for West Seattle education fair: October 28th

September 30, 2013 8:50 am

| 6 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

Shopping for a school for next year? The West Seattle elementary/middle-school education fair hosted by Seattle Lutheran High School (and sponsored by WSB), originally set for this week, has a new date: Monday, October 28th, 6:30-8:30 pm at the SLHS gym. The later date reopens registration for schools interested in participating – here’s the signup form. Free for families to attend and find out about local schools – see you at 4100 SW Genesee, four weeks from tonight.

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TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Stormy Monday updates

September 30, 2013 6:57 am

| 5 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

(Live view from the east-facing WS Bridge camera; other cameras are on the WSB Traffic page)
Though the wind wasn’t as strong as feared – the wind warning was downgraded to a wind advisory by midnight – it’s still been blustery overnight, and it’s breezy and soggy out there now, so plan extra time to get where you’re going. Reminder for bus riders: Metro’s service change took effect Saturday, including three routes serving West Seattle.

7:24 AM: The Fauntleroy approach to the bridge is backed up to Fairmount Park because of what @AMinSeattle tweets as a “minor” crash – here’s the “live” cam from just after the turn at Alaska: