West Seattle Blog…

Door-to-door concern: Legitimate ‘wreath-maker’?

Not a solicitor, but somebody going door-to-door – and just maybe, publishing a worried WSB’er’s tale will lead to reassurance that this was legit. Or not. Read on: Click to read the rest of Door-to-door concern: Legitimate ‘wreath-maker’?…

Door-to-door food drive coming up: ‘Trick or Can’

One day before Halloween, you might get a knock on the door from someone who’ll be looking for a food-drive donation, not a treat. Angel Laycock from the soccer club HPFC Eagles says that 3-5 pm this Sunday (October 30) they’ll be out on what they call “Trick or Can“:

Small groups of our club will be going around house to house to collect canned food and what we will do is send that canned food to three different food drives which include Highline Area Food Bank, White Center Food Bank, and West Seattle Food Bank. We will be in a couple different areas that include Normandy Park, Three Tree Point, North Admiral, and a few other local locations.

Participating players range in age from 10-17, Angel tells us, and he just wants to get the word out so that you’ll consider having a food donation available if you happen to get a visit. (And if nobody comes by, trust us, there are many other drives in the works to which you can contribute.)

Door-to-door – and yard-to-yard – alert: Comcast again?

Two more door-to-door alerts have come in, apparently from the same block – another report of solicitors saying they’re representing Comcast, but raising neighbors’ suspicions anyway. The Seattle Municipal Code restricts door-to-door sales to between 8 am and 9 pm (read the code here), and this all happened shortly before the end of that window. Read on: Click to read the rest of Door-to-door – and yard-to-yard – alert: Comcast again?…

Door-to-door alerts: Cable check-in; magazine sales

Just received a door-to-door alert that, as its sender notes, could be legitimate, but the hour and the subject seemed odd to her; we also have had one in queue about a magazine seller. Read on for both:
Click to read the rest of Door-to-door alerts: Cable check-in; magazine sales…

Door-to-door alert: Solicitors targeting Genesee

Got two notes today/tonight about what sound like the same solicitors, who were the subject of a recent report, too – read on: Click to read the rest of Door-to-door alert: Solicitors targeting Genesee…

Four door-to-door alerts, including one precautionary tale

More nice weather, more door-to-door alerts. Tonight, three in West Seattle, and one from a WS woman who wants to put out a warning about what happened to her mom in Magnolia, just in case. Read on: Click to read the rest of Four door-to-door alerts, including one precautionary tale…

2 reader reports: Summer Fest pinch; door-to-door alert

Two reader reports out of the WSB inbox tonight – first, a woman with a warning about a man she says pinched her tonight at West Seattle Summer Fest; second, a door-to-door alert – read on for both: Click to read the rest of 2 reader reports: Summer Fest pinch; door-to-door alert…

West Seattle door-to-door ‘alert’: Canvassing tomorrow

You might find a door-to-door political canvasser outside your home or apartment tomorrow night – and thanks to a heads-up from Diane, we can tell you in advance, they’re legitimate. They will be asking people to support a potential city ordinance requiring that employers provide paid sick days. The notice Diane shared says that canvassers will gather at Pioneer Coffee (2536 Alki SW) at 5:30 pm Thursday, heading out to West Seattle neighborhoods over the ensuing two hours.

West Seattle door-to-door alerts: 3 reports – legit or not?

Three reader reports we’ll classify as door-to-door alerts, although two weren’t solicitations so much as requests for help – both very similar, a man and child approaching people outside their homes in the Fairmount Springs area. Read on for all three reports: Click to read the rest of West Seattle door-to-door alerts: 3 reports – legit or not?…

West Seattle Trader Joe’s: The land-use approvals are indeed in

For those following this project step by step: The land-use decisions for the West Seattle Trader Joe’s are indeed published today, as we reported the other day that they would be. Here’s the one for the main part of the project; here’s the one for additional parking spaces. Both include “determinations of non-significance” meaning no formal environmental review is needed. Both decisions (the docs with the fine print are linked from the notices our links point you to) have a 2-week window now for potential appeals; the construction permit also would have to be granted before work could begin, but permit-wise, they are two-thirds of the way there.

New Mother’s Day tradition: 1st ‘pie social’ at Village Green

There’s Mother’s Day brunch, and there’s Mother’s Day breakfast in bed … and here’s something new (yet old-fashioned): A Mother’s Day pie social. In case you hadn’t already heard, one is planned at Village Green Perennial Nursery (10223 26th SW) on Sunday, 1-4 pm – with the price of admission a freshly baked homemade pie and a $5 donation for the White Center Food Bank. Village Green’s Vera Johnson is hosting along with Kate McDermott, and RSVPs are requested by Friday. More info on Vera’s “Dig It” website, and/or this Facebook event page.

West Seattle door-to-door alerts, plus a scam warning

As the weather warms up, you’re likely to get more activity on your doorstep. First – be aware that commercial solicitors are required to have licenses/IDs, and you don’t have to be shy about asking to see them, if you choose to answer the door. Second, if you put up a “No Solicitors” sign, solicitors who ignore it are breaking the law. (City rules on “residential sales” are here.) 2 door-to-door reports from the WSB inbox, ahead, plus a phone-scam alert, received via e-mail: Click to read the rest of West Seattle door-to-door alerts, plus a scam warning…

West Seattle door-to-door alerts: 3 more reports

Three more door-to-door alerts tonight – read on for details: Click to read the rest of West Seattle door-to-door alerts: 3 more reports…

West Seattle door-to-door alert: The pitch without a point

About a block east of Lincoln Park, Eric had a visitor tonight who raised his suspicions – read on for his story: Click to read the rest of West Seattle door-to-door alert: The pitch without a point…

West Seattle door-to-door alert: Anybody home?

Just out of the WSB inbox, a door-to-door alert (or maybe something more) regarding someone who turned up in the 4100 block of 41st SW – details after the jump: Click to read the rest of West Seattle door-to-door alert: Anybody home?…

Door-to-door alert: Alarmed by alarm pitch

Out of the WSB inbox, from Deanna in Arbor Heights (near 33rd/99th):

At about 8:45 Friday evening someone knocked on my door posing as an ADP sales agent. He said because of all the recent crimes in our neighborhood his manager wanted him to place signs on our lawns if we’d agree to a consultation. After I gave him the boot he moved on to my next door neighbor with a different story. We are guessing that he was casing our houses to determine who had alarms. My neighbor called the police to report it, I though perhaps the West Seattle Blog might alert some neighbors.

Here’s our archive of door-to-door alerts; some solicitors are legitimate, some not, but remember the city rules – if it’s a commercial solicitation, they’re supposed to have ID.

Door-to-door alert: Anti-smoking campaign solicitor?

This solicitation could be legit. Just in case it’s not, “Concerned Neighbor” wanted to share the story of the solicitor who turned up on their doorstep – read on: Click to read the rest of Door-to-door alert: Anti-smoking campaign solicitor?…

West Seattle door-to-door alert: Carpet cleaner?

From Kristin, who encountered this solicitor late this morning:

I just had a guy come to my door claiming to want to wash my carpets. When I said no thanks, he wanted to do my floors or upholstery – one room for free. He had no ID, and forgot to ask until after he was gone. He was on foot – no van anywhere in sight. I’m near Graham and 38th.

(He may have been perfectly legit, but we share these alerts just in case.)

2 neighborhood alerts: Metal ‘scavenger’; insistent ‘salesperson’

We’ve blurred the plate in that photo from Christopher, who says the man was “scavenging” metal items in the 4500 block of 40th SW [map]. Christopher says the copper lawn ornament and stainless-steel pail were returned after he suggested that might be a good idea; police have been called and provided with the plate number, which reportedly checked to a West Seattle address. Second, ws4ever posted in the WSB Forums about an alert in Arbor Heights/The Arroyos regarding a purported “P-I salesperson” (odd since there’s been no print P-I, just online, more than a year and a half) banging on doors. No description. Police reiterate – call them if/when you see someone suspicious.

Door-to-door alert: Selling security? Plus, legit light bulbs

From a WSB’er who wants to be anonymous, a disturbing door-to-door visit – plus, a door-to-door note about someone who probably IS legit – both ahead: Click to read the rest of Door-to-door alert: Selling security? Plus, legit light bulbs…

West Seattle door-to-door alert: Magazine solicitor(s)

Received two reports tonight about what may be affiliated solicitors – read on: Click to read the rest of West Seattle door-to-door alert: Magazine solicitor(s)…

West Seattle door-to-door alert: Magazine seller ‘heads up’

Stacey shared this alert tonight. A reminder as always – might be legitimate, might not; always ask for a license:

FYI – 52nd and Stevens area. West Seattle neighbors – just a heads up. There is a guy going door to door “selling magazines” on our block. He was a bit too smooth….with the car prowls and burglary on Garlough – it was a concern.

City rules for door-to-door solicitors are listed here; the WSB archive of door-to-door alerts is here.

Door-to-door alert: Solicitors in Gatewood

Couple notes tonight about solicitors in Gatewood – whether legit or not, it’s not clear, but those who e-mailed to share the story thought they seemed suspicious – read on: Click to read the rest of Door-to-door alert: Solicitors in Gatewood…

Door-to-door alerts: ‘Hit by car’; magazine sales

Two door-to-door alerts tonight – the first one has come in both via e-mail and via Twitter, and the other one via Facebook – read on: Click to read the rest of Door-to-door alerts: ‘Hit by car’; magazine sales…

Door-to-door alert: Subscription solicitation

Just out of the inbox from Adam in Westwood, a report of a door-to-door solicitor making a claim we know for sure is fake – read on: Click to read the rest of Door-to-door alert: Subscription solicitation…

Door-to-door alert: The ‘fundraiser’ that apparently isn’t

Just out of the WSB inbox from “JAR,” our first door-to-door alert in a while – read on: Click to read the rest of Door-to-door alert: The ‘fundraiser’ that apparently isn’t…

Reader alerts: Solstice Park, Gatewood Hill

Two reader reports to share tonight – first, an encounter near Solstice Park (we received this in e-mail but it’s since turned up in the WSB Forums, where some are wondering if it’s a person who’s been arrested in the area before – read it here); second, a door-to-door alert – read on: Click to read the rest of Reader alerts: Solstice Park, Gatewood Hill…