West Seattle, Washington

19 Friday

64℉

West Seattle news 60721 results

West Seattle traffic alert: Crash blocking 5200 block of Delridge Way
August 21, 2014 2:54 pm
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   Delridge | West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

2:54 PM: It didn’t look like a major incident on the 911 log, but we’ve since learned from text and e-mail tips that a car crash in the 5200 block of Delridge Way has the road at least partly blocked, and drivers are having to turn around. We’re checking to see if anyone was hurt. (Thanks to Tim for sending the photo from a passing bus.)

6:03 PM UPDATE: According to Kyle Moore from Seattle Fire, one person was hurt and taken to the hospital with minor injuries.

Share This

Weekend traffic reminders: Highway 99, Alki Beach 5K, other citywide events, plus ramp closure TONIGHT
August 21, 2014 2:35 pm
|    Comments Off on Weekend traffic reminders: Highway 99, Alki Beach 5K, other citywide events, plus ramp closure TONIGHT
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

We usually just link SDOT’s weekly citywide-alert roundup in our daily traffic watch – but this time around, seems to be worth sharing immediately, so here it is, featuring the Highway 99 closures (the Viaduct itself is ONLY involved in the weekend closure), plus Sunday morning’s Alki Avenue closure for the Alki Beach 5K, and more. Also please remember if you’re out late TONIGHT, the ramp to northbound 99 from the eastbound bridge will be closed overnight (10 pm tonight-5 am Friday) for work related to the weekend 99 closure. And if you need Metro reroute info – it’s here.

Share This

Happening now: ‘Paint party’ as Pathfinder preps for playground
August 21, 2014 12:13 pm
|      7 COMMENTS
 |   How to help | Pigeon Point | West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

(WSB photos by Patrick Sand)
As the new playground for Pathfinder K-8 and its Pigeon Point neighbors gets closer to reality, today’s the “paint party” announced in the most recent project update. Until mid-afternoon, more than 100 visiting volunteers are at the school to help the PF community, courtesy of a grant from Capital One. Their projects include, above, the “braided river” that’s part of the new-playground plan; below, a map:

Even curbs are getting TLC:

More photos later! P.S. Here’s the full-size design rendering for the new playground.

Share This

Land swap proposed near Puget Park, next to homebuilding site? City wants to hear from you
August 21, 2014 10:47 am
|      9 COMMENTS
 |   Development | West Seattle news

(If you can’t see the embedded document above, go here for the PDF version)
That announcement arrived this morning from Seattle Parks, asking for public comment on a proposed “land swap” near Puget Park – before and during a public meeting about it, set for September 9th, one week before the proposal will start making its way through the City Council approval process. Since these types of notices are rare, before publishing it, we contacted the Parks point person listed on the notice, MaryLou Whiteford, for more context/background, and also checked our archives. Here’s what we have found out so far:

4707 14th SW (map), the house mentioned in the notice as “served by” the driveway crossing Parks property, is proposed for demolition and replacement, as mentioned in this WSB report last month. In the same area, there’s been a permit on file for four years related to a proposal for more than 30 new single-family homes; we reported early last year that the site was for sale, and county records show a sale completed in the fall. City records show the 14th SW homebuilding project in the throes of the permit process, and some of the 15th SW sites are scheduled to be used for staging related to that project (as shown on this plan filed with the city), though otherwise, the status of the multi-home construction proposal isn’t clear.

Whiteford says the parcels proposed for involvement in the swap are all owned by the same owner as the 14th SW house site. While property records show different entity names, most of the parcels in the area are owned by “West Seattle Acquisition,” a “foreign limited liability company” registered in New York, while the listed owner for the 4707 14th SW Site, “206 West Seattle Realty Holdings,” is also registered to that same NY address with the same description

Whiteford says the parcels in this area have been held by the city since the county transferred them more than 50 years ago. On the map, it appears to be an even swap in terms of land area, 13 parcels for 13 parcels, and Whiteford says it would “preserve more of the greenbelt.” We’ve asked for the proposed City Council legislation that would finalize the swap if approved in that part of the process starting next month. Meantime, the public meeting announced in the notice above is scheduled for 6:30 pm Tuesday, September 9th, at Delridge Community Center (4501 Delridge Way SW).

ADDED 11:29 AM: In addition to the proposed Council bill, we have four accompanying documents now, received from Parks, related to it. No additional information, mostly confirmation that the city says this swap would have no fiscal impact.

*Mayor’s letter introducing the bill, including this:

The existing driveway was constructed prior to the City-owned land being placed under the jurisdiction of Seattle Parks and Recreation. The private property accessed by the driveway is now being redeveloped, and the owners seek to obtain ownership and control over the land the driveway crosses. Allowing the existing driveway to continue to serve the private property avoids the need to improve unopened rights-of-way in this Environmentally Critical Area, thereby preserving more of the desirable characteristics of the greenbelt including tree canopy, bird habitat, and wildlife corridor.

*Proposed council bill
*Fiscal-impact statement
*Detailed map
*Aerial view with map overlay

Share This

West Seattle schools: Gatewood Elementary combined event next week
August 21, 2014 9:13 am
|    Comments Off on West Seattle schools: Gatewood Elementary combined event next week
 |   Gatewood | West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

Not to rush the end of your summer, but Seattle Public Schools‘ first day is now less than two weeks away, and some schools have get-ready-for-the-new-year events even sooner. Like this announcement we just received:

Gatewood Elementary would like to get the word out that this year the K-5 Meet & Greet, Volunteer Fair and Ice Cream Social will be combined on Thursday, August 28th, with a staggered start.

We hope you can join us! This will give your child an opportunity to find out your child’s class assignment, meet their new teacher, interact with new friends and take a small tour of the school and classroom.

K-1 @ 5:30 to 6:15 pm
2-3 @ 6:00 to 6:45 pm
4-5 @ 6:30 to 7:15 pm

Thanks again in advance to the parents, PTA leaders, volunteers, staffers (and sometimes even students!) who share big news here so we can help get the word out too – here’s how.

Share This

TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Thursday updates; Highway 99 closure reminder; more
August 21, 2014 6:12 am
|    Comments Off on TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Thursday updates; Highway 99 closure reminder; more
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

(WS bridge and Highway 99 views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
Good morning! The outbound signs are all reminding you of the looming Highway 99 closure. Remember that while many signs say “4-day closure,” it’s 2 days for the Alaskan Way Viaduct and 99 south of there to the West Seattle Bridge, all 4 days from the Battery Street Tunnel northbound to Valley St. (lower Queen Anne). See maps/times here. The preparation work that’s been happening overnight all week will also include closure tonight, 10 pm-5 am, of the West Seattle Bridge offramp to NB 99. Also of note:

CONTINUING ROAD WORK: Arbor Heights microsurfacing, and restriping all over the place.

TRANSPORTATION NEWS: Next step in the Fauntleroy Way “Boulevard” project, a community meeting, which we learned on Wednesday is set for September 23rd.

ADDED 9:27 AM: Trouble on the 1st Avenue South Bridge’s northbound side:

10:05 AM: SFD has cleared that scene. Meantime, we just received a text about a reported crash on the eastbound bridge – no further details yet.

Share This

Busy Thursday! Four big West Seattle events tomorrow, from Admiral to Luna Park to Puget Ridge …
August 20, 2014 9:13 pm
|    Comments Off on Busy Thursday! Four big West Seattle events tomorrow, from Admiral to Luna Park to Puget Ridge …
 |   Fun stuff to do | West Seattle news

Early calendar preview for tomorrow, with four big events happening Thursday pm:

SUMMER CONCERTS AT HIAWATHA: The video above previews Jessica Lynne‘s “contemporary country” sound, which will fill the park east of Hiawatha Community Center for the fifth of this summer’s six concerts presented by the Admiral Neighborhood Association. 6:30 pm. Free!

HAPPY 25TH, LUNA PARK CAFE: 4-10 pm tomorrow, the famous café by the bridge marks a quarter-century, with one big party:

What? Never been there? LPC is at 2918 SW Avalon Way.

SUSTAINABLE WEST SEATTLE: The annual SWS picnic is Thursday night, and you’re invited. After a few years at the beach, this time it’s in the trees:

This year we’re celebrating at the Community Orchard of West Seattle from 6-9 PM. SWS will have music and food, tours of the orchard and garden, cider pressing with apples grown on site, demonstrations of electric bikes in the parking lot, and you can make a smoothie in our bike-powered blender. Feel free to bring a dish to share and or something to throw on the grill. We will provide charcoal grills, tables, drinks, musical entertainment.

The orchard is on the north end of the South Seattle College (WSB sponsor) campus at 6000 16th SW.

COMMUNITY BARBECUE IN SOUTH ADMIRAL: 5-8 pm, you’re invited to a community barbecue outside Equilibrium Fitness (WSB sponsor) and its neighbor businesses at 3270 California SW:

Free burgers (beef AND black bean) and hot dogs on the grill, music, cool people, at California/Hinds.

Share This

Fauntleroy ‘Boulevard’ plan update: Community meeting set for September 23rd
August 20, 2014 6:21 pm
|      21 COMMENTS
 |   Transportation | Triangle | West Seattle news

The date is now set for the promised community open house about the Fauntleroy Way SW Boulevard Project in The Triangle, currently in “early design,” tentatively scheduled for construction late next year if city leaders approve project funding: 5-7 pm Tuesday, September 23rd, is the date for that communitywide discussion of the project, proposed for Fauntleroy Way SW between 35th and Alaska. SDOT’s Maribel Cruz tells WSB they’ve had briefings in recent weeks with:

· Seattle Pedestrian Advisory Board
· Seattle Bicycle Advisory Board
· Freight Advisory Board
· Washington State Ferries
· West Seattle Transportation Coalition
· West Seattle Bike Connections
· West Seattle Junction Association

We were at the WSTC/WSBC briefing last month, along with one member of each of those groups. No major new details emerged, but the question that arose in comments on our July 15th report, “what about the Trader Joe’s onstreet loading zone?” was asked, and the reply was that they’re still discussing options. As a “boulevard,” that section of Fauntleroy will have “no loading zones and no parking,” the project team said.

Background on the project, as well as details of its status, are on the official SDOT webpage. The September 23rd meeting will be at the Senior Center of West Seattle (Oregon/California).

Share This

What’s happening (& not happening) for your West Seattle Wednesday night
August 20, 2014 3:33 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

Patricia shared that beautiful view of last night’s sunset (thank you!). As evening approaches, we wanted to note a few things that are, and are not, happening (there’s more on our calendar, as always):

HAPPENING

*High Point Healthy Families Celebration at Neighborhood House’s HP Center, 5 pm
*Science on Wheels at West Seattle YMCA (WSB sponsor) with Pacific Science Center, 6 pm
*Backpack giveaway at Westwood Christian Community, 6:30 pm
*Comedy night at Feedback Lounge (WSB sponsor), hosted by Mona Concepcion, 8 pm

NOT HAPPENING

*In a recent comment discussion, it was mentioned that new SDOT director Scott Kubly had accepted an invitation to the next Delridge Neighborhoods District Council meeting. Turns out DNDC is NOT meeting tonight but you can mark your calendar for Kubly, Councilmember Tom Rasmussen, and other transportation-related guests at the September meeting – 7 pm September 17th at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center, per DNDC chair Mat McBride, who says they’ll move that meeting into the theater so there’s more room.

Share This

Decision’s in: Hearing examiner rejects second Arbor Heights Elementary project appeal
August 20, 2014 1:13 pm
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   Arbor Heights | West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

(WSB July photo of awaiting-demolition Arbor Heights Elementary)
The decision is now published for the second appeal related to the Arbor Heights Elementary rebuild, which has had key elements on hold pending the hearing and ruling. City Hearing Examiner Sue Tanner has rejected the appeal by affirming the city decision to allow demolition of the old AHES. Here’s her ruling (PDF), or read it embedded below:

We’re checking with Seattle Public Schools regarding how the project timetable will be affected, now that the decision is in. A separate appeal related to the project was argued and rejected in May.

Share This

Mayor launches search for Seattle Parks & Recreation superintendent
August 20, 2014 12:37 pm
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle parks

Since taking office at the start of the year, Mayor Ed Murray has hired department heads including a new Police Chief and new Transportation Director, and now he’s launching a search for another one – a new Parks Superintendent. Just in:

Mayor Ed Murray today thanked Christopher Williams, Acting Superintendent of Parks and Recreation for the past four years, who is stepping down to the role of Deputy Superintendent. Williams is returning to his previous role with the department as he manages some personal health issues.

“I want to thank Christopher for his dedication and service to Seattle Parks and Recreation and the people of Seattle over the last four years as Acting Superintendent, and for many years before that in other capacities with the department,” added Murray. “Under his leadership, the department has successfully weathered significant budget reductions as the result of the Great Recession, including both service and staffing cuts. Seattle’s park system will benefit from Christopher’s work for years to come.”

The Mayor will conduct a national search to find a new leader for the Parks and Recreation Department. The search is underway and will be completed by January of 2015.

Williams lived in West Seattle while growing up and is a Chief Sealth International High School graduate. (Photo: WSB file, from 2011)

Share This

West Seattle Land Use Committee launches one week from tonight
August 20, 2014 11:17 am
|      5 COMMENTS
 |   Development | Neighborhoods | West Seattle news

After months of discussion, the West Seattle Land Use Committee is about to become reality. The seed was planted as local community-group leaders discussed the fact that there is no West Seattle-wide group looking at development and zoning/land-use issues – they only come up in response to/conjunction with particular projects. Other neighborhoods have land-use committees that get involved early on, so why not West Seattle, with so much growth and change? So here’s the agenda for the first meeting, set for next Wednesday (one week from tonight):

WEST SEATTLE LAND USE COMMITTEE
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 27 – 6:30 – 8:00

West Seattle Senior Center – Nelson Room – 4217 Southwest Oregon
__________________________________________________________

6:30 – Welcome and Introductions of Land Use Committee Members
*Introductions of attendees from the public

6:45 – Recap of the joint meeting of the Southwest District Council and the Delridge District Council – Sharonn, Vlad and Matt

7:00 – Additional issues to be added to the summary document – All

7:30 – Additional possible solutions to be added to the summary document – All

7:50 – Additional topics to be discussed at our next Land Use Committee meeting

8:00 – Adjourn

All are welcome. Helpful homework if you’re planning to be there – the official notes from last June’s joint meeting of the Southwest and Delridge District Councils with City Councilmember Mike O’Brien to talk land use:

We covered the meeting; our as-it-happened coverage is here.

Share This

Early alert: Free earthquake-retrofit workshop ahead in West Seattle
August 20, 2014 10:12 am
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   Preparedness | West Seattle news

These sessions are usually really popular, and advance registration is required, so here’s an early heads-up: The city Office of Emergency Management is offering a free earthquake-retrofit workshop at West Seattle (Admiral) Branch Library on October 4th, 11 am-1 pm. More info here, including the note that you have to sign up, so if you’re interested, do that ASAP – e-mail snap@seattle.gov.

Share This

TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Wednesday watch; road-work alerts; 99 ramp problem, cleared
August 20, 2014 6:16 am
|      10 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

(WS bridge and Highway 99 views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
Welcome to another late-summer commute. The morning starts with the road-work alerts:

ARBOR HEIGHTS MICROSURFACING CONTINUES: Our Monday story includes the map of which streets are getting it and when.

STRIPE-PAINTING: Just one day after the SDOT alert about work crews here by week’s end, we spotted one out working on California SW yesterday. Keep your distance if you see them.

HIGHWAY 99 WORK, INCLUDING THE BIG CLOSURE: Overnight prep work is closing lanes nightly, getting ready for the big work that requires a two-phase closure beginning Friday night: See maps/times here.

7:31 AM UPDATE: Thanks to CC in comments and someone via phone for the tip – there’s a problem on the ramp from the eastbound bridge to Highway 99. (added) Julia says, “We just passed the ramp. A semi and smaller truck appear to have collided and blocking the ramp. Use other routes if you can.”

7:41 AM UPDATE: Annie tweets that she’s on the Route 120 bus and it just “took the SODO detour.”

7:57 AM UPDATE: The ramp is now clear, according to multiple reports including an SDOT tweet. Thanks for the updates (again, especially from bus riders and others who aren’t driving – if you see a problem while you ARE driving, please don’t call, text, tweet, etc. until you can do so safely and legally after arriving at your destination).

Share This

West Seattle Crime Watch: Hit-and-run driver hits parked car
August 20, 2014 2:04 am
|      57 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | West Seattle news

ORIGINAL REPORT, 2:04 AM: Thanks to the tipsters who reported a hit-and-run crash early this morning on 44th between Andover and Charlestown. Both reports came in via text, and one included these photos with the explanation, “Stolen car hit a parked car.” The reportedly stolen car is actually the pickup truck in the photo above, and the car it hit was a small SUV.

No injuries reported. We’ll check later this morning to see if anyone was caught.

ADDED 5:53 PM: There are at least two reports related to this incident, and while Seattle Police Media Relations was unable to access, yet, the one with details about the crash itself, they were able to provide the one that dealt with alleged liquor violations by two teenagers believed to have walked away. Ahead, info from that report:

Read More

Share This

Video: Who’s in the water? iPhone ‘microscope’ shows you Puget Sound creatures you’d never see otherwise
August 19, 2014 6:38 pm
|      9 COMMENTS
 |   Seen at sea | West Seattle news

From the ever-creative “Diver Laura” James … a new idea for looking at who and what are in Puget Sound. She says it’s simple as pie to turn an iPhone into a microscope that’ll show you plankton and other micro-organisms in Puget Sound.

And there’s a reason she hopes you’ll look at the videos she’s creating with this rig, even if you don’t try to replicate it yourself:

My goal with these videos is to help show that every drop of our precious Puget Sound is alive, and when we pollute it, the stormwater is not going into just water, but flowing into and poisoning the homes of the foundation of our food web, and a nursery for so many baby critters that it boggles the mind.

See more of the plankton here:

And check out Laura’s YouTube playlist. She says she’s working on a “key” to help plankton viewers know exactly what they’re seeing, too.

Share This

See expanded Fairmount Park Elementary, getting ready to (re)open
August 19, 2014 4:31 pm
|      12 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

(WSB photo, taken this morning)
Even if you haven’t turned off Fauntleroy Way to see the newly expanded Fairmount Park Elementary School on Findlay, new flashing beacons on Fauntleroy like the one in our top photo are a reminder that the area is about to have a school again. Fairmount Park will officially open two weeks from tomorrow, seven years after its closure. For a sneak peek at the expanded and remodeled school, Joe Wolf shares this Flickr album, including the main entrance along SW Findlay:

The central courtyard:

The auditorium entrance:

A classroom in the new addition:

Also in the addition, a second-floor corridor:

Again, you can see many more photos in Joe’s full album, here. According to the back-to-school letter from principal Julie Breidenbach, the school is starting with at least 340 students.

In addition to the addition of classrooms to bring Fairmount Park Elementary’s capacity up to 500, there also is a new pathway from the school’s north side, along the south side of Fairmount Playfield, to reach the sidewalks on Fauntleroy Way, where there will be a school-bus-loading zone – part of the reason the trees west of the playfield were removed in the past few weeks (as reported here August 1st).

Share This

‘Frozen’ finale for West Seattle Outdoor Movies this Saturday night: Bring diapers!
August 19, 2014 2:45 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle Outdoor Movies

The sixth and final West Seattle Outdoor Movies presentation of 2014 is a biggie – last year’s Disney hit “Frozen,” on the big screen in the courtyard by Hotwire Online Coffeehouse (WSB sponsor) this Saturday night, free. Come early – while 6:30 pm is the official “gates open” time, there’s really no way to lock down the courtyard, so when it’s a hot movie, stakeouts might start sooner. Preshow entertainment will be courtesy of Seattle Balloon Arts – and there’s a free community barbecue too, courtesy of West Seattle Christian, a longtime supporter of the movie series (as are we). The movie starts at dusk, which is probably going to be around 8:30 pm this time around.

Along with bringing your own chair/blanket, bring diapers! Every week there’s an official community nonprofit beneficiary for concessions and raffle tickets, and this week it’s WestSide Baby, whose main mission is to “cover little bottoms” all over the region. Movie mastermind Lora Swift tells us that every packet of diapers you bring will get you three raffle tickets. See you Saturday – 4410 California SW, next to the post office on the north end of The Junction.

Share This

47th/Admiral signal: Design’s done; construction set for this fall
August 19, 2014 12:21 pm
|      64 COMMENTS
 |   Safety | Transportation | West Seattle news

SDOT has announced that design is done and construction will start this fall – possibly as soon as October – on the long-sought signal at 47th SW and Admiral Way, and that it will be accompanied by four striped crosswalks, as seen in the new design graphic above. This fall will mark three years since the Admiral Neighborhood Association ramped up its campaign for the signal with a rally in memory of 26-year-old Tatsuo Nakata, killed at the intersection in fall 2006. It took a lot of pushing to get funding committed – in early 2012, SDOT was still saying 47th/Admiral wasn’t high on the list. Then last year, the City Council made changes in then-Mayor McGinn’s spending plan in order to find full funding for the signal.

Here are key parts of the finalized plan, according to SDOT:

*Installing a new traffic signal
*Adding four additional striped crosswalks
*Upgrading six curb ramps at key corners of the intersection to be compliant with current American Disability Act (ADA) standards
*Replacing the existing center-turn lane with left-turn-only pockets on SW Admiral Way
*Removing minimal parking up to 50 feet from the intersection approaches on the north and south sides of 47th Avenue SW and SW Waite Street
*Removing the existing pedestrian signal

According to SDOT’s Maribel Cruz, “We anticipate construction will begin late this fall and will last for approximately three months, depending on weather conditions. The project team plans to host a community drop-in session at a nearby café in October, prior to the start of construction, and will continue to keep the community informed as the project progresses.” More information is online at this newly updated project page.

P.S. We should note that this intersection will be a lot busier soon, with Aegis Living planning to build a new retirement center on the 4700 SW Admiral Way site of the former Life Care Center, proposed to include 48 assisted-living apartments and 33 memory-care apartments..

Share This

West Seattle Tuesday: Kurdistan benefit at Pegasus; City of Hope benefit at Salty’s; camp-fundraiser movie at Schmitz Park; more …
August 19, 2014 10:12 am
|    Comments Off on West Seattle Tuesday: Kurdistan benefit at Pegasus; City of Hope benefit at Salty’s; camp-fundraiser movie at Schmitz Park; more …
 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Steller’s Jay silhouetted against the early-morning sun outside WSB HQ this morning)
Do a good deed while having a good time! Three of our calendar highlights for today/tonight fit that description and are on the list:

PEGASUS BENEFIT FOR KURDISTAN RELIEF: 4-9 pm at Pegasus Pizza on Alki, specials and raffle tickets benefit relief for children and families in Kurdistan – details in our calendar listing. (2770 Alki SW)

LAST CALL FOR FAMILY-FRIENDLY TENNIS LESSONS: 6 pm tonight, it’s the final session for USTA Family-Friendly Tennis at Solstice Park – you’re welcome even if you haven’t been to any previous sessions, and regardless of your skill level; details in our calendar listing. (7400 Fauntleroy Way SW)

SALTY’S BENEFIT FOR CITY OF HOPE: Tonight’s Tuesday Tuneup at Salty’s on Alki (WSB sponsor), 6:30-8:30 pm, emceed and entertained by pianist Victor Janusz, is a fundraiser for City of Hope – no cover charge, donations accepted. (1936 Harbor SW)

SCHMITZ PARK ELEMENTARY OUTDOOR MOVIE: Rescheduled from last week (the weather’s much better now!), “Rio 2” outdoors at Schmitz Park Elementary, raising money for the 4th-grade Islandwood trip. “Doors open” at 6:30, movie around 8:15 pm, more in our calendar listing and on the SPE PTA website. (5000 SW Spokane)

BOBBY BARE JR., LIVE: Live in-store at Easy Street Records in The Junction tonight at 7 pm, it’s Bobby Bare Jr. – details on the ESR website. Free. (California/Alaska)

BELLY DANCING: Time for the monthly Alauda freeform-bellydancing showcase at Skylark Café and Club (no cover charge), 7:30 pm. (3803 Delridge Way SW)

BRIAN LEE & THE ORBITERS @ THE FEEDBACK: The weekly “Blues To Do” show features Brian Lee and The Orbiters tonight at Feedback Lounge (WSB sponsor), 8 pm. (6451 California SW)

MORE! … just go check out our calendar.

Share This

Need a backpack for school? West Seattle giveaway tomorrow
August 19, 2014 9:21 am
|      1 COMMENT
 |   West Seattle news

With two weeks to go until school, it’s time for families to get supplies lined up for the new school year. The cost can add up, and some families need help. Next chance to get it – Westwood Christian Community shares the news that they’re having a “Kids’ Block Party” and backpack giveaway tomorrow (Wednesday, August 20th), at 6:30 pm. Food and games too; all welcome. WCC is at 9252 16th SW.

Share This

TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Tuesday notes, & lots of local road work
August 19, 2014 6:16 am
|      6 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

(WS bridge and Highway 99 views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
Good morning! Time to watch traffic, just in case, and to share alerts and transportation news:

ROXBURY PAVING TODAY: The city will be finishing the work between 25th and 27th SW.

ARBOR HEIGHTS MICROSURFACING CONTINUES: The long-anticipated work is under way, as announced by SDOT on Monday. Kevin McClintic shares this view of one road post-treatment:

He says the street was kept closed for about four hours after application, and has some advice: “Keep your animals inside until the sealant dries, lest they get the stuff on their paws and they lick themselves crazy.”

NIGHTTIME LANE CLOSURES ON HIGHWAY 99: Announced on Monday, for the nights leading up to the big closure this weekend (and partly beyond). Speaking of which

HIGHWAY 99 CLOSURE STARTS FRIDAY NIGHT: The stretch from the West Seattle Bridge to the Battery Street Tunnel will be closed both ways all weekend; from the tunnel to Valley Street, it will be closed late Friday night-early Wednesday morning. See maps/times here.

PAINTING CREWS ON THE WAY: SDOT expects its road-painting crews to start work out our way by week’s end.

Share This

West Seattle Crime Watch: Another gunfire investigation tonight
August 18, 2014 8:34 pm
|      22 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | Delridge | West Seattle news

8:34 PM: For the second night in a row, police are investigating reported gunfire in North Delridge. This time, according to an SPD tweet a few minutes ago, it’s reported near 23rd and Juneau (map), which would be near the north side of the Boren campus, which will be housing two schools, K-5 STEM and Arbor Heights Elementary, as of next month. As in last night’s case – around the same time of night, near Delridge/Brandon – so far, no injuries reported.

8:53 PM UPDATE: A woman who says she saw it happen told our crew the shots were fired from a red car heading north on 23rd just north of Juneau, and were aimed at four young men walking on the street. Again, no injuries reported.

They’re looking at bullet holes in at least two parked cars, one of which has a flat tire (photo above); police won’t say how many shots they think were fired, but the witness thinks it was at least 10.

Share This