day : 16/05/2008 13 results

Thanks to those who’ve texted us in the past few minutes about a big police presence with roadblocks just west of The Junction – described by one text as Genesee between 45th and 49th and Alaska, by another as 47th to 51st between Hudson and Juneau. We’re monitoring to see if we can figure out what it’s all about – sounds like some sort of search under way; no medic calls in the area so doesn’t appear to be anything that left someone hurt, or worse, at this point. 11:49 PM NOTE: Still no details on this … if we don’t get any tonight, we’ll let you know when we are able to find out from the precinct what it was about.

Sunset scenes from Alki

May 16, 2008 11:01 pm

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| Seen around town | Seen at sea | West Seattle beaches

Call it the first semi-official night of summer. Alki was the place to be. A few more pix ahead:Read More

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Latest in the never-ending “skatepark or no skatepark” saga

May 16, 2008 8:01 pm

| 4 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle parks

So after the May 1st Myrtle Reservoir park meeting, at which it was revealed the idea of a skate feature at Myrtle was suddenly out of the picture, we started pursuing comment from city Parks and Recreation Superintendent Tim Gallagher, as (a) the buck of course stops with him and (b) he was reported to have been the one who took the wheels off the whole thing. Finally today, we got e-mail from him. Sounds more like a form letter to neighbors than a response to our request for comment on “why was the decision made?” but if you are interested in this ongoing issue, we thought you’d want to read it anyway:Read More

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Crime Watch reader report: West Seattle store flasher

May 16, 2008 5:24 pm

| 7 COMMENTS

| Crime | West Seattle news

From Rosa at On the Way Maternity (5446 California SW), who wants to warn other local store owners:

I’ve had a few weird ones, but this one tops it all…

Yesterday, May 15th a man came into my store around 4:15-4:20 or so. He explained that he was going to a party here in West Seattle where the men had to wear a woman’s shirt. I said ok as he seemed very nice and well put together. The whole thing seemed really weird but I just couldn’t say whether his story was legit or not and I didn’t want to discriminate right off the bat. Again, he was very pleasant and seemed for the most part “normal”. He explained that he has to buy a maternity shirt because anything else would not fit his “gut”. So he picked out a plain t-shirt.

Before I knew it, the guy comes out of the dressing showing me everything!! Meaning no pants, and no underwear and fully exposed!! He proceeded to ask me what I thought!! I was absolutely shocked and speechless for a good 10-15 seconds. I told him he needed to put all of his clothes on and to leave! For some strange reason I didn’t panic?? I filed a report with the Seattle Police Dept about 5-10 minutes later after gathering myself together. If he comes into your store, send him back out!!

I’m guessing that he chose my store since it’s a bit more secluded than the other stores in the Junction. If he comes back here, he’ll definitely get a dose of mace!

Description: Caucasian male, 5’10” or so, 60-65 years old and balding. Roughly about 185 with a gut, dressed nice in trousers and a silk/rayon short sleeve shirt.

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Opening day for Olympia Pizza on Delridge

May 16, 2008 5:01 pm

| 18 COMMENTS

| Delridge | West Seattle news | West Seattle restaurants

Balloons mark the spot as Olympia Pizza and Pasta on Delridge marks its first day in business, two months after we first told you it was coming. 5605 Delridge (map); open till 11 tonight.

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Be a “Master of Disaster”: Another neighborhood check-in Sunday

May 16, 2008 3:03 pm

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| Safety | West Seattle news

View Larger Map

Tthe West Seattle neighborhood readiness campaign we’ve been telling you about is still under way: To refresh your memory, the map above shows the West Seattle locations already designated as neighborhood gathering places for information and help in case of disaster — somewhere you’d be able to go, if the regular lines of communication weren’t working — and it’s important to memorize where your nearest one is, and to make sure your loved ones know too. (Some areas of south West Seattle are still a work in progress.) To help make it easier for you to know your gathering place, and to get info about how to be ready for the unthinkable, each area has set up a time for a drop-in event — Alki, (Alaska) Junction, Morgan Junction, Pigeon Point, Olympic Heights and Admiral have had theirs; the Fairmount event is noon-2 pm Sunday in the southeast parking lot of Providence Mt. St. Vincent. One more important thing we want to mention again: a checklist of supplies you can purchase right now to have on hand “just in case” – it has helpful specifics, not just the generalized lists you often see. We’ve uploaded it here so you can take a look and print it out for yourself for use in building a kit you can get to if you need it (and if you don’t have MS Word — here’s a PDF version).

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West Seattle Weekend Lineup, JP Patches in WS edition

May 16, 2008 1:03 pm

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| Fun stuff to do | WS culture/arts | WS Weekend Lineup

(WSB photo of JP Patches in July 2007 West Seattle Grand Parade)
Some tickets are still left for JP Patches at the Admiral Theater tomorrow morning (available online here) — not only will the local TV legend be there, so will a magic act that the Admiral’s Steve Garrett told us is truly amazing, including the magician’s 14-year-old protege. Along with a walkathon, two fundraiser yard sales (one of which is under way right now!) and a fundraiser book sale, even a luau! and much more — we have 43 West Seattle weekend events ahead (and if you have to leave WS this weekend, remember the traffic advisories we published here and here):Read More

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Grocery-shopper traffic alert: Thriftway parking-lot work

May 16, 2008 12:09 pm

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| West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news

Spotted this unusual sight while driving through Morgan Junction — the West Seattle Thriftway parking lot partly empty in the middle of the day! Called the store to get the scoop; managers tell WSB that it’s just restriping/sealing/blacktop work to freshen up the parking lot – no changes in the number or size of spaces – they’re taking advantage of the great weather to get this done, since it’ll dry faster; the Fauntleroy/Morgan entrance is closed at the moment (so you’ll need to enter off California). The work will continue through the weekend but they say today’s the “biggest chunk.”

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Looking for work? City job fair coming to West Seattle

May 16, 2008 11:20 am

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| West Seattle news

Just got full details on this — a City of Seattle Career Fair is coming to the Joint Training Facility on the southeastern edge of West Seattle next Wednesday — here’s the announcement:Read More

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Seafair Pirates sail to Hi-Yu float’s rescue

May 16, 2008 10:12 am

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| West Seattle Hi-Yu Festival | West Seattle news

Earlier this week, we showed you that photo of the Seafair Pirates clowning around with the West Seattle Hi-Yu Festival banner as both organizations appeared at the first major parade of the season, at the Sequim Irrigation Festival last Saturday. That report also included an account of parade trouble involving the breakdown-plagued float-propelling vehicle; that problem’s not solved yet but Hi-Yu Festival president Tim Winston reports, the Pirates are lending some mechanical expertise, as their signature “vessel” Moby Duck also has decades-old infrastructure. However, that’s not going to help in time to get the Hi-Yu float to what was its next appearance, this weekend in Port Townsend; instead, Winston says, they’re arranging for the Hi-Yu court to ride in convertibles in that parade. He’s hoping the Pirates’ help will enable Hi-Yu to get its float in shape for its 6/14 gig in Marysville; he also says they’re still looking at the prospect of a fundraising drive to get the estimated $30K it would take for a float-propelling vehicle that would last for years to come, as Hi-Yu continues not only delighting West Seattle families, but also representing WS in events around the region (which brings the reciprocal event of those events sending floats and representatives to the midsummer parade here).

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Madison Middle School students to be honored in Olympia today

May 16, 2008 9:16 am

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| West Seattle news | West Seattle schools | WS culture/arts

Congratulations to Madison Middle School seventh-graders Allie Commons and Dylan Tucker, who will be honored at a reception in Olympia today. They’re receiving an award at the Superintendent of Public Instruction’s annual School Art Show Awards and Reception, in connection with their work in the 2008 Youth Art Month flag-design contest (shown above). This comes as Arts Education Week wraps up. (Allie and Dylan’s work is featured on the state’s webpage for today’s event, as well as on page 2 of the program.) The Seattle Public Schools communication team also notes that Madison students “have been working on a project titled ‘A World with No Art’ with posters (on display at the school) illustrating what would be missing from their lives if fine art, music, dance, and drama did not exist.

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Update: Work parties to fix up WS house for Addie Killam

May 16, 2008 7:55 am

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| How to help | West Seattle news

A month and a half after we first told you about the bizarre surfing injury that left West Seattle native Addie Killam disabled (original WSB report here) — we have two updates: First, Addie is undergoing rehab in a western Colorado hospital and could return to West Seattle sometime next month. Second – work parties are happening today, tomorrow, and Sunday, as well as later this month, to get a West Seattle house wheelchair-accessible for Addie’s homecoming. Full details — including when help is needed, where it’s needed, who to call if you can help, plus a link for a donation fund — are all on this website that’s just been set up.

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One more weekend traffic alert: Lane closures on 2 viaducts

May 16, 2008 6:21 am

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| Transportation

In addition to the city traffic alerts we shared here – here’s a third one involving weekend lane closures on the Spokane Street Viaduct and Alaskan Way Viaduct:Read More

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