day : 18/08/2008 15 results

West Seattle train noise: Neighbors track down help

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Sometime in the next few hours, it’s more than likely someone in Pigeon Point — atop the ridge that represents northeasternmost West Seattle — will wake up to the blast of a train horn, or more than one, from activity along that stretch of track, roughly Harbor Island to Harbor Ave. Tonight, more than 20 concerned neighbors joined government reps in a cozy City Hall meeting room — more people than you see sometimes in meetings about West Seattle issues that are held IN West Seattle — to try to figure out where to start on a complicated journey toward relief. When we first told you about their effort last week, many comments of disbelief came in, but if you had been in that meeting tonight, and listened to the desperation in some of those voices, you’d know the problem is very real, and some of them are at wit’s end — funny what sleep deprivation can do to you. Ahead, what they said, what they heard, and what happens next:Read More

West Seattle Crime Watch reader report: Car stolen tonight

Just received this from Laura. Maybe it’s not too late for someone to help solve this car theft:

Vehicle missing parked on SW Thistle between Fauntleroy Way SW and 46th Avenue SW across from Lincoln Park. (map)

Last seen today at 6 pm. Noticed missing at 10:15 pm.

Red 1996 Honda Civic CX Hatchback 2 door, WA license plate 430TFY

Police have been notified, car not reported as towed and we are expecting a visit from an officer tonight.

Information can be reported to SPD at 206-625-5011 or here.

TUESDAY MORNING UPDATE: Laura sent this update:

Just wanted to let you know that we just received a call from King County Sheriff and the car was found blocking a road near Sea-Tac early this morning and had been “stripped for parts” (the hood, engine and other parts were removed from the vehicle).

Thought I would pass along that SPD officer advised last night that if you park your car on the street anytime like our visitor did, it’s worth the $23 investment to get a “Club” for your steering wheel. The officer says they think it is a major theft deterrent.

New calendar in the works: Kids, cats, and … maybe you

August 18, 2008 9:44 pm
|    Comments Off on New calendar in the works: Kids, cats, and … maybe you
 |   How to help | Pets | West Seattle news

callie.jpgThat’s Callie the cat, who could be hanging on your wall sometime next year, if West Seattleite Stefan Hansmire finishes lining up enough sponsors for the project he’s working on: It’s a calendar of cat art by kids, collected, Hansmire says, “through a series of art parties and conversations.” Each month is intended to have a West Seattle business sponsor, for $150, to cover calendar-printing costs; proceeds from calendar sales will go to Friends of the Animals (he says Next to Nature and Thriftway already have agreed to sell the calendars). His eight-year-old daughter, “who loves cats,” is co-producing the calendar, “to teach kids that their creative work can have tangible value that makes a difference.” If they get a few more sponsors, things will be, well, purr-fect … click here to e-mail with inquiries.

Backing the bag fee: CoolMoms @ Thriftway today

In the same spot where we first saw a signature-gatherer with anti-bag-fee petitions eight days ago, by the southwest door at Thriftway, CoolMom.org co-founder Kristy Royce of West Seattle (with some help!) showed support for it this afternoon by giving out free reusable shopping bags. A group of north-end CoolMoms had something similar planned at a store in their area.

Road relief on the way near South Seattle Community College

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Just picked up this tidbit at City Hall downtown after Pigeon Point residents’ train-noise meeting with Councilmember Tom Rasmussen and reps from SDOT and the Port of Seattle — the report on that is coming up in a bit, but first, on an unrelated note, chatted for a moment afterward with SDOT’s Charlie Bookman, who said that relief is getting close for two miserable blocks of 16th SW around South Seattle Community College (near SW Brandon) – he says the street in that area literally has to be reconstructed, and the work should start within two months.

Teenage murder suspect arrested in West Seattle

Multiple reports in citywide media (including this one) say the 16-year-old suspected of killing a man at a Federal Way school last Thursday was arrested today in West Seattle. Per the Times, the arrest happened at 12th SW/Myrtle (map).

Update: Memorial service this week for Nels Ekroth

August 18, 2008 4:12 pm
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 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle people

ekroth-nels-sh.jpgWe told you last month about the passing of longtime West Seattle activist Nels Ekroth; today, we’ve gotten word from Jackie Dupras that Mr. Ekroth’s memorial is happening this week, 2 pm Thursday, at Alki Congregational Church (6115 SW Hinds) — you’re invited to bring photos and stories.

Fellow info junkies, rejoice: EveryBlock hits Seattle

We knew this was coming but didn’t know it was here till a tip from Rasmus: EveryBlock has launched its Seattle site. The stuff you’ll find aggregated there includes some of the government databases we read to look for interesting tidbits to share with you, but if you want to see it all in raw form, in one place you can access by zip code or street address — this is it. Not perfect because it’s tech-based rather than human-based, so if one of our articles, for example, doesn’t have an exact street address but affects you anyway, it might not come up – for example, what you’ll find right now on the Alki page doesn’t seem to include any of our articles within the past 24 hours – but if you want to watch, say, the boiler permits in your ‘hood, which are issued by address, perfect. It’s indexing recent 911 calls too (the stuff you otherwise find “live” here).

West Seattle Weather Watch: Here comes … fall

Even as the clouds lift a bit, there’s word that today’s just a warmup, er, cooldown for what’s to come: An “unseasonable” storm “more typical of autumn” is on the way late tomorrow, says the National Weather Service.

$150 million project @ The Kenney: “Reinventing ourselves”

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That cupola at The Kenney, the century-old senior-care complex in Fauntleroy, is a West Seattle landmark. As part of the major redevelopment project that The Kenney is planning, the building it’s part of will be demolished – but hold on, the cupola’s not going away. WSB obtained extensive details of the proposed project, just as The Kenney starts applying for city permits (its project page is now online here) and rolling out the plan to residents, neighbors, and community groups. Read on to find out about the big changes in the works:Read More

Traffic alert: Southbound I-5 trouble just south of The Bridge

August 18, 2008 10:17 am
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 |   West Seattle traffic alerts

Just in from WSDOT: “A roll-over collision is blocking the three left lanes of southbound I-5, just south of Spokane Street in Seattle. Fire and aid are on scene. WSDOT Incident Response is en-route.” Here’s the camera (what it shows, depends on where its operators focus it):

11:05 AM UPDATE: WSDOT says the crash has cleared but traffic is backed up a few miles into downtown.

Happening now: Port Commission/City Council meeting

August 18, 2008 9:58 am
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 |   West Seattle politics

For the first time in four years, the Seattle Port Commission and Seattle City Council are sitting down together – it’s happening right now and you can watch live via the Seattle Channel (online, or cable channel 21). We’ve been told City Councilmember Tom Rasmussen plans to bring up the proposal he backs to keep the “low bridge” from routinely opening during rush hours — since Port of Seattle management is on record as opposing it.

Happening today/tonight: Bag-fee support; train-noise concern

August 18, 2008 8:55 am
|    Comments Off on Happening today/tonight: Bag-fee support; train-noise concern
 |   Bag fee battle | Environment | Neighborhoods | West Seattle news

Reminders about two events we’ve previewed here in recent days, both happening today/tonight: Supporters of the city’s upcoming disposable-bag fee plan to show their support for it by gathering at Thriftway in Morgan Junction between 3-5 pm (read previous coverage here); West Seattle residents concerned about train noise from Harbor Island and vicinity will meet with city and port officials at City Hall downtown, 5:30 pm (previous coverage here). Organizers of both events told us anyone interested in those issues is welcome to join in.

Having a ball: Alki beach-volleyball tournament results

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(photo by Brian Todd, Aus der Traum Photography)
Ah, beach-volleyball weather, suddenly seems like a distant memory with thunder rumbling in the distance again tonight … WSB was the “media partner” for Saturday’s EVP Beach Volleyball Pro Tour stop at Alki, and tonight we have the final word on not only the winners, but also how/when you can see it on TV – that plus more pix ahead:Read More