day : 13/10/2008 14 results

Pigeon Point Council: News you can use, wherever you live

The news from tonight’s Pigeon Point Neighborhood Council meeting wasn’t just about/for Pigeon Point. For starters – a plaintive reminder, especially apropos on a rainy night early enough in fall that the leaves are still not all off the trees – KEEP YOUR DRAINS CLEAR! You want them to look more like this:

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Even if a clogged drain doesn’t cause trouble for your home or street – it can divert water somewhere that trouble WILL be caused. Meantime, other topics at PPNC tonight included a jail-site update, Delridge Community Center/skatepark-project updates, Cooper Elementary School update, library funding, and the reason why PPNC suddenly needs a new leader – all ahead:Read More

Be careful out there

October 13, 2008 8:54 pm
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 |   Gatewood | Transportation | West Seattle news

Back from checking out a 4-car fender-bender at 35th/Kenyon (map). Fire/medics were able to pull out fairly quickly (no serious injuries reported) but police were trying to sort out exactly how it all happened.

“Conservation hero” vote update: Go, Judy (and EarthCorps)!

It’s not entirely clear how many days remain for voting in the Cox Conserves Heroes competition so we’re operating as if it could close at any time — just checked the results; Fauntleroy’s Judy Pickens is a VERY close second! If you or anyone you know hasn’t voted yet, vote now! Not just because of all the work Judy has done for helping bring Fauntleroy Creek back to life, but also because if she wins, EarthCorps gets $5K. Vote here. 9:02 PM UPDATE: Watch the comments – now a tie for first – keep it up! TUESDAY MORNING UPDATE: Just received word that the voting ends tomorrow (Wednesday 10/15) morning, 8 am.

Fire crews at Allstar Fitness

October 13, 2008 7:20 pm
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 |   West Seattle fires | West Seattle news

There’s a “3 Red” call at Allstar Fitness – one patron texted us that everybody was asked to leave because of a “smell of smoke.” So far the call has not escalated beyond the three units originally dispatched (lower level than a “fire in building” call); we’ll let you know if/when we find out more. 7:53 PM UPDATE: Call is now officially closed.

West Seattle Crime Watch: Brazen break-in, and more

Another mini-wave of reports has come in – this time, car break-ins, from two neighborhoods in eastern West Seattle: Read More

Also from the courthouse: 59th/Admiral shooting trial update

October 13, 2008 4:36 pm
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 |   Crime | West Seattle news

While at the county courthouse for the Satterlee House arguments (see previous report), gavel.jpgwe checked on the trial of the 18-year-old accused of second-degree murder in the 59th/Admiral shooting that happened exactly one year ago today. The judge’s staff told us that motions were heard today and jury selection is scheduled to begin Wednesday morning. The suspect contends that he was sexually abused for years by the man he is on trial for shooting dead in a car that day; his lawyer told WSB last month that he had no intention of plea-bargaining this case (as was done in West Seattle’s other two 2007 murder cases, the beating death of Benny Reside at Cal-Mor Circle and the fatal shooting of Dewayne West at 37th/Findlay). The 59th/Admiral suspect has been jailed, in lieu of $200,000 bail, since his surrender within a few days of last year’s shooting.

Satterlee House court arguments over; ruling later this month

October 13, 2008 3:52 pm
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 |   West Seattle history | West Seattle news

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Just concluded in King County Superior Court Judge Suzanne Barnett‘s courtroom: Oral arguments for and against Satterlee House owner William Conner‘s challenge of the city rulings against his proposal to build three homes, averaging about 3,000 square feet each, on the expansive front lawn of the city landmark also known as “the Painted Lady of Beach Drive.” Conner’s lawyer Richard Hill and the city’s lawyer Judy Barbour each spoke to the judge for about 45 minutes, Hill presented a few minutes of rebuttal, and then Judge Barnett set October 24th as the date she will announce her ruling. Full details of today’s proceedings later; this report includes backstory on the case (which is a followup to city Hearing Examiner proceedings we covered earlier this year, as Conner challenged the city Landmarks Board’s denial of permission to proceed with the development application – the argument isn’t whether he can build anything on the lawn, which is on the record as three separate lots, but whether what he wants to build would harm the characteristics for which the site was designated a landmark).

Traveling to or from Vashon? New cameras for ferry users

Just announced by Washington State Ferries — it’s just added frequently updated traffic cameras for the area around the main Vashon ferry terminal run. See them here (second row), and read the full announcement ahead:Read More

West Seattle Crime Watch: Tales of three thefts

Three short reader reports to share – if you live in the Seaview or Admiral areas in particular, you might want to be aware:Read More

Opening day for Snap Fitness in Jefferson Square

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That photo is courtesy Jim Flynn, taken before he and wife M.J. Benavente opened the doors to Snap Fitness in Jefferson Square (next to Subway, on the 42nd SW street side) just moments ago. We told you about their enterprise back in August (Jim’s a longtime WSB’er). From hereon out, he says, they’re open 24/7 to members; you can drop by for a tour 11 am-1 pm or 4-7 pm Monday-Thursday, 11 am-2 pm Friday, 10 am-3 pm Saturdays, or call 206/299-1597 if you want to arrange a tour for some other time. This is a “soft opening”; they’re planning an official “grand opening” celebration next month.

How to help your ‘hood: For starters — just show up!

October 13, 2008 10:53 am
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 |   How to help | Neighborhoods | West Seattle news

Four major neighborhood/community group meetings this week, and really, it’s a huge first step to helping your neighborhood when you just show up. We go to as many of these meetings as we can every month and that’s what the groups’ leaders are dying to see (they’re all volunteers, by the way) … the more people the merrier. And you’d be surprised what you find out. Here’s your chances this week: TONIGHT – The Pigeon Point Neighborhood Council is having what’s been billed as its “most important meeting of the year,” 6:30 pm, Cooper Elementary (map). TOMORROW (TUESDAY): Admiral Neighborhood Association, 7 pm, Admiral Church basement meeting room (map); Fauntleroy Community Association, 7 pm, The Hall @ Fauntleroy (in the old schoolhouse, which itself is on the agenda, after last week’s big news). WEDNESDAY: Morgan Community Association‘s quarterly meeting, 7 pm, The Kenney; Delridge District Council (wireps from eastern West Seattle’s community groups and other organizations), 7 pm, Southwest Precinct meeting room. See our right sidebar, under WEST SEATTLE COMMUNITY GROUPS, for a list of other neighborhood associations who’d be thrilled to see/hear from you. MONDAY AFTERNOON ADDENDUM: One more neighborhood event this week where you would be more than welcome – the Junction Neighborhood Organization‘s quarterly cleanup (free treats!) is this Saturday morning. Help get the streets in shape before winter barrels into us. E-mail JuNO prez Erica Karlovitserica@wsjuno.com – if you can help (or have a Q). TUESDAY AFTERNOON ADDENDUM: JuNO’s cleanup has been postponed – but e-mail Erica to get you on the list for helping when it’s rescheduled!

Columbus Day observance today: What you need to know

BANKS: Most if not all closed
MAIL: Regular delivery, no; Express Mail, yes.
SCHOOLS: Open (public schools had Friday off for a “professional development day”)
STATE GOVERNMENT: Open
LOCAL GOVERNMENT: Open (including courts)
PARKING: Regular weekday rates/hours
TRANSIT: Regular
LIBRARIES: Open

West Seattle Gas Price Watch: Down ~$1 from the peak

gas-pump.jpgThough we’ve posted the occasional spot price check here and there in the last several weeks, it’s been 2 1/2 months since our last Sunday night drive-by survey of posted regular and premium prices at all West Seattle stations. As prices start to fall faster, we thought this would be a good time to get back in the game; discovered in the process that many WS stations are now down about a buck from their June peak — and one station’s currently out of the gas biz. The full price list, lowest to highest, ahead:Read More

Got something to get off your chest (or elsewhere)?

A new online sideline for WSB’s inaugural sponsor Hotwire Coffee … a place to confess a secret, completely anonymously … or read others’ confessions even if you don’t have one of your own, yet. Check it out here. (And if you need to find it again later, it’s linked from CONFESS in the Hotwire ad on the WSB sidebar.)