A friendly reminder that we’re thrilled to publish wedding announcements (free) – here’s a brand-new one:
Marlena Blonsky and Whitney Young are happy to announce their marriage on Saturday, September 8th.
The West Seattle residents happily exchanged vows and rings in front of friends and family in sunny Sequim.
They are so excited for this new chapter in their lives and can’t wait to make their marriage legal (hopefully) in December with the passage of Referendum 74.
Marlena says they’re honeymooning in Alaska next week, and adds, “We crowd-sourced lots of materials for our wedding from the Forums on West Seattle Blog, including Mason Jars, mini antique liquor bottles for decorations, and chalkboards.”
Sunday, bring your classic (1979 or earlier) car, truck, motorcycle, or moped to the fifth annual West Seattle Junction Car Show – details here – or, if you don’t want to enter, plan to come wander the (closed) streets in the heart of The Junction, 8 am-4 pm. It’s free to see, but fundraising raffle tickets are sold to help Pencil Me In For Kids – which buys school supplies for kids in need – and here’s where you can help BEFORE the show: Organizer Michael Hoffman from Liberty Bell Print and Design is still looking for more donated raffle prizes. Just about anything, he says, but gift certificates are popular (especially for massages!), so if you have something to donate, to help kids, please call Michael at 206-935-1212 or Liz at 206-935-0904.
After an intense round of public comment – which ended with heckling from people who wanted it extended – the City Council voted unanimously today to pass emergency rules targeting a particular form of so-called “tall skinny house” development. Here’s the news release:
The Seattle City Council today approved legislation that puts interim controls in place on small lot development in Seattle.
While the City has generally been supportive of urban infill development, some single family development approved under current lot size exceptions, has resulted in structures that are out of character with surrounding conditions and inconsistent with the policy intent for infill development. Interim measures were adopted today to allow adequate time for analysis and discussion of permanent standards.
4:30 PM: Police are investigating a report of two cars with people inside shooting at each other in the 26th and Hudson vicinity, according to Det. Renée Witt. Still working on more details. So far no report of anyone being hit/hurt. A search is under way. We’ve asked police for detailed descriptions; so far, via the scanner, we have one car described as a white Taurus/Monte Carlo type of car.
4:38 PM UPDATE: Roads are blocked in the area while police search.
4:47 PM UPDATE: WSB co-publisher Patrick Sand reports from the scene that police are checking on a red Cadillac near 26th and Hudson with a bullet hole through the windshield. They told him they believe it to be one of the cars that was involved. (Photos added)
From SDOT, a road-work alert for a busy intersection on the east edge of The Triangle:
Pedestrian improvements are coming to the intersection of 35th Avenue SW and SW Alaskan Street. Beginning tomorrow, September 11, SDOT paving crews will begin installing upgraded curb ramps. The crews will work on one corner at a time, closing the curb lanes at the corner and providing a sidewalk detour. The crews will work from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and plan to complete the work by September 21. SDOT will also install an upgraded pedestrian signal push button for crossing 35th Avenue SW at this location for people who are visually impaired.
Our efforts to get more information about the buyer and the plan for the space started then. Eventually, we learned it was the same ownership as Bick’s Broadview Grill in Greenwood. Then we published a short update last January, when a name for the West Seattle space turned up in online files for business and liquor licensing: West City Sardine Kitchen.
Our efforts to contact the ownership continued, since people kept messaging us asking what’s up with the space and what kind of restaurant will it be. Phone messages, site visits, notes under the door. Most recently, when a permit application for a sign turned up online, with the sign described on the DPD page as “Westcity Kitchen,” we contacted Western Neon, which was listed on the permit application. They confirmed the name but said they couldn’t discuss it further without the owner’s permission.
The community interest has continued, with various WSB’ers even sending us tips if they spotted someone working in the space. But every time we went over, either the worker(s) were gone, or (once) we found a worker who said they had no details to discuss since they were just there to work.
Then finally today, our postal-mail box yielded a letter, on letterhead for Saltoro in Greenwood. Ahead, the transcription:Read More
Even before marijuana legalization goes to voters in our state via Initiative 502 on the November 6th ballot, the City of Seattle is pursuing new rules regarding where marijuana could be grown, processed, and dispensed in the city. They’ve published the proposal and are taking comments through October 1st. Read on for a news release explaining the proposal:Read More
From West Seattleite Brandie Ahlgren, founder of CityDog Magazine, we get word today of the winner from CityDog’s recent Cover Model Search photo sessions at West Seattle Thriftway (WSB sponsor; here’s our August coverage): Penny the Dalmatian! She is now in the final running for a future cover spot on CityDog. Brandie also shares the link for photos of all the dogs photographed at Thriftway – see them here. If you didn’t make it to that session, CityDog invites you to their final two stops – at Fremont Oktoberfest and FidoFEST, both September 23rd (details here).
Two Morgan Junction development-related notes this morning:
(WSB photo from this past June) SHORT STOP SITE: Though it’s still on the market as a “development site” – as first reported here in June – there’s a chance the Short Stop/cleaners property at 6311 California SW might be purchased by Seattle Parks. It’s immediately north of Morgan Junction Park, and the city had long been “looking to purchase property in the Morgan Junction Urban Village with funds allocated through the Neighborhood Park Acquisition program,” according to the Morgan Community Association. This Thursday (September 13), 6-8 pm, interested community members are welcome to join MoCA and Parks’ Chip Nevins for a meeting that’ll start in the back room of Feedback Lounge (WSB sponsor; 6451 California SW) and head over to the site. MoCA’s announcement also notes that in case this purchase is made, “Input from neighbors is sought on what should be done with the property in between purchase and the actual development of the park space, which may be several years in the future.” (11:23 am P.S.: Parks confirms it’s in negotiations for the site.)
ANOTHER ‘ROW’ PROJECT: In July, we reported on two “row house” townhouse developments in the works in West Seattle, including Morgan 5 in Morgan Junction, at California/Myrtle. Those are being developed by Isola; now, JBC Real Estate has sent word of one in Morgan Junction for which they have just broken ground, right behind the McDonald’s at California/Holly. It’s a six-unit project called “Holly Row.” JBC’s Jon Coombes also has a 4-unit Alki project on the drawing board, at 60th and Stevens.
TONIGHT’S TRAFFIC ALERT: From our day-by-day/night-by-night list, another 9 pm-5 am closure of southbound 99/Alaskan Way Viaduct is on the schedule for tonight.
JACK BLOCK PARK CLOSURE: Participants in a law-enforcement conference are using the park today/tonight for a run and barbecue, as first reported here last week.
‘ONE HOUSE PER LOT’ RULE? This afternoon during their 2 pm meeting, City Councilmembers take up a proposal that would put an emergency moratorium on “incompatible buildings on undersized single-family … lots,” explained in this Seattle Times (WSB partner) report. Agenda here (with link to proposed ordinance).
IRISH DANCE CLASSES: New beginners’ series starting 4 pm Mondays at the West Seattle VFW Hall – info here.
DOGPADDLING – FOR DOGS: Arbor Heights Swim and Tennis Club opens its pool to dogs, 5-7 pm, first of six daily sessions before shutting the pool down for the year; details here.
GIRLS’ VOLLEYBALL STARTS AT ALKI COMMUNITY CENTER: 5:30 pm, for girls 10-17 – details here.
NORTH DELRIDGE NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCIL: The NDNC invites you to its monthly meeting, 6:30 tonight at Delridge Library (Delridge/Brandon). Preview the agenda here.
(WSB photo from September 2011)
Got a dog that loves to swim? Here’s her/his big chance! From Cori:
It is that time again, Arbor Heights Swim & Tennis club is closed for the season but before we go, we are opening the pool to dogs this week.
M-F 5-7 pm and Sat 10 am-1 pm
$10 donation to cover the cost of removing dog hair from the filter system, money left over goes to support teams. Also available for $20/dog – a pass that is good for the week.
Dogs must be healthy, up to date on vaccinations and very well socialized. Owners are responsible for their pet. Do not bring more dogs than you can control. Thank you!
Today is the start of the first full week of classes at Westside School (WSB sponsor) under the leadership of new head of school Kate Mulligan.
In honor of her previous home and school in Hawaii, Mulligan was feted on the last day of the traditionally short first week with an island-themed assembly, featuring Sunshine From Polynesia:
The faculty got into the act too:
By the time Westside’s students walked in last Wednesday, Mulligan already had been on the job for two months. We talked with her before the year began.
Sunday, bring your classic (1979 or earlier) car, truck, motorcycle, or moped to the fifth annual 
From West Seattleite Brandie Ahlgren, founder of 
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