West Seattle, Washington

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month : 07/2013 326 results

Video: Torchlight Parade eve ‘Band Jam’ in West Seattle
July 26, 2013 7:17 pm
|      15 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | WS culture/arts

(Photos by WSB co-publisher Patrick Sand)
7:17 PM: The first of more than half a dozen marching bands is on the field right now at Southwest Athletic Complex across from Chief Sealth International High School, for this year’s Band Jam – something the Seattle All-City Band and its director Marcus Pimpleton (photo below; he’s also music leader at Sealth and adjacent Denny International Middle School) came up as a way for ACB and visiting bands to have fun and tune up the night before the big Seafair Torchlight Parade.

Good crowd already in the stadium stands, but still lots of room for you to drop in – no admission charge, but if you buy concessions/merchandise from ACB volunteers, that’ll benefit their ongoing operations. The Junior All-City Band, which Pimpleton explained as a “two-week camp” – including its performance in last Saturday’s Rotary Kiddie Parade before the West Seattle Grand Parade – is up first. Others to come include not only the ACB but also the Calgary Round-Up Band (seen in the WS Grand Parade as was the ACB), Pacific Northwest Drumline (video below), Sumner High School Marching Band (top photo), and more.

9:07 PM: Over after two high-energy hours.

Surprise of the night, Chaotic Noise Marching Corps (photo above), a self-described ‘renegade marching band’ – wow! (Video added:)

11:05 PM: We’re adding photos and video now, some inline, some in this last section. Here’s our video of how the night ended – with members of all the bands getting back out on the field for what was indeed a band jam:

Aside from that, Calgary put on what was literally the biggest show:

It was a field-wide, theatrical presentation with a circus theme, including acrobatics, and even, as shown in our photo above, a few costumes. Video:

Shadows fell on the field as dusk approached, but spirits and sound blazed brightly:

Some of the hosts’ choreography:

All-City Band has been practicing at SWAC this year instead of their traditional site, Memorial Stadium at Seattle Center.

ADDED SATURDAY: Thanks to Steve White for the view above of the stands from the field’s south end!

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Community open house tomorrow at West Seattle Fight & Fitness
July 26, 2013 5:06 pm
|    Comments Off on Community open house tomorrow at West Seattle Fight & Fitness
 |   Delridge | Fun stuff to do | West Seattle news

No big festival or parade in West Seattle tomorrow – but fun events abound just the same. The video’s from the WSB sponsor where you’ll find one of those events – a community open house at West Seattle Fight and Fitness in North Delridge. Tomorrow from 10 am to 3 pm, you’re invited to stop by to tour the facility, where more remodeling is under way, and meet seven community vendors, including Roxbury Spine and Wellness Clinic (also a WSB sponsor), plus there’s word a food truck will be there too. Here’s the Facebook event page; WSFF is at 5050 Delridge Way SW.

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West Seattle Crime Watch: Stolen car; stolen GPS; two ‘suspicious’ sightings
July 26, 2013 1:44 pm
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | West Seattle news

Four reader reports to share in West Seattle Crime Watch, starting with a stolen car to watch for:
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Happening now: From Utah to Las Vegas to Admiral – installation under way for prefab green-built home
July 26, 2013 12:49 pm
|      15 COMMENTS
 |   Development | West Seattle news

As mentioned in today’s West Seattle Friday calendar preview, a home-building project in West Seattle is creating a stir today. It’s more like “home-installing.” A North Seattle company called Greenfab built the 2,300-square-foot, 3-bedroom, 3-bathroom house in Utah, trucked it to Las Vegas for a show during which 7,000 people toured it, and then brought it here, where cranes are installing the home in five pieces on a lot in North Admiral.

Go here to see what it will look like – more classic than modern, built to a stringent sustainability standard – “LEED Platinum ready,” according to the official brochure. Greenfab’s Johnny Hartsfield says once it’s installed – the last piece might not be added until Saturday morning – there will be at least a month more work, and then it will go on sale, for a price likely around $785,000.

This is Greenfab’s first project in West Seattle, and might be the last one for a while, with its next few projects slated elsewhere in the city; Hartsfield explained that they acquired this site because of a relationship with its out-of-state (former) owner, who had contacted them about a custom project elsewhere. The previous home on this site was torn down more than a year ago. Greenfab welcomes visitors as this project proceeds today and even has an info tent set up across the street (50th SW, which is closed south of Waite because of the crane and truck activity). Meantime, we’ll be adding a few more photos – and you can see progress reports on Greenfab’s Facebook page; they’re also shooting a time-lapse of the installation and expect to have it done within a week or so.

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West Seattle schools: 2 chances to talk about boundary changes, ‘other big district decisions’
July 26, 2013 11:53 am
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

West Seattle’s representative on the Seattle School Board, Marty McLaren, has just announced the dates for the informal meetings she promised to set up over the summer, to get your thoughts on boundary changes and other big district decisions later in the year:

The decisions about Seattle Schools Growth Boundaries in West Seattle will be very important for our community, and I’ve scheduled two informal West Seattle meetings so that community members can gather to discuss the issues:

Saturday, August 3, from 10 to 12 noon at the Southwest Branch Library, 9010 35th Ave SW

Wednesday, August 14, 6 to 7:45 PM at the West Seattle Branch Library, 2306 42nd SW (behind the Metropolitan Market)

Related district documents are linked from this page on her website.

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West Seattle Friday: From Admiralty House to prefab house; Band Jam; more
July 26, 2013 9:29 am
|      1 COMMENT
 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

Thanks to Josh for the photo of the line outside the Admiralty House Antiques liquidation sale, one of today’s highlights from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar (and elsewhere):

SALE STARTS: As noted again yesterday in our story about its now-retired owner Fred Dau, the Admiralty House Antiques liquidation sale is on, until 4 pm today, 9 am-4 pm each of the next two days. Online previews are here. (2141 California SW)

‘LOVE PARKS’ DAY: Big work party at Lincoln Park, 10 am-2 pm. Pre-registration was requested but we suspect they won’t mind if you just show up. Here’s our preview.

HOUSE INSTALLATION: Maybe you’ve seen the trucks in the Admiral area this morning:

Thanks to Dave and Jane for sharing the photo. We just learned about this last night (thanks to a neighbor who visited our table at the first Hiawatha concert) – the North Seattle company Greenfab is installing a three-story pre-built home near 50th and Waite, where some side streets will be closed as a result, and that’s what’s been trucked in.

MARIJUANA POLICIES: The City Council committee briefing we mentioned earlier this week is at 2 pm today. If you can’t be there, Seattle Channel (cable or online) will be live as usual.

BAND JAM: Big show tonight with at least five marching bands at Southwest Athletic Complex, getting ready for tomorrow night’s Seafair Torchlight Parade. Here’s our most recent preview from early today. Free, but bring money for treats and merchandise that’ll support ACB! (2801 SW Thistle)

SHAKESPEARE AT CAMP LONG: Greenstage presents “King Lear” outdoors at Camp Long, 7 pm – details in our calendar listing. (5200 35th SW)

CHESS AT ARTSWEST: Second and final weekend for the ArtsWest Summer Apprenticeship Program’s presentation of the musical “Chess,” onstage at 7:30 tonight. (4711 California SW)

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TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Friday updates, notes
July 26, 2013 6:01 am
|    Comments Off on TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Friday updates, notes
 |   Announcements

(Live view from the west-facing WS Bridge camera; other cameras are on the WSB Traffic page)
6:01 AM: We’re starting this report off the main page because of the motorcycle crash we’ve been covering since the 3 am hour; our ongoing coverage is here. Traffic/transit effects because of the investigation:
*California is closed from Genesee south to Alaska
*Oregon is closed between 42nd and 44th
*Four bus routes are detouring around that area – 22, 50, 55, 128

8:21 AM UPDATE: Metro says the area has reopened.

BACK TO ORIGINAL REPORT: Meantime, we’re going into a busy 3-day weekend of traffic/transit effects around the area – here’s the full roundup from SDOT, including the northbound Highway 99 closure for the Torchlight Run tomorrow night. And here’s the full bus alert related to that:

Riders should plan ahead and prepare for rerouted bus service and potential delays on Saturday, July 27, from about 3 p.m. to 10:30 p.m., as Metro Transit shifts 35 bus routes in the Seattle Center, downtown Seattle and Alaskan Way Viaduct areas for the Seafair Torchlight fun runs and parade. Other transit and traffic delays can be expected Saturday as a major event at Key Arena lets out, the Capitol Hill Block Party rocks on and the Mariners are in town.

Ride transit to Torchlight

While most buses that operate on surface streets in the Seattle Center and downtown Seattle areas will be rerouted, riding transit is still the best way to get to these events, as traffic will be congested and parking downtown will be limited. Rerouted buses go to within one or two blocks of the parade route.

Friday-Sunday: Pine Street weekend bus service revisions

Part of the impacts start Friday evening, July 26, when Pine Street bus service is rerouted until midday Sunday due to the grandstand placement at Fourth Avenue.

Saturday evening bus service revisions
While the parade begins at 7:30 p.m., transit service changes begin earlier. From about 6 p.m. Saturday, July 27, until the end of the parade, the entire length of Fourth Avenue in downtown Seattle will be closed, and nearly all east/west streets will also be blocked at Fourth Avenue. Many buses will be rerouted and there will likely be schedule delays. Delays in one area can cause delays at other points along a bus’s routing.

Buses with reroutes include RapidRide C and D lines, Routes 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 8, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 21, 24, 26, 28, 33, 36, 40, 43, 47, 49, 66, 70, 83, 84, 99, 120, 125, 131, 132, and Sound Transit routes 522, 545 and 554. Refer to the posted information for each route to see what stops might be missed.

During the Seafair Torchlight Run events, starting prior to the parade at about 5:30 p.m., the northbound Alaskan Way Viaduct will be closed for about one hour until the runners clear that area. Northbound Viaduct buses will operate via I-5 during this time. The southbound Viaduct is not affected and will remain open.

Starting at 6 p.m., while the Seattle Center area is affected by parade activities, Metro will operate a Route 4 shuttle about every 20 minutes to and from Nob Hill Avenue. At Seattle Center board the Route 4 shuttle northbound on First Avenue North, just south of Republican Street. It will serve all regularly posted bus stops along its route.

Also starting at 6 p.m. – and until traffic and crowds clear afterward – Metro bus routes 120, 124, 125, 131 and 132 will serve a temporary bus stop southbound on Third Avenue between Pike and Union streets, instead of their usual stop between Pine and Pike streets. South of Union Street they will serve their regularly posted stops along Third Avenue.

Most transit service will return to its regular routing and stops at 10:30 p.m., except Pine Street service will remain rerouted until about midday Sunday when the parade grandstand is removed.

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Update: Motorcycle rider killed in West Seattle Junction crash
July 26, 2013 3:40 am
|      75 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | WS breaking news

(SCROLL DOWN for newest information)

3:40 AM: We are at California and Oregon, where a motorcycle rider is dead at the scene of a crash that happened just after 3 am. Police at the scene are not able to say much yet, but a Jeep Liberty also was involved in the crash; its driver was not seriously hurt. The intersection is taped off and likely to be closed for hours.

4:10 AM UPDATE: The Traffic Collision Investigation Squad, which investigates crashes with deadly and/or life-threatening injuries, is here. They’re expanding the closure of California northward to Genesee; Oregon is closed between 42nd and 44th. The motorcycle, and victim, are on the west side of the street just north of California, and the collision took out a big planter. SPD describes the victim as a man in his 60s. The SUV driver, also male, had a dog in the vehicle, and someone has come to pick it up. TV stations are here too and gearing up to report on this during morning newscasts.

5:02 AM UPDATE: Metro says Routes 22, 50, 55, 128 are being rerouted around the crash scene until it’s cleared.

6:16 AM UPDATE: We’re checking back at the scene.

Investigators think they will be there a few more hours, so please note that if you go through that area in the morning, you will need to detour.

8:05 AM UPDATE: Open again, per Metro alert that buses have returned to their regular routes.

9:48 AM UPDATE: SPD has just posted this update:

Just shortly after 3:00 a.m.,a patrol officer was stopped facing southbound on California Av Sw at Sw Alaska St. The officer noticed a red Jeep Liberty turn left from SW Alaska onto northbound California Av Sw. Moments later, the officer heard a loud crash behind him; he made a u-turn and came upon that same Jeep Liberty involved in a collision with a motorcycle at the intersection of California Av SW and SW Oregon St. It appears the Harley Davidson motorcycle was travelling west on Sw Oregon St and was struck in the intersection by the northbound Jeep Liberty.

On scene patrol officers initiated CPR on the 62-year-old male motorcycle operator; Seattle Fire resumed life saving efforts when they arrived, the male was subsequently pronounced deceased at the scene shortly thereafter. The King County Medical Examiner responded and took custody of the male.

As is routine, a DUI unit responded and evaluated the driver of the Jeep Liberty; no signs of impairment were detected.
The investigation continues.

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One more reminder: Band Jam tonight at Southwest Athletic Complex
July 26, 2013 2:35 am
|    Comments Off on One more reminder: Band Jam tonight at Southwest Athletic Complex
 |   West Seattle news | WS culture/arts

If you didn’t see the All-City Band last Saturday in the West Seattle Grand Parade, our video clip features their first song after entering the parade route by Hiawatha. This Saturday night – as in tomorrow – they’re in the city’s biggest parade of the year, the Seafair Torchlight Parade. So tonight, it’s time for one last practice, and that will be before as big a crowd as cares to come out and cheer them on. As we’ve been telling you for the past few weeks, it’s the annual Band Jam, and this year it’s right here in West Seattle, home to All-City Band director Marcus Pimpleton, at Southwest Athletic Complex (2801 SW Thistle), 7 pm. Along with the All-City Band, at least four other bands will perform; the lineup could change up to the last minute – check the Facebook event page. Admission is free; merchandise and food will be for sale, with proceeds benefiting the All-City Band.

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Followup: Benchview neighborhood wins key ruling in lot-split fight
July 25, 2013 8:52 pm
|      15 COMMENTS
 |   Development | West Seattle news

(UPDATED FRIDAY MORNING with comment from City Attorney’s Office – scroll down)

(WSB photo taken tonight: Original house at right, under-construction house at left)
8:52 PM: King County Superior Court Judge Mariane Spearman‘s ruling is in, following last Friday’s hearing (WSB coverage here) on the Benchview neighborhood’s fight over boundaries for three potential home sites where one house had stood for decades. We’ve just downloaded the court documents, after getting e-mail with this link to the neighbors’ report on the ruling. While Judge Spearman ruled for the city on two technical points, she ruled against the big point the neighborhood had challenged – the configuration the city had approved for the “lot boundary adjustment” to create three building lots on the site at 55th and Manning, shown in this graphic enhanced by neighbor David Allen:

We’re going back through the court document for more details and will add to this followup.

ADDED 9:31 PM: Here’s the 13-page ruling (PDF); embedded, below:

Judge's ruling in Benchview neighborhood challenge to city-approved lot split


Do note, this case was NOT a lawsuit – it was a challenge brought under the Land Use Petition Act.

From the ruling – the two points on which Judge Spearman sided with the city: One, that it was proper for the city to say the “historic lot exception” applied here; though only one home sat on the corner for 60 years, the land technically was four lots, platted at 2500 square feet. The city had already ruled that one of those lots could not be considered separate because part of it “is needed to satisfy the current rear yard requirement for the existing house.” Two, that it was OK for the owner/developers’ application to have been treated as a Lot Boundary Adjustment case that did not require more public involvement.

The point on which the neighborhood won involves a deck whose presence, as the judge sees it, consolidates three of the four “lots” into one because it juts over the line, and therefore requires the city to change its calculations for the minimum allowable lot size. As a result, one of the three newly boundary-adjusted lots is too small, the judge ruled.

The question now is whether the city will challenge the judge’s ruling. We’ll be seeking comment tomorrow. We originally reported in January on the neighborhood’s concerns.

ADDED 1:23 AM: We asked Benchview’s Dave Allen for comment:

We are thrilled that Judge Spearman made a key ruling in favor of the Benchview neighborhood. By reversing the City’s approval of part of the lot boundary adjustment, the rest of the LBA falls apart and is nullified.

We trust the City will comply with the judge’s decision. The developer can submit a fresh LBA application. But according to City law, the house he is building on the property now disqualifies him from claiming three total lots. Now he only has two.

Two houses on these two lots has always been the fair and reasonable solution. Now it’s the law.

ADDED 10:03 AM FRIDAY: As promised, we contacted the City Attorney’s Office. From spokesperson Kimberly Mills: “We are considering the judge’s ruling. As always, the options include doing nothing (accepting the ruling), seeking reconsideration from the judge, or appealing to the Division One of the Court of Appeals. We have not yet resolved which option to pursue.”

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Happening now: Swingin’ night on the lawn as Summer Concerts at Hiawatha begin
July 25, 2013 6:56 pm
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | WS culture/arts

It’s the first night of this year’s Summer Concerts at Hiawatha series, and swing/jazz seems perfect for this warm summer night on the east lawn of Hiawatha Community Center, where Glenn Crytzer and His Syncopators are playing for a crowd we estimate to be at least 300 so far, with people still drifting in:

And some are already dancing, both near the stage and on the edges of the crowd:

The concerts are presented by the Admiral Neighborhood Association, led by president David Whiting:

He introduced tonight’s emcee, Victoria Ferrulli, who is representing ANA in the Seafair Scholarship Program for Women (one of two West Seattle representatives in this year’s competition, along with Hi-Yu‘s Kayli Schulz):

We’ll find out Saturday night, before the Torchlight Parade, who gets crowned as Seafair royalty. Meantime – concert sponsors are here at Hiawatha, including us, and some have special freebies – next to our table, Merrill Gardens (WSB sponsor) has coloring books, and over under the canopy, Metropolitan Market (also a WSB sponsor) has mini-brownie bites with coupons for a discount on more:

The music continues until about 8 pm, and it’s a big lawn, so bring your chair/blanket if you’re not here already, bring a picnic if you want – it’s a really casual environment and a great place to be outside on a midsummer night. Next week (Thursday, August 1st, 6:30 pm) it’ll be The Dusty 45s – and if you want a dinner option, there’ll be a barbecue benefiting Hiawatha.

7:49 PM UPDATE: ANA’s estimate of tonight’s peak crowd (starting to dwindle now), 400 people.

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4755 Fauntleroy alley spat: Development team defends its ‘public benefit’ plan; Whole Foods says, ‘We’re a good employer’
July 25, 2013 5:44 pm
|      37 COMMENTS
 |   4755 Fauntleroy | Development | West Seattle news

In the second week since the 4755 Fauntleroy Way project – 370 apartments, a Whole Foods Market, and other TBA retailers – was catapulted into the citywide spotlight by a mayoral letter, we heard yesterday from the advocacy group rallying concerns, and now, today, we hear again from the development team and WF. Reps for Lennar Homes and Weingarten Realty tell WSB they are still hoping to engage the mayor directly in dialogue, but for now, here’s their defense of the “public benefit” they are proposing as a prerequisite for City Council approval of an “alley vacation” for the site, which would lead to the city selling the alley land in question to the developers, which the mayor says the city shouldn’t do:

… This is the first project implemented under the West Seattle Triangle Plan and is an exciting opportunity for the community to have the environmental issues on this site remediated, abandoned buildings removed, and vacant parking lots replaced with new businesses, housing and, most of all, jobs.

Early in this process, the development team reviewed the planning and zoning documents for these parcels and we were impressed with the grass-roots effort that created and implemented the West Seattle Triangle Plan.

Accordingly, this re-development fully supports the recommendations of the community as expressed in the West Seattle Triangle Plan. This vision, passed by Council and signed by Mayor McGinn less than two years ago, includes vacating the public alleyway and creating a midblock connector.

The proposal to vacate an on-site alley went through extensive vetting by DPD, SDOT, the Design Commission and the West Seattle Design Review Board. Under the City’s established process, the Design Commission unanimously recommended approval of the alley vacation and the West Seattle Design Review Board also recommended approval of the project. Strong public support in favor of the re-development was seen at all meetings and is also seen in comments posted on media websites.

The total width of the midblock connector is 51 feet on 40th Avenue and 41 feet on Fauntleroy Way. This is the normal width of a typical city street in Seattle and exceeds the minimum required standards for an alley, which are just 20 feet.

Along with providing a new midblock connector that is more than twice as wide as the requirements of an alley, this redevelopment will also create a functioning north/south alley. Currently, the existing alley that runs north and south, dead ends into a 6’-0” high retaining wall and is impassable for vehicles or pedestrians.

Although we are replacing approximately 6,600 square feet of vacated alley with a 11,000-square-foot midblock connector, which includes a public easement, the city requires us to purchase the vacated portion of the alley from the city. This transaction will occur after a post-construction appraisal is completed.

In addition to purchasing the vacated alley from the city at full-market value, we are required to provide a “public benefit” package. For this project, more than $2 million will be invested into the community by providing:

• Activation of a city-designated Green Street on 40th Ave. SW
• Creation of 5,000+ s.f. of public plazas and open space on site
• Widening of 40th Ave. SW on the north end of the block
• Creation of 6- to 10-foot-wide bands of landscaping around the project
• Addition of a 5-foot-wide bike lane on Fauntleroy Way
• Curation and installation of public art
• Funding for design of a new city park on 40th Ave SW

Another positive outcome of the re-development will be a new source of sales and property tax revenues for the city.

Through all of this and more, we are demonstrating a strong commitment to the community, and West Seattle will benefit from a blighted area being re-developed into a thriving, pedestrian-friendly business and residential district.

Meantime, Whole Foods – which is not part of the “development team” but rather a signed tenant for the project – has sent us its latest rebuttal. From regional president Joe Rogoff, from whom we first heard July 16th (in a statement toward the end of our story the day the controversy erupted):
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West Seattle road work: Delridge-area changes next week
July 25, 2013 5:14 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   Delridge | West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

Though the current phase of the Delridge Repaving Project has not required detours, because the road is wide enough for one lane each way, there will be changes in the area next week, SDOT just announced – read on:

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West Seattle Crime Watch: Home broken into; gas siphoned
July 25, 2013 3:33 pm
|      7 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | West Seattle news

Two quick West Seattle Crime Watch notes to share. First, from Sue in Gatewood:

My house was (burglarized) in broad daylight (Wednesday) between 9:30-11 AM. I live on SW Elmgrove between California and 41st. They entered through a side window using a screwdriver and left through the front door. I have 2 large dogs who bark a lot but aren’t vicious who were unharmed. They took mostly jewelry, 2 cameras, iPod, small amount of cash.

And from Erika:

Last week, my boyfriend and myself had someone siphon gas and take our gas caps some time during the night on Alki Avenue. We live next to Anchor Park.

SIDE NOTE: We’re pitching it again – hurry up and register your Night Out block party for August 6th – and if it’s OK for us to possibly stop by for a photo, send the location (and who to ask for) to editor@westseattleblog.com – thanks!

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West Seattle summer: 3rd annual Luna Park Block Party set
July 25, 2013 2:55 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   Luna Park | West Seattle news

Just noticed this on the Luna Park marquee while passing through that business district – its third annual Block Party is now set for three weeks from today. And now we have the official announcement, featuring some new partners this year:

Ola Salon in the Luna Park neighborhood of West Seattle will be participating in the 3rd annual Luna Park Block Party, which they are leading along with Luna Park Café, on Thursday, August 15, 2013 from 6:00 pm-9:00 pm. This year’s party has more fun activities than ever, and will support two neighborhood nonprofits: Transitional Resources, a neighborhood mental health center, and Kitty Harbor, a cat rescue, rehabilitation and adoption center. Participants will also have a chance to get a preview of the new West Seattle Brewing Company’s offerings.

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New way to try to find out what that helicopter’s doing overhead: King County Sheriff’s Office Air Support on Twitter
July 25, 2013 2:08 pm
|      14 COMMENTS
 |   Helicopter | West Seattle news

(Photo tweeted today by @KCSOAirSupport)
Sometimes when a helicopter’s hovering, it’s TV – three of the four major regional TV stations have helicopters, and staff them into the early evening hours on weekdays. But sometimes, especially if it’s after dark, it’s Guardian One, the King County Sheriff’s Office helicopter that assists other law-enforcement agencies too (including Seattle PD, which does not have its own helicopter). And now there’s a new way to try to find out what Guardian One is up to if you suspect it’s what you are seeing or hearing: A new Twitter feed, @KCSOAirSupport. Even if you are not a Twitter member, you can still access that via the Web, or better yet, we’re adding it to the mix in the Twitter box on the WSB West Seattle Crime Watch page, so that you can check there.

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Admiralty House Antiques’ closing sale: Owner Fred Dau recalls ‘wonderful, wonderful people’
July 25, 2013 11:48 am
|      22 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news | West Seattle people

Story and photos by Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

Admiralty House Antiques, the North Admiral shop that’s been open a day here, a day there, for many of its 40-plus years, opens for three final – and consecutive! – days starting tomorrow.

It’s the liquidation sale we first told you about three weeks ago.

Owner Fred Dau (above) says that at 97 years old, “I’ve worked long enough, I thought I didn’t need to go do more work.”

But what really forced the decision was the death of his wife Marjorie, the day after Christmas last year. “That stopped it all, anyhow.”

Admiralty House’s classic brick storefront is still full of what truly qualifies for some of those classic terms – knickknacks, bric-a-brac, trinkets, memorabilia.

Some of it, says Chris Foss, whose Foss Estate Sales is handling the liquidation sale, has likely never been out as inventory before.

Fred told us during a recent interview in the shop that a few special things are not for sale, though.

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Love soccer? Try futsal! 4-week kids’ clinic in West Seattle
July 25, 2013 11:05 am
|    Comments Off on Love soccer? Try futsal! 4-week kids’ clinic in West Seattle
 |   West Seattle news | WS & Sports

From West Seattle Soccer Club board member Stefan Persson:

We have partnered with Seattle Futsal to bring an August Futsal Clinic session to West Seattle.

Futsal is a fast paced and fun indoor version of soccer that places an emphasis on skill development and decision-making. It is a great complement to outdoor soccer.

The session will be held at the Madison Middle School Gym on each of the 4 Tuesday evenings in August. Registration is open to kids between U8-U13 (7 to 12 years old). The fee, which includes a Seattle Futsal T-shirt, is $65 and covers an hour-long clinic with professional training/instruction, followed by a short scrimmage. The clinic is open to individuals, so no need to register as a team. Capacity is limited and we recommend registering right away!

The registration link is on the Seattle Futsal web page.

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Big day of fun August 17th – including Lucha Libre in South Park
July 25, 2013 9:45 am
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   Fun stuff to do | South Park | West Seattle news

(WSB/The South Park News photo from 2012 Lucha Libre)
August 17th will be another one of those HUGE days. Here in West Seattle, the Delridge Day festival (presented by the North Delridge Neighborhood Council with co-sponsors including WSB) is happening 11 am-4 pm at Delridge Community Center/Park, with this year’s Picnic at the Precinct co-locating there the same day. Meantime, our neighbors in South Park host the Duwamish River Festival noon-4 pm that day, with THIS big just-confirmed fun – a third year of Lucha Libre, Mexican-style masked wrestling following at 6 pm – read on for the official announcement:
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West Seattle Thursday: Summer Concerts at Hiawatha kickoff; more
July 25, 2013 9:15 am
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

2013-07-23 Awesome fog

Another view of the shadows the downtown skyline can cast on West Seattle at sunrise this time of year – though we featured a semi-similar photo here recently, we couldn’t resist this view with the setting moon and one of the fog banks that shrouded our peninsula a few mornings recently. Thanks to Flickr member Zargoman for sharing the photo via the West Seattle Blog group on Flickr. No fog today! Actually, we do have fog on the water today – at least on the west side, and we’re adding Greg‘s photo as proof (maybe you’ve heard the ferry horns!):

(added) And from the northeast-facing shore, this photo from Brian Presser:

NOW to the calendar highlights:

‘DOWN THE RABBIT HOLE’ PUPPET SHOW: 11 am, for ages 2 and up, at Southwest Branch Library. Details here. (35th/Henderson)

WEST SEATTLE DEMOCRATIC WOMEN: 11 am meeting at the West Seattle Golf Course with local legislators scheduled to brief them on the sessions just past. Plus, a silent auction of costume jewelry with bidding 11:15-11:45. General info in the calendar listing, and watch the WSDW website for upcoming meetings, since lunch/dinner RSVPs are needed several days in advance. (4470 35th SW)

LOG HOUSE MUSEUM: The home of West Seattle history is open noon-4 pm, Thursdays-Sundays, just a block inland from the heart of Alki. (61st/Stevens)

(added) BLOCK WATCH CAPTAINS SOCIAL: Summer Social for the West Seattle Block Watch Captains Network replaces their July meeting – join them tonight at Salty’s on Alki (WSB sponsor), for complimentary appetizers, no-host bar, and a chance to pick up materials for your Night Out block party. 6-9 pm. (1936 Harbor Ave. SW)

SUMMER CONCERTS AT HIAWATHA BEGIN: The Admiral Neighborhood Association-presented six-concert summertime series, co-sponsored by WSB, kicks off tonight with classic jazz and swing from Glenn Crytzer and His Syncopators. (See a video clip in our Wednesday preview.) Bring your own chair/blanket to the east lawn (along Walnut Avenue) of Hiawatha Community Center; show starts at 6:30. Free.

‘THE WAY OUT’: Last of three extended weekends for the Acrobatic Conundrum‘s presentation at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center; showtime tonight is 7:30 pm. Details in the calendar listing. (4408 Delridge Way SW)

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TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Thursday updates
July 25, 2013 7:48 am
|    Comments Off on TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Thursday updates
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

(Live view from the east-facing WS Bridge camera; other cameras are on the WSB Traffic page)
So far, this morning’s commute challenges aren’t on the routes leaving here. But here’s another reminder about the weekend traffic alerts:

*Friday night/early Saturday, midnight to 5 am, I-5 southbound under the Convention Center downtown will be closed for fire-system testing
*Saturday night, the Seafair Torchlight Run will close northbound Highway 99 from approximately 5:45 pm to 7:45 pm. There will also be bus changes downtown because of the run and the Seafair Torchlight Parade that follows.

ADDED 11:51 AM: Details of those bus changes:

Riders should plan ahead and prepare for rerouted bus service and potential delays on Saturday, July 27, from about 3 p.m. to 10:30 p.m., as Metro Transit shifts 35 bus routes in the Seattle Center, downtown Seattle and Alaskan Way Viaduct areas for the Seafair Torchlight fun runs and parade. Other transit and traffic delays can be expected Saturday as a major event at Key Arena lets out, the Capitol Hill Block Party rocks on and the Mariners are in town.

Ride transit to Torchlight

While most buses that operate on surface streets in the Seattle Center and downtown Seattle areas will be rerouted, riding transit is still the best way to get to these events, as traffic will be congested and parking downtown will be limited. Rerouted buses go to within one or two blocks of the parade route.

Friday-Sunday: Pine Street weekend bus service revisions

Part of the impacts start Friday evening, July 26, when Pine Street bus service is rerouted until midday Sunday due to the grandstand placement at Fourth Avenue.

Saturday evening bus service revisions
While the parade begins at 7:30 p.m., transit service changes begin earlier. From about 6 p.m. Saturday, July 27, until the end of the parade, the entire length of Fourth Avenue in downtown Seattle will be closed, and nearly all east/west streets will also be blocked at Fourth Avenue. Many buses will be rerouted and there will likely be schedule delays. Delays in one area can cause delays at other points along a bus’s routing.

Buses with reroutes include RapidRide C and D lines, Routes 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 8, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 21, 24, 26, 28, 33, 36, 40, 43, 47, 49, 66, 70, 83, 84, 99, 120, 125, 131, 132, and Sound Transit routes 522, 545 and 554. Refer to the posted information for each route to see what stops might be missed.

During the Seafair Torchlight Run events, starting prior to the parade at about 5:30 p.m., the northbound Alaskan Way Viaduct will be closed for about one hour until the runners clear that area. Northbound Viaduct buses will operate via I-5 during this time. The southbound Viaduct is not affected and will remain open.

Starting at 6 p.m., while the Seattle Center area is affected by parade activities, Metro will operate a Route 4 shuttle about every 20 minutes to and from Nob Hill Avenue. At Seattle Center board the Route 4 shuttle northbound on First Avenue North, just south of Republican Street. It will serve all regularly posted bus stops along its route.

Also starting at 6 p.m. – and until traffic and crowds clear afterward – Metro bus routes 120, 124, 125, 131 and 132 will serve a temporary bus stop southbound on Third Avenue between Pike and Union streets, instead of their usual stop between Pine and Pike streets. South of Union Street they will serve their regularly posted stops along Third Avenue.

Most transit service will return to its regular routing and stops at 10:30 p.m., except Pine Street service will remain rerouted until about midday Sunday when the parade grandstand is removed.

4:54 PM: Headed outbound? Beware northbound 99, which is down to one lane because of a crash in the Lander vicinity.

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Demolition, bike lane, park concerns @ quarterly Morgan meeting
July 25, 2013 2:12 am
|      10 COMMENTS
 |   Neighborhoods | West Seattle news

(2012 photo of Lowman Beach Park and CSO project site to its east, by Long Bach Nguyen)
Almost a year after King County fenced off the vacant homes/apartments on the Lowman Beach site of the future Murray Combined Sewer Overflow Control Project storage tank, demolition will begin soon. That’s what the Morgan Community Association heard at its July meeting, in an e-mail from county project rep Doug Marsano, read by MoCA president Deb Barker. Since the meeting, we have asked Marsano for more timetable specifics; his reply:

King County’s contractor Tiger Construction & Excavation is finalizing its safety and traffic control plans, so initial work will begin in early August. The contractor will start with hazardous-material abatement inside the buildings, which will last about two and a half weeks. After that, salvageable materials will be removed from the buildings and then demolition will occur. After the buildings are down, the contractor will fill in the foundations with soil to ensure the site remains stable and safe until facility construction begins later this year. The deconstruction work will be complete by the end of September.

The million-gallon tank is to be built on what were six residential lots in the 7000 block of Beach Drive, bought by the county – which had said it would acquire them via the “eminent domain” law if it had to – for a total of more than $4.3 million, according to public records. It is part of a project meant to reduce sewage/stormwater overflows into Puget Sound from the nearby Murray Pump Station. According to Marsano’s letter to MoCA, the facility contractor is Shimmick Construction of Oakland, California.

Ahead, other notes from MoCA’s meeting – including the city Bicycle Master Plan Update and safety/beautification concerns for Morgan Junction Park:

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Remembering longtime West Seattleite Vicky McKim, 1947-2013
July 24, 2013 9:12 pm
|      12 COMMENTS
 |   Obituaries | West Seattle news | West Seattle people

Family and friends have said goodbye to Vicky McKim, and are sharing this remembrance:

Victoria Lynn Kaiser McKim
October 30, 1947 – July 6, 2013

Vicky went home into the loving arms of her Savior Jesus after courageously fighting mesothelioma. Her steadfast faith sustained her throughout her treatment and she was a willing witness for Christ.

Vicky was born and raised in Springfield, Ohio, the oldest of five daughters, to Roger and Joan Kaiser. She was active in vocal and dramatic activities, both in and outside of school. She graduated with a BS in Education from Otterbein College and taught elementary school in New Albany and Harrisburg, Ohio, and then regularly substitute-taught in several parochial schools, primarily at Hope Lutheran School in Seattle.

Vicky and Ken, founding owner of Greentree Animal Hospital in West Seattle, began “going steady” in high school, a love affair that continued for more than 50 years.

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