day : 16/05/2014 10 results

Lots going on tomorrow, as you’ll see if you take an advance look at the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar. One spotlight event to mention again in advance: Spring cleanup time at Dakota Place Park, home to the city-landmark former substation, soon to get extra space to the north. Join community volunteers 10 am-noon tomorrow. More details here, including a reminder to bring (and label) tools!

West Seattle development: Tower-crane takedown Saturday

May 16, 2014 8:05 pm

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| Development | West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

Right now, four tower cranes are working at West Seattle construction projects. After tomorrow, that’ll be down – temporarily – to three. Neighbors have been informed that the crane at the Blake Apartments (5020 California SW, just south of The Junction) is coming down tomorrow (Saturday). The work is scheduled to start at 5:30 am, with another crane being brought in to remove this one, and that’s likely to affect traffic in the area. The crane has been on site for 11 months. Its departure will leave cranes at Spruce (the former “Hole” at Fauntleroy/Alaska/39th, and the two projects in the heart of The Junction; next crane to arrive in West Seattle will likely be for 4435 35th SW, which, as reported here earlier this week, is just getting going – its developer, Trinsic, tells WSB they expect their tower crane to go up in July.

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Update: Bank robbery north of The Junction

May 16, 2014 6:09 pm

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| Crime | West Seattle news

6:09 PM: Police are searching for someone who is reported to have robbed the Washington Federal branch at California and Dakota north of The Junction. More to come.

6:17 PM: We talked with a sergeant at the scene, who told us a “masked adult male” (ski mask type of mask) went into the bank around 5:30 pm. He demanded money, and it was “believed he had a weapon”; he escaped with an undisclosed amount of cash, a bit of which he dropped in the parking lot. Nobody is hurt. It was close to closing time so the bank is closed for the rest of the day. Police are trying to figure out if the robber had a getaway vehicle waiting nearby. This is the first bank robbery in West Seattle in a long time – we can’t find one in our archives more recent than two years ago, when our area’s other WaFed branch was held up.

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Turn it off! Free mini-workshop on Sunday to help you handle utilities post-disaster

May 16, 2014 3:13 pm

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| Preparedness | Safety | West Seattle news

The p-word – preparedness – is big around here. We know it’s tough to take time to plan or learn something you hope to never have to use – but this Sunday, if you can spare *half an hour*, it’ll be well worth it. A free city-presented mini-workshop at Southwest Branch Library will teach you what you need to know about handling household utilities in case of disaster, 1:40-2 pm:

In just 30 minutes, find out how to safely power down your household electric panel and how and when to turn off your natural gas at the meter. Join us for hands-on practice using real equipment and pick up other tips on how to secure your household water supply. Class is free, no RSVP. Come one and all.

The SW Library is at 35th/Henderson.

P.S. Also in the preparedness vein – remember that local volunteers are having a drill at Ercolini Park tomorrow morning (9-noon), so don’t be startled if you happen onto it!

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Another crash at West Seattle’s most-dangerous intersection; pavement work this weekend

May 16, 2014 2:31 pm

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| Safety | West Seattle news

Looks like nobody was hurt, and the wrecked car is about to be towed away, but we’re making note of another crash we just passed at what statistics show as the intersection with the most crashes in West Seattle – Roxbury/Olson, at the east end of Roxbury, a car went off the road, into/by the rail. Police have the northbound/eastbound turn lane blocked on Olson, but probably not for much longer. SDOT’s Roxbury safety project remains a work in progress, with improvements promised by summer’s end – and in fact, though we don’t know if traction had anything to do with this, this is the area where pavement work to improve it is scheduled for this weekend.

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Video: Denny IMS Marching Band leads Roxhill Elementary walkers for safety celebration with Feet First

May 16, 2014 1:19 pm

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| Safety | West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

A bit of a parade this morning to Roxhill Elementary School, with the Denny International Middle School Marching Band and director Marcus Pimpleton leading the way, and local elected officials walking alongside:

(That’s State Rep. Eileen Cody, right, and Seattle School Board director Marty McLaren, both West Seattleites, with Roxhill principal Sahnica Washington at left.) The occasion? As noted here earlier in the week, Feet First organized the walk-to-school event as a celebration of Safe Routes to School improvements near Roxhill, funded by a state grant. They even brought along their safety mascot, the chicken:

Safe Routes for School improvements are in the works for other West Seattle schools, as SDOT‘s Brian Dougherty told the Southwest District Council earlier this month – our report on that meeting, including his briefing and the list of projects, is here.

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Madison musical, Duwamish birds, bingo, Sinatra … and other highlights for your West Seattle Friday

May 16, 2014 10:53 am

| Comments Off on Madison musical, Duwamish birds, bingo, Sinatra … and other highlights for your West Seattle Friday

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

The photo was shared by Jean Williams, a dress-rehearsal photo looking ahead to tonight’s spotlight event – the first of two performances of this year’s Madison Middle School musical:

‘HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL’ AT MADISON MIDDLE SCHOOL: Tonight at 7 pm and Saturday at 10 am, in the auditorium at West Seattle High School, it’s the third year that Madison MS is producing and performing a musical production – this time, “High School Musical,” directed by Jenny Cross. Here’s the plot summary:

The smash Disney hit starts with the first day after winter break at East High. The Jocks, Brainiacs, Thespians and Skater Dudes find their cliques, recount their vacations, and look forward to the new year. Basketball team captain and resident jock, Troy, discovers that the brainy Gabriella, a girl he met singing karaoke on his ski trip, has just enrolled at East High. They cause an upheaval when they decide to audition for the high school musical, led by Ms. Darbus. Although many students resent the threat posed to the “status quo,” Troy and Gabriella’s alliance might just open the door for others to shine as well.

$10 tickets in advance – or at the door, $15/adults, $10/students. For advance reservations, e-mail madisonmiddleschoolplay@gmail.com ASAP! (3000 California SW)

Also happening today/tonight:

LOW TIDE: -2.6 at 12:44 pm today and the same at 1:29 pm tomorrow. Find the tide chart any time on the WSB West Seattle Weather page.

BIRDS OF THE DUWAMISH: Hear from a naturalist at 1 pm about watching for wildlife along Seattle’s river. Free event at the Duwamish Longhouse and Cultural Center. (4705 W. Marginal Way SW)

BINGO BENEFIT AT SEATTLE LUTHERAN: Support Seattle Lutheran High School athletes with an evening of bingo – every $25 ticket buys 11 games (additional bingo cards available at #2 each), food and non-alcoholic beverages (but do note, this is a 21+ event, beer/wine available for purchase). 6:30-9:30 pm in the gym; buy your ticket online here. (4100 SW Genesee)

SUE QUIGLEY AT C & P: Live music tonight at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor), 7-9 pm. (5612 California SW)

FULL MOON WALK IN LINCOLN PARK: Go exploring at 8 pm – details here, including how to register. (8011 Fauntleroy Way SW)

KAZOKU! Improvised game show at Pershing Hall, 8 pm tonight – read about it here, and go check it out! Tickets $10; get them here or at the door. (3618 SW Alaska)

FRANK FEST: Annual celebration of Frank Sinatra music at Feedback Lounge (WSB sponsor), 9:30 pm, with Velveteen Lotharios. (6451 California SW)

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Bike To Work Day 2014: West Seattle, White Center scenes

May 16, 2014 9:58 am

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| Transportation | West Seattle news

The morning commute for today’s edition of the annual Bike To Work Day brought extra support and encouragement for local riders – above, the West Seattle Bike Connections-hosted “commute station” just west of the “low bridge.” That’s where we found Stu Hennessey:

As well as being proprietor of Alki Bike and Board, Stu also leads DIY Bikes, helping riders learn more about taking care of their bicycles. They’ll be at this Sunday’s Seattle Summer Streets event on Alki, too.

ADDED LATE FRIDAY NIGHT: Thanks to Don Brubeck from WSBC for added photos and info:

We counted 668 people on bikes at the West Seattle Bridge Bike to Work Day Commute Station hosted by West Seattle Bike Connections with Alki Bike & Board and DIY Bikes. Thanks to the Alki Starbucks for donating coffee, Nuun for drink mix, and lots of volunteer cookie bakers.

Don shared the next photo of WSBC member Jay Guettler photographing “a group of buddies on their way to work in Kent”:

And here’s West Seattle-residing City Councilmember Tom Rasmussen stopping while en route to Bike To Work Day events on the other side of the bay; behind the table, WSBC members Jason and Theresa Beaulieu and Kathy Dunn:

(back to original report) For those riding to/from points south, White Center included two commute stations – one alongside Greenbridge Plaza, next to Dubsea Coffee:

And the downtown WC business district racked up bicyclist visits too:

Local favorites including Proletariat Pizza, Caffé Delia, and Zippy’s Giant Burgers offered treats there as incentives for two-wheeling today.

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TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Friday on the move; Bike To Work Day

May 16, 2014 6:00 am

| 8 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

(WS Bridge and Highway 99 views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
In honor of Bike to Work Day, we’re adding the camera closest to the low bridge’s West Seattle end:

From 6-9 am, three “commute stations” are welcoming riders in West Seattle and White Center – click the markers to find out more:

View Commute Stations — Bike to Work Day presented by F5 in a larger map

Fun and treats promised at all three stops. Other notes this morning:

WEEKEND ALERTS: Here’s the citywide list of weekend events that will or might affect traffic – among them, the West Seattle 5K (last day to register online!) and Seattle Summer Streets road-closing fun on Alki on Sunday – the full race route to and from Anchor Park will close Alki SW until 11 am, and then a smaller section, between 56th and 63rd SW, will be closed 11 am-5 pm.

TAKE THE POLL YET? As first mentioned here Thursday morning, the West Seattle Transportation Coalition wants to know which taxing option(s) you would use – from the ones the city has the authority to enact – if it were up to you to decide how to get money to avoid Metro cuts. Go take the poll here (before Tuesday morning).

9:13 AM NOTE: We stopped by the local Bike To Work Day stations – separate report coming up.

9:37 AM: If you use Airport Way – take note:

N/B lanes of Airport Way closed between Holgate and Lander as SPD/ @SeattleFire respond to a container fire.

— Seattle Police Dept. (@SeattlePD) May 16, 2014

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Taste of West Seattle 2014: Many winners, including WS Helpline

May 16, 2014 1:24 am

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| Fun stuff to do | How to help | West Seattle news

Everyone was a winner at this year’s Taste of West Seattle, including the food-and-beverage fest’s hundreds of attendees, and the benefiting/organizing West Seattle Helpline, whose emergency-assistance work depends on not only Taste-goers, but sponsors/donors such as Metropolitan Market, which presented Helpline with a $10,000 check:

From left, that’s Brooks, Megan, Carol, Jude, and Brent. And then there are … the Taste winners, chosen by attendees! Fresh Bistro, which is about to celebrate its 5th anniversary, won Best Bite for its “Carlton Farms Pork Confit”, described as stuffed filo cups with pickled kohlrabi, confit pork, smoked almond butter, blackberry vin, and micro-arugula. Chef Shun, center below with Adam and Mary, created it:

The best sweet taste was won for a second consecutive year by Stuffed Cakes.

Back to the savory … Salty’s brought oyster buckets featuring Firecracker Prawns:

You can probably guess what Harry’s Chicken Joint – represented by Catherine and Patty – dished up:

Also on hand, from just about a block away, Endolyne Joe’s, with Andrea and Rich:

Lora from Hotwire Online Coffeehouse:

Did you know The Cask in the Admiral District is under new ownership? Marty was at the Taste:

And major Taste sponsor – not to mention, host! – Tuxedos and Tennis Shoes Catering/Hall at Fauntleroy proprietor David Haggerty (below left) took a moment to pose with Rev. Ron Marshall from the Helpline board:

Also among the topline sponsors, HomeStreet Bank. Congratulations to all for a fun, successful night!

ADDED 9:18 AM FRIDAY: A few more notes courtesy of Helpline board president Brooks Riendl: More than $50,000 raised; second and third place winners in the voting, for Best Taste, #2 Tuxedos and Tennis Shoes, #3 Blackboard Bistro; for Best Sweet, #2 Ma’Ono, #3 Bakery Nouveau.

(Per our customary disclosure – those mentioned above include multiple current WSB sponsors: Metropolitan Market, Salty’s on Alki, Harry’s Chicken Joint, Endolyne Joe’s, Hotwire Online Coffeehouse, and HomeStreet Bank. They and the dozens of other sponsors and participants all gave WS Helpline a boost by donating food, beverages, and personnel, and/or funding. Go here to find out more about what WS Helpline does.)

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