West Seattle, Washington

28 Saturday

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month : 05/2014 323 results

Video: West Seattle Hi-Yu coronates Senior Court Queen Lorelei
May 18, 2014 5:51 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   West Seattle Hi-Yu Festival | West Seattle news

5:51 PM: Coronated at this afternoon’s West Seattle Hi-Yu Tea & Silent Auction: New Senior Court Queen Lorelei McFadden. (Added: Video of the announcement and the crowning of the Senior Court:)

She, Nina Coluccio, and Hang Thao (first male Senior Court candidate since Hi-Yu updated its rules) will reign over this summer’s Hi-Yu events, including parade participation around the region aboard this area’s last community-created float. Queen Lorelei is at center in our photo, with her predecessor April Davis at left, and Miss Seafair Emily Rio Barber. We’ll be expanding this story later with more from this afternoon’s Hall at Fauntleroy event.

ADDED 8:23 PM: Today’s emcee was, from the Seafair Clowns, West Seattle-residing “Officer Lumpy” emceed:

Past royalty at the tea included the 2012 courts – Senior Court Queen Kayli Schulz and Junior Court Princess Elena Kline, Queen Thea Pulido, and Princess Amanda Elders:

And of course, there was tea, in beautiful china:

P.S. Our partners at The Seattle Times also had a photojournalist at the coronation; you can see their photo gallery here.

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Summer Streets on Alki, report #2: Before the rain, the parade!
May 18, 2014 3:51 pm
|      13 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle festivals | West Seattle news

(Photos by WSB’s Patrick Sand, unless otherwise credited)
At least the rain stayed away from Seattle Summer Streets on Alki until after the Alki Beach Creeps‘ second annual Bicycle/Costume Parade. If you weren’t there, here are some of the sights!

Dogs aren’t so rare at the beach – but this might be the first cat we’ve seen join the parade:

Seattle Police led the parade – here’s a quick video clip from the start:

ADDED 4:44 PM: Thanks to Tim for a photo of the parade group at the turnaround point at Don Armeni – and the scenic skyline while the sun was still out:

Were you in the parade (or any other Summer Streets events)? Photo to share? editor@westseattleblog.com – thanks!

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West Seattle traffic-alert update: 8th north of Roxbury open again after crash closure
May 18, 2014 2:08 pm
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | WS breaking news

2:08 PM: A crash on 8th SW just north of Roxbury has blocked both sides of 8th. No serious injuries reported, but you’ll have to detour around it until it’s cleared. Through traffic on Roxbury is not affected by the crash, but the road is narrowed just east of the intersection while an SDOT truck is there for cleanup. Let us know if you go through and it’s clear – we’ll check back around 3.

3:45 PM: Went back over to check as promised – it’s open again.

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Fun on foot and/or on wheels at Seattle Summer Streets on Alki, 1st report
May 18, 2014 12:09 pm
|      6 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle festivals | West Seattle news

You’ll have a whale of a time at Seattle Summer Streets this afternoon on Alki Avenue SW – check out the street art by Seal Sitters‘ booth, with a gray whale (and, out of the frame, seal mom and pup) already chalked within moments of the festival’s start, and more to come, including an orca. If you have kids, stop by the booth for a coloring sheet to take home. You can have fun just walking, or bring your bike:

That’s Stu Hennessey, who you’ll find with DIY Bikes. The police are on two wheels, too:

Be at 63rd and Alki at 1 pm for the bike parade – and enjoy activities along the rest of the stretch – updates to come!

ADDED SUNDAY NIGHT: Thanks to those who shared photos with us – first, from Don Brubeck of West Seattle Bike Connections, the bicycle rodeo:

See more photos in the report on WSBC’s website. And thanks to Paul Twibell for the photo of Bubbleman:

You’ll also see him at the Morgan Junction Community Festival, coming up in about a month (Saturday, June 21st). P.S. Paul shot many more photos at Summer Streets; his Flickr gallery is here.

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VIDEO/PHOTOS: West Seattle 5K draws 830+, and sunshine, for 2014!
May 18, 2014 9:30 am
|    Comments Off on VIDEO/PHOTOS: West Seattle 5K draws 830+, and sunshine, for 2014!
 |   West Seattle news | WS & Sports

(UPDATED late afternoon with results link)

9:30 AM: The race is on! At 9:20, more than 830 runners and walkers started heading eastward on the West Seattle 5K course, the kickoff to a day of fun on (and in!) Alki Avenue SW, to be followed by the Summer Streets festival until 5 pm.

We’ll be updating WS5K coverage with (more) photos, video, and race winners once they’re in.

9:53 AM: First three finishers among males and females:

Male
======

#1 – Joe Creighton, 34, 16:43

#2 – Kyle Smits, 35, 17:12

#3 – John O’Hearn, 52, 17:48

Female
=======

#1 – Kylen Fountain, 25, 20:09

#2 – Angela Wecker, 29, 20:49

#3 – Alisha Winger, 34, 21:36

West Seattle High School principal Ruth Medsker was the official race starter:

That’s her with race emcee Eric Radovich. The WSHS PTSA presents the WS5K every year, to raise money for student needs beyond what basic budgets cover.

11:02 AM: More race scenes – top female finisher Kylen Fountain with her aunt Karen Berge, who ran today too:

You might know Karen for her community involvement – West Seattle Block Watch Captains Network, West Seattle Be Prepared, among other things – and you’ll see her tabling at today’s Summer Streets, too. Meantime – good thing the race didn’t have the “no shirt, no shoes, no …” rule:

That’s Beach Drive resident Bob Divers with no place for the bib or chip. By the way, if you haven’t even come to watch the WS5K, let alone run in it, it’s fun on the sidelines too:

In addition to more photos, we recorded our traditional everybody-leaving-the-finish-line video and will add that when it’s ready. (Added: Here it is!)

4:23 PM UPDATE: The full list of results is live online – find it here.

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West Seattle Sunday: WS 5K, Summer Streets, Zumbathon, Hi-Yu coronation, clothing swap, more!
May 18, 2014 8:05 am
|      9 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

You know summer’s almost here when the list of calendar highlights gets this long!

WEST SEATTLE 5K: Shortly after 9, the fundraising run organized again this year by the West Seattle High School PTSA heads east from the Alki Bathhouse to Duwamish Head and back, with Alki Avenue SW closed until about 11 am as a result. If you see this before 9, you can still sign up (by Alki Bathhouse) and run or walk!

FARMERS’ MARKET: Every Sunday all year long, you’ll find fresh local food and beverages at the West Seattle Farmers’ Market, 10 am-2 pm. (44th/Alaska)

SUMMER STREETS ON ALKI: Right after the West Seattle 5K, starting at 11 am, it’s a day full of fun in the street, with Alki SW closed between 56th and 63rd – walking, biking, scooting, just hanging out. The biggest activity of the day is the Alki Beach Creeps‘ second annual Bicycle/Costume Parade, starting from the west end of the festival zone – 63rd/Alki – at 1 pm. On-scene coverage coming up!

HUMAN TRAFFICKING – YES, IT HAPPENS IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD: What you don’t know about human trafficking can hurt you (and its victims). It’s the signature issue right now for the West Seattle Democratic Women, who are facilitating a presentation at 11:30 am at Fauntleroy Church – details in our calendar listing. (9140 California SW)

FRIENDS OF MORGAN JUNCTION PARKS WORK PARTY: Noon-3 pm, at the triangle parklet next to West Seattle Thriftway (WSB sponsor), join Friends of Morgan Junction Parks for spring cleanup/arborizing – details here. (Fauntleroy/Morgan, just east of California)

ZUMBATHON BENEFITING TRANSITIONAL RESOURCES: Spend part of your afternoon dancing for a good cause – Transitional Resources, which helps people living with mental illness. 1-3 pm at the West Seattle Christian Church Activity Center in The Junction; here’s our preview. (4400 42nd SW)

WEST SEATTLE HI-YU TEA/CORONATION: Who will reign as Senior Court Queen or King over this year’s Hi-Yu events? Today’s the day we’ll find out, with the coronation happening during the Hi-Yu Tea/Silent Auction fundraiser at The Hall at Fauntleroy, 2-5 pm; details here. (9140 California SW)

CLOTHING SWAP TO BENEFIT EARLY DAYS: The support group for new parents is the beneficiary of tonight’s Ladies’ Clothing Swap at Chaco Canyon Organic Café in The Triangle, 6-8 pm – details here. (38th/Alaska)

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TRAFFIC/TRANSIT ALERTS: Alki Avenue SW closures for West Seattle 5K, Summer Streets
May 18, 2014 7:05 am
|      1 COMMENT
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

(WSB photo, signage on 59th at Alki)
One more reminder now that Sunday is here: Today’s the big doubleheader on Alki Avenue SW – the West Seattle 5K run/walk just after 9 am, closing the waterfront road to Duwamish Head until about 11, and then a shorter closure, Alki SW between 56th and 63rd, for the Seattle Summer Streets “car-free day” festival until 5 pm.

(SDOT map)
As always, we’ll have coverage all day, once things get going. And you can still be in the 5K (which we’re co-sponsoring again this year) even if you didn’t pre-register – the final signups start at 8 am by the Alki Bathhouse (map).

TRANSIT: Reroute information for today – Route 50 here; Water Taxi shuttle Route 775 here.

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Video: Benchview battle’s new tactic – projection protest – as City Council’s small-lot vote nears
May 18, 2014 1:44 am
|      9 COMMENTS
 |   Development | West Seattle news

On Monday afternoon, the City Council’s expected to take its final vote on changes to what can be built on “small lots” in single-family zones. Councilmember Mike O’Brien – who chairs the Planning, Land Use, Sustainability Committee – explains the changes on the city website, and points out, that type of development is not being banned. Instead, restrictions are proposed, as well as new rules for how and when neighbors will get notice of changes.

Small-lot development has been a sore spot for some neighborhoods around the city, including one in West Seattle that has been caught up in it for more than a year and is trying to get out a last-minute pre-vote message – by projecting it onto a new house to which it objects, using a new nickname for these types of houses: “Billboard boxes.” (And a Facebook page spinning off the nickname.) We shot the video above as the messages scrolled through around 10:30 Saturday night.

Benchview is on northwest Charlestown hill (map), near the upper reaches of Schmitz Park. We told its story last year, starting in January, as neighbors slugged it out with the city over a lot-splitting plan that followed purchase of a house whose longtime owner had died, and that sought two larger homes next to that original house. The highlighted area below was the site as shown in the county system in July 2013, pre-split:

(3650 55th SW is the original address of the site; map is from King County Parcel Viewer)
Here’s how the trisected site appears in the system now:

The somewhat-L-shaped lot beneath the shrunken 3650 55th SW is where the protest projection was made onto the south side of a new house. (Added Sunday morning – the daylight view:)

(back to original report) Neighborhood spokesperson Dave Allen was outside when we stopped by Saturday night, and had done an interview with a TV station.

Back to the background: Allen and other neighbors took the fight to court and won one round, believing the ruling would limit the site to one new house, but then, late last summer, the city approved boundary revisions enabling two houses.

In the ensuing months, the city has been working through changes to the rules/conditions that have led to similar situations around the city. The Benchview case has been cited by multiple sides of the debate. What’s going to be voted on Monday has already been amended and tweaked, and Benchview’s contention is that it just creates “new loopholes,” with hundreds more homes still to be allowed on smaller lots around the city. Councilmember O’Brien, meantime, writes: “I believe that the new provisions the City Council is considering will help new single-family developments on under-sized lots fit into existing neighborhoods.”

The council meeting is at 2 pm Monday; the council will take public comment at the start of the meeting, which is in their chambers at City Hall downtown, and according to O’Brien’s explanation of where this stands, will be considering some amendments before voting.

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West Seattle weekend scene: Disaster drill at Ercolini Park
May 17, 2014 11:22 pm
|    Comments Off on West Seattle weekend scene: Disaster drill at Ercolini Park
 |   Preparedness | West Seattle news

The volunteers of West Seattle Be Prepared are more prepared than ever after today’s emergency-communications drill at Ercolini Park west of The Junction. WSBP’s Karen Berge shared these photos, and reports, “Fortunately, the weather was nice and we had a great turnout of volunteers and people who stopped by to ask about what we were doing!” In case you missed the preview, they were acting out what might happen in the event of a major Mount Rainier ash/mudflow, and how the neighborhood “hubs” (explained here) would communicate and cooperate. Ercolini and North Delridge hubs “activated” at the park for the drill, but volunteers from elsewhere helped, including Gordon Wiehler, Fauntleroy hub captain, who served as a radio operator at Ercolini

Alki hub captain Tony Fragada also served as a radio operator. At left in the next photo, debriefing post-drill, is Ercolini hub captain Kris Buitrago ):

The hubs are set to activate in case of catastrophe – and you’ll want to know where the nearest hub is, since it’ll be a place to go to find information and seek help. Here’s the current West Seattle hub map:


View West Seattle Emergency Communication Hubs in a larger map

Along with Karen, fellow WSBP leaders Deb Greer and Cindi Barker were there, along with North Delridge hub captain Jay McNally; the EC Hughes hub’s acting captain Shane Marr was “offsite in the role of Net Control,” Karen mentions. You can find out more about WSBP at tomorrow’s Seattle Summer Streets event on Alki, 11 am-5 pm – look for them toward the west side of the street-fest zone, between 61st and 63rd.

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West Seattle weekend scene: Highland Park, Uncorked!
May 17, 2014 9:55 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   Highland Park | How to help | West Seattle news

Thanks to Donna for photos from the early going of tonight’s Highland Park Uncorked! – the sold-out fundraiser at historic Highland Park Improvement Club. Note the decoration in the foreground of the top photo! It might be best described as a collaborative wine tasting event, as explained here – everybody brings a bottle of their favorite $15-or-less wine, and, under wraps, they’re distributed to the tables. Tasting, voting, noshing, and raffling ensue.

We’ll update later when the winners, and the fundraising estimate, are announced. If you haven’t been there – HPIC is both a community organization and an almost-century-old hall that serves as a community hub, and continues to avolve (the recent “de-paving” out front is just one example). This year’s HP Uncorked! sponsors included WSB.

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High-school baseball playoffs: Seattle Lutheran update
May 17, 2014 7:21 pm
|    Comments Off on High-school baseball playoffs: Seattle Lutheran update
 |   West Seattle news | WS & Sports

Thanks to Joe Puckett for the report on today’s Seattle Lutheran game:

In a game that determined the seedings for next week’s regional 2B baseball tournament, the Seattle Lutheran Saints lost to the LaConner Braves by a final score of 6 to 1. As the winner, LaConner will be the number 1 seed from the District 1/2 group and Seattle Lutheran will be the number 2 seed. Sealu will play on Saturday, May 24 in Adna and must win a double-header to move on to the 4-team state final on May 31.

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Getting to school safely: West Seattle meeting next week
May 17, 2014 6:22 pm
|    Comments Off on Getting to school safely: West Seattle meeting next week
 |   Safety | West Seattle news

What’s in the works to improve safety along the roads and sidewalks leading to local schools – and what isn’t, but should be? Join a discussion this Tuesday night (May 20th) in West Seattle to help design the city’s School Road Safety Plan. Thanks to Cathy Tuttle from Seattle Neighborhood Greenways for sharing news of the meeting, which she calls “simply the most important road-safety meeting you can attend this year.” It’s one of three meetings around the city, and it’s set for 6-7:30 pm Tuesday at Southwest Branch Library (35th/Henderson); more details in this Facebook event invite.

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Road trip – by sea! West Seattle High School Band in Victoria
May 17, 2014 4:00 pm
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools | WS culture/arts

(Behind the band, that’s the historic Empress hotel in Victoria)
If you happen to be visiting Victoria this weekend, be on the lookout for the West Seattle High School Marching Band! Parent Steve W shares photos and this report:

The WSHS Marching Band, under direction of Ethan Thomas, is spending the weekend in Victoria for the Victoria Day Parade and other events. We rode the Clipper up this morning and just finished our first performance at the Lower Causeway.

(And behind the band from this angle, that’s the Parliamentary building in B.C.)
The Victoria Day Parade is the provincial capital’s biggest parade of the year, and is coming up on Monday, the provincial holiday celebrated in honor of Queen Victoria’s birthday.

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West Seattle scene: Mack Strong @ Thriftway benefit barbecue
May 17, 2014 3:09 pm
|    Comments Off on West Seattle scene: Mack Strong @ Thriftway benefit barbecue
 |   How to help | West Seattle news

Getting to the goal lines of life requires help sometimes – and that’s what retired 14-season Seahawk Mack Strong‘s Team-Works Foundation is all about, helping hundreds of kids every year. We photographed Strong this afternoon outside West Seattle Thriftway (WSB sponsor), where the first official benefit barbecue of the season raised $ for the foundation, led by Strong and wife Zoe Higheagle Strong, founded more than a decade ago. As the poster next to him in the photo points out, the foundation’s biggest benefit of the year is coming up in mid-July, a golf tournament and dinner/auction (registration/tickets are available online). Next Thriftway barbecue, meantime, is coming up in two weeks (since next weekend brings Memorial Day, you’re probably having your own barbecue).

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One day until Zumbathon benefit for Transitional Resources
May 17, 2014 1:35 pm
|    Comments Off on One day until Zumbathon benefit for Transitional Resources
 |   How to help | West Seattle news

Let’s say you’re already set for the West Seattle 5K tomorrow morning, benefiting WS High School students through the PTSA. You have another chance to get moving for a good cause later in the day – Sunday afternoon, it’s the Zumbathon benefit for Transitional Resources, sponsored by an array of local businesses to assist TR in its work helping people living with mental-health challenges. Get dancing 1-3 pm Sunday with instructors Jennifer Cepeda and Annie Stilts, inside the spacious West Seattle Christian Church Activity Center at 4400 42nd SW; registration info is here.

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West Seattle coyotes: Two sightings, three animals
May 17, 2014 11:18 am
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   Coyotes | West Seattle news | Wildlife

From the WSB inbox, two coyote reports – first one sent this morning by Debbie:

Just saw a coyote heading east on 108th Street toward 35th [map] in Arbor Heights.

And this note from Russell is about a Wednesday morning double sighting:

Just wanted to warn our neighbors in Gatewood that my wife spotted two very healthy coyotes in the intersection of SW Monroe Street and 41st Avenue SW [map] at 3:45 am (Wednesday morning). After a few minutes they headed south on 41st.

Our standard footnote: We share coyote reports on occasion in the interest of being educational; believe it or not, we still hear from and about people who don’t realize coyotes live in the city, or think you’ll only see them next to greenbelts, or at night, or … It’s in the coyotes’ interests and ours that we keep a wary distance apart; this info from the state explains how (including this key advice: if you see one, try to scare it away).

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More than a dozen options for your West Seattle Saturday, plus two traffic alerts
May 17, 2014 8:32 am
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | WS culture/arts | WS miscellaneous

Thanks to whomever texted us the squirrel photo on Friday (more and more people are texting photos – 206-293-6302 – which is great, except we don’t usually know the # so we don’t know who to credit!). **Update: Thanks to Shelly Aaron of West Seattle BodyWorks for the photo!**

(back to original report) Now the weekend has arrived, and here’s the slightly-delayed-by-breaking-news preview for today, starting with two traffic alerts:

ONE LANE ON CALIFORNIA SOUTH OF THE JUNCTION … because of the crane-removal work we mentioned last night. We just stopped by:

Police are directing traffic. The work could continue as late as 6 pm.

TRACTION WORK ON OLSON: Road work is scheduled this weekend at the east end of Roxbury – details here. (Added 9:16 am: We just drove through the work zone. One lane is open each way.)

And now, event highlights:

BOOK SALE AT TIBBETTS: 10 am-2 pm, Tibbetts United Methodist Church (WSB sponsor) welcomes you to come browse the huge array of books it has for sale.

The photo sent by Tibbetts shows just a few. (3940 41st SW)

BENEFIT RUMMAGE SALE AT HOPE: 9 am-3 pm, as announced: “Please stop by and support the Ensenada Christian Ministries and The Friends of Literacy at a huge sale at Hope Lutheran Church. Great items – kitchen, clothes, furniture. Everything but the kitchen sink.” (42nd/Oregon)

EMERGENCY-PREPAREDNESS DRILL: 9 am-noon at Ercolini Park west of The Junction, local Emergency Communication Hubs volunteers are practicing how information and help might be distributed if the region were dealing with a volcanic mud and ash flow. Here’s our preview. (48th/Alaska)

MORNING PERFORMANCE OF MADISON MUSICAL: 10 am, it’s the second and final performance of this year’s Madison Middle School musical, “High School Musical,” in the auditorium at West Seattle High School. See our Friday highlights for the plot summary. Tickets at the door, $15/adults, $10/students. (3000 California SW)

DAKOTA PLACE PARK CLEANUP: 10 am-noon, you’re invited to help with spring cleaning at the park built around the historic former substation – BYO tools! Details here. (California/Dakota)

MEEPLES GAMES OPENS: One of West Seattle’s newest businesses, a store/café to play and buy games, is celebrating its grand opening 10 am-10 pm today, as noted here. (California/Charlestown)

THRIFTWAY BARBECUE WITH MACK STRONG: Starting around 11:30 am outside West Seattle Thriftway (WSB sponsor), the retired Seahawks star will be at the grill for the first official benefit barbecue of the season (bratwurst!), with proceeds going to his TEAM-WORKS Foundation. (California/Fauntleroy/Morgan)

WEST SEATTLE 5K SIGNUPS/PACKET PICKUP: Tomorrow’s the day – the West Seattle 5K (co-sponsored by WSB) along Alki, just after 9 am. If you’re not already signed up, you don’t have to get up extra early to do it before the race – you can go to West Seattle Runner (WSB sponsor) today, noon-6 pm. If you’re already signed up, that’s also when you can pick up your packet in advance. (California/Charlestown)

SUMMER CAMP OPEN HOUSE: Local nonprofit Unified Outreach invites you to Ginomai Art Center, noon-4 pm, to find out more about its cartoon-animation summer camp for youth – details here. (42nd/Genesee)

strong>LOW TIDE: -2.6 at 1:29 pm, and this is as low as it will go, this cycle. Find the tide chart any time on the WSB West Seattle Weather page.

BENEFIT FOR MUDSLIDE VICTIMS: “SOS for OSO” tonight at Skylark Café and Club, starting at 7 pm; details in our calendar listing. (3803 Delridge Way SW)

CHORAL CONCERT: 7:30 pm at Westside Unitarian Universalist Congregation‘s Gatewood church; details in our calendar listing. (7141 California SW)

METAL MANIACS/AQUA NET REUNION: 9:30 pm, the title says it all for this live-music event at Feedback Lounge (WSB sponsor) – an annual event! (6451 California SW)

And just for the record …

HIGHLAND PARK UNCORKED (SOLD OUT): Just in case you wonder what’s up at Highland Park Improvement Club tonight – it’s the wildly popular annual HPIC wine event, so popular it sold out in advance. Watch hpic1919.org for next year’s announcement!

EVEN WITH ALL OF THE ABOVE … there’s still more on our calendar.

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Update: House-fire call in 4000 block SW Holgate
May 17, 2014 7:47 am
|    Comments Off on Update: House-fire call in 4000 block SW Holgate
 |   West Seattle fires | West Seattle news | WS breaking news

(WSB photos by Christopher Boffoli)
7:47 AM: Big Seattle Fire response for a possible house fire in North Admiral, in the 4000 block of Holgate (map). More to come.

7:50 AM: Small fire – it’s already reported tapped, and some units are being sent back.

8:07 AM: The fire was indeed small and was on the back porch, Seattle Fire is telling us on scene. Their investigator is currently trying to figure out how it started. No injuries.

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Another Saturday reminder: Dakota Place Park cleanup
May 16, 2014 9:54 pm
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   How to help | West Seattle news | West Seattle parks

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!

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West Seattle development: Tower-crane takedown Saturday
May 16, 2014 8:05 pm
|      5 COMMENTS
 |   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
|      23 COMMENTS
 |   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
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   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
|      5 COMMENTS
 |   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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