West Seattle, Washington

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month : 06/2014 296 results

West Seattle summer preview: Seafair Pirates’ Landing on Alki
June 27, 2014 5:21 pm
|    Comments Off on West Seattle summer preview: Seafair Pirates’ Landing on Alki
 |   West Seattle festivals | West Seattle news

On the eve of thousands converging on Alki for the Seafair Pirates’ Landing tomorrow, here are all the details we’ve been able to pull from the briny deep:

WHEN DO THE SEAFAIR PIRATES LAND ON ALKI? Common question today. In fact, some of them landed this morning. Erik Walum shared the photo – they said they were doing a “TV spot.” Tomorrow, they’re back for the official landing, and we have these details so far:

*As it says on the Pirates’ website, they’re expected ashore at Alki between 11:30-12:30 (we tend to tell people, better to be earlier than later, so we’d advise an 11-ish arrival).

*The new Captain Kidd (Marvin Davis) will take command, with a knighting ceremony, pirate songs, etc., on the main stage by the bathhouse

*Also onstage before and after the ceremonies, 10 am-2 pm, live music with local bands including Side Project

*Beer garden on the beach, 10 am-4 pm

*Pirate Costume Contest/Pirate Lookalike Contest for kids

*Booths/vendors with food, toys, clothing, jewelry, art

*Royalty: 2013-2014 Miss Seafair Rio Barber, the Seafair princesses, West Seattle Hi-Yu royalty

*Mayor Murray is expected there at noon, per his official schedule

And while it’s not an official part of the Pirates’ Landing, yes, the 19th annual Alki Swashbuckler pole-vaulting competition will be happening on the beach too. See you there!

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Summertime hunger-fighting: Free meals for kids in West Seattle
June 27, 2014 4:41 pm
|    Comments Off on Summertime hunger-fighting: Free meals for kids in West Seattle
 |   Arbor Heights | West Seattle news

Many kids in need avoid going hungry through free/reduced-price meals at school. So what happens in the summertime? The United Way One Million Meals Campaign helps provide free summer meals to kids and teens, and sent word today that they’ll be serving on Sundays, starting THIS Sunday (June 29th), 1-2 pm at Freedom Church (35th/Roxbury). Everyone 18 and under will be served, and kid/teen activities will be offered. UWKC also says you can find other summer-meal sites through this lookup.

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West Seattle development: No Whittaker appeal; Alki demolition; Saturday meeting not just DPD; more…
June 27, 2014 2:13 pm
|      5 COMMENTS
 |   Development | West Seattle news

Another round of development notes, including demolitions current and future:

THE WHITTAKER UPDATE – DEMOLITION THIS SUMMER: Despite previous controversy over the 4755 Fauntleroy Way project, aka The Whittaker, no one had filed an appeal of its key land-use approval by the deadline yesterday, so the project is moving ahead. A spokesperson tells us they expect to start demolition by summer’s end, but don’t yet know which of the buildings on the site will be first to go. This is the project with a Whole Foods Market (we’re checking to see if any other retailers have been signed), ~389 apartments, ~594 parking spaces. If construction does start this year, it would be on target for completion in 2016.

3008 ALKI DEMOLITION: Nine months ago, we noted an application to build five “rowhouse” units in two buildings at 3008 Alki Avenue SW. This week, the existing structures on the site were torn down:

(Thanks to the person who texted the photo!) One building, with two units now described as townhouses, will carry the Alki Ave. address; the 3-unit building will be at 6502 SW Stevens. Documents filed with the city say the offstreet parking will total 10 spaces.

1 DOWN, 2 UP AT 5421 49TH SW: A demolition-permit application was filed this week for that 93-year-old house at 5421 49th SW.

City files say it will be replaced by two single-family houses; its lot is 15,000+ square feet.

UPDATE ON 2-REPLACING-1 AT 8437 41ST SW: We reported earlier this month on the plan for two single-family houses on the site of one to-be-demolished house in Upper Fauntleroy. The owner/developer is now seeking a lot-boundary adjustment, to split the site into 4,500- and 7,300-square-foot parcels.

DESIGN REVIEW REMINDER NOTICES: The dates have already been reported here, but in case you missed them, the formal Southwest Design Review Board meeting notices appeared in Thursday’s Land Use Information Bulletin for 3824 California SW (8 pm July 10th) and 2626 Alki SW (6:30 pm July 17th).

‘LET’S TALK’ WITH DPD, SDOT, DON IN WEST SEATTLE TOMORROW: One more nudge before our Saturday morning calendar highlights – tomorrow is the West Seattle “Let’s Talk” conversation with Department of Planning and Development reps including director Diane Sugimura, 9:30-11:30 am at the Senior Center of West Seattle (California/Oregon in The Junction) – and we see on the DPD’s website that reps from SDOT and the Department of Neighborhoods will be there too. It’s listed there as “open-house-style” so we’re trying to find out more specifics about the format.

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Traffic-alert update: Downed tree cleared from eastbound Roxbury
June 27, 2014 12:46 pm
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts | White Center

12:46 PM: Thanks to Krista for first word that a tree is down across eastbound Roxbury at 10th SW. As you can see in the photo she shared, King County Sheriff’s Office is on the scene. Avoid the area.

1:40 PM UPDATE: Metro has just texted that Routes 60 and 128 are rerouted off eastbound Roxbury in the area, between 8th and 14th SW.

3:15 PM UPDATE: Still not cleared; KCSO still diverting traffic.

6:10 PM UPDATE: We went back to check again; it’s been cleared off the road, pushed up onto the sidewalk, and traffic is back to normal.

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You’re invited to help name the new West Seattle and Vashon Water Taxi vessels
June 27, 2014 12:04 pm
|      40 COMMENTS
 |   King County Water Taxi | West Seattle news

(Rendering of new vessels – reflecting size/shape/configuration, not final color/paint/trim)
Just in from the King County Ferry District:

The King County Ferry District wants King County residents to help name the two new water taxis that will serve West Seattle and Vashon Island.

“This is a great opportunity to display your creativity and highlight your favorite part of our region,” said Joe McDermott, who chairs the King County Ferry District. “Anyone can submit name suggestions, so spread the word to your kids, friends, families and neighbors!”

The naming contest starts today. Individuals can submit their ideas at www.surveymonkey.com/s/2JNBGG2 or by calling 206-477-3840. Suggestions will be taken until Friday, July 18, 2014. The King County Ferry District will then narrow the names down before putting the final public vote forward to the public at the end of July.

To be considered for the final vote, names must contain regional relevancy, must not exceed two words nor have any inappropriate language. A boat’s name is said to reflect its personality, so the name should be in good taste. While this will not disqualify a name suggestion, it should be noted that maritime folklore says it is unlucky for the boat to be named after a living person who intends to ride the boat in their lifetime.

The new vessels are primarily funded through federal grants and are being designed and built by All American Marine in Bellingham. The new vessels will start serving riders next year …

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Open letter: City/developer spinning wheels on promised bicycle parking in The Junction?
June 27, 2014 11:56 am
|      26 COMMENTS
 |   Transportation | West Seattle news

Bicycle parking along California is supposed to be part of the plan for the two-building Equity Residential project in the heart of The Junction. But supporters of a bicycle “corral” believe the developer is responsible for wheel-spinning that’s delaying installation, and have just sent open letters to the City Council Transportation Committee and Mayor Ed Murray (as well as media). This one is from West Seattle Bike Connections:

Dear Transportation Committee Councilmembers and Mayor Murray,

I am writing on behalf of West Seattle Bike Connections (WSBC) to find out what it takes to get a bike corral installed in West Seattle, more specifically in Alaska Junction at the southeast corner of SW Alaska St and California Ave SW. This letter and a timeline are attached with the efforts we’ve taken to date, beginning in late 2012. We have one simple request: please provide support to have a bike corral installed in Alaska Junction by mid-August of this year.

WSBC has worked with three different SDOT contacts over the last 18 months, where the process began anew with each different representative. SDOT has been asked by the property developer at the location (Equity Residential) to delay installation until construction is complete in 2015. We do not want to wait any longer or go through this process again with new SDOT personnel. We are upset that SDOT is succumbing to a developer for authority over the public right-of-way. We have support from several organizations and businesses who want to see this bike corral installed as soon as possible:

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West Seattle Friday: Relay for Life; beach naturalists; more
June 27, 2014 9:45 am
|      6 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Wednesday night sunset, photographed by Jeremiah Holt)
Highlights for today/tonight from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:

LOW TIDE, WITH NATURALISTS: Not mega-low, but low enough for good exploration – the tide’s out to -1.6 feet at 11:38 am today, and you’ll find volunteer beach naturalists at Constellation Park (south of Alki Point) and Lincoln Park (near Colman Pool) 10 am-1:30 pm.

MANGA-MAKING FOR TEENS: Learning how to make a manga – supplies provided! – is the featured activity at Teen Space, 2-4 pm at Southwest Branch Library. (35th/Henderson)

LOCAL VENDOR FAIR: Meet a variety of vendors at Metropolitan Market-Admiral (WSB sponsor) 4-7 pm today. (41st/42nd/Admiral)

LIVE MUSIC VENUES TONIGHT … include Salty’s, C & P Coffee, The Cask (all WSB sponsors), as well as Kenyon Hall and Skylark Café and Club – see all those listings on the calendar.

WEST SEATTLE RELAY FOR LIFE: Has your family been affected by cancer? (Whose hasn’t?) Support the fight for survival – and cures – through West Seattle Relay for Life, an all-night American Cancer Society-benefiting event that kicks off with the opening ceremony at 7 pm, the survivors’ lap at 7:30 pm, the luminaria ceremony at 10 pm, all open to the public at West Seattle Stadium (which does close its gates later in the night/early morning, for participants’ security) – more info here. (4432 35th SW)

TWO WEEKS UNTIL SUMMER FEST! SIGNED UP FOR THE COMMUNITY TENT YET? West Seattle Summer Fest is only two weeks away. The Community Tent is taking signups through TODAY – don’t miss the chance for your group/organization to be part of West Seattle’s biggest summer party. Here’s the announcement with details.

And just in case you hear them from across the bay …

FIREWORKS … are on the Safeco Field schedule after tonight’s Mariners’ game (also July 25th and August 29th).

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Ready to roll? New junior roller derby about to launch
June 27, 2014 9:04 am
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | White Center | WS & Sports

Cross-posted from our partner site White Center Now, since the new league hopes to draw from all over this area:

Pamela McCarty shares the news that Southside Revolution Junior Roller Derby is launching soon, and interested skaters 8-17 are welcome to come to an Info Night at Southgate Roller Rink next Monday (June 30th), 7 pm. Southside Revolution definitely plans a girls’ team, and will also have a coed team if enough boys are interested.

Southgate will be the practice site for the new league. If you just can’t make it Monday night but have an interested skater in the family, there will be another Info Night on July 14th and an August summer camp. Questions? E-mail info@southsiderevolution.com – and you’re invited to check out this Facebook group.

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TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Rainy Friday commute; weekend notes
June 27, 2014 7:43 am
|    Comments Off on TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Rainy Friday commute; weekend notes
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

(WS high/low bridges and Highway 99 views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
No major problems to report outbound right now (a Battery St. Tunnel closure following a one-car crash cleared relatively quickly near the top of the hour) – but if you are headed toward West Seattle, southbound I-5 has had some backups, most recently with a crash by the downtown Convention Center.

Quick weekend reminders – California/Fauntleroy intersection is set for repaving 7 am-7 pm Saturday (with extensive no-parking zones on surrounding blocks); 2 lanes of NB I-5 at the West Seattle Bridge will close all weekend (as will the 520 bridge); Alki will be busy tomorrow with the Seafair Pirates Landing (no road closures, but big crowd). And on Sunday, two notable events outside (but not far from) WS – the Pride Parade downtown at 11 am (here’s the route) and the South Park Bridge celebration at noon (the bridge itself opens for vehicle/pedestrian use 6 am Monday).

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The WSBeat: ‘Fast backup’; stuck in a cabinet; trapped in a tub; more…
June 26, 2014 9:35 pm
|      22 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | West Seattle news | West Seattle police | WSBeat

By Megan Sheppard
On the WSBeat, for West Seattle Blog

This edition of our periodic feature The WSBeat contains summaries written from reports on cases handled recently by Southwest Precinct officers – generally cases that (usually) have not already appeared here in breaking-news coverage or West Seattle Crime Watch reports, but that might at least answer the question “what WERE all those police doing on my block?” Or on the bridge, or the beach, or …

*On the afternoon of the 20th, firefighters asked for a “fast backup” from officers as they dealt with a patient in the 7500 block of 32nd SW. Officers found the 38-year-old lying on his back, yelling and growling, with “about half a dozen medics and officers holding him down.” The man had fought with firefighters and injured one by grabbing and crushing his upper arm, breaking the skin in three places. The suspect, who has a history of drug-induced “excited delirium” incidents, was transported to Harborview. Officers are recommending that the suspect be charged with assault.

*On the 18th, in the 2800 block of 36th SW, a man took up residence inside a small cabinet discarded {“Free!”) on a corner. He provided incoherent answers to officers’ questions, and they felt it was best he be taken to Harborview for a mental evaluation–plus, they were concerned he might die (from “positional asphyxiation”) if he accidentally fell asleep inside the cramped quarters.

*On the 16th, Arbor Heights residents asked that officers check on the wellbeing of an elderly neighbor whom they had not seen for about a week. Officers noticed a full mailbox and papers on the porch. Getting no response to knocks, they decided to make a forced entry. They found the 77-year-old woman in the bathtub — alive — but gasping and unable to speak. It appeared she had been stuck for several days. She was transported to Harborview for care.

Ahead, eight more summaries, starting with two cases of predatory behavior:

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Another West Seattle business anniversary: Massage Envy
June 26, 2014 8:32 pm
|    Comments Off on Another West Seattle business anniversary: Massage Envy
 |   How to help | West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news

It’s been a year since Massage Envy of West Seattle (WSB sponsor) opened at Westwood Village, and the anniversary celebration included tonight’s WS Chamber of Commerce After Hours event (in a tent just outside ME, to enjoy the summer night without disrupting the massages inside). Every month, a different local business hosts Chamber members for mingling and refreshments. At right below is Massage Envy proprietor Jennifer McCollum with Chamber CEO Lynn Dennis:

As part of the festivities, ME has a food drive all week – just come in and drop off donations in the barrel for the West Seattle Food Bank, whose Judy Yazzolino was there during tonight’s event:

Massage Envy also will be at the cancer-fighting West Seattle Relay for Life during its first few hours tomorrow night at West Seattle Stadium, 7:30-9:30 pm.

P.S. One more big benefit drive mentioned tonight – Stuff the Bus, the summertime diaper drive for WestSide Baby, whose executive director Nancy Woodland is president of the West Seattle Chamber Board. July 20th is the big day, in the parking lot of the Junction branch of HomeStreet Bank (WSB sponsor) at 41st and Alaska, but as mentioned here previously, you can start bringing in diaper donations now!

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NW Communication Connections: Welcome, new WSB sponsors!
June 26, 2014 4:45 pm
|      12 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news

This afternoon, we welcome a new WSB sponsor – locally owned NW Communication Connections! Here’s their message to you:

We are speech-language pathologists and glad to be here in West Seattle! Our office is located in The Junction, in the Jefferson Square building, where we have a fun space for working with people individually or in groups. Our mission is to not only help individuals improve their communication skills, but also to facilitate supportive connections with the local community whenever possible.

Katy and Ann have each spent many years working in the public schools, and are very familiar with the special education process. They are both “professional development junkies”, whose idea of a vacation is often to travel someplace fun to attend a conference.

Katy lives in West Seattle and has worked in public schools, universities, hospitals, clinics, and private practice for over 40 years. Most recently she worked at Arbor Heights Elementary, and is known to the community for her quiet professionalism, wide knowledge base, and caring nature. She is experienced working with clients from ages 3 years on up to young adulthood. Her areas of expertise include motor speech and phonological speech disorders, executive-function challenges, and social language/cognition skills for individuals on the upper end of the Autism Spectrum. Her objective is to design treatment/therapy plans to accommodate the individual needs of her clients. You can reach her at 206-947-7886.

Ann is known as an innovative professional, always looking for creative ways to infuse fun with solid interventions. She has spent many years focused on helping support people with social communication challenges and is excited to offer a range of social groups for the West Seattle community, including a social yoga group run in collaboration with Nicole Koleshis, an OT and sensory integration specialist, of Next Generation Yoga! She is also a member of the International Association of Orofacial Myology, a collaborative field of professionals that includes dentists, ENTs, sleep specialists, dental hygienists, and speech-language pathologists. You can reach her at 206-387-0947.

Please visit our website for more information, or call us for a free phone screening, so we can help you figure out what’s best for you. We look forward to connecting with you.

We thank NW Communication Connections for sponsoring independent, community-collaborative neighborhood news via WSB; find our current sponsor team listed in directory format here, and find info on joining the team by going here.

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West Seattle (and vicinity) food notes: Room 22; Full Tilt; Top Pot Doughnuts followup
June 26, 2014 2:30 pm
|      6 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle restaurants | White Center

ROOM 22: Last August, Pizzeria 22 proprietor Cary Kemp announced an expansion next door, to add dining-room and event space. The expansion, dubbed Room 22, opens Saturday, he tells WSB:

Room 22 will provide an additional 50 seats to our restaurant, as well as one of West Seattle’s largest private dining rooms for up to 50 guests. We will now be able to offer reservations for parties of 6 or more any time and will no longer have the space and wait issues that we have experienced in the past.

Saturday is also Pizzeria 22’s third anniversary.

SPEAKING OF ANNIVERSARIES: In case you missed the Full Tilt Ice Cream update on our partner site White Center Now last weekend, the company founded in White Center by Justin Cline and Ann Magyar celebrated its sixth anniversary last Friday. We stopped in that night for a quick check-in, and found Justin, Ann, and son Moss on hand:

Two major updates as Full Tilt continues to grow – they’ll soon launch an ice-cream truck (as compared to the cart/s they’ve had in recent years, including the one at last weekend’s Morgan Junction Community Festival) that’s expected to spend lots of time on Alki, and the number of grocery stores selling Full Tilt pints is about to double. They’re in 60+ stores now and about to add ~60 more, going into Western Washington QFCs.

SPEAKING OF ICE CREAM: It’ll be part of Top Pot Doughnuts‘ first West Seattle location. Back on Tuesday, we broke the news that Top Pot is moving into the vacant-since-built east side of 2758 Alki Avenue SW. Since then, we’ve had a chance to talk with Top Pot co-founder Mark Klebeck, and he had a few more details to share. First, the “fall” opening is vague because as always, it’s a matter of how the city permit process goes, and they don’t expect it’ll be any sooner than the first day of fall (September 21st). Second, the hours will likely be along the lines of 6 am-9 pm, with adjustment based on how business goes. Third, one special feature – Snoqualmie Ice Cream makes a special “doughnut-inspired” ice cream for a few Top Pot locations, and this one will feature it. Why West Seattle? we asked. Klebeck said every time they’ve opened a new spot somewhere, they’d hear from upset West Seattleites saying “why not here?” They were looking for the right location and finally decided this was it.

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One more mention: City vote for Metro money? Public hearing tonight
June 26, 2014 1:24 pm
|      17 COMMENTS
 |   Transportation | West Seattle news | West Seattle politics

No time today for a calendar preview – you can browse our full calendar any time – but one event tonight does need one more mention: A public hearing about bus funding, and whether the city should be going to the ballot with a proposal to raise money for it. That hearing is tonight, 5:30 pm, at City Hall, with the City Council wearing its collective Seattle Transportation Benefit District hat. Chairing the STBD, Councilmember Tom Rasmussen has proposed sending the mayor’s proposal to voters, but the question now is, what do you think? From the city’s reminder:

The STBD is interested in hearing public feedback on the following:

1) How would planned Metro Transit service cuts impact you if no action is taken to prevent these cuts?

2) What is your perspective on an additional vehicle license fee of up to $60 and a 0.1% sales and use tax to prevent planned Metro Transit service cuts in Seattle, and if funds allow, to enhance transit service?

3) What other information should the Board take into consideration as it develops a potential ballot measure for the November election?

The deadline to get something on that ballot is August 5th.

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Car, motorcycle collide in Arbor Heights
June 26, 2014 12:42 pm
|      6 COMMENTS
 |   Arbor Heights | West Seattle news | WS breaking news

One person was taken to the hospital by private ambulance after their motorcycle collided with a car in Arbor Heights. It happened at California/104th; the rider’s injuries are not life-threatening, but there was a major medical response, and that plus an unrelated medic response not far away led to many a siren in AH this past hour. Our crew was told at the scene that the woman and child who were in the car are not hurt.

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Ferry update: Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth back to 3-boat schedule
June 26, 2014 11:39 am
|    Comments Off on Ferry update: Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth back to 3-boat schedule
 |   Transportation | West Seattle news

ORIGINAL 11:39 AM REPORT: M/V Issaquah is out of service for repairs, and Washington State Ferries has the Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth run on a 2-boat schedule as a result. See the schedule here; we will update when there’s word that it’s back to 3 boats.

2:14 PM: As of just before 2 pm, the route is back to three boats with the return of the Issaquah, says WSF.

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‘Green Light District’ turns 22nd/Roxbury crosswalk into keyboard
June 26, 2014 9:45 am
|      23 COMMENTS
 |   Transportation | West Seattle news

9:45 AM: Received early this morning and attributed to the “Green Light District” – a new feature at 22nd/Roxbury. We’re going over for a daylight look.

ADDED 11:21 AM: A view from the northeast side, on the berm by the Community School of West Seattle:

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TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Thursday notes; weekend preview
June 26, 2014 7:33 am
|      5 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

(WS high/low bridges and Highway 99 views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
Another no-news-is-relatively-good-news commute so far. The weekend reminders:

CALIFORNIA/FAUNTLEROY WORK: 7 am-7 pm Saturday, paving at this major intersection.

NORTHBOUND I-5 LANE CLOSURES + 520 CLOSURE ALL WEEKEND: Here’s the warning from SDOT.

SEAFAIR PIRATES’ LANDING: This happens on Alki at midday Saturday. No road closures but some parking will be taken by related vehicles in the Bathhouse vicinity, and the beach will overall be very busy.

NEW SOUTH PARK BRIDGE: Street party on Sunday, starting at noon, going into the evening, on 14th north of Cloverdale. The bridge itself opens to traffic next Monday morning at 6 am, and that will change Metro routing too, as explained here.

11:58 AM NOTE: Route 773, the Water Taxi shuttle, is having issues right now. In an unrelated case, so is the state ferry M/V Issaquah, which means the Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth WSF route is on the two-boat schedule right now.

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Update: Play-area fire at Schmitz Park Elementary School, $50,000 damage
June 26, 2014 1:24 am
|      44 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle fires | West Seattle news | WS breaking news

(SCROLL DOWN FOR ONGOING UPDATES: Damage estimate, daylight photos, district and PTA comments)

1:24 AM: Seattle Fire is on the way to a possible fire at 5000 SW Spokane, which is the address for Schmitz Park Elementary School. More as we get it.

1:30 AM: Response is being downsized; the fire is apparently on/in play equipment outside, no building/interior involvement. Mostly a bark fire, but “some melted play equipment,” SFD reports. Our crew is still en route.

1:54 AM: Our crew reports it’s some climbing-type equipment at the play area on the west side of the school but it’s significantly damaged. We’ll go back for a daylight look later. No official cause of the fire – the marshal’s on the way.

8:12 AM UPDATE: From Kyle Moore at SFD:

Seattle Fire Investigators have classified an overnight fire at a West Seattle playground as undetermined because there was no obvious source of ignition.

At 1:19 a.m. a call came into dispatchers at the Fire Alarm Center reporting a fire coming from the back of a school located in the 5000 block of SW Spokane Street. The first arriving engine company found flames coming from a playground area. Firefighters quickly knocked down the fire which was confined to the wood chips. The heat and flames also melted and damaged the metal and plastic playground equipment. The damage estimate is $50,000.

We will add daylight photos shortly.

9:13 AM: Just back from the school. Photos of the damage, above and below.

We are following up with Seattle Public Schools for starters. Schmitz Park is West Seattle’s most-populous elementary, with more than 600 students expected this fall. It’s scheduled to move into the new school to be built on the Genesee Hill Elementary site, likely in early 2016.

12:05 PM: District spokesperson Tom Redman tells WSB, “The play equipment was new and installed last summer and funded by the District. Our risk and loss prevention manager will inspect the equipment, after which we’ll determine our next steps.”

2:09 PM: We’ve also heard from the SPES PTA – starting with this detailed comment from outgoing president Jeff Rayner.

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Update: Man stabbed on Alki after two groups clash; police explain response time
June 25, 2014 11:30 pm
|      71 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | West Seattle news

(WSB photos by Christopher Boffoli)
11:30 PM: Police and fire are rushing to a report of a 20-year-old man stabbed at/near 61st/Alki. That’s all we know so far.

11:38 PM UPDATE: From the scanner (our crew is still en route), the victim is reported to have been stabbed in the thigh.

11:44 PM UPDATE: In medical communications, the wound is described as to the “right flank” and the victim is now described as 23 years old.

12:08 AM UPDATE: Police at the scene told us the stabbing happened when two groups of people started fighting/arguing. One person is being held for questioning.

8:59 PM UPDATE: The comment discussion has included reports that 911 was called even before the stabbing and told that trouble was brewing, and concerns about the response time. We inquired this morning with SPD and received a response this evening from Southwest Precinct commander Capt. Steve Wilske, who has spoken at multiple community meetings recently (including the Block Watch Captains’ Network this past Tuesday) about the precinct’s Alki plan.

“We dispatched the call pretty quickly, but between travel time and getting the officers together to go in as a team it took about 8-10 minutes to get there and exert control over the event. They wanted to go in as a team due to the number of people involved in the fight. There was one subject who was stabbed in the abdomen; we did some interviews but we do not have a suspect in custody yet.

We did not have foot officers on scene [before the event]; they are currently working 1400 to 2200 Friday and Saturday [at Alki] as that is when we have experienced the largest crowds.”

No word on the condition of the victim in last night’s stabbing; without a name, the hospital won’t release information to the media.

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West Seattle scene: Colorful sky before weather turns
June 25, 2014 11:20 pm
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle weather

Quick break for pretty views of tonight’s sunset – on the eve of what’s forecast as clouds and showers. Above, from Don Brubeck; below, from Myrtle.

Thanks for sharing!

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West Seattle Crime Watch: Warrant arrest in Morgan Junction; woman reports being chased on Alki
June 25, 2014 8:27 pm
|      37 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | West Seattle news

Two cases in West Seattle Crime Watch tonight – first, a warrant arrest in a very public place:

ARREST AT IN MORGAN JUNCTION: A reader sent that photo, asking if we knew why police “swooped in” on a car by the Morgan Junction McDonald’s and arrested a man who was one of two people inside. We have confirmed it was 43-year-old Bryan Tiedeman, a repeat offender whose case came up briefly at last night’s West Seattle Block Watch Captains Network meeting. Court records show a warrant out for his arrest since last Monday for failing to appear for a hearing that day. It’s the same case reported here last December, involving stolen-car-related charges; court documents said at the time that Tiedeman had been booked into the King County Jail 34 times, for 59 warrants, in 20 years. He also has been charged in another case since then, involving a car stolen in SeaTac and found in May near the house where the police report says Tiedeman lives, near Lincoln Park; after 17 days in jail related to that, court documents show, he was released to the day-reporting program known as CCAP. The warrant sets his bail at $75,075.

ALKI INCIDENT: An Alki-area woman wanted to sound the alarm about an incident that happened to someone she knows late last Thursday night. She says the victim, in her twenties, was walking on Alki Avenue by 61st SW around 11 pm when a man “lunged” at her and “chased her three blocks … yelling obscenities at her and telling her he was going to ‘get her’,” until she found a restaurant open near 59th/Alki and ducked inside for safety. The man is described only as 5-10, early 30s, African-American, shoulder-length black dreadlocks, and the victim thought she had seen him before in the area. She was not harmed but did file a report with police. Side note from the victim’s friend: “She tried to wave down two different cars that passed her in the street and neither car stopped, or even slowed to help.”

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Mayor Murray declares ‘Summer of Safety’ in speech to council
June 25, 2014 3:43 pm
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | Safety | West Seattle news | West Seattle politics

As promised, Mayor Murray convened the City Council this afternoon for a speech about public safety, and declared his intent for this to be a “Summer of Safety.” You can see video of his speech above, and read the full text (as prepared) here. The mayor acknowledged, “After years of fragmentation and disorganization, our city today faces a crisis of confidence in public safety,” while also asserting that “public safety is not something provided to the community by the government.” Among the action steps he promised were “creation of a joint enforcement team to ensure that across City departments we have a coordinated response to chronic nuisance businesses and property owners who create hotspots for crime and disorderly behavior – and who disrupt the quality of life in our neighborhoods.” He also announced plans for community walks to identify specific problems in such hotspots and get them fixed, starting in Central/Southeast Seattle. This document lists other points of the “Community Safety Strategy” he outlined, such as directing new Seattle Police Chief Kathleen O’Toole “to deliver a Community Safety Plan for every neighborhood.”

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