day : 21/07/2014 11 results

Some of Seattle’s hardest-working young musicians were at Seacrest tonight, as previewed here this morning: It was the annual photo shoot and mini-performance by the All-City Band, marching-band musicians from high schools around the city, directed by Marcus Pimpleton, who leads music programs at Denny International Middle School and Chief Sealth International High School here in West Seattle.

After all the picture-taking, some music-making along Harbor Avenue:

The clear weather was perfect for the occasion.

As also mentioned here this morning, before their next round of parades – particularly Saturday night’s Seafair Torchlight Parade downtown – you can see them during Band Jam at Southwest Athletic Complex, 6:30 pm Friday night, also featuring other musicians (and flag-twirlers) getting ready for Saturday night.

Don’t miss Friday night – it’s free and fun.

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Followup: Mayor tells police to stand down in post-foreclosure West Seattle eviction case of Byron and Jean Barton

July 21, 2014 8:51 pm

| 79 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle people | West Seattle politics

(Friday photos by WSB’s Patrick Sand: Above, deputies carrying Byron Barton from his home)
New development today in a West Seattle family’s quest to stay in their foreclosed-on-and-auctioned-off home. On Friday, we chronicled a day of tumultuous activity at the 41st/Holly home of disabled veteran Byron Barton and wife Jean Barton, a day that started with King County Sheriff’s Office reps removing them from the house, which they then defiantly re-entered, continuing to keep vigil with local activists. That evening, Seattle Police and the local City Attorney’s Office precinct liaison arrived, but ultimately left after concluding nothing would be done that night.

(Friday evening WSB photo)
This morning, the activists went to City Hall to ask the mayor and council to tell SPD to stand down – several also spoke during open-comment time at this afternoon’s City Council meeting – and this evening, Mayor Murray sent this statement:

We are attempting to understand all options that may exist in this situation and I have asked Chief O’Toole and the Seattle Police Department to stand by while the latest court proceedings unwind.

An interdepartmental team has been working on the issue of foreclosure and how the City of Seattle can proactively connect residents to resources early in the process. I’ve pledged the City of Seattle’s participation in the Mayors Challenge to End Veterans Homelessness in 2015, and will launch a separate process to address homelessness and increase housing affordability in the months ahead, one of my visions toward making Seattle an affordable city.

“In Washington State, we’ve seen recent victories such as the 2011 Washington State Foreclosure Fairness Act, which I worked on closely, designed to help homeowners and their lenders explore alternatives to foreclosure and reach a resolution when possible. I’m committed to working with all stakeholders, using this and other alternatives in the work Seattle does on housing affordability.”

The City of Seattle and Washington State have resources to help homeowners avoid default and work out repayment plans in order to stay in their homes, or gain enough time to sell their homes on their own terms: http://www.seattle.gov/housing/buying/ForeclosurePrevention.htm and commerce.wa.gov/Programs/housing/Foreclosure/Pages/default.aspx

The Bartons have a lawsuit pending, alleging the foreclosure – which had been in the works at least since 2012, according to court documents we have found so far – was illegal. The development company that bought their house in an April auction has sued for “unlawful detainer” – seeking to have the Bartons removed. The situation that led to foreclosure is complicated; while the house has been in Byron Barton’s family for more than 60 years, changes in the family put it back under a mortgage. P.S. How long this will take to play out in the courts is unknown – the civil system doesn’t always move quickly, and the current trial date for the Bartons’ lawsuit (filed in May) isn’t until June of next year.

TUESDAY MORNING, 9:22 AM: A commenter asked about the Sheriff’s Office role/responsibility at this point. We asked KCSO spokesperson Sgt. DB Gates, who replied:

The eviction was completed and our involvement in serving that eviction order is over.

The legal owners of the house are always able to return to court and get another civil order which would compel our department to act. I’m unaware of any filings or movement on that topic.

Our departments stand is the eviction was completed, anyone reoccupying that house is committing a crime. At least trespass, if not burglary.

It is now up to the local police agency to enforce those crimes.

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County Council changes Metro bus-cut plan; West Seattle ‘deletions’ no longer certain

July 21, 2014 6:50 pm

| 14 COMMENTS

| Transportation | West Seattle news

Separate from the November vote on Seattle taxes to avoid Metro Transit cuts in the city limits, the King County Council has reached a deal today that changes the timetable for cuts. While the September cuts are still on as planned, and the number of hours scheduled to be cut February are to stay the same, here’s the biggest news for West Seattle: The round of cuts that was going to hit our area the hardest – originally scheduled for September of next year, involving route deletions – is not necessarily a sure thing; it will be worked out during the next round of county budgeting. (Here’s a document from last May showing which routes were to be affected in which phases.) The February cuts will be examined by a newly created committee, according to King County Executive Dow Constantine‘s version of today’s announcement. Here’s the County Council‘s version of the announcement, which includes the following explanation:

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West Seattle traffic alert: Cars collide in Gatewood

July 21, 2014 6:11 pm

| 2 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | WS breaking news

6:11 PM: It was a short-lived call on the 911 log and so we didn’t go to check out this crash at California/Portland – but Long B. Nguyen, better known for photos from the sky, was in the area and shared this photo. We don’t have any official word on injuries; the Seattle Fire call closed very quickly and did not include medic units, suggesting if any, they weren’t major.

6:25 PM: California SW is blocked both ways at the scene but tow trucks are there so it might not be long.

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West Seattle Crime Watch: Admiral scuffle leads to BB shooting

July 21, 2014 5:03 pm

| 10 COMMENTS

| Crime | West Seattle news

Just talked with police about an Admiral incident that several asked us about this afternoon. According to Seattle Police spokesperson Det. Drew Fowler, it boiled down to a fight involving four people outside Admiral Safeway just before 3 pm. Two were brothers, ages 16 and 17; the other two’s identities aren’t known. Police are still sorting out the motive for the fight but say that at one point, one of the unknown two suspects shot one of the brothers in the face with a BB gun. There also were reports of punches thrown, but in the end, what happened was so convoluted that Seattle Fire medic crews came and went from the scene twice – finally, the victim was taken to a hospital. His injuries are not described as major. No one’s been arrested.

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More information about President Obama’s Seattle visit Tuesday

July 21, 2014 3:37 pm

| 22 COMMENTS

| Transportation | West Seattle news | West Seattle politics

(LOOKING FOR NEWEST INFO ABOUT PRESIDENTIAL VISIT? GO HERE)

(WSB photo of Air Force One at Boeing Field, July 2012)
Even if they don’t include public events, presidential visits are usually of high interest for reasons including traffic effects and Air Force One sightings. So here’s the latest information about President Obama‘s planned Seattle visit tomorrow (Tuesday, July 22nd): Boeing Field has just published an advisory that confirms Air Force One will be landing there. While some of the ground and air restrictions in the advisory span the time period of noon to 8 pm, most of what’s listed suggests that the heart of the visit will be in the 3-7:30 pm vicinity. No open-to-the-public events have been announced; the visit is reported to be fundraising only, including, according to SeattleTimes.com, an event in Madrona. If any more information emerges tonight, we’ll update this item, and as always we’ll have the key points in our daily traffic watch first thing in the morning.

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West Seattle Crime Watch: Three car break-ins

July 21, 2014 3:00 pm

| 9 COMMENTS

| Crime | West Seattle news

Three reader reports – first two are about overnight car break-ins in north West Seattle. First, from Sandra:

My car was broken into last night. it was parked on the street at 2008 California Ave SW. They took 3 bags; 1) yellow leather with brown trim, 2) black leather with gold trim, and a black “expanda” file with handles. Nothing of real value in the bags, but if the thieves threw them out and anyone sees them, please contact me at sandrakstark@live.com. Thank you.

And from Ian:

My 1992 Honda Accord was prowled last night, between 12 am and noon today. It was parked in the 2100 block of Alki Ave SW, underneath a street light in front of the condo I live in. Woke up to find the trunk partially opened and all the contents of my glove box thrown through out the car. Fortunately they didn’t steal my car since I had a club on the steering wheel which they tried to remove from all the scratch marks all over it. All they took was my GPS which was hidden in my glove box. No broken windows or scratch marks on my car door, which makes me think they had a master key to the car which you can buy online.

Third report is from last Thursday – Jeremy tweeted about a smash-and-grab car break-in in the south lot at Lincoln Park; his wife’s purse was taken.

P.S. In case you missed it over the weekend – a Crime Watch partial happy ending.

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West Seattle development: Key approvals for 4400 SW Alaska

July 21, 2014 12:30 pm

| 29 COMMENTS

| Development | West Seattle news

(February rendering from NK Architects)
From today’s city Land Use Information Bulletin: Key approvals for the 5-story building with 36 apartments, 2 live/work units, 5 offstreet parking spaces planned by Isola Homes at 44th and Alaska – kitty-corner from the West Seattle Farmers’ Market site. Here’s the official notice; here’s the full text of the decision. The image above is from the project’s final Design Review meeting in February (WSB coverage here), and some changes were recommended. Today’s decision opens a two-week appeal period – how to do that is explained here.

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West Seattle community rep sought for Boeing Field’s ‘Roundtable’

July 21, 2014 11:02 am

| Comments Off on West Seattle community rep sought for Boeing Field’s ‘Roundtable’

| How to help | West Seattle news

Just noticed while checking the Boeing Field (officially, King County International Airport) website that its advisory group, the Roundtable, has an opening for a West Seattle representative. It is described as:

The Roundtable includes representatives of aviation-related businesses and communities interested in airport issues. It was set up as an advisory board to make recommendations to the airport’s administrators, the King County Executive, and the King County Council.

The group meets monthly, though it’s taking July and August off, per the website. Its current members are listed here. Interested in the West Seattle rep opening? E-mail leslie.barstow@kingcounty.gov for application/info. (Photo from kingcounty.gov)

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Marching-band fan? All-City Band at Seacrest tonight; Band Jam at SWAC on Friday

July 21, 2014 9:58 am

| 5 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | WS culture/arts

ORIGINAL REPORT, 9:58 AM: If you love marching bands, two things you’ll want to know: First, the All-City Band – which won the grand prize in the West Seattle Grand Parade on Saturday – will be in the Seacrest vicinity this evening for its annual photo shoot, 5:30 pm per its boosters’ Facebook page. The photo above (shared by Toni) is from last year’s session. It’s not an official concert, but if you’re in the area, maybe returning from a Water Taxi commute, you’ll hear music post-photos, since one tipster tells us they’ll be “marching around” as part of it.

Second, this Friday (July 25th) at Southwest Athletic Complex, on the eve of the Seafair Torchlight Parade, ACB and director Marcus Pimpleton again host Band Jam, a chance for some of the parade bands to practice and perform. The formal announcement hasn’t arrived yet but it’s on the ACB calendar and in a comment discussion, we were told it’s set to start around 6:30 pm. Open to the public and free! (The stadium/field is at 2801 SW Thistle, east of Southwest Pool and across the street from Chief Sealth International High School.)

11:37 AM UPDATE: More info just in re: Band Jam – 6:30 pm is the confirmed time, and here are the bands expected:

(Chaotic Noise Marching Corps – WSB photo from 2013 Band Jam coverage)
*The Junior All-City Marching Band
*The Pacific Northwest Drumline
*The Ten Man Brass Band
*The Sumner High School Marching Band
*The Chaotic Noise Marching Corps
*The Seattle Sounders F.C. Soundwave
*The Seattle Schools All-City Marching Band

(Sumner was also honored for its performance in Saturday’s WS parade.)

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TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Monday updates; what you need to know for the rest of the week

July 21, 2014 6:16 am

| 7 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

(WS bridge and Highway 99 views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
While we keep an eye on what’s happening on the routes through and from West Seattle, a few other notes:

SHELTER SWAPOUT: If you’re catching or changing buses in The Junction, you might notice a shelter swapout:

Kate Kaemerle took the photo Friday. We checked with Metro, whose spokesperson Jeff Switzer tells WSB it’s a refurbishment project and that the locally themed art that graced the previous shelter will be reinstalled after the work is done. No time estimate, though.

I-90 WB LANE CLOSURES CONTINUE: Here’s a WSDOT progress report on the westbound I-90 lane closures between Bellevue and Mercer Island. They continue today.

PRESIDENTIAL VISIT TOMORROW: Various regional news sources have reported that President Obama is coming to Seattle on Tuesday for more Democratic Party fundraising. Though there has been no formal public announcement of times/places, Patti Payne reports in the Puget Sound Business Journal that it’s an afternoon event in Madrona. He’s not staying overnight, so there will be a motorcade back to the airport too.

SATURDAY NIGHT 99 CLOSURE: Looking way ahead to next weekend, a reminder that Saturday (July 26) is Seafair Torchlight Night, and NB Highway 99 (Alaskan Way Viaduct) is scheduled to be closed 5:30 pm-7:45 pm for the Torchlight Run.

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