West Seattle, Washington

19 Friday

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day : 26/08/2014 11 results

West Seattle scene: Rotarians sort school-supplies donations for Pencil Me In For Kids
August 26, 2014 11:56 pm
|    Comments Off on West Seattle scene: Rotarians sort school-supplies donations for Pencil Me In For Kids
 |   How to help | Rotary Club of West Seattle | West Seattle news

Thanks to Josh Sutton from the Rotary Club of West Seattle for the photo from an annual late-summer tradition – the sorting party for school-supplies donations collected and obtained by Pencil Me In For Kids. In the heart of the activity at Monday night’s event, that’s Sue Lindblom waving, and Cathy Rouyer talking with her. Josh adds that overall, “More than a dozen West Seattle Rotarians sorted over $9,000 in school supplies destined for students in need from every West Seattle public school. Thanks to Staples and to QFC for their discounts and support of Rotary Pencil Me In For Kids.” P.S. PMIFK has been getting school supplies to kids who need them for almost 20 years! Here’s how to help.

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4 West Seattle biznotes, from Admiral to The Junction to The Triangle
August 26, 2014 8:41 pm
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news

Four West Seattle biznotes tonight:

AUSTRALIAN WINEMAKER VISITING: This Friday night at The Cask (WSB sponsor), 7-9 pm, acclaimed Australian winemaker Daniel Binet from Ballabourneen Winery is visiting for a “Meet the Winemaker” event. Ballabourneen describes Binet as, in addition to winemaker, “entertainer, bon vivant and inspiration behind the wines, creativity and culture of the company.” (See his bio here.) Stop by the Cask at 2350 California SW Friday night to say hi and try his wine.

FORMER SHOOFLY PIE SPACE: The state’s liquor-license application announcements give a hint of what’s on the way for the space vacated when Shoofly closed earlier this month – a license application is in for that address, 4444 California SW, in the name Coastline, and the applicant is Aaron Shepherd, proprietor of Copper Coin in Admiral. We have a message out seeking more information.

CHERRY CONSIGNMENT CHANGE: Just up the street from there, Cherry Consignment proprietor Nyla says her store at 4142 California SW will be exclusively focused on women’s wear and accessories as of next month, and that she plans “to expand our current selection of gently used garments to include more plus, petite, and maternity sizes.” This means they’ll no longer accept men’s clothing for consignment as of August 31st.

ALKI SEAGULL MERCH AT NEW LOCATIONS: Misa e-mailed to say Mountain to Sound Outfitters in The Triangle and Alki Kayak Tours at Seacrest are “now carrying the Alki bird (seagull logo) merchandise including the classic bumper stickers, T’s, sweatshirts, and hats.” People ask often where they can find these items, so that’s word of two more options.

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West Seattle Bridge traffic alert: Exit to NB 99 reopens after hours-long closure following diesel spill on eastbound bridge
August 26, 2014 4:57 pm
|      16 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

(Added: Photo of truck, tweeted by Seattle Fire)
4:57 PM: In case you’re heading toward downtown (or beyond) sometime soon: Thanks to the tipster who just called to let us know about a truck stopped on the eastbound bridge near the Highway 99 exit, leaking fluid. It’s on the SFD 911 log as a “fuel spill.”

5:10 PM UPDATE: The exit to 99 is closed because of the cleanup, per this SDOT tweet:

5:20 PM UPDATE: A text from Metro says that since the ramp is closed for now, Routes 21, 120, 125, and RapidRide C Line are rerouting onto 4th Avenue South.

5:28 PM UPDATE: Seattle Fire estimates the spill at about 80 gallons. (added) SPD adds that “Portions of roads near Harbor Island will be closed for an extended period.” And now there’s also word of a crash *on* northbound 99 north of the ramp from the bridge, so even if you get onto 99 from points to the south, you might be in for some trouble.

5:47 PM UPDATE: The cleanup of what’s described over emergency radio as diesel fuel also involves checking storm drains to make sure the fuel doesn’t get into the river or Puget Sound.

6:45 PM UPDATE: SDOT says the ramp will be closed “for several hours” because the hazmat team is investigating.

9:28 PM UPDATE: SPD says it probably won’t reopen until midnight. Here’s the summary just posted on SPD Blotter:

Multiple city agencies responded to a diesel fuel spill after a semi-truck punctured its gas tank sending 80 gallons of fuel onto streets near Harbor Island during Tuesday evening’s commute.

Officers began receiving calls about a fuel leak at the Alaskan Way on-ramp to the West Seattle Bridge just before 4:45 p.m. As they arrived, they found roads in the area covered in diesel fuel, making the roads very slick, for approximately one mile leading up to where the fuel source was found. Officers discovered the disabled semi-truck at the on-ramp surrounded in a three-inch-deep pool of fuel.

The Seattle Fire Department responded to the scene and began sopping up the fuel as it sank into the ground and drained into the sewage system. It is still unknown the extent of damage the fuel may have caused. The United States Coast Guard was called to the scene to help prevent fuel from leaking into the Duwamish Waterway.

Officers spoke with the driver of the semi who said he was unsure of what punctured the tank, but he had been traveling in the direction of the leak. Officers scoured the area and found a raised curb that appeared to have been hit by the truck, tearing a hole in the exposed fuel tank.

Four other vehicle were damaged in collisions related to the fuel spill and many others were trapped in the spilled fuel.

The ramp is closed as crews continue to cleanup, but is expected to reopen around midnight.

11:45 PM: Checking the webcam that’s been zoomed in on the ramp, looks like it’s open.

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You can help! Benefits with beer: Bob’s Bowl-A-Rama; Washington Organic Week
August 26, 2014 2:27 pm
|    Comments Off on You can help! Benefits with beer: Bob’s Bowl-A-Rama; Washington Organic Week
 |   How to help | West Seattle news | WS beverages

Raise a glass to good deeds! We have word today of two upcoming benefits involving breweries – one in West Seattle, one featuring a WS brewer:

BOWLING AND BEER: A benefit bowl-a-thon at West Seattle Bowl this Thursday has a few lanes still open. From Ingrid at Georgetown Brewing Company:

The event is called Bob’s Bowl-A-Rama, and it is the final event of our fundraising for Ronald McDonald House Charities for 2014.

Charles “Bob” Hirsch was the inspiration for our beer, Bob’s Brown Ale. Manny, one of Georgetown Brewing Co.’s founders, met Bob when he was a counselor at Camp Goodtimes and Bob was a camper. Bob fought cancer for half of his life, and when he passed away, the company decided to brew a beer in his honor and donate all of the proceeds. Bob’s mom chose RMHC as the recipient charity for our donation saying “They put us up for treatment every time we came in from Alaska.” For the past 9 years, we’ve released Bob’s Brown Ale on Bob’s birthday, May 14th, and have raised over $400,000 to date. Even if folks can’t buy a lane, even if they just come out for a pint of Bob’s Brown Ale and buy a raffle ticket, that would be great.

Bob’s Bowl-A-Rama starts at 7 pm Thursday (August 28th) and if you’re interested in a lane, sign up ASAP – here’s all the info.

WASHINGTON ORGANIC WEEK: As part of WOW, Elliott Bay Brewery is participating in Tilth Producers‘ Beer, Cider, Chocolate Tasting event; Amy from EBB tells WSB, “Elliott Bay Brewery will be pouring our delicious Organic Chocolate No Doubt Stout & our Organic Vanilla No Doubt Stout, in support of Washington Organic Week. This is our fourth year contributing to this event and we always have a great time.” It’s not in WS but it’s not far – 6:30 pm Wednesday, September 10th, at Theo Chocolate (3400 Phinney N.) – ticket details here.

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West Seattle back-to-school: Why you’ll see yellow buses on the roads and in the lots the next two days
August 26, 2014 12:28 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools | West Seattle traffic alerts

Though Seattle Public Schools‘ first day of classes is still eight days away, you’ll see yellow school buses on the roads the next two days. Here’s the heads-up from driver Al:

Tomorrow and Thursday school bus drivers will be doing ‘dry runs’ of their routes, which means as early as 6 am, hundreds of school buses will be out-and-about following the directions given to us by the District to find and check out our pick-up and drop-off locations, as well as looking for any route-problems we may encounter on the streets.

Also happening during these two days are meetings at various schools between staff and the drivers, so some schools will see a number of buses parked in their load zones for a while.

This will likely happen for most of the day both days, and we thank you ahead of time for the public’s patience and understanding.

And thanks again to everybody sharing back-to-school news – editor@westseattleblog.com – same address for announcements and info once schools are open again, too!

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West Seattle Tuesday: What’s ahead for today and tonight
August 26, 2014 10:17 am
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Dall’s porpoises in West Seattle waters, photographed by Danny McMillin)
From the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:

SOUTHWEST POOL CLOSURE: A week-long maintenance closure starts today for the city’s only indoor pool in West Seattle. It’s scheduled to reopen the day after Labor Day (Tuesday, September 2nd).

KALEIDOSCOPE PLAY-AND-LEARN: 1:30 pm, parents/caregivers are invited to bring kids 2-5 to High Point Branch Library for fun activities promoting early learning; details in our calendar listing. (35th/Raymond)

LIVE MUSIC AT SALTY’S: Another warm, clear evening is forecast; spend it on the water at Salty’s (WSB sponsor), where Justin Kausal-Hayes performs starting at 5:30 pm, no cover. (1936 Harbor Ave. SW)

WHITE CENTER BIKE-CORRAL MEETING: Some business owners and community advocates are hoping for more bicycle parking to draw more business to downtown White Center, and a grant is close to being finalized for a “bike corral” to facilitate that. They’re asking for a show of support at a community meeting about it tonight, 6:30 pm, at the King County Sheriff’s Office storefront in White Center; details here. (9609 16th SW)

FREE LEGAL CLINIC: 7 pm at Senior Center of West Seattle – by appointment; our calendar listing includes info on how to get one. (Oregon/California)

BLUES TO DO: The Jelly Rollers, featuring Keith Lowe, perform tonight during Blues To Do at Feedback Lounge (WSB sponsor), 8 pm. More info in our calendar listing. (6451 California SW)

EVEN MORE NIGHTLIFE AND DAYTIME ACTIVITIES … on the calendar!

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West Seattle back-to-school: WSHS Freshman Family Night tomorrow
August 26, 2014 9:39 am
|      1 COMMENT
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

Another announcement just in for a back-to-school event – this one’s tomorrow!

West Seattle High School is having its Freshman Family Night from 5:30-7:30 Wednesday, August 27: Student panel, curriculum information, building tours, meet key WSHS staff members, and purchase WSHS Spirit Gear.

Back-to-school event we haven’t mentioned yet for YOUR school? Please send info – thanks!

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Update: Kitchen fire at Neighborhood House’s High Point Center
August 26, 2014 6:52 am
|    Comments Off on Update: Kitchen fire at Neighborhood House’s High Point Center
 |   High Point | West Seattle fires | West Seattle news

(WSB photo by Christopher Boffoli)
6:52 AM: Now a second fire response – again, it’s always a big response for a building, until crews get there and evaluate – this time, 6400 Sylvan Way SW, which is Neighborhood House in High Point.

6:56 AM: SFD reports it’s a kitchen fire at High Point Center. They’re reducing the response, canceling some of the units that were headed that way. The biggest challenge, per scanner, is dealing with the automatic sprinkler system.

7:07 AM: SFD’s investigator won’t be able to get to this scene until he’s done at the fire on SW Barton in Westwood.

9:40 AM NOTE: WSB’s Christopher Boffoli checked back at the center a short time ago and says they were finishing cleanup and expected to open for the day shortly.

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TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Tuesday updates; last day of the rest of the 99 closure
August 26, 2014 6:30 am
|      13 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

(WS bridge and Highway 99 views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
Today is the last day of the rest of the Highway 99 closure, from the Battery Street Tunnel north to Valley Street. See a time lapse of the work in our reminder from last night; see the map in an earlier reminder. To check Metro routes, go here.

26TH/BARTON NOTE, 6:30 AM: A fire response across from Westwood Village is affecting traffic in that area.

6:57 AM: Now there’s another fire response, in High Point. Not a big fire but it’s on Sylvan Way a block south of Morgan and will likely affect traffic in that area for a while.

5:45 PM NOTE: In case you haven’t already seen the separate update, the eastbound bridge offramp to NB 99 is blocked right now because of a spill from a truck – described so far as a fuel spill – that’s being cleaned up.

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Update: Fire at boarded-up house in Westwood
August 26, 2014 6:09 am
|      33 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle fires | West Seattle news | Westwood

(WSB photos by Katie Meyer)
6:09 AM: Thanks for the texts about all the sirens. There’s a “fire in building” callout at 26th/Barton.

6:38 AM: It’s a residential building across from Westwood Village. No injuries reported.

6:52 AM: Some of the units have been dismissed – again, this was a large initial callout just because that is standard operating procedure for a building fire call until crews arrive. Others are leaving now for a separate fire call in High Point.

7:06 AM: No word of the cause yet – fire investigator is still on scene.

7:47 AM: 26th SW is still closed at the scene, though the fire’s been out a while.

8:28 AM: Seattle Fire spokesperson Kyle Moore says that while the home was indeed boarded up – as noted in comments below – the “house and backyard were full of combustible materials.” Though neighbors mention squatters, he says firefighters didn’t find anyone inside when they searched the house. They’re not sure yet how it started; damage is estimated at $55,000.

8:47 AM: SFD will be keeping “fire watch” at the house (which is in the 9200 block of 26th) for a while; Ladder 11 (above) just arrived to help with that.

4:50 PM: SFD published a wrap-up report on its Fireline site, noting that “evidence of transient activity” was found inside the house, which was “released (to its) owner” this afternoon. The cause remains officially listed as “undetermined.”

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Congratulations! West Seattle’s Martin de Vrieze completes high-elevation 100-mile race
August 26, 2014 1:03 am
|      5 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle people | WS & Sports

Congratulations to another West Seattleite for an amazing accomplishment – a high-elevation challenge completed by Martin de Vrieze recently in Colorado. Francine Stroud shares the story and photo:

Martin de Vrieze, a 20-year West Seattle resident, recently ran the Leadville 100 “Race Across the Sky.” This race is 100 miles of extreme Colorado Rockies terrain. The race spans elevations between 9200 feet up to 12,600 feet, and has a total elevation gain of 18,168 feet. The race must be completed in 30 hours or less. Generally, only one half of the runners that start are able to finish the race. This year there were 612 starters and only 351 finishers. The race begins at 4:00 AM in the dark and for Martin ended at dawn the following morning. Martin finished in 25 hrs. 43 mins. 48 secs. He came in 25th in his age group and 93rd overall. We are very proud of him.

Find out more about the race here; results are here.

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