West Seattle, Washington

17 Thursday

57℉

month : 03/2015 331 results

TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: What you need to know for Tuesday
March 24, 2015 7:07 am
|      6 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

(Four WS-relevant views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
7:07 AM: The aftermath of a car-fire call at 35th/Fauntleroy, by the entrance to the bridge, is still causing a backup, we’re told via Twitter. The car-fire call itself is closed but if you’re heading to the bridge that way, you might wait a bit until the scene is completely clear.

Two advisories, meantime:

SEATTLE SOUNDERS FC HOME GAME TONIGHT: 7 pm vs. Club Tijuana at CenturyLink Field, 39,000 people expected, so be aware of extra evening traffic/transit in the stadium zone.

VIADUCT/99 CLOSURES NEXT WEEKEND: Between the West Seattle Bridge and Battery Street Tunnel, the inspection closure is scheduled for 6 am-6 pm both days, Saturday and Sunday. But a stretch of 99 north of the tunnel will be closed around the clock late Friday to early Monday. Full details here.

7:20 AM UPDATE: What remains of the earlier incident is a car on the right shoulder of Fauntleroy just east of the entrance lane from northbound 35th, and a police car right behind it with its rollers going, so vehicles entering the bridge there are having to swerve a bit to the left to get around it, as shown on the live-video feed from the SDOT Travelers’ Map.

7:25 AM: Tow truck has arrived, so this should be clear shortly.

7:32 AM: All clear!

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Congrats and good luck! Local students Jean-Pierre Dufour and Aiden Houlette are also State Geography Bee-bound
March 24, 2015 5:31 am
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle people

We now know at least three local students will be competing for the state Geography Bee championship this weekend:

Congratulations and good luck to Westside School (WSB sponsor) 6th grader Jean-Pierre Dufour. His dad Rene says this is Jean-Pierre’s second year in the competition! Read more about his achievement on the Westside website.

Also Bee-bound, Schmitz Park Elementary 5th-grader Aiden Houlette:

Congratulations and good luck to Aiden, who won the schoolwide competition at SP. Aiden’s mom Sarah says, “He has always had lots of questions about different regions of the world, been interested in maps, and enjoys his school’s ‘Passport’ program. For now he’s busy studying his geography books!”

Earlier, we featured Jack Crowley, a Madison student who’ll be competing at the state Geo Bee too. It’s happening this Friday (March 27th), 9 am-3 pm at Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma. The state champ will go to the national competition May 11-13 in Washington, D.C.

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High-school baseball: West Seattle HS vs. O’Dea at Hiawatha
March 23, 2015 11:45 pm
|    Comments Off on High-school baseball: West Seattle HS vs. O’Dea at Hiawatha
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools | WS & Sports

Thanks to Caryn Johnson for this report on today’s West Seattle High School varsity baseball game on a showery afternoon at Hiawatha:

Sophomore Carson Wright started on the mound and pitched 5 2/3 innings. He pitched well against a big-hitting O’Dea team. Giving up 11 hits, but only giving up 6 runs (4 earned). He struck out 3, hit one, and didn’t walk any. Freshman Anthony Coats came into pitch in the 5th inning and pitched the remaining of the game not giving up a hit.

Jamie Maples led the team on the offensive side of the ball with 4 hits and 2 RBI’s. Morgan McCullough also had a good outing with 3 hits and 1 RBI. As a team they had 9 hits.

Defense had their first test of the season against the big bats of O’Dea. Everyone on the field got into the action and recorded outs. The highlight on the defensive side was a 6-4-3 double play in the top of the 7th inning by Morgan McCullough, Jack Page and Alex Pastrana. This closed out the top of the 7th and gave West Seattle one more shot to score some runs. In the end they fell a little short, losing to O’Dea, 6-4.

WSHS is on the road for its next game, Wednesday against Cleveland at Rainier Beach HS.

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West Seattle transportation updates: SW Roxbury project briefings, 35th SW enforcement, and more
March 23, 2015 8:35 pm
|      9 COMMENTS
 |   Transportation | West Seattle news

Once again, there’s West Seattle news in the periodic report that SDOT director Scott Kubly will be presenting to the City Council Transportation Committee. His report for tomorrow’s committee meeting (9:30 am, City Hall) has been added to the agenda since its draft publication last week. Included in the report, some work updates including 19th/Webster stairway cleaning (before/after photos above) and dates for news on what the city plans to do to make Roxbury safer:

SW Roxbury Street:

*SDOT will announce preferred alternative and project implementation schedule at Westwood-Roxhill-Arbor Heights Community Council meeting on April 7
*SDOT will host an open house about the recommended changes on April 9
*Implementation set for the week of August 17

Two other updates: Regarding enforcement on 35th SW – a big topic in discussion of what was presented at the two most-recent meetings (WSB coverage here and here) – Kubly’s report says, “SDOT grant funds will provide extra safety patrols on 35th – currently developing MOA with SPD for more than 100 hours of OT patrols on 35th SW.” Also, regarding the Fauntleroy Boulevard project, he reports, “CM Rasmussen did a tour of the site with Deputy Director, Barbara Gray, and Jorge Carrasco, Director of City Light.” That would be regarding including undergrounding in the project, for which construction funding is still not certain – it’s NOT in the Transportation Levy to Move Seattle proposal unveiled by the mayor last week (WSB coverage here). Read Kubly’s full report, including updates from around the city, here.

P.S. Kubly and other SDOT reps will be at the West Seattle Transportation Coalition‘s meeting this Thursday (March 26), 6:30 pm at Neighborhood House’s High Point Center (6400 Sylvan Way) – bring your questions.

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RIP, ‘familiar friend in The Junction,’ Don Smathers; memorial April 1st
March 23, 2015 5:31 pm
|      52 COMMENTS
 |   Obituaries | West Seattle news | West Seattle people

(WSB photo, July 2012)
Sad news about someone we’ll miss seeing around The Junction. Even if you didn’t know his name, you’ve probably seen Don Smathers, shown at center in our photo from 2012, when Southwest Precinct officers helped him with one of the tasks he’s handled over the years – putting up the flags for the 4th of July. We got word today from Susan Melrose at the West Seattle Junction Association that Don has died:

Don Smathers has been a familiar friend in The Junction for many years. This morning he passed away peacefully in his home in the Campbell Building, where he had lived for 25 years. We will have a memorial in Don’s honor, but for now, we can take a moment to remember this kind soul.

We’ll let you know when that is scheduled.

ADDED SUNDAY: 5 pm Wednesday, April 1st, in Junction Plaza Park (42nd/Alaska).

APRIL 1, 12:52 PM UPDATE: Because of weather uncertainty, this will be at Easy Street Records (California/Alaska) instead.

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Followup: Comment deadline for port’s decision that upgrading Terminal 5 is environmentally non-significant; see neighbors’ letter
March 23, 2015 3:50 pm
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   Port of Seattle | West Seattle news

Back on Friday, thanks to a tip, we reported on the looming deadline for telling the Port of Seattle what you think about a Terminal 5 issue that’s not directly related to the Shell drilling-fleet controversy: The fact the port has declared the long-term modernization project will be environmentally non-signficant and therefore doesn’t require an environmental-impact study. Some West Seattleites disagree and are sending in their comments by today’s deadline, including a letter that we’re told represents more than two dozen residents in East Admiral, just upslope from T-5. One of their points:

The road traffic resulting from simultaneously unloading two post-Panamax ships will cripple the already congested West Seattle bridges. We do not have an answer to this, nor does the Port. Therefore, we recommend an environmental impact study be done to understand the traffic solutions before reaching the point of no return.

They also suggest the port is gambling a quarter-billion dollars or so on this without knowing whether the market might change irreversibly in the few years T-5 will be closed. Here is their full letter:

They’re also sending it to city and county leaders and asking for their support. As explained in our Friday report, the documents about the “non-significance” decision are here, and comments can be sent to SEPA.p@portseattle.org.

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3 pieces up, one big piece to go for Highway 99 tunnel machine
March 23, 2015 3:11 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   Alaskan Way Viaduct | West Seattle news

(WSDOT photo)
A third big piece of the Highway 99 tunneling machine was lifted up from the repair-access pit today – and that means just one BIG lift to go, the cutterhead, for which Seattle Tunnel Partners will use that large red assembly you’ve been seeing next to the Viaduct. It’s shown in this next photo shared with WSB by Gatewood photographer/pilot Long Bach Nguyen (taken before today’s lift):

The previous two lifts were on Thursday – with the big half-circle piece you see toward left center of the LBN photo – and on Saturday. No exact date announced yet for the cutterhead to be brought out. STP has said that if repairs go well, it hopes to be tunneling again in August.

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VIDEO: Alki shooting, fight recorded by witness who hopes ‘this will show … why we need more police’
March 23, 2015 12:06 pm
|      78 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | West Seattle news

By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

When we first reported on Sunday about the early-morning shooting on Alki that left one person hurt, we had little information. We have since been contacted by a witness who recorded almost a minute of the chaos and gunfire and wanted to make it public, saying, “I believe that this will show many why we need more police and why our youth/young adults should be monitored closely at these hours of the night.”

ALERT: This is unedited phone video (except to fix it from vertical to horizontal fit) and you will hear lots of profanities in the audio **if you choose to play the clip.** The gunshots are audible and muzzle flashes are seen, but the person who was shot is not:

In a long text conversation with the witness who recorded that while at a restaurant/bar across the street, we agreed to keep them anonymous (we don’t even know their name). They had already shown the video to police, who, they say, showed up quickly, within “three or four minutes” of the gunfire.

From the witness’s view, it started as “a very large group of young adults yelling and using derogatory terms as well as throwing things at this vehicle, which led to a fistfight in the middle of the street.” Then, the witness says, one person kicked off the black car’s driver’s-side mirror, and another punched out a passenger side window, followed by shots from a passenger, and then toward the end, someone “returned fire” after the black car sped off westbound.

As noted in our Sunday report, there was no “assault with weapons” large Seattle Fire medic response, because police found no victim at the scene. Seattle Police say they were later contacted by Everett Police after a 17-year-old boy with a gunshot wound to the leg turned up at a hospital there. Police have since talked to the victim; on Sunday, they told us he was “uncooperative” with investigators. The incident also is now detailed on SPD Blotter.

As far as we can tell from WSB archives, this is the first incident in 2 1/2 years in which someone has been shot in the Alki area. Not the first case of gunfire, but the first case with a victim, since this case in August 2012.

Even before this, local police had promised more presence at the beach this year via both the new Southwest Precinct bicycle patrols and a new mobile-precinct vehicle that is on the way after the precinct went years without a replacement for the one SPD lost in an arson attack. That is what the lifelong West Seattleite who shared video of Sunday’s shooting is hoping for: “I hate that these hoodlums are ruining my neighborhood.”

ADDED 2:11 PM: A few additional details are in the Southwest Precinct summary of what happened, which we obtained from precinct Operations Lt. Ron Smith:

On 3/22/15 at 0109 hour, Officers were dispatched to a fight disturbance/shots fired incident in the 2600 block of Alki Av SW (just west of Marine Av SW & Alki Av SW). Initial report to 911 has it that: two people were down and that someone has a leg wound.

Upon officers arriving in the area, the suspects involved in the fight/shots-fired were GOA [gone on arrival], possibly in vehicle/s. There was no “scene” other than the spot where the incident occurred. Officers checked the area and did not locate any evidence such as shell casings or blood to indicate that someone has been shot. A baseball cap was located and submitted into evidence. During a canvas of the bar across the street, an officer located a witness who had recorded the shots fired incident on his cell phone. The video was sent to the police and submitted into evidence.

Based upon the on-scene investigation, it appears that at least 6 people were surrounding a vehicle. One of the 6 people kicked the vehicle’s left rear view mirror and damaged it. The front passenger from the vehicle fired at least 3 shots at the 6 people as the 6 people were surrounding it. The 6 people then scattered, running away. A white male is then seen getting into the driver’s seat of the vehicle and drove it away, on Alki Av SW.

At 0345 hour, Everett PD called SPD 911 and reported that they have a “victim” with a non-life threatening gunshot wound in the leg. The “victim” was uncooperative and was with his girlfriend. The Everett PD Officers will complete a report under their case number, DD 15-5308. This incident was screened by phone with our Homicide/Assault unit.

Lt. Smith, who is acting precinct commander, confirms that patrols, including officers on bicycles, will be increased. The mobile-precinct vehicle has not yet been delivered.

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BIZNOTES: West Seattle Brewing update; EcoBeauty closes
March 23, 2015 11:24 am
|      13 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news

Two biznotes this morning, the first one a followup on an item from our Friday mega-roundup of food/drink notes:

WEST SEATTLE BREWING UPDATE: After its abrupt, unexplained closure some days ago, we had inquiries out, as noted in the aforementioned Friday roundup. Early this morning, we heard back from West Seattle Brewing‘s Drew Locke, who tells WSB via e-mail that it will reopen:

I am working on implementing espresso to our offerings and closed while we use the opportunity to finish employing/testing our 7BBL brew system (quintuple the production capacity we’ve employed since our inception), prepping for the addition of wine/cider & food as well, and finishing some construction elements that have gone to the wayside as I’ve had to bartend 60 hours/week over the past year.

No timeline was mentioned – we’re asking in a followup.

ECOBEAUTY SALON-SPA CLOSES: Thanks to Rick for the tip that this salon north of Morgan Junction has closed after more than 4 years; its website confirms the closure, and “For Lease” signs are already up at the 6040 California SW location. Proprietor Christina said on Facebook that she’s joining CoCo and Co. and that other stylists are “going to fabulous new salons in West Seattle.”

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West Seattle Monday: USS Stennis sails by; 4 calendar highlights
March 23, 2015 9:45 am
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

Thanks to Gary Jones for the photos of the aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis, passing Alki Point this morning as it headed out for training (as previewed here on Friday) – you can see Coast Guard escorts in the top photo, and a nearby Washington State Ferry below:

From our calendar, a few events coming up later today/tonight:

FREE ART ACTIVITIES … 11 am-12:30 pm, bring toddlers and preschoolers to the Family Center in Neighborhood House’s High Point Center. More info in our listing. (6400 Sylvan Way SW)

HIGH-SCHOOL SPORTS: Varsity games on local fields include West Seattle HS baseball vs. O’Dea at Hiawatha, 3:30 pm; Chief Sealth IHS softball vs. Garfield at Southwest Athletic Complex, 4 pm; Chief Sealth IHS soccer vs. Nathan Hale at SWAC, 4 pm;

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS Monday night is BIG for everyone who loves a good quiz: There’s trivia at Christo’s on Alki (7:15 pm, 2508 Alki SW), trivia at OutWest Bar (7:30 pm, California/Brandon), Quiz Night at Skylark (7:30 pm, 3803 Delridge Way SW), plus pub quiz at Shadowland (8 pm, California/Oregon).

EVENING MEDITATION: 7:30 pm Buddhist-meditation class at Sound Yoga (WSB sponsor). See the center’s full weekly schedule here. (5639 California SW)

PREVIEW THE WEEK AHEAD … by browsing the calendar!

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TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: First Monday of spring
March 23, 2015 6:57 am
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

(Four WS-relevant views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
As always, we start with what you should know while on the move this week:

STATE FERRIES’ NEW SCHEDULE IN EFFECT: The spring schedule started Sunday.

CONTINUING ROAD WORK: Most notably, the Delridge/Andover/23rd and 47th/Admiral projects.

VIADUCT/99 CLOSURES NEXT WEEKEND: Between the West Seattle Bridge and Battery Street Tunnel, the inspection closure is scheduled for 6 am-6 pm both days, Saturday and Sunday. But a stretch of 99 north of the tunnel will be closed around the clock late Friday to early Monday. Full details here.

SPEAKING OF HIGHWAY 99 … the second of four big lifts for tunnel-machine pieces happened Saturday night.

EARLY-RELEASE DAY FOR SPS THIS WEDNESDAY: It’s not road work but it’ll mean different schedules for school buses and school-zone cameras/lights, and extra care to be taken, earlier, for kids/families on the move – Seattle Public Schools has a two-hour-early-release day this Wednesday.

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Congratulations! 13-year-old girls-basketball champs ‘The Storm’
March 23, 2015 12:56 am
|      1 COMMENT
 |   West Seattle news | WS & Sports

Congratulations to The Storm, the basketball team from Hiawatha Community Center that won the 13-year-old Girls Competitive Division Championship on Sunday! Mike Jensen shares the photo, reporting, “They played another team from Hiawatha in the championship game (Sunday) afternoon and won a close one, 22-17 … to cap off an undefeated season.” Left to right in the photo are Cami, Ruby, Hannah, Jackie, Madi, Nina, Jaeley, Maddie, Mikayla.

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West Seattle Crime Watch update: 2 vehicles stolen from 1 house in 3 days, found in same place
March 22, 2015 9:18 pm
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | Gatewood | West Seattle news

9:18 PM: Auto thieves have hit one family in Gatewood twice in the past three days. The vehicles taken from their driveway/carport are a taupe 2006 Volvo XC70, license plate AMR4548, stolen Friday morning, and a silver 2006 Nissan Frontier 4-door pickup, license plate B31289L, gone since early today. The vehicles’ owners say there was nothing about the first theft that facilitated the second – no key left in either car, for example. If you see either vehicle, please call 911.

9 AM MONDAY: The vehicles’ owner says they both were found in an apartment-building parking lot in the 6500 block of 35th SW, less than a mile away from where they were stolen: “Someone in the apartments called to report the Volvo as a suspicious vehicle. When we arrived, we saw the truck parked in another stall. The Volvo was driven more than 150 miles and contained a lot of drug and DNA evidence. Unfortunately, there were no clean prints. The truck had more of the same drug evidence, it wasn’t driven more than 20+ miles.”

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Myrtle Reservoir retrofitting going out to bid, likely to start in fall
March 22, 2015 8:23 pm
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   Gatewood | Utilities | West Seattle news

(West side of Myrtle Reservoir site, where work is likely to be staged)
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

Nine months after Seattle Public Utilities discussed the earthquake-resistance retrofit needed for West Seattle Reservoir in Highland Park, we know what’s in store for our area’s other underground water facility, Myrtle Reservoir.

Myrtle was covered in 2008, West Seattle in 2010. Then in 2012, their designer, MWH, told the city about “possible seismic deficiencies” in their work – not potentially catastrophic, but not something that could be ignored, either. Analysis and testing ensued, and in June of last year, we reported on the retrofit/strengthening plan for WS Reservoir, interviewing reps from SPU and its consultants.

At the time, they didn’t know exactly what would need to be done to Myrtle Reservoir, a relatively small reservoir (5 million gallons) at the city’s highest point on the east side of the Gatewood neighborhood. Now they do.

Read More

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Spring cleaning? West Seattle shredding, recycling dates to save
March 22, 2015 5:44 pm
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   Environment | Fauntleroy | High Point | West Seattle news

For everyone who’s asked if any free shredding events are coming up in West Seattle – we FINALLY have word of one: 1-4 pm Sunday, April 19th, at High Point Branch Library (35th/ Raymond) – details here. Then, to recycle what you can’t put at curbside, it’s Fauntleroy Church‘s spring Recycle Roundup – 9 am-3 pm Sunday, April 26th; yes/no list here.

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PHOTOS: Biggest-ever West Seattle High School Diversity Dinner
March 22, 2015 4:59 pm
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools | WS culture/arts

Thanks to West Seattle High School teacher Rebecka McKinney for sharing photos and info on a big event this past week – the biggest-ever Diversity Dinner organized by the WSHS Diversity Club, with more than 200 people attending, the largest turnout ever, and performances including members of the wider community as well as students:

The night started at 6 p.m. with a wide variety of cultural food that people brought to share. There were many cultures represented with a variety of dishes that included pad Thai, injera, lasagna, pupusas, pan dulce, rice and beans, lumpia and many more.

“It was a great turnout, even more than I expected,” said senior Diversity Club co-president Emily Fiso. “It was a great atmosphere, seeing different cultures interact with each other.”

After everyone got food, the entertainment began with the WSHS Latino Club.

They performed the punta dance. This group included WSHS seniors Shaneen Walter-Edwards, Brian Silva and Maaza Tsegai.

“It meant a lot to me to be able to perform because there’s not very many Hondurans in Seattle,” said Walter-Edwards. “I was happy to share my culture.”

Next was an Eritrean dance group that performed a Tigrinya dance.

This group included three WSHS students as well.

After the Eritrean dance, the WSHS Chinese class performed a traditional Lion Dance.

Chinese teacher, Su-Chun King, put this performance together.

Mahelet Wondie from Chief Sealth High School followed this with a spoken word piece on Africans and Americanization.

WSHS senior Kate Longabaugh followed that with a traditional Irish dance piece:

Next up was a local mariachi band that was made up of students and adults, some of who attend Chief Sealth:

The Mt. Rainier and Kennedy High School Pacific Islander Club followed this up with two Samoan dances and one Hawaiian dance.

“It was nice to be able to see my own culture represented,” said Fiso, a Samoan student who invited the club to perform. “I like how they brought a different energy to the crowd and everyone was involved.”

The final group of the night was the Northwest Tap Connection African class performing the kuku. This group included performers from age 5-17, led by Ms. Lakema Bell.

“I thought it was really nice that the African dance class could incorporate that type of dancing with people of all ages,” said senior attendee Shaheeda Kariko.

The night ended with a cultural fashion show that represented many of the cultures of WSHS.

This included Irish, Filipino, Somalian, Ethiopian, Yakima Nation, Samoan, Nigerian, Namibian, Eritrean, Moroccan, and Mexican.

“I was really happy to help bring different communities together,” said junior Diversity Club co-president Meron Mulu. “This was the first year we reached out to connections our students had outside of West Seattle. It’s not only important to celebrate culture, but it’s fun.”

See a list of WSHS’s many cultural, service, and interest groups/clubs on the school website.

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West Seattle weekend scene: Newest local Little Free Library
March 22, 2015 3:21 pm
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle books | West Seattle news

As previewed in today’s calendar highlights – West Seattle’s newest Little Free Library is officially open for book stocking and borrowing. Thanks to Gunner for the photo of this LFL’s builder/host Robbie at this afternoon’s reception in the 7700 block of 12th SW, also featured on this neighborhood FB group page. The official LFL site says more than 20,000 LFLs are open for book-sharing, in 70+ countries.

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West Seattle Crime Watch: 1 injured in early-morning Alki shooting
March 22, 2015 1:19 pm
|      11 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | West Seattle news | West Seattle police

1:19 PM SUNDAY: Finally just confirmed some information about a shooting on Alki early today. Usually, a shooting leads to an “assault with weapons” Seattle Fire callout and that’s our first hint; this one didn’t, and no texts had come in (206-293-6302 any time!), so we’ve been trying to reach police for info, after a couple of e-mail questions came in later in the morning. It happened around 1:30 am in the Alki SW/Marine vicinity. People heard gunfire, multiple shots, including uphill in Admiral. No victim was found at the scene – but hours later, we just confirmed with Seattle Police, they were notified by Everett Police that a victim had shown up at an Everett hospital with a leg wound. No other details of circumstances, so far.

11 AM MONDAY: SPD Blotter has just published an item about this. We have received video of the incident from a witness and will be publishing that shortly in a separate followup.

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Memorial service Friday for Jeffrey A. Hays, 1949-2015
March 22, 2015 11:25 am
|    Comments Off on Memorial service Friday for Jeffrey A. Hays, 1949-2015
 |   Obituaries | West Seattle news | West Seattle people

Long-time West Seattle resident Jeff Hays will be remembered and celebrated at a service this Friday. Here’s the remembrance his family is sharing today:

Beloved husband, friend, and partner of 45 years, Jeffrey Allen Hays passed away suddenly on March 20, 2015. You know the answer to the Great Secret now, My Love. Go in Peace, taking my heart with you.

Born October 20, 1949, in Albuquerque, Jeff is survived by his wife, Janet, a West Seattle native; his brother and sister-in-law, Jonathan and Jenny Hays of Henderson, Nevada; five nieces, two nephews, two grandnieces, two grandnephews, and friends too numerous to count – we all love and miss you, Jeff.

Memorial Service takes place on Friday, March 27, 2015, from 1-4 p.m. at Forest Lawn Cemetery and Funeral Home, 6701 30th Avenue SW. All are welcome who knew and appreciated this wry, suave, romantic gentleman. He could dance, too!

(WSB publishes West Seattle obituaries by request, free of charge. Please e-mail the text, and a photo if available, to editor@westseattleblog.com)

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West Seattle Sunday: Seeds, sale, soccer, and an LFL party
March 22, 2015 8:50 am
|    Comments Off on West Seattle Sunday: Seeds, sale, soccer, and an LFL party
 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Northern Flicker males are “starting up their laughter-like calling and persistent drumming,” says Mark Wangerin, who took the photo)

Good morning and happy Sunday. Here’s what’s on the highlights list for today (from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar, which you can browse any time to look ahead):

FERRY SCHEDULE CHANGE: The spring schedule is now in effect for Washington State Ferries. That includes the return of the three-boat weekend schedule for Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth.

WEST SEATTLE FARMERS’ MARKET: If you saw our recent report that it’s moving into the street – keep in mind that’s not until mid-June. Today, and every Sunday through June 7th, it’s 10 am-2 pm at 44th/Alaska.

WEST SEATTLE FABRIC COMPANY LIQUIDATION SALE: As reported here a week ago, West Seattle Fabric Company is taking its retail business online and focusing its in-person business on services at a new location. At its current location, this weekend’s liquidation sale is ramping up to 50 percent discounts today, according to proprietor Monica. 10 am-4 pm. (2210 California SW)

GARDEN PLANNING/SEED STARTING: Noon-3 pm event as the St. John the Baptist Episcopal Church gardens’ transformation continues with the help of Seattle Farm School, as explained here. (3050 California SW)

SOCCER-BALL-JUGGLING CHALLENGE: Noon-3:30 pm event at West Seattle Zaw, open to everyone under 18, as part of an ongoing regional partnership/promotion with Seattle Sounders FC 2 – judges will be on hand to see how many times they can juggle a soccer ball, with bag-tag prizes and free mini bake-at-home pizzas. (4151 Fauntleroy Way SW)

HIGHLAND PARK LITTLE FREE LIBRARY EVENT: 1 pm, neighbors are invited to a “stock the library/reception” event for a new Little Free Library in Highland Park. Cookies and punch! Robbie, the builder and host of the LFL, says, “Come by, bring a book and take a book. Happy reading and looking forward to meeting my fellow readers and neighbors!!” (7700 block of 12th SW)

‘CHINGLISH’: Second-to-last weekend for the comedy now onstage at ArtsWest (WSB sponsor) – today’s show is a 3 pm matinee. (4711 California SW)

ADMIRAL BENBOW’S FINAL NIGHT: 3:30 pm-12:30 am, a long list of musical acts is set for the Admiral Benbow’s closing night – see that list via the Benbow’s Facebook page. (4210 SW Admiral Way)

KNITTING MEETUP: Bring what you’re working on! C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor), 5:30 pm. (5612 California SW)

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UPDATE: Sunday morning helicopter over south West Seattle
March 22, 2015 8:49 am
|      31 COMMENTS
 |   Helicopter | West Seattle news

helicopterwatch.png8:49 AM: Some are asking, so here’s all we know: Heard the helicopter long before we saw it, to the south of where we are (Upper Fauntleroy/Gatewood). Sounded military. We stood outside waiting for a glimpse, finally got it as it passed, eastbound, to the south of us, over Arbor Heights. Hard to tell on a gray morning but it looked private, not military. (If you got a clearer look, let us know!)

9:50 PM: After much discussion in comments throughout the day/evening, we’ve learned that it was most likely the King County Sheriff’s Office Air Support Unit‘s second helicopter, Guardian Two, headed back in from the South Sound. It’s a UH-1H military surplus helicopter, which would explain the loudness.

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West Seattle sports: New ‘practice squad’ forming for youth rugby
March 22, 2015 1:02 am
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 |   West Seattle news | WS & Sports

Know a 7-to-11-year-old interested in rugby? A local coach just arranged to form a “West Seattle practice squad” for the Seattle Vikings Youth Rugby Club, and is hoping to add more participants. They’ve just started practicing, 4:30-6 pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays in West Seattle. Coach Skylar Pond notes: “No experience necessary, low cost, (players will) learn safe ‘Seahawks’ tackling technique.” They’re planning “either tackle or two-hand-touch matches every weekend from the end of March through the end of May” – more info in this flyer. You can reach Coach Pond at skylarponddc@gmail.com or 206-552-5750.

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Highway 99 tunnel machine’s road to repairs: 2nd piece lifted tonight
March 21, 2015 9:28 pm
|    Comments Off on Highway 99 tunnel machine’s road to repairs: 2nd piece lifted tonight
 |   Alaskan Way Viaduct | West Seattle news

From the archives of the camera that peers into the pit from which pieces of the Highway 99 tunneling machine are being lifted for repairs, the view above shows the second part to be brought up. It happened early this evening and was just announced by WSDOT:

Seattle Tunnel Partners has successfully hoisted the second piece of the SR 99 tunneling machine to the surface for repairs. This evening crews lifted one of the machine’s upper sections, which weighs less than 100 tons.

Two more pieces of the machine will be removed from the pit as part of STP’s repair plan, which this narrated video explains in detail. Up next, crews will lift the right side body section of the machine, which weighs approximately 90 tons. The final lift will bring to the surface Bertha’s massive cutterhead and main drive unit, which weigh a combined 2,000 tons.

Here’s the view after tonight’s lift was done:

If you haven’t seen the time-lapse video of the first lift on Thursday, check it out here.

By the way, this gives us another chance to remind you the Alaskan Way Viaduct will be closed for its twice-yearly inspection next weekend, 6 am-6 pm Saturday and 6 am-6 pm Sunday. A section of Highway 99 north of the Battery Street Tunnel, meantime, will be closed throughout next weekend, late Friday through early Monday.

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