West Seattle, Washington

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day : 27/08/2015 12 results

Smelling smoke in Seattle right now? You’re not alone
August 27, 2015 11:15 pm
|      27 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle fires | West Seattle news

11:15 PM: Here in West Seattle and in other parts of the city, people are mentioning a strong smell of smoke in the air – in a few places they’ve even called 911 and Seattle Fire’s gone around checking, but no fires so far – theory right now is that the wind kicking up has brought wildfire smoke back this way. Just thought we’d mention it, with so many asking.

11:28 PM: Several people have pointed out that a new fire is burning in Mason County, to the southwest, and that matches more with the wind direction than the Eastern Washington fires.

11:42 PM: Last report on that fire in the Skokomish Valley was about 50 acres, per KING 5. Rain is expected by morning, which should help with the firefight as well as the smoke smell here.

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UPDATE: Helicopter search for prowlers, apparently a false alarm
August 27, 2015 9:10 pm
|      14 COMMENTS
 |   Helicopter | West Seattle news

9:10 PM: Guardian One is up west of The Junction looking for prowlers in the Genesee area.

9:25 PM: No prowlers found, and Diego says via comments that it apparently was a false alarm. So does Judy via Twitter:

Thanks for the texts/calls – you never know.

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Going up? Celebrating climbing @ new Camp Long Mountain Fest
August 27, 2015 6:48 pm
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   Fun stuff to do | West Seattle news | West Seattle parks

(Schurman Rock photo courtesy Seattle Parks)

Long before climbing walls and other ways of heading up without going to the mountains, there was Schurman Rock. It’s just one big reason Camp Long is hosting the new Mountain Fest on September 13th. Here’s how Seattle Parks is announcing the event:

Rock climbing is fast becoming the sport of choice for many in search of an athletic activity with both grit and Zen. Climbing, it seems, is scaling into the mainstream. According to the Outdoor Industry Association, over 10 million people in the United States participate in rock climbing on some level, and Seattleites in particular have embraced this sport with a passion, with rock climbing gyms and venues, both indoor and outdoor­, growing exponentially all the time. To celebrate both this coming-of-age time for the sport of climbing and Seattle’s long-standing mountain and climbing history/community, Seattle Parks and Recreation will open up its historic Camp Long for a Mountain Festival on September 13th from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. — where anyone, from novices to hard-core enthusiasts, can get their hands on the rocks and feet off the ground.

Visitors to the Camp Long Mountain Fest will find an exhilarating mix of climbing, conviviality, and challenge.

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West Seattle restaurants: Rezone proposed to transform part of Morgan Junction house into Chungee’s West
August 27, 2015 3:24 pm
|      46 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle restaurants

(King County Assessor’s Office photo)

A very busy block in Morgan Junction, the 6900 block of California SW, has a new development proposal – and an unusual one at that. The same block that gained fame for the “30 apartments, no parking” controversy might get a restaurant right next to that almost-complete building. But it would require a zoning change. Documents are now filed with the city seeking a contract rezone – one that would be approved for a specific proposal – for the property at 6921 California SW, which currently holds the 103-year-old two-bedroom, one-bath house shown in the photo above. The change would be from Lowrise 2 to Lowrise 2 – Residential Commercial. According to what’s on file with the city, it would be a new location for Chungee’s, a Chinese restaurant that opened five years ago on Capitol Hill. Why this house? The Chungee’s proprietors own it. One of the documents filed in connection with the project describes it as:

Located in a LR2 Zone at 6921 California Avenue SW, Chungee’s West is a contract rezone proposal for a family-run, neighborhood restaurant. The rezone requires adding the RC designation to the existing LR2 zoning for the parcel.

The entire project includes an addition and renovation of an existing 100 year old one story single family residence. The extent of the remodel & addition will be to establish a commercial use (restaurant) on the lower and main level and a two-bedroom residential dwelling unit on the upper level. The owners of the restaurant intend to live in the upper level dwelling unit once complete. In order for the project to be realized, the parcel must be zoned LR2 RC from the existing LR2. The RC overlay designation currently applies to the parcel and block directly to the South across SW Mills Street.

An established family-run restaurant will increase the walkability of the neighborhood and the adjacent business district supporting the existing commercial node and attracting patrons from other neighborhoods. The proposal is consistent with the 2013 comprehensive plan for the Morgan Junction urban village and the long term goals of this area in West Seattle.

With immediate access and circulation off of California Avenue, a major thoroughfare, the restaurant will serve not only the immediate neighborhood but West Seattle and Greater Seattle via local transit and car.

The site plan shows three parking spaces in back, where the existing garage would be removed. Meantime, the city files include “proposed project images:

Any rezone will need City Council approval. Now that the city has formally accepted the application, a comment period should open soon – watch the Land Use Information Bulletin, which is published Mondays and Thursdays, for that. The proprietors already have sought letters of support, some of which are part of the official files already.

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FOLLOWUP: Man charged with shooting brother over video-game threat
August 27, 2015 2:02 pm
|      5 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | West Seattle news

The man accused of shooting his brother in their Junction apartment last Saturday night is now charged with first-degree domestic-violence assault. The charging documents say 19-year-old Rony Miranda-Guity shot his 25-year-old brother in the chest, point-blank, because his brother threatened to break his video-game system. Miranda-Guity is quoted as telling police that he was playing a game when his brother came home, slapped him on the neck, and picked up the system as if he was going to break it: “My reaction is my reaction, which was fast after he touched me and tried to grab my X-Box. Like, that’s the only thing that I got that I love.” Police say he also acknowledged that he didn’t call for help for his brother, who, the charging documents say, “staggered to the door of a different apartment unit to get someone else to make the call.” Though Harborview Medical Center was not releasing information about the victim’s condition, the court documents say he was in the Trauma ICU at Harborview “awaiting further surgery” as of yesterday, but is expected to survive. The documents also note, “There is a history of unreported assaults between the two” and that a .25-caliber handgun and shell casing were found in the apartment. Miranda-Guity remains in jail in lieu of $500,000 bail, awaiting arraignment on September 9th.

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Want to make your own Rainworks? Artist crowdfunding to distribute ‘Invisible Spray’
August 27, 2015 1:23 pm
|    Comments Off on Want to make your own Rainworks? Artist crowdfunding to distribute ‘Invisible Spray’
 |   West Seattle news | WS culture/arts

(WSB photo from July 2015 celebration at 47th/Admiral/Waite)

You’ve likely heard about Rainworks – though you might not have seen one lately, in this dry summer. (Or maybe that downpour two weeks ago?) It’s sidewalk art that only shows up when wet. It’s been showcased in West Seattle, including two creations at the newly signalized 47th/Admiral/Waite intersection. Now its creator Peregrine Church, who was at the signal dedication last month to showcase those creations, is hoping to produce a spray so that you can make your own Rainworks, and crowdfunding to bankroll it. The announcement says that since Rainworks got national attention, they’ve “gotten countless inquiries from artists, creators, teachers, parents, and many others who want to create their own rainworks. With the success of this Kickstarter, the Rainworks team will make Rainworks Invisible Spray available for the first time. They plan to set up a distribution network so they can ship orders internationally, spreading rainworks across the globe and giving people everywhere a reason to look forward to rainy days.” This is the first product incubated, by the way, at SODO MakerSpace, which has multiple West Seattle ties, including a collaboration with the trailblazing WS Tool Library.

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VIDEO: See how the Highway 99 tunneling machine’s lift-and-lower operation went down, and what happens next
August 27, 2015 12:20 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   Alaskan Way Viaduct | West Seattle news

That one-minute video shows you how the Highway 99 tunneling machine’s repaired front end was lowered into the pit where the rest of the machine awaited. WSDOT just made it public along with this update on what’s happened since then, and what’s next:

Seattle Tunnel Partners has reconnected the SR 99 tunneling machine’s 2,000-ton front end to the section that remained in the access pit during repairs. With the two sections of the machine now bolted together, crews from Mammoet have unhooked the front-end piece from the massive red crane that performed this week’s lift.

Significant work remains for crews tasked with reassembling the machine. Three large pieces of the machine’s outer shield will be lowered into place for reassembly in the coming days, according to STP’s most recent schedule. Crews also must weld the pieces back together, in addition to the lengthy task of reconnecting the hundreds of wires and hoses that are integral to the tunneling operation. STP and manufacturer Hitachi Zosen will conduct a series of tests following reassembly to ensure the machine is ready to resume mining.

WSDOT has said its contractor’s most-recent schedule anticipates that could happen in November.

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Volleyball player in the house? Visiting pros’ free clinic for youth
August 27, 2015 11:33 am
|      1 COMMENT
 |   West Seattle news | WS & Sports

(Texted photo: NVL truck at Alki Beach)

The professional beach-volleyball players coming to Alki for the National Volleyball League‘s Seattle Championships the next three days have a gift for local youth – a free clinic Sunday afternoon. It’s open to young players 6-18 years old; just register here, and then check in at the tournament-info tent at 12:45 pm Sunday for the 1-2:30 pm clinic.

As for the tournament – it’s the 7th of 8 stops on the pro tour this year, and the Alki schedule is here.

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West Seattle Thursday: Summer Concerts at Hiawatha finale with Caspar Babypants; WS Transportation Coalition; WS Chamber @ Youngstown; more
August 27, 2015 11:13 am
|    Comments Off on West Seattle Thursday: Summer Concerts at Hiawatha finale with Caspar Babypants; WS Transportation Coalition; WS Chamber @ Youngstown; more
 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Photo by Lynn Hall)

Looking ahead to the rest of today/tonight around West Seattle:

DELRIDGE GROCERY FARM STAND: 4-7 pm, this week’s chance to support the Delridge Grocery Cooperative (WSB sponsor) and get farm-fresh produce. Ask about membership when you’re there, to help DGC get closer to opening its storefront. (5455 Delridge Way SW)

‘AFTER HOURS’ AT YOUNGSTOWN CULTURAL ARTS CENTER: 5:30-7:30 pm, join the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce for this month’s “After Hours” event at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center – this time, as previewed here earlier this week, open to non-members, too. (4408 Delridge Way SW)

SUMMER CONCERTS AT HIAWATHA FINALE: Family fave Caspar Babypants is on stage for the final Summer Concerts at Hiawatha event tonight, 6:30 pm on the east lawn at Hiawatha Community Center. Bring your own chair/blanket/picnic/etc. Show’s free, courtesy of the Admiral Neighborhood Association and series sponsors, including us. (Walnut SW & SW Lander)

WEST SEATTLE TRANSPORTATION COALITION: 6:30 pm at Neighborhood House’s High Point Center, WSTC brings in SPD and SDOT reps to talk about the city’s new emphasis on Traffic Incident Management, as previewed here. Plus, hear from the transit-advocacy group Seattle Subway. All welcome. (6400 Sylvan Way)

WASHINGTON STATE ANIMAL RESPONSE TEAM BENEFIT: Starting at 7 pm at Beveridge Place Pub – great brews for a great cause, Engine House #9 Brewer’s Night to benefit an organization whose work includes helping companion animals displaced because of the Eastern Washington fires. Details here. (6413 California SW)

BIG SLATE AT THE SKYLARK: Six bands on the schedule for International Pop Overthrow Day at The Skylark, starting at 7:30 pm. (3803 Delridge Way SW)

BROWSE THE CALENDAR to see what else is up today/tonight/beyond!

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West Seattle Crime Watch: North Admiral search; Seaview car prowl
August 27, 2015 9:20 am
|      23 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | West Seattle news | West Seattle police

In West Seattle Crime Watch this morning:

NORTH ADMIRAL SEARCH: Thanks for the tips about a police search in North Admiral early this morning. We’ve just obtained some preliminary information from Officer Lauren Lovanhill in SPD’s media unit; it started in the 1600 block of California SW (map), when a resident reported a group of youths pointed a gun at him. She says he believed it was a carjacking attempt, but he managed to get away. One possible suspect was found and taken to the precinct for questioning, according to Officer Lovanhill, but the search ended without officers finding anyone else.

Side note: This is just two blocks south of Hamilton Viewpoint Park, which has been a trouble spot lately – in a comment on our report about charges in last week’s robbery/shooting case, David Whiting of the Admiral Neighborhood Association says SPD and Seattle Parks will be at ANA’s next meeting to hear and talk about it, 7 pm September 8th at The Sanctuary at Admiral (42nd/Lander).

SEAVIEW CAR PROWL: Tiffany says this happened Tuesday night:

My car was broken into last night in the Seaview neighborhood sometime after midnight, on the 5600 block of 45th Ave SW. They broke the back window and took a file tote that was in the back seat. Nothing else was taken as far as I know. I would love to get the bag back, or at least know that it was dumped someplace, as the files contained sensitive information. It looks like a purse, is beige linen on the outside, and has my business card and contact info in the front pocket. Thanks!

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TONIGHT: How community can be key, in case of catastrophe
August 27, 2015 9:02 am
|    Comments Off on TONIGHT: How community can be key, in case of catastrophe
 |   Not WS but we're mentioning it anyway | Preparedness | West Seattle news

Know where your nearest Emergency Communication Hub is? Know WHAT your Emergency Communication Hub is? West Seattle has long been a citywide leader in this aspect of preparedness, via West Seattle Be Prepared. And they’re sharing news of a presentation downtown tonight that might interest you. Usually we can only promote on-peninsula events, but preparedness has been a signature issue for us for a long time, and at the heart of this presentation is the reminder that community can be key in case of catastrophe:

Join the Seattle Emergency Communications Hubs and Seattle Fire Dept. Battalion Chief Tom Richardson, one of the Urban Search and Rescue Team Leaders (USAR) at the SR 530 slide, who will share his experience during the response and recovery stages and his thoughts on how communities are key in disasters.

Program
6:30 pm – (Optional) Overview of the Seattle Emergency Hubs
7:00 pm – Program start
8:00 pm – Q & A and discussion

Location: City of Seattle Emergency Operations Center, 105 5th Ave S. (Corner of 5th Ave S and S Washington St)

Please RSVP at snap@seattle.gov, or 206-233-5076

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TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Thursday updates; road-closure reminder
August 27, 2015 7:40 am
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

(Four WS-relevant views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
So far, no incidents in or from West Seattle.

ROAD-CLOSURE REMINDER: As reported here on Wednesday, SW Myrtle is closed from 17th SW to 21st SW for repaving, as the official start of work on the Delridge-Highland Park Greenway. The closure is expected to last through tomorrow.

SUNDAY FERRY ALERT: An annual motorcycle rally on Vashon this Sunday (August 30th) brings an alert from Washington State Ferries:

Drivers should anticipate heavier than normal motorcycle traffic on Vashon Island this Sunday, Aug. 30 from 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. To expedite processing through the tollbooth, riders are encouraged to pre-purchase their ferry tickets online or at a kiosk at any terminal. Due to construction at the Vashon terminal, extra caution is advised when driving through the construction zone.

8:20 AM: Texter reports a stall on NB 99 – trying to find out more.

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