West Seattle, Washington

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month : 08/2015 304 results

What West Seattleites told Seattle Parks’ new superintendent as his ‘listening tour’ stopped in Alki
August 20, 2015 1:33 pm
|      5 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle parks

By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

“I’m not here to promise we’ll fix everything you tell us about,” warned new Seattle Parks Superintendent Jesús Aguirre as his citywide “listening tour” made its third West Seattle stop last night, at Alki Community Center.

Alki CC coordinator Katie Fridell introduced him to the 20+ or so in attendance (not counting the half-dozen-ish other Parks Department managers and staffers, including Aguirre’s predecessor, longtime acting superintendent Christopher Williams, who is now deputy superintendent).

The bullet-point slide deck with which he began spelled out Parks by the numbers:

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Alki Beach 5K 2015: Last day to register online!
August 20, 2015 12:27 pm
|    Comments Off on Alki Beach 5K 2015: Last day to register online!
 |   How to help | West Seattle news | WS & Sports

(WSB photo from 2014 Alki Beach 5K)

Signed up already for summer’s last big walk/run in West Seattle, the Alki Beach 5K this Sunday? Great! Not signed up yet? Today’s the final full day of online registration – so you can do it here right now. This walk/run benefits West Seattleite-founded-and-led Northwest Hope and Healing, which helps breast-cancer patients, and it’s open to everyone! If you would rather register in person, stop by West Seattle Runner (2742 California SW; WSB sponsor) on Saturday, 10 am-2 pm, during the packet-pickup session, and you can do it then and there, or right before the race, starting at 8 am Sunday by the Alki Bathhouse (60th SW & Alki).

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West Seattle Thursday: Ayron Jones & The Way @ Hiawatha; Delridge Grocery Farm Stand; Sustainable WS picnic…
August 20, 2015 10:35 am
|      5 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Peregrine falcon Osprey, photographed by Jordan Petram, shared via the WSB Flickr group)

Lots of options for your Thursday afternoon/evening – including:

DELRIDGE GROCERY FARM STAND: Thursday is Farm Stand Day for the Delridge Grocery Co-op (WSB sponsor), 4-7 pm – come see what’s fresh! (5355

SUSTAINABLE WEST SEATTLE PICNIC: 5-9 pm at Community Orchard of West Seattle on the north side of the South Seattle College (WSB sponsor) campus, come celebrate summer with SWS and friends – all welcome! (6000 16th SW)

AYRON JONES & THE WAY @ SUMMER CONCERTS AT HIAWATHA: Don’t let the clouds scare you – it’s NOT supposed to be rainy at showtime, 6:30 pm on the east lawn at Hiawatha Community Center, with Ayron Jones & The Way onstage as the Admiral Neighborhood Association‘s free concert series continues. (Walnut & Lander)

WEST SEATTLE TIMEBANK POTLUCK & MEETING: 6:30 pm potluck, 7 pm meeting at a residence in Arbor Heights. Curious about Timebanking? This is a great time/place to start finding out. Details in our calendar listing. (3523 SW 112th)

UNPLUGGED! Open-microphone at 7 pm at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor) – details in our calendar listing. (5612 California SW)

THE ILLUMINATIO PROJECT: During the aforementioned SWS picnic, The Illuminatio Project will perform an excerpt of their newest work at the Community Orchard of West Seattle, around 8 pm. Details in our calendar listing. (6000 16th SW)

SEE WHAT ELSE IS UP … by checking our full calendar.

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Renew the Multi-Family Tax Exemption? City Council committee briefing this morning
August 20, 2015 9:09 am
|      25 COMMENTS
 |   Development | West Seattle housing | West Seattle news

It’s a tax-break offer that many developers have long accepted from the city: If your project’s being built in certain areas, and you allot a certain percentage of units to a certain number of tenants at a certain income level, you can get the residential portion of your building (not the land) exempted from property taxes for 12 years. It’s called the Multi-Family Tax Exemption, and the council soon will have to decide whether to renew it for the fourth time since its inception in 1998. That discussion officially starts with a briefing during the end of this morning’s 9:30 am meeting of the council’s Housing Affordability, Human Services, and Economic Resiliency Committee. It’s a lead-up to a meeting next month at which the committee will consider legislation renewing the program.

Here’s what the committee will be shown and told this morning – first, the slide deck with stats on the program, which it says involves almost 2,000 rental units now, with almost 2,000 more “in the pipeline”:

Here’s the council-staff memo:

Wondering which West Seattle projects got the MFTE? From the newest list on the city website, dated August 14th:

*Altamira
*Blake
*Element 42
*Footprint Avalon (microhousing)
*Footprint Delridge (microhousing)
*Link
*Mural
*Nova
*Oregon 42
*Vue
*Youngstown Flats (WSB sponsor)

The list does NOT include under-construction projects that will be getting the MFTE – the program’s annual report included an expanded list that does, but only as of last December, so some might be missing. The additional projects on that list are:

*Spruce (open now so we’re not sure why it’s not on the first list)
*Admiral East Apartments (on the list as 3210 California)
*3050 Avalon (microhousing)
*Footprint’s Morgan Junction project (microhousing)
*4730 California
*Junction 47
*Trinsic West Seattle
*Lofts at The Junction
*The Whittaker
*Broadstone Sky
*6917 California
*Junction Flats

Right now, September 20th is the date for the committee to look at renewal legislation. If you’re interested in watching this morning’s discussion, the meeting will be live on Seattle Channel, cable channel 21 or online stream; it’s the last item on the agenda.

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TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Thursday updates; weekend Highway 99 closure reminder; this week’s ‘Throwback’ photo
August 20, 2015 7:23 am
|      16 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

(Four WS-relevant views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
7:23 AM: No incidents in, or headed out of, West Seattle, but showery weather is back and slowing things down in some areas. One big reminder:

HIGHWAY 99 CLOSURE: WSDOT is closing Highway 99 in both directions between the Battery Street Tunnel and Valley St. in lower Queen Anne from Friday night to early Monday, to move traffic onto a new section of road – details and maps here. The Alaskan Way Viaduct will remain open, but if you’re heading north, for example, you’ll have to exit at Western.

ADDED 7:42 AM – ‘TRAFFIC THROWBACK THURSDAY’ PHOTO: From the Seattle Municipal Archives, an August 1962 view of the then-under-construction Fauntleroy approach to the West Seattle Bridge:


Click the image for a larger view. The archives have a wide variety of related images, including this gathering labeled as groundbreaking at 34th/Fauntleroy just under a year earlier, in September 1961.

8:32 AM: Problem on northbound I-5 downtown:

4:25 PM: Just in case you’ll be on 99 south of the Aurora Bridge this pm:

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Potential cover dog in the house? CityDog Cover Model Search at West Seattle Thriftway this Sunday
August 19, 2015 9:49 pm
|    Comments Off on Potential cover dog in the house? CityDog Cover Model Search at West Seattle Thriftway this Sunday
 |   Fun stuff to do | Pets | West Seattle news

It’s a tail-wagging prospect: Your dog, on the cover of CityDog Magazine (founded and edited by West Seattleite Brandie Ahlgren)! First step is this Sunday, when the annual CityDog Cover Dog Model Search returns to West Seattle Thriftway (WSB sponsor). From CityDog:

ALL dogs are welcome to enter for the chance to be on the cover of CityDog, and because all dogs are super models, each and every canine contestant will get their photo in the magazine! $10 per dog to benefit the Doney Memorial Animal Clinic.

Simply swing by West Seattle Thriftway between noon and 2 p.m. on Sunday, August 23, and CityDog Magazine will snap a photo of your pooch for the chance to be on the cover!

CityDog is 10 years old this year, by the way (human years, anyway).

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Congratulations! WSHS senior Morgan McCullough makes USA Baseball national team
August 19, 2015 7:56 pm
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | WS & Sports

(April 2015 photo by Caryn Johnson)

A new achievement for West Seattle High School baseball player Morgan McCullough, last mentioned here when he became a regional All-Star. From his proud mom Jane Muxen McCullough:

Morgan McCullough, a WSHS 2016 Senior, has been selected to the 2015 USA Baseball 18U National Team. The team will look to defend its gold medal from the 2013 WBSC 18U/AAA World Cup when it competes in the 2015 WBSC U-18 Baseball World Cup in Nashinomiya, Japan later this month thru early September.

Morgan’s batting average for WSHS last season was an amazing .552.

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Former South Seattle College president Jill Wakefield to retire from history-making chancellor job
August 19, 2015 4:51 pm
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

Almost seven years after the news that Dr. Jill Wakefield was being promoted from South Seattle College (WSB sponsor) president to chancellor of its parent system, she has decided to retire. From this afternoon’s announcement:

After 40 years with Seattle Colleges, Chancellor Jill Wakefield has announced her retirement, effective June 2016. She was appointed as chancellor in 2009, becoming the district’s first female in that position. When she retires, she will be the longest-serving chancellor in the district’s history.

Dr. Wakefield started with the district as a program assistant in the veterans office at South Seattle Community College, then served as public information officer, director of development, vice president for institutional advancement, and vice president for instruction, as well as president from 2003 to 2008. She succeeded Charles Mitchell as chancellor.

“I couldn’t be more pleased to have spent my professional career with Seattle Colleges,” says Dr. Wakefield. “It has been an honor and a pleasure to represent this great district and its talented educators and staff, and I believe we have a solid foundation in place to educate tomorrow’s workforce.”

Dr. Wakefield’s focus this final year includes:
· Getting more students to the finish line by improving recruitment, retention, and completion.
· Meeting workforce training needs in high-demand areas.
· Continuing to offer high-demand, high-quality transfer programs with clear pathways to universities.
· Establishing sustainable public and private funding sources.
· Ensuring the new Health Education Center in Pacific Tower is fully operational. …

A subcommittee of the board will lead the search for a new chancellor.

Read more about Dr. Wakefield and the transition here.

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Bear sighting in West Seattle! Neighborhood’s newest mural
August 19, 2015 2:30 pm
|      6 COMMENTS
 |   Luna Park | West Seattle news | WS culture/arts

West Seattle’s newest mural has just been finished. If you don’t recognize the building via the telltale marquee – this is Shack Coffee in Luna Park, 2920 SW Avalon Way, where artist Jesse Link completed the mural less than an hour before we stopped by for a photo, according to Shack staff. Link’s mural spans the north wall, along the parking lot that Shack Coffee shares with Luna Park Café. You’ve probably seen Link’s work before; he’s been featured at several West Seattle businesses during monthly Art Walks. Checking online examples of his work, you’ll note that wildlife is frequently part of it.

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West Seattle development: 10 houses, one duplex for Pigeon Point site
August 19, 2015 1:14 pm
|      11 COMMENTS
 |   Development | West Seattle housing | West Seattle news

New from the city files today: An early-stage proposal for 10 houses and one duplex at 3710-3722 21st SW on Pigeon Point (map). The north side of the site faces a Seattle Parks-owned slope over the West Seattle bridge; the south side, SW Charlestown. The 12 new homes would replace two single-family houses, one more than a century old, the other, 58 years old. Documents in the online files suggest the site’s been under consideration for development for at least two years. Brad Khouri is the architect.

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West Seattle schools: New ‘multi-age’ co-op class launching
August 19, 2015 11:20 am
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

Something new this year from West Seattle’s cooperative preschools: A “multi-age” co-op class. We found out about it while talking recently with Judy Hall, who oversees the South Seattle College Cooperative Preschools program that has operated for years at multiple locations around this area. As explained on the flyer:

Have you ever been curious about cooperative preschool but couldn’t quite make it fit your schedule? Do you have more than one preschool-age child? Could you use a little parent coaching to smooth out the rough spots in your parenting journey? Would you benefit from finding a strong support system of parents like you?

If so, you can contact Judy to find out about possibly being part of the new program, which will meet Fridays at the Alki Co-op Preschool site. She’s at jhall@southseattle.edu and 206-938-2278.

P.S. Again this fall, the Cooperative Preschools will be the beneficiary of the West Seattle Monster Dash. It’s set for Saturday, October 24th, at Lincoln Park, 5K at 9 am and kids’ dash at 10 am, costumes encouraged (with a contest at 10:30) – you can register by going here.

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West Seattle Wednesday: Parks superintendent @ Alki CC; Healthy Families Celebration in High Point; kayaking; meditation; more…
August 19, 2015 9:09 am
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Bushtit, photographed by Danny McMillin and shared via the WSB Flickr group)

Lots on the calendar for today/tonight, and what follows is only part of it!

GET INSPIRED: Noon-1:15 pm drop-in brown-bag-lunch meetup at Office Junction (WSB sponsor) for entrepreneurs, non-traditional workers, anybody interested in networking and getting inspired. RSVP if you can. (6030 California SW)

HIGH POINT MARKET GARDEN FARM STAND: 4-7 pm, fresh produce sold right next to this urban mini-farm – more info in our calendar listing. (32nd SW & Juneau)

RESTAURANT REOPENS: Harry’s Chicken Joint is scheduled to reopen today after 2 1/2 weeks of remodeling. (6032 California SW)

HEALTHY FAMILIES CELEBRATION: 5:30-8 pm at Neighborhood House’s High Point Center, open to all, with dozens of health-service providers on hand as well as free food and free school supplies, plus games and field-day activities for kids. Details in our calendar listing. (6400 Sylvan Way)

KAYAK AND LEARN, ON THE DUWAMISH RIVER: This week’s community kayak tour focuses on Native American history, with Ken Workman of the Duwamish Tribe. 6 pm – departure location TBA when you RSVP; details in our calendar listing.

FREE COMMUNITY MEDITATION: 6 pm at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center – details in our calendar listing. (4408 Delridge Way SW)

FRISBEE PICKUP GAME: WSUFF’s Wednesday night pickup games are now at 6 pm at Walt Hundley Playfield in High Point. (34th SW & Myrtle)

PARKS SUPERINTENDENT AT ALKI COMMUNITY CENTER: The “listening tour” continues for new Seattle Parks Superintendent Jesús Aguirre, with a stop tonight at Alki Community Center, 6:30 pm. (5817 SW Stevens)

34TH DISTRICT REPUBLICANS: The group now meets in West Seattle, and its monthly meeting is at 7 tonight at American Legion Post 160 in The Triangle. (3618 SW Alaska)

OPEN MICROPHONE: 7:30 pm signup for spots onstage starting at 8:30 pm at The Skylark in North Delridge. Free, 21+, recordings available for purchase. (3803 Delridge Way SW)

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TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Wednesday notes; weekend closure previews
August 19, 2015 7:04 am
|      7 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

(Four WS-relevant views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
7:04 AM: Good morning! Nothing reported currently on routes in or from West Seattle and vicinity.

REMINDER – 2 WEEKEND CLOSURES: Highway 99 closes both ways from the Battery Street Tunnel north to Valley St. in lower Queen Anne next weekend, Friday night (August 21) to early Monday (August 24) – details and maps here. … On Sunday morning, Alki/Harbor Avenues will close for the Alki Beach 5K (9 am start, but parking restrictions start earlier that morning).

7:46 AM: If you’re headed toward Beacon Hill, note that SDOT is tracking a crash at Spokane/Columbian. No SFD callout so far, so apparently no injuries.

9:13 AM: “Late” commuters beware. Stalled vehicle on Northbound 99 just north of the stadiums – thanks to the texter (206-293-6302 any time!) who just reported it (saying it has “cones around it”) and the commenter – it has just now been mentioned on the scanner, too.

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UPDATE: Police investigating shooting in North Delridge after robbery in Admiral; 1 person shot
August 18, 2015 10:53 pm
|      68 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | Delridge | West Seattle news

(UPDATED WEDNESDAY MORNING with new information from police)

FIRST REPORT, 10:53 PM TUESDAY: An “assault with weapons” response is on the way to 25th/Findlay – and we’re hearing from several people who say they heard multiple gunshots. Per scanner, a male victim has a gunshot wound in his upper leg. Police say they’re finding shell casings. More to come.

11:09 PM: We’ve just arrived at Delridge and Findlay – while most of the SFD response has been dismissed, a private ambulance is here. We hope to find out more from police about scanner traffic suggesting this might be related to a robbery at Hamilton Viewpoint Park in Admiral.

11:28 PM: Police are still trying to sort out what exactly happened and why it all wound up here after starting at the park in Admiral. No one is in custody so far. The victim’s been taken to the hospital and his injuries are not life-threatening. The car he was in is here at Delridge/Findlay and police are talking to possible witnesses.

11:52 PM: As pointed out in comments, there are shell casings on 25th near Puget.

Police are here too and crime tape is up (so if you’re out driving or riding at this hour, 25th is blocked).

12:46 AM: We went by Hamilton Viewpoint Park – no police cruisers with lights on, but there appeared to be an officer with a flashlight; gates were closed and not close enough for us to reach safely, so we’ll have to verify in the morning what if anything was found there, as well as whatever other details police have determined.

SIDE NOTE: While there have been other incidents involving gunfire, this is the first time someone has been shot in West Seattle since this incident near 35th and Morgan more than four months ago. One person was “grazed” in the June road-rage incident that started under the bridge.

ADDED 10:52 AM WEDNESDAY: A few additional details are in what police just posted to SPD Blotter, including the victim’s age and confirmation that shots were fired at Hamilton Viewpoint as well as in North Delridge:

Police are investigating a robbery with shots fired that took place at Hamilton Viewpoint Park in West Seattle last night.

Two men arrived at the park at 10:45 PM to meet with some friends. One of the victims got out of his car and was immediately confronted by a suspect armed with a handgun. The suspect demanded the victim’s backpack and he complied. But when the suspect demanded the victim’s belt, the victim refused. As he started walking back to his car to leave the suspect fired several shots in his direction.

The suspect then ran to a silver or bronze BMW, that was being driven by another male, and drove off southbound from the park. The victims took off after the suspect vehicle and followed them until the 5000 block of 25 Avenue SW where the suspects fired more shots at the victims’ vehicle.

One of the victims, a 19-year-old man, was struck in the leg by a bullet. Medics responded to the scene and he was transported to Harborview Medical Center with non-life-threatening injuries.

(WSB photo of police examining ‘the victim vehicle’)
The victim vehicle also sustained damage from multiple bullets.

Officers flooded the area but were unable to locate the suspect vehicle.

The Robbery Unit responded and processed the scene for evidence. Detectives are still working to gather more details about the suspects—the victim described them only as a Samoan male and a white or Hispanic male both in their early 20s. Police are also investigating the nature of the meeting between the suspects and victim.

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THURSDAY: Ayron Jones and The Way @ Summer Concerts at Hiawatha
August 18, 2015 9:28 pm
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | WS culture/arts

That’s a taste of the blues/rock of Ayron Jones and The Way, playing West Seattle this Thursday night at the Admiral Neighborhood Association-presented Summer Concerts @ Hiawatha. You’re invited to bring a blanket, chair, family, friends, neighbors, co-workers, picnic dinner, any or all of the above, and come enjoy great music for free, starting at 6:30 pm on Hiawatha Community Center‘s east lawn (along Walnut south of Lander). Meantime, if you’re not already a fan of this band, read more about them and their music here.

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West Seattle development: Westwood apartments; Alki projects; 36th SW microhousing update
August 18, 2015 6:54 pm
|      13 COMMENTS
 |   Development | West Seattle housing | West Seattle news

Four projects in this roundup of West Seattle development notes:

WESTWOOD APARTMENTS: A preliminary “site plan” has just been filed for a proposed 32-apartment, no-offstreet-parking building on a vacant triangle of land at 2221 SW Barton Place, southeast of Westwood Village. Notes in the city’s online files say the project would require Design Review.

ALKI TEARDOWNS: Three century-old beach bungalows have just been demolished on a site long planned for redevelopment in the 3000 block of 63rd SW in Alki, just across the south-side alley from the commercial building that is home to Cassis (WSB sponsor), Cactus, and Alki Urban Market.

An earlier proposal for the site passed Administrative Design Review more than six years ago. Six townhouses and one single-family house are to be built.

1307 HARBOR PROJECT FILES APPLICATION: This is the site that includes the former Alki Tavern, now closed for almost 2 1/2 years. The mixed-use proposal went through the first stage of Design Review in spring 2014; though no date is set, its next Design Review is getting closer, as city files show the developers have applied for their master-use permit. The project is now described as including 15 residential units, fewer than the original proposal.

4122 36TH SW MICROHOUSING FOLLOWUP: When we first reported last month on this proposal to replace a triplex with a microhousing building, the proposal didn’t specify a number of units. Now it does – approximately 24.

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Election 2015: It’s officially Lisa Herbold vs. Shannon Braddock in November, as final primary vote totals are certified
August 18, 2015 4:54 pm
|      19 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle parks

The last ballots have been counted, and, as of this afternoon, the August primary-election results are official. In the new Seattle City Council District 1, West Seattle and South Park, about 18,000 ballots were tallied, out of more than 60,000 sent, for a 30 percent voter turnout (see all the King County stats here). Here are the final totals for the nine candidates who were on the primary ballot in District 1:

Lisa Herbold – 30.15% – 5234 votes
Shannon Braddock – 27.78% – 4824 votes
Phillip Tavel – 18.18% – 3156 votes
Brianna Thomas – 10.17% – 1765 votes
Chas Redmond – 7.30% – 1268 votes
Jody Rushmer – 2.12% – 368 votes
Karl Wirsing – 1.41% – 245 votes
Arturo Robles – 1.38% – 240 votes
Pavel Goberman – 1.17% – 204 votes

So the general election contest is between Herbold (above left), a 48-year-old Highland Park resident who is longtime legislative assistant to retiring City Councilmember Nick Licata, and Braddock (above right), a 45-year-old Admiral resident who is chief of staff to County Councilmember Joe McDermott. Several forums are in the works in the district before the November 3rd election, so watch for details on those.

P.S. You’ll also be voting on the two at-large City Council seats – Position 8 will be Tim Burgess vs. Jon Grant (primary results here); Position 9 will be Lorena González vs. Bill Bradburd (primary results here). All election results from around King County can be seen here.

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Meeples Games: Welcoming a new West Seattle Blog sponsor
August 18, 2015 3:24 pm
|      5 COMMENTS
 |   Fun stuff to do | West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news

Today we’re welcoming Meeples Games as a new WSB sponsor! Here’s what Meeples‘ proprietors would like you to know about their business:

At Meeples Games, our goal is to bring people together through tabletop gaming by providing an amazing space; outstanding customer service; delicious local foods, coffee, and brews; and a massive selection of games to play and to buy.

Owners Laura Schneider and Brian Taylor opened Meeples in May 2014 on the second floor of Charlestown Center (California & Charlestown). We’re proud to have been chosen West Seattle’s Westside Emerging Business of the Year 2015. We and many of our co-workers live in West Seattle, and we are an integrated part of the community. We have been embraced by our amazing neighborhood and are thrilled to bring our passion for tabletop gaming to everyone. In this digital era it is important to us to bring people together via face-to-face gaming and at Meeples Games, it’s “all analog, all the time!”

We offer tabletop games for all ages, including board games, card games, role-playing games, miniatures, puzzles, Magic: the Gathering, Pokemon, classic games, and accessories. We have a large library of games to play and a comfortable play space. Our café features locally sourced sandwiches, salads, pastries, plates-to-share, snacks, espresso, nitro cold brew, and local beers and cider on tap. We strive to bring good, simple food to gamers in a fun and family-friendly environment. Daily gaming events are listed in-store and on our website – www.meeplesgames.com – and include Magic: the Gathering tournaments, Pokemon League, Netrunner League, Star Wars X-Wing, D&D, learn-to-play sessions, and much, much more. We even reserve tables and host birthday parties and other events! Here’s how to reach Meeples Games, online and by phone.

We thank Meeples Games 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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SATURDAY: West Seattle Bee Garden hosts first-ever Puget Sound Beekeepers Association Kids’ Day
August 18, 2015 2:32 pm
|    Comments Off on SATURDAY: West Seattle Bee Garden hosts first-ever Puget Sound Beekeepers Association Kids’ Day
 |   Fun stuff to do | Gardening | High Point | West Seattle news

(Photo by Ann Anderson)

Where would we be without bees? Your favorite kid(s) can learn more about them at the West Seattle Bee Garden on Saturday, during the first-ever Kids Day presented by the Puget Sound Beekeepers Association! WSBG founder Lauren Englund shares the news:

Beekeepers from the Puget Sound Beekeepers Association are gearing up for the first PSBA Kids’ Day!

The day will begin with a story time hosted by the Seattle Public Library, followed by a variety of science activities. Kids will join a group and rotate through a live hive demonstration, scavenger hunt, and activity booths.

Booth themes will include Waggle Dance, Pollination Simulation, Bee and Flower Facts, Honey Tasting, Meet the Beekeepers, and Crafts.

Participation is free – we hope everyone can come join the fun! We recommend arriving a few minutes early to get assigned to your group before the Story Time begins. Registration/Sign-in will begin at 9:30 am. Parents/Chaperones, please plan to enjoy the event along with your attendees

Know if you can make it? Great! Please register here. Not sure? That’s ok. Walk-ins will be welcome too!

Registration helps them figure out how many kids to plan for, but again, it’s not mandatory. You can find out more about Kids’ Day on the WS Bee Garden’s website; if you’ve never been there before, here’s how/where to find it.

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West Seattle scene: Residents at The Kenney walk to help neighbors
August 18, 2015 2:03 pm
|      7 COMMENTS
 |   The Kenney | West Seattle news

Great morning for a walk (-a-thon)! In this morning’s West Seattle Tuesday preview, we mentioned the first-ever Walk-A-Thon at The Kenney (WSB sponsor), raising money for its Resident Care Fund, which helps ensure that people living there don’t have to move if their lives outlast their assets. We stopped by around midway through, and were told about 50 residents and staffers already had joined in the walk around the west lawn of The Kenney’s landmark Seaview Building.

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West Seattle whale watching: Orcas reported to be heading this way
August 18, 2015 12:07 pm
|      7 COMMENTS
 |   Seen at sea | West Seattle news | Wildlife

ORIGINAL REPORT, 12:07 PM: Just texted by Jeff Hogan of Killer Whale Tales: Orcas reported to be in Elliott Bay, headed toward Alki. On our way to look; please let us know if you see them!

1:26 PM UPDATE: We looked from Constellation Park, around Duwamish Head and beyond, no sightings, and we’ve heard nothing further; checked the Orca Network as well, and assuming this is the group of “transient” killer whales their readers spotted, they have no further sightings either, with speculation the whales might have gone into Kitsap waters. Could turn up later!

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Does West Seattle need a ‘Village’? If you think so – here’s how to help plan it!
August 18, 2015 11:43 am
|      8 COMMENTS
 |   How to help | West Seattle news

Depending on where you are in life, you might imagine the future as exciting, or worrisome, or a combination of both. If you tend toward the latter, you might take some reassurance in learning that plans are in the works for a “Village” in West Seattle. Even better, it’s so early in the planning stage that you can jump in and help make it something that you’ll look forward to being part of when the time comes. From the group working on it so far:

What is a Village?

A village is not a place – it is a plan for aging successfully in your own home. It is a membership-based organization with paid staff who act as a personal, central resource to coordinate access to services for you. These services can help you stay in your home as you age and could be provided by trained neighborhood volunteers, or you might be referred to a screened vendor/service provider for more complex needs and services. It could also include social and activity groups.

Services might include yard work, rides to the doctor or a friend’s house, housecleaning, companionship, pet care, painters, plumbers, grocery shopping, and educational and social events at nearby locations.

Read More

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5 years in the making, Metro’s battery-powered-bus test gets up to speed
August 18, 2015 11:14 am
|      17 COMMENTS
 |   Transportation | West Seattle news

Your chance to commute via a battery-powered bus like that one is getting closer. At a media event today that otherwise was about its new electric trolley buses, Metro also had an update on the battery-powered-bus test that’s been on the way since a federal $4.7 million grant was announced five years ago:

… Over the next four to six months, Metro will take delivery of three 40-foot prototype heavy-duty battery-electric buses with fast-charging batteries, manufactured with a composite body by Proterra, Inc.

The new 38-seat buses can travel up to 23 miles between charges, and remain on the road up to 24 hours a day. Batteries take 10 minutes or less to charge. The prototype bus is expected to get 15 miles more from an equivalent unit of energy than a diesel-hybrid coach. A battery-charging station has already been set up at the Eastgate Park-and-Ride lot.

Metro will test the performance and efficiency of the new technology for up to a year on local streets and roads, to determine whether battery electric buses can be a future replacement option for Metro. The three prototypes will likely be tested on short routes serving the Eastside and downtown Seattle.

You can read today’s full announcement and see videos on this county webpage. The Proterra website says Metro is one of 10 agencies in 9 states that is, or will be, using its buses.

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