day : 18/11/2015 10 results

Thanks to the Denny International Middle School parent who shared this e-mail sent to the school community tonight:

This afternoon, two of our 8th-grade scholars reported to us that they were approached by a man in a red Sports Utility Vehicle who called to them to get in the back of the vehicle as they walked home from school yesterday. The scholars did the right thing by running away and telling an adult at home and at school. Seattle Police have been informed.

As a precaution, we reminded our scholars this afternoon about safety tips for walking to and from school. We would appreciate your help by having a similar conversation at home. The walking-safety advice includes:

GENERAL SAFETY TIPS

Pay close attention to your surroundings, avoid “automatic pilot.”

Walk with a purpose; project an assertive, business-like image.

Use common sense; plan your route to avoid uninhabited parks, parking lots, garages and alleyways.

Stick to well-lit areas.

Develop a plan before you see trouble. Crossing a street or entering a store may get you out of a potentially bad situation.

If a car follows you or beckons you while you are walking, do not approach it. Instead, turn and quickly walk the opposite direction.

Consider wearing clothing and shoes that you can move freely and quickly in, especially when walking or waiting for the bus.

Carry minimal items; overloading yourself can make you appear vulnerable.

Always plan your route and stay alert to your surroundings. Avoid shortcuts. Walk confidently. Scan your surroundings and make eye contact with people.

Avoid walking alone at night. As much as possible, walk or travel with a friend, even during the daytime.

As always, thank you for your help and partnership!

Sincerely,
Jeff Clark, Principal

That’s the e-mail in its entirety, with no location-specific information regarding where the incident happened; Tweets by Beat notes a “lewd conduct” call not far from the school, at 28th SW and SW Elmgrove, but we likely won’t be able to check that directly with police until tomorrow morning.

Share This

West Seattle Senior Center board getting closer to deciding future of Senior Services relationship, one year after town halls

November 18, 2015 8:22 pm

| 7 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news

By Patrick Sand and Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog co-publishers

Exactly one year after the board of the Senior Center of West Seattle grappled publicly with whether to remain independent or be absorbed into the countywide Senior Services, it is moving toward a change in relationship, though perhaps not as sweeping as first considered.

At its regular monthly meeting last Thursday night, the Senior Center board discussed the possibility of offering a lease to Senior Services (which is renaming itself Sound Generations on January 1st).

Share This

West Seattle restaurants: Itto’s Tapas grand opening this Saturday

November 18, 2015 6:01 pm

| 14 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle restaurants

(WSB photo of Itto’s front door, this morning)

Six months after we brought you first word of Itto’s Tapas coming to 4160 California SW, its official grand opening has just been announced:

We are FINALLY having our Grand Opening! We are so excited to be in West Seattle where the neighborhood has shown its support with encouraging words, kind drop-ins, and overall excitement! Thank you all for the supportive energy. This has been a whirlwind of lessons learned and now all we think about is giving West Seattle our best. We can’t wait to feed you!

We are having our Grand Opening this Saturday, the 21st of November. Itto’s is named after our owner’s mother, and we thought it would be a blessing to honor her spirit by inviting you all in on the anniversary of her passing.

We will have our full menu and specialty drinks rolling! If you want to glimpse our menus, you can check out our Facebook page. To keep the energy up, we will have one of our favorite local belly dancers, Nadira at 10 pm!

Thank you again for all of your support! Looking forward to seeing our neighborhood in full force!

Itto’s is in the ex-Firefly space on the northeast corner of California SW and SW Genesee.

Share This

ELECTION UPDATE: 11 more ballots in the Seattle City Council District 1 race, now a 25-vote gap

November 18, 2015 4:24 pm

| 4 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle politics

Eleven more ballots were added to the Seattle City Council District 1 vote totals before today’s results came out a short time ago – five for Shannon Braddock, six for Lisa Herbold, who now is 25 votes ahead:

Lisa Herbold – 12,428 – 49.72%
Shannon Braddock – 12,403 – 49.62%

As noted previously, the election is now down to ballots that have problems such as signature verification; if that happened to your ballot, there’s still time – until the election is certified next Tuesday – for you to fix it and have your vote count. If you haven’t checked on yours, you can do that here – but this is important: The last message it will give is that your ballot “will be counted.” It will never say “has been counted.” If it says “will be counted,” that means you’ve been verified.

Share This

@ Junction Neighborhood Organization: Emergency hub; street lighting; crime-fighting plan; public-safety survey…

November 18, 2015 3:57 pm

| Comments Off on @ Junction Neighborhood Organization: Emergency hub; street lighting; crime-fighting plan; public-safety survey…

| Neighborhoods | West Seattle news

Three notes from last night’s Junction Neighborhood Organization meeting:

EMERGENCY HUB: JuNO has been working on setting up another hub for the West Seattle Emergency Communication Hubs, closer to the heart of The Junction, and its thousands of apartment residents. Ellen West from the JuNO board is working on the project. While they’ve obtained a city grant to help start and equip the hub, they’ll be looking for donations to cover the rest of the cost. West and JuNO director René Commons plan to talk to some of the new buildings’ managers/owners in hope they’ll want to chip in. West also will be talking with building managers about their emergency-response plans.

STREET LIGHTING: One of JuNO’s 2016 priorities, according to Commons, will be a followup on lighting concerns along the west side of 42nd SW. She’s had a walking tour with a Seattle City Light representative but hopes to keep up the pressure for improvements; JuNO had been working with Councilmember Tom Rasmussen and now will need to work with whomever is elected in the too-close-to-call District 1 City Council race.

CRIME STATS: In the first round of the city’s development of “micro-policing plans,” The Junction was lumped in with a few other neighborhoods, but Southwest Precinct Operations Lt. Ron Smith says that will change, and soon The Junction will be broken out into its own plan area – which also means its own distinct set of crime stats on the new SPD “Dashboard.”

PUBLIC-SAFETY SURVEY: Researcher Jennifer Burbridge, who’s been working with the Southwest Precinct on projects including the micro-policing plans, is circulating one more reminder: If you haven’t already answered the citywide Public Safety Survey, please take a few minutes to do it – start here.

To join the JuNO mailing list for updates on meetings and projects, e-mail wsjuno@yahoo.com.

Share This

FOLLOWUP: Arrest in Arbor Heights followed robbery at Westwood Village

November 18, 2015 1:11 pm

| 5 COMMENTS

| Arbor Heights | Crime | West Seattle news | Westwood

Thanks to everyone who tipped us about a big police response at an Arbor Heights house last night. We have finally obtained Seattle Police confirmation that the arrest made there was linked to the robbery we covered earlier in the evening at the Westwood Village Game Stop store. A witness to the robbery tells WSB they saw a getaway vehicle and provided its description and license plate to police. Officers found the vehicle at a home near 35th and 104th in Arbor Heights and, with a warrant, searched the house and arrested a 30-year-old man who is now in the King County Jail; the vehicle was towed as evidence. We’re expecting a few more details from police this afternoon, and will add them when available, but after many inquiries today about the AH response, we wanted to publish this as soon as we had confirmation of the link.

Share This

VIDEO: Freedom for 13 cleaned-up birds from oiled White Center pond; 61 remain in rehab

November 18, 2015 11:44 am

| 17 COMMENTS

| Environment | West Seattle news | White Center | Wildlife

Our phone video is the first look at post-cleanup freedom for 13 of the birds captured at the oil-contaminated White Center stormwater-retention pond. A team from PAWS just brought them back to the area and joined state and county reps in opening the carriers and watching them go free. We first reported on the pond problem a week and a half ago; last Friday, the state announced that a WC food-manufacturing business, La Mexicana, had taken responsibility. They say the pond is now clean enough for the birds to return to it safely, but they were released this morning across the street at Steve Cox Memorial Park. As you can see in the video, all 13 brought back by PAWS this morning were mallards; crews have captured 78 in all, a mix of mallards and Canada geese. Four birds did not survive, including two that were euthanized, according to the state Ecology Department.

ADDED 2:20 PM: A few more photos and additional information about today’s release and the cleanup:

Ecology spokesperson Larry Altose says oil-recovery efforts wrapped up at the pond yesterday, as contractor National Response Corporation removed the last cleanup materials. NRC’s subcontractor Focus Wildlife captured the oiled birds and, Altose says, “housed and treated the birds at the Progressive Animal Welfare Society Wildlife Center in Lynnwood,” where, he adds, the state Department of Fish and Wildlife “supplied a bird rescue trailer to provide extra space for the effort.”

Of the 61 birds still in treatment after today’s release, he adds, 27 are mallards and 34 are geese. All four of the birds that died were mallards. A WDFW spokesperson confirmed that this is the largest bird-rescuing operation in our state in some time, in terms of spill recovery.

Meantime, as for the birds released today …

… they were last seen taking a few test flights around the field. If you see oiled or distressed birds, WDFW asks, call 800-22-BIRDS, but don’t “approach or handle the wildlife,” the state asks, adding that “WDFW asks dog and cat owners in the area to keep their pets under control, as oiled birds are less able to escape from animal attacks.”

P.S. In addition to reporting to the state, the federal EPA also tells us they are interested in information about environmental violations – here’s how to report them. (You can also call the local office directly at 206-553-8306.)

Share This

MORGAN JUNCTION BIZNOTES: Seattle Logo Pro move; ‘Shopping Extravaganza’ tomorrow

November 18, 2015 10:44 am

| 3 COMMENTS

| West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news

Two biznotes from Morgan Junction:

SEATTLE LOGO PRO MOVING: After 5+ years in The Junction, off the midblock breezeway on the west side of California between Oregon and Alaska, apparel/accessories biz Seattle Logo Pro is moving to the former Pilates Al Dente storefront at 6521 California SW, same building that’s home to WSB sponsors Mailbox West and Second Gear Sports. Via Facebook, SLP says it’s expecting to be in its new spot by early December.

Speaking of SGS …

‘MORGAN JUNCTION SHOPPING EXTRAVAGANZA’ TOMORROW: What started as Second Gear Sports’ third annual “Ladies Night” has expanded into a “Morgan Junction Shopping Extravaganza” tomorrow (Thursday) evening, 7-9 pm, in partnership with three other Morgan Junction businesses – My Three Little Birds, Lika Love, and Nurture by Nature – for a fun way to jump-start your semi-early holiday shopping. Full details of who’s doing what are in our calendar listing.

Share This

West Seattle Wednesday: Drama, donations, dogs, more…

November 18, 2015 9:13 am

| 3 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Thanks to Amy Shuster for the post-storm Tuesday night photo from High Point)
Happy post-storm Wednesday! Some of what you need to know about (please see our full calendar for the complete list – LOTS more happening today/tonight):

SCHOOL BOARD: We previewed tonight’s Seattle School Board meeting earlier this week. It starts at 4:15 pm downtown, public comment at 5 pm – you’ll see the speaker list on the final revised agenda – key votes at 6 pm. (3rd & Lander)

‘THE EMPOWERMENT PROJECT’: Free movie! This documentary tells the story of inspirational women, geared for middle-school age and up. Here’s the trailer:

The showing’s at Fauntleroy Church Fellowship Hall – and if you just can’t make it tonight, maybe you can make the Friday night showing. No admission charge but you need to save your seat(s), and you can do that here. (9140 California SW)

DOGS IN PARKS: Do dogs and their people need more or less room to roam in city parks? Policy changes are on the table as the city works on a “strategic plan,” and you’ll hear about it at tonight’s Delridge Neighborhoods District Council meeting, as previewed here. 7 pm, all welcome, Youngstown Cultural Arts Center. (4408 Delridge Way SW)

MADISON MS PTSA: 7 pm at Madison Middle School, tonight’s PTSA meeting has a special focus on 8th grade families, with a guest from West Seattle High School to “to help our families prepare for entering high school.” (45th SW & SW Spokane)

WORDSWEST LITERARY SERIES AND BAKE SALE: 7 pm tonight at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor), this month’s edition features “Seeking What Nourishes with Allison Green and Hannah Faith Notessh. Favorite Poem by West Seattle Food Bank” – and bring a donation for WSFB *or* money for the benefit bake sale. (5612 California SW)

‘THE DEAD GUY’: 7:30 pm, next performance of West Seattle High School Drama Club‘s student production, in the WSHS Theater. (3000 California SW)

And another chance to give, from the WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide:

DONATE TURKEYS FOR WCFB: Tonight’s your chance to donate turkeys in the evening. Our listing: “Come to the White Center Food Bank (10829 8th Ave SW) during our regular business hours (Monday – Friday 9 am to 5 pm, and Wednesday until 8 pm) to drop off turkeys with our receptionists; or come by Fauntleroy United Church of Christ (Fauntleroy UCC at 9140 California Ave SW) Sunday, November 22, from 10 am to 12 pm, to drop off a turkey at our Mobile Food Bank truck in their parking lot; or financial gifts are always appreciated, and you can donate online at whitecenterfoodbank.org/donate.”

Share This

TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Wednesday alerts and updates

November 18, 2015 7:04 am

| 3 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

(Five WS-relevant views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
7:04 AM: Good morning! If you use NB 99 north of downtown, you should know that a crash north of the Battery St. Tunnel is causing some backups. That’s the only incident right now on the major routes through/from here.

7:14 AM: The 47th/Admiral stoplight is flashing red, according to a texter. That means it’s an all-ways stop, but they say some aren’t treating it that way.

Share This