West Seattle, Washington

16 Tuesday

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month : 02/2016 314 results

Highland Park RV ‘safe lot’ update: 12 vehicles now expected, and other new information
February 10, 2016 11:27 am
|      31 COMMENTS
 |   Highland Park | West Seattle news

IMG_1686
(WSB photo)

New information about the RV “safe lot” that the city is setting up at West Marginal Way SW and Highland Park Way, on a paved lot adjacent to the former longterm unauthorized-encampment site (our photo above is from Tuesday morning – part of the canvas-covered chain-link fence at the site has fallen down). As reported here Monday night, the lot could open as soon as February 19th; this afternoon it’s part of the discussion at the City Council’s Human Services and Public Health Committee meeting (2 pm at City Hall).

Documents prepared for the meeting include updates on various city initiatives responding to the homelessness emergency; “targeted vehicle response” is the one that includes the “RV safe lots” about to go into operation in Highland Park and in Ballard. That particular update answers some questions that have been asked, including answers we had been pursuing from the city and its designated operator. From the document:

Each safe lot is located in a zoned industrial area and together, are expected to accommodate 32 RVs in Ballard and 12 in (Highland Park). Each lot will also have sanitation and garbage service and meet several other criteria identified by the City Council in Resolution 31649. All residents must abide by a code of conduct policy that will prohibit drugs and violence and require residents to be good neighbors. The two safe lots are expected to be operational some time in February 2016.

R2H staff will conduct needs assessments and program intakes, distribute rapid re-housing, diversion and flex funds, provide housing navigation services, and connect clients to other resources as appropriate. The Low Income Housing Institute (LIHI) will manage site operations, including round-the-clock security.

The update goes on to mention the three interim lots the city has set up, none of which is in West Seattle, then continues:

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Your West Seattle Wednesday highlights
February 10, 2016 9:58 am
|    Comments Off on Your West Seattle Wednesday highlights
 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

paulasunrise
(Thanks to Paula for the sunrise view from West Seattle High School)

The day has turned gray, but we appreciate the vivid color in the great photos from this morning’s sunrise! We’re sharing two along with today’s highlights from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:

SCHOOL TOURS: Several under way right now – so we wanted to remind you to use the calendar to look ahead beyond our same-day highlight lists – you can sort by categories, for example, and choosing “tours” brings up this list so you can look ahead.

LOCAL BIZ MEETUP: Noon-1:15 pm at West Seattle Office Junction (WSB sponsor) – take a break, bring your lunch, go network! (6040 California SW)

‘YOUTH VOICE, YOUTH CHOICE’: 4-6 pm at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center, all are welcome to an “idea assembly” as part of the “participatory budgeting” process in which local youth will help decide how the city should spend $700,000 of the next budget. Brainstorming is open to all ages. (4408 Delridge Way SW)

catsunrise
(Thanks to Cat for this sunrise view)

HIGH-SCHOOL BASKETBALL PLAYOFFS: The girls’ and boys’ teams from both West Seattle HS and Chief Sealth IHS all have playoff games tonight. None are at home. As noted here last night, the Sealth girls play Rainier Beach at 5:45 pm tonight at Ballard HS (1418 NW 65th), while the Sealth boys play Franklin at Garfield HS (400 23rd Ave.); the WSHS girls play Roosevelt at 7:30 pm at Nathan Hale, while the West Seattle boys play Rainier Beach at 5:45 pm at Ingraham HS (1819 N. 135th).

AMERICAN LEGION POST 160: Monthly meeting, 6 pm, open to all who have served or are serving in America’s armed forces. (3618 SW Alaska)

34TH DISTRICT DEMOCRATS: Big election year means lots on the agenda for tonight’s 7 pm meeting of our area’s biggest political group at The Hall at Fauntleroy. Chair Marcee Stone-Vekich says, “We will have all 6 candidates for the 7th (Congressional District) speaking tonight. Also, 2 candidates for Lieutenant Governor and 1 for State Auditor. We will also be giving a tribute to (former City Councilmember) Tom Rasmussen. We’ll then do a review of the caucus process later in the meeting.” (9131 California SW)

THINKING ABOUT THIS YEAR’S FLOAT DODGER 5K? Come to the Team in Training meeting at 7 pm tonight at West Seattle Runner (WSB sponsor) – here’s why. (2743 California SW)

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FERRY DRILL TODAY: What you might see
February 10, 2016 8:41 am
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   Seen at sea | West Seattle news

If you notice a state ferry off West Seattle making unusual maneuvers, and/or with notable law-enforcement presence, this is likely what it’s about. Just received from Kyle Moore of the State Patrol:

Today, the Washington State Patrol is conducting drills on the Washington State Ferries vessel Hyak. This drill will also involve the U.S. Coast Guard, the Bainbridge Island Police Department and the Seattle Police Department.

The drills will occur between the hours of 8 a.m. and 2 p.m. between Bainbridge and Seattle. No passengers will be aboard the ferry during the exercise. The Hyak will be out-of-service during these drills. Regular ferry traffic will not be impacted by the drill.

The public may notice a large law enforcement presence aboard the ferry and should be aware this is just a drill.

MarineTraffic.com shows the Hyak (here’s what it looks like) still in Eagle Harbor on Bainbridge right now, so it hasn’t headed this way yet.

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TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Wednesday watch
February 10, 2016 6:39 am
|      1 COMMENT
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

(Click any view for a close-up; more cameras on the WSB Traffic page)

6:35 AM: Good morning! Just checked around the area – no incidents right now in, or from, West Seattle and vicinity.

NIGHTTIME TRAFFIC ALERT: We don’t have night-by-night previews, but last night’s closure for the work at Fauntleroy/Alaska involved the block west of the site, on Alaska between Fauntleroy/39th and 40th; the previous night was a block of Fauntleroy.

7:58 AM: First incident reported anywhere in the area – a stalled vehicle blocking the HOV lane on southbound 99 just north of the 1st Avenue S. Bridge.

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High-school basketball playoffs: Both Chief Sealth teams win
February 9, 2016 11:28 pm
|    Comments Off on High-school basketball playoffs: Both Chief Sealth teams win
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools | WS & Sports

The second night of the Metro League high-school basketball playoffs is over, and both Chief Sealth International High School teams won tonight: Girls 57-51 over (and at) Eastside Catholic; boys 52-48 over Roosevelt at home.

Next up for the Seahawk squads: Both play again tomorrow – boys vs. Franklin, 7:30 pm Wednesday at Garfield (400 23rd Ave.); girls vs. Rainier Beach, 5:45 pm at Ballard (1418 NW 65th).

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Remembering Kay Messina, 1939-2016
February 9, 2016 10:10 pm
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   Obituaries | West Seattle news | West Seattle people

Family and friends will gather later this week in memory of Kay Messina, and are sharing this remembrance now:

Free from the clutches of Alzheimer’s disease, Kay’s spirit is free to soar again.

Born to Leo “Skipper” and Helen Kelly, Katherine Margaret “Kay” was raised as one of seven brothers and sisters in Anaconda, MT. After college, Kay moved to the big city (Seattle) to work as a medical records administrator. There she met the love of her life, Ben Messina. They married in 1963 and had three boys, Michael, Tony, and Mateo.

For the next 53 years, Kay loved, laughed, and sang her way through raising a family, pursuing a career, building lasting friendships, and generally demonstrating how a life well-lived should be. Together with Ben she enjoyed plays, dinners, friends, glasses of wine, and traveling far and wide. Their journeys included exploring their roots in Ireland and Italy, and making trips home to Montana for the annual family gatherings that continue to this day.

Kay raised her boys with love, grace, and good humor. She showed them the power of love in the devotion she and Ben shared, as well as the value of community in the friendships they made, and their 50-year membership with Our Lady of Guadalupe parish. In her career, she worked with health-care facilities around the region, including a long association with Mt. St. Vincent, where she spent her final days in their care.

Kay was fortunate to have married an engineer. As Alzheimer’s progressed, Ben was able to continually develop solutions that would allow to her to remain at home for much longer than most. For that, we are forever grateful. In addition to her family and friends’ memories of her twinkling Irish eyes, Kay leaves behind Ben, her beloved husband of 53 years; sons Michael (Yvette), Tony (Dawn), and Mateo (Tammy); and eight grandchildren. In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to Mt. St. Vincent or Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish. An evening vigil will be held Thursday 2/11/16 at 7:00, and a funeral mass on Friday 2/12/16 at 11:00, both at Our Lady of Guadalupe. Please visit www.emmickfunerals.com to share your memories of Kay.

(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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ELECTION RESULTS: Seattle Public Schools levies winning approval
February 9, 2016 8:14 pm
|      38 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle politics | West Seattle schools

8:14 PM: The one-and-only Election Night vote count is just in. Both Seattle Public Schools levies are passing with more than 70 percent approval:

OPERATIONS LEVY (PROP 1) – 71 percent approval

BTA LEVY (PROP 2) – 71 percent approval

As of tonight, fewer than 1 in 4 ballots had been returned, according to county statistics. Next vote count by 4:30 pm tomorrow.

9:15 PM: In its news release hailing the vote trend, the district included these bullet-point explanations of what the levies will pay for:

The Operations Levy represents more than 25 percent of Seattle Public Schools’ general fund operating budget and supports educational programs and services not fully funded by the state. It pays for;
· A portion of teacher, instructional assistant and support staff salaries

· Textbooks, classroom supplies, safety and building security,

· Special education and bilingual services,

· Professional development and training,

· Bus transportation,

· Student activities such as athletics, music, arts, extra-curricular and co-curricular activities.

The Buildings, Technology and Academics IV Capital Levy support the district’s long-range plans to;
· Upgrade and renovate aging school facilities and address enrollment growth.

· Three school buildings will be reopened to address capacity needs due to growing enrollment.

· Buildings projects including renovations, major maintenance, and health and safety improvements.

· Technology classroom equipment and instructional support to enhance student learning.

· Academics projects to meet the educational requirements and needs of students.

· Athletics improvements to upgrade fields.

Operations is a 3-year levy, BTA a 6-year levy. One of the “three school buildings (to) be reopened” is EC Hughes Elementary in Sunrise Heights, which the district has said will be the new home of the school that’s now at Roxhill Elementary.

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PHOTOS: West Seattle sunset, after the fog
February 9, 2016 6:40 pm
|    Comments Off on PHOTOS: West Seattle sunset, after the fog
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle weather

bratsanossunset
(Photo by James Bratsanos)

Thanks for the photos!

lynnhallsunset
(Photo by Lynn Hall)

bartellsunset
(Photo by John Bartell)

Along with those views of tonight’s colorful sunset, here’s a bonus view of how the day began:

mankewatertaxi
(Photo by Joann Manke)

We appreciate the photos – editor@westseattleblog.com, or if it’s breaking news, text 206-293-6302 – we have a Flickr group, too!

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Myers Parcels in southeast West Seattle: Sale decision closer; comment deadline set
February 9, 2016 4:18 pm
|      18 COMMENTS
 |   Myers Way | West Seattle news | West Seattle politics

myersfate

The city has made its next move toward potentially selling off most of the undeveloped land in the southeasternmost corner of West Seattle that’s known as the Myers Parcels.

It’s circulating this document declaring almost one and a half million square feet as surplus – three parcels on both sides of Myers, as shown above – and asking for your thoughts on what to do with it. (There’s a page for each parcel/address – 9501 Myers here, 9600 Myers here, 9701 Myers here.)

This has been in the works for years; one year ago, we reported on a citizen campaign gearing up in hopes of saving at least part of the site as parkland. But the city says its departments have evaluated it and weren’t interested.

The site is part of a former gravel pit purchased by the city in 2003, with part of the land becoming the Joint Training Facility. A commercial sale for part of the leftover land fell through, but the parcels remain zoned for “C2” commercial development up to 6 stories. When we wrote last year’s update, the city told us it had millions of dollars left to pay off on the land via a “bridge loan”; since then, the mayor announced last November that $5 million from the sale of unspecified property at the site would go toward the city’s efforts to help people without homes. (That money was being advanced via a different type of loan to be paid off with sale proceeds.)

A sale would require City Council approval. And first, the city is asking for your thoughts on the property’s future. The notice suggests directing those comments to Daniel Bretzke at daniel.bretzke@seattle.gov or by postal mail at City of Seattle – FAS, P.O. Box 94689, Seattle 98124-4689.

P.S. Thanks to the reader who tipped us about this after receiving a notice from the city, which hadn’t been sent to media.

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FOLLOWUP: West Seattle Transportation Coalition has questions for you
February 9, 2016 2:14 pm
|      7 COMMENTS
 |   Transportation | West Seattle news

In our coverage of the West Seattle Transportation Coalition‘s recent “call to action” meeting about Sound Transit light rail for West Seattle, we mentioned the group planned to put together a survey/poll with questions they hoped would be answered by as many West Seattleites as possible.

It’s ready now. First, WSTC explains it:

In November 2016, we will be asked to vote on “Sound Transit 3,” also called “ST3”. This vote will help shape the future of light rail to the peninsula. On December 4th, 2015, Sound Transit presented various options to the Sound Transit Board. In response, the WSTC sent (this) letter to the Sound Transit Board, the Mayor and City Council.

On January 28th, 2016, the WSTC held a Call to Action to gauge peninsula residents’ reactions to ST proposed ST3 expansion plans. West Seattle Blog coverage of the meeting can be found here.

The WSTC would like YOUR feedback on a survey to help us refine the position we should advocate for. We will be submitting the feedback to Sound Transit’s Board and other elected officials that govern Sound Transit.

Here’s the survey link: Answer the questions here. There’s some urgency, as ST will decide on its plan this spring, asking voters to approve paying for it in a ballot measure this November.

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YOU’RE INVITED! Chief Sealth students’ Page to Stage poetry performance
February 9, 2016 1:12 pm
|    Comments Off on YOU’RE INVITED! Chief Sealth students’ Page to Stage poetry performance
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools | WS culture/arts

students

Chief Sealth International High School language-arts teacher Heather Griffin shares the photo from this morning – featuring students rehearsing for a performance to which she tells us you’re invited, this Thursday night:

Ninth-grade students at Chief Sealth International High School are participating in the 16th Annual Page to Stage drama-based instruction conducted by Book-It Repertory Theatre. Students have been studying poetry in their Language Arts classes, and have used that work to create a final performance for you to see on Thursday, February 11th, at 7 p.m. We welcome the community to join us in this dynamic interpretation of student-written poems at the Chief Sealth International Auditorium.

Sealth is at 2600 SW Thistle.

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Sunrise Heights-born Squatch Crunch granola making West Seattle retail debut today
February 9, 2016 11:34 am
|      8 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news

Due to go on sale in West Seattle today: The first product of a “cottage industry” business born in a Sunrise Heights apartment.

granola
(WSB photo, outside Squatch Crunch HQ on sunny Monday afternoon)

Mari Bingham and Patrick Kelly are making and selling a three-flavor handcrafted small-batch granola line called Squatch Crunch. Today, it’s due to debut on the shelves at West Seattle Thriftway (WSB sponsor).

It’s local through and through, not just because it’s made here and riffs the brand name off a regional icon. The proprietors, now West Seattleites who are partnered in life as well as business, are both local: She’s from Bainbridge, he’s from Juanita; both have family around the region.

The three mixes, all gluten-free and vegan, have regional names – Sodo, Montlake, and Palouse. And the highlighted ingredients include subtle callouts back to related sports teams – Sodo, blue and green (with blueberries, pistachios, and pepitas); Montlake, purple and gold (featuring blueberries, apricots, and pecans); Palouse, red and white (with cranberries, raspberries, and coconut chunks). You’ll find them in 12-ounce bags for starters, with other sizes and flavors likely to follow.

Mari’s been making granola at home for a decade. She has a tech background, and Patrick has studied meteorology (you might know him from weather-related discussions in WSB comment sections) They just cooked up the business idea around Thanksgiving, and it’s rapidly scaling – available first via a market in Greenwood and at Gatewood B&B (which is operated by Mari’s sister), now adding other outlets, starting with Thriftway. Local outlets, of course, they stress, with local sourcing/suppliers for as many ingredients and other components as possible, all the way down to the bags and labels.

You can follow their business on Facebook and Twitter at squatchcrunch.

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West Seattle Tuesday: Election Day, and more
February 9, 2016 9:58 am
|      1 COMMENT
 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

IMG_0784
(Photo by James Bratsanos)

The fog is lifting, the sun’s emerging, and it’s time for a look ahead, via the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:

LAST CHANCE TO VOTE ON SCHOOL LEVIES: It’s Election Day, which means “last chance to vote day.” Two Seattle Public Schools levies are on the ballot for this “special election,” and you can turn in your ballot without a stamp if you drop it at one of the vans that’ll be in our area 10 am-8 pm – West Seattle Stadium (4432 35th SW) or Greenbridge Library (9720 8th SW):

joemary
(Added 1:14 pm – WSB photo of Joe and Mary at Greenbridge van, which had 49 ballots by noon:)

Otherwise, mail it but be sure it’ll be postmarked today, and be sure it has a stamp.

CRAWFISH FOR FAT TUESDAY: As previewed here on Monday, Circa in The Admiral District plans a crawfish boil “out back” noon-5 pm. (2605 California SW)

DREAM DINNERS OPEN HOUSE: The open house involves a deal for new Dream Dinners (WSB sponsor) customers – book one of three sessions to assemble your dinners – 4:30 pm, 5:45 pm, 7 pm – go here to see for the booking links. (4701 41st SW)

donseacrest
(Photo by Don Brubeck)

ENDOLYNE TRIANGLE MEETING: 6 pm in the large conference room at Fauntleroy Schoolhouse, come hear from SDOT about traffic changes proposed for the Endolyne Triangle area by Fauntleroy’s business district. (9131 California SW)

FAUNTLEROY COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION: Right after that meeting, around 7 pm, it’s the FCA’s regular board meeting, also at the schoolhouse, with agenda items including planning for next month’s membership meeting/Food Fest. (9131 California SW)

ADMIRAL NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION: Meet the new leadership during tonight’s meeting, 7 pm at The Sanctuary at Admiral. (42nd SW/SW Lander)

HIGH-SCHOOL BASKETBALL: Postseason game tonight at Chief Sealth International High School, with the CSIHS boys hosting Roosevelt at 7 pm. (2600 SW Thistle)

WEST SEATTLE CROCHET AND KNIT CIRCLE: 7 pm at Uptown Espresso in The Junction, all welcome, regardless of skill level. (California/Edmunds/Erskine)

TUESDAY TRIVIA: Tonight at 8 pm, show what you know during trivia time at Parliament Tavern in The Admiral District. (4210 SW Admiral Way)

SINGER/SONGWRITER NIGHT: 9 pm at Shadowland in The Junction. (California SW/SW Oregon)

SEE IT ALL … today’s complete lineup, and days/weeks/months into the future, here.

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Reader reports: Suspicious ‘solicitor’; attempted break-in
February 9, 2016 9:04 am
|      5 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | Door-to-door alert | West Seattle news

Two reader reports this morning, both from neighbors wondering if anyone else had similar incidents/sightings:

SUSPICIOUS ‘SOLICITOR’: From Tina this morning:

I woke up to someone walking through my yard to my back door and knocking ever so lightly. When I came to the door and asked what he wanted (through the door) he looked around and asked if I needed any additional fencing or landscaping. He said he lived on my street (37th, near Fauntleroy) and was a “good handyman”. Unless he is new, I don’t recognize this man. He said he would leave his card – he didn’t leave anything. He was a white male, short light brown hair, around 5’10” who arrived on a bike (left at the front steps), visible tattoos on front of his neck – just above his shirt collar. He clearly saw the car in the drive and still knocked. Please be vigilant if you see anyone in your neighbor’s yard. Also, has anyone else seen or heard from this person?

ATTEMPTED BREAK-IN: From Cait:

Sunday morning around 4:45 am we had someone attempt to kick in our garage door in North Shorewood (104th between 25th and 26th)– five heavy kicks to the door and pry marks on the door jam. VERY loud. My husband got up to see the person pass in front of our window and into our side yard but was not able to see him clearly. The person stayed out of our line of sight for a while, either talking to himself or on the phone in our side yard, again talking loudly. He was saying “I’m sorry” and “I don’t know where I am”. We were able to see him pass in front of our window again – but only saw him from the back, about 5’8”, medium build, jeans and a black sweatshirt. No other description available. Police were not able to find anyone in the area upon search. He did not attempt to break into our cars parked in front of the house. We think this may be someone casing properties – we have two large dogs, the largest of which is out of the house at the moment. But our other dog barking did not deter him. Wondering if anyone else in the area might have heard this incident as well.

P.S. The next crime/safety meeting will be this month’s West Seattle Crime Prevention Council gathering, one week from tonight – Tuesday, February 16th, 7 pm, Southwest Precinct (2300 SW Webster).

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TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Tuesday watch; crash near Fauntleroy bridge entrance
February 9, 2016 6:34 am
|      6 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

(Click any view for a close-up; more cameras on the WSB Traffic page)

6:34 AM: Good morning! No incidents in, or from, West Seattle so far.

NIGHTTIME TRAFFIC ALERT: As reported here last night, work on the Fauntleroy/Alaska has resumed, and a block of Fauntleroy was closed overnight. We’ll update later today when we hear back from the project team regarding what’s next.

TONIGHT – TALK WITH SDOT ABOUT THE ENDOLYNE TRIANGLE: 6 pm tonight in the large conference room at the Fauntleroy Schoolhouse (9131 California SW), the Fauntleroy Community Association presents a community meeting with SDOT about proposed traffic changes in the Endolyne Triangle.

7:20 AM: Texter reports a crash at the Fauntleroy entrance to the bridge, with scattered debris, no emergency personnel on scene yet. We’re heading over to look.

7:34 AM: SDOT has since confirmed the crash. Fauntleroy is slow going even before you get to Alaska, so if you’re leaving any time soon, you might consider waiting.

8:04 AM: As you can see in the fourth camera view above, the crashed car is still there.

8:15 AM: And SDOT reports it’s cleared; the camera view shows the damaged vehicle is indeed now gone.

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High-school basketball: West Seattle HS boys win 1st playoff game
February 8, 2016 11:46 pm
|    Comments Off on High-school basketball: West Seattle HS boys win 1st playoff game
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools | WS & Sports

The Metro League basketball playoffs are on! At O’Dea tonight, the West Seattle High School boys beat the home team, 73-54. That means – per the bracket – they’ll play Rainier Beach next, 5:45 pm Wednesday at Ingraham HS (1819 N. 135th). Tonight’s top scorer: Nate Pryor (24 points), one of the Wildcats announced for All-League honors earlier today.

ALSO AHEAD: Here’s our previous list of local teams’ first playoff games – next up, the Chief Sealth International High School boys and girls both have games at 7 pm tomorrow, the boys hosting Roosevelt, the girls at Eastside Catholic.

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LATE-NIGHT TRAFFIC ALERT: Fauntleroy Way closure
February 8, 2016 9:46 pm
|    Comments Off on LATE-NIGHT TRAFFIC ALERT: Fauntleroy Way closure
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

IMG_1683
(WSB photo, looking north at the closed block, from the westbound detour at Fauntleroy/Edmunds)

If you’re headed out in the hours ahead – Fauntleroy Way is closed for a block between Edmunds and Alaska. It’s the continuation of street work alongside the mixed-use Whittaker development, primarily involving the new crossing at Fauntleroy/39th/Alaska. The project team had told us this phase of the nighttime work would last about a week; we’re checking but might not get the answer until tomorrow.

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North Delridge Neighborhood Council: RV ‘safe lot’ target date; preparedness; crime; ST3; more
February 8, 2016 8:38 pm
|      13 COMMENTS
 |   Delridge | Neighborhoods | West Seattle news

Toplines from tonight’s North Delridge Neighborhood Council meeting:

RV ‘SAFE LOT’ UPDATE: The last item discussed at the meeting was the one that yielded the biggest news. NDNC co-chair Michael Taylor-Judd, leading tonight’s meeting, said the current target date for the “safe lot” at West Marginal Way SW and Highland Park Way to open is February 19th. We had checked again with the city at the end of last week and were told only that they were still on track for the one-month time frame mentioned in the initial announcement, which was on January 19th, exactly one month before the date mentioned tonight. Discussions since that announcement have revealed that the city expects about 15 vehicles to use the lot; that they would be solicited from among those already living in vehicles in West Seattle and SODO; that the Low Income Housing Institute would operate it, with services offered by Compass Housing Alliance. It’s one of two such lots the city announced; the other one will be in Ballard.

Also discussed by NDNC – crime, preparedness, transportation, and more:

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Neighbor Appreciation Day on Saturday: What else is up in West Seattle
February 8, 2016 7:30 pm
|    Comments Off on Neighbor Appreciation Day on Saturday: What else is up in West Seattle
 |   Fun stuff to do | Neighborhoods | West Seattle news

Saturday is Neighbor Appreciation Day in Seattle, and the city has some celebrations planned. We’ve already mentioned the open house at Fire Station 37 (11 am-1 pm, 35th SW/SW Holden). Here’s what else in West Seattle is on the list made public today:

Celebrate Neighbor Appreciation Day with The Nature Consortium

Join the Nature Consortium and Seattle City Councilmember Lisa Herbold in celebrating Neighbor Appreciation Day! We will be restoring important forest habitat in Seattle’s largest remaining green space, the West Duwamish Greenbelt. Visit naturec.org/volunteer to register. 10 am-2 pm. Pigeon Point Park @ Pathfinder K-8, 1901 SW Genesee.

West Seattle Timebank Neighbor Appreciation Day

Meet your neighbors and learn about the West Seattle Timebank. There will be refreshments and activities for kids. Noon-2 pm, High Point Library, 3411 SW Raymond.

Southwest Pool Neighbor Appreciation Day Swim

Join us for a free swim and refreshments to celebrate Neighbor Appreciation Day! 1-2 pm, Southwest Teen Life Center, 2801 SW Thistle

Here’s the full list of what’s happening for Neighbor Appreciation Day around the city.

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FOLLOWUP: Bail set at $100,000 for alleged Gatewood intruder
February 8, 2016 4:31 pm
|      14 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | Gatewood | West Seattle news

$100,000 is the bail amount set today for the 22-year-old man arrested early Saturday for allegedly breaking into a Gatewood home and trying to get into bed with a woman asleep with her 5-year-old. We first reported the incident on Saturday morning after hearing from the victim.

From the narrative of the incident written by police, used to determine there’s probable cause to hold the suspect:

(The victim) was woken up by male touching her face and shoulders. She thought it was her husband and said, “Honey, what is it?” An unknown male said, “It’s OK. He’s asleep.” The male kept saying, “It’s OK.” She tried to turn on her nightstand light but the suspect grabbed her wrist, restraining it. He held her wrist for a bit, but then she was able to pull away and turn the light on and call for her husband. The suspect turned away and walked off. The suspect was a (black man), 20’s, about 5’6 with short hair, wearing a gray and green checkered shirt and jeans, apparently intoxicated. She did not know the suspect and he did not have permission to come into her home or to touch her. Her cell phone had been charging on her bedside table but it was now missing.

At 0332, Officer Gindhart saw the suspect walking in the alley just south of the location. Officers detained the suspect … At 0342, I transported (victim) to the location. She immediately recognized the suspect Officers were contacting, and positively identified (him) as the person who burglarized her home, touched and restrained her without permission. Officer Gindhart read (the suspect) his Miranda rights from his SPD resource booklet and asked if he understood. He said, “Yes.”

Officer Ginhart transported (the suspect) to SW Precinct. I spoke with (the suspect). He said he thought he was going to a house his brother rented for a big party all weekend. He said he was looking for his brother. He was affected by alcohol and/or drugs, with watery eyes, slurred speech, and an odor of intoxicants on his breath. He said he never touched anyone or took a cell phone. He was later booked into KCJ for Investigation of Burglary.

(A neighborhood party was mentioned in WSB comment discussion over the weekend.) Online records show a dozen cases for the suspect, all in Pierce County, but no felony charges/convictions. Prosecutors will decide later this week whether to file charges.

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High-school basketball: Coach of the Year, MVP honors again for West Seattle HS girls
February 8, 2016 3:56 pm
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools | WS & Sports

With the Metro League high-school basketball playoffs starting tonight, the league has announced its honors for the season.

wsbishcoach
(Coach Darnell Taylor – WSB photo from last month)

West Seattle High School‘s undefeated girls-basketball team has both the league MVP – Lydia Giomi, who also won Defensive Player of the Year – and Coach of the Year – Darnell Taylor.

Giomi, a senior, was MVP last year too (not just in basketball, but also in volleyball), and WSHS also had the Coach of the Year last year (Taylor’s predecessor Sonya Elliott). The girls team also has Lexi Ioane on the first all-league team, Grace Sarver on the third all-league team, and honorable mentions for Gabby Sarver and Izzy Turk.

The WSHS boys’ team has three players with all-league honors – Nate Pryor on the first team, Carter Golgart and Yusuf Mohamed with honorable mentions.

Chief Sealth International High School placed two players on each honorable-mention basketball lineup – from the girls’ team, Allison Hadaway and Kali Schroyer; from the boys’ team, Isiah Hart and Evan Moe.

P.S. We published a list of the first-scheduled playoff games last night, here.

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West Seattle food notes: Dream Dinners open house; Fat Tuesday crawfish; Joe’s to Puebla…
February 8, 2016 3:01 pm
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle restaurants

Four West Seattle food notes this afternoon:

OPEN HOUSE AT DREAM DINNERS: Longtime WSB sponsor Dream Dinners in The Junction is having an open house for new customers tomorrow (Tuesday, February 9th), with a deal: Sign up to make three dinners (which you take home for later cooking) for $24.99. You just have to sign up online for one of three spots – 4:30 pm, go here; 5:45 pm, go here; 7 pm, go here. For any of those sessions, the password is: dinner. Dream Dinners West Seattle is at 4701 41st SW, #110 (outer street-facing Jefferson Square). More info? Call 206-938-5999 or e-mail westseattlewa@dreamdinners.com.

CRAWFISH FOR FAT TUESDAY: Tomorrow also happens to be Fat Tuesday, and that’s a chance for the new proprietors of Circa (2605 California SW; featured here last week) to show off their New Orleans chops. While their regular lunch menu goes only until 2:30 pm, from noon-5 pm they’ll be boiling crawfish out back, and co-proprietor Gretchen says, “We will also have red beans and rice, gumbo ya-ya and special New Orleans desserts for the remainder of the evening. We have Abita beer in the bottle too!”

ENDOLYNE JOE’S NEW FESTIVAL MENU: Endolyne Joe’s (9261 45th SW; WSB sponsor) is now taking your tastebuds to Puebla, Mexico, in its new “festival menu” – see it here.

CHACO CANYON’S BRUNCH CHANGES: And Chaco Canyon Organic Café in The Triangle (3770 SW Alaska) sends word it’s recently overhauled its weekend-brunch menu: “Some of our featured items are gluten-free sweet potato biscuits and mushroom/white bean gravy, an eggless frittata accompanied by a spicy house-made harissa sauce, and a cultured coconut cream yogurt parfait (served with a fruit compote and buckwheat granola!).” That’s 9 am-3 pm Saturdays and Sundays.

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THURSDAY: Statewide Bilingual Education Advisory Committee in West Seattle
February 8, 2016 1:26 pm
|    Comments Off on THURSDAY: Statewide Bilingual Education Advisory Committee in West Seattle
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

This Thursday, a statewide issue will be discussed in West Seattle – improving education for English-language learners, who comprise 10 percent of our state’s public school students. The announcement is from this week’s Denny International Middle School bulletin, but the announcement isn’t just for Denny families:

Washington State Family Bilingual Input Meeting

At Denny on Feb. 11: Come to share your experiences, ideas, and input about bilingual education, including ELL programs, with the BEAC, a committee that gives input to educational leaders in Olympia that support programs across the state.

Who: Parents and guardians of students in Bilingual and ELL programs

What: A two-hour meeting to discuss bilingual education

Why: Parents and guardians bring a very important perspective — leaders need to hear them to make good decisions

When: February 11, 6:00- 8:00 pm

Denny is at 2601 SW Kenyon. Read more about the BEAC and its work here.

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