West Seattle, Washington

19 Friday

65℉

month : 07/2016 314 results

TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Friday updates; weekend previews
July 29, 2016 7:02 am
|      5 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

(SDOT MAP with travel times/video links; is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE)

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

7:02 AM: Good morning and happy Friday! No major incidents in or from West Seattle.

WEEKEND ALERTS: Here’s the SDOT roundup of what’s happening around the city this weekend, most notably the Seafair Torchlight Parade downtown on Saturday night, which brings road closures and bus reroutes. … If you’re headed for South King County or points southward via I-5, another weekend of lane closures for road work is ahead.

7:27 AM: Just texted and tweeted by Metro:

8:10 AM: We’re expecting highs in the 80s again today and tomorrow and a concerned West Seattleite asked us to remind you PLEASE don’t leave your pet in your vehicle, even with a window cracked open. The temperatures can rise dramatically and dangerously. Yesterday there was apparently a bit of a scene in The Junction when a dog was locked in a car, windows up; concerned passersby tried to find its person, who eventually showed up and was quoted as saying something like, it hasn’t even been half an hour. That would have been more than enough time for the animal’s life to be in danger. Even if you “think” it will be OK – don’t run the risk.

8:28 AM: WSDOT is clearing a stall on northbound I-5 at a spot that appears to be just north of the West Seattle Bridge.

8:30 AM: And now there’s word of a crash at 8th/Roxbury. Heading off for a look.

8:52 AM: No photo because we were driving, but it’s a 2-vehicle crash in westbound lanes, affecting the entire intersection. Eastbound was at a near-standstill for a while. Private ambulance called for someone

9:35 AM: Just checked back – 8th/Roxbury crash scene is now completely clear.

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1 week until 35th SW meeting: What Councilmember Herbold wants SDOT to do
July 28, 2016 10:03 pm
|      38 COMMENTS
 |   Transportation | West Seattle news

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As we’ve been reporting for more than three weeks, the next community open-house meeting about the 35th Avenue SW Corridor Safety Project – what’s been done so far, and what’s planned for Phase 2, north of SW Morgan – is coming up on August 4th. First we reported the date; then additional information from SDOT Blog; and then yet more information from the mailer that was sent to a wide area of West Seattle (including news of an August 9th walking tour planned in addition to next Thursday’s meeting) and our subsequent exchange with the project manager.

Tonight, our area’s City Councilmember Lisa Herbold mentions the upcoming 35th SW discussions in her periodic e-mail update (read it in full here), including what she’s heard from residents and what she’s asking SDOT to do:

… SDOT has indicated they will be doing a 1-year review of the project later this year (scheduled for October), similar to this one done for a rechannelization street project in North Seattle on NE 75th.

I have heard a variety of concerns about the impacts of the project, including from people who live on side streets near signals who have struggled to merge onto 35thduring rush hour, or even get out of their driveway onto the street, and rush hour travel times.

I’ve asked SDOT to expand the parameters of what they study in the 1-year review. The NE 75th study mostly looked at speed, collisions, and traffic volumes. SDOT indicated they could ask for feedback to inform the study as they do outreach for Phase 2; I’d like any decision about whether to revisit the project, or alter plans moving forward, be informed by community suggestions about what to include in this study, to ensure it assesses the full range of impacts. So, what additional impacts do you think SDOT should study? …

One way you can answer her question: Stop by during Councilmember Herbold’s next in-district office hours, tomorrow (Friday) at Southwest Neighborhood Service Center (2801 SW Thistle), noon-7 pm.

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West Seattle Crime Watch followup: Suspect in Junction bank-robbery attempt now out of jail
July 28, 2016 8:04 pm
|      31 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | West Seattle news

Tonight we know what police say happened inside the Junction Bank of America before they circulated a photo of, and arrested, a man they described as a bank-robbery suspect. That 61-year-old man has just been released from jail tonight on his own recognizance, as ordered at his bail hearing this afternoon, despite prosecutors’ request to set bail at $75,000. Here’s what the documents from that hearing say police were told happened just before 911 was called at 11:13 am Wednesday:

(A teller told police) the suspect entered the bank and approached his window. (The teller) noted the suspect’s appearance and the fact he was wearing a backpack which was placed in front of his chest, which caught his attention. He greeted the suspect and asked how he could assist. At this point the suspect reached in front of the backpack and handed a small bag and a note to the teller. The note handed to the teller read something to the effect, “Put large bills in the bag, quickly”.

(The teller) has been employed with Bank of America for approximately five years and has been a victim/witness in two prior bank robberies. Based on his knowledge and experience he quickly grabbed the bag and note. (The teller) stated he felt safety behind the bullet-proof teller window aka “Bandit Barrier.” (He) looked at the suspect and said, “Are you sure about this?” and the suspect replied, “Yes, put it in the bag”. At this point (the teller) activated the silent alarm and stepped away to inform co-workers of the situation.

(He) returned to the suspect to engage him in conversation to stall him leaving the bank. He felt the suspect caught on to his tactic and fled the bank without obtaining any money, also leaving the note and bag.

The documents have no mention of a weapon being shown or implied.

Responding officers quickly obtained the surveillance photo that SPD tweeted a short time later and circulated around SPD. Less than an hour after the robbery attempt, two Southwest Precinct officers who saw the photos spotted a man matching the description at Fauntleroy and Alaska, not far from the bank, and stopped him. The teller was brought to the scene and confirmed he recognized the man as the would-be robber. Police read him his Miranda rights and asked his name; he would not identify himself, the court documents say; officers took him to SPD headquarters downtown, fingerprinted him, and learned his name that way, just before 3 pm. The court documents do not mention any criminal record; we haven’t found one for the suspect in this state, just a Seattle traffic citation last year. He is due back in court Monday afternoon.

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VIDEO: The Banner Days play Summer Concerts at Hiawatha
July 28, 2016 6:42 pm
|    Comments Off on VIDEO: The Banner Days play Summer Concerts at Hiawatha
 |   West Seattle news | WS culture/arts

6:42 PM: We’re on the east lawn at Hiawatha Community Center (Walnut/Lander), where you can come enjoy a free concert on this warm, clear night until ~8 pm. The Banner Days are performing the second of this year’s six Summer Concerts at Hiawatha, presented by the Admiral Neighborhood Association. See the full season lineup here!

8:47 PM: Photos added. The band:

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And the crowd:

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Next week (6:30 pm Thursday, August 4th), Vicci Martinez!

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‘We need all the help we can get’: Urban Homestead Foundation working to make dream come true at ex-substation site
July 28, 2016 4:06 pm
|      12 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle people

(Animation courtesy MyPad3D)

By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

The Urban Homestead Foundation‘s dream for the former Dakota Substation on Genesee Hill is starting to take shape and take wing.

We first reported on this back in May, when the group discussed its plan at a meeting of the Admiral Neighborhood Association.

That was five months after the City Council passed an ordinance addressing the future of local surplus ex-substations, including the one at 50th and Dakota (map), agreeing to give community members until fall of next year to buy it, before they list it on the open market.

So the Urban Homestead Foundation has a deadline. And it has a 3-D animation version of its vision for the site, produced and donated by West Seattle-headquartered MyPad3D, at the top of this story.

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We sat down recently with UHF president Katie Stemp (above), under the shady trees out front of the site she and other volunteers hope to transform.

Here’s where they’re at: Read More

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WSB EXTRA: Sign up before next one goes out!
July 28, 2016 3:01 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle online

The fifth weekly edition of our new e-mail WSB EXTRA goes out at the end of the week … are you on the list? If not, consider subscribing – here’s the link. So far it’s been what we hoped it would be – a little bit behind-the-scenes, a little bit “here’s what we didn’t get to tell you about,” a little bit “did you know …”, a little bit sneak peek – and it’s still evolving. Thanks to everyone who’s on the list already!

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Wondering when the Blue Angels arrive in Seattle for Seafair 2016?
July 28, 2016 12:31 pm
|      9 COMMENTS
 |   Blue Angels | West Seattle news

(August 2015 photo by Steve Jensen)

The first questions have landed in the WSB inbox and we have the answer, from Seafair spokesperson Emily Cantrell: The Blue Angels are expected to arrive in Seattle on Monday (August 1st) afternoon, around 1 pm, but she warns that could change – a bit earlier, a bit later. It’s been an unusual season for the Blue Angels overall, with the team’s first fatal crash in nine years killing U.S. Marine Corps Capt. Jeff Kuss during a practice flight for a Tennessee airshow almost two months ago. The demonstration team resumed its 2016 schedule a month later, flying with a modified five-jet routine.

This week, they’re in Anchorage for Arctic Thunder 2016, the Blue Angels’ first appearance at that airshow in six years. Next week, after their expected Monday arrival, you’ll see them in the sky around town for scouting and media flights, and then Thursday (August 4th) through Sunday (August 7th) are the big days. While they’re here, they’re based by the Museum of Flight toward the south side of Boeing Field, and that’s where you can watch them take off and land (in our opinion, a don’t-miss, unless you’re in the Blue Angels-disliking camp); the MoF is planning a bigger-than-ever festival in conjunction with the visit. More as this all gets closer.

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West Seattle development: From The Junction to Pigeon Point, comment time for 4 projects & more
July 28, 2016 11:20 am
|      6 COMMENTS
 |   Development | West Seattle housing | West Seattle news

Development updates from today’s edition of the city’s twice-weekly Land Use Information Bulletin:

4437-4439 41ST SW: Back in December, we mentioned the latest scaled-down plan for this Junction site once proposed for a 40-unit apartment building. According to today’s notices, the 7-unit plan remains; you can comment on the land-use-permit applications through August 10th. The notices are here and here.

These next projects, also announced via today’s Land Use Information Bulletin, are going through the no-meeting versions of Design Review – so your comment period starts now:

4 TOWNHOUSES AT 3032 CHARLESTOWN SW: Here’s the official notice of “administrative design review” for this proposal. It explains how you can comment, through August 10th.

5 TOWNHOUSES, 1 SINGLE-FAMILY HOUSE AT 3710 21ST SW: Here’s the official notice of “streamlined design review” for this proposal. It also explains how you can comment, through August 10th.

5 TOWNHOUSES, 1 SINGLE-FAMILY HOUSE AT 3722 21ST SW: This too is proposed for “streamlined design review”; here’s the official notice, which also has information on how to comment, through August 10th.

Also in today’s bulletin, two matters of land-use policy that you might want to take a closer look at, because they’re expected to lead to zoning changes; comment periods are now open:

POTENTIAL AMENDMENTS TO ‘MANDATORY HOUSING AFFORDABILITY’ PROPOSAL, RESIDENTIAL VERSION: Read about them here, and if you have something to say, August 15th is the deadline.

WHAT SHOULD ‘MANDATORY HOUSING AFFORDABILITY’ MULTI-FAMILY/COMMERCIAL REVIEW INCLUDE? Before the city’s environmental review of this part of the plan gets going, the city is asking what it should include. Here’s how to have a say.

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West Seattle Thursday: Summer Concerts @ Hiawatha, week 2, and more…
July 28, 2016 10:47 am
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

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Thanks to Mark Wangerin for the osprey view from Duwamish Head; might well have been the same one that flew over us while we were photographing the canoe departures earlier this morning. On now to the rest of today/tonight!

ZIPPY’S FUNDRAISER FOR CONCORD INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL: Dine at Zippy’s Giant Burgers in White Center between now and 10 pm, and part of the proceeds will go to the Concord International PTA. (9614 14th SW)

LOG HOUSE MUSEUM: We can verify it’s a beautiful day at the beach. While you’re there, visit the home of West Seattle’s history, the Southwest Seattle Historical Society‘s Log House Museum, noon-4 pm. (61st SW/SW Stevens)

LUNCH AT THE LIBRARY: Youth 18 and under can get a free lunch, no questions asked, at Delridge Library, 12:30-1:30 pm, continuing Tuesdays-Wednesdays-Thursdays all summer. (5423 Delridge Way SW)

DELRIDGE GROCERY FARM STAND: 4-7 pm next to the Delridge P-Patch. (Delridge Way/Puget Boulevard)

SUMMER CONCERTS AT HIAWATHA, WEEK 2: Free concert on the east lawn at Hiawatha Community Center with The Banner Days, 6:30 pm. It’s the second of six Thursday-night shows presented by the Admiral Neighborhood Association (with co-sponsors including WSB). Bring your own chair/blanket. (Walnut/Lander)

PUNDAMONIUM! Pun slam at The Skylark – sign in at 7, puns start at 8, details in our listing. (3803 Delridge Way SW)

MORE FOR TODAY/TONIGHT/TOMORROW/BEYOND … on our complete calendar.

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PHOTOS, VIDEO: Canoes leave Alki for next stop on Paddle to Nisqually
July 28, 2016 8:29 am
|      1 COMMENT
 |   Seen at sea | West Seattle beaches | West Seattle news

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(WSB photos/video unless otherwise credited)

8:28 AM: If you want to watch the tribal canoes’ departure for the next stop on the Paddle to Nisqually journey, get down to Alki fast. The first canoe has just departed, after its skipper called out thanks to the Muckleshoots for hosting them here while they travel to the Nisqually Nation. They’re headed to Tacoma, so you should be able to see them off Beach Drive and points south, too.

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8:48 AM: The pace of the departures is picking up.

9:35 AM: Most of the canoes have headed out, and the flotilla of motorized spectator/support boats is departing too. More photos after we get back to HQ.

10:48 AM: Thanks to Harley Broe for this view from Beach Drive:

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1:55 PM: And David Hutchinson shares these views from Alki Point:

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Yes, that’s a real buoy in the background of the photo immediately above. The usually-annual canoe journey, as explained on the Paddle to Nisqually site’s “about” page (where you’ll also find the history), is for “… bringing together natives and non-natives with a common goal of providing a drug and alcohol free event and offering pullers a personal journey towards healing and recovery of culture, traditional knowledge and spirituality. … Canoe Journey gatherings are rich in meaning and cultural significance. Canoe families travel great distances as their ancestors did and participating in the journey requires physical and spiritual discipline. At each stop, canoe families follow certain protocols, they ask for permission to come ashore, often in their native languages. At night in longhouses there is gifting, honoring and the sharing of traditional prayers, drumming, songs and dances. Meals, including evening dinners of traditional foods, are provided by the host nations.”

This year’s journey will end in southernmost Puget Sound on Saturday, where tens of thousands of people are expected to welcome the canoe families as they land. One week of ceremonies and celebrations will follow.

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TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Thursday watch
July 28, 2016 7:15 am
|    Comments Off on TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Thursday watch
 |   West Seattle news

(SDOT MAP with travel times/video links; is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE)

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

7:15 AM: Good morning! Nothing out of the ordinary on West Seattle and vicinity routes so far.

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West Seattle Crime Watch: Stolen car; stolen mail
July 27, 2016 11:30 pm
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | West Seattle news

In West Seattle Crime Watch:

STOLEN CAR & NEARBY PROWL: Lonnie just reported this in a comment – we confirmed it via @getyourcarback (which does not include car-theft locations, so we don’t know which ones are West Seattle cases unless you tell us): “Sometime after midnight Sunday night and by early Monday morning, my friend Todd had his black locked VW Passat (Lic. #ARG9180)stolen from in front of his residence at the s/w corner of 46th and Juneau St. and his neighbor had their car broken into also during the same time.”

STOLEN MAIL: Cary reports this happened in Arbor Heights last night:

We’re on 44th Ave SW just south of 100th and at 8:20ish (pm) a black (large) SUV pulled up and took a piece of outgoing mail from our mailbox (bill to PSE). The police have been called but please be on the lookout for this car – it might be a 4Runner/Pathfinder. The kid who got out to take the piece of mail was young (18-20s), caucasian or hispanic, and wearing a dark shirt. The car also left behind a diaper in the middle of the street!


COMMUNITY CRIME PREVENTION: Reminder that Night Out is next Tuesday, and it’s not too late to register your neighborhood party with SPD.

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UPDATE: Crash leaves car atop jersey barrier on West Seattle Bridge
July 27, 2016 9:20 pm
|      27 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts | WS breaking news

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9:20 PM: Thanks for the tips, and thanks to BW for the photo- a crash has left a car atop the jersey barrier on the West Seattle Bridge near the Luna Park curve.

9:25 PM: No word on injuries so far, but scanner reports indicate multiple parts of the jersey barrier have been pushed into the westbound lanes.

9:40 PM: SDOT says this is blocking the eastbound bridge completely near its westbound end – right now the live video on the “West Seattle Bridge @ Delridge view” (find link from lower right of that page) is verifying that. One westbound lane is getting by (this is west of the Admiral exit, so you can get off there and avoid it entirely). Looks like a tow truck has arrived.

10:36 PM: The eastbound side has reopened at the crash scene on the curve over Avalon. Looks like one lane each way.

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VIDEO: Fireboat Leschi’s sunset show off Alki
July 27, 2016 9:17 pm
|    Comments Off on VIDEO: Fireboat Leschi’s sunset show off Alki
 |   Seen at sea | West Seattle news

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Thanks for sharing the views of the Seattle Fire Department fireboat Leschi putting on a spray show off Alki Beach during tonight’s sunset. The photo above is from Morgan Herzog (who you probably know from The Beer Junction); below, Irene Stewart texted us this video:

We don’t know exactly what brought out the fireboat but it must have been a grand sight with the Paddle to Nisqually canoes lining the beach nearby. Meantime – we will also likely get a fireboat show next Tuesday afternoon (August 2nd) when the Seafair fleet parades past West Seattle shores.

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ONE MONTH TO GO! West Seattle Car Show on August 27th
July 27, 2016 7:58 pm
|      6 COMMENTS
 |   Puget Ridge | West Seattle festivals | West Seattle news

(WSB photo: Little car, big hit, at last year’s West Seattle Car Show)

This year’s West Seattle summer fun has a long way to go, so we’re reminding you here and there about what’s yet to come. We are exactly one month away now from the West Seattle Car Show, which is moving up this year into August, and happening on a Saturday instead of a Sunday. It’s on Saturday, August 27th, 10 am-4 pm, on the north end of the South Seattle College (WSB sponsor) campus for the second year, and signups are happening right now. Whatever kind of motorized vehicle you have, there’s probably a trophy for it:

Alt fuel/EV
Motorcycle
Ladies/Female owned
Junior (under 21)
Best “un-restored”/survivor (any class)
Judge’s choice – best stock
Judge’s choice – best modified
People’s choice / Michael Hoffman award
Sponsor’s choice
SSC choice – for best student car (judged by SCC staff)
1954 and under domestic
1955 – 1959 domestic
1960 – 1964 domestic
1965 – 1969 domestic
1970 – 1974 domestic
1975 – 1989 domestic
1990 – current domestic
Truck
European
Asian

Go here to sign up. There’s room for more vendors and sponsors, too. The show is presented again this year by West Seattle Autoworks and Swedish Automotive (both WSB sponsors) and they have a LOT planned, not just vehicle-viewing – see last week’s preview for details.

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Construction to start for Quail Park Memory Care Residences in West Seattle Junction
July 27, 2016 3:56 pm
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   Development | West Seattle news

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After a ceremonial groundbreaking this afternoon, site-clearing work is expected to start next week at 4515 41st SW, future site of Quail Park Memory Care Residences, whose owners say it will be West Seattle’s first standalone center for people with Alzheimer’s and dementia.

It’s been almost four years since we first reported that this type of facility was being considered for the site. It’s had other proposals, including a 7-story apartment building and a park-and-ride facility with apartments, but this is the one that finally went through, passing Design Review about a year ago.

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Living Care Lifestyles says that when Quail Park “opens in fall 2017, it will be the only free-standing community dedicated to the care of dementia and Alzheimer’s residents in an area encompassing 35 square miles.” It will have 48 rooms, with up to 66 residents, and a staff of about 60. The announcement also notes that “Staff at Quail Park will be the first team in the state trained in cultural competency when it comes to caring for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender seniors. Training will be through Northwest LGBT Senior Care Providers Network and SAGE National Resource Center. The community is being constructed and will operate with sustainability at the forefront. The facility will be Gold LEED Certified, and benefit-eligible employees will receive ORCA Access cards to help lessen the transportation impact on the (area).” LGC Pence is the general contractor; John Lape Architecture designed the 4-story complex. West Seattle Chamber of Commerce leaders participated in this afternoon’s ceremony.

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UPDATE: Canoes at Alki Beach during Paddle to Nisqually 2016
July 27, 2016 1:08 pm
|      12 COMMENTS
 |   Seen at sea | West Seattle beaches | West Seattle news

(UPDATED 7:33 PM with Thursday’s departure time)

1:08 PM: That’s the scene at Alki Beach as we write this a few minutes past 1 pm, with canoes continuing to arrive at the Muckleshoot Tribe-hosted stop along the route of the Paddle to Nisqually. As previewed here Monday, up to 100 canoe families are expected from tribes all over the region – they left the Suquamish Tribe-hosted stop on the west side of the Sound this morning, and will be here overnight until heading out tomorrow. Dozens are here already, some already hoisted up and carried onto the sand, some in queue on the waterline.

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1:25 PM: The line of canoes continues to stretch further westward. Hundreds of people are on the beach, some from canoes that have already been brought ashore, some from support crews, plus spectators. This is the first time the canoes have come to Alki during the annual journey since 2012.

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4:51 PM: More photos added.

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We’re heading back to the beach for a late-in-the-day view as well as the latest on tomorrow’s departure plan.

7:33 PM: With the visitors all celebrating with the Muckleshoots tonight, we checked with security watching over the canoes at Alki, regarding tomorrow’s departure time. He said 8 am. They head to Point Defiance in Tacoma tomorrow, the map shows.

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West Seattle Crime Watch update: Police arrest Junction bank-robbery suspect
July 27, 2016 11:47 am
|      28 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | West Seattle news

11:47 AM: Just in from Seattle Police via Twitter:

The search is under way now; we’re on our way to find out more.

12:01 PM: SPD had said only “4000 block of SW Alaska,” where there are two banks; our crew has just confirmed it was the Bank of America branch, which has a note on the door saying it’s temporarily closed. No police visible in the area – bank-robber searches often fan out fast – so we haven’t yet obtained additional details.

1:11 PM: SPD has since tweeted that the suspect shown in the photo is in custody.

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Junction Flats Apartments: Welcoming a new West Seattle Blog sponsor
July 27, 2016 11:37 am
|      6 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle housing | West Seattle news

Today we’re welcoming Junction Flats Apartments, newly opened in the West Seattle Junction, as a new WSB sponsor. New local sponsors get the chance to let you know what they’re about:

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Junction Flats is at 4433 42nd SW, with studio, one-bedroom, and two-bedroom apartments. Its features include large windows, in-unit washers and dryers, a 24-hour fitness room, rooftop deck (photo above), and barbecue area. And Junction Flats is pet-friendly, historicimagewith a dog run and pet-wash station. Read more about the Junction Flats amenities here.

Another major attribute: Junction Flats Apartments is within walking distances of a multitude of services, from stores to restaurants to schools, but since it’s “just on the edge” on the north side of The Junction, it’s a quiet setting. Its logo is based on the historic Junction photo at right – the meeting of the tracks (click the photo to see how the two images are linked).

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Junction Flats is owned by longtime West Seattleites; Paul Cesmat and Steve Butler (photo above) are West Seattle High School graduates who have been business partners for more than 30 years.

Find out more about Junction Flats Apartments at JunctionFlatsSeattle.com, or call 206-420-8222.

We thank Junction Flats Apartments 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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West Seattle Wednesday: Canoe arrivals; Highland Park Action Committee; High Point farm stand; more…
July 27, 2016 9:13 am
|    Comments Off on West Seattle Wednesday: Canoe arrivals; Highland Park Action Committee; High Point farm stand; more…
 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

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(For “Woodpecker Wednesday,” photographer Mark Wangerin shares this view of a Northern Flicker)

From the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar, coverage archives, inbox – highlights for the day/night ahead:

CANOES ARRIVE: As previewed here on Monday, this year’s regional canoe journey, the Paddle to Nisqually, will bring up to 100 tribal canoe families to Alki Beach starting around noon; the Muckleshoot Tribe is hosting them here and they’ll head back out Thursday morning, headed south. This is the first Alki stop on the journey since 2012. (59th SW/Alki SW)

OFFICE JUNCTION MEETUP: West Seattle’s only coworking center hosts weekly free meetups for local at-home workers, entrepreneurs, business owners, coworkers … drop by at noon, bring your lunch if you want, get inspired and refreshed. (6040 California SW)

QUAIL PARK GROUNDBREAKING: A ceremonial groundbreaking for the new memory-care center in The Junction, a $22 million project expected to open next year, is scheduled at 2 pm today. (4515 41st SW)

HIGH POINT MARKET GARDEN FARM STAND: 4-7 pm, the weekly farm stand selling fresh produce next to the mini-farm where local residents grow and harvest it. (32nd SW/SW Juneau)

IRISH SET DANCING: Lesson at 6:30, dancing 7-9 pm at Kenyon Hall with the Puget Sound branch of Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann – details in our calendar listing. (7904 35th SW)

HIGHLAND PARK ACTION COMMITTEE, WITH CRIME/SAFETY ‘FOCUS GROUP”: 7 pm meeting at Highland Park Improvement Club. It starts with SPD researcher Jennifer Burbridge‘s “micro-community policing plan focus group,” which she’s been conducting in neighborhoods around West Seattle; another big topic, “developing our own Neighborhood Design Guidelines for Highland Park.” See the full agenda on the HPAC website. (12th SW/SW Holden)

OPEN MICROPHONE: 8:30 pm, 21+, free weekly open-microphone event at The Skylark. (3803 Delridge Way SW)

MORE OPTIONS … on our complete calendar, for today/tonight/beyond.

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TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Wednesday watch, and beyond
July 27, 2016 6:30 am
|    Comments Off on TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Wednesday watch, and beyond
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

(SDOT MAP with travel times/video links; is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE)

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

6:30 AM: Good morning! As we start the day, one look ahead to the weekend:

SATURDAY BUS ALERT: The Seafair Torchlight Parade downtown will bring bus reroutes on Saturday night (July 30th), including Route 21 and RapidRide C Line. Go here for the full reroute list.

8:28 AM: Still no traffic incidents of note in or from West Seattle.

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West Seattle Crime Watch: Racist, threatening hate note left on Pigeon Point family’s porch
July 27, 2016 1:53 am
|      97 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | West Seattle news

(FIRST PUBLISHED 1:53 AM, UPDATED 12:10 PM)

By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

“When you have two beautiful mixed race babies and you find this on your front porch. I am just thankful they can’t read yet.”

That’s how Stephanie Endres began her message to social-media friends late Tuesday night, after returning to her Pigeon Point home and discovering a racist, threatening hate note on her porch.

You can see it here – too much profanity for us to publish it as is, but here’s a redacted transcription:

I AM SICK AND TIRED OF THIS BULLS–T. U NEED TO GET YOUR N—— LOVING A– OUT OF HERE, AND ALL THESE BLACK LIVES MATTER BULLS–T. YOU F—— AROUND AND TEARING UP OUR RACE HAVING ALL THESE N—– BABIES. F—— N—— LOVER!!!! U AND ALL THESE N—— NEED TO LEAVE THIS COUNTRY THAT’S OURS! ONE DAY YOUR KIDS WILL GET WHAT THEY DESERVE BEING ON THIS LAND. F—— N—– LOVERS!!!!!!!!!! WHITE LIVES MATTER F—— N—– LOVERS!!! GO TRUMP!!!

We don’t publish crime victims’ names without their permission; Endres granted hers, as well as permission to republish what she posted on Facebook. Multiple people contacted us after reading it, including her friend Brandy, who wrote, “She is a pillar in our community advocating to prevent homelessness. She has two beautiful bi-racial children and is now afraid for their safety. Please spread the word and inform our community.”

Stephanie’s advocacy, in fact, was featured here on WSB last fall, when she raised money to collect and distribute backpacks for kids in need. She is founder of Stephanie’s Lifeline/HOPE (Homeless Outreach Prevention and Education).

Last night, she concluded her post about the note: “This hate has got to stop. The coward who left this couldn’t even do it while we were home. Truly makes me uncomfortable to know people like this are in my neighborhood/community.”

When we reached her to follow up on others’ messages about her post, she told us, “We found the note around 930 pm and I have notified the police and filed a report. It will be treated as a hate crime and they will be investigating it.”

We will follow up on that later today.

ADDED 12:10 PM: SPD has just summarized this on SPD Blotter, including the answer to the question we’ve had out to them since this morning: “Police collected the letter and evidence and are now investigating the letter as a case of malicious harassment, Washington’s hate crime statute.”

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West Seattle restaurants and bars: Vine & Spoon, Alchemy coming to Junction 47
July 26, 2016 8:47 pm
|      31 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle restaurants | WS beverages

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Thanks for the tips! Signage has just gone up for two more food-and-beverage establishments on the way to Junction 47 – a restaurant called Vine & Spoon on the southwest side of the complex, in the 4700 block of California, and a bar called Alchemy on the southeast side of the complex, in the 4700 block of 42nd SW.

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As mentioned here a while back, we’d been told the spaces were all leased, but that the proprietors of these spaces weren’t ready to uncloak yet. We’ve reached the spokesperson for both, Lesa Linster, who shared this information with WSB:

Vine & Spoon will be a full-service restaurant and bar serving upscale American cuisine in the heart of West Seattle.

(updated) Led by Executive Chef Christopher Jensen along with celebrated chefs Larkin Young and Bryan Ogden, Vine and Spoon is anchored by a belief in real food grown and harvested by the community. All dishes are made with locally sourced ingredients that are organic and non GMO. In addition, all meat is grass fed and wild caught by farmers and local suppliers. The restaurant boasts a private dining area, an open kitchen, an 18-seat bar, and a large garden patio area for outdoor dining. The menu includes a full variety of small bites, large sharable plates, and a dessert menu to satisfy every sweet tooth. The bar offers craft cocktails and an extensive selection of local wine and craft beer. Open daily from 11 a.m.- 12 a.m. with brunch service on weekends. Happy hour will be daily from 4-7 p.m.

Alchemy will be a chemistry-themed cocktail bar featuring molecular mixology techniques and a unique science and potions design aesthetic. Our bartenders will be mixing up colorful craft cocktail reactions in test tubes and flasks using beakers, cylinders, and other scientific devices. The theme will carry over into our drink presentations which will be interactive and fun. The menu will be created by our executive chefs and award-winning master mixologists with a great happy hour featuring delicious small bites. The cocktail bar will be open Sunday – Thursday from 3 pm – 11 pm, and Friday – Saturday from 3 pm – 12 am.

Both are under the same ownership, Linster confirms, as well as a third establishment mentioned on the same website, “The Sweetest Sin” (no details on that yet). She adds that Alchemy’s menu will also be developed by Chef Jensen. Full announcements on all this are due soon – but this is what we have for starters.

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