West Seattle, Washington

16 Saturday

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month : 07/2016 314 results

Duwamish Rowing Club plans its first regatta on the river Saturday
July 7, 2016 10:25 am
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   South Park | West Seattle news | WS & Sports

Rowing fans! You’re invited to watch and cheer as the Duwamish Rowing Club hosts its first-ever regatta on the Duwamish River, 8 am-noon on Saturday (July 9th). Mike Merta from DRC says:

The DRC Ospreys Youth and Adult crews will be competing against Lake Stevens Rowing Club and Renton Rowing Club. Bring a blanket and some snacks and plan for a morning picnic while watching the races. We will have some music playing in the park and there will be someone calling the races.

16 match-style races are planned. Best vantage points are along the shore in South Park, where DRC is based – Duwamish Waterway Park (7900 10th Ave. S.; map) or the finish line at the street-end park at 12th S. and Elmgrove (map).

P.S. See this comment for the course map.

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West Seattle Hi-Yu’s plan for Summer Fest and beyond
July 7, 2016 9:04 am
|    Comments Off on West Seattle Hi-Yu’s plan for Summer Fest and beyond
 |   West Seattle Hi-Yu Festival | West Seattle news

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(West Seattle Hi-Yu in Monday’s Burien 4th of July Parade – photo by Murray’s Photography)

Summer is the busiest time for West Seattle Hi-Yu – an all-volunteer organization – and that includes participation in West Seattle Summer Fest, where you can see this year’s traveling parade float (“Around West Seattle”) and more. From Hi-Yu’s Gloria Teves:

July is a busy month for West Seattle Hi-Yu with parades (Admiral 4th of July Kids’ Parade and Burien on the 4th, the West Seattle Grand Parade, Des Moines, Chinatown, Greenwood, and of course the Seafair Torchlight Parade!), participating in West Seattle Summer Fest and attending the West Seattle Big Band Concert in the Park at Hiawatha on July 19th. Hi-Yu is the last volunteer organization in Seattle that builds a traditional parade float that includes royalty and participates in a number of area parades.

These activities, and others, wouldn’t be possible without dedicated volunteers. Through the years, Hi-Yu has benefitted from the guidance of two of its most dedicated volunteers, Jay and Joanne Murray. At the end of September, the Murrays will be retiring from their many years of service to Hi Yu. Stop by the Hi-Yu booth during Summer Fest to say hello and wish Jay and Joanne well as they begin their travels this fall.

On Friday, July 8, Hi-Yu’s 2015 Senior Court Queen and current Seafair Princess Kelly Jean Crum will be at the booth to answer questions about Hi Yu and how it’s associated with the Seafair Foundation for Women scholarship program. Other past Senior Court Queens may be available throughout the weekend to answer similar questions.

On Saturday (July 9th) at 11:30, Haley Beebe will be crowned the 2016 Senior Court Queen on the California Stage at the north end of the festival). After the coronation, come meet the new queen, as well as the 2016 Junior Court, at the Hi-Yu booth. While at the booth, you can take pictures on the float (we’ll have a sash and crown available for you to wear during your pictures (using your own device), and learn more about Hi-Yu and how you can get involved. Hi Yu’s booth will be on Alaska Street between California and 42nd SW. There is no cost for taking pictures on the float but donations are greatly appreciated.

2016-2017 will bring big changes to Hi-Yu as it moves forward as an organization. There is a chance that this could be the final year of Hi-Yu if we don’t see an increase in involvement. We need (and welcome!) your input. If you can’t make it to Summer Fest, please feel free to send Jay and Joanne a note to thank them for their service, or inquire about how you can help Hi-Yu. You can reach Hi Yu by email at: info@westseattlehiyu.com or via the Hi-Yu Facebook page.

You are also welcome to join us at our regular meetings. In July, we meet each Monday at 7:00 pm at Admiral Congregational Church, 4320 SW Hill.

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TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Summer Fest Eve Thursday, with road closures and bus reroutes starting tonight
July 7, 2016 6:07 am
|      2 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)

6:07 AM: Good morning and welcome to Thursday. It’s the eve of West Seattle Summer Fest, with the roads closing tonight both for festival setup and for pre-festival fun. Here’s what you need to know:

STREETS CLOSE @ 6 PM: That’s California Avenue SW between SW Edmunds and SW Genesee (with SW Oregon remaining open to east/west traffic), and SW Alaska between 42nd and 44th.

BUS REROUTES START @ 5 PM: That’s according to the reroute plans linked from the Metro “alerts and updates” page, which will be in effect until post-festival breakdown/cleanup wraps up late Sunday night:

C Line – here
Route 22 – here
Route 37 – here
Route 50 – here
Route 55 – here
Route 57 – here
Route 128 – here
Route 773 Water Taxi Shuttle – here

8:46 AM: We’ve had two reports about this hazard to bicycle riders:

Many small (1′ diameter) piles of broken glass have appeared next to the fog line on both sides of the street on Beach Drive, from one end to the other.

The glass is exactly where cyclists would normally ride, so you’ll need to ride out in the roadway to avoid flats. Be careful out there. -JH

As we’ve told both people who reported it, if you see something of danger in the right of way, to anyone – riders, walkers, drivers – please report it ASAP to SDOT so they can investigate/clean it up. Their 24-hour dispatch is 206-386-1218.

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West Seattle sunset: Brushed across the sky
July 7, 2016 1:26 am
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle weather

Wednesday night’s sunset was about the clouds more than the color:

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That was JayDee‘s view from Upper Alki. Below, from James Bratsanos in southwest West Seattle:

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And from Bill Schrier via Twitter:

Thanks to all who shared photos!

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West Seattle restaurants: Dumplings of Fury sets a date
July 6, 2016 9:52 pm
|      13 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle restaurants

9:52 PM: West Seattle’s most-asked-about restaurant-in-progress has set an opening date. During an event at Shadowland tonight, as dumplings were circulated, we heard from a reliable source that its sibling establishment Dumplings of Fury – just across the California/Oregon intersection – expects to open on Wednesday, July 20th. Looking for confirmation, we see the date announcement was tucked away in this online corner.

ADDED THURSDAY MORNING: Phone photo of aforementioned dumplings:

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Summer Fest tradition: West Seattle Quilters’ raffle
July 6, 2016 8:59 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   West Seattle festivals | West Seattle news

As we continue previewing West Seattle Summer Fest, we have word another tradition continues this year. The announcement and photo are from West Seattle Quilters:

For the 11th year in a row, the West Seattle Quilters have created their raffle quilt to benefit the West Seattle Senior Center. The 2016 queen-sized quilt, titled “Star Dusk,” features a star pattern in quiet grays and blues, with red accents.

Raffle tickets for the quilt are $1 each, and all the money goes directly to the West Seattle Senior Center. Ticket sales begin July 8 at the West Seattle Summer Fest (look for us outside the Stop and Shop). After the festival, tickets will be available at the Senior Center at the reception desk. The drawing will be held October 28, 2016, during Rainbow Bingo at the Senior Center.

Quilters work together on the raffle quilt beginning with pattern selection in February and working through June to complete it. Last year’s raffle quilt raised $2,000 for the West Seattle Senior Center.

West Seattle Quilters meet at the Senior Center on the first and third Mondays of the month at 7pm to share quilting ideas and projects. Quilters of all ages are welcome!

Stop and Shop is on the lower level of the Sisson Building, headquarters to the Senior Center, on the southeast corner of California/Oregon, near the north end of the festival zone.

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FOLLOWUP: $50,000 bail for 4th of July rifle-firing suspect
July 6, 2016 5:30 pm
|      22 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | West Seattle news | West Seattle police

As promised, we followed up today on the case of the man arrested in North Delridge for allegedly firing what police described as an “assault rifle” on the 4th of July. We just obtained probable-cause documents from this afternoon’s bail hearing for the 29-year-old suspect, whose bail was set at $50,000.

The documents say he is a resident of the apartment in the 4100 block of 25th SW where witnesses say they saw him “shooting a long gun into the air,” an officer wrote in the report. As mentioned in yesterday’s SPD Blotter report, the shots were first heard by officers who were behind the DSHS building in the 4000 block of Delridge at the time, around 11:20 pm on the 4th, describing what they heard as “6-8 rapid-fire gunshots.” They were advised via radio that 911 calls had come in, too. When they got to the building, one officer “took up a position” behind it, their partner did the same in front, and the officer in the rear saw the suspect leaving the building shortly thereafter, “holding a long gun in his right hand.” The officer ordered him to put it down, but the suspect “ignored (the) orders and instead turned and ran back inside the building while still carrying the long gun.” Several minutes and repeated “orders” later, the officer writes, the suspect and nine other people left the apartment; police got a relative of the building’s owner to give consent to a search, and inside, they say, the found “an AK-47” (SPD photo at left), subsequently finding “16 spent 7.62mm casings (which they) photographed and collected” from the front yard. The report adds that the suspect “admitted to firing the weapon … stating that he fired off some celebratory rounds into the air while some fireworks were set off.” They then discovered, checking his record, that he had multiple felony convictions.

The report does not say anything about the gun and its ownership beyond the “AK-47” and “long gun” description. That information might be part of charging documents, which prosecutors could file as soon as tomorrow, before the suspect is due back in court. Online court files indicate he also lived at the 25th SW address at the time of his most recent felony conviction, a drug case dating back to the fall of 2007.

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It’s West Seattle Summer Fest Eve-Eve! More updates
July 6, 2016 4:24 pm
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle festivals | West Seattle news

(UPDATED 5:18 PM with Metro’s Summer Fest reroutes, just posted)

4:24 PM: It’s the day before the night before West Seattle Summer Fest – and we have more updates on what’s happening Thursday night (Summer Fest Eve) as well as Friday-Saturday-Sunday for the festival itself:

SUMMER FEST EVE AT WEST 5: One of the original presenters of Summer Fest Eve entertainment in the street is West 5 (4539 California SW), and we just got the lineup from proprietor Dave Montoure – musicians from the Jazz Night School will be back for a second year, their Big Band and a jazz quartet.

PET JUNCTION ADDED: One more Summer Fest feature has just been added to the lineup – look for Pet Junction on the sidewalk by Next to Nature (4543 California SW).

SIDEWALK SALES: When you’re going through the Summer Fest vendor list, take note of the year-round Junction merchants who are listed too – Summer Fest has its roots in what was an annual mega-sidewalk sale, and the tradition continues for many stores.

WHERE TO FIND THE FARMERS’ MARKET ON SUNDAY: This is the second Summer Fest since the Farmers’ Market moved into the street, so maybe fewer people will be confused this year – the market DOES happen on Summer Fest Sunday, 10 am-2 pm as always (although the festival itself doesn’t start up until 11 am on Sunday), but just for that day, you’ll find it in its “old” location, the lot behind KeyBank, 44th/Alaska.

West Seattle Summer Fest’s official hours are 10 am-6 pm Friday and Saturday, 11 am-5 pm Sunday; music runs longer on Friday-Saturday (see the California Stage schedule here). Find festival info here; we’ll continue with previews through tomorrow – scroll through this WSB archive for our earlier previews – and with coverage from The Junction starting tomorrow night, throughout the weekend!

ADDED 5:18 PM: Metro has finally posted reroute information for Summer Fest, Thursday night through Sunday night. Find it here.

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UPDATE: Why the Guardian One helicopter was over South Delridge
July 6, 2016 2:56 pm
|      13 COMMENTS
 |   Delridge | Helicopter | West Seattle news

2:56 PM: Police are checking out a report of an “agitated” man near Delridge and Barton, carrying something that looks like a pole or a machete, and since the Guardian One helicopter wasn’t far away, its crew volunteered to come take a look too. This might not turn out to be much of anything but since the helicopter will immediately attract a lot of attention, we’re mentioning it and will be monitoring.

3:00 PM: Police are reported to have made contact with the man.

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3:07 PM: Our ground crew verified police were talking with that man (photo above), though we don’t know what the item he was reportedly carrying turned out to be. Meantime, the helicopter has since moved a short distance to check out the 9000 block of 17th SW, where police tell us there was a report of a possible prowler in back yards.

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Why the average electric bill is about to go up ~$1
July 6, 2016 1:35 pm
|      17 COMMENTS
 |   Utilities | West Seattle news

(UPDATED 3:49 PM to clarify that the average bill will go up $1 – your bill may vary)

(Seattle City Light image: Gorge Dam)
The average electricity bill is going up about a dollar starting next month. Seattle City Light‘s announcement explains the surcharge it’s about to add, and might be keeping for a few years. In short – blame it on the weather:

Low revenue from the surplus energy Seattle City Light sells to other utilities has triggered a 1.5 percent surcharge on electricity rates, starting in August.

City Light generates power at its hydroelectric projects. When the utility has more electricity than its customers need, it sells that power to other utilities and uses the money to keep prices low for its retail customers. For 2016, City Light anticipated $60 million in revenue from such wholesale energy sales, but the utility is on track to earn only about $43.5 million as a result of warm spring weather at a time of low prices on the wholesale energy market. The warm weather melted mountain snow earlier than is typical, which meant City Light’s hydroelectric projects were producing surplus energy at a time of lower demand and lower prices than the utility might have seen in June or July.

To make up the difference between what was expected in the budget and actual revenue, City Light draws from a rate stabilization account created in 2010 to offset the volatility that comes with generating and selling hydropower. If the amount in the account dips to $90 million or below, a 1.5 percent surcharge is automatically applied to every customer’s bill until the account is refilled to $100 million.

The rate stabilization account had $89.1 million in it June 30, which triggers a surcharge that will be applied to customer bills, starting in August. The surcharge will add $1 to the typical residential customer bill every month. This is the first time an automatic surcharge has been triggered since the rate stabilization account was created.

Based on current financial forecasts, City Light projects that the surcharge could stay in place into 2019. Should the rate stabilization account’s balance fall to $80 million or below, the surcharge would automatically increase to 3 percent.

Once the account balance is refilled to $100 million, the surcharge is automatically removed. If strong surplus energy sales ever push the rate stabilization account’s balance to more than $125 million, the City Council can choose to reduce rates, have City Light pay down existing debt or direct the utility to pay for capital expenses with cash instead of borrowing money.

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Time’s running out: Terminal 5 comment deadline Friday afternoon
July 6, 2016 11:45 am
|      1 COMMENT
 |   Environment | Port of Seattle | West Seattle news

(WSB file photo of Terminal 5)

If you have something to say about the proposed “modernization” project at West Seattle’s Terminal 5 – especially something you hope the project will include, in response to environmental factors including traffic, noise, water quality, air quality – you’re running out of time to say it during this round of planning. You might recall that the comment period for the Draft Environmental Impact Statement was extended, by community request, after last month’s public hearings; the new deadline is just two days away – 4 pm Friday, July 8th. Information that might help:

Official Port links:

The “online public meeting”
Volume 1 of the Draft EIS document (13 MB PDF)
Volume 2 of the Draft EIS document (65 MB PDF)

Other links of potential interest:

WSB coverage of the first community meeting on June 5th
WSB coverage of the second community meeting on June 9th
WSB coverage of T-5 discussion at West Seattle Transportation Coalition in May
WSB coverage of official DEIS release announcement in May
Neighbors’ concerns/petition

So, you know what you want to say, but want to know how to say it? Here’s how to comment, from the Port website:

The comment period will end at 4 p.m., July 8. Comments can be submitted online at t5eis.publicmeeting.info and via email at SEPA.p@portseattle.org.

Written comments can be mailed to:

Paul Meyer (Email: meyer.p@portseattle.org)
Environmental Services
Port of Seattle
P.O. Box 1209
Seattle, WA 98111

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West Seattle Wednesday: From low-low tide to local ballot measures…
July 6, 2016 10:21 am
|    Comments Off on West Seattle Wednesday: From low-low tide to local ballot measures…
 |   West Seattle news

DownyWP0716-01
(It’s ‘Woodpecker Wednesday,’ per Mark Wangerin, who photographed this female downy woodpecker)

LAST OF THE SUMMER’S LOW-LOW TIDES: 12:50 pm today brings the last lower-than-minus-two-feet low-low tide of the summer, -2.2 feet. And it’s the Seattle Aquarium beach naturalists’ last day until mid-July; they’re scheduled to be out at Constellation and Lincoln Parks, 11 am-3 pm.

LUNCH AT THE LIBRARY: No proof of income or other documentation required – kids and teens can get free lunch 12:30-1:30 pm today (and Tuesdays-Wednesdays-Thursdays through Sept. 1) at Delridge Library. (5423 Delridge Way SW)

PLAY GAMES FROM AROUND THE WORLD: 3-4 pm at Southwest Library, geared toward K-5-aged kids. (35th SW/SW Henderson)

2ND HIGH POINT MARKET GARDEN FARM STAND: 4-7 pm, buy fresh West Seattle-grown vegetables and flowers, steps from where they were picked! For an idea of what’s sold and for how much, see our report from last Wednesday’s season-opener. (32nd SW/SW Juneau)

SOMALI STORYTIME: 5-5:30 pm at the High Point Library, it’s story time in Somali. All welcome. (35th SW/SW Raymond)

BALLOT MEASURES @ SWDC: 6:30 pm at the Sisson Building/Senior Center, the Southwest District Council meets, with the agenda including the August 2nd election’s two Seattle ballot measures – Prop 1, the Housing Levy, and I-123, the elevated waterfront park. Here’s our preview from last night. All welcome. (California SW/SW Oregon)

LOTS OF NIGHTLIFE: Music, trivia, more – see the listings on our complete calendar!

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SUNDAY: West Seattle Bike Connections invites you to 4th annual ‘mini-STP’ ride
July 6, 2016 8:59 am
|      1 COMMENT
 |   Fun stuff to do | West Seattle news

(Photo from 1st ‘STP’ ride in 2013, courtesy West Seattle Bike Connections)

Going to West Seattle Summer Fest on Sunday? Here’s a memorable way to get there: For the fourth year, West Seattle Bike Connections invites you to join its “Mini-STP” ride, which travels (mostly on) California Avenue SW from Seattle (Street, in North Admiral) to Portland (Street, in Gatewood) and then backtracks to the festival. In case you haven’t seen it yet in the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar, here’s the invite:

Have you ever wanted to do the Seattle to Portland bike ride? And never trained for it, or forgot to sign up? Here is your chance to do it in 2 hours and end up at a huge finish line party, without leaving West Seattle!

Sunday, July 10
9:15 am start
Hamilton Viewpoint Park

West Seattle Bike Connections will be riding again from SW Seattle Street to SW Portland St … and back north to Summer Fest at the West Seattle Junction, for a fabulous finish-line party. After an hour or two there, participants can ride home independently, or ride with a leader back to Hamilton Viewpoint.

Easy pace. Family friendly! For children riding their own bikes: parent or guardian please read and conform to Cascade‘s policy and call ride leader at least a day in advance.

Find even more info, including a route map, on WSBC’s website.

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TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Post-holiday Wednesday
July 6, 2016 6:34 am
|    Comments Off on TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Post-holiday Wednesday
 |   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)

6:34 AM: Good morning! No incidents in/from West Seattle so far, but with more people getting back to work today after an extended holiday weekend, traffic volumes are increasing.

SUMMER FEST ROAD CLOSURES START TOMORROW NIGHT: Another reminder – Friday, Saturday, and Sunday bring West Seattle Summer Fest to the heart of The Junction. 6 pm Thursday is when the road closures begin, for setup – California SW between Edmunds and Genesee, SW Alaska between 44th and 42nd. Metro’s festival-related reroutes still aren’t up; if that changes later today, we’ll update here.

ALSO THIS WEEKEND: If you are headed off-peninsula, take note of big projects on southbound I-5 in south King County and eastbound I-90 just east of I-5 – WSDOT has details of both here.

FAUNTLEROY EXPRESSWAY PROJECT: We verified yesterday with SDOT that the remainder of the earthquake-safety project, which had been closing the west end of the West Seattle Bridge five nights a week, is on hold until further notice, following last Friday’s deadly incident.

7:06 AM: Still quiet so far this morning. So we have another reminder:

WHAT’S NEXT FOR 35TH AVENUE SW? We’ve been waiting for months to find out when SDOT would start the next round of conversation about the rechannelization results so far and Phase 2 plans (for 35th SW, at Morgan and points north). Finally, as we reported on Tuesday, the project website has been updated with word of an August 4th meeting.

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How hot is the West Seattle real-estate market? This hot
July 5, 2016 11:10 pm
|      56 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle housing | West Seattle news

Multiple readers have sent us this Seattle Times link, and when that happens, it means it’s worth sharing, and worth a closer look. Business reporter Mike Rosenberg‘s report is really a two-part story – one part about an East Admiral house that sold for a surprising amount despite reportedly having been in poor condition, the other part about how real estate prices in general continue to rise, sharply.

First, about the house, which Rosenberg reports sold for $427,000 in May, twice the asking price, despite “crumbling floors and ceilings that could collapse at any moment, about five feet of standing water and toxic air not safe to breathe.” It was only 65 years old, built the year before this county-archives photo:

Though the plan for its site was a mystery at the Times story’s end, we found a “site plan” on file. It was filed for the house at 3243 Belvidere just before Tang Real Estate Investments closed the sale in May and it proposes not teardown, but adding another story and remodeling the interior. It’s a very early-stage plan, though, so it could change. One note of interest – county information shows the house is on 5,000 square feet platted as two lots, which could have been part of the perceived value.

The second part of the Times story is about real-estate prices continuing to rise. Rosenberg reports that Northwest Multiple Listing Service stats show: “In West Seattle, the median single-family house cost $506,600 in May, up 17.3 percent just in the past year, and up a whopping 83 percent in the last five years.”

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West Seattle Summer Fest Eve on Thursday: A ‘wild’ brew
July 5, 2016 9:26 pm
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle festivals | West Seattle news

(WSB photo from Summer Fest Eve 2015 – a night to just play in the street)

As West Seattle’s biggest party of the year approaches, we’re continuing to preview Summer Fest (Friday-Saturday-Sunday) and Summer Fest Eve (the pre-festival pop-up fun that starts after Junction streets close for setup at 6 pm Thursday).

Tonight – word of what’s up Thursday night at Elliott Bay Brewing Company (4720 California SW), which always throws a great party on Summer Fest Eve. Elliott Bay’s Thursday festivities will include the re-release of Alpine Lakes Pale, a benefit brew with $1 from every pint sold going to Washington Wild. That starts at 6, and Elliott Bay will have kids’ activities and entertainment on Thursday too – balloons, magic, and a Grateful Dead cover band, we hear. Clear your calendar and plan to spend Summer Fest Eve in The Junction – it’s a special early West Seattle Art Walk night (tour the murals again!), too, among other festivities we’ll be previewing. See you there!

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VIDEO: Chamber-music concert at Delridge CC Park
July 5, 2016 7:26 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   Delridge | West Seattle news | WS culture/arts

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7:26 PM: That’s the Lenora Trio, being introduced by Noel Evans just before their live performance that’s happening right now in the first of four “Music Under the Stars” events that the Seattle Chamber Music Society is presenting at Delridge Community Center Park for the first time. They’ll play until 8 – “Serenade for Strings” by Ernst von Dohnanyi and Beethoven‘s “String Trio in C minor” comprise tonight’s program – and then a concert will be streamed live from Benaroya Hall. It’s free, including refreshments (lemonade, coffee, and popcorn). Come on down – lots of room for you and your blanket/chairs on the lawn on the northwest side of DCC, along 26th SW south of SW Genesee.

P.S. If you miss tonight’s event – the series continues for the next three Mondays.

8:33 PM: As scheduled, the trio wrapped up at 8, and the (excellent) sound system switched to the broadcast from Benaroya. We recorded the trio on video and will add it to this story when it’s uploaded. (Added: Here it is!)

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ELECTION 2016: 2 ballot measures on Wednesday’s Southwest District Council agenda
July 5, 2016 6:56 pm
|    Comments Off on ELECTION 2016: 2 ballot measures on Wednesday’s Southwest District Council agenda
 |   Southwest District Council | West Seattle news | West Seattle politics

Ballots for the August 2nd election go out next week, and Seattle voters will be asked to decide two ballot measures, both of which will be discussed at tomorrow night’s Southwest District Council meeting. As described on the King County Elections website, Proposition 1 replaces the expiring current city levy “to fund: housing for low-income seniors, workers, and households, and the disabled and mentally ill; and homelessness prevention and reduction programs, including emergency rental assistance for at-risk families.” Initiative 123 “would establish a public development authority to build and operate an elevated park and other amenities along the waterfront integrating one block of the existing Alaskan Way Viaduct into the design.” Tomorrow’s SWDC agenda says two speakers are scheduled for the Housing Levy, but that anti-levy speakers were “unavailable for the meeting”; for I-123, one pro speaker and one con speaker are scheduled. The meeting is at 6:30 pm Wednesday at the Sisson Building/Senior Center in The Junction, California/Oregon).

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West Seattle Crime Watch: Man hit while trying to stop suspected car prowler
July 5, 2016 3:53 pm
|      13 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | West Seattle news | West Seattle police

betterprowler
(WSB photo)

Police are looking for the driver suspected in a hit-and-run that allegedly started with a suspected car prowl. They tell us the victim saw what appeared to be a car prowl in progress in the area (39th SW and SW Oregon), tried to stop it, and then was hit by the suspect making a getaway in his own car. The victim’s injuries are not life-threatening – he’s on the way to the hospital in a private ambulance. We heard only a fragment of a description of the suspect’s car – silver – but will be following up. (Added: Silver or gold older Camaro.)

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What’s next for 35th Avenue SW: SDOT sets August 4th meeting
July 5, 2016 3:25 pm
|      17 COMMENTS
 |   Transportation | West Seattle news

(Map from July 2015 slide deck about 35th SW plan)

The long-promised meeting about what’s next for 35th Avenue SW has finally been set by SDOT. We’ve been checking the project webpage for word of the next community meeting, and today it’s been updated. So if you are interested in what’s happened with the 35th SW changes so far, and what’s ahead, get it in your calendar now – here’s the date and place:

7-9 pm Thursday, August 4th
Neighborhood House’s High Point Center (6400 Sylvan Way SW)

That’s the same place SDOT held meetings a year ago to announce Phase 1 of the rechannelization (“road diet”) plan for 35th, south of Morgan. At the time, SDOT project manager Jim Curtin said plans for north of Morgan would be discussed this year; when we most recently checked in with him a month ago, he expected the first meeting would be set for the middle of this month, but it’s been clear that plan slid again. He told WSB then that the discussion of Phase 2 would be in tandem with early discussions of the next neighborhood greenway in West Seattle, but right now the webpage just says the August 4th meeting will be “to learn more about our plans to further enhance safety on 35th Avenue SW.” More to come.

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FOLLOWUP: ‘Assault rifle’ seized in North Delridge July 4th gunfire arrest
July 5, 2016 2:59 pm
|      44 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | Delridge | West Seattle news

Early today, a reader tip led to our report about a gunfire arrest in the 4100 block of 25th SW late last night. This afternoon, new details, including this Seattle Police photo of the gun that officers say was involved:

Here’s what SPD’s Jonah Spangenthal-Lee just published via SPD Blotter:

Seattle police arrested a 29-year-old felon late last night after the man reportedly conducted his own 4th of July celebration by firing an assault rifle into the air in West Seattle.

Officers were patrolling near the 4100 block of 25th Avenue Southwest around 11:30 PM when they heard the sounds of gunfire. They began driving through the neighborhood and were soon flagged down by several people …

Witnesses told police a group of men had emerged from home on the block and fired a rifle into the air before going back inside the house.

Officers went to the home, contacted 10 people inside, and arrested the 29-year-old resident. He admitted he had fired his AK-47-style assault rifle in the air following a celebratory round of fireworks at his home.

Police found the gun stashed behind a washing machine in the home and booked the man – who is a convicted felon and unable to legally possess firearms – into the King County Jail for unlawful possession of a firearm. No one was injured in the incident.

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Computer trouble at local Seattle Public Library branches
July 5, 2016 2:43 pm
|    Comments Off on Computer trouble at local Seattle Public Library branches
 |   Utilities | West Seattle news | West Seattle online

Thanks to Kay and Jissy for the tip: If you’re going to a local Seattle Public Library branch, be aware the West Seattle-area branches (Delridge, High Point, Southwest, Admiral, South Park) have been having computer trouble today. We just confirmed this with SPL spokesperson Andra Addison. It’s blamed on a fire affecting fiber optic lines, and while we don’t have specifics, apparently it was last night’s fire in the 4800 block of Delridge – not near the library, but the initial burst of flame was so huge (see the reader photo added to our story) that it may well have affected utilities. We’re trying to find out more; Addison says repairs are in progress.

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West Seattle Summer Fest 2016 starts Friday!
July 5, 2016 12:12 pm
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 |   West Seattle festivals | West Seattle news

Our area’s biggest party of the year is just three days away! West Seattle Summer Fest starts Friday. Here’s what you need to know right now:

*Streets close to motorized-vehicle traffic starting Thursday night at 6 pm for setup and Summer Fest Eve festivities, and stay closed until breakdown and cleanup are concluded late Sunday night

*Closure zone is California SW, from just south of Genesee to just north of Edmunds, with SW Oregon open for east-west through traffic, and SW Alaska between 44th and 42nd

*Festival hours are 10 am-6 pm on Friday and Saturday, with music running later those nights, then 11 am-5 pm on Sunday

*One main stage for music, the California Stage – the lineup’s here

*You’ll also find some music among the events at GreenLife, on the west side of California just north of the south end of the festival zone – details are on the Sustainable West Seattle website

*The kids’ zone is back, with both free activities and buy-tickets/bracelets rides

*Who’s in the vendor booths this year? See the list here

*Who’s selling food and where? The list has both visiting vendors and Junction eateries with sidewalk plans

*In the heart of the festival, California/Alaska, you’ll find the Information Tent, where Team WSB is joined again by community-group volunteers to answer your Summer Fest questions, and local nonprofits helping you learn more about what they do

Our next preview, later today, will have more details about Summer Fest Eve on Thursday night!

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