day : 05/08/2016 11 results

FRIDAY NIGHT, 11:34 PM: No way to know how many are or have been affected, but we’ve been hearing from some West Seattle CenturyLink users who say their fiber Internet has been out since Friday morning. One is Scott in the 2700 block of 46th SW, who says he first reported the outage around 10 am, was told it should be fixed by 7 pm, then called again two hours later and got a recording with a projected repair time around 11 am Saturday.
Phillip told us via Twitter that his service has been out about that long, and via e-mail earlier in the evening, Nick said CL told him he was one of a triple-digit customer count with an all-day-into-the-night outage. Anyone else?

SATURDAY MORNING, 11:24 AM: Thanks for the comments. Via Twitter, @CenturyLinkHelp, rep Aaron just replied, “There are still a few customers down, but for the most part they should be back up from what I am seeing.”

SATURDAY AFTERNOON, 2:05 PM: … but people in comments and via Twitter are saying they’re still down.

SUNDAY NIGHT, 6:46 PM: See comments for updates from CenturyLink customers who say they’re STILL out. We will be checking with their media/public-affairs department first thing in the morning to try to find out what’s been going on.

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CRIME WATCH FOLLOWUP: Charges filed against robbery, car-theft suspects

August 5, 2016 10:16 pm

| 3 COMMENTS

| Crime | West Seattle news

Two suspects whose arrests we reported earlier this week are now charged.

TRIPLE ROBBERY SUSPECT: Coleman E. Calloway is the 48-year-old man charged with one count of first-degree robbery and two counts of second-degree robbery for three holdups in three days. In charging documents, prosecutors describe him as “a career criminal with 13 felony convictions” who has spent “a large amount of his adult life in prison”; their request to raise his bail to $250,000 was granted. The narrative in the charging documents is the same as what we reported here last night after his bail hearing, detailing the robbery of the Capitol Hill QFC last Saturday morning, then West Seattle Thriftway (WSB sponsor) last Monday night, and the Washington Federal bank in Morgan Junction on Tuesday morning. No weapon was seen in any of the robberies, but Calloway is alleged to have told the QFC cashier he had one. Charging documents say he netted a total of almost $2,000 in the three holdups.

CAR-THEFT SUSPECT: Nicholas V. Renion is the 37-year-old man arrested in Highland Park early Thursday, as reported here. He is charged with one count of motor-vehicle theft, and prosecutors say he too is a career criminal – “arrested 44 times since 1997 … 59 warrants issued for his arrest in King County alone.” His convictions include multiple counts of theft, vehicle prowling, and assault. The charging documents have a few additional details beyond what was provided in the SPD Blotter report we quoted, including that the car was stolen in the 9400 block of 14th SW, blocks from where police spotted it on SW Roxbury. When police found Renion in a garage in the 1000 block of SW Portland, he claimed he lived there, but the homeowners told police that wasn’t true. Charging papers show his “last known address” was in Lakewood. They also show that prosecutors wanted Renion’s bail set at $25,000, but the King County Jail Register show it as only $5,000, and that he had just been released less than a week before this arrest, after serving more than a month in a theft case.

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SEAFAIR: Blue Angels views from today; what you should know about watching this weekend; ship tours continue

August 5, 2016 8:56 pm

| 2 COMMENTS

| Blue Angels | West Seattle news

Thanks for the photos! While we watched the Blue Angels from Boeing Field today, while others shared views from West Seattle. The top photo is by Robert Spears; below, by David Hutchinson:

Before those flybys, came the takeoff from Boeing Field, where you can see the pre-flight maneuvers by the pilots and crew, if you grab a spot what becomes a very crowded fence south of the Museum of Flight:

It’s free to watch from there, as the crew and then the pilots arrive before and prepare for takeoff – it becomes a very loud spectacle as they fire up the engines and then taxi toward the runway:

Taxiing to the runway #BlueAngels pic.twitter.com/Dw9q99CQSH

— West Seattle Blog (@westseattleblog) August 5, 2016

But right after that, as soon as you walk north toward the museum’s parking lot, you’ll have to have a wristband to get any further, if you want to watch from the east-facing runwayside fence – a wristband that signifies you’ve paid museum admission (Blue Angels weekend brings special events). You can watch takeoff from parking/pullover areas around Boeing Field, but get there earlier.

Remember that two things are different this year – two things some of those on the fence with us this afternoon clearly hadn’t heard about – the Blue Angels are flying five jets, not six, because of the deadly crash earlier this year; and their popular support plane Fat Albert, which usually flies right before they do, did not accompany them to Seattle because of what was described as a “mechanical issue.”

Tomorrow’s show should be around the same time as today – roughly 1:30 to 2:20 – with the I-90 bridge closed 1:15-2:40 pm. Since the show is meant for the Seafair crowd on Lake Washington, you’ll only see the occasional flyby from West Seattle, as did the people shown in a photo texted to us from Hamilton Viewpoint today:

But that just might be enough, especially for the skyline pass toward the end of the show:

(U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Cory Asato)

P.S. Ship tours continue this weekend on the downtown and Magnolia waterfronts, though Sunday is the only day remaining to see the biggest visiting member of the Seafair fleet, the Somerset. Today Bill Larson shared a photo of West Seattle Troop 284 on board the Somerset, which led the Parade of Ships on Tuesday:

Troop 284 was accompanied by Scoutmaster Jim Pennie. While the Somerset’s closed to tours tomorrow, the ships at Piers 66 and 69 are open – schedule, location, and reminders are here.

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PRIMARY ELECTION: Race for Congress will be Jayapal vs. Walkinshaw

August 5, 2016 7:12 pm

| Comments Off on PRIMARY ELECTION: Race for Congress will be Jayapal vs. Walkinshaw

| West Seattle news | West Seattle politics

After the third day of primary-election vote-counting, King County Council chair Joe McDermott of West Seattle has conceded in the race for second place in the 7th Congressional District. State Rep. Brady Piñero Walkinshaw of Capitol Hill widened his lead over McDermott, though both remained far behind State Sen. Pramila Jayapal of Columbia City.

The newest results in the race:

Pramila Jayapal 68,337 41.31%
Brady Piñero Walkinshaw 35,134 21.24%
Joe McDermott 32,556 19.68%

McDermott was in second place on Election Night, but was 1,000+ votes behind by last night, and the margin doubled today. His statement included:

…I remain confident and hopeful that real work can be done on the important issues we’ve led on during this race – campaign finance reform including overturning Citizens United, and tackling the public health epidemic that is gun violence in our country. I remain just as passionate about these issues moving forward as I was in 2008 when passing statewide campaign finance reform, in 2013 when we declared gun violence a public health crisis in King County, and over the past seven months of this hard fought campaign. …

McDermott has three more years in his second full term on the King County Council, representing the 8th District, which stretches from West Seattle to Burien and Tukwila, and to Vashon and Maury Islands.

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ROAD WORK ALERT: SW Spokane Street plan for next week

August 5, 2016 6:36 pm

| 1 COMMENT

| West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

SDOT is planning pavement, sidewalk, and other improvements on SW Spokane Street just east of the low bridge, as first reported here one week ago. We’ve now received the official notice for work starting next week. From that notice:

The Seattle Department of Transportation will start work next week to repave, reconstruct sidewalks and curb ramps, and make other improvements along SW Spokane St from SW Klickitat Way to E Marginal Way S to improve safety for all users. Construction is expected to last approximately 3 months. …

WORK PLANNED FOR THE WEEK OF AUGUST 8, 2016

• Project-wide activities
– Surveying, staking, and layout

• SW Spokane St and 11th Ave SW Intersection [map]
– Saw cutting
– Demolishing the southwest and southeast corners of the sidewalk

• SW Klickitat Way and Manning Street [map]
– Saw cutting
– Demolishing the north side curb and sidewalk

The official project page is here.

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West Seattle Crime Watch: Stolen, found bicycles; hit-and-run

August 5, 2016 4:22 pm

| 4 COMMENTS

| Crime | West Seattle news

ORIGINAL REPORT, 4:22 PM: This afternoon’s West Seattle Crime Watch roundup starts with three bicycle reports.

First, Pam found this bike, abandoned:

She explained, “Girls’ Specialized, found ditched in alley between 47th and 46th sound of Edmunds.”

Next, Julie reports two stolen bicycles: “They were taken from California ave and Genesee – (one is a) hot rock bike; (the other) is periwinkle color, a little bit of rust on the shocks. My daughter was just riding it Wednesday evening. The Trek is probably about a 1994-1995 year, has the side grips that come out from the handle bars. I can describe specifics and scratches on it. Just want them returned please, no questions asked. We have done long-distance bike rides and they are both very sentimental to the family.”

From Justin:

’95 Specialized Stumpjumper, black, stolen from in front of Admiral Bird Cafe.

And now the hit-and-run report, from Lily:

This morning at about 6:45 am on 8/5/16 (Incident # 16-281319): A white older Model F250 was seen sideswiping a green Ford Ranger on Alki Ave SW between 55th Ave SW and 56th Ave SW.

The White F250 was an older model with a white canopy and a Dark (possibly black) shell storage on the top.

The license plate was an Idaho plate, but although there were many witnesses on the scene, no one was able to get the license number as the driver sped off at a high rate of speed.

Any help in identifying this hit and run driver is greatly appreciated. Thank you for your help!

9:27 PM UPDATE: In case you haven’t seen this in the comments – the found bike in the photo turned out to be one of two stolen bikes another reader subsequently mentioned. Owner and bike have been reunited, though the family’s second bike is still out there somewhere.

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West Seattle schools: Cindy Chaput chosen as new Lafayette Elementary principal

August 5, 2016 2:02 pm

| 2 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

Thanks to the Lafayette Elementary parents who forwarded the announcement of a new principal – which also notes the district has filled the position of executive director of Southwest-area schools:

Dear Lafayette Elementary School Community,

As many of you know, Principal Robert Gallagher recently resigned his position to accept a new position with the Kent School District. Today, I am pleased to announce Ms. Cindy Chaput has been selected as the new principal for Lafayette Elementary School.

Ms. Chaput currently serves as a Dean of Students in the Federal Way School District, and she is thrilled to join the Lafayette community and Seattle Public Schools.

The interview team, which included Lafayette staff and community members, and two elementary principals from the West Seattle region, was impressed with Ms. Chaput and her passion to see all students succeed, her exceptional reading and literacy background, her extensive instructional coaching experience, her focus on technology integration, her ability to create sustainable systems and her commitment to meaningful family engagement. In addition to leadership and instructional work with Federal Way School District, Ms. Chaput has also been a leader, instructional coach and classroom teacher in the Renton and Kent school districts. A current Doctoral Candidate at Seattle Pacific University, Ms. Chaput earned her Master of Arts in Curriculum and Instruction as well as her Principal Certificate from Gonzaga University; her Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education from Central Washington University; and her Bachelor of Science from State University of New York, College at Brockport. In 2011, she became a Nationally Board Certified Teacher.

As hiring is always a challenge during summer months, we especially want to thank the Lafayette staff and community who volunteered to serve on the interview team. Their pride and passion for working at Lafayette was evident throughout the entire process and directly influenced the final recommendation forwarded to the Chief of Schools and my office.

Ms. Chaput will join us shortly. She will work with staff and PTSA members, as well as the newly named Executive Director of Schools for the Southwest Region, Helen Joung, to schedule opportunities for students, staff and the families of Lafayette to meet their new principal.
Please join me in welcoming Ms. Chaput as the new principal of Lafayette Elementary School.

Sincerely,
Larry Nyland, Superintendent
Seattle Public Schools

Ex-principal Gallagher’s departure was announced three weeks ago.

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WEST SEATTLE ROAD WORK: Endolyne Triangle starts next week

August 5, 2016 12:33 pm

| 12 COMMENTS

| Safety | Transportation | West Seattle news

Six months after we first reported on a long-requested traffic-calming plan for Fauntleroy’s Endolyne district, it’s about to become reality. We’ve confirmed with SDOT that installation work starts next week, likely on Wednesday – what you see in the photo above is part of the layout that’s been marked in the area to get ready for the work. As explained in the just-mailed flyer:

This project will change SW Brace Point Drive to a one-way, eastbound street, provide 7 new back-in angle parking spaces, enhance pedestrian crossings with three paint-and-post curb bulbs with plantings, and install on-street bicycle parking. This project will also restrict parking on a short segment of SW Wildwood Place to increase safety.

Construction is scheduled to last approximately one week with minimal impacts to residents, businesses, and travelers. Later this year, we will return to install 12 planter boxes in the new paint-and-post curb bulbs to help clearly define the pedestrian space.

For an even-more-detailed look at the plan, here’s the final design.

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SATURDAY: Trivia. James Bond trivia. Before ‘Skyfall’ @ West Seattle Outdoor Movies

August 5, 2016 11:25 am

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| West Seattle news | West Seattle Outdoor Movies

That’s the trailer for Daniel Craig as James Bond in “Skyfall,” the movie you’ll see on the wall in the Hotwire Online Coffeehouse (WSB sponsor) courtyard Saturday night for this summer’s fourth West Seattle Outdoor Movies presentation. Special feature before it gets dark: James Bond trivia, hosted by WSB co-publisher Patrick Sand. Free to enter, and there are prizes – thanks to Pecos Pit Barbecue (WSB sponsor), Full Tilt Ice Cream, and Hotwire. (If you were there for Star Wars trivia before the season’s first movie, you might remember the game-show bonus prize. It’s back, too.) No admission charge for the movie but bringing $ for nonprofit-benefiting concessions and raffles is an awesome thing to do if you can.

P.S. While this is the third-to-last movie of the season, remember that the 2016 finale will be in the new home of WS Outdoor Movies, the “festival street” next to the West Seattle YMCA (WSB sponsor), which makes “Skyfall” the SECOND-TO-LAST movie in the Hotwire courtyard.

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West Seattle Friday: Blue Angels, Mount music, HPIC Corner Bar, more

August 5, 2016 9:13 am

| 4 COMMENTS

| Blue Angels | West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

Thanks to Raul Baron for last night’s sunset/moonset view – call it the early start to an honorary three-day Seafair-and-more weekend. Speaking of which, ship tours continue today, just across the bay:

(USS Gridley @ Pier 66 – U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Cory Asato)

Here’s the list of ships, locations, and times for tours (which continue through Sunday, with some daily changes). And the Blue Angels are up for another practice airshow just after 1 pm. Other planes, too:

(Photo above by Monica Zaborac; photo below by Jim Clark)

They take off from Boeing Field, just east of West Seattle, which has multiple places to watch, including the Museum of Flight:

(Photo by Doug Branch)

The pre-Angels airshow starts at 11:45; lineup information is here. And we’ve been mentioning in traffic coverage, the Blue Angels’ performance – technically a “practice” today – closes the I-90 bridge 1:15-2:40 pm, and there’s invariably residual backup onto northbound I-5, among other routes, so if you have to get around during that window, be forewarned.

Here’s what’s happening on the ground, on-peninsula, for the rest of today/tonight:

ANANSI THE SPIDER: 11 am at West Seattle (Admiral) Library, the classic tale of the trickster spider, told by Oregon Shadow Theatre. (2306 42nd SW)

WHITE CENTER PROMISE CELEBRATION: Free backpacks and school supplies for hundreds of local kids, along with performances, free food, raffles, and educational activities. Sign up here; more info in our calendar listing. 4-7 pm at Greenbridge Plaza. (9800 8th SW)

WORDS, WRITERS, WEST SEATTLE: Nonagenarian Georgie Kunkel tells her tale in the Southwest Seattle Historical Society-presented series, 5-7 pm. Here’s her video invitation:

See, hear, and meet her at Barnes & Noble in Westwood Village. (2800 SW Barton)

DAVE HOLO TRIO: 5-8 pm, live jazz with the spectacular view at Salty’s on Alki (WSB sponsor), no cover. (1936 Harbor SW)

SUMMER CONCERTS AT THE MOUNT: Tonight brings the first of four Friday night concerts on the south side of the Providence Mount St. Vincent campus. The music’s free, with Neil Diamond tribute band Cherry Cherry, starting at 6 pm; you have the option of buying dinner/drinks starting at 5:30 pm. Tonight’s menu and other info can be found in our calendar listing. Bring your own chair/blanket. (4831 35th SW)

FREE FAMILY FUN AT THE Y: canceled

CORNER BAR: The monthly pop-up bar at Highland Park Improvement Club features The Cold 102s tonight. Doors open at 6 pm. (12th SW/SW Holden)

SKYLAR GRACE: Acoustic singer-songwriter, performing at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor), 7-9 pm. (5612 California SW)

BUCHAREST DRINKING TEAM: 7:30 pm at Kenyon Hall, this “Seattle-based, sport-and-alcohol-themed Balkan-music juggernaut” performs. (7904 35th SW)

MOVIE IN THE PARK: “Zootopia” is tonight’s free outdoor movie in the “park” next to West Seattle Church of the Nazarene, at dusk (9-ish). Free popcorn, pop, and hot dogs. (42nd SW/SW Juneau)

FOR MORE … check the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar.

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TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Friday watch; I-90 Blue Angels closure

August 5, 2016 7:43 am

| Comments Off on TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Friday watch; I-90 Blue Angels closure

| 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)

7:43 AM: We’re getting a late start today. No incidents so far in/from our area. Here’s the big reminder for today and the weekend:

BLUE ANGELS I-90 CLOSURES DAILY THROUGH SUNDAY: Today through Sunday, the annual I-90 closures during Blue Angels practices/shows continue. From WSDOT:

The mainlines of I-90 will be closed between I-5 in Seattle to Island Crest Way on Mercer Island:

Friday, Aug. 5: 1:15 – 2:40 p.m. (practice)
Saturday, Aug. 6: 1:15 – 2:40 p.m. (Seafair Air Show)
Sunday, Aug. 7: 1:15 – 2:40 p.m. (Seafair Air Show)

8:07 AM: Trouble on northbound I-5 at I-90 right now – a brush-fire response.

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