West Seattle, Washington

03 Saturday

77℉

month : 08/2016 296 results

VIDEO: Admiral Way Safety Project ‘Walk & Talks’
August 20, 2016 10:25 am
|      13 COMMENTS
 |   Safety | Transportation | West Seattle news

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10:25 AM: We are at 49th and Admiral with about 20 residents and SDOT reps Dawn Schellenberg and Sam Woods for this morning’s first of two ‘Walk & Talk’ gatherings to talk about the upcoming Admiral Way Safety Project changes. No walking yet – all talking. (Added: Here’s our video of the first 14 minutes:)

The second session is supposed to start at the entrance to Schmitz Park on Admiral at 11:15. Main focus here: Pedestrian safety and what can be done to enhance it.

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In general, those here are concerned about speeding. “This intersection is critical,” one person said.

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10:42 AM: One group has gone on to Schmitz Park, while one that trailed, with Woods taking notes, is now at 53rd and Admiral, where Lander cuts off to Alki.

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Woods is explaining that all three lanes here will narrow to 10 feet.

We are breaking off to move on with other events. SDOT says comments will be taken until September 2nd (contact info is at the end of their project webpage); restriping on Admiral will start a few weeks later.

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West Seattle Saturday: Arts In Nature, Duwamish River festivals; new location for WS Outdoor Movies; Kids’ Day @ Bee Garden; more
August 20, 2016 8:46 am
|    Comments Off on West Seattle Saturday: Arts In Nature, Duwamish River festivals; new location for WS Outdoor Movies; Kids’ Day @ Bee Garden; more
 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

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(Black turnstone, back from the Arctic – photographed on West Seattle’s shore by Mark Wangerin)

Lots of ways to enjoy and/or explore, on this very summery day – fill up your water bottle and get going:

GARAGE/YARD SALES: Many for today, listed in this section of the WSB Forums.

POWERLIFTING: All-day competition at Alki Beach, starting at 9 am. (60th SW/Alki SW)

WALK-AND-TALK ADMIRAL WAY PROJECT ZONE: As previewed here last night and announced by SDOT last month, two “Walk and Talk” events are planned this morning along the SW Admiral Way Safety Project zone, at 10 am and 11:15 am. Details and locations here.

PUGET SOUND BEEKEEPERS KIDS’ DAY: 10 am-1 pm at the West Seattle Bee Garden, north end of High Point Commons Park. Fun activities and demonstrations. Free! (31st SW/SW Graham)

FABULOUS GEMS TRUNK SHOW: 10 am-4 pm, one-day jewelry trunk show at the Admiral Theater. (2343 California SW)

ARTS IN NATURE FESTIVAL: From performances to participation, it’s Day 1 at Camp Long, 11 am-9 pm, presented by the Nature Consortium, with event schedule, admission info, and more on the official website. (5200 35th SW)

DUWAMISH RIVER FESTIVAL: Noon-6 pm at Duwamish Waterway Park in South Park. Here’s the performance lineup:

12:15 – Duwamish Tribe
12:40 – Folklore Guatemala-Seattle
1:00 – University of Washington Khmer Student Association UW KHSA
1:20 – SANCA SeattleYouth Performers
1:55 – Ballet Folkloríco Angeles de Mexico
2:20 – Get active with ZUMBA and Mixed Fit
2:30 – Kalpulli Tlaloktecuhtli Aztec Dance
3:30 – Somali Youth Performance Group
3:50 – Trio Performance by Vietnamese Community
4:20 – Bootcamp by Fuerza y Poder
4:30 – BandaVagos
5:30 – DJ Rich Brown closing the evening

Free boat and kayak tours, food, raffles, more. (7900 10th Ave. S.)

LAST DAY OF THE SEASON FOR HIAWATHA WADING POOL: Noon-6 pm. (Walnut/Lander)

ALKI LIGHTHOUSE TOURS: 1-4 pm, visit West Seattle’s historic lighthouse – the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary‘s summer tours only have three more weekends left this year, including this one! (Alki SW/Beach Drive SW)

2 CHANCES TO SEE ‘HAIRSPRAY’: 3 pm matinee and 7:30 pm evening performance of Twelfth Night Productions’ musical @ West Seattle High School Theater.

WSHS CLASS OF 1971 REUNION: 4-10 pm at West Seattle Golf Course, the West Seattle Class of 1971 reunites to celebrate 45 years – info in our calendar listing. (4600 35th SW)

NEW LOCATION FOR WEST SEATTLE OUTDOOR MOVIES: Last movie of the season, “Princess Bride,” is the first one at the new location, the “festival street” by the West Seattle YMCA (WSB sponsor) – SW Snoqualmie between 36th SW and 37th SW. BYO chair/blanket. Free – with concessions and raffles benefiting the Southwest Seattle Historical Society.

‘MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG’: Last weekend for ArtsWest‘s musical-theater student performance, 7:30 pm. (4711 California SW)

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Seen from West Seattle: Olympic Peninsula wildfire smoke
August 19, 2016 8:54 pm
|      6 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle weather

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Thanks to David Hutchinson for the photo (and to Terry Burns for sending one too) – wildfire smoke from the Olympic Peninsula was clearly visible at sunset. While looking at tonight’s sunset, noticed what appears to be smoke from a fire in Olympic NP. David sent this link, where an update from yesterday says, “There are currently four small, lightning-caused fires burning in the Olympic National Park wilderness. Although there is no threat to visitor safety or facilities at this time, smoke may be visible. ‘Red flag’ conditions are expected for the next several days.” The Peninsula Daily News has a story from this afternoon with a few more details. The southernmost of those four fires is the Ignar Creek Fire, which looks like it might be in the right spot to generate what was seen here.

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SATURDAY: SDOT ‘Walk and Talks’ in Admiral Way project zone
August 19, 2016 8:01 pm
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   Transportation | West Seattle news

Four weeks after SDOT went public with its final decision on changes for SW Admiral Way west of California, tomorrow’s the day for its two announced “Walk and Talks.” The announcement on the project webpage says the main goal of the walking tours is to talk about more possible “pedestrian improvements” for the street. The first one starts at 10 am Saturday on the south side of Admiral at 49th SW (map); the second one, 11:15 am Saturday, is set to start at the entrance to Schmitz Park at Admiral/Stevens (map). Last month’s announcement was more than a year after SDOT’s original plan was met with a multitude of concerns.

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West Seattle restaurants: Raccolto aiming to open in September
August 19, 2016 5:33 pm
|      9 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle restaurants

As promised, we’re working our way through a lineup of followups on all the new food and/or beverage places in the works for West Seattle. Today, we checked in on Raccolto, which West Seattle-residing Chef Brian Clevenger is building out in the floor-level space at the Blueprint building on the north edge of The Junction (4147 California SW).

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(WSB photo, March 2016)

“We’re in serious build mode,” Clevenger told WSB in a phone conversation this afternoon, also sounding a refrain consistent with other restaurateurs/new-business proprietors we’ve talked with lately – city permits taking longer than expected. More than five months, in the case of Raccolto: “It was tough.”

But now, opening night is in view: “We’re aiming for next month.”

In case you missed our previous coverage back in March – Clevenger, who runs Vendemmia and East Anchor Seafood in Madrona, plans to focus on pasta, seafood, and vegetables. (Some menu items are listed online.) “I like to cook the kind of food I like to eat,” he explained. “It may sound a little strange (but … some) chefs cook food they think other chefs would like to eat. It’s easy to fall into a fad. We are the furthest away from a fad that’s possible. Something that never goes out of style – good food at approachable prices. That’s what we pride ourselves on.” Someplace, he says, that people can afford to go to weekly, not just a monthly, quarterly, annual splurge.

But if you’re looking for something really out of the box, Clevenger adds that Raccolto will have the “Chef’s Counter” experience that is offered now at Vendemmia: A nightly “kitchen counter” seating for up to five people, at 6 pm, to be reserved up to 48 hours in advance, where (after you specify aversions and allergies in your reservation) “we create something that’s a surprise … a first course of five or six items, followed by pasta, protein, dessert.”

Raccolto, with seating for about 50, also has a mezzanine for private parties, looking into the kitchen on one side and the main dining area on the other. The restaurant will be open 5-10 pm nightly and will have a full bar – “craft cocktails, local beers, wine pairing with the food.” Clevenger says he can’t wait to be able to work in the same community where he lives.

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TRAFFIC ALERT UPDATE: SB 99 finally back to 2 lanes
August 19, 2016 4:28 pm
|      13 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

4:28 PM: Thanks for the tips. One lane is still blocked on southbound Highway 99 near Atlantic, and that’s making the sluggish-at-best homeward commute worse than usual right now. A police car is behind the blocking vehicle, no tow truck in sight so far. If you have a desktop/laptop/landscape-view tablet and want to check before you go, the city’s Travelers Info Map has live video if you choose downtown and then Alaskan Way/Atlantic.

4:58 PM: Still no tow truck, and that area is still down to one lane as a result.

5:03 PM: Good news – the live video feed shows the tow truck just arrived.

5:20 PM: The tow truck has JUST left with the car, and the highway is back to 2 lanes at that spot.

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Remodeling set to start by year’s end at future West Seattle charter school
August 19, 2016 2:08 pm
|      16 COMMENTS
 |   Arbor Heights | West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

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(WSB photo: The open 2nd floor at Summit Sierra in the International District)

By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

As the charter organization Summit Public Schools starts the second year of classes at its first two Western Washington campuses, it says the third is on track to open in West Seattle one year from now.

We’ve been tracking Summit’s plans for the former church/supermarket building at 35th and Roxbury since discovering an early-stage proposal in city files at the start of 2015. The court fight over charter-school funding led to the California-based organization deciding at the end of last year to push back the West Seattle opening until fall 2017. Last spring, a new charter-funding plan became law (although it now is being challenged).

In the meantime, the principal originally announced for the Arbor Heights school, Greg Ponikvar, has since been reassigned to Summit’s Tacoma campus; he is a longtime Summit star, and they didn’t want to underutilize him, Summit’s regional director Jen Wickens told WSB. But the West Seattle middle/high school, to be called Summit Atlas, has a new leader in place already: Katie Bubalo, who we met during a media open house Wednesday at the Summit school in the International District, which we attended to find out the latest on the plans here. Read More

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West Seattle Crime Watch: 2 victims show up at hospital after Alki gunfire
August 19, 2016 12:30 pm
|      41 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | West Seattle news

We have had a request out to Seattle Police all morning for information on possible gunfire in the Alki area early this morning. It just arrived via SPD Blotter, including word that while no one was reported injured at the scene, two victims showed up at the hospital later:

Gang Unit detectives are investigating after two people were shot in West Seattle early Friday morning.

Witnesses called 911 at 2:15 am when a group of 40 people began fighting near 59 Ave. SW and Alki Ave. SW.

Another caller said that two or three people now had guns and shots were being fired.

Officers arrived shortly after the shots but were unable to locate any victims. One caller found what he believed to be bullet damage to his home, but it was later determined to have been caused by a rock.

Two men drove up Harborview Medical Center at 2:30 am and checked themselves in for gunshot wounds. One suffered a gunshot wound to the lower back, while the other was shot in the arm. Gang Unit detectives spoke with both men and determined they were shot during the fight along Alki. Detectives do not believe this was a random shooting and that the victims may have known their attackers. Detectives continue to investigate and will provide updates when available.

If you have any information in this case please call the violent crime tip line at (206)233-5000.

This is the first case of anyone being injured by gunfire in the Alki area since last April, when gunfire in the same vicinity left one man with a hand injury.

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Be cool and have fun: The list for your West Seattle Friday
August 19, 2016 10:40 am
|      10 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

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(Young osprey with its catch – photographed by Mark Wangerin)

We start again today with some reminders meant to be helpful as temperatures rise. One reader asked us today about an updated list of all types of local, open-to-public businesses with air conditioning – we haven’t had the bandwidth to update that list in a while but if you have suggestions (especially, our reader suggested, for happy hour!), please comment, and we’ll add them below. Meantime, the city’s suggestions:

WEST SEATTLE LIBRARY WITH AIR CONDITIONING
High Point Library – 11 am-6 pm (35th SW/SW Raymond)

WEST SEATTLE CITY-RUN OUTDOOR AQUATIC FACILITIES OPEN TODAY
Highland Park Spray Park – 11 am-8 pm (1100 SW Cloverdale)
Lincoln Park Wading Pool – 11 am-8 pm (8600 Fauntleroy Way SW)
Hiawatha Wading Pool – Noon-6:30 pm (Walnut/Lander)
EC Hughes Wading Pool – Noon-7 pm (2805 SW Holden)
Colman Pool – Noon-7 pm (on the shore at Lincoln Park; schedule and fees here)

The city’s “master list” of ways/places to stay cool is here.

OTHER SUGGESTIONS FOR AIR-CONDITIONED SPOTS:
Adding your suggestions, but first, we’ll start:
Junction True Value (44th/Edmunds) – really! We were in on Thursday and enjoyed the chill. Plus, they’re selling misters (we Instagrammed one).

Suggested in a discussion on Twitter:
OutWest Bar (5401 California SW)
Beveridge Place Pub (6413 California SW)
West 5 (4539 California SW)
Whisky West (6451 California SW)

From comments:
Admiral Safeway (2622 California SW)

On to our spotlight listings from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:

JAZZ AT SALTY’S: Stay cool on the waterfront! 5-8 pm, New Orleans jazz with the Dave Holo Trio. No cover/minimum. (1936 Harbor SW)

MOVIE AT HPIC: The Highland Park Improvement Club invites you to Movie Night! 6 pm doors open, 6:15 pm children’s short, 7 pm main feature, free. Details on the HPIC website. (12th SW/SW Holden)

MUSIC AT THE MOUNT: The 85th Street Big Band swings on the south side of the Providence Mount St. Vincent campus for tonight’s free concert. 6 pm music – bring your own chair/blanket – and if you’re interested, dinner/drinks are on sale starting at 5:30; see our listing for tonight’s menu. (4831 35th SW)

SEAN MCCONNELL @ EASY STREET: Free, all-ages in-store show by Sean McConnell at Easy Street Records in The Junction tonight, 6:30 pm. His music is described as ““Lyric-Driven Roots Rock with Soul.” (California SW/SW Alaska)

MUSICAL THEATER #1: Twelfth Night Productions presents “Hairspray” for the second and final weekend at the West Seattle High School Theater, 7:30 pm; ticket info here. (3000 California SW)

MUSICAL THEATER #2: ArtsWest‘s student production “Merrily We Roll Along” continues this weekend with a 7:30 pm performance tonight; ticket info here. (4711 California SW)

WHERE TO SEE IT ALL: Our full calendar has the entire lineup for today, tonight, beyond!

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YOU CAN HELP! RSVP for Seal Sitters Marine Mammal Stranding Network training
August 19, 2016 9:40 am
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   How to help | West Seattle news | Wildlife

(Photo by Robin Lindsey)

Volunteer work … on the beach. Doesn’t get much better than that. Especially when it involves helping marine mammals and helping people learn about them. So here’s your chance! From Robin Lindsey @ Seal Sitters Marine Mammal Stranding Network, which deals with more than seals:

We still have some spaces left for our Saturday, August 27th, Seal Sitters new volunteer training, held from 10 am-12:30 pm – see the details here.

Anyone interested must RSVP at the link above to ensure a seat. We welcome new volunteers and do encourage children to join the group, since they can learn to be environmental stewards and be empowered with protecting marine life.

We are definitely in the throes of harbor-seal pupping season now and it has certainly been an interesting season thus far with numerous seal pups, as well as the sad stranding of the humpback whale. Just (Wednesday) we had a report of a pup on the beach steps at Alki, but the pup didn’t linger long and left right before our responder arrived.

As always, if anyone sees a seal pup – or other marine mammal – on the beach or in trouble offshore, please call Seal Sitters hotline @ 206-905-SEAL (7325). Seal Sitters Marine Mammal Stranding Network is a partner in NOAA’s West Coast MMSN and responds to reports of all marine mammals, dead or alive.

P.S. Here’s one of the seals guarded by SSMMSN recently – Robert Spears sent the photo from last week:

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He says SSMMSN was there not only keeping the perimeter but also educating passersby.

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Remembering Delorise ‘Dee’ Reeves, 1929-2016
August 19, 2016 8:59 am
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   Obituaries | West Seattle news

Family and friends are remembering Delorise Pauline Reeves, who died this week at age 87. Here’s the tribute they are sharing with the community:

Delorise Reeves (Dee/Grandma D), age 87, entered eternal life on August 15, 2016. She was born on February 26, 1929, to parents Lester and Sarah Burton. Dee was the youngest of eight children. In 1945 she married Joe Bates. They had three children; in 1964 the marriage ended. Dee met Harry Reeves at Boeing and they married in 1967.

Always inclusive, Dee joyously welcomed anyone into her home and family. Everyone who spent time with her was bound to feel loved and accepted without judgement. She often went out of her way to take family members to classes, appointments, interviews and anything else that was needed. She never said no.

Her spirit is carried on by three children, seven grandchildren, eleven great-grandchildren, and two great-great-grandchildren. Son Larry Bates (Cris), grandchildren Erik, Kerry, and James. Son David Bates, grandchildren Andrea and Pauline; and daughter LeeAnn Tiede (Tom Jr.), grandchildren Matthew and Kirstin; as well as many nieces, nephews, friends, and family too numerous to list but not forgotten.

We were blessed to learn many valuable lessons from Dee, among them: Rats cannot survive after being struck by a rock catapulting from a slingshot. Also: shining a flashlight in family members’ eyes never ceases to be a great source of entertainment. Never say no to pet sitting, but while in your care feed them as many table scraps as possible. You could expect your dogs to be pleasantly plump upon your return. Stay young at heart and flirt with as many cuties as possible. No conversation is off limits. If your phone call goes unanswered, continue to call until they answer. Persistence is key. Never let a day go by where you don’t laugh. Be active, play tennis, go camping and bowl with ferocity. Maintain lasting friendships. Never say no to a board game with your family. Thermostats have a mind of their own, they cannot be trusted. Give to every charity that asks. Swear that you haven’t donated to any, and act confused as to why they are sending you calendars. Attend church at least once a week and help out with whatever is needed.

Dee was everyone’s biggest supporter and will be missed fiercely. She is reunited with her husband Harry, her sisters, and many loved ones.

(WSB publishes West Seattle obituaries by request, free of charge. Please e-mail the text, and a photo if available, to editor@westseattleblog.com)

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TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Friday updates; weekend watch
August 19, 2016 6:59 am
|      13 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)

6:59 AM: Happy Friday! No incidents in West Seattle, or outbound from here, so far today.

WEEKEND NOTES: None of this weekend’s West Seattle events is likely to affect traffic/transportation. But as for the rest of the city, here’s SDOT’s roundup – Hempfest today through Sunday includes a road closure toward the north end of the downtown waterfront; the Mariners are home, which means games at Safeco Field tonight, Saturday night, and Sunday afternoon.

7:06 AM: This Metro cancellation just came through with no warning:

7:09 AM: And immediately following that:

Metro also canceled one 56 and one 57 in the 7 am hour yesterday, as reported in our Thursday traffic/transit watch. We had asked their media liaisons for information on what’s going on, and are expecting that information today – depending on when it comes in, we’ll either update this report or publish something separate. These aren’t their only announced cancellations so far this morning system-wide – if you scroll through @kcmetrobus (the official Twitter feed), you’ll see eight cancellations for non-West Seattle routes so far.

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FOOTBALL: Spotlight for former West Seattle HS star Aaron Grymes
August 18, 2016 11:49 pm
|    Comments Off on FOOTBALL: Spotlight for former West Seattle HS star Aaron Grymes
 |   West Seattle news | WS & Sports

So the Seahawks didn’t get the win tonight. But local pro-football fans might consider something else as a point of pride: BC e-mailed us to point out that former West Seattle High School star Aaron Grymes, who signed earlier this year with the Philadelphia Eagles, had an interception tonight that made ESPN’s Top Ten plays. Before signing with the Eagles, Grymes spent three years in the Canadian Football League; he played college ball at Idaho. His big night tonight unfortunately ended with a shoulder injury (the Eagles beat the Steelers 17-0). But BC “wanted to share (Grymes’ big play) with West Seattle.”

P.S. Grymes and the Eagles are due to visit CenturyLink Field on Sunday, November 20th.

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West Seattle Crime Watch: Car prowls; vandalism; abandoned bicycles
August 18, 2016 9:36 pm
|      6 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | West Seattle news

Four notes in West Seattle Crime Watch tonight:

GATEWOOD CAR PROWLS: From Shawn – “I wanted to let you know about a car prowl last night/this morning. I came out to my car this morning around 6:30 to find the driver’s side door open and everything rifled through. They took some spare change and a handsfree device, and left behind some food. I found that the same thing happened to my neighbor’s car. This occurred in the alley between 36th and 37th Ave. SW, between Holden and Kenyon.”

ADMIRAL CONSTRUCTION SITE VANDALISM: Cindy reports this happened earlier this week at the Admiral site where she is building a house:

I am building a new modestly-sized house that is energy-efficient and environmentally responsible and sustainable in every regard. It will be net-zero in power usage as provided by the eventual roof-top solar installation. This is not a quick-turn developer box but rather a private home project. Someone opposed to this investment in our neighborhood did significant damage [one night earlier this week] to one of the retaining walls.

That included spraypainting the word UGLY on the wall.

ABANDONED BICYCLES: We have two reports, both from the Fairmount Ravine area, both with photos. The first one is from Breck:

Breck says, “Found this at the end of Sumner SW, down Fairmount SW. Hike into the path 30 yards and there it is … it looks like a teen’s bike.”

And from PHC:

PHC found it “on Fairmount, west side, under Admiral bridge. Suspect it is abandoned stolen bike.”

Recognize either one? Let us know, in comments or via editor@westseattleblog.com.

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COUNTDOWN: 9 days to West Seattle Car Show 2016
August 18, 2016 8:10 pm
|    Comments Off on COUNTDOWN: 9 days to West Seattle Car Show 2016
 |   Fun stuff to do | Puget Ridge | West Seattle news

(WSB photo from 2015 West Seattle Car Show)

We’re reminding you again tonight that the annual West Seattle Car Show has moved up into August this year and it is just nine days away – Saturday, August 27th, 10 am-3 pm on the north end of the South Seattle College campus! If you have a vehicle to show off, you’ll probably find just the right category here; pre-registration forms are due ASAP – otherwise, you can register on show day. Find all the registration info here.

The show is presented again this year by Swedish Automotive and West Seattle Autoworks, and we checked back with organizers for the toplines of what you’ll find besides cool vehicles:

*The South Seattle College will be giving tours of the Automotive Tech and Aviation Maintenance programs.

*We will have kids’ activities, including a wooden race track our people are building with wooden cars for the kids to keep.

*The Northwest Wine Academy will be be open and serving coffee and beer, as a convenience to patrons, and wine, which is their specialty. They will also have light snacks.

*There will be at least 2 food trucks: Nibbles (specializing in northwest and southwest food) and Kebab Brothers (specializing in kebabs and hot dogs).

*The Seattle Chinese Garden will be open for viewing.

*We will be selling T-shirts, dash plaques, water, and ice cream.

*Larry Lomax will be DJ-ing again.

*The Disco Cowboys band will be playing again.

The day’s full schedule will be online next week. In the meantime, whether you’re planning to be in the show or just planning to come have fun, 6000 16th SW on Puget Ridge [map] is where you’ll want to be on August 27th.

West Seattle Autoworks, Swedish Automotive, and South Seattle College are WSB sponsors.

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VIDEO: Duke Evers @ Summer Concerts at Hiawatha
August 18, 2016 6:58 pm
|    Comments Off on VIDEO: Duke Evers @ Summer Concerts at Hiawatha
 |   Fun stuff to do | West Seattle news

Looking for shade? We found it on the east lawn at Hiawatha Community Center (Walnut/Lander), where Duke Evers is performing this season’s second-to-last show for Summer Concerts at Hiawatha, the annual series of free music presented by the Admiral Neighborhood Association. Our short video above includes part of what they described as a new song from an album coming out in November. We’ll add a few photos when we’re back at HQ, but just wanted to make sure you knew this is happening now, until about 8 pm, and there’s room on the lawn – bring your own chair or blanket.

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(added) We didn’t stay for the whole show, but did see/hear a memorable moment – after the first few songs, a car alarm went off somewhere in the vicinity. The band, unfazed, riffed off it for a moment and declared they’d just created “The Car Alarm Song.” Soon as it was over, the alarm was too. “We played it out,” a band member joked.

P.S. Next week, summer’s last Hiawatha show, is the big one, at least for kindie-rock fans and the people who love them – Caspar Babypants, who tends to get the lawn as close to standing-room-only as a lawn can get, replete with a near-mosh-pit of wee ones up by the stage (6:30 pm Thursday, August 25th)!

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TRAFFIC ALERT: Huge ferry traffic backup heading to Fauntleroy dock, and other problems
August 18, 2016 4:11 pm
|      43 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

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4:11 PM: Thanks for the tips – we just verified the HUGE traffic backup headed toward the Fauntleroy ferry dock – backed up all the way to Fauntleroy/Raymond!

Washington State Ferries attributes it only to heavy outbound traffic.

4:34 PM: Via e-mail, WSF says vessels are ~45 minutes behind schedule because of major crashes on I-5. Checking on those.

4:39 PM: We’ll be folding in any other major traffic notes while monitoring this: Here’s one – southbound 16th is blocked at Elmgrove because of a car fire. We just went by – no injuries, and the fire apparently was mostly in the engine compartment. (Photo added:)

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Thanks to Erik for the tip!

5:09 PM: SFD has cleared the 16th call so that’s likely reopened. We’re about to head down the hill for another look at the ferry backup. Also remember that if you’re heading for the eastbound bridge – the tape tangle mentioned earlier could be a factor (some of it was even snagged on a utility pole on the south edge of the Luna Park district). And a City Light truck is reportedly in a hazardous spot around that section of the bridge. (Update: Commenter says the SCL worker is trying to pull in the aforementioned tape.)

5:58 PM: Ferry dock-bound backup on west/southbound Fauntleroy better but not by much – goes “just” to California now.

6:23 PM: Crash reported (via scanner) at 34th/Morgan, with westbound Morgan reported to be blocked right now.

7:44 PM: We finally got to go by that scene about 15 minutes ago – tow trucks had arrived so the scene should be clear soon if it isn’t already. No Seattle Fire dispatch, so apparently no injuries of note.

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ALERT: Tangle of tape by the West Seattle Bridge
August 18, 2016 3:44 pm
|      12 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news

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Here’s a weird one – just got two reports about this. The photo above is from Shannon Felix at Avalon GlassWorks, who reports, “Skeins of what I would think is vhs tape flying in power lines between bridge and Nucor.”

Also got a note from Holly, who reported, “Someone three black tape over the bridge and now it’s making its way into West Seattle.” We’re headed that way for a firsthand look.

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West Seattle food and drink: A la Mode Pies sets tentative date. And about those milkshakes…
August 18, 2016 2:33 pm
|      11 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle restaurants | WS beverages

Continuing our followups on new eating/drinking places in progress, we checked in with Chris Porter, proprietor of A la Mode Pies, which – as first reported here in April – is coming to Junction 47, between The Lodge and Starbucks.

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Porter tells WSB he’s tentatively planning on an opening date of October 3rd, adding, “Neighbors will be smelling apple pie for about a week before, as we’ll be moving over our wholesale and cooking inside in late September.” The original Phinney location will remain open, since this is an expansion, NOT a replacement. Meantime, what he describes as a white-neon sign is set to go up before the end of this month. And we asked about the “boozy milkshake” names that WSB readers suggested in response to a call for suggestions in May – so far, he’s settled on two (both of which were among the suggestions), Admiral Apple and Drunk Monkey, with more to come.

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FOLLOWUP: ‘Hate-Free Delridge’ is born; community event in the works
August 18, 2016 11:56 am
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle people

By Linda Ball
Reporting for West Seattle Blog

The fledgling group formed in response to a hate crime against a Pigeon Point family has named itself “Hate-Free Delridge” and is planning a community event.

We first reported two weeks ago about the group’s formation, in response to the racist, threatening note left on the porch of Stephanie Endres and her family last month.

The group just met for the second time. Its goal is to bring the community together while fostering acceptance, tolerance, and inclusion. Read More

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Two cans closer to a less-trashed Alki Beach
August 18, 2016 10:46 am
|      16 COMMENTS
 |   Environment | West Seattle news

Remember our June story about Diana‘s quest for Metro to bring back a trash can at the 61st/Alki bus stop? A customer-service rep had told her it was pulled (years earlier, it turned out) for overuse and wouldn’t be replaced. Then the next day – a replacement, after all. Today, Diana tells us, she’s scored bins for the corner to the east:

She explained to us via e-mail, “So as not to overburden the Metro trash can (as was their concern), I asked Seattle Public Utilities if they could install both trash and recycling bins on the opposite corner of 61st. Surprisingly, they responded saying my request met all the requirements to do so. It took eight weeks, and I had almost given up hope, but they miraculously showed up yesterday.” She sent the photo as proof. So if you’re at the beach sometime soon and use those new cans, you know who to thank. (If you’re having a big party, though, consider bringing bag[s] so you can pack it out.)

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Where to stay cool, and what else is up, for your West Seattle Thursday
August 18, 2016 9:04 am
|      6 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

Moonset

Thanks to Chris Frankovich for the moonset photo from this morning (you can check moonset/moonrise and sunset/sunrise times any time on the WSB West Seattle Weather page). It’s a cooling image as we head into a hot day. Today’s list includes where to stay cool(er), as well as scheduled events:

WEST SEATTLE LIBRARIES WITH AIR CONDITIONING
Delridge Library – 11 am-6 pm (5423 Delridge Way SW)
High Point Library – 11 am-6 pm (35th SW/SW Raymond)

WEST SEATTLE CITY-RUN OUTDOOR AQUATIC FACILITIES OPEN TODAY
Highland Park Spray Park – 11 am-8 pm (1100 SW Cloverdale)
Lincoln Park Wading Pool – 11 am-8 pm (8600 Fauntleroy Way SW)
Hiawatha Wading Pool – Noon-6:30 pm (Walnut/Lander)
EC Hughes Wading Pool – Noon-7 pm (2805 SW Holden)
Colman Pool – Noon-7 pm (on the shore at Lincoln Park; schedule and fees here)

The city’s “master list” of ways to stay cool is here. Now, from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:

‘PETE THE CAT’ MATH DANCE: For pre-K through 1st grade, 10:30 am, West Seattle (Admiral) Library – “Instructor Kristina Stoneberg uses Pete the Cat to inspire a picture glyph (using shapes to represent data) and then uses that information to create a jazzy dance.” Free, no registration required. (2306 42nd SW)

DELRIDGE GROCERY COOP FARMSTAND: 4-7 pm next to the Delridge P-Patch, shop for fresh produce and see what’s up with Delridge Grocery volunteers. (Delridge Way SW & Puget Boulevard SW)

‘MOONSHINE SHIMMY’ FUN(DRAISER): 5-7:30 pm at Brookdale West Seattle, enjoy a barbecue buffet, The Haggis Brothers, dancing, “moonshine,” and more, to benefit the Senior Center of WS. Here’s our preview from last weekend – get your tickets at the door if you haven’t already. (4611 35th SW)

DEEPENING THE WATER BY TERMINAL 5: Something to say about this proposal? As previewed here last week, a 5:30 pm public meeting at the South Seattle College (WSB sponsor) Georgetown campus includes your chance to comment. (6737 Corson Avenue S.)

WEST SEATTLE TIMEBANK OPEN HOUSE & MORE: At the Senior Center of West Seattle, orientation at 6 pm, potluck at 6:30 pm, speaker and discussion at 7 pm so you can find out more about Timebanking! (California SW/SW Oregon)

DUKE EVERS @ HIAWATHA: 6:30 pm on the east lawn at Hiawatha Community Center, the Admiral Neighborhood Association‘s concert series (co-sponsored by WSB) presents the Duke Evers Band. Free! Bring your own blanket/chair, and if you want, a picnic dinner. (Walnut/Lander)

OPEN MIC – UNPLUGGED! 7-9 pm at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor) – “An open mic for classical guitarists and acoustic musicians (including singers) of all genres of music. Amateurs, professionals, and kids are invited to come share their music in this cozy, comfortable setting. Co-sponsored by the Seattle Classic Guitar Society and C&P.” (5612 California SW)

‘MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG’: 7:30 pm at ArtsWest, enjoy the work of student musical-theater performers. Ticket info in our calendar listing. (4711 California SW)

BELLY DANCING: 7:30 pm at The Skylark, the monthly Alauda showcase shimmies across the stage. (3803 Delridge Way SW)

FULL MOON BONFIRE: 8 pm at Alki Beach – “Join in community for Chanting, Gonging, Drumming, Dancing, Laughter, Music, Meditations, Marshmallow Roasting, S’mores, and more!” Free event for all ages. Hosted by West Seattleite-run Guru Gayatri Yoga/Meditation Center.

MUCH MORE – on our complete calendar, so please take a moment to check it out too!

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TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Thursday watch; Metro cancellations…
August 18, 2016 6:52 am
|      14 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)

6:52 AM: Another morning without major incidents, so far, in or from West Seattle.

SEAHAWKS AT CENTURYLINK FIELD: Preseason home game for the Hawks tonight vs. Minnesota, 7 pm, so be mindful of that if you’ll be traveling through Pioneer Square/SODO.

WEEKEND EVENTS: SDOT’s weekly roundup of what’s ahead citywide for the weekend is here, including Hempfest Friday-Sunday, with a major road closure toward the north end of the downtown waterfront.

7:09 AM: West Seattle Metro run cancellation just announced via Twitter (and text alert):

7:13 AM: And another one:

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