day : 22/10/2016 11 results

UPDATE: Shots or fireworks? Police dispatched to investigate

October 22, 2016 10:21 pm

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| Highland Park | West Seattle news | West Seattle police

10:21 PM: Via text and scanner, we heard reports of “shots or fireworks” in Riverview/Highland Park a few minutes ago. Police headed to the area to check them out and heard some after arrival; they’ve told dispatch what they heard sounded like “firecrackers.” Any time you hear what you think might be shots, by the way, police have said over and over at community meetings, they want you to call it in – the more calls they get, the better their chances of figuring out the location/source.

10:55 PM: Now police are off to check out another report, four possible shots heard in the 1000 block of SW Portland.

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FOLLOWUP: Two Junction bus shelters to be removed as part of ‘problem-solving plan’

October 22, 2016 9:02 pm

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| Safety | Transportation | West Seattle news

Thanks for the tips about the new signs announcing Metro‘s plan to remove two bus shelters on the west end of the south side of SW Alaska in The Junction’s transit hub.

(WSB photo)

This is part of the “problem-solving project” we first told you about back on October 6th, after a walking tour involving reps from Metro, Metro Transit Police, Seattle Police, the city Department of Human Services (HSD), the West Seattle Junction Association (WSJA) and some of its merchants, the West Seattle Farmers’ Market, and the WS Chamber of Commerce.

The major complaint involved loitering in those shelters and in the nearby parking lot, with multiple police calls resulting from fights, disorderly conduct by intoxicated people, and maintenance issues. According to a preliminary follow-up report from Metro planner Dale Cummings that was sent to walking-tour participants, a Metro ridership study showed removal of those shelters was feasible because the RapidRide shelters on the east end of the block – which are NOT proposed for removal – get most of the use. Cummings wrote, “Since the RapidRide bus stop was added at The Junction, ridership at this bus stop that serves Rts. 37, 50, 55, 128 has dropped to around 400 boardings per day.”

The Junction had already taken steps to try to reduce the problems through changing the environment, including removing some of the vegetation and seating areas on the southeast corner of Alaska and 44th. The organization also planned to evaluate lighting in the parking lot, and to look at how to remove access to electrical outlets that have been in place by the SW Alaska bus shelter dating back to the Farmers’ Market use of the parking lot.

According to the Metro notices that just appeared in the shelters, they are to be removed in mid-November. We’ll be following up with the Junction Association about any other impending steps from the “problem-solving plan.” Meantime, if you have a comment for Metro about the impending removal, the notices point you to its Customer Service division – contact info is on this page of the Metro website.

MONDAY AFTERNOON NOTE: We’ve spoken this afternoon with Junction Association director Lora Swift and, as noted in comments, she confirms that despite Metro’s posting of all four structures west of the parking-lot driveway behind KeyBank, the two on the west are the only two slated for removal. We also talked about the other area challenges discussed during the October 6th walking tour and will have updates in our upcoming followup – we’ve been waiting all day for Metro to answer some questions before finishing the story.

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SUNDAY! Fauntleroy Fall Festival schedule & food list

October 22, 2016 8:20 pm

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| Fauntleroy | West Seattle festivals | West Seattle news

(WSB file photo)

Just hours to go until this year’s Fauntleroy Fall Festival – tomorrow (Sunday, October 23rd), 2-5 pm, at venues on both sides of the 9100 block of California SW (Fauntleroy Church/YMCA/Schoolhouse; here’s a map). Tonight, we have two things you might be wondering about in advance – the activity schedule, and the food!

Here’s the schedule:

Activities are free. The only things you need to bring money for – entirely optional – are the food and drink offerings. See the list here (PDF) – vendors this year are Endolyne Joe’s (WSB sponsor), Tuxedoes and Tennis Shoes Catering, Stuffed Cakes, Bird on a Wire Espresso, and The Tamale Guy. Plus, the Fauntleroy Church Youth Club will be having a bake sale.

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Hearing aircraft noise? Tanker test at Boeing Field

October 22, 2016 7:25 pm

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| West Seattle news

Just got a question about unusual aircraft noise – here’s the alert from the Boeing Field website:

SPECIAL NOISE ALERT – OCT 22

The Boeing Company has informed us that they plan a single nighttime flight test with a KC-46 tanker and two Navy F-18 jets on Saturday, Oct. 22. This test is part of the Boeing KC-46 refueling tanker program operating out of King County International Airport/Boeing Field. Both Navy F-18 aircraft are scheduled to leave the Airport next week and are not expected to return in 2016.

The testing program has been under way for months – we wrote about it last December.

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West Seattle weekend scene: Relaunching Denny International Middle School’s garden

October 22, 2016 6:08 pm

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| Gardening | West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

Denny International Middle School‘s learning garden got a re-launch today with the help of dozens of volunteers.

Denny science teacher Anastasia Sanchez is the staff leader on the project, and West Seattle-based Little Red Hen Project is helping get the garden growing again. The key word here is “help” …

Volunteers of all ages were there to help today, and the goal is to get regular work parties going. So watch for word on how you can dig in! The garden is expected to be a great resource for lessons from biology to food justice and more.

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West Seattle whale-watching: Humpbacks visiting again

October 22, 2016 3:21 pm

| 2 COMMENTS

| Seen at sea | West Seattle news | Wildlife

3:20 PM: Thanks to Monica Zaborac for the tip and photo – two humpback whales are in the area again! She saw them from a ferry near Southworth, just west of Vashon Island; at least one Orca Network commenter says they’re visible from here (take your binoculars).

ADDED EARLY SUNDAY: Meg McDonald of Wild Northwest Beauty Photography caught one of the humpbacks breaching in Colvos Passage along the west side of Vashon Island; her image is added above.

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HAPPENING NOW: Autumn abundance awaits you @ Solstice P-Patch Fall Festival

October 22, 2016 2:46 pm

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| Gardening | West Seattle festivals | West Seattle news

Perfect pumpkin-carving weather as the Solstice Park P-Patch gardeners host this year’s Fall Festival, until 5 pm. They’re also selling everything from dried herbs to plants to treats – this is just one of the tables:

And if you wander uphill into the P-Patch itself, you can admire fall flowers like these:

Like all P-Patches, this one is managed by its own (volunteer) gardeners, but not all have special events like this one. The plants, by the way, include starts for your own garden as well as perennials – go see for yourself next to the tennis courts at 7400 Fauntleroy Way SW before the afternoon ends!

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VIDEO: Alki arrival for cross-country-bicycling fundraising firefighters

October 22, 2016 1:23 pm

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| Health | West Seattle news

(WSB photos/video)

After riding 3,200 miles in seven weeks, from Boston to Seattle, Stephanie McGinnis and Merrick McGinnis got a big welcome at Alki Statue of Liberty Plaza this morning. Not just family and friends, but also firefighters, because Stephanie is a captain with the Port of Seattle FD and Merrick is a firefighter with South King Fire & Rescue, so there was quite a crowd to cheer as they rode up:

Just bicycled in from Boston: @PortofSeattle FD Captain Stephanie McGinnis, SKCFD firefighter Merrick McGinnis pic.twitter.com/Q1HOYHttS1

— West Seattle Blog (@westseattleblog) October 22, 2016

As briefly seen in our clip, two fireboats were just offshore to enhance the celebration, from the Seattle Fire Department and South King County:

(SFD’s Engine 29 crew was there too.) Stephanie and Merrick planned the journey for 10 years and chronicled it online, from their early September departure in Boston to their arrival yesterday at their Renton home – with the last ceremonial leg taking them to the shore of Puget Sound this morning:

The most important thing you’ll see while reading about their journey – it was more than a ride. It was a fundraiser for five health-related organizations:

We are so fortunate to be able-bodied to make this trip possible. Many of our loved ones aren’t as fortunate, though. This coast-to-coast trip has become a way for us to raise funds for incredible causes near and dear to our heart. We know many individuals who suffer from debilitating diseases, but some of these conditions have impacted the lives of our loved ones more severely than others.

There are five foundations we have chosen to raise money for: the Washington State Association of Firefighters (WSCFF) Burn Foundation, the Seattle Brain Cancer Walk, the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, the Northwest Parkinson’s Foundation, and the Evergreen chapter of the ALS Association.

Their website includes donation links for all five organizations – find them here.

So what’s next for the pedaling pair of firefighters? They’re excited to meet their 3-week-old grandson!

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HAPPENING NOW: Duwamish Alive! Fall 2016 edition

October 22, 2016 10:41 am

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| Environment | How to help | West Seattle news

It’s a perfect fall morning, which is great news for the hundreds of volunteers out helping with the fall edition of Duwamish Alive! at nine locations along the river and in its watershed, from West Seattle to Tukwila. Our first photo, above, is from WSB’s Leda Costa at Herring’s House Park. More later!

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What’s happening on your West Seattle Saturday

October 22, 2016 7:02 am

| 4 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(West Seattle from Columbia Center on Friday night – photo by Mike Mulligan)

Happy Saturday! We start with a traffic/road-work alert:

LOWER SPOKANE STREET DETOURS: The work that was postponed last weekend is happening right now, so be aware of the detours if you’re headed for Harbor Island or using other parts of the surface route east of the low bridge – this SDOT alert has the details.

But why leave? So much is going on right here on the peninsula. From the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:

FAUNTNEAU TRIANGLE WORK PARTY: 9 am-noon, help start the transformation of the Fauntleroy/Juneau/39th triangle – more info in our calendar listing.

THIS YEAR’S LAST FREE TAI CHI @ ALKI: Final scheduled Saturday session this year for free Tai Chi at Alki Beach with Caylen Storm, 9 am. (61st/Alki)

DUWAMISH ALIVE! As previewed here, work parties all around the Duwamish River watershed. Nine locations from West Seattle to Tukwila, 9:30 am-2 pm.

CLICK! HOBO TRUNK SHOW & HOLIDAY LAUNCH: 10 am-2 pm at Click! Design That Fits (WSB sponsor), the holiday launch of Hobo handbags and wallets (photo added 11:56 am):

Full details here. (4540 California SW)

KITCHEN AND BATH TENT SALE, FINAL DAY: OK, here’s one reason to go off-peninsula for a bit … Abbrio in SODO is sponsoring WSB right now to make sure you know about this big sale that wraps up today, 10 am-4 pm, “over $400,000 (list) worth of brand name fixtures, faucets, appliances and accessories that we’re selling below our cost! American Standard, Grohe, Moen, TOTO and much more! Everything is new, in factory boxes and in great condition. We have a wide variety of surplus, obsolete (mfr. changed model #s) and display merchandise – priced to sell at up to 75% off suggested list!” (5964 6th Ave. S.)

DRUG TAKEBACK DAY: 10 am-2 pm, bring your unwanted/unneeded/expired prescription drugs (no liquids) to the Southwest Precinct for anonymous, no-questions-asked dropoff as part of the twice-yearly Drug Takeback Day. Could be life-saving. (2300 SW Webster)

FIREFIGHTERS RETURN FROM RIDE: Around 10 am, if you see fire engines and a fireboat near Alki Statue of Liberty Plaza, don’t be worried – it’s part of a celebration for local firefighters returning from a cross-country charity-benefiting bicycle ride. (61st/Alki)

DENNY LEARNING GARDEN REVIVAL: 11 am-4 pm, join The Little Red Hen Project and friends at Denny International Middle School as they work to revive its learning garden. Your help would be most welcome; here’s our preview. (2601 SW Kenyon)

VIETNAMESE STORYTIME: 11:30 am-noon, bring kids 3+ to Delridge Library for stories, songs, and rhymes in Vietnamese. (5423 Delridge Way SW)

OUNCES’ SOFT OPEN: Noon today is when the doors are expected to open at Ounces in North Delridge; here’s our most recent preview. They’re planning two soft-open weeks before grand-opening festivities the weekend of November 4th. (3809 Delridge Way SW) Update: Opening postponed.

MAKE ART! 1-3 pm, drop-in paint-by-numbers at Southwest Library, part of the annual Community Art Showcase (admire the art that your neighbors are displaying, while you’re there). Free. (35th SW/SW Henderson)

HIGH-SCHOOL FOOTBALL: 1 pm at West Seattle Stadium, it’s the Seattle Lutheran High School Homecoming Game, vs. Quilcene. (4432 35th SW)

SOLSTICE P-PATCH FALL FESTIVAL: Also featured in the WSB West Seattle Halloween/Fall/etc. Guide – 2-5 pm – “Rain or shine, we will be @ SW Webster and Fauntleroy Way SW (next to Lincoln Park Annex tennis courts) – Pumpkin Carving/Painting, Plant Sale, Refreshments, Organic Produce/Home Preserves, Local grown apples. Come and join the fun.”

JAMES LEE STANLEY: Singer/composer/comedian, 7:30 pm at Kenyon Hall. Details and ticket info are in the calendar listing. (7904 35th SW)

THREE BANDS: 9 pm at Parliament Tavern, “junkyard jazz” with Band of Certainty, X-RAY, Manta Chordata. $5 cover. 21+. (4210 SW Admiral Way)

Have a great day/night, whatever you plan to do! And check back with WSB for 24/7 news/event coverage.

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High-school football: Chief Sealth over Franklin

October 22, 2016 6:54 am

| 1 COMMENT

| West Seattle news | WS & Sports

(WSB photos)

At Southwest Athletic Complex last night, what began with a celebration of Chief Sealth International High School seniors ended with the varsity football team’s first win of the year.

Final score – Sealth 44, Franklin 8. Star of the game was #8, sophomore Donnie McMillan, with four touchdowns:

Two interceptions resulted in TDs – first, in the second quarter, #3, junior Lavontae Maxwell picked off a pass from Franklin’s #1, freshman QB Milton Hopkins, and ran it back.

Then at the start of the second half, Sealth’s #5, junior Diego Jackson, also picked one off Hopkins and ran it in:

Sealth’s #11, freshman Bishop Jackson, also had a TD. All of Franklin’s scoring came in the last minute, a TD with a 2-point conversion.

As mentioned above, it was Senior Night for Sealth – congratulations to the seniors on head coach Luther Carr III‘s roster: Kyler Gaither, Colby Gemmill, Angelo Hererra, Yafiet Kidane, Basilio Leon-Roman, Chase McNelly, and Anh Trinh.

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