West Seattle, Washington

18 Thursday

41℉

month : 01/2017 290 results

TOMORROW: Historic reunion at West Seattle High School
January 12, 2017 7:21 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

Announced tonight by West Seattle High School‘s Diversity Club adviser Jennifer Hall:

Former state Representatives Jesse Wineberry, Georgette Valle (now 92 years of age, and writing her fourth book), and Bruce Addison (the last Republican Washington state legislator to be elected from Seattle in over 18 years) have agreed to attend West Seattle High School’s Martin Luther King Day Assembly as honored guests.

These three individuals overcame personal differences to work closely together almost 30 years ago, to craft and pass Martin Luther King Day legislation in Washington State. Former Representative Wineberry will be the main speaker at the assembly. Wineberry will also serve as a keynote speaker at Seattle’s MLK Memorial Rally, after the march from Garfield High School on Monday, January 16.

School confidentiality rules prohibit video or audio recording by local news agencies at the assembly, but local community group representatives are not prohibited from attending. The morning assembly will be held at 10:35 AM. All visitors to West Seattle High School are required to sign in at the main office, and pick up a visitor’s badge.

If you’re interested in attending, RSVP to Jennifer Hall – jenniferhall319@gmail.com.

Addison and Valle are both former 34th District (which includes West Seattle) representatives; Wineberry served in the 43rd District.

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New opening date for West Seattle Whole Foods Market: Summer 2018
January 12, 2017 4:55 pm
|      50 COMMENTS
 |   4755 Fauntleroy | West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news

9999007- The Whittaker (01-11-17)

After a few recent reader questions about the status of West Seattle’s future Whole Foods Market, planned for the north side of The Whittaker (WSB sponsor), we checked around – and just found out the new timeframe for its opening.

When last we checked, in June of last year, a Whole Foods spokesperson told WSB that the store was expected to open in the “second half of 2017.”

This afternoon, responding to our inquiry about the current timeline, Susan Livingston from Whole Foods told WSB: “We look forward to opening our doors in Summer, 2018.”

She added:

I’m delighted to share that we’ve updated our plans since we last shared them with your readers. Some of the new features include the addition of a tap room with lots of seating, an expanded Prepared Foods department with additional venues, and improved pedestrian connections. As with any project, weather and other factors can impact our schedule, but we’ll share details about our grand opening as we get closer to the actual date.

Livingston says that the “new features” are part of what has pushed back the timeline, and that it’s not unusual for “big-box anchor tenants” in projects like this to take longer than first expected.

When construction of The Whittaker (4755 Fauntleroy Way SW) began two years ago, WF was the only signed commercial tenant. Then last August, four more tenants were announced – MOD Pizza, BECU, CityMD, and T-Mobile, as shown in the latest site map above (the yellow spaces are still available, and one of them – AOL – is set aside for a restaurant). The aforementioned already-announced businesses are expected to open later this year, as are the apartments in the north building – the south building at The Whittaker is already leasing.

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WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Four reader reports – including words of thanks
January 12, 2017 3:37 pm
|      11 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | West Seattle news

Four reader reports to share this afternoon:

STOLEN CAR: Matt‘s brother’s car was stolen today on 34th SW: “It was a green 1996 Honda Accord. Lic # AUK3613. The car is from Victoria B.C. and has a ‘Honda City Victoria’ license plate outline. It also has a ‘Sub Pop’ sticker on left side of the back bumper.” Call 911 if you see it.

STOLEN BICYCLE: From Chris:

My bike was stolen from our secured entry garage in the Alaska Junction (44th, between Alaska and Edmunds). Reported to SPD (2017-13425), and on bikeindex.com. I don’t know when the theft occurred, but I believe it was sometime between (Tuesday) night and (Wednesday) afternoon.

Bike is a 2015 Marin Lombard Elite 52cm (like this, except I had wrapped my handlebars in teal tape).

CAR PROWL FRUSTRATION: From John:

My wife’s car had the side window broken on Monday late afternoon, Lincoln Park South lot.

She’d semi-hidden a small backpack with a laptop, so that’s history. She just walked through that same parking lot this afternoon and noted four more fresh piles of shattered window glass – in addition to hers from Monday.

The SPD officer who took her report was sympathetic but resigned to this never-ending nuisance. I’d like to think that some special enforcement could be done in West Seattle where car prowls are endemic, like Lincoln Park’s middle and south parking lots. I’d think a few arrests here and there could slow the pace of this crime and perhaps even result in the criminals reconsidering their acting with impunity in the usual locations.

It just doesn’t seem like this cool community should have to put up with petty crime running rampant.

There have been arrests – but one challenge police and prosecutors have identified is that car prowling by itself is a misdemeanor and so that doesn’t necessarily keep the suspect behind bars for long unless there are other factors in the case, such as an arrest warrant already out for them.

PACKAGE-THEFT VICTIM’S THANKS: From Nathan:

I just want to say thank you to one of my excellent, anonymous, neighbors. Today I came home from work to find an opened package on my porch. The contents were on top of the package, and a note said it was found nearby, shredded and the contents strewn about. It was signed, “your neighbor on 48th”. This was near Hanford and 47th. Apparently the would-be thief didn’t think the $8 ethernet cable jacks I ordered could be traded for heroin or crack. The nice gesture of my neighbor restored some faith in humanity …

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UPDATE: Search for stabbing suspect on Puget Ridge
January 12, 2017 1:23 pm
|      22 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | Puget Ridge | West Seattle news

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1:23 PM: If you’re seeing/hearing a major Seattle Fire/Police response in the Puget Ridge area – there’s an “assault with weapons” response in the 6500 block of 18th SW. No other details so far.

1:29 PM: Still no information about who was injured and how, but police are looking for one suspect – the partial description on the scanner is white, male, 6 feet tall, thin, no shirt.

1:34 PM: The incident is now described as a stabbing. If you’re hearing a helicopter in the area, it’s TV.

1:54 PM: SFD says the victim is a 34-year-old man taken to the hospital with a stab wound in his thigh.

2:26 PM Police still have 18th SW blocked in the 6500 block.

2:53 PM Update from SFD – victim’s wounds are more serious than first reported – now described as life-threatening.

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West Seattle Art Walk and more for your Thursday
January 12, 2017 10:57 am
|      5 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

Moonset 01-12-2017
(This morning’s moonset over The Olympics, photographed by Chris Frankovich)

The full “wolf moon” put on a show this morning (above) and last night (below). Looking ahead to tonight here are highlights from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar, starting with this month’s West Seattle Art Walk:

JANUARY ART WALK: 6-9 pm at venues around West Seattle. Here’s the venue list/map for this quarter:

ArtwalkPostcard_010203_Back

We’ve heard directly from four venues:
–Viscon Cellars (5910 California SW; WSB sponsor) is featuring painter Lindsay Peyton
–ReMAX in The Junction (4400 SW Alaska) is featuring Judith Allison (until 8 pm)
–Wild Rose in The Junction (4529 California SW) is featuring photographer Jacob Smithers
–The Building in Gatewood (7150 44th SW) has several open studios tonight

Any others? editor@westseattleblog.com! Also please note that Click! Design That Fits (WSB sponsor) is not participating this month because it’s closed for its winter break until January 28th – but go see them during the February and March WSAWs!

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(This morning’s moonset over The Olympics, photographed by Robert Spears)

Also today/tonight:

3038 39TH SW APPEAL HEARING: Under way at the city Hearing Examiner‘s chambers on the 40th floor of the Municipal Tower downtown – public is welcome to observe (we’re here and the gallery is almost full – this is continuing until at least noon). Here’s our preview, published Wednesday. (700 5th Avenue)

CHIEF SEALTH IHS SHOWCASE/RESOURCE FAIR: Future high-school student in your family? 5:30-7:30 pm, you’re invited to come find out more about Chief Sealth International High School. A Family Engagement Resource Fair is also happening, and current students’ families are welcome too. Free dinner for all! Full details in our calendar listing. (2600 SW Thistle)

AFTER HOURS AT THE Y: The West Seattle Chamber of Commerce‘s After Hours event is at the newly expanded West Seattle YMCA (WSB sponsor), 5:30-7:30 pm. $10 nonmembers, free for members. (36th SW/SW Snoqualmie)

Moonset 2017 (3 of 4)
(This morning’s moonset over The Olympics, photographed by Dan Ciske)

PECOS PIT PARKING MEETING: 6:30 pm at the Sisson Building/Senior Center, tonight is the meeting for community comments on whether to extend the Pecos Pit Barbecue (WSB sponsor) use of the ex-substation site to the east. (4217 SW Oregon)

PARK BOARD CONSIDERS DOG PLAN: 6:30 pm at Seattle Parks HQ downtown, the “strategic plan” for future offleash and more will be considered by the Board of Parks Commissioners, as previewed here. (100 Dexter Ave. N.)

OPEN MIC AT C & P: 7 pm at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor), it’s open-mic night for musicians. (5612 California SW)

‘THE ODD COUPLE, FEMALE EDITION’: 7:30 pm, second performance of West Seattle High School‘s student-directed play – full details here. (3000 California SW)

snyder
(Last night’s moonrise over downtown, photographed by Greg Snyder)

LOTS MORE … on our complete calendar!

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UPDATE: Fauntleroy water break, mudslide
January 12, 2017 9:25 am
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   Fauntleroy | West Seattle news

9:25 AM: If you’re driving in Fauntleroy, be aware of this slide on Fauntleroy Place at Cloverdale (45th headed north becomes this street – here’s a map):

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Thanks to Christopher Bell for the photo. We’re checking with Seattle Public Utilities about the report that this is the result of a water-main break.

11:10 AM UPDATE: From SPU’s Ingrid Goodwin: “SPU crews responded this morning to a break in a 1-inch plastic water service as well as a mud slide on Fauntleroy Place. A couple of truckloads of material slid from a green belt area into the roadway. SPU landslide engineers are performing a site evaluation of the hillside and water crews are working on the cleanup and repair. Water is back on for customers who were impacted.”

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TRAFFIC, TRANSIT, WEATHER: Thursday updates
January 12, 2017 7:06 am
|      1 COMMENT
 |   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)

7:06 AM: Another below-freezing morning – official temp 27 degrees right now – so be mindful again of icy spots. Otherwise, unlike yesterday morning, no incidents reported in/from West Seattle.

7:27 AM: Also unlike yesterday, we’re noticing some frost on cars parked on the street, so you might need to allow yourself some scraping time.

9:15 AM: If you’re driving in Fauntleroy, be aware of the slide on Fauntleroy Place at Cloverdale – covered in a separate story.

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UPDATE: Water-main break in High Point
January 12, 2017 7:05 am
|      1 COMMENT
 |   High Point | Utilities | West Seattle news

7:05 AM: Thanks to the texter who reported that water service is out for some High Point residents near 34th SW and SW Holly. They report Seattle Public Utilities says it’ll be out for a few hours.

12:45 PM: More info from SPU spokesperson Ingrid Goodwin: “SPU crews continue to work to repair a vertical break on an 8-inch water main on 34th Avenue SW. Water is anticipated to be back on for customers by 1:30 pm today and crews are expected to be done with the repair and off the street by 3 pm. Crews initially throttled the water main around 4:45 am, which caused some customers to be immediately out of water. About 68 water services are impacted.”

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@ Fauntleroy Community Association: Ex-substation; Schoolhouse centennial; crime…
January 11, 2017 11:19 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   Fauntleroy | Neighborhoods | West Seattle news

Toplines from Tuesday night’s Fauntleroy Community Association meeting at Fauntleroy Schoolhouse:

EX-SUBSTATION SITE: The group looking into buying Seattle City Light‘s former Fauntleroy Substation site at 4520 Brace Point Drive has not yet come up with the funding to do that; the city is offering it at $250,000. City Light has given them a little more time, community members were still talking before the holiday season about the possibility of bringing in some major donors.

SCHOOLHOUSE CENTENNIAL: Fauntleroy Schoolhouse turns 100 this year, and the big party is 11:30 am-3:30 pm on Sunday, May 21st. If you went to Fauntleroy Elementary at the schoolhouse, organizers are looking for photos and other memorabilia – you’re invited to loan or donate it. Here’s one photo already awaiting the event:

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If you have something of interest for the celebration, e-mail faunt.schoolhouse100years@gmail.com – they’re also seeking memorabilia from longtime schoolhouse tenant Fauntleroy Children’s Center.

CRIME UPDATE: Southwest Precinct Operations Lt. Ron Smith brought the newest stats. Car prowls are still the biggest problem – 11 in the past four weeks. Also of note, five larceny-level thefts and two stolen cars.

MEETING CHANGE FOR NEXT MONTH: Since the second Tuesday in February is Valentine’s Day, the board is switching its meeting to Wednesday, February 15th (still 7 pm, at the schoolhouse, 9131 California SW).

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If you have brown water in east Arbor Heights …
January 11, 2017 9:19 pm
|    Comments Off on If you have brown water in east Arbor Heights …
 |   Arbor Heights | Utilities | West Seattle news

No, it’s not a water break. Your neighbor Joe Szilagyi already inquired with Seattle Public Utilities and shares what he found out:

We had SPU out in the mid block the past two days on 32nd between 97th and 100th cleaning sewers and they had to tap the fire hydrant heavily today to finish the job — all the water is very brown SPU told us approximately from 97th to 100th on 32nd, *maybe* adjacent blocks. It should be fine tomorrow morning sometime if no one uses the water, more usage slows the sediment settling. They said if it’s still brown tomorrow for people to call SPU.

The number to call would be the one we’ve published many times – the one Joe used, too – 206-386-1800.

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POLITICS: 34th District Democrats’ new leadership
January 11, 2017 8:33 pm
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle politics

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(Photo by @34dems via Twitter)

Our area’s biggest political organization elected new leadership tonight, at its every-two-years reorganization meeting. The 34th District Democrats‘ new chair is David Ginsberg, shown above with Marcee Stone-Vekich, who declined to run for re-election after two 2-year terms. Per prescribed party process, the meeting was convened by the King County Democrats, and then Ginsberg took over after his election.

Two positions were contested: The first to be voted on was state committeeman – incumbent Chris Porter, challenged by Patrick Wicklund; Porter won 43-24.

(Voting in most races involved Precinct Committee Officers – the rules empower them to vote for all positions, while members who aren’t PCOs can only vote for secretary and treasurer.)

Also contested, county committeeman: Les Treall won over David Toledo, 55-12.

The rest of the slate of newly elected officers (asterisk denotes incumbent):

First Vice Chair – Treina Aronson
Second Vice Chair – Michael Taylor-Judd
State Committeewoman – Lisa Plymate*
County Committeewoman – Carrie Alexander
Alternate County Committeewoman – Martha Koester
Alternate County Committeeman – Ted Barker
Secretary – Jason Cheung
Treasurer – Gina Topp

The 34th Dems’ website has bios on those who had declared their candidacy pre-meeting – you can see them here. The group’s next meeting will be 7 pm February 8th at The Hall at Fauntleroy.

ADDED 9:29 PM: One more note from the meeting:

THANKS … to King County Council Chair Joe McDermott and the official @34Dems Twitter feed for info from tonight’s meeting.

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SPORTS: Batter up! Registration time for West Seattle Girls Softball
January 11, 2017 7:44 pm
|    Comments Off on SPORTS: Batter up! Registration time for West Seattle Girls Softball
 |   West Seattle news | WS & Sports

WSGS_Softball_2016-01

Registration is open for another local youth-sports league! Thanks to Megan Simmons for sharing the announcement:

West Seattle Girls Softball is a local nonprofit recreational league for all girls ages 6-15. No previous softball experience necessary. Registration is open through February. Practices begin in late March. Season wraps up by the end of the school year. Go to westseattlegirlssoftball.com to register.

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WEST SEATTLE SUMMER FEST 2017: Want to be a vendor?
January 11, 2017 4:41 pm
|      6 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle festivals | West Seattle news

The new year is still new … but it’s already time to look ahead to West Seattle Summer Fest 2017. This year’s dates are Friday-Sunday, July 14-16. Past vendors have already been invited to an earlybird registration period, and now it’s time for general vendor registration – deadline March 1st.

Here are the forms:

Vendor application

Food-vendor application

After checking out the forms, if you have questions, e-mail vendors@monumentalundertaking.com or call206-472-9928. And find lots more details on the West Seattle Junction Association website!

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YOU CAN HELP: Benefit planned for crash survivor Britt Russell
January 11, 2017 2:32 pm
|      13 COMMENTS
 |   How to help | West Seattle news

HEAL BRITTsmallforinternet

Six weeks after a driver hit her in The Admiral District, Britt Russell is out of the hospital, with a lot of healing left to do. Mission Cantina, where she was going to work that evening, has announced a benefit for January 25th – two weeks from tonight – and looking for donations and partners for the fundraiser. From Mission’s co-owners:

Our employee and friend Britt Russell was struck by a car a month ago in the Admiral Junction. She was on her way into Mission to work her shift at 4:50 pm. As she walked across California Avenue, she was hit by a vehicle traveling about 30 miles per hour. She was severely injured and was at Harborview up until this week. She has a shattered pelvis, cracked neck vertebrate, broken leg, and traumatic brain injury.

Mission is holding a fundraiser on Wednesday, January 25th. We would greatly appreciate any donations to this cause. Mission will be donating 20% of all sales that evening. If your business would like to donate a portion of your sales at your establishment that night as well, please let me know. We will put your logo on a flyer that will go out on the West Seattle Blog and our website/ Instagram/ Facebook. If you would like to donate gift cards, hoodies, parties, tickets, etc. they will be auctioned off at Mission that night. All the proceeds will go directly to Britt. Georgetown Brewery has donated a keg to help with the fundraiser. All the proceeds from the sales of Manny’s Pale Ale that evening will go to Britt and her family.

Although she is improving greatly every day, she has a long recovery road ahead of her. She has been recently discharged and needs to begin paying rent at a new apartment that is wheelchair accessible. Not to mention the medical bills that have been piling up. Britt is from Australia and her mother has now moved to Seattle to take care of her. She is an amazing person, employee, and friend. Britt is an extremely hard worker. She was working three jobs at once and now has no form of income. She could really use the help.

Please feel free to contact Peter at any time with questions or donations. He can pick up donations anytime. On behalf of Britt’s employers, coworkers, friends, and family I would like to thank any and all donations. Hope to see you Wednesday, January 25th!

Peter Morse
Shawn Padilla
Tina Padilla

Best way to reach Peter is via e-mail – peter@missionbar.com.

P.S. The GoFundMe account for Britt is still open, too.

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It’s about more than a tree, say West Seattle neighbors whose challenge gets a hearing tomorrow
January 11, 2017 12:00 pm
|      44 COMMENTS
 |   Development | West Seattle news

By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

It started with a tree.

It’s grown into something more.

Tomorrow, the city Hearing Examiner will hear arguments in the fight over whether a house will replace a 100+-foot tree at 3036 39th SW.

We first wrote about it seven months ago, in early June, when a neighborhood 9-year-old was going door to door to let people know that the Ponderosa Pine’s days might be numbered.

Its fate was seemingly sealed by this preliminary city opinion, sought right after the sale of the site, including an existing house at 3038 39th SW, was finalized in November 2015. Allowing a new house on a site smaller than 3,200 square feet – this one is measured at 3,166 sf – requires a “special exception.” The city announced in October that it would grant one.

The ensuing months have taken the case through twists and turns. As also reported here in October, the Seattle Green Spaces Coalition filed its own appeal of the city’s decision allowing a new house, but that appeal was dismissed in November. Neighbor Lisa Parriott, leading the neighborhood appeal – part of which was dismissed in the same November ruling – learned that the cost of the challenge could go well into five figures.

She and other residents involved in the case gathered at her house on Sunday to talk about it as the hearing drew near. Read More

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West Seattle scene: Olympic medalist Tori Bowie @ High Point Community Center
January 11, 2017 10:48 am
|    Comments Off on West Seattle scene: Olympic medalist Tori Bowie @ High Point Community Center
 |   West Seattle news | WS & Sports

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Thanks to Kathleen Collins for the photo! It’s from High Point Community Center last night, when the young athletes of the High Voltage Track and Field Club got to meet Olympic track-and-field medalist Tori Bowie (top row, center). Bowie, 26, was a triple medalist at last year’s Summer Olympics – gold in the 4x100m relay, silver in the 100m dash, bronze in the 200m dash. She lives in Florida; her visit to Seattle also included receiving an award from Casey Family Programs.

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West Seattle Wednesday: Dance, talk, vote, run, read, applaud…
January 11, 2017 9:27 am
|      1 COMMENT
 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

surfbird0117-01
(Surfbird, photographed by Mark Wangerin)

We’ve made it to midweek! Here are the highlights for today/tonight, from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:

FAMILY STORY TIME: Perfect for 1-to-5-year-olds and their grownups. 10:30 am at Southwest Library. (35th SW/SW Henderson)

PRESCHOOL STORY TIME: This one is best for 3-to-5-year-olds and their grownups. 10:30 am at West Seattle (Admiral) Library. (2306 42nd SW)

HEY, WEST SEATTLE BIZPEOPLE! Noon-1:15 pm, it’s your meetup day at West Seattle Office Junction (WSB sponsor), our area’s only coworking center. Bring your lunch and come network. (6040 California SW)

DINE OUT FOR LAFAYETTE: 6-10 pm, part of tonight’s proceeds at Pizzeria 22 go to help Lafayette Elementary School. (4213 SW College)

BELLYDANCING CLASSES: New series begins, with “toolbox” at 6 pm, workout at 7 pm, at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center. Details in our calendar listing. (4409 Delridge Way SW)

34TH DISTRICT DEMOCRATS’ REORGANIZATION MEETING: Every two years, West Seattle’s biggest political group elects new leadership, and that’s what happens at tonight’s meeting, 7 pm at The Hall at Fauntleroy. Here’s the agenda; the list of declared candidates is here. (9131 California SW)

COUCH-TO-DASH INFO NIGHT: 7 pm at West Seattle Runner (WSB sponsor), come find out about an upcoming training program looking ahead to the St. Pat’s Dash. (2743 California SW)

‘THE ODD COUPLE, FEMALE EDITION’: Student-directed play opens tonight at West Seattle High School Theater, 7:30 pm. Ticket info and other details here. (3000 California SW)

BILLY JOE HUELS & THE RCs: 8 pm at Parliament Tavern. 21+. (4210 SW Admiral Way)

Got something for the calendar? Let thousands of your West Seattle neighbors know about your community/school meeting, performance, fundraiser, freebie, work party, support group, or … we list a lot. Send the info in plain text in the body of your e-mail, at least a week before the event, editor@westseattleblog.com – thanks!

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TRAFFIC, TRANSIT, WEATHER: Wednesday watch, with early trouble
January 11, 2017 5:41 am
|      16 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)

5:38 AM: We’re launching early this morning because it’s already a troubled morning commute:

-Texter says a car spun out on the eastbound West Seattle Bridge and is blocking the left lane. No injuries reported (no Seattle Fire dispatch).

-If you take northbound I-5 from points south of the West Seattle Bridge, it’s closed because of a deadly crash overnight at Michigan.

-The Vashon Water Taxi is canceled again this morning (as it was last night) because of strong wind.

Watch out for road ice – temperatures are below freezing this morning.

6:12 AM: Another reader says the crash on the bridge is still blocking the two left lanes. It’s out of camera range, and SDOT hasn’t tweeted about it, so if you’re on a bus or otherwise in a passenger seat and you have an update (tow truck on scene or …) please comment.

Also, SFD is responding to a crash on NB 99 at Henderson – that would be south of the bridge. And Metro says the NB I-5 crash at Michigan is continuing to affect transit routes, even ones miles from the scene.

6:23 AM: The crash is near the crest of the EB West Seattle Bridge. Meantime, most lanes have reopened at the scene of the deadly NB I-5 crash at Michigan

6:41 AM: Thanks for the update in comments – bridge crash is reported to have cleared. And all lanes on NB I-5 at Michigan have reopened after that crash investigation (original incident was at 2 am). The SFD call for the NB 99/Henderson crash has closed.

7:21 AM: New problem! SDOT says a stall in the NB Battery Street Tunnel is backing up The Viaduct.

Meantime, there’s a medic response on the SFD 911 log as 38th/Alaska.

7:27 AM: SDOT says the Battery Street Tunnel stall has cleared, but as always …”residual delays” will remain for a while.

8:08 AM: It’s been such a busy morning, we forgot to mention that – as far as we know – another day of streetlight work on the west end of the bridge is scheduled today between 9 am and 4 pm. Details here.

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YOU CAN HELP! Camp Fire HQ in West Seattle collecting hats, socks, gloves
January 10, 2017 10:47 pm
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   How to help | West Seattle news

Camp Fire Central Puget Sound, headquartered in West Seattle, is inviting you to help with a donation drive to keep people warm. From Nicole Collin:

One of our Camp Fire groups is hosting a Hat, Sock and Glove Collection Drive to benefit the Seattle “Street Youth Ministries,” a local non-profit that assists homeless youth and young adults in the University District.

Our office is one of the drop-off locations for donations and we would love to get the word out. The drive ends February 17th.

More details are on the Camp Fire website, including the group’s wish list. The HQ here in West Seattle is in the office park at 2414 SW Andover in North Delridge (map), and you can drop off donations 10 am-4 pm weekdays (except next Monday, when they’ll be closed for MLK Day).

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WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Stolen car; vehicle break-ins; possible loot found; more
January 10, 2017 7:32 pm
|      17 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | West Seattle news | West Seattle police

In West Seattle Crime Watch tonight:

INVESTIGATION AT RITE-AID: After reader questions, we went to the Junction location to look into this police response:

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Between talking with police and hearing scanner traffic, here’s what this boiled down to: They had received a report that someone seen in the store resembled a suspect in a robbery at another drugstore in the region. They were questioning someone when we stopped by; we don’t know the resolution, but did want to mention what the response was about. 9:51 PM UPDATE: We talked with precinct Operations Lt. Ron Smith at tonight’s Fauntleroy Community Association meeting. He said the person was arrested in connection with three incidents he referred to as “pharmaceutical thefts,” two in West Seattle, one elsewhere.

STOLEN CAR: Sometime between Friday night and Monday noontime, Vi‘s black 4-door Nissan Maxima was stolen from an apartment parking lot behind the Staples store at Westwood Village. License plate BBY1722 in a Car Pros frame:

–It has a broken antenna, with about 8 to 10 inches left of it on back right trunk!
–Left rear red reflector part taillight half broken out.

I had my toddler’s bike in back seat, visible but w/a larg sweatshirt over much of it. Also had a rolled rug there. It’s trunk had Many toys, a CARS pillow, Kylo Ren scooter, helmet, car toddler and booster seat, among several other items. So much lost…

CAR BREAK-INS: From Tiffany: “My husband and son were at basketball practice (last night) at the Fauntleroy Y. When they came out at 6 pm, our car along with 4 other cars had windows smashed. Thieves took my sons back pack and lunch box, go figure. Cops were called, but they said they wouldn’t come and should just file a police report online.”

FOUND ITEMS: A reader “recently found a CD/DVD case FULL of about 200 movie DVD’s on my property. Looks like a potentially abandoned car prowl stash.” Here’s a photo:

They weren’t able to turn it over to police, so they still have it in possession, so: “If the owner can identify one of the first 8 or 16 titles in the case, I’d be satisfied that it’s theirs and return it to them. There is also a page of handwritten sheet music inside the case as well that they can identify to take possession.” If this is yours, contact us and we’ll forward your info.

FROM THE SPD REPORT FILES: A narrative published today has information about a break-in at Marination Ma Kai last Saturday at Seacrest Park. The officer wrote that a proprietor opening the business on Saturday “saw that a bench that sits in front of the business had been moved … the window behind the bench was open and and unknown person had entered the business through the window.” The burglar(s) apparently had gone through the area around the cash register, but nothing was in it but some “loose coins,” and those weren’t even taken.

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West Seattle scene: Wind-fueled waves
January 10, 2017 4:32 pm
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle beaches | West Seattle news | West Seattle weather

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4:32 PM: Thanks to David Hutchinson for the photo – north wind and a 12-foot tide slapped the Alki promenade with big waves this afternoon. Can’t guarantee the north wind will return, but even-higher “king tides” are expected, peaking Saturday (6:49 am) and Sunday (7:27 am) mornings at 12.9 feet.

4:45 PM: Another photo arrived shortly after we published this – from Theresa, also near Alki Statue of Liberty Plaza:

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ADDED 8:10 PM: More photos! This one’s from Robert Spears:

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And from Aaron Whitmore:

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How to cut $74 million? Here’s what Seattle School Board will look at Wednesday
January 10, 2017 2:51 pm
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 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

Seattle Public Schools has warned of a potential $74 million budget gap because of underfunding from the state and the so-called “levy cliff,” both explained here. At a special School Board meeting tomorrow, a long list of ways to make up that gap will be discussed, including larger classes and smaller staffs. It’s now available online – here’s the slide deck:

(You can also see it on the district website here.) The presentation also includes a list of schools are ranked through an equity list the district could use to protect some of the highest-need schools from some of the cuts. Among West Seattle schools, Denny International Middle School ranks highest there.

The board will not be taking final votes on any of these proposed budget cuts tomorrow – it’s a work session, starting at 4:30 pm at district HQ (3rd Avenue S. and S. Lander). The meeting is open for public observation but not spoken comments, so if you have comments for them, you can e-mail schoolboard@seattleschools.org. P.S. While board work sessions aren’t usually streamed, the agenda says this one will be.

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More battery-powered buses for Metro
January 10, 2017 1:44 pm
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 |   Transportation | West Seattle news

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(King County photo)

40 feet long, with a range of 25 miles, and a 10-minute charging time. Those are the baseline stats for the additional battery-powered Metro buses announced today, following up on the testing announced back in 2015. King County Executive Dow Constantine says Metro is buying “up to 73 all-electric battery buses from Proterra at a cost of up to $55 million, starting with 20 buses totaling $15.12 million. Charging stations to support the initial orders of those buses will range from $5.5 million to $6.6 million.” The first eight will go into service this year, likely in Bellevue. But that’s just part of the plan, according to the news release:

As part of today’s announcement, Metro will acquire up to nine long-range electric buses from different manufacturers to test the battery technology with a range of about 140 miles. With this approximately $7 million acquisition, Metro is challenging the industry to produce buses that can travel farther. Metro also is calling on the industry to develop 60-foot long buses, better able to replace the articulated buses that make up 55 percent of its fleet.

That’s the length of many buses you see in West Seattle – RapidRide, Route 120, Route 21, among others. Read today’s announcement in its entirety here.

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