For a few festive moments tonight, a milestone birthday celebration at OutWest Bar went outdoors for a flash mob! Sindy Todo was celebrating the big 6-5 – that’s Sindy above in gold, and below (note the cap – and the matching dresses!) with Dolly Madison, who performs at OutWest on Saturday nights:

And of course there was dancing:

Thanks to Jill for the tip, and happy birthday, Sindy!

All-City Honors Elementary concert features students from West Seattle schools

March 4, 2017 10:39 pm

| 2 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle schools | WS culture/arts

Thanks to Vy Duong for the photos and report:

2017 All City Honors Elementary Orchestra and Band Concert today at Asa Mercer Middle School. Participation is by invitation only from their music teachers.

Elementary students from the following West Seattle schools performed:

Lafayette
Alki
Gatewood
Roxhill
Highland Park
Pathfinder

Congratulations to the young musicians, their families, and their teachers!

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CRIME WATCH FOLLOWUP: Reader spots stolen car

March 4, 2017 7:46 pm

| 5 COMMENTS

| Crime | West Seattle news

When Kristin e-mailed about the theft of her in-laws’ car from outside her house in Fauntleroy, she wasn’t very hopeful it would be found. But it was, about 3 1/2 miles away, thanks to WSB reader Susie, who e-mailed to say, “I stopped by my boyfriend’s house today (4000 block of 32nd Ave SW) and noticed Kristin’s family’s stolen red 1998 Honda CRV parked out front. We notified police and Kristin; SPD showed up minutes ago. … Appeared to be a large amount of stolen mail and other belongings in the vehicle and they had obviously gone though the open glove box. … Did not appear to be any damage to the doors, windows, or ignition so maybe there’s a silver lining.”

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CLOSURE OVER: Alaskan Way Viaduct inspection ends early, Highway 99 reopens, but…

March 4, 2017 5:12 pm

| 3 COMMENTS

| Alaskan Way Viaduct | West Seattle news

This weekend’s Alaskan Way Viaduct inspection has ended early and Highway 99 has reopened. No inspection closure tomorrow but, WSDOT says, the Hot Chocolate 15K closure just north of the Battery Street Tunnel is still planned for Sunday morning. (added) Specifics on that:

Hot Chocolate 15k/5k details

6 a.m. to noon, Sunday, March 5

SR 99/Aurora Avenue North will close in both directions.
Southbound lanes will be closed between the Battery Street Tunnel and N. 38th Street.
Northbound lanes will be closed between the Battery Street Tunnel and N. 47th Street.

A Project Belltown walk inside the Battery Street Tunnel may keep the northbound lanes closed as late as 1 p.m.

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CONGRATULATIONS! West Seattle HS boys take 3rd place in state basketball championships

March 4, 2017 3:01 pm

| 6 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle schools | WS & Sports

(WSB photos by Patrick Sand)

FIRST REPORT, 3:01 PM: A fourth-quarter comeback just won the West Seattle High School boys third place at the state 3A basketball championships – they beat Lincoln 66-54, as head coach Keffrey Fazio‘s team battled back from a 14-point deficit at halftime. Photos and details to come!

ADDED 8:48 PM: The magnitude of the comeback had to have alleviated a little of the sting from the buzzer-basket loss the night before. Read More

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YOU CAN HELP: Tragedy strikes New Leaf Bistro ownership family

March 4, 2017 1:13 pm

| 20 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle people | West Seattle restaurants

(Family photo, used with permission)

Every small, family-owned business has a story. Recently, the one behind New Leaf Bistro in The Admiral District turned tragic. Less than a year and a half after opening the restaurant in the former Royal India Grill space, co-proprietors Geoffrey Ly and Shi Qiu Chen found out in December that Geoffrey had “a very aggressive cancer,” customer and friend Suzanne Krom writes. “His doctors started treatment but it quickly overwhelmed his system, and on January 29th, he died. He was only 55 years old.”

The couple has two young children, 10-year-old Angelina and 8-year-old Kelvin. Chen is now raising them alone and running the restaurant, a 17-hour-a-day job.

When Suzanne found out about Geoffrey’s death, she wanted to do something to help, something with which the community could help too. So today she launched a GoFundMe page. She writes that “the business and family are in jeopardy. Friends have rallied around her and customers who know about the loss of Geoffrey have been supportive too. But it’s not enough, which is why we have set up this GoFundMe page. Any donations of any size are welcome. We have a goal of $30,000 to help Shi Qiu pay for Geoffrey’s funeral costs. … Shi Qiu and her children will be eternally grateful for any help they receive. It will help make this tragedy something they can recover from. And it will feel like Geoffrey is indeed watching over them, making sure they are going to be okay.”

Mr. Ly’s West Seattle ties, by the way, went beyond New Leaf Bistro; as we reported when it opened, he also operated Hunan Express in Morgan Junction at the turn of the millennium. Again, if you’d like to help, the GoFundMe page is here.

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‘Bias Hurts’: City sets up hotline for reporting discriminatory harassment

March 4, 2017 11:52 am

| 1 COMMENT

| West Seattle news | West Seattle people

In case you missed the announcement this week – the city has a new hotline you can use to report harassment, 206-233-7100. From the Seattle Office for Civil Rights (SOCR) news release:

The Hotline is part of the City of Seattle’s Bias Hurts Campaign for Seattle residents and business owners who are the targets of discriminatory harassment, including threats, slurs, intimidation and cyberbullying.

“We’ve set up the hotline so people in Seattle can contact the Office for Civil Rights immediately if they are harassed or discriminated against,” said SOCR Director Patricia Lally. “But more important, we want to join with the community to develop actions that we can take to protect and support people over the long term. As a community, we need to take care of one another as much as we can.”

The campaign includes three key components: a hotline (206-233-7100) to report harassment, meetings with community groups from across the city to learn what people are experiencing and how the City can proactively address them, and a media campaign to publicize the City’s efforts. The media campaign will include print ads, social media, ads on buses and trains, radio and direct outreach to community groups.

SOCR is coordinating its actions with the Seattle Police Department, which enforces criminal laws against hate crimes, also known as malicious harassment. Anyone who experiences physical violence, property damage or threats should call 911 to report directly to the police. People should call SOCR’s hotline if they experience discriminatory harassment in housing, employment, or public places that does not rise to the level of a crime.

It is illegal in Seattle to harass someone based on race, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity and other protected groups. SOCR can investigate allegations of discriminatory harassment, issue findings and mandate remedies.

“I urge anyone who feels they’ve been harassed to call the Anti-Bias Hotline at 206-233-7100,” said Lally. “By supporting one another we can send a clear message: all of us are welcome in Seattle. That’s what the City of Seattle’s Anti-Bias Campaign is all about.”

Report discriminatory harassment to SOCR by calling 206-233-7100.

Report bias-related crime to Seattle Police by calling 911.

Visit the Seattle Police Department’s Bias/Hate Crime Data Dashboard.

According to the dashboard, the Southwest Precinct – West Seattle and South Park – has the lowest reported amount of such incidents so far this year: 1.

P.S. You can also file a complaint online by going here.

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What’s up for your starting-off-sunny West Seattle Saturday

March 4, 2017 7:56 am

| Comments Off on What’s up for your starting-off-sunny West Seattle Saturday

| West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Surfbirds photographed this week south of Alki Point by Mark Wangerin)

The sun’s out and there’s plenty to do! From the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:

DONATIONS FOR WELCOMING REFUGEE FAMILIES: For the second and final Saturday, as previewed here, you can drop off donations of to make welcome baskets for refugees. The list is in the linked preview; take your donations to Hope Lutheran Church in The Junction, main entrance, 9 am-noon today. (4456 42nd SW)

WEST SEATTLE KIDS’ SALE: Shop this giant consignment sale at the VFW Hall in The Triangle, benefiting West Seattle Cooperative Preschools. 9 am-1 pm. (3601 SW Alaska)

ADOPT-A-STREET CLEANUP: Join the Admiral Neighborhood Association for a few hours of beautification – with treats and coffee first, a sack lunch for you to take home afterward. Meet by 9 am outside Metropolitan Market (WSB sponsor). Tools and bags provided. (41st/42nd/Admiral)

GIRL SCOUT COOKIE SALES: Day 2! Info’s in our Friday night story. (Various locations)

YOUTH OUTDOOR ADVENTURE DAY: 10 am-3 pm at Camp Long, it’s a day of free outdoor fun, as previewed here. Activities will include “archery, high-wire challenge course, rock climbing, rifle shooting, dutch oven cooking, orienteering, fire building, tomahawk throwing, geocaching, robotics.” More here. (5200 35th SW)

NORTH SHOREWOOD PARK WORK PARTY: 10 am-2 pm, give this King County park just south of West Seattle some TLC; you’ll also get a tour of its forested trails, and some environmental education as a bonus. Details here. (10061 21st SW)

HIGH-SCHOOL BASKETBALL: Following last night’s heartbreaker, the West Seattle High School boys play for 3rd place in the state tournament at 1 pm at the Tacoma Dome, vs. Lincoln HS. Brackets and ticket info are here; for directions and parking information, go here.

AUDITIONS: Angry Cat Productions in West Seattle needs actors for April show “Empty” by Mark Reinhardt, directed by Donna Austin. Auditions are happening at West Seattle Christian Church, 1-5 pm today – e-mail ASAP to book a time. (42nd SW/SW Genesee)

CLEAT EXCHANGE: For youth baseball/softball players and their families – it’s the first day of this year’s cleat exchange at Second Gear Sports (WSB sponsor) in Morgan Junction, explained here. Additional deals and treats while you’re there. (6529 California SW)

FAUNTLEROY CHILI COOKOFF: 6-8:30 pm at Fauntleroy UCC Church, $10/person or $25/family gets you chili, cornbread, root-beer floats, and something you generally don’t get to do at dinnertime – vote! Vegetarian and meat options. (9140 California SW)

WEST SEATTLE MEANINGFUL MOVIES: This month’s featured film is “Cowspiracy: The Sustainability Secret” – doors open at 6:30 pm, movie at 7, at Neighborhood House’s High Point Center, with “optional facilitated discussion” afterward. Details here. (6400 Sylvan Way SW)

GROVER & ARRAN FAGAN: Live music at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor), 7-9 pm. (5612 California SW)

‘BECKY’S NEW CAR’: Second and final weekend for this comedy presented by Twelfth Night Productions, 7:30 pm at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center. Info’s in our calendar listing. (4408 Delridge Way SW)

‘MILK LIKE SUGAR’: More in the mood for drama? You’ll find it at 7:30 pm at ArtsWest, during the first weekend of “Milk Like Sugar” by Kirsten Greenidge. Details are in our calendar listing. (4711 California SW)

AFROCOP WITH BILL HORIST: 9 pm, live music at Parliament Tavern in The Admiral District. No cover. 21+. (4210 SW Admiral Way)

SAINT JOHN AND THE REVELATIONS: 9 pm, live music at Whisky West in Morgan Junction. No cover. 21+. (6451 California SW)

And a reminder:

ALASKAN WAY VIADUCT CLOSURE: Scheduled until 6 pm tonight, and 6 am-6 pm tomorrow.

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TRAFFIC ALERT: Highway 99 closed between West Seattle Bridge and Battery Street Tunnel

March 4, 2017 6:27 am

| Comments Off on TRAFFIC ALERT: Highway 99 closed between West Seattle Bridge and Battery Street Tunnel

| Alaskan Way Viaduct | West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

6:27 AM: The Alaskan Way Viaduct‘s twice-yearly inspection is here, and Highway 99 is scheduled to be closed until 6 pm between the West Seattle Bridge and the Battery Street Tunnel. As noted in WSDOT‘s announcement, the closure also is scheduled for a second day tomorrow, 6 am-6 pm, with the Hot Chocolate 15K and a community walk in the BSTunnel extending the closure north a ways until early Sunday afternoon. If you’re headed downtown, 1st Avenue So. and 4th Avenue So. exits from the eastbound bridge are options as well as I-5. We’ll be watching traffic all weekend and will publish updates if anything changes with the closure (or with the alternate routes).

P.S. Metro bus reroutes are listed here.

5:16 PM: As tends to happen, the inspection has ended early and aside from the Hot Chocolate 15K closure north of the Battery Street Tunnel on Sunday morning, the Viaduct is open for the rest of the weekend.

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DUI suspected in Junction crash

March 4, 2017 12:29 am

| 1 COMMENT

| West Seattle news | WS breaking news

(WSB photo by Katie Meyer)

Police were investigating the possibility of DUI being a factor after a driver hit at least one parked car on the west side of The Junction late Friday night. They found the driver, apparently unhurt, in his car at 45th and Glenn Way, and were giving him a field sobriety test.

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