day : 13/04/2017 12 results

(Photo courtesy Elite Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu of Seattle)

Elite Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu of Seattle (WSB sponsor) in North Delridge is offering another free self-defense class for women and girls, ages 10+, this Saturday (April 15th). It’s a three-hour clinic “about awareness, empowerment, setting boundaries, having confidence … finding your voice and believing in yourself … a three-hour clinic where our goal is to leave you with more knowledge, feeling more empowered, and understanding what self-defense really means (both mentally and physically).” Noon-3 pm. RSVP by going here. While there’s no charge, donations are always welcome to support women’s shelter New Beginnings, cash or check. Elite BJJ is at 5050 Delridge Way SW.

VIDEO: Southwest Precinct leaders answer West Seattle Chamber of Commerce questions

April 13, 2017 9:00 pm

| 1 COMMENT

| West Seattle news | West Seattle police

(WSB photo: L-R, Southwest Precinct’s Lt. Ron Smith, Crime Prevention Coordinator Jennifer Burbridge, Capt. Pierre Davis; WS Chamber CEO Lynn Dennis, board president Paul Prentice)

By Patrick Sand and Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog co-publishers

“We’re making a dent in the crime issues in West Seattle.”

If you go to monthly meetings such as the West Seattle Crime Prevention Council or West Seattle Block Watch Captains Network – and/or if you read our regular coverage of those meetings – you’ve seen/heard Southwest Precinct commander Capt. Pierre Davis say that repeatedly lately.

Today, he brought SW Precinct crime trends/updates to a different audience – the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce‘s monthly lunch meeting. He was there with the precinct Operations Lt. Ron Smith and newly hired Crime Prevention Coordinator Jennifer Burbridge (read our recent story about her). Here’s our video:

The toplines:

Last year’s property crimes were, he acknowledged, “almost 19 percent over where we needed to be.” So the progress they’re making is to get back down from there. And he talked about how his officers are arresting some repeat offenders “over and over … when my officers arrest these individuals, they don’t want to see (them) back out on the street again” before the ink on the paperwork is dry. There are efforts to change the justice system’s revolving door, he said, as police work with others (including prosecutors).

One recent success story: Car prowls are “down double-digits,” he told the Chamber, as he has told other recent meetings. That’s largely because they’ve gotten repeat offenders behind bars – some of whom are not just car prowlers, but also burglars and shoplifters, generally because they need money for drugs. Read More

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3 places you can stop along tonight’s West Seattle Art Walk

April 13, 2017 7:11 pm

| Comments Off on 3 places you can stop along tonight’s West Seattle Art Walk

| West Seattle Art Walk | West Seattle news

Weather’s great, and here’s your excuse to get back out into it – the revamped West Seattle Art Walk is on! Three of the two-dozen-plus places you can go:

SOUTH SEATTLE COLLEGE ART GALLERY: While on campus earlier today, we photographed that corner of the group show “Reaction,” which you can visit at the SSC gallery tonight. (6000 16th SW)

From there, southwest to The Junction, you’ll find many venues and artists:

WALLFLOWER CUSTOM FRAMING: Lupe Carlos (above) is the artist whose exhibit is “Wing and a Prayer.” The gallery’s announcement quotes him as saying, “The images in this exhibit are illustrations of stories from my life. However, I prefer not to relay exactly what these images mean to me. I prefer having the images trigger stories the viewer creates out of these pictures.” (4735 42nd SW)

Part of the Art Walk’s new incarnation is the chance to enjoy food and beverage specials. If you love wine, here’s where to go:

VISCON CELLARS: Wine and art are both on the menu tonight at the award-winning winery (a WSB sponsor) north of Morgan Junction. For Art Walk night, tasting fees are waived. And while you’re there enjoying winemaker Ben Viscon‘s work, you can also see paintings by Lindsay Peyton. (5910 California SW)

The full venue list for tonight’s Art Walk – where you’ll see art and where you can find food/beverage specials – is here. End times are now “late” – at least 9 pm.

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BASEBALL: The Peaches are back @ West Seattle Little League!

April 13, 2017 4:02 pm

| 7 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | WS & Sports

(Photos by Ruby Athan)

Their debut last year made news here and far beyond – and this year, the all-girls West Seattle Little League team, the Peaches, are “back for season 2!” The report is from Pam Bigatel:

Our coach Sean Eley was able to draft all our girls onto the same team, (which was remarkable and miraculous!) and we have 12 girls playing in the West Seattle Little League Rookie League. Rookie League is the first division that allows kids to experiment with pitching during game play (vs. strictly coach pitch for younger players.)

We were thrilled to learn that there was a record number of girls who signed up for the league this year! There are awesome female players spread throughout the teams this spring. It’s been great to see all the families in the stands supporting this treasured part of our West Seattle community, and it’s thrilling to know that many families of girls have found their way into this local tradition.

(Coach Sean with the MVP from the Peaches’ first game of the season)

We’d love to have a ton of fans at our games this spring! All the West Seattle Little League schedules can be found online. The Peaches’ schedule:

Peaches vs. Sonic Boom! Friday, April 28, 5:30-7:30 PM at Bar-S
Peaches vs. Rainiers Tuesday, May 2, 5:30-7:30 PM at Delridge
Peaches vs. Chiefs Friday, May 5, 5:30-7:30 PM at Bar-S
Peaches vs. Sonic Boom! Monday, May 8, 5:30-7:30 PM at Delridge
Peaches vs. Chiefs Wednesday, May 17, 5:00-7:00 PM at Hiawatha
Peaches vs. Pilots Saturday, May 20, 5:00-7:00 PM at Alki Playfield
Peaches vs. Rainiers Tuesday, May 23, 5:30-7:30 PM at Delridge

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Why are grays and humpback whales returning to Puget Sound? Find out @ The Whale Trail’s next event

April 13, 2017 2:02 pm

| 4 COMMENTS

| Seen at sea | West Seattle news | Wildlife

(Gray whale, photographed by John Calambokidis)

They’re the whales we talk about the most, but orcas are not the only whales in our waters – increasingly, humpbacks and grays are turning up in Puget Sound too. Sometimes as beautiful sights – sometimes as tragedies, as with the humpback death south of the Fauntleroy ferry dock last August. Among the researchers and experts who came to the scene was John Calambokidis. One week from tonight, he’ll be the guest speaker presented by The Whale Trail in the historic building at Dakota Place Park (4303 California SW). Here’s the announcement:

“The New Giants of the Salish Sea: Humpback and Gray Whales Discover Our Waters”
Presentation by John Calambokidis
Thursday, April 20, 7:00 – 8:30 pm.

New research reveals insights into the return of two magnificent whales to the Salish Sea and the mysteries of their lives. Humpback whales who once roamed these waters hundreds of years ago have returned in spectacular numbers. See some of the new research documenting this return, why it has occurred and some of the implications.

Gray whales migrate along the Washington coast and some feed in outer coast waters but one intrepid group, nicknamed the Sounders, has discovered a highly profitable but very risky feeding strategy in northern Puget Sound. New research and underwater video taken by the whales themselves reveals their incredible feeding strategy from a unique perspective.

Join researcher John Calambokidis, a founder of Cascadia Research Collective who has studied large whales for over 30 years both in our waters and throughout the eastern North Pacific.

Buy tickets now to reserve your seat. And hurry! This will likely sell out.

About the Speaker

John Calambokidis is a Senior Research Biologist and one of the founders of Cascadia Research Collective, a non-profit research organization formed in 1979 based in Olympia, Washington. He periodically serves as an Adjunct Faculty at the Evergreen State College teaching a course on marine mammals. His primary interests are the biology of marine mammals and the impacts of humans.

John has served as Project Director of over 200 projects. He has authored two books on marine mammals (on blue whales and a guide to marine mammals) as well as more than 150 publications in scientific journals and technical reports. He has conducted studies on a variety of marine mammals in the North Pacific from Central America to Alaska. He serves as Project Manager of the Southern California Behavioral Response Study and has directed long-term research on the status, movements, and underwater behavior of blue, humpback, and gray whales. Some of his recent research has included attaching tags to whales with suction cups to examine their feeding behavior and vocalizations.

John’s work has been covered on shows by National Geographic, Discovery Channel, BBC, and others. In 2012 he received the American Cetacean Society’s John Heyning Award for Lifetime Achievement in Marine Mammal Science.

Tickets are available online – $10 general, $5 for kids under 12 – buy yours here.

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VIDEO: 34th District Democrats host Rep. Jayapal, City Council Position 8 ‘showdown’

April 13, 2017 12:01 pm

| 23 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle politics

By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

The 34th District Democrats‘ forum for Seattle City Council Position 8 had a winner – but did not result in an endorsement, for now.

The forum, billed as a “showdown,” was the almost-three-hour meeting’s main event, though U.S. Rep. Pramila Jayapal‘s appearance – which punctuated the candidates’ forum, because of her time constraints – brought down the house. So we’ll start with her – here’s our video:

Rep. Jayapal said the Democrats are not a “minority party” but rather an “opposition party” right now. She explained that the transition into her new role has been easier than she expected because the focus has been on immigration and health care, two issues she has long worked on. She also talked about the health-care bill that was scrapped, calling it really “a tax bill” with tax breaks for the richest Americans that at one point carried a “trillion dollars” in breaks. “It was really hard to sit there in committee and hear about all these people who ‘didn’t deserve to have health care’.” While she hailed the victory in getting the bill pulled, “don’t think that it’s over,” she warned, and said that goes for other issues, such as privatizing Social Security. She said she’s signed onto the “Medicare for All” bill. And she said that it’s important to “fix what needs to be fixed.” Overall, our area is “the moral conscience of the country,” she declared. But she also said there are some Republicans “who want to work on immigration reform” so there is some hope on that issue, “working on a proactive solution as well as all the things that we are fighting against.”

Regarding the Syrian situation, “it was unconstitutional for the president to do what he did with that strike … You cannot bomb your way to peace; that is my belief. … We were all devastated by the images we saw, but if you care about those kids,” let refugees in, she said. She also criticized the proposed budget for “cut(ting) everything that you care about.” She said an “educational campaign” is planned to explain to people what’s in the budget. “It’s a horrible horrible budget for all of us, for the entire United States.” Overall, she urged people, “stay engaged … As a longtime organizer, I believe that strength emerges in times of crisis … We are in a fight for the soul of this country.” It was noted that she has a Town Hall on Vashon Island tomorrow night (“and we already have an overflow room!” someone pointed out).

Last but not least, Rep. Jayapal delighted the locals by saying she is hoping to move to West Seattle within the next six months – which means, she pointed out, she will officially live in the 7th District. (She currently lives just outside its boundaries, in Columbia City.)

Now, to the forum for Seattle City Council Position 8, the at-large position that has no incumbent because Councilmember Tim Burgess is not running for re-election. Read More

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Expanded Art Walk and more for your West Seattle Thursday

April 13, 2017 11:05 am

| 1 COMMENT

| West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

What we dubbed West Seattle Art Walk 2.0 launches tonight, and that’s our first spotlight event:

WEST SEATTLE ART WALK: As previewed here earlier this week, starting tonight, the second-Thursday art walk expands its hours to “5 pm to late,” and adds spotlighted food-and-drink places where you’ll find specials in support of WSAW. The venue list is above – the spots with stars have artists, some of which are listed in this update on the Art Walk website.

Also today/tonight:

DELRIDGE COMMUNITY CENTER CLOSURE CONTINUES: As first noted Monday, the center closure continues this week – but the egg hunt on Saturday IS on!

HOLY WEEK SERVICES: This is Maundy Thursday and you’ll find special services listed on our Easter & More page, plus two sessions today/tonight for labyrinth walking at Tibbetts United Methodist Church (3940 41st SW; WSB sponsor).

TINKERLAB DROP-IN: 4-5:30 pm at High Point Library, drop in to make a fun STEM-based craft. (35th SW/SW Raymond)

WESTSIDE NEIGHBORS NETWORK FORUM: What would you want out of this “virtual village” that’s being built by your neighbors to help support West Seattleites as they get older? Come to tonight’s forum at the West Seattle YMCA (WSB sponsor), 6:30 pm. (36th/Snoqualmie)

OPEN MICROPHONE: 7-9 pm at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor), for musicians of all genres. (5612 California SW)

SUPER Z ATTACK TEAM, PINTO WAGONFIRE: 8-11 pm, “jazzy math rock” at Parliament Tavern. 21+. No cover. (4210 SW Admiral Way)

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Resurfacing ahead for West Seattle Stadium track; summer closure planned

April 13, 2017 10:23 am

| Comments Off on Resurfacing ahead for West Seattle Stadium track; summer closure planned

| West Seattle news | West Seattle parks

10:23 AM: Seattle Parks sends word today that the West Seattle Stadium track (city photo at left) will be closed for a while this summer during its resurfacing project:

Seattle Parks and Recreation (SPR) is happy to announce that the design for the resurfacing of the West Seattle Stadium track is nearly complete and construction will begin this summer. During construction, the stadium track will be closed. SPR and the contractor hired for the project will work to minimize impacts to the neighborhood.

SPR hired DA Hogan as the lead design and engineering consultant for the project, which is located at 4432 35th Ave. SW, adjacent to the West Seattle Golf Course. This project will replace and resurface the existing rubberized track at the stadium.

The Seattle Park District provides $950,000 for this major maintenance project. Approved by Seattle voters in 2014, the Seattle Park District provides more than $47 million a year in long-term funding for SPR including maintenance of parklands and facilities, operation of community centers and recreation programs, and development of new neighborhood parks on previously acquired sites.

We have a followup question out to ask about how long – whenever it starts – the work is expected to last.

3:15 PM: Christina Hirsch from Parks replies:

We are finalizing documents to put this out to bid. We have a project window of May – end of August. The construction portion and closure will be approximately 7 weeks. We worked with our field scheduling group to identify this time. This track resurfacing project is a major maintenance project identified in our Asset Management Plan.

We are reaching out to the community now to let them know about the work. Once bids are open, we will be able to narrow down the exact construction schedule and we will be sure to share that with the community.

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WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: 2 reader reports + WSCPC preview

April 13, 2017 9:36 am

| 2 COMMENTS

| Crime | West Seattle news | West Seattle police

Three West Seattle Crime Watch notes:

CAR PROWL: From Brian:

Thought I’d report this in case so Neighborhood Watch will be on the lookout. Car prowler entered my girlfriend’s car Tuesday night. She doesn’t keep valuables so nothing was taken. Her paperwork from the glovebox was strewn about. My cross street is Brandon and 23rd. Reported to police. Going to set up surveillance.

DUMPED LOOT? Steve e-mailed the photo below after finding “a pack and a lunch sack on 42nd between Andover and Dakota”:

Yours? Let us know.

WEST SEATTLE CRIME PREVENTION COUNCIL: WSCPC president Richard Miller has announced the special guest for next Tuesday’s meeting (7 pm April 18th, Southwest Precinct, 2300 SW Webster): Officer James Ritter, who will talk about the SPD Safe Place program and the Seattle Metropolitan Police Museum. And as always, SW precinct reps will talk with attendees in an open discussion of crime trends and neighborhood concerns.

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One month until 13th annual West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day on May 13th

April 13, 2017 8:59 am

| 5 COMMENTS

| Community Garage Sale Day | West Seattle news

The countdown continues, and today marks exactly one month until the 13th annual West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day on Saturday, May 13th; it’s our tenth year coordinating the big sale day. Registration has been open for a week, and more than 90 sales are signed up! If you’re planning to shop on WSCGSD – whatever you’re looking to buy, you’re likely to find it somewhere. Even if you’re not in the market for anything major, you can walk or ride around to nearby sales and meet your neighbors – year after year, we hear that this one day of face-to-face, person-to-person “recycling” is extra-memorable for the mingling. If you’re still thinking about whether to have a sale, registration will be open until April 27th. Then we start putting together the clickable and downloadable map and listings, which you’ll find here and at westseattlegaragesale.com one week before WSCGSD. Having a sale and ready to sign up (with your up-to-20-word attention-grabbing listing)? Go here now!

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TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Thursday watch

April 13, 2017 6:59 am

| 2 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

(SDOT MAP with travel times/video links; is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE)

6:59 AM: Sunshine arrives – at least for a while – as we head into the heart of the commute. No outbound incidents reported so far.

7:43 AM: Commenter Julia mentions a crash on the eastbound bridge. SFD has a dispatch to the east section of the EB bridge but that’s all we know so far.

7:49 AM: Here’s what SDOT has tweeted about the crash:

Collision on West Seattle Bridge EB at SR-99 blocking 2 right lanes. Use caution and expect delays. pic.twitter.com/xcEBM5eGtZ

— seattledot (@seattledot) April 13, 2017

Scanner says one person is hurt. You can get an updated view of the scene – for as long as SDOT keeps the camera zoomed in – in the top left quadrant of our featured cameras, above.

Also, SDOT says the signal at Delridge and Thistle is out and a crew is on the way.

8:14 AM: The crash on the bridge has cleared, SDOT says.

8:29 AM: No current incidents, so here’s some transportation-related news you might have missed:

POTHOLE PALOOZA: We’ve been talking about road woes for a long time here, including reminders about the city’s pothole-reporting/-repairing system, but SDOT says it’s launching an “aggressive” repair campaign starting next week, so it REALLY wants to hear from you. Here’s the story.

NO-PARKING TIMES EXPANDING IN FERRY LANE: As reported here yesterday, signs are expected to go up today changing the 3-7 pm weekday “no parking” rules in the ferry-waiting lane on southbound Fauntleroy Way to 2-7 pm.

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Chelan CSO, ST3, more @ Admiral Neighborhood Association

April 13, 2017 12:20 am

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| Neighborhoods | West Seattle news

Water pollution, mass transit, and expanded jurisdiction were the three main agenda items for the Admiral Neighborhood Association on Tuesday night:

CHELAN CSO PROJECT: King County is planning another combined-sewer-overflow-control project, this one to reduce the 17 million gallons that the Chelan CSO outfall spills into the Duwamish River on average each year.

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