West Seattle, Washington

15 Friday

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month : 04/2017 316 results

WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Two burglaries
April 24, 2017 5:04 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   Crime | West Seattle news | West Seattle police

Two burglary reports in West Seattle Crime Watch:

BREAK-IN WHILE RESIDENTS WERE HOME: A scare this morning for residents of a house in the 10200 block of Marine View Drive SW. They called 911 this morning just after 8 am to say someone had just broken into their house – while they were home. They thought there were two people and that they took off in a vehicle, but had no description. This is all SPD could tell us when we called at midday; we have requested the full report but it wasn’t available then and despite followup requests, we haven’t received it yet. Whenever we do, we’ll add any additional details.

THE BURGLARS WHO LET THE CAT OUT: Over the weekend, we featured a lost-cat notice from Julia in Highland Park, who had come home with her husband to discover a break-in, with their dog injured – apparently tearing a ligament chasing the burglar(s) out – and their cat missing. After he was found, we asked if she would share details for Crime Watch:

Friday evening around 5:30, my husband and I went out to grab some dinner. We were pulling out of our driveway and my husband noticed that there was a younger man with a gray sedan parked across the street fiddling with a broken passenger-side mirror. My husband said that he thought that the guy looked suspicious, but he dismissed it (I was messing with the radio and missed the guy entirely). We got home at 7 or so and the back door was unlocked and the dog was going crazy. The screen on the window above the sink was missing and all of the stuff surrounding or under the window was displaced and, when we got into the bedroom, there were dresser drawers pulled out and suitcases open. The burglar took a jar with some cash and a jewelry box with some cheap (albeit sentimental) jewelry, but no portable electronics, so we think the dog must have woken up and charged him before he got far. Unfortunately, the dog, who is a sweet old girl, hurt herself (or was kicked), and the cat was let out (But found! Yay!) during the escape. A police report has been filed (Many, many props to the extremely kind officer who came by and helped us out. When we were leaving for the ER on Saturday night, we noticed that he was sitting outside in his cruiser. We went up to see what was happening and he said he just wanted to make sure that the burglars knew the police were now watching our house! What a sweetheart!).

NEIGHBORHOOD CRIME CONCERNS/QUESTIONS? See these two opportunities for talking with police in the next week and a half.

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BIZNOTE: Alchemy opening date delayed
April 24, 2017 3:38 pm
|      6 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle restaurants | WS beverages

If you were hoping to be among the first to try the cocktails and small plates at Alchemy, you’ll have to wait a little longer. We were first to report last month that the new bar/lounge was planning to open in the West Seattle Junction on April 28th; since that’s this Friday, we checked in today with spokesperson Sara Ryan to see about a preview, and she told us the opening had been “pushed.” No new date yet. It’s one of two new enterprises that F2T Hospitality is opening at Junction 47 (California/Alaska/42nd), as first reported here last June.

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MEET YOUR LOCAL POLICE: West Seattle Block Watch Captains Network tomorrow; Coffee With a Cop, ’round 2,’ on May 3rd
April 24, 2017 2:35 pm
|    Comments Off on MEET YOUR LOCAL POLICE: West Seattle Block Watch Captains Network tomorrow; Coffee With a Cop, ’round 2,’ on May 3rd
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle police

Two upcoming opportunities to hear from and talk with local police:

WEST SEATTLE BLOCK WATCH CAPTAINS NETWORK: 6:30 pm tomorrow (Tuesday, April 25th) is the next monthly meeting of this local group, which just announced that the new Southwest Precinct Crime Prevention Coordinator Jennifer Burbridge will be the special guest. You’ll also hear about crime trends and updates at the start of the meeting. All welcome – you don’t even have to be involved with a Block Watch. It’s at the precinct, 2300 SW Webster.

COFFEE WITH A COP, ROUND 2: As reported here last week, the first Coffee With a Cop at Junction Starbucks was a bit underpublicized due to some date confusion, but the rescheduled event has just been confirmed for 1-2:30 pm Wednesday, May 3rd, same location. Burbridge tells us she’ll be there, as will Community Police Team Officer Todd Wiebke, the precinct’s point person on homelessness-related matters, as well as others from the precinct. All welcome to drop in with questions and comments, or just to say hi, at California/Alaska.

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Airbnb host? Renting short-term some other way? Here are the revised rules the City Council will consider
April 24, 2017 1:11 pm
|      22 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle housing | West Seattle news

After big pushback to proposed regulations last year, the City Council is ready to consider a revised set of rules for people who rent short-term via Airbnb, VRBO, and similar services, as well as potential bed-and-breakfast operators.

Today’s Land Use Information Bulletin includes official notice of the new proposal, with this description:

The legislation would establish a new definition for “short-term rental” as a type of lodging use and establish standards for short-term rentals, including a limit on the number of dwelling units that an individual may operate as a short-term rental. The legislation would also modify the definition of “bed and breakfast” as a type of lodging use and modify the standards for bed and breakfasts as an accessory use in residential zones, allowing existing “bed and breakfast” uses to continue but regulating new bed and breakfast uses as short-term rentals.

The legislation adds a requirement that all short-term rental uses have a short-term rental operator’s license from the City and that all short-term rental platforms have a short-term rental platform’s license from the City, and establishes a process for the enforcement of licensing requirements. The legislation includes a one-year compliance window for anyone currently offering nightly or weekly rentals of a residence within the City of Seattle.

According to a news release from City Councilmember Tim Burgess, who officially announced the revised rule-change proposal, the aforementioned limit would mean “anyone may provide their primary residence and one additional unit as a short-term rental, without limitation of nights per year.”

Burgess is quoted as saying, “Under my revised proposal, a family can still rent out their home when they go on a weekend vacation, or a homeowner can rent out their second property to help pay the mortgage. All this while preventing a mass turnover of existing rental housing stock into short-term rentals. I think we’ve struck the right balance, and I look forward to more review in the weeks ahead as the Council considers this ordinance.” The news release says the next step is for the council’s Affordable Housing, Neighborhoods, and Finance Committee to consider the legislation in early June. (Burgess chairs the committee, and its vice chair is West Seattle/South Park Councilmember Lisa Herbold.)

You can read the full proposed ordinance by going here. Today’s notice also includes the city’s determination that the proposed rule changes are environmentally non-significant; you have until May 8th to either comment on that contention, or appeal it, and the notice explains how.

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Kahler Law Office: Welcoming a new West Seattle Blog sponsor
April 24, 2017 11:43 am
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 |   West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news

Today we’re welcoming Kahler Law Office as a new WSB sponsor. Here’s what attorney Amy K. Kahler would like you to know about what she does:

Based in West Seattle, Kahler Law Office represents parents, families, and children: “Working with me is often intertwined with an important life event – from the difficulty of a divorce to the joy of an adoption, and everything in between. I most often hear that I helped make the process ‘less scary’ and offered reasonable solutions to my client’s situation. They appreciate that I’m proactive in my communications, a strong advocate for their case, and that I’m ‘pretty nice … for a lawyer’!

“My personal philosophy as a lawyer is to represent my clients with integrity and compassion. Today’s modern family looks a lot different than the generations before us, and they present unique challenges. I respect the circumstances that bring my clients to me, and am mindful of their need to move on to the next chapter of their life with empowerment and dignity.”

Kahler Law Office is online at kahlerlaw.net, where you’ll find a form to request a consultation; you also can e-mail amy@kahlerlaw.net or call 206-841-6343.

We thank Kahler Law Office for sponsoring independent, community-collaborative neighborhood news via WSB; find our current sponsor team listed in directory format here, and find info on joining the team by going here.

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3 hospitalized after early-morning Harbor Avenue crash
April 24, 2017 10:37 am
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news


(WSB photo)

If you noticed that damaged van east of the Harbor Avenue 7-11 this morning, with car parts and tire tracks nearby, it’s the aftermath of a crash that happened around 2:15 am. According to Seattle Fire Department spokesperson Lt. Harold Webb, the van, parked on the north/westbound side of Harbor, was hit by another vehicle whose driver careened up onto the sidewalk and into a tree:


(SFD photo)

Lt. Webb says “three male adult patients” were taken to Harborview Medical Center by private ambulance, one man who had been asleep in the van, two men from the car that hit it, all in stable condition when transported.

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What’s ahead on your West Seattle Monday
April 24, 2017 9:13 am
|      12 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

Thanks to Corey Scherrer for the photo, taken around 6:30 pm Saturday from a flight on approach to Sea-Tac. At ground level, here’s some of what’s up today/tonight in West Seattle:

BREASTFEEDING SUPPORT: 10:30 am at Neighborhood House High Point, free drop-in monthly meeting for moms, offered through the Family Center – more info in our calendar listing. (6400 Sylvan Way SW)

MONDAY AFTERNOON AT THE ORCHARD: 3-5 pm, the Community Orchard of West Seattle on the northeast end of the South Seattle College (WSB sponsor) campus welcomes you to visit, learn, and help out, as explained in our calendar listing. (6000 16th SW)

SOCCER: Chief Sealth International High School hosts crosstown rival West Seattle High School at Southwest Athletic Complex, 4 pm. (2801 SW Thistle)

IMMIGRANT RIGHTS AND FAMILY SAFETY: 5 pm workshop at Roxhill Elementary, offered by Seattle Public Library, Colectiva Legal del Pueblo, Seattle Public Schools, and ACLU of Washington, offered in English and Español; details in our calendar listing. (9430 30th SW)

TINKERLAB: Free drop-in STEM craft/activity session, 6-7:30 pm at Delridge Library. Tonight: “Learn to program BB-8™ by Sphero, a small app-enabled droid inspired by ‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens‘.” (5423 Delridge Way SW)

HALIBUT 101: Seafood-cooking class at Salty’s on Alki (WSB sponsor), 6-8 pm. Check ASAP to see if there’s still room – info’s in our calendar listing. (1936 Harbor SW)

EVEN MORE … happening today/tonight – just check our complete-calendar page.

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TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: April’s last Monday
April 24, 2017 6:43 am
|      1 COMMENT
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

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

6:43 AM: Good morning! No incidents in, or outbound from, West Seattle so far this morning. Notes:

SPRING BREAK OVER: Everybody’s back in session this week.

BUS STOP ALERT: In case you missed this story from Friday – starting today, the southbound California/Spokane bus stop will be used by Microsoft Connector employee shuttles as well as Metro buses.

STADIUM ZONE: Nothing going on today/tonight – the Mariners are on the road; the Sounders’ next home game is Saturday night.

8:35 AM: SFD and SPD are responding to a crash reported at the Harbor/Spokane intersection.

8:43 AM: No word on how the crash is blocking the intersection, but SFD has already closed out its part of the call.

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WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Roxhill Park robbery; possible package-theft evidence
April 23, 2017 11:56 pm
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | West Seattle news

Two Crime Watch notes tonight:

ROXHILL PARK ROBBERY: This is from the online SPD files – one of the few incidents in the past week with a narrative added in the publicly visible system; we noticed it while checking those files tonight. The report says a 14-year-old boy was robbed of his phone, wallet, and other items in a “wooded area” of the park shortly before 6 pm Tuesday (April 18th). The victim told police he and two others were walking in the park when they crossed paths with a group of a half-dozen or so other teenage boys. Two of them pushed the victim to the ground and started hitting him while demanding his belongings. He told police one looked like a former schoolmate of his and described him as Hispanic, male, teens, heavyset, about 5-8 to 5-10, no clothing description, while saying the other robber/attacker was black, male, teens, 200-210 pounds, 5-8 to 5-10, short hair, gray coat, blue jeans. No arrests were reported; SFD medics treated the victim for injuries described in the police report as a black eye and lip laceration.

PACKAGE THEFT? Amy in High Point found torn-open, empty Amazon Prime packaging on the sidewalk near her home, addressed to someone about three blocks away:

That’s about half the box, which was inelegantly torn open, raising Amy’s suspicions; the other half has the recipient’s full name and address. Nothing inside by the time Amy found it. The recipient’s initials are AA. If that’s you and you’re missing a package – let us know (bonus if you have a police report # – this might be matchable as evidence).

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Lincoln Park now part of Seattle Audubon’s Neighborhood Bird Project
April 23, 2017 8:55 pm
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle parks | Wildlife


(NBP volunteers; photo provided by Kersti Muul, who’s in the front row, third from left)

Even if you’re not a full-fledged birder, you know West Seattle is a great place for bird-watching. And now it’s drawn a special designation related to that: Kersti Muul tells us that Lincoln Park is now part of Seattle Audubon‘s Neighborhood Bird Project:

The NBP started in 1995 and Lincoln Park is the first new addition in over a decade!

Basically, the NBP utilizes citizen science to monitor species diversity throughout the city of Seattle.

Audubon volunteers, under the guidance of a group leader for each park (I am the leader for Lincoln Park), conduct bird surveys once a month on a set date and time. The data we gather is then entered into a master database. The data are used to monitor urban bird abundance, assess the effectiveness of restoration projects, and to educate volunteers regarding their neighborhood habitat, phenology, etc.

Audubon encourages volunteers to pick a park that is in their neighborhood for this reason, as it makes them a stronger and better educated advocate for their locale. Anyone interested can contact Toby Ross, science manager at Seattle Audubon (tobyr@seattleaudubon.org).

You can find out more about the NBP here.

Seattle Audubon, by the way, is the source for the BirdWeb infopages we link to species names in the captions of the bird photos featured atop many morning previews on WSB (thanks to the wonderful local photographers who share them, some of whom are involved in the NBP) – BirdWeb provides a wealth of information about each species found in Washington, including what the birds look like, what they sound like, and where their habitats and ranges are.

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COUNTDOWN: Register by Thursday for West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day 2017
April 23, 2017 8:10 pm
|    Comments Off on COUNTDOWN: Register by Thursday for West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day 2017
 |   Community Garage Sale Day | West Seattle news

Thanks to everyone who’s already signed up their sales for the 13th annual West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day, coming up Saturday, May 13th … less than three weeks away! Registration has been open for 2 1/2 weeks now and has four more days to go — the deadline is 9 pm Thursday (April 27th).

Browsing the 220+ sales signed up so far, we see addresses all around the peninsula – Admiral, Alki, Arbor Heights, Brace Point, Delridge, Fauntleroy, Gatewood, Genesee Hill, Highland Park, High Point, Morgan Junction, Pigeon Point, Puget Ridge, Seaview, Sunrise Heights, The Junction, Westwood, and a few just south of the official West Seattle border, in North Shorewood and White Center – plus many points inbetween (not everyone’s in a named sub-neighborhood!). Lots of great-sounding sales in yards and garages and courtyards, plus benefit sales, block sales, business sales, nonprofit sales, even a P-Patch sale … We end registration semi-early so that we can get the maps and listings out a week in advance, so shoppers can plot their stops, neighbors can find out what’s happening on nearby blocks, etc.

If you’re selling and not signed up yet, go here (be ready to include your up-to-20-word attention-grabbing listing text). If you’re shopping – keep watching WSB for updates and previews!

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West Seattle weekend scene: Another film crew
April 23, 2017 7:20 pm
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   Seen around town | West Seattle news | WS culture/arts

Friday, a commercial in Sunrise Heights; this weekend, a short film along Beach Drive. We saw the trucks and equipment late today outside a waterfront complex south of Constellation Park and stopped by to inquire; they just said the shoot is for a “short film” and they will be done this evening. Subsequently combing various corners of the internet, we turned up a production-help-wanted listing mentioning a West Seattle shoot this weekend for an independent short film called “Victory“; cross-referencing that to an audition call, the plot summary is: “Our film catapults the viewer into the last fifteen minutes of the story of a mysterious insurgency group trying to do something about a chain-reaction holocaust.” We’ll make a note to watch for it when it’s done.

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BIZNOTES: Barre3 coming to Springline space
April 23, 2017 5:51 pm
|      9 COMMENTS
 |   Health | West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news

Another business on the way: Sarah Heitman e-mailed to say she’s opening a barre3 – “an exercise studio that offers barre classes in a beautiful space WITH child care” – in one of the ground-floor commercial spaces at Springline (WSB sponsor). But while barre3 is a chain with locations in 28 states, Heitman notes that she is a West Seattle resident and is “keeping it local” even more with the help of a real-estate agent, lawyer, and architect from West Seattle. She’s expecting to open sometime this summer.

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UPDATE: Rescue response for crash at Olson/Cambridge
April 23, 2017 3:49 pm
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | WS breaking news

3:49 PM: Seattle Fire is sending a sizable “rescue” response to a crash reported at Olson Place/Cambridge Place [map]. More to come.

4:05 PM: Just arriving in the area. Police have Olson blocked at Roxbury.

4:14 PM: Added a photo of one of the two cars involved – the other is on the road itself. We are told one person is being taken to the hospital. While the east/northbound lanes remain closed, one lane is open coming uphill (south/westbound).

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PLEA FROM A PARENT: Enrolling in Seattle Public Schools this fall? Here’s why sooner is better than later
April 23, 2017 2:26 pm
|      8 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

Last week, we reported on the waitlists for some local schools, for those who want to attend Seattle Public Schools outside the ones to which they’re geographically assigned. Even if you’re interested in a school that doesn’t have a waitlist, it’s important to get enrolled ASAP – especially if your child is an incoming kindergartener and isn’t signed up in the SPS system yet. The reminder was e-mailed to us by Erika Rasmussen, a Genesee Hill Elementary parent and PTA member who e-mailed us this week asking if we would share it with you. While the plea applies in particular to new kindergarteners and transfer students headed for that school – West Seattle’s most populous – it applies to all others as well, so that planning can be done without worrying about big last-minute changes. Here’s how Erika explains it:

At our PTA meeting (this week), we learned through the most recent enrollment projections that Genesee Hill Elementary School is currently projected to have approximately 760 students for the 2017-2018 school year (this projection also includes 149 Kindergarten students). The principal and staff are currently trying to budget and plan for staffing, resource, and even classroom space for next year (we are already busting at the seams in our new building and will be over capacity next year if this projection number remains or grows).

As you may know, Genesee Hill and many other local West Seattle schools have struggled in the past to correctly plan and budget for class sizes, staffing, and resources. Having more accurate numbers from actual enrollments will help schools plan.

What would greatly help these schools is for families who have youth at home that are ready to start Kindergarten in the fall to get them registered ASAP with the school district. I am a parent of an incoming Kindergartner and have heard from families new to the system that they find the enrollment process a bit challenging, especially with all the additional supplemental paperwork that is required to enroll students. I would love to encourage families to go ahead and complete the application form ASAP and submit it to the district. Some families have had challenges in obtaining the required State Immunization Forms and have said that this may be what is holding them back from registering their soon to be kindergartners. They do not have to have this form to begin the enrollment process [noted here].

We would also like to let the community know that even though the district states that enrollment is open and ongoing, local schools really want to encourage families to enroll ASAP (preferably before mid-May, when principals will have to make tough decisions regarding staff and classroom sizes). We would also like to encourage families who may have recently moved to new neighborhoods within West Seattle (which would put them in a new school zone for next year), or students who will be leaving private schools and joining their neighborhood public schools, to also enroll their students ASAP. This will help with planning across all grades (some schools are facing more split classes among multiple grades due to current enrollment numbers).

Any of this apply to your family? You can start the registration process right now by going here. That page includes information and links to forms, as well as a minute-long video that notes you can turn in your forms in person, by fax, or by e-mail.

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ALSO TODAY: University of Washington beach volleyball @ Alki
April 23, 2017 11:11 am
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | WS & Sports

11:11 AM: Remember that brilliantly sunny day last April when the University of Washington Huskies played their first-ever home beach-volleyball match – at Alki? (If not, here’s our coverage.) We just noticed via Twitter that they’re doing it again today. Might be the last time, since they’ve just built beach-volleyball courts on the UW campus, and that’s where they won 5-0 on Saturday vs. Boise State (corrected), same team they’re playing at Alki today (scheduled to have just started, at 11). This is also the last game of the regular season.

12:45 PM: Stopped by for a couple quick pix. Fans are undaunted by the rain. Play-by-play continues on the team’s Twitter account.

3:45 PM: Huskies report another 5-0 win.

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HAPPENING NOW: Spring 2017 Recycle Roundup until 3 pm
April 23, 2017 10:17 am
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 |   Environment | Fauntleroy | West Seattle news


(WSB photo)

Outside Fauntleroy Church (9140 California SW), the spring Recycle Roundup is in its second hour, with a steady stream of people dropping off items to be recycled through nonprofit 1 Green Planet. You’re invited to do the same – no charge – until 3 pm today. The friendly folks at the church Green Committee, who coordinate this twice a year, are hoping you can go sooner rather than later, so everyone can be processed as quickly as possible and there’s no last-hour backup.

P.S. Here again is the list of what you can and can’t recycle there today.

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West Seattle Sunday: Recycle Roundup; Earth Day storytelling; seed swap; music; more…
April 23, 2017 6:30 am
|    Comments Off on West Seattle Sunday: Recycle Roundup; Earth Day storytelling; seed swap; music; more…
 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous


(“Dunlin are moving through, headed for the High Arctic,” reports photographer Mark Wangerin)

Ways to spend your Sunday, from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:

RECYCLE ROUNDUP: Don’t need it? Can’t sell it? Recycle it! 9 am-3 pm today at Fauntleroy Church, it’s the spring Recycle Roundup. Here’s the list of what will and won’t be accepted. Free, but the Green Committee – which organizes this popular event – gratefully accepts contributions. If you’re coming to drop some stuff off, don’t wait till the last minute – things move faster earlier! (9140 California SW)

WEST SEATTLE FARMERS’ MARKET: 10 am-2 pm, year-round, in the street, in The Junction. Returning for the season today – Langley Fine Gardens from Vashon Island, which says they’re bringing “tomato, cold-weather veggie and herb starts, as well as our usual unusual flower starts”! (California between Oregon and Alaska)

VILLAGE GREEN NURSERY REOPENS – ART & SEED SWAP TODAY: 10 am-6 pm, second day of reopening weekend at Village Green Nursery. We stopped in on Saturday for this photo of new proprietors Noah and Sarah:

Today they are again hosting Peggy Johnson‘s oil-painting show “Nature.” Also today, a seed swap at 1 pm. (10223 26th SW)

RECYCLE YOUR VASES/CONTAINERS AT FLEURT: Earth Day weekend again brings the vase/container recycling event at Fleurt in The Junction, which is celebrating its 8th anniversary this month. Bring yours in and “receive a little gift from Fleurt.” Open today 11 am-4 pm. (4536 California SW)

EARTH DAY STORYTELLING: 2-4 pm at the Duwamish Tribe Longhouse and Cultural Center – see the lineup of storytellers and musicians here. Free. (4705 W. Marginal Way SW)

FRANK ZUVELA @ SOUTHWEST STORIES: 2 pm at South Park Library, the Southwest Seattle Historical Society and the Seattle Public Library present this month’s “SouthWest Stories,” featuring Frank Zuvela talking about “Riverside Lives! Little-Known Stories of a Croatian Fishing Community.” Here’s his video invitation:

Learn about a historic West Seattle community you might never have heard about. Free! (8604 8th Ave. S.)

CAM BRADFORD: Singer-songwriter at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor), 3-5 pm. (5612 California SW)

MUSIC NORTHWEST PRESENTS ‘CELLOS!’ 3 pm at Olympic Recital Hall on the south end of the South Seattle College (WSB sponsor) campus – musician and program details here. (6000 16th SW)

WEST SEATTLE COMMUNITY ORCHESTRAS’ ENSEMBLE: 6:30 pm, special performance at Providence Mount St. Vincent Chapel. Free – all welcome. (4831 35th SW)

LUCKY BROWN & THE SGs: Music-release party at Parliament Tavern, 8 pm. No cover. 21+. (4210 SW Admiral Way)

PREVIEW THE WEEK AHEAD …on our complete-calendar page.

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HALA REZONING: Morgan Community Association strategizes, 2 weeks before next city meeting
April 22, 2017 10:21 pm
|      27 COMMENTS
 |   Neighborhoods | West Seattle news

Two weeks from today – on Saturday, May 6th – the proposed Housing Affordability and Livability Agenda (HALA) rezoning for Mandatory Housing Affordability will be spotlighted at another city “open house” in West Seattle.

This time, unlike the one back in December, it’s a big venue – Westside School (WSB sponsor) in Arbor Heights.

More on the open house later. First: Community groups are continuing to discuss HALA, too, particularly as they await the draft Environmental Impact Statement. If you need a refresher – Mandatory Housing Affordability is supposed to add more development capacity in exchange for requiring developers to either include “affordable” units in their projects, or pay a fee into a city fund that will be used to build it somewhere else. (If you haven’t already checked what might change near you, here’s the interactive citywide map showing that.)

At the Morgan Community Association‘s quarterly meeting this past Wednesday night, MoCA president Deb Barker said the EIS is expected to be out in mid-May, which would open a public-comment period through June – which happens to be what the city had listed at previous meetings (including the Morgan “Community Design Workshop” last month) as the expected drop-dead comments-closed period. Read More

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Duwamish Alive, report #2: Music, mulch, more at Pigeon Point Park
April 22, 2017 7:07 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   Environment | West Seattle news

Most recent years, Pigeon Point Park near Pathfinder K-8 School has had the biggest volunteer turnout for the multi-site twice-annual Duwamish Alive! events, and so far as we’ve heard, today kept that tradition going. Another tradition – music:

We found Jimmy Knodle on the northwest edge of the work zone – he had just stopped playing his trumpet when we pulled over, but posed for a photo. Elsewhere, Ricky Gene Powell was singing and playing:

That video is courtesy of Michael Oxman, a local arborist and Seattle Green Spaces Coalition board member who was there today. He also shared this photo of Seattle Parks volunteers:

Delridge-headquartered Nature Consortium, which was at the site along with EarthCorps, has long included music and art at its worksites, as part of its mission. But unintended art can be found, too – as in this arrangement of tools:

If you weren’t out at a site volunteering today, watch for word of the fall Duwamish Alive! event – and for work parties many other weekends inbetween; the Nature Consortium’s site will point you to frequent opportunities in West Seattle’s West Duwamish Greenbelt.

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West Seattle weekend scene: Canada goose and gosling
April 22, 2017 6:30 pm
|      6 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | Wildlife

It’s not really spring until one of our area’s wonderful wildlife photographers shares a photo of a Canada goose with at least one downy yellow gosling … this is the first one we’ve received this year. Mark Wangerin photographed them along Harbor Avenue SW – drive/ride carefully in that area, as they’ve been known to cross the road.

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Rachel Austin at Click! Design That Fits
April 22, 2017 3:01 pm
|    Comments Off on Rachel Austin at Click! Design That Fits
 |   West Seattle news | WS culture/arts

You might know artist Rachel Austin for her map-based paintings … right now, she’s at Click! Design That Fits (4540 California SW; WSB sponsor) in The Junction for a preview of her new Shadow series, “born out of her love of plants, color, and shape.” Click! tells us this is her only visit this year – and your first chance to see work from her upcoming show, debuting during the May West Seattle Art Walk (May 11th). Go drop by Click! and hop up to the loft to see her.

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THURSDAY: 5 local restaurants participating in Dining Out For Life 2017
April 22, 2017 2:44 pm
|    Comments Off on THURSDAY: 5 local restaurants participating in Dining Out For Life 2017
 |   Health | How to help | West Seattle news | West Seattle restaurants

Next Thursday will bring this year’s Dining Out For Life fundraiser, with five West Seattle and White Center restaurants participating. Heather Logue from Lifelong explains that you’ll be helping neighbors:

Lifelong AND Dining Out For Life are closely connected to West Seattle, because on a weekly basis Chicken Soup Brigade (the food program of Lifelong) delivers crucial food and nutrition services to 91 homebound people living with serious illness in your neighborhood! And over the last year we have delivered to over 200 West Seattleites. Many of these folks are just out of the hospital and going home alone to an empty refrigerator, so we began the “Welcome Home Program,” which provides the healthy meals and social support to keep them on the path back to health.

She adds that, “Much of our management team at Chicken Soup Brigade lives in West Seattle! This means that not only do we love our neighborhood, but we’re also often privileged to make deliveries on the way home from work.” So here’s where to go on Thursday:

Buddha Ruksa

Locöl Barley & Vine

Mission Cantina

El Chupacabra Alki (for lunch only)

Noble Barton (White Center)

Here’s the full citywide list of participants, including what percentage they’re donating, and which meal(s) on Thursday.

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