West Seattle, Washington

19 Friday

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month : 06/2017 320 results

ROAD-WORK ALERT UPDATE: Revised start date for Roxbury sidewalks-and-more project
June 30, 2017 10:31 pm
|    Comments Off on ROAD-WORK ALERT UPDATE: Revised start date for Roxbury sidewalks-and-more project
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

When last we brought you an update on the SW Roxbury sidewalk-building-and-road-panel-replacing project coming up on the eastbound side of the road between 28th and 30th, it was set to start next Wednesday. Today, King County Roads sent an update – the start date is now July 10th (one week from Monday). It’s still expected to wrap up before school starts in early September.

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BIZNOTE: Quail Park Memory Care of West Seattle ‘tops out’
June 30, 2017 8:53 pm
|    Comments Off on BIZNOTE: Quail Park Memory Care of West Seattle ‘tops out’
 |   Health | West Seattle housing | West Seattle news


(Photos courtesy Quail Park Memory Care of West Seattle)

A milestone for the first project of its kind in our area – Quail Park Memory Care of West Seattle (WSB sponsor) in The Junction. Here’s the announcement:

On June 29, a group of investors gathered at the site of Quail Park Memory Care of West Seattle for the ‘topping out’ ceremony. (The tree honors any that were cut in the creation of the building.) A Japanese Maple was placed on the highest beam of the project, and now the finishing work begins! The project is on track for a late-fall opening.

When complete, Quail Park will become home to 66 predominantly West Seattle residents who are coping with some form of dementia. The Quail Park vision is that the close-knit and welcoming West Seattle community will create the possibility of freedom and fulfillment for these residents — so that they can continue to enjoy everything they’ve come to love about their neighborhood. We’ll be hosting a series of happy hours and workshops to encourage dialogue and build a knowledge base to allow for maximum freedom for our residents.

And: Until the building opens, starting on July 14 (in time for Summer Fest!, we’ll be opening a ‘Discovery Center’ adjacent to the ‘Stop n’ Shop’ Senior Center thrift store at 4504 California Avenue SW.

So stop by and visit executive director Dawn Schaper and community-relations director Elizabeth Shier in July, and ask any questions you may have about dementia on behalf of yourself or a loved one.

Quail Park construction continues in the 4500 block of 41st SW, where it began with a ceremonial groundbreaking last July.

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FOLLOWUP: You have answers, they have questions – Delridge business survey sends out ‘ambassadors’
June 30, 2017 5:53 pm
|    Comments Off on FOLLOWUP: You have answers, they have questions – Delridge business survey sends out ‘ambassadors’
 |   Delridge | West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news


(L-R, Laurel Trujillo, Agen Schmitz, Lynn Dennis, Matt Larson, David Daw, Parie Hines, Willard Brown)

By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

Starting today, volunteer community “ambassadors” are visiting businesses along much of Delridge Way in the next phase of the survey we first told you about last week.

This week, we sat down to talk with seven people who are involved in various roles, to find out more about the project’s intent and goals.

Partners in the project include the Delridge Neighborhoods Development Association and West Seattle Chamber of Commerce. DNDA’s director of housing and environmental programs Willard Brown explains that “supporting and helping to organize our business community here in Delridge” emerged as a top priority during work on what was the North Delridge Action Plan in the past few years.

So they sought a city grant to hire a consultant. Working with consultant David Daw – also present for our conversation – “we settled on a survey of businesses to find out their impression of Delridge, their interests, why they are here, what they think of the neighborhood,” and where Delridge is growing and going. Read More

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Wondering about police activity at 61st/Admiral?
June 30, 2017 4:57 pm
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle police

Got a text (thank you!) about yellow “crime scene” tape and police activity at the 61st/Admiral site where 12 rowhouse units are scheduled to replace three duplexes. We hadn’t heard anything, so we went over to check, and found out that it’s training, as police and/or fire sometimes get permission to do in and around soon-to-be-demolished buildings. We’re told they’ll be there another hour or so.

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WEST SEATTLE ROAD WOES: More 35th SW repaving might be moved up to 2019, SDOT tells Councilmember Herbold
June 30, 2017 4:19 pm
|    Comments Off on WEST SEATTLE ROAD WOES: More 35th SW repaving might be moved up to 2019, SDOT tells Councilmember Herbold
 |   Safety | Transportation | West Seattle news


(WSB photo: City crew on 35th near Webster this past March)

Bit by bit, 35th SW seems to be moving closer to earlier repaving. You’ll recall that originally, SDOT’s plan had it penciled in for 2023. Then came news in April that the Avalon repaving project would include three bus-battered blocks of 35th, between Avalon and Alaska. After that, we learned earlier this month that some spot repaving is planned on south 35th SW. Today, Councilmember Lisa Herbold‘s weekly update includes word that the rest of the south section of 35th SW might be moved up to 2019 – and includes word of exactly which sections will be involved in the spot repaving:

You may recall that, in April, I sent SDOT Director Kubly a letter requesting that SDOT expedite the schedule for re-paving 35th Avenue SW, currently not planned until 2023 in SDOT’s 2016-2024 pavement plan.

This week I received a reply from SDOT. In response to hearing not only from me, but many of you as well, they have indicated they have scheduled the rebuild of 35th from Alaska to Avalon for 2019 (in conjunction with Avalon re-paving project). This segment of 35th carries the highest bus traffic. They also indicated they are considering moving forward, from 2023 to 2019, the re-paving work on the Roxbury to Morgan segment of 35th.

In addition, they are planning on spot repairs in 2017 for the northbound travel lanes from Cloverdale to Thistle, Holden to Austin, and Othello to Webster.

After sending the letter, I further asked about a question several constituents have asked about whether the lane reduction from Roxbury to Holly had resulted in a differential weight distribution than the road was originally designed for, thus possibly leading to greater degradation of the road.

SDOT replied that this has been an issue with some lane reductions in Seattle, but they didn’t believe it was much of a factor on 35th, except perhaps in some places. They noted that southbound, the lane reduction had shifted traffic onto concrete, which is structurally more robust. Northbound, there may be some accelerated deterioration in spots that they proposed to mitigate with spot repairs in 2017, as noted above.

I appreciate SDOT’s responsiveness to the requests of my office as well as District 1 constituents in this matter.

Her update also includes the entire text of SDOT’s letter to her, which includes some numbers on the repaving costs, plus a warning that moving up 35th would “require us to eliminate other Move Seattle [levy] paving projects throughout the City.” You can read it on her website.

P.S. As we reported June 19th, 35th SW Phase 2 is still on the drawing board, with Phase 1 analysis due to go public in a few weeks.

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COUNTDOWN: 8 days to Seafair Pirates Landing on Alki
June 30, 2017 2:19 pm
|    Comments Off on COUNTDOWN: 8 days to Seafair Pirates Landing on Alki
 |   West Seattle festivals | West Seattle news

otherskids
(WSB photo from 2016 Seafair Pirates Landing – the crowd can be as much fun as the Pirates!)

As mentioned a bit earlier in our continuing coverage counting down to big summer events, the Seafair Pirates Landing is one week from tomorrow, 10 am-6 pm Saturday, July 8th, on Alki Beach. This year, the Pirates are expected around 2 pm, but the music starts at 11 – here’s the lineup we just received:

11 am – North Seattle Ukestra – they’ll be rockin’ tiny instruments in a big way!

12 pm – Skates! – infectious, original punky power pop!

1 pm – The Delridge Boys – rockin’ the classics from the ’50 through the ’80s!

2 pm* – Pirate Landing and Revelry – *Timing is approximate – tides and pirates, you know!

3 pm – Queen Anne’s Revenge – bringing on the upbeat R&B, rock, blues, and other favorites!

Also from the announcement:

Alki Beach will be filled with mermaids, kids activities, live music, and craft and food vendors to celebrate the Pirates’ arrival in style. Additionally, the Alki merchants will be on hand up and down the street with their fabulous food, beverages, and wares available. The event is free, family friendly, and open to the public!

If you’re new – this all generally happens around the Alki Bathhouse, at 60th SW/Alki SW. But exactly where the Pirates storm ashore in that vicinity tends to vary year to year.

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WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: 3 arrested after South Delridge street robbery
June 30, 2017 12:12 pm
|      17 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | Delridge | West Seattle news | West Seattle police

Just published on SPD Blotter, word that three people were arrested last night after a street robbery was reported near 18th SW and SW Barton:

On Thursday night, just before 10:00 pm, officers responded to that area after a 58-year-old man called 911 to report he had just been robbed of his bicycle at gunpoint by three suspects. The suspects then fled and the victim was able to call police.

Officers responded and set up containment. A K-9 team responded and tracked to a nearby vacant house in the 9200 block of Delridge, where the victim’s bicycle was found abandoned in the tall grass. Officers heard voices inside the house and three individuals came out. The three individuals matched the suspect description provided by the victim. The victim was able to positively identify the suspects, all male, ages 17, 18, and 22. They were arrested without incident.

Officers checked the vacant house for additional suspects. During a check of the house, officers discovered an open window in a back bedroom. Thinking that was a little odd, the officer looked out the window and, using his flashlight, located a firearm in the tall grass. The gun was recovered with a fully loaded magazine. The victim confirmed that was the gun the suspects used in the robbery.

The 17-year-old suspect was later booked into the Youth Services Center, while the older suspects were booked into the King County Jail.

Juvenile detention rosters aren’t available online, but we’ve verified via the King County Jail register that the 18- and 22-year-old suspects are still in custody. Neither appears to have a felony record.

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COUNTDOWN: Date set for Seafair Parade of Ships
June 30, 2017 12:08 pm
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 |   Seen at sea | West Seattle news

(USCGC Mellon in 2014 Seafair Parade of Ships, courtesy of Greg)

Continuing our look ahead to some of what’s coming up this summer – since the Seafair website just mentions August 1st through 6th as Fleet Week, without other specifics, we asked about the Parade of Ships, usually a popular sight as the visiting military ships “parade” past West Seattle. Seafair spokesperson Emily Cantrell tells WSB the date is Wednesday, August 2nd, and beyond that, no details yet. So if you’re interested, you can at least set your calendar.

P.S. Seafair’s biggest West Seattle event, the Pirates Landing, is at Alki on July 8th, one week from tomorrow … more on that soon!

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West Seattle Friday: Your pre-holiday-weekend possibilities
June 30, 2017 10:03 am
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous


(Steller’s Jay photographed at WSB headquarters by Patrick Sand)

Before we get to what’s happening, here’s what’s NOT happening:

SOUTHWEST POOL CLOSED DUE TO POWER OUTAGE: No swimming at Southwest Pool until the power’s back on. The building is out because of a problem City Light attributes to “bird/animal.” (2801 SW Thistle)

11 AM UPDATE: City Light says power’s back on! Here’s the SW Pool schedule.

But our highlight list does offer other aquatic options:

WADING POOLS & SPRAYPARK: Lincoln Park wading pool is open 11 am-8 pm; EC Hughes wading pool is open noon-7 pm; Hiawatha wading pool is open noon-6:30 pm; Highland Park spraypark is open 11 am-8 pm. (Find addresses here)

COLMAN POOL: The city’s outdoor saltwater swimming pool is open today noon-7 pm on the shore at Lincoln Park – walk or ride in from either end of the park waterfront. (Here’s the schedule)

LOG HOUSE MUSEUM: Go visit the home of West Seattle’s history! Noon-4 pm. (61st SW/SW Stevens)

WINE: Viscon Cellars (WSB sponsor) is open 5 pm-9 pm and offering a deal: “2016 Perseverance Viognier and the 2016 PORCH Rosé of Syrah. 10% off 6 bottles or more.” (5910 California SW)

MORE WINE: Welcome Road Winery (WSB sponsor) is open 5 pm-8 pm, patio and tasting room. (3804 California SW)

MOVIES IN THE PARK: First of four this summer at the “park” space on the south side of West Seattle Church of the Nazarene. Not only is the movie free, so are popcorn, hot dogs, and soda. “Moana” is tonight’s movie – starts 9-ish. (42nd SW/SW Juneau)

THE BRUISED HEARTS REVUE: Album-release party with guests, 9 pm at Parliament Tavern. $5 cover. 21+. (4210 SW Admiral Way)

WHAT ELSE? Lots more – just check our complete-calendar page.

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COUNTDOWN: 3 weeks to Alki Art Fair!
June 30, 2017 9:30 am
|    Comments Off on COUNTDOWN: 3 weeks to Alki Art Fair!
 |   West Seattle festivals | West Seattle news | WS culture/arts


No festivals this weekend, since many people are traveling or otherwise getting ready for the 4th of July. So we’ll be looking ahead to the next wave of big summer events. Among them: The Alki Art Fair, three weeks away, Saturday and Sunday, July 22nd and 23rd. Here’s the official announcement, including info on this year’s free shuttle:

The Alki Art Fair is celebrating its 20th anniversary this summer, and everyone from both the peninsula and the mainland is invited. This event is FREE, kid-friendly, and draws upward of 10,000 visitors each year.

Local bands provide the soundtrack and salty breezes provide the atmosphere as you browse the diverse artists’ displays. (Rain or shine — though our track record is almost 100% for shine.)

Saturday, July 22, artist booths are open from 10 am – 6 pm with music all day until 9 pm.

Sunday, July 23, artist booths are open 10 am – 6 pm with music until 6 pm.

This year’s Fair will feature:

*90+ artist vendors selling works in a variety of media including painting, pottery, glass, textiles, metal, jewelry & more

*4 stages featuring 44 musical and other live performance acts

*7 food booths

*An interactive children’s art area – bring the little ones

*A Silent Auction and a Fair history exhibit in the Alki Bathhouse

*2 beautiful limited-edition commemorative T-shirts for sale – an adult and youth shirt by Bill Reiswig and a children’s shirt by Stacey Sterling – while supplies last!

The Alki Art Fair offers a free shuttle from the West Seattle Park n’ Ride parking lot (under the West Seattle Bridge) through the Admiral Junction to Alki Beach. Shuttle will run to and from the Beach from 9:30 AM to 6:30 PM both days.

The Alki Art Fair’s goal is to advance art education and appreciation while encouraging community involvement and cultural diversity. The Fair is a Washington State nonprofit organization, whose purpose is to continue the annual event and other mission-related activities into the future.

This year’s Alki Art Fair sponsors include WSB.

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TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Friday watch
June 30, 2017 7:25 am
|    Comments Off on TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Friday watch
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

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

7:25 AM: Good morning! No incidents in/from West Seattle as we look ahead toward what for some will be a four-day holiday weekend. (Transit information about Tuesday, July 4th, is on our special holiday page, by the way.)

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VIDEO: Commenters at City Hall public hearing plead for more time to review the thick HALA MHA Draft Environmental Impact Statement
June 30, 2017 12:53 am
|      17 COMMENTS
 |   Development | West Seattle housing | West Seattle news | West Seattle politics

(WSB video of the entire hearing, unedited)

By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

At Wednesday night’s public hearing about the Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Housing Affordability and Livability Act’s Mandatory Housing Affordability component, the most common comment was “give us more time to read, analyze, and react to it.”

The decision on that would have to be made by Seattle Office of Planning and Community Development director Sam Assefa, his staff said at meeting’s end, by which time he was not in sight, though he had given the introduction. OPCD’s Geoff Wendlandt offered that they weren’t likely to extend the July 23 deadline.

There also were several complaints that the hearing was not being broadcast by Seattle Channel (prompting a few people to ask us afterward where they would find our video).

37 people commented in almost an hour and a half. That was preceded by the classic open-house setup, with summaries on walls and easels around the room, listing points you otherwise would have to pull out of the 462-page DEIS, toplines of the alternatives it looked at, which propose different paces and types of rezoning and growth.

Toplines of what was said: Read More

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@ Highland Park Action Committee: From the city to Congress to campaigning for the roundabout…
June 29, 2017 10:58 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   Highland Park | Neighborhoods | West Seattle news

(UPDATED FRIDAY AFTERNOON with letter-writing info for roundabout support)

Toplines from the Highland Park Action Committee‘s last meeting before summer break, Wednesday night at Highland Park Improvement Club:

DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS: Yun Pitre visited – she’s an 11-year city employee who was formerly a Neighborhood District Coordinator, now a Community Engagement Coordinator, one of four working with community groups around the city. She’s assigned to Districts 1 and 2. (That’s City Council districts, as in 7 of them, rather than the old not-numbered neighborhood districts, of which West Seattle had two.) “We’re still your liaisons to city government,” she affirmed, when asked what her role now means. HPAC co-chair Michele Witzki said she hopes the department will offer added resources. “One of the reasons they broke everything up was for equity – and now not only are we getting (fewer resources), but it seems we’re competing with some of the other (disadvantaged) neighborhoods that have (greater) needs.”

Read More

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COUNTDOWN: 5 days until 4th of July
June 29, 2017 9:08 pm
|      8 COMMENTS
 |   Holidays | West Seattle news

If you haven’t seen it already, the annual WSB West Seattle 4th of July page is up and we’re continuing to update it – if an event is missing, or if your business has special hours (or is closed) on the 4th, please let us know and we’ll add that too. editor@westseattleblog.com – thanks!

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BIZNOTE: The Escape Artist to be West Seattle’s first ‘escape room’ venue
June 29, 2017 4:48 pm
|      17 COMMENTS
 |   Fun stuff to do | West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news

By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

Kristine Atri is a United States Air Force veteran who says not much scares her.

She in fact is a huge fan of “escape room” game venues.

So much so, that she’s opening the first one in West Seattle, where she and her husband live.

We talked with her today about The Escape Artist, which Atri expects to open this fall in three vacant spaces spanning about 2,500 square feet in the commercial building at 4517 California SW – two on the ground floor, separated by the breezeway, and one upstairs.

First – if you aren’t familiar with the “escape room” concept – it’s a 21st-century phenomenon, Atri explains.

Read More

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‘Engine 32 1/2’ artwork installed at West Seattle’s new Fire Station 32
June 29, 2017 3:09 pm
|      21 COMMENTS
 |   Triangle | West Seattle news | WS culture/arts

Thanks to Erika Lindsay with the city’s Office of Arts and Culture for news that “Engine 32 1/2” has been installed at the new Fire Station 32 in The Triangle. She included photos of the installation, which as you can see required a crane.

Sean Orlando of Engineered Artworks is the artist. Engine 32 1/2 is described as:

… a large-scale fabricated steel version of a wooden toy fire truck. Inspired by historic fire trucks of the late 1920s and 1930s … modeled after the original Engine 32 that Captain Steve Sanislo operated out of this station for many years … a 1924 Seagrave Apparatus … a custom designed and fabricated idealized version of a real vintage fire truck built to ½ scale with a toy-maker’s detailed aesthetic … endowing it with a sense of play, whimsy and imagination. The ladders of “Engine 32 ½” will extend, stretch and come alive behind the apparatus, organically and impossibly creeping up the outer wall of the firehouse. The extension of the ladders behind the truck represents the speed and urgency of the Fire Fighter’s mission. The overall shape of the ladders will emulate a chaotic abstract flame.

Capt. Sanislo is of course the namesake of the elementary school on Puget Ridge. But the truck has even more of a local backstory – inspired by toy trucks made by a man living near FS 32, as detailed on Orlando’s website.

The artist is quoted as saying, “This particular work of art represents an internal discovery and connection between the primal emotions and memory within children of all ages, as well as adults. By creating a piece that spans the generations, “Engine 32 ½” will act as a catalyst to bridge the gap between the adolescent child and the inner child of the adult.”

No date yet for when SFD will move into the new station (which was built on the site where the old one was demolished, at SW Alaska and 37th SW), according to our most-recent check with the department. Construction began with demolition more than 14 months ago. The call for artists originally went out in 2013.

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WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: The case of the stolen bags
June 29, 2017 2:40 pm
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | West Seattle news

From the “unusual theft” files, this report from Hannah:

Overnight, someone stole all the tree gator/water drip bags from our street (including ours and the neighbors). On Graham St SW, between 49th and 50th Ave SW in Seaview. Jerks! And also, WHY?

The missing bags are dark green.

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Welcome, new WSB sponsor: Chaco Canyon Organic Café, under new ownership
June 29, 2017 12:58 pm
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle restaurants

Chaco Canyon Organic Café in The Triangle has a new proprietor, who we’re welcoming as a new WSB sponsor:

Mohamed Youssef is the new operator/manager of Chaco Canyon Organic Café in West Seattle, which is in its 7th year. He wants to be sure customers past, present, and future know that nothing has changed – the menu is the same, the hours are the same, the prices are the same.

Before taking over the West Seattle Chaco Canyon, he spent time at the main Chaco Canyon Café kitchens in Green Lake with the Seattle chain’s chefs, learning about the preparation methods, ingredients, and serving styles. He wanted to master each step of the process so everyone who comes in is guaranteed both good food and comfortable surroundings.

As Mohamed stresses, Chaco Canyon Organic Café is Seattle’s best choice for fresh, organic, GMO-free, vegetarian, and non-allergenic cuisine. That all being said, most people who come to Chaco Canyon do not come for those reasons. Chaco Canyon‘s many regulars come because the food is delicious, no matter what their diets are, and it leaves them feeling satisfied and energized.

Many people find Chaco Canyon Organic Café from word of mouth – the customer base cultivated over 14 years are the restaurants’ best spokespeople, and they tend to bring in family and friends to see for themselves: “When people come in once, they tend to come back because they see and experience the value of our business. Coming to Chaco Canyon is not only a great thing for the planet, since we are decidedly environmental and make sustainable business choices, but also often a great thing for our customers health, diet, and well-being. We’ve heard hundreds of accounts through the years of how Chaco has transformed people’s lives, their health, their relationships with food, and become an essential part of their daily lives. We love serving this great community and being a business that can be a benefit to all.”

West Seattle’s Chaco Canyon Organic Café is at 3770 SW Alaska – phone 206-937-8732. Find the newest menus here.

We thank Chaco Canyon Organic Café in West Seattle 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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ELECTION 2017: Monday’s your deadline to register to vote in August primary
June 29, 2017 11:54 am
|    Comments Off on ELECTION 2017: Monday’s your deadline to register to vote in August primary
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle politics

21 candidates for Seattle Mayor (and no, there won’t be a 22nd), eight for City Council Position 8, seven for City Council Position 7, two for City Attorney, plus King County and Port of Seattle races, and the “Access for All” sales-tax increase. Want to help decide them all? If you’re not already set to vote in the August 1st primary (voting actually starts in about two weeks, when ballots arrive), Monday (July 3) is your deadline. Here’s how.

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West Seattle (and beyond) Thursday: Where to wade; HALA hearing; more…
June 29, 2017 10:02 am
|    Comments Off on West Seattle (and beyond) Thursday: Where to wade; HALA hearing; more…
 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous


(Added: WSB photo, from Emma Schmitz Memorial Overlook this morning)

Highlights for the rest of your Thursday:

FAMILY STORY TIME: 10:30 am at Southwest Library. (35th SW/SW Henderson)

WADING POOLS AND SPRAYPARKS OPEN TODAY: 11 am-8 pm, Lincoln Park wading pool. 11 am-8 pm, Highland Park spraypark. Noon-6:30 pm, Hiawatha wading pool. Noon-7 pm, EC Hughes wading pool. (Addresses are here)

BEER JUNCTION ANNIVERSARY: 7th anniversary beer release today at The Beer Junction, 11 amm – details on TBJ’s website. (4511 California SW)

SUMMER LUNCHES AT THE LIBRARY: 12:30 pm at High Point and Delridge libraries, free lunch for 18 and under.

HALA REZONING HEARING: If you have something to say about the Housing Affordability and Livability Agenda‘s Mandatory Housing Affordability rezoning proposal, now in Draft Environmental Impact Statement stage, tonight’s the big event at City Hall, first-floor Bertha Knight Landes Room – 5:30 pm “open house” with one-on-one Q&A, and sign up to speak at the public hearing, which begins at 6:30 pm. (600 5th Ave.)

HOT ROD: 8 pm at Parliament Tavern. No cover. 21+. (4210 SW Admiral Way)

THAT’S NOT ALL … see our complete calendar for today’s full list.

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UPDATE: Fire response in 7100 block California SW
June 29, 2017 7:35 am
|      13 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle fires | West Seattle news


(Added: WSB photo)

7:35 AM: Seattle Fire has sent a full response to an apartment building in the 7100 block of California SW [map]. First crews on scene say they’re seeing smoke.

(Added: Photo tweeted by @katelynchowell)

It’s reported to have started as a grease fire.

7:43 AM: The fire is reported to be under control.

7:56 AM: The fire is tapped. California remains closed between just north of Myrtle and just north of Orchard. No injuries reported.

8:05 AM: Some units are being dismissed. SPD is directing traffic.

9:59 AM: California is open again. We have followup questions out to SFD and will update this story when the answers are in.

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TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Thursday watch
June 29, 2017 7:29 am
|    Comments Off on TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Thursday watch
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

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

7:29 AM: A stalled vehicle on the eastbound West Seattle Bridge has just cleared. No incidents otherwise.

7:36 AM: A fire response in the 7100 block of California SW – we advise diverting to 35th SW instead.

8:05 AM: Or divert to Fauntleroy. California is still blocked between Myrtle and Orchard.

Meantime, the 8:15 am Vashon Water Taxi is cancelled because of mechanical trouble.

8:46 AM: California is till blocked as of a few minutes ago, per commenter KMWS in our fire coverage. Photo added above showing SPD helping divert SB traffic at SW Myrtle.

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FOLLOWUP: ‘Legends of the Road’ screening raises $5,000+ for Admiral Theater mural restoration; another fundraiser ahead
June 29, 2017 2:17 am
|      1 COMMENT
 |   Admiral Theater | West Seattle history | West Seattle news

Tuesday night’s “Legends of the Road” screening at the Admiral Theater, to benefit the fund for restoring its historic murals, was a success on multiple levels.

“Pier 4” at The Admiral was almost full by showtime.

(Videos courtesy Southwest Seattle Historical Society. Above, pre-film introductions)

In pre-film remarks, executive director Clay Eals of the Southwest Seattle Historical Society – which is leading the restoration effort – observed that the crowd included former mayor Greg Nickels in a Kansas City Monarchs hat. (The Monarchs were the team honored by the high-school baseball players featured in the movie as they “barnstormed” on a 5,100-mile baseball trip in 2000, organized by students from Chief Sealth HS to pay tribute to the Negro Leagues players’ legendary travels.)

Also at the screening – Negro Leagues Baseball Museum president Bob Kendrick, who’s part of the film, and “Legends of the Road” producer/director Gary Thomsen, the former Chief Sealth teacher whose students carried out the ambitious-to-say-the-least project. They answered questions after the screening, joined by one of the former Sealth students who produced the barnstorming trip (with all the filming done by students too). Before the screening, Kendrick had a story about Seattle barnstorming history, with the Monarchs playing games here against a team called the House of David, which he described as “an all-white religious sect based out of Michigan. … Seattle has long been an important part of this story.”

Every cent raised Tuesday night goes to restoration of the 75-year-old murals, which, as Eals noted (you can see part of one in the video), were hidden under curtains when the theater was twinned in 1973, and uncovered during last year’s renovation work that turned The Admiral into an all-first-run fourplex. With paid admission approaching 200, and a post-film auction of two donated 1942 Monarchs replica jerseys for $600 each, that totals at least $5,000.

Another fundraising effort is in the works, Eals tells us. The formal announcement is expected within a week or so, but you can save the date – July 25th – for a full evening “consisting of an in-person presentation by the world-renowned, France-based ‘silent film guru’ Tim Brock, who scores films for the Chaplin Foundation and countless other films, and who grew up in West Seattle and got the inspiration for his film-scoring career when, as a 10-year-old in the early 1970s, he watched organ-accompanied silents at West Seattle’s Granada Theater, which was razed in 1977. Tim will be interviewed on stage by his childhood friend, West Seattle’s Dave Beck (current KING-FM host and longtime former KUOW-FM host), show stills and clips from films he has scored and, after an intermission, introduce the full-length ‘Modern Times’ by Chaplin.”

As for what’s next for “Legends of the Road,” it’s on the film-festival circuit, having premiered in Kansas City, and heading to Minneapolis. That was part of Tuesday night’s post-film Q&A:

Thomsen hopes to screen it eventually in the cities that were part of the barnstorming-tribute tour. As for here at home, he says its next local screening isn’t scheduled yet but he’s working on another event that might include it. Whenever it happens, you’ll want to take anybody who needs a little inspiration … as Paul, one of the former students, told the audience last night, the project gave him a lot of confidence. Bob Kendrick declared that “every educator should see this film,” to get a view into an “amazing experiential learning project.”

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