month : 06/2017 320 results

Two West Seattle Crime Watch reader reports:

STOLEN CAR: Gabriel sent the photo and this report:

My car was stolen Wednesday night out of the Elliott Tire and Service parking lot while waiting to get work done… The car is a dark blue 98 Subaru Legacy Outback station wagon. Plates: ATC0410. It has a handful of stickers on the back windows including 2 Butchrd stickers and an ARMADA sticker.

I hope we can find it! I acquired this car on Monday from a friend who had to leave on a family emergency to Australia. He left it to me in trade for work (I make things out of carbon fiber). I wanted the car to give to my brother-in-law for his 16th birthday last Wednesday. We since told my brother-in-law we had him a car, but I wanted to get it inspected for safety… So much for that! They didn’t get around to servicing it on Wednesday and when they looked for it on Thursday, it was gone.

I hope by sharing this on the blog someone will help find the car and we can catch the people who did this. Police incident #17-205816

Call 911 if you see it.

MAIL THEFT: From an Arbor Heights neighbor:

Heads up for North Arbor Heights neighbors: (On Thursday) mail was stolen from locked metal security mailboxes, pried open and now damaged and unusable, along 43rd Place SW (one block extension west of 98th and California). Police have been notified.

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BIZNOTE: New West Seattle boutique location for Heidi Fish Swimwear

June 8, 2017 9:46 pm

| Comments Off on BIZNOTE: New West Seattle boutique location for Heidi Fish Swimwear

| West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news

Just in time for the peak of swimsuit season, the namesake proprietor of Heidi Fish Swimwear has moved her business to a storefront on California Avenue SW, after 17 years in what she describes as a “very hidden” location in The Junction. Her new boutique at 4141 California SW is open 11 am-5 pm Tuesday through Saturday, or, she says, you can call 206-938-9928 to make an appointment for a custom fitting.

Heidi Fish Swimwear has been featured nine times in Sports Illustrated’s swimsuit edition and carries its own line of swimwear and resort wear, including women’s, men’s, and children’s apparel: “Retro, and one-of-a-kinds; so many different styles,” she says.

P.S. You’re invited to a special Ladies’ Happy Hour event coming up later this month at Heidi Fish Swimwear, 1-4 pm on Sunday, June 25th, including gift certificates and prizes.

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SATURDAY: West Seattle Baseball’s new Snack Shack debuts

June 8, 2017 8:30 pm

| 6 COMMENTS

| Highland Park | West Seattle news | WS & Sports

(Photo by Megan Varner)

That’s the new Snack Shack for West Seattle Baseball, and you’re invited to the Pee-Wee Fields at Riverview Playfield this Saturday to celebrate it, and to watch championship games. We heard about this from Megan Varner, a WS Baseball board member who has run the Snack Shack for the past three years. She explains, “We finally got a new Snack Shack after 15+ years, through large donations and fundraising!” They’re still adding the finishing touches – “literally … down to the final minute” to get ready for Saturday: “A lot of local sponsors donated time and work to pull this off. Great community effort.”

The “grand reopening” will start around 11 am Saturday, with a ribboncutting planned at 11:45 am, followed by the Pinto and Mustang season championship games starting at 1 pm. Megan says, “It will be a day filled with food, games, and baseball!”

P.S. Megan says special thanks goes to: “Eric Moe of JEM Contractors and Mark Hubbard of Grindline Skate Parks did all concrete work. Big thanks to O’Neill Plumbing for their help, and our many sponsors this season, as well as several WS families who went above and beyond to support this effort.”

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HAPPENING NOW: Makers’ Market at West Seattle Art Walk

June 8, 2017 6:22 pm

| 3 COMMENTS

| West Seattle Art Walk | West Seattle news | WS culture/arts

Until 8 pm, you can go check out the newest addition to the West Seattle Art Walk – the Makers’ Market, set up in Junction Plaza Park. Participating makers include Mari from Moss and Branch, one of your West Seattle neighbors:

With sweet treats, here’s Andrea from Dolcetta, also a West Seattleite:

Emily from Panacea and Ceres, with watercolor on a 19th century print:

The park is at 42nd SW and SW Alaska.

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HIGHLAND PARK ELEMENTARY PLAYGROUND: Close to construction!

June 8, 2017 5:51 pm

| 3 COMMENTS

| Highland Park | West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

As mentioned in our West Seattle Thursday highlights this morning, Highland Park Elementary School‘s playground project has a dine-out fundraiser continuing this evening at Zippy’s Giant Burgers in White Center (open until 9 at 9614 14th SW). We recently asked the HPE PTA how the project is going, since the city mentioned some grant money had been awarded. Here’s the update from PTA vice president Connie Wolf:

After three years of work on our playground project, we are ready to break through the asphalt. Construction drawings from the Pomegranate Center along with funding from the Neighborhood Matching Fund’s Community Partnership Fund and King County Youth Sports Facilities Grant have us set to build Phase 1 of our new playground.

This phase will include installation of a net climber, hill slides, a boulder scramble, an ADA ramp, and a new welcoming community entryway. Two key principles of the design are a natural landscape that encourages imaginative play for our children and a welcoming place for our school and neighborhood.

In order to ensure the funds on hand will cover all of the construction work, we had to pull certain elements out of our base bid. Gateway artwork, landscaping, and a seat wall are pieces of this phase that we are currently fundraising for.

Phase 1 should be completed this fall, and then we will begin working toward the second half of the project which will include more play equipment: a tree deck, log steps, and boulder stacks.

You can support the HPE playground project by participating in our dine outs (thank you Proletariat Pizza, Zippy’s Giant Burgers, Chipotle, and Mioposto), attending our fall playground celebration (currently being planned), and volunteering in our work parties (more info on that to come).

Thank you to everyone who has helped to create this incredible play space for our children.

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FOLLOWUP: Suspect charged with murder in beating death at encampment

June 8, 2017 3:12 pm

| 25 COMMENTS

| Crime | West Seattle news

Just in from the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office: 43-year-old Aaron Rillera is charged with second-degree murder for allegedly beating 24-year-old Dillon Graham to death with a baseball bat. It happened Monday afternoon at an encampment on the slope between Highway 509 and Myers Way. We first reported on the investigation that afternoon, on Rillera’s arrest the next day; Graham was identified yesterday.

Court documents filed along with today’s charging papers say witnesses told police it started when a woman came to one of four encampments on the slope claiming that the victim was trying to rob another woman. The first person she approached didn’t want to get involved; he said the two women came to his encampment later and said “AJ” – later identified as Rillera – had “taken care of” Graham by hitting him. Police found Rillera and two women – one of whom was the alleged robbery target – near his encampment, described as a “large, fort-like camp” and took all three in for questioning. They also later questioned the first woman who had been seeking help. The woman that the victim allegedly was trying to rob said he had hit her and pushed her to the ground. She said she didn’t know the other woman had gone for help, but that Rillera and another man showed up with bats, and she said she didn’t see what happened because she turned away. Graham was described as an occasional visitor to the encampment, not a resident. Rillera remains jailed in lieu of $1 million bail and is expected in court to answer the charge on June 22nd.

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HIGHWAY 99 TUNNEL: Project leader talks opening date, Viaduct demolition, more, @ West Seattle Chamber of Commerce

June 8, 2017 1:10 pm

| 25 COMMENTS

| Alaskan Way Viaduct | Highway 99 tunnel | West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news

(April 4 photo of tunneling-machine breakthrough, by WSB’s Christopher Boffoli)

By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

If all goes well, the Highway 99 tunnel will open in January 2019 – after three weeks with no Alaskan Way Viaduct, and no tunnel.

That’s what Joe Hedges, the West Seattle resident who currently runs the Alaskan Way Viaduct Replacement Program for WSDOT, told the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce at its monthly lunch meeting today.

His presentation was introduced by Pete Spalding, the Chamber’s government-affairs committee chair, who also has long served as a member of the Viaduct/Tunnel project working group advisory committee.

Hedges called it a “wonderful treat” to be able to “come home” for the presentation. He’s been running the project for more than a year.

The “most important lesson learned” – “This Viaduct Replacement Program is a couple decades old, and the contribution to it involves a couple thousand people … what’s important is that (all that) is going to transform Seattle for the next couple centuries.”

He didn’t bring a slide deck, saying he just wanted to “catch you up, tell you where we’re at, where we’re going.” Right now: “Out of 32 projects that comprise the program, and $3.4 billion, we’re about 85 percent complete …” Read More

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DEVELOPMENT: City proposes Design Review process changes, including fewer public meetings

June 8, 2017 11:16 am

| 5 COMMENTS

| Development | West Seattle news

If a proposed development project is going to have any public meeting at all, Design Review is the only city process that allows for one – and not all projects qualify.

Now the city is proposing big changes to the process, and they’re out today. First, the official announcement from the Department of Construction and Inspections, followed by some highlights from our review of a key summary:

Our proposed amendments to the Land Use Code are intended to improve the overall function of the program to enhance the efficiency and predictability of the project review process, improve dialogue amongst applicants, and make the program more transparent and accessible to the community.

Draft legislation to modify the design review program is available for public review and comment on our Design Review Program Improvements webpage and in the Land Use Information Bulletin.

The Mayor’s Housing Affordability and Livability Agenda recommended changes to the Design Review program to streamline process and reduce the cost of building housing. In addition, program changes focus on development projects most likely to influence the character of a neighborhood and incorporate many of the recommendations from the report we released in March 2016.

Key proposals in the legislation include:

*Simplify and raise the thresholds for projects subject to design review, switching from a variety of thresholds based on use, residential units, and zoning to simple square footage thresholds that respond to the complexity of a site and type of project.

*Create a new “hybrid” process that allows one phase of design review to be handled administratively and the remainder by the design review board.

*Affordable housing proposals have the option of an entirely administrative review process.

*Require that all applicants for projects going through design review conduct outreach to the communities near their projects before they begin design review.

The legislation would also modify the composition of design review boards, modify the review process for exceptional trees in Title 25, and update and clarify other provisions related to design review.

We anticipate making final recommendations to the Mayor later in 2017. An environmental decision (SEPA) on the draft legislation is also available. This decision is subject to a comment and appeal period that runs until June 29. Please submit comments on the proposal and the environmental decision to:

City of Seattle, Seattle DCI
Attn: William Mills
P.O. Box 94788
Seattle, WA 98124-7088
william.mills@seattle.gov

The documents specific to the proposed changes are linked here.

If you just want to get right to the changes – go to this document and start on page 5.

Most notably, this means many projects that do qualify for Design Review would get fewer public meetings – in a new “hybrid” process, the Early Design Guidance phase would be handled by city staff, and then the board would have a public meeting for the Recommendations phase, at least one, no more than two.

A new requirement for early community outreach – something some developers have engaged in voluntarily – is detailed starting on page 10.

Starting on page 15, the report describes how the changes would affect the volume of projects going through Design Review. Fewer than half the projects that go through full Design Review today would do so under the new proposals.

The full proposed ordinance – City Council approval is required – is here.

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@ Southwest District Council: Aligning for Avalon alternative

June 8, 2017 10:08 am

| 3 COMMENTS

| Southwest District Council | West Seattle news

(Displays from recent Avalon project “open house,” starting with the current proposed alternatives for lane reconfiguration)

By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

With two days left to answer the SDOT survey about rechannelizing SW Avalon Way when it’s repaved in ~2019, local merchants and bicycling advocates are backing an alternative route for new bike lanes
– one that’s not currently part of SDOT’s proposals.

That was the major agenda item at last night’s Southwest District Council meeting.

AVALON RECHANNELIZATION: John Bennett and Angela Cough from the Luna Park Merchants Association first recapped the back story – as reported here two weeks ago – of being surprised to find out that what was announced as repaving was also going to include rechannelization.

SDOT contacted merchants to ask for a meeting at which they learned “they’re redesigning the whole street .. their plan was to take away a big chunk of parking on (the east side of) Avalon Way, which merchants rely on for customers.” Five years earlier, they had lost parking in the morning (for the 6-10 am bus lane). Now, 25 to 28 parking spots further south would be lost permanently. Cough, who owns Shack Coffee, explained that they’re also concerned about losing the center turn lane, which area businesses need for everything from deliveries to tows (Alki Auto Repair). The center turn lane also assists pedestrians, Cough pointed out, since there is no crosswalk in the area (the city removed one by her shop, then Java Bean, 10 years ago), and the rechannelization/repaving project so far doesn’t include one. And it’s used by Seattle Fire vehicles and other emergency personnel when there are incidents. Read More

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West Seattle Art Walk and more for your Thursday

June 8, 2017 8:59 am

| 15 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

Before we get to what’s up for today/tonight – anybody able to ID that chipmunk? Mark says it has “taken up residence in our yard on Gatewood Hill. Over the 32 years we have lived in our house we’ve never seen a chipmunk in the neighborhood, and I’m not at all sure they are all that common in our part of town. I’ve seen plenty over the years in the foothills and higher peaks of the Cascades and Olympics, but not in our suburban environment.”

Now – to calendar highlights.

DINE OUT FOR HIGHLAND PARK ELEMENTARY PLAYGROUND: 15 percent of proceeds today/tonight at Zippy’s Giant Burgers in White Center (open until 9 pm) will support the Highland Park Elementary playground project – watch for an update on the project here later today! (9614 14th SW)

DRAWING & WINE AT LOG HOUSE MUSEUM: 4-6 pm on second Thursdays, stop by the Log House Museum and sip wine while drawing – perhaps inspired by the courtyard garden. Free, but donations welcome. (61st SW/SW Stevens)

WEST SEATTLE ART WALK, FEATURING MAKERS MARKET: Another new addition for tonight’s WS Art Walk – a Makers’ Market in Junction Plaza Park! It starts at 5 pm in the park at 42nd SW/SW Alaska. Info’s in this month’s Art Walk roundup, which also has highlights from some of the regular stops on the map:

At Click! Design That Fits (WSB sponsor), you’ll find Fritz Rud and his unique work:

As explained on the Click! blog, “West Seattle local Fritz Rud pairs salvaged vintage equipment with his own custom woodworking to create sculptural objects for listening to music on your phone.” (4540 California SW)

Remember that the Art Walk now includes supporting food and drink specials at some venues – that includes Viscon Cellars (WSB sponsor), where there’s no tasting fee on Art Walk night. Viscon’s newest releases are available for tasting and purchase, and you can meet artist Lindsay Peyton. (5910 California SW)

OPEN HOUSE AT ‘THE BUILDING’: 6-9 pm, this Gatewood building full of art and artists welcomes you to stop by tonight for its “Spring Into Summer Open House.” (4316 SW Othello)

‘LITTLE MERMAID’: Lafayette Elementary invites you to this year’s spring production, “Little Mermaid” (the junior edition), 7 pm at the West Seattle High School Theater. (3000 California SW)

NIGHT CIRCUS: 9 pm at The Skylark – details in our calendar listing. $7 cover. 21+. (3803 Delridge Way SW)

AND THERE’S MORE … on our complete calendar.

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TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Rainy Thursday

June 8, 2017 6:58 am

| 3 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

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

6:58 AM: Good morning! The rain is the big factor in your commute today. No incidents reported so far in West Seattle or headed outbound from here.

1ST AVENUE SOUTH BRIDGE ALERT: For this coming Saturday morning, an alert from WSDOT:

Drivers heading into Seattle via northbound State Route 99 should plan for delays on Saturday morning, June 10.

Washington State Department of Transportation bridge maintenance crews will close the two right lanes of northbound SR 99 on the 1st Avenue South Bridge from 5:30 to 11:30 a.m. for bridge deck repair work.

7:11 AM: Just tweeted/texted by Metro:

Transit Alert – Route 56 to downtown Seattle due to leave 61st Av SW & Alki Av SW at 7:36 AM will not operate this morning.

— King County Metro (@kcmetrobus) June 8, 2017

8:11 AM: Still no incidents but local traffic-watchers report it’s slow everywhere.

8:46 AM: Police and one SFD engine are headed to a two-vehicle crash reported at 16th SW and SW Cloverdale.

8:50 AM: The crash is reported to be blocking 16th southbound.

9:24 AM: One more transit note texted and tweeted by Metro (this route goes through White Center and Olson/Myers among other area stops):

Transit Alert – The last Rt 113 to downtown Seattle due to leave Shorewood at 8:12 AM is operating over 50 minutes late this morning.

— King County Metro (@kcmetrobus) June 8, 2017

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WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Auto-theft attempt; package-taker on video

June 7, 2017 10:19 pm

| 17 COMMENTS

| Crime | West Seattle news

Two reader reports in West Seattle Crime Watch tonight:

AUTO-THEFT ATTEMPT: From Alan:

Our son’s car was broken into in the 6700 block of 14th SW. It was around 6 or 6:30 (am) and he was there while neighbors were out, leaving when one walked towards him. It was a tall Caucasian male in his 30s. He was in what my neighbor thought was a “recycle can blue” Camry wagon, but he didn’t confirm the make or plates. He broke into a 1995 Escort Wagon. It looks like he first tried to steal it, as the ignition was damaged and then started taking parts. Because he was taking parts, we think that the car he was driving might have been an Escort wagon, rather than a Camry.

If you have any information, this is SPD incident #2017-203437.

PACKAGE TAKEN ON CAMERA: The report and video are from Mike:

We had a package stolen from our porch (Tuesday) at around 12:30 pm. We’re in the Fauntleroy Park area (41st & Dawson), so be on the lookout! … I hope they enjoy the grass seed! ;)

This is SPD incident #2017-905037.

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UPDATE: Driver flips car in front of Fire Station 36 in North Delridge

June 7, 2017 8:50 pm

| 2 COMMENTS

| Delridge | West Seattle news | WS breaking news

8:50 PM: A rescue response is headed to Fire Station 36 on the north end of Delridge for a rollover. Everyone is reported to be out of the vehicle.

9:14 PM: Adding a photo. The flipped car really is right in front of Station 36. One person in the car suffered non-life-threatening injuries and will be taken to the hospital by private ambulance. A tow truck and SDOT cleanup crew are already on scene.

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COUNTDOWN: How to be part of the West Seattle 4th of July Kids’ Parade, and how to help make it happen

June 7, 2017 7:42 pm

| Comments Off on COUNTDOWN: How to be part of the West Seattle 4th of July Kids’ Parade, and how to help make it happen

| Holidays | How to help | West Seattle news

(WSB photo from past West Seattle 4th of July Kids’ Parade)

Less than four weeks until the 23rd annual West Seattle 4th of July Children’s Parade, and besides making sure you’re set to participate (or watch), Emily Williams from coordinating sponsor FIT4MOM West Seattle says they need community contributions, since increased participation means increased permit costs.

Last year’s event far exceeded our planned number of attendees and we’ve had to connect with Seattle Parks and Rec and the City of Seattle as we hop up to the next tier of permits, police presence and insurance, trash receptacles, etc. – all in all, our costs have nearly doubled! So we’re absolutely looking to the community to help cover the costs of the Parade!

To participate: Show up and you’re in the P A R A D E! The kids and their families ARE the Parade. Decorate those strollers and wagons and don’t forget yourselves! Show your spirit and have fun!

Old fashioned gunny-sack races, arts and crafts and various activities presented by local businesses at Hamilton ViewPoint Park after the Parade. This is the very best way to start your 4th of July celebration!

FIT4MOM West Seattle and many other local businesses and community members come together each year to keep this long standing West Seattle tradition alive. The Children’s Parade is truly an event for and by the West Seattle community.

WestSide Baby will be on site collecting diapers and wipes for Stuff the Bus; bring a package and help local babies in need!

But again, there are a lot of costs to cover, so here’s where you can donate. Williams concludes, “FIT4MOM West Seattle is so excited to partner with other local businesses and community members again this year to bring this special children’s event to the families of West Seattle. We appreciate everyone’s support in making it happen! Thank you in advance for your donation.” The parade starts at 10 am Tuesday, July 4th, and winds along several blocks from 44th/Sunset to Hamilton Viewpoint Park.

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WEST SEATTLE ART: Jesse Link painting mural in Admiral

June 7, 2017 4:40 pm

| 10 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | WS culture/arts

Thanks to Jennifer for the tip! That’s artist Jesse Link painting his third West Seattle mural on the north side of the California/Lander building that’s home to Evergreen Tang Soo Do Academy and Sea-Town Real Estate (WSB sponsor) among others. In summer of 2015, he painted the bear mural on Shack Coffee in Luna Park; in fall 2015, he painted the heron mural at Lofts At The Junction. This one, he told us in our quick ground-to-air interview, is a “giant festoon.”

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FERRY FIX: Fauntleroy changes made a big-picture difference, task force told

June 7, 2017 3:31 pm

| 10 COMMENTS

| Fauntleroy | Transportation | West Seattle news

(Draft version of the poster you’ll see promoting advance ticket purchases)

By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

Washington State Ferries is going ahead with the changes it tried at the Fauntleroy dock for four days last month, after presenting the test results it to its Triangle Route Task Force.

The pilot project might not have looked or felt different to individual ferry users. But in the big picture, a big difference was made, WSF said.

The task force, meeting Tuesday at Fauntleroy Church, also heard even bigger news: WSF expects to start selling tickets by phone before month’s end.

A guest as the meeting began was State Sen. Sharon Nelson, introduced by WSF’s government-affairs liaison John Vezina as representing “two-thirds of the Triangle route.” She gave the committee members a general message of support.

She began by saying that WSF’s work with legislators had become so much more collaborative in recent years, and that she thought putting together a task force about this route “made so much sense.” She talked about the diverse ridership and promised “I will support you every which way I can … I know there’ll be hiccups. … We’re in this together. … We’ll see how the implementation goes.”

She left “to catch the 5:10.”

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City plans to remove at least 91 trees from Lincoln Park

June 7, 2017 1:23 pm

| 26 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle parks

By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

Starting as soon as next week, Seattle Parks crews will remove at least 91 trees from Lincoln Park.

Even if you’re a regular park visitor, you aren’t likely to have heard about this unless you saw one of a few fine-print signs scattered around the park, like this one by the Fauntleroy Way entrance near the north play area:

We found out by hearing about it from local arborist and advocate Michael Oxman, who is on the Seattle Green Spaces Coalition board. This morning, he and reps from the Seattle Nature Alliance and Friends of Lincoln Park took a walking tour with Christopher Rippey from Parks’ Urban Forestry division, and we went along to find out more.Read More

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MICROHOUSING: 8600 Delridge Way SW proposal; comment time for city rule change

June 7, 2017 10:44 am

| 21 COMMENTS

| Delridge | Development | West Seattle housing | West Seattle news

Two microhousing (aka “small efficiency dwelling units”) notes:

8600 DELRIDGE WAY SW: City files reveal an early-stage proposal to replace a 77-year-old single-family house on a 4,327-square-foot lot at 8600 Delridge Way SW (map) with 10 “small efficiency dwelling units.” The tentative site plan shows them all at street level; the lot is zoned Lowrise 2. Documents in the file indicate the developer is talking with the city to clarify issues including lot coverage and zoning before making a formal application for the project.

SMALLER UNITS? This week’s first Land Use Information Bulletin included a notice about a proposed “director’s rule” change that would allow smaller SEDUs. The summary:

The draft Director’s Rule 9-2017 for Small Efficiency Dwelling Units (SEDU) outlines criteria that allows design flexibility to create living spaces smaller than required by Seattle Building Code (SBC) Section 1208.4 for Efficiency Dwelling Units (EDU), commonly called studio apartments, and provides a method for developers to achieve the 220 SF minimum unit size specified by the Seattle Land Use Code.

Here’s the detailed explanation. The bulletin notice says written comments are being accepted through June 19th.

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What’s happening on your West Seattle Wednesday

June 7, 2017 9:13 am

| Comments Off on What’s happening on your West Seattle Wednesday

| West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

Things you can do in West Seattle today/tonight:

WHALE-WATCHING: The humpback sightings resumed early this morning off Beach Drive and Alki – last night happy shore-based whale watchers watched two until they were out of sight. Thanks to Jim Borrow for the photo above from last night (see more photos in our sunset story), and to Vanessa Fox for Twitter reports early today.

And from our calendar:

DISASTER BOOK CLUB: 6 pm at West Seattle (Admiral) Library: “Join Seattle Office of Emergency Management *(staffer) and author Steve Olson to discuss his award-winning book ‘Eruption: The Untold Story of Mount St. Helens‘.” (2306 42nd SW)

SOUTHWEST DISTRICT COUNCIL: 6:30 pm at Senior Center/Sisson Building, with the agenda including the now-open Your Voice, Your Choice vote and the plan to rechannelize Avalon Way as part of the 2019 paving project. (4217 SW Oregon)

DELRIDGE GROCERY: All invited to tonight’s Delridge Grocery Co-op board meeting, 6:30 pm at Cottage Grove Commons, to find out how to get involved in the next phase of trying to get the store open. RSVP requested at info@delridgegrocery.com. (5444 Delridge Way SW)

JIM PAGE: Singer-songwriter performing at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor), 7-9 pm. (5612 California SW)

ST. PETERSBURG MEN’S ENSEMBLE: 7 pm, in concert at Peace Lutheran Church – details in our calendar listing. (39th SW/SW Thistle)

HANK WILLIAMS TRIBUTE: 13 musicians performing his work, 8 pm at Parliament Tavern. No cover. 21+. (4210 SW Admiral Way)

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TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Wednesday updates

June 7, 2017 6:43 am

| 5 COMMENTS

| 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 reported so far in West Seattle or on the major outbound routes. Another sunny, warm day forecast. And if your route takes you along the West Seattle waterfront, you just might see a humpback whale – we’re getting sighting reports already this morning.

Transportation news notes – Friday is the last day to reply to SDOT surveys about proposed rechannelization in connection with future repaving projects on Roxbury (here’s our Tuesday story) and Avalon (to be discussed at tonight’s Southwest District Council meeting, 6:30 pm at the Senior Center/Sisson Building, 4217 SW Oregon).

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Westwood-Roxhill-Arbor Heights Community Council toplines, from HALA to the Bog

June 6, 2017 11:40 pm

| Comments Off on Westwood-Roxhill-Arbor Heights Community Council toplines, from HALA to the Bog

| Arbor Heights | Neighborhoods | West Seattle news | Westwood

Toplines from tonight’s Westwood-Roxhill-Arbor Heights Community Council meeting:

HALA REZONING: The draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Mandatory Housing Affordability component of the city’s Housing Affordability and Livability Agenda is expected to be published Thursday. That’s what WWRHAH heard tonight from Morgan Community Association‘s Cindi Barker, who was on the original city-appointed HALA focus group and has been helping educate other community advocates about land-use issues including this one. With the draft EIS coming out this week, the comment period will continue into late June. She was asked if there’s talk of a District 1-wide response to HALA MHA, but so far individual groups are pursuing individual responses related to how it might affect their neighborhoods – MoCA for example is pursuing a comprehensive-plan amendment and is asking the city to engage in a full neighborhood-planning process, given the conflicts between MHA and the MJ neighborhood plan.

ROXHILL BOG: WWRHAH continues trying to get the city to address hydrology issues that have compromised the bog. Rory Denovan wrote to Seattle Parks but said the response so far wasn’t helpful. Meantime, a celebration of Roxhill Bog is planned 11 am-3 pm June 17th, with information and activities.

ROXBURY RECHANNELIZATION: As reported here earlier in the day, SDOT is floating further rechannelization options for SW Roxbury in connection with the 2019-or-so repaving between 16th SW and 35th SW. WWRHAH is concerned about the possibility that most of the center turn lane will be removed. They’re considering asking SDOT for data on the lane’s usage.

CRIME TRENDS: Southwest Precinct Operations Lt. Ron Smith said car prowls in the WWRHAH-covered area are down by about 50 percent from this time last year. Residential burglaries are down too. Shoplifting is up, and that figures heavily into stats for the area, because of Westwood Village.

WHAT’S NEXT: While WWRHAH won’t have its regular first-Tuesday meeting in July, since that’s Independence Day this year, they’ll likely have a special meeting just before or after that to talk about a response to the forthcoming HALA draft EIS.

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WEST SEATTLE ART: ‘Once Upon a Time’ outside Delridge Community Center

June 6, 2017 10:11 pm

| 2 COMMENTS

| Delridge | West Seattle news | WS culture/arts

Thanks to the Smiths for sending photos of this new “temporary art installation” in the park outside Delridge Community Center. The sign says it’s the work of local artist Yeggy Michael, part of the city’s Arts in Parks program, and that you’re invited to contribute your story:

These maps are part of it:

We’ll be checking to find out how long it’ll be on display – the Smiths believe it just went up in the past day or so.

ADDED: We’re told it will be there until July 20th, and after that, your next chance to see it is at the Arts in Nature Festival August 26-27.

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SUNSET WHALE-WATCHING: Humpbacks hanging out

June 6, 2017 8:27 pm

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| Seen at sea | West Seattle news | Wildlife

8:27 PM: Thanks for the texts and photos – we started the day with a humpback whale sighting report and 14 hours later, we’re getting more reports, with the whale reportedly in view right now off Alki, around 63rd SW. The photo above, with the whale’s fluke in view, was texted earlier this evening. With the night’s community meetings over, we’re off to see if we can finally get a firsthand glimpse ourselves!

Sunset whale-watching on Alki. pic.twitter.com/wjXCuxNCNL

— West Seattle Blog (@westseattleblog) June 7, 2017

9:13 PM No firsthand whale sightings but we did find Donna Sandstrom of The Whale Trail – she said two humpbacks had been swimming back and forth but just swam out of view.

10:43 PM: Adding the photos above and below, from Kersti Muul, who watched the two humpbacks through the day – the photos are from the Me-Kwa-Mooks area.