day : 12/07/2017 14 results

By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

It took more than an hour and four rounds of voting tonight for the 34th District Democrats to decide who they are supporting for mayor.

The result: A dual endorsement for Bob Hasegawa and Jessyn Farrell. Hasegawa got the most votes in each round, but never the required supermajority.

At the start of the endorsement consideration, four candidates were nominated for consideration – besides Hasegawa and Farrell, members stood up to nominate Jenny Durkan and Cary Moon. The four nominees were in turn from a total of 8 eligible (declared Democrats, though the position is nonpartisan) – the other four, not nominated by anyone, were Michael Harris, Mike McGinn, James Norton, and Jason Roberts.

Here’s how it unfolded (followed by what else happened at tonight’s meeting at The Hall at Fauntleroy): Read More

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THURSDAY: West Seattle Art Walk and Summer Fest Eve!

July 12, 2017 9:34 pm

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| West Seattle Art Walk | West Seattle festivals | West Seattle news

It’s almost here – the magical Thursday night when you’ll want to come wander The Junction for West Seattle Art Walk – which happens on second Thursdays, year-round – and Summer Fest Eve, which happens just once a year. The streets close at 6 pm Thursday (California from Genesee to Edmunds, except for west-east access on Oregon, and Alaska between 42nd and 44th) for festival setup and the party starts early. Above is the walking map and list for Art Walk venues, where you’ll find art and/or food and drink deals; also, as already announced, special entertainment includes:

*Bubbleman at Walk All Ways (California/Alaska), 7-8 pm
*Big Band Blue outside West 5 (4539 California), 7-9 pm
*Shabazz Palaces in-store at Easy Street Records (California/Alaska), 7 pm
*Live music at Virago Gallery (just west of Easy Street)

More info on the Art Walk/Summer Fest Eve highlights is here.

Plus: Take some time to head south of The Junction to Viscon Cellars (5910 California SW; WSB sponsor) as a trio of Texans teams up for a special night starting at 5 pm – winemaker Ben Viscon, artist Lindsay Peyton, and Words & Wine entrepreneur Jessica Trouillaud.

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WEST SEATTLE DEVELOPMENT: See the design packet for 4722 Fauntleroy Way SW, before next week’s design review

July 12, 2017 7:23 pm

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| Development | West Seattle news

7 months after we first reported a new project was in the works for 4722 Fauntleroy Way SW – where CVS canceled its plan for a standalone drugstore – the new project goes before the Southwest Design Review Board one week from tomorrow. Looking ahead to that meeting, you can now see the “design packet” – embedded above, or on the city website here (PDF). The developer is Legacy Partners, which also built Youngstown Flats (WSB sponsor) in North Delridge; the architect is Encore. The project proposes two buildings, seven stories along Fauntleroy and four stories on the alley behind it, with about 250 apartments, and the same number of offstreet-parking spaces (per page 5 of the packet).

Remember that since this is the Early Design Guidance phase, the packet (and review) focuses on massing – size, shape, and where the buildings will be placed on the site – rather than appearance details, which would be proposed and reviewed in the next stage of the process. The meeting is at 6:30 pm Thursday, July 20th, at the Senior Center/Sisson Building (4217 SW Oregon), and it will include a public-comment period.

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WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Stolen red Civic

July 12, 2017 5:36 pm

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| Crime | West Seattle news

Lauren reports her car was stolen from in front of her home in the Luna Park area sometime between last Saturday and today. It’s a 1999 red 4-door Honda Civic, license plates ABW0982. Please call 911 if you see it.

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TRAFFIC ALERT UPDATE: 2-vehicle crash on westbound West Seattle Bridge has cleared

July 12, 2017 4:18 pm

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| West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

4:18 PM: Fire and police are responding to what’s reported to be a 2-vehicle crash on the westbound West Seattle Bridge by the Highway 99 exit. Injuries are described as minor, but since it’s getting to be homeward-bound commute time, you should be forewarned.

4:50 PM: SDOT says the crash has cleared.

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WEST SEATTLE SUMMER FEST 2017 COUNTDOWN: See the ride schedule and prices

July 12, 2017 2:45 pm

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| West Seattle festivals | West Seattle news

(WSB photo from last year’s festival)

With West Seattle Summer Fest 2017 starting Friday, you might be getting serious in your planning – so we’re trying to answer some of the questions asked most often every year. In this installment: The schedule and prices for the rides. Lora Swift, executive director of the festival-presenting West Seattle Junction Association, shares the info from the ride provider:

Friday Hours – 10 am to 8 pm for the rides

**Unlimited Use Pass for the day (Friday only) – $20 (allows unlimited use of all rides)

**Unlimited Use Pass for all three days (allows unlimited use of all rides for the entire event) – $47

**Individual Tickets (rides cost one to four tickets each) – $1.25 per ticket

Saturday Hours – 10 am to 8 pm for the rides

**Unlimited Use Pass for the day (Saturday only) – $20 (allows unlimited use of all rides)

**Unlimited Use Pass for two days (allows unlimited use of all rides for Saturday and Sunday) – $34

**Individual Tickets (rides Cost one to four tickets each) – $1.25 per ticket

Sunday Hours – 10 am to 5 pm for rides

**Unlimited Use Pass for the day – $18 (unlimited use of all rides)

**Individual Tickets (rides cost one to four tickets each) – $1.25 per ticket

Note that those hours are different from the basic festival hours (10 am-6 pm Saturday and Sunday, with beer garden and bands running until late night, and 11 am-5 pm Sunday). The Kids Zone is on SW Alaska between California and 44th, and in and around the Wells Fargo lot immediately north of there. The schedule for other kids’ activities is here.

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SUMMER FEST COUNTDOWN: West Seattle Quilters raffling quilt for Senior Center

July 12, 2017 2:23 pm

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| How to help | West Seattle festivals | West Seattle news

Two days to West Seattle Summer Fest in The Junction, this Friday, Saturday, and Sunday! Our countdown continues with this announcement of an annual highlight courtesy of the group West Seattle Quilters:

One dollar could buy you the winning ticket for this year’s raffle quilt to benefit the West Seattle Senior Center. This year’s quilt has it all: a traditional blue-and-white color scheme, with a contemporary sparkling ombre effect. The result is “Delta Blues,” a queen-sized quilt. West Seattle Quilters worked together on the quilt beginning with pattern selection in February and working through June to complete it. Last year’s raffle quilt raised $2,100 for the West Seattle Senior Center.

Raffle tickets for the quilt are $1 each, and all the money goes directly to the West Seattle Senior Center. Purchase tickets at the Senior Center reception desk, or look for us at West Seattle Summer Fest (July 14 – 16) outside the Stop ‘n Shop. The drawing will be held September 29, during Rainbow Bingo at the Senior Center.

West Seattle Quilters meet at the Senior Center on the first and third Mondays of the month at 7pm to share quilting ideas and projects. Quilters of all ages, abilities, and quilting styles are welcome to join us!

Stop ‘n Shop is on the center’s ground floor, east side of California SW just south of SW Oregon.

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UPDATE: Lincoln Park’s south play area closed for safety concerns

July 12, 2017 11:40 am

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| Safety | West Seattle news | West Seattle parks

(WSB photo, added 1:55 pm)

11:40 AM: Just found out from Seattle Parks that it has closed Lincoln Park‘s south play area because of safety concerns. Parks says the closure followed a regular inspection. Now they’re trying to determine if repairs are possible, or if it will have to stay closed pending replacement. The south play area already lost its zipline, removed for safety and maintenance concerns after one was installed at the north play area during its renovation last year. And so if you’re looking for a playground at Lincoln Park, the north play area is where you’ll have to go, TFN.

1:55 PM: Just got a chance to go look at the play area. The main play equipment is fenced off, but the swings to the north are still open. Since we couldn’t tell from looking through the fence exactly what the safety problem is, we called Parks spokesperson Rachel Schulkin. She explains that the wooden sections of the play equipment’s platform/bridge/etc. are a major concern – the inspection showed gaps and other deterioration. Signage should be up soon to explain to people what’s going on; the fix or replacement, however, according to Schulkin, might not happen before next year.

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PUGET PARK TREE-THINNING: Why hundreds of trees will be removed, before thousands are planted

July 12, 2017 11:02 am

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| Environment | West Seattle news | West Seattle parks

(WSB photo: Looking into the West Duwamish Greenbelt from the northeast edge of the SSC campus)

By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

An unusual forest-restoration project – involving a significant amount of tree-cutting as well as tree-planting – is about to get under way in eastern West Seattle’s Puget Park, after three years of planning.

The project leader says it’s work that will have benefits for decades and centuries to come – but it’s a project unlike any other they’ve undertaken, and they want people to understand why it will require taking out hundreds of trees (an estimated 600 “stems” – some trees have more than one).

We went to a weekend briefing to find out more firsthand. It’s a Seattle Parks project under the umbrella of the Green Seattle Partnership, which will have 1,500 acres in restoration citywide by year’s end. The challenge here is that the area has an “unnaturally dense hardwood canopy” – far out of balance with evergreens, and bringing them back requires removing some of that dense canopy.

Here’s what plant ecologist Michael Yadrick from Seattle Parks told attendees about what’s going to be done and why: Read More

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CALLING ALL BLOCK WATCH CAPTAINS: Southwest Precinct’s Crime Prevention Coordinator would like to hear from you

July 12, 2017 10:09 am

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| Crime | West Seattle news | West Seattle police

If you are or have been a Block Watch captain in the Southwest Precinct area – West Seattle and South Park – you might have received e-mail from the precinct’s new Crime Prevention Coordinator, Jennifer Burbridge. Or not – which is why she asked if we would circulate this request too. From her e-mail, sent to 350 people who might or might not still be BW captains:

Part of my work in the SW Precinct includes helping to start new Block Watches and assisting existing Block Watches in whatever way that I can.

When I took over the position, a list of Block Watch Captains for the SW Precinct area was passed down to me … My intention for this email is to verify (which blocks still have) an active Block Watch and to determine who the current Block Watch Captain is. If you are not the current Block Watch Captain but have the current Captain’s email address, could you forward this email to him/her? That would be greatly appreciated.

If you feel comfortable doing so, please respond to this email with the following information:

-First name of Block Watch Captain (please no Last Names for privacy purposes)
-Email address of Block Watch Captain
-Block or area your Block Watch covers (For example: 2300 Block of Webster- from Delridge to 24th Ave SW)
-Approximate number of homes/residences in your Block Watch

I hope to create a list of Block Watch Captains for the SW Precinct for a few purposes. First and foremost, to distribute information to the communities in an organized and efficient way. Secondly, I hope to have a running list so that when community members inquire about whether their area has a formal Block Watch- I can refer the Block Captain to the curious neighbor.

Please let me know in your response if you would like your information to be passed along to the West Seattle Block Watch Captains Network. This community-based network provides many resources to Block Watch Captains in the SW Precinct. They offer monthly informational meetings, and have an online community where you can connect with other Block Watch Captains and benefit from their experience.

If this applies to you and you haven’t heard directly from Burbridge, her e-mail address is jennifer.burbridge@seattle.gov.

P.S. Speaking of neighborhood-based crime prevention/deterrence, we’re now less than three weeks from Night Out – the big annual night of neighborhood block parties – on August 1st. You don’t have to have a Block Watch to have a block party, but if you want to close your (non-arterial) street, you do have to register – here’s how.

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West Seattle Wednesday: From pools to produce to politics…

July 12, 2017 9:00 am

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| West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Photo by Don Brubeck, shared via the WSB Flickr group)

From the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar, here are highlights of what’s ahead today/tonight in West Seattle:

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

TINKERLAB – GADGETS AND GIZMOS: 1-3 pm at Delridge Library, all ages welcome at this drop-in craft series. Details in our calendar listing. (5423 Delridge Way SW)

HIGH POINT MARKET GARDEN FARM STAND: Second week for the Wednesday farm stand selling produce grown and harvested a few steps away at High Point Market Garden. 4-7 pm. Here’s our report on day 1 last week. (32nd SW/SW Juneau)

TRIANGLE ROUTE TASK FORCE MEETS: The task force working on improvements for the Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth state-ferry route meets again today, starting at Cove Park north of the dock at 4 pm to observe traffic, then moving to Fauntleroy Church (9140 California SW) at 5:15 for the rest of the meeting. Here’s the agenda (PDF).

DISASTER BOOK CLUB: 6-7:30 pm at Southwest Library:

This month we are reading Max Brooks’ “World War Z.” Learn about pandemic outbreaks and what the city is doing to prepare for the undead roaming amongst us. We will be joined by Alison Levy, Emergency Operations Manager for Public Health Seattle-King County, who will discuss pandemics and how they can affect Seattle.

(9010 35th SW)

JOB-SEARCH WORKSHOP: Free monthly workshop at Delridge Community Center for ages 16+. 6:30 pm; details in our calendar listing, including how to register. (4501 Delridge Way SW)

34TH DISTRICT DEMOCRATS: 7 pm at The Hall at Fauntleroy, with an agenda including consideration of an endorsement for Seattle Mayor. (9131 California SW)

OPEN MICROPHONE: The Skylark‘s weekly open-microphone event starts with signups at 7:30 pm, music at 8:30. Details in our calendar listing. 21+. (3803 Delridge Way SW)

THE BILLY JOE SHOW: Live at Parliament Tavern, starting at 9 pm. No cover. 21+. (4210 SW Admiral Way)

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TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Wednesday watch; advance alerts, including Summer Fest roads and buses

July 12, 2017 7:02 am

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| West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

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

7:02 AM: Good morning! No incidents reported in/from West Seattle so far this morning.

One alert for tonight:

VIADUCT ‘ROLLING SLOWDOWNS’: As per this alert, “rolling slowdowns” are planned on the Alaskan Way Viaduct 7:30-9:30 tonight, so that a commercial can be filmed.

And tomorrow night through Sunday night:

WEST SEATTLE SUMMER FEST: Starting at 6 pm Thursday, continuing until late Sunday night, California SW will be closed between Edmunds and Genesee (Oregon will stay open east-west) for the year’s biggest local festival. That means some bus reroutes, which you can see now on the Metro website.

7:46 AM: SDOT reports a crash at 32nd/Elmgrove.

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UPDATE: Deck fire at house in 8100 block 30th SW

July 12, 2017 1:41 am

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| West Seattle fires | West Seattle news

(WSB photo)

1:41 AM: Seattle Fire is sending a “full response” to a reported house fire in the 8100 block of 30th SW [map]. It is reported to have started as a deck fire, and everyone is reported to have gotten out OK.

1:44 AM: The first units on scene say it’s under control, and they’re downsizing the response.

1:58 AM: The fire is reported to be out. We’ll check on the cause later this morning.

4:50 PM: SFD spokesperson Kristin Tinsley tells WSB, “The fire was ruled unintentional. A barbecue ignited nearby combustibles.”

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WEDNESDAY NIGHT: Rolling Viaduct slowdowns for commercial filming

July 12, 2017 12:58 am

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

Tonight (Wednesday), after the peak of evening commute, you might want to avoid The Viaduct. WSDOT explains why:

Drivers who use State Route 99/Alaskan Way Viaduct to get through downtown Seattle should expect up to thirty-minute delays on Wednesday evening, July 12.

Officers from the Seattle Police Department will perform intermittent rolling slowdowns on both directions of SR 99/Alaskan Way Viaduct between 7:30 and 9:30 p.m. The rolling slowdowns will allow crews to safely film a commercial.

Northbound SR 99 traffic will gradually slow to 10 mph starting near South Royal Brougham Way. Southbound SR 99 traffic will slow down near Western Avenue. Pilot cars will lead the slowed traffic across the viaduct until the roadway is clear, then allow traffic to accelerate back to highway speeds.

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