day : 23/07/2017 9 results

(Added: WSB photo, police at scene where incident is reported to have begun)

9:56 PM: You might be hearing the sirens, and/or seeing the police vehicles – there’s a search on in Alki, with K-9 joining in. The 2700 block of 61st SW is where it’s reported to have begun, with suspects possibly heading east and south. We don’t know exactly what sparked the search, nor do we have suspect descriptions, but what’s been mentioned via radio so far includes a possible stolen car and discovery of ammunition. More as we get it.

10:19 PM: One person tells us via Twitter that the suspects fled after a suspected stolen vehicle was stopped on 61st just south of Alki, which would match the address we had heard.

11:24 PM: While as noted in comments one person is reported to have been taken into custody in the area, we don’t know yet whether the person is connected to this, but will be checking in the morning, by which time a report should be available. The search has scaled back somewhat and some police have been released to go to other West Seattle calls that had been on hold.

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Riverside Memorial deeded to Southwest Seattle Historical Society by Budinich family; cleanup & tour events planned in August

July 23, 2017 9:43 pm

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| West Seattle history | West Seattle news

(Gathered in May to celebrate the transfer of the Riverside Memorial to SWSHS: From left, Riverside natives Mike Budinich, Frank Zuvela, Jerry Vandenberg; SWSHS board president Karen Sisson; vice president Peder Nelson; former presidents Marcy Johnsen & Judy Bentley; trustees Nancy Sorensen & Kerry Korsgaard; Advisory Council members Flora Belle Key, Tom Rasmussen, Ken Workman)

Until now, the only property owned by the Southwest Seattle Historical Society was its Log House Museum. Now, a second history-laden West Seattle site is in its care as well. Just announced:

Budinich gift deeds Riverside Memorial to Southwest Seattle Historical Society

Triangle dedicated to residents of Croatian fishing community becomes local heritage organization’s second piece of property

Historic Riverside Walking tour set Saturday morning, Aug. 5

Thanks to a generous gift by the family of Mike Budinich, the Riverside Memorial triangle that was dedicated in 2012 is now the property of the Southwest Seattle Historical Society.

Initial documents for the property transfer were signed May 31, 2017, and final documents were signed July 19, 2017. The Riverside Memorial is located at 3810 17th Ave. SW, just off West Marginal Way and almost directly beneath the West Seattle Bridge.

The innovative triangle – a total of 1,010 square feet appraised at $21,200 – features bricks denoting the resident families, largely Croatian, of this historic neighborhood, with the bricks arranged in the configuration of the community’s hillside street grid.

Five years ago, the families who trace their roots to the Riverside neighborhood created and dedicated the memorial, which also includes an interpretive monument and metal fishing-boat artwork. In addition, its eastern parking strip features a small garden and bench.

The Southwest Seattle Historical Society co-sponsored the opening ceremony, “Coming Home to Riverside,” on Jan. 28, 2012, and since then has sponsored an annual walking tour centered on the memorial and conducted by Riverside native Frank Zuvela. He will lead this year’s walking tour at 10 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 5, 2017 (donation of $5).

The Budinich family, which owned the property, deeded the triangle to the historical society on two conditions, (1) that the triangle be preserved and not be built upon without the family’s permission and (2) that the historical society maintain it periodically.

(At the Chelan Café, Mike Budinich signs the transfer agreement for the Riverside Memorial, flanked by his partner Michelle Kelly, left, and SWSHS representatives Karen Sisson, board president, and Ken Workman, Advisory Council member)

Karen Sisson, board president for the historical society, says the property fits the organization’s mission “to promote local heritage through education, preservation and advocacy” and allows the historical society to expand its presence within its service area of the Duwamish Peninsula. The site also is adjacent to early settlements of the Duwamish Tribe.

The historical society’s other property is at 3003 61st Ave. SW, the site of the “Birthplace of Seattle” Log House Museum on Alki, acquired in the mid-1990s.

The historical society plans its first work party to freshen the Riverside Memorial for 6-8 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 3, 2017, two days prior to the Aug. 5 tour. The public is invited to help weed and do other cleanup at the site.

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NEXT WEEKEND: Outrigger-canoe racing returns to Alki

July 23, 2017 8:16 pm

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| Seen at sea | West Seattle news

(2015 photo courtesy Kathryn)

The reader-contributed photo above is from 2015, the last year the Seattle Outrigger Canoe Club ran its “Da Grind” races from Alki, subsequently taking last year off. The races are back for this year, and in case you want to watch – or participate – the club wants you to know it’s happening next Saturday (July 29th), with four- and 12-mile courses, and projected start times at 9:30 am, noon, and 2 pm. The award ceremony is expected around 3:30 pm.

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TRAFFIC ALERT UPDATE: Highway 99 reopens both ways after fire under Viaduct

July 23, 2017 6:37 pm

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

(SDOT screengrab from 3:45 pm)

6:37 PM: If you’re heading back this way from points north of downtown, note that SB Highway 99 is closed from Denny, just before the Battery Street Tunnel, to Columbia. This is in the aftermath of a fire under the Alaskan Way Viaduct that closed NB 99 for a short time as well (but that’s since reopened). Seattle Police report an arrest related to the fire:

Both the Seattle Police and Seattle Fire Department responded to a report of a brush fire in the 1900 block of Alaskan Way just before 4 p.m. Sunday. The firefighters quickly extinguished the blaze that engulfed a nearby homeless encampment. Officers arrested a man who witnesses claimed set the fire. Officers will book the man into King County Jail for investigation of arson.

The Seattle Department of Transportation will be inspecting the underside of the viaduct in the area to see if there was any structural damage caused by the heat.

7:48 PM: SDOT says Highway 99 has reopened southbound, too.

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HAPPENING NOW: Alki Art Fair 2017, final hours

July 23, 2017 3:15 pm

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| West Seattle festivals | West Seattle news

That’s the Alki Art Fair from above, photographed on Saturday by Long Bach Nguyen. Its second and final afternoon is another beautiful one, and you have until 6 pm to come visit (or revisit) the dozens of artists and other vendors who are here. Inside the Alki Bathhouse, you have until 4 pm to bid on the final round of silent auction items.

Music continues until 6, too. Onstage now, Viking Surfers:

Find the bands on the main stages east of the Bathhouse and the busker stage on the boardwalk by 63rd – see the schedule here.

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HAPPENING NOW: Diaper-donation celebration at WestSide Baby HQ

July 23, 2017 1:09 pm

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| How to help | West Seattle news

Not only can you drop off diapers to help “Stuff the Bus” at WestSide Baby‘s headquarters (10002 14th SW) until 3 pm – you can also stop and join the party. Barbecue, ice cream, kids’ activities! We had just arrived and caught a few early photos before we had to leave for the 14th SW fire – but donations and partygoers were starting to arrive.

If you can’t stay but want to drop off diapers, you can do that via northbound 14th just south of 100th – follow the signs. The party entrance is on the eastbound side of 100th. If you are picking up diapers along the way – “Our most-needed sizes are 4, 5, 6, and pull-ups in 3T-4T and 4T-5T,” WS Baby tells WSB.

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UPDATE: House fire in the 8100 block of 14th SW

July 23, 2017 12:23 pm

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| Highland Park | West Seattle fires | West Seattle news

12:23 PM: Seattle Fire is on the scene of a house fire in the 8100 block of 14th SW. We’re on the way to find out more.

12:23 PM: We’re arriving in the area. Firefighters are still searching the house to be sure everyone is out OK. SFD is asking for more backup.

12:37 PM: Firefighters report the fire is knocked down “in the wall” of this 2-story house – we’re not seeing any more smoke – but are checking to be sure it didn’t extend to the rest of the house. No injuries reported so far; we hope to talk to the incident commander soon to confirm.

12:48 PM: Firefighters tell us no one was home when this started; the neighbors called it in. It was confined to the wall. They confirm, no injuries. Some of the crews are being dismissed.

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Today’s fun in West Seattle and vicinity

July 23, 2017 7:59 am

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| West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

Great Blue Herons like the one photographed on Alki by Mark Wangerin are just some of what you might see at low-low tide today – part of a big Sunday list for West Seattle and vicinity:

LET SOMEBODY ELSE MAKE YOUR BREAKFAST: The White Center Kiwanis Club‘s annual pancake-breakfast fundraiser is happening right now, until 1 pm, at Holy Family. Details here. (20th/Roxbury)

LOW-LOW TIDE, WITH BEACH NATURALISTS: 9:45 am-1:45 pm, Seattle Aquarium volunteer beach naturalists are out at Lincoln and Constellation parks. Today’s low-low tide is out to -3.1 feet at 11:23 am.

WEST SEATTLE FARMERS’ MARKET: Back to its usual spot in the street today, 10 am-2 pm. (California SW between Oregon and Alaska)

ALKI ART FAIR: The 20th-anniversary edition of the Alki Art Fair continues 10 am-6 pm today. Dozens of artists are showing and selling their work; you’ll also find art activities for kids, community groups with information for you, food, music (here’s the schedule), and silent auctions (to help the festival stay free) inside the Bathhouse, with items donated by artists, like these we found on Saturday:

It’s all in the Bathhouse (silent-auction closings at 1 and 4 pm, plus photos and more from the festival’s two decades) and on the boardwalk, mostly west of the Bathhouse, with the main stage to the east. Free shuttle to and from the park-n-ride at Harbor/Avalon/Spokane. (60th/Alki)

WHITE CENTER JUBILEE DAYS FESTIVAL: 10 am-6 pm, the street fair and other activities continue on 16th and 17th SW between Roxbury and 100th. The carnival at Steve Cox Memorial Park (1321 SW 102nd) runs 11 am-11 pm. Full details on the festival website.

WADING POOLS AND SPRAYPARK OPEN TODAY: Lincoln Park wading pool is open 11 am-8 pm, Highland Park spraypark is open 11 am-8 pm, Delridge wading pool is open noon-6:30 pm. (Find addresses here)

POP-UP BOUTIQUE: Shop local vendors at Highland Park Improvement Club, today only! 11 am-3 pm. (1116 SW Holden)

LOCAL TENT SALE: Last of 3 days for the tent sale at West Seattle Thriftway (WSB sponsor), 11 am-5 pm. (4201 SW Morgan)

WHITE CENTER JUBILEE DAYS PARADE: 11 am, along 16th SW from SW 112th north to SW 100th.
Almost 50 entries, with little overlap from Saturday’s West Seattle Grand Parade, so if you love parades, come see this one too!

‘STUFF THE BUS’ BASH AT WESTSIDE BABY: Buy some diapers and come to WestSide Baby‘s first “Stuff The Bus” bash at its White Center headquarters – barbecue, ice cream, kids’ activities, more. Have a great time while helping families around the area. Details in our preview. (10002 14th SW)

NO ALKI POINT LIGHTHOUSE TOURS TODAY … next chance, as of this writing, is next Saturday.

FREE SHAKESPEARE @ ROXHILL PARK: 2 pm, the second and final Young Shakespeare Workshop performance of the comedy “As You Like It” in Roxhill Park. Here’s our preview; here’s a report from a reader who went on Saturday. (2850 SW Roxbury)

OPERA PREVIEW LECTURE: 2 pm at West Seattle (Admiral) Library, a free lecture previewing Puccini‘s “Madame Butterfly.” (2306 42nd SW)

BRAZILIAN MUSIC … with Choro Tocando at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor), 3-5 pm. (5612 California SW)

AND THERE’S MORE … on our complete-calendar page.

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West Seattle Grand Parade 2017, report #3: The people

July 23, 2017 12:35 am

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| West Seattle Grand Parade | West Seattle news

Some walk, some march, some ride, some roll … however they get down the parade route, the people ARE the parade. So here are more of the hundreds who traveled down California SW at midday Saturday for this year’s West Seattle Grand Parade:

Those are the West Seattle Little League All-Stars who just won a state championship carried their banner down the route. And we saw a strong presence of Scouts — Girl Scouts …