West Seattle, Washington

24 Wednesday

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month : 07/2017 311 results

SW Design Review Board doubleheader, report #1: After 5 years, 4 meetings, and 1 appeal, 3078 SW Avalon Way isn’t done yet
July 7, 2017 3:26 pm
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   Development | West Seattle news

By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

The saga of 3078 SW Avalon Way is not over yet.

Five years ago, the first Southwest Design Review Board meeting for the 100+-apartment proposal packed the Senior Center second story with a room full of neighbors. Their concerns eventually resulted in an appeal that overturned the board’s final decision, and set up a fourth meeting last night, the first of two projects on the board’s agenda (we’ll report separately on the other).

The review drew only a single-digit turnout – not because of apathy or resignation, one neighbor contended – but because the city scheduled it during a holiday week when many people were traveling.

They have another chance to show up, because last night’s decision was to require one more meeting, as the current board members felt they were not provided enough information to make a final decision on the project.

The three board members present were chair Matt Zinski, Don Caffrey, and newly appointed member Crystal Loya. City planner Holly Godard was there for the Department of Construction and Inspections.

None of them were there when the project was reviewed for the first time in September 2012 (WSB coverage here); Godard was not the original planner, either. Even the architect has changed.

The project’s second review was in 2013, and its third in 2014. That would have been the final review except for the neighbors winning their appeal with a ruling in December 2014 (WSB coverage here), and that’s what led to this fourth meeting. Components of the appeal included whether the board had been appropriately apprised of what it had authority over – the building’s height, in particular. Godard read a lengthy summary of the appeal results to the board at the beginning of last night’s meeting, specifically guidelines involving height, bulk, and scale, and how those aspects of the project fit into its surroundings (a key point of contention for residents in the single-family neighborhood immediately north of the project as well as some neighbors in multi-family buildings).

What happened from there followed the framework of a standard design-review meeting, but because of its origins, the first part was relatively sparse, and that is part of why the board requested a return:

Read More

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CONGRATULATIONS! West Seattle Little League 10/11 All Stars win district championship
July 7, 2017 1:52 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   West Seattle news | WS & Sports

Thanks to Darrell for the photo and report:

The West Seattle Little League 10 /11 year old All-Star Team went undefeated in winning the District 7 championship Wednesday night. The team is off to the state tournament in Vancouver, Washington. Please wish them luck in their first game, which is Saturday at noon.

The team is made up of coaches Mike Fahey, Sean Ealey, and Brian Sherrick. Players are Miles G, Tristan B, Caden F, Robbie F, Matthew H, Bobby T, Parker E, Blake T, Matthew H, Joe S, Will S, Simon V and Wyatt G.

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1 WEEK TO WEST SEATTLE SUMMER FEST! Pie-eating contest added – sign up ASAP
July 7, 2017 12:10 pm
|    Comments Off on 1 WEEK TO WEST SEATTLE SUMMER FEST! Pie-eating contest added – sign up ASAP
 |   West Seattle festivals | West Seattle news

It’s almost here – West Seattle Summer Fest 2017 starts one week from today. Lora Swift, executive director of the festival-presenting West Seattle Junction Association, just sent word of a new feature – but there’s a catch – you need to sign up, in person, THIS weekend to get a chance to be part of this NEXT weekend:

We’re planning a pie eating contest during Summer Fest sponsored by A la Mode Pies. People can sign up at A la Mode now through the weekend. Winners will be picked on Monday, July 10th. There are two contests, Saturday and Sunday, 3 pm. We’ll be setting up (during the festival) at the corner by Key Bank.

10 people per contest
-Saturday, adults
-Sunday, kids 8-12 years old

Winners will receive free pie classes and swag.

A la Mode Pies is right in what will be part of next weekend’s festival zone – 4225 SW Alaska, open until 11 tonight, 9 am-11 pm on Saturday, and 9 am-10 pm Sunday. Much more Summer Fest preview info (including Summer Fest Eve) to come!

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WEST SEATTLE FOOD FOLLOWUP: Falafel Salam opens tonight
July 7, 2017 10:31 am
|      12 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle restaurants

Falafel Salam‘s sit-down restaurant in The Junction officially opens tonight, confirms proprietor Shimi Kahn. We checked with him after a tip from Amy, and he told us, “We did a very soft opening yesterday and our temporary hours are 4 – 9 Tuesday to Sunday. Once we get all the new positions staffed and trained, we will be adding lunch and then brunch.” If you’re just catching up, Falafel Salam has taken over and renovated the former Yummy Teriyaki space at 4746 California SW; we published an extensive preview June 20th, including, of course, the Falafelsaurus, who is already awaiting customers in the new spot:

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UPDATE: Chairs taken. Maybe a mistake instead of a theft?
July 7, 2017 10:27 am
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

ORIGINAL REPORT, 10:27 AM: From Lynda:

We live on the corner of 51st and Hudson and had 10 patio chairs taken about 20 minutes ago.

My young son and I spent an hour this morning scrubbing down 12 plastic patio chairs on our sidewalk. A friend is having a birthday party this afternoon and they wanted to borrow our chairs. Well, we scrubbed them up nicely and set them out to dry. We went inside for breakfast and when we came back out, less than 15 minutes later, all of the chairs, except for 2, were gone. They were stacked nicely right next to my husband’s truck, there was no ‘free’ sign and no obvious indication that they were there for the taking.

I would like to think of this as an honest mistake and that whoever took the chairs did so, by thinking they were there for free. Perhaps by posting this on the blog, whoever took them would be so kind as to bring them back NO QUESTIONS ASKED. I know it’s a stretch but the blog has been very rewarding and wonderful to us over the years. We’ll keep our fingers crossed.

UPDATE, 11:21 AM: When we replied to Lynda to let her know we had published this, she said it actually happened a month ago and apparently the e-mail was stuck in her account’s outbox, just going out today for reasons unknown. (It carried today’s date, so we had no way of knowing. We do sometimes see e-mail come through with dates days or weeks earlier, and when that happens, we check with the sender to verify.) The chairs never were returned, though, so if you know someone who thought they got a great stack of free chairs a month ago …

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West Seattle Friday: HPIC’s Corner Bar turns 5; music; movie; more…
July 7, 2017 9:54 am
|    Comments Off on West Seattle Friday: HPIC’s Corner Bar turns 5; music; movie; more…
 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous


(Northern flicker at sunset on Alki Point, photographed by Gary Jones)

Here’s what’s ahead for today/tonight as we move toward the post-holiday weekend:

COLMAN POOL CLOSED … to the public, for the second of three days of swim meets. (Tomorrow, and July 14-15, too.)

WADING POOLS AND SPRAYPARK OPEN: Highland Park spraypark is open 11 am-8 pm; 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. (Find addresses here)

WORDS, WRITERS, WEST SEATTLE: 5-7 pm at Barnes & Noble/Westwood Village, the Southwest Seattle Historical Society-presented author series will feature Jeff and Sonja Anderson and their book on “Mount Rainier’s Historic Inns and Lodges.” Here’s their video invitation, courtesy of SWSHS:

Free drop-in event – details in our calendar listing. (2600 SW Barton)

CORNER BAR TURNS 5: Highland Park Improvement Club‘s pop-up monthly bar-and-more is celebrating its fifth anniversary tonight, starting at 6. DJ Dr. Lehl will spin, and The Drew Medak Trio will play live jazz. Food truck! New swag! All ages until 9 pm. (1116 SW Holden)

WALK TO PROTECT AND RESTORE THE SALISH SEA: As previewed here on Thursday, this advocacy walk is planning a rally at the Duwamish Longhouse around 6:30 pm, when walkers arrive from downtown. (4705 W. Marginal Way SW)

ALAN EHRLICH: Live at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor), 7-9 pm. (5612 California SW)

OUTDOOR MOVIE: Park West invites you to an outdoor showing of “La La Land” tonight. Doors open at 8 pm. Free. Refreshments provided. BYO lawn chair(s). RSVP info in our calendar listing. (1703 California SW)

HONKY TONK, OUTLAW COUNTRY, AND BLUEGRASS: 9 pm at Parliament Tavern, that’s what three bands will play for you. $5 cover. 21+. (4210 SW Admiral Way)

OF COURSE, THERE’S MORE … on our complete-calendar page.

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HALA REZONING: Community discussion July 19 for Westwood-Highland Park Urban Village response
July 7, 2017 9:00 am
|    Comments Off on HALA REZONING: Community discussion July 19 for Westwood-Highland Park Urban Village response
 |   Development | West Seattle housing | West Seattle news

As reported here on Thursday, the city is giving you two extra weeks to comment on the Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Housing Affordability and Livability Agenda (HALA)’s Mandatory Housing Affordability rezoning proposals. The deadline is now August 7th. And another community group has announced a meeting about it. From the Westwood-Roxhill-Arbor Heights Community Council:

You’re invited to join WWRHAH on July 19th, from 6-7:30 pm at the Southwest Library, upstairs meeting room, 9010 35th Ave SW, to discuss in broad terms and as a community, the DEIS and how the neighborhood groups could respond as a coalition of voices in on behalf of the Westwood-Highland Park Residential Urban Village.

Westwood-Highland Park (map on page 2 of this document) is one of four urban villages in West Seattle. The HALA MHA rezoning proposals cover all multifamily and commercial property, whether in an urban village or not, and also single-family properties inside UV boundaries, which in some cases are proposed for expansion. The city has an online map you can use to see what the DEIS’s two rezoning options propose in your neighborhood (or any other part of the city that interests you).

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About all those sirens: Small brush fire near SW Teen Life Center
July 7, 2017 12:18 am
|      13 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle fires | West Seattle news

A big initial response is now being downsized for a reported brush fire near Southwest Teen Life Center/SW Pool at 28th SW/SW Thistle. The fire report is concurrent with a fireworks report to which police were dispatched. It’s the third brush fire reported in West Seattle in about an hour – firefighters also have responded to reports in High Point and South Admiral.

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SUMMER CONCERTS AT HIAWATHA: Here’s the 2017 lineup!
July 6, 2017 9:15 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   West Seattle news | WS culture/arts

(Yes, Caspar Babypants will be back! WSB file photo)

Two weeks from tonight, it’s the first of six shows for this year’s Summer Concerts at Hiawatha series (with WSB again among the co-sponsors), and the lineup has just been announced:

The Admiral Neighborhood Association summer concert series has a little for everyone this year
– from reggae to kid rock. Six performances are scheduled for 6:30 pm Thursday nights at Hiawatha Park (next to West Seattle High School):

July 20th
SPACE THEORY: INFINITE SOUND

Hear what’s next in Seattle on this showcase curated by electronic psychedelic soul goddess SassyBlack. An evening of fresh sounds from three up and coming artists, including Jamie Blake and Cameron Miles Lavi-Jones of Gypsy Temple.

July 27th
NICK DRUMMOND AND FRIENDS

Of the legendary Pacific Northwest Band The Senate (hailed by Garrison Keillor for their “Brilliant Dionysian music), Nick Drummond and Friends bring their clever, upbeat alt-folk to the park stage. ()

August 3rd
THE ADARNA

Named for a mythical phoenix-like songbird in Filipino folklore, The Adarna are the first band to ever coin their genre as “Jet City Rock” due to their proximity to Boeing Field.

August 10th
ADRIAN XAVIER

Adrian bring his blended sax and fiddle for an evening of positive world reggae sounds with uplifting messages and fun, engaging musical fusion.

August 17th
THE DISCO BALLZ

Dust off your platform heel and boogie til the sun goes down – your favorite hits from the golden age of disco! Be ready to dance – glitter jackets and bell bottoms encouraged.

August 24th
CASPAR BABYPANTS

Series favorite is back! Caspar Babypants sings songs for parent and kids ages 0-6 with a catchy simple sing along good time folk acoustic country rock and roll feel that will make you smile and dance at the same time.

All shows are free to the community and will take place at Hiawatha Park on Thursdays from 6:30 pm to 8 pm. The series is made possible through the generous financial support of neighborhood businesses and a partnership with the Seattle Parks Department and Associated Recreation Council.

Bring your own chairs/blankets/etc. to the east lawn at Hiawatha, which is along Walnut, south of Lander.

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FREE! Self-defense seminar at Elite Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu on Saturday
July 6, 2017 7:38 pm
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   Delridge | Safety | West Seattle news

Saturday (July 8th) at noon, you’re invited to a free self-defense seminar at Elite Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu of Seattle (WSB sponsor) in North Delridge. The announcement from Sonia Sillan:

When you think of self-defense, what’s the first thing you think of?

For us at Elite BJJ of Seattle, it’s about awareness, empowerment, setting boundaries, having confidence. It’s about finding your voice and believing in yourself. Join us on July 8th for a three hour clinic, where our goal is to leave you with more knowledge, feeling more empowered, and understanding of what self-defense really means (both mentally and physically).

We’re going to show you a wide range of practical techniques and more importantly, the concepts that are critical to learning how to avoid becoming a victim of violence. We’ll be going over basic, EFFECTIVE, self-defense movements and techniques, capitalizing on leverage and momentum.

This seminar isn’t your typical self-defense seminar, so make sure to reserve your spot, bring some friends, and get ready to learn.

Who: No experience necessary; open to all, ages 10+

Child care: If you have kids between the age of 5-10, we will have a movie and toys setup for them! Just make sure to email us at welcome@westseattlebjj.com to give us a heads up.

Registration: Make sure to RSVP at www.tinyurl.com/eliteseattle in order reserve your spot.

Cost: Free. There are no strings attached to attending this event, we genuinely want to share our knowledge. For those whou would like to contribute to a great cause, we are always supporting New Beginnings-Ending Domestic Violence; feel free to bring a cash or check donation for New Beginnings.

Questions? Email welcome@westseattlebjj.com

Elite BJJ is at 5050 Delridge Way SW.

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@ Southwest District Council: Rechannelization reconsideration? Plus, port trucks, motorcycle noise, more…
July 6, 2017 4:55 pm
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   Southwest District Council | West Seattle news

By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

A show-stopper-of-sorts statement from SDOT was part of last night’s Southwest District Council meeting:

SWDC co-chair David Whiting of the Admiral Neighborhood Association led the meeting, which featured multiple meaty topics despite the day-after-holiday scheduling.

First:

AVALON PAVING PROJECT: Dan Anderson and project manager Luke Peters of SDOT came to speak to the group about the repaving and rechannelization project, one month after Avalon entrepreneur John Bennett brought merchants’ concerns to the SWDC, which agreed to support them (WSB coverage here).

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3-day ‘Walk to Protect and Restore Our Salish Sea’ plans Friday night rally in West Seattle
July 6, 2017 3:46 pm
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   Environment | West Seattle news

A three-day advocacy walk that starts downtown tomorrow afternoon will head to West Seattle for a rally Friday night. Here’s the announcement we received:

Protectors of the Salish Sea, the Salish Sea Whale Sanctuary, and Orca Network, are co-sponsoring:

WALK TO PROTECT AND RESTORE OUR SALISH SEA

Tomorrow, Friday, July 7, 2017, 2 PM to July 9, 6 PM

Starting at Myrtle Edwards Park (3130 Alaskan Way)

DAY 1 – Friday, July 7th
2:00 PM: Meet and rally at Myrtle Edwards Park – Traditional territory of the Duwamish Nation, then launch our Walk to Protect our Salish Sea. We will walk in song and blessings of our drums as well as the blessings of Jingle Dress dancers leading us to the Duwamish Longhouse (4705 W Marginal Way SW).

6:30 to 8:00 PM: Walkers arrive and we rally, eat, and rest for the night. Dinner provided.

DAY 2 – Saturday, July 8th
7:00 AM: Breakfast provided at Duwamish Longhouse.
8:00 AM: Depart on our walk to Saltwater State Park, 25205 8th Pl S, Des Moines, where we will participate in a water blessing ceremony and song.

From there, the walkers continue to a nearby church, and on day 3, Sunday, they plan to go from Des Moines to Tacoma for a rally at the site of a proposed LNG facility. Organizers say they also are using the walk to advocate for the proposal to retire the orca Lolita (aka Tokitae) in her Pacific Northwest habitat after 47 years of East Coast captivity.

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HALA REZONING: City gives public 2 extra weeks to comment on Draft Environmental Impact Statement
July 6, 2017 12:39 pm
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   Development | West Seattle housing | West Seattle news

(WSB video of the entire June 29th hearing, unedited)

Many people asked for a comment-period extension at last week’s public hearing on the Housing Affordability and Livability Agenda‘s Mandatory Housing Affordability Draft Environmental Impact Statement (our complete video of the hearing – apparently a rare commodity since the Seattle Channel wasn’t there – is above). Now, the city just announced it’s granting that request, extending the comment period by two weeks:

Today the Seattle Office of Planning and Community Development (OPCD) extended the public comment period until August 7 on the Draft Environmental Impact Statement that studies three alternatives for zoning changes needed to implement Mandatory Housing Affordability (MHA) in Seattle’s urban villages and other commercial and multifamily residential zones across the city.

“Due to a high volume of requests, both online and at a recent public hearing, we are extending the written comment period on this environmental study an additional 15 days,” said OPCD Director Sam Assefa. “While there is broad agreement on the need for more affordable housing across Seattle, these documents are lengthy and complex, and we want to honor these requests for more time for public review.”

The public can provide feedback on the environmental study using this online form or by e-mailing MHA.EIS@Seattle.gov.

The original deadline had been July 23rd.

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YOUR NEXT MAYOR: Candidate forum at West Seattle Summer Fest GreenLife on July 15. What would YOU ask?
July 6, 2017 12:16 pm
|      20 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle politics

Next week, the ballots go out, and the longest list of options you’ll see on yours is the 21-candidate field for Seattle Mayor – this is the order in which they appear on the King County Elections website:

Cary Moon
Harley Lever
Michael Harris
Keith J. Whiteman
Jessyn Farrell
Dave Kane
Thom Gunn
Gary E. Brose
Mike McGinn
Jenny Durkan
Jason Roberts
Tiniell Cato
Alex Tsimerman
James W. Norton, Jr.
Larry Oberto
Casey Carlisle
Lewis A. Jones
Nikkita Oliver
Mary J. Martin
Greg Hamilton
Bob Hasegawa

If you’re still deciding which one will get your primary-election vote – be at West Seattle Summer Fest‘s GreenLife stage on Saturday, July 15th, at 2 pm, for the next local mayoral-candidate forum. Sustainable West Seattle is organizing the forum; your editor here is moderating it; and the questions will come from your suggestions – starting now, in the comment section below this announcement. As Stu Hennessey of SWS says, “Not all questions can be used, but all questions are important.” GreenLife will be in Junction Plaza Park (42nd/Alaska) for this year’s festival, so that’s where we’ll see you for the forum a week from Saturday!

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West Seattle Thursday: Design Review x 2, and more
July 6, 2017 11:11 am
|    Comments Off on West Seattle Thursday: Design Review x 2, and more
 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous


(Lowman Beach Park and the Murray CSO facility, photographed by Long Bach Nguyen)

Looking ahead to the rest of your Thursday:

COLMAN POOL CLOSED: Today, tomorrow, and Saturday, Lincoln Park’s outdoor saltwater pool on the shore is closed to the public because of a swim meet. (July 14-15, too.)

WADING POOLS & SPRAYPARK OPEN: Lincoln Park‘s wading pool, meantime, is open until 8 pm, as is Highland Park spraypark; also open today, EC Hughes wading pool, noon-7 pm, and Hiawatha wading pool, noon-6:30 pm. (Find addresses here)

EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITY CENTER OPEN HOUSE: Until 4 pm today, you’re invited to the EOC at South Seattle College (WSB sponsor) to ” receive one-on-one assistance with FAFSA and guidance on degree and certificate programs, high school completion, English language programs, apprenticeships and more!” Our calendar listing has full details, including where to find the EOC on campus. (6000 16th SW)

COUNTERBALANCE CANS @ BEER STAR: 5-8 pm: Georgetown-based Counterbalance Brewing Company‘s Can Release Party at Beer Star in White Center. (9801 16th SW)

DESIGN-REVIEW DOUBLEHEADER: The Southwest Design Review Board looks at two projects tonight, as previewed here Monday: The meeting at the Senior Center/Sisson Building starts at 6:30 pm with 3078 SW Avalon Way (map). As the design packet for this meeting explains, an appeal decision in 2014 sent this back to the board. It’s described as “a 7-story structure … 102 residential units (with offstreet) parking for 59 vehicles.” The 8 pm review is the board’s first look at 9049 20th SW (map), described as “a 2-story addition to existing structure for 27 apartment units (22 apartments and 5 small efficiency dwelling units). Two stories to be demolished. Existing office space and storage to remain.” This is an Early Design Guidance meeting, focused on “massing” (height, shape, etc.), as reflected in the design packet. Both meetings will include time for public comment. (4217 SW Oregon)

READ THE KORAN IN 4 WEEKS: First Lutheran Church of West Seattle pastor Rev. Ron Marshall‘s longrunning class starts its next series tonight, as previewed here last month. Here’s how to check to see if there’s room. 7 pm. (4205 California SW)

HORSE & TIGER: “Funky instrumental improv” at Parliament Tavern, 8 pm. No cover. 21+. (4210 SW Admiral Way)

AND MORE … on our complete-calendar page.

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PUGET PARK TREE-THINNING: Open house/site walk Saturday
July 6, 2017 9:25 am
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle parks

Another West Seattle park has a major tree-cutting project ahead. 24 acres of Puget Park, in the West Duwamish Greenbelt east of South Seattle College (WSB sponsor), will be thinned starting later this summer, and an informational event is planned this Saturday for anyone who wants to find out more. The project is explained extensively here, including this summary:

… Beginning in mid-August after the primary bird-nesting season, professional crews will carry out a restoration prescription to thin red alder and bigleaf maple up to 30% and create small gaps in the canopy to allow more light to the forest understory where underplanted conifers await favorable light conditions. We have no mandate to sell any timber, and no wood will leave the site; the intention is for the larger wood to become nurse logs. The crews will also enhance wildlife habitat through retention/creation of snags and build habitat piles with excess slash material. Activities also include weeding and major replanting of tree seedlings over the 24 acres + 16 additional acres lying to the south. With more light and subsequent replanting of 10,000 native tree/shrub seedlings, we expect this effort to let the remaining trees grow big and healthy that remain for future generations. …

Here’s a map of the project area. The project open house/site walk is scheduled from 10 am-1 pm Saturday (July 8th) starting at the Chan Education Center on the north side of the SSC campus (6000 16th SW; here’s a campus map). It will include a presentation at 10:30 am and a site walk at 11:30 am. Questions? Michael Yadrick at Seattle Parks – michael.yadrick@seattle.gov – is the person to ask.

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TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Thursday watch
July 6, 2017 7:02 am
|      1 COMMENT
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

(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.

STADIUM ZONE: Mariners host the A’s tonight at 7:10 pm.

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CRIME WATCH FOLLOWUP: Charges filed, bail increased in South Delridge street-robbery case
July 6, 2017 12:43 am
|      5 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | Delridge | West Seattle news

ORIGINAL REPORT, 12:43 AM: Both adult suspects in last week’s South Delridge street robbery are now charged, with bail for each suspect quintupled to $250,000.

The two adult suspects, 22-year-old Aaron K. Knox and 18-year-old Robert W. Degrat IV, are each charged with one count of first-degree robbery, with a firearm enhancement, which would add five years to any sentence, if convicted. They are accused of stealing a 58-year-old man’s bicycle at gunpoint with a juvenile accomplice last Thursday night in the 9200 block of Delridge Way SW. (Court records don’t show whether the juvenile has been charged yet, so we’ll be checking on his status later today.)

The court documents say the victim told police he was riding his bicycle northbound on Delridge around 9:45 pm Thursday when he was approached by all three suspects. Degrat and the juvenile allegedly grabbed the victim’s handlebars; he struggled to regain control, and while that was happening, court documents say, Knox pulled out a .380 semi-automatic pistol, racked its slide several times, placed it against the victim’s body, and demanded “Give me all your money.” The victim at that point got off his bike and ran. Looking back, he told police, he saw the three take his bicycle toward a vacant house at 9222 Delridge (site of a small fire in May and a bigger one that killed a person in 2014), into which the three then allegedly ran and hid. The victim called 911; police found the pistol in the grass outside the house and eventually found the three suspects inside.

The arrest documents for both Degrat and Knox show them with West Seattle addresses. Degrat is reported to have told police that he had just been kicked out of his residence and went to 9222 Delridge with the juvenile, where Knox allegedly told Degrat he would have to “earn it” if he wanted to stay at that house. The robbery allegedly ensued. Police say they found 13 rounds of .380 ammunition in Degrat’s backpack, identical to what was found in the loaded pistol in the front yard. Both Degrat and Knox – neither of whom has a felony record – remain in the King County Jail.

10:45 AM UPDATE: The 17-year-old suspect has been charged with attempted first-degree robbery and documents provided by the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office indicate they are seeking to try him as an adult.

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CONGRATULATIONS! West Seattle golfer Janine Surge headed to Junior Americas Cup tournament with Team Washington
July 5, 2017 8:14 pm
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | WS & Sports


(Janine Surge with first-place trophy from Western Open)

Congratulations to Janine Surge, a West Seattle resident who’s won a prestigious golf tournament and is on her way to another one. Here’s the announcement:

West Seattle resident Janine Surge is one of four female high-school golfers who will be representing Team Washington at the Girls Junior Americas Cup (GJAC), hosted from August 1st – 3rd, 2017 at Reflection Bay Golf Club in Nevada. The GJAC tournament brings together teams from 17 western states and one (1) team from British Columbia, comprising of the top four girls from each state/country.

En route to earning a spot on Team Washington, Janine claimed a 1st-place finish at the WA State Junior Golf Association’s Western Open, firing rounds of 69 and 70 (two-day total of 5 under par) at Capitol Golf Course in Olympia. She also earned an exemption into the prestigious IMG Junior World Golf Championship, to be contested in San Diego July 11th – 14th, 2017 at Torrey Pines Golf Course by carding rounds to 73 and 74 at the qualifier tournament at Tumwater Golf Course.

Good luck, Janine, at Junior Worlds and GJAC!

Janine is a former Madison Middle School student who will be a junior at Holy Names Academy this fall (but is not currently on the school’s golf team).

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FRESH! First day for High Point Market Garden Farm Stand
July 5, 2017 5:56 pm
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   Gardening | High Point | West Seattle news

Another sign of summer! It’s the first weekly Farm Stand day at High Point Market Garden (32nd SW/SW Juneau). Every Wednesday, 4-7 pm, through September 27th, you can buy organic produce grown by local residents at the mini-farm that’s steps from the stand:

As announced by the city Department of Neighborhoods, which oversees the program, the farm stand (one of two in the city – the other is at NewHolly) accepts EBT cards and participates in Fresh Bucks, “which doubles consumers’ first $10 spent on the card.” Also, ROAR is at the stand again this year; it “sells produce to neighborhoods with limited access to healthy food.”

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HALA REZONING: Junction Land Use Committee plans community workshop July 11
July 5, 2017 3:43 pm
|      8 COMMENTS
 |   Development | Neighborhoods | West Seattle housing | West Seattle news

Two and a half weeks left to comment on the Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the rezoning proposals in the Housing Affordability and Livability Agenda (HALA) Mandatory Housing Affordability (MHA) component. If you’re in the Junction area and still sorting it out, a local community group invites you to a workshop next Tuesday:

Mark Your Calendar – HALA DEIS Workshop on July 11, 2017 at 6:30 p.m at the West Seattle Senior Center

The Junction Land Use Committee (JLUC) will present a summary of key portions of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement related to the proposed upzones on the Junction Urban Village. The workshop will also include a description of the impact of the upzones, actions you can take, and ways to help you identify additional areas on which you might wish to comment. Location: 4217 SW Oregon.

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CAN YOU HELP? WestSide Baby needs extra volunteers tonight, tomorrow
July 5, 2017 2:02 pm
|    Comments Off on CAN YOU HELP? WestSide Baby needs extra volunteers tonight, tomorrow
 |   How to help | West Seattle news

The photo is from WestSide Baby – which is thrilled by lots of recent donations, and now in need of some help to organize them:

WestSide Baby needs extra hands tonight and tomorrow (July 5th and 6th) so if you’re looking for a volunteer opportunity to help keep kids in our community safe, warm and dry, this could be it! WestSide Baby’s main offices in White Center will be open tonight and tomorrow from 6-9 pm for volunteer opportunities because we are inundated with donations (hooray!) Grab a friend or family member (8 years and up) and come volunteer. Email Shana Allen at shana@westsidebaby.org to let her know you are coming, or visit www.westsidebaby.org for more information.

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VIDEO: Full Council to vote on income tax Monday after committee approval today
July 5, 2017 1:32 pm
|      43 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle politics

That’s the archived video of this morning’s meeting of the City Council’s Affordable Housing, Neighborhoods, & Finance Committee, which voted unanimously for CB 119002, the “income tax on high-income residents.” The five councilmembers present and voting were committee chair Tim Burgess, the bill’s sponsors Lisa Herbold and Kshama Sawant, Sally Bagshaw, and Mike O’Brien. That sets up a final vote by the full Council next Monday morning (July 10th). You can see the full bill here; its key points: “a tax on individual residents with total income above $250,000 per year ($500,000 for joint filers) …” The tax would be levied only on the income beyond that amount, not on the first $250K (individual) or $500K (joint). The income beyond those amounts would be taxed by the city at 2.25 percent. Here’s what the bill says the money would go toward:

All receipts from the tax levied in this Chapter 5.65 shall be restricted in use and shall be used only for the following purposes: (1) lowering the property tax burden and the impact of other regressive taxes; (2) addressing the homelessness crisis; (3) providing affordable housing, education, and transit; (4) replacing federal funding potentially lost through federal budget cuts, including funding for mental health and public health services; (5) creating green jobs and meeting carbon reduction goals; and (6) administering and implementing the tax levied by this Chapter 5.65.

The big question remains, what happens after the full council vote, considering that an income tax is against state law? City leaders say they’re ready to fight anyone who sues, thinking that it could lead to a ruling changing state law.

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