West Seattle, Washington

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month : 10/2017 325 results

West Seattle firefighter among 7 riding down the West Coast to help veterans
October 5, 2017 10:45 pm
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   How to help | West Seattle news

After IAFF Local 27 – the Seattle firefighters’ union – sent word of seven firefighters starting a fundraising long-distance bicycle ride tomorrow, we asked if any of the firefighters on the ride are based in West Seattle, and found out that one is! First, the announcement:

Fire fighters from all over Washington State are helping actor Gary Sinise, (Lt. Dan Taylor from the movie Forrest Gump), raise funds and awareness for the Gary Sinise Foundation. One of the foundation’s programs, known as “R.I.S.E.,” builds “smart homes” that accommodate the specific injuries of severely wounded military service men and women returning from war.

This team of fire fighters would like to announce their “Fire Fighter’s Ride 4 R.I.S.E.” bicycle benefit ride starting prior to the Seattle Fire Department annual Fallen Fire Fighter Memorial Ceremony on October 6th at 08:00 AM located at Occidental Park near Pioneer Square in Seattle and ending in Los Angeles on October 29th. This event will include 24 stops at predetermined cities in WA, OR, and CA, where they will participate in dinners and benefit auctions to raise additional funds and awareness for the program.

To date, the Gary Sinise Foundation has built 39 “smart” homes for Veterans and will have 60 homes completed by the end of the year. Two of the veterans receiving “Smart Homes” from the Gary Sinise Foundation are from the state of Washington.

There are 7 fire fighters riding the entire 1500+ miles from Seattle to Los Angeles with additional riders joining them along the route to support our severely wounded veterans in their quest to have a normal lifestyle.

Check out the foundation and donate (here).

IAFF Local 27’s Tina Clere responded to our followup inquiry and tells WSB that one of the seven firefighters is based at Station 29 in North Admiral, Tim O’Mahony.

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UPDATE: West Seattle High School principal sends letters after ‘threatening statement’
October 5, 2017 7:43 pm
|      69 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

ORIGINAL REPORT, 7:43 PM THURSDAY: Tonight we received a few inquiries about a report that a West Seattle High School student made a threat in a classroom during the school day. We contacted district spokesperson Kim Schmanke to ask if she had any information about this, and she just sent us the letter that WSHS principal Brian Vance sent to families tonight:

Dear West Seattle High School families,

Late in the school day, one of our students made a threatening statement. Upon learning about the comments, we contacted the district’s Safety and Security office and the Seattle Police Department.

We contacted the families whose students overheard the comments before sending a school-wide communication.

Please know that we take safety in our buildings very seriously; the well-being of our students is our top priority.

I realize any talk of violence is a cause for concern and we will continue to investigate to assure you that we are committed to doing everything we can to keep our students safe at school.

If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me. I will be happy to speak with parents and guardians directly.

ADDED 8:03 PM: We asked if /how the student had been disciplined. Schmanke replied, “My understanding is we cannot disclose the specifics but yes, appropriate protocols were followed regarding the student.”

ADDED 8 AM FRIDAY: Thanks to the parent who forwarded us a second letter that they say was sent this morning:

Dear West Seattle High School families,

I wanted to follow up from my email last night regarding the threat that was made by one of our students yesterday afternoon. I received several emails with a variety of concerns. Unfortunately, I cannot share every detail from our investigation but I wanted to at least clarify a couple of things.

· The student who made the threat was identified immediately and will not be at school while we continue our investigation.

· In an abundance of caution, there will be additional security at school today.

· Both district security and Seattle Police Department are aware of the situation and are helping with our investigation.

· We are planning a normal school day today and plan to move forward with all the homecoming activities this weekend.

· If your student needs to talk with someone, our counselors will be available to do so.

As I said last night, please know that we take safety in our buildings very seriously; the well-being of our students is our top priority. I realize any talk of violence is a cause for concern and we will continue to investigate to assure you that we are committed to doing everything we can to keep our students safe at school. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Sincerely,

Brian Vance, Principal
West Seattle High School

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CRIME WATCH FOLLOWUP: Hearings today for suspects in Westwood murder
October 5, 2017 5:23 pm
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | West Seattle news

Both suspects jailed in connection with the September 19th Westwood shooting death of 25-year-old Edixon Velasquez had hearings today:

BAIL HEARING FOR ALLEGED SHOOTER: Bail is now set at $250,000 for the 19-year-old man whose arrest was announced on Wednesday. Probable-cause documents from this afternoon’s jailhouse hearing say that police learned he was in a “dating relationship” with 21-year-old Anna Kasparova, an ex-girlfriend of the victim who is charged with first-degree murder for allegedly luring him out of his home to be shot to death. According to the documents, after Kasparova’s arrest, the male suspect confessed to an acquaintance of his that he was the man who shot Velasquez. That’s all today’s paperwork says; we may find out more after his second scheduled appearance tomorrow, by which time we also should know if he will be charged. The only record we’ve found for him is a misdemeanor theft case that’s pending in Auburn, which is where he was arrested, though documents list his “last known address” as Bonney Lake.

ARRAIGNMENT FOR ANNA KASPAROVA: The first suspect arrested in the case appeared in King County Superior Court this morning for her arraignment. According to the document filed after the brief hearing, she pleaded not guilty and is scheduled to return to court in two weeks for a case-scheduling hearing. Her bail remains set at $1 million. Charging documents filed last month say she told Velasquez she needed to see him, then asked him to come out of his house and help her park her car; security video from a neighbor shows that she got out of the car and appeared to “take cover,” prosecutors say, before a man walked up to the car, pulled Velasquez out, shot him and fled. The video is reported to show Kasparova then walking up, looking down at Velasquez lying on the ground, then getting into her car and driving away, never calling for help. She was arrested the next day at her mother’s house in Burien.

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WEST SEATTLE SALMON: Can you volunteer to survey Longfellow Creek?
October 5, 2017 3:54 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   Delridge | Environment | West Seattle news

img_20161114_104816(Salmon photographed in Longfellow Creek in November 2016 by Alex)

It’s almost salmon-spawning season, and two West Seattle creeks will be watched. One needs your help. Puget Soundkeeper‘s announcement explains:

Puget Soundkeeper is searching for dedicated volunteers to survey the coho salmon that return to Longfellow Creek in West Seattle. Salmon surveys are a great way to observe one of nature’s most amazing migrations and experience scientific field work. The data we collect from these surveys help us understand the effects of toxic runoff on one of the Pacific Northwest’s most iconic species and determine the best methods to protect them in the future!

·The nature of this work is geared toward adults only.

Surveying is a weekly commitment that takes approximately 1 hour to complete. The salmon run begins in mid-October and finishes mid-December, during which there will be a survey every day. Volunteers will be divided into teams of 2-3 people and assigned a weekday to conduct their survey.

We’re looking for adventurous volunteers! Surveying requires handling fish carcasses found in the creek (with gloves) and dissecting the female salmon to check for eggs.

Volunteers should be in good physical condition. Surveying in Longfellow Creek requires climbing up and down steep muddy embankments and wading through shallow water on uneven terrain.

Surveying is conducted in varying weather conditions. If conditions are dangerous (e.g. a downpour), we will cancel on that day. Otherwise, we survey rain or shine.

Volunteers will be provided with surveying kits and waders (unless you have your own pair). Data collected during the survey will be uploaded by the volunteers into Puget Soundkeeper’s database.

Volunteers will attend an orientation meeting on Tuesday, October 10th from 6:30-8:30pm at Chaco Canyon Organic Café in West Seattle (3770 SW Alaska St).

More info – and the registration form – can be found here.

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FOLLOWUP: West Seattle coffee entrepreneurs take over, fix up South Park Hall as new event venue
October 5, 2017 1:52 pm
|      10 COMMENTS
 |   South Park | West Seattle news

(Before and after photos of South Park Hall, courtesy of its new proprietors)

Back in January, we told you about West Seattleite John Bennett‘s purchase, with business partners, of neglected commercial spaces in the heart of South Park. Perhaps the crown jewel of those spaces was the 1920s-era South Park Hall, a large second-floor space including a stage, a kitchen, and lots of room. Bennett told us at the time that they hoped to keep it an event venue – and that’s exactly what transpired. We heard this week from the two other West Seattle entrepreneurs who have made that happen, Heidi Herr and Corina Luckenbach, who you might know from Admiral Bird – and now, as proprietors of South Park Hall. They are offering a $100/hour introductory rental rate through November; the space holds 175 people and has A/V capability as well as the aforementioned kitchen and small stage, plus a bar and renovated restrooms. Luckenbach says, “We are super proud of what we were able to do and to keep it looking as original as possible.” The newly renovated venue (1253 S. Cloverdale) has a website with lots of info at southparkhall.com.

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FOLLOWUP: Here’s how much West Seattleites recycled at the Roundup
October 5, 2017 12:10 pm
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   Environment | Fauntleroy | West Seattle news

(WSB photo from September 24th)

The grand total is in from the most recent Recycle Roundup in Fauntleroy. Judy Pickens sends the report:

A total of 370 vehicles bearing 13.5 tons of recyclables passed through the Fauntleroy Church parking lot during the Sept. 24 Recycle Roundup. This take brings to 204 tons the amount collected from West Seattle households for responsible recycling since twice-yearly roundups began in 2010. The church’s Green Committee will host the spring roundup on Sunday, April 22.

That’s up almost 50 percent from last fall’s 9.25-ton dropoff day.

P.S. If you can’t wait until spring – the West Seattle Junction Association‘s recycle/reuse event is coming up a week from Saturday – 9 am-1 pm October 14th!

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What’s up for your full-moon West Seattle Thursday
October 5, 2017 10:53 am
|      1 COMMENT
 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Photo by James Bratsanos)

If you were up early – you might have seen that magnificent moonset! If not, thanks to those who sent the photos we’re sharing along with highlights for today/tonight, from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:

OPERA PREVIEW CONCERT: Free – one hour of music and stories previewing “The Barber of Seville.” 2-3 pm at Kenyon Hall. All ages welcome! (7904 35th SW)

CITY BUDGET HEARING: Tonight at City Hall, the City Council listens to public comment about the newly proposed budget. Here are our notes from just after it was introduced. 5:30 pm. (600 4th Ave.)

‘ANGST: BREAKING THE STIGMA AROUND ANXIETY’: New documentary about a common mental-health problem – free screening tonight at Seattle Lutheran High School, 6:30 pm. Open to all; recommended for age 12 and up. More info in our calendar listing. (4100 SW Genesee)

MYERS WAY HOMELESSNESS: That’s the central topic of tonight’s North Highline Unincorporated Area Council meeting, with scheduled guests including the city’s director of homelessness George Scarola and King County Sheriff John Urquhart. All welcome. 7 pm at North Highline Fire District HQ. (1243 SW 112th)

READ THE KORAN IN 4 WEEKS: First Lutheran Church of West Seattle pastor Rev. Ron Marshall‘s long-running four-week course starts a new series tonight, 7 pm – details in our calendar listing – check to see if there’s room. (4105 California SW)

COMEDY NIGHT: 8:30 pm – right after Thursday Night Football – with Komodo Comedy at Hawks Nest West on Alki. (2806 Alki SW)

(Closer look at the moonset, photographed by Kersti Muul)

MOONRISE/MOONSET FOR TONIGHT/TOMORROW: 7:07 pm moonrise tonight, 8:08 am moonset tomorrow.

LOTS MORE ON THE CALENDAR! See the full list for today – and beyond – by going here.

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WEST SEATTLE HALLOWEEN 2017: Admiral District’s new trick-or-treating plan
October 5, 2017 9:36 am
|      5 COMMENTS
 |   Fun stuff to do | Holidays | West Seattle news

New plan this year for trick-or-treating in The Admiral District – merchants will welcome trick-or-treaters on Halloween – Tuesday, October 31st:

Admiral District merchants of West Seattle are proud to announce the return of the annual “Trick-or-Treating” event for 2017. This year the Admiral District “Trick or Treating” event will occur on Halloween, giving families the opportunity to trick or treat in a safe environment on the holiday itself. This long-standing Admiral neighborhood tradition has grown in popularity each year, and continues to be a West Seattle family favorite.

Trick or treating in the Admiral District is 100% volunteer-supported by the businesses operating near the intersection of Admiral and California Ave SW. Each year, local businesses give back to the community by providing a safe place for trick-or-treating. Find your favorite costume, grab the kids, and come out on Tuesday October 31st to join in on this popular West Seattle event!

Participating merchants will display the sign you see atop this story.

P.S. The annual WSB Halloween guide – not just Halloween itself, but also the special events leading up to it – will go live this weekend; if your organization/business/etc. has a public Halloween/harvest/fall-festival-type event, please send us the information ASAP if you haven’t already – editor@westseattleblog.com – thank you!

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TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Thursday watch; Highway 99 closure starts Friday night
October 5, 2017 7:02 am
|    Comments Off on TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Thursday watch; Highway 99 closure starts Friday night
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

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

7:02 AM: No incidents reported in/from West Seattle so far.

WEEKEND VIADUCT/99 CLOSURE: It starts tomorrow night – Highway 99 will close in two phases, for the regular twice-yearly Alaskan Way Viaduct inspection closure, plus work related to the tunnel project. First, from 11 pm Friday to 5 am Monday, northbound 99 is scheduled to close between the West Seattle Bridge and Battery Street Tunnel. Then, 5 am to 6 pm Saturday and 5 am to 6 pm Sunday, the southbound lanes of the same stretch are set to close. (If anything reopens ahead of schedule, as always, we’ll update.)

7:18 AM: SDOT reports a crash partly blocking the right lane on the eastbound West Seattle Bridge at midspan. Apparently no injuries, as SFD has not been sent. (Watch the top-right camera for updates.)

7:37 AM: That incident has now cleared.

8:15 AM: SDOT reports a crash at Delridge/Holden.

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FOLLOWUP: Committee to be created to handle concerns about Concord International’s dual-language program
October 4, 2017 11:45 pm
|    Comments Off on FOLLOWUP: Committee to be created to handle concerns about Concord International’s dual-language program
 |   South Park | West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

(Concord International School PTA members at meeting they organized regarding dual-language-program concerns)

Story and photos by Marika Lee
Reporting for West Seattle Blog

One parent said he didn’t learn of changes at his son’s school, Concord International Elementary, from the school or the district, but by asking his son what he did at school in Spanish that day. His son’s reply: “Nothing.”

That was just one of the experiences shared at Tuesday night’s community meeting in South Park to voice concerns about the changes to the Spanish/English dual-language program at Concord.

Another Concord parent, Paulina Lopez, said at the meeting organized by the Concord PTA, “I have always been very strong on bilingualism. That is why I chose Concord. It came to my surprise that there were changes. One reason was because I wasn’t aware of the changes when the year started.”

As reported here last Friday, with the changes, reading and writing are being taught primarily in English.

Read More

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WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Motorcycle-riding burglar; prowler on video; stolen Mercury Milan…
October 4, 2017 10:08 pm
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | West Seattle news

Four reader reports in West Seattle Crime Watch:

ARBOR HEIGHTS BURGLARY: Thanks to Greg for word of what happened in his neighborhood late this afternoon: A burglar got away on a motorcycle after breaking into a house at 39th SW and SW 104th. Neighbors told him they noticed a blue motorcycle parked in front of the house, engine running. When they went to check it out, a man came out of the house in a jacket, gloves, and black motorcycle helmet with visor, plus three backpacks. He took off quickly. Police were called. If you have any information, Tweets by Beat says the incident number is 17-369164.

BURGLAR ON VIDEO: Duncan shared two video clips and this report:

We had a prowler Sunday night who broke into our house on the 63xx block of 41st Ave SW while we were sleeping around 1:30 am. We believe he was looking for a place to sleep because nothing was taken and because we know there have been squatters in the two vacant houses behind us. Attached are two videos that were captured by our security cameras. If anyone recognizes him, I would encourage them to reach out to the police.

The incident number is 17-366067.

STOLEN CAR: Mary Jane hopes you will be on the lookout for her car, stolen sometime overnight Monday night into Tuesday morning on Bonair Place SW in the Alki area. It’s a white 2008 Mercury Milan with tinted windows, license plates BCK4159. SPD incident number 17-367388. (UPDATE: The car’s been found.)

PUNCTURED GAS TANKS: Thanks to Jeff for this FYI – a gas-station clerk told him two customers this week have come in with punctured gas tanks, which they didn’t know about until they started their fillups. Anybody else?

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NORTH DELRIDGE’S DRAGONFLY PARK: ‘Garden Party’ this Saturday
October 4, 2017 8:10 pm
|    Comments Off on NORTH DELRIDGE’S DRAGONFLY PARK: ‘Garden Party’ this Saturday
 |   Delridge | West Seattle news | West Seattle parks

Start your weekend at one of West Seattle’s special spots! Here’s the invitation:

You’re Invited! A Garden Party for Dragonfly Park

Join the Friends of Dragonfly Park on Saturday, October 7, from 9 am-12 pm, to get the gardens ready for winter. The main tasks will be laying burlap and spreading sheet mulch.

Seattle Parks and Recreation will provide all of the tools, gloves, and materials. Folks may want to bring a dust mask if they’re sensitive. The Dragonfly Park is located on 28th Ave SW between Yancy and Adams [map].

If you’d like to meet your neighbors, help protect the watershed (a healthy park = a healthy creek!) and spend a little time outside before the winter sets in, head on over on Saturday morning between 9 and noon. Can’t attend this weekend, but want to keep up? (Go here) for news and neighborly camaraderie.

The group is tracking volunteer hours in order to apply for a city grant to purchase new plants and shrubs in the spring. Every little bit counts, so swing by and say hi.

If you know of a group or business might like to contribute financially or with volunteer hours, reach out to Laura Bruco at lauramaybruco@gmail.com. She’d love to hear from you.

A Little History

If you’re a dog lover or a nature lover, you may already know about Dragonfly Park. Back in the ’90s, Seattle artist Lorna Jordan designed dragonfly-shaped gardens and a metal pavilion shaped like a dragonfly, with a winding path leading down to Longfellow Creek. It’s still a magical little pocket park, but over the past decade this North Delridge neighborhood gem has fallen into disrepair. Until now.

A group of 60+ neighbors in the North Delridge / Luna Park area has teamed up with Seattle Parks and Recreation to restore the gardens to their earlier grandeur. Previous garden parties have focused on pruning, weeding and deadheading, as well as prepping the beds for this weekend’s sheet mulch.

After this weekend’s party, the Friends will focus on planning and fundraising for new plantings to go in next year. Phil Renfrow, Senior Gardener with Seattle Parks and Recreation, is leading the updated design efforts, with a focus on sustainability. The group is hoping that Lorna Jordan will speak at the park during an event in November.

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FAUNTLEROY BOULEVARD PROJECT: Final design to include 37th SW left-turn break
October 4, 2017 4:43 pm
|      57 COMMENTS
 |   Transportation | Triangle | West Seattle news

SDOT has just announced the final design for the Fauntleroy Boulevard project will include a left-turn break at 37th SW:

See the full final design on SDOT’s website, and in a smaller version below:

From the SDOT announcement:

Throughout the design process, we’ve been committed to improving mobility on Fauntleroy Way SW for all users – people who walk, bike, and drive. The final design includes two lanes of traffic in each direction on Fauntleroy Way, as we have today, with new sidewalks and crosswalks, a protected bike lane, traffic signal revisions to improve flow, landscaping improvements and more. Read more about the final design on our webpage.

Based on technical analysis and input from the community, we have incorporated into the final design a 2-way left-turn break in the median near 37th Ave SW, while maintaining the traffic calming effects of the landscaped center median. You can read the full summary of public feedback about this design change here.

Next steps

Construction of the Fauntleroy Boulevard Project is currently anticipated to begin as soon as early 2018. This fall, we’ll begin pre-construction outreach, including sharing more information about traffic routing during construction.

This announcement went out one day after we asked SDOT specific questions about where the project stood, including the “traffic routing during construction” question – so apparently they have yet to decide whether to go with the longer construction schedule, which would involve keeping one lane open each way on Fauntleroy during the project, or the shorter schedule, which would involve making that stretch of Fauntleroy temporarily one way. The answers to our questions, which came in concurrently a short time ago along with this general announcement, also included the note from SDOT spokesperson Norm Mah that “We’re continuing to coordinate with Sound Transit on our collective project timelines.” That was also mentioned by City Councilmember Lisa Herbold in her weekly update last Friday.

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CRIME WATCH FOLLOWUP: Second arrest in West Seattle murder of Edixon Velasquez
October 4, 2017 2:11 pm
|      21 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | West Seattle news | Westwood

(WSB photo from September 19th)

2:11 PM: Just announced by Seattle Police, a second arrest in connection with last month’s deadly shooting of Edixon Velasquez outside his home on 31st SW in Westwood:

A 19-year-old male was arrested this afternoon in Auburn by the Pacific Northwest Violent Offender Task Force. The suspect will be booked into the King County Jail after he has been interviewed by detectives. This remains an active and on-going investigation.

The first suspect arrested, Velasquez’s 21-year-old ex-girlfriend Anna Kasparova, remains jailed in lieu of $1,000,000 bail, charged with first-degree murder and scheduled for arraignment later this week. More to come…

3:06 PM: The task force is associated with the US Marshal’s Office, whose regional spokesperson tells us that investigators learned that the suspect “was associated with” a resident of an Auburn mobile-home park, and found him with others in the mobile home, then arrested him “without incident.” Still working to find out more.

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BIZNOTE: BECU now open at The Whittaker
October 4, 2017 1:37 pm
|      20 COMMENTS
 |   4755 Fauntleroy | West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news

For the second consecutive day, we’ve received an announcement that another business has opened in The Whittaker (WSB sponsor). This time, it’s West Seattle’s first freestanding BECU branch. The credit union’s newest branch is 2,500 square feet, with five employees and one manager, per the announcement, which also says:

At the new location, BECU members can open accounts, apply for loans, and take care of financial transactions. Consistent with BECU’s operating model, the West Seattle location will offer an innovative “tellerless” layout, which empowers members to access their accounts in ways most convenient for them, including ATM, online banking, and mobile banking. Member consultants will be available to assist with these transactions, as well as provide one-on-one support for opening accounts and more complex services like mortgages, personal loans, auto loans and business services.

The branch at 4755 Fauntleroy Way SW will be staffed 9 am-6 pm weekdays and 9 am-1 pm Saturdays, and has two 24-hour ATMs.

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ONE WEEK AWAY: West Seattle Night Out for Disaster Relief
October 4, 2017 12:33 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   How to help | West Seattle news

Back on Monday, we told you about local service clubs (Rotary, Kiwanis, and Lions) joining forces to organize West Seattle Night Out for Disaster Relief, 5-9 pm Wednesday, October 11th. Participating restaurants and other businesses will donate part of their proceeds to help relief efforts in the aftermath of Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria, and the Mexico City earthquake. They’ll also accept checks for direct donations – more details on that as it gets closer. With exactly one week to go, the first restaurant to sign up, we’re told, is Great American Diner and Bar in The Junction (4752 California SW). Service-club volunteers are continuing to contact other businesses directly – we’ll update the list as we get word of more.

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WEST SEATTLE VIGIL FOR VEGAS: Saturday night in Fauntleroy
October 4, 2017 10:55 am
|      1 COMMENT
 |   Fauntleroy | West Seattle news

Just announced:

In the wake of the Las Vegas shootings, Admiral, Alki, and Fauntleroy United Churches of Christ are organizing a community candlelight vigil for victims, survivors, and “the soul of the United States.”

It will be Saturday, Oct. 7, 7:30 pm in the main parking lot at Fauntleroy Church (9140 California Ave. SW). Parking there will be reduced but available in the upper lots.

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West Seattle Wednesday: Coffee with a Cop, Southwest District Council, more…
October 4, 2017 9:36 am
|    Comments Off on West Seattle Wednesday: Coffee with a Cop, Southwest District Council, more…
 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Mount Baker, seen from West Seattle last night, photographed by Jim Borrow)

Another beautiful day under way … here’s what we have for highlights from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:

PROTECTING YOUR PRIVACY: Learn how, during today’s Hot Topics for Seniors chat (though you don’t have to be a senior to participate), noon at Southwest Library. (9010 35th SW)

COFFEE WITH A COP: Meet Southwest Precinct police at Alki Starbucks – drop in any time between 2 and 4 pm to chat, as previewed here. (2742 Alki SW)

DIA DE LOS MUERTOS ART: It’s early-release Wednesday for Seattle Public Schools, and South Park Library invites youth to create 3-D mixed-media coffins and learn about Dia de los Muertos, as explained in our calendar listing. 3-4:30 pm. (8604 8th Ave. S.)

SOUTHWEST DISTRICT COUNCIL: West Seattle’s aging park facilities are a major topic on tonight’s agenda, as well as a discussion of future SWDC leadership. All welcome, 6:30 pm, Senior Center/Sisson Building in The Junction. (4217 SW Oregon)

DIABETES PREVENTION CLASS: Tonight, 6:30-7:30 pm at the West Seattle/Fauntleroy YMCA (WSB sponsor), the next diabetes-prevention class starts:

1 in 3 people is at risk for diabetes, are you? Find out if you are at risk by texting RISKTEST to 97779. If you are at risk, the YMCA can be your partner in reducing your risk for the disease. Join the YMCA’s Diabetes Prevention Program and learn how to reduce your risk for developing diabetes, one small step at a time. This evidence-based program is designed to support adults in making lifestyle changes that will improve their overall health and reduce their risk of developing type 2 diabetes. The YMCA’s Diabetes Prevention Program is supported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and other national organizations committed to preventing chronic disease. For more information, please contact Brie Davis at bdavis@seattleymca.org. Registration is required.

(Contact Brie for location specifics and other details when you register.)

JIM PAGE: The popular singer-songwriter is back at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor), 7-9 pm. (5612 California SW)

OPEN-MIC NIGHT: Weekly open-microphone night at The Skylark, 7:30 pm signups, 8:30 pm music. 21+. Full 16-track recording of your set available for purchase – details here. (3803 Delridge Way SW)

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TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Wednesday watch; Viaduct-closure reminder; Avalon crash
October 4, 2017 6:43 am
|      4 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: No incidents reported in/from West Seattle so far this morning.

WEEKEND VIADUCT CLOSURE: Another reminder that Highway 99 will be closed in two phases this weekend, for work in addition to the regular twice-yearly Alaskan Way Viaduct inspection closure – 11 pm Friday to 5 am Monday, northbound 99 is scheduled to close between the West Seattle Bridge and Battery Street Tunnel. 5 am to 6 pm Saturday and 5 am to 6 pm Sunday is the schedule for the southbound lanes to close.

8:14 AM: Thanks for the texts and comments – there’s a crash under the bridge on the ramp from Avalon, reportedly involving a bicycle rider.

8:18 AM: The SFD medic unit’s been canceled and a private ambulance called instead, per scanner, so injuries are apparently not major.

8:50 AM: For those who use 4th Avenue S.- SDOT reports the signal at 4th and Lander is in flashing mode. Remember, that means it’s an all-way stop.

9:54 AM: We checked with SFD regarding the bicyclist hurt in the Avalon crash. SFD spokesperson Kristin Tinsley says he’s a man “approximately 50” and was in stable condition when taken to the hospital.

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CAMP SECOND CHANCE: Transition to new operator ‘not very smooth sailing,’ advisory committee told
October 3, 2017 11:50 pm
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   Myers Way | West Seattle news

(WSB photo from Sunday: From left, Josh Castle & Sharon Lee of LIHI, advisory committee members Grace Stiller & Aaron Garcia)

By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

Big concerns about a big change at city-sanctioned Camp Second Chance were voiced at this month’s meeting of its Community Advisory Committee.

While the last meeting, in August, had filled the meeting room at Arrowhead Gardens, just a few blocks north of the camp, Sunday’s meeting barely cracked double digits – counting the three committee members who were in attendance (Willow Fulton, an area resident; Aaron Garcia, from the White Center Community Development Association; Grace Stiller, who works with environmental nonprofits).

The city was represented by Tom Van Bronkhorst from the Department of Neighborhoods.

Early in the meeting, Stiller offered kudos to the city for the fencing placed on the east side of Myers Way to protect wetlands as well as those walking in the area, particularly to and from the transit center at Arrowhead Gardens; Van Bronkhorst went into some background on the fencing, and said that trash pickups are also continuing on the east side of Myers, where RVs have recently been swept.

The big change for Camp Second Chance itself since last meeting: The Low-Income Housing Institute (LIHI) is now the camp operator, as of September, with executive director Sharon Lee and staffer Josh Castle arriving mid-meeting after a conflicting engagement elsewhere.

Before their arrival, Rebecca, a camp resident, told the advisory committee that the transition had not gone well.

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UPDATE: Police search along Harbor SW, with helicopter
October 3, 2017 9:01 pm
|      5 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | Helicopter | West Seattle news

9:01 PM: If you are seeing/hearing a helicopter – per scanner, Guardian One is helping look for someone who fled after a car crash near Harbor/Florida. The car is believed to have been stolen in a carjacking elsewhere in the city earlier today.

9:31 PM: The search continues, with SPD K-9 on the ground. A commenter reports Harbor is closed in the area.

9:43 PM: Search isn’t over but Guardian One has moved on.

10:26 PM: Northbound Harbor will remain closed a while because City Light has to deal with a damaged pole and the crashed car has to be towed for impounding. We haven’t found yet where the carjacking was but will be requesting the incident report for this in the morning.

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TICKET TIME: Southwest Seattle Historical Society’s 2017 Champagne Gala Brunch
October 3, 2017 7:37 pm
|    Comments Off on TICKET TIME: Southwest Seattle Historical Society’s 2017 Champagne Gala Brunch
 |   How to help | West Seattle history | West Seattle news

Everybody loves a discount. If you buy your ticket(s) for the Southwest Seattle Historical Society‘s Champagne Gala Brunch before Thursday night (October 5th), you save more than 25 percent … $95 now, $125 starting Friday. This year’s brunch is at 11 am Saturday, November 4th, at Salty’s on Alki (1936 Harbor SW; WSB sponsor). The theme is “The Power of Community” and along with the live auction, golden-ticket drawing, and more, the event will feature one West Seattle legend – broadcast journalist Connie Thompson – in conversation with another – Husky Deli proprietor Jack Miller. This celebration is always sold out before the event day arrives, so you get a guaranteed seat along with a discount if you buy now – you can do that online, here.

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16 applicants for temporary City Council vacancy to make their case to councilmembers tomorrow night
October 3, 2017 6:15 pm
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle politics

Tomorrow night, each of the 16 applicants for the temporary Seattle City Council Position 8 vacancy – the one Tim Burgess left to become temporary Mayor – gets 3 minutes to make their case to the current councilmembers, at a City Hall hearing. Then members of the public get their chance to comment. It’s a key part of the process leading up to the councilmembers’ decision this Friday, as explained here. Application materials with the applicants’ backgrounds is now available online. The list:

Ray Armitstead
Richard Baron
Tiniell Cato
Kirsten Harris-Talley
Lewis Jones
Brendan Kolding
Nick Licata
Kaylee McClure
Brianna McDonald
Doug Nellis
ChrisTiana ObeySumner
Abel Pacheco Jr.
Jennifer Perevodchikov
Robert Radford
Alex Tsimerman
David Tygerson

Browsing the background info – which, for each candidate, is linked toward the bottom of this page – we see at least one West Seattleite; that’s Brendan Kolding, who has run for office before. The application materials posted online don’t specifically include a spot for candidates to mention their neighborhoods, so if anyone else on the list is from West Seattle, let us know! The City Council seat is at-large (citywide), so applications were accepted from people anywhere in the city. The person appointed Friday by the current council will have the job until the November election results are certified – Burgess wasn’t running for re-election, so the permanent councilmember will be either Teresa Mosqueda or Jon Grant, the top two vote-getters in the August primary. In the meantime, if you don’t want to speak at tomorrow night’s 5 pm public hearing, you can also send your thoughts to the council by e-mailing council@seattle.gov.

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