West Seattle, Washington

17 Sunday

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month : 10/2017 325 results

BIZNOTE: West Seattle CityMD urgent-care center opens at The Whittaker
October 3, 2017 4:21 pm
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   Health | West Seattle news

(Photo courtesy CityMD)

Another business has opened along the Fauntleroy Way side of The Whittaker (WSB sponsor).

It’s an urgent-care center operated by CHI Franciscan Health and CityMD (also WSB sponsors), the fourth center to open in two years in the Puget Sound area. We first reported in August 2016 that CityMD was on the way. The announcement explains:

This state-of-the-art center meets the growing need for convenient, cost-effective, high-quality medical care for local residents. Each location is staffed primarily by board-certified emergency medicine doctors. Together with key clinical support staff, such as X-ray technicians and medical assistants, they have the ability to handle a wide spectrum of common urgent-care needs for the West Seattle community.

(You can read more about CityMD’s backstory here.) No appointment needed – just walk in. The center’s website shows an estimated wait time, if you want to check before you go. It’s open at 4755 Fauntleroy Way SW 8 am-8 pm weekdays, 8 am-5 pm Saturdays, 8 am-3 pm Sundays.

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HELP NEEDED, URGENTLY: Volunteer tutors for Roxhill Elementary students
October 3, 2017 3:15 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   How to help | West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

(Photo courtesy Invest in Youth)

The nonprofit Invest in Youth just sent this, saying it’s urgent:

Looking for a way to give back to your community?

Invest in Youth is a Seattle-based nonprofit organization that provides free tutoring to local elementary students across the city.

Become a tutor this fall! We are looking to pair volunteers with struggling learners in the community. We have a very high need for volunteer tutors at Roxhill Elementary, here in West Seattle.

Tutoring begins in late October, runs through May, and takes place once every week at each school.

Each tutor is matched with the same student for the whole school year, and the pair works together on things like playing math games, reading stories or working on homework, for one hour each week. Educational materials and activities, training and support, and heartfelt appreciation are provided at every session.

For more information or to apply to be a tutor, please contact Alison Allen at aallen@investinyouth.org or visit our website: investinyouth.org

Can’t commit to the full school year? Become a substitute tutor or share this with your friends who might be interested.

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BIZNOTE: Happy 7th anniversary, West Seattle Autoworks!
October 3, 2017 12:33 pm
|      7 COMMENTS
 |   Sunrise Heights | West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news

Congratulations to West Seattle Autoworks (7501 35th SW; WSB sponsor) on seven years in business! We stopped by this morning for a photo – co-proprietor Todd Ainsworth is at center, with Sam Smith and Jesse Coffin. Todd and Chris Christensen opened WS Autoworks in October 2010, and have a gift for customers to celebrate the anniversary:

It’s been a pleasure and an honor to make our homes and our business in West Seattle and we’d like to thank you for your support!

If you make an appointment with us online during the month of October, receive a free travel mug, cup, or T-shirt! It’s just one small thing we can do to say “Thank You”!

With longtime West Seattleites at the helm, WS Autoworks supports the community – among other efforts, they co-present the annual West Seattle Car Show, which is a benefit for the South Seattle College Automotive Technology Program.

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West Seattle Tuesday: Ferries, schools, safety, stories, more…
October 3, 2017 11:09 am
|    Comments Off on West Seattle Tuesday: Ferries, schools, safety, stories, more…
 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Sanderlings, photographed at Constellation Park last weekend by Mark Wangerin)

Here are highlights of what’s ahead for your West Seattle (and vicinity) Tuesday:

WEST SEATTLE BOOSTER CLUB FUNDRAISER: 4-8 pm at Chipotle in The Junction, it’s a dine-out benefit for the West Seattle Booster Club, which helps WSHS students – details in our calendar listing, including the flyer you will need to show (either printed, or on your phone) to be sure your purchase goes to the cause. (4730 California SW)

TRIANGLE ROUTE TASK FORCE: Two weeks after a big showdown on Vashon Island (WSB coverage here) over backups and delays on the Washington State Ferries Triangle Route – Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth – the advisory task force working on route issues meets again today. 4:30-7 pm at the Fauntleroy Church fellowship hall. (9140 California SW)

CONCORD ADVOCACY: As previewed here last Friday, the PTA for Concord International (Elementary) School in South Park has organized an advocacy meeting tonight to air concerns about changes in the dual-language (Spanish/English) immersion program. This is the only public elementary school in our area with this program, so it’s a West Seattle issue too. The meeting is at the South Park Neighborhood Center, starting at 6 pm. (8201 10th Ave. S.)

CAMPAIGN TO RESTORE WALKWAY-IMPROVEMENT PLAN: 6:15 pm at Southwest Library, the Westwood-Roxhill-Arbor Heights Community Coalition‘s monthly meeting includes the push to get the city to keep its original commitment to improve a walkway between Chief Sealth International High School and Westwood Village – the same area where two students were approached inappropriately just yesterday. (9010 35th SW)

LEARN TO DANCE: Swing and waltz dance classes start tonight at the Senior Center of West Seattle – 7 pm and 8:15 pm respectively. More info, including how to register, in our calendar listing. (4217 SW Oregon)

FAMILY STORY TIME: 7 pm at Delridge Library, for families with kids of all ages. Free as always. (5423 Delridge Way SW)

BEYOND WHAT YOU SEE ABOVE … there’s more on our complete-calendar page!

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WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Gift shop Alair burglarized
October 3, 2017 9:27 am
|      32 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news

9:27 AM: The West Seattle gift shop Alair won’t be open regular hours today, its manager tells us, because they are dealing with damage done by burglar(s) and have to do repairs. The break-in happened around 5:45 am today. Alair has been open 10 months at 3280 California SW. If you have any information for police, you can refer to incident number 17-367299.

11:41 AM: Alair proprietor Shandon Graybeal says the burglar(s) “took a lot” – including jewelry, purses, and her register – but she is now open for the day, until 6 pm. We’re also adding, above, a security-camera image from the burglary (though the burglar’s face is covered, maybe you’ll recognize the clothing, or …).

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TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Tuesday watch
October 3, 2017 7:06 am
|    Comments Off on TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Tuesday watch
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

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

7:06 AM: Good morning – so far, no incidents reported in/from West Seattle.

The big reminder all week is that the Alaskan Way Viaduct will close next weekend – northbound is set to be closed all weekend, late Friday night to early Monday morning, while southbound is scheduled for 5 am-6 pm closures Saturday and Sunday.

7:36 AM Metro has sent an alert saying the 7;48 am Route 116 from Brace Point/Wildwood won’t be running today.

9:04 AM: Uneventful commute today but if you spot trouble any time day or night, especially on major routes, let us know (when you can call/text safely/legally) – 206-293-6302 – thank you!

9:21 AM: Spoke too soon. There’s a crash at California and Admiral. One Seattle Fire unit responded – no medic unit, so apparently injuries, if any, are not major.

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DEVELOPMENT: New rules for backyard cottages and in-law apartments? Your thoughts sought as environmental-review process begins
October 2, 2017 10:40 pm
|      45 COMMENTS
 |   Development | West Seattle housing | West Seattle news

The city is looking to change the rules regarding backyard cottages and in-law apartments, but is under orders to do an environmental review of the process first, as the result of a challenge by a community group in Queen Anne. The review process has just begun, according to a city announcement today requesting your comments – via e-mail as well as an upcoming West Seattle meeting. Here’s the announcement:

Today we announced the beginning of the environmental review process to study the potential effects of removing barriers to building accessory dwelling units (ADUs) in single-family zones. ADUs include backyard cottages, known as Detached Accessory Dwelling Units (DADUs), and in-law apartments, known as Attached Accessory Dwelling Units (AADUs).

The first phase of the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) process is to determine the scope of the study, and we want your input on what to consider and analyze as we explore allowing more ADUs in Seattle’s neighborhoods.

ADUs are small, secondary dwelling units inside, attached to, or in the rear yard of a single-family house. The City’s proposal involves allowing both an in-law apartment and a backyard cottage on the same lot, removing the existing off-street parking and owner-occupancy requirements, and changing some development standards that regulate the size and location of backyard cottages. Based on a decision from the City’s Hearing Examiner in December 2016, we’re preparing an EIS to review the potential environmental impacts of this proposal.

During the scoping phase, you can help us determine the alternatives we’ll study, potential environmental impacts to consider, and possible measures to avoid or reduce the effects of the proposal. Comments are due by 5:00 p.m. on November 1, 2017. You can give us your input in several ways:

online: seattle.gov/council/adu-eis
by email: ADUEIS@seattle.gov
by mail to Aly Pennucci, Council Central Staff, PO Box 34025, Seattle, WA 98124-4025

in person at our two public scoping meetings.

One of those meetings is in West Seattle: Tuesday, October 17, 6:00-7:30 pm. at High Point Community Center, 6920 34th Ave SW.

An important thing to note: The meeting is NOT going to be a deep dive into the proposal – as noted here, it’s been added to the agenda for what was already an “open house”-style meeting about an even-more-complicated issue, whether to change the city’s Comprehensive Plan to remove language that, for some neighborhoods, conflicts with proposed HALA upzoning. That part of the meeting affects three specific “urban village” areas of West Seattle – The Junction, Morgan Junction, and Westwood-Highland Park – but the dwelling-unit part of the meeting involves neighborhoods citywide. We first wrote about the city’s plan in July.

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PLANT FOR THE PLANET: Free West Seattle ‘academy’ for kids this Saturday
October 2, 2017 8:06 pm
|    Comments Off on PLANT FOR THE PLANET: Free West Seattle ‘academy’ for kids this Saturday
 |   Environment | How to help | West Seattle news

The international Plant for the Planet youth movement is having its next daylong Plant for the Planet Academy for interested kids this Saturday (October 7th), 8:30 am-3:30 pm, at Puget Ridge Cohousing (7020 18th SW). The flyer above explains, including how to register – it’s free but your interested 8- to 14-year-old needs to sign up ahead of time (here’s the direct link). It’s a day-long workshop to find out “how they can take action to protect and heal our environment, as part of Plant For The Planet – an international group of 63,000+ young people worldwide who are planting trees and leading communities to solve the climate crisis now.” As explained on the flyer, there’s an optional 2-hour parent workshop too. (If you can’t see the flyer embedded above, here’s a PDF version.)

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MISSING AN ORANGE BICYCLE? Maybe one of these is yours
October 2, 2017 5:02 pm
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   Seen around town | West Seattle news

From the WSB inbox today – two photos of bicycles that appear to be abandoned, both orange. This one, in The Triangle:

This one, off Harbor Avenue SW:

If either one is potentially yours, let us know.

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WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Students approached while walking to school
October 2, 2017 2:45 pm
|      12 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | Safety | West Seattle news | Westwood

Thanks to the parents who just shared this:

Dear Denny and Chief Sealth Scholars and Families,

We want to share information with you regarding an incident that was reported this morning involving two of our 10th-grade scholars on their way to school. At 8 a.m. this morning, two 10th-graders, one boy and one girl, were walking to school on 25th Ave SW between Westwood Village and SW Thistle St., when they were approached by an adult stranger on foot. The man got close to the girl and made inappropriate suggestive comments to her. The man was wearing a black sweatshirt with his hood on. The two scholars did everything right — they attempted to ignore him, started walking more quickly to get away from him and went straight into the school to report it. Chief Sealth staff called the police, who responded quickly to take a statement. The police will be in the area, along with extra school staff, during dismissal and arrival times as they follow-up on this incident.

As a precaution, we are reminding our scholars about walking safety tips. We would appreciate your help by having a similar conversation at home. The walking safety advice includes:

• Pay close attention to your surroundings, avoid “automatic pilot.”
• Walk with a purpose; project an assertive, business-like image.
• Use common sense; plan your route to avoid uninhabited parks, parking lots, garages and alleyways.
• Stick to well-lit areas.
• Develop a plan before you see trouble. Crossing a street or entering a store may get you out of a potentially bad situation.
• If a car follows you or beckons you while you are walking, do not approach it. Instead, turn and quickly walk the opposite direction.
• Consider wearing clothing and shoes that you can move freely and quickly in, especially when walking or waiting for the bus.
• Carry minimal items; overloading yourself can make you appear vulnerable.
• Always plan your route and stay alert to your surroundings. Avoid shortcuts. Walk confidently. Scan your surroundings and make eye contact with people.
• Avoid walking alone at night. As much as possible, walk or travel with a friend, even during the daytime.
• Immediately report anything suspicious to trusted adults (school staff and family members).

As always, thank you for your help and partnership!

Sincerely,

Jeff Clark, Principal, Denny International High School
Aida Fraser-Hammer, Principal, Chief Sealth International High School

That’s the same area where SDOT cut plans for pathway improvements, saying a developer will likely have to make them within “several years.” That will be discussed at tomorrow night’s Westwood-Roxhill-Arbor Heights Community Coalition meeting, 6:15 pm Tuesday at Southwest Library (9010 35th SW).

PS: While processing this for publication, we also received a copy directly from the principals.

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UPDATE: Seattle Fire response on Harbor Island for ‘overturned semi-truck,’ no injuries
October 2, 2017 1:53 pm
|    Comments Off on UPDATE: Seattle Fire response on Harbor Island for ‘overturned semi-truck,’ no injuries
 |   West Seattle news | WS breaking news

1:53 PM: You might be seeing the engines and trucks and/or hearing the sirens – big Seattle Fire “heavy rescue” dispatch is headed to 16th SW/SW Lander on Harbor Island. Via scanner, the incident is described as an overturned semi-truck. Updates to come.

1:56 PM: Most of the units are being dismissed – no injuries. SDOT is being requested for cleanup of a fuel spill.

3:35 PM: We went over to Harbor Island within the past hour to see if the truck was still there. As you can see in our photo, added above, a tow truck had arrived to work on pulling the trailer upright. No traffic effects.

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UPDATE: Vashon Island High School early dismissal because of ‘threat’; KCSO says it was ‘false alarm’
October 2, 2017 1:37 pm
|      13 COMMENTS
 |   Not WS but we're mentioning it anyway | Safety | West Seattle news

1:37 PM: Thanks to the parents who shared the communication from the Vashon School District, which has hundreds of “commuter” students, most from West Seattle:

Vashon High School students have been dismissed for the day due to a bomb threat at the school. Law enforcement is on site doing an investigation, and expect to be in the building for the remainder of the day. Students and staff will not have access to the building for the remainder of the day.

The announcement from superintendent Michael Soltman goes on to say that bus riders and walkers already have been sent home in those respective ways and “ferry commuter students” will be on an upcoming sailing, adding “Vashon Island High School sport practices, games and club activities have been cancelled.” Everyone is OK, and the island’s other two public schools remain in session. We’ll be checking with the King County Sheriff’s Office about the investigation.
2:01 PM: We checked with Sgt. Cindi West of the King County Sheriff’s Office, and here’s what she says investigators discovered:

The school found what they said was a suspicious device in a locker. The school was evacuated. Turns out it was a portable cooler and the battery was beeping that it was low. The student was supposed to have it so it was a false alarm.

2:15 PM: Sgt. West sent this photo of the cooler:

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YOU CAN HELP! West Seattle Night Out for Disaster Relief planned for October 11th
October 2, 2017 12:51 pm
|    Comments Off on YOU CAN HELP! West Seattle Night Out for Disaster Relief planned for October 11th
 |   How to help | West Seattle news

Set your calendar for 5-9 pm Wednesday, October 11th – West Seattle Night Out for Disaster Relief. Three local service organizations – the Rotary Club of West Seattle, Kiwanis Club of West Seattle, and Lions Club of West Seattle – are organizing this as “a community response to Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria, and the Mexico City earthquake.” On that night, the announcement explains, participating restaurants and businesses “will accept donations and donate a percentage of your bill to disaster relief.” More information – including the list of participants – to come.

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In case you wondered too: Food Network production crew at The Swinery
October 2, 2017 11:42 am
|    Comments Off on In case you wondered too: Food Network production crew at The Swinery
 |   West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news

Thanks to Olivia for the tip – she saw the sign by The Swinery‘s door while passing by en route elsewhere. We checked it out, and here’s what’s up: The sign is an alert that if you walk in, you might be filmed by Lando Productions. They tell us they’re working on a new Food Network show – so new, it doesn’t even have an official title yet (and they’re not at liberty to disclose its working title). The crew is one of two working in different regions to gather footage – they’re on the West Coast, another is in the Mountain Time zone. They’ll be there again tomorrow and possibly part of Wednesday. The only impact to customers is that sandwiches and fries won’t be available today until after 1 pm because the crew is working in the area where those are prepared. Otherwise, the shop (3207 California SW) is open.

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West Seattle Monday: From ‘Peace’ to park art…
October 2, 2017 9:49 am
|      1 COMMENT
 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Pileated woodpecker, photographed in Fauntleroy Park by Mark Wangerin)

From the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar for the rest of your Monday:

HOMEWORK HELP: 4-7:30 pm, drop-in homework help at High Point Library. (35th SW/SW Raymond)

‘TEMPORARY ART IN PARKS’ WORKSHOP: Artists – if you’re interested in applying for a Temporary Art in Parks grant, you’re encouraged to attend this workshop first. 5:30-7 pm at Southwest Library. (9010 35th SW)

MONDAY NIGHT MEDITATION: Five-week series starts at 7 pm tonight at Sound Yoga (WSB sponsor) – taught by Linda Fane, themed “Understanding the Mind.” Full details in our calendar listing. (5639 California SW)

‘ROOTED IN PEACE’: Special documentary screening at the Admiral Theater, 7 pm: “Award-winning filmmaker and environmental activist Greg Reitman shares his journey of self-analysis with audiences seeking inner peace in a world full of people dominated by war, affected by global warming or haunted by inner conflict.” More info in our calendar listing. (2343 California SW)

PUGET RIDGE COMMUNITY COUNCIL: 7 pm at Puget Ridge Cohousing. (7020 18th SW)

MONDAY QUIZ: 7:30 pm at The Skylark, all ages, no cover, prizes! (3803 Delridge Way SW)

LOOK INTO THE FUTURE … see what else is happening this week by checking our complete-calendar page, which is updated multiple times daily.

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TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Monday updates, Viaduct trouble, West Seattle Bridge crash…
October 2, 2017 6:35 am
|      34 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

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

6:35 AM: Thanks for the texts – the northbound Alaskan Way Viaduct is blocked, all lanes, by an incident near Seneca. More to come.

6:44 AM: The incident has been described both as a collision and as a vehicle fire. It already has NB 99 backed up all the way past the West Seattle Bridge.

7 AM: SDOT says one northbound lane is now open. Backups stretch to the 1st Avenue S. Bridge, though. Though Metro has not issued an official alert, some buses have rerouted, we’re hearing via comments and Twitter.

7:14 AM: Commenter and texter say the vehicle involved was labeled as being from Cupcake Royale. We haven’t heard whether anyone was hurt.

7:21 AM: If you’re on Delridge, note that two Seattle Fire units are headed to Louisa Boren STEM K-8 school for an automatic fire alarm. **No** word of an actual fire, but just in case you see the response while stuck in bridge/Viaduct-bound traffic and wonder.

7:30 AM: Back on the NB Alaskan Way Viaduct, Seattle Fire has cleared the scene, and no medic unit was involved, so if anyone was hurt, it wasn’t major. But the lane closures remain.

7:41 AM: The aforementioned fire-alarm call at STEM K-8 has closed, no fire, SFD units back in service. Meantime, on NB I-5 on the north side of downtown, an SFD aid response has blocked a lane, so I-5 as an alternative to 99 has one more challenge right now.

7:44 AM: Metro has now sent an alert about the reroutes that readers have been mentioning:

7:50 AM: The NB I-5 incident has cleared.

8:12 AM: NB 99 has NOT cleared. Here’s the camera we’re watching.

8:20 AM: Looks like a tow truck has shown up at the 99 scene. (Added a few minutes later, screengrab from the SDOT webcam):

8:29 AM: Tow truck’s taken it away. Waiting for word of reopening.

8:32 AM: And that word has just come – all lanes open again – with the caveat about “residual delays.”

8:39 AM: Now that the incident is closed – a reminder that the Viaduct will be *deliberately* closed this weekend for its twice-yearly inspection closure as well as some other work – northbound all weekend (late Friday night to early Monday morning), southbound 5 am-6 pm Saturday and again Sunday (if needed).

9:18 AM: No further incidents. Thanks again to the first person who tipped us to the trouble in the early going – our breaking news hotline, text or voice, 24/7, is 206-293-6302.

9:30 AM: And now … word of a crash on the eastbound bridge, no injuries. Waiting for word on exactly where.

9:36 AM: Looks to be somewhere on the high-rise, per where SDOT is turning one of the bridge cameras.

9:41 AM: From SDOT:

9:49 AM: SDOT says the bridge crash has cleared.

10:14 AM: We’re working on a Viaduct followup but in the meantime, via Twitter, we shared a photo by Brian, who was on scene right after the van fire erupted, and also, Cupcake Royale says its driver is OK.

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@ West Seattle Transportation Coalition: SDOT progress report on ‘bridge corridor’ projects
October 1, 2017 11:25 pm
|      18 COMMENTS
 |   Transportation | West Seattle news

By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

Two years after the unveiling of a “white paper” and project list with recommendations for easing traffic in the West Seattle Bridge Corridor, an SDOT rep came to the West Seattle Transportation Coalition‘s monthly meeting with a progress report.

Bill LaBorde began by saying that the list started with 27 projects but has fewer now – primarily because some weren’t SDOT projects (Sound Transit 3 light rail, for example, which had a significant West Seattle-related update earlier that day).

Chas Redmond from the WSTC Board said that the “disintegration of the integration” of the projects was troubling – LaBorde said that taking projects off the list wasn’t intended to signify dis-integration. Redmond said list-shrinking still didn’t make sense since the agencies are working together on some of these projects anyway. After that, LaBorde ticked through the list, including:

Read More

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Seattle Latino Film Festival coming to Admiral Theater for closing-night screening, party
October 1, 2017 8:30 pm
|    Comments Off on Seattle Latino Film Festival coming to Admiral Theater for closing-night screening, party
 |   Admiral Theater | West Seattle news | WS culture/arts

That’s the trailer for “The Duel of Wine (El Camino del Vino),” which will have its Pacific Northwest premiere at West Seattle’s Admiral Theater as part of the closing-night celebration for this year’s Seattle Latino Film Festival.

The 9th annual festival showcasing Latin American films starts next Friday night (October 6th) downtown and continues for the following week, at venues around the area, from downtown to Federal Way (see the full list of screenings here) – concluding with the film and closing-night party at The Admiral on Saturday, October 14th. Betty Santiago from SLFF tells WSB that the star and producer of “Duel of Wine,” Charlie Arturaola and Lino Pujia, will be in attendance. We’re mentioning this early so you can get tickets if you want to be there – the film and party are included in your $25, and you can get your tickets online, here.

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CONGRATULATIONS! National Merit Scholarship honors for Chief Sealth IHS student Amad Ross
October 1, 2017 7:41 pm
|      6 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle people | West Seattle schools

From Chief Sealth International High School principal Aida Fraser-Hammer:

Chief Sealth International High School announced that Amad Ross has been named a Commended Student in the 2018 National Merit Scholarship Program. A letter of Commendation from the National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC), which conducts the program, was presented to this scholastically talented senior on Friday.

Commended students placed among the top 50,000 of more than 1.6 million students who entered the 2018 Competition by taking the 2016 preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSATNMSQT). “The young men and women being named Commended Students have been demonstrated outstanding potential for academic success,” commented a spokesperson for NMSC. “These students represent a valuable national resource; recognizing their accomplishments, as well as the key role their schools play in their academic development, is vital to the advancement of educational excellence in our nation. We hope that this recognition will help broaden their educational opportunities and encourage them as they continue in their pursuit of academic success.”

Amad is a part-time Running Start student and a strong leader at Chief Sealth, having been co-organizer of a Walk-Out against the Trump Travel Ban and a Rally against Anti-Islamism. Chief Sealth is very proud of him and we look forward to sharing more about his accomplishments as he graduates and enters college.

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WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: 20+ ways to deter property crime
October 1, 2017 6:15 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   Crime | Safety | West Seattle news

As reported in our most-recent coverage of police briefings at community meetings – like the West Seattle Block Watch Captains Network and Highland Park Action Committee last week – car prowling in our area has dropped significantly, but property crime overall remains the major problem. So this month’s newsletter from Southwest Precinct Crime Prevention Coordinator Jennifer Burbridge offers more than 20 specific suggestions of ways to deter it:

As mentioned toward the end of the newsletter, and as already previewed here, your next chance to talk face-to-face with local police – outside an emergency response! – is Wednesday afternoon at Alki Starbucks (2742 Alki Ave. SW), 2-4 pm, for the next Coffee With A Cop.

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PHOTOS: Children’s Moonlight Festival @ Vietnamese Cultural Center
October 1, 2017 4:13 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   West Seattle news | WS culture/arts

4:13 PM: Looking for something to do with the rest of your Sunday afternoon? The Children’s Moonlight Festival is happening until 6 pm at the Vietnamese Cultural Center. Above, lion dancers performed toward the start of the event; treats, entertainment, and a lantern parade are still to come.

This is a traditional lunar-calendar end-of-summer celebration; more photos to come. The Cultural Center is at 2234 SW Orchard, just north of Home Depot.

8:39 PM: As promised, more photos from the festival, which was so picture-perfect, an afternoon shower stopped just in time for the lion dance. Center director Lee Bui offered the lions a good-luck gift:

Joining the festivities at the center were Boy Scouts from Troop 286:

Two people dressed as characters from a Vietnamese legend offered backpacks to kids:

(This photo and next two by Lynda Bui)

There was rubber-duck fishing:

And a lantern parade:

A group photo to commemorate the event:

In addition to special events like this, the Vietnamese Cultural Center is open to visitors on Saturdays, noon-3 pm.

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ART BY YOUR NEIGHBORS: 2017 community art show begins at Southwest Library
October 1, 2017 3:30 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   West Seattle news | Westwood | WS culture/arts

Friends of the Southwest Branch Library are your hosts during the Community Art Showcase‘s opening reception, continuing at the library until about 4 pm. Among the artists there, Steve and Lori Douglas:

Other art on display includes this guitar by Amanda Musclerat:

And Vera Sterling‘s “Best of Seattle”:

You have time to see the art show if you can’t get there by 4 – it’s on display at Southwest Library (9010 35th SW) for most of the rest of this month.

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WEST SEATTLE WHALE-WATCHING: Orcas in the area
October 1, 2017 1:16 pm
|      11 COMMENTS
 |   Seen at sea | West Seattle news | Wildlife

(PHOTOS ADDED Sunday evening)

1:16 PM: Via text from Kersti Muul – orcas are back in the area, transients this time, seen southbound from north Bainbridge Island before 1 pm, “large male T87 and others with calf.” Please let us know if you see them (comment, and/or text our 24/7 hotline, 206-293-6302) – thank you!

1:32 PM: Update from Kersti – they’re now “outside Elliott Bay” so should be in view (now or soon) – be sure to bring binoculars.

4:34 PM: Thanks to the commenters who have provided updates – we had to cover (inland) events and weren’t able to go look!

SUNDAY EVENING: Thanks to Greg Snyder for e-mailing the two photos we have added above, and thanks to Kersti for adding photos in comments below!

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