West Seattle, Washington

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month : 10/2017 325 results

FOLLOWUP: Next step in Seattle Public Utilities’ operations-center project on West Marginal Way SW
October 23, 2017 3:49 pm
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   Utilities | West Seattle news


(South Operations Center rendering, from city website)

We most recently reported back in July on Seattle Public Utilities‘ plan to turn the bus yard at 4500 West Marginal Way SW [map] into its Drainage and Wastewater South Operations Center.

Today’s city-circulated Land Use Information Bulletin includes official notice of the city’s land-use-permit application for the project. That opens a comment period through November 6th – here’s how to comment.

If you have questions about the project, or just want to see/hear more about it, you’ll want to be at Wednesday night’s Highland Park Action Committee meeting – 7 pm at Highland Park Improvement Club (1116 SW Holden) – because SPU is on the agenda with a presentation about it.

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Will Louisa Boren STEM K-8 be forced to move? Followup meeting Tuesday night
October 23, 2017 12:51 pm
|      7 COMMENTS
 |   Delridge | West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

Just before the end of last school year, we reported on Louisa Boren STEM K-8 parents’ concern that the district was looking at moving their school.

(WSB photo, June 1st meeting at Louisa Boren STEM K-8)

This culminated in an at-times-testy meeting June 1st (WSB coverage here) in which the district refused to rule out moving STEM K-8 out of Boren so the building could be used again as an “interim site” for other schools during rebuilds/remodels.

Last time we checked with the district to see where the situation stands, we were told they would come back to the community with an update “in August or September.” We’ve learned belatedly and indirectly – no district announcement was sent to the media nor to the wider community, and the meeting’s not on the district or school calendars – that this update will happen tomorrow night (Tuesday, October 24th), 6 pm at the school (5950 Delridge Way SW). We confirmed today with district spokesperson Tom Redman that the meeting is open to the public – anyone interested, regardless of whether you are a STEM K-8 family member or staffer.

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FOLLOWUP: 59th/Admiral safety concerns now the subject of online petition
October 23, 2017 11:59 am
|      36 COMMENTS
 |   Safety | Transportation | West Seattle news

(WSB photo, October 9th, looking west from south side of 59th/Admiral)

Two weeks after our first report on Alki Elementary School parents contending that SDOT changes at 59th/Admiral made it unsafe rather than safer, they’ve launched an online petition so other concerned community members can show support.

They say they’re continuing to see near-collisions every morning, including this one last week, detailed by parent Merkys Gomez, one of the founders of the school’s Traffic Safety Task Force:

Another parent and I with our block school bus were standing on the intersection of 59th and Admiral on the south side ready to cross. Jeanne, the crossing guard, normally has us wait there until she’s standing in the middle of Admiral waving her flag for us to cross. She was about to step into the intersection. There was a line of cars on Admiral heading eastbound. A driver in a black Audi decided that he didn’t want to wait. He crossed the double-yellow line, floored it through the turning lane and across the intersection as the first car heading eastbound was getting ready to cross the intersection, and nearly missed a Metro bus heading westbound. You could hear his wheels spinning in the rain. The trajectory if he would’ve hit the bus would’ve sent the car our way. … We were all stunned, and none of us wanted to enter the intersection, not even Jeanne. We just stood. The children were clutching our arms. The crossing guard has been told that she must get a license plate number to get anything to happen. That’s impossible when we’re holding flags and kids’ hands and someone hauls across the intersection. SDOT needs to capture this data of near-misses.

Meantime, the extra stop sign recently placed in the center lane a half-block east of the intersection is gone – last seen in pieces on the planting strip. And the parents say they’re still waiting for a formal response from SDOT: “While we wait, we plan to continue our efforts to do outreach to the community regarding our proposed solution, which includes an all-way traffic signal that is pedestrian and vehicle activated. We want all users of the intersection, whether crossing Admiral on foot or turning onto Admiral from within a car, to feel safe.” They also have taken their concerns to City Councilmembers, including West Seattle/South Park’s Lisa Herbold, and citywide (but West Seattle-residing) Lorena González. SDOT said on October 11th that it will “accelerate” stop-sign relocation, painting of a crosswalk across 59th, and addition of painted curb extensions – by year’s end. The parents’ task force ultimately wants to see a full signal at this intersection, and that’s what their petition requests.

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WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Cannabis shop hit 3 times in 1 week; 2 car prowls
October 23, 2017 10:35 am
|      14 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | West Seattle news | West Seattle police

In West Seattle Crime Watch this morning:

3 BURGLARIES IN 1 WEEK @ CANNABIS SHOP: Police are investigating early-morning burglaries today, Sunday, and last Monday at Canna West Seattle (5435 California SW). After hearing from neighbors about the break-ins in the past two days, we requested the reports from SPD, and one report mentions another break-in a week ago. This morning’s full report isn’t available yet but media relations Det. Mark Jamieson tells WSB, “It happened about 3:18 am and was reported by a neighbor. The caller stated that 3 black males in their 20s were observed running northbound from the business carrying bags. Officers arrived within minutes of the call along with a K9. The K9 team did a track, but it appears that the suspects got into a car.” As for the Sunday break-in, the report narrative says police got the call at 3:50 am, with a neighbor reporting “three males in front of the store breaking into the front glass door with axes.” K-9 tracking in this case also suggested that the burglars departed in a vehicle. And this report says police were met at the business Sunday morning by the owner, who told them the store had been broken into last Monday (October 16th) in the same way, by three people with axes. The report says there’s surveillance video and that, in the Sunday burglary, it shows that the burglars – who wore masks and gloves – were in the store for just two minutes, breaking the door at 3:37 am and fleeing with merchandise at 3:39 am.

Also, two reader reports about overnight car prowls:

IN ARBOR HEIGHTS: From Maria:

We wanted to let everyone know that there are car prowlers in Arbor Heights. My husband was loading up his car this morning between 5 and 6 (making several trips), and someone took multiple items from his car. They stole his work computer and everything from his console. They also left a women’s purse and a trail of garbage from our house toward Fauntleroy Park. We live near 39th and 97th aves. [map] It is particularly upsetting because the car was parked at the end of our driveway (closest to the house) and was essentially right outside our back door. We were all inside (my husband, myself, our toddler and infant) about 20 feet away. The car is also parked under a security light and they had to walk down our driveway past my car to get to it. Given this, it was particularly bold, brazen and unsettling. We were wondering if people were watching and waiting, or if it was just dumb luck. Apparently leaving your car unlocked, in your driveway, outside your back door for about 30 minutes in the morning is just not safe any more.

IN GATEWOOD: From T:

Our older-model Highlander was prowled sometime last night (Sunday). Car was mistakenly left unlocked – no broken windows. Nothing of value taken but would love to have back the car records, etc. that were in a small zipper binder in the glove box if someone finds it randomly dumped. Car was parked in vicinity of 41st and Austin. Lock your car at all times and leave nothing inside.

P.S. Another reminder that the next local crime/safety-related meeting is tomorrow, Tuesday (October 24th), the West Seattle Block Watch Captains’ Network, with special guest Councilmember Lisa Herbold – 6:30 pm, Southwest Precinct (2300 SW Webster).

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From beer to business growth, 5 highlights for your West Seattle Monday
October 23, 2017 9:49 am
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

Thanks to West Seattle photographer/pilot Long Bach Nguyen for aerial views of fall colors at High Point, above and below – as we start the week with some excellent weather for fall activities. Today’s highlights start with an event from the WSB Halloween (Etc.) Guide, which is full of fun happening now through November 1st:

PUMPKIN JUNCTION: The Beer Junction‘s annual celebration of pumpkin beers, ciders, and meads continues through Halloween – go here to see what’s on today’s list. (4511 California SW)

Got a Halloween/harvest/pumpkin/etc. event that’s NOT in our guide? Please send us info ASAP – editor@westseattleblog.com – thank you! Meantime, from our year-round WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:

TINKERLAB AT DELRIDGE LIBRARY: STEM-based activities for all ages – today, 3-D Printing, 4-5:30 pm. Free. (5423 Delridge Way SW)

DELRIDGE BUSINESS SURVEY RESULTS RELEASE & MIXER: Help Delridge businesses grow! Come to Ounces to meet local businesspeople and find out what the recent business survey revealed. 5:30 pm mixer, 6 pm results presentation. (3809 Delridge Way SW)

RON GALLO LIVE IN-STORE @ EASY STREET: 7 pm at Easy Street Records, you’ll see and hear Ron Gallo perform – free, all ages. (California/Alaska)

MONDAY MEDITATION: Tonight’s theme is “Developing Patience.” 7-8:30 pm at SoundYoga (WSB sponsor) – more info in our calendar listing. (5639 California SW)

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CHIEF SEALTH ALUMS: Got memorabilia? This request is for you
October 23, 2017 9:00 am
|    Comments Off on CHIEF SEALTH ALUMS: Got memorabilia? This request is for you
 |   West Seattle history | West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

This year’s Chief Sealth International High School auction celebrates the school’s 60-year anniversary. If you or someone in your family spent time at the school during those 60 years, maybe you can help with this request:

Are you a Sealth Alumni? Do you know one? We are looking for MEMORABILIA throughout the ages. The Sealth Auction Committee is looking for items to use for decorations at the 9th Annual Auction for Sealth, PTSA, DSPA and Athletics. Do you have old Letterman jackets, pictures, annuals? Old uniforms? We’ll borrow or take whatever you’ve got. Maybe ask your neighbor that’s lived in the area for a long time. We are celebrating 60 years of Sealth, 1957-2017!

The auction is on November 18th at the Brockey Center. We’d love any help the community can offer us in locating these items. We are especially looking for the years late ’50s, ’60s & ’70s! Please contact Kristin Arvidson at chiefsealthptsa@gmail.com

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TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Monday updates
October 23, 2017 6:59 am
|    Comments Off on TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Monday updates
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

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

6:59 AM: Good morning. So far this Monday, no incidents reported in/from West Seattle.

WATER TAXI NOTE: This is the final week of this year’s 7-day-a-week, all-day schedule for the West Seattle Water Taxi – as of one week from today (Monday, October 30th) it’ll be on the five-day fall/winter schedule, which you can preview here.

8:50 AM: Still quiet! But we cover major traffic incidents the rest of the day/night too, if/when they happen – tips appreciated (when you can safely/legally text/call) at 206-293-6302.

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Welcome home, salmon: After singing and drumming, Fauntleroy Creek watch is on
October 22, 2017 11:56 pm
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   Environment | Fauntleroy | West Seattle news | Wildlife

Though the annual gathering along Fauntleroy Creek is billed as singing and drumming, today, the messages resonated most – messages written by participants of all ages, to tie to the fence at the creek overlook across and upslope from the ferry terminal.

Some were simply notes of welcome. One even carried an apology. And of course there was also singing and drumming, led by Jamie Shilling:

The songs urge the salmon to return:

And then there’s an urging of environmental respect, “Habitat,” to the tune of the half-century-plus-old “Lollipop.” Some wore salmon hats, decorated during the Fauntleroy Fall Festival a week earlier:

Leading the activity then, and emceeing the gathering today, was creek steward Judy Pickens, who noted that the welcoming event goes back to 1994:

She provided updates including the explanation that volunteers will now be watching for coho spawners, likely into mid-November, since the prediction this year is that they’ll arrive late. She also says a UW researcher will be studying pre-spawning mortality in the creek and will be waiting for word of any fish in obvious distress – less of a problem on Fauntleroy Creek than Longfellow Creek in eastern West Seattle, which has more of a runoff-pollution problem.

With Judy’s help, we’ll have updates during salmon-watcher season – and she says they’re hoping to organize another weekend event where you can come to the creek and talk with volunteers; we’ll let you know as soon as we get word of that.

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UPDATE: Driver hits tree, flips car at 35th/Southern, taken to hospital
October 22, 2017 9:47 pm
|      6 COMMENTS
 |   Gatewood | West Seattle news | WS breaking news

(Added: WSB photos by Patrick Sand)

9:47 PM: A Seattle Fire “heavy rescue” response is on the way to 35th/Southern in Gatewood, where a vehicle is reported to have flipped, with someone trapped inside. Per scanner, southbound 35th is blocked at the crash scene. More to come.

9:52 PM: We’re now hearing 35th is blocked both ways at the crash scene. Avoid the area [map].

9:54 PM: SFD has freed the person from the vehicle.

10:02 PM: Police tell us the car flipped after the driver hit a tree.

10:09 PM: The driver, described only as male, is being taken to Harborview Medical Center by SFD medic unit. 35th may be closed another hour or so at the crash scene.

10:22 PM: And to be clear, only one car involved, only one person in the car, we’re told. Adding more photos. We’ll update when the road’s open again.

11:42 PM: We haven’t heard an update on the road but SFD has fully closed out of the call.

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@ MORGAN COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION: HALA followup; Gatewood Elementary playfield preview; other quick updates…
October 22, 2017 8:59 pm
|    Comments Off on @ MORGAN COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION: HALA followup; Gatewood Elementary playfield preview; other quick updates…
 |   Neighborhoods | West Seattle news

We’ve already reported one story from this past week’s quarterly Morgan Community Association meeting – the installation plans for City Light’s new metering system – and we have one more to go, an update on a development project that’s taken a surprise turn. But first, tonight, other hot topics from Wednesday night, first of which was a followup from the city’s HALA-related open house the previous evening:

COMPREHENSIVE-PLAN AMENDMENTS, THE NEXT STEP: While Tuesday night’s open house in High Point (WSB coverage here) tackled two topics, one is of the most interest to MoCA – the proposal to amend the city’s Comprehensive Plan to override neighborhood-plan-related language related to single-family zoning. (We previewed this here.)

Read More

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TUESDAY: West Seattle Block Watch Captains Network hosts Councilmember Lisa Herbold
October 22, 2017 6:40 pm
|    Comments Off on TUESDAY: West Seattle Block Watch Captains Network hosts Councilmember Lisa Herbold
 |   Crime | Safety | West Seattle news | West Seattle politics

Wondering what your West Seattle/South Park City Councilmember Lisa Herbold is doing about crime, safety, policing concerns? Here’s your chance to ask her: She’s the guest at Tuesday night’s West Seattle Block Watch Captains Network meeting, 6:30 pm at the Southwest Precinct (2300 SW Webster). Right now, in addition to representing our area on the council, Herbold is also chairing its budget committee, which is making spending decisions for the next year; she ascended to that role after the shakeup that started with former Mayor Murray’s resignation. You don’t have to be part of a Block Watch to attend the meeting, which will also include updates from local police leadership – just come to the precinct meeting room, which is right off the parking lot, entrance off Webster west of Delridge [map], east of the south side of Home Depot.

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FOLLOWUP: Concord Elementary PTA seeking support for solutions to dual-language program, kindergarten-crowding concerns
October 22, 2017 3:50 pm
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   South Park | West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

“We ARE the opportunity gap,” Robin Schwartz from the Concord International Elementary School PTA told the Seattle School Board at its meeting this past week. (When you click “play” on the video clip below, it should advance to her remarks.)

We first reported three weeks ago on the concerns of Schwartz and other parents at Concord, which is in South Park but also draws some West Seattle families, especially because of its dual-language program, the subject of some of the changes they’re worried about.

They organized a forum to bring some of those concerns to school and district officials (WSB coverage here), and have another one planned.

And now they’re gathering signatures of support after circulating this letter:

In her remarks to the school board last Wednesday, a comment period that has strict time limits, Schwartz focused on the kindergarten class size, adding that besides being a non-optimal experience for students, “Our teachers are overwhelmed and overburdened.”

At the forum earlier this month, the district promised a committee would look at the parents’ concerns. A November 9th followup meeting is planned to see what progress has been made. But the PTA doesn’t want to just wait for that, so is seeking signatures of support – if you would like to add yours, here’s where to sign on (scroll to the end of the document after the summary of concerns and requests).

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COUNTDOWN: One week to West Seattle Junction Harvest Festival 2017!
October 22, 2017 1:59 pm
|    Comments Off on COUNTDOWN: One week to West Seattle Junction Harvest Festival 2017!
 |   West Seattle festivals | West Seattle news

One of the freshest things at today’s West Seattle Farmers’ Market was the sign being created to remind everyone that next week’s WSFM will be part of the 2017 West Seattle Junction Harvest Festival! It’s a market and much more – 10 am-2 pm Sunday, October 29th: For one, the street closure for that day only will extend south to Edmunds, and the extra block will feature local businesses and organizations offering FREE harvest-themed games and activities, starting right at 10. (The list of activities is on the West Seattle Junction Association website.) Then:

11 am – Chili cookoff at the KeyBank corner of California/Alaska ($10 donation for the West Seattle Food Bank gets you a flight of tastes from all 9 chili competitors, and the chance to vote for your favorite)

11:30 am – Costume parade starting from Junction Plaza Park (42nd/Alaska), led by the West Seattle High School Marching Band, heading west into, and then around, the festival – everyone’s welcome to participate!

Noon – Business and booth trick-or-treating

New at the festival: A root-beer garden (California/Alaska, by Easy Street Records) – $3.50 for root beer (from The Beer Junction) topped with vanilla ice cream (from Husky Deli) and Applepalooza as part of the market.

WSB is a co-sponsor of the Harvest Festival and we look forward to seeing you in The Junction next Sunday!

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WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: 3 reader reports, plus 28 feet of happy ending!
October 22, 2017 12:36 pm
|      5 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | West Seattle news

West Seattle Crime Watch starts with three reader reports:

CAR BREAK-IN: From Kala in South Delridge:

Last night my car was broken into sometime after 8pm. I live in a townhome off of 17th and Barton. My Jeep was parked in the designated parking spot for my place..when I came out this morning all my stuff from the center console and glove department were all over the ground..after checking doors I realized that the back hatch was open so guessing they crawled through. Nothing of value was taken other than a wallet that contained only an Id.

We’ve previously had someone cut the lock to our back gate and also have seen lots of people lurking around the area. It’s very unsettling. Just wanted to report so everyone stays safe!

HIT-RUN, THREAT: From Brittany:

(Friday) night a car intentionally rammed into my boyfriend’s car on Avalon Way. He followed the vehicle onto a side street to obtain a license plate and insurance info, at which point the driver of the vehicle exited his car. He leaned in through my boyfriend’s open window and attempted to put his hands on him while threatening to shoot him and beat him up. He then drove away. My boyfriend got a photo of the car, including the license plate, and filed a police report, which hasn’t turned up the guy.

I’m hoping someone will recognize the car and be able to identify the driver so he can be held accountable for his dangerous actions.

Police have the full plate; since this isn’t a photo showing a crime in progress, we’re just showing the first three digits, but if you know who it is, that would likely be enough. We will add the SPD incident # when we get it. (Added: It’s 17-390469.)

HIT-RUN ON THE BRIDGE: From Anne, who says this happened on the westbound bridge, middle lane before the rise:

My red Prius was rear-ended on the West Seattle Bridge Wednesday 10/18/17 between 6:15 and 6:30 pm. It was a white four-door older vehicle that hit me and then drove away before the police arrived. There were at least two males in the car. When the white car collided into me I was pushed into the car in front of me, which was a Subaru SUV. Please contact me or the police if you saw the white car drive away, have any more details or observations , or see a white car with new front-end damage in your neighborhood. It may have red paint on the bumper.

AIRSTREAM STOLEN, THEN FOUND: If you don’t read comments, you missed all this! But it’s too good not to mention in a followup note. Back on Thursday, Esther sent word that her 28-foot classic Airstream trailer had been stolen in the Alki area. In a comment on that report, Michael posted this photo he had taken of an Airstream being towed later that morning, elsewhere in West Seattle:

Esther should have been notified about the trailer’s discovery and tow, but the thief/thieves had switched the plates, among other things. Friday, with the help of Michael’s photo and some other reader suggestions, she got it back! Thanks again to everyone who has helped reunite readers with cars, bicycles, motorcycles, and trailers via WSB Crime Watch over the years … we hope you never have a crime to report, but if you do, please let us know – so much does NOT go out over the scanner, so without e-mail and/or other tips, we won’t be able to report it – editor@westseattleblog.com, or, if it’s happening now, text/call 206-293-6302.

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ELECTION 2017: One more West Seattle appearance for mayoral candidates
October 22, 2017 9:58 am
|      16 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle politics

If you couldn’t make it to last Thursday night’s West Seattle forum with six citywide candidates (WSB video/photos/text coverage here), you have another chance this week to see two of them here – mayoral hopefuls Jenny Durkan and Cary Moon.

(WSB photo from Thursday night forum)

They’re scheduled to appear during the second half of the West Seattle Democratic Women‘s lunch meeting on Thursday (October 26th) at WS Golf Course, 12:30 pm-1:15 pm (the meeting starts at 11:30 am). If you’re interested in ordering lunch – you need to e-mail chair Rachel Glass by Monday morning – werdachel (at) aol (dot) com – it’s $13.50 members, $15 non-members. If you’re not interested in lunch, there’s a $5 program fee that includes coffee/tea and dessert. The golf course meeting room is right off the parking lot, 4600 35th SW.

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West Seattle Sunday: Call the salmon home; sing about books; more!
October 22, 2017 7:54 am
|      1 COMMENT
 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Added: Fall colors this morning by Fauntleroy Creek overlook)

Here’s what’s up for your Sunday, from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:

DUWAMISH NATIVE ART & CRAFTS MARKET: 10 am-6 pm at the Duwamish Tribe Longhouse in West Seattle. Come shop! Free parking for shoppers. More info here. (4705 W. Marginal Way SW)

WEST SEATTLE FARMERS’ MARKET: 10 am-2 pm year-round, so come see what’s fresh – fruit, vegetables, juices, nuts, cheeses, meat, fish, beans, and much more. (The market’s own weekly preview mentions cranberries and radicchio as among the new arrivals.) In the street in the heart of The Junction. (California SW between SW Oregon and SW Alaska)

KINDNESS ROCKS: Join the project with a 10 am-noon session today at Lil’ Bug Studio. (10007 13th SW)

NEW SCOUTING GROUP: First weekend meeting for new all-gender scouting group that’s part of the Baden-Powell Service Association. Noon at Lincoln Park‘s North Play Area. (8011 Fauntleroy Way SW)

STEVE ITTERLY: Singer-songwriter at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor), 3-5 pm. (5612 California SW)

DRUM AND SING TO CALL THE SALMON HOME: Annual tradition along Fauntleroy Creek – all welcome, all ages, to drum and sing to call the salmon home to spawn. BYO drum – or just bring your voice! 5 pm on the porch of the house below the creek overlook – just off SW Director from the northeast end of the overlook that’s across Fauntleroy Way from the ferry terminal.

BOOKTOBERFEST – LIBRARY KARAOKE: 6-11 pm at The Skylark:

It’s Libraryoake: Karaoke with Librarians! Belt it out for the love of books! Do you love to sing karaoke AND love books? Then this is the event for you. The library is hosting a special Booktoberfest edition of Libraryoke at the Skylark Café in West Seattle where you are highly encouraged to sing songs inspired by or about books and libraries. There will be prizes for singers who choose bookish songs or who dress up as their favorite authors or literary characters. Parents can bring youth and teens to sing as well. Feel free to bring books to swap and share, as there will also be a book exchange.

All ages. The event is free – drinks and food are not. (3803 Delridge Way SW)

P.S. Checked our West Seattle Halloween Etc. Guide yet? All the Halloween/harvest/fall/etc. events from here through November 1st – and if we’re missing yours, please e-mail us the info – editor@westseattleblog.com – thank you!

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Weekend scene: Hundreds @ Southwest Youth and Family Services ‘Voices of the Community’ gala
October 21, 2017 10:13 pm
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle people

Thanks to Gary Potter of Potter Construction (WSB sponsor) for the photo – that’s him at right/center with Brian Waid, Rotary Club of West Seattle president (Gary is a Rotarian too), at tonight’s Southwest Youth and Family Services “Voices of the Community” gala at Georgetown Ballroom. 200 people there, Gary reports! Among them, West Seattle community stalwarts Jim Guenther and Sandy Adams, who, we’re told, were honored with an award for their volunteer work – congratulations! (We hope to have more on that later.) Not familiar with SWYFS? It’s based in North Delridge but helps youth and families via many programs in an increasingly large area stretching into South King County

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CONGRATULATIONS! West Seattle High School golfers’ success
October 21, 2017 8:51 pm
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools | WS & Sports

Thanks to Anna Nguyen for photos and reports on two success stories from the West Seattle High School golf season. First, the girls:

(L-R, Berit Syltebo and Lauryn Nguyen)

Congratulations to the WSHS Girls Golf Team on their 3rd-place finish in the overall-team standings at this week’s 3A Metro League Tournament held at Jefferson Park Golf Course. Senior Berit Syltebo and Freshman Lauryn Nguyen qualified for the 3A Metro/King Co District tournament to be held next Spring. Nguyen posted a commanding 4-under par round to win the individual Medalist Honors, beating the field by 7 strokes in the 18-hole Metro League Tournament. Nguyen also captured 1st place during all of the regular season high-school matches. Her dominating performance earned her the WIAA Metro League Player of the Year title!

Here’s the entire team, in a tweeted photo:

Now, the report on the boys’ team:

(L-R, Cameron Smith and Alex Nguyen)

Two members of the WSHS Varsity boys’ golf team qualified for the 3A Metro/King Co District tournament after competing in the Metro League Golf Championship this week held at West Seattle Golf Course and Jefferson Park Golf Course. Senior Alex Nguyen and Junior Cameron Smith finished in the top 38 to earn a place to compete at Districts next Tuesday (10/24/2017) at Riverbend Golf Complex in Kent.

Both teams are coached by Velko Vitalich, who, as we reported back in June, has retired as WSHS baseball head coach but continued on with the golfers for one more year.

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DUWAMISH ALIVE! Habitat help along ‘A River for All’
October 21, 2017 6:59 pm
|    Comments Off on DUWAMISH ALIVE! Habitat help along ‘A River for All’
 |   Environment | West Seattle news

(Mouse over center of image to reveal ‘play’ button)

Pastoral, industrial, vital. Our Instagram video clip is the view of the Duwamish River from Terminal 107 Park, steps away from the kickoff event for today’s installment of the twice-yearly Duwamish Alive! work parties. As James Rasmussen had told the gathering of volunteers, this is “the last stretch of the old Duwamish River”:

Rasmussen spoke both as leader of the Duwamish River Cleanup Coalition and as a member of the Duwamish Tribe, whose longhouse is across West Marginal Way SW from T-107. “This place would not have been saved if not for my ancestors,” Rasmussen explained, recounting how the discovery of shell heaps – evidence of a long-ago Duwamish village – stopped work at the site years ago. While so much of the Duwamish River’s shore has been the focus of restoration, so much of the riverbed itself the subject of cleanup, this stretch, including mudflat Kellogg Island, remains “original habitat,” Rasmussen said. And now, the intent is to improve its health so it can serve as “A River for All”:

Rasmussen promised one of those buttons to City Councilmember Lisa Herbold, who also spoke:

After a few speeches – in light rain – it was time for everyone to get to work:

Much of today’s work involved planting. Rasmussen urged volunteers to name their plants – “(they’re) not an inanimate object, they know you’re there” – and come back to visit them as they grow.

P.S. If you weren’t able to work at one of the Duwamish Alive! sites today – there are work parties in the area almost every weekend (often featured on the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar) – and another long list of them on November 4th for Green Seattle Day – see that list here, including five locations in West Seattle (and easy RSVP links for each).

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Big response for Alki false alarm
October 21, 2017 5:31 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   West Seattle fires | West Seattle news

If you saw/heard all the SFD units just now – they were headed to a possible fire in a multifamily building in the 2200 block of Alki SW. We’ve just heard via scanner that it was a false alarm – somebody was starting up a grill and the smoke set off a smoke detector. So the units are being dismissed.

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TRAFFIC ALERT: Crash at Delridge/Andover
October 21, 2017 4:34 pm
|      6 COMMENTS
 |   Delridge | West Seattle news | WS breaking news

(Added: WSB photo)

4:34 PM: A day of crashes continues with one that briefly drew a Seattle Fire “rescue” response, at Delridge and Andover. The response was downgraded a few minutes ago because everyone was reported to have gotten out of the vehicle(s) OK, but the intersection is blocked northbound according to what we’re hearing via scanner.

4:50 PM: Our crew has just arrived and says this involves a car that was apparently headed downhill (westbound) on Andover and collided with a Metro bus. The bus is in the intersection, and its driver is being checked for possible shoulder injuries, we are told; the car came to a stop against the H&R Block building on the northeast corner (photo added – it actually stopped against the doorway):

Police are directing traffic, with northbound Delridge vehicles now using one of the southbound lanes.

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SPORTS: SW Lacrosse Club opens spring registration – starting girls’ team, too
October 21, 2017 2:38 pm
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 |   West Seattle news | WS & Sports

SW Lacrosse Club currently plays its home games in Normandy Park but is the league for West Seattle and beyond, and has just opened registration for next spring. It was founded 20 years ago and continues to grow:

We emphasize skill development. We’re a great option for kids seeking something new. We promote fraternity (and sisterhood!). We host special events to connect when we are off the field. Our home field is Manhattan in Normandy Park. Our season runs March-May with Pre-season beginning in February. We offer scholarships so anyone can play.

This will be our inaugural season registering 3rd and 4th Grade girls. Girls’ Lacrosse is a dynamic field
sport different from the boys’ game. Like comparing softball to baseball, the girls’ game has its own
rules. It does not involve full-contact play. While there’s not a lot of girls’ teams in Seattle-at-large, we want to be part of growing something new! It’s great exercise, the skills parlay to any other field/court sport, and it’s a ton of fun! No experience is necessary because we have a Super Star Coach:

Introducing Ayesha Cochran:

Coach Ayesha played lacrosse throughout her childhood and into college in New York State. She has a passion for the sport that she is eager to share! Ayesha moved to Seattle for her career and has since felt a calling to “do her part to grow the game” after 3 years of rooting into our community. She feels a responsibility to teach the game that has brought her so much joy! Coach Ayesha welcomes athletic 3rd and 4th grade girls to the field who are ready for a new dynamic sport: Come out and give it a try!

With plans to grow our organization, we remain loyal to our history.

Our boys’ program is making great strides toward becoming a more competitive force to be reckoned with. Our high school team made it to the D2 playoffs in 2017 for the 2nd year in a row, and with the goal for a 3rd in 2018, we hope to continue the momentum across all our youth teams to advance players at the hands of our dedicated coaches. We are honored to announce that Mark Benedum, the original founder of our organization, is returning to coach for us again this year.

Go here to register. Questions? Contact Tanya at 206-730-6908 or tanyarosso (at) msn (dot) com.

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TRAFFIC ALERT: Crash on SW Roxbury at 17th
October 21, 2017 1:59 pm
|    Comments Off on TRAFFIC ALERT: Crash on SW Roxbury at 17th
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

Thanks to Mel for the photo. Westbound Roxbury is blocked right now at 17th SW because of that crash. No major injuries. Wherever you are going today, be cautious and allow extra time – we have had trouble on most major corridors at one time or another so far.

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