West Seattle, Washington

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month : 10/2017 325 results

Here’s when Seattle City Light plans to automate your electricity meter
October 19, 2017 12:34 pm
|      53 COMMENTS
 |   Utilities | West Seattle news

First report from last night’s quarterly Morgan Community Association meeting is one of interest no matter what neighborhood you’re in: It’s the first community-council briefing we’ve seen in this area since Seattle City Light started switching over to automated meters. The map above shows which parts of West Seattle are scheduled for installation next year – according to the online schedule, the utility expects to have all installations citywide due by the end of 2018.

SCL’s Scott Thomsen spoke to MoCA last night, saying that the new meters will be uploading your power-use information to SCL six times a day. They’re replacing meters that are in some cases older than half a century. He described the attributes as including “first off, you’re going to get more accurate billing.” No more “estimated reads” when they can’t get a meter reading to your house, for whatever reason, leading to an inaccurate bill and maybe a big catch-up bill later. Then, “on a day like today with a storm coming in,” instead of reporting a power outage, “the meter will tell us that you are out,” and that will get crews on the road quicker to fix them. Also: “What we’re talking about is a change in our relationship with you, our customers, to put more power in your hands to control energy costs,” since you’ll also have access to details of how much you’re using.

Questions included whether the existing meter’s base will accommodate the new meter; Thomsen says yes, but if something goes wrong while they are installing it, or they need to fix something with the base, they will take the position that it’s their responsibility, though technically property owners are accountable for providing the base that holds the meter.

How will you know exactly when you’re due for installation? Thomsen says you’ll get three notifications before they come to install – a letter, a postcard, an automated phone call, starting weeks ahead of time. The installer will come knock on your door so that if you’re home working on something, you’ll have an opportunity to save it before the one-minute power outage that’ll be required for the switch over. You don’t have to be home for the installation. Other questions? Check out SCL’s page for the automated-meter project.

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3 teenagers arrested in Westcrest Park murder of 15-year-old Derek Juarez-Lopez
October 19, 2017 10:34 am
|      61 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | West Seattle news

(WSB photo from September 5th search at Westcrest Park)

10:34 AM: A month and a half after 15-year-old Derek Juarez-Lopez was stabbed to death in Westcrest Park, police have arrested three suspects.

The Seattle Times first reported last night that an 18-year-old man is in jail, bail set at $750,000. This morning, we have just obtained court documents confirming that – and police have just announced that two other suspects, both juveniles, are in custody too:

Detectives arrested an 18-year-old male and a 17-year-old male separately at residences in West Seattle on Tuesday, October 17th. The adult was booked into the King County Jail for Investigation of Murder, while the juvenile was booked into the Youth Services Center (YSC) for the same charge. On October 18th, detectives arrested a 17-year-old female at a residence in West Seattle. She was booked into YSC for murder Wednesday evening. This remains an active and ongoing investigation.

As police said early in the investigation, robbery was the motive, according to the probable-cause documents for the 18-year-old’s bail hearing. He is alleged to have stabbed the victim, who, police were told, was lured into the park so that he could be robbed of marijuana he was allegedly carrying. We’ll add more details as we read through the lengthy narrative in the court documents…

ADDED 11:18 AM: According to the probable-cause documents, the 18-year-old suspect is a South Delridge resident; we haven’t found any criminal record on file for him. The narrative extensively details how police tracked the case. The victim and his family live in Arbor Heights, and he left on the day of the murder with his brother. The brother told police he was driving Derek to meet his girlfriend and dropped him off near 14th/Roxbury. Derek and the girlfriend had been communicating by a social-media messaging service so police had to get a search warrant for his phone, which was recovered, damaged, at the murder scene. Police wrote,”The texts between the two suggested that they were meeting for the reason of the sale and/or use of drugs.” (Marijuana is the only “drug” mentioned in the narrative.) They found the girlfriend and interviewed her the same day Derek died. They say she admitted leading him to an area of the park – near where she lives – where she said three men armed with knives jumped and attacked him, and, she said, she ran away, but didn’t report it to police.

The next day, the narrative says, police received an “anonymous tip” about who was allegedly involved in the murder. They eventually tracked down and spoke with the tipster, who said the victim’s girlfriend did not know that he was going to be killed, but the robbery situation “got out of hand” and that the victim was stomped on as well as stabbed.

It appears from the documents as if one more possible suspect, a 16-year-old boy, has yet to be arrested. Meantime, the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office tells us that the 18-year-old suspect is due back in court tomorrow, by which time charges may be filed. We’ll be checking on the juvenile suspects’ status too.

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West Seattle Thursday: Mayor, Council candidates @ forum; 2715 California design review; much more…
October 19, 2017 10:03 am
|      5 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Eastern gray squirrels, photographed by Mark Wangerin)

From the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar for today/tonight:

‘GREAT SHAKEOUT’ EARTHQUAKE DRILL: Are you participating? Many are, at 10:19 am today – practicing to “drop, cover, and hold on.” Genesee Hill Elementary in West Seattle is the official media site for Seattle Public Schools participation, and we’re planning to be there.

DANCE IN THE AFTERNOON: Free between 2 and 4 pm? Go to the Senior Center of West Seattle for dance time with music by Lauren Petrie. (4217 SW Oregon)

TINKERLAB: All ages welcome for free, fun STEM-themed crafts at High Point Library, 4-5:30 pm. Today’s theme: Snap Circuits. (35th SW/SW Raymond)

TEEN HUNT AND COSTUME CONTEST: From the WSB Halloween Etc. Guide – ~6 pm at Hiawatha Community Center, for ages 11-17: “A flashlight, goodie bag, and strong spirit is all you need to capture prizes in our grounds. YCTP intern staff will award a ‘spookiest’ and ‘most original’ costume prize prior to the hunt. Hunt begins promptly at dusk.” Free! (2700 California SW)

(added) WOMEN’S NIGHT AT CLICK: 6-9 pm at Click! Design That Fits (WSB sponsor):

We’re welcoming three woman-owned businesses tonight, and you’re invited!

Bring a friend and check out the new holiday collection from Hobo. The local rep is bringing one of her favorites to give away in a drawing, and we’re offering a (super cute!) gift with bag purchase while supplies last.

Meet the makers: Ann of Chikahisa Studio and Lauren of Naked Truth Beauty will both be here. You’ve seen Chikahisa jewelry at Click!; Ann will be bringing a bigger selection including rings! Naked Truth is a line of natural beauty products (with eco-friendly packaging) made right here in the PNW. The party is in the upstairs loft, and we’ll have snacks and bubbly beverages to sip while you shop.

(4540 California SW)

KNOW WHO YOU’RE VOTING FOR? If you’re still making up your mind – or just want to reinforce the decision you’ve made – candidates in three key citywide races will be part of a West Seattle forum tonight, co-sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce and Transportation Coalition. 6:30 pm doors open at American Legion Post 160 in The Triangle. City Council Position 8 is up first, then Position 9, then Mayor, and organizers say all candidates have RSVP’d. All welcome, no admission charge. (3618 SW Alaska)

DESIGN REVIEW FOR 2715 CALIFORNIA SW: 6:30 pm at Senior Center of West Seattle, the Southwest Design Review Board takes its next look at the mixed-use project called Admiral Station. See the design packet here. The meeting will include a public-comment period. (2715 California SW)

PREPAREDNESS @ TIMEBANK: West Seattle Timebank‘s topic during the 6:30-8 pm meeting at the Senior Center of West Seattle is preparedness – more info in our calendar listing. (4217 SW Oregon)

MAKE HATS FOR PEOPLE IN NEED: 7 pm at Tibbetts United Methodist Church (WSB sponsor):

It’s beginning to get cold out and a perfect time to knit a warm hat for others less fortunate than ourselves. If you’re a knitter (or crocheter), or if you’re someone who wants to learn how to knit, please feel free to join us on Thursday 10/19 at 7 pm. Tibbetts is at 3940 41st SW; entry in the alley door. We’ll have several patterns available for you. If you have supplies, feel free to bring your odds and ends of yarn and some needles and join the fun and fellowship!

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VIDEO: City Council Position 8 candidates @ Delridge District Council
October 19, 2017 9:40 am
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   Delridge District Council | West Seattle news | West Seattle politics

Your ballot for the November 8th election is on the way. That adds extra weight to the final few weeks of candidate forums – with voters able to make their choices at any time. On Wednesday night, the candidates for City Council Position 8 – the citywide spot for which now-Mayor Tim Burgess chose not to run again – visited the Delridge Neighborhoods District Council. Above is our video of the 48-minute forum, with candidates Jon Grant and Teresa Mosqueda. Housing affordability, homelessness, and transportation were the hot topics.

Mosqueda and Grant are due back in West Seattle tonight (Thursday), as part of the forum presented by the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce and West Seattle Transportation Coalition, which also will feature the Council Position 9 (Lorena González and Pat Murakami) and Mayor (Jenny Durkan and Cary Moon) candidates, 6:30 pm at American Legion Post 160 (3618 SW Alaska).

Also at the district-council meeting, before the candidates’ forum:

TRANSPORTATION: DNDC members want to hear from Metro and SDOT at future meetings, to talk about transportation along Delridge, including overcrowding on Routes 120 and 125. Pigeon Point’s Pete Spalding noted that Metro needs to understand that the Delridge routes aren’t just about going downtown – those routes are the ones the people who live in the area use to travel around West Seattle.

CITY BUDGET: Highland Park Action Committee co-chair Michele Witzki asked everyone to pay attention to the City Council budget discussions about where to deploy LEAD – Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion – which Highland Park has been asking for, for years. Earlier this week, councilmembers talked primarily about using it in the North and South Precincts, not the Southwest. Also discussed, pavement problems on 26th SW, and all were urged to contact City Councilmember Lisa Herbold’s office to ask for paving funds to be used to fix it.

The Delridge Neighborhoods District Council meets third Wednesdays most months, 7 pm, rotating locations, currently Highland Park Improvement Club.

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TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Thursday watch; early West Seattle Bridge crash, other incidents
October 19, 2017 5:53 am
|      17 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

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

5:53 AM: Thanks for the texts. We start the morning with a crash on the west end of the West Seattle Bridge, which is closed both ways right now as a result, so you can’t get eastbound from Fauntleroy, and if you’re headed westbound, you’ll be detoured off by Admiral.

6:03 AM: Per scanner, a tow truck is headed “westbound in the EB lanes” to get to the crash scene. Again, the closure (see the top left image) is NOT the entire bridge – it’s the Fauntleroy end, west of the Admiral exit.

6:19 AM: This camera shows the police blocking the eastbound entry at Fauntleroy. We’ve just heard an estimate that it’ll be closed another “15-20 minutes.” We’ll update as soon as it opens.

6:34 AM: And the EB entrance at Fauntleroy IS NOW open, as shown on the SDOT video camera at 35th/Fauntleroy. (SDOT verified via Twitter, all clear, both directions.)

7:41 AM Crash reported at 35th/Thistle. Texter says it’s on NB side.

7:44 AM SDOT also reports a crash on EB surface Spokane just east of low bridge.

7:51 AM And now the SFD log shows a crash dispatch for 35th/Avalon.

8:36 AM Stalled vehicle partly blockkng right lane on EB bridge st Delridge onramp.

9:16 AM: SFD is responding to a “wires down” call at 35th/Southern. We don’t know what part of the road it’s blocking but dispatchers are noting (as monitored via scanner) that City Light is very busy.

ADDED 2:26 PM: Some have asked about injuries in the 5 am-hour crash on the bridge. SFD tells us: “Approximately 84 year-old male transported via SFD Medics in stable condition to Harborview. Second patient, approximately 48-year-old male evaluated by firefighters, no transport required.”

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READER REPORT: Double hit-and-run on Puget Ridge
October 19, 2017 1:40 am
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | Puget Ridge | West Seattle news

More trouble on Puget Ridge – the photos and report were just texted to us, and flesh out a bit of scanner traffic we heard a short time ago:

My fence and bushes were just destroyed by a hit-and-run driver fleeing the scene of a prior hit-and-run at 16th and Dawson. They left behind their GMC bumper.

The texter is near 22nd/21st SW, and explains:

The guy hit the first car and was chased by the son-in-law of the car’s owner. They hit our property while fleeing the person who was chasing them. They were heading down the hill toward Delridge. Probably long gone over the bridge.

Or – they could have stayed on-peninsula. So be on the lookout for a GMC vehicle missing a bumper like that.

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@ West Seattle Crime Prevention Council: Shoplifting crackdown; precinct’s fall events…
October 18, 2017 11:56 pm
|      6 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | Safety | Southwest Precinct Crime Prevention Council | West Seattle news | West Seattle police

No special guest at last night’s West Seattle Crime Prevention Council meeting, so it was a shorter-than-usual meeting devoted to police updates and community concerns. Read More

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UPDATE: Police arrest 3 teens in Upper Fauntleroy after gunfire on Puget Ridge
October 18, 2017 9:43 pm
|      13 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | West Seattle news | West Seattle police

(UPDATED 10:09 AM THURSDAY with additional information from police)

9:43 PM: We’re working to find out more about a police search in the 39th SW/SW Cloverdale area. This is related to gunfire somewhere else – no injuries reported so far that we have heard. Police were following a vehicle with suspects in it and are reported to have two people in custody but are looking for others. More when we get it.

9:50 PM: The search is around a fairly wide area, including part of Westwood to the east, and a K-9 team is involved.

9:56 PM: Police tell us this started around 21st and Graham [map] on Puget Ridge.

10:11 PM: While our crew is off checking on that scene, we’ve just heard via scanner that another person has been taken into custody near 37th/Cloverdale, and “weapon recovered” (they had been looking for a gun but reportedly had not found it in the car).

10:16 PM: Part of 21st SW is closed at Graham, our crew reports, while Gang Unit members are investigating. (photo added above) The shell casings from the original gunfire incident are clearly marked on the street here. We’re told they expect to keep the street closed another half-hour or so. Meantime, back at the Upper Fauntleroy scene, officers have confirmed to dispatchers that they do not believe any other suspects are at large.

ADDED 10:19 AM THURSDAY: Just in via SPD Blotter, before we even checked in with SPD looking for additional details:

Three juvenile suspects, all 17 -year-old males, were arrested Wednesday evening following a drive-by shooting in West Seattle after they crashed the car they were driving. A handgun was recovered at the scene.

Just before 9:30 p.m. officers responded to reports of shots fired at a residence in the 6300 block of 21st Avenue SW. Witnesses provided officers with a suspect vehicle description and officers located a possible suspect vehicle nearby. The vehicle fled from officers but crashed a short distance away. Two of the three occupants were taken into custody at the vehicle, but the third suspect fled on foot. A few minutes later he was located and arrested after a K-9 track. That suspect had a 9mm handgun in his possession.

While investigating the incident, officers learned from the victim that the three suspects were known to the victim and had been in a long-standing disagreement with her boyfriend. The victim also informed officers that approximately ten minutes prior to the shooting incident, the same suspects shot out the back window of a car she and her boyfriend were driving in while on Delridge. That shooting was not reported to police at the time. The boyfriend had left the scene prior to the police arrival.

Officers examined the victim’s vehicle and discovered several apparent bullet holes and a damaged rear window. The scene was processed and the victim’s car was impounded. There were no reported injuries.
The three suspects were later booked into the Youth Services Center. Southwest Precinct detectives will handle the follow-up investigation.

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FRIDAY NIGHT: Dinner and square dancing with Highland Park Elementary PTA!
October 18, 2017 7:38 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   Fun stuff to do | Highland Park | West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

The Highland Park Elementary School PTA invites you to have fun with them on Friday night – free! It’s the fourth annual Square Dance, 6-9 pm at the school (1012 SW Trenton), starting with dinner until 7, then dancing with a live string band. “All ages and abilities welcome (and) every kid goes home with a pumpkin.” No admission charge at all – dinner and dancing are free, as are the pumpkins – if you are able to donate, it’s a fundraiser for the PTA, but if not, they’ll still be thrilled to see you.

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WEST SEATTLE WEATHER: Storm updates, including NB Highway 509 closure
October 18, 2017 5:33 pm
|      19 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle weather

5:33 PM: The wind arrived in time for the Wednesday commute home, as forecast. So far, here are the closest problems we’re hearing about:

(Added: Washington State Patrol photo)

-NB Highway 509 is reported to be blocked at Cloverdale (just east of West Seattle) by downed power lines.

-Power’s out in southeast White Center and parts south for more than 3,800 customers.

The National Weather Service‘s wind-advisory alert remains in effect through 11 pm. We’ll update with any other storm-related problems we hear about – please let us know about anything you see, text/voice 206-293-6302. Thanks!

5:52 PM: According to the scanner, a tree is blocking westbound Sylvan Way at Orchard – that would be just west of Delridge Way SW.

7:22 PM: According to the City Light map, most of the people who lost power in White Center and points south now have it back – that outage is down to ~200 customers.

9:24 PM: The photo is from Xana, who explains she heard a huge crack/pop sound from her apartment in the 2300 block of Bonair SW around 7 pm:

I walked out back to where the walkway meets the parking lot and shazam! Was shocked to see the tree in our back courtyard broke and fell and is blocking the entire walkway. If someone had been walking there they would have been crushed or impaled!

The person in her photo is posed by the downed tree to show the scale.

MIDNIGHT UPDATE: WSDOT says in an e-mail update that NB 509 has reopened.

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WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: 3 reader reports and a followup
October 18, 2017 3:34 pm
|    Comments Off on WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: 3 reader reports and a followup
 |   Crime | West Seattle news

Four reports in West Seattle Crime Watch today:

BURGLARY THIS MORNING: Just received this from Dawn:

Our house was broken into this morning between 10:30-11:00 am. We live on the corner of 49th and Hanford. [map] Tried to break into a window and kick in the basement door. When that didn’t work, they used something to pry open the front door and shatter the frame and lock. Luckily they didn’t take much and no one was hurt so we are grateful for that. Just wanted the neighbors to be on alert and ask if anyone saw anything. Our house is on a VERY visible corner so it’s surprising a break-in was attempted.

FAUNTLEROY BURGLARY FOLLOWUP: We requested and obtained the report narrative from the Fauntleroy Park-area burglary covered here Tuesday afternoon. Police got the call just before 3 pm. For one, the report answers the questions about a description – the report says a witness saw someone climbing through a second-floor window and could only describe clothing – dark stocking cap, dark hoodie or jacket, tan or brown work pants, dark shoes. Then at some point before the report was filed Tuesday evening, police made contact with the resident, who gave them “video of a suspect at the front door,” described as “a light-complexion male, black jacket with a red line, black pants, gray backpack.” The house has an alarm that the report says was tripped – which likely explains the loud siren-like sound we heard while on scene. Nothing was reported taken, at least as of the report’s filing.

CAR PROWLED: From RP:

I woke this morning to find my SUV had been prowled. All the contents in the glove compartment were on the driver seat and it appears they were looking for something in particular as my jackets shoes and headphones were in the back seat. We are somewhat at fault. My Husband left the truck unlocked and the kids turned off the porch light before bed. My driveway is completely dark and out of view from the main street. I live near 21st & Roxbury. [map]

CARS VANDALIZED: From Maari in Gatewood:

On Tuesday morning, my neighborhood block was hit by a car that drove down the street and broke about 5 car windows. I live on 36th Ave SW between Willow and Holly. [map]

If you have a tip for SPD, refer to incident 2017-909470.

NEXT CRIME/SAFETY MEETING: Did you miss last night’s West Seattle Crime Prevention Council meeting? We’ll have a report before tonight’s out. Meantime, the West Seattle Block Watch Captains Network just announced that City Councilmember Lisa Herbold will be their guest next week, 6:30 pm Tuesday, October 24, at the Southwest Precinct (2300 SW Webster).

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Easy Street Records proprietor ‘superbummed’ that his dreams for Corner Pocket’s future apparently aren’t coming true
October 18, 2017 1:09 pm
|      33 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news

easystreet
(WSB photo showing Easy Street and Corner Pocket at the Hamm Building, March 2016)

By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

Tonight, as it does several nights most months, Easy Street Records is hosting an in-store concert.

As usual, it’ll be in the space where Easy Street operates its wildly popular café by day. But if Easy Street proprietor Matt Vaughan had his way, he’d have some extra space for events like that by now – downstairs, in the space that was long known as the Corner Pocket.

Vaughan sat down with WSB yesterday afternoon to talk about his hopes of taking it over – which, he says, hit a sudden and mysterious roadblock. So far, other key players in the saga are declining comment, so we’re telling Vaughan’s story, which he contacted us about so that you would know where things stand.

First, the Corner Pocket backstory:

The abrupt shutdown of the Corner Pocket happened last December, as we first told you during breaking-news coverage of a police raid there. Read More

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BIZNOTES: Kokoras, Fleurt, Matador
October 18, 2017 12:05 pm
|      6 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news

Three quick biznotes:

KOKORAS GREEK GRILL: Readers noted that the newest incarnation of this Morgan Junction restaurant at 6400 California SW has been dark for more than a week. Weekend before last, a handwritten sign on the door said it was closed due to “employee conflict.” Then that disappeared. We tried calling and only got a recording saying the mailbox was full. A tipster this week said it appeared the space was being emptied. We stopped by today and noticed someone doing work inside, and asked him. Remodeling, was his reply, but that’s all he could say.

FLEURT: Remodeling is also what’s happening at this Junction shop (4536 California SW). From proprietors Sam and Keonii:

Wanted to let you know that each year at this time we do a mini makeover and refresh the shop for the holidays. Our work began (Tuesday) and we hope to be open again no later than Friday this week. We are super-excited for our new look and another new business venture that we will be announcing soon.

MATADOR: Just up the block from Fleurt, Matador (4546 California SW) sent word they’ve launched a beverage happy hour. 4-6 pm daily and featuring beer, wine, well drinks, and specialty cocktails, according to general manager Kyle Martin.

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MAILBOX ALERT: West Seattle Junction drive-up/ride-up box out of service again
October 18, 2017 10:33 am
|      16 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news

(WSB photo)

Thanks to Celeste for the tip – the West Seattle Junction Post Office’s drive-up/ride-up mailbox is out of service again. It’s only been two months since the new one was installed, more than seven months after its predecessor was taken away, too badly damaged to fix. We’re checking to see what happened this time.

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9 highlights for your West Seattle Wednesday
October 18, 2017 9:49 am
|    Comments Off on 9 highlights for your West Seattle Wednesday
 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Fall colors at Myrtle Reservoir Park – photographed by Steve Mohundro, shared via the WSB Flickr group)

Big Wednesday night! Yes, we know the weather might go bad, but there’s always a chance the forecast won’t pan out, so here are the highlights from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:

PUMPKIN CARVING: From the WSB West Seattle Halloween Etc. Guide, pumpkin carving tonight at Arthur’s in The Admiral District, 5-7 pm, with extended happy hour for participants, plus prizes! (2311 California SW)

CLIMATE-CHANGE CONVERSATION: Concerned or confused about climate change? 6 pm potluck, 7 pm presentation/conversation at Peace Lutheran Church, all welcome – details here. (39th SW/SW Thistle)

SISTERS, LIVE IN-STORE: See local faves Sisters live at Easy Street Records, 7 pm, free, all ages. (California/Alaska)

MORGAN COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION: 7 pm on the lower level of The Kenney, it’s the quarterly meeting of the Morgan Community Association. See the agenda in our calendar listing. (7125 Fauntleroy Way SW)

COUNCIL CANDIDATES @ DELRIDGE DISTRICT COUNCIL: 7 pm at Highland Park Improvement Club, the Delridge Neighborhoods District Council meets. The agenda highlight, from chair Mat McBride:

Our guests this month are City Council 8 candidates Jon Grant and Teresa Mosqueda, who will be there to answer questions about the job they’re applying for. NOTE – one of these two people will be your elected representative in a few weeks. This is a great opportunity to make a personal and community connection with them. The DNDC is open and welcome to all. Tell your friends.

(1116 SW Holden)

WORDSWEST LITERARY SERIES: The October edition is tonight at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor), 7 pm:

Celebrating Filipino American Heritage Month, WordsWest Literary Series welcomes award-winning poet Roberto Ascalon and poet and playwright Robert Flor for “Home and Away,” an evening of poetry ranging from the unforgiving city streets to a small fishing town in Alaska, inquiring into the nature of place and community.

Full details in our calendar listing. (5612 California SW)

34TH DISTRICT REPUBLICANS: The local GOP organization for West Seattle, White Center, Vashon, and part of Burien meets tonight at 7 pm at Seattle Open Door Church in Burien. (625 SW 149th)

DEADGRASS: 8-11 pm at Parliament Tavern, with the music of Jerry Garcia and The Grateful Dead. No cover. 21+. (4210 SW Admiral Way)

’70S GLAM SKATE WITH DJ MCLOVIN: 8:30-11 pm at Southgate Roller Rink, adult skate with 21+ bar. 21+. (9646 17th SW)

LOTS MORE HAPPENING TODAY/TONIGHT/BEYOND – see the full list on our complete calendar page.

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TICKET TIME: Support student musicians while enjoying West Seattle Community Orchestras’ masquerade gala
October 18, 2017 9:00 am
|    Comments Off on TICKET TIME: Support student musicians while enjoying West Seattle Community Orchestras’ masquerade gala
 |   How to help | West Seattle news

Combine costumes and community … and you get a chance to support student music via the West Seattle Community Orchestras! Tickets are now available for the WSCO gala, starring – here’s the announcement:

Masquerade for Musicians: West Seattle Community Orchestras’ 2017 Gala

Enjoy special music! Partake of scrumptious food! Giggle at the costumed diners! Dance with the dazzling sounds of the West Seattle Big Band!

What more could you ask for?!

West Seattle Community Orchestras (WSCO) invite the community to enjoy a very special Gala evening Saturday, October 28, from 6:00 to 11:00 p.m. at the Alki Masonic Lodge, 4736 40th Ave. SW.

This year’s theme is Masquerade for Musicians — A mysterious night benefiting student music in West Seattle. Diners are encouraged to contribute to the fun by donning a costume — Halloween-themed or otherwise.

You can help WSCO provide FREE participation for student musicians while having fun! Join us for a great evening of music, dining, and dancing to the swinging sounds of the West Seattle Big Band — a great local asset and our gracious event sponsor.

Andrew Emory, WSCO board member, French horn player extraordinaire, and our Gala host, extends an invitation:

Tickets are on sale now ($35 adults 18+, $20 students and seniors): Go here.

Wear a costume — or not! — but don’t forget your dancing shoes!

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TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Wednesday watch, with wind on the way
October 18, 2017 7:02 am
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

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

7:02 AM: Good morning! Wind’s still on the way later today, according to the National Weather Service, but so far this morning it’s a standard commute – no incidents reported in/from West Seattle.

8:06 AM: Very slow going again today – most routes to the bridge are in “red” on the SDOT map – but still no incidents reported.

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WEST SEATTLE HALLOWEEN GUIDE: Version 1.0 is live!
October 18, 2017 12:03 am
|    Comments Off on WEST SEATTLE HALLOWEEN GUIDE: Version 1.0 is live!
 |   Fun stuff to do | Holidays | West Seattle news

Two weeks until Halloween, and the first version of our West Seattle Halloween (Etc.) Guide is live … we say “first” because we know there are more Halloween/Harvest/Dia de Los Muertos events out there that you’ll be sending us – editor@westseattleblog.com, nothing fancy needed, just the basic what/when/where/who. Meantime, go here to see what’s in the guide now!

P.S. The photo at right was reader-contributed in October 2007 – and we’d love to see your custom jack o’lanterns this October too – same e-mail address, once you commence carving!

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WEST SEATTLE WEATHER ALERT: Wind advisory 11 am-11 pm Wednesday
October 17, 2017 8:51 pm
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle weather

You’ve been hearing that stormier weather is on the way: Tomorrow (Wednesday), the National Weather Service has a “wind advisory” in effect for our area, 11 am-11 pm. What that means:

*WIND…Southeast 20 to 30 mph with gusts 40 mph. …

*TIMING…Winds will increase early Wednesday afternoon and peak during the evening commute.

Heavy rain is likely tomorrow night too, and power outages are possible, so keep everything charged!

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VIDEO: HALA ‘open house’ for comments on ‘complex and wonky topics’ @ High Point Community Center
October 17, 2017 6:15 pm
|      23 COMMENTS
 |   Development | West Seattle housing | West Seattle news

6:15 PM: Two issues related to the city’s Housing Affordability and Livability Agenda (HALA) are being presented for your comments at an open-house-style meeting under way until 7:30 pm at High Point Community Center (6920 34th SW). We’ve already counted more than 60 people in the main room, checking out the easels set up for proposed changes to the city’s Comprehensive Plan – here’s our preview on that issue – and for potential rule changes regarding Accessory Dwelling Units (“backyard cottages” being the best-known type) – here’s our preview on that. We checked and they’re still planning on a presentation at 6:30 on a screen at the front of the room, although otherwise this is NOT a sit-and-listen type meeting.

6:25 PM: On the “comprehensive plan amendment” side, the Q&A/comment stations deal with specific urban villages where, as noted in our preview, the city is seeking to eliminate neighborhood-plan-related language that seeks to “protect” or “preserve” single-family zoning, which HALA’s Mandatory Housing Affordability upzoning would be removing from urban villages. Three West Seattle urban villages are potentially affected here – Morgan Junction, West Seattle Junction, and Westwood-Highland Park.

You’ll have opportunities to comment online – we’ll add those when the meeting’s over – but while here, you are also offered the chance to write yours on paper; one attendee from Morgan Junction showed us his. He’s worried about ongoing displacement of low-income renters in the older housing stock that already is being torn down and replaced by new for-sale residences.

6:50 PM: The presentation is over – about 10 minutes on the comprehensive plan component, five on the accessory-dwelling-unit component. (We recorded it all on video and will add to this report when we have it uploaded and processed later at HQ. Full unedited video below:)

Both were basically primers; there was no Q&A, and the only bit of impromptu feedback came when, in the comp-plan section, city senior planner Geoff Wentlandt (opening by thanking people for turning out for “complex and wonky” topics) said amendments were needed because neighborhood plans shouldn’t be inconsistent with overarching city policy.

“Why not?” someone called out. No reply. Meantime, in one possible sign that the turnout exceeded expectations, the sparkling water bottles are all empty already. The sandwiches, however (chicken and tofu, described as “from a banh mi place on Delridge”), are still abundantly available.

7:08 PM: Still about 30 people talking in small groups, but the crowd definitely thinned after the presentation.

8:10 PM: Back at HQ. Had some signal trouble toward the end, so catching up on images now. First and most importantly, here’s how you can comment on both these issues, regardless of whether you were able to get to tonight’s meeting:

COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AMENDMENTS: Choose your urban village and comment via this site, by December 8th.

ADU/DADU ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT SCOPING: This phase of comments closes on November 1st; there’s an online comment form linked on the right side of this page (scroll down the left side for the full timeline).

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WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Police search by Fauntleroy Park
October 17, 2017 4:20 pm
|      24 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | Fauntleroy | Helicopter | West Seattle news

(WSB photos)

4:20 PM: Thanks for the texts – we’re on our way to check out a police response near Fauntleroy Park. Checking with Seattle Police media relations in the meantime, this apparently started as a report of a possible burglary at a home on the north side of the park, along Barton. More to come.

4:27 PM: Police are outside a house on the south side of Barton at Director.

They think a burglar might be inside, so they are using a bullhorn to tell anyone inside to come out before they send a K-9 in to search.

4:41 PM: The K-9 has gone in and come out.

4:47 PM: The house is empty but police found a hole in the fence. Now the Guardian One helicopter is flying around the area looking for any signs of a possible burglar at large.

5:40 PM: The helicopter has long since departed after doing what it could; no word of an arrest yet but last we heard, police in the Fauntleroy area were still on the lookout.

8:18 PM: We checked with SW Precinct Operations Lt. Ron Smith at tonight’s West Seattle Crime Prevention Council meeting; no arrest. The K-9 tried tracking from the hole in the fence that might have been used for entry/exit but couldn’t pick up a trail.

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YOU CAN HELP: Friends launch crowdfunding campaign for Admiral attack victim and family
October 17, 2017 3:03 pm
|      9 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | How to help | West Seattle news

After an Admiral woman was stabbed last week while walking with her baby on 41st SW, many people asked how the community could help with her recovery. Now, there’s a way. This afternoon, friends of the victim launched a crowdfunding page for Sarah Hanson and her family, and just shared the link with us so we could share it with you. While she is home from the hospital, as we reported in last week’s ongoing coverage of the attack and the ensuing arrest, her friends explain that she has a long road to recovery:

She is suffering from a number of knife wounds to her head and face that required many stitches and two damaged tendons in her left hand that will take 12 weeks of healing and physical therapy until she can use it again.

Besides trying to recover physically and emotionally from this terrifying and traumatic experience, her left arm and hand are completely bandaged and unusable, leaving her unable to pick up her wiggly baby and do independently many of the things for him that he needs during the course of each day (picking up, diapering, nursing, dressing, buckling into carseat, and getting to her physical therapy appointments with him in tow). In short, she needs someone with her all the time so she can care for him.

We are raising funds to help cover costs for professional helpers that will be with her every weekday for the 10 weeks after her husband and mom return to work, voice-activation software so she can continue her work at home without the use of her left hand, extra meal deliveries beyond what friends are bringing, and a little extra to cover unexpected costs.

Thank you in advance for your generosity!

Meantime, the woman charged with assault for attacking Sarah and threatening a man who tried to help remains in jail, her bail set at $400,000, awaiting arraignment next week.

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ELECTION 2017: See and hear mayor, council candidates in West Seattle before you vote
October 17, 2017 1:16 pm
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle politics

Tomorrow, King County Elections will send out the general-election ballots. One day later, you have the only scheduled chance to see the six candidates for City Council and Mayor at one public West Seattle event: Thursday night’s forum co-presented by the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce and West Seattle Transportation Coalition.

Doors open at 6:30 at American Legion Post 160; at 7 pm, you’ll hear from City Council Position 8 candidates Teresa Mosqueda and Jon Grant; at 7:35 pm, you’ll hear from City Council Position 9 candidates Lorena González and Pat Murakami; at 8:10 pm, you’ll hear from the candidates for mayor, Cary Moon and Jenny Durkan. Here’s the planned format:

Each segment will begin with a two-minute opening statement by each candidate, followed by a series of questions centered on concerns of the West Seattle small-business and transportation community. We will conclude each segment with a one-minute closing statement.

Post 160 is at 3618 SW Alaska.

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