day : 08/11/2017 12 results

Chronic crime/safety problems? Westwood-Roxhill-Arbor Heights Community Coalition gets resource rundown

| Arbor Heights | Neighborhoods | West Seattle news | Westwood

By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

Outside of 911 calls when there’s trouble – what resources can police offer you to address chronic crime/safety problems?

A primer of sorts was presented at Tuesday night’s Westwood-Roxhill-Arbor Heights Community Coalition meeting, led by co-chair Kim Barnes.

The discussion started with Joe Everett, who is the (relatively) new City Attorney’s Office liaison to the Southwest Precinct. He explained that the position is meant to “address chronic problems as they are emerging … before they turn into really big incidents.”

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SEE THE ORCAS! Video, photos from today’s West Seattle whale-watching

November 8, 2017 9:03 pm

| 8 COMMENTS

| Seen at sea | West Seattle news | Wildlife

Throughout the day, both firsthand and with the help of tipsters, we reported on Southern Resident Killer Whales’ travels past West Seattle’s western shore today. As they headed southbound, they were visible through binoculars, closer to the other side of the Sound than to us – but when they turned around and headed back north, they were close to shore, visible without assistance, as you can see in David Hutchinson‘s video above and Trileigh Tucker‘s photos below:

And more video – a long look at them from Ben Maund, recorded from Lincoln Park:

Will we see them again tomorrow? Depends on where they are following the fish!

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THURSDAY: West Seattle Art Walk, with grand openings!

November 8, 2017 6:40 pm

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| West Seattle Art Walk | West Seattle news

(Click to see larger image)

Yes, we know the Seahawks are on Thursday Night Football. Don’t let that keep you home – you can check in on the game while exploring one-of-a-kind events along the West Seattle Art Walk starting at 5 pm.

Though the map above focuses on The Junction, the list next to it shows the venues ranging beyond – from Admiral to Sunrise Heights. Again this month, some are open with artists, some with food/beverage deals, some with both!

See the full highlight list here.

Special events include, in Admiral, the Sea-Town Real Estate (2701 California SW; WSB sponsor) expansion grand opening, previewed here earlier this week; in Sunrise Heights, the grand opening for Inner Alchemy (7354 35th SW):

This is a brand-new community-based business where you are invited to come and be curious, explore and expand your soul. We offer a wide range of healing modalities, classes, workshops, kundalini yoga, sound spas, and launching on November 9th will be specially curated art, jewelry, malas, cards, reiki infused natural body care products, abundance pots, incense, and with more possibilities to come…

In The Junction, The Davis Group has a food drive going at the John L. Scott West Seattle offices (4445 California SW) – bring nonperishable-food donations for the West Seattle Food Bank, and check in on how the game is going – they’ll have it on two big screens. … Also in The Junction, Click! Design That Fits (4540 California SW; WSB sponsor) has a mug show … perfect for early holiday shopping. And that’s another place you can bring your own gift … donations for the Shelter Jewelry Project.

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ELECTION RESULTS, ROUND 2: No changes in Seattle/King County races

November 8, 2017 4:56 pm

| 10 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle politics

Short sum-up of the second round of election results, released this afternoon: No changes in Seattle/King County races.

A few notes:

*West Seattleite Mitzi Johanknecht widened her lead over incumbent Sheriff John Urquhart, now almost 13,000 votes. (Here’s our coverage of her election-night speech.)

*Cary Moon has just formally conceded in the race for mayor, won by Jenny Durkan, who maintained 60 percent of the vote. From Moon’s statement:

I ran for Mayor because I felt an immense duty and responsibility to ensure Seattle — our beautiful, vibrant, diverse city — works for everyone.

While the election results will probably continue to tighten, the outcome is unlikely to be what we hoped. We should not let that discourage us. Despite being outspent 3:1, we ran a strong, transparent, and honest campaign about vision and solutions. We drove the conversation around housing affordability, real estate speculation, municipal broadband, and wealth inequality.

l have offered my congratulations to Jenny Durkan, Seattle’s first woman mayor in 90 years. I urge her to boldly confront the challenges facing our city and to remember that Seattle’s prosperity should provide shared opportunity and success for everyone, not just the wealthy few. …

(added 6:11 pm) *Mayor-elect Durkan has sent a statement too. Excerpt:

… I want to congratulate Cary Moon on the strong race that she’s run and the ideas she brought to the table. In nearly 100 debates and forums, I saw firsthand her love for our city and her commitment to compassionately address the toughest challenges facing Seattle. I have no doubt that Cary will remain active in our city and continue to contribute to its vibrant future.

I am honored that the voters have given me this great opportunity, but with the honor comes a deep responsibility. The hard work of delivering progress starts today. Our city will – and must – come together around the solutions to address the urgent issues facing our city from homelessness to affordability to addressing systemic inequities. …

*The Seattle Port Commission Position 1 race between incumbent John Creighton (51.16%) and Ryan Calkins (48.84%) tightened a bit, with Calkins now 6,500+ votes behind Creighton – the margin was 7,400+ last night.

Next ballot count is due around 4 pm tomorrow. If you want to check to be sure your ballot has been received – follow the “track my ballot” options here.

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BIZNOTES: Caffe Ladro and Spud, reopening

November 8, 2017 2:29 pm

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| West Seattle news | West Seattle restaurants | WS beverages

Two biznotes this afternoon, both about reopenings:

CAFFE LADRO REOPENS TOMORROW: Last Sunday, we stopped by Caffe Ladro in south Morgan Junction and discovered it was closed, a sign on the door saying maintenance/repair work was the reason. We hadn’t checked back but learned today after a tip from John that it was still closed. So we contacted corporate HQ and just heard back from Robert Ohly: “We had an issue with the plumbing in the café that has now been resolved. We will be open tomorrow, Thursday November 9 at 5 am.”

ALKI SPUD PUSHES BACK REOPENING DATE: When Spud Fish and Chips on Alki closed for maintenance work last month, a mid-November reopening date was projected. Today, the company says it has a new date – November 24th, the day after Thanksgiving.

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WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Little red wagon stolen from porch

November 8, 2017 2:05 pm

| 7 COMMENTS

| Crime | West Seattle news | Westwood

That’s Riky‘s daughter. Riky sent the photo with this Crime Watch report:

I know a wagon isn’t the same as a car or something more significant but my daughter’s Radio Flyer Wagon was stolen from our porch yesterday and I’m so upset over it. She loves it and we use it constantly. Any tips on its location are greatly appreciated.

(As we replied, yes, a wagon IS significant!) This happened near 28th SW and SW Roxbury, and a police report has been filed; meantime, if you see a wagon like this abandoned somewhere in that area, let us know.

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YOU CAN HELP: Gatewood Elementary playfield campaign officially begins

November 8, 2017 1:31 pm

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| Gatewood | How to help | West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

(Rendering of design for new playfield)

As previewed in our coverage of last month’s Morgan Community Association meeting, the Gatewood Elementary PTA is raising money to fix the school’s playfield, and the campaign has officially begun. Here’s the announcement:

The campaign runs through November 17 and aims to raise $50,000 from donations from parents, neighbors, local businesses and community members.

THE PRESENT: The Gatewood Elementary playfield is in terrible condition with poor drainage that is prone to flooding and uneven ground that is no longer usable for sports or activities. Kids are choosing to play sports on the asphalt instead of the playfield.

THE FUTURE: Plans for the new Gatewood playfield include:
High-quality grass playing field and new irrigation
New track for running/walking/biking
Nature-inspired play spaces with logs, boulders and native plants
New wheelchair-accessible play area with a unique “Gatewood Gator” sculpture
Trees to provide much-needed shade

WHO BENEFITS: More than 400 Gatewood elementary and Cottage preschool students use the playfield every school day. Cottage’s summer program serves more than 50 kids. The new playfield and track will also be a fantastic new amenity for our West Seattle neighbors to use during non-school hours.

FUNDING: The Gatewood Elementary PTA has been awarded a $100,000 matching grant from the city of Seattle’s Department of Neighborhoods. We need to raise an additional $50,000 to complete the project.

CONSTRUCTION: The PTA plans to complete construction on the new playfield this school year. The project is out for contractor bidding right now. The last day to submit a sealed bid is Monday, Dec. 4, at 11 a.m. Details available on request.

You can donate online at gatewoodplayfield.org. The PTA also welcomes business sponsorships – you can e-mail gatewoodplayfield@gmail.com for details, or if you have questions. The PTA notes that it “is a 501c3 nonprofit and donations are tax-deductible to the extent determined by law.”

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UPDATE: Seattle Parks looking for a new superintendent after Jesús Aguirre resigns

November 8, 2017 12:20 pm

| 18 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle parks

12:20 PM: With so much Seattle Parks property in West Seattle, leadership changes in the department are always news, and there’s another one on the way. Thanks to the texter who tipped us that superintendent Jesús Aguirre has resigned after two and a half years on the job. We called the Parks communications office for more information and they say they’re working on it. (Photo from seattle.gov)

2:06 PM: Parks spokesperson Rachel Schulkin says Aguirre’s resignation will be effective January 2nd, after which time he plans to “take some time to be with family” and eventually join his family’s welding business. He told Mayor Burgess on Monday, and Parks staff on Tuesday. A news release is due out from the mayor’s office soon.

3:16 PM: And the mayor’s statement has arrived in the inbox:

Jesús Aguirre has been an incredible leader and advocate for both our parks system, and the community supports offered through our programs and recreational facilities. He has been a great leader to team of over 2,000 permanent and seasonal parks and recreation employees, and will be missed.

During his tenure, Jesús led the initial implementation of the Seattle Metropolitan Park District, which through tax-payer funding provides much needed maintenance to our parks and recreation facilities. Additionally, he engaged neighborhoods around the development of a Community Center Strategic Plan that led to longer hours at centers, programming targeted to underserved communities, major maintenance to aging centers, and eliminating fees to many drop-in recreation programs. Jesús advocated for the staff at Seattle Parks and Recreation to ensure they received recognition for their excellent service to the city and continued opportunities for growth and development. Most importantly, he was a champion for utilizing park resources to further equity within our city, and in being strategic in how we grow and sustain a park and recreation system as our city changes.

Before Aguirre’s arrival, Christopher Williams served as acting superintendent for four years, after the 2010 departure of Tim Gallagher.

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WEST SEATTLE WHALE-WATCHING: Orcas near us again! Here’s where they (were) being seen

November 8, 2017 10:10 am

| 20 COMMENTS

| Seen at sea | West Seattle news | Wildlife

(Added Wednesday evening: Photo by Trileigh Tucker)

10:10 AM: Thanks to Kersti Muul for word that orcas have been spotted in our area – believed to be southbound between Bainbridge Island and Elliott Bay, so you would want to look from Alki, for starters.

10:37 AM: Thanks also to Alisa from Orca Network, which has at least one commenter seeing from Alki, reporting they are closer to the west side of the Sound than this side, so you’ll need binoculars.

11:05 AM: We are seeing them from Constellation Park, with binoculars. By the ship anchored off Manchester with a red hull.

11:20 AM: The biggest group is still southbound, now off the east side of Blake Island. Also here: Donna Sandstrom from The Whale Trail, who says to save the date 6 pm December 12 for a Southern Resident Killer Whales update at C & P Coffee (WSB sponsor). And a spotter is here for WSDOT, which shuts down pile-driving on the Colman Dock project when orcas are close by.

12:33 PM: Orca Network says the whales are now off north Vashon, still heading south. (Speaking of Orca Network, its campaign to free the last Southern Resident in captivity, Lolita/Tokitae, has a fundraiser at Endolyne Joe’s [WSB sponsor] in Fauntleroy, 8 am-10 pm next Monday (November 13th), with 25 percent of the proceeds to be donated.)

12:49 PM: Jeff Hogan from Killer Whale Tales says they’re visible from the Lincoln Park picnic-shelter area.

1:08 PM: They’re still southbound, midchannel, south of the Fauntleroy ferry dock. The whale-watching boat Chilkat Express (as ID’d by MarineTraffic.com) is just north of them.

2:23 PM: Now a report from Fauntleroy that they’ve turned north – at least, the one big group has – and is again visible in the ferry lane area. “Super close to shore,” Kersti tells us, viewing from Lincoln Park.

3:13 PM: Newest report – visible from Me-Kwa-Mooks/Emma Schmitz Memorial Overlook [map].

3:52 PM: They put on quite a show passing Alki Point and are now still NB in the mouth of Elliott Bay.

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West Seattle Wednesday: Writing circle; PTSAs; Little Bighorn presentation @ C & P; 34th District Democrats; more…

November 8, 2017 10:08 am

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| West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Harlequin duck, photographed Tuesday by Mark Wangerin, whose work is now on display at the West Seattle YMCA)

Highlights from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar for the rest of today/tonight:

BABY STORY TIME: Bring your up-to-12-months-old baby to High Point Library for story time at 11:30 am! Free as always. (35th SW/SW Raymond)

GRAND OPENING: 5:30-7:30 pm, drop by Schoeb Chiropractic at Charlestown Center. Fundraising raffle to benefit the Urban Homestead Foundation. (3727 California SW)

WRITING CIRCLE WITH HUGO HOUSE IN WEST SEATTLE: 6 pm at West Seattle (Admiral) Library, writers are invited to a Hugo House-facilitated writing circle as part of “Seattle Writes.” Details in our calendar listing. (2306 42nd SW)

CHIEF SEALTH PTSA MEETING: 6:30 pm in the Confucius Center on campus, it’s PTSA business first, then at 7 pm, college-information night, as described here. (2600 SW Thistle)

WEST SEATTLE HS PTSA MEETING: 7 pm in the West Seattle High School library. (3000 California SW)

34TH DISTRICT DEMOCRATS: One night after the election, it’s the regular monthly meeting of our area’s largest political organization. The agenda includes upcoming issues such as ranked-choice voting. 7 pm, The Hall at Fauntleroy. (9140 California SW)

‘APOCALYPSE AT LITTLE BIGHORN: THE DEMISE OF A CULTURE’: Veteran Park Ranger, author, and documentary producer Steve Adelson presents a reading at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor): “Apocalypse At Little Bighorn – The Demise Of A Culture.” 7 pm. Find out more about Adelson, who has West Seattle roots, and the presentation in our calendar listing. (5612 California SW)

SHAKESPEARE MEETS STAR WARS: 7:30 pm is the next performance of the West Seattle High School Drama presentation of “William Shakespeare’s The Star Wars Verily, A New Hope” inthe WSHS Theater. (3000 California SW)

THE ROLLING BLACKOUTS: “Eclectic honky-tonk” at Parliament Tavern, 8 pm. No cover. 21+. (4210 SW Admiral Way)

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CONGRATULATIONS! Alki Elementary named ‘School of Distinction’

November 8, 2017 9:22 am

| 1 COMMENT

| West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

Alki Elementary is one of eight Seattle Public Schools honored this year as “Schools of Distinction,” the only one in West Seattle. The district’s announcement explains that the honors go to “the highest-improving Washington State schools, staff, and their leaders for improved performance for all students,” as measured over a five-year period. Alki was lauded specifically for improvements in English-language arts and mathematics. This is the 11th year for the awards, overseen by the Center for Educational Effectiveness, described in its announcement as a ” a service, consulting, and research organization dedicated to the mission of partnering with K-12 schools to improve student learning.” See the full statewide list here.

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TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Wednesday watch

November 8, 2017 6:59 am

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| West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

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

6:59 AM: No incidents reported so far in/from West Seattle.

ADVANCE ALERTS: No school Friday, and many other closures, in observance of Veterans Day. The King County Water Taxi also will be out of service Friday … Friday night, the Battery Street Tunnel will be closed both ways, 11:59 pm Friday to 6 am Saturday, because of paving work above the tunnel.

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