West Seattle, Washington

18 Thursday

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month : 11/2017 314 results

WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Wreath thief; another bicycle found…
November 26, 2017 7:03 pm
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | West Seattle news

In West Seattle Crime Watch:

WREATH THIEF: David‘s security camera recorded a thief taking the wreath right off his front door early Saturday:

12:07 am at 48th Ave SW and SW Hudson, to be specific.

ANOTHER BICYCLE FOUND: Bill found this one near Lincoln Park:

I found a kid’s bike on Thanksgiving morning on the corner of Fauntleroy and Othello. I stuck it in my garage but then immediately left for Thanksgiving stuff. Now that I’m back home, I took a picture:

Look familiar? Let us know.

MORE PROPANE-TANK THEFTS: In comments following Saturday’s report on a propane-tank theft caught on video, two other readers report they too had tanks taken in the area.

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THE CHRISTMAS PEOPLE: Holiday dinner in West Seattle again this year – cookies and helpers needed!
November 26, 2017 4:00 pm
|    Comments Off on THE CHRISTMAS PEOPLE: Holiday dinner in West Seattle again this year – cookies and helpers needed!
 |   Holidays | How to help | West Seattle news

Now that Thanksgiving is over, let’s talk Christmas! For almost two decades, The Christmas People Foundation has been providing Christmas dinners to thousands of people around Seattle. Last year for the first time, the group also organized a festive free sit-down dinner in West Seattle, and promised they’d do it again this year, with an earlier announcement. So here’s the plan:

HELP NEEDED: If you can help, you can do it via something simple – bake homemade cookies (no store-bought) and drop them off at Alki Masonic Center (40th/Edmunds) 9 am-1 pm December 22nd/23rd/24th/25th – or something a little more complex: If you are a professional sous chef, line cook, or food handler, your volunteer help would be welcome! Call 206-719-4979 and talk with one of The Christmas People’s co-founders (Dr. Ruth Bishop and Fred Hutchinson).

ATTEND THE EVENT: Noon-4 pm at Alki Masonic Center on Christmas Day (Monday, December 25th), you’ll find a full-course dinner, including coffee/tea and dessert. Entertainment, too – trombonist/vocalist Marc Smason.

Again, this is free, and all are welcome, particularly, per the announcement, “elders, homeless, and those who would otherwise be alone” on the holiday. You can find out more via TheChristmasPeople.org.

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Jenny Durkan to visit West Seattle on Tuesday during 5-stop tour after becoming mayor
November 26, 2017 1:44 pm
|    Comments Off on Jenny Durkan to visit West Seattle on Tuesday during 5-stop tour after becoming mayor
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle politics

The biggest story in the week ahead is likely to be the Seattle mayoral transition: Tuesday is the day that Jenny Durkan becomes Mayor. That afternoon, she will head out on a five-stop tour to “take City Hall directly into communities across Seattle … and share her vision for the City,” with the second stop scheduled to be in West Seattle. The advisory from her transition team says she will be at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center (4408 Delridge Way SW) at 4:15 pm Tuesday. Her other stops will be in the Rainier Valley, International District, Phinney Ridge, and Lake City. Tuesday is the day the election will be certified, and with only a handful of votes to be counted, Durkan’s victory over Cary Moon is 56% to 44%.

(P.S. Thanks to Diane for posting about the mayoral tour plan in the WSB Forum!)

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Seen at West Seattle Farmers’ Market: Wreaths, trees, tickets
November 26, 2017 12:15 pm
|    Comments Off on Seen at West Seattle Farmers’ Market: Wreaths, trees, tickets
 |   Holidays | West Seattle Farmers' Market | West Seattle news

Haven’t made it to the West Seattle Farmers’ Market yet today? Here are three reasons to go despite the intermittently blustery weather: Above, as mentioned in the WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide, the Pathfinder K-8 handmade wreaths are back for another year, technically just south of the market on the KeyBank corner at California/Alaska – they raise money for Pathfinder students’ outdoor education. (They’re scheduled to be back the next two Sundays, too.) Below – Christmas trees!

Three Tree Farms from Mossyrock is on the east side of the market with fresh trees. And on the south end of the market, the Kiwanis Club of West Seattle has tickets for next Saturday’s pancake breakfast:

The 7-11 am drop-in event (with community sponsors including WSB) at Alki Masonic Center (40th/Edmunds in The Junction) on December 2nd is a festive way to start the biggest Saturday of the season – and it’s a great family deal because kids under 10 eat free with a paying adult, and Santa’s there for photos. If you don’t get your ticket from the Kiwanis today, you can also buy online – or, for a bit more, at the door next Saturday.

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WEST SEATTLE WHALE WATCHING: Orcas seen from Alki
November 26, 2017 9:56 am
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news

(WSB photo added: Whale-watchers at Alki)

9:56 AM: Thanks to Jeff Hogan from Killer Whale Tales for calling to share the news that orcas are visible off Alki Point right now. No particular direction at the moment. Updates to come, and please let us know (comment, or text/call 206-293-6302) if you see them!

10:06 AM: Jeff says they’re now moving northbound – but slowly.

10:50 AM: Texter says they are off Wing Point, which is just north of Eagle Harbor (where ferries dock) on Bainbridge. Meantime we have found Jeff and some whalewatchers toward the west end of the Alki promenade – he says they’re almost out of viewing range from here.

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WEST SEATTLE POWER OUTAGE: 49 customers in Gatewood
November 26, 2017 8:36 am
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   Gatewood | Utilities | West Seattle news

8:36 AM: Thanks for the tips – first we got a text about a “boom” in Gatewood, then Matt e-mailed about a transformer/fuse blowing near California/Myrtle, and now the Seattle City Light outage map shows 49 customers out in that area. Estimated restoration is after noon, but remember that those are just “guesstimates” and it could be sooner (as was the case with the most recent West Seattle outage of note) or later.

1:26 PM: The original estimated restoration time has now come and gone, and there’s a new one, 3:43 pm. The map also now attributes the outage to “tree.”

2:28 PM: And the outage has ended, sometime in the past hour, after 5+ hours.

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What’s up for your West Seattle Sunday
November 26, 2017 7:33 am
|      1 COMMENT
 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Harlequin ducks, photographed by Mark Ahlness, shared via the WSB Flickr group)

Here’s what’s happening as the long holiday weekend concludes, starting with highlights from the WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide:

DUWAMISH NATIVE HOLIDAY GIFT FAIR, 10 am-5 pm one last day, at the Duwamish Tribe Longhouse and Cultural Center in West Seattle. Buy directly from Native artists and craftspersons. Details in our calendar listing. (4705 W. Marginal Way SW)

KIWANIS PANCAKE BREAKFAST TICKETS: Going to the Farmers’ Market? Stop by the Kiwanis Club of West Seattle tent at the south end and buy your ticket(s) for next Saturday’s Pancake Breakfast. They’ll be there 10 am-2 pm today. (California/Alaska)

WREATH SALES: Pathfinder K-8 makes handmade wreaths and sells them in The Junction during the season – today’s the first day the PTSA tells us they’ll be sold in The Junction during the Farmers Market, 10 am-2 pm. All proceeds go to supporting our outdoor education. (California/Alaska)

SANTA PHOTOS: Santa is at Westwood Village 11 am-6 pm on Sundays. (2600 SW Barton)

WEST SEATTLE LIGHTS: The music-synched show at West Seattle Lights continues nightly. See the schedule by going here – 5 to 9 pm on Sundays – and bring nonperishable food for the West Seattle Food Bank bin out front (3908 SW Charlestown)

And from the year-round WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:

WEST SEATTLE FARMERS’ MARKET: 10 am-2 pm, year-round – locally grown and crafted food and beverages. (California SW between SW Oregon and SW Alaska)

OPEN MIC: Mode Music Studios (WSB sponsor) presents its monthly Get Onstage/Get Involved open mic at The Skylark – sign up at 3, music around 4 (after the Seahawks game), more info here. (3803 Delridge Way SW)

MUSIC AND SPOKEN WORD: Tim Scallon and Grace Dager at Parliament Tavern, 7 pm. No cover. 21+. (4210 SW Admiral Way)

Something for our calendar or holiday guide? E-mail the info to editor@westseattleblog.com – thank you!

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West Seattle weekend scene: Seacrest squid-seeking crowd
November 25, 2017 11:30 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   West Seattle news | Wildlife

Thanks to Kersti Muul for photographing the crowd at Seacrest Pier tonight – squid fishers undaunted by the chilly rain, though as also shown, the squid are putting up their inky protest. Fishing for squid has relatively simple rules, according to the state Department of Fish and Wildlife website. The season is year-round, though fall/winter is the peak time. If you’re not already a squid expert, find out more about them here.

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SPORTS: 2017 high-school basketball season tips off @ Chief Sealth Jamboree
November 25, 2017 8:01 pm
|    Comments Off on SPORTS: 2017 high-school basketball season tips off @ Chief Sealth Jamboree
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools | WS & Sports

Chief Sealth International High School hosted seven visiting schools today for its 17th annual boys-basketball Jamboree, three days before their season begins.

We stopped in for the final 10-minute mini-game of the afternoon, in which Sealth (in gray) beat Sultan, 18-9. The Seahawks are led again this year by head coach Colin Slingsby:

The other six schools in today’s Jamboree were Auburn Riverside, Eastside Catholic, Issaquah, Nathan Hale, Roosevelt, and Vashon. JV teams played in the Denny International Middle School gym next door. The Sealth varsity boys play their first game of the year Tuesday night at Mount Rainier HS in Des Moines, and their first home game is Wednesday, 7 pm, vs. a traveling team from Australia; see the full schedule here.

ALSO NEXT WEEK: Other local varsity teams’ home openers:
–Chief Sealth IHS girls, 7:30 pm Tuesday, hosting Kennedy Catholic HS
–West Seattle HS girls, 7:30 pm Wednesday, hosting Bothell HS
–West Seattle HS boys, 8:30 pm Friday, hosting Nathan Hale HS

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READER REPORT: Pile of keys found. Any of them yours?
November 25, 2017 5:41 pm
|      7 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

Usually we point people with lost/found keys to the WSB Forums’ Lost/Found (Non-Pets) section. But Stephanie‘s discovery seems to warrant a wider mention:

I just found a big stash of what I assume to be stolen keys. I found them in a pile near Pelly Place along Murray Avenue SW. I will be turning them into the Southwest Precinct tomorrow morning, but thought I would send a photo of them to the blog to post in case anyone recognizes any of them. I can be reached via email at stephanie.moores@gmail.com

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HAPPENING NOW: ‘Shopping small’ at West Seattle’s independent businesses
November 25, 2017 1:19 pm
|    Comments Off on HAPPENING NOW: ‘Shopping small’ at West Seattle’s independent businesses
 |   Holidays | West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news

So many places to go on this “Small Business Saturday” (as noted in our daily preview) – we’ve made some stops so far:

ALAIR: Shandon Graybeal is about to celebrate the first anniversary of her “neighborhood gift shop” at 3280 California SW. Today she’s offering 20 percent off everything in the store.

In The Junction:

THUNDER ROAD GUITARS: Speaking of anniversaries, it’s been six years since Frank Gross launched his business, so today’s sale is about that as well as about Small Business Saturday – 15 percent off select guitars, amps, and pedals, open until 6 pm at 4736 California SW.

KID-FRIENDLY FOOTWEAR @ AGAIN & AGAIN: In our photo above, Sarah is next to some of the shop’s selection of boots, part of this weekend’s deals – “many in-store new kids’ shoe and boot discounts 10 to 50 percent off,” plus 25 to 50 percent off new infant and toddler carriers, and 25 percent off some toddler winter coats and baby buntings. Open until 7 pm at 4832 California SW.

MY THREE LITTLE BIRDS: You get a cool “swag bag” at the south Morgan Junction shop with your purchase today! Jennifer Young‘s shop has all sorts of clothing, shoes, and gear for the younger member(s) of your family, ages newborn through 12. Open until 5 pm at 6959 California SW.

(Our standard disclosure: Three of the businesses mentioned above – Thunder Road Guitars, My Three Little Birds, and Kid-Friendly Footwear/Again & Again – are WSB sponsors. And we’ll say it again – please make EVERY day “Shop Small” day!)

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HAPPENING NOW: Baskets, bowls, baked goods, more @ Masonic Center bazaar
November 25, 2017 12:21 pm
|    Comments Off on HAPPENING NOW: Baskets, bowls, baked goods, more @ Masonic Center bazaar
 |   Holidays | West Seattle news

While you’re out “shopping small” today (more on that soon), here’s one stop where you will find lots of micro-vendors in one big room – the Masonic Hall holiday bazaar, on until 4 pm. Quilts, towels, treats, jewelry, wooden bowls, figurines, baked goods, baskets, more, from local artists, crafters, even youth vendors from the Rainbow Girls and Girl Scouts organizations.

(With Danielle are, from Troop 43034, Abby, Miranda, Gina)

If you’re driving or riding, there’s parking right by the doors to the hall, which is at 40th/Edmunds.

P.S. At the back of the room is a small giving tree (above) encouraging donations to Mary’s Place, which shelters homeless families.

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WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: More tire slashings; propane-tank theft; bicycle found
November 25, 2017 10:54 am
|      10 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | West Seattle news

Three reader reports:

MORE TIRE SLASHINGS: A caller this morning reported that at least half a dozen cars had tires slashed overnight in the 4900 block of SW Dawson, southwest of The Junction. (We had one report earlier this week from Admiral.)

PROPANE TANK STOLEN: The video and report are from Julia:

Woke up (Friday) morning to our security camera showing us that someone stole the propane tank out of our BBQ this morning around 2 am. He entered through our front yard and exited out our backyard into the alley on foot. Doesn’t appear he tried to break in. We live on 63rd, between Admiral and Alki Ave.

FOUND BICYCLE: The photo and report are from Steve:

We found this bike thrown in the bushes near 14th SW and SW Trenton Friday.

It is a black Specialized Cirrus Comp. I have the serial number if anyone wants to claim it, we’d need to confirm the number or description with them.

Yours? Let us know. Meantime, Steve’s also trying to turn the bicycle over to police so they can check if there’s already a theft report on record.

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Shop small! And other things you can do on your West Seattle Saturday
November 25, 2017 6:03 am
|      6 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(UPDATED 9:27 AM)

(Anna’s Hummingbird with a fall-foliage backdrop, photographed by Mark Wangerin)

Happy Saturday! Here are highlights of what’s happening – first, from the WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide:

‘SHOP SMALL’ SATURDAY! This is the day to get out and support local independent businesses – as every day should be, but this day brings an extra spotlight. You’ll find places to “shop small” in a BIG way all over West Seattle, but in The Junction alone, more than 20 businesses have something special for you today – see the list here, and here’s a printable version. Outside The Junction and doing something special too? Comment below! We’ll be out covering this big day as it happens.

BAZAAR: Alki Masonic Hall Holiday Bazaar, sponsored by Alki Court 21, 9 am-4 pm. (40th SW/SW Edmunds)

GIFT FAIR: Duwamish Native Holiday Gift Fair continues 10 am-5 pm today, second of three days, at the Duwamish Tribe Longhouse in West Seattle. Details in our calendar listing; here’s our coverage from the first day. (4705 W. Marginal Way SW)

ANNIVERSARY SALE: 6th anniversary sale continues at Thunder Road Guitars (WSB sponsor), with “15% off most guitars, amplifiers, and pedals.” Open 10 am-6 pm today. (4736 California SW)

(added) SMALL BIZ SATURDAY AT ALAIR: Everything is 20 percent off at gift shop Alair, proprietor Shandon Graybeal tells us. (3280 California SW)

SEATTLE CIVIC DANCE THEATRE HOLIDAY BREAKFAST: 11 am at Fauntleroy Church:

There will be a dance concert, pancakes, raffle baskets, and a special visit from Santa! All proceeds go to support our scholarship program. Doors open at 10:30, breakfast served at 11. Tickets online at scdt.yapsody.com or at the door.

All welcome! (9140 California SW)

FOR THE LITTLE ONES: At Kid-Friendly Footwear @ Again and Again (WSB sponsor): “Customers enjoy 25-50% off all brand-new infant and toddler carriers including Ergo, Beco, Lilllebaby, Moby Wraps and more! 25% off iPlay waterproof cozy toddler winter coats & baby buntings. Many in-store new kids shoe & boot discounts 10 – 50% off Bogs, Keen, Hanna Andersson and more!” (4832 California SW)

(added) SMALL BIZ SATURDAY WITH BUSINESS IMPACT NW: Got a small business or thinking about starting one? Meet Business Impact NW at Sound & Fog this afternoon, 2-5 pm. (4735 40th SW)

WEST SEATTLE LIGHTS: Night 3 for for West Seattle Lights, light shows synched to music. 5-10 pm tonight; see the nightly schedule by going here. Bring nonperishable food for the West Seattle Food Bank bin out front. Here’s our coverage from Friday night.
(3908 SW Charlestown)

GARY BENSON’S CHRISTMAS SHOW: At C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor), 7-9 pm. (5612 California SW)

And from the year-round WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:

WS LINUX USERS’ GROUP, LOCATION CHANGE: Today’s meeting of the West Seattle Linux Users’ Group is at a different location – 9 am at Be’s Restaurant in The Junction. (4509 California SW)

GIVE THE GIFT OF LIFE: If you can donate blood, consider helping with the holiday-season shortage by donating at today’s drive on the south side of Westwood Village – look for the Bloodmobile, 9:30 am-3:30 pm, closed 12:30-1:30 pm. (2600 SW Barton)

MAHONIA PROJECT WORK PARTY: 10 am-noon at South Seattle College (WSB sponsor) – a unique work party, explained here. (6000 16th SW)

(added) CHIEF SEALTH BASKETBALL JAMBOREE: High-school basketball season begins with the annual boys-basketball jamboree at Chief Sealth International High School and adjacent Denny International Middle School – 8 teams are participating. JV plays starting at 11 am in the Denny gym (schedule here; 2601 SW Kenyon) and varsity plays starting at noon in the Sealth gym (schedule here; 2600 SW Thistle).

(added) HEALING TREE OPEN HOUSE: “Open house at Healing Tree today. 10 therapists giving away free massage and free Reiki. BOGO on gift certificates. Caroling sing-along at 11:30 am. Champagne, hot cocoa, appetizers. Pathfinder wreaths will be for sale.” (3225 California SW)

MARKET STREET DIXIELAND JAZZ BAND: 7:30 pm at Kenyon Hall, “traditional jazz at its finest” – details in our calendar listing, including how to make your reservation. (7904 35th SW)

WEST END GIRLS – A DRAG EXTRAVAGANZA: Doors at 8, show at 9 at The Skylark in North Delridge. See our calendar listing for the featured performers and ticket link. (3803 Delridge Way SW)

WAR PUPPY & DYNAMITE NUGGET: 9 pm at Parliament Tavern. $5 cover. 21+. (4210 SW Admiral Way)

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WEST SEATTLE TRACK FRIDAY: Set your calendar for next year!
November 24, 2017 11:39 pm
|    Comments Off on WEST SEATTLE TRACK FRIDAY: Set your calendar for next year!
 |   How to help | West Seattle news | WS & Sports

(WSB photo)

The journey of a thousand laps begins with a single stride, you might say. So Michele Pettinger of P3 | Running was happy to draw a starter-sized group to the first-ever West Seattle edition of Track Friday, a movement meant to meld fitness and fundraising on the day after Thanksgiving, which has been growing nationwide since 2012. She organized it with the help of West Seattle Runner (WSB sponsor), and set up alongside the Hiawatha track this morning to see who would show up:

(This photo & next, courtesy of Michele Pettinger)

Some hardy, giving-minded runners did!

Michele hopes Track Friday will grow as a tradition here as well as elsewhere. Her chosen charity was for the fight against Parkinson’s Disease, which her mom is dealing with, but participants could pledge to any nonprofit they chose. So make a plan to be part of Track Friday next year – Friday, November 23, 2018.

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VIDEO: West Seattle Lights twinkling, blinking, pulsing along SW Charlestown for 9th year
November 24, 2017 8:35 pm
|    Comments Off on VIDEO: West Seattle Lights twinkling, blinking, pulsing along SW Charlestown for 9th year
 |   Holidays | West Seattle Christmas lights | West Seattle news

Every holiday season since 2009, a humble house across from the city water tank at SW Charlestown/39th SW is transformed into a platform for West Seattle Lights – the music-synched Christmas-light show created by Jim Winder, a friend of the homeowners. This year’s show launched on Thanksgiving night; we stopped by on Night 2 tonight for a bit of video – a short clip above, longer clip below:

Those two songs are WSL classics, but the show has added new ones this year too. The season-long schedule is here; you can watch while standing along the street, though the music is relatively quiet, so if you want to turn it up, you can tune your vehicle or personal radio to 101.9 FM for the soundtrack. The show has nonprofit beneficiaries, including the West Seattle Food Bank, with a bin out front for nonperishable-food donations, which totaled a third of a ton last year; you also can donate cash – all of which goes to the nonprofits, none to the show itself – via this page on the WSL website, which shares space with info about Maple Valley Lights, the show Winder added in his own neighborhood.

P.S. Wonder how many lights in all? The answer is here (with other “fun facts”).

West Seattle Lights is of course featured in the WSB WS Holiday Guide, along with other light shows, and if you have or see other notable decoration displays, please let us know – thank you!

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FOLLOWUP: New details of last night’s robbery arrests
November 24, 2017 6:14 pm
|      39 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | West Seattle news

Late last night, we reported on a search and arrests following a street robbery in The Junction. Tonight, new details from SPD:

Officers arrested three people after they robbed a woman and a convenience store in West Seattle Thursday evening.

Officer Jesse Cahill was on patrol near California Avenue SW and SW Alaska Street at 11 p.m. when he saw a disturbance near a bus stop. He drove his patrol car closer and saw that three men were struggling with a woman over a purse.

One of the suspects threw the woman to the ground and the group fled as Officer Cahill approached. The officer checked on the 22-year-old victim who sustained scratches on her hands, as additional officers responded to search for the suspects.

Officers found one of the suspects, a 15-year-old male, at a nearby bus stop still holding the victim’s purse. The officers placed the boy into custody and the purse was returned to the victim.

A K-9 officer tracked the other two suspects, an 18-year-old male suspect, and another 15-year-old male, to the 4400 block of 44 Avenue SW, where they were taken into custody.

The officers investigating this robbery noticed that the three suspects’ descriptions matched a robbery from earlier in the evening. The three suspects entered a convenience store in the 4800 block of Erskine Way Southwest at 6:30 p.m. and began removing items from the shelves. The clerk remained behind the counter as one of the suspects implied he had a gun, allowing the trio to escape.

Officers booked the 18-year-old into King County Jail and the two 15-year-olds into the King County Youth Services Center for investigation of robbery.

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HOMETOWN HOLIDAYS: West Seattle Junction shops’ Small Business Saturday plans
November 24, 2017 5:22 pm
|    Comments Off on HOMETOWN HOLIDAYS: West Seattle Junction shops’ Small Business Saturday plans
 |   Holidays | West Seattle news

This year’s West Seattle Junction Hometown Holidays events officially begin tomorrow, with Small Business Saturday (also known as Shop Small Saturday), which has become a big day for holiday shopping at local independent businesses coast to coast. The West Seattle Junction Association has assembled a list of more than 20 businesses with deals and/or something else special going on – see it here. And if you would like to print it out to use as a checklist while you’re out shopping, here’s the printable version.

P.S. After tomorrow, the next big date for Hometown Holidays (which WSB is co-sponsoring again this year) is the following Saturday, December 2nd, including an expanded Night Market in the street (3-7 pm) by Junction Plaza Park, where this year’s Tree Lighting celebration will start that night at 5.

P.P.S. If your business is outside The Junction and you have something special going on for Shop Small Saturday or any other time this season, we would love to promote that too – e-mail us the info at editor@westseattleblog.com – thanks!

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CONTINUING THIS WEEKEND: 2017 Native Holiday Gift Fair at Duwamish Longhouse
November 24, 2017 3:01 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   Holidays | West Seattle news

So many unique places in West Seattle to find unique gifts – such as the Duwamish Tribe Longhouse and Cultural Center, where this year’s Native Holiday Gift Fair is happening until 5 pm today and again 10 am-5 pm on Saturday and Sunday.

This is your chance to buy directly from Native artists and craftspeople. Below, a crow figure by Peter Boome:

And Nativity figures by Ixtli White Hawk:

Snacks are also available so you can take a break in the Longhouse’s beautiful surroundings – including soup and hot chocolate. It’s at 4705 W. Marginal Way SW.

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HALA UPZONING: 3 West Seattle groups in citywide coalition challenging proposed plan
November 24, 2017 1:03 pm
|      57 COMMENTS
 |   Development | West Seattle housing | West Seattle news

Two weeks after the city went public with its “preferred alternative” for HALA upzoning, as part of the final Environmental Impact Statement, a new citywide coalition has announced it will file an appeal. The community councils from three of West Seattle’s four “urban villages” are among the groups comprising the coalition: the Morgan Community Association, the Junction Neighborhood Organization, and Westwood-Roxhill-Arbor Heights Community Coalition. From today’s announcement of the new coalition and appeal plan:

… The coalition is called Seattle Coalition for Affordability, Livability and Equity.

Jon Lisbin, small business owner and president of Seattle Fair Growth, said, “We are worried about affordability and displacement. Our neighborhoods are so different that one-size-fits-all upzones don’t work well for residents or small businesses. The Final EIS completely neglects the differences between neighborhoods that are ripe for multifamily development such as Lake City and Northgate, and other racially diverse neighborhoods, such as South Park and Beacon Hill, that are mainly of older single-family homes owned or rented by lower-income families. The city is leaving low- and middle-income families with no place to go.”

Said David Ward, a Ravenna renter and president of the coalition, “It will make Seattle far more unaffordable and also make it more difficult to live here due to more traffic, not enough schools, more pollution, fewer trees, and a loss of the diversity of residents we currently have.”

“I’m worried about moving out from my parents’ home because I know it’ll be hard to find an apartment I can afford,” said Beacon Hill Council Member and UW student Cacima Lee. “And the idea of buying a home in Seattle is almost a joke.”

“Instead of invalidating all neighborhood plans, the city needs to support and celebrate differences while maintaining intact communities,” Christy Tobin-Presser of the West Seattle Junction Neighborhood Coalition added. “These upzones are not needed to accommodate the growth that’s planned. The city already has the more than twice the capacity in multi-family zoning to accommodate all the growth that’s coming, so who’s driving this land-grab?”

Wallingford resident Susanna Lin states: “We have a school capacity crisis and the City is planning upzones without coordinating with the School District on a plan to build more schools. In addition, trees are disappearing at an alarming rate. What kind of future is this for our children?”

The Grand Bargain, or Mandatory Housing Affordability-Residential (MHA-R), is a one-size-fits-all proposal by former Mayor Ed Murray and City planners that would give developers increased height limits and profitability in exchange for either building affordable units in their projects or contributing a fee in lieu of including them. In fact, according to the City, most developers have said they will decline to include rent-restricted units in their projects. They prefer to pay the fee.

According to Lake City homeowner and affordable housing advocate Sarajane Siegfriedt, the
City Office of Housing then leverages the fees 3:1 mostly with federal, state and city tax funds to
build low-income housing in other parts of Seattle. Most of the required affordable housing will
be built in locations with cheap land, not in the neighborhoods where builders maximize profits
by replacing older houses with costly new market-rate housing. Then there’s the delay. It takes
four or so years for a nonprofit to receive City and state grants, assemble the rest of the funding,
and construct a building, assuming they already have the land.”

“We share the City’s goal of affordable housing for those earning less than 60% of Area Median Income, but it is simply not achieved by these upzones,” Siegfriedt said. “That’s why we are filing an appeal. The real impacts that destroy and gentrify our low- and moderate-income neighborhoods are loss of affordability, community and livability.” …

The new coalition plans a media briefing/Q&A event downtown next Monday, which is when they also say they’ll file the appeal. Read today’s full announcement here (it includes the list of 24 participating groups).

P.S. If you haven’t already checked on what’s proposed for your neighborhood (or anywhere else that interests you) in the HALA MHA “preferred alternative” – you can use the city’s interactive map to look up specific locations. Before anything becomes final, the City Council has to consider forthcoming legislation, isn’t expected to come to a vote before next summer.

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VIDEO: Chief Sealth IHS, West Seattle HS marching bands in 2017 Holiday Parade downtown
November 24, 2017 12:20 pm
|    Comments Off on VIDEO: Chief Sealth IHS, West Seattle HS marching bands in 2017 Holiday Parade downtown
 |   Holidays | West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

It was a great morning for parade-watching downtown – no rain, not too cold – and we were there to see both local high school marching bands be part of this year’s My Macy’s Holiday Parade, which also spotlights inflatable floats, costumed characters, and even dog clubs. Above and below, the Chief Sealth International High School Marching Band appeared toward the start of the hour-plus parade.

A bit later, parade-goers saw and heard the West Seattle High School Marching Band:

(You’ll see the WSHS Band closer to home one week from tomorrow, on Saturday night, December 2nd, during the West Seattle Junction Hometown Holidays Tree Lighting, 5 pm at Junction Plaza Park.)

One more West Seattle sighting – the nutcrackers from Salty’s (WSB sponsor) rolled down the route right before the WSHS musicians:

This was the 27th annual downtown parade, which, along with the 5 pm Macy’s star-lighting, bookends the downtown festivities on the day after Thanksgiving every year.

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BIZNOTE: Alki Spud reopening rescheduled
November 24, 2017 9:48 am
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle restaurants

If you were looking forward to Alki Spud Fish and Chips reopening today, you have to wait a few more days. We checked with parent company Ivar’s, and regional manager Theresa Fallon replied:

Barring any more setbacks, Alki Spud will be opening on Wednesday 11/29.

We are excited to get back open and serve all those Guests who have missed their hometown favorite!

Spud’s been closed for more than a month for “much-needed repairs.”

NOVEMBER 27TH UPDATE: Now the date is Thursday 11/30.

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Local shopping and more for your post-Thanksgiving West Seattle Friday
November 24, 2017 9:00 am
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(White-throated sparrow, photographed by Mark Wangerin)

Shop local! Our highlights for today start with selections from the WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide:

TRACK FRIDAY: Now through 11 am at Hiawatha Playfield – fun way to get post-Thanksgiving exercise and do a good deed. Run/walk on a drop-in basis or participate in one of the scheduled runs. Details in our calendar listing. (2700 California SW)

DUWAMISH NATIVE HOLIDAY GIFT FAIR, 10 am-6 pm, first of three days at the Duwamish Tribe Longhouse in West Seattle. Details in our calendar listing. (4705 W. Marginal Way SW)

HOLY ROSARY TREE LOT: The Holiday Guide has the full list of Christmas tree locations, and among those opening today is the Holy Rosary Tree Lot, north of the school. 10 am-9 pm. Part of this lot’s proceeds benefit West Seattle Helpline, Hickman House (domestic-violence shelter), and West Seattle Food Bank. (41st/Dakota)

SANTA PHOTOS: They start today at Westwood Village (fee) – 11 am-7 pm. Lots of other opportunities coming up this season around West Seattle, too – see the Holiday Guide for a list of what we have so far. (2600 SW Barton)

THUNDER ROAD GUITARS ANNIVERSARY: Thunder Road Guitars (WSB sponsor) is celebrating its sixth anniversary all weekend “and offering 15% off most guitars, amplifiers, and pedals.” (4736 California SW)

OTHER SHOPS WITH SALES/SPECIALS include West Seattle Cyclery (4508 California SW), Click! Design That Fits (4540 California SW; WSB sponsor); it’s Record Store Day Black Friday at Easy Street Records (California SW/SW Alaska) … it’s Free Gift Friday at Avalon Glassworks (2914 SW Avalon Way) … check out your favorite local, independent West Seattle store today, and on Shop Small Saturday tomorrow too!

WEST SEATTLE LIGHTS: The lights-synched-to-music show has its second night tonight, 5-10 pm (see the full schedule here). Bring donations for the West Seattle Food Bank – the bin’s right in front of the house. (3908 SW Charlestown)

And from the year-round WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:

CAN YOU GIVE BLOOD? Bloodworks NW needs help with a seasonal shortage and you can donate in West Seattle today, 1-7 pm at Our Lady of Guadalupe‘s Walmesley Center. (35th/Myrtle)

TINKERLAB: 2-3:30 pm all-ages STEM crafts at Southwest Library. (9010 35th SW)

THE CASTAWAYS: Ukulele band that does NOT play Hawaiian music! Tonight at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor), 7-9 pm. (5612 California SW)

GENTLEMEN OF LEISURE, HARPER CONSPIRACY: 8 pm at The Skylark. $8 cover. 21+. (3803 Delridge Way SW)

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