day : 24/04/2018 13 results

WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: 35th SW arrest; car prowls, dumped items

April 24, 2018 10:54 pm
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 |   Crime | West Seattle news

Two notes before the night’s out:

ARREST ON 35TH SW: We received some questions about an incident around 7 pm tonight on 35th SW – police were reported to have arrested a man at gunpoint. We didn’t hear about it until afterward but asked at the precinct. They told us it was a “person in crisis” situation – the man had a knife and was walking in and out of the road. He was taken into custody without anyone being hurt.

CAR PROWLS FOLLOWED BY DUMPED ITEMS: The photo and report are from Tony:

We live on the 3400 block of 44th Ave SW. Two nights ago someone car-prowled their way down 44th Ave sw. Our car was hit but fortunately we had nothing of value inside. Anyways while on a walk this evening my wife and I spotted what looked like possibly some ditched belongings potentially from the car prowl due to proximity and location. On 44th just South of Charlestown St on the east side of the street was this small pile. I’m mainly writing due to the fact there were two sets of what looked to be car keys which I know can be expensive and potentially hard to replace.

BIZNOTE: Junction bank says farewell to longtime leader

April 24, 2018 8:20 pm
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 |   West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news

The Junction branch of Chase wanted you to know their longtime leader is moving on:

We at the West Seattle Chase Bank Branch would like to inform our customers and the community that after thirteen years, our powerhouse manager, Dawn Park, will be taking on a new role in the company. Sadly, her last day will be April 25th.

Dawn, thank you for being a great leader and congratulations on your new adventure. You will be missed.

That’s tomorrow; hours are 9 am-6 pm.

BASEBALL: WSHS vs. Sealth rematch Saturday. First – the Wildcats’ home-finale win

April 24, 2018 6:40 pm
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 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools | WS & Sports

Next stop for the West Seattle High School varsity baseball team: Postseason! Thanks to Porter Hammer for the report and photos on the regular-season finale Monday at Hiawatha:

The West Seattle High School baseball team finished the regular season strong with a 10-9 victory over a tough Bishop Blanchet team.

(Senior players from left to right, with Head Coach Bryan Tupper: Nathan Villegas, Alex Pastrana, Kit Lui, Coach Tupper, Anthony Coates, Jordan Berridge, Jaquan Buchanan, Leland Gropper)

This was the final regular season game for 7 West Seattle High seniors, and they were honored at the end of the game with their families.

Senior player Kit Lui (above) got the start on the mound, and went 4 strong innings.

Junior Matt Morin came in for 1.1 innings of great relief, and Junior Ruben Gut (above) pitched 1.2 innings and sealed the victory with a strikeout to end the game.

Junior Kai Osaka (above) had an incredible game, going 4 for 4 with 4 RBIs. Kai had two doubles, including a bases-clearing 3 RBI double in the bottom of the 4th inning. He also initiated 2 key double plays on defense.

Jackson Sullivan, Anthony Coates, and Kit Lui all finished with 2 hits each.

It was a strong finish for first-year Head Coach Bryan Tupper‘s team, and next year is very promising as the JV team is particularly loaded with talent. They also got the win, 7-6 versus the Bishop Blanchet JV team, with freshman Nate Rasmussen pitching 6 innings.

West Seattle now moves on to the playoffs, with a loser-out game versus rival Chief Sealth International High School this Saturday at 10am at the Southwest Athletic Complex baseball field just north of Westwood Village. West Seattle versus Sealth is usually a well-attended and fierce matchup, so don’t miss it! The loser is done for the season, and the winner continues on in the playoffs. See you at the SWAC, 10 am Saturday!

JUNCTION PARKING: ‘Free’ lot tax-bill update; SDOT briefing Thursday

Two notes about West Seattle Junction parking, starting with an update on the “free” lots:

(Aerial view of The Junction and its lots, photographed by Long Bach Nguyen)

‘FREE’ LOTS’ TAX SITUATION: We first told you in early March about a dilemma facing the West Seattle Junction Association in its continuing rental of the lots where WSJA provides free parking. In short, WSJA was facing paying an almost-doubled tax bill, because its lease with Trusteed Properties, which owns the lots, passes the tax cost entirely on to WSJA in its rent. So a case was being made to the King County Assessor’s Office to lower the rate, at least for the near future. WSJA executive director Lora Swift tells WSB that the assessor will recommend to the county Board of Equalization that the bill be lowered – at least for this tax year and next. It’s not final yet, and it would still mean a higher tax bill for The Junction, which will have to fundraise to cover the added cost – details to come on how you can help – but, as Swift puts it, the break will be “just enough to give us a breather” and plan for the future.

JuNO TALKS PARKING THURSDAY: Completely separate from the privately owned “free” lots, the status of street parking in The Junction is on the agenda for the Junction Neighborhood Organization this Thursday (April 26th), 6:30 pm at the Senior Center/Sisson Building (4217 SW Oregon). This is a followup to the briefing that SDOT presented to WSJA two months ago (WSB coverage here), at which time SDOT reps said this briefing would also include an update on the status of a potential RPZ in some Junction-area neighborhoods. See JuNO’s agenda preview in our calendar listing.

Whisky West: Welcome, new West Seattle Blog sponsor!

Today we’re welcoming one of our newest WSB sponsors, Whisky West in Morgan Junction! Here’s what they would like you to know about their business:

Whisky West is a local, family-owned business, operated by Colin and Donna Pickering, who have called West Seattle home for years. After owning and running the Whisky Bar in Seattle’s Belltown, they decided to open a new location a little closer to home.

Whisky West, conveniently located just north of the corner of Fauntleroy Way and California Avenue SW, specializes in whisky, craft cocktails, and good bar food. Colin hails from northern England, where the cuisine has a distinct British flair. Fish & chips, scotch eggs, and meat pies are all standard fare. Whisky is by far not the only standard; the bar boasts 20 rotating beer taps and an exquisite bottle program. Whisky West is proud to feature trivia, whisky tastings, and the occasional music.

As a family-owned place so close to home, the Pickerings’ main goal is to have a comfortable, laid-back place for anyone to hang out and unwind. While there are well-executed craft cocktails on the menu, the bar and staff are not pretentious; it’s the perfect place to stay, and have fun with old friends and new.

The space has changed a lot over the years, from its humble beginnings as a local hardware store to the more recent Feedback Lounge. Since the Pickerings took over the spot, opening in July 2016, the inside has changed considerably, adding lots of light, large windows that can open to the great outdoors in summer, to the warm wood covering the bar, perfect for cozying up in winter. With a local charm and down-home feel, we hope to make you part of the family for years to come!

We thank Whisky West for sponsoring independent, community-collaborative neighborhood news via WSB; find our current sponsor team listed in directory format here, and find info on joining the team by going here.

TRAFFIC ALERT: Gatewood crash

Nasty-looking crash at 41st SW/SW Elmgrove in Gatewood a short time ago – but we are told no major injuries and no one will have to taken to the hospital. We’re mentioning it because 41st SW is a busier side street than most, including part of the 22 Metro bus route.

SEEN ON SHORE: ‘Very large’ shark washes up south of Fauntleroy ferry dock

Sara sent the photo, saying that “very large” shark washed up on the beach not too far south of the Fauntleroy ferry dock over the weekend. She reported it to the state Fish and Wildlife Department; after sending them the photo, she said, they thought it might be a soupfin shark. Any other guesses?

If you’re trying to send us email …

April 24, 2018 1:35 pm
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 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle online

We mentioned last month that our email-serving company was having trouble. While we are working on moving to a different company (not so easy with the huge amount of email we have stored over the past decade-plus), the problem has worsened – not just for us, but for other customers – and our main account has been all but inaccessible when it’s most important, during the day and early evening hours.

Luckily we have a backup Gmail account that works well, so for now, if you’re sending us anything, please send it to (or at least CC it to) westseattleblog@gmail.com.

We hope to have this problem resolved soon. (Side note – this is NOT affecting the WSB website itself, which we moved last year to a different company that’s done an excellent job of keeping it up, running, and responsive, even in times of breaking-news overload.) Our apologies and thanks, as always.

Next step for Delridge Triangle safety and accessibility: Community to seek matching-fund grant

April 24, 2018 11:49 am
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 |   Delridge | Neighborhoods | West Seattle news

(Photo courtesy WWRHAH)

At right in the photo above is the space that’s been dubbed the Delridge Triangle, where community members have been working to make the space safer and more accessible for everyone. They’re about to take the next step, and hoping you want to come along and collaborate! The announcement is from Kim Barnes:

WWRHAH.org, in partnership with the South Delridge Community Group, is pleased to announce the Your Voice, Your Choice 2017 award improvements will start this summer! As the scope of these improvements is finalized by SDOT, the Friends of the Delridge Triangle are now ready to move forward with the next step to create a safe and useable community space for everyone with help from the 2018 Neighborhood Matching Fund.

The SDOT-managed “parklet,” located at 9201 Delridge Way and framed by Barton Street SW at 18th Ave SW, will leverage the grant application in two phases: Phase one will focus on the selection and hire of a landscape architect to create a stepped redesign plan and budget to build out the space. The chosen firm will meet with the community Fall/Winter 2018 to reimagine the Triangle by applying the desired outcomes generated from the 2017 in workshop SDOT. You can see the [WSB] coverage of the 2017 meeting with an overview of the desired outcomes: “From Problems to Possibilities.”)

Our first=round table application meeting will take place on April 30th, from 6:30-8 pm at 2 Fingers Social, 9211 Delridge Way SW. Kids are welcome until 8 pm so all are welcome. Get to know your neighbors and learn about the background, desired outcomes and opportunities at a mini community social at 6:30 pm. Specific application questions will then be fielded to the appointed fund coordinator from 7-8 pm. Please join in to hear how we can work together to make the Triangle safe and accessible for the neighborhood! For more information, contact Kim Barnes at: WWRHAHCommunityCoalition@gmail.com

We reported on the 2017 Your Voice, Your Choice winners last August.

West Seattle Tuesday: Light rail; crime & safety; two dine-out fundraisers; more!

April 24, 2018 10:12 am
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 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Caspian Terns are back, reports Mark Wangerin, sharing this photo)

What you can do today/tonight, from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:

DINE OUT AT JOE’S TO KEEP FAUNTLEROY FALL FESTIVAL FREE: 8 am-10 pm, dine at Endolyne Joe’s (WSB sponsor) and part of the proceeds benefit the Fauntleroy Fall Festival (never been? here’s our coverage from last year). Raffle baskets, too. (9261 45th SW)

NIA MOVING TO HEAL: New class starts at High Point Community Center today, 11:45 am – details here. (6920 34th SW)

HELP THE HELPLINE @ ILLUSIONS: Donation drive continues today at Illusions Hair Design (WSB sponsor) for the West Seattle Helpline:

***NEW*** Socks & Underwear for Men, Women & Kids! The West Seattle Helpline is in GREAT NEED of ALL sizes! These are staple items that they find are in high demand year round. During regular business hours, you can drop off any ***NEW*** socks &/or underwear into our special dropbox in our salon lobby!

Today’s hours at Illusions are noon-8:30 pm. (5619 California SW)

DINE OUT FOR ALKI ELEMENTARY: 4-8 pm at Marination Ma Kai, part of the proceeds go to the Alki Elementary PTA: “This is Alki’s first Dine Out of the year and the first at Marination in over 2 years! Let’s show our community how Alki SHOWS UP and supports local businesses while rubbing elbows with Alki families and supporting Alki PTA and the students of Alki Elementary! Hope to see you there!” (1660 Harbor SW)

LIGHT-RAIL DECISIONMAKING ROLLS ON: The Stakeholder Advisory Group for the Sound Transit West Seattle/Ballard light-rail extensions meets again today, just one week after the last meeting due to scheduling quirks, as the process of getting to a “preferred alternative” for the route and station locations continues. Public welcome, though there’s no spoken comment opportunity. 5-8 pm at ST’s Ruth Fisher Boardroom on the south side of downtown. (401 S. Jackson)

WEST SEATTLE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT SHOWCASE: As previewed here Monday, you’re invited, 6-8 pm, to see students in the Career Tech Education and Art Department showcase what they’ve been working on. In the Commons at WSHS. (3000 California SW)

ARBOR HEIGHTS SIDEWALK PROJECT MEETING: 6-8 pm at Arbor Heights Elementary, come get information, and answers to your questions, about the upcoming sidewalk project on 35th SW, which also includes drainage work that will close part of the street. Here’s our preview. (3701 SW 104th)

PATHFINDER K-8 PTSA: 6:30-8:30 pm at the school:

Need support when it comes to technology and parenting? Not sure what social media is safe and what isn’t? Come join us for an informative presentation and discussion about navigating parenting in the digital world we live in. Guest speaker Jo Langford — local therapist, sex educator, and dad — will present to us “Digital Parenting for Digital Kids.” Learn how to up your parenting game with understanding “platinum rules” of behaving online with an audience and the “Three M’s” (Maintenance, Monitoring and Mentorship) of a high-quality conversation about what their online interactions actually look like. In addition, we will have PTSA news, a Principal report from David and Spirit Wear on sale (cash or check). Questions: Email us at president@pathfinderk8ptsa.org

(1901 SW Genesee)

HIGHLINE PREMIER FC SOCCER TRYOUTS: They start tonight, as previewed here earlier this week: Boys and girls, 2009 and 2010, 6-7:30 pm tonight, at Walt Hundley Playfield. (34th/Myrtle)

WEST SEATTLE BLOCK WATCH CAPTAINS NETWORK: Would you recognize signs of human trafficking? That’s the spotlight topic at tonight’s WSBCWCN meeting, 6:30 pm at the Southwest Precinct, along with updates from local police. (2300 SW Webster)

LOTS MORE, SO PLEASE BROWSE OUR FULL CALENDARby going here.

PCC announces Burien store opening date: May 23rd

(Rendering of PCC Burien store, by MG2)

Every time we mention the new PCC Community Markets (WSB sponsor) store under construction in West Seattle, opening next year, people ask about the opening date for the new one in Burien – and it’s just been announced: May 23rd. For those who plan to travel south to shop until PCC’s new West Seattle store is ready, here’s the full announcement we just received:

PCC Community Markets (PCC), one of Seattle’s original grocers and the largest community-owned food market in the U.S., today announced May 23rd as the opening date for its newest location in Burien. The new store is the first for PCC south of Seattle. Located in the Five Corners Shopping Center at 15840 1st Ave. S., the 25,000 square-foot store will become the area’s first certified organic grocery and PCC’s first location slated to operate on 100 percent renewable energy.

With a long-standing commitment to the neighborhoods in which it operates, PCC will bring more than 100 union jobs to the community with its Burien store. PCC also will expand its charitable giving program through community partnerships with the Des Moines Food Bank and the Highline School District. PCC secured a $5,000 grant to Para Los Ninos as well, through the co-op’s partnership with the Paul Newman Foundation.

“We are always excited to join a new community and introduce all that PCC offers to future members and new shoppers — whether that’s our fresh, sustainably sourced organic foods; community support, food donations and giving; or new job opportunities we add to the economy,” said Cate Hardy, PCC Community Markets CEO. “The passion we’ve seen for Burien PCC through letters, emails and social media posts shows the feeling is mutual, and we can’t wait to welcome everyone into the new store.”

As with PCC’s other locations, Burien PCC will celebrate products that are fresh, local, organic, sustainably sourced and seasonal. More than 95 percent of PCC’s produce selection is organic; its meats are 100 percent organic, non-GMO or grass fed; its seafood is sustainably sourced adhering to Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Seafood Watch standards; and, whenever possible, the co-op sources its products from local producers, farmers, ranchers and fishers. Using those same ingredients, PCC chefs make salads, soups, entrées and side dishes fresh from scratch daily onsite in each store.

Additional highlights of the new store include:

§ New subscription-free, grab-and-go PCC meal kits featuring easy-to-make original recipes — like Sesame-Gochujang Steak with Kimchi Fried Rice & Shirred Egg, and Simple Cassoulet with Chicken and Sausage. Each kit is hand-packed in PCC kitchens and includes fresh, organic produce and non-GMO, locally raised meats along with compostable, recyclable packaging.

§ PCC Pizzeria with fresh-from-the-pizza-oven and take-and-bake pies.

§ PCC Taqueria with pork adobado, beef barbacoa, roasted squash and garbanzos, chicken verde, rice and beans, aguas frescas and freshly prepared salsas.

§ PCC Yogurt Bar featuring PCC Organic Grass-fed Yogurt from Pure Éire Dairy, the only local, organic, non-GMO, grass-fed, animal welfare-certified yogurt of its kind — including the newest flavor on the block: lemon.

§ Handcrafted espresso and tea beverages and freshly baked goods, such as scratch-made breakfast biscuits and the PCC “Crownie,” a chocolate chip cookie, brownie mash-up drizzled with caramel.

§ A carefully curated selection of Pacific Northwest-produced spirits to complement the co-op’s collection of exclusive wines and local beers and ciders.

§ An affordable line of certified organic and Non-GMO Project Verified pantry staples from Field Day, including more than 150 items from canned beans and extra virgin olive oil to peanut butter and oatmeal. PCC also offers a wide selection of bulk items, where shoppers can get just the amount they need while reducing packaging.

§ Free cookbooks to borrow from or donate to PCC’s Little Free Cookbook Library, celebrating the joy of cooking in the community.

Burien PCC was thoughtfully designed to deliver on PCC’s long-standing commitment to environmental responsibility and to help reduce PCC’s carbon footprint. Tracking to LEED v4 certification by the U.S. Green Building Council, PCC has put into place systems and features to reduce lighting use by 25 percent and fresh water consumption by 45 percent annually. The store is planning to operate on 100 percent renewable energy through renewable energy credit purchases after the store opens. Seattle-based MG2 is the architect of record for the new Burien PCC store. The developer is Powell Development Company and the general contractor is Woodman Construction, Inc.

The new location is the first for PCC south of Seattle, serving Burien, Des Moines, Normandy Park, Sea-Tac, White Center and all areas in-between, and will act as the interim go-to for West Seattle shoppers until the store reopens in 2019.

Burien PCC’s grand opening celebration will kick off at 8:45 a.m. and feature an official “pineapple cutting”— the fruit is the universal symbol of welcome and hospitality — with fresh, organic pineapple giveaways for the first 112 people in celebration of PCC’s 12th store. The store officially opens at 9 a.m.

If you can’t get to Burien, remember that PCC grocery delivery continues to be available in West Seattle via Instacart.

CRIME WATCH FOLLOWUP UPDATE: Why Gregory Thompson is back in jail

9:18 AM: Almost two weeks ago, we reported on a warrant out for the arrest of 28-year-old Gregory L. Thompson, whose February arrest on Puget Ridge in connection with guns and drugs had made citywide news. (The photo at right was distributed by SPD at the time.) The warrant was issued because he had failed to show up for a court hearing. Thompson is back in jail as of Monday afternoon, according to the King County Jail Register, which shows he is being held on two warrants for failure to appear in drug cases, with bail now set at $60,000. We’ll keep watching the case to see what happens next.

1:03 PM: SPD Blotter has just published details of Thompson’s arrest – from the post:

… Officers patrolling Westwood Village as a part of an ongoing effort to curb car break-ins and auto theft spotted a vehicle they recognized that had in the past been used by a warrant suspect. The officers did a records check and found the 29-year-old warrant suspect had over $60,000 in outstanding warrants, so they waited for the man to return.

The suspect returned a minute later, drink in hand, and was approached by police. The suspect dropped his beverage, turned and ran away. The suspect slipped and fell less than a block away and was taken into custody.

Officers searched the man’s backpack and discovered a Rock Island Armory 1911 .45 handgun. The suspect did not possess a concealed weapons permit and the gun was placed into evidence. Officers also found credit cards not belonging to him, lock picks, and shaved keys.

The SPD post includes a photo of the gun.

TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Tuesday watch

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

6:49 AM: Good morning! No traffic incidents or transit alerts in our area so far.

ROAD WORK: The warm, dry weather has brought out the crews – while going around the peninsula yesterday, we happened onto several projects, including spot repaving on Alki Avenue SW and on Sylvan Way just west of Delridge. If you find work under way that’s affecting traffic, consider letting us know if/when you can (206-293-6302) so we can track it – thanks!

7:54 AM: Crash on NB 99 blocking left lane near stadiums.

8:24 AM: Cleared.