day : 05/07/2018 11 results

11:21 PM: The State Patrol and other agencies are dealing with a deadly one-vehicle crash at the Cloverdale overpass where 509/99 meet – avoid the area. The crash brought down a big sign – see the WSP-tweeted photo above – and Trooper Rick Johnson says that’ll mean a long closure on the NB side. More as we get it.

11:39 PM: Thanks to the reader who texted this wider view:

A nearby resident says the driver hit the pole at high speed. [map]

12:49 AM: Still closed.

7:30 AM: As noted elsewhere, NB is still closed as crews deal with the sign. SB reopened overnight. Meantime, WSP’s media update says the driver was a 17-year-old Seattle resident.

UPDATE: The 99/509 crash scene has reopened as of 8:33 am.

2:26 PM: Seattle Public Schools has confirmed what was first reported in comments below – that the victim was a West Seattle High School student. Here’s the letter WSHS principal Brian Vance has just sent to families:

Dear West Seattle High School families,

It is with a heavy heart that I share the tragic news that one of our students, Jonathan Teso-Rueda was killed in a car accident on Thursday night. Jonathan was a bright, talented and well-liked student at West Seattle High School. His sense of humor and big, caring heart will be missed. As a community, I know we will come together to not only support Jonathan’s family, but one another.

We will have counselors available at West Seattle High School on Monday, July 9 from 9 am-12 pm for students needing support or wanting to be with their friends on campus.

When someone dies, particularly suddenly, it’s normal for children and teens to have different kinds of feelings and reactions. Parents and guardians have important roles in helping students understand about death.

Here are some suggestions for how to help students

• Stick to facts. Answer questions factually.
• Remain calm and reassuring. Students take their cues from their parents and adults.
• Be a good listener and observer. Pay attention to changes in behavior.
• Be especially loving and supportive; children and teens need you even more at this time.

We recognize that even if your student may not have known or been close to Jonathan, or his family, he/she may still feel a strong reaction. We also realize this may be your student’s first experience with death or it may trigger feelings about other deaths your child may have experienced. This is an opportunity for students and families to acknowledge their grief and express their feelings about a sudden loss for which they have no control over.

Please take care and we will share information about any events to support students, staff and families if and/or when they become available.

Brian Vance
Principal
West Seattle High School

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West Seattle scenes: First sunset in the heart of summer

July 5, 2018 10:33 pm

| 1 COMMENT

| West Seattle news | West Seattle weather

(Photo by David Hutchinson, from Alki)

You’ve probably heard it many times – “summer starts in Seattle on July 5th.” Seems appropriate this year, with a beautiful 5th following a cloudy 4th of July night, so we appreciate the photos that captured the sunset starting the heart of summer!

(Photo by Elaine Dale, from Gatewood)

One of those sunsets where the colors just kept intensifying …

(Photo by Mike Jensen, via Twitter)

Although even our more-muted view an hour later had its own majesty:

(WSB photo, from Lincoln Park)

Welcome, summer!

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More summer music: West Seattle Big Band Concert in the Park coming up!

July 5, 2018 9:13 pm

| Comments Off on More summer music: West Seattle Big Band Concert in the Park coming up!

| West Seattle news | WS culture/arts

(WSB photo from 2017 concert)

Now that outdoor summer music season has begun in a big way, we want to be sure the West Seattle Big Band Concert in the Park is on your calendar! It’s on the east lawn at Hiawatha Community Center (along Walnut south of Lander), 7 pm Tuesday, July 17th, free and fun. This year, WSBB director Jim Edwards tells us, they’ll have a special guest – “CC,” who you might know as a regular performer at Chelan Café. Haven’t seen the WSBB before? Here’s the band’s history – dating back more than 20 years, with a tradition of not only musical excellence, but also support for local schools. All you have to bring on the 17th is a blanket or chair, picnic dinner if you feel like it, the family, the neighbors, whoever else, and get ready for a one-of-a-kind summer concert (you can get up and dance too). See you there!

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BIZNOTE: Verity Credit Union opens its doors – wide! – in West Seattle Junction

July 5, 2018 6:52 pm

| 4 COMMENTS

| West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news

It’s the financial institution that looks more like a café than a financial institution. That’s the view from the open-air (weather permitting) storefront where Verity Credit Union (WSB sponsor) soft-opened its first West Seattle branch today (4505 California SW; previous tenant, Radio Shack).

There’ll always be someone at the front to greet you; depending on what you’re there to do, you can go sit at a table, or at the bar in the back.

One feature of note – a coin-counting machine. Free for Verity members, five percent fee for others:

Speaking of five – you can join Verity for $5 (explained here). And there’s an ATM outside, part of the Co-Op network if you’re a member of another credit union. The branch will be open 10 am-6 pm weekdays, 10 am-2 pm Saturdays, and the grand-opening celebration is the first day of West Seattle Summer Fest (Friday, July 13th).

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BIZNOTE: Alki Cleaners closes

July 5, 2018 5:11 pm

| 24 COMMENTS

| West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news

Thanks to Ben Hutchinson for the tip: The sign on the door at Alki Cleaners (2718 Alki SW) announces its closure after 19 years. If you still have cleaning to pick up, the sign has a phone number and email address to arrange pickup until July 14th. This is the fourth business to close in the heart of Alki in recent months, after Alki Urban Market, Maree Bistro, and Tully’s Coffee.

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FOLLOWUP: East Marginal Way fire scene, the day after

July 5, 2018 3:45 pm

| 2 COMMENTS

| West Seattle fires | West Seattle news

(WSB photos)

Here’s what most of the aftermath of last night’s 2-alarm fire at 3633 East Marginal Way S. (we confirmed the correct address at the scene today) consists of – burned cars.

We went over at midday for a look. Seattle Fire crews are still there because of hotspots, and SFD says investigators are still working to determine the cause.

The fire was primarily around the back side of the warehouse property; SFD describes the affected area as a “warehouse repair garage” and “wrecking yard.” The cars – and what’s still in them – are the main reason it sent so much thick, dark smoke into the sky. No injuries reported.

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West Seattle Little League: Big tournament ahead, and ballpark improvement you’ll see

July 5, 2018 2:53 pm

| 1 COMMENT

| West Seattle news | WS & Sports

Two announcements today from West Seattle Little League:

ALL-STAR TOURNAMENT STARTS SATURDAY: Bar-S Playfield will host the 12-year-olds’ All-Star Tournament, starting with WSLL’s game at 9 am Saturday. WSLL’s Kathy Powers adds, “Our own WSLL team won the State Championship last year so we are excited to kick off this tournament and host!” You’ll find the brackets on the WSLL website.

BATTING CAGE IMPROVEMENT: Just happened last week!

Richie Wallace, former ball player at WSLL [in photo with WSLL VP David Sazama], improved our batting cage last week for his Boy Scouts Eagle Project! The new cage not only looks great, but is now usable year around with a proper pitching mound and new sport turf that took care of previous drainage issues.

Thank you, Richie Wallace and Troop 274 of the BSA Mount Tahoma District.

Bar-S, home of WSLL, is at 6425 SW Admiral Way.

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West Seattle post-4th of July scene: Solstice Park fireworks debris

July 5, 2018 1:35 pm

| 47 COMMENTS

| Holidays | West Seattle news | West Seattle parks

As the annual “fireworks are illegal but the law’s not enforced” discussion rages on, the fact of the matter is that fireworks don’t just make noise, they often result in toxic trash left behind by users, especially in public parks. We’ve received photos from one, Solstice Park, same place across from north Lincoln Park where we cover the annual change-of-season gatherings (decidedly non-trash-generating events), and just upslope from a P-Patch.

Lori sent these photos along with an expression of her dismay: “Just walked up to see the mess from last night. UGH. They walked past our house and I’m sure they were all teens. Lots of empty beer cans and bottles and an OJ container that I bet has vodka in it. Illegal fireworks and drinking, with no punishment, so it will certainly happen again next year. Unless we put up lights, have neighbors occupy the park from 8-midnight, or hire a security guard for the night!” (We’re checking with >Seattle Parks about their general citywide postmortem.)

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COUNTDOWN! What’s new at West Seattle Summer Fest 2018

July 5, 2018 11:20 am

| 5 COMMENTS

| West Seattle festivals | West Seattle news

(SDOT cam image captured during 2017 West Seattle Summer Fest)

Now that the 4th of July is past – we’re stepping up the countdown for West Seattle Summer Fest, the peninsula’s biggest party of the year, now just eight days away! (Seven, if you are starting with Summer Fest Eve, the Thursday night pre-festival fun – here’s our newest info on that.) We talked with Lora Swift of the West Seattle Junction Association – the merchants’ organization that presents Summer Fest (with co-sponsors including WSB) – to see what’s new this year. Here’s a taste:

-More local restaurants/bars with outdoor cafés – at least 26 at last count, Lora told us! – so the focus is on local food/beverages, with fewer outside vendors
-More activities for teens and tweens
-Giant games
-More signage to point you to the basics, like restrooms
-The music stage will be a bit further north, still on California between Genesee and Oregon
-Shade tents set up around the festival if you need to take a break from the sun ‘n’ fun

Lots more info to roll out, but we’ll start with this. Festival hours are Friday (July 13th) and Saturday (July 14th), 10 am-6 pm, with music and beer garden running into the late evening, plus Sunday (July 15th), 11 am-5 pm. Since the festival takes over California from Genesee to Edmunds, the West Seattle Farmers’ Market on Summer Fest Sunday will be back in the 44th/Alaska parking lot where it got its start (usual hours, 10 am-2 pm). Music lineup is here; pricing and hours for the kids’ rides is here; other info soon!

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West Seattle Thursday: What to do post-holiday

July 5, 2018 10:10 am

| 1 COMMENT

| West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Newly fledged Downy Woodpecker, photographed by Mark Wangerin)

What’s up for this day after the 4th, mostly from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:

STEM BOARD GAMES: Come play at the Southwest Library, 11 am. (9010 35th SW)

WADING POOLS: The Seattle Parks hotline says they’ll be open today. So in West Seattle that means Lincoln Park (8011 Fauntleroy Way SW) 11 am-8 pm, EC Hughes (2805 SW Holden) noon-7 pm, Hiawatha (Walnut/Lander) noon-6:30 pm.

COLMAN POOL: Also open today – city-run outdoor saltwater pool on the shore in Lincoln Park. Here’s the schedule of sessions noon-7 pm. (8011 Fauntleroy Way SW)

FREE LUNCH, SNACKS: Two locations where kids/teens up to 18 can get free food today – no need to go hungry during summer break: Delridge Library, noon-1 pm (5423 Delridge Way SW; details here), and High Point Library, 3-4 pm (3411 SW Raymond; details here).

TRIVIA TIMES TWO: 7 pm and 8 pm at Great American Diner & Bar in The Junction. Free, with prizes! (4752 California SW)

THREE BANDS: Live music at The Skylark in North Delridge, 8 pm, with Night Lunch, Sunstang, and Reji Marc. $8 cover. 21+. (3803 Delridge Way SW)

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