West Seattle, Washington

23 Tuesday

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day : 17/07/2018 13 results

COUNTDOWN: West Seattle Grand Parade and PAWrade notes, with 4 days to go
July 17, 2018 10:54 pm
|    Comments Off on COUNTDOWN: West Seattle Grand Parade and PAWrade notes, with 4 days to go
 |   Pets | West Seattle Grand Parade | West Seattle news | West Seattle people

Two notes tonight as Saturday’s 2018 West Seattle Grand Parade gets closer:

COACH VELKO GETS HIS TROPHY: At tonight’s West Seattle Big Band Concert in the Park, this year’s Orville Rummel Trophy for Outstanding Service to the Community recipient Velko Vitalich accepted the trophy, with which he’ll ride in Saturday’s parade.

The trophy was presented to the retired West Seattle High School baseball and golf coach by the Rotary Club of West Seattle Service Foundation‘s parade chair Keith Hughes, assisted by parade coordinators Michelle Edwards and Jim Edwards, who also happen to be with the WS Big Band (musician and director, respectively).

PAWRADE UPDATE: Another reminder that before Saturday’s Grand Parade, you can be part of local history by participating, with your dog, in the first-ever West Seattle PAWrade:

The West Seattle Junction Association and Rotary are teaming up to present the PAWrade right before the Grand Parade arrives in The Junction. Prizes! Judges for the categories shown above are from local pet-related businesses/organizations, and they’ll be stationed along the route. It’s a short one, so don’t worry about Fido fatigue – it starts at California/Genesee at 11 am, between the motorcycle drill teams’ conclusion and the arrival of the rest of the parade, and proceeds to California/Edmunds – then you can go back and watch the Grand Parade! Sign up here if you’re ready to commit, or just show up at the start on Saturday!

TOMORROW: Next preview takes you to the parade lineup meeting!

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Christmas in July! Be part of it Sunday in West Seattle
July 17, 2018 9:58 pm
|    Comments Off on Christmas in July! Be part of it Sunday in West Seattle
 |   How to help | West Seattle news

Even with thousands of donated cookies and hundreds of donated hours of volunteer help, it takes a lot more for The Christmas People to make magic happen on their namesake holiday – and that is why they’re hoping you will be part of this Sunday’s Christmas in July event. It’s happening Sunday (July 22nd) at the Masonic Center (4736 40th SW), same place The Christmas People offer a sit-down dinner on December 25th to anyone who shows up. Christmas in July starts with a silent-auction preview and no-host bar at 4 pm, silent auction at 5, buffet dinner starting at 5:30 pm, live auction at 6:30 – with items including getaways (from Wine Country to Italy!) and “Christmas items reminiscent of Christmas Past.” Speaking of Christmas, West Seattle’s own Santa Al will be there to greet you Sunday. Tickets are only $15 – buy yours now here. Or if you’d like to be part of Christmas in July as a volunteer, check at 206-719-4979 or pialley@jps.net.

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VIDEO: West Seattle Big Band Concert in the Park
July 17, 2018 7:21 pm
|      5 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle parks | WS culture/arts

7:21 PM: Not on the Hiawatha east lawn yet? You have time to get here and enjoy the West Seattle Big Band‘s only local outdoor concert this summer – the annual Concert in the Park, on until about 8:30 pm, with a special West Seattle Grand Parade-related presentation at intermission around 7:45. The band’s second number was “Warm Breeze,” perfect for this night, as WSBB director Jim Edwards noted.

Bring a chair/blanket and come join the 100+ people already enjoying the music – free!

7:35 PM: Ever seen the legendary CC at Chelan Café on Monday nights (6-9 pm)? She’s a special guest tonight:

And she’ll be back before the show’s over!

8:43 PM: The concert’s wrapping up with “New York, New York.” More to add when we’re back at HQ!

ADDED: More photos! Vocalists Jenaige Lane and Jeff Carter:

The band:

Yes, some people danced!

The program was mostly classics – plus an old rock song, Chicago’s “25 or 6 to 4.” CC was back for songs including “All of Me“:

Jenaige sang “It Don’t Mean a Thing If It Ain’t Got That Swing“:

Watch for the West Seattle Big Band’s performances at a variety of venues around the area – especially school benefits, a special focus of this group that has its roots at West Seattle High School.

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West Seattle Neighborhood Greenway: Speed humps today, drop-in meeting tomorrow
July 17, 2018 6:57 pm
|      5 COMMENTS
 |   Safety | Transportation | West Seattle news

Yet more transportation-related news: West Seattle’s newest speed humps are in place on 30th SW as part of the WS Neighborhood Greenway project. We took the photo this afternoon, after a note from area resident Debbie earlier today:

A few months ago I called SDOT to see if speed humps were going to be built but they said that was not in the plan … but sure enough, they are right now putting in speed humps – one just north of Cambridge and the other closer to Barton. I think there are plans for more further north on 30th. Our block is very happy about this, because, as you know, cars tend to use it as a bypass from Roxbury to Barton.

And remember that you can get an update on/share comments about the greenway project at a drop-in event tomorrow (Wednesday, July 18th) – 5:30-7 pm at Neighborhood House High Point (6400 Sylvan Way SW)

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See what’s now being considered for Delridge Way SW in RapidRide H Line conversion – with a new date
July 17, 2018 4:56 pm
|      12 COMMENTS
 |   Delridge | Transportation | West Seattle news

(See full-size version as PDF by going here)

Six months after last we checked in on the design for Delridge Way SW as part of the RapidRide H Line conversion (WSB coverage here), the City Council’s Transportation Committee just got a briefing. Shown above is the 10 percent design concept for the Delridge section of the route.

One major change since what we saw/heard in January – the launch date for the Route 120 conversion is now described as 2021; it had been 2020.

Today’s briefing was related to a requirement that the council see the project at 10 percent design before spending goes beyond $1.4 million (the full project will cost at least $42 million, SDOT reps said at today’s meeting). This is still a very “early” stage of design, it was stressed, and District 1 Councilmember Lisa Herbold expressed interest in seeing south-end elements including improvements to the neighborhood greenway on 17th SW as well as connections to White Center. She was assured that those will be ready to review when the project gets to the 30 percent phase. That’s also when they’ll know more about how much repaving will be included as well as how and where sidewalk improvements will be addressed.

The final vote on allowing the project to proceed to the next phase of design is due at the full City Council meeting one week from next Monday – that’s July 30th. We’ll add video from today’s discussion – the committee meeting is still under way, on other topics, and about to enter its fourth hour – when it’s available.

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FREE! The tool you should borrow just in case
July 17, 2018 4:01 pm
|      7 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | West Seattle news | West Seattle police

That’s free for you to borrow and use … just in case. Southwest Precinct Crime-Prevention Coordinator Jennifer Danner explains:

Due to a continued increase in burglaries over the last few months- the SW Precinct would like to remind our community members that you can rent a professional engraver from the SW Precinct for free!

These engravers allow you to mark your property (such as tools, bicycles and electronics) with an identifying number- such as your Driver’s License number. Then if/when your items are stolen- you are able to report to law enforcement that it was marked. These markings assist the Seattle Police Department in getting recovered property back to victims, as well as aid with investigations.

If you are interested in renting an engraver- please stop by the SW Precinct (2300 SW Webster St.) and speak with the desk officer. Remember the SW Precinct is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week!

Please also keep in mind that I, as your SW Precinct Crime Prevention Coordinator, offer free residential and commercial safety/security assessments! Contact me directly for more information and for scheduling.

jennifer.danner@seattle.gov is the best way to reach her. Meantime, whether you choose to borrow/use the engraver or not, she also recommends you keep a home inventory – here’s a template that can help.

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Restricted Parking Zone in West Seattle Junction area? Here’s how to tell SDOT what you think
July 17, 2018 2:19 pm
|      41 COMMENTS
 |   Transportation | West Seattle news

Will the West Seattle Junction area get a Restricted Parking Zone (RPZ)? The most-recent briefing was at April’s Junction Neighborhood Organization meeting (WSB coverage here) and now it’s time for the next steps – SDOT is asking for your feedback. A mailer is arriving later this week in residential and business addresses in the area, but even if you don’t receive it, you can comment via an online survey, e-mail, or two upcoming drop-in events. From SDOT’s project team:

SDOT received a request to evaluate residential streets near the West Seattle Junction for eligibility for a new RPZ. The orange-lined blocks shown on the map below meet the requirements for a new RPZ, which would prevent all-day parking by commuters on these streets.

Specifically, an RPZ in the West Seattle Junction would:

*Limit vehicles without an RPZ permit to 2-hour parking, 7 AM – 6 PM, Monday – Saturday, on RPZ-signed blocks.

*Allow residents in the orange-shaded area to purchase RPZ permits to park longer than the posted time limit on RPZ-signed blocks. Permits are currently $65 per vehicle for a two-year cycle. One hangtag guest permit is available per household. A $10 low-income permit is available.

*Not allow employees to purchase permits. RPZ signs would not be installed adjacent to businesses, and existing time limit areas near businesses will remain.

Depending on feedback, a formal RPZ proposal will be released to the community in fall 2018 along with a public hearing. Unpaid time limit and individual space changes will also be finalized in fall 2018. See more information about this project on our website.

To submit comments or ask questions:

· Take this survey by August 19, 2018 or email us at WestSeattleParking@seattle.gov
· Visit SDOT staff in person at one of two informal drop-in sessions/tables:

o West Seattle Farmers Market on Sunday, July 29, 2018 from 10 AM to 2 PM
o Cupcake Royale at 4556 California Ave SW on Friday, August 10, 2018 from 10 AM – 11:30 AM

West Seattle currently has one RPZ, in the Fauntleroy ferry dock area.

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WEST SEATTLE LIGHT RAIL: Sound Transit plans soil sampling on Pigeon Point
July 17, 2018 11:56 am
|    Comments Off on WEST SEATTLE LIGHT RAIL: Sound Transit plans soil sampling on Pigeon Point
 |   Transportation | West Seattle news

11:56 AM: Thanks to Pete Spalding for sending a copy of that flyer circulated on Pigeon Point by Sound Transit. As it says, ST’s ongoing planning for West Seattle light rail will bring crews to PP for two to three days, starting as soon as tomorrow, for soil sampling. Options under consideration for West Seattle light-rail routing include either skirting around Pigeon Point or tunneling under it; ST reps talked with residents at the Pigeon Point Neighborhood Council‘s meeting last month (WSB coverage here). At that meeting, asked where a Pigeon Point tunnel would end at the surface to the west, ST reps said “around Genesee/Delridge,” which explains the sampling location [map].

WHAT’S NEXT IN THE PROCESS: The project’s Stakeholder Advisory Group met again last night; most of the agenda was non-West Seattle-related. (Meeting docs are not yet online but if you’re interested, we’ve obtained the draft slide decks for the SODO alternatives [11 MB PDF] and Chinatown/ID alternatives [10 MB PDF] that comprised most of the discussion last night.) The SAG’s next scheduled meeting is September 5th; the Elected Leadership Group is scheduled to meet this Thursday, 2-4 pm, at the Sound Transit board room (401 S. Jackson). The recommendation for routes/station locations to advance to the third and final review phase is expected in fall.

ADDED 4:14 PM: The full presentation from last night’s stakeholder meeting – including slides from the technical briefing looking at issues with water crossings (such as the bridge that is to be built across the Duwamish River) – is now online.

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West Seattle Tuesday: WS Big Band Concert in the Park; ‘Unplugged!’; more…
July 17, 2018 11:09 am
|    Comments Off on West Seattle Tuesday: WS Big Band Concert in the Park; ‘Unplugged!’; more…
 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

Busy day already, so before it gets any busier, here are the highlights from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:

WADING POOLS: Open today! In West Seattle, that means Lincoln Park (8011 Fauntleroy Way SW), 11 am-8 pm, and Delridge (Genesee/Delridge), noon-6:30 pm.

MOBILE BIKE REPAIRS: Second BikeWorks session of the summer – free or reduced-price bicycle repairs on the driveway behind Neighborhood House High Point, 2-4:30 pm. (6400 Sylvan Way SW)

DELRIDGE GROCERY FARMSTAND: Your next chance to buy farm-fresh produce from the Delridge Grocery Coop is 3-7 pm at the farmstand at the Shell across from DGC’s future store. (5441 Delridge Way SW)

SHAKE THE ROOM! 6 pm at High Point Library: “Shake up your body and expand your mind with beats and melodies from around the world. People of all ages are invited to learn about the natural world, experiment with new languages and create a spontaneous community jam session with Eli Rosenblatt’s high-energy blend of sounds from all over the globe.” (3411 SW Raymond)

WEST SEATTLE LITTLE LEAGUE: The 11’s play their next state-tournament game tonight. WSLL shared this photo of the team with the marquee put up by Easy Street Records during Summer Fest (as shown in our as-it-happened festival coverage):

Their next game is tonight at 6:30 pm at PacWest in SeaTac. (14653 16th Ave S.)
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CONCERT IN THE PARK: 7 pm tonight, be on the east lawn at Hiawatha for the West Seattle Big Band Concert in the Park (co-sponsored by WSB)! Free & fun – great music and a great way to stay cool. Here’s our detailed preview. (Walnut/Lander)

UNPLUGGED! Acoustic musicians and singers of all genres are welcome at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor), 7 pm. (5612 California SW)

Got something for the calendar? Please send info via e-mail – westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!

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West Seattle power outage: South end of Harbor Island
July 17, 2018 10:31 am
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   Utilities | West Seattle news

10:31 AM: A 78-customer power outage that stretches eastward across the Duwamish River is affecting south Harbor Island. Thanks for the call that tipped us to this – the screengrab above is from the Seattle City Light outage map. No word yet on the cause.

11:52 AM: Mary reports in comments that the power’s back on; the City Light map indeed shows the outage is over. We’re checking on the cause.

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VIDEO: Carmen Best announced as Seattle Police Chief
July 17, 2018 9:47 am
|      18 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle police

(10:34 am: Clicking “play” should take you to the archived video of what was a live feed from announcement at City Hall)

9:47 AM: Ten days after she was announced as back in the running for the permanent job, Interim Seattle Police Chief Carmen Best is about to get it. That’s according to a media advisory from the mayor’s office, which says Mayor Durkan will make the announcement at 10 am. We’ll add the official news release when it’s available.

10:12 AM: We have the live announcement going in a stream from City Hall above right now. Durkan says “everybody knows” Chief Best and knows she can do the job. “She knows our city and our officers.” Chief Best says, “I know great things are ahead” and says she is “incredibly grateful for the opportunity.”

10:21 AM: The speeches are over and now it’s question time. First, the mayor announced there’s a 3:30 pm meet-and-greet at City Hall’s Bertha Knight Landes Room this afternoon for anyone who wants to meet the new chief (who does still need to be confirmed by the council), and she says they’ll be touring the city, visiting precinct roll calls, etc.

10:32 AM: The announcement event is over. The video window above should now take you to the archived video.

12:14 PM: After the jump (if you’re reading from our home page), the official news release:

Read More

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TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Tuesday watch; 35th/Holden collision
July 17, 2018 7:11 am
|      9 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

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

7:11 AM: We start with a collision at 35th/Holden. A texter says a motorcyclist was injured. No other details. That’s it for incidents so far in or from West Seattle.

ADDED: The call closed fairly quickly; commenter Will explains why.

NOTE FOR JULY 28: The city has provided early heads-up that the West Seattle Bridge’s Admiral Way ramp will be closed for “tidying up” on July 28th.

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UPDATE: Fauntlee Hills house fire blamed on ‘oil staining rags’
July 17, 2018 1:57 am
|      25 COMMENTS
 |   Fauntleroy | West Seattle fires | West Seattle news

(WSB photos)

1:57 AM: A full Seattle Fire response is headed for a house fire reported in the 8600 block of Fauntlee Crest SW [map]. Updates to come.

2:02 AM: First crews arriving say it’s a fully engulfed 2-story house and they’re calling a second alarm. Side note – this is a difficult area to reach, up a hillside dead-end. It’s close to our HQ … but there are dead-ends here on top of the hill too.

2:14 AM: Via scanner, scene commander reports most of the fire has been “knocked down” – and she is referring to the dead-end street as she instructs some of the extra units on where to locate. No report of any injuries; the initial report of this mentioned that the residents were evacuating.

2:21 AM: Added a photo just sent by our crew. SFD is canceling most of the second-alarm units.

2:29 AM: SFD is reporting that the last spots of fire were in the attic – our crew confirms that firefighters are aiming water that way right now – and the fire’s just been declared “tapped.”

2:53 AM: We’ve talked to the SFD public-information officer on scene. (video added)

Both people who were home got out OK; no injuries to anyone. They got their two cats out OK too.

3:26 AM: They’re continuing to dismiss crews from the scene, but at least one will remain, on “fire watch” as is usually the case at sizable fire scenes, for some hours to come.

12:10 PM: SFD has announced that its investigator determined the fire to be accidental, “caused by spontaneous combustion of oil staining rags. Fire started on the deck and spread to the main living area. Total estimated loss is $500,000.”

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