West Seattle, Washington

27 Friday

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month : 07/2018 333 results

Driver damages doors at Harbor Avenue 7-11
July 21, 2018 10:16 am
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | WS breaking news

Not a good week for the Harbor Avenue 7-11. First the dumpster fire on Wednesday – now a crash. After a reader tip that someone had driven into the store’s doors, we went to the 7-11 and found this damage. Store workers didn’t want to comment and there were no police or fire personnel on scene (nor is there a SFD call logged to the scene any time since midnight), so apparently no injuries) so we’re not clear on exactly what happened or when, but they have some cleanup to do – from outside you can see some items tossed about inside too.

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PHOTOS: Before the West Seattle Grand Parade
July 21, 2018 9:48 am
|      7 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle Grand Parade | West Seattle news

9:48 AM: Before the West Seattle Grand Parade – the preparations. Including clearing the route – those “NO PARKING” signs are serious business, and after two tow trucks headed southbound on California, one returned with that ReachNow car on the hook. Parking restrictions are in place on some side streets, too. Meantime, just north of the parade route …

The Seafair Pirates are making their pre-parade appearance at Brookdale Admiral Heights, which hosts visiting “royalty” for a special breakfast. They will of course “sail” the parade route in their trusty landlubbing vessel Moby Duck, currently parked outside Brookdale. Back on the parade route:

Michelle Edwards and Jim Edwards – who rides the route before, during, and after, coordinating communication with amateur-radio operators – of the parade-coordination team were conferring, steps from the tent bearing the logo of the Rotary Club of West Seattle, which presents the parade. Also present, SFD and SPD – Engine 29 from nearby Ferry Avenue SW is a parade entry.

We also saw Southwest Precinct Operations Lt. Steve Strand, who, while currently in his SPD uniform, will be changing pre-parade, he tells us, to ride as commander of the West Seattle VFW post.

Remember that California is now closed along the route, south of Admiral to north of Edmunds, and will be until the parade concludes around 1 pm. More updates to come!

10:20 AM: Motorcycles are here:


This is the only US appearance for the Vancouver B.C. PD drill team every year. They’ll follow the SPD team.

10:35 AM: The motorcycles haven’t left yet. We’ve seen another car towed, though! Still room to sit, even here at the head end of the route – even on the Hiawatha slope over the sidewalk.

We’ll post a separate story once the parade has begun, and we’ll also add a few more pre-parade photos to this one later.

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West Seattle Grand Parade, PAWrade, WS Outdoor Movies, and MUCH more for your Saturday!
July 21, 2018 7:15 am
|      1 COMMENT
 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

Happy Saturday! We start today’s list with the biggest event of the day:

WEST SEATTLE GRAND PARADE: 11 am is the official start from California/Lander, headed southbound to California/Edmunds, but the police motorcycle drill teams get started first, as early as 10:30 am. Here’s our most-comprehensive preview.

WEST SEATTLE PAWrade: Used to be a kid parade before the Grand Parade. This year, a dog parade! If you didn’t preregister, no worries, you and your dog(s) can just show up at 4400 California SW before the 11 am start – the PAWrade (categories and prizes if you choose to be part of that, but it’s not required) will go from California/Genesee to California/Edmunds.

ROAD CLOSURES AND BUS REROUTES: California closes a few hours in advance and parking restrictions are in effect now, including side streets used for staging near the start of the parade route. Metro reroutes are linked here.

Also happening today/tonight:

DUWAMISH ROWING CLUB HOSTS REGATTA: 8 am-2 pm, from Duwamish Waterway Park, it’s the club’s third annual Dieter Hotz Regatta. Spectators welcome! (7900 10th Ave. S.)

TAI CHI AT THE BEACH: 9 am, near Alki Statue of Liberty Plaza, by donation. All welcome. (61st SW/Alki SW)

ALKI BEACH PRIDE: Fourth annual LGBTQI party at the beach, 11 am-6 pm! (59th SW/Alki SW)

WADING POOLS: Sunny and warm again today, so they’ll be open! In West Seattle, today’s wading pools are Lincoln Park (8011 Fauntleroy Way SW), until 8 pm, and Hiawatha (Walnut/Lander), noon-6:30 pm. Highland Park Spraypark (1100 SW Cloverdale) is also open, 11 am-8 pm.

COLMAN POOL CLOSURE: Again today, Colman Pool is closed to the public because of swim meets.

ICE CREAM SOCIAL FUNDRAISER: Noon-3 pm, presented by School of Rock, at West Seattle Christian Church, with ice cream from Full Tilt, to get instruments for students in need. (4400 42nd SW)

SEATTLE CHINESE GARDEN KITE FESTIVAL: The annual celebration at the Seattle Chinese Garden, 2-6 pm, north end of South Seattle College (WSB sponsor) campus on Puget Ridge.

Details here. (6000 16th SW)

LATINO CULTURAL CELEBRATION: Free, at (updated time) 7 pm at Roxhill Park, “headlined by Paraguayan singer and dancer Deseo Carmin bringing her unique blend of Latin rhythms, modern Latin jazz and flamenco-influenced music and dance, accompanied by the amazing guitarist Stoma Andrei. Also featuring a performance piece Aqua, written and performed by Venezuelan Milivia Pacheco and directed by Fernando Luna, exploring the Afro-Latina experience and their connection to water.” (29th/Barton)

WEST SEATTLE OUTDOOR MOVIES: First of six Saturday nights for the free outdoor-movie series! Tonight at dusk – “Wonder Woman.” You’re welcome to bring your chair/blanket and stake out a spot as early as 6:30 pm outside the West Seattle YMCA (WSB sponsor), which offers kids’ activities and concessions. Tonight’s raffle will benefit the West Seattle Helpline. (3622 SW Snoqualmie)

‘THE THREE MUSKETEERS’: Swashbuckling outdoor theater presented by GreenStage, 7 pm at Camp Long. Free. (5200 35th SW)

ROO AND THE FEW: Performing covers and originals at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor), 7-9 pm. (5612 California SW)

RYEGRASS: 7:30 pm at Kenyon Hall – details in our calendar listing. (7904 35th SW)

EVEN MORE … on our complete calendar!

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UPDATE: Police investigating deadly stabbing at 16th/Cambridge
July 20, 2018 9:53 pm
|      63 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | West Seattle news | West Seattle police

(WSB photos)

9:53 PM: Police are converging on the vicinity of 16th and Cambridge, where someone is reported – per radio communication – to have been found stabbed to death. No one’s in custody so far.

10:02 PM: The Guardian One helicopter is joining the search, as is at least one Seattle Police K9 team.

10:11 PM: SFD at the scene confirms to our crew that the victim is dead and male.

10:25 PM: This is the third homicide case of the year in West Seattle, after the June stabbing of Jonathan Pecina on Alki Avenue SW and the May 8th shooting of Lorenzo Marr at West Seattle Stadium. No arrests reported in either of those cases.

10:44 PM: We’ve added photos from the scene. Still no one in custody. We asked police about the circumstances of the original call on this – they say it was phoned in to 911 as someone down in the street, and they arrived before SFD, to discover the person was dead.

SATURDAY MORNING, 9:23 AM: Just saw SW Precinct Operations Lt. Steve Strand in the staging zone for the Grand Parade and asked him if there had been an arrest overnight. Answer: No.

SATURDAY AFTERNOON: A summary is now on SPD Blotter but the only information not already reported here is that the victim was 34 years old. If you have information, you’re asked to call SPD’s tip line at 206-233-5000.

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VIDEO: As voting begins, five 34th District State Senate candidates answer West Seattle Chamber of Commerce questions
July 20, 2018 9:05 pm
|      10 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle politics

The ballots have been mailed and voting has begun for the August 7th primary election. The major local race in our area is for the 34th District State Senate seat. Last night at the DAV Hall in Delridge, five of the 11 candidates answered questions at a forum presented by the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce. Our video begins with introductions from the Chamber and DAV; if you want to jump ahead to the candidates, they start 4 minutes in:

The Chamber said it invited all 11 candidates, with repeated outreach to those who didn’t accept the invitation, and these are the ones who showed up: Joe Nguyen, Shannon Braddock, Sofia Aragon, Lois Schipper, and Lem Charleston. Among the highlights of the forum: State Senator Sharon Nelson, whose decision not to run for re-election set up this wide-open race, was invited to question her would-be successors.

P.S. You have at least one more chance to hear from candidates in this race – the White Center Chamber of Commerce has a forum scheduled for 6 pm next Tuesday (July 24) at Tommy Sound (9409 Delridge Way SW). They have not yet announced which candidates will participate. And remember to get your ballot in a mailbox – prepaid postage! – or dropbox by August 7th.

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WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Stolen green Nissan
July 20, 2018 8:23 pm
|    Comments Off on WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Stolen green Nissan
 |   Arbor Heights | Crime | West Seattle news

Another stolen car to watch for – from Rich: “Please keep an eye out for a dark green 1997 Nissan Maxima, Washington tag 902 XBT. The vehicle was stolen from SW 99th Street in Arbor Heights last night. The car was recently washed and it is in good condition. Bummer.” Call 911 if you see it

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West Seattle Outdoor Movies start Saturday night!
July 20, 2018 7:58 pm
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle Outdoor Movies

Around this time tomorrow night, the SW Snoqualmie festival street should be filling up for the first West Seattle Outdoor Movies presentation of the summer! “Wonder Woman” is the first of six free Saturday night movies you’ll see outside the West Seattle YMCA (WSB sponsor) at dusk tomorrow, July 28th, August 4th, August 11th, August 18th, and August 25th. You can come stake out your spot (bring your own chair/blanket) as early as 6:30 pm; the Y provides kid activities and will offer concessions, too, while you wait for the movie, which starts at dusk (time gets earlier as the weeks go on). If you bring a few bucks, you also can buy tickets for the nonprofit-fundraiser raffle – tomorrow night’s spotlighted nonprofit and beneficiary is the West Seattle Helpline. Series co-sponsors include WSB again this year. Here’s the full schedule of movies as announced back in May!

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West Seattle Grand Parade and PAWrade tomorrow! Last-minute notes
July 20, 2018 6:20 pm
|      6 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle Grand Parade | West Seattle news

Just hours until this year’s West Seattle Grand Parade (motorcycles ~10:30, rest of the parade 11, starting at California/Lander)! A few night-before notes:

HONOR GUARD: This year, instead of a military honor guard, you’ll see a Boy Scout honor guard carrying the flags at the start of the parade – Troop 284.

GETTING READY: Longtime WSB sponsor Potter Construction is also a Grand Parade sponsor and entry, and sent the photo after decorating the truck that’ll roll down the route tomorrow morning.

PREPARING FOR THE PAWrade: Also in prep mode – Newman, official spokesdog of the first-ever West Seattle PAWrade:

Prizes! Glory! And/or, just plain fun. You and your dog(s) can just show up at the starting spot – 4400 California SW – after 10:15 but before 11 am tomorrow and be part of the PAWrade right before the Grand Parade. Here’s the latest info.

ROAD REMINDERS: California SW will be closed, from just south of Admiral Way to SW Edmunds, from mid-morning until all parade entries have cleared the route (usually just after 1 pm). Side streets will be used for staging, so if you’re seeing parking restrictions tonight, heed those too. Bus reroutes are all linked from the Metro alerts page.

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WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Stolen blue Jetta
July 20, 2018 4:09 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   Crime | West Seattle news

Brien e-mailed to report: “My father’s 2002 VW Jetta TDI, WA plates AEE7595, was stolen from in front of our house last night/early this morning. It is dark blue with a black roof rack container on top. He had golf clubs and a power saw in the car.” This happened in the 3100 block of SW Genesee; call 911 if you see the car:

P.S. Brian, whose Camry – stolen on Alki – was mentioned here yesterday, says it was found today at 15th/Henderson.

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STUFF THE BUS: Pickups today, West Seattle Grand Parade tomorrow, party Sunday
July 20, 2018 2:25 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   How to help | West Seattle news

WestSide Baby‘s biggest weekend of its summer Stuff the Bus diaper-donation drive is on!

(Photos courtesy WestSide Baby)

Those are kids at Alki Beach Academy, where WS Baby picked up 11,083 donated diapers today!

The bus also stopped at Fauntleroy Children’s Center. You’ll see it tomorrow in the West Seattle Grand Parade, and on Sunday at WS Baby HQ in White Center, where you are invited to the Stuff the Bus bash, fun for everyone (bring diapers!) noon-3 pm, 10002 14th SW.

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The Hill Team at Keller Willliams Realty: Welcome, new West Seattle Blog sponsor!
July 20, 2018 12:46 pm
|      5 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle housing | West Seattle news

Today we welcome a new sponsor, The Hill Team at Keller Williams Realty, led by Zack & Jodi Hill. Together they bring more than 15 years of experience in buying and selling homes in West Seattle. As they say, “We live here. We work here. We invest in the community here.” Which is why they’ve hosted holiday food drives for the West Seattle Food Bank and been sponsors of both Hope Lutheran School and Lafayette Elementary. Zack and Jodi said that one the of the best parts of living in West Seattle over the years has been to have the opportunity to give back to the community.

Whether it’s your first time in the market or you’ve sold a home before, Zack and Jodi are ready to talk to you about the market value of your home or what’s available in West Seattle. Like this current listing:

Zack describes the home:

We currently have an extraordinary custom home listed in the Admiral neighborhood at 2715 37th Avenue SW. The home features stunning craftsmanship, breathtaking views, and environmentally friendly design.

The green features include solar panels, an electric-car charging station, high-efficiency LED lighting, and sustainably grown bamboo floors.

For more info on this home, or to book an appointment to sell or buy, you can contact Zack and Jodi – 206-412-0149 or zack@zackhill.com.

We thank Zack and Jodi Hill 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.

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Alki Community Council gets newest info on SPF30 as Sub Pop Records’ megaparty approaches
July 20, 2018 11:30 am
|      9 COMMENTS
 |   Neighborhoods | West Seattle news

By Randall Hauk
Reporting for West Seattle Blog

With Sub Pop Records’ 30th-anniversary party bringing thousands to Alki Beach three weeks from tomorrow, it was a primary topic at last night’s Alki Community Council meeting.

Sub Pop CEO Megan Jasper opened discussion by thanking community members for asking questions and offering feedback that have helped guide efforts to minimize impact on the neighborhood.

“You share your neighborhood with so many of us,” said Jasper, “and I want to be respectful of that.”

Following Jasper’s opening remarks, Sub Pop Operations Manager Gabe Carter introduced the topic of street closures, with a reminder that Alki Avenue will be completely closed to traffic between 56th SW and 63rd SW. There will also be a “soft closure” of 59th SW from Alki Avenue SW to SW Stevens Street.

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What’s up for your West Seattle Friday
July 20, 2018 10:03 am
|    Comments Off on What’s up for your West Seattle Friday
 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Thursday evening photo by David Hutchinson)

Happy Friday! Highlights from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:

THRIFTWAY TENT SALE: First of three days for the West Seattle Thriftway (WSB sponsor) tent sale. (4201 SW Morgan)

WADING POOLS OPEN: In West Seattle, Friday wading pools are Lincoln Park (8011 Fauntleroy Way SW), until 8 pm; EC Hughes (2805 SW Holden), noon-7 pm; Hiawatha (Walnut/Lander), noon-6:30 pm.

WHITE CENTER JUBILEE DAYS: Festival continues with 11 am-11 pm carnival, 3 pm-11 pm block party – details and locations on the WCJD website.

COLMAN POOL CLOSED: Today and tomorrow, the outdoor saltwater pool at Lincoln Park is closed to the public because of swim meets.

FRIDAY AFTERNOON AT THE MOVIES: 1 pm at the Senior Center of West Seattle, Terry presents “The Greatest Movies You’ve Never Heard Of.” Today: “The Devil’s Backbone” (2001). $1 members, $2 nonmembers, free popcorn! (4217 SW Oregon)

BUILD THE WORLD’S SLOWEST COMPUTER! 2 pm at High Point Library, as explained here. (3411 SW Raymond)

SWAC COUGARS SIGNUPS: Registration continues for SWAC Cougars Youth Football and Cheer. You can also do it in person 5:30-7:30 pm at Southwest Athletic Complex. (2801 SW Thistle)

SHAKESPEARE IN THE PARK: GreenStage presents “Henry IV, Part 1,” 7 pm at Camp Long. (5200 35th SW)

THE BREWS BROTHERS: This three-person guitar band performs live at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor), 7-9 pm. (5612 California SW)

AT EASY STREET RECORDS: Sandrider, live, in-store, all ages! 7 pm. (California/Alaska)

AT KENYON HALL: Roy Zimmerman presents “ReZist,” 7:30 pm at Kenyon Hall. Details and ticket info in our calendar listing.

AT PARLIAMENT TAVERN: 9 pm, it’s Special Order, Goodtime Hustle, The Aion Frequency in “a night of funky psychedelic music featuring three of the Pacific Northwest’s finest genre-bending acts” at Parliament Tavern in The Admiral District. $7 cover. 21+. (4210 SW Admiral Way)

SEE THE FULL LINEUP … for today and beyond, via our complete calendar!

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SUMMER CAMP: Soccer skills for elementary and middle schoolers
July 20, 2018 9:09 am
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | WS & Sports

Jake Webster, one of two captains of the Chief Sealth International High School boys’ soccer teams, is inviting younger players to a camp coming up July 30th-August 2nd, 9 am-2 pm each day:

This soccer camp is for children going into 3rd-9th grade and is great for a player of any skill level. The camp focuses on skill development, teamwork and leadership, as well as life values and traits. The Chief Sealth soccer camp is led by past and present players of both the boys’ and girls’ programs at Sealth and is a great opportunity for students segueing into Sealth to meet and bond with players and coaching staff at the varsity level. For the four days, the cost per child is $100 and includes a T-Shirt at the end of the camp.

Here’s the registration form (PDF)

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Site note: Technical work this morning
July 20, 2018 7:54 am
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle online

The technical work we mentioned the other day had to continue this morning, so it will be a few hours until the site is stable. If you get a warning message on certain browsers/devices – it’s a bit ironic because the work that is under way is actually related to beefing up site security (changing WSB to https access, like many websites already have done) but we have so many internal links that those might trigger the warning. Apologies and thanks for your patience!

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4747 California SW – ‘future home of Husky Deli’ + apartments – gets Southwest Design Review Board OK to move to next phase
July 19, 2018 11:13 pm
|      8 COMMENTS
 |   Development | West Seattle news

(WSB photo: Jack Miller speaking, Ed Hewson at left, Design Review Board members Crystal Loya, John Cheng, Scott Rosenstock, Matt Hutchins in background, architect Katie McGough at right)

By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

It was a Southwest Design Review Board meeting unlike most.

This one spotlighted the proposed mixed-use project’s future commercial anchor, whose proprietor is the property’s owner: Pre-meeting, a time-lapse clip of customers inside Husky Deli – whose next home will be inside the planned building at 4747 California Avenue SW – played continuously on the big screen.

The board and attendees heard a quick history of the iconic deli from proprietor-turning-developer Jack Miller. And even the lead architect shared a few memories.

But the business of project review got done too – and without much controversy or critiquing, the four board members voted to send it to the second phase of Design Review. Crystal Loya chaired the meeting; other members present were John Cheng, Scott Rosenstock, and Matt Hutchins, plus the designated city planner for the project, Allison Whitworth.

Here’s how things went:

ARCHITECTS’ PRESENTATION: Jenny Chapman with Ankrom Moisan Architects opened by saying Husky Deli is where she – and her two daughters – had their first ice-cream cones. Miller then stood up to offer Husky Deli history – did you know they didn’t start making sandwiches until the ’90s? – “The Junction has changed more in the past six years than it did in the first 80” of Husky Deli, he noted. The current home of his business is “tired” so it’s “time for a change,” he said. “We’re going to put a building together we’re going to be proud of.”

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VIDEO, PHOTOS: Ural Thomas and The Pain open 2018 Summer Concerts at Hiawatha
July 19, 2018 10:12 pm
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle parks | WS culture/arts

Photos and video by Leda Costa for West Seattle Blog

This year’s Summer Concerts at Hiawatha have begun! That’s Ural Thomas and The Pain, up from Portland, shaking the stage tonight for the first of six free Thursday night shows.

The Admiral Neighborhood Association has presented the concert series since 2009, and we’ve been co-sponsoring it since the start. Lots of other community businesses support the series, too, keeping it free.

As usual, the littlest concertgoers were the most prone to getting up and moving to the music. If you missed it, here’s a snippet of sound:

OK, some grownups did dance too:

Next Thursday (July 26th), 6:30 pm on the east lawn at Hiawatha, the concerts continue with Good Quiver – see you there!

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UPDATE: Fire callout on Puget Ridge
July 19, 2018 8:20 pm
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   Puget Ridge | West Seattle fires | West Seattle news

8:20 PM: Seattle Fire has sent a “full response” to what’s described as a vacant structure in the 5400 block of 18th SW [map]. First arrivals report light smoke.

8:32 PM: Some of the responding units are being dismissed.

8:52 PM: Talked to SFD at the scene. They say the fire was in a box of items inside the house. Not a big fire but the house was already in “dilapidated” shape so it looks worse than it was. The rest of the SFD units are now being dismissed.

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Stalking giant hogweed – and other noxious weeds – in West Seattle
July 19, 2018 6:00 pm
|      19 COMMENTS
 |   Environment | Gardening | Health | Safety | West Seattle news

(Photos courtesy King County Noxious Weed Control)

King County Noxious Weed Control Program specialists were in West Seattle again today – for the second time this week, removing an infestation of a plant that’s one of the most noxious they tackle: Giant hogweed.

We contacted them after two WSB readers suggested we follow up on TV reports about a patch of this weed getting removed in West Seattle earlier this week. Sasha Shaw answered our inquiry and explained, it’s not that West Seattle is a particular hotbed of giant hogweed, but rather, the TV folks contacted her looking for a local angle on a story from the East Coast about someone getting badly burned by this weed, and it just so happened that West Seattle was where their most-recent report of a giant hogweed happened to be. Here’s a photo from that first stop, in the Genesee Hill area, on Tuesday:

Shaw is the communications specialist for the program, which is part of the county Natural Resources and Parks department. She explains, “Our program has the big job of stopping the spread of state-regulated noxious weeds such as giant hogweed throughout King County, including in the cities. For the Class A noxious weeds such as giant hogweed, which are limited in distribution in the state, we offer to help people with the control work because of the huge public benefit to stopping these highly invasive and damaging plants from becoming established. Giant hogweed also poses a serious health risk because of the potential of the sap to cause burns and blisters.”

(Here’s their info sheet about giant hogweed, so you can find out more about it.)

She also clarified that the removals in Genesee on Tuesday and Admiral today aren’t the first discoveries of this scary weed in our area: “We have responded to locations of this plant in West Seattle many times. It isn’t the neighborhood in Seattle with the most giant hogweed, but we have found several hundred sites there over the past 15 or so years that we have been working on this plant. We typically find some new sites every year, but more locations are closed than opened as the plants get controlled.”

She points out that you can use the county’s map to “zoom in and see the locations of all the giant hogweed sites we have found in West Seattle, as well as other regulated noxious weeds.” Go to https://gismaps.kingcounty.gov/iMap/ – and, she advises, “turn on the Noxious Weeds layer, select ‘Most Widespread Noxious Weeds,’ zoom in to West Seattle and look for the little green icons that look like pine trees.”

She continued: “At this point, most of the giant hogweed in West Seattle, and other parts of the city, is out of sight in ravines, alleys and backyards. Typically we find new sites when people contact us either about their own hogweed or their neighbor’s plants. Hogweed spends several years as small plants and can be inconspicuous especially in areas overgrown with other vegetation like blackberry. When they flower they are 10 to 15 feet tall so that is often when people discover them. Sometimes people get burned by the sap while working in the yard and then contact us to find out what they have. That’s what happened in the case of the West Seattle homeowner that was featured on KING5 News, although they actually got burned last year but didn’t know why until they found a flowering plant in their alley and identified it online. … People do get seriously burned by this plant so getting the word out as widely as possible is very important.” Also note, this is already toward the end of giant hogweed’s season, and most of the plants are dying back.

This isn’t the only “big problem” noxious weed/invasive plant out there – “but few that are regulated noxious weeds, highly dangerous to people and very invasive,” Shaw notes. We’re going to take her up on her offer to talk with us for a separate story about other weeds you should watch for. (You can start reading about them all here!)

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WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Suspected peeper; followed by ‘creeper’; stolen red Camry; more…
July 19, 2018 4:40 pm
|      6 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | West Seattle news

All of the following are from the WSB inbox:

PEEPER/FLASHER: A resident near 34th/Cloverdale reports this:

Sunday night at 12:30 after midnight I went to bring my garbage out and there was a man standing by my garbage cans, below my open window. He said something to the effect of, “oh, sorry, I was just taking a leak.” I am certain that is not what he was doing. The police agreed. There was NO reason for him to be all the way up my driveway, beyond all the darkened nooks and crannies on the street, only house on block where someone was still up – just doing dishes with the TV on, essentially at window 1.5 stories up. I had a flasher freak 2 years ago – his “flashing” illuminated by his own flashlight (as it were) while standing on my car bumper/garbage cans so that I could see him. I suspect it is the same cretin pervert.

Police suggested more motion detector lights, perhaps a security camera. Also, don’t leave windows open when retiring for the night. I never leave windows open when sleeping, and police said I never should. Criminals know on these hot nights things can get easier for them.

For what it’s worth, this freak was I’d say 6’-6’2”, medium build, Caucasian, black pants, top & hat.

CREEPER: From Halle:

Just a lookout for a man in a tan pickup truck who followed both myself and a friend home last night. Walking in opposite directions from the Morgan Junction, he followed both of us, pulling over and asking for directions to Alki. After we gave clear directions, he exited his vehicle and followed us both on foot asking for our names and saying that he wanted to “get to know us better.”

I’m not sure who he followed first but we both had the same experience which meant he followed one and then turned his vehicle around and pursued the other. We both made it home safely but the experience was unnerving and people should know that this creeper is following women in his vehicle.

STOLEN RED CAMRY: Brian reports his red “1990 Camry was stolen (last night) from behind Spud Fish and Chips. License 253-ZBX.” Call 911 if you see it.

CARS VANDALIZED: Nore reports of cars vandalized with squiggles in that same green paint we’ve shown before. Most recently, Sara says, “Overnight, someone tagged/vandalized our car parked next to our house.” That happened near 35th/Thistle.

BATTERY THEFT: This happened Wednesday morning near 37th/Webster – the victim described it as a grab-and-run:

Our neighbors saw this car pull over and take something from our yard. A check on the security footage shows it to be the battery for our camper. [Video added]

Neighbors got the license plate number, and we will report it to the police.

This happened 8:30 am with my husband and kids at home.

PACKAGE THEFT: From Heather:

54xx block of Fauntleroy. Second time someone has stolen a package off my front porch. This was a Blue Apron box so all I can hope is they needed the food more then I did and the food is being used to feed hungry children.

We hope you never have anything to send in for West Seattle Crime Watch – but if you do, westseattleblog@gmail.com – thanks!

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Another West Seattle project gets its first Design Review date: 3201 SW Avalon Way
July 19, 2018 3:43 pm
|      22 COMMENTS
 |   Development | West Seattle housing | West Seattle news

(King County Assessor’s Office photo)

Starting with tonight’s meeting for 4747 California SW, four projects are now on the Southwest Design Review Board calendar for the next two months. A September 20th date has just been added for 3201 SW Avalon Way, proposed for 7 stories, 152 apartments, and 80 offstreet-parking spaces. We first told you about this project last December, when the early-stage proposal surfaced for the site of the 28-unit Golden Tee Apartments at Avalon/Genesee. The September 20th review – which would focus on the size/shape/siting of the building, since it’s the Early Design Guidance phase – is set for 6:30 pm at the Senior Center/Sisson Building (4217 SW Oregon); if you have comments before that, you can e-mail Abby Weber (abby.weber@seattle.gov), the city planner assigned to the project.

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Duwamish Rowing Club’s annual Dieter Hotz Rowing Regatta: Spectators welcome Saturday!
July 19, 2018 2:21 pm
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   South Park | West Seattle news | WS & Sports

(WSB photo by Leda Costa, from 2017 regatta)

Our area’s only rowing club invites you to its biggest annual event on Saturday! The Duwamish Rowing Club is hosting its third Dieter Hotz Rowing Regatta at Duwamish Waterway Park in South Park, 8 am-2 pm:

All are invited to this free event which features singles, doubles, fours, and quads from Duwamish Rowing and small clubs in the area, e.g. Eastside Prep. Renton Rowing, Lake Stevens and more.

Races will include youth from all the clubs and masters (adults of all ages). Boats will launch from Duwamish Waterway Park at 10th and Elmgrove in South Park, and spectators can view the finish line of the 1000 meter races at 12th and Elmgrove.

Here’s a map to the park.

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Behind the scenes, before Saturday’s 2018 West Seattle Grand Parade
July 19, 2018 12:06 pm
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle Grand Parade | West Seattle news

The West Seattle Grand Parade doesn’t just “happen.”

Before the 70+ entries – and hundreds of participants – roar, roll, and march down California SW this Saturday (July 21st), a lot of planning and coordination is required. Including the lineup meeting, which happened at American Legion Post 160 in The Triangle this past Monday night.

Above are key behind-the-scenes people who made that happen and who will be out Saturday ensuring it goes well – from left, standing, Michelle Edwards, Barbara Edwards, Jim Edwards, Meredith Laws, with Keith Hughes in front – plus, attending this time by phone, Dave Vague. (Michelle is leading the coordination this year, with Jim and Dave; Keith is parade chair for the parade-presenting organization Rotary Club of West Seattle, of which Meredith is the new president.)

We sat in on the lineup meeting again this year and while the parade continues to take shape in the days after it, here are some toplines so far:

*1 Seattle Fire engine
*1 classic privately owned fire truck
*Two police motorcycle drill teams (including the only U.S. appearance by Vancouver, B.C., PD, as usual)
*Two marching bands (All-City Band, which includes musicians from local public schools, and Kennedy HS)
*Three visiting floats
*Scout groups
*Youth sports teams
*Schools
*Drill teams
*Jump-ropers
*Community organizations
*Local businesses
*Cultural groups
*Candidates
*VIPs, including, as already announced, Grand Marshal Lora Swift and Orville Rummel Trophy winner Velko Vitalich
*The full Seafair parade contingent, including Pirates, Clowns, the court, and more

What’s new this year: The PAWrade (still time for you to register – or, just show up at California/Genesee with your pup on Saturday morning!)

What you won’t see: The pre-parade Float Dodger 5K is on hiatus this year.

Who’s announcing: If you’re watching in The Junction, you’ll hear the voice of West Seattle’s own longtime broadcaster/journalist Brian Callanan.

Where to watch: Anywhere along the route! You can see the map on the official parade website. (Remember that California SW along the route will be closed by midmorning, and there are parking restrictions on adjacent streets too, especially the staging streets near the start of the route.)

How long does it last? The motorcycles go first, sometime after 10:30 am. The PAWrade will start from California/Genesee at 11 am. The parade generally ends around 1 pm (sooner of course if you’re watching toward the start of the route in The Admiral District).

The VIPs out of the spotlight: Besides the parade coordinators and assistants at the start of the route – including help from Seafair – the West Seattle Amateur Radio Club will have radio operators all along the route (led by Jim Edwards, who travels the route on motorcycle) in constant communication. And the judges (led by Barbara Edwards) will be at various spots along the route – the winners are announced later in the day and as always, we’ll publish the list.

See you at the Grand Parade – a West Seattle tradition since 1934!

P.S. Saturday’s bus reroutes are linked here.

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