West Seattle, Washington

17 Saturday

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day : 14/08/2018 10 results

West Seattle smoke: ‘Conditions may start to improve Wednesday’
August 14, 2018 9:25 pm
|      6 COMMENTS
 |   Health | West Seattle news | West Seattle weather

That’s the view West Seattle pilot/photographer Long Bach Nguyen had of our peninsula last night … you can only imagine what it looks like tonight. Earlier today, he did get to fly above the wildfire smoke – here’s Mount Rainier (elevation 14,400+ feet) peeking above:

The National Weather Service’s “special weather statement” about the smoke does offer a bit of hope: “Conditions may start to improve Wednesday as an upper level trough begins to approach the area…bringing a better chance for increased onshore flow.” Meantime, Twitter users have been providing photographic perspective:



About the smoke itself – lots of updated info on the Washington Smoke Information website.

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Remembering Donald C. Kelly, 1927-2018
August 14, 2018 8:05 pm
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 |   Obituaries | West Seattle news

Family and friends are sharing this remembrance of 90-year-old Donald C. Kelly:

Donald Charles Kelly died peacefully in his sleep on August 8, 2018 at his daughter’s home in Ashland, Oregon. He was 16 days short of his 91st birthday.

Born in West Seattle on August 24, 1927 to George Leo Kelly and Hannah Margarite Oberg, Don and his sister Maxine spent their formative years growing up a stone’s throw from Alki Beach. Don always enjoyed the water, especially that of Puget Sound, and always seemed to have a boat, even sewing by hand the sails for his first sailboat.

He graduated from West Seattle High School in 1945 and enlisted in the Navy at the end of World War II, serving on a landing ship medium (LSM) in the Panama Canal, Mississippi River and Florida waters as an engine mechanic until his Honorable Discharge from active duty as Fireman, First Class, in 1946. He remained in the Navy Reserve until 1954.

After his discharge in 1946, Don studied mechanical engineering at Gonzaga and was always proud of his Bulldog connection. He took a job working at remote logging camps and later scavenged cut logs from Puget Sound beaches by tugboat.

His best friend, Fred Bell, introduced Don to Betty Jo Keelen, and they were married in 1951. There followed three sons and a daughter and the family lived in the South Puget Sound area while Don worked for an oil company before he started work in heavy equipment sales, specializing in conveyor systems for aggregate production, leading to his nickname “Rock Crusher” and the subsequent name of his heavy equipment consulting business. Don moved the family as his career evolved, living in Sherwood and Tigard in the Portland area. He later moved the family to Medford in 1975 when Empire Rubber needed him to run a branch office selling heavy conveyor equipment.

Betty and Don went their separate ways in 1979 and Don traveled the country plying his trade, living in places such as Connecticut, Kentucky, Alaska and California before settling in the Portland/ Vancouver area, buying and selling heavy equipment until his retirement in 2014. He moved to a retirement home in Ashland in 2015 to be close to family, and then moved in with his daughter and her husband the following year.

Don was an ebullient salesman and never allowed anyone he met to remain a stranger. He loved the outdoors, especially anywhere near the water, and once waterskied along the Inside Passage on his way back from Alaska. He enjoyed fishing and rafting, including his last trip down the Class IV rapids of the Klamath when he was 80. He relished his role as grandfather and would visit his grandchildren in Ashland often, treating them to annual words of wisdom every Christmas. He also made sure to bring a doggie treat for Jackson every time he visited.

He was preceded in death by his mother, father, and sister. He is survived by his four children, Donnie, Tim (of West Seattle), Lee (of West Seattle) and Joann (Brent); six grandchildren, Jasmine, Bonnie, Zachary, Marcus, Kiley, Adeline; one great-granddaughter, Amelia, and the Wallis clan of Twisp, Washington. A private graveside service will be held on his birthday at the National Cemetery in Eagle Point.

(WSB publishes West Seattle obituaries by request, free of charge. Please e-mail the text, and a photo if available, to editor@westseattleblog.com)

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SURVEY: Southwest Seattle Youth Alliance has questions, seeks your answers
August 14, 2018 6:30 pm
|    Comments Off on SURVEY: Southwest Seattle Youth Alliance has questions, seeks your answers
 |   Health | How to help | West Seattle news

How much of a problem do alcohol and other drugs pose to youth in our community? A local group asks that question each year, and has just released this year’s survey:

The Southwest Seattle Youth Alliance, a school and community coalition formed to address the high rates of youth substance use in Southwest Seattle, would like your help in learning more about community concerns related to drugs and alcohol. The coalition will use these surveys to guide their work in selecting effective prevention programs and services for youth and the community. Please take a few minutes to complete this anonymous survey.

The survey starts here in English, and here in Spanish. The SWSYA says, “The data from these surveys will be used to implement evidence-based prevention programs in middle and high schools in the community.”

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FOLLOWUP: 16-year-old arrested in High Point murder; victim identified
August 14, 2018 3:31 pm
|      88 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | High Point | West Seattle news | West Seattle police

3:31 PM: Police have now confirmed that they’ve arrested a 16-year-old suspect in last Thursday night’s deadly shooting of a 37-year-old man after the two got off a bus on the west side of the 35th and Morgan intersection. He was arrested in High Point – where detectives have been on scene along Lanham north of Graham for a while, though when we asked for comment about an hour ago, after taking the photo above, we were told they had nothing to release yet. SPD’s announcement adds, “Detectives are interviewing the teen and plan to book him into the King County Youth Service Center for investigation of murder. Thank you to everyone who called in with information about this case.” The arrest comes one day after police released Metro surveillance video of a person they described as the murder suspect. This is the fifth murder case of the year in West Seattle and the first with an arrest.

7:52 PM: The victim has been identified as Taylor C. Fehlen; a commenter shared this link to his obituary, which says a memorial gathering is planned tomorrow.

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THINK HOLIDAYS! Fauntleroy Fine Art and Gift Show entry deadline approaching
August 14, 2018 2:03 pm
|    Comments Off on THINK HOLIDAYS! Fauntleroy Fine Art and Gift Show entry deadline approaching
 |   Fauntleroy | West Seattle news | WS culture/arts

(By Apple Cox, past and future show participant)

Not to rush you out of summer mode too soon – but some holiday planning does happen before summer’s end. So we’re sharing this announcement sent by Judy Pickens:

Aug. 31 is the deadline for artists and artistic crafters to apply to be in the Fauntleroy Fine Art and Holiday Gift Show Nov. 9-11. The 11th annual event hosted by Fauntleroy Church is open to artists working in any medium (glass, metal, paper, paint, resin, etc.) and crafters should display a high level of creativity and quality.

Show participants must live in or have studio space in West Seattle or on Vashon. For details and the application form, visit www.fauntleroyucc.org, email fauntleroyfineart@gmail.com, or call 206-932-5600.

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Why you’ll see a shipping container at Don Armeni Boat Ramp this Friday
August 14, 2018 12:00 pm
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle parks

That’s a rendering of what you’ll see on the lawn at Don Armeni Boat Ramp this Friday in honor of National Thrift Shop Day, according to an announcement we received today from a public-relations firm on behalf of Value Village. The announcement says the company has partnered “with three Seattle influencers to spark thrift-spiration and celebrate secondhand style. The influencers … have been tasked to style a distinct space in the same reused shipping container – using thrifted items, of course. … The event illustrates how thrift lets any shopper express their unique point of view, stand out from the crowd and celebrate their individuality — no matter their design aesthetic, life stage or price point.” The “influencers” are Joanna Hawley, Emma Cortes, and Charles Koh. No sales/shopping involved, but you’re welcome to visit, 8 am-8 pm Friday (August 17th).

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6 for your West Seattle Tuesday
August 14, 2018 10:30 am
|    Comments Off on 6 for your West Seattle Tuesday
 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Pigeon Guillemot, photographed by Mark Wangerin)

Half a dozen highlights for the rest of your mid-August Tuesday:

WADING POOLS: Open! West Seattle’s Tuesday pools are Lincoln Park (8011 Fauntleroy Way SW), 11 am-8 pm, and Delridge (Genesee/Delridge), noon-6:30 pm.

NURSING PROGRAM INFO: Interested in studying nursing at South Seattle College (WSB sponsor)? 11 am info session today! (6000 16th SW)

MOBILE BIKE REPAIRS: Fifth BikeWorks session of the summer! You’ll find 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, WITH BBQ: The Delridge Grocery Coop adds a community barbecue to its weekly farmstand today, 3-7 pm at the Shell across from DGC’s future store. (5441 Delridge Way SW)

ADMIRAL NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION, SPECIAL LOCATION: 6:30 pm, the Admiral Neighborhood Association‘s summer meeting is at the newly complete Aegis Living of West Seattle (WSB sponsor), including a tour. All welcome! (4700 SW Admiral Way)

GEEKS WHO DRINK: Tonight is the weekly trivia night at Whisky West (WSB sponsor), 8 pm. 21+. (6451 California SW)

PEEK INTO THE FUTURE … by checking out our complete calendar, where you’ll find more for today/tonight AND weeks/months beyond!

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Last week for all but 1 West Seattle wading pool
August 14, 2018 9:33 am
|      6 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle parks

(WSB file photo, Delridge wading pool)

If you and your little one(s) have been enjoying the Seattle Parks wading pools this summer – here’s a reminder: Except for Lincoln Park wading pool, open daily (weather permitting) through Labor Day (September 3rd), this is the last week for the city’s wading pools. In our area:

SOUTH PARK’S LAST DAY: Thursday (August 16th)

EC HUGHES’S LAST DAY: Friday (August 17th)

HIAWATHA’S LAST DAY: Saturday (August 18th)

DELRIDGE’S LAST DAY: Sunday (August 19th)

P.S. West Seattle’s only spraypark, Highland Park, will – like the Lincoln Park wading pool – be open daily, 11 am-8 pm, through Labor Day.

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TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Tuesday watch
August 14, 2018 7:08 am
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

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

7:08 AM: So far, no incidents reported in/from West Seattle.

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DONE! One last work party completes playground for Roxhill Elementary at EC Hughes
August 14, 2018 12:43 am
|      9 COMMENTS
 |   Sunrise Heights | West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

From Friends of Roxhill:

About 25 volunteers finished leveling the wood chips Monday night at the new playground for Roxhill Elementary at E.C. Hughes. The new playground must be inspected by Seattle Public Schools before it will be open. The district hopes to conduct orientation and safety training during our back-to-school barbecue on Aug. 30. More information on when it will be open to the public will be available soon.

Thank you to everyone who came out in support of Friends of Roxhill Elementary’s efforts to bring a new playground to our school. Without community pledges and hard work, none of this would have been possible. Also, take a look at the corner of 32nd and Kenyon, where the mural (also designed through a community process) is taking shape.

If you have questions or want to get involved, contact friendsofroxhill@gmail.com.

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