day : 27/11/2018 12 results

Two West Seattle Crime Watch reader reports:

BUSINESS BREAK-IN ATTEMPT: Paul shares the security-camera images from behind two of the 35th/Kenyon businesses: “Suspect is seen attempting to break into an external commercial refrigerator and attempted to pry back door open at business next door as well.”

He continues, “Police report has been filed. If anybody knows of any information that would help, please contact SPD in regards to incident # 2018-443379.”

TRUCK MIRROR THEFT: Terese wanted to sound an alert about a thief west of The Junction: “Our truck mirror was stolen from the street near 47th SW & SW Oregon.”

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SEATTLE SQUEEZE: 6 weeks until viaduct-to-tunnel transition. Here’s what the latest briefing covered

November 27, 2018 9:50 pm

| 25 COMMENTS

| Alaskan Way Viaduct | Highway 99 tunnel | West Seattle news

By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

When state, city, and county transportation officials gathered near the Alaskan Way Viaduct in September to announce it would close forever in January, that sounded so distant.

Now, more than two months have passed, and the January 11th shutdown for the tunnel transition is just 6 weeks and 2 days away. The transportation agencies are hitting the message hard: Be ready, be ready, be ready. The newest round of outreach is a series of info sessions around the city, starting with one last night at Delridge Community Center. We went to catch the toplines and the Q&A, in case you haven’t been paying attention and/or need a refresher course.

As with other recent presentations, this one pointed out that a variety of other factors will contribute to what’s now nicknamed the “Seattle Squeeze.” SDOT’s Meghan Shepard and Metro’s Paul Roybal led the session. Shepard said in cheery opening remarks, “I like to think that we are headed somewhere good.” Waterfront renovation and light-rail extension are part of that “somewhere.”

Now the toplines – you can review the slide deck above or here (PDF) – nothing brand new but at this point the sentiment seems to be, repeat repeat repeat to leave no chance of surprise:

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GIVING TUESDAY: Two more West Seattle ways to give!

November 27, 2018 8:50 pm

| Comments Off on GIVING TUESDAY: Two more West Seattle ways to give!

| Holidays | How to help | West Seattle news

Two more West Seattle nonprofits to mention briefly before Giving Tuesday concludes:

WEST SEATTLE HELPLINE: This nonprofit provides emergency assistance to neighbors in need – often keeping them from becoming homeless, ultimately a much less costly proposition than getting someone out of homelessness once it happens. WS Helpline has a year-end campaign under way to raise $12,000; if you can help with any amount, go here to donate.

WEST SEATTLE TIMEBANK: “Keep your Timebank Ticking!” is their request. While the WS Timebank is a person-to-person service organization, it doesn’t run itself, and donations help in a variety of ways, including:

Enable the Timebank to pay an annual fee to Timebanks USA for the use of the member’s database where exchanges are made – the heartbeat of your Timebank.

Continue our outreach efforts for new members to expand the variety of your exchanges of time and talents.

Expand partnerships with local, non-profit agencies and businesses to offer you a variety of meaningful volunteer opportunities.

Continue our mission to promote equality, reduce social isolation within our community and build a caring community economy through inclusive exchanges of your time and talents.

Go here to donate.

P.S. As mentioned earlier, our Holiday Guide spotlights ways to give throughout the season – including Sunday’s West Seattle Alternative Giving Fair!

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West Seattle Crime Watch: Student ‘inappropriately approached’ at bus stop, schools tell families

November 27, 2018 6:53 pm

| 2 COMMENTS

| Crime | West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

A student waiting at a bus stop was “inappropriately approached” by a man on Monday, according to this note e-mailed to families today by Denny International Middle School principal Jeff Clark and Chief Sealth International High School principal Aida Fraser-Hammer:

We want to actively share any safety-related information regarding any of our scholars when they are out in our community on their way to and from school.

Yesterday, as one of our 8th grade scholars was waiting at a metro stop on Delridge, an adult male inappropriately approached her and attempted to touch her. She did everything right, including running away and calling her mom, who made a police report and notified our school.

As a reminder, the following tips are recommended by the Seattle Police Department for Metro bus riders:

*Pay attention to your surroundings when walking to or from transit stops and on buses or trains.

*Thieves on transit are on the lookout for cell phones, jewelry or other valuables.

*Keep all personal belongings close by.

If you have concerns about safety at or near your stop, contact your driver or call 911.

Please be assured that the safety and security of our scholars is a top priority at both Sealth International High School and Denny International Middle School. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.

That’s the entirety of the note, forwarded by a parent (thank you!) – no descriptive information – we’ll check with police tomorrow to see if they have a report available with more details.

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BIZNOTE: Baja Taco is closing one of its West Seattle restaurants

November 27, 2018 5:39 pm

| 14 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle restaurants

Thanks for the tips. We’ve confirmed that Baja Taco in Jefferson Square is closing – as of 4 pm Friday (November 30th). After confirming that, we went over to check on Baja Taco in Westwood Village, where staff told us that their restaurant is NOT closing. (Both Baja Tacos were originally part of the Taco del Mar chain.) This is the second Jefferson Square eatery closure in less than a year, after Subway last January.

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GIVING TUESDAY: The day Nucor plays Santa at West Seattle Food Bank

November 27, 2018 3:44 pm

| 2 COMMENTS

| High Point | Holidays | How to help | West Seattle news

(WSB photos by Patrick Sand)

Giving Tuesday also happens, this year, to be that day in the holiday season when Nucor delivers big gifts of donated food and money to the West Seattle Food Bank. We were there for this morning’s delivery:

The annual gifts are a partnership between the steel mill and its employees – who donate food and cash, which then is matched (and then some) by Nucor.

Above are WSFB executive director Fran Yeatts, Nucor’s Stephanie Sanchez, and WSFB development director Judi Yazzolino, who summarizes:

On this Giving Tuesday, nothing could be more generous than Nucor Steel delivering their check for $17,500 and 3520 pounds of food from their annual employee food drive. The West Seattle Food Bank has such an appreciation for everything Nucor does for not only the food bank but for all the non-profits in West Seattle. They are such a wonderful community partner. Thank you to their employees and to Omega Morgan Machinery for helping deliver and unload all of the food.

You can of course donate to the WSFB year-round – here’s how. (And keep an eye on the DONATION DRIVES list in the WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide – there are places you can donate during the season, such as the bin out front at West Seattle Lights!)

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SATURDAY: You’re invited to ‘Welcome the Orcas’!

November 27, 2018 1:47 pm

| 1 COMMENT

| West Seattle news | Wildlife

(Photo courtesy The Whale Trail)

Saturday is a huge day for holiday events in West Seattle (from breakfast through tree lighting) but if you hadn’t yet seen this in our year-round calendar, we want to be sure you know you are invited to “Welcome the Orcas” at midday Saturday on Alki! The announcement explains that this will be both fun and educational, at a time when the future of Puget Sound’s orcas is in question:

The Whale Trail and Seal Sitters invite the public to an inspirational, educational, fun and family-friendly event on Saturday, December 1, to mark the annual return of the southern resident orcas to the inland waters of Puget Sound. At the event, members of the public can learn about the final recommendations put forth by Governor Inslee’s Southern Resident Orca Task Force and have fun while learning about Seattle’s famous residents and the major threats to their survival.

“There’s nothing like watching J, K or L pods from shore at Whale Trail locations like Alki Beach, Point Robinson, or Point Defiance, or from the deck of a ferry. Seeing these endangered whales follow salmon into Puget Sound is a reminder that we each and all have a role to play in their recovery,” task force member and The Whale Trail founder Donna Sandstrom said. “The Governor’s Task Force has recommended a robust and comprehensive set of actions to address the threats that have brought these beloved and iconic pods to the edge of extinction: lack of salmon, toxin accumulations, and vessel noise and disturbance. Now we need everyone’s help to make sure the recommendations are acted on. With three pregnant females in the population – one each in J, K and L pod – there’s even more reason to act, and no time to wait.”

Seal Sitters Marine Mammal Stranding Network was founded in 2007 to protect marine mammals and to educate the public about our shared environment. “The Whale Trail is a natural ally in this work,” said Lynn Shimamoto, Co-Investigator of Seal Sitters. “We are thrilled to join with all our partners in welcoming the orcas back to Puget Sound.”

Details on the Welcome the Orcas event:

Who: Hosted by The Whale Trail and Seal Sitters with support from Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife and with partner booths from SR3, Orca Relief and Mid Sound Fisheries Enhancement Group

What: “Welcome the Orcas” community event featuring environmental booths, face painting, orca BINGO and an orca parade to welcome the southern residents to the central Sound. Event-goers are encouraged to dress in their best “orca spirit” costumes! Free and open to the public.

The event begins with activities, games, and informational booths at 10, speakers at 11:30 am, Orca Parade at noon, 12:30-2 pm “light reception” mode. The Bathhouse is at the east end of the Alki boardwalk, 60th/Alki.

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GIVING TUESDAY: West Seattle Tool Library’s first-of-its-kind addition

November 27, 2018 11:56 am

| 3 COMMENTS

| How to help | West Seattle news

(Photo courtesy West Seattle Tool Library)

Another Giving Tuesday announcement we’ve received is from the West Seattle Tool Library, which has acquired what director Micah Summers believes to be the first publicly accessible laser cutter in WS:

We are excited to announce that we recently acquired an industrial laser cutter in our shop and are working feverishly to get it set up and begin education and private reservation of the tool. We … are looking to raise funds to pay for the equipment and pre-sell access & classes for the machine. Additionally we are looking to raise funds for a scholarship fund to maximize access to low-income individuals.

You can donate here during Giving Tuesday, or in person at the Tool Library (cash or credit card) during their regular hours, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays 5-8 pm, Saturdays and Sundays 11 am-4 pm. The Tool Library is on the northeast side of Youngstown Cultural Arts Center (4408 Delridge Way SW).

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FOLLOWUP: 3 more sea lions killed; at least 8 confirmed shot

November 27, 2018 11:17 am

| 49 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | Wildlife

(November 14th WSB photo by Tracy Record)

11:17 AM: Three more sea lions have been found dead of “acute trauma,” including one necropsied on Vashon Island Monday, according to Seal Sitters Marine Mammal Stranding Network. That brings the recent total to 16. If you have a tip for investigators, NOAA’s hotline is 800-853-1964. If you see a dead marine mammal offshore, or one that’s alive or dead on the shore, report it to SS, 206-905-SEAL.

6:22 PM: We’ve received an update from NOAA, via spokesperson Michael Milstein:

(W)e now believe that eight sea lions were shot. The total number of dead sea lions is still 16, but the one from Vashon Island over the weekend was confirmed shot through x-rays today. Also the one found in West Seattle on Thanksgiving Day was decomposed but further examination has shown that it was shot, although we cannot be sure that was the cause of death given the decomposition.

I am attaching an x-ray of the sea lion found in West Seattle on Nov. 15 in which you can see different-sized shotgun pellets.

Our NOAA Office of Law Enforcement continues to investigate and we continue to urge people to advise us of any information related to this case.

Also, the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society has increased the reward it’s offering:

Recently Sea Shepherd offered a $5,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for the shooting of Sea Lions in Puget Sound.

Sea Shepherd is now increasing that reward to $10,000. Sea Shepherd is also offering an additional $2,000 for video evidence of the shooting of any Sea Lions in Puget Sound if the video shows the faces of the killers or images including the name of a vessel. This $2,000 will be payable upon receipt and not contingent on arrest and conviction. If the film leads to the arrest and conviction of the Sea Lion killers, the balance of $10,000 will be paid.

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West Seattle Tuesday: Stories, shopping, more…

November 27, 2018 9:40 am

| 1 COMMENT

| West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Red-Breasted Sapsucker, photographed by Mark Wangerin)

From the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar and Holiday Guide:

GIVING TUESDAY: We’ve heard from a few local participants and we’ll spotlight them through the day. If you have a special Giving Tuesday donation drive going, e-mail us at westseattleblog@gmail.com ASAP!

BABY STORY TIME: 10:30 am at Southwest Library, for little ones up to one year old. (9010 35th SWO

TODDLER STORY TIME: 10:30 am at West Seattle (Admiral) Library, for little ones 2-3 years old. (2306 42nd SW)

SIP AND SHOP POP-UP: “Sea + Pine & Alair are co-hosting a special holiday pop-up at Alair 4-7 pm. Join us on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving for a happy hour sip and shop. Sea+Pine will have its holiday collection along with special edition goods you can’t get anywhere else. And in honor of #givingtuesday you’ll have a chance to support local and give back. 10% of every purchase will be gifted to WestSide Baby. Enjoy bubbles, treats, giveaways and have fun shopping with Shandon & Jenny, both West Seattleites.” (3280 California SW)

EVENING ADMISSION WORKSHOP: 5-6 pm in the library at South Seattle College (WSB sponsor):

Attendees will get hands-on help completing their free college application. Additional topics covered include funding resources to help pay for college (including financial aid, scholarships and work study), one-on-one help with the Steps to Enroll and tips on registering for classes and new student orientation. The workshop is designed for future students interested in applying to South’s academic transfer and professional/technical career training programs, and information will also be shared on those pathways.

(6000 16th SW)

BASKETBALL: Home opener for the Chief Sealth International High School boys’ teams – JV at 5:45, varsity at 7:30, both vs. O’Dea. (2600 SW Thistle)

TRIVIA: 7 pm at Ounces in North Delridge. Final one before trivia goes on hiatus for winter. Free! Prizes! (3809 Delridge Way SW)

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GIVING TUESDAY: Roxhill Park Champions’ chance to make even small gifts count extra!

November 27, 2018 9:00 am

| 1 COMMENT

| How to help | West Seattle news | West Seattle parks

(WSB photo from June – barbecue organized by Roxhill Park Champions)

Every day is a GREAT day to support your local nonprofits. But today is extra-great for some that have special donation drives going as part of Giving Tuesday – here’s the announcement we received from Roxhill Park Champions:

Roxhill Park Champions works to restore and transform the social and environmental climate of Roxhill Park — Our new fiscal sponsor, Seattle Parks Foundation, has created a $1,000 challenge award if we receive gifts — of any size — from at least fifteen (15) unique donors on #GivingTuesday. Your donation will cover budget gaps or non-qualifying expenses in our grant-funded projects coming in 2019. Learn more and donate to Roxhill Park, by going here.

You can donate either by scrolling down that page to “support this project,” or by going directly here.

(Other Giving Tuesday West Seattle spotlights to come!)

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TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Tuesday watch; bridge crash

November 27, 2018 6:25 am

| 7 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

(SDOT MAP with travel times/ Is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE/ West Seattle-relevant traffic cams HERE)

6:25 AM: Good morning. Early trouble – a crash toward the west end of the West Seattle Bridge is blocking one lane in each direction. Six vehicles are reported to be involved. (Thanks for the tips.)

6:33 AM: No major injuries reported in the crash – two of the three SFD units dispatched were quickly dismissed, and only an engine remains on scene.

6:53 AM: That engine has since been dismissed; police and SDOT are still on scene, the cameras show. And since this is just past the curve, cameras show the eastbound bridge access from Fauntleroy is very sluggish.

7:08 AM: Inside lane remains blocked both eastbound and westbound, more than an hour after the crash was first reported.

7:26 AM: And as you can see via the camera view – it’s just cleared.

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