West Seattle, Washington

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year : 2018 3707 results

WEST SEATTLE WEATHER: Just because it’s Friday …
February 2, 2018 12:33 pm
|    Comments Off on WEST SEATTLE WEATHER: Just because it’s Friday …
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle weather

… as soon as we saw a hint of sun and a glimpse of the Olympics’ famous peaks The Brothers, we ran out with the camera. The enthusiasm is justified by these stats:

But if you’re no big fan of cold weather, you might have enjoyed January – the NWS also tweeted that only one day had a low temperature below freezing.

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SMALL BUSINESS ADVISORY COUNCIL: Here’s who’s in the new city-convened group
February 2, 2018 11:31 am
|      9 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news | West Seattle politics

The members of the new city-convened Small Business Advisory Council have just been announced, and we recognize two West Seattle businesses on the list. As explained in the news release from Mayor Jenny Durkan‘s office, the SBAC is “a group tasked with ensuring small businesses have a role in informing policies and programs, and have the access to resources they need to thrive and be part of the solutions to the challenges of growth and Seattle’s affordability crisis” and “will provide input on the impact of City decisions, make policy recommendations, and help increase access to tools and resources available to small businesses including arts and culture organizations.” The announcement notes that small businesses “account for more than half of all jobs in Washington State and employ nearly 200,000 people in Seattle.”

Here are the members announced by the mayor – we’ve highlighted those we know have local ties (please let us know if we missed someone!):

Co-Chair Joe Fugere, Tutta Bella Neapolitan Pizzeria
Co-Chair Taylor Hoang, Cyclo Corp., Ethnic Business Coalition
Co-Chair Donna Moodie, Marjorie Restaurant, Mint Holding
Co-Chair Tracy Taylor, Elliott Bay Book Company
Maryan Abdulle, Nasib Family Child Care
Zewditu Aschenaki, Salon Adidez
Joey Burgess, Queer/Bar, Grim’s Provisions and Spirits
Shaiza Damji, Hotel Nexus
Solomon Dubie, Café Avole
Annette Heide-Jessen, Kaffeeklatsch
Edouardo Jordan, Salare Restaurant, JuneBaby
Lacey Leavitt, Electric Dream Factory
Elise Lindborg, ZippyDogs LLC
Rachel Marshall, Rachel’s Ginger Beer
Michael Megalli, indie.biz
Debbie Millard, Ballard Oil Company
Molly Moon, Molly Moon’s Homemade Ice Cream
Linda Morton, Terra Plata
Gayle Nowicki, Gargoyles Statuary
Kamala Saxton, Marination
Lei Ann Shiramizu, Momo
Leigh Stone, Crybaby Studios
Gail Stringer, Hawaii General Store
Chuck Wang, Stage
Edwin Wanji, Sphere Solar Energy
Beto Yarce, Ventures
Lara Zahaba, Stoup Brewing

The SBAC also will have two city councilmembers serving “ex officio”: West Seattle/South Park’s Lisa Herbold and, newly elected to citywide Position 8, Teresa Mosqueda. The group’s expected to meet quarterly, starting with its first meeting on February 21st.

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West Seattle Friday: Wine, chocolate, music, WSHS vs. CSIHS basketball quadrupleheader…
February 2, 2018 10:43 am
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Gulls, photographed by Robin Sinner, shared via the WSB Flickr group)

From the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar, as we head into February’s first weekend:

SSC FRIENDS & FAMILY DAY @ EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITY CENTER: Thinking about studying at South Seattle College (WSB sponsor)? Stop by the TRIO Educational Opportunity Center between 11 am and 3 pm. Friends/family invited too! (6000 16th SW)

WINE AND CHOCOLATE: In advance of Valentine’s Day, Viscon Cellars (WSB sponsor) is again pairing three of its award-winning wines with three chocolate truffles from Pioneer Square-based Intrigue Chocolate. Last year’s edition of this “was such a sumptuous success, we had to repeat it,” explains winemaker Ben Viscon – this time with truffle bars, mini-truffle sets, and assorted chocolate bars. You can get in on this at the Viscon Cellars tasting room tonight, tomorrow, and Friday/Saturday of next week too. The tasting room is open 5-9 pm Fridays and 2-7 pm Saturdays. (5910 California SW)

CORNER BAR IN HIGHLAND PARK: The monthly neighborhood pop-up bar at Highland Park Improvement Club happens tonight, starting at 6 pm. Music with The Jesus Chords begins around 8. (1116 SW Holden)

BASKETBALL: The high-school regular season ends with a big cross-town showdown at West Seattle High School, as the Wildcats host the Chief Sealth International High School Seahawks. Girls JV at 4 pm, boys JV at 5:30 pm, girls varsity at 7 pm, boys varsity at 8:30 pm. (3000 California SW)

POON + GNARLENE AND THE FRISKY PIGS: 8 pm at The Skylark. $8 cover. 21+. (3803 Delridge Way SW)

CAVEMAN EGO ALBUM RELEASE: 8 pm at Parliament Tavern. Caveman Ego, with Palatine Trio. 21+. (4210 SW Admiral Way)

PREVIEW THE WEEKEND … by going to our complete-calendar page.

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YOU CAN HELP! Doorstep diaper-donation drive for WestSide Baby
February 2, 2018 9:05 am
|    Comments Off on YOU CAN HELP! Doorstep diaper-donation drive for WestSide Baby
 |   How to help | West Seattle news

If you have unused, unneeded diapers in a size from newborn to 5T – maybe your baby/toddler just moved to another size, for example – you can donate them to WestSide Baby in a unique door-to-door donation drive tomorrow, but you have to sign up by tonight. WS Baby has partnered with Owen’s List – a Seattle family’s waste-reduction campaign – to collect diapers. Here’s what you have to do: No later than 8 tonight, sign up for Owen’s List via the button on the center of this page. You’ll get e-mail with details of the diaper drive (we tested the signup and the e-mail arrived immediately) – then put your donation(s) out tonight for pickup tomorrow. You can of course donate a box or bag of diapers as well as an unused partial pack.

P.S. If you want to help WestSide Baby but can’t be part of this drive – go here.

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TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Friday watch
February 2, 2018 7:02 am
|      6 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

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

7:02 AM: Good morning. No incidents reported in/from West Seattle so far.

SCHOOL-BUS STRIKE: Day two, although Seattle Public Schools said First Student might provide some service, and that affected families would be notified directly.

MONDAY REMINDER: The Fauntleroy/Wildwood intersection closure, including rerouting of the C Line and 116 buses, is scheduled to start Monday and last up to two weeks.

7:08 AM: Transit alert just in from Metro:

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VIDEO: Police follow wrong-way driver across West Seattle Bridge
February 2, 2018 12:58 am
|      21 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle police

12:58 AM: Police are looking for a driver who they wound up following across the West Seattle Bridge – going the wrong way. We heard it all start on the scanner on I-5, and then police reported the driver was going westbound in the eastbound lanes of the bridge. The driver hit a barrier, according to police, and kept going. We recorded part of this via an SDOT camera and will add it when we can. The driver reportedly got off the bridge and then was seen on California by Charlestown “all over the road” but we haven’t heard any updates since. The vehicle is described so far as an older white Tahoe, and it’s reported to have left a trailer behind somewhere along the way. If you see this – or any other – erratic driver, call 911.

1:33 AM: Added our phone video of the SDOT camera that showed the wrong-way driver and police. Watch the left side of the screen for a vehicle trailing sparks. Still haven’t heard any word of police finding him (the description that was broadcast mentioned a beard as well as a gray beanie, so we’re fairly sure the driver was male).

10:44 AM: We confirmed with SPD that the vehicle/driver never was found. We also found out that officers in the South Precinct initially believed there was some association with a burglary case, but now they don’t think so, and believe it was more likely a case of driving under the influence.

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Junction Neighborhood Organization focuses on HALA and Sound Transit, after pre-meeting Fauntleroy Boulevard news
February 1, 2018 10:03 pm
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   Neighborhoods | West Seattle news

By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

When a meeting room at the Sisson Building/Senior Center filled to overflowing last night for the Junction Neighborhood Organization‘s quarterly meeting, the biggest news was already a couple hours old – SDOT‘s announcement that the Fauntleroy Boulevard project is on hold.

For those who hadn’t already heard, JuNO director Amanda Sawyer recapped it at the start of the meeting. (SDOT did not send reps to talk about it, as had been the original plan before the suspension was announced.) She and West Seattle Junction Association executive director Lora Swift both stressed that since SDOT is saying it will reallocate the project funds – last described as $15 million to $18 million – to other WS projects, feedback to Councilmember Lisa Herbold is important. (Send yours to lisa.herbold@seattle.gov.)

So that left the meeting devoted to two other big topics affecting The Junction – the HALA Mandatory Housing Affordability upzoning proposal that has just gone into City Council review, and Sound Transit planning for West Seattle light rail, which is just starting its formal community-outreach process.

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FOLLOWUP: See the design packet for the 4807 41st SW microapartments
February 1, 2018 8:45 pm
|      7 COMMENTS
 |   Development | West Seattle housing | West Seattle news

In our development-notes roundup last weekend, we mentioned the Streamlined Design Review comment period was about to start for the microapartment project planned at 4807 41st SW – three stories, 22 units, no offstreet parking. Tonight, the official notice is out, setting the comment deadline as February 14th, and the “design packet” is now posted on the city website for public review. It’s embedded above, and also visible in PDF here. If you have comments on the plan, the notice explains how to send them to the city (and notes that this is the only opportunity for public comment; the Streamlined Design Review process does not include public meetings).

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SIGN OF IMPROVEMENTS: Peace Lutheran Church’s new RainWise sign
February 1, 2018 7:32 pm
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   Environment | Gardening | Gatewood | West Seattle news

A new addition to the RainWise-enhanced grounds of Peace Lutheran Church in Gatewood – a new permanent sign explaining the stormwater-diverting program and the congregation’s commitment to it. In the photo sent by Pastor Erik Kindem is congregation president Michael Truog, who is also chair of the church’s Green Team. So next time you walk or ride by 39th SW/SW Thistle, take a look! You can also take a look at this PDF showing what’s on the sign. (The church celebrated its RainWise improvements at an event we covered last year.)

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SCHOOL-BUS STRIKE UPDATE: Some service possible Friday, district says
February 1, 2018 5:22 pm
|    Comments Off on SCHOOL-BUS STRIKE UPDATE: Some service possible Friday, district says
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

The strike by drivers for First Student, which has the contract for Seattle Public Schools yellow-bus service, is expected to continue tomorrow. The district has just posted this update – note the second and third paragraphs:

First Student bus drivers are on strike, and we do not know how long it will last. This means there will be no yellow school bus service until further notice. You will need to use your family’s plan to get your student to and from school. We will remind families of bus-riding students by phone and email each evening until the strike is over.

Some bus routes may be provided during strike. First Student anticipates they will be able to serve some bus routes during the strike. First Student will prioritize special education routes whenever possible. Not all drivers are qualified to drive these specialized routes, so it will depend on availability.

If a driver is available for your student’s route, the district’s transportation office will call you the night before.

The update continues, with the district’s strike FAQ, here. The drivers’ union says the issues are health-care and retirement benefits; no word yet on new negotiations/offers.

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Trendy Crafts: Welcoming a new West Seattle Blog sponsor, with summer camps and more!
February 1, 2018 3:33 pm
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | WS culture/arts

Today we’re welcoming a new WSB sponsor, Trendy Crafts. New local sponsors get the chance to tell you about their business, and here’s what Trendy Crafts would like you to know:

It all started in 2004, when two friends discovered a shared passion for crafting. As new mothers, the hours for creating were limited. Eventually, with children in school, Julie Rasmussen and Elizabeth Chapman decided to share their love of crafting as an afterschool class at their children’s school. It wasn’t long before requests came in from other schools to teach Trendy Crafts, and a business was born. Over the last five years, Trendy Crafts has continued to expand to many of the elementary schools in West Seattle.

Trendy Crafts inspires children to think creatively, to believe in their artistic vision and to support and encourage each other. We also love to share the joy of crafting in our community and are always looking for opportunities to bring people together to create! We are very excited to bring 5 sessions of summer camp to West Seattle families this summer.

If you have a child that loves to create and craft, a Trendy Crafts afterschool class or summer camp is the place to be. We focus on crafting in a social environment, and the results are projects both kids and parents want to keep! We often have parents tell us that their child loves to craft and they just don’t have time to do it at home (or don’t want the mess). We are passionate about keeping the American Arts and Crafts movement alive and thriving in the next generation.

We see so many transformations through crafting – children boost their self-confidence, and we work hard to foster an environment that is socially supportive for all kids. Adults who craft with us are looking for a social and creative outlet, and we often hear about how they were looking for a way to add more creativity into their lives. A night out with friends that ends with a creation you love is a positive experience.

In the five years that Trendy Crafts has been part of the West Seattle community, we have built relationships with so many families through craft projects. Adults and children alike are looking for creative outlets and we love to provide options. We host birthday parties, adult evening crafting events, and of course our afterschool enrichment classes and summer camps. In the past we have partnered with other West Seattle businesses to host adult craft parties.

Trendy Crafts‘ founders are active in the community, with organizations including CARE.org – to support and empower children around the world – and Girl Scouts of Western Washington, to encourage and inspire girls in our community (you might remember this WSB story). In addition to the very crafty Girl Scout troop that Elizabeth leads, they also volunteer as Cabin Leaders at Camp Chinook every summer.

Interested in Trendy Crafts summer camp? Here’s the registration page. Links about everything Trendy Crafts offers can be found on their home page. Questions? Contact info is here.

We thank Trendy Crafts 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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Missed midday open house for West Seattle Junction park design? Here’s why you’ll want to go tonight
February 1, 2018 2:02 pm
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle parks

That’s Karimah Edwards from Seattle Parks, holding a tablet to show us the “fly-through” renderings of the three design concepts for the future West Seattle Junction park in the 4700 block of 40th SW [map]. We checked them out at the first of today/tonight’s two “open house” sessions, to show you what you’ll find if you stop by the site tonight for the second drop-in event, 5:30-7 pm. You’ll see the three concepts on easels, too:

GGLO worked with Seattle Parks to create the concepts, using the 10 features that were most popular in last year’s feedback (hundreds of people took the online survey and/or visited the drop-in Farmers’ Market meeting). All three concepts have some things in common – like lots of seating, and garden-style plantings – but otherwise, some dramatically different central features, like a boardwalk in Option 2 and a 6-foot climbing wall in Option 3. The open-house location, by the way, is at the site but fully covered, inside the big tent that was used as a temporary fire station there for more than a year, so don’t worry about the weather:

Refreshments are from the indie coffee and wine bar that’s literally next door to the park, Sound and Fog:

If you just can’t stop by tonight either, a survey will be available online soon – watch the official project website for that. The city bought the 2/3-acre park site five years ago for $1.4 million and has had it “landbanked” until money ($1.9 million) was available for developing it; that’s coming from the Seattle Park District levy.

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BIZNOTE: Giannoni’s Pizzeria plans temporary closure for maintenance and updates
February 1, 2018 12:01 pm
|      6 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle restaurants

If you go to Giannoni’s Pizzeria in Westwood Village sometime between next Sunday (February 4th) and the following Sunday (February 11th), don’t panic if you find it closed – Giannoni’s proprietor Donna Burns tells WSB that they’ll be closing for eight days for maintenance and updates: “After 10 years, it’s time to do updates including new floors and painting.” But until then – they’re open, and as a bonus, Donna says, “Pizza deals on Saturday – everything must go!” The closure officially starts at 9 pm this Saturday and is scheduled to end Monday, February 12th, with an 11 am reopening.

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West Seattle Thursday: From ‘Have a Heart’ to ‘tour a school’ to ‘design a park’
February 1, 2018 10:43 am
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Northern flicker, photographed by Mark Wangerin)

From the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:

‘HAVE A HEART’ MONTH @ ILLUSIONS: Starting today, Illusions Hair Design (WSB sponsor) is launching its annual “Have a Heart” community-nonprofit fundraiser, but this year it’ll last an entire month. You’re invited to “buy” a paper heart at the salon for a $1, $5, or $20 donation that will go to Southwest Youth and Family Services – and your paper heart will help deck the walls at Illusions, which is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year. Plus, Illusions is matching donations, up to $1,000! (5619 California SW)

WEST SEATTLE JUNCTION PARK DESIGN MEETINGS: Two chances today to stop by the future site of a new West Seattle Junction park and check out design concepts – 11:30 am-1 pm and 5:30 pm-7 pm. Here’s our preview. (4721 40th SW)

KNIFE SKILLS: Chef Kim O’Donnel starts a new class series at the West Seattle YMCA (WSB sponsor) in The Triangle, 4:30 pm – info and registration details here. (3622 SW Snoqualmie)

SUMMIT ATLAS OPEN HOUSE: West Seattle’s only charter school invites prospective families to an open house 5-6:30 pm tonight. Summit Atlas is enrolling 6th, 7th, 9th, and 10th grades for next school year. (9601 35th SW)

LOUISA BOREN STEM K-8 EVENING OPEN HOUSES: Back-to-back open houses tonight – prospective elementary families are invited 6-7:30 pm, prospective middle-school families 7:30-8:30 pm. (5950 Delridge Way SW)

ALKI ELEMENTARY EVENING OPEN HOUSE: Prospective families are invited to visit Alki Elementary School at 6 pm tonight for this year’s evening open house. (3010 59th SW)

PATHFINDER MIDDLE-SCHOOL OPEN HOUSE: Interested in grades 6-8 at Pathfinder K-8? 6:30 pm open house tonight. (1901 SW Genesee)

LIVE/WORK IN WHITE CENTER? The North Highline Unincorporated Area Council has its first community meeting of the year tonight at 7 pm at North Highline Fire District HQ. The agenda’s on our partner site White Center Now. All welcome. (1243 SW 112th)

PUNK ROCK AEROBICS: 7-8 pm at Highland Park Improvement Club – info here. (1116 SW Holden)

‘PEERLESS’: ArtsWest‘s acclaimed production continues with 7:30 pm performance tonight. Written by Jiehae Park, directed by Sara Porkalob. (4711 California SW)

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YOUTH SPORTS: Southwest Little League signups are on the next 2 Saturdays
February 1, 2018 9:23 am
|    Comments Off on YOUTH SPORTS: Southwest Little League signups are on the next 2 Saturdays
 |   West Seattle news | WS & Sports

Continuing our series of youth-sports registration announcemens, with spring approaching, here’s what we received from Southwest Little League:

Southwest Little League is holding its annual signups these next 2 Saturdays in February: Saturday, February 3rd from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm at the little Log Cabin at Steve Cox Memorial Ball Park, and Saturday, February 10th from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm (same location).

All boys and girls between the ages of 4 and 16 are welcome. If your child lives or attends school between SW Juneau St. and SW 128th St., you are probably within the Southwest Little League boundary. More information about signing up for Southwest Little League is available at our website.

Steve Cox Park is at 1321 SW 102nd in White Center.

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TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Thursday watch, as February begins
February 1, 2018 6:55 am
|    Comments Off on TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Thursday watch, as February begins
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

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

6:55 AM: Welcome to a new month. No incidents reported currently in/from West Seattle, but here are other transportation notes/reminders:

SCHOOL-BUS STRIKE: Day one. Remember that this means more personal-vehicle traffic near schools, especially elementaries.

REMINDER – FAUNTLEROY/WILDWOOD CLOSURE STARTS MONDAY: The intersection just south of the Fauntleroy ferry terminal will close Monday for up to two weeks of road-panel replacement and curb-ramp building. Metro has now announced its reroute plan affecting the C Line and Route 116.

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SCHOOL-BUS DRIVER STRIKE: Picketing begins
February 1, 2018 6:05 am
|      22 COMMENTS
 |   Transportation | West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

(Added: Picket-line photo from South Park, sent by Al)

The strike by hundreds of First Student drivers, whose company provides school-bus service for Seattle Public Schools, has begun. Their union Teamsters Local 174 reports that drivers are picketing at the First Student bus yards in South Park and Lake City as of about an hour ago. As announced earlier this week, this is NOT a one-day walkout like the November strike – this is an “until there’s an agreement” strike. But school IS open and the families of students who would usually take the bus are expected to make arrangements to get their kids to school; the district’s answers to other questions can be found here.

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BASKETBALL: West Seattle HS girls take tenth in a row
February 1, 2018 12:19 am
|    Comments Off on BASKETBALL: West Seattle HS girls take tenth in a row
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools | WS & Sports

Tenth consecutive victory Wednesday night for the West Seattle High School girls-varsity basketball team, 61-51 over visiting Cleveland, but it wasn’t easy. The Eagles led at the end of the first quarter, and that wasn’t their only lead of the game.

Three double-digit scorers helped bring in the win, though – #11 Jasmine Gayles and #32 Meghan Fiso each tallied 16 points.

#20 Grace Sarver had 15.

And the Wildcats kept fighting, with intense defense winning the day in the second half.

The win leaves the West Seattle girls undefeated in the Metro League, with one regular-season game to go – another home game, 7 pm Friday night vs. crosstown competitors from Chief Sealth International High School.

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WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Another grab-and-run theft, and 3 more reader reports
January 31, 2018 9:59 pm
|      9 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | West Seattle news

Another grab-and-run theft tops West Seattle Crime Watch reader reports tonight:

PURSE STOLEN AT SALON: From Sue:

Tonight at approximately 6:30 pm, a male ran into this salon @ 35th Avenue [6500 block] and stole my purse. He ran out and got away in a black car. I am hoping to … have neighbors be on the lookout for a brown over-the=shoulder purse. I am sure they tossed it somewhere in West Seattle. It had everything card, gift card, credit card, library card, ID I have. I know the $$ is gone and they have tried to use my cards. I am hoping the rest was nothing to them and some good Samaritan finds some of my stuff.

Police incident # is 2018-038121.

BURGLARY: A resident in the 4500 block of Delridge Way SW called us this afternoon because her dog was missing after a break-in. We quickly published a notice on the Lost/Found Pets page, and her dog was found relatively quickly, but we thought you’d want to know about the break-in too. No details.

PROWLER: This one’s short on details too but FYI for Junction-area residents, Stephanie sent the brief clip from her boyfriend’s security system:

She says the prowler was recorded around 9:30 pm last night.

PACKAGE TAKEN: From Luke in Shorewood, who says this happened at 3:22 pm Tuesday:

Luke is in the 2600 block of SW 112th, so this is a King County Sheriff’s Office case. He adds, “He actually drove by 5 minutes before the theft while he was casing the neighborhood. Luckily FedEx is smart enough to leave packages out of sight in the carport, so the thief didn’t see those packages. USPS not so smart.”

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FOLLOWUP: How Metro plans to reroute C Line, Route 116 buses during road closure south of Fauntleroy ferry dock
January 31, 2018 7:52 pm
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   Fauntleroy | Transportation | West Seattle news

That sign is on the corner of Fauntleroy and Trenton, which is now confirmed as part of the reroute for buses once SDOT starts its two weeks of work – announced Monday – closing the intersection of Fauntleroy/Wildwood, just south of the ferry terminal. Metro has now finalized the reroute plan for the C Line and Route 116 buses, and has published it here (PDF). The project replacing some of the road panels and adding a curb ramp is scheduled to start next Monday, lasting up to two weeks.

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BULLETIN: Fauntleroy Boulevard project ‘on hold’
January 31, 2018 3:53 pm
|      49 COMMENTS
 |   Transportation | Triangle | West Seattle news


(WSB file photo – 38th/Fauntleroy, in the zone set for the now-on-hold project)

FIRST REPORT, 3:53 PM: Tonight, as we’ve been reporting, the Junction Neighborhood Organization has a Fauntleroy Boulevard project update on the agenda. This afternoon, we’ve learned it will be a MAJOR update: The project is on hold, because of concerns that have long been raised by some community members – including that it might conflict with Sound Transit‘s light-rail plan, leading to the same stretch of busy roadway being torn up twice. Just posted to the project webpage:

We’re putting construction of the Fauntleroy Boulevard Project on hold.

… Based on community input and continued coordination with Sound Transit, we are putting construction of the Fauntleroy Boulevard Project on hold. This decision responds to community concerns about prolonged construction and effective use of taxpayer dollars.

Sound Transit’s current proposed route for the voter-approved West Seattle Light Rail Extension includes an elevated rail line on Fauntleroy Way. If built after the Fauntleroy Boulevard Project, there is the possibility that Fauntleroy improvements would need to be removed and potentially rebuilt.

During our recent design outreach, we heard community concerns about dealing with major construction twice in such a short amount of time. The community also asked whether constructing the Fauntleroy Boulevard Project now, and potentially having elements of the project removed later, would be an effective use of public dollars. Our decision to put construction on hold will help to ensure that SDOT’s and Sound Transit’s plans for this stretch of Fauntleroy Way don’t conflict. We recognize West Seattle has multiple paving and transit priorities, and we will reallocate Fauntleroy Boulevard Project funds to address the community’s needs.

Sound Transit is still in the early stages of their design for light rail to West Seattle, and they anticipate choosing a preferred alignment by mid-2019. Last month, the City announced plans to work closely with Sound Transit over the next 18 months to identify a preferred route for the light rail tracks and stations to the West Seattle Junction.

The Fauntleroy Boulevard plan stemmed from a community-generated proposal dating back to the turn of the millennium. It proposed a rechannelization of Fauntleroy Way SW between SW Alaska and 35th SW, adding safety and multi-modal features, and stretches of landscaped median. It was idle for some years (concepts were explored in 2010) and then “re-activated” in 2016, with the final design announced last year. But as the Sound Transit West Seattle to Ballard planning phase ramped up recently, so did the questions and concerns about why millions would be spent on this stretch only to potentially see it torn up again a few years later (it’s in the draft alignment, and ST hopes to start construction as soon as 2025).

ADDED 6:09 PM: We asked City Councilmember Lisa Herbold for comment. Her reply:

We’re working to insure that if Sound Transit builds the representative alignment then Sound Transit will be responsible for rebuilding to project-level standards if they dig up the same portion of the street. If Sound Transit, on the other hand, chooses a different alignment and we move forward with the Fauntleroy Boulevard Project and SDOT determines that there are increased costs as a result of cost escalation due to the delay, then we’ll work to see that Sound Transit picks up those extra costs. Sound Transit won’t make final alignment decisions until late 2019, so in the meantime, we need to be working to prepare for a possible reallocation of levy dollars, based on what we have heard and will hear from the community about West Seattle’s transportation priorities. We don’t want to wait on Sound Transit to keep delivering levy improvements in West Seattle.

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TRAFFIC ALERT UPDATE: Crash on eastbound West Seattle Bridge
January 31, 2018 3:28 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

3:28 PM: Thanks for the tips – there’s a multiple-vehicle crash on the eastbound high bridge, where traffic from the Admiral (etc.) ramp merges. SFD is arriving on scene.

4:30 PM: SDOT says the scene is clear.

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UPDATE: Two men shot in South Park
January 31, 2018 12:40 pm
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | South Park | West Seattle news

12:40 PM: Big police search under way in an industrial area in the south end of South Park right now after two people were shot in the 9200 block of 10th Avenue S. [map] According to radio communications, a suspect is believed to have fled in what’s described as a dark-colored Toyota Camry. Traffic is being blocked on some roads around the scene. Updates when we get them.

12:47 PM: According to radio communications, both victims are men, one in his 40s, one in his 20s, and both are being rushed to Harborview Medical Center by SFD medic units.

2:01 PM: We just talked with police at the scene. They believe one person shot both men, whose injuries are described as non-life-threatening. They don’t yet have a good description of the shooter but do hope to at least have more of a description of the getaway vehicle soon. No word on a motive, either; this is an industrial area in southwest South Park.

ADDED: Above is video of the briefing we covered at the scene, with SPD spokesperson Det. Patrick Michaud.

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