day : 01/04/2019 10 results

Story and photos by Jason Grotelueschen
Reporting for West Seattle Blog

Singer-songwriter Steve Earle played to a packed house at Easy Street Records in the Alaska Junction on Monday night, sharing songs from his new album Guy, a tribute to the late folk-country icon Guy Clark.

Earle’s solo performance, rescheduled from March 7 because of a bad case of the flu, drew a big and appreciative crowd that sang along to songs like “L.A. Freeway” and “Desperados Waiting for a Train,” and listened intently as Earle told stories of his close relationship with Clark, who helped Earle get his start as a recording artist in Nashville in the mid-1970s.

After the show, Earle headed upstairs to sign albums and meet fans of all ages:

Here is a batch of video clips from the in-store performance:

P.S. Thanks to Dixon Hamby for this photo:

Coming up at Easy Street Records: Sun Breaks on Saturday (April 6), Lostboycrow on April 9 and SYML on April 16.

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VIDEO: Brendan Kolding’s official City Council District 1 campaign kickoff

April 1, 2019 10:15 pm

| 45 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle politics

When we interviewed City Council District 1 candidate Brendan Kolding back in February, he declared himself “all in” – though this isn’t the first time he’s run for office, he said he’d be actively campaigning this time. And tonight he took another step, with an official campaign kickoff at Ounces in North Delridge.

Kolding also noted that he’s so serious, he recently resigned his Seattle Police lieutenant job to focus full-time on his campaign. His 15-minute speech focused on themes of homelessness, crime/safety, and “rule of law” – he said once laws are enforced, other issues will fall in place. He did touch on a few other hot topics, including requiring developers to include parking in projects, because “people need their cars,” even those who use transit, as he said he had done while commuting from Delridge. Here’s our video of his speech:

After that, Kolding asked supporters to help him qualify for Democracy Vouchers, and then invited questions. One attendee asked where he stands on West Seattle light-rail routing. Though, he said, he recently had been quoted as saying he supported an elevated line, he said it’s clear that there’s more community support for a tunneled option, so that’s what he’s backing now, because his role is to represent the community.

PREVIOUS KICKOFF COVERAGE: We covered incumbent Councilmember Lisa Herbold‘s kickoff on March 24th; Phil Tavel‘s launch at Easy Street Records was part of our February 1st report; in late January, Jesse Greene held a kickoff event at Talarico’s in late January. Isaiah Willoughby hasn’t had a kickoff yet.

FORUMS AND WHAT ELSE IS NEXT: All five candidates were at the season’s first forum last month; here’s our coverage, with video. Next one scheduled is 7 pm April 10th at The Hall @ Fauntleroy during the monthly meeting of the 34th District Democrats, who told us all five candidates have confirmed plans to participate. The field won’t be finalized until the official filing period in May; the top two in the August 6th primary will advance to November.

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BIZNOTE: West Seattle Runner’s three-day 9th-anniversary party

April 1, 2019 8:09 pm

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| West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news

Just three months ago, we photographed Lori McConnell and Tim McConnell of West Seattle Runner (2743 California SW; WSB sponsor) the night of their annual Christmas Lights Run, and now they’re celebrating again – this time, in honor of their shop’s 9th anniversary. They have three days/nights of festivities planned Friday, Saturday, and Sunday (April 5, 6, 7), and they’re hoping you’ll RSVP for night 1, so in case you haven’t already seen all this in the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar, we’re previewing it here. On Friday, they’re starting with a special group run at 6:15 pm, and then you’re invited to join them at Mission Cantina (2325 California SW; WSB sponsor) for dinner/drinks – if you’re interested in that, please RSVP to lori@westseattlerunner.com so they can reserve enough space! The celebrating continues Saturday (info here) and Sunday (info here).

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TERMINAL 5: Lease votes set for Tuesday

April 1, 2019 4:52 pm

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| Port of Seattle | West Seattle news

(Terminal 5 photo from portseattle.org)

Tomorrow (Tuesday, April 2nd), Seattle and Tacoma port commissioners meet as managing members of the Northwest Seaport Alliance, voting on a variety of documents key to the future of West Seattle’s Terminal 5. Among them, a sheaf of leases, from the two-phase lease with SSA Terminals to be the T-5 tenant post-modernization, to an interim lease that will move Matson‘s Hawaii service there, to leases that don’t directly involve T-5 but are part of the overall shuffle. Included in those, the plan for the Port to develop another cruise-ship terminal on the downtown waterfront, as noted in our February coverage. Also to be discussed/considered, the latest on the T-5 modernization project, for which agenda documents say bids are expected to be opened April 10th. Those documents and others the commissioners will consider tomorrow are all now linked from the agenda for the meeting, which starts at 11:30 am Tuesday at the Sea-Tac Airport Conference Center. There’s a public-comment period too.

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If you find a stray kayak …

April 1, 2019 3:21 pm

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| Seen at sea | West Seattle news

… it might be related to a Sunday incident involving this one:

That U.S. Coast Guard photo and the one below were taken by Petty Officer 2nd Class Daniel Caraballo in the Sunday morning fog on the water between Fauntleroy and Blake Island. This Coast Guard news release explains the rest of the story:

A Coast Guard boat crew responded to a report of an unmanned adrift kayak and found that it belonged to a group of six kayakers stranded on Blake Island Sunday.

A 45-foot Response Boat-Medium crew from Coast Guard Station Seattle safely transported all six people and their dog from Blake Island back to a pier in Manchester, as well as recovered two of their five missing kayaks.

At 8:07 a.m., Coast Guard Sector Puget Sound watchstanders received a report from the crew of the Washington State Ferry Chelan of an unmanned and adrift kayak. The ferry crew spotted the red kayak while pulling in to the Fauntleroy terminal.

The Station Seattle boat crew launched in response, conducted a search for the reported kayak and located it in the vicinity of Faunteroy and Vashon Island.

Around the same time, one of the kayak owners had contacted the watchstanders at Coast Guard 13th District Command Center. They reported that they had been camping on Blake Island and when they woke up, all five of their kayaks were gone. District personnel connected them to the Sector Puget Sound staff, and their red kayak matched the description of one of their missing craft.

Station Seattle grabbed the kayak, headed toward the campers, and found a second one of their kayaks while en route.

A tug crew in the area found two more of the kayaks, but one kayak remains missing. The missing kayak is reported as 12-foot fiberglass white kayak with black trim and a dolphin on the side. If anyone sees a kayak matching this description, please contact Sector Puget Sound personnel at 206-217-6001.

This response also highlights the importance that mariners properly secure and label their vessels, as well as file a float plan. Had the owner been unable to call, the search would have continued and they could still be stranded.

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VIDEO: WestSide Baby’s 2019 CommuniTea, steeped in imagination

April 1, 2019 1:27 pm

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| How to help | West Seattle news

Story, photos, video by Tracy Record and Patrick Sand
West Seattle Blog co-publishers

“Can you imagine 100 percent of the children in King County safe, warm, and dry?”

That’s one of the questions that created a room full of imagination at WestSide Baby‘s 18th annual CommuniTea – hundreds of attendees urged to imagine, not something fanciful, but something practical that would improve countless young lives.

As the program began Sunday afternoon at the Sheraton downtown, emcee/auctioneer TiWanna “TK” Kenney spoke of celebrating and embracing “what makes WestSide Baby special … (its) vision: Where every child here in King County is equipped with its most basic needs.” Like diapers. “We don’t realize how many people out there don’t have the ability to have their basic needs met.”

The simple goal: That every child will be “warm, safe, and dry. I think we can do that together.” That drew a hearty cheer. WestSide Baby already helps tens of thousands of kids every year – and yet the need is even greater.

The CommuniTea was also an opportunity for humor.

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Ex-Avalon Substation’s long-planned demolition to start next week

April 1, 2019 11:17 am

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| Environment | West Seattle news

(WSB file photo, 2016)

Two and a half years ago, we reported on neighbors’ concerns regarding plans for Seattle City Light‘s ex-Avalon Substation site at 3243 SW Genesee. At that time, SCL said it would likely be demolished before the end of 2016, with contamination cleanup to follow. Nothing has happened on the site except for a series of permit extensions for nearby Pecos Pit (WSB sponsor) to use it for parking. But today, City Light has announced that the demolition will happen next week. Here’s the full notice we just received:

Seattle City Light is planning clean up activities at the former Avalon Substation at 3243 SW Genesee Street beginning Monday, April 8, 2019. The work includes demolishing the existing concrete substation and the removal of trees and shrubs.

The work will take place in two phases:

PHASE 1: April 8 – Mid June 2019
Demolition of the existing concrete substation building.
Removal of trees/brushes adjacent to the building.
There will be noise, and disruptions to local traffic, parking, and sidewalks adjacent to the site.
Work will take place Mondays – Fridays between 7 am-5 pm.

PHASE 2: Contaminated soil removal will occur later in 2019 – you will receive notification

For further information, please contact Senior Project Manager, Molly Rathe, at (206) 684-3351 or Molly.Rathe@seattle.gov.

The site also has a rezoning action pending, “to contract rezone a parcel of land from SF 5000 (Single Family 5000) to NC3-65’ (Neighborhood Commercial 3 with a 65-foot height limit),” and a comment period just opened for that (here’s the notice); we have an inquiry out regarding plans for the site beyond the demolition and cleanup.

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FOLLOWUP: 4th Avenue SW closure delayed

April 1, 2019 10:48 am

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| Transportation | West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

Last week, we brought you word of the plan to close a quarter-mile of 4th SW south of Roxbury for a month of work, starting today. But this morning, the county sends word it’s been delayed:

We’re following up for details of the “utility conflict.”

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6 for your West Seattle Monday!

April 1, 2019 10:08 am

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| West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(WSB photo, tree in Gatewood)

From the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar, as we start a new month:

SECOND-TO-LAST DAY FOR LIGHT RAIL ‘SCOPING’ COMMENTS: Just a reminder that if you have something to say about routing/station location(s) for West Seattle light rail and haven’t commented during the “scoping” period, tomorrow’s the deadline. Here’s how to comment.

FREE TAX HELP: 2-6:30 pm at Delridge Library, drop in for free tax-return help. Here’s info on eligibility and what to bring. (5423 Delridge Way SW)

BRENDAN KOLDING CAMPAIGN KICKOFF: The fourth campaign kickoff event in the District 1 City Council race is 6-9 pm at Ounces. This one’s for Brendan Kolding, who says he’ll speak at 7 pm. (3809 Delridge Way SW)

BUDDHIST MEDITATION AT SOUND YOGA: New series, no experience required, details here. 7 pm meditation and contemplation. (5639 California SW)

STEVE EARLE @ EASY STREET: 7 pm performance free and signing at Easy Street Records. Details here! (California/Alaska)

OPEN MIC: 8 pm at Parliament Tavern. No cover. 21+. (4210 SW Admiral Way)

AND THERE’S MORE … on our complete calendar.

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