month : 04/2019 306 results

(Photo courtesy West Duwamish Greenbelt Trails)

Ready to get out and walk in the city’s largest stretch of forest – which happens to be in West Seattle? The first hike of the season is this Saturday! Judy Bentley sends the invitation:

Hiking season is beginning in the West Duwamish Greenbelt. Hike with the West Duwamish Greenbelt Trails group (www.wdgtrails.com) on guided walks to find birds, bugs, mushrooms, native plants, geology, and history. Meet the first Saturday of each month at 10 a.m., usually at the trailhead at 14th Ave. SW and SW Holly Street, but starting places may vary; watch postings for individual hikes. We hike mostly on constructed and maintained gravel trails, suitable for family outings.

The West Duwamish Greenbelt is the largest contiguous forest in Seattle, spreading over 550 acres in West Seattle from the tip of Pigeon Point to Westcrest Park. Urban forests are important community spaces that increase our city’s natural beauty, contribute to our health, and make the natural world accessible for everyone to enjoy.

Here’s the schedule for the 2019 season. All hikes start at 10:00 a.m.

April 6 – Bird-watching hike with Scott Markowitz, an international birder, member of the board of directors at Tahoma Audubon. Meet at the Puget Park trailhead at 4418 21st Ave. SW.

May 4 – Insect hike with a bug club member.

June 1 – “Walking Native Land” on National Trails Day with Ken Workman of the Duwamish Tribe. Walk from the Chinese Garden at South Seattle College to the Duwamish Longhouse and Cultural Center on West Marginal Way and back. Two miles, 200 feet elevation gain, some unimproved trails.

July 6 – Native plant identification with Steve Richmond of GardenCycles

August 3 – Geology and land use history with Paul West and Craig Rankin

September 7 – History of the greenbelt with Matt Groshong, Randy Nelson, and Craig Rankin

October 5 – Mushrooms with Kim Traverse of the Puget Sound Myco Society

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UPDATE: Another SFD rescue response on the water

| West Seattle news | WS breaking news

6 PM: This time, SFD says, “Fireboat (is) responding to water near Lowman Beach Park in West Seattle for male kiteboarder who appears to be in distress approximately 1 mile from shore.” As often happens, some land units have been sent to Don Armeni in case a patient needs to be brought ashore.

(WSB photos by Christopher Boffoli)

6:18 PM: The land units actually went to Seacrest, where SFD told WSB’s Christopher Boffoli that no one was hurt and no one needed to be transported.

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Easter, Passover, etc. events/services? WSB page in progress!

April 3, 2019 5:34 pm

| 1 COMMENT

| Holidays | West Seattle news

We’re now two and a half weeks away from Easter weekend and the start of Passover. As always, we’re working on a one-page guide to local events and services, so if your organization, business, church, synagogue, school, etc. has something public planned, please let us know – and thanks to those who have sent info already – westseattleblog@gmail.com!

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TRAFFIC ALERT: Signal trouble at 35th/Henderson

April 3, 2019 5:02 pm

| 3 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

Commenters reported this during our morning-traffic coverage – and now we’ve just received e-mail that it’s happening still/again: The signal at 35th SW and SW Henderson is flashing red. Judy says that’s backing things up, as we’re into the evening commute. We’re checking to see if it’s on SDOT’s radar.

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CLOSURES: Some Seattle Parks facilities Thursday; Don Armeni Boat Ramp on April 11th

April 3, 2019 2:39 pm

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| West Seattle news | West Seattle parks

Two Seattle Parks closures you should know about. First, tomorrow:

All Seattle Parks and Recreation community centers, pools, teen life centers and small craft centers will be closed on April 4 for an all-staff Recreation Division training. In addition, all Recreation programs will be canceled, and the Camp Long visitor center will be closed.

School Age Care programs (Before and After School), Preschool programs, and Community Learning Centers will run as usual at the centers and school facilities where they are normally held.

Most rentals will not be impacted but we suggest customers verify with the facility where their rental is held.

(WSB file photo)

Then, one week from tomorrow, on April 11th:

Seattle Parks and Recreation is replacing the floating dock system and pilings at Don Armeni Boat Ramp in West Seattle. Design and permitting efforts are underway. As part of the permitting, the Department of Natural Resources requires an eel grass survey for the area impacted by the floating docks.

This eel grass survey work will require closure of the boat ramp on April 11, 2019. During the closure, boaters will need to use an alternate launch location. The nearest City of Seattle launch location is Eddie Vine Boat Ramp on the south edge of Golden Gardens Park, 8001 Seaview Ave. NW.

Construction is scheduled for 2020 after design and permitting is complete. The Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office Boating Facilities Grant and Seattle Parks and Recreation fund this project.

For more backstory on the Don Armeni project, see our report from last November.

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UPDATE: Emergency response for ‘sailboat in distress’ off Fauntleroy

April 3, 2019 1:23 pm

| 3 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | WS breaking news

1:23 PM: Seattle Fire responders are arriving in the Fauntleroy ferry terminal vicinity for what SFD says is a “sailboat in distress” that might need help. Updates to come.

1:34 PM: The response has ended. According to radio communication, the sailboat had lost its sail but no one was hurt or in danger.

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WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Overnight gunfire

April 3, 2019 12:10 pm

| 1 COMMENT

| Crime | West Seattle news | West Seattle police

We received a few questions about what sounded like gunfire early this morning, heard in the 36th SW/SW Dawson and Fauntleroy/Edmunds areas. No injury reports on the SFD log, but Tweets by Beat showed a “property destruction” report this morning. When we followed up for details, Seattle Police confirmed evidence of gunfire was found in the 5000 block of 37th Avenue SW: “Officers arrived on scene and located … a bullet hole to the back hatch of an SUV. No other damage or evidence was located.”

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BIZNOTE: West Seattle Coworking’s spring-break deal

April 3, 2019 11:29 am

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| West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news

(Photo courtesy West Seattle Coworking)

Next week is spring break for Seattle Public Schools and others. Returning WSB sponsor West Seattle Coworking is offering a deal for the occasion. Here’s the announcement:

With the kids at home, it may be harder to be productive next week. If you need the flexibility to work in a productive place, West Seattle Coworking is offering a promotional rate of $50 for an entire week. And even if you don’t have kids at home, this would a great time to come out and try it. Our regular members enjoy phone rooms for their private calls, a meeting room for face-to-face meetings, mail services, business grade internet, copying, scanning, faxing, free coffee, and community. We are a group of professional West Seattleites who like to be productive and in good company.

Come and escape the chaos.

West Seattle Coworking is on the north side of Morgan Junction, at 6040 California SW.

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8 for your West Seattle Wednesday

April 3, 2019 10:21 am

| 1 COMMENT

| West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Black-capped Chickadee with quince, photographed by Robin Sinner, shared in the WSB Flickr group)

From the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:

SEATTLE READS ‘THE BEST WE COULD DO’: Thi Bui‘s book is the official Seattle Reads title this year. Talk about it at noon at Southwest Library. (9010 35th SW)

OZOBOTS: LibraryLab starts at 2 pm at West Seattle (Admiral) Library – all-ages drop-in! (2306 42nd SW)

DANCE TIME WITH LAUREN PETRIE: 6 pm at the Senior Center of West Seattle, keyboard musician Lauren Petrie plays for your dancing pleasure. (4217 SW Oregon)

SOUTHWEST DISTRICT COUNCIL: 6:30 pm at the Senior Center/Sisson Building, with Sound Transit light rail on the agenda – including a discussion of the property-acquisition process. (4217 SW Oregon)

SMALL BUSINESS & COMMUNITY FORUM WITH COUNCIL CANDIDATE: 6-7:30 pm at Flying Apron, with City Council District 1 candidate Jesse Greene:

Join small business leaders from the West Seattle, Morgan, and Admiral Junction Business Associations for a forum with Jesse Greene! Jesse, owner of Uncle Woody’s Popcorn in South Park, is a candidate for Seattle City Council here in District 1. Jesse will address Seattle’s most pressing issues, from homelessness and affordability to the feature of neighborhood businesses, as well as share his inspiring personal story. Bring your questions and passion for West Seattle’s future! Hosted by Angela Cough of Flying Apron Bakery.

(4709 California SW)

JIM PAGE: 7-9 pm, singer-songwriter Jim Page performs at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor). No cover. All ages. (5612 California SW)

‘INTO THE WOODS’ AT WSHS: With a 7:30 pm curtain time, the second and final week begins for the West Seattle High School Drama Club production of “Into the Woods.” Our calendar listing includes ticket info. (3000 California SW)

THE LOOSE HEELS & FRIENDS: 8 pm at Parliament Tavern, “danceable country classics.” No cover. 21+. (4210 SW Admiral Way)

WHAT ELSE IS AHEAD? Preview our complete calendar any time by going here.

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Registration time for West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day 2019!

April 3, 2019 9:30 am

| 4 COMMENTS

| Community Garage Sale Day | West Seattle news

Registration is now open for West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day 2019! This is the 15th year for the peninsula-wide sale day presented/coordinated by WSB – not one big sale, but many sales of all sizes, all over the peninsula – always the second Saturday in May, and this year, that’s May 11th. Official sale hours are 9 am-3 pm, but if you want to start early and/or end late, when you register, please include that information in the text of your “ad” for the map and list. As we do every year, we will have the printable and clickable versions of the map/sale list ready one week in advance so shoppers can make their plans and plot routes. If you’re planning on selling and ready to sign up, you’ll find the form here!

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TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Wednesday watch

April 3, 2019 6:57 am

| 4 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)

6:57 AM: Good morning! No traffic incidents or transit alerts so far.

FERRIES: The south Vashon Island run (Tahlequah-Point Defiance) is back in service so the Tuesday alert for extra traffic on Fauntleroy-Vashon no longer applies.

7:55 AM: SDOT reports a crash at 41st/Fauntleroy. No SFD callout.

8:46 AM: Crash on NB 99 before the tunnel.

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Big fun for little ones in a Hiawatha Community Center comeback

April 2, 2019 11:29 pm

| Comments Off on Big fun for little ones in a Hiawatha Community Center comeback

| Fun stuff to do | West Seattle news | West Seattle parks

Got little one(s)? Classes set to make a comeback at Hiawatha this month might be perfect for them – so signups are happening now! The announcement:

Toddler dance is back at Hiawatha Community Center! Join us for a weekly 40-minute dance class that uses movement and music to stimulate brain reflexes, teaches social-emotional learning skills, and encourages joy and self-expression. Taught by our certified dance instructor, Marika, your little one is bound to have a blast exploring creative movement in this safe and positive environment.

Wednesdays, April 24 – June 12
Parent and Me: Creative Movement Class (Ages 2-4) -11:30-12:10 pm
Creative Movement Class (Ages 3-6) – 12:15-12:55 pm

Our spring 8-week session begins on April 24 and we’ll need a minimum number of enrollments to run the class, so please sign up early so we know the class will go. You can register online at seattle.gov/parks by clicking on Sign Up For Activities, or calling Hiawatha Community Center at 206.684.7441. (Parent and Me: Creative Movement: Activity #21109, Creative Movement: Activity #21110)

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TERMINAL 5: Vote approving leases looks toward ‘seaport of the future’

April 2, 2019 7:49 pm

| 20 COMMENTS

| Port of Seattle | West Seattle news

By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

After almost five years of near-emptiness, Terminal 5 in West Seattle has container ships in its future again.

Seattle and Tacoma port commissioners, meeting as managing members of the Northwest Seaport Alliance, gave their approval today to an entwined package of leases that shuffle some other terminals as well as setting up T-5 for a $300+ million modernization project starting soon. Memos and overviews are all linked from the agenda – here’s the main one used by a series of presenters before the vote:

The vote wasn’t unanimous – two Tacoma reps expressed a variety of concerns – but it was emphatic.

Just before the vote, which followed a 3-hour briefing/discussion in the Sea-Tac Airport Conference Center, Seattle commissioner Peter Steinbrueck declared that it was no less than a question of “Are we a seaport of the future or a seapart of the past?” He said the plan is evidence “we’re thinking of the future … efforts to produce one of the best seaports on the West Coast” and proclaimed it “grand” as well as “overdue.”

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Six West Seattle schools involved in Neighborcare Health alert about dental-care sterilization concern

April 2, 2019 4:57 pm

| 8 COMMENTS

| Health | West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

A letter has been sent to families of more than 1,200 students who received dental services from Neighborcare Health at 12 Seattle and Vashon schools, including six in West Seattle. They are recommended for hepatitis B and C and HIV testing because items used in dental procedures “might not have completed the final step in the sterilization process.” Here’s the letter sent to potentially affected students’ families, forwarded to us anonymously.

Neighborcare Health says the potentially affected schools where it provided school-based dental services include Chief Sealth International High School, Denny International Middle School, Highland Park Elementary, Madison Middle School, Roxhill Elementary, and West Seattle Elementary, as well as Chautauqua Elementary and McMurray Middle School on Vashon Island. That’s according to the statement we received when we followed up with Neighborcare. Here’s the rest of it:

Recently, Neighborcare Health discovered a deficiency in our dental sterilization procedures involving some of the dental handpieces used at our Seattle and Vashon school-based health clinics.

We want to first clearly express how sorry we are for this incident and any concern that it causes our patients and their families. We want to explain what happened, the possible risks, and what we are doing to ensure it cannot happen again.

We take very seriously our responsibility to provide our patients and communities with quality, accessible care. We are committed to keeping our patients informed about their health care and following up with them as needed.

What happened?

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FERRY ALERT: Heavier Fauntleroy traffic because of south Vashon service outage

April 2, 2019 3:36 pm

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| Fauntleroy | Transportation | West Seattle news

Washington State Ferries wants to be sure you know that the Fauntleroy-Vashon run is getting heavier traffic this afternoon because of a service outage on the south end of Vashon. The Tahlequah-Point Defiance run has been shut down since the M/V Chetzemoka went out of service with a generator problem. No ETA yet for its return.

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LAST CALL! ‘Scoping comment’ deadline day for West Seattle light rail. See what two groups are saying

April 2, 2019 1:17 pm

| 12 COMMENTS

| Sound Transit | West Seattle news

If you haven’t gotten your “scoping” comment in regarding West Seattle light rail – today is the (extended) deadline set by Sound Transit – so go here fast! Many local organizations and groups are weighing in. We’ve heard from two more whose detailed views might interest you. First, the Junction Neighborhood Organization:

(Here’s the PDF, if you can’t read it above.)

Next, from the West Seattle Transportation Coalition:

(Here’s the PDF.) The “scoping” comments are to be summarized by ST with “themes” made available to the Stakeholder Advisory Group a few days in advance of its meeting April 19th, at which SAG members will make a recommendation of routing/station options that they think should go into environmental study. One last time, here’s how to submit yours – by end of day today.

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BIZNOTE: Thunder Road Guitars and The Bass Shop moving

April 2, 2019 11:24 am

| 33 COMMENTS

| West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news

The co-housed West Seattle Junction music shops Thunder Road Guitars and The Bass Shop (both WSB sponsors) are moving to a new home in Morgan Junction. The move also solves a long-running mystery about their future space, the former Kokoras. First, here’s the announcement from TRG proprietor Frank Gross (who also sent the top photo):

As many of you know, Thunder Road Guitars currently resides at 4736 California Ave in the heart of the West Seattle Junction. When I founded Thunder Road Guitars in the fall of 2011, as a life-long West Seattleite, I could only dream of one day having our store located in the Junction. In just 4 years we moved from the ActivSpace building on Alki, where I leased a 110 square foot office, to our first “cozy” brick and mortar storefront north of the Junction, to our current location, which I believed would be our forever home.

In the summer of 2018, I was informed by our landlord that our rent would be increasing significantly come June of 2019 and I knew that I had a tough decision to make. Forced with a ticking clock, we decided to start quietly looking for a new home for Thunder Road and I am ecstatic to announce that we found one in the Morgan Junction here in West Seattle, just a handful of blocks from our current storefront. In a growing city like Seattle parking is more of an issue now than ever and I am thrilled to also say that this new location will have a dedicated parking lot attached to the property with free parking for our customers.

This summer Thunder Road Guitars and The Bass Shop will be moving to 6400 California Ave SW. We will initially occupy half of the property and work on renovating the entire building over the course of the following year. We are now lucky enough to be our own landlords and as a friend of mine once said “own the dirt beneath our feet and the roof over our heads”. Much of 2019 will be a transition period so please bear with us while we make the move and begin putting together what will become the permanent location for our retail storefront, repair business, and guitar lesson studio.

Moving Thunder Road Guitars to the Junction in 2015 grew our business and brand in ways I could never imagine and for that I am forever grateful and indebted to this community. West Seattle is our home and has always been good to us, and we are so pleased to be able to remain a part of the community.

– Frank Gross, owner and founder of Thunder Road Guitars

After receiving this, we headed down the hill to the new space, also with the goal of asking The Wash Dog next door what’s in their future. Proprietor Thyra tells WSB she’s looking for a new spot but her lease runs through this time next year and her new landlord is working with her on the transition. The ex-Kokoras space has been empty for a year and a half.

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8 for your West Seattle Tuesday

April 2, 2019 9:40 am

| 3 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Bald Eagle vs. Crow @ Alki Point, photographed by Gary Jones)

Tuesday highlights, from (mostly) the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:

LAST DAY FOR LIGHT RAIL ‘SCOPING’ COMMENTS: Your last chance to get your comment into the official record before the next phase of Sound Transit West Seattle light-rail planning ends today. Here’s how to comment.

BABY STORY TIME: Got a 1-year-old or younger? Come to Southwest Library for Baby Story Time, 10:30 am. Free as always. (9010 35th SW)

TERMINAL 5 LEASE VOTE: As previewed here, Seattle and Tacoma port commissioners meet today as the Northwest Seaport Alliance‘s managing members, with an agenda full of lease votes and other items key to the future of Terminal 5. 11:30 am at the Sea-Tac Airport Conference Center. (17801 International Blvd.)

LEARN IRISH DANCING: Beginning Irish Dance classes at 4:45 pm, VFW Hall in The Triangle. (3601 SW Alaska)

WWRHAH: 6:15 pm at Southwest Library, community info and involvement with the Westwood-Roxhill-Arbor Heights Community Coalition. (9010 35th SW)

WEST SEATTLE BIKE CONNECTIONS: 6:30 pm at Neighborhood House High Point – lots on the agenda. (6400 Sylvan Way SW)

FAMILY STORY TIME: For kids of all ages, 7 pm at Delridge Library. Free as always. (5423 Delridge Way SW)

WAX & OIL: DJs and painting at Parliament Tavern, 8 pm. 21+. (4210 SW Admiral Way)

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

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Police arrest driver after flipped-car crash

April 2, 2019 9:03 am

| 13 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle police

Another early-morning flipped-car crash. This one did not lead to a major callout and we didn’t hear about it until this photo came in from a nearby resident a short time ago. The SFD log shows it happened in the 3200 hundred block of Walnut around 1:30 am. Police tell WSB that the driver hit at least one parked car and they arrested him on suspicion of DUI.

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TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Tuesday watch

April 2, 2019 7:51 am

| Comments Off on TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Tuesday watch

| 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)

7:51 AM: No incidents or traffic alerts so far this morning in our area.

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VIDEO: Steve Earle in-store show at Easy Street Records

April 1, 2019 11:40 pm

| 4 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | WS culture/arts

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).