West Seattle, Washington

16 Tuesday

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month : 04/2019 306 results

TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Friday watch
April 26, 2019 7:14 am
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 |   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)

7:13 AM: Thanks for the tips. We start with word of a crash on Harbor Avenue SW not too far north of the West Seattle Bridge. Avoid the area. A texter says it’s on the southbound (toward the bridge) side.

7:52 AM: The SFD response on that crash was canceled fairly quickly, so apparently no serious injury. No further info on the scene’s status – please let us know if you find it cleared.

Meantime, notes:

BEACH DRIVE PAVING: This is the last scheduled day for the project between Weather Watch and Me-Kwa-Mooks Parks (we’ll check the area this afternoon).

4TH SW CLOSURE STARTS NEXT WEEK: Here’s our update on the month-plus closure scheduled to start next week just south of Roxbury.

STADIUM ZONE TONIGHT: Mariners are home, 7:10 tonight, vs. the Rangers.

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WEST SEATTLE SCHOOLS: ‘Mental Health Day’ educates and inspires at Seattle Lutheran HS
April 25, 2019 11:35 pm
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   Health | West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

The lockers lining a corridor at Seattle Lutheran High School carry colorful “Random Acts of Kindness”- words of appreciation from students for schoolmates and staff.

Those messages dovetailed with what students heard this afternoon as the school’s third annual Mental Health Day concluded: “Words matter.”

So declared Todd Crooks, a former SLHS parent who lost his 21-year-old son Chad to mental illness and suicide three years ago.

He spoke to the students at the conclusion of a day meant to help SLHS students learn about mental illness as well as about mental health and how to cope with the stresses life brings. After starting the day with a keynote presentation by a counselor, students spent the morning in breakout sessions learning about specific mental-health issues including depression, anxiety, and schizophrenia. They rotated through workshops after lunch, focused on coping skills. Some were activities – yoga, tai chi, meditation – while others focused on talking. We listened in to part of the “Mental Health for Men” session, with students listening to a man who had fought depression.

“There’s ways to cope with everything,” he assured the students. He told them he favored getaways and also music – he plays in two bands.

Music was the subject of another workshop all its own, in fact; as we wandered the corridor, we heard the sounds of a guitar, through a closed classroom door.

And that’s when we saw the sticky-note-decorated lockers. Tim Caudle, the faculty member who coordinates Mental Health Day, told us the notes were a student-generated and -led idea. One message on a locker identified as belonging to a staffer caught our eye:

The Random Acts of Kindness were separate from Mental Health Day, and yet they seemed to synergize perfectly.

We joined the students in the gym for the closing assembly, which Caudle opened with thanks for his colleagues on the SLHS mental-health team who helped make the day happen. And then he introduced Todd Crooks.

His words about words were in the context of mindfulness – being mindful of how your words might be heard by someone, even if you don’t intend them to be heard a certain way. “Do you want to risk affecting someone in a way that has long-term impact?”

He also urged the students to take what they had learned this Mental Health Day and carry it out into the world to help others – perhaps going even further, taking a Mental Health First Aid course, for example, so they could be ready to help someone in crisis the way you might do CPR for someone having a heart attack.

And with optimism and hope – the same spirit we noted when covering SLHS’s first Mental Health Day in 2017 – all went out into the afternoon sun.

P.S. Resource links for everything from education to crisis counseling are on the website for Chad’s Legacy Project, founded by Chad’s parents.

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Big trip ahead for West Seattle Girl Scout Troop 44398
April 25, 2019 10:22 pm
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 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle people

If you bought Girl Scout Cookies from Troop 44398, here’s what you’re helping make happen – troop leader Elizabeth Chapman sent the photo and report:

West Seattle Girl Scout Junior Troop 44398 will fly to San Francisco tomorrow to walk across the Golden Gate Bridge with 5,000 other Girl Scouts from all over the United States.This is the largest “bridging ceremony” in the country. The girls sold over 3000 boxes of cookies to meet their travel goal.

This troop of fifth graders have been together since kindergarten and while meeting their travel goals is important to them, they also love supporting their community. This year they supported Seattle Children’s Hospital by donating copies of their favorite books to give to children in the hospital.

Troop leader Chapman is also the owner of Trendy Crafts, with which the troop worked two years ago to donate craft kits for kids at Children’s.

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UPDATE: Short-lived ‘full response’ for fire on Fauntleroy Way
April 25, 2019 8:16 pm
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 |   West Seattle fires | West Seattle news

8:16 PM: What was briefly a “full response” by Seattle Fire has been downgraded. The fire in the 5200 block of Fauntleroy Way is described by SFD as “a small fire inside a dryer.”

8:59 PM: At the scene, firefighters confirmed that it was out quickly and no one was hurt.

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FRIDAY MORNING: Next milestone meeting for West Seattle light-rail planning process
April 25, 2019 8:01 pm
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 |   Sound Transit | Transportation | West Seattle news

That’s the slide deck circulated for tomorrow morning’s meeting of the Elected Leadership Group in the Sound Transit West Seattle to Ballard light-rail planning process. The 9:30 am meeting at the ST board room downtown (401 S. Jackson) is supposed to culminate with the ELG (here’s the roster – but note that City Councilmember Debora Juarez has replaced ex-CM Rob Johnson) recommendation on potential routing/station locations to go into environmental studies.

New in the slide deck (which you also can see here in PDF), starting at page 61: Visual representations of what the Stakeholder Advisory Group recommended more than a week ago (WSB coverage here). Tomorrow’s meeting includes public comment – here’s the agenda; once the ELG makes its recommendation, the final decision is in the hands of the Sound Transit Board, at committee and full meetings next month.

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About the film crew at Don Armeni
April 25, 2019 5:52 pm
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 |   Seen around town | West Seattle news

We’ve received a few questions about the film crew at Don Armeni. All they would tell us is, it’s a TV commercial. They’re shooting intermittently on Harbor Avenue, with this camera-equipped car:

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FOLLOWUP: Rescheduled 4th Avenue SW closure now set to start next week
April 25, 2019 5:32 pm
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 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

The postponed 4th Avenue SW closure south of Roxbury, for work related to the King County Housing Authority‘s construction in the area, is now set to start Monday. From KCHA:

We have resolved the complex utility conflicts that delayed our road closure and are ready to proceed with the full road closure. We have received final road closure permission from King County Road Services Division, King County Department of Local Services. 4th Avenue SW will be totally closed from SW 100th Street to SW Roxbury Street starting Monday, April 29th. This closure will continue from April 29th to Monday, June 3rd, with the following work hours:

• Monday – Friday 7 AM to 5 PM
• Saturday – 9 AM to 5 PM

There will be additional brief road/lane closures following the initial closure to complete additional work.

We have coordinated with local residents, emergency services, schools, and area service providers.

Here’s our original report on the project.

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QUICK REMINDER: Hours left to register for West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day!
April 25, 2019 4:27 pm
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   Community Garage Sale Day | West Seattle news

Seven hours left if you haven’t yet signed up YOUR sale for the 15th annual West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day (coordinated by WSB) on May 11th! 11:30 pm tonight (Thursday) is the deadline – we then get busy making sure the clickable and downloadable/printable versions of the map and sale listings will be ready a week in advance of the big day. To register, go here – thank you!

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BE PART OF IT! West Seattle Junction Spring Clean on Saturday
April 25, 2019 3:23 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   How to help | West Seattle news

(Junction volunteers Mike and SuzAnne)

The photo and invitation are from the West Seattle Junction Association:

Junction Spring Clean
Saturday, April 27th
9 AM to Noon
Meet at Junction Plaza Park

Spring clean in the Junction. Join fellow neighbors and businesses for the 3rd Annual West Seattle Junction Spring Clean Saturday, April 27th 9 am to 12 Noon. The Junction QFC will supply breakfast, coffee, cleaning supplies, and a nifty volunteer lunch tote.

Activities include picking up litter, stenciling storm drains to prevent water pollution, painting out graffiti, removing invasive plants, and more. Seattle Public Utilities and the Junction Association support volunteers by providing free tools like garbage bags, gloves, garbage grabbers, safety vests, and paint supplies.

Grab a group of people! It’s a perfect time for organizations, businesses or groups to work together on a volunteer project.

There’s something for everyone, kids included! Meet at Junction Plaza Park (42nd and Alaska). No pre-registration necessary, just show up and be ready to dig in.

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CrossFit Loft: Welcome, new West Seattle Blog sponsor!
April 25, 2019 1:27 pm
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 |   Health | West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news

Today we’re welcoming CrossFit Loft as a new WSB sponsor!

CrossFit Loft is a West Seattle Junction fitness center with a staff of 17 coaches and flexible options to make your routine work with the hours you keep.

CrossFit Loft offers only month-to-month membership that can be cancelled at any time. They also offer vacation holds so that you’re not charged for those times you might be out of town or unavailable to stop by. CrossFit Kids classes are offered for ages 5-18 years; child care for all ages is available during 9 am CrossFit classes on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.,

After an initial one-on-one session with a coach to introduce you to what CrossFit Loft offers, you can then work out by yourself or in a group. You can also request personal sessions with one of the coaches at any time. General manager Bethany adds, “As a member of the West Seattle community for over seven years, CrossFit Loft is proud to help our neighbors achieve their fitness goals and much more. Whether you’re looking to be able to tackle Mount Si or play with your grandkids, our coaches are here to tailor every workout to your current ability level and purpose.”

CrossFit Loft is located at 4140 California SW and is open Mondays through Thursdays 5 am to 9 pm, Fridays 5 am to 8 pm, Saturdays 7 am to 3 pm, and Sundays 8 am to 2 pm.

We thank CrossFit Loft 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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Month-long closure ahead for Southwest Pool
April 25, 2019 12:15 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle parks

Just two days until city-run Southwest Pool shuts down for a month. The work that will be done during the closure is part of a citywide package of repairs and maintenance that one contractor is handling, according to Seattle Parks, which says the pool’s liner will be removed and replaced. This is separate from the accessibility work that has been under way for months (we’ve asked Parks for an update on when that will be done and will add that info here when it’s available). The facilities co-housed in the building at 2801 SW Thistle, the Neighborhood Service Center and SW Teen Life Center, will remain open. And remember that city-run outdoor Colman Pool in Lincoln Park is opening earlier this year – with pre-season weekends starting May 11-12.

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5 for your West Seattle Thursday
April 25, 2019 11:24 am
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 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Not up early enough to catch today’s sunrise? Lynn Hall was!)

As always, there’s lots on the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar. Here are five of the highlights:

2347 44TH SW PROJECT ‘EARLY OUTREACH’: If you have comments and/or questions about the four-house project planned at this site, join project-team reps there at 5:30 pm for a site walk and “early outreach” meeting. (2347 44h SW)

NEW SDOT DIRECTOR, PLUS AVALON PROJECT … those are the highlights of the agenda for tonight’s West Seattle Transportation Coalition meeting. All welcome to come hear from new SDOT director Sam Zimbabwe as well as Adonis Ducksworth from the Avalon/35th/Alaska repaving/rechannelization projet, 6:30 pm at Neighborhood House High Point. (6400 Sylvan Way SW)

4-HAND PIANO CONCERT: Come to The Kenney (WSB sponsor) at 6:30 pm for an “American Souvenirs” 4-Hand Piano Concert with Dainius and Asta Vaicekonus. (7125 Fauntleroy Way SW)

DRAG RACE, WITH PIE: As noted here on Wednesday, A la Mode Pies in The Junction will be open later Thursday nights – starting tonight – until 10:30 pm so you can watch “RuPaul’s Drag Race” and enjoy the shop’s festive fare, including, of course pies as well as, among other things, boozy milkshakes. The show’s on at 9. (4225 SW Alaska)

INTO THE COLD: Live music at Parliament Tavern, 9 pm. 21+. (4210 SW Admiral way)

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400 artists create new mural at Lafayette Elementary
April 25, 2019 9:58 am
|      5 COMMENTS
 |   Environment | West Seattle news | West Seattle schools | WS culture/arts

(WSB photos)

What was a dingy concrete wall at Lafayette Elementary School is now alive with color.

Muralist Lina Cholewinski, (added) for Urban ArtWorks, led what she refers to as a team of 400 artists in its creation. We stopped by on Wednesday as finishing touches were applied.

She sketched out designs on the wall, and the kids then painted them in on Earth Day. Principal Cindy Chaput said the school had been looking for an Earth Day project and it all came together with the help of the Lafayette PTA.

Parents were part of the team – some were there during our visit, doing touchup and finishing work with the artist herself.

Something cool happening at YOUR school? Let us know – westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!

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TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Thursday watch
April 25, 2019 7:02 am
|      2 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)

7:02 AM: Good morning! No transit alerts or traffic problems reported in our area so far.

BEACH DRIVE PAVING CONTINUES: Between Me-Kwa-Mooks and Weather Watch Parks.

STADIUM ZONE: The Mariners are back home tonight vs. the Rangers, 7:10 pm, which means the West Seattle Water Taxi runs into the late evening.

8:02 AM: Crash blocking 1 lane of NB 99/509 just south of the 1st Av S Bridge.

8:33 AM: Cleared.

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VIDEO: First debate-style faceoff for District 1 City Council candidates
April 24, 2019 8:02 pm
|      73 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle politics

By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

The questions were similar but the format different as the 34th District Democrats put four of the Seattle City Council District 1 candidates side by side last night for the second time in two weeks. From left, Phil Tavel, Brendan Kolding, Jesse Greene, and incumbent Lisa Herbold spent an hour an a half in what was billed as a debate, with rebuttals and counter-rebuttals.

So far, as with previous events, the debate at Holy Family Bilingual Catholic School generally ran along the lines of the challengers criticizing city leadership in general and, at times, Herbold in particular, rather than any of the three non-incumbents taking on the others. It’s all in the video above; the 34th’s Jordan Crawley and Chris Porter moderated (the video begins with Crawley explaining the rather intricate rules). Our toplines are after the jump:

Read More

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West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day 2019 now 2 1/2 weeks away; registration ends Thursday night!
April 24, 2019 6:48 pm
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   Community Garage Sale Day | West Seattle news

Another update on West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day 2019 – just two and a half more weeks until the big day of sales, all sizes, all neighborhoods, Saturday, May 11th! Thanks to everyone who has signed up so far – 245 sales and counting. If you’re still deciding, time’s almost up – the registration deadline is TOMORROW NIGHT (Thursday, April 25th, 11:30 pm). You’ll find the signup form here. Important note for sellers – please be sure you got a PayPal receipt as well as our confirmation email – several are showing as having not completed that step of the process, and so we don’t know whether that means you changed your mind or just had trouble with the system. If you didn’t, please send a note to westseattleblog@gmail.com and we can send you a special link. As soon as registration closes tomorrow night, we start making the map and list so everyone can access the clickable and printable versions one week before sale day!

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West Seattle whale-watching: Orcas nearby
April 24, 2019 5:31 pm
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 |   West Seattle news | Whales | Wildlife

Thanks to Kersti Muul for word that orcas are in the area – southbound transient killer whales passing Bainbridge’s Restoration Point as of a little while ago. Let us know if you see them!

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WEST SEATTLE SCHOOLS: Chief Sealth IHS’s visitors from China
April 24, 2019 4:41 pm
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 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

Thanks to Chief Sealth International High School teacher Joshua Hansell for the photo – the group is from Chongqing Nankai School, Sealth’s sister school in China, shown on the Boeing factory tour in Mukilteo. The teacher explains, “Every other year Nankai spends 2 weeks at Sealth, and every other year Sealth students spend 2 weeks at Nankai in Chongqing, China.” They are here through Saturday, he adds: “10 students and two chaperones – one administrator and one international department secretary. The students are all basically HS sophomores – 15 or 16 years old. Every other day we take them on a field trip – downtown Seattle, Boeing Factory, Rattlesnake Ridge hike, City Hall, etc. Then every other day they’re shadowing Sealth students at school.”

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TRAFFIC ALERT: Stuck truck in Highland Park
April 24, 2019 3:49 pm
|      5 COMMENTS
 |   Highland Park | West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

Thanks to the tipster who reports, “There’s a semi-truck stuck on the curve of 20th Ave. SW/21st Ave. SW headed toward the 7-11 on SW Holden. Police have it blocked off.”

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LAST CALL! Early-bird discount expiring for Taste of West Seattle 2019
April 24, 2019 2:32 pm
|    Comments Off on LAST CALL! Early-bird discount expiring for Taste of West Seattle 2019
 |   How to help | West Seattle news

It’s fundraiser season, with many chances to have a good time for a good cause. Perhaps the most flavorful fundraiser is a month away – but TODAY is your last chance to get tickets at the early-bird discount rate. The West Seattle Helpline‘s Taste of West Seattle fills The Hall at Fauntleroy with local food and beverage providers offering delicious dishes, savory and sweet, 6-9 pm on May 23rd. If you buy your ticket(s) by tonight, admission is $75 – that’s a $20 discount! Just go here.

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FOLLOWUP: 5603 42nd SW demolition, one year after standoff and fire
April 24, 2019 2:02 pm
|      11 COMMENTS
 |   Development | West Seattle fires | West Seattle news

House-to-be-replaced-with-house demolitions aren’t always noteworthy, but several people messaged us about this one. This is happening at 5603 42nd SW, where what started as an eviction attempt one year ago ended with a standoff and a fire set by the resident, 51-year-old David M. Severtson, who then died by suicide. City and county online records show the house was sold in December by the estate of Mr. Severtson’s mother and that it will be replaced by another single-family house.

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BIZNOTES: Free coffee; TV and pie
April 24, 2019 12:53 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news

Two West Seattle business notes from the food-and-drink world:

FREE COFFEE: Happy 25th anniversary, Caffe Ladro! To celebrate the company’s quarter-century anniversary, they’re offering “your first coffee” free today in all stores, including West Seattle (7011 California SW, open until 7 pm), for the occasion. (And if you’ve missed our previous mentions – while the business buildings to its north are about to be demolished for residential construction, CL has told us it’s staying.)

TV AND PIE: From Chris Porter, proprietor of A la Mode Pies in The Junction (4225 SW Alaska):

Starting this week, we’re going to be staying open late every Thursday to air RuPaul’s Drag Race. The café will be open from 11 AM-10:30 PM – everyone is welcome! The show starts at 9 PM.

It’s a great opportunity to socialize with the neighborhood, watch one of the most popular shows on TV and eat lots of pie. We offer a selection of sweet and savory pies along with beer, wine and boozy milkshakes. Every Thursday it’s Happy Hour all day.

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Seen off West Seattle: Superyacht MLR
April 24, 2019 12:03 pm
|      8 COMMENTS
 |   Seen at sea | West Seattle news

With renowned yacht builder Delta Marine nearby, we have superyacht sightings off West Seattle now and then. This morning, Jim Borrow photographed 175-foot MLR, launched by Delta earlier this year. MegaYacht News notes it docked recently downtown, and includes aerial-tour video provided by MLR’s designer Jonathan Quinn Barnett.

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