West Seattle, Washington

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month : 11/2019 297 results

WEST SEATTLE HOLIDAYS: Hall at Fauntleroy’s 2019 community Thanksgiving dinner
November 28, 2019 1:24 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   Holidays | West Seattle news

Words to live by! That placemat is on a table at The Hall at Fauntleroy, serving up an annual tradition until 3 pm – a free community Thanksgiving dinner for anyone and everyone who wants to come enjoy it.

On the menu, along with roast turkey – cornbread chorizo stuffing, mixed green salad, garlic mashed potatoes, roasted brussels sprouts, gravy, and cranberry mostarda.

A lot of volunteer power – almost 100 volunteers – and donated desserts go into the feast, too.

Tuxedos and Tennis Shoes Catering (part of DSquared) proprietors David Haggerty (below) and Meg Haggerty and David Meckstroth have hosted the community dinner for 21 years!

The Hall is on the south end of historic Fauntleroy Schoolhouse, 9131 California SW. (If you don’t see this until after 3 pm, see other options in our West Seattle Holiday Guide.)

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FOLLOWUP: Latest sea-lion killing brings ‘urgent request’ from Seal Sitters Marine Mammal Stranding Network
November 28, 2019 11:36 am
|      15 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | Wildlife

(Photo courtesy Seal Sitters)

On Monday, we reported on a sea lion found dead just south of Lowman Beach Park. Today, Seal Sitters Marine Mammal Stranding Network sends word that a necropsy has confirmed it was shot to death – and they have an “urgent request”:

Yesterday we examined the dead California sea lion discovered on Monday at Lowman Beach. A necropsy was done by a team from the Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife Marine Mammal Investigations and SR3, assisted by Seal Sitters. Examiners recovered a bullet, confirming the suspicion that the otherwise healthy animal had been shot. This case will be turned over to NOAA’s Office of Law Enforcement and is the fifth confirmed gunshot sea lion in Puget Sound and Hood Canal since August.

Seal Sitters requests your help in stopping the violence against sea lions and seals. If you hear gunfire coming from the water, please call 911 immediately. If you witness harassment of marine mammals, please call Seal Sitters at 206-905-SEAL (206-905-7325). You can also report incidents to NOAA’s Office of Law Enforcement at 800-853-1964.

Many thanks to the property owners who gave us permission to secure the carcass until it could be examined. After the necropsy, the carcass was towed and sunk under permit from the EPA.

This is the second Thanksgiving Day in a row with a report like this – last night we were just checking the archive for last year and noted this report about 13 sea-lion deaths linked to “acute trauma from human interaction.”

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West Seattle Thanksgiving Day 2019 info: Coffee, restaurants, grocery stores, free community dinners, more…
November 28, 2019 5:35 am
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   Holidays | West Seattle news

Happy Thanksgiving! Lauren sent the photo, wanting to reassure fans of The West Seattle Turkey that it’s alive and well. As usual, we’re starting the holiday with information we hope will be helpful:

COFFEE SHOPS OPEN TODAY: 10 West Seattle coffee shops open for at least part of today are listed in the Thanksgiving section atop our Holiday Guide. (Others? Let us know!)

GROCERY STORES OPEN TODAY: This list is also in the Thanksgiving section atop our Holiday Guide.

RESTAURANTS (AND BARS-WITH-FOOD) OPEN TODAY AND/OR TONIGHT: Here’s the list; please remember that it is a list of who told us, when we asked, that they planned to be open – so it’s always subject to last-minute change without notice to us. Please let us know if you find discrepancies – thank you!

PRE-TURKEY EXERCISE : Three options this morning, indoor and outdoor, also in the Thanksgiving section atop the Holiday Guide.

WHERE TO FIND A FREE COMMUNITY THANKSGIVING DINNER: Three options this year, everyone welcome:
*The Hall at Fauntleroy, noon-3 pm (9131 California SW)
*West Seattle Eagles, 2 pm-5 pm (4426 California SW)
*Admiral Pub, free “Friendsgiving” buffet starts at 5 pm (2306 California SW)

WANT TO HELP? You can donate a dessert to The Hall at Fauntleroy’s dinner – such as a pie or cookies – dropoffs are welcome before 12 pm, same address as above (south end of the historic schoolhouse). You can let them know you’re bringing one (or more) by registering here – or just drop it off.

WHAT TO DO AFTER DINNER: The Admiral Theater is open this afternoon/evening – see the movies and showtimes here (2343 California SW) … The Menashe Family Lights are on. (5605 Beach Drive SW)

THANKSGIVING TRANSPORTATION NOTES:
*Metro is on the Sunday schedule
*No Water Taxi service
*Sound Transit light rail and buses on the Sunday schedule
*Washington State Ferries‘ Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth run is on its regular weekday schedule
*No charge for parking today on city streets in neighborhoods with pay stations
*Traffic cameras: West Seattle-relevant ones here; citywide views are available via this SDOT map

OTHER INFO:
*No trash/recycling/etc. pickup today – Thursday pickups will happen Friday; Friday pickups, on Saturday
*Seattle Parks closures for today, tomorrow
*Seattle Public Libraries are closed today
West Seattle’s Log House Museum is closed today

Detailed seasonal info for today and beyond is in the WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide. We hope you enjoy your Thanksgiving! (And if you see/hear news, please text/call 206-293-6302 – we are thankful for your tips 24/7/365!)

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Ever wish someone would listen to you? District 1 Community Network is on it!
November 27, 2019 11:56 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   Neighborhoods | West Seattle news

By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

It’s a big peninsula. So who’s looking at the big picture?

That’s one thing the all-volunteer District 1 Community Network thinks it can help with.

But most important, D1CN still wants to know where you think its energies would be best applied.

So its nine-question survey will stay open until year’s end. (Answer it by going here!) That’s one thing decided when D1CN met Tuesday night at South Park Neighborhood Center, a last-minute substitute for the regular Duwamish Longhouse due to a scheduling mixup.

So far, more than 100 have responded. The nine questions are meant to help the group shape its work in supporting the community – perhaps educating people about interacting with the city, keeping a focus on accountability between the city and its commitments to the district (grants, projects, etc.), amplifying the work of nonprofits and other organizations. After more responses come in, they’ll discuss both the next round of findings as well as community concerns that have percolated in the meantime.

Other topics at the meeting focused on operational matters, as well as city issues that are bubbling up:

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WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: 4 notes
November 27, 2019 10:20 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   Crime | West Seattle news

Crime Watch miscellany to report tonight:

DELRIDGE RESPONSE: Thanks for the text on this. King County Sheriff’s Office Transit Police responded to a report of a phone-robbery attempt aboard a bus late this afternoon. We found deputies at Delridge/Orchard (above); that’s all they could tell us.

SOUTH OF THE JUNCTION: Earlier in the afternoon, we were asked about a response at 5001 California SW. The call designation for this was “commercial burglary.”

HOME BURGLARIES: Two notes as we continue tracking a recent spike in these. First, Tweets by Beat shows two more reported late today, in the 6700 block of Fauntleroy Way SW and in the 4400 block of 42nd SW. Meantime, we obtained one report from the recent incidents we’ve mentioned, for the 8200 block of Northrop. The report says burglar(s) entered by kicking in a door to the house accessible from a carport. They ransacked most of the house, stealing items including jewelry boxes and an antique sword.

STOLEN-SUBARU FOLLOWUP: On Sunday, we published Ben and Jennifer‘s report that their green Subaru Outback had been stolen. Then in another Crime Watch thread on Monday, Ben commented that Bellevue Police had found it “with a car chase and everything.” So we asked BPD for more details:

Our officers responded to a parking lot to check for a stolen vehicle at 5:14 pm on 11/25/19. The car was not there, but was located southbound on 148th Ave to WB I-90. When officers attempted to stop the vehicle, the driver fled to a dead end where he abandoned the car. Our officers were able to recover the vehicle and have leads on the suspect.

No further details about items Ben said were in the car, though.

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Woman injured at Oregon/42nd
November 27, 2019 8:16 pm
|      20 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | WS breaking news

8:16 PM: We didn’t catch it as an incident in progress, but we’ve received some questions about an incident at 42nd/Oregon around 7 pm, described by onlookers as an injured pedestrian. Followup information from police isn’t available – the scene was cleared before we arrived – but Seattle Fire tells us a woman in her 60s was taken to the hospital, assessed in stable condition when transported.

10:04 PM: The call coding on this has appeared on Tweets by Beat as “motor vehicle collision.”

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VIDEO: Lights on! Menashe Family launches 2019 West Seattle display
November 27, 2019 6:07 pm
|      9 COMMENTS
 |   Holidays | West Seattle Christmas lights | West Seattle news

6:07 PM: As previewed on Monday and noted in today’s daily-highlights list, this is the first night you can go see West Seattle’s brightest Christmas lights, the Menashe Family‘s display at 5605 Beach Drive SW [map]. Above, the big tree’s candy-cane pattern of red and white lights is part of what’s new; below, the front-door reindeer who has joined the assortment of inflatables:

When we visited at dusk, the bucket truck was still in use as some final touches were being worked on; our photographer has gone back for a few more views we’ll add later.

6:57 PM: The wide view:

A video walkthrough:

The train is a favorite sight:

One more reminder that this year’s visit by Santa – free photos; bring donations for the West Seattle Food Bank – is 6-10 pm on Saturday, December 14th.

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WEST SEATTLE WEATHER: From seaspray to … snow?
November 27, 2019 4:28 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle weather

4:28 PM: North winds and high tide combined for a show on Alki this past hour.

(This photo and next by WSB’s Patrick Sand)

The forecast looks good – though cold – for Thanksgiving Day and Friday, sunny with a high near 40, but the s-word has crept back into the forecast for the weekend …

SATURDAY NIGHT…Mostly cloudy. A slight chance of rain and snow after midnight. Snow level near sea level. Lows near 30.

SUNDAY…Mostly cloudy. A chance of rain and snow in the morning, then a slight chance of rain in the afternoon. Snow level near 300 feet in the morning. Highs in the lower 40s.

Just a chance – and shortlived if it happens, the “forecast discussion” elaborates – but you are hereby forewarned.

6:45 PM: Photos added from this afternoon’s waves.

(Photo by Theresa Arbow-O’Connor)

There could be a repeat tomorrow, as north winds are expected again; afternoon high tide is at 4:56 pm.

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LIGHT RAIL: New round of testing in West Seattle – ‘shear wave velocity’
November 27, 2019 2:47 pm
|    Comments Off on LIGHT RAIL: New round of testing in West Seattle – ‘shear wave velocity’
 |   West Seattle news

Starting as soon as one week from today, Sound Transit plans the next round of soil testing for the West Seattle light-rail extension. Here’s how spokesperson David Jackson explains what’ll be done: “Also called (corrected) shear wave velocity testing, this will measure how vibrations travel through the soil at each site to establish a better understanding of seismic soil classifications along the corridor. Crews will be lowering a probe from a tripod to take readings and measurements at various depths downhole. Work at each location will last about 3-6 hours.” This is all part of environmental studies for the draft report that’s now expected to go public in early 2021.

P.S. A reminder – also coming up, the next ST “neighborhood forum,” this time specifically focusing on the Delridge station area, 10 am-noon Saturday, December 7th, at Delridge Community Center, 4501 Delridge Way SW. (Here’s our report on last week’s West Seattle-wide forum.)

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WEST SEATTLE HOLIDAYS: Thanksgiving, Black Friday/Small Business Saturday updates
November 27, 2019 2:05 pm
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   Holidays | West Seattle news

Holiday info updates!

THANKSGIVING: Just added another spot to the list of restaurants and bars-with-food that told us they’ll be open – if you’d rather have tacos than turkey (or, for lunch, to tide you until dinner), Tacos Guaymas in The Junction will be open until 3. See our list here – and please let us know if you have additions or changes!

Then of course, Friday and Saturday you’ll be out shopping local … here’s one place to be:

BLACK FRIDAY/SMALL BUSINESS SATURDAY: As featured in that short commercial, Thunder Road Guitars (6400 California SW; WSB sponsor) is having a sale both days, celebrating its 8th anniversary (first holiday season since moving to Morgan Junction with co-housed The Bass Shop, also a WSB sponsor). Also in Morgan Junction, Paper Boat Booksellers (6040 California SW) has a Small Biz Saturday plan:

We will be providing free holiday gift wrapping from 10-5, treats all day and a special 10% off coupon if you spend over $50*. Larry The Librarian will be joining us for family reading time at 11:00!

We will also be joining other independent bookstores with a Literary Angel Tree, providing new books to kids at Seattle Children’s Hospital. Look for the tree and basket at the front of the store and give the gift of books!

In The Junction, Black Friday is “Sleigh the Sales” day – starting with Easy Street Records opening at 7 am, and then a long list of merchants having sales you’ll find on the Junction Association Hometown Holidays page – then Small Biz Saturday has a separate list here. We’re adding it all to our Holiday Guide – not too late to send us your shopping specials so we can include them too.

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FOLLOWUP: Judge’s ruling puts Initiative 976 on hold, for now
November 27, 2019 11:53 am
|      40 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle politics

That’s the ruling from King County Superior Court judge Marshall Ferguson this morning, putting Initiative 976 on hold while the lawsuit against it is argued. Among the parties to the suit claiming it’s unconstitutional is the city of Seattle, which sent the document and quotes including this from Mayor Jenny Durkan: “This is good news for transit, safety, and equity in Seattle. We are pleased that the Court recognized the severe and irreparable harm to our residents that would have occurred without this injunction. Our residents rely on Metro bus service, ORCA cards, neighborhood safety improvements and road maintenance. … A supermajority of Seattle voted this irresponsible measure down in Seattle. That is because Seattle votes every day with our feet and with our dollars to invest in more transit.” The results certified on Tuesday show 59.47% of King County voters rejected 976; statewide, 52.99% of voters approved it. The document above (it’s here in PDF if you can’t read it there) spells out what plaintiffs say is at risk of cuts – including Metro bus service – if 976 were allowed to take effect December 5th as written; it also says that if ultimately 976 is upheld, overpaid taxes/fees can be refunded. So bottom line – no change in your license fees TFN. State Attorney General Bob Ferguson, in charge of defending the initiative since voters approved it, says, “This is not a final judgment, and this case is far from over. We will continue working to defend the will of the voters. This case will ultimately wind up before the State Supreme Court. We are working now to determine our immediate next steps.”

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WestSide Baby’s longtime leader Nancy Woodland leaving that role, but not the fight
November 27, 2019 9:54 am
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle people

By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

“Children’s issues are everybody’s issues.”

That’s the point Nancy Woodland stresses, in explaining why she’s leaving WestSide Baby after 13 years, to fight for children’s rights in a larger arena.

We spoke with her as the nonprofit prepared for this morning’s announcement of her decision to depart at year’s end.

WestSide Baby’s executive director hasn’t yet decided how she will carry on that fight. “I do know I’ve figured out my passion is in, and will continue to be, children’s basic needs, anti-poverty work, systems change, social justice work, that’s really bubbled up in the past two years.” And that means something larger than running an organization, even one that’s grown as much as WestSide Baby, from serving 4,000 children to 35,000 children, from a staff of two part-timers to a staff of 24, mostly full time.

While those numbers represent real growth, Woodland says internal growth and “cultural change” in the organization has been essential too, including changes in the way it works with other providers as well a its clients, and recognition that it must do more than collect and distribute essential items: “The direction we’re going (also includes) social justice and anti-racism (and) systems change.”

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What’s up for your West Seattle Thanksgiving Eve
November 27, 2019 9:00 am
|      6 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Rock Wren, uncommon local visitor photographed at Constellation Park by Jill Duffield)

Here’s what’s happening this Thanksgiving Eve. First, from the WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide:

THANKSGIVING EVE SHOPPING: Some businesses have special hours tonight in case you are slamming to get everything done at the last minute. We’ve heard from two of them: Whole Foods Market-West Seattle (4755 Fauntleroy Way SW; WSB sponsor) is staying open one hour later, until 10 pm. Also, The Beer Junction (4511 California SW) will stay open two hours later, until 1 am.

MENASHE FAMILY LIGHTS: When we visited during setup on Monday night, they were expecting to turn on West Seattle’s brightest Christmas-lights display tonight. (5605 Beach Drive SW)

And from our year-round West Seattle Event Calendar:

BABY STORY TIME: 11:30 am at High Point Library. (3411 SW Raymond)

SMART PHONES FOR SENIORS: 1 pm at the Senior Center of West Seattle, a free class in maximizing your smart phone. (4217 SW Oregon)

OPEN MIC NIGHT: Fully backlined ppen mic at The Skylark. Signups start at 7:30 pm. (3803 Delridge Way SW)

THE SUPER KREWE: “Brass-band pre-turkey party” at Parliament Tavern, 9 pm. $8 cover. 21+. (4210 SW Admiral Way)

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TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Pre-holiday Wednesday watch
November 27, 2019 6:59 am
|    Comments Off on TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Pre-holiday Wednesday 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)

6:59 AM: Good morning! Last morning commute before the four-day holiday weekend. No incidents reported in our area so far. One transit alert:

VASHON WATER TAXI CANCELED: No Vashon Island Water Taxi this morning because of wind.

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FABULOUS FINALE: Last-ever South Park Art Under $100 on Saturday
November 26, 2019 9:57 pm
|      5 COMMENTS
 |   Holidays | South Park | West Seattle news

(Photo courtesy South Park Arts)

Holiday shopping can be a celebration all its own. While you’re out shopping local this Saturday, save sme time in the afternoon/evening to travel a bit east and visit the last-ever South Park Arts “Art Under $100” extravaganza. The announcement:

It started small in 2004 with just three artists and a garage party in South Park. Today, 15 years later, Art Under $100 has evolved into the holiday party of the season with amazing, accessible art still at its very core. And this particular Art Under $100 takes on a bittersweet significance. AU100 2019 will be the last one, so carve out Saturday, November 30th on your calendar: not to be missed.

It’s a big finale, so wear your finest and funnest outfits and spend the day with us. You’ll be blown away by paintings, sculpture, glass art, metalwork, ceramics, textiles, and so much more. You’ll see the neighbors you miss all year, buy treasures you can’t find elsewhere, support 70 local artists, reminisce, imbibe, create, and connect. You might even dance.

WHAT: Art Under $100
WHEN: Saturday, November 30th
VIP Hour – 1:00 – 2:00 pm $25 ticket includes bubbly, chocolate, stress-free shopping
Free Entry – 2:00 – 8:00 pm
WHERE: Seattle Design Center : 5701 6th Avenue S on the edge of SODO in Georgetown

• Plenty of parking
• DJ Doctor David spins the records
• Art Raffles throughout the event
• Food trucks
• Wine, Beer (from Georgetown Brewery), a signature cocktail, and non-alcoholic beverages
• Hands-on projects to take home courtesy of the Makery, an art lab that uses up-cycled materials
• Check out www.southparkarts.org

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FOLLOWUP: Grand totals from, and gratitude for, 21st annual Beer Church Turkey Bowl
November 26, 2019 7:58 pm
|    Comments Off on FOLLOWUP: Grand totals from, and gratitude for, 21st annual Beer Church Turkey Bowl
 |   Holidays | West Seattle news

(WSB photo, Saturday night)

Last Saturday night, we reported on this year’s Beer Church Turkey Bowl, a beer-and-bowling event raising funds and food for the West Seattle Food Bank. Tonight, WSFB’s Judi Yazzolino shares the grand totals, as well as words of thanks?

The 21st annual Beer Church Turkey Bowl at the West Seattle Bowl last Saturday, a benefit for the West Seattle Food Bank, was another incredible success! $9,490 and 2,165 pounds of food, 1,000 pounds were directly from Old Stove Beer.

(Some of the donated food; photo courtesy Beer Church)

Thank you to Kendall & Kim Jones from Beer Church for their tireless work to put together this fun event and certainly to the breweries, restaurants and individuals who put teams together, bring food and buy raffle tickets and bowl their hearts out for the food bank. The 12,700 individuals that we serve in your community with nutritious food and other needed programs and services certainly appreciate your support.

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HOLIDAY GIVING: What Seahawks player Bobby Wagner did in West Seattle today
November 26, 2019 5:31 pm
|      19 COMMENTS
 |   Holidays | West Seattle news

(WSB photos)

A high-profile visitor but a low-key visit today, when Seahawks linebacker Bobby Wagner spent some time at Admiral Safeway. He wasn’t there to shop, or to sign autographs … he was there to help pack Thanksgiving meals to be delivered to three tiny-house encampments, including Camp Second Chance in West Seattle.

That’s young helper Amare with Bobby, who gave another gift while he was there – paying for the groceries of everybody who happened to be in the store at the time.

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TRAFFIC ALERT: Crash blocking southbound Delridge @ Brandon; stuck truck on Genesee
November 26, 2019 4:54 pm
|    Comments Off on TRAFFIC ALERT: Crash blocking southbound Delridge @ Brandon; stuck truck on Genesee
 |   Delridge | West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

If you’re headed toward southbound Delridge, you might want to consider an alternate route for a while: Those lanes are blocked at Brandon because of a crash response. No major injuries reported so far. However, don’t detour onto Genesee east of Delridge – there’s a stuck truck on the hill.

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ELECTION 2019: See the final results
November 26, 2019 4:43 pm
|      17 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle politics

checkbox.jpgThree weeks after the voting ended, King County Elections has certified the final results. So for the record, here’s how the local races turned out:

Countywide turnout – 48.54%

Seattle City Council District 1 (West Seattle/South Park, turnout 54.51%)
Lisa Herbold – 20,033 – 55.71 %
Phil Tavel – 15,787 – 43.90 %

King County Council District 8 (West Seattle, White Center, Vashon/Maury Is., part of Burien, turnout 49.74%)
Joe McDermott – 56,753 – 83.71 %
Michael Robert Neher – 10,729 – 15.83 %

Seattle School Board District 6 (West Seattle & most of South Park; districtwide turnout 54.42%)
Leslie S. Harris – 142,214 – 65.82 %
Molly E. Mitchell – 72,805 – 33.70 %

The full list of countywide results is here.

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BIZNOTE: Checking back with … Crowfoot Café
November 26, 2019 4:20 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   Highland Park | West Seattle news | West Seattle restaurants

Before year’s end, we’re checking back with a long list of coming-soon businesses. Today – Crowfoot Café, which as we reported in September is in the works for the former mini-market at 7789 Highland Park Way SW. We asked proprietors/founders Steven Baird and Maureen Clark how things are going:

We are in that magical in-between phase where the Health Department says they like our plan but we still await permission from Labor & Industries…

We hope to open in a month so; in the meantime we are practicing and perfecting our procedures. We will let you know our soft-open date after we hear from L&I.

We are excited to share our pizza and continue to build community in our wonderful Highland Park neighborhood, and hope we have visitors from all over West Seattle!

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HOLIDAYS: Reminder now that we’re T-day minus two
November 26, 2019 2:54 pm
|    Comments Off on HOLIDAYS: Reminder now that we’re T-day minus two
 |   Holidays | West Seattle news

Those are some of the trees at West Seattle Nursery (California/Brandon), one of five places where you can buy a pre-Thanksgiving Christmas tree, as listed in our Holiday Guide. With two days to go until Thanksgiving, we want to remind you the Holiday Guide is full of info for Thursday’s holiday too – restaurants and bars-with-food that’ll be open, free community Thanksgiving dinners, grocery-store hours, and more. We are continuing to add info and announcements daily, so if you are involved with something seasonal – from shopping specials (BUY LOCAL!) to shows to Santa photos to services to giving opportunities, and beyond – just send the info, westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!

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Why the Westwood licensing office is closed
November 26, 2019 1:49 pm
|    Comments Off on Why the Westwood licensing office is closed
 |   West Seattle news | Westwood

Thanks to Mike for the tip – the Westwood driver-licensing office (8830 25th SW) is closed today, and its website attributes the closure to a “facility issue.” We checked with the Department of Licensing and were told the office is closed for water-line repairs and that they’ll assess at day’s end whether it will reopen tomorrow. So if you were planning to go there tomorrow – check first!

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UPDATE: 7 Metro bus stops in West Seattle proposed for removal
November 26, 2019 11:27 am
|      40 COMMENTS
 |   Transportation | West Seattle news

Thanks to a reader tip about that sign at the northbound Metro bus stop on California/Dakota, we’ve learned that it’s one of seven stops proposed for removal – not “moving” as the sign suggests. Metro says it’s part of a plan to “rebalance” Route 50. First, here are the stops that are part of the proposal:

Metro spokesperson Torie Rynning also provided context in responding to our inquiry:

Many of the bus stops along Route 50 under consideration for removal were placed before Metro became an organization in 1973.

Over time, changes in land use, bus service, and pedestrian infrastructure prompt a re-evaluation of bus stop placement and subsequent rebalancing effort. Meanwhile, higher ridership at the bus stops along California Ave SW increases the amount of time it takes passengers to board and leave the bus. This delay increases throughout a trip the more frequently a bus stops. Bus-stop rebalancing presents a cost-effective way to optimize recent service investments.

All stops proposed for closure are within a few minutes’ walk to another nearby stop. The proposed changes allow for the same coverage of transit services by maintaining stop spacing of approximately one-quarter mile. Consolidating bus stops helps keep buses moving and on-time for Routes 50, 55, and 128 that share stops along California Ave SW between SW Admiral Way and SW Alaska St. All that said, the changes currently posted at bus stops are proposals, subject to change based on input from transit riders, and your readers are encouraged to let us know what they think.

As noted on the sign, you can comment to Metro’s Shelby Cramer – text or voice 206-263-1109, email scramer@kingcounty.gov.

ADDED WEDNESDAY: The changes would take effect with the March “service change.”

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