day : 27/09/2024 11 results

Somebody in Fauntleroy with a green laser is reported to have pointed it tonight at multiple ferries and at least one plane. That’s according to a texted report and a police-radio FYI in the past few hours. The texter reports the “bright green laser … illuminated the pilothouses of multiple state ferries on at least two separate occasions.” The police-radio FYI was relayed as an FAA request for officers to check the area near the ferry dock after a plane reported the laser. The FAA notes that this is a safety risk and federal crime.

CRIME WATCH FOLLOWUP: No arrest yet in shooting death at Triangle kitchen

September 27, 2024 10:19 pm

| 1 COMMENT

| Crime | Triangle | West Seattle news

(WSB photo, this morning)

Two days after 32-year-old Laupule Talaga was shot and killed, a memorial of flowers and candles sits outside a door at Distinguished Foods, which rented space to his employer, Seattle Soul Kitchen. Police have nothing new to report publicly in their search for the person who entered the building at 4611 36th SW around 4 pm Wednesday and shot Mr. Talaga multiple times.

(WSB photo, Wednesday)

Seattle Soul Kitchen remains closed, but otherwise Distinguished Foods is open, according to a spokesperson for the kitchen-rental business, which sent this statement today:

… Our hearts go out to the victim’s family and friends as they navigate this unimaginable loss. In moments like these, words fall short, but we offer our sincerest condolences and unwavering support to those affected by this senseless act of violence.

We are incredibly thankful that no further injuries occurred, and we extend our gratitude to the first responders and community members who acted swiftly in the face of tragedy. The safety and well-being of our community are our highest priorities, and we stand with West Seattle as we collectively heal from this event.

To that last point, we asked if any security measures were planned; the spokesperson replied, “We are actively evaluating measures to enhance the safety of the building. This was a targeted incident, and while we continue to prioritize the safety of our tenants, customers, and employees, it appears there was little we could have done to prevent it.”

Seattle Soul Kitchen said via social media that Mr. Talaga was a father of three, and pleaded, “We call for peace in our streets and an end to the violence. It’s time to heal, time to put down the guns, time to live for our family and friends.” We asked Distinguished Foods if they knew of any crowdfunding to help the victim’s family; so far, no.

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UPDATE: Power outage in southwest West Seattle

September 27, 2024 8:32 pm

| 2 COMMENTS

| Arbor Heights | Utilities | West Seattle news

8:32 PM: Thanks for the tips. Power is out for 106 homes in the south Arbor Heights/Seola area. The City Light map says they’re “investigating”; we’re checking if there’s any obvious cause.

9:10 PM: Outage over, per commenter and SCL map. Likely cause seems to be a tree branch that fell on a power line in the 11600 block of Seola Beach Drive, per archived SFD dispatch audio.

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Scenes from West Seattle Junction Wine Walk, fall 2024 vintage

September 27, 2024 8:28 pm

| 2 COMMENTS

| West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news | WS beverages

Just as 5 pm arrived, a long line of West Seattle Wine Walk ticketholders filled the sidewalk on the west side of California SW north of SW Alaska, waiting to check in at Jet City Labs (one of two Wine Walk check-in spots tonight). Once their tasting tickets were in hand, they had more than two dozen venues to visit, almost all businesses with guest wineries. Spruce Hill Winery from SODO (WSB sponsor) was in the house at Rush Hour:

Jo and Ava were pouring Spruce Hill’s 2023 Sauvignon Blanc, 2022 Granache, and 2021 Rainforest Red. Down the street at CAPERS, Viscon Cellars (also a WSB sponsor) poured tonight:

Viscon’s wines tonight were “Perseverance” Viognier, “Porch” Rosé, and “The Weekday” Cabernet Sauvignon. We also revisited Emerald Water Anglers, learning its new location at California/Alaska is fully open – tonight EWA (also a WSB sponsor) hosted Wandering Wolf Cellars:

The Wine Walk – which sold out of all 1,000 tickets – is a fundraiser for the nonprofit Junction Association. Watch for word of next year’s first Wine Walk (and other events)!

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New partner, new name for what’s now the West Seattle Book Club

September 27, 2024 6:44 pm

| 4 COMMENTS

| West Seattle books | West Seattle news

Another nightlife phenomenon in West Seattle is the monthly convening of what was the West Seattle Silent Book Club – aka “introverts’ happy hour.” It’s grown to a dozen venues every month where people gather to read and then chat – or not. It’s BYOB (bring your own book). This week, a big two-part announcement from organizers, as their October reading night approaches – a new partner and new name:

We are becoming an independent organization named West Seattle Book Club that is rooted in and local to West Seattle and White Center rather than being connected to a global organization. We are so very grateful to have begun as a chapter of the global Silent Book Club organization, and over the years (and because of the incredible support of this neighborhood!), we have become more than a chapter. We have become a neighborhood-wide reading night. As our gatherings have grown, there has been added complexity to organizing, and we have recognized the need for more substantial local support.

We are so excited to share that West Seattle Book Club is becoming part of the West Seattle Junction Association to support our sustainability as a reading community. As part of the West Seattle Junction Association, we will continue to gather all across the neighborhood, from White Center up to Admiral, and we will continue to be led and organized by the same team of local volunteers. The West Seattle Junction Association will provide the support and organization we need to sustain our neighborhood-wide reading nights. We are thrilled to be embedded in such an important neighborhood institution.

The newly renamed West Seattle Book Club‘s next gathering is this Thursday, October 3, 7-9 pm. For Thursday’s reading locations – from North Admiral to White Center – see our calendar listing.

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CONGRATULATIONS! West Seattle’s new trivia champions

September 27, 2024 3:03 pm

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| West Seattle news | West Seattle people

Trivia is not trivial to West Seattleites! Every week, our WSB West Seattle Event Calendar features a long list of weekly games at local venues. Trivia host Will Drew organized the West Seattle Trivia Championships again this year and sent this report and photo after last night’s finale:

Last night, West Seattle’s 2024 trivia champion was crowned at The Good Society. The Nard Dogs, representing Beveridge Place, bested teams from Three 9 Lounge, The Good Society, Admiral Pub, and Talarico’s. The Great Space Baboon Uprising, also from Beveridge Place, took second place. Thank you to The Good Society for hosting, and for all the quizmasters and trivia teams that participated.

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BIZNOTES: Ex-Lodge update, Emerald Water Anglers progress (update: open!), PCC party

September 27, 2024 1:08 pm

| 6 COMMENTS

| West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news

Three biznotes today:

EX-LODGE UPDATE: When we wrote two weeks ago about the “mystery” of who was moving into the former Lodge space at 4209 SW Alaska – described only as a restaurant – commenters said they’d been told that JaK’s Grill, currently barely half a block away, is the tenant. According to newly filed permit documents, they were correct. No other details yet.

EMERALD WATER ANGLERS PROGRESS: Speaking of Junction business moves – the new location for EWA, the ex-Bin 41 at 4707 California SW, is almost ready:

An employee there when we stopped by a short time ago says they’ll be “90 percent ready” by the time they host a West Seattle Junction Wine Walk (sold out!) stop at 5 pm tonight. Meantime, Emerald Water Anglers‘ original location at 42nd/Oregon remains open until the upcoming changeover. (Evening update: Proprietor Dave McCoy told us during our Wine Walk visit that the new location is now open and the old one has closed!)

PCC PARTY: You’re invited to a birthday party at PCC Community Markets West Seattle (2749 California SW; WSB sponsor) on Saturday, October 5. The store will celebrate PCC’s 35 years in West Seattle with “wine tastings and cake (plus) samples from local makers,” noon-4 pm that day. Also of note, it’s been almost exactly five years since PCC opened their current store on the ground floor of the mixed-use building at the old store’s site.

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WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Stolen Mazda minivan; ‘found’ Honda motorcycle

September 27, 2024 11:50 am

| 1 COMMENT

| Crime | West Seattle news

Two reader reports:

STOLEN MINIVAN: Sent by Kelly:

Sometime between yesterday evening and today (Friday) 10:30 am, a 2014 Mazda 5 was stolen from the first block of Hudson off California (the west side of California). It is a less than perfect looking silver older, small minivan. My niece had $1000 worth of work done on the car in BC, just days ago. Ohio license plates.

They’re awaiting the report number; call 911 if you find it. (Update: SPD incident # 24-275015)

POSSIBLY ABANDONED MOTORCYCLE: A reader says this has been in the same spot for more than a month:

My best guess is it looks like a 1980 Honda CB400T with a bit of custom work – and a slow oil leak. Maybe someone is missing their project bike?

If it’s yours and indeed stolen, let us know.

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16 notes for your first West Seattle Friday of fall!

September 27, 2024 10:26 am

| 0 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Photo by Theresa Arbow-O’Connor)

Time to review our reminder list of what’s happening in West Seattle and vicinity for the rest of today/tonight, mostly from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar (go there any time to look beyond same-day):

CITY COUNCIL BUDGET MEETING: Happening all day – see our preview.

STAY ‘N’ PLAY RETURNS: Free weekly drop-in indoor play is back at Arbor Heights Community Church (4113 SW 102nd), now until 11:30 am.

SSC GARDEN CENTER: With fall just days away, season-appropriate plants await you at the north end of the South Seattle College (6000 16th SW; WSB sponsor) campus, now until 3 pm. Plus, until 2:30 pm, while you’re there, you can visit The Otter Pup for coffee, ice cream, and other treats!

OKTOBERFEST AT THE BEER JUNCTION: Open noon-11 pm – today’s the first day of this year’s Oktoberfest celebration. (4511 California SW)

NORTHWEST WINE ACADEMY TASTING ROOM: 1-6 pm, open in the north lot of South Seattle College (6000 16th SW; WSB sponsor).

WEST SEATTLE JUNCTION WINE WALK SOLD OUT: If you didn’t get your tickets, you’re out of luck this time, but watch here (and here on WSB too) for word of next year’s first Wine Walk!

VISCON CELLARS: Not going on the Wine Walk? Venture south of The Junction, where this tasting room/wine bar is open for wine by the glass or bottle – 5-9 pm – at Viscon Cellars (5910 California SW; WSB sponsor).

FOOTBALL: Doubleheader tonight – West Seattle HS hosts Lincoln at 4:30 pm, Chief Sealth IHS hosts Ingraham at 7:30 pm, both games at Nino Cantu Southwest Athletic Complex (2801 SW Thistle).

POTTERING CLASS SOLD OUT: Check here for Lora‘s other upcoming classes.

COFFEEHOUSE MUSIC: 7 pm, singer-songwriter Dan Lundin at C & P Coffee (5612 California SW; WSB sponsor), no cover, all ages.

AT THE SKYLARK: Fian, Cuvier, Sun Mother, doors at 7 pm, music at 8 pm, $10 cover, 21+. (3803 Delridge Way SW)

AT THE SPOT: Fridays are Live Artist Showcase nights at The Spot West Seattle (2920 SW Avalon Way), 7-10 pm.

‘GUARDS AT THE TAJ’: Third weekend for this “dark comedy” at ArtsWest (4711 California SW), 7:30 pm.

MAKE IT LOUD: Tonight’s bands at Southgate Roller Rink are Marmalade, Jamn, Jaws of Brooklyn. 9 pm doors, $18 cover, $5 skates, 21+. (9646 17th SW)

REVELRY ROOM DJ: 9 pm, check here to see who’s spinning tonight! (4547 California SW)

JARAY’S DJ: 9 pm, DJ Buzsy at Jaray’s Lounge (2216 SW Orchard).

Anything missing? If you have something else to add to our event lists and calendar, please email info to westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!

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BUDGET: How much will the city spend in 2025-2026? Council gets department-by-department presentations starting today

September 27, 2024 8:59 am

| 21 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle politics

Those two Seattle Channel videos show City Councilmembers getting an overview of Mayor Harrell‘s $8.3 billion 2025-2026 budget proposal on Wednesday. Starting at 9:30 this morning, they move into the next phase, department-by-department presentations of budget highlights. We’ve been scanning the budget (the entire 735-page document is here) for items of note, particularly West Seattle-specific, and here’s what we’ve found so far:

The majority of references to “West Seattle” are in the context of planning for light rail, since the city is involved with station-area planning. This includes mentions in the individual budgets for SDOT, the Office of Planning and Community Development, and the Office of Sustainability and Environment. Then there’s a mention of the West Seattle Golf Course in the Parks and Recreation budget, which includes an increase in the total amount to be spent on the city’s four golf courses ($18 million next year, up from $14 million this year). The only mentions of “Delridge” also are in the context of light-rail station planning.

We also looked for “Southwest” references, and those were primarily in the Seattle Police proposal. The Southwest Precinct, which serves West Seattle and South Park, has a general fund allocation of $15 million this year, and that would rise to $17 million next year. The document doesn’t break down where the increase is going; staffing would stay the same, 102 full-time equivalents (FTEs), as usual the smallest staff of the precincts.

Obviously it doesn’t take a West Seattle-specific mention for our area to be affected. Individual departments also have released toplines, and the items we noted included a proposal for graffiti response to move from Seattle Public Utilities to Seattle Parks and Recreation (whose toplines are here including proposed fee increases for next year), and a proposal for the Department of Neighborhoods to offer fewer community grants. The SDOT budget overview notes that the department’s plan only addresses general-fund spending, not the funding that would result if the Transportation Levy renewal/expansion is approved by voters in November.

If you’re interested in specific departments’ plans, here’s the schedule for department-by-department presentations:

TODAY (agenda): Arts and Culture (slide deck), Economic Development (slide deck), Planning and Community Development (slide deck), Construction and Inspections (slide deck)

MONDAY (September 30): Sustainability and Environment, Parks and Recreation, SDOT, Education and Early Learning

TUESDAY (October 1): CARE, Police, Human Services

WEDNESDAY (October 2): Housing, Finance and Administrative Services, Human Resources, IT

Councilmember Dan Strauss is this year’s budget chair; he warned his colleagues that these would be full-day meetings (starting at 9:30 pm, with lunch breaks in the 1-2 pm vicinity). Other council committee meetings are pre-empted by budget meetings. You can see agendas here and watch meetings live (or archived) via Seattle Channel. Budget documents are all here, including individual-department breakouts.

TIMELINE: The council’s budget review and decisions will unfold over the next two months, with a final decision scheduled for November 21. Official public hearings are planned for October 16 and November 12. The council’s explanation of how you can participate in the budget process is here.

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TRAFFIC, TRANSIT, WEATHER, ROAD WORK: Friday notes + weekend alerts

September 27, 2024 6:00 am

| 9 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

6:00 AM: Good morning. It’s Friday, September 27.

WEATHER + SUNRISE/SUNSET TIMES

Clearing, high in the mid-60s. Today’s sunrise will be at 7:03 am, while sunset will be at 6:55 pm.

SPOKANE ST. VIADUCT & 1ST AVE. S. BRIDGE THIS WEEKEND

*Eastbound lanes are scheduled to close all weekend for the Spokane Street Viaduct resurfacing project – but be aware that the schedule has changed without warning on past weekends, so check cameras before you leave. We’ll also do our best to catch if/whe work ends early so we can update

*Also this weekend, the 1st Avenue South Bridge has southbound lane closures both mornings, 6 am-noon.

*Regionally, here’s what’s happening.

ONGOING ROAD WORK

*For the Admiral Way Bridge seismic project, the north half of the bridge remains closed, with one lane each way on the south side, until the project switches sides next month; Fairmount Avenue remains closed under the bridge.

*The Delridge pedestrian-bridge earthquake-safety project also continues, with narrowing at Delridge/Oregon.

TRANSIT

Metro buses today – Regular schedule.

Water Taxi today – Regular schedule. Late-night runs since it’s Friday.

Washington State Ferries today – 2 boats on the Triangle Route, plus the “unscheduled third boat,” now available on weekends too. Check for alerts here.

SPOTLIGHT TRAFFIC CAMERAS

High Bridge – Here’s the main camera, followed by the Fauntleroy-end camera:

Low Bridge – Looking west:

Spokane Street Viaduct – This view usually looks westward, with eastbound lanes at left and westbound lanes at right:

1st Avenue South Bridge:

Delridge cameras: Besides the one below (Delridge/Genesee), cameras are also at Delridge/Juneau, Delridge/Henderson, Delridge/Oregon, and video-only (so you have to go to the map), Delridge/Holden and Delridge/Thistle.

MORE TRAFFIC CAMS: All functioning traffic cams citywide are here; West Seattle and vicinity-relevant cameras are on this WSB page.

If you see a problem on the bridges/streets/paths/water, please text or call our hotline (when you can do that safely, and after you’ve reported to authorities if they’re not already on scene) – 206-293-6302. Thank you!

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