West Seattle, Washington
03 Tuesday
(WSB file photo)
As Westside Neighbors Shelter operator Keith Hughes told the Rotary Club of West Seattle today, “I’ll be there 12 hours a day for the next five months.” He has officially opened West Seattle’s only emergency shelter for the season; cold weather means it’s open overnight to up to 30 people who need a place to go. The shelter is at 3618 SW Alaska in The Triangle, co-housed with American Legion Post 160 and West Seattle Veterans Center. It runs on donations and volunteers, and Keith told the Rotary he can especially use more of the latter. (Here’s how to volunteer.)
(WSB file photo)
With overnight temperatures expected in the 30s this week, the Westside Neighbors’ Shelter in The Triangle is getting ready to open. Here’s the update from shelter manager Keith Hughes:
I will be opening the Overnight Cold Weather Shelter for Wednesday and Thursday nights this week.
Hours are 5:00 PM till 11:00 AM the next day. We will serve a hot dinner at 6:30 pm each day and a hot breakfast at 8:30 AM each day as well as provide cots and blankets inside. We serve adult men and women without exception.
Westside Neighbors Shelter is a 501c3 private nonprofit at 3618 SW Alaska, co-housed with American Legion Post 160 and the West Seattle Veteran Center. We’re checking to see if they have any current donation needs as they get ready to ramp up operations.
ADDED WEDNESDAY MORNING: Here’s how Keith replied:
Top of the List needs are: dry pasta (spaghetti, egg noodles) and pasta sauce, rice in 1 and 2 pound bags, peanut butter, salted butter cubes, store gift cards so we can get eggs, milk, fresh veggies. Non-food items needed are: socks, stocking caps, gloves, men’s boxers L and XL, winter coats.
(WSB photos)
Snow season has yet to begin, so it’s the right time to be sure you’re geared up for it. This weekend’s West Seattle Ski Swap has a bigger selection than ever – skis, boards, boots, apparel, more.
You’ll find all this at the West Seattle VFW Post 2713 Hall (3601 SW Alaska) until 5 pm today, and again from 10 am to 4 pm tomorrow.
The Ski Swap is presented again this year by Mountain to Sound Outfitters, whose storefront is across the street from the Ski Swap site.
(WSB photo, 2023 West Seattle Ski Swap)
If you have skis, snowboards, and/or other gear to sell at this weekend’s West Seattle Ski Swap, but you’re not registered yet, hurry and get it done – 6 pm tonight is the deadline for signups. Here’s where to go to do that; the window for dropping off your item(s) is 3-7 pm today. The dropoff, and Ski Swap, location is the VFW Hall at 3601 SW Alaska (across the street from Ski Swap sponsor Mountain to Sound Outfitters); sale hours are 10-5 tomorrow and 10-4 Sunday (October 12-13).
The Boeing Employees Choir, which rehearses in West Seattle, is inviting singers to any of three upcoming open rehearsals. Despite the name, you do not have to be a Boeing employee to join. The rehearsals are at American Legion Post 160 (3618 SW Alaska), at 6:30 pm October 15, 22, and 29. If you’re interested in participating on one of those dates, they’d love to hear from you at president@boeingchoir.org – but RSVP isn’t mandatory. The choir has openings in all sections; read more about it here.
(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.
(Added: WSB photo)
3:57 PM: Police and fire are responding to a reported shooting in the 4600 block of 36th SW [vicinity map]. The victim is reported to be a man, with multiple gunshot wounds. The person who shot him is described as a Black man, late 20s to early 30s, all black clothing, white face mask, last seen running toward SW Snoqualmie. The victim is reported to be at the commissary kitchens across from the YMCA, though we don’t yet know if that’s where he was shot. Updates to come.
4:06 PM: The victim is reported to be in his (updated) 30s and conscious. SFD medics are treating him.
4:14 PM: He’ll be taken to Harborview Medical Center; medics say he was shot four times. The description of the shooter has been updated to add thin, tall, black hoodie and jeans, blue surgical mask.
4:25 PM: Our crew has confirmed the shooting happened inside the building at Distinguished Foods, which houses multiple small food businesses. We don’t know what if any relationship the victim has to any of them. Meantime, readers have pointed out that the West Seattle YMCA across the street went into lockdown as a precaution.
5:40 PM: Awaiting media briefing. SFD says the victim was in serious condition when transported.
7:11 PM: Finally just got media briefing. Sgt. Patrick Michaud says the victim has died. Description of his killer is the same as we mentioned above. The shooting happened in the building. We’ll upload full video of the briefing as soon as our crew is back at HQ.
7:41 PM: Here’s what else Sgt. Michaud told us (video added):
The (updated) 29-year-old victim was an employee of one of the businesses in the building, though he didn’t know which one. They’re not sure yet if this was random or targeted; there were other people in the room when the killer came in – entering through “the back kitchen door,” which was open – and shot the victim. The killer left on foot but as for whether he then got into a vehicle and left the area, they have “conflicting information,” with “several different car descriptions” – he said detectives are reviewing video from buildings in the area to find more clues. They have not found the gun that was used. If you have any information, call the SPD tipline at 206-233-5000.
12:36 AM: Thanks to the texter and commenter who report that the last police at the scene left before midnight and 36th reopened.
SIDE NOTE: This is the fourth homicide of 2024 in West Seattle, after 15-year-old Mobarak Adam‘s shooting death at Southwest Pool/Teen Center in January, 22-year-old Luis Solis Lara‘s shooting death on Duwamish Head in June, and 53-year-old William Tappe‘s beating death in the east Junction area in June. No arrests to date in either of the first two; in the third, as we first reported when the case came to light belatedly in July, 30-year-old Kyle Castillo is charged and out on $2 million bail.
THURSDAY 3:38 PM: The King County Medical Examiner’s Office identifies the victim as 32-year-old Laupule Talaga. (added) A commenter points out that one of the businesses that rents space at Distinguished Foods, Seattle Soul Kitchen, has posted on social media that the victim was an employee of theirs, a father of three, and that they believe he was targeted.
(WSB file photo)
Volunteers and donations power the Westside Neighbors Shelter in The Triangle, and some of the latter are running low. Here are the items that shelter operator Keith Hughes says are most needed right now:
Granulated Sugar – 5# or 10# bags prefered
Coffee Mate powdered coffee creamer
Ground coffee – 2# / 3# cans – Folgers is fine.
Herbal Tea Bags
Krusteaz Pancake Mix – Family size (5# /10# bags)
Pancake syrup
Cornbread mix
Vegetable oil – plain and simple, nothing fancy
Paper towels
Toilet paper
Kitchen dishwashing soap
Laundry detergent soap pods
8 am-11 am daily is the best time to drop off donations at the shelter at 3618 SW Alaska – the building that also houses the West Seattle Veteran Center and American Legion Post 160.
An announcement from the West Seattle YMCA (longtime WSB sponsor):
West Seattle Y members who have received postcards for Aquarium tickets will now be eligible for tickets to Bumbershoot Arts and Musical Festival. Aquarium tickets are no longer available due to high demand, and Bumbershoot tickets will be distributed on a first-come first-serve basis.
Come into the West Seattle Y by Sunday the 25th to inquire about the tickets and your eligibility!
The WS Y branch is at 36th/Snoqualmie in The Triangle.
A 36-year-old man is expected to be booked into King County Jail after treatment at Harborview Medical Center following two break-ins in The Triangle early this morning – at Fire Station 32 and at The Grove. According to the report summary and incident audio, police say he first came to their attention around 3 am, when someone reported a man near the fire station, yelling for help. He then was reported to have gone into The Grove a few blocks east, claiming he was being followed, and starting “to barricade the entrance of (the hotel).” What happened after that isn’t explained (update: he left before police arrived) but at 4:30 am police got a report that the same man had gotten inside the fire station. Dispatch audio indicates he first was in the apparatus bay (where the SFD vehicles park), “refusing to leave,” and then went into a tool room and locked himself inside. There, he was reported to be “setting off fire extinguishers.” After about 20 minutes, officers talked him into emerging, and they arrested him. He was transported to Harborview after he, according to the summary, “admitted to taking meth prior to the incident and was hallucinating.” The summary also says he got into FS32 “through an unlocked basement”; we’re waiting to hear back from SFD about the extent of the damage done. (Thanks to Aaron for the tip on this.)
ADDED: SFD spokesperson Kristin Hanson tells WSB, “We are currently conducting an inventory of items that need to be replaced or repaired due to damage in the tool room.”
(WSB file photo)
When we were in The Triangle earlier, we stopped next door to check on the Westside Neighbors Shelter, currently open as a morning “warmup center.” Manager Keith Hughes was in fact assembling a “midsummer restock” list of items that are running short and subsequently sent it to us:
Coffee Mate powdered creamer
Instant Oatmeal Packets
Instant Hot Chocolate Packets
Pop-top canned soups
Beef Stew and Chili
Pancake syrup, jelly
Top Ramen, Cup o’ NoodlesThank you all very much for continuing to support those in need.
The shelter at 3618 SW Alaska – the building that also houses the West Seattle Veteran Center and American Legion Post 160 – remains powered by donations and volunteers. If you can donate any of the aforementioned items, Keith says the best time to drop them off is 8 am-11 am seven days a week.
A new mural is up inside the building that’s home to American Legion Post 160 and the West Seattle Veteran Center (as well as the Westside Neighbors Shelter). The 4′ x 8′ mural was presented and hung by Jimmy Knapp and Heather Buggee from a New York-based organization called Splashes of Hope. The mural “is called ‘Take a Vet Fishing‘ and is part of a national campaign to encourage giving a helping hand to disabled veterans,” explains Keith Hughes, who leads the post/center/shelter. Look closely and you’ll even see him painted into the mural!
The donors also brought painted tiles, created by Vietnam veteran Gerald Fox:
Keith plans to take them to another local veterans’ organization, the DAV hall on Delridge, soon.
(WSB photos)
More volunteering on this Memorial Day! Outside the West Seattle Triangle building that is home to American Legion Post 160, the WS Veteran Center, and Westside Neighbors Shelter, a mini-park centered on Peace Poles is taking shape, and an Eagle Scout’s project is adding to it today.
That’s Troop 282 Eagle Scout Lincoln Saad, there today to install – with helpers – benches built for the mini-park:
Lincoln planned the project along with Keith Hughes, who runs the center/post/shelter and is creating the mini-park. Thanks to Don for the tip about today’s installation, noting that it honors “the war heroes’ contribution to preserving our freedom we hold so dear to all of us.”
(WSB file photo)
If you can help, Keith Hughes at Westside Neighbors Shelter – which continues to operate year-round, entirely donation- and volunteer-powered – sent this list of donations that would be useful right now:
Here is a list of some essential supplies that we are running very short on.
Top Ramen packages
Cup-O-Noodles
Coffee Mate Creamer
Pancake syrup8 oz paper cups (cold cups)
12 oz hot cups (without lids)
mens size large boxers and T-shirtsThank you so much for continuing to supports our efforts to help the homeless in WS.
The center is at 3618 SW Alaska, co-housed with West Seattle Veteran Center and American Legion Post 160.
With the snow-sports season ending, Mountain to Sound Outfitters in The Triangle is going “appointment-only.” Here’s the announcement we received on behalf of M2SO proprietor Greg Whittaker:
Greetings Fellow Snow and Paddle Sport Lovers,
We have some updates as we plan for summer that we wanted to share with you all. Effective May 12th, Mountain to Sound Outfitters will temporarily close to regular store hours for the summer season and pivot to appointment only. This decision reflects our commitment to improvement, as we seek to restructure our operations for the betterment of our community and to set up for a fantastic 2024-2025 winter season. We will remain open at Alki Kayak Tours, and will keep staff busy at the beach running on-water operations and facilitating by appointment sales and services at Mountain to Sound Outfitters.
During this hiatus, we will be working behind the scenes, refining our offerings and updating some systems to help the operations run smoothly. When we return for the launch of the 2024-25 winter season we look forward to reconnecting and dialing you in with the best winter gear.
Your support during this transitional period means the world to us. We invite you to visit us over the weeks, whether to stock up on summer essentials or gear up for the snowy season ahead. Your patronage now will help sustain us through this period of reimagining. If you are in need of paddle gear, please order and buy online, or make an appointment and we will be your personal shopper during our appointment hours.
We want to express our gratitude for your support and understanding during this reset. Rest assured, we remain committed to serving you. We still have a great selection of stand up paddleboards, kayaks, and accessories as well as vehicle racks. Most of what we sell will be available for demo at our sister business Alki Kayak Tours, which will be open 7 days a week beginning in June, and is currently operating weekends and by appointment. Please check our website for updates.
Sincerely,
Greg & the M2S Crew
(WSB photo, November 2023)
When that Peace Pole was installed last November outside the building that holds the Westside Neighbors Shelter (currently in operation as a warming center), West Seattle Veteran Center, and American Legion Post 160, future plans were described for more. If you can spare some time tomorrow morning, you can help – Catherine sent the announcement:
(Here is) a request for volunteers to show up this Saturday April 27th at 10 AM at our WS Warming Center, 3618 SW Alaska St. (American Legion Hall) to help Keith Hughes with a special project. He is removing sod and installing a gravel path and Peace Poles in front of the center. Keith has plans and materials; he needs helping hands. Interested folks can show up at 10 am Saturday or contact me for more information: catherinemann (at) comcast.net
10:27 AM: It’s playtime at the West Seattle YMCA (36th/Snoqualmie; WSB sponsor) until 1 pm – this year’s Healthy Kids Day is on! The Y’s offering a variety of free activities, membership not required – just show up!
11:42 AM: More photos from our visit! You can take a pic with Pikachu:
Bouncing, too!
Again, the Healthy Kids Day free fun continues until 1 pm.
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
From milk tea to soul food to vegan burgers, dozens of choices are on the menu at West Seattle’s Distinguished Foods.
Actually, that’s “menus” – this longtime commercial kitchen facility at 4611 36th SW is home to a dozen “virtual restaurants” and other food businesses, as Distinguished Foods owner Claiborne Bell describes them. (His own Seattle Sorbets is one of them.)
It’s not just a place where food is prepared – it’s also a place where you can order it and/or pick it up. We hadn’t visited in a long time, until Claiborne invited us recently to come tour and see who’s new.
He explains that Distinguished Foods is also an “incubator” helping tenants learn and grow – and that means some inevitably “graduate” to their own locations. When we were there a little over a week ago, he was about to say goodbye to the latest “graduates” – Aroy Mak Thai Food, opening a bricks-and-mortar restaurant in Greenwood after two years at Distinguished Foods.
“I’m very proud of them,” Claiborne smiled. He says the kitchens can be a place to learn how to sell food profitably, to get going with your business without “mortgaging your house” from the get-go. Another recent “graduate” is Taste of Mumbai, which now has a restaurant in The Admiral District.
The co-housing of multiple businesses also provides some synergy – maybe you came to pick up food from one, and while you’re waiting, you discover the menu of another, and order from them next time. It’s an eclectic lineup – also in house during our visit, Dada’s Plant-Based Burgers & Breakfast:
David’s business – there for about six months now – is the first vegan restaurant at Distinguished Foods, Claiborne notes. “Amazing food,” including a popular crispy “chik’n” sandwich.
Also among the newer tenants, Seattle Soul Kitchen, with fare including catfish, chicken, smoked stuffed turkey legs, jambalaya, sides including mac and cheese, yams, and greens.
They’re even serving “old-school Kool-Aid” if you’re thirsty.
Another beverage option – the teas (including boba) that Nhu makes at TAB (Take a Break):
“Authentic tea, no powders,” mind you. And TAB serves up authentic pho, too.
Winding our way through the building, we also drop in on Chef Michael Poole, who we mentioned a decade ago – he combined a Seattle Fire Department career with candymaking, and the result was Hot Chocolat.
He’s also leading team-building exercises these days – teaching classes.
Meantime, Distinguished Foods is also home to the growing business Papa Tony’s Hot Sauce, run by Tony Wilson (pictured below with Claiborne Bell).
Need a frosty treat after something savory? Claiborne’s Seattle Sorbets come in flavors such as mango sunset and raspberry merlot. He introduced us to Dora, who’s been making ice cream and sorbet for more than 20 years:
Dora’s roles are many, Claiborne notes, including helping manage the kitchen business. It’s been rebounding from the pandemic years – 17 companies operating in the kitchens pre-pandemic, down to five at the low point, “and things are just now coming back.” (The March 2020-September 2022 West Seattle Bridge took a toll too.) The “virtual restaurants” aren’t all open the same days and hours; most, Claiborne says, are open six days a week. But that’s part of the education he says they get from Distinguished Foods as an incubator – “be consistent with your hours and food. … Make money and do well.”
Haven’t tried any of the Distinguished Foods offerings? You can go to the north side of the building, peruse menus, press a button to alert the business, and place an order – or order online and go there for pickup. (Some work with delivery services too.) Here’s the directory by the door (but remember Aroy Mak has since moved – speaking of which, id you’re looking for a kitchen, Distinguished Foods has space):
A nearby resident noticed crews installing solar panels recently atop the building in The Triangle that holds Westside Neighbors Shelter, the West Seattle Veteran Center, and American Legion Post 160. We asked shelter manager/post commander Keith Hughes about it; he said the building now has a “14.6 KW Solar Array on the roof. It was all completed with donated equipment and donated labor. By my calculations, it will provide about 65% of our current electrical use, saving us an average of about $450 per month.” We asked about the donors: “This was a joint effort of West Seattle Electric and Solar, Platt Electric Supply, and Mad Energy Solar of Puyallup.” (WS Electric and Solar is Keith’s own company.) Meantime, two other notes about West Seattle’s only emergency shelter, itself operated with donations and volunteers: First, also on the subject of utility bills, the shelter has new help to cover theirs, thanks to a church group from Capitol Hill – read about that here. Second, one week from today you’re invited to support the shelter while enjoying great music – the West Seattle-based Boeing Employees Choir is performing a benefit concert at 4 pm Sunday, April 7th. No tickets needed; donations will be accepted at the door, at St. John the Baptist Episcopal Church (3050 California SW).
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
More than four years after Rebellyous Foods relocated its “revolution” in plant-based “chicken” to West Seattle, it’s ready to deploy the next weapon in that revolution.
From the start, Rebellyous – headquartered in the SK Foods building at 37th/Snoqualmie – has emphasized that it’s a technology company more than a food-production company.
Its founder, Christie Lagally (above), is a former aerospace engineer. Her company has been working on the second iteration of its patented manufacturing technology, aimed at streamlining and speeding up the process of making dough for plant-based meat, while bringing the production cost down. And now, they’re preparing for the first installation of the new system – known as Mock 2 – so they put out a Request For Proposals (read it here) to find a home for it.
After hearing about the RFP, we revisited Rebellyous HQ – almost exactly a year, it turns out, after our previous visit for an update on this unique local company. They’ve come a long way – when we first visited in fall 2019, they were producing 1,000 pounds a month of plant-based “chicken” nuggets, tenders, and patties; now they produce that much per hour. School districts are their largest customers – more than 200 districts around the country are buying and serving Rebellyous Foods products, and their sales continue to grow exponentially, according to Lagally. They’re also selling to other big clients, recently scoring a contract with the Vizient health-care system. Their production is done at Orca Bay‘s plant (still in West Seattle) – they’ve long since outgrown the space in The Triangle, though they have plenty of other uses for it, including research and development, and storage.
Components of the Mock 2 system are there, waiting for their future home. (Off-camera – since it’s proprietary technology.)
In its new home, the Mock 2 system will be used to produce Rebellyous Foods products and potentially other companies’ products too. Lagally says Mock 2 will be able to produce at least 2,500 pounds per hour – more than twice the current pace – and eventually up to 5,000 pounds an hour. The speed and efficiency means the cost of production will be reduced, and she says that’s a large part of what it’ll take for plant-based “meat” to truly compete with animal meat. The RFP declares that Mock 2 will result in a “60% lower cost of manufacturing than all current dough-making methods currently available to manufacturers.”
The central feature of the new system is continuous mixing – the dry ingredients are continuously hydrated and mixed into dough along the line, rather than being dumped into, say, a giant bowl, along with liquid, and mixed there. Of course, that’s a vast simplification, and they’re working on other efficiencies and improvements – we peeked inside one of the rooms where staffers were doing tests to come up with better ways to emulsify as well as testing viscosity.
When you’re inventing new ways to manufacture, you have to invent new components, too. Lagally says some of the Mock 2 parts are all new, some are modified. And the size of the Mock 2 installation requires some other customized equipment too – like a huge custom dishwasher that can handle the equipment’s parts. Associated equipment is part of the plan for efficiency too; they’re testing an energy-saving chiller, for example.
All this will serve the longstanding goal, Lagally says: “I’m very happy that our original mission still stands – getting plant-based meat into more (places).” Mock 2’s impending installation will be a major milestone, but Lagally and Rebellyous Foods won’t be resting on their laurels (or feathers) – they’re working already on Mock 3.
(WSB photo, December 2023)
The Westside Neighbors Shelter, co-housed with the West Seattle Veteran Center and American Legion Post 160, is preparing to help people during another round of cold weather, and shelter manager Keith Hughes just sent word that they could use some community help:
Another round of overnight mid-30s cold on the way. The needs for the Shelter right now are:
instant oatmeal packets
instant hot chocolate
Top Ramen
Cup of noodles
laundry detergent pods
disposable razors
cotton gloves
winter-weight socks
The shelter is at 3618 SW Alaska and usually open for donation dropoffs 7 am-5 pm daily.
Several readers texted Sunday to ask about the story behind that tent set up in the triangle at Fauntleroy/Oregon known as Fauntleroy Place Park. We weren’t able to go over and talk with its operators yesterday, so we looked late this morning to see if they were back. The park was empty when we went by just after 11 am, but then a reader texted just before sunset that it was there, so we went back. There we found Ben, who told us he’s the “helper” – that the owner was off taking a break. Ben said they are here because it’s a “liberal area” – that they travel up and down the West Coast setting up their tent in liberal areas because that’s where they feel their message, support for former President Donald Trump, needs to get out. He wasn’t sure how long they planned to stay – they might be back tomorrow, or might not. He also said they didn’t have a vendor permit, which is generally required for selling in parks.
(WSB photo, last month)
The Westside Neighbors Shelter – West Seattle’s only shelter, powered by donations and volunteers – has “immediate needs,” its operator Keith Hughes tells WSB. If you can help, here’s what they’re asking for:
With the high volume of people being served, we suddenly find ourselves short on paper goods – Dixie Ultra 10″ plates, 6″ plates, 20 ounce bowls – plus powdered coffee creamer, pancake syrup, creamy peanut butter, sugar (5 or 10 lb bags), Splenda (the pink stuff), and store gift cards to buy eggs, milk, and butter.
Deliveries can be made every morning from 8 am – 10 am, and every evening 5 pm to 9 pm.
Thank you West Seattle community for your continued support of this vital service.
The shelter is in the Veteran Center/American Legion building at 3618 SW Alaska.
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