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TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Back-to-school Wednesday watch, plus road work, power outage, bus delay, more
September 6, 2017 6:16 am
|      6 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

(SDOT MAP with travel times/video links; is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE)

6:16 AM: Good morning. There’s a crash blocking the intersection of 11th/Spokane:

Thanks to Walker for first word, and the photo, reporting that it’s a two-vehicle collision on the east end of the low bridge.

Here’s what else you need to know as the day gets going:

BACK TO SCHOOL: Just about everyone who hasn’t gone back to school already is doing it today – including Seattle Public Schools and Highline Public Schools (here’s our full list).

JUNCTION ROAD WORK: Signs are up for SDOT work on SW Edmunds west of California starting today, and that’s changing Metro Route 22 through Friday, according to this alert sent late yesterday.

7:02 AM: SDOT says the crash by the low bridge has cleared.

7:20 AM: Stalled vehicle on the eastbound bridge ramp to northbound I-5.

7:39 AM: The stalled vehicle has cleared.

7:49 AM: One more back-to-school note – remember that Seattle Public Schools have changed bell times again, and are now on a two-tier schedule rather than three. Most schools start either at 7:55 am or 8:55 am – the full districtwide list is here. Also – every Wednesday (except today!) will be an early-release day for the district this year.

8:36 AM: Speaking of Delridge, Tom calls our attention to a power outage around the Delridge/Orchard/Dumar intersection. Here’s the City Light map. There was a “wires down” SFD dispatch there earlier this morning, just before 6; the SCL map says the outage started at 7:12 am, affecting 27 customers, and blames it on a tree. The restoration estimate is just after 11:30 am.

And just for the record, as mentioned in comments, a Metro bus delay in West Seattle, tweeted/texted belatedly:

Thanks for the comment/Twitter updates this morning – provided you’re not behind the wheel/at the handlebars, you can also reach us by text 24/7, 206-293-6302 (which works for voice too).

12:49 PM: Two updates – The Delridge/Orchard outage is over, per the SCL map; the SW Edmunds work west of California now has closed both directions of the street. We’re still awaiting SDOT info on exactly what the project entails.

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HELP FOR HARVEY SURVIVORS: West Seattleite collecting diabetes supplies to donate
September 6, 2017 12:28 am
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   Health | How to help | West Seattle news

Here’s another way to help Harvey storm survivors in Texas: Donate supplies and/or money for people with diabetes. Joni Campbell is a West Seattleite who has a local dropoff spot – she explains:

I’m collecting insulin (and a few additional diabetes supplies) to send to the needy in Texas through the Insulin for Life campaign that is being coordinated by a local organization, ConnecT1D.

Please see the list of acceptable items and note that the most needed (of course) is insulin. There is a cooler near my front door; feel free to just drop off any supplies you can spare (per the list) and I will deliver them. Address is in the link below under West Seattle. There are several other dropoff locations across the city – please help if you can spare any insulin at this time for those who are in desperate need with all of the flooding. There is also a way to donate cash. Thanks, all!

Scroll down the right sidebar of Joni’s link to find her address. Donations need to be made before Friday (September 8th), she says; shipments are going out next Monday (September 11th).

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LAST OF THE ASH? Caught in West Seattle webs
September 6, 2017 12:17 am
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle weather

You saw it on cars … and in the air … but did you notice the wildfire ash in spider webs? We received two views – above, from Trileigh; below, Kathleen:

The forecast of improving air quality today (Wednesday) might truly come to pass … we’ve noticed over the past hour=plus that the full moon, which started as red as it was last night, is brightening.

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THEY’RE HIRING: Talk with business owners at tomorrow’s Westside Job Fair
September 5, 2017 9:05 pm
|    Comments Off on THEY’RE HIRING: Talk with business owners at tomorrow’s Westside Job Fair
 |   West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news

Got your resumés ready? Just hours until the first-ever Westside Job Fair – with 30+ businesses interviewing candidates on the spot. In most cases, you’ll be dealing directly with the decisionmakers – talking to the owners of the businesses that are looking for help. Just show up between 10 am and 1 pm at Great American Diner and Bar in The Junction (4752 California SW). It’s the first-ever job fair presented by the West Seattle Junction Association and West Seattle Chamber of Commerce, with co-sponsors including WSB. (Local businesses get free job listings here year-round.) See you there!

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‘BE THERE’ TOMORROW! Cheer for West Seattle Elementary students as school starts
September 5, 2017 6:44 pm
|    Comments Off on ‘BE THERE’ TOMORROW! Cheer for West Seattle Elementary students as school starts
 |   How to help | West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

wsepink(September 2016 WSB photo)

One more reminder: Tomorrow morning, you’re invited to help West Seattle Elementary students get the school year off to a spirited start by being part of the “Be There” rally. Last year, the first one at WSES, more than 100 men and women showed up to cheer for the students as they arrived. WSES and rally co-sponsor West Seattle & Fauntleroy YMCA (WSB sponsor) hope to see even more tomorrow. Full details are in our original report from two weeks ago; the basics are – be at the school (6760 34th SW) 7 am-8 am; come “dressed for success … to allow students to see mirror images of themselves and combat any internalized biases damaging to themselves.” And also consider signing up, if you can, to volunteer during the school year for the “Classic Men & Ladies of West Seattle Elementary” empowerment program (that’s explained in our original announcement too).

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BACK TO SCHOOL: West Seattle High School roof project status
September 5, 2017 4:48 pm
|      11 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

With Seattle Public Schools starting classes tomorrow, a reader e-mailed us, wondering about the status of the West Seattle High School re-roofing project, which was supposed to be done before summer’s end. So we went over to WSHS to ask about it. Principal Brian Vance told us the district’s new estimated completion date is “end of October.” But he also says the work isn’t expected to affect classes or other school operations – part of the courtyard is fenced off, so that means a little less space for students to gather, but the work that remains isn’t expected to be very noisy, for example; it’s tile work, not hammer-and-nail shingles. (The historic tile roof was not part of the 2002 addition/remodel project, according to district documents.)

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SMOKE LINGERS: National Weather Service extends Air Quality Alert into tomorrow
September 5, 2017 1:16 pm
|      31 COMMENTS
 |   Environment | Health | West Seattle news | West Seattle weather

With morning views like that one from Don Brubeck riding on the low bridge, above, and from Roy van Duivenbode, riding on the Water Taxi, below, you won’t be surprised to hear the National Weather Service has extended its wildfire-smoke-fueled Air Quality Alert for the area into tomorrow, now set to expire at 5 pm Wednesday.

The NWS’s latest “forecast discussion” acknowledges “many reports of falling ash” (we first mentioned it late last night), saying it “will likely continue” this afternoon. Here’s a car-top view of that, from David Hutchinson on Alki:

Back to the NWS update:

The smoke will actually help keep high temperatures down today. Have updated the morning forecast to reflect this with highs generally reaching into the mid to upper 80s over much of the area … The thermally induced surface trough along the coast will move into the interior late this afternoon helping start the transition back to onshore flow along the coast in the afternoon and evening. The heat advisory remains in effect for parts of the area today.

Weak low-level flow onshore tonight will help marine clouds work onto the coast and to a limited extend into the interior, reaching as far as (Shelton) by Wednesday morning. This will help improve air quality somewhat as smoke clears from the west overnight. It is likely that this clearing will mostly affect the coast and strait tonight, with smoke likely lingering into Wednesday over much of the interior. Have extended the air quality alert through Wednesday afternoon to reflect this.

No burn ban, though; we have a question out to the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency seeking information about that.

If you’re looking for wildfire updates – lots of info here. (And a smoke-specific update is here, with questions being answered in the comment section.)

P.S. Expect another red moon tonight – moonrise is at 7:41 pm, and it’s officially full just after midnight.

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TONIGHT: Crime, safety, transportation, election, more @ Westwood-Roxhill-Arbor Heights Community Coalition
September 5, 2017 12:28 pm
|    Comments Off on TONIGHT: Crime, safety, transportation, election, more @ Westwood-Roxhill-Arbor Heights Community Coalition
 |   Arbor Heights | Neighborhoods | Safety | West Seattle news | West Seattle police | Westwood

No daily highlight list today because of the stabbing coverage, but crime and safety are at the center of one major event tonight we want to be sure you know about: The Westwood-Roxhill-Arbor Heights Community Coalition meets at 6:15 pm at Southwest Library (9010 35th SW). Major agenda item: If you live/work in any of the WWRHAH neighborhoods, your feedback is needed in a fact-finding session about the local micropolicing plan – Southwest Precinct research assistant Puao Savusa will be there to hear from you (see the questions here). Also expected, SW Precinct Operations Lt. Ron Smith with an update on area crime stats. WWRHAH also is scheduled to hear from City Council candidate (at-large position 9) Pat Murakami. And open-discussion items include the future RapidRide H Line as well as the recently announced cut to the Chief Sealth Walkway Improvements Project (our original report is here, and followup here), plus other area pedestrian safety/accessibility issues. See the full WWRHAH agenda here. (And see other listings for today/tonight on the frequently updated WSB West Seattle Event Calendar.)

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UPDATE: Stabbing victim, 15, dies after attack at Westcrest Park
September 5, 2017 9:22 am
|      41 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | Highland Park | West Seattle news

(UPDATED 4:54 PM with police reporting that victim was a teenager and that he has died)

(WSB photos)

9:22 AM: A Seattle Fire “assault with weapons” response is arriving at 6th SW and SW Cambridge, on the edge of Westcrest Park (map). According to radio transmissions, a man believed to be in his mid-20s has multiple stab wounds. Police are searching. We’re on the way to find out more.

9:29 AM: Life-threatening injuries, according to medics’ radio discussion, which also says the man was found “on the street,” no weapon found, circumstances unknown.

9:37 AM: Our crew has arrived and says that roads around the scene are being closed off as the search continues.

9:45 AM: You may see a helicopter searching the area too. Meantime, early details have been published to SPD Blotter, including:

… Just before 9:15 AM, the victim, a man in 20’s, walked out of the woods and collapsed on a sidewalk near 6th Avenue SW and SW Cambridge Street. The man said he’d been stabbed and passersby called 911.

9:51 AM: Our crew confirms Guardian One is over the area. We’ve also spoken with a lieutenant who confirms what’s been reported previously and says that Homicide Unit detectives have been sent.

10:38 AM: No new information yet, but the investigation continues. If you have any information, call 911.

4:54 PM: Police have just provided an update – saying that the victim has died, and that he was a teenager, 15 years old, not an adult as originally believed:

The victim has died from his injuries. Detectives have confirmed he is 15 years old, not in his 20’s as previously reported. This crime occurred at the southern portion of Westcrest Park. Police are investigating and are asking anyone with information about this case to call 206-233-5000.

We just talked with SPD spokesperson Det. Mark Jamieson and he confirmed that’s all the new information they have – they want to hear from anyone who might have seen or heard anything that can help with this “very active homicide investigation.” This is the third homicide investigation this year in West Seattle – the first one was the May shooting on Alki that killed a 23-year-old man (still no arrests); the second one was the baseball-bat killing of a 24-year-old man at an encampment over Highway 509 in June (two people arrested and charged).

WEDNESDAY NOTE: We have published an update on the case here.

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Q&A WITH YOUR COUNCILMEMBER: Lisa Herbold @ Southwest District Council tomorrow
September 5, 2017 9:04 am
|    Comments Off on Q&A WITH YOUR COUNCILMEMBER: Lisa Herbold @ Southwest District Council tomorrow
 |   Southwest District Council | West Seattle news

Before we get to what’s up for the rest of today, an early alert for Wednesday night: The Southwest District Council agenda has just arrived, and it includes Q&A with our area’s City Councilmember Lisa Herbold. The City Council gets back to work today after its two-week summer recess, so maybe you have questions about action it’s taken, is about to take … or something you think needs attention. SWDC meets at 6:30 pm Wednesday at the Sisson Building/Senior Center in The Junction (4217 SW Oregon), all welcome; the full agenda has just been added to our calendar listing.

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TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Post-holiday Tuesday watch
September 5, 2017 6:47 am
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

(SDOT MAP with travel times/video links; is the ‘low bridge’ closed? LOOK HERE)

6:47 AM: Good morning! No incidents so far in/from West Seattle.

BACK TO SCHOOL: Here’s where classes are starting today.

STILL 2 BOATS ON TRIANGLE ROUTE: The Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth Washington State Ferries route continues on a 2-boat schedule TFN – see it here.

YES, THAT’S ASH: As mentioned in our wildfire-smoke story late last night, ash has been falling too, so if you have a vehicle parked outdoors, you might see that when you get to it this morning.

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WEST SEATTLE WEATHER: Moon reddens, as smoke brings Air Quality Alert
September 4, 2017 9:49 pm
|      11 COMMENTS
 |   Environment | West Seattle news | West Seattle weather

9:49 PM: Thanks to Ben Hutchinson for the photo! We were discussing the smoke-reddened almost-full-moon view on Twitter thanks to a heads-up from @WestSeaWx, but no image until Ben’s photo arrived. The color’s a lot like what we saw at sunset, vivid orange-red, now that wildfire smoke has moved back in – this time the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency says it’s coming west from the Cascades. And the National Weather Service has an Air Quality Alert for our area through midnight tomorrow night, citing Montana smoke moving this way too. This map shows the fires around the region:

Meantime, we’re also still under a Heat Advisory alert from the NWS>, through 10 pm Tuesday night.

11:11 PM: If you go out to look at the moon, you might notice ash in the air, too, and a light dusting on parked vehicles.

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BACK TO SCHOOL TOMORROW: Here’s where classes start Tuesday
September 4, 2017 8:32 pm
|    Comments Off on BACK TO SCHOOL TOMORROW: Here’s where classes start Tuesday
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

While a few local schools started classes in late August, most get going this week. The biggest day is Wednesday, but tomorrow is busy too:

INDEPENDENT & PAROCHIAL SCHOOLS THAT START CLASSES TUESDAY

HOLY ROSARY SCHOOL (42nd/Genesee)

HOPE LUTHERAN SCHOOL (42nd/Oregon)

OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE SCHOOL (35th/Myrtle)

PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT THAT STARTS CLASSES TUESDAY

VASHON ISLAND SCHOOL DISTRICT (All students except kindergarteners, who start Thursday)

SCHOOLS THAT ARE ALREADY OPEN AND RESUMING CLASSES TUESDAY AFTER LABOR DAY BREAK

HOLY FAMILY SCHOOL (20th/Roxbury)

KENNEDY CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL (Burien)

SEATTLE LUTHERAN HIGH SCHOOL (41st/Genesee)

SUMMIT ATLAS CHARTER SCHOOL (35th/Roxbury)

Our full when-they-start list is here.

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COUNTDOWN: Two days until first-ever Westside Job Fair!
September 4, 2017 6:39 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news

Now that it’s Labor Day, we’re just two days away from the first-ever Westside Job Fair, where more than 30 local employers (listed here) will be waiting to talk to you about working for them here on the peninsula. (Imagine not having to deal with bridge backups!) 10 am-1 pm Wednesday (September 6th), the West Seattle Junction Association and West Seattle Chamber of Commerce are presenting the job fair at the Great American Diner and Bar, 4752 California SW, and we’re proud to be the media sponsor, since we’ve been working for years to help connect local businesses and workers via free job listings. So if you’re looking for work, or thinking about a change, we’ll see you Wednesday!

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WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Dutchboy Coffee burglarized
September 4, 2017 3:59 pm
|      10 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | Highland Park | West Seattle news

Jenni and Todd Watkins were going to spend a little well-deserved time relaxing today. Instead, they’ve been at their Dutchboy Coffee stand at 16th and Holden in Highland Park all day repairing damage done by burglars early this morning. The burglars took the door off its hinges – and made off with point-of-sale-processing equipment as well as items including two containers of milk. Video from the SeaMart convenience store next door shows two people approaching the stand just before 5 am, wearing gloves:

The video’s been shown to police. If you have any information, you can refer to SPD case number 17-328373. And yes, Dutchboy Coffee will be back open tomorrow, 6:30 am.

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TRAFFIC ALERT: Beware of boat on bridge onramp
September 4, 2017 1:29 pm
|      8 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

Thanks to Phil (who also sent the photo) and Lashanna for the tips on this – a mishap involving a boat and trailer along the Avalon/Admiral/etc. onramp to the eastbound West Seattle Bridge. We don’t know the status, as it hasn’t been mentioned in SDOT‘s Twitter traffic reports or on the scanner, but if you’re headed that way, heads-up, just in case.

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AUDIO: 10 things (probably more) you didn’t know about Easy Street Records’ Matt Vaughan
September 4, 2017 12:19 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news

Looking for something to listen to on this holiday? Mike Powell usually podcasts about “action sports” – but as a longtime West Seattleite, he interviewed one of our area’s most legendary entrepreneurs, Easy Street Records proprietor Matt Vaughan, who has some unforgettable stories to tell – not just about his own achievements, but also family members, from his surf-clothing-inventing grandma to his rock-promoter mom. Mike sent us the interview link; we listened to it last night, and thought you might be interested:

Matt and Mike’s hour-and-a-half discussion includes a little bit about the prospective Easy Street takeover of the old Corner Pocket space, and a whole lot more – from his time as a teenage rock photographer, stretching across the 30-plus ensuing years of adventure.

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UPDATE: Search follows traffic stop at 28th/102nd
September 4, 2017 10:17 am
|      6 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle police

10:17 AM: Thanks for the tip about a King County Sheriff’s Office search – with Seattle Police assisting, as our photo shows – along 26th 28th SW a few blocks south of Roxbury. A deputy tells us that they pulled over a driver for a traffic stop (at 28th/102nd) and she got out and ran, so they’re trying to find her. As for why she was pulled over – we’re still trying to find that out.

10:33 AM: A K-9 is continuing to assist with the search; per scanner traffic, the car will be impounded.

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WEST SEATTLE LABOR DAY 2017: What you need to know
September 4, 2017 6:03 am
|      5 COMMENTS
 |   Holidays | West Seattle news

(Thanks to David Hutchinson for the photo sequence of a bald eagle fishing at Weather Watch Park recently)

No traffic report this morning (check cameras here) because of the holiday – but before we get to the day’s events, here’s what you need to know about transit/transportation:

METRO: Buses are on Sunday schedules.
WATER TAXI: West Seattle runs on its Sunday schedule; Vashon is not running.
WASHINGTON STATE FERRIES: Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth is on the weekend 2-boat schedule.
SOUND TRANSIT: The 560 Express bus is on a Sunday schedule.
STREET PARKING: In neighborhoods with city pay stations/metering, today is a “free parking day.”

Here’s open/closed info for the holiday:

SEATTLE PARKS CLOSURES: Details are here.
WADING POOL & SPRAYPARK: Last day of the season – Lincoln Park wading pool and Highland Park spraypark are both open 11 am-8 pm.
SEATTLE PUBLIC LIBRARIES … are closed.
REGULAR SOLID WASTE PICKUP? If you are a Monday customer, yes.

From our calendar:

SEATTLE LABOR RIDE/POKER RUN: Join City Councilmember Lisa Herbold on a motorcycle ride and “poker run” celebrating the history of the labor movement and benefiting the Labor Archives of Washington – starts at Chelan Café in West Seattle at 9 am, with registration starting at 8 am – full details in our preview. All riders welcome, any size motorcycle or scooter. (3527 Chelan SW)

PANCAKE BREAKFAST AND OPEN HOUSE: 9 am-noon pancake breakfast, noon-3 pm open house at the newly renovated Disabled American Veterans hall in North Delridge – details in our preview. (4857 Delridge Way SW)

CORNHOLE TOURNAMENT FOR CHARITY: Noon at The Bridge, play cornhole for prizes, with entry fees benefiting Shamrock Charities. (California/Graham)

FINAL DAY FOR ALKI LIGHTHOUSE TOURS: The U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary‘s final day this year to host free tours of the historic lighthouse is today. 1-4 pm – be there by 3:40 pm to be sure you get in. (3201 Alki SW)

And in case you missed it – looking ahead to the rest of the week:

FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL: Most local schools that haven’t already started classes will do so tomorrow or Wednesday. Here’s the list.

Have a great Labor Day! If there’s breaking news, best way to tip us is text/voice at 206-293-6302, 24/7 – thank you!

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FOLLOWUP: What’s next for Delridge Grocery Cooperative after this week’s ‘town hall’
September 3, 2017 9:54 pm
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   Delridge | How to help | West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news

By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

As Delridge grows and changes, one thing has remained the same: Its lack of a grocery store.

What is now the Delridge Grocery Cooperative has been working on that for years. And its board members were heartened to see the latest sign of interest – a full room at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center for the co-op’s “town hall” this past Wednesday.

As noted in our preview published two nights earlier, the centerpiece of the meeting was the unveiling of the Delridge Grocery Co-op “market study,” professionally conducted research that had to be done before they apply again for the loan that’s needed to get the store open in its long-reserved space at 5444 Delridge Way SW.

There to hear about it, and ask questions, was a roomful of people from longtime co-op members to former board members to current board members, even newly interested neighbors saying they “just want to help.”

And it will take all that help, and more, to make the dream of a store finish coming true. “When we cut the ribbon, I’m riding in on a white horse,” joked Delridge Grocery board president Andrea Wilmot.

Here’s what was reported, asked, and answered during the hour-plus-long meeting:

Read More

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WEST SEATTLE WEATHER: ‘Heat Advisory’ alert for Monday, Tuesday
September 3, 2017 6:43 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle weather

6:43 PM: Yes, we know sunspots don’t really affect Earth weather, but the photo David Hutchinson sent today still seemed a fitting image to go with news of a weather alert for the next two days. The National Weather Service has issued a “Heat Advisory“ for noon Monday through 10 pm Tuesday, saying the high temperature both days could get into the mid-90s. The forecast for both days also mentions “areas of smoke.”

P.S. Back to the sunspots – David points us to spaceweather.com for the explanation.

7:59 PM: Tonight brought a gorgeous sunset – James Bratsanos captured the color:

8:39 AM: And from the next generation of photos in James’s family, Ellie Bratsanos took this one:

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READER REPORT: The case of the white Kia, in pieces
September 3, 2017 4:53 pm
|    Comments Off on READER REPORT: The case of the white Kia, in pieces
 |   Arbor Heights | Crime | West Seattle news

First Lorraine in Arbor Heights sent that photo, reporting, “Kia car hood on lawn, just west of California SW and SW 98th, after loud scraping and crash noises early this morning.” We asked for a larger version before publishing, and that came in this afternoon with an update: “The rest of the completely stripped Kia car, sans engine, was dumped a couple blocks down the hill on 44th Ave SW, and the police have already taken action.”

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GET READY! 3 weeks until fall Recycle Roundup at Fauntleroy Church
September 3, 2017 1:59 pm
|      11 COMMENTS
 |   Environment | Fauntleroy | West Seattle news

Got a little spare time this holiday weekend? See if you have anything to drop off at the upcoming fall edition of Fauntleroy Church‘s legendary Recycle Roundup. Above (or here, in PDF), you can see the list of what 1 Green Planet will (and won’t) be accepting this time around. When the big day arrives (Sunday, September 24th), just walk/ride/drive into the church parking lot at 9140 California SW, 9 am-3 pm, and drop off your item(s). It’s free, though of course the church’s Green Committee will gladly accept donations to help cover their costs for this twice-a-year community event.

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