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Update: Motorcyclist killed in 35th/Juneau collision
April 13, 2011 9:49 pm
|      120 COMMENTS
 |   High Point | West Seattle news

(THURSDAY MORNING UPDATE, 7:16 AM: Seattle Police says the motorcyclist did not survive)

9:49 PM: Traffic is blocked right now in at least one direction on 35th SW in the Findlay/Juneau area (map) for a medic response at a crash scene. Initial scanner reports said a car and motorcycle were involved. More shortly.

9:56 PM: 35th SW is currently blocked both ways at the scene, and SW Juneau is being blocked as well. And the scanner indicates the Traffic Collision Investigation Squad is responding, which means both that someone is apparently seriously hurt and that the road will be at least partly closed for some time.

10 PM: We are at the scene. A wrecked motorcycle and vehicle are in view. The scanner indicates one person is receiving CPR while being rushed to Harborview Medical Center. Some traffic is getting through southbound, but northbound 35th and westbound Juneau are being taped off. Avoid the area TFN.

10:08 PM: Authorities at the scene confirm the person taken to the hospital is the motorcycle rider. The driver of the car (photo just added, above) was not hurt seriously, if at all. Given the hour, we may not have significant updates on the crash’s cause/victim’s status before morning, but we’ll be checking, and we’ll also check back on the road-closure status.

11:56 PM: Adding that clip from the scene, before the investigation team arrived – a little bit of perspective to where the motorcycle and car ended up. We drove through the area about 15 minutes ago; the northbound lanes remain blocked while investigators work, as does westbound Juneau east of 35th, and 35th traffic is being allowed through the southbound lanes, with northbound and southbound alternating.

1:34 AM: Police just announced (relayed via scanner) that 35th SW is fully open again at the scene.

7:16 AM: Seattle Police have just confirmed what a WSB commenter has posted – the motorcyclist died. Det. Mark Jamieson says he does not know the man’s age, nor that of the woman driving the car with which the motorcycle collided. He says the motorcycle was traveling northbound and the car traveling southbound, turning left (eastbound) onto Juneau, when the two collided.

7:33 AM: Det. Jamieson has published the police summary to SPD Blotter; it adds that witnesses told police the motorcyclist was traveling “at a high rate of speed.” Meantime, we are checking WSB archives for the last deadly crash in West Seattle; so far, we aren’t finding one more recent than this March 2010 incident at 37th/Admiral.

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Coming to The Admiral: Longer SIFF run; Liz Taylor tribute
April 13, 2011 9:45 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   Admiral Theater | West Seattle news | WS culture/arts

Big news from The Admiral tonight – not only is SIFF returning, it’ll have showings throughout the festival’s three-week run May 19-June 12, not just a one-week stop. Plus, Admiral manager Dinah Brein has announced an Elizabeth Taylor tribute later this month. Read on for the official announcement of both:Read More

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Followup: West Seattle’s next medical-marijuana provider explains
April 13, 2011 5:44 pm
|      96 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news

Dozens of comments and questions ensued when we broke the news Monday that a medical-marijuana business is moving into the former Payday Loans space on the northeast corner of 35th/Roxbury. John Davis, owner of the forthcoming Northwest Patient Resource Center, told WSB contributor Deanie Schwarz that day that it will be a “facility,” not a “dispensary.” WSB’ers asked, what’s the difference? So that’s part of our followup:Read More

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West Seattle businesses: Green Home Renovations to ex-On Safari
April 13, 2011 5:03 pm
|      5 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news | Westwood

(From left, Jim Klossner, Keith Schiller, Matthew Flaph)
WSB contributor Bill Hutchison just discovered that another new tenant has opened an office in the former On Safari storefront in Westwood, at 9007 35th Ave SW. We reported earlier this month that a collectibles/gifts shop was moving into a third of the space, leaving two other vacancies, and now we know one has been taken by Green Home Renovations, a partner-owned business that began three years ago down in Portland. “Now we’ve set our sights on Seattle,” says president Keith Schiller, with whom Bill spoke along with partners Ryan Brooks and Matthew Flaph. They’re offering window replacement, siding, “living roofs,” and kitchen and bedroom remodeling, as what they call “green solutions” to boost homes’ energy-efficiency (among other factors).

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Community meeting set for Walt Hundley Playfield turf project
April 13, 2011 3:23 pm
|    Comments Off on Community meeting set for Walt Hundley Playfield turf project
 |   High Point | West Seattle news | West Seattle parks

Two days after the City Council finalized $1 million for synthetic turf at High Point’s Walt Hundley Playfield, the date’s been announced for a community meeting: April 27, 6:30 pm, Southwest Library (35th/Henderson). The project now has its own webpage, too.

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Tunnel tussle: City attorney going to court over I-101, too
April 13, 2011 3:06 pm
|      17 COMMENTS
 |   Alaskan Way Viaduct | West Seattle news

Latest twist in the tunnel tussle, just in from City Attorney Pete Holmes‘ office: As with the referendum petition drive seeking a vote on the City Council’s approval of tunnel-related items, Holmes is also going to court over anti-tunnel Initiative 101, which he believes is “probably beyond the scope of our local initiative power.” News release after the jump:Read More

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New state ferry Salish on sea trials, spotted off West Seattle
April 13, 2011 2:00 pm
|    Comments Off on New state ferry Salish on sea trials, spotted off West Seattle
 |   Fauntleroy | Seen at sea | West Seattle news

Just a few hours after Washington State Ferries sent a news release announcing that its new Todd (Vigor) Shipyards-built Salish is out on sea trials, before joining its sibling Chetzemoka on the Port Townsend run, it’s been spotted off Fauntleroy. Dan Jessup shared photos and this report:

The new ferry Salish just sped by the Fauntleroy area quite close to shore. The picture (with the crow) shows how fast the Salish was moving as it passed close in front of the ferry Sealth, which was approaching the Fauntleroy ferry dock. The second picture of the Salish was a few minutes later as it had passed Brace Point into the Endolyne area. This occurred about 13:05 today.

The third ferry in the Salish and Chetzemoka’s Kwa-di Tabil class, Kennewick, is under construction at Todd/Vigor right now.

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Duwamish Alive! this Saturday: Where your help is still needed
April 13, 2011 1:30 pm
|    Comments Off on Duwamish Alive! this Saturday: Where your help is still needed
 |   Environment | How to help | West Seattle news


That’s an advance look (click the image for a larger version) at the interpretive sign that will be dedicated at T-107 Park on the Duwamish River in West Seattle this Saturday afternoon, as the multisite Duwamish Alive! work party wraps up. As previewed here earlier this month, there’s a lot going on at that site on Saturday, but it’s still in need of more volunteers, according to Cari Simson from the Duwamish River Cleanup Coalition. We asked her where help is still needed, and she said about 20 more people could still be used at the adjoining Herring’s House and T-107 park sites, as well as several volunteers each at Longfellow Creek (Brandon Street Natural Area) and Roxhill Bog. If you would like to RSVP for T-107, e-mail contact@duwamishcleanup.org; for the other two, adam.jackson@kingcd.org. If you can’t join in the work parties but would like to go to T-107 for the dedication ceremony (which also will mark the opening of a new hand-carry boat launch), it’s at 1 pm Saturday (with dignitaries scheduled to be on hand including Duwamish Tribe chair Cecile Hansen, King County Executive Dow Constantine, and City Council President Richard Conlin).

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West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day Update: 90 sales so far!
April 13, 2011 10:52 am
|      8 COMMENTS
 |   Community Garage Sale Day | West Seattle news

Spring may not have made up its mind about weather consistency just yet, but – flashing forward one month and one day – May 14th is looking brighter all the time. Nine days into the registration period, the 90th sale has just signed up for the seventh annual West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day (coordinated and presented by WSB)!

When we announced last week that registration had opened, we forgot to tell you when it closes – end of the evening, April 27th. That’s two more weeks, but why procrastinate? If you want to be part of the city’s biggest garage-saling day of the year (200+ sales big and small last year), just go here and sign up now. While it’s fun to shop and/or sell, what we have also heard from participants over the years is that it’s great to meet more West Seattle neighbors in person, as you either host a sale or visit the ones nearest you. (If you don’t have enough space for a sale, but you have stuff to sell, group spots offering space so far include: Hotwire Online Coffeehouse (WSB sponsor – 2010 photo above), lora@hotwirecoffee.com – C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor), candpco@comcast.net – VFW Hall in The Triangle, call (206) 935-4352 – and if you are looking to sell bikes/gear, check with Cycle U in The Triangle; you can also stop in at any of those venues to ask about space.)

On May 14th, sale hours are 9 am-3 pm, all over the peninsula – we’ll have the maps (online and downloadable/printable) available one week in advance so you can plot your path! And again, to sign up YOUR sale – individual or business/group/school/organization/block – just go here (it’s all online). If you’re on Facebook, keep an eye on the WSCGSD page here; and be sure you have “liked” the semi-new WSB page (we moved a few weeks ago), at facebook.com/westseattleblog.

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40 wineries join for sold-out FareStart fundraiser in West Seattle
April 13, 2011 10:03 am
|      5 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | WS beverages

Story and photos by Stephanie Chacharon
Reporting for West Seattle Blog

Wine enthusiasts and FareStart supporters filled Salty’s on Alki last night for the 10th annual “Sexy Syrah” benefit. The lineup of more than 40 Northwest wineries included West Seattle-operated McCrea Cellars, represented by Bob Neel, operations manager and chief engineer (top photo).

The sold-out event, produced by sommeliers David LeClaire of Seattle Uncorked and Tim O’Brien of Salty’s, is a popular benefit for FareStart, a local organization devoted to training and placing homeless and disadvantaged people in the culinary field (among them, the late Swinery co-owner Joseph Brewer):Read More

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Admiral Neighborhood Assoc.: Union promise; Rasmussen; more
April 13, 2011 9:14 am
|    Comments Off on Admiral Neighborhood Assoc.: Union promise; Rasmussen; more
 |   Neighborhoods | West Seattle news

By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

“It’s been quite a meeting,” observed Admiral Neighborhood Association president Katy Walum as her group’s monthly session concluded last night.

That, it had – with a promise and a presentation from a labor union that recently drew ire for its noisy protest, a briefing from a city councilmember, and pride over a regional magazine feature, among other highlights. Toplines ahead:

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West Seattle Wednesday: Bees, gardens, jobs, unions, schools…
April 13, 2011 8:32 am
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous


(Photo of the Olympic Mountains’ “The Brothers” by Long Bach Nguyen; click photo for larger version)
From the WSB West Seattle Events calendar:

ABUZZ ABOUT BEES: Curious about beekeeping? Come to the April CoolMom meeting, 7 pm at C & P Coffee (WSB sponsor).

JOIN THE WEST SEATTLE GARDEN TOUR COMMITTEE: 6:30 pm, West Seattle Garden Tour Committee meeting and potluck – you don’t have to be an expert gardener to volunteer to help with the tour! E-mail for location: info@westseattlegardentour.com.

JOB-SEARCH WORKSHOP: Free workshop “The New Job Search in the New Economy” at South Seattle Community College WorkSource, 4:30 pm – see full story here.

34TH DISTRICT DEMOCRATS LOOK AT LABOR: In light of the Wisconsin fight and other developments local and national, the 34th District Democrats’ meeting tonight is centered on a look at the history of labor organizing and “defense of the middle class.” 7 pm, The Hall at Fauntleroy.

Q/A WITH YOUR SCHOOL BOARD REP: Informal discussion with Steve Sundquist, president of the Seattle School Board, Delridge Library (5423 Delridge Way SW), 11 am -12:30 pm.

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Preparedness Month, report #11: What to do AFTER a quake
April 13, 2011 1:46 am
|    Comments Off on Preparedness Month, report #11: What to do AFTER a quake
 |   Preparedness | Safety | West Seattle news

Disaster Preparedness Month continues, as does our almost-nightly focus on earthquake readiness. You’ve likely heard what to do before an earthquake, to enhance your readiness … and what to do during one (stop, drop, hold) … but how about what to do afterward? The natural reaction is to be stunned. If you have a list of things that are vital to check on and attend to, though, your survivability likelihood will rise in a big way. Here’s that list – from a California source, but thorough (they’ve been through it more often than we have). Meantime – know your nearest hub (and make sure your family/neighbors know it too)!

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Highland Park Improvement Club adds community acupuncture
April 12, 2011 11:12 pm
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   Health | Highland Park | West Seattle news

Historic Highland Park Improvement Club already is home to dancing, yoga, cooking classes, wine tasting, movie nights, community meetings, parties, and now … a weekly community acupuncture clinic. Walk in between 11 am and 3 pm Tuesdays, and you will see those six chairs, enabling practitioner Christopher Huson, L.Ac. (right), to treat up to six people an hour. Last week was a test run; today was the first official day, so we stopped in for photos. Fees: “$15 to $35 sliding scale, you decide, no proof of income necessary.” Not much red tape, either – upon arrival, you fill out a short form, then pay, and book your next appointment if you’d like one, so that you don’t get jarred out of your relaxed mood once you’re done (Huson says most patients fall asleep during the treatment, so let him know how long you have to stay, so he can wake you up to go).

P.S. To see what else is up at HPIC (12th/Holden), check out their latest newsletter (and note the classic movie they’re showing this Friday!)

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Followup: No citation decision yet in Junction nail-shop crash
April 12, 2011 8:57 pm
|      26 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle police

(Monday afternoon photo by Katie Meyer for WSB)
Since Monday afternoon’s crash at California Nails in The Junction (WSB coverage here), we have been working to get additional information from police, beyond what few details were available at the scene. In particular, we’ve been asking whether the driver was cited, and what police have learned about why the car crashed into the shop.

Tonight, we finally have some additional information; the full report isn’t in the system, according to Det. Jeff Kappel of the media unit, but Southwest Precinct Lt. Alan Williams talked to one of the officers who handled the incident. He says that the driver, in his mid-80s, “was parked out in front of the shop. When he attempted to drive off, something happened – he claimed that he blacked out – that resulted in his car accelerating and crashing into the shop. The driver did not have obvious injuries, but he was checked out by Seattle Fire and then transported to the hospital for further evaluation. One patron of the shop sustained some cuts to her feet when she walked across the broken glass while fleeing the chaos. A responding officer completed an accident report that has been forwarded to collision investigators for any additional follow-up and consideration of charges or citations.” Be aware, that can take months – we have followed up on other notable collision cases in which decisions didn’t come for half a year or longer; Det. Kappel points out that the window for such decisions is up to a year.

ADDED 9:44 PM: We had noticed a note on California Nails’ window earlier but hadn’t been able to go back to read it till after writing this update; it says, “Sorry for any inconvenience. We will be up and running as soon as possible.”

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West Seattle Crime Watch: Plea bargain for Alki man shot by police
April 12, 2011 5:15 pm
|      5 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | West Seattle news

(9/3/2010 photo of the 61st/Admiral shooting scene by Christopher Boffoli, for WSB)
Just discovered this in a routine followup check of crime cases we’ve been watching: Thomas Qualls, the 59-year-old Alki man shot by police back in September after pointing an assault rifle at officers, has struck a plea bargain. Last Friday, according to court documents, he pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of attempted assault with use of a firearm (he originally faced three counts of second-degree assault with firearm enhancement). His statement in court documents:

… I took a substantial step toward intentionally placing (three Seattle Police officers) in immediate and reasonable fear of an assault with a deadly weapon when I came out of my home with a rifle and the rifle was lowered in the direction of (the three officers).

According to the original police narrative about the incident (transcribed in this WSB report), officers went to the home after a 911 call from a family member worried he had made suicidal statements. That narrative also said Qualls fired his rifle, though that is not reflected in his plea statement. He was shot in the abdomen and spent less than a week in the hospital.

Prosecutors will recommend a 2-year sentence (note that Qualls already has been in jail for seven months), which is the high end of the range – 6 months for attempted second-degree assault, plus 18 months for the firearm enhancement. He had no known criminal history. Shortly after the incident, police released this photo of the rifle they say Qualls pointed at the officers:

Their investigation reported that was one of three guns they found at the scene. Qualls’ sentencing is set for April 22nd.

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82 mph on the West Seattle Bridge – but wait, there’s more!
April 12, 2011 4:39 pm
|      16 COMMENTS
 |   Safety | West Seattle news | West Seattle police

For the first time in a while, Seattle Police have published a “speeder of the day” update on SPD Blotter. 82 mph on The Bridge this time – but that’s not the only thing they were cited for …

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West Seattle restaurants: Bang Bar puts up sign, takes out word
April 12, 2011 3:42 pm
|      43 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle restaurants

After the weekend sign installation (we photographed the Western Neon crew on Saturday) for what is likely to be the next new restaurant to open in West Seattle, we checked in with the co-owner of Bang Bar Restaurant and Lounge (4750 California SW), Kay Fuengarom. She told WSB contributor Bill Hutchison they’ve had a change in plan for the restaurant’s focus. One hint: The word you don’t see on the sign. Details ahead:Read More

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West Seattle wildlife: Hummingbird nest-building, bit by bit
April 12, 2011 3:05 pm
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | Wildlife

First Katie Krause shared a view of a nesting hummingbird at The Kenney … then, this week, a peek at the new occupants of the nest .. and now, Trileigh Tucker gives us a window into the nestbuilding:

Ever wonder where those little mothers get their soft bedding for those marble-sized babies? The attached photo shows an Anna’s with nesting material in her beak, after she pulled it from the nearby fireweed in Lincoln Park.

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West Seattle schools: Visiting Sanislo’s librarian on ‘Snapshot’ day
April 12, 2011 1:14 pm
|      5 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

Craig Seasholes is not only the new (as of about two months ago) school librarian at West Seattle’s Sanislo Elementary, he is also president of the Washington Library Media Association. Seasholes invited WSB to stop by the Sanislo library today, since it’s not just any old day in the school library – it’s Washington Library Snapshot Day, meant to capture one day in the life of libraries around the state. (Participants in West Seattle also include the Denny International Middle School and Chief Sealth International High School libraries.) Sanislo is uniquely laid out as an “open-concept” school, so the library, for example, shares the same large, airy space as the computer lab, where more than two dozen fifth-graders were working on a project during our visit, while a class of second-graders trooped in to browse and check out books. What’s the biggest challenge for school libraries right now? we asked Seasholes. Reply: Finding creative ways to maintain and grow their collections. He would also like to see more people come check out their school libraries (regardless of whether there’s a student in your family): “It’s not just the ‘book lady’ any more,” as he puts it.

(P.S. Sanislo, like many schools, is full of young writers as well as young readers – you’ll recall that along with Roxhill and Concord, they had a team in the recent Global Reading Challenge finals – and the writers “have a gig,” as Seasholes puts it, at Elliott Bay Books on June 4th.)

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Admiral Safeway site tour, report #2: The inside look
April 12, 2011 11:43 am
|      5 COMMENTS
 |   Development | West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news

Last Friday afternoon, we published a quick first report shortly after taking a hard-hat tour of the Admiral Safeway construction site – focusing mostly on the news that the new California-fronting retail building on the site has its first signed tenant, Umpqua Bank. This morning: A closer look at what’s happening on the site. Safeway’s Sara Corn says it’s still on schedule – albeit a “tight” schedule – for the new store to open in exactly four months, on August 12th – which is 11 months after site demolition began. They are working for LEED environmental certification, which means extra steps in the process, like the duct-wrapping above. More ahead:Read More

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No space shuttle for Museum of Flight – but a trainer’s on the way
April 12, 2011 11:07 am
|      15 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news

(NASA archive photo of astronaut Eileen Collins in the trainer)
Though the Museum of Flight won’t get a space shuttle – they’re going to New York, California, D.C., and Florida, as NASA announced this past hour (and as our partners at the Seattle Times reported pre-announcement) — Governor Gregoire says there’s cause for excitement that a “full-fuselage trainer” is coming to the museum. From her statement:

(T)he full fuselage trainer, that every astronaut including Bonnie Dunbar has been trained on, will soon call the Museum of Flight home. The largest of the trainers, this addition will allow visitors to actually climb aboard the trainer and experience the hands-on training that astronauts get. Visitors will not be allowed in the other shuttles and this trainer is a true win for our dynamic museum. It will help inspire young people to the adventure of space and to the excitement of a career in science, technology, engineering and math.

(Dr. Bonnie Dunbar is the museum’s former director.) More details in the Times’ updated report.

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West Seattle Summer Fest updates: New website, and more
April 12, 2011 9:41 am
|    Comments Off on West Seattle Summer Fest updates: New website, and more
 |   West Seattle festivals | West Seattle news

(WSB photo from 2010 West Seattle Summer Fest)
While we keep cheering for spring to really get its act together, it’s nonetheless time to plan for some of summer’s biggest events as well – particularly West Seattle Summer Fest in The Junction (co-sponsored by WSB again this year). It’s now less than three months away – July 8, 9, 10th – and we have updates this morning. First, the revamped Summer Fest website is up and running – see it here. Second, applications are available for two more of the festival’s features – the Art Dive, coordinated by Twilight Artist Collective (application available here), and GreenLife, coordinated by Sustainable West Seattle (application available here). There’s also still time to apply for other types of vendors, as well as performers (scroll down the left side of the new Summer Fest site to find the links) – and if you would like to be a Summer Fest sponsor, you have one more month to get in on that.

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