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Happening today: Memorial service for J.B. Webster
April 28, 2009 6:07 am
|    Comments Off on Happening today: Memorial service for J.B. Webster
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle people

That photo of Seafair Commodore and West Seattle Realtor/community leader J.B. Webster is from the 2007 West Seattle American Legion Grand Parade, shared by fellow Realtor (and Fauntleroy Community Association president) Bruce Butterfield. Less than a week after Mr. Webster’s untimely passing, family, friends and colleagues will gather this morning at Alki UCC Church (61st/Hinds; map) to celebrate his life, at 11 am. Dozens of tributes have been left as comments on our original report — read them here; our followup story about a fund set up for his wife and children is here.

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Highland Park Action Committee to tackle traffic trouble
April 27, 2009 11:58 pm
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   Highland Park | Transportation | West Seattle news

Meet the new Traffic Committee for the Highland Park Action Committee – from left, Carrie Carroll, Blair Johnson, HPAC chair Dan Mullins, and Paul Morton (not pictured: Craig Rankin). They’re in place after tonight’s HPAC meeting, at which HPAC leaders talked with the city’s Neighborhood Services Coordinator for the Delridge District, Ron Angeles, about strategies for getting city Department of Neighborhoods money into HP for traffic-calming projects. A crosswalk right by the building where HPAC meetings, Highland Park Improvement Club [map], is high on the list:


View Larger Map

The committee will meet outside the usual HPAC meetings to determine what Highland Park’s traffic hotspots are, and will report back. Other meeting notes: As discussed at last week’s West Seattle Crime Prevention Council meeting, Officer Adonis Topacio from the Southwest Precinct’s Community Police Team has been working with community members to keep closer watch on suspicious activity at Westcrest Park; it was reported tonight that he’s organizing park walkthroughs. One other word about crime – which won’t surprise you if you’ve been watching West Seattle Crime Watch reports here – car prowls and thefts will likely be up, when the month’s over. Also up: The need for Big Brothers and Big Sisters volunteers, per Erin Wenzel (you can find out about volunteering here). And HPIC is having a Tiki Dance at 7 pm Saturday (tickets $7.50 at the door).

The Highland Park Action Committee meets the fourth Monday of each month, 7 pm, at HPIC.

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Get in pre-Garage Sale Day mood NEXT Saturday: 2 school sales
April 27, 2009 9:22 pm
|    Comments Off on Get in pre-Garage Sale Day mood NEXT Saturday: 2 school sales
 |   How to help | West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

ARBOR HEIGHTS ELEMENTARY: Dana Varon from the Arbor Heights PTSA e-mailed to announce their fundraiser rummage sale next Saturday (May 2)- and they’re looking for donations. The sale is 9 am-1 pm at the school (map); Dana adds, “We will be accepting donations at the main entrance of the school on Wed April 29th and Thurs April 30 from 3pm to 4:00 pm and on Friday May 1st from 3 pm to 6:30 pm.”

WEST SEATTLE MONTESSORI: As you may have noticed in the school’s ad on the WSB sidebar, WSMS has a Community Rummage Sale next Saturday, 9 am-3 pm at the American Legion Hall (map).

As for West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day on Saturday 5/9 – the map (180+ sales now!) is in progress, and more updates tomorrow.

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Just days till Style ’09: Fashion and fun for NW Hope and Healing
April 27, 2009 7:08 pm
|      5 COMMENTS
 |   How to help | West Seattle news | West Seattle people

(photo from Style ’08, courtesy Northwest Hope and Healing)
Just three nights till Style ’09, the fashion-show fundraiser for West Seattle-based Northwest Hope and Healing, which helps breast-cancer patients all around the area with some of the practicalities of life after they’ve been diagnosed. NWHH rejoined WSB as a sponsor recently to help get the word out about the event, 7 pm Thursday at Showbox SODO with local boutiques and salons among the participants; there are still some tickets left, and since it’s coming up Thursday night, we wanted to make sure you had the full story, so to speak – here’s the official news release:

– NFL veterans Nesby Glasgow and Greg Lewis are among the many celebrity models who will saunter down the fashion runway on April 30 to help raise money for breast cancer patients. “Style ’09: Look Good, Feel Good, Do Good” will feature the hottest spring fashion trends and collections of 10 Seattle boutiques as modeled by local celebrities and community members. All proceeds benefit breast cancer patients at Swedish Medical Center.

Other runway models include Shawn Stewart, radio personality at 103.7 The Mountain; John Maynard, former host of the Robin & Maynard Show; Brian Canlis, third generation visionary of the iconic Canlis Restaurant; and local breast cancer survivors and supporters whose lives have been impacted by this disease.

Participating boutiques include Carmilia’s, Coastal [both in West Seattle], Canopy Blue, Nuvo Moda, The Finerie, Oslo’s, Asher Anson, Lululemon, Clutch, Kick It Boots & Stompwear.

Style ’09: Look Good, Feel Good, Do Good
Thursday, April 30, 2009

Cost
Look Good (general admission): $40
Feel Good (includes VIP reception): $125
Do Good (front row table seating for two): $500
Top Model (Choice of modeling in the show or front row table seating for four): $1,000

Purchase tickets at nwhopeandhealing.org or any of the participating boutiques.
Tickets will also be available at the door.

Feel Good/Do Good VIP Reception: 6 p.m.
Look Good Admission: 7 p.m.
Showbox SODO
1700 First Avenue South, Seattle
Ages 21 and over

Northwest Hope & Healing is a non-profit organization founded by Christine Smith in 2000. Christine created the Foundation while undergoing breast cancer treatment at the Swedish Medical Center in Seattle, WA. Her goal was to help newly diagnosed breast cancer patients in the Puget Sound area.

The mission of Northwest Hope & Healing is to provide financial assistance to patients in need, for non-medical support services such as child care, meal service, transportation, and emergency rent. In addition, our signature “Healing Baskets” are assembled and delivered, at no charge, to newly diagnosed breast cancer patients.

The goal of Northwest Hope & Healing is to assist women with the healing process so they may begin to feel whole once again. We assist women on their journeys and give them hope for the future.

Again, you can buy tickets online here, or at the West Seattle venues mentioned above – Carmilia’s (in The Junction) and Coastal (on Alki).

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Fire Station 37 groundbreaking set for May 12
April 27, 2009 4:38 pm
|      18 COMMENTS
 |   Sunrise Heights | West Seattle news

35thholden1.jpg

Just in from the city. This is the new fire station, to be built at the site of the vacant house shown above (across from 35th/Holden Chevron), to replace the historic-landmark station building at 35th/Othello:


View Larger Map

Mayor Nickels will be there for the groundbreaking at the new site at 11 am May 12. Here’s the official invitation.

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More trailer food en route to West Seattle: Rancho Bravo Tacos
April 27, 2009 3:37 pm
|      22 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle restaurants

Just one day after Skillet Street Food staked its claim in the Hotwire Coffee (WSB sponsor) courtyard (our coverage here, Skillet’s update here), where it will return next Sunday (new menu here), another famous-in-other-neighborhoods trailer-centered food purveyor is heading this way: Rancho Bravo Tacos. So says food writer Nancy Leson at seattletimes.com. In her story, Rancho Bravo‘s proprietor describes the impending spot as “half a block up from Diva Espresso.” That opens a multitude of options, so we’ll be checking further to nail the site down. (Photo courtesy Capitol Hill Seattle; Rancho Bravo recently opened its first non-mobile location in that neighborhood.)

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Another Seattle Public Schools property sale plan in West Seattle
April 27, 2009 2:36 pm
|      9 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

We’ve been reporting extensively on the deal in the works for the long-closed Fauntleroy Schoolhouse to be sold to the Fauntleroy Community Services Agency (latest WSB coverage here). However, there’s also apparently also a deal in the works to sell another West Seattle site from the district portfolio: The deal would sell the Seattle Public Schools-owned Jefferson Square Apartments land to the company that’s been leasing it, Pan Pacific Retail Properties (Jefferson Square was a school site long ago). According to a published legal notice (thanks to the tipster who called it to our attention), “The district is currently negotiating to sell the property to the lessee.” A public hearing – for which no media release has been issued – is set for 5:30 pm May 21st in the cafeteria at Gatewood Elementary and anyone interested in testifying is invited to sign up by calling 206-252-0118 (or you can sign up at the hearing). We have a call out to the district to find out more about the proposed deal.

4:53 PM UPDATE: Still working on details. Just talked to West Seattle School Board rep Steve Sundquist, who says the sale proposal has been discussed by board members in “executive session” but he can’t say anything publicly yet, though he expects something will be announced in time for attendees at the public hearing to have an idea in advance what they’ll be commenting on.

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Toplines from King County Council’s swine-flu briefing (and more)
April 27, 2009 12:34 pm
|      14 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news

As King County Council Chair Dow Constantine put it at the end of the council briefing that just ended, the information presented by county public-health managers was “reassuring.” NO swine-flu infections reported in the county, so in response to the question “What should people here do?” there was only one answer: Stay informed. It was also noted, as you may have read in national/international reports, this is not an automatically grave illness — some who’ve gotten it elsewhere may have been “asymptomatic.” Also, in terms of what’s being used to treat it, Tamiflu can be used, and it’s stockpiled. So the admonition between the lines, throughout the briefing, was: Don’t panic. (It was also noted, regular flu kills 35,000 people nationwide every year, so even a flu death would not necessarily be cause for panic.) As for that advice to “stay informed” – the latest nationwide info is always available at this Centers for Disease Control page (40 cases in the U.S. as of today). Any additional county info that emerges post-briefing, we’ll add here; the county has some links in the right sidebar here.

1:26 PM: Also noted (thanks to Delridge Neighborhood Services Coordinator Ron Angeles for forwarding the e-mail), the county has activated its Health and Medical Area Command to monitor the situation; in addition to the web links we’ve already provided above, the county’s health hotline 206-296-4949 is also recommended for public information. (The HMAC is explained here.)

5:19 PM ADDITION: The Seattle City Council Environment, Emergency Management and Utilities Committee will get a swine flu briefing in a special meeting this Wednesday, 1:30 pm.

8:30 PM: Seattle Public Schools families will all get a letter with some basic public-health tips – here’s the text:Read More

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Police: 3 guns found after Fauntleroy SWAT standoff surrender
April 27, 2009 11:36 am
|      8 COMMENTS
 |   Fauntleroy | West Seattle news | West Seattle police

(WSB photos from Saturday, by Christopher Boffoli)
We just checked with Seattle Police to follow up on the end of the five and a half hour SWAT standoff on Saturday in Fauntleroy (our as-it-happened coverage is here, our coverage of the arrest and aftermath is here). First, the status of the man police took into custody: What we believe to be his name (we’re not publishing it without 100% certainty) has not turned up on the jail register; according to police spokesperson Officer Mark Jamieson, he was taken to Harborview Medical Center for what they expected would be a 72-hour mental evaluation. We also asked Officer Jamieson if weapons were indeed found inside the man’s apartment; he says yes – a shotgun and two handguns. (Police were first called after neighbors nearby saw the man outside the building with what they described as a shotgun.) As for whether the man will be charged with a crime as a result of the incident, Jamieson says officers wrote up a “mental report” rather than one suggesting charges, at this point – even if he were charged with “obstruction,” for example, that’s a misdemeanor.

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West Seattle Community Garage Sale countdown: 2 big updates!
April 27, 2009 3:27 am
|    Comments Off on West Seattle Community Garage Sale countdown: 2 big updates!
 |   Community Garage Sale Day | West Seattle news

West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day, May 9, 200912 days till West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day (Saturday, May 9th). Thanks to everybody who signed up – and everybody who’s planning to shop – we’re past 175 and may hit 180 by the time we finish counting/recounting.

FIRST UPDATE: If you missed the deadline – here’s one last chance to be part of it, from Lora Lewis at Hotwire Coffee (WSB sponsor):

Due to the overwhelming response to our group garage sale, the folks at Ginomai have been kind enough to also open up their parking lot to the group sale. The Ginomai lot is location right behind Hotwire so we’ll just combine forces! This opens up an additional fifteen 10×10 spaces so if people missed the deadline for the garage sale registration they can still join in the group Hotwire/Ginomai sale. Just e-mail Lora at lora@hotwirecoffee.com

SECOND UPDATE: In addition to the courtyard group sales at Hotwire/Ginomai and C & P Coffee, we have just finished going through the signup stack – here are the schools, businesses, churches, block sales:

SCHOOLS — Alki Co-op Preschool, Bella Mente, Chief Sealth PTSA, Lincoln Park Co-op Preschool, Roxhill Elementary, West Seattle High School Grad Night Committee

NONPROFITS/SERVICE GROUPS — Amigos de las Americas – Seattle Chapter, International Order of the Rainbow for Girls-West Seattle Assembly #18, Kiwanis Club of West Seattle, Liberty Tree, Lincoln Park P-Patch, Seattle Glee Clubs, Southwest Seattle Historical Society/Log House Museum, Southwest Youth and Family Services

CHURCHES: Grace Church, Hope Lutheran Youth New Orleans Mission Trip, Seaview Methodist, Westside Unitarian Universalist Congregation

BUSINESSES: Brunette Mix (WSB sponsor), C and P Coffee (courtyard group sale), CF West Seattle, Click! Design That Fits (WSB sponsor), Freshy’s Coffee, Hotwire courtyard group sale (plus Ginomai lot), Muttley Crew Cuts and English Springer Rescue America, Sharon’s Westwood Florist, Shotridge Studios, Riverhouse Creperie

BLOCK SALES: We’ve counted eight – and we’ll spotlight them tomorrow! We’ll also have a flyer you can e-mail to friends, neighbors, anybody else you want to share the news with, post at your workplace, etc. For sellers, watch for updates at westseattlegaragesale.com, and also the info packet we’ll be mailing later this week.

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“Tentative” start date set for Fauntleroy Way repaving: May 26
April 26, 2009 10:42 pm
|      20 COMMENTS
 |   Transportation | West Seattle news

That’s dashcam video we shot last fall showing some of the patches and bumps on just one side of the street not-so-affectionately dubbed by some “Fauntle-Rut Way.” As we’ve been reporting since the news first broke in mid-October, Fauntleroy Way is about to get repaved from the Triangle area to Morgan Junction (and as revealed in mid-March, a few extra blocks were added because the bid came in low enough to enable it). While the repaving is under way, the city also will be restriping and reconfiguring lanes (as finalized in January):

After SDOT’s paving expert Jessica Murphy told the Morgan Community Association earlier this month (WSB coverage here) that the contract had just been finalized (with Merlino Construction) and that the work would start “mid-May,” we kept checking back for word of a more specific date, as well as to ask what end of the project site would be tackled first, and here’s what we heard back:

We have tentatively set the start date for this project as May 26th, just after Memorial Day. We will begin in the north end at Alaska and work down the west side first and then work back up the east side. The schedule for the “added” area between California and Holly has not been determined (but it won’t be first!).

Even more details of the plan are expected later this week. The city’s website for the project is here (although it doesn’t yet reflect the fact the work will extend southwest to SW Holly).

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Worried about swine flu? Constantine arranges briefing tomorrow
April 26, 2009 8:20 pm
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news

If you’re worried about all this swine-flu news (here’s the newest nationwide update) and wondering what’s being done in our area, just in case, we’ll find out more from public-health authorities late tomorrow morning: West Seattle-residing King County Council Chair Dow Constantine has arranged for an 11:30 am briefing during tomorrow morning’s County Council meeting, per a media advisory sent out tonight – read on:Read More

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Eagle-eyed in West Seattle: Why you’re seeing more of them
April 26, 2009 4:04 pm
|      8 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | Wildlife

(photo by Gary Jones, taken today at Alki)
After all the incredible photos shared with WSB lately showing eagles around West Seattle, we thought it would be interesting to get a broader look at the local population. Since we (like many other local-news organizations) work on occasion with the University of Washington News Lab, we asked if any of their student reporters might want to take that on – they agreed, and here’s the result (with some WSBers’ eagle photos and video woven throughout)!

(Brace Point-area juvenile eagle, photographed by Rick R)
By BEN BRADLEY
UW News Lab

This spring, people in West Seattle have noticed an increase in bald eagle sightings, particularly around Alki Beach and Lincoln Park.

David Schneider, a resident of West Seattle, has spotted a few himself. “I think there are only two or three pair, but I usually see them on Beach Drive on the north side of the park.”

Read More

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Another big May 9 event: Walking on Logs area followup cleanup
April 26, 2009 2:09 pm
|    Comments Off on Another big May 9 event: Walking on Logs area followup cleanup
 |   Environment | How to help | West Seattle news

cleanupotherview.jpg

Seven months ago, that was the scene as hundreds of people helped clean up the “Gateway” area from Walking on Logs up to 35th/Fauntleroy. We just got word from that cleanup’s organizer, Nancy Driver of the Fairmount Community Association, that a smaller followup cleanup is planned for 9 am-1 pm Saturday, May 9th (yes, it’s West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day, but if you’re not part of the 170+ sales, you can pitch in before or after you shop!) — and she’d like to hear from anyone who can help. Here’s the announcement:

We are doing a four hour cleanup and blackberry removal on Saturday, May 9, from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm. We will only be doing the area from the gates (near the overpass) down to Walking on Logs. Objectives will be to accomplish the following: 1) pick up all trash; 2) weed whack and clean up the “Walking on Logs” area; 3) blackberry removal starting from the blackberry patch nearest to the gates and moving north. I found last fall that the blackberries pulled out of the ground fairly easily – using leather gloves and both hands I was able to rip them out of the ground, roots and all. Our hope is too get at least one large swath of blackberries removed – if we can get more than that done, great. The blackberry removal is a long-term project but this will be a start.

The city will provide canvas gloves, safety vests, bags, and a few shovels and rakes. We will round up at least one gas weed trimmer but if you have one you are willing to bring that would be great. Volunteers are encouraged to come with their own leather gloves if you plan on helping with blackberry removal. The city will also provide us with a water cooler and we’ll have cups – unfortunately, no snacks this time, just water. IMPORTANT: Unlike the September cleanup – no traffic will be closed off next to the area we are working in.

… Whether it’s an hour, two hours or all four, any time you can contribute will be greatly appreciated. Additionally, any time you put in can be used toward matching funds from the city to get needed irrigation and drainage work done at the Walking on Logs that is needed.

Can you help? If so, please e-mail Nancy: ndriver@quidnunc.net

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Happening now: Skillet Street Food’s West Seattle debut
April 26, 2009 10:52 am
|      44 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle restaurants | West Seattle video

Well – as we post this photo, it’s still a few minutes till Skillet Street Food officially opens in the Hotwire Coffee (WSB sponsor) courtyard at 11 am (they’re scheduled to be here till 2 pm – California SW, just south of Genesee, north of the post office). That’s the menu and pricing, written in purple on the side of the gleaming chrome Airstream trailer. We peeked into the trailer too, where Josh, Mark and Mary are working – video shortly.

ADDED 11:08 AM: Here’s video of Mary inside the Skillet trailer, telling us a bit about the burger, the poutine gravy, the Thom Kha soup and the calamari (see menu/pricing photo above):

10 minutes after they opened, there’s a line, but not too bad – still inside the courtyard.

ADDED 11:39 AM: Here’s the current line:

And most important of all, their signature dish – “The Burger” (one person just suggested it’s a serious rival to West Seattle’s current burger fave, Zippy’s):

Good reviews so far – including this :15 assessment of The Burger, from Gatewood resident Dave Gross:

We’re moving on to a few other stories but in case you checked online before heading out into the sunshine, we knew we had to report on the big debut. Their menu changes weekly and you can usually find it on the home page at skilletstreetfood.com; if you haven’t been to Hotwire before, here’s a map to their location. P.S. If you’re just catching up with all this and wondering what’s the fuss — Skillet sets up at various Seattle locations and has amassed quite the following, since street-side food is not often also somewhat gourmet, and this is yet another sign that West Seattle has “arrived” as a foodie destination (in addition to rave reviews for local eateries such as Spring Hill); previous “press clips” can be browsed here. P.S. We were asked via Twitter (@westseattleblog for human-powered updates and observations, @westseattlenews for links to WSB stories as they’re published) if Skillet takes credit cards – answer, yes.

8:32 PM ADDITION: Speaking of Twitter, this postmortem from Skillet via Twitter (@skilletstfood):

so..that was the biggest opening day at any location we have ever had..and the biggest day we have ever had…..thanks WS, WSB and hotwire

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Happening today: Farmers’ Market, Skillet @ Hotwire, more
April 26, 2009 7:02 am
|    Comments Off on Happening today: Farmers’ Market, Skillet @ Hotwire, more
 |   West Seattle Farmers' Market | West Seattle news

(Photo added 9:54 am courtesy Lora @ Hotwire, as Skillet crew sets up)
WEST SEATTLE FARMERS MARKET: 10-2 in The Junction; here’s what to look for.

SKILLET STREET FOOD’S WEST SEATTLE DEBUT: Remember, look for the Airstream trailer in the courtyard by Hotwire Coffee (WSB sponsor), 11 am-2 pm, because of the last-minute change in locations. Menu’s here.

Lots more happening today, including a craft show/brunch to benefit the fight against leukemia/lymphoma and The Esoterics at Holy Rosary – here’s the Sunday list, from the West Seattle Weekend Lineup.

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Fauntleroy SWAT situation over: Man surrenders
April 25, 2009 8:13 pm
|      37 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | Fauntleroy | West Seattle news | WS breaking news

(previous as-it-happened coverage here)
8:13 PM BULLETIN: Just ended. More to come.

(WSB photo by Christopher Boffoli)
8:19 PM UPDATE: The standoff in Fauntleroy’s Endolyne business district lasted approximately 5 1/2 hours. According to our crews on the scene, it ended a few minutes ago as the suspect backed out of the house and surrendered, as police had been shouting through a bullhorn, asking him to do, for the past few hours. Just a short time earlier, police had said on the radio that they had re-established contact with him but he was “not cooperating.” WSB co-publisher Patrick Sand, who has been on the scene since even before the SWAT team arrived, says the man is well-dressed — wearing a tie and suspenders — and was taken to a medic unit that had been called to the scene a few hours ago to be on standby. We will have photos/video soon, but Patrick and WSB photojournalist Christopher Boffoli are still gathering more information now that the situation is over. Added: Seattle Police spokesperson Officer Renee Witt says the man was indeed, as we reported earlier, alone in the building. He says he was walking around with a shotgun – the sighting that touched off the standoff hours earlier – because he thought there were transients in the building. No evidence of transients, police say.

8:51 PM: That’s video of the man as police walked him around the corner toward the medic unit. (We don’t always show faces at arrest scenes, but we are following the rules implemented in all the conventional-media newsrooms in which we worked in recent years: Faces only if you are charged with the crime, confess to the crime, or there is no doubt you are the person who did what you are being arrested for – in other words, you are caught in the act – and that would apply here, with there being no doubt this is the man who held police at bay for 5-plus hours.)

9:06 PM: The last SWAT unit is leaving the scene, and traffic is moving through the area again. As we mentioned in our as-it-happened coverage, Endolyne Joe’s (which was behind the police line) decided to close for the night and send its staff home to be on the safe side, but should be open again for breakfast (and beyond) in the morning. Meantime, we are reviewing video shot at the scene earlier, to add a few more clips here from the 5-hour-plus standoff, and also will be watching the county jail register to see if the man arrested tonight shows up there.

9:54 PM: One thing that came up repeatedly during the standoff was the issue of the loud bangs heard several times, audible from some distance away – those were from devices police can choose to set off during situations in which they need to distract or confuse the person/s they are dealing with. WSB photojournalist Christopher Boffoli got two images related to the use of these – since police sent out a warning of sorts on the radio before setting them off, here’s an officer covering his ears, followed by some smoke in the air afterward:

You can also see some smoke clearing in this video clip, which also includes the sound of the bullhorn orders police were shouting at the suspect:

Here’s a clip of two of the vehicles the SWAT team brought to Fauntleroy this afternoon:

SUNDAY NIGHT NOTE: As of 10:55 pm Sunday, no one by the name we believe to be that of the arrested man has been booked into King County Jail. We will be checking with Seattle Police first thing in the morning to see if they have information on whether he is still in the hospital or whether he was released.

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Preliminary name recommendation for Morgan Junction’s park
April 25, 2009 7:58 pm
|      10 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle parks | West Seattle people

The final word rests with Parks Superintendent Tim Gallagher, but the Parks Department naming committee has announced its recommendation for what to call Morgan Junction’s new park (on the ex-Fauntleroy Auto, ex-planned-monorail-station site north of ex-Video Vault-turned-Beveridge Place Pub). The recommended name, disclosed at this week’s Parks Board meeting … Morgan Junction Park. As reported here in recent months, a community petition drive had been under way to get the park nameed in memory of Tim St. Clair, the longtime West Seattle Herald reporter who died in March of last year; he lived near Morgan Junction and spent years covering issues that led up to the creation of the park, including the monorail. Supporters, including major West Seattle-area community leaders and groups, asked Parks to make an exception in the department’s naming policy, which says a park can’t be named after someone until at least three years after their death. Again, the final park-naming decision is up to Superintendent Gallagher; if you are interested in contacting him with your comments on the proposed name, you’ll find his contact info here. Whatever name is finalized, the park will be officially dedicated during the Morgan Junction Community Festival on June 13th.

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Updates: SWAT team in Fauntleroy standoff, roads blocked
April 25, 2009 2:47 pm
|      63 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | West Seattle news | WS breaking news

(scroll down for newest photos, info)

ORIGINAL 2:47 PM REPORT: Checking on multiple reports (thanks for the calls and e-mails) of major police activity in the Endolyne business district area of Fauntleroy. We’re told roads are blocked off in the area. One neighbor describes the scene: “Multiple cop cars cutting off every street in my neighborhood and police with guns drawn running around especially up by the bakery/restaurant.” We’re heading down the hill now to find out what’s going on.


View Larger Map

2:59 PM: Still no official information as it is a very chaotic scene but two citizen reports suggest it involves a suspect who may have a gun. So DEFINITELY avoid the area TFN. We can’t get close from the west side so we’re going around the other way. Scanner indicates special units are being used here including SWAT (en route if not there yet) – a negotiator is apparently on the scene. Scanner says suspect has told police no one else is with him.

3:22 PM UPDATE: An officer at the scene told us the person they’re all focused on is believed to be in the alley behind Endolyne Joe’s. The SWAT team has just arrived — adding a photo in a moment.

3:54 PM UPDATE: No major updates from the scene. Police all in position, though some of them have moved around. Scanner traffic within the past several minutes indicated the suspect was still talking via phone with police. And on a practical note, this is affecting traffic toward and from the ferry dock AND traffic between Fauntleroy and Marine View Drive/west Arbor Heights, so keep that in mind.

4:12 PM UPDATE: To further clarify, co-publisher Patrick Sand, who’s our reporter/photographer on the scene right now, says he’s been told the suspect is in a 2-story apartment building on the alley behind Endolyne Joe’s. Just in case that helps you further figure out where all this is unfolding. Adding a photo – note we are cropping our SWAT team photos as it’s important in standoff situations not to show police’s exact positions, lest a suspect be monitoring media (of any kind):

4:36 PM UPDATE: Police are now using a bullhorn to try to get the suspect to re-establish contact. From comments (if you haven’t read it there already), Rick is at the scene and forced to stay at his workplace while the standoff continues:

I’m at work in the middle of this, i’m inside the taped area, my office wall adjacent to this alley. There are a handful of swat patrol guys with machine guns outside my window. I tried to leave and they told me to go back inside and wait. I’m watching from my window…

WSB photojournalist Christopher Boffoli is also now at the scene, which we have covered from both sides. (After arriving, he took the next photo, added Saturday evening:)

5:30 PM UPDATE: No major developments. Standoff still under way. Police still trying to get suspect to re-establish contact. The loud noises you hear are being made by police, deliberately, we can verify. There are still conflicting anecdotal reports from the scene whether anyone was believed to be in the house with the man.

6:01 PM UPDATE: Again, we’re not doing play-by-play from the scene because (as discussed in comments) there are some details that it’s safer not to report publicly while these situations are unfolding. Police are still using a bullhorn to try to get the man to respond; the building he’s believed to be in is the 4-plex immediately west of the commercial building at 45th/Wildwood.

6:09 PM UPDATE: SPD spokesperson Officer Renee Witt just confirmed to us – after we called to triplecheck – that what we have been reporting for hours is accurate: NO HOSTAGES.

7:10 PM UPDATE: Status quo at the scene. In news of nearby businesses, we called Endolyne Joe’s to see if they were planning to be open IF this ends before too long, and Mike told us no, they just decided a short time ago to send everybody home, to be on the safe side. So they are closed for the rest of the night, no matter what. Kitty-corner in the same intersection, though, people are coming and going from Guadalajara – that’s on the other side of the police tape.

7:38 PM UPDATE: Police at least briefly heard from the suspect for the first time in a while, according to the scanner. And without going into further detail, let’s just say this could go on for quite some time. Just saying that so if you live in the area and have been waiting to make your plans for the evening based on whether this might end sometime soon, you can plan otherwise. We will probably start a new story for evening updates on this, since there’s another story we’ve been holding off on publishing to keep this atop the page; when we do that, we will add the URL here, but till you see that, we’ll add any new info here.

8:12 PM UPDATE: It’s over – the man came out and surrendered. Starting a separate post to cover that. Find it here.

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West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day: Hours left to register!
April 25, 2009 12:18 pm
|    Comments Off on West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day: Hours left to register!
 |   Community Garage Sale Day | West Seattle news

West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day, May 9, 2009Looks like it’s going to be the sale day to end all sale days. Well – maybe not literally “end” – Saturday , May 9, will be the 5th annual West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day, and we certainly expect to present a 6th annual, and 7th annual, and what a bash it will be for the 10th one in 2014 … Anyway — 11:59 pm tonight is the deadline to register your sale. Too late to get a form in the mail but online registration is pretty quick (do it here), and that’s how almost 80 percent of the signups have come in.

For everybody who’s signed up by then – we’ll be sending you an info packet via postal mail, including your “official participant” sign and more on how to donate unsold items via Northwest Center. And as mentioned before, we will have The Map ready extra-early this year – Sunday, May 3, with free copies available for pickup at the West Seattle Blog table near the main stage at the Sustainable West Seattle Festival (sponsoring and co-sponsored by WSB); after the festival ends on Sunday afternoon, the map will be available online, and other locations we’ll announce this week. Also look for the flyer we’ll post online so you can put it up on your workplace bulletin board, e-mail to your friends, anything else to spread the word. Keep watching for news here and at westseattlegaragesale.com. Thanks!

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Closing sale Sunday at The Little Artist in The Junction
April 25, 2009 1:54 am
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news

Thanks to Bonnie for sharing this e-mail sent to a customer list for the kids-art business upstairs from Curious Kidstuff in The Junction:

Dear Friends,

After seven years I have had to close The Little Artist. I am very sad about it and will miss you all. In order to clear out the studio, I will be having a sale on Sunday, April 26th from 11:00 to 4:00.
* Art materials
* Easels
* Furniture (bookcases, cubbies, etc.)
* Storage bins
* Art project books
* “Grab bags” materials for several projects in each bag
* Birthday party supplies
Prices are below my costs, so bargains are to be had! Hope to see you!

We’d checked out a tip some weeks back that The Little Artist was for sale, but hadn’t confirmed anything at the time. The studio’s operator is NOT the same as the toy store it’s above.

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West Seattle Crime Watch: Anybody see who did this?
April 25, 2009 12:38 am
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | High Point | West Seattle news

Just out of the WSB inbox, from Kelly:

My friends and I were driving back from Alaska Junction to our home in the Westwood area right before midnight on the Friday night (4/24).

We removed 2 signs and a cone from the middle of the road. They seemed to be placed there deliberately so that cars could hit them. The location was 35th Ave between Raymond and Juneau Streets (map).

I was wondering if you could post this on the site to see if anyone witnessed people in the act of placing these in the street. I feel a lot better knowing these items are out of the street and no one is hurt. We have seen our share of car accidents in the neighborhood recently.

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Remembering J.B. Webster: Fund set up for family
April 24, 2009 11:46 pm
|      21 COMMENTS
 |   How to help | West Seattle news | West Seattle people

Since we reported the death of well-known West Seattleite J.B. Webster earlier this week, more than two dozen people have paid tribute to him in comments following our story (see them here). And tonight there’s something new to report: Ian Lurie sends word of a fund set up to help Mr. Webster’s wife Christi and children Tyler, Logan and Eli – he’s created this webpage for it, with information on how to get a check to First Mutual Bank north of The Junction and a link for donating online. Mr. Webster’s memorial is at 11 am next Tuesday, 4/28, at Alki UCC Church (here’s a map).

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