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Spotlight Stories

West Seattle Friday: Lots of music; pro volleyball; ‘Girl Rising’…
August 28, 2015 10:53 am
|    Comments Off on West Seattle Friday: Lots of music; pro volleyball; ‘Girl Rising’…
 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Photo by Paul Walchenbach)

Happy almost-the-weekend! Highlights from our calendar, for the rest of your West Seattle Friday:

NATIONAL VOLLEYBALL LEAGUE AT ALKI: The beach-volleyball pros are at Alki for the Seattle Championships, a three-day tournament, seven of eight stops on a coast-to-coast tour. Today, it’s qualifier match play, 2 pm to dusk, according to the online schedule. (57th SW & Alki Ave. SW)

MUSIC AT THE MOUNT: STRUM (Seattle’s Totally Relaxed Ukulele Musicians) is scheduled to perform outdoors at Providence Mount St. Vincent tonight – free concert (and free popcorn and snow cones!) at 6 pm, dinner and beverages available for purchase at 5:30 pm. If we get word of any weather-related changes, we’ll update this listing. (4831 35th SW)

TRUE ROMANS AT SALTY’S: 6-9 pm, enjoy rock ‘n’ roll covers along with drinks and/or dinner by the water at Salty’s on Alki (WSB sponsor) – more info in our calendar listing. (1936 Harbor SW)

‘GIRL RISING’: Good turnout for the first screening of this inspiring documentary earlier this week hosted by Girl Up teen adviser Alina Guyon:

(Photo courtesy Jackie Clough of Alki Party Treasures [WSB sponsor])

If you didn’t catch that one – or want to see it again – you have another chance tonight, 6:30 pm at Fauntleroy UCC Church. Admission $2.50. (9140 California SW)

FIVE BUCK BAND AT C & P: ’60s/’70s pop/rock is this band’s focus, and you can enjoy the tunes at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor) 7-9 pm tonight. (5612 California SW)

INTO THE COLD AT EASY STREET: Record-release party with live, free, all-ages in-store performance by Into the Cold at Easy Street Records in The Junction, 7 pm. (California SW & SW Alaska)

And a reminder …

DEADLINE DAY: Last day to sign up 3- to 11-year-old players for West Seattle YMCA (WSB sponsor) soccer! Details here.

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ROAD-WORK ALERT: West Seattle Bridge lane closure for sewer work
August 28, 2015 10:35 am
|      1 COMMENT
 |   Utilities | West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

You might have noticed the setup for this already. From the city:

Seattle Public Utilities (SPU) is conducting emergency sewer repair work on the West Seattle Bridge/Fauntleroy Way SW ramp heading eastbound. From Friday, August 28th, at 7:00 pm to Sunday, August 30th, at 3:00 pm, SPU crews will be excavating as part of an emergency sewer-repair project. The inside eastbound lane will be closed during this time and drivers should allow extra time for their trips due to possible congestion in this area.

SPU crews will continue the work with roadway panel replacement the weekend of September 11. They plan to work from Friday, September 11th, at 7:00 pm to the afternoon of September 13.

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VIDEO: Hiawatha happiness with Caspar Babypants as Admiral Neighborhood Association’s annual concert series wraps up
August 28, 2015 9:16 am
|    Comments Off on VIDEO: Hiawatha happiness with Caspar Babypants as Admiral Neighborhood Association’s annual concert series wraps up
 |   West Seattle news | WS culture/arts

(WSB photos and video by Katie Meyer)

That’s what it took to see over the sea of fans last night as Caspar Babypants enthralled the last Summer Concerts at Hiawatha crowd of the year. Here’s the view from what you might call “backstage”:

CB’s music is catchy enough to be earworm fodder for grownups too. Here’s a bit of video:

As you can see in the clips, the littlest concertgoers just keep on dancing:

Caspar Babypants (aka West Seattleite and longtime rocker Chris Ballew) has another collection of Beatles remakes coming out next month – this time, it’s “Beatles Baby!”, following up on “Baby Beatles.” (If you were at last night’s show, you might already have a copy.) As for the concert series – presented each summer by the Admiral Neighborhood Association (with co-sponsors including WSB) – stand by for news next spring, when summer 2016 starts to get within view!

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TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Rainy Friday updates and alerts
August 28, 2015 7:25 am
|      10 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

(Four WS-relevant views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
7:25 AM: The rain has returned, as forecast; tomorrow is expected to be more intense than today. Meanwhile, a transit alert just tweeted and texted by Metro:

We’ll be asking King County DOT later if it was the same problem as chronicled here last Friday, a driver shortage.

7:40 AM: Sue notes in comments that the 7:18 am Route 55 also was canceled (texted/tweeted with half an hour’s warning).

8:19 AM: Also a reminder that the SW Myrtle closure from 17th SW westward to Sanislo is expected to continue today; the repaving work represents the start of work related to the Delridge-Highland Park Neighborhood Greenway. We’ll check on the progress later. Meantime, the rain has just picked up again.

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Ticket time! Southwest Seattle Historical Society’s gala this year at Salty’s will celebrate ‘Coming Home to the Homestead’
August 28, 2015 5:04 am
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   How to help | West Seattle history | West Seattle news

Story and photos by Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

A “small organization with a big heart … the heart and soul of West Seattle.”

That’s how the Southwest Seattle Historical Society was described at a gathering to preview and celebrate an upcoming event that’s anything but small … its annual Champagne Gala Brunch fundraiser. As mentioned here a week ago, the date is set – Saturday, November 7th, 11 am, at Salty’s on Alki (WSB sponsor). The theme is an in-progress success story that was only a long-held dream at the time of last year’s gala – the restoration of the Alki Homestead/Fir Lodge.

More than 50 people, including SWSHS board members past and present, attended the gala preview Wednesday night at another historic West Seattle property, the Colman Estate on the Fauntleroy waterfront.

Its current owners were there for the preview too. Midway through the sips-and-bites event, SWSHS executive director Clay Eals took centerstage to formally announce the gala, themed “Coming Home to the Homestead.” The man who bought the fire-damaged landmark in March and has begun restoring it, Dennis Schilling, was also among the preview attendees.

While last year’s gala was “supremely successful,” SWSHS circulated a survey afterward to seek ideas for improving it this year, and so they determined it will be more focused, shorter, and with a little more room to roam in the Salty’s special-event rooms. The menu, Eals promised, will be reminiscent of the old Homestead – minus, he joked, the Jello (in a room full of history fans, laughter rippled around the room, which also filled with applause multiple times during the event).

Fittingly, one special presentation will feature, as explained on the SWSHS preview page, “Catherine Gruye Alexander and Rob Gruye, daughter and son of 1950s Alki Homestead chef and manager Robert Gruye.” Also planned for the Champagne Gala program, returning from last year’s gala – West Seattle personality Marty Riemer, who recorded this short sneak preview to explain:

You really, really don’t want to miss “Wait, Wait,” do you? Then don’t wait – assure yourself a seat with an early ticket purchase – go right here, right now.

P.S. One more announcement during the preview – SWSHS will lead a cruise group again next fall, this time to view autumn foliage along the Northeast coast, New York to Quebec. And if you’d like to join the group for this year’s Alaska Totem Cruise, September 19th-26th, it’s not too late to book a spot – scroll down this page to see how.

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Smelling smoke in Seattle right now? You’re not alone
August 27, 2015 11:15 pm
|      27 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle fires | West Seattle news

11:15 PM: Here in West Seattle and in other parts of the city, people are mentioning a strong smell of smoke in the air – in a few places they’ve even called 911 and Seattle Fire’s gone around checking, but no fires so far – theory right now is that the wind kicking up has brought wildfire smoke back this way. Just thought we’d mention it, with so many asking.

11:28 PM: Several people have pointed out that a new fire is burning in Mason County, to the southwest, and that matches more with the wind direction than the Eastern Washington fires.

11:42 PM: Last report on that fire in the Skokomish Valley was about 50 acres, per KING 5. Rain is expected by morning, which should help with the firefight as well as the smoke smell here.

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UPDATE: Helicopter search for prowlers, apparently a false alarm
August 27, 2015 9:10 pm
|      14 COMMENTS
 |   Helicopter | West Seattle news

9:10 PM: Guardian One is up west of The Junction looking for prowlers in the Genesee area.

9:25 PM: No prowlers found, and Diego says via comments that it apparently was a false alarm. So does Judy via Twitter:

Thanks for the texts/calls – you never know.

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Going up? Celebrating climbing @ new Camp Long Mountain Fest
August 27, 2015 6:48 pm
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   Fun stuff to do | West Seattle news | West Seattle parks

(Schurman Rock photo courtesy Seattle Parks)

Long before climbing walls and other ways of heading up without going to the mountains, there was Schurman Rock. It’s just one big reason Camp Long is hosting the new Mountain Fest on September 13th. Here’s how Seattle Parks is announcing the event:

Rock climbing is fast becoming the sport of choice for many in search of an athletic activity with both grit and Zen. Climbing, it seems, is scaling into the mainstream. According to the Outdoor Industry Association, over 10 million people in the United States participate in rock climbing on some level, and Seattleites in particular have embraced this sport with a passion, with rock climbing gyms and venues, both indoor and outdoor­, growing exponentially all the time. To celebrate both this coming-of-age time for the sport of climbing and Seattle’s long-standing mountain and climbing history/community, Seattle Parks and Recreation will open up its historic Camp Long for a Mountain Festival on September 13th from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. — where anyone, from novices to hard-core enthusiasts, can get their hands on the rocks and feet off the ground.

Visitors to the Camp Long Mountain Fest will find an exhilarating mix of climbing, conviviality, and challenge.

Read More

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West Seattle restaurants: Rezone proposed to transform part of Morgan Junction house into Chungee’s West
August 27, 2015 3:24 pm
|      46 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle restaurants

(King County Assessor’s Office photo)

A very busy block in Morgan Junction, the 6900 block of California SW, has a new development proposal – and an unusual one at that. The same block that gained fame for the “30 apartments, no parking” controversy might get a restaurant right next to that almost-complete building. But it would require a zoning change. Documents are now filed with the city seeking a contract rezone – one that would be approved for a specific proposal – for the property at 6921 California SW, which currently holds the 103-year-old two-bedroom, one-bath house shown in the photo above. The change would be from Lowrise 2 to Lowrise 2 – Residential Commercial. According to what’s on file with the city, it would be a new location for Chungee’s, a Chinese restaurant that opened five years ago on Capitol Hill. Why this house? The Chungee’s proprietors own it. One of the documents filed in connection with the project describes it as:

Located in a LR2 Zone at 6921 California Avenue SW, Chungee’s West is a contract rezone proposal for a family-run, neighborhood restaurant. The rezone requires adding the RC designation to the existing LR2 zoning for the parcel.

The entire project includes an addition and renovation of an existing 100 year old one story single family residence. The extent of the remodel & addition will be to establish a commercial use (restaurant) on the lower and main level and a two-bedroom residential dwelling unit on the upper level. The owners of the restaurant intend to live in the upper level dwelling unit once complete. In order for the project to be realized, the parcel must be zoned LR2 RC from the existing LR2. The RC overlay designation currently applies to the parcel and block directly to the South across SW Mills Street.

An established family-run restaurant will increase the walkability of the neighborhood and the adjacent business district supporting the existing commercial node and attracting patrons from other neighborhoods. The proposal is consistent with the 2013 comprehensive plan for the Morgan Junction urban village and the long term goals of this area in West Seattle.

With immediate access and circulation off of California Avenue, a major thoroughfare, the restaurant will serve not only the immediate neighborhood but West Seattle and Greater Seattle via local transit and car.

The site plan shows three parking spaces in back, where the existing garage would be removed. Meantime, the city files include “proposed project images:

Any rezone will need City Council approval. Now that the city has formally accepted the application, a comment period should open soon – watch the Land Use Information Bulletin, which is published Mondays and Thursdays, for that. The proprietors already have sought letters of support, some of which are part of the official files already.

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FOLLOWUP: Man charged with shooting brother over video-game threat
August 27, 2015 2:02 pm
|      5 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | West Seattle news

The man accused of shooting his brother in their Junction apartment last Saturday night is now charged with first-degree domestic-violence assault. The charging documents say 19-year-old Rony Miranda-Guity shot his 25-year-old brother in the chest, point-blank, because his brother threatened to break his video-game system. Miranda-Guity is quoted as telling police that he was playing a game when his brother came home, slapped him on the neck, and picked up the system as if he was going to break it: “My reaction is my reaction, which was fast after he touched me and tried to grab my X-Box. Like, that’s the only thing that I got that I love.” Police say he also acknowledged that he didn’t call for help for his brother, who, the charging documents say, “staggered to the door of a different apartment unit to get someone else to make the call.” Though Harborview Medical Center was not releasing information about the victim’s condition, the court documents say he was in the Trauma ICU at Harborview “awaiting further surgery” as of yesterday, but is expected to survive. The documents also note, “There is a history of unreported assaults between the two” and that a .25-caliber handgun and shell casing were found in the apartment. Miranda-Guity remains in jail in lieu of $500,000 bail, awaiting arraignment on September 9th.

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Want to make your own Rainworks? Artist crowdfunding to distribute ‘Invisible Spray’
August 27, 2015 1:23 pm
|    Comments Off on Want to make your own Rainworks? Artist crowdfunding to distribute ‘Invisible Spray’
 |   West Seattle news | WS culture/arts

(WSB photo from July 2015 celebration at 47th/Admiral/Waite)

You’ve likely heard about Rainworks – though you might not have seen one lately, in this dry summer. (Or maybe that downpour two weeks ago?) It’s sidewalk art that only shows up when wet. It’s been showcased in West Seattle, including two creations at the newly signalized 47th/Admiral/Waite intersection. Now its creator Peregrine Church, who was at the signal dedication last month to showcase those creations, is hoping to produce a spray so that you can make your own Rainworks, and crowdfunding to bankroll it. The announcement says that since Rainworks got national attention, they’ve “gotten countless inquiries from artists, creators, teachers, parents, and many others who want to create their own rainworks. With the success of this Kickstarter, the Rainworks team will make Rainworks Invisible Spray available for the first time. They plan to set up a distribution network so they can ship orders internationally, spreading rainworks across the globe and giving people everywhere a reason to look forward to rainy days.” This is the first product incubated, by the way, at SODO MakerSpace, which has multiple West Seattle ties, including a collaboration with the trailblazing WS Tool Library.

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VIDEO: See how the Highway 99 tunneling machine’s lift-and-lower operation went down, and what happens next
August 27, 2015 12:20 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   Alaskan Way Viaduct | West Seattle news

That one-minute video shows you how the Highway 99 tunneling machine’s repaired front end was lowered into the pit where the rest of the machine awaited. WSDOT just made it public along with this update on what’s happened since then, and what’s next:

Seattle Tunnel Partners has reconnected the SR 99 tunneling machine’s 2,000-ton front end to the section that remained in the access pit during repairs. With the two sections of the machine now bolted together, crews from Mammoet have unhooked the front-end piece from the massive red crane that performed this week’s lift.

Significant work remains for crews tasked with reassembling the machine. Three large pieces of the machine’s outer shield will be lowered into place for reassembly in the coming days, according to STP’s most recent schedule. Crews also must weld the pieces back together, in addition to the lengthy task of reconnecting the hundreds of wires and hoses that are integral to the tunneling operation. STP and manufacturer Hitachi Zosen will conduct a series of tests following reassembly to ensure the machine is ready to resume mining.

WSDOT has said its contractor’s most-recent schedule anticipates that could happen in November.

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Volleyball player in the house? Visiting pros’ free clinic for youth
August 27, 2015 11:33 am
|      1 COMMENT
 |   West Seattle news | WS & Sports

(Texted photo: NVL truck at Alki Beach)

The professional beach-volleyball players coming to Alki for the National Volleyball League‘s Seattle Championships the next three days have a gift for local youth – a free clinic Sunday afternoon. It’s open to young players 6-18 years old; just register here, and then check in at the tournament-info tent at 12:45 pm Sunday for the 1-2:30 pm clinic.

As for the tournament – it’s the 7th of 8 stops on the pro tour this year, and the Alki schedule is here.

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West Seattle Thursday: Summer Concerts at Hiawatha finale with Caspar Babypants; WS Transportation Coalition; WS Chamber @ Youngstown; more
August 27, 2015 11:13 am
|    Comments Off on West Seattle Thursday: Summer Concerts at Hiawatha finale with Caspar Babypants; WS Transportation Coalition; WS Chamber @ Youngstown; more
 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Photo by Lynn Hall)

Looking ahead to the rest of today/tonight around West Seattle:

DELRIDGE GROCERY FARM STAND: 4-7 pm, this week’s chance to support the Delridge Grocery Cooperative (WSB sponsor) and get farm-fresh produce. Ask about membership when you’re there, to help DGC get closer to opening its storefront. (5455 Delridge Way SW)

‘AFTER HOURS’ AT YOUNGSTOWN CULTURAL ARTS CENTER: 5:30-7:30 pm, join the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce for this month’s “After Hours” event at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center – this time, as previewed here earlier this week, open to non-members, too. (4408 Delridge Way SW)

SUMMER CONCERTS AT HIAWATHA FINALE: Family fave Caspar Babypants is on stage for the final Summer Concerts at Hiawatha event tonight, 6:30 pm on the east lawn at Hiawatha Community Center. Bring your own chair/blanket/picnic/etc. Show’s free, courtesy of the Admiral Neighborhood Association and series sponsors, including us. (Walnut SW & SW Lander)

WEST SEATTLE TRANSPORTATION COALITION: 6:30 pm at Neighborhood House’s High Point Center, WSTC brings in SPD and SDOT reps to talk about the city’s new emphasis on Traffic Incident Management, as previewed here. Plus, hear from the transit-advocacy group Seattle Subway. All welcome. (6400 Sylvan Way)

WASHINGTON STATE ANIMAL RESPONSE TEAM BENEFIT: Starting at 7 pm at Beveridge Place Pub – great brews for a great cause, Engine House #9 Brewer’s Night to benefit an organization whose work includes helping companion animals displaced because of the Eastern Washington fires. Details here. (6413 California SW)

BIG SLATE AT THE SKYLARK: Six bands on the schedule for International Pop Overthrow Day at The Skylark, starting at 7:30 pm. (3803 Delridge Way SW)

BROWSE THE CALENDAR to see what else is up today/tonight/beyond!

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West Seattle Crime Watch: North Admiral search; Seaview car prowl
August 27, 2015 9:20 am
|      23 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | West Seattle news | West Seattle police

In West Seattle Crime Watch this morning:

NORTH ADMIRAL SEARCH: Thanks for the tips about a police search in North Admiral early this morning. We’ve just obtained some preliminary information from Officer Lauren Lovanhill in SPD’s media unit; it started in the 1600 block of California SW (map), when a resident reported a group of youths pointed a gun at him. She says he believed it was a carjacking attempt, but he managed to get away. One possible suspect was found and taken to the precinct for questioning, according to Officer Lovanhill, but the search ended without officers finding anyone else.

Side note: This is just two blocks south of Hamilton Viewpoint Park, which has been a trouble spot lately – in a comment on our report about charges in last week’s robbery/shooting case, David Whiting of the Admiral Neighborhood Association says SPD and Seattle Parks will be at ANA’s next meeting to hear and talk about it, 7 pm September 8th at The Sanctuary at Admiral (42nd/Lander).

SEAVIEW CAR PROWL: Tiffany says this happened Tuesday night:

My car was broken into last night in the Seaview neighborhood sometime after midnight, on the 5600 block of 45th Ave SW. They broke the back window and took a file tote that was in the back seat. Nothing else was taken as far as I know. I would love to get the bag back, or at least know that it was dumped someplace, as the files contained sensitive information. It looks like a purse, is beige linen on the outside, and has my business card and contact info in the front pocket. Thanks!

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TONIGHT: How community can be key, in case of catastrophe
August 27, 2015 9:02 am
|    Comments Off on TONIGHT: How community can be key, in case of catastrophe
 |   Not WS but we're mentioning it anyway | Preparedness | West Seattle news

Know where your nearest Emergency Communication Hub is? Know WHAT your Emergency Communication Hub is? West Seattle has long been a citywide leader in this aspect of preparedness, via West Seattle Be Prepared. And they’re sharing news of a presentation downtown tonight that might interest you. Usually we can only promote on-peninsula events, but preparedness has been a signature issue for us for a long time, and at the heart of this presentation is the reminder that community can be key in case of catastrophe:

Join the Seattle Emergency Communications Hubs and Seattle Fire Dept. Battalion Chief Tom Richardson, one of the Urban Search and Rescue Team Leaders (USAR) at the SR 530 slide, who will share his experience during the response and recovery stages and his thoughts on how communities are key in disasters.

Program
6:30 pm – (Optional) Overview of the Seattle Emergency Hubs
7:00 pm – Program start
8:00 pm – Q & A and discussion

Location: City of Seattle Emergency Operations Center, 105 5th Ave S. (Corner of 5th Ave S and S Washington St)

Please RSVP at snap@seattle.gov, or 206-233-5076

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TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Thursday updates; road-closure reminder
August 27, 2015 7:40 am
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

(Four WS-relevant views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
So far, no incidents in or from West Seattle.

ROAD-CLOSURE REMINDER: As reported here on Wednesday, SW Myrtle is closed from 17th SW to 21st SW for repaving, as the official start of work on the Delridge-Highland Park Greenway. The closure is expected to last through tomorrow.

SUNDAY FERRY ALERT: An annual motorcycle rally on Vashon this Sunday (August 30th) brings an alert from Washington State Ferries:

Drivers should anticipate heavier than normal motorcycle traffic on Vashon Island this Sunday, Aug. 30 from 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. To expedite processing through the tollbooth, riders are encouraged to pre-purchase their ferry tickets online or at a kiosk at any terminal. Due to construction at the Vashon terminal, extra caution is advised when driving through the construction zone.

8:20 AM: Texter reports a stall on NB 99 – trying to find out more.

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Services Thursday morning for Gary L. Emmick, 1948-2015
August 26, 2015 9:30 pm
|    Comments Off on Services Thursday morning for Gary L. Emmick, 1948-2015
 |   Obituaries | West Seattle news | West Seattle people

Services are planned tomorrow morning at Tahoma National Cemetery for U.S. Army veteran Gary L. Emmick. His family shares this remembrance:

Gary L. Emmick was born on September 11th, 1948 at St. Luke’s Hospital (later became Group Health) in Seattle. He passed away on Thursday, August 20th, 2015, at Highline Hospital in Burien after a lengthy illness.

Gary was a lifetime resident of the Burien/White Center area. He was a Sergeant in the Army who served in Germany from 1967 until 1971.

Son to Phyllis & Franklin Emmick, older brother to Craig Emmick, sister-in-law Gayle. Sons – Brian, Terry, Robert & Floyd. Nephews – Matthew & Michael. Grandson of the Late Floyd & Edith Roush. Nephew to Wayne Roush and Jim Roush. Predeceased by his father Frank in 2010.

Funeral services for Gary will be at Tahoma National Cemetery in Kent on Thursday, August 27, 2015, at 11:30 am. Remembrances may be made to the Disabled Veterans of America or a charity of your preference.

Funeral arrangements entrusted to Emmick Family Funeral Home of West Seattle. Please share your memories of Gary on our online guestbook @ www.emmickfunerals.com.

(WSB publishes West Seattle obituaries by request, free of charge. Please e-mail the text, and a photo if available, to editor@westseattleblog.com)

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FOLLOWUP: Suspect arrested, charged in Hamilton Viewpoint Park robbery / North Delridge shooting
August 26, 2015 7:15 pm
|      25 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | West Seattle news | West Seattle police

(August 18th WSB photo: Detectives examine robbery/shooting victim’s car)

After Seattle Police announced today that they’ve arrested a suspect in last week’s robbery/shooting incident that began in North Admiral and ended in North Delridge, we learned the suspect not only is in jail, he’s already charged – in this case and in an earlier robbery on Capitol Hill. 23-year-old Mau Joseph Satele-Tafia of North Burien is charged with two counts of first-degree robbery and one count of second-degree assault. In both robberies, court documents say, he was after Gucci belts worn by the victims.

First – outside the Rancho Bravo restaurant on Capitol Hill on August 15th, Satele-Tafia is accused of holding up a man and stealing his Gucci belt; three nights later, in West Seattle’s Hamilton Viewpoint Park on August 18th, police say he held up another man for his backpack and then demanded the victim’s Gucci belt. The victim told police he refused to hand over the belt, walked away, and was fired at. Then, he said, he left the park and tried to make his way to the bridge but that the robber pursued him and as the victim tried to lose his pursuer along back roads, they all eventually winding up in North Delridge. That’s where Satele-Tafia allegedly fired shots at the victim’s car, one hitting him in the leg. Shell casings were found at 25th and Puget; from there, the victim drove a few more blocks south to Delridge and Findlay, where they stopped to call 911. The next day, police heard from someone who had surveillance video of the shooting. And they heard from a witness who said they had found the shooter on Twitter, under an alias similar to one he used on Facebook that was a factor in identification in the Capitol Hill case.

Police say they are investigating Satele-Tafia in other robberies; in the meantime, the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office says his bail was set at $750,000 and he remains in jail pending arraignment on September 3rd. His history, according to court documents, includes robbery and car-theft-related charges.

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TRAFFIC ALERT: Crash on westbound West Seattle Bridge
August 26, 2015 6:21 pm
|      9 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

6:21 PM: Thanks to the texter who tipped us to this: SFD and SPD are responding to a crash reported on the westbound bridge near the Highway 99 overpass.

6:27 PM: Two left lanes are blocked. Here’s the view from SDOT via Twitter:

Looks like this will be a problem if you’re getting on the westbound bridge from I-5 but not if you’re getting on it from 99.

8:05 PM: All clear as of about half an hour ago (sorry for the delayed update).

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ROAD-CLOSURE ALERT: SW Myrtle closed for repaving as part of Delridge-Highland Park Greenway construction
August 26, 2015 4:35 pm
|      5 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

Thanks to Lesley for the tip about SW Myrtle being closed from 17th SW to 21st SW, near Sanislo Elementary. We’ve subsequently confirmed that the crumbling road is being repaved as work gets under way on the Delridge-Highland Park Neighborhood Greenway project. First, here’s the flyer about the Myrtle repaving, which is expected to continue through Friday:

That means it will be done in plenty of time for the start of school, which is two weeks from today. Meantime, here’s the flyer that has the “big picture” view of the project, which will be under construction for the next four months or so:

If you want to just cut to the heart of what this is about, here’s the explanation on the official webpage:

The greenway will run north-south, connecting White Center to the West Seattle Bridge trail. The greenway route will run generally along 17th Avenue SW in the south and 21st Avenue SW in the north. … Some of the changes will include:

*Crossing improvements at arterial intersections including striped crosswalks, curb extensions and flashing beacons
*Repaving SW Myrtle Street between 17th and 21st Avenue SW
*Speed humps and all-way stops where need, generally about one per block
*Way-finding signage and pavement markings throughout
*Spot pavement repairs to improve roadway user safety
*The greenway route was selected based on various factors, including evaluating streets for low car volumes, speeds and collisions, road grade (or steepness), and input we heard from the community.

SDOT is working with Seattle Public Utilities to design curb extensions with natural drainage systems along 17th Avenue SW, between SW Henderson Street and SW Kenyon Street.

Next phase of the project, after the SW Myrtle repaving, will be sidewalk and crossing improvements on SW Andover between 21st and 22nd; that’s scheduled to start September 1st.

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FOLLOWUP: Specially trained K9 helps police find guns in Puget Ridge case; suspect remains in juvenile detention
August 26, 2015 3:31 pm
|      14 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | Puget Ridge | West Seattle news

3:31 PM: New information today on the arrest we reported Tuesday in connection with two Puget Ridge domestic-violence assaults, including the one that brought the Guardian One helicopter to the area on Friday. Just published online by SPD’s Jonah Spangenthal-Lee:

A specially trained ATF K9 helped officers track down three pistols hidden by a 17-year-old suspect after he attacked his girlfriend Tuesday afternoon in West Seattle.

The victim, who is also a juvenile, called police around 1:50 PM and said her boyfriend had just choked her into unconsciousness at her home and fled. She also told a 911 dispatcher the suspect had left the house carrying three handguns. Earlier in the week, he had threatened to shoot the victim and, on Tuesday, had reportedly pointed a gun at her as he fled through a wooded area near her home.

Medics treated the victim at her home as police began searching for the suspect. Officers found the 17-year-old near 18th SW and SW Juneau St and took him into custody. Police discovered he was no longer carrying the handguns, and began searching the neighborhood to try to find where he’d stashed them.

Officers were able to call in the assistance of an ATF K9, Allegra, trained to search for guns and shell casings. The dog tracked down the suspect’s three guns in a wooded area. One of the guns had been reported stolen.

Police booked the suspect into the Youth Service Center for investigation of felony domestic violence.

Previously, we had reported the recovery of one gun. Meantime, we’ve been following up on the suspect’s status via the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office; he was due in court this afternoon for a detention review and probable-cause hearing. We’ll update this story when we get the results of that hearing.

4:09 PM: We’ve just received that information. The KCPAO says a judge found probable cause in the case and ordered that the suspect remain in detention; prosecutors have until Friday to file charges. The probable-cause document says the suspect had returned to his 17-year-old girlfriend’s house yesterday to get his belongings when they started to argue; she told police later that she was trying to call 911 when he slapped the phone out of her hand and choked her until she lost consciousness.

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Toddler taken to hospital after falling from 3rd-floor window
August 26, 2015 1:38 pm
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 |   West Seattle news | WS breaking news

(Texted reader photo of emergency crews at today’s incident)

For the second time in less than a week, a child has been hurt in a fall from a third-floor window in West Seattle. A 22-month-old boy has just been rushed to Harborview Medical Center after an incident near 44th SW and SW Genesee. He was described as conscious, alert, and not believed to have life-threatening injuries. Six days ago, two boys ages 1 and 2 fell from a third-floor window near 34th and Holly. They were in the ICU at Harborview at last report (we are checking for an update on their conditions); a neighbor shared information in this WSB comment about a donation drive for the family.

SAFETY INFORMATION: The group Safe Kids Worldwide says, “Unintentional falls are the number-one cause of non-fatal injury for children,” and offers safety advice here.

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