West Seattle, Washington

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Spotlight Stories


  • Shooting

    DEADLY SHOOTING: Man killed in Triangle

  • Schools

    SCHOOL CLOSURES? Big crowd for WS board rep

  • Orcas

    SEE THEM SWIM: Orca mom & baby video!

2 registered sex offenders move to West Seattle: Another SPD alert
July 23, 2013 3:18 pm
|      44 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | Safety | West Seattle news

Once again this month, the Seattle Police crime-prevention coordinator for the Southwest Precinct, Mark Solomon, has sent an alert about registered sex offenders moving into this area. Just out of the inbox:

In an effort to keep you informed, and in our constant attempts to reduce future victimization, we want to let you know about level 3 sex offenders that have recently moved into South(west) Precinct neighborhoods.

· Marcus Bright, 30 year-old African American male, is a level 3 registered sex offender who has recently moved to the 2700 Block of 60 Ave SW. Mr. Bright is no longer under Department of Corrections supervision.

· Charles Landry, 28 year-old African American male, is a level 3 registered sex offender who has recently moved to the 9400 Block of 13th Ave SW. Mr. Landry is currently under Department of Corrections supervision.

Det. Fields from the Seattle Police Department’s Sex Offender Detail is assigned to check on these offenders and verify their information.

To learn more about these offenders and to see their photos, please visit the King County Sheriff’s Office Sex Offender website and search by their names. You will also find personal safety tips and resources on this site. http://www.icrimewatch.net/index.php?AgencyID=54473&disc

According to the website, Bright was convicted of first-degree child molestation in 1998, and second-degree assault with sexual motivation in 2003; Landry was convicted of second-degree rape in 2004. If you are concerned about sex offenders living in your area, that same website also will show you who else is in the area. Meantime, Solomon’s e-mail continues with safety information:

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2 weeks till Night Out – organized/registered your block party yet?
July 23, 2013 2:58 pm
|      6 COMMENTS
 |   Neighborhoods | Safety | West Seattle news

Two weeks till Night Out – the annual event bringing neighbors out of their homes and into the streets coast to coast, for block parties to strengthen ties and take a stand for neighborhood safety and solidarity – and to have fun. They’re always the first Tuesday night in August, so that’s August 6th, two weeks from tonight, 6-9 pm. The photo above is one of many we took on Night Out last year, featuring neighbors at 13th and Cambridge in Highland Park. To get permission to close your (non-arterial) street for the night, you need to register your party via the Seattle Police Night Out site – start here. And then, we invite you to let us know about your party, since we’re planning as-it-happens WSB coverage as usual and hoping to drop in on as many parties as we can get to in three hours. Just e-mail the location (cross-streets or block number) to editor@westseattleblog.com – thanks!

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West Seattle development: Residences at 3295 up for sale
July 23, 2013 1:44 pm
|      10 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle housing | West Seattle news

With at least half a dozen other projects along Avalon Way in varying stages of planning/construction, a recently completed building on Avalon is now up for sale.

Here’s the listing for 3295 SW Avalon Way, also known as The Residences at 3295, a six-story, 60-unit, 100-parking-space building which got its construction permits in 2006-2007, sat partially built for years, then finally was completed last year. Part of the delay was because it was originally in the portfolio of now-fugitive real-estate tycoon Michael Mastro (detained recently in France, which wouldn’t extradite him). Before that, it was supposed to be part of the Seattle Monorail right-of-way. While still unfinished, county records show that it sold for almost $4 million in 2010, and then again for $7.3 million in April of last year. It’s now owned by Randolph Street Realty Capital, headquartered in the same Chicago building as, and led by former executives of, Equity Residential, which owns the not-yet-begun Junction project site at California/Alaska/42nd.

Back to 3295 Avalon (which has a bit of history on its current owners’ website): According to the listing and accompanying documents, there is no set asking price for The Residences at 3295 – they are calling for offers this Thursday (July 25). The extensively detailed flyer for the property mentions that the building’s entire retail space is leased for five years; that would be the new Redline, whose proprietors we’re working to reach for an update on when they plan to open – we last talked with them in March.

P.S. Selling a recently completed project isn’t unheard of; three newer West Seattle projects – Mural in The Junction, Link in The Triangle, and the Admiral Safeway redevelopment – were purchased last year by American Realty Advisors, which is headquartered in Los Angeles.

Datapoint: The flyer for The Residences at 3295 quotes analysts as saying the vacancy rate in the West Seattle apartment “submarket” is currently 2.5 percent.

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New marijuana topic for the city: Public-consumption policies
July 23, 2013 11:46 am
|      53 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle police

Lots of discussion of, and deliberation on, policies regarding our state’s legalization of marijuana in recent months – but here’s the first time we’ve seen this come up: An agenda just landed in the inbox for a special meeting of the City Council’s Housing, Human Services, Health, and Culture Committee this Friday at 2 pm. City Attorney Pete Holmes is scheduled to lead a 20-minute briefing titled “City Policies on Public Consumption of Marijuana.” We’re checking with the City Attorney’s Office for a preview; we’re wondering, though – what do YOU think those policies should be?

ADDED 1:19 PM: City Attorney’s Office spokesperson Kimberly Mills says this is related to a request for an ordinance to be drafted, and sends along a statement from Holmes:

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West Seattle Tuesday: Junction Neighborhood Organization re-launch; low-low tide; more!
July 23, 2013 10:41 am
|    Comments Off on West Seattle Tuesday: Junction Neighborhood Organization re-launch; low-low tide; more!
 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

Thanks to Craig Young for the photo of last night’s moonrise (also shared via WSB-FB), taken from Elliott Bay Marina. Moonrise tonight is 9:13 pm, according to the moonrise/moonset/moon-phase section of the WSB West Seattle Weather page. To keep you busy in the meantime:

LOW-LOW TIDE: Not as low as yesterday but close – it’ll be -2.8 feet at 11:50 am – and another great day to get out and explore – gently – if you can! Seattle Aquarium beach naturalists are out now, once again at Constellation Park south of Alki Point and near Colman Pool at Lincoln Park.

YOUTH PROTEST: A demonstration downtown against racial profiling and related issues will include students from Chief Sealth International High School and White Center’s Evergreen Campus, according to a news release sent this morning. They invite other youth to join them outside the King County Courthouse at 1:30 pm; here’s the Facebook event page. (3rd and James, downtown)

WEST SEATTLE TOOL LIBRARY: Reminder that the WS Tool Library now has Tuesday evening hours, if you need to go check out something for a project – 5-8 pm, northeast side of Youngstown Cultural Arts Center. (4408 Delridge Way SW)

JUNCTION NEIGHBORHOOD ORGANIZATION RE-LAUNCH: Tonight’s the night – 6:30 pm at the Senior Center of West Seattle – if you live/work in or around The Junction, come help its community council re-launch. Development is certainly a hot-button issue, but that’s not ALL they’ll tackle:

Have you heard of your neighborhood community organization in the West Seattle Junction and Triangle ? It’s called JuNO- your West Seattle Junction Neighborhood Organization.

There are many topics and concerns about what is happening currently in our Junction and Triangle neighborhood that affect the way we live. Joining us tonight will be Ed Pottharst of the SWDC and the City of Seattle. He will be answering questions and telling our group more about ways the City of Seattle supports neighborhood organizations like JuNO.

Do you have an idea for our neighborhood? Want to kick start a fundraiser for a park or beautify a public area close to your home? Do you have a question about a development near you or a traffic or parking situation that you would like to see resolved? Join us and we can discuss best ways to get things moving.

We hope to see you tonight!

René Commons
wsjuno@yahoo.com

The Senior Center’s entrance is on Oregon just east of California; the meeting rooms are upstairs.

TUESDAY TUNE-UP AT SALTY’S: Independence Guide Dogs will benefit from tonight’s Tuesday Tune-Up event at Salty’s on Alki (WSB sponsor), with music by Victor Janusz and more, starting at 6:30 pm – details here. (1936 Harbor Avenue SW)

FAMILY STORY TIME: After a long summer day, bring your preschoolers and toddlers to Family Story Time at the Delridge Branch Library, 7 pm. (5423 Delridge Way SW)

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West Seattle road work: California SW repaving next week, Graham to Fauntleroy
July 23, 2013 9:23 am
|      7 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

Between The Junction and Morgan Junction, over the past year or so, California SW has been getting repaved a block or two at a time. Another section is on the schedule: According to the West Seattle section of SDOT‘s weekly “Construction Lookahead,” California SW will be repaved between Graham and Fauntleroy in Morgan Junction next week, Tuesday-Wednesday, July 30-31. That’s part of the stretch that the Morgan Community Association had pitched for repaving with city grant money (here’s our January story). Elsewhere on California SW, recently repaved sections include: Frontenac to Myrtle last month and Dawson to Findlay in April.

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TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Tuesday updates; early alerts
July 23, 2013 6:12 am
|      6 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

(Live view from the east-facing WS Bridge camera; other cameras are on the WSB Traffic page)
Good morning! We start today with a traffic alert if you’re driving on Roxbury today. SDOT‘s weekly “lookahead” says that between 7 am and 7 pm today, “Crews will close the curb lane of westbound SW Roxbury St. between 15th Ave. SW and 16th Ave. SW while replacing a concrete panel. One lane of westbound traffic will be maintained at all times.”

Also from the lookahead, two traffic alerts for next weekend:

*Friday night/early Saturday, midnight to 5 am, all southbound lanes of I-5 under the Convention Center downtown will be closed for fire-system testing
*Saturday night, the Seafair Torchlight Run will close northbound Highway 99 from approximately 5:45 pm to 7:45 pm

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Need it? Make it! West Seattle woman creates ‘Pill Holder’
July 22, 2013 10:24 pm
|      25 COMMENTS
 |   Health | West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news

An Admiral resident created something she hopes will help people who, like her, need to carry medication around all the time, but would like to have it in something a little more stylish than the typical plastic box. Chris Boerner contacted WSB to share the story of her creation, called, simply enough, the Pill Holder. She explains why:

I was diagnosed with an autoimmune disease, Myasthenia Gravis, 18 years ago. I’m lucky enough to be doing really well, but I have to have my medicine with me all the time. Most of the portable pill containers out there aren’t the greatest quality, and they definitely aren’t beautiful. I use my Pill Holder more than almost anything in my daily life, and I want it to be functional and gorgeous! I’m looking forward to bringing that combination to other people who need their pills with them too.

The Pill Holder is made in the USA from stainless steel and comes in two widths, both about 2″ long, both ready to attach to a keychain; right now, she’s selling them online only. They’re also intended to help raise money to eradicate the reasons they’re needed – Boerner says she is setting aside five percent of the Pill Holder’s sales price to donate to researchers working on autoimmune diseases, which she notes affect 16 million people.

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You can help! Almost time to launch West Seattle Timebank
July 22, 2013 8:00 pm
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   How to help | West Seattle news

Just two nights until you can be part of history – the first-ever West Seattle Timebank orientation! Tamsen Spengler reminds us that it’s happening this Wednesday night (July 24th) at the Senior Center of West Seattle (4217 SW Oregon), with a potluck at 6:30, orientation 7-8 pm. Why would you want to be part of the Timebank? Tamsen shares a story shared at the Timebank table at West Seattle Summer Fest by a woman who now lives on Vashon Island:

“I became a big fan of Timebanks when volunteering after the Christchurch earthquake in New Zealand. Because Lyttelton, where the epicenter of the quake was, had New Zealand’s first timebank, we were able to recover much more quickly than any other neighborhood. I became the right-hand person of the timebank coordinator, who had two cell phones going constantly. Because she had been the timebank coordinator for 7 years, she knew everyone, and everyone knew her, and she put people together who could help each other after the quake. Way better than any Red Cross or city or New Zealand government official could possibly do.”

Adds Tamsen: “That’s a powerful testimony. We say, ‘We build community, one hour at a time,’ but this shows it in spades. The network we put together, today, could pay our neighborhood back in many ways we never expected.” Questions before Wednesday’s event? E-mail info@wstb.tbanks.org.

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West Seattle biznote: Great Clips coming to Admiral space
July 22, 2013 6:43 pm
|      18 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news

The walk-in haircut chain Great Clips is opening a West Seattle outlet, according to that sign we spotted this afternoon in one of the remaining vacant spaces in the California-fronting retail strip built along with Admiral Safeway two years ago. The chain’s website says they have more than 3,000 outlets in the U.S. and Canada, and notes, apropos to this location, “… Our franchise hair salons are conveniently located in high-visibility strip malls …” There already are more than 60 Great Clips locations in the greater Puget Sound metro area. We have an inquiry out to corporate HQ to see when they’re planning to open.

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You can help! Seal Sitters benefit mocha, charity shoe-donation collection @ Hotwire
July 22, 2013 4:00 pm
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   How to help | West Seattle news

What you see in our photo, next to the trophy Hotwire Online Coffeehouse (WSB sponsor) won for its entry (see it here) in Saturday’s West Seattle American Legion Post 160 Grand Parade, is a very special beverage: The official Seal Sitters Coffee, a 12-ounce blueberry and mint dark-chocolate mocha. Hotwire is donating $3 from each and every one sold to Seal Sitters Marine Mammal Stranding Network. The donation goes even further, since fundraising helps Seal Sitters qualify for the Neighborhood Matching Fund grant for its Year of the Seal: Sentinels of the Sound project. By the way, volunteer time helps toward the “match” too, and Seal Sitters has a volunteer-training session coming up this Wednesday night – details are in the announcement published here last month, including how to RSVP (to make sure they still have room).

One more charity effort this week at Hotwire – Gently used women’s shoes (or new, if you want to buy something to donate!) are being collected for a silent auction Saturday (July 27) benefiting local nonprofits including Furry Faces Foundation, in connection with the next West Seattle Outdoor Movies screening (“The Devil Wears Prada”) that same night. Drop off shoe donations by noon Saturday; later that afternoon, you’ll be able to preview the auction items – stand by for an update later this week.

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West Seattle redevelopment: Century-old house, once proposed for Parks purchase, coming down
July 22, 2013 1:39 pm
|      67 COMMENTS
 |   Development | West Seattle news

Thanks to Bruce for the tip that a 106-year-old North Admiral home is being torn down today. The building at 1521 Sunset Ave. SW was most recently a rental four-plex, according to official records. (To see how it looked pre-demolition – including a stone fireplace inside – check out its webpage on the King County Assessor’s site.) According to the city Department of Planning and Development website, a new single-family home is planned on the site, which was sold in 2011 for just under $1 million. The year before that, as reported here in coverage of the March 2010 Admiral Neighborhood Association meeting, community members had proposed that the city use Parks and Green Spaces Levy money to buy the site and keep it as open space. Preserving the site as an overlook had been discussed for years – it’s in the Admiral Neighborhood Plan. But the application for levy Opportunity Fund money in 2010 received a low rating, and the proposal didn’t make the cut for funding.

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West Seattle Crime Watch: Restaurant burglary attempt; 2 car break-ins
July 22, 2013 11:55 am
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | West Seattle news

Three reader reports in West Seattle Crime Watch this morning, starting with a burglary attempt at an Admiral District restaurant. Pizzeria 22 proprietor Cary Kemp says it happened last night:

Burglars broke off our back door handle to the restaurant and tried to pry open the door, couldn’t get past deadbolt. Then attempted to enter through small window in front. Broke all the Italian pottery in the windowsill but could not fit through window.

We also have two car-break-in reports – first, from Jeff:

Our minivan was the subject [of a break-in], at 39th Ave SW and SW Austin Street in the Gatewood neighborhood. It seems the the prowlers were looking for items of value, rather than to steal the vehicle. The glove box had been emptied onto the passenger seat, and other things had been moved around enough for us to notice. Missing is our CD case, containing about $500 worth of music. Fortunately most of the CDs were copies; however, there were enough originals in there to make us pretty mad. A police report has been filed.

And from Mia:

My SUV was broken into Friday night around 7:45 pm at Lincoln Park’s south end lot. Please don’t leave valuables in the car even if they are covered. Although it is a busy parking lot, there are prowlers sitting in cars waiting for you to make that one mistake. Please be more vigilant, as my family and I learned the hard way. We came back to find a smashed window and two hidden purses with wallets gone.

SIDE NOTE: Just two more weeks till Night Out (Tuesday, August 6th) – registered your block party yet? P.S. – if you’re having one and are OK with us stopping by, please let us know – every year Team WSB hits the road for “as-it-happens” coverage, and we appreciate having a list of potential stops all over the peninsula – editor@westseattleblog.com – thanks!

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West Seattle and North Highline groups ask city, county to study how to make SW Roxbury safer
July 22, 2013 9:35 am
|      58 COMMENTS
 |   Safety | Transportation | West Seattle news

(May 2013 WSB photo from Roxbury/14th crash that sent 2 to hospital)
Three local neighborhood groups – the Westwood-Roxhill-Arbor Heights Community Council, Highland Park Action Committee, and North Highline Unincorporated Area Council – are asking the city and county for a safety study of the busy West Seattle/White Center road they share: SW Roxbury. More than 140 people have been hurt in crashes on or along Roxbury in the past four years alone, according to statistics the groups compiled for this letter they’re sending today:

Letter to city, county from WWRHAH, HPAC, NHUAC requesting Roxbury safety study

(If you can’t read the embedded letter, go here to see it as a PDF.)

As reported here last month, the city of Seattle plans two new school-zone speed cameras for Roxbury, near Roxhill Elementary and Holy Family School, but the groups say speeding isn’t the only issue along the busiest stretch of Roxbury, where they would like the study focused – between 35th SW on the west and 8th SW (the main entrance to the Greenbridge community) on the east. They also raise concerns about safety near the third school on Roxbury, the Community School of West Seattle.

The groups’ announcement is published in full on the WWRHAH website. As noted there, they are inviting other groups, as well as businesses and “representative(s) of the area,” to endorse their request by contacting WWRHAH at contact@wwrhah.org.

ADDED 9:44 AM: WWRHAH secretary Joe Szilagyi tells WSB says they’ve already received one reply, from SDOT, “saying they would respond to each concern within 60 days.”

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West Seattle Monday: In the wake of a busy weekend…
July 22, 2013 9:00 am
|    Comments Off on West Seattle Monday: In the wake of a busy weekend…
 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

Thanks to Eileen for the photo; she was among the West Seattleites in attendance at Saturday’s sendoff for “Bertha,” the Highway 99 tunneling megamachine, which the state plans to launch soon. Her photo shows visitors signing part of the tunnel liner, which will be installed behind “Bertha” as the machine proceeds. On to today; from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:

LOW-LOW TIDE: Tide’s out! Seattle Aquarium volunteer beach naturalists are scheduled to be out at Constellation and Lincoln Parks 10 am-1:30 pm. The tide will bottom out at 11:03 am, at -3.1 feet. It was almost that low on Sunday, when we shared this photo via Instagram:

If the photo doesn’t show for you, go here. P.S. You can check tides any time on the WSB Weather page.

SET-BUILDING HELP: If you missed the volunteer-seeking announcement Friday, Twelfth Night Productions is building sets for its upcoming “Guys and Dolls” at West Seattle High School all week long and would appreciate volunteer help; they’re starting work at 10 am. (3000 California SW)

SPECIAL STORYTIME: Melissa at Westwood Village Barnes and Noble, which usually has storytime on Saturdays, sends word of a special one at 11 am today: “We’ll be reading ‘The Day the Crayons Quit,’ a story about what happens when one’s crayons feel unappreciated or overworked. We’ll also be having some treats and some fun with crayons, of course!”

TONIGHT’S NIGHTLIFE: Even on Monday night, there’s something going on; we have three trivia/quiz listings on the calendar.

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TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Murky Monday morning
July 22, 2013 7:15 am
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle weather

(Live view from the east-facing WS Bridge camera; other cameras are on the WSB Traffic page)
7:15 AM: Heading toward the heart of the commute, nothing out of the ordinary right now. The weather is again expected to clear later in the day.

7:54 AM: Not sure if it’ll still be there when you see this, but we noticed the west-facing camera was turned toward the low bridge. And the east-facing camera on the high bridge is back. So we moved the latter to the top, and the former here:

8:01 AM: In comments, STB says an empty Metro Route 57 bus is stalled and slowing things a bit on the northbound 99 ramp.

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WestSide Baby ‘Stuff the Bus,’ report #2: Today’s tally
July 21, 2013 9:44 pm
|    Comments Off on WestSide Baby ‘Stuff the Bus,’ report #2: Today’s tally
 |   How to help | West Seattle news

Car by car, box by box, the diaper donations came, and tonight – following up on our in-progress coverage earlier today – we have the official wrapup for WestSide Baby‘s 13th annual “Stuff the Bus.” From WS Baby’s executive director WestSide Baby:

Thank you so much to the communities of West Seattle and Burien today for the amazing support of Stuff the Bus. As of today, the Stuff the Bus Campaign for WestSide Baby has raised 193,000 diapers! We still hope to reach 250,000 diapers but we see it in sight. We count our goal through a combination of physical diapers donated, cash gifts and sponsorships.

The West Seattle Bus brought in 35,595 diapers and the Burien Bus gathered 23,750 today!! We have special thanks for all of our staff and the 80 volunteers and board members who blanketed Seattle in yellow over the last 2 days to support our efforts.

Special call outs to Burien Toyota and Burien Chevrolet for hosting a record drive, gathering more than 12,000 diapers for a first-ever effort. AmericanWest Bank lent us their support, parking lot and an incredible group of energetic volunteers. First Student bus company, and especially Jerry our bus driver, rock for donating services and time. Much appreciation to Bright Horizons and Ages and Stages child-care programs for diaper drives and volunteer efforts. Local grocery stores at Safeway, West Seattle Thriftway, QFC and Albertsons offered incredible support, resulting in many diapers and gifts. There were many, many drivers, volunteers, and others who went out of their way to make our event a success. We will continue to recognize folks on our Facebook page, website and other outreach over the next couple of weeks. Thank you to everyone who gave!!

In the waning moments today, we photographed Nancy and daughter Mcinnis:

WSB is proud to be among the many community co-sponsors for “Stuff the Bus.” And it’s important to note, you can help WestSide Baby help local families in need ANY time of year – by donating diapers, other items they need, your time as a volunteer, and/or money – details on all of the above can be found on the WS Baby website.

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The WSBeat: Tall-tale teller; bocce-ball burglary attempt; 13 more summaries
July 21, 2013 8:38 pm
|      10 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | WSBeat

By Megan Sheppard
On the WSBeat, for West Seattle Blog

This edition of the WSBeat contains summaries written from reports on cases handled in the past several weeks by Southwest Precinct officers – generally cases that (usually) have not already appeared here in breaking-news coverage or West Seattle Crime Watch reports, but that might at least answer the question “what WERE all those police doing on my block?” It’s actually two rounds of WSBeat checks; we start with the most recent round:

*The customer at the bar had a sad story that he shared with a waitress: Home from Afghanistan on bereavement leave (his mom had died), he had nowhere to stay for the night until his plane left the next day. The waitress offered a cot for the night. While he was showering, she checked his phone for text messages. One said, “I heard you were back in Seattle. There is a restraining order. Do not go to (local area).” One text was signed “mom” (thereby poking holes in the dead mom story). She allowed him to stay, but the next day, when his behavior became erratic, she quietly asked some friends to come over. The husband told the man he had to leave and took him to the Fauntleroy ferry dock. Meanwhile, the waitress and friends checked her computer: Part of the browsing history had been deleted, but he had typed his name into a sex-offender registry database, where there had been a match. She decided to tell her story to officers, who advised her to call 911 if he contacted her again.

14 more summaries, short and not-so-short, ahead:

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West Seattle Outdoor Movies 2013: Successful start; ‘Devil Wears Prada’ next week
July 21, 2013 4:57 pm
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle Outdoor Movies

That’s a trailer for “The Devil Wears Prada,” next Saturday night’s West Seattle Outdoor Movies feature – second movie in this summer’s six-week series in the courtyard next to Hotwire Online Coffeehouse (WSB sponsor), following a successful start last night. Though the movies start at dusk, be sure to come early – people started staking out spots after 6 pm last week, and in the 7 pm hour, the prime back rows were filling up:

You won’t be bored if you come early – there’s usually something special before the movie, and last night that included a robotics demonstration by Seattle Lutheran High School:

You’ll also meet cool people like Paul and Dave from PB&J Textiles (WSB sponsor), who run the popcorn machine on movie nights:

The movies are always free; concessions are sold as a benefit for nonprofits, who usually provide volunteers to help out. This year’s full schedule of Saturday night movies is here, with co-sponsors including WSB – see you at the movies!

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Sunday scenes: 26th annual Mediterranean Fantasy Festival
July 21, 2013 3:01 pm
|    Comments Off on Sunday scenes: 26th annual Mediterranean Fantasy Festival
 |   West Seattle festivals | West Seattle news

All the park’s a stage at Hiawatha as Mediterranean Fantasy Fest, the region’s premier belly-dancing festival, continues for a few more hours. You just might find a troupe getting ready, as we did, while others are onstage:

Performances continue outdoors and indoors until about 5 pm today – here’s the schedule. And don’t miss the vendors! Among them, West Seattle’s own Dina Lydia, the Costume Goddess:

The festival’s been an annual tradition for more than a quarter of a century, founded by the Babylonian Ensemble, whose website tells the story here.

ADDED 8:46 PM: Dina Lydia shared a few of her photos from the festival:

Belly-dancing is for all agencies; those sisters dance as The Bellybuttons. Next, Shalaa and Amanda in sailor outfits for a humorous mother-daughter routine:

On to the traditional – a Persian dance by a member of the troupe Karavans:

Here’s veteran troupe Shahradezade Dance Ensemble with a traditional beladi dance in the Hiawatha gym:

And the student troupe Dancing Mirage:

SiDE NOTE: This festival’s over, but summer fun at Hiawatha keeps going – next up, six Thursday nights of music, with Summer Concerts at Hiawatha beginning next Thursday night – details here.)

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Update: WestSide Baby’s 2013 ‘Stuff the Bus’ diaper drive
July 21, 2013 11:14 am
|    Comments Off on Update: WestSide Baby’s 2013 ‘Stuff the Bus’ diaper drive
 |   How to help | West Seattle news

11:14 AM: Look for volunteers like Gracie and Ned to point the way to WestSide Baby‘s West Seattle headquarters for the “Stuff the Bus” diaper drive until 2 pm today – the AmericanWest Bank lot on the northeast corner of 40th and Alaska. Here’s the bus they’re hoping you’ll help them fill with diapers (sizes 4, 5, 6 are the ones most needed):

Among the first donors: Laurie from Bright Horizons in The Triangle brought the results of their diaper drive:

Through earlier drives and contributions, WS Baby executive director Nancy Woodland says, they have received 121,000 diapers of the current 250,000 goal. They’re hoping to net more than 63,500 in West Seattle today. If 40th/Alaska isn’t convenient, here are four other places you can drop off diapers today:

*West Seattle QFC on SW Alaska St & 42nd Ave SW (Alaska Junction)
*West Seattle Safeway on SW Admiral Way & California Ave SW (Admiral Junction)
*West Seattle Safeway on SW Alaska St & 42nd Ave SW (Jefferson Square)
*White Center Safeway on SW Roxbury St & 28th Ave SW

WestSide Baby helps thousands of local families each year.

11:30 AM UPDATE: Via Facebook, WS Baby reports almost 15,000 diapers received in West Seattle so far. But that’s not even a quarter of the way to the goal – hope you can help!

2:22 PM UPDATE: When today’s collection officially concluded a short time ago, the unofficial West Seattle tally was up to almost 34,000 – note the “tote board”!

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West Seattle Sunday: Stuff the Bus; Garden Tour; Alki Art Fair; MedFest; Pedals For People; more…
July 21, 2013 8:23 am
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Saturday afternoon Alki Art Fair photo by WSB’s Katie Meyer)
Another murky morning – forecast to make way for a sunny afternoon, just like Saturday. Our highlights list isn’t as long as Saturday, but still plenty to do:

POST-FIREWORKS CLEANUP: In case there’s any debris from last night’s fireworks show off Beach Drive – and to take advantage of the chance to pick up any “summertime beach trash.” 9-11 am, Emma Schmitz Overlook. Details here. (4503 Beach Drive SW)

WEST SEATTLE GARDEN TOUR: 9 am-5 pm, self-guided tour of 9 gardens (with locations listed in the ticket book, on sale at locations listed on the WSGT website), with guest speaker Debra Prinzing‘s presentation at noon; details in our preview from last night.

WESTSIDE BABY ‘STUFF THE BUS’: The big diaper drive for WestSide Baby is today, 10 am-2 pm. Main dropoff location is AmericanWest Bank’s lot (40th/Alaska, northeast corner) but you can also drop off diapers at:

*West Seattle QFC on SW Alaska St & 42nd Ave SW (Alaska Junction)
*West Seattle Safeway on SW Admiral Way & California Ave SW (Admiral Junction)
*West Seattle Safeway on SW Alaska St & 42nd Ave SW (Jefferson Square)
*White Center Safeway on SW Roxbury St & 28th Ave SW

ALKI ART FAIR, DAY 2: 10 am-6 pm for artists, music until 8 pm, on the promenade at the beach. See the artist/food vendor list in our Thursday preview; see today’s music highlights (subject to changes, we’re warned) here (PDF). Free shuttle if you park at West Seattle High School at 3000 California SW.

MEDITERRANEAN FANTASY FEST, DAY 2: Largest belly-dancing festival in the Northwest! Vendors and food, too. Performances 11 am-5 pm today, indoors and outdoors at Hiawatha; more info here. (2700 California SW)

WHITE CENTER JUBILEE DAYS PARADE: 11:30 am, on 16th SW from SW 112th to SW 100th. Part of a big day of activities listed here.

PEDALS FOR PEOPLE: Starting at noon at the West Seattle Tool Library, join Sustainable West Seattle to donate and/or help fix bikes to be donated to people in Togo.

(Photo added 2:36 pm, courtesy SWS)
Full details on the SWS website. Continues until 4!

STEM SUMMERTIME PLAY DATE: New or returning student at West Seattle STEM Elementary (K-5 at Boren)? Play date today! 3-5 pm at the Lincoln Park playground by the “zip line.” More info here.

Even more – including nightlife – listed on our calendar!

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WestSide Baby ‘Stuff the Bus’ diaper drive: Today’s the day
July 21, 2013 5:23 am
|      1 COMMENT
 |   How to help | West Seattle Grand Parade | West Seattle news

They marched and rolled and chanted in the West Seattle Grand Parade on Saturday; today, it’s your turn to take action – to answer WestSide Baby‘s call to “Stuff the Bus” in their biggest diaper drive of the year on behalf of thousands of King County babies and toddlers in need. It’s a really simple action to take, too; buy diapers and bring them to either the major West Seattle dropoff spot, the one where you’ll find the big yellow bus 10 am-2 pm, in the parking lot of AmericanWest Bank on the northeast corner of 40th/Alaska, or to one of these grocery stores where you’ll find WS Baby volunteers those same hours:

*West Seattle QFC on SW Alaska St & 42nd Ave SW (Alaska Junction)
*West Seattle Safeway on SW Admiral Way & California Ave SW (Admiral Junction)
*West Seattle Safeway on SW Alaska St & 42nd Ave SW (Jefferson Square)
*White Center Safeway on SW Roxbury St & 28th Ave SW

Sizes 4, 5, and 6 are most needed, according to WS Baby’s website. Speaking of which: If you can’t bring a donation of diapers anywhere in person today – you can donate money online and WS Baby will buy the diapers. “Help us help more kids than ever before,” is their request – as you’ll see in this WS Baby-provided video, also featuring their parade appearance:

So whatever you’re doing at midday today, detour for a few minutes for a gift to help our littlest local neighbors.

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