West Seattle, Washington

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Spotlight Stories

From the mayor’s office: Land deal to expand Dakota Place Park
February 21, 2014 4:32 pm
|      8 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle parks

More than a year ago, when the city bought land for a future park in The Junction in an about-to-be-development-laden zone on 40th SW, Councilmember Sally Bagshaw noted in a meeting that it came when the city turned its focus away from pursuing land adjacent to Dakota Place Park. Now, that particular land is back in play. Mayor Ed Murray‘s office says he has signed and sent to the council a bill authorizing “the acquisition of two adjacent parcels of approximately 5,750 square-feet in total, located at 4041 and 4045 California Avenue SW, adjacent to Dakota Place Park …” The mayor’s office says the urgency of acquiring this site has increased because of a developer’s deal to buy the site; the city’s chance to buy it expires March 31st. We’re told the authorization will be introduced at the Council meeting on March 3rd and voted on shortly thereafter. No word yet on the proposed purchase price; the original/current DP Park site is a former Seattle City Light facility.

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Last chance to visit Log House Museum for a while! Temporary closure after this weekend, for new exhibit
February 21, 2014 2:50 pm
|    Comments Off on Last chance to visit Log House Museum for a while! Temporary closure after this weekend, for new exhibit
 |   West Seattle history | West Seattle news

(Photo courtesy Log House Museum)
Making weekend plans? It’s your last chance to visit the home of West Seattle history, the Log House Museum, during its regular hours 12-4 pm Saturday and Sunday – after Sunday, it’s closing for a few weeks to get a new exhibit in place. Southwest Seattle Historical Society executive director Clay Eals shares the announcement:

Mark your calendar for Saturday, March 15, 2014, for the opening of a new exhibit at the Log House Museum of the Southwest Seattle Historical Society.

The new exhibit is the second phase of a three-phase exhibit whose overall title is “Telling Our Westside Stories.” The theme of the second phase is “Work.”

The first-phase exhibit, with the theme of “Land,” has been up since fall 2012 and will close on Sunday, Feb. 23. (Regular open hours are noon to 4 p.m. Thursdays through Sundays. The museum is located at 3003 61st Ave. S.W., one block from Alki Beach.)

To take down the first-phase exhibit and install the second-phase exhibit, staff will close the museum from Thursday, Feb. 27, through Friday, March 14.

The new exhibit will open to the public at noon Saturday, March 15. It will examine various types of work done over the years by residents of the Duwamish peninsula and their attitudes toward it.

Besides artifacts, photos and printed interview excerpts, the exhibit will focus on brief videos that tell stories visually in the museum’s main gallery.

The bulk of the material generated for the “Telling Our Westside Stories” exhibits comes from interviews of community elders conducted by students at Madison Middle School and supervised by volunteers of the Southwest Seattle Historical Society.

Volunteers have transcribed the interviews, culled related images and combined interview excerpts and images into brief videos.

“Eliciting and preserving the stories of our residents is an important part of what we do,” says Clay Eals, executive director. “It is straight down the middle of our mission to promote local heritage through education, preservation and advocacy.”

The exhibit, curated by Sarah Baylinson, museum manager, is funded in part by 4Culture and the Seattle Department of Neighborhoods.

The Log House Museum is at 61st/Stevens, a block inland from the heart of Alki.

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West Seattle Crime Watch: Burglary investigation; car window smashed; bicycle-theft attempt
February 21, 2014 1:49 pm
|      17 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | West Seattle news

Topping this West Seattle Crime Watch roundup – a burglary investigation under way in Sunrise Heights. Martin asked us about a police response near 34th/Othello (map); SPD’s Det. Mark Jamieson says a resident called it in as a suspected break-in, hearing what sounded like breaking glass and then hearing sounds in the basement, where she said no one should have been, though the house has a basement living area. Police took one person into custody, but we don’t know yet if they were officially arrested (remember, that is a further step beyond being taken into custody for questioning – just because you see someone handcuffed doesn’t mean they were arrested) – we’ll be checking back with police.

Also:

CAR BREAK-IN: Krista e-mailed: “I would like to report to West Seattle Blog and your readers about my boyfriend’s car window getting smashed in the Highland Park neighborhood. It was parked on the street, block of 9th Avenue and Trenton Street (map). They didn’t steal anything from the car and it happened late last night or early this morning.”

BIKE-THEFT ATTEMPT: Andrew has a warning for bicycle owners, and it goes with this photo:

A thief attempted to steal my bike while I was at work (Wednesday). Luckily they must have got spooked, because they left my bike in my driveway. I’m in the townhouses by California and Myrtle (map). Please remind people to not leave anything they don’t want stolen outside.
Thanks, got lucky this time!

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Update: Every-other-week garbage pickup idea has been thrown out
February 21, 2014 10:54 am
|      27 COMMENTS
 |   Utilities | West Seattle news

ORIGINAL REPORT, 10:54 AM: Though at one point the “every other week pickup” idea appeared to be on a fast track to approval, the presentation that Seattle Public Utilities will make to a City Council committee next Tuesday paints a fairly negative picture. See the full presentation here. We’ve pulled out a few slides – above, the “downside,” which includes “significant resistance.” Next, the effects – basically, some residents would actually pay more for less-frequent pickups, while others would save no more than a few dollars:

To help increase recycling, SPU recommends some other possibilities:

Just before finishing this story, we learned about this note in The Seattle Times (WSB partner) – saying the mayor has made the call not to proceed (we’re checking with his office now). We first reported back in November that the City Council would decide early this year whether to go citywide with the idea, which had gone through a test run in four neighborhoods in 2012, including part of Highland Park.

11:07 AM UPDATE: And the official announcement has arrived from the mayor’s office, saying he read the same report excerpted above, and that’s what led him to turn thumbs-down on the idea – read on:

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West Seattle Friday: Soaring off into the weekend
February 21, 2014 10:40 am
|      1 COMMENT
 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

Eagle mobbed by crows

Thanks to Paul Brannan for the photo of an eagle, pursued by crows, shared via the WSB Flickr group. Flying into Friday night, here are highlights from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:

HELP THE HORSES! Tonight, 5-7 pm, is the benefit at Beveridge Place Pub and neighboring Morgan Junction Park (where you’ll find horses!) for the Seattle Police Mounted Patrol. Details in our preview published Thursday. (6413 California SW)

MOVIE NIGHT AT HPIC: Highland Park Improvement Club invites you to movie night! Movie info and more, in our calendar listing. 6:30 pm doors, 7 pm movie. (12th/Holden)

STATE COMPETITION FOR SWIMMERS: As noted here last weekend, swimmers from Chief Sealth International High School are among the student athletes in the state championships starting at 6:15 pm tonight at the King County Aquatic Center in Federal Way.

‘PRIVATE EYES’: Second and final weekend for the “comedy of suspense and intrigue” by Twelfth Night Productions.

(Production photo by Ron Dugdale)
7:30 pm curtain time at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center. (4408 Delridge Way SW)

STATE COMPETITION FOR WRESTLERS: Also noted here last weekend, two Sealth wrestlers are in state competition starting tonight at the Tacoma Dome.

ONSTAGE AT KENYON HALL: Classical guitarist Meredith Connie and other featured performers are at historic Kenyon Hall tonight, 7:30 pm; details in our listing. (7904 35th SW)

BASKETBALL PLAYOFFS: 8:15 pm at Bellevue College, the West Seattle High School girls-varsity basketball team faces Liberty for the chance to advance in the postseason.

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You can help! Get crabby at the Masonic Hall on Sunday
February 21, 2014 10:12 am
|    Comments Off on You can help! Get crabby at the Masonic Hall on Sunday
 |   Fun stuff to do | How to help | West Seattle news

Lots and lots of great fundraisers coming up around West Seattle – many are in our calendar, many in queue for mentioning here on the main page, but this is the only one we’ve seen featuring shellfish, and it’s two days away. For crab fans, from Gary:

Alki Masonic Lodge #152 is hosting its annual New England Style Crab Boil on Sunday (February 23), 4:00-7:00 pm at the Alki Masonic Hall, 4736 40th Ave SW. $30 per person (under 12 free). Meal features dungeness crab, clams, mussels, corn on the cob, and boiled potatoes, served family style with salad and clam chowder. (Steak is available for those guests who don’t favor seafood). All proceeds will help fund the annual Masonic School Awards Program. Contact Martin Monk, 425-681-5024, for information. Tickets are available at the door.

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Morgan Junction murder trial, day 2: Prosecution’s first witnesses
February 21, 2014 9:18 am
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | West Seattle news

By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

The wheels of justice seem to rotate excruciatingly slowly as a case moves toward resolution – via trial, via plea bargain, via something else. A status hearing is rescheduled, then rescheduled again, then rescheduled again.

If and when a case gets to the courtroom, you would imagine, it’s full speed ahead.

Not necessarily.

For one, there is the pace of testimony. Most witnesses are not the dramatic bombshell-droppers of TV, movies, theater. They are brought in to provide a few details that might (or might not) prove later to be key

There’s the matter of logistics.

On Thursday, the first day of witness testimony in the murder trial of Lovett “Cid” Chambers began an hour later than planned.

The first scheduled witness for the prosecution, it seemed, had overslept.

Dominoes then fell, as the second scheduled witness had been told to show up around 10, the third witness around 10:30, so neither had arrived. Calls were made. A cab was even sent to fetch one witness.

The fourth scheduled witness was on videotape – but that couldn’t be moved to the head of the line because of an ongoing discussion over what could be heard on the tape besides the witness – a discussion requiring further review and a decision from Superior Court Judge Theresa Doyle before the video could be played for jurors.

Eventually, it all worked out, and the first witness to arrive took the stand at about 10:10.

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TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Friday updates; weekend closures; and … snow?
February 21, 2014 7:02 am
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

(More cameras, and other info, on the WSB Traffic page)
Nothing of note on area roads/highways right now.

WEEKEND I-5 LANE CLOSURES: The I-5 expansion joints work will affect the southbound collector-distributor lanes on the south side of downtown this weekend – detailed here.

REMINDER OF NEXT WEEKEND’S HIGHWAY 99 CLOSURE: As first reported here last weekend, the next full-weekend closure of Highway 99/Alaskan Way Viaduct is coming up NEXT weekend, late night February 28 until early morning March 3rd.

SNOW ON THE WAY? The National Weather Service is still warning of a snow chance starting Saturday night. Here’s the updated Special Weather Statement issued early this morning.

7:38 AM UPDATE: Bus-rider alert, from Samb via Twitter: “Card reader for Northbound C Line California/Fauntleroy giving error message for all cards.”

8:58 AM UPDATE: SFD is being dispatched to a crash at 1st/Spokane, car vs. utility pole, possible power lines down. Don’t know yet exactly what side of the intersection, so we don’t know yet how it might be affecting traffic.

9:26 AM UPDATE: JEM reports in comments, “The accident on 1st is north of Spokane St. The right lane was blocked before you get to Horton, where that lane is right turn only. So will slow things down if you are exiting to 1st from WS Bridge.”

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2nd Early Design Guidance meeting ordered for 2626 Alki Ave. SW
February 20, 2014 10:11 pm
|      13 COMMENTS
 |   Development | West Seattle news

(Renderings: Roger H. Newell AIA Architects)
Eight months after architect Roger Newell presented the 2626 Alki Avenue SW proposal to the Alki Community Council – not mandatory, but always a gesture of goodwill to consult community groups early on – it debuted in the city public-meeting process tonight, before the five-member Southwest Design Review Board.

(Ironically, ACC members couldn’t be there because it was their regular meeting night, during which they heard about a different Alki project – we were there too; watch for the story tomorrow.)

After two hours, SWDRB members decided 2626 Alki SW (map) should come back for a second Early Design Guidance meeting, because “it’s too maxed out right now” on the site, as member Todd Bronk put it. A key point of concern will be the details along the 59th SW side of the building. They’re also interested in seeing it broken into two buildings, considering that the site has two different zoning designations – one building could address each.

The one-meeting project ran long, though, as the board slogged through new citywide Design Review guidelines that recently took effect.

You can follow along with the presentation via looking at the “design packet” here. Three structures on the site now would be demolished (current tenants include Lucky LadyZ marijuana dispensary, Saigon Boat Café, Alki Landing Properties and Alki Beach Dog); the proposal calls for a three-story building with up to 15 apartments, 5 live-work units, and more than 3,000 square feet of commercial space.

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First a takeover, then taken over: New owner for Emeritus Senior Living, with 2 West Seattle locations
February 20, 2014 9:48 pm
|      5 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news

Thanks to the tipster who just pointed this out: Less than a year after Emeritus Senior Living took over 38 Merrill Gardens retirement centers, including the two in West Seattle, Emeritus itself has just been sold. The buyer is Tennessee-based Brookdale Senior Living Solutions, whose closest current facility is in Federal Way. Details from our partners at The Seattle Times; here’s the official announcement from Emeritus.

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Work expected to resume Friday on idle 30th/Roxbury site
February 20, 2014 7:44 pm
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   Transportation | West Seattle news

If you drive/ride/walk along Roxbury, you might wonder what happened to the curb-bulb work at 30th, mentioned here before it started, and mentioned again in a recent WSB traffic report when Bradi sent the photo at left, saying the workers were absent, the signage was insufficient, and she’d popped a tire there. Nearby resident Donn DeVore, a past Westwood Neighborhood Council leader, e-mailed SDOT to ask what had happened, because the project appeared “abandoned.” The current Westwood-Roxhill-Arbor Heights Neighborhood Council jumped in. And tonight, SDOT’s Jim Curtin says it’s a combination of factors – the contractor also is working on another site that’s part of the same contract (Olympic Hills in North Seattle) and has had to deal with the recent heavy rain and its inhospitability to concrete work. But the contractor is expected to be back at the site tomorrow (Friday) for the concrete pour. Curtin adds, “Even with these weather related delays, the project is anticipated to be completed within the number of work days for this project. Barring further weather-related disruptions, the project is currently scheduled to be complete by the end of March.” This project is not part of the SW Roxbury safety work that’s launching (with another meeting coming up next Wednesday, 6 pm at Roxhill Elementary); it’s part of pedestrian-safety-in-school-areas work.

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Video: $15-minimum-wage rally at South Admiral McDonald’s
February 20, 2014 6:15 pm
|      28 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news

As mentioned in our West Seattle Thursday calendar highlights, $15-minimum-wage supporters promised demonstrations outside local McDonald’s today while calling for a one-day boycott of that chain as well as Wendy’s and Burger King (neither of which has West Seattle stores). We went by all local McDonald’s at lunchtime and found no protesters; one finally turned up at the South Admiral store; and then a media alert went out about a rally after 5 pm. So we checked it out; about two dozen demonstrators and plenty of citywide media. They were planning to be there until about 5:45. On the political side, the city’s Select Committee on Minimum Wage and Income Inequity has its first meeting March 5th – details on its schedule and mission here.

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Video: California/Fauntleroy signal-replacement-a-thon, as it happened
February 20, 2014 4:00 pm
|      25 COMMENTS
 |   Transportation | West Seattle news

Since the big signal-replacement project at California/Fauntleroy happened without advance announcement, we promised to follow up with SDOT. Today, we not only have the overview, we also have the time-lapse video above, from pre-dawn Saturday through late Sunday afternoon. SDOT spokesperson Rick Sheridan explains that the project was carried out in an unusual manner:

The work at the intersection of California and Fauntleroy was a full replacement of the intersection’s signal infrastructure. The poles and signal equipment there were very old and the hardware was failing.

Instead of working over a normal two-week period (from only 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. to avoid traffic), we completed the work over the weekend in a record 36 hours. The California and Fauntleroy intersection now has modern traffic signal equipment featuring new poles, signal heads and wires. We apologize for any inconvenience caused by the work but believe the signal system upgrades will serve the neighborhood well.

The signals previously had numerous problems, reported here repeatedly last year.

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You can help! SPD Mounted Patrol benefit Friday, pub & park
February 20, 2014 2:17 pm
|      8 COMMENTS
 |   How to help | West Seattle news | West Seattle police

(WSB photo from recent Seattle Police Mounted Patrol open house)
Tomorrow (Friday) night is the big night for an unusual fundraiser – it’s scheduled to happen in a pub and a park. From 5-7 pm, it’s a special benefit for the Seattle Police Mounted Patrol, based next door to West Seattle’s Westcrest Park, saved from budget cuts a few years back by a community campaign led by the nonprofit Seattle Police Foundation. It’s hosted by Beveridge Place Pub, who shared this announcement that explains how the park next door is involved too:

Join us for a super fun night with Greg Hall, owner and cider-maker at Virtue Cider, and Wilson, the world famous Seahawks-supporting miniature horse from Dreamland Ponies! You can enjoy four great ciders from Virtue, including Percheron, and also help us raise money for the horses of the Seattle Police Mounted Patrol Unit! In addition to donating a portion of the Virtue Cider proceeds, we’ll have some fun stuff to raffle off, and you can get your picture taken with Wilson!

For those under 21, Wilson’s playmates, Tinkerbelle and Peter Pan, will be in Morgan Junction Park with a mounted patrol horse for additional photo opportunities!

Did you know the Seattle Police’s seven horses, housed at Westcrest Park, are supported solely through private funding? The Seattle Police Foundation needs your help to keep these equine peacekeepers on the job! Check out saveourhorses.net for more info. (Note: dogs will not be allowed in the pub during this event)

You can see Wilson, the aforementioned mini-horse, in our coverage of the Seahawks-support flagraising at West Seattle Corporate Center pre-Super Bowl. Click ahead for a new list of raffle prizes, posted on Facebook by BPP today:

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Community-requested meeting set for 6536 24th SW subdivision proposal across from Longfellow Creek
February 20, 2014 11:43 am
|    Comments Off on Community-requested meeting set for 6536 24th SW subdivision proposal across from Longfellow Creek
 |   Delridge | Development | West Seattle news

The subdivision proposal on that site at 6536 24th SW (map) will be the subject of a Department of Planning and Development public-comment meeting requested by neighbors. The formal notice is out today for the 7 pm March 20th meeting at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center (4408 Delridge Way SW). We have reported three times previously about the proposal for this site, two parcels whose owner wants to split them into eight lots, with a proposal on the drawing board for a single-family home on each lot.

Longfellow Creek runs through the front yards of homes across 24th, and neighbors there have pointed out past flooding (see a photo in this WSB story from last month) and concerns about more runoff if the undeveloped site involved in this proposal is built on. They told us they had been working on a possible flood-control project which is as yet unfunded; the land owner’s documentation suggests that not-funded project might deal with runoff from his site.

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Congrats! Seattle Lutheran HS senior scholar-athletes to be honored
February 20, 2014 10:52 am
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle people | West Seattle schools

Congratulations to Seattle Lutheran High School seniors Grant Doerr (above with parents Julia and Cary Doerr) and Jacob Fincher (below with parents Julia and Joe Fincher).

The announcement from SLHS:

Both students were nominated for The National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame Scholar-Athlete Award given to student athletes who exhibit academic, leadership and football talent. Schools in King County may nominate a senior lineman and a senior back/receiver for these awards; four finalists are selected for each. Doerr was selected as a finalist in the Back/Receiver category.

Doerr and Fincher will be honored Sunday (February 23) at CenturyLink Field in the West Club Lounge at 10 am.

Read more about the award program, and past recipients, here.

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West Seattle Thursday: Design Review for 2626 Alki SW, and more
February 20, 2014 9:31 am
|      5 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Photo by Trileigh Tucker)
Another blustery day – here are highlights from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar, including some of what’s making news today:

TOT TREK AT CAMP LONG: Frogs and salamanders are the focus of this 10:30 am event at Camp Long Environmental Learning Center for 2- and 3-year-olds accompanied by adults. Call ASAP to see if there’s room! Details in our calendar listing. (5200 35th SW)

FAST-FOOD BOYCOTT CALL: Supporters of the $15 minimum-wage campaign are calling for three fast-food chains to be boycotted in Seattle today and say they will have demonstrations outside. The only one with outlets in West Seattle is McDonald’s.

FILM SCREENING: 11 am at Brockey Center Room A on the campus of South Seattle Community College (WSB sponsor), filmmaker Frank Abe shows his film “Conscience and the Constitution” and speaks about the Japanese American Day of Remembrance. More info in our calendar listing. (6000 16th SW)

MORGAN JUNCTION MURDER TRIAL: As we finish writing this highlight list, we are back at the King County Courthouse for the second day of presentations to the jury in the trial of Lovett Chambers for the 2012 shooting death of Travis Hood – here’s our detailed report, published late last night, about the first day, which included both sides’ opening statements. Proceedings were scheduled to start at 9, but a witness is running late.

PIANO BAR/CAFE SOCIAL FOR 50+ LGBT: 6-8 pm, the Senior Center of West Seattle hosts a piano bar/café social for LGBT 50+. Free hors d’oeuvres, no-host beer/wine, “Broadway Baby” singalong. (California/Oregon)

DESIGN REVIEW FOR 2626 ALKI AVE. SW: First time in a while that the Southwest Design Review Board has had only one project on its schedule, and it’s also the first mixed-use Alki project in a long time: 2626 Alki SW, which would replace three commercial buildings at Alki and 59th. It’s proposed for 14 residential units, 5 live-work, 3,250 sf of retail, and 28 parking spaces; the first public presentation about the plan was at last June’s Alki Community Council meeting. The Design Review packet has yet to be linked from the page where it’s supposed to be publicly available with at least a week to go; one did turn up elsewhere on the DPD site (not directly linkable) in December, but we’re checking to see if that’s still the newest one. The meeting’s at 6:30 pm, Senior Center of West Seattle. (California/Oregon) **10:34 AM UPDATE – We pinged DPD and they have now uploaded the packet – see it here.**

(added) ALKI COMMUNITY COUNCIL: 7 pm at Alki UCC – agenda just announced:

1) Alki Cottage Project 3015 60th Ave SW Permit: #3016265 – Jerome Diepenbrock / Marc Rudd

2) Upcoming Events:

Salmon Recovery in Puget Sound – Jeannette Dorner PSP Thurs 27 Feb
Potential Pedestrian Zone on Harbor Ave SW
March ACC? Citywide HUB Exercise (Emergency Preparedness) 17 May 9-noon
SDOT Summer Streets @ Alki 18 May 11-5pm http://www.seattle.gov/transportation/summer_alki.htm
Alki Art Fair 19-20 Jul

(6115 SW Hinds)

NIGHTLIFE: Music, open mike, pub quiz, multiple listings if you’re looking for something fun to do tonight – see it all on the calendar.

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You can help! West Seattle Food Bank needs books
February 20, 2014 8:59 am
|      5 COMMENTS
 |   How to help | West Seattle news

The West Seattle Food Bank‘s clients need more than food – they can use nourishment for the mind and soul, too. From Eve Holt:

The West Seattle Food Bank distributes books of all kinds to their clients. Right now, adult fiction and non-fiction, and cookbooks, are especially needed. If you have books in good condition, please consider donating them to the West Seattle Food Bank. You can drop them off Monday through Friday 9 am to 3 pm, or Wednesday until 7 pm (Monday and Wednesday are the best drop-off times) The Food Bank is on the corner of 35th Avenue SW and SW Morgan St. (enter through the garage on Morgan). YOUR DONATIONS WILL BE GREATLY APPRECIATED.

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TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Thursday updates
February 20, 2014 7:00 am
|    Comments Off on TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Thursday updates
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

(More cameras, and other info, on the WSB Traffic page)
No major incidents/delays reported so far. If you are heading south, note that there’s a sizable power outage in Burien and part of the unincorporated area to its northeast – mostly east/south of White Center – here’s the map.

8:53 AM: Maybe it’s just the no-school week. We crossed the bridge rather quickly at 8:15, headed for Day 2 of the Morgan Junction murder trial downtown.

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Morgan Junction murder trial begins: Unprovoked attack or self-defense? Opposing lawyers preview their cases
February 19, 2014 11:58 pm
|      20 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | West Seattle news

By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

No one disputes that longtime Gatewood resident Lovett “Cid” Chambers fired the shots that killed recent West Seattle arrival (Michael) Travis Hood by Morgan Junction Park on January 21, 2012.

The question to be settled is why – and whether he is guilty of murder.

After six weeks of motions and jury selection, the heart of Chambers’ trial began this afternoon in the courtroom of King County Superior Court Judge Theresa Doyle. Jury selection concluded before lunch; afterward, prosecution and defense lawyers presented their opening statements.

Their styles and stories contrasted dramatically.

First, the basic backstory as reported here. The incident unfolded – with much initial confusion resulting – at two locations that night.

That’s the red pickup truck in which Hood’s friend Jamie Vause drove him to the Providence Mount St. Vincent retirement/rehab center, believing it was a hospital. That’s where emergency responders first learned someone had been shot – but the shooting itself took place more than a mile southwest:

As reported in WSB as-it-happened coverage that night, we also had received reports of gunshots heard in Morgan Junction, and police quickly converged there to look for evidence. Hours later, in the early morning, SPD confirmed Chambers’ arrest, and family members confirmed Hood’s death. Four days after the shooting, Chambers was charged with first-degree murder (last August, that was reduced to second-degree).

No clear story emerged of what preceded the gunfire. And today in court, two very different versions were told.

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Safeway for sale? Chain with 3 West Seattle stores ‘in talks’
February 19, 2014 8:59 pm
|      35 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news

Since Safeway has three stores in West Seattle, more than any other grocery chain, this might be of interest: The 1,300+-store chain announced today that it’s in talks with a potential buyer. Here’s one of the more thorough stories we’ve seen so far, published close to Safeway’s Bay Area headquarters. Safeway didn’t identify the prospective buyer, and no official deal has been announced yet, but industry observers are reported to believe it’s a private-equity firm. The 28th/Roxbury Safeway is the only local one for which the company owns the land, six acres worth; its Jefferson Square store is on a leased site, and it leases the land its Admiral store is on, after selling the site to American Realty Advisors one year after building the big new store.

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West Seattle scene: Even more snow frosts the Olympics
February 19, 2014 8:18 pm
|      5 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle weather

(Click image for larger view – close enough to see the snow-covered trees!)
Down to the final four weeks of winter, and the Olympic Mountains finally have a truly wintry amount of snow! Thanks to Chris Frankovich for capturing this morning’s fully frosted view!

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West Seattle traffic alert update: Southbound 99 crash cleared
February 19, 2014 5:39 pm
|      8 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news

Thanks to Greta for mentioning this in a comment on the daily traffic roundup – there’s a multi-car crash on southbound 99 before the West Seattle Bridge exit. So if you haven’t left yet, consider going another way TFN.

7:14 PM UPDATE: SDOT says the crash is cleared.

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