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Sales-tax increase, vehicle fee, fare hike proposed to hold off Metro cuts, could go to April vote
January 14, 2014 2:40 pm
|      62 COMMENTS
 |   Transportation | West Seattle news

Will Metro be able to avoid slashing service – including, just for starters in June, eliminating four West Seattle-area routes? Local leaders are no longer waiting for something to happen in Olympia. In downtown Seattle, King County Executive Dow Constantine and other regional leaders have just announced the local campaign to raise money to hold off Metro cuts that would hit our area the hardest. The proposal could go to the ballot as soon as April 22nd. Key points:

*$60 vehicle fee, & one-tenth-cent sales tax that would expire after 10 years

*Metro bus-fare increase to $2.75 (1 zone) and $3.25 (2 zones) next year

The full announcement is ahead:Read More

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At the peak of Seahawks spirit, West Seattleite plants 12th Man flag on Western Hemisphere’s highest mountain
January 14, 2014 2:04 pm
|      7 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle people

How far can the Seahawks‘ 12th Man go? In the person of West Seattleite Gordon Prinster, all the way to the highest point in the Western Hemisphere! You’ve met Gordon here before – he accompanied son Cal Prinster on a cross-country bike ride in 2012, raising $ for the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation. The video shared with us today shows Gordon at the summit of Mt. Aconcagua in Argentina, 22,837 feet, on January 4th (Cal wasn’t on this trip; Gordon went up with climbing partner Ed Vandenhaak of Bellingham). “What else would a West Seattle guy plant at the summit but a 12th Man flag?” explained Gordon’s wife Bernadette Brown, sharing the video with WSB. Ironically, Gordon didn’t get to watch last Sunday’s big game, as he was flying home from Argentina at the time and is now back at work at West Seattle High School, she says. NEXT game!

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West Seattle Veteran Center gala! Buy a ticket, or be a sponsor
January 14, 2014 12:33 pm
|    Comments Off on West Seattle Veteran Center gala! Buy a ticket, or be a sponsor
 |   How to help | West Seattle news

The music video is by OK Sweetheart, the band that’ll be featured at the first fundraising gala for the West Seattle Veteran Center, coming up February 22nd, with tickets now on sale:

West Seattle Veteran Center (WSVC) will host its first annual special fundraising event in its Pershing Hall. Guests will enjoy live music (Seattle’s OK SWEETHEART and special guests), performance painter (West Seattle’s Jimmy Gersen), cocktails, hors d’oeuvres (Seattle’s Garden Grow Organics) and a silent auction. One hundred percent of proceeds will benefit this landmark building that has served veterans for nearly a century.

Sponsorships ($100+), silent auction items and ticket sales ($50-75) will benefit the WSVC and its community outreach efforts including the complete renovation of the old West Seattle American Legion Building or, for West Seattleites, the building with the big cannon in the front lawn. Once the remodel is complete, the WSVC will operate seven-days-a-week with Veteran staffers aiding and counseling Veterans in the greater Seattle community. The WSVC will offer a wide range of veteran-related assistance including education, home loans, counseling, disability qualifications, family needs.

The WSVC will house a new elegant Bistro and Lounge with food from Garden Grow Organics. The WSVC will also connect the community through rotating art exhibitions, concerts, classes, community events and conference space. All combined, each element is designed to bring together the Seattle Veteran community and local neighborhoods all in support of Veterans and their families. Lack of funding has held up the next phases, and the gala will help finish the project.

The WSVC is still seeking sponsorships and silent auction items. To contribute, contact savannah@pershinghall.org.

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Guilty pleas for Michael S. Stanley, rapist arrested in West Seattle after fleeing Canada
January 14, 2014 10:46 am
|      9 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | West Seattle news

10:46 AM: In Seattle Municipal Court this morning, Michael S. Stanley pleaded guilty. He’s the convicted rapist arrested in a West Seattle alley not long after fleeing Canada, where he was being sought after illegally cutting off a monitoring device. Stanley, a U.S. citizen, has been in jail here since his arrest October 22nd, held in lieu of $100,000 bail. According to the Municipal Court web docket, he pleaded guilty to both charges filed against him last fall – harassment and resisting arrest. Hat tip to reporter Jennifer Sullivan from The Seattle Times [WSB partner] for first word of Stanley’s pleas; we’re checking on sentencing (the docket mentions only suspended sentences and credit for time served, but the city court docket does not link to full documentation) and will update this story. To date, Stanley has never been charged in connection with the allegation that he sexually assaulted a teenager the same morning he was arrested here.

10:59 AM UPDATE: City Attorney’s Office spokesperson Kimberly Mills says the credit-for-time-served calculation is still under way and promises more information later, but for starters “he’s not getting out today.”

2:16 PM UPDATE: Mills has sent a news release that, in addition to other information, indicates Stanley will remain in jail at least two more months:

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West Seattle Tuesday: 10 ways to get involved and/or entertained
January 14, 2014 10:12 am
|    Comments Off on West Seattle Tuesday: 10 ways to get involved and/or entertained
 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

The red-breasted merganser photographed by Mark Wangerin just might be suggesting you not duck your civic responsibilities – there’s a LOT going on today/tonight, mostly community meetings, plus music and sports. From the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:

PLAY CHESS! Drop-in games for kids/teens, with a coach on hand, all levels, this afternoon at High Point Branch Library, 4 pm, details in our calendar listing. (35th/Raymond)

HIGH-SCHOOL SPORTS: From this week’s lineup – boys-basketball games at home tonight for both Chief Sealth International High School (vs. O’Dea, JV at 5:45 and varsity at 7:30, 2600 SW Thistle) and West Seattle High School (vs. Rainier Beach, JV at 5:45 and varsity at 7:30, 3000 California SW)

HIGH POINT MEMORIAL WALK: An update on the plan for a memorial walk in honor of the pedestrian killed last month at 35th and Graham is part of the agenda for tonight’s High Point Neighborhood Association meeting. 6 pm, Neighborhood House’s High Point Center. Full agenda here. (6400 Sylvan Way SW)

WEST SEATTLE TRANSPORTATION PROBLEMS/SOLUTIONS: For months, the West Seattle Transportation Coalition has been working toward this meeting with reps from multiple levels of government that deal with transportation in our area, to pose serious questions and get real answers about the plan (or perhaps the lack of one) for our area’s transportation troubles. 6:30 pm at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center. (4408 Delridge Way SW)

WEST SEATTLE HIGH SCHOOL PTSA: This is the perfect time of year to get involved if you aren’t already – lots going on, and you’ll hear about it all at tonight’s meeting, 7 pm, school library. (3000 California SW)

EVERY-OTHER-WEEK TRASH? As previewed here last weekend, a Seattle Public Utilities rep will brief the Admiral Neighborhood Association meeting about the possibility of every-other-week garbage pickup going citywide next year. 7 pm, lower-level meeting room on the south-facing side of Admiral Congregational Church. (California/Hill)

NEW RULES FOR ‘LOWRISE’ DEVELOPMENT IN NEIGHBORHOODS? Not in West Seattle, but of interest citywide – a city Department of Planning and Development meeting sparked by neighborhood petitions is set at Capitol Hill’s Lowell Elementary tonight, 6:30 pm, to talk about possible changes to city rules that allow extra height for some so-called “lowrise” developments. (1058 East Mercer)

FAUNTLEROY COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION: The public’s always welcome at FCA’s monthly board meeting, 7 pm at the historic schoolhouse. (9131 California SW)

COMMUNITY LEGAL CLINIC: Free legal help, by appointment, starting at 7 pm – see our calendar listing for details of how to get an appointment. Senior Center of West Seattle. (California/Oregon)

‘BLUES TO DO,’ WEEK 2: Second week for the new Tuesday series at Feedback Lounge (WSB sponsor), 8 pm, live blues, streamed online too. Tonight it’s Elnah Jordan & friends, celebrating Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Full details in our calendar listing. (6451 California SW)

MORE NIGHTLIFE … listed on the calendar! Click the right side of any line to expand a listing.

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Just announced: West Seattle forum for transportation issues affecting people with disabilities
January 14, 2014 9:59 am
|      12 COMMENTS
 |   Transportation | West Seattle news

Happening tomorrow, but we didn’t get word until just now:

The Seattle Commission for People with Disabilities is having a transportation forum in West Seattle. This is part of a series of forums held in various Seattle neighborhoods. This is an open forum to discuss transportation issues impacting the disabled community in Seattle.

When: Wednesday, January 15th, 2014
Where: Seattle Public Library – Admiral Branch – 2306 42nd Ave SW
Time: 2:00 PM to 3:30PM
ASL interpreter provided

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You can help! ‘Count Us In’ needs volunteers for just one day
January 14, 2014 9:27 am
|    Comments Off on You can help! ‘Count Us In’ needs volunteers for just one day
 |   How to help | West Seattle news

Interested in volunteering, but not a major/recurring commitment? Here’s something simple, but important:

Help us count homeless youth on January 23rd at Seattle Public Library Sites! Each year since 2011, King County has conducted Count Us In, a point-in-time count to gather information on homeless and at-risk youth. In 2013, 776 youth and young adults were counted as homeless or unstably housed.

Join us this year as we survey youth to better understand the extent and nature of youth homelessness in our community so that we can more effectively address this critical issue. Surveys will be completed by youth at youth shelters, community centers, parks, nonprofit agencies and libraries. Help us do better this year!

This volunteer must be high-energy and outgoing and will serve at different branches of the Seattle Public Library. Volunteers commit to one 2 to 4-hour shift on January 23rd, 2014. Want to volunteer? Click the “I’m Interested” button and we will follow up with you. **Please let us know the time and library you are interested in volunteering at.

(Editor’s note: Southwest Branch Library is the one West Seattle library listed, but we’re including the entire list in case another one is convenient for you or someone you know:

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TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Tuesday updates; road work today/tonight; Transportation Coalition event
January 14, 2014 5:58 am
|      13 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

(Latest bridge and Viaduct views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
Welcome to Tuesday! We start by looking ahead –

ROAD WORK TODAY: The city plans pavement repairs in the 2300 block of Sylvan/Orchard 8 am-5 pm; one lane will remain open, with flagger assistance in getting traffic to alternate. (Speaking of paving – if you missed it, on Monday we published the city’s list of where paving work is planned in West Seattle this year.)

TRANSPORTATION SOLUTIONS? Tonight’s the night to show up and show support for the West Seattle Transportation Coalition as it asks government reps from all levels – what’s the plan for our area’s transportation troubles?. 6:30 pm at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center (4408 Delridge Way SW), details here.

SOUTHBOUND I-5 CLOSURE: If you’ll be returning to West Seattle from points north late tonight/early Wednesday, avoid southbound I-5. It will be closed at King Street for sign installation, 11 pm-4:30 am.

8:24 AM: Multiple reports of trouble on northbound 99 – a crash just north of the bridge. No serious injuries reported at this point, so no SFD callout.

8:33 AM: From the scanner, police confirm two lanes blocked but are going to “try to move it to the shoulder” shortly.

8:41 AM: And now it sounds like one lane will remain blocked for a while. If you have yet to leave, passing up the 99 exit and using 1st or 4th to get into downtown might be a better bet. Tow trucks are now being requested.

9:11 AM: Traffic authorities say things are moving along closer to normally since all that was moved out of the main lanes.

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West Seattle Crime Watch: Prowlers on video; stolen car; ‘found’ car; more
January 13, 2014 8:35 pm
|      10 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | West Seattle news

Three Crime Watch reader reports tonight:

MAILBOX PROWLERS: Once again, WSB Forums member MyPatience1978 in Highland Park has caught mailbox prowlers on camera. These two came by just before midnight last night. As discussed there – if your postal mail still arrives and goes via an unlocked box on the street, you might reconsider. And if you recognize these two, speak up.

(added) GARAGE BREAK-IN: Michael reports, “We had our garage broken into last night and had miscellaneous items stolen from the garage and one of our cars that they broke into. They were able to get into one of the cars and destroyed the interior in their attempt to probably steal the car. We are in North Admiral on 45th and SW Seattle. Must have happened overnight.”

(back to original report) STOLEN CAR: Andrea in White Center is asking people all around the area to be on the lookout for her car – “stolen last night from (10700 block) 14th Ave SW. 1993 Black Honda Civic. License starts with ACE. Please call 206-307-8439.” And 911.

MYSTERY CAR: This turned up on 41st between Fauntleroy and Graham, and a neighbor wondered if it’s a stolen car someone’s looking for:

Description:

Black Cadillac Northstar DTS
License 534-YUA
4-door sedan
Broken front passenger window (covered in plastic)
3 flat tires
Appeared Sunday between 1:30 pm and 4:00 pm

We didn’t find it in @getyourcarback but that could mean many things – from “not stolen” to stolen more than a few days ago, stolen outside the city, plate switched, owner doesn’t know it’s gone yet … It’s been reported to police, so contact them if you know whose it is.

WEST SEATTLE CRIME PREVENTION COUNCIL: Next meeting is January 21st, one week from tomorrow, and Southwest Precinct Operations Lt. Pierre Davis will be there with an update on local trends as well as to listen to neighborhood concerns, in addition to special guest Ann Graves from Seattle Animal Shelter to talk about a variety of issues, as detailed in the WSCPC preview. The meeting’s at 7 pm Tuesday, Jan. 21st, in the precinct meeting room (Delridge/Webster).

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Get ready to take the field! West Seattle Girls Softball signup time
January 13, 2014 8:04 pm
|    Comments Off on Get ready to take the field! West Seattle Girls Softball signup time
 |   West Seattle news | WS & Sports

(Photo courtesy West Seattle Girls Softball)
Did you notice light in the sky after 5 pm today? The days are lengthening, and while we wouldn’t say “spring is in the air,” preparation for spring sports is starting to stir. Here’s the official announcement from West Seattle Girls Softball:

West Seattle Girls Softball registration is now open for the 2014 spring season! We are looking for girls ages 6-15 to play fast-pitch softball. No previous softball experience is necessary, as we will teach the basics and help continue to build players’ skills. Practices begin in March and games will run from late April to June.

West Seattle Girls Softball is a local nonprofit organization and is fueled by its dedicated volunteers. WSGS goals are to ensure that its players have the best possible experience playing fast-pitch softball. We hope to build both team sportsmanship and individual sportsmanship all while having fun.

You can sign up or get more information at westseattlegirlssoftball.com; WSGS is also on Facebook.

WSGS says there’s an extra benefit to registering early – you get the lowest price; sign-up fees go up on March 1st.

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Followup: What’s wrong with the West Seattle Bridge lights
January 13, 2014 5:14 pm
|      15 COMMENTS
 |   Transportation | Utilities | West Seattle news

Quick followup on last Friday’s report about that dark stretch of the bridge: Seattle City Light says it’s figured out part of the reason why a stretch of new LED lights on the west side of the West Seattle Bridge went out. SCL spokesperson Scott Thomsen tells WSB, “Our crews discovered that a breaker is tripping, cutting power to the lights. They are trying to determine the underlying cause for that problem, which is related to the power supply, not the lights.” More info once that’s figured out.

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County leaders to announce money-raising Metro/road proposal tomorrow
January 13, 2014 3:09 pm
|      9 COMMENTS
 |   Transportation | West Seattle news

Hours before tomorrow night’s West Seattle Transportation Coalition event, one of the participating governments will be making a big announcement at a media briefing. Just out of the WSB inbox:

With no action by the Legislature on a statewide transportation package, King County Executive Dow Constantine, four King County Councilmembers and several other local and regional leaders will make an announcement Tuesday regarding funding to save Metro Transit and maintain and improve local streets.

That’s set for 2 pm Tuesday. As reported on our partner site White Center Now, the County Council’s Transportation Committee was already scheduled for a briefing this Thursday on the potential formation of a “transportation-benefit district” that would seek a fee and tax to raise the money. Also on that Thursday agenda, official introduction of Metro’s June service-change plan in case funding is NOT secured – including the route cuts/service reductions outlined here, eliminating four local routes.

Once we hear the county proposal tomorrow afternoon, you’re bound to hear more about it at the already-scheduled WS Transportation Coalition Q/A event with city and state as well as county reps, 6:30 pm Tuesday at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center (4408 Delridge Way SW).

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Update: Fire call at 35th/Roxbury apartment building
January 13, 2014 2:18 pm
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   Arbor Heights | West Seattle fires | West Seattle news

(WSB reader photo)
2:18 PM: Big Seattle Fire response en route to the 3400 block of SW Roxbury. More to come.

2:24 PM: 35th is closed south of Roxbury. This is believed to be a chimney fire.

2:40 PM: Adding photo. SFD confirmed to us at the scene that it was a chimney problem; no injuries, no evacuation required. Most of the units assigned to the call have been canceled, though Ladder 11 is still on site, with crews on the roof investigating.

2:44 PM: Ladder 11 has finished its investigation -“no heat signature” over any of the fireplaces, so it’s wrapping up at the scene too.

2:57 PM: The road’s reopening; Metro has texted that bus service is returning to its normal route.

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West Seattle road work: See this year’s SDOT repaving list
January 13, 2014 1:39 pm
|      13 COMMENTS
 |   Transportation | West Seattle news

(WSB photo: Just one of the rough spots on California south of Fauntleroy)
Which West Seattle roads are scheduled to be repaved this year? The question came up last week when we reported on SDOT‘s “microsurfacing” plan for some neighborhood streets in Arbor Heights and Fauntleroy. We asked SDOT planner David Allen for the current list, and he obliged. Note that aside from this week’s already-announced work in the 2300 block of Sylvan/Orchard, no dates are set:

ARTERIALS
New asphalt: California Ave SW from Fauntleroy Way SW to SW Holly St
New asphalt: SW Roxbury St, 25th Ave SW to 27th Ave SW
New asphalt: Westbound side of SW 106th St, 39th Ave SW to Marine View Dr
New asphalt: Olson Pl SW, 9000 block
Wheelchair ramp, new asphalt: 1300 and 2200 blocks of Alki Ave SW
Concrete-panel replacement(s): SW Charlestown St, 4500-4600 block
Concrete-panel replacement(s): Olson Pl SW, W of 2nd Ave SW
Concrete-panel replacement(s): SW Genesee St, 3000 block
Wheelchair ramps: SW Roxbury St, 26th SW & 27th SW

NON-ARTERIALS
New asphalt: 39th Ave SW, 4500 block
New asphalt, spot repairs: SW Cambridge St, 2400 block

Right now, there are no major paving projects on the schedule for West Seattle this year (“major,” as in, on the scale of last year’s Delridge Way work).

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2 events for your West Seattle Monday night: Preschool Fair, NDNC
January 13, 2014 11:52 am
|    Comments Off on 2 events for your West Seattle Monday night: Preschool Fair, NDNC
 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

WEST SEATTLE PRESCHOOL FAIR: 5:30-7:30 pm tonight at St. John the Baptist Episcopal Church (California/Hanford). Here’s the list of two dozen participating schools and vendors (among them, WSB sponsors West Seattle Montessori, Westside School, and A Kids Place Dentistry).

NORTH DELRIDGE NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCIL: 6:30 pm tonight at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center (4408 Delridge Way SW) in room 103, it’s the monthly NDNC meeting. Topics include defining the boundaries of North Delridge as part of the group’s bylaws review, upcoming grant deadlines, and overall 2014 planning.

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Remembering Warren Lawless, longtime West Seattle entrepreneur and community advocate, 1918-2014
January 13, 2014 10:01 am
|      6 COMMENTS
 |   Obituaries | West Seattle news | West Seattle people

(2012 photo courtesy Karl Sutter)
West Seattle has lost a giant. Warren Lawless died early today at the age of 95, according to his friends and colleagues at the Kiwanis Club of West Seattle.

Less than two years ago, the club honored Mr. Lawless for his 50 years of service. In 2008, Mr. Lawless was recipient of the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce‘s Community Service Award.

In addition to being a community-service champion and volunteer, his resumé included decades in publishing, including as founder of the West Seattle directory known as the Banana Pages. He was a writer as well, with a column on WestSeattle.com in recent years. He also worked in the osteopathic profession for more than 30 years, including service as executive director of the Washington Osteopathic Medical Association and chairing the board of Western University of Health Sciences.

He continued a very active career in public service until the end; just a month ago, we photographed him as he volunteered during the annual Kiwanis Pancake Breakfast. He was a past president and most recently the club’s Secretary Emeritus.

We will have more later about Mr. Lawless’s life, including memorial information when it’s available.

ADDED TUESDAY AFTERNOON: A memorial service has been announced for Saturday, January 25th, at the West Seattle Golf Course, 2-6 pm.

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TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Monday on the move
January 13, 2014 6:03 am
|    Comments Off on TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Monday on the move
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

(Latest bridge and Viaduct views; more cams on the WSB Traffic page)
Today’s commute arrives after another windy night, so once again, watch for branches and other debris if you’re heading out early. Might not calm down much before tonight, the forecast says.

TOMORROW – SHOW YOU CARE: Even if you don’t usually go to meetings, Tuesday night is an excellent time to make an exception to show up and show support for the West Seattle Transportation Coalition‘s campaign to get government at all levels to pay attention to our area’s unique transportation challenges. 6:30 pm Tuesday (January 14th) at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center (4408 Delridge Way SW), hear directly as city, county, and state reps answer the questions West Seattleites have long been asking.

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High-school sports: Weekend scores, and the week ahead
January 13, 2014 3:47 am
|    Comments Off on High-school sports: Weekend scores, and the week ahead
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools | WS & Sports

Before looking ahead to this week’s sports schedules for local high schools, weekend notes: The weekend began with Chief Sealth International High School winning a swim meet vs. – Trisha Montemayor shared the results: “Chief Sealth beat Eastside Catholic 161 to 132, with the boys winning easily 87-60 and the girls pulling out a win by 2 points, 74-72.” The team scores are here; individual results, here.

In Friday basketball, the West Seattle High School girls-varsity team had its second win of the week, WSHS 66, Franklin 34, and the Seattle Lutheran High School girls lost to Crosspoint Academy, 44-36. Friday’s boys-varsity basketball scores were SLHS 67, Crosspoint 60; Nathan Hale 69, Chief Sealth 54; and Franklin 71, West Seattle 38.

For the week ahead:

*The Chief Sealth International High School sports schedule is listed on the school’s Metro League page; competition at home includes a wrestling match tonight against Ingraham, boys’ basketball vs. O’Dea Tuesday night, girls’ basketball vs. Holy Names on Wednesday night; on Friday, it’s varsity swimming vs. Cleveland on Friday (Southwest Pool) and girls-varsity gymnastics vs. Ingraham and Nathan Hale.

*The Seattle Lutheran High School sports schedule is listed day by day on the school calendar here. This week’s home games are on Wednesday – girls’ and boys’ basketball vs. The Bear Creek School.

*The West Seattle High School sports schedule is listed in full in the school’s online newsletter Westside Weekly (see this week’s WSHS WW here). Home games include boys’ basketball vs. Rainier Beach on Tuesday night, girls basketball vs. RB on Wednesday night, and boys C/frosh team vs. Kennedy next Saturday afternoon.

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West Seattle development updates: Footprints; Junction Flats; more
January 12, 2014 9:53 pm
|      35 COMMENTS
 |   Development | West Seattle news

Three development updates in our continuing coverage of what’s being built/planned:

WEST SEATTLE’S SECOND FOOTPRINT: The second “microhousing” – studio apartments clustered around shared kitchens/gathering spaces – complex to open in West Seattle apparently will carry the same brand as the first. This weekend, 3266 Avalon Way SW – the tall skinny building one door east of the 35th/Avalon 7-11 – appeared online as Footprint Avalon I (the corresponding webpage has been gutted since we saw it Saturday night). That would make it a sibling to Footprint Delridge, the two buildings that started renting recently across from Southwest Youth and Family Services, now now advertised as renting for $855 (with the footnote, “Not aPodments”). To the Avalon I name – that could mean 3050 Avalon Way SW, the only other microhousing project on the drawing board for that apartment-lined street, will turn up as Footprint Avalon II (it’s still in the permit process). Footprint also is behind the microhousing building in the works for 5949 California SW.

JUNCTION FLATS DESIGN: Another doubleheader when the Southwest Design Review Board meets this Thursday night – 3078 Avalon Way at 6:30 pm (as previewed here a week ago), 4433 42nd SW at 8 pm. The latter project, Junction Flats, now has its design packet available for public preview; it’s proposed for 78 apartments, two live-work units, and 52 parking spaces, on the site of three old houses across 42nd from Hope Lutheran.

See the full packet here; public comment is welcome at the meeting, which will be steps away from the project site, Senior Center of West Seattle (California/Oregon).

FROM THE LAND USE INFORMATION BULLETIN: Two decision in on smaller projects previously mentioned here – a four-house project has won land-use approval at 4522 Delridge Way SW; here’s the decision. And the lot split at 3947 SW Kenyon, where two homes are proposed to replace one, has been approved; here’s that decision.

P.S. After a break, work resumes tomorrow (Monday, January 13th) on the California/Alaska/42nd Equity Residential project. There’s still a lot of excavating to do, so the tower crane for that site isn’t due until March.

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West Seattle Crime Watch: Burglarized during the game; more
January 12, 2014 7:51 pm
|      15 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | West Seattle news

In West Seattle Crime Watch tonight – we start with two reader reports. First, from Nerissa:

Around 12:15, my house was broken into. We are on the corner of 47th and Andover. [map] My roommate was downstairs watching the game and the people or person must have only been in for a minute or two. They came in through the back door which *was* a half-glass French door with what looks like a crowbar. They took laptops, iPods, iPod chargers, and some jewelry. They may have left out the front door and were quiet and quick. We didn’t notice until I got home since my roommate assumed it was me walking around upstairs.

We checked the SPD map; the burglary rate is back down, eight mapped in the past week in West Seattle.

From Joleen in Westwood:

My bicycle was stolen within the past week. It’s a white women’s bike, 18-speed I think. It was locked to the beam in my carport. The bike lock was cut, likely with bolt cutters. My back gate was left open as well…

If you’re wondering what brought police to West Seattle Thriftway (WSB sponsor) this afternoon:

(Photo added 8:57 pm, courtesy Brian Allen)
After a reader tip, we went to check, and learned on scene that it was another case of liquor shoplifting, which has plagued so many stores since privatization. One suspect was taken into custody.

Finally – we got a note from neighbors at 40th/Findlay (map) who wondered if anyone else has been hit by tree vandalism/theft. Three “young trees” were cut down in a planting strip and front yard – not lost to stormy weather, we’re told; saw marks were visible on the stumps. We haven’t heard of any trees targeted since the holidays, in a couple cases that appeared to be thieves seeking free Christmas trees (which they could have instead gotten from at least two local lots that wound up giving away remainders).

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West Seattle weather: Should you be worried about your trees?
January 12, 2014 5:16 pm
|      7 COMMENTS
 |   Safety | West Seattle news | West Seattle weather

Our stormy weekend hasn’t been kind to trees. The one in Benjamin Hutchinson‘s photo, above, toppled onto an Alki sidewalk overnight. Our Saturday coverage showed several cases of sizable trees or branches falling in the wind – bringing down wires in The Junction, mashing a car on 40th SW in Morgan Junction. Trees are a big part of what makes our city so beautiful – Seattle has seven times as many trees as people! – but you might wonder sometimes which one(s) are at risk in the next 45+-mph gust. We took the tree-safety question to arborist Mark Harman from longtime WSB sponsor Stonehedge Tree Experts, who is also a certified tree-risk assessor. Here’s his reply:

With these strong winds recently and the accompanying damage that may result from trees or their parts flying off or falling on your car or home, it makes one take a second look at the large trees around us. Should we be worried about the trees in our yards or the neighbors’ yard? Here is my opinion from a guy who has been working with trees for the last 30 years from Washington to Idaho.

Around here in the Seattle area, it is very unusual for a healthy tree to totally blow over. Of those trees that do blow over or those trees that lose the top part of the tree, almost all of those episodes could have been predicted if an experienced Arborist had looked closely at the tree prior to it falling apart. There are almost always signs on the tree that show its problems. Trees have “body language” – they can tell us if they are sick, hollow, rotten, twisting, failing, or tipping over. We just have to be educated to read those signs.

Every tree species has its own problems:

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You can help! Senior Center of West Seattle needs volunteers
January 12, 2014 1:50 pm
|    Comments Off on You can help! Senior Center of West Seattle needs volunteers
 |   How to help | West Seattle news

From new Senior Center of West Seattle board member Nichole Casado, word of two volunteer positions the center needs to fill, fast:

At our recent meeting I learned the Senior Center is in urgent need of a volunteer to pick up food at the Food Bank located at Morgan and 35th and drive it to the Senior Center around 9:30 am every Tuesday. An SUV or regular-sized truck is a large-enough vehicle. The Food Bank has staff to load the vehicle and the Senior Center has folks lined up at drop off for the unload.

Also, the Senior Center is looking for a volunteer who would like to work in the Café on Mondays and Wednesdays from 8:30-1:30. This person would prep and serve soup-and-sandwich-type meals. Anyone interested in either of these much-needed roles should contact Karen at the West Seattle Senior Center – ksisson@seniorservices.org

The center’s number is 206-932-4044. It’s in The Junction at California/Oregon.

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West Seattle Totems: Another winning month for rifle team
January 12, 2014 1:19 pm
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | WS & Sports

(Photo courtesy West Seattle Totems)
A new round of congratulations today for members of the West Seattle Totems, whose coach Joe Matter shares periodic updates – like this one, including news of state-championship winners and national-level competition ahead:

The West Seattle Totems, the junior rifle team located at West Seattle Stadium, wrapped up a successful December schedule of 4 matches.

The US Army sponsored the Washington State Air Rifle Qualifier in West Seattle, where 19 members of the Totems competed in a 60-shot standing match. Alec Patajo led the field with a 573 out of a possible 600 point to win the state individual championship. The Thunderbirds, consisting of Alec Patajo, Corinne Blair, Casey Iwamoto, and Owen Yeasting, shot a combined score of 2238 to finish 2nd in the state and 11th in the country. Alec will receive an invite to the finals to be held in Ft Benning, Georgia, at the home of the Army Marksmanship Unit. The Thunderbirds missed a team invite by just a few points.

The Civilian Marksmanship Program sponsored the Washington State Three Position Air Rifle Championship, also held in West Seattle. The Thunderbird team won the state title, shooting a 2304 out of a possible 2400 points. The win guarantees an invite to the regional championships to be held in Layton, Utah, in April. The Chiefs, consisting of Sierra Avril, Jack Ellis, Sumner Ames, and Katelynn Brown, shot a 2236 to finish 4th in the event. Alec Patajo shot a 583 to capture the state individual championship.

USA Shooting, the Olympic governing body of the shooting sports, sponsored two matches in December:

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