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Neighborhoods’ call for help: ‘While major crime is down … street disorder persists’
October 4, 2011 11:32 am
|      7 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | Safety | West Seattle news

Tonight is the first of two major public hearings for next year’s city budget proposal – and if you have something to say, you’re urged to participate, either by going to the hearing (5:30 pm at City Hall, with signups starting at 5) or by sharing your thoughts online. One coalition didn’t want to wait for tonight’s hearing; they planned to attend a special budget meeting this morning. They are a coalition of 11 groups from neighborhoods around the city – primarily business-focused – who together have issued a letter boiling down to this sentence near the start of a letter they have sent to city leaders: “While  major  crime  is  down  citywide,  street  disorder  persists  and   continues  to  negatively  impact  our  neighborhoods.” They want to make sure the budget provides adequate resources to fight that disorder, and they have some suggestions. Among the signatories to their letter are reps from the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce and the White Center Community Development Association (whose office is in South Delridge). Here’s some of what the letter calls for:

*Increase  police  foot  and  bike  patrols  and  dedicated  anti-­crime  teams.    
*Implement  a  pilot ‘Hot Spots’ program.
*Officer Distribution [in problem areas].
* Legislative  Tools  for  Arrest/Diversion.

All of those points are elaborated on, in the full letter – we didn’t receive it in a cut-and-paste-friendly format, so we can’t include the full text here, but you can read it as a PDF.

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Update: Van flips near Madison Middle School, no serious injuries
October 4, 2011 9:43 am
|      41 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | WS breaking news

9:43 AM: Startling sight on the sidewalk, just off the southeast corner of the Madison Middle School parking lot – an overturned van. Amy, who sent first word of the crash, says a woman and small child were inside, but both OK, and police at the scene confirmed that no one had to go to the hospital. No word how this happened; it’s the second West Seattle van flip in four days, after this one east of High Point on Saturday (no serious injuries in that one, either). Traffic is not affected, though you might want to avoid 45th/Spokane for a while, since a tow truck will have to get the van uprighted before taking it away.

5:09 PM UPDATE: Official info from police is finally in. Another driver is blamed for causing the rollover by “failing to yield the right of way at the intersection” – and that driver, NOT the driver of the van that rolled, was cited, police tell WSB.

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Followup: Amanda Knox returning to Seattle this afternoon
October 4, 2011 8:35 am
|      76 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle people

(Easy Street Records marquee, predawn today)
Hours after the Italian court decision freeing her after four years, Amanda Knox is reported to be on a British Airways flight headed back to Seattle, expected to arrive between 4:30 and 5 pm, after flying from Rome to London. Video/photos of her departure are in this British news report. As for what happens after that – regional (and beyond) media crews were already camped out at the airport as of today’s morning newscasts, hoping for a glimpse after her arrival, hoping even that her family might decide to have a news conference. National media reports that she sent a letter to the Italy-US Foundation, thanking the Italians who supported her. Meantime, the prosecution in the case has announced it will appeal the ruling canceling the murder convictions of Knox and Raffaele Sollecito.

4:56 PM: The Knox family’s plane is expected to land at Sea-Tac shortly, and regional-media sources including KIRO TV say they are planning a news conference around 5:45 pm, but they’re not certain if that will include comments from Amanda Knox. We’ll include highlights from Web coverage later, but if you want to watch live, multiple TV stations and cable networks have been set up at the airport for hours, ready to go (see Twitter photo links in the comment section below this story).

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West Seattle Tuesday: Alzheimer’s ‘Town Hall’; WSHS PTSA…
October 4, 2011 8:09 am
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Thanks to Emily Austin for sharing the heron photo)

SCHOOL BOARD PRESIDENT @ ROTARY: The Rotary Club of West Seattle weekly luncheon meeting, noon at Salty’s on Alki, will hear from local school-board rep, and board president, Steve Sundquist.

HAS ALZHEIMER’S AFFECTED YOUR FAMILY? If so, they’re hoping to see you at the Alzheimer’s Association Town Hall meeting at Providence Mount St. Vincent (4831 35th SW), 2 pm, full details here.

SOMETHING TO SAY ABOUT THE CITY BUDGET? The first Seattle City Council public hearing on the city budget proposal for next year is at 5:30; signups at 5 pm. City Hall downtown.

WEST SEATTLE HIGH SCHOOL PTSA: First general-membership meeting of the school year, 7 pm. Agenda includes an update from principal Ruth Medsker and briefings on upcoming projects/events such as the fall drama production, the WSHS Foundation auction to benefit WSHS Athletics, the West Seattle 5K, and more.

DISC-OVER THIS: West Seattle Ultimate Frisbee, 6:30 pm, Fairmount Playfield (Fauntleroy at Brandon).

SHERRY AT THE BIN: Sherry-seminar wine tasting at bin 41, 6-7:30 pm. Meet Drake McCarthy of the Lustau estate in Spain and discover the world of sherry. Drake will be sharing a broad spectrum of sherries, from the dry subtleties of Amontillado to the supple richness of Pedro Ximénez.

OPEN MIKE NIGHT: 7 pm at Skylark Café and Club, acoustic-only, poetry and comedy encouraged as well as all flavors of acoustic music! All ages till 9, then 21+.

‘TRIVIA THAT ROCKS’: 8 pm trivia at Feedback Lounge (WSB sponsor), not just music – “the topics are all entertainment, from music and movies, to TV and pop culture!”

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Video: Denny event launches ‘Be Here, Get There’ school-attendance campaign
October 4, 2011 2:09 am
|      1 COMMENT
 |   West Seattle news

An all-star cast descended on Denny International Middle School in West Seattle at midday Monday to send out a citywide message: Come to school more often! Absences are a bigger problem than you might think – more than a third of all Seattle Public Schools students were absent more than 10 times in the 2009-10 school year, and that’s a number the district is trying to reduce – since it’s a slippery slope to academic failure, and then dropping out of schoolentirely. So interim superintendent Dr. Susan Enfield and Mayor Mike McGinn teamed up to announce “Be Here, Get There,” which will offer prizes in school- and classroom-level competitions to encourage better attendance. For example – as detailed here – there’s an elementary-school competition this month with a Pagliacci Pizza party at stake. We recorded today’s Denny kickoff event in two video clips – above, the formal announcements, introduced by Denny principal Jeff Clark; below, the visitors dropped in on a Denny classroom, including pro-basketball players from Seattle, Jamal Crawford and Will Conroy:

Celebrities are an integral part of the campaign; students can sign up for celebrity wakeup calls by going here. Side note: The campaign does take pains to say there’s nothing wrong with staying home if you’re really sick – they’re just targeting absences for which there is really no good excuse.

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White Center annexation: Burien takes the first major step
October 3, 2011 10:50 pm
|    Comments Off on White Center annexation: Burien takes the first major step
 |   West Seattle news | White Center

From partner site White Center Now: After talking about it at literally every meeting for the past few months, the Burien City Council has finally taken a vote on whether to proceed with potential annexation of White Center, Boulevard Park, and most of the rest of what it didn’t vote to annex two years ago – and that vote was “yes.” The annexation process still has a long way to go, though; if it does go all the way, instead of Roxbury being the city/county border (in most spots), it would be the Seattle/Burien border. Here’s the full story on WCN.

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West Seattle schools: 4 notes, from donations to celebrations
October 3, 2011 8:50 pm
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   How to help | West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

HELP MULTIPLE WEST SEATTLE SCHOOLS: This Wednesday, you are invited to stop into any Starbucks store in King County and get a free $10 gift card for DonorsChoose, provided by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. You can then take the card and, through the DonorsChoose website, make a $10 donation to any classroom project listed there; organizers say almost 300 Seattle projects are listed, and our quick check revealed multiple West Seattle projects among them. You can add personal donations too, but there’s no obligation. Here’s the link, if you want to check in advance whether there’s anything for which you’d want to use the card.

WEST SEATTLE HIGH SCHOOL PTSA TOMORROW NIGHT: The fall round of PTSA/PTA general-membership meetings continues, and tomorrow night, it’s West Seattle High School‘s turn, 7 pm. (Agenda toplines are in the listing on the WSB West Seattle Events calendar page.)

WSHS GRAD NIGHT FUNDRAISER: Also from WSHS – this Saturday, there’s a car wash to raise money for the all-night, alcohol-free, chaperoned Class of 2012 Grad Night party, 11 am-3 pm at West Seattle Produce (Fauntleroy Way just south of SW Alaska). More details on this and other Grad Night fundraisers at facebook.com/pages/WSHS-Grad-Night-2012/234315233286143

ROXHILL TEACHER’S TWO BIG CELEBRATIONS:

That’s Roxhill Elementary fourth-grade teacher Teresa Klein. We reported recently on principal Carmela Dellino‘s announcement that Klein was chosen as a “Symetra Hero in the Classroom“; last Thursday, she was officially honored during a special event at Roxhill, and just yesterday, she got special recognition on the field during the Seahawks–Falcons game at CenturyLink Field (hence the jersey in the photo, shared by Symetra). She is one of two dozen K-12 teachers around the region who will be honored by this program before the Seahawks’ season ends. This also puts Roxhill in the running for one of three $10,000 grants that will be announced at season’s end.

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Homeless housing in Delridge? New details of upcoming forum
October 3, 2011 7:25 pm
|    Comments Off on Homeless housing in Delridge? New details of upcoming forum
 |   Delridge | DESC Delridge project | West Seattle news

New details today for the first major community forum to be organized to talk about Downtown Emergency Service Center (DESC)’s proposed Delridge project to house 75 homeless people living with mental illness. We’ve reported previously that a group spun off from the North Delridge Neighborhood Council has planned the event for October 11th – one week from tomorrow – at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center; the time is now set (6:30 pm) as are other details of the format and invited participants. Read on for the official announcement:Read More

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Alaskan Way Viaduct closure: Limited low-bridge openings
October 3, 2011 4:10 pm
|      16 COMMENTS
 |   Alaskan Way Viaduct | Transportation | West Seattle news

(March 2010 view of the “low bridge,” from its tower, taken by Councilmember Rasmussen)
Though they’ve rejected previous requests to limit low (swing) bridge openings during rush hours, the U.S. Coast Guard has agreed to do so, temporarily, for pm rush hour, during the upcoming 9-day, 10-night Alaskan Way Viaduct closure. That’s according to a statement just in from City Councilmember Tom Rasmussen‘s office, which includes formal announcement of the October 10th closure-info open-house meeting we’ve been previewing here – read on for details:Read More

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West Seattle Crime Watch: 2 ‘well-known’ suspects arrested
October 3, 2011 2:49 pm
|      21 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | West Seattle news | West Seattle police

ORIGINAL 2:49 PM REPORT: From WSB contributor Deanie Schwarz:

The big police response in Highland Park earlier this afternoon, including the blocking-off of the area around 13th/14th/Barton, involved a search for two burglary suspects. One was arrested relatively quickly, Deanie reports, while a K-9 search was used to help find the second. Police told her both are in custody. No details of the actual incident yet – we have an inquiry out to the precinct.

ADDED 4:59 PM: Southwest Precinct commander Capt. Steve Paulsen has more details:

Today, our officers responded to a citizen 911 call of suspicious activity in the Highland Park neighborhood. Our officers responded to the area and located an unoccupied vehicle in the area that we have been keeping an eye out for (other reports of suspicious activity the past couple of weeks – possible burglary suspects).

Officers watched the vehicle for a period of time and encountered 2 subjects (adult and juvenile). Both subjects fled the scene. Containment was quickly set up, with one being apprehended quickly and the other after a K9 was called in from home.

Great team work and communication by our officers and detectives as well as our citizens calling in the suspicious activity to 911.

We believe these two subjects are responsible for a number of burglaries in West Seattle and White Center. Our Detectives are conducting the followup investigation. Both subjects are well-known to our officers for extensive criminal histories.

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Amanda Knox verdict: Conviction overturned, she goes free
October 3, 2011 12:51 pm
|      124 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle people

(Photo by MIKE SIEGEL/Seattle Times, used with permission)
12:51 PM: Just in from Italy: Amanda Knox‘s conviction is overturned, per the live feed we are watching on KING. Sobs erupted in the courtroom. The slander charge, regarding something Knox said in the police interrogation regarding a bar owner for whom she had worked, is the only one that was not overturned. CNN is posting one-liner updates here. Perugia is nine hours ahead, so it’s already well into evening there; the day in court started with Knox, who grew up in West Seattle and has family here, and co-defendant Raffaele Sollecito both pleading their case. Our partners at the Seattle Times have been tracking the developments overnight here, and are with the “Friends of Amanda Knox” group that had gathered at a downtown hotel to watch developments. “Amanda’s coming home, and that’s what we wanted,” a family friend has just told KING in a live report from that gathering.

1:01 PM: “We’re thankful that Amanda’s nightmare is over. She suffered four years for a crime she did not commit,” Knox’s sister Deanna Knox has just told the media in a news conference broadcast live. “…We now respectfully ask you to give Amanda and all of our family the privacy we need to recover from this ordeal.”

1:38 PM: Lots of comments from all over the region, nation, and world – including a statement from King County Executive Dow Constantine:

“Today’s acquittal is a dramatic vindication for Amanda and her family and friends here in West Seattle. I cannot be more pleased at this emotional outcome in the Italian court. Her family has been unrelenting in their pursuit of justice. After so much agony, their four-year ordeal can now come to an end.”

2:19 PM: Changed photos atop this story – the new one, also from the Times, is of the Seattle group that had gathered to await the decision, celebrating as it was announced. Meantime, there is word that Amanda Knox has just left the Italian prison and is now officially free.

5:24 PM: This account, among others, says she and her family will fly home from Italy tomorrow.

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West Seattle holidays: Toy Swap ‘n’ Sale donation time
October 3, 2011 11:06 am
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   Environment | Holidays | How to help | West Seattle news

‘Tis the season for some holiday planning – and as of today, CoolMom is accepting donations for its 4th annual Toy Swap ‘n’ Sale, with proceeds also benefiting WestSide Baby. The actual event is 9 am-2 pm Saturday, November 12th, at Fauntleroy Church (our photo at right is from last year, same location); donating in advance not only helps CoolMom and WS Baby, it also gets you a $5 credit toward shopping at the sale! Read on for more details and the donation-dropoff spots:Read More

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West Seattle Monday: What’s happening today/tonight
October 3, 2011 9:33 am
|      9 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

Thanks to Stacey who – after getting caught in the traffic jam like so many this morning – sent word of that banner on the Fauntleroy walkover (first one in a while, since the Great Crackdown of 2007 all but ended the practice). We subsequently headed out to take that photo from the frontage road (NOT from traffic). Yes, along with zillions of others, we will be watching for news of the Amanda Knox verdict, and we’ll publish an update here when it happens (currently not expected to happen before 11 am 12:30 pm our time, which is 8 pm 9:30 pm Perugia, Italy, time). Here’s what else is making news today/tonight:

REMINDER FOR BUS RIDERS: It’s the first commute day since Metro’s “service change” kicked in on Saturday.

NEW URGENT-CARE CLINIC: Today’s the day Highline Medical Center-West Seattle (WSB sponsor) opens its new Urgent Care practice.

NEW SCHOOL-ATTENDANCE CAMPAIGN: As noted here on Friday, the mayor and school superintendent will be at the new Denny International Middle School at 11:30 am today to launch the local version of a national campaign to boost school attendance.

SUBTLY SPICED: West Seattle Cooking Club meets at Beveridge Place Pub, 2 pm. This week’s ingredient: Saffron.

BINGO AT ALKI UCC! Bingo at Alki UCC Church, tonight and every Monday. Buy-in is $7 and payouts vary according to the number of players. Doors open at 5:30 and games begin at 6:30. Usually done by 8:30. 62nd and Alki.

HELP FOR PARENTS: New parenting lecture series debuts tonight at Admiral UCC Church, co-presented by A Child Becomes Preschool, 6:30 pm, more info here.

FAMILY STORY TIME: Mondays 7 pm, Family Story Time at the High Point branch of the Seattle Public Library.

WANT A FREE TRAIN TICKET? The Amtrak companion fare giveaway continues at PCC Natural Markets (WSB sponsor), while it lasts – more info here.

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West Seattle Bridge traffic alert: Eastbound backup from crash
October 3, 2011 6:50 am
|      57 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

(“Live” image looking westward at the eastbound West Seattle Bridge – refresh for latest)
6:50 AM: Thanks to everybody who has called/texted/e-mailed with word of an eastbound backup on the West Seattle Bridge that’s worse than you’d usually find at this hour. The 911 log lists a crash that apparently did not have major injuries but, according to multiple tipsters, involved three vehicles, so it may take a while to clear. (Late-morning addendum: SFD spokesperson Kyle Moore confirms no one was hurt.)

7:10 AM: The crash is described as “at Admiral,” which on the eastbound side means “parallel with.” You can check the various bridge and feeder views (we’re watching them too) from the WSB Traffic page. One WSB’er says via e-mail that the crash involves “two SUVs and one small sedan.”

7:36 AM: Via Twitter, we have a report about the feeder-street backup – half an hour from the Fauntleroy neighborhood and she hadn’t even reached SW Alaska (blocks BEFORE the 35th/Fauntleroy bridge entrance) yet. Adding a “live” bridge image atop this story – refresh the page for the latest view. The crash scene isn’t visible from the existing bridge angles, so if you get through and know whether it’s been cleared, please let us know (once you reach your destination!).

7:52 AM: Via Facebook, Margie says the crash scene itself has been cleared. Backups will take a while. Alex is trying to get to 509 via Holden – on the southeast side of WS – and he’s hit a backup too.

8:24 AM: Most reports say things are getting better, finally. But the hair-raising-commute stories are still coming in – via Twitter, @206SportsFan says, “One hour from Morgan Junction to Luna Park via bus. … New personal ‘best’ worst.” Jana also commuted by bus and tweeted the photo above, after finally reaching the Avalon turnoff on Fauntleroy.

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The WSBeat: Why you need to get all the keys back, + 7 more
October 2, 2011 9:29 pm
|      12 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | West Seattle news | West Seattle police | WSBeat

By Megan Sheppard
On the WSBeat, for West Seattle Blog

Back after another short hiatus: From reports on cases handled recently by Southwest Precinct officers:

*Though he had been evicted at the beginning of the month, a man still had the key to the front door of his former condo building in the Admiral area. He would enter, climb to the roof, and then jump to his old balcony to get inside his old unit, against the orders of the sheriff, bank, and realtor. On Tuesday he was arrested and booked into King County Jail for investigation of criminal trespass. The condo management group will be changing the lock on the front door.

*Late Saturday of last weekend, seeing a car pull out of an Admiral service station without its headlights on, an officer ran the plate and discovered that the registered owner did not have a valid driver’s license. He pulled the car over at 36th and Olga. The driver admitted he had no insurance or license and, although he wasn’t wanted on any warrants, he did have a history of burglary and firearms possession. For safety reasons, the officer had him exit the vehicle, which brought half-full bottles of whiskey, brandy and cognac, a crowbar, and a pair of black leather gloves into plain view. These were confiscated. The 16-year-old was cited for driving without a license or insurance, for not using his headlights, minor in possession, and possession of burglary tools. He was released to his brother’s custody; his car was towed.

Six more summaries ahead:Read More

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West Seattle pets blessed in three events this weekend
October 2, 2011 7:25 pm
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   Pets | West Seattle news | West Seattle religion

“Blessing of the Animals” events are a tradition for the weekend closest to the Feast Day of St. Francis of Assisi, patron saint of animals – and again this year, West Seattle had three of them. We dropped by the third and final, and only outdoor, blessing event, presented by St. John the Baptist Episcopal Church in the West Seattle High School parking lot next door. Order of St. Francis Brother Kris Wilder (above left) and St. John’s Rev. Peter DeVeau (above center, and below) offered the blessings;

Here’s video as everybody – people and pets – circled around:

(This weekend’s other two West Seattle “Blessings of the Animals” were at Providence Mount St. Vincent on Saturday morning and Alki UCC earlier today.) Side note: If Brother Wilder looks familiar … it may not be just because he has been featured in our previous years’ coverage of this event. He was also on WSB recently in a different kind of robe: The one he wears as a karate instructor, and author of self-defense books.

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West Seattle weekend scene: Another young entrepreneur
October 2, 2011 4:12 pm
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle people

We don’t know if she’s still there, but the photo and report are from Jeffrey. (Thanks!)

Further to your feature on the wee egg sellers last week, thought I might forward a photo of this kiddo selling her jewelry creations at the Junction Plaza Park a half hour ago. Said her name is Keaton. She seems to be attracting business spilling over from the mobile food truck fest. These West Seattle kids sure have an entrepreneurial spirit!

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Happening now: CROP Walk on Alki, raising money to fight hunger
October 2, 2011 3:11 pm
|    Comments Off on Happening now: CROP Walk on Alki, raising money to fight hunger
 |   How to help | West Seattle news

The message of welcome on the sidewalk outside Alki UCC Church this afternoon was a creation of the congregation’s kids, we’re told. It’s in honor of the annual CROP Walk, happening right now along the beach. This one isn’t a giant 5K-run-style event – more of a casual walk, but with a lot of heart and hope:

Once again this year, the walkers got not a pep talk, but a pep concert, you might say, from Rev. Pat Wright and the Total Experience Gospel Choir:

Notice those signs, about texting a donation? New way to chip in, and it’s an easy way to help, even if you couldn’t participate in the walk. (Or, donate online here.)

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Happening now: Skiing star Molly Baker at Mountain to Sound Outfitters
October 2, 2011 1:27 pm
|    Comments Off on Happening now: Skiing star Molly Baker at Mountain to Sound Outfitters
 |   Triangle | West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news

This weekend’s grand-opening-of-expanded-space celebration continues at Mountain to Sound Outfitters (WSB sponsor) this afternoon, and if you get there (3602 SW Alaska) before 2 pm, you can meet Molly Baker, a big-mountain freeskiing star on the rise – more on the M2SO site. Also at the shop greeting customers – proprietor Greg Whittaker and son Keller:

Ready for ski season yet? M2SO not only sells skis, they rent them too:

And if you’re hungry – they’re barbecuing for a second straight afternoon (hey, the weather’s nice!):

But think snow.

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Happening now: Mobile Chowdown sizzles in West Seattle
October 2, 2011 12:41 pm
|      62 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle festivals | West Seattle news

The sun is out just in time for food-truck fans to fill two blocks of California SW in The Junction as Mobile Chowdown revs up big time. Don’t let the angle fool you – it’s not shoulder-to-shoulder, there’s elbow room – but there’s definitely a good turnout for this first-time-in-West-Seattle event. Even if you’re not sure you want to stand in line for food, the trucks themselves are worth coming to see:

The “pig truck” is Maximus Minimus, which serves pulled pork and veggie sandwiches. We peeked inside – most of these trucks have quite the kitchen:

There’s outdoor cooking going on, too:

That’s the Veraci Pizza crew. They’re on the north end of The Junction – where we also found a line that was NOT for a food truck:

Organizers say some trucks take credit cards but all PREFER cash, so come with some if you can. By the way, it’s not all full-meal deals – some trucks are more snacky:

Mobile Chowdown continues till 5; more photos to come.

6:02 PM: A few more from today – first, the crowd through a haze of cooking smoke:

Hawaiian-style plate lunches go well with the food-truck theme, and that’s what Pai’s offered:

And one last image – refresh the page for the latest view of whether California is open again (as we publish this, the barricades at SW Alaska are still up, but once they’re gone, it’s open):

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Scam alert: This one’s coming in by phone! ‘Wells Fargo,’ not
October 2, 2011 12:12 pm
|      93 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

12:12 PM: Yes, we know you’re probably scam-savvy. But for those who aren’t, and for those who will want to warn possibly gullible relatives/friends, this is just out of the WSB inbox (and before we could publish the warning, we received the same call, though we’re not customers of the bank in question!). From Carrie:

I received a call this Sunday morning from a blocked number that I did not answer. The voice mail message said ” for security reasons your Wells Fargo account has been locked. To unlock your account press “1”. ” I called Wells Fargo and they said this was not a legitimate call, they do not call from a blocked number but sent emails. Obviously the caller was checking to see who has an account with Wells Fargo and would proceed from there with some devious deed.

ADDED 5:35 PM: Just got the call AGAIN, as a straight-to-voicemail message on a personal cell phone. Rooting around for official WF policies of how to report this type of call, we found this page on their website, asking that scam e-mails or other info be sent to: reportphish@wellsfargo.com.

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Need more computer know-how? 2 West Seattle chances tomorrow
October 2, 2011 11:14 am
|    Comments Off on Need more computer know-how? 2 West Seattle chances tomorrow
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle online

Vicky sends word this morning of two open houses tomorrow at public West Seattle computer centers you might not even know about, part of the city’s Get Online Week, which starts tomorrow:

Did you know you can attend classes for free or low-cost at computer learning centers in your own neighborhood? Come in, have a snack, learn about our labs and the workshops and classes offered for teens, adults and seniors. Stop by one of these centers and GET ONLINE!

October 3, 3:00-6:00 PM
High Point Mobile Lab
6400 Sylvan Way SW

October 3, 6:00-8:00 PM
RecTech Delridge Computer Lab
4501 Delridge Way SW

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Mobile Chowdown in West Seattle: Setup under way
October 2, 2011 9:47 am
|    Comments Off on Mobile Chowdown in West Seattle: Setup under way
 |   West Seattle festivals | West Seattle news

Setup is under way as 26 food trucks continue arriving for Mobile Chowdown, the food-truck extravaganza that’s happening in The Junction for the first time ever (organizers staged several in 2009 and 2010 elsewhere in the city). As the sign says, SW Alaska is open, as are SW Edmunds and SW Oregon, all west-east streets, but both blocks of California are closed in the heart of the bizdistrict. The trucks are staging single file down the middle of the street:

As for locations, if you’re looking for a favorite, since most hadn’t arrived yet, we couldn’t rough out a map, but we can tell you that Veraci Pizza and its portable wood-fired oven are at the north end, with Andrae’s Kitchen from Walla Walla right behind; in the middle (photo above) you’ll find weekly West Seattle visitor Marination Mobile by Easy Street Records and Street Donuts by Bin 41; at the south end, West Seattle fixture Beloved Mexico. The beer garden, raising money for the West Seattle Food Bank, is being set up outside Petco. The trucks are scheduled to be here 11 am-5 pm; full details at the official Mobile Chowdown site.

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