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Spotlight Stories

Fauntleroy Creek salmon update: Almost 100 so far!
November 1, 2012 10:15 pm
|      14 COMMENTS
 |   Fauntleroy | West Seattle news | Wildlife

The coho spawners returning to Fauntleroy Creek might make this “the biggest year since the fish ladder opened in 1998,” creek steward Judy Pickens tells WSB – as she reports that volunteer creek watchers have “documented 98 coho spawners in the creek. 98!!!” Her exuberance is understandable, given that just last Sunday, as three dozen people gathered for the drum-to-call-the-salmon-home ceremony, the tally was 7 spawners, all intercepted by otter(s). Then came news 10 had made it. And now suddenly, 10 times that. Judy adds, “We don’t have a good fix yet on the percentage of hatchery-release fish vs. wild, but whatever the source, all have sensed good habitat in Fauntleroy Creek.” Every spring she works with local schoolchildren who raise salmon fry in their classrooms (or hallways!) and then come to the creek to release them. (Photo courtesy “Jim of Fauntleroy“)

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Roxhill Castle build tomorrow: Special alert for volunteers
November 1, 2012 8:03 pm
|      11 COMMENTS
 |   How to help | West Seattle news | West Seattle parks

Hours from now, the new Roxhill Castle play area starts to go up at Roxhill Park. Tonight, Amanda asked us to share this message to voluneers who have signed up – and to anyone considering joining in at the last minute:

Attention Builders of Roxhill Park!

Tomorrow, November 2, at 8:00 am is go time.
Please dress for the elements, and bring your own drill if you want! We also need extension cords as well as tape measures. Just label everything with your name on it.
Didn’t officially sign up? That’s okay! Come anyway. Build dates are November 2 – 6 from 8:00 am – 8:00 pm.
Project Website: roxhillcastle.wordpress.com
Project Email: roxhillcastle@gmail.com

Amanda adds: “We have a week-long food drive for West Seattle Food Bank and White Center Food Bank as well! We will have containers on site that people can bring nonperishable goods for donation.”

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Update: North Admiral standoff over; man OK
November 1, 2012 4:58 pm
|      31 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle police

(Photo added 5:53 pm, courtesy Ted)
ORIGINAL REPORT, 4:58 PM: If you’ve seen the sizable police response near 42nd/Walker in North Admiral, here’s what’s going on, according to SPD: A man is inside his home, threatening self-harm, possibly armed with a gun, and police are trying to talk him out. Just to be on the safe side, they are trying to keep people away from the area. More as we get it.

(Photo courtesy David Perry)
7:01 PM UPDATE: We’ve been monitoring this via the scanner and on scene. It appears that the man is OK and has come out – or is coming out – of the house with police. Nearby streets are reopening.

7:30 PM NOTE: Again, this has ended with everyone OK. We need to make one more note – if you or someone you know is considering suicide, or in another life-crisis situation, call this 24-hour hotline to reach the Crisis Clinic: 206.461.3222.

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Equity Residential’s West Seattle project: December demolition
November 1, 2012 4:16 pm
|      62 COMMENTS
 |   Development | West Seattle news

(Looking toward the California/Alaska corner of Equity Residential’s project)
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

More than a dozen empty storefronts have sat at the Junction’s most prominent intersection for three months now, vacating by July 31st as ordered by their final landlord, the site’s future developer.

At the time, owner/developer Equity Residential said demolition to make way for their two-building apartments-over-retail project at California/Alaska could start as soon as mid-August.

Now it’s November, and nothing’s happened yet. So what’s the holdup, you might wonder? We wondered too and had been asking for information for a while. Today, we finally obtained it, meeting for the first time with executives from the Chicago-based corporation’s Puget Sound team to get the answer – and other project updates.

First, the answer to the biggest question: They expect to start demolition at the end of December, after Christmas. The permits were granted just last week, so they could start sooner if they wanted to, but they say they don’t want to have construction starting amid holiday shopping and festivities.

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West Seattle scene: ‘First Mike’ reads to Roxhill scholars
November 1, 2012 3:25 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

(Photo by WSB’s Patrick Sand)
The husband of Governor Chris Gregoire was in West Seattle today for a literacy program at Roxhill Elementary School, reading “Duck for President“ to Roxhill scholars and donating books as part of a Reading Is Fundamental initiative involving governors’ spouses.

Mike Gregoire has always asked to be called “First Mike” instead of “First Gentleman” – and he’ll only have that title a little while longer, since his wife is not running for re-election. But “First Mike” pointed out that they have another big change ahead in their lives – their first grandchild is about to be born (as noted by our partners at The Seattle Times back in June). P.S. You’ll see in his bio that he’s the son of a public-school teacher.

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Followup: SPD activates automated speed camera by Gatewood Elementary
November 1, 2012 2:33 pm
|      41 COMMENTS
 |   Gatewood | Safety | West Seattle news

Back in August, we brought you first word that Seattle Police planned to place the city’s first fixed automated speed-detection cameras in school zones including Fauntleroy Way SW by Gatewood Elementary. SPD has just announced that camera and three others around the city are officially in operation as of today – read about it on SPD Blotter. There’s been a speed-camera-equipped van in the area for the past four years – and it’s the subject of this hot topic on the WSB Forums – but no fixed cameras till now. SPD says violations caught on the new camera will be “warnings only” until November 26th, when school reopens following the Thanksgiving break. That’s when ticketing – $189 per – will kick in.

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It’s November – think holidays! Free concert & coffee to launch West Seattle Lights 2012
November 1, 2012 1:20 pm
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   Holidays | West Seattle news

(WSB photo from 2011 West Seattle Lights)
We know, we know, the jack-o-lantern is still on the stoop and the Halloween candy isn’t gone yet. But November means time to think holidays – and here’s something you’ll want to plan ahead for: A free concert featuring a Grammy-nominated musician will highlight the lighting ceremony for the set-to-music West Seattle Lights display this year! Here’s the announcement from the lightmaster himself, Jim Winder:

On Saturday, November 24th, Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter Judy Pancoast will be presenting an outdoor Christmas concert at the home of Corey and Taylor Helmstetler at 3908 SW Charlestown. The public is invited free of charge, but attendees are asked to bring a donation for either West Seattle Food Bank or NW Parkinson’s Foundation.

Pancoast is visiting West Seattle as part of her third annual “The House on Christmas Street International Tour” in support of her new CD, “Christmas with Mrs. Claus.” Concerts on the tour are performed on the lawns and in the driveways of the decorating enthusiasts who have become her biggest fans and use her music in their animated lighting displays. The Helmstetler home is well known in the area for its magnificent annual display. This is the first year that they have hosted Pancoast’s tour.

Last year West Seattle Lights collected nearly 1,500 pounds of food for the West Seattle Food Bank and nearly $3000 for both the Food Bank and NW Parkinson’s Foundation.

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Marijuana-zoning Q/A at next Southwest District Council meeting
November 1, 2012 11:34 am
|      6 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle politics

Separate from the statewide initiative before voters in Tuesday’s election regarding marijuana regulation, the City of Seattle is pursuing a zoning measure that would give the city more regulatory tools regarding medical-marijuana businesses. If you want to hear more about it and/or have questions – be at next Wednesday’s Southwest District Council meeting (7 pm November 7th at the South Seattle Community College [WSB sponsor] board room) – City Council President Sally Clark and Councilmember Nick Licata are scheduled to be there for Q/A on the proposal – detailed on this city webpage.

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West Seattle Crime Watch: Neighbor dispute turns damaging
November 1, 2012 10:32 am
|      6 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle police

(Photos by Nick Adams for WSB)
This morning, we have details on a tense situation handled by police north of Lincoln Park early this morning. WSB contributing photojournalist Nick Adams photographed them investigating what was first reported as a case of a vehicle ramming a house – and then turned into a brief standoff.

It happened around 3 am in the 7000 block of 47th SW, and, Nick reports, could be heard from blocks away. Seattle Police Media Relations Det. Mark Jamieson says it is related to a “long-running neighbor dispute.” A 53-year-old man “drove his fullsize pickup truck through the neighbor’s garage door and repeatedly rammed the vehicles inside,” according to the police report. After that, according to Det. Jamieson, the man then rammed another pickup truck.

In all, four vehicles were damaged, and the garage door was destroyed. Then, police say, the suspect went back to his home and called a relative to say he was suicidal. By that time, officers had arrived, and one managed to get the man on the phone and “establish a dialogue” – they convinced him to come out of the house “without incident.” Fire/medic crews were called to check him out, and found he had indeed ingested pills, so he was taken to Harborview Medical Center on an involuntary-commitment recommendation as well as treatment; the report has been sent to detectives for further investigation.

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West Seattle Thursday: ‘Lend Me a Tenor’ at WSHS; Thriftway tastings; Skeleton Theatre; more
November 1, 2012 9:40 am
|      1 COMMENT
 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Photo from Anchor (Luna) Park by Nakean Photography, shared via the WSB Flickr group)
Welcome to November! LOTS of highlights for today/tonight from the WSB West Seattle Events Calendar:

HELP MAKE WEST SEATTLE AUTHOR A BESTSELLER, EVEN IF BRIEFLY: On Wednesday we wrote about writer Mike Hickey’s book “Counterclockwise” and the bid to get it purchased en masse, simultaneously, at exactly 11 am today. Details in yesterday’s WSB story.

HOLIDAY TASTING AT THRIFTWAY: Big event this afternoon/evening at West Seattle Thriftway (WSB sponsor; California/Fauntleroy) – lots of food/beverage demos for you to try as the holiday party season approaches. (Among them – Full Tilt Ice Cream!) 4-7 pm.

SLIME AND SCIENCE: At the West Seattle Library – event for kids, 4 pm today. Must preregister – details on that, and more on the event, can be found here.

HIGH-SCHOOL PLAYOFFS: Both West Seattle High School and Chief Sealth International High School have postseason volleyball matches at 5:30 tonight at Sammamish High School – here’s the schedule, from our partners at The Seattle Times.

WINE TASTING #1: November Collector’s Club wines are the subject of tonight’s free tasting at West Seattle Cellars (WSB sponsor; 6026 California SW).

SKELETON THEATRE: Missed it last night? Another chance tonight! 6-9 pm at 36th and Hanford. We’ll add a video clip from last night, in a bit (update – here it is):

The show’s explained here.

NETWORKING EVENT: For local business owners – as explained here:

I Take The Lead is a professional networking organization that builds referral groups to exchange qualified leads and build business alliances. Two guest speakers at tonight’s event, Kris Prochaska, author of “Life Well Spoken: Free Your Inner Voice and Prosper,” and Elizabeth Lee of Seattle Organizing Works. They start at 6:30; prize raffle at 7:30.
Location: Windermere Real Estate Office, 4526 California Ave SW., Seattle, WA
Thursday, November 1, 2012: 6:00 to 8:30 pm

WINE TASTING #2: West Seattleite-founded Northwest Hope and Healing, which helps breast-cancer patients, is collaborating tonight with West Seattle wine shop Bin 41 on a wine-tasting event: Women Winemakers of the Pacific Northwest, 6-8 pm at Columbia City Gallery. Says NWHH’s Shari Sewell, “We are featuring 5 women who are taking the WA and OR wine industry by storm and creating award-winning wines. Tickets are $40 which includes wine tasting, appetizers and some great conversation! All the funds raised Thursday night will go into the NW Hope & Healing Patient Assistance Fund to help women get through cancer by helping provide financial grants for every day basics.” Full details on the NWHH website.

‘LEND ME A TENOR’ OPENING NIGHT! 7:30 pm at the West Seattle High School Theater (3000 California SW) – it’s the WSHS Drama fall production. Full details in our calendar listing.

MURRAY AID: Benefit tonight at Feedback Lounge (WSB sponsor; 6451 California SW), 7 pm, to help Seattle beverage industry legend Murray Stenson with finances related to health issues. Details here.

FOOD DRIVE ‘COMPETITION’: LaFarge and Ash Grove have a friendly competition going for the next 20 days, according to Lashanna at LaFarge – a food drive, to see who can collect the most before Thanksgiving, to help neighbors in need. If you work at, or plan to visit, either plant, now’s the time to donate! They’re collecting nonperishable food, diapers, gift cards, and cash to donate to Northwest Harvest.

Also find nightlife listings and more, for tonight and beyond, on our calendar!

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TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Thursday’s updates
November 1, 2012 6:58 am
|      13 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

(Live view from the only WS Bridge camera currently in operation; see other cameras on the WSB Traffic page)
6:58 AM: Nothing major so far. Thanks in advance again for your reports throughout the day.

7:25 AM: From Jana via Twitter: Stalled vehicle on the bridge, and an ambulance. (Update – apparently the ambulance was headed elsewhere, which explains why there’s nothing on the 911 log; the car, however, was stuck at the high-rise, “right at the merge point.”)

8:55 AM: Scanner has word of a possible spinout on southbound 99 near the West Seattle Bridge.

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West Seattle schools: Denny launches Read-A-Thon fundraiser
November 1, 2012 2:49 am
|    Comments Off on West Seattle schools: Denny launches Read-A-Thon fundraiser
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

Now that it’s November – it’s time for Denny International Middle School‘s biggest fundraiser of the year – Read-A-Thon Month. According to an announcement from the Denny PTSA, “Students will be setting individualized goals with their literacy teachers and then asking for pledges of money for accomplishing those goals. The PTSA’s goal this year is $9,000 and to have 450 students participate. There are prizes for students who accomplish their reading goals and for those who receive a minimum donation of $10. If the community would like to donate to this great cause but doesn’t have a student at Denny please feel free to contact one of the co-chairs and we’ll get you connected to a student who might need a sponsor.” Co-chairs are Nicole Sipila and Karen Vegors; contact info is on the Read-A-Thon page of the Denny website. Looking ahead to holiday shopping, Barnes & Noble will have a Denny book fair week in December – kickoff event on December 14th, part of the proceeds from 12/14-12/21 will benefit Denny.

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Update: Police search, helicopter in Highland Park area
November 1, 2012 1:04 am
|      6 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | Helicopter | West Seattle news

helicopterwatch.png1:04 AM: Thanks for the texts and other messages – there’s an air/ground search in the Highland Park area. We’re checking on it.

1:20 AM: No info available from an official source at this point but we did hear a snippet of scanner traffic mentioning a burglary, and SPD’s Tweets by Beat – automated bits of information about police calls, delayed about an hour, sent out via Twitter – mentions a 12th/Holden burglary before midnight. (The full list of the latest “Tweets by Beat” for the West Seattle patrol sectors is available at all times, continuously updated, on our Crime Watch page.)

8:40 AM UPDATE: We now know what this was all about – talked with Det. Mark Jamieson in SPD Media Relations. He says a burglary was reported just before midnight in the 7000 block of 12th SW; while that was being investigated, another officer spotted three suspects “pushing a shopping cart full of apparently stolen property” in the 1200 block of SW Holden. When they saw police, they ran off in different directions. A K-9 team and additional officers came in to help search; the K-9 found one of them hiding under a bush at 13th and Webster. That suspect, 16 years old, was arrested and booked into the Youth Services Center. The Guardian One law-enforcement helicopter (which belongs to the King County Sheriff’s Office but is called in by other agencies as needed – SPD does NOT have its own helicopter) came in to help with the search for a while, but the other two suspects weren’t found. What officers DID find: Some stolen property, near where the arrest was made – including three large flatscreen TVs.

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West Seattle Halloween 2012: It was a dark and not-so-stormy night
October 31, 2012 10:35 pm
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   Holidays | West Seattle news

The rain stopped just in time for the heart of Halloween around West Seattle – and by mid-evening, a spooky moonrise lit up the eastern sky (thanks to Lise for sending the photo from High Point). Speaking of space …

We stopped by the space-themed Skeleton Theatre (which repeats tomorrow night, 6-9 pm!) – was that old-school phone for E.T.? Big crowd at 36th and Hanford. More on that later, including a bit of video. But we started the evening with trick-or-treaters at Westwood Village:

Wyatt’s Jewelers (WSB sponsor) was one of the stores participating in the shopping center’s annual trick-or-treating this evening. They had a “guess how much candy in the jar” contest going, too. At nearby Barnes & Noble, it was book-or-treat:

Of course the staff chose literary themes – that’s “Sherlock Holmes” at left. Now, on to the neighborhoods … From Sunrise Heights – Paul got this trick-or-treat team to sit still for a snapshot:

Cloudia sent photos, including the next two:

Her greeting for you: “Happy Halloween from the Organic Sprouts Daycare and the Haynes household”:

Next, from Natonia – Dom, in the “old-school rapper” outfit:

At the Starbucks drive-through just west of the bridge, Tiea found this character:

Shared with us via Facebook – this photo from Sarah:

And jack-o-lanterns share the spotlight in this photo of Daniel’s son masquerading as an Ewok:

Thanks to everybody who shared photos!

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Followup: Ryan Cox charged with hate crime, assault in bus attack
October 31, 2012 7:14 pm
|      10 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | West Seattle news

Following up on our Monday report about the latest arrest of 34-year-old Ryan Cox, who first made news for a wave of homophobic graffiti vandalism three years ago: The King County Prosecuting Attorney has filed two felony charges against Cox in connection with the baseball-bat attack on a man last Friday, saying the man was attacked because of Cox’s perception of the victim’s sexual orientation. That allegation led to the first charge, malicious harassment – the formal term for “hate crime” – and the second charge is third-degree assault.

The attack happened as Cox and the 31-year-old victim – a stranger to him – were leaving a Metro Route 21 bus in the Luna Park area around 2 pm Friday; police say the man reported being hit about four times, leaving him with fist-sized welts on his back, though he declined medical attention. Cox was arrested the next day after police were called about him screaming homophobic slurs at people in the Solstice Park tennis-courts vicinity, and he is reported to have then confessed to the Friday attack. The prosecution asked today that Cox’s bail remain set at $75,000, and cited a criminal record dating back to 1995, when he was still a juvenile, as well as the “dozens of additional recent property destruction and weapon charges that were dismissed for reasons related to the defendant’s mental health.” (Those are explained in our Monday story, which also noted, as did today’s charging papers, that Cox got out of jail less than two months ago after serving almost three months for violating probation related to a stalking case from last year.) He remains in King County Jail tonight and is scheduled to answer the new charges at arraignment in King County Superior Court on November 14th.

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From the WSB Lost/Found Pets page: Jessie’s been found!
October 31, 2012 4:44 pm
|      43 COMMENTS
 |   Pets | West Seattle news

ORIGINAL REPORT, 4:44 PM: If you only check the main page here at WSB, you might not be aware that one of our “inside pages” has over the past few years become an online bulletin board for lost/found West Seattle pets (so if you find or lose one, please e-mail us!). There are many reunions – but the latest one is home-page news too.

While most lost/found dog reports are resolved relatively quickly, every so often it takes a while. Take the case of Jessie – who after 11 days has just been found and reunited with her person. You might have seen the flyers with Jessie’s photo all over West Seattle (we noticed one in The Junction just a few hours ago); numerous people have helped search for her – the comment thread on the original “lost” posting tells part of the story.

She ran off after a firecracker spooked her on October 20th; it was warned that she is very skittish, so don’t go after her, just call with the sighting. The sightings were reported from Admiral to Delridge and beyond … then she was finally found this afternoon in Gatewood/Upper Fauntleroy by Brooke, who hadn’t seen the listing but did see a dog on the run and spent an hour trying to get her! Once she did, she called us and asked how to report a found pet; we asked her to send in the info and a photo – and then realized the dog looked like Jessie, so we made sure Brooke saw Jessie’s photo, and that Jessie’s person knew about Brooke’s discovery. Turns out it IS Jessie, and she’s now back home. Thanks to everyone who takes the time out to watch for and/or take care of lost pets.

10:10 PM UPDATE: Here’s a photo of Jessie with her owner Ann at left, finder Brooke at right:

The photo is courtesy of Brooke’s mom Gwen. She explains that Brooke works at Giannoni’s Pizza in Westwood Village, and had to go to work before Ann arrived to pick up Jessie – so they went over to Westwood to meet Brooke.

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How should the city spend your money? Tell ’em by 5 pm
October 31, 2012 4:05 pm
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle politics

If you can spare a few minutes, and you haven’t already filled out the city’s survey about budget priorities – they note via Twitter that it closes at 5 pm and they would love to hear from more people before they make the final decisions in the next few weeks. You can take the survey here.

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West Seattle Crime Watch: Car prowlers undeterred by rain
October 31, 2012 3:22 pm
|      6 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | West Seattle news

Think it’s less likely that you’ll be targeted by a car prowler if the weather is miserable? Think again. Three of the four most-recent West Seattle Crime Watch reader reports we’ve received are about car prowls on the first day of this rainy week. First, from Admiral:

My car was broken into (Monday morning) between midnight and 8am at 42nd Ave SW and Spokane. They took the entire center column that included an old Alpine stereo and the heating controls. They also took 2 iPods. According to the SPD it was a clean, professional job. They didn’t break any windows or damage the doors to get into the vehicle. Just want to left my neighbors in this area to be aware and avoid leaving valuables in their cars.

Next, two more car break-ins, both in Seaview, plus another case of mailbox tampering:Read More

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West Seattle author Mike Hickey marketing novel ‘flash mob’ style
October 31, 2012 12:53 pm
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle books | West Seattle news

Want to be part of a “flash mob” without leaving your own home/office? Local writer Mike Hickey‘s first novel is going on sale online, and therein lies the opportunity.

Hickey is also a South Seattle Community College (WSB sponsor) faculty member, and he says “some former students have organized a ‘flash mob’ purchase” of his novel, “Counterclockwise,” at exactly 11 am tomorrow (Thursday, November 1st). He says it’s an attempt to at least briefly “break onto the Amazon.com bestseller list, albeit for a brief duration.”

What’s the book about? “It’s 1980, Tucson, Arizona, and a grocery store clerk becomes friends with a world-famous rock singer. Their friendship inspires each to face their respective pasts and the demons that seem to be sabotaging their respective futures.” He adds, “This book started as a series of related short stories in 1978. It is a thirty-four-year-old dream come true!”

Even if it sounds interesting now, Hickey says, consider waiting till 11 am tomorrow (Pacific time) – he’s asking friends and relatives (and you if you’d like to help!) to spread the word everywhere they can. (You can share this on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, multiple other places by using the “Share This” link below the story, same as ANY story on WSB.) Just to see what happens. The link for buying it from Amazon is here.

You can also meet Mike (who you may also know as Seattle’s Poet Populist) at his book-launch party, 7 pm November 14 at Feedback Lounge (WSB sponsor) – “free appetizers and lots of fun.”

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West Seattle Wednesday: Weather update; non-Halloween haps
October 31, 2012 10:49 am
|    Comments Off on West Seattle Wednesday: Weather update; non-Halloween haps
 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous


(Photo by Nick Adams for WSB – click image for larger view)
First, the weather: The National Weather Service has it down to one word – rain. Previously, we published the Halloween shout-out (see those activities for this afternoon/evening here) – and now, a few NON-Halloween highlights:

*Seattle Public Schools two-hour early-dismissal day

*Library events include ongoing Homework Help at Delridge & at High Point libraries at 4 pm, and Somali Story Time at HP at 5 pm

*Treehouse Lounge grand opening in The Admiral District

The full list for today and beyond is on our calendar (but if you’re looking for Halloween, THAT full list is on this special page).

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West Seattle Halloween 2012: Not just trick-or-treating
October 31, 2012 9:50 am
|      6 COMMENTS
 |   Fun stuff to do | Holidays | West Seattle news

(Photo by Christopher Boffoli)
The six days of Halloween – stretching back to last Friday – have finally reached the big day/night itself. For the list of what’s happening this afternoon/evening, we point you one more time to the WSB West Seattle (and vicinity) Halloween page – with events including Westwood Village trick-or-treating (5-7 pm), the White Center Pumpkin-Carving Contest (bring your jack-o-lantern), Skeleton Theatre (which is all-new this year, as previewed here Tuesday), “Nightmare on 44th,” bar parties, and more. (We added two more events overnight; if you notice something still missing, we have time to make additions – please e-mail the info to editor@westseattleblog.com ASAP. Thanks!)

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Another West Seattle walk: Take an ‘urban field tour’ Saturday
October 31, 2012 9:22 am
|    Comments Off on Another West Seattle walk: Take an ‘urban field tour’ Saturday
 |   Environment | High Point | West Seattle news

The Feet First series of three West Seattle neighborhood walks was such a hit, they added a fourth – and there’s still room to join it at 1 pm this Saturday:

Join Feet First Watershed Walks Ambassador Timothy Lowry, PE, LEED AP, transportation and watershed planner on an urban field tour of the High Point neighborhood. High Point is ten percent of the Longfellow Creek watershed; this tour follows up on Feet First Neighborhood Walking Ambassador Bryan Fiedorczyk’s Watershed Walk of Longfellow Creek. Experience High Point’s innovative community planning and sustainable design. We will walk the venerable and diverse Smart Growth neighborhood and see examples of green buildings, mobility connections to transit, parks, and Longfellow Creek. We will also see Low Impact Development/natural Green Stormwater Infrastructure installations. Approaching a decade in the ground, the Natural Drainage Systems, tree retention, landscape amenities and permeable pavements have matured into a very pleasing, walkable and desirable urban neighborhood.

It’s free (leaving from the High Point Library at 35th/Raymond), but FF does ask that you RSVP – which you can do by going here.

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TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Wet Wednesday
October 31, 2012 6:58 am
|      14 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

(Live view from the only WS Bridge camera currently in operation; see other cameras on the WSB Traffic page)
6:58 AM: Again today, the rain is the main challenge, with “periods of significant rain” expected, per the National Weather Service‘s flood advisory. No specific obstacles on the main routes from/to/through West Seattle, so far. Note that Seattle Public Schools are out two hours early today.

7:26 AM: Just reported, for those headed this way from points north of downtown on Highway 99, a crash in/near the SOUTHBOUND Battery Street Tunnel.

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