6:15 PM: Just got word from Metro that “Southbound Routes 21 Express, 54, 55, 56, 113, 120, 121, 122, 125 traveling on Alaskan Way Viaduct are being rerouted due to traffic congestion. Westbound on Columbia St & 2 Ave stop will be missed. Use stops along 3 Ave between Pike St & Cherry St.”

6:49 PM UPDATE: Metro says the buses are back to their regular routes. Still not certain whether there was a specific cause of the “congestion” – nothing on the 911 log.

Bushaw murder case in jury’s hands: The closing arguments

August 25, 2011 3:06 pm

| 18 COMMENTS

| Crime | West Seattle news

(UPDATE: No verdict on Friday; the jurors continue deliberating Monday.)
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

Seven women and five men are now deciding the fate of the two defendants on trial for the murder of Steve Bushaw, a West Seattle native shot to death in the middle of California SW on Super Bowl Sunday 2009.

Before the case went to those jurors on Wednesday afternoon, they were the audience for impassioned arguments from the three lawyers in the case – King County Senior Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Jeff Baird, defendant Brandon Chaney‘s lawyer Jim Roe, and defendant Bryce Huber‘s lawyer Tony Savage.

All three are veterans, decades in their profession, countless cases. Yet for them, for the jurors, for King County Superior Court Judge Joan DuBuque and her staff, for the defendants, for their families, for the victim’s families, for those who have observed, this trial has consumed the final month of the summer of 2011.

As each lawyer in turn faced the jurors on Wednesday to make his last pitch, the spectators in the courtroom sat as rapt as the jury, listening, watching. Who would deliver the knockout blow? Who would tie together the complex evidence – from cell-phone records to relationships involving key yet uncharged figures in the case – to render the most believable version of, this is what really happened in the weeks, days, hours, minutes before gunfire in the middle of California SW cut short a man’s life at just 26?

For the jury, of course, the task was different – simply, did the prosecution prove “beyond a reasonable doubt” that Chaney and Huber are guilty of murder, though two other men have pleaded guilty to firing the deadly shots?

The day began with the official instructions to the jurors:Read More

West Seattle restaurants: ‘Experienced restaurateur’ buys Bohemian

August 25, 2011 1:02 pm

| 36 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle restaurants

WSB’ers are graced with sharp powers of observation, clearly! We’ve received a near-deluge of notes (thank you!) from people who saw the SOLD sign go up over the FOR SALE sign at the ex-Bohemian (3405 California SW), which closed last December. Public records yielded no information, so we checked with the listing broker, Jason Miller at Ewing and Clark. Here’s what he could tell us: The sale just closed yesterday. Miller – who lives in West Seattle – says the buyer does not want to be publicly identified yet, but is an “experienced restaurateur.” Miller says the sale took a while for reasons including, he says, it’s tough to get financing for restaurant projects right now – and unlike some properties on the market, this one involved purchasing the entire building, not just the restaurant business. More info when it’s available!

Still speeding: Latest West Seattle notes from SPD

August 25, 2011 12:41 pm

| 2 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle police

The Seattle Police website SPD Blotter has just published another of its occasional roundups on what the Aggressive Driver Response Team is up to, and it’s West Seattle-focused, like many in the past. The furthest-over-the-limit speeder noted this time is 73 mph on the 45 mph West Seattle Bridge; see the full SPD Blotter report here.

Big day for Lafayette Elementary playground; your turn’s next

August 25, 2011 11:13 am

| 4 COMMENTS

| How to help | West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

The upgrade-in-progress playground of West Seattle’s most populous elementary school, Lafayette, are swarming today with hundreds of volunteers in bright orange shirts. The ING Direct Investing team members are working on playground components including maps of the world (top photo) and the U.S., and the new play structure itself:

They’re also painting, and planting, in and around playground walls:

And they’re helping install the bricks that helped raise money for the project, which is using a combination of community donations and city matching funds:

Next step: This weekend, a community work party, which might stretch to a second day if needed. Here’s the announcement from one of the project chairs, Holly Grambihler:

We still need your help to finish our project. Our next big Lafayette volunteer work party is scheduled for Saturday, 8/27. We will start work at 9 am and will work until 4 pm. We’re hoping to once again to complete our tasks on Saturday and work on Sunday 8/28 only if needed. …

The main objectives of the weekend work party are to put the final touches on the playground. We’ll be spreading fresh wood chips around the new big toy, and completing any planting and weed pulling. In addition, we will be working on finalizing any of the interior painting projects (we’re painting the front lobby, around the classroom doors and in the new portables), and helping move the teachers into their portables.

Please bring work gloves. Also, we are in need of: wheel barrows, shovels & rakes, tarps to help carry the wood chips, and planting/weeding tools. Please make sure to have your name on your tools. … Please bring snacks/lunches. We’ll provide waters.

Kids are okay to bring – but there will still be a fence separating the satellite play area, and they will not be able to play on the new big toy yet. We may have a special project or two for the kids!!

The playground’s grand opening is set for September 6th, 5-7 pm – on the eve of the first day of school.

West Seattle traffic alert: SW Spokane Street paving Sunday

August 25, 2011 8:42 am

| Comments Off on West Seattle traffic alert: SW Spokane Street paving Sunday

| Transportation | West Seattle news

If you’ve seen the portable messageboard on Admiral flashing an alert about SW Spokane Street – this is what it’s about. Just in from SDOT:

The Seattle Department of Transportation will be working Sunday, August 28, on the eastbound street level of the 2600 block of SW Spokane Street. The work … will not impact motorists entering the West Seattle Bridge/Spokane Street Viaduct eastbound; however, eastbound street level traffic will be detoured via southbound SW Avalon Way, eastbound on SW Genesee Street and then northbound on SW Delridge Way. Detour signs will be posted to direct traffic. The crews will begin removing the surface layer of the street at 7 a.m. and finish the paving work by 5 p.m. During the construction, all sidewalks will remain open.

Also note that Sunday is the Alki Beach 5K Run/Walk, which will close Alki SW to Anchor (Luna) Park for about three hours starting at 8 am – still time to sign up and be part of it!

Now official: ‘Mobile Chowdown’ will be in West Seattle next

August 25, 2011 8:05 am

| 15 COMMENTS

| West Seattle festivals | West Seattle news

Food-truck fans, mark your calendars: Exactly one month after we first reported that the next “Mobile Chowdown” food-truck roundup was likely to be in West Seattle, organizers say they’ve finally finalized the plan, and the trucks are on the way. October 2nd is the date, The Junction is the place – open to all ages, unlike some past Chowdowns. We’ll be checking today for any additional details; organizer Michi Suzuki told us last month that they hoped for more than 20 trucks. California will close for the occasion, Edmunds to Oregon.

West Seattle Thursday: Caspar Babypants, late shopping, more

August 25, 2011 7:52 am

| 2 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(WSB photo from last Thursday’s concert @ Hiawatha)
Perfect weather for an outdoor concert – which is one of the highlights from the WSB West Seattle Events calendar:

CASPAR BABYPANTS AT HIAWATHA: Second-to-last show tonight for this year’s Summer Concerts at Hiawatha series, and the headliner is the hottest act in kids’ music, West Seattle’s own Caspar Babypants! Free concert, 6:30 pm, presented by the Admiral Neighborhood Association and a long list of co-sponsors (listed on the right side here); bring coins to donate to Wellspring Family Services (whose kids’ coin drive is under way, with a custom CB song up for grabs).

NEW SEALTH PRINCIPAL AT COMMUNITY SAFETY MEETING: It’s the first major community-meeting appearance for new Chief Sealth International High School principal Chris Kinsey, 6 pm tonight at 9421 18th SW, during the South Delridge/White Center Community Safety Coalition meeting, also expected to take up topics including last week’s WC murder of 23-year-old Sweetheart Failautusi and the proposed reopening of the White Center nightclub formerly known as Club Evo, to be known as Club Reventón.

GO SHOPPING TONIGHT: The final August edition of Shop Late Thursdays in The Junction, until 9 pm; here’s the list of which shops are participating.

WINE TASTING: Two tonight – a special tasting from 6-7:30 pm at Bin 41 wine shop in The Junction, 4707 California SW; join Christopher Chan, executive director of the Rainier Club, as he shares a medley of the top wines awarded Double Gold status at the annual Washington Wine Awards. … At West Seattle Wine Cellars, 6026 California SW, it’s Rhône Wines, from C&G Wines, 5:30-8 pm.

WHAT’S UP AT YOUNGSTOWN: From DNDA, we get word of a ong list of happenings tonight and other Thursdays at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center – 4408 Delridge Way SW
9:45 – 10:45 – Ultimate Hardbody Workout – Allyson Elzea, certified instructor – 206-437-0873 or SeattlePriorityFitness.com
Noon – West Seattle Nooners (Building Business one Lunch at a Time) – More info at westseattlenooners.com
6 pm – West Seattle Aikikai Aikido – Call 206-235-5100 westseattleaikikai.com
7:30 – Cabiri (aerialist classes). For more information contact – charly@cabiri.org

(added) WEST SEATTLE PHOTOGRAPHER’S EXHIBITION: This evening 6 – 8 pm, long-time West Seattle resident and fine arts photographer Rick Bringolf opens his exhibition titled “Waterway” at Glazer’s Photographic Gallery, 517 Dexter Avenue North (photographic rental building). Featuring large-format, black and white images of the Port of Seattle, this event is open to the public. “Waterway” runs through October 13th.

Followup: 250 checked at Nick of Time heart screenings

August 25, 2011 7:10 am

| 6 COMMENTS

| Health | West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

The Nick of Time Foundation says 250 young people came to the Galleria at Chief Sealth International High School on Wednesday for free heart screenings, and 14 needed followup. The organization offers the screenings in hopes of detecting hidden heart problems that can be deadly, as was the case for its namesake, 16-year-old Nick Varrenti.

Update: Big response but small fire on Fauntleroy Way

August 24, 2011 10:06 pm

| 13 COMMENTS

| West Seattle fires | West Seattle news

(Photo by Patrick Sand for WSB)
10:06 PM: Just in case you heard the sirens (we did) – the fire response is in the 8900 block of Fauntleroy Way SW. Scanner says it’s a kitchen fire that’s already reported “tapped.” But because the (standard for a house-fire call) response is so big, Fauntleroy will be blocked for a bit till units are canceled. We’re on our way to doublecheck.

10:18 PM UPDATE: Our crew at the scene says two engines remain; firefighters are investigating just to be sure the fire didn’t “extend” into the walls or other parts of the structure. The house is a few doors north of the Fauntleroy ferry dock and Cove Park entrances. Fauntleroy Way is no longer blocked, since most of the units have been sent back.

West Seattle scene: Late-summer sunset

August 24, 2011 10:02 pm

| 8 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle weather

Thanks to those who sent photos of tonight’s truly amazing sunset. That one’s from Debra Salazar Herbst.

And a slightly different angle, from Tina Doherty:

Video: Almost-done Delridge Skatepark gets a test drive

August 24, 2011 6:11 pm

| 7 COMMENTS

| Delridge | West Seattle news | West Seattle parks

Went over to Delridge Skatepark – set for dedication during Delridge Day on September 17th – after getting a tip that somebody was skating the almost-finished park. “Somebody” turned out to be crew members from Grindline, the West Seattle-based company that designed and is building the park, just trying it out. (Important to note – they’re working on the project; this remains a CONSTRUCTION SITE, **not** open to the public.) Major construction work’s been under way for a little more than four months. P.S. To keep up with what else is planned for the Delridge Day festival, in addition to the skatepark opening, you can “like” its official Facebook page.

Produce stand in Delridge? Co-op plans a test this Sunday

August 24, 2011 5:47 pm

| 3 COMMENTS

| Delridge | Health | West Seattle news

The next big step for Delridge Produce Cooperative, working for more than two years to get a reliable source of fresh produce to Delridge, is this Sunday! DPC board member Galena White sends this update:

We are testing a produce stand by selling a few select, very inexpensive fruits and vegetables outside of the West Seattle Tool Library at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center this Sunday, from about 12:30pm to 3pm. We will have fresh organic peaches, apricots, heirloom tomatoes, hyperlocal red-leaf lettuce, and baby carrot bunches, as well as a few *berry nice* extras. Anyone who wants to show us that a produce stand for Delridge is truly sustainable should show up early, before we run out! We will also be offering a limited-time free membership to those who wish to sign up to get even better prices on our next order.

That’s a reference to the Buyers’ Club they launched two months ago. DPC tested a “mobile market” back in 2009.

Update from court: Steve Bushaw murder trial goes to the jury

August 24, 2011 3:43 pm

| Comments Off on Update from court: Steve Bushaw murder trial goes to the jury

| Crime | West Seattle news

At 3:38 pm, the lawyers in the Steve Bushaw murder trial finished their closing arguments (including the final rebuttal from prosecutor Jeff Baird), and the jury has gone off to start deliberating. We’ll summarize the gist of the arguments in a story later.

Hit-run crash followup: Teen cited for DUI, no license

August 24, 2011 1:44 pm

| 54 COMMENTS

| Crime | West Seattle news

(Photo by Katie Meyer for WSB)
We have more information today on last night’s 44th/Stevens hit-run crash that sent four people to the hospital, including two children, who we now know are 5 and 9 years old. Police say the driver reported to have run from the scene is a juvenile – 16 years old – and that his breath test was over the legal drunkenness level. Read on for more details:Read More

West Seattle Crime Watch: Stolen vehicle to watch for

August 24, 2011 12:53 pm

| 3 COMMENTS

| Crime | West Seattle news

Hope you never need to report a stolen vehicle – but if you do, we’re committed to helping get the word out as part of West Seattle Crime Watch. Jeff just e-mailed to report:

My 2005 white Landcruiser was stolen Monday evening from the Admiral district. Plate number 208SWW. Please call Jeff At 206-390-5919 if you see it.

Fauntleroy YMCA closed today, expected to reopen tomorrow

August 24, 2011 11:58 am

| 1 COMMENT

| Fauntleroy | West Seattle news

Note from Samantha Bowes at the West Seattle/Fauntleroy YMCA (WSB sponsor):

The Fauntleroy YMCA (9140 California Ave SW) will be closed for the rest of the day today due to a major water issue; we anticipate being able to open on time tomorrow morning. Fauntleroy members are welcome to use our West Seattle facility (4515 36th Ave SW) in the meantime.

Highland Park spraypark: 3 design concepts unveiled

August 24, 2011 11:42 am

| 2 COMMENTS

| Highland Park | West Seattle news | West Seattle parks

(UPDATED WEDNESDAY NIGHT with clearer images of the concepts, plus PDFs of graphics/info from the meeting)

By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

Along the edge of the three-seasons-closed Highland Park wading pool, more than two dozen people gathered last night to get their first look at ideas for the spraypark that will replace it.

~~They also learned that the spraypark won’t be open next summer – because the scope of the project keeps expanding, so 2012 is now when it’ll be built, 2013 is when it’ll be open.~~ (POST-MEETING UPDATE: The spraypark itself *will* be open for 2012; it’s the rest of the expanded project, such as building renovations, that wouldn’t be done till 2013.)

The big question the project team asked those who gathered in the park by the pool last night: Which of three proposed themes (see them full-size here) do you like, and what do you want to see around the spraypark – places to sit, places to hangout, art, etc.?

This will be West Seattle’s first and only spraypark, so it’s of potential interest to families all over the area, not just in Highland Park.

August 24, 2011 9:13 am

| 55 COMMENTS

| Utilities | West Seattle news

9:13 AM: In case you’ve noticed this – it’s not just you. Via Twitter and e-mail, we’ve gotten reports of Comcast Internet speed problems – and experienced it ourselves in the 7 am hour at WSB HQ in Upper Fauntleroy. Comcast confirms it’s having problems – apparently not just West Seattle – and is working on them. They’re hoping to have it fixed by mid-afternoon.

12:56 PM: Multiple reports say this has been fixed as of less than an hour ago – let us know if you are still having trouble (but of course first make sure Comcast knows!).

THURSDAY UPDATE FROM COMCAST: Just out of the inbox, from Comcast communications VP Steve Kipp –

On behalf of Comcast, I want to apologize to our West Seattle customers and respond to the people who have commented here as well as my friends and neighbors who contacted me yesterday asking why their Internet speeds were so slow yesterday morning. The short answer is that we were doing some maintenance work overnight on a small portion of our network serving West Seattle. Normally, this type of work, which takes place nearly every night of the week on some portion of our network across the state, results in little or no disruption to our customers and is completed well before people wake to go to work. However, in this case, our network technicians ran into an unforeseen problem that resulted in the work continuing well into the morning and resulting in slower speeds for some of our West Seattle customers. If you have any questions about your service or would like to contact us directly you can call us at 800-COMCAST or reach us at We_Can_Help@cable.comcast.com or @ComcastCares on Twitter.

West Seattle Wednesday: Bikes, barbecuing, free kickboxing…

August 24, 2011 7:28 am

| 2 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(High Point Market Garden, photographed last month)
From the WSB West Seattle Events calendar:

HEART SCREENINGS: Free heart screenings at Chief Sealth International High School for ANY West Seattle youth 14-24. Appointments between 7:30 am-3 pm. Full details here – pre-registration by e-mail was requested, but you could drop by to see if they still have room (we’ll be checking on that this morning too).

GENTLE YOGA: Drop-in at Senior Center of West Seattle (4217 SW Oregon), Wednesdays 9:15 am – 10:30 am. Chair and standing postures (no floor-sitting). Improve breathing, posture, flexibility, balance and peace of mind. Postures can be adapted to your abilities or limitations. Wear loose and comfortable clothing.

GET IT WHILE IT’S FRESH: Weekly availability of the High Point Market Garden Farm Stand, 4-7 pm, 32nd SW and SW Juneau. This is a weekly Farm Stand selling seasonal fresh organically grown produce right next to the garden where the produce is grown.

TUNES AND TUNE-UPS: Special event at White Center’s Greenbridge Plaza, bike tune-ups plus an outdoor concert, 4 – 6 pm (more info here), with demos of everything from Metro bus bike racks to “healthy smoothies.” Co-sponsors include Sustainable West Seattle.

FREE BARBECUE: Seattle Parks and Recreation will do all the cooking while you have all the fun listening to music, jumping on the BIG Bounce House, playing games, and chowing down on grilled hot dogs, veggie dogs, chips, fruit, veggies, and juice, Southwest Community Center, 5:30-7 pm.

OPEN HOUSE: Sweet Pea Cottage Preschool of the Arts, 7141 California SW, is holding an Open House 6-7 pm.

FREE KICKBOXING: SIMA Martial Arts presents FREE Women’s Introduction to Kickboxing class 6:15 – 7:15 pm! Any fitness level welcome. Call for details and to reserve a spot. 206-935-4531.

Need your car washed? Benefit car wash Saturday for Nickelsville

August 24, 2011 12:08 am

| 4 COMMENTS

| How to help | Nickelsville encampment | West Seattle news

In case you haven’t already seen this in the WSB Forums: The encampment that’s been on a city-owned site in easternmost West Seattle since mid-May, Nickelsville, hopes to raise some operating funds this Saturday with a benefit car wash. As posted by longtime WSB’er and current Nickelsville resident Mike (miws) in the Forums, it’ll be at Les Schwab Tires in SODO, 6111 4th Avenue South, 8 am-5 pm Saturday (August 27th). Cash donations accepted; they’ll use the money to cover ongoing operating expenses, particularly portable restrooms and trash service.

Update: Four people hurt in South Admiral crash

August 23, 2011 8:17 pm

| 43 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | WS breaking news

(Photo by Katie Meyer for WSB)
8:17 PM: At least four people are going to the hospital from the scene of a “heavy rescue” callout at 44th and Stevens, according to WSB contributor Katie Meyer. She says original scanner traffic suggested this might be a hit-run – with at least two vehicles involved. Katie says it appears that two children and two adults are being transported to the hospital. The scene is just west of PCC (here’s a map). More to come.

8:37 PM: ~~Adding a photo – will have clearer ones shortly.~~ Firefighters at the scene confirm four people were taken to the hospital, all by private ambulance, no life-threatening injuries. (photo added)

(Photo courtesy Juliette)
Trying to find out if the driver who reportedly bolted one of the vehicles has been found; police at the scene aren’t commenting.

West Seattle scenes: ‘Rainbow House’ no longer a rainbow house

August 23, 2011 6:23 pm

| 21 COMMENTS

| West Seattle history | West Seattle news

WSB contributor Keri DeTore checked out tipster Jen‘s report that the “Rainbow House” in the Admiral District is a “rainbow house” no more – and discovered it’s true:

From Keri (who also took the photos): Though the rainbow roof is still visible, the paint job that graced West Seattle’s “Rainbow House” for 40 years is no more.

According to Windermere Realtor Maria Quinteiro, who just facilitated the sale of the home, the wife of the original home painter kept the paint job in memory of her husband. The family’s estate has now chosen to sell the house and, says Quinteiro, rainbow colors just aren’t what the new owner wanted. The exterior is being painted blue, and in time the colorful pattern on the roof will also be replaced.

The realtor also insists that rumors of the house being haunted “aren’t true!” (P.S. A “before” photo can be seen on this page. And thanks again to Jen for the tip – here are multiple ways to reach WSB, 24/7.)