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    ADMIRAL BLOCK PARTY: Video, photos

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    SEE INSIDE: Long-closed Hiawatha CC

Transit alert for Monday: Metro ‘reduced weekday’; no Water Taxi
February 16, 2011 12:14 pm
|    Comments Off on Transit alert for Monday: Metro ‘reduced weekday’; no Water Taxi
 |   King County Water Taxi | Transportation | West Seattle news

Quick heads-up if you haven’t heard this already: For Presidents Day next Monday (February 21st), Metro will be on “reduced weekday service,” and the King County Water Taxi will NOT run at all (West Seattle and Vashon runs will both be idle).

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Traffic alert: Crews reported at Fairmount ‘sinkhole’; roads blocked
February 16, 2011 10:11 am
|    Comments Off on Traffic alert: Crews reported at Fairmount ‘sinkhole’; roads blocked
 |   Safety | Transportation | West Seattle news

We checked out reports of a small “sinkhole” by the traffic circle at Fairmount/Forest, south uphill end of Fairmount Ravine area (area map), the other day – it didn’t look major, and had a road sign over it more than covering the area, but this morning, Stefan e-mailed to report:

I thought it might be worth mentioning that the intersection of Fairmount and Forest by Hiawatha Community Ctr is closed due to a developing sinkhole. I noticed the beginning of it on Monday and called SDOT. Looks like they will be working on it shortly since they have cordoned off the whole traffic circle and roads leading to are closed.

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West Seattle Hi-Yu Spring Tea/Silent Auction set for April 3
February 16, 2011 9:30 am
|    Comments Off on West Seattle Hi-Yu Spring Tea/Silent Auction set for April 3
 |   Announcements

Just announced:

West Seattle Hi Yu Spring Tea and Silent Auction
The Hall at Fauntleroy
9131 California Ave. SW

Tea sandwiches, savories and sweets! Please join us for a Spring Tea and Silent Auction on Sunday, April 3rd from 2-4:30pm at the The Hall at Fauntleroy. Funds raised will support the Miss West Seattle Hi Yu Scholarship Program and help build the float that represents West Seattle at parades throughout the Puget Sound. Our premier sponsor this year is Tuxedos and Tennis Shoes Catering and special guest Seafair Pirate Chuck Marcoullier will be our MC for the afternoon. Tickets are $25 per person or reserve a table of 10 for $250. Make your reservation today! Call 206 835-0561 or email wshiyu@yahoo.com. Seating is limited.

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Update: Police looking for killer after stabbing in Fauntleroy
February 16, 2011 12:20 am
|      45 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | Fauntleroy | West Seattle news

(This story will stay atop the home page TFN – please scroll beneath it for other, newer stories. Latest update, 5:24 pm, working to find out whether a suspect booked into jail for investigation of homicde is linked to this case)

(Police car in Endolyne business district, as part of search/containment following nearby stabbing)
12:20 AM: Police are on the way – and you may hear a helicopter soon too – to a reported stabbing in the 9300 block of 44th SW (map).

12:28 AM UPDATE: We have a crew on the way. What we’ve heard from scanner so far: Victim is a man about 60 years old. Multiple stab wounds, CPR under way.

(Photos and video added from here, all by Christopher Boffoli for WSB)
12:57 AM UPDATE: Search continues, with K-9, but no suspect found so far. WSB’s Christopher Boffoli is there; he’s been told the victim is believed to be around 65. Scanner indicates no suspect description available so far but the suspect “may be injured.” (If you think you see or hear anything or anyone suspicious anywhere near there, call 911 immediately.)

1:16 AM UPDATE: SeattleCrime.com cites Seattle Fire sources as saying the victim has died. We can tell you that the aid unit in which he was getting CPR never left for the hospital – then, a few minutes ago, left without lights/sirens.

1:35 AM UPDATE: Media have been allowed to leave their vehicles. A briefing is expected shortly. We’ll have details as soon as they’re available.

(iPhone video added – briefing, unedited)
2:02 AM UPDATE: Here’s what Christopher says the media was told: SPD Captain Greg Schmidt briefed reporters, confirming that the victim, in his early 60s, is dead. The 911 call came from the victim’s wife, who was in another room of the house and heard her husband talking with someone, then arguing; when she went out, she found her husband stabbed, apparently in the chest, though SPD cannot confirm number of wounds. The man could not give police any information about the attacker; the wife didn’t see him and didn’t recognize the voice, but it’s believed he was “known” to the victim. This is West Seattle’s first homicide in almost five months; the previous ones were on two successive days, September 22nd and 23rd of last year – first the man killed in Roxhill Park, then the quadruple murder-suicide shootings in southeastern West Seattle.

5:31 AM UPDATE: Still no arrest reported.

8:35 AM UPDATE: Same status; police have posted a short item on SPD Blotter, without new details, except that it mentions a single stab wound to the chest, and asks that anyone with information on the case contact them. Photos added above and below – crime tape across the front of the property, and unmarked (except for the letters/numbers in the back window) Crime Scene Investigation (CSI) vans on the street.

12:23 PM UPDATE: We’ve just checked with the King County Medical Examiner’s Office, and they have NOT yet released the victim’s identity. If they DO confirm it – which doesn’t appear to have happened yet, according to the person with whom we spoke – and finish required notifications, the public announcement would likely be late this afternoon.

1:32 PM UPDATE: Just talked to Det. Mark Jamieson from the SPD Media Unit to ask if anyone’s been arrested or is being questioned. “Nobody in custody,” he replies, and no other news to report as “very active” investigation continues.

5:23 PM UPDATE: The King County Jail Register lists a suspect as having been booked into jail this afternoon just before 3 pm for investigation of homicide. We are working to confirm whether this is indeed a suspect in the Fauntleroy case.

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West Seattle Crime Prevention Council: Property crimes down 39%
February 15, 2011 11:58 pm
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | Southwest Precinct Crime Prevention Council | West Seattle news

(SPD’s Lt. Pierre Davis (left) and Lt. Darin Chinn talk with community members at the SW Precinct)

Story and photos by Jason Grotelueschen
Reporting for West Seattle Blog

West Seattle residents and Block Watch leaders gathered Tuesday night at Southwest Precinct for the monthly meeting of the West Seattle Crime Prevention Council, to hear positive news about recent crime trends – but also to hear a presentation that served as a sobering reminder of ongoing drug problems facing communities as a whole.

SW Precinct Lt. Pierre Davis (pictured above, at left) reported that in the past month, there has been a “39% decrease in property crimes” in West Seattle, following a “spike in activity” in January in which burglaries and car prowls were more frequent.  

Lt. Davis said that SPD “mobilized more patrols” in response to that spike, and worked closely with the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office and community members to identify troublesome individuals and “basically take them off the streets.”  He cited yesterday’s arrest of an “active car prowl suspect” as a major success story in these ongoing efforts, which include a crackdown on catalytic converter thefts from parked cars.  

A major goal, Lt. Davis said, is to build strong cases against the repeat offenders to keep them behind bars longer – more like “25-50 months” versus much shorter sentences. 

Read More

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Video: Chief Sealth boys’ basketball team wins state-playoffs spot
February 15, 2011 10:14 pm
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools | WS & Sports

From Bellevue College: Chief Sealth International High School over Mercer Island HS, 68-54. That guarantees the Seahawks a state-playoffs spot. More to come.

ADDED: More details, and video, ahead:Read More

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Update: Nobody hurt in Westwood Village crash
February 15, 2011 8:36 pm
|      13 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | WS breaking news

Thanks to Donna at Giannoni’s Pizza for sending that photo of a car crash at Westwood Village. More info to come, but from the first photos, looks like the car just nosed into one of the Pier 1 Imports front windows.

8:58 PM UPDATE: SPD tells us that just after 8 PM tonight, the woman driving the Toyota Camry jumped the curb and drove into the front window of Pier 1. They say it appears the car was parked out front and that she intended to put the car into reverse and pull away but accidentally put the car into drive. There were no injuries. Fire crews remain at the scene securing the broken glass and boarding up the window. The store manager tells us that a glass repair company is on the way and that the store will be open for business as usual tomorrow. Video and more photos to come.

9:30 PM UPDATE: Adding a few pictures from Christopher Boffoli:

10:26 PM UPDATE: Here’s Christopher’s brief video clip:

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Followup: Sale, new name confirmed for closed Tom Yum Koong
February 15, 2011 6:30 pm
|      23 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle restaurants

Following up on last night’s report about the closing of Tom Yum Koong in The Junction – we have confirmed that it’s indeed been sold to Kay Fuengarom, owner of Zab Thai in Everett and Chaiyo Thai in Northgate The new restaurant will be named Bang Bar Thai (pronounced “bahng”) and is expected to open within two months, once renovations are completed, according to WSB contributor Bill “Hutch” Hutchison, who’s been working on the story. Among the renovations he’s learned of – a new neon sign, designed and constructed by Western Neon in SODO. No other details yet on the new ownership’s plans, but we’re expecting to find out more during the renovation period.

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Followup: New location for West Seattle Junction liquor store
February 15, 2011 3:42 pm
|      47 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | WS beverages

A new development today in the saga of the West Seattle Junction state liquor store, which we’ve been following since the state confirmed last May that the store might move; in October, that became “will move.” The new location is official, according to Anne Radford with the Liquor Control Board; this summer, the store will move into Capco Plaza (41st/Alaska), the same building as the Junction QFC. (As reported here in late December, the California SW location’s lease was extended till the end of June.)

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North Delridge Neighborhood Council briefed on Fire Station 36 project
February 15, 2011 2:55 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   Delridge | West Seattle news

A team of four city employees visited last night’s North Delridge Neighborhood Council meeting for a briefing on the work coming up at Fire Station 36 – that’s the one next to The Bridge, just past the north end of Delridge Way SW. The project is technically a big deal for the city because it requires some “right of way” – property once set aside for streets/sidewalks – to be given to the Fire Department (“vacated”), which means extra process to wade through before it’s approved. In the graphic above, the purple area is the proposed “vacation,” which requires City Council approval.

In terms of public impact otherwise, the project won’t have much; it will include earthquake-safety upgrades and the addition of a 500-square-foot building (with decontamination facilities among other things). Station 36 has strategic importance including its bridge access and its status as headquarters for the marine-response team. The project – paid for by the city’s 2003 Fire Levy – is outlined here; while the crews technically will have to move out of Station 36 while the work is done (no sooner than next year), they won’t be going far – the visitors at last night’s NDNC meeting said the station’s temporary quarters will be set up on their current site. For even more details, here’s the fact sheet distributed at last night’s meeting.

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Pedal in a ‘spinathon’ to help get West Seattle teens onto 2 wheels!
February 15, 2011 11:48 am
|    Comments Off on Pedal in a ‘spinathon’ to help get West Seattle teens onto 2 wheels!
 |   How to help | West Seattle news | WS & Sports

The Cascade Bicycle Club‘s Major Taylor Project, to help get tweens and teens into bicycling, is rolling into West Seattle, and you can be part of it at a “Spinathon” this Thursday night. 5-8 pm at Allstar Fitness in North Delridge, there’s a fundraiser for expanding the project to South King County sites including Chief Sealth International High School. Organizers say there are 2 ways to help:

1. Ride in the Spinathon – some spots still open! You can ride for 1 hour, 2 hours, or all 3 hours – from 5-6pm, 6-7 pm, or 7-8pm time slots. To register: e-mail opa@cascadebicycleclub.org or ed.ewing@cascadebicycleclub.org. Cost is a minimum $25 per hour donation. Checks can be made out to ‘Cascade Bicycle Club Education Foundation‘, which is a (501)(3)c. Participants can bring their donation the night of the event or mail to the address below.

2. For those not riding – you can help the program reach more kids in West Seattle
by donating to the Major Taylor Project. Two ways to donate:

Online (you’ll need to set up an account)
shop.cascade.org/content/major-taylor-project-stp-donation

or postal mail:

Cascade Bicycle Club Education Foundation Major Taylor Program
7400 Sand Point Way NE, Suite 101S
Seattle, WA 98115

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West Seattle Weather Watch: Thunderstorms possible again today
February 15, 2011 11:36 am
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle weather

Another “Special Weather Statement” out within the past hour from the National Weather Service – this time warning we might see thunderstorms again today. (Here’s our report from last night, with photos of the trees taken down by the wind that roared through on the heels of more ground-softening downpours.)

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Renovated Delridge Playfield opening; celebration set
February 15, 2011 10:23 am
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   Delridge | West Seattle news | West Seattle parks

(Photo added 1:51 pm)
The fence is finally coming down at Delridge Playfield, which has brand-new turf as the result of a multi-million-dollar renovation project. Seattle Parks confirms that the fencing should all be down by tomorrow. They have also set the date for a community celebration, according to Parks’ Karen O’Connor: Saturday, March 12, 12:30 pm-2:30 pm (north field).

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West Seattle Tuesday: From remodels to rebounds, and beyond
February 15, 2011 8:19 am
|      5 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

Photo of the morning is courtesy of Ventana Construction (WSB sponsor), since one of tonight’s events is their monthly free workshop for those interested in remodeling and custom-building. Remodeling’s on the upswing, per this new report, and if you’re thinking about it, Ventana has a few spots for the 6 pm workshop at their 5458 California SW offices – call 206-932-3009 ASAP to RSVP (here’s the Facebook event page) … Also tonight: The West Seattle Crime Prevention Council‘s monthly meeting, 7 pm, Southwest Precinct (Delridge/Webster) … It’s West Seattle Little League‘s last in-person registration night, 6-9 pm at the West Seattle High School Library (find the forms at westseattlelittleleague.com) … The Chief Sealth International High School‘s boys’ varsity basketball team continues its postseason by facing Mercer Island HS at Bellevue College, and Seattle Lutheran High School faces Bear Creek at Chief Leschi, both games at 8:15 pm … School tours today include Madison Middle School starting at 8:30, Chief Sealth IHS and Alki Elementary starting at 9:30, and kindergarten tours at Arbor Heights Elementary, also at 9:30 … And all this just scratches the surface of what you’ll find for today/tonight on the WSB West Seattle Events calendar.

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Amanda Knox’s parents ordered to stand trial in Italy
February 15, 2011 7:54 am
|      54 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle people

Thanks to the WSB’er who just called to point out this is breaking on the international/national news services: The parents of Amanda Knox, including Edda Mellas of Arbor Heights, have been ordered to stand trial in Italy for allegedly libeling investigators by saying they had mistreated her daughter while questioning her in the murder case for which she was found guilty. The trial for Mellas and Curt Knox is set to start in July. More here from ABC News.

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West Seattle restaurants: Tom Yum Koong closes
February 14, 2011 11:52 pm
|      42 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle restaurants

Tonight was the last night in business for Tom Yum Koong in The Junction, according to the owner who’s selling the Thai restaurant. We’ve been working for a while to try to confirm details of the expected ownership change – the restaurant first went on the market more than a year ago, and then recently we learned a sale was in the works. But seller and prospective buyer didn’t want to go public till the deal was signed; once something was finalized, we were told, the restaurant would close for a while for a makeover. This may be that closure, but whether the deal is final or not, we don’t know yet; all we do know for sure is that current owner Jeff Sukomol e-mailed WSB contributor Bill “Hutch” Hutchison tonight to say this was Tom Yum Koong’s last night in business. (Separately, we got a note from Tim saying his spouse was in the restaurant tonight and was told it was their last night.) If this is the ownership change our research indicates, the eatery is likely to remain a Thai restaurant. We have messages out and hope to have more information as soon as tomorrow. P.S. Tom Yum Koong fans can still find Sukomol’s cuisine at Tangerine Thai on the eastside.

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Highway 99 tunnel: Viaduct ‘stakeholders’ letter to the mayor
February 14, 2011 10:12 pm
|      66 COMMENTS
 |   Alaskan Way Viaduct | Transportation | West Seattle news

Another turn in the tunnel tussle tonight: Two West Seattleites and 15 other “stakeholders” who served on the committee that helped choose the proposed Highway 99 tunnel two years ago have released a letter to Mayor McGinn. They’re asking him not to go through with his threat to veto the actions the City Council has taken to join the state in proceeding with the project (which won’t be final until and unless it passes environmental muster later this year – and then, there are the two ballot initiatives looming this fall). “While we respect your preferences for a different Viaduct replacement approach, this compromise is the only feasible way to move forward,” says the letter, recapping how the stakeholders first went on record backing two other options, then the tunnel. The letter adds, “We believe that the time has long passed to second guess the bored tunnel decision made by the Governor, state legislature, County, Port and past and present City Councils. Whether or not it was our initial choice, all of us agree that the citizens of Seattle, the region, and state are best served by moving forward.” And they ask for a meeting with the mayor. No word yet on his reaction, but you can read the full letter here (Word doc). Its 17 signers include West Seattleites Pete Spalding and Vlad Oustimovitch.

ADDED 11:11 PM: For those who can’t read docx, here’s the plain-text version:Read More

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Sustainable West Seattle: Tool Library move; transportation talk
February 14, 2011 9:30 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   Sustainable West Seattle | West Seattle news

Two news items from Sustainable West Seattle tonight:

(Tool Library @ SSCC last Saturday, photo courtesy Heather P. Brincko)
WEST SEATTLE TOOL LIBRARY MOVE: We just heard this mentioned at the North Delridge Neighborhood Council meeting (toplines to come), and SWS’s e-mail update says it’s official – the West Seattle Tool Library is moving from South Seattle Community College to Youngstown Cultural Arts Center. SWS says the move will happen in April: “The new location will quadruple our space and provide both a larger storage room for the tools and also a great community workshop space.” They need lots of community volunteer power, too – library@sustainablewestseattle.org if you can help.

HIGH-POWERED PANEL FOR TRANSPORTATION FORUM: Roads, buses, bicycles … Transportation topics are perennial hot potatoes on the peninsula, with our unique challenges. Want to hear directly from the movers and shakers? Put your question/concern to them in person? Here’s your next chance. Sustainable West Seattle‘s next Community Forum, coming up next week, has a high-powered panel, just announced: City Councilmember Tom Rasmussen (who chairs the Transportation Committee) will facilitate; also from the city, SDOT director Peter Hahn; from the county, King County Executive Dow Constantine‘s transportation specialist, Chris Arkills; from the transit-planner perspective, Brice Maryman of SvR Design; and from the transit user perspective, Martin Duke from Seattle Transit Blog. The forum’s at 7 pm Tuesday, February 22nd, at the Senior Center of West Seattle (California/Oregon in The Junction). Full details here.

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Video: MOHAI tackles Admiral Theater – 1 century, 4 minutes
February 14, 2011 8:27 pm
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   Admiral Theater | West Seattle history | West Seattle news

Well, OK, it’s *almost* a century of history. The Museum of History and Industry‘s video team has taken on another West Seattle landmark, and suggested to WSB that you might want to see the 4-minute result. P.S. If you’re looking for what’s up at The Admiral right now, here are the latest listings.

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West Seattle Weather Watch: Wind picks up, takes down trees
February 14, 2011 6:10 pm
|      18 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle weather

(Photo by Katie Meyer for WSB – tree down at Oregon/Glenn in The Junction)
As the wind kicks up again tonight – the National Weather Service has just issued a “special weather statement” warning of gusts up to 55 mph – we’re checking out a tree reported to have been blown down in The Junction. (Added: See comments for more. We’re still working on visuals. There’s also a tree down in the Morgan Junction area.)

7:39 PM UPDATE: The “special weather statement” has now been canceled – so the worst is over.

8:41 PM UPDATE: Added that photo, also by Katie, from the tree that hit a house on Holly Place in the Morgan Junction area. The homeowner told Katie they weren’t home when it happened; a neighbor called for help after seeing wires sparking. The damage is not reported to be major.

9:40 PM UPDATE: And now … thunder. Not mentioned in the current forecast, though…

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West Seattle Crime Watch: ‘Active’ car-prowl suspect arrested
February 14, 2011 5:25 pm
|      14 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | West Seattle news | West Seattle police

In recent reports on crime trends and crime-prevention meetings, we’ve heard it from local police leadership again and again – car prowls (break-ins and attempts) are the crime category that continues to be hard to get under control. But Southwest Precinct Lt. Pierre Davis says there’s good news this afternoon: SWP officers “arrested one of our more active car prowl suspects in West Seattle. (At about) 12:33 PM, the suspect and others were in the area of Erskine Wy SW & SW Hudson street engaging in suspicious activity. Our officers, who responded to the initial call, located the suspects with goods in hand and made the arrest.” (We’re still following up to find out more about the “active” suspect and whether they were booked into jail, and will add that when we find out.)

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Global Reading Challenge: ‘Awesome People’ win @ Arbor Heights
February 14, 2011 4:56 pm
|      9 COMMENTS
 |   Arbor Heights | West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

It’s time for the Seattle Public Library‘s Global Reading Challenge for 4th and 5th graders – call it the Battle of the Books. Last Friday, SPL librarians were at Arbor Heights Elementary School for the big event there. School librarian Jeanette Hagen reports that the “Awesome People” team got a perfect score! In the photo, shared by Kacy, the team members (from Ms. Sato’s and Ms. Boitano’s rooms) are: Chase, Ruby, Sophie-Briere, Daisy, Fathi, Sean, and Natalie, with (back room left) Mrs. Hagen and (back row right) principal Dr. Carol Coram. The “Awesome People” were one of eight teams in the competition at Arbor Heights; they’ll go downtown for the semifinals at the Central Library on March 16th.

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Countdown to West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day: 3 months!
February 14, 2011 3:48 pm
|    Comments Off on Countdown to West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day: 3 months!
 |   Community Garage Sale Day | West Seattle news

Quick note to say it’s exactly three months till this year’s West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day – the fourth one since we inherited this fun annual event three years ago. It’s the second Saturday in May as usual this year, which means Saturday, May 14th. Last year, WSCGSD set a record, with more than 200 sales around the peninsula, from individual sales to group sales to school sales to business sales, plus a few sites where you could come set up a table if there wasn’t enough room where you live (we’ve heard talk of a few more such sites this year). We haven’t set the date for the start of registration yet, but we’ll talk more about that next month. Just wanted to make sure, if you’re interested in selling and/or shopping, that your calendar’s marked for May 14th. Meantime, take note that WSCGSD is online at westseattlegaragesale.com and on Facebook here; if you have a yard/garage sale before or after then, you can post it free on WSB – currently, the place to do that is in the WSB Forums.

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