West Seattle, Washington

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Spotlight Stories


  • Whales

    WHALE-WATCHING: Southern Residents at dusk

  • Fire

    CAMP LONG: Help rebuild the history

  • Holiday Guide

    WS HOLIDAY GUIDE: See what’s in it!

New AIR-CONDITIONED location for tonight’s big meeting
July 28, 2009 3:15 pm
|    Comments Off on New AIR-CONDITIONED location for tonight’s big meeting
 |   West Seattle news

Just in from Sharonn Meeks, one of the facilitators for the big meeting tonight that we’ve been writing about for weeks (Neighborhood Plan Status Check – here’s our latest preview): It’s moved across the street to AIR-CONDITIONED Youngstown Arts Center. Still at 6 pm. Please come to not only discuss West Seattle’s future – but also to get out of the heat!

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Followup: Stats on the California/Dawson “crosswalk sting”
July 28, 2009 2:00 pm
|      39 COMMENTS
 |   Safety | West Seattle news | West Seattle police

(Monday photo by Kevin McClintic)
Thanks to City Councilmember Tom Rasmussen and his staffer Brian Hawksford (both West Seattleites, incidentally) for sharing a report they received on the Seattle Police “crosswalk sting” at California/Dawson yesterday (here’s our original report). Turns out it was one of two conducted in the city yesterday afternoon – the other one was earlier, on lower Queen Anne. Neither spot had been “worked before,” according to the report they forwarded, which includes this excerpt:

From 3 PM to 4 PM, the squad worked the crosswalk at California & Dawson. Here we wrote 16 pedestrian right of way citations, plus 7 proof of insurance, 3 expired tabs, 1 seat belt, 1 no front plate, and 1 green arrow, for a total of 29 citations. Additionally, we issued a pedestrian right of way warning.

As noted in yesterday’s report, 92-year-old Rosemary MacCorkindale was killed crossing at that same spot last fall. Between the two locations worked yesterday, the forwarded report says, 221 crossings were made in all — 133 by officers and 88 by citizens — and 14.5% resulted in citations. SPD says the operation showed a “need” for such enforcement at both locations, so they’ll likely be back.

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Tuesday afternoon notes: Heat; USCGC Bertholf; Blue Angels late
July 28, 2009 1:46 pm
|    Comments Off on Tuesday afternoon notes: Heat; USCGC Bertholf; Blue Angels late
 |   Blue Angels | Seen at sea | West Seattle news | West Seattle weather

That photo just looks so cool and blue … thanks to Gary Jones for sharing his pic of the US Coast Guard Cutter Bertholf as it arrived in Elliott Bay for Seafair (as previewed here). ADDED 6:25 PM: Gary has video of the arrival too:

Meantime, this afternoon’s biggest Seafair arrival, the Blue Angels, are reportedly running late – latest estimate, 3-3:30 pm at Boeing Field. Now, as for the heat: The newest forecast is still calling for up to 100 today, even hotter tomorrow; we’re compiling a keep-cool list in the WSB Forums (read it and/or add your suggestion/s here). Meantime, the mayor’s having a media briefing about the city’s heat-wave response in about an hour.

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Metro cuts: You’re invited to city-county “brown bag” chat
July 28, 2009 1:03 pm
|    Comments Off on Metro cuts: You’re invited to city-county “brown bag” chat
 |   Transportation | West Seattle news | West Seattle police

Bus riders who work downtown or who can get away at midday will want to know about this one – not just listening to politicians, but also a chance for you to ask questions — read on:Read More

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Levy committee: Highland Park spray park; land deals; Camp Long
July 28, 2009 12:09 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle parks

Followup to our first report yesterday about the proposal to convert the Highland Park wading pool into a “spray park” with Parks and Green Spaces Levy dollars: As expected, we have more information – including budget concerns – after covering last night’s meeting of the Parks and Green Spaces Levy Oversight Committee (which has three West Seattle members), and two other West Seattle headlines emerged from the meeting too – including an update on the Camp Long project (for which a public meeting has just been set August 19) — along with information on how the levy’s Opportunity Fund will work – read on for details:Read More

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City Council sets public hearing for “backyard cottages” plan
July 28, 2009 11:19 am
|      15 COMMENTS
 |   Development | West Seattle housing | West Seattle news

The city’s proposal to enable the building of dozens more “backyard cottages” – allowed now only in Southeast Seattle but potentially to be allowed around the rest of Seattle – sparked a lot of discussion during presentations at recent community-group meetings in West Seattle, so we’re sharing this announcement just forwarded by the Department of Neighborhoods‘ Delridge District Coordinator Ron Angeles: A public hearing on the plan is now set for 5:30 pm on September 15 in the council chambers at City Hall downtown. In the meantime, the Planning, Land Use and Neighborhoods Committee will get a briefing at 9:30 am August 12 – that committee meeting, like most, will have a “general public comment period” beforehand if there’s anything you’d like to say. You can also send your thoughts to council members via their website, and if you’re just catching up on the backyard-cottage proposal, you can read up here.
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STS Remodeling: Welcome to a new West Seattle Blog sponsor
July 28, 2009 10:42 am
|      1 COMMENT
 |   West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news

Today we welcome one of our newest sponsors, STS Remodeling. WSB customarily offers new sponsors the chance to tell you about their businesses, and here’s what STS Remodeling would like you to know: “STS is a local, full-service general contractor specializing in unique construction projects for clients who have high expectations of craftsmanship, customer service, project management, and value. Founded by Craig Haveson in 1999, STS has been deciated to keeping customers happy with the highest level of satisfaction. With a wide range of remodel projects, custom home builds & condominium rehabilitation, there is no job that is too big or small. As result of our versatility in projects, we are able to meet the unique needs of each individual and are able to specialize in a wide variety of industry sectors. Our team is at the center of our success. Led by a dynamic group and staffed by the best and brightest in the field, our core values of integrity, hard work, and safety shines through. Offering career positions in this thriving company has drawn the top-notch craftsmen to the company. With one of the lowest employee-turnover rates in the industry, STS Remodeling creates an optimal work culture. STS focuses on keeping a 99% referral-based business but is always open to new projects. Happy customers often become lifetime clients. With the founding principles of quality control, accountability, & hard work, STS sets itself apart from the competition! A list of our references is available upon request. Our website is in the process of being updated; if you would like to take a look at additional photos of more recent projects, we do have many more available. Give us a call today to get started on your next project; you will be happy you did!” STS Remodeling is online at stsremodeling.com – or you can call 206-439-6343 (other contact info is here). Thanks to STS Remodeling for joining the WSB sponsor team, listed here with information on how to become part of it.

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Can you donate blood? Heat wave = possible shortage
July 28, 2009 7:52 am
|      6 COMMENTS
 |   How to help | West Seattle news | West Seattle weather

We were just about to update our calendar with word of a September 4th blood drive at the local Prudential Northwest Realty office (more on that later) when this came in – Puget Sound Blood Center needs help NOW because of the weather: They’ve had to cancel blood drives “scheduled for un-air-conditioned venues” (no donating anywhere it’s 80 degrees or more indoors) and that’s cost them almost 200 donations. Read more about how/where to help.

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Happening today/tonight: Produce, playfield, plans, plus …
July 28, 2009 7:40 am
|      1 COMMENT
 |   Blue Angels | High Point | West Seattle news | WS culture/arts

HIGH POINT MARKET GARDEN’S WEEKLY SALE DAY: Every Tuesday through the summer, 4:30-7 pm, fresh produce is on sale at 32nd/Juneau (map), grown in the big beautiful “market garden” tended right there. Here’s our story from opening day two weeks ago.

MUSIC AT ALKI PLAYFIELD: Can’t wait until Thursday night for the next installment of the Admiral Summer Concerts at Hiawatha (6:30 pm, Tom Colwell and the Southbound Odyssey)? Get an early fix of outdoor music tonight, 6 pm, Alki Community Center Playfield.

PLAN WEST SEATTLE NEIGHBORHOODS’ FUTURE: We’ve been talking about this for weeks (here’s last night’s preview) and tonight’s the night. After talking to local neighborhood advocates, we can tell you we are not exaggerating when we say it’s the most important meeting you’ll attend all year. 10 years after the oft-referred “neighborhood plans” for five West Seattle neighborhoods (and Georgetown) were created, are they working? What’s the best course for those neighborhoods’ future? Even if you’re not sure you have anything to say, come to listen, to understand, to support (or even oppose). 6 pm, Delridge Community Center NEW LOCATION: YOUNGSTOWN ARTS CENTER – air-conditioned! (updated 3:23 pm)

BLUE ANGELS’ ARRIVAL: For our fellow fans of the Navy aerial demonstration team that’ll be performing during Seafair (practicing Thursday, shows Friday-Sunday, remember the I-90 bridge closures), #7 arrived Monday (here’s KIRO video) and the other 6 are scheduled to land at Boeing Field this afternoon (2 pm estimate but could be earlier or later) *3:55 pm update, they’re running late, sometime in the next hour to hour and a half…

PASSING WEST SEATTLE’S NORTHERN SHORES TODAY: Another Seafair sight you may see – the U.S. Coast Guard’s first Homeland Security cutter, USCGC Bertholf, is scheduled to arrive today to be part of Fleet Week. (We’re checking with USCG District 13 to see if there’s an approximate time.)

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Election 2009 closeup coverage: Council candidate David Bloom
July 28, 2009 1:12 am
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle politics

checkbox.jpgKing County mails ballots for the August 18 primary tomorrow. WSB is offering close-up looks — asking the same 3 West Seattle-specific questions — at candidates in races including the three Seattle City Council contests you’ll find on the primary ballot. Previous stories are in the WSB Politics archive.

By Kathy Mulady
Reporting for West Seattle Blog

If you like lone-wolf councilmember Nick Licata, you might love David Bloom, one of 5 candidates for Position 4, which Jan Drago is leaving to run for mayor.

The progressive community activist — who has advocated on behalf of affordable housing, the homeless and other social issues for 30 years — would add a second vote to stop the Mercer Street revision and instead direct money to neighborhood projects.

He’d let the city’s plans for a streetcar network and the deep-bored tunnel fall by the wayside. He’s also against plans for a new city jail.

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We’ve come a long way – but still have a long way to go
July 27, 2009 11:55 pm
|      8 COMMENTS
 |   Development | Environment | Neighborhoods | West Seattle news

Between that burned-out plumbing shop photographed at 37th and Alaska in the ’30s …

… and the 44th/Alaska fire station (photographed in the ’20s) whose crews likely responded to the plumbing shop fire … we have a unique business district that’s going through growing pains, as new developments like this one arrive …

… others are on the drawing board …

… and we all wonder what will eventually happen here:

What will our peninsula look like in five years, 10 years, 20 years? What SHOULD it look like? Is the vision written down a decade ago still relevant now? This is a rare chance to say what you think, on the official record. Tomorrow night, five West Seattle areas with Neighborhood Plans, including The Junction, get their first chance in a decade to revisit them and discuss whether they still work. Among the other areas – Morgan Junction, where “Mr. Jerome’s house” was photographed in the 4000 block of Orchard way back when …

A couple blocks west of that scene, you’ll find new townhouses and not-so-new apartments. A few blocks north of there, businesses new and old. It’s the same story all over West Seattle. Take a couple hours out of your night Tuesday, come out of the sun and into Delridge Community Center, and join the Neighborhood Plan Status Checks for Admiral, Delridge, Highland Park/Westwood, Morgan Junction, and The Junction. Each neighborhood will have its own “breakout” spot to discuss specifics, with two facilitators: For Admiral, it’s Mark Wainwright and Catherine Benotto; for The Junction, Sharonn Meeks and Kay Knapton; for Morgan Junction, Cindi Barker and Jerry Finrow; for Delridge, Boaz Ashkenazy and Chris Persons; for Highland Park/Westwood, Christie Coxley and Kevin McDonald – the facilitators represent the City Neighborhood Council and the Seattle Planning Commission. As noted yesterday, Vietnamese, Tagalog and Spanish translation will be available.

We have spoken with two of the facilitators; Sharonn Meeks (who’s president of the Fairmount Community Association) says she is hopeful for a good community turnout – during the original neighborhood planning process 10 years ago, she says, not enough community members participated. Cindi Barker (who’s with the Morgan Community Association) tells WSB, “I’m looking forward to seeing both old and new faces at this workshop. We’ve made inroads on the Morgan Junction projects, but the remaining projects might not be as applicable these days. It will be very interesting to hear what people are thinking about changes in the neighborhood.”

You can just come and listen – even that signifies taking a stand, showing interest in the future. Review the four questions first:

1. Most of the neighborhood plans were adopted about 10 years ago and are in their mid-life. How has your neighborhood changed in the last decade since the plan was adopted, (or since you’ve been there)?

2. What changes or aspects of your neighborhood are you most pleased about? Most dissatisfied about?

3. How well are your Neighborhood Plan vision and key strategies being achieved? Are they still the priority?

4. The city is completing neighborhood plan status reports focusing on demographics, development patterns, housing affordability, public amenities and transportation networks. What should there be more focus on (or less focus on) as the neighborhood status reports are completed in the coming months? Are there any important gaps in the draft status report?

And check out the status overviews and other documents regarding all the neighborhoods here. Then just show up, 6 pm Tuesday, Delridge Community Center. It’ll open with an explanation/orientation before everybody breaks off.

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From wild winter to sizzling summer: 7 months ago today …
July 27, 2009 10:34 pm
|      17 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle weather

December 27, SW Sullivan, east of California SW. First day in two weeks we’d gotten up into the 40s. It’s when the 2 weeks of snowlock started to clear.

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West Seattle Crime Watch: Contractor chases burglars away
July 27, 2009 8:49 pm
|      8 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | Highland Park | West Seattle news

John is reporting a break-in attempt, on behalf of a neighbor without e-mail – read on:Read More

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West Seattle “crosswalk sting”: Stop for pedestrians, or else
July 27, 2009 6:08 pm
|      28 COMMENTS
 |   Safety | West Seattle news

Thanks to Kevin for that photo from the crosswalk at California/Dawson (by Rite-Aid, south of The Junction) where several people tell us there was quite the police emphasis this afternoon. This is the same spot where a 92-year-old pedestrian was hit and killed last September. Kevin reports:

Here are a couple of pictures I got of a significant crosswalk sting at California and Dawson, the crosswalk in front of Rite Aid on Monday 7/27.

I had stopped at Rite Aid about 4 PM and noticed what was going on when I came back to my car.

They had about two patrol cars, four or five motorcycles, and two undercover cops. acting as pedestrians. Male and female decoy. Quite an elaborate setup! I even managed to help catch one vehicle myself as I grabbed a flag and stepped into the intersection on my way to talk to the cops! Too bad they did not stop for the flag. :( The officers I talked to said that people on the receiving end get more upset than speeders when ticketed.

There were evidently enough folks milling around watching that they decided to move their act further north and start in again fresh. They must have stopped at least a dozen cars during the time I was there. … You might want to empathize what the cops told me, in that you are REQUIRED to STOP if the pedestrian has STEPPED into the street. I suspect a lot of folks are not sure about the exact definition.

I should add that the decoys did not use the cross walk flags – which is more than fair since few intersections have them. I USED a flag and they went after the one that did not stop for me.

Before anyone considers an indignant comment – police have told us that reporting on “stings” like this – whether they’re pulling over speeders or patrolling school zones – is not seen as a hindrance to them; they would rather people just obey the law in the first place, and if a report about a sting gets them to do that, all the better. Meantime, we’ll try to find out how many tickets were issued. (Thanks also to Richard for his note about this via Facebook — find us there at facebook.com/westseattleblog — including the line: “The heat brings out The Heat!”)

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“Nickelsville” organizers vow “a stand” at Terminal 107 Park
July 27, 2009 5:39 pm
|      12 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news

(Thursday night photo by Christopher Boffoli)
Last Friday, the day after the homeless encampment calling itself “Nickelsville” moved from state-owned land at 2nd SW/Highland Park Way to port-owned land at Terminal 107 Park (4700 West Marginal Way), the port announced it was taking legal steps to make the campers leave. Tonight, we have camp organizers’ official response – read on:Read More

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West Seattle’s 1st spray park proposed: Highland Park wading pool
July 27, 2009 4:55 pm
|      6 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle parks

When the Parks and Green Spaces Levy Oversight Committee meets tonight at the city Parks Department’s HQ at Denny Park downtown (7 pm), their agenda will include a briefing on potential “spray parks” to be built at some of the city’s wading pool sites, to be built with money from that levy, passed by voters last fall. We’ve taken an advance look at the documents: A West Seattle site, the Highland Park wading pool, is near the top of the spray-park list – ranked #2 priority, after Northacres. The recommendation is for the city to build those two next year – here’s an excerpt from the briefing document:

Next Steps after a Decision
• Design Programs and Public Involvement Plans for each site will be developed.
• Northacres Park Play Area project is scheduled to start construction in July 2010.
• Highland Park would be scheduled to start construction in May 2010

We hope to find out tonight how long construction would take, what the spray park might look like, and whether the Highland Park spray park would be done – if that timetable is maintained – in time for use next summer. This summer, the HP wading pool is closed because it hasn’t undergone federally mandated drain-safety improvements, and that in fact factored into this decision – when evaluating where to build “spray parks” first, the Parks Department used criteria (see the full briefing document here) including ruling out those close to existing spray features (there are none in West Seattle) and those where the drain work had already been done (HP is one of 11 citywide where it hasn’t been). More later tonight.

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West Seattle weather: New forecast; city cool-off facilities
July 27, 2009 4:25 pm
|      13 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle weather

FORECAST UPDATE: Tomorrow, up to 100. Wednesday, up to 103. Read it here. Meantime, as for trying to cool off: We mentioned wading pools and swimming pools earlier; we’re also collecting suggestions from comments on each and every heat-related update (and the WSB Forums, plus e-mailed suggestions, editor@westseattleblog.com) regarding cooldown advice, so we can compile a list tonight to display prominently through the week. And now, a city list has just come in, with information about everything from senior centers to libraries – read on:Read More

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Remembering Helen Sutton: Help SSCC Arboretum, in her honor
July 27, 2009 3:50 pm
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   Puget Ridge | West Seattle news | West Seattle people

A month has passed since the news that former Junction entrepreneur and community volunteer leader Helen Sutton – longtime La Grace Dress Shop owner and the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce‘s first woman president – had died, at age 95. (Here’s our story from June 24.) Friends had told us there would be news later of a possible memorial, and Sandy Adams has forwarded news of this one: South Seattle Community College will honor Ms. Sutton with a special event in the SSCC Arboretum at 2 pm August 13. Its rose garden is named for her – she helped create the Arboretum itself, as well as helping establish the SSCC Foundation, and serving as a board member for many years, including time as board president. and the school is putting out the call for people to help tidy the entry and the Helen G. Sutton Rose Garden itself before the event. The cleanup will be August 7 or 8, and lunch will be provided to volunteers. Call Adrian at 206.282.8040 if you’d like to volunteer for the cleanup.

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Update from SDOT: 16th SW road-work closure starts tomorrow
July 27, 2009 3:33 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   Puget Ridge | Transportation | West Seattle news

Just got the latest on the work to rebuild a section of 16th SW just north of South Seattle Community College – read on for the update we just received from SDOT:Read More

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Tale of 2 West Seattle houses: One up, one down
July 27, 2009 2:34 pm
|      22 COMMENTS
 |   Development | West Seattle news

Thanks to Keith for sharing that photo of his home at 3045 49th SW (map) near Schmitz Park. He explains:

Sure, there’s construction going on around West Seattle, some of it pretty interesting, but still, nothing like this that I’ve ever seen. … I can’t tell you what a surreal sight it is to see our little house sitting on “cribs” some 13 feet up (23 feet up from the road). It’s a real traffic stopper, I can tell you. People ask what we’re doing. Can you tell? Feel free to run the photo, and to invite people to come by and guess. Just don’t recommend that anyone stand underneath and sneeze . . .

We could cheat by checking city online records, but we won’t spoil it for you. Meantime, 16 months after Seattle Fire Department crews did some training at pre-teardown 5232 California (map), the house itself is finally debris.

Rick from nearby Rick’s Barber Shop told us last week that the backhoe had arrived – we didn’t get over in time today to catch it in action (early-morning work to be done before things really heated up?) but caught the pile of debris before it was cleared. The city page for the site says permits were just renewed for plans to build two buildings at the site – 4 townhouse units, 3 “live-work” units.

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West Seattle weather update: Keeping cool by getting wet
July 27, 2009 1:28 pm
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle weather | Wildlife

(photo taken at EC Hughes wading pool today just before it opened at noon)
As promised by the Parks Department, E.C. Hughes wading pool (29th/Holden; map) opened today – that’s the last of the West Seattle wading pools to open this year, on a staggered schedule because of federally mandated drain-safety work. (The department says Highland Park will not open this year at all, one of more than a dozen wading pools citywide staying closed.) Delridge, Hiawatha and Lincoln Park wading pools already are open; their respective hours are listed here. If you’re too big for a wading pool, your other municipal swimming options are Southwest Pool (indoors) and Colman Pool (outdoors) – several private facilities offer pools to their members, such as the West Seattle Family YMCA (WSB sponsor). Humans aren’t the only ones who can get some relief in the water – Trileigh sends this photo with a reminder to have water out for the birds:

She notes:

… our little avian friends have a tough time in this hot weather! If folks have a birdbath, please keep water in it — it helps the little guys to have cool water to drink and splash in. Yesterday there were chickadees in and out of my birdbath all day long.

Even if you don’t have a birdbath, you can put out a pie plate or other broad container with water for them. The squirrels will appreciate it too. We all need to help each other out during this heat wave!

(added) Trileigh also notes that “birdbaths (formal or informal) should be pretty shallow and not slippery, so that the birds can stand and drink or bathe. You can always put a rock in it if it’s made of something slippery, like glazed ceramic for instance.” We’re working on yet more heat-beating info, including West Seattle places where you’ll find A/C – we were just over at Stor-More (WSB sponsors) and if you have occasion to drop by and chat with them about storage/mail services, they have a very nicely air-conditioned lobby (SW Yancy just east of Avalon Way) – more suggestions welcome!

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West Seattle teen takes Seafair Torchlight Run by storm
July 27, 2009 1:15 pm
|      5 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle people | WS & Sports

(Maddie Meyers in a recent competition; photo courtesy of her family)
One more Seafair Torchlight note from Saturday night – we have congratulated local parade participants but just learned about a Torchlight Run participant’s success: 14-year-old West Seattle-residing running star Madeleine “Maddie” Meyers — going into her sophomore year at The Northwest School — was the 8th female to finish the run in Saturday night’s hot, humid and fleetingly rainy conditions. Her time: 32:08. (Another West Seattle link: The first woman to finish, again this year, was Vanessa Hunter, 27:54, who also was the first woman to cross the line in the first-ever West Seattle 5K (WSB coverage here) two months ago.)

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3 Monday midday notes: Alki Cafe, Blue Angels, heat-beating tips
July 27, 2009 11:20 am
|    Comments Off on 3 Monday midday notes: Alki Cafe, Blue Angels, heat-beating tips
 |   Blue Angels | Utilities | West Seattle news | West Seattle restaurants

*From today’s city Land Use Information Bulletin: Alki Cafe‘s new owners have applied for a sidewalk-cafe permit. (The online notice says the city will accept comments till August 10th and explains how to send a comment.)

*Blue Angels update: The news release we quoted in last night’s story said #7 would be here at 9:30 today, but David DeSiga (who took the awesome photo we used in that story) says it actually landed before 9 am. So we should add the caveat, times approximate, which would go for tomorrow’s expected arrival of the other 6.

*Seattle City Light has issued its own set of heat-beating tips – with a focus on electricity, how not to overuse it, and what to do if you lose it. Read on:Read More

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