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    WEST SEATTLE 5K: Are you ready for Sunday?

More Crime Watch notes: Car-strip suspect nabbed; search site
March 18, 2009 9:27 am
|    Comments Off on More Crime Watch notes: Car-strip suspect nabbed; search site
 |   Crime | South Park | West Seattle news

2 more notes that trace back to the West Seattle Crime Prevention Council meeting, although one is a new development just within the past few hours:

CAR-STRIPPING SUSPECT NABBED: Lt. Steve Paulsen told the group last night that officers hoped to make an arrest shortly in a case featured in the Washington’s Most Wanted reports on channel 13 – a restored 1967 Mustang was ravaged by someone who broke into the the South Park trailer where it was stored. (Read the original story here.) Southwest Precinct officers tracked down a suspect in Renton and Lt. Paulsen just confirmed to WSB that they arrested him this morning.

WANT TO KNOW IF A SEX OFFENDER LIVES NEAR YOU? We have mentioned this before, and the link has been in the “resources” section at the bottom of the WSB Crime Watch page for months, but it came up at last night’s Crime Prevention Council meeting so we want to share it again: To find out whether a registered sex offender – someone convicted of a serious sex crime – lives near you, there’s a great statewide search website you can use: Here’s the link. (There are three “levels” of sex offender – 2 and 3 are the most serious, and those are the ones you can search for by using that site.)

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School Board tonight: West Seattle projects, start times, more
March 18, 2009 8:43 am
|    Comments Off on School Board tonight: West Seattle projects, start times, more
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

Tonight’s the regular semimonthly meeting of the Seattle School Board (6 pm, district HQ in Sodo), with an agenda that has a few extra reasons for West Seattleites to keep watch: Contracts for several local renovation/repair projects are on the agenda – for Alki Elementary, a $596,000 contract with Western Ventures Construction to do the following work this summer:

Install new roofing membrane which will improve student indoor air quality by preventing water intrusion into interior spaces and reduce maintenance backlog.

• Replace worn flooring surfaces with new carpet and resilient composition tile which will provide for a healthier cleaner environment for the students and staff.

• Replace and/or refurbish aging HVAC equipment which will reduce the maintenance backlog, improve indoor air quality and reduce energy costs.

• Replace the large single glazed window at the lunchroom with a new double glazed window system which will improve energy savings and provide for a warmer, more comfortable environment for the students and staff.

The same construction company is also recommended for a $749,000 project this summer at Gatewood and Sanislo Elementary Schools:

Sanislo Elementary:

• New roofing system with added insulation.

• Install new roof flashing.

• Clean brick.

• Replace worn carpeting in the auditorium with new resilient floor tile.

• Install five (5) new roof top air handling units.

• Replace worn and cracked playground walkway with a new, more ADA compliant concrete walkway.

Gatewood Elementary:

• Replace worn and cracked linoleum flooring with new resilient floor tile at selected areas.

• Repair the wood flooring in the library.

• Replace stage curtain and wall covering at existing operable wall in lunchroom.

• Refurbish existing HVAC fluid cooler, replace heat pump at daycare and add exhaust/relief/supply fans to improve indoor air quality.

Also on the agenda:

–Standardized school start times, which we first mentioned here, will be considered as part of “transportation standards.” Read the document here; it mentions various provisions for exceptions, but in general, elementary schools would run 9:15 am-3:25 pm, middle schools and “designated elementary and K-8” 8 am-2:30 pm. (The always-excellent SPS Community Blog has an extensive breakdown.)

–The 2009-2010 calendar, which would start classes on Sept. 9 and end them on June 22 (unless there are snow days to make up); see the proposed calendar here.

If you can’t make it to the meeting, you should be able to watch it live on cable TV (channel 26).

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West Seattle Crime Watch: The big picture; the latest incidents
March 17, 2009 11:22 pm
|      9 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | West Seattle news

Back from three-plus hours at the Southwest Precinct, starting with the West Seattle Crime Prevention Council meeting, then moving on to review the latest reports. From the WSCPC meeting – the February crime stats, announced by Lt. Steve Paulsen: 2 armed robberies, down from 5 in January; strong-armed robberies were up to 7 for February, described by Lt. Paulsen as largely “afterschool stuff” – youths getting iPods and money stolen, and he says they’re “working with the schools on that issue” – residential burglaries down to 37 in February (usually averaging about 50/month); 26 car thefts in February, down from 33; car prowls down dramatically in February, 83, from January’s 127. More from the Crime Prevention Council meeting in a separate story; first, on to some of the latest reports from the precinct, including more than a few car crimes, starting with a theft that ended in arson and a store clerk scaring away a would-be robber – plus a burglary from today, reported by a local Block Watch — read on:Read More

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West Seattle restaurant note: Cafe Revo starts happy hour
March 17, 2009 9:01 pm
|      15 COMMENTS
 |   Luna Park | West Seattle restaurants | WS beverages

E-mail note tonight from Cafe Revo, which opened three and a half weeks ago in the Luna Park business district – it’s starting “happy hour” as of tomorrow, 4-6 pm Mondays-Fridays, with offerings including $4 appetizers.

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Update: Pedestrian hit at 16th/Roxbury
March 17, 2009 7:55 pm
|      24 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | WS breaking news

(thanks to Mona for the photo)
We’re checking on something happening at 16th/Roxbury (map) – there was a brief medic call to 15th/Roxbury, it closed, but Mona just sent word of a big fire/police presence in the area, and we got a call from Kevin too. More as soon as we confirm info. Avoid the area in the meantime. 8:11 PM UPDATE: This is on the King County side of White Center – King County Sheriff’s deputies are investigating; they say a man was hit by a car in the intersection – the driver told investigators he never saw the man. The man’s been taken to Harborview Medical Center. The Roxbury/16th/15th area is still closed at last report so avoid the area.

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West Seattle Junction parking review: 2nd walking tour tomorrow
March 17, 2009 7:42 pm
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   Junction parking review | Transportation | West Seattle news

(looking north along 42nd from Jefferson Square during the 1st walking tour, February 28)
Reminder: If you can spare the time at midday tomorrow, it’s your next chance to get directly involved with the city’s review of parking in The Junction – a review that will eventually lead to a decision on whether the city will install pay stations, Residential Parking Zones, new time-limit signage, and/or other parking-management “tools.” At 11 am tomorrow, you can join the group rendezvousing outside Cupcake Royale at California/Alaska – as reported in our coverage of the first tour Feb. 28, the city reps want to hear about your observations and concerns. (Though the posted time is 11 am-1 pm, most of the first tour was done in about an hour.) If you can’t make the tour, you can have your say in other ways – contact info is on the parking review’s website. (Archived WSB coverage of the ongoing Junction parking review can be found here, newest to oldest.)

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West Seattle Crime Watch: Chief Sealth HS project vandalism
March 17, 2009 3:18 pm
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

Just got word that vandal(s) hit the Chief Sealth High School – permanent campus – project overnight. According to a report provided by the Southwest Precinct, the construction crew arrived first thing this morning “to discover someone(s) broke into the secured school … set fire to a cabinet / cork boards, and broke multiple skylights and other interior windows.” The report elaborates:

They set a wood cabinet on fire, which caught nearby corkboards on fire. Numerous interior windows as well as skylights were extensively damaged. Several beer cans were left behind, as well as blood smears from where (the) suspect may have been cut. The fire alarm had been disabled due to reconstruction.

The report also says construction workers had reported graffiti vandalism and a “trash-can fire” the day before, which might have been the work of the same vandal(s). Detectives are doing followup work now, and the blood smears provided potential DNA evidence. We will check with Seattle Public Schools regarding damage estimate from this vandalism and what’s going to be done to step up security. 7:04 PM UPDATE: A district spokesperson says that information won’t be available till tomorrow.

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Alaskan Way Viaduct: South bids today; hearing tomorrow
March 17, 2009 3:04 pm
|    Comments Off on Alaskan Way Viaduct: South bids today; hearing tomorrow
 |   Alaskan Way Viaduct | West Seattle politics

2 Alaskan Way Viaduct notes: Short one first, the tunnel plan (SB 5768) gets a public hearing tomorrow afternoon in the House Transportation Committee, 3:30 pm (it’s already passed the State Senate, but the House is considered to be a tougher crowd for this one). Second, WSDOT just sent word that it’s calling for bids on a key part of the first major viaduct-replacement project, the south section — read on:Read More

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Celebration on Alki tonight: Chahar Shanbeh Soori
March 17, 2009 2:03 pm
|    Comments Off on Celebration on Alki tonight: Chahar Shanbeh Soori
 |   Holidays | West Seattle beaches | West Seattle news

On one side of Alki Ave, you’ll have St. Patrick’s Day night at Celtic Swell — on the other, a tradition from the other side of the globe. Thanks to Paige for e-mailing to share this:

CHAHAR SHANBEH SOORI tonight, Tuesday March 17 at Alki Beach Park, 7 pm-11 pm

Chahar Shanbeh Soori is the ancient Iranian festival dating at least back to 1700 BCE of the early Zoroastrian era. The festival of fire is a prelude to the ancient Norooz festival, which marks the arrival of spring and revival of nature. Chahar Shanbeh Soori is celebrated the night before the last Wednesday of the year. On this occasion people make small fires and jump over them of good luck in the coming New Year.

Please bring as much firewood as you can and light a fire ONLY in designated fire pits – otherwise the Fire Department will be called in and our fires will be put out. Be safe and have fun. *Note: This is a community organized event and not an IACA-sponsored event.

For other Iranian events celebrating the Persian New Year/Spring Equinox, go to:
iaca-seattle.org/calendar

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2 city notes: Sports sign-ups; mayoral volunteering
March 17, 2009 1:39 pm
|    Comments Off on 2 city notes: Sports sign-ups; mayoral volunteering
 |   High Point | How to help | West Seattle news | West Seattle parks

1. The Parks Department sent out a roundup today of sports-signup highlights at their facilities around West Seattle; check it out here.

2. Just got a City Hall advisory that Hizzoner will be volunteering at the High Point Habitat for Humanity construction site tomorrow. Celebrityish help is nothing new on the project; we covered Seahawks wives helping out back in February.

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West Seattle scenes: Wearing of the green, sort of
March 17, 2009 12:40 pm
|      7 COMMENTS
 |   Holidays | Seen around town | West Seattle parks

Photos in honor of St. Patrick’s Day – first, West Seattle’s legendary green street line, down 41st SW north of Admiral; next, a lot of green now to be seen at the Morgan Junction park site, well on its way to completion (it’s scheduled for an official dedication during the Morgan Community Festival June 13th but will be done long before then):

The city’s just sent out more reminders that the naming process for this park is under way — get all the details in our most recent report here – the deadline is April 6. P.S. Not green, but — in case you’re looking for a lucky pot of gold – might have been at the end of the rainbow that Rhonda watched move across Puget Sound during this morning’s showers:

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The second Fauntleroy Place lawsuit (West Seattle Whole Foods)
March 17, 2009 11:33 am
|      27 COMMENTS
 |   Development | West Seattle news

When we first told you last Friday about the lawsuit that developers BlueStar filed against Seattle Capital and its parent company in connection with the stalled Fauntleroy Place development, we also mentioned there was word of another lawsuit. We’ve now learned more about that lawsuit: It’s filed against Seattle Capital and Fauntleroy Place LLC, but for this one, the plaintiff is BAJ Capital, local investor Christopher NeVan‘s firm, which state corporation-information files listed as one of the “governing” parties in FP LLC along with Seattle Financial. It tells the detailed tale of what allegedly happened with the site and its ownership last year – we’ll be reading it a while to distill it, and we’ll link it here as soon as we can. The first 10 pages (which are followed by exhibits including the original 2006 LLC agreement forming Fauntleroy Place) accuse the defendants of breach of fiduciary duty and breach of contract. This suit was actually filed a few days before BlueStar’s suit (which isn’t yet available in the public online court system). ADDED 1:17 PM: Here’s the lawsuit if you’d like to read it for yourself. (The one filed Friday isn’t available online yet.) 2:28 PM: We’ve summarized the complaint, if you’d rather read the toplines than wade through the whole thing:Read More

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What’s up: St. Patrick’s Day; Crime Prevention Council night
March 17, 2009 6:30 am
|    Comments Off on What’s up: St. Patrick’s Day; Crime Prevention Council night
 |   Crime | Fun stuff to do | Holidays

Top o’ the mornin’ … St. Patrick’s Day events around West Seattle include corned beef, cabbage, and fiddle music at Merrill Gardens-Admiral Heights today (call 938-3964 to check if there’s still room) and Shamrock ‘n’ Roll at Skylark (WSB sponsor) tonight, including open turntables at 6 pm and karaoke at 9. Between 6:30 am and 7 pm, drop by Hotwire (WSB sponsor) for a FREE 12-OUNCE PEPPERMINT MOCHA for some green caffeine. And this evening – not holiday-related, but fighting crime is always worth celebrating, so be at the West Seattle Crime Prevention Council meeting, 7 pm, Southwest Precinct — hear about the latest crime trends, bring your crime concerns, and see Sgt. Jeff Durden explain the Community Police Team.

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Wistful in West Seattle: Remembering a neighbor
March 16, 2009 10:28 pm
|      21 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle people

PCG e-mailed this tribute, to share with you:

There was an elderly gentleman that lived on a street adjacent to our house (33rd SW near Andover) that we fondly refer to as Pussy Cat Lane because of all of the Tabbies that Titus (our dog) searches for with each morning walk.

He was an interesting man, who for the most part kept to himself. While I would often see him shuffling back and forth with his shopping bag, we rarely exchanged greetings with the exception of good morning, or good afternoon. I remember in exacting detail one day last summer, during an unusually hot spell, when he was walking in front of the house while the sprinkler system was on; there he stood soaking up the mist and all the goodness that a cool rain could bring on a hot summer’s day. In that brief moment I found myself admiring him for his love of life and all that it can bring.

His house is now dark. One of the tires is flat on his van. He died last week.

I, for one, will miss him and his ability to put one foot in front of the other, his love of life and his ability to get on. But it is that picture of an elderly man in a bucket hat standing in the spray of a sprinkler system that will never leave my mind. He meant something to someone, I was one of them. I am saddened for the loss. He made my world a better place, though some would deem him insignificant. He meant something to someone, I must admit I was one of those individuals, though he didn’t know it.

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From the WSB Forums: An election Thursday, and you can vote
March 16, 2009 9:33 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   Environment | West Seattle news | West Seattle politics

Julie brought this up in the WSB Forums tonight — the King Conservation District has a districtwide election this Thursday for a Board of Supervisors spot, and all registered voters in Seattle (plus other parts of the district) are eligible to vote. checkbox.jpgA quick read about the King CD might leave you thinking it’s mostly about rural King County — not so. For example, the King CD is involved with Longfellow Creek restoration here in West Seattle. Chances are, you’ve contributed part of its $6 million annual revenue. And if you watch this explanatory video, you’ll hear about a project at Seahurst, just a bit south of us. There’s only one polling place in Seattle – the downtown library, 10 am-8 pm Thursday (Julie’s forum post lists them all) – but if you read about this district’s work and want to have a say on which of these two three (including a write-in) candidates joins the board, now you know – you can. (By the way, King CD says there’s a historic aspect to the way they’re conducting this election!)

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Update: Rescuers from state ferry help kayaker off Brace Point
March 16, 2009 6:39 pm
|      9 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | WS breaking news

(Photo above, rescue boat and overturned kayak, from Tracy White – photo below from Doug and Anne, as the rescue boat was hoisted back aboard the Issaquah)

ORIGINAL 6:39 PM REPORT: On our way now to a call off Brace Point – a kayak overturned in the water, and according to what we’re hearing on the scanner, a ferry is trying to rescue the person who’s with the overturned kayak. 6:44 PM UPDATE: KING had an aerial picture – a lifeboat from a ferry has just picked up the kayaker and reportedly will bring him to the command post in the 9600 block of 50th SW (map). Some of the fire/medic units are being canceled now. 7:04 PM UPDATE: Still awaiting word from our folks at the scene on how the kayaker’s doing – looks like the ferry Issaquah, which helped with the rescue, is now heading back westbound, per VesselWatch. Just added the top photo from Tracy White – thanks! Tracy says, “The (rescue) boat appeared to pick up the kayaker, take them to shore, then come back for the boat …” Also just heard from co-publisher Patrick, who is at the command post – the kayaker was reported to be conscious and alert when brought to shore, and was taken to the hospital as of just a few minutes ago. 7:16 PM: Added the second photo above – thanks to Doug and Anne, who caught the rescue boat being hoisted back aboard the Issaquah. Here’s our photo of the 50th SW street end where police and fire crews staged:

ADDED 8:23 PM: No update on the rescued kayaker’s condition – privacy laws make it impossible to just call the hospital and say “how’s that kayaker?” without a name – but we have a few more photos, from WSB photojournalist Christopher Boffoli, starting with the kayak after it was brought back to the Brace Point beach:

ADDED 9:35 PM: KING has put up its helicopter video (silent) of the entire rescue – watch it here.

ADDED 11:14 PM: Can’t find it online yet, but KOMO had a short interview with the kayaker, identified as Scott Redfern. Q13 has the same name in this short story.

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Two-week countdown to recycling/trash changes
March 16, 2009 5:47 pm
|      7 COMMENTS
 |   Utilities | West Seattle news

Earlier today, we saw the label crews trailing the pickup crews again, taping notices to trash/recycling containers along Alki Avenue – a reminder there are two weeks to go till new city contracts kick in, upping rates, expanding what’s recyclable, changing yard/food waste pickup to weekly, and for many households, changing pickup days. (We’ve been Monday since we bought our house in ’93; as of 3/31 it’ll be Tuesday.) If you don’t see a note attached to your can(s), watch your mailbox – the collection day is mentioned above your address on a brochure about the changes. Here’s the latest city news release aimed at keeping the impending changes top-of-mind; again, they kick in the week of 3/30. (Note the recycling/disposal-station rates are rising too.)

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Welcoming a new WSB sponsor: Weitzel Construction
March 16, 2009 4:27 pm
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle businesses | West Seattle online

Today, we welcome one of our newest WSB sponsors: Weitzel Construction, and as we traditionally do when a new sponsor comes on board, we offer them the chance to share information about their business. Weitzel Construction owner Dave Weitzel started his company in West Seattle in 1993. He handles both reconstruction and new construction. Dave says what his customers notice the most is his attention to detail – and he says that attention extends to the people he hires as well, so that Weitzel Construction has assembled a great team as well as building great projects. Dave is active in the West Seattle community as well. He currently serves as a board member for the Admiral Neighborhood Association. And more than a decade ago, he was part of the neighborhood-planning advisory group that worked on the Admiral District’s neighborhood plan. Weitzel Construction is an award-winning company based in West Seattle; you can call 206-935-8440 or find out more about their projects at weitzelconstruction.com. Thanks to Weitzel Construction for supporting local news, information, and discussion by sponsoring WSB; the entire sponsor team is listed on this page, which is also where to find out how to be part of it!

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Film followup: Rock star’s guitar to go on display at West 5
March 16, 2009 3:17 pm
|    Comments Off on Film followup: Rock star’s guitar to go on display at West 5
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle restaurants | WS culture/arts

Back in January, West 5 in The Junction had its first-ever movie screening — “Rock ‘n’ Roll Gearhead – 4 Days with Billy Gibbons.” Its locally based filmmaker, Jamie Chamberlin, sent that photo and this accompanying announcement:

In response to the warm hospitality extended … by West 5 in screening the NW premiere of “Rock and Roll Gearhead,” Gibbons has flown up a most enviable wall piece. Taking time out of his hectic recording sessions with producer Rick Rubin down in Los Angeles, Gibbons custom pin-striped a mustard yellow guitar to be hung on display at The West 5. The legendary guitarist is celebrating a 40-year anniversary with his band ZZ Top and is slated to have a new album out this year as well as a worldwide tour. The guitar should be on display by week’s end.

Chamberlin says he’ll be visiting West 5 to personally present the guitar for display. There’s more about his movie, including its trailer, at this MySpace site.

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What happens when business is good but credit access, not so good
March 16, 2009 2:20 pm
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news

President Obama announced action today to try to thaw the credit freeze affecting many businesses. Thanks to Diane for pointing out a story that brings it home: KING5 has an update today on BabyLegs, headed by a West Seattle entrepreneur. Business is booming, the story notes (see it here), but the challenges of getting credit have forced BabyLegs to lay off some workers in the meantime, according to the TV story.

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Acting Seattle Police Chief announced: Deputy Chief John Diaz
March 16, 2009 1:09 pm
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle police

Mayor Nickels has just announced that Deputy Chief John Diaz will be the acting police chief, as Police Chief Gil Kerlikowske leaves for his new federal job. He is speaking live on Seattle Channel right now and says he has no timetable for choosing a permanent chief. “The reason I accepted this,” Diaz said, “is because I’m a cop .. I’ve been doing this for a long time. … The Seattle Police Department needs to mirror the priorities of its neighborhoods.” Mayor Nickels says he will discuss details of the chief-search process once there’s an official vacancy – in other words, once Kerlikowske is confirmed as federal “drug czar.” Diaz, who’s 51, says he is interested in the permanent job. 1:25 PM NOTE: The news conference is now over; when the archived video is up on the Seattle Channel site, we’ll add a link here. TUESDAY NOTE: Here’s that link.

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White Center Food Bank adds once-monthly Saturday hours
March 16, 2009 11:53 am
|    Comments Off on White Center Food Bank adds once-monthly Saturday hours
 |   How to help | West Seattle news | White Center

The White Center Food Bank, which also serves West Seattle south of SW Myrtle, is opening its doors one Saturday a month, as its clientele continues to grow. Full details at our partner site WhiteCenterNow.com.

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West Seattle restaurant update: Circa closed for repairs
March 16, 2009 10:53 am
|      17 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle restaurants

Just got a note from Kirsty wondering why the windows at Circa in the Admiral District are papered over, so we ran over to check: Note on the window says the restaurant is closed for “equipment repairs” and planning to reopen March 24.

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