Are you the documentary-maker Fauntleroy needs?
Last month, we told you a documentary was on the drawing board to tell the story of West Seattle’s Fauntleroy neighborhood, as planners sought marketing help. Now – they are ready to hire a producer – and have just issued a request for proposals. Here’s what they need and how to apply:Read More
Dog-poisoning investigation update, plus a party for “Mo”
Some good news about the dog-poisoning concerns at Fauntleroy Park and Westcrest Park (background in previous WSB coverage here): Seattle Parks security supervisor Larry Campbell was at tonight’s West Seattle Community Safety Partnership meeting, 
and he says nothing more has been reported since the most widely publicized case, in which “Mo” the Katrina survivor (photo left) got sick after romping at Westcrest. However, he says, the Parks Department has put up flyers saying it’s keeping close watch on the parks, and asking that anyone who sees anything suspicious, or thinks their dog’s been poisoned, call 206/684-7457. Meantime, “Mo” continues to recover, and we just got word tonight of a fundraising party this weekend:Read More
West Seattle Crime Watch: Gunshots tonight; other updates
Some news from tonight’s West Seattle Community Safety Partnership meeting at the Southwest Precinct: Community Police Team Officer Adonis Topacio told the group about a shots-fired investigation under way earlier tonight near the South Delridge 7-11 — at least half a dozen shots fired, nobody hurt, but a parked vehicle was hit. He says the search for suspects is focusing on a “suspicious apartment” in a building on 20th SW, and the SPD Gang Unit is looking at this case. (10:03 PM UPDATE: Coverage we just watched on TV tells a slightly different story – KING 5 reports the car hit by gunfire belonged to Chief Sealth HS employee Barry Ray, who says he was driving when the bullet hit – here’s the link to the story.) Topacio and fellow CPT Officer Brian Ballew also had updates on some of the investigations we’ve followed in previous West Seattle Crime Watch coverage:Read More
Our official Election Results post: Check ’em, discuss ’em
We’re out covering a meeting and won’t be able to add narrative to this post for a while — but now that the polls are closed, here are the links where you should be able to find results from the state’s presidential primary: Statewide results here, King County results here. 9 PM UPDATE: Statewide results so far, Obama 50%, Clinton 47% on the D side; McCain winning the R side by a mile. 2:30 AM UPDATE: Those numbers (Obama/Clinton) have held all night long.
35th/Alaska paving: Could it be … Bruno’s last gasp?
Just got this. We suspect it’s the section best known for “Bruno” the pothole (backstory here and here, which included photos such as the one above), going out to check:
SDOT to pave 35th Ave SW at SW Alaska
SDOT crews will begin tomorrow (February 20) to pave a portion of 35th
Avenue SW at SW Alaska Street. One northbound lane on 35th Avenue SW
will be closed from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. each day for approximately one
week.
5:26 PM UPDATE: Marybeth Turner of SDOT confirms “it is the same area, according to our pavement management staff.” So bye-bye, “Bruno” …
For those seeking Nicholas Francisco search updates
Our visitor logs show a sizable number of people landing here as the result of web searches for information on the search, since our previous reports show fairly high in Google results, so we’re summarizing the latest. 
First – to recap – Nicholas Francisco is a SeaTac man who disappeared after leaving his Queen Anne job last Wednesday; he and his family attended Mars Hill-West Seattle until recently, so we’ve reported on the search (original post with the full-color search flyer is here) because of his WS ties. Last major development reported publicly was the discovery of his car at a Federal Way condo complex yesterday morning – here’s what’s come out since then: This site posted an “official update” from relatives/searchers last night; this KOMO report quotes authorities as saying the car was seen in different parking spots at the complex before they impounded it yesterday; the KIRO noon TV news report we just watched said authorities didn’t find any signs of “foul play” during their first search of the car and are deciding what to do next.
Deadly Westwood crash: Victim’s family still has questions
We now know a lot more about the woman hit and killed while crossing Barton by Westwood Village a week and a half ago — 55-year-old Therese (Teri) Marie Soike — the first pedestrian killed in West Seattle since 85-year-old Oswald Clement last October. The photo you see at left was provided by Teri’s daughter Shelby Hampton, who says the family is “still in shock” and “completely devastated” — Shelby adds, “My sister and I were very close to our mother and nothing can prepare you for a death like this.” They are hoping to find witnesses to the crash, and agreed to talk with WSB:Read More
Happening today/tonight: Election, RapidRide, crimefighting
ELECTION: Presidential primary, 7 am-8 pm if you haven’t voted by mail; more info here.
RAPIDRIDE: Last of 4 West Seattle open houses to share information and take comments for this phase of Metro’s West Seattle RapidRide bus-service planning, 6-7:30 pm @ Southwest Library.
CRIMEFIGHTING: West Seattle Community Safety Partnership, under new leadership elected last month, invites you to tonight’s meeting, 7 pm, Southwest Precinct. If you have a neighborhood crime or nuisance concern and would like to ask local police what’s being done, or what can be done, about it — this hour is well worth your time. (WSB coverage of last month’s WSCSP meeting is here.)
Dates announced for this year’s Alki Art Fair
Another reminder that summer (not to mention spring) is getting closer: Just got a note asking us to tell you that the dates are set for this year’s Alki Art Fair (photo above is from last summer’s event) — July 26-27 — and organizers have set up a website too (check it out here) with info on how to register to participate this year as an artist or craftsperson vendor.
Teens & tech: 2 West Seattle events
FOR TEENS: Think you can find anything online? Delridge Library invites you to test your skills – and win prizes! – at the Teen Internet Scavenger Hunt this Wednesday, 4 pm. Find out more here, including how to preregister.
FOR ADULTS: The Madison Middle School PTSA is extending an open invitation to anyone interested in attending its next meeting featuring two UW researchers who are looking into how teens use tech — specifically, instant messaging and blogging, and video games. After the presentations, Madison PTSA co-president Adrian Lee tells WSB, “the researchers will lead a discussion of youth and emergent digital technologies.” That meeting is 7 pm March 12 @ the Madison library; more info here.
If you lose track of either of these events, just keep an eye on the WSB Events page, where they’re listed along with dozens of other West Seattle events for the days, weeks, months ahead.
Reader report: Road-raging on an otherwise lovely day
Crazy from the sun? We just noted a big white pickup nearly take out a small sedan in The Junction by turning right onto northbound California from the INSIDE lane on westbound Alaska. And upon our return, this was in the inbox from watchful Admiral resident Meredith:
Just called in to PD:
Two men pulled into the neighborhood to ‘discuss’ an incident of poor driving along Admiral Way. Driver of small silver passenger car stayed in car but brandished a box cutter, driver of black Lexus sedan (license ending in VKA) got out of car and, once he pulled his baggy pants up so he could walk, started threatening the other drivers. While pacing around the silver car, the angered man demanded to know if first driver had a gun, wanted to shoot him (’cause he ain’t afraid of that s**t’), and calling the silver-cared driver a p***y for driving ‘like that’ in a family neighborhood.
Some VERY FOUL language went down between the two, but most frigtening was the Lexus driver who got out of his car: about 6’2″ caucasian, dark brown hair and eyes, light skin, very big pants.
Witness called this and the license plate of silver car into 911 as the guys sped off, likely back onto Admiral Way.
No crime committed but you never know what someone that agitated might go on to do next (or might have done previously), so we note, in the spirit of watchfulness.
Search update: Nicholas Francisco’s car has been found
Five days into the search for Nicholas Francisco, the South King County man (and former West Seattle church member) who’s been missing since Wednesday (his photo’s at left; the full poster with other pix is in our post here), his car has been found at an apartment complex in Federal Way. Thanks to everybody who e-mailed to let us know. Details are on various citywide news sites including here; the searchers’ official website is here.
For our state’s Democrats, the February 9 caucuses (
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