day : 27/08/2009 15 results

West Seattle scene: Click! & customers help Girls on the Run

August 27, 2009 11:46 pm

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| How to help | West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news | WS & Sports

We’ve reported before on Girls on the Run of Puget Sound, an after-school empowerment program that’s expanding in West Seattle this fall. Tonight, Click! Design That Fits (WSB sponsor) in the Admiral District welcomed a crowd of shoppers for a special evening event during which 10 percent of sales went to GOTR; a sparkling-wine tasting offered extra effervescence – a quality we’re sure you’ll find in its volunteer coaches (more info here on how to become one of them).

West Seattle scenes: North Delridge ice-cream social

August 27, 2009 10:03 pm

| 3 COMMENTS

| Delridge | Fun stuff to do | West Seattle news

Busy night around West Seattle – we made it to four events, and here are photos from one of them – the North Delridge Neighborhood Council‘s ice-cream social at Cottage Grove Park. Holli Margell provided the photo above – that’s Lisa Keith, who organized the event, painting Cooper Margell‘s face, while dad Casey Margell helps him hold still. Next, a photo we took – can’t have an ice-cream social without ice cream:

Lisa notes, “The weather was perfect for ice cream, angel food cake, peach crisp, and blackberries picked along Longfellow Creek. We welcomed neighbors who moved to Delridge just this summer, to the lovely Gerthrie, who has graced North Delridge for over 40 years. … It was lovely to have a chance to relax, talk, and enjoy each other’s company.” Now, another photo from Holli – the “bubble bucket” was a hit with the younger attendees:

And we couldn’t resist snapping the whiteboard with upcoming North Delridge Neighborhood Council events:

Note those are both in the week ahead: You can join the Adopt-A-Street cleanup on Saturday morning, and then Wednesday at 6:30, the NDNC monthly meeting is at Olympia Pizza (5605 Delridge; map) instead of the library, since it’s in the middle of furlough week.

Checking on it: Unusual flight pattern over West Seattle?

August 27, 2009 8:35 pm

| 48 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news

Just wanted to let you know — we have an avalanche of e-mails and calls regarding planes taking a different flight path heading west, and apparently lower than usual, over West Seattle tonight. The first phone call we made, to a regional FAA operations center, did not yield any information, and Boeing Field operations says nothing’s unusual there either. Still checking! (Tammy at Boeing Field did say the “flow” of flights switched between north and south – but that isn’t unusual, she said.) By most accounts, there were at least three planes that flew out this way, between about 7:30 and 8:15. ADDED 9:06 PM: Nothing definitive yet – this seems to be over (let us know if you see/hear otherwise) – if no answers emerge tonight, we will keep checking tomorrow. To summarize why this caught people off-guard, here’s an e-mail quote from Karen: “It didn’t last long, maybe four to six planes. We were sitting on our deck looking directly at the bellies of those planes. They looked legally high enough but made us uncomfortable.” ADDED 10:54 PM: In comments, WesCAddle offers a partial explanation (three comments, starting here).

“Hundreds” of leaping salmon in West Seattle waters

August 27, 2009 7:30 pm

| 6 COMMENTS

| Seen at sea | West Seattle news | Wildlife

(Lincoln Park photo by WSB contributing photojournalist Christopher Boffoli – we hear the fish are here too)
Just got a note from Sam, who reports seeing “hundreds of salmon … dozens leaping through the air as they feed” at the Harbor Island pier. Checking around online, fishing writer Mark Yuasa at seattletimes.com (WSB partner) reported this week that pink salmon are entering the area “in the millions.”

In case you were wondering: Junction bus stop will be back

August 27, 2009 7:02 pm

| 7 COMMENTS

| Transportation | West Seattle news

Noelle asked this question via Facebook:

Is the Metro bus stop in front of the new QFC going to be put back after construction is finished? The stop used to be right infront of the middle of that lot along Alaska, across the street from Jefferson Square’s stop.

On behalf of Metro, Linda Thielke provided the answer, and we’re sharing it here in case anyone else was wondering the same thing:

SDOT has agreed to let the stop go back in if it can be at least 20′ back from the intersection. Looks like that will be possible once the construction is all finished.

(As reported recently, QFC is hoping to open that store September 16th.) As many WSB stories begin with questions as with more-classic “tips” like “something’s on fire” – so questions are always welcome, editor@westseattleblog.com (or other means of contact, all listed here).

More White Center notes: Evergreen Pool closure; Hicks Lake algae

August 27, 2009 6:37 pm

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| Health | Safety | White Center

The server-management company for partner site White Center Now is doing emergency maintenance so that site’s offline – there are two significant stories mostly of White Center import that we want to note here in the meantime: First, King County Council Chair Dow Constantine says Evergreen Pool in White Center (map) will close on September 1st – its temporary reprieve is ending and a deal with a private operator to take it over (WhiteWater Aquatics, which made a presentation at the last meeting of the North Highline Unincorporated Area Council) is not done yet, though talks continue, and, he says, “I am confident that a long-term agreement can be negotiated between King County Parks and White Water Aquatics and I will be working to facilitate the reopening of the Evergreen Pool as soon as possible.. Second: Hicks Lake, which is at Lakewood Park in White Center (map), has a toxic algae bloom, according to county spokesperson Doug Williams, who says:

We just got results back from the state Department of Ecology that confirms a blue-green algae bloom at Hicks has surpassed the safety threshold. While there aren’t likely too many people swimming there right now, it’s possible that people could let their dogs swim and/or drink from the lake. Not a good idea!

Williams says they have posted warning signs, and those signs will stay up until two consecutive weekly samples show the water’s safe again.

Update: Power outage in White Center/Burien areas

August 27, 2009 3:50 pm

| 6 COMMENTS

| Not WS but we're mentioning it anyway | Utilities

For anyone heading southbound from West Seattle: Thanks to Laura for the tip on a power outage in the White Center area. Seattle City Light‘s outage hotline lists two outages – one that could be described as White Center, affecting 4,000 homes/businesses, and another in Burien with about 3,000. The one in Burien is blamed on a fire, according to the hotline, but the other one is listed as “cause unknown.” More to come. 4:08 PM UPDATE: City Light’s latest news release now calls these one outage – here’s the full text:

A fire associated with a power outage in Burien and unincorporated King County has increased the number of customers affected by the outage to about 7,100 homes and businesses.

The fire is burning in a wooded utility right of way south of S 96th Street and west of Des Moines Memorial Drive. Power lines were reported on the ground in the area and at least one utility pole was burning.

Seattle City Light deenergized the power lines to allow firefighters to put out the blaze. City Light crews were dispatched to restore service once the fire was extinguished.

The cause of the outage was not immediately known. City Light expects to restore service to most of the affected customers by 5:30 p.m. by routing power around the damaged area. An estimate for full restoration of service will not be available until crews are able to inspect the damaged equipment.

The general boundaries of the outage are SW Barton Street on the North, SW 167th Street on the South, Glendale Way S on the East and Puget Sound on the West.

If that entire area is out – which is seldom the case with boundaries listed like this – that would include some of West Seattle. We’re off to check the area south of Barton, east of Puget Sound. 6:47 PM UPDATE: City Light says all but 200 of the affected homes/businesses have their power back.

Thursday pm links: Roxhill BBQ; picture-perfect pooches; frugality

August 27, 2009 3:34 pm

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| Pets | West Seattle news | West Seattle online | West Seattle schools

ROXHILL ELEMENTARY BARBECUE: Thanks to Donn for spotting this on the Roxhill school marquee along Roxbury – school barbecue today, 4:30-6:30 pm. (Lots of back-to-school events in the days ahead; let us know about yours!)

SEE THE WEST SEATTLE “COVER DOG” CANDIDATES: West Seattle-headquartered CityDog Magazine will announce its Cover Dog winner soon; meantime, photographer J. Nicole Smith from Dane + Dane Studios has posted her gallery of all 100-plus “candidates” from the West Seattle Thriftway shoot (8/16 WSB photo above, also featuring Richard and cover-dog hopeful Lulah) – see the picture-perfect pooches here.

FUN TO BE FRUGAL: That’s the name of a new website written by West Seattle resident Nora Laughlin. She e-mailed to let us know about it; we’ll be adding it to the feeds for this WSB page too, but in the short run – you can browse her entries about coupons and other deals.

Welcome, WSB sponsor: “Reinvent Yourself Workshop” Sunday

August 27, 2009 2:56 pm

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| West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news

This afternoon, we’re welcoming the “Reinvent Yourself Workshop” as a WSB sponsor. Seven area entrepreneurs are presenting the workshop this Sunday in West Seattle – read on for their official announcement:

Seven dynamic entrepreneurial women join forces on Sunday (August 30) to lead a half-day workshop aimed at self-improvement. This interactive session, titled “Reinvent Yourself Workshop: 7 Ways to Transform Your Life,” will provide local women with the tools they need to bring out the best version of themselves.

Each of the seven presenters will share inspiring tips and assist participants in setting realistic goals that result in pivotal life changes. Workshop attendees will have an opportunity to win a Total Transformation Package valued at more than $2,000. The package includes services related to nutrition, fitness, personal and professional growth, home organization, skin care, hair care and personal style.

This is a unique opportunity for West Seattle women to interact with local experts who have built successful businesses around their abilities to increase self-awareness and facilitate positive transformation. The roster of presenters includes Chieko Watanabe, business and life coach; Michelle Babb, MS, RD (WSB sponsor), nutrition and lifestyle educator; Karen Pfeiffer Bush, professional organizer and owner of Housewarming; Bonnie Katz, personal trainer and owner of Fitness Together (WSB sponsor); Trudy Muller, skin care specialist and owner of Envy on Alki; Melissa Wooley, hair stylist and owner of Pure Hair; and Mary Beth Logsdon, style consultant.

The workshop takes place this Sunday (August 30) at Merrill Gardens in West Seattle from 8:45 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Space is limited and seats are filling fast. For additional information or to register, please visit www.reinventyourselfworkshop.com.

Thanks to the “Reinvent Yourself Workshop” for sponsoring WSB! All sponsors – with links to their websites, and info on how to join them here – can be found on our Advertise! page.

West Seattle Crime Watch: Home shot at; giant-tire theft; more

August 27, 2009 1:10 pm

| 10 COMMENTS

| Crime | West Seattle news

Topping this afternoon’s West Seattle Crime Watch roundup – police confirm that a house at 17th/Barton [map] was shot at, describing it as “random vandalism,” not a case of someone being targeted. We got a text about shots heard in that area early yesterday but had no confirmation until we checked with police following a note from Adrienne, who says her neighbor’s townhome was shot at. Police say no one was hurt. Ahead, several more reports, starting with the case of the huge, now-missing tire:Read More

Congratulations to West Seattle summer-reading “Champions”!

August 27, 2009 11:21 am

| 4 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle people

Thanks to Kacy Bear for sharing that photo along with news from the Seattle Public Library‘s Breakfast of Champions event downtown this morning, celebrating winners of the SPL Summer Reading Program. Pictured above are two of the local winners, West Seattle (Admiral) branch’s Catherine Evans and Southwest branch winner Ptolemy Bear (Kacy’s son); Kacy says the programs also list winners Maia Glass-Quicksall from the Delridge branch, Aliyah Mohamed from the High Point branch, and from nearby South Park, Duy Ly. We’ll check with SPL to see if there’s info on how much they read. Congratulations to all! (Side note – remember all city library branches will be closed from Monday 8/31 till reopening Tuesday 9/8.) 1:49 PM: SPL spokesperson Liz Kaune tells WSB the final numbers haven’t been tallied yet – that information is expected to be made public after the libraries reopen in early September.

Should White Center be annexed by Seattle? What do you think?

August 27, 2009 11:20 am

| 10 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle politics | White Center

Though we don’t do a lot of open-ended discussion here on the main page – the WSB Forums always have lots of that going on – we’re just back from KUOW, representing partner site White Center Now in a discussion of the just-approved-by-voters North Highline South Annexation during “Weekday,” and toward the end of the program, host Steve Scher (iPhone photo at left) turned the discussion to, what’s next for the un-annexed area – most of White Center? A caller (not from West Seattle or WC) said he felt many neighborhood groups around Seattle are against it; Mayor Nickels had supported it (and we’re checking with the two finalists for his job regarding what they think), but the City Council voted 8-1 against endorsing an agreement with Burien and other agencies that would have given Seattle exclusive rights to consider the area through the end of 2011 — members said they weren’t necessarily against annexation, but weren’t so sure about the terms of that agreement. During this morning’s broadcast, Burien City Manager Mike Martin said his council hasn’t decided yet whether (and when) they want to pursue White Center. So what do you think – assuming that White Center has to become part of a city one way or another (which the county has made clear, as is the case with all unincorporated urban areas), should it become part of Seattle? Or Burien?

School starts soon: Help local youth by becoming a tutor!

August 27, 2009 9:40 am

| 2 COMMENTS

| High Point | How to help | West Seattle news

With the new school year less than 2 weeks away for most local students, it’s also time for a lot of volunteering to rev up again – and some organizations are looking for new help, like this tutoring program that asked us to help get the word out again this year – here’s the announcement:

Become a volunteer tutor with the Youth Tutoring Program! A great volunteer opportunity in West Seattle!

Catholic Community Services’ Youth Tutoring Program (YTP) is an after-school educational enrichment program for at-risk students in first through twelfth grade. These students live in low and mixed-income public housing communities in Seattle. Begun in 1991 as a partnership with the Seattle Housing Authority, YTP provides youth with a safe, positive, and stimulating environment to explore learning and experience academic and personal success.

Students attend the centers voluntarily and enjoy working with volunteer tutors-the heart of the program. Tutors work with an individual student for the one-hour tutoring session. In addition to offering academic support, volunteers serve as positive role models to the students and help strengthen their sense of self-esteem and self-respect.

During the tutoring session, tutors spend time helping the students with reading, homework (all subjects), and building math and language arts skills. No specific background is necessary, and there are a variety of resources at the tutoring center if you’ve forgotten the formula for the slope of a line or the difference between a gerund, participle, and infinitive! Volunteers must be currently enrolled in high school or have obtained a high school diploma (or equivalent).

Tutoring Centers are open 4:20-7:40 on Monday and Wednesday; 5:30-7:40 Tuesday and Thursday.

Volunteers tutor 1-3 hours per week on the same night every week.

Ideally, tutors work with the same student(s) every week.

There is a tutoring center close to you-in the High Point neighborhood of West Seattle!

Please visit our website to learn more about our program, how you can get involved and APPLY ONLINE TODAY! http://www.ccsww.org/ytp

Or call (206) 328-5659 or email volunteerytp@ccsww.org to request an application.

Tonight: Admiral concert finale with West Seattle Big Band; more

August 27, 2009 6:30 am

| 2 COMMENTS

| Delridge | Fun stuff to do | West Seattle news

CONCERT SERIES’ SWAN SONG: Call it a BIG finale for the first-ever Summer Concerts at Hiawatha, presented by the Admiral Neighborhood Association, sponsored by businesses and organizations including WSB: The West Seattle Big Band plays tonight on the east lawn at Hiawatha Community Center, 6:30 pm, free, b/y/o chair/blanket. Also tonight in the Admiral District:

GIRLS ON THE RUN! AT CLICK! Tonight, 6-9 pm at Click! Design That Fits (WSB sponsor), a shopping and sparkling-wine-tasting event celebrates Girls On The Run of Puget Sound, an afterschool empowerment program that’s expanding in West Seattle this fall. Click! will donate 10 percent of tonight’s purchases to GOTR; lots more info here.

NORTH DELRIDGE ICE CREAM SOCIAL: Ice cream! Games! Meet your neighbors! The North Delridge Neighborhood Council invites one and all to its ice-cream social, 6:30-8:30 pm, Cottage Grove Park (here’s the invite we published last weekend).

SOUTH DELRIDGE/WHITE CENTER COMMUNITY SAFETY COALITION: Talk about issues of crime, safety, and nuisance properties with this dedicated group, 6 pm, St. James Place, 9418 18th SW.

Video: Warm “homecoming” for Dorsol Plants, post-Council run

August 27, 2009 1:26 am

| 3 COMMENTS

| Highland Park | West Seattle news | West Seattle politics | West Seattle video

Nine months after Dorsol Plants stood before the Highland Park Action Committee – which he chaired at the time — to say he was launching a run for Seattle City Council (here’s our 11/24/08 report), he stood before HPAC again last night to post-mortem his run. The clip above shows Dina Johnson presenting Plants with a certificate of appreciation; in the next one, you’ll see him spend about five minutes recalling what the campaign was like, and revealing who he’s supporting now:

With most of the votes counted, the most recent results show Plants finishing with 14% of the vote in the District 4 race – far behind leader Sally Bagshaw at 51%, but not that far behind second-place David Bloom at 18%, who (with Bagshaw) advances to the general (and who, as you heard if you watched the second video clip, Plants is endorsing). Plants, a U.S. Army veteran who currently works for a human-services agency, hasn’t announced his next political plan, but says there will definitely be one – “I’m not done yet.” (In the very short term, by the way, he’ll be celebrating his 25th birthday this weekend.)