day : 21/09/2009 14 results

At one point during Sunday’s West Seattle Junction Car Show, organizer Michael Hoffman of Liberty Bell Printing – who shared the top photo – said something that had occurred to us too: The crowd at times seemed West Seattle Summer Fest-sized. A couple followups: For one, though admission was free, the raffles had great participation, so in the end, $1,671 was donated to West Seattle Helpline. Meantime, here’s a last look at several of the winners — these were chosen by major sponsors – here’s the ’69 Chevelle that won the Don Swanson Insurance Award:

This purple Camaro was the Puerto Vallarta pick:

Best Ford, a 1969 Shelby Cobra Mustang:

Best foreign entry, this 1953 Citroen:

And of all the decade-by-decade winners, our personal favorite was the one from the ’40s – this vintage 1949 school bus:

Also congrats to Jim Clark, who won “Best West Seattle Car” (and we failed to get a shot of his car!). Post-show, lots of photo galleries have turned up online. Mario Pipkin published one on the Old Riders Car Club site. Organizer Michael shared another photo – members of the Bakery Nouveau team in their official Car Show T-shirts:

Brian Zenk shared a collage:

And some cars had just plain fun touches – like this one with the gremlin under the hood:

Our two as-it-happened reports from show day can be seen here and here. Meantime, looks like plans for a third annual Junction Car Show are definitely in motion. Next major event in The Junction – Trick-or-Treating, 1-3 pm on Halloween.

Share This

Celebrate the fall equinox at Solstice Park in West Seattle

September 21, 2009 9:55 pm

| 1 COMMENT

| West Seattle news | West Seattle parks

That photo from Twitter shows some of the silky pink that stretched across the sky after tonight’s final sunset of summer; tomorrow night, fall arrives, and you can greet its arrival with Alice Enevoldsen, who you may remember as the heroic volunteer WSB mapmaker during Snowpocalypse last winter. Alice is among many other things, author of alicesastroinfo.com, and is welcoming you to join her at Solstice Park (over the tennis courts northeast of Lincoln Park; map) tomorrow night to greet the arrival of fall at 7:06 pm our time. Could be some stargazing involved if the weather holds; read Alice’s full invite here.

Share This

Update: House fire on 26th SW in North Delridge

September 21, 2009 7:31 pm

| 9 COMMENTS

| West Seattle fires | West Seattle news

(WSB photo by Christopher Boffoli, substituted for earlier camphone photo @ 8:19 pm)
Single-family residence fire call in 4800 block of 26th SW (map). More to come. 7:54 PM UPDATE: WSB contributing photojournalist Christopher Boffoli says it’s suspected the fire started in the kitchen; it’s tapped now, and the family who was home got out OK (as also reported in comments). 8:14 PM UPDATE: Fire investigators at the scene confirm the kitchen is where it started, but they haven’t yet figured out exactly what sparked the fire. They also say the family will not be able to go back into the house tonight.

(WSB photo by Christopher Boffoli)
ADDED 9:27 PM: Christopher’s video:

No official cause announced yet; whenever it is, tonight or tomorrow, we’ll add it here. TUESDAY 12:30 PM: According to Helen Fitzpatrick with Seattle Fire, the cause was food on the stove catching fire accidentally; the flames spread to cabinets and then the attic. Damage = $30,000.

Share This

CityDog Magazine announces West Seattle “Cover Dog” finalist

September 21, 2009 5:35 pm

| 13 COMMENTS

| Pets | West Seattle news

That’s Murphy – who’s now in the finals for this year’s Cover Dog search by West Seattle-based CityDog Magazine. Editor Brandie Ahlgren sent the photo and this note:

The winning dog from the CityDog Cover Dog Model Search at West Seattle Thriftway is Murphy, a soft-coated wheaten terrier. He’s a cutie and nothing like what we’ve featured on the cover in the past.

After winning the CityDog Cover Dog Model Search at West Seattle Thriftway, Murphy is now a finalist with four other dogs to compete to be on the cover of the Winter issue of CityDog Magazine. And, with Murphy’s help, we were able to raise over $1,000 for the Doney Memorial Animal Clinic.

We have one cover dog model search remaining – this Sunday, September 27 at FidoFEST to benefit the Seattle Humane Society [info]. After that dog is selected, ballots will be sent and the people’s voice will be heard on which dog will be the winning dog to grace the cover of CityDog Magazine. Dog lovers may still enter their dog in the cover dog model search at FidoFEST or sign up to receive a ballot by e-mail at www.citydogmagazine.com.

CityDog came to Thriftway on August 16; we took a photo. Last year’s Cover Dog winner was from the West Seattle “tryouts” – Cohen (here’s his cover). We’ll let you know when voting begins!

ADDED: A little more info about Murphy, from his person, forwarded by CityDog’s Brandie:

Murphy turned 1 year old on August 30th.

Likes:
Any kind of attention
Smiling
All toys (especially ones that make noise)
Full body wiggling to greet people and wagging his tail
Shaking hands and giving high fives
Sleeping under the kitchen table
Any food smell!
“Helping” in the garden
Trips to Montana

Dislikes:
Vacuums
Brooms
Dogs/People that don’t like to play

Favorite West Seattle hangouts:
-Walks in the Junction. He especially likes the people eating ice cream outside of
Husky’s and the enticing smells outside of Bakery Nouveau.
-Car rides on Alki with the wind in his hair!
-Getting treats/attention at Mud Bay and Next to Nature

Share This

Crime Watch followup: Suspect charged in “burglarbustindad” case

September 21, 2009 5:09 pm

| 18 COMMENTS

| Crime | West Seattle news

In this comment earlier today, the Gatewood crime victim-turned-crimefighter known only as “burglarbustindad” mentioned that the suspect in last week’s burglary at his Gatewood home has been charged. We just got the documents from the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office: 19-year-old Kenneth Shouting is charged with residential burglary. Read on for the police narrative included in the court documents:Read More

Share This

ArtsWest gets $7,500 in federal stimulus money

September 21, 2009 3:36 pm

| Comments Off on ArtsWest gets $7,500 in federal stimulus money

| West Seattle news | WS culture/arts

Got word from the countywide organization 4Culture that a long list of groups getting a total of $250,000 federal stimulus money to help protect arts-related jobs includes West Seattle’s ArtsWest, which will receive $7,500. Checked with AW to see what the money will be used for; Rachel Jackson tells WSB, “That money will go into our AIF (Artistic Improvement Fund), and will specifically go to paying our actors. Unlike other theaters our size (non-equity houses) we pay our artists an hourly wage instead of just a stipend.” The full list of stimulus $ recipients is here. (ArtsWest is currently in the midst of its season-opening run, with “Dead Man’s Cell Phone” continuing till October 3rd.)

Share This

West Seattle Crime Watch: Neighbors chase suspected prowler

September 21, 2009 2:33 pm

| 16 COMMENTS

| Crime | West Seattle news

Yet another case of alert neighbors either scaring off suspected criminals or catching them: This just out of the WSB inbox, from Cecilia:

My husband and I live on Beach Drive, near the corner of Beach and Andover (a couple blocks north of La Rustica) [map]. At approximately 10:30 AM on the morning of Friday 9/18/09, I received a phone call from a neighbor alerting me to a potential attempted residential burglary in our home. Several neighbors and our US Mail Deliverer/Post Man observed a white unmarked van and some kind of tan/gold colored sedan park in front of our home. A short time later, one man got out of the van, came to the front of our home, looked into the front windows, then went around the side yard and back of our home, looking into all the windows. Neighbors were able to scare him off by asking what he was doing. One neighbor and the Post Man followed him in their cars, while he was on foot. He stopped to hide in some bushes near our home and proceeded to look into some windows of a neighbor’s house, at which point he was confronted by neighbors and police were called. By the time police arrived, the man was gone, as were the two suspect vehicles. Because there was no evidence of “forced entry” in our home and no recorded license plate numbers, an actual police report could not be made. Please be aware of an adult male (approximate age unknown), about 6-6’2 in height, approximately 180 lbs in weight, wearing a Nike hat, with brown “greasy” hair in a ponytail. Please also be aware of the vehicles described above.

Share This

Less than a week till Alki Beach 5K Walk/Run!

September 21, 2009 1:33 pm

| Comments Off on Less than a week till Alki Beach 5K Walk/Run!

| Fun stuff to do | How to help | West Seattle news

Our video from last September shows the entire 1,000-strong crowd taking off for the first-ever Alki Beach 5K Walk/Run, benefiting West Seattle-based Northwest Hope and Healing (WSB sponsor), which helps newly diagnosed breast-cancer patients. Will this year’s crowd beat that? Still time to help make sure it does – register at alkibeachrun.com. The route starts at Alki Bathhouse and travels along the West Seattle waterfront (here’s a map). Here’s what the $ goes for. See you there (and so far – though it’s early – the weather looks great)!

Share This

Election 2009: Candidates at 3 West Seattle events this week

September 21, 2009 11:54 am

| Comments Off on Election 2009: Candidates at 3 West Seattle events this week

| West Seattle news | West Seattle politics

Mayoral candidate Mike McGinn just announced a town-hall meeting in West Seattle – 4:30 pm Wednesday, High Point Library (map). Add that to two other events in West Seattle this week – with Election Day just six weeks from tomorrow (and ballots in the mail much sooner): 7 pm Wednesday, the Highland Park Action Committee presents a Candidates’ Forum (we’re checking on who’s RSVP’d) at Highland Park Improvement Club (map); Thursday at 11 am, West Seattle Democratic Women present a City Attorney candidates’ debate during their lunch meeting at West Seattle Golf Course (map). For the Wednesday events, just show up; for Thursday, lunch costs $10 members/$20 nonmembers (which includes membership in WSDW for the remainder of 2009) – registration starts at 11, lunch/program at 11:30 – contact WSDW at (206) 938-5706 or wsdwomen@yahoo.com.

7:53 PM UPDATE: Rory Denovan has sent word of who’s confirmed for the HPAC forum on Wednesday night:

Mike McGinn, Candidate for Mayor
Sally Bagshaw, Candidate for City Council, Position 4
David Bloom, Candidate for City Council, Position 4
Nick Licata, Candidate for City Council, Position 6
Tom Albro, Candidate for Seattle Port Commission, Position 4
Rob Holland, candidate for Seattle Port Commission, Position 3
Robert Rosencrantz,Candidate for City Council Position 8
Mike O’Brien, Candidate for City Council, Position 8

Share This

Followup: Thanks from Baby Maarten’s family/friends; what’s next

September 21, 2009 10:39 am

| 9 COMMENTS

| How to help | West Seattle news

This past Friday and Saturday, piles of donated items were sold at West Seattle’s Peace Lutheran Church to benefit 1-year-old Maarten (left), who’s been fighting a brain tumor for virtually his entire life. He and his parents had to stay in Boston where he’s being treated and couldn’t make it home in time for the sale, but organizer Claudia Ludwig, a co-worker of Maarten’s mom, tells us they’ve now raised $5,925 – including $3,625 from the sale (the rest is from PayPal and bank account donations). Claudia adds:

Please send a GIANT thank you to everyone who reads the WS blog. Maarten and his parents, Sacha and Francois will be back home in Seattle on Wednesday and they are SO thrilled by all of us coming together to help them in this way. Sacha told me (Sunday) morning when I gave her an approximate total that their 3 trips to Boston AND the 9 weeks lodging expenses are covered by our sale and there will be more left! She and Francois were in awe and so very very grateful. They’ll be updating the helpmaarten.blogspot.com soon and want to send out their thanks to everyone and feel so moved by our support.

Claudia also added a bit more about the treatment that Maarten’s been receiving – how it works and how costly it is – read on:Read More

Share This

Tonight: Sustainable West Seattle; looking ahead to Eat Local Now

September 21, 2009 9:17 am

| 1 COMMENT

| Environment | How to help | Sustainable West Seattle

(Today’s sunrise, from Seacrest, courtesy Chas Redmond, who happens to be an SWS member)
Tonight’s calendar highlight — Sustainable West Seattle‘s monthly meeting, 7 pm, Camp Long Lodge (map), all welcome. This is the group’s last meeting before a big event it’s co-presenting – the Eat Local Now dinner/auction, 5 pm October 11th at Alki Masonic Hall (map) in The Junction. (We’re among the co-sponsors.) Goal: Enjoying, promoting and celebrating locally grown food; tickets are available online.

Share This

West Seattle Crime Watch: Street trees trashed

September 21, 2009 3:33 am

| 3 COMMENTS

| Crime | West Seattle news | Westwood

BCK has an alert from near 32nd/Trenton in Westwood (map):

A note of warning to anyone with small street trees : All of our street trees and those of several neighbors have been deliberately run over by cars. Large posts set by the trees and iron stakes were not enough to deter these vandals. If you have trees that are not yet big enough to defend themselves , save yourself some heartbreak and put big rocks near them.

Crime is one of the topics on the agenda later this week, by the way, as the Westwood Neighborhood Council meets for the first time in several months. Join them at 7 pm Thursday, Southwest Community Center; more info here.

Share This

1st-8th grader who likes to sing? Endolyne Choir says “welcome”

September 21, 2009 3:01 am

| 1 COMMENT

| West Seattle news | WS culture/arts

Is there a student in your family who loves to sing? Endolyne Children’s Choir, based in West Seattle, just started its fall session, but still has room for new members – here’s info from Endolyne leader Juliet Nazarino:

All rehearsals take place at St. John the Baptist Episcopal Church, 3050 California Ave SW.

Debut is our entry level group for 1st -3rd graders and rehearses on Tuesdays at 6:30 – 7:30 pm.

The Encore and Advanced Ensemble are for 3rd – 8th graders and rehearses on Thursdays at 6:30 – 7:30 pm.

New members are always welcome!

Sing Year Round: September 2009 – June 2010!
a.. Fall Session: Debut: (now through) Dec. 15, Encore/Adv: (now through) Dec. 17
b.. Winter Session: Debut: Jan. 5 – March 12, Encore/Adv: Jan. 7 – March 12
c.. Spring Session: Debut: March 16 – June 5, Encore/Adv: March 18 – June 5

Questions? Contact Juliet Nazarino at (206) 934-5490, info@endolynechoir.org or visit www.endolynechoir.org

Share This

West Seattle weekend scenes: Cake, LINKS, Westfest, library, drill

September 21, 2009 1:03 am

| Comments Off on West Seattle weekend scenes: Cake, LINKS, Westfest, library, drill

| Fun stuff to do | Safety | West Seattle news

A few more scenes from the (very busy) West Seattle weekend that just wrapped up: One day after the Alki Statue of Liberty Plaza time-capsule celebration (our Saturday reports are here and here), Eilene Hutchinson and Libby Carr from the Statue of Liberty Plaza Project were out serving leftover “time capsule cake.” (Thanks to Mark Matassa for the photo.) Now rewinding a bit further into the weekend:

Genevieve Aguilar photographed Fandango at DNDA‘s LINKS barbecue, held indoors on soggy Saturday; by later Saturday afternoon, the weather cleared enough for outdoor fun, including this goofy act at Holy Rosary School’s Westfest, with TV personality Jim Dever and son:

At the Southwest Branch Library on Saturday afternoon, Friends of SBL invited patrons to come meet new branch manager Jane Appling (at right in the pink shirt):

And we wanted to mention a few words about the Communications Hubs radio test on Friday night – this is Morgan Community Association president Deb Barker outside West Seattle Thriftway (the MJ “hub”) during the drill:

Cindi Barker, also from MoCA (but no relation to Deb), sent a report on how the test went (it involved small handheld radios that have been distributed to reps in the West Seattle neighborhoods participating in the disaster-preparedness project):

All the Hubs in the WS Communcations Hub system were present and accounted for. Our next hub to come on line, Highland Park, came into the test late, but still checked in and was heard.

The GMRS repeater system worked great, everyone was able to receive all Hubs, from Fauntleroy to Alki. Signal strength was a little variable, as people were getting feedback about their transmissions and moved around to improve the signal. Under simulated conditions, each Hub requested different resources of the type that might be needed immediately following a disaster, including describing a serious, high priority situation, such as the collapse of a building. Hubs also exchanged information about what resources might have become available in their neighborhood and sought to match them up with needs in other locations.

This test placed high demands on each Hub coordinator, as they had to physically set up their Hub location and manage all the radio traffic, and everyone performed at an outstanding level. During the debrief, several people said they attracted concerned attention as they were overheard reporting a fire or gas leak according to their test script, and some used the opportunity to let their neighbors know about the Emergency Communication Hub concept and about the drill, much to the relief of the visitors. All in all, an extremely successful test!

You can find your nearest Hub on this site – they’re spots set up for people to gather to coordinate information and help if disaster strikes and other means of communication don’t work.

Share This