day : 16/12/2009 11 results

A week and a half ago, we brought you first word of the theme chosen for next year’s West Seattle Hi-Yu Summer Festival float, “Dreams Do Come True.” (The art above is from the winning presentation, details here.) Tonight, Hi-Yu’s Deena Mahn sends word of the next step: You’re invited to enter the contest to turn the new theme into next year’s fundraising Hi-Yu button! Here’s the official announcement:

Looking for an easy and creative way to show your community pride? A fun winter break project for the kids?

West Seattle Hi-Yu is kicking off the annual button design contest. This year’s theme is West Seattle Hi-Yu “Dreams Do Come True.” This year’s float design will depict a fanciful fairy-tale theme; think castles, rainbows and unicorns. The winning button will be chosen at the general membership meeting by popular vote on January 4, 2010, 6:30 p.m. at St John the Baptist Church Hall. Previous years’ buttons may be viewed at
www.hiyu.com/all_buttons.asp.

All button designs should be in final size, which is 2 ½”. Hi-Yu welcomes entries from all ages!

The winner receives a $25.00 check and will ride in the West Seattle American Legion Grand Parade in July. Please send entries by mail to West Seattle Hi-Yu, PO Box 16130, Seattle, WA 98116. Deadline is January 2nd, 2010.

THANK YOU for supporting your community festival.

Deena also shared a photo of last year’s winner, Kyle Jonson, riding in the July 2008 parade, along with the image of his winning button design:

By the way, if you’re ever looking for a WSB Hi-Yu story, look for the West Seattle Hi-Yu Festival coverage category in the list toward the bottom of the sidebar, or bookmark this link (newest story will always come up first)

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Seattle City Light confirms power outage in northwest West Seattle

December 16, 2009 9:10 pm

| 4 COMMENTS

| Utilities | West Seattle news

Thanks to the WSB’er who called a few minutes ago with word of a power outage in the Charlestown Hill area [map]. Seattle City Light hadn’t confirmed it at that time, but has now: 68 customers; a crew is on the way, no word yet what caused it; they’re not promising restoration before 3 am. While the boundaries listed by SCL are not usually precise, here’s what they’re listing – between SW Spokane and SW Andover, and between 51st SW and 59th SW. 4:29 AM UPDATE: Just checked the City Light hotline again and there’s no longer an “outage message” recording, which should mean everybody’s back on.

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Update: Search for stabbing suspect in 5200 block of Delridge

December 16, 2009 5:57 pm

| 15 COMMENTS

| Crime | Delridge | West Seattle news

Police and fire have responded to an “assault with weapons/aid” call in the 5200 block of Delridge [map]. We’re on our way to the area to check; scanner traffic indicates a search is on, no word who was hurt, how, or how badly, yet. 6:03 PM UPDATE: Also from the scanner, sounds like a stabbing incident – the victim is on the way to Harborview Medical Center; there was a question about whether the suspect also “was cut.” 6:25 PM UPDATE: The search is centering on the building that used to house a much-scrutinized “used goods” business that cleared out a few months ago. No indication yet of an arrest, or of specific circumstances. Adding a photo. Delridge traffic is NOT blocked at the scene but IS moving slowly, as you might expect. 6:30 PM UPDATE: Just spoke with an SPD sergeant at the scene; he summarized this as one male stabbing another in an argument over a female. They’re not sure yet what the weapon was, but they continue looking for the suspect – who, per the scanner, indeed apparently was also wounded. The victim, we’re told, was stabbed in the arm – not a life-threatening injury. 6:57 PM UPDATE: Don’t know how soon we will be able to confirm but scanner traffic indicates an arrest.

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What West Seattle Food Bank needs before Christmas

December 16, 2009 5:54 pm

| 6 COMMENTS

| How to help | West Seattle news

(Photo provided by West Seattle Food Bank, as Admiral Co-Op Preschool students celebrate recent donation drive)
By Lauri Hennessey
Reporting for West Seattle Blog

With just over a week to go till Christmas, the West Seattle Food Bank is finding plenty of need in the community, and supplies are dwindling. In fact, the food bank has seen a 27 percent increase in the number of households served over a year ago.

The food bank has also seen an increase in the number of times individual families need the food bank, with a 17 percent increase in the number of times households are coming to the food bank.

Still, Executive Director Fran Yeatts is hopefuly the food bank will continue to weather the storm, to a large degree because of the ongoing generosity of the West Seattle community.

We asked what they need for Christmas – read on for the answer, as the story continues:Read More

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Update: Photos of West Seattle graffiti-vandalism suspect

December 16, 2009 2:28 pm

| 46 COMMENTS

| Crime | West Seattle news

(scroll down, more photos added at 3:36 pm)
As we reported earlier today, we were awaiting word on whether police would be able to release a photo of the West Seattle vandalism suspect who’s wanted for multiple instances of marking/painting a specific three-word anti-gay slur – and now a photo’s out, along with a few more details on SPDBlotter, which says he’s charged with five counts of property destruction, and is indeed the same man arrested earlier this year: 31-year-old Ryan Joshua Cox. SPD Media Unit Officer Renee Witt also tells us a second photo will be made public shortly, “showing him walking away from one of the crime scenes.” From the SPDBlotter report:

He is believed to be homeless and may be wearing multiple layers of clothing to keep warm. He may be wearing a dark colored jacket with a red collar and carrying a red satchel.

Cox is known to suffer from mental illness. Due to the volatility of his behavior, citizens should not approach him.

Anyone with information regarding Cox’s location is urged to call either 911 or the Southwest Precinct Detectives at 206 233-2623. Those wishing to remain anonymous are encouraged to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800 222-TIPS (8477) or send a text to CRIMES (274637). Your text message should include “TIP486” to ensure proper routing. If a tip leads to an arrest and the filing of charges, callers may qualify for a cash reward of up to $1000. Calls are taken 24 hours a day.

Cox spent almost a month in jail after his arrest last May; he was also charged then with property destruction, but the charges were eventually dropped when he was found not competent to stand trial. He was referred for a state-hospital evaluation at that time. The graffiti vandalism started reappearing about three months ago, and most recently had expanded to an even-wider area than where it had repeatedly been done before, including multiple incidents in the Admiral District. ADDED 3:36 PM: The aforementioned additional photo is actually THREE photos, and they have been released by police via SPDBlotter:

6:13 PM UPDATE: Got an e-mail report that similar tagging happened apparently within the past hour in the 5400 block of California SW. The person who spotted it has called police.

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Urgent call for help: High Point Community Center needs 400 toys

December 16, 2009 1:31 pm

| 25 COMMENTS

| High Point | How to help | West Seattle news

Thanks to Kendra for letting us know about this – we’ve just confirmed it with Brian Judd at High Point Community Center: They were supposed to have a Toys for Tots distribution event at the center this past Monday, but Toys for Tots has been having a regional shortage, and didn’t bring toys to distribute to the families. So now they are trying to directly collect enough toys to make holiday wishes come true for the families NEXT Monday at 2 pm. Between now and Saturday afternoon, bring unwrapped toys for any age, 3 through 18, to High Point CC (6920 34th SW; here’s a map; they’re open till 9 tonight, 10 am-9 pm tomorrow, 1-9 pm Friday, 10 am-5 pm Saturday) – they hope to have 400 by the time the families all show up again on Monday. ADDED 5:04 PM: If you have extra donation ability, here’s another request we received, from Maria at DNDA:

We provide affordable housing to low income families and are in dire need of gifts for their families. We have about 17 families that need gifts this year.We have a lot of children that will be needing toys this year and are going with out. If you can provide a toy or donate money please contact Phillippia Goldsmith at
Phillippiag@dnda.org or call at (206) 935-2999

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WS Crime Watch: “We have a warrant for the suspect’s arrest”

December 16, 2009 10:09 am

| 20 COMMENTS

| Crime | West Seattle news

That’s what Southwest Precinct Lt. Steve Paulsen tells WSB this morning – we had asked about the status of the search for the man suspected in the ongoing “homophobic graffiti” vandalism, after getting three more reports this morning of new sightings of the same profane anti-gay slur that’s been appearing in an increasingly wide area, including businesses between The Junction and Morgan Junction. Lt. Paulsen says he was “seen in the Junction area yesterday” and adds that arresting him is a “precinct priority.” We don’t have a photo to share yet (that could change) but regarding a description, at last month’s West Seattle Crime Prevention Council meeting (WSB coverage here), police said “white male, late 20s, early 30s, always looks stressed out” and an attendee said he was known to wear hoodies.

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Hometown Holidays update: New times for Sunday’s carriage rides

December 16, 2009 10:00 am

| 4 COMMENTS

| Fun stuff to do | Holidays | West Seattle news

This Sunday is the last of three special Sundays as part of the West Seattle Junction Association’s Hometown Holidays (co-sponsored by WSB) – with special events including mule-drawn carriage rides, as shown in our photo from Sunday before last – and we just got word from Susan Melrose of WSJA that the hours have changed: You can catch the carriage by the HH HQ booth in front of KeyBank between 11 am and 3 pm on Sunday. (The time period for Santa photos and gift wrap at the other HH HQ, in the storefront just east of Cupcake Royale, remains noon-4 pm.) The full scoop on Hometown Holidays, including the ongoing $6,500 Junction Giveaway (which has its final drawings on Sunday, so get your entries in before then) is here.

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School attendance-map flap: Roxhill Elementary toes the line

December 16, 2009 5:27 am

| 17 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle schools | Westwood

(Editor’s note: School Board member Steve Sundquist has another community meeting this morning, 10 am at Delridge Library)

By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

“We all know the line has to be drawn somewhere, but — right across the street?”

So asked one of the 25+ people who crowded into Roxhill Elementary School‘s library Tuesday night to try to find out from Seattle School Board member Steve Sundquist why the Roxhill attendance area in the new Student Assignment Plan has one headscratcher:

When the West Seattle lines were redrawn, for the maps that were finalized with few amendments last month, the western boundary of Roxhill’s attendance area moved several blocks east, and now goes down the middle of 30th SW .. yards from where the school sits on the east side of that street (note the school icon next to the boundary line in the map section shown above).

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Pre-Christmas greenery: Hike with the Nature Consortium Friday

December 16, 2009 3:01 am

| 1 COMMENT

| Environment | Fun stuff to do | Health | West Seattle news

At the trailhead at 14th and Holly, you can meet up this Friday for a walk with the Nature Consortium, which is headquartered at West Seattle’s Youngstown Cultural Arts Center. Here’s the invite:

West Duwamish Greenbelt Guided Eco-hike
Friday, December 18th
1-2:30pm

Join us for a free public guided hike in the West Duwamish Greenbelt, Seattle’s largest remaining forest. We will explore the hidden treasures of this amazing natural wonder, and hear about the history and the future of the forest from Nancy Whitlock, Executive Director for the Nature Consortium (and forest steward). Difficulty is mild. Inexperienced hikers, seniors, and babies in backpacks are welcome. Special note to Parents of toddlers and preschoolers: please be warned that this hike can be challenging for you if you are with a preschooler or two who walk down the hills but want to be carried up ☺

Please bring your own water bottle. Granola bars provided. Dress in layers for weather. Wear appropriate footwear (some parts of the trail are muddy.) Long pants recommended.

Extreme rain cancels. Be ready for inspiration!

Meet at the trailhead at 14th Ave SW and SW Holly [map]

Call 206-923-0853 or e-mail lisa@naturec.org reserve your spot. RSVP today! www.naturec.org

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Young West Seattle achievers: Runners, musicians, dancers

December 16, 2009 1:41 am

| 1 COMMENT

| West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

News to share about some young West Seattleites on the move, in more ways than one:

First, West Seattle state-champion runner Maddie Meyers (left) was the only girl from our state in the Foot Locker National Cross-Country Championships last weekend in San Diego; she finished 23rd, with the third-highest time for a 10th grader (she attends The Northwest School). We have reported on some of Maddie’s achievements before (here and here). She qualified for nationals by finishing 7th at the West Regionals a week earlier. Also from the fleet-of-foot department, Jo Bader shares a photo and news from last weekend’s Girls On The Run event at Seward Park, with West Seattle girls participating:

Girls on the Run of Puget Sound is a non-profit organization whose mission is to use the power of running to educate and prepare girls for a lifetime of self-respect and healthy living. GOTRPS operates an after-school prevention program for 3rd through 5th grade girls throughout Puget Sound, including two programs in West Seattle at Hiawatha and Pathfinder.

Girls from the West Seattle GOTR programs participated this past Saturday in the GOTR 5K at Seward Park. The event is the graduation 5K for our 10-week fall program participants. It is also a fundraiser for the GOTRPS organization and attracts lots of supporters. The program is run by volunteer coaches who were all on hand to cheer on our girls to the finish line. It was a chilly, but very fun day.

Congratulations to all of the girls who completed the program and their very first 5K! Their coaches are very proud of them.

Girls on the Run of Puget Sound
www.girlsrun.org

Jo says there’ll be a spring program at the same locations, and they’ll be looking for coaches: “It is really fun and very rewarding!”

Next, from Madison Middle School teacher Jeanne Merritt, a recap of the school’s Winter Concert a few nights ago:

Madison Middle School’s annual Winter Concert took place Thursday evening under the leadership of music teacher Clark Bathum.

The beautiful music performed by 170 students was inspiring.

The program began with the jazz band performing Fat Cat and featuring piano, sax and trombone soloists. Then they played a lively Cuban piece featuring a guitar soloist. Another band group played music showcasing percussionists. The program finished with a full orchestra performing four selections from the Nutcracker Suite.

The Madison orchestra is co-taught by string specialist Mike Watson, and the Latin jazz band is taught after school by local salsa musician Fred Hoadley. He also arranges all the Latin music.

Madison’s music students are accustomed to excellence. Last year they won many awards at the Music in the Parks Festival in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho: First place jazz band, first place string orchestra, Esprit de Corps award (musicianship and gracious conduct), and soloist award (eighth consecutive year).

Bravo!
Thanks to Jeanne – we appreciate news from West Seattle schools (photos are great too) – editor@westseattleblog.com. Last but not least, as The Nutcracker continues at Pacific Northwest Ballet, we have the company’s list of West Seattle-area youth who are in the cast. Read on:Read More

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