Exactly two months from today, it’s the 6th annual West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day – the third year that the event, created by gone-but-not-forgotten Megawatt, has been coordinated/presented by us here at WSB. As in previous years, it’s the second Saturday in May, and will run from 9 am-3 pm – so that means May 8, 2010, is the big day this year. We’re not planning any big changes – as in years past, it’s a day for garage/yard/group sales all over the peninsula – it gets bigger every year, and we had almost 200 last year! We will open registration about a month ahead of time, so look for that in early April; you can “fan” the WSCGSD page on Facebook to track things there, and also we’ll once again be updating the separate site at westseattlegaragesale.com (you can go there to browse back through the archive of photos/info from the past two years). Between now and then, a few other garage sale notes:
Just about every month, West Seattle’s Ventana Construction (WSB sponsor) offers a free workshop for would-be remodelers. This month, there’s important information to share, in addition to the basics – and the workshop’s coming up this Wednesday. Ventana’s announcement:
Thinking about remodeling? New federal rules about lead paint go into effect next month and will have serious implications for most remodels done on homes built before 1978. Find out more about the rules and how to hire a registered company at Ventana Construction’s monthly Building a Better Home workshop on Wednesday, March 10 at 6 pm. The workshop covers all the basics of the remodeling and custom home-building process, and also talks about the $1500 federal tax credit for energy- efficient remodeling. Space is limited–call 206-932-3009 to register. www.ventanabuilds.com
Two weeks into the North Delridge/Pigeon Point traffic re-routing/parking reduction required by a homebuilder putting in a sewer line along 23rd SW, new signs are up in PP, requesting detouring drivers’ consideration. Pigeon Point Neighborhood Council co-chair Jim Sander made the signs and sent the photos, taken by 6-year-old Tom Sander.
(Yes, Jim says, that second “Braveheart“-inspired sign is tongue-in-cheek.) The signposts are more often used to publicize upcoming neighborhood events such as PPNC meetings, but the slow-down reminders will be handy until the construction work is done, potentially another four weeks.
Almost three years have passed since first official word of Swedish Automotive (WSB sponsor)’s plan for a new, larger location at 7901 35th SW (map) – we mentioned it briefly in May 2007, and then covered the second Design Review Board meeting months later, in December 2007. Now construction is finally under way, and owner Dave Winters tells us it wasn’t another case of a project going on hold till the market got better – it just took them that long to “jump through the hoops” to line up permits and everything else needed to begin.
But now ground is broken and he’s excited about the project, which has changed somewhat from the original plan – read on for details:Read More
We’d been checking with the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office to see if they’d ever made a decision on whether charges would be filed in a widely reported case here in West Seattle – a 12-year-old girl accused of hitting a then-12-year-old boy with what some witnesses described as a backpack containing rocks at Southwest Community Center last June. (The incident was first reported here; the boy had to go to the hospital. We published details of the full police report the next day.) Today, the girl was charged with third-degree assault, according to paperwork just sent to us by KCPAO media liaison Dan Donohoe. The girl, who turns 13 till next month, is scheduled for arraignment two weeks from today in Juvenile Court. We are not identifying either her or the victim because of their ages; she is charged as a juvenile, not an adult (though some other media have identified them in the past, as they both gave TV interviews after the incident, so you may see their names elsewhere).
HOTWIRE ADDS WHEAT-FREE, GLUTEN-FREE TREATS: This Wednesday, Hotwire Online Coffeehouse (WSB sponsor) adds something new – from the official announcement:
Beginning March 10th, 2010 West Seattle folks will be able to pre-order and pick up some of their favorite wheat- and gluten-free baked goods from 2 of Seattle’s premium bakeries: the Flying Apron and Wheatless in Seattle.
Lora Lewis, owner of Hotwire Online Coffeehouse, remarks, “I’m finding more people coming into Hotwire asking for wheat and gluten-free items so it seemed natural to go out and seek some premium bakeries who were offering these types of goods.” After extensive research, 2 bakeries kept coming up, the Flying Apron, known for their organic and wheat-free goods, and Wheatless in Seattle, a bakery that specializes in gluten-free breads and desserts.
… You will be able to order your wheat and gluten-free baked goods through Hotwire and have them delivered each Wednesday. Hotwire will also have ready-to- purchase wheat- and gluten-free items too.
Hotwire already has a large following of people who can’t drink dairy from their decision when they opened 7 ½ years ago to not charge for soy or rice milk. For the dairy drinkers, all of Hotwire’s dairy is locally sourced and is rBST free.
They’ll kick off the new offering with special tastings on Wednesday – Lora tells us Flying Apron will be there around 8 am, Wheatless around 11 (Hotwire, 4410 California SW, is open till 7 pm that night).
ATOMIC BOYS’ ANNIVERSARY PARTY: Two years since Max and Quinn’s Atomic Boys Shop-O-Rama opened in the Admiral District — and proprietor Kent Sadow just sent word you’re invited to help them celebrate this Saturday:
We will celebrate our 2nd Anniversary this Sat. March 13 between 10 am-6 pm.
Atomic Boys will have drawings for cool gift certificates and chances to win candy, toys and store discounts. Free balloons will be given out to little ones under 5, as well as snacks and drinks throughout the day for everyone to enjoy.
Update: The snow that others had seen earlier didn’t reach WSB HQ till just now. No, it’s not heavy; no, it’s not sticking. But it’s something of a serious snow shower, at least here, so we’re capturing video for posterity. (As noted here over the weekend, we had this same type of light snow right about this time last year, too.) This is right in line with the midmorning forecast: “scattered rain and snow showers.” (Got pix or vid? We’ll be happy to add – editor@westseattleblog.com – thanks!) 1:11 PM UPDATE: Definitely not sticking, and intermittently mixed with rain, so no need to panic about getting home later, etc., at this point!
Over the weekend, we published news on partner site White Center Now that the Democratic caucus for the 34th Legislative District is coming up next Sunday, March 14, at Mount View Elementary School in WC. (See the announcement here.) In comments on that story, Highland Park’s Blair Johnsonpoints out an important reminder – this Sunday is also the start of Daylight Saving Time – at 2 am Sunday (aka Saturday night), your clock goes ahead one hour (the “spring forward” half of “spring forward/fall back”).
That’s what the brand-new National Weather Service city forecast predicts for the “rest of today.” We’re hearing of snowflake sightings (not sticking) in some parts of West Seattle – though here at WSB HQ in Upper Fauntleroy, it’s suddenly sunny. 12:21 PM UPDATE: OK, *now* we have snow – light, but definitely snow.
Many had a lot to say about the former head of the Seattle Department of Transportation, particularly during and after the December 2008 snow – so now the city is inviting you to have a say on the person Mayor McGinn wants to see in the job, Peter Hahn. The invitation comes from Councilmember Tom Rasmussen, who chairs the Transportation Committee – read on:Read More
HENDRIX PARTY AT EASY STREET: Still a little double-take-inducing to see the phrase “new Jimi Hendrix album,” but that’s what’s going on sale tonight, and the title track “Valleys of Neptune” is what you’re hearing in the video clip above. Easy Street Records in West Seattle plans a listening party starting at 9 tonight (free pizza, per the Easy Street site) and the album goes on sale at midnight.
NAVOS OPENS ITS DOORS: It’s been West Seattle General Hospital, West Seattle Psychiatric Hospital, and Highline West Seattle Mental Health; now it’s Navos, and it will be hosting an open house tonight at its main campus (2600 SW Holden), 6-7 pm. Besides a drop-in-and-visit component, Navos CEO Dr. David Johnson will speak, as will a client who the facility says “has made remarkable progress in his recovery.”
GET HELP WITH SEATTLE PUBLIC SCHOOLS “OPEN ENROLLMENT”: Need to get a child into the district, or want to request a school other than the one you’ve been assigned to? Get help tonight at Delridge Library, 5:30-7 pm (read more here).
YOUTH SUMMIT PLANNING MEETING: Another planning meeting for the next area Youth Summit is happening this afternoon, 3:30-5:30 pm, at Youngstown Arts Center – “food and service-learning hours provided” – all youth welcome.
B-I-N-G-O: Some of what’s in the WSB Events calendar happens this night every week – but you might not know it! For example, most Monday nights mean bingo at Alki UCC – doors open at 5:30 pm, games start at 6:30 pm (read more here)
Exactly two months from today, it’s the 6th annual 
Almost three years have passed since first official word of 
We’d been checking with the 
Many had a lot to say about the former head of the
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