day : 17/05/2010 9 results

Hundreds of West Seattleites enjoyed his work last holiday season … and even though Christmas is more than seven months away, Jim Winder is well on his way to creating this year’s lights-and-music extravaganza. He sent us photos of a special delivery the other day, with this update:

Been working since January on this year’s Christmas display, welding up a new, bigger Mega Tree and some Mini Trees…and I (just) received my 785 lbs of LED lights!!!

We will be adding nearly 45,000 lights to this year’s display for a total of nearly 55,000 lights!!! We are adding a lot of more elements to the display and hopefully a few other surprises to really make the display a lot more interactive for the people. We are also planning our own website which will have the show hours and when and what songs will be playing. Lighting ceremony will be Thanksgiving night, and will hopefully have a Northwest Celebrity to do the honors.

Along with all that we are also planning on having a collection box for those who would like to donate to a charity to be announced later. We will also be collecting food stuffs for a West Seattle Food bank…

So we are quite excited and can’t wait for the colder weather!!!! (well…at least me anyway…)

What – you don’t quite remember Jim’s lights? Maybe this will refresh your memory.

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WSB Extra: Meet schoolbuilder Julia Bolz before her Alki appearance

May 17, 2010 7:01 pm

| 4 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news

This Saturday, Julia Bolz speaks at Alki UCC. Event-presenting InSPIRE Seattle is hoping many will come hear about her amazing work. Local writer David Preston spoke with her in advance of her visit.

(All photos in this story are courtesy Ayni Education International)
By David Preston
Special to West Seattle Blog

In 1998, Seattleite Julia Bolz decided to take a sabbatical from her successful immigration law practice to follow her heart around the world. She ended up in Africa, where she focused on empowering the poor — especially women and girls — by working with nongovernmental organizations focused on microfinance, health care, and human rights.

Not long into her journey, she knew the work was for her, so she resigned from the partnership to work full time in the field of social justice. In all, she has worked in, or travelled to, more than 70 countries — more countries than many folks could name — but since early 2002, “right after the Taliban were removed from power,” her focus has been Afghanistan. There, she founded a project called “Journey with an Afghan School” that builds and equips schools, provides teacher training, and builds bridges of understanding between the two countries.

Building a school can be a major undertaking, so I asked Julia why she started there rather than, say, sending blankets (which is what I, a struggling journalist, would have done.)

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Update: West Seattle Summer Outdoor Movies on the Wall lineup!

May 17, 2010 4:43 pm

| Comments Off on Update: West Seattle Summer Outdoor Movies on the Wall lineup!

| Fun stuff to do | West Seattle news | West Seattle Outdoor Movies

That’s “Mamma Mia,” which will kick off the six-week West Seattle Summer Outdoor Movies on the Wall series this year in the Hotwire Online Coffeehouse (WSB sponsor)/Dr. Wolff courtyard in The Junction. After multiple rounds of idea-seeking (including two rounds here – THANK YOU!), Hotwire proprietor Lora Lewis has just announced the lineup:

Saturday, July 17th – Mamma Mia 2008 Rated PG-13
(with the short, Trip to the Dentist/W.C. Fields)

Saturday, July 24 – War Games 1984 Rated PG

Saturday, July 31st – Fantastic Mr. Fox 2009 Rated PG

Saturday, August 7th – Star Trek 2009 Rated PG-13

Saturday, August 14th – Wayne’s World 1992 Rated PG-13

Saturday, August 21st – Up 2009 Rated G

The movies are free and start at dusk; bring your own chair/blanket and also bring some $ for concessions and raffles that raise money for local nonprofits – and come early to enjoy pre-movie contests/performances/you-never-know-what-might-happen! More on those as the series gets closer – watch the official site, the West Seattle Movies on the Wall Facebook page and Twitter account, and of course WSB (a series co-sponsor).

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West Seattle Crime Watch: Car break-ins, bike theft

May 17, 2010 2:55 pm

| 9 COMMENTS

| Crime | West Seattle news

Three reports to share in West Seattle Crime Watch this afternoon – two car break-ins and a bike theft – read on:Read More

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Seeking a sofa: Got a “band couch” that Chief Sealth can use?

May 17, 2010 1:30 pm

| 3 COMMENTS

| How to help | West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

Out of the WSB inbox:

I am the Chief Sealth High School Band Council President and I was hoping that you would post a want ad for a new band couch. A band couch is a huge asset for the band after a long parade or a long day at school. Our current band couch has holes in the cushions and the pull-out bed is dusty beyond belief. A new couch would be greatly appreciated. Please contact me before the start of the new school year. josematthewmiguel@gmail.com Cell- (206) 817-4437

We asked if there were any specific specs – answer: No, they’re just seeking a sofa, “any color.” P.S. If you missed it in our earlier preview of what’s coming up later this week, the CSIHS band is performing at Easy Street in The Junction at 10:30 this Friday morning, during the KEXP Hood-to-Hood live broadcast/all-day victory celebration around West Seattle.

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Northwest Art and Frame loses a longtime feline friend

May 17, 2010 12:43 pm

| 26 COMMENTS

| Pets | West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news

If you didn’t already see this on Northwest Art and Frame‘s Facebook page – they thought more people might want to know about a sad loss that customers will notice too:

Sad news to report…our beloved store cat, Art has passed on into kitty heaven this last Saturday. He was deeply loved and touched the lives of so many in the West Seattle community and beyond for years and will be sadly missed. He spent most of his life offering excellent customer service to all of our great customers and has been spending the last few years in retirement living with store owners Dan & Jeri. He loved you all very much and will be greatly missed!

Art spent a dozen years in the store.

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Ramp-closure update: Lower Spokane St. section NOT reopening

May 17, 2010 10:50 am

| 1 COMMENT

| Spokane St. Viaduct project | West Seattle news

Just got an update from SDOT – they did NOT reopen lower Spokane Street eastbound from East Marginal to 1st Avenue South today after all, because of “electrical problems.” (The aforementioned ramp closure did happen on schedule, though.) More to come.

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If you thought last weekend was good – wait till NEXT weekend!

May 17, 2010 9:45 am

| 6 COMMENTS

| Fun stuff to do | West Seattle news

These may already be marked on your calendar in a big way but as the week kicks off, here’s a quick list of the biggest events Thursday-Sunday:

THURSDAY – TASTE OF WEST SEATTLE: This fundraiser for West Seattle Helpline is bigger than ever this year – more than 30 restaurants (listed here), and more than “just” one room at The Hall at Fauntleroy. Your ticket (buy it here via PayPal – you don’t have to have an account – scroll down for info on using credit cards) gets you the right to try everything – if you have time and appetite! WSB is proud to be among the co-sponsors of this year’s Taste of WS.

FRIDAY – KEXP HOOD-TO-HOOD PARTY/BROADCAST/SHOWS/MORE: From pre-dawn till long after dark this Friday, West Seattle rocks with the long-awaited victory party for KEXP Radio’s fundraising Hood-to-Hood Challenge (as first noted here last June). Multiple venues will have live bands – of course the premier West Seattle venue for live music, Skylark Café and Club, is among them, but so is Feedback Lounge (also a WSB sponsor), with its very first live performance ever (Memphis Radio Kings and Kandi Coded). KEXP broadcasts live from West Seattle all day, starting at 6 am at Easy Street Records, which has shows all day too – even the Chief Sealth International High School Marching Band at 10:30 am. Full Easy Street schedule here. Other venues include West 5 and Prost (DJs), Shadowland (DJs, trivia, bands), Cupcake Royale (WSB sponsor) with family fun including live music (even Caspar Babypants!), and Youngstown Cultural Arts Center (DJs, bands). KEXP’s list is here; and if you have friends who need to get over to WS to join you, a free Water Taxi ride coupon is here. Plus, KEXP is having a West Seattle Food Bank food drive at the KEXP tent outside KeyBank at California/Alaska, 10 am-4:30 pm Friday.

SATURDAY – WESTWOOD VILLAGE STREET FAIR: Bouncy toys and magic shows for the kids, live bands/exhibits/activities/raffles for the grownups, even JP Patches! That’s just some of what you’ll find at the first West Seattle street festival of the season, 11 am-7 pm Saturday – here’s the official poster. (Thanks to WV for sponsoring WSB this week to help get the word out.)

SUNDAY – WEST SEATTLE 5K/CELEBRATE SEATTLE SUMMER STREETS: Last year the West Seattle High School PTSA put on the West Seattle 5K for the first time and drew 1,000 walkers/runners; this Sunday, they’re expecting even more. 9 am from the Bathhouse; and like last year, it kicks off the Celebrate Seattle Summer Streets “car-free day” on Alki, with most of Alki and Harbor closed to most vehicle traffic till 5 pm (there’ll be a lane for the Water Taxi shuttle and residents):

(If you’re not registered yet for the WS5K – co-sponsored again this year by WSB – you can do it online till Thursday; after that, you’ll have to do it pre-race onsite.)

Those are just the biggest events – lots more going on, as noted on the WSB West Seattle Events calendar.

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West Seattle Monday: To bike or not to bike? And more …

May 17, 2010 6:48 am

| Comments Off on West Seattle Monday: To bike or not to bike? And more …

| West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

RAMP REMINDER: As noted again in detail last night, the 1st Avenue South onramp to the westbound (high) West Seattle Bridge is closed as of this morning and soon to be demolished. See the detour map and lots of project information here.

TO BIKE OR NOT TO BIKE? Whether you are thinking about bicycling for transportation, are doing it already, or think it wouldn’t work for you – come talk about two-wheeling tonight at Sustainable West Seattle‘s Community Forum (just in time for this Friday’s Bike-To-Work Day). Get a look at some bikes, too, including electric models. Bonus – this is at the site of the soon-to-open (June 12th) West Seattle Tool Library (north end of South Seattle Community College [WSB sponsor], 6000 16th SW; map). 7 pm.

NAVOS OPEN HOUSE: The mental-health facility at 2600 SW Holden (map) has an open house tonight for everyone interested in finding out more about its facility and services, 6 pm.

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