West Seattle Volunteer Recognition Awards: Winter winners!
This Sunday afternoon at 1 pm in The Junction, we hope you can take a few minutes to stop at Hometown Holidays Headquarters (by KeyBank) and applaud the latest winners of the twice-yearly West Seattle Volunteer Recognition Awards. You nominated them; reps from the Southwest and Delridge District Councils picked the winners; and along with the councils, WSB co-sponsors the awards. We customarily announce the winners a few days ahead, but in case you want to be surprised, we’re putting the list after the jump – Read More
The WSBeat: Wrong holiday; officer bitten; smashing spree…
By Megan Sheppard
On the WSBeat, for West Seattle Blog
From reports on cases handled recently by Southwest Precinct officers:
*After several trips to the area of 30th and Andover, officers were finally able to speak with three men –- very intoxicated men — who were partying and disturbing the neighbors with fireworks. The yard smelled of recently exploded materiel and the nearby area was covered in spent bottle rockets, mortars and a roman candle. The house was littered with beer cans, 400 bottle rockets, and 12-gauge shotgun shells. (The group hadn’t been shooting the shotgun but had been racking and unloading it.) One of the men was very apologetic at having disturbed the neighbors (he had no idea it was 3 AM) and all received a stern warning about handling a firearm while intoxicated. The three were told to go to bed, clean up the neighborhood in the morning, and stop by the precinct when they were sober to pick up the shotgun, which was temporarily confiscated.
*Early Thursday, officers were called to Morgan Junction to investigate why a woman was sitting in her parked car, screaming. She refused to exit or unlock the vehicle, and according to the officer’s report, “her mood swings were near hysterical … calm, then crying, then laughing, then angry in a matter of seconds.” She finally rolled the the window down a crack, and as the smell of intoxicants wafted out, she rooted through an assortment of bags in the vehicle. When she still refused to come out, an officer managed to reach through the cracked window and unlock the door. But he wasn’t quick enough: The “completely irrational” woman bit the sergeant’s gloved hand, clear through to (and breaking) the skin. She was finally handcuffed and transported to Harborview for an evaluation.
Another human-bite case, same area, along with 12 other summaries, after the jump:Read More
West Seattle holidays: ‘Tuna Christmas,’ ‘Wonderful Life’ to open
(Photo courtesy ArtsWest)
Your double dose of West Seattle onstage live-theater holiday goodness is about to arrive, courtesy of ArtsWest and Twelfth Night Productions (both WSB sponsors). First – award-winning “A Tuna Christmas” opens tomorrow night at ArtsWest – running through December 24th as it tells the tales of the townspeople of tiny Tuna, Texas, “where the Lions Club is too liberal and Patsy Cline never dies,” on the day before Christmas, with catastrophes looming like a holiday theater production gone awry and a sabotaged decorating contest. Tickets are available online (showtimes are posted there too).
Then on Friday, it’s opening night for Twelfth Night Productions’ “It’s a Wonderful Life: A Radio Play” – and the venue this time is Kenyon Hall:
(Photo courtesy Twelfth Night Productions)
You know the “Wonderful Life” story. But that’s not all that’s in store for showgoers. Twelfth Night says you’ll find pre-show caroling this weekend with the Chief Sealth International High School Honors Choir raising money for its Carnegie Hall trip, and the second weekend in a singalong with Kenyon Hall ‘s Lou Magor, plus the first two Fridays will include a “7-minute Nutcracker Suite adaptation by local dance troupe Van Glam.” The shows are at 7:30 pm December 3-4 and 10-11, and 3 pm December 11-12; tickets are available online here.
Well-kept semi-secret? Delridge CC computer lab open!
Circulated on a couple of city mailing lists today: A reminder that the Delridge Community Center has a computer lab available for anyone to use, teens through seniors. Lab coordinator Leslie Howle says there’s usually room for more to come use it, explaining:
We provide a free computer lab for teens through seniors to use our 12 computers and access the internet. We offer homework help for teens only from 2:30 – 4 every day and the rest of the time we are open to everyone to drop in and use the lab. We offer very inexpensive classes, some geared for seniors in particular and some for all adults, on computer basics and fun things like Photoshop and building a blog or website. … Beginning in January, we will be expanding our hours and offering the time between 1 and 2:30 for seniors to come use “open lab” time or take a class. We will also be available to help adults with resume writing and job search during that time and in the evenings.
Haven’t been to Delridge Community Center? Here’s a map. And you can check Delridge CC hours on its website.
Another key City Hall vote: ‘Multifamily Code,’ townhouses & more
Even after the vote on the California SW rezoning proposal, we stayed at the City Council’s Committee on the Built Environment meeting because one more item of local note was coming up: A vote on another years-in-the-making proposal, changes to the Multifamily Code – as in, zoning for multiple-unit projects such as townhouses.
When the process began back several years ago, the development climate was very different – even here on WSB, it seemed we were publishing a “teardown-to-townhomes” story every day. Now, development proposals are few and far between, as already-built units sit vacant, and developers struggle with financing. But it’s invariably cyclical, so the process marched on, and the committee just gave its approval to the package of changes (including the one about which local architect Brandon Nicholson had voiced concern a few weeks ago on behalf of a regional architects’ group). A breakdown of what it’ll mean to future projects will have to wait till later; you can read copious details in this section of the city’s website. Next step: Final council consideration on December 13th (which likely also will be the date the full council considers the California SW rezone).
West Seattle Weather Watch: Driving danger = drain reminder
Thanks to Shelley for sharing that photo of a megapuddle on the west side of the 35th/Cloverdale intersection in Westwood. The most recent blast of wintry weather brought down most of local trees’ remaining leaves, and that means drains need attention – the city has repeatedly urged residents to “adopt a drain” and go tend to the ones nearest their homes. If you have removed the leaves and it’s still clogged – here’s the city hotline to call: (206) 386-1800 – more info here. (Any other puddles worth warning drivers about?)
California SW rezoning proposal passes council committee
(Video of this morning’s entire committee meeting, from Seattle Channel; West Seattle item starts at 21:10)
We’re at Seattle City Hall, where the Council’s Committee for the Built Environment has just – with what chair Councilmember Sally Clark described as some frustration – voted 3-0 to deny the appeal of the California SW rezoning proposal, and send it to the full council for a final vote. That comes 3 years after the emergence of the proposal to rezone a block of California SW between Hinds and Hanford for taller buildings and bigger commercial spaces. The vote followed almost half an hour total of oral arguments from opponents – mostly neighbors who had filed formal appeals – and supporters, including area business/property owner Roger Cayce. Click ahead for details on what preceded the vote (we are progressively adding more details to the story before moving on from City Hall, where we’re also now monitoring the same committee’s forthcoming vote on the Multi-Family Code (which addresses townhouse design – and much more – and has been years in the making):
Read More
Concerts coming up: Sealth Jazz Night; Bells of the Sound
“They take music seriously, but also have serious fun!” says Monica, explaining the photo of Chief Sealth International High School‘s Jazz I group at the recent Mill Creek Jazz Festival. She sent it to accompany this invitation:
Please come join the Chief Sealth community for an evening of Jazz performed by our two Jazz ensembles.
Jazz Night at Chief Sealth
Thursday, December 2nd, 7 pm
Free, but donations always gratefully accepted
The school’s at 2600 SW Thistle. Another concert just announced :
Bells of the Sound performs at 7:30 pm Friday, December 10th, at Tibbetts United Methodist Church (WSB sponsor):
Choirs singing on the Christmas Ship, ballerinas dancing to The Nutcracker, and rain pattering on an umbrella-these are just some of the sounds of Christmas in the Puget Sound. And bells-what would Christmas be without the sound of bells? Bells of the Sound, the premier handbell group in the Puget Sound, will present The Sound of Christmas, a delightful program that offers a new take on several holiday favorites, including O Come, O Come Emmanuel, Pat-a-Pan and Feliz Navidad. Join us as we ring in the season!
Tibbetts is at 3940 41st Avenue SW; admission is a suggested donation, $10 adults, $8 children/seniors. Adding this one to the WSB West Seattle Holidays page, where several other concert listings await (make sure we have yours!).
West Seattle holidays: Junction decor; Hometown Holidays; more
Several holiday notes tonight: The photo’s from The Junction, as workers put up holiday greenery in the middle of the gray afternoon. When Junction decorating is done, you will see garlands and wreaths as well as the roof-outline lights that are new this year (if you haven’t seen them yet, be sure to go after dark and take a look!). It’ll all be complete in time for this first big Hometown Holidays (co-sponsored by WSB) weekend ahead — Saturday night brings the tree lighting in Junction Plaza Park (5 pm), Sunday brings Santa photos at Donna Ryan Photography ($15 donation goes to WestSide Baby), mule-carriage rides, and the West Seattle Volunteer Recognition Awards (1 pm at Hometown Holidays HQ outside KeyBank – we’re revealing the winners here tomorrow, but come cheer them in a brief ceremony Sunday at 1). Junction Hometown Holidays events are just part of what you’ll find on the WSB West Seattle Holidays page, which is one of two special pages we have this year – we’ve also just added three more listings to the WSB West Seattle Holiday Shopping/Business Guide, a new advertising page for local businesses to let you know more about their special deals, hours, etc., this holiday. Take a look to find out about special late hours and more – for example, one of the new additions, Avalon Glassworks, is offering you a discount for every item you bring in for their food-bank drive (up to 10 items)!
Why the Morgan Junction McDonald’s is closed tonight
Four notes came in within the past half-hour asking why the Morgan Junction McDonald’s is closed and dark tonight. We went over to check; a note on the door says it closed at 6 tonight for “equipment upgrades” and will reopen at 7 tomorrow morning.
3 West Seattle Soccer Club teams are district champs, off to state
(Photo by Matt Lawrence)
Those are the Cheetahs, a GU-14 team from the West Seattle Soccer Club that’s won the District 3 title and is headed off to the state Recreational Cup championship qualifying round this weekend, as are two other teams, including the BU-19 Sambas:
The third team going to the state qualifying round is the BU-11 Crush (9:13 pm update – thanks to Bill Lange for the photo):
Thanks to Cori Roed for 1st word of this, with the Cheetahs photo, and to Tim McMonigle for sharing the Sambas picture (he’s the blue-shirted coach at left). Tim explains, “These three teams will be competing with the winners of the other districts around the state to be called the best recreational team in their age bracket in the state. A big honor if they make it.” The games this weekend are all quite a ways from home – the Crush plays in Shelton, the Cheetahs in Aberdeen, the Sambas in Vancouver/Camas – but a week later, if any make it to the state finals, they’ll play at Starfire in Tukwila.
Never-ending pup season brings 1st winter Seal Sitters training
(Photo of Queen Latifah is by, and used with permission of, Robin Lindsey)
Seal-pup season is usually over by now, but West Seattle-based Seal Sitters are still seeing pups hanging around local shores – including the one nicknamed “Queen Latifah, who has hauled out now for 50 days straight!” according to Seal Sitters’ Robin Lindsey. As a result, they’re presenting a training session for volunteers next week, first time they’ve ever done one in winter. The training session will be 6:30-8:30 pm Thursday, December 9th, at Camp Long Lodge; current volunteers are “welcome and encouraged to attend as well,” according to the announcement, which also requests RSVP (you can contact Seal Sitters through their website at www.sealsitters.org).
Traffic alert: Spokane Street Viaduct westbound closure tonight
From SDOT, which says this might be a two-night closure:
The contractor working for the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) to widen the Spokane Street Viaduct will close the westbound lanes of the structure tonight and tomorrow night. Crews plan to work from 10 p.m. tonight until 5 a.m. tomorrow, November 30 and if necessary also work from 10 p.m. tomorrow, November 30 to 5 a.m. Wednesday, December 1, to completely remove temporary supports under the structure. During this work, southbound I-5 traffic will be directed to the Forest Street exit to access surface streets. Northbound I-5 traffic and westbound traffic from Columbian Way will be detoured to surface streets at Sixth Avenue South.
The Spokane Street Viaduct is the section of the east end of the West Seattle Bridge between I-5 and Highway 99.
South Seattle Community College wine tasting/sale December 3-4
Just announced by South Seattle Community College:
Holiday Wine Tasting & Sale
Award-winning, student-produced wines featured.
Friday, December 3, 12 – 7 pm
Saturday, December 4, 12 – 4pm
Northwest Wine Academy
Wine & Welding Building
South Seattle Community College
6000 16th Avenue SW
(206) 764-7942
South Seattle Community College’s Northwest Wine Academy invites the public to celebrate the holiday season with a festive wine tasting and holiday bazaar. Featured student-produced vintages include a 2009 Late Harvest Viognier, and two reds, the recently-released 2009 Field Blend (Rhone Blend) and 2008 Well Red (Merlot/Cabernet). Also available for purchase will be the 2009 Rousanne, a bronze award winner at this year’s prestigious Tri Cities Wine Festival.
Unique holiday baskets with an assortment of wine, holiday goodies and wine accessories make the perfect gift. And, for the first time, you can also purchase staff-recommended wines for holiday celebrations – a Beaujolais Nouveau and a Moscato d’Asti.
All wines are discounted 20%.
South Seattle Community College’s Northwest Wine Academy is a first-of-its-kind program in Western Washington and offers three associate degree and certificate programs – Wine Making, Wine Marketing & Sales, and Food & Wine Pairing. The Academy complements the college’s highly regarded and award-winning Culinary Arts program and the new bachelor’s degree in Hospitality Management program. .
The event is free and open to the public. The Northwest Wine Academy is located on the South Seattle Community College campus across from Bernie’s Bakery. Parking is available in the North entry parking lot.
Jade West Café followup: Message from the Wongs
Two weeks after that “For Lease” sign went up at West Seattle’s Jade West Café, finally confirming its chef/owner Wah Wong would not be coming back, we have a long-sought update from the Wong family. Wah’s wife Salina Wong replied to one of our messages with an update to share with the community. The update includes good news for their son Jason, who lost a leg after a drunk driver hit him and his dad outside their Beacon Hill home almost a year ago:
Wah had recovered from his injuries after intensive rehabilitation and heavy medication closely monitored by the medical teams of Harborview MC and Group Health. In May 2010, Wah underwent a surgery due to the infection caused by the metal implants embedded in his injured leg. He went through an 8-week procedure of home care IV medication and finally recovered. He began relearning how to walk, slowly but surely. Our primary concern for Wah is his health, and in doing so, Wah has decided to retire from Jade West Café—along with his passion for cooking. He will surely miss serving his customers, chatting with his regulars, and being part of the West Seattle community.
A “For Lease” sign was put up last week at Jade West Cafe with the intention to reopen the shop as soon as possible. We started receiving phone calls from many interested parties and we are specifically looking for a chef who is capable of carrying on the legacy of Wah’s Café. When a new tenant is chosen, we will inform you.
As regards to our son, Jason, he is also recovering from the injuries and doing well. He strives to walk with his prosthesis progressively. We are very proud of him being so positive, determined, and courageous to move forward to a better life. With God’s will and blessings, he has humbly accepted a job offer from The Boeing Company as a product review engineer. We all wish him tremendous success, good health, and a bright future.
Please accept our sincere gratitude for all the heartfelt love and thoughtfulness from everyone in West Seattle who continuously offer support and keep our family in their prayers. Without your support, we cannot have gotten this far.
Cordially,
Salina Wong & Family
Midday notes: Comcast outage; windy forecast; school donations
Three quick notes:
COMCAST OUTAGE IN WEST SEATTLE: Via Twitter, the cable company confirms an outage here – affecting 2,500 homes and businesses, though we don’t have an exact area yet (aside from one affected customer’s e-mail mentioning they’re at 36th/Juneau). Comcast says crews are working on it, and the cause might have been a “fiber cut.” (10:58 am note – They’re now “splicing cable” but no estimated time for restoring service. … 1:58 pm update: Service is coming back, as both Comcast and a commenter indicate. Comcast says the cause “appears to be a bullet hole through a fiber line.”)
WINDY FORECAST: No special alert yet but the National Weather Service is expecting a windy day around here tomorrow, with gusts possibly as high as 45 miles per hour.
HIGHLAND PARK ELEMENTARY DONATIONS SOUGHT: We already have the school’s holiday bazaar this Saturday on the Holidays page, but a new event’s been added to it, and your donations are needed. From the school:
Highland Park Elementary 4th and 5th graders need your help! On January 19th they leave for Camp Seymour for three days and two nights. In order to keep costs affordable for the 125 students they are holding a ‘Rummage Sale’ in conjunction with the Highland Park PTA Holiday Bazaar on Saturday, December 4, from 10 to 3pm. For this sale to be successful they need donations of gently used household items such as dishes, pots and pans, knick knacks. tools, books, small furniture, toys, etc. You can also make a monetary donation to help defray the costs for some of our students who would not otherwise be able to attend. The cost per student is $60. If you are able to help in either way please contact Ryan Schaedig at 206 252-8240 or rwschaedig@seattleschools.org.
Twenty people 
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