Thanks to Debra Salazar Herbst for the photo of tonight’s sunset, the end to a sunny, almost-warm day. Not unheard of in November – last year, it hit 70 degrees on November 3rd – but still unusual. The forecast says rain and wind (not major, but up to 25 mph) is on the way for tomorrow.

Spokane Street Viaduct: Closure tonight, & ‘when will ramp open?’

November 10, 2011 5:18 pm

| 16 COMMENTS

| Spokane St. Viaduct project | West Seattle news

Reminder, two more nights are scheduled for westbound closures of the Spokane Street Viaduct, as widening work continues – tonight and tomorrow night, 10 pm-5 am. That’s the section of the westbound West Seattle Bridge between I-5 and Highway 99, and the closure means the ramps from 5 and Beacon Hill will be closed, but you *will* be able to get to the bridge from 99.

Meantime, we are getting questions daily about the status of the new 1st Avenue South westbound on- and off-ramp. When the old westbound onramp closed 18 months ago, SDOT said the new one would take at least 16 months to build. We’ve been asking since last week about the newest estimate for when it will be done. No answer by late today, so we asked again, and were told, “The SDOT project staff members have been working with the contractor on a revised schedule” – which they say should be done by the end of next week.

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Avalon Center: Welcoming a new West Seattle Blog sponsor

November 10, 2011 4:27 pm

| 1 COMMENT

| Health | West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news

Today we welcome one of our newest WSB sponsors, Avalon Center, Inc., a state-certified treatment agency treating those suffering from alcoholism, drug addiction, and mental-health problems. Avalon offers personalized counseling in a comfortable treatment environment.

Avalon Center works with all types of court cases, including DUIs, custody or CPS cases, and other criminal cases. Avalon Center works closely with lawyers and other medical professionals to assure the best treatment for the individual.

Avalon Center offers an individualized approach to treatment that includes healing the mind, body, and spirit. The highly trained treatment providers educate clients on the disease model of addiction/alcoholism, coping skills, and relapse prevention. There are separate men’s and women’s outpatient programs, as each differ in their needs in treatment.

The treatment providers include: Olivette Foster, Chemical Dependency Professional (CDP); Kaela Koepke, CDP (Masters in MH candidate); Diane Hutcheson, ARNP, MA, MN, PMHBC; Joan Ferrier, RN, (MN candidate for Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner):

*Diane Hutcheson, ARNP, is a Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner who provides evaluation and treatment for those individuals suffering from depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, PTSD , ADHD/ADD and chemical dependency. Treatment includes therapy and medication prescription and management.

*Olivette Foster, Chemical Dependency Professional (CDP), also works with People of Color Against Aids Network and is an HIV tester.

*Kaela Koepke, CDP, is a candidate for Master in Mental Health from Central Washington University.

*Joan Ferrier RN is completing her Masters in Psychiatric Nursing from Seattle Pacific University and will be joining Diane Hutcheson, ARNP, at Avalon Center, which is headquartered at 6959 California SW, 206-935-6228.

We thank Avalon Center for sponsoring independent, community-collaborative neighborhood news on WSB; find our current sponsor team listed in directory format here, and find info on joining the team by going here.

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Video: Early Veterans Day at South Seattle Community College

November 10, 2011 3:38 pm

| 1 COMMENT

| West Seattle news | West Seattle people | West Seattle schools

No school tomorrow, so Veterans Day was observed a day early at many schools – including South Seattle Community College, scene of a gathering earlier today in honor of those who have served, and those who have been lost:

“We have men and women who have volunteered to stand out there on the front lines, so we can be here, living the dream,” said Ryan Shannon, president of the SSCC Veterans’ Club. He served in both Afghanistan and Iraq with the Army Second Ranger Battalion. As also shown in our video clip, SSCC President Gary Oertli spoke briefly at the event, too. SSCC has about 200 veterans in the student body, according to the announcement sent out about today’s event, and has again won the designation “Military-Friendly School.”

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West Seattle Crime Watch: Bicycle stolen; items found

November 10, 2011 2:27 pm

| 2 COMMENTS

| Crime | West Seattle news

Notice an abandoned bicycle? Might be the one stolen late last night. Or – missing some items? A WSB’er found some. Both are ahead in the latest West Seattle Crime Watch reports:Read More

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West Seattle holidays: Eastridge turkey giveaway November 19th

November 10, 2011 12:45 pm

| 1 COMMENT

| West Seattle news | West Seattle religion

(WSB photo from Eastridge turkey giveaway, November 2009)
Two weeks till Thanksgiving – and here’s one of many local examples of the “giving” part of the holiday: Eastridge Church has announced its annual turkey/groceries giveaway. It’s donating 1,000 turkeys and bags of groceries, split between its two campuses here in West Seattle and in Issaquah. The giveaway has drawn long lines the past few years and will start at 9 am Saturday, November 19th, at the 39th/Oregon campus.

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‘Fauntleroy Way Green Boulevard’ planning $ gets City Council green light

November 10, 2011 11:05 am

| 45 COMMENTS

| Triangle | West Seattle news | West Seattle politics

(Fauntleroy “boulevard” rendering, from June 2011 West Seattle Triangle open house)
The City Council has just adjourned its second and last meeting for final votes on budget tweaks, prior to the big budget-approval vote scheduled for November 21st. Part of this morning’s action was unanimous approval of $250,000 in “initial planning” money (previously reported here and here) for the “Fauntleroy Way Green Boulevard” concept that’s part of the vision for The Triangle. This does not guarantee eventual funding for the project itself – but it puts the proposal on the city list of potential future projects. In public comment at the start of the meeting, three people spoke in support of the item: Josh Sutton from the West Seattle YMCA (WSB sponsor), Brandon Nicholson (local architect/developer representing the West Seattle Junction Association), and Denny Onslow from Harbor Properties, breaking ground soon on Nova in The Triangle, where it opened Link (WSB sponsor) earlier this year.

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West Seattle Thursday: Art Walk; ‘Shop Late’; get healthy; ‘Bean’

November 10, 2011 9:19 am

| 3 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Eagle photographed at Alki Point by Gary Jones last Sunday morning)
Good morning! From the WSB West Seattle Events calendar:

CITY COUNCIL BUDGET VOTES: The “Fauntleroy Way Green Boulevard” study is part of what’s on the agenda for final votes, 9:30 am (agenda here). Happening at City Hall, and live on Seattle Channel (cable 21 and online).

FLAG-RAISING: In honor of Veterans Day tomorrow, there’s a flagraising ceremony today at South Seattle Community College (here’s our previously published preview).

WEST SEATTLE ART WALK: Tonight’s the night – 6-9 pm, dozens of venues from north to south, west to east, across the peninsula. We previewed some of them last night – take a look here – and see even more previews on the official WS Art Walk site! The walking map/participant list is here.

SHOP LATE THURSDAYS: It’s also another “Shop Late Thursday” in The Junction. Till 9 pm, participating merchants (listed here)

DUWAMISH VALLEY HEALTHY COMMUNITIES: The eastern half of the West Seattle peninsula is part of the area targeted by the new Duwamish River Cleanup Coalition-led effort announced last week – to partner with communities to work toward healthier air, water, lifestyles, etc. Tonight, everyone interested is invited to the Duwamish Valley Healthy Communities kickoff, 6 pm at South Seattle Community College’s Georgetown campus (6737 Corson Avenue South).

THE ART OF … ADOPTION: Friends of the Animals Foundation will be at Next to Nature with adoptable cats and kittens during the November Art Walk, Thursday the 10th, between 6 and 9 pm. Adoption fees will be reduced. Contact info@fafseattle.org or (206) 719-4864

ARBOR HEIGHTS ELEMENTARY AUCTION TONIGHT: From the announcement we received: “The Arbor Heights Elementary Community will gather at The Hall at Fauntleroy for the PTA’s 3rd Annual Dinner & Auction ‘Adventure is Out There’. Our goal is to raise $40,000, which provides 70% of the PTA’s annual income. This year’s auction focus is Science & Technology; to update/replace computer equipment and software and enhance the science curriculum. Other funds raised will go towards the General Fund which supports classroom programs such as Kindergarten Aides, Teacher Stipends and Field Trip Scholarships & Buses, School programs such as Safety Patrol, Emergency Preparedness and Assemblies, Arts programs such as Artist in Residency and Instrumental Music and Community Building programs such as Welcome Family BBQ and Young Author’s Day. For more information about the auction and to preview the auction catalog, please visit arborheights.wikispaces.com/AHPTA+Annual+Auction.”

SOUTHWEST SEATTLE BUSINESS & PROFESSIONAL WOMEN: Tonight, Seattle-based designer Kathleen Bohlken is the guest, talking about new ideas for decorating home/office for the holidays. 6-8 pm at Angelo’s Italian Restaurant, 601 SW 153rd in Burien.

OPENING TONIGHT AT YOUNGSTOWN: “Bean: The Musical Fruit,” an original family musical having its world premiere at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center, starting an eight-show run continuing through November 19th. Synopsis: “Bean: The Musical Fruit starts in the perfectly sculpted Patch. Every harvest, Mayor Tom A. Toe divides the Patch responsibilities based on two groups: fruits and vegetables. This year presents a challenge as Bean seems to be neither. Facing rejection, Bean and her best friend, Cel, set-off on a journey for answers from the reclusive and mysterious Nutty that lives in the Orchard. Bean and Cel ask what it means to belong, even when you’re different.” Doors open at 6:30, showtime at 7, come early to meet the characters (photo-taking encouraged).

FOOD BANK BENEFIT ‘GOBBLER’ ON SALE: Hotwire Online Coffeehouse (WSB sponsor) now donating $1 to the West Seattle Food Bank for every “Gobbler” drink purchased – read about it here.

FOOD DRIVE UNDER WAY: Java Bean Organic Coffee House at 2920 SW Avalon Way launches its 21st annual Food Drive for Northwest Harvest, collecting food on site till Tuesday, November 22nd: “Thanksgiving type foods such as stuffing mix, canned yams, cranberries, peanut butter and baby food are most appreciated.”

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Delridge DESC project: City funding $ announced; Design Review date finalized; housing director answers ‘Concerned Neighbor’

November 10, 2011 12:32 am

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| Delridge | DESC Delridge project | West Seattle housing | West Seattle news

New developments in the ongoing debate/discussion of the Downtown Emergency Service Center (DESC) proposal to build a 75-apartment building in Delridge to house homeless people living with mental illness:

9:49 AM UPDATE: City funding for the Delridge Supportive Housing project (reported here two weeks ago) was officially announced at a media event in North Seattle less than an hour ago. DESC executive director Bill Hobson (at right in the Seattle Channel screengrab above) was among those who joined Seattle Office of Housing director Rick Hooper at the event. The news release (read it here) describes the amount as $4.5 millon, a bit above the “up to $4.45 million” confirmed to WSB last month.

10:30 AM UPDATE: Also this morning, something else we had previously reported is now “official” – the December 8th Design Review meeting (here’s the notice just published in the Land Use Information Bulletin).

ORIGINAL REPORT (12:32 AM): Hooper has replied to 4 questions sent by “A Concerned Delridge Neighbor,” which “Concerned” had posted on her/his website here. Read on for the questions/answers as received from Hooper today (we were among those CC’d):Read More

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