Two West Seattle eating/drinking spots are marking their 1st anniversaries, and both have special events this week:

(Photo courtesy Löcöl)
LOCOL: 7 pm tomorrow (Tuesday, January 10), the cozy neighborhood spot at 7902 35th SW is throwing a party exactly one year after opening night. Proprietor Kyle Duce‘s announcement says, “Wow, it’s been an amazing year of fantastic people, friends, neighbors, wine, beer, food and support! Thank You All!! Hope to see you tomorrow night. We will be handing out Free Cupcakes from our friends @ Stuffed Cakes and will also have Happy Hour Drink Specials all night long!”

AVALON: 6:30 pm Wednesday, Pourquoi Pas will play live at the 2940 Avalon Way SW restaurant/bar, co-owner Mary Palmer tells WSB. Last Tuesday marked one year since Avalon’s official opening. (If you can’t wait till then, tomorrow is another edition of Avalon’s “Tapas Tuesday.”)

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West Seattle Crime Watch: Another hit-and-run case

January 9, 2012 6:43 pm

| 16 COMMENTS

| Crime | West Seattle news

Another case today of bad things happening to good people … seems the latest parked car to be hit-and-run in West Seattle belongs to Jim Winder of Helmstetler Family Christmas Spectacular light-show fame. Jim lives in the 3400 block of 37th SW (map) and says someone smashed into his truck and took off:

I did not notice it was hit when I got home at around 4:30 (though it could have been damaged then) as I ride my Harley to work.

My son did say he heard a big bang around 3:40…also neighbor said he did not notice it when he got home… so could have happened between 3:30 and 5:30… though I was home and did not hear anything… so if anyone notices any new damage to the passenger side bumper of any cars in the area….

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Video: New president, new home page for Seattle City Council

January 9, 2012 4:56 pm

| Comments Off on Video: New president, new home page for Seattle City Council

| West Seattle news | West Seattle politics

As shown in that video clip from the Seattle Channel, five Seattle City Councilmembers who were just re-elected in November took their oaths of office this afternoon, and right afterward, one of them – Sally Clark – was elected Council President. The other four include West Seattle-residing Councilmember Tom Rasmussen. Along with choosing a new president, councilmembers finalized who’s in charge of which committees this year. Just in case you want to keep track of who to contact on which topic, here’s the list; among the topics most often discussed here, Rasmussen continues to chair the Transportation Committee, Sally Bagshaw chairs what is now the Parks and Neighborhoods Committee, while Councilmember Richard Conlin is now in charge of development/zoning issues among other things as chair of the Planning, Land Use, and Sustainability Committee.

Meantime, with the leadership change, the council also made some changes to its home page – check ’em out here.

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West Seattle schools: Tours & open houses at high schools

January 9, 2012 2:21 pm

| 6 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

Though the 2011-2012 school year isn’t even half over, thousands of West Seattle families are looking ahead to next school year – so we’re gathering information about open houses and tours. Here’s open house/tour info for the three biggest high schools in West Seattle:

CHIEF SEALTH INTERNATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL
Open house: 5:45-8 pm January 26th (flyer here)
Tours: 10-11:30 am January 20th for Madison/Pathfinder students, 10-11:30 am February 7th for private/other middle school students; TBD for Denny students

SEATTLE LUTHERAN HIGH SCHOOL
Open house: 6:30-8 pm January 31st

WEST SEATTLE HIGH SCHOOL
Tours: 8:30-10 am tomorrow (January 10th) and February 9th
Information Night: 6:30-8 pm February 16th

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Best ways to prevent crime? Councilmember’s ‘policy essay’

January 9, 2012 12:41 pm

| 4 COMMENTS

| Crime | West Seattle news | West Seattle politics

When the Seattle City Council meets at 2 this afternoon, there will be changes, including committee chairs. Councilmember Tim Burgess, a former police officer, will no longer be chairing the Public Safety Committee (Bruce Harrell will). As Burgess leaves that role, he has published a 14-page “policy essay” with his thoughts on preventing crime. He introduces it on his website here. As he notes – and as is obvious in neighborhood-crime coverage – violent crime is not Seattle’s biggest problem, but rather what Burgess calls “persistent and extremely corrosive street crime and disorder.” His recommendations include focusing on the so-called “hot spots” where a disproportionate amount of crime happens, frequent offenders who are responsible for more than their share, and “problem-oriented policing,” proactive as well as reactive. The essay is linked from his website, or you can go directly to it here.

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Update: Cat rescued from fire at animal advocate’s home

January 9, 2012 10:41 am

| 51 COMMENTS

| West Seattle fires | West Seattle news | WS breaking news

(SCROLL DOWN for updates including fire’s cause and how to help)

(Added: Firefighter Jeff Blevins with rescued cat; photo by WSB’s Patrick Sand)
10:41 AM: Fire units have responded to a house in the 3800 block of 46th SW – a few blocks west of California/Charlestown. First crews on scene are describing it on the scanner as a “room fire.” We’re on the way.

(Subsequent photos by Christopher Boffoli for WSB)
10:48 AM: No report of injuries so far. Via scanner, crews say they have “knocked down” the fire, but it has “extended” – spread – into a wall, so they’re tackling that. We’ve just added a photo from our first photojournalist at the scene, Christopher Boffoli.

11:05 AM: A cat has been rescued from the house and is reported to be getting medical attention. Firefighters at the scene confirm the fire was largely confined to one room, on the second floor, but there was a lot of smoke in the rest of the house.

11:20 AM: Photo added, firefighter tending to the rescued cat. We have to disclose that we notified the homeowner, local animal advocate Teri Ensley, after recognizing the house, the scene of many fundraising plant sales she has held for Furry Faces Foundation. She is there now.

11:48 AM: We’re told the cat has been taken to a veterinarian. No word on the fire’s cause – the investigation unit, Marshal 5, was sent there, and we’re likely to have information later.

2:11 PM: We just went over to check with Teri. The rescued cat’s name is Jared, by the way. She’s found another cat who’s going to the vet to be checked out. Her house won’t be inhabitable for a while; she’s making arrangements for a place to stay and has found somewhere for the cats. We’re awaiting SFD’s official word on cause; the last fire crew was just leaving as co-publisher Patrick pulled up to follow up.

2:43 PM: The Fire Department’s account of events is up on their website. According to the update, “A Seattle Fire Investigator determined the fire was accidental. A hot plate that was left on ignited combustibles on the kitchen counter. The damage estimate is 60 thousand dollars to the structure and 10 thousand dollars to the contents.” SFD also says one 16-year-old cat didn’t make it. The update also notes that what you saw on Jared in our photo is a “specially designed pet oxygen mask” – here’s another view:

Meantime, commenters have provided info on how to help Teri and the cats; donations are being accepted at Beveridge Place Pub.

ADDED TUESDAY: Here’s a followup story with a list of what’s needed by Teri, the animals, and Furry Faces, for all those who’ve generously offered to help.

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West Seattle Monday: Schools; opera; nutrition; bridge work…

January 9, 2012 8:13 am

| 9 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

After a week of slowly ramping up post-holidays, you may need wings to keep up with this week. (Thanks to Trileigh Tucker for the Townsend’s Warbler photo – she says they’re not often seen around here this time of year, but that one turned up at her hummingbird feeder.) From the WSB West Seattle Events calendar:

BRIDGE CLOSURE: Another four nights of Fauntleroy Expressway overnight closures are scheduled to begin tonight. We’ve noticed over the course of the past several weeks’ closures that the times and exact locations vary.

MEET YOUR SCHOOL BOARD REP: Second chance to talk with West Seattle’s school-board rep Marty McLaren, 10 am-noon, West Seattle (Admiral) Library, 2306 42nd SW.

CITY COUNCIL STARTS THE NEW YEAR: First meeting since the holidays for the Seattle City Council, including the inaugural ceremony for re-elected members including Tom Rasmussen of West Seattle, 2 pm at City Hall downtown.

COOK SOMETHING UP: West Seattle Cooking Club! 2:30 pm at Beveridge Place Pub, theme “On a Stick.”

PRESCHOOL FAIR: West Seattle Preschool Fair, presented by the West Seattle Preschool Association, 5:30-7:30 pm at St. John the Baptist Episcopal Church, 3050 California SW (details here). Participating schools include WSB sponsors Community School of West Seattle, West Seattle Montessori School, and Westside School.

NORTH DELRIDGE NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCIL: January’s North Delridge Neighborhood Council meeting, 6:30 pm, Youngstown Cultural Arts Center. See the agenda on the NDNC website.

PTA MEETING AT ROXHILL: Next Roxhill Elementary PTA meeting, 6:30 pm. Child care is available on-site for those who need it.

OPERA PREVIEW: “Attila” preview focused on Seattle Opera‘s upcoming production, West Seattle (Admiral) Library, 6:30 pm – full details here.

TQI DIET CLASS: The anti-inflammation-diet class returns to The Kenney (WSB sponsor), 7125 Fauntleroy Way SW, Room 2 Downstairs, Seattle. First of five classes, 6:30 to 8 pm.

HOW TO HELP HOMELESS FAMILIES: Family Promise of Seattle supporters gathering to celebrate past accomplishments and focus on the future, 7 pm, Tibbetts United Methodist Church (WSB sponsor).

TAI CHI: 7 pm at High Point Neighborhood Center (6400 Sylvan Way SW), Tao Jin: Foundations of a Tai Chi Lifestyle.
This class introduces basic concepts and movements of Tai Chi, as well as information on diet, mind-set, tools to facilitate a healthy lifestyle based on Tai Chi philosophy, energy regeneration, and the motivation in making positive life changes. Free to High Point’s SHA and Elizabeth House residents and KCHA Greenbridge residents. Others pay $10 to instructor on a drop-in basis. Contact instructor Caylen Storm via e-mail with questions: caylen_storm@yahoo.com

NIGHTLIFE: Trivia with Brian Calvert at Christo’s on Alki, 7 pm … Karaoke with Kelli at Skylark Café and Club, 9 pm … Talarico’s has karaoke @ 9:30 pm.

STUDENT SPORTS: Thanks to Mark Terao for sending info about today’s Madison Middle School basketball games – he says both teams are undefeated:

The West Seattle Madison Bulldogs Boys Varsity Basketball team faces Aki Kurose Middle School Monday January 9th at 4:30pm. The game will be played at Madison Middle School, with the Lady Bulldogs playing at 5:45 pm.

Both Boys and Girls Varsity teams have a season record of 3-0. The varsity boys defeated Whitman 55-42, McClure 51-32 and earning their latest wins against the talented Denny Middle School 60-45.

The Madison boys’ varsity team roster: 8th graders Nuradin Abdi, James Bonaci, Jayshaad Carlisle, Zach Gibson, Carter Golgart, George Hendricks, Brandon Jordan, Riley O’Neil, Michael Werlech; 7th graders Keith Edwards, Blue James, Nate Pryor, Jamiek Satterwhite, Jacob Terao, and Marques Titialii.

In high-school basketball today, Seattle Lutheran teams are on the road, visiting Tacoma Baptist.

NEW DODGEBALL LEAGUE: Tonight brings the first games of a new West Seattle adult-dodgeball league, playing Monday nights at 7:30 pm, 8:15 pm and 9 pm at the Chief Sealth International High School gym.

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