day : 21/03/2012 12 results

West Seattle weather: Bit more winter left in spring?

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From Upper Alki, JayDee caught tonight’s sunset – almost a surprise, since it followed an increasingly cloudy afternoon that had put a stop to a surprisingly sunny morning. Speaking of surprises, there’s a tiny chance we might get a bit more wintry weather, as the experts are watching both moisture and cold air (see the National Weather Service forecast discussion, as well as WSB’er reader/commenter/meteorologist Patrick Kelly with a heads-up via the WSB Facebook page. We’ll just have to see what happens in the hours ahead …

6:10 AM: Looks like some other areas around Western Washington got snow. Nothing here that we’ve seen or heard.

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Tax-credit financing for DESC Delridge project? Meeting tomorrow

March 21, 2012 8:09 pm

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| Delridge | DESC Delridge project | Development | West Seattle news

(A design rendering shown at the March 8th SW Design Review Board meeting)
Tomorrow’s the day the Washington State Housing Finance Commission will look at the tax-credit financing proposed to comprise most of the money for DESC‘s 66-unit Delridge Supportive Housing project. Full details are on the Delridge Community Forum website, but to summarize it: This funding would allow private investment in the project, with the private investor(s) getting Low-Income Housing Tax Credits in exchange. The project (5444 Delridge Way SW) already has been approved for public funding from the city, county, and state. The Thursday meeting, which includes a public-comment period (other ways to comment are explained on the DCF site), is at 1 pm, downtown at 1000 Second Avenue (28th floor).

In advance of the meeting, the anonymous “Concerned Delridge Neighbor” who has been diving into some of the issues the project has raised – such as, is Delridge already bearing more than its share of very-low-income housing? – published an open letter to the WSHFC, with data about the area’s poverty. (If you have already been following this via the North Delridge mailing list, where questions were raised about the data’s accuracy/source, note that “Concerned Delridge Neighbor” has published a postscript citing the source.)

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The winning name: Hi-Yu Brü, next West Seattle/White Center benefit beer

March 21, 2012 5:59 pm

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| West Seattle news | WS beverages

Just in from Jeff Gilbert at the Feedback Lounge (WSB sponsor), on behalf of all the West Seattle/White Center establishments participating in the name-the-charity-beer campaign: After judges reviewed hundreds of entries, they chose … Hi-Yu Brü! The announcement:

HI-YU BRÜ, the third of three Big Al Brewing charity beers, benefiting the West Seattle and White Center communities, arrives just days from now. In a three-week contest to name the beer, HI-YU BRÜ, the entry by TIAN RICHARDSON of West Seattle, was chosen from more than 300 submitted titles. (The contest was only open to West Seattle and White Center residents).

“I am thrilled to have my beer name HI-YU BRÜ chosen to represent our West Seattle/White Center communities,” says Tian. “Hi-Yu, which means ‘much, plenty, abundance’ in native Chinook jargon, will undoubtedly bring just that to all of us in the form of…well…beer, and will also bring help to those in need in our communities.”

For the beneficiary of the sales percentage of HI-YU BRÜ, Tian has chosen the Holy Rosary Parish Ministries, which has a number of different local benefits in the West Seattle community, from meals for the elderly/low-income, to a weekend women’s shelter.

On Friday, April 6, 2012, 6 PM, nine West Seattle/White Center bars and restaurants will introduce HI-YU BRÜ to the neighborhood, with each establishment pledging a portion of the sales to the chosen charity. The beer, crafted by Big Al Brewing, is hoppier styled IPA and will be exclusively available at The Feedback Lounge, West 5, Shadowland, Mission, Big Al Brewing, The Bridge, Locöl, Beveridge Place Pub, and Company Bar until April 26, 2012. After April 26, any venue with a liquor license will be able to buy and offer HI-YU BRÜ to their customers.

“It was extremely challenging to pick a winning name for the beer,” says Feedback Lounge co-owner and charity beer organizer, Jeff Gilbert. “There were so many amazing suggestions, the judges had a hard time deciding. Some of the more fun ones were Alki “Pasty Leg” Ale, Pirate’s Landing Pale Ale, Gatewood Grog, Lincoln Lager, Innocent Amanda Ale, Viaduct Fail Ale, Rolling Roxbury, and Wes C. Addle Pale Ale. Makes me wish we were releasing 10 more beers.”

This is the third in a series of Big Al Brewing-brewed beers with proceeds benefiting local charities. The previous two were Löwman Bräu and Whale Tail Ale.

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Fauntleroy Community Association: A night of voting and tasting

March 21, 2012 5:55 pm

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| Fauntleroy | West Seattle news | West Seattle restaurants

Meet the Fauntleroy Community Association‘s board, listed here, and photographed after the election at last night’s Food Fest and membership meeting at The Hall at Fauntleroy: From left, Gordon Wiehler, Bruce Butterfield, Kathleen Dellplain, Phil Sweetland, Marty Westerman, Vlad Oustimovitch, Vicki Schmitz Block, Mike Dey, Susan Lantz-Dey, David Haggerty, Gary Dawson. Ahead, photos of the Food Fest part of the evening – and a view of the labyrinth walk happening elsewhere in The Hall:Read More

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West Seattle traffic: There’s an app for that!

March 21, 2012 3:57 pm

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| West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

Remember “Viadoom” last October? Yeah, not so much “doom,” but traffic is always a hotbutton issue around here. During the demolition closure, West Seattleite Andi Rusu came up with a simple app that could be used on a mobile device or regular computer, featuring traffic cams, and announced it in an October 10th WSB comment. Now, Andi has made some changes, and wanted to share the app with you again:

I just finished improving the UI and adding a WS DOT travel times feed that shows distances, average and current travel times to and from different points around Seattle. Also in the app, there is a traffic map along with the last 5 WS DOT tweets.

This is an all free web app; anyone can use it either with a computer or smart phone. (iPhone works best…) I hope people will continue to find it useful.

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West Seattle Hi-Yu: Your 2012 royalty, plus Miss Seafair and a Pirate

March 21, 2012 3:50 pm

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| West Seattle Hi-Yu Festival | West Seattle news

(Photo by Gail Ann Photography)
Thanks to Gail Ann Photography in Fauntleroy for sharing this photo from last Sunday’s West Seattle Hi-Yu Tea, which doubled as this year’s Senior Court coronation, as the program is in transition to a new calendar, rather than lumping all events into the summer months. Gail Ann reports:

Kayli Schulz was officially crowned the 2012 Miss West Seattle Hi-Yu Queen at the annual Spring Tea and Auction held Sunday at the Hall at Fauntleroy. More than 150 guests were on hand to watch as Miss Seafair Veronica Quintero presented her with her tiara, sash, and flowers. In addition, the fundraiser will help support the West Seattle community float and the scholarship program for young women.

Kayli Schulz will represent our community this spring and summer at events and parades around the Pacific NW. She will also represent us at Seafair’s 2013 Scholarship for Women Program for the title of Miss Seafair.

In the photo Kayli is surrounded by the MC of the tea and auction – Seafair Pirate “The Marquis,” also known as Chuck Marcoullier, and her West Seattle Hi-Yu court – Junior Court Princess Elena Kline; Junior Court Queen Thea Pulido; Miss Seafair, Veronica Quintero; and Junior Court Princess Amanda Elders.

This year’s Hi-Yu theme is “Secret Garden” – the float is scheduled to make its debut in May at the Port Townsend Rhododendron Festival, with the court on board representing West Seattle.

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West Seattle development: 1 house down, 2 to go up

March 21, 2012 2:14 pm

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| West Seattle housing | West Seattle news

(WSB photo by Patrick Sand)
Thanks to Jana for the tip that this century-old waterfront house is being torn down today in the 4800 block of Beach Drive. We had noticed a for-sale sign some time back – then a sign suggesting the home, distinctive for its brick/stone exterior, could be bought and moved. Then, we noticed the bricks/stones being removed the other day. Now, the whole house is coming down. According to the DPD website, the site has been split into two parcels. Here’s the county’s photo of what the house used to look like:

The site has an online listing, too.

ADDED 2:30 PM: Jana just sent that photo – while we were there earlier (top photo) the crew was breaking for lunch, but they’re back in action and bringing down the rest of the house. Note that some of the masonry/stone was left on the south side, visible from this angle.

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Protecting Puget Sound: 1 more chance to find out how

March 21, 2012 1:39 pm

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| Environment | Sustainable West Seattle | West Seattle news

One more time, tomorrow night at West Seattle High School, you can find out how to fight the Tox-Ick Monster – a mythical creature born of toxic runoff – and do a double good deed. If at least 50 people show up for the presentation, Sustainable West Seattle will contribute $1,000 toward a rain-garden project at WSHS. Cate White explains, “The school’s student-led Earth Service Corps is coordinating the rain garden project with other local nonprofits including Stewardship Partners and Sustainable Seattle. Rain gardens are an excellent first line of defense against the polluted runoff that threatens the health of Puget Sound and its most emblematic wildlife: salmon and killer whales. The students’ aim is to turn the rain garden into a permanent feature that can be used for science education for years to come. Please help them attain their vision.” Just show up at WSHS at 7 pm Thursday (March 22) – free pizza, too.

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What the Seattle Police SWAT Team is doing in The Junction

March 21, 2012 10:55 am

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| West Seattle news | West Seattle police

Thanks to Jason for the first tip on this: If you happen to see the Seattle Police SWAT team trucks on the east side of The Junction, no, there’s nothing scary going on – they’re using a future development site for a training exercise.

They told us they’ll be there till sometime this afternoon. The site where they’re working, at 42nd/Oregon, is the future site of a 7-story apartment building (the city website indicates the permits aren’t all finalized yet, though).

ADDED 2:36 PM: Wider view, showing the SWAT vehicles on scene.

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West Seattle Wednesday: ‘Wine & Wisdom’; Delridge District Council

March 21, 2012 9:58 am

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| West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

Sam at Fleurt (WSB sponsor) in The Junction just might be to thank for this morning’s sunshine – after she made gentle fun of spring’s rainy start with her California/Oregon signboard yesterday. For day 2 of spring, here’s what’s on the WSB West Seattle Events calendar:

SOUTH DELRIDGE/WHITE CENTER COMMUNITY SAFETY COALITION: At the Joe Wiley Room in Greenbridge, 9800 8th SW, this group meets tonight, 6 pm-8 pm, to talk about current concerns, and brainstorm the group’s future. Refreshments (including a “light meal”) provided.

SAVVY SEATTLE WOMEN ‘WINE AND WISDOM’: A chance to mingle and learn! Full details here. Prudential NW Realty offices, 4700 42nd SW (Jefferson Square). 6-7 pm.

CHARITY BEER NAME TO BE ANNOUNCED: What will follow Lowman Brau and Whale Tail Ale as the next West Seattle/White Center “charity beer”? Find out tonight, around 6! Lots of entries, and some fun facts about them, are in this update we published on partner site White Center Now.

SPRING EQUINOX CELEBRATION: It’s only the second day of spring – and the first sunny one so far – so still a good time to celebrate. 6-9 pm at Mind Unwind in the Admiral District, open mike (share music or poetry), art, flowers – “Come inspired to honor the creative imagination … The energy of this event will radiate the portal into affirmative thinking which will enliven your life and spring forward!” Free; 2206 California SW.

DELRIDGE NEIGHBORHOODS DISTRICT COUNCIL: 7 pm tonight at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center (after the 6:30 pm “Strategic Delridge” conversation, to which you’re also invited) – with the agenda including City Council President Sally Clark, as well as Metro reps talking about Route 120.

‘RISE AND FALL OF LITTLE VOICE’: At ArtsWest in The Junction: 7:30 tonight, this week’s stretch of performances of this award-winning comedy begins.

TRAFFIC ADVISORY: 1ST AVE. S. RAMP CLOSED: Tonight, 9 pm-5 am, the 1st Avenue South ramp from the eastbound West Seattle Bridge will be closed overnight tonight, 9 pm-5 am (as first announced in this story from last Friday).

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Seacrest change: Admiral Pub event; Marination open house on hold

March 21, 2012 9:32 am

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| West Seattle news | West Seattle restaurants

Two notes this morning relating to the transition at Seacrest Pier, with the city concession contract changing from Alki Crab and Fish – which closed two weeks ago – to Marination, which hopes to be open by summer. First, an event this Saturday (March 24, 7-10 pm) at Admiral Pub – owned by ACF’s proprietors – to which you’re invited. Organizer Kari sent the announcement (which you can see in full here), including this:

Join us for a West Seattle Happy Hour at Admiral Pub! Come support a local family-owned business and Rick and Eric Galanti at their pub on California Avenue. … We wanted to say thanks to the business owners and employees for 10 years of serving great fish and chips, fun summer days on the patio, and warm food and cold beers for the scuba diving and West Seattle community.

While we’re bummed that we’ll no longer be able to visit their Alki location, we wanted to gather our friends and hopefully bring out some new neighbors and West Seattle residents and have a great happy hour at their Admiral Pub location.

And for anyone interested in learning more about scuba diving in Puget Sound, or if you’ve ever thought about trying it, there will be plenty of dive enthusiasts including myself to talk to you more about taking a PADI Discover Scuba class at Seacrest Cove or even a Scuba Refresher class if it’s been awhile since you’ve been in the water. …

Second, the city has announced that the plan for an open house at Seacrest, to meet Marination’s proprietors, has been delayed – explained here by Seattle Parks – so you can delete March 27th from your calendar and await a new date (yet to be announced). For a preview – if you missed our interview 3 weeks ago with Marination co-owner Kamala Saxton, talking about their plans, here’s the story.

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New parents in West Seattle need you: Volunteer with PEPS

March 21, 2012 8:54 am

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| How to help | West Seattle news | West Seattle people

If you’re a parent – you know children don’t arrive in the world with a handy instruction guide attached. But mentors can help! And one way to do that is to volunteer with PEPS, whose local communications manager Dana Guy shares this request:

PEPS is looking for volunteers to lead evening PEPS Newborn Groups in West Seattle. Several groups are scheduled to begin in April and need volunteer group leaders to get started. Volunteer leaders find joy and satisfaction in helping new parents connect and share through their PEPS groups. A commitment of 12 consecutive weeks is necessary (fewer if volunteers co-lead a group with a friend, spouse or partner). Volunteers attend one 4-hour training session. Training explains the structure of a PEPS meeting and provides practice with active listening, group dynamics, planning and facilitating topic discussions. PEPS training is designed to provide new skills and make leaders feel well prepared to lead a group. The next volunteer leader training is coming up on Thursday, April 5 from 5:30 to 9 p.m. Trainings are held at the Good Shepherd Center in Wallingford. For more information, go here. Contact Cate Palmer at catep@peps.org with questions or to sign up for training.

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