day : 08/06/2012 13 results

Madison Middle School‘s Senior Orchestra performed together one last time Thursday night at the school’s second concert of the week, and our first clip begins with music director Clark Bathum‘s explanation preceding Rimsky-Korsakov‘s “Capriccio Espagnol.” (The music begins about a minute and a quarter in.) The concert also featured the Junior Orchestra, Combined Orchestra, and the Jazz Band, which is in our next clip with one of the numbers from their division-winning performance at a recent music festival:

Our coverage from Tuesday night’s concert is here.

Fauntleroy sewage-overflow followup: Bird to blame?

June 8, 2012 9:16 pm

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| Fauntleroy | Utilities | West Seattle news

Since there had been utility work in the Barton Pump Station (right) vicinity not long before last Sunday’s power problem led to a 46,000-gallon overflow into Puget Sound, we’ve been following up to see if that work had anything to do with it. Apparently not, according to both King County Wastewater Treatment Division and Seattle City Light.

While they have not pinpointed the problem’s cause and may never be able to – it apparently was triggered by a short power surge – here’s the likeliest scenario, according to SCL’s Scott Thomsen: Last Sunday at 3:18 pm, about 15 minutes before they got a call from the county about the pump-station problem, they had “a brief interruption on a (major) transmission line” – an osprey flew into a wire. Thomsen says that’s unusual for an osprey, and SCL wildlife biologists were sorry to hear about it, as the utility has been working to accommodate ospreys, which think utility poles are great places to nest, reminiscent of the tree snags they prefer in the wild. Meantime, as reported here last night, health authorities gave the county the all-clear to reopen the overflow-affected beaches after four days.

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West Seattle schools: Gatewood Elementary campers’ challenge

June 8, 2012 7:08 pm

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| West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

Gatewood Elementary principal Rhonda Claytor shared the photo, explaining:

This is a picture of Gatewood Elementary teacher Dana Bogel and fifth-grade student Claire Palmer-Paige, at Camp Warm Beach in Stanwood, conquering the wall challenge. Our 4th and 5th grade students have been at camp since Wednesday and many have challenged themselves to climb the wall, ride horses and row canoes for the first time in their lives. Additionally, they do many cooperative challenges and work together in groups. They also seem to enjoy the food and swimming pool!

Checking out the Gatewood website, we noted other special offerings – including four days this summer that the school library will be open for summer-reading checkout.

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Reminder: Westbound Spokane Street Viaduct closure this weekend

June 8, 2012 4:26 pm

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| Spokane St. Viaduct project | West Seattle news

That photo is from a tour of the Spokane Street Viaduct construction zone this afternoon, just as the city gets ready for another major closure. While our full tour report will have to wait till this evening, we wanted to issue a closure reminder before everyone heads out for the weekend: The closure is WESTBOUND ONLY, on the bridge between I-5 and Highway 99, and the time is unusual: 6 pm Saturday till 5 am Monday. (Remember, as noted here yesterday, there’s a lot going on Saturday afternoon in SODO, so the city didn’t want to start the shutdown till all that lightened up.) You will NOT be able to get onto the bridge from I-5 during the closure, but you WILL be able to get to it from Highway 99. Meantime, more later on what we saw, and learned about the project, during our tour.

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City bike racks for Delridge? Tell SDOT where!

June 8, 2012 4:10 pm

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| Delridge | Transportation | West Seattle news

Just shared by Ed Pottharst from the Department of Neighborhoods: An announcement from the city that SDOT wants to put new bike racks in south-of-downtown neighborhoods “to help encourage cycling as a form of transportation to our business districts. We would like your help with finding places to install them where they will be most useful …” and the local neighborhoods where they’re seeking ideas are Delridge and South Park. This is NOT for private property, but for “public right-of-way” (sidewalks, for example), and the installation would likely happen late this year or early next year. Got an idea? Contact Doug Cox at SDOT, 206-684-8264 or doug.cox@seattle.gov.

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West Seattle Weather Watch: Thunder!

June 8, 2012 3:46 pm

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| West Seattle news | West Seattle weather

Just heard thunder here at WSB HQ in Upper Fauntleroy; the National Weather Service called for a chance of thunderstorms in this “short-term forecast” (possibly even “small hail”).

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West Seattle Crime Watch: SWAT officers in Sunrise Heights

June 8, 2012 3:03 pm

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| West Seattle news | West Seattle police

Thanks to those who have called and e-mailed about what they describe was a SWAT team presence in Sunrise Heights. We have confirmed with the Southwest Precinct that officers were attempting to serve a warrant for a “high-risk subject”; we just checked the area and it appears the officers are gone, so now we’re trying to find out if they made an arrest.

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West Seattle High School wins big grant: $350,000/year

June 8, 2012 2:16 pm

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| West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

West Seattle High School is in celebration mode this afternoon. Principal Ruth Medsker just announced they’ve won a major grant from the city Families and Education Levy:

West Seattle High School was awarded one of five high school Levy grants! We will be receiving $350,000 per year for the next seven years! It was an extremely competitive process and we are very proud of our grant, and the continuing work we will be doing to support students. The funds are from the City Levy. Below is a snapshot of how we will be spending the funds:

*Full time Academic Intervention Specialists to case manage the academic success of all 9th graders teaching 1 Focus class, coordinate University Tutors, manage Mandatory After School Study Halls and Saturday Schools, monitors daily individual student academic progress, collaborates with teachers, participates in AIS and 9th grade team meetings, tracks progress toward meeting Levy Target goals, attends Levy meetings, calls 9th grade families, refers identified students to SIT, collaborates with feeder middle schools for early intervention, coordinates 9th grade MAP testing.

*Fund additional counseling services for our 9th graders to do the following; schedule all 9th graders in appropriate classes, hand schedules Focus students, plan 9th grade Parent Night, track 9th grade attendance, and creates attendance agreements for identified students, participate as a member of the Student Intervention Team, organizes parent/teacher conferences, implements the roll out of ConnectEdu to 9th graders and supplemental curriculum to support College and Career Readiness.

*A half-time Social Worker provided by community partner YMCA. The other half will be shared with our feeder Madison Middle School. He/she supports a caseload of 10-15 students; provides home visits, coordinates care and direct counseling, family parenting classes, screening to support academic success and improved attendance.

*Pay for community partner YMCA to have a full-time Senior Director of Education and Development on-site and integrated into the WSHS community. A $26,000 program budget to provide 2-4 in-school and 8-12 after school enrichment and/or service based activities. Responsible for tracking all 9th graders to ensure they are involved in a minimum of one extracurricular activity during the school year and removing barriers for participation that arise for some students. Priority enrollment for identified 9th graders in “Y” activities will be given.

*Pay for community partner University Tutors to place 15 plus content specific tutors at WSHS in math and science classes and to support Mandatory After School Study Hall and Saturday School.

*Pay for a .2 FTE Academic Interventionist to teach a focus class for re-classified 9th graders. We will use carry forward performance pay from 20011-12 to pay the $20,000 cost.

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West Seattle Summer Fest: Caspar Babypants returns; applications open for ‘community performers’

June 8, 2012 12:01 pm

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| West Seattle festivals | West Seattle news

(WSB video of Caspar Babypants performing at 2011 West Seattle Summer Fest)
Waiting for the West Seattle Summer Fest music lineup? It’s expected to be out next week, according to Susan Melrose from the West Seattle Junction Association – but she confirms to WSB that Caspar Babypants will be back, performing on the first day of the festival, Friday, July 13th (just five weeks from today!), on a small stage that’ll be on SW Alaska next to Junction Plaza Park “at a kid-friendly time” to be announced. Susan says that’s the “community performance stage,” where you’ll find “performances, demonstrations, cake-eating contests, and music,” and they’re currently accepting applications for people whose talents might be best showcased here. So, Susan invites you: “If you have a dance troupe or other act, please e-mail info@westseattlefestival.com with details.”

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West Seattle beverage news: Löwman Bräu returns!

June 8, 2012 10:56 am

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| How to help | West Seattle news | WS beverages

When the charity beer Hi-Yu Brü launched earlier this year, as part of an ongoing West Seattle/White Center series of locally brewed beer benefiting charities, some suggested its proceeds should have benefited its namesake festival. Now, the most popular charity beer in the series is re-launching, and its proceeds WILL benefit the West Seattle Hi-Yu Summer Festival. Feedback Lounge (WSB sponsor) proprietor Jeff Gilbert sends word that Löwman Bräu is relaunching today at his bar and eight other local venues – in West Seattle, West 5, Shadowland, Mission, The Bridge, Löcöl, Beveridge Place Pub, and in White Center, Big Al Brewing and Company. Jeff says it should be available at all nine places as soon as they open today.

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King County Sheriff’s Office plans White Center surveillance cams

June 8, 2012 10:25 am

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| Crime | West Seattle news | White Center

From partner site White Center Now: The King County Sheriff’s Office will soon install two video-surveillance cameras in WC. Deputy BJ Myers, who announced them at last night’s North Highline Unincorporated Area Council meeting, says he believes they’ll be the first “overt” cameras KCSO has installed – that means they’re not secret; their presence will be obvious, and that’s part of the point. As soon as a few weeks from now, they’ll be up at 98th/16th and 15th/Roxbury. Here’s the full story, on WCN.

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West Seattle Friday: Student-organized benefit; SLHS graduation; lots of live music…

June 8, 2012 9:54 am

| 7 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(The Seattle Great Wheel across the bay is now illuminated, as David Hutchinson‘s image shows us)

MEET YOUR SCHOOL BOARD REP: Marty McLaren‘s last scheduled community conversation of the year is at 10:15 am, Southwest Library (35th/Henderson). She’s scheduled to be there till 12:15 pm, if you can’t make the meeting from the start.

SNEAK PEEK AT NEW HISTORY EXHIBIT: The Log House Museum‘s new traveling exhibit, created with the help of students, is offering a “sneak peek” this afternoon at Madison Middle School, 2:30-4 pm, and the public’s welcome. (Madison is one of the schools whose students participated; more info here.)

HELP A LOCAL STUDENT SAVE LIVES HALF A WORLD AWAY: We told you earlier this week about West Seattle High School senior Fatuma Ali‘s benefit at Youngtown Cultural Arts Center to help get safe food and clean water to East African refugees. Tonight’s the night, 6-9 pm (4408 Delridge Way SW).

SEATTLE LUTHERAN HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION: Tonight at 7:30 pm in the SLHS gym, followed by a reception at nearby Hope Lutheran. (Here’s our list of all upcoming graduations.)

LIVE MUSIC TONIGHT! Lots of it – including Bob “Bobcat Bob” Rice at C & P Coffee Company (5612 California SW; WSB sponsor), 6-8 pm … Auklet performs during a Friday night of music and art at Alki Arts (2820 Alki SW), 6-9 pm … Josh Harty at Kenyon Hall (35th/Kenyon), 7:30 pm … Badlands, Rocket Surgery, The Last Great Cavalry at Skylark Café and Club (3803 Delridge Way SW), starting at 8 pm … Barbie Anaka at Salty’s (1936 Harbor SW), 8-10 pm …

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Followup: KUOW checks back on Beloved Mexico and its owner

June 8, 2012 8:54 am

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| West Seattle news | West Seattle people

In February 2011, much concern was expressed when KUOW reported on the Beloved Mexico food truck that has been a fixture next to West Seattle Produce, saying its owner Christian Guerrero had lost his day job, and the truck was struggling. Reporter Deborah Wang e-mailed us to let us know she followed up, and the story is airing on their station today – but you can listen to/read it here now. Things, she reports, are looking up.

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