day : 19/07/2013 12 results

West Seattle Grand Parade & Kiddie Parade: Final previews

July 19, 2013 11:34 pm

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| West Seattle Grand Parade | West Seattle news

Less than 12 hours to go until the West Seattle Grand Parade, presented by American Legion Post 160, and the Rotary Club of West Seattle‘s Kiddie Parade. (Both follow the Float Dodger 5K, starting at 9:45 am at California/Charlestown, which we previewed last night.) Here are a few more preview notes:

JUNIOR ALL-CITY BAND IN KIDDIE PARADE: Don’t miss the Junior All-City Band in the Kiddie Parade! First we got this reminder from Jeff Clark, principal of Denny International Middle School, which has many ties to Junior ACB:

One of the beautiful things about our school and campus is the creation of cross-age learning opportunities — when kids of different ages have shared experiences, benefitting from cross-age mentoring. Mr. Pimpleton, Band Director for Denny International Middle School, Chief Sealth International High School, and the Seattle Public Schools All-City Band, continues to provide fantastic musical learning opportunities through-out the summer. The Junior All-City Band consists of students from all of our feeder elementary schools and current Denny students performing together — with mentoring from high school and college-age musicians. Thank you to Mr. Pimpleton and all of the volunteers who make Jr. All-City Band possible. I look forward to celebrating their success at upcoming parades! Go current and future Dolphins!

Then, from Marcus Pimpleton himself:

I would really like to highlight the work that John Aguilar has been doing. John is an alumnus of both Denny and Sealth and has participated as a volunteer in all of our Spring and Summer camps. This year he has more or less been running the Junior All-City program and deserves the lion share of the credit for what the students have accomplished this week. He has been assisted by a great group of high school students from a number of different high schools. It has been great kind of taking a back seat and watching these kids work and show what they have learned after all of these years of participating in these programs.

That’s John Aguilar in the photo above. Cheer him and the young musicians on, during the parade!

TEAM TRACY IN GRAND PARADE: Every year they walk for three days to fight breast cancer; in the West Seattle Grand Parade, West Seattleite Tracy Dart and her team will be on their feet for a few hours to encourage you to join the fight.

STUFF THE BUS: WestSide Baby‘s big contingent will be back to remind you that Sunday is the annual mega-diaper drive – although they’ll be doing some advance collecting Saturday afternoon, too, at West Seattle, White Center, and Burien supermarkets – watch our Saturday morning preview for details on that.

HOTWIRE ON THE ROUTE AND IN THE PARADE: Lora Swift from Hotline Online Coffeehouse (WSB sponsor) says, “We are in the parade too – using a GT towing truck for an ‘all American rock n’ roll band’ – The After Thoughts. They will be on the parade route playing on the flatbed of the truck then will loop around and play in the courtyard for a set. We’ll be handing out coupons at Hotwire plus free (while supplies last) organic juice pops for the kids.”

JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD HONOR GUARD: Parade coordinators told us they’re especially glad to have this honor guard back to lead the parade, since with the “sequester” removing so many military groups from community appearances (think Blue Angels and Navy Seafair Fleet), they weren’t sure whether it would affect this too.

DELRIDGE GROCERY: Organizers and volunteers from the store that’s gearing up to open next year in the under-construction DESC building will be walking in the parade.

POLITICIANS: At least two candidates for mayor will be in the parade, as of this past Monday, when we sat in on part of the parade lineup meeting. In all, as of that meeting, there were five political entries.

And many more (including faves like the cannon-firing Seafair Pirates). Review our previous preview coverage, and previous years, by scrolling through this WSB archive. Better yet, just line the parade route at 11 am and cheer for your neighbors and friends.

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Hiawatha Fun Fest: Even Caspar Babypants has Beatle-mania

July 19, 2013 7:37 pm

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| Fun stuff to do | West Seattle news

On the day that Paul McCartney‘s concert tour stopped in Seattle, some Beatles homage from local kids-music star Caspar Babypants. He’ll soon release an album of Beatles songs, and is selling advance copies at shows like today’s concert at Hiawatha Fun Fest – where he had the little ones hopping and bopping to a cut from the “Baby Beatles” collection, “Here Comes the Sun“:

With Caspar at Hiawatha, his CD cover artist and wife, illustrator and collage creator Kate Endle:

And after the concert, it was time for the hundreds of kids at Fun Fest to play carnival games:

They also got to check out the Kid Picks truck visiting from PCC Natural Markets (WSB sponsor):

And though this year’s Fun Fest was missing the traditional West Seattle Hi-Yu Junior Court coronation, royalty was there anyway:

That’s Senior Court Queen April, who you’ll see with the Hi-Yu float “Alki Deep” in tomorrow’s West Seattle Grand Parade, and her mom. (More big events ahead at Hiawatha this summer – including the start of the Admiral Neighborhood Association-presented Summer Concerts at Hiawatha series at 6:30 pm next Thursday (July 25)!

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Police response near Lincoln Park

July 19, 2013 5:16 pm

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| West Seattle news | West Seattle police

We highly recommend avoiding the Lincoln Park area right now. Besides a major ferry-line backup for several reasons, there’s also a police response. Multiple WSB’ers had texted us about SPD cars heading somewhere in a hurry, and Bill solves the mystery:

Noticed a police car blocking Fauntleroy at Monroe a few minutes ago. Several more came up soon after. Walked down the street to get a look… total of 8 squad cars. 1 guy in cuffs on the sidewalk in front of Lincoln Park, another (apparently the victim or a witness) talking to police. Asked an officer what happened and he said the guy pulled a knife on someone. Police confiscated a bike and backpack too.

Working to find out more. But if you saw a TV helicopter earlier and/or TV truck at the park – this is NOT what they’re covering – they headed over for the wading-pool-closure story.

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Lincoln Park wading pool closed for ‘extensive cleaning’ after illnesses reported

July 19, 2013 3:47 pm

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| Health | West Seattle news | West Seattle parks

Seattle Parks has just announced that the Lincoln Park wading pool is closed for the rest of the day and undergoing “extensive cleaning” after a report of kids getting sick after using the pool (which also was discussed in the WSB Forums). Here’s the announcement:

Seattle Parks and Recreation has closed Lincoln Park wading pool today for extensive cleaning after a notification from Public Health – Seattle & King County that a group of children who attend day camp in the park became sick after playing in the pool.

Public Health suspects the children may have contracted norovirus, which causes diarrhea and vomiting. Norovirus is highly contagious, and is spread by getting the vomit or stool of someone who is infected in your mouth. This can happen by swimming in contaminated waters, eating foods that are contaminated, touching surfaces with the norovirus on it, or by having contact with someone who is infected.

Seattle Parks and Recreation received the call from Public Health around 11 a.m. on Friday, July 19 – after the wading pool had opened for the day.

“We immediately closed the pool,” said Aquatics Manager Kathy Whitman, “and began a thorough cleaning process with high concentrations of chlorine. We are disinfecting every possible surface.”

All of Seattle Parks and Recreation’s wading pools are chlorinated, and chemical levels are checked hourly by a trained wading pool attendant. The chemical levels in the pool on Tuesday, July 16 – the day children are suspected to have contracted the virus – were within standards set by the State Health Code.

Seattle Parks and Recreation also cleaned all the play area near the wading pool, as well as picnic tables, garbage cans and bathrooms in the area as an extra precaution. Public Health – Seattle & King County has reviewed and approved Seattle Parks and Recreation’s clean-up plan.

“We are extremely cautious when it comes to water safety,” Whitman said. “If we are aware that a wading pool has become contaminated with stool or vomit, we close the pool, clean it and re-fill it. We had no indication on Tuesday that the wading pool at Lincoln Park had any possible contamination.”

Because of the resilience of the norovirus, Seattle Parks and Recreation will keep the Lincoln Park wading pool closed today so that a thorough cleaning can take place, and will re-open it tomorrow, Saturday, July 20.

Lincoln Park is the only West Seattle-area wading pool that is open seven days a week, weather permitting. Two other wading pools in our area remain open today, EC Hughes (till 7 pm) and Delridge (till 6:45); Highland Park Spraypark is open until 8 pm. Here’s the citywide schedule.

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As-it-happened coverage: Benchview neighborhood in court to challenge lot-split decision; judge to issue ruling later

July 19, 2013 1:34 pm

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| Development | West Seattle news

(3:35 PM TOPLINE: After a 2-hour hearing, the judge said she has a lot to review so she will issue a written ruling at a later date)

1:34 PM: It’s been six months since we reported on a West Seattle neighborhood’s challenge to a developer’s proposal to split one lot into three (that’s the city map above, the southeast corner of 55th/Manning [Google map here]). The neighborhood, known as Benchview, took the fight against the “lot boundary adjustment” (LBA) to court – and we are here at King County Superior Court, where Judge Mariane Spearman is hearing their case. We’ll report as it happens, since this case has drawn a fair amount of attention – there’s even a TV crew here to cover it.

It’s beginning with a discussion of whether the neighborhood, represented by lawyer Cynthia Kennedy, can submit additional material, though Patrick Downs, lawyer for the city – which had given its approval to the lot split in January, without the neighborhood getting immediate notification – has pointed out there was a deadline almost two weeks ago for such submissions. Also at the table with the city and neighborhood’s lawyers is Benchview resident Dave Allen and a lawyer for the property owner/developers, Melody McCutcheon.

1:40 PM: Kennedy is speaking, making their contention that the lot should only be for two homes – anything more is “starkly out of character.” The neighborhood contends that the Lot Boundary Adjustment has granted “unique development rights (to the new owner) not shared by the rest of the neighborhood. … This is wrong.” She also notes that the decision “was issued (by the city) in haste … many of the interpretations, methodologies, and calculations … were not written down and were not accessible to the (residents’) association … This process denied residents a meaningful opportunity to raise their concerns at a point in time when it would have mattered.” Kennedy has a black-and-white aerial photography of the neighborhood on an easel as an exhibit she is using to show the judge some of the key points. “This is a neighborhood where other neighbors and developments have played by the same set of rules regarding development … but this LBA does not.” She’s now showing the view from which the neighborhood takes its name, out to Puget Sound, and then the massing of the expected future development, as shown in our January story:

And she’s showing the configuration of the boundary adjustment the city approved – including one plot in an “L” shape. Here’s a version to which Benchview resident Allen had added color, also from our original January story:

**OUR AS-IT-HAPPENED COURTROOM COVERAGE CONTINUES BELOW**
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Off West Seattle shores: Hugo Boss yacht; aerial view of USNS Montford Point

July 19, 2013 1:12 pm

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| Seen at sea | West Seattle news

Another eye-catching visitor to West Seattle waters – Susan shared that photo (thanks!) of the Hugo Boss-sponsored racing yacht in Elliott Bay today. It’s a 60-foot racing yacht which with skipper Alex Thomson is touring the West Coast for the first time right now – here after a visit to Vancouver, and headed next to San Diego, according to this online report. Seattle Magazine’s Ali Brownrigg reports here that it’ll be at Bell Harbor downtown until Sunday.

Meantime, after a high-profile stay in Elliott Bay yesterday, the USNS Montford Point has moved on – but we have one more photo to share, an aerial view from West Seattle photographer/pilot Long Bach Nguyen:

The brand-new Mobile Landing Platform vessel is now in Everett, preparing for upcoming inspections.

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Another ArtsWest departure: Artistic director Christopher Zinovitch

July 19, 2013 12:03 pm

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| West Seattle news | WS culture/arts

(April 2013 WSB photo by Nick Adams)
West Seattle’s ArtsWest Playhouse and Gallery confirms that artistic director Christopher Zinovitch is out. He had served in that role since December 2011, and had joined the organization a decade before that. ArtsWest has just issued this statement:

After thirteen years at ArtsWest, most recently serving as the Artistic Director, ArtsWest is announcing the departure of Christopher Zinovitch.

Mr. Zinovitch has given us his expertise, his guidance and his outstanding efforts. He has brought wonderful art to our stages as an actor, director and artistic leader. Under his leadership, ArtsWest has experienced box office and critical successes – History Boys, Evil Dead: The Musical, and the recent 33 Variations, to name just a few. He has brought passion and immense talent to every project he has undertaken. ArtsWest’s education program has grown under his tutelage, providing hundreds of young people the opportunity to explore theater and supplying a steppingstone in the career of many professional actors currently working in Seattle and around the country. He was also instrumental in securing ArtsWest the American Theatre Wing’s 2012 National Theatre Company Award, an honor bestowed to only ten theatres nationwide for articulating a distinctive mission, cultivating an audience, and nurturing a community of artist in ways that strengthen and demonstrate the quality, diversity and dynamism of American theater. The decision to part ways with Mr. Zinovitch was very, very difficult and it is with deep gratitude that we wish him well with future pursuits.

ArtsWest remains fully committed to our upcoming season. We are looking forward to a wonderful summer for our education program, followed by our mainstage season featuring a rolling world premiere, a beloved family holiday classic, two contemporary plays, and a tribute to the anniversary of the summer of love.

ArtsWest had already been seeking a new managing director, since – as reported here in March – Line Sandsmark left after less than a year; she had succeeded Alan Harrison, the 5 1/2-year managing director who left two years ago. We’re following up with a few questions and will add to this story with any additional information we get.

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West Seattle Friday: Hiawatha Fun Fest; HPIC movie; storytelling…

July 19, 2013 10:57 am

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| West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Photo by WSB co-publisher Patrick Sand)
That’s one of at least three Steller’s Jays who have been very busy outside WSB HQ lately. Speaking of busy, we’ve been previewing some of this weekend’s MANY big events, and will continue to do so throughout the day/night – but right now, a few things to note in the hours to come, from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:

HIAWATHA FUN FEST REMINDER: Noon-3 pm, starting off with a Caspar Babypants concert (free), carnival games (tickets/pass available) and more on the east side of Hiawatha Community Center/Park. (Lander/Walnut)

SMILE, YOU’RE BEING PHOTOGRAPHED FROM AFAR: An unusual photograph of Earth, from space, is happening between 2:27 and 2:42 pm today, and you’re encouraged by “The Day The Earth Smiled“ to be outside when that happens. This was passed along by our Skies Over West Seattle correspondent, Alice Enevoldsen.

FLOAT DODGER 5K PACKET PICKUP/REGISTRATION: As noted in our update early today – you can still get discount registration for tomorrow’s pre-parade West Seattle Float Dodger 5K by going to West Seattle Runner (WSB sponsor) today; if you’ve already signed up, it’s packet-pickup time 3-8 pm. (California/Charlestown)

MOVIE NIGHT AT HPIC: Go see the Muppets onscreen, free, at Highland Park Improvement Club – doors open at 6:30, movie at 7; details in our calendar listing. (12th/Holden)

OUR STORIES, OUR VOICES: The monthly Trusted Advocates storytelling program starts with a light meal at 6, followed by storytelling at 6:30 pm, this month featuring White Center Community Development Association leader Sili Savusa – details in our calendar listing. It’s at the White Center Cultural Center in South Delridge. (9421 18th SW)

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You can help! Twelfth Night Productions seeking set-building assistance

July 19, 2013 10:14 am

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| How to help | West Seattle news | WS culture/arts

An unusual and very specialized volunteer request is just in from Anna at Twelfth Night Productions:

Twelfth Night Productions, a local West Seattle community theater troupe, is looking to the community for assistance with their summer musical.

Our summer musical this year is “Guys & Dolls,” a quirky romantic comedy set in Damon Runyon’s mythical New York City. Although we have a fantastic cast and crew, we’re asking the community for assistance in helping us present a flawless performance. Specifically, we need help building our sets at West Seattle High School this Monday, July 22nd through Friday, July 26th, from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm.

Although we have an enthusiastic and dedicated crew, more hands are always needed. No experience is required- we welcome all willing helpers and will provide the tools needed. If you’re interested in assisting with our “build week,” or in any other way (including being an usher or helping sell concessions), please e-mail volunteer@twelfthnightproductions.org with your information. Thanks in advance, and we look forward to entertaining you!

WSB shares volunteer requests depending on how things are going in the news stream; e-mail info to editor@westseattleblog.com. We also encourage posting in the WSB Forums.

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West Seattle Outdoor Movies: 2013 series starts tomorrow night!

July 19, 2013 9:46 am

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| West Seattle news | West Seattle Outdoor Movies

After a huge day of fun tomorrow – there’s one place you can sit down and have a low-impact good time: Opening night for the 2013 West Seattle Outdoor Movies series, for which WSB is proud to again serve as a co-sponsor. Kicking off the lineup announced last month: The 1964 James Bond classic “Goldfinger.” The movie starts at dusk in the courtyard next to Hotwire Online Coffeehouse (4410 California SW; WSB sponsor), but you’ll want to come early and make sure you get a spot (bring your own chair/blanket) – many people get takeout from nearby Junction restaurants and make a picnic out of it. No admission charge; concessions are available as nonprofit fundraisers. See you Saturday night!

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TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Friday, with big weekend ahead

July 19, 2013 6:12 am

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| West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

(Live view from the west-facing WS Bridge camera; other cameras are on the WSB Traffic page)
Happy Friday! BIG weekend ahead. The main traffic and transit alerts for West Seattle involve tomorrow’s Float Dodger 5K and American Legion Post 160-presented Grand Parade. Parking-restriction signs are up already; the routes are part of the citywide weekend traffic alert. And if you will be riding Metro tomorrow, note the 5K/parade-related reroutes, listed here. Other big events for the weekend include the Alki Art Fair, which is again offering a free shuttle from the West Seattle High School parking lot on Saturday and Sunday.

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2nd annual pre-parade Float Dodger 5K on Saturday: 3 updates!

July 19, 2013 3:31 am

| 3 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | WS & Sports

(July 2012 WSB photo from first-ever Float Dodger 5K)
Before tomorrow’s 80th annual West Seattle Grand Parade – it’s the 2nd annual Float Dodger 5K along part of the parade route! Three updates this morning:

PACKET PICKUP TODAY AND LAST CHANCE TO SAVE ON REGISTRATION: Online registration has closed but you can sign up at West Seattle Runner (WSB sponsor and Float Dodger presenter) today for $30 – otherwise, it’s $35 on race day. Beneficiaries are the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society and the Rotary Club of West Seattle‘s community-service programs. If you’ve already registered, you can pick up your packet today and avoid the race-day lines – 3 to 8 pm. (WS Runner is on the 2nd floor of Charlestown Center, northwest corner oF California/Charlestown.)

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED ON RACE DAY: Race director Ilana Balint from Run For Good Racing Company says volunteers are still needed – can you help? Go here and enter your e-mail address to see what they need help with and, if you’re interested, sign up on the spot.

PRIZES! This isn’t just a “hey, you won, you have bragging rights” 5K. There’s a variety of prizes for costumes, age groups, even for coming in last. Tim McConnell from WS Runner shared the latest list with us: