day : 31/05/2015 8 results

You can help! Highland Park Elementary’s field day, coming up

| Comments Off on You can help! Highland Park Elementary’s field day, coming up

| How to help | West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

If you can spare a few hours on June 12th, you can help with a Highland Park Elementary tradition. From HPE teacher Kevin Schmidt:

Highland Park’s annual field day is June 12th from 8:30-3:00. We are running short on volunteers and are hoping the community could help us out. Volunteers would help run events like shoe kick, Bat Spin and Noodle tag. All stations would be staffed by school personnel with the assistance of volunteers. Volunteers could help in the morning from 8:30-11:30, in the afternoon from 12:00-3:00 or all day. All volunteers must be background-checked and cleared through Seattle Public Schools.

If you’re available/interested, e-mail krschmidt@seattleschools.org or 206-252-8240.

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West Seattle Hi-Yu crowns Kelly Crum as new Senior Court Queen

| West Seattle Hi-Yu Festival | West Seattle news

(WSB photos by Patrick Sand)
Congratulations to Kelly Crum, West Seattle Hi-Yu‘s new Senior Court Queen. Kelly is at right in our top photo, crowned by her predecessor Lorelei McFadden, during this afternoon’s Hi-Yu Tea and Silent Auction at The Hall at Fauntleroy.

Queen Kelly has just graduated from Holy Names Academy and is going to Gonzaga University this fall. She is the lone member of the new Senior Court after a last-minute withdrawal by the other candidate, Aislyn Crane, citing family reasons. Watch for Queen Kelly and the Hi-Yu Junior Court at upcoming events and on this year’s traveling Hi-Yu float, themed “Sound Respect,” at this summer’s parades, including the West Seattle Grand Parade along California Avenue from The Admiral District to The Junction on July 18th.

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Congrats! Our Lady of Guadalupe chess team’s tournament success

May 31, 2015 5:32 pm

| 1 COMMENT

| West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

Thanks to Michael Katz for the photo and report on these Our Lady of Guadalupe students’ big achievement on Saturday:

The Chess Team from Our Lady of Guadalupe competed in the Chess Wizards tournament held at the downtown headquarters of Facebook. Teams from around the area competed and OLG’s team finished 2nd! The team consisted of Sophie and Matthew Nguyen and Eleanore Katz. Matthew also brought home a First Place trophy in the individual competition.

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HAPPENING NOW: First-ever Flipper Fest with Seal Sitters & friends

May 31, 2015 3:10 pm

| 2 COMMENTS

| How to help | West Seattle news | Wildlife

If you approach the Alki Bathhouse‘s east side while on your way to Flipper Fest – which continues until 5 pm – you’ll see that life-size inflatable orca, representing, according to a sign and to the trading card that volunteer Laura gave us, J-26, aka “Mike,” a Southern Resident Killer Whale born in 1991. Inside the bathhouse, lots more to learn at this event presented by Seal Sitters with many collaborators and partners:

It’s fun, with a lesson – how to be mindful of, and protect, the creatures with which we share our shores and waters. Even the art has something to teach:

Those images of seals (the one at right, by Denise Hughes from a photo by Seal Sitters’ Robin Lindsey are made from bottle caps, as is a jellyfish outside:

They are reminders that if you use plastic bottles, be sure to dispose of them safely so they don’t find their way into our waters, where they can do so much harm to sea life. A simple outdoor display also suggests you might want to think twice about Sky Lanterns:

They look beautiful in flight, but fall into the water or onto the ground as dangerous trash. Speaking of trash – at Flipper Fest, you can find out more about Seal Sitters’ beach cleanup coming up on June 13th, which is also the date they’ll be training more volunteers – who are needed for everything from protecting seal pups on local beaches, to helping at events like this. Find out more at blubberblog.org and at Alki Bathhouse until 5 pm today – free, but you can donate to SS by buying $1 tickets for raffles with cool donated prizes listed here.

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Use Seattle City Light’s eBilling system? ‘Technical error’ alert

May 31, 2015 2:38 pm

| 15 COMMENTS

| Utilities | West Seattle news

Sent this afternoon by Seattle City Light:

On Thursday, May 28, Seattle City Light discovered that certain customers who were billed on May 27 accidentally received incorrect billing statements through the eBilling online payment service. No Social Security number, bank account, credit card, or debit card information was involved, and this will not result in any disruption of service to customers. Any payments customers made were applied to the correct accounts.

The problem was caused by an internal, technical error. We are investigating and working with a team of specialists to determine what happened. We will provide an update when further information is available.

Until this technical error has been resolved, the eBilling system has been taken offline. However, customers may still make an online payment through the “one-time payment” system on our website, which has not been affected. Our call center staff will be available to answer questions on Sunday from noon to 5 p.m., and during normal operating hours Monday through Friday.

We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this might cause our customers. We appreciate our customers’ patience as we work to resolve this issue.

We asked SCL spokesperson Scott Thomsen how many people were affected; he says they don’t know yet, but “It was limited to some customers within the May 27 billing run” – (added) an average daily billing run could have 30,000 customers – and if they determine your bill was involved, you should get e-mail (updated) OR postal mail from City Light – depending on what kind of contact info they have for you.

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West Seattle Junction updates: Check out the new banners! Plus, Farmers’ Market move countdown

May 31, 2015 11:00 am

| 13 COMMENTS

| West Seattle Farmers' Market | West Seattle news | WS culture/arts

Two West Seattle Junction notes:

BRAND-NEW BANNERS: It’s magic! Overnight the faded old West Seattle Junction banners disappeared and these new ones materialized.

It was planned, of course, and happened very early this morning (sometime between 1:15 am, which is when we drove through The Junction, wondering if the installation was under way yet, and 9:30 am, when we took these photos).

West Seattle Junction Association director Susan Melrose explains the banners’ inspiration:

The colorful series of five designs is meant to inspire neighborhood pride for all of West Seattle. Design elements include the Alki Lighthouse as a symbol of our strong connection to water, the West Seattle Bridge, a salute to history with the streetcars, our weekly farmers market, and The Junction’s iconic Walk-All-Ways. We hope the neighborhood enjoys this addition to The Junction.

The artist is Jeff Rodriguez of Horsepower Design, who also designs other art used by the Junction Association, from posters to advertising. The banner spotlighting the West Seattle Farmers’ Market brings another reminder:

Today’s market (continuing until 2 pm as usual) is the second-to-last time you’ll find it in its longtime spot at 44th/Alaska. Two weeks from today – June 14th – is the day the WSFM moves out into California SW between Oregon and Alaska. Market management is reminding people that means a change in parking, if you drive – no parking on the market block 7 am-4 pm (flyers are under windshield wipers of cars parked on that block right now) but 45 spots will be open in the lot the market is vacating. And if you bicycle to the market – Bicycle Benefits continue. The market move means “new local Washington State farmers (and) more non-profit community groups ” every Sunday. (WSFM is sponsoring WSB for the next month to help get the word out about the big move.)

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West Seattle Crime Watch: Coffee shop break-in

May 31, 2015 8:27 am

| 8 COMMENTS

| Crime | Sunrise Heights | West Seattle news

Thanks to the tipsters who messaged us this morning with word that passers-by had spotted broken glass and signs of a break-in at Café Osita in Sunrise Heights. They had alerted police but were worried the owner might not know. We went over to the shop at 7349 35th SW and found out owner Andrea had already been alerted by the building manager; the shop indeed had been burglarized, and the laundromat next door had been broken into recently as well. Café Osita isn’t usually open on Sunday anyway; Andrea and her husband are cleaning up the aftermath and told us the shop will be open tomorrow as usual. They estimate the damage and losses will total at least $500.

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West Seattle Sunday: Flipper Fest; Hi-Yu Tea/Auction; more…

May 31, 2015 7:59 am

| 6 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Photo by Lisa Stencel)

Here’s what you need to know for your West Seattle Sunday:

TRAFFIC ALERT: SDOT announced at week’s end that work today would affect West Seattle Bridge ramps in both directions. Details here; we’ll be checking shortly whether the work is indeed as described or if there’s anything else you need to know.

SANISLO RUMMAGE SALE: 9 am-3 pm at Sanislo Elementary School, on the playground. (1812 SW Myrtle)

WEST SEATTLE FARMERS’ MARKET: 10 am-2 pm, it’s the second-to-last Farmers’ Market in the current location/format, before the market’s move out into California SW on June 14th. (44th/Alaska)

PLANTS FOR PETS: Second day of the famous Furry Faces Foundation fundraising plant sale, 11 am-4 pm, more info here! (3809 46th SW)

LITTLE PILGRIM SCHOOL ALUMNI … are invited to a gathering at Fauntleroy Church Fellowship Hall, 11:30 am-1:30 pm – details in our calendar listing. (9140 California SW)

NORTHWEST GARDEN OF EDEN: Noon-4 pm, the next edition of “Duwamish Foods, Now and Then” at the Duwamish Tribe Longhouse in West Seattle – details in our calendar listing. (4705 W. Marginal Way SW)

FLIPPER FEST: 1 pm-5 pm, visit Alki Bathhouse to celebrate and learn about the creatures who share our shore (and the waters just off it). Seal Sitters Marine Mammal Stranding Network is presenting the event, with partners from marine-mammal researchers to beach naturalists; it’s free, but bring a few $ and get a chance at raffles with cool prizes – find them listed here along with more info about Flipper Fest. In addition to those drawings, there’s also a free drawing for kids to enter. You can also talk to SS about a June 13th volunteer-training session, and about seal-pupping season, which is just beginning, as also noted on their Blubberblog website. (60th/Alki)

FYI: NO ALKI LIGHTHOUSE TOURS: Reminder again today – the Coast Guard Auxiliary, which leads Alki Point Lighthouse tours this time of year, says it didn’t have enough volunteers to run tours this weekend.

WEST SEATTLE HI-YU TEA/SILENT AUCTION: 2 pm-4:30 pm at The Hall at Fauntleroy, tea, treats, bidding, and the crowning of this year’s Hi-Yu Queen. Didn’t buy tickets in advance? Our preview includes the number you can call to check if any tickets remain. (9131 California SW)

CELEBRATION OF WESTSIDE MUSIC: 4 pm at Westside Unitarian Universalist Congregation, five of the church’s ensembles perform at a benefit for the church’s Food First social-justice initiative – details in our calendar listing. (7141 California SW)

WHAT ELSE IS UP? Check our calendar, for today/tonight/beyond!

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