Thanks, Skylark Cafe and Club, for sponsoring the WSWL!

WANT TO JUMP AHEAD TO SATURDAY? CLICK HERE

WANT TO JUMP AHEAD TO SUNDAY? CLICK HERE

ALL WEEKEND: Southwest Pool open again

ALL WEEKEND: Movies (and more) at the Admiral Theater

ALL WEEKEND: West Seattle history on display @ Log House Museum at Alki, Thursdays-Sundays, noon-4 pm

ALL WEEKEND: Kayaking and land-sports (bikes, skates) rentals at Seacrest with Alki Kayak Tours

FRIDAY ALL DAY: Square One Books (WSB sponsor) Anniversary Sale! Help us celebrate 22 years with 15% off everything in the store*
Friday, November 20th from 10-6
Saturday, November 21st from 10-5:30
Thank you, West Seattle for your 22 years of support!
*Excludes special orders and Frequent Buyer Program

FRIDAY ALL DAY AND EVENING: LEGEND & LYRICS: Native Story Telling & Hip Hop Performance, featuring Savage Family & traditional story tellers. Traditional native story telling & young strong native voices use Hip Hop as their expression in a mixing of generations speaking with one voice. Free open workshops during the day from 10 AM to 5 PM. Buy your tickets at Brown Paper Tickets for the performances only at 7PM, a family-friendly event. The workshops are open to the public and food will be provided. Come and watch as the performers work together to come up with something new. Young and old working together to come up with a fusion of traditional and modern, a powerful statement!!! There will be 4 native hiphop groups and 3 native storytellers involved… (Continues Saturday, too)

FRIDAY AFTERNOON-EVENING: Community Art Exhibition at South Seattle Community College (WSB sponsor). Community Art Exhibition, Art Gallery, open Monday-Friday, noon – 6:30 pm

FRIDAY AFTERNOON-EVENING: I Am/I Am Not Woman art show at ArtsWest gallery, noon-7 pm

FRIDAY AFTERNOON-EVENING: Pre-Thanksgiving Wine Tasting & Sale
Award-winning, student-produced wines featured.
Friday, November 20, 4 – 8 pm
Northwest Wine Academy
Wine & Welding Building
South Seattle Community College (WSB sponsor)
6000 16th Avenue SW
Find the perfect wine to complement to your holiday meals at the Northwest Wine Academy’s pre-Thanksgiving event. Enjoy wine tasting and light hors d’oeuvres, while perusing a wide selection of wine-themed gift baskets. Available for purchase will be award-winning Northwest Wine Academy standouts including the 2006 Merlot, winner of the “College Wine March Madness” competition held on WineTV.com. In addition, the 2007 Syrah, 2008 Chardonnay (a blend of barrel fermented and stainless steel fermented), and 2008 White Table Wine will be on hand for sampling and purchase, along with newly-bottled 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon, 2007 Cabernet Franc, and 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon/Syrah Blend. South Seattle Community College’s Northwest Wine Academy is a first-of-its-kind program in Western Washington and offers three certificate programs – Wine Making, Wine Marketing & Sales, and Food & Wine Pairing. The Academy complements the college’s highly regarded and award-winning Culinary Arts program and the new bachelor’s degree in Hospitality Management program. The event is free and open to the public. The Northwest Wine Academy is located on the South Seattle Community College campus across from Bernie’s Bakery. Parking is available in the North entry parking lot.

FRIDAY AFTERNOON-EVENING: West Seattle Trails and Wayfinding kiosk project invites you to help come plan Admiral kiosks, West Seattle (Admiral) Library Branch, 4-6 pm (more here)

FRIDAY NIGHT: Northwest Art and Frame Open House, 5-9 Friday, also 10-5 Saturday. More info on Facebook

FRIDAY NIGHT: Live music at C & P Coffee with Secret Alien Reptiles, 6-8 pm

FRIDAY NIGHT: Family Science Night at Hiawatha Community Center, 6:00 to 8:00 pm. Family Science Night will dazzle, amaze, and educate families and provide great fun with Mad Science!! Enjoy experiments, laughter, and some small explosions. Cost $ 5.00 per family.

FRIDAY NIGHT: KIDS AND ANIMALS Debut Full-Length Album (with West Seattle musicians) + CONSERVATIVE DAD’s Fall ‘09 EP RELEASE PARTY! with very special guests: BLACK WHALES, COLONIES, POST HARBOR. The Vera Project at Seattle Center, 6 pm

FRIDAY NIGHT: Fauntleroy Art Show and Sale. Details on Facebook - at Fauntleroy Church, 6:30-9:30 tonight (continues Saturday and Sunday).

FRIDAY NIGHT: From West Seattle Family YMCA (WSB sponsor) — Family Social: The Magical Dollmaker, 6:30-8:30 @ Fauntleroy location. Families of all ages will enjoy a shortened version of the Magical Dollmaker. Feather boas & sparkles encouraged. $5 per person over age 2, $20 per family. Preregistration required.

FRIDAY NIGHT: Sponsored by Kirtsy and Microsoft Office Live, the hands-on sessions will offer practical advice, instruction, and application tips and a few easy ways to build and promote a start-up or small business. Attendees will cover popular platforms and get hands-on direction setting up accounts and applying them to their small businesses. You don’t have to be a business owner to attend either session. Anyone can come! It’s free and there will be gifts and refreshments! **

* Friday, November 20th, 7:00pm-9:00pm*
* Location: Youngstown Cultural Arts Center – South Classroom
* 4408 Delridge Way SW, Seattle, WA 98106

*Please visit the Hands on Small Business website here for more information and to register.*

FRIDAY NIGHT: The piano wizardry of New York cabaret artist Peter Mintun, Kenyon Hall, 7:30 pm

FRIDAY NIGHT: Friday Skate Night is back at Alki Community Center! (Note: There will be no skate night on November 27, December 25, 2009 or January 1) Time is from 6:45 pm- 8:45 pm every Friday. Cost is $3 per person. Skates are available on site. For more information please call 206-684 -7430.

FRIDAY NIGHT: Live music at The Bohemian: Norm Bellas with piano jazz, 7-10 pm, followed by Late Night with DJ Fij (”classic funk and rare grooves”) at 10

FRIDAY NIGHT: Twelfth Night Productions‘ (WSB sponsor) fall production, The Diviners, by Jim Leonard, Jr. at the Youngstown Cultural Center in West Seattle. Set in the fictional town of Zion, Indiana during the Great Depression, The Diviners is an earthy, funny, poignant and profoundly tragic play that speaks to a sense of community during a very dark time in our nation’s history. The Diviners is the story of a disturbed young man named Buddy who holds the ability to divine water in a town where water and faith are in short supply. When a charismatic preacher who has lost his faith comes to town, the two outcasts find a common bond and help each other divine for truth, faith and hope. The townspeople’s demands for the preacher to return to a way of life he no longer believes in drives both men to a crisis of trust. It is a beautiful, haunting play with a stunning climax that resonates long after it’s over. Second-to-last performance, tonight at 7:30 pm. To buy tickets: brownpapertickets.com and at the Youngstown Theater on performance days (4408 Delridge Way SW). Ticket prices: $15 adults/$12 students & seniors

FRIDAY NIGHT: Live music at Skylark Cafe and Club (WSB sponsor), with Surgical Chaos and Schudge, 9 pm

FRIDAY NIGHT: Live music at Shadow Land, starting at 10 pm

SATURDAY MORNING: EASTRIDGE CARES. That’s why we’re giving away 500 turkeys and bags of groceries on Saturday, November 21st from 9-Noon at our Eastridge Christian Assembly Church located at 4500 39th Ave SW in Seattle. Allow us the opportunity to give something back to our community through you. You don’t have to show paperwork and no questions will be asked. Just come! If you have any questions, please contact lzwick@ecaonline.org.

SATURDAY ALL DAY AND EVENING: LEGEND & LYRICS: Native Story Telling & Hip Hop Performance, featuring Savage Family & traditional story tellers. Traditional native story telling & young strong native voices use Hip Hop as their expression in a mixing of generations speaking with one voice. Free open workshops during the day from 10 AM to 5 PM. Buy your tickets at Brown Paper Tickets for the performance only at 7PM, a family-friendly event. The workshops are open to the public and food will be provided. Come and watch as the performers work together to come up with something new. Young and old working together to come up with a fusion of traditional and modern, a powerful statement!!! There will be 4 native hiphop groups and 3 native storytellers involved…

SATURDAY MORNING-AFTERNOON: Come join the West Seattle Wildlife Habitat Project for the work party we’ve all been waiting for…*creating the wildlife habitat demonstration garden*at Seacrest Park! We will start with some weeding, and then put lots of native plants in the ground around the driftwood and along the boatyard fence. Some warm drinks and snacks will be provided to keep everyone energized. Bring your own work gloves and tools if you prefer, otherwise there will be some available. Don’t miss this one-time opportunity, and please help us spread the word! *RSVP* to kara.whittaker@gmail.com so we can plan accordingly.
*Sat. Nov. 21, 9 AM - 1 PM*
Seacrest Park
1660 Harbor Ave SW

SATURDAY MORNING AND AFTERNOON: Square One Books (WSB sponsor) Anniversary Sale! Help us celebrate 22 years with 15% off everything in the store*
(second of 2 days) Saturday, November 21st from 10-5:30
Thank you, West Seattle for your 22 years of support!
*Excludes special orders and Frequent Buyer Program

SATURDAY MORNING-AFTERNOON: Holiday Open House at Junction TrueValue, 10 am-2 pm (more info here)

SATURDAY MORNING: Sponsored by Kirtsy and Microsoft Office Live, the hands-on sessions will offer practical advice, instruction, and application tips and a few easy ways to build and promote a start-up or small business. Attendees will cover popular platforms and get hands-on direction setting up accounts and applying them to their small businesses. You don’t have to be a business owner to attend either session. Anyone can come! It’s free and there will be gifts and refreshments! **

* Saturday, November 21st, 10:00am-12:00pm*
* Location: Youngstown Cultural Arts Center – South Classroom
* 4408 Delridge Way SW, Seattle, WA 98106

*Please visit the Hands on Small Business website here for more information and to register.*

SATURDAY MORNING-AFTERNOON: Brandon Street Natural Area work party, 10 am-2 pm

SATURDAY MORNING-AFTERNOON: West Duwamish Greenbelt work party with the Nature Consortium, meet at 14th SW and SW Holly, 10 am-2 pm

SATURDAY MORNING: Fabulous Family Fun series continues at High Point Community Center with Zambini Brothers Puppet Showcase, 10:30 am (tickets $3/person in advance, $5 on show day)

SATURDAY MORNING-AFTERNOON: Duwamish Longhouse Museum open to the public, 10 am-5 pm

SATURDAY MORNING-AFTERNOON: Northwest Art and Frame Open House, 10-5 Saturday. More info on Facebook

SATURDAY MORNING: COMETA PLAYSCHOOL invites the community to an Open House this Saturday, November 21st from 10 am to noon. Come by to its new location at 3212 California Ave SW in the Admiral District to learn about the new and exciting programs coming up in January 2010: French Immersion classes for children, Adult Spanish lessons and a unique Spanish preschool co-op for toddlers. Cometa’s play based philosophy inspires children to learn Spanish through songs, games and artistic expression. For more information please visit www.cometaseattle.com or e-mail info@cometaseattle.com.

SATURDAY MORNING-AFTERNOON: Marination Mobile street food truck at High Point, 11 am-2 pm (and vote for them today in the GMA street-food contest - we’ll feature the link on Facebook and Twitter)

SATURDAY AFTERNOON-EVENING: I Am/I Am Not Woman art show at ArtsWest gallery, noon-7 pm

SATURDAY AFTERNOON: Children’s Puppet Theater at the Alki Bathhouse! 2701 Alki Ave. SW. Join us for our monthly puppet show. We will be having Thistle Theater presenting “Baba Yaga & The Bag of Gold.” Tickets can be purchased at the door. 1 pm; activity fee: $5/per person

SATURDAY AFTERNOON: Fauntleroy Art Show and Sale. Details on Facebook - at Fauntleroy Church, 1-5 pm (continues Sunday)

SATURDAY NIGHT: Beer Church presents Turkey Bowl fundraiser for West Seattle Food Bank, West Seattle Bowl, bowling begins at 6 pm (sold out but you’re welcome to come down, cheer bowlers, donate!), with sponsors including WSB

SATURDAY NIGHT: Live music at C&P Coffee with the Whateverly Brothers, 6-8 pm

SATURDAY NIGHT: Live music at The Bohemian: Ron Weinstein jazz trio, 7-10 pm

SATURDAY NIGHT: Twelfth Night Productions (WSB sponsor) presents “The Diviners,” final performance at 7:30 pm, Youngstown Arts Center (buy tickets online)

SATURDAY NIGHT: The Shining Stars Gala & Auction for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention is Saturday November 21, 2009 at the Hall at Fauntleroy at 7:30pm. Tickets are $35.00 for adults, $20.00 for children ages 6-12 and 5 and under are free. The evening will be filled with wonderful hors d’oeuvres, wine, beer, juices, silent and live auction and great people. This event is to raise funds for the mission of AFSP: understanding and preventing suicide through research, education and advocacy, and to reaching out to people with mental disorders and those impacted by suicide. To fully achieve its mission, AFSP engages in the following Five Core Strategies: Funds scientific research, Offers educational programs for professionals, Educates the public about mood disorders and suicide prevention, Promotes policies and legislation that impact suicide and prevention, Provides programs and resources for survivors of suicide loss and people at risk, and involves them in the work of the Foundation. For more information about the Gala please go to www.shiningstarsgala.org. Saturday, November 21st is also National Survivors of Suicide Day; please join us on this day.

SATURDAY NIGHT: The piano wizardry of New York cabaret artist Peter Mintun, Kenyon Hall, 7:30 pm

SATURDAY NIGHT: At Skylark Cafe and Club (WSB sponsor): Live music with Ivory in Ice World, Destruction Island, Danielli, 9 pm

SUNDAY MORNING-AFTERNOON: WEST SEATTLE LIONS HARVEST PANCAKE BREAKFAST AND BAKE SALE. Seattle Lutheran High School Gym at 41st Ave. SW and SW Genesee from 8 am to 1 pm. The menu include: Buttermilk pancakes, Judy’s Pumpkin Crunch Pancakes, Gluten Free pancakes, ham or sausage, juice , coffee, tea and milk. Price is Adults: $8.00 and Children : 12 and under $5.00. Advance tickets available by calling Ed McDowell, West Seattle Lions President at 206-523-1087 or Judy Burbrink, chair, at 206,937,9421.

SUNDAY MORNING-AFTERNOON: West Seattle Hi-Yu Festival holiday ornaments will be sold at the West Seattle Farmers’ Market today, 10 am-2 pm (44th/Alaska)

SUNDAY MORNING-AFTERNOON: West Seattle Farmers’ Market @ The Junction, 10 am-2 pm

SUNDAY MORNING-AFTERNOON: Mars Hill Church-West Seattle will be hosting a Blood Drive on November 22nd in conjunction with the Puget Sound Blood Center. We would love to have as many as possible in our community help give blood. The drive will be from 10:30am-4:30pm at Mars Hill Church. Full information on the drive as well as links to register can be found at:
http://westseattle.marshillchurch.org/give-blood/

SUNDAY MORNING-AFTERNOON: Fauntleroy Art Show and Sale. Details on Facebook - at Fauntleroy Church, 11 am-12:30 pm

SUNDAY AFTERNOON: Holiday bazaar at Feedback Lounge (WSB sponsor), 2-5 pm

SUNDAY AFTERNOON: Live music at C&P Coffee with Philip Mariconda, 3-5 pm

SUNDAY AFTERNOON-EVENING: Sunday Market Cocktails, KPLU Jazz Sundays (4-6 pm), Sunday Ribs (”Southside Tony’s Rib Special,” 4 pm “till we run out”) and KISS Concert Pre-Func Party (meet at 5 pm before heading to the show) at Feedback Lounge (WSB sponsor)

SUNDAY NIGHT: All-ages live music at @ Skylark Cafe and Club (WSB sponsor) with Sadie Ava, 1997, Sans Absol, 7 pm

SUNDAY NIGHT: (not West Seattle but WSB’ers asked that we include it) Northwest Folklife Presents: CD Release AND Americana Dance Party at the Tractor Tavern
Doors open at 6pm, Show at 7pm, $8 (CDs will be $10)
The Tractor Tavern in Ballard
We¹re proud to release the first CD in our new series of recordings, Northwest Roots & Branches, Volume I. The 13 stellar tracks are drawn from hundreds of live recordings made at this year¹s Northwest Folklife Festival. The CD features Folklife favorites like master Irish fiddler Kevin Burke, Jamaican legend Clinton Fearon, the fab fiddling of Rebecca Lomnicky and the world¹s foremost exponent of 8-bit chiptune music, Sabrepulse. The CD also features up-and-comers you need to know about, like the old-school bluegrass of Armstrong, Lawton & Katz, the deep country old-time of RedDog, Zoe Muth with sweetest twang in Seattle and the indie reggae sounds of Trolls Cottage. True to the spirit of Folklife, this CD Release Party is also a Dance Night! Charmaine Slaven of the Tallboys will call a square dance with RedDog & Squirrel Butter. Rockin¹ Horse Dance Barn will teach y¹all the country two-step, and Americana darling Zoe Muth will let you put those steps to good use. Indie-roots group Amateur Radio Operator will close out the evening.

Are we missing anything? Let us know! And between weekends, keep an eye on our continuously updated Events page.

Following the relentless increase in H1N1 influenza (swine flu) illness in King County since late August, cases of H1N1 influenza are now decreasing – at least temporarily – from a peak in late October. Although the future course of the epidemic remains uncertain, based on the experience of the H1N1 outbreak during the Southern Hemisphere’s flu season, illness would be expected to continue to spread locally among those who are not immune during the coming weeks.

“The break in the rising rate of infection gives us more time to vaccinate people who don’t yet have immunity, especially given the slow start to vaccinations because of the national vaccine shortage,” said Dr. David Fleming, Director & Health Office, Public Health - Seattle & King County. “Availability of vaccine will continue to improve in coming weeks, and we encourage people who are recommended to receive vaccine to seek it out. Eventually, everyone who wants vaccine will have an opportunity to get it.”

While down from the previous two weeks, emergency departments continue to see an elevated number of visits for flu-like illness similar to spring outbreak levels. Recent hospitalizations for H1N1, while lower in number than in October, still remain above the levels seen in the spring.

An estimated 190,000 people in King County who are at high-risk for complications have already been vaccinated for H1N1 influenza. Additionally, an estimated 132,000 people have had H1N1 influenza between April and October 17, 2009. These factors may be contributing to the slowing of infection rates overall, yet more vaccination will help to protect the community and those most at risk.

People who are recommended to receive H1N1 vaccine should continue to seek it. Vaccine supply is gradually improving each week, and it is expected that eventually there will be enough vaccine in King County for anyone who wants it.

Given delays in supply, H1N1 vaccine is presently reserved for people in priority groups:

* Pregnant women
* People who live with or care for children younger than 6 months of age
* People between the ages of 6 months and 24 years old
* People between 25 through 64 years of age with chronic health conditions or weakened immune systems
* Health care and emergency workers

Given the limited supply, Public Health’s current focus is on getting most of the available vaccine to health care providers, so that they can vaccinate patients who are most at risk. To provide another option for people prioritized to receive H1N1 vaccine, Public Health is allocating a limited portion of vaccine supplies for distribution more widely through pharmacies.

Visit the Public Health H1N1 influenza website at www.kingcounty.gov/health/H1N1 for updates on vaccine availability in the community or call the Flu Hotline at 877-903-KING (5464), which is staffed with operators to answer questions from King County residents about H1N1 influenza. Hours of operation with operators are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays, with special 24-hour nurse line service extended over this weekend for people with flu seeking medical care advice. Recorded information is available 24 hours a day.

Flu illness activity

Indications are that flu activity has peaked for now in King County :

· The approximate daily numbers of visits for flu-like illness to King County emergency departments have fallen by half from a high of over 250 visits per day, but remain significantly elevated and are now in a range similar to that seen during the spring H1N1 outbreak. Similarly, the proportion of patients seen in emergency departments with flu-like illness has decreased from a peak of 10% to 5% this week.

· Hospitalizations for H1N1 have been decreasing for the past few weeks, but they are still above the peak of the spring outbreak.

The county’s list of pharmacies with vaccine, by the way, shows clinics (for the “high risk,” ages 9 and up) at the West Seattle Walgreens stores next Tuesday.

One more note from the Alki Community Council, following last night’s meeting (here’s our wrapup of other items): In time for holiday shopping … there’s another chance to buy bricks or a plaque at Alki Statue of Liberty Plaza, to support its maintenance fund. The announcement is shared by David Hutchinson:

As you may know, the Seattle Statue of Liberty Plaza Project disbanded as of the September 19th Time Capsule Celebration. Seattle Parks and Recreation has recently concluded an agreement with the Alki Community Council allowing the Council to sponsor the sale of additional engraved bricks and Tribute Plaques. The ACC will also be the organization working with the community to coordinate the future maintenance of the Plaza with Parks.

We are happy to announce the sale of a limited quantity of engraved bricks and Tribute Plaques. The Alki Community Council is currently working on getting a 501(c)(3) Internal Revenue Code designation. At the present time however, any donations will not be tax deductible. All bricks sold will be 4 x 8 inches. A “family or individual” brick will be priced at $100, while a “business or organization” brick will cost $250. These are the same prices as in the first two sales. You can download a brick order form, a brick sale FAQ, and a catalog of standardized symbols that can be engraved on your brick by going to www.sealady.org . Funds raised by this sale will be turned over to Seattle Parks & Recreation to supplement the existing maintenance fund and used to support approved ACC-sponsored events that benefit the Plaza.

For information on ordering bricks or any related questions, please contact Eilene Hutchinson at:
206-933-8352
libertyplaza@msn.com

For information on the available Tribute Plaques, please contact Libby Carr at:
206-938-8721
libby@carrbiz.com

If you are interested in more information on the Alki Community Council and its activities, please contact secretary Paul Carr at:
paul@carrbiz.com

That’s one alternative for 4435 35th SW (map) - the proposed 100+-unit residential/12,000-sf commercial project on the Redline-and-south site - shown for the first time at Thursday night’s Southwest Design Review Board meeting, but not in the online packet. It’s the one that won the most attention - as an option that would feature a little more than 100 condos, over two stories of commercial frontage. More on the meeting ahead:

Architect Roger Newell was the only project representative who spoke:

He recapped the site’s history, including the fact part of it was originally going to the now-dead monorail project, and that it’ll be on the West Seattle RapidRide bus line in the not-too-distant future.

Another of its unique features is a tiny undeveloped street stub - SW Oregon - on the south side of the site, which the architects propose developing into a cul-de-sac of sorts for entrance to the building’s parking (it’s where you see the cars in this Google Street View image):

The meeting was relatively low-key - six area residents in attendance, besides the 6 board members, 2 project architects, and a city rep - and ended with the board giving the project the go-ahead to advance to the next step of the process.

If they seek to develop the site as apartments, Newell said, it would be closer to 150 units, mostly 1-bedrooms, and would be more likely to resemble the original drawing seen in the packet:

The official mission of the first Design Review meeting is always “early design guidance,” and it was clear this project wasn’t too far along - a board member asked Newell about how the project might address the city’s Green Factor, and he said they hadn’t hired a landscape architect yet, so hadn’t really figured out how to do that - maybe a “green roof” element, he offered.

One element that clearly had been discussed - livening up the pedestrian experience along that stretch of 35th, which all involved agreed is currently abysmal. That’s part of why the newly introduced rendering, with a 2-story commercial setup along the street, held more appeal for the board members, as well as for Rene Commons, one of the three audience members who spoke: “I like the idea of it being condos - we have a lot along (nearby) Avalon - and also, activating the pedestrian experience. We need it to be activated there. … Hundreds of people get off the bus (there) every day.” She envisioned “little bistro tables” outside at least some of the future storefronts.

Sharonn Meeks of the Fairmount Community Association, whose neighborhood is just blocks away, also supported the design with the 2-story commercial level. “Maybe with multiple doors, to engage the public?” Like Commons, she thought condos might make sense by the time the project is developed, particularly since that market has done well along Avalon, and this site has extra appeal: “You have the best view of the park, the city, would be a shame to see it go to studio apartments.” She also supported the concept of a pedestrian connection from the site into the Triangle area to the west: “It’s critical that we join the neighborhood together.”

When time came for the board members to make their comments and decide whether the project could advance, they made some of the same points, but also talked about viewing the project in the context of what might eventually happen to its north - what if, for example, another 65-foot building eventually went up on the site that’s now home to a KFC drive-thru? How should this project “respond” to that possibility?

The rekindling Triangle planning process (recent WSB updates here and here) also was mentioned, and it was suggested that the architects/developers get involved with the groups working on a vision for the area. Board member Joe Hurley said that would be a priority for him to hear from the developers at the next meeting - how they had reached out to/worked with nearby residents. Board member Brandon Nicholson said “streetscape compatibility” would be one of his priorities in the next review - focusing in particular on the ground floor of the buliding, including details like lights, marquees, signage.

WHAT’S NEXT: When a project like this passes “early design guidance,” it gets to apply for its Master Use Permit. You can watch the application process here. But it still has to go back to Design Review at least once more - with a more detailed presentation, all the way down to the planned colors and materials. We’ll let you know when that date is set.

We would love to host a free holiday movie for our neighbors and want your suggestions! Last year we showed, the perennial favorite, A Christmas Story. Please suggest something you can’t see on TV i.e. (It’s a Wonderful Life). Maybe it’s a charming foreign Christmas film or maybe it’s Naughty Santa. The only thing we can’t do is play something that’s currently out in
the theaters. You can either e-mail me at dinah@admiralentertainment.com, or fill out a slip and put it in our Christmas box at the theater and let me know what you’d like to see on our big screen! Admission is free but we ask that you bring some needed donations for our food banks! We will announce the film the first week of December and we will show the film on Saturday, December 19th at noon!

Next time you go to the movies at The Admiral, also look for their candy contest - a suggestion box of sorts where you can suggest a type of candy you’d like to see make a comeback.

(If you’re wondering about the decor, the group had to meet in an Alki Community Center room more often used for kids’ programs, since the center’s community spaghetti dinner was in its bigger space.) As is the case in Admiral, and Fauntleroy before that, there’ll be meetings to zero in on location and content for the wayfinding structures, part of West Seattle Trails (seen the updated map yet?). One more Alki note - another work party for the West Seattle Wildlife Habitat Project demonstration garden at Seacrest is coming up this Saturday, 9 am-1 pm, all volunteers welcome, meet behind the Alki Kayak Tours shack at 9. (No ACC meeting in December, by the way - next one’ll be January 21st.)

West Seattle Chamber of Commerce members and guests were at Westwood Village tonight as WSCC president/CEO Patti Mullen and WWV manager Stuart Crandall cut the ribbon for Santa’s new digs in the original Wyatt’s Jewelers [WSB sponsor] storefront across the breezeway from 24 Hour Fitness during the chamber’s After-Hours event tonight. Santa listened to holiday wishes, too - including the ones shared by Rick Jump from White Center Food Bank and Nancy Woodland from WestSide Baby:

Rick asked for enough food to feed the 1,000 people his agency (which serves part of WS too) will see in the next week; Nancy asked for enough diapers to make life pleasant for the hundreds of little ones whose families get help through her agency. (WC Food Bank REALLY needs turkeys, by the way - their website has info on how to donate - they’ll be there on Saturday this week too; while WestSide Baby has specifics on its site too.) As for the rest of the event - Wyatt’s proprietors Joni and Kirk Keppler opened their new storefront in the heart of the center (by Chico’s, north of Barnes & Noble) to visitors:

Other Westwood Village merchants participated too (with treats from eateries Giannoni’s Pizza, Eats Market Cafe and Sub Shop), as the shopping center gets ready for the holidays. Back to Santa, we’ve got his schedule on the new WSB West Seattle Holidays page; he’s all about doing good in the community - photos are free with a food donation, there’s a Giving Tree for the Salvation Army, a place to drop off diapers (preferably sizes 3-6) for WestSide Baby, and gift wrapping is free but anything you donate will go to local nonprofits. More Chamber info, by the way (disclosure - WSB is among the many local businesses that are members), at wschamber.com.

I confronted the perp who said he was “visiting a friend.” Another young man came out of the neighbor’s yard carrying a bag, saw me, and turned around and ran out the back. The young man I saw looked like he was of east or north African descent - high cheekbones, very slender build, dark complexion. I was on the phone with police instantly. The neighbor got home while I was still calling in the crime and he saw his house had been ransacked, trashed, and all his valuables stolen. Including his rent money as he has been working overtime to pay the rent. They were broken into a week ago but someone was home; they noticed someone casing the house a few days ago, and we saw someone prowling the house YESTERDAY but the police said they could do nothing because no crime was committed. The cars of interest are a RED SUV and a RED/MAROON midsized sedan.

ADDED 8:41 PM: Betsy has included more description information in comments. Meantime, we have had another break-in report - sent by two of the victim’s neighbors, and mentioned in comments - on 47th near Andover (map).

Thanks to Wendy Hughes-Jelen for sending photos from the High Point Community Thanksgiving Dinner that’s happening right now at HP Community Center, till 8 pm. Everybody welcome! (And there are other community feasts coming up - including two on Thanksgiving Day - check the new WSB West Seattle Holidays page.)

Today, Council President Richard Conlin officially announced the Councilmember committee assignments for the 2010-2011 cycle.

Keeping most of her current assignment is Councilmember Sally J. Clark, who will chair the Committee of the Built Environment. In January the committee will focus on the review of Children’s Hospitals’ Major Institution Master Plan.

Councilmember Tim Burgess will continue chairing the Public Safety and Education Committee while relinquishing Human Services.

The Energy and Technology Committee maintains its chair as well, with Councilmember Bruce Harrell taking the committee for a second term, and adding Civil Rights to the committee work.

Councilmember Jean Godden is the fourth Councilmember who will not change assignments, maintaining her role as chair of the Finance and Budget Committee.

New/revised assignments include:

Councilmember Tom Rasmussen – will chair the Transportation Committee.

Councilmember Nick Licata – will chair Human Services, Culture and Housing.

Council President Richard Conlin – will chair the Sustainability and Regional Development Committee, continuing his responsibility of Open Government, Emergency Management, Sustainability and Intergovernmental Relations, while adding Economic Development and Libraries, and turning over Public Utilities.

Incoming Councilmember Sally Bagshaw – will chair the Parks and Seattle Center Committee.

Incoming Councilmember Mike O’Brien – will chair a new committee covering Seattle Public Utilities and Neighborhoods.

New Councilmembers will be sworn in on Jan. 4, 2010 at 2 p.m. in Council Chambers, marking the official start of the 2010-2011 Council year. The first committee meetings will be held the following week.

We’ve been covering this story since night before last on partner site White Center Now, when several people sent tips about the crash and resulting traffic trouble - but now investigators are casting a wider net in trying to solve the hit and run (16th/106th) that sent a developmentally disabled man to the hospital, where deputies say he remains in critical condition. If you have any leads on a vehicle that might fit the description above, a $1,000 reward is offered, and 911 will take your tip.

The West Seattle Food Bank will be changing hours during the week of Thanksgiving.

We will be distributing our holiday food on Monday, 11/23 for seniors from 9:30 a.m.- 11:00 a.m. and for the general public from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., and on Tuesday, 11/24 for the general public from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Any donations specific to the Thanksgiving holiday can be delivered on Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. or Monday, 11/23 from 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. We will also be here to accept donations from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on Tuesday, 11/24 and Wednesday 11/25.

We will be closed at 3:00 on Wednesday 11/25, and all day Thursday, 11/26 and Friday, 11/26. We will resume our normal hours on Monday, 11/30.

Thank you West Seattle for your generous support!

We’ve got a followup question out asking if there’s anything in particular they need; the WS Food Bank is at 35th/Morgan (map). Meantime, remember the White Center Food Bank serves part of West Seattle too - it’s got donation information here.

The first of several planning meetings to help determine the location, content, and art for wayfinding kiosks to be installed in the Admiral neighborhood area will take place this Friday, November 20, at the West Seattle (Admiral) Library from 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm.

This meeting and others to follow will allow residents and other interested individuals to help define and create the content and art for two six-foot high, three-feet wide wayfinding kiosks which will be part of a West Seattle-wide wayfinding system.

The system already has three kiosks in various stages of development in the Fauntleroy area. The two Admiral kiosks will also be joined by three Alki-area kiosks. These five kiosks are part of the West Seattle Trails Wayfinding and Kiosk project which previously produced the West Seattle Trails map.

That map has been updated by the way - take a look here.