day : 29/11/2007 12 results

Cannons found in West Seattle! Now, to catch the scalawags …

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We heard earlier today that the Seafair Pirates’ stolen cannons had been found – but didn’t know till this P-I Big Blog post tonight (last item) that the discovery was apparently made somewhere in West Seattle. Found a little more info in this press release linked from the Pirates’ website; it says the cannons were turned in to the Southwest Precinct. The Pirates plan to present a reward tomorrow to the man who found them, identified in their press release as Jim Love; don’t know if he’s from WS, though public records do show a James Love here on the peninsula.

West Seattle Christmas lights, 11/29/07

November 29, 2007 11:12 pm
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 |   Holidays | West Seattle Christmas lights

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On the west side of 50th, south of Edmunds (map). Got bright lights, or seen some? Please let us know! (P.S. We have updated the photo in last night’s post about the ’07 debut of the Menashe family‘s Beach Drive display, putting in a new one courtesy of Christopher Shoemaker, who took it after helping the family with the finishing touches.)

Opening night @ Shadow Land: Open discussion

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It’s open. One comment’s already come in on last night’s thread so we wanted to put up this post before anybody else came to the site looking to comment. Did you go? What’s it like? Discuss!

West Seattle High School grad makes All-Ivy team

darius.jpgThat’s Darius Dale, posing during his senior year @ West Seattle High School for WSB contributing photographer Matt Durham, who reports that Darius has made the All-Ivy Football Team @ Yale (scroll down this page to “second team offense”). Matt recalls, “When I met Darius, he struck me as a gentle giant. He was very kind and intelligent, and students and staff appeared to have an high affection for Darius. If my memory serves me correctly I seem to recall Darius was carrying a 4.0 GPA at the time of the photo. On first impression he appeared to be such an outstandingly well-rounded teen that I attempted to recruit him into the fire service, telling him to finish college first.” This page details Darius’s achievements at WSHS and Yale, where he’s now a junior.

Reader report: Another crash on 35th

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Just out of the WSB inbox, from LyndaB — the photo above and this info:

Yet ANOTHER car collision at 35th and Juneau. Southbound. Occurred at approximately 5:40 pm today. Both drivers appear to be ok.

Here’s a map of where it happened.

Mosaic cancels its other West Seattle condo conversion

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Gee whiz, leave the house/computer for a couple hours and look what happens – for the second time today, Mosaic Homes announces it’s canceling a West Seattle condo conversion (thanks to everyone who e-mailed us about this; we also got our own e-mail, above, since we were on the mailing list). As we’ve reported previously, it’s been trying like mad to sell “Strata on California,” formerly the Graham Street Apartments at California/Graham north of Morgan Junction, but apparently not doing so well, hence the announcement above that Strata will be rented out. (And remember, as also reported here, the much-marketed West Water condo conversion less than a mile south is already resorting to rentals.)

Tonight’s trio of West Seattle happenings

November 29, 2007 2:58 pm
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 |   Development | West Seattle parks | West Seattle schools

All 3 are on our frequently updated everything-West-Seattle Events page, but also worth one more big shoutout:

4-8 PM @ ARBOR HEIGHTS ELEMENTARY: Holiday bazaar! Food, music, shopping, fun; read more here.

6:30 PM @ WEST SEATTLE HIGH SCHOOL: The (so far) only scheduled public meeting about the upzoning proposal for a block-plus of California Avenue between Hanford and Hinds; property owners are expected to attend to explain their intentions, as well as city reps and concerned neighbors; everyone’s welcome. (Read our previous coverage: Yesterday, Monday, Nov. 20, Nov. 13 in 2 parts here and here, original report on November 8th.)

7 PM @ HIGH POINT COMMUNITY CENTER: The second of 6 chances within 1 week for West Seattle residents to have a say in the city Parks Department’s future plans (read our complete coverage of the first meeting here).

Alki Ave updates: Ex-Coyotes, and more

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Exterior work is under way right now at the ex-Coyotes, finally confirmed firsthand to be the future home of Pegasus Pizza (whose original location next door will be torn down for a new building). The beige-ish panel actually features marbling much like the current Pegasus decor. Meantime, we talked to a worker outside the future Alki Urban Market – he said he had no clue when they’ll be opening; and down the street at the ex-Alki Mail/Dispatch, future Pioneer Coffee Roasting Co., someone’s inside working on a huge PIONEER sign. As for the water side of the street, a couple scenes from our breezy, chilly walk:

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Baby, it’s cold outside: Help local families stay warm

As part of Hometown Holidays in The Junction this weekend, junction_ad.jpgthere’s a Warm Clothes Drive under way for area families. As Susan Melrose, executive director of the West Seattle Junction Association, explains: “We are looking for all types of warm clothes to keep all members of our community warm through the winter. Clean out your children’s closet and hand-be-down piles looking for all types of winter clothes including jackets, pajamas, boots, long underwear, sweaters, socks, and more. We will collect these items at Hometown Holidays Headquarters (44th Ave SW and Alaska) all weekend long. WestSide Baby will pick up the loot on Sunday (December 2) at 5 pm. And if you don’t have these items, you can help this organization by bringing diapers too.”

Latest Alki News-Beacon available online

November 29, 2007 9:35 am
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 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle online

If you haven’t already procured a “hard copy” — you can get the November/December Alki News-Beacon online here. In it, you’ll find an article we submitted, and editor Cami MacNamara graciously accepted — it’s about what you can do now to make sure you can still get online after disaster (windstorm, anyone?) strikes, featuring info from the presentation we prepared for last summer’s West Seattle-wide Emergency Preparedness Event. (The bonus online info mentioned in the ANB article is a downloadable doc you’ll find here.)

WSB sponsor welcome: Square 1 Books

This morning, we welcome another new WSB sponsor – Square 1 Books, which is the place in West Seattle square.jpgto buy new books from an independent bookseller. Square 1 is in Jefferson Square, steps from the rest of The Junction, and part of the heart of the West Seattle community — this weekend, as we mentioned yesterday, Square 1 is offering the chance to buy new children’s books at 15% off and have them given to local families through WestSide Baby. This past September, Square 1 sponsored an event for West Seattle readers to meet West Seattle authors, “Words from the West Side,” held at ArtsWest. And it’s got its own book club – you can keep up with its happenings via the Square 1 blog. Thanks to Square 1 and our other sponsors, who are listed on this page along with information on how other prospective advertisers can join them.

Condo-conversion cancellation confirmation: West Ridge/Gables

Two weeks ago, we brought you a WSB reader’s report that the office staff at West Ridge Park on Delridge told her the condo conversion to “Gables,” by the same people who brought you “Strata,” was slowing down. Then one week ago, we noted that the Mosaic Homes website no longer listed “Gables” as “coming soon.” Mosaic still to this date hasn’t returned our messages, but another West Ridge resident just e-mailed WSB to tell us this notice landed on the doorstep this morning:

“We are pleased to announce that the owners of West Ridge Park have decided to not go forward with the planned condo conversion at this time. The property as a whole will remain a rental property … We sincerely want to thank each and every one of you for your patience and understanding during these past months of change and uncertainty. We hope this announcement will please all of you. I know you are very excited that we are staying as a rental community, and hope each of you will stay with us in 2008.”

This was to be a huge condo conversion and got a lot of citywide coverage earlier this year, as harbinger of a trend — can’t help wondering if it might become the same thing now, in the opposite direction.