day : 23/10/2008 13 results

Tonight, three reports have come in from people who want to share their stories so you can be more alert and aware — including the case of the stolen “stinky skates” plus an unfortunate reminder to lock up when you’re out doing yard work — read on:Read More

Quick update: Another “early design” meeting for The Kenney

October 23, 2008 10:12 pm

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| Development | Fauntleroy | The Kenney | West Seattle news

Detailed report to come. Bottom line, though, after two hours laden with thoughtful public comments and concerns about the major redevelopment project at The Kenney – the Southwest Design Review Board (with only two of its five members in attendance) asked The Kenney to come back for a second round of “early design guidance” — that means at least two more meetings before it passes all the way through Design Review.

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Three Thursday night notes

October 23, 2008 8:04 pm

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| Development | West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

DESIGN REVIEW: We’re midway through tonight’s Southwest Design Review Board meeting. First project, a mixed-use building proposed for what’s currently a sloped, treed site at 4106 Delridge, is being sent back for a second round of “early design guidance” – board members said they weren’t seeing enough distinct options for the site. The Kenney‘s redevelopment project is next up. More details on that, and the Delridge review, later. (The Delridge writeup will be later Friday, after we can get some on-site photos of points raised during the review.)

PARKS BOARD: Meeting at Parks Department HQ downtown tonight, the board is taking public comments on its “request for proposals” that will soon be issued to seek a private operator for West Seattle Stadium. According to Morgan Junction‘s Cindi Barker, Parks Superintendent Tim Gallagher also had another West Seattle note in his informal briefing at the start of the meeting – artists who are being displaced by the Magnuson Park redevelopment project might be moved to the Hughes School site (photo left; it temporarily housed South Lake High School for the past few years but is vacant this year). We’ll be checking to find out more on the status of that proposal.

FIRST IN-STORE TASTING: The two photos below are from the first wine tasting Thriftway in Morgan Junction hosted as part of its participation in the state’s pilot program of beer and wine sampling in grocery stores. We dropped by just as the event was starting at 4 pm. Thriftway charged $5 for the tasting plus snacks from the lavish appetizer spread you see below; the tasting’s theme was “Washington vs. Italy – Taste the Difference.”

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Madison Middle School named a “School of Distinction”

October 23, 2008 6:45 pm

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| West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

Coincidentally, we’re at Madison Middle School (for tonight’s Design Review Board meeting) as we’re reading the news release sent late today by Seattle Public Schools: Madison is one of five SPS schools (the only one in West Seattle) honored as a “School of Distinction” for making dramatic improvements in reading and mathematics achievement. Madison, led by principal Jill Hudson, cited several reasons for its improvement, including low turnover in recent years, professional development time during the regular workday, intervention programs for struggling students, and “engaging afterschool programs.”

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59th/Admiral shooting trial update: Prosecution rests its case

October 23, 2008 6:09 pm

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| Crime | West Seattle news

We’re continuing to cover the trial of the Alki 18-year-old charged with murder in the 10/13/07 shooting death of 33-year-old Francisco Bailey-Ortiz, killed inside a car at 59th/Admiral. The week’s proceedings concluded (the trial’s not in session Fridays) with prosecutors resting their case. Ahead, our courtroom correspondent’s full report:Read More

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Urgent call to help WestSideBaby – as demand doubles

October 23, 2008 3:08 pm

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| How to help | West Seattle news

Just out of the WSB inbox from WestSide Baby executive director Nancy Woodland: They need people-power as well as diaper donations, in order to help West Seattle and White Center-area families:

As you can expect, we are experiencing an incredible increase in requests for the items we distribute. This week we have orders to fill for 300 children! This is double what a normal week was just in September. We are also down approximately 12 hours of regular volunteer time from those who commit time each week to this task.

WE NEED HELP TO FILL ORDERS!! Ever wanted to be a personal shopper for a child who really needs the items you find? This task is one level higher than sorting clothes and requires about ½ hour of training before we let you loose.

WE WILL BE OPEN TOMORROW, FRIDAY OCT. 24 (10-2) AND SATURDAY OCT. 25 (10-1) AND INVITE ANYONE WHO IS INTERESTED TO COME IN TO HELP FILL THESE ORDERS. THIS IS AN ADULT OR “ENTHUSIASTIC TEEN” REQUEST. If you can join us, just show up.

In addition, please spread the word… diaper requests are skyrocketing and we are unable to purchase enough to fill the gap. We desperately need size 4, 5 and 6 diapers this week. Please let folks know that this is a real need. Although we gather large numbers of diapers in the summer, this need is ongoing and the need is rising very quickly.

Diaper-only dropoff locations are:

· WestSide Baby 10032 15th Ave. SW (in White Center; map)
· White Center Chiropractic 10030 15th Ave. SW (map; our wonderful landlords upstairs will take diapers only if you arrive and we are not open)
· Red Cup Espresso 4451 California Ave. SW (map)
· Eats Market Café (north-central Westwood Village, near Bed Bath and Beyond; map)
· On the Way Maternity 5446 California Ave. SW (map)

Other regular dropoff sites are listed on our website at www.westsidebaby.org

As always, thank you so much for your support of WestSide Baby. We realize everyone’s situation is unique. If you can help now, great. If you cannot, we hope you’ll think of us another time!!

With regards,
Nancy

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West Seattle Halloween is more like Hallo-week

October 23, 2008 2:47 pm

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| Fun stuff to do | Holidays | Seen around town

Thanks to Melissa for that photo of her window decorations on 42nd north of Fauntleroy in Morgan Junction. You’re welcome to send us a pic of yours – and/or your jack-o-lantern – westseattleblog@yahoo.com – meantime, this gives us an excuse to remind you that the big wave of West Seattle Halloween events starts TOMORROW, continuing through this weekend, and on to the “real” Halloween in eight days. On the WSB Holidays page, you’ll find the times/locations for events for all ages, including three different sessions of business-district trick-or-treating – The Junction this Saturday, Admiral and Westwood Village on Halloween. (P.S. A recent addition is the West Seattle Helpline Fall Masquerade and Wine Tasting a week from today; RSVP by tomorrow.)

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West Seattle Crime Watch: 19-year-old arrested for alleged rape

October 23, 2008 1:41 pm

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| Crime | High Point | West Seattle news

Just posted on the new SPD Blotter site: A 17-year-old girl told police a 19-year-old “male acquaintance” had sexually assaulted her in his home in the 5900 block of High Point Drive SW (map) on Monday; she called police the next day, and they arrested the suspect for investigation of rape. (Reminder, the latest entries from SPD Blotter’s Southwest Precinct page are automatically posted on the WSB Crime Watch page.)

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West Seattle Gas Price Watch: First $2.80s sighting

October 23, 2008 1:07 pm

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| Delridge | Gas prices | West Seattle news

Minutes ago at Arco on Delridge. Down eight cents from a day earlier, down 28 cents since the time of our weekly West Seattle-wide gas-price check on Sunday night. (With most West Seattle stations now below $3 for regular, we’re notably below the AAA citywide average.) Anybody want to bet on whether it’ll go below $2.50? Or dare we wonder, even below $2? 2:23 PM UPDATE: Hopey just texted to say it’s $2.79 at Costco.

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City’s Q for you: Does the recycling program need a catchy name?

October 23, 2008 10:56 am

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| Environment | Utilities

That and other questions about the recycling/yard waste program are posed in a survey that Seattle Public Utilities hopes you will spend a moment taking. We just ran through it; a few possible slogans are offered, including Waste Not Seattle, Everyday Green, Recycling Matters, and Routine Green (or you can suggest your own). The survey starts here.

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Big day Saturday @ Chief Sealth High School: You can help

October 23, 2008 9:30 am

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

From the Chief Sealth PTSA, a confluence of events this Saturday that they’d like you to know about:

• Our adoption of Delridge Way SW, from Orchard to Brandon, through the Seattle Public Utitlies Adopt-A-Street program, which is part of our outreach efforts to the North Delrdge community while Sealth is located at Boren. In addition, we will plan to pick up litter on the school grounds and on other neighborhood streets within a 1-2 block radius of the school

• Make a Difference Day – We would like this to be a new PTSA tradition that we participate in each year

• The Teacher & Staff Wishlist program that we launched this school year. We are midway through fulfilling their request to make the teacher & staff lounge at Boren more friendly. Phase 1 was a furniture placement re-design in the space; Phase 2 is painting the walls (part of our event on 10/25); Phase 3 is decoration & finishing touches. We are working with a wonderful West Seattle designer, Gwen Williams of Space Transform

Volunteers are still needed for the Saturday 10/25 event, which starts at 10 am and finishes with a free lunch for volunteers when the work is done (around 1 pm). Chief Sealth students who participate will earn service learning hours. All materials and equipment will be provided. Contact PTSA president Leslie
Menstell: president@chiefsealthptsa.org

See the flyer here. Side note: Friday night is the big annual Chief Sealth vs. West Seattle HS “Huling Bowl” football game; we’ll be live-tweeting it (and reporting afterward) as we did with WSHS-Rainier Beach last week.

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Happening today/tonight: LOTS of options, from wine to design

October 23, 2008 8:05 am

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| Development | West Seattle news | WS beverages

It’s all on the WSB Events calendar, but for extra emphasis, a few highlights: West Seattle Democratic Women lunch; first in-store wine-tasting at Thriftway; Design Review for The Kenney and 4106 Delridge; city Parks Board looks at West Seattle Stadium private-operator search; South Delridge/White Center Community Safety Coalition; WS Ministerial Association’s Initiative 1000 forum; Alki Idol; West Seattle Pins and Needlers. Plus two open houses: Family Promise (previewed here) and Explorer West Middle School. For times/places/links, just go here. ADDED: Seattle Lutheran High School has an open house tonight too, 6:30-8 pm in the gym, on Genesee east of 42nd.

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Update: Alki Statue of Liberty brick-cleaning quest

October 23, 2008 6:03 am

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| Alki Statue of Liberty | West Seattle news | West Seattle parks

David Hutchinson from the Seattle (Alki) Statue of Liberty Plaza Project sends an update on the “brick legibility problem” (previous report here): He says the city Parks Department has been investigating methods for “safely removing the calcium deposits that have formed on about 100 of the 1,500 inscribed pavers.” The photos at left show the results of a white-vinegar cleaning method that was tested – for spot-cleaning, it looks “encouraging,” but an evaluation by a professional cleaning company subsequently suggested it wouldn’t be appropriate for the large-scale plaza cleaning Parks wants to do initially. He explains, “It is not possible to use many of the standard cleaning methods for ordinary masonry products in this situation due to the nature of the engraved inscriptions.” So the tests continue – as do the sales of additional pavers (through 12/31/08; order info is available at sealady.org) to be placed next spring or summer, probably “in the east and west paths and in the brick landings of the stairs.”