Video: Total Experience Gospel Choir at Alki Elementary
Thanks to Alki Elementary for letting WSB share this afternoon’s Black History Month assembly, starring Pastor Pat Wright and members of Seattle’s world-famous Total Experience Gospel Choir. (They’re practically a West Seattle institution, since, as noted in our Kenyon Hall article two weeks ago, they rehearse at KH every week.) With Alki students watching, enrapt, from the floor — sometimes singing and clapping, too — the singers filled the cafeteria with joyful tunes, and then a surprise in the middle of “Reach Out and Touch Somebody’s Hand” — as choir members did exactly that, fanning out through the crowd:
Find out more about the Total Experience Gospel Choir (members “10 to 65 years old,” as mentioned today) at its website.
West Seattle school update: New principal for Sanislo Elementary
The communications team at Seattle Public Schools tells us they’re not formally announcing districtwide principal changes till Monday, most of which result from last week’s school closure/change vote and other “capacity management” decisions made in the past few months, but we have confirmation tonight 
of one change affecting a West Seattle school: Sanislo Elementary principal Debbie Nelsen is going to lead the new Jane Addams K-8 school in the north end; Ernie Seevers, who has been at AS #1 Pinehurst, is coming to Sanislo. A letter is going home to Sanislo families today; we’ve just received a copy. See it here; the letter says the change will take effect July 1st. Other reported changes are being discussed in this comment thread on saveseattleschools.blogspot.com, including one that affects West Seattle families of students in the elementary APP (top-level gifted) program — Lowell Elementary principal Julie Breidenbach reportedly will become principal of the school to which West Seattle-area APP students will be redirected next year, Thurgood Marshall.
WSB FYI: A survey with questions about us, isn’t being done by us
It’s come to our attention (thanks!) that a phone survey under way in West Seattle right now includes questions about WSB — apparently, what you like, and what you don’t like. Just to make you sure know, in case your phone rings, this survey is NOT being done BY us. 
We prefer to have direct contact with you, from you, any time you have something to say. But in case there IS something you’ve been meaning to tell us you DON’T like – DO like – or would like to see – let us renew our invitation: Call us, e-mail us, text us, send us a tweet, send us a Facebook message, OR send us good-old-fashioned postal mail, any time, 24/7/365. (This page has all our contact info for all those methods.) Or leave a comment on this post! Almost every improvement we’ve put in place here in the past few years has been in direct response to suggestions, requests, complaints, and we’re working on more upgrades/additions even as we speak. Thanks again for making WSB West Seattle’s most-read community-news source (1.5 million pageviews in the past two months alone, with at least 17,000 homes/businesses checking in at least once a week) – although it’s not “being read” that we find most exciting – it’s collaborating with you – to find and share West Seattle news/information.
West Seattle Hi-Yu float is almost homeless: Can you help ASAP?
One month ago, we brought you an update from the West Seattle Hi-Yu Festival leadership, seeking new storage space for their float – which represents West Seattle in parades around the region. Today, Hi-Yu’s Carol Winston e-mailed to say that while they’ve gotten some “leads,” they’re out of time – the float MUST be out of its temporary storage space TOMORROW. Here’s what Carol says they’re looking for:
We need a secure area that can park our 24’ trailer with float vehicle on top. Ideally an enclosed site, such as warehouse space, large garage, etc. would be nice, but at this point just an outside fenced space would be an answer to prayer. We need the space for a month or so, although we also have to find space to start building the float. If someone had a space that would work for both….that would be awesome! It doesn’t necessarily need to be in West Seattle, but somewhere close by would be great.
UPDATED FROM ORIGINAL POST: If you can help, here’s who to call: Hi-Yu president Tim Winston at 206-938-2088.
Welcoming a new WSB sponsor: Anytime Fitness in West Seattle
Today we’re welcoming our newest WSB sponsor, Anytime Fitness. 
Here’s what this brand-new West Seattle business would like you to know: Anytime Fitness is a 24-hour coed fitness center where members can work out any time day or night, every day of the year. A 3000-square-foot fitness boutique that opened its doors in December, this is a brand-new facility with state-of-the-art cardio equipment, weights, and a personable atmosphere. Anytime Fitness also offers 24-hour tanning and membership reciprocity among its clubs, which allows members to use any of the more than 900 clubs that are currently open in the United States, Canada, and Australia. Looking for a new fitness routine? Getting ready for that 5k? Shaping up for summer? Owners Weston Smith and Dave Preston are dedicated to assisting their members in committing to important fitness goals by providing free fitness education, highly trained staff, and a non-intimidating environment that is sure to produce results! Anytime‘s smaller, intimate atmosphere allows its members to work more closely with their trainers, 
in an efficient and convenient setting.
On Saturday, February 21st, at 2 pm, Anytime Fitness will host Valerie Waugaman, known as ‘SIREN’ of NBC’s hit television reality series, “American Gladiators” (photo right). The public is invited and admission is free. Valerie is also a professional athlete, successful business owner, and motivational speaker who will be speaking on personal success and putting on a fitness workshop. She will be available for autographs and pictures.
Anytime Fitness is located on the second floor of the new Charlestown Center at Charlestown/California (map). WSB welcomes Anytime to our sponsor lineup, listed here along with information on how to be part of it.
From Fauntleroy: New newsletter; community conversations
The latest quarterly newsletter from the Fauntleroy Community Association is now available online (via PDF, here). Some of the issues covered are ones that we’ve kept you up to date on as well, including the latest on the Washington State Ferries Long-Range Plan (newest updates here and here; our Fauntleroy coverage is all archived here). But there’s also news you may not have heard, including the latest on a traffic-calming effort along 47th between Brace Point and SW 98th, seen here in Google Street View:
View Larger Map
And the newsletter announces a series of conversations and events at Fauntleroy Church on a subject that’s so near and dear to us, we’re honored to have been asked to be part of it: “Re-creating Community in Our Day.” For six successive Wednesday nights starting February 25th, this topic will be tackled in a variety of ways, from the 2/25 kickoff screening of the acclaimed “Fauntleroy Story” documentary, to author/former city Department of Neighborhoods leader Jim Diers speaking on 3/25. (Your WSB co-publishers will be the speakers on 3/11, for the topic “the impact of media on our sense of belonging to a community.” Full list of events is on the Fauntleroy Church home page; other Fauntleroy community events are on the FCA website, including a reminder of the all-community, multi-topic meeting coming up February 18th, which will include an SDOT rep discussing the recently announced “rechannelization” of Fauntleroy Way between California and Edmunds.
West Seattle Weekend Lineup: Freebies, fun, and ways to help
First the freebies – swimming and yoga; then, the fun is all over the list, including Rainbow Bingo, baseball tryouts, a family night out for parents of diabetic children, a world-premiere musical event; and the ways to help include everything from a pancake breakfast to tea to a silent auction to “Have a Heart” haircuts — all among the more than 40 events ahead in this edition of the West Seattle Weekend Lineup (sponsored by Skylark Cafe and Club):Read More
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