West Seattle, Washington

18 Thursday

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day : 08/06/2009 17 results

West Seattle Crime Watch: They tried; they failed
June 8, 2009 11:53 pm
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | West Seattle news

Dropped by the Southwest Precinct tonight to leaf through reports for the past few days. Most notable trend – four attempted car thefts. There was one actual theft, too – Sunday morning just after 10:30, a man told police his 1993 Acura Integra had been stolen sometime overnight, from its parking spot in front of his residence in the 5200 block of 46th SW. But before that, four attempts elsewhere – read on:Read More

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West Seattle scenes: Fiery sunset; not-so-little goslings
June 8, 2009 9:46 pm
|      5 COMMENTS
 |   Seen at sea | West Seattle news | West Seattle weather | Wildlife

Thanks to JayDee for sharing that photo of tonight’s sunset. We saw the amazing color after leaving the Pigeon Point Neighborhood Council meeting (report to come) and wondered “where’s the fire” … JayDee’s note said “BC”; we found this link (where’s that, you ask? here’s a map). Also out of the inbox, thanks to David Hutchinson for sharing a new photo of the Canada geese he’s been chronicling this spring:

David writes:

The large family of Canada Goose goslings that have either entertained or irritated those using the strip of parks from Salty’s to Don Armeni, have made their inaugural journey from the western shores of Elliott Bay to the larger world of Puget Sound along Beach Drive. They have returned to Elliott Bay a number of times since then. At the age of just over 2 months, they still are unable to fly, so they make these trips by water. It’s getting increasingly difficult to tell the 19 young adults from the 4 adult geese that have been watching over them. Their favorite spot seems to be the fresh water source that enters the Sound at 63rd Ave SW and Beach Drive SW.

Here’s what we posted a month ago, with April and May photos.

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Next 2 festivals: Morgan Junction 6/13, Westwood Village 6/27
June 8, 2009 8:48 pm
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   Fun stuff to do | West Seattle festivals | West Seattle news | Westwood

We’ve been talking a lot about West Seattle Summer Fest – but two more major festivals are between now and then: This Saturday, it’s the Morgan Junction Community Festival, starting with the 10 am ceremony to dedicate the new Morgan Junction Park (just north of Beveridge Place Pub), continuing 11 am-6 pm with food, music and performances; the “Bite of Morgan” food offerings include Abbondanza, Caffe Ladro, Domino’s, Feedback Lounge, Kokoras Greek Grill, Tully’s and Zeeks Pizza. Entertainment will be in the park, while booths will be in the Zeeks parking lot just south. Here’s the schedule of events:

10:00 am Park Opening Ceremonies
11:00 am The Bubbleman – fun for kids, bubbles galore
11:30 am Seattle’s Own High Country 4-piece band playing Up-tempo Classic Country and Country-inspired originals
11:30 am start of sidewalk chalk art contest
12:30 pm announcement of results of sidewalk art contest
12:45 pm Primo and Friends 4-piece band playing Rock and Blues originals
1:30 pm entertainment in the park: belly dancing by “najma”
2:00 pm Soul Machinery 4-piece band playing Chicago-style Blues
3:15 pm The Slags 4-piece band playing Punk, Rock and Reggae originals
4:30 pm 4 outta 5 4-piece band playing Rock covers

Two weeks later, on June 27th, Westwood Village is having a street fair – 11 am-7 pm, with live performances, carnival games, a fashion show and food. (The shopping center also is promoting a new website address — WhereWestSeattleShops.com — which takes you to a page on its parent company’s site, including a list of its stores.) It’s free, but they’re asking that you bring donations for organizations including the West Seattle Food Bank and WestSide Baby.

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Delridge Neighborhoods District Council on June 17th: Get involved!
June 8, 2009 6:22 pm
|    Comments Off on Delridge Neighborhoods District Council on June 17th: Get involved!
 |   Announcements

So invites Ron Angeles, the city’s coordinator for the district, with this note:

In the City of Seattle, citizens are encouraged to participate in city government and one of the most effective ways of getting involved in through your District Council.

In 1987, the Seattle City Council established the District Council system as a way of soliciting input and advice from citizens on city-sponsored programs and initiatives.

Date: Wednesday, June 17th
Time: 7pm – 9pm
Location: Youngstown Cultural Arts Center
Address: 4408 Delridge Way SW (formerly old Cooper Elementary School)

This month the Delridge Neighborhoods District Council will have on its agenda a
presentation by Andrea Petzel, Senior Land Use Planner,Seattle Department of
Planning and Development on the proposed legislation to establish more backyard
cottages in Southwest Seattle. And a presentation by Erin Taylor, who is
representing the Lower Duwamish Waterway Group(LDWG), a group of partners (City of
Seattle, King County, Port of Seattle, The Boeing Company) coordinating cleanup of
the Lower Duwamish Waterway.

As customary, all Neighborhood Organizations and Groups will have an opportunity to
give reports and announcements of activities, programs, and events going on in
Delridge.

Please feel free to bring a neighbor, friend, student, co-worker…with you.

Ron

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With no Elliott Bay fireworks this year – where CAN you see some?
June 8, 2009 5:54 pm
|      7 COMMENTS
 |   Holidays | West Seattle news

We reported this more than two months ago — the Ivar’s announcement that it was canceling its annual fireworks show over Elliott Bay – the one that draws thousands to West Seattle’s north- and east-facing shores. But not everybody got the word back then; we got a question today from someone who hadn’t heard, so we’re mentioning it again: NO Elliott Bay fireworks this Fourth of July. You can sort of catch part of the Lake Union fireworks from here; not quite the same. So if you’re starting to think about the Fourth of July and wondering where you CAN see fireworks – here’s the complete statewide list (including some shows NOT on the 4th).

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“Incentives” continue, to get you to pay unpaid tickets
June 8, 2009 5:24 pm
|    Comments Off on “Incentives” continue, to get you to pay unpaid tickets
 |   Announcements

A reminder from the city:

Seattle Municipal court continues to offer citizens the opportunity to reduce outstanding debt on delinquent parking and traffic tickets through the month of June.

Time is running out for people to take advantage of this program.

In the month of May, over 5,500 parking tickets and 400 infractions that had been in collections were paid by citizens. Many of these individuals benefited from reductions of up to 40%.

More information about the program is available online at seattle.gov/courts.

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Two special city meetings headed for West Seattle
June 8, 2009 5:03 pm
|      27 COMMENTS
 |   Neighborhoods | West Seattle news

Concerned about development, quality of life, planning for our community’s future? These are two meetings you won’t want to miss. First – On June 30th, the City Council Planning, Land Use and Neighborhoods Committee chaired by Councilmember Sally Clark will meet at Youngstown Arts Center, 6 pm, for a “review and discussion of issues surrounding townhouses and other lowrise housing.” Second, just forwarded by Delridge Neighborhood District Coordinator Ron Angeles, this invite to a long-awaited Neighborhood Plan “checkup” meeting:

Please join members of the Seattle Planning Commission and the Neighborhood Planning Advisory Committee in the first of a series of two important community meetings.

These two citizen groups want to hear your thoughts. Come and tell us how your neighborhood has changed since your neighborhood plan was adopted. Your comments and input at this meeting will help the City of Seattle complete a status report that will look at how well your neighborhood plan is achieving its goals and strategies.

This first series of meetings will provide an opportunity to learn about your neighborhood plan, the projects that have been implemented, and growth and changes that have occurred since the plan was written in the late 90’s. We will explore issues such as growth, transportation, housing, economic development , basic utilities, neighborhood character, open space and parks, public services, public safety, and other issues.

July 28th: For Admiral, West Seattle Junction, Morgan Junction, Delridge, Westwood/Highland Park, Georgetown
6-8 p.m, Delridge Community Center Gym 4501 Delridge Way SW

The second meeting series, tentatively scheduled for October, will be an opportunity to review the status report.

Want to check out your Neighborhood Plan first (providing you live in an area that has one – there are West Seattle areas that don’t, such as Alki and Fauntleroy)? Go here and choose one from the pulldown menu.

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Update: City Council OK’s Restricted Parking Zone changes
June 8, 2009 4:09 pm
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   Transportation | West Seattle news

From the Seattle PostGlobe online citywide-news site: City councilmembers have approved changes in the Restricted Parking Zone rules. The amended proposal preserves the right for neighborhoods to petition for RPZ consideration. Read the PostGlobe story here. (Fauntleroy is currently the only West Seattle neighborhood with RPZ.)

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West Seattle “All-Star” nomination – and you can vote now!
June 8, 2009 3:27 pm
|    Comments Off on West Seattle “All-Star” nomination – and you can vote now!
 |   Delridge | West Seattle news | West Seattle people

Got word from the Seattle Mariners that Lara Davis at Youngstown Arts Center-based Arts Corps is one of three Northwest finalists in a recognition contest called “All-Stars Among Us,” being conducted in connection with the upcoming Major League Baseball All-Star Game in St. Louis – and voting is under way now: Here’s the official bio sent by the Mariners regarding Lara:

Lara Davis works as Community Partnership Director for Arts Corps, a non-profit
arts education program in Seattle. Davis has brought her passion and expertise
in community organizing and program development to nonprofits across Seattle
including YWCA youth programs, Seattle Young People’ s Project, AFSC
Cross-Cultural LGBTQ programs, and Pacific Science Center. Since 2003, she has
been an instrumental force at Arts Corps, helping to grow a nascent arts
education program into a nationally recognized model for delivering powerful
learning through the arts to underserved youth.

If Lara wins, she gets to go to the big game in St. Louis and get a turn in the spotlight. You can vote by going to this site – click on the Mariners’ logo and that’ll take you to the page with the three NW contenders, including Lara.

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West Seattle Summer Movies on the Wall: One unearthly change
June 8, 2009 2:20 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   Fun stuff to do | West Seattle news | West Seattle Outdoor Movies

That’s the semi-cheesy (in retrospect) original trailer for “Close Encounters of the Third Kind,” which is now on the final/final West Seattle Summer Outdoor Movies on the Wall slate (replacing the previously announced “National Treasure“), as just announced by Lora Lewis of Hotwire Coffee (WSB sponsor). So the amended final slate for the Saturday night movie series (free but bring $ for concessions and raffles benefiting nonprofits) is:

July 18 – “The Princess Bride”
July 25 – “King Kong” (1933 version)
Aug. 1 – “Footloose”
Aug. 8 – “Close Encounters of the Third Kind”
Aug. 15 – “Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl”
Aug. 22 – “Cars”

Remember no rainouts this year – if the weather turns bad, there’s a backup indoor location just steps away in the West Seattle Christian Church activity center!

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Registration open for West Seattle Soccer Club’s fall (!) season
June 8, 2009 1:25 pm
|    Comments Off on Registration open for West Seattle Soccer Club’s fall (!) season
 |   West Seattle news | WS & Sports

From Tim McMonigle with the West Seattle Soccer Club:

Thanks to all who participated in our spring soccer season. We were blessed with sunny and 70+ degree weather on each of our Sunday game days. Join us for another exciting season this fall. The WSSC serves players from 5-18 years old. The open registration period for the West Seattle Soccer Club is through June 30th.

Returning players that register by June 30th will be given priority placement on their former teams. Players that register after that date will be placed in the general pool and assigned to a team on a space available basis. Coed U7 registration will close on August 15th. To register, go to www.westseattlesoccer.org and click on the Register link on the left, then follow the instructions.

A new option this year is to order WSSC hoodies with your registration. Attached is a picture of the new hoodie [photo below], or you can view another sample on our website. The cost of the hoodie is $25 and will be added to your registration total. If you don’t have a child playing in the WSSC but would still like to order a hoodie, please send an email to the WSSC at wsscboard@gmail.com with your size. Represent WSSC proudly!

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Music notes: WS wins KEXP Hood-to-Hood; Easy Street on Twitter
June 8, 2009 12:37 pm
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle businesses | West Seattle online | WS culture/arts

WEST SEATTLE WINS KEXP HOOD-TO-HOOD: Thanks to a note from Beth, we were able to share the news here last week about the KEXP radio pledge-drive Hood-to-Hood Challenge, offering a special event to whichever neighborhood had the most pledgers by the end of the drive last Friday night. Today we get word (thanks to David for the first word, confirmed on the KEXP home page) that West Seattle won! Working now to find out (a) by how much (not sure if this is the final tally), (b) who came in second, and (c) when/where that event will happen. 4:21 PM UPDATE: (a and b) answer, $70,000+ with Ballard in second at $65K+, (c) answer, sometime in the first quarter of next year, though many details remain to be worked out.

EASY STREET RECORDS ON TWITTER: The latest West Seattle business to hop onto Twitter is the legendary music store that started in the heart of The Junction. You’ll find them at twitter.com/easystrecords. (If you “follow” us at twitter.com/westseattleblog, you know we also send word when we spot any other West Seattle business/institution turning up – over the weekend, for example, Westwood Village restaurant Eats Market Cafe got on board – twitter.com/eatsmarketcafe – other West Seattle eateries on Twitter include WSB sponsors @skylarkcafe and @caferevo.) In addition to our human-powered, interactive account at @westseattleblog, if you just want links to WSB stories, follow us at twitter.com/westseattlenews. You can also see our “tweets” and others mentioning West Seattle on the WSB Twitter page.

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Followup: What’s planned for The Porterhouse in West Seattle
June 8, 2009 11:53 am
|      14 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle restaurants

(2008 photo by Christopher Boffoli)
As first reported here last Friday, the team behind The Porterhouse – a popular alehouse/restaurant in Mount Vernon – is going to take over the Admiral District restaurant space vacated by Blackbird Bistro last fall. After our first report, we spoke with Porterhouse proprietor Silas Reynolds – turns out he’s a West Seattle native! – to find out full details of what they’re planning — read on for details:Read More

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Picking up someone at Sea-Tac? Cell-phone lot temporarily closing
June 8, 2009 11:23 am
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   Not WS but we're mentioning it anyway | Transportation

An alert today from Sea-Tac Airport: Starting tomorrow, the “cell-phone lot” — the lot where you can wait for someone to call you when they’re ready to be picked up — is closing for a month. During that time, it’ll move to a new location, slightly north of the current one, with double the room. What to do in the meantime? Parking-options info is linked from this Port of Seattle news release about the change.

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West Seattle Summer Fest: Want to show off? Step up now!
June 8, 2009 9:28 am
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle festivals | West Seattle news

3o2t9977.jpgWest Seattle’s biggest summer festival is now just a month away — West Seattle Summer Fest in The Junction, Friday 7/10 through Sunday 7/12. It’s more like a three-and-a-half-day festival, since Thursday 7/9 is the monthly Art Walk and the streets will be closed that night for setup (as well as for some pre-festival fun – we hear the Bubbleman will be out by Elliott Bay Brewery that night as he was last year – he’ll be at this Saturday’s Morgan Junction Festival too). This year’s festival will have some new elements and a different configuration; perhaps the biggest, the southernmost music stage will move to SW Alaska east of California, and the south end of the festival zone on California will be the family-fun zone, right in the section of the shopping district that most West Seattle families already know well as home to Curious Kidstuff (WSB sponsor). Besides ticketed attractions (bouncy house, slide, etc.), this area also will feature more free family fun and performances this year, according to Susan Melrose from the West Seattle Junction Association. With so many great school and youth performance groups and clubs around West Seattle, liondancetrio.jpgshe wanted to put out the call to any who might be interested in showing their stuff during Summer Fest, so it’ll have even more West Seattle flavor. If you’re involved with a school or youth group that might like a turn in the Summer Fest spotlight, contact Susan at the WSJA office (susan@wsjunction.com or 206-935-0904). Meantime, keep an eye on the Summer Fest website; as reported here last week, the full music schedule is now published there (that relocated stage by the Junction Plaza Park site – where you will find a beer garden, too – is the Alaska stage, while the one on the north end of the festival zone is the California stage). And remember Twilight Artist Collective has put out a call for Art Dive participants too – see it here. (Photos from Summer Fest 2008 – crowd shot by Christopher Boffoli, Lion Dance by TR)

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Today/tonight: RPZ vote, Pigeon Point Council, Alki Art Fair signups
June 8, 2009 6:30 am
|    Comments Off on Today/tonight: RPZ vote, Pigeon Point Council, Alki Art Fair signups
 |   Pigeon Point | Transportation | West Seattle news | WS culture/arts

RESTRICTED PARKING ZONE VOTE: The proposed changes in Restricted Parking Zones come before the City Council for a vote during its meeting at 2 this afternoon; if you have anything to say, there’s a public comment period as the meeting begins.

PIGEON POINT NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCIL: 7 pm, Cooper School cafeteria. Not sure if you’re in Pigeon Point? Boundaries are described here.

ALKI ART FAIR VENDOR SIGN-UPS: Last registration/site-selection event for next month’s popular artist showcase at the beach – 6:30-8 pm tonight at Alki Community Center.

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Alki event for The Whale Trail: “It’s not too late” for orcas
June 8, 2009 2:57 am
|    Comments Off on Alki event for The Whale Trail: “It’s not too late” for orcas
 |   How to help | West Seattle news | West Seattle video | Wildlife

A grand vision to mark 15 key whale-watching spots on our state’s inland and seacoast shores — The Whale Trail — is coming closer to reality. At one spot set for a marker, Alki, a who’s-who of marine mammal/ecology advocates gathered last night for an open house to show off the plan, including Whale Trail director Donna Sandstrom (seated in the photo below) and Kathy Fletcher from People for Puget Sound:

Sandstrom said orca extinction “will not happen on our watch … it’s not too late.” Fletcher said awareness-raising efforts like The Whale Trail are “part of the overall effort to restore Puget Sound … as an ecosystem.” She also urged people not to be fooled by the Sound’s “extraordinary beauty” — “Puget Sound is in trouble,” all the way down the food chain, which is topped by the orcas.
One of their major sources of food is salmon – Mark Sears, longtime researcher as well as resident operator of West Seattle’s Colman Pool, discussed what’s being learned about the specific salmon they prefer, and why it matters:

The importance of protecting local waterways was hammered home by Duwamish Tribe chair Cecile Hansen, who also digressed into mentioning the status of her tribe’s bid for restoration of its short-lived federal recognition:

The unifying message: It takes not just a village, but a region, to protect its whales. Sandstrom suggested “a clear vision for everyone in the room, that by 2020, we have a thriving orca population here in Puget Sound – The Whale Trail is one way we’re going to do that.” It’s not just a private effort: A state Fish and Wildlife Department rep was there, showing off the designs for new wildlife maps you’ll be able to get starting next month, and also talking with us about the WildWatch Cams (check it out – coolest link we got all weekend). So how can you help The Whale Trail get all 15 markers up by 2013 as hoped? Sandstrom mentioned a $14K state grant has just come in, but it’s matching funds, so they need contributions (including volunteer help). Contact info is on their website, which she told us will have a “donate” link soon too.

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