West Seattle, Washington

18 Thursday

37℉

month : 06/2009 442 results

Got “e-waste”? Take it to Metropolitan Market in Admiral
June 27, 2009 9:24 am
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   Environment | West Seattle news

At the three-day Wellness Fair continuing today and tomorrow at Metropolitan Market, one of the highlights is e-waste collection: Laptops, cell phones, TVs, computer monitors and computer towers will be accepted free, but there’s a $5 charge for printers, fax machines and VCRs/DVD players. 11 am-6 pm; more info here.

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Happening today: Westwood Village Street Fair (and more)
June 27, 2009 9:15 am
|    Comments Off on Happening today: Westwood Village Street Fair (and more)
 |   Fun stuff to do | West Seattle festivals | West Seattle news | Westwood

11 am-7 pm today, Westwood Village transforms into more than a shopping center – community groups and entertainers join its merchants for a daylong Street Fair. QFC‘s offering a free Salmon Bake, Wyatt’s Jewelers (a new WSB sponsor) is among the merchants offering raffles, live music starts in the late afternoon, family fun goes all day including Clifford the Big Red Dog at 11 am, free child-protection kits are available … see more on the schedule here. You can help other families, too, by donating diapers to WestSide Baby, which will be on site too (a prelude to next month’s huge annual Stuff the Bus diaper drive July 19th at West Seattle Farmers’ Market). Much of today’s activity will be in the parking lot area bounded by Bed Bath and Beyond to the north and businesses from Eats Market Cafe to Pier 1 Imports on the east; that’s where we’ll be too, reporting “live” from the WSB table all day – hope to see you there. A full slate of events around the rest of the peninsula too – the West Seattle Weekend Lineup lists all the highlights.

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Another reminder: Viaduct closed, bus changes, other alerts
June 27, 2009 5:31 am
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   Alaskan Way Viaduct | Transportation

One more reminder: The Alaskan Way Viaduct is closed for most of the day because of the Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon; other events elsewhere in the city are having traffic effects; and it’s all resulting in bus changes too. (The expected closure times for The Viaduct have varied, so we’ll monitor it throughout the day and post updates here, on Twitter, and on Facebook when we get word it’s reopened.)

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Delridge’s new playground: Site prep starts; 60 volunteers to go!
June 27, 2009 4:07 am
|      1 COMMENT
 |   Delridge | How to help | West Seattle news

In three weeks, volunteers will swarm that site at the Delridge Community Center to build a brand-new playground in one day. Thanks to Holli Margell for e-mailing photos and the announcement that the old playground’s been removed, site prep has begun, and now one big task remains before playground-building day: 60 more volunteers are needed to sign up ASAP —

Help build a playground!

When: JULY 17th, 8 AM – 2:30 PM, Rain or Shine!
Where: Delridge Community Center, 4501 Delridge Way

We need 60 more volunteers to build a new playground for our neighborhood! Volunteers MUST register by July 2nd by sending e-mail to helpdelridgeplay@gmail.com or by calling Chris at 206.499.3733. Playground sponsored by the Bank of America Charitable Foundation with help from Seattle Parks and Recreation and the North Delridge Neighborhood Council.

Some kids just can’t wait – like Holli’s son Cooper, shown here watching the site-prep work:

To catch up on how the playground project has progressed over the past two-plus months, check our coverage archive here, newest to oldest.

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Video: West Side Music Academy’s Pop Rox at Easy Street
June 26, 2009 11:19 pm
|      5 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle video | WS culture/arts

When Mike e-mailed to share the news about West Side Music Academy “Girl Band” students performing tonight at a special all-ages Easy Street After Hours in The Junction (here’s our preview), we knew we’d want to share a bit of the show – so here you go – Pop Rox at Easy Street: Danielle Howard, Annie Murphy, Olivia Norberg, Maryellen Fleming, Oly Mosely and Erica Schwartz.

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Also this weekend: Sound Steps/Seafair Half-Marathon walk for 50+
June 26, 2009 9:59 pm
|    Comments Off on Also this weekend: Sound Steps/Seafair Half-Marathon walk for 50+
 |   Fun stuff to do | Health | Not WS but we're mentioning it anyway

This isn’t on the list of citywide road-closing events – and it’s not in West Seattle – but Admiral resident Dennis Ross suggested more of West Seattle’s 50+ residents might want to know about it, so here’s info he shared about a half-marathon walk around Lake Union this Sunday, part of Seattle Parks’ Sound Steps program, the Northwest Senior Games and Seafair:

Sunday, June 28th — 7:00 am arrival and registration, — 7:30 am walk

Event information: — 13.1 mile walk looping twice around Lake Union. Event includes water/snack stations, live music along the way, prizes and special athletic T-shirts (while supplies last). Invite your family and friends to walk with you or to cheer you on.

Contact Mari Becker — (206)-684-4554 or e-mail sound.steps@seattle.gov

Location: Start/Finish Gas Works Park on the north side of Lake Union, 2101 N. Northlake Way (map)

Sound Steps is a Seattle Parks and Recreation walking program for adults age 50+. The Sound Steps program includes ongoing weekly walking groups and special events for active older adults.

Northwest Senior Games represents five cities in King County that specialize in recreation and community services for adults 50+.

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Seattle Open swim meet continues tomorrow at Colman Pool
June 26, 2009 6:12 pm
|      6 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | WS & Sports

Thanks to Cindy McComish for that photo from Colman Pool at Lincoln Park, where the Seattle Open swim meet continues through tomorrow (replacing the regular public swimming schedule). Cindy writes, “Congratulations to all the swimmers who work hard to qualify to be in this meet. Come watch youth from western Washington go fast!” (She’s parent to a West Seattle YMCA [WSB sponsor] Dolphin swimmer.)

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8 days till July 4th: Rules for fireworks, and where to see them
June 26, 2009 5:09 pm
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   Holidays | Safety | West Seattle news | White Center

Driving through White Center this afternoon, we noticed fireworks stands like that one set up in a few spots. In unincorporated King County and the few other places where personal fireworks are still legal, they go on sale at noon Sunday, but you’re only allowed to use them 9 am-midnight on July 4th (except for Normandy Park, where the use period is the same as the sales period). Here’s the full King County list of fireworks rules – note they are banned in Seattle and in Burien, which is relevant to part of White Center, since that means a change if the “North Highline South Annexation” proposal passes in the August 18th election. And if somehow you haven’t heard, reminder, NO Elliott Bay fireworks on the Fourth, since Ivar’s canceled them; if you’re still trying to decide where to go instead, here’s the full statewide list of fireworks shows.

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West Side Music Academy students play Easy Street tonight
June 26, 2009 4:33 pm
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   Fun stuff to do | West Seattle news | WS culture/arts

It’s on our latest West Seattle Weekend Lineup – but we got extra details courtesy of Mike – good thing tonight’s Easy Street After Hours is “all ages” because the lineup includes 9- and 10-year-old musicians! The West Side Music Academy Girl Band is from a class that’s described on the WSMA website this way:

This class is designed for the experienced girl rocker who likes a challenge. This 5 day class includes playing several instruments, working with peers, rehearsing songs, and preparing for a real rock show at the end of the week. SO FUN!

So come cheer them on, during the 9 pm “Easy Street After Hours” show tonight (also with Exploding High Fives and Black Swedes, $5 cover). 5:29 PM P.S. – Mike adds that the WSMA band performing tonight is called Pop Rox and its members are 9-12 years old: “This is the culmination of the last five days of hard rocking by Danielle Howard, Annie Murphy, Olivia Norberg, Maryellen Fleming, Oly Mosely and Erica Schwartz.”

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4 benches, 1 neighborhood success story: Ceremony tomorrow
June 26, 2009 2:34 pm
|      16 COMMENTS
 |   Development | West Seattle news

That’s one of four benches that are being installed this afternoon in front of the new loft-townhouse development at 1716 California SW (map). The benches, and the open-space easement they represent, will be at the heart of a celebration tomorrow morning, because of the neighborhood success story they represent, something we’ve told you a bit about before: In March of last year, we wrote about nearby residents’ concerns about whether the development would honor open-space easement requirements linked to a onetime Seattle City Light substation site on the property. Over the ensuing months, a plan was worked out, and we got final word recently from author/historian Clay Eals, who lives nearby; we didn’t shoot a closeup of the inscription on the benches, but he shared the text:

OPEN SPACE FOR ALL

Enjoy these benches for a brief respite. Thanks to the City of Seattle and to the owner of the project that replaced the City Light substation on this site, this 100-foot frontage strip is an easement for public use from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily through May 2026.

This open space is privately owned and maintained. Please pick up any stray items when you leave. Palm Avenue neighbors thank you!

As our 3/08 report noted, City Councilmembers got involved too, and one of them – Councilmember Jean Godden (described by Eals as “our champion to insure that a public easement was included in the sale documents”) – is expected to speak at tomorrow morning’s official unveiling of the benches. You’re welcome too – 10 am, out front at 1716 California SW, across from Park West.

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Have a “Field Day”: Hams need you in West Seattle this weekend
June 26, 2009 1:40 pm
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   Fun stuff to do | How to help | Puget Ridge | West Seattle news

fieldday.jpg

That’s one of our photos from last year’s “Field Day” with ham-radio operators set up in the field on the south side of the South Seattle Community College campus on West Seattle’s Puget Ridge. They’ve always been open to having you stop by and see what their exercise is all about each year – but this time around, they’re ENCOURAGING you to visit – Jeff Cacy explains why:

Ham Radio operators will be operating a radio station from the field just south of South Seattle Community College. The event runs from 11:00 am Saturday to 11:00 am Sunday. You can’t miss us – we are in the big tent in the field by the south parking lot.

We need your help to stop by and participate in our simulated emergency. This event is put on by the Auxiliary Communication Service of the City of Seattle and we will be operating our radios from solar panels, batteries and generators.

If you are in any way interested in emergency preparedness (and you should be here in earthquake and winter-storm country) or in radio communication, please stop by. We will be operating all night, so there is no reason to let your schedule or mistaken need for sleep stop you.

This special event is called Field Day. It happens each year in June and is in the form of a contest where we see how many stations we can talk to in 24 hours. Thousands of similar stations all around the country have moved radios and batteries out in the field and erected various forms of antennas for the event. We will have a digital station, voice and satellite communications, plus some others as more people bring out their radios. You might be talking through a satellite as we will have a mobile satellite station set up as well – it all depends on the passes of the low-earth orbiting satellites we use, but there are dozens to choose from.

One of the parts of the contest is have people like you come by and try out our radios – we will coach you through and all you need is to put on some headphones and squeeze a microphone to talk to another station anywhere in the US or Canada. We need at least 20 people to stop by and participate to get some bonus points in the contest. We also need some public officials to stop by, so if you know of any in West Seattle, we sure hope to see them (I can think of several…).

Any ham radio operators who might not have been active in a while are also encouraged to stop by anytime in the 24 hour period.

Call Curt Black – 206 755-4541 for more information or more encouragement. You are allowed to feed the operators, so feel free to bring some life support, but please no alcohol since we are on South Seattle Community College property.

Hope to see everyone there!

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West Seattle Easy Street marquee memorializing Michael Jackson
June 26, 2009 1:20 pm
|      12 COMMENTS
 |   Seen around town | West Seattle businesses

Just spotted while driving through The Junction.

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Rotary Club of West Seattle’s summer berry sale starts today!
June 26, 2009 12:06 pm
|    Comments Off on Rotary Club of West Seattle’s summer berry sale starts today!
 |   West Seattle news

It’s a West Seattle summer tradition – the Rotary Club of West Seattle‘s annual berry sale – and it starts today with strawberries. Even if you haven’t placed an advance order, you should be able to buy some on the spot (we’re told they “ordered extras”) – look for the truck in the south parking lot of Admiral Safeway, 2-6 pm today and 9 am-3 pm Saturday. (If you’ve placed an advance order, be sure to pick it up no later than 2 pm Saturday.) You can also order raspberries and blueberries (July pickup dates) through the Rotary Club’s website right now.

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West Seattle Weekend Lineup: Your 1st full weekend of summer
June 26, 2009 11:56 am
|    Comments Off on West Seattle Weekend Lineup: Your 1st full weekend of summer
 |   Fun stuff to do | WS culture/arts | WS Weekend Lineup

wswllicon3.pngDaunted by that list of road closures elsewhere in the city (including The Viaduct on Saturday)? No worries – no need to leave West Seattle this weekend, with a slate of activities including the Westwood Village Street Fair on Saturday (come see us at the WSB table!) and the West Seattle Farmers’ Market 10th anniversary celebration on Sunday (including WSB sponsor Square 1 Books‘ tent sale at The Market and free berry sundaes!), lots of indoor and outdoor live music (including an all-ages Easy Street After Hours tonight) … more than 40 events ahead in the full West Seattle Weekend Lineup, brought to you by Skylark Cafe and Club:Read More

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New help for West Seattle’s Log House Museum
June 26, 2009 10:06 am
|    Comments Off on New help for West Seattle’s Log House Museum
 |   West Seattle history | West Seattle news


View Larger Map

It’s home to so much West Seattle history – cared for with the help of volunteers and donations – all in a historic-by-itself log house on Alki. Now the Log House Museum has announced it’s been awarded some vital assistance in caring for its collection – read on for the news release:Read More

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More than just The Viaduct closing: Weekend citywide traffic alerts
June 26, 2009 6:30 am
|      9 COMMENTS
 |   Alaskan Way Viaduct | Transportation

Though our big street-closing festival is still two weeks away (West Seattle Summer Fest, July 10-11-12), much of the rest of the city has so much going on this weekend, we’re sharing the official SDOT advisory. Top of the list of what might affect you will be the Saturday Alaskan Way Viaduct closures for the Rock ‘N’ Roll Marathon – this advisory amends the hours a bit – see what else is up; read on:Read More

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Happening tonight: Junction music with a survival story
June 26, 2009 4:36 am
|      5 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle people | WS culture/arts

Playing Talarico’s tonight, a West Seattle musician who’s battled his way back from a serious injury.

By Jonathan Stumpf
Reporting for West Seattle Blog

Trevor Ras knows a little something about perseverance.

Three years ago, this West Seattle resident and musician went out surfing in Huntington Beach, Calif., and twenty-four hours later landed in the hospital with a fractured vertebrae. “When I got out of the hospital five days later,” Ras said, “everything had changed for me at that point. I was in pain everywhere. The next six months, that was the real test.”

His life up until that fateful day?

Read More

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From partner site White Center Now: Crime update, and more
June 26, 2009 1:36 am
|    Comments Off on From partner site White Center Now: Crime update, and more
 |   Crime | Delridge | Safety | White Center

Just published at White Center Now, our roundup from Thursday night’s South Delridge/White Center Community Safety Coalition meeting. The headlines: Crime’s not the same on both sides of the line; White Center’s getting a walking map; and the group bids one of its leaders goodbye. Story and photos here.

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West Seattle writer’s musing on Michael Jackson’s death
June 25, 2009 9:07 pm
|      25 COMMENTS
 |   Not WS but we're mentioning it anyway | West Seattle news

Just last night, we mentioned that West Seattle writer Georgie Bright Kunkel is planning another presentation involving her group of local “Rosie the Riveters.” Tonight – Georgie just sent something she wrote after the news of Michael Jackson‘s death (which hasn’t been WSB main-page fodder till now, but is being discussed in the WSB Forums and on the WSB Facebook page along with millions of other places on- and offline). Read on for Georgie’s unique remembrance (which explains the photo above):Read More

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Update: City Council’s three-topic “town hall” in Fauntleroy
June 25, 2009 8:20 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   Fauntleroy | West Seattle news | West Seattle politics

We’re at The Hall at Fauntleroy, where City Council President Richard Conlin is one of four councilmembers here (with Tim Burgess, Nick Licata and Sally Clark) for the “town hall” meeting tackling three topics: Youth violence, public schools, and tree protection. The latter is one of his signature issues, so our photo shows him facilitating one of the small-group discussions into which the meeting has split. Almost 100 people are here, and we’re in the second round of small groups – based on a show of attendee interest, each small-group round has had two groups talking about youth violence, one about schools, one about trees. The facilitators are asking participants for their ideas regarding those issues – and after this round of discussions is over, we’ll all hear brief reports on those ideas; we’ll add a summary here later, and “what happens next” – the gathering is scheduled to continue till 9. After sitting in on the tree conversation, we’re now in a youth-violence session; in both, participants have announced themselves as being from other areas of the city – this is the only council “town hall” south of the Ship Canal this time around, and we’ve heard from people so far who are here from Beacon Hill and Rainier Beach, among other areas (a few from the north end too – Capitol Hill and Magnolia). 8:58 PM UPDATE: The meeting has wrapped up. Will add the toplines soon. 11:35 PM UPDATE: Read on for our full report:Read More

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West Seattle coyote: “On his way to belly up to his buffet line”?
June 25, 2009 5:22 pm
|      15 COMMENTS
 |   Coyotes | West Seattle news | Wildlife

First coyote report in a while – Robert writes:

I took this shot of a brave coyote in my driveway, abutting the south side of Schmitz Park, this afternoon about 12:30 PM. He sure seemed confident while making his way to my trash can, as if he was on his way to belly up to his buffet line. Owners of small dogs and cats might want to take notice.

Our previously received coyote reports (some including photos/video) are all archived here, newest to oldest. Not sure what to do to coexist peacefully with them (as advocated by authorities)? Here’s a story we did last year.

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New sponsor: Kayle Shulenberger, Speech Language Pathologist
June 25, 2009 4:16 pm
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle businesses | West Seattle online

Today we’re welcoming a new WSB sponsor, Kayle Shulenberger, MA-CCC-SLP, Licensed Speech Language Pathologist. Kayle has recently moved her office from the University District to West Seattle and she’s available to see children in their homes. If you have a child with speech production disorders and language delay, Kayle has a few openings for new clients right now.

Kayle has been in private practice for the majority of her career. She’s also had experience in schools, hospitals, nursing homes and as a clinical supervisor at Western Washington University. Her references are available upon request and she’s received positive reviews on Yelp. Also, Kayle bills Premera, Regence and Aetna insurance companies for covered speech pathology services. You’ll find her online – with contact information – at kaylespeech.com.

Thanks to Kayle Shulenberger, Licensed Speech Language Pathologist for supporting 24/7 community news/information/discussion by sponsoring WSB; our full sponsor lineup, and info on how to become part of it, is on our Advertise! page.

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West Seattle Crime Watch: Another car-on-blocks case
June 25, 2009 1:53 pm
|      6 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | Highland Park | West Seattle news

From Colin at 15th SW/Holden in Highland Park (map):

My roommate had his car’s wheels and rims stolen last night on 15th ave SW during some point of the evening. Woke up in the morning and found the car on blocks, looks like it’s very professionally done, no neighbors heard anything though we lived on a packed street. Keep your eyes open at night, looks like some serious tire/rim thieves are on the loose.

Reminder – the South Delridge/White Center Community Safety Coalition (whose turf includes part of Highland Park) meets tonight, 6 pm, St. James Place, 9421 18th SW (map).

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