day : 19/01/2010 10 results

Tonight, the boys – Chief Sealth High School edged West Seattle High School in varsity basketball, 37-36. (We tweeted it as-it-happened at @wsblive.) ADDED 10:35 PM: In our video clip, that’s the Seahawks’ Keon Lewis who picked up the shooting foul off West Seattle’s LeTrey Newsome with only one second on the clock. Lewis, who was perfect at the free-throw line all night, sank his first shot to tie the game up, and then put Sealth ahead with his second shot. Read More

Beach Drive slide update: Closure planned Wednesday for SDOT work

January 19, 2010 5:39 pm

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| West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

We’ve been checking with SDOT today on the aftermath of last week’s Beach Drive slide – and just got new information from Peg Nielsen about work they’ll do tomorrow:

A portion of the southern-most slide will be removed by SDOT crews. An SDOT Urban Forestry crew will trim down a few trees on the hillside in the same general vicinity (more north) to reduce the risk to the right-of-way and Beach Drive. SDOT intends to close Beach Drive for safety purposes from 9 a.m. until the crews complete the work, which should be approximately 4 p.m. While the road is closed, a detour around the slide area will be provided from Atlas Place SW to 49th Avenue SW to SW Canada Drive. Residents will be allowed limited access. The city will continue to evaluate the condition of the slide area daily.

That southern section of the slide moved further into the roadway yesterday, according to a photo a WSB’er sent us (above). We also asked SDOT a question we were asked via Facebook: Are they evaluating the slide zone to see if anything related to development upslope might have factored into this and resulted in property owner liability? Nielsen’s reply:

SDOT’s focus now is to safeguard public and private property. We are, however, documenting the situation while waiting for a geotechnical report that will recommend the best ways to stabilize the slope.

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Southwest Precinct commander joins SPD Chief Search Committee

January 19, 2010 4:39 pm

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| West Seattle news | West Seattle police

Noted in an update just received from Mayor McGinn‘s communications director Mark Matassa (a West Seattleite) – Southwest Precinct Captain Joe Kessler is now on the Police Chief Search Committee. (The update was primarily intended to announce that the committee’s next meeting is 5:30 pm tomorrow at SPD HQ downtown. Agenda here.) P.S. Side note – If you have crime concerns to bring to SW Precinct leadership, tonight’s your chance, as the West Seattle Crime Prevention Council meets at the precinct, 7 pm.

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New Alaskan Way Viaduct report: Tunnel tolls up to $3.50?

January 19, 2010 4:07 pm

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| Alaskan Way Viaduct | Transportation

Some new info out today from the Alaskan Way Viaduct project team. They’re out with a new report about the tunnel project’s projected cost, as well as potential tolls. The report is here; among the highlights, they say they’d charge different tolls for different times of day, potentially $3.50 during peak commute hours. Read on for the news release with toplines; the report’s also been summarized by our partners at the Seattle Times. (One of its points, the new alignment for the tunnel’s south end, was reported during the South Portal Working Group meeting covered here last month.)Read More

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More West Seattle help for Haiti: Yoga; Skylark joins dining benefit

January 19, 2010 4:02 pm

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| Health | How to help | West Seattle news

Just in from 8 Limbs Yoga in The Junction, a Haiti relief benefit class this Friday, all levels, Flow with Amelia, 5:45-7 pm, all drop-in class payments go to Doctors Without Borders – checks made out to DWB, or cash. Other ongoing fundraisers are listed here (you can find that page any time from the top of the sidebar at right). ADDED 4:28 PM: And we have word that Skylark Cafe and Club (WSB sponsor) has joined the Jan. 24 Dine Out for Haiti benefit, with a percentage of proceeds to relief efforts; La Rustica is also in on it.

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Officer McKissack speaks as police push for “catastrophic” benefits

January 19, 2010 1:10 pm

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| West Seattle news | West Seattle police

1:10 PM: We are in SODO at Seattle Police Officers Guild HQ – with a room full of law enforcement officers from all over the area, and at the table in front of the room, former Southwest Precinct SPD Officer Jason McKissack (blue T-shirt), whose loss of medical benefits – since he cannot work following a vicious attack a year and a half ago – is triggering a campaign for legislation. Who else is here, is amazing. Officer Britt Sweeney, who survived the attack that killed SPD Officer Tim Brenton; Officer Brenton’s widow is here as well. “Call your legislators today,” Renee Maher, a law-enforcement advocate and police widow, is saying, re: HB 1679. 1:23 PM: Officer McKissack has just spoken. He says the city’s letter arrived just last Thursday, informing him of “medical separation,” and the hardest part was seeing his wife break down and cry. He also said it’s been tough to be off the job as he watched the recent officer murders – he feels like a “caged tiger,” wanting to do something: (video added 2:48 pm)

He also said the timing is unfortunate – he has found new medical treatment that may help him get better. Regarding the bill, advocates here say there are only six public-safety personnel statewide in the past 30-plus years who qualified as “catastrophically injured” and would be affected by this bill – Officer McKissack has not yet received that determination. (added 2 pm – his description of what he’s been coping with while trying to recover)

The Seattle Police Officers’ Guild also reiterates that they are accepting donations for his expenses through their fund. (The address is on this page on the SPOG site, with more information about the bill.) They also are “taking up other ideas on fundraising,” they say, and will have more on that in the weeks ahead. 5:30 PM UPDATE: Reminder, regarding fundraising: Two local karaoke hosts have stepped up for starters. Joe at Yen Wor announced on Facebook that he’s raising money for Officer McKissack’s fund Wednesday night at 9:30, and Willie Murderface announced in comments here last night that he is collecting for the fund this Saturday night at Goldie’s in Georgetown (WMF is a West Seattleite).

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Seattle Public Schools’ new assignment plan: More transition talk

January 19, 2010 12:29 pm

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| West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

Tomorrow night, the Seattle School Board continues working on the next step in the new Student Assignment Plan – how to start the transition this fall, from a focus on “tell us what school you’d like to attend” to “your default assignment is a ‘neighborhood school’.” Some of the thorniest issues – like “sibling grandfathering” – are part of the transition, and the fine points highlighted West Seattle school board rep Steve Sundquist‘s open-door community chat this weekend. Read on for the discussion, plus the reason why he says he won’t be able to propose that some elementaries be “dual feeders” as he had hoped:Read More

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Update on next month’s West Seattle Preschool Fair

January 19, 2010 10:58 am

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| West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

Last month, we brought you early word of the West Seattle Preschool Fair that’s in the works for next month. More details are firmed up now: 12 programs are registered to participate in the event, and they have room for a few more (e-mail jenelle.forde@soundchildcare.org). The location is now set: 5:30-8:30 pm February 22, St. John the Baptist Episcopal Church (3050 California SW); in addition to the chance to talk with representatives of participating preschool programs, they’re also offering the Families Read Workshop during the Preschool Fair (6-7:30 pm that night) to help parents gain skills in promoting child literacy – space is limited (child care will be provided) and advance registration is required – same e-mail address as above, or call (206) 518-0261.

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Followup: Remembering West Seattle Cellars’ Bear Silverstein

January 19, 2010 10:25 am

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| West Seattle news | West Seattle people

The West Seattle Cellars website now includes a tribute to shop co-owner Bear Silverstein, who died last week. We’re still getting notes from people who are just finding out; we had a short report on Thursday and have since talked with WSC’s Tom DiStefano. The memorial display was up when we stopped by the shop to ask him about his favorite memory of Bear:

Bear died of complications from multiple strokes. The Caring Bridge website that pays tribute to him says details of a memorial are still being worked out; WSC, meantime, invites people to “raise a glass and make a toast” in his memory.

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Today/tonight: Self-defense; crime-fighting; belly dancing; more

January 19, 2010 7:20 am

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| West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Sunrise photo by Carter, substituted 8:52 am for previous WSB pic)
FREE SELF-DEFENSE CLASS: The Senior Center of West Seattle is the site today of the latest in a citywide series of self-defense classes, taught by martial artists and supported by the Looking Out Foundation, Indigo Girls, and Compass Center, for the Fight the Fear Campaign, honoring the memory of Teresa Butz, killed in South Park last summer. The class is from 1-2 pm; preregistration is requested (206-932-4044) but drop-ins are OK.

SUSTAINABLE WEST SEATTLE: The Senior Center is also where SWS meets tonight, electing Coordinating Council members and hearing from new City Councilmember Mike O’Brien – more here; meeting’s at 7.

WEST SEATTLE CRIME PREVENTION COUNCIL: Also at 7, WSCPC meets at the Southwest Precinct, with an agenda including SPD’s Traffic Unit talking about issues including red-light cameras; this is also your chance to hear directly from SW Precinct police leadership about the latest West Seattle crime trends.

SCHOOL OPEN HOUSES: The open houses/tours season gets into full swing, starting with tonight’s open house at 6:30 pm at Lafayette Elementary (previewed here, with a schedule of events). Tonight’s also open-house night at The Center School (as noted in this WSB Forums post). The citywide list of Seattle Public Schools tours/open houses is here; independent schools’ tours are listed on the WSB Events page as announced.

ALAUDA BELLY-DANCING SHOWCASE: The popular monthly event is tonight at 7:30 at Skylark Cafe and Club (WSB sponsor), after the Spin Your Wax open-turntable session at 6 pm.

WESTSIDE SYMPHONETTE REHEARSALS: It’s the second week of the new season for this community orchestra, but you can still join – here’s our preview from last week – same times/location apply tonight.

NEIGHBORHOOD SERVICE CENTER FURLOUGH CLOSURES: The Southwest and Delridge Neighborhood Service Centers are closed today for a scheduled furlough day for all NSCs (this is NOT a city-government-wide furlough day – individual departments have their own schedules).

WEST SEATTLE LITTLE LEAGUE REGISTRATION: The 2nd registration night is tonight, 6:30 pm, West Seattle High School. Full details and the registration form can be found here.

More West Seattle events today/tonight/beyond, here.

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