day : 08/06/2010 15 results

WEDNESDAY MIDDAY UPDATES: See end of story for several updates
“It’s a kick to the schedule no one anticipated,” lamented architect Bill Fuller, as he and Safeway’s Sara Corn revealed a brand-new development in the timetable for building the new Admiral Safeway. As they started a scheduled briefing tonight for the Admiral Neighborhood Association, they said they’d just found out today that the City Council will not consider the required “alley vacation” until July 27th. Even if it wins approval, Safeway then must give workers a month’s notice, and so they’re now projecting the store won’t close till early September. More on tonight’s briefing, including a request for your opinion, ahead:Read More

You’re invited to ‘stand up’ for the Alki Homestead on July 4th

June 8, 2010 8:00 pm

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| Alki Homestead | West Seattle history | West Seattle news

(Wikimedia photo of Alki Homestead, pre-fire)
Almost a year and a half after an accidental electrical fire gutted the historic, city landmark Homestead Restaurant in Alki, it remains empty; its owner has publicized a proposal to “reconstruct” it and add other commercial buildings on the property, but has not taken it to the next step of city Landmark Board approval, after an early review by its Architectural Review Committee last November. Now, the Southwest Seattle Historical Society is planning a Fourth of July event to call fresh attention to its plight – and inviting public participation in a big way. We’d gotten a few hints about it (as noted here) but tonight, the full announcement is public:

Independence Day event says ‘This Place Matters’ for Alki Homestead
Southwest Seattle Historical Society plans July 4 group photo in front of Fir Lodge

The people of Seattle will have a public opportunity to stand up for a century-old West Seattle city landmark at a mid-day rally on July 4, 2010.

The Southwest Seattle Historical Society has organized a mass photo event to take place at 1:30 p.m. Sunday, July 4, in front of Fir Lodge, the 106-year-old log structure that many have known for decades as the Alki Homestead restaurant. The building was damaged by a January 2009 fire and since then has sat vacant.

A crowd of neighbors, joined by prominent political leaders, will gather on the sidewalk and street in front of the structure at 2717 61st Ave. S.W., just a half block from Alki Beach. Participants will hold signs saying, “This Place Matters,” a slogan promoted by the National Trust for Historic Preservation. The resulting photo will be used in a poster that will be disseminated throughout Seattle and distributed widely online.

Those attending include King County Executive Dow Constantine, Seattle City Council member Tom Rasmussen and former Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels, all residents of West Seattle, and other representatives of the Seattle City Council, King County Council, and Seattle city government.

The announcement continues after the jump:Read More

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West Seattle Snowsports Council, meeting #2: How you can help

June 8, 2010 7:40 pm

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| West Seattle news | WS & Sports

Even as we await true summer, winter’s not so far away, and the new West Seattle Snowsports Council is looking ahead, with its second planning meeting tomorrow night, 6 pm at Mountain to Sound Outfitters in The Triangle. We asked Mountain to Sound’s Greg Whittaker what this meeting will focus on:

– Finding a nonprofit Fiscal Sponsor interested in partnering up with us!
– Determining the Days/Nights offering.
– Developing a registration plan.
– Determining Meeting/Dropoff location.
– Finding a Web Guru to set up a website.

The council’s mission is “creating an accessible snowsports program for West Seattle youth, and Whittaker adds, “Join if you would like to help create a community based program providing West Seattle Youth a safe reliable option to learn alpine snowsports and experience our NW Mountains!” You can find out more by calling Mountain to Sound @ 206-935-7669 (SNOW).

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Another West Seattleite seeking your vote: Robotics for all (kids)!

June 8, 2010 4:54 pm

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

(WSB photo from January 2009)
We reported twice last year on the Gatewood Elementary robotics club, coached by volunteer adviser Erik Christensen. He’s got an even bigger dream now, for students all over West Seattle, so he’s entered Pepsi’s dream-funding “Refresh Everything” contest, asking for your vote. We asked about the pitch he’d make for your vote, and here’s what he wrote back:

I have a chance to make an educational change here in West Seattle.

I am a five-year volunteer at Gatewood Elementary. For the last three years I have run a robotics club that is VERY popular. This year I have expanded into Denny Middle school and want to do more. The schools I have spoken to want me to do more.

Pepsi is offering grants every month…I have asked for $250,000. If I get the grant I can install a robotics club in all of the schools in West Seattle.

I could even work to have robotics incorporated into the class, which really increases class interest and promotes the sciences.

Cast your vote at refresheverything.com (type in gatewood in the search box if you have trouble finding the page) and vote for my idea. [Direct link here]

Each elementary school and middle school could have two clubs and incorporate 16 students…possibly more.

(3 WSB links he included) West Seattle students at FIRST Robotics
Gatewood’s first team
One of the many field trips for the students

I could write a long and poetic piece about how it would be good for the kids…etc…etc. I choose to just state it in a simple way.

Thats all there is! Help me get this grant and help me give good opportunities to the students of West Seattle. Vote daily, vote frequently, vote often…please vote!

Here again is the direct link. This round of voting ends June 30th.

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Update: At least 2 with West Seattle HS ties in baseball draft today

June 8, 2010 3:00 pm

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| West Seattle news | WS & Sports

ORIGINAL 3 PM REPORT: Thanks to Mary for the tip: Today during the Major League Baseball draft, 21-year-old West Seattle High School alum Zach Varce was drafted by the New York Yankees. Zach’s a right-handed pitcher who’s been playing for the University of Portland, where he’s a junior; he was the Yankees’ 11th pick, 355th draftee overall. According to his bio on the Portland site, he sat out his senior year at WSHS with an injury. ADDED 3:20 PM: Also drafted today, 18-year-old WSHS senior shortstop Trevor Martin, by the St. Louis Cardinals, 619th draftee overall. (We’re checking the draft list for anyone else with local ties – let us know if you hear of someone!)

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West Seattle judge accused of rule-breaking re: Amanda Knox

June 8, 2010 1:53 pm

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| West Seattle news | West Seattle people

Via our citywide-news partners at the Seattle Times: A complaint has been filed against West Seattle-residing King County Superior Court Judge Michael Heavey by the Washington Commission on Judicial Conduct. The commission alleges Judge Heavey supported Amanda Knox, the West Seattle-raised college student convicted of murder in Italy, in ways that broke state judicial-conduct rules. Here’s the announcement (PDF download from the Times’ site), which alleges:

Judge Heavey is charged with violating Canons 1, 2(A) and 2(B) of the Code of Judicial Conduct by writing letters on official court stationary to Italian judicial system officials on behalf of criminal defendant Amanda Knox, utilizing court staff to type those letters, and speaking publicly on several occasions, identifying himself as a judge, about that same pending criminal case in an attempt to influence the proceeding. Judges may not, under the Code of Judicial Conduct lend the prestige of judicial office to advance the private interests of others

According to the TImes, Judge Heavey told the Associated Press he will make a statement later. He has 3 weeks to officially answer the complaint; the full “statement of charges” is posted (PDF) on the commission’s website.

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3 more outdoor movies in West Seattle this summer!

June 8, 2010 1:29 pm

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| Fun stuff to do | West Seattle news

Coastal Boutique on Alki just announced it’s showing outdoor movies the second Saturday of each month this June, July and August, at dusk in the gravel lot next to the store. Only one of the three overlaps with the West Seattle Outdoor Movies series (co-sponsored by WSB) in The Junction, so this expands the overall summer list: This Saturday, June 12th, they’re showing “Blue Crush” (trailer above); July 10th, “Pirates of the Caribbean” (we’re guessing the first one, but checking); August 14, “Charlie’s Angels: Full Throttle” (that’s the night “Wayne’s World” is screening in The Junction). As with the Junction series, it’s bring-your-own-chair; Hansen’s Natural Soda is co-sponsoring the series and offering free soda, according to Coastal’s announcement. They’re at 2532 Alki SW.

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West Seattle Crime Watch: The newest roundup

June 8, 2010 12:26 pm

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| Crime | West Seattle news

Today’s West Seattle Crime Watch roundup starts with two cases from the inbox: Julia reported a car break-in at the Chelan Café‘s east lot Sunday morning around 11 – happened to folks in line at the restaurant next to them, she says: ” It was a newer silver SUV with very tinted windows and it sounded like the thieves got a purse and possibly some of the luggage in there. Wanted to alert people that this happened… That location is an easy spot to smash and grab and drive away on the bridge so please remind people not to leave anything valuable in their cars while parked!” Second, James just e-mailed from the 7700 block of 46th SW to say, “This morning, when showing a contractor where our cable TV runs into the house, I noticed that the screens on our basement windows were pulled off and a sloppy attempt was made to pry our windows open with what seems like a small screwdriver. This must have happened sometime in the last 2 weeks.” Meantime, we have info on 5 burglaries and 1 burglary attempt reported to West Seattle police last week, the newest cases available in the new online-access-to-some-police-reports system, now that it finally updated – read on for summaries (remember, this system has a few days’ lag – so if it happens to you, let us know, so the news will get out quicker):Read More

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Mayor, city attorney, council president all in West Seattle soon

June 8, 2010 10:32 am

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| Crime | West Seattle news | West Seattle politics

The list of city-government luminaries who are coming to West Seattle soon just got longer. The West Seattle Crime Prevention Council‘s next meeting – one week from tonight – now has City Attorney Pete Holmes on the agenda. (More on the WSCPC site.) And as noted earlier, Mayor Mike McGinn and Council President Richard Conlin are on the agenda for tomorrow night’s 34th District Democrats meeting, along with Councilmember Bruce Harrell. After that, Conlin, Harrell and Councilmember Mike O’Brien return to West Seattle next week, for a special evening joint meeting of two council committees (handling energy, technology, utilities, and neighborhoods). The agenda’s not online for that meeting yet but it’s at Chief Sealth/Boren on Thursday, June 17th, starting with a resource fair at 5 pm, followed by the committee meeting at 6, public comment at 7.

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State of the whales: Whale Trail presents whale talk in West Seattle

June 8, 2010 9:35 am

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| How to help | West Seattle news | Wildlife

(Photo provided by The Whale Trail; photographer: Todd Chandler of Cascadia Research)
A local whale expert who recently made worldwide news is speaking next week at the Duwamish Longhouse. Donna Sandstrom of The Whale Trail sends word that her organization is presenting Cascadia Research founder John Calambokidis‘ talk “Gray Whales and Other Large Whales of the Pacific Northwest” Thursday, June 17th, at 7 pm. Calambokidis led the necropsy on the gray whale that stranded and died at Arroyo Beach in April – that’s the necropsy that made international headlines because of the plastic trash found inside the whale. He will discuss grays as well as humpbacks and other large whales found in NW waters, with an introduction by People for Puget Sound‘s Kathy Fletcher, providing an update on “the health of Puget Sound and efforts toward its recovery,” according to the announcement. Tickets are $5 (suggested donation) and on sale online right now – go here. (And find out more about The Whale Trail by going here.)

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West Seattle Tuesday: Admiral Safeway update, SNAP class, more

June 8, 2010 8:17 am

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| West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

One day after our latest Admiral Safeway project update, you can hear from point people on the project in person during tonight’s Admiral Neighborhood Association meeting at Admiral UCC Church, 7 pm … that’s also meeting time for the Fauntleroy Community Association, at The Hall at Fauntleroy … Want to be sure you’re ready for anything? As first noted during Disaster Preparedness Month coverage, tonight’s the next free Seattle Neighborhoods Actively Prepare class in West Seattle, 6:30 pm at Delridge Library (full info here) … more on the WSB West Seattle Events calendar!

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Another school fundraiser reminder: Chief Sealth jazz/wine

June 8, 2010 7:59 am

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| West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

The mentioned-earlier Community School of West Seattle auction isn’t the only school fundraiser coming up this weekend – first previewed here in mid-May, the Chief Sealth International High School Jazz Band-benefiting Evening of Jazz and Wine Tasting is coming up this Friday night – 7-9 pm at EB Foote Winery in Burien – here’s the (updated!) flyer, with information on how to get tickets.

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Private concert (& more) up for grabs at CSWS auction Saturday

June 8, 2010 4:00 am

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| West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

As far as we can tell, Community School of West Seattle likely gets the designation “last school auction of the year” with its Flooring ’20s event this Saturday (so named because they’re blending a flapper theme with the fact they need to raise at least $20,000 to redo the school’s flooring). Items listed for live and silent auction include a private performance by Caspar Babypants (aka West Seattle-residing rocker Chris Ballew), plus, looking at the online list of items, we see it includes offerings from WSB sponsors including Fauntleroy Chiropractic and Scratch and Peck … and tons more … it’s a VERY long list. The event’s 6:30-10 pm this Saturday at the school (22nd SW and Roxbury); it’s free, with hors d’oeuvres and desserts plus a no-host bar. You can RSVP and even buy raffle tickets right on the auction site.

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Weekend followup: Northwest Senior Games in West Seattle

June 8, 2010 3:56 am

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| West Seattle news | West Seattle people | WS & Sports

(Photos by Kellie Moeller)
Look closely at the top-left section of that photo, and you’ll see what 96-year-old Fordie Ross was throwing at last Saturday’s Northwest Senior Games Track and Field events at West Seattle Stadium. Kellie Moeller from Merrill Gardens – sponsor of Saturday’s competition, and also a WSB sponsor – shared some photos, which can certainly inspire us all. Also in the shot put, 64-year-old Peggy Anderson from Bellevue:

And check out 69-year-old Fred Zapf of Issaquah in the pole vault!

Kellie adds:

These events are taking place all around the Seattle area during the month of June. These events give seniors across the state the opportunity to compete in athletic events of all disciplines. Winners will go on to compete on a national level.

The NW Senior Games website doesn’t have this year’s results up yet, but taking a peek at the 2009 list, we see Ross and Anderson both took their age divisions in shot put!

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West Seattle politics: Three 34th District candidates file on Day 1

June 8, 2010 12:27 am

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| 34th District State House 2 | West Seattle news | West Seattle politics

Monday was the first day of the official “filing week” for anyone who wants to be on the August 17th primary-election ballot. Candidates have been able to postal-mail their forms since May 21st, but online and in-person filing didn’t open till this morning. For the West Seattle (and surrounding areas)-specific races, here’s who’s filed so far: In the 34th Legislative District (map), Rep. Sharon Nelson has filed for State Senate, listing her affiliation as “Prefers Democrat Party”; for the State House Position 2 spot she’s leaving, Marcee Stone and Mike Heavey (who tweeted a photo of his online-filing moment) both filed Monday, both listing their affiliation as “Prefers Democratic Party.” (Remember, we’re in the “Top Two” primary mode now, meaning the top two vote-getters in each race advance to the Nov. 2 general election, regardless of affiliation.) The state list of “who’s filed so far” can be seen here; the King County list is here – no filings yet for the County Council District 8 seat, though at least three people have said they intend to run. We’ll update the filings nightly as the week goes on; you can also expect to hear more about this year’s elections at Wednesday night’s meeting of our area’s biggest political group, the 34th District Democrats (whose endorsements are here), 7 pm, The Hall at Fauntleroy, with the agenda so far including Mayor Mike McGinn, Council President Richard Conlin, and Councilmember Bruce Harrell.