day : 21/06/2010 10 results

Digital story screening during FEEST potluck at Youngstown June 30th

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| Announcements

An extra-special addition to the next FEEST potluck – here’s the official announcement:

YOUTH-LED COMMUNITY DINNER AND DIGITAL STORY SCREENING AT YOUNGSTOWN

Bridges to Understanding youth-produced digital stories will screen at the youth-led Food Empowerment Education Sustainability Team (FEEST) community potluck dinner on Wednesday, June 30 at 5:45pm at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center Theatre in the Delridge neighborhood of West Seattle.

Supported by a grant from the Seattle Office of Arts and Cultural Affairs’ Youth Arts Program, the digital stories were produced by middle and high school students from throughout Seattle during their participation in Bridges’ after-school digital storytelling programs.

“Focusing on a community gardening project at Aki Kurose Middle School and service learning projects conducted by Global Visionaries in Guatemala, production of the stories gives students experience in research, writing, photography and multimedia production in addition to global awareness,” notes Bridges Program Director Tania Westby. “FEEST brings young people together to prepare and share healthy, delicious food, learn about growing food as well as provide a space for youth to become actively engaged in issues of food resources and built environment in their communities. It’s a great combination!”

The event is free of charge and open to the general public. Adults are requested to bring a prepared food item (local and organic) or drink and are asked to stay to help clean up the space. Wednesday, June 30, 5:45 pm. Youngstown Cultural Arts Theatre, 4408 Delridge Way SW, Seattle. For more information: 206.925.5301.

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North Delridge alley update: ‘It is the beginning of something’

| Delridge | How to help | West Seattle news

When we dropped by the alley behind Delridge Library this past Saturday morning, to check on the ongoing neighborhood alley cleanup, we found Karrie and Amanda toiling to make more progress (with the help of tools from the new West Seattle Tool Library!). We asked Karrie a followup question later – and received a full progress report:

It was our 3rd weekend working on the alley and we have all come to the realization that it’s a summer-long project. We originally thought we could knock it out in 2 days, but we didn’t realize just how much work it was until we dug in. Blackberries are adamant about holding their ground and the layers of garbage make me feel like an archaeologist. I do have an anthropology background so it’s kind of fun to see what we unearth, as long as it’s not too nasty.

Interesting finds so far: a decaying purse filled with syringes, couch cushions, a toilet, an active underground bee hive, a polaroid of a birthday party, enough green yarn to sew a sweater, dirty diapers and several other unmentionables. …

It is the beginning of something. Our plan now is to focus on small sections and start planting them so that people can see some reward for their hard work in the beautification sooner rather than later.

Neighbors north of our block have heard about this project and have said they want to clean up their alley now, so it’s catching on. That’s my hope. I would love to know that I could walk through any alley in Delridge/West Seattle and feel safe and see something beautiful. We are starting here, where we are.

Our block sees this alley as part of our community and we know that if we leave it to be swallowed up by weeds, brambles and litter, it’s a more attractive and hidden place for behavior that is not supportive of our community. So, we are determined to transform this particular alley into one that is safe, clean and a beautiful place to walk. It’s going to take time, clearly we have amazing neighbors who are invested in this project and who keep showing up. Bit by bit, we’ll make this happen.

And “bit by bit” of course also means person by person – here’s a photo Karrie shared, taken weekend before last, when a couple boys out for a bike ride stopped to help:

And the alley itself – though she notes, “Keep in mind, these pics are from our 2nd week into it so you cannot see the massive piles of brambles and trash we picked up the weekend prior.”

There’s also a much-tagged metal building along the alley that she says they have reported many times over, and if it isn’t handled soon, they’ll paint over the vandalism themselves. If you want to help with the ongoing alley cleanup, they’ll be in this alley (map) Saturday middays TFN, 11 am-1 pm.

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Transportation notes: Viaduct groundbreaking; South Park Bridge $

June 21, 2010 6:34 pm

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| Alaskan Way Viaduct | South Park | Transportation | West Seattle news

VIADUCT GROUNDBREAKING: The date’s set tonight for ceremonial groundbreaking on the project to replace the Alaskan Way Viaduct‘s southern mile: 2 pm Tuesday, June 29 (one week from tomorrow), at 1st Avenue South/Royal Brougham Way. This work is expected to last into late 2013. If you’ve still got questions about any or all of what’s in store for The Viaduct, the state reminds us they’ll have reps at West Seattle Summer Fest (co-sponsored by WSB) on July 9, 10, 11 in The Junction, for in-person Q/A.

SOUTH PARK BRIDGE MONEY: We reported last week that the King County Council would vote today on authority for issuing bonds to finance a $30 million contribution toward the construction of a replacement for the South Park Bridge, which will close permanently one week from Wednesday. Linda Robson from Councilmember Jan Drago‘s staff tells us the vote was unanimously in favor, 8-0; Drago herself was absent because of an out-of-state family emergency. Robson confirms that a media event is still in the works for Wednesday to discuss bridge funding – which so far includes this contribution and the $15 million Seattle City Council pledge as major components. A multi-contributor strategy is considered vital to the county’s chances of getting a federal grant; letters of intent for the grant are due in about four weeks.

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Tonight: Mariners-Diamondbacks in the championship game!

June 21, 2010 3:25 pm

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| West Seattle news | WS & Sports

No, not Major League Baseball – 4 months too soon for that – it’s Bronco Baseball, from Southwest Seattle PONY Baseball. Thanks to Jeff for the tip:

The Bronco Baseball Championship game is tonight at Lincoln Park starting at 5:30. The game features 11 and 12 year old baseball players. The Mariners are taking on the Diamondbacks. The Diamondbacks are coming from the losing bracket and the Mariners from the winners bracket. The Diamondbacks will have to beat the Mariners 2 times to win the championship; if the Mariners win tonight they are the champions.

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Update: SW Othello reopened after closure for gas-pipe break

June 21, 2010 2:05 pm

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| Utilities | West Seattle news | WS breaking news

ORIGINAL 2:05 PM REPORT: On our way to check out a report that some people might have had to leave their homes while authorities deal with a natural-gas leak at Othello/Vashon (map), just north of Solstice and Lincoln Parks. SW Othello is closed for much of the stretch between California and Fauntleroy. 2:16 PM: We’re at the scene – Fire Department’s still here, Puget Sound Energy has just arrived. Still working to find out exactly what happened; no indication of injuries. Just added a photo looking east toward the scene from across Fauntleroy. 2:26 PM: SFD says it’s a broken 2-inch pipe but otherwise, their crews are there as a “standard gas-leak response.” Media is not being allowed close enough for us to find out anything else, but there’s no indication this is affecting any more than a small area in this residential neighborhood. We’ll be checking back. 3:28 PM: Road still closed, new photo:

No new info at the scene but commenters below are shining some light from within the zone. 5:50 PM UPDATE: As we noted in comments, the street is open again. Puget Sound Energy confirms the break was caused by a contractor working at the scene and it only affected the service at the home where the work was being done.

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Cutting down on phone books, junk mail: Council reviews options

June 21, 2010 1:51 pm

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| Environment | West Seattle news | West Seattle politics

We’ve talked before about phone books and junk mail, and how to try to opt out of them. The city council’s Public Utilities and Neighborhood Committee (which had a special meeting on another topic here in West Seattle last week – here’s our report) is taking up the topic tomorrow, with several options before them. In case you want to let them know which sounds best to you, here’s the “draft memo” listing the options. They range all the way up to passing a new law that would allow some phone books to be delivered on an “opt-in” basis only. The preferred option, according to the memo, is to contract with a company called Catalog Choice that would provide an online “enhanced opt-out service” for both city and county residents via Web access; the memo says it would cost $30,000 to get that going next year. Tomorrow’s committee meeting is at 2 pm at City Hall downtown; here’s the full agenda.

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West Seattle girl gets on ‘Jeopardy’ – from among 10,000 hopefuls!

June 21, 2010 10:30 am

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| West Seattle news | West Seattle people

At left, that’s Washington Middle School student Vivian Lappenbusch, who lives with her family in North Delridge and is about to gain nationwide fame – when she appears on the legendary game show “Jeopardy!” during its upcoming “Kids’ Week.” Vivian’s proud mom Brittany Abbott Von Spreecken e-mailed to let us know about Vivian’s achievement – 10,000 kids took the test this year, according to Brittany, and Vivian was one of just 15 to make it onto the show – and to ask publicly if any local establishment might be interested in hosting a viewing party! Vivian’s episode has already been recorded, of course, though the family is sworn to secrecy; it will air at 7:30 pm Friday, July 9th. You’ll be able to watch it on Channel 4 that night any place that has a TV, but if you’ve got a viewing-party venue (all-ages, obviously), let us know and we’ll put you in touch with Brittany.

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Update on SW Genesee paving: Now set for Wednesday

June 21, 2010 9:50 am

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| Genesee Hill | Transportation | West Seattle news

Latest from SDOT on the SW Genesee paving project, which they announced last week would expand to four blocks:

Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) paving crews have been preparing SW Genesee Street from 47th Avenue SW to 51st Avenue SW for resurfacing. They recently completed grinding off the old asphalt surface. Weather permitting, they plan to lay new asphalt on Wednesday, June 23, from approximately from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. During this work, traffic flaggers will assist traffic in both directions share a single lane.

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West Seattle Monday: First day of summer! Really!

June 21, 2010 7:58 am

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| West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

If we can’t see the sun, how about sun-like imagery? The building next to the light in Pye42‘s photo from the WSB Flickr group, if you don’t recognize it, is Link, going up in The Triangle along 38th south of Fauntleroy, kittycorner from the future West Seattle Trader Joe’s. Meantime, it’s now officially summer, with the solstice just a few hours ago; if it looks like sunset might be something resembling visible, you can watch it at Solstice Park with Alice Enevoldsen of Alice’s Astro Info – 9:11 pm , read about it here. And that still gives you time to check out Sustainable West Seattle‘s monthly Community Forum, tonight focusing on the role that public campaign financing would play in community sustainability, featuring Washington Public Campaigns (whose annual award banquet was in West Seattle this past Saturday night), 7 pm at the Senior Center of West Seattle in The Junction … Two events at Southwest Library today – Baby Story Time at 11:30 am (details here) and Afternoon Book Group at 2 pm (details here) … Lots more – just check the WSB West Seattle Events calendar.

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Admiral 4th of July Kids’ Parade: Less than 2 weeks away!

June 21, 2010 2:23 am

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| Fun stuff to do | Holidays | West Seattle news

(WSB photo from July 4, 2009)
Now that it’s Monday, we are less than two weeks away from the 4th of July, rain or shine. And this year will be the 15th for a West Seattle family tradition – the Admiral 4th of July Kids’ Parade. You don’t have to be an Admiral resident to be part of it – it’s for anyone and everyone in West Seattle – no pre-registration required, either. It’s already been mentioned in our reports from Admiral Neighborhood Association meetings, since ANA is handling concessions this year, but this morning we’re also sharing some other details from parade organizer Sherri Chun: She says start time is 10 am at 44th/Sunset (map); King County Executive (and Admiral resident) Dow Constantine will be the kickoff speaker; West Seattle Hi-Yu royalty will be there too; as always, games and concessions will follow at the end of the parade route, at Hamilton Viewpoint. Sherri also sends a hearty thanks to sponsors Weitzel Construction (providing the porta-potties), speech therapist Kayle Shulenberger, and Holy Rosary School. Here’s the official flyer; this is a grass-roots effort, as always, so spread the word – the parade through neighborhood streets is always quite the sight, and a great way to start the holiday.