West Seattle, Washington

15 Monday

59℉

month : 06/2010 383 results

The Kenney’s ‘Family Reunion’ festival: Indoors and out!
June 5, 2010 3:38 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   West Seattle festivals | West Seattle news

All over West Seattle, so much happening today – The Kenney has welcomed people of all ages to its ‘Family Reunion’ festival – we dropped by for some of the indoor activities, on a quick side trip from tabling at the Sustainable West Seattle Festival section of ReFRESH Southwest. Above, the Raining Sounds sang for the crowd; below, face painting was a hit

Still time to get over to the grounds of The Kenney – and bring some disposable diapers for the WestSide Baby diaper drive, till 4 pm in the main lobby.

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Live from ReFRESH Southwest, report #1
June 5, 2010 1:09 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   West Seattle festivals | West Seattle news

We’re here in the bright sunshine at Delridge Community Center, with a rainbow-striped cloth over our table, across from ZipCar, next to the North Delridge Neighborhood Council (selling their (Heart) Delridge T-shirts! as seen in our photo above), southeast side of the parking lot (which is where all the tents are set up), kitty corner from the West Seattle Food Bank (whose past board president Pete Spalding is walking around handing out (No) Hunger stickers). There’s “street food” too – we’ve heard about a taco truck and a hot-dog truck so far. See you here – free workshops, performances, family fun till 5.

2:10 PM UPDATE: So sunny and gorgeous, we’re just sitting here talking with folks – right behind us is a bike booth, with Stu Hennessey from Alki Bike and Board showing off “e-bikes” among other things. We’ve taken some more photos, too:

King County Executive Dow Constantine stopped by a while ago … Delridge Neighborhoods Development Association director Derek Birnie’s here:

Lots of sustainable businesses – here’s Adam from Clean Air Lawn Care (WSB sponsor):

In our morning preview, we mentioned the Bucket Brigade, a project of Urban Land Army – Highland Park’s Becca Fong is here:

More to come! Look for the info booth on the south side of the parking lot – you can get a map that also has a schedule of performances and workshops – an electric-vehicle demonstration is about to begin. If you’re driving (and of course you’re encouraged to bike, walk or take transit), note that since the parking lot has festival booths, you’ll park somewhere on the periphery of the Delridge Community Center grounds – side streets have parking too.

2:39 PM: Want a free ticket to the Green Festival downtown? Drop by our table – or the Sustainable West Seattle table – we just got a batch. If you can’t make it there today, you can go tomorrow!

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Delridge Walks: On the way to ReFRESH Southwest (starting @ 1)
June 5, 2010 12:16 pm
|    Comments Off on Delridge Walks: On the way to ReFRESH Southwest (starting @ 1)
 |   Highland Park | West Seattle festivals | West Seattle news

As a prelude to this afternoon’s ReFRESH Southwest mega-event (full listing of performances/workshops/tables/booths here), people were invited to walk to Delridge Community Center – perhaps taking photos and/or cleaning up along the way – and we caught up with part of the Highland Park group doing the latter. (By the way, that’s 34th District State House candidate “Mac” McElroy in the background – we’ve seen him at the last few Highland Park Action Committee meetings, along with many of the other community-council meetings we routinely cover. Any candidates coming to today’s festival, be sure to come see us at table 26 – as we did last year during the summer of city campaigns, we’ll photograph everybody who stops by!)

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Lincoln Park alert for dog owners/walkers
June 5, 2010 11:36 am
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 |   Pets | Safety | West Seattle news

We want to stress that we have no other reports on this and it will be difficult if not impossible to confirm with authorities – but given the nature of what Kim Petram says she saw/heard in Lincoln Park this morning, we agree with her that it should be passed along:

I was just walking our dog in Lincoln Park and Animal Control was there looking for reported raw meat that had been left somewhere in the south end of the park. He stated that they had a call about poisoned meat w/ the intent to “poison the dogs.” He didn’t find anything, nor did our dog, who is a cairn terrier with a pretty good sniffer. It was unclear about the report and how they knew dogs were the intended victim.

I think it may be worth a posting though to warn other dog owners in the park to be aware as well as concern for the wild animals in the park.

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Merrill Gardens-Admiral Heights to host USO-benefit dinner June 15
June 5, 2010 11:21 am
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 |   Announcements

On June 15, have dinner at Merrill Gardens-Admiral Heights (WSB sponsor) and support U.S. troops via the USO:

ALL 56 MERRILL GARDENS COMMUNITIES HOST
PASTA DINNER TO SUPPORT OUR TROOPS
ALL PROCEEDS WILL BE DONATED TO USO

Who: Merrill Gardens at Admiral Heights will celebrate Support Our Troops Week by hosting a Pasta Dinner with all the fixings straight from the Mess Hall. The dinner will raise money to support the USO. Since 1941, the USO has been providing support to service members and their families.

The dinner is open to the general public for a minimum $10 donation. All money collected will be donated to the USO.

For the past 69 years, the USO (United Service Organizations) has been the bridge between the American public and the U.S. military. In times of peace and war, the USO delivers its special brand of comfort, morale and recreational services to the military. The USO is a congressionally chartered, private, nonprofit organization that relies on the generosity of individuals and corporations to support USO activities.

What: Residents and team members at each of the 56 Merrill Gardens retirement communities in ten states will host this fundraiser that is open to family, friends and the general public. All food and beverages will be donated by Merrill Gardens. Enjoy music swing dancers dancing to the music of the `40’s.

When: Tuesday, June 15th from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Where: Merrill Gardens at Admiral Heights
2326 California Ave. SW – Seattle, WA 98116
(206) 938-3964

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West Seattle schools: Another ‘no confidence’ vote reported
June 5, 2010 11:15 am
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

One day after staffers described as “union members” at Schmitz Park Elementary School voted “no confidence” in Superintendent Dr. Maria Goodloe-Johnson – as noted here – their counterparts at another West Seattle school are reported to have done the same thing. This vote was at Sanislo Elementary, according to this item on the Save Seattle Schools website (a noncommercial, volunteer operation that provides thorough coverage/discussion of district issues). The site says at least two other schools in the district have had similar votes. ADDED EARLY SUNDAY: A group calling itself the “Seattle Shadow School Board” says it’ll be rallying before the 6/16 School Board meeting to show opposition to renewing the superintendent’s contract. 5:30 pm outside SPS HQ in SODO.

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West Seattle Saturday: ReFRESH SW, Kenney ‘reunion,’ much more
June 5, 2010 7:56 am
|    Comments Off on West Seattle Saturday: ReFRESH SW, Kenney ‘reunion,’ much more
 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Photo added 10:30 am: Admiral Adopt-A-Street crew as they started to gather around 9)
The promised sunshine is really here! And so’s a HUGE list of events/activities. In chronological order:

LOG HOUSE MUSEUM CLEANUP: 9 am-noon, West Seattle’s own history museum gets some TLC, and you are invited to help. 61st/Stevens; here’s a map.

ADMIRAL ADOPT-A-STREET CLEANUP: Meet 9 am, Metropolitan Market (WSB sponsor), and join the Admiral Neighborhood Association‘s quarterly street patrol. Coffee/pastries first, sack lunch afterward.

NORTHWEST SENIOR GAMES: 9 am, West Seattle Stadium (off 35th SW south of SW Avalon), it’s the track-and-field portion of this annual regional competition.

CLEAN & GREEN CLEANUP: 9 am, Southwest Youth and Family Services, a prelude to the afternoon’s festival; here’s a map.

DELRIDGE WALKS: Groups start walking to Delridge Community Center for this afternoon’s festival – there’s no public list but we know you can join the Highland Park group by meeting at HP Improvement Club at 9:45 am (here’s a map to HPIC).

FURRY FACES PLANT SALE/ADOPTION EVENT: Plants on sale 10 am-4 pm, cat and dog adoptions noon-4 pm, 3809 46th SW (here’s a map).

(added) JUNCTION TRUEVALUE ‘GRAND REOPENING’: They called at noon to make sure everybody knows it’s Grand Reopening Day, now that the renovation work’s done – special events till 2 pm.

COLMAN POOL’S 2ND PRESEASON WEEKEND: Lincoln Park’s outdoor swimming pool is open again today/tomorrow, starting with laps at noon.

BUCKET BRIGADE! Container gardening with West Seattle-based Urban Land Army, 11 am-3 pm at the Duwamish Environmental Health Fair in South Park, Delridge Day/ReFRESH Southwest 1-5 pm at Delridge Community Center.

GATEWOOD ELEMENTARY FAMILY FUN FAIR: Inflatables and more, noon-3 pm, 4320 SW Myrtle (here’s the official flyer; here’s a map).

REFRESH SOUTHWEST – SUSTAINABLE WEST SEATTLE FESTIVAL AND DELRIDGE DAY: 1-5 pm in and around Delridge Community Center. Here’s the list of activities – here’s the map of exhibitors. See you there – we’ll be covering it “live,” based at table 26 outside.

THE KENNEY ‘FAMILY REUNION’ FESTIVAL: Everybody’s welcome – family activities, treats, lots more, 1-4 pm, details on The Kenney’s website.

KITTY HARBOR OPENS: The nonprofit cat-adoption facility on Harbor Avenue just north of The Bridge opens for the season, 1-6 pm – new website this year, too.

AFTERNOON WINE TASTING: This afternoon at Bin 41 (WSB sponsor) in The Junction, Greg FInger leads a tour of France’s wines, 2-4 pm.

DIAPER DRIVE AND FREE PLAY FOR THE KIDS: Help A Mother Out event at The Little Gym (WSB sponsor), just bring disposable diapers for WestSide Baby! 2-4 pm

WEST SEATTLE PRODUCE ‘GRAND OPENING’: The outdoor produce stand (and more) on Fauntleroy south of SW Alaska has been open more than a month, but is finally ready to celebrate with special events all weekend.

ARBOR HEIGHTS ELEMENTARY CARNIVAL: 3-6 pm, lots of family fun, 3701 SW 104th (here’s a map).

DUWAMISH LONGHOUSE GALA: The Duwamish Tribe‘s annual gala dinner and art auction at the West Seattle longhouse; starts at 4 pm with a wine reception. Tickets here; here’s a map.

ARTSWEST FUNDRAISING GALA: Starts at 5:30 pm at Herban Feast‘s SODO Park (here’s a map).

DINNER AND A MOVIE AT TIBBETTS: “Summertime” is the movie, and the night starts with dinner, 6 pm, more info at www.tibbettsumchurch.org (WSB sponsor)

KENYON HALL MUSIC: Casey MacGill’s Blue 4 Trio, 7:30 tonight – more on the Kenyon Hall website! 35th/Kenyon.

SKYLARK PROM: Skylark celebrates its fourth anniversary, 8 pm, 3803 Delridge Way.

HELL’S BELLES: They’re playing West Seattle Summer Fest next month, but you can see them even sooner – Rocksport tonight, 10 pm.

‘FOOL FOR LOVE’: 2nd of three shows for Damaged Actors Productions‘ version of the Sam Shepard play, 10 pm at Easy Street Café, “pay what you will.”

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West Seattle school kudos: Denny academics, Holy Rosary greenery
June 5, 2010 4:09 am
|      1 COMMENT
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

Two West Seattle school successes to share! First – on Friday, Denny International Middle School principal Jeff Clark got to show some waterborne solidarity with his school’s mascot – the dolphin. The always-dapper principal went into a dunk tank, suit and all, to celebrate his student body “demonstrating their brilliance through substantial increases on several academic assessments.” The ‘after’ photo:

He says some other staffers braved the water too. Next, north to Holy Rosary School:

That’s the Green Elective Class at Holy Rosary, showing off the award certificate and $500 they got for winning a Terry Husseman Sustainable School Award (a state program, explained here) According to the state website, Holy Rosary was honored for:

Establishes and implements a variety of sustainable programs within the school and community from composting to “no idle zones”. Their overall goal is to encourage a lifestyle that embraces responsible green behaviors.

The same document also reveals that Gatewood and Roxhill Elementary Schools in West Seattle won Husseman Awards too!

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West Seattle Bookshelf: 1st June edition
June 5, 2010 3:01 am
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 |   West Seattle books | West Seattle news

Lists courtesy of Square One Books

Looking for something to read, and/or wondering what’s hot? Every week, courtesy of Gretchen Montgomery @ Square One Books (WSB sponsor), we bring you her independent West Seattle bookstore’s 5 best-sellers in each of 4 key categories:

Hardcover:
1. The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest by Stieg Larsson
2. 61 Hours by Lee Child
3. The Lonely Polygamist by Brady Udall
4. War by Sebastian Junger
5. The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot

Paperback:
1. Cutting For Stone by Abraham Verghese
2. Tinkers by Paul Harding
3. In the Shadow of Gotham by Stefanie Pintoff
4. Half the Sky by Nicholas Kristoff and Sheryl WuDunn
5. The Angel’s Game by Carlos Ruiz Zafon

Children/Young Adult:
1. Oh, The Places You’ll Go! by Dr. Seuss
2. Perfect Piggies! by Sandra Boynton
3. Warriors/Battle of the Clans by Erin Hunter
4. Star Wars/A Scanimation Picture Book by Rufus Butler Seder
5. The Lightning Thief Series by Rick Riordan

Teen:
1. Whisper by Phoebe Kitanidis
2. The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie
3. Bloodhound/Beka Cooper #2 by Tamora Pierce
4. Little Brother by Cory Doctorow
5. Burned by P.C. Cast

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West Seattle High School alumni celebrate their centennial
June 4, 2010 11:52 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle people | West Seattle schools

At West Seattle High School tonight, the WSHS Alumni Association‘s annual All-School Reunion included even more special moments than usual. This is the centennial anniversary of the first WSHS graduating class in 1910 (12 seniors, per a WSHS history summary) – in their honor, the half-centennial-anniversary class of 1960 appeared together onstage with emcee Gary Smith (Class of ’66; photo above). Then, there were three Hall of Fame inductees:

The trio included WSHS’s highest-ranking current alumnus, King County Executive Dow Constantine (Class of ’80), shown above with Karen Seamens Dobbs (Class of ’71), current WSHS Alumni Association president. The other inductees are internationally accomplished photographer Harald Sund (Class of ’61) and retired business executive Wendell Hurlbut III (Class of ’49). Hurlbut couldn’t be there, but Sund was on hand:

Another big part of the program – presenting scholarships; this year, the first-ever Tim Brenton Scholarship, in honor of the WSHS-alum Seattle police officer killed in the line of duty last year, went to Genneva Machmiller:

That’s Genneva with the WSHSAA president. She’s planning to major in nursing at UW. Other scholarship recipients from the Class of 2010:
*Korinne Ainsworth (Friedline, WSHS Alumni scholarships), planning to major in English at UW
*Sam Ameny (WSHS Alumni scholarship), planning a business law/sports agent major at UW
*Raymond Carter (Duke/Radar scholarship), planning a chemical enginering major at UW
*Triston Endreao (Blauert scholarship), planning an environmental-studies major at Whitman
*Karen Lowe (WSHS Alumni scholarship), planning a biochemistry/medical research major at UW
*Carl Swenson (WSHS Alumni scholarship), planning a nursing major at Gonzaga
*Biniaim Woldehaimanot (Bacas Delimitro scholarship), planning a law major at Western Washington

Before the award ceremony, attendees got to “roam the halls” and admire classic cars displayed along SW Stevens before joining in one of more than three dozen by-class reunions assigned to various WSHS classrooms. The West Seattle Big Band then played a set in the theater before the award announcements got under way.

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Holy Rosary students ‘Running for Robel’ in Race for the Cure
June 4, 2010 9:30 pm
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   How to help | West Seattle news | West Seattle people

When the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure hits Seattle streets this Sunday, it’ll be a new location – around Seattle Center, instead of on the Alaskan Way Viaduct – but some things will be the same: The love, emotion, and determination, of those who both are there to support a cure for breast cancer, and those who have survived it. One special story has come to our attention, thanks to Komen volunteer Meg Paynor, who shared a letter written by an 8-year-old Holy Rosary School second-grader:

My name is Anne-Louise Lorentz. I am 8 years old and attend 2nd grade at Holy Rosary School in West Seattle. Recently, my teacher, Karen Robel was diagnosed with breast cancer. She will not be able to finish the school year with us because she will be undergoing surgery. My classmates and I are running to support my teacher and help raise funds and awareness for this disease. Your support and contributions are a blessing. If you are not able to make a monetary donation, I ask that you please say a prayer for our beloved teacher, Karen Robel.
Meg says, “Cherie Skager, the director of communications at Komen, who reads all the
story submissions, was so moved she contacted Anne-Louise¹s mother and asked
her if Anne-Louise would be the ‘Official Starter’ of the 1k Kids Race on Sunday. Anne-Louise was so thrilled, she asked if her entire class could lead the Kids’ Race. On Sunday at 8 am, the 20+ students of
Karen Robel will start the Kids’ Race, with Anne-Louise leading the group.” Meg adds that they will be obtaining a group photo to frame as a “Get Well” gift for their teacher, who had her surgery this week. They will all be
wearing t-shirts that say “Running for Robel.”

Last year, the Kids’ Race also had a West Seattle flavor – Adam Westerman was grand marshal, after helping raise thousands in honor of his mom, breast-cancer survivor Eddie Westerman. Even if you’re not planning to join Sunday’s Race for the Cure, you can donate online here.

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Des Moines crash victim identified as Sam Backman of West Seattle
June 4, 2010 4:34 pm
|      39 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle people

It’s been a tough few months at Hegge Chevron in Sunrise Heights; first, the sudden death of owner Mark Hegge this past March. Today, the staff is dealing with news that one of their co-workers was killed in a car crash. It was a one-car crash in Des Moines, discovered late last night (here’s a KIRO TV report); today, the King County Medical Examiner’s Office identified the victim as 20-year-old Sam Backman, and the folks at the Chevron station tell us Sam worked there. They say he was a Seattle Lutheran High School graduate and played ‘multiple sports’ there (here’s a 2007 story noting his football accomplishments; a school newsletter has him on the SLHS Honor Roll the same year). Lately, he had been in the automotive program at South Seattle Community College. According to the tv report, his Honda Accord crashed through a rail and plunged down a ravine near South 216th/Marine View Drive. SATURDAY AFTERNOON UPDATE: Seattle Lutheran has announced that Sam Backman’s memorial is set for Saturday June 12th at 3 pm, at Grace Church, 10323 28th Avenue SW, just south of Roxbury. ADDED SATURDAY NIGHT: Also from SLHS: There will be a viewing Thursday 4-8 at Howden-Kennedy in The Junction. The family asks that in place of flowers, donations be made to the Seattle Lutheran Sports Department. (Photo added Sunday, provided by Sam Backman’s family)

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West Seattle Crime Watch: 1 man charged in 4 car-theft cases
June 4, 2010 3:43 pm
|      13 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | West Seattle news

(May 24th photo by David Rosen from SlickPix Photography)
A followup this afternoon on car-theft cases, including the one that yielded the May 24th photo above, as well as the one discussed in this recent comment thread. Charges have just been filed against Ronald E. Thompson, a Gatewood resident who turns 20 on Monday. He is charged with three counts of auto theft and one count of possession of a stolen vehicle, all happening over the past month and a half, starting with one theft in Queen Anne on April 16th. We just obtained the documents from the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office. The vehicle stolen in QA was found in West Seattle, while the other three were stolen from, and found in WS – the one in the photo was taken from, and found in, the 5400 block of 46th SW. A Lexus stolen in the 6000 block of 44th on May 30th is the one in which Thompson was found two days later, when police arrested him in Gatewood, a few blocks from his house. After the arrest, the charging papers say, Thompson told police about “an assault rifle” at his home; police found a Sturm-Ruger Mini-14 .223-caliber rifle loaded with 21 rounds of ammunition; he told them he’d bought the rifle, but it was listed as stolen in a King County burglary. Thompson remains in jail and is scheduled to answer the charges June 14th; the documents say he not only has a juvenile record, but also is still awaiting trial on a different auto theft case, in which “he told police that he stole a vehicle from West Seattle and drove it to Bothell, where he was trying to sell a laptop computer.”

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ReFRESH Southwest on Saturday! Here’s the full schedule
June 4, 2010 2:34 pm
|    Comments Off on ReFRESH Southwest on Saturday! Here’s the full schedule
 |   Delridge | Fun stuff to do | Sustainable West Seattle | West Seattle festivals | West Seattle news

Hope to see you at tomorrow’s ReFRESH Southwest – the umbrella name for this year’s combined Delridge Day and Sustainable West Seattle Festival events, all happening tomorrow at, in, and around Delridge Community Center, 1-5 pm (after the Clean and Green cleanup and Delridge Walks events in the morning!) — here again is the outdoor exhibitors’ map (WSB is #26), and now for the first time we have the full schedule of indoor and outdoor events, from arts to games to the sustainability workshops and beyond, just forwarded by SWS Festival coordinator Christina, after the jump:Read More

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Friday pm notes: Schmitz vote, Swinery patio, Shorewood sales
June 4, 2010 1:36 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

Three quick notes as the weekend approaches:

SCHMITZ PARK STAFFERS VOTE ON SUPERINTENDENT: We’ve received this from several education-related sources: 15 “union members” at Schmitz Park Elementary are reported to have voted “no confidence” in Seattle Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Maria Goodloe-Johnson. Here’s one post about it. The Save Seattle Schools site has reported a few other such votes outside West Seattle, including Ballard HS.

SWINERY PATIO: Maybe THIS will bring summery weather? The Swinery is opening its courtyard patio for lunch service as of next Tuesday, according to longtime WSB contributor Christopher Boffoli (and it’s also confirmed on their FB page). If you haven’t been there lately, take note that they’ve been writing about expanded food offerings – including hot takeout food for dinner.

SHOREWOOD SALES: More information on the Streets of Sales in the Shorewood neighborhood south of SW West Seattle tomorrow, 10 am-4 pm – akin to WS Community Garage Sale Day – Shorewood’s Lynne Crockett has sent this PDF of a hand-marked map showing sale locations. Printed maps will be available throughout the neighborhood. (And if you don’t mind going even further to shop, tomorrow also is Capitol Hill Community Garage Sale Day, 10 am-3 pm!)

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West Seattle’s Twelfth Night Productions announces auditions
June 4, 2010 1:04 pm
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 |   West Seattle news | WS culture/arts

Mary Springer at West Seattle-based Twelfth Night Productions sent this announcement to share: Open auditions tomorrow and Sunday for their summer production, “How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying.” If you can act, sing, and dance – read on!Read More

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“We’re graduating!” Skylark marks 4th anniversary with a prom
June 4, 2010 12:15 pm
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news

By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

A distinctive label describes the event Skylark Café and Club (WSB sponsor) will host tomorrow night to mark its 4th anniversary: Not a party, not a bash … but a prom.

“After four years, we’re graduating … we’re seniors now!” laughs Skylark proprietor Jessie Summa-Kusiak.

Four is a special number for another reason. That’s how many Skylark staffers have been with the music club/restaurant/bar since Day 1 – including the bar manager and kitchen manager, and bartender Cheryl, who is the model in many of Skylark’s ads.

Why the longevity? Here’s one unexpected reason …Read More

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1 month later, High Point neighbors regroup on safety, solutions
June 4, 2010 9:18 am
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   High Point | Safety | West Seattle news

Story and photos by Karen Berge
Reporting for West Seattle Blog

More than 50 people gathered Thursday night at the High Point Neighborhood Center for a community-safety forum, billed as a follow-up to the emotionally-charged meeting on April 29th, which followed the stabbing of a woman there on April 23rd. This 2-hour meeting began and ended with some short updates and announcements, but the primary focus was to brainstorm solutions for bringing the community together to move ahead.

Jennifer Cobb and Andrew Mead, from the High Point Neighborhood Association (HPNA), started by describing their mission, “to foster community safety” and the objective for this meeting, to keep it “focused on solutions, focused on what we can do going forward.”

Willard Brown from Seattle Housing Authority (SHA), spoke for several minutes; he remarked “the most important thing is to work together on this” and said that SHA “is committed to bringing resources together.”One tangible change that residents will notice is that they have been “working with SPD to increase the police presence in our community.”

Read More

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West Seattle Friday: Café drama, WSHS reunion, and more
June 4, 2010 7:42 am
|    Comments Off on West Seattle Friday: Café drama, WSHS reunion, and more
 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

‘FOOL FOR LOVE’ AT EASY STREET: Tonight through Saturday, Damaged Actors Productions presents Sam Shepard‘s “Fool For Love” onstage at a venue more often known for music, Easy Street Café, starring Megan Blackstone, Todd Van der Ark, Mark Naborczyk, and Juan Davilacampodonico. Admission is “pay what you will” at the door (but everyone who offers more than $5 gets a button with the performance’s logo – see it on Easy Street’s website); showtime’s at 10, with doors opening half an hour in advance.

WEST SEATTLE HIGH SCHOOL ALL-SCHOOL REUNION: The annual event to which all former WSHS students are invited starts at 5 tonight, with the program including the West Seattle Big Band at 7 and awards/Hall of Fame at 7:30 pm. (Added 9:31 am – Rod calls our attention to the post-reunion WSHS Alumni Jam at Redline – Facebook invite here.)

ELEMENTARY EVENTS: Alki Elementary‘s Alki-A-Thon fundraising laps are scheduled for today, as are Roxhill Elementary‘s instrumental-music concert (2 and 7 pm) and Highland Park Elementary‘s 5th-grade play “Willy Wonka” (2 and 7 pm)

WEST SEATTLE VOLUNTEER RECOGNITION AWARDS: A friendly reminder that it’s Day 4 of the open-nomination period for the next round – we published the nomination form back on Tuesday night – find it here and start the process of getting someone recognized for the amazing work they do in our community.

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More West Seattle wildlife: Otter-ly surprising sighting
June 4, 2010 3:01 am
|      16 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | Wildlife

When it rains (animal photos), it pours. Not long after last night’s coyote photo/report from Gatewood (which followed Wednesday’s Admiral chickens and Seaview frog), the WSB inbox yielded otter photos and report from Jennifer on Beach Drive:

Today I was happily baking in my kitchen, when I looked over and saw a sea otter
sitting outside my door! Amazing! I took some pictures as the otter traveled around the back of our house exploring. After about 10 minutes, the otter climbed up into the springs greenery behind our property. Truly amazing to live in a place with access to such sights. We live on the 5000 block of Beach Drive [map] and NOT on the water side. So how did that cute otter get across the street? One wonders? … I wonder if there have been additional
otter sightings this week?

Even before you start typing a comment – don’t worry, we did let Jennifer know that it’s RIVER otters, not sea otters, who live among us (state info sheet here). But we seldom see photos, so hers are a bonus.

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Student artists show their stuff during Lafayette Art Walk night
June 3, 2010 11:33 pm
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools | WS culture/arts

(Photo by Evan Miglorie)
That’s Quin Hopkins, one of many Lafayette Elementary School students whose work was on display tonight during for a special school-wide Art Walk. Family, friends and neighbors thronged the Admiral District school to admire the creations:

(Photo courtesy Luckie)
It wasn’t all hangable work, either:

(Photo courtesy Luckie)
And if you missed tonight’s Art Walk – some of the work is on display in neighboring businesses, too!

(Photo by Evan Miglorie)
Performing arts were showcased at Lafayette tonight too, with performances by the choir and the Popcorns jump-rope team. And tomorrow, they’ll focus on writing, with Young Author’s Conference sessions. ADDED 1:21 AM: We have video of some of the onstage performances from Thursday night, courtesy of Edgar Riebe from Captive Eye Media:

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West Seattle coyotes: One caught on cam in Gatewood
June 3, 2010 8:54 pm
|      9 COMMENTS
 |   Coyotes | Gatewood | West Seattle news | Wildlife

First photo-enhanced coyote report in a while. It’s from K. Parsons in Gatewood:

… in broad day-light after cruising around our front yards on the 7100 block of 39th avenue SW between Myrtle and Orchard, this guy was sunning himself (or herself) in our neighbors’ backyard for about 15 minutes then loped through our back-yard. This pic was taken today about noon. They sure do help with the rodent population but take care of your cats and small dogs!

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Video: Fauntleroy Schoolhouse celebration/open house
June 3, 2010 7:00 pm
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   Fauntleroy | Fun stuff to do | West Seattle news

(Video added beneath original as-it-happened report)

ORIGINAL 7 PM REPORT: Via cameraphone, a couple early photos from the Fauntleroy Schoolhouse celebration, which you still have plenty of time to go join – it’s continuing till 8 pm. Above, the group that gathered to cut the ceremonial ribbon a short time ago; below, back from a few months on the East Coast, it’s former Mayor Greg Nickels, the West Seattleite whose administration was among those helping secure funding for the schoolhouse purchase:

The West Seattle Big Band is playing, and there are treats and tours – 9131 California SW (take SW Barton west and downhill from 35th, or head uphill from Wildwood through the Endolyne area east of the ferry dock), till 8 pm.

ADDED 10:35 PM: Video of the ribboncutting – Fauntleroy Community Service Agency‘s Kevin Wooley speaks first, joined by Dr. Jack Pierce (at center), founder of Fauntleroy Children’s Center, and Bruce Butterfield (right), president of Fauntleroy Community Association – keep watching till you see the jersey on the young spectator!

And the West Seattle Big Band (which is playing tomorrow night at the West Seattle High School All-School Reunion event), with lots of little ones on hand to dance:

Tonight’s celebration is in honor of the official completion of the FCSA’s purchase of the schoolhouse and some of the surrounding property from Seattle Public Schools, which closed this spring. But the purchase is just the start – the building needs a fair amount of work – and there’s also room for more tenants – so its next chapter has just begun.

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