West Seattle Crime Watch: Police search in The Triangle
Thanks to everyone who sent tips about a search around the Link site (38th/Fauntleroy/Alaska). It was breaking up when we arrived; one officer still on the scene told us there was a report of an intruder. We just confirmed that with Southwest Precinct Lt. Alan Williams, who says the big response was because it was a big site to search, but “no sign of entry, theft, damage found.”
West Seattle’s Bettie Williams-Watson chosen Purpose Prize Fellow
It’s always an honor to bring you news of West Seattleites making a difference – and here’s another one: Bettie Williams-Watson (left) has been named a 2010 Purpose Prize Fellow, one of just 45 from around the nation. Here’s the official announcement explaining the honor:
Williams-Watson was recognized as a social entrepreneur over 60 who, in her encore careers, is using her experience and passion to make an extraordinary impact on society’s biggest challenges. Now in its fifth year, the six-year, $17 million Purpose Prize program is the nation’s only large-scale investment in social innovators in the second half of life.
Williams-Watson was named a Fellow because of her groundbreaking work in addressing domestic, youth and sexual violence in predominantly African American faith communities throughout the Greater Seattle area and beyond thru her nonprofit organization, Multi-Communities (M.I.C).
“Purpose Prize Fellows show what’s possible in our communities – and the world – when experienced adults apply their passion and skill to improve the lives of others.” said Alexandra Céspedes Kent, Director of The Purpose Prize. “Imagine the potential for society if tens of thousands of adults focused their know-how on the social causes they are most passionate about – it’s a tremendous opportunity.”
The 46 Purpose Prize Fellows of 2010 (were) honored at the Purpose Prize Summit November 12-14 in Philadelphia. Approximately 400 attendees of the invitation-only event (heard) from featured speakers such as W. Wilson Goode Sr. (former mayor of Philadelphia and 2006 Prize winner); writer and cultural anthropologist Mary Catherine Bateson (author of Composing a Further Life: The Age of Active Wisdom); civil rights leader and social innovator Robert Moses (founder of The Algebra Project); and bestselling author Martin Seligman (founder of the field of positive psychology).
In a followup e-mail exchange, Bettie told WSB, “I learned such positive reinforcement for how people over the age of 50 and 60 plus are the most creative, innovative folks of any generation, and the part that really excited me even more was that we are confidently shaping, and designing our own definition of what it means to be of age, and have not bought into the myths and stereotypes that are so prevalent today. Did I mention that I work full time, and run my nonprofit in my ‘spare time?'”
Happening now: Fauntleroy Art Show and Holiday Gift Faire
Need a nice warm hat for the cold snap ahead? That’s part of what you’ll find at Fauntleroy Church till 8 pm tonight, 11 am-4 pm tomorrow, and 11 am-1 pm on Sunday, during this year’s expanded Fine Art Show and Holiday Gift Faire. The arts/crafts show sale includes 15 artists “displaying and selling work in a variety of media and prices, including fused glass, photo collage, felt, watercolor, and cast stone,” according to the church, which is at 9140 California SW (map).
What White Center Food Bank needs for holiday dinners
When you do your holiday food shopping this weekend, consider buying extra, for food banks. We reported previously on what West Seattle Food Bank needs; today we talked with Audrey at White Center Food Bank, which serves part of WS too. She says they do NOT need more turkeys, but they DO need fixings: Chicken broth, condensed milk, olives, pickles, stuffing mix, fruit cocktail, Jell-O, etc. Audrey says they expect to serve 950 families next week.
Allstate in North Delridge: Welcoming a new WSB sponsor
Today, we welcome a new WSB sponsor, Allstate Insurance at 3862 Delridge Way SW. Allstate is owned by Christopher Price, longtime operator of the H&R Block offices in West Seattle. 
He is a CFP-certified Financial Planner, ChFC-chartered Financial Consultant, and has been doing financial services for more than 29 years. Christopher says he started the Delridge Allstate location to bring business to the North Delridge area, which he says is very much an up-and-coming part of West Seattle and one that needs business services. Allstate‘s Delridge location offers not only auto, home, and life, but also a full range of investment services. According to Christopher, while people are familiar with the standard lines of insurance Allstate provides, they might not know that the company also offers an wide array of investment services. Christopher adds, “I look forward to helping families like yours protect the things that are important – your family, home, car and more. I can also help you prepare a strategy to achieve your financial goals.” His Allstate office is open from 9 am to 5 pm, Mondays through Fridays. You can get a quote by calling 206-938-2886 or via e-mail at Christopher.Price@allstate.com.
We thank Christopher Price and Allstate in North Delridge for sponsoring independent, community-collaborative neighborhood news on WSB; find our sponsor team listed in directory format here, and find info on joining the team by going here!
West Seattle restaurants: Jonny Bostons close to opening
By Keri DeTore
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
Owner Dan Atherton isn’t the only one who’s been waiting to get the new West Seattle sandwich shop Jonny Bostons open — he says he’s visited every couple of days by a gentleman hoping to see the OPEN sign in the window.
To the sandwich-loving public, Dan says: “I feel your pain.”
Good news is on the horizon, however; this week, the shop (4151 California SW, north end of The Junction) passed all of its inspections, and the only thing left is a visit from the Health Inspector. Dan’s trying to get this appointment scheduled next week in order to realize his “best-case scenario” goal of opening the day after Thanksgiving. If not that Friday, then “hopefully (the following) Monday.” Employees have already been hired in anticipation of an imminent opening.
Dan says he’s been getting plenty of favorable response from the community about the shop, and appreciates everyone’s patience. He adds, “We’re going through this together.” As for opening the shop featuring steak sandwiches and burgers just as everyone is getting tired of turkey? Dan says, “It wasn’t planned that way, but maybe it’s for the best!”
Once opened, hours will be Monday through Saturday, 11 am-8 pm. Closed Sunday.
(Previous WSB coverage: October update here; August story here.)
Your chance to be part of the Public Health Reserve Corps
You’ve heard a lot about preparedness here, thanks to the amazing group of West Seattle volunteers working on projects like West Seattle Be Prepared, but here’s another way to get involved: West Seattle resident Dave Nichols e-mailed with a call for volunteers to join the Public Health Reserve Corps for Seattle & King County. He explains, “This group of volunteers augments Public Health during a medical emergency or disaster.” And you don’t have to be a health-care professional. Read on to see what they’re looking for and how you can help with this “just in case they’re ever needed” team:Read More
West Seattle holidays: Christmas tree sighting; Hotwire calendar
These just might be the first 2010 Christmas trees in West Seattle (let us know if you have information to the contrary) – driving by Rite Aid south of The Junction this morning, we spotted them being set up outside the store. Moments earlier, we had been on another holiday errand – checking out the new Hotwire Online Coffeehouse (WSB sponsor) customer-co-created calendars:
That’s Hotwire barista Kyle holding up one of the calendars – they’re available for $5, with proceeds going to WestSide Baby and Furry Faces Foundation. Customers wrote the photo captions. P.S. Hotwire will be open 8 am-2 pm on Thanksgiving Day next Thursday; we are continuing to compile holiday hours/closures information for our West Seattle Holidays page, so please let us know if you have info to share!
2:32 PM CHRISTMAS TREE UPDATE: Update in comments – Christmas trees have been sighted at Home Depot too.
Student report: New schedule controversy at West Seattle HS
EDITOR’S NOTE: The West Seattle High School newspaper will be sharing student-produced stories on WSB from time to time. Their new edition is out – should be linked here by day’s end – and the top story is big news; we are checking out reader reports of a student protest this morning, related to this change. Here is the student-reported story as published in the newly released November edition of WSHS’s The Chinook.
By Simone Machmiller
Reporting for West Seattle High School’s newspaper, The Chinook
Special to West Seattle Blog
West Seattle High School is planning to once again change the schedule. This schedule is slated to go into effect in January and will be the sixth time the senior class has faced a new schedule in their four years as WSHS. The schedule change is planned in order to solve union disputes with [Operating Engineers] Local 609, the union the lunch workers are protected through, and will result in WSHS going to two lunches.
Principal Ruth Medsker came up with the idea of splitting the school into having two lunches and having each half take a lunch before fourth period or after fourth period. This is a big change for WSHS students who are used to going to lunch straight after fourth period all together. Now they’ll have to compromise and go to lunch with only the people with the same lunch period.
“I don’t think this is a good idea,” said junior, Emmie Riley. “There’s no problem with our lunch now so there’s no reason to change it.”
Although the principal is in favor of this new change, the students don’t really agree with her.
Read More
Alki Community Council: ‘Heavy hearts’; budget talk
Story and photo by Jason Grotelueschen
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
About 20 Alki neighbors gathered Thursday night for the monthly meeting of the Alki Community Council at Alki UCC Church, to talk about Seattle’s city budget and to move the council forward in honor of a dearly departed friend.
The special guest for the evening was Seattle City Councilmember Tom Rasmussen (also an Alki-area resident, and pictured above), who led a discussion about local and regional impacts of Seattle’s proposed budget for 2011 and beyond (read WSB’s recent budget coverage).
Rasmussen said it had been a “tough year” for the budget process, but noted that the Council has been able to scale back the extent of some of the previously proposed cuts to programs such as neighborhood community centers (local example: the Alki Community Center’s weekly hours will be reduced to 30, not 15).
Read More
West Seattle Friday: Science @ Hiawatha, art/gifts @ Fauntleroy…
Highlights today/tonight: “Family Science Night at your Hiawatha Community Center will dazzle, amaze, and educate,” they promise – and it’s tonight, “show at 6, experiments at 7,” $5 per family up to four people, $8 for larger families … Nature Consortium‘s toddler-friendly tree-planting at 10 am and eco-hike at 1 pm, both in the West Duwamish Greenbelt, are both today … The West Seattle Garden Club meets 10 am-2 pm at Delridge Community Center, including a 1 pm program on fall/winter garden color; visitors welcome, $5 donation … Fauntleroy Church‘s Fine Art Show and Holiday Gift Faire opens its 3-day run tonight, with 15 talented West Seattle artists and crafters displaying and selling work in a variety of media and prices, 5 pm-8 pm … The 2-day Holiday Open House for Northwest Art and Frame starts tonight, 5-9 pm … While you’re in The Junction for that, Pharmaca Integrative Pharmacy (WSB sponsor) offers winter skin-health advice 5-6 pm … Miss the last introductory gathering for Get Fit West Seattle (explained here)? You’ve got another chance tonight at West Seattle Runner … And as reported last night, Seattle Lutheran‘s soccer team is in the state semifinals this afternoon.
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