day : 26/02/2011 12 results

To close the night, more wildlife photos shared by WSB’ers. First, on the heels – or paws – of Linda‘s coyote closeups, Mike in Gatewood caught three on camera this morning (take a very close look at the second photo). He wrote:

WSB, we love our coyotes. My wife and daughters have been watching them frolic in our backyard for the last half hour. Our cats were really scared at first, but they too have joined the wildlife viewing. One will occasionally walk away, but return. While we have had an occasional sighting before, we have never seen two at once, much less three. Happy viewing.

And for the second time today, we are graced by a photo from Machel Spence – this time a robin on still-snow-dotted branches:

Finally, an unusual photo from Lincoln Park – an unlucky Pacific Giant Octopus that washed up. We’re putting it after the jump because, while it’s not gory, you might find it disturbing:Read More

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Followup: What WSHS will get from Foundation fundraiser

February 26, 2011 10:24 pm

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| West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

The final tally’s in for the West Seattle High School Foundation-sponsored dinner/auction fundraiser nine days ago (WSB coverage here), and foundation president Christy Rowe says it was a success, with new sound equipment in the works for the school as a result:

The Second Annual WSHS Auction held on February 17th at The Hall at Fauntleroy looks to have net $17,000 from our event! Considering we had less people attend than last year, we feel very happy with these results. The WSHS gym and Commons areas will be getting new and upgraded sound systems for the benefit of students for assemblies and sporting events and this equipment will also benefit the Alumni Association when they hold their annual All-School Reunion. These improvements will also benefit the community at-large when these spaces are used for other events. Thank you to parents, staff, local businesses and community members for your continued support at WSHS!

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High-school basketball: Chief Sealth boys win again at state

February 26, 2011 4:56 pm

| 6 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle schools | WS & Sports

From Auburn: In a hard-fought game, the Chief Sealth International High School boys beat Lincoln HS this afternoon as the state 3A basketball tournament continued. Final score: Sealth 63, Lincoln 56. The Seahawks are in the final 8, off to the Tacoma Dome next to play Bellevue at 7:15 pm Thursday. (Here’s a PDF with the brackets.) More to come.

ADDED 6:18 PM: After the jump, our game summary, and video reaction from Sealth principal John Boyd:Read More

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Will Seattle annex White Center? Mayor visits today for a tour

February 26, 2011 4:54 pm

| 24 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | White Center

(Photo by Deanie Schwarz for WSB/WCN)
Just published at partner site White Center Now: WCN/WSB contributor Deanie Schwarz reports that Mayor McGinn turned up in downtown WC today for a walking tour, even as his office has publicly reiterated he believes it’s too expensive for Seattle to annex WC (and environs) right now. The City Council will decide in the next few months whether to call for an annexation election this fall – next step is a committee meeting on Tuesday.

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West Seattle Crime Watch: About this morning’s Fauntleroy search

February 26, 2011 2:25 pm

| 21 COMMENTS

| Crime | West Seattle news

Via Facebook, Tracey wondered early this morning about what appeared to be an extensive police search in Fauntleroy’s Endolyne area (45th/Wildwood). We’ve been pursuing information ever since, and just received a reply from Southwest Precinct Lt. Ron Rasmussen:

Our officers were out in the area looking for car prowlers. They found one in this area who was in the process of breaking in to a car. The bad guy ran and other officers moved in to contain the area. Canine officers responded, tracked the suspect and we were able to arrest him. The stolen property was recovered as well. This was great proactive work on the part of our officers to help bring down crime in West Seattle and give the bad guys credit for all their hard work.

Southwest Precinct leadership has said time and again that car prowling is the toughest crime trend to get under control. P.S. Look for a followup later this weekend on a separate case – the status of the still-in-jail “active” car-prowl suspect whose arrest they recently announced.

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Followup: Twilight trio almost done decking the halls (etc.) at Link

February 26, 2011 2:07 pm

| 6 COMMENTS

| Triangle | West Seattle news | WS culture/arts

(Erin, Cheryl, and Mary from Twilight Artist Collective, powering along at Link)
So you’ve spent months working on curating, installing, and in some cases creating, ALL the art for an entire new block-long mixed-use development. Could be grounds for fatigue. Do the proprietors of Twilight Artist Collective look tired? On the contrary, they were positively perky when we revisited them the other day, checking on the progress of their work at Link (now about a month away from opening) in The Triangle. The Junction photo mural is one of the newest pieces; the stairwell mural is also finished (here are our previous photos while it was still a work-in-progress), featuring birds and bees, among other touches:

Other birds you’ll see in Link include seagulls on the 4th floor, courtesy of Mary:

Link’s lobby is showcasing art too, including this “bridge to nowhere”:

The Twilight team tells us their installation work should be done this week. Link continues pre-leasing, with move-ins to start next month; its three retail tenants are also preparing to open – Chaco Canyon Organic Café and Breathe Hot Yoga in April, Bright Horizons in May (we’re taking a closer look at them later this weekend, in advance of their next “parent information night” coming up this Thursday).

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West Seattle Weather Watch: A little more snow possible tonight

February 26, 2011 1:41 pm

| Comments Off on West Seattle Weather Watch: A little more snow possible tonight

| West Seattle news | West Seattle weather

(Photo by Machel Spence)
1:41 PM: Still some snow on the ground (at least where we are!) — and maybe a little more tonight, according to the newest forecast, which says up to an inch might fall “mainly over the higher hills and away from the water.”

2:46 PM: And in fact, it’s lightly flurrying here in Upper Fauntleroy (and elsewhere, judging by what we’re seeing on Twitter).

6:31 PM: A “winter weather advisory” is in effect 7 pm tonight to 9 am tomorrow, as part of that same alert about potential snow.

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Next Alaskan Way Viaduct inspection-shutdown days March 19-20

February 26, 2011 10:30 am

| 1 COMMENT

| Alaskan Way Viaduct | Transportation | West Seattle news

Ever check the city’s “Construction Lookahead“? It lists what’s in the works for road closures, as we continue steering through the maze of Spokane Street Viaduct work, Alaskan Way Viaduct work, and more. Checking it last night, we noticed the dates have quietly been set for the next Alaskan Way Viaduct semiannual inspections – since those are almost-all-weekend shutdowns, you might want to mark your calendar now: Saturday and Sunday, March 19-20, 6 am-6 pm both days.

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At West Seattle Rainbow Bingo, Senior Center wins the big ‘prize’

February 26, 2011 7:33 am

| 11 COMMENTS

| Fun stuff to do | West Seattle news | West Seattle people

Story and photos by Ellen Cedergreen
Reporting for West Seattle Blog

As raucous as the West Seattle Senior Center‘s “Rainbow Bingo” was on Friday night – it had a sentimental moment too: A special dedication in memory of one of its most loyal patrons: Evelyn ‘Jean’ Roberts. Jean died last November after a brief illness (her obituary was published here), and her friends and family came out in full force last night to dedicate a new Bingomatic machine they purchased in her honor.

The new machine will help guarantee a fundraising-bingo future for the Senior Center, which lost $86,000 of its funding last year. The center relies on bingo fundraisers to cover a significant part of its budget.

The theme of Friday night’s fundraiser was “Mardi Gras,” and the vibe was jubilant.

Sylvia O’Stayformore (above) called numbers fast and furious, and the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence (below) were on hand to verify “bingos,” sell raffle tickets, and give out spankings for any false “bingos” — which they did to much fanfare from the crowd.

Half of tonight’s raffle proceeds went to the raffle’s winner and the other half went to the Senior Center; bingo winners received a prize from the prize table for their win. Any ties were taken care of by a “bingo-off.”

(From left, Jean Roberts’ children Craig Roberts, Andrea Crisler, Patti Oquist)
Right before the bingo began, Jean Roberts’ son, Craig Roberts, gave a warm dedication. He commented on Jean’s dedication to the Senior Center and said she loved both bingo and the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence. Other friends on hand remembered her wonderful singing voice and her overall love of life. She reportedly had a great sense of humor; one of her bands was called, “Three Satans and an Angel.”

In addition to the Senior Center’s big “win” scoring the Bingomatic, regular player (and SC volunteer) Carolyn took home a prize – a queen-size comforter kit:

The next Rainbow Bingo at the Senior Center is tentatively scheduled for Friday, April 8th, but if you are looking to get your bingo on before then, the Senior Center also hosts bingo every Friday at 11 am for $6.

(Thanks to Dawn for the tip about the Bingomatic dedication!)

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West Seattle Saturday: Gardening, cleanup, basketball, chili, beer, Youngstown’s 5th birthday

February 26, 2011 6:03 am

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| West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

Another West Seattle creation to check out if you go to the Northwest Flower and Garden Show (WSB sponsor) this weekend – Mari and Andrew Malcolm (whose home was on the West Seattle Garden Tour last year) have an award-winning display – their Seaside Succulents container display (above) won the award for Best Re-Characterization of Recycled Material. It includes “fantastic old crates and metal containers” from Admiralty House Antiques. Besides checking them out at the show, you can also check out their website. (Looking way ahead, they’re planning a sale on June 18 and succulent-container workshop June 25.)

Also happening today:

CLEANUP WITH FREE BREAKFAST AND LUNCH: Join the Admiral Neighborhood Association this morning for their quarterly Adopt-a-Street cleanup, and you get free breakfast AND lunch. Meet at 9 am, Metropolitan Market (WSB sponsor) – coffee and treats before the cleanup, sack lunch to take with you afterward.

SEOLA PARK WORK PARTY: EarthCorps volunteer event, 10 am-2 pm, Marine View Drive SW/35th SW, help pull invasives and plant natives. Full details here.

CHIEF SEALTH’S SECOND STATE-TOURNAMENT GAME: Since they won Friday night, the boys’ basketball team plays again today, 3 pm vs. Lincoln High School at Auburn High School.

BEER TOUR: Washington breweries’ open house, including Elliott Bay in West Seattle and Big Al Brewing in White Center, noon-4 pm (Google map here)

YOUNGSTOWN ARTS CENTER TURNS 5: As first noted here a week and a half ago, Youngstown Arts Center‘s fifth birthday party is today! 4:30 pm-1 am – full details here

CHILI COOKOFF 6 pm, Brickyard BBQ, first-ever chili cookoff – $5 to eat and judge all chili. Live music, beer specials. 206-933-3109 for more info.

FINAL FAREWELL: Funeral for Jeremy Peck, 4 pm at Alki UCC, followed by a wake at the Masonic Hall, 6:30 pm

More on the WSB West Seattle Events calendar.

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The WSBeat: Close call; towel-wearer runs; unlawful soccer kicks

February 26, 2011 2:46 am

| 9 COMMENTS

| Crime | West Seattle news | West Seattle police | WSBeat

By Megan Sheppard
On the WSBeat, for West Seattle Blog

From reports on cases handled recently by Southwest Precinct officers:

*Around 3 p.m. Saturday at 16th and Holden, an officer recognized a man driving by as a habitual offender who was wanted on a $5,000 warrant. When he spotted the officer, the man stopped his car and threw the keys between the seats (ostensibly giving reason that he should be rooting around near the floorboards). After hesitating, he finally complied with officers’ order to exit the vehicle and show his hands. After he was taken into custody, one of the officers found a .45-caliber Colt with a magazine holding six cartridges. Its location? On the driver’s side floorboard, in easy reach. The 21-year-old, a convicted felon, is forbidden by law from possessing a firearm. He was booked into King County Jail on the warrant and for investigation of weapons violations.

*The non-member was caught on video sneaking into a local fitness club Friday morning of last week around 7:30. While he was in the shower, employees locked up the locker where he had stashed his clothes. The man didn’t wait around for police (possibly because of the crack cocaine later found in his pocket): When he discovered he couldn’t access his duds, he ran out of the building and down a wooded trail wearing only a towel.

9 more summaries after the jump:Read More

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West Seattle scene: Great blue heron in the great pink sunset

February 26, 2011 12:30 am

| 13 COMMENTS

| West Seattle beaches | West Seattle news | Wildlife

Another way to appreciate Friday night’s colorful sunset – in the light glowing off a great blue heron that Alki photographer David Hutchinson encountered at Constellation Park, south of Alki Point.

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