day : 12/06/2011 12 results

Election 2011: Another candidates’ forum planned in West Seattle

June 12, 2011 11:56 pm

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| West Seattle news | West Seattle politics

The fields are set for the August 16 primary – and another Seattle City Council candidates’ forum is on the horizon for West Seattle. As previously noted, council candidates will be at the WS Chamber of Commerce‘s next monthly luncheon meeting June 22 for a “speed networking” event. And just announced this weekend, the next day – Thursday, June 23 – the West Seattle Democratic Women will host all four candidates for City Council Position 1 – Maurice Classen, Bobby Forch, incumbent Jean Godden, and West Seattleite Michael Taylor-Judd. Though WSDW usually meets for lunch, this will be an evening event – no-host bar at 6:30, dinner at 7, program at 7:15 pm, and the group says “candidate endorsements will be considered.” Dinner is $12 WSDW members, $15 nonmembers (or you can just get coffee/dessert for $5). Reservations or questions: wsdwomen@yahoo.com, 206-935-3216.

SIDE NOTE: All 4 Position 1 candidates participated in the 34th District Democrats‘ forum a month ago – we have it on video here; last Wednesday, the 34th DDs gave a dual endorsement to Godden and Forch.

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West Seattle wildlife takes wing, feathered and fierce

June 12, 2011 8:06 pm

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| West Seattle news | Wildlife

Alki photographer extraordinaire David Hutchinson shared these photos, explaining:

There is always interesting wildlife to see while walking along Harbor Avenue. It can be Sea Lions or Harbor Seals out in Elliott Bay, Canada Geese and their goslings along the shore, or Bald Eagles being pursued by crows. The attached photos were taken recently. The first is a Bald Eagle heading home in the evening to its nest near Salty’s. The second is a Killdeer protecting its nearby nest with a typical distraction display.

For the sake of both the airborne and seagoing wildlife, it’s important to keep our shorelines clean; toward that end, as noted here previously, David and others with the Alki Community Council are involved with beach cleanups; last weekend, those cleanups were featured in this report on KING 5 News (with interviewees including Eilene Hutchinson and Seal Sitters’ Robin Lindsey).

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West Seattle weekend scene: Also from Alki …

June 12, 2011 6:51 pm

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| West Seattle beaches | West Seattle news

Before we have to get back to all the seriousness, as the new week looms, yet more weekend whimsy: Stacy shared the photo, explaining, “Sunny Sunday fun on Alki today.”

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West Seattle weekend scene: Gimme a C! A! R! W! A! S! H! …

June 12, 2011 4:34 pm

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| West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

If you were at Alki today, among the surrey pedalers, the sunbathers, the volleyball players, and everyone else enjoying the afternoon, you might have noticed … pom-pom-waving cheerleaders. The young women of the Chief Sealth International High School Cheer Squad spent six hours washing cars at Alki Auto Repair. Since the clouds stayed away until late afternoon, they had perfect weather – and by the time we checked in around 2:30 pm, they had already raised $500. (Side note: Last day of school for Sealth and other public high schools in Seattle is still a week and a half away – June 23rd.)

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Video: Our Lady of Guadalupe’s pastor wears a new hat for groundbreaking

June 12, 2011 1:50 pm

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| West Seattle news | West Seattle religion

Most groundbreakings involve dignitaries, never-used-before-and-never-will-be-again shovels, and one ceremonial jab at the dirt. Not the groundbreaking at West Seattle’s Our Lady of Guadalupe this afternoon. The parish’s pastor, Father Jack Walmesley, got behind the controls of a backhoe and dug into the future site of OLG’s Parish Life Center and Gymnasium, as parishioners cheered (and, off camera, Tom Hutyler emceed). Earlier in the event, “Father Jack” wore more traditional priestly garb as he spoke about the project – ~~we’ll add that clip later~~here’s that clip:

The new 10,000-square-foot facility will include community meeting space as well as areas for parish events and sports (read all about the project here – and see sketches – here).

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Happening now: West Seattle Rotary’s polio-fighting fundraiser

June 12, 2011 1:20 pm

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| Health | Rotary Club of West Seattle | West Seattle news

It’s been half a century since a vaccine breakthrough led to the near-eradication of polio in the U.S. But as the Rotary Club of West Seattle is explaining today in The Junction – the rest of the world is a different story, particularly isolated areas of Asia and Africa. Till 5 pm today, West Seattle Rotarians are by KeyBank with an iron lung – the device that paralyzed polio victims needed to keep breathing. Contributions will go toward the Rotary International campaign to match a nine-digit grant from the Gates Foundation for worldwide polio vaccination, to wipe out the disease once and for all. (P.S. The WS Rotary’s Berry Sale is under way too, supporting all their charity programs including the Christmas Shopping Spree – you can order online; deliveries are just weeks away.)

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West Seattle Crime Watch: Hit-run search, stolen bike, more

June 12, 2011 11:19 am

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| Crime | West Seattle news

Five West Seattle Crime Watch reports this morning – starting with the search for a hit-run driver. Amy sent the above photo and explains:

Our 1997 Toyota Tercel was struck by a hit and run driver Saturday morning (6/11) in the 3900 block of SW Orchard. The car is totalled with front body damage on the right side. The perps lost control coming around the corner at 39th and Orchard, tore up our neighbors parking strip and came to a hard stop against our parked vehicle pushing it backward about five feet. Damage to the car that hit would be the front passenger side. We did not hear the accident but our neighbor heard the crash sometime around 12:30 to 1:00 am. It was not a pretty car, but we had it for 13 years, it ran great, and it was much needed transportation for our family. We did call the police and received a case number-11-187004

After the jump – 4 more reports, starting with a stolen tandem bicycle (photo included):Read More

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West Seattle Sunday: Viaduct’s open again – but why leave?

June 12, 2011 6:43 am

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| West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

As noted overnight, the Alaskan Way Viaduct closure ended much earlier than WSDOT had projected – it is fully OPEN again this morning, and the blank traffic-info sign we photographed at dawn along Fauntleroy Way SW is further proof (absent a live AWV camera). But why leave West Seattle, unless you absolutely have to? From our Events calendar:

FITNESS FOR VITALITY 5K/10K: The last race in trainer Annette Herrick‘s spring series along Alki is at 9 am this morning – you can walk or run, and same-day registration is available – starting at 8 am. More info here.

CHIEF SEALTH CHEERLEADERS’ CAR WASH: Chief Sealth International High School‘s Cheerleaders invite you to come get your vehicle cleaned and shined at their fundraising car wash at Alki Auto (56th and Alki), 10 am-4 pm.

WEST SEATTLE FARMERS’ MARKET: 10 am-2 pm, The Junction (44th/Alaska). Market manager Catherine Burke says today’s returnees include strawberries and “live lettuce”; the kids-tent activity will be presented by Woodland Park Zoo.

POLIO-FIGHTING FUNDRAISER: Rotary Club of West Seattle plans to be in The Junction today with an iron lung, demonstrating that the fight against polio isn’t over yet. 11 am-5 pm, by KeyBank at California/Alaska.

TWO CHANCES TO ADOPT A NEW FELINE FRIEND: Friends of the Animals Foundation adoption event with cats and kittens from 11 am – 2 pm at Next to Nature in The Junction … Kitty Harbor (3422 Harbor SW) is open for its second weekend of the season, 2-6 pm today.

COOKING CLASS: At West Seattle Produce with Cinnamon Berg: Grilled Pizza, 11 am. We will make the dough, sauce and toppings, then grill up a home-cooked pizza without the hot oven or delivery charges! $30 12 and up, kids under 12 free with paid adult. Register cinnamonberg97@gmail.com (or drop by to see if there’s still room for today).

ULTIMATE FRISBEE: West Seattle Family Ultimate Frisbee – today’s the monthly 2nd Sunday event at 11 am, Hiawatha Playfield, southeast corner.

WEST SEATTLE SUNDAY SOCCER: The adult/big kid soccer pickup game every Sunday morning is at Delridge Playfield (4501 Delridge), all ages and skill levels are welcome! 8 am.

OUTDOOR SWIMMING Final pre-season weekend wraps ups for Colman Pool in Lincoln Park, starting with lap swim at noon (7-day-a-week summer operations start next Saturday).

OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE GROUNDBREAKING: The community celebration of the ceremonial groundbreaking for the new Parish Life Center and Gymnasium is at 12:15 this afternoon in the lower playfield, followed by a multicultural potluck.

LAST DAY OF SIFF: Final day for the film festival, and four films are screening at the Admiral Theater in West Seattle, starting at 1 pm, concluding with “Flamenco, Flamenco” at 8:30 pm. Full schedule here.

LOVING DAY: Celebration of the anniversary of the court ruling that led to the end of remaining laws against interracial marriage in the U.S., sponsored by MAVIN, 1-3:30 pm at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center, live music and more (details in this WSB preview story).

LIVE MUSIC: Once Minutos, 3-5 pm at C & P Coffee (5612 California SW) … All-ages show with Brian Wagner of Pablo Trucker, Lowlands, Wes SP8, 7 pm ($5 cover) at Skylark Café and Club (3803 Delridge Way SW; note, both C&P and Skylark are WSB sponsors; got a live music listing? send it so we can include it, the further in advance, the better!) …

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Followup: Tornado survivors’ West Seattle family says ‘thanks’

June 12, 2011 5:01 am

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| West Seattle news | West Seattle people

Through both pre-sale donations and during-sale shopping, Saturday’s yard sale to raise money for Joplin, Missouri, tornado survivors was a success, reports Steve John, whose relatives were hit hard:

Thanks to the efforts of [neighbors/sale organizers] Leah and Johanna, and the generosity of all who donated items and attended the garage sale, 1,008 dollars were collected! My entire family has been overwhelmed with the support of our neighbors and fellow residents of West Seattle.

We tweeted an in-progress photo; Steve shared the after-sale photos (the one below features Leah, Johanna, and Sam).

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Family Promise of Seattle open again, helping homeless families

June 12, 2011 4:40 am

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| How to help | West Seattle news

During the Saturday night sock-hop fundraiser for West Seattle-based Family Promise of Seattle at Holy Rosary, we talked with board member Lynne Downs about the shelter service’s reopening: She tells WSB they have already helped two homeless families, 11 people in all, just since last Monday, and have met their goal of hiring a case worker.

It’s been a long road back for Family Promise, since their August announcement of a “hiatus” till they could raise enough money to resume operations, but in March, they vowed to reopen in June – and so they have. It’s a nationwide model involving a partnership with organizations (usually churches) that take turns hosting and feeding the families at night, while FP offers a day center and other help so the families can get back on their feet – and in this area, it’s the only place homeless families can stay together (instead of separating to go to men’s/women’s shelters). Miss the fundraiser? You can donate online right now, here.

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Traffic update: Alaskan Way Viaduct closure ends mega-early

June 12, 2011 2:51 am

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| Alaskan Way Viaduct | Transportation | West Seattle news

WSDOT sent word late Saturday night that the Alaskan Way Viaduct closure is over: “During the closure crews successfully removed and temporarily replaced two of the structure’s support columns to make room for construction of the new SR 99 southbound roadway through SODO. Crews also tested the automated viaduct closure system.” Both directions are fully reopened. (Above, a photo tweeted by WSDOT, showing one of the columns taken down during the Saturday work.)

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West Seattle summer camps: How about learning rugby?

June 12, 2011 2:45 am

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| West Seattle news | WS & Sports

(Photo courtesy Serevi Rugby)
One more addition to our roundup of West Seattle summer camps (initiated after some camp providers sent word they still had room for kids to sign up): 2-time Rugby 7s World Cup Champion Waisale Serevi and his team from Serevi Rugby are teaching “the basics of seven-a-side rugby” in four sessions at Hiawatha Playfield this summer. The introductory camps are for ages 7-18, both genders. More info and online registration at serevirugby.com. (Our previously published list of camps is here – no guarantees they all still have room, but if you’re looking, it’s worth checking!)

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