day : 19/08/2011 10 results

If you can bring sea monsters and pizza into the Biblical creation story, or turn the tale of Daniel and the lion into “Here, Kitty, Kitty,” you can work your own kind of miracles. And so did Grammy-nominated singer/songwriter/kindie-rocker Justin Roberts tonight in the Fauntleroy UCC Church sanctuary, helping Family Promise of Seattle raise more than $1,000. Fauntleroy UCC is one of ten area churches that are in partnership with Family Promise, taking turns providing sleeping quarters, dinner, and breakfast to newly homeless families. But tonight – instead of housing homeless kids, they were accommodating dancing kids.

(Photo courtesy Kathy Ablott)
Before the concert, FP board leader David Jones explained the organization’s mission:

Roberts performed about an hour of songs from his “Why Not Sea Monsters?” album. He’s a one-time divinity student turned singer/songwriter, who played guitar throughout his set, and enticed the audience – all ages – to sing along, sometimes goofily, sometimes quietly, as golden evening sunlight illuminated the evergreens outside the huge window at the front of the sanctuary. Though his songs riffed off Biblical stories – Jonah and the whale, loaves and fishes, walking on water, the burning bush – they were by no means preachy or somber. Just exuberant music. One review quoted on Roberts’ website describes him as the “Paul McCartney of kids’ music”; appropriate, then, that a toddler who joined the dozen or so dancers up front wore a Beatles T-shirt. FP also accepted donations for refreshments afterward; More ways to help them are listed online.

P.S. Roberts is part of the lineup for the Tots ‘n’ Tunes kindie-rock extravaganza at Seattle Center this Sunday, 11 am-5 pm, as is West Seattle’s own Caspar Babypants (who is busy this weekend! tomorrow he performs in the Camp Long Lodge at 11 am during the Nature Consortium‘s Arts in Nature Festival).

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Junction double bill: ‘Big Bonanza’ deals; ‘Toy Story 3’ outdoors

August 19, 2011 6:58 pm

| 2 COMMENTS

| West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news | West Seattle Outdoor Movies

Saturday doubleheader in The Junction! First, it’s an August tradition, as West Seattle shopping turns into Wild, Wild West Seattle shopping – “The Big Bonanza” (participants listed here) is tomorrow, with more than 35 merchants participating in a day of sales. Look for the red balloons and checked tablecloths. The West Seattle Junction Association sends along a sampling of what you’ll find:

SWEETIE:

Our Big Bonanza special at Sweetie couldn’t happen at a better time of the year – 50-70% off all summer fashion – get it while it’s hot!

And we’re kicking off our fall fashion preview the same day, with 10% off all new fall fashion, Saturday, August 20 only.

CURIOUS KIDSTUFF:

25% off all purchases over $100, and up to 50% off selected items

CARMILIA’S:

Offering sale items at 50-85% off and all new fall merchandise will be 20% off 8/20 through 8/25……a five day jump on fall!

SHADOWLAND:

Cowboy Chicken Fried Steak on special and wet your whistle with a tall, frosty one.

Then tomorrow night in The Junction:

“Toy Story 3” is the feature at West Seattle Outdoor Movies, on the big screen in the courtyard next to Hotwire Online Coffeehouse (WSB sponsor). Gates open at 6:30, and though the (free!) movie isn’t till dusk, stake out your spot early. If you bring some $, you can get in on bargain-priced concessions and great raffle prizes – all benefiting local nonprofits. Plus – FREE BARBECUE, starting at 6:30, courtesy of West Seattle Christian Church, whose Pastor Dan Jacobs (who’s also the regular projectionist for the movies, little-known fact) announces: “We will be serving the free BBQ from 6:30 to 7:30 or when we run out of food. We have hot dogs, hamburgers and veggie burgers, chips, and drinks for 225 people.”

(An early reminder – though the posters and schedules show tomorrow as the final movie, there’s another one a week later, on August 27th, the movie that got rained out on what was supposed to be Outdoor Movies’ opening night, “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off.”)

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Just 2 more 2011 weekends to tour Alki Point Lighthouse

August 19, 2011 5:52 pm

| 7 COMMENTS

| West Seattle history | West Seattle news

If you’ve never toured historic Alki Point Lighthouse – your chances for this year are running out. Liesbet T. shared photos after a tour last weekend, and pointed out that this weekend and the next weekend are your last chances in 2011 to take the free 1-4 pm Saturdays/Sundays tour.

That’s the northward view from the top of the 98-year-old lighthouse – two other angles, and a few interior sights, ahead:Read More

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White Center suspect charged with second-degree murder

August 19, 2011 2:46 pm

| 38 COMMENTS

| Crime | West Seattle news | White Center

(WSB photo of deputies at the murder scene, early Tuesday)
Just in from the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office:

A charge of Murder Second Degree (11-1-07472-9) was filed today against Anthony H. Smith, 25, who is accused in the shooting death of a 23-year-old woman in White Center on August 16. The charge includes a firearm enhancement. If convicted as charged, the sentence range is 16 to 24½ years in prison. Smith is scheduled to be arraigned on September 1 at 8:30 a.m. at the King County Courthouse, courtroom 1201. He remains in jail with bail set at $1 million.

The documents contain additional details of what preceded the shooting, including an allegation that Smith and two other as-yet-unidentified suspects approached victim Sweetheart Marie Failautusi and her friends, asked for a cigarette, and were told “no”; an argument and fistfight ensued, following a short while later by the shooting.

ADDED 3:10 PM: Transcription of the charging document’s narrative – the story of what law enforcers say happened – ahead:Read More

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Say goodbye to a temporary icon: SBX leaves tomorrow

August 19, 2011 12:45 pm

| 17 COMMENTS

| Seen at sea | West Seattle news

(WSB photo from July)
The Missile Defense Agency just sent word that the SBX is leaving Harbor Island tomorrow, 3 months and 10 days after its late-night arrival drew crowds to West Seattle shores. We’re checking on an estimated time – meantime, here’s the announcement:

The Sea-Based X-Band Radar (SBX) will depart August 20th from Seattle, Washington where it has been undergoing scheduled maintenance and planned upgrades at Vigor Shipyards since May. The work has taken about three months to complete and was consistent with the normal work accomplished at Vigor for other government and commercial vessels.

The SBX is one of the sensors for our nation’s Ballistic Missile Defense System (BMDS). Its mission is to identify ballistic missile threats to our nation and to relay that information to the command and control center for missile defense.

A Naval Vessel Protection Zone, applicable to government vessels in transit and undergoing maintenance at Vigor Shipyards, will be applied to SBX as it departs. The US Coast Guard will be assisting with the NVPZ.

One month ago today, the seagoing radar dome drew crowds again as it left Vigor for a few hours so an oil-drilling ship could be moved in:

(July photo by Debra Herbst)
The SBX has been based in Alaska, though there’s no official word if it’s headed there next.

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Breakfast Saturday to benefit local veterans’ memorial

August 19, 2011 12:29 pm

| 2 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | White Center

(December 2010 photo by Deanie Schwarz)
The mini-park where Delridge, 16th SW, and SW Roxbury meet holds not only the public art that was decorated at Christmastime last year, but also a Veterans’ Memorial. Now, improvements and a rededication are in the works for the memorial in the South Delridge Triangle, and you can contribute tomorrow by going to a benefit breakfast at Holy Family. The memorial has long needed TLC, and community members are working to make it happen, but fundraising is needed, and this is a major step. The pancake breakfast is planned for 8-11 am Saturday, 9615 20th SW, with the menu also including eggs, sausage, coffee, and juice, for $6 suggested donation adults/$3 kids under 12. The rededication and flag-raising ceremony, meantime, is planned for 4 pm September 18th, with veterans from West Seattle and White Center participating.

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West Seattle Crime Watch: Drive-by pellet-shooting arrests

August 19, 2011 8:24 am

| 47 COMMENTS

| Arbor Heights | Crime | West Seattle news

8:24 AM: A possible breakthrough in the recent series of drive-by pellet-gun shootings: Late last night, we checked out police activity on 35th SW in Arbor Heights, after scanner traffic indicated someone had called 911 after getting hit near 37th SW/Ocean View Drive with an Airsoft-type pellet from someone driving by. While medics were on the way to check out the victim, police quickly stopped potential suspects blocks away, on 35th near 104th. Their investigation briefly closed 35th SW (iPhone photo at right), till the suspects’ car could be towed, but we didn’t get details confirmed till this morning: Southwest Precinct Lt. Alan Williams confirms that “3 juvenile males were arrested in the Arbor Heights area last night for shooting an Airsoft gun at more than one person. The juveniles were shooting at people from the car they were cruising around in. The potential that this group is responsible for recent previous incidents of a similar nature is being explored in the investigation.” We’ll add anything more we find out today.

1:03 PM UPDATE: A little more information from SW Precinct operations Lt. Pierre Davis – starting with how the incident was reported last night: “The victim reported he had been shot in the chest by teenagers in a passing vehicle. As Officers came into the neighborhood another victim called 911 to report he had also been shot by the same group. The vehicle was stopped leaving the scene and all three 17-year-old male passengers were arrested for assault. The three was in possession of a very realistic looking Air-Soft (toy) assault rifle which is very capable of causing injury. The Southwest Precinct officers did an outstanding job investigating this incident and also in stopping this group’s crime spree.”

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West Seattle Friday: Viaduct, music, movie, fun(d)raisers…

August 19, 2011 8:06 am

| 6 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Photo by t_ravtyler, from the WSB Flickr pool)
The morning murkiness won’t last, promises the forecast. So on with the outdoor, and indoor, highlights from the WSB West Seattle Events calendar – including several major fun(d)raisers:

TRAFFIC ALERT STARTING LATE TONIGHT: 11 pm is the scheduled start for what WSDOT says will be a weekend-long shutdown of the SOUTHBOUND direction of the Alaskan Way Viaduct.

DANCE! An afternoon of music and dance with Lauren Petrie at Delridge Community Center, 1:30-3:30 pm, $3, 4501 Delridge Way SW.

CHERYL SERIO AT THE MOUNT: Friday nights in August mean free concerts at Providence Mount St. Vincent (WSB sponsor) – bring your own chair/blanket, and family/friends, to the patio on the south side of The Mount (4831 35th SW). Dinner/beer/wine are available for purchase starting at 5:30, music starts at 6, tonight featuring Cheryl Serio. Kids’ activities, plus free popcorn/snow cones.

STORIES: Storytelling event at the White Center Cultural Center (9421 18th Avenue SW), 5:30 pm, with Oromo/Ethiopian storytelling by Mergitu Argo.

HISTORY MEETS HELPLINE: Tonight’s the night for the Gallery of West Seattle History benefit for West Seattle Helpline at Alki Arts, 6-9 pm – music, wine, food, art, and West Seattle history displays courtesy of the nearby Log House Museum. Beneficiaries will include school supplies for kids in need, through Pencil Me In For Kids.

34TH DISTRICT DEMOCRATS’ GARDEN PARTY: Tonight is the Garden Party/Auction for West Seattle’s biggest political organization – details here, West Seattle Nursery, 6-9 pm. Auctioneer: New York Vinnie, who’s back in West Seattle for the occasion!

WINE TASTING: Wines from the south of France featured at Bin 41 in The Junction, 6-7:30 pm.

JUSTIN ROBERTS FUNDRAISING CONCERT FOR FAMILY PROMISE: Grammy-nominated kindie-rocker Justin Roberts and The Not Ready For Naptime Players sing snappy sacred songs to benefit Family Promise of Seattle, an emergency shelter program helping newly homeless families stay together while getting back on their feet. (Here’s our FP update from earlier this week.) 6:30 pm at Fauntleroy UCC Church (9140 California Ave SW), suggested donations are $5/child (under 10), $10/adult, $15/family. Organizers say The Hall at Fauntleroy has opened its back lot to overflow parking.

MOVIE NIGHT IN HIGHLAND PARK: Free movie at Highland Park Improvement Club, 12th and Holden – “Ponyo,” with the Gildenfire Dancers as the opening act. Doors open 6:30 pm, movie at 7.

ENJOY ‘OLIVER!’ AND HELP FOSTER KIDS: The final three-run weekend of “Oliver!” by Twelfth Night Productions (WSB sponsor) starts tonight (to benefit Treehouse – bring school supplies for the donation barrel!), at West Seattle High School, 7:30 pm. Tickets are available online at Brown Paper Tickets or at the box office tonight.

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Tell the city what you want to see in Seattle in the next 20 years

August 19, 2011 7:29 am

| 25 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle online

When the city sent around a survey link, explaining it was about the “Comprehensive Plan,” we wondered if anyone would really take a survey about something so generic-sounding, as important as it is. But the fine city folks working to drum up participation for the survey explain that it boils down to nothing less than “what do you want to see in Seattle in the next 20 years?” And they share a few of the suggestions West Seattle participants have offered so far:

*Walkable. When neighborhoods are walkable: people recognize their neighbors, can get to services – even when weather shuts down the City, cars stay home and pollute less, household finances are improved with lower transportation costs, local businesses thrive because they are neighbors and tax dollars stay in the City, life is simpler.

*For neighborhoods and businesses to be more diverse voluntarily, and have more/better housing choices for all citizens. Work on ways to create jobs even if they are just entry level. Assist those getting off of welfare and out of prisons with real job skills so they won’t have to go back to welfare or jail, but will be able to support themselves and exist and contribute in society.

*Install a sea organ along the waterfront.

(We had to look that last one up.) Fewer than 1,000 people citywide have taken the survey so far – so take a few minutes and voice your ideas now! The survey is here.

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Missed the Frances Farmer walking tour? Special encore planned

August 19, 2011 1:23 am

| 6 COMMENTS

| Environment | Transportation | West Seattle news

Following our story about Wednesday night’s Admiral District walking tour focusing on “The Life and Times of Frances Farmer,” the brilliant, beautiful, and tragic West Seattle-raised movie star, several commenters voiced regrets they’d missed it. Guess what – there’s going to be an encore! With a catch: It’s exclusively for participants in West Seattle In Motion, the walking/biking/transit/etc. initiative for which WSB is the media sponsor this year. Whether you are already a member, or sign up now, as long as you log your trips through WS In Motion next week (August 21st-27th), you’ll be entered into a drawing for one of the 30 spots on a special Museum of History and Industry-presented encore tour the evening of September 7th, guided again by “MOHAI Minute” video-series co-host Peder Nelson (left). Not signed up yet? You can do it from our WS In Motion page (where you can also check out the latest progress reports on the “savings” West Seattleites are scoring as part of the program). P.S. Other special deals/offers for West Seattle In Motion participants continue – including a discount on special activities as part of the August 27th Duwamish River Festival, and a discount this week at Cycle U. Photo by Ellen Cedergreen for WSB