day : 10/10/2011 11 results

Out of the WSB inbox tonight, from Beehive:

My car was stolen from my alley access driveway with bedroom windows overlooking it. I also had a club on it at Fauntleroy and Edmunds. 1995 teal Honda Civic with low profile. I’m pissed off! Please warn others to take additional measures.

Bad news for the Tox-Ick Monster = good news for Pathfinder

| Environment | Sustainable West Seattle | West Seattle news

The photos from tonight’s Sustainable West Seattle-presented “Don’t Feed the Tox-Ick Monster” event at Pathfinder K-8 School are courtesy of Laura James – yes, undersea Laura! – who reports that the community rose to the challenge: Get at least 40 adults into the room, and the night’s prize (each of these presentations feature prizes) goes to a runoff-reducing cistern for Pathfinder’s Earth Project. Laura says the final count appeared to be more than 70! Maybe it was the free, donated Proletariat Pizza …

If you haven’t yet learned the secrets of fighting the Tox-ick Monster, you have two more chances – November 12th, in Spanish, at St. James Annex in South Delridge, and November 19th at Alki UCC – times, addresses, and more information here.

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West Seattle sports: Two youth-basketball notes for this week

October 10, 2011 9:13 pm

| Comments Off on West Seattle sports: Two youth-basketball notes for this week

| West Seattle news | WS & Sports

FRIDAY ALL-DAY BASKETBALL: Watts Basketball is offering an all-day basketball clinic for 2nd through 6th graders this Friday, which is a day off for Seattle Public Schools students (and others who follow that calendar) – details/registration here.

YOUTH BASKETBALL AT SALVATION ARMY COMMUNITY CENTER:

That’s one of last year’s “HYPE” teams from the center in South Delridge at 9020 16th Avenue SW – and tryouts for teams 2nd through 8th grade are happening this week, according to Rino Canoy, who sent word of the schedule: 2nd/3rd graders, Wednesday 6 pm and Friday 7:30 pm; boys’ 4th-5th-6th graders, Tuesday and Thursday, 6 pm; boys’ 7th-8th graders, Tuesday and Thursday, 7:30 pm. This is for winter season; spring season tryouts will be in March. Questions? Call Sean, 206-767-3150, extension 108.

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‘Viadoom’? Viaduct closure meeting at WSHS, as-it-happened

October 10, 2011 6:25 pm

| 19 COMMENTS

| Alaskan Way Viaduct | West Seattle news

(From left, Steve Huling, County Councilmember Joe McDermott, City Councilmember Tom Rasmussen)
6:25 PM: We’re at West Seattle High School‘s commons – most easily accessible from the parking lot off California SW – where the presentation has begun at the informational meeting about the upcoming Alaskan Way Viaduct closure. City Councilmember Tom Rasmussen started off with a few words of acknowledgment; he chairs the council’s Transportation Committee. County Councilmember Joe McDermott is speaking now. He told the crowd “Think of yourself as early adopters – you’re here to get the information early … share the information with everybody you can find, because we all need to get the word out as early as possible.” He suggested the nickname “Via-doom,” but said that, like the much-feared Carmageddon in Southern California, it might not turn out to be that way – depending on action taken by commuters.

6:30 PM: Alaskan Way Viaduct project deputy director Matt Preedy is speaking now. He said one myth he wanted to debunk is – no, the entire Viaduct is *not* coming down now, just a section of the south end. And, aside from this closure, as he’s pointing out, Highway 99 will remain open as south-end replacement work (and, starting next year, central-waterfront tunnel work) continues. He’s also reviewing how the detour in the stadium zone will run, once the closure is over, including an explanation that what’s been under construction to the west of the south end of the Viaduct for the past year is the new southbound side – not just “a ramp.” Key point:

WHAT’S OPEN, WHAT’S CLOSED DURING THE NINE DAYS, TEN NIGHTS OCT. 21-31
*CLOSED: Southbound from Battery Street Tunnel to West Seattle Bridge, in its entirety, closed for the duration, as is the northbound side from WS Bridge to Royal Brougham
*OPEN: Northbound between the South Royal Brougham Way onramp and Battery Street Tunnel, 5 am-7 pm on the weekdays (and for special events)

Another slide with key points:

HOW TO GET AROUND DURING THE CLOSURE
*Carpool, vanpool, vanshare
*Take the bus, water taxi, light rail, train, bike
*Work from home
*Adjust your work schedule
*Use alternate routes where possible
*Plan for delays and added travel time
*Listen to radio traffic reports and use electronic message boards to get up to the minute information
*Delay or reschedule discretionary trips

Even if you can only try an alternative ONE day during the closure, Preedy says, that will help. Also – he is stressing that while they’ll take some questions here in the group session, the county, city, and state reps are here for lots of 1-on-1 conversation, so even if you’re not here yet, don’t hesitate to come on down and find somebody to ask.

6:52 PM: Q/A is under way now. We’ll have a separate story with those points and more later.

6:59 PM: Councilmember McDermott mentioned the “We’ll Get You There” website for informational links – if you’re looking for that, it will come up if you Google that phrase, or here’s the direct link to bookmark.

7:06 PM: One other new link that might interest you – WSDOT has just put up “Recommended Routes” and has broken them down by region – find them all linked from here, or to be specific: Here’s the West Seattle info page. WSDOT plans another media briefing downtown tomorrow morning at which they’ll be talking about the alternate routes, among other things.

10:23 PM NOTE: And if you missed this meeting but would like to hear from, and pose a question to, the same WSDOT exec who presented most of the briefing – Matt Preedy is scheduled to be at Tuesday night’s Admiral Neighborhood Association meeting too, 7 pm, lower-level meeting room at Admiral UCC Church (California/Hill).

ADDED TUESDAY MORNING: That’s our video of the 35 minutes during which Rasmussen, McDermott, and Preedy spoke, and fielded questions.

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West Seattle Crime Watch followup: Murder trial date set

October 10, 2011 3:56 pm

| 1 COMMENT

| Crime | Fauntleroy | West Seattle news

One of the half-dozen-plus ongoing criminal cases on which we check periodically is that of Angelo Felice, charged with the stabbing murder last February of the Fauntleroy man best known by his vaudeville name, Hokum W. Jeebs. Felice was back in court today; a trial date was tentatively set for January 17th, provided everything is in order at the “omnibus” check-in hearing that will precede it, on December 30th. We last reported on this case in March; what’s happened since then is the fairly standard pattern of check-in hearings, postponements, and also in this case some motions and documents that are “sealed,” regarding expert witnesses for the defense. Felice has been in jail, held in lieu of $1 million bail, since last February 16th, the day after the killing, when he was picked up while walking in Highland Park, hours after being seen climbing out of a ravine near Jeebs’s home.

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Also from Fauntleroy: Detailed schedule for Sunday’s festival

October 10, 2011 2:58 pm

| 2 COMMENTS

| Fauntleroy | West Seattle festivals | West Seattle news

Same place where recyclables were dropped off yesterday, you’ll find part of the fun this Sunday, at the annual Fauntleroy Fall Festival. It actually spans the entire Fauntleroy hub – Fauntleroy Church/YMCA and, across the street, the Fauntleroy Schoolhouse Community Center (be sure to wander to the west side, “behind” the schoolhouse, too). 2-5:30 pm on Sunday (October 16) with live music, dance, pony rides, pumpkin-painting, more than two dozen OTHER things to do! We’ve just received the full list of activities and performances, and when/where on the festival grounds you’ll find them – see it here.

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If you recycled in Fauntleroy on Sunday, you made history

October 10, 2011 1:37 pm

| 3 COMMENTS

| Environment | Fauntleroy | West Seattle news

Maybe “fall cleaning” is more popular than “spring cleaning”! An update just in from Judy Pickens:

West Seattle is surely riding higher in the water today after yesterday’s free Recycle Roundup sponsored by 1 Green Planet and Fauntleroy Church. Residents off loaded a record 14 tons of stuff, from water heaters and console TVs to computer monitors and floor lamps. All is even now being responsibly recycled locally for return to the resource stream. Watch for the church’s green committee to host another roundup in the spring.

If you can’t wait till spring, check out the South Transfer Station – and related links if you have items they don’t take. (WSB photo taken during Sunday’s event)

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West Seattle businesses: Corner Store and Deli’s first day

October 10, 2011 11:59 am

| 14 COMMENTS

| Triangle | West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news

It’s the first official day of business for the new Corner Store and Deli in The Triangle at 36th/Fauntleroy next to Jones Barbeque, in the space that was long known as Tervo’s. The store is remodeled inside and out, most notably, adding a Boar’s Head deli setup for fresh sandwiches:

That’s Daniel Gebrechristos, Corner Store co-owner with brother Negash (who we interviewed in August, when we got first word of the ownership change/reopening plan). Daniel designed the renovations too, and says that as the business gets established, they’ll probably make some changes to its entryway, too. For now, if you go in today, you’ll notice some empty space – they’re still ramping up the stock, and they’ll be putting in chairs/tables by the new Fauntleroy-fronting windows. Daniel invites the neighborhood to come in, say hi, and try food samples this Saturday and Sunday, 10 am-4 pm both days. (Their regular hours, he says, are 6:30 am-10 pm daily.)

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West Seattle Monday: Viaduct closure Q/A, NDNC, and more

October 10, 2011 9:28 am

| 9 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(WSDOT photo, via Flickr)
VIADUCT CLOSURE, AND POST-CLOSURE, MEETING TONIGHT: When the upcoming Alaskan Way Viaduct demolition/construction closure is over on or by October 31st, drivers will be using this bypass – and the section of The Viaduct that’s over it now will be gone. But before you get there – it’s the nine-day, 10-night closure, and TONIGHT is your chance for Q/A, one-on-one and/or in a large group, with the people who have answers. West Seattle High School commons, 6-8 pm (with three West Seattleites speaking at 6:30 – City Councilmember Tom Rasmussen, County Councilmember Joe McDermott, and Viaduct deputy project director Matt Preedy). 3000 California SW.

ROAD WORK SCHEDULED FOR TODAY: Unless it’s called off because of the rain (we’re checking), today is the scheduled start of work to put in a downhill transit lane and uphill bike lane along part of SW Avalon Way through the Luna Park business district.

COLUMBUS DAY: No postal mail and no banks. It’s not a local government holiday, though, so those offices are open, as are schools.

VOTER REGISTRATION DEADLINE: Today’s a key deadline on the road to next month’s election – the deadline to register, or update your information, online or by mail. Full details here.

‘TIS THE SOUP SEASON: West Seattle Cooking Club meets at 2 pm at Beveridge Place Pub. This week’s theme: Soup. (Bring yours, enjoy others’.)

NORTH DELRIDGE NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCIL: They’re meeting tonight at 6:30 pm, Delridge Library (Brandon/Delridge). Agenda includes a briefing on how Fauntleroy Expressway project detours next month will affect Delridge, and discussion of other traffic projects, plus a look ahead to tomorrow night’s Delridge Community Forum meeting about the DESC homeless-housing project.

CITY CHICKENS: Interested in learning about raising chickens in your backyard? Attend tonight’s free class, “Keeping Chickens in the City,” 6:30 pm at the Southwest Library branch. Organizers say, “The basics of chicken keeping will be covered: starting with chicks or hens, requirements for housing, food and care, all about eggs, and more.” Details here.

OCTOBER 10: Roxhill Elementary PTA meets, 6:30 pm in the school library.

FIGHT THE TOX-ICK MONSTER: Tonight at 7 pm at Pathfinder K-8 on Pigeon Point (1901 SW Genesee), Sustainable West Seattle presents its “Don’t Feed the Tox-Ick Monster” roadshow – and you’re doing a good deed just by showing up; an environmental project at Pathfinder gets $1,000 if the turnout hits 40 adults. Free pizza, too!

ALSO AT PATHFINDER TONIGHT: Pigeon Point Neighborhood Council meets, 7 pm.

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‘Telling Our Westside Stories’: Who has a story to share?

October 10, 2011 9:17 am

| 2 COMMENTS

| West Seattle history | West Seattle news

Know someone with a great West Seattle story to tell – or maybe you have one yourself? “Telling Our Westside Stories” is about to get going, and the Southwest Seattle Historical Society needs your help to find the “storytellers”! Here’s the official announcement:

What was it like growing up next to the Duwamish River? How often did you go to Alki Beach? Did you catch fish in the creeks? Did you ride your bikes up the West Seattle hills? Did you think the ravines were scary?

The Southwest Seattle Historical Society is launching an ambitious three-year project of Telling Our Westside Stories. The project will engage youth of the various neighborhoods of southwest Seattle in talking to elders to find out how they have experienced life in southwest Seattle over a period of many years and elders talking to young people and finding out how they experience the same neighborhoods in a different time. Youth will ask questions about living on the Duwamish Peninsula, about work, and about home.

The resulting exhibits will feature interactive maps with audio clips from the interviews and exhibits that travel to area libraries, schools, community centers, and retirement centers.

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Speaking of sea life: ‘Record-breaking year’ for Seal Sitters

October 10, 2011 8:33 am

| 3 COMMENTS

| Seen at sea | West Seattle news | Wildlife

(Photo courtesy Robin Lindsey)
For the first time in a long time, Seal Sitters first responder/photographer/writer Robin Lindsey had a short break the other day – no pups reported on shore. Otherwise, she told WSB on Saturday, “we have just been having a crazy season thus far with multiple pups in West Seattle on many days. … Since the first week of August, Seal Sitters has already surpassed the number of pups we watched over last year from early August til the end of the year. We have protected 35 pups thus far – and October often proves to be our busiest month. This does not include the number of responses in Seattle and beaches north. It appears we will have a record-breaking year.” In Robin’s photo, that’s Blanco, who spent several days resting on West Seattle beaches. And since the weeks ahead may bring more pups to do exactly that, she has a reminder and a request:

This is the time of year when many pups are fighting to survive. We have some chubby pups with good blubber layer, but others have become quite thin and consequently are more prone to parasites and viruses. This is why it is so critical to let them have the space on shore to rest. Seal Sitters appreciates everyone’s help and support, but most importantly, the pups desperately need the space – and it truly could save a life.

One of the lives Seal Sitters has saved this season is that of a pup they nicknamed Sandy, whom Robin says “is thriving at PAWS Wildlife Center” and is expected to be released back into the wild later this month. Read about her on the Seal Sitters’ Blubberblog, where you can catch up with sighting reports and other news (just checked, and we’re thinking this is 2011 pup #36). And if you see a seal or other marine mammal on shore – call Seal Sitters (206-905-7325).

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