West Seattle wildlife: Seal pup ‘Spanky’ rescued by ‘superhero’
News tonight from Robin Lindsey of Seal Sitters:
I thought your readers might want to know that seal pup Spanky was rescued successfully today after falling off a high rock, deep into a hole between immense boulders late yesterday afternoon. It was quite a challenging predicament for the little pup who could not climb back out – and we could not reach in far enough to get him. Spanky has been a fixture along the west side rocks since we first discovered him on October 5th, entertaining volunteers and onlookers almost daily with his antics. We want to thank everyone who has respected the stranding network’s tape perimeter which has been put in place on busier days so he could rest undisturbed. Thankfully, we have had a good ending to this nerve-wracking incident and we hope Spanky returns to his rocky stretch of beach – just not to this particular rock!
Robin says a state wildlife worker turned into a seal-rescuing “superhero” to get Spanky out of there – she tells the story on Seal Sitters’ “Blubberblog” site. (And remember that if you see a seal, or any marine mammal, on a local beach, call 206-905-7325 [SEAL] to let SS know.)
Update: Southbound 99 lane fixed, reopened, re-closed, re-opened
ORIGINAL 2:55 PM REPORT: Just in from WSDOT:
The right lane of southbound SR 99, approximately ½ mile north of the West Seattle Bridge, is closed for emergency road repair work. The lane will be closed through the evening commute. During the 6-hour closure, crews will place a steel plate in the lane. When the road reopens, motorcyclists should use extra caution near the steel plates. The 40 mph speed limit will not change.
ADDED 3:31 PM: On the WSB Facebook page, at least one person with a view of the Viaduct says it’s already a mess.
5:35 PM UPDATE: WSDOT has reopened the lane hours earlier than projected.
LATE-NIGHT UPDATE: And WSDOT says it’s closed again.
SATURDAY MORNING UPDATE: And … reopened.
Westside School: iPads in class today, open house tomorrow
At Westside School (WSB sponsor), they’re getting ready for an Open House tomorrow – the type to which prospective families are invited, so they can check out the campus. This afternoon, we got a firsthand look at some of the ways Westside students are integrating the newest technology into their work – iPads in math class. Above, teacher Marsha Lovely‘s kindergarteners; below, David Preston‘s 6th graders:
We’re told the middle-schoolers (this is Westside’s first year of middle school by the way – it’s being phased in, so they’ll add seventh grade next year) gave presentations to parents earlier today too, to show them what they’re doing with the iPads. Sixth graders get to use the iPads “full time,” we’re told, while the younger students share. You can find out more about Westside tomorrow at 10 am, which is when the open house begins – but if you can’t make it, you can also inquire about their weekly tours. They’re at 7740 34th SW.
South Seattle Community College plans tribute to veterans
(Editor’s note: After we had published this news release, SSCC sent a corrected version saying the flag-raising will actually be on the 10th, so we have made the change inline.)
Just out of the WSB inbox from South Seattle Community College:
On Friday, November 11, Thursday November 10, at 11:11 am, a ceremony/flag raising will take place on the campus of South Seattle Community College to recognize Veterans Day. Throughout the day, the campus screens will feature a slideshow of South veterans and their family members who served. No classes are held November 11, but campus offices remain open and staffed.
Nearly 200 student veterans reflect and add to the rich diversity of South’s student body. They come from all over the world, represent every branch of the military and, while they share some strong common bonds as veterans, all are following their individual paths to academic and career success.
South a “Military Friendly School”
For the second year in a row, South Seattle Community College has been designated by G.I. Jobs magazine as a “Military Friendly School” for 2011 – 2012 based on its role in accepting America’s veterans as students.
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Arbor Heights fire aftermath: Hydrant upgrades almost complete
Seattle Public Utilities says it’s almost finished with the hydrant upgrades promised after water-flow problems hampered firefighters’ 
work to extinguish the flames that destroyed an Arbor Heights home on August 27 (WSB photo at right). We spoke with SPU today, after Arbor Heights resident Kevin McClintic clued us to work that’s been under way in the area this week (and shared the photo atop this story).
According to SPU’s Ingrid Goodwin, “Ten of the 12 hydrants that were identified for upgrades have been replaced with larger, standard-sized hydrants. The remaining two hydrants, located at 107th SW and 35th Ave SW, and 100th Street and 35th Ave, are scheduled to be replaced by the week of November 14.”
During work yesterday, several Arbor Heights residents noted on the WSB Facebook page that they lost water service but hadn’t received advance notification. Goodwin says SPU had warned “about 15 to 20 homes along 100th between 39th SW and 44th SW” that they would lose water yesterday, but the shutdown affected more homes than those. She said, “This was not supposed to happen, and we apologize for the disruption in water service to those customers. SPU is investigating why those homes, outside of the shut-down area, were affected.”
The new hydrants are painted yellow “for greater visibility,” Goodwin says, adding that while they originally planned to upgrade 11, a twelfth was identified and added to the list.
Ahead – see the list of the replacement hydrants’ locations:Read More
West Seattle Friday: Spa Day; wine tastings; ‘The Foreigner’…
(Purse seiner off Alki Point – explained by Beach Drive Blog; photo by Danny McMillin via Flickr)
Happy Friday! From the West Seattle Events calendar:
FOOD TRUCK POD: 1 truck due at lunch, 3 for dinner, at Uptown Espresso lot on the south end of The Junction, schedule here
SPA DAY AT PHARMACA: It’s Spa Day at Pharmaca Integrative Pharmacy (WSB sponsor), 1-5 pm (p.s. did you know they have a longstanding discount coupon here on WSB? find it and print it here).
COUNCILMEMBER VISITS SOUTHWEST COMMUNITY CENTER: Supporters of SW Community Center, which faces major changes under the mayor’s proposed budget, invite community members to join them in talking with City Councilmember Tom Rasmussen at 2 pm today – more details here.
IN-STORE WINE TASTING: At Metropolitan Market (WSB sponsor) in Admiral, 5-7 pm
WASHINGTON WINE MEDLEY: That’s the theme of Bin 41‘s weekly wine tasting, 6-7:30 pm.
‘THE FOREIGNER’ IN FAUNTLEROY: You’re invited to a community play this weekend at Fauntleroy Church (9140 California Avenue SW), with four performances through Sunday, starting at 7 pm tonight. The Fauntleroy Players of yore come to life again with “The Foreigner,” a comedy for all ages. More details and ticket info here.
‘THE DESPERATE HOURS’: Final performance for West Seattle High School’s Drama Club production, 7:30 pm at WSHS Theater. More info here.
Two days till ‘Hope for Jan,’ this Sunday at Feedback Lounge
This fall, the WSB Forums – added 2 years after the site’s debut – turn four. They were created when the requests for local recommendations – “where do I find a …” – started to overwhelm the front-page news stream. 
That’s a form of “people helping people,” and the Forums also have yielded face-to-face versions of that … as members joined together to reach out to people who need more than information. Sometimes, that’s meant face-to-face events, like the one coming up Sunday at the Feedback Lounge (WSB sponsor), a fundraising silent auction for Jan Seeley, a longtime Forums and comment-section participant you’d recognize as “JanS.” But much more than a screen name, she is a West Seattle community member, wearing hats including independent businessperson and mom.
Jan’s had health trouble for a while, and has won some victories, beating breast cancer, among other things. Right now she is in another health battle, waiting for a kidney transplant, because of a rare disease called fibrillary glomerulonephritis. Jan’s daughter Jessica had hoped to be a match, but tests revealed that was not to be, so Jan is still waiting and hoping. But Jessica, friends, and Forums members have done something else to help – organized Sunday’s fundraiser, including rustling up some unique auction items. Drop by The Feedback 2-5 pm Sunday to bid on something and enjoy Happy Hour (with proceeds from a special drink and appetizer going to Jan’s fund), as well as chair massage. Auction items mentioned in the ongoing WSB Forums discussion about the event so far include: great wine, coffee baskets, photographs, art, pest control services, massage gift cards, yard work, bagels from Zatz’s, an Angelina’s gift card, Curves membership, and handblown-glass ornaments. (Tis the season!) The Feedback is at 6451 California SW. By the way, its co-proprietor Jeff Gilbert is also a graphics artist extraordinaire and designed the poster art above (as well as the many others you’ll see on the Feedback’s site regarding the other events it hosts/presents).
In King County Superior Court Judge Joan DuBuque‘s courtroom, the third of the three men found guilty of 
Two years after the city started allowing them everywhere, “backyard cottages” continue to generate buzz. Our partners at the
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