After Seattle Public Schools staff presented a revamped proposal for “capacity management” next year – basically, how to relieve overcrowding – we asked West Seattle’s newly elected school-board representative Marty McLaren for her reaction. She in turn asked if we would publish her call for YOUR thoughts. So here goes. (If you didn’t see our story earlier this week, it’s here, including a link to the presentation made to board members last Wednesday.) You can comment here or contact her directly; the board is scheduled to get a more-or-less-finalized proposal for introduction at its January 4th meeting, and a final vote two weeks later. Her message to you:

I’m very interested in hearing views from West Seattle people about the short term options that the community/school district committee (“FACMAC”) has recommended to alleviate overcrowding at elementary schools in the Denny and Madison Middle School areas.

Background: The short-term solutions offered are intended for the year 2012-13 only. By identifying these options as soon as possible, we pave the way for open enrollment to commence on time in March, 2012. Open enrollment will allow families wanting their children to attend programs outside of their normal assignment area to request those assignments.

These short-term solutions for the coming year are intended to allow time for the district (with community participation) to design mid- and long term plans for program placement and for opening more classroom space to meet our projected rise in number of students.

So far, after extensive brainstorming and soliciting opinions from many members of the community, the district is recommending:

West Seattle Christmas lights: Neighborly illumination

December 18, 2011 5:52 pm

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| West Seattle Christmas lights | West Seattle news

We’re publishing tonight’s spotlighted Christmas lights earlier than previous nights, since the weather’s good and you just might be going out for a bit of what one WSB’er called “light-seeing.” Thanks to Midge for the tip on this: She mentioned the house above, on the east side of the street in the 5400 block of 40th SW in Fairmount Springs. We noticed the house right next door (photo below) is nicely lit too, as are others along the several-block stretch of 40th that we drove.

This block is now added to our WSB West Seattle Christmas Lights map, and we’re still welcoming suggestions – editor@westseattleblog.com – through Christmas! You can also find the map any time on the West Seattle Holidays page any time. Our previous Christmas-lights spotlights are all on , the archive page for this “category” of WSB stories – find it here.

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Reader reports: Car-tab theft; found mail; suspicious person seen

December 18, 2011 4:49 pm

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| Crime | Safety | West Seattle news

Three reader reports to share: The first one, you’ve probably seen if you read the WSB Forums, but the discussion involves lots of great advice, so we wanted to share it here too: KatieK reported someone stealing her car tabs while she was shopping; police (and subsequently others) offered advice on deterring that type of theft. Read her report and the ensuing discussion here. Next – a discovery of apparently stolen mail, and a sighting that stirred suspicions:Read More

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Another cross-neighborhood faceoff on the court: SLHS vs. WSHS

December 18, 2011 2:10 pm

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

For the second consecutive night, high-school basketball teams from West Seattle had a cross-neighborhood faceoff last night. West Seattle High School faced Seattle Lutheran High School, one night after its teams played Chief Sealth International High School.

The Wildcats topped the Saints in both varsity games – details and more photos ahead:

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Update: West Seattle Junction scenes – lights-recycling plus Hometown Holidays

December 18, 2011 12:50 pm

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| Sustainable West Seattle | West Seattle Farmers' Market | West Seattle news

As of a little more than an hour ago, Sustainable West Seattle was already on its fifth box of Christmas lights brought in for recycling at its West Seattle Farmers’ Market booth. Till 2 pm, you’ll find them there – along with the meters comparing LED lights to incandescent:

Just around the corner from the Farmers’ Market, the Hometown Holidays (co-sponsored by WSB) Belgian-mule-drawn carriage rides (free!) – we caught up with them as they headed north on 44th before turning onto Alaska by the market:

The carriage rides continue till 3, as do take-it-yourself Santa photos at City Mouse. One Farmers’ Market reminder – NO market the next two Sundays, since it’s Christmas Day and New Year’s Day, BUT there’s a special nighttime edition at Junction Plaza Park this Thursday (December 22), 5-8 pm. (Sustainable WS plans to roast chestnuts, providing leader Christina Hahs’ test run tonight goes well!)

4:23 PM UPDATE: Got the final tally from the Christmas-lights-recycling collection:

That photo’s courtesy of Chas Redmond, who staffed the SWS booth today with Hahs (in the photo) and Patrick Dunn (best known as award-winning manager of the WS Tool Library). By 2 pm, he says, they had filled the pickup-truck bed with boxes of ready-to-recycle lights, and they had finished the old-vs.-new lights comparison: “The results of our demo showing the electricity draw of conventional, incandescent mini’s and the LEDs – with a string of 100 LED lights and another string of 75 incandescent mini lights running for three hours, the LED lights drew 3 watts and the incandescents (even though there were fewer) drew 300 watts – roughly 1 watt/hour for the LED string and 100 watts/hour for the incandescent string.” One more sustainability P.S. – for Christmas-giving/stocking-stuffing, the Tool Library is suggesting gift memberships (raffle ticket included!).

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West Seattle holiday deals, with days left to shop

December 18, 2011 11:06 am

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| West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news

Even amid the midday murk, it’s warm and bright in so many local stores. In case you haven’t found them already, some of them are offering deals here on WSB … here’s a selection from our HOLIDAY SHOPPING GUIDE:

*10 percent off $10+ at ATOMIC BOYS at 4311 SW Admiral Way, open for a “bonus day” today, 11 am-5 pm (then 10 am-7 pm Mon.-Fri. and 10 am-3 pm Christmas Eve) – coupon here

*While you’re in the Admiral District, stop by ZATZ A BETTER BAGEL at 2348 California SW for a free bagel with your purchase; open today till 5 pm – coupon here

*Also in the Admiral District, ALKI BIKE AND BOARD at 2606 California SW is offering 10 percent off gift cards … that and more Admiral District deals are featured on this special all-Admiral page!

*If you’re in The Junction, HOTWIRE ONLINE COFFEEHOUSE at 4410 California SW offers a double latté for $2 and, if needed, an hour of Web-surfing – coupon here

*Also in The Junction: 20 percent off at JAN’S BEAUTY SUPPLY at 4517 California SW (coupon here); 25 percent off a $30 purchase at FUNKY JANE’S, 4455 California SW (coupon here) … $25 off a $100 purchase at SWEETIE, 4508 California SW (coupon here); 20 percent off any Chemical Wedding wallet at CLEMENTINE, 4447 California SW (coupon here) … free class with a $50 purchase at KNOWS PERFUME, 4536 California SW (coupon here) … $10 off $50 purchase at PHARMACA INTEGRATIVE PHARMACY, 4707 California SW (coupon here)

*Further south: Buy one/get one free OR $3 off holiday pack at STUFFED CAKES, 9003 California SW (coupon here – note they’re not open Sundays)

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West Seattle Sunday: Hometown Holidays; Hanukkah concert; ‘Wonderful Life’ finale…

December 18, 2011 9:30 am

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| West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Mule-drawn carriage in The Junction, photographed last Sunday)
Rain, shine, or fog, it’s one week till Christmas and the final West Seattle Junction Hometown Holidays Sunday, among other highlights from the calendars (year-round events list here, winter-holidays list here):

RECYCLE THOSE OLD CHRISTMAS LIGHTS: Got lights that you replaced (perhaps with energy-thrifty LEDs) or couldn’t use this year outdoors or on the tree? Sustainable West Seattle is accepting old Christmas lights for recycling at its West Seattle Farmers’ Market booth today, 10 am-2 pm, while demonstrating the power-use difference between LEDs and old-fashioned lights.

FRESH FOOD: And of course the West Seattle Farmers’ Market offers its usual fresh vegetables, fruit, meat, cheese, flowers, nuts, and a lot more, 10 am – 2 pm, The Junction (44th/Alaska).

MULE-DRAWN CARRIAGE RIDES: While you’re in The Junction for the Farmers’ Market, it’s one more chance for Mule Carriage Rides 11 am-3 pm, free. Take a traditional carriage ride down California SW pulled by Belgian Draft Mules, departing on California in front of KeyBank at Hometown Holidays Headquarters.

SANTA PHOTOS: Where’s Santa today? In the Junction, you’ll find Hometown Holidays Santa at City Mouse Studio and Store (4218 SW Alaska) for a third and final Sunday – but today, it’s Do-It-Yourself photos, with no official photographer, so bring your own camera. $15 requested donation goes to local charities. As for Santa’s other stops in West Seattle today, the list and links are at the top of the West Seattle Holiday Events/Info page.

WRAP STARS: “Wrap It Up” gift wrapping with Furry Faces Foundation and AARF. It’s up to you how much you would like to donate for the gift wrapping, with 100% of the proceeds going directly to helping animals. Today is the second of four “Wrap It Up” sessions – 1 – 7 pm at the Beveridge Place Pub, 6413 California Ave SW (during the Specialty Bottle Sale and for a couple hours after). … (added) Just heard this morning about Roxhill Elementary wrapping fundraiser at Barnes & Noble in Westwood Village till 9 pm.

SEASON FINALE AT KITTY HARBOR: After this afternoon’s round of cat adoptions, Kitty Harbor closes for the year, and is hoping everybody will find their forever home. 2-6 pm, on Harbor Avenue just north of the West Seattle Bridge.

HANUKKAH CONCERT: Performed by the Seattle Jewish Chorale @ 3:00 pm. Westside Unitarian Universalist Congregation, 7141 California Ave SW, co-sponsored by WSUU and Kol HaNeshamah. “Light the Candles: A Hanukkah Concert for Everyone” is an interactive, family-friendly celebration featuring both familiar and unusual holiday songs in Hebrew, English, Yiddish and Ladino. For Jews and non-Jews alike, learn what Hanukkah is all about! Reception to follow, with Hanukkah goodies for sale.Tickets are $10/adults, $5/children (under 12), $8/students & seniors/un(der)employed pay as able.

FINAL PERFORMANCE FOR ‘IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE, A LIVE RADIO SHOW’: 3 pm performance of Twelfth Night Productions‘ “It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Show,” concluding its run at Kenyon Hall, 7904 35th SW.

AUTHORS AT SKYLARK: West Seattle author Dave O’Leary will be reading from his debut novel, “Horse Bite,” at Skylark Café and Club, along with three other local authors/poets will also be reading from their works – Cherry Tigris, Pam Summa, and Roberto Carlos Ascalon. 3-5 pm, 3803 Delridge Way SW

‘EVERY CHRISTMAS STORY’: Also a matinee today for ArtsWest in The Junction presents “Every Christmas Story Ever Told (And Then Some!).” 3 pm; ticket info here.

GOT YOUR TREE YET? IF NOT, HURRY! At least one tree lot is already closed for the season (Son-In-Law at California/Charlestown) and today is the last day listed for the Holy Rosary Tree Lot (41st/Dakota), which donates part of its proceeds to local charities; it cut prices in half earlier this week.

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Remembering longtime West Seattle resident Lois Baldwin

December 18, 2011 1:53 am

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| Obituaries | West Seattle news | West Seattle people

Lois Baldwin lived a life of education – given and received – as well as creativity and adventure, as detailed in this remembrance shared by her niece, Vicki Burr-Chellin:

Lois Elaine Baldwin, former English teacher and guidance counselor at Evergreen High School from 1955-1976, died peacefully on December 11, 2011 in West Seattle.

Miss Baldwin was born on Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 25, 1920 in Winlock, WA to Lee Ernest Baldwin and Yola Barrett Baldwin, both from pioneer families. (She claimed to love pumpkin pie because her mother had been eating pie on the day she was born.) The Baldwins moved to Oregon. where their father owned timber and operated a sawmill and their mother was a career public-school teacher, and they raised 4 children.

Miss Baldwin graduated high school in Cottage Grove, OR; she received her BA in Education from the University of Oregon, Eugene, OR (1944); and her MA in Education (English Literature) from the Colorado State College of Education at Greeley, CO (1955). She was a published poet and a student and teacher of Shakespeare. Her published poem in Poems of the Beaver State 1948, A Thanksgiving Prayer follows:

God
Grant that there be
Quietness
Within my soul,
I pray –
Calm, cool strength that
Lends a peace
To this – Thanksgiving Day.

And – then – dear Lord,
Let there be
Love
And with it
Faith to know
That by this quality we live
And by this Truth
We grow.