day : 21/12/2011 15 results

Just one year after Jonny Bostons Sandwich Shop opened, owner Dan Atherton confirms a rumor that he will put the shop up for sale within the week. WSB contributor Keri DeTore, who reported our original stories about Jonny Bostons last year, talked with him today. She says that Dan’s message to his customers is: “We’re sorry to inform the community that Jonny Bostons is up for sale, due to circumstances beyond our control.” Dan told Keri that there are family issues demanding his attention, as well as the continuing work from his other business, Artistic Design. Dan assures WSB that his employees have been told about the change and that Jonny Bostons will stay open until it sells. He adds, “We’re trying to find a buyer that will keep the sandwich shop the way it is.” (In the meantime, Jonny Bostons, which is at 4151 California SW on the north side of The Junction, will be closed for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, but open New Year’s Eve from 11:30 am-8 pm and New Year’s Day 11 am-8 pm.)

West Seattle Christmas lights: The map, the runners, more lights

December 21, 2011 11:08 pm

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| West Seattle Christmas lights | West Seattle news

View West Seattle Christmas lights, 2011 in a larger map

Almost up to two dozen sights to see on the WSB West Seattle Christmas Lights map. It came in handy for the second annual West Seattle Runner (WSB sponsor)-organized Christmas-lights run last night, Tim McConnell tells us:

He shared that photo of what he declared “a great turnout,” adding, “We stopped by 6 of the displays from the map, ending the run at the Helmstetler house and heading to Prost! for post run beverages. Everyone had a lot of fun and really enjoyed the lights.” And of course tonight we are adding another display:

Thanks to Susan for sharing that photo of her home’s display at 5106 SW Stevens! We’ll be adding to the map at least through Christmas, so more suggestions are welcome – editor@westseattleblog.com!

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Reminder: Fauntleroy Expressway & WB Spokane St. Viaduct closed

December 21, 2011 10:24 pm

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| West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

10:24 PM: Have heard from a few people who apparently missed the previews and reminders about the current abundance of road work and were surprised by the bridge closures last night and tonight. In case you’ve been out of town, or busy, or lost track, this SDOT update from today explains what’s going on. Tonight is the only night the two bridge projects overlap, but if you are trying to get home from points eastward before 5 am or so, it will be tricky – you can’t get onto the westbound West Seattle Bridge from I-5 or Beacon Hill, and once you’re on, Delridge is the last open exit.

10:47 PM: As noted in comments, and in e-mail we received, try exiting at Harbor Island, BEFORE Delridge, for a reduced chance of getting stuck in a backup. One person who e-mailed points out that the detour signs do NOT offer this option (and also, as we’ve noticed, erroneously declare the entire WS Bridge closed).

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West Seattle Crime Watch: Warning from robbery victim

December 21, 2011 8:14 pm

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| Crime | Delridge | West Seattle news

During his Tuesday “tweetalong” (explained here), SPD Southwest Precinct Officer Scott Luckie tweeted about helping search for two people who “robbed somebody at gunpoint.” Tonight we have more information on the robbery – from the victim, who says it happened in his own neighborhood:

I was walking up Croft Place from Delridge [map] and Juneau when two younger Americans of African descent started following me up the hill. As I got towards the top of the hill and was in that patch where the streetlights are sparse by the small children’s play area, they approached and politely asked if they could use my phone to call their parents. I handed over my phone, an HTC 4g 3D that was in a black Otter case but the phone itself is red with a two lens camera. He acted like he was dialing home and stepped a couple steps away. That is when he pulled out a gun and pointed it at my head and informed me he was taking my phone and advised me to just walk up the hill and if I didn’t turn around, he wouldn’t shoot me.

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West Seattle Weather Watch: Winter-solstice welcome

December 21, 2011 7:55 pm

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| West Seattle news | West Seattle weather

In the vein of “if the groundhog sees his shadow …” maybe some bonus could be conferred when Alice Enevoldsen‘s solstice/equinox-sunset parties see the sun. It happened again tonight, for the third consecutive time, after more than a few previous gatherings went sunless. Alice is not only a West Seattleite but also a NASA Solar System Ambassador, and she has invited interested skywatchers to Solstice Park, the former Lincoln Park Annex, on these occasions to see if the sunset really does line up with where the carefully designed markings say it should. She also offers some explanation of what solstice/equinox really means, usually with a “planet Earth” prop and an assistant standing in as the Sun:

The actual moment of the Winter Solstice is 9:30 tonight, our time, so winter is almost here. What about wintry weather, given that this month has been so low on rain, it might set a record? Nothing unusual is in the outlook right now. P.S. Looking ahead three months, the spring equinox will arrive the night of March 19th.

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Happening now: Grand-opening party at CoCo & Co.

December 21, 2011 6:58 pm

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| West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news

After a few weeks in business, Nathan Panuco (left) and Antonio Cejudo are hosting a party tonight – celebrating not only the holidays, but also the official grand opening of their salon CoCo & Co.’s first storefront. It’s in the 35th/Henderson storefront previously occupied by West Seattle Community Clinic. The salon had been home-based for the past year or so, Nathan says, and after a few months of looking for a retail location, this one became available- next door to Stuffed Cakes (WSB Holiday Shopping Guide sponsor) on one side, with other businesses on the corner including Bird on a Wire Espresso, Beauty Bar, West Seattle Fish House, and Green Home Renovations. Tonight’s party continues till 8 pm, with live music from Sphinx Akashaa Duncan:

Neighbors Stuffed Cakes and Bird on a Wire are among the refreshment providers tonight. If you don’t catch up with CoCo & Co. tonight, find them online here.

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West Seattle Polar Bear Swim at Alki on New Year’s Day 2012

December 21, 2011 3:08 pm

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| Announcements

Just announced by Mark Ufkes, who has long organized these swims:

West Seattle Polar Bear Club

Sunday, January 1, 2012 at 10 am at Alki Beach in front of Duke’s Restaurant and Christo’s Restaurant. Both restaurants are strong supporters of this event.

Bring water shoes, a towel, a change of warm clothes and your friends and family. Over 100 folks will hold hands in a line and run into Puget Sound together. Hot chocolate will be provided.

This is a great way to wash away the complexities of 2011, and celebrate the new opportunities and challenges that await in 2012.

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Followup: Alki Crab and Fish loses Seacrest contract appeal

December 21, 2011 2:27 pm

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| West Seattle news | West Seattle parks

(UPDATED 4 PM with more reaction added where the story previously ended)
Alki Crab and Fish has lost its appeal of the Seattle Parks decision ending its years of operating the concessions at Seacrest Pier. (If you missed previous coverage, we reported December 5th that Marination had been chosen, in a story that included links to both operations’ proposal documents; we reported on ACF’s protest on Dec. 6, and on a rally by supporters on Dec. 10.) Here’s the announcement just in; it’s from deputy Parks superintendent Eric Friedli:

We have completed the appeal process for the operation of the Seacrest Boathouse Facility. The original decision to award the operation to Marination has been affirmed following the appeal for reconsideration filed by Alki Crab & Fish Company (ACF).

After a careful re-examination of the ACF proposal, including their letter of appeal, the evaluation questions and the raters’ scores for each question, we did not find any compelling facts or reasons that would warrant or justify a reversal of the original decision. The RFP appeal committee consisted of Kathy Nyland of City Councilmember Sally Bagshaw’s staff, Roque Deherrera, of the City of Seattle’s Office of Economic Development, Terry Holme, Seattle Park Board Chair, and Eric Friedli, Parks Acting Deputy Superintendent.

The appeal committee evaluated the ACF protest by raising several key questions related to the overall RFP decision making process:

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West Seattle holiday help: AAA ‘Nickelsville’ collection update

December 21, 2011 2:23 pm

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| How to help | Nickelsville encampment | West Seattle news

Time’s running out to get holiday help to those in need around our area; some giving trees and collection bins are already packed up and gone, with early deadlines, but not all. Case in point – Alison Newquist and Ricky Toomey of AAA in The Junction are shown with some of what started as a “Soap for Hope” collection for the Family Promise homeless-families program, till it closed, and then became a collection of items needed by those living at the West Seattle encampment that calls itself “Nickelsville.” AAA is helping the local band 93 Octane put together a delivery of necessities for Christmas Eve day, and you still have time to get to their office on the southwest corner of 42nd/Alaska to drop off donations. The list of what’s needed is in our previous story;

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Need a tree? FREE while they last at Holy Rosary’s lot

December 21, 2011 1:18 pm

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| Holidays | West Seattle news

The Holy Rosary Tree Lot officially closed after Sunday but they have trees that MUST go – and we just got word that the remaining trees are FREE while they last. 41st/Dakota. (We’ll update here when we get word they’re all gone.)

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Zatz a Better Bagel, with bagels and more: New WSB sponsor

December 21, 2011 12:22 pm

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| West Seattle news | West Seattle restaurants

(Zatz manager Jason, left, with staffers Brigette and Conner)
“Even many East Coast customers mention how pleased they are by our quality,” says Zatz a Better Bagel owner Don Nolan. Zatz a Better Bagel, in the Admiral District, is one of our newest WSB sponsors, and we’re welcoming Zatz today with the customary chance for a new sponsor to tell you more about their business:

Zatz bagels “are carefully crafted locally and made with the highest-quality, all-natural ingredients,” says Don. “They are baked fresh every day, all day. You only need to see and taste them to figure out why we are often reputed as the best bagel in the area.” And beyond – Don adds, “Our customers come from all over the state to get our products.” He’s proud not only of the quality, taste, and consistency, but also of the fact that Zatz a Better Bagel is a regular donor to local charities “including the West Seattle Food Bank, which we have been doing for many years on a daily basis.”

Zatz isn’t just about bagels (by the way, theirs come in gourmet flavors like pesto, as well as the classics). As you can see on the menu posted to the Zatz website, there’s challah bread on Fridays, and takeout tubs of spreads (“shmeers”). Plus – for taking out or eating in – sandwiches, bagel dogs, breakfast “scrambagels,” soup, and espresso. Zatz a Better Bagel is a proud member of the new Admiral District Business Association. Find Zatz online at zatzbagels.com and in Admiral at 2348 California SW; call-in orders are welcome at 206-933-8244. (Holiday-season P.S. – See two special Zatz freebies here!)

We thank Zatz a Better Bagel for sponsoring independent, community-collaborative neighborhood news on WSB; find our current sponsor team listed in directory format here, and find info on joining the team by going here.

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From the West Seattle Holidays page: New Year’s Eve dinner

December 21, 2011 11:13 am

| Comments Off on From the West Seattle Holidays page: New Year’s Eve dinner

| West Seattle news | West Seattle restaurants

Even if you’re not planning to party all night on New Year’s Eve, going out to dinner seems to be a growing tradition, so the NYE section at the end of the WSB West Seattle Holidays page has a growing list of who’s offering special menus that night around here. We have five so far and room for more, if you are a restaurant owner/employee, or know of something special at your favorite West Seattle/White Center eatery, please let us know so we can add it! (We’re building the list of “who’s open Christmas Eve/Day” too.) editor@westseattleblog.com – thanks! We’ll also take the opportunity to remind you about the one-week-old WSB West Seattle Restaurant Guide; thanks to those who are adding comments to their favorite eateries’ pages (advice on favorite dishes/drinks particularly welcome). And thanks for the feedback; we’re working on additions and other tweaks.

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West Seattle Wednesday: Solstice sunset; Santa; road/bridge work

December 21, 2011 10:32 am

| Comments Off on West Seattle Wednesday: Solstice sunset; Santa; road/bridge work

| West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

In holiday mode yet? Much of what’s on the list today is from the WSB West Seattle Holidays page – well, and then there are the road and bridge alerts (our photo above shows the still-under-construction 1st Avenue South ramp to the WS Bridge):

ROAD WORK ON 35TH SW: Repaving work is scheduled to wrap up today on 35th SW between Myrtle and Othello – details here.

ROAD WORK ON 48TH SW: Road repair work is scheduled to start in the 6500 block of 48th SW – details here.

WESTBOUND SPOKANE STREET VIADUCT CLOSED OVERNIGHT: 9 pm-5 am, which means no entrance to the West Seattle Bridge from I-5 or Beacon Hill, and during that same time frame, the 1st S./Spokane surface intersection will be closed. This is part of the Spokane Street Viaduct Widening Project.

FAUNTLEROY EXPRESSWAY: A third night of 9 pm-5 am closure of the west end of the bridge is also on the schedule (though we are checking with SDOT to be sure these two bridge closures really are happening the same night).

THREE CHANCES TO SEE SANTA: He’s scheduled to be at JF Henry Kitchenware, Tableware, and Gifts (4445 California SW; WSB sponsor) in The Junction, 11 am-2 pm; West Seattle Thriftway, 3-7 pm; Westwood Village till 8 pm.

HIGH TIDES: They’re really high – the so-called “king tides” – for much of the rest of the month. While the peak here will be the two days after Christmas, today’s is 12.2 feet at 12:46 pm. Here’s the chart for the month.

GRAND OPENING: At 35th/Henderson, new salon CoCo & Co. will be having a Grand Opening and Holiday Party. They invite you to visit between 4 PM to 8 PM to “meet the staff, eat some snacks, enjoy the music and get the grand tour. We will be providing cupcakes from Stuffed Cakes, appetizers from Von’s Roast House, coffee from Bird on a Wire Espresso and music by Sphinx Akashaa Duncan.”

SOLSTICE SUNSET VIEWING: Winter solstice arrives at 9:30 pm our time – and tonight brings a sunset-viewing event at Solstice Park (7400 Fauntleroy Way SW) with Alice Enevoldsen of Alice’s Astro Info, be there by 4:05 pm (if not sooner).

HANUKKAH CONTINUES: Second night of Hanukkah – local events tomorrow night and Friday night, as listed on the WSB West Seattle Holidays page.

NO DELRIDGE NEIGHBORHOODS DISTRICT COUNCIL MEETING TONIGHT, BUT … DNDC leadership announced a potluck/community mixer at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center, 7-9 pm. Bring something to share.

INFO NIGHT FOR ‘GET FIT WEST SEATTLE‘: From West Seattle Runner (WSB sponsor):

Ever wanted to run or walk a 5K? A 10K? A half marathon? Ever wondered how you would get in shape for one of these and didn’t know where to start? Maybe you have never run before or just want to get in better shape? Well, then this is the program for you! A fully supported, free training program that takes you from never running or from low mileage running to running/walking a half marathon in 23 weeks. This program will allow you to miss some weeks and still be on track to run/walk the Rock and Roll Seattle Half Marathon in June of 2012. The training starts very slow and builds gradually, ensuring you don’t get discouraged with your progress and trying to keep injuries down to a minimum. There will be races added along the way to keep it interesting, including a 5K (or 2, or 3), a 10K, a 15K, and ending with the Rock and Roll Half Marathon, June 23rd. (All race entry fees will be paid for by the participant). It will also introduce you to others from the area, as there will be weekly group runs. There will also be information nights were you will learn about nutrition, injury prevention, stretching, cross training ideas, proper footwear and apparel, and others we will add along the way. So come out, enjoy yourself, get healthy and meet your neighbors! 48 Half Marathon finishers in 2011, let’s double that in 2012!

7 pm tonight at WS Runner (California/Charlestown) – same time 12/28 and 1/4, if you can’t make it tonight.

ONSTAGE AT ARTSWEST: Final week – ArtsWest presents the Seattle premiere of “Every Christmas Story Ever Told (And Then Some!)” by Michael Carleton, James FitzGerald and John K. Alvarez. 7:30 pm, ticket info here.

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And baby makes 89: New calf for oft-seen Puget Sound orcas

December 21, 2011 5:04 am

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| Seen at sea | West Seattle news | Wildlife

(October 2010 photo by Jeff Hogan of Killer Whale Tales)
Orca pregnancies are said to last up to 17 months – so when southern resident killer whale J16 was photographed by West Seattle whale educator/researcher Jeff Hogan of Killer Whale Tales 14 months ago, she just might have been carrying the newborn calf that’s with her now. The new baby orca was announced in Orca Network‘s Tuesday night e-mail newsletter (see it here if you haven’t already). S/he may not even be a week old yet. The baby, known as J48, is in this photo. Writer Candice Calloway Whiting says this is only the second baby born to the southern-resident orcas this year, and that they now number 89 with J48’s arrival. Reports so far do not say where researchers saw and photographed the newborn orca last weekend.

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Seen these bikes? Three stolen from West Seattle family’s porch

December 21, 2011 3:02 am

| 6 COMMENTS

| Crime | West Seattle news

Lilith e-mailed WSB, wondering if you’ve seen any or all of the bicycles stolen from her porch.

Last Friday night someone stole three bikes off our front porch. We live between Genesee Hill and Alaska Junction. No, they weren’t locked. (Though some of the ones that weren’t stolen were locked–yes, we have a lot bikes.)

We actually heard the noises on the porch about 3:00 am, but initially thought it was our nephew getting his bike to go to work. They made a big crashing noise when they took the second and third ones, though, and didn’t come back for more since we came running out. They must have ridden them away, because we didn’t hear a car or footsteps.

These bikes really have no resale value, so I can’t imagine they were stealing them to sell. They are probably in someone’s alley or at a park. We have looked, but are hoping that someone else may have seen them.

Photos and more information ahead:Read More

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