West Seattle, Washington

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year : 2011 4273 results

Video: White Center Christmas Tree goes up in Delridge Triangle
December 9, 2011 11:48 am
|      1 COMMENT
 |   Holidays | West Seattle news | White Center

A stalwart group of Santa’s helpers, including White Center business-community leaders, just achieved a milestone in the WC/South Delridge holiday season – raising the official Christmas tree in the Delridge Triangle mini-park (16th/Roxbury) for the second year. As you can see in our video, bright sunshine and good cheer certainly helped. All are welcome to the tree lighting this Sunday night at 5 pm. Santa himself will be there, along with carolers, we hear. (More WC/West Seattle holiday-event info here.)

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Lowman Beach overflow project: Design meeting Tuesday
December 9, 2011 10:14 am
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 |   Environment | West Seattle beaches | West Seattle news

Want an update on what the Murray combined-sewer-overflow (CSO) control facility is going to look like when it’s built across from Lowman Beach Park, starting in about 2 years? Your next chance is Tuesday (December 13), 6:30 pm, The Hall at Fauntleroy (9131 Fauntleroy Way SW), as the project’s volunteer Design Advisory Group meets, public welcome. More details ahead, from the county’s announcement:Read More

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West Seattle Friday: Tree lighting; tastings; stage shows; more
December 9, 2011 9:34 am
|    Comments Off on West Seattle Friday: Tree lighting; tastings; stage shows; more
 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(“It’s a Wonderful Life” photo courtesy Twelfth Night Productions)
If you’re NOT booked up tonight with the company party, family party, neighborhood party, etc. – there’s still holiday (and otherwise) fun out there today/tonight – such as:

BINGO FOR CASH: Play today at the Senior Center of West Seattle, 4217 SW Oregon, buy in starts at 10:45 am and bingo starts at 11 am. Soup, sandwiches, salads, assorted pastries are available for purchase at nominal cost.

HOLIDAY WINE TASTINGS: Tonight at Metropolitan Market-Admiral (WSB sponsor), 5-7 pm, and Bin 41 in The Junction, 6-7:30 pm (details on The Bin’s website).

OLG TREE LIGHTING: Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish & School 7th Annual Community Christmas Tree Lighting at 7 pm. From the official announcement: “We’ll sing carols and celebrate around the “highest” Christmas tree in the city of Seattle—110 feet high, and 520 feet above sea level! More than 1,000 lights illuminate this beloved West Seattle Christmas tradition, with a tree that’s visible from as far away as Highway 99 (what’s left of it!) near the West Seattle Bridge. … This event also celebrates the effort from Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish and School to give back to the Seattle community. Everyone is encouraged to bring non-perishable food items to be donated to the St. Vincent DePaul Society, a non-profit organization that provides food and support services to those in need. The food items will be distributed to our local food banks. Guests will be invited to warm up in our Parish Hall after the tree lighting to enjoy complimentary refreshments and participate in Christmas craft activities for children.”

MORE CHRISTMAS LIGHTS: Want to detour to see the bright sights on the way back from OLG? We’re continuing to build a list on the WSB West Seattle Holiday Events/Info page, and featuring at least one display nightly.

SUSTAINABLE WEST SEATTLE CELEBRATION: Tonight, 7-9 pm, holiday dinner celebration at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center – details on the SWS website.

‘IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE,’ RADIO-STYLE: 7:30 pm performance of Twelfth Night Productions‘ “It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Show,” at Kenyon Hall. Based on the classic 1946 Frank Capra film, playwright Joe Landry’s take on “It’s a Wonderful Life” comes to life as a live 1940s radio broadcast at historic Kenyon Hall, 7904 35th SW. Tickets are available online at Brown Paper Tickets, and at Kenyon Hall, $15/adults, $12 students & seniors.

‘EVERY CHRISTMAS STORY’: ArtsWest presents “Every Christmas Story Ever Told (And Then Some!).” 7:30 pm; ticket info here.

ART AND MUSIC AT YOUNGSTOWN: Stop by the art opening for local artist Deb McCarroll which includes a concert by West Seattle-based band, West Side Sally. There will be art available for purchase as well as food, drinks and live music! Art by Deb McCarroll; music by West Side Sally. Art 6-9 pm, music 9-11 pm, Youngstown Cultural Arts Center (4408 Delridge Way SW).

ECLIPSE VERY VERY LATE TONIGHT (AKA EARLY TOMORROW): Since this will be BEFORE our daily preview for tomorrow, a shoutout here right now – if the weather cooperates, watch the sky to the west starting just before 5 am for the last total lunar eclipse visible (theoretically) from here for a couple years. Here’s the latest from our partners at the Seattle Times (who talked to experts including West Seattle’s own Alice Enevoldsen).

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Bridge-work updates: Fauntleroy Expressway, Spokane St. Viaduct
December 9, 2011 7:59 am
|      7 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

Two updates from SDOT for next week: The first night of the Fauntleroy Expressway closure for quake-safety upgrades – the southwest end of the West Seattle Bridge – will start later, because of the Monday night Seahawks game. So that night only, it’ll start 10:30 pm (9 pm the next two nights, as the map from our original report notes).

Second, the city is tentatively planning to close the westbound Spokane Street Viaduct (the bridge between I-5 and 99) every night from next Wednesday (December 14) through December 23rd. And there are surface closures planned just east of West Seattle, at East Marginal/South Spokane, Monday-Thursday nights, as well as a “tentative” plan to detour 1st Avenue S. at Spokane St. each night Dec. 16-22. (Got all that? We’ll have a reminder each day in the daily-highlights preview, as usual.)

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Scenes from the West Seattle Art Walk, December 2011 edition
December 9, 2011 3:35 am
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 |   West Seattle Art Walk | West Seattle news

(Contributing photographers: Katie Meyer, Wim Bonner, Patrick Sand)
Seen along Thursday night’s West Seattle Art Walk – It may have been “Ugly Sweater” time at Twilight Artist Collective in The Junction, but who can focus on sweaters when Twilight’s ownership trio is posing with baby Margaux (new daughter of co-owner Mary Enslow)? OK, how about this sweater, spotted on a patron?

Along with the sweater-showing-off, Twilight debuted “12 Days of Christmas” – a display in which, they say, “12 groovy artists each represent one of the twelve days of Christmas.” LOTS more to see along WSB’s December Art Walk travels … click ahead for more pix, including a photographer often featured on WSB, art in a trailer, and more!

Read More

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Video: DESC Delridge project passes 1st round of Design Review
December 8, 2011 9:19 pm
|      11 COMMENTS
 |   Delridge | DESC Delridge project | Development | West Seattle news

(DESC project site on Delridge, from “packet” for Thursday night meeting)
9:19 PM: We’re at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center, where the first Southwest Design Review Board meeting looking at the proposed DESC homeless-housing project at 5444 Delridge Way has just ended. About 20 members of the public were there; about half a dozen spoke. Board members had many suggestions for the architects, but none were enough to stop the project from moving forward in the design-review process, so it has officially cleared “early design guidance,” which means DESC can apply for its master use permit. Next step: They will have to develop a fully fleshed-out design to bring to a second SWDRB meeting, date not yet set. We have video of the meeting and full details to come.

FIRST ADDITION: Interim update – The six-minute clip above is the very end of the meeting, with SWDRB chair Brandon Nicholson summarizing the recommendations the board is making to the architects and the city Department of Planning and Development. The letters/numbers he mentions right at the beginning refer to the codes on this page (scroll down).

SECOND ADDITION: Here’s the entire meeting on videotape, with two small gaps – between clips 1 and 2, our first camera ran out of power during a public comment; clip 2 picks up during that same commenter, and ends when the room shifted for the board to begin its deliberations, which are done in the open; clip 3 picks up at the start of those deliberations. Click the lower-right area of any clip to watch it either bigger-screen on the YouTube site (the logo will take you there) or fullscreen:

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West Seattle Christmas lights: While you’re in the vicinity…
December 8, 2011 6:46 pm
|    Comments Off on West Seattle Christmas lights: While you’re in the vicinity…
 |   West Seattle Christmas lights | West Seattle news

Thanks to the person who called us with a tip about this display – it’s not far from the Helmstetler Family Christmas Spectacular, we were told. Indeed, that entire neighborhood features several fine light displays, and we’ll be back to scout. This one is in the 3700 block of 40th SW [map]. In case you’re just catching up … we’re showcasing at least one brightly lit home every night, and adding to the list on the WSB West Seattle Holidays page; if you have a suggestion, please let us know!

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West Seattle Crime Watch: Burglary investigation; mail theft
December 8, 2011 4:10 pm
|      32 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | Gatewood | Pigeon Point | West Seattle news

Two West Seattle Crime Watch reports this afternoon:

Thanks to everybody who shared tips about police activity in Sunrise Heights in the past hour or so, near 35th/Webster. Police were chasing suspects in at least one burglary – and that general area, as reported here previously, has been a target lately; we don’t know if it was this same suspect, but there was a scanner report a while ago about a break-in attempt at 36th/Myrtle, not far away. At least one person has been arrested/detained. We’ll add details as soon as we get them.

And from Pigeon Point – pilfered packages and mail were found at noontime today, some with addresses from some distance away:Read More

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Work begins for Harbor Properties’ Nova in The Triangle
December 8, 2011 3:43 pm
|      22 COMMENTS
 |   Development | Triangle | West Seattle news

Thanks to Josh Sutton from the West Seattle Y (WSB sponsor) – he took the photo as demolition began on the site kitty-corner from the Y that will become Harbor Properties‘ next West Seattle apartment building, Nova. Harbor opened Link a few blocks away earlier this year and also owns Mural in The Junction (both are WSB sponsors). Nova’s at 4600 36th SW (just north of The Grove) and is designed for five stories, 62 apartments, 36 parking spaces (it’s close to the forthcoming RapidRide, and the city now does not require parking for developments close to major transit).

Harbor’s contractor is Compass Construction; its major financing is from Bank of the West. Construction is expected to take a year.

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ArtsWest leadership update: Christopher Zinovitch promoted
December 8, 2011 3:04 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   West Seattle news

Four months after Alan Harrison announced his departure as ArtsWest‘s executive director, its board has just announced they have promoted Christopher Zinovitch to Artistic Director. He will share leadership with a to-be-hired Managing Director. ArtsWest also has hired Lauren Domino as Development Director. P.S. AW is part of tonight’s West Seattle Art Walk, with the reception for “Quotidian Dreams” 6-7:30 pm.

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City won’t boot, or provide utilities to, ‘Nickelsville,’ Highland Park Action Committee told
December 8, 2011 2:56 pm
|      29 COMMENTS
 |   Highland Park | Nickelsville encampment | West Seattle news | West Seattle people

(September photo by Kevin McClintic)
Six months after its return to a city-owned site at West Marginal Way SW/Highland Park Way, the encampment that calls itself Nickelsville is in a sort of limbo – legal, and otherwise.

After the Highland Park Action Committee‘s meeting last night, following up on a discussion that began at its October meeting (as reported here), it seemed clear that the city does not currently intend to either:

*Evict the encampment
or
*Provide services (water/sewer/power hookups) that would make the site more habitable

You can watch the meeting yourself, if you’d like to see how it all played out:

Context for the meeting was a letter sent to the city by HPAC, as co-chairs Carolyn Stauffer and Billy Stauffer explained at the start of last night’s meeting. As the letter began, “In the past, our organization has been supportive of Nickelsville as a temporary situation. With news of this potentially becoming a permanent settlement, we have begun to hear a lot from our friends and neighbors.” HPAC says that the “burden of homelessness” should be shared with the rest of the city and suggests that this encampment, like others in the city, could switch sites every six months or so.

The issue drew a crowd to the meeting, including City Councilmember Tom Rasmussen, Deputy Mayor Darryl Smith, and Lisa Herbold from Councilmember Nick Licata‘s office.Read More

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Demonstrations planned near the ‘low bridge’ on Monday
December 8, 2011 2:04 pm
|      22 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle politics

For the first time since Occupy Wall Street and Occupy Seattle began, related protests are planned for this area. John sent a note to point out that the protest website says the Seattle action for next Monday’s “West Coast Port Shutdown” protests announces:

… there will be two rallies near the port at 3 pm and 6 pm at the Spokane Street fishing area, just to the east of the Spokane St. bridge, near the intersection of SW Spokane St & SW Manning St. under the West Seattle bridge.

It’s not actually a protest against the port itself, the website says (and as commenters point out, it is not union-endorsed); organizers say it’s meant to show opposition to unionbusting, Governor Gregoire‘s planned budget cuts, and evictions at “Occupy” protests across the country. Preceding the rallies in this area, supporters plan to march from Westlake downtown, starting at 1 pm Monday.

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Andrea Kurtz Acupuncture and Chinese Herbs: New WSB sponsor
December 8, 2011 12:08 pm
|    Comments Off on Andrea Kurtz Acupuncture and Chinese Herbs: New WSB sponsor
 |   Health | West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news

Today we welcome a new WSB sponsor, Andrea Kurtz Acupuncture and Chinese Herbs, at 5410 California SW. Here’s what Andrea would like you to know about her practice:

Andrea says, “What keeps patients coming back to me is, ultimately, my success in treating them and improving their health. For each patient I see, my first question is, ‘What is your goal in seeking acupuncture?’ The answers are always inspiring, and sometimes surprising. Some people want to improve athletic performance. Some want to be pain-free. Some just want to sleep through the night. I think a lot of my patients appreciate that I take time to understand them as a whole person, not just, for example, a headache. I even treat entire families — one partner will come in for something, maybe a cold or flu, and will feel so much better that the other partner comes to see me, and pretty soon I’m even treating the kids! The majority of my patients at some point stop coming in regularly, because their health improves. At the same time, that’s why they come back. In the broad sense, my patients see me because they want to improve their lives, and they keep coming back because acupuncture and Chinese herbs help them to do that.”

Andrea’s background is wide-ranging. We asked what has drawn patients to her, and she explained that some come “because I have a western medical background, and that makes people more comfortable. I see quite a few cancer patients, as well, thanks to my integrative oncology training. Some people are curious about Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), and I create an environment that is very supportive of patients who want to understand TCM in a western medical context. I also see patients who come in the door and say, ‘I have these symptoms. Am I crazy?’ and it’s always rewarding to be able to say, ‘No, you’re not crazy!’ Chinese Medicine has such a different way of looking at the body and its systems — very holistically — that some health issues that don’t make sense to us in a western context are easily explained and treated using TCM.

Andrea Kurtz Acupuncture and Chinese Herbs is located in the West Seattle Whole Health Center, and like others there, is an independent practice: “I run my own business, and I work closely with other practitioners in different disciplines — physical therapists, MDs, naturopaths, massage therapists, and other acupuncturists.” She’s working to set up a group “specifically for West Seattle alternative medical practitioners, where we can all network, share ideas, and support the community more effectively. It’s a great, self-contained community and a wonderful place to live, and I’m very excited to be part of it!” You can schedule an appointment online, or call 206-200-3595.

We thank Andrea Kurtz Acupuncture and Chinese Herbs 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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Update: 3 blocks of California SW to be resurfaced; more ahead?
December 8, 2011 10:40 am
|      7 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

Just in from SDOT – three more blocks of California SW in the treacherous stretch between Alaska and Morgan Junctions are about to get some help:

Next Monday through Thursday, December 12 through 15, Seattle Department of Transportation crews will be resurfacing California Avenue SW from SW Findlay Street to SW Graham Street [map]. The resurfacing work, which will take place from 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. each day, will involve grinding down the surface, making repairs to the street base and repaving the roadway. Traffic in both directions will be pushed to the opposite side of where the crews are working. All crosswalks and sidewalks will remain open. A Police Officer will provide traffic control at the intersection of California Avenue SW and SW Graham Street.

We’ll check with Metro for their rerouting plans.

ADDED 11:25 AM: Since SDOT has said it would love to repave more of California SW south of The Junction but didn’t have the money, we asked what was paying for this sudden project. SDOT’s Peg Nielsen tells WSB it’s from the “Rubble Yard sale,” city property sold for use as a staging area in the Highway 99 tunnel project. City Council President Richard Conlin wrote about it earlier this year.

ADDED 1:43 PM: Nielsen also provides an explanation of a question asked in comments – why just three blocks? – and what’s ahead:Read More

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Followup: 2/3 of a mile of new water mains for Arbor Heights
December 8, 2011 10:39 am
|      6 COMMENTS
 |   Arbor Heights | West Seattle news

(August 27 photo by Tony Bradley)
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

New water mains, yes. Added sidewalks, no.

That’s one of the points we got clarified, following up on Wednesday morning’s Arbor Heights fire briefing before the Seattle City Council’s Public Safety and Education Committee.

You can watch the entire briefing in our Wednesday-morning story; we summarized the briefing documents’ key points in this story from the night before.

But we had a few followup questions, so, adding the answers to the additional information that emerged at the briefing – primarily regarding the plan to upgrade water mains in the area where they were too small to provide adequate “fire flow”:Read More

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South Seattle Community College invites you to enjoy holiday food and wine
December 8, 2011 10:25 am
|    Comments Off on South Seattle Community College invites you to enjoy holiday food and wine
 |   Announcements

Multiple opportunities, as just announced by the college – including wine-tasting today!

Holiday Lunches
Tuesday & Wednesday, December 13 & 14
12:00 pm, Brockey Center
Cost: $18.95 per person
Reservations required: (206) 934-7952

The three-course meal, prepared by students in South’s Culinary Arts program, includes a salad course, followed by Roasted New York Strip Loin Béarnaise with a Yam Potato Puree and seasonal vegetables. Desserts include an assortment including Macaroons, Madeleine’s and Chocolate Buttercream Cake. Coffee and tea are included.

The holiday feast is prepared by students as part of their training in Restaurant and Food Service Production, Catering and Banquet Operations, and Pastry & Specialty Baking. Many of them are also pursuing the college’s Bachelor of Applied Science (BAS) degree in Hospitality Management.

Holiday Wine Tasting & Sales
Thursday & Friday, December 8, 9, 15, & 16
1 – 4 pm, Northwest Wine Academy, (206) 934-5344

Need wine for gifts or to bring to your holiday or New Year’s party? The NWWA is open Monday thru Friday from 11 am-5 pm throughout the month of December (closed December 23 and 26). On sale are award-winning wines produced on campus by students in the winemaking program, as well as wines made by program alumni and wines from around the world. Don’t know which wine to buy? Come to one a tasting where NWWA wines and traditional holiday favorites are featured.

The Northwest Wine Academy is located on the South Seattle Community College campus across from Bernie’s Bakery. Parking is available in the North entry parking lot.

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West Seattle Thursday: Art Walk; Sealth/Denny and Madison concerts; Delridge DESC project’s Design Review…
December 8, 2011 9:04 am
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

The West Seattle Art Walk is one of tonight’s biggest events – and if you stop by Alki Arts (2820 Alki SW), you can see that work (thanks to gallery owner Diane Venti for sharing) and others by Bryce Robertson, paying tribute to the Space Needle on its 50th anniversary. We’ll have more Art Walk previews here later (thanks to everyone who has sent theirs) – and you can dive into the sneak peeks published on the official Art Walk website. 6-9 pm, all over West Seattle. (Many venues are in The Junction, where it’s also the pre-Christmas Shop Late Thursday till 9 pm, participating merchants listed here!)

Meantime, it’s also a night for music:

SCHOOL CONCERTS: We recorded those members of the Chief Sealth International High School Orchestra at the school’s PTSA meeting a week ago. They and the Sealth choir, along with their counterparts from Denny International Middle School next door, have been rehearsing for tonight’s big concert, 7 pm, Sealth auditorium (2600 SW Thistle). Madison Middle School’s Senior Band, Senior Orchestra, and Jazz Band will perform their winter concert tonight as well, 7 pm in the Madison gym (45th/Spokane). (Update: Commenter says ALL Madison bands will play!)

And yet more from the WSB West Seattle Events calendar:

TRAFFIC ALERT: Road closures at spots along Spokane Street just east of West Seattle tonight – check the advisory for details.

TOY DONATIONS: KIRO’s Jenni Hogan is out on “Mobile Tweetup” patrol 10 am-1 pm picking up Toys for Tots donations – WSB sponsor Nurturing Expressions is a dropoff location; take over a toy!

BOOK SIGNING AT METROPOLITAN MARKET: Admiral Metropolitan Market (WSB sponsor) hosts Alexandra Hedin signing her book, Entertaining at Home: Inspiration, Recipes and Crafts for Creations for a Lovely Life, 4-6 pm.

BOOK SIGNINGS AT BEER JUNCTION: Arcadia Books signing at the Beer Junction, 5-8pm 4707 42nd Avenue Southwest. Come meet the collaborators of the latest Arcadia books- “West Seattle” and “Luna Park” – and taste a featured beer too! Your chance to buy signed copies and thrill your friends and family with these history books!

DELRIDGE DESC PROJECT DESIGN REVIEW: Southwest Design Review Board meeting for DESC proposal to build 75-unit apartment complex at 5444 Delridge to house chronically homeless people, Youngstown Cultural Arts Center (4408 Delridge Way SW), 6:30 pm. (Archive of WSB project coverage is here; community volunteers’ information clearinghouse about tonight’s meeting and other project aspects is here.)

GO CONGRATULATE THE WEST SEATTLE TOOL LIBRARY: Last night, it won an award; tonight, it plays host to Ask An Expert for Do It Yourselfers, also at Youngstown, 6-8 pm.

OPEN HOUSE: Suite Arrangements open house in The Junction, treats, drinks, in-store specials, 4-9 pm

HOLIDAY TASTING: West Seattle Thriftway holiday tasting, 4-7 pm

GOT A PLACE FOR A NEW FRIEND? Friends of the Animals Foundation will be at Next to Nature with adoptable cats and kittens in formal wear (tuxedo cat, anyone?) and in need of new homes this Thursday from 6-9 pm. Browse the art, shop the winter farmers market, and adopt a new family member.

SWEETIE’S HOLIDAY PARTY: Sweetie Boutique in The Junction invites you to its holiday party: “Lots of great things in store, treats, eats & libations!” 7-10 pm. (And see Sweetie’s coupon on the WSB Holiday Shopping Guide coupons page.)

SHOPPING FOR A CHRISTMAS TREE? GOING OUT TO SEE CHRISTMAS LIGHTS? Info/updates on those – and more – are featured on the WSB West Seattle Holidays page.

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West Seattle holidays: Musica Sacra Chamber Chorale’s first Christmas concert helps WS Helpline, Food Bank
December 8, 2011 8:08 am
|      1 COMMENT
 |   Announcements

Just announced:

The Musica Sacra Chamber Chorale will present its inaugural Christmas Concert on Saturday, December 17, 2011 beginning at 7:30 p.m. at Holy Rosary Catholic Church in West Seattle. The concert. titled “Peace & Joy,” features two significant sacred works: a suite entitled “Carols of the nativity” by Canadian composer and conductor Stephen Chatman; and the world premiere of Spanish Cradle Carol: An homage to Maurice Ravel by Bob Ingalls scored for Chamber Chorale, cello and piano featuring Seattle Symphony cellist Roberta Downey. This concert series also includes numerous carols of the season written or arranged by distinguished American choral composers and will be a wonderful way to highlight your holiday season.

The concert is sponsored by the West Seattle HelpLine and West Seattle Food Bank. Bring a hat/scarf/glove set or 5 non-perishable food items and receive your ticket for half price. For more information please consult our website: www.musicasacrachamberchorale.com

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West Seattle schools: Roxhill’s ‘Empty Bowls Banquet’ with City Year; Lafayette’s LaSER club achievement
December 8, 2011 8:02 am
|      1 COMMENT
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

Two West Seattle elementary schools have achievements to share. First, from Roxhill:

Young adults in service to help kids – that’s the fundamental mission of City Year, which operates in several West Seattle schools (among many other places). And a recent event involving Roxhill’s City Year team stretched beyond those involved, raising global awareness. Team leader Hollis Hernandez shares the photos and this report:

On December 1st, the City Year team at Roxhill Elementary School celebrated the end of a school-wide Hunger Awareness Month Campaign with the school’s first Empty Bowls Banquet. All students and families were invited to share a humble meal of soup and bread out of student-decorated bowls and to hear students’ amazing essays on how to combat hunger around the world. It was a powerful and inspiring evening that could only have been possible with the generous donations from Endolyne Joe’s, Ivar’s, Target, and Great Harvest Bread.

Students were excited to get up onstage to read their essays – short and sweet, like this one from a girl named Faith:

Get food for the kids! Parents feed their kids but, some parents want to get more food for their kids because they don’t have enough food. If this happens all the kids will grow. The village will grow stronger with the help a community. The community will grow stronger if all the nations unite. Together we can help change the world to change ourselves.

Now, from Lafayette Elementary , an update on students getting involved with technology – not just to use it, but to strategize and compete: We have an update on a big day for the school’s new LaSER (Lafayette Science, Engineering, Robotics) club!

From Matt Jensen:

Robotics teams from Lafayette’s LaSER club had a great showing at the 26-team South Seattle FLL robot tournament on Saturday. The Mystic Mindstormers and Lego Minds, mixed teams of 2nd and 3rd graders, were the youngest teams there and outscored a number of older teams. The girls’ team, the Go-Go Bots, scored well and won a Core Values Award for Gracious Professionalism.

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West Seattle Crime Watch: ‘Odd’ theft; burglary; suspicion; bike
December 8, 2011 12:38 am
|      8 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | West Seattle news

Several West Seattle Crime Watch notes from the past day or so. First, Brian noted an unusual car-part theft:

Someone stole the Honda logo off the rear of my wife’s 2005 Civic. She noticed it missing Tuesday. She said that ones from nearby cars were missing too. We live in the 8600 block of 25th, 1 block north of Westwood Village. I don’t know if this was a prank or if those logos have some kind of value. Not a huge occurrence but kind of odd.

Ahead, a burglary, some protection tips, a suspicious-behavior report, and a possibly stolen bikeRead More

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S. Spokane Street traffic alerts for Thursday night, next week
December 7, 2011 10:25 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   Spokane St. Viaduct project | West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

THe next round of closures for the Spokane Street Viaduct Widening Project will NOT include any part of the SSV itself, but the surface streets that are involved in the closures might affect you, so we’re publishing this alert sent tonight by SDOT:Read More

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West Seattle Tool Library wins Sustainable Seattle award
December 7, 2011 9:54 pm
|      8 COMMENTS
 |   Sustainable West Seattle | West Seattle news

(WSB photo by Tracy Record)
It’s been almost two years since our first report that Sustainable West Seattle was starting a tool library. It’s been going strong for a year and a half now, drawing users, generating buzz (Popular Mechanics!), and tonight, winning a big award. Sustainable Seattle, celebrating its annual fundraising gala and awards dinner at the Duwamish Longhouse, honored the West Seattle Tool Library for Sustainability in Innovation in a Social Environment. Accepting the award were (from left) Micah Summers and Patrick Dunn. Haven’t been to the tool library ever – or, lately? It’s open Thursday nights, so you can drop by tomorrow, 6-9 pm (it’ll be another session of Ask the Expert, too, till 8). It’s on the northeast side of Youngstown Cultural Arts Center, 4408 Delridge Way SW.

P.S. Here’s who else was nominated for the Sustainable Seattle awards.

THURSDAY P.P.S. Click ahead for full list of winners, just received:Read More

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Followup: Mega-cranes finally coming ashore at Terminal 18
December 7, 2011 9:35 pm
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   Seen at sea | West Seattle news

More than a week after their arrival in Elliott Bay (here’s our story from November 28), the three extra-jumbo new cranes that SSA is adding at the Port of Seattle‘s Terminal 18 are finally being unloaded. Justin McDonald shared the photo on Facebook; we’re republishing it here with his permission. This one, he wrote, is the first one coming off. Last week, our friends at KING 5 took a closer look in this story (with video)

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