day : 08/01/2012 9 results

It’s not every day you see a six-year-old get excited about diapers; by that age, they’re a distant memory. But they were atop the wishlist for Grayson‘s sixth birthday party today at Southgate Roller Rink – he wanted to collect diapers for WestSide Baby instead of gifts for himself. His mom Meredith says they collected about 30 packages!

(You can help WestSide Baby any time – here are all the regular ways, and then there’s also one big, fun way coming up next month, their annual tea, moved to a bigger location this year so there’s room for more to be part of it; here’s our preview from last week.)

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West Seattle Weather Watch: 2 words that start with ‘s’

January 8, 2012 10:34 pm

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| West Seattle news | West Seattle weather

One is “sunset” – tonight’s was fleetingly vivid; Kathleen shared the top photo, and Tina the next one:

Then there’s that word that has been in short supply this winter: Snow. Way too soon to get excited/worried, depending on your attitude toward it, but just keep in the back of your mind the fact that the “forecast discussion” says one way of looking at next weekend might hint at something resembling snow. Or might not. The exact wording: “Some solutions show the potential for a wet period with low snow levels. Other solutions show more ridging.” So we’ll see how it looks in a few days.

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The WSBeat: Telltale backpacks; door-kicking under the influence…

January 8, 2012 9:21 pm

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| West Seattle news | West Seattle police | WSBeat

By Megan Sheppard
On the WSBeat, for West Seattle Blog

As always, the WSBeat summaries are from reports on cases handled recently by Southwest Precinct officers, beyond our ongoing breaking-news (etc.) coverage:

*Around 1 p.m. last Saturday, several “suspicious people” were seen near SW Avalon and Genesee carrying multiple items. As officers approached, one threw a bag of meth over the fence onto the golf course. He was carrying two backpacks. Inside: Five laptop computers, three cellular phones, an iPod, and assorted small hard drives, memory cards, cables and peripherals. He was also carrying multiple tools favored by burglars, such as lock cutters, wire cutters, knives and razors. The suspect claims that he bought all the items on Craigslist and that they are not stolen. He was booked into King County Jail for investigation of possession of stolen property and narcotics possession.

Ahead, five more summaries, starting with the case of the drunk door-kicker:Read More

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How to ‘clean up the mess’? McLaren’s first community chat

January 8, 2012 6:05 pm

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| West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

Toward the start of Marty McLaren‘s first community-conversation meeting since her election as West Seattle’s representative on the Seattle Public Schools Board of Directors, there was a sudden wave of suspense.

Three days before the Saturday morning meeting, McLaren had told her fellow board members (WSB coverage here) she would seek to amend the district’s recommendation for short-term school-crowding relief (aka “capacity management”) by removing the plan to open the ex-Boren Junior High (5915 Delridge Way SW) as temporary home for an “option” elementary school focused on STEM (science/tech/engineering/math).

But suddenly on Saturday morning, there she was, saying, “Personally, (a STEM option school) really resonates with me.”

Was she about to say she had changed her mind? You could almost hear a few people holding their breath. Then: “In spite of how enthusiastic I happen to be, I think it’s premature, I think we need a master plan, especially after all this turmoil.”

Moments earlier, McLaren, a Puget Ridge resident, had actually apologized for that “turmoil” – though it predated her board tenure, now in its second month.

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Know the perfect band for Summer Concerts at Hiawatha 2012?

January 8, 2012 5:26 pm

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| Neighborhoods | West Seattle news | WS culture/arts

(Star Anna & The Laughing Dogs at 2011 Summer Concerts @ Hiawatha finale)
We’re proud to have been a sponsor of the Admiral Neighborhood Association‘s Summer Concerts at Hiawatha each year since the series began – and tonight, we have word that ANA is tuning up for the fourth season of free outdoor performances on the east lawn at Hiawatha Community Center! ANA president Katy Walum has just put out the call for interested bands:

The Admiral Neighborhood Association is putting out the call for bands to apply to perform for our 2012 Summer Concert Series at Hiawatha Park! The series will again run Thursday evenings, 6:30-8pm, on the park’s east lawn. This summer’s dates will be July 26th, August 2nd, 9th, 16th, 23rd, and 30th.

Interested bands may e-mail us at info@admiralneighborhood.org. Please include with your message (1) a website or other means by which we may listen to samples of your music, (2) dates you are available, (3) your band’s price for a 90-minute set (please take into consideration that we are a community organization with a fairly limited budget, and that there is value in the great exposure your band could receive as a part of our series – last year’s series drew crowds of up to 1500 people per show), and (4) stage size and/or sound requirements for your group.

Our series last year included performances from The Gothard Sisters, Massy Ferguson, Caspar Babypants, LeRoy Bell, Star Anna & The Laughing Dogs, and Yogoman Burning Band. Highlights of prior seasons included Pearl Django with Greta Matassa, Camille Bloom, Swamp Soul (zydeco), and Alma Villegas (Latin jazz). We strive in our series to provide a range of musical genres that can appeal to all members of our community.

We welcome band recommendations from WS Blog readers, though it is helpful if readers can include as much of the above requested information as possible with their notes.

We also invite local businesses and others to sponsor our 2012 Summer Concert Series. This is an opportunity for folks to support a fantastic community event and to gain substantial exposure for their business! Please e-mail us (again at info@admiralneighborhood.org) to find out more about sponsorship levels and benefits available this year.

Thanks so much, and we look forward to bringing more fabulous music to Admiral/West Seattle in 2012!

Katy Walum
President, Admiral Neighborhood Association

(The association does a lot more than sponsor concerts, of course, and if you’re an Admiral resident/businessperson interested in seeing what ANA is up to, check out its next monthly meeting this Tuesday, 7 pm, lower-level meeting room at Admiral Church, California/Hill.)

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Vietnamese Cultural Center to dedicate Fallen Soldiers’ Memorial

January 8, 2012 4:05 pm

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| West Seattle history | West Seattle news | WS culture/arts

West Seattle’s Vietnamese Cultural Center has paid tribute before to both the American and South Vietnamese troops lost in the Vietnam War – here is a ceremony we covered there three years ago – and now the center has a new memorial in place to honor them, with a dedication ceremony next Saturday. Center director Lee Bui is extending a specific invitation to Vietnam veterans to come to the ceremony, and asked us to share this invitation:

You and your family are invited to the ceremony of the black granite Fallen Soldiers Memorial :

Time: 1 PM, Saturday, January 14th, 2012
Place : Vietnamese Cultural Center
2236 SW Orchard
Contact phone : 206-779 6875
Chairperson : Dr. Nguyen Xuan Dung, MD

Fallen Soldiers Memorial to honor the heroes of armed forces from South Vietnam and 58,000 U.S servicemen who were fighting for freedom and democracy of Vietnam

The new memorial shares an outdoor space that also includes the center’s landmark statue paying tribute to the 13th-century hero, General Tran Hung Dao. The center is open to visitors every Saturday, noon-3 pm, not just on special occasions; you may also recall its community volunteers’ recent visits to Nickelsville on Thanksgiving and on New Year’s Day.

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Body found at Solstice Park, police say foul play not suspected

January 8, 2012 12:51 pm

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| West Seattle news | West Seattle police

Seattle Police have closed off a small part of Solstice Park, (across from the north end of Lincoln Park). After getting a tip about this (and subsequent questions via e-mail from people wondering what was going on), we went over to find out. Investigators at the scene tell us a body was found at the park. Police are not commenting officially on the cause of death but they do tell us that Homicide detectives are not being called – in other words, foul play is not suspected. A King County Medical Examiner crew is expected to arrive soon to remove the body.

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High-school sports updates: In the water, on the courts

January 8, 2012 11:21 am

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

More sports notes from the first weekend of the new year: First, congratulations to West Seattle High School and Chief Sealth High School swimmers for their achievements in the Friday meet with O’Dea and Holy Names Academy. Thanks to Katy for sending the list of results (see it here); for West Seattle HS, Luke Asatiani won the boys’ 200-yard IM and 100-yard breaststroke; for Chief Sealth, Kelsey Hastings led the girls’ 50-yard free and 100-yard fly, Morgan Montemayor took the boys’ 100-yard fly and 100-yard backstroke, the 500-yard free swims were won by Jennifer Faulkner and Michael Stewart, Brianna Phillips won the girls’ 100-yard backstroke, and Nicole Moro was victorious in the 100-yard breaststroke.

Saturday, meantime, was a busy day on the basketball courts. And even a soccer sighting – as Chief Sealth’s team held a bake-sale fundraiser during the school’s basketball games:

That’s Xahil and Dillon. (Thanks to the @SealthAthletics Twitter feed for the bake-sale tip!) Sealth and Seattle Lutheran both played basketball at home, so WSB was there, and summaries are ahead:Read More

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West Seattle Sunday: Farmers’ Market return; discs; bikes…

January 8, 2012 9:18 am

| 7 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Friday photo of Alki-area bald eagle, by Gary Jones)
Looks like a decent day for some outdoor work or play. (ADDED: Minutes after we published this, a great sunrise photo came in, taken by Coleman Smith at EC Hughes Playground, AND the forecast added the words “partly sunny”:)

Here’s what’s on the WSB West Seattle Events calendar:

WEST SEATTLE FARMERS’ MARKET RETURNS: After two holiday Sundays off, it’s the return of the West Seattle Farmers’ Market, 10 am – 2 pm, The Junction (44th/Alaska). Market management says the new year brings new vendors: Finnriver Artisan Hard Cider & Spirited Wine, with wine and cider sampling from 10-2 pm. From the vintners …”We will feature our artisan Black Currant, Pear and Dry Hopped sparkling ciders, crafted on the Olympic Peninsula, and our sumptuous fruit brandy wines.” Also – as noted here earlier this week – Honest Biscuits debuts, as does Maninis Gluten Free (selling “sweet and savories,” says WSFM). **UPDATE** As noted in comments, Honest Biscuits is not there today after all; they tweeted this morning that “serious illness” is keeping them away.

GET OUT AND TOSS: West Seattle Ultimate Family Frisbee, 11 am, Walt Hundley Playfield (34th/Myrtle).

FOOD TRUCK: One weekly truck in West Seattle today – Snout and Co. 11 am-3 pm at 35th/Graham.

FREE BICYCLE REPAIR: Bike trouble? Expert volunteers’ work to get more bicycles on the road in White Center continues today with another Dubsea Bikes session, 2-4 pm at Full Tilt Ice Cream in downtown WC. (Map on our event calendar listing from partner site White Center Now.)

WEST SEATTLEITE ON ‘HOARDING’: Karen Pfeiffer Bush from LifeSpace tells WSB she is a guest Professional Organizer on TLC/The Discovery Channel’s show “Hoarding: Buried Alive,” episode 11 of Season 3, which airs at 9 pm Pacific tonight. Friends are gathering at Rocksport in The Junction for a viewing party starting at 7:30 pm. Karen says:

The role of the guest professional organizer is to help one of the people featured in an episode conquer their hoarding problem. Typically, there are 2 feature stories in the hour-long program. I worked hands-on with the woman who is described as having a daughter who is concerned about her mother’s health and safety. The LifeSpace team works with people with all sorts of organizing challenges. I specialize in working with people who struggle with hoarding and chronic disorganization.

NIGHTLIFE: Sidecaps and Psychedelephant play Skylark Café, all ages, 8 pm, $5 cover … The Bridge has karaoke on Sunday with Karaoke Kelli at 9:30 pm.

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