West Seattle, Washington

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month : 01/2012 297 results

West Seattle businesses: Sound Advice finds a new home
January 5, 2012 6:03 pm
|      6 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news

Now that construction for the just-sold California/Alaska/42nd site seems inevitable, the business moves are coming fast and furious. Here’s the latest: mobile retailer Sound Advice is moving a block north next month. Thanks to Brian Presser from TouchTech Systems for spotting and photographing the flyer on the door. The listed street number listed for the new location didn’t look right, so we called Sound Advice, and though they’re checking on the new street number, they confirmed, it IS the space adjacent to (south of) West Seattle Coins, on the street level of the Senior Center of West Seattle building. As the sign says, they expect to open there next month. Just yesterday, we finally made contact with the California/Alaska/42nd site’s new owner, Chicago-based Equity Residential, whose spokesperson (as we reported here) said they expect to break ground before the year’s out on the same 190-plus-apartment project that previous owner Charlie Conner and partners got approved before selling the site (for $11.4 million, as we reported December 22nd). Other businesses that have recently moved from the site to new West Seattle locations include Classic Barber Shop, SIMA Martial Arts, and Limber Yoga (all of whom have new locations); The Beer Junction expects to move later this winter to its new spot in the California SW building where the liquor store and train store used to be, but remains open at its original location (4707 42nd SW) till then.

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The Wash Dog: Welcoming a new West Seattle Blog sponsor
January 5, 2012 4:10 pm
|      12 COMMENTS
 |   Pets | West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news

In 2012, we’re continuing the WSB tradition of welcoming new sponsors by offering them the chance to introduce themselves. Today, meet one of our newest sponsors – The Wash Dog. Here’s what they’d like you to know:

The Wash Dog has been a business fixture in West Seattle for more than 10 years, providing canine bathing and grooming services. New owners, longtime West Seattle residents Thyra DeHaven and Merry Myers, have been hard at work this past year, upgrading the staff and facility to meet the bathing and grooming needs of West Seattle’s dogs. Two examples: An on-demand hot water system was installed to lessen power usage and insure an endless supply of warm water; and the self-service shampoo was upgraded to a top-notch, environmentally friendly oatmeal shampoo produced by a local Seattle company.

At The Wash Dog there’s a grooming service for every need:
*Self-Service Dog Wash Rooms – just walk in
*Professional Bathing Service – by appointment
*Professional Grooming – by appointment
Customers can also walk in for a quick nail trim or drop by with their dog just to say “hi” and pick up a treat. We love interacting with dogs of all sorts and sizes and take great pride in providing an exceptionally friendly, clean and healthy facility. We have three professional, skilled dog groomers/stylists on staff at The Wash Dog: Laura, Kayla, and Tammy, who you might know from other West Seattle establishments. We also have two part-time experienced bathers. The combined experience of our staff exceeds 35 years, so customers can rest assured their pets are being cared for by professionals who really know and love dogs.

The Wash Dog is located at 6400 California SW, on the north side of Morgan Street Junction. Hours are Monday–Friday, 10 am to 7:30 pm, and Saturday – Sunday, 9 am to 5:30 pm. Holiday hours are always posted online at thewashdog.com or on The Wash Dog’s Facebook page.

We thank The Wash Dog 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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Street trees, bridge project, more @ Southwest District Council
January 5, 2012 3:15 pm
|    Comments Off on Street trees, bridge project, more @ Southwest District Council
 |   Southwest District Council | West Seattle news

Toplines from last night’s Southwest District Council meeting – with a wide-ranging agenda from street trees to bridge work to development, and beyond:

STREET-TREE ORDINANCE: Lots of discussion after we covered last month’s West Seattle community meeting about proposed changes to the city rules, which haven’t changed in half a century. City arborist Nolan Rundquist stressed that they are looking for as much comment and opinion as possible – here’s how – before this gets to the City Council. His summary: The proposed rule will better define who’s responsible for which trees, public or private, and a “no-fee permit process” will be put into place to deal with removal, pruning, replacement, etc., as well as who is allowed to handle such tasks. But he says “small work” – such as pruning branches that aren’t bigger than two inches in diameter – won’t require a permit.

FAUNTLEROY EXPRESSWAY: The council had invited project communications consultant Josh Stepherson back to provide an update once the intensive phase of the earthquake-safety work, with some overnight closures (next ones Jan. 9-12), got under way on the west end of the West Seattle Bridge. Morgan Community Association rep Chas Redmond asked about an anomaly he’d spotted (which we have noticed too, in late-night drives):Read More

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West Seattle biznotes: Freebies, biscuits, and new locations
January 5, 2012 12:55 pm
|      7 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news

(Photo courtesy Mountain to Sound Outfitters)
FREEBIE #1 – FOR SKIERS AND SNOWBOARDERS: Mountain to Sound Outfitters in The Triangle is offering a free clinic this Sunday “to help you learn the basics of ski maintenance, as well as some of the finer points of waxing and in home tuning. Come down to learn about caring for your edges, creating a the best side and edge bevel, basics on structure, and how to hotwax your gear. Experienced ski and snowboard technicians will be providing this free workshop and will be on hand to answer specific questions after the presentation.” It’s at 5 pm at M2SO, 3602 SW Alaska, but you can’t just show up – space is limited, so they’re asking for an RSVP ASAP – e-mail info@m2soutfitters or call 206-935-7669.

FREEBIE #2 – YOGA: Longtime WSB sponsor SoundYoga (5639 California SW) has just announced the date for its next Free Yoga session. This time it’s on January 28th, 10:30 am.

NEW FARMERS’ MARKET VENDOR: Starting this Sunday, Honest Biscuits joins the lineup at West Seattle Farmers’ Market (yes, it’s back, 10 am-2 pm, 44th/Alaska, after Christmas/New Year’s off), after a stint at the Broadway Farmers’ Market on Capitol Hill.

(Photo courtesy Honest Biscuits)
Proprietor Art Stone has worked as a lawyer and judge but says his heart “belongs to biscuits now.” He says they’re “made fresh from local ingredients, the primary ingredient being Washington’s Shepherd’s Grain flour,” with added ingredients “such as Theo Chocolate, Beecher’s Cheese, and Tonnemaker apples.” More on his website.

SKIN BUTIK MOVES: Aesthetician Sara Lowe sent word that she has moved her business from Harbor Avenue to new digs at California/Graham – the one, she says with a “dazzling chandelier hanging in the entryway” – and is having an open house 5-7:30 pm on January 26th.

IN THE SAME BUILDING – NORTHWEST INSURANCE: That same new live/work building is also home now to longtime WSB sponsor John Moore‘s Northwest Insurance Group (6055 California SW), which represents more than a dozen insurance providers. Online, you’ll also now find NW Insurance Group on Facebook.

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The Atlantic profiles Super Deli Mart: ‘Postmodern Elks Club’
January 5, 2012 11:40 am
|      19 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | WS beverages

Thanks to Forest for the tip on this: Readers across America (and likely beyond) who check out The Atlantic‘s website today have the opportunity to read about West Seattle’s Super Deli Mart. The article by Christopher Solomon is headlined “A Postmodern Elks Club Serving Some of the World’s Best Beer” but talks about the 35th/Barton store as a community gathering place as well as a beverage retailer. Read the story here. (Added 1:13 pm – The Atlantic’s story didn’t include a photo of proprietor Min Chung, so we dropped by to get one to add here!)

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West Seattle coyotes: 1st report of the year, and a holdover
January 5, 2012 10:53 am
|      6 COMMENTS
 |   Coyotes | West Seattle news | Wildlife

The first coyote report of the New Year – at least, the first one we’ve heard about. From Cara about an hour ago:

My husband just reported that there was a coyote in our yard (40th between Hanford and Hinds) [map]. The coyote walked down the street (south on 40th) and is heading that way.

We are asked on occasion why we publish these reports, and our response is usually “until we stop hearing from people who weren’t previously aware that coyotes are IN the city.” Latest example ahead:Read More

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West Seattle Thursday: Stories, drinks, tunes, and revolution
January 5, 2012 7:02 am
|      8 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | WS beverages | WS miscellaneous

(Seen from Luna/Anchor Park this past Tuesday)
From the WSB West Seattle Events calendar:

ALASKAN WAY S. DETOUR: 1st of 2 traffic alerts for today. If you use Alaskan Way, read this – it starts this morning.

PRESCHOOL STORY TIME: 11:15 am at Delridge Library – more story-time info on the full list, here.

CURIOUS ABOUT ‘OCCUPY’?: 6 pm meeting at West Seattle (Admiral) Library with info for those curious about Occupy Seattle – details here.

FEEDBACK LOUNGE’S NEW COCKTAIL MENU: When you’ve won “Best of Western Washington” two years in a row, runner-up another year, and that’s every year you’ve been around – your cocktails are hot stuff. And so tonight, it’s An Event as Feedback Lounge (WSB sponsor) debuts Matt Johnson’s latest drink creations, 6 pm.

READ THE KORAN IN FOUR WEEKS: At the First Lutheran Church of West Seattle, 935-6530, the first of four sessions is scheduled for the course Pastor Ron Marshall has led four times a year since 2003. The official announcement asks: “Have you wanted to know for yourself what the Koran says in a world where Islam is mentioned nearly every day in the news?” and adds, “The $50 registration fee includes an authorized translation of the Koran for your keeping. Worksheets and other background handouts from Islamic scholars will be provided for each class session the week before.” Call ASAP to see if there’s room.

LIVE MUSIC: At Skylark Café and Club featuring: Arkansas and the River Bandits, Relentless Rhythm Machine, Lights From Space. $5 cover, 9 pm, Facebook event page here.

ANOTHER SCHEDULED FAUNTLEROY EXPRESSWAY CLOSURE: The seismic work continues, and another overnight closure of the west end of the West Seattle Bridge is scheduled.

ADDED – MEMORIAL FOR MARCELYN SHADOW: Thanks to those who e-mailed with mention of this: A memorial for West Seattle resident Marcelyn Shadow, who taught students in Seattle Public Schools‘ APP program for more than 30 years (mostly at Washington Middle School), is planned for 3:30 pm today at Peace Lutheran Church (39th/Thistle). There’s more information on the Hamilton website.

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Board members question ‘option school at Boren’ plan
January 4, 2012 9:47 pm
|      73 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

At Seattle Public Schools HQ downtown: The district proposal to reopen Boren as an “option” elementary school drew fire from 3 board members, including West Seattle’s newly elected rep Marty McLaren. She says she will propose an amendment to remove that from the plan. Two other board members said they had been ‘flooded’ with mail from West Seattleites saying they want a new neighborhood school instead.

This came after district managers admitted a new option school next year likely wouldn’t draw enough from any single school to avoid having to plan for adding portables, saying they thought they would still need the same projected amount of homerooms at the existing elementaries, so they are proceeding with planning for portables and then waiting to check numbers after “open enrollment.” They said they hadn’t proposed a new neighborhood school in the short run because they want to hold off on boundary redrawing as much as possible until the BEX IV levy – to raise more than half a billion dollars to build new schools, among other things – is mapped out.

Board president Michael DeBell warned the other members that trying to appease any one group of constituents creates issues for others. “More to come on this,” as DeBell put it. A vote is scheduled in two weeks – amended or not. We’ll be following up before then. (Our previous report on a staff briefing about the originally proposed Boren-plus-portables-elsewhere is here.)

ADDED: The issue of overcrowding at Chief Sealth International High School came up too; while not part of the “Short-Term Capacity Management Plan,” it surfaced as Sealth staffers spoke during the public-comment period at the start of the meeting, discussing their petition asking the district for more portables (previously reported here). We recorded their remarks on video:

With the remodel a few years back, they lost nine portables and gained five classrooms, but with the student population rising by 400 in the past few years, that wasn’t enough, they said. (As we reported earlier in the day, district administrators say they are considering one portable for Sealth for next year, but won’t make a decision till later this winter.)

ALSO OF NOTE FROM THE MEETING: A lot of hot topics, which is why it didn’t adjourn till 10:45 pm. Transportation guidelines for next school year were approved in the late going; the presentation included a chart of “civil twilight,” so the district can figure out how to make sure its youngest students aren’t walking to or from bus stops in the dark. The only West Seattle mention was the fact that Denny and Sealth are legally required to stagger their start times, so any forthcoming bell-time adjustments would have to work around that fact. … Then there was the issue of rules for schools to get waivers if they want to use instructional material that is not standard-issue, with notable examples including Schmitz Park Elementary‘s use of “Singapore math” (and the resulting achievements). … The board authorized a superintendent search, though some members told interim Supt. Dr. Susan Enfield they are hoping she reconsiders her decision not to seek the permanent job. And one more item:

SURVEY ON ‘SCHOOL DISTRICT LEADERSHIP AND PRIORITIES’: We attended a briefing on this right after the capacity-management-plan briefing this morning. The PowerPoint with toplines is here. Among the research findings – Dr. Enfield had a 65 percent favorable rating from staff, 56 percent from teachers. In other groups, views were more “neutral” – they didn’t know her well enough – than unfavorable. The survey showed an almost-universally positive level of “satisfaction with quality of education” – 73 percent among families, 66 percent among the general public. In terms of “essential qualities of the superintendent” – now that the district is launching a search – “local knowledge” rated the lowest. The highest, after “leadership to staff,” was “education background” – notable since the district has had two superintendents in the not-too-distant past whose backgrounds were elsewhere.

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Video: West Seattle HS girls start year with big home-court win
January 4, 2012 8:59 pm
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools | WS & Sports

ORIGINAL 8:59 PM REPORT: Last night, the West Seattle High School and Rainier Beach HS boys-varsity basketball teams faced off (WSB coverage here) – tonight, the girls’ teams took their turn. Final score is in from WSB contributor Randall G. Hauk, who says WSHS won, 48-13. We’ll add his full report here later. FOLLOWING WAS ADDED EARLY THURSDAY:

By Randall G. Hauk
Reporting for West Seattle Blog

Though the weather outside was frightful, the basketball inside was so delightful.

The fans who braved the cold, wind, and rain to take in the first West Seattle High School girls basketball game of the new year were treated to a dominant performance by the Wildcats, who easily handled the visiting Rainier Beach Vikings, winning 48-13.

Although ten different Wildcats scored in the game, defense was the key to victory. West Seattle blanked their guests in the first quarter, resulting in a 14-0 margin and all the points needed to win the game. After yielding 11 points in the second quarter, the West Seattle defense would pitch another shutout in the third quarter, while not allowing another field goal the rest of the night, leaving Rainier Beach to score only two more points after halftime, both on free throws in the fourth.
The victory was West Seattle’s first in Metro Conference play, moving them into third in the Sound Division at 1-3 in conference play and improves their overall record to 3-6. The loss dropped the Vikings to 0-9 on the year.

The highlights:

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Home makeover, anybody? TV-production company’s recruiting
January 4, 2012 8:45 pm
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

Quick note from Seattle-based Screaming Flea Productions, a Georgetown-based company with more than a few West Seattleites on staff. Your house might be just what they’re looking for. Screaming Flea says it is …

… looking for a home on the market to make over for a national cable home-design show … listings that are challenged, dated, or in need of serious cash. This show involves a complete renovation of a kitchen or a bathroom, and work on 2-3 other rooms as well. Homeowner personality a plus! Filming and makeover will occur beginning of March. Contact Kim Nyhous at knyhous@sfpseattle.com.

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Know a winner? Make ’em one! Westside Award nomination time
January 4, 2012 6:50 pm
|    Comments Off on Know a winner? Make ’em one! Westside Award nomination time
 |   West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news

(WSB photo of Mountain to Sound Outfitters team @ April 2011 West Seattle Chamber awards event)
One year after honoring Mountain to Sound Outfitters (above) as Emerging Business of the Year, Salty’s as Business of the Year, White Center Food Bank executive director Rick Jump as Westsider of the Year, and the West Seattle Farmers’ Market as Nonprofit of the Year – it’s time for the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce to choose its next round of honorees. But they can’t do it without nominations from you! From Shannon Felix:

Who was outstanding on the Westside in 2011? Honor those in our community who make West Seattle a great place to live and work by nominating a business or individual for a Westside Award!

The West Seattle Chamber of Commerce sponsors this annual program to celebrate West Seattle’s entrepreneurial spirit and personal commitment to the Westside. Four categories include Westside Business of the Year, Westside Emerging Business, Westside Not-For-Profit Business of the Year, and Westsider of the Year. Award information and nomination forms are available online at WSChamber.com. You may e-mail nominations with your name and phone number to: info@wschamber.com or via fax: 206-938-7437.

Nominations are open to any West Seattle business or individual and due by January 31, 2012, at 5 pm to The West Seattle Chamber of Commerce, 3614-A California Ave SW. Seattle, WA 98116. Award recipients will be honored at the Westside Annual Awards Breakfast at Salty’s on Alki on April 18, 2012. For more information, contact the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce, 206-932-5685.

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New owners of ex-Conner Junction site: Groundbreaking this year
January 4, 2012 3:52 pm
|      84 COMMENTS
 |   Development | West Seattle news

(Sketch of California-facing view taken from project renderings last year)
We’ve just heard from Chicago-based megadeveloper Equity Residential for the first time since the company closed the deal to buy the California/Alaska/42nd site long owned by Charlie Conner. The day the deal was finalized, we’d sent an inquiry looking for comment – no response, but we renewed the request today, and just heard back from Equity spokesperson Marty McKenna.

He says Equity expects to break ground “within the next year.” He also confirms they are going ahead with the project as per the plans already approved by the city, two buildings totaling almost 200 apartments, and says they will honor the agreement made with community members regarding external elements of the project.

The remaining business tenants are renting month-by-month, he says, adding that since the new development “will have a retail aspect,” they’re also open to the possibility that all or some of them might want to be part of it. (Some have already found new locations, as most recently mentioned here just yesterday.) Though the site has its land-use approvals, a demolition permit would have to be sought before any construction could start; you can watch the project’s city webpages for signs of that as the year goes on.

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Update: Authorities say autistic teen not missing after all
January 4, 2012 2:49 pm
|      6 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | White Center

UPDATE: The autistic Burien teenager reported as missing in White Center turns out to have been safe after all, at Harborview Medical Center. King County Sheriff’s Office Sgt. John Urquhart tells WSB that the 15-year-old was found on a roadside by someone late this morning, and was actually at Harborview Medical Center long before everyone realized he was the boy that KCSO asked the public to help find. So bottom line, he’s OK. Our original story is after the jump:

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West Seattle school overflow: Briefing today, meeting tonight
January 4, 2012 12:45 pm
|      13 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

As noted in this morning’s preview, Seattle Public Schools‘ proposal for relieving overcrowding next year – just *next* year; proposals for other years are yet to come – officially goes before the School Board tonight. We’re just back of a media briefing at district HQ, offered as a chance for media reps to ask questions about the plan (see it here), crafted as the district deals with 1,500 more students this year than last, and another 1,000+ jump next year. (Added – video of the briefing, unedited, including the media Q/A:)

For West Seattle, the key component of the plan is spending $3 million to fix up and reopen the former Boren Junior High School (5915 Delridge Way SW) as temporary home of a new “option” elementary school – meaning you have to apply to attend, there is no automatic assignment zone – focused on STEM (science, technology, engineering, math). We asked what happened to the possible Montessori component mentioned at the second community meeting on the topic in West Seattle (late November; here’s our story). While that remains a possibility for West Seattle at some point after next school year, district officials said, they decided they couldn’t ramp up for it in 2012-2013 – particularly because some Montessori teachers elsewhere in the district who at one point were going to have to be moved, no longer need to be.

Boren has been empty for two school years, since serving as the interim home of Chief Sealth International High School during its two-year renovation project (completed in 2010). We asked how many students the district hopes it will serve in its first year; they didn’t have that number handy but promise to get it to us shortly.

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Viaduct/Tunnel project traffic alert: Alaskan Way S. reroute
January 4, 2012 10:26 am
|    Comments Off on Viaduct/Tunnel project traffic alert: Alaskan Way S. reroute
 |   Alaskan Way Viaduct | Transportation | West Seattle news

Since Alaskan Way is part of the surface connection between here and downtown/points beyond, you might be interested in this WSDOT announcement about a reroute taking effect tomorrow (see the map here):

Drivers who use Alaskan Way South along Seattle’s waterfront can expect major changes beginning this week as crews make way for the SR 99 tunnel construction zone.

Washington State Department of Transportation crews will reroute Alaskan Way South between South Main and South King streets beginning at 5 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 5. Drivers will travel on a new temporary roadway located underneath the Alaskan Way Viaduct, while crews use the old roadway to relocate utilities and prepare for tunnel work.

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Tea time! More room at the WestSide Baby tea tables this year
January 4, 2012 9:21 am
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   How to help | West Seattle news

(WSB photos by Patrick Sand)
No post-holiday-season break for staff and volunteers of WestSide Baby. Last night at their White Center/West Seattle donation center, hundreds of invitations were hand-addressed for WS Baby’s biggest event of the year – the annual Benefit Tea, coming up February 12th (2-4:30 pm). And the big news this year is that the event – whose “table captains” led the way last night – is moving to a new location, after three sell-out years with more than 450 in attendance each time. This year, it’s at the Hilton Seattle Airport & Conference Center near Sea-Tac Airport, still close enough for area supporters, but big enough to potentially accommodate hundreds more guests, according to honorary Tea chair Toddy Dyer and WS Baby’s executive director Nancy Woodland:

Other traditions won’t change, according to the official announcement sent by WS Baby, which served 19,000 children last year:

The Tea tradition includes tables set with individual sets of china shared by community members, mimosas, BabyCakes by Avalon Glassworks, wonderful Troll Bead bracelet prizes donated by Wyatt’s Jewelers and, most importantly, an incredible gathering of the community in support of families in need of basic items such as diapers, car seats, clothing and shoes.

The BabyCakes are beautiful blown-glass creations like this one shown at last night’s volunteer work party:

A few more event details:

WestSide Baby has identified areas where the need is not being met – more car seats, diapers, baby wipes, older children’s clothes, strollers and highchairs are needed. “A successful Tea in February will set the stage for planning increased impact for the rest of the year because funds raised directly support our programs and general operating costs. “ according to Woodland.

Keynote speaker Kathy LeMay, author of “The Generosity Plan,” will inspire guests by sharing her personal motto to “do what you can, with what you have, where you are.” (Teddy Roosevelt) Ms. LeMay will challenge guests to “lead their most generous life, make a lasting difference, and positively influence the world’s unwritten future.”

Tickets are $30. Tables for 10 range from $250-$500 and business sponsorship opportunities are available. There will be a program, an opportunity to give and time to socialize too. The suggested minimum donation is $100. For more information about the Tea or to purchase tickets or a table, visit www.westsidebaby.org or call Jolyn Mason, WestSide Baby Development Director at (206) 686-3124.

Here’s our coverage of last year’s WestSide Baby tea.

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West Seattle Wednesday: Schools, trees, jets…
January 4, 2012 6:21 am
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

At sunrise Tuesday, Don Brubeck took that photo while pausing on his bike at the fishing bridge along the East Duwamish Waterway. (He says the red-hulled, docked ship is the Norway-flagged Nina Victory.) What’s ahead today? Highlights from the WSB West Seattle Events calendar:

SOUTH SEATTLE COMMUNITY COLLEGE NEW STUDENTS RECEPTION/RESOURCE FAIR: Two sessions, noon and 4:30 pm, in the Brockey Center auditorium – details on the school calendar.

BLUE ANGEL SIGHTING: Blue Angels jet #7 due to arrive for Seafair‘s winter planning meetings, expected on the east side of Boeing Field around 1:15 pm.

SCHOOL BOARD ON REOPENING BOREN: The Seattle School Board will consider the “short-term capacity management plan” (see it here), including the official proposal to reopen Boren Junior High School on Delridge as an “option” elementary school for any and all West Seattle-area students to choose to attend. Meeting is at 6 pm, district HQ in SODO.

SOUTHWEST DISTRICT COUNCIL: The city’s proposed street-tree ordinance – recently reported and discussed here – is part of what’s on the agenda for tonight’s Southwest District Council meeting, 7 pm, board room at South Seattle Community College (6000 16th SW).

GET FIT WEST SEATTLE: Want to go “from couch to half-marathon”? Check out tonight’s Get Fit West Seattle info/intro night at West Seattle Runner (WSB sponsor), 7 pm (California/Charlestown).

PRIDE SKATE: Tonight’s the monthly Pride Skate at Southgate Roller Rink in White Center, 9 pm – the theme, ’70s!

PARTIAL BRIDGE CLOSURE: Another Fauntleroy Expressway closure is scheduled tonight, approximately 9 pm to 5 am, west end of West Seattle Bridge. (Check the cams on the WSB West Seattle Traffic page get a look on the westbound status.)

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Video: West Seattle HS boys face state’s No. 1-ranked team
January 4, 2012 2:02 am
|      1 COMMENT
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools | WS & Sports

Story and video by Randall G. Hauk
Reporting for West Seattle Blog

If “beat the No. 1 team in the state” was a New Year’s resolution for the West Seattle High School boys’ basketball team, they were’t quite able to keep it on Tuesday night, losing 76-53 to visiting Rainier Beach HS.

RBHS brought with them their No. 1 ranking in Washington’s 3A classification, a spotless 8-0 record, and the state’s highest-rated player in Anrio Adams, who is signed to play basketball for the Kansas Jayhawks next season. As if that weren’t enough, ESPN also has the Vikings listed as the 26th-best team in the nation.

Those credentials were on display early and often, as the visitors scored the first seven points of the game and never trailed, saddling the home Wildcats with their first loss of 2012.

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West Seattle Sky Watch: Quadrantids meteor shower tonight
January 4, 2012 12:04 am
|      5 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle weather

Missed this somehow – until someone just texted to ask about it. There’s a meteor shower out tonight, and we just walked outside to confirm that the sky is – at least right now – mostly clear, so getting a good look is not out of the question. It’s the Quadrantids meteor shower; NASA has lots of information and some live-cam links, here. Their visibility map shows that our area (and everywhere in the “green” zone) should get a good show provided the weather cooperates. Best visibility, says NASA, will start right after moonset, 3 am-ish, and continue till dawn.

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Followup: Why New Year’s gunfire on Alki brought out SWAT
January 3, 2012 10:02 pm
|      32 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | West Seattle news | West Seattle police

Tonight we finally have details on the gunfire incident that brought Seattle Police SWAT officers to an Alki neighborhood in the early hours of New Year’s Day, as mentioned briefly here that night.

We’ve obtained the full police report; what follows is what SPD says happened, starting with multiple 911 calls reporting “shots fired” at 60th/Hinds (map) less than an hour into the New Year:Read More

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Sealth student organizing benefit for Nicaragua hurricane victims
January 3, 2012 9:15 pm
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   How to help | West Seattle news | West Seattle people

That’s TONNULL, one of three bands – along with One Class Lady and Echo9 – ready to rock Youngstown Cultural Arts Center this Saturday as a benefit for hurricane victims in Nicaragua. Desiree e-mailed to let us know about the concert, which she says is Chief Sealth International High School student Kathryn Purcell‘s senior project. The concert is set for 7:30-11 pm January 7 at Youngstown, admission $7, benefiting the rural Nicaraguan community of El Quebrachal, where Hurricane Rina caused major damage to homes and school facilities earlier this fall. Find more information on this Facebook page set up for Kathryn’s project.

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West Seattle holiday postscript: Light-show generosity
January 3, 2012 7:57 pm
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   Holidays | West Seattle Christmas lights | West Seattle news

(WSB photo from the show’s first night of this past holiday season, November 26, 2011)
The music-synched Helmstetler Family Christmas Lights Spectacular is dark till next November, but mastermind Jim Winder has a postscript – a final report on the donations made by visitors/fans:

Thank You West Seattle for another great Season of Giving

TOTAL GIVING FOR 2011!! $2960.86

$1200 for the Dr. Ed Kingston Memorial Fund
$865.43 for Northwest Parkinson Foundation
$895.43 for the West Seattle Food Bank

PLUS
1433 lbs of food

If you just can’t wait till next holiday season – there’s already a countdown calendar on the show’s official site!

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DESC ‘redesigning’ Delridge project after city cuts number of allowed units
January 3, 2012 4:09 pm
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 |   Delridge | DESC Delridge project | Development | West Seattle news

(June 2011 photo of DESC Delridge project’s proposed site)
The Downtown Emergency Service Center‘s proposed Delridge Supportive Housing project is suddenly undergoing a redesign, according to documents filed with the Washington State Housing Finance Commission as part of the next round of financing DESC is seeking – and that redesign will be for a project with 66 units, not 75 units as originally proposed.

The city Office of Housing had originally granted a waiver to DESC, allowing it to propose a 75-unit project even though the amount of “extremely low-income housing” in the area was supposed to max out at 63 units beyond what it currently has. Neighborhood advocates had questioned the information on which the waiver was based – and now, according to a city document also on file with the WSHFC as part of the DESC application, it appears they had grounds for concern.

Documents from the city, dated in mid-December, say that newly available 2010 census information superseded what DESC had been working with, and that the site now could only support 66 units in this income range. This notification came just as DESC was about to submit its application for Low-Income Housing Tax Credits to the WSHFC, and since there wasn’t enough time for them to completely redo the application, they are redesigning the project right now, and expecting to submit new information by the end of this month. The documentation we just reviewed at WSHFC offices downtown includes this DESC explanation:

This late change creates both capital and operational inefficiencies. It is also driving the total development costs over the WSHFC cost limits. Our team is currently redesigning the project with a new cost estimate, and a revised development budget will be shared with WSHFC and other public funders by january 31, 2012.

We attempted to reach DESC leadership by phone and e-mail earlier today for comment, and so far have not heard back. We are still reviewing a few more documents related to this and will add any additional information of relevance.

The Delridge project first came to light last June and has since moved through stages including property purchase – $768,000 for three lots in the 5400 block of Delridge Way SW, with the sale initiated last April and closed one month ago – as well as city, county, and state financing approvals, plus the first round of city Design Review (with a second round to come, though no date is set). Our coverage of the project is archived here.

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