@ Admiral Neighborhood Assoc.: July 4th parade future; more

February 16, 2012 11:57 pm

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| Neighborhoods | West Seattle news

(WSB photo of Sherri Chun speaking to participants before last year’s 4th of July parade)
The longtime coordinator of the 4th of July Kids’ Parade, which has grown far beyond its origins as a fun little North Admiral event, is asking the Admiral Neighborhood Association to consider taking it over. At Wednesday night’s ANA meeting (a day later than usual, to avoid a Valentine-night conflict), Sherri Chun came to talk about the parade’s past, present and future. That, and other toplines from the meeting, ahead:Read More

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West Seattle wildlife: ‘Fly like an eagle, to the sea’…

February 16, 2012 10:06 pm

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| West Seattle news | Wildlife

The classic Steve Miller song came to mind as we looked at these photos shared tonight by Gary Jones, from Alki.

Finally, a close encounter with the lighthouse:

Bald-eagle factoid: They can live up to 40 years.

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Battle of the books: ‘Global Reading Challenge’ at Sanislo

February 16, 2012 5:17 pm

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| West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

Story and photos by Keri DeTore
Reporting for West Seattle Blog

Leapin’ Lizards — it’s the winning team from Sanislo!

This morning at Sanislo Elementary, 4th and 5th graders filed into the library and took their small chairs, grouped into teams of six. The instructions were given: A question about a book they read will be asked aloud; they’ll have 30 seconds to put their heads together and quietly discuss the answer. When they have an answer, they are to write it down and bring it to the front of the room for judging.

Of the seven teams, one emerged victorious.

This is the “Global Reading Challenge” — a partnership between Seattle Public Schools and the Seattle Public Library to encourage reading among Seattle students.

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West Seattle traffic alerts: This weekend’s closures, summarized

February 16, 2012 2:51 pm

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| West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

After the Saturday debacle a few weeks ago, SDOT promised to improve its communication about closures (and other things affecting traffic). Toward that end, they have just sent an advisory summarizing everything happening this weekend in “the West Seattle Bridge corridor,” including the all-day-Sunday closure of the Fauntleroy Expressway. We’ve mentioned them all already, but one more read-through probably can’t hurt:Read More

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Update: Crane collapse injures worker, causes oil spill

February 16, 2012 1:48 pm

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| Environment | Safety | West Seattle news

Seattle Fire Department spokesperson Kyle Moore tells WSB a crane operator from Vigor Shipyard on Harbor Island is in serious condition at Harborview Medical Center after the crane collapsed into the water. You can see an aerial view in this story on KING5.com. This comes 13 days after a Kitsap County man working at Vigor was killed in a fall. We’re checking with the shipyard to see if they have additional information; thanks to PT for tipping us to this by asking why there were two helicopters over Harbor Island.

3:51 PM UPDATE: The Department of Ecology now says this has led to a spill, too:

The Washington Department of Ecology, the U.S. Coast Guard and Vigor Industrial are responding to an oil spill from a crane accident at the company’s facility on Harbor Island in Seattle today. The company has placed oil spill cleanup and containment materials on the water around the accident scene.

4:27 PM: SFD has published more information about the rescue, and says the crane operator’s injuries are not life-threatening. Here’s their report.

5:08 PM: From Steve Hirsh at Vigor, responding to our inquiry about comment from the company:

We are working with the proper authorities to try to determine what happened. We understand and are thankful that the worker operating the crane is said to be alert and in good spirits. He wants people to know he’s OK.

We have been are working with the Washington Department of Ecology and the U.S. Coast Guard to contain any spill; our initial estimate is that approximately 10 gallons of lubricating oil may have leaked into the water off Harbor Island.

And an update from Ecology:

Oil from a crane accident today at the Vigor Industrial shipyard in Seattle left a coating on the water that was too thin for successful cleanup. Spill response crews deployed floating containment boom to prevent oil from drifting out of the immediate area.

The Washington Department of Ecology and U.S. Coast Guard are overseeing the spill cleanup and response. The containment boom will remain in place during upcoming operations to remove the crane from the water. Crews will be prepared to begin cleanup work if more oil is released.

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Followup: Athena’s unveils truck mural; open tomorrow in Highland Park

February 16, 2012 1:24 pm

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| Highland Park | West Seattle news | West Seattle restaurants

Following up on her report from Tuesday (see it here) that Nick Parisi will open Athena’s in the former Zippy’s space at 16th/Holden, WSB contributor Deanie Schwarz photographed him and the newly painted truck today (the rolling mural is by Glenn Case). As Deanie’s story noted, Parisi plans to serve up Greek-themed food from the truck while the space is being readied – and she confirmed today that he’s planning to start tomorrow, serving 1-8 pm. She also reports that while the Athena’s truck usually will be closed Mondays, it will be OPEN on President’s Day.

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$4 million book deal reported for Amanda Knox

February 16, 2012 12:26 pm

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| West Seattle news | West Seattle people

(October 2011 photo of Amanda Knox and mom Edda Mellas, by STEVE RINGMAN/Seattle Times, used with permission)
Four months after her West Seattle family and friends welcomed her back from four years in prison in Italy, the number four seems to have resurfaced in the saga of Amanda Knox. The long-expected announcement of her book deal is out; here’s the Associated Press story published by our partners at the Seattle Times. It quotes an unidentified source as saying the book deal is worth $4 million. The book is expected to be published by HarperCollins early next year. While local media has kept their promise to keep their distance since her return after the Italian courts overturned her murder conviction, national/international tabloids have been publishing sightings and gossip, and (in case you wondered) most would seem to indicate she is not living in West Seattle.

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Famous ex-Scout visits West Seattle’s Pack 793

February 16, 2012 11:04 am

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| West Seattle news | West Seattle people

(WSB photos by Patrick Sand)
Last night was a big night for West Seattle Cub Scout Pack 793, families, and friends – the annual Blue and Gold Dinner at Holy Rosary. Enhancing the night, a high-profile guest: Former Cub Scout Dow Constantine, better known these days as King County Executive.

Not only did he talk about his Scouting past while at Schmitz Park Elementary, he also mentioned that his family goes way back with Scouting – his grandpa was a Scout leader and his uncle was an Eagle Scout. He talked about leadership and civic participation, something the Scouts are learning early:

(Thanks to Pack 793’s Jon Gerhardt for letting us drop by on the big night!)

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West Seattle Thursday: Chinese Corner; WSHS Zumba; Alki council

February 16, 2012 8:41 am

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| West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Aerial of Alki – note the Bathhouse – by Long B. Nguyen)
Alki’s got two events on the calendar for tonight – a school open house and neighborhood-council meeting. Here’s what else, and where else, are on the list from the WSB West Seattle Events calendar:

BRIDGE CLOSURES AND OTHER ROAD WORK, AGAIN TODAY/TONIGHT: Same reminders as the past three days: In the Morgan Junction/Lincoln Park area on Fauntleroy Way SW and part of California SW north of M-Junction, Day 4 of work on the “transit corridor” project to facilitate this fall’s launch of RapidRide bus service. Details in our on-scene report from Monday. … Avalon Way again is scheduled for restrictions/detours today, 9 am-4 pm, explained here … Two overnight West Seattle Bridge closures: Eastbound Spokane Street Viaduct, east of the 1st Avenue South offramp, 9 pm-5 am (details here); the Fauntleroy Expressway (southwest end of the bridge) has an overnight closure those same hours, detailed here. Reminder, THIS SUNDAY is the all-day Fauntleroy Expressway closure, 9 pm Saturday till as late as midnight Sunday night).

LIBRARY STORY TIMES: There’s Toddler Story Time at Southwest Library at 11 am and at High Point Library at 11:30 am, and Delridge Library has Preschool Story Time at 11:15 am. More info on the Seattle Public Library Calendar of Events.

COLMAN DOCK’S FUTURE – WITHOUT A PASSENGER DOCK? As reported here on Tuesday, Washington State Ferries is having a downtown hearing (Sound Transit board room, 401 S. Jackson, 3:30-6 pm) to talk about Colman Dock’s future, which might not include a passenger-ferry dock, though it’s where the King County Water Taxi and other foot-ferry services dock now. Public testimony welcome.

CHINESE LANGUAGE/CULTURE INTRODUCTION – FREE! We previewed it here yesterday; today’s the debut of Chinese Corner at the Seattle Chinese Garden, 6000 16Th AVE SW. 4-6 pm. Eight sessions every other Thursday; learn basic Mandarin Chinese conversation words, learn about Chinese culture, join easy all-ages games and activities.

ZUMBA FUNDRAISER AT WSHS and other dates: West Seattle High School ASB is raising money for the Class of 2012 with a 5 pm Zumba class in the WSHS gym, today, Feb. 28, and March 1st. $7 each class or 2 for $10, public welcome.

METRO ROUTE-RESTRUCTURING OPEN HOUSE: 6-8 pm at Chief Sealth International High School, open-house format (no presentation), ask questions and offer comments about the latest version of the Metro route-restructuring proposal scheduled to take effect this September.

WSHS INFORMATION NIGHT: At West Seattle High School: Information Night, 6:30-8 pm

ROXHILL OPEN HOUSE: Roxhill Elementary open house, 6:30 pm

ALKI ELEMENTARY TOUR: Alki Elementary tour, 6:30 pm to 7:30 pm

ARBOR HEIGHTS PTA MEETING AND CHARTER-SCHOOLS FORUM: Arbor Heights Elementary PTA meeting at 6:30 pm, followed by a forum on charter schools at 6:45 pm.

WORKSHOP FOR PARENTS WITH BABIES: “Good Eater 4 Life,” 6:30 pm, Youngstown Cultural Arts Center, south classroom, from the announcement: “Good Eater 4 Life is a workshop for parents of babies who are about to begin eating solid food. All the basics will be covered regarding how and when to start feeding baby solids, but special emphasis will be put on how to raise a baby and then toddler to become a good eater. Appropriate not only for first-time parents, but also for those with older fussy eaters and a new baby.”

ALKI COMMUNITY COUNCIL: Alki Community Council, 7 pm, Alki UCC.

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