West Seattle, Washington

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month : 03/2012 337 results

Fauntleroy Community Association: Website revamp; membership Food Fest next week
March 14, 2012 3:42 pm
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   Fauntleroy | West Seattle news

From last night’s Fauntleroy Community Association meeting, that’s Gordon Wiehler and Bruce Butterfield with a new sign for next week’s annual membership meeting, also known as the Fauntleroy Food Fest (6 pm March 20th at The Hall at Fauntleroy). But there’s another new face that FCA is presenting, and proud of:


The FCA website at fauntleroy.net has just relaunched with an all-new look. It’s always been an information-laden website, but somewhat plain; Irene Stewart is responsible for the re-do. Still a few tweaks ahead, but the new front page in particular won rave reviews.

Back to the Food Fest, and a Cove Park “Big Dig” recap – read on:Read More

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Bridge closures Thursday and Friday nights: Reminder from SDOT
March 14, 2012 2:16 pm
|    Comments Off on Bridge closures Thursday and Friday nights: Reminder from SDOT
 |   Spokane St. Viaduct project | West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

SDOT just sent around a reminder that the westbound Spokane Street Viaduct will close Thursday and Friday nights, which also affects West Seattle Bridge access from I-5:

The contractor working for the Seattle Department of Transportation on the Spokane Street Viaduct (the elevated roadway between the West Seattle Bridge and I-5) will close the viaduct to westbound traffic between I-5 and SR 99 on Thursday and Friday nights, March 15 and 16 from 10 p.m. each night until 5 a.m. the following morning. This will close direct access to West Seattle via the Spokane Street Viaduct from both northbound and southbound I-5. (Motorists traveling southbound on SR 99 will still be able to access the off-ramp to the West Seattle Bridge.)

Southbound traffic from I-5 wishing to reach West Seattle can detour by exiting I-5 at S Forest Street, turning right (northbound) onto Sixth Avenue S, then turning left (westbound) onto S Lander Street, turning left again (southbound) at First Avenue S, then turning right (westbound) at S Hanford, turning left onto E Marginal Way S, and finally turning right (westbound) onto the lower S Spokane Street roadway and across the swing bridge into West Seattle. Northbound traffic from I-5 wishing to travel to West Seattle should exit the freeway at the Sixth Avenue S off-ramp, and then follow the same detour route outlined above. Detour signs will help motorists follow the designated route.

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Another medical-marijuana outlet opens in West Seattle: Sure Can Access Point
March 14, 2012 12:51 pm
|      44 COMMENTS
 |   Health | West Seattle news

By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

West Seattle’s fourth publicly advertised medical-marijuana outlet has just opened. It’s the first one located in a mixed-use building – in this case, a senior-housing complex.

Sure Can Access Point opened this morning in Arrowhead Gardens‘ retail area at 9240 2nd SW, Suite 200. (“Access point” is a type of medical-marijuana facility – the “point” where patients can procure what’s produced by “collective gardens.”) After we interviewed owner Damon Grady by phone on Tuesday, he invited us to stop by for photos after they opened the doors this morning.

Read More

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West Seattle restaurants: New pizza place; 2 menu changes
March 14, 2012 11:27 am
|      82 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle restaurants

Three restaurant notes today, all from The Junction:

EX-GARLIC JIM’S TO BECOME ROUND TABLE PIZZA? That’s the way it looks, from a liquor-license application that just turned up online. A Round Table Pizza franchisee has applied for a beer/wine license at 4520 California SW, which is where Garlic Jim’s Pizza shut down six months ago after multiple ownership changes. Last time we looked at the restaurant’s for-sale listing (which is no longer active), the verbiage had changed to “Does not have to be a Garlic Jim’s.” The prospective licensee owns other Round Table franchises, including the nearest one – in Burien – where we have left a message seeking more info on the West Seattle plan.

NEW MENU FOR BANG BAR: This note is from Kay Fuengarom, proprietor of Bang Bar Thai Restaurant and Lounge in The Junction:

After being in the great West Seattle neighborhood for a little more than 8 months, we decided that it is time to do what we are best at which is the “authentic Thai cuisine.” We listened to every comment that we got from all of our customers and have been thinking about them thoughtfully, that they all love us, love the food, love the ambience, but they wish that they can come to Bang Bar more often. The facts being that our prices might be higher than most Thai restaurants but we really do use great quality ingredients and big and fresh seafood. We want to give the customers different choices and options to choose from. We now know that we should go back to our original authentic Thai menu that we planned before we opened the restaurant back in June of 2011. This menu offers over 100 items to choose from – lunch is at $7.95, lunch combinations at $9.95, dinner menu entrees start at $9.95, seasonal Bang Bar Signatures menu that will have all the Chef’s special dishes, we still have our happy hours menu at $5 and $6; happy hours martinis at $5. Now we’ve applied the restaurant concept that we use for our other two restaurants to Bang Bar: “Great Food, Good Service, Reasonable Price, Nice Atmosphere.”


NEW MENUS AT FRESH BISTRO: Also announcing new menus, Fresh Bistro at 4725 42nd SW: They now have a gluten-free menu (see it here) and a “vegetarian-friendly” menu (see it here).

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West Seattle Wednesday: 3 quick notes about tonight
March 14, 2012 10:11 am
|      5 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

Happy Pi(e) Day! Tonight’s highlights, fast: 6 pm, the Design Team for the new school K-5 STEM at Boren meets at Seattle Public Schools HQ (map) … 7 pm, the 34th District Democrats meet at The Hall at Fauntleroy (here’s the agenda) … Also at 7, West Seattle CoolMom meets at C & P Coffee (WSB sponsor), discussing “the secrets of home composting.”

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Speaking of reading … donate Saturday to ‘Books for the World’
March 14, 2012 9:29 am
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   How to help | Rotary Club of West Seattle | West Seattle news

We’ve been celebrating West Seattle students’ accomplishments in the Global Reading Challenge. Now, here’s an opportunity to help give the gift of literacy to youth around the world. Martha Sidlo e-mailed us on behalf of the Rotary Club of West Seattle:

Your donation of new and lightly used books will be gratefully accepted by the West Seattle Rotary Club on Saturday, March 17th, between 11:00 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. at the empty used car lot on the southeast corner of SW Alaska Street and 40th Avenue SW – just west of the Howden-Kennedy Funeral Home at 3909 SW Alaska Street. Books will be distributed to underserved communities in South Africa, Haiti and Guatemala through Rotary’s Books for the World – 2012 campaign. Cash donations of any amount are welcome to help with the cost of shipping the books overseas. Make checks payable to “5030 Service Fund” and send West Seattle Rotary, c/o Martha Sidlo, 7500 34th Avenue SW, Seattle, WA 98126.

We asked what kinds of books they’re looking for:

Books for all ages are welcome, for example: Picture/story books (pre-K and up), teen and adult fiction, K-12 textbooks in sets of 10 or more (world history is okay; U.S. history is discouraged), current professional books (medical books, international law, etc.), encyclopedia sets (less than 20 years old), as well as magazines such as National Geographic or Smithsonian (please, no news magazines).

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More Global Reading Challenge congratulations: Alki Elementary
March 14, 2012 7:52 am
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

After our report from an Arbor Heights parent about that school making it to the Global Reading Challenge‘s citywide finals, we heard from the Alki Elementary community:

Another West Seattle Elementary School has advanced to the All-City Finals of the Global Reading Challenge!! The team called George’s Magician’s Treasure from Alki scored 115 out of 120 points at Monday’s semi-finals at the downtown library. From left in the photo above: Marcus, Gracie, Alina, Georgia, Jaylin, Alex and Carl. Go West Seattle!!

Congratulations to the readers! Anyone else from WS in the finals? Let us know!

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West Seattle weather: Scenes from a flaky day
March 13, 2012 10:49 pm
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle weather

We lost count at three blasts of snow/hail today – at least one, followed by sunshine. Thanks to everyone who shared photos; we’re finally getting a chance to check them out, and this is the first one we wanted to share – Michaela took photos during the West Seattle High School soccer game, which included sun as well as snow! (According to the scoreboard published by our partners at the Seattle Times, Ingraham beat WSHS 11-0.)

ADDED: JayDee‘s view of the “storm train,” seen from Upper Alki:

From The Junction this afternoon, the snow shower that hit just before 4 pm:

And not far away, WSB contributor Katie Meyer caught the sights and sounds of the afternoon’s hail:

Still a chance of snow showers till late Wednesday morning, say the forecasters.

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Update: Alert for bicyclists – Duwamish Trail work under way
March 13, 2012 9:55 pm
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   Transportation | West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

ORIGINAL 9:55 PM REPORT: Dave shared this tonight in hopes of helping fellow bicycle commuters:

I wanted to pass on some construction I unexpectedly encountered today. I bike to work from the Junction to Boeing Field via West Marginal Way. Today I encountered an SDOT crew on the bike path just south of the longhouse. On return this afternoon, I found that they had the bike path ground down to bare gravel, sand, dirt, and mud (thanks afternoon snow/rain storm). The stretch from from the long house headed southbound to where the path recrosses the railroad tracks just north of LaFarge is ground down and in this condition. Just wanted to pass on this information as that surface is very treacherous now, especially for road bikes. All of the equipment is there, so it may be paved by the end of the day tomorrow.

We’ll check with SDOT in the morning – hadn’t heard about this previously.

ADDED 9:31 AM WEDNESDAY: SDOT says the work will continue throughout the week. Read on for their news release:Read More

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West Seattle schools: K-5 STEM at Boren principal’s visit
March 13, 2012 9:00 pm
|      16 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

Tomorrow night, the newly announced Design Team for the new K-5 STEM at Boren school will meet for the first time. Tonight, the school’s first principal visited West Seattle – she is still on the job as a principal in Tucson – to meet families and other community members. In our photo, principal-to-be Dr. Shannon McKinney is in the center with, at left, West Seattle’s School Board rep Marty McLaren and, at right, the district’s executive director of West Seattle-area schools, Aurora Lora. Dr. McKinney is expected to move up here next month to start work getting ready to launch the new school; we hope tomorrow’s meeting will include information about how many families applied for admission to the new school during the open-enrollment period that ended just yesterday.

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Video: Mayor McGinn’s town hall @ Youngstown
March 13, 2012 6:28 pm
|      7 COMMENTS
 |   Delridge | West Seattle news | West Seattle politics

(UPDATED WEDNESDAY MORNING with text toplines)

ORIGINAL 6:28 PM REPORT: Mayor McGinn has arrived, community organizations and city departments have been tabling for almost an hour, and the Town Hall is about to begin at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center, with a performance by the Vicious Puppies Crew breakdancers. Seattle Channel is here to webcast the event, so we’ll put up their code in a minute so you can watch even if you’re not near a Channel 21-equipped TV. More shortly.

6:33 PM UPDATE: Here’s the code:

(this is where the live video was, during the event)

6:46 PM UPDATE: The mayor has started speaking – so the feed should be live – click the “play” button to watch.
(Substituted early Wednesday: Here’s our video, from the mayor’s first word to his last:)

8:18 PM UPDATE: The town hall is over. Topics ranged from arts funding to traffic/transportation challenges to the DESC Delridge project, and more.

ADDED 9:23 PM: Video clip above – that’s the VPC performance in its entirety. Text toplines to come.

ADDED WEDNESDAY MORNING: The aforementioned toplines:Read More

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Video: Occupy West Seattle rally in The Junction
March 13, 2012 4:24 pm
|      71 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle politics

By our count, there are about two dozen people participating in the Occupy West Seattle rally in The Junction. Police are there too – including Southwest Precinct commander Capt. Steve Paulsen. Our crew at the scene says it’s gone as the group had said it would – they walked from KeyBank to Chase, and are now on the California/Oregon corner.

The announced 4 pm start time of the rally coincided with a blast of snow and hail.

ADDED: Our video from the event, and a few more photos:Read More

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Global Reading Challenge: Arbor Heights in the finals!
March 13, 2012 4:05 pm
|      6 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

Two weeks ago, we stopped by Arbor Heights Elementary School as students battled it out in the Global Reading Challenge school finals. Today, the winning team, a group of 5th graders calling themselves Da Peeps, went downtown for the semifinals – and after scoring 110 out of 120 points, according to an AH parent volunteer, advanced to the all-city finals! (7 pm March 22nd) From left in the photo above (also courtesy of the parent volunteer) are Chase, Dylan, Stone, Siobhan, Ayden, Steph, and Ruby.

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Sign-up time for spring programs, classes @ community centers
March 13, 2012 3:05 pm
|    Comments Off on Sign-up time for spring programs, classes @ community centers
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle parks

Thanks to Tim Ewings at Alki Community Center for the tip on this: Sign-ups have just begun for spring classes and programs at Seattle Parks community centers, plus Camp Long and Southwest Pool. Here’s the spring brochure. You can register online – start here.

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Nature Consortium brunch April 1: Green for the greenbelt
March 13, 2012 1:49 pm
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   Environment | How to help | West Seattle news

If there’s just one brunch for which you make reservations this year – this is the one. West Seattle-based Nature Consortium – which works to protect and restore the West Duwamish Greenbelt (right), Seattle’s largest contiguous forest – is saving a seat for you at its annual benefit brunch April 1st at The Hall at Fauntleroy. But you need to RSVP ASAP. You don’t even need to pay ahead of time (though they’re suggesting a minimum $50 donation at the event – proceeds support NC arts and environmental education programs all over the county. Brunch will start with mimosas and jazz/blues music by Billy and The Bouncers at 11:30 am, continuing at noon with a gourmet brunch menu (see the right sidebar), youth music and dance performances, and awards for volunteers and community partners. You can RSVP online right now. (There’s even free child care if you need it.) P.S. WSB is proud to co-sponsor this event again this year.

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Memorial this Saturday for Alan Schmitz, 1934-2012
March 13, 2012 11:33 am
|      10 COMMENTS
 |   Obituaries | West Seattle news | West Seattle people

(September 2009 photo courtesy of Schmitz Park Elementary parent Erik)
His grandparents figured prominently in West Seattle history – and he often volunteered his time to educate others about it. Alan Schmitz – shown above in a WSB reader photo from 2009, talking with students at Schmitz Park Elementary – has died at the age of 77. Mr. Schmitz’s obituary was circulated by the Rotary Club of West Seattle, which granted our request for permission to publish it:

Alan Schmitz was the grandson of West Seattle pioneers Ferdinand and Emma Schmitz, and the son of Dietrich and Peggy Schmitz. Alan was born on 11-25-1934 at Swedish Hospital, and he died in West Seattle on March 9, 2012, of a bone-marrow disorder. Alan was a lifelong West Seattle resident.

Alan attended Alki Elementary, Madison Junior High, and West Seattle High School class of 1953. Alan graduated from the University of Washington in 1957 and belonged to Phi Gamma Delta fraternity. Alan achieved the rank of Eagle Scout with the Boy Scouts of America, Alki Troop 283; he later became a Scoutmaster with Troop 281.

Alan skippered his family’s sailboat, the schooner SUVA, for many years.

Alan’s career began in banking, investments and small businesses; in his later years, he became an aerobics and fitness instructor for senior citizens at community centers. Alan was very involved with the West Seattle Rotary for over 30 years, and had been a member of the Seattle Yacht Club and the Rainier Club.

Alan is survived by his daughter, Julie Schmitz and her fiancé Dr. Grant Broker, of Houston, Texas; his son Dietrich Schmitz and wife Mary Howland Schmitz, grandchildren Ilse Schmitz and Gunnar Schmitz of West Seattle; his sister Gloria S. Brinton Davis of West Seattle, many nieces/nephews/cousins, and his former wife Vicki Schmitz Block.

The family is extremely grateful to all of his physicians, nurses and caregivers at the Providence Mt. St. Vincent Center, and to Dr. William Hammond and staff at the Minor & James Medical Clinic.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, March 17th at 4 pm, at Alki UCC Church, 6115 SW Hinds.

(WSB publishes obituaries at no charge; send text and photo to editor@westseattleblog.com)

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What the Pigeon Point police response was all about
March 13, 2012 9:16 am
|      15 COMMENTS
 |   Pigeon Point | West Seattle news | West Seattle police

Though we apologize for not having heard about it while it was happening (not everything’s on the scanner, so your text/call to 206-293-6302 is always helpful!), we DO now know why a sizable police response spent a while on Pigeon Point yesterday afternoon: Seattle Police media-relations Det. Mark Jamieson looked it up for us. Someone reported a suspicious item in a mailbox in the 4100 block of 20th SW (map). The police report says it was described as a plastic milk container with a screw top and foil, and it appeared “burnt.” Officers called in Arson/Bomb Squad specialists to have a look. The eventual determination, according to Det. Jamieson: It was “a device used to smoke marijuana.”

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West Seattle Tuesday: Mayor’s town hall; principal’s debut…
March 13, 2012 8:27 am
|    Comments Off on West Seattle Tuesday: Mayor’s town hall; principal’s debut…
 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

From the almost-out-of-its-cocoon WSB West Seattle Events calendar:

JOB SEARCH HELP/NETWORKING: “Notes from the Job Search” continues to meet weekly at C & P Coffee Company (5612 California Ave SW; WSB sponsor), 11 am.

ORCHARD TOUR: Tuesday’s the day for Health and Harvest Tours at Community Orchard of West Seattle (north side of South Seattle Community College campus), 2-4 pm on Tuesdays, details here

FREE SWIMMING LESSONS: Southwest Pool and Southwest Teen Life Center offers FREE lessons for ages 11-19. Every Tuesday, 3-4 pm. Call 206-684-4115 to check if there’s room.

‘OCCUPY WEST SEATTLE’ RALLY: We published the announcement early yesterday, and a lively (to say the least) discussion ensued. The group says it’ll start at California/Alaska at 4 pm.

TELL THE MAYOR WHAT’S ON YOUR MIND – PLUS, MEET YOUR NEIGHBORS: Mayor McGinn‘s back in West Seattle for a Town Hall at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center, 5:30-8 pm, details here. Starts with a community information fair (find out about neighborhood groups) till 6:30; then, a breakdancing performance till 6:40, at which time the mayor takes the mike (and there’ll be one for you too).

MEET THE PRINCIPAL: Your first chance to meet Dr. Shannon McKinney, announced last month as the principal for West Seattle’s new school K-5 STEM at Boren. Meet-and-greet starts at Madison Middle School, 6:30 pm. (Here’s our Monday report on the new school’s Design Team; here’s our interview with Dr. McKinney after the announcement of her appointment.)

NO ADMIRAL NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION MEETING, BUT… Admiral Neighborhood Association president Katy Walum says tonight’s regular monthly meeting is OFF, but she invites ANA members to come to the group’s table at the information fair preceding the mayoral town hall (see above).

FAUNTLEROY COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION MEETING: FCA *is* having its regular meeting, 7 pm at Fauntleroy Schoolhouse (9131 California SW).

DENNY PTSA MEETING: Denny International Middle School PTSA meets tonight in the school library, 7 pm.

NIGHTLIFE: Skylark Café and Club acoustic open mic night, starts 7 pm … Rock music/pop culture trivia at Feedback Lounge (WSB sponsor), 8 pm … “Geeks Who Drink” pub quiz at The Wing Dome in The Junction, 8 pm … Trivia at The Bridge, $2 registration beginning at 8 pm and play starting at 8:30 pm. … Free pool at Beveridge Place Pub, plus discounts on bottled Belgian beer … Starlight songwriter showcase at Shadowland, 9 pm.

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West Seattle weather: Bit of snow in winter’s final days
March 13, 2012 6:33 am
|      28 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle weather

(The requisite “proof it snowed” video, shot at 9:30 am)
ORIGINAL 6:33 AM REPORT: Spring officially arrives next Monday night. Winter isn’t giving up without a fight. A little more snow dusted the area overnight; we’ve had reports via Facebook and Twitter, from Admiral to Arbor Heights, and beyond. Let us know if there’s any actually on the ground where you are; it apparently snowed a little more heavily in points south and east. A “special weather statement” is in effect and warning that some snow and/or hail is still possible during what the National Weather Service calls “a showery, cool day” ahead.

9:04 AM UPDATE: Getting a notable snow shower here in Upper Fauntleroy at the moment.

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Two months till West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day 2012!
March 12, 2012 11:56 pm
|    Comments Off on Two months till West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day 2012!
 |   Community Garage Sale Day | West Seattle news

Almost missed the chance to mention that it’s coming up fast … two months from today – May 12, 2012 – it’s the 8th annual West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day, 9 am-3 pm. If you’re new to the area, it’s not one big garage sale, but instead, many sales all over West Seattle (more than 200 last year), all on one day, which means almost everyone has one within walking distance – great chance to meet friends/neighbors old and new. Or, you can grab the map and see how many you can hit in the course of the day. We’ll be opening registration in three weeks, on Monday, April 2nd. If you want to see what past Garage Sale Days were like, you can browse the archives on our “official” WSCGSD site, westseattlegaragesale.com.

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West Seattle Crime Watch: Court followups; reader reports
March 12, 2012 10:41 pm
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | West Seattle news

Tonight’s West Seattle Crime Watch roundup starts with two court notes:

COURT-CASE UPDATES: No definite date yet for the start of Duane Starkenburg‘s imminent trial on indecent-liberties charges for the 2010-2011 Lincoln Park attacks – the prosecutor’s still busy finishing another trial. We’ll keep you updated. … Meantime, the trial date for Angelo Felice, charged with murdering vaudeville entertainer Hokum W. Jeebs in Fauntleroy last year, has been pushed back five months to September, the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office tells WSB, as the result of a hearing last week.

READER REPORTS: A theft report from VCA:

Thought I would let people know that there are probably metal/copper thieves combing the alleys etc. near Alki. I just had two large copper pots (planters) stolen this morning. One was on my porch right next to my door which is on the alley side. I was only gone for 1 hour, and one of my cars was parked in alley, with my blinds open! Checked in with one of my neighbors across the alley and she did not see anything.

More reader reports ahead:Read More

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Christmas in March! Holy Rosary Tree Lot donates $5,625
March 12, 2012 7:04 pm
|      5 COMMENTS
 |   Holidays | West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

Long past the Christmas season, the holiday spirit carries on at Holy Rosary School – it’s just finished distributing a share of the 2011 Christmas Tree Lot proceeds to four charitable organizations in West Seattle: The WS Helpline, WS Food Bank, Salvation Army’s Hickman House, and the Kingston Foundation. “Holy Rosary School is proud to give back to our community,” says Refawne Acarregui, a Holy Rosary parent and tree-lot organizer who’s at right in our photo, along with Father John Madigan, parent/volunteer Currie Baker, and principal Michael Cantu. We caught up with them at the recent meeting of the Holy Rosary Parents’ Club. The 15 percent share of tree-lot proceeds equaled $5625.44, of which the four organizations each received $1406.36. (You might recall one other donation – after the lot closed, unsold trees were given away.)

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West Seattleite Alex Pietsch to lead Governor’s Aerospace Office
March 12, 2012 4:45 pm
|      5 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle people

A West Seattleite has just been announced as director of the new Governor’s Aerospace Office, created “to enhance Washington state’s competitiveness in the global aerospace industry”: He is Alex Pietsch, who has worked for the City of Renton since 2001 and leads its economic-development efforts. Here’s the news release announcing his new state-government role and explaining what it entails, including chairing the Washington Council on Aerospace and serving as executive director of the Washington Aerospace Partnership.

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