West Seattle, Washington

09 Saturday

48℉

month : 04/2012 332 results

West Seattleite Bill Schrier to retire as city Chief Tech Officer
April 17, 2012 10:13 am
|      10 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle online

Much of what we report on WSB includes, or originates from, information made available online by the city – the 911 log, the police-report map, DPD permit status/filings to list a few – and the city has put it all out there for the public under the leadership of its Chief Technology Officer, West Seattleite Bill Schrier. Now, the city sends word he’s leaving that job (one year after the City Council reconfirmed his appointment):

Mayor Mike McGinn today announced that Bill Schrier is retiring from City service as the city of Seattle’s chief technology officer after 30 years.

“Bill Schrier has been an effective and innovative leader in helping Seattle use technology to support our residents, our businesses, and an open government,” said Mayor McGinn. “Under his leadership Seattle has begun to connect more of our neighborhoods to high-speed fiber broadband, set national standards for accessing information online, and helped create and improve other innovative and effective ways to get the people of Seattle better engaged with their government.”

During Schrier’s tenure as chief technology officer and head of the Department of Information Technology (DoIT), the city of Seattle was named as the best large city government website in the nation by “Best of the Web” in 2001, 2006 and 2011. Schrier led the development of data.seattle.gov, an award-winning website that increases access to datasets generated by various departments of Seattle city government. DoIT also oversees the city’s television station, the Seattle Channel, which was named best municipal TV station for large cities in 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2010.

Schrier’s retirement from City service will be effective on May 2. Erin Devoto, deputy director of DoIT, will serve as acting chief technology officer until a permanent director is chosen.

According to his Twitter feed, Schrier is at a conference in Minnesota – but we’ll be asking for comment. Via Twitter, of course. (Where he just promised “more in a while.”)

ADDED EARLY WEDNESDAY: Retirement in this case does not mean actual “no more paid career” retirement; here’s where his new job is revealed – deputy director of the Center for Digital Government.

Share This

West Seattle Tuesday: Dedication today; Crime Prevention Council tonight; tax deadline
April 17, 2012 9:51 am
|    Comments Off on West Seattle Tuesday: Dedication today; Crime Prevention Council tonight; tax deadline
 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

Some of today’s highlights from the WSB West Seattle Events calendar:

VIADUCT/99 PARTIAL CLOSURE OVERNIGHT TONIGHT: Again tonight, the state plans to close the **southbound** Alaskan Way Viaduct/99 as the reinforcement work, pre-tunnel construction, continues. 10 pm-5 am.

NEIGHBORHOOD SERVICE CENTER DEDICATION AND CELEBRATION: Starting at 11:30 am, it’s celebration time at the newly reopened Southwest Pool/Teen Life Center/Neighborhood Service Center building at 2801 SW Thistle – including tours, Zumba, free swimming sessions, and more, starting after the official ribbon-cutting. It’s all detailed in the city’s announcement.

HEALTH AND HARVEST TOURS: Join in one of the Community Orchard of West Seattle‘s weekly tours, 2 pm (north side of South Seattle Community College campus, 6000 16th SW).

NATIVE PLANTS/BLOOMS WALK: Think you know Lincoln Park? Even the names of native plants and flowers you can see almost every step of the way this time of year? Take a walk with an expert – local naturalist Stewart Wechsler – and test your knowledge, or start learning. 5 pm; details on his website.

PARKS SUPERINTENDENT AT WEST SEATTLE CRIME PREVENTION COUNCIL: Issues of safety and security at city parks arose after last month’s murder of Greggette Guy, believed to have happened at West Seattle’s waterfront Emma Schmitz Viewpoint. Tonight, acting Seattle Parks Superintendent Christopher Williams is the guest at the WS Crime Prevention Council‘s monthly meeting; Southwest Precinct police leadership also will be there as always to discuss the latest crime trends and answer community questions. 7 pm, SW Precinct meeting room (Delridge/Webster).

DELRIDGE SKATEPARK STORY: Not in West Seattle, but made in West Seattle – the Delridge Rec/Tech interns’ documentary about the 7-month-old skatepark and local skate culture will be showcased by the Northwest Film Forum tonight, 7 pm – map and more info here.

(added) 4TH “NEW BPP” ANNIVERSARY PARTY & WORLD RELEASE OF CRAIGALICIOUS BLACK LAGER! From Beveridge Place Pub, happening tonight at 7:

Manny, Roger, and the crew of Georgetown Brewing were here at the new location on Day One, and they’ll be back again! Along with their regular lineup, they’re bringing some super special brews just for YOU! How about the world release of Craigalicious Black Lager (served from a CLEAR keg!), a cask of Johnny Utah Session IPA, and bottles of Waldman Belgian Pale!

BELLY-DANCE SHOWCASE: The monthly Alauda belly-dancing showcase takes the stage at 7:30 pm tonight at Skylark Café and Club (3803 Delridge Way SW).

TRIVIA THAT ROCKS: 8 pm, Feedback Lounge (WSB sponsor), the weekly trivia event – with prizes! Next week, the Feedback celebrates its third birthday, and to preview the occasion, you can read their updated ruminations on what they’ve learned about running a bar – go here.

TAX DAY PROCRASTINATION? HERE’S WHERE YOU CAN GET A POSTMARK BY MIDNIGHT: No West Seattle post office, not even any Seattle post office, is postmarking till midnight tonight, but if you really find yourself in that last-last-minute bind, the Riverton branch north of Sea-Tac Airport will be doing it – here’s a map.

More on the calendar!

Share This

West Seattle Bridge traffic alert: Truck testing on Delridge ramps
April 17, 2012 9:25 am
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

Just in from SDOT:

Engineers will conduct routine load tests today on the Delridge Way SW on- and off-ramps to the West Seattle high-level bridge to measure the effects of heavy trucks. Drivers may experience delays of 10 minutes at a time on three occasions between noon and 4 p.m. Also, drivers may be briefly delayed by traffic flaggers under the bridge on Delridge Way SW at times today until 6 p.m. Please plan ahead and allow extra time to reach your destination.

Share This

West Seattle beauty: Sights above and beneath the sea
April 17, 2012 4:00 am
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   Seen at sea | West Seattle news | Wildlife

Before we get going all-out with a brand-new day – and Tax Day, at that! – take a moment for two seagoing West Seattle sights shared by WSB’ers. First, John Hinkey‘s view of the Monday night sunset. Next, the latest undersea video from diver/photographer Laura James – who lets her camera linger on market-squid eggs on the seafloor near Seacrest:

The eggs take just past two months to hatch, according to this squid-info page. (Yes, same squid that appears on menus as calamari.)

Share This

100 sales signed up for West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day!
April 16, 2012 10:45 pm
|    Comments Off on 100 sales signed up for West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day!
 |   Community Garage Sale Day | West Seattle news

garagesaledaysmalllog5.jpgIt’s one of our favorite milestones – the 100th sale has now signed up to be part of this year’s West Seattle Community Garage Sale Day! 9 am to 3 pm May 12th is the 8th annual edition of WSCGSD – the fifth one coordinated by WSB – and whether you’re a seller or a shopper, it’s a chance to meet your neighbors and engage in one big day of what we like to think of as person-to-person recycling (we invite the rest of the region too, just in case they’d like to come shop our sales, dine and drink in our restaurants/bars, etc.). Nine more days to register – we’ve just set the deadline as 11:59 pm Wednesday night, April 25th. Here’s the form to sign up online! As May 12th gets closer, watch for updates not just here, but also on the WSCGSD website and Facebook page.

Share This

It takes a village … to rescue a West Seattle wildlife raft
April 16, 2012 7:02 pm
|      17 COMMENTS
 |   Seen at sea | West Seattle news | Wildlife

(August 2010 photo by Guy Smith)
Another chapter to share in the ongoing saga of Alki’s Joy D. Smith Wildlife Raft, first launched in 2008, first mentioned here when we heard from Joy’s husband Guy Smith in 2009, and the subject of some memorable stories since then. Today, Guy shared another one:

Joy’s raft is in dry dock again after an underwater line broke. That’s nothing new, but the way the raft was rescued is quite a story.

We discovered it had broken loose in the late afternoon on Thursday the 12th and located it drifting along about halfway to Duwamish Head. There wasn’t enough daylight left to get a boat and pull it home, so we crossed our fingers and went to dinner with friends. They volunteered to look for it the next day in their boat, but when we got back home at dusk we couldn’t believe our eyes. The raft was tied to a buoy about halfway between the point and the Alki Promenade. How could this have happened?

As near as we can tell, from listening to all the neighbors’ stories and a little guesswork, the raft and buoy were drifting toward Alki Point at about 7:30 pm, on the strong incoming tide when a neighbor, Zack Singer, jumped into his kayak and set out to rescue it. Zack said he was spurred to action when he, Judy, and Linda were sipping cool ones on the patio and Judy said something like “we can’t let that raft get away; we like watching it too much.”

Zack hooked up to the raft and buoy, but the current was too strong and he found himself being pulled south around the point. Luckily, Jack Miller was heading north in his big boat, the “Baltic Sea,” and responded to Zack’s hail.

(Photo by Kyle Udo, added Tuesday morning, courtesy Kyle’s dad Pat Hogan)
Jack hooked up to what he laughingly described as “a pretty unusual sight” and pulled the whole thing around the Point to the first buoy they came to; one of only 3 left on this stretch of beach where a dozen used to be. Zack said it wasn’t exactly a smooth ride; because when Jack took off, the kayak was being pulled backward. Afraid it would flip, he whipped out his knife and cut the kayak loose (instincts from working on tug boats), nicking his finger in the process.

At the new buoy, rope was needed; so Zack paddled to the beach and borrowed a length from Duff Kennedy’s seemingly endless supply. Jack donated a throw-ring float from the Baltic Sea to keep the lines from sinking and tangling. All this action was watched by neighbors on the beach as they shouted encouragement and advice (happy hour was running late that day).

On Saturday, Jerett Kaplan donated his rowboat for retrieving the raft; and it now sits in dry dock, awaiting new parts and a call to the diver. It’s been a nice marine refuge and people along the beach like to watch the birds and seals. Penny Earnest is a Seal Sitter volunteer and sends in daily seal counts. Thanks go to other neighbors who keep watch on the raft and who helped fill in details – Bette Callan, the Hogans, the Warrens, and others; even the unknown owner of the buoy where the raft was temporarily tied. The biggest thanks go to Zack and Jack for their timely action.

Sharon Kennedy related that on Friday, she had watched a mother seal and her pup circle the spot where the raft normally floats; circling for quite a while before they gave up and left. She laughed when she told that she had almost started yelling and pointing to the new location.

Share This

Opera in the living room! Southwest Youth & Family Services benefit
April 16, 2012 5:54 pm
|    Comments Off on Opera in the living room! Southwest Youth & Family Services benefit
 |   How to help | West Seattle news | WS culture/arts

It’s a rare opportunity – enjoy opera music without leaving West Seattle to head for a concert hall downtown. You don’t have to go to a concert hall, period. This Sunday, a unique benefit for Southwest Youth and Family Services is happening at a private home on Fauntleroy Cove, and tickets are available right now.

The performers are The Opera Belles, a lyric soprano, mezzo-soprano, and pianist – all professionals – who will bring you “opera’s greatest hits,” in original arrangements. The 4-6 pm event also includes a cheese and wine reception. You can enjoy it all for a donation of $50 per person – register now online (just go here) while there’s still room. Once you’re signed up, you’ll get the address and directions.

Share This

‘Bashed up,’ NOT closed up: Twilight and neighbors in The Junction
April 16, 2012 4:55 pm
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   Transportation | West Seattle news

The continued work for a RapidRide stop on SW Alaska west of California isn’t moving “rapidly” enough for the businesses stuck behind the backhoes, as first mentioned here a week and a half ago – like Twilight Artist Collective, which currently has the view we photographed through their front window, and which is now into “making lemonade out of lemons” mode: They’ve announced a “Bashed-Up-Street Sale” all week long, 10 percent off if you come in and mention that phrase. Yes, you CAN get into Twilight, Edie’s Shoes, and Rose Nails along the stretch west of Easy Street Records. Twilight is open till 7 tonight. (We’re working to get an update on how much longer this section of the work will take; all along the future RapidRide route, it’s been happening in phases, first the concrete and utilities, then the stop/station shelters, benches, signage depending on what’s scheduled for a certain spot.)

P.S. Twilight and Edie’s also are part of this Saturday’s “Tax-Free Day for All” daylong Junction-wide sale – participants listed here

Share This

Seattle Lutheran senior Matt Haggerty finishes Boston Marathon (and a fundraiser)
April 16, 2012 2:40 pm
|      20 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle people | WS & Sports

As young runners go, Seattle Lutheran High School senior Matt Haggerty is one busy guy. First, we found out this morning (via a tip from John) that Matt ran the famous Boston Marathon this morning – finishing 227th out of 27,000 runners, in under 2 hours, 51 minutes! (Tipster John notes that “it was 74 degrees at the start of the race.”) Here at home, Matthew has turned his love for running into community-minded efforts; last fall, we reported on his “Ritual Running” senior project (in our first story, in fact, he mentioned his Boston Marathon plans), and earlier this month, we talked to him at West Seattle Stadium as he led other SLHS students on a fundraising/awareness-raising preview to the recent “Day Without Shoes.”

As part of Ritual Running, he has been collecting shoe and money donations for Haiti via One World Running. Here’s a video he recently shared about what his project’s covered so far (including last fall’s Ritual Running 10K, which Matt says raised more than $1,100 plus 250 pounds of shoes):

Ritual Running, Matt tells us, still does group runs twice a week from the Alki Bathhouse – you can contact him to get on the list and join in – ritualrunning@gmail.com – and congrats again on the Boston Marathon achievement. (According to the SLHS Twitter feed, he was the youngest runner!)

Share This

West Seattle schools: 226 assigned to K-5 STEM at Boren
April 16, 2012 11:29 am
|      55 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

Today is the day that Seattle Public Schools families officially find out students’ assignments for next year, and while there’s no suspense for those returning to their “neighborhood school,” those who applied for out-of-neighborhood schools or “option schools” have been awaiting the news. This also means there’s an official number for the first wave of enrollment at West Seattle’s new option school, K-5 STEM at Boren, opening this fall, so we asked SPS what that number turned out to be and whether there’s room for more. Here’s the reply from enrollment manager Dr. Tracy Libros:

There are 226 students assigned to K-5 STEM at Boren, with a short waiting list at kindergarten and 1st grade. If families are interested, they are encouraged to apply soon to let us know if we should consider adding another class.

If someone in your family is awaiting word of an assignment, here’s the district webpage you can use to get the information (provided you have their student ID number handy). Meantime, the school’s Design Team, including community reps, continues to meet (minutes are linked online, from the right side of this page); they’ve been meeting at district HQ in downtown but minutes from last Tuesday’s meeting indicate they’ll be switching to a West Seattle site, the Madison Middle School library.

Share This

West Seattle Monday: Here’s what else is up today/tonight
April 16, 2012 10:43 am
|    Comments Off on West Seattle Monday: Here’s what else is up today/tonight
 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

In addition to the Metro-changes hearing tonight – previewed here earlier this morning – here are tonight’s other highlights from the WSB West Seattle (and vicinity) Events calendar:

SOUTHWEST POOL REOPENS: Though the grand opening/reopening celebration for the newly co-located Southwest Neighborhood Service Center/Southwest Pool/Southwest Teen Life Center, all in the former SW Community Center, isn’t until tomorrow, the pool is scheduled to reopen TODAY at noon (here’s its ongoing schedule) after three weeks of maintenance work, which included installation of the brand-new sign out front (2801 SW Thistle).

WEST SEATTLE COOKING CLUB: Today’s ingredient – roots! The WS Cooking Club invites you to bring your favorite dish incorporating them to the meeting @ Beveridge Place Pub, 3 pm today (6413 California SW).

NATIONAL HEALTH-CARE DECISIONS DAY: Providence Hospice of Seattle is sponsoring a conversation, with an elder-law attorney on hand, at the West Seattle (Admiral District) Library branch at 6 tonight – details in the event-calendar listing (2306 42nd SW).

DELRIDGE PRODUCE COOPERATIVE: As previewed here over the weekend, DPC invites the community to tonight’s meeting as it gears up for potentially opening a “greengrocer”-style food store in the to-be-built DESC Delridge Supportive Housing apartment building – about 2 years away, but there is much to be done in the meantime. 6:30 pm, Delridge Library (Delridge/Brandon)

SUSTAINABLE WEST SEATTLE FOCUSES ON FARMING: A movie, a panel discussion, and a seed sale are all part of tonight’s Community Forum, as detailed on the SWS website. 7 pm, Senior Center of West Seattle (California/Oregon).

More on the calendar!

Share This

West Seattle Little League: Jacob Terao’s 18-strikeout perfect game
April 16, 2012 10:33 am
|      19 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | WS & Sports

(Photo courtesy Mark Terao)
West Seattle Little League president Brian Pare just sent word of an amazing accomplishment by a WSLL player:

On Thursday April 12th, 2012, 12-year-old West Seattle Little Leaguer Jacob Terao accomplished one of the rarest feats in baseball by pitching a perfect game. During a West Seattle Little League majors game at Bar-S Playfield, Terao struck out all 18 batters from the opposing team: No walks, no runs, and no one on base. With a combination of 2- and 4-seam fastballs, Terao threw 54 strikes and 27 balls for a total of 81 pitches leading his team, the WSLL Rays, to a 4-0 win over the WSLL Braves.

Read on for the full pitching summary!Read More

Share This

Something to say about September Metro changes? Tell County Councilmembers tonight
April 16, 2012 5:41 am
|      30 COMMENTS
 |   Transportation | West Seattle news

(Click to see entire map, full size, via Metro’s site; click here for the “peak” version)
After six months and two previous drafts, Metro‘s final recommendations for September route changes – mostly affecting West Seattle and vicinity because the RapidRide launch is the catalyst – has gone to the County Council. And tonight, two weeks after that final proposal was made public, you can tell councilmembers what you think of it. The council’s Transportation, Economy, and Environment Committee – with West Seattle’s Councilmember Joe McDermott among its members – has a public hearing tonight on Metro’s September plan. It’s NOT in the council’s usual meeting place, though – they will meet at 6:30 pm in the Sound Transit board room at Union Station, 401 S. Jackson St. (map), after a 6 pm open house. (If you haven’t seen it yet, here’s the county’s summary of West Seattle changes. If you want to flash back to October for a refresher on what was in the first draft, here’s our original story.)

Share This

West Seattle Crime Watch update: No attack arrest yet
April 15, 2012 10:41 pm
|      22 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | Highland Park | West Seattle news

ORIGINAL 10:41 PM REPORT: If you are noticing a large police response in southeastern West Seattle: According to scanner traffic, police are responding to a report of a man with a gun following a woman from a bus stop and sexually assaulting and robbing her. Again, this is a preliminary report, as monitored by scanner, but police have rushed to the area to look for the reported attacker; the early description is not too detailed – black man, wearing all black, orange bandana over his face, walking north on 18th SW from the 8800 block. We’ll add any additional details that become available.

UPDATE, 12:20 PM MONDAY: Just talked with Det. Mark Jamieson of SPD media relations, who will soon publish an update on this incident on SPD Blotter. He says police have not arrested anyone yet. The victim told police the attacker came up behind her as she walked east on SW Trenton after getting off a bus on Delridge and that he pulled her into an alley and sexually assaulted her at gunpoint before stealing her phone and taking off. She called 911 from a friend’s home; police rushed to the scene (as we noted at the time), including a K-9 team, and searched extensively but didn’t find the man. A few additional description details besides the ones in our original report: Mid-to-late 20s, dark complexion, medium height, possibly under the influence of drugs, and had a “foul body odor.” If you have any information, call detectives at 206-684-5575.

Share This

Spokane Street Viaduct updates: Truck trouble; ramp updates; old bridge deck, up close
April 15, 2012 8:45 pm
|      19 COMMENTS
 |   Spokane St. Viaduct project | West Seattle news

(Photos courtesy SDOT)
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

Tomorrow starts the first full week of realigned traffic on the Spokane Street Viaduct – the official name for the easternmost section of the West Seattle Bridge, between Highway 99 and I-5.

After two weekdays with the SSV’s newly built north side handling all four lanes of bridge traffic, during the final phase of three years of work to widen the bridge, project-team leaders promised “tweaks” to the signage for one aspect of the realignment that caused more upheaval than expected – the new restrictions on the eastbound onramp that deposits vehicles on the bridge right before 99.

Those vehicles are now only allowed to go to northbound 99, rather than onto the SSV, but as WSB commenters noted, some semi-trucks, either out of surprise or defiance, were running through the upright lane markers on Thursday. SDOT asked the contractor to bring in some “double-collared” orange barrels on Friday, but that didn’t deter everyone, acknowledged project manager Stuart Goldsmith; project engineer Darin Stephens even got video of one truck driving on through.

We talked with Goldsmith, Stephens, and community-relations rep Paul Elliott during the second meeting of a community task force that’s getting periodic briefings on where the Spokane Street Viaduct Widening Project stands in its final months. Friday afternoon’s meeting was scheduled before SDOT knew it would be making the lane switch on Thursday, but the timing proved fortuitous for discussing the changeover, as well as other updates.

Read More

Share This

West Seattle Crime Watch: Burglars hit Youngstown nonprofits
April 15, 2012 7:21 pm
|      7 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | Delridge | West Seattle news

Management at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center in North Delridge says this has never happened before – and they hope you can help make sure it doesn’t happen again:

Hello Neighbors – I am sad to say that your neighborhood Cultural Arts Center, Youngstown, has been the victim of two break ins in the last week. The SW Precinct officers have responded to our calls quickly and dusted for fingerprints while taking our statements.

Youngstown is the home to several well known and respected non-profit organizations, two of them, Power of Hope and Nature Consortium, both have been broken into this week.

In the six years since Youngstown opened we have not experienced anything like this. As anyone who has been a victim themselves understands, our sense of security has been shaken.

We suspect that these break-ins have happened between midnight and 5 am. If anyone living or working in the neighborhood noticed anything out of the ordinary recently, especially the nights the break-ins occurred (Monday night into Tuesday morning and/or Friday night into Saturday morning) please report it to the SW Precinct immediately.

Thank you.

Margaret Way, DNDA @ Youngstown

And if you see anything suspicious *in progress* – there or elsewhere – call 911.

Share This

Video: Crowd blooms for Ciscoe at Village Green Perennial Nursery
April 15, 2012 7:11 pm
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   Gardening | West Seattle news

Northwest gardening guru/broadcast personality/author Ciscoe Morris drew more than 100 people to Village Green Perennial Nursery (WSB sponsor) this afternoon, which meant big smiles all around, especially for him and Village Green’s Vera Johnson:

In our 8-minute clip below, Vera introduces him by explaining how they met, and then after showing off prizes he planned to give away during his talk, he explained his trademark phrase “Oh-la-la”:

The quiz questions that netted attendees the prizes, by the way, centered on hummingbirds. We’ll have video of his entire talk linked on partner site White Center Now later; one major topic, the trouble these past three winters have caused with many Northwest gardens, including his own.

Share This

West Seattle schools: Pathfinder trip; Gatewood science fair
April 15, 2012 6:43 pm
|    Comments Off on West Seattle schools: Pathfinder trip; Gatewood science fair
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

This is spring break week for Seattle Public Schools, but we have news from two local schools:

PATHFINDER K-8 WORLD TRAVEL PROGRAM: Amy Daly-Donovan shares the report and photo:

This group of 17 Pathfinder middle-school kids, and chaperones (teachers Ami Pendley and Patrick Wildermann, principal David Dockendorf, and parents), left this morning for a trip to Belize! Attached is a photo of the group at Sea-Tac at 4 am. The itinerary include excursions to learn about and experience ancient Mayan culture, explore the natural wonders of the area (jungle hikes, snorkeling, wildlife sanctuaries),and complete a service project in the village of La Democracia. Pathfinder’s World Travel Program requires participants to attend a weekly after school class to learn about the history and culture of the destination and to conduct an extensive research project, which will be completed and presented upon their return.

GATEWOOD’S FIRST-EVER ‘SCIENCE FAIR-PALOOZA’: On Thursday, Gatewood Elementary had two sessions to show off the projects from its first-ever event:

(Photos courtesy Sheree Fantz-Gut)
Gatewood principal Rhonda Claytor explained, “Every student in grades 2 through 5 (contributed) some scientific writing for display, and about 50 students (chose) to present their findings from a home science project.” In this next photo, for example, Marlee researched “The Veins of Flowers”:

When spring break is over, the school year will have two months to go.

Share This

Election 2012: Democrats caucus in West Seattle, despite the sun
April 15, 2012 3:30 pm
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle politics

Of all the volunteers who helped make this afternoon’s Democratic precinct caucuses happen around West Seattle and beyond, they might have had the best job – hanging out in the sunshine to help people find their way into the Chief Sealth International High School Galleria. Inside, it was a little lonely – one woman asked the check-in-table volunteers, “Am I the only one?” She wasn’t the only one there – we counted more than 30 before the caucusing officially began at 1:30 pm – but she might have been the only one from her precinct. Each precinct had a table, and some tables were empty. But that made it a convivial gathering – Chris Porter rallied everyone around as he read the introduction and rules:

As is usual for caucuses, this was the first step in a process that could lead a determined delegate all the way to the Democratic National Convention in September in Charlottesville. Unlike 2008, when the caucuses were packed because the party hadn’t settled on its nominee yet – today was more about trying to rally the party to look ahead to November, including a pitch for support, monetary and volunteer. “What a difference four years makes,” someone observed, looking around. The bright side of low turnout: High odds of getting elected as a delegate; Porter extolled the virtues of moving on to higher-level caucuses and making an impact on the party platform.

Things were buzzing at our second stop, West Seattle High School:

Most balloon-festooned tables had lively conversations going on – the official business part of the caucus was scheduled to “start no sooner than 1:30, and end no sooner than 2:00,” per the rules. 34th District Democrats chair Tim Nuse was circulating; former State House candidate Mike Heavey told us he had counted about 100 people on hand, and our informal count tended to agree. And while at Sealth, we’d seen just one candidate sign – for President Obama – as well as an advocacy table (for marriage equality), WSHS had campaign signs galore, not just Obama/Biden, but also for governor candidate Jay Inslee and U.S. Rep. Jim McDermott. WSHS also is where West Seattle Republicans caucused on a gray day six weeks ago (WSB coverage here), with a packed house, but that was their sole spot for the entire peninsula (today the D’s also caucused at Madison Middle School, West Seattle Elementary, and Highland Park Elementary). Next step for the Dems: The district caucuses on April 28th.

Share This

West Seattle Whale Watch: Did we mention, more orcas?
April 15, 2012 12:32 pm
|      6 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | Wildlife

On the WSB Facebook page, we shared the Orca Network‘s report of orcas between north Vashon Island and West Seattle, closer to the Vashon side, but hadn’t heard any other reports – till FB commenters confirmed the sighting. They’re reported to be southbound past south West Seattle (but of course that means they’ll eventually have to head back this way).

Share This

West Seattle Kiwanis: Farmers’ Market today, food drive next Saturday
April 15, 2012 12:10 pm
|    Comments Off on West Seattle Kiwanis: Farmers’ Market today, food drive next Saturday
 |   Kiwanis Club of West Seattle | West Seattle news

At the West Seattle Farmers’ Market today, the Kiwanis Club of West Seattle is back in its booth on the KeyBank side of the market site, getting the word out about two big things – first, the Eliminate Project:

With The Eliminate Project, Kiwanis International and UNICEF have joined forces to eliminate maternal and neonatal tetanus (MNT). This deadly disease steals the lives of nearly 60,000 innocent babies and a significant number of women each year. … To eliminate MNT from the Earth, more than 100 million mothers and their future babies must be immunized. This requires vaccines, syringes, safe storage, transportation, thousands of skilled staff and more. It will take $110 million – and the dedicated work of UNICEF and every member of the Kiwanis family.

Members of the West Seattle Kiwanis has pledged support for more than 600 vaccines and will be collecting contributions at the West Seattle Farmers Market to help get closer to the goal to eliminate maternal/neonatal tetanus.

And they’re also reminding you about their One-Day Food Drive next Saturday to benefit the West Seattle Food Bank – you’ll see Kiwanis and Key Club volunteers at grocery stores around the area 9 am-3 pm on April 21st, including WSB sponsors Metropolitan Market, PCC Natural Markets, and West Seattle Thriftway. Their announcement notes, “These activities are being held as part of Kiwanis ONE Day, a global volunteer action day uniting the entire Kiwanis family, including Kiwanis, Circle K, Key Club, Builder’s Club, Aktion Club, K-Kids and Kiwanis Junior.”

Share This

Memorial on Monday for Angelina Marie Fuda, 1930-2012
April 15, 2012 11:32 am
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   Obituaries | West Seattle news | West Seattle people

The family of longtime West Seattleite Angelina Marie Fuda shares this remembrance, on the eve of her memorial:

Angelina Marie Fuda passed away peacefully, surrounded by family and close friends, on 4-8-2012 of a cancer-related illness. Memorial Services will be held on Monday, 4-16, 10:30 am at Holy Rosary Parish in West Seattle. There will be a private burial at Calvary Cemetery in Seattle.

Angelina was born 1-21-1930 in Brookside, Colorado, to James and Mary Madonna. She moved to Seattle in the early 1940s, went to St Mary’s grade school, and on to Immaculate Conception for high school. While there, she met the love of her life, Felix Fuda, who she married in 1951. She left her job at the Mission Macaroni Factory in the early 1950s, when she was expecting her first child.

As the family expanded, they moved to West Seattle, to the same residence that they’ve been in for the past 56 years.

Read More

Share This

Speaking of Ciscoe: Chief Sealth garden project featured on TV
April 15, 2012 11:17 am
|    Comments Off on Speaking of Ciscoe: Chief Sealth garden project featured on TV
 |   Gardening | West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

During last month’s World Water Week at Chief Sealth International High School, students and staff worked on a campus garden project; one of our photos showed a KING 5 crew there to cover it. This morning, CSIHS teacher Noah Zeichner, who coordinated World Water Week again this year, sends word that KING’s story has just appeared online, as one of the newest clips for “Gardening with Ciscoe“; the show’s namesake (who’s in our area today) narrates.

Share This