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day : 22/05/2012 15 results

Avalon Way changes afoot: Deal, development, & listings
May 22, 2012 10:12 pm
|      15 COMMENTS
 |   Development | West Seattle news

The long-languishing, almost-complete building on the southeast corner of 35th and Avalon not only has a new contractor, as the banner says, it has a new owner.

The Daily Journal of Commerce reported today (thanks to Diane for the tip) – and online records confirm – that it was purchased a month ago by an entity of Chicago-headquartered Randolph Street Realty Capital, whose website touts its expertise in buying “distressed,” “unfinished,” and otherwise-challenged sites.

Four and a half years have passed since work started at the site that was once to be part of the eventually killed Seattle Monorail route. It was owned at the time by fugitive developer Michael Mastro; the project stalled in 2009, as Mastro’s money troubles mounted. Two years ago, a Bellevue company bought it for $4 million and announced it would finish the mixed-use building; the new owners are paying almost $7.3 million. According to a webpage for the project set up by its previous owner, the building has 60 apartments and 122 parking spaces.

It’s the second Chicago-based firm to recently buy into West Seattle development in a big way, after Equity Residential bought the former Conner site on the southeast corner of California/Alaska, and in fact, both of Randolph Street’s principals are former Equity Residential managers. Meantime, the potential completion of that building isn’t the only change ahead for that area; there are signs of work starting soon on the 120-unit 3261 Avalon Way project, and right across the street, three apartment buildings are for sale: Terrace Villa (36 units for $5.3 million), Westridge (26 units for just under $4 million), and Avalon West (same size/price as Westridge).

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Weekend sunshine ahead: WSHS Grad Night car wash on Saturday
May 22, 2012 9:43 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   How to help | West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

Another school fundraiser to mention tonight – a car wash to raise money for those who need scholarships to join in West Seattle High School‘s Grad Night celebration (less than a month away!) is coming up on Saturday. The announcement we received via e-mail notes, “With several graduation ceremonies occurring in the area on June 16, the Grad Night committee believes that it is extremely important to offer as many WSHS students as possible, a safe and chaperoned event to celebrate their HS accomplishments.” The car wash is planned for 10:30 am-3 pm this sun-forecast Saturday (May 26) at West Seattle Autoworks (WSB sponsor), 7501 35th SW.

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From the ‘what’s that wildlife?’ file: Leaping fish off Alki
May 22, 2012 9:20 pm
|      7 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | Wildlife

Tom Wyrick from Alki Arts caught those jumping silver fish on cameraphone video this evening and is wondering what they are. We have googled like crazy (and checked WSB archives) and we don’t know either. Do you?

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Hit the links and help the kids: Sealth golf tournament
May 22, 2012 8:21 pm
|    Comments Off on Hit the links and help the kids: Sealth golf tournament
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools | WS & Sports

(WSB photo from 2011 tournament)
With a week and a half to go till the second annual Chief Sealth Athletics Golf Tournament, organizers are ready to see the final spots fill up so it’s a full lineup when everybody tees up. June 1st is the day, Rainier Golf and Country Club the place. Sealth athletic director Sam Reed explains, “The goal of the Chief Sealth Athletics Golf Tournament is to become the prime method of fundraising for our student-athletes. The inaugural event in 2011 raised over $5,000 which went directly toward supporting athletic efforts including transportation, uniforms and equipment, and building quality lower level programs (JV and C-teams).” There are also some specific needs, from buying banners to celebrate past championships – previous banners were lost in the remodel – to funding a certified strength coach who can design programs to help the students best utilize Sealth’s state-of-the-art weight room. If you can swing it, it’s a great excuse to take that Friday afternoon off – and you can register online right now, with the fees including food and beverages as well as golf.

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West Seattle Outdoor Movies 2012: Here’s the lineup!
May 22, 2012 6:03 pm
|      5 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle Outdoor Movies

Only two months till you can bring your glowstick, picnic, whatever, to West Seattle Outdoor Movies in the courtyard by Hotwire Online Coffeehouse – and we have first word of this year’s planned movie lineup, just decided at a WSOM planning meeting:

7/21 – Pretty in Pink

7/28 – Young Frankenstein

8/4 – Lion King

8/11 – Iron Man

8/18 – Yellow Submarine

8/25 – Top Gun

Thanks to everybody who offered suggestions, both here on WSB – we’re a co-sponsor again this year – and on the WSOM and WSB Facebook pages. The movies are always free, and they start at dusk; there’s still a lot to be determined, including pre-movie activities, and other fun stuff – updates to come!

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West Seattle businesses: Martin’s Way stocking Tony’s produce
May 22, 2012 4:21 pm
|      13 COMMENTS
 |   Delridge | West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news

Recognize the lettering on that sign – the first sign ever to be displayed in the windows at Martin’s Way, the recently opened shop at Delridge and Findlay? If you do, you’re likely a customer of Tony’s Market, the produce stand at 35th and Barton. Three months after opening (here’s our January story), Martin’s Way is stocking fresh produce from Tony’s – right now, 8 kinds of vegetables and 17 kinds of fruit (a few of which are in this photo):

And with Penny’s chips in stock, you can even buy the makings for chips and guacamole, as the Memorial Day weekend approaches:

MW proprietors Vik and Nikhi also are stocking the items with which they started operations – an extensive selection of bulk spices, specialty salts and sugars, and some grains. Meantime, back to the Tony’s partnership – Vik says he first met Tony’s founder/namesake Tony Genzale in 2004 and was impressed with him as an entrepreneur and community member; since Tony’s death a year and a half ago, his son Joey Genzale has been running the business, so Vik says he spoke with Joey and his mom and they liked the idea of Vik stocking some of their produce – which he hopes to dub “Tony’s Market at Martin’s Way,” with a portrait of Tony hanging in the store. (Stand by for updates on that.) Martin’s Way is open noon till 7 Tuesdays through Saturdays, noon till 3 on Sundays (northeast corner of Delridge/Findlay).

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West Seattle’s two state liquor stores are closing two days early
May 22, 2012 3:09 pm
|      24 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | WS beverages

Just announced by the state Liquor Control Board, they’re closing the remaining state liquor stores in phases, with many shutting down BEFORE May 31st – meaning that since the private sellers aren’t supposed to start until June 1st, you might have a few days without availability. Here are the local stores affected, according to the WSLCB’s list: May 29th (next Tuesday) is the final day for West Seattle’s two state stores, in The Junction and at Westwood Village, while May 28th is the final day for the store in White Center. Meantime, several of the local grocery stores that will be selling hard liquor already have stocks on hand, though selling isn’t legal until June 1st.

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Update: Amber Alert ends, children found safe
May 22, 2012 1:26 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   Not WS but we're mentioning it anyway | West Seattle news

(4:41 PM UPDATE: Amber Alert canceled, children found safe)

(Photo of car, provided by King County Sheriff’s Office, added 2:59 pm)
1:26 PM: Not far from here so we’re repeating the alert – King County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Sgt. Cindi West says they’re “working on an Amber Alert” – a man named Michael Riley III left the Burien Library, she says, with his 7-month-old and a 2-year-old who’s not his, “violating an order.” He’s said to be in a four-door 1994 green Lexus, WA 299UOM; call 911 if you see it.

2:33 PM UPDATE: Here’s the full Amber Alert, including descriptions. And KING 5’s Elisa Hahn has tweeted this link to a photo of the man and the children:

4:42 PM UPDATE: The Amber Alert is canceled; the children were found safe, according to the King County Sheriff’s Office. Awaiting more info.

5:13 PM UPDATE: Sgt. West has this postscript via Twitter:

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West Seattle businesses: The Artistic Framers ‘going mobile’
May 22, 2012 1:13 pm
|    Comments Off on West Seattle businesses: The Artistic Framers ‘going mobile’
 |   West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news

Just announced today by The Artistic Framers shop at – they’re closing their 5631 California SW storefront as of the end of this month, after 19 years there, but they’re NOT going out of business, they’re “going mobile.” Their announcement says business is particularly booming in one of their non-framing sidelines, real-estate staging. They’ll still offer framing too – by appointment.

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Traditional Memorial Day service next Monday at Forest Lawn
May 22, 2012 12:13 pm
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 |   Holidays | West Seattle news

(WSB photo from 2011 Memorial Day service)
Forest Lawn Cemetery (WSB sponsor), which just hosted the annual Seattle Police Memorial ceremony last Friday, will again be the scene of a solemn event next Monday – the annual traditional Memorial Day service with American Legion Post 160. It’s set for 2 pm (across from the funeral home at 6701 30th SW). If you haven’t been but wonder what it’s like, here’s our coverage from last year.

P.S. We’re working to make sure the WSB calendar has everything special, changed, etc., for the holiday, so if your business or organization has something going on, please let us know!

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18 West Seattle parks to be part of water-saving experiment
May 22, 2012 11:01 am
|      15 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle parks

Seattle Parks just announced a pilot project to reduce, or eliminate, irrigation – watering – in certain parks this June through September, and they warn that means you might see “brown grass” in those parks, among other effects. Here’s the news release with details. After receiving it, we asked which West Seattle parks would be involved, and have just received the 18-park list from Karen O’Connor at Parks:Read More

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My Garden Coach: Welcoming a new WSB sponsor
May 22, 2012 10:40 am
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 |   Gardening | West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news

(8/14 note: To check whether a business is still a current WSB sponsor, please go here)

Considering a yard makeover as summer approaches? Today we welcome one of our newest WSB sponsors, My Garden Coach, with this message for you:

Yard makeovers can be very intimidating for homeowners. People usually have an idea of what they want their yard to look like but don’t know how to get started.

That’s why hiring a Garden Coach is such a great idea! In just one visit, you get a landscape designer to look at your yard and help you see not just what it CAN be, but also help you make a plan for how to get there.

You may want to do the work yourself but you need a designer’s eye to help you see your yard’s potential. Or, you just don’t like your yard and you want someone to help you create a whole, new design. Some people need motivation to start, some need a vision, and others just need a list of priorities of what to do next. That’s where a garden coach can be a perfect fit. A 2-hour walk-through of your yard is really all it takes to get started.

After their yard makeovers, My Garden Coach customers can’t believe how little it took to transform their dull or overgrown yard into an impressive garden. They also say they spend more time in their yards, take more pride in showing it and know their investment has improved their property’s value. Let’s take a walk, talk about your goals and create a design that transforms your plain old yard into a beautiful garden!

Find My Garden Coach online at mygardencoach.net, or call 206-550-5501.

We thank My Garden Coach for sponsoring independent, community-collaborative neighborhood news via 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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West Seattle Tuesday: Summer signups; stand-up paddleboarding; schools…
May 22, 2012 9:15 am
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

From the WSB West Seattle Events Calendar:

TRAFFIC ALERT – BRIDGE AND VICINITY TONIGHT: Again tonight, the westbound Spokane Street Viaduct is scheduled to close from I-5 to Highway 99 – meaning no West Seattle Bridge access from I-5 or Beacon Hill – 10 pm-5 am. (Please note that the closures don’t always start at the exact minute advertised – last night we crossed the bridge eastbound at 10:15, noted westbound was still open, but upon return maybe 15 minutes later, it was closed.) Some surface-street closures too – full details from SDOT, here.

FERRY NOTE: Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth is back to three boats a day earlier than expected (the live Vessel Watch confirms this), as promised by Washington State Ferries.

REGISTRATION STARTS FOR COMMUNITY CENTERS’ SUMMER PROGRAMS: Thanks to our friends at Ravenna Blog for the reminder on this one – at noon today, you can start registering for this summer’s programs at city-run community centers, pools (including Southwest and Colman Pools here in West Seattle) and environmental-learning centers (including Camp Long). Link and details are on the Parks home page.

WRITERS IN THE SCHOOLS: Today and tomorrow, readings at the Seattle Public Library downtown feature students from all over the region, and today’s lineup includes Jessada Brown and Adrianne Hall of Sanislo Elementary School.

MUSIC IN THE SCHOOLS: As mentioned in our story about the Seattle Youth Symphony Orchestras’ coaching for orchestral music in local elementary (and other) schools, Highland Park Elementary has orchestra concerts at 1:30 and 6:30 pm today.

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT HEARING FOR SCHOOL LEVY PROPOSAL: Though the levy plan isn’t finalized yet, Seattle Public Schools is having hearings on the draft environmental impact statement for its next BEX (Building Excellence, construction-focused) levy, and there’s one 5-6 pm tonight at Roxhill Elementary (30th/Roxbury) – here’s our original preview.

SUP RACE NIGHT: A seasonal weekly tradition – starting at 6 pm at Alki Kayak Tours at Seacrest (1660 Harbor Avenue SW) – details here.

FREE MOVIE NIGHT AT SKYLARK: It’s a new feature – and tonight “Shaun of the Dead” and “Zombieland” will be screened at Skylark Club and Café, starting at 7 pm (3803 Delridge Way SW).

NO BLOCKWATCH CAPTAINS’ NETWORK MEETING – BUT RSVP FOR THE PARTY! The West Seattle Blockwatch Captains’ Network has decided *not* to have its regular monthly meeting tonight after all, but DOES renew its invitation to local captains to RSVP for the *free* celebration coming up exactly one month from tonight – register online ASAP, here.

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Sustainable West Seattle: Energy Fair; tea fundraiser with CoolMom
May 22, 2012 3:36 am
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   Sustainable West Seattle | West Seattle news

A busy few days for Sustainable West Seattle – with two events in three days. Monday night, the group brought a powerful lineup of energy education and experts to the monthly SWS Community Forum at the Senior Center of West Seattle. Above, Craig Jones from Sustainable Works, which specializes in energy audits and retrofits. Energy audits are also big for Community Power Works, whose Greta Hutchinson was on hand:

Now that winter’s finally past – just might be the right time to evaluate how to make your home more energy-efficient for next year. Or even do something more dramatic – go solar!

Eric Thomas from West Seattle-based Solar Epiphany was there to talk sun power in the form of the EcoLEAP program – with multiple options for going solar either big or small.

Ahead, our photos from the SWS/CoolMom tea party on Saturday:Read More

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West Seattle Crime Watch: North Admiral car break-ins
May 22, 2012 1:11 am
|      13 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | West Seattle news

Just got a phone call from someone in North Admiral – 51st/Waite vicinity – who said that hers is one of two cars that had just been broken into and gone through, and she wanted to get the word out. She said it appeared they were using a spark plug or something similar to break the windows (a tactic that’s been going around for a few years) though last time car prowlers had hit the neighborhood, they only went through the unlocked cars. (Yes, the car-prowl victim said, it’s been reported to police.)

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