West Seattle, Washington

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month : 05/2012 328 results

My Garden Coach: Welcoming a new WSB sponsor
May 22, 2012 10:40 am
|    Comments Off on My Garden Coach: Welcoming a new WSB sponsor
 |   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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‘Harbor Island People for the Environment’: Workers with a mission
May 21, 2012 10:01 pm
|      21 COMMENTS
 |   Environment | Gardening | West Seattle news

From 13th and Florida on Harbor Island, a dramatic set of before and after photos – first, the “before”:

And the “after” – though the story’s not entirely over yet:

Here’s the news release we received, explaining what’s going on:

A small group of Harbor Island employees joined forces to improve the neighborhood by creating a green space in their industrial environment. Naming themselves “Harbor Island People for the Environment” (HIPE), they arranged for a non-profit youth organization to paint murals for a warehouse and they built planter boxes for foliage to brighten and clean the air.

Festivities to celebrate installation of the murals and garden spot will be held June 1 at 4 PM at the north end of Harbor Island, 1731 13th Avenue SW. Sponsoring companies: Crowley, PCC Logistics, Rolls-Royce Commercial Marine, Vigor Industrial LLC.

Urban ArtWorks is a non-profit organization dedicated to empowering at-risk youth through professional opportunities in the arts, to learn a variety of skills, and to use their creative talents in a positive way. Seven young artists and their mentors created eight mural panels for display on the side of a warehouse facing 13th Avenue SW. The maritime theme of the murals begins with a depiction of the land some hundred years ago, when it was inhabited by the Duwamish people, evolving gradually to the industrial era of today.

The garden design was developed by Spirit Garden Design owner, Lucinda O’Halloran. The planter boxes were donated and built by employees of PCC Logistics. Volunteers from the four sponsoring companies held a work party on May 18 to plant flowering trees and shrubs in the planter boxes. Company volunteers also participated for the fifth year in City of Seattle’s annual “Spring Clean” by picking up litter in the area.

Harbor Island is a busy work environment with shipping, shipbuilding and repair, railroads, trucking, engineering firms, and more, all squeezed onto a narrow manmade island co-existing with the Port of Seattle’s cranes, which constantly load and unload container cargo. The HIPE committee has plans for continued focus on developing green spots for a sustainable environment.

The murals mentioned in the announcement will be arriving later this week, and we’ll check back. Thanks to HIPE for the before/after photos included above!

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‘Every Mother Counts’: Benefit CD produced by West Seattleite
May 21, 2012 6:45 pm
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | WS culture/arts

One more week to buy this year’s “Every Mother Counts” CD at Starbucks stores – benefiting advocacy for maternal health around the world, to reduce the maternal death rate. As was last year’s CD, this one is produced again by West Seattle resident David R. Legry, with Christy Turlington Burns, EMC founder. One of the featured songs is by Eddie Vedder – you can preview it here; there are also exclusive cuts by U2, Coldplay, Beck, Alanis Morrisette, Edie Brickell/Paul Simon, and other songs by David Bowie, Faith Hill, and Sting, among others. Star-studded, to say the least; the full song list is here. Starbucks handled the cost of producing the CD and is donating $8 from each purchase. It’s scheduled to be available in their stores till May 29th – and we’re told that if you don’t see it out on display, just ask for it.

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West Seattle Whale Watch: Return of the orcas!
May 21, 2012 4:29 pm
|      8 COMMENTS
 |   Seen at sea | West Seattle news | Wildlife

4:29 PM: First we got a tweet about orcas off Alki Point – now we’re told they’re off Lowman Beach and there’s a TV chopper over them. Let us know if you see them! (The rain’s moving back in, which presents a visibility challenge …)

5:49 PM: We spent some time south of Brace Point hoping they’d come by. No luck. Bill e-mailed from the Lincoln Park shoreline an hour or so ago that they appeared to be heading further offshore.

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Festival notes! Westwood Village Street Fair date; Summer Fest music
May 21, 2012 4:08 pm
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle festivals | West Seattle news

Two West Seattle summer-festival notes:

WESTWOOD VILLAGE STREET FAIR: Though the Westwood Village shopping center has changed owners since last year’s Street Fair, the festival IS on again for this year. The date’s set for June 16th, 10 am-7 pm. Inflatables, live music, and more. According to the Facebook event page set up for the daylong extravaganza, the musical acts will include Gunn and the Damage Done and West Side Sally. The date is a few weeks later than last year’s street fair, which fell on a cool, cloudy day.

SUMMER FEST MUSIC: Susan Melrose of the West Seattle Junction Association says it’s looking like the music lineup for this year’s West Seattle Summer Fest will be out late next week, and doesn’t have any booking info till then. But the Seattle Weekly‘s Reverb site says it knows of one act that’ll be playing Summer Fest – the reunion of Alcohol Funnycar, a ’90s grunge band, per the Weekly. Summer Fest is July 13, 14, and 15. P.S. The website says that while the deadline’s past for vendor applications, there’s room in Art Dive and Green Life.

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Ferry update: Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth back to 3 boats tomorrow
May 21, 2012 3:15 pm
|    Comments Off on Ferry update: Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth back to 3 boats tomorrow
 |   Transportation | West Seattle news

Washington State Ferries says it won’t have to have a second day of two-boat service on the Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth run after all – the Tillikum has been repaired, and will rejoin the route first thing tomorrow morning.

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West Seattle beaches: Water-testing season begins at Alki
May 21, 2012 2:35 pm
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   Health | Safety | West Seattle news

Rain or shine, investigator Eyob Mazengia from Seattle-King County Public Health was scheduled to sample water off Alki for health testing at midday today, and that he did – three containers, three samples. Out on the beach with him, a team from the state Department of Ecology, getting out the word that this is the start of water-sampling season. The BEACH (Beach Environmental Assessment, Communication, & Health) program – which includes regular testing at Lincoln Park – isn’t new, but the idea of scheduling a multimedia photo op is, according to Sandy Howard, who was out at Alki wrangling camera crews with whom BEACH program manager Julie Lowe was doing interviews. We asked her about the value of testing at beaches where people don’t swim much (like Alki):

The state team says that if they find high levels of bacteria at a beach, they will not only post signs, but also:

*Send a note to an e-mail list you can sign up for (here)
*Tweet, via the Ecology Department account
*Post on Facebook, where the BEACH Program has its own page

… so you can check out any of those channels to make sure the water’s safe!

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West Seattle businesses invited to join next quarter’s Art Walk lineup
May 21, 2012 1:43 pm
|    Comments Off on West Seattle businesses invited to join next quarter’s Art Walk lineup
 |   West Seattle Art Walk | West Seattle news

West Seattle Art Walk organizers are putting out the call to local businesses today:

The time has come to get signed up for participation in 2012’s 3rd Quarter West Seattle Art Walk!

We continue our fight to make each Quarter bigger and better that the last, so we’re looking for excited, art-loving, local merchants to join us in featuring artist(s) at your business on Art Walk night, July through September. 3rd Quarter is always an great time of year to be a WSAW business, as there are so many fun things happening around West Seattle and the sunshine really gets people out walking the streets!

WSAW happens the 2nd Thursday of every month, 6-9 pm. 3rd Quarter WSAW dates are July 12th, August 9th, and September 13th.

The fee to be part of it, and be on the Art Walk list/map/website, etc., is $30 for the quarter – and businesses can sign up online, here.

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The Kenney to seek new CEO: Kevin McFeely is Hearthstone-bound
May 21, 2012 11:51 am
|      1 COMMENT
 |   The Kenney | West Seattle news | West Seattle people

By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

The Kenney is announcing today that its CEO, Kevin McFeely, is leaving for a new job, leading The Hearthstone in North Seattle.

He has led the continuing-care community north of Lincoln Park for almost a decade, and told us, in an interview at The Kenney (WSB sponsor) this morning, that he has “mixed feelings” about leaving his “extended family” there – both the 200 residents and the staff, including his dozen-plus-member leadership team, but the move feels like “the next logistical step” for him.

One thing they’re doing at Hearthstone that is not happening right now at The Kenney: Expanding.

Read More

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Followup: In starved-dog case, investigators ‘not ruling anything out’
May 21, 2012 10:24 am
|      11 COMMENTS
 |   Pets | West Seattle news

In case you missed the story late Friday about an emaciated dog found in West Seattle and the reward “up to $2,500” offered for any information leading to who’s responsible – we just talked with Seattle Animal Shelter director Don Jordan to ask some followup questions. Read on for what we found out:Read More

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Design Reviews ahead: 4724 California this week; 9051 20th in June
May 21, 2012 9:49 am
|      14 COMMENTS
 |   Delridge | Development | West Seattle news

Though the development slowdown has meant not many Southwest Design Review Board meetings the past few years, the board now has two on the calendar.


(Sketch described as development team’s preferred ‘concept’ – click image for larger view)
4724 CALIFORNIA: We told you 3 weeks ago about the meeting date for this Junction project, so this is just a reminder – Thursday night, 6:30 pm, Youngstown Cultural Arts Center (4408 Delridge Way SW), is the first design review for the proposed 100-or-so-unit development at the ex-Petco site in The Junction. Last Thursday, we brought you the first look at concept sketches that the project team has shown to community members in advance of the formal meetings, as well as the “massing” – size/shape – options in the “packet” put together for Design Review (see it here).

9051 20TH: This planned two-phase, 40-plus-unit project in South Delridge had its first Design Review meeting on March 8th (WSB coverage here). It’s now tentatively scheduled for a second meeting on June 14th, 6:30 pm at the Senior Center of West Seattle.

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Update: Driver hurt in Highland Park truck crash
May 21, 2012 7:01 am
|      11 COMMENTS
 |   Helicopter | Highland Park | West Seattle news

7:01 AM: At least one TV chopper is over Highland Park. There’s a crash at 15th and Holden. We’re en route.

7:11 AM UPDATE: A Toyota pickup has gone off the road and into a yard. Police have Holden shut down right now between 14th and 16th but the tow truck is already there so it might not be for too long. At least one person is hurt – a private ambulance is on scene.

7:26 AM UPDATE: Police at the scene tell us the truck’s driver was the one taken to the hospital – private ambulance generally means NOT life-threatening injuries – and was alone in the truck. We’re waiting for the tow truck to get the truck out of the yard to check on possible damage to the house, which neighbors say was unoccupied.

7:37 AM UPDATE: It doesn’t appear the house was hit; the damage looks to be confined to the fence the truck went through, and the grassy slope/yard. (Thanks to everyone who texted and e-mailed us about the chopper, which is what tipped us to the fact that what was only a medic call on the 911 log was actually a crash.)

8:55 AM: Went back to the scene a little while ago and SW Holden is completely clear again.

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West Seattle Monday: Traffic alerts; growing food; Energy Fair…
May 21, 2012 6:03 am
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Great blue heron on Arbor Heights rooftop, photographed by a nearby resident)
Welcome to the week before Memorial Day … summer is in view, despite the weather, which we’re still warned will be rainy and windy today. From the calendar:

SPOKANE STREET VIADUCT CLOSURE AND OTHER TRAFFIC ALERTS: The westbound Spokane Street Viaduct – the West Seattle Bridge between I-5 and Highway 99 – is scheduled to be closed from I-5 to Highway 99 from 10 pm to 5 am tonight, while one lane will be closed on the eastbound SSV 9 pm-5 am. This means you won’t be able to get to the West Seattle Bridge from I-5, but you WILL be able to exit from southbound 99 to the bridge. There are some other closures on the surface – the details are here.

FERRY ALERT: As announced last week, the Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth state ferry run is on a two-boat schedule today and tomorrow because of an overlap between one boat being out for inspection and another out for repairs.

AT THE LIBRARIES: Lots going on every week at West Seattle’s branches of the Seattle Public Library – today, that includes an Afternoon Book Group at 2 pm at Southwest Library (reading “The Moonstone” by Wilkie Collins) , and Family Story Time at 7 pm at High Point – find all the info via the SPL Calendar of Events.

GET RAW WITH THE COOKING CLUB: “Raw” is the theme for dishes to make and bring to today’s meeting of the West Seattle Cooking Club, 3 pm, Beveridge Place Pub.

WOMEN’S STAND-UP PADDLEBOARDING: Monday nights at Alki Kayak Tours (Seacrest Boathouse, 1660 Harbor Avenue SW), it’s time for women to get out on the water, starting at 6 pm.

BUDGET CONVERSATION: The third and final edition of the City Council’s three budget conversations – looking ahead to fall – isn’t in West Seattle, but it’s as close as this round of conversation is getting – 6 pm at New Holly.

LEARN ABOUT GROWING ORGANIC FOOD: Seattle Tilth is on hand 6:30 pm tonight at Chaco Canyon Organic Café (WSB sponsor).

SUSTAINABLE WEST SEATTLE’S ENERGY FAIR: No, it doesn’t have to be sunny for solar power to work. Learn about alternative energy of all kinds and whether it might be right for you, as Sustainable West Seattle’s monthly community forum takes the shape of an Energy Fair this month. 7-9 pm at the Senior Center of West Seattle (California/Oregon).

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Future of the Law Institute graduates include 2 Sealth students
May 21, 2012 4:36 am
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle people

The Future of the Law Institute is a year-long program for high-school students interested in law careers, intended to help work toward a future when this area’s “Courtrooms and Law Offices reflect the diversity of the community they serve …” (as declared atop the organization’s website). This weekend brought a graduation celebration for its most recent group of participants, and Ted Reed shares the photo with the news that the graduates include two Chief Sealth International High School students: Cecilia Silva, front row/left, and Trevor Reed, third row/left. He says the program “provides students with substantive legal workshops, career counseling, a mock trial, courthouse tour, and opportunities to meet with legal professionals.”

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Celebrate student symphonies! West Seattle school concerts ahead
May 20, 2012 7:20 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

When José Banda, just hired to be Seattle Public Schools‘ next superintendent, visited Arbor Heights Elementary last Thursday (WSB coverage here), the final official stop of his tour was an orchestra rehearsal in the cafetorium, shown in our video clip above. The rehearsal also provided a view into a community partnership that is playing out at schools around this area. Since 2008, the Seattle Youth Symphony Orchestras have provided professional music coaches to several schools in West Seattle and South Park, in hopes that will increase the number of students who go on to play orchestral music with string instruments in middle school and high school. Two SYSO-provided coaches were there during the Thursday practice, according to Kathleen Allen, education/communication/partnerships director of SYSO, a West Seattleite who also was on hand. Earlier in the week, she had circulated a video – see it here – promoting the SYSO/SPS partnership in this area, and she provided this list of 13 school concerts over the next three weeks to which you are welcome (including next Thursday at AH):

May 22, 1:30 pm and 6:30 pm at Highland Park Elementary
May 24, 1:30 pm and 6:00 pm at Arbor Heights Elementary
May 24, 2 pm and 6 pm at Gatewood Elementary
June 1, 1:30 pm and 6:30 pm at Sanislo Elementary
June 6, 6:30 pm and June 8, 1:30 p.m. at Concord International (Elementary)
June 6, 7:00 pm, Denny International Middle School and Chief Sealth International High School Choir and Orchestra concert at the Sealth Auditorium
June 11, 1:30 pm and 6:30 pm at Roxhill Elementary

The program is supported by grants and donations, and the collaboration also includes the West Seattle Community Orchestras, Allen says.

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West Seattle Grand Parade organizers: It’s OFFICIALLY on!
May 20, 2012 4:13 pm
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle Grand Parade | West Seattle news

(WSB photo from last year’s Grand Parade; Stuff the Bus, by the way, will be on 7/22 this year)
First came the warning the West Seattle Grand Parade was in danger of cancellation without sponsors/donations to cover costs including the road-closure barricades that the city used to bankroll – then came word that enough people stepped up, it looked like the parade was saved – and today, parade co-coordinator Dave Vague sends official final word it’s on for July 21st, along with thanks to donors and sponsors old and new:

Thanks to the spectacular generosity of the West Seattle and Greater Seattle communities we have donations enough to now hold the parade as scheduled on Saturday, July 21, 2012 at 11:00 AM! Inquiries and support came from all over Seattle and even as far away as Chicago.

In addition to the individual donations made by many of you we have three great organizations sponsoring the American Legion’s West Seattle Grand Parade this year:

Our returning sponsor from last year – the West Seattle Y, and two new great sponsors this year – Sound Advertising Group and International Parking Management! A huge thank you for all of your participation, we really can’t do it without you.

Along with the parade rolling forward, we can now also reveal something new this year – the Float Dodger 5K run that will take place up and down the parade route just before the parade. Clowns, pirates, princesses and now sweaty runners! What a day this will be!

We’ve mentioned the new Float Dodger 5K before – but if you haven’t signed up yet, this is a great time to go ahead and jump in – you can do it here or in person at West Seattle Runner (WSB sponsor). P.S. Sound Advertising Group, if you don’t recognize the name, is the business that’s currently in The Junction’s former Petco storefront.

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Video: Seattle Summer Streets, & spring showers, at Alki
May 20, 2012 11:51 am
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   Fun stuff to do | West Seattle news

(Have we ever had a sunny “car-free day”? Our archive check, at end of this story)

The summery weather we’ve seen recently did not stick around for the 2012 edition of Seattle Summer Streets (“car-free day”) on Alki. But if Sarah from the Log House Museum can brave the showers to answer your questions about West Seattle history and museum happenings, you can certainly come down, with umbrella if necessary, and check out what’s up between 63rd and 56th SW, closed all day – right? Here’s the list of events, performances, and activities.

ADDED 1:03 PM: Another reason to come down – bring canned food to donate to the Seattle’s Healthiest Canned-Food Pyramid!

At right, with volunteers, that’s Fran Yeatts of the West Seattle Food Bank. The pyramid started with donations from Metropolitan Market and PCC Natural Markets (WSB sponsors) among other businesses. It’s right in front of Tully’s on Alki. Meantime, if you find the Seal Sitters west of 61st, you can enter the raffle for this little guy:

Summer Streets continues till 5 pm; upcoming events include a bike parade at 2.

2:16 PM UPDATE: The rain has stopped – perfect time to come down. Still overcast but very bright. We arrived back at the beach to find a pickup ballgame in the street:

And then the bike parade!

Music in two places – Alki Arts (where proprietor Diane Venti has artists doing live demonstrations, too).

That’s The Brian and Janie Show – till 3. There’s also a stage in the bike lane at 61st and Alki. And more community groups – we think the Morgan Community Association banner, shown off by president Deb Barker, is the best we’ve seen, given today’s weather:

Just east of 62nd SW, Cindi Barker (no relation to Deb) is at the West Seattle Be Prepared tent – never too young for kids to start learning about preparedness!

2:56 PM UPDATE: At the east end of the closure zone, you’ll find activities including basketball:

At the 61st stage, Sarey Savy is singing, with DJ accompaniment (concluding with a cover of Justin Bieber’s “Boyfriend”). And the SPD parking enforcement officers are goofing off by drawing a chalk outline in the street – no wait, it’s something more:

The big yellow MaxMobile is here now, too, by the west end of the 63rd-56th closure zone, with adoptable pets.

4:49 PM: Minutes to go till this year’s event ends. Near the parking officers’ chalk creation, others drew a word full of optimism:

By and by!

5:17 PM P.S. Since the gray, damp weather was the big story, we checked back on coverage of previous years (since we have always published “as-it-happens” coverage for this event), and here’s what our photos show:
*May 22, 2011 – cloudy
*May 23, 2010 – started cloudy, some clearing later in the day
*May 31, 2009 – cloudy till the last hour
*The only truly sun-soaked “car-free day” was the first one – before SDOT changed the name to “Summer Streets” – September 7, 2008 – here’s the proof

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West Seattle 5K 2012, report #2: The race, and the winners!
May 20, 2012 10:21 am
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | WS & Sports

(Results link now added. Pre-race coverage here!)

(Photo by David Hutchinson)
The drizzle couldn’t stop the enthusiasm at the fourth annual West Seattle 5K (organized by the West Seattle High School PTSA, with co-sponsors including WSB), wrapping up soon with an awards ceremony. Check out the sea of green above, the color for this year’s official race T-shirt – and the intensity of the first seconds!

Here’s our video of all the runners and walkers as the WS5K began – 1,008 signed up, organizers say:

(Video by Tracy Record)
Kelly Spady (16:56) and Lana Lacey (18:14) were the top male and female finishers. (Added: Full results are now online here.) We caught up with Kelly, who works for West Seattle Runner (WS5K co-sponsor and WSB sponsor), right after the race:

(Photos by Patrick Sand from hereon out unless otherwise credited)
Here’s our video of Lana crossing the finish line:

From further down the course, a look over the crowd:

(Photo by Debra Salazar Herbst)
Then there are the always-fun scenes from the rest of the crowd – strollers, dogs, and more:

(Evening note – we have learned via e-mail, that’s Jennifer and her Briard – a “French herding breed,” she says – named Zorro, who “run together all year and are always happy to be able to race together in the West Seattle 5K.”)

The West Seattle High School Band performed, post-race:

5:25 PM NOTE: In case you missed it added in the story above, here again is the link to full race results.

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West Seattle 5K 2012, report #1: Getting ready
May 20, 2012 9:19 am
|    Comments Off on West Seattle 5K 2012, report #1: Getting ready
 |   West Seattle news | WS & Sports

The warmups are complete and we’re looking ahead to race time around 9:30 at Alki, for the fourth annual West Seattle 5K – but it’s been busy at and around the start/finish line for quite a while already.

From left, that’s Cathy, Denise, Lisa, and Cheryl from the West Seattle High School PTSA, which created and benefits from the WS 5K. WSHS principal Ruth Medsker was on hand early, greeting arriving runners/walkers:

WSB is proud to be a co-sponsor of the WS 5K, as we’ve been every year since its inception. Others sponsors include WSB sponsor West Seattle Runner, whose Tim and Lori McConnell are of course running this morning:

More coverage to come. Remember, Harbor and Alki are entirely closed from Don Armeni to 63rd till about 11 – then traffic is restricted to 56th, with 56th-63rd completely closed to traffic, 11 am-5 pm for Seattle Summer Streets – lots of activities this year.

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West Seattle Sunday: WS 5K, Summer Streets, plants, Sinatra, eclipse, more…
May 20, 2012 8:23 am
|      1 COMMENT
 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(“Live” image from traffic camera over the Alaskan Way Viaduct, looking north)
ALASKAN WAY VIADUCT STILL CLOSED: It’s scheduled to reopen by 5 tomorrow morning; it’s been closed all weekend for reinforcement work looking ahead to tunnel construction beneath it.

WEST SEATTLE 5K AND SEATTLE SUMMER STREETS: The no-parking zones along the beach are already in effect; the 5K walk/run starts just after 9, and the Summer Streets activities just after 11, both of which mean traffic advisories and bus detours for Alki until 5 pm. Links – including the full list of activities/events during Summer Streets – map, and more, here.

FURRY FACES’ PLANT SALE, DAY 2: Above, just some of the plants on sale at 3809 46th SW during Furry Faces Foundation’s annual plant sale, continuing today, 10 am-4 pm.

WEST SEATTLE FARMERS’ MARKET: Here’s what’s new, according to the WSFM Facebook page: “Puget Beach Shellfish is back for spring! Rockridge Orchards has JAPANESE CUKES. And Alpenfire Cider will be sampling their local fizzies!” 10 am-2 pm at 44th and Alaska in The Junction.

SUPER DELI MART ANNIVERSARY PARTY: The store at 35th and Barton is celebrating its third anniversary and inviting the community to a free barbecue, 11 am-6 pm.

CELEBRATING PEONIES: That’s what’s happening today at the Seattle Chinese Garden on the north side of the South Seattle Community College campus, noon-4:30 pm.

MUSIC AT C & P: Jamtime performs, 1-4 pm at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor), 5612 California SW.

GLEE CLUB IN CONCERT: Never mind the clouds, the songs are about sunshine and summer as the Seattle Metropolitan Glee Club performs at 4 pm at Peace Lutheran Church (39th/Thistle).

ECLIPSE, THOUGH IT’S NOT LIKELY TO BE VISIBLE: The radar suggests virtually no chance of this, but in the “anything can happen” spirit, that partial solar eclipse is happening late today – here’s the preview we published the other day.

FRANK FEST! Celebrate the music of Frank Sinatra with Tony La Stella performing after dinner (6 pm) tonight at Feedback Lounge (WSB sponsor). Details here.

SHOWCASE OF NEW PLAYS: Final night for this three-night showcase at ArtsWest, 7 pm. Whose plays are up tonight, you ask? Info here.

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