day : 30/08/2012 12 results

During tonight’s Summer Concerts at Hiawatha finale, at the south edge of the row of sponsor/community group tables bordering the lawn, Sean Reynolds was there on a mission: To talk with anyone interested in Phase 3 of the Lafayette Elementary Playground Improvement Project, for which volunteers – who in previous rounds have engaged in various forms of fundraising – are seeking a city grant. This time, it’s the area between the school building’s west side and the playground – with three concepts in play right now. Sean shared the PDFs you can open to take a closer look at each concept:

Each weaves aspects of environmental learning with improvements to reduce the impermeable area of the schoolyard. If you haven’t already commented on them, there’s one more chance next week:

Master Plan presentation meeting – Thursday, September 6th, 7:00 PM Lafayette Elementary
This meeting will be a presentation to the community of the updated Lafayette Elementary School Phase III Master Plan to be submitted to the city in an attempt to win funding through the City of Seattle Parks & Green Spaces Levy Opportunity Fund. This will be the final round of feedback to incorporate into the materials to be submitted with the application on September 17th.

It’s been almost exactly a year, by the way, since Phase 2 was dedicated just before the start of school last year.

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West Seattle wildlife: Pup death checked out by Seal Sitters

August 30, 2012 8:57 pm

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| West Seattle news | Wildlife

Seal-pup season isn’t all cheery news of pup sightings – Seal Sitters Marine Mammal Stranding Network has to handle the sad calls too. Like the one Robin Lindsey reports tonight:

I just wanted to give your readers a heads up that Seal Sitters MMSN responded to a report of a dead pup at Lincoln Park late this afternoon. The pup was decomposed to the point that we could not get an i.d. and was not a candidate for necropsy to determine cause of death. The pup was definitely thin, however. We marked the pup with two fluorescent magenta dots of paint and are hoping that the pup disappears with the tide tonight, providing nourishment for other sea critters. If the pup comes back ashore, we are asking folks to please call the hotline @ 206-905-7325 (SEAL) and we will have Parks bury him. The marine mammal stranding networks mark dead animals with either a green grease marker or fluorescent spray in order to keep track of mortality statistics and not be counting the same animal twice.

Since harbor seal pups have only a 50% chance of survival their first year, Seal Sitters does indeed respond to quite a few dead pups each year; it is definitely the sad side of the work we do. On the flip side, it is exhilarating to watch over a stretching/yawning/snoozing pup on the beach, knowing we are all giving that pup the very best chance to thrive. Here’s to lots of fat and happy pups this season!

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Update: Last of this year’s Summer Concerts at Hiawatha

August 30, 2012 6:46 pm

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| Fun stuff to do | West Seattle news | WS culture/arts

6:46 PM: We’re on the east lawn at Hiawatha Community Center – where the sun is shining on the south half of the field, but there’s a bit of an almost-autumn chill in the shade, as Curtains For You plays its first set of the last Summer Concerts at Hiawatha show this year. Come by – free popsicles for everybody who wants one (come see the Admiral Neighborhood Association at the east edge of the lawn – we’re right next to them), free face painting for kids – or, arm-painting …

… and free music, till 8.

7:42 PM: Another couple songs and they’re wrapping up. ANA president Katy Walum took the stage to thank this year’s sponsors, musicians, volunteers, and attendees. And – last but not least – her ever-supportive husband Erik Walum:

And Katy confirmed there’ll be a fifth season of Summer Concerts at Hiawatha! More to come in our wrapup of tonight, including a clip of Curtains For You (which will open for The Head and The Heart at the Paramount downtown on September 15th).

10:30 PM: Here’s the clip:

And we’ve been meaning during the season to mention the stage crew, Randy Knowles and Dave Grixoni, who’ve worked every concert in the series:

Dave is a letter carrier by day, around The Junction. He’s been working on the concerts ever since Katy Walum called him, having heard from someone that he knew something about sound systems. They talked about the Admiral setup – and eventually Katy asked if he could run the sound. Dave said Hiawatha had some great equipment (board, amps, speakers) so it shouldn’t be too hard. He had played in bands with Randy, and between the two of them, they had equipment if anything wasn’t readily available. They’d known each other since Randy’s days at a local store; Dave delivered the mail to the store, got to talking with Randy, and they decided to play music together.

Their first band, they told WSB co-publisher Patrick Sand, was the Neil Young tribute band Ragged Glory (which played the Hiawatha series its first year), and that’s morphed into Melanie and Her Blue Suede Dudes, much more bluesy, they say, than Ragged Glory.

Since they have worked together for so long, it only takes about an hour for them to set up, and the sound check for a 6:30 pm concert is usually 5 pm. So look for Dave and Randy next year – the unsung heroes behind the scenes (or, at least, the stage).

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West Seattle Crime Watch: Ex-caregiver pleads not guilty to stealing from Holocaust survivor

August 30, 2012 4:56 pm

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| Crime | West Seattle news

A 54-year-old Alki woman is accused of stealing thousands of dollars and jewelry from a 91-year-old Holocaust survivor for whom she served as a caregiver earlier this year. Mary C. Park was in King County Superior Court today and pleaded not guilty to first-degree theft. She spent a day in jail after her arrest earlier this month, but she has no criminal history, and the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office says Park will remain out of custody while the case proceeds. Charging and search-warrant documents say Park started working last February for the family of the victim, who is said to have stored cash in her home because of fears tracing back to having been sent to the Auschwitz death camp during World War II. It’s suspected that Park stole the cash one day last month when the victim recalls having been told to get into the bathtub and ordered to stay there. Gold, opal, and diamond necklaces were discovered to be missing, too. The family fired Park at the end of July, documents say, and called police days later after realizing the money and jewelry were missing. Park is due back in court on September 13th.

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West Seattle scenes: SUP and pup; cavorting canine

August 30, 2012 3:40 pm

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| Pets | West Seattle news

For some reason, today feels like Friday. (Are you taking a four-day weekend? Maybe we’re feeling it by online osmosis.) So before the next news story, two photos. Top, Barb Joseph shares the scene from “a perfect summer afternoon on Alki.” (We dubbed it “SUP and pup.”) Next, from David and Christine: “11-year-old Marissa took this amazing fun photo of 7 month old Laddie, a Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever!”

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Update: Low-bridge bulletins will continue a few more weeks

August 30, 2012 3:28 pm

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| Transportation | West Seattle news

FIRST REPORT, 3:28 PM: If you have used Twitter or Metro text messaging to keep track of when the West Seattle “low bridge” is open for marine traffic and therefore closed to land traffic, heads up: Starting tomorrow, you won’t get those messages any more. SDOT and Metro had been sending them, but say they won’t be needed when the westbound Spokane Street Viaduct‘s new 1st Avenue South ramp opens first thing Friday morning.

5:39 PM UPDATE: SDOT now says its Twitter updates won’t end immediately:

@westseattleblog @wade_68 Update: SDOT will keep tweeting Spokane St swing bridge status til end of widening project (late Sept) @kcmetrobus

— seattledot (@seattledot) August 30, 2012

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Followup: Fauntleroy Way school-speed-zone light moved

August 30, 2012 1:55 pm

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| Fauntleroy | Safety | West Seattle news

Two weeks after a letter from the Fauntleroy Community Association (noted in our coverage of FCA’s August meeting), SDOT has moved the school-zone lights on southbound Fauntleroy Way, near Gatewood Elementary, to address visibility issues. (Compare the photo above to the one in our August 14th story.) This is the same area where a speeder-detecting camera is scheduled to be in operation this fall, as first reported here earlier this month. One glitch, though – Phil Sweetland from the FCA board, who’s been monitoring the issue, says the new location is, while more visible, is south of the old one – therefore closer to the school, giving drivers less time to react. He had suggested a change northward (further from the school) and even has put together a PDF with a montage showing the difference.

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From the South Pacific to West Seattle: Seaview luau Saturday

August 30, 2012 1:36 pm

| Comments Off on From the South Pacific to West Seattle: Seaview luau Saturday

| West Seattle news | WS culture/arts

Before summer wraps up, how about a South Pacific-style afternoon, without leaving West Seattle? Seaview United Methodist Church invites you to its annual luau, Saturday at 2 pm. Just announced by Seini Puloka:

The Tongan (Polynesian) members of the congregation are hosting this event. The menu includes roast pig, fish, taro and other Polynesian foods. Entertainment will be done by the children and youth of the church, complete with music and dances from islands of the South Pacific.

Location: 4620 SW Graham Street
Donation: $20 adults; $10 for teens; $5 for 12 and under

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Seattle Police Officers’ Guild ‘adopts’ Roxhill Elementary

August 30, 2012 12:45 pm

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| West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

(WSB photos by Patrick Sand; click this image for larger view)
Roxhill Elementary‘s teachers, staff, City Year (red shirts) reps, and new principal Sahnica Washington are on campus today getting ready for next Wednesday’s start of the new school year – and they have extra reason to smile because of what you see in the foreground of this photo:

That’s part of the $1,000 worth of school supplies presented today by the Seattle Police Officers’ Guild, which has “adopted” Roxhill this year, after helping other schools in the past.

(From left, SPOG’s Deb Nicholson and Randy Robinson, Roxhill principal Sahnica Washington, SPOG’s Ed Harris, Rich O’Neill, Kevin Stuckey)
Sgt. Rich O’Neill, guild president, says it’s important for police to build relationships with youth long before they have the chance to get in trouble – to let kids know they want to be a friend, not “the person who’s out to get you.” (Although he joked that he hoped the staff didn’t recognize two of the officers who helped with the presentation, since they do Traffic Enforcement out on Roxbury, among other places!) The guild is the union for more than 1,200 SPD officers and sergeants. (Update: Video of today’s presentation:)

P.S. Roxhill is having its back-to-school barbecue 4:30-6:30 today.

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Get ready! Fauntleroy Church’s next Recycle Roundup, Sept. 23

August 30, 2012 11:10 am

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| Environment | Fauntleroy | West Seattle news

The electronics/etc. Recycle Roundups sponsored by Fauntleroy Church for West Seattle/White Center residents continue to grow in popularity, so we’re giving you early warning about the next one, in case you’re getting ready for a round of end-of-summer cleaning – September 23rd, 9 am-3 pm. Watch the church website for a list of what they’ll take and what they won’t.

ADDED: We have a copy of that list now – see it here.

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West Seattle Thursday: Curtains For You @ Hiawatha; pre-back-to-school events; more

August 30, 2012 10:33 am

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| West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

Just before we get to the long Labor Day weekend, a busy Thursday in West Seattle – here are highlights from the WSB calendar:

TRAFFIC ALERTS: From our night-by-night/day-by-day list, southbound 99/Alaskan Way Viaduct will be closed again overnight, 9 pm-5 am, and northbound 1st is closed at (surface) Spokane, 10 pm-5 am. Reminder – the new 1st Avenue South ramp to/from the westbound Spokane Street Viaduct is scheduled to open early TOMORROW (Friday) morning.

TRAFFIC/WATER TAXI ALERT: Seahawks play at home tonight – which means not only lots of traffic in SODO/Pioneer Square, but also extended West Seattle Water Taxi sailings (details here).

PRE-BACK-TO-SCHOOL EVENTS:
-Barbecue @ Roxhill Elementary School, 4:30 pm
-Barbecue @ Seattle Lutheran High School, 5 pm
-Barbecue @ Sanislo Elementary, 5:30-7 pm
-Open house/ice-cream social @ Gatewood Elementary (times/grades here)
-Orientation/ice-cream social @ Denny International Middle School, 6:30-8 pm
(Any we missed? Let us know and we’ll add!)

COMMUNITY KAYAK TOUR OF DUWAMISH RIVER: Tour with Alki Kayak Tours (WSB sponsor) and the Duwamish River Cleanup Coalition. Tonight’s tour leaves 6 pm from Duwamish Waterway Park in South Park. Details, map here.

SHOP LATE THURSDAYS – GRAND FINALE: 6-9 pm, go shop The Junction for the special summer hours’ last hurrah. Who’s part of it, you ask? All listed here.

MARRIAGE-EQUALITY FUNDRAISER AT OUTWEST: 6-9 pm, the Campaign to Approve Referendum 74 has a fundraiser/end-of-summer party at West Seattle’s OutWest Bar – full details (and pre-registration if you’re interested) in our calendar listing.

SUMMER CONCERTS AT HIAWATHA – GRAND FINALE: Go enjoy Curtains For You, free, on the east lawn at Hiawatha Community Center, 6:30 pm – it’s the last of this year’s six concerts presented by the Admiral Neighborhood Association (with co-sponsors including WSB). All ages invited, and as announced last night by ANA, they’re offering free face-painting and popsicles! Bring your own chair/blanket.

FREE HEALTH TALK AND QI-GONG CLASS: 6:30 pm at Fauntleroy Schoolhouse (9131 California SW), details here.

CITY DATA SERVICES OUTAGE STARTS TONIGHT: If you use City of Seattle online services, remember that much of it will be offline starting tonight through Labor Day (as explained here), so pay bills, do searches, etc. by 5 pm today. (This also affects some offline services that are dependent on city data services.)

REGISTERED FOR THE CAR (AND MOTORCYCLE) SHOW YET? While you can decide at the last minute to participate in the West Seattle Junction Car Show (co-sponsored by WSB) on September 16th, to get the early registration deal, your mail-in entry has to be postmarked by Saturday. Motorcycles/mopeds are welcome this year too. Find the rules/forms here!

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New Seattle Supt. José Banda to help open K-5 STEM at Boren

August 30, 2012 9:33 am

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| West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

Just got word from Seattle Public Schools about the rounds that new Superintendent José Banda plans for the first day of school on Wednesday; the district says he will start the day at West Seattle’s brand-new K-5 STEM at Boren, 9 am-10 am, before heading out to schools elsewhere in the city. (June photo by Ilona Berzups Photography)