day : 19/10/2012 12 results

Many big events tomorrow (Saturday) – including a sneak peek inside a newly remodeled building that belongs to YOU:

(Photo courtesy Tiffani Melake/Hiawatha Community Center)
The city-landmark substation building that is part of Dakota Place Park (California/Dakota north of The Junction) is finally fixed up and now featuring classes and events as a satellite of Hiawatha Community Center. It’s also available for rentals, and on Saturday you can explore for yourself during its first public open house – 2 to 5 pm on Saturday. Read about the substation’s history here. (The park itself, minus the then-awaiting-remodeling building, was dedicated almost exactly three years ago; the substation building had been empty for almost three decades, since the last power equipment was removed.)

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West Seattle Crime Watch: Another stolen car’s been found

October 19, 2012 6:30 pm

| 12 COMMENTS

| Crime | West Seattle news

We have a few more West Seattle Crime Watch items to share later tonight but here’s a quick bit of good news for starters. You might remember the reader report earlier this week from Rebecca, whose car was stolen just days after she moved to West Seattle. It’s been found:

The car was found today 5 miles from the house, in Burien! Absolutely no damage, only some CD’s taken. They didn’t take the iPhone charger (?).

That isn’t as puzzling as it might seem – most cars are taken, SPD says, as “temporary transportation for common criminals.”

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High-school football: Senior Night for Chief Sealth, vs. Ingraham

October 19, 2012 5:21 pm

| 1 COMMENT

| West Seattle news | West Seattle schools | WS & Sports

(Photos by Nick Adams for WSB)
No high-school football tonight – this week’s games were played last night. It was Senior Night at Southwest Athletic Complex last night as Chief Sealth International High School played its last regular-season home game of the football season. Here’s Sealth’s Clint Hewitt, bringing his family flowers:

While the Seahawks lost to visiting Ingraham, 39-34, they are going to postseason play. The rain made umbrellas a popular accessory on the sidelines. It also made for a tough game and slick field:

That’s Sealth’s Greg Tauti clearing the way for Marquise Givens. More game scenes from WSB contributing photojournalist Nick Adams, ahead:
Read More

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Tomorrow: Get ready! Stop by ‘Emergency Reach Out’

October 19, 2012 3:12 pm

| Comments Off on Tomorrow: Get ready! Stop by ‘Emergency Reach Out’

| Arbor Heights | Preparedness | West Seattle news

(Click image to get full-size flyer [PDF])
Tomorrow’s the day – whichever part of West Seattle you’re from, come on over to Arbor Heights Elementary (3701 SW 104th) and be part of “Emergency Reach Out.” The preparedness event is happening 10 am to 2 pm, but you can drop by for whatever amount of time you can spare, four minutes or the full four hours. The day starts with free espresso cart/treats 10 am-noon. You can stop by tables to meet, talk with, and/or gather information from organizations including: American Red Cross, CoolMom.org, Make It Through, Seattle Animal Shelter, Seattle Fire Department, Seattle Neighborhoods Actively Prepare (SNAP), Seattle Police Department‘s Living Room Conversations, Seattle Public Utilities, West Seattle Be Prepared, West Seattle Blockwatch Captains’ Network, and the YMCA.

And us! (If you saw our previous story, one note: Our WSB-branded ice scrapers were held up at the factory, so we won’t have them tomorrow – sorry – but we hope to get them in time to bring them to our Pumpkin Bowling booth at next weekend’s Junction Harvest Festival.) Here’s the schedule, so far (doublecheck when you get there)

10:00 – 10:30 West Seattle Be Prepared
10:30 – 10:45 West Seattle Block Watch and Seattle Public Utilities
10:45 – 11:00 Break
11:00 – 12:00 SNAP (Seattle Neighborhoods Actively Prepare)
Noon – 12:30 Break
12:30 – 1:15 Red Cross
1:15 – 1:35 Seattle Animal Shelter
1:35 – 2:00 Seattle Fire Department

Also planned: The FREE latte and pastry cart from 10:00 to noon; snacks and grilled items available for purchase from BigFood Truck; raffle prizes and gifts. A fast, fun way to learn about being ready for big trouble from winter storms to earthquakes and beyond. AH neighbors got a city grant to put this on – so come get a life-saving lesson or two! Here’s a map – see you there!

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Happening now: Schmitz Park’s 2012 Move-A-Thon

October 19, 2012 2:46 pm

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| How to help | West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

Also winding down as the school day approaches its end – Schmitz Park Elementary‘s around-the-playground fundraiser, the 2012 Move-A-Thon, is too. This year’s fundraising goal is $30,000. Kids don’t have to collect pledges or bring donations, but they do all get to go out and spend part of their day on the eighth-of-a-mile course. Along with the volunteers and staff, they had an audience – younger kids who might be participating someday:

Schmitz Park also has an online donation option – here.

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Happening now: Lafayette Elementary’s 2012 Walk-A-Thon

October 19, 2012 2:15 pm

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| How to help | West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

This morning’s rain stopped just in time for the two West Seattle schools with all-day outdoor fundraisers. Here’s the scene at Lafayette Elementary, whose 540-plus students will each spend about 45 minutes going around the playground by the time today’s annual Walk-A-Thon ends toward the end of the school day. On the sidelines, camera-clutching parents have been tempted by a bake-sale fundraiser:

They’re hoping to raise at least $65,000 this year to pay for programs and materials listed on this webpage, which also includes a link for online donations.

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9 days till Junction Harvest Festival: Can you volunteer?

October 19, 2012 1:18 pm

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| Holidays | West Seattle festivals | West Seattle news

Just two more volunteers needed to finalize the team for the first-ever West Seattle Junction Association-presented Harvest Festival, coming up on Sunday, October 28th. In case you’ve missed previous mentions, it’s a huge mashup of four major features – the traditional business-district trick-or-treating BUT for the first time with the streets closed, as requested by the community; the West Seattle Farmers’ Market out in the street instead of in its traditional corner; free fun carnival-type activities set up and presented by local organizations/businesses (for example, we’re teaming up with West Seattle Bowl – “WSB x 2” – for pumpkin bowling); and a costume parade. This is all unfolding 10 am-2 pm on 10/28 (schedule’s on the official webpage). And you can volunteer WITHOUT having to miss out on festival fun – they need two people during the setup time, 6 am-9:30 am, that day. Contact susan@wsjunction.org if you can help. Thanks!

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West Seattle Whale Watch: Orcas visit again!

October 19, 2012 9:53 am

| 27 COMMENTS

| Seen at sea | West Seattle news | Wildlife

(1st two photos by Gary Jones, added @ noon)
ORIGINAL REPORT, 9:53 AM: Thanks to Jeff Hogan from Killer Whale Tales for the alert that orcas have been spotted off Magnolia, headed southbound. Let us know if you see them – murky out there today but then again, black fins against silver water might be more visible. (Just last week, orcas in West Seattle waters led to beautiful photos – both from WSB contributing photojournalist Nick Adams, here, and from community contributors, here.)

10:46 AM UPDATE: They are reportedly visible now from North Admiral’s NW-looking blufftops.

11:21 AM UPDATE: Now reported to be passing Alki Point. Jeff says they are residents, J-pod.

NOON UPDATE: First two photos added, courtesy of Gary Jones (thank you!), taken near Alki Point. As commenters are saying, they’ve been spotted off Blake Island – we were just down at Lowman Beach and saw two TV choppers overhead, though not the whales (we did see them from the earlier Admiral blufftop stop).

(Photo by Mike Russell)
12:38 PM UPDATE: Still getting scattered sighting reports. Will be linking this story shortly from the BIG STORIES list on the sidebar so you can find it again even as we start adding other stories to the top of the site.

1:26 PM UPDATE: They were seen on the Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth run around 1 pm.

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West Seattle Friday: School fundraisers; Ski Swap dropoff; Halloween Rainbow Bingo; more

October 19, 2012 9:09 am

| Comments Off on West Seattle Friday: School fundraisers; Ski Swap dropoff; Halloween Rainbow Bingo; more

| West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Gull resting on Alki, by Doug B via the WSB Flickr group pool)
Happy weekend-is-almost-here day! From the WSB West Seattle Events Calendar (and elsewhere) for today/tonight:

FIRST – WEEKEND TRAFFIC ALERTS, CITYWIDE: No West Seattle closures but if you’re heading out of West Seattle at any point this weekend, here’s what you’re facing (including a 520 bridge closure)

LAFAYETTE WALK-A-THON: West Seattle’s most-populous elementary school has its annual rain-or-shine benefit (with sponsors including WSB) will be under way throughout the school day, 9:45 am-3:20 pm. Proceeds will pay for tutors, library books, and more; if you haven’t pledged, you can donate online.

SCHMITZ PARK MOVE-A-THON: West Seattle’s second-most-populous elementary school also will be out raising money in a rain-or-shine benefit (with sponsors including WSB) throughout the school day. And SP also has an online-donation option – go here.

(If YOUR school’s annual fundraiser is seeking business sponsors, be sure to let us know!)

GEAR DROPOFF FOR WEST SEATTLE SKI SWAP: Noon-6 pm today, any ski, snowboard, outdoor gear you’d like to sell in the West Seattle Ski Swap this weekend can be dropped off at the VFW Hall in The Triangle. Details here.

BALLROOM DANCING: Third Fridays mean dancing with Lauren Petrie at Delridge Community Center, 1:30-3:30 pm.

HALLOWEEN BASH AT THE LITTLE GYM: 4-7 pm (check for which age groups are welcome when) – food drive, too! Details here.

STORYTELLING: The monthly cultural-storytelling event at White Center Cultural Center (9421 18th SW in south West Seattle) features Seattle chef Sam Ung – meal at 6 pm, stories at 6:30; find out more here.

HALLOWEEN RAINBOW BINGO! Tonight at the Senior Center of West Seattle (WSB sponsor) – treats at 6, bingo at 7; call for a reservation ASAP. Details in the calendar listing.

(P.S. Check out the WSB Halloween page for seasonal events in the days/nights ahead!)

RESTORATIVE YOGA: At SoundYoga (WSB sponsor) 6:30 pm tonight. Details here.

MOVIE NIGHT AT HIGHLAND PARK IMPROVEMENT CLUB: Doors open 6:30 pm, movie at 7 (hint: Dorothy and Toto too!), free, but bring $ for concessions. HPIC is at 12th/Holden.

FRIDAY NIGHT PAINTING: Watercolor class taught by J. Conrad Nivens, 7 pm at Mind Unwind in The Admiral District – more info here.

LIVE MUSIC/NIGHTLIFE: Sid Law, 6-8 pm at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor) … The Heels, Spy Device, Fonzarelli at Skylark Café and Club, 8 pm … Jazz with Barbie Anaka at Salty’s on Alki, 8 pm … Not Dead Yet with The Visitors, Feedback Lounge (WSB sponsor), 9 pm … Steven Martinelli and the Teflon Mind, Satellite 4, Rabbit Skin Glue at the Benbow Room, 9 pm.

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High-school football: West Seattle’s rainy road game @ Hale

October 19, 2012 9:00 am

| 4 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle schools | WS & Sports

For our area’s two public-high-school football teams, Thursday was football night this week, as the regular season came to an end. And it coincided with the return of major rain. Above, hardy West Seattle High School fans headed north last night to cheer on the Wildcats against Nathan Hale; final score, Hale 36, WSHS 13. Even the school flag was turned into something of a rain shelter:

From the field, here are the stats, published by The Seattle Times (WSB partner) – Daniel Sullivan is credited with both WSHS touchdowns.

We’ll update when the brackets are in for postseason play. (P.S. WSB coverage of last night’s Sealth-Ingraham game is coming up a bit later this morning.)

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TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Friday reports, all day long

October 19, 2012 6:46 am

| 13 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

(Live view from the only WS Bridge camera currently in operation; see other cameras on the WSB Traffic page)
6:46 AM: Breezy out there right now, following an intensely rainy night. Also as the commute starts to build, there’s a medic response on northbound I-5 downtown, described on the 911 log as parallel with Spring Street. Thanks again for sharing your reports on the roads, the buses, etc., throughout the day.

7:13 AM: Via Twitter, WSDOT warns of a big backup from the aforementioned I-5 incident:

Not sure how long this will last, @seattlefire working on a medical call NB I-5 under the convention center. Back-up is 2 miles.

— WSDOT Traffic (@wsdot_traffic) October 19, 2012

7:40 AM: The scene is now clear, so the backup should ease:

All lanes clear on NB I-5 under the convention center from an earlier medical emergency.

— WSDOT Traffic (@wsdot_traffic) October 19, 2012

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High-school sports: Sealth cross-country going to districts

October 19, 2012 12:57 am

| 3 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle schools | WS & Sports

Thanks to Lynn for sharing the news that, after a Thursday meet, both Chief Sealth International High School cross-country teams have qualified for the district meet. It’s scheduled next Thursday (October 25) at Lower Woodland. Lynn also shared the photos, showing both teams at/toward the start of Thursday’s races.