day : 04/11/2012 14 results

As former devotees of the old Roxhill Castle play structure – when our now-teenager was playground age – we were surprised to see, on a visit at sunset tonight, how much the in-progress new Roxhill Castle reminds us of its predecessor. Even the components alongside the main structure:

That was the point, of course – why community members and the project team ultimately fought to get a replacement structure that wasn’t “just like every other playground nowadays,” though it cost a bit extra and required the community construction work that is happening right now.

Two more days of construction are scheduled – and as one volunteer wrote in a comment on the photo gallery published here earlier today, “WE NEED YOU!” We noticed in our end-of-day visit that there’s plenty of room for more volunteers. Your help would be the icing on the cake – or perhaps, the turret on the castle:

They’re scheduled to be back at work at 8 tomorrow morning at the park along 29th SW south of Barton – more info here. If it’s any incentive – local businesses have been donating food, including a round of Zippy’s Giant Burgers (as noted on Facebook tonight) and Stuffed Cakes (as noted on FB last night).

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Final draft before school-levy vote: Arbor Heights Elementary rebuild ‘earlier if feasible’

November 4, 2012 9:00 pm

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| West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

If you are interested in speaking at this Wednesday’s School Board meeting, before board members’ final vote on the project list for the BEX IV levy that goes to voters in February, you need to call or e-mail starting at 8 am tomorrow (as explained here). The agenda is available online now, and it contains the final levy draft, pending any amendments proposed Wednesday. Here’s what’s in that draft (see the list here) for West Seattle:

*Expanded/renovated Fairmount Park Elementary to open 2014

*Rebuilt Schmitz Park Elementary at Genesee Hill site to open 2015

*Rebuilt Arbor Heights Elementary to open 2018, with the added language “or earlier if feasible” (district officials have said they could explore alternative financing, but not until after the levy passes)

*Roof work at Gatewood Elementary

*Earthquake-safety work at Alki, Gatewood, Lafayette, Roxhill Elementaries

The levy would collect almost $695 million over six years, as noted in the full text (which you can read here). Tuesday’s agenda also includes the proposed final vote on the $550 million operations levy that would go to voters in the same election next February (resolution text here). Here’s the full agenda for Wednesday’s board meeting, which starts at 4:15 pm – with public comment at 5 – at district HQ in SODO.

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RapidRide reminder: C Line adds two evening trips tomorrow

November 4, 2012 6:51 pm

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| Transportation | West Seattle news

The announcement didn’t come till late Friday, so in case you missed it, we’re mentioning it again tonight: Metro Transit says it’s adding two more RapidRide C Line trips during the evening commute starting tomorrow (Monday), and then another two starting Tuesday, November 13th (Monday 11/12 is the Veterans Day holiday). Metro managers hope the added buses will alleviate “gaps in bus service that emerge when buses are delayed between 5:15 and 6:45 pm,” according to the Metro announcement.

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Congratulations, Westside Wildcat Midgets – football champs!

November 4, 2012 6:09 pm

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| West Seattle news | WS & Sports

Thanks to Michelle for the report and photo trumpeting this good news about the Northwest Junior Football League‘s new “midget”-class champs:

On Saturday, the Westside Wildcat Midgets (ages 8-11) played a brilliant game to beat Mukilteo in the championship game of the season. They play in the Northwest Junior Football League, for the Westside Wildcat franchise, with home field at Hiawatha Community Center.

Here’s the bracket showing what they went through to finish on top. Congratulations!

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Community Orchard of West Seattle searching for fruit-tree expert

November 4, 2012 5:16 pm

| 4 COMMENTS

| Gardening | Puget Ridge | West Seattle news

Three dozen fruit trees on trellises at the Community Orchard of West Seattle are in need of somebody special to plan their care and their future. Here’s the announcement from COWS:

The Community Orchard of West Seattle, located at the South Seattle Community College North Entrance (6000 16th Ave SW), is currently seeking an Intensive Fruit Trellis Volunteer Coordinator.

Did you know the 1/8-acre Community Orchard site contains 36 dwarf trellised fruit trees? These trees must be weighted and pruned in a very specific manner to stimulate fruit production. When done properly, the trellis can produce incredible apple yields in just 3 years time!

COWS is seeking someone to help plan the next steps for our intensive fruit-tree trellis and other fruit-bearing trees.

The perfect volunteer would be a landscape/horticulture student or experienced gardener with knowledge of fruit=tree care and maintenance.

This person will help to research high-intensive trellis care, and develop a plan for the long-term management of this important resource.

For more information about this volunteer position, please contact the Community Orchard @ info@fruitinwestseattle.org

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West Seattle weekend scene: Southwest Library artists’ reception

November 4, 2012 4:21 pm

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| West Seattle news | WS culture/arts

It was reception day today for artists participating in the community art show at Southwest Library (35th/Henderson) – and a showgoer shared the photo of young artist Tycho proudly showing his work. The reception ended at 3 but you still have time to see the work displayed by all the participating artists – the show runs through next Friday (November 9th).

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King County executive, elections director come to West Seattle with a warning

November 4, 2012 1:06 pm

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| West Seattle news | West Seattle politics

The staff of the King County Elections ballot-dropoff van at West Seattle Stadium (wearing orange aprons) has had a busy day already. Not only have dozens of ballots been dropped off …

… but as you can see in the top photo, they also have had a visit from their boss, County Elections Director Sherril Huff (at right in the photo above) and King County Executive Dow Constantine. He and Huff summoned media to the dropoff van to use it as a backdrop for a two-part warning: First, they warned, they strongly urge voters to only use the U.S. Mail or King County Elections facilities (dropboxes, vans, etc.) to get their ballot in. Second, they warned, if anyone takes a ballot from someone else and does not get it to the county – that’s a crime.

While they were careful not to accuse anyone of wrongdoing, they also acknowledged this comes in the wake of the King County Republican Party announcing it will have its own ballot-dropoff vans in some areas, and word that there may be some door-to-door ballot-collection efforts going on (the county does NOT have anyone doing that). The GOP has said it is trying to help in areas of the county where there are no dropboxes or vans. We and other media asked the county officials today if they would be re-evaluating their policies regarding placement of those boxes and vans; Huff said no. Meantime, in West Seattle, the county van will be at the stadium till 5 pm today, again 10 am-5 pm tomorrow, and 7 am-8 pm on Tuesday (Election Day). Huff warned that post offices do not routinely postmark late at night, so if you are waiting till the last minute, don’t expect you can put your ballot in a mailbox Tuesday night and have it count.

ADDED SUNDAY NIGHT: In case you’re interested – our unedited video of today’s event:

Find the list of county dropoff boxes/vans by going here.

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West Seattle schools: Schmitz Park students donate Halloween candy

November 4, 2012 11:10 am

| 8 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

Those boxes photographed at Schmitz Park Elementary contain 700 pounds of candy collected after Halloween. The SP P.E. teacher, Carole Sealey, organized the drive for “Operation Stocking Stuffers,” with beneficiaries including troops serving away from home during the holidays. Ms. Sealey says, “The kids did an amazing job and I am so proud of them.”

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Election 2012: Where will you be watching on Tuesday night?

November 4, 2012 9:22 am

| 3 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle politics

Since it’s already Election Day Eve Eve, we’re building a list of Election Night watch parties in this area – not just “we’ll have it on the TV in the background,” but places that are all-out marketing the events as viewing parties and will have the sound up at least for the big moments. So far, we have Skylark Café and Club in North Delridge (which had a packed party in 2008); Feedback Lounge (WSB sponsor) in Morgan Junction; which has a brand-new bigscreen; and OutWest Bar between Alaska and Morgan Junctions. Where else in West Seattle, White Center, South Park? Please let us know in comments here, or via e-mail (editor@westseattleblog.com).

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Video: Roxhill Castle rising, as volunteers go into Day 3

November 4, 2012 7:15 am

| 8 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle parks

In photojournalist Nick Adams‘ video updating the volunteer construction under way for Roxhill Castle, the voice you hear is that of Mat McBride, a longtime community advocate who has been the volunteer ringleader for the effort to get the play structure built. This afternoon will mark the midway point of the five-day build, whose roots go back more than 4 years, to the project list for the Parks and Green Spaces Levy, which included money for renovating Roxhill Playground. Now, the actual construction of the new Roxhill Castle is here, powered by hundreds of volunteers.

It’s also powered by tools from the West Seattle Tool Library:

See more of how Roxhill Castle is rising, in 15 photos ahead:
Read More

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West Seattle Sunday: House, castle, market, music…

November 4, 2012 6:52 am

| Comments Off on West Seattle Sunday: House, castle, market, music…

| West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

You might just see that blue-house-on-wheels around West Seattle between noon-2 pm today. No, it is NOT on its way to a parade — here’s what it’s really all about. As for what else is up on a fairly quiet Sunday schedule, here are a few highlights:

YOU ‘FELL BACK,’ RIGHT? Just checking. At 2 am today, we “fell back” to 1 am, as Daylight-Saving Time ended for the year. This means an earlier sunrise and sunset today – you can always check those times on the WSB West Seattle Weather page, by the way.

BUILDING ROXHILL CASTLE, DAY THREE: Sometime today, the volunteers building the new playground at Roxhill Park (29th/Barton, just south of Westwood Village) should be halfway done. Even if you didn’t sign up in advance, you are welcome to show up and pitch in, starting around 8 am.

FARMERS’ MARKET BACK TO ITS USUAL SPOT: One week after last weekend’s wildly successful West Seattle Junction Harvest Festival, you will find the WS Farmers’ Market back in its usual spot at 44th/Alaska today, 10 am-2 pm.

BALLOT DROPOFF VAN, DAY THREE: 10 am-5 pm, the county’s ballot-dropoff van will be back on the West Seattle Stadium driveway (turn east into the stadium from 35th SW just south of Avalon). Already sent your ballot? Use the Ballot Tracker to make sure it got to its destination.

LIVE MUSIC AT C & P COFFEE: 3 Play Ricochet, 3-5 pm at C & P (WSB sponsor; 6451 California SW).

LIVE MUSIC AT SKYLARK CAFE: Wynne C Blue and Her Troublefakers, 3 pm (all ages), 3803 Delridge Way SW.

MUSIC NORTHWEST: At South Seattle Community College (WSB sponsor)’s Olympic Recital Hall, it’s a Beethoven program with The Europa Ensemble. 3 pm – full details here.

FRIED CHICKEN SUPPER: Endolyne Joe’s (9261 45th SW) is returning as a WSB sponsor to make sure you know they serve “family style” fried-chicken suppers on Sunday nights, 5 pm-10 pm … read about it here.

More options for today/tonight – and far beyond! – are on the WSB West Seattle Events Calendar.

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The WSBeat: Liquor theft; gun found; bus trouble…

November 4, 2012 6:00 am

| 4 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle police | WSBeat

By Megan Sheppard
On the WSBeat, for West Seattle Blog

As always, the WSBeat summaries are from reports on cases handled recently by Southwest Precinct officers, incidents that (usually) have not already appeared here in breaking-news coverage or West Seattle Crime Watch reports, but that might at least answer the question “what WERE all those police doing on my block?”:

*A 20-year-old and a 17-year-old high school student were picked up at 39th SW and Admiral Way on Monday afternoon after they stole liquor and bottles of soda from an Admiral grocery. The older was booked into King County Jail for investigation of shoplifting. The younger was released to his grandmother at the Southwest Precinct.

Five more summaries ahead:Read More

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High-school football: Senior Night for Seattle Lutheran HS

November 4, 2012 4:54 am

| Comments Off on High-school football: Senior Night for Seattle Lutheran HS

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

(Photos by Nick Adams for WSB)
At West Seattle Stadium on Friday night, it was Senior Night for the Seattle Lutheran High School football team — our area’s last regular-season game of this year’s high-school-football season. While they didn’t come away with a win against visiting Tacoma Baptist – which went home the winner, 46-8 – it was a memorable night, with much to cheer for:

Eleven more game photos by WSB contributing photojournalist Nick Adams, ahead:

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West Seattle Torah Learning Center plans Mezuzah Day next Sunday

November 4, 2012 1:36 am

| Comments Off on West Seattle Torah Learning Center plans Mezuzah Day next Sunday

| West Seattle news | West Seattle religion

One week from today, on Sunday, November 11th, the rabbi who leads the West Seattle Torah Learning Center is planning a busy day – installing a mezuzah at the home/apartment of any Jewish West Seattleite who doesn’t have one but would like one. Here’s the TLC’s announcement:

No Jewish home should have an empty doorpost. Rabbi Yehuda Greer [photo at left], the newest rabbi to serve as spiritual leader of West Seattle’s Torah Learning Center, is available on Sunday, November 11, to make a “house call” and provide Jewish West Seattleites with an authentic, “kosher” mezuzah scroll (which contains essential texts from the Bible handwritten in tiny Hebrew calligraphy). He’ll also provide guidance in reciting the appropriate blessings and assistance in putting the mezuzah up at the entrance to the home or apartment. This Mezuzah Day is a great opportunity to meet Rabbi Greer and others in West Seattle’s Jewish Community and to get a free mezuzah!

This event is sponsored by the The West Seattle Torah Learning Center (TLC) which draws participants from a wide variety of Jewish backgrounds and affiliations to its Shabbat and holiday celebrations, classes and social events. TLC is a project of The Seattle Kollel. For more information about the West Seattle TLC or to reserve a time slot on Mezuzah Day, contact Rabbi Yehuda Greer at rabbigreer@gmail.com or 732.534.2284 as soon as possible.