day : 15/11/2012 13 results

(Birthday guy with Nature C’s Nancy Whitlock; photos by WSB’s Patrick Sand)
The College Street Ravine near King County Executive Dow Constantine‘s home got him into politics – and every year, the West Seattle-based Nature Consortium organizes a work party there to mark his birthday. Today was the day, and he was there before noon (right about the same time that, back in downtown Seattle, his office was sending word King County would start issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples at 12:01 am December 6th). Later in the evening, he was scheduled for his traditional “39th birthday anniversary.” Back at the ravine, West Seattle musician Dan Pearson serenaded volunteers:

The Nature Consortium focuses on restoring forests/greenspace, and has a work party in the College Street Ravine every month (among other places) – sign up to join in, here.

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West Seattle scene: Cooking authors @ Click! for Shop Late Thursday

November 15, 2012 10:10 pm

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| West Seattle books | West Seattle news | West Seattle people

‘Tis the season to cook festively. And that’s why the holiday-season Shop Late Thursdays in The Junction kicked off tonight with a triple bill at Click! Design That Fits (WSB sponsor) – from left, cookbook authors Jeannette Sauvage, Cynthia Nims, and Kim O’Donnel – all Seattleites, though their work has fans far beyond. O’Donnel’s newest book is another guide to vegetarian offerings that will please carnivores, “The Meat Lover’s Meatless Celebrations“; Nims has cooked up a book to help you make your own “Salty Snacks“; and Sauvage has published her first cookbook, “Gluten-Free Baking for the Holidays.” (All three books can be purchased at Click!) They brought samples, too. So what’s up for NEXT “Shop Late Thursday” on November 29th (next week obviously will be skipped for the holiday)? Check out your favorite shops; the participants are all listed here.

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From The South Park News: Bridge delay explained

November 15, 2012 9:40 pm

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| South Park | Transportation | West Seattle news

For our partner site The South Park News, we covered tonight’s SP meeting to follow up on the revelation earlier this month that the new bridge won’t be done until early 2014 – at least a few months later than projected. The meeting led by project reps from King County was lightly attended but went into detail explaining the setbacks and what’s ahead. You can see the full report here.

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Video: Highline Medical’s new West Seattle center dedicated, days before opening

November 15, 2012 6:35 pm

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| Health | West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news

With Fire Station 32 right across the street from the south side of Highline Medical Center‘s brand-new West Seattle facility at 4550 Fauntleroy Way SW, it seemed natural for its crew members to join in the dedication ceremony this evening – and that’s where our video clip begins.

We first told you back in August 2011 about Highline’s plan to take over what was once part of the Huling Brothers automotive sites, then Cycle University (now on Harbor Avenue), and turn it into its new West Seattle offices, which have been located on 41st SW east of Jefferson Square until now.

They’re closing tomorrow afternoon for the move – and referring patients to their Roxbury clinic if care is needed over the weekend. But first, a celebration:

Once the new location opens, the SW Alaska side of the new Highline center will hold the entrance for Highline Urgent Care; the Fauntleroy Way SW side will be where you go in for Highline Family Medicine.

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Westside School proposing to buy Arbor Heights’ Hillcrest Presbyterian Church as its permanent site

November 15, 2012 2:22 pm

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| Arbor Heights | West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

(UPDATED 9:32 PM with comment from preschool spokesperson)

By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

Long before the Seattle School Board almost ordered them out of the public-school building they leased and fixed up just two years ago, Westside School (WSB sponsor) had been seeking a permanent site. Now, it appears Westside has found one.

School leadership has sent a letter to Westside families saying they are in the process of purchasing Hillcrest Presbyterian Church at 34th and 104th in Arbor Heights. The city Department of Planning Development website notes the early stages of a plan to renovate the main church building as part of Westside School’s campus.

We just spoke with Westside’s first-year head of school Kate Mulligan to get some answers to questions that are already ricocheting around the community along with copies of the letter.

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Five times as many suicides as homicides in King County

November 15, 2012 2:18 pm

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| West Seattle news | West Seattle people

If you still don’t believe that suicide is an epidemic – that it should get at least as much attention as homicide, if not more – consider this: King County is just out with its report on 2011 deaths, and the number of suicides, 265, was almost five times the number of homicides, 54. The number of accidental drug overdoses, more than 200, is also a concern. But the county says its 2011 report also shows traffic deaths and homicides on the decline. Here’s the full news release; here’s the entire report.

P.S. The county’s advice for help if you or someone you know is considering suicide: Contact the Crisis Clinic, crisisclinic.org or 866-427-4747.

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County’s plan for same-sex marriage licenses: 12:01 am December 6th

November 15, 2012 12:20 pm

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| West Seattle news | West Seattle people

Just in from King County Executive Dow Constantine‘s office – he will open the County Recorder’s Office literally the minute that same-sex marriage is legal, to start issuing licenses. Here’s the official announcement:

King County Executive Dow Constantine will open the County Recorder’s Office at 12:01 a.m. on Thursday, Dec. 6 – immediately upon certification of the November election – to begin issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples.

“I don’t want couples to wait a minute longer than legally necessary to get the rights that voters have recognized,” said Executive Constantine, who will personally sign the first marriage licenses at 12:01 a.m.

The move will make King County the first jurisdiction in the nation to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples based on voter approval.

Much more information ahead regarding how it’ll work:Read More

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New plan for parking in The Triangle: City seeking comments

November 15, 2012 11:34 am

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| Transportation | Triangle | West Seattle news

There’s a new proposal for changes to parking in The Triangle and in the Fairmount neighborhood to its south – see the map above. It’s being circulated after the city’s followup conversations with the Triangle Advisory Group and other neighbors. So far, the postcard above has only gone out to homes/businesses in the immediate area – but it’s certainly of wider interest, so we are sharing it here. An online survey is open right now (go here), and/or you can send comments by Monday, November 26, to kiersten.grove@seattle.gov.

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Holiday hunger-fighting: Who’s given, and how you can give too

November 15, 2012 10:30 am

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| How to help | West Seattle news

This morning, Mayor McGinn put out a call for Seattleites to donate food, money, and time to their local food banks. People in our area are already answering that call – here are updates we’ve collected in the past few days:

STUDENTS COLLECT TURKEY MONEY: Sharon from Union Gospel Mission shares the photo of Our Lady of Guadalupe School students Alex and Hope, who she says stood outside West Seattle Thriftway (WSB sponsor) for two hours last weekend and raised $274.39 to buy turkeys for UGM, inspired by a news report. She quotes Alex, 12, as saying: “Homeless people who come here for a meal is a blessing. I have food to last me through the night but homeless people don’t. And a meal helps them stay healthy and have a fuller stomach then they would otherwise,” and Hope, 13, as saying: “Food is important. Being homeless is hard. Some people starve to death. I wanted to make a difference. It feels good.”

CLINICS’ FOOD-DRIVE WRAPUP: You might recall our reports on Sound Physical Therapy organizing a food drive as a “competition” involving 9 PT clinics in the area, in honor of National Physical Therapy Month in October. Sound PT sent word that together, the participating clinics (all listed here) collected 1,500 pounds of food for the West Seattle Food Bank – three-quarters of a ton!

LAFARGE FOOD DRIVE, HAPPENING NOW: Lashanna at Lafarge sends a reminder of their monthlong drive – and an invitation for you to participate:

Just a community reminder that Lafarge needs your help with our annual food drive to benefit Northwest Harvest! Please drop off food at 5400 W. Marginal Way SW – there is a donation box right by the staircase and fountain!!!

WE(st) Seattle puts the “we” in community – we found the hummmmm ……. we built a park….. we can feed those in need too! Please donate today.

PRE-THANKSGIVING ‘FOODRAISER’ DANCE CLASS AHEAD: Jenna at Gildenfire is organizing this kids’ class for next Tuesday (November 20):

Next Tuesday I am going to teach a free-with-2-cans-of-food dance class for ages 2-4 with parent or caregiver to benefit the West Seattle Food Bank. The class will be 10:45 on Tuesday morning at Highland Park Improvement Club and is open to residents of West Seattle and White Center. The class is Creative Movement. We will do a Brain Dance Warm-Up, play some dance games like Freeze Dance and Underwater Adventure, do a Dancing Story and end with an amazing obstacle course and open play time for kids to practice their hula-hooping, somersaulting, mini-trampoline, ball skills and free dancing with scarves.

HOW TO HELP LOCAL FOOD BANKS DIRECTLY: Two days ago, we published the Thanksgiving-season needs lists for the WS Food Bank and for the White Center Food Bank. While the needs range beyond holiday turkeys, if you’re interested in giving those, there are special dropoff hours at WS Food Bank (35th and Morgan) this Saturday and at Fauntleroy UCC (9140 California SW) on behalf of WC Food Bank this Sunday. All the details are in the earlier reports:
—WS Food Bank here
—WC Food Bank here

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West Seattle Thursday: South Park Bridge; WSHS gala; Junction ‘Shop Late’; Alki CC annual meeting; more

November 15, 2012 9:56 am

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| West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Recent fall-colors aerial of Duwamish Head/North Admiral, by Long Bach Nguyen, shared via WSB Flickr group)

BIRTHDAY PARTY WORK PARTY: As previewed here last weekend, today is the annual Nature Consortium work party in honor of County Executive Dow Constantine‘s birthday. You can join them at College Street Ravine between 10 am and 2 pm.

SPECIAL STORY TIME: Barnes and Noble at Westwood Village reports “a special storytime between 1-3 pm today, with Rite Aid’s Health and Wellness Ambassadors doing the storytelling! There will also be a craft, making hand turkeys for Thanksgiving!”

ROAD TO COLLEGE – WITH FREE DINNER: Got a high-school student in the house? Free dinner and information about college access and related topics, 5 pm tonight at High Point Neighborhood Center (6400 Sylvan Way SW).

FALL HARVEST AUCTION FOR WSHS: The annual West Seattle High School fundraising auction is tonight at 5:30 pm, The Hall at Fauntleroy (9131 California SW).

FREE WINE TASTING: The weekly Thursday tasting at West Seattle Cellars (WSB sponsor; 6026 California SW), 5:30-8 pm, will feature Spanish wines this time.

SHOP LATE THURSDAY – INCLUDING COOKBOOK AUTHORS AT CLICK! The Junction’s Shop Late Thursdays are back for the 2012 holiday season, 6-9 pm, and one big event is happening tonight at Click! Design That Fits (WSB sponsor; 4540 California SW) – cookbook authors Kim O’Donnel (“The Meat Lover’s Meatless Celebrations”), Jeanne Sauvage (“Gluten-Free Baking for the Holidays”), and Cynthia Nims (“Salty Snacks”). Full details here.

TEST DRIVE THE MIDDLE SCHOOL AT WESTSIDE SCHOOL: Big event tonight for prospective middle-schoolers and their families:

Westside School is hosting a really exciting, interactive event this evening starting at 6:00 pm. Prospective students for grades 5, 6, 7, and 8 will have an opportunity to “test drive” the Middle School at Westside. They are invited to come and learn about Westside’s Middle School program, through a variety of fun, hands-on activities. Talk with our fantastic Middle School teachers, and meet our administrators. Learn more about it HERE.

(Westside is a WSB sponsor; 7740 34th SW.)

SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL CENTER! Come check out the advisory council of the Southwest Teen Life Center and Pool – 7 pm tonight on the lower level of the center, 2801 SW Thistle. These are the community volunteers who help support activities there (among other things), as explained in the official notice.

WEST SEATTLE WOMEN IN CHARGE: The group for local business owners meets tonight at Lezlie Jane‘s Hilltop Studio at 7 pm. The theme is Marketing Ideas for the New Year. Address: 10643 19th Ave SW – phone: 206-383-7283

SOUTH PARK BRIDGE MEETING: As first reported on partner site The South Park News, the bridge work is running longer than planned and it won’t be done before early 2014. Tonight, you can find out more during a county-organized community meeting at the South Park Neighborhood Center, 8201 10th Avenue South, 7 pm.

ALKI COMMUNITY COUNCIL’S ANNUAL MEETING: 7 pm, Alki UCC (6112 SW Hinds). Here’s the agenda:

1) Nominations and election of ACC Board and Officers
2) Review of Tentative 2013 Budget
3) Results of November 13th FAA Greener Skies Meeting with Beacon Hill Community
4) Progress on ACC’s 501 (c) (3) Application
5) ACC Goals for 2013

Tonight’s nightlife highlights (music, comedy, pub quiz) and more – plus what’s ahead tomorrow and beyond – on the calendar!

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West Seattle Crime Prevention Council to talk transit next week

November 15, 2012 9:20 am

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| Southwest Precinct Crime Prevention Council | West Seattle news

Just in from West Seattle Crime Prevention Council president Richard Miller – next week’s monthly WSCPC meeting will focus on transit – safety, in particular:

Our November meeting will focus on how the recent Metro Transit route changes and the creation of a Transit Center in the Westwood neighborhood have impacted West Seattle. Our guests will include Dale Cummings, Senior Transit Planner (Metro); Mike Bergman, Service Planning Manager (Sound Transit); and Christine Alar, Transit Planning and Policy (SDOT).

The meeting is at 7 pm Tuesday, November 20th, in the meeting room at the Southwest Precinct (Delridge/Webster), everyone welcome, with your chance to not only ask questions of the guests but also to bring up community concerns to the Seattle Police leadership in attendance.

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Video: Denny-Sealth concert includes tribute to crash victims

November 15, 2012 8:27 am

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| West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

A three-school concert at the Chief Sealth International High School auditorium last night – Sealth, Denny International Middle School, and the University of Washington – began with some reflection from Denny’s principal on what’s been a difficult week so far, because of the loss of 13-year-old Denny student Lucie Hernandez, killed along with 16-year-old former Denny student Mario Luis Martinez Herrera in a Sunday night crash. In our video, you’ll hear principal Jeff Clark‘s remarks, followed by Denny/Sealth maestro Marcus Pimpleton‘s introduction to the concert, and then the first number by Denny musicians. (The second number, “Over the Rainbow,” was dedicated to Lucie.) Before the concert, a reception in the Sealth commons included a collection for the families of the crash victims.

One more note from the Denny/Sealth Music Pathway – next week, both schools’ marching bands will be in the Macy’s Holiday Parade downtown (9 am Friday, November 23rd), as will the West Seattle High School Marching Band (noted here last week).

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TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Thursday updates

November 15, 2012 6:42 am

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| 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)
6:42 AM: One week till Thanksgiving. Another rainless morning for your commute; nothing to report in or near West Seattle as we start out.

7:03 AM: Fog is advancing from the west, so unless it suddenly stops, at least part of the peninsula is likely to be socked in soon.

8:16 AM: The fog has stopped short of “socked in,” at least so far – and right now, the bridge cam is positively basking in sunshine. Meantime, a reminder: If you’re interested in firsthand information on the status of the new South Park Bridge, there’s a meeting tonight at 7 pm in SP – details here.

9:08 AM: Pioneer Square/International District alert, especially if you drive in via 4th – there’s a semi/bus crash at 4th and Jackson that is said to be causing “traffic delays.” No injuries reported so far.

9:21 AM NOTE: The West Seattle Crime Prevention Council just announced that transit is its focus at next week’s monthly meeting – if you have safety issues regarding transit and the recent changes, be there. Details here.

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