day : 21/11/2012 9 results

West Seattle’s generosity has manifested yet again in the outpouring this week for flooded Nickelsville – and many other gestures of help, such as donations to food banks. Here’s another chance to give big, in small ways, this season: Chief Sealth International High School seniors Clint Hewitt and Conrad Hill are launching their senior project, a toy drive they’re calling “Holidays 4 Hope.” Above, they’re with the team at JC’s Deli, one of the dropoff spots they’ve already lined up, and they’re looking for more. Here’s their story:

Families continue struggling with the ongoing impact of a slow recovery from the great recession; we asked ourselves how we as high-school students might be able to help.

Knowing how young children look forward to the holidays, we decided to see if we could make a difference for some local families in the South Park Community area. Through local sponsors, we have purchased holiday donation bins that we have located throughout the West Seattle community. Our goal is to gather new toys, books, games and stuffed animals for ages 3-10 years old, to donate to the holiday party “Winter Fest” at South Park Community Center, who we are working with on this project. It is our intention that “Holidays 4 Hope” will continue and grow in future years.

Our greatest need at this time is making people aware of “Holidays 4 Hope”. Donation bins are located in local West Seattle businesses who are sharing the “Holidays 4 Hope” on their websites or e-mail notices to their customers. So far we have donation bins located in a few local businesses.

We have one located at The Original Bakery, owner Bernie Alonzo, who is a great supporter. Also, we have just placed a donation bin inside a new deli right on 35th ave across from the Southwest library called JC’s Deli, whose owner is Jeanette Cummings. I am hoping to have one more spot somewhere in West Seattle area to place a final donation bin that has already been sponsored. Since these businesses are helping me out, I hope they would get new and more customers from their great support. We are encouraged by the response so far, but realize that starting up this endeavor will require hard work and persistence.

So their request for you is twofold: 1. Donate toys at those dropoff spots; Original Bakery is at 45th and Wildwood in Fauntleroy’s Endolyne mini-business district; JC’s Deli is at 35th and Henderson, across from Southwest Library. Join Ms. Forsell‘s third-grade class from Shorewood Christian School, which has already done its part:

2. If you have a business that could host a dropoff bin, contact Conrad and Clint at crhill2013@gmail.com and c.hewitt206@gmail.com.

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From the WSB West Seattle Holidays page: Tree time!

November 21, 2012 6:39 pm

| 6 COMMENTS

| Holidays | West Seattle news

Even before Thanksgiving, it’s tree time! We took the top photo at West Seattle Nursery (California/Brandon) this morning, as they continued setting up this year’s trees. We also have heard from West Seattle Produce (Fauntleroy south of Alaska), which has trees and will be open 9 am-9 pm daily (after Thanksgiving) through December 23rd. And trees are on sale at Junction TrueValue (Edmunds/44th). On Friday, even more tree lots open for the season – the Holy Rosary School Tree Lot (on the north side of the 42nd/Genesee school again this year) and Tony’s Market (35th and Barton); on Saturday, Son-In-Law Tree Farm opens in the old Charlestown Café lot (California/Charlestown). We’ll be checking for others, and continuing to update the list that is part of our comprehensive West Seattle holiday-event/information guide.

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West Seattle holiday giving: Black Friday blood drive

November 21, 2012 4:30 pm

| Comments Off on West Seattle holiday giving: Black Friday blood drive

| Health | How to help | West Seattle news

Out of the WSB inbox this afternoon, from Mike:

As an alternative to getting frustrated by all the Black Friday madness, please consider giving blood. Puget Sound Blood Center will be at Our Lady of Guadalupe on 35th Ave. on Black Friday for blood donations. It’s quick, easy and painless. Donation times are from 10-12 and 1-4 November 23rd, Black Friday. Donations are always needed, but especially this time of year. My father-in-law recently passed from cancer, but before he did, he utilized a substantial number of units of blood. This was made possible by members of the community who took the time to donate.

OLG is at 35th and Myrtle (map).

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West Seattle Weather Watch: Thanksgiving Eve rainbow

November 21, 2012 2:10 pm

| 3 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle weather

A promise that the weather will improve? Forecast says that tonight and most of tomorrow should be calmer. Meantime, WSB’ers have shared views of the rainbow sighting this past half-hour or so – top photo is from Glenn Brooks. Next, from Lise Thivierge, a High Point view:

And from Willie Ellenberg via the WSB Facebook page, a double rainbow!

Thanks as always to everyone for sharing – editor@westseattleblog.com (or other contact channels) any time!

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Capco Beverages liquor/wine store: New WSB sponsor, with coupon!

November 21, 2012 1:02 pm

| 13 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | WS beverages

On this busy pre-holiday-shopping day, we welcome one of our newest sponsors – Capco Beverages, the liquor store opened by longtime Junction entrepreneur Leon Capelouto in the spot that was previously the state’s premier liquor store; now it’s a premier private liquor/wine store, as the Capco Beverages team wants to make sure you know:

(WSB photo: Jan, Jane, and at center, manager Dolly)
The word “premier” isn’t just a label; this is not your average liquor store. Capco Beverages‘ stock includes unusual and rare spirits. “We have things you won’t find anywhere else in West Seattle: bourbons, scotches, tequila,” store manager Dolly Amend says. “All the local Seattle area bourbons. Our Scotch section is constantly growing. We want to have the best selection of Scotch, bourbons, gins, liqueurs, tequila and vodkas anywhere in the state.” The Scotch section of the store is absolutely the best in the city, if not the state, says Dolly – single malts, for example, you might never have found in Seattle before, such as Laddie Classic, Ledaig, Tobermory.

Capco Beverages also offers an extensive tequila section, with what aficionados call “fantastic mezcals,” and a selection of liqueurs from all over the world: Italian Amari, pastis from France, Cynar, every possible fruit liqueur. Dolly says that if a product is listed with a distributor, she will stock it. If a customer asks and it isn’t on the shelf, she will try to get it. And dozens of made-in-Washington labels are in stock.

Its merchandise also includes a collection of Alki t-shirts, sweatshirts, jackets and caps, martini shakers, and just about every tool and ingredient for making cocktails – including tipsy cherries, cocktail onions, many bitters, even a special salt to rim your Margaritas. Plus ginger beer, soda, tonics and many different vermouths. We also have wine and drink gift baskets ready to purchase – or custom baskets can be made.

“Grocery stores wouldn’t have room to carry the 3000-plus brands and sizes of liquor we have now,” Dolly says, also pointing out that Capco Beverages has a “huge, wonderful selection of wine.”

Capco Beverages is at 41st and Alaska, in Capco Plaza (same building as QFC and Petco). You’ll also find the store on Facebook. And you can use a special coupon you’ll find here on WSB to get a discount on your purchase.

HOLIDAY NOTE: Capco Beverages plans to be OPEN Thanksgiving Day – 10 am-2 pm. Regular hours are listed online.

We thank Capco Beverages 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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Newer boat for West Seattle Water Taxi service? King County pursuing idled Spirit of Kingston

November 21, 2012 11:40 am

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| King County Water Taxi | West Seattle news

(August 2011 photo of Spirit of Kingston at Seattle dock, by Oran Viriyincy, via Flickr)
Right after the holiday weekend, the King County Ferry District Board will consider taking a step toward acquiring a third boat at little or no cost – even before it builds its own two new boats for West Seattle and Vashon Water Taxi service. This was first reported by KUOW, and we have since followed up with the office of County Councilmember Joe McDermott, who chairs the board. The boat is the 65-foot catamaran Spirit of Kingston, now idle after Kingston-Seattle foot-ferry service ceased. Here’s what McDermott legislative aide Michelle Allison tells WSB:

The Port of Kingston recently discontinued service from Kingston to Seattle and announced they would no longer be a passenger ferry service provider. Their primary vessel, the Spirit of Kingston, is available for transfer to another public agency with no capital cost outlay to that entity. The vessel was purchased for 2 million dollars using Federal Transit Administration (FTA) funding. The vessel is certified to carry 147 passengers and a crew of three. Due to the FTA investment, there may be an opportunity to obtain the vessel at no cost to the King County Ferry District (KCFD).

The Marine Division (KCMD) has evaluated the costs and potential savings associated with obtaining a third vessel and found that in addition to improving operational and service reliability, the addition of the Spirit of Kingston to the KCFD fleet would reduce overall expenses over the next five years and beyond.

Specifically, KCMD is recommending that Spirit of Kingston be brought into the KCFD fleet as the primary West Seattle Water Taxi vessel, and move the Rachel Marie into back-up vessel service. When the new vessels are constructed, the Spirit of Kingston would be moved into back-up vessel service. This approach increases reliability and is anticipated to save more than $425,000 on lease and rental expenses over the next five years.

Last week the Executive Committee passed a motion supporting the Chair in writing a letter of interest that would be submitted to the FTA. The full Board will weigh in on November 26th. If the full Board supports the motion, the Chair will then write the letter to the FTA. The final decision is up to the FTA but would also require one more action of the Board to approve the transfer of the asset. … As you know, we are currently running a two-boat, two-route operation so the option of a third boat as a back-up vessel with no capital cost to the Ferry District is very appealing.

Port Townsend had been interested in the Spirit of Kingston, but is reported to have shelved its plan for a foot ferry to Seattle, so King County may not have any competition if it finalizes interest in the boat.

Rachel Marie, as Water Taxi riders know, has had multiple problems in recent months. The Spirit of Kingston is slightly smaller – 65 feet compared to RM’s 77 feet – but much newer, built in 2005, while RM (as noted in this WSB report before the county leased it in 2010) was built in 1988. According to a detailed briefing paper that Allison also provided (you can read it here), the district has three options for deploying Spirit of Kingston if it’s obtained – including saving even more money in 2014, by letting one of its current vessel leases expire 9 months before the newly built boats come into service.

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Vietnamese Cultural Center organizing volunteers again to offer free flu shots, haircuts, food on Thanksgiving

November 21, 2012 11:17 am

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| Health | Highland Park | How to help | Nickelsville encampment | West Seattle news

Vietnamese Cultural Center director Lee Bui sends word that the center, along with Puget Sound Pharmacy, will bring flu shots, haircuts, and hot food to Nickelsville tomorrow – as they did last Thanksgiving (WSB coverage here). It’s not only for Nickelsville residents, he says, but for others who are low-income/homeless, too – just show up. Along with pharmacist Rosalie Nguyen and Dr. Khanh H. Tran, volunteers will be there offering the service 11 am-1 pm on Thanksgiving Day. Nickelsville is at West Marginal Way SW/SW Highland Park Way.

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West Seattle Wednesday: What’s up this Thanksgiving Eve – including where/how to help others

November 21, 2012 7:59 am

| 11 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

Day before Thanksgiving; here are two groups of notes:

From the WSB West Seattle Holiday Events/Info page:

DESSERT DONATION: The traditional free community dinner at The Hall at Fauntleroy isn’t till tomorrow, but organizers welcome dessert donations, which you can drop off as early as 10 am-3 pm TODAY (or after 9 am tomorrow). South side of the old Fauntleroy Schoolhouse, 9131 California SW.

FOOD BANKS’ LAST-MINUTE HOURS/NEEDS: West Seattle Food Bank is open 9 am-3 pm for donations (and told us yesterday that canned hams are their biggest need), southeast corner of 35th/Morgan; the White Center Food Bank (10829 8th Ave SW) is open 8:30 am-5 pm, and says turkeys are what they need most.

From the regular year-round WSB West Seattle Events Calendar (plus a last-minute sighting or two):

HELP FOR NICKELSVILLE: Via Facebook, The Forsythe Studio in The Junction (4456 California SW) announced it’s collecting donations today, 10 am-7 pm, for Nickelsville – “ANY warm clothes, blankets, socks, etc. for the displaced families suffering from flooding … ANYTHING would be greatly appreciated! Things will be picked up (today) and distributed on Thanksgiving morning! We thank you in advance!”

MORE HELP FOR NICKELSVILLE: Just found out that Hotwire Online Coffeehouse (WSB sponsor; 4410 California SW) is collecting donations too, through the end of the holiday weekend. Proprietor Lora Swift says – “waterproof outerwear; gently worn boots, coats, pants, hats, and socks. Pet supplies too.”

LIVE GLASS-BLOWING: “Because we know you have family in town looking for entertainment, we will have live glass-blowing 11 am-5 pm,” says Avalon Glassworks” (2914 SW Avalon Way).

LUNCH TO HELP SUPERSTORM SANDY VICTIMS: The West Seattle Eagles are raising money to help fellow Eagles back east – every Wednesday lunch in November goes to that cause; more info here.

NEW BABY? Early Days drop-in support group at Nurturing Expressions (WSB sponsor) in The Junction welcomes you, noon-2 pm, more info here.

LIVE MUSIC: Tonight’s listings on the calendar include Jonny Smokes’ Thanksgiving Eve show at Feedback Lounge (WSB sponsor), 9 pm.

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TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Thanksgiving Eve edition; alerts ahead

November 21, 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)
More rain overnight. And it’s windy right now – a short-term burst of nasty weather, says the National Weather Service. But that’s it for problems, at the moment. BUS ALERT: Metro will be on its Sunday schedule tomorrow (Thanksgiving Day) and “reduced weekday” schedule for Friday.

7:04 AM NOTE: In case you work to the south (or have other business there this morning), we should note there’s a power outage right now in parts of Burien, Boulevard Park, and Seatac. See the boundaries on the Seattle City Light website.

1:56 PM: If you are heading toward Ballard, note that a crash has blocked all northbound lanes of the Ballard Bridge, so you’ll want to take an alternate route, maybe through Fremont, or westbound from Wallingford/U District off I-5.

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