West Seattle, Washington

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month : 12/2012 327 results

West Seattle ferries: Temporary boat change to cut capacity
December 7, 2012 11:45 am
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   Seen at sea | Transportation | West Seattle news

Washington State Ferries is warning of long lines on the Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth route next week, as the 64-car Salish replaces the 124-car Issaquah, attributed to “necessary vessel repairs.” WSF says this will start Monday and continue “for approximately one week,” and adds that the Salish does not have wi-fi.

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West Seattle Friday: OLG tree lighting; Christmas Ship; ‘Santa’s 1st Magical Ride’; ‘Miracle on 34th’; Musica Sacra; more…
December 7, 2012 9:53 am
|    Comments Off on West Seattle Friday: OLG tree lighting; Christmas Ship; ‘Santa’s 1st Magical Ride’; ‘Miracle on 34th’; Musica Sacra; more…
 |   Holidays | West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(2011 WSB photo of sustainably LED-lit OLG tree)
Huge holiday weekend begins – on land and by sea. The highest-elevation tree, the brightest boat, opening night for two more holiday productions, music, open houses, much more … here’s the highlight list for today/tonight:

SANTA! “Ex-Westwood Santa” is back at CAPERS in The Junction today/tonight, 3-7 pm. Benefiting the West Seattle Food Bank – bring canned food and/or cash to help. For other Santa appearances this season, check the WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide.

HOLIDAY HAPPY HOUR AT JAN’S: Jan’s Beauty Supply in The Junction is having Holiday Happy Hours Fridays during the holiday season, 3-5:30 pm, offering snacks/beverages and weekly specials.

MINI-BAZAAR: At Nepenthe Massage (6016-A California SW) 3-6 pm today (and continuing this weekend, 10-3 both days): Hot beverages, art, handmade jewelry, photography, holiday cards and items, chair massage, upcycled clothing, organic teas, lotions and soaps, baked goods, gift certificates.

‘FIRST FRIDAY’ TO HELP TRANSITIONAL RESOURCES: First giving opportunity of the night – join the Rotary Club of West Seattle at its “First Friday” gathering at The Cask in The Admiral District, 5 pm; they’re collecting first-aid kits, flashlights, and batteries to help support preparedness for the residents and clients of Transitional Resources.

DOUBLE OPEN HOUSE: Twala Intimates and Heidi Fish Swimwear in The Junction, 5-8 pm – details here.

CORNER BAR, HOLIDAY EDITION: Jingle and mingle with your Highland Park neighbors during the monthly Corner Bar at Highland Park Improvement Club (12th and Holden) – all ages! Starts at 6 pm (see the HPIC tree, which we visited in progress earlier this week).

PAJAMA DRIVE AT WEST SEATTLE Y: From the YMCA (WSB sponsor) – thanks to Joleen for the tip:

This Friday night at Family Night, Our Adventure Guides will be collecting new and used Children’s Pajamas for WestSide Baby. Bring your family down to play on the obstacle course and wear your pajamas too!! Please spread the word – we would love to collect a hundred pajamas! Friday, 6:00-8:00 pm, West Seattle YMCA.

PORT FOR THE HOLIDAYS: Bin 41 in The Junction is hosting its annual port tasting from 6-7:30 pm: “We’ll have an array open to try including a white port, ruby and a mix of delicious tawnies. Swing on in to warm your belly and sample some delicious ports!”

OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE TREE LIGHTING: Carols, cocoa, cookies, and the highest-elevation tree (500+ feet above sea level) in Seattle – its lights go on tonight at 7 pm, right outside Our Lady of Guadalupe Church at 35th and Myrtle. The street’s closed, the merriment reigns, and the new Parish Life Center across the street will feature activities too. Bring canned-food donations to fill the sleigh!

‘SANTA’S FIRST MAGICAL RIDE: THE MUSICAL’: It’s premiere night for this brand-new locally written/produced Christmas musical (which is sponsoring WSB to help get the word out), Youngstown Cultural Arts Center (4408 Delridge Way SW), 7 pm; tickets available online.

HOLIDAY STORY TIME: 7 pm at Barnes and Noble in Westwood Village, the annual “Polar Express” story time. B&N says, “Pajamas and jingle bells are welcome for this evening event. There will be treats and hot chocolate to go with this fun holiday story!”

WHOVILLE TOY ROUNDUP: 7-10 pm at OutWest Bar, 5401 California SW – It’s back again this year, and The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, Abbey of St. Joan, are bringing the toy drive to OutWest for the Whoville Toy Roundup, collecting new unwrapped children’s toys and clothing items for Rise n’ Shine. Bring in a gift and have a chance to win some prizes and enjoy some holiday drink specials! We will also be accepting cash donations as well, going directly to Rise n’ Shine! Join us at OutWest and don’t let the Grinch spoil anyone’s holidays! For more information on Rise n’ Shine: risenshine.org
For more information on the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, Abbey of St. Joan: www.theabbey.org.

‘MIRACLE ON 34TH STREET: THE RADIO PLAY’: Twelfth Night Productions‘ holiday show begins its run tonight at Kenyon Hall (7904 35th SW), 7:30 pm; tickets available online. Also: A Children’s Hospital toy drive will be held during the show’s run:

Please consider bringing a new unwrapped toy or gift card for these families. The following items are in greatest need: Crayola® crayons; Play Doh; fuzzy coloring posters; small Lego sets; Brio trains; nail polish; coloring books; arts and crafts kits; playing cards; tactile toys for all ages; rattles; links; Disney/Pixar DVDs; PG-13 DVDs; gift cards; videos, books, and music.

MUSICA SACRA CHAMBER CHORALE: Performing the concert “Candlelight Christmas,” 7:30 pm, Holy Rosary Church (42nd/Genesee), more info here

CHRISTMAS SHIP’S FIRST WEST SEATTLE STOP OF 2012: Cap the evening with a visit to Don Armeni Boat Ramp (map) for the Argosy Cruises Christmas Ship (WSB sponsor)’s 9:15 pm stop.

Believe it or not, there’s even more … check our regular event calendar and the Holiday Guide!

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West Seattle holiday giving: Blue, gold, green @ WSHS Cheerleaders
December 7, 2012 8:46 am
|    Comments Off on West Seattle holiday giving: Blue, gold, green @ WSHS Cheerleaders
 |   West Seattle news

We’re continuing to add to the Holiday Giving list on the WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide page, and here’s the latest:

The West Seattle High School Girls Cheer Team and Son-in-Law Tree Farm are holding a fundraising event Saturday and Sunday, December 8th and 9th.

The WSHS Cheerleaders will be selling hot chocolate Saturday and Sunday, December 8th & 9th, from 10 am – 8 pm to help raise money to attend cheer camp next summer.

The fundraising event will be held at the Son-in-Law Tree Farm. The tree lot is on the corner of Charleston and California Ave – look for the blue and gold poms!

Owner of SNL Trees, Greg Potts, has generously offered to donate a percentage of each tree sold this weekend to the cheer team as well – so stop in, buy your Christmas tree, garland or wreath, a cup of hot chocolate and help support the girls who support the Wildcats!!!!

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TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Friday morning edition
December 7, 2012 7:06 am
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

(REMINDER – each day, the traffic/transit update is the primary place we add traffic notes if it’s not a major incident, and the place we appreciate your reports/comments too – every weekday, you’ll find it linked atop the WSB sidebar)

(Live view from the only WS Bridge camera currently in operation; see other cameras on the WSB Traffic page)
Good morning! Embarking on Friday morning traffic watch. Nothing to report so far. One note: The extended grace period for the city’s 4 school-zone traffic cams is about to expire – as of Monday, the official tickets begin.

9:04 AM: Thanks to the texter (206-293-6302 any time – add it to your phone contacts just in case! thanks!) who reports a crash on Sylvan Way near Forest Lawn (WSB sponsor) – the 911 log has a fire callout to Sylvan Heights Drive/Sylvan Way. We’re going to go check it out. (added) Thanks to @HommeSea for the tweet with photo:

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Marriage Equality, day 1: West Seattleites’ postscripts
December 7, 2012 3:31 am
|      7 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle people

(WSB photo from 11/6/12)
One month ago, on Election Day – November 6th – West Seattle health-care practitioner Chris Porter was the last sign-waver on the Fauntleroy overpass. One month later, on December 6th, he and partner Ross were among the first wave of couples to get a marriage license.

They were #215, with County Executive Dow Constantine still there to sign their license at 3:30 am, 13 hours before the County Recorder’s Office closed for the night after issuing hundreds more:

From an essay Chris wrote about the historic occasion:

… The fuss, argument, and fight for marriage equality is not so much about being able to marry the one you love, but about humans caring for others by extending something that brings us all closer and building a greater commonality and community.

… As we stood in line, I cannot remember an event that felt more like a reception into a new world. Volunteers agreed to work until the early hours of the morning, offering: Chocolate, coffee, tea, snacks, and congratulations. King County setup for the barrage of couples was so finely orchestrated, I have not seen a finer display of what government , working for the people it serves, is capable of. Couples braving the cold stood in near-shock as the midnight hour approached – some holding their breath, bracing for a change that would thwart the process.

As midnight approached, people began to hug, and kiss, and cry when we all realized that that moment had arrived. A moment many thought may have been another 5-10 years away. We met so many other couples and heard and shared stories. It was unlike any movie, amusement park, or holiday – this was real and visceral. So real, it seems like a dream and that the whole thing was imagined.

About 12 hours after Chris and Ross, Amy and Jennifer Hallmon went downtown on Thursday afternoon – no line, Amy reports.

She and Jennifer are raising five kids who also will accompany them to their City Hall wedding on Sunday. Amy says, “We were originally married in July of 1998, and are looking forward to lasting legal recognition (unlike that San Francisco wedding in 2004).” Here’s their original wedding photo:

Thursday’s celebration spread beyond King County headquarters; one of the West Seattle couples shown in our “live” coverage from early Thursday, Marley Blonsky and Whitney Young, went later to White Center’s Full Tilt Ice Cream, one of the businesses around the region that offered freebies or discounts to couples who brought in their new marriage license.

That’s Marley in the photo. The next big day of celebrating will be Sunday, when those who got licenses on Thursday are eligible to wed.

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Holiday giving: Sealth student government @ food bank; campus food drive ahead
December 6, 2012 11:16 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

(Photos courtesy Chief Sealth International High School)
Leadership often means leading by example – and that’s what 21 members of the student government at Chief Sealth International High School did today. They went to the White Center Food Bank to help stock and distribute food.

It served as a team-building activity as well as a gift of time and energy, according to CSIHS’s Sam Reed, who oversees student government as well as other components of student life. And the entire Sealth community, including students’ families, will get the chance to give next week, in a canned-food drive to benefit the West Seattle Food Bank. The announcement explains:

Beginning Monday, December 10th, students and family members can drop off canned and packaged food items at a number of collection stations that will be set up around the school. Items will be collected and sorted by grade level, and the competition will tie in with the fun and school spirit that surrounds spirit week. The winning class will be announced during that Friday’s all-school spirit assembly. To raise the stakes, items will be collected to “protect” that respective grade level’s Class President; because at the assembly the non-winning presidents will receive whipped-cream pie to the face.

Lots of other giving opportunities around West Seattle this season too – we have an ever-growing list on the WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide.

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West Seattle Crime Watch: 3 reader reports
December 6, 2012 9:24 pm
|      7 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | West Seattle news

Two Three West Seattle Crime Watch reader reports tonight A Fairmount Springs-area neighbor sends word of this:

Sometime before 3 pm today, someone broke into my neighbor’s home in the 5900 block of 39th SW (map), through a back window, which backs to the alley between 39th and Fauntleroy. Items taken were cash, a gun, and jewelry – only the good jewelry (including family heirlooms); the costume items were left.

And in Seaview, a resident who also wanted to stay anonymous wondered if anyone had a package stolen Wednesday evening:

Around 5:30 pm three teenagers (one male, two females) walked E on SW Findlay, turned S on SW 44th and walked to SW Juneau. I noticed one had a package hidden under a jacket. They met up with a car at SW 44th and SW Juneau (map). It was a dark-colored sedan with Virginia license plates. … I reported it to the police.

And if you do fall victim to package theft – even if you’re dealing with the sender regarding a replacement, do report it to police – you can even file the report online if the value is under $500.

ADDED 9:59 PM: After publishing this, we received a report from Jenn:

I wanted to send you an e-mail to let you know that we have (within the last 2 weeks) mail and packages stolen from our front porch. Packages specifically stolen on 11/24 and 11/28. Mail stolen on 11/24. While taking our garbage this weekend, we found, in our bushes, mail from multiple addresses around our neighborhood. This seems to be an ongoing issue.

They’re in the 7100 block of 47th SW (map), near Lowman Beach.

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Happening now: ‘Shop Late Thursday’ in The Junction
December 6, 2012 7:33 pm
|    Comments Off on Happening now: ‘Shop Late Thursday’ in The Junction
 |   West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news

7:33 PM: The weather’s dry, the doors are open, and The Junction is midway through another edition of Shop Late Thursdays – with the holidays roaring up, Hanukkah starting this weekend, Christmas less than three weeks away. Till 9 tonight, local blacksmith Erica Gordon from Steel Toe Studios in nearby Georgetown is having a trunk show at Click! Design That Fits (WSB sponsor) in The Junction – one of more than 15 shops participating!

ADDED: We made a few more stops last night – above, Eliza at Carmilia’s, where the Shop Late Thursday highlight was a “buy one, get second one 50 percent off” sale … and next, Jayme at Clementine:

Saturday is a big day for Clementine, with an all-day party to celebrate the “Best Shoe Store” designation from Seattle Magazine. Just south of The Junction, we stopped by new WSB sponsor Seattle Weight Loss and Wellness, during their open house:

Rachel Giordano and Dr. Justin Favreau, DC, are now open at 5001 California SW.

Next up for Junction businesses: The second of this season’s Hometown Holidays Sundays – and then next Thursday, it’s not only “Shop Late,” but also the holiday edition of the West Seattle Art Walk.

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Council committee OK’s 40th SW parkland deal: ‘Dream acquisition’
December 6, 2012 5:59 pm
|      7 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle parks

Followup on Seattle Parks‘ proposed purchase of a quarter-acre at 4731 40th SW (map) for a future city park, across from the 4755 Fauntleroy Way SW mega-project: The council Parks and Neighborhoods Committee gave its unanimous blessing today to the $1.4 million purchase, to be funded by city Parks and Green Spaces Levy money. The committee, headed by Councilmember Sally Bagshaw, was told that Parks originally was focused on a parcel adjacent to Dakota Place Park, and might still pursue it in the future, but decided to go for this one right now; one city staffer called it a “dream acquisition” since it’s rare “open space” in the urban core. They also noted they had sought community comments (including via this WSB coverage). The committee was also told that assuming full Council approval is forthcoming, the purchase should close fairly quickly. (Money for actually developing it into a park would have to be found elsewhere.) You can watch the 10-minute discussion and vote by picking up the clip above at 19:30.

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Happening now: Holiday-appetizer tasting @ West Seattle Thriftway
December 6, 2012 5:07 pm
|    Comments Off on Happening now: Holiday-appetizer tasting @ West Seattle Thriftway
 |   Holidays | West Seattle news

‘Tis the season for sampling – and for everybody still planning holiday gatherings, West Seattle Thriftway (WSB sponsor) welcomes you to a holiday-appetizer tasting happening right now, till 7 pm. (For more holiday events, including tastings – see our Holiday Guide.)

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Marriage Equality Day: Gifts from West Seattle businesses
December 6, 2012 3:08 pm
|      6 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle people

Thanks to Elisa for suggesting on the WSB Facebook page earlier today that we build a list of West Seattle businesses offering freebies/discounts to newly licensed couples who bring in their licenses. So far, that list includes Full Tilt Ice Cream, Stuffed Cakes, Salon Julian, The Cask, and Photographs By Dawndra – check out the thread on our FB page for the details (a few non-WS businesses are mentioned too), and please let us know of any others, with comments there and/or here. Thanks!

P.S. Latest update from King County:

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Land-use decision for overflow tank across from Lowman Beach
December 6, 2012 2:52 pm
|      1 COMMENT
 |   Environment | West Seattle news

(Recent aerial of Lowman Beach Park and future overflow-control tank site, by Long Bach Nguyen)
From today’s city Land Use Information Bulletin – the land-use permit decision for the million-gallon underground storage tank and other components comprising the county Wastewater Treatment Division’s Murray Combined Sewer Overflow Control Project. (You can read the decision here.) This is the county’s plan to reduce overflows from the Murray Pump Station that’s underground at Lowman Beach Park; it will be built across the street from the park, where six residential buildings are fenced off and awaiting demolition. There are two dates of note coming up: December 20th is the date set for this decision to be appealed (here’s the process for that); December 27th is the date for appealing a separate related decision involving underground piping (find that decision here).

One other note regarding the project: The community Design Advisory Group meets again next Tuesday, December 11th, 6:30 pm at Fauntleroy Church (9140 California SW). While the agenda is not yet online, PDFs with renderings that will be shown – Beach Drive views around the project – can be previewed here, along with the plan for where interpretive signs will be placed.

ADDED 4:52 PM: We asked KCWTD about timetable for demolishing the structures on the future storage-tank site, now that this decision is in. The reply from spokesperson Annie Kolb-Nelson:

The City of Seattle today conditionally approved King County’s Master Use Permit (MUP) and Shoreline Development Permit for the Murray CSO Control Facility. The County needs a MUP before it can file for a construction permit to cover activities related to deconstruction of the buildings on site. Now that the County has that permit, it will file for a construction permit, and when that permit is obtained – typically a much shorter process than the MUP process- the County will bid a contract for deconstruction of the buildings. If all proceeds smoothly, that means deconstruction could occur in early 2013.

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No, it probably won’t be the Washington State Liquor & Weed Control Board any time soon…
December 6, 2012 2:08 pm
|      6 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle politics

… and other answers to your legal-marijuana questions, provided by the WALCB in this FAQ document just made public. No, it’s not in the vein of the now-famous Seattle Police FAQ, but if you have questions – such as, until there are state-licensed marijuana stores, where do you legally buy some? – it will probably be helpful.

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Followup: School Board briefed on options for crowding relief; next step, community meeting Tuesday
December 6, 2012 11:30 am
|      18 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

Following up on our Wednesday morning report regarding Seattle Public Schools trying to craft a plan for dealing with school crowding before it builds new BEX IV-funded schools (assuming the levy passes), we went to the Wednesday afternoon School Board briefing/work session. Here are the toplines, including district officials saying they especially want to hear from you regarding the most controversial possibilities:

Read More

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West Seattle Thursday: Shop late in The Junction! and more…
December 6, 2012 10:29 am
|      1 COMMENT
 |   West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

Marriage Equality Day continues at county HQ downtown – here’s our late-night/early-morning coverage; watch the King County Twitter feed for ongoing updates on how many licenses they’ve issued and whether there’s a wait (none right now) – they’re open till 6:30 tonight. Meantime: With the weekend in view, holiday events start ramping up. You’ll find several included in today’s highlights list, excerpted from the WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide (where you’ll find all the holiday events – they’re NOT on the regular calendar):

FIRST THURSDAY DEMOCRATS: Lunch meeting at 11:30 am, Daystar Retirement Village (across from Westwood Village) – more details here.

FREE WINE TASTING: Italian wines from Small Vineyards, 5:30-8 pm at West Seattle Wine Cellars (WSB sponsor).

SHOP LATE THURSDAY IN THE JUNCTION: Another chance to get out and do shopping at your local, independent businesses! 6-9 pm – participating merchants are listed here. Among them …

SHOP LATE THURSDAY AT CLICK! DESIGN THAT FITS: “…features a trunk show with local blacksmith Erica Gordon, who welds, forges, and otherwise creates belt buckles made of steel, brass, and copper. Erica will be on hand to talk about her processes which include vegetable-dying the leather straps for her belts. 5-9 pm. During the trunk show, 10% of all proceeds will be donated to Friends of the Animals Foundation, whose cats and kittens are regularly available for adoption right across the street at Next to Nature!” (Click! is a longtime WSB sponsor. Here’s the Facebook page for tonight’s event.)

HOLIDAY SERVICE AND OPEN HOUSE: Forest Lawn Funeral Home and Cemetery (WSB sponsor) invites you to a Holiday Service & Open House with music and light refreshments, 6 pm, 6701 30th SW, RSVP requested:

During this holiday season, we know memories and time well spent with family and friends is what makes this season special. This will be a time to remember your loved ones and to share a message of hope. Please plan to attend our Holiday Service and Open House. Feel free to bring friends and family. To RSVP, please call 206.932.0050 or e-mail nancy.hoult@dignitymemorial.com

ADMIRAL PARTY: Admiral District Business Association members are invited to their holiday party, 6-9 pm at The Benbow Room.

BAKED POTATO BENEFIT DINNER: Help the White Center Kiwanis support New Start High School Key Club members at this second-annual event, 6:30 pm at the school, with music by The Delridge Boys – map and details here.

SEATTLE WEIGHT LOSS AND WELLNESS OPEN HOUSE: As mentioned earlier, this new WSB sponsor invites you to an open house 7-8:30 tonight, 5001 California SW.

‘WINTER WONDERETTES’ AT ARTSWEST: The “Wonderettes” rocked the West Seattle Junction Hometown Holidays Tree Lighting (WSB is a WSJHH co-sponsor) last Saturday night (see video in our coverage) – tonight’s another chance to see the whole show, 7:30 pm – details and tickets via the ArtsWest website.

MORE NIGHTLIFE: Busy night around West Seattle! Check our regular calendar for five listings tonight.

Events to add to the calendar – holiday guide or regular ongoing calendar? WSB listings are free, always have been, always will be. Please send the info at least one week in advance, in plain text in the body of your e-mail, and include weblink and/or Facebook link if you have one – editor@westseattleblog.com! Thank you very much!

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Seattle Weight Loss and Wellness: Welcome, new WSB sponsor
December 6, 2012 9:43 am
|    Comments Off on Seattle Weight Loss and Wellness: Welcome, new WSB sponsor
 |   Health | West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news

(8/14 note: To check whether a business is still a current WSB sponsor, please go here)

Today we welcome a new sponsor, Seattle Weight Loss and Wellness, where tonight they are having an open house from 7-8:30 pm. Dr. Justin Favreau, DC, and SWL&W’s co-director and weight-loss consultant Rachel Giordano invite you to drop by their office at 5001 California Ave. SW (map) for small, healthy snacks and refreshments. You’ll also be able to meet the staff, learn more about their services, and enter their raffle for a free one- hour massage.

Rachel (photo at left) says the new office is a community resource center for optimal healing and health. She adds, “We are a clinic specializing in a very effective and safe-proven physician-monitored weight-loss protocol, the Ideal Protein program. We also offer other services such as massage therapy – all non-invasive, risk-free additions to your weight-loss program.” Rachel says the clinic will be adding acupuncture, nutritional, and Power Plate fitness classes over the next few months.

Rachel received a doctorate degree in Naturopathic medicine from Bastyr University this past summer. Prior to that, she managed an Ideal Protein program at a chiropractic office in downtown Seattle for several years. She’s a member of the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce and a local chapter of Business Network International. You’ll find Seattle Weight Loss and Wellness online at seattlewl.com and on Facebook here, or call 206-673-2269.

We thank Seattle Weight Loss and Wellness 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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TRAFFIC/TRANSIT TODAY: Thursday tracking
December 6, 2012 6:59 am
|      25 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)
Starting off quiet again today. Let us know (when you can call or text safely) if you see anything others need to know about – whether it’s on the roads here in West Seattle or on the routes used to get to and from here.

10:35 AM UPDATE: The bridge cam looks more like 8 am right now – there’s a backup on northbound 99, which has been reported to us as various things including construction work and large vehicles stalling. Absent official info right now, we’ll just warn you of the backup.

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As-it-happened coverage: History! Same-sex marriage licensing in King County
December 5, 2012 10:21 pm
|      50 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle history | West Seattle news

(Entrance to the building – head of the line – and media area)
10:21 PM: We’re at the King County Administration Building downtown with hundreds of people – both engaged couples and media – looking ahead to 12:01 am, when County Executive Dow Constantine will sign the county’s first licenses for same-sex marriages. It’s a jubilant atmosphere. Whooping and hollering can be heard every few minutes from somewhere down the line. More to come.

10:35 PM: Above are Jason and Shannon Mullett-Bowlsby, West Seattleites who are #84 in line for their license, after 18 years together. Here’s a better shot of the line – and bubbles!

Overhead, there’s now a helicopter. Assuming it’s TV, but not entirely sure. Maybe Guardian One is doing something fun for once. We did see new Sheriff John Urquhart working the line as we arrived just after 10 pm. County staff here tell us as of a few minutes ago, they have 189 couples waiting in line for licenses. Good thing the county put up a canopy for the couples – it’s starting to rain lightly. We’ve ducked just under the overhang on the east edge of the media area.

10:48 PM: You might recognize Marley Blonsky and Whitney Young– also West Seattleites – they have been featured in various publications, and we published their announcement on WSB a while back. They are thrilled beyond belief and are somewhere around #20, according to WSB team members Katie and Torin, who are roving. This group, meantime, is serenading everyone:

At 11:20, those of us who are credentialed to go into the recorder’s office for the signing ceremony at 12:01 will have to go wait in line ourselves – if we go silent for any period of time, check the WSB Twitter account, here.

11:00 PM: One hour to go. People of course are here with signs, like Jeaneane Hill:

The other side of her sign says “for my gay son.” A guy named Scott is handing out buttons in celebration of his sister and her partner – he says they have been together 43 years. The buttons are rainbow colored with the Washington state logo and December 6, 2012.

Meantime, more couples have shown up – 205 now, according to county reps.

11:13 PM: County Councilmember Joe McDermott (with fiancé Michael Culpepper in the foreground at left – McDermott says they’ll marry sometime next year):

More music – a group has just shown up near the door and is singing a spiritual, a cappella. Again, if we can’t get photos on the web once it’s time to go in, check our Twitter feed.

11:43 PM: We’re in the County Recorder’s Office with a media and dignitary crowd. The first couple to get a license, Jane and Pete-e, have arrived for photo ops too:

Others who are in the first licensing group have arrived too. Wider view:

Lots of staging going on – the actual event will start at 11:59, we’re hearing it explained.

11:56 PM: The ceremony starts in one minute – leading up to 12:01 am issuances. The room hushes.

MIDNIGHT: The crowd counted down, as County Executive Constantine, with County Councilmember McDermott at his side – both West Seattleites – paused his speech. All applauded, and yelled HAPPY MARRIAGE! (Added – our clip including that, and the first few license signings:)

12:06 AM: And – the first to be licensed!

Among the couples who have followed – famed writer/editor Dan Savage and partner Terry:

12:11 AM: Wrapping up the ceremonial first round of couples, County Executive Constantine pays tribute to those who went before – to the years it took to get to this point. Applause followed, and then “Let’s go have a party!” (But first, a group photo.)

12:27 AM: Down toward the street level now. Those in line outside are cheering wildly as each licensed couple emerges. (Added video – Jane and Pete-e, greeted like rockstars as they departed, escorted by West Seattleite Anne Levinson, former judge and deputy mayor, a key organizer of the marriage-equality campaign, and of the logistics for this celebratory day:)

2:21 AM: Back at HQ, adding some more of the visuals and info (added the entire midnight-signing-ceremony clip inline). Thanks to Katie Meyer and Torin Record-Sand for assisting with on-the-scene coverage. For continuing coverage, King County’s social-media team is on the beat all night. Just tweeted a few minutes ago:

Also tweeting: Jason and Shannon, featured earlier in our story:

Congratulations to all. We’ll be reviewing more of our photos a bit later this morning to see if there’s more to add. And again, since there’s a waiting period, the weddings don’t start till Sunday.

7:12 AM NOTE: The county is continuing to tweet updates at @kcnews. More than 300 licenses so far.

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West Seattle holiday scene: HPIC trims its tree
December 5, 2012 9:29 pm
|    Comments Off on West Seattle holiday scene: HPIC trims its tree
 |   Highland Park | Holidays | West Seattle news

It might be West Seattle’s smallest community tree, and it won’t have a gala lighting ceremony, but it will be the center of community festivities these next few weeks in Highland Park. Tonight, HP Improvement Club volunteers trimmed the tree at HPIC’s historic headquarters (12th/Holden). Events ahead include the monthly Corner Bar – all ages! – this Friday night and the Highland Park Holiday Bazaar on Saturday – details on both events are here, and you can look them up on the WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide page, too.

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West Seattle businesses: AAA formally celebrates new location
December 5, 2012 7:28 pm
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 |   West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news

AAA‘s new West Seattle location has been open for a while at Jefferson Square, but they hadn’t gotten a chance to celebrate until today. AAA had been at the southwest corner of 42nd and Alaska, but had to move over the summer because of the impending Equity Residential development (scheduled to start demolition before the end of this month, as reported here last month). Today’s ribbon-cutting was part of an all-day open house, which also gave the AAA team a chance to show off an aspect of their business you might not know about:

That’s some of the merchandise in the Travel Store – items related to travel, big and small (even just a road trip). AAA also books travel and handles insurance.

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Former Seattle superintendent Dr. Maria Goodloe-Johnson, 55, dies
December 5, 2012 6:47 pm
|      34 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle people

(October 2010 WSB photo, taken during meeting @ West Seattle Elementary)
Former Seattle Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Maria Goodloe-Johnson has died at the age of 55. While we were at today’s School Board work session (report to come) when the news started circulating, no statement was made there; this has since been e-mailed by the district public-affairs office:

All of us at Seattle Public Schools are saddened to learn of the death today of our former Superintendent, Dr. Maria Goodloe-Johnson.

We are grateful for her years of service to Seattle Public Schools and her efforts during her four-year tenure here to put our students on the path to academic success. The fact that we have seen consistent improvements in student academic achievement is a testament to her leadership.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to her husband Bruce and daughter Maya.

Maya is just 8; she was born when Dr. Goodloe-Johnson was 47. A report from Charleston, South Carolina, where she served as superintendent before her Seattle tenure – trailblazing as that district’s first black and first female superintendent – says she died from lung cancer. It’s been a year and nine months since the school board here – whose president at the time was West Seattleite Steve Sundquist – voted to let her go.

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West Seattle traffic alert: California/Fauntleroy light trouble, again
December 5, 2012 4:53 pm
|      9 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts

4:53 PM: Breaking this out from the daily transit/traffic tracker again today since it’s a major intersection – the California/Fauntleroy traffic signal in Morgan Junction is having trouble again (thanks to everybody who tipped us on this). Police are again helping direct traffic. We’ll keep an eye out for when it gets fixed; let us know if you see it working again before we’ve reported an update.

6:35 PM UPDATE: As commenters have noted, it’s fixed – just came through on our way back from the School Board work session. We’ll ask SDOT tomorrow if it’s been looked at for a chronic problem.

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West Seattle holiday scene: Decking the OLG tree
December 5, 2012 3:02 pm
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 |   Holidays | West Seattle news

Two nights till West Seattle’s next tree lighting, and the highest-elevation Christmas tree in the city (about 500′ above sea level) is being readied for the big moment. Passing 35th and Myrtle, we spotted the lights going up on the big tree outside Our Lady of Guadalupe Church and School, and pulled over to get a quick pic. Everyone’s invited to the 7 pm festivities this Friday night (December 7th), with caroling outside, then more holiday fun inside. Bring canned food for the food drive! (And check out lots more holiday-giving opportunities, and celebrations, and more, on the frequently updated WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide.)

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