day : 16/02/2013 10 results

(Photos by Nick Adams for WSB. Above, the Au Lac Vovinam Dance Team)
With a lion dance, firecrackers, and even a mayoral appearance, all graced by sunshine, West Seattle’s Vietnamese Cultural Center celebrated the Lunar New Year on Saturday afternoon. But there is more to the celebration than those bright and loud elements:

That’s the center’s director Lee Bui, after lighting incense. Another tradition: A tray of five fruits, as an offering:

Lanh Bui prepared it …

… and placed it on the outdoor altar:

There were photos with their guest, Mayor McGinn:

And time to admire the center’s growing complement of tributes and temples:

What looks like garlands hanging in the foreground of that view were actually strings of firecrackers, waiting to be lit:

That’s Duong Tan setting them off. And of course there was dancing:

From the Au Lac Vovinam team, which performed, here’s Doan Dinh in the foreground:

The celebration was about ceremony, but also about people – like Phuoc Huynh, who spoke:

And Chi Nguyen:

And the uniformed veterans often seen at Cultural Center events, like Len Hua, photographed saluting during the national anthems:

And this time, a special guest:

You’re welcome to visit the center on Saturday afternoons, when it’s open to the public, noon-3 pm at 2236 SW Orchard. The iconic statue on its grounds depicts the 13th-century hero Gen. Tran Hung Dao.

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New Genesee Hill school plan: New renderings, more meetings

February 16, 2013 9:02 pm

| Comments Off on New Genesee Hill school plan: New renderings, more meetings

| West Seattle news | West Seattle schools

The new Genesee Hill elementary school to be funded by the voter-approved BEX IV levy is advancing through the design process. The Genesee-Schmitz Neighborhood Council has published new design graphics, both for the building and its landscaping – with a caveat that the district has told GSNC the building schematics need to be updated again, because the school will definitely be built for a 650-student capacity. (As noted by GSNC, and reported here earlier this month, the current Schmitz Park Elementary – whose community is planning the new Genesee Hill school – is expected to teach almost 600 students next year.) You can see the new graphics in multiple posts on the GSNC website at genesee-schmitz.org, where there’s also a list of upcoming “community conversation” meetings about the project: February 26, March 14, April 30, all at SP Elementary, all at 6:30 pm.

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Are local whales recovering? The Whale Trail’s next Orca Talk

February 16, 2013 6:30 pm

| 11 COMMENTS

| Seen at sea | West Seattle news | Wildlife

(October 2012 photo by Nick Adams for WSB; click image for larger view)
Last month, the first talk in a new series presented by The Whale Trail drew a full house to C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor). The next talk is just five days away – Thursday (February 21) – and tickets are still available, reports TWT’s Donna Sandstrom with this reminder:

It has been almost 8 years since the Southern Resident Killer Whales (J, K and L pods) were listed as endangered. How are they doing? What progress has been made towards their recovery? What can we do to help?

Join us for this informal and informative talk featuring Lynne Barre, NOAA Fisheries. Learn what NOAA and its partners are doing to conserve and protect these iconic and beloved whales, including current research findings, management approaches and population updates.

Lynne is the Branch Chief in the Protected Resources Division at NOAA. She worked on the endangered listing of the Southern Residents, designated critical habitat, and developed and finalized the SRKW Recovery Plan.

As part of the recovery program, Lynne developed an oil-spill-response plan and protective regulations for killer whales in Washington. She works closely with partner organizations, including The Whale Trail, to implement the recovery plan. Lynne also works on the newly listed rockfish species and coordinates with Puget Sound salmon recovery.

We’ll also hear updates from Robin Lindsay (Seal Sitters) and Laura James (tox-ick.org).

This is the second in an “Orca Talk” series, hosted by The Whale Trail at C&P, 5621 California SW. Cost: $5 suggested donation, kids free. Advance tickets available at brownpapertickets.com/event/337516. Buy tickets now – see you there!

Questions – or, interested in volunteering? Here’s how to reach Donna: donna@thewhaletrail.org or 206.919.5397.

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West Seattle Crime Watch: 2 more Friday street robberies; lewdness alert

February 16, 2013 6:00 pm

| 13 COMMENTS

| Crime | West Seattle news

While there’s no update on the armed street robbery we reported last night in the 28th/Adams area of North Delridge, SPD Blotter has published summaries of two others from last night – one in the Admiral area, another one in North Delridge. In the first case, the victims and suspects were all juveniles – 3 victims, 4 robbers, around 9 pm in the 2600 block of California SW – here’s the summary. In the second, a man walking in the 4800 block of Delridge Way just before 11 pm, after leaving what police describe as a “large party,” was held up; police found the suspect, and the items he stole, by going back to the party. Here’s that summary.

Also, a reader report of a man who she says was behaving lewdly – not a complete flasher but seemingly on the verge – on Marine View Drive this afternoon between Roxbury and 104th (map). She described him as “seemingly Latino or Middle Eastern with facial hair, probably in his 30s” and says he was “walking along with his shirt rolled up and the top of his pubic region exposed,” and after they passed, pulled his pants further down to expose more of his backside. She says she tried calling the non-emergency police line but gave up after being bounced around. As we told her, police advise that you call 911 in most cases, including something like this; the dispatchers are the same and will route you if need be.

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America’s Best Bagger, back at work: Metropolitan Market – Admiral throws Andrew Borracchini a party

February 16, 2013 4:31 pm

| 9 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news | West Seattle people

Less than a week after winning the title of America’s Best Bagger at the National Grocers Association convention in Las Vegas (WSB coverage here), Andrew Borracchini is back at work today at Metropolitan Market-Admiral (WSB sponsor). Management and co-workers held a celebration in his honor this afternoon, before he got back to the bagging business. We stopped in for a photo and asked a couple quick questions: When did he know he would win? Soon as he was called back up as one of the five finalists, he replied, he knew he had it. (We took this screengrab of the Final Five from the live UStream feed during the event:)

And, what’s the plan for his $10,000 prize? Saving it for now and deciding later, Andrew replied. (He also gets a trophy, and the store is slated to get a special commemorative “Best Bagger” checkout stand!)

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West Seattle Crime Watch: Burglar(s) steal widow’s keepsakes

February 16, 2013 2:35 pm

| 3 COMMENTS

| Crime | West Seattle news

Watch for that wedding ring – which belonged to the late husband of a West Seattleite who says her family’s home was broken into Friday. The burglary victim, who asked that her name not be used, says there were also irreplaceable items – photos of her late husband – on an iPod (described as “5th generation, blue”) taken by the burglar(s). The break-in happened sometime between 8 am and 3 pm Friday near 50th/Edmunds (map); if you have any information about the ring, or the burglary, contact police.

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Sailboat saga: Day 4 off Beach Drive for troubled trimaran

February 16, 2013 11:10 am

| 54 COMMENTS

| Seen at sea | West Seattle news

(EDITOR’S NOTE: We’re continuing to update the story – scroll down for the latest)

11:10 AM: Thank you to Michelle for the updates on the case of the trimaran in trouble off Beach Drive; this is the fourth day, but ~~apparently~~ possibly final, as her newest photo (above) shows that someone is here to ~~tow it~~ assist. Earlier this morning, she had sent a photo showing both the trimaran and its owner’s smaller boat were swamped:

Beach Drive Blog was first to report on the plight of a boat some commenters recognized as having been offered recently for free in a Craigslist ad.

(This photo and next, by Nick Adams for WSB)
12:21 PM UPDATE: Photojournalist Nick Adams is at the scene for WSB and says the Department of Ecology is on site; with the tide out, as his photos show, the boat’s apparently basically wreckage on the beach.

The photo above shows what commenter KMF pointed out – part of the boat has broken away.

12:40 PM UPDATE: Nick reports a salvage company is coming from Lynnwood. The mast is a big worry – neighbor Michelle adds via e-mail that there’s concern it will crash into a unit at Harbor West if not moved away soon.

4:40 PM: Update from Michelle – a crew has arrived on scene. And the rising tide shows another view of the boat’s “blown-out” side:

The next high tide isn’t till after 10 pm. And Michelle tells us the crew just chain-sawed the mast. (P.S. Turns out we have TWO nearby-residing Michelles who have kindly been sharing photos and information. Thanks to both!)

6:28 PM: As the sun sets:

From the neighbor, who says, “The owner is still down moving things, but the crew is gone.”

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West Seattle Saturday: Presidents Day weekend begins

February 16, 2013 9:31 am

| 1 COMMENT

| West Seattle news | WS miscellaneous

(Fauntleroy Park photographed by Flickr member Walkabout Wolf, shared via the WSB Flickr group)
From the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar, highlights for the rest of your Saturday:

TRAFFIC REMINDER: Can’t mention this one often enough – the eastbound east end of the bridge is closed past 4th Avenue South – so make alternate plans to get to I-5 or Beacon Hill. The closure is scheduled to last till early TUESDAY morning. More info here.

METRO SERVICE CHANGE: As Metro Transit makes one of its periodic “service changes,” with adjustments around the system, the major West Seattle change is that Route 50 is, for the first time since its launch, starting its “real” route. Here’s our Friday update with details.

WEST SEATTLEITES AT HOME SHOW: Potter Construction (WSB sponsor) is among the exhibitors at the Seattle Home Show – look for them if you’re going! (It runs through February 24th at the CenturyLink Field Event Center.)

LUNAR NEW YEAR CELEBRATION: 2 pm at the Vietnamese Cultural Center, 2236 SW Orchard (just north of Home Depot), all welcome for festivities including a lion dance.

‘THE LINE’: Documentary screening at St. John the Baptist Church, 6:30 pm (California/Spokane) – details here.

JAZZ AND SWING AT KENYON HALL: Glenn Crytzer and his Syncopators play tonight at Kenyon Hall (7904 35th SW), 7:30 pm – details here.

‘LOVE LETTERS’: Third of four performances for the Fauntleroy Players’ production at Fauntleroy Church‘s Fellowship Hall (9140 California SW), 7:30 pm.

WESTSIDE BURLESQUE: 9:30 tonight at Skylark Café and Club (3803 Delridge SW), promising, among other things, “strange prizes.”

LIVE MUSIC: The calendar has listings for Feedback Lounge (WSB sponsor), Poggie Tavern, and Benbow Room – see them all here.

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West Seattle Bridge traffic reminder: Ramps on eastbound end closed until Tuesday morning

February 16, 2013 8:39 am

| 2 COMMENTS

| West Seattle news

That’s the traffic cam from the east end of the eastbound West Seattle Bridge/Spokane Street Viaduct and it’s closed to traffic right now, not scheduled to reopen until early TUESDAY morning. This is part of WSDOT’s I-5 Spokane Street Interchange Bridge Repair project, which has a rolling list of various ramp-closure configurations most weekends through spring. Until this reopens, you will be diverted off the eastbound bridge at 4th Avenue South – no access to the I-5 or Beacon Hill ramps. (The westbound side is NOT affected.) Find detours and other information here.

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High-school basketball: Another close game for Seattle Lutheran boys

February 16, 2013 12:18 am

| Comments Off on High-school basketball: Another close game for Seattle Lutheran boys

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

Two close games in a row for the Seattle Lutheran High School boys’ basketball team. Two nights after their one-point last-seconds win over Auburn Adventist (WSB coveage here), the Saints went into double overtime in La Conner tonight – losing to LC 56-53. Here are the game stats as published by our partners at The Seattle Times.

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